Cheating Justice (The Justice Team Book 2) By Misty Evans & Adrienne Giordano

RATING: 4 Out Of 5 Stars

  Mitch Monroe has been on the run since he had a little run-in with his old boss and he pressed charges. When one of his best friend Tommy Nusco is murder, Mitch can’t help but step out a little and investigate the case. When his other friend, Roger Kemp, is murder after digging into the case and he framed for his murder, he decides to recruit the help of Caroline Foster, an FBI Sniper and someone from his past…
  Caroline Foster wants nothing to do with Mitch Monroe, especially after the last time she helped him she almost lost her career as well as the night she termed “the night that never happened”. But when Mitch comes to her for help, she can’t help but look into the case to find the truth. When the case takes them on a journey to New Mexico, Caroline tries to fight the sparks that fly between, but as they start getting answers, Caroline has to decide if what she feels for Mitch is worth the career she tried so hard to gain…

  It has been awhile since I read a book with a dash a crime, suspense, and romance. The author did a great job having the major plot develop smoothly. Mitch sounded witty and dreamy, and Caroline was spunky and sassy. I like when the author have the heroines be a little tough, and not some whimpering miss.
  I didn’t read the first book in the series “Stealing Justice”, but my curiosity was peeked after Justice Greystone and Teeg, Mitch’s teammates, showed up throughout the book. Every time Grey appeared it made me more and more curious of his story.
  The only thing I wasn’t to fond of in this book was all the sexual innuendo’s throughout the entire book. There was quite few that threw off the flow of the story for me. Though i don’t much care for it. I don’t mind if it one is stated here and there, but when it’s on almost every page it really throws the story off for me. But other then this, the book’s plot was enjoyable to read.

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Why Dukes Say I Do (Wicked Widows #1) by Manda Collins

RATING: 4.5 Out 5 Stars

Lady Isabella Wharton has many secrets that she shares with her sister, Perdita, and their good friend Mrs. Georgina Mowbary. One in particular that the Dowager Duchess Of Ormonde is aware of, helps her cause in having Isabella leave London to the country side of Yorkshire to bring home the grandson she never met, as well as threatening to ruin her sister’s  possible marriage prospects if she doesn’t. Seeming to have no choice in the matter she packs her bags and leaves for Yorkshire…
On his way home after an exhausting day, Trevor Carey, the new Duke Of Ormonde comes across a broken carriage, only to discover that the occupant inside was on her way to his home. Once their identities are known to each other, Trevor discovers that Isabella has been sent by is estranged grandmother to bring him to London and finally take care of the responsibilities that come with the dukedom. Now the only thing he wishes for right now, is for her to leave immediately since he has no interest of leaving Yorkshire or meeting his grandmother that he believes had a part for cutting off his father for marrying beneath him, but is unable to until her carriage is repaired…
After Trevor discovers that Isabella’s carriage was tampered with intentionally he feels the need to protect her. And as time goes by the attraction they have for each other grows…
But after Isabella’s first marriage experience will she be willing to open her heart to him…
And when Trevor discovers their is more to Isabella then what he first believed will he do what it takes to keep her with him..

I became a big fan of Manda Collins after reading her “Ugly Duckling” series, and when I discovered that she had a new series I couldn’t wait for the opportunity to be able to read it. And I am thrilled that after reading the first book of the “Wicked Widows” series that I wasn’t disappointed.
Trevor and Isabella’s sweet romance was fun for me to read. I adored how Trevor and Isabella first met and their banter at the beginning of their relationship. It was enjoyable to read as their relationship grew by every page I turned. And after Isabella’s disastrous first marriage, I enjoyed reading how she started opening up to Trevor and trusting him.
I enjoyed that I wasn’t able to guess the one who had been terrorizing Isabella right off the bat and I was astonished when they were revealed, and only to find out that they were just taking orders from someone else, and making me wonder who the main bad guy was. It made me look forward to reading the next  two books in the series to discover who it turns out to be.
There was one that left me hanging that I wished was revealed, and that was the clash between the Dowager and Trevor and Isabella. After it was revealed that Trevor and Isabella were married and the Dowager fainted in outrage… I made me wonder how there next conversation would turn out, especially when the Dowager stated… “Do you know what you’ve had done?”. And it made me wonder what has she done? The only thing I can guess is that the Dowager had someone with more ties in the ton in mind for his wife…

Christmas Babies (Holiday Babies) by Mona Risk

RATING:

4 Out Of 5 Stars

REVIEW:

