Angie's Romance Reviews (and trades) » C Rated

The Laird Who Loved Me – Karen Hawkins

AngieZ — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:15:32 +0000

This book is part of a series and I made the mistake of reading it out of order. It is the 5th book and I have only read the 1st so far. I hate when I do that. I think I would have liked it much better had I read the previous books.

I felt lost throughout most of the story but the gist of the story came through. I enjoyed the byplay of the characters. Alexander MacLean sets out to ruin Caitlyn Hurst because of some past involvement that forced his brother to marry. While he plans to ruin he, he doesn’t plan to fall in love with her.

Without reading the previous stories I didn’t have the character attachment that I should have so I rank this as a mediocre story. I will definitely pick up the previous books in the series and revisit this one later.

Grade: C
Cover: Nah…

Previous Books in the series: How to Abduct a Highland Lord, To Scotland, With Love, To Catch a Highlander, Sleepless in Scotland (The MacLeans).

Future releases by Karen Hawkins: Lois Lane Tells All, due in paperback, March 30, 2010.
Authors website: Karenhawkins.com

Please remember to show support for your favorite authors by purchasing their novels new — if possible.

My Wicked Marquess – Gaelen Foley

AngieZ — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:57:23 +0000

The first book in this authors new Inferno Club series. I would classify this as a typical romance read. The Marquess of Rotherstone is a man with a bad reputation and a family with a equally bad track record. It is time to do his duty to his family and marry. He has his man of business seek out eligible ladies to marry which will enhance his reputation. Of course Daphne Starling is on this list however, there is a huge warning that she may not be appropriate. As with Romance land, of course he fall for the worst likely candidate. There is not much more to the story other than he is the typical good guy who cultivates a bad image as cover. She is the plucky heroine who demands more from her man, even when he tries to keep his secrets to protect her.

I was a bit disappointed with this book. It is better than a lot of regencies I have read, but does not seem to be up to par with past Foley books. The Knight series had several books I just loved (Lord of Fire, Lord of Ice, Lady of Desire.

The ending is not even really an ending, but a launch towards the remainder of the story. I am really looking forward to Drakes story. He will be the tortured hero, and I just love those.

Grade: C

Cover: Typical

Here is the Authors Website. Where you can get more information on the Inferno Club Series.

Please remember to show support for your favorite authors by purchasing their novels new — if possible.

Montana Creeds: Tyler – Linda Lael Miller

AngieZ — Sat, 09 May 2009 14:15:03 +0000

Number 3 in the trilogy of the modern day Creed Clan. Three brothers Logan, Dylan and Tyler grew up under an alcoholic father and a long line of step moms. They were united as youths but had a major fight after their father was killed in an accident. They have long since gone their separate ways.

Tyler Creed is the baby of the family. Though his dad was a terrible father, Tyler was devastated when he died. As the youngest he had a different view on his fathers faults and this caused a major problem between his brothers. Now he is a grown man who came home out of restlessness. While home, he finds his ex love Lily Kenyon, home to nurse her ailing father. Lily also had father issues growing up and running into Tyler in town brings a lot of things to the surface.

I have to say I was very disappointed in this last book. I could not wait to read his story, but I felt it fell flat. It was boring and didn’t pan out well. The wrap up on their combined father’s story was not what I expected, nor did it really stand out much.

Grade: C

Cover: The sunglasses really have to go. Aren’t they from the 80′s? I think my husband had a pair of those right around the time he had a perm….

Please remember to show support for your favorite authors by purchasing their novels new — if possible.

What Do You Say to a Naked Elf? – Cheryl Sterling

AngieZ — Fri, 23 May 2008 19:34:14 +0000

This is a new author for me. I wish I could say I liked the book, but it jumped along too fast with no build up.

Jane Drysdale is driving along in her car with tubs of erotic toys from her second job of “adult toy parties” when she runs over a rabbit and is suddenly transported to another land. She mets up with Charle who is a straight laced and sort of interesting character and is swept up in one adventure to another.

I finished the book, but can’t say that I enjoyed it much. I will give it credit for being different and very unpredictable….. I suspect that others may enjoy the fast moving story about destiny in another land.
Rating: C
Cover Art: So, So

Please remember to show support for your favorite authors by purchasing their novels new — if possible.

How to Abduct a Highland Lord – Karen Hawkins

AngieZ — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 15:50:48 +0000

I loved the premise of this book – a fiery highland lass whom decides to single-handedly end a long standing feud between her family (the McLeans) and the Kincaids by abducting and marrying a reluctant Kincaid male.

The premise was better than the book itself. I was able to quickly finish the book and did not really dislike it as much as I felt it didn’t deliver as much as it could. I was a bit disappointed.

Fiona MacLean had jilted Jack Kincaid when they young because of her meddling brothers and a slight misunderstanding. Jack went on to become a womanizing rake, earning his nickname Black Jake Kincaid.

Fifteen years later, one of Fiona’s brothers was accidentally killed. The blame is placed on the Kincaid family. In order to stop the feud, Fiona executes a plan to capture and marry Jack so that her family would have to back off of the feud.

Jack is knocked unconscious, and wakes up to find himself wed to Fiona. He is angry, but they cannot deny the sparks that were always between the two.

Throw in a few attempts on Fiona’s life, Fiona’s familiar curse of involuntary weather control and a scandalous attempt to reclaim some property from the Kincaids and you have the story in a nutshell.

Grade: C
Cover – I really like the cover. However if you get a chance to look at the step inside Fiona appears to be one legged.

Please remember to show support for your favorite authors by purchasing their novels new — if possible.

