Hopeless Romantic Book
929987
Holy hot, sweet book! I loved Hopeless Vows. Imagine: a reality show, an arranged marriage, and then the surprise. The one person you've agreed to marry is the one person you can never show the real you. You can't expose your secrets or confide in them. You have to figure a way out of this. Jillian and Austin literally sizzled on the pages. The chemistry was palpable. The characters were well-developed and the plot was so much more than I thought it would be. I thought I was smart, that I had it all figured out about 30% into the book. But, Duncan surprised the ever-loving hell out of me. And this girl loves being surprised. Five very enthusiastic stars.
1228928
This had the potential to be a great book. However the heroine was very frustrating. And since the book is told exclusively from her POV, I got frustrated a lot.

Erin first meets Seth when he moves to her home town to live with his guardian following the death of his grandfather. Seth was a emotionally distant teenager who grew up to be an emotionally distant man. As soon as he could he moves away without a look back. The two reconnect at the funeral of Seth's guardian years later. Seth had not really enamored himself of the people of the town but his guardian, Mac, had been beloved. But at Mac's funeral, Erin noticed how alone and lonely he looks and, in a fit of compassion, she cajoles him out for a drink.

After great conversation and lots of liquor the two wind up in bed together. The sex is fantastic but both simply smile and go their separate ways, content to have had a smokin' one night between the sheets. However, weeks later Erin discovers she has become pregnant from the encounter and tracks Seth down to tell him he is going to be a father.

Initially I really enjoyed the dynamic. I loved that Erin wasn't obsessing over Seth or that she hadn't given the night more significance than what it was. But my enjoyment of this dynamic wanes fairly quickly because as far as 3/4 into the book, Erin never feels anything beyond friendship for Seth. And it isn't a case where she is in denial and the reader realizes it even if she doesn't. No. The way the writer presents this, I was convinced that Erin really had no feelings beyond friendship and co-parent-ship for Seth.

I like it when romance novels push boundaries. But having your heroine NOT even begin to fall in love with your hero for three-quarters of the book is not the boundary I want pushed. Honestly, I was baffled by Erin's reasoning especially since she and Seth created such an intimate relationship throughout her pregnancy. He, by all counts, was sexy, handsome, great in the sack, committed to being part of the pregnancy and he was totally into her. During the pregnancy he was clearly falling for her. And yet Erin was insistent, to the point where she got irritated with the idea, that she just didn't think of him that way.

I get IRL that this can happen. A woman can get pregnant from a one night stand and not fall in love with the father. But this is a romance novel and the expectation is that Erin would begin to grow deeper feelings for Seth. So when that doesn't happen I got frustrated.

And then it does. Because suddenly 'Durp! I do love you.' Erin says. She's been falling in love with him after all. But Honestly, as a reader I felt cheated. I don't feel that I got to see that happen. And what is more, Erin kept telling me it wasn't happening.

And what is worse, I didn't 100% trust her. I kept waiting for her to mess it up somehow. I was gratified to know that on some level the author was aware of the impression Erin made because Seth couldn't relax either after she tells him. He, just like me, kept waiting for her to back out.

The books gets three stars because the writing is excellent. I thought she allowed the story to unfold nicely, even leisurely. I especially loved all the scenes around the labor and birth. There is an author's note in the book that the author had never been pregnant or had kids, so the fact that I was totally transported back to my own pregnancies during those scenes really speaks to her ability to communicate in writing. And although I wish he had some sort of POV, (he gets no POV at all) Seth's character and emotional state are well conveyed also.
2078791
This book is so frustrating. The main character is negative about everything and depressing. Her love interest is basically a hot, unremorseful jerk. The unrequited love is kind of crushing. I'm 2/3 of the way though the book and more frustrated than I've been in a long time. I wouldn't recommend.
3367080
This book was recommended to me by Amazon because I have previously purchased quite a few Nora Roberts and Danielle Steel books.  Since I had not read anything written by Jill Shalvis before I did quite a bit of research into the Lucky Inn series through Amazon customer comments and other sites before buying this book and "The Sweetest Thing" (the first 2 books in the Lucky Harbor Series).  Whilst not all comments were positive, I thought I would give it a shot so I ordered them.  I have to say I was disappointed to say the least.  There appeared to be no real storyline for this book and in almost every chapter Jax & Maddie were engaged in every illicit act known to man. In fact some of the descriptions made me laugh as I asked myself "how is that even possible??"

