Blog Tour: 147. A Novel Seduction by Gwyn Cready...

I am a sucker for a good contemporary romance... It lightens up the darkness--war and fighting, good-vs-evil, and save-the-world-or-else --that we get in urban fantasy and fantasy.

About the author:
Gwyn Cready is the recipient of the 2009 RITA Award for Best Paranormal Romance and the author of Tumbling Through Time, Seducing Mr. Darcy, Flirting with Forever, Aching for Always and A Novel Seduction. She has been called "the master of time travel romance." A Novel Seduction is her first foray into contemporary romance as well as men in kilts, and she found both eminently satisfying. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family.

About the book:

When snobbish book critic Ellery Sharpe screws up at Vanity Place magazine, her boss assigns her the ultimate punishment: write an ode to romance novels, a genre she considers the literary equivalent of word search puzzles. To make matters worse, he hires her sexy former party boy ex, Axel Mackenzie, to shoot the photos. Axel really wants the project to succeed. For one, the magazine will double his fee if he convinces strong-willed Ellery to write a story no woman can resist. Besides, getting Ellery to fall for romance novels might be just the push she needs to believe people can change . . . even him. At his sister’s advice, Axel gives Ellery a copy of Kiltlander, a much-adored romance whose warrior hero is utterly irresistible. To her dismay, Ellery finds herself secretly falling in love with the story—and with Axel, who’s drawing his own lessons from the book’s compelling hero. With her carefully crafted image of herself crumbling and her dream job on the line, will Ellery risk it all to make the leap from tight-lipped literati to happily-ever-after heroine?

drey's thoughts:
I was really in the mood for something light and heartwarming when I picked up A Novel Seduction. And how could I go wrong with a half-nekkid dude in a kilt? (Yes, even though I can tell this half-nekkid dude isn't wearing his kilt like a true Scots! ;)

Anyway. Ellery is stubborn and opinionated. Alex is a reformed rake who still loves her, and has no idea why they broke up five years ago. Well, he has an idea, but no confirmation, as Ellery has steadfastly avoided the entire topic--and him. For us readers, A Novel Seduction has back-flashes to provide some insight into the state of their relationship then, to go with the reminiscing today, especially in Ellery's case. And I'm sorry, but I think she totally made a mountain out of a molehill and placed the responsibility for said mountain squarely on Alex. Not that he's all shiny-halo blameless himself. But still.

In any case, these two find themselves thrown together in an assignment she doesn't want to do, and he can't afford for her not to. And he makes a feeble attempt at keeping her on track, but mostly just brings along romance novels to see what all the fuss is about. The story was mostly so-so for me, until they got to Edinburgh and Alex dons a kilt. Ah, that savior of all romance novels, that kilt. :D The plot was believable enough--but I have to say I didn't care for the scenes with her boss and his paramour. What I did enjoy was the banter between Ellery and Alex. It swings from almost-hostile to downright warm-fuzzy, and had plenty of "awwww" moments that romance fans love. All in all a pretty good read.

drey's rating: Pick it up!

Have you read A Novel Seduction? What did you think?

Title: A Novel Seduction
Author: Gwyn Cready
ISBN-13: 9781451612646
Paperback: 373 pages
Publisher: Pocket Star, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Pocket Books

Forever Texas Tour Part 2: 131. Heartstrings and Diamond Rings by Jane Graves...

Here's Part 2 of the 3-parter that is today's Forever Texas tour organized by Hachette Book Group for two delish contemporary romances.

The second book in the Forever Texas Tour is Jane Graves' Heartstrings and Diamond Rings.

About Jane Graves:
Jane Graves is the author of eighteen contemporary romance novels. She is a seven-time finalist for Romance Writers of America's Rita Award, the industry's highest honor, and is the recipient of two National Readers' Choice Awards, the Booksellers' Best Award, and the Golden Quill, among others.

Jane’s books have been translated into more than a dozen languages, with three titles reaching the Top 100 on Amazon Germany. Her most recent release, TALL TALES AND WEDDING VEILS, appeared on the Barnes & Noble Bestseller List. Jane lives in the Dallas area with her husband of twenty-nine years and a beautiful but crafty cat who rules the household with one paw tied behind her back.

Find Jane online at her website www.janegraves.com, and on facebook and twitter.

About Heartstrings and Diamond Rings: 

HE'S THE MAN OF HER DREAMS . . .

In a world full of frogs, Alison Carter is determined to find her prince. Maybe her dating past is more Titanic than Love Boat, but she's seen enough happy marriages to know that true love is possible. No matter what, she won't give up on happily-ever-after. If she can't find Mr. Right, she'll simply hire someone who can.

SHE JUST DOESN'T KNOW IT YET

When Brandon Scott inherits a successful matchmaking business, he thinks his prayers have been answered. Set up a few lonely ladies, collect the fee, how hard can it be? No one needs to know he's not really a professional matchmaker-especially not his first client, the beautiful, spirited Alison. Soon he's falling for her-and her dreams of kids and carpools. But Alison is getting close to figuring out his secret, and if she learns he's deceived her too, she'll walk right out the door, taking Brandon's heart with her.

