Search Results for: label/ames'%20reviews

Guest Review: Down to You by M. Leighton

Posted April 1, 2013 by Ames in Reviews | 0 Comments

Ames’ review of Down To You by M. Leighton.

One girl. Twin brothers. An uncommon triangle.

When college student Olivia Townsend returned home to help her father run his business, she never imagined a complication like Cash and Nash Davenport—twin brothers different in so many ways but with one thing in common: an uncontrollable desire for Olivia.

Cash is dangerous, sexy, and bad to the bone—a man whose kisses make Olivia forget she is playing with fire. Nash is successful, reliable and intensely passionate—and already taken. But all it takes is one soft stroke to make Olivia forget he belongs to someone else.

However, Olivia is in for a surprise. These boys have a secret that should make her run away as far and as fast as she can. If only it wasn’t too late. A sensual game between three players has begun, and it’s about to spin deliriously out of control.

I was intrigued by the blurb and looked forward to reading it.  But I was disappointed.

Olivia first meets Cash when she mistakes him for a stripper.  Whoops.  He’s super hot and ends up being the owner of the club she’s visiting with her friends.  She’s a bit miffed that he led her on the way he did, but when she goes home that night, she can’t stop thinking about him.

When she first meets Nash, she thinks he’s Cash and gives him crap about the night before.  Then her roommate, who is also her cousin and Nash’s girlfriend, sets her straight.  Nash is Cash’s twin – she’s getting mad at the wrong brother.

Both men are intrigued by Olivia and thus begins the story of a girl who has a history with bad boys and wants so badly for the good guy to be the right guy, except he’s taken.  By her cousin.

Olivia is one of those girls that has guys fawning all over her and she has no reason why.  I have read countless heroines like this recently and it made me annoyed with this book.  Can I read a contemporary romance where the heroine knows she’s hot stuff but not conceited about it?  So yes, Olivia is not stick-thin like her cousin and there’s something about her that gets Cash and Nash all worked up.

Olivia annoyed me.  And this is why I’m disappointed in the book.  She judges Cash from the get-go.  She assumes he’s a bad boy because he owns a club and had a bit of fun at her expense.  But he’s a successful businessman and he’s straight up about what he wants.  And then she thinks Nash is a good guy because he’s  going to be a lawyer, went to university.  BUT Nash is dating her cousin and meanwhile he’s super flirty with her…so that kind of makes him NOT a good guy because he definitely crosses a line with Olivia.  I was mad at her for judging Cash when he’s the most honest one out of the bunch (that’s saying a lot when you realize there’s a twist).

And that’s the other thing, I saw the twist coming a mile away.  I am not saying anything about it, but I kind of guessed it before I opened the book up.  And I didn’t even care about the cliffhanger.  There just wasn’t enough here to grab and hold my attention.  Plus it wasn’t that hot.  Meh.

I’m giving Down to You 2.5 out of 5.

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

You can read more from ~ames~ at Bookish Ames.

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Guest Review: A Most Improper Rumor by Emma Wildes

Posted March 5, 2013 by Ames in Reviews | 3 Comments

Ames’ review of A Most Improper Rumor by Emma Wildes.

What is society to do when the diamonds of the first water are caught in compromising situations, one after the other? Can the young ladies survive the season with their reputations intact…or will the scandalous whispers surrounding them bring about the ultimate ruination?

Once the toast of the ton, Lady Angelina DeBrooke is no longer known just for her exquisite beauty, but more for her notorious marriages. Dubbed the Dark Angel, she has fallen in love for the first time and wishes to marry, but fears finding herself a widow for the third time. With two poisoned husbands and a cloud of suspicion hanging over her head, she turns to the only man in England who might help her…

Benjamin Wallace, Lord Heathton, isn’t interested in playing detective again, but when Lady DeBrooke approaches him in a quest to clear her name, he finds the challenge irresistible. Her second husband was an old friend, and when he takes a closer look, he catches the scent of a foe he has hunted before—and knows this is his chance to finally trap the elusive prey…

This is book 2 in the Whispers of Scandal series.  You can my review of book 1, Ruined by Moonlight,  here.

A Most Improper Rumor, like Ruined by Moonlight, features Benjamin Wallace and his wife Alicia.  Because the story builds on the events from the previous book for this couple, I would suggest reading RbM.  However, I do believe it could be read as a stand-alone.  But it’s Emma Wildes – why wouldn’t you want to read the other book?  *g*

Lady Angelina DeBrooke is in love and because her first two husbands were murdered, she needs help figuring out who did it so she can be free to marry her lover.  As it stands, she is afraid that if she were to come forward with a new man, he would be killed.  And she was hauled before the magistrate when her second husband died, so she wants to avoid that at all costs.  And she’s heard that Lord Heathton has a talent for solving mysteries.

When Angelina first approaches him, Ben is at first unwilling to accept her case.  He wants to settle down with his wife!  But the more Angelina tells him, the more he’s sure that the person behind the murders is the mysterious villain from Elena’s kidnapping (from Ruined by Moonlight).  He wants to know who the villain is, so he takes on her case.  But things get personal real fast when he becomes the target!

