INVITATION TO THE BOSS'S BALL - Fiona Harper

Author: Fiona Harper

Line: Harlequin/Mills and Boon Romance

Release Date: September 2009

The S-Factor: Sweet

Back-Blurb:

Alice's plain-Jane world is turned upside down when she's hired to organize tycoon Cameron Hunter's company ball.

She's shocked by an invitation on her doormat, and the next thing she knows, she's dancing in her oh-so-delicious boss's arms in a stunning dress!

Alice knows that on Monday morning everything will go back to normal. But for now, she's going to enjoy every second….

Review:

Fresh, funny, tender and absolutely mesmerizing, Fiona Harper's latest Harlequin Romance, Invitation to the Boss's Ball is simply fabulous!

Alice's love life has always been a bit of a disaster area. Men seem to either treat her like one of the guys or else date her for a couple of weeks before someone better comes along. Alice seems destined never to meet her Prince Charming, but at least she has her best friend Coreen and their business which they are looking to expand. Yet, little does Alice realize that her love of vintage clothing is going to bring her up close and personal with the man she's been waiting for all her life!

When an old friend ropes her into organizing her stepbrother, Cameron Hunter's, company ball, Alice is shocked when she realizes that the awkward, shy and bookish boy she knew as a teenager has now been transformed into one of England's most eligible bachelors. But Cameron can have any woman he wants and he will not want to date Plain Jane Alice...or will he?

Cameron is detemined to show her that, in his eyes, she is the belle of the ball. But will Alice's insecurities and fears keep her from recognizing that her boss is head over heels in love with her?

Invitation to the Boss's Ball is Harlequin Romance gold! Fiona Harper continues to get better and better with every book and readers who haven't discovered her wonderful stories should race to the bookshop and get ready to discover one of the best voices in contemporary romance writing today.

With a delightful heroine, a sexy hero, a lovely cast of supporting characters, humour, pathos, charm and warmth, Invitation to the Boss's Ball is another Fiona Harper novel readers will simply not be able to resist.

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A TRIP WITH THE TYCOON - NICOLA MARSH

Author: Nicola Marsh

Line: Harlequin Romance

Release Date: September 2009

The S-Factor: Sweet

Back-Blurb:

Determined to forget her husband's infidelity and bring her confident, fiery self back, Tamara Rayne is in India on a trip of a lifetime. Love isn't on her itinerary, so she hardly notices when blast from her past Ethan Brooks boards her train….

The maverick entrepreneur has wanted Tamara ever since he met her. Under the shimmer of the Indian sun, Ethan decides he's waited long enough….

Review:

Nicola Marsh's latest Harlequin Romance, A Trip with the Tycoon, is a magical tale of new beginnings, second chances and happy endings set under the beautiful Indian sky.

For Tamara Rayne, her husband's sudden death came as a relief. Although the whole world thought that they had the perfect marriage, Richard had always belittled her by making snide comments about her job and appearance, until the once-confident Tamara began to doubt herself. After taking a year to regroup and to get her life back on track, Tamara plans to celebrate her new found freedom by taking a trip to India, her late mother's beloved birthplace. Company is the last thing she needs. However, one of Australia's most eligible bachelors and her husband's former business partner, Ethan Brooks, is determined to accompany her and he is not going to be deterred!

Ethan's reputation as a playboy is legendary, but his suave exterior hides a wounded soul who is scared of commitment and of letting anyone get too close to him. Yet, there is something about Tamara - the woman he's been attracted to for years - that beguiles and compels him. He is determined to finally make Tamara his and will use all of his charms on their Indian trip to seduce her...

But as they begin to spend more and more time together, Ethan realizes that he has fallen head over heels in love with Tamara. But before he can spend the rest of his life with her, he must first face the demons from his past which have held him back for years....

A Trip with the Tycoon is absolutely wonderful! It's fresh, witty, sassy and feel-good, but also poignant, tender and moving. Nicola Marsh never fails to make me care and emphatize with her characters and in A Trip with the Tycoon, she has created a wonderful heroine and an absolutely gorgeous hero!

Set against the majestic Indian landscape and full of charm, pathos and romance, A Trip with the Tycoon will delight and enchant readers everywhere!

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THE BILLIONAIRE’S FAKE ENGAGEMENT - Robyn Grady

Author: Robyn Grady

Line: Silhouette Desire

Release month UK:/ North America: September 2009

The S-Factor: Sweet and Steamy

Back-Blurb:

A scandal threatened one of Australia's most powerful bachelor billionaires. The solution? A proposal.

Alexander Ramirez was committed to the idea of family, and Natalie Wilder certainly brought the right assets to his bedroom. The engagement that he'd intended as a media distraction soon became a real possibility. As one obstacle after another got in the way of his plans, Alex became more determined than ever to keep Natalie in his bed. And he always got what he wanted!

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

Natalie Wilder had a past and she was keeping it a secret from her billionaire lover Alexander Ramirez and the rest of the world. At seventeen she became pregnant; the father left her and her home town leaving her and her family to be town gossips. She delivered her baby girl early due to an accident and two hours later watched her pass away in her arms. Now she’s living in Sydney Australia and is a high end real estate agent. However, her grief for her baby is real and she visits the grave site and her mom when she can.

Alex Ramirez is a well known billionaire and is awaiting an answer on an important business deal. However, he’s attending his sister’s engagement party and has taken Natalie along as his guest but he also wants her to meet his sister. They’d been together for 3 months in a very intense relationship with no talk of future. Alex new he would marry and produce heirs and the reputation of the woman he would marry would need to have a wife to be above reproach. He remembers a discussion with his father about marriage and responsibility

It’s an awaiting game to get the results of the paternity test and Alex needs Natalie with him. He purchases a mansion and asks her to move in and also makes arrangements with her boss for her to have time off where they spend time on the beach at his secluded summer home. Their time together is romantic yet tense because the tests haven’t come back. The reporter is lurking around and Natalie makes her trek back home to her home town to see her mom. People in the town still stare at her and more and more she realizes sometime soon she’s going to need to tell Alex the truth because she’s in love with him.

It’s very clear to Natalie that that how he sees his future is married and with a son, a son she can’t give him due to complications that happened after the birth of her baby. Secrets as we all know have a way of blowing up in ones face and she keeps putting off telling him about her past. For them blow after blow, a young man they met on the beach whose mother was ill, her telling him about her infertile condition and her mother having a heart attack. How much more could they survive because there was one thing for sure….he wanted her, wanted to marry her.

Trust me, for this couple things keep going down hill with the exception of Alex finding out he’s not the father as he was accused. But when he she sends him away, he’s at his lowest. Be prepared for a good cry as it’s obvious they both belong together. Especially when he gives her a gift of love, a pledge of honour, truly a selfless gift one the reader will long remember.

