Tag: Harlequin Kimani

Guest Review: Beautiful Surrender by Sherrelle Green

Posted May 26, 2015 by Jen in Reviews | 0 Comments

Beautiful Surrender by Sherelle GreenJen’s review of Beautiful Surrender (An Elite Event #4) by Sherrelle Green

Mya Winters has overcome a tough childhood in foster care to create a wonderful life. Organizing the first annual Elite Events Charity Date Auction is a way to give back to her community. There’s one hitch—her sexy cohost, private investigator Malik Madden. She feels the heat beneath his quiet gaze, and he’s made it clear he’d revoke his “most eligible bachelor” status for her. For someone as relationship-shy as Mya, that’s a terrifying—and tempting—proposition. 

Malik has the close, loving family that Mya always craved, but a recent breakup made him swear off romance. Beautiful, driven Mya is changing all that. If she’ll just confide in him, he can help piece together the truth about her past. But trust works both ways. And his only chance at a future with her is to share a secret that threatens their passionate connection…

Mya Winters is one of four partners in Elite Events, a wildly successful event planning company in Chicago. (The previous books in the series show the romances of the other partners, but you can easily jump in with this book, as I did.) Mya has a reputation for being smart and somewhat prickly, and she routinely chases off men who show an interest in her. One of the men she can’t quite chase off is Malik Madden, the brother of a previous hero. Malik has been attracted to Mya since the moment they met, but he bides his time, waiting for the right moment to make a move. When Mya needs Malik’s help to cohost a charity date auction, the two are forced to spend more time together. Mya begins to see that Malik is more complicated than she anticipated, and she sees that leaning on someone else once in a while can be a good thing.

This is a fairly short book, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Mya and Malik are great characters. Mya does have a bit of a chip on her shoulder due to her upbringing, and she acts pretty obnoxious to Malik at the start. She thinks he’s geeky and too straight laced to ever understand or appreciate her, which seemed kind of unjustified. I liked that once she starts actually talking to Malik, though, she admits she was wrong. Malik is an interesting match for her, too. He seems pretty mild mannered at first, but it turns out he has a bit of a domineering side, particularly in the bedroom. He had the perfect mix of sensitivity and bossiness that was needed to show Mya she was safe but also that she couldn’t play games with him. There are some hot sexytimes in the book. I don’t know about the physical viability of some of their positions (ha!), but the sex was fun and interesting to read about.

I did think the ending was a little too tidy and cliche, though it’s pretty much on par with most other categories I suppose. I also thought some of the manipulations by Mya’s friends were silly and unnecessary. I know Mya was stubborn, but I’d rather have seen her come around more on her own. There’s also a subplot where Mya and Malik investigate her past, and I didn’t feel there was enough depth there. I would have liked to hear more about her history because the story seemed too big for such short treatment. There’s also a strange encounter with what basically amounts to a kindly old blind seer who reads Malik’s mind. Yeah, it’s kind of weird and doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the straightforward story, but it’s a minor blip in an otherwise good read.

While the voice and writing style are definitely different, in some ways the book reminded me a bit of Julie James’s FBI/US Attorney series. Like James, Green makes great use of the Chicago setting and captures the vibe of the city. Like James’s heroines, Mya is an intensely smart, driven, financially secure, and competent woman who is very good at what she does. (Malik too seems competent, though we don’t get to see him at work as much as we do Mya.) The dialogue is realistic and snappy, and nothing in the book is too angsty or melodramatic. I’m definitely going to backtrack to read the other books in this series.

Grade: 3.75 out of 5

This book is available from Harlequin Kimani. 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: A Madaris Bride for Christmas by Brenda Jackson

Posted May 6, 2014 by Judith in Reviews | 0 Comments

A Madaris Bride for Christmas Judith’s review of A Madaris Bride for Christmas by Brenda Jackson

One by one, Madaris men have surrendered to the matchmaking schemes of Felicia Laverne Madaris, matriarch of the family. But Lee Madaris isn’t letting anyone else control his destiny.   He’ll bring a bride of his own choosing to the family’s holiday gathering if his hotel’s gorgeous new chef will agree to a marriage of convenience.

