Kathy Love: Getting What You Want

Getting What You Want
Series: Stepp Sisters, Book 1
Author: Kathy Love
Original Release: May 1, 2004
List Price: $5.99

Read: December 27-28, 2009
My Rating:


Author Homepage | Amazon.com

SUMMARY (from back cover)
In this delightful, heartwarming novel, Kathy Love introduces the Stepp sisters, three women whose lives are about to take a turn for the wild, the unpredictable, and the absolutely enchanting ... Meet Abby.

NOTE TO SELF:

Remind me to have my head examined.

What exactly possessed me to come home to Millbrook, Maine, where nothing changes but the weather? Oh, right. A six-month grant to do genetics research at Rand laboratories. What can I say --- I'm a smart girl. And smart girls get what they need and get out again. Smart girls don't dream, they settle. And smart girls do not get completely tongue-tied while holding a basket of fried clams when they bump into the most gorgeous man they haven't seen in fifteen years: Chase Jordan.

Remind me to have my hormones removed.

Chase Jordan. Town bad boy. Rebel with a cause to show up in my dreams unannounced. Oh boy, this is not good. Not smart. It's like high school all over again. But in a good way. A heart-thumping way. An I-have-no-idea-what's-going-to-happen way. A way that's making me feel like maybe settling for what I have isn't so smart ... but really going after what I want is the craziest thing I may ever do ...

Linda Francis Lee: Sinfully Sexy

MY REVIEW

Sinfully Sexy
Series: Sexy
Author: Linda Francis Lee
Original Release: September 27, 2004
List Price: $7.99

Read: December 21-21, 2009
My Rating:


Author Homepage | Amazon.com

SUMMARY (from back cover)

After a close encounter of the sexy kind, Chloe discovers her wild side

Plain-Jane Chloe Sinclair has never been bad ... until she stumbles - literally - into the arms of a gorgeous stranger. To make matters worse, her world is rocked completely off its axis the morning after when the sensual dreamboat turns out to be the man brought in to save the TV station where she works.

Sterling Prescott is hard-driven, sexy as hell, and determined to take over the struggling KTEX TV. But all bets are off when the shameless wildcat who disappeared on him last night walks back into his life - acting like a squeaky-clean librarian. Life gets truly complicated, however, when Sterling decides to win more than the station - and to show  her that being sexy isn't a sin.

MY REACTION
This is the second book that I have read by Linda Francis Lee and I'm very conflicted about what rating to give it - 3.5 stars (worth reading once, recommendable, check it out from the library) or 4 stars (will want to read it again, buy a copy of my own if I read a borrowed one). The other book was Looking for Lacey and it was really not a recommendable book, except for the side romance going on between the heroine's high school daughter and her classmate - that was literally the only thing that made the book worth reading.

"SEXY" SERIES
Sinfully Sexy is Book 2 in Lee's "Sexy" Trilogy - it's preceded by Kate's story in Suddenly Sexy and followed by Julia and Ben's story in Simply Sexy. The three heroines are all coworkers at KTEX TV and have been friends since childhood.

CONS
In Sinfully Sexy, there were a lot of things that were a mess:

• the story and the plot were not "tight"
• there were a lot of contrivances created solely for the author's character machinations
• the whole last-minute-dating-show-that-will-miraculously-save-the-station-and-oh-what-a-surprise-there-are-some-twists-that-make-certain-characters-have-to-be-contestants was ... yeah, not much appreciated by this reader
• the secondary kind-of-romance between Julia and Ben that sets us up for Book 3 in the trilogy was annoying, felt very forced, and definitely did not make me inclined to read their story
• Chloe's father was blah and the emotional scene and discussion at the end was far too corny and neatly-timed for me
• ... and I could go on.

PROS

*However*, Chloe was (for the most - if one ignores some random weird spots here and there) a good heroine and Sterling was (also for the most part - if one ignores his too sudden realization of love and quick turnaround) a good hero. There were some great scenes between them that were very amusing, very enjoyable, and *very* chemically-charged and Sterling sometimes does or says things that will have you sighing out loud. The interactions between him and his brother Ben were also nice additions.

