Tag: Susanne Matthews

Guest Review: Just for the Weekend by Susanne Matthews

Posted June 9, 2014 by Tracy in Reviews | 1 Comment

Guest Review: Just for the Weekend by Susanne MatthewsReviewer: Tracy
Just for the Weekend by Susanne Matthews
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Publication Date: April 14th 2014
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four-stars

It’s time to play with the grown-ups.

Kindergarten teacher Cleo James needs a change. Three years at her widowed dad’s beck and call are enough. A weekend in Vegas at a sci-fi convention with her best friend will do for now, and the hot guy who wants to spend time with her only adds to her excitement. After all - it’s just for the weekend. What can possibly go wrong?

Multimillionaire Sam Mason is sick of gold diggers. He’s looking for someone who’ll fall for him, not his wallet. When he meets a shy, green-skinned slave girl, she pushes all his buttons - the best part is she has no idea who he is and mistakenly believes he’s a Chippendale. Between the sexual attraction and too much alcohol, he wakes up married to his green-skinned beauty, but the bride has vanished. Finding her will be a lot harder than he thinks.

 

Tracy’s review of Just for the Weekend by Susanne Matthews

Cleo is a kindergarten teacher who is, because of her job, completely worried about appearances. She knows that teachers are kept to a standard that most citizens are not. She doesn’t want to do anything that would reflect badly on her and cause her to lose her teaching license. When her best friend invites her to Vegas to help her at her authors booth at a sci-fi convention Cleo is hesitant but agrees.

Once there Cleo finds herself dressed as an alien slave girl costume that has all the men leering at her. One man however, catches her attention and won’t let go. The night before she had seen him in the bar and believed him to be one of the Chippendale dancers. After helping her out of a sticky situation with a drunken man he suggests they dine together and she quickly agrees.

Sam Mason is a multi-millionaire who can’t keep his eyes off of Cleo. Even as her skin is painted green he believes her to be unbelievably beautiful and is smitten by the time dinner is through. He plays along with the Chippendale dancer cover because he wants Cleo to want him for who he is, not his money. The pair end up spending that evening together and when Sam asks her to be his date for the entire weekend Cleo quickly agrees.

The couple spend a wonderful time playing tourists while sitting in luxury. Cleo believes that the helicopter belongs to a friend of Sam’s who runs LJS Enterprises but it really all belongs to Sam. As the day goes on Sam wants to tell Cleo the truth about who he is, but after some remarks that Cleo makes about men with money he thinks that maybe being rich will create a roadblock in their relationship.

That night they both get drunk having the time of their lives on the Vegas strip. When Cleo wakes up the next morning, however, she finds she did some things that she knows aren’t ok – especially ones that involve an exotic dancer named Sam. She loves Sam (though it happened quickly) but she runs from him fearing that her job will be on the line if she stays. Sam is determined to find her as he loves her as well. Too bad she gave him a fake name as well as telling him she lived in Canada in a fictitious town – it makes finding her difficult but not impossible.

Just for the Weekend was a very sweet romance. I really loved both Cleo and Sam and the pair together made them that much better.

I did feel that Cleo was a bit anal about some things but I’ve never been a teacher in a small town so I’m not personally familiar with the expectations. They could possibly be exactly as Cleo had stated in the book – if so I feel bad for those teachers! What a limited life to lead. Anyway, despite her concerns she managed to let go and have a great time in Vegas – a really great time. Sam made it all the better with his kindness and giving spirit. Yes, he had the money but it was the thoughtfulness behind it that made me love him. Cleo’s joy and wonder forced him see the life that he’d taken for granted for so long and view the simple things in a new light. Their time together was darned near perfect

Mitch, Cleo’s best friend was a crack up. She made me laugh with all of her sci-fi references. I would love to read a book about her – hopefully I can in the future. Sam’s sister Liz was also a lively secondary character and a nice addition to the story.

Overall I thought JftW was a lovely book and I very much enjoyed reading it.

Rating: 4 out of 5

You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place.