Robyn Grady has a special gift of expressing her thoughts, and showing her character’s deepest emotions, a gift that is so romantic and sweet especially in this wonderful love story. I could actually believe her baby was an angel which brought them together and tears to my eyes.

The longer they saw each other the more Alex became open about their relationship and of course he had questions and wanted to know about her family and past. So as they are getting ready to leave the engagement party, he is accosted by a former business man and accuses in front of the party goers that his daughter is expecting and accuses Alex of being the father. To make matters worse, a reporter is awaiting them on the street and asks Alex two questions…..what’s he going to do about the baby and is he going to marry Natalie. On the spur of the moment, Alex answers “yes”!

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Reviewed by: Marilyn

Behind the book from Dear Reader:

Robbie poses the question “ have you ever been so badly burned that you were unable to forgive the person responsible? Sometimes forgiving ourselves over enduring regrets can prove even more difficult than forgiving others”. RG

Texan's Wedding Night Wager

Author: Charlene Sands


line: Desire


Release Month: September 2009

The S Factor: Sizzling

Back blurb:

No one walked away from this Texas mogul ... especially not his wife! So when Cara chose to leave rather than play second fiddle to his company, Kevin plotted revenge. Four years later, she returned, intent on finalising their divorce but Cara had no clue Kevin had constructed the perfect pay back plan. It's a wager she can't refuse. The divorce would be official ... if she agreed to one last week of playing house. And nothing would be off limits.

Review: ♥♥♥♥

I often shy away from stories in which the hero and heroine have known each other previously. I've always been of the opinion that if their love wasn't strong enough the first time around, then why would it be the second time? This book was a lovely surprise and smashed my pre-conceived notions to bits.

Cara left Kevin because he was a workaholic, even though she had explained to him over and over he didn't have to work so many hours. She would have preferred to have Kevin home on an evening than him trying to prove he was 'good enough' for him. Cara wanted to start a family; Kevin wanted to build an empire.

When they met again, Cara wanted a divorce. She wanted a loan to enable her to expand her own business. I loved Cara immediately. Here is a strong woman determined not to be defeated following the failure of her marriage, she picked herself up and made a new life for herself. It's easy to admire Cara, her parents were wealthy and she really didn't have to work at all.

Kevin tells herself he wants to pay Cara back for leaving him, but he quickly starts falling for her all over again--not wanting to accept he's loved her all along.

He dates Cara for a whole week, telling both Cara and himself that at the end of the week he will give her the divorce she's asked for. Of course, a week isn't long enough for either of them ...

Hero Hotness Factor: ♥♥♥♥

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Reviewed by: Joanne

Mistress to the Merciless Millionaire - Abby Green

Author: Abby Green

Line: Mills and Boon / Harlequin Presents

Release month UK: October 2009/North America: September 2009

The S-Factor: Sizzling and Steamy

Back-Blurb:

It's been ten years since Tiarnan Quinn humiliatingly rejected Kate, and she's still smarting. As a famous model she can have any man she wants. But there's something about the cold hearted millionaire that makes her go weak at the knees. So much so she agrees to jet off to his luxury villa in Martinique.

Kate knows Tiarnan can't give her what she wants: true love and a family. But as the sultry nights close in she begins to see hints of a different man beneath the hard exterior….

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

Awareness, passion, conflict are what author Abby Green does best and Mistress to the Merciless Millionaire is no exception. Earlier in the year in “Brought for the Frenchman's Pleasure" readers met Sorcha Murphy who was Tiarnan’s sister and Kate’s best friend. This reviewer has long been awaiting Tiarnan and Kate’s story.

Tiarnan is a handsome and ruthless man and one alpha who doesn’t miss a thing. During a christening of his sister’s baby in which he and Kate are godparents, he becomes distinctly aware of the power he has over her and literally sees into her soul. Because ten years earlier after realizing what a lovely young woman she had grown into, they shared a kiss, a kiss neither of them have forgotten, especially Kate. And now weeks later he still remembers what passed between them and now he’s attending an auction where Kate is up for bid for a kiss. He wins in more ways than one but for Kate she’s in turmoil because he still means the world to her.

Kate flees the auction and Tiarnan catches up and brings up their past and how he realizes their passion for each other is NOT over! She remembers his long ago rejection and is humiliated but he keeps reminiscing about their past and discusses with her how due to their mutual desire, he would like to spend time with her. However, Kate also is aware that he goes from one woman to another, in fact he’s been married and divorced and has a lovely little girl Rosie. She doesn’t want to be a notch on his bedpost to satisfy his curiosity of what might have been. However, this very determined alpha has other plans for Kate. He’s sure that once they become lovers an eventually end the affair, it will be the last he’ll think of this beautiful woman, the same woman who has haunted him for years.

As for the women in his life, he keeps them at arms length. He’s also concerned because of his daughter as to what lengths women would go to win him over. His past with his ex-wife and parents have somewhat shaped his ideas about marriage so he’s not into a permanent relationship. For Kate, all she wants eventually is to be loved and have a home full of children and love.

Second chances? It’s a lovely romantic love story set is some of the most beautiful parts of the world. San Francisco, New York, the Caribbean and Spain where Tiarnan and Rosie live and where Kate has just finished modelling. He uses his daughter to get Kate to visit and when his nanny has to leave because of an emergency and he has a business trip, Kate volunteers to stay with the sweet little girl. Upon his return he invites to accompany he and Rosie to his Caribbean home for a holiday.

Can she take this holiday with the man of her dreams? Can she survive an affair? Kate decides to go for that reason but on her terms and she’ll walk away at the end of their holiday. What she doesn’t count on as how much she enjoys her time spent with both of them.

Just prepare yourself for tears as you watch their romance blossom and sizzle; the interaction between Kate and Rosie and Rosie’s Caribbean extended family and friends. On top of everything else the conflict between Kate and Tiarnan and his mistrust of her when he sends her home because he feels Kate has used Rosie to get to him. I think what I personally enjoyed the most was reading about Tiarnan coming to terms with his feelings. Mistress to the Merciless Millionaire is just another amazing and wonderful love story so well penned by Abby Green; quite stunning!

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Reviewed by: Marilyn

BOUND BY THE MARCOLINI DIAMONDS - Melanie Milburne

Author: Melanie Milburne

Line: Mills and Boon / Harlequin Presents

Release month UK: July 2009/North America: September 2009

The S-Factor: Sizzling and Sexy

Back-Blurb:

When the joint guardianship of baby Molly is threatened, Italian playboy Mario Marcolini knows there is only one option: Sabrina, the child's nanny, must surrender to his diamond-laden proposal….

Sabrina is wary of Mario, whose dark good looks and advances are as tempting as the devil. But marry him she will, for baby Molly's sake. The only problem is Mario thinks he's marrying an experienced gold digger—when in fact the young woman bought to be his bride is as pure and unblemished as the diamonds he has used to bind her to him!


Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

Bound by the Marcolini Diamonds is book two in Melanie Milburne’s The Marcolini Men. It will make the reader think how far and to what lengths one would go for a friend. It’s an incredibly moving and magnificent story with one hot Italian alpha and a sweet Australian nanny. Milburne has written an incredible love story, one with a battle of wills and temptation.

Sabrina is a sweet woman who adores children and in her profession as a nanny has been wrongly accused as to having an affair and breaking up a family. Now on top of everything else, she’s lost her best friend and her husband in an automobile accident. She and Mario Marcolini have been made co-custodians of their surviving baby Molly. Sabrina has only had one other experience with the sexy and ruthless billionaire Mario and wonders how she will carry out her friend’s wishes as she is now unemployed and lives in Australia while Mario resides in Italy. A short meeting with Mario after the funeral, she realizes he plans to take Molly to Italy and with his low opinion of her and all of his money, she wonders how she will play a part in Molly’s life.

It’s very obvious Mario has deep feelings for his departed friend Rick and feels an overwhelming responsibility to Molly. Even though he’s not to keen on Sabrina because of the scandal she’s caused, he realizes he needs someone to care for the baby and since she has all of the qualifications, the looks, and the body he decides the only option is a marriage of convenience. Of course it’s secretly one he’s looking forward and he’s hopeful theirs will be a physical marriage with all of the benefits. He’s also determined once Molly is older he will compensate Molly for her time and they will end the marriage. However, Mario realizes after a passionate kiss he’s never felt anything like it; the fire of the kiss and her touch. Even though his parents had a happy enough marriage, he wasn’t sure he wanted the responsibility or that sort of emotion in his life.

Can Sabrina survive this marriage? He constantly brings up the alleged affair and she can’t understand why he won’t try to understand that it was a set-up. Surely being in the press like he was should make him understand how things get twisted around? One thing she’s sure of is that women come and go in Mario’s life and he’s holding all the cards.

As one can well imagine, there’s a lot of emotion in this vibrant love story, loss of their best friends, loving Molly as they both do, their shared passion which taunts them both and the roller coaster emotions on top of everything else, a lot to take in and digest for them. So when they act on their desire and Mario realizes she inexperienced, can you imagine how he feels and that he got it wrong by believing the worst of Sabrina?

Both of the books in The Marcolini Men were exceptional and Mario and his brother learned valuable lessons about their women, valuable lessons we should all learn like trust and believing in each other because in the end both brother’s wanted it all…..love and marriage.

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Reviewed by: Marilyn

Behind the Book:

“The story behind Mario and Sabrina was more to do with the issue of what you would do for a friend. How far would you go to protect a young baby that you have been given guardianship of? For Sabrina this was a huge decision as by agreeing to marry Mario Marcolini she was effectively giving up her own dreams of a happy marriage and children of her own one day. It was a fun book to write as Mario and Sabrina struck sparks off each other right from the start.” M. Milburne

THE MARCOLINI BLACKMAIL MARRIAGE - Melanie Milburne

Author: Melanie Milburne

Line: Mills and Boon / Harlequin Presents

Release month UK: April 2009 as Mistresses by Blackmail/North America August 2009

The S-Factor: Sizzling

Back-Blurb:

No one asks a Marcolini for a divorce. Especially a gold digger who could walk away with the family's fortune! Antonio Marcolini will make Claire pay. And he has got the perfect plan for vengeance—he'll demand she spend the next three months living with him as his reconciled wife, and nothing will stop him from getting what he wants!

But Claire is innocent. Can she prove it before her husband blackmails her back into marriage…and the marriage bed?

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

The magnificent Melanie Milburne has created one of the most emotional and beautiful love stories with The Marcolini Blackmail Marriage, the first book in her duo series The Marcolini. Reading this incredible love story I could actually visualize Antonio Marcolini, the proud and angry man determined to keep his wife, not giving in to her requested divorce. So he has a plan, he’ll stay in Australia for three months and see if there is any hope to save his marriage.

Claire can’t believe the news she receives from her lawyer. So when she receives the phone call from her husband who she hasn’t seen in five years and she meets him for dinner, she shocked when he insists she stay and live with him, giving them and chance to save their marriage. However, instead of asking, this proud Italian demands and blackmails her using her brother’s situation of being in trouble with the law as an excuse to keep her in line. He holds all the cards and is determined to have total control.

Emotionally, they were both at separate ends. She's still grieving for the loss of their daughter openly and he concealing his. This emotion plus the remembering for them both of the passion they once shared is absolutely combustible. Then the secrets and there are some. Antonio believed his mother that Claire was a gold digger as she gave her a check when she left Italy. Antonio is so very sure his mother was correct and determined that Claire with NOT get half of his inheritance. As for the most important emotion love, he’s sure he only felt lust for his wife when Claire clearly and deeply loved him. However, to be forced to marry because of a pregnancy, leave Australia and live in Italy with a busy surgeon husband and a new family who were not welcoming and the loss of a daughter, way too much!

What touched my soul was how the author dealt with grief and loss. Maybe to the reader who has not experienced it, they would have a different experience. However, personally I’ve had to deal with losing a husband and it was horrible but to loose a child I think would be devastating. And devastating it was for Claire whose baby died at birth. It wasn’t only loosing her it was how her husband Antonio dealt with it as well as his Italian family. All Claire wanted from Antonio was to be loved for her. On top of the loss it was way too much for her so she fled back to Australia.

Their months together were a tug of war but it’s obvious the passion is still there as they become reacquainted. It’s how they came to terms with their baby’s death, all of the secrets and the misunderstandings that tugged at my heart. It’s just a beautifully written love story and one I will long remember. I’m looking forward to Melanie’s September release, Bound by the Marcolini Diamonds and reading about another Marcolini brother an Italian alpha!


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Reviewed by: Marilyn

Behind the Book from the author:

"With the Marcolini Men my editor wanted me to do a two book series and she suggested using a celebrity surgeon as the hero in the first book. I already had the idea having met a young lady a couple of years ago who poured her heart out to me one day as she was doing my nails about the death of her baby. It was one of those incredibly moving moments that touched me very deeply. Firstly that she chose me, a perfect stranger, to off load her grief. And secondly because it made me realize how everyone grieves in their own way, that there is not blue print for how you deal with loss. So many of this young lady’s friends and family skirted it around it not wanting to upset her but she really needed to talk.

I decided that my hero and heroine Claire and Antonio would have each dealt with their grief in different ways and in the heartache of their loss had somehow lost each other. Antonio sees his trip to Australia as a chance to see if they have a chance to rebuild their marriage or end it forever."