NOTE

When I had first read the summary of this book, I thought that Chloe and Sterling basically have a one-night stand with one another and then are surprised to find out the next day that the stranger they slept with last night is someone they're going to have to work with. Although that's where things are heading, they *do not* sleep with each other at the beginning of the book and when they finally do it is absolutely perfect and at the right time in their relationship and in the book/story.

RATING DECISION

So basically it comes down to whether or not the good parts of the book outweigh the bad parts enough to warrant a 4-star rating instead of a 3.5-star one ... and after writing this review and being able to sum it all up for myself, I'm afraid to say that I'm going to have to go with 3.5 stars.

BOTTOM LINE

The pros of this book make it definitely worth checking out from the library (which is what I did), but I would hold off on buying it - I know some people have really liked this book, so it could be me, but IMO it just doesn't warrant a spot on my keeper and/or reread shelves.

Susan Mallery: Falling for Gracie

Falling for Gracie
Author: Susan Mallery
Original Release: August 31, 2006
List Price: $6.99

Read: November 29-December 2, 2009
My Rating:


Author Homepage | Excerpt | Amazon.com

SUMMARY (from back cover)

~ First comes love, then comes marriage . . . ~

At least, that was Gracie's plan at the ripe old age of fourteen. She loved eighteen-year-old heartthrob Riley with a desperation that made her a town legend. Even now that she's all grown up, the locals in sleepy Los Lobos won't let her forget her youthful crush.

And how can she, when she's face-to-face with Riley at every turn? The onetime bad boy has come back to town seeking respectability --- but the sparks that fly between them are anything but respectable! Gracie's determined to keep her distance, but when someone sets out to ruin both their reputations, the two discover that first love is sometimes better the second time around.

OTHER MALLERY BOOKS
This is my second book by Mallery and I'm glad I gave it a chance, because the first book I read by her - Sizzling - was not very good. You can read my review here.

Jennifer Crusie: Charlie All Night

MY REVIEW

Charlie All Night
Author: Jennifer Crusie
Original Release: November 30, 1995
List Price: $5.99

Read: December 3-6, 2009
My Rating:


Author Homepage | Book Page | Excerpt | Amazon.com

SUMMARY (from back cover)
Dumped by her boyfriend and demoted from WBBB's prime-time spot, radio producer Allie McGuffey has nowhere to go but up. She plans to make her comeback by turning temporary DJ Charlie Tenniel into a household name. And if he's willing to help her cure her breakup blues with a rebound fling, that's an added bonus.

Charlie just wants to kick back, play good tunes and eat Chinese food. He's not interested in becoming famous. But he is interested in Allie. And after all, what harm is a little chemistry between friends?

But suddenly their one-night stand has become a four-week addiction. Night after night on the airwaves, his voice seduces her ... and all the other women in town. He's a hit. It looks as if Charlie's solved all Allie's problems ... except one. What is she going to do when he leaves?

MY OPINION
Charlie All Night is not my favorite Jennifer Crusie book and like a few of her other earlier ones feels more like a novella than a full-length novel. Regardless, it is an enjoyable read and very entertaining. The chemistry between Allie and Charlie is great and they have some fantastic dialogue, there are several humorous scenes, and the secondary characters are wonderful - especially Joe, Allie's gay roommate. All in all, the book is definitely worth checking out from the library (which is what I did).

In Charlie All Night, like in Anyone But You (read my review), Crusie features a heroine who is both older than usually found in the genre (Allie is 36) and than the hero (though only by two years here - not the ten that separates the hero and heroine of Anyone But You).

My favorite Crusie books so far are: Bet Me (5 stars - amazing!!), Manhunting (4 stars), and Getting Rid of Bradley (4 stars - read my review). They are all both read- and buy-worthy!

