Book Review: Her Best Laid Plans by Cara McKenna

The Deal: Following a bad break up (that sent 3 years of her life down the drain), 23 year old Jamie Webb is ready for some fun in Ireland, where she's on vacation ready to embark in as many adventures as she can before going home and back to school. 

But so far, her experience hasn't been great, even the authentic Irish pub she walks into is populated by old men with nary a guy her age in sight... and then the bartender shows up.

Connor Kelleher helps out at the family's bar while also trying to re-route (it went a bit off the rails after his mother died), he is instantly attracted to Jamie and when he finds out she's only staying for two weeks (and the attraction is mutual), they embark in a carefree fling... 

My Thoughts: Well, Her Best Laid Plans was a fun novella over all, I liked Jamie and Connor and I kind of got where they were both coming from. Yet the story stays very light and kind of on the surface. 

But I actually liked the interactions, they were very nice to each other and both of them knew what they were getting into. Jamie had plans and a life in Ireland, and Jamie had plans, school and a job waiting for her in Boston, she wasn't planning on staying and it was never really in the cards. 

Eventually, these two decide to give each other a chance - of course they do, this is romance!!! - but I liked how it happened. 

Burned by Sarah Morgan

Not a fan of this cover, I keep thinking
 she's gonna bite her tongue off.

The Deal: Rosie Miller is a martial artist and trainer living in London with her sister and trying to enjoy her life. Having gone through a rough childhood, Rosie took refuge in martial arts and in being strong, but there is one thing about that whole world that always brings her down: Hunter Black. 

Hunter Black was an older guy at the gym where she trained as a teenager, and they became friends and, eventually, lovers... and then he left her. And Rosie hasn't been able to have an stable relationship ever since. So Rosie is horrified when - in the middle of her latest breakup - she notices Hunter sitting on the next table at the restaurant she's at. 

Rosie tries to run away, but Hunter won't let her... and things get even more complicated when she finds out that he's her new boss. 

My Thoughts: When I read Ripped - the novella that features Rosie's sister Hayley - I was very intrigued by Rosie and what had happened to her in the past, as it's mentioned that she had gotten her heart broken before. So I was excited to read Burned... but sadly, this wasn't the greatest novella. 

For one, you never really know what the hell went down between Hunter and Rosie years before when he left, a few things are implied but most of it was guess work, and the only thing that was clear to me was that Rosie was clingy and Hunter left because they she was getting too serious of something. But, as I said, nothing is really explained (or at least it wasn't explained to my satisfaction). 

And most of the page time is taken up by Rosie and Hunter either contemplating their sexual chemistry or actually having sex. But there was little development otherwise. 

So, yeah, not a big fan of this novella.

 1/2

Book Review: Season for Temptation by Theresa Romain

At First Sight: Julia Herrington knows her family is a little unconventional: her stepfather is constantly preoccupied with their livestock and her mother absentmindedly goes along with while taking care of their little children, but they all love each other in her blended family, and she particularly loves her step sister Louisa.

So she's very happy when Louisa gets engaged to Lord Matheson, a young, wealthy viscount Louisa met toward the end of her London season. Julia even likes James - as he insist to be called - when he shows up at their family home to get acquainted with Louisa family.

In fact, she might like him a little too much.

For his part, James wants to be married soon and establish a proper home, so he and his wife can offer support to his recently widowed sister (who had a tangle with scandal as a result of her husband dying while with his mistress); and he thinks proper and elegant Louisa will be a good wife for him, even if she's more of a "head-choice" and his heart isn't really engaged beyond liking her.

But, as his visit to Louisa's home progresses and she avoids all talk of wedding plans, James goes confused, not only by Louisa's behavior but also by his own response to an interest in Julia, who charms him since the moment they first met, putting them all in an impossible situation. 

Second Glance: I loved Season for Temptation, I had been a while since I read such a light-hearted, funny historical romance.

Julia was so very likable, she was funny and often said whatever she thought but she wasn't mean about it or lacked social graces completely, she was just refreshing. James was a very nice guy who rushed into a decision he later regretted but he wasn't a douche about it.

He and Julia fall in love while he's engaged to Louisa, but I could understand them and sympathize, because they both loved Louisa too in their own way, and though I didn't like Louisa for most of the story - mostly because I couldn't understand her or where she was coming from for the longest time - in the end, she proved to love Julia just as much and helped her to be happy.

And they have to go through quite a bit to get there, but the book never turned dark and moody. That was another thing I deeply loved about this book: it's lightness, and how Julia and James were always so willing to believe the best of each other, even when circumstances might have suggested otherwise.

I hate when characters jump to the wrong conclusion and have little faith in the person they are supposed to love, Julia and James have their moments of doubt, but their dispositions just incline them to believe the best of one another. 

Bottom Line: If your are looking for something fluffy and sweet and fun, I definitely recommend Season for Temptation. It's a very relaxing, romantic read. And I can't wait to read Season for Surrender. 

1/2 

Book Review: Crossing the Ice by Jennifer Comeaux

At First Sight: Courtney has dreamed of following the steps of her mentor and coach Emily into Olympic gold, and she's one half of a competitive figure skating pair with good chances to make it into the Vancouver Olympics... if she and her partner Mark can push themselves a little more during the olympic season.

Emily and her husband Sergei have been coaching her and Mark since they were kids... so they feel a little betrayed when they agree to coach their rival team, brother and sister Josh and Stephanie.

Having Stephanie around is never pleasant, but Josh is another story all together. He's kind and shy and slowly forms a friendship with Courtney that has the potential to turn into so much more...

Second Glance: Crossing the Ice was fun. I always find I have lots of fun with these books from Jennifer Comeaux centered around the world of figure skating.

I really liked Courtney, she was smart and funny and a good competitor, she really worked hard for what she wanted in life and appreciated all the sacrifices her parents made for her. She didn't take skating for granted.

Josh I liked too, he was really nice and I'm all for nice guys, his shyness made lots of sense to me, even though he was rich and attractive, he had never really been allowed to express much of what he was made off.

Also, I liked the fact that the book didn't gloss over what it meant for them to be on rival teams, and where their loyalties laid. The book went there with the jealousy and insecurity I'm sure lots of figure skaters experience.

Aside from that, I really liked all the other characters in the story - except for Stephanie - it was lovely to catch up with Chris and Liza and Emily and Sergei from the Edge Series, I loved how the author incorporated them without letting them overpower the story. And Sergei and Emily's twins, Quinn and Alex, are the MOST ADORABLE kids ever!

And I was left very excited for whats coming next for these two.

Bottom Line: Highly recommend Crossing the Ice, to figure skating fans and just regular people in general looking for a sweet romance. And, as I said, I'm very excited for Courtney and Josh' continued story. 

 

Absentee.... Absentee

Hello my darlings!
I'm sorry I've been so quiet lately but my (10 year old) puppy has been really sick for the past few days - pneumonia, the doctor said - and everyone in my house has been in helicopter-mom mode, hovering over him.

He seems to be doing better now, but since he has lost so much weight lately, we have to feed him every few hours now that's he's on the mend. So, he's taking a lot of my time and my head space.

I am reading though, in little bits and pieces and I hope to write a few pending reviews soon.

Also, that's the reason why I didn't write my Listmaniac post of July even though I had started it already, which mans I'll have 2 Listmaniac post this months to make it up.

My first post, the July one, will be about TV series that I would like to see Reboot, Remade or Continued. For August I'm between best Opening Lines and Best Endings. I'll put that on the top-right hand side of the screen so you guys can vote.

Thanks!