FIRST COME TWINS

Title: FIRST COME TWINS
Author: HELEN BRENNA
Line: HARLEQUIN SUPER ROMANCE
Release month ( North America/ UK / Australia): North America - August
The S-Factor: ( Sizzling! / Simmering / Sweet) SIMMERING
Back-Blurb:
Photojournalist Noah Bennett has been running from himself forever. Covering war zones around the world has kept him away from his mistakes and, more important, from Sophie Rousseau, his high school sweetheart. But he's never forgotten her.

He's returned to idyllic Mirabelle Island to heal, to finish his latest book…and to face Sophie again.

Months after Noah escaped the island for college, Sophie married his older brother. Now a widow with teenage twins, Sophie will do whatever it takes to speed Noah's recovery and get him off her island.

Before the only man she ever loved breaks her heart again.

Review: (average of hearts overall out of 35 – so total hearts divided by five?) ♥♥♥♥♥

Ms. Brenna kicks off this enjoyable new series with FIRST COME TWINS. Noah Bennett is returning to the small island he grew up on, the only place on Earth where he might be able to recover—or so his doctors think. However Noah isn’t buying it. How could he heal and manage to get some rest with the looks of pity from everyone he grew up with, including the woman he once loved, the one who married his brother—the one he hasn’t seen since he left town fifteen years ago? Except things have changed more then Noah expected when he returns home to find himself facing another loss he hadn’t imagined. That of his brother and Sophie’s husband.
Sophie has her own reasons for not wanting Noah to stick around. He’s a part of her painful past, and a reminder of the husband she lost. But he’s not as quick to leave as she would like and she finds herself amidst a swirl of emotions as she does her best to help him heal in order to leave, before he has a chance to break her heart all over again.

I loved Noah almost immediately, his determinedness to get through everything in his own way and Sophie for wanting things to remain just the way they are, which is exactly how she was brought up. Since she’s taken over the family business, it’s her job to make sure everything remains just so. Something she’s taken to heart, unfortunately about her own life. The one scene I absolutely loved between the two characters is when Sophie stumbles across Noah at their old spot at the lighthouse. He’s curled up at the base, thinking it’s the one spot where he might be able to find some peace and rest.

The one thing Ms. Brenna does exceptionally well besides creating an emotional read, is creating secondary characters who come to life. I grew especially fond of Noah’s father as the story went on and Sophie’s twins are two of my favorite characters so far this year.

Readers looking for a sweet emotional read should pick up FIRST COME TWINS.

Reviewed by: Lis



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Helen Brenna grew up the seventh of eight children in central Minnesota. Although she never dreamed of writing books as a child, she was a voracious reader, cutting her teeth on all the Harlequin books she could get her hands on.

THE SAVAKIS MISTRESS - Annie West

Author: Annie West

Line: Mills and Boon Modern

Release month UK: August 2009/AZ/NZ: September 2009

The S-Factor: Sensual and Sizzling

Back-Blurb:

From society queen...

Only hours ago she was a tempting stranger. Now Damon Savakis knows who she really is - Callie Manolis, society ice-queen and duplicitous niece of his arch enemy…

...to his unwilling mistress!

Yet when Callie's avaricious uncle loses the Manolis money, she is at Damon's mercy and is forced to become the Savakis mistress

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

Author Annie West continues to amaze me with her spectacular contemporary romances. The Savakis Mistress is no exception as the passion between Damon Savakis and Callie Manolis sizzles and literally leaps off of the pages from the very beginning of the book and continues throughout the entire story. Once you begin, you’re hooked and won’t want to stop reading this very intense and splendid romantic tale.

My heart went out to the heroine Callie as the only love and joy she’s ever known was taken away from her at a young age when her parents died. She was forced to live with her horrible and manipulative uncle who for his own means, arranged for her to marry a much older man, every bit as cruel and devious as her uncle. Now she’s free of her marriage as her husband died. Her only hope for happiness is her inheritance. However now that’s gone as well thanks to her uncle. All of her dreams of starting her own business are down the drain. On top of everything else she’s trying to save her cousin from another yet arranged marriage her uncle is planning for his meek daughter to get him out of debt.

Callie had felt alone for so long. She had been spending time on the beach watching a very handsome man on his yacht for days so when he came ashore and spoke with her it became madness between them. For in a cove these two strangers made love not knowing each others names. Never in her life had she ever done something so impulsive nor felt the power and passion this stranger gave her. Then everything comes crashing down as she returns to her uncles villa only to meet the man her uncle wants her cousin to marry, the very man Damon Savakis with who only an hour ago she was in his arms.

When Damon shows up as a guest at the Manoli villa, it’s like reading a diaster. Damon wants revenge on the family for what they caused years ago when his family lost their father. Things only go from bad to worse when he sees that the woman he made love to only an hour ago is Callie. Then her evil uncle suggests Damon take his meek daughter for his wife. Callie jumps in to save her cousin and things get out of control when Damon suggests they share a night of passion in return for a generous settlement to her uncle. However, things don’t go well and she flees while her uncle witnesses her fleeing Damon’s room. He uses it to his advantage to blackmail Damon into marriage with Callie. However, Damon has other ideas; yes he takes her but only as his mistress.

What a mess for Callie, again a man is going to use her, one with a sharp tongue yet he makes her heart melt, makes her feel things. And for Damon, he can’t get enough of her or get her out of his system but he’ll get his revenge for them blackmailing him and hurting his family. He stripped away the walls she put up and her long buried emotions. He had the power to devastate her and she realized she had to lock her feelings away. Callie realized one other thing, that he would never love her and for her to survive she must leave, tries to find herself and start up the business she’s always dreamed of.

Damon wants her like no other woman he’s ever known. She acts like an inexperienced virgin and he doesn’t trust her. Will she go to no length at deception? But he can’t stop from wanting her. Then as they spend time together, he realizes he doesn’t want to let her go. He sees her talent and like his family he takes responsibility for her and tries to fix everything.

However, Callie feels betrayed and leaves because she needs to make her own way. Is there any hope for them? There is so much depth to this story I can’t even begin to explain it. It’s overwhelming and at times the conflict is painful to read. You can actually feel their passion, and their caring for each other especially when all of the secrets of their pasts are revealed to each other. Annie West with The Savakis Mistress gives her readers such insight into her characters they actually become a part of you. It’s an emotional roller coaster and a real tug-of-war from the anger, to revenge, to passion so intense. It’s a beautifully crafted romance with an emotional and teary ending.

