The Million-Dollar Question by Kimberly Lang

I have to say I was a wee bit annoyed by Evan and his dramatic overreaction after finding out about the real reason Olivia contacted him. Accusing her more or less of being a prostitute, willing to sleep with a wealthy man to get what she wants. Seriously? What kind of automatic insulting thought process is that?

Olivia realises it is a bad idea about five minutes after she meets up with Evan. Too much history, bad feeling and way too much mutual sexual attraction. Evan is hard to resist, despite his over-confident attitude. Olivia really finds it hard to concentrate on saying no, which is kind of difficult when such utter hotness is being dangled in front of her eyes. A cupcake with great dress sense.

Perhaps if they hadn’t been kept apart by the inevitable big brother with control issues, the two of them  might have been able to sort out their differences sooner. Instead they start a strange cat and mouse game of attraction and denial. Saying that, they do spend quite a bit of time playing the game and doing the horizontal tango.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Harlequin UK and Mills & Boon.

Turning the Good Girl Bad by Avril Tremayne

Tremayne has attempted to throw the spotlight on quite a few serious issues in this short romance.  I think the playful fantasy role-playing, in regards to the infamous book featured in the story, doesn’t balance well with the serious intent.

Sexual harassment is still far too commonplace in our day and age. Both women and men find themselves victims of people, who believe they have the right to overstep intimate boundaries and personal space. Catherine has found herself in a situation like that, and the repercussions of the harassment still influence her daily life.

Catherine pretends to be something she isn’t, a buttoned up and straight-laced prim woman. She hides the fun-loving fashionista behind dull clothes and a bland exterior. Why? Because she believes, and was told by her abuser that she brought it all upon herself for looking too good. Her fault because she dressed in a way that provoked him to attack her.

Of course this is the part of the story where one needs to step lightly. To make sure no victim blaming or shaming occurs in any way shape or form. The character of Catherine leans towards that representation, which isn’t pleasant, but perhaps a true representation of how society makes people in these situations feel, especially women and girls.

Max helps Catherine to move beyond the fear and the misconceptions she has about herself and the men around her. He understands that she needs to heal before the two of them can be together.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Harlequin UK and Mills & Boon.

The Party Starts at Midnight by Lucy King

The problem with rules is that they are made to be broken, especially the ‘whatever you do don’t touch the really hot naked guy, who just happens to be in a very deep sleep’ rules. Those type of rules always depend on the situation and the irresistibility of the guy in question.

Leo awakes from his slumber to find Abby in his bedroom eyeing up his crown jewels, and thus begins the comedy of errors between the two of them.

This romance is about letting walls down and emotions in. Leo is the perfect example of someone who has been burned so badly in the past he doesn’t want to ever let another person in.  Abby is the type of person, who chips away at cold walls of emotions without even realising she is doing it. Under her cucumber business exterior lurks the interior of a hot pepper.

Leo and Abby connect, clash and lead each other on a merry chase of emotions in this hot to trot little romance.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Harlequin UK and Mills & Boon.

The Party Dare by Anne Oliver

Leo is plagued by guilt and a sense of responsibility towards his younger sister. Everything and everyone else becomes secondary to taking care of her. He finds it hard to relinquish the control and treats the young adult as if she were still a child.

Of course his odd habit of dropping all and everything at a moments notice to ensure the safety and well-being of said sister, tends to play havoc with his social life. Not many dates are going to put up with cancellations at last-minute or  a basket full of broken promises.

Breanna isn’t the type to play the wilting wallflower. She takes what she wants when she wants it.  She doesn’t however take kindly to the peculiar on-off-on behaviour Leo exhibits. Acting all hot and bothered one second, then ice-cold and disinterested the next.

Their tug of war is a lengthy one  and their romance is one with very unexpected twists and turns. I received a copy of this book courtesy of Harlequin UK and Mills & Boon.

Sleeping with the Soldier by Charlotte Phillips

Kudos to the author for adding this difficult subject to such a carefree romance. Many men and women are involved in the atrocities of war, even in our day and age. They see and experience things no person should ever be exposed to. Unfortunately this is part and parcel of serving in the military.

There seems to be lack of acknowledgement by the government and military when it comes to the aftermath of being in a war zone. Aside from the physical injuries there is also post-traumatic stress disorder, a psychological burden many soldiers suffer from, despite  the high number of people suffering it seems to often go undiagnosed. What is far worse though is how the military often approaches the subject with an almost blasé type attitude, which can be detrimental the soldier’s health and those around them.

Alex keeps himself awake each night in an attempt to escape the memories and the trauma. The sleep deprivation causes erratic behaviour and mood swings, which makes it hard to connect to people long-term. Relationships are hard to maintain when one part of the couple refuses to deal with such major issues.

Lara does try very hard to get through to Alex, but finds herself at the top of the rejection pile. She initially puts his behaviour down to his wealthy upbringing and his selfish personality traits. When she does manage to get a glimpse inside the real Alex it seems to be too little too late.

This is an arduous romance with a very important yet often overlooked sub-plot.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Harlequin UK and Mills & Boon.

