Friday, December 26, 2014

Her Christmas Bonus by Rain Danvers

Her Christmas Bonus

Synopsis via Miss Danvers website:

Sage has been working at a high-tech firm in Newport Beach, CA for over two years as the only female director among three men. She is highly valued by her boss and she loves her job, but there’s a problem – she’s totally attracted to him and the stress is killing her. She’s taking three days off for the Christmas holiday and has posted her availability online, hoping to find a job when she returns. Before she can leave, she has to find her cell phone and she doesn’t know where she left it.

Terrance is the founder and owner of Templeton Designs and considers Sage so valuable to the company, he can’t afford to acknowledge the feelings he has for her. He’s stuck at the company this year when normally he would be enjoying the holiday in a warm, tropical location. It may be the year he finds a way to acknowledge the woman who holds his heart captive.

A highly successful business woman with the hots for her boss. A successful business man who always gets what he wants. When Terrance finally goes after the one woman he wants, he is relentless, yet understanding. Miss Danvers has created a main character who is a gentleman and a man who knows what he wants. In Sage, she has created a woman who is unwilling to compromise her position at work just for a man she desires. 
While this is a short story, Miss Danvers did her best to develop her characters. Unfortunately, while Sage was well developed, Terrance wasn't developed very well. She jumps into the plot quickly and escalates the romance between the two characters and then, BOOM!- story is over. I guess you could say it lacked foreplay. 
While this is a story about romance, it is also a story of sticking to one's beliefs. There are a few moments when the characters could have sex, but the story steers away from them jumping into bed. For me, it felt like reading a Christian romance without the preaching. 

Happy Reading!

A Curvy Coldwater Christmas by Jenn Roseton

A Curvy Coldwater Christmas (Coldwater Springs #5)

Synopsis via Goodreads:

When Kate is asked by her friend, Sarah McCord, to appear as Mrs. Claus in the Coldwater Springs Christmas parade, she doesn’t know what to think! After all, she’s only twenty-nine. And although she has a very curvy figure, she’s not matronly and gray-haired - yet. 

But when she finds out that the hunky guy she’s admired for the last few months, Flynn Winters, will play opposite her as Santa, she’s glad she agreed to take part. Especially when the script calls for them to kiss …. 

This story interested me because Miss Roseton went outside the norm. This is a story where the main character isn't the typical size -2 woman, totally confident in herself, and ready to take on the world. To me, Kate is more like "us". She is a curvy lady, kinda shy, but willing to try new things. And then there is Flynn. Flynn is the typical "love story hottie". He has muscle, looks, but he doesn't ignore curves for a tall, thin, goddess like most romance leading men do.

This is a novelette, as Miss Roseton describes it. There isn't a whole lot of build up or back story. The meat of the story is Kate and Flynn are asked to be Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus for the holiday parade and that is where the story begins.

What I liked: As I said already, the lead female is outside the norm, the lead male is a hottie, and the curvy lady doesn't get left out in the cold. It is a feel good story without a lot of "action" of any kind.

What I didn't like: There was no "action" of any kind except kissing. No heavy make out sessions that get stopped before the characters go too far, very little conversation between ANY characters, and there is only Kate's point of view until the prologue.
I understand it is a novelette (though I think I missed that description when I ordered the book), but there is so much more that can be done with this story. I understand it is a part of the Coldwater Springs Series, but can be read as a stand alone story. I do not know if Miss Roseton is planning on expanding Kate and Flynn's story in another of her books, but I would definitely be interested to see how she expands their story.

It was a decent read, but climaxed and fell way to quickly for my taste. I was expecting more from this story.

Happy Reading!

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Guardians Book 1: The Girl by Lola St. Vil

Product Details

Synopsis via Miss St. Vil's website:

The prophecy says I will fall in love with team leader and Angel, Marcus Cane. The prophecy also says that our love will cause his mission to fail and end the world.

Whatever.

This human is not worried. Why?
Because I do not intend to fall in love with Marcus.

The truth is I hate him. I hate his warm brown eyes with flecks of gold, his chiseled face and broad shoulders.
I hate how over protective he is just because a few thousand demons are after me.

In fact, I couldn't care less about Marcus or his perfect telekinetic girlfriend.
And when I see him holding her, I don’t die a little inside…

This story is a very captivating story. Angels, demons, humans without a clue-supernatural at it's best!
Emmy, a 15 year old high school student who lives with her mom has her world turned upside down when she finds out she is the key to saving humanity. She goes from having a limited number of friends to being protected by a group of angels. Her life suddenly goes from sedate and boring to fast and frenzied.
Miss St. Vil introduces you to each character with deliberate care. To me it seems like to wants the reader to learn about each character individually instead of grouping them all together where it is easy to lose the significance of each character.
I loved this story! I fell in love with Emmy, Marcus, Miku, Rio, Jay, and Reese. Each character is so well developed that you can't help but get involved in their "lives". And she did such a great job that I quickly learned to dislike Meana and the Akons.
Miss St. Vil knows how to pull your emotions along with the characters. I found myself being angry, feeling hurt, frustration, as well as happiness. It takes a truly talented writer to be able to wrangle all those emotions out of the reader.
This is the first book in her Guardian Series. It is an awesome read and just happens to be free on Amazon, B & N Nook, and iTunes at this time. You have nothing to lose by downloading this story, but I am guessing you will be like me and will be looking into the rest of the series!

I pick this as a DEFINITE READ!!

Happy Reading!!

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Married for Christmas (Willow Park Book 1) by Noelle Adams

Married for Christmas (Willow Park, #1)

Synopsis via Goodreads:

After years of dreaming, Jessica is finally getting married, but the marriage isn't exactly what she thought.

Daniel is her best friend, and she's known him all her life, but he's never gotten over losing his wife two years ago. His dream is to become the pastor of the church in their hometown, but the small-town congregation keeps balking over calling an unmarried minister. Since Daniel needs a wife and Jessica wants a husband and family, she proposes an arrangement that benefits both of them.

They can get married. They can build a life together. They can celebrate Christmas as a couple. It's fine that he doesn't love her. And it's fine that she's not exactly suited to be a small-town pastor's wife. And it's fine that she's more attracted to her sexy, brooding husband every day.

Jessica can be practical about this marriage. She knows what she's getting into, after all...

I really liked this story. It had so many angles going on at the same time. It has a religious undertone, but does not get preachy or condescending. Miss Adams prefaces her book with this:

   "The Hero of this book is a pastor, but this is not an inspirational romance. It is a regular contemporary romance featuring characters who happen to be religious. Spiritually is an important aspect of the human experience and the lives of a lot of people. . ."

Jessica and Daniel both have a specific goal and Jessica has the perfect solution-get married. They are already friends and have known each other all their lives so it seems logical, right?
Jessica and Daniel are both very likable characters. Miss Adams develops them throughout the story. You get to know them little by little as their story unfolds. This may seem like it slows the story down but it is quite the contrary. As their relationship builds, you learn new things about each of them. As you learn these things, Miss Adams brings in the back story of why they behave as they do. You don't get bogged down with their full past. You are pulled along in their present to see how their life is progressing.
While I think the average person would not go into a marriage based on friendship (I may be too much of a romantic), the relationship after the marriage is one that most people can relate to. They have their arguments, anger, sentimental moments, and hot, sexy moments.
Daniel my be a pastor, but he isn't a perfect, super-religious pastor. Daniel is a down-to-earth male who believes in God but enjoys life. And Jessica is a realistic young lady just looking for a family.
I found myself hoping this sweet couple would make it.
This is a terrific story that is worth your time and money. It is a dose of reality in a contemporary romance.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Happy Holidays!