Hero Hotness Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Weepy Factor♥♥♥

Reviewed by: Marilyn

Behind the story from Annie’s website:

“This story had a long gestation period. I had my hero and heroine in mind for ages before I got a chance to write their story. When I did, the words just rolled onto the page.” Annie West

PLAYBOY BOSS, PREGNANCY OF PASSION (To Tame a Playboy)- Kate Hardy

Author: Kate Hardy

Line: Mills and Boon Modern/Harlequin Presents

Release month UK: May 2009 North America: August 2009

The S-Factor: Sexy and Sweet

Back-Blurb:

To-do list:

1. Hire new personal assistant.

2. Do not sleep with new personal assistant.

3. Reevaluate point two…

Tycoon Luke Holloway lives on the wild side, but at work he is a professional. That is until irresistible employee Sara Fleet joins the company. Before long he has unbuttoned his prim-and-proper assistant and they're breaking all the rules…over and over again! Super efficient Sara has never felt so out of control—and now she has to tell her sexy boss she is pregnant with his child!

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

Playboy Boss, Pregnancy of Passion is an honorable and sweet journey in finding peace, contentment, taking risks and the end result love as only Kate Hardy can pen.

One learns that millionaire Luke Holloway comes from a very sad past and has walked away from his criminal family in his early teen years. He had a teacher who encouraged him and he set up a small business, got his MBA and the rest was history. He doesn't do family, commitments and definitely not marriage. Luke finds himself in a bind when his PA becomes pregnant and a friend suggest Sara Fleet who operates a business getting clients organized.

Luke and Sara hit it off immediately. She is not only organized and takes charge she's beautiful. As weeks progress, Luke invites Sara to travel with him to check out a hotel, one thing leads to another as they cannot fight their attraction and even though Luke doesn't "do relationships", theirs begins. As one reads about the ensuing months of the working and dating you just know they bring out the best in each other. However, Sara knows one think about Luke, he never talks about family and when she asks, he clams up. So when she invites him to a family birthday as much as he doesn't want to go, he does for her. It's uncomfortable but he gets through it and actually likes her family.

Luke loves doing things for Sara as he not only enjoys her spirit, company and just being with her, she actually makes him happy and that scares him to death. So when he finds out she's pregnant, he doesn't know what to do and really messes things up. How can he be a father when he really had one who was a horrible example? Just prepare yourself for a teary ending however lovely to read!


Hero Hotness Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Humour Factor♥♥
Weepy Factor♥♥♥♥

Reviewed by: Marilyn

Behind the Book from Kate Hardy’s Blog:

Playboy Boss, Pregnancy of Passion is the second in my To Tame a Playboy duo. If you like Greek settings, you'll love where Luke takes Sara as a surprise. Oh, yes - and you might need tissues towards the end. And there's this sweet-natured spaniel who is a complete and utter shoe thief. (Yeah. The same one who steals one shoe from everyone in this house and piles them up in his bed. I think he would be a bit cross if he found out I'd nicknamed him Imelda. Byron, I mean, not my hero.) I'm VERY pleased with my cover: this is one cute man. Kate Hardy

THE RUTHLESS GREEK’S VIRGIN PRINCESS - Trish Morey

Author: TRISH MOREY

Line: MILLS & BOON MODERN/HARLEQUIN PRESENTS

Release month UK: July 2009/North America: August 2009

The S-Factor: Sizzling and Sassy

Back-Blurb:

Thirteen years ago Yannis Markides threw a young princess out of his bed. Even now Marietta's cheeks burn in shame as she remembers her youthful attempt at seduction.

Evicting the scantily clad Marietta was the brooding Greek's last act of chivalry. The ensuing scandal destroyed his life and broke his family. Now he's rebuilt his empire, recovered the Markides name…and he's ready to make the princess pay!

Marietta owes him a debt. Her virginity is her price…

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

In April Trish Morey fans were introduced to Forced Wife, Royal Love- Child where readers met Rafe and Sienna, Rafe being the soon to be crowned king of the Island of Monvelatte. One was also introduced to Rafe’s sister Marietta, a vibrant beauty and at the time, I thought she’s got to have a story. Thanks to Trish Morey and her incredible talent The Ruthless Greek’s Virgin Princess is Marietta’s and her brother’s best friend Yannis love story.

Thirteen years later, Yannis returns to Monvelatte to be part of the wedding party of his best friend. However, he also has revenge on his mind even though years ago from afar he admired his friend’s younger sister who was off limits. After arguments with his father over an arranged marriage to financially help to restore his business, Yannis returns to his bedroom only to find Marietta the sweet virgin in his bed. In anger and frustration he sends her away not realizing someone saw her leaving his room and reported the fact to his parents, disgracing his family. Now years later, he returns with one thing on his mind, revenge for his father’s illness and years of hard work to restore the family fortune.

Marietta is hopeful she can get through the days of wedding preparations and seeing Yannis. She adores her brother and future sister-in-law but realizes when she sees him, the attraction and feelings are still there and how will she deal with all of these emotions. She tries to focus on her jewellery design launch in Hawaii and the marriage celebrations but just seeing him sets her on edge. After the wedding there are threats on the crown family and so Rafe asks Yannis to accompany Marietta to Hawaii to protect her

Rafe realizes at the wedding that he wants Marietta, all of her, her sass, her smile and physically he aches for her. When Rafe asks him to protect his sister now is his chance to make her pay for what happened thirteen years ago. Their romance is a beautiful dance and when their secrets are shared, when Yannis realizes the mistakes that were made and is astonished by Marietta’s talent, well hold your breath, it was incredible read as only Trish Morey can entertain her readers and fans.

Hero Hotness Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Weepy Factor♥♥♥

Reviewed by: Marilyn

THE GREEK TYCOON’S BLACKMAILED MISTRESS - Lynne Graham

Author: Lynne Graham

Line: Mills & Boon Modern/Harlequin Presents

Release month UK/North America: July 2009

The S-Factor: Simmering

Back-Blurb:

Aristandros Xenakis is like a panther poised to pounce. Sleek, dark and utterly powerful, he'll soon taste the sweet victory of vengeance….

Ella desperately wants access to her baby niece, but the child's guardian is Aristandros—her ex-fiancé! She has no choice but to submit to his demand—she must become his mistress!

Naive and unworldly, Ella is not like the groomed, gold-digging females who have previously warmed Aristandros's bed. Surely it's only a matter of time before he tires of her…?

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

Lynne Graham has written an extremely and entertaining read with revenge being the main goal with Ari Xenakis hot on the heels of Ella Smithson. He’s a proud man who vows never to marry. However, seven years earlier this very same woman said no at their engagement party, embarrassing Ari in front of their entire families. Now he holds the cards, as their niece has been orphaned and he has custody.

Ella can’t believe what her sister has done, completely leaving her out of the will and not letting her raise Callie especially since she gave her eggs to her sister so she could have a child. Her sister upon giving birth ignored her plus her own family were furious that she didn’t marry the billionaire. They have all disowned her because she chose medicine over marriage. Now Ari has made demands that she become his mistress and takes on the day to day caring for Callie on his terms.

Ari is a very inflexible proud Greek and believes for the most part a woman should be at home taking care of her man. When Ella chose a career over marriage to him, he was furious. He’s the ultimate alpha male, set on getting what pleases him. However as they spend time together in and out of the bedroom, he she’s a different Ella and one with secrets of past abuse in her family. He doesn’t understand why he never knew this was going on in her home that that some of her reasons for not committing to him were based her stepfather’s treatment of she and her mother.

Their past and spending a large amount of time together especially in Greece, makes Ella realize she’s in trouble and knows he has the power to break her heart again. Their passion leaps off the pages plus her time with Callie and their bonding was very sweet to read. Will her heart survive and will there be a second chance for them? You’ll just have to read this amazing love story but have some tissues ready while they come to grips with the past and accept their love actually never died as penned by the very talented Lynne Graham.

Hero Hotness Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Humour Factor♥
Weepy Factor♥♥♥

Reviewed by: Marilyn

BLACKMAILED INTO THE GREEK TYCOON’S BED - Carol Martinelli

Author: Carol Marinelli

Line: Harlequin Presents/ Mills & Boon Modern

Release month UK: August 2009/North America: August 2009

The S-Factor: Sizzling

Back-Blurb:

Bookish heiress Karin has failed in her first act of defiance! She's tried to take back the symbol of everything good in her life, but ruthless billionaire Xante Rossi has caught her red-handed!
Why is this shy beauty stealing from him? Xante is intrigued. Karin's purity belies the corruption her family name represents. To save her from scandal and uncover the truth, he'll make a proposal. If Karin wants her precious heirloom, she'll have to earn it back in his bedroom!

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

Carol Marinelli’s contribution to the International Billionaire’s series with Blackmailed Into the Greek Tycoon’s Bed was stunning. Immediately one becomes aware that the handsome, successful and wealthy millionaire Xante Rossi is immediately attracted to the beautiful English heiress Karin Wallis. Also, as one reads this brilliantly penned love story a very valuable lesson is learned that “you can’t judge a book by it’sits cover. And that’s putting it mildly.

This series involves rugby and Xante is a huge fan, in fact his hotel is housing the English rugby team and one of his most prized possessions which he’s recently acquired; a ruby encrusted rose which Karin’s grandfather, a famous English player, received and it’s part of her inheritance. Without her permission, her brother sold it to the highest bidder and it’s sentimental value to Karin is all she has left and she’s determined to get it which is the reason for her visit to Xante’s hotel. They meet and the attraction between this couple is so hot it sizzles off the pages. One thing leads to another and Karin is accused of stealing and Xante gets his perfect chance to get to know this woman who has been dubbed by the press as the “Ice Queen”.

Karin challenges Xante in so many ways. He has a past at getting what he wants when it comes to women and she offers him a challenge, plus he’s sure she’s hiding things and he’s also not ready to let her go. What better opportunity to get to know her is to take her home to Greece for a family gathering. Both of them are hiding secrets from each other….Xante about his past as a teenager and how he used lady tourists and Karin, her family secrets, her reputation, an horrific accident and on and on.

For me, this entire story was amazing as throughout it there were twists, turns, more of their secrets revealed and just when you think nothing else can be revealed it happens. There were lessons learned for both of them, for Karin learned that if you opened up and let others in, the “world was actually quite forgiving and kind”. And for Xante, he couldn’t always fix everything and by letting her go and learning about herself, she would become so much stronger. As the author stated in the ending of this wonderful story, “love was a gift that was just a given – but trust was a treasured reward.”

Hero Hotness Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Humour Factor♥
Weepy Factor♥♥♥

Reviewed by: Marilyn

HAVING THE BILLIONAIRE'S BABY -- SANDRA HYATT

Title: HAVING THE BILLIONAIRE’S BABY
Author: SANDRA HYATT
Line: SILHOUETTE DESIRE
Release month ( North America/ UK / Australia): North America - JULY
The S-Factor: ( Sizzling! / Simmering / Sweet) SIMMERING
Back-Blurb:
That business card couldn't be right. Callie Jamieson had just spent one impulsive, passionate night in the arms of the hottest, most irresistible stranger she'd ever met. And morning's light revealed her lover to be new PR client, billionaire Nick Brunicadi….

One sizzling night of passion, then she was gone. Undaunted, Nick was determined to find and have his fill of his mysterious seductress…a seductress, he discovered, who was carrying his heir!
Review: (average of hearts overall out of 35 – so total hearts divided by five?) ♥♥♥♥♥

Calypso "Callie" Jamieson finds herself embracing her freedom the night of her ex-boyfriend’s wedding with another one of the wedding guests, only to discover the next morning he isn’t just simply a member of the wedding party—he’s the bride’s brother, and client of her PR firm. Mortified, Callie slips out without another word.

Nick Brunicadi hasn’t been able to get the beautiful woman he spent the night with out of his head. A rarity for a man who can usually have his pick of beautiful women. But when his sister asks him to check out her new husband’s business partner and ex-girlfriend, he’s amazed to find out the woman is none other than Callie. Was there an ulterior motive to their night together?
I so loved this book. The chemistry between Callie and Nick is instantaneous and continues on every page. The strong willed, independent and feisty Callie finds herself undeniably attracted to Nick, but she fights the attraction, even as memories of their night together flood her thoughts. Nick is unrelenting in his pursuit of Callie, now that he knows who she is and once his thoughts of her having ulterior motives are dismissed, he finds himself unable to deny the strong attraction between them that existed from the moment they met. And when he finds out she’s having his baby, every feeling he has for her just ramps up in its intensity. I have to say I also loved Rosa, Nick’s grandmother who appears in one of my favorite scenes in the book.

A great read, this is one book that has you strongly hoping Callie and Nick will see the light and Callie accepts his marriage proposal and these two get the happily ever after they so deserve.

Reviewed by: Lis


Hero Hotness Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor (will they have a happily ever after) ♥♥♥♥♥
Humour Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Weepy Factor ♥♥♥

Fun gossipy tidbit about author: Sandra was once an extra on the TV show Hercules

SAMANTHA'S COWBOY - Marin Thomas

Book Review

Title: SAMANTHA’S COWBOY

Author: MARIN THOMAS

Line: Harlequin American Romance

Release Month: August

The S-Factor: Satisfying and Sincere

Back-Blurb:

Some Cowboys Are Made, Not Born

There should be millions in Samantha Cartwright’s trust fund…but it’s empty. Luckily for Wade Dawson, her financial adviser, Samantha doesn’t know that yet. So Wade’s buying time to solve the mystery of the missing money by playing cowboy on her ranch. But he’s in way over his head!

Wade is so different from the men Samantha is used to. He wears a tie to work instead of dusty jeans and a Stetson. And while she’s intrigued by him, she’s frustrated by the delay. After all, starting her new horse ranch will finally prove to her overprotective father that she’s capable of running her own life.

