Editorial Review

Joan Sanderson's life is stuck. Her older sister, Allie, is starting a family and her younger sister, Tori, has a budding career. Meanwhile, Joan is living at home with Mom and looking after her aging grandmother. Not exactly a recipe for excitement. That is, until a hunky young doctor moves in next door. Suddenly Joan has a goal--to get a date. But it won't be easy. Pretty Tori flirts relentlessly with him and Joan is sure that she can't compete. But with a little help from God, Allie, and an enormous mutt with bad manners, maybe Joan can find her way out of this rut.Book 1 of the Sister-to-Sister series, Stuck in the Middle combines budding romance, spiritual searching, and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry. ... Read more

Reviews

Virginia Smith lives up to her newly won title of Writer of the Year (Mount Herman Writer's Conference) in Stuck In The Middle
Stuck In The Middle is an aptly named book revolving around Joan Sanderson--whose life has been put on hold while she looks out for her Grandma, who is wedged between sisters that Joan thinks are far more gregarious and personable than she is, and who is stuck in a superficial relationship with God. Stuck, that is, until a handsome, single doctor with an intensely personal relationship with God rents the house next-door and involuntarily drags Joan out of her rut.

As Joan struggles to break free, the reader is blessed with the genuine interactions between sisters, and family as a whole that Smith has woven into the story line so well. The dialogue is strong and realistic, the situations true to life and sometimes quite comical, and Joan, though a dejected character in many ways, is likeable and one you cheer for right from the beginning.

This alone would have made the book an enjoyable read, but Smith along with entertaining the reader reinforces the need for a personal relationship with God. She takes Joan, a Christian who has had a superficial relationship with God into discovering how to connect on a deeper level. Smith also does an excellent job of portraying the fear that Joan's sisters have of the kind of Christian Joan wants to become simply because they don't understand it.

Stuck In The Middle is not different than many other Christian fiction titles in that is has a spiritual message, but often, that message is dealt with in heavy handed and stilted way. Not Stuck In The Middle. This is the sort of book that while you read it you find yourself pleasantly entertained, seriously not wanting to put the book down even when you should be doing other things, and in the end you are surprised when you come away with a strong spiritual message.

Stuck In The Middle has something for everyone--romance, shopping, dating advice, sibling rivalry, family and spiritual relationships, and real life issues like caring for elderly family members all wrapped up in an entertaining package. Pick it up, today. You won't be disappointed.

Characters Sparkle in "Stuck in the Middle"
Viginia Smith does it again in "Stuck in the Middle". Her characters are realistic, artfully crafted, and endearingly flawed (aren't we all?) and will pull you right into the story from page 1. Here's a warning, though -- don't give the book as a gift unless you're prepared for trouble. Now I have several friends calling to complain that they're chomping at the bit to read the next installment in the series. Please bring us book 2 soon!!!

very good
Once I got going (only a few pages in) I read it in one day. I was laughing hysterically at parts, and love a good heart-warming message with God at the center. Sending it onto my sister - the interactions of the sisters were very real - I have 3 of them!

Moving story about one woman's quest to break free
Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith is the story of Joan Sanderson and her boring, going-nowhere life. She's been dumped by her long time boyfriend, Roger the Rat, her older sister is pregnant, and her beautiful younger sister has a terrific job. Joan lives with her mother and grandmother, who is becoming increasingly fragile. When a hunky doctor moves in next door, Joan sees what she's been missing, but little sister Tori also wants him. This book is far more than just chick-lit. Joan feels alienated from everyone around her. Her father left her as a young teen, and she resents her mother for his departure. She can't relate to God, because she doesn't feel like He is reaching out to her, but when she hears a missionary speak at her church, she feels the need to know God personally. Joan is a Christian like so many; she believes in God and has faith; she attends church regularly and does all the right things. But she's not connected to Him and hasn't experienced His wonder, until some chocolate ice cream shows up at just the right moment. Joan realizes that she can't get things right with her mother, sisters, or even the cute doctor, until she makes things right with God, and that means examining things in her past. Joan is believable and sympathetic, her heartache shows on every page as she struggles to do what's right without really knowing what that is. Very often our relationship with God has been influenced by our relationship with our earthly father, and this book is an excellent lesson on how to break free from the bonds of the past and security to find God. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Putting the past to rest has never been this much fun.

Tara Walsh has come a long way from paying her dues in a smoky New Orleans club. Her albums sell millions, her tours sell out and she has a hit DVD. Her name is known around the world. Now she’s back home for a holiday charity concert—and to say a proper goodbye to the past. A past named Duncan Rousse.

Five years ago, Duncan pushed Tara away for one reason: to force her to reach for the stars. She deserves the life she’s earned, even though it left him with a broken heart that’s never healed. Having her back in his arms only makes the pain worse, yet the last thing he can do is beg her to stay.

One wild, passion-filled night in the sexy Cajun’s bed has Tara’s body singing with pleasure. But can they both get what they want this Christmas?

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, second chances, making up for lost time with a sexy Cajun, and Christmas wishes that might really come true.

Reviews

Could of been great, November 22, 2010
I didnt realize this was going to be a short story when i started. Only 5% (if that much) of the book was an actual storyline. The other 95% was extreme Sex... Very detailed. If this book would of a been a full length novel the sex scenes wouldnt of been that bad but when that is all the book is it makes it boring to read.

Nothing to write home about, November 24, 2010
My Christmas Wish was an okay read. I felt myself daydreaming as I was reading it, not in a good way, but because I was bored. I guess it was a good thing that it was a short read.

My Christmas Wish, July 11, 2010
Five years have passed since Tara left home with a broken heart to pursue her career. Burying her broken heart into her singing brought her fame but never another love. Returning home, Tara plans to seduce Duncan one more time, walk away and forget him for good. But one night with the man from her past doesn't work out as planned.

My Christmas Wish is about regrets. What begins as a mission to forget a past love turns to a reliving the memories, and the possibility of making more. My Christmas Wish is a sentimental story hopeless romantics will love. I did.

Raine
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Disappointed, December 19, 2010
I am new at this but felt I had to express my opinion of this book. There was nothing in the "sample" of writing I read that would have prepared me for the main content of this book. It is disgusting with no point or storyline beyond the first page. The rest of the pages serve only to talk about sex in a vulgar manner. This book is not about romance. This review may help sell it for those who enjoy no plot or finish to a book. I wish I could find out how to get it off my reader.

good naughty short story., December 8, 2010
for a short story it was very naughty and if you like those kinds of books(i do) then you will enjoy this book.

Language a little over the top for me., December 1, 2010
I enjoyed this book. I haven't read a romance in a while and it was kinda sweet. Some of the language was a bit more direct than what I am use to, but that's just me. It wasn't a long drawn out story and I like that too. I would read this author again.

This is not a book. This is not even a story..., November 29, 2010
I now understand why this book was free. However, I am not sure I can call it a "book" or even a "story." "My Christmas Wish" is basically a string of poorly written sex scenes. Essentially a bunch of pages filled with words like "hunger" and "moan." Very cheesy. Looking forward to deleting this from my Kindle...

Where's the plot?, November 25, 2010
If you're looking for a steamy romp novel with no substance whatsoever, this one is for you. Unfortunately for me, it was a waste of time and a bad first read for my new Kindle.

What she wants on Christmas, November 19, 2010
Five years ago, Duncan has pushed Tara away from his life in order to allow her to pursue her dream of singing. A successful Tara comes back for two nights only to participate in a holiday charity concert, and to lay the past to rest.
This is a short story with hot sexy scenes. If you have only an hour to devote to reading, this is for you.
These are great characters and my only complaint is that this story could have been developed into a full lenght novel. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The higher the stakes, the harder they fall—in love.

