The queen of chick lit

Maybe she does not write literary masterpieces, but Jill Mansell is my number one writer when I am looking for relaxed unadulterated pleasure. Her characters, as usual, are full of life. Her stories are fun and I love knowing beforehand that everybody will live happily ever after. A great pick-me-up for any occasion.

Another fab read by Adele Parks

Young Wives' Tales is another terrific book from one of my favourite writers. The story tells the tales of 3 different women who all have interconnecting lives. It is exccellently written and I really enjoyed the way that you hear the individual character voices of the realistic characters.<br /><br />A highly entertaining, honest look at the complexities of modern relationships.

Lessons on how to reform a rake .........without him even knowing it

Having grown up and witnessed her mother's disastrous/hate-filled marriage of convenience, Miss Roslyn Loring has decided that only a love match will do. The only problem is -How the devil do you make a man fall in love with you? Regrettably, it seems that most men fall in love with their mistresses, and not their wives. Being an intelligent and logical woman she goes right to the source for information -her friend, an infamous courtesan.<br /><br />The remarkably handsome Duke of Arden, is known as an extraordinary lover, a man who is able to make women weep with rapture. At the annual notorious Cyprian's ball, fate finds him on the lookout for a new mistress when his eyes catch hold of a beautiful masked shepherdess. He pursues and confronts her in a deserted alcove. But shockingly this woman seems to be immune to his advances. Hmmm...must be a ploy, for she is quite an actress too, pretending to be all innocent. So he *intensifies* his persuasive skills. And just when things become increasingly heated, she declines his offer and turns to flee with Arden left feeling rather stunned......<br /><br />Weeks later, at her sister's wedding, Roslyn panics when Arden realizes that it was her at the ball. She fears the only way out of her dilemma is to tell the truth. So she assures him that she was only there for ....er...... investigative purposes. She wants to know how courtesans make men fall in love with them. Arden is intrigued. He admires her honesty but thinks its absurd to try and get a man to fall in love with you (if in fact *real love* even exists). And she wants *lessons* from him?.....What the devil? But after he ponders it for a moment, he's more than willing to help the delectable beauty with lessons on how to snare a man's heart....well someone has to be the guinea pig <grin>!<br /><br />This is the second book in the Courtship War series. Having not read the prequel, I can't comment on that. I had no problems reading it as a stand alone. In fact, aside from some minor points, I very much like this book and LOVE the hero!<br /><br />This book quite unusual as far as reformed rake plots go. The twist is that Roslyn doesn't even like Arden and she sees him for what he really is -a cynical rogue bent on enjoying the pleasures of flesh and nothing more. So she has no qualms about using him to help teach her how to gain affections of another man. Arden is confused -like a fish out of water. Here is a woman who has no interest in him (a wealthy duke no less!) at all but rather wants him as a teacher? This irks his male pride to no end. Then, when he realizes that he doesn't want Roslyn courting some other man, its Arden who in fact becomes the pursuer. This is takes up the major part -and best part IMHO- of the book.<br /><br />I think that the characterizations and romance (including sizzling love scenes) are worthy of five stars and based on that I would recommend this book. But there are a couple of irritating points. The book needs a good editing -way too long. It could have been cut down without affecting the story. And still don't understand why authors completely ignore historical convention. Have an infamous courtesan at a society wedding? or a Lady taking in her deceased husband's mistress and all of her illegitimate children? -No way. I have a hard time believing that. But those things shouldn't keep you from reading an otherwise really good reformed rake book.<br /><br />Recommended.

Fabulous

This really is a fabulous book for women. There is never any description of pert breaste or tiny waists and there must be something for everyone, Im searching for more of this type of book