I appreciate a good romance novel with a little "spice" as much as the next person, but I can't say that I rate "Simply Irresistible" amongst the good ones.  This plot has so much potential, I'm sad that Jill Shalvis didn't develop it more and leave some of the "romantic" interludes to the imagination.

Whilst I have rated this book as okay, I will probably not bother with the rest of the series, even though I have bought and read the second book, "The Sweetest Thing".
694337
So the hero, Victor is a great guy. Romantic,kind, patient, loving to her child but the heroine Cara refuses to just enjoy him. Every other second she is wondering why her and actually asking! As a reader I tried really hard to get into the story and get lost in the romance but every time Cara does something to send me hurtling back to Earth. I will say that there is some explanation at the end about her suspicious behavior but it was at the very end of the book. I would not read this book again.
3402061
Libby Holladay, owner of a company that restores old buildings, finds herself reeling after her business partner, Nicole, discovers a link to Libby's past while scouting out properties on beautiful Hope Island. Not only does Nicole inform Libby that she has just inherited the grand Tidewater Inn- a landmark of the island- but that Libby also has a brother and sister that she never knew existed. However, before Libby can process this new branch in her family tree, she witnesses Nicole's kidnapping on a beachcam and races to Hope Island to find her friend and kidnappers. As the novel progresses, Libby is introduced to her not-so-welcoming siblings, explores the now somewhat dilapidated Tidewater Inn, and meets Alec, a Coast Guard Lieutenant, who helps her search for Nicole and becomes a romantic interest.

I rarely give poor reviews, but I just couldn't help it with this one. There were so many scenarios in the book that were so completely unrealistic that it almost became comical. Would Alec's nephew really not put two and two together and make the connection that the lady he delivers supplies to could be the woman who was kidnapped that the entire town is talking about? And, how about the hurricane- I doubt Nicole would survive it on a tiny deserted island with a shanty shack as her only protection (which of course was still left standing after the hurricane!). I could go on and on with more examples, but I might risk spoiling the plot. I was also disappointed in the romance between Libby and Alec. It just seemed a little forced to me. This was my first read by Coble. Hopefully, the next one will be better.

This review contains my own thoughts and opinions. I have not been compensated for this review in any way.
1125073
This is a very disappointing read. My apologies to the author, but I really disliked this book. All the women portrayed were desperate and dateless, in the most neurotic way. There was not one positive example of a female in the book. The men were also negatively shown - stalkers, muggers, sleazes, etc. The family members were disfunctional and non-supportive. The main love interest, well, I could not understand why there continued to be a relationship at the end of the book - it all went back to "it is better to have someone than no one."  It is hard to enjoy a book when the characters are so shallow and desperate. I would also not classify this as a paranormal romance - it is chick lit with the main character just happening to be a werewolf. Chick lit is my least favourite genre. A disappointment all round.
2658411
I wish I could say that I loved the book. Yes, it's somewhat reminiscent of the book&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Whitney-My-Love/dp/0671776096/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Whitney, My Love</a>&nbsp;written by Judith McNaught at the beginning, but unfortunately not even close to the original. h is suposed to be intelligent, but how can any inelligent beeing be so blindly infatueted by someone's looks, by mere appearance? No matter how attractive physically H might be, he stil is just a 29 year old coward, a drunk who hides from problems in a bottle of spirits. And he does it repeadetly in this book! He is just emotionaly constipated! It's so infuriating! I do not understand what the heroine sees in him? Except him being attractive, handsome, gorgeous etc.(all relating solely to his phisical appearance). Otherwise, he has no quality that would make him desirable by any selfrespecting woman. Whitney and Clayton had depth and were humans with virtues and flaws, but they were beliavable. I just can't see how can any woman find this H desirable. Or maybe that's just it: our h is not a woman, she is just an infatuated teenage girl ready to do whatever it takes (and I mean WHATEVER it takes!) to get her Idol. Sorry, but I found this book unbelieavable and irritating, with way too many misunderstandings and jumping to wrong conclusions. My advice: read "Whitney, my love" instead.
2792710
I will shamelessly admit that I do enjoy romance novels - when the author abandons category for characterization and cliche for fresh story and depth. TO CAPTURE A RAKE is billed as a steamy romance novel, but in fact the love (sex) scenes are far apart and separated mostly by tedious and endlessly repetitious pages wherein the male prostitute and the innocent-who-is-not-all-she-seems-to-be yearn for each other separately and cannot communicate at all when they're together. Needless to say, this doesn't give the reader much to excite her.