Julia Savage’s weekly poker games are tearing her apart. She’s in love with two of her fellow card players, and much as she’d like to pick and confess her true feelings to one man, she won’t. Not if it means risking the love of the other.

Hunter Miles has wanted Julia for four months, and he’s about to deal a hand she couldn’t see coming. He’s determined to give her a New Year’s Eve celebration she never expected. He’s going to seduce her—in front of his friend and rival for her affections, Jay Baxter. But Jay’s not willing to lay down his cards. He’s going after Julia too, and he’s not above bluffing to get what he wants. Either way, one of them is going to win her over.

Unless they change the rules of the game. If they double up, there’s a chance they can split the pot…

Warning: This book contains two hunky heroes, a heroine worth betting on, sizzling hot three-way action (m/f/m and m/m/f), a whole lot of unexpected fireworks and a New Year’s Eve to remember.

Reviews

copy machine repair stories are more believable, December 16, 2010
Don't get me wrong--I like the steamy stuff, but this was garbage. Don't waste your time, even for free. Plus, it was super short--the last third of the download was nothing but excerpts and adverts for similar stories.

Hot and romantic, December 23, 2010
Even though it was a short story, it was one of few free books that was romantic, intriguing and lusty. I liked what character development the author was able to fit in there which brought me to look at her other books.

Wow- hot and romantic!, January 7, 2010
I've read and enjoyed Ms Dee's work before, and I've always appreciated the fact that while the stories are very hot and spicy, they are first and foremost love stories. People with real emotions and real brains in their heads populate her stories. This book is no exception.

While the trio is red hot together, they are more than simply bodies in the bedroom. Well done, Ms Dee, and I look forward to your next work eagerly.

5 Hearts from TRS!, August 24, 2010
Going All In was a quick and enjoyable story. I was cautious about the story as it was very short but I applaud Ms. Dee on an impressively well written and fully developed story despite the brevity. The characters were realistic, flawed and very inventive. The sex was intense and graphic. The reader should be aware that there are scenes of m�nage in which the male characters do not interact sexually and others where they do. There are issues that the characters have to overcome which were very unique and interesting. I enjoyed that Ms. Dees included a plot twist which allowed the characters to change and adapt in that suppressed amount of time. Nonetheless, the story is quickly paced with an excellent story line and well developed characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and will have to try out another of Ms. Dee's novels. - Shalanda

Deal me in!, February 16, 2010
Wow, Jess Dee strikes again! Hunter and Jay are smoking hot heroes. This short but spicy read has ultra-hot love scenes paired with emotional depth. The interactions between the triad outside of the bedroom were touching and left me wanting more. Hurry up, Ms. Dee. Writer faster, please.

Not worthwhile!, December 24, 2010
While the plot seemed interesting enough, I was highly disappointed after the first 20 pages or so on my kindle. Initially the story wasn't bad. The m/m/f sex scenes were believable at first when the female was the center of attention but when it got to the part when the males began to uhh...interact with each other was a little awkward. I'm not opposed to guy on guy action, but the way it was done just did not appeal to me as a reader.

Just okay for me..., December 21, 2010
This book was okay, but I definitely won't be reading it again.. The sex scenes and hot, but the plot is not...

Some spark with little fire, December 20, 2010
The writing was pedestrian and the story had the emotional depth of a puddle.

If you want sex scenes, read it. Otherwise, pass.

Hot read, February 12, 2010
I love Jess Dee's books!! She never disappoints me.She is a auto buy.She makes the characters beleivable.I fall in love with them every time.I often find myself either cheering or yelling at the characters..lol.I await eagerly for her next book. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Oedipal Complex has never been so sexy…

Alex Carradine can’t believe his father wants to come and visit his ski resort. Could it be that after so many stormy years, “slick Mitch” Carradine wants to offer an olive branch? Maybe the old man is mellowing, settling down with the new lover he’s bringing along.

Then Alex realizes the acid truth. This is no warm family visit. His father’s new conquest is none other than the woman of Alex’s sexual fantasies, meant only to dangle tauntingly in front of his face. At least an unexpected blizzard has frozen his father out of the picture entirely.

Angeline Kastakis was looking forward to taking the next step in her relationship with Mitch. Too late, she realizes she’s been led into a familial battle zone. Now it’s Christmas and she’s marooned in a blizzard with an insolent, gorgeous hunk of man whose blazing blue eyes tell her loud and clear he wants her in his bed. Preferably tied to it with a bow.

There’s no escape in sight. But as Alex stirs her secret longing to be mastered by a man, escape is the last thing on her mind…

Warning: This book contains scenes of sensual submission hot enough to make you sweat in a blizzard.

Reviews

Sweet sexy christmas story

Well done short erotic love story. How would you liked to be trapped in a cozy log cabin during Christmas with the man of your dreams? And it's a free download, well worth getting. ... Read more

Editorial Review

New Year’s resolutions have never looked so good.

New Year’s Eve. The party is rockin’, and Claire is in her usual spot holding up the wall. It’s all right. She’s much happier scribbling in her trusty little notebook than mingling. Especially since those notes turn into the sexy erotic romances she pens in secret. Those two gorgeous gods across the room are perfect hero material and…oh dear, are they headed her way?

Mason and Hunter know she won’t remember them as the scrawny geeks they were in high school. She also doesn’t know they’ve been lusting after her for ten long years, waiting for her to meet a man and have a normal relationship. They’re through waiting. The time has come to make their move—and show her exactly how much they’ve changed.

One night in the middle of a Mason/Hunter manwich, and Claire has enough research material to fill a hundred notebooks. Good thing she’s got OfficeMax on speed dial to order more. Except suddenly her two hunks have this crazy idea that keeping her is selfish. Selfish? She may be mousy, but this mouse is about to roar…

Warning: Threesomes! Light bondage, blindfolds, breakfast made by two hot men who used to be geeks. Parades, cotton candy, more sex, and convincing said men they are WRONG and threesomes are RIGHT.

Reviews

Sexy but flimsy plot
It's entertaining, but not the next great romance novel.

Con: Plot is flimsy (even for a shorter work). The characters aren't believable, changing their minds for absurd reasons.

Pro: The sex is hot. The flow is easy to follow and the characters humorous.

It's worth the price if you're looking for an entertaining threesome.

Bringin' in the New Year, Menage Style
Great hot short tale of a closet erotica writer finding the two men of her dreams. Fun, sexy, touching. Old schoolmates being reunited has never been this hot. Annmarie McKenna satisfies again.

Make Mine Midnight
Claire Crater is at a rocking New Year's Eve party but is she celebrating? No, once again she's sitting against a wall writing in her notebook. Claire is an erotic writer and her characters seriously have a richer love life than Claire ever has. While searching for her next hero, Claire focuses on a man who is gorgeous and seems slightly familiar. No, she would remember if she had ever known anyone who looked like him. Mason Ledbetter along with his best friend, Hunter Morris, went to high school with Claire. They were the typical class nerds and never had the guts to ask her out even though they wanted to. While she still looks the same, they have changed--for the better. Tonight, both Mason and Hunter plan on fulfilling a long-time dream to have Claire between them - not only tonight but forever. After a night of fireworks, reactions make the two decide to give up Claire. Too bad they didn't ask her first because she has other ideas.