I enjoyed a Most Improper Rumor.  I liked how it picks up Benjamin and Alicia’s story again.  And Alicia also helps out in this investigation as well.  They’re great characters so it was good to see them as central to the plot.

Angelina and her mystery lover – I wasn’t as involved in their story. I seriously like Ben and Alicia that much! They overshadowed the other couple!  But part of it could be that Angelina and her man are already in love. So this isn’t so much a typical romance in that we see two people meet, fall in love and get their HEA.  Angelina needs to overcome this obstacle (of someone trying to ruin her life) to get her HEA.  I was invested though.  I wanted her to have that.  But I kind of guessed who was behind things quickly.  Which is ok, Ben was right behind me.  LOL

There was also the introduction of two of Ben’s accomplices from his War Department days.  I hope to see more from them in future books as well.

Overall, A Most Improper Rumor was a solid read with great characters.  I’m giving it 3.75 out of 5.  I recommend it.

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

You can read more from ~ames~ at Bookish Ames.

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Guest Review: Tempting the Billionaire by Jessica Lemmon

Posted March 4, 2013 by Ames in Reviews | 5 Comments

Ames’ review of Tempting the Billionaire by Jessica Lemmon.

BUSINESS OR PLEASURE?

Crickitt Day needs a job . . . any job. After her husband walks out on her, she’s determined to re-build her life and establish a new career. When swoon-worthy billionaire Shane August hires her as his assistant, she jumps at the chance to prove herself. Despite her growing attraction to her boss, she vows to keep things strictly professional. No flirting. No kissing. Definitely no falling in love…

Shane August is all business, all the time. He’s a self-made man who’s poured his heart and soul into his company, and he’d never allow himself to get involved with an employee. Then he hires sweet, sexy Crickitt—and he can’t keep his mind or his hands off her. But no matter how much he wants Crickitt, Shane fears that painful secrets from his past will always come between them. With fate working against them, can these two lonely hearts learn that sometimes mixing business with pleasure is the perfect merger?

This book got on my nerves!

First of all, Shane first sees Crickitt in a bar, crying her eyes out.  Sounds attractive right?  Well Shane certainly thinks so.  He’s immediately drawn to her so because his buddy likes Crickitt’s friend, he decides to be a good wingman and dry her tears while his friend does his pick up bit.  Somehow through her tears, Crickitt comes off as someone who would be a good assistant so Shane offers her a job.  Crickitt needs a job, but she thinks his offer is too good to be (seriously, crying in a bar and getting offered a job?  It is too good to be true) so she turns him down.  This makes Shane like her even more so he doesn’t let up in his pursuit.  Eventually Crickitt gives in.

Right from the get go these two are hot for each other.  But Shane doesn’t want to make the moves on an employee of his (he is freaking rich).  And Crickitt doesn’t want to make the moves on her boss.  But the attraction is there.  And that’s where this reader had enough.  Because it was CONSTANTLY shoved down my optic nerve how much these two wanted each other.  They yearned, oh did they yearn.  Honestly, I thought I was reading about two horny teenagers and not two adults.  It was very annoying.  And then eventually the loin-gates burst and they give into their lust.  And then Shane pulls away…because of something from his past.  Yawn.  I haven’t read that before.

There just wasn’t enough here to keep me interested.  It was not fun to read about the constant wanting.  There needed to be something else between these two than that.

Tempting the Billionaire gets a rating of 1 out of 5 from me.

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

You can read more from ~ames~ at Bookish Ames.

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Guest Review: The Stranger by Kyra Davis

Posted February 6, 2013 by Ames in Reviews | 1 Comment

Ames’ review of The Stranger by Kyra Davis.

Kasie knows who she’s supposed to be. But one passionate night with a mysterious stranger will teach her who she wants to be.

You should sleep with a stranger, her best friend whispers in her ear as they take to Vegas for one last pre-wedding fling. Despite her best intentions, when Kasie Fitzgerald enters the casino and sees him, a man whose tailored clothes belied a powerful, even dangerous, presence, she loses herself to the moment. Maybe it’s the dress, much shorter than she’d ever normally wear, or the Scotch, but something makes her give herself over to him more completely than she’s ever done with a man before.

It was supposed to be just one night. But right as she’s thinking she wants more, he shows up in her office with an agenda. As the billionaire CEO of a company that’s engaged her PR firm, his demands just became her reality…and he desires so much more than just some attention in the boardroom.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not quite over rich and sexy businessmen just yet.  I thought this one stands out a bit from the bunch I’ve read lately because the heroine is with someone else when our story begins.  So beware, if infidelity (on either the hero or heroine’s part) is a total deal breaker for you, you won’t like this one.