The idea of a romantic hero being a male prostitute living in a gilded cage is a nice twist on the standard romantic setup, though the author makes it very clear from the beginning that Gideon is no pushover and in fact expects always to dominate his female clients. Of course Elizabeth, our heroine who has her own reasons for needing him in her bed, even though she has to buy his time to get him there, immediately and inadvertently (is it ever any other way in romantic fiction?) exerts a bewitching effect on Gideon, and he on her, though they are not together for more than half a page before someone insults or pushes away the other and they separate - and once they separate, the author makes painfully clear how much they're attracted. Try reading this for 100 pages; it's really tough.

I gave it two stars for the unique setup, which unfortunately is not borne out in the rest of the book. The fact is, almost nothing actually HAPPENS in this novel - and unfortunately, when the first third goes by with almost no plot movement, the rest of the book can't save it. The romantic fiction I do admire is fast-paced, plot heavy, and with a sense that the characters have lives to live and things they have to do, apart from their overwhelming attraction. This gives the reader some grounding, not to mention a reason to keep turning the pages. TO CAPTURE A RAKE is romantic fare with almost no plot, clumsy, cliched prose and even worse, very little romance. Without those, what's there to keep a reader around?
1649878
The first book by this author that I was unable to finish. I refuse to read a romance where the entire book is about one idiotic misunderstanding,that could have been/be resolved by simple communication!

Reading 200 pgs of ANGST,is not enjoyable,nor romantic,so I got about halfway and gave up.

I do not recommend 'In A Cowboy's Arms'.

Glad it was my library's copy.
454393
I did not like this book in the least.  It was so bad, I actually wished I had picked it up at the library rather than purchasing.  The premise seemed a bit sketchy but I thought I would give it a try.  I have to say that the element of romantic fantasy was sadly missing from this book.  It was a completely unrealistic storyline and the poor character development did not help.  What makes it worse is that the ending was not only completely dissatisfying, it was totally unbelievable!
1456248
Run away while you can. This was the worst romance I have ever read. I wanted to slap the main character silly. Macomber will be an author I'll studiously avoid. She used rape as a plot ploy to provide drama in the most hideous way.
631167
Sadly disappointing. I loved the premise of this book. I mean really, a Parisienne book shop floating its way to southern France~so much possibility there. Unfortunately, the book devolved into a cliched romance novel that was both banal and insipid. It dealt in tropes and caricatures. It failed to deliver a feeling of authenticity and instead served up what felt like a young girl's travel journal musings~a star struck, overly romantic and flat view of France and her people. On the bright side, there are recipes in the back that I'm anxious to try.
3858724
By this book's description of the He/She,I thought I was ensure not to read about a love-driven heroine, and a hero who would refuse to fall in love, but this was unfortunately what I got.  The heroine is supposed to be strong, but the minute she falls in love, she turns  into a push over.  The hero is even worse, the minute that he realizes that he has finally won her affections, he informs her of that fact, when the heroine admits he is right, and asks if he has affection for her too, he tells her no, but that he "honor" her love for him.  From then on, the heroine becomes pathetic (in my eyes), often declaring her love for him, trying desperately to gain his love, and despairing over the fact that she cannot.  By the way the hero does not realize his love until just about the end of the story.
3056600
I had high hopes for this book, but found myself disappointed in the hero and disbelieving in the romance. The premise is great: Fiona has told her family that she has a fianc because she was too shy and nervous during her Season and never wanted to do it again. Shes waiting for her grandmother to die before revealing the embarrassing truth. But, while out digging for Roman ruins, she kind of sort of accidentally holds up a carriage with a handsome Duke inside. She may as well recruit/force him to portray her imaginary fianc, right?