What happens when the high school nerds grow up hot and sexy? Make Mine Midnight gives Mason and Hunter their fantasy - a grown up Claire in their bed. Claire is an erotic writer who lives in the worlds she makes up. Mason and Hunter are best friends with one common goal and are ready to achieve it. From the minute Claire re-meets Mason and Hunter at the party, sparks are flying and just get hotter as the night goes on. I was ready to give Claire a high five when she turned the tables on both of her men to show only they matter in any type of relationship. Make Mine Midnight is one erotic and hot meeting between old high school classmates - one that is an instant favorite in my erotic library.

Jo
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Good menage.
I thougth this was wicked hot! The menage was great and the story fit just fine. I really liked the easy style of reading and the erotic was right on. A real good read and good menage. I would defintely recommend it, along with Male/Female/Male and Romantic Hedonism: Two Erotic Novels. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This is Maddy Turner's lucky day. The civilized society girl just bid on sexy rogue Jake Wallace at a charity bachelor auction--and won! But Maddy knows Jake's dirty little secret. And it should keep her from trying out her new boy toy. Too bad she can't stop herself from indulging in raw, quite uncivilized sex all the same....

Jake Wallace is utterly bewitched by Maddy--and utterly bewildered. How can this tantalizing woman melt so rapturously under his ministrations one moment, then turn into a haughty queen the next? He's determined to get to the bottom of Maddy's agenda. One slow, delicious inch at a time...

Reviews

great, November 13, 2009
I'm not a huge romance reader but it was free for the kindle. It suprised me how much I like the story. I am excited to read the next one.

I Loved This Book!, September 25, 2010
I just read this book on my Blackberry Kindle (getting a real Kindle in a few weeks) and this is one of the best romance novels I have ever read. I have been reading this while sitting behind my desk at work. I started this book at 4:15 p.m and finished at 11:02 p.m. I still cannot believe what a suspenseful page turner this was. I loved the attitude of Jake. Madeline was quite the character as well, thinking Jake was a gigolo. I had to remember I was at work to keep from laughing too loud because there were some funny points here. One of my favorite parts was picking Jake's sister up and she asking Madeline if her ex, Oliver, cheated on her with a man because his name sounded gay. I mean, I do not laugh at gay people, but that was too much, I could no longer contain the laughter. It is rare in these romance books to add such color and personality to the characters, but this author mastered that beautifully. I was still shocked that this book was free because I would have gladly paid $6.99 for that. I hope this author does not stop because this book was too good. If I could rate it more I would, but since we stop at 5, that is what this novel will get. Cannot wait to start a new book, as I am searching the Kindle store now, because I have 50 more minutes at work!

Slow Hands., May 30, 2010
To be honest, I didn't think I would enjoy this as much as I did. It's a Blaze novel and I've never read one before. However, this one was hot and sexy! I was really drawn into the story and how the characters interacted with one another. After finishing, I am definitely going to read more by this author--she's very good! I also liked, for erotic romance, Now Shes Gone and 99 Martinis Uncensored: Two Novels of Romantic Erotica.

Surprised..., July 8, 2009
I got this as a Kindle freebie. I usually don't read Silhouette or Harlequins, but thought I'd give the freebies a chance. This one was surprisingly better than I thought it would be (one of the better ones in the bunch). I don't tend to like "misunderstandings" and there was a fair share of cliches in the mix, but the author's writing overcame a lot of it. I ended up liking it enough to consider purchasing another one of her books to find out what happened with the other bachelor. :)

Pasionate, hot and steamy...and a quick read to boot, September 8, 2010
I am not one to read romance novels on a regular basis; however, this book really appealed to me. At times the plot did get convoluted, but as is the nature of romance novels, love is suppose to win out in the end. As for the steaminess of this novel, all I can say is that I may begin reading more romance novels for the passion depicted in this book was deliciously steamy.

This was indeed a good read.

Great Quick Sexy Read, August 29, 2010
I read this at the beach on an anniversary trip with my husband and it was just perfect. Very quick, sexy, funny and written well. The plot moved at a decent pace and the characters are sweet and believable. I simply thought it was great and rated it 5 stars and it was free to boot! Read it if you like books with hot sex!

Excellent Sensual Read-Slow Hands is Hot!, March 6, 2010
Loved this book....can't say enough about it. Downloaded it to my blackberry and took it everywhere with me...couldn't put it down. Has some extremely hot scenes that definitely got my emotions going. Highly recommend!!!

At least it was free..., October 2, 2010
*Warning, this review may contain spoilers* I really try not to be too critical of a free book, but how many stereotypes and worn-out cliches can one story have?

Let's start off with a heroine being a short, very curvaceous brunette who is portrayed to have more intelligence and integrity than those evil, tall, stick-figured blonds making Maddy an ambitious attempt at a "different" character, yet lacking any real depth. I've read far more of this type of heroine than I ever have a leggy blond. Every blond in this book was self-absorbed or otherwise unappealing in some way. It felt almost like reverse prejudice after a while, which is strange considering the author (as pictured) is blond herself. Imagine a book where every short brunette was stereotyped as a boring, plain-Jane or something of the sort, making them unappealing. I doubt that would go over well.

Then toss in a typical "big", impossibly handsome hero who apparently has women throwing themselves at him left and right (but of course has no interest in any of them) who nearly gets a hard-on within two minutes of seeing Maddy in the crowd and wants to do all sorts of sexiness to her because "there's just something about her" and she's not a stick like all the blonds in the room. I'm neither a stick nor am I built like Jessica Rabbit (or Catherine Zeta Jones as the author describes Maddy), but the constant pounding into our heads of how curvaceous Maddy was, even to the extent where Jake says that's how every woman "should be shaped", became very annoying to me.

The story becomes one big, overdone cliche after that point fueled by an annoying plot of miscommunication between less than one-dimensional characters. Perhaps I've read too many romance stories, but I was just left with the feeling that I'd read all of this before. And I'm unfortunately still a bit amazed how the same, tired character types find their way into new stories.

The entire idea that Maddy despises the "fact" that Jake is a gigolo, yet never brings the subject up in spite of all the talk about his big, loving family and her awareness that he lacks typical "international playboy" characteristics is just completely unbelievable. Maddy does ponder that perhaps he's acting a part, but a rich socialite with a brain, such as Maddy is described to be, should have picked up on the fact that he wasn't very cultured. Not saying a man who drives a truck can't be cultured, but I seriously can't imagine an "international gigolo" who services Chicagoan socialites driving a truck. And as perturbed as she was by his "profession" one would think she would have simply asked at one point: "So what does that big, loving family of yours think about what you do for a living?" At the very least Jake would have mentioned some aspect of his real job during one of their conversations. And no, not wanting to gross her out with gory medical talk is not an excuse to never mention anything about your job. He never even mentions coworkers. It's simply not realistic.

The sex was just average in my opinion, but, again, I've read a lot of romance books. For a person who is a new or casual reader of this genre, this book will probably be better for them than it was for me. I found the actual "romance" lacking. As typical of these books, the "love" felt more based on the physical and came rather quickly for my tastes. Sure, three weeks is a more believable time frame for a person to fall in love than three days (as I've seen other romance books depict) but when a person has deep-rooted issues regarding relationships and love, three weeks is still a little quick to want to spend the rest of your life with someone.