ISBN-13: 9780446568487
Paperback: 402 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Hachette Book Group

drey's thoughts:
Heartstrings and Diamond Rings is a sweet contemporary romance with a matchmaking man at the heart of it. A man who has nothing left to lose, except maybe his dignity... And his heart. Brandon is charming and smart, not to mention gorgeous. He's in this matchmaking gig temporarily, just until he makes enough money to move on to what he's really interested in--real estate. His attempts at matches for Alison are seemingly normal, but end up to be completely ridiculous. I think he subconsciously did it on purpose just to have her banging on his door after each date... *grin*

Alison. Now Alison I have a wee problem with. I'm not much of a fan of a gal who's so stuck with the idea of marriage and family that she'd settle to get it. Yes, it's a pain digging thru crap to find the diamond, but if you don't dig thru it, you end up with it. And that's no way to start a happily-ever-after. She eventually comes to her senses (who wouldn't, it's Brandon we're talking about!), but is it too late?

Never mind that. This is a romance novel after all. Come and check this out--"watching" Brandon figure out matchmaking is worth it!

drey's rating: Pick it up! 

A note from Jane Graves:

Plano, Texas is a perfect setting for my series because it's an exercise in contrast, just as my characters are. In West Plano, people live in McMansions, drive Lexus SUVs, drink a lot of Starbucks coffee, and play a lot of golf. West Plano is upper-class Texas living with a sprinkle of glitter and a swimming pool in every backyard. East Plano used to be home only to blue collar folks who live in fifty-year-old tract homes with pickup trucks out front. Then the light rail came through and connected Plano to downtown Dallas, and the old downtown area was revitalized with trendy condos, restaurants, and bars. East Plano is middle-class Texas living with a touch of urban cool.


Alison Carter from HEARTSTRINGS AND DIAMOND RINGS owns a condo in downtown Plano, while the hero of that book, Brandon Scott, lives in a Victorian house on the edge of downtown he inherited from his grandmother. Because of its diversity, Plano, Texas gives me a great opportunity to show who my characters are by where they choose to live.

Forever Texas Tour Part 1: 130. Don't Mess with Texas by Christie Craig!

Hoo boy! Hold on to your horses everybody, today's going to be a busy busy day!

I'm participating in the Forever Texas tour organized by Hachette Book Group for two delish contemporary romances. There's lots of stuff for this tour, so take your time and grab a cup of tea/coffee. I split up the post into three segments that'll all go up today, so keep an eye out!

First up is Christie Craig's Don't Mess with Texas. Who would, with a title like that?

About Christie Craig:
Award-winning author Christie Craig grew up in Alabama, where she caught lightning bugs, ran barefoot, and regularly rescued potential princes, in the form of bullfrogs, from her brothers. Today, she's still fascinated with lightning bugs and mostly wears shoes, but focuses on rescuing mammals and hasn't kissed a frog in years. She now lives in Texas with her four rescued cats, one dog (who has a bad habit of eating furniture), a son, and a prince of a husband who swears he's not, and never was, a frog.

Find Christie online at her website www.christie-craig.com, on facebook and twitter.


About Don't Mess with Texas: 

Nikki Hunt thought her night couldn't get worse when her no-good, cheating ex ditched her at dinner, sticking her with the bill. Then she found his body stuffed in the trunk of her car and lost her two-hundred-dollar meal all over his three-thousand-dollar suit. Now not only is Nikki nearly broke, she's a murder suspect.

Former cop turned PI, Dallas O'Connor knows what it's like to be unjustly accused. But one look at the sexy--though skittish--suspect tells him she couldn't hurt anyone. The lead detective, Dallas's own brother, has the wrong woman and Dallas hopes a little late-night "undercover" work will help him prove it . . .

ISBN-13: 9780446582841
Paperback: 428 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Hachette Book Group

drey's thoughts:
Christie Craig always makes me laugh, and Don't Mess with Texas is no exception... The cast of characters are interesting and varied. Their issues are all love-related. And the murder-mystery is a doozy. What's a suspect to do?

Well, how about not falling for the hunky PI who swears he's just helping her out? Never mind that he's gorgeous, oh-so-earnest about helping her out, and have I mentioned gorgeous? I have? Well, I guess it bore repeating... And I guess the "don't fall in love" warning really doesn't belong in a romance novel, does it?

Anyway. Prepare to be entertained if you pick this up. And you'll pick this up if you like your love stories hot, funny, and with more than a dash of cheek.

drey's rating: Excellent!

Have you read Don't Mess with Texas? What did you think?

