The Accidental Countess

This one is a Keeper!

Read the review here: http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/historical/The_Accidental_Countess.shtml

Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Lori Wilde

Second in the Wedding Veil Wishes series, Once Smitten, Twice Shy is a refreshing romantic adventure of second chances mixed with a little magic.

Tish Gallagher is finished. Her bank account is empty, her car is repossessed, her cable is disconnected and her business, Capture the Moment, is going nowhere. She even managed to let the only man she has ever loved walk away two years ago due to foolish pride. Tish’s friend, Delaney [There Goes the Bride] gave her an antique wedding veil said to have been created by a young witch in Ireland. Legend says if you make a wish on the wedding veil you will see your own true love. When Tish wishes for her business to succeed and her money problems to be eliminated all she sees is Shane, her ex-husband, telling her he is hurt and needs help. Tish doesn’t believe in the legend but it certainly seemed to work for Delaney. When a job videographing the first daughter’s wedding Tish is amazed and delighted to know that this is just the break that’s needed to launch her career into high gear. What is she to do when the groom turns out to be her beloved Shane?

Shane Tremont is Secret Service, assigned to protect the President’s daughter, Elysee. When he is injured while protecting her, Elysee believes he is her true love and knight in shining armor. After a divorce two years prior, Shane is warmed by Elysee’s caring and hero worship. As the country embraces the love story of the government agent and the President’s daughter Shane begins to believe he is truly over his ex-wife Tish. As wedding plans are made and details are finalized Shane realizes the videographer Elysee has hired is none other than his ex-wife, Tish, the woman he still yearns for.

Smart, funny, sexy; Lori Wilde has done it again. Tish and Shane are complex characters whose personalities are gradually revealed, they feel like close friends I wanted to take them under my wing and fix their hurts. The secondary cast adds the extra zip to make this story stand out from the crowd. Elysee is a naïve young woman whom I found endearing yet a little frustrating at times. Her love of being in love gave her a rosy outlook on life I could not easily relate to but she captured my heart anyway. Shane is a real wounded hero whom I fell a little in love with myself. He is kind and generous, strong and intelligent, and looking to be loved completely. His undying love for Tish and hers for him is poignant and will bring a few tears to the eyes. The emotions sizzle whenever they are in the same area, leaving no doubt these two lovers are meant to be together. With plenty of internal conflict, Lori Wilde leads readers on a merry adventure as the cast sets out to save a woman from harm, overcoming obstacles thrown in their paths. I thoroughly enjoyed Once Smitten, Twice Shy and look forward to the next installment of the Wedding Veil Wishes.

HARD TO HANDLE

Hard to Handle is a gritty, sexy, action-packed page turner.

Harley Handleman has been scheduled for an SBC title fight three times, and something always happens to derail his dream of a title. Recovered from an elbow injury, he is training for and determined not to miss the next opportunity to come his way. Harley is a man who doesn’t make attachments, not since his mother died of cancer, that is. He takes from women what he wants, when he wants and doesn’t stick around for the post coital chatter session. His only long-term relationships are with his coach, Satch, and his landlady of the past three years, Anastasia. The verbal sparring keeps Harley on his toes and when danger comes to Stasia’s door he is the one to protect her, not knowing he is finally about to lose his heart to the sexy woman who haunts his dreams.

Anastasia Bradley has been Harley’s landlady for the past three years in Echo Lake. She has been attracted to the big lunk for just as long. When Harley’s Uncle Satch hires her to be his life coach, it puts her at odds with the sexy fighter, making it difficult to keep her mind on business. When danger comes to her door, she does not want Harley involved, yet he steps in to protect her anyway. Knowing Harley’s “love-em and leave-em” reputation, she is not willing to become another groupie. But the more they are thrown together, and the more dangerous the situation, who will protect her from losing her heart or maybe even her life?

The SBC Fighters series continues with a romantic adventure featuring Harley Handleman as he sets out to win the championship once again. Life has thrown this warrior a lot of curves, but the biggest one is yet to come; a lovely lady named Anastasia Bradley. As a reader, I must admit Harley found a place in my heart in Simon Says and so I was anticipating his story. My expectations were met and surpassed once again by Lori Foster. She took this fictional cast and brought them to vivid life on the pages. These are real people, warts and all which makes them easy to relate to. A plethora of former characters and introductions to new ones make the story a fast moving skillfully woven intrigue with enough twists and turns to keep this reader up late into the night to finish, yet sad for the story to end. Harley and Anastasia is a fine pairing; strong and intelligent, witty and likable. I was captured and held by the sexual chemistry evident from the first introduction. The secondary romance will well please readers hoping Barber would find a love of his own. Not only does Lori Foster write passion well, but she also makes it real.

