From This Moment On (Blog Tour)

From This Moment On by Bella Andre
Grade: 2.5 stars out of 5
Published: 5-25-13 / Harlequin MIRA / paperback
Cover C
Source: ARC provided by Media Muscles for review purposes

Synopsis:

Marcus has always been the responsible older brother, taking care of the family when their father passed away. When Marcus sees Chase and Chloe together, he realizes that maybe what he has with Jill isn't what he dreamed of. He decides to cut loose and enjoy the night. He never expected to Nico, a woman that he wasn't supposed to see or even think about the next morning.

Nicola has been under the scrutiny being a world famous artist. But the image that the tabloids has created isn't the real her. Tonight, however, Nico decides that enough is enough and tires of hiding away in her hotel. She never expected to find a man like Marcus.

Review: I will admit that I enjoyed From This Moment On more The Look of Love. There were far less inconsistencies and characters that made me want to shake them. Bella Andre seems to prefer love-at-first-sight rather than a slow build-up. This might be preferred to some readers as this keeps the plot very fast with a happy ever after in a 200+ page book.

I prefer Marcus and Nico over Chase and Chloe mostly because I struggled with Chloe's immediate actions to Chase. Nico and Marcus, however, do try to behave as though they are uncomfortable with the idea of developing a strong connection and intimacy in a short time. The continuation of their romance was more believable, and I found myself rooting for the two of them.

The struggles that Marcus faced is a situation that many could find themselves in: a child forced to become an adult after a parent's death. Nico's situation on the other hand is a little less common for most people, a pop-star that is placed in a bad spotlight and hurt by someone she once trusted. The two have very little in common (even their age-gap is a decades width), but I found their relationship promising. I enjoyed their  banter and the intensity of their heat and sparks. Again, however, I thought it moved too quickly for my taste.

There isn't a villain to the story so it was a character driven plot that spins in circle at times. The plot is very simplistic, and I fail to see why Bella Andre sees the need to introduce all the Sullivans again in this short book. Since the plot was simple, I found myself bored at times and rushed towards the end. 

In the end, I'm on the edge of Bella Andre's works. I find them okay reads, but not something I will go back and reread.

Blog Tour: The Look of Love

The Look of Love by Bella Andre
Grade: 1.5 stars out of 5
Published: June 2013; MMP / Harlequin
Cover C
FTC: unsolicited from publicity firm

For the first time, Bella Andre's The Sullivans' series is out in mass market paperback. First up, Chase Sullivan: world-renowned photographer with looks that even draws the models. He's tired of the one-night stands and looking for a true love. On the way back from his mother's birthday party, he rescues Chloe Peterson on the side of the road after her car gets trapped in a ditch. Running from a hard past and a soul-sucking relationship, the last thing she wants to deal with another man.

Strictly judging the book by its cover, The Look of Love is not something I would typically pick up.The blurbs and reviews, however, pushed me into trying as the majority are very positive. From the start, though, I realized that this book may not be my cup of tea.

Chase is gorgeous, Chloe is gorgeous. Chloe jumps out of a horrible abusive relationship and into the arms of a man she barely knows. And while there is a time gap between her old relationship and Chase, the speediness in which she claims to have fallen in love was alarming. Chase is, of course, the perfect prince in Chloe's eyes. He has had nights with models, but that only alludes to his handsomeness. But overall I found the characters flat, even the main villain was not as intense as I would have liked.

The ending was short. The build up and build up about Chloe's past relationship, and the confrontation is resolved in a measly 4 pages. The epilogue only sets up for the next story and offers some insight to the new couple.

Overall: The Look of Love is cliche, which may not be a bad thing if it fits the mood that the reader is currently looking for. I was not. Insta-love was very instant; lust, okay but love doesn't happen within less than a 24 hour span. The steamy sex scenes were again, cliche. I found the characters at times hypocritical or very unsure what they truly want. It wraps up quickly, like snap of the fingers quick. Again, this is all personal taste. If I was looking for something fast-paced, fun in the sheets action, with simple characters I wouldn't have rated The Look of Love as harshly.

Three Sisters Blog Tour Review

Three Sisters by Susan Mallery
Grade: 4 stars out of 5
Published: 26, February 2013; Harlequin MIRA paperback
FTC: ARC was provided by Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. as part of blog tour.