This is the last LTT that I will be buying. SPOILER

Sorry yet again to write a review that is sure to upset die-hard DP fans. This book was a real let down. After Winter Roses (which didn't even have the right leads on the cover according to the description in the book!) I thought that this one would pick up the series, but no, it was the same old recipe of name-dropping (Cy Parks, Tom and his dog Mooose, Alexander Cobb, the Ballengers, Harley Fowler etc. - how Harley is meant to be a future male lead is beyond me, as he is so not an Alpha male, but backs down, tail-between-legs when the male lead just gives him a glare), the same old theme of the drugs trafficking (which the whole of Jacobsville seems to be aware of, and ok living with, mention of Cara yet again, tho she's now in prison) and the same lack of interaction between the leads (as in Winter Roses - DP seems to be giving her leads 2 kissing scenes before the big finale/marriage) They kiss twice, and on the third time he tells her that if they are to go on seeing each other (they're not really what could be classed as seeing each other, seeing they've just kissed and been interrupted by people coming and going, they've never actually had a date, but maybe his definition differs to mine) he needs more, backs her onto a sofa/bed and seduces her. She cries, says 'IT' is so horrible she never wants to do it again but then a couple of scenes later he tells her he loves her, and she agrees to marry him, still hating the 'IT' part. Anyway, on their wedding night he makes 'IT' wonderful for her (I think so, as at least she doesn't cry, but sighs instead i.e there's no description, just that HE BUFFETTED HER AGAINST...thank goodness my hubby doesn't 'buffett' me, cos I think I'd have to 'buffett' his ears for being an ass!) and they live HEA. Hmmmmm a real disappointing read, and for now, I really think this will be the last LTT that I buy. I have preordered Rodrigo's book, Fearless, and thank God for the resale value of DP books when they're not yet avail in the UK, only as US imports.

Small-town fangs

"The Accidental Vampire" is another of Lynsay Sands' Argeneau Vampire series, this time focussing on Victor, one of the oldest of the family and a widower. Victor finds himself travelling to the small town of Port Henry with his friend and fellow vampire DJ in response to a female vampire's lonely hearts advert. Not that Victor is responding as a prospective suitor - instead he is going as a Council representative to decide what to do about this vampire woman who's breaking laws of secrecy, and that might involve having her killed.<br /><br />When Victor and DJ arrive they realise the situation is a little more complex. Three more single vampires turn up in response to the advert and it's clear the entire town knows about and loves Elvi, the female vampire. It's also clear she has no idea about what being a vampire means and has gained all her information from the film version of Dracula; She doesn't realise that she can eat food, go out in daylight, sleep in a bed not a coffin and more. Most of the book seems to be about Elvi learning the true nature of her vampire status whilst the four 'suitors' and DJ follow her around, trying to keep her out of trouble and wondering whether they are her 'lifemates'. But someone seems to be attacking Elvi with arrows and it's up to them all to look after her and to try to find out who is trying to kill her.<br /><br />This book is rather similar to several of the other Argeneau Vampire books in that the entire content of the book is pretty much about the new vampire learning what it means to be an Immortal. It's particularly noticeable in this book where we have Elvi learning to drink out of blood bags, learning some of the laws, finding out about things she can still do and still playing her part in the community of Port Henry. The love story between Elvi and Victor is sweet enough but not particularly deep and Victor's attitudes towards Elvi are sometimes a bit suspect. However it was an enjoyable read and some of the characters are amusing, if rather cardboard-cutout.<br /><br />Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

An uneasy read for an easy topic

'Sushi for begginers' is a story around three women and their interractions with eachother and the outside characters.<br />I found the book a big push to read, as in it did not captivate me enough until the final chapters. It took too long to build up and some chapters were just to skip.<br />The characters are not well developed, which is mostly the case for Lisa, which is a mixed-signal character all the way. The main character is ok,though i never got why some things happened and why some didn't for her, as in there are no lessons learnt, or no real human nature tricks. Things happen because they happen, and that is just not good enough for somebody who claims to be an insightfull author.<br />I find, for example, Candace Bushnell's Lipstik jungle (also centered around three women) a lot better and having more complex characters and interesting story lines.<br />

from the beginning - great

the mercenary is a brilliant book, just what you would expect from the great author cherry adair, but what makes this book stand out is that, this is the first book from her!!
this story has everyting you expect, a reluctant hero, a damsel in distress who unbeknown to her has all the courage locked away.this book has got action in spades and i would say that this is somewhat better than some of her later work.
i wish she had kept to this style of writing as it is simple with its story to the point that you do feel for the charactors who i feel in her last book you felt quite detatched.
I would highly reccommend this book

A BRILLIANT BEACH READ.