It’s not just the chance to work at the Strip’s hottest hotel that brought Carly Briggs to Vegas. Witnessing a crime in Miami may have made her a mob target. Though she’s reluctant to complicate their working relationship, Lee’ s tempting offer is so hard to resist. And soon, desire is clouding their no-strings arrangement.

The danger that made Carly flee Miami is about to land at their door.  So Carly and Lee must decide who to trust, when to let go and whether a love they never anticipated is strong enough to pass the ultimate test.

I discovered Brenda Jackson’s books several years ago and she immediately became one of my favorite authors.  Having read a ton of the Westmoreland series, I was delighted to find this new Madaris series novel on Net Galley.  It’s a family I have not really encountered too often having been fascinated with some of her other books.  But this holiday novel is a delight and well worth reading.

As is so often the case, especially in families where the adult males are determined to hang on to their fun-loving bachelor status for extended years, the matriarch of the Madaris Clan has decided that Lee Madaris, a wealthy and incredibly successful international hotel magnate, will be married by Christmas and on his way to giving her added members of her family to preserve their legacy.  In this fun tale of passion seasons with a fair amount of mystery, Lee Madaris has as his goal to present his great grandmother with a bride of his choosing and not hers.  This is made even more intentional when one of his cousins relays the information that Mama Laverne, as she is called, is planning Lee’s wedding to occur at Christmas when the family gathers in Houston.

For Carly Briggs, Las Vegas and the Grand MD Hotel represent a new start, opportunities to further her own professional dreams and to pursue a life that is essentially scrubbed clean of men who are not who they appear to be.  Meeting Lee Madaris is upending emotionally and turns out will place some choices before Carly that could well change the direction of her life.

As always, a Brenda Jackson novel is filled with people of vast life experience mixed in with the kind of characters who are real, gritty, full of the struggles with which most people must contend.  It’s what makes a Jackson novel resonate so well with so many readers.  She has also used her considerable writing talents to bring people of color into the reading experience of romance fiction lovers and she never backs away from writing clearly about the cultural traditions that people of all races possess and which set the boundaries, both good and bad.  She has been determined to write about successful African-American males and lifts them up as role models.  It makes no difference that this is fiction.  Men like Lee Madaris and his family members speak clearly that life can bring great success into reality for all people regardless of race or color.

Readers will also find out that Ms Jackson writes realistically about the love relationships between her characters and also romantic interactions can bring both joy and pain into the hearts of her characters.  This story is spicy and sexy, filled with passion and the sparks that will continue to ignite the relationship between Carly and Lee.  Yet both of these people are afraid of the hurt that genuine love can engender, the damage that deep disappointment can do and the ways that fears from the past can hinder true happiness in the future.  Yes, there’s a HEA but the reader will encounter a fair share of ups and downs, surprises, encounters with the crime syndicate and so forth.  So there’s lots going on even as Lee and Carly will finally have to make a choice about the future.

Ms Jackson continues to gift her readers with stories that are well told, characters that speak to us on a visceral level and a satisfying reading experience that makes us happy to pick up the next Brenda Jackson novel.  But don’t be fooled–that is not all about Christmas presents and lights, Santa Claus and Silent Night.  It all comes together around the family gathering but lots happens before the stockings are hung by the fireplace.

If you are a Brenda Jackson fan or really like the Kimani Romance books from Harlequin, you will really like this book.  It is not an massive or epic novel by any means.  But there’s enough substance to make a good sized novel.  I know I found it to be a terrific read.

I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5

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

This title is available from Harlequin Kimani.  You can buy it here or here in e-format.

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Guest Review: Until Now by Kayla Perrin

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

17570244Judith’s review of Until Now by Kayla Perrin

Never again, she vows. Now that her abusive ex-husband is in prison, Tamara Jackson has finally found some peace. Life can be sweet;  as long as she remembers not to lose herself in another relationship. She pledges to remain strong, independent and single.