Overall, this book is okay for a freebie, and the story gained my interest a little better toward the end. That's why I gave it two stars instead of one. This book is one I would not pay for, but it does the job of killing time on a rainy afternoon. However, if overused stereotypes and trite, annoying miscommunication plot lines bother you, I would recommend skipping over this story.

super steamy but lacks substance, October 13, 2009
I've read several of the books that were offered for free, and was pleasantly surprised by how good they were. However, I was very disappointed with this one. First, I thought the initial introduction to Janice and Penny in the first chapter was excellent and I looked forward to further development of these characters. However, they never showed up again in the book! I will have to give the author credit in the massive vocabulary category because I've never read so many pages of intimate scenes with such a wide variety of words used to describe body parts, without actually stating the body part by its actual name. Her intimate scenes were steamy for certain and well-written. I just wish there had actually been some semblance of a plot in between them. The character development was extremely shallow which was a very big disappointment after the interesting first chapter, or perhaps I should say that the actual characters were incredibly shallow. Whether or not the heroine actually learned anything about true love through her family history and personal experience is debatable because her relationship with Jake was based purely on mutual passion, satisfying her selfish desires and not much else. Maddie was right to doubt whether or not she could have a lasting relationship with Jake, because there was no foundation to base a lasting relationship on. At first I thought that this book was probably written by a man, because what man wouldn't want a hot babe that jumped him every chance she got, but there has to be more than that to make a relationship last. Personally, I prefer reading about women who catch their men through friendship and commitment before hopping in the sack with them.

Great read, September 29, 2010
Loved the story line and loved how they talk about all the characters with no confusion, highly recommend esp for a free read. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Couldn't put it down!!!!
This certainly isn't a traditional sappy love story that Sparks usually writes. Sure it has the love story and it's set in North Carolina, but he puts in an element of danger. I have read all of his books and I love them all, however I am definitely tired of the "I love you" on the first date that practically occurs in all of his novels. The rest of this novel makes up for that quick love. It truly is impossible to put down. I made the mistake of starting it before bed, figuring I would read a few chapters and go to sleep - Well, I stayed up all night and finished it. They way it's written is strategic and effective in keeping the reader wanting more (which is why I had to finish it in one night). Sparks has said that this is the next movie adaptation and I'm sure it will work well. There is something for everyone: love story, family life, internal conflicts, danger, and a twist at the end. Well worth the money (the physical book is more $ than the Kindle version - so I don't know what everyone is complaining about; he's a best-seller, it came out yesterday - of course it's not going to be $5!) Overall, I loved it and I don't regret my purchase at all. I'm just sad I finished it already! Can't wait for the next one!

Awesome Ending, Perfect Title
I loved this book, really, I couldn't put it down. The characters were so real and the discriptive writing is so vivid I could feel the heat discribed in the scenes. As a survivor myself of domestic violence both mental and physical it took me back to a time I could not escape. Thankfully my life has changed now but I know others are still in this type of life. Thank you for writing such a beautful story of love, survival, and hope. I don't want to give the ending away...but I loved the ending part, worth the read...don't skip to the end of the book.. ... Read more

Editorial Review

An offer he couldn't refuse... One week of mind-blowing sex on a beautiful Caribbean island. Of all the business proposals financial tycoon Dominic Saxon has heard, Taylor Steele's is definitely the most tempting. All Taylor wants in return is for Dominic to father her baby. No strings, no commitments…just a mutually satisfying arrangement. Make that very satisfying. For a man with no intention of marrying again, it sounds ideal.

Taylor wants a baby, not a relationship. And sexy, intelligent Dominic seems like a man with perfect genes. Turns out, Dominic has perfect everything. Their “procreation vacation” is a whirlwind of sensual ecstasy. But when it's over, will either of them be able to say goodbye?

Reviews

An astoundingly bad book
Even as a freebie the book's too expensive. Those are hours you'll never get back people.

The plotting is stupid, the writing is excruciating, the dialogue ridiculous. There wasn't a single good part to the book, well, except maybe the part when I realized that I didn't have to finish it about half way thru. There was no gun at my head. I could just put it down and remove it from my Kindle. That part? That part was awesome.

HOT!!!
Downloaded the free version for the kindle,Tylor wanted a baby, but not a husband. Dominic wanted a baby but not a wife. When Taylor suggested to Dominic that they have a baby that they would share. They go to on a romantic week to a island and have none stop sex. This book has a lot of sex scene's in the living room, bathroom, bedroom and on a boat. they just could not keep away from each other.
... Read more

Editorial Review

What would make your Christmas perfect? For Cassie Beaumont, it's meetingher perfect match. Cassie, at thirty-three, wants a husband and kids, and sofar, nothing's worked. Not blind dates, not the Internet and certainly notleaving love to chance.

What's left? A professional matchmaker. He's Simon Dodson, and he's verychoosy about the clients he takes on. Cassie finds Simon a difficult, acerbicknow-it-all, and she's astonished when he accepts her as a client.

Claiming he has her perfect mate in mind, Simon assigns her three tasks tocomplete before she meets him. Three tasks that are all about Christmas: being acharity bell ringer, dressing up as Santa's elf at a children's party andpreparing a traditional turkey dinner for her neighbors (whom she happens todislike). Despite a number of comical mishaps, Cassie does it all and she'sfinally ready to meet her match. But just like the perfect Christmas gift, heturns out to be a wonderful surprise!

Reviews

A Very Charming Christmas Treat!!!!
The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber

This season's offering from the Queen of Christmas cheer hands up a knockout punch, not just in story, but with the absolutely wonderful front and back cover. A cover, especially with a Christmas novel, is what captivates me into reading a book, and then the author has to really sell her story to capture me totally and this one did in spades.

Cassie Beaumont, a very successful chemist, is looking for a husband for Christmas, but he needs to be perfect. Her best friend Angie, who suggests she go see this matchmaker, Simon Dodson, who is demanding, stodgy, know-it-all, who says he has the perfect match for her. He gives her three tasks to do during the Christmas season, the first giving her the assignment of being a Bell Ringer at a mall. What she learns there surprises her. Her second task is to be an elf helping Santa at another mall and the comedic results prove to be startling, if not embarrasing. Her third and final task are to fix the perfect Christmas dinner with all the trimmings singlehandedly. She has to invite her neighbors, who she dislikes and the end results surprise her. If you're looking for The perfect Christmas novel to cozy up in a chair with, this is it!!!!

Forever Friends Rating 5 Stars by Teri
Until Next Time, See You Around The Book Nook.


Mira Books
Pub. Date: September 2009
240pp
Available in eBook$9.99

More Formats Online Price
Hardcover - Large Print - Large Print $34.95
Other Format $54.99
Compact Disc - Unabridged, 4 CDs $21.59
MP3 on CD - Unabridged $19.99





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Editorial Review

Lieutenant Magdalena Cruz had comehome…And though all she wanted was to be alone, infuriatingly handsome Dr. Jake Dalton—of the enemy Daltons—wouldn't cooperate. And she needed him to, because the walls around her heart were dangerously close to crumbling every time he came near.…

Jake had spent most of his life trying to get closer to Maggie, with little to show for it. But she was the woman he'd always wanted, and no injury in the world could change that. Now if only he could convince her that the woman who stood before him was beautiful,desirable, whole…and meant to be his.…

Reviews

Outstanding Book.
I have nothing but great things to say about this book. The storyline is outstanding and very inspirational. Once you read this book you ll view love in a more meaningful light. I ll recommend this work to any and every that wants to better understand life s positives.

Loved it!
I enjoyed this book. It dealt with the serious issues facing injured vets and provided a sweet love story. I liked both the hero and in this case "female-hero". I'm interested in reading more books by this author. Thanks Harliquin for a great free book-happy 60th anniversary!

Don't let the corny title fool you.
Since the title of this book is pretty corny I didn't expect much. However, this story turned out to be special - I'm not sure exactly what it is - maybe the protagonists and their intriguing backgrounds, the way the author develops them and their romantic relationship. . . Their relationship is expertly intwined with the main conflict: she's a recent amputee, he's a doctor, and the background story from their childhood really gives life to the story. The coming to terms with the bad blood between their families is an impetus to... actually i won't spoil it for you.

While I've done a lot of reading, I haven't come across a story that has intrigued me so deeply in a long time. The characters are easy to identify with, and I really feel that this element makes the book extremely special. I've never written about a book before, but I felt compelled to write this review because I loved this book so much.

I loved it
This was my first Kindle download & I am hooked! This is a wonderful story of strength, love, honor & romance.

I'm still thinking about it months later....
Dancing in the Moonight was a Kindle Freebie I downloaded "just because". Unexpectedly, I enjoyed the book very much. I still find myself thinking about the story months after reading it. It's a very romantic story that addresses a situation that unfortunately too many people have to deal with. I felt the author was very respectful of the nature of such a life changing injury.

Loved IT
Im a person who dont normally read romance but this book was a great read. It was absolutly heart breaking ... Read more

Editorial Review

In the Colorado mountain town of Glenwood Springs, not far from Aspen, artist/photographer Gwyn Sanders discovers a cryptic letter her sister Kelly left behind.The victim of a deadly hit and run, Kelly reveals she was sexually involved with her sister’s boyfriend and is scared for her life. Both Gwyn and her remaining sister Linda have since married their boyfriends, so either of their husbands could be guilty of murder. The sisters received a large inheritance before meeting these men, and know little of either man’s background. Worse, both Gwyn and Linda love their husbands deeply, but steps must be taken to find the truth. And the truth is complicated. Is it one of the two men, or another previous lover? Or none of them? Danger abounds and everyone is a suspect as Gwyn tries with the help of a gifted private detective to track a killer....

Her Last Letter is approximately 96,000 words long. ... Read more

Reviews

Compelling and Suspenseful
Highly recommended. Well-written and suspenseful. Johnson succeeds in balancing plot and characters, no easy feat. This story is full of people so real you feel as if you could call them on the phone and chat with them. At the same time, she seamlessly develops a very suspenseful tale for them, enmeshing them in intrigue and sometimes danger. You really feel for the main character, Gwyn, who is grieving for a dead sister. When a clue to her sister's murder pops up, Gwyn embarks upon a search for the truth that calls much of her own life into question. Can her friends be trusted? Her surviving sister? Her own husband? Did he marry her for her inheritance? There are plenty of viable suspects, and it was entertaining to follow Gwyn as she pursued -- and tried to survive -- her quest. I also enjoyed the vivid details that enrich the story, from Gwyn's art to the exciting skiing scenes. I'm looking forward to reading more of Johnson's novels.

A Cool Mystery
I read Her Last Letter during the scorching heat of summer, so the wintery setting of the book really cooled me off. The fact that the protagonist had reason to suspect all those around her of murder made for a tense plot, and the fact that she kept deciding to remain under the same roof with one suspect made me a nervous wreck! I really enjoyed this book.

A great mystery.
I knew I was going to like the book before I even started reading it. I'm always a sucker for a good mystery. Nancy gets you interested right from the beginning, and once I got started, I couldn't put it down. The sign of a good book is one that sticks with you long after you've finished reading it. This is one of those books. Oh, and did I mention I LOVE the cover. ... Read more

Editorial Review

After Hudson Savage betrayed her, Dana Cardwell hoped never to lay eyes on the seductive cowboy again.Until a bunch of old bones showed up on her family ranch. Suddenly her former lover was back in her life in a big way—to investigate a decades-old crime.

Reviews

LOVE THAT COVER! [grin] love to meet him.
Ah, Murder in Montana!
Dana Cardwell had caught Hud Savage in her sister's bed - no explanations necessary. She broke their engagement. He left town. Guilty as sin??

Well what do you know? Warren Fitzpatrick gets Dana up early and takes her to the old homestead on the ranch. The old well had never been filled in - yup! there were bones at the bottom.

They called for the Marshal of the area. Turns out that Hudson Savage is now in charge. Dana wants to avoid him at all costs. She can never forgive him. Yet now there is a murder to be solved. And like it or not her family might be involved. Hud even suspects his own father.

Lanny Rankin, a lawyer, is angry that Hud has returned as he had hopes of marrying Dana.

There is Jordan, Clay and Stacy Cardwell, siblings of Dana's, that want her to sell the ranch. Was it possible that they were involved in some way? Stacy seems to know something, but what?

Rupert Milligan make a disturbing discovery, the same gun was used in the robbery and murder of Judge Raymond Randolph. About the same time that Hud had left the area.
The Judge hated Brick Savage, the former Marshal. Was Brick involved?

Excellent plot, excellent twists and great characters.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -m - I would keep it for the cover alone. Those eyes!

wonderful story
This is my first book by B. J. and will not be the last, I am looking forward to reading more of her books. It was a fast pace book, and you could never really tell who did the crimes till the end, she had you thinking it was one person or another.
Dana and Hud were a great couple, would love to see them show up in another book together.

More than an Intrigue
Daniels has more than an intriguing suspense story; she has put together an explosive tale of love, trust and the twisted ties among an embattled family." Pat Cooper, Romantic Times Magazine starred review (4 1/2 stars)

Great book to get me started reading again...
I've never liked to read. In fact, the only books I've absolutely gotten caught up in was the Harry Potter books. I haven't bought a book since, though. My friend at work owns a kindle and has over 500 books, and when I saw the kindle app for my iPod, I decided to get it and start reading again. This is the first book I got, and I absolutely loved it. I read it within two days, which is highly unusual for me since I never liked reading. It's a great story and I could read it over and over again. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Dreams are realized in the eagerly-awaited fourth novel in Nora Roberts's Bride Quartet.

As the public face of Vows wedding planning company, Parker Brown has an uncanny knack for fulfilling every bride's vision. She just can't see where her own life is headed. Mechanic Malcomb Kavanaugh loves figuring out how things work, and Parker is no exception. Both know that moving from minor flirtation to major hook-up is a serious step. Parker's business risks have always paid off, but now she'll have to take the chance of a lifetime with her heart... ... Read more

Reviews

HEA for the Bridal Quartet
What a lovely ending to the Bridal Quartet Series! Calm, cool collected Parker Brown finally falls in love and it drives her crazy....in a good way.

In this book we find out more about how Vows started and how Parker dealt with and continues to deals with the loss of parents. Again, as in Savor the Moment, we learn more about Mrs. G and her history with the Browns. We get to know Mal and his Ma; she is a riot and we learn more about all of the guys; especially Big Brother Del.

We see how much Parker loves her work, and how she also feels lonely, but knows that she is not alone because of the family she has with Mrs. G, Mac, Carter, Emma, Jack, Laurel and Del. We learn how Mal went from stunt man to mechanic, and what drove him to go to Hollywood. He too is lonely, but doesn't realize it, until things get really started with Parker. He is the perfect man for Miss Brown because he is a challenge, nothing like the men she has previously dated and Parker is the perfect woman for Mal for the same reason.

While reading this book, you experience sadness, tears, laughter with friends (girls & guys), heart ache, and confusion, the love of good friends and family as well as romantic love. Mal and Parker are great together!! They give you a new appreciation of a utility closet and a pair of new shoes :)

As much as I loved this book, I am sad to see this series end.
... Read more

Editorial Review

Events manager Sylvie Smith is organizing a glittering fund-raising event: a wedding show in a stately home. She has even been roped into pretending to be a bride...a bride who's five months pregnant!The bride everyone is talking about! It should be every girl's dream to design a wedding with no expense spared, but it's not Sylvie's. Longbourne Court was her ancestral home, and she's just discovered that the new owner is Tom McFarlane—her baby's secret father. Now Tom's standing in front of her, looking at her bump....