I took this book on my holiday last year, and it was one of the best beach books iv read, well worth getting your teeth in to it, its filled with witty and funny samples of her other books plus unseen samples, if you get one book to take on holiday get this as you wont be disappointed.

A good story but...

I love the Were stories of S. Kenyon but this was already pubblished in Tapestry. Don't get me wrong the story is very good and compelling a shame I've already read it.

I found the book interesting

After reading the reissue of this book put out by Steeple Hill, I found the book interesting. In Diane Palmer's way it tells the story that Ms. Palmer does in most of her novels and was the expected plot. If you like predicitibility you'll like this one.

and still she delivers

READ THIS IN A DAY SHE NEVER DISAPPOINTS THIS ONE IS ABOUT A MARRIED COUPLE WHO'S HUSBANDS BEST FRIEND COMES TO STAY IF YOU HAVE READ THE OTHERS IN THE BOUND HEART SERIES SHE HAS WRITTEN YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINT WITH HER LASTEST OFFERING

Susan Lewis's best.....

This book deserves a place in any top 10 book list. It is a superbly clever and intricate story, with many twists and turns. I was gripped from the first page, and was trying to make this book last as long as possible - I couldn't bear it to end! It was exciting, funny, tender and sad, all rolled into one. A masterpiece.<br />This book is by far the most superior of Susan's books - a wonderful, wonderful read. Hope there is more of this type coming from this author, who has not always produced quality such as this.

A gorgeous, romantic book with very believable characters.

This is the first Jane Austin novel I have read and I wasn't disappointed.<br /><br />I saw the film first so I already knew the basic storyline but the book is beautifully written with a great amount of description and imagery that plants you right in the middle of that time.<br /><br />A gorgeous, romantic book with very believable characters. It is also quite easy to read. I would definately recommend it.

A Total Delight!!!

I have been reading roantic novels of one description or another for over 20 years, and can honestly say this book is my favourite of all time, and is what has compelled me to write my first review. Nothing comes near this book for having EVERYTHING the reader could want (although the others in Gabaldon's"Jamie and Claire" series come a close second). The book is longer than most, and all the better for it, as you never want it to end. The depth of personality within the main characters make you actually feel they are real. There is no"flowery romance" here but an intensity of passion and depth of characters which I have been unable to find in any other romance novel. Expect true and"grown up" love developing that makes for compelling reading, within a story which brings out all emotions in the reader. The author is absolutely fantastic in describing detail within characters, places and time, but not to the point that this becomes boring, it just adds to the reading and"sucks you totally into the story". Please buy this book and give yourself a treat. I have passed this on to various other family and friends and ALL have been hooked. You'll definately not be able to put this book down.....

Ending ruined it for me....

I am a huge fan of the BDB, have read all the books in the series and enjoyed them all (some more than others.)<br />I was not overly fussed on the previous book but that had a lot to do with the characters, but I eagerly awaited this installment because I had read so much about Vishous and couldn't wait to read his story. <br />I found myself very disappointed however with Lover Unbound. I did not like the Heroin and the Hero lost somewhat of the intrigue that had attracted me thus far. There weren't enough scenes with the main characters by far and we seemed to get more of Phury and his female than anyone else. I am all for developing future characters but they should not dominate another characters story. <br />I liked reading about the others but could have done with more about Jane and Vishous because frankly I just did not find myself caring when they were in a scene.<br />My main bone of contention with this book overall is the dreadful ending. It makes no sense and feels too much like the author had run out of ways to keep human companions with their vampire partners. <br />I still have not reconciled myself with the ending but I am going to get Lover Enshrined, Phury's book, simply to keep up the series.<br />I would only recommend buying this book if you are prepared to leave it on the shelf once it's read like I have.