Christie Craig presents: 15 Things you’ll learn from Don’t Mess With Texas that might surprise you

1. Never, ever feed a dog broccoli.
2. You might be surprised how the weight of a dead body in the trunk of your car can go unnoticed.
3. Don’t ever joke about killing your ex . . . in front of witnesses.
4. In the right situation, vomiting on someone can endear them to you.
5. When a good-looking detective steals your underwear, he may not be a pervert; he could just be looking for blood splatter evidence.
6. Some men think hospital gowns are sexy, especially when a breeze comes by and a detective already stole your underwear.
7. When your grandmother is getting more action than you are, something’s not right with that picture.
8. Bed bugs are nasty little creatures but they can come in handy when trying to get someone to fall back in love with you.
9. In the right set of circumstances, morphine can be an aphrodisiac.
10. The consumption of five cupcakes when your heart is hurting is not always a bad thing.
11. The way a couple shares an ice cream cone tell the viewing public if they’re sharing bodily fluids.
12. Nothing can bring all the unresolved issues to the surface in a romance more than finding a naked woman in your boyfriend’s bedroom.
13. The journey to fall in love isn’t all sweetness and light; it can also have its darker moments where you hurt like hell but it’s still a journey that makes life worth living.
14. Love can make you laugh so hard you pee in your pants, but it can also make you feel like as though a pit bull just used your heart as a chew toy.
15. Things really are hotter in Texas.

Don't forget there are two more posts coming up!

Review: 121. To the Moon and Back by Jill Mansell...

Jill Mansell must be the Queen of British chick-lit! Her books are always just the right balance of funny and romantic, and I'd watch any (all!) of 'em if converted to the big screen...

Title: To the Moon and Back
Author: Jill Mansell
ISBN-13: 9781402243851
ARC: 433 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Sourcebooks

drey's thoughts:
While reading To the Moon and Back, I kept thinking in the back of my mind how I was going to classify it--was it a contemporary romance? Or chick-lit? I finally settled on both, because while this is quite the romantic read, it's not just about the boy and the girl.

In addition to being about a boy and a girl, To the Moon and Back also deals with loss and grief, allowing yourself to move on, and the wonderful bonds of friendship. All wrapped up in Mansell's trademark humor. How could I not have liked it?

As I read, I could also see the story playing out in my head. You know how there are books you absorb, and books you imagine? Well, I vividly imagined the story playing out. I could see Ellie, Jamie, Roo, Tony, Todd, and Zack in my head--just as if I had a movie reel flickering away... And maybe I'm in a sappy mood, but I loved all the characters--even as I wanted to thunk Zack upside the head for being just a tad too good. You don't get the girl by wishing on a star, buddy!

Make this a movie, and I'll be there with my box of Kleenex... And my girlfriends, of course!

drey's rating: Outstanding! I loved it so much I read it twice, back-to-back, because I just couldn't get enough of Ellie and Zack.

Have you read To the Moon and Back? What did you think?

Review: 112. Perfect Partners by Carly Phillips...

Perfect Partners is the second of three of Carly Phillips' backlist that I've had the opportunity to read and review...

Title: Perfect Partners
Author: Carly Phillips
eBook: 169 pages
Publisher: Inkwell Publishing, 2011 (reprint)
Purchase at Amazon
Source: Blue Dot Literary 

drey's thoughts:  
Carly Phillips' Perfect Partners has two people who've lost a lot--and could lose even more--for the possibility of love.

Chelsie has baggage from a previous marriage, and she's still trying to make amends. Griffin just doesn't trust women, period. You know the walls are way up there when these two have to learn to tolerate the other, for the sake of their niece... 

When tolerance grows into something else, can they take the steps towards love? Or is losing your heart too risky a proposition?

I didn't get into Perfect Partners--not like I did Solitary Man, but I did enjoy the story. I wish there was a bit more of the lovely little girl, and a bit less of the self-doubts. All in all though, a good read.  

drey's rating: Pick it up!

Have you read Perfect Partners? What did you think?

Review: 108. Solitary Man by Carly Phillips...

I was excited to get a chance to review some of Carly Phillips' backlist, and Solitary Man's the first of three titles... 

Title: Solitary Man
Author: Carly Phillips
eBook: 210 pages
Publisher: Inkwell Publishing (eBook)
Purchase at Amazon
Source: Blue Dot Literary 


drey's thoughts:  
Brought together by tragedy, then pushed apart by stubbornness, Kevin and Nikki's non-relationship is further complicated when he returns to town.

She loves him, but doesn't want him if he doesn't love her. He loves her, but doesn't know it yet--and even if he did, he has absolutely no clue how to show it. When circumstances throw them together, they have to figure out if love is worth fighting for. Or if their arrangement is purely for convenience's sake.

This is a sweet love story where the hero and heroine have everything to fight for, and everything to lose. Definitely one for romantic in all of us.

drey's rating: Pick it up!

Have you read Solitary Man? What did you think?

Review: 72. Wish You Were Here by Phillipa Ashley...

I'd enjoyed Phillipa Ashley's Dating Mr. December, so I thought I'd check out her latest, Wish You Were Here... (and no, I haven't gotten to 12 Men of Christmas yet; but it's on my Netflix queue!)