Reviews

5+ Stars: A romance that sparkles right off the pages into the heart!, April 7, 2008
Liz Fielding's THE BRIDE'S BABY is a short romance that moves the heart with smiles, laughter, tenderness and emotion. Events manager Sylvie Smith's friend Candy left her friend with one huge mess! First she roped Sylvie into doing the planning for her wedding to the rich, powerful and handsome Tom McFarlane and then she walks out on the groom, the same groom who is now going over each event detail cost, line by line, with eyes glaring. Glares turn into sparks, an electric chemistry that neither Sylvie nor Tom can resist.

Now months later, Celebrity magazine comes to her with a proposition to profile her company, as company that has planned some of the most talked about weddings. Design the wedding of dreams and let readers catch a glimpse of what she herself would choose. With a chance to promote all the local Wedding Fayre exhibitors with the benefits going to charity, Sylvie has others counting on her. Just when Sylvie thought she had put the past behind her, her worst nightmare comes true! Standing in her ancestral home, in walks the new owner --- Tom McFarlane to overlook the events.... no way will he not notice that Sylvie is pregnant! Sylvie might be able to design a perfect wedding for Celebrity magazine but what is a wedding without a groom? Can true love and serendipity provide what the best wedding planning cannot? Can broken hearts find love beyond even their wildest dreams?

THE BRIDE'S BABY hooks the reader in from the first paragraph and never lets go. Liz Fielding's characterization and dynamic descriptions place the reader right there, next to Sylvie as she goes down the failed wedding receipt check list. Sylvie is a spunky, intelligent heroine with a heart of gold. The hero Tom is a powerful successful businessman, an Alpha male with a delightful wounded soul mix. From the beginning, the reader has empathy for him. This man knows how to really move a woman, body, heart and soul.

THE BRIDE'S BABY writing sparkles with emotion and romance. Liz Fielding writes descriptions with beauty and precision. The reader easily visualizes the scenes and the emotions through the imagery itself. The decisive action of an article of clothing or a certain color reappearing make the story vibrant and alive. Liz Fielding writes memorable moments and action scenes packed with the perfect mix of concrete description and imagery that stay in the memory long after the reader places the book on a bookshelf.

The plot of THE BRIDE'S BABY moves smoothly from energetic romantic conflict to moments of powerful chemistry between the hero and heroine, from conflict to heartwarming tenderness, with several wonderful surprises along the way. Heart-warming scenes in this romance reach out beyond the hero and heroine's story to the reader's heart. THE BRIDE'S BABY is a romance that a reader will want to share with friend's and family. THE BRIDE'S BABY is a wonderful short romance that awakens both the tender heart of the young girl and the deep emotions of the woman in a reader. A keeper!

Disappointing read!, July 22, 2009
The book blurb made me think this was a Secret Baby story... Well, it was but, at the same time, it really wasn't considering the fact that the baby wasn't a secret. Confusing? Yes, that's the feeling I had throughout most of the book.

Tom and Sylvie had a brief meeting when she was introduced as the wedding planner for his upcoming nuptials to her friend Candy. An unexpected attraction sparked on both sides but, considering that he was about to get married, Tom and Sylvie shoved that feeling aside and never let anyone - including themselves - realize it. But after 6 months of heavy planning and preparation, Candy ditched everything to elope with one of Sylvie's employees 3 days before the wedding. Naturally, Tom felt it was his due to unload all his "annoyance" on Sylvie - after all, she had plagued his dreams since he had met her - and, before they knew it, their mutual suppressed attraction took over and they were having unprotected sex on his bed... Since this is Romancelandia, the "worst" thing you can get from unprotected sex is a pregnancy, so that's what Sylvie got. Unfortunately, Tom was no longer in the picture when Sylvie found herself pregnant, since he had left the country the day after their one-night stand. Unable to reach him by telephone, she had no choice but to deliver him the news by letter. Obviously, he never got to receive that letter and so this Failure to Communicate story took off...

This was one of those stories that wouldn't make past the 1st chapters if the hero and the heroine sat together and spoke CLEARLY with each other. Regardless, Tom and Sylvie were very likable characters, and that kind of "saved" the book for me and prevented me from throwing it against the wall - figuratively speaking, since this was an e-book. I rooted for their HEA and was glad when the darn Big Misunderstanding was finally resolved.

As for the writing, Ms. Fielding had the distracting habit of inserting the word "then" between the lines of the characters' speech. For example:

"Is that a fact?" Then, "So? Where are they?"

"I'd come and give you a hand but I have to take delivery of a cake." Then, "Do you need a hand up?"

I have to ask, what was the purpose of the word "then" in there? To gave us pause? To help her reach the necessary word count to meet the publisher's requirements? I know I'm nitpicking but that word was used over and over again in the story, and it was annoying.

All in all, I'm glad this was a freebie because I would have been "mad" if I had paid anything for this book.

wonderfully endearing tale!, May 1, 2008
After his fianc� ran off with the events assistant, billionaire Tom McFarlane is saddled with the expenses incurred planning for the wedding. Rather than simply pay the bill and get it out of the way, he insists on going over every charge on the bill with the events manager - and even insists on receiving as many of the things he's paid for as possible.

Events manager Sylvie Smith can't understand why Tom feels the need to go over every single expense his fianc� authorized. She hasn't had the best of luck with love either but certainly never would have dragged out every pain-filled moment of being dumped.

Sylvie does as Tom requests and gathers the `expensive but completely useless junk' and brings it all to his place. While they're both attracted to each other, neither of them anticipated the sheer passion that broils over and leads to an encounter they won't soon forget. That night results in a pregnancy and while Tom and Sylvie aren't a couple - and she hasn't even seen him since that night, Sylvie writes Tom a note to inform him of the pregnancy and let him know that she didn't expect anything from him.

Tom's been out of the country so he's unaware of everything that's occurred in the past several months. He certainly didn't expect to return to news that Sylvie's pregnant and according to the tabloids expected to marry her ex Jeremy Hillyer. The huge shocker though is learning that she's planning a wedding at her ancestral home, which technically belongs to him. Is he too late to win the woman he's been unable to erase from the forefront of his mind?

THE BRIDE'S BABY is Liz Fielding's fiftieth book and it's a fun witty book full of misunderstandings and heart wrenching situations. Tom and Sylvie complement each other beautifully. She's willing to accept whatever life throws at her. Tom's extremely business oriented and he's more inconvenienced then hurt by his fiance's change of heart. I was so caught up in their myriad of misunderstandings and emotional turmoil that I wasn't able to put this book down and stayed up way too late reading - and don't regret a single moment of the lost shut eye.

THE BRIDE'S BABY is the first book in the A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS series. The other books are as follows:
SAYING YES TO THE MILLIONAIRE by Fiona Harper (June 2008)
THE MILLIONAIRE'S PROPOSAL by Trish Wylie (September 2008)
MARRY-ME CHRISTMAS by Shirley Jump (December 2008)

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

Cute, Quick read, August 31, 2009
I read this in one day. It was a cute story. I'm glad it was free though since it went so quickly. I was a little annoyed with communication between the two main characters. No one I know has this much trouble getting to the point. How they can spend 50 pages avoiding direct conversations about the elephant in the room is beyond me.