Madelyn Ramsey just lost out on the new directors position at the Women’s Clinic at St. Lucy’s Hospital to Dr. Nick Preston, job the she was absolutely trying her best to obtain. Though she takes the loss gracefully. After agreeing to join Nick and her other colleagues at the Sea-Waves bar for a celebration of his new position, she heads to a doctor and friend in Miami hoping that her blood results and tests that she had done before didn’t turn out to what she feared. After hearing the results that she has early symptoms of epilepsy. And she is determined to start having a little fun and not just devote herself to her career…
Nick has been trying to go on a date with Madelyn for 5 years now and was excited that she finally agreed to meet him at the Sea-Waves bar for his celebration. After hours pass by he is afraid that she wont show up, until he sees a whole new Madelyn walk threw the door. He can’t help but wonder what brought on this new Madelyn and hopes to get to know her better, without having a committed relationship…

The book was an enjoyable short read. Everything was face paced and I would have been able to read it in one setting if I started reading it earlier in the day. Fortunately the author did a good job of having it flow just right where you at least didn’t feel like you missed anything or having random things added to it. I did enjoy they relationship between Nick and Madelyn and how it seemed to grow with each encounter. I thought her mom was the perfect matchmaker. The twins were just the right addition in getting everything to come together in the end.
It was a good book revolving around the holidays. So I am glad that I came across while its the Christmas season. I recommend this book anyone looking for a short, light, emotional book to read for the holidays.

Sweet Laurel Falls (Hope’s Crossing #3) by RaeAnne Thayne

RATING:

4 Out Of 5 Stars

REVIEW:

It’s Christmas and Maura McKnight wants to skip it altogether. Since her youngest daughter Layla was killed in an unfortunate accident eight months ago she is not in the Christmas mood. But she puts on a smile on her face and keeps the facade that she is in the Christmas spirit, so she doesn’t worry her family and closest friends. During a Christmas party that Maura was having at her store, Dog-eared Books and Brew, for her book club, she is surprised when her eldest daughter Sage walks in… with Jackson Lange, Sage’s father that wasn’t aware of her existence…
When Jackson walks in Maura’s store during the full swing of her Christmas party he wonders if confronting her now was the best idea… especially when the group of women are just staring at him. But leave it to Sage, his daughter, something he still can’t believe, to announce that he is her father. Something it now seems that no one even knew about,only Maura. He is furious with Maura that she never told him that they had a child, but she is the one he never could forget…
After Jackson decides to stick around for at least the holidays so he can get to know his daughter, he never expected his feelings and attraction he felt for Maura was their, for Maura she never expected the feelings and attraction for Jackson was still lingering as well. So now they have to discover what these feelings will take them and at the same time try to figure out what their daughter Sage is keeping from them…

This book was an enjoyable book to read and the first book I read by RaeAnne Thayne. The characters of the book were really enjoyable and fun. The author I think did a great job in writing Maura’s feelings and acts after losing her daughter. And how devoted Maura and Sage were to each other. The author also did a really good job in describing Jackson’s relationship with his father. I enjoys reading the developing relationship Sage has with her father, Jackson, and later her grandfather, Harry.
I enjoyed reading how everyone in this book was able to overcome their hardships and was able to forward with their lives, though always being able to remember the bad things that occurred without the pain being to stifling. The ending was really good and I liked how the author ended it with them being able to become a full fledged family. The book was really heartwarming and allowed you to read how they were able overcome their obstacles.

The Nanny and the Boss’s Twins By Barbara McMahon

RATING:

4 Out Of 5 Stars

REVIEW:

Stacey and her sister are the owner’s of Vacation Nannies. On Stacey’s next nanny job she is hired to go to Spain with Luis and his adorable twin boys Juan and Pablo, do to their nanny having a fear of flying. She really loves her job of taking care of children and traveling. Now that she is almost 30, she starts thinking about her future of having a husband and children of her own…
Luis is a widower of six years, his wife dying during child birth. After her death he got a nanny to take care of his twins and threw himself into his business and works all the time. He has no future ideas of love or getting married again. Since it was hard for him to loose his wife when they were both still young…
But at his grandmother’s home in Spain for her upcoming birthday Luis and Stacey start developing feelings during the time they spent together with the children (which Stacey comes to really care about) and Luis’s family, sightseeing, fiesta, and etc, that they are trying to sort out. But with Luis’s aversion to ever fall in love and remarry it gets difficult to give into them…

I thought Stacey was a strong character that really cares about family. Especially since for along time she only has had her sister. I liked how she was determine to make a future with the things she loves doing, taking care of children and traveling. I like how she was able to help Luis start thinking about what is important.

Luis is a lot alike other hero’s in other books I read, but also a little different in his own way. He was a little slow to determine his feelings and doesn’t discover them until the heroine leaves. I did like how Luis’s character started to grow. How he discovered how much he has missed of his boys life and starts to make amendments to his work schedule to be there for each of there great memories. I also like how he figures out he had some sort of feelings for Stacey and he sorts them out as he goes along.

