which is wonderfully refreshing, and I love the characters
585687
This is the kind of book I can get lost in. It's a unique concept, which is wonderfully refreshing, and I love the characters. Even the one I didn't think I would like in the beginning lol ;)
4042166
Such a refreshing read. I absolutely love realness and fresh storyline. Can wait for the second book in the series.
1896918
I love the characters. The writing is beautiful.
111834
I had never read a book by JulieAnne Long before and found her style funny, refreshing, thoroughly entertaining and somehow sweet. I will now move on to the next book in the series and hope to enjoy it as much as this first one!
1398243
Marry in Haste, the first in a new series centered on marriage of conveniences, has restored my faith in Anne Gracie's fantastic characterization, finely woven plots drizzled with sweet humor. This is very much a journey of self-discovery for our hero, Cal, as he learns the value of family and love, and naturally, that marriages are never convenient.

Major Calbourne (Cal) Rutherford is taking a temporary absence from soldiering upon discovering that the Earldom of Ashendon has, surprisingly, fallen on him due to the death of his father and older brother. To say that Cal is unprepared to his new responsibilities is an understatement, for he now has to deal with two headstrong nieces, an aunt who is too sweet to watch over said nieces, and kill the assassin (aptly named The Scorpion) before more victims arise. Cal, used to military discipline, quickly learns that he is ill-prepared to deal with his nieces, and sought help in the form of a marriage of convenience to the only person who can - Emmaline Westwood, respectable teacher at the girls academy his nieces were kicked out from. Thus begins Cal's belief that his "convenience" will remain, while Emm takes care of his nieces. Lord, what fools these mortals be!

Love was never part of the equation, but the growing days as Emm restores order to his household makes Cal realize that his well-ordered life was in fact missing something. For Emm, betrayed by men in her youth and subsequently cast out, she quickly learns that Cal isn't just the harsh man he seems to be, but rather a kind, trusting, honorable man who would do anything for his family. Their journey isn't smooth, but it is devoid of silly plot devices for dramatics. Instead, we are allowed to see each character develop in an organic way, as each action, each step, makes them reflect upon themselves and the loved ones around them. Cal and Emm are not perfect beings, but far from letting us dwell on a handsome visage or a beautiful figure, Ms. Gracie makes them learn from their imperfections so that this journey, this romance, becomes a budding flower in spring.

I enjoyed feeling like a friend to both parties along this journey, and one of the best moments is when, contrary to romance novel hero behavior, Cal confides in Emm his dangerous mission to seek her understanding and help, that his transformation becomes almost complete. The end involves a little bit of adorable fluff, but nonetheless, the characters charm you into their lives, and very quickly, you realize that you never want them to leave you. I remain a grateful fan of Ms. Gracie, and eager for more of this series.

*I received an advanced reader copy via Netgalley for an honest review.
2919514
This is a delightful seafaring romp featuring a refreshingly non-wimpy heroine and a gruffy but good-natured hero. The relationship between the hero and heroine is well-done, with just the right blend of passion and  laughter.
Indeed, while Sophia's bungling around the "Miss  Deed" may be a bit hard to swallow, she makes up for it with a healthy  dose of spunkiness and fire. And Jack is an intelligent and kind man  despite his bluster.
When I finish this book with a big smile, why, yes,  I'd call this a keeper. Jack and Sophia are indeed two of the funniest and  well, perfect romantic leads I've ever read. It is easy to believe a  happily ever after for them.
One thing though: the cover depicts a nice  garden scene. The closest thing to a garden in this book is the Yukatan  forest. What is the art department thinking?
1829698
This book was such a refreshing change! Seriously, I just love it when the main character is curvy, and not your typical tall, skinny girl that you usually get in NA books.

Melanie Crane is Maddys best friend. A college student that struggles with her self image; being a curvy size 16 she does not think that she is beautiful. That had me wanting to read this story quickly! Many women have the same insecurities that this character was dealing with.. I do. So,  I felt like I could really identify with her and relate to her issues. Mel is the perfect daughter, friend, and student but  she still has a hard time believing that someone would find her attractive.

Then we have Bryan, a sexy computer geek that also plays soccer. He ends up working with Melanie, and he does try his hardest to arrange his schedule to be around her. But Mel cant understand what Bryan sees in her.

