All I Ever Wanted

By Kristan Higgins

HQN

ISBN: 978-1-4268-6408-7

Contemporary Romance

August 2010

Format: e-Book

Callie Grey is in love with the wrong man. Mark Rousseau is handsome and charming, but completely self-centered and shallow. He’s also her boss. And her former lover. And now he’s engaged to Muriel deVeers, the daughter of their newest client. To make matters worse, he’s brought his fiancé in as an account exec at his company, Green Mountain Media. Muriel’s purpose, it seems, is to minimize Callie.  

Enter the new vet, Dr. Ian McFarland. Not exactly warm and fuzzy, Ian is roughly appealing in a Russian gangster sort of way. He has a great doggy-bedside manner, but an uncanny ability to alienate humans, especially the female variety, who create a series of imaginary ailments for their dogs as an excuse to get close to the new man in Georgebury, Vermont.

At first glance, Callie and Ian are an unlikely match. An eternal optimist with a spunky spirit, Callie aims to please. Ian, who’s completely turned off by people and scarred emotionally from a break-up with his ex-wife, thinks she’s trying too hard. They keep meeting under the most bizarre circumstances, when Callie is at her worst: In line at the Department of Motor Vehicles on her 30^th birthday, right after Mark breaks up with her; during an Internet dating disaster; while she’s purchasing Dr. Duncan’s Cleanse’ n Purge Weight Loss Jump-Start Tea and in the aftermath, when what Ian calls Callie’s “emotional diarrhea” manifests itself physically on a company outing.

Ian isn’t exactly a white knight, although he does seem to have an ample supply of white handkerchiefs on-hand for all occasions.

Kristan Higgins has created a motley, but lovable cast of characters. There’s Callie’s mother, who runs a funeral home; her father who was kicked out of the family years ago for cheating on Callie’s mother when she was pregnant, and is now trying to win back his wife; and a semi-normal sister – a fertility doctor who’s looking for a father for her two adopted girls, although she hates men. Then there’s the grumpy grandfather who shares his house and boat-building studio with Callie; her brother, who hasn’t lived up to his potential; not to mention two adorably  outrageous nieces, the requisite great girlfriend, two lovable dogs and a rocking chair with magical powers.

Readers will sympathize with Callie as she pursues the wrong man, and tries her best to get over him, arguing with her two alter-egos Michelle Obama and Betty Boop  (don’t ask). By the very satisfying end, we see a side of Ian we never expected, but circumstances keep getting in the way as Callie and Ian try to connect. 

I didn’t know anything about Kristan Higgins before, but now that I’ve read her latest book, I will be buying everything she’s written. There’s something for everyone to love, laugh and even cry about in All I Ever Wanted. A great summer read, All I Ever Wanted is all I ever wanted in a book and a story for all seasons.

Claimed!

by Vicki Lewis Thompson    http://vickilewisthompson.com/

Harlequin Blaze

ISBN-10: 0373795602

ISBN-13: 978-0373795604

Category Romance, Blaze Series

No one does spicy like Vicki Lewis Thompson.  I’ll confess, I read the first chapter and wondered, “Now how is she going to pull this off?”  At first, it seemed as though a conversation between Josie and Jack would solve all their problems, but Claimed! has far more emotional depth than I have generally found in a Blaze.  The sex—and there’s plenty of it—is an integral part of who these characters are, why they get together, AND what keeps them apart.

Here’s my official version of the party line:  Josie has moved to Shosone, Wyoming and opened a bar there.  She and Jack had been the best of bed partners until the sudden death of his father puts the ladies’ man into a tailspin.  A community wedding brings them together, but Jack’s fear of commitment threatens to keep them apart.

The genius of the story is that Jack has some really good reasons to fear commitment, reasons that make him wounded as well as hunky.  Even better, he has an incredible sense of humor and dangles a spoon from his nose to win over Josie’s overprotective brother just as he had once won her over, just one example of the depth of both characters.  Jack is alternately sexy, wounded, and funny.  Josie is compassionate, independent, and ultimately willing to call it off if Jack can’t get his act together.

I really enjoyed this book and plan on looking up the first two in the series.   For writers, Claimed! is a well-paced read and an excellent example of your friend and mine, GMC.  For readers, just sit back and enjoy the ride.

The McKettricks of Texas: Garrett

by Linda Lael Miller

http://www.lindalaelmiller.com/

Harlequin Enterprises

ISBN: 978-1-4268-5608-2

Romance

In the McKettricks of Texas: Garrett, Linda Lael Miller delivers the second rockin’ story of three strong Texas brothers—hot cowboys that will have readers ready to saddle up and ride the range to find love with them.  Garrett McKettrick, a fast-paced lawyer who is more at home behind the wheel of a Porsche than in the saddle he once rode.  He left his ranch roots behind to climb the political ladder, fully expecting Texas politics to someday propel him to Washington’s highest levels.  He wasn’t prepared for the scandal that set his political foundations reeling and left him questioning all he valued.  With stakes also rising on the hometown front, Garrett’s in for the fight of his life to save the family ranch, find his place in the political arena, and hold on to the unexpected love that puts a new spin on everything.   

