Day: August 13, 2014

Guest Review: Love on Location by Claire Baxter

Posted August 13, 2014 by Jen in Reviews | 0 Comments

Genres: Anthologies (multiple authors)

Love on LocationJen’s review of Love on Location by Claire Baxter

A deliciously fun rom com about a girl who has big dreams and just can’t stop herself from falling in love.

Shayna is this close to getting her dream job as a location manager for a new TV soap, she just needs to find the right house to film it in, and the job is hers.

Luckily, she’s found the perfect place. Unluckily, the owner – who is tall, dark and more handsome than is fair – is stubbornly refusing to let her use it unless she goes to dinner with him. No harm in that, right?

Lachlan swore he’d never go back into show business – not after his heart was broken – and the last thing he wants is a film crew traipsing through his house, but there’s something about Shayna that’s making it hard to say no . . .

He won’t let anyone near his heart, and she’s not looking for love – what could possibly go wrong?

Love on Location is a novella about Shayna, a film location scout for a company in Australia. Her boss has promised her that if she can secure the location for an upcoming TV mini-series, he will promote her to the position of location manager, her dream job. She is ecstatic when she finds the perfect property; the only problem is the owner, Lachlan, wants nothing to do with the production. Lachlan is actually a former child star. He hates all things celebrity, so the last thing he wants to do is allow his home to be used for filming. Eventually Shayna convinces him, securing her new position in the process and ensuring she has to spend a lot more time around Lachlan’s home. Lachlan is attracted to her and despite her knowledge that it would look unprofessional, they eventually begin a relationship.

I thought the setting and details were fascinating. First, the descriptions of Lachlan’s property and of Brisbane were great and made me want to visit. I also loved learning more about the business of setting up movies/TV. I’d heard of location scouts, but the story provided more details about what they do and how they do it. I also enjoyed learning about location managers and the challenges they face. I have no way of knowing if the portrayal was 100% accurate, but it felt real and added a lot to the story.

The romance was lackluster, though. I didn’t feel much chemistry between Shayna and Lachlan. The sex is all behind closed doors, which is ok, but it does rob the story of some intensity. And their non-sex activities don’t do much to add to the tension. They weren’t an unpleasant couple, but neither were they very compelling.

I also found Shayna pretty frustrating. She supposedly really, really wants her dream job, but then she does something impetuous and irresponsible that she knows could get her fired. I understand she had the hots for Lachlan, but why wouldn’t she just wait until filming was over before starting a relationship? It made her “dream” seem petty and temporary rather than some sort of driving ambition. Add in a cliched meddling mother and shallow villain, and the story really fell apart.

Overall, this novella was just “meh.” The characters and plot were pretty forgettable, and even with the shorter length I still struggled to find the motivation to finish it.

Grade: 2.25 out of 5

This book is available from Random House Australia. You can purchase it here or here in e-format.  This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.


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Guest Review: 1001 Dark Nights: Show Me Baby by Cherise Sinclair

Posted August 13, 2014 by Judith in Reviews | 0 Comments

Guest Review:  1001 Dark Nights: Show Me Baby by Cherise SinclairReviewer: Judith
Show Me, Baby (Masters of the Shadowlands #8.5; 1001 Dark Nights #7) by Cherise Sinclair
Series: Masters of the Shadowlands #8.5, 1001 Dark Nights #7
Publisher: Indie
Publication Date: August 12, 2014
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 207
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
four-half-stars

A Masters of the Shadowlands Novella

After his last lover chose her career over him, Jake knows he wants a woman who will put him at the top of her priorities—as he would with her. One of the trainees, Rainie, has caught his attention. Lush body, a gift for living life to the fullest, always laughing or smiling. Yeah. She trips all his switches. But she’s never given him a second look and that’s damned annoying.

Rainie has been burned enough times that she’s not going to get serious about any man. Sure, the BDSM club trainees are supposed to be looking for a permanent Dom, but no harm, no foul—they don’t need to know she lied. Trainees get to be involved in everything—and with everyone. But there’s one she avoids. Master Jake is always frowning at her. No matter how gorgeous he is, she doesn’t need any disapproving Dom up in her business.

Unfortunately, her best friends are having a double wedding. Little hearts are floating in the air. Every breath is filled with romance. Rainie is doomed.

This is the August release in a series of novellas that is styled along the lines of the classic 1001 Nights of legend and each story is written by a different author whose readers are delighted to receive their efforts.   Not only that, but this is the 9th story in the Masters of the Shadowlands series by Ms Sinclair and is a delightful addition to the series.   Each story in this series features a man who has attained “master” status as a caring and well-trained BDSM Dom and who is dedicated to safe, sane, and consensual participation in the lifestyle.  This story is about Master Jake, one of the newest of the Shadowlands masters, a dedicated veterinarian and caring man whose heart is now bruised because the woman who he planned to marry had chosen her career over their relationship.  He only knows Rainie as one of the trainees and it is only because of an injured dog that he begins to see her through a different set of “lenses.”   Rainie is a woman who has prevailed in gaining a good education, whose mind and heart are true and whose skills are a credit to any business who hires her.  Yet her fears over discovery of her past, her insecurites rooted in her destructive self-image keep her from allowing her attraction to Master Jake to blossom.