I just wish it was longer!, March 13, 2010
I loved this book. As a reader you feel the frustration upon knowing who the father is and what the father actually knows. It was a cute story that was a delight to read. Thank you for this freebie! Read it! It's cute and you walk away feeling good for everyone in the book.

Great book....Ending leaves you wondering..., January 9, 2010
This was a really good read. The ending does leave you wanting to know more of what happened....Not desirable. I want the ending of a book to have a finality to it unless it has a sequal...Other than that the book is great.

Excellent!, August 10, 2009
I love Harlequins that make you want another book just to tell you more about what happened with their lives down the road. This one delivered. The moment he found her note. You could just feel it. Excellent read!

Very nice read, April 3, 2009
I was new to my kindle ...so, this is one of the freebies I came across and decided to give it a read, found myself delightfully engrossed in this cute book. It's definitely a good book. I would be a pleasure to read more books by this author in the future.

glad its free, September 24, 2010
If you just want to past time. I guess you will want to read. It started out interested but ended up lame. Could not get past chapter 4.

Dreadfully disappointed, August 14, 2010
When I saw all of the five-star ratings, I thought that I was in for a light morning read. What I found was a tale written in sentence fragments galore. The characters were difficult to believe in, and each of their pasts was not done full justice by limited mention and explanation. As another reviewer said, everything could have been straightened out in one frank conversation. While I liked the idea of the story, I couldn't get into the novel itself and found myself skimming to get to the point.

The only reason that I'm giving this two stars instead of one is because the runaway bride was named after a yeast infection. That kept me chuckling for a good while. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Brodie Hayes is a former rodeo star, now a rancher—a cowboy, through and through. But when he finds out some shocking news about the circumstances of his birth, he begins to question his identity. Luckily, private investigator Alexandra Donovan is there to help him find the truth about who he is. Along the way, he discovers that even a man who thought he'd be alone for the rest of his life can fall in love.For Brodie, love was something you did once—and for always. But is Alex the type of woman who can take on a stubborn man like him? Because there's one thing about him that will never change, no matter what they find out about his past—once a cowboy, always a cowboy.

Reviews

3.5 Stars - loved the characters, February 11, 2007
ONCE A COWBOY by Linda Warren
February 11, 2007

Rating 3.5 Stars

ONCE A COWBOY is an engaging story of a man who finds out that he's not who he thinks he is. Alexandra Donovan works with her father as a private investigator, but on occasion, she picks up missing persons cases such as this one. A woman, Helen Braxton, approaches her, asking to help verify the identity of a cowboy she thinks is her missing son, Travis. The resemblance of this man to her husband is uncanny. Alexandra knows that these cases usually do not pan out, and the odds of Brodie Hayes being the woman's missing child was near zero. Despite the odds, Alex agrees to take on the case.

Alex decides that she needs to find a way to get a sample of his DNA without him knowing she's investigating him, not wanting to upset him in case he is not Helen's son. She manages to get into his house by pretending to need to use his phone while wandering lost in his neighborhood, and voila - she is able to find a comb with a few of his hairs in his bathroom. When the test results come back positive, that Brodie is indeed the son of George and Helen Braxton, Alex is afraid of the reaction she will get from Brodie, especially when he discovers that she's violated his privacy by stealing his comb to do the DNA testing. She is also worried about tearing apart a family despite the fact that Brodie is really someone else's son.

ONCE A COWBOY deals with Brodie and his need to find himself and his true identity. He also has to deal with a mother, who is not in the best of health, who had lied to him and his now deceased father about the fact that she had taken a baby from another woman. He grapples with this moral dilemma, because despite the fact that all his life he felt he didn't quite fit in with the family, always trying to please them but failing because he had his own life to lead, he still loved the woman that raised him.

Alex has her own issues to deal with. She has never gotten along with her father, who raised her by himself. She never knew what it was like to have a mother, and wishes she and her father were close. At the very least, she would have liked to be able to get along with him. And while her father disapproves of Alex's methods when it comes to her missing persons cases (she gets too emotionally involved), she goes against his advice once again and falls for Brodie.

This reviewer enjoyed the story about a stolen baby who was raised by parents who were not biologically related to him, and the repercussions it held for all involved once the secret was out. However, the chemistry that supposedly was felt between the two main characters didn't seem to exist for this reviewer. However, the characters by themselves were interesting and intriguing enough for the reader to want to finish the book. The story line was in a way complex, in that it dealt with both sets of families that were affected, and it made for one interesting book. However, the romance between Alex and Brodie didn't quite ring true, and it seemed that these two really had no business getting together, nor did it make sense that Brodie would even want to be with a woman who gave him such bad news. ONCE A COWBOY had a great story line about a man's identity, but the romance was not as credible as this reviewer would have liked it to be. - Courtesy of Love romances and More - M. Lofton

Good plot, but predictable and, April 18, 2009
simple. It's a quick read with enjoyable characters...love Naddy, she rocks! I liked the ending, but I knew how it would end from the first chapter. Not bad for a free book. If you're looking for some easy fluff, this is it. This is one of those books you read after you've just read something really heavy and thought provoking, which this book isn't.

Cute love story, April 2, 2010
This was a pretty good read, especially since it was free. I live in the Dallas area so it was nice knowing where the towns were in the story. I stopped reading romance books about 5 yrs. ago but since this one was at a very good price (free) I decided I needed a break from my usual serial killer/murder mystery books .
Of course you know they are going to fall in love and live happily ever after, but they do have some emotional obstacles to over come before that happens.

Surprisingly good!, June 19, 2010
As a guy who reads primarily Stephen King,this is not the kind of book I would normally pick up. But thanks to the vast amount of material for the Kindle I'm reading tons of various stuff between King's books.

Which is how I ended up reading this little gem one afternoon. 'Once A Cowboy' is a fast, easy read. The story never dragged but more importantly the characters were likeable from the get go. I really enjoyed Ms Warren's writing style.

I'm unsure what was going on with the people who complained that some situations in the book were unbelieveable. Really? Did they miss the fact that they were reading fiction?

If you're reading for enjoyment this fits the bill.

Lovely love story, June 11, 2010
I am usually not so much interested in books about cowboys, but this one was so interesting and an amazing love story. Loved it!

A surprisingly feel-good story!, March 12, 2010
I haven't read a Harlequin book in years and years. Linda Warren's Once a Cowboy was a great story and really surpassed all of my expectations (which to be honest were pretty low). This story isn't just about a cowboy (despite the title), or about family/personal identity, or about the love between a cowboy and a city girl - the story is about all of it. For such a short story, it's really thorough and keeps the reader interested. The ending was definitely a surprise, but a completely appropriate plot twist. Reading the descriptions of Warren's other books, I'm guessing this was one of her better-written stories (despite the sometimes robotic dialogue). I'm interested in reading Tripp and Colter's stories, but sadly those aren't available as Kindle editions... too bad. And I agree with all the other reviewers about Naddy - by far, she was the funniest character I've read in a long time!

Once A Cowboy, October 17, 2009
This was predictable but still enjoyable. I wouldn't mind reading about the "Cowboys" but I doubt I would purchase the sequels.

Good, Quick Read, August 19, 2009
For a free download, this was a good short story. I would probably not pay for this author as the writing was less refined that I like, but the story was okay.

A romance novel., May 27, 2009
This book is on the order of a Harlequin romance. When you have read one, you have read them all. It is a good story to read when you don't have to use your brain. Sometimes you just don't want to think.