Julie Ortolon: Drive Me Wild

MY REVIEW

Drive Me Wild
Author: Julie Ortolon
Release: March 7, 2000
List Price: $7.99

Read: November 28-28, 2009
My Rating:


Author Homepage | Book Page | Amazon.com

SUMMARY (from back cover)

~ He was a devastating TV anchorman who thought he'd seen it all ~

With the face that launched a thousand newscasts, drop-dead gorgeous TV anchor Brent Michaels returns to his Texas hometown --- to be the "bachelor" in a Dating Game fundraiser. He can't refuse his old friend Laura Beth Morgan's request. And soon, he can't refuse the shy do-gooder anything. The tomboy he remembered had blossomed into a beautiful woman. An irresistible challenge for the man every woman wants ...

~ Until he rediscovered the girl next door ~

Laura Morgan yearns to break free, just as Brent Michaels did. He'd come a long way from the boy who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, the friend who kissed her once, then ran. But even as he warns her he's incapable of love, he's not running now. For Laura was stirring him like no woman had before, making him consider the "M" word for the first time, leaving him certain of only one thing: Laura Morgan could be his undoing ...

MY OPINION
My first book by Ortolon was Lead Me On and I really enjoyed it and gave it 4 stars. Drive Me Wild was entertaining, but I don't think I would reread it because of several issues I had with the story/characters.

My biggest was Laura's realization of love for Brent happened **WAY** too soon. Two days after seeing each other for the first time in ten years she realizes she's in love with him? I don't think so! Once the story moves to Houston and their relationship actually kicks off the book is good and very enjoyable, but I had a hard time getting over my initial skepticism. Also, Laura towards the end of the book and leading up to the climax fight bothered me --- she's a little too pushy and somewhat manipulative (very "somewhat," because that word seems far too strong).

Brent was an absolutely wonderful hero and I liked how three-dimensional and realistic he was. Romance heroes always have some obligatory faults, but in this case Brent's issues didn't seem added on by the author because she can't make the hero absolutely perfect --- they were believable and made him very compelling (*very*, lol ;-).

All in all --- worth the read, but glad I got it from the library since I don't think I'll be coming back to it. ... Though Brent really almost makes it worth it!

Julie Ortolon: Lead Me On

Lead Me On
Series: Pearl Island Trilogy, Book 2
Author: Julie Ortolon
Release: January 20, 2003
List Price: Retail unavailable

Read: November 14-15, 2009
My Rating:


Author Homepage | Book Page | Amazon.com

SUMMARY (from back cover)

~ When a woman who is willing . . . ~

Allison St. Clair has the face of an angel. That's part of the problem. She also sells quaint tea sets in the gift shop at Galveston's Pearl Island Inn. It doesn't exactly scream sexy! Years of having men treat her like a little sister is enough to drive a healthy woman crazy. Especially when a gorgeous hunk checks in and fails to recognize that Allison's more than willing. She's ready . . .

~ Meets a man who isn't listening . . . ~

Frustrated author Scott Lawrence is hoping to get lucky in more ways than one. A little fun in the sun with a beautiful woman may be just the inspiration he needs to cure his writer's block. No fuss. No commitment. But a "good girl" like Allison? No way!

~ Then it's time for action. ~

When Allison makes her move, every bachelor bone in Scott's body tells him to swim for safety. But stronger instincts prevail, and the heat climbs higher than the temperature on the Texas Coast. Now a four-letter word called love could turn a sweet spring diversion into the most unexpected and complicated fling of their lives.

SERIES: The Pearl Island Trilogy

1. Falling For You - Aurora St. Claire and blue-blooded banker Oliver Chancellor
   
2. Lead Me On - Allison St. Claire and bestselling author Scott Lawrence
   
3. Don't Tempt Me - Adrian St. Claire and ship owner/captain Jackie Taylor
   

J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts): Naked in Death

MY REVIEW

Naked in Death
Series: In Death, Book 1
Author: Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb
First Release: June 30, 1995
List Price: $7.99

Read: October 7-8, 2009
My Rating:


Author Homepage | J.D. Robb Page | Amazon.com

SUMMARY (from inside front page)
Eve Dallas is a New York police lieutenant hunting for a ruthless killer. In more than ten years on the force, she's seen it all - and knows that her survival depends on her instincts. And she's going against every warning telling her not to get involved with Roarke, an Irish billionaire - and a suspect in Eve's murder investigation. But passion and seduction have rules of their own, and it's up to Eve to take a chance in the arms of a man she knows nothing about - except the addictive hunger of needing his touch.