"After Andi Gordon is jilted at the altar, she makes the most impetuous decision of her life – buying one of the famed Three Sisters Queen Anne houses on Blackberry Island. Now the proud-ish owner of the ugly duckling of the trio, she plans to open her own pediatric office on the first floor, just as soon as her hunky contractor completes the work. Andi's new future may be coming together, but the truth is she's just as badly in need of a major renovation as her house.

When Deanna Phillips confronts her husband about a suspected affair, she opens up a Pandora's Box of unhappiness. And he claims that she is the problem. The terrible thing is, he's right. In her quest to be the perfect woman, she's lost herself, and she's in danger of losing her entire family if things don't change.

Next door, artist Boston King thought she and her college sweetheart would be married forever. Their passion for one other has always seemed indestructible. But after tragedy tears them apart, she's not so sure. Now it's time for them to move forward, with or without one another.

Thrown together by fate and geography, and bound by the strongest of friendships, these three women will discover what they're really made of: laughter, tears, love and all."

Three Sisters was the perfect blend of humor, love, and angst. Three Sisters reminded me of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, but instead of pants connecting the girls together, the houses tied the women together. Even though Andi, Deanna, and Boston don’t have much in common, but their houses, they still work together and help one another. Each tries to comfort the others using humor, snark, or just a good bottle of wine.

Initially, the multiple POVs and jumping right into the story can be daunting, but once you start, it’s had to stop.

For me, I enjoyed reading Deanna’s POV the most. Her story hit me the hardest and I remember lying bed just full on ugly crying by the middle of her story. I enjoyed the juxtapositioning of her need on control of her life by washing herself and the destruction of her family. But Andi and Boston hold their own as well. Both have had experiences that hurt them terribly and unable to move on. I had more trouble relating to them because I never experienced what they went through, but I was sympathetic to their troubles and rooted when lives started to come back together again.

I loved the setting and the sexy men and the fact that even though Three Sisters is the 2nd installment to the Blackberry Island series, I didn’t have to read the 1st book to follow this. I really loved the stories even though Boston had moments when I just wanted to punch her and Andi’s storyline seemed to go off tangents at times. I would definitely pick up another book by Susan Mallery.

You can follow the rest of the tour here: http://blogtoureditors.booktrib.com/2013/02/28/blog-tour-three-sisters-by-susan-mallery/

Visit Susan Marlley: website / facebook/ twitter

The Best Man by Kristan Higgins

The Best Man by Kristan Higgins
Published: February 26, 2013; mass market paperback; Harlequin HQN
Grade: 4 stars out of 5
FTC: book was provided by publicity firm

Why are all the good men taken, gay, or married?

For Faith Holland, Jeremy was the perfect guy. Respectful, sweet, smart, just perfect, but because of Levi Cooper, Faith was left at the altar.

"Now a little older and wiser, she's ready to return to the Blue Heron Winery, her family's vineyard, to confront the ghosts of her past, and maybe enjoy a glass of red. After all, there's some great scenery there….

Like Levi Cooper, the local police chief—and best friend of her former fiancé. There's a lot about Levi that Faith never noticed, and it's not just those deep green eyes. The only catch is she's having a hard time forgetting that he helped ruin her wedding all those years ago. If she can find a minute amidst all her family drama to stop and smell the rosé, she just might find a reason to stay at Blue Heron, and finish that walk down the aisle."

Ever had the feeling where you read so many teen lit that you become desensitized and you just want something different. You want something spicier, a little more mature, but still craving fun and humorous. I found that with The Best Man by Kristan Higgins.

Faith Holland is this blend of nativity, whimsical, in-your-face directness that makes her endearing. If this were an urban fantasy novel, she’ll probably be gutting down demons with her adorable dog at her side. Alas, this is contemporary, but Faith can definitely hold her own against men. Her string of bad luck with men only draws more sympathy and definitely laughs out loud scenes. Faith also has epilepsy, and while 90% of the novel does not focus on it, it does place a heavy burden on Faith’s shoulder. Faith isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, and with the death of the mother and her father’s non-interest of getting back into the dating pool, Faith’s guilt and the darker of her personality comes through.    

Levi Cooper, when initially introduced, is an ass. Plain and simple, he is a complete ass. Gradually over the course of the novel, my impression of him changed; he became dynamic, softer, caring, damaged. After several terms in a war, a failed marriage, a deadbeat father, and a childhood where money was very tight all the time, Levi had an edge to him. But as the novel delved deeper into his back-story, his sweet nature started to appear. What appeared to be an act that destroyed a potentially great marriage was actually an act of true friendship. Levi is a true and great friendship that will stick by someone through thick and thin. He has his own sense of justice that showcases his compassion. Granted there are still moments where he is a complete ass, but I believe his intentions are good.

