Book Review: LIMBO By Amy Andrews

Book: Limbo (The Joy Valentine Mysteries Book 1)

Author: Amy Andrews

Joy Valentine, singer and former contestant on the X Factor, works in a funeral home doing make-up for the recently deceased.  While working on a murder victim, the victim’s ghost appears to Joy asking for her help.  The ghost wants Joy to find her missing infant daughter and make sure she is returned her to her father.   Joy seeks the help of private investigator Dashiell Dent, a man she hasn’t seen in three years and had never planned on seeing again. Dash believes Joy spoke to the ghost of Hailey Richardson and agrees to help Joy look for the missing Isabella Richardson.

Dash and Joy have a convoluted history.  First of all, three years ago, Dash and Joy hooked up for one night of incredibly hot sex. Secondly, Dash was a friend of Joy’s older brother and therefore should be off limits.  And finally, Dash is twelve years older than Joy, with a 10-year-old daughter and Joy is not looking to be anyone’s mom. 

Dash and Joy decide to not have a repeat performance of what happened on that night three years ago.   They should be able to work together to find Isabella without going down that road again, right?  Besides, Dash prefers his women to be soft and curvy, not thin and waif-like wearing dark clothes and black nail polish.  And Joy likes hot rocker dudes, not old, grumpy ex-cops.  But the more the two of them try to avoid the temptation of sex, the more sexually charged they become. 

I really enjoyed this book.  The author did an amazing job of including several different elements to the story.  The book had intrigue, paranormal, a bit of humor, and of course lots of hot sex.  This is a book that could fall under several different genres, and will appeal to many different people. The chemistry between Dash and Joy is palpable. They are so good together though neither one of them can see it.  The supporting characters of this book have a lot of depth to them. Their story lines are fun and interesting too.  I really hope there’s more where this came from.  I’d not only like to read more mysteries surrounding Dash and Joy, but I also want to see what happens in the lives of Stan and his church and Eve and her brothel.  (I told you the supporting characters had depth.) Bravo, Ms. Andrews.  The Joy Valentine Mystery Series is well worth reading!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: Escape to Paradise by Robyn Rychards

Book: Escape to Paradise

Author: Robyn Rychards

Rock superstar Maximillian Chanteur needs to get away.  His fiancée ran off with his road manager leaving him broken hearted and unable to write the music he loves.  He escapes to the island of St. Barth,  where he meets the beautiful, sweet, and innocent Andree.  As Maximillian spends more time with Andree his muse returns.  Andree inspires him, relaxes him.  He writes enough new music to create a new album and returns to the states to begin promoting it.  Andree goes with Maximillian but the more time Andree spends in Maximillian’s world, the obvious it becomes that she’s not meant to be part of that world.  Will Andree be able to adapt to the fast paced world as the wife of a rock superstar or will their love become a casualty of their different worlds.

I liked this book. I didn't love it, but it was ok.  I liked that Maximillian recognized Andree’s naivety and tried not to contaminate her with his jaded perspective. The story of Lian (Maximillian’s real name) is sweet and refreshing. There are no steamy sex scenes and the writing is alright.  There were several typos and grammatical errors throughout the book, which is always an issue for me.  (Sorry, the teacher in me never takes any time off)

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: Bargaining with the Bride: Honeybrook Love, Inc. Novel One by Allison Gatta

Book: Bargaining with the Bride: Honeybrook Love, Inc. Novel One

Author: Allison Gatta

One month before her wedding, Rachel Ford finds herself without a groom.  Knowing the drama she’ll face if her parents find out that she’s once again embarrassed them, she decides a fake marriage, followed by a quiet divorce is a better option.  Rachel’s boss and friend Garret Adams is willing to step up and play the part of devoted fiancé.  In return for his help, Rachel agrees to let Garret “study” their relationship for his matchmaking company. 

Overall, I enjoyed the book.  I did find numerous misspelled words and grammatical errors though, which is always a big deal for me. In fact, there were enough of them that I thought it deserved one less star because of the editing, or lack of.   Though several other reviewers blasted the book for its unbelievable story plot, but I liked the story. I liked the fact that Rachel and Garret had been right under each other’s noses all along.  They were both so busy with their lives that they took very little notice of each other as anything other than friends and co-workers.  To me that base of friendship makes their budding romance so much more solid and real.  And to be honest, that is much more accurate that the instant chemistry storyline that so many other books follow.  This was a 3 star read for me; 4 stars for the story line, less the 1 star deduction for poor editing. 

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: Summer at the Shore (Seashell Bay) by V. K. Sykes

Book: Summer at the Shore (Seashell Bay)

Author: V K Sykes

Morgan Merrifield has loved Ryan Butler for as long as she can remember.  Currently, he’s back in Seashell Bay for another of one of his brief and infrequent visits to the island community where he grew up.  But Morgan knows Ryan won’t be around long.  Soon he’ll get the itch to move on and he’ll be gone again.