MY OPINION
Naked in Death is absolutely fantastic - both a great romance and a wonderful murder mystery. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series and seeing the relationship between Eve and Roarke progress and continue to develop; they are both fantastic characters and complement one another very well. Definitely one of my favorite books by Nora Roberts so far, if not my favorite - it's hard to decide, because she does have some really great ones. Is automatically going on my "to-buy" list!

NEXT BOOK OF THE "IN DEATH" SERIES
Naked in Death is followed by Glory in Death, Book 2.

Jennifer Crusie: Getting Rid of Bradley

MY REVIEW

Getting Rid of Bradley
Author: Jennifer Crusie
Release: November 30, 1994
List Price: $6.99

Read: October 7-8, 2009
My Rating:


Author Homepage | Book Page | Excerpt | Amazon.com

SUMMARY (from inside flaps)
High school physics teacher Lucy Savage is finally getting rid of Bradley - and his hideous green recliner. In fact, her front lawn is littered with her cheating ex-husband's belongings. Because despite standing her up in divorce court, Bradley is out of her life for good. Or so she thinks.

When her sister takes her to lunch to celebrate Lucy's single status, all their talk of a no-good louse named Bradley catches the attention of a cop - who wants to arrest the very same Bradley fro embezzlement. And Officer Zach Warren figures the lovely Lucy can lead him straight to his target.

When someone shoots at Lucy and then blows up her car, Zach insists she needs twenty-four-hour protection. What does he think her three dogs and attack cat are for? Still, he insists on moving right in to Lucy's house.

Now there's danger lurking outside and in her own kitchen, bathroom - and bedroom. Or maybe Zach, who looks like a bad boy with that shaggy dark hair and black leather jacket, is really one of the good guys, and just what Lucy needs.

MY OPINION
Getting Rid of Bradley was a wonderful, light, breezy, and humorous book that I would definitely recommend. Reads very quickly and in a way it almost feels like a short story.

The two main characters, Lucy and Zach, are absolutely great and the type that you would have love to have as friends. Lucy is hysterical, I loved her dogs and self-reflections, and the whole blinking gag throughout the book was funny. Zach is extremely intense and energetic and is himself also hysterical; he's perfect for Lucy and they counterbalance one another very well. Their interactions were charming and Zach is so sweet to Lucy and says/thinks/does wonderful things that just made me sigh and wish for my own Detective Zach Warren.

The supporting characters were extremely well done, especially Anthony (Zach's partner) and Tina (Lucy's sister). They both made the story that much better, that much more entertaining, and that much funnier.

OTHER CRUSIE READS
Jennifer Crusie has written some great other books, including Bet Me (5 stars - FANTASTIC!; read my review here), Manhunting (3.5 to 4 stars), and Anyone But You (3.5 stars; read this review).

Rachel Gibson: Tangled Up In You

MY REVIEW

Tangled Up In You
Series: Writer Friends, Book 3
Author: Rachel Gibson
Release: July 31, 2007
List Price: $7.99

Read: October 5-7, 2009
My Rating:


Author Homepage | Book Page | Excerpt | Amazon.com

SUMMARY (from back cover)
Maddie is determined to uncover the untold story about the town's sordid past - her past. As a child, Maddie lost everything, and now she's back at the scene of the scandal - a local establishment that's always belonged to the Hennessys - determined to uncover the truth, and nothing is going to stand in her way. Especially not a black-haired, blue-eyed Hennessy.

Everyone in Truly knows that the Hennessy men are irresistible, and the current owner, Mick, is no exception. His late father was a skirt-chasing heartbreaker who ended up causing disaster for two families. So far, Mick's managed to keep the ladies in line, but when he claps eyes on Maddie, with her luscious curves and tempting lips, he can't resist getting tangled up with her.

But Maddie is keeping secrets, not the least of which is her true reason for being in town. And when Mick discovers what‘s really going on, there is going to be a whole lot of trouble in Truly.

