Anything you want ( Anything and Everything 1) by Erin Nicholas

Hello to all,

                  Stella has fervently recommened to me this author Erin Nicholas and i was lucky because this month she has a new release and at this occasion there were a lot of contests, giveaways for the first book of the serie. So, enjoy Anything you want by Erin Nicholas

Editor : Samhain Publishing Ltd

Publication : 2011

ISBN:  160928383X

Genre: contemporary romance

Violence: none
Langage: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: pdf copy won

Short description from goodread :

 "Suppose the solution to all your problems is the one thing you never wanted..."


It figures the one time Sabrina Cassidy is determined to do the responsible thing, karma kicks in. After four years on the road chasing her musical dream, she's stranded six hours from home with no money, a ruined credit history-and morning sickness.

Out of options, she swallows her legendary independent streak and calls the only person who won't hang up on her. Luke, the man she left behind.

Marc Sterling's first instinct is to protect his business partner and best friend from another broken heart. That means letting her think she's talking to Luke, then finding a way to send her in the opposite direction.

When he shows up at her hotel room, there's something in the air beside their customary insults. Sure, her rebellious attitude, smart mouth-and purple panties-still drive him crazy, but now it's a different kind of crazy. The kind that has him driving her home instead of to the nearest airport.

And when Luke offers to solve all her problems if she'll only say "I do," Marc realizes he's just crazy enough-about her-to forget whose heart he wanted to protect.

Warning: Contains two people who don't like each other very much, a Toyota that can't quite handle the road trip home, and a spontaneous proposal. Or two. Or three. And foreplay with-what else-pie filling

My opinion:

          Like always, so far the recommendations of Stella never disappointed me. Erin Nicholas has a great writing style and it’s very easy to read. You get immersed in the story quickly and completely.  The psychological aspect of the romance is very well done and you can understand the characters.

I didn’t appreciate Luke at all until his bit of wisdom at the end of the book, before that I just wanted to slap him. I didn’t appreciate how he was putting Sabrina down, making her feel like she was lower than dirt and just a big fail. He has his complex hero a bit like the syndrome of munchosen when you make someone ill, hurt and save him just after to feel good and powerful.  It’s the same but transposed in a romantic relationship or friendly one. You let you friend or lover hurting himself, or you help to do that, and after you are the hero that has the solution and saves the day. I can’t agree with this kind of actions. Even if it’s only with the use of words, he is destroying her, using all her weaknesses that she confided in all trust.  It a bit surprising at the beginning that Marc thinks he is the one suffering because he never loved her in reality.

Marc is different, at first he is against her but he slowly discovers the truth. He sees her like she is not how he would like her to be.  Yes, at first he only does everything to help Luke but after he doesn’t stay mind closed. He was in fact a bit jealous since they were kids. In the end he is the one who believe in her and tries to really help her to be happy.

As for Sabrina, once you learn her past, you understand the reason behind her insecurity problem. However like Marc told her, she is stronger than that, she went to try to make her dreams a reality even alone and against the will of her family and friends. She is afraid and more manipulated than manipulative because of her low esteem she could make the wrong decisions hoping they were right. Now, I don’t think a child can be happy if his parents doesn’t love each other and become bitter, full of regrets. But I’m sure you can make a child happy even if you don’t have a lot as long as you are happy and you show him all your love. Sometimes you have to take risks to be happy, stability and security can be only an illusion in some circumstances.

So a good book but I was afraid until the end. Erin manages to keep us on toes  and a bit stressed before offering us a very good ending.And who knows perhaps this book will help some people to break off bad relationship, and gain a bit more self esteem.

Score:  4,5/5

Challenges:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge





ebook read for the 2012 ebook Challenge

Awaken the Highland Warrior ( Connor Clan book 1) by Anita Clenney

Hello to all,

                   today was really a bad day for the most part but i wanted to be positive so i decided not to wait and give you my review of a book that i adored. Awaken the Highland Warrior by Anita Clenney.