But Samantha’s memory lapses from an old injury once brought harm to a child she loved, and she cannot risk being a danger to Wade or his young son. Even if the businessman does look irresistible in a cowboy hat…

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

This is book three in the Cartwright family saga, and Marin Thomas has done just as good a job on this one as she did on the other two. (A little birdie tells me there just might be a forth book sometime next year) I’m looking forward to it.

Samantha has decided it is time to get out from under her father’s overprotective wing. After all, she is thirty-two years old. Just because she sometimes has trouble remembering things is no reason to live at home all her life. Both her brothers have made lives of their own, and she wants her dreams to come true, too.

Is Wade her dream-come-true? Or is he her worst nightmare?

A financial advisor digging a well – by hand, no less. What was Wade’s reasoning behind that? How did Samantha manage to hurry things along, no matter how hard Wade dragged his feet?

Marin did an excellent job of getting the tension right up there between Wade and Samantha. Yet as hot as they were for each other, it seemed as if every time they thought they were getting somewhere something would happen to interrupt. I got a good laugh at some of Wade’s attempts at physical activity. I was frustrated right along with Samantha when she wanted him to kiss her and he didn’t.

So how did Samantha finally get her dream come true rescued-horse ranch? What did they do for money? And where did hers disappear to?

What I loved most about this book is that Marin has a knack for getting people out of trouble. In each of the Cartwright books someone needed rescuing, and it was done with dignity and tact. Her books are believable, and very read-able. She tackles problems like brain injuries, homeless children, and a widow left with a huge debt, in such a way that no one is left feeling inferior. She makes you believe the world isn’t such a bad place after all.

Hero Hotness Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Humor Factor ♥♥♥
Weepy Factor ♥

Reviewed by Donna B

NO HERO LIKE HIM - Elaine Grant

Book Review

Title: NO HERO LIKE HIM

Author: ELAINE GRANT

Line: Harlequin Super Romance
Release month: July

The S-Factor: Sensual and Satisfactory

Back-blurb:

Claire Ford has no choice but to hire Seth Morgan. There’s no one else but this bull rider on the mend to work at her therapeutic riding camp. So in exchange for his expertise with animals, she unwillingly agrees to help ease him back into the saddle.

Equally unwillingly, Claire begins to fall for this proud, quiet man. A man who’s determined to climb back onto the bull that almost killed him. And that’s the trouble. How can Claire commit to a guy who’d risk his life for something she doesn’t believe in? And what will happen if she forces him to choose between love and his livelihood?

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

What do you do when the person you were counting on to be a strong male presence for two at-risk boys suddenly backs out of the agreement? That’s where Claire found herself. Then her best friend came through with an offer of her brother’s help. Or would it be help? He could barely walk after a very nasty accident riding a bull left him severely injured. So how does she overcome her intense dislike of his bull-riding career, and his desire to return to it?

Seth is not about to accept help from someone who operates a therapeutic riding camp. He’d sooner (almost) not ride again. But then Claire appeals to his manly pride, and he finds himself agreeing to help with her camp in exchange for her (very secret) help getting back on a bull.

Where does Micah come into the mix? And why is he so important to Claire? What is the story behind all Claire’s insecurities?

Elaine Grant writes a heart-wrenching story about at-risk boys and girls – kids who have fallen through the cracks, and have no one on their side. She shows us that even the ones everyone has given up on can be helped with the right mix of caring and stubbornness – tough love. Her book tells it like it is. You can, indeed, do anything you set your mind to.

A great book, "No Hero Like Him" is fascinating to read. Ms Grant mixed sex and stubbornness and came up with a hot, page-turning, heart-wrenching story.

Hero Hotness Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor (will it last?) ♥♥♥♥♥
Humor Factor ♥♥
Weepy Factor ♥♥

Reviewed by Donna B

MAID IN MONTANA - Susan Meier

Book Review

Title: MAID IN MONTANA

Author: SUSAN MEIER

Line: Harlequin Romance
Release date: June

The S-Factor: Silly and Sparky

Back-Blurb:

At Silver Saddle Ranch. . .

For single mom Sophie Penazzi, accepting a housekeeping job at handsome Jeb Worthington’s ranch is a fresh start for her and six-month-old Brady.

Will she swap her feather duster. . .

More comfortable with a baby on her hip, dough on her apron and flour in her hair, Sophie knows she is nothing like the glamorous women who inhabit Jeb’s world.

For a diamond ring?

Her welcome from the taciturn rancher is far from warm. . .but that doesn’t stop Sophie wishing she could be more than a maid in Montana!

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

You might wonder how a book could appear to be silly and sparky at the same time, but Susan Meier did it. I laughed out loud at Jeb’s reaction to Brady, and at the way Sophie stood up to him. I and loved the way the sparks flew between Jeb and Sophie at every opportunity.

Sophie found herself accepting a housekeeping job on Jeb’s ranch. He had not expected someone so young, and especially not someone with a baby in tow. Sophie had been burned before and she was not about to let anyone take advantage of her again. She stood up to him like few women ever did. But why did he seem to dislike Brady so much? What was behind his aversion to even being in the same room as the baby?

What desperate measures did Sophie have to take to make Jeb realize that he needed her?

This book is part of the mini-line In Her Shoes – modern-day Cinderellas get their grooms!

Susan Meier is an expert at taking a tense situation and making it into something you can laugh at. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. The current flowing between hero and heroine in this book was presented in such an enjoyable way that it made putting the book down very hard to do.

Hero Hotness Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor (will it last?) ♥♥♥♥♥
Humor Factor ♥♥♥♥
Weepy Factor

Reviewed by Donna B

LAST RESORT: MARRIAGE - Pamela Stone

Book Review

Title: LAST RESORT: MARRIAGE

Author: Pamela Stone

Line: Harlequin American Romance
Release month: July

The S-Factor: Sensual and Secretive

Back-Blurb:

Desperate times call for. . .A Quickie Wedding?

And desperation is the only reason Charlotte Harrington would even consider marrying local playboy Aaron Brody. Even if he is the most irresistible man she’s ever laid eyes on.

Charlie’s proposition could be a win-win for both of them. Aaron keeps his charter business afloat and the gorgeous, cool-as-ice hotel heiress keeps her grandfather from selling her hotel out from under her. Besides, it’s temporary.

Isn’t it?

It was supposed to be strictly a business arrangement. Falling in love with her husband wasn’t part of the deal. So when the time comes, will Charlie be able to just shake hands with Aaron and part ways forever?

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

Charlotte’s grandfather was determined she was going to marry Perry Thurman. After all, she was twenty-nine. So he was shocked almost out of his socks when she announced she was engaged to Aaron Brody, a struggling charter fishing captain. And when Aaron suggested his friend, and fellow sea captain, marry them tomorrow. . .