The relationship between the two was a mixture of sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy. Their personalities at times can clash as neither fully trusts each other nor can they can admit that they like each other. Actions, however, can speak louder than words so while sweet nothings are hardly ever whispered in their ears it is undeniable that the two have a connection.

Family is huge in this novel and rightfully so. And while I can’t talk much about it without explaining and possibly spoiling the entire novel, I can say that it’s a nice break from the emotional tug-of-war which is love.

The Best Man is a delicious blend of dark, gritty experiences and light, fun humor. Kristan Higgins writing is crisp, easy to follow and straight to the point. I find her writing style appealing and her novels always entertaining. This being my fourth or fifth novel of Higgins I will say that it wasn’t my favorite of hers—mostly for wanting more from Levi in regards to his outright affection for Faith—but The Best Man was still one that I thoroughly enjoyed.

---

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristan Higgins writes down-to-earth romantic comedies...real life, true love and lots of laughs.

Find Kristan on Twitter or visit her website.

Purchase your copy of The Best Man on Amazon.

Booktrib.com is also doing a Live Chat with Kristan on March 12 at 3:00 PM EST. You can ask her any questions you might have, and hear about her new projects!!

Outside In

Outside In by Maria V. Snyder

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

In the sequel to Inside Out, Trella and the Force of the Sheep have managed to overthrow the tyranny of the Pop Cops. Now that the rebellion is over Trella feels confident in leaving the rest to a select group of committee members. But now there is trouble In and Out.

I rave about Maria V. Snyder. If you ask me for a book recommendation and am not afraid of a little fantasy, I’ll list all of Snyder’s works. The Poison Study series may be geared to an older audience I still think it’s appropriate for teens. I mean sex isn’t as hush-hush as it was before, which may be why Poison Study was moved from the adult section to the teen section. At any rate I’m ranting about her other works when I should be focusing on Inside Out!

Outside In was a maze of a book—twisty plotlines, double crossers, triple crossers, emotion upheavals, etc. While it did get irritating at some points especially the amount of times Trella gets trick, I was impressed that Synder did not shy away from tough character choices. Some authors cop out from deaths, but Snyder doesn’t take that route. Readers become more emotional attached to the characters. However I do think effects of the deaths could have been more pronounced.

Because Outside In is published HarlequinTeen, there needs to be a level of romance I would expect. Outside In doesn’t disappoint. Things get steamy (literally in the shower).

Source: personal

Cover B-

I wish both the girl and the guy were both black silhouettes and not just the guy.

Published: 2011, February 15

Amazon

Past Midnight

Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen

Source: author

Grade: 4 stars out of 5

Charlotte has never stayed at a town long enough to complete more than a semester at school yet her sister, Annalise, is determined for Charlotte to graduate and finish her senior. That’s why after their last hunt at disproving ghost their parents and Charlotte are finally staying a full year in a town, in a school! But this brand new house Charlotte has always dreamed of has a few hidden ghosts that came with her and they are angry.

I am easily scared. Like I get scared watching Scary Movie, which is meant more as a comedy than a scary movie, which is really pathetic in my eyes, but what can I do. So when I read Past Midnight pretty darn close at midnight with my brother popping in at random moments in my room I jumped. I freaked, okay. Quite honestly, readers won’t be too terrified but Past Midnight is still suspenseful and tension-filled even for those not scared of their own shadows.

Mara Purnhagen does her research and writes about thermal machinery and EMF readers like she’s been at the scene directly hunting ghosts. Purnhagen debunks her own theories and creates new opposition to give multiple and various viewpoints of ghosts/lingering energies.

The characters are dainty yet filled with a strong presence. The parents, thankfully, act like parents; friends act dotingly; sisters act like sister, and Charlotte acts like a heroine instead of a weak side-character. There is plenty of space left for development in the sequels to come, but there is enough depth that readers will not be too frustrated.

The hint of romance is tasteful and the ending of Past Midnight was that happily ever after I was looking for without that eye-twitching, gagging sweetness. There are still questions needed to be answered and characters that need to be clarified, but overall a good beginning to an interesting series (a sequel that I am definitely waiting for).

Cover B+

Buy Past Midnight: Amazon / Indie Bound / Book Depository