Enjoy!

Editor : Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publication : 2011

ISBN:  1402251238

Genre: fantasy  romance, paranormal romance
Violence: strong
Langage: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: bought

Short description from goodread :

 He's had centuries to dream of her...

Mis-adventurous historian Bree Kirkland discovers a one hundred fifty year old warrior buried in a crypt behind her house. But Faelan, the warrior, isn’t dead. When this chauvinistic Scottish Warrior awakes, he has no choice but accept the help of this modern-day woman who’s rescued him, but she’s more fearsome than the demon trying to kill him. If he’s not careful, she’ll uncover every secret his clan has bled and died to protect.

My opinion:

          Wonderful! I loved the mystical power aspect of the book and the interaction with history and romance. The plot is captivating and the characters well constructed. I absolutely loved it.

Faelan is a proud warrior that knew his destiny was to fight one of the old demons to save the world. Wanting to save his family he went to fight alone and found himself sealed instead of  Druan , the demon he was assigned to.

More than 150 years later, when he is freed he discovers a world completely different and he has nothing to him anymore.  Because of that he has to rely on the woman, Bree, who freed him and housed and fed him. For him that something unimaginable because women should be frail, protected, cherished not living alone, fierce and so special.  He is attracted but afraid that’s a scheme from his old enemy. Bree could be a demon or a Halflings so he prefers to keeps what he is secret and he has to respect the rules of his clan too even if he starts regretting them a bit.

For Bree, treasures always have been a passion, so, when she find a old map in a journal of her ancestor she hopes for jewellery, gold anything but not a gorgeous old warrior trying to kill her. However, she can’t left him alone and hurt. Deciding to help him, after discovering he could be a warrior from the ancestral legends her grandmother told her, even with precautions like keeping him unarmed. She is appalled by this man who finds he has to protect her and the next minute tries to kill her or affirms she lied to him. However, in the same time she is attracted to him, feeling she knows him and some voices are telling her the same. Are her dreams or memories right?

The others warriors seem to be gorgeous too and so loyal, when Faelan has doubts they are certain that Bree is loyal and while respecting Faelan as their chief, they try to make him see things under a new light. The old fight is still on and the war near but this time, Faelan will accept help from his clan, descendants of his family, to face it.

The rhythm is good, the intrigue well done and you can be fooled by the identity of the bad guys. Really everything is creating a wonderful story with a touch of paranormal. So if you love romance and action, stubborn hero you will enjoy this book. I want the next book as soon as possible.

Score:  5/5

Challenges:

Book read for the Reading Challenge 2012



This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge



Book read for the 2012 TBR reading Challenge

This book enter in the Tales from the Crypt paranormal challenge

Reading Romances Challenge 2012

Hi!,

           yes another challenge but as you can see it's on the same thema that i choose for this year. Now normally this post should have been posted in the beginning of March but it didn't and disappeared from blogger so that's a bit annoying but i hope everything will be fine in the end.

So this challenge is for romance obviously and there will have a new topic ( or several) each month it's hosted and organised by reading romances.

Here is a copy of the rules so if you want to join the fun, do  it ^^

The Reading Romances Challenge is not about the amount of books you read, but the variety of titles you’ll have read when the challenge is over! Our goal is to read a bit of everything related to romance and open our minds to new genres we wouldn’t usually read.

Challenge Guidelines:

1. The 2012 Reading Romances Challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 – Dec 31, 2012.
2. Anyone can join, you don’t need to have a blog. Feel free to sign-up in the comments – you can post reviews to any book site (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, Librarything, Shelfari etc).
3. I’ll post a list of romance sub-genres and a few cool themes for you to choose on the first day of each month (you can read all of them or just a couple).
4. You can list your books before reading them (by leaving a comment on the post with the topics for that month) or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, don’t feel obligated to read them, changes are welcomed!
5. Sign up in the linky bellow and add the direct link to your post about joining the Reading Romances Challenge. If you don’t have a blog, please link it to the page where you post your reviews (Goodreads, Shelfari, Amazon etc).
6. You don’t have to participate every month, but please try to!
7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