Title: Wish You Were Here
Author: Phillipa Ashley
ISBN-13: 9781402241444
ARC: 286 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Sourcebooks, Inc.

drey's thoughts:
Phillipa Ashley's latest offering is a tale of second chances--and whether you should take them. Beth met Jack when she was just nineteen and vacationing in Corsica. A whirlwind romance later, he asks her to marry him and she says "yes!" Then he disappears, and she's heartbroken. Fast forward eight years and Beth is walking into an interview for a job that she really needs. And guess who's on the other side of the desk? Jack, of course.

Taking this job might be the dumbest thing she ever did, but she needs it. But having to work with Jack--even if it's only temporary--brings up past memories and past hurts. Can they start over? Do they want to?

I liked Beth--she's charming, and you can feel the hurt she's still carrying around. I liked Jack, too. He had his reasons for being a complete cad back then. I even liked the two of them together--there's snappy dialog and chemistry between them. All in all, a good book to add to your beach bag for light summer reading.

drey's rating: Pick it up!

Review: 64. Wickedly Charming by Kristine Grayson...

Wickedly Charming is a contemporary romance with fairy-tale characters--and not exactly the ones you'd think of...

Title: Wickedly Charming
Author: Kristine Grayson
ISBN-13: 9781402248481
Paperback: 379 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Sourcebooks

drey's thoughts:
Ah, fairy tales. Ever read them and wondered what happened after the Prince marries the girl? Did they really live happily ever after? Well, here's one version where it didn't. Divorced with two children, Prince Charming now runs a bookstore. A man after my own heart--he reads! *wink*

One thing about the cover. The dude on it is delicious--the parts we can see, anyway! *grin* But the book describes him as slightly paunchy, and "paunchy" doesn't equal yummy abs to me.

Ok, back to the book! Prince--or Dave as he prefers to be called--runs into Mellie at a Book Fair, where she's protesting archetypes. Specifically, the evil ones, as in the evil stepmother, the big bad wolf, etc. This being a romance novel, you won't be surprised to find sparks flying between Dave and Mellie. And this being a romance novel, you won't be surprised that there are obstacles to surmount before they get their happily-ever-after.

Wickedly Charming is a darling story about second chances when your happily-ever-after doesn't quite work out. Mellie gets stuck in an insecurity rut too many times for my liking, but overall this sweet story will bring out the warm fuzzies.

drey's rating: Pick it up!

Have you read Wickedly Charming? What did you think?

Review: 58. Love Drunk Cowboy by Carolyn Brown...

I love me some good ol' Carolyn Brown cowboy romances! And was very happy to get my hands on a copy of her latest--Love Drunk Cowboy. How could you not want to read a book with that title?

Title: Love Drunk Cowboy (Spikes & Spurs #1)
Author: Carolyn Brown
ISBN-13: 9781402253584
Paperback: 391 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Sourcebooks

drey's thoughts:
I love cowboys. Or rather, I love the idea of cowboys. The hats are just sexy (anyone watch The Amazing Race? I ❤ Jet!), they can two-step and (boot-scootin') boogie, and they're muscled from hard work, not a workout bench... Alright, alright, I'm wiping off the drool now...

Carolyn Brown's characters are always a hoot, full of sass and vinegar, stubborn as a mule, and sexy as hell. And Love Drunk Cowboy is no different. Here we have a big city gal who's in town to take care of her departed grandmother's affairs. Right across the street is the sexy cowboy who's been on the phone every Thursday night for so long she's sure she knows him inside and out. Then girl meets boy and girl is completely flummoxed. Who knew he was young? Or sexy? Well, other than you & I that is... Oh, and Carolyn too! *wink*

Of course, he's always around, pointing out things that need to be taken care of like planting this year's crop (she rides a tractor!), paying the hired help, buying supplies, and making her grandmother's wine... Slowly but surely this little town nudges its way into the big city gal's heart. And she's torn--does she go back to her big city job with the promotion she's worked so hard for? Or does she stay with the little town, the farm, and the sexy cowboy?

I'm not giving away any answers. And you know the journey to the answer is going to be fun to read, so pick this up and prepare to be entertained!

drey's rating: Pick it up! Carolyn Brown's cowboy romances are must-reads for those who love their contemporary romances amidst ranches, rodeos, sassiness, sexiness, and spunk!

Review: 23. Everyone Loves a Hero by Marie Force...

I've read Marie Force's Love at First Flight and Fatal Affair, so when this one came up, how could I not give it a whirl?

Title: Everyone Loves a Hero ...and that's the problem
Author: Marie Force
ISBN-13: 9781402245749
ARC: 379 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Sourcebooks

drey's thoughts:
Cole is your typical flyboy--that is, he's cocky and full of himself. Doesn't hurt that he's also gorgeous. And then he goes and lands a plane in a blizzard, and saves his co-pilot's life. Talk about a hero complex, huh?

Olivia works at one of the concession stands at the airport, to make money so she can go to school. Then she meets Cole, and her heart and head go to war over whether she should go out with him or not...