SERIES: Writer Friends

1. Sex, Lies, and Online Dating - Lucy Rothschild and Quinn McIntyre, detective
   
2. I'm In No Mood for Love - Clare Wingate and Sebastian Vaughan, international journalist
   
3. Tangled Up In You - Madeline Jones and Mick Hennessy, ex-military and current bar owner
   
4. Not Another Bad Date - Adele Harris and Zach Zemaitis, high school football coach
   

Gibson's four-book series follows the happy-ever-after of four friends living in Boise, Idaho who are all writers. They each write in different genres: Lucy writes murder mysteries, Clare romance, Maddie true crime, and Adele science fiction.

MY OPINION
Tangled Up In You is a decent read; got it from the library and am glad I didn't buy it. Not a waste of time, but not a reread. Gibson has definitely written better (i.e. See Jane Score, Truly Madly Yours, and It Must Be Love)!!

Susan Elizabeth Phillips: Match Me If You Can

MY REVIEW

Match Me If You Can
Series: Chicago Stars, Book 6
Author: Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Release: August 29, 2006
List Price: $7.99

Read: August 27-29, 2009
My Rating:


Author Homepage | Chicago Stars Series | Browse Inside | Amazon.com

SUMMARY (from inside and back flap)

In This Heart of Mine you met Kevin Tucker. Now meet Kevin's shark of an agent ... and Annabelle Granger, the girl least likely to succeed.

Annabelle is tired of being the lone failure in a family of overachievers. She's endured dead-end jobs and a broken engagement. Even her hair's a mess! But that's going to change now that she's taken over her late grandmother's matchmaking business. All Annabelle has to do is land the Windy City's hottest bachelor as her client, and she'll be the most sought-after matchmaker in town. Nothing is going to stand in her way - not the drunk lying comatose under her car, not her family's disapproval, and certainly not the lingering effects of a broken heart.

With his money green eyes and calculated charm, Heath Champion is the best sports agent in the country. He's wealthy, driven, and gorgeous, so why does he need a matchmaker, especially a red-haired screw-up like Annabelle Granger? True, she's entertaining and she does have a certain quirky appeal. But Heath is searching for the ultimate symbol of his success - the perfect wife. And to make an extraordinary match, he needs an extraordinary matchmaker, right?

Thin, rich, utterly fabulous Portia Powers has spent her career making matches for everyone but herself. Her take-no-prisoners attitude has built Power Matches into the top matchmaking agency in Chicago. So what if she has more enemies than friends and she's one breath away from a nervous breakdown? Neither an upstart like Annabelle Granger nor Heath Champion's menacing, but oddly intriguing, bodyguard will keep her from getting what she wants - a Power Match for Heath ... the city's very own Jerry Maguire.

Soon everyone in Chicago has a stake in the outcome, right down to Annabelle's overprotective book club. When the matchmaker promises she'll do anything to keep her star client happy ... does she mean anything? If Annabelle isn't careful, she just might find herself going heart-to-heart with the toughest negotiator in town - a man who's beginning to ask himself: Exactly how perfect does perfect have to be?

SERIES: Chicago Stars Series

1. It Had to Be You (1994)
2. Heaven, Texas (1995)
3. Nobody's Baby But Mine (1997)
4. Dream a Little Dream (1998)
5. This Heart of Mine (2001)
6. Match Me If You Can (2005)
7. Natural Born Charmer (2007)

The Chicago Stars Series features characters that are somehow tied to the Chicago football team, the Stars. Book 1, It Had to Be You, features Phoebe Somerville, a sexy bombshell-type who inherits the football team, and Dan Celebow, the head coach of the team with whom she immediately clashes. Book 2 is Heaven, Texas and quickly became a favorite of mine; the heroine is an unusual ugly-duckling type, Gracie Snow, who becomes a (still unusual) swan, and the sexy and surprisingly complex Bobby Tom Denton, ex-quarterback for the Stars, is the hero.

