Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Simon Says by Lori Foster


Rating: 4

Review: This is book two in Lori's SBC fighter series, and it grabbed me right away. Simon has just discovered that his girlfriend is cheating on him and decides to go back to fighting for a change of pace. While training for his first big fight, in walks Dakota Dream, sent on a mission to find her step-father's biological son and bring him to meet him.

I liked this book a lot. Wouldn't say I loved it, but it kept me interested. Looking forward to Hard to Handle!!

Innocent Fire by Brenda Joyce


Rating: 2

Synopsis: Leaving behind the sheltered life of a French convent, Miranda journeyed to the New World and an arranged marriage to a prosperous Texas rancher. Arriving in America, the innocent European met her fiance's friend Derek Bragg, a rough-hewn Texas Ranger, whose harsh manner and candid comments about her beauty enraged the shy miss.

Although bragg fought to deny his feelings for his charge, he knew that he was falling in love with her. Miranda, too, was struggling with her desire for her escort as they trekked across the treacherous wilderness. Drawn to the lawman -- enflamed by his raw masculine virility -- will Miranda sacrifice her innocence to the fire blazing out of control in her heart?

Review: AHHHGGGHH. This sums up my feelings about this book in one 'word'.

Not a terrible book, but the heroine was such a NINNY I felt like I was rolling my eyes constantly. Also, (slight spoiler) when she was kidnapped for a THIRD time I was a little appalled at the author. Really? She needs to be kidnapped 3 times? I certainly did not feel in any way connected to the characters, so when Very Bad Things happened to her I didn't really care.... I didn't! It's terrible to admit, I know! Maybe, just maybe, if every other sentence out of her mouth didn't sound like a variation of "Eeek! This is not proper! Ladies do not do this! Icky!" Ok, I exaggerated SLIGHTLY, but the idea is the same. I think she is, seriously, the most NON-sexual heroine I have ever read about. Stick that poor girl in a nunnery!! The hero should have dumped her.

I normally love this author to pieces, so I hope the rest of the Bragg series is better.

Married to the Boss by Lori Foster

Rating: 4

Synopsis:

If he wanted a marriage of convenience, it would be at her convenience!

R. J. Maitland, President of Maitland Maternity, was forced to do some major damage control. The media circus surrounding allegations that he had fathered an abandoned child had left his reputation in tatters and the clinic in jeopardy.

Dana Dillinger had been R.J.’s right hand for years — loyal, dependable...and hopelessly, secretly in love with him. When he suggested that marriage was the best way to salvage the situation and prove he wasn’t the playboy the press had labeled him, Dana accepted his "proposal." With one exception...

R.J. wanted a marriage in name only — no sex, just marriage. Dana wanted all the marital rights of a bride — including and especially sex — or the deal was off. Between a rock and a hard place, R.J. agreed, not knowing what he’d just gotten himself into!

Review: I thought this book was adorably sweet. I actually would have enjoyed more meat on the bones of the story -- Dana's background and such. It was a pretty light read, though it has a mild emotional punch or two. I have never been crazy about the whole series by different authors idea -- there are more books about the other characters by other authors, and frankly, I would not run out and buy the other ones, though I am curious about how the loose end pans out in a later book. Oh well....

Goddess of the Hunt by Tessa Dare


Rating: 4

Synopsis: Ever the bold adventuress, Lucy Waltham has decided to go hunting for a husband. But first she needs some target practice. So she turns to her brother’s best friend, Jeremy Trescott, the Earl of Kendall, to hone her seductive wiles on him before setting her sights on another man. But her practice kisses spark a smoldering passion–one that could send all her plans up in smoke.

Jeremy has an influential title, a vast fortune, and a painful past full of long-buried secrets. He keeps a safe distance from his own emotions, but to distract Lucy from her reckless scheming, he must give his passions free rein. Their sensual battle of wills is as maddening as it is delicious, but the longer he succeeds in managing the headstrong temptress, the closer Jeremy comes to losing control. When scandal breaks, can he bring himself to abandon Lucy to her ruin? Or will he risk his heart and claim her for his own?

Review: I actually really really enjoyed this book. I thought Lucy seemed a bit young and immature at first (one of my big pet peeves), but she seemed to grow more mature as the story went on. There was lots of humor and fun in this book. I thought the chemistry between Lucy and Jeremy was fantastic -- I adored the wardrobe scene!! While their premarital chemistry was smoking hot, after they got married it kind of fizzled. I actually started to think that they weren't the most well matched couple ever, and it never quite recovered for me.... It all ended well and happy, of course, but I just couldn't give it a higher rating for that slight nosedive. Over all I am looking forward to getting the next book in the series and finding out what happens to her friend.