• I will never tell you to read one specific author, but I might suggest a few titles and authors to give you some ideas.
• You can read the same author more than once and the books can be old or new, but they must be read during the course of the challenge.
• Books used in this challenge may be used in other challenges.
• Books can be in any format – paper, audio, ebook.
• Post the button to post on your sidebar, this way others can find their way back to this post and join in the fun!

all the best

Retrouvailles en Ecosse par Caroline Anderson

Bonsoir,

           En cette belle journée ensoleillée, j'ai pensé que je pouvais bien vous offrir un petit voyage en Ecosse^^; grâce au récit de Caroline Anderson.

Bonne lecture

Editeur VF: Harlequin  2011 collection Horizon
Titre original: Mother of the Bride ( edited 2010)
Genre: romance contemporaine
Violence: aucune
Langage: normal
sexe: non
Public: 16ans+

Prix : 4,15euro
Obtenu par achat

Quatrième de couverture de l'éditeur Harlequin:

Daisie n'a jamais pu oublier Bob, l'homme qui a ravi son cœur il y a bien des années de cela. Mais aujourd'hui, alors qu'elle doit le revoir à l'occasion d'un mariage en Ecosse, sur les terres mêmes de leur première rencontre, elle tremble d'émotion. Sera-t-elle capable de cacher à Bob les sentiments intenses, troublants, insensés, qu'elle éprouve toujours pour lui ? Et surtout, son désir le plus cher : que leurs retrouvailles soient aussi pour eux une chance de s'aimer de nouveau ?

Avis:

          Une lecture agréable mais sans plus. Les personnages peuvent être attachants mais en même temps j’ai trouvé que cela manquait soit un peu de réalisme dans la psyché de ceux-ci soit ils sont vraiment trop « bons ». Blessures, rancoeurs qui disparaissent en si peu de temps ? Cela ne me va pas, certes on peut faire la paix mais cela prend plus de temps qu’un jour ou 2 franchement à la place de Daisie je n’aurais même pas adresser la parole à Helen . J’espère que j’aurais été assez bonne pour ne pas monter ma fille contre sa grand-mère  certes mais faire complètement table rase ça non !

Et Bob qui a tout laissé faire ?!? Franchement il aurait pu écrire, aller lui faire une scène mais non il n’a pas cherché à comprendre le moins du monde. Je nai pas aimé cet aspect des choses, ça le rend trop passif et lâche.

Comme quoi les malentendus et manque de communications peuvent être la source de beaux gâchis , 22ans de perdu pour des bêtises, c’est triste.

Score:  3/5

Book read for the Reading Challenge 2012

Challenges:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge

Distracted ( Women of Eaton book1) by Madeline Sloane

Hi!,

          i'm happy to introduce an author that once again, i've discovered thanks to a blog hop and i was lucky to receive the first book of her trilogy called  Women of Eaton book 1: Distracted.

Enjoy!

Author: Madeline Sloane

Publication : 2011

ASIN: B004JN057M

Genre: contemporary romance
Violence: none
Langage: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: ebook received from author in exchange for an honest review
 

Short description from goodread :

 Stephen Spence is just another assignment for Erin Andersen, a D.C. book editor who specializes in motivating authors. Spence has missed one too many deadlines, but Erin doesn’t think its writer’s block. She thinks the media darling is self-absorbed and lazy, spending too much time partying with bimbos on his boat.

Erin travels to his Outer Bank’s home for a writing-intensive workshop, but Spence has other plans. He’s sailing to the Florida Keys for some undeserved R&R. Determined to keep him on task, Erin has no choice but to work as crew aboard his luxury catamaran. Her mission to keep him on track is next to impossible because this sexy guy is easily distracted.