Nobody's Baby But Mine is Book 3, starring physics professor Dr. Jane Darlington and the legendary quarterback Cal Bonner, followed by Dream a Little Dream, featuring single-mother Rachel Stone and widower Gabe Bonner, who tragically recently lost his wife and child. Book 5 is This Heart of Mine, featuring children's book author - and Phoebe's sister - Molly Somerville and handsome Stars quarterback, Kevin Tucker.

Book 6 is covered in this review and Book 7 is Natural Born Charmer, a book I just checked out from the library; the hero is new hotshot quarterback Dean Robillard whom we were introduced to in Match Me If You Can and the heroine is down-on-her-luck Blue Bailey.

OPINION
This is another great book by Phillips! It's my second by her, following Heaven, Texas, which was absolutely fantastic (5 stars). Match Me If You Can wasn't as good, but it was still excellent and after reading it from the library, I put it on my "to-buy" list, since I know that it will be a definite reread in the future.

The book had several laugh-out-loud scenes (I loved how Molly's daughter kept stealing Heath's cellphones!!), an interesting secondary romance between Portia Powers and Heath's friend Bodie (they were great - and a very interesting - pair), wonderful supporting characters (can't wait for Dean's story next, Natural Born Charmer), and the ending (or almost-ending, since there is an epilogue) where Annabelle asks Heath the two questions on the cliff is so sweet and very cute and funny.

MAIN CHARACTERS, Annabelle (31) and Heath (34)
The two main characters are absolutely wonderful and the interactions between them were from the start extremely entertaining. Annabelle is a feisty, red-haired woman, accurately described as "quirky" in the book's summary. She has a great sense of humor, is wonderfully generous and thoughtful, but is also a real spitfire who knows when to be sarcastic and poke someone who needs it (i.e. Heath). Heath is an equally great hero; he's determined, driven, dedicated, charming, loyal, and deeply in need of some relaxation, fun, and someone who is not as high-strung as he is (i.e. Annabelle).

They were really just perfect for each other and the reader sees from the beginning how well they balance one another. There were so many sweet and friendly interactions between them, with also plenty of chemistry between Annabelle and Heath to make the book into a romance. The teasing exchanges kept putting a smile on my face and when Heath would go visit Annabelle, find himself at her house, wonder why she was the first person he wanted to call with good news ... ::sigh:: yeah ...

CRITICISM
One of my critiques is that Match Me If You Can didn't have the same chemistry as Heaven, Texas - or rather, it did, but there weren't as many ... shall we say, "chemistry induced" scenes that featured and showcased the sexual tension between the hero and heroine, lol ;-).

I also thought that the Epilogue could have used some retouching - it was told from Pippi's point of view (what a nickname ... does anyone else wonder at the pronunciation of that - isn't Philippa, which I think is her name, normally shortened to Pippa?) and though I loved having that detail, it could have been told in a straight-narrator form instead, IMHO.

Finally - and this isn't really criticism, but more of an observation - I saw some striking similarities between Heaven, Texas and Match Me If You Can in the way that Phillips fashions her endings. Basically: the woman knows she's in love with him, the man won't admit his love, he proposes and gives various reasons (other than love) for why he wants to marry her, she publicly spurns his offer, he becomes destroyed and everyone tells him he's stupid, there's some chase involved and then the realization of love, declarations, etc. We'll see if this pattern holds in more of her books.

BOTTOM LINE
Read it and be prepared to laugh while you do! Not as sexually-charged as Heaven, Texas was - the hottest scene was actually one with the secondary romance characters, Portia and Bodie - but still wonderful and a definite reread for me in the future.

Lisa Kleypas: Smooth Talking Stranger

MY REVIEW

Smooth Talking Stranger
Series: Travis Family, Book 3
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Release: March 31, 2009
List Price: $16.47 (hardback)

Read: August 24-25, 2009
My Rating:


Author Homepage | Book Page | Amazon.com

SUMMARY (from inside flap)

He answers to no one ...

No one has ever truly touched Jack Travis's heart or soul ... until Ella Varner comes along. She appears one day on his doorstep with fury in her eyes and a baby in her arms. Her troubled sister is the mother and, according to Ella, Jack Travis is the father. But when Ella demands that Jack take responsibility for the first time in his life, he ends up taking much more than that ...