 

Dressed to Thrill by Bella Frances

Tara and Michael clash head on like a bull to a red rag, I am just not sure which one is the bull. Both of them have very strong personalities and a need to be in control of every situation. A tug of war for control ensues between them.

The jeering, insults and verbal combat becomes like foreplay to the two of them. They can’t stand each other and at the same time feel drawn to one another.  If they let down their guard long enough they might just find they have quite a few things in common. Life has made them fighters, made them stronger and also made them both think they have to play up to the fake media images they have created, to be more successful.

Living in the public eye plays havoc on the mind. It must be hard to keep the public and private persona from melding into one big mess of personality. I think both Tara and Michael suffer from having difficulty keeping the two things separate. The only way the are going to be able to connect on all levels is if they step away from the fake persona long enough to embrace the real one.

This is a tempestuous romance with a lot of passion and many battles between the two of them, both in private and in public.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Harlequin UK and Mills & Boon.

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Boss by Nina Harrington

A freedom craving adventurer and a free-spirited artist should be halfway compatible right? Perhaps the element of independence in both of them is what creates all the trouble between them when they first meet.

Harrington gives the character of Toni a refreshing sense of artistic flair and temperament. Her carefree and colourful personality is combined with the heavy burden of being duty bound to a family heritage. Sometimes there is no way out from under that particular burden, which is what she discovers eventually.

Why postpone the inevitable? Might just be better to go with the natural flow and order of her talent and instincts.A freedom craving adventurer and a free-spirited artist should be halfway compatible right? Perhaps the element of independence in both of them is what creates all the trouble between them when they first meet.

Instead of the usual uncontrollable passion and role in the hay, Harrington has focused on the emotional connection between Toni and Scott. How they gain an understanding of each other and what is important to them as individuals. This is especially apparent in one of the last scenes in the boardroom.

This is a romance with an emphasis on the relationship above the sheets, as opposed to in the bedroom.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Harlequin UK and Mills & Boon.

The Heat of the Night by Amy Andrews

I liked the way Andrews and Blake shared this double couple storyline. It starts off with Her Hottest Summer Yet by Ally Blake and the story of Avery and Jonah. It ends, and quite a superb ending it is, with The Heat of the Night by Amy Andrews and the story of Claudia and Luke. The four of them are friends and the romantic interludes take place in Crescent Cove.

Claudia is trying to keep her holiday resort open and afloat. The cyclone that just destroyed most of it had other ideas though. Unfortunately for her she has a business partner who would rather give the place a new look and take it into the 21st century, whereas Claudia likes the nostalgic feel of the place, and the force of nature has played right into Luke’s hands.

A playful tug of war ensues between the two of them, in regards to the hotel and their relationship.  However they are both aware of the limited time they have together because they live in different worlds. His life is in the city and her life is Crescent Cove, and never the twain shall meet. Then again perhaps they might.

This story has a quirky, good-time feeling about it with a strong sense of family, loyalty and friendship.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Harlequin UK.

Her Hottest Summer Yet by Ally Blake

Blake sure knows how to write  and create a romance with enough sexual tension to melt a block of ice.

Jonah has such a strong visual presence in this story. It is hard not to imagine him riding the waves, strolling in the sand and captivating the people around him.

The dog, who isn’t his dog apparently, but seems to be everywhere Jonah goes, gives the story a ‘pull on the heartstrings’ element. Hull actually has his own lover-boy problems to deal with. Life sure is hard when you fall for a teeny scraggly princess with a dragon for a mother.

Avery does try very hard to resist the potent pull of the hunky surfer, but it is really hard to ignore your libido when your soul is drawn to someone like a bee to pollen.

This story is about finding your way home. Home in a sense that you feel complete and at ease in a certain place, perhaps even with the perfect partner at  your side. It is about finding the person you are meant to be with, as opposed to the person you think your supposed to be with.

In society we often find it hard to make that particular distinction when it comes to the loves in our lifetime. It should never be the person others think you should be with, instead it should be the person you know you should be with.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Harlequin UK and Mills & Boon.

Note: This is the first of a double couple story set in Crescent Cove. The second is The Heat of the Night by Amy Andrews.

 

 

The Morning After the Night Before by Nikki Logan

Harry isn’t as sure of himself when the tables are suddenly turned on him.  He goes from cheeky to heartbroken and then just plain unforgivably nasty in a matter of seconds. Pot calling the kettle black methinks. How dare he point the finger and treat Izzy with such ignorance and disdain?

I can’t say that I found the snobby Harry very endearing, but  the willing to do the horizontal tango in a box room Harry was quite naughty and witty. The ‘Cirque du Soleil dismount’ comment made me chuckle and it brought back some very distinct memories.

Izzy isn’t someone who likes to be  pushed into the corner, and in this case responds quickly and without any thought to possible consequences.  Rather stubborn, cheeky and right, than polite, quiet and wrong. She isn’t intimidated by a snazzy expensive suit or a superior demeanour. She does however have a wee tendency to want to stroke the odd piece of expensive clothing, especially if there is a Harry inside it.

This story is about the damage secrets can cause or even the omission of truth. If you can’t open up and be honest, how is someone supposed to love you for who you really are? If you think everyone has an ulterior motive then life might just be very lonely going forward.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Harlequin UK and Mills& Boon.