The List, A Love Story in 781 Chapters-Aneva Stout

AngieZ — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 00:51:49 +0000

A cute list on meeting Mr. Right. This is a short but witty piece with 781 short quips. A good book when you have a few minutes to spare. It took me about 20 minutes to read while waiting for my daughter after a volleyball game.

Some of these “chapters” hit home.

6. You’ll decided your mother has no idea what she’s talking about
a. Until you’re her age.

66. You” tell your girlfriend that you have a date with the handsome stranger Saturday night.
67. She’ll say six words to you that only a girlfriend would have the heart to say.
a. “What are you going to wear?”
68. You’ll have a one-word response.
a. “Shit.”

267 He’ll play his favorite CD for you in the car.
a. You’ll love it
b. You’ll hate it
c. You’ll wonder why all men pretend the steering wheel is a drum set.

506. Then you’ll do what any strong, independent woman would do who just screamed, “And just so you know, you’re not the first man I’lve slept with who could play “Stairway to Heaven on the guitar!”

Grade: C+. I would have rated it higher had I been a fan of chick lit. If you like chick lit, you will like this.

Dead Sexy-Amanda Ashley

AngieZ — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 01:05:13 +0000

I had a personal shopping day available from Borders that was due to expire, so I stopped to see if I could find anything interesting. I am trying not to buy new books because my to be read pile is threatening to take over my house, or should I say my husband is threatening my to be read pile again.

So anyhow, I was walking through Borders and the cover of this book immediately grabbed my attention. In person, this cover is not so red and the hottie on the cover is almost holographic. The computer screen just does not do it justice. I had to take this bad boy home with me.

My excitement soon faded when I realized this was yet another young vampire hunter chick/old vampire story. Regan is a female vampire detective who has been out of work since vampires have become a protected species. She is called in to consult on a series of murders that the local people believe are vampire kills. It is in this consultation that she meets the Master of the City, Joaquin Santiago. Joanquin knows it is an old enemy (a werewolf) that is causing some of the murders and wants to clue Regan in.

I really didn’t like this story because 1. Regan, did no vampire hunting and her status as a hunter brought nothing to the story. 2. Joaquin did no “mastering” of the city and his status as a mater brought nothing to the story. I am not sure why these elements were introduced except I guess as a way to introduce the two.

Perhaps I am getting tired of the overdone brooding vampire whom lost his only love and young woman whom hates vampires but turns out for no discernible reason to be the only female to stir the ancient vampires juices. Throw in the old powerful enemy who hates said hero because of some past dis and you have the makings of the latest hot trend in romance books. I frankly think I need a break from vampire books because I don’t like not enjoying a story because I feel I have read it a hundred times already. I know Ashley is a talented author and it is really the unoriginal plot that has me sighing and looking at the cover and saying, mass marketing of the latest bandwagon did you in buddy.

Grade: C

Did I mention I thought the cover art was hot?

Sleeping with the Fishes – Mary Janice Davidson

AngieZ — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 23:54:59 +0000

With a cover price of 7.99 this was a very quick read.

Frederica (Fred) is half mermaid and half human with absolutely no redeeming qualities. In a nutshell she is a total bitch and an annoying heroine.

The story starts out with Fred walking into her parents home and finding them having sex doggie style on the livingroom coffeetable. Instead of writing this as a funny moment it reads more like an ungrateful spoiled rotten kid who proceeds to disrespectfully bitch at her parents for having sex in the privacy of their own home. She then berates her parents and condescendingly rips on them for being pot smoking hippies. I almost quite reading the book at this point, but really really hate not finishing books.

Luckily the rest of the cast was not so terrible as the heroine. First there is Freds childhood friend Jonas who is metrosexual to the extreme, but not gay. Then there are the two love interests of Thomas the scientist whom has always fantazied about mermaids and Artur, merman and the prince of the black sea. Both men instantly fall in love with her and now have a friendly competition going. The plot is not really worth mentioning.

Weirdly enough there were a few good LOL moments to the the book, but I can’t say I will be standing in line to snap up the assured sequel. If I happen to find it in a used book store, I might pick it up.

Bad Attitude-Sherrilyn Kenyon

AngieZ — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 01:16:40 +0000

I was in the mood for a good action book so I plucked this from my to be read list.

Bureau of American Defense (BAD) is shadow agency responsible for counter-terrorism in the US. Sydney Westbrook (who annoyingly was repeatedly referred to as an Angelina Jolie look alike) is looking for a new partner to help take down a target. J.D. Steele is a sniper in prison for shooting at his commanding officer and is perfect for her job. She proceeds to recruit him. She is known as a literal ball buster and frigid, and he is a major attitude problem, but she warms up quickly to Steele.

I initally liked the storyline at first, but got frustrated with the Angelina Jolie comparisions. The plot really didn’t hold together too well either. I liken this to a watered down Brockmann Troubleshooter type story. Brockmann does a much better job.

Grade C-

Cover: The inside step was sort of hot.

The Man from Stone Creek-Linda Lael Miller

AngieZ — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 23:58:09 +0000

I had been in the mood for a good american historical and picked this one up. Miller is a favorite of mine as I have One Wish and Springwater on my keeper shelf.

Ranger Sam O’Ballivan is sent to Haven Arizona to track down a gang that has committed several area robberies. He is under cover as the new school master. Maddie Chancelor is operating the local store and immediately falls for Sam.

I was a bit disappointed because I found the story disjointed and the relationship between Sam and Maddie did not click. In my favorite Springwater there was so much tension and love between the characters that was lacking here. The typical roadblocks to their relationship were removed very simply and quickly and were only a blip on the storie lines. Even the mastermind of the gang was unexpected, but unprobable.

Grade: C

Cover: So-So. Don’t hate it, Don’t love it.