Character: I like Cole, but how could I not? He's a flyboy! Ok, ok, so he's totally cool and up front and honest and good and all things nice (to Olivia, at least!). What's not to like? Olivia is hardworking and introverted, a Cinderella type who can't believe that Prince Charming's asking her to dance... She takes the chance, hoping that he doesn't break her heart, but runs when one of his nutty exes shows up claiming that Olivia's a "last fling" before she and Cole get married... Will they get their happily-ever-after?

Pace & Plot: Everyone Loves a Hero is a typical girl-meets-boy-etc. story that flows so beautifully that you won't be able to put it down until you get to the end. And that's only because you run out of words to read.

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent: Heartwarming contemporary romance for a cold winter night.

Have you read Everyone Loves a Hero? What did you think?

Review: 150. Thieves Like Us by Starr Ambrose...

Today's review is for Starr Ambrose's follow-up to Lie to Me, which I now need to get my hands on!

Title: Thieves Like Us
Author: Starr Ambrose
ISBN-13: 9781439181294
Paperback: 342 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Simon and Schuster

drey's thoughts:
Well, the weather outside is (getting) frightful... So curl up with Thieves Like Us and be prepared for a very enjoyable romp with Janet and Rocky...

I like Janet. Now that's she's marriage-free from the loathsome Banner Westfield, she's getting rid of everything. Including her diamond ring and that hideous necklace he gave her. How could he ever have thought she'd like that??? So off she goes to sell the jewelry. And gets caught up in a whirlwind of cops, jewel thieves, and Columbian gangsters. Good thing there's that yummilicious Rocky around. Not that she likes him, seeing how he's an ex-con and all, and she's sworn off anything remotely connected with lies and deceit...

But Rocky's not your typical gorgeous ex-con. He's a reformed ex-con. One who's very interested in keeping Janet out of the clutches of the bad guys. Not that she cooperates with that. Oh, no, that Janet has a mind of her own, and she's stubborn to boot.

Thieves Like Us is fun, fun, fun! You'll inhale it in no time, and laugh out loud while you do. I shall be looking for more Starr Ambrose!

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Review: 143. Honky Tonk Christmas by Carolyn Brown...

Carolyn Brown is one of my favorite guests here at drey's library, and I need to fix the fact that she hasn't visited since January. *gasp* How on earth did that happen?? Anyway, I love how her characters radiate spunk and sass, and Honky Tonky Christmas is no different...

Title: Honky Tonk Christmas (Honky Tonk #4)
Author: Carolyn Brown
ISBN-13: 9781402242014
ARC: 368 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Sourcebooks

drey's thoughts:
The Honky Tonk bar in Mingus, Texas has a new owner--Sharlene Waverly. Never mind that the previous three owners have all found love and left the bar, she's dead certain that being number four means she's immune to the Honky Tonk charm. Then in walks Holt Jackson...

Carolyn Brown is at her best when bringing two reluctant lovers together. The sparks flying between Sharlene and Holt could light bonfires. The other trademark of Carolyn's books? The families. It doesn't matter how much they might agree or disagree, they stick together. So they can be a little nosy... Sometimes... But when it's doing what's best for their own, they band together and take care of it.

Honky Tonk Christmas is Carolyn Brown through-and-through. If you enjoy contemporary romance starring sexy-licious cowboys, pick this (and all her other cowboy romances) up. You won't regret it. Well, except you'll need a towel to wipe the drool off the covers...

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Giveaway!
Want my ARC? Comment and let me know. I'll pick from the first 10 people. US only please. Extra entries apply (+1 for tweeting, +1 for linking, +1 for fb share), comment separately so it counts!

Review: 142. Dating Mr. December by Phillipa Ashley...

How do you turn down a book with a title like Dating Mr. December? Well, in this case, you don't... *grin*

Title: Dating Mr. December
Author: Phillipa Ashley
ISBN-13: 9781402241420
ARC: 294 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Sourcebooks

drey's thoughts:
Phillipa Ashley's Dating Mr. December first brought to mind the 2003 movie Calendar Girls. Only with dudes. Reluctant dudes, at that...

Emma Tremayne is settling in at a new job, and comes up with an idea for a fundraiser for the town's mountain rescue squad. Pitching the idea isn't the hard part, it's convincing the guys to take the leap, especially one of the squad leaders--cranky, broody, gorgeous Will Tennant.

Well, you didn't think this would be an easy love story, did you? As with all good ones, there are plenty of hurdles to get over, but Phillipa Ashley writes such sexy characters and dialog that you'll have inhaled this before you realize you're at the end. And then you'll pick up 12 Men of Christmas to see if it's as entertaining as the book.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Tour: 115. Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis...

Today I'm happy to be hosting Jill Shalvis on her blog tour for Simply Irresistible, a quirky, warm-fuzzy, contemporary romance that'll get you going "awwwwwwww"...

Title: Simply Irresistible (Lucky Harbor #1)
Author: Jill Shalvis
ISBN-13: 9780446571616
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Simply Irresistible was provided by Hachette Book Group for this blog tour. I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the author:
USA Today bestselling author JILL SHALVIS lives in a small town in the Sierras also run by quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books are, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website at www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountain adventures.

drey's thoughts:
Three half-sisters--Tara, Maddie, and Chloe--meet up at a dilapidated old inn in Lucky Harbor to inspect their inheritance. One wants to fix it up. One wants to sell it. One is ambivalent. All three have secrets, and none of them really know how to talk to each other.

In Simply Irresistible, Jill Shalvis gives us a crash-course in sibling dynamics along with a warm-fuzzy romance, and does both admirably. Her characters are fun and irreverent. And I love how each chapter starts with a quote attributed to the girls' mother. For example:

Men are like parking spots. All the good ones are taken, and those that aren't are inaccessible.

Remember, it's always better to be the smartass rather than the dumbass.

The easy road is always under construction, so have an alternative route planned.

And, this being a romance novel, Jax (the hero) is delectably hunky and absolutely delish! I love the dialog between the characters, and I love how real Jill makes them. Pick this one up to curl up with this fall. Or better yet, win a copy!

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have 5 copies of Simply Irresistible for you--one copy per household, if you live in the US or Canada (no PO Boxes, please).

To enter, comment and tell me why you want it. That's it. Tweet this giveaway for an additional entry if you'd like to (@dreys_tweets), comment separately with your tweet status. Do it before 6:00pm CST October 10th. Good luck!

108. Just One Taste by Louisa Edwards...

Title: Just One Taste
Author: Louisa Edwards
ISBN-13: 9780312356477
ARC: 331 pages (not including recipes!)
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Just One Taste was provided by Nancy Berland Public Relations for this review. I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
I think Louisa Edwards is a closet geek. There. I've said it... Not that that's a biggie, as I'm a self-avowed geek myself. Hurrah for girl-geek-power! *grin* Ok, ok. Enough of the silliness.

Wes hides his past from everybody, not trusting that they'd want him around if they knew where he's been and what he's done. Rosemary hides from people in general, uncomfortable with social interactions where her brain overtakes her tongue.

With all that hiding, how on earth did they show up as co-stars in a romance novel? Well, because Louisa gets it all down perfectly, that's how. The chemistry between these two just work. Doesn't hurt that Wes appreciates Rosemary's particular brand of humor, and Louisa's story-telling and dialog makes their story believable. I could "see" their interactions in my head.

Just One Taste is a romantic confection with that little touch of offbeat to make it fresh and yummy. A delicious treat for fans of the genre!

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Tour: 41. Love in Mid Air by Kim Wright...

Today's tour is for Kim Wright's Love in Mid Air, a story about a woman's journey to find happiness.

Title: Love in Mid Air
Author: Kim Wright
ISBN-13: 9780446540445
ARC: 312 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

FTC Disclosure: My ARC of Love in Mid Air was provided by Hachette Book Group for this blog tour. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the author:
Kim Wright has been writing about travel, food, and wine for more than 25 years and is a two-time recipient of the Lowell Thomas Award for Travel Writing.

drey's thoughts:
Love in Mid Air is a story of a woman whose chance encounter in a plane starts her off on a journey that she never would have anticipated taking. On the cover, Elyse Bearden has the "perfect" life. You know, the husband who works and provides all, the child who's lovely and doing well, the big beautiful house, the girlfriends who knows everything about your life... But take a look between the pages, and you'll see that she's not happy. Maybe it's from the little things, like living life with a husband who leaves vague post-it notes instead of having a conversation with her. Or who asks "what are you doing?" and "what are you trying to be?" when she buys sexy lingerie and wears it to bed to surprise him.

Not that Phil is a bad man. But neither he nor Elyse know quite how to talk to each other in this marriage. Is this what happens when you've been married for a while and have gotten into a routine that you can't seem to find the exit sign for? When she suggests counseling, he sends her to the doctor to rule out medical issues, then reschedules from an impartial counselor to their pastor (and his best friend). He is confused by Elyse's demands, even though he doesn't seem to be surprised by them. I guess I'd say that he was content with the status quo, and doesn't think that she would ever do anything. After all, their entire support group--the church, her friends, his friends, their friends, in short, everybody--think that marriages should be saved. As she says, "You think I'm just some dentist's wife living in a four-hundred-thousand-dollar house with twenty bucks in her purse who talks this big game but doesn't have the balls to see it through."

But Elyse needs to be more than just that dentist's wife, Tory's mother, Kelly's best friend... She even needs to be more than Gerry's lover. She needs to be herself. And it is the journey to finding herself that makes this a book worth reading. Pick it up!

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have three (3!) copies of Love in Mid Air for you. This is open to US and Canada residents only, no PO Boxes please! To enter, comment below: Why do you think women stay? Please remember to include your email address! Do it all before 6:00 pm CST April 29th. Yes, this one's longer than I normally do for giveaways, but that's because guess who's my Featured Author for April? Why, Kim Wright, of course!! Good luck!!

18. Dare to Surrender by Lilli Feisty...

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Dare to Surrender was provided by Hachette Book Group for this review. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the book:

HE MEETS HIS MATCH.

SHE MEETS HER MASTER.

Art gallery curator Joy Montgomery has never liked her body's generous curves. And she's always been too shy to explore her wild side. But tonight, everything is going to change . . . Desperate to save her job, Joy approaches bad-boy artist Ash Hunter and asks him to exhibit his erotic work at her gallery. Ash agrees on one condition: Joy must pose as his model. But business soon turns to pleasure, as Joy experiences a passion beyond her wildest imaginings and Ash finds more than just inspiration in his voluptuous new muse.

drey's thoughts:
Lilli Feisty's Dare to Surrender is super hot and super sexy. It features some characters from her previous book, Bound to Please, most prominently Ash Hunter, who used to be Ruby's. But Joy is all new, and so is her best friend Erica. Who actually features quite a bit, for being a not-main-character...

Joy is fun. But a little too hung up on her weight, and a little too attached to a job working for a guy I would kick to kingdom come faster than you can sneeze. I felt that Dare to Please had a lot more in-depth character than Dare to Surrender, though the latter did have lots of hot sex. This one's not for the faint of heart!

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Title: Dare to Surrender
Author: Lilli Feisty
ISBN-13: 9780446541930
Paperback: 335 pages
Publisher: Forever, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Now, for those of you who would like to try for a copy of Dare to Surrender, read on! I have up to 5 copies for you, courtesy of Hachette Book Group. We'll start with one on the block, and 1 more for every 10 people who enter this giveaway. Please remember that giveaways are only open to followers, and this one's for those in the US and Canada only.

To enter, fill out the form. Easy peasy.

15. Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale...

FTC Disclosure: My ARC of Lessons in French was provided by Sourcebooks for this review. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the book:

He's always been trouble...

Trevelyn and Callie are childhood sweethearts with a taste for adventure. Until the fateful day her father discovers them embracing in the carriage house and in a furious frenzy drives Trevelyn away in disgrace...

Exactly the kind of trouble she's never been able to resist...

Nine long, lonely years later, Trevelyn returns. Callie is shocked to discover he can still make her blood race and fill her life with mischief, excitement, and scandal. He would give her the world, but he can't give her the one thing she wants more than anything--himself..

For Trevelyn, Callie is a spark of light in a world of darkness and deceit. Before he can bear to say his last good-byes, he's determined to sweep her into one last, fateful adventure, just for the two of them...

drey's thoughts:
Laura Kinsale's Lessons in French is a pretty lighthearted romp in the romance genre. Callie is spontaneous and spunky. Trev is just broody, lol. But the two of them make a good pair, even when he's being a clod.

The plot with her other suitors and his past catching up to him was not too distracting from the interaction between the two, which is the best part of Lessons in French in my opinion. Well, except for Hubert being dyed. And hiding out in Trev's mother's kitchen. *grin*

There are lots of parts that will make you chuckle out loud, if not laugh outright. And it wouldn't be a romance book if it didn't have a happily ever after, now would it? How? Well, you'll have to read it to find out.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Title: Lessons in French
Author: Laura Kinsale
ISBN-13: 9781402237010
ARC: 446 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Tour: 11. A Black Tie Affair by Sherrill Bodine...

Tour day!! Today, Sherrill Bodine's A Black Tie Affair is touring... Read on to see what we have for you!

FTC Disclosure: My copy of A Black Tie Affair was provided by Hachette Book Group for this blog tour. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.


About the author:
Sherrill Bodine won her first writing award in the seventh grade in a statewide essay contest about a television broadcast of Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates. She followed that with stories sold to Fate Magazine, Home Life Magazine and True Confessions. Her first novel sold in 1988. Sixteen novels later, The Other Amanda won the Wisconsin Romance Writers of America Write Touch Readers’ Award and Talk of the Town was chosen by Cosmopolitan magazine as its “Red Hot Read” for February 2009. Find Sherrill online at www.sherrillbodine.com.


Sherrill shares her thoughts on New Years Resolutions:

Thank you for asking me to visit with you and discuss New Year’s Resolutions. This is the perfect time to let all of you in on my secret -- this year I DIDN'T declare to anyone who would listen "I'm going to lose ten pounds!" or "I'm joining a health club and exercising one and one half hours every day!" or "I'm going to learn how to fly!" Obviously none of the above are essential to my happiness or I would have achieved those goals since I've been making the same declarations for years.

This year I took the advice of a friend who is a Life Coach. She told me to make a list of the things I do every day which makes me happy, content, fulfilled. So I did and I discovered a surprise I'll share with you.

1. Really kiss my husband. Not the peck on the lips as he walks out the door in the morning and back at night kind of kiss. But a real honest-to-goodness "you still give me the chills, let's go upstairs" kind of kiss. I'm not a kiss and tell kind of gal but I will admit his reaction is quite satisfactory to put it mildly.

2. Talk to each of my four children -- all grown up and long gone from the nest. Even if the conversations are as brief as they often are with my youngest son. They go something like this, "Hi Mom. Yeah, I'm fine. Busy though. Gotta go. Love you lots." They still make me smile.