But now change is in the air in the form of a sexy, smoking-hot man. Police detective Marshall Jennings is hardly a stranger;  Tamara has known him since college, and now his best friend is married to her best friend, Callie Hart. Marshall’s athletic build, flirty ways and persistent pursuit soon have Tamara second-guessing her strategy.

Just one little fling, she thinks. No strings, he thinks. But they both thought wrong. Passion quickly cascades into something more; a wave of emotions that may sweep them into everlasting love.

Those wounds of abuse we often see in photos and on TV aren’t the only damage to people victimized by violence.  It is often the fear that takes root in the heart, fear of involvement, fear that one’s ability to trust is forever ruined, fear that one’s ability to “read” others is totally off.  So it is with the heroine in this deeply emotional love story where a single mother strives to begin anew after her life and that of her son has been torn apart by the one person who should have cherished them both.  Now Tamara is bunking in with her best friend and she is seeking to live out dreams that were put on hold long ago.  Most of all, she is determined that there will NEVER be another man who will exercise the kind of emotional hold over her.  Little does she realize that there really is a good man “out there” who is worth trusting with her love and her future well-being.

This is a story that is rooted in the black community and features people who have crafted successful and fulfilling lives for themselves.  That is what Tamara wants for herself and her son.  Even the presence of a very sexy man can’t deter her from keeping her heart intact and she is willing to allow their passion free reign but nothing more.  Marshall is willing to go along with that scenario because he has his own baggage.  Two people guarding their hearts and nursing old wounds:  makes for some interesting reading and also some surprising results that neither Tamara or Marshall ever dreamed would result from their affair.

This is a beautifully written story and is is entertaining as well as one of those reads that reaches down and claims your heart, your emotions.  It’s the kind of story that I think we can safely say gives a deep sense of satisfaction we all get when we read a really good book.  It’s not an overly lengthy book and won’t take up major time, but its truly the kind of read an authentic romance lover will appreciate.    Now there were times in the story when I wanted to “thump” both Tamara and Marshall for being so short-sighted.  But I have to realize that a reader is like a third-party to the action and we know more about what’s going on than the characters in the story.  So I have to forgive them just a bit for being hard-headed and stubborn to the point that they almost lose a really good thing that both of them want down deep.

I hope you’ll check out this novel and give it a bit of time.  I think you’ll be glad you did.  I give it a rating of 4 out of 5.

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

This title is available from Harlequin Kimani.  You can buy it here or here in e-format.

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Guest Review: Case for Seduction by Ann Christopher

Posted December 10, 2012 by Ames in Reviews | 0 Comments

Ames’ review of Case for Seduction by Ann Christopher.

Law Number 1: Never Fall For Your Boss!  Too late, since Charlotte Evans has been secretly head over heels for Jake Hamilton ever since she started working at his family’s renowned Philadelphia law firm. She’s too smart to expect the die-hard bachelor to suddenly turn into Mr. Right, until he starts putting the moves—on her!

Jake’s prowess is legendary—in and out of the courtroom. He’s never met a woman he couldn’t seduce, except Charlotte Evans. Jake’s lovely assistant may be the only female on the planet who sees past his playboy facade. And now Jake wants forever with the one woman he can’t have. Because when it comes to love, some laws are made to be broken.

The blurb is a bit misleading.  Charlotte has worked for years at Jake Hamilton’s law firm in the admin pool.  She’s a single mother working on her law degree part-time.  But one day her and Jake run into each other a coffee shop, outside of work hours.  She’s dressed casually and he’s just come from the gym.  He’s immediately taken and tries to engage her in conversation.  She eventually thaws a bit in her stand-offish attitude and they have a lively conversation.  Until one of his former friends with benefits sees him and confronts him about why he hasn’t called.  Charlotte leaves…and Jake never realizes that she works for him.

