Review of When
Lightning Strikes by Brenda Novak
Published: August 28, 2012
5 out of 5 smirks
Synopsis: "Gail DeMarco left Whiskey Creek,
California, to make a name for herself in Los Angeles. Her PR firm has
accumulated a roster of A-list clients, including the biggest box office hit of
all—sexy and unpredictable Simon O’Neal. But Simon, who’s just been through a
turbulent divorce, is so busy self-destructing he won’t listen to anything she
says. She drops him from her list—and he retaliates by taking the rest of her
clients with him.
Desperate to save her company, Gail has to humble
herself by making a deal with Simon. The one thing he wants is custody of his
son, but that’s going to require a whole new image. He needs to marry some
squeaky-clean girl who’ll drag him off to some small, obscure place like
Whiskey Creek…
Gail’s the only one he can trust. She agrees to
become his wife—reluctantly. But she isn’t reluctant because he’s too hard to
like. It’s because he’s too hard not to love!"
I've read a few Brenda Novak books, mostly murder
mysteries with romance thrown in, but When
Lightning Strikes is one of my favorites of hers to date. I love how this is a totally Hollywood book,
having to do nothing with murder but rather the betrayals of life and getting
back on your feet. Simon is a character
who seems so self-destructive, but in all actuality is trying to muddle through
life by dimming his emotions. Gail is a
character who puts up this steely exterior, but is really the most vulnerable
person of all. I love how this story and
these characters are always changing, little by little. You don't expect them to change or the story
to grow so much it leaves readers in a mess of knots dying to know the outcome,
but this story really makes readers want for more. I give When
Lightning Strikes by Brenda Novak 5 smirks because it is a feel good story
readers will want to appreciate again and again.
Review of Case
of Seduction by Ann Christopher
Published: August 28, 2012
5 out of 5 smirks
Synopsis: "Law Number 1: Never Fall For Your
Boss!
Too late, since Charlotte Evans has been secretly
head over heels for Jake Hamilton ever since she started working at his
family’s renowned Philadelphia law firm. She’s too smart to expect the
die-hard bachelor to suddenly turn into Mr. Right, until he starts putting the
moves—on her!
Jake’s prowess is legendary—in and out of the
courtroom. He’s never met a woman he couldn’t seduce, except Charlotte Evans.
Jake’s lovely assistant may be the only female on the planet who sees past his
playboy facade. And now Jake wants forever with the one woman he can’t have.
Because when it comes to love, some laws are made to be broken."
Case of
Seduction by Ann Christopher made me smile.
I enjoyed reading this book because Charlotte and Jake both have great
sense of humor. I did not put this book
down until I finished it because it was so nice to get lost in a romance story
that allows the readers to laugh along with the characters. I was pleasantly surprised I enjoyed this
book so much because I'm not really a fan about reading about lawyers, for some
reason. Charlotte is this feisty
character who does not take crap from anyone, but is oddly enough very insecure
(quite a combination). Jake, on the
other hand, seems to have always been confident with anything in life and as
soon as he meets Charlotte he becomes so self conscious it is like readers are
getting to know a high schooler instead of a partner at a law firm. I give Case
of Seduction by Ann Christopher 5 smirks because the story was interesting,
the characters were fun, and I can't wait to see if this book is part of a
series.
Review of Gilded
Secrets by Maureen Child
Published: June 26, 2012
5 out of 5 smirks
Synopsis: "Defending His Legacy…At Any Cost
When scandal threatens the luxury auction house that bears his family’s name,
Vance Waverly suspects the media feeding frenzy is an inside job. Could his
gorgeous assistant, Charlotte Potter, be plotting Waverly’s downfall? There’s
one way to find out: seduce the truth out of her!
Charlie is between a rock and a hard place. She can
reveal Waverly’s secrets to her unidentified blackmailer or lose custody of her
child. Whatever she does, she’ll lose the career she loves. But losing the man she’s
come to love—her big, bad boss—could put her over the edge…"
I wasn't sure I was going to like this story, but
after meeting a brooding Vance and a cheery Charlie it was easy to fall into Gilded Secrets by Maureen Child. I love how Vance and Charlie stand out as
characters, but also seem to be the only ones standing out in one another's
lives. The mystery of this story
certainly will hold readers attentions, but what I found I was most drawn to
about this story was Vance and Charlie.
I love how they click and everything else that happens around them is
mute when they are together. I love how
Vance loves Jake and plans for a future before he even realizes it. I give Gilded
Secrets by Maureen Child 5 smirks because the chemistry and the relaxed
nature the characters have with one another it truly a spectacular thing.
Review of Captive but
Forbidden by Lynne
Raye Harris
Published: June 26, 2012
5 out of 5 smirks
Synopsis: "Public duty
The news that wild socialite Veronica St. Germaine has cleaned up her act and
stepped into her father’s shoes as ruler of a Mediterranean principality
creates a tabloid frenzy! But it’s not just the paparazzi that are out for
blood.…
Private scandal
Duty demands that bodyguard Rajesh Vala must protect Veronica—whatever the
cost.… But Veronica has always rebelled against commands, and she isn’t making
Raj’s job easy! He calls it safeguarding. She calls
it being held captive at his beach house. Both realize that the attraction
between them is inconvenient.… Veronica is forbidden, not for bedding!"
Captive but
Forbidden by Lynne Raye Harris, I felt was a mysterious and encouraging
story about diversity and love. What
really spoke to me about this story was how you can't really judge a book by
its cover and the same goes with people.