I feel the need to point out that Fiona has red hair and hates mushrooms, just like me! I had no idea that redheads were so scorned in British society:

Red-headed women with freckles were never destined to possess elegance.

How do you think my hair turned so red? Blood! Graeme gasped. I always knew redheads weren't trustworthy.

Kisses were things girls with glossier hair and freckle-free complexions whispered about. They didn't apply to Fiona.

Anyway, moving on from my personal issues, Percival is the new-to-the-title Duke. Hes returned from the war missing a leg, and now his aunt wants him to marry his dead cousins fiancee, because pedigree, and also hed never find a better woman what with his wooden leg and all.

Percival is a spineless jellyfish, okay? When Fiona kidnaps him, he worries about being late to meet his aunt. Then, even when he realizes that Fiona might be a nice girl in need of help, he still tries to escape instead of summoning up his noble blood and doing the right thing. THEN, even when he realizes that Fionas uncle is a louse of the highest degree, he STILL doesnt want to stick around to serve some righteous in-your-face Dukeness. (I don't know what that would look like, I just know that it would be awesome and that Percival did not do it.)

This book is written with a light touch, as you can tell from the red hair quotes above. Fionas horrible uncle is hilariously obtuse while putting down Fiona. I must divulge the poor character of my niece. I cannot wait. My conscience will not permit it! And every time Percival tells people that Fiona kidnapped him, they just nod and smile, all, Love feels that way, doesnt it?

At the end of their three-day adventure (and I think two of those days were Percival thinking escape thoughts and not caring about Fiona), Percival goes back to his life and his aunt and his possible fiancee. Fiona is sad, and pissed, and her reputation is ruined. But she pulls herself up and plans an awesome future for herself as a spinster, and its seriously like, go, Fiona! You don't need a man or a castle, you do you! Of course Percival has thoughts and realizations and returns because this is a romance and hes supposed to, but I think Fiona would have been better off without him.

Rating: C
4403683
Interesting contemporary romance without crass language & graphic sex is a rare find In today's books.  This book is all romance with a silly attempt at intrigue.  I say silly attempt because any rational person whose life is threatened would not repeatedly open their door without identifying who was at the door first; a rational person would not let a person into their home that they believed killed her parents; would not repeatedly think they were safe because it was day-light; have a bodyguard that left her customers alone to answer the door when their lives a have been threatened. That's just silly.  This book would be so much better if the author included common sense in a threatening situation.  That way it is, all of the characters come across as empty headed.  At least no crass language or sex.
618367
So sorry - I really wanted to like this book.  The description sounded like it would be a fun read.  And, NO where did I see that this would be a "Christian" romance story.  There was a lot of potential, but, lets face it - this is the 21st century and I can't see that anyone would ever act the way these two acted.  Even their conversations were totally unbelievable.  Absolutely no one would ever act the way these two acted throughout the entire book.  Perhaps in Victorian times??  But, current day Maine ?????  Not happening.  Way too sappy!!!!