Reading Fanatic Reviews
Contemporary RomanceTruth and Solace by Jana Richards
Truth and Solace*
Compelling Third Installment of Excellent Series
After Lies and Secrets (books 1 and 2), we finally have Truth in the Love at Solace Lake series. Maggie, the youngest of the Lindquist daughters, is the heroine of this second-chance-at-romance story. When she was a young teenager, she fell in love was a young man named Luke who was a few years older than she was. After dumping her in a most dramatic and painful fashion, he went to California for schooling and ultimately got a job there. He comes back to the Minnewasta area because his mother is terminally ill with lung cancer. He works in hotel and restaurant management and has agreed to do that temporarily at the lodge so he can be with his mother in Minnesota. Because of their respective jobs in the lodge, Luke and Maggie often work together, which is not always easy for Maggie. They have so much shared history and still-existent feelings for each other, but there are also hurt and abandonment issues.
Will Maggie be able to look beyond the past hurts? Can Maggie and Luke find love again as adults? How will Luke deal with his mother’s illness? What truths will be revealed?
Yet again, the author has written a fantastic book. The past backstory and the current plotlines weave together and mirror each other in a complex way that was beautifully done.
I was wondering how she was going to handle the first chapter, which in the other two books of the series showed the sisters’ parents’ deaths from that book’s heroine’s perspective. But I knew that Maggie was just a baby when her parents died. In this book instead, Maggie gets into a fight with her grandmother about Luke just before her grandmother dies, causing Maggie to feel guilty that she may have caused her heart attack.
In this book, you will finally learn the truth about the death of the girls’ parents as well as the truth about Maggie’s parentage, which was hinted at in the prior book. Another truth revealed in the book is the reason why Luke left back when they were younger.
Yet again, this author is not afraid to address difficult and taboo topics, which are not common in contemporary romance. In this book, she looks at sexual harassment, parental abandonment, cancer, and marital infidelity as well as continuing to address alcoholism. Even though there are many hard topics she explores, she does so with sensitivity and compassion.
If you enjoyed either of the first two books of the series, you will find answers to the questions raised in them, told in the compelling way you have come to expect from this author. If you haven’t read the other books and enjoyed heartfelt contemporary romance, I suggest you start with Book 1 and make it to this one because the journey of the characters in these novels is amazing to watch unfold.
Scarred by Meghyn King
Scarred*
Heroine Confronts Her Past
Scarlett, who left her hometown as soon as she could, comes back for her twin sister’s wedding. Scarlett hasn’t been back because she was bullied severely in high school for her weight and her crush on one of the football stars. Her treatment back then destroyed her, and she acts out sexually because of it. She has no desire for a permanent relationship, and she has a string of one-night stands. She decides that a good way to get back at least one person in her hometown is to have a one-night stand with one of the perpetrators, Ethan, the one she had a crush on, to show him what he missed. Of course, it isn’t that simple. She has rules for her one-night stands, and she ends up breaking them with him.
What motivates Scarlett to act differently than she usually does? What exactly is the dynamic between her and Ethan? Will Scarlett finally be able to sort out her thoughts and feelings about what she suffered when she was younger?
This book is very unusual for contemporary romance in that it looks at not just one but two difficult topics, bullying and domestic abuse. It’s easy to see how the teenage bullying changed Scarlett, altering not only her perceptions of herself but how she reacted to those around her (not just men). In an ironic twist, one of Scarlett’s main tormentors became the victim of domestic abuse. The author did a good job of showing how and why these two women were at odds but were able to come around to a better understanding in part based on the pain of their pasts.
Note: This book has highly graphic descriptions of sexual acts with many sexual scenes described in slang terms for body parts and actions. There is a lot of profanity both in the sexual scenes and outside them.
Secrets and Solace by Jana Richards
Secrets and Solace*
Taboo Topic Explored in Second Installment of Love at Lake Solace Series
The second book of the Love at Solace Lake series features Harper’s sister Scarlet and Ethan’s brother, Cam. If you enjoyed the love story between Harper and Ethan, you get to see their wedding from Scarlet’s perspective before they leave on their honeymoon to Paris. Scarlet and Cam must work together in several circumstances, and they have an almost immediate mutual dislike even though they are also somewhat drawn to each other. Scarlet doesn’t appreciate that Cam seems to think Harper is just after Ethan for his money. Ethan doesn’t like this either, and after a particularly rude statement during the wedding brunch, Ethan tells Cam that he will not put up with this treatment of his wife. Cam has a young daughter, Tessa, born out of wedlock and is an alcoholic who has been dry for three years.
Alcoholism is not a typical backdrop or source of conflict in a romance, but the author has done a good job showing how this has impacted Cam in the past and affects him in the present, decreasing his feelings of self-worth, which causes problems in his relationships with women. He’s a good father to Tessa despite his alcohol issues and problems with women.