The blurb does a good job of setting things up.  Kasie isn’t a total stick in the mud, but she definitely lets her hair done at her friend’s urging while in Vegas.  And while under the spell of Sin City, she has an illicit encounter with a man that is off the charts hot.  She thinks it ends there, but he can’t forget their connection and hires her firm to work with his company in an effort to bring her back into his life.  Even knowing she’s engaged doesn’t deter him from going after what he wants.

Kasie tries to resist her Vegas man, Robert Dade, but he’s unavoidable and Kasie doesn’t really try too hard.  Why this works for me, in the context of this story, is because of the way Davis sets up her relationship with Dave, the fiancé.  Dave is the kind of guy who looks good on paper.  But he’s not good for Kasie, and she’s in so much denial about the nature of their relationship.  There’s no passion and she’s not herself when she’s with him.  Robert is the opposite of Dave.  He won’t let her be anyone but herself with him.  Here’s a good example of what I’m talking about.  When I read the following blurb, I said “Oh snap!” to myself.  LOL

“I love him,” I say again. The sun is getting higher in the sky. I feel it beating on my shoulders. A small bead of sweat rolls down from my hairline. It’s the sun I’m reacting to. I say the words to myself. It’s the sun…not the heat.
“I almost believe you,” he says. For a moment I think he’s hearing my thoughts as well as my words.
“You should believe me,” I brace myself, find my courage, and tear my eyes away from the horizon to meet his. “I have never lied to you.”
“But you lie to him.”
“I love him,” I explain. “Everyone lies to the people they love. They’re the only ones worth the effort.”
“Then you must love yourself very much.”

Despite Kasie getting on my nerves (especially with how she keeps letting stuff with Dave go on the way they do), I enjoyed The Stranger.  The conflict was believable, I didn’t feel like Robert’s wealth was exaggerated and the ending left me wanting more.  I was kind of shocked with the way it all went down at the end.  Kasie is ready to make a stand and one of the men in her life flips everything on its head.  I honestly am looking forward to reading the next installment.

I’m giving The Stranger 4 out of 5.

This book is available from Pocket Star. You can buy it here in e-format.

You can read more from ~ames~ at Bookish Ames.

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Guest Review: When the Duchess Said Yes by Isabella Bradford

Posted December 18, 2012 by Ames in Reviews | 0 Comments

Ames’ review of When the Duchess Said Yes by Isabella Bradford.

The romantic escapades of the irrepressible Wylder sisters continue in Isabella Bradford’s fun, charming, and breathtakingly passionate series—as the wildest of the Wylders turns an arranged marriage into a game of desire to tame a wayward duke.

Notorious for her free-spirited antics, Lady Elizabeth Wylder revels in attention—but not the sort that leaves her humiliated when her future husband, the Duke of Hawkesworth, fails to appear for their much-anticipated first introduction.

So when a chance encounter leads to a sizzling kiss with a dangerously handsome stranger, she nearly succumbs. The shock of finally meeting her betrothed only to come face to face with her rakish would-be seducer inspires fury—and fans the flames of a fire that both Lizzie and the Duke acknowledge is a most agreeable way to start a marriage. In her husband’s arms, Lizzie knows she has found love. But is the passion that accompanies endless nights of erotic discovery enough to persuade a duke whose scandalous lineage and lifestyle prevent him from giving his heart completely?

I read and enjoyed When You Wish Upon a Duke earlier this year so I was looking forward to the second book in the Wylder Sisters series.

Lizzie Wylder, Charlotte’s younger sister, is betrothed to the Duke of Hawkesworth, or Hawke, as he is known to his friends and family.  Hawke’s father left a stipulation in his will that he must marry Lizzie before her 19th birthday or he won’t inherit a dime.  He will be a penniless duke.  Hawke didn’t have an easy relationship with his father, so the betrothal irks him.  He actually lived in Italy for the past ten years to stay away from his father and any mention of him.  But he’s back in England to marry his betrothed before her 19th birthday, and he didn’t give himself a lot of time.  He’s really dragging his feet.  Then on the night before he’s supposed to meet his future wife, he sees an enchanting woman at the opera.  They share a look and then he loses her!  He becomes a bit obsessed with his mystery woman, more so when he runs into her again at another event (where he’s supposed to meet Lizzie).

Of course we know that his mystery woman is Lizzie herself.  When they finally meet face to face, with proper introductions all around, Lizzie is furious.  For the sake of everyone involved, they decide to put their initial scorn for each other behind them.  And then they begin to appreciate each other’s sense of humor and that initial attraction between comes forward again and then they begin to fall in love.

I thought When the Duchess Said Yes was uneven.  I thought the beginning was slow, all the run-ins and Hawke dragging his feet to meet his intended.  Like he was so desperate not to meet her, he focuses on his mystery woman.

Things did pick up though once they finally got married.  That part was enjoyable to read.  The conflict was internal, with Hawke wanting to return to Italy once his duty was done and how Lizzie finds out about it and her reaction.  I did like Hawke and Lizzie and their story was cute.  But that beginning dragged.

I’m going to give WtDSY a 3 out of 5.

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

You can read more from ~ames~ at Bookish Ames.

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