So why was Perry sticking around? And why were there so many problems suddenly cropping up? Problems that it seemed only Perry could fix. Charlotte was determined that Perry was not going to get her hotel. She did not work for more than five years so that he could reap the benefits. Why did she dislike Perry so much? Where did he finally end up? Did Charlotte and Aaron finally figure out that they loved each other?

Pamela Stone is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the writing industry. Her characters are interesting, believable, and realistic. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to enjoy a quick summer read. I could be wrong, but I believe this is the first book Pamela has written for Harlequin. I will definitely be looking for more from this author. Her command of the English language is outstanding. It takes you to beaches in the Florida Keys where you can actually feel the warm sun on your skin, and the spray from the ocean waves.

Hero Hotness Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Humor Factor ♥♥♥♥
Weepy Factor ♥

Reviewed by Donna B

BOARDROOM BABY SURPRISE - Jackie Braun

Book Review

Title: BOARDROOM BABY SURPRISE

Author: JACKIE BRAUN

Line: Harlequin Romance
Release month: August

The S-Factor: Surprising, and Sweet, and Sad (sort of)

Back-Blurb:

A baby in the office. . .

When pregnant Morgan Stevens arrives at wealthy businessman Bryan Caliborn’s office looking for her baby’s father, two things become apparent: she’s mistaken him for his late brother and she’s in labor – in the boardroom!

. . .means a whole new agenda!

Now Morgan’s a single mom, and she’s bowled over by the take-charge tycoon’s support. But surely the once-burned bachelor is just doing it out of duty. . .

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

Chapter one of “Boardroom Baby Surprise” opens with Morgan Stevens panting through a contraction in the waiting room of what she thinks is her baby’s father’s office. And then her water broke in the conference room. If you think I was going to put the book down after that. . . This book caught me in right from page one, sentence one. I was hooked.

What do you do when something you’ve believed turns out to be false? The man she thought was Bryan Caliborn was actually his late brother. This on top of everything else that was happening to her made Morgan very wary about getting involved with another man. But Bryan wouldn’t take no for an answer. And his logic irritated her beyond belief – or was that hormones speaking?

This story is filled with events that take the reader by surprise. It is sweet in that Bryan can’t seem to help himself when it comes to helping, and being with Morgan, even though he wonders if she is a liar and a gold-digger. It is sad because Dillon, Bryan’s brother, died without even knowing that he was going to be a father.

Jackie Braun did an excellent job of taking the reader from one emotion to another. Each page was better than the page before. Each chapter more interesting than the last. Even though I hooted with laughter when Morgan’s water broke in the middle of a boardroom filled with stuffy old men, the book was still down-to-earth, and very believable. Ms Braun’s wonderful command of the English language makes reading her books a delightful experience that carries you from laughter to tears and back again.

Hero Hotness Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor (will it last?) ♥♥♥♥♥
Humor Factor ♥♥♥
Weepy Factor ♥♥♥

Reviewed by Donna B

SPANISH MAGNATE, RED-HOT REVENGE - Lynn Raye Harris

Author: Lynn Raye Harris

Line: Mills and Boon Modern/Harlequin Presents

Release month UK: July 2009 / North America: August 2009

The S-Factor: Sizzling & Spectacular

Back-Blurb:

The Spaniard’s scorching seduction

Nobody messes with Alejandro de Ramirez. He doesn’t suffer fools, and certainly has no time for manipulative wantons. Rebecca Layton was both. Five years on, the turmoil she brought to his life hasn’t ended – and Alejandro is more merciless than ever. The Spanish magnate wants retribution…

Unusually, and frustratingly for Alejandro, his plan doesn’t go smoothly. Surely Rebecca wasn’t this alluring before? And did his body always respond in this way – with such passionate fury? This is no longer just revenge…this is red-hot and dangerous!

Review: ♥♥♥♥♥

Spanish Magnate, Red-Hot Revenge was a magnificent debut book and if I hadn’t already known it was Lynn Raye Harris first I would have thought I was reading a romance by a long published author, that’s how incredibly marvellous it was…..just breathtaking!

Alejandro de Ramirez once a bull fighter and now a ruthless billionaire is out for revenge from his past lover Rebecca Layton. Ruthless doesn’t even begin to describe him and he’s now going to make Rebecca pay for what he believes she and her father took from him years earlier, a business deal which would have earned him not only millions but he would have been seen by his peers as a respected businessman. He’s determined to learn the truth and insists she return to Spain and stay in his home so he can keep an eye on her.

Now out of the blue Rebecca is being summoned to Spain and not knowing the outcome or plans Alejandro has for her company, she doesn’t know if she can withstand seeing her past lover again. She remembers all too well how he hurt her, how she found out while being his lover that he was to marry someone else. Now all she has is her company and he’s going to take that as well? On top of everything else the past hurts, the secrets, the accusations he hurls at her, how dare he accuse her of cheating him? When she doesn’t think she can stand anymore, she finds out he had a child that died?

Their time spent together was painful for them both. Each of them kept blaming the other. The attraction is so powerful and all they seem to do is continue to hurt each other. It’s obvious that Rebecca hasn’t forgotten at all and each day tears at her heart. But one realization becomes clear to her when she finds out he had her investigated, he didn’t respect, trust or find her honourable but it’s also obvious he still wanted her physically. It’s very clear they still have feelings for each other and when they act on their passion its apparent emotions run deep. One also wonders what will happen next, what other obstacles will they face? The answer, a baby and a demanded marriage by Alejandro.

Author Lynn Raye Harris certainly delivered a very intense and well crafted debut book with many lessons to be learned by both Rebecca and Alejandro. Choices, for them both they realized they made the wrong ones and they should have trusted each other more no matter what the circumstances. One lesson Alejandro learned from Rebecca was that he didn’t like what he saw in himself. However, the most important lesson for them both……forgiveness so they could have a life full of love and laughter.

Hero Hotness Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Humour Factor♥
Weepy Factor♥♥♥

Reviewed by: Marilyn

From Lynn’s website:

If you visit Lynn’s website you’ll see that she entered the Harlequin Mills and Boon Writing Contest and won! Here’s what she says about her debut book:

“When I sat down at my computer and a man appeared. A gorgeous, arrogant Spaniard named Alejandro. And he wasn’t very happy. When Rebecca Layton arrived, she realized what was wrong. Rebecca and Alejandro had a very emotional past — and their futures were about to collide as Alejandro set into motion a plan for revenge.

I emailed my entry only hours before the deadline. A month later, I got the call that I’d won the Harlequin Presents Instant Seduction contest. I was stunned — and ecstatic. Now, during Harlequin’s 60th Anniversary year, I am so happy to be a new author and to share Alejandro and Rebecca’s story with you. I hope it makes your heart pound, and I hope you race to the end of the book to find out what happens.”