Until the following Monday when her ex-boyfriends drops off their young boy because he’s called into surgery.  Charlotte is mad because she’s working and it’s not that easy for her to take off to find a babysitter at the last minute.  Jake steps in and helps out.  And once he gets over the shock of his mystery being an employee of his, he promptly gives her a promotion to his assistant.

Jake hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her all weekend.  But knowing she’s his employee, that definitely puts a kink in his seduction plans.  With her as his employee, he considers her hands off and this forces him to get to know her as a person and they develop a friendship.  One that Jake wants to take further into a relationship.  But Charlotte is constantly faced with his former hook ups and she’s not sure she can trust him. But Jake isn’t one to give up easily.

There were a few things I liked about the set up of this book.  Jake’s playboy past comes to bite him on the ass.  LOL  It’s refreshing to see a hero have to work to overcome his past in the pursuit of the heroine.  I also liked Charlotte’s character and how she made the best out of her circumstances.  She’s a single mother and is also helping to take care of an ailing parent.  The set up – employer and employee, I enjoyed that too. And even though certain aspects of Jake’s woo-ing felt a bit desperate (I felt like he went a bit overboard with Charlotte’s son at time) I did like his efforts overall.  I felt there could have been a bit more resolution at the end especially in regards to their working together.

Overall, I thought Case for Seduction was an enjoyable read.  If you’re the mood for a quick contemporary romance, I recommend this one.  3.5 out of 5.

This book is available from Harlequin. 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: Always In My Heart by Kayla Perrin

Posted July 18, 2012 by Book Binge Guest Blogger in Reviews | 0 Comments

Judith’s review of Always In My Heart by Kayla Perrin.

The oldest of three adopted daughters, Callie Hart has always loved being the protector of the family. But now she is all grown up—with a young son of her own to protect. Callie can’t wait to show him off when she reunites with her two sisters in Ohio. But that also means coming face-to-face with the lover she left behind. Nigel Williams is even more irresistibly attractive than ever. But what will he do when he learns about the secret she kept hidden from him for ten years?

Nigel has never forgiven Callie for fleeing Ohio—and the passion they shared. And when she shows up on his doorstep asking for forgiveness, the Cleveland cop is furious at her deception. But how can he deny the feelings Callie reawakens in him? Blindsided once again by the heat of desire, Nigel vows to fight for his future with the woman he has always loved.


Leave it to Harlequin and their Kimani Imprint to bring us a contemporary interracial romance that is hot and sensual, and the story of a relationship gone sour–very much gone but not forgotten. I suppose one could say that this is a case of two lovers who have become estranged, one of them leaving the other behind, and then having to return to eat a very healthy helping of “crow.” It is also a story that speaks plainly about the difficulties which many families find have become the substance of their relationships, especially among siblings. Now these three sisters are brought back together, tentative with one another because of their long estrangement, but now must deal with their aunt’s death. The real shocker is that Callie, the oldest, has returned with a nine-year-old son in tow. No one is more surprised than Nigel Williams, her son’s father and the man for whom she still harbors a deep and disappointed love.
This is a fine romance and while there is the mild adversarial content, its overriding value is the telling of a reconciliation that is necessitated by the presence of this smart and personable little boy. Callie is protecting her heart just as is Nigel, yet they both realize that there really is still a connection. I enjoyed this story so much, and I especially loved the little boy, Kwame, a child whose deep need for connection seemed to appear time and time again and to their credit, both Callie and Nigel were sensitive to it.
I have long loved Harlequin, and while I have been reading them for years, the novels under this particular imprint have been better than expected. I really like interracial romance anyway, as I appreciate those who are willing to move beyond society’s dictates and follow their hearts. This is also the first of a series in which the story of each of these sisters is told. I think this was a vastly entertaining read and I am looking forward to the coming stories in this series.

I give it a rating of 4 out of 5

You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s Book Place.
This book is available from Harlequin Kimani Romance. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

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