As always, Ms Sinclair tells a story that is filled with the emotions of real people, filled with the hurts and hopes that drive people to seek relationship, to seek fulfillment in so many different ways.  It bears the mark of realism that comes from a writer who knows that about which she writes and brings that first-hand knowledge to the writing task.  Even those readers who do not have any desire to participate in a BDSM context can feel the pain and joys of people in this story, the need to be who they are, to experience the best that living and loving can offer.  The wedding of several of the Shadowland Masters is also a much anticipated happening and one that readers of this series will enjoy.    It’s a novella, that’s true, and ordinarily I am not very jazzed about this shorter story format.  However, this is a work that feels like it is longer than it really is and packs lots of story in this shorter form.  Ms Sinclair always makes every word count.

Lastly, I really have to comment that my favorite aspect of all the stories in this series is the comraderie among all the characters–the loyalty that all the submissives show toward one another, the deep friendship they share, and the fun they seem to have whenever they gather.  The bachelorette party scene is a hoot.  Also, the fact that the masters, dominant to the core, still live by a code that respects and values submissive women and men deeply and to the extent that their moral code is built around that respect.  All in all it is a really good read and one that should be enjoyed and appreciated.

I give it a rating of 4.25 out of 5.

You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s Book Place.

This title is available from Evil Eye Concepts Inc.  You can buy it here in e-format.

four-half-stars


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Review: Taking it All by Maya Banks

Posted August 13, 2014 by Holly in Reviews | 0 Comments

Review: Taking it All by Maya BanksReviewer: Holly
Taking It All by Maya Banks
Series: Surrender Trilogy #3
Also in this series: Letting Go
Publisher: Berkley, Penguin
Publication Date: August 5th 2014
Genres: Fiction, Fiction
Pages: 320
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
four-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

MAYA BANKS...I'M READY FOR THE NEXT RIDE NOW SAID USA TODAY. AND NOW, MAYA BANKS IS READY TO DELIVER. FROM THE MUST-READ AUTHOR (ROMANCE JUNKIES) OF LETTING GO AND GIVING IN--THE NEW NOVEL IN HER SURRENDER TRILOGY.
In her sensational Breathless Trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Maya Banks tested the boundaries of desire. In her new trilogy, there's only one thing left to do: cross them. And for a married couple taking steps to renew their marriage, the consequences of one single moment of inattention may come at a price the husband never expects...
Chessy and Tate have been married for several years. In the beginning, their relationship was everything she wanted. Passionate. All-consuming. She offered her submission freely and Tate cherished her gift with a tenderness that made her feel safe. Content. Wanted. Loved beyond all measure.
But as the years have gone by, Tate has become more immersed in making his business a success, and Chessy has taken a back seat to his business obligations. Growing unhappy with the status of their once blissful marriage, Chessy knows that something has to give, or they stand to lose it all.
Tate loves his wife. Has always loved her. Providing for her has always been his number-one priority. But lately she's seemed unhappy, and he's worried. Worried enough that he arranges for a night together that he hopes will reignite the fire that once burned like an inferno between them. But a business call at the wrong time threatens everything.
Chessy's safety, his concentration, his wife's faith in him as her husband--a man sworn to love and protect her above all else. Gutted with the realization that he's going to lose her--has already lost her--he readies for the fight of his life. Whatever it takes, he'll get her back, show her that nothing is more important than her love. And that if she'll allow him to prove himself one more time, he'll take it all. Everything. But he'll give back far more: Himself. His undying love.

This is a novel full of angst. Tate has been falling down in his job as husband to Chessy since his business partner bailed and he had to take over everything himself. For two long years she’s been neglected while he focused on work. While being neglected is never fun, for Chessy, who doesn’t work and looked to Tate to give her the comfort and security she didn’t get in childhood, it’s horrible. He promised she’d never feel alone or lonely, yet for two years that’s all she’s felt. When he bails on her for their anniversary and she catches him wooing a client instead, it’s too much. She refuses to live her life where she isn’t a priority and demands Tate realize that.

Tate is appalled when he realizes how far apart he and Chessy have grown. He was so focused on building his business he didn’t realize he wasn’t giving her what he should have been – his time and energy. Once she opens his eyes, he vows to do all he can to make her his number one priority. Again. Until he really drops the ball and it’s the last straw for Chessy.

I enjoyed the dark angst of the book. Chessy was frustrating in the beginning. For two years she sucked up her feelings and put on a good face. While it could have been noble, she came off as a martyr. Once she decided to put her foot down she really came into her own. While she seemed weak in the beginning, she proved she was only willing to be pushed so far.

Tate really screwed up. It was hard seeing him fail so spectacularly. When he made his second, huge mistake my heart nearly stopped. I didn’t think he could come back from that. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure how he did come back, but he did. In the end I believed in their relationship and felt Chessy’s forgiveness was true.

There were drawbacks. Tate’s pet name for Chessy is “my girl”. It was really over-used to the point of becoming annoying. I started to cringe each time it came up on page. My other frustration were the chapters from Kylie and Joss, the heroines from the previous two books. To be fair to Banks, this is a personal pet peeve. I really dislike when the previous characters get chapters in later books. They already had their books, I don’t need more from their points-of-view.

I also found the D/s aspects of the book to be kind of rushed. Especially in the end. I needed to see more in depth conversation to believe what Tate did to Chessy was truly forgotten on her part. I believe she forgave him, but I don’t see how she could have just gotten over it.

This was a compelling read. I couldn’t put it down. Definitely my favorite of the three.

4 out of 5

This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

four-stars


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