This thoroughly enjoyable story of Texas cowboys and true love had me reading through the night.  Having read the first two books in the series, I am now anxious to read the third and final story of these three very different brothers and the family of sisters that they love.  Miller transported me into this world to such an extent that I feel like I could hop in the car, find the town, and feel just as at home there as I am in the books.  Need any further encouragement?  Try the book trailer to get a real feel for these sexy cowboys.  

http://www.lindalaelmiller.com/books/mckettricks_tate.asp#trailer

Almost Perfect

by  Susan Mallery

http://www.susanmallery.com/

http://www.foolsgoldca.com/

Publisher: HQN Books (June 29, 2010)

ISBN-10: 0373774907

ISBN-13: 978-0373774906

Genre: Women’s Fiction

“LIZ SUTTON HAD ALWAYS KNOWN the past would come back and bite her in the butt—she just hadn’t known it was going to happen today.” (Almost Perfect, Susan Mallery)

Liz left Fool’s Gold, California long ago and never planned to return.  That all changes with one e-mail.  As a New York Times Bestselling suspense author, Liz gets crazy fan letters all the time.  But this one is different.  When a niece she didn’t know she had writes and asks for her help, Liz drops everything and heads out even though it means returning to the one place that never accepted her. 

Ethan Hendrix was born into one of the town’s founding families and because of this; he was raised to believe that he had to act accordingly.  Dating the daughter of the woman with the worst reputation in town wasn’t allowed, even though he couldn’t stay away from her.  When his friends confront him about his secret relationship, he denies it and ends up losing more than the girl he professed in private to love.  Twelve years later, she’s back and so is the eleven year old son he never knew he had.  After having lost a wife and child during childbirth, Ethan is bound and determined he isn’t going to lose his son again.  Thus ensues a series of misguided attempts to do the right thing.  Will his lack of tact and understanding leave him more alone than ever?

~~~

Fool’s Gold, California is definitely a place I want to visit. I first experienced this fictitious town way before hearing about the books. I don’t know how I got the link but as soon as I looked at this really cool web site featuring Fool’s Gold, I immediately added all four books to my Amazon wish list.  Check out the town for yourself at the following link.  http://www.foolsgoldca.com/

Almost Perfect is the second book in the series and features one of the characters Susan Mallery introduced in Chasing Perfect.  Although I didn’t always like Ethan, I could understand some of the reasons behind why he did what he did.  I loved Liz and the strength she projected to the world.  Not many women would blindly dive into the responsibilities of adding her 14 and 11 year old nieces to her family without freaking out.  The way she handles Ethan and his overbearing tactics to see their son made me admire her, but the way she handles the biddy bodies around town made me want to nominate her for sainthood. 

There are some mixed reviews on this book because of some of the things the hero does.  I personally felt the author did an amazing job of giving her readers a true-to-life character that was not perfect; and honestly, he reacted to some of Liz’s decisions in the same type of manner that most real-life guys would have done given this same situation. 

In the end, Ethan and the town redeem themselves and Ms. Mallery left me wanting to know more about the citizens of Fool’s Gold.

Texas Baby

By Tanya Michaels

Harlequin

ISBN-10: 037375325X

ISBN-13: 978-0373753253

Category Romance:  Harlequin American

Texas Baby lives up to the promise of its cover:  hunky cowboy and adorable baby.  Of course, the reader will also be treated to a determined heroine, a precocious five-year-old, and a cadre of villains and allies.  This story is far richer than the title suggests.  Addie Caine became a mother of two overnight when her brother and his wife passed away in a boating accident.  Leave it to fate to introduce her to the man of her dreams on the one day she’s allowed herself to fall apart.

Giff Baker is pretending to be a consultant at the company where Addie works, but he’s really a corporate spy, hired to find out who’s been leaking sensitive information to competitors.  Unfortunately for Addie, more than one person thinks she’s the culprit.  Even as love blossoms for Addie and Giff, the reader is still on the edge of her seat knowing that there’s another shoe that still has to drop.

Interspersed with the tale of Giff, Addie, and the informant, the reader is treated to Tanner and Nicole, the children who capture Giff’s heart almost as much as Addie does.  Giff, as a hero, really shines as he changes diapers or helps Tanner overcome a fear of boats and the water.  His comforting words to the boy about teamwork resonate with multiple meanings, a metaphor that Michaels pulls off with aplomb.

As expected, Michaels delivers rich characters, humorous moments, a perfectly poised black moment, and a delicious denouement.  In particular, look for the passage where Addie forsakes Ben and Jerry—it’ll be one of the few times in your life that you laugh out loud while you’re crying.

The Search

by Nora Roberts

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

ISBN: 978-0-399-15657

If you’re searching for a great summer read with all the romance, suspense and humor of a Nora Roberts novel, you won’t have to look far. The Search, Nora Roberts’s newest novel, is the story of Fiona Bristow, living, or some would say, hiding out, on isolated Orcas Island, off the coast of Seattle. Fiona is the sole survivor of a serial killer’s murderous spree. Her cop fiancé and his K-9 partner were killed to punish her for being the only one who got away. She busies herself with her friends, her three loyal Labs, running a dog-training school and volunteering as a canine search and rescuer on the island.