Both Cam and Scarlet have secrets, Scarlet’s having to do with her parents’ death. She witnessed an argument that occurred between them just before their accident, and she believes she is responsible for what happened. I love how these first two stories in the series start with each girl’s memory of the day their parents died; we are privy to the same sentinel moment from different perspectives.
What will happen as Scarlet, who’s working on publicity for the lodge, works with Cam as he is renovating the lodge? Will they continue to butt heads? Will they come to a greater understanding of each other? And will that lead to more? Will secrets cause more distance between them?
I love the complex world the author has woven for this series. So far, each sister is totally unique in her fears, goals, and motivations. Their men, too, are unique–a lottery millionaire and an alcoholic contractor. Yet, overarching these stories is the underpinning mystery about the girls’ parents’ relationship and deaths as well as the modern story of renovating the lodge that pulls all these people together in a satisfying way.
If you enjoy the first book of the series, which I thought was a well-written book, you will enjoy this love story of the siblings of the first couple. If you like steamy romance that isn’t afraid to embrace difficult topic, you might enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this book, but this did not affect my review.
Love to Declare by C. B. Maurice
Love to Declare*
A Trying Time at Customs
I think this title is a little bit misleading. This is a very short story that mostly just details a problematic trip through Customs for young women who has just come back from a year teaching primary school children English in Korea. There is a young man, Jake, whom she didn’t know before her plane trips to get her to the US, but stands by her during this drama.
I wonder if the author just had a particularly trying time at Customs after one of her plane trips abroad. That being said, this short story can be read in less than a half hour–perhaps while you’re waiting in line!
Egging Her On by Mellanie Szereto
Egging Her On
Too Much Sex, Not Enough Romance
I don’t know what I was expecting when I read the blurb on the review site where I often pick books to review, but this wasn’t quite it. The book seems far more crude than it needs to be. While I don’t consider myself a prude, I often wish that sensual romance books didn’t resort to profanity or crass terms. Often these days, it seems like romances are either clean or lewd, without much middle ground. At least on Goodreads and Bookbut, the book blurb clearly states at the top that it is “erotic romance.”
The heroine, Lindie, is a no-nonsense farmer, specializing in eggs though she does sell some produce as well. The peaceful life she has created for herself is upended when someone wants to buy her property for way more than its value. This turns out to be the many-times-great grandson of the original owner who would like to have it back in the family so that he can raise his orphaned nephews there. The blurb says they meet when she’s naked, but there’s definitely more to it than that.
They immediately decide to embark on a no-strings affair, complete with a detailed contract specifying contraception, STD checks, and no mention of relationship terms (among other things). Will this affair impact the proceedings with a property? Will either of them break the contract? Why is Lindie dead set against selling, even at a fantastic price? What is her big secret?
I found Lindie to be too rough, abrasive, and crude. She’s definitely not a shrinking violet. It’s hard for me to imagine a real woman acting with Blaine as she does the first two times they meet.
Perhaps I read it wrong, but the blurb seems to be more about their property dispute and Lindie’s secret. The book, however, seems more about their tawdry affair. I would liked to have seen more character development, and given the way the story actually went, more of a development of actual romantic interest between the two, not a just sexual one.
The cover of the book isn’t right. Lindie is stated to be 40 more than once, and Blaine himself is supposed to be nearing 40. Neither of the models on the cover appears to be close to those ages. I like it when a book has an older heroine, but this should be clear on the cover. Otherwise, it seems hypocritical, using youth to sell a story about a more mature romance.
The book had some of the common issues with grammar, punctuation, and spelling, but these in themselves did not distract from the book.
Perception Boxed Set by Shandi Boyes
Perception Boxed Set*
Triumph and Tragedy in Coming-of-Age Romance
This box set contains three separate interlinked novels. In fact, the first two combine to make one bigger novel. The first two books are a coming-of-age romance of wannabe rockstar Noah and Emily, the younger sister of his friend Jacob’s girlfriend Lola. These books touch on quite a few themes that could be unsettling for some readers. Several heartbreaking events occur, both on large and small scales, but I don’t want to give away too much detail because, if you choose to read these books, you’ll appreciate the reading experience more for having read it yourself. The second book involves a romance for Noah’s friend mentioned above, who usually is quite the player.
I’m glad the author is offering these in a boxset because the first two really should be read together one right after the other. While the first book could be seen as complete in itself, the ending would be unsatisfying; it does make you wonder what happens next for Noah. The second book has a shocking twist I didn’t see coming; it was very well done by the author.
The book did have the common issues with grammar, punctuation, and spelling, including incorrect possessives and misspellings/wrong words like dints for dents, opposing versus opposite, and allude for exude.