REALLY SOMETHING by Shirley Jump

Shirley Jump gives readers a wickedly funny, multilayered romance with memorable characters and secrets everywhere you turn. Never has revenge gone so wrong before. Eight years ago Allie Dean left the town of Tempest, Indiana vowing never to return. Overweight and feeling worthless, Allie strikes out for California where she sheds weight, gets a degree, marries and divorces, and lands a great job scouting locations for movies. Her latest assignment is to scout out her old hometown for the producer’s next teen horror picture, placing the perfect opportunity for revenge right in her lap. What she plans as the perfect payback will end up giving Allie the chance to learn a few of the town’s well guarded secrets and makes her take a good hard look at herself in the process. Payback against the guy who stood her up at the prom unravels as she discovers the secrets he has been keeping about that night, and the fact that she is still in love with him.
Duncan Henry, high school football star turned sexy local weatherman. He tends to predict the weather with a Magic 8-Ball. Tragedy has kept Duncan from pursuing his dream of becoming a TV anchor. When a gorgeous blonde bombshell roars into town she immediately puts Duncan’s libido in high gear. There is something about the woman that stirs his memory but he just can’t seem to hold on to it. In a town riddled with secrets, she seems to be the only honest woman around, reminding him of the girl from high school who was his only real friend. What happens when Duncan discovers Allie isn’t quite as honest as he believed?
Shirley Jump has penned a novel of coming home again, a story of real people, warts and all. Duncan and Allie are intelligent and sympathetic characters, both harboring inner scars and emotional turmoil. Jump expertly blends romance and mystery in a story that is smart, funny, sexy and sensual. Duncan is a hero many women would love to call their own. His innate nobility shines through in every interaction with his sister, leaving this reader in no doubt that he is genuinely warm and caring to a fault. His sex appeal is off the charts, coming through loud and clear with each page turned. Allie is every woman who has ever struggled with her weight. She is completely relatable as the nerdy fat girl in school who has ever fallen for the football star. She is full of human flaws which make her all the more realistic, and her desire for revenge is completely understandable. She is smart, funny, sexy and a perfect foil for our hero. When they share a scene, it is electric. The couple gained my favor from the beginning, knowing they were perfect to heal each other. The journey to love and trust is a rocky one, interspersed with witty banter, snarky humor and passionate love scenes. Clear your plans for the evening, you will want to stay up late to read REALLY SOMETHING.

Anything For Sasha by Samantha Lucas

At the lowest point of Sasha’s life a man walked into the diner where she works. Her life has been one of strife until Matthew came to Jasper Creek and gave her a night she can’t forget, in more ways than one. When he shows up six months later to discover her secret it puts her life and the town’s secrets in jeopardy. Sasha can’t afford for Matthew to stick around but he doesn’t seem to understand just how dangerous it is for him and for her.

Matthew was driving aimlessly, suffering a little from “empty nest syndrome” when he happens upon a diner in a small Georgia town. Grabbing a bite to eat brings him face to face with a girl he shares a drunken but unforgettable night with, one he walks out on the next morning. She has haunted his dreams for the past six months and though he feels like she is too young for him, heads out on another road trip with his best friend West to find her again. What he finds when they enter the diner is a young woman who is fearful of him and very pregnant.

Shasta, or whatever she calls herself, is keeping secrets. Though he sees the yearning in her eyes, he also sees the fear too. It will take some serious intervention and a little help from his friends to uncover the cause of her fear and to gain him the love of his life.

ANYTHING FOR SASHA by Samantha Lucas cements this author as an auto-buy for this reader from this moment on. These are real people caught up in tragic circumstances, begging for a way to be together. Matthew has some forgiveness to beg, from Sasha and from readers, for his idiotic actions but redeems himself through perseverance and devotion to Sasha. An emotional connection was made immediately; I sensed an undercurrent of sadness and loneliness from both Matthew and Sasha and I wanted so badly to cheer them on as they overcame the horrendous obstacles laid in their path. Matthew is a knight in tarnished armor, ready to do all he can to rescue the woman he loves, despite the hard work involved. Sasha is a tragic young woman I empathized with and wanted to take under my wing like a cherished sister. The cast of characters ranges from the most lovable to the vilest as Samantha Lucas touches the hearts of readers and invokes every range of emotion; love and sadness for Matthew and Sasha, anger and disgust at Jimmy. ANYTHING FOR SASHA is well worth staying up half the night to finish, it is a book I recommend with no reservations.