When newcomer Simon Doyle, a gruff furniture artist, as remote as the island he lives on, brings his incorrigible puppy Jaws to be trained by Fiona, he immediately sizes her up as “not his type.” Fiona thinks Jaws is not the only one who needs training.

Appropriately named, Jaws, a Lab-retriever mix, a gift from Simon’s mother, eats everything in sight – from flash drives and wood chips to the front seat of his owner’s brand new truck. Simon refers to him as “a monster,” an “escape artist,” and “a demon from hell.” A loner, Simon resorts to talking to Jaws, “Can’t you see I’m busy? I don’t have time to play every five damn minutes. One of us has to make a living!” Simon is obviously in need of rescuing.

Meanwhile, the Red Scarf Killer, who is locked away for life, has spawned a copycat killer, whose strings he’s pulling from his prison cell. Red Scarf Killer II has promised to finish the job his “teacher” started: To find and kill Fiona. But RSKII has veered off the reservation and the FBI is on his trail. Will they catch him before he gets to Fiona and another man she loves? Or will Fiona find the strength to get away and turn the tables on still another killer, while an innocent life hangs in the balance.

If you love dogs you will love this book. And of course the human characters are pretty terrific too.

I highly recommend “The Search.”

A Kiss At Midnight

by Eloisa James

Avon Historical

ISBN-13: 978-0061626845

A handsome prince, a nasty stepmother, a fabulous and unique godmother, a one-of-a-kind slipper and a mistreated young lady longing for something better: all of the necessary elements for the classic Cinderella fairy tale. Eloisa James has taken the familiar Cinderella story and given it fresh new twist. Her readers will gobble it up like a decadent dessert. But it’s even better because you get all of the satisfaction and none of the calories. *g*

Kate Daltry lives with her odious stepmother, Mariana and her frivolous, but not-at-all-evil stepsister, Victoria. She spends her days managing the estate, the tenants and most of the time, feeling like a servant instead of the daughter of the house. And quite frankly, it ticks her off! Nothing she says to Mariana about the running of the estate seems to sink in.

Talking to her stepmother, to Kate’s mind, was like peeing in a coal-black outhouse. You had no idea what might come back up, but you knew you wouldn’t like it.

Kate has been informed by Mariana that she must accompany Victoria’s fiance, Algernon (Algie) Bennett, Lord Dimsdale, to visit his cousin, the prince. Victoria has been bitten on the lip by one of her little dogs, and Mariana doesn’t want her to appear before royalty in her disfigured state. Kate thinks the whole scheme has disaster written all over it, but Mariana feels the resemblance between the two girls is close enough to fool people. Plus, it is imperative that Dimsdale’s cousin, Prince Gabriel, give his official approval for the marriage of Victoria and Algie. So against her better judgment, Kate travels with Algie to Prince Gabriel’s castle, “disguised” as Victoria, complete with wigs and her silly little pack of dogs.

Prince Gabriel Augustus-Frederick William von Aschenberg of Warl-Marburg-Baalsfeld is preparing for his betrothal ball and waiting for his intended, Princess Tatiana of Russia, and her entourage to arrive. Although he would rather be on an archaeological dig in Tunis, he must do his duty and marry the princess—he needs her fortune to support his castle, estates and family. Gabriel is not your typical Prince Charming, as Kate discovers when she first see him.

A man who had to be the prince was seated on a great chestnut steed, and for a moment she could see only his dark silhouette against the sun. She had the confused impression of his motion and power, easily controlled: an aggressive body, with big shoulders and muscled thighs.

Her eyes adjusted and she changed that idea. He was no Macbeth…more the king of the fairies, Oberon himself, eyes at a slight wicked tilt, with just a hint of the exotic.

Kate finds Gabriel incredibly rude and conceited, but in time her opinion of him changes. With each moment spent together, Kate and Gabriel’s attraction leads them down a path that, however rocky it may be, is filled with passion, love and the hope that they just might live happily ever after.

He took the word from her lips. Their kiss was untamed as the garden they stood in. It was the kind of kiss that skirted the edge of propriety even though his hands stayed at her back, and hers around his neck.

It skirted propriety because they both knew the kiss was like making love, that there was an exchange, a possession and a submission, a giving and a taking, a forbidden intimacy.

Kate has fallen for her prince, and maybe with the help of her delightfully unconventional godmother, she may find her happily ever after. But no matter what happens she is strong and capable of standing on her own. Gabriel is the one who must prove himself and his willingness to sacrifice all for love.

He closed his eyes for a moment, and the color of his eyelashes was like the color of regret. With a kind of piercing sorrow, she knew that she would never forget this prince.

A Kiss At Midnight is a light, frothy, irresistible grown-up fairy tale. I spent many moments laughing out loud at Kate and Gabriel’s antics and the charming, often quirky cast of secondary characters. This is most definitely going on my keeper shelf and has become my favorite Eloisa James novel. Treat yourself to a fairy tale that will keep you enchanted from “once upon a time” till “they lived happily ever after.”

~ Gannon Carr