I loved how Raj and Veronica seem to anger one another to the point of
heated passion. I loved seeing Raj
finally admitting how wrong he was about life and especially about Veronica and
find myself rooting for him in the end.
Veronica on the opposite side of the spectrum was a character I really
felt for, she never came across as spoiled to me, just really sad. I give Captive
but Forbidden by Lynne Raye Harris 5 smirks because the story was full of
surprises I'm sure readers will love.
Review of The
Guy Most Likely To...by Leslie Kelly, Janelle Denison and Julie Leto
Published: June 26, 2012
5 out of 5 smirks
Synopsis: "Ever wonder what
happened to the guy most likely to...
Score with the prom queen?
Lauren and Seth were the high school
“it” couple—until Seth disappeared on prom night. But a reunion gives Seth a
chance to show Lauren an evening long overdue.
Not date a Playboy Bunny?
Ali was the highlight of geeky Will’s high school years. But now that he’s
ditched the nerdiness, he’s 100 percent of calculated hotness...and Ali won’t
be able to say no.
Ride out of town on a Harley?
Rebel Scott “Rip” Ripley always had a thing for the elusive Erica. But reunion
night holds a few sexy surprises when Erica decides it’s time to take the bad
boy for a ride."
What can I say about Lauren and Seth's story? It was refreshing to be introduced to
realistic characters who say what real life people would actually say. Lauren and Seth are a truly witty and funny
couple who get a second chance at happily ever after. I also loved how the story didn't drag on,
but got right to the point. Well done, 5 smirks.
Will and Ali are two characters who defy high schooler
logic. Even though in the real world we
all know the cheerleader and nerd can end up together, the logic conveyed by
the small minds in this story is just too irresistible for this snark to pass
up. I loved the clichés and how Ali and
Will were able to break free from everyone at their reunion. 5 smirks.
What I loved about Rip and Erica's story is how it is also a
story about being true to one's self. I
admire the courage and leap of faith Rip and Erica took in one another. I would really love to see what happens in
their future. 5 smirks.
Review of When Snow Falls by Brenda Novak
Published: October 30, 2012
5 out of 5 smirks
Synopsis: "After growing up in cheap motels, moving from town to town with
her sister and mother, Cheyenne Christensen is grateful to be on her own. She's
grateful, too, for the friends she found once her family settled in California.
But she's troubled by the mystery of her earliest memories, most of which
feature a smiling blonde woman. A woman who isn't her mother.
Although Cheyenne has
repeatedly asked for explanations, the people who could help aren't
talking. Cheyenne is set on finding answers, but without so much as a birth
certificate, it won't be easy.
Things get even more
complicated when her closest friend is attracted to the man Cheyenne has
secretly loved for years. For Eve's sake, she decides to step aside—which lands
her right in the arms of Dylan Amos, oldest and baddest of the hell-raising
Amos brothers. He's the kind of guy she's sworn to avoid. She can't afford to
make a mistake, not when she finally has a chance to learn who she really is
and change her life for the better. But…maybe there's more to Dylan than she
thought. Maybe letting him go would be a bigger mistake."
S
When Snow Falls by
Brenda Novak is a story that will have readers rooting for the underdogs to
finally have their shot at true happiness.
Cheyenne is a character whose loyalty is as strong as her will to
survive her background is, which is so inspiring the pages just fly by as
readers time becomes irrelevant. What is so amazing and different about When Snow Falls is how there is a love
triangle, but it is such a love triangle full of honesty and trust it is almost
shocking to read it through. The first
time Dylan speaks to Chey I instantly am rooting for him and them as a couple,
because even the words on the pages readers
can see their souls colliding with each other. As for Chey and her hardships, her
friendships, family, her relationship with Joe and all the other messes that
seem to collide in her life all at the same time, the constant is always the
same. While I won't say what the
constant is, I will say that Chey discovering her past, her present, what she
wants out of her life, and how she finally stands up for what her heart truly
desires is the best part of this book. When Snow Falls by Brenda Novak is
easily 5 smirks because this story makes readers fall in love with characters
who don't know how to give up and who strive to never lose what they thought
they could never have.
Review of Blazing
Midsummer Nights by Leslie Kelly
Published: June 5, 2012
5 out of 5 smirks
Synopsis:"Anything can happen on a magical
midsummer’s eve...
Marketing director/workaholic Mimi Burdette has The
Plan—work for her father and date his right-hand man. Problem is, there’s no
heat in the relationship. Not even a spark. And worse still, Mimi is having
some seriously sexy, panties-ablaze dreams—and the star looks a lot like Xander
McKinley, the hunky firefighter next door.
Mimi’s dreams might be due to the strange tea she drank. Or
the predictions from the fortune cookie she ate. Or they could be due to
Xander’s smokin’ hotness. But whether it’s magic or just old-fashioned
fireworks, Mimi is about to break all of the rules—including her own!"
I loved how this story took on a life of its own, much like A Midsummer Nights Dream itself. I loved the parallels this story took and how
modernized the characters became. Mimi
is a character who is devoted and endlessly beautiful; Xander has a certain wit
and calmness along with hotness about him which will keep readers on the edge
of their seats trying to figure out when these two characters will
collide. I don't want to give anything
away, but if you are a Shakespeare fan then you know how the story goes. I give 5 smirks to Blazing Midsummer Nights by Leslie Kelly because it's hard not to
fall in love with the characters and a modernized classic.