"I think you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. Just give me time and I'll prove it to you. You'll see just how beautiful I think you are. You'll understand just how much I like you."

"You're not like the other girls that you think every guy wants. You're a breath of fresh air."

After awhile, things progress into a wonderful relationship and just as they both seem to be falling in love, her insecurities bring everything crashing down and lead her to do the unthinkable. She feels so guilty and Bryan has a hard time always trying to reassure her that he wants to be with her. I got to say that many times all I wanted was to give her a big bear hug and tell her hat I knew exactly how she was feeling.

"My God, Melanie. Do you realize how perfect you are? You are so damned beautiful."

"Ive never felt more like myself than when Im with Bryan. Im not different or better or skinner or anything like that. I don't have to be the perfect version of myself that I present to everyone else. Im just me, and whats really crazy is that when Im with him, Im happy about who I am."

Then after a horribly sad break-up, Melanie will have to be alone to find out who she is, what she wants and learn to love, accept and forgive herself first before loving someone. But, will she figure this out to late?

"We're not perfect, neither one of us. And we never will be, but we can be imperfect together.' His lips dance across mine and happiness shimmers in his warm, brown eyes. 'Then here's to one imperfect day after another."

Melissa did a wonderful job! This book was very refreshing to read, brilliant and beautifully written. We know there aren't lots of books about a character that isn't perfect, or isn't a size zero! So yeah, Melissa had done an incredible job by capturing the insecurities, and feelings of many women who struggle every day with their body image and feeling worth it and beautiful. If you haven't read it go get it as soon as possible and post a review when you're done!
1001885
These novels are poetry, both in prose and content. I've grown very attached to the world that Tamras and Mara live in, as well as the people they've come to known. Wonderful dialogue, wonderful characters, and wonderful and naturally built relationships.
This book wasn't quite as gripping as the first- meaning I was able to take longer breaks between putting the novel down and picking it back up again- but I believe that was a result of a more leisurely pacing rather than any flaw in the writing. I felt like I was lounging on the hills of rolling Celtic countryside as I progressed through the story.
And what a pleasure to know queer female characters with well-developed personalities that go beyond their sexual identities. It's like queer women actually have traits beyond their queerness. Amazing, I know. Applause all around for Catherine M. Wilson.
3469069
I rarely read romantic novels. I prefer diving into books about business, religion, or just about anything else so when a friend of mine recommended that I check this one out I was skeptical. After reading the book, I am glad I listened to her advice. Chloe's story of adventure, romance and friendship in a big new city was really refreshing and reminded me of my first few years in NYC (or what I hoped it could be anyway). It's a great read to escape every day meh-ness and help you re-imagine what your life in new surroundings could be. I've since sent a copy to my mom who loved it but "doesn't do computers" so I am sharing on her behalf. I'm still a romance novel skeptic, but would be interested to peek into another book from H.K. Abrahams.
4701870
This isn't my usual genre, but I've recently decided to branch out. I stumbled across The Opportunist, and am happy I did. The story is beautiful, heart wrenching, so sad, and yet so wonderful. I must admit that I am a sucker for a well-written, tragically flawed character, and The Opportunist is full of them. There is not a character in this story that is too perfect in any sense, which is refreshing in a literary world full "perfect". What I love is that, despite being wealthy, and attractive, all of the characters show bare their "ugly" for the world to see. Definately a must read for anyone looking for something else.
3650536
4.5 stars.  A-freaking-dorable.

I loved the quippy dialogue and the subtle humor. Charlotte is quirky and cold, yet still likable in an eccentric way.

And Watson, with his aw-shucks glow, is so thoroughly endearing that you want to pinch the crap out of him through the pages.

I couldn't quite give it five stars because the mystery, which built beautifully in the rising action, had a climax that I'm just not 100% about, but still, this was enjoyable as heck and I CAN'T WAIT for the next book.
3278692
This is another gem that I picked up without knowing what to expect. It is refreshing and fun to read. Characters are well-developed, they have depth and there is an actual story, which is sadly not common in most books in this genre. I am so happy not to read another love triangle and find a book with a strong female character who has friends. I mean actual friends, not the ones she may or may not have feelings for and then spend 3 books to agonize over who she loves. While "love" is there, it is not just about love for a "hot" guy, but love for her family, her friends, her life, the small town she lives. I am very excited to read the second installment. I think there should be more books in this series so we can read how everyone gets to grow up and come to their powers. Congratulations to the author for a very nice job. It is a great first book!
813216
The Razvak Hunter by Arel B. Grant is a refreshingly unique fantasy novel featuring magic, fantastical creatures, and absolutely wonderful characters.