This title is available from Crimson Romance. You can buy it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

four-stars

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What I Read Last Week

Posted May 12, 2014 by Tracy in Features | 3 Comments

How y’all doin?  Hope you had a nice weekend.  Happy belated Mother’s Day to all of the Mother’s out there – I hope your day was wonderful.  I spent mine with my husband’s family (since my fam all moved away! sniff) and that was a lot of fun.  

Let’s see…what’s going on in my life?  Not a lot.  My oldest has a new boyfriend – ug. lol  I’ve only met him once but he seems nice – always a good thing.
My youngest is gearing up for her 6th grade graduation and getting ready for 7th grade (OMG Jr. High! lol).  I was thinking about it yesterday and realized she’ll be in the graduating class of 2020.  That cracks me up for some reason.  I think because back in the 70’s everyone thought we’d all be driving flying cars and/or spaceships by then. Too funny.  We’re not quite in the space age yet. 🙂

On to what I read…

I started off the week with The Kraken King Part VI: The Kraken King and the Crumbling Walls by Meljean Brook.  I was on a roll with parts 4 & 5 so I had to read 6!! Zenobia and Ariq are getting closer as they try to save Krakentown.  I can’t tell you much because I don’t want to give any spoilers but it was good! My review will post on the 20th.  4.25 out of 5

Next up was Secrets and Sin: Raphael by Naima Simone.  This book has Greer drowning her sorrows after her engagement is broken and spending a torrid night with Raphael.  She is then accused of murdering her ex-fiance and she also find herself pregnant.  The story was a good one.  I did have a bit of an issue with Greer but it was still good.  3.75/4 out of 5

My next read was Sir, Yes Sir by Dinah McLeod.  This is a book in a series called Old Fashioned Husbands.  It’s a story that involves domestic discipline and that’s just not my cup of tea. Despite that I thought it was a decent read.  The story has a former Army man coming to terms with life outside the military and his wife dealing with his mood swings.  3 out of 5

Just for the Weekend by Susanne Matthews is the story of Cleo and Sam.  Cleo is a kindergarten teacher who is helping out an author friend at a sci-fi convention in Vegas.  Sam is the man who can’t get Cleo out of his head.  They get together for just the weekend but Cleo knows it can’t last.  She thinks he’s a Chippendale dancer and with her hometown holding her to a high standard she can’t be with him.  He’s actually a multi-millionaire who is trying to figure out if Cleo wants him or his money.  It was a darned good read and one I really enjoyed.  4 out of 5 (read for Book Binge)

Three French Hens by Lynsay Sands is a novella that has Joan, a French woman, who doesn’t want to marry the man she’s betrothed to.  She finds a maid, Brinna, who looks like her and pays her to be Joan, with Brinna understanding that it’s just for a day or two.  Brinna, however, falls in love with Joan’s betrothed which she really wasn’t supposed to do.  This is a really cute story and I loved Brinna. Royce, the betrothed, was a sexy beast and a great guy and I wanted nothing more than for him and Brinna to be together.  4 out of 5

Dark Heat: The Dark Kings Stories by Donna Grant was a compilation of 3 novella’s having to do with the Dragon Kings.  Each story has a fated mate and pretty much insta-lust but they all worked for me one way or another.  I’ll post my review this week. 4 out of 5

Next up was Hard to Hold by Incy Black.  This story is about a single woman who goes out and gets IVF to have a baby.  Now someone is trying to kill her.  Her ex-husband gets involved even though she doesn’t want him to.  She still loves him and he her but they have so many issues between them it’s almost insurmountable.  The story is more suspense than romance but it does have it’s own special blend of romance – and not the sweet, gentle kind.  Anna and Nick are at loggerheads almost the entire book and besides the outside “evil forces” the book is really about them working through their issues in their lives and in their relationship.  It was good – I just don’t have a clue how to rate it.  I finished the book 2 days ago and I still don’t know.  I’ll get back to you on that. (read for Book Binge)

Last for the week was an oldie but goodie called The Deed by Lynsay Sands.  This was Sands’ first book and it made me laugh yet again.  Emma has an audience with the King because her husband of two years has never consummated the marriage.  The husband dies on his way back to follow the King’s orders to do the consummating and Emma’s immediately ordered by the King marry someone else (else her lands will fall to her husband’s mother and Bertrand (a relative but I can’t remember the relationship).  He thinks she must be a hag, I mean, why else would a man not bed his wife for 2 years???  She’s not a hag and Amaury actually has a hard time holding himself back from bedding her immediately. Emma’s got self esteem issues and Amaury’s got someone after him and a temper to boot.  The whole story had me smiling because Emma was just so naive (but still highly intelligent) and Amaury had no patience at first but became a great hero.  Just a cute medieval romance.  3 out of 5

My Book Binge reviews that posted last week:
crickets

Happy Reading!!