Luis’s Grandmother was a fun character. She has a very warm fondest for her family and wants them all to be happy. And when Stacey arrives with Luis and his boys she tries to play matchmaker…

The Price of Honor By Emilie Rose

RATING:

4 Out Of 5 Stars

REVIEW:

This one was one of my favorites of the Harlequin Desire Collection. After the heroine, Megan (an Equestrian rider), finds out that her boyfriend that she love’s with all her heart of six months, Xavier (a multimillionaire business owner in the perfume industry), has a fiancee that he is marrying in a year she is heartbroken. Especially since she found out she was pregnant a few hours earlier. After this discovery she sets her business in order and gets her horses sent home, she gets on a plane and goes home and lives with her engaged cousin Hannah…

After this point everything is set into motion. We see how Xavier and Megan react to each others revelations, Xavier’s fiancee that he tells Megan is just an business deal that he made years ago and honor bound to keep, and Megan’s pregnancy that comes into light to Xavier’s dismay.

In my opinion I thought that Megan was a strong character that doesn’t quit and tries to stick to her guns. I like how she tries to find away to get Xavier to see he loves her, and break is business deal that he has with his fiancee, and to make a future with her, there unborn child and become a family. Even when she loses hope about Xavier’s presence in her life for the future she struggles to do what is right for her unborn child and finds way to make things work out for her career and having time with her child.

As for Xavier, I thought he was somewhat bull-headed and a jerk. In is mind since he doesn’t have to marry is fiancee for a year to complete the business deal, that he can continue on with Megan like it never came out and thought she was just throwing a tantrum for him not leaving his fiancee for her and not getting her way. Then after he finds out about the pregnancy he tries to get Megen to relinquish her rights as a mother (trying to pay her off, getting to think she couldn’t juggle a child and her career, etc.)so he can have sole custody of their child. In the end I like when Xavier finally comes to his senses and realizes he loves her and tries to make everything right to when her back. Emilie Rose did a good job in writing Xavier’s turn about.

I was kind-of hoping that there was more in the epilogue other then just them getting married. But it was a decent ending to Xavier and Megan’s story.

Holding Out for Doctor Perfect By Teresa Southwick

RATING:

4 Out Of 5 Stars

REVIEW:

This was an enjoyable book to read. The Hero and Heroine both have been through a heartbreaking relationship when they were younger. As a result it was difficult for each of them to entrust their hearts to someone else. When Dr. Spencer Stone wants some new equipment for the cardiology department he needs the approval from the Hospital Administration Financial Department, Avery O’Neill. So he hunts her down to get his point across, but Avery has other ideas and makes sure not to cross paths with him, even hiding in the ladies room… But when Dr. Stone goes directly to her boss she has no choice but to on a business trip to Dallas with him to get the financial facts and other details in order. During the trip they get closer and learn a lot about past hurts and about each other. When a night together results in a pregnancy they have to figure out their feelings for another and determine the future…
The story was interesting to read at least once. There was a time or two were the pace of the story slowed down, but would pick up again. I liked the setting for their hometown being Las Vegas, Nevada since I am from here. Every time a street, an area, or a building was mentioned I was like I know where that is and that street name, it was cool for me.

The Paternity Promise By Merline Lovelace

RATING:

5 Out Of 5 Stars

REVIEW:

This was one of my favorite Harlequin books that I have read. I like how the author didn’t drag out who the father was for the baby Molly. And how the author mentioned during the story, how the relationship between Blake and Grace was developing during the time she was working as a nanny. I enjoyed that even though they jumped into marriage for Molly’s sake, they got to know each other before and was able to get a lot closer. The touch of suspense at the end was a nice touch and I looked forward to see how it was resolved and I thought the ending was really cute.

Innocent Wife, Baby Of Shame By Melanie Milburne

RATING:

4 Out Of 5 Stars

REVIEW:

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was one that grabbed my attention and couldn’t put down, and I was able to read it in one setting. It was different in comparison to other Harlequin books I have read.
After Keira’s alleged affair with her friend Garth Merrick, her marriage to Patrizio Trelini ended and became a world wide scandal in the gossip magazines and newspapers. Though she regretted that night and can’t remember anything happening she was heading for divorce until Patrizio’s nephew Bruno and Keira’s brother Jamie, hatched a plan with an “accomplice” to see that their marriage will be saved…
When I came across this book I was unsure whether to give it a chance or not since I don’t like books that has any form of cheating involved. But I am glad that I did. It was intriguing to read Keira and Patrizio’s story. A following there emotional state and misunderstandings in the re-beginning of there relationship to the development of their strong relationship by the end of their story. And I enjoyed when everything was resolved by the end of the book. I was kind-of irritated that Garth didn’t tell the truth regarding that night straight away, especially with the way Keira felt ashamed and regretful. And especially with the way Patrizio was sort of mean to her… Though I guess its understandable since I don’t know how I would handle it if someone I really loved cheated on me… I know it wouldn’t be easy.
All in all it turned out to be an enjoyable read. I really enjoyed the main characters and all the side characters in this book. And it will probably be one that I will read again later on.