Fun in the sun is fine, but Erin has a job to do and it isn’t getting done at the beach. She whisks Spence away to her family farm in Eaton, Pennsylvania, where she can control the situation. Or can she? To her dismay, Erin learns distraction is contagious and the foolish compromises she makes are costly.

My opinion:

          Great book and quite funny, Erin was the one to keep Stephen on track and she completely succumbs to his life’s style. I spent a good time and even if I know absolutely nothing about boat that wasn’t a problem at all.

Erin is a woman that isn’t sure of what she wants. I think that she is so afraid to be alone that she accepts anything. She still lives and sometimes shares the bed of her ex because it’s facile and sure?! Who is that sure when she left him because he was sleeping around? Also she gives in to quickly for my tastes in Stephen.  I don’t really appreciate how she acts. She isn’t sure of her priority either.

Stephen is a playboy, gentleman sometimes, jerk another ^^ but when he decides to seduce a girl, I’m sure it’s not easy to resist.

However, even if Erin isn’t the type of character that I love; I was immersed in the story and that means something.

The plot was well done and I enjoyed seeing the consequences of their actions and how it takes some months for the story to come to its conclusion. It’s a story that I liked and I’m happy to inform you that the last book is free at the moment in ebook even if you can get the whole trilogy at a small price ( always ebooks) but paperback version are also available.

To recommend to romantic lovers who want a short but good time with happy end.

Score:  3,5/5

If you want this book you can buy it On amazon or on Smashwords

You can find more informations on the serie and Madeline on her Blog

Source: a copy in exchange for a honest review, no compensation was received.

Challenges:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge



ebook read for the 2012 ebook Challenge

Un avenir à inventer par Alison Roberts

Bonsoir à tous,

                        après avoir survécu au carnaval, me voici de retour avec un nouvel avis pour le challenge Romance and Me avec comme thème de ce mois de mars la romance contemporaine. Sans plus attendre voici mon avis sur Un Avenir à inventer de Alison Roberts

Editeur VF: Harlequin  2010 collection Blanche
Titre original:Wishing for a Miracle ( edited 2010)
Genre: romance contemporaine
Violence: moyen ( accidents mortels etc)
Langage: normal
sexe: moyen
Public: +18ans

Prix : 6,15euro
Obtenu par achat

Quatrième de couverture de l'éditeur Harlequin:

Au sein de l’Unité Spéciale d’Urgence, Julia et Alan forment un duo idéal. Mais la relation naissante qu’ils entretiennent en privé est – hélas - loin d’être aussi idyllique. En effet, si Julia connaît dans les bras d’Alan sa première grande passion et rêve de s’engager avec lui, elle sait aussi qu’elle ne pourra jamais lui donner la famille qu’il désire fonder. Comment, dans ces conditions, envisager un avenir pour eux deux ?

Avis:

          Un pur moment de plaisir. Oh l’intensité est forte tant au niveau de la romance que de l’environnement au sein duquel elle se développe. Après tout une équipe d’urgence ça fait fasse à la souffrance, à la douleur et même aux décès mais également au bonheur lorsque la situation se termine positivement et que les victimes sont saines et sauves. Cet aspect là est très bien rendu.

J’ai également apprécié la façon dont la psychologie était bien intégrée, il est encore vrai de nos jours qu’il est plus acceptable pour une femme de refuser d’avoir des enfants ( par choix de carrières, look ou je ne sais quoi) que de ne pas pouvoir en avoir. Si elle ne veut pas, c’est une femme qui mène sa vie très bien, elle le regrettera peut-être plus tard mais soit. Par contre ne pas pouvoir en avoir la rend moins que les autres… je trouve ce raisonnement cruel bien que très répandu encore. Cependant cela explique que ce soit la défense qu’emploie Julia qui préfère paraître froide plutôt que diminuée. Triste mais si bien rendu, il était très difficile de ne pas vouloir la prendre dans les bras pour lui dire que ça irait…

Alan, lui pense vouloir avoir la famille qui lui a toujours manqué mais une famille peut prendre bien des formes et pour accepter cette évidence il faut accepter de faire le deuils de ce qu’on a toujours cru. Lorsqu’on vit une vie dangereuse pour aider les autres, il est logique qu’on veuille au moins préserver son petit refuge a soit et ce n’est pas évident d’accepter de changer.