She trusts no one ...

Ella Varner is responsible and controlled. Her childhood taught her that love is fleeting and best avoided. That is, until baby Luke appears on her doorstep after her reckless sister, Tara, abandons him. What Luke needs now is stability, and Ella's determined to do what is best for him. As her bond with the helpless child grows stronger every day, Ella goes to Houston in search of the father. What she finds there will change her life forever ...

And when things heat up between these two, the time for talking is long gone ...

Lisa Kleypas lets the sparks fly once again in a novel featuring the larger-than-life Travis family. Full of sizzling sensuality and undeniable heart, her storytelling will grab hold of you from the very first page to the last.

SERIES: The Travis Family

1. Sugar Daddy (March 4, 2008 - mass market paperback)
2. Blue-Eyed Devil (March 3, 2009 - mass market paperback)
3. Smooth Talking Stranger (March 31, 2009 - hardcover)
   

BEST REVIEW ON AMAZON.COM
The review by Sarah W is very good and I suggest reading that; she also has a great summary about the book, so I won't bother trying to write my own.

MY OPINION
I have not read Kleypas's first Travis Family book, Sugar Daddy, but I have read Blue-Eyed Devil (my review) and really enjoyed it. The plot of Sugar Daddy just never appealed to me - and still doesn't - but I decided to take a chance on Blue-Eyed Devil since Kleypas has long been my favorite historical romance author.

Smooth Talking Stranger is a very sweet and charming book. Ella is a wonderful heroine, very authentic and accessible. Jack is just delicious and absolutely fantastic - no one writes a hero like Lisa Kleypas!! The chemistry between the two sizzles off the pages, but there is definitely more to their relationship than just lust.

The presence of Luke, Ella's nephew, adds a whole other dimension to the romance story and in my opinion only enhances it. You want to just melt every time Jack picks Luke up or plays with him, lol. This book almost features two love stories: one between Ella and Jack, and the other between Ella and Luke - they're both fantastic.

My only problem was that I felt the ending was a little abrupt and rushed and for a little while (just a few pages - maybe even just paragraphs - but timewise in the story it's two months) I felt like Luke kind of disappeared; I would have thought there would be more emphasis on Ella missing him. Ella's reaction to what happens in the Epilogue makes it almost easy to forget that little blip, since we once again clearly see how much she loves him, but it still nags a little.

BOTTOM LINE
Wonderful book; definitely recommend. You don't have to have read the other Travis family books, since everyone is introduced thoroughly. I would recommend reading Blue-Eyed Devil since it's a real treat and I'm very much looking forward to Joe's story ... don't know when it's coming out, but will let you know when I find out!

Mary Jo Putney: The Rake

MY REVIEW

The Rake
(Previously published as The Rake and the Reformer)

Sequel to: The Diabolical Baron
Author: Mary Jo Putney
Release Date: April 1, 1998
List Price: Retail unavailable - buy used

Read: July 28-28, 2009
My Rating:


Author Homepage | Book Page | Excerpt | Amazon.com

SUMMARY (from back cover)

~ The Rake ~

It was predicted that Reginald Davenport, disinherited and disgraced, would come to a violent end. But fate has given him one final chance to redeem himself, by taking his place as the rightful master of Strickland, his lost ancestral estate. Davenport knows his way around women - yet nothing prepares him for his shocking encounter with Lady Alys Weston.

~ The Reformer ~

Masquerading as a man in order to obtain a position as estate manager of Strickland, Alys fled a world filled with mistrust and betrayal. She was finished with men - yet how could she have predicted that Strickland's restored owner would awaken a passion more powerful than anything she had ever known? A passion that will doom or save them both ... if only they can overcome their pasts and dare to believe in the wondrous power of love ...

SEQUEL
The Rake is the sequel to The Diabolical Baron and Reggie (this book's hero) is apparently that book's villain. I haven't read it, but I feel like it would probably enhance the experience of reading The Rake, since it will make his eventual transformation all the more notable.

MY EXPERIENCES WITH MARY JO PUTNEY BOOKS
Mary Jo Putney is one of the authors who released a book on June 30 - an apparent blockbuster day for the historical romance industry, because at my last count there were 8 books that came out that day!!

Putney released Loving a Lost Lord, the kickoff to her new series entitled "The Lost Lords" and I was really looking forward to the book because I had just recently reread The Wild Child (Brides Trilogy, Book 1) (really great and I highly recommend). Along with most people who read Loving a Lost Lord ... let's just say I was not impressed, and frankly downright disappointed! Seriously, that was one of the worst historical romances I had read in awhile and after joining PaperBack Swap I immediately posted it (and it was immediately requested - I have to wonder how long it stayed in that person's hands after they finished reading it).

I've read other Putney books - Silk and Shadows (Silk Trilogy, Book 1); The Bargain (Regency Series, Book 1); Thunder and Roses (Fallen Angels Series, Book 1) - (just now noticing they're all Book 1s), but since I read these before I started writing down my ratings after reading a book, I could not remember whether I liked them or not. I read about her book The Rake and since it had such great reviews, I decided to use the credit I got for sending out Putney's new book to get this older book of hers from someone else on PaperBack Swap.

REVIEW
So what did I think? ... Absolutely utterly fantastic!! Wow - a definite reread. Completely distracted me from my homework, but it was just so wonderful. I was glad to read a good Putney book after finding her most recent release pretty weak. The Rake, however, is not weak at all, but rather completely 100% great!!!

One of the greatest things about this book was that it tackled the very serious issue of alcoholism extremely well, dealt with it compassionately, and portrayed it very vividly/starkly. I *never* get emotional when I read my historical romances (unless it's extreme giddiness, lol), but there were parts of this book that were utterly heart-wrenching and had me choking up just a little.

The other great aspect of the story was (as it should be) the relationship between Alys and Reggie. It was very well developed and the intellectual/emotional connection between them was wonderfully written. It's a romance, so obviously there is romance and the hero and heroine have great physical chemistry, but the book focuses on much more than just that aspect. They are complete opposites starting off - Reggie is one of the most dissolute and disgraceful rakes that I have ever come across in the genre (that's saying something) and Alys is a hardworking, admirable, very responsible, reserved, and almost-stern woman. They're both extremely lonely, though, and it's great watching them not wham-bam fall-in-love, but see it slowly happen as they come to like, respect, admire, and trust each other and form a wonderful and - dare I say it? it's so corny - beautiful friendship.

NOTE
The heroine is not a virgin, but if you're bothered by this, don't be and don't let it make you skip this book! I'm very embarassed to admit this - I feel like it's anti-feminist and very old-fashioned - but I usually like my historical romance heroines to be virgins. Basically, I don't want the heroine (or hero, for that matter) to have had any strong previous attachments.

If you're like me, don't be turned off by the fact that Alys isn't a virgin - the event which propels her to run away from home is the foundation of her own obstacles that she has to overcome in the book (low self-esteem in her attractiveness and appeal as a woman) and makes her engage in a one-night stand with a drunken man she meets in the inn, right after she's run away. It's not a big thing so seriously, do not be put off by this!

ALCOHOLISM IN OTHER HISTORICAL ROMANCES
Like I wrote above, I thought this book dealt excellently with the issue of alcoholism. I think a lot of times in this genre, books sometimes include serious issues but they don't really address it full or kind of skirt the issue - perhaps out of a fear it will be too much of a downer in what is basically supposed to be a feel-good book.

Either way, although Putney treats the problem seriously - as it should be - it only enhances the story and main characters and in no way detracts. Another great book I've read that features an alcoholic hero who has to overcome the problem is Rexanne Becnel's The Matchmaker (Maker Series, Book 1); it's a five-star read in my book and one of my favorites, so I would recommend to anyone, whether you're looking specifically for another alcoholism-related book or not.

Lisa Kleypas's Again the Magic has a secondary romance between the heroine's sister, Olivia, and the hero's best friend, Gideon Shaw. Gideon is an alcoholic who goes through spells where he has to isolate himself and his developing relationship with Olivia gives him the initiative/final push to make the leap towards sobriety.