Second Installment of the Psy/Changeling Series

For anyone who hasn't read the first book in the series (Slave to Sensation), Visions of Heat is set on an alternative history Earth, where the planet is populated by three races: - Changelings - shapeshifters who rely on their animal instincts, The Psy who are emotionless and cold, and human beings. I would recommend you read Slave to Sensation first if possible, as there are plotlines started there that continue into VoH. <br /><br />Faith NightStar is an F-Psy (F-foresight) tormented by dark visions (no pun intended :)). Unsure of what is happening to her and not wanting to reveal her fragile state of mind to the Psy Council she seeks out Sascha Duncan (Slave to Sensation) the only Psy known to be free of the Psynet. It's while she is looking for Sascha that she meets Vaughn D'Angelo, a jaguar Changeling who is inexplicably drawn to Faith. (I note here that Vaughn is an incredibly alpha hero, almost to the point of being unbearable on a couple of occasions.) <br /><br />I've read on some reviews that there is a preference for Sascha (the heroine of StS) over Faith. I however, like Faith, she's a contradiction - incredibly fragile, but at the same time so single-minded she manages to push herself farther than she thinks she can go. <br /><br />It almost seems like the relationship between the two of them shouldn't work. Vaughn the irresistible force willing Faith to take on more. Faith the immovable object giving in. And yet they fit, in a way I don't think either of them would be able to with anybody else. I wish the book had been longer so we could see this relationship evolve even further. <br /><br />One of the things I really enjoyed was the continuance of plot threads from StS - we meet up with Sascha and Lucas again, and it's interesting to see how much Sascha has changed between books. There has also been fallout from the incident at the end of StS and this is still being dealt with by the Psy Council, who, if possible, got scarier. We also find out more about how the Psynet itself functions and get a hint of how this will impact the Psy. Visions of Heat is perhaps not as intense as Slave to Sensation and we're now clued into how this alternative world works; but there is an awful lot here to mull over. <br /><br />I very much like how the overall arc of the series is developing. Nalini Singh starts to increase the tension in Visions of Heat and I can't wait for Caressed by Ice in September. <br />

an unusual and witty romance

An amusing novel about three women from different backgrounds, thrown together unexpectedly as they recover from disastrous romantic entanglements and resulting employment woes. They form a housecleaning business and live together on a barge until their fortunes recover. Even cliched situations are handled by Fforde with humor and unexpected quirkiness. Romance definitely improves these women's lives but there is never the sense they can't cope alone if they have to which I found refreshing compared to much of this genre.

I can't wait for Fforde's 5th book coming in the spring!

an exhilarating saga

They were created in a bioengineering science lab with the DNA of the wolf and cats added to human DNA so that they could serve as a ferocious army of a fanatical society where security is everything. Their military slav3ry ended when the world learned of their existence and forced them to be freed. The heat of the Breed binds their mate to them for life. The breed's base is Sanctuary where they learn to adapt to living amongst humans and many obtain work as mercenaries and bodyguards to the purebreds who detest them.<br /><br />Businessman Seth Lawrence, who supports Sanctuary, knows he is the lifemate of Dawn, but the torture including rap3 she endured makes her unable to mate with him. After seeing tapes of what she suffered, Seth stepped away from his beloved to give her space. His Board of Directors meets on his island to discuss future contributions to Sanctuary. Dawn and Seth begin to feel the heat again, but as they begin to make lov3, bullets fly through the window, wounding him and ki11ing a board supporter. They give in to their passion and become mates as she realizes he always lov3d her, but stayed away out of concern for her. She becomes his lov3r and bodyguard, but neither realizes she is the focus of an unknown adversary, not him.<br /><br />The latest Lora Leigh's homage to the X-Men (see MEGAN'S MARK and HARMONY'S WAY) stars a great lead pairing who the audience will like and root for. The bioengineered breeds seem genuine as the lov3 story is beautifully told while the backdrop of hatr3d and pr3judice make for an exhilarating saga similar to what occurred to the early X-Men (ask Magneto!!! I'd also recommend reading Tino Georgiou's bestselling novel--The Fates--if you haven't yet!!

Another compulsive read by JR Ward

I have just read this book and had to go back and read Lover Revealed again so I could then read Lover Unbound as this third novel of the series had initially went unavailable until recently. I am not going to give the game away with what happens. Enough said that in each book the poor psychologically traumatized tough guy with a soft centre gets his soul mate. The background to Zhadist's trauma is explored in this book (and is truly traumatic).