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Guest Review: The Captain’s Promise by Susanne Matthews

Posted October 15, 2013 by Tracy in Reviews | 0 Comments

Genres: Anthologies (multiple authors)

18459806Tracy’s review of The Captain’s Promise by Susanne Matthews

Etienne Blouin left Danielle de Cherbourg in tears, promising to return; he didn’t. Ten years later, Etienne learns she’s been widowed and left almost penniless. Now a wealthy ship’s captain, he offers to help her, but the only reply he gets is from her aunt telling him to leave Danielle alone. Convinced she’s in trouble, he determines to rescue her whether she likes it or not, even if it means losing her love.

Danielle is shocked to learn that her companion is going to the colonies, while she is to marry a cruel and powerful man as repayment of her husband’s gambling debts. Despondent, she sees no way out of the horrendous situation. When her carriage is waylaid and she’s kidnapped, she fears the worse.
Etienne has enemies who don’t want La Belle Rose to make port. Can he outfox them to save his ship and the woman he loves?

When Danielle de Cherbourg is just sixteen she hopes and longs for a marriage proposal from Etienne Blouin who is 5 years her senior. Etienne doesn’t believe himself good enough for her as she is of royal blood and he is the third son of a minor noble. His family tells him time and again how he needs to set his sights lower. He agrees even though he cares for Danielle greatly.

Etienne goes off to be a soldier and Danielle doesn’t see him for 10 years. In that time her parents die and her aunt and uncle marry her off to pay the uncle’s gambling debts. When Danielle’s husband dies she finds that he has a huge gambling debt of his own but her aunt has figured out a way to pay it – marry Danielle off yet again. During the years Danielle has written to Etienne asking for his assistance but he has never come to her rescue. This time when Etienne finds out about the possible marriage he realizes that he can’t live without Danielle and he can’t allow her to marry again. He stages a rescue and leaves France. Unfortunately their road is not smooth and they find they may not make it to their new home on Martinique.

This story started off really well with Danielle mooning over Etienne (as that’s what I have to call it as the girl’s just 16!) and him being pretty oblivious to her feelings. Yes, they are wonderful friends but Danielle wants more.

Ten years later Etienne is finally back in France and heads off to see Danielle. He offers his help to get out of the gambling debt that is from her deceased husband but she refuses his offer. She longs for him but never tells him how she feels. Once she realizes her aunts evil plans she writes to Etienne but gets no reply. She thinks she is abandoned. At this point I just wanted the girl to escape. Run away – fly, be free. But no, she goes along with the aunts plan and can’t think of another way out. Really? I was more than a bit frustrated that Danielle didn’t take matters into her own hands. She supposedly had the intelligence for it but it certainly wasn’t shown to us at that point.

Once Etienne saves Danielle and her friend Marie and they set said for Martinique the story got a bit slow. Not a lot was happening. Etienne was hiding himself from Danielle for fear that she would be mad at him for saving her. I was frustrated with him because whether she loved him or not he was her dear friend. I know he was mad at her for not responding to any of his messages but still. (FYI – the aunt was hiding his mail to her and vice versa) The story was…pleasant but even with threat of a spy on board the story didn’t move along. I found it to be overly descriptive and felt those parts were just added in for filler when it would have sufficed to say, “he told her about the people and customs of Martinique.” The end was a bit abrupt, imho, because there was no sex during the entire book and then bam! sex scene; The End. What? Totally gratuitous and unnecessary. I felt it would have been better served to show the couple pledging their love and then dreaming of the future. Don’t get me wrong, I love sex in books as much as the next person but only when it moves a story along.