J’ai aussi beaucoup aimé Anne, si responsable et tellement à l’écoute. La vie n’a pas été facile pour elle non plus et pourtant elle ne s’en plaint pas. J’aimerai être a sa hauteur mais déjà simplement aider ma maman à veiller sur mon frère, aîné, diabétique a laissé des traces. Ce n’est pas que je le lui reproche loin de là  mais enfant  j’ai eu des responsabilités d’adultes et cela fait grandir trop vite. Il n’est pas aisé après ce genre d’évènements de réagir comme le commun des mortels et d’avoir les mêmes préoccupations. On attache plus d’importance à certaines choses que d’autres pourraient penser acquises et  dans le même temps on renonce à d’autres qui peuvent paraître capitales. Je trouve vraiment que le personnage d’Anne et sa psyché sont très bien construits et transmis.

J’ai vraiment adoré et je le recommande sans aucune hésitation

Score:  4,5/5

Challenges:

Book read for the Reading Challenge 2012

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge

Simply Irresistible ( Lucky Harbor 1) by Jill Shalvis

Hello to all,

                     After a too short night ( Carnaval and a "Pub" two streets far away that put techno at 5AM-_- probably non stop until Wednesday) and a birthday disaster ( nothing too serious but still i did nothing in the end) i'm still there. And Yes i'm still positive, the month is only at his half so a lot of good things can still happens. * ZEN power*

Anyway, as long as the music hasn't put me down totally i will read a max. Today, i continue with the contemporary romance challenge and a book that was recommended to me. So here it's " Simply Irresistible" by Jill Shalvis.

Editor : Grand Central Publishing

Title:  Simply Irresistible in the omnibus Christmas in Lucky Harbor

Publication : 2010

ISBN:  044657161X

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Violence: none
Langage: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: bought

Short description from goodread :

 Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover.

In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.

Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.

The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.

My opinion:

          Really good, like always Stella recommendations never disappoint me.  The writing style is clear, fresh and funny. Jill Shalvis makes us smile in front of adversity, looking for the positive in the rest. I spent a really good time with this book and even if I’ve guessed the big secret too easily I was immersed in the story and not bored.

Maddie is heroine quite normal in a way so we can identify ourselves to her easily. Even with her past, faults and all she is caring, giving and stronger that she thinks to be. I’m not sure I would have had her courage to say no and to leave, to start over. I would like to say “of course!” but being honest, it’s not so easy and when we have never lived the situation you can’t know what your reaction will be.
Jax is a good man that chooses to change his life style. He doesn’t expect to fall in love but he falls hard. Cute but understanding, he tries to help Maddie to overcome her fears forgetting he should take care of his own too.

Also the quotes from the late Phoebe are funny and some really can speak to us. We learn about her character via theses that she wrote on small card for her daughters and by their memories of her. None really knew her and in a way while trying to discover themselves they discover who was their mother. They want closure but learn than to move forward you need to make peace with your past. Secrets too heavy, regret, guilt, fear or anger are just obstacles that you must overcome in your own time and in your own way.

The book is written in a way that you feel that Jill Shalvis knew what she wanted for her series from the start . It’s a not stand alone and thanks to the success she could wrote more books, no you know there is more and you want to discover it.

I’m impatient to start book 2 and to find a way to obtain book 3 but I will be patient just to savour it even more. I really recommend this book to the lovers of good romances with a bit of humour and a lot of sensitivity. On a side note, there is an omnibus “Christmas in Lucky Harbor” that’s a compilation of book 1 and 2, interesting for discovering this author at an advantageous price.

Score:  4,5 /5

Challenge:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge