On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves Contemporary Romance Self Published - October 11, 2011 Published through Penguin – June 7, 2012 Reviewed by Mandi On the Island starts with a thirty year old teacher, who has decided to take a tutoring job for the summer with a family that will be vacationing in the Maldives, a chain of 26 islands in the Indian Ocean. Anna has a boyfriend of eight years but she is tired of waiting around for him to propose so they can move on with having a Continue Reading
Review: Two In Winter by Vanessa North
Two in Winter by Vanessa North Contemporary Romance July 2, 2012 Novella Liquid Silver Books Reviewed by Mandi This novella (51 pages) didn't work for me for a couple of reasons. First of all, I feel like we only skim the outer layer of who these characters are. Getty owns a small clothing line where she takes care of the business operations, and her friend Anna is the designer. She is in her mid thirties and ready to move on with having a family. She comes across as Continue Reading
Review: Giving It Up by Amber Lin
Giving it Up by Amber Lin Erotic Contemporary June 18, 2012 LooseID Reviewed by Mandi I think Giving It Up has a really intriguing and good premise and it has very dark, emotionally damaged characters, which is always something I enjoy. And while the first 10-15% of this book is really strong, I feel like nothing comes together at the end. But there is still something about this story that will stick with me. Allie was raped by her best friend two years ago and it changed her Continue Reading
Review: One Small Thing by Piper Vaughn and M.J. O’Shea
One Small Thing by Piper Vaughn and M.J. O’Shea Contemporary M/M Romance May 4, 2012 Dreamspinner Press Reviewed by Mandi Based on the blurb and cover (the feet creep me out) for One Small Thing, I don’t think I would have ever picked it up on my own. But there is this thing called Twitter (have you heard of it?) where people recommend books to me every day (that’s the sound of my credit card weeping). Brie from Romance Around the Corner (also a fab person to follow on twitter) Continue Reading
Review: Star Crossed by Kele Moon
Star Crossed by Kele Moon (Battered Hearts #2) Erotic Contemporary July 3, 2012 LooseID Reviewed by Mandi Kele Moon is has definitely hit my radar as a solid erotic contemporary author. She has two series that I follow: Her Eden series which is a darker, bdsm, m/m/f and Battered Hearts, a more straight up erotic contemporary. (She also has one book in a m/m series that I’m keeping my eye on). She writes the dirty sex really well and gives us some interesting characters along the way. Continue Reading
Review: The Carny by Brooke Moss
The Carny by Brooke Moss Contemporary Romance July 7, 2012 Inkspell Publishing Reviewed by Tori Favorite Quote: “We'd only known each other for a total of seven minutes “ How important was your first kiss? How long did the feeling last? A minute? A day? A Year? When seventeen year old Charlotte Davenport received her first kiss from carnival worker Vince Youngblood, nothing came close to replicating that feeling for 10 years. Now, Vince and the carnival are back in town and Continue Reading
Review: The Theory of Attraction by Delphine Dryden
The Theory of Attraction by Delphine Dryden Contemporary Romance, BDSM July 9, 2012 Carina Press Reviewed by Mandi When the review request for Theory of Attraction came my way, the author described it as a BDSM Nerd-mance. How could I resist a book like this? I wish more books were published with this theme. A nerd who has a secret BDSM side…let’s discuss. Dr. Ivan Reynolds is a rocket scientist. He lives in a townhouse complex that is highly populated by computer scientists and Continue Reading
Review: The Great Escape by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
The Great Escape (Wynette,Texas #7) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Contemporary Romance July 10, 2012 William Morrow Reviewed by Tori Favorite Quote: “Life is meant to be lived.” Being the daughter of the former President of the United States isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Lucy Jorik has always done what was expected of her. Attended the right schools, took the right jobs, and is now set to marry the right man. Only, Lucy isn't so sure this is the life she wants. When Lucy leaves her Continue Reading
Review: Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot
Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot (Heather Wells #4) Chick-Lit July 10, 2012 William Morrow Reviewed by May Favorite Quote: I’ve come to the conclusion that, aside from Nazis, the Taliban, and possibly the honey badger, there is no one on the planet more merciless than a teenage girl once she’s decided she dislikes you. Heather Wells was a teenage pop star – playing malls and opening for the biggest boy band around starring her then boyfriend Jordan. That is, until Continue Reading
Review: Carolina Home by Virginia Kantra
Carolina Home by Virginia Kantra (Dare Island #1) Contemporary Romance July 3, 2012 Berkley Reviewed by Helyce Carolina home is the type of contemporary romance I really enjoy. It was easy to fall into it, the characters and the story playing like a movie in my head. It had just the right amount of angst without going overboard. While the individual character’s situations were not new, Ms. Kantra did a great job of pulling me into these people’s lives. Matt Fletcher grew up on Dare Continue Reading