In the end everything worked out and I was pleased with the overall result.

Rating: 3 out of 5

You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place

This title is available from Front Porch Romance.  You can buy it here or here in e-format.  This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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What I Read Last Week

Posted September 23, 2013 by Tracy in Features | 8 Comments

Another interesting week in Tracyland. There’s just never a dull moment! Among the many other things that happened: my daughter went on her first date. OMG talk about nerve-racking – she’ll be 16 in a couple of months but…still! The boy (her boyfriend) is very nice though so I wasn’t too worried and it was just dinner and a movie. I dropped them off and the boy’s parents picked them up – she was home by 10. Why do I feel so old? lol Here they are before the date. My girl had her eyes closed but the other one I took while they were in the back seat of the car looks pretty funny – he looked like a deer caught in headlights and she looked like her head was about 5 times too big for her body. lol 

I’ve still got a couple of giveaways going at the moment – click on the links to go to post to enter:
A print copy of Steam Bath: Sweaty Gay Erotica edited by Shane Allison
My 5 Star Read (so far) Giveaway
A print copy of The Hardest Thing: A Dan Stagg Mystery by James Lear (US Only) 
Congrats to Rowena who won Protector by Joanne Wadsworth!

Anyway, on to what I read:

I started off with the upcoming book Snowbound with the CEO by Shannon Stacey. This is a short story/novella that tells the tale of a man and his assistant that are stuck in a hotel in a blizzard unexpectedly. Each has been attracted to the other for a while but both have kept it on a professional level…until now. The story is about their weekend together and the things that happen once they get back to work and their everyday lives. It was a good one and I really enjoyed it. 4 out of 5

The Hardest Thing: A Dan Stagg Mystery by James Lear was a different kind of read for me. There was very little romance so that’s a big change but also the man character, Dan, was very promiscuous and for some reason it just worked for me – which it normally doesn’t at all. Because of this I really didn’t think that any kind of relationship that happened in the book would work but I still enjoyed it all immensely. You can read my full review here. 4.25/4.5 out of 5

Grabbed by Vicious by Lolita Lopez was a sci-fi romance. Due to an agreement between worlds men of one planet can come enter a Grab. Girls are chosen (I was a little unclear about how – lottery?) and then they are corralled and let loose to run, or not, away from the men. If they are Grabbed then that means that they are now married. Primitive but it works in this story. One girl is Grabbed when she doesn’t want to be but soon succumbs to Vicious’ attentions in bed and they soon fall in love. There are a few other things that happen but it was a decent, entertaining read. 3 out of 5

The Captain’s Promise by Susanne Matthews is the story of a girl of royal blood who is in love with guy when she is just 16. He goes off to be a soldier but he makes a promise to her father to always look after her. When he returns 10 years later and finds her in a big predicament he goes about trying to help her. It was a good story that had it’s issues. 3 out of 5 (read for Book Binge)

I Only Have Eyes For You by Bella Andre was my next read. I was sadly disappointed by this book. I mean, I liked Andre’s writing as in previous books and I liked the premise but when all the sex was taken out there just wasn’t a whole lot of story left over. What was there was good. I’ll post my review for this next week. 3 out of 5

Last for the week was a novella called Single Wolf Female by Jessica Sims. Alice was co-Alpha with her brother Chase but he died. She has to get a new alpha but she’s out of family members. This means she must mate the new alpha. Unfortunately a guy named Roscoe who is mean and nasty wants the position. Alice heads to a shifter dating agency and ends up finding Jackson who is an alpha who runs his pack of two. He takes the position but getting to know a stranger that’s going to be your mate plus dealing with a pissed off Roscoe makes for some strange days. The story was a good one. I really liked all the characters in the book and I very much appreciated that Sims didn’t have the h/h falling in love in a day. When the book ended you could see that it would happen but there were no I Love You’s spouted and that was awesome. 🙂 I definitely need to read more in this series. 4 out of 5

My Book Binge reviews that posted last week:
The Week Before the Wedding by Beth Kendrick

Happy Reading!

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