Morgan has come home and help try to save the B&B her family owns.  The B&B is everything to Morgan’s sister Sabrina, who runs it, but with the death of their father, things at the B&B have begun to fall apart.  Morgan needs someone to assist her with the ever-growing list of repairs and Ryan has agreed to help.  Ryan has made it clear that he’s not opposed to a summer fling, but is Morgan willing to throw caution to the wind, knowing Ryan will leave once summer is over? 

I enjoyed this book very much.  I definitely want to read more from these authors (they’re a husband/wife writing team).  The descriptions of the characters are rich and entertaining.  The supporting characters in the book have their own stories to tell.  And I want to know what’s going to happen with the other people of Seashell Bay. I will be looking for more in the Seashell Bay series.

Book Review: Ship of Dreams (Dreams Come True Series Book 2) by Rebecca Heflin

Book: Ship of Dreams (Dreams Come True Series Book 2)

Author: Rebecca Heflin

Giddings-Rose advertising exec Laura Armstrong has something to prove.  Her father has never forgiven her for not being born a boy.  If she can land the account for Imperial Cruise Line, she will get the VP promotion she desires. 

Nathan Maxwell works for the competition, Hawk Media.  He also is trying to land the Imperial Cruise Line account.  If Nathan wins the account for Hawk, the bonus he’ll receive will save his grandmother’s farm. 

When Laura and Nathan both book a cruise on the same ship to do a little research on Imperial, the stage is set.  Laura and Nathan begin a shipboard fling without knowing that the person they’re sleeping with is their rival. Will their relationship survive when they find out they’re both out for the same account? 

I really enjoyed this book.  I found the characters to be very likeable, and the dialog between them was interesting and fun. 

The Seduction of Madalyn by Cynthia A. Clement

Book: The Seduction of Madalyn

Author: Cynthia A. Clement

Madalyn Montgomery promised her mother she would look after her younger brother.  That promise has landed Madalyn in a compromising situation on board the ship, The Folly,which is bound for Charleston. Madalyn is forced to marry Nathan Carter.  Nathan agrees to help Madalyn find her brother.  Once that is accomplished, they can get an annulment and Madalyn and her brother can return to England.   

As Nathan and Madalyn spend more time together though, Madalyn falls in love with Nathan.  But Nathan, having already loved and lost once, is convinced he will never love again. 

I enjoyed this book.  Other than a few grammatical errors, the writing was very good.  I liked Madalyn’s strong personality and Nathan’s desire to protect her.  I found it interesting that the kidnapping of Madalyn’s brother was based on events that the author discovered while researching her family genealogy. 

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: Going Rogue (Ribbons and Rogues Book 1) by Jessica Jefferson

Book: Going Rogue (Ribbons and Rogues Book 1)

Author: Jessica Jefferson

Meredith Castle and Derek Weston grew up together as best friends.  When Meredith’s great aunt Catherine offers Meredith the opportunity to leave behind her small farming community for the glitz of London society, she’s reluctant to go. But Derek realizes how important this is for Meredith’s future, so he encourages her to leave.  Not long after Meredith’s departure for London, Derek realizes his mistake in letting her go. He goes to London and seeks her out at her aunt’s to ask her to marry him. But the Meredith he discovers is not the same Meredith who left him several months earlier. This Meredith is a spoiled, shallow debutante. A broken hearted Derek leaves London seeking a new life at sea.

For five years Aunt Catherine grooms Meredith to head “The Ribbons”, an exclusive club for girls that Catherine started many years before.  Meredith attends all the right parties and balls, but her reputation has suffered due to her partying lifestyle.  Meredith must repair her reputation and attract a husband before she reaches the age of twenty-four, when she’ll no longer be eligible to be a Ribbon.  In a calculated move, Meredith attaches herself to Ophelia Marshall.  This friendship will help repair Meredith’s reputation and put her in the company of Ophelia’s very handsome brother.

Ophelia has attracted the attention of the very rich, very handsome Lord Sutherland.  When Meredith is introduced to Lord Sutherland, she realizes he is actually her old friend Derek Weston.  But her sweet, thoughtful Derek has turned into an arrogant rogue.  The animosity and tension between the two is instantaneous.  But, the more the two are thrown together, the harder it is for them to maintain their hostility toward one another.  It’s obvious that Meredith and Derek love one another.  Will they be able to get over past hurts or will they be victims of their circumstances?

I enjoyed reading this book.  The author’s rich and thorough character developments provided insight into the personalities and motivations of the people in the novel. I look forward to future books from this author on other Ribbons, including Alex and Ophelia.