3. Talk to my mother. She has a button she pushes to call me. She usually pushes the button at 6am or earlier. It's a wonderfully reassuring way to start the day.

4. Write. It totally fits my friend's criterion- it makes me happy, content, fulfilled. I read that life is a square and the four sides are Health, Wealth, Love, and Perfect Self Expression. Writing is my perfect self expression.

Now here is the surprise and I have all of you to thank for this amazing discovery! But first I must let you in on another secret -- I'm looking up at being a techno subzero. I'm not a quick study with anything technical -- not even the remote and certainly not the DVD player.

So when I was asked to do this blog tour I was terrified. But I'm also tenacity so I declared with feeling, "Yes. Thank you very much!" I've been at it very day for the past few weeks -- doing guest blogs, Q & A's, commenting on reviews of A BLACK TIE AFFAIR - and I LOVE IT!

I did a Chatroom on Sunday night for two hours and the time flew. I couldn't believe I had to sign off. So I'm NOT signing off with visiting blogs, talking to other readers and writers.

5. Staying connected with all of you makes me happy, content and fulfilled!

Happy New Year!

xo Sherrill

Sherrill, thank you so very much for such a lovely post. I love your friend's advice to make a list of the things that make you happy, content, and fulfilled! I'm also glad that you decided to jump in with both feet into the online world of blog tours and chats. I'm sure you've made a lot of readers happy by giving them the chance to meet and talk to you!

About the book:

Fashion curator Athena Smith will do anything to get her perfectly manicured hands on the Clayworth family's celebrated couture collection for her exhibit. So when she's called in to make sure the gowns are the real deal, she's ecstatic... until a dress she's examining turns out to be loaded with toxins (talk about killer threads!) and Athena faints, only to wake up face-to-face with the One That Got Away, notorious Chicago bachelor Drew Clayworth.

Drew still believes Athena betrayed him all those years ago, and he's sure he can't trust her. But when the priceless gowns go missing, she offers to help track them down. Reluctantly allied in the quest, Drew and Athena are soon stunned by the barely restrained passion still sizzling between them... and memories both bitter and sweet. Is their new partnership just a business arrangement? Or is this something more than...

A Black Tie Affair

Check out this way cool trailer!



drey's thoughts:
A Black Tie Affair is a quick and easy read. There's a group of sisters, one of whom is the heroine. There's a group of cousins, one of whom is the hero. There's a quartet of beautiful dresses that poison the heroine then disappear. There's a chase to find the missing dresses before they poison anyone else. All wrapped up in a nice and pretty package.

I didn't quite get why Connor was so antagonistic towards the Smith sisters. Ditto for Venus. And there's no clear explanation on the thing with the girls' father and the Clayworths (unless I completely spaced out). Which only means one thing... Sequel!! All in all, an entertaining book for fans of the romance genre.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Title: A Black Tie Affair
Author: Sherrill Bodine
ISBN-13: 9780446618595
Paperback: 220 pages
Publisher: Hachette Book Group, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Giveaway!!
Y'all are lucky today... I have for you (if you live in the US or Canada), up to five copies of A Black Tie Affair, courtesy of Hachette Book Group! To enter, fill out the form below. And then comment and share if you like to get all dolled up for a formal event or not, and why... I'd love to, I think. But I'm not much of a girly-girl, and I'd probably fall on my tush from tripping over my own skirt, lol!! Oh, and do it before 6:00 pm CST February 9th!

9. Truly, Madly by Heather Webber...

FTC Disclosure: My ARC of Truly, Madly was provided by the publisher via a random drawing on LibraryThing. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the book:

Lucy hails from a long line of matchmakers known as Valentine, Inc. According to family legend, the Valentines have been blessed by Cupid with the psychic ability to help couples find true love. Trouble is, Lucy's powers were zapped away by an electrical surge and now all she can do is find lost objects. What good is that in the matchmaking world? You'd be surprised. In a big city like Boston, love is a mystery--and Lucy's upstairs neighbor, Sean Donahue, is a hot private eye whose job is murder. With a little luck, she can help solve the perfect crime and find her own perfect match--with Sean.

Filled with romance, a little mystery, and a whole lot of fun, Truly, Madly is the perfect gift for readers looking for something truly special.

drey's thoughts:
Truly, Madly was a LibraryThing win, and I was going to hold off on reading it until it got closer to February. But I was in the mood for something light, and picked this one up. And it fit the bill perfectly! Lucy is adorable, her parents are kooky, and Sean is yummy. Add in a meddling (but loving!) grandmother, a suspicious client, a diamond on a skeleton's finger, a lost boy, and detectives from two different precincts trying to figure out how Lucy does what she does, and you have an entertaining mix on your hands.

The pace moves along at a pretty nice clip, and before you know it, it's time to get out of that comfy reading chair to put the book down. There are laughs and snickers along the way, and everything eventually falls into place. What else would you expect? It's a romance novel!

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Title: Truly, Madly
Author: Heather Webber
ISBN-13: 9780312946135
ARC: 305 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Pub