I'm so happy that this is the first book in the Razvak Series. I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book!

Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.

My goodness, this was such a fun read!

This is an author that I will definitely be keeping my eye on. Her writing style is so lovely. It's beautifully descriptive, but never goes overboard. Her character development and their dialogue is excellent. And the world that she has created here is so interesting.

As you all know, I'm not usually a fan of varying perspectives and timelines, but each storyline here were both really wonderful! It did take a bit of time for me to get used to the flow, and because of the way the chapters were organized, it was a little repetitive at first. But once I got a quarter of the way into the book, I could not put it down!

Not only was each storyline written so wonderfully, the overall organization of the book was also very well done! I LOVE books like this. Though to avoid any spoilers, I will unfortunately have to leave it at that.

I loved the characters! Whether they were main character or side characters, they all seemed so realistic. Aelwyd was a very intriguing female character. I loved the way her storyline was introduced because it forced me to be patient and wait to learn more about her slowly as the book progressed. And Dalbran was so wonderfully funny! He could have easily been a very dark character, but I'm glad he kept his humor! Even the fantastical beasts were really interesting! I hope to see more of them in the second book.

From the magical standpoint, I thought the various elements were all really interesting! Though there were a few that I wished were explained in more detail. The main element, the power of the Rose of Vallenthar, was really neat!
4976701
I loved this book!!!  I hope the remainder of the series is as quality as this.

The world building is pretty decent in this book, but what really draws me into any novel is believable, flawed characters.  Bleak is the lead, an often annoying drunk.  She has a loyal friend, Bren, although I'm not sure if I buy why he's so loyal.  There's an amazing cast of characters and relationships from the sweet friendship of Dash and Olenna, to the enigma that is Swinton and Fiore.  I'm excited to read book two, to learn more about other parts of this amazing world's, but mostly, to find out what happens to these interesting and real characters!
325161
Refreshing, wholesome, romance, filled with twists and surprises.
1024212
This is a wonderfully fun, easy read!  I fell in love with the characters, who are well developed.  There were wonderful tidbits of wisdom, like that marriages need to have shared values and acceptance for who each person is.  And the constant need to show others how to improve can make them feel inadequate.  My favorite line is:  I don't always jump for joy at our Heavenly Fathers answer to my prayers, but it soon becomes clear
His answer was best for me in every situation.  I also love that Daniel prayed to God for guidance AND searched the Scriptures for answers.
814833
Murder, Curlers, and Canes is a truly delightful book, and I enjoyed every page that I was quickly turning, because the story is so engaging.  Just when Valentine thinks that things are looking up for her Beauty Shop with the departure of the incompetent Phyllis, she hires a replacement, Jock De Marco on a whim.  Although Jock may brings in lots of clientele, he is an absolutely gorgeous hunk, and his undivided attention to Valentine may be her undoing.  But with Detective Romano having been out of the picture for two months with no contact, Valentine's finds her resolve to ignore Jock's advances quickly disappearing.

At her weekly hair appointment for residents at the Rueland Retirement home, Valentine discovers the body of her friend, Sister Madeline, who appears to have died of natural causes.  However, she finds the nun's death highly suspicious, and decides to investigate.  But it seems that Valentine can't catch a break, from between being warned off the case by the police, her mother setting up even more disastrous blind dates, and several mishaps that had me laughing out loud.  She is convinced she is on the right path regarding her suspicions about Sister Madeline, when an attempt is made on her life, and she is rescued by the newly returned Detective Romero, who is now on the case.

The characters in this story are well created and have a life all of their own.  Max is hilarious as her sidekick, and Phyllis (yes she comes back), is even more over-the-top than ever.  The sexual tension between Valentine and Jock and Romero is palpable, and left me almost as flustered as Valentine.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough.  It is refreshing, holds your attention and keeps you guessing until the very end about the fate of Sister Madeline.  Valentine is a delightful character -- one I want to see more of -- and I can't wait for the next installment in this series to be released.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.