If you enjoy coming of age romances that have triumph and tragedy, you might enjoy this boxset.
I did receive a free advance copy, but this did not affect my review.
Love Done Write by Amelia Foster
Love Done Write*
Writer and Biggest Fan Get Together
Harrison Winslow is a staid university professor by day, divorced and with post-divorce relationship troubles, who writes erotic novels under a pseudonym to protect his and his university’s reputation. Sydney is probably his biggest fan, a young hairdresser who sneaks off to read his weekly postings as soon as they hit his website and is always the first to comment on them. They flirt a little bit publicly, but then in an inebriated haze, she mistakenly sends him her true and steamy reaction to his story via email. Then things start to heat up between them. After playing a little bit of cat and mouse while trying to decide whether to get together more than digitally, they meet up and hook up.
Harrison, though he is far older than Sydney, has had fewer partners than she has. They both do a little teaching and learning here. This book contains a lot of steamy scenes, both one-sided and as a couple. Although the author didn’t let us know early on, it turns out that Sydney writes as well, and that leads to a very interesting end of the book. I liked the clever use of texts and emails as well as more standard dialogue and narrative sections.
This book had minor issues with punctuation. Namely, commas were often forgotten between two independent clauses in a complex sentence. But it wasn’t overly distracting.
If you like erotic May/ December romances, this book may be for you.
Sweet Compromises by Dean Hodel
Sweet Compromises*
Romance and Reticence
This book is an odd combination of romance and reticence. Skye, the heroine, is coming up on the first birthday that will not be shared with her twin. He was a nurse in the military and was accidentally fatally shot. He has tasked a friend to bring her a final note from him on their birthday with the instructions that this man is here to help her through her grief so that she can move on. Caleb is a strange hero. It takes a bit to pick apart his history but suffice to say he is very closed off emotionally. Skye appears to be all happiness, but her pain at the loss of her family makes life difficult for her. Did twin Stephen hope to heal both his friend and his sister and bring them together? Is Caleb willing and able to open up himself up to someone else? What about the new project manager at a neighboring ranch, who seems to have an interest in Skye? Part of what makes this book odd for me is that it is often touching in recounting some of their separate histories, fears, and doubts while at other times, characters discuss concepts in a way that people just don’t talk and think about them. For instance, at the very start, Caleb talks about wanting to help heal Skye. It just seemed odd to see him think like this when he barely knows her. The problem had more than the usual amount of errors with grammar, punctuation, and usage. For instance, the need for another quotation mark at the start of a new paragraph of dialogue said by the same person was not followed. The story had some interesting characters aside from the main ones, and it looks like from the epilogue that this is the start of a series.
French Restoration by Sara Claridge
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Scribd, Angus & Robertson, and Mondadori
French Restoration
Chateau Restoration with Intrigue and Romance
This tale about the restoration of a French chateau has both mystery and romance. Alex, the wealthy American new owner of the chateau, wants it converted into an exclusive luxury hotel. Working with him is a French interior designer, Chantal, who has unique ideas that align with his vision. Both characters have complicated pasts and hopes for the future. But something’s amiss at the chateau. Strange things keep happening that put the project at risk and even in danger, and these incidents escalate as the book goes on. What secrets are in Chantal’s past? Will the chateau renovation actually get completed? Will Alex prove himself to his father and take over the company?
I didn’t like the hero much at first and actually had a hard time getting past that. He comes across as a bit of a chauvinist, which is not my favorite kind of hero in a romance! He tends to make wild, usually sexist assumptions about Chantal. We do find out that this is due to a recent nasty breakup, but he’s still a bit of a jerk at times. Chantal was intriguing, as it was clear there was a bit more to her than what could be seen at the surface.
There were some issues with grammar, punctuation, and usage, but this did not overly detract from the story.
If you like stories with a different setting than is typical, like modern France, and enjoy a little bit of intrigue with your romance, you might find this story enjoyable.
I did receive a free advance copy, but that did not affect my review.
Forbidden Desires Anthology
Forbidden Desires*
Fun Collection of Reverse Harem Firsts in Series or Prequels
This is a collection of mostly firsts in a series or prequels by RH authors. The stories range in concept. There are otherworldly ones: two with wolf shifters, two about royalty (one that’s more fantastical and one that’s more witchy), and one about alien shifters. There are also some contemporary ones that have to with business, the medical field, acting, and even a special camp.
The boxset introduced me to series and authors I didn’t know about and will now follow; it’s always fun to discover new authors! The collection didn’t seem to have too many issues with grammar, punctuation, or usage.
If you like or have an interest in the RH concept, you might find this small taste from a variety of authors will wet your whistle.
NOTE: This anthology appears to no longer be available.
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