There Needs To Be A Sequel: Nattie Is Awesome, July 27, 2010
Typical romance novel. Pretty, thin girl meets gorgeous, successful guy. Went fast. Typical characters. Exactly what I expected.

However. The main characters Grandma needs her own book series; ADVENTURES WITH NETTIE because Nettie was awesome. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Zach knows Joanna is too young for him, but he has never felt like this about anybody before. She’s so sweet and passionate and flirty and free, and the most beautiful girl Zach has ever known.

Joanna is swept away by her feelings for Zach as they grow increasingly passionate with each other. She’s doing things she’d never normally do, but it’s like God has whispered in her heart Zach is the one for her.

The powerful forces of young love, sex and religion come crashing together in this romantic, sexually charged story.

... Read more

Reviews

Christian porn for teens?
Make that ZERO stars.
A bizarre, unrealistic story of two teenagers, Zach and Joanna, who over the course of her 2 week family vacation from Colorado, manage to fall madly in lust/love. Intertwined throughout all of their self-inflicted sexual temptations is their desperate struggle to please "god". But at last we see their "patience" pay off as they promise Joanna's father to wait until Joanna is 17 to fulfill their commitment to "god" and go all the way. It's the least they could do after "he" came through with the prayed-for-a-few-times scholarship to the prestigious art school a mere 5 blocks from Joanna's house. Now THAT'S a miracle! I'm sure they'll be happily married forever and ever.....(yes, that was sarcasm.)

I hated this book.

unfair reviews?
Before this book was free it received nearly all positive reviews. Obviously it has gained a lot more exposure since then, but the title and cover picture must have given a lot of people the wrong impression of what kind of book this is, and a lot of people must have downloaded it expecting an adult romance or erotica and not noticed it's in the teen/YA category. Most of the positive reviews come from teens who loved the book, while all the negative reviews are from adult women. Many of them speak of it as being juvenile and unrealistic, but the book has a romantic-teen-fantasy feel to it, especially the ending, and most adult romance novels are not realistic either (they're just aimed at a women's fantasies rather than a teens). The ending would be very romantic to a younger teenager, but to adults who have a more jaded outlook it might not be so romantic, and might even be offensive.

There are quite a few religious conversations in this book, and I can understand some people being offended by that and not wanting religion mixed into their entertainment. But I think the religious views in this book are unique and add something to the story. It is not a standard religious message or indoctrination, and it takes an honest hard look at the church through the eyes of its main character. The teenage years are a time of questioning and figuring out what the truth is and what you believe and what is important. This is a real part of "coming of age", but not something you find very often in teen novels. Perhaps its realism is too much for some people. I can also understand some people not liking the realism and sensuality between a nearly 16 year old and an 18 year old. There is a lot in this story that could offend people.

I think most of the harsh reviews are from people who were personally offended by this book. Many of the reviews give away the ending and deliberately misrepresent the story. They don't just give their opinion, they express it as if it is the opinion everyone should share. I think people should try reading it for themselves and form their own opinions, especially since it is free to read.

an amazing love story
I do not understand how come this book get so many harsh review... I think it was captivating. Great love story of 2 teens struggling to stay pure and holy for God.

Today's view is so deformed so a story like that may seem unrealistic but it is very real or at least should be.

Great read!

...
Some people that reviewed this novel didn't like it. It's directed at YA, but a mature YA. I'm 15 and I really liked it, keeping in mind that it is fiction.

good read
I think this story was great and it shows pressure teens may face but turned back to GOD

Amazing debut novel!
This is one hot young adult story, but it is also very realistic (for a Christian teen) and well-written. The author includes God and faith in the mix, thus complicating things further when feelings get strong and the pull of young love becomes blinding. I really hurt for this guy. Seriously. I felt his pain as well as hers while they struggled with their budding relationship. I could not stop reading this book. It's the kind of story where you want to crawl inside and talk to the characters to make sure they don't do something they'll regret because they keep putting themselves in tempting situations. I totally remember being the same age as the characters in this book. I identified with the faulty thinking that came with their burgeoning hormones. This author has talent! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Death cocktail is what the vampires call a witch's blood. It's poisonous a drop will destroy a vampire within minutes. Nikolaus Drake is the rare vampire who has survived his first taste. Now he's on the hunt for the witch who almost brought him to his demise Ravin Crosse.

A witch who spends her nights hunting vampire tribes, Ravin has three obligations to fulfill to set her soul free. One of those obligations crafting a love spell twists her world upside down when Nikolaus draws the spell from her veins. Natural enemies rarely make the best bedfellows--but is it possible their intentions are really, truly the same? Can Nikolaus's tribal loyalty survive if he surrenders to desires far darker than his own?

Reviews

Congratulations, this is the worst book I've read so far this year, April 6, 2009
Plot Summary: Nikolaus Drake, the leader of a small tribe of vampires, is splattered by poisonous witch blood and barely survives. Since his heart nearly turned to ash and was regenerated, he is now considered a phoenix vampire, a walking miracle amongst his kind. He goes to the witch's house to drain her dry in revenge, when a love potion accidentally bewitches Nikolaus into thinking he's in love with his mortal enemy, Raven Crosse. Apparently Raven needed to get laid more than she needed to finish the job, and killing Nikolaus took a back burner to getting in a few orgasms first.

So ends my streak of great paranormal reads. I can only blame myself in this case. I was greedy and I downloaded this freebie e-book hoping to strike gold, and instead I got a worthless hunk of pyrite. Sometimes it is better to have no book to read, rather than suffer through a story this awkward. The writing had a strange stilted quality, almost as if I was reading a bad translation from a foreign language. As bad as I found the descriptive passages, the dialog was even worse. Nikolaus started the story as cro-magnum man, and later upgraded to a crass, clueless teenage boy.

The premise wasn't bad, as far as paranormal romances go. I rather liked the idea that witch's blood is a potent death cocktail to all vampires. But a good idea is only a skeleton upon which skillful writing adds depth and flesh. Maybe I shouldn't admit this, but I can overlook a lot of sins if the sex scenes are well done. Sometimes an author is awful at plotting and dialog, but can sizzle in the bedroom. Unfortunately, I can't dress this up in any way, shape, or form. The sex scenes in this book are rank, like foul B.O. There's no buildup, no climax, no nothing. The author skips so many steps, that she would have done better to avoid having any sex scenes at all. I don't care if this book is free, it's still a gross waste of time.

2.5 falling stars, May 14, 2009
Somewhere in the middle really is all I can say about this book. I did find myself liking the concept of the story but felt Hauf fell short on several area's and the end result fell flat. I didn't feel the love maybe due to a love spell and even so, I still didn't feel it! The love scenes (if that is what you want to call it) was more like a hit it and hit it again and *poof* it was over.

Anyone who thinks this is the best book ever seriously needs to read more!

The second book is The Devil To Pay (Silhouette Nocturne). I have not read this one and am debating to continue with the second considering how I feel about the first.

All I can say next is thank you for the freebie!

ok yes it was free, June 9, 2009
The only reason I read this book all the way to the end was that it was free and I was too lazy to download anything else. I pretty much almost stopped reading after the first chapter. The idea of the story, that a vampire and witch fall for each other, was pretty intriguing. But Ms. Hauf's writing style leaves a lot to be desired. She writes as if she's a high schooler in a remedial english class. Her character descriptions are exceedingly uninspired and almost "generic" to the goth realm.
If you are looking for a vampire romance that is imaginative and much better written, may I suggest the vampire breed series (yes actually a series that you can invest in) by Lara Adrian , beginning with a free download Kiss of Midnight. The follow up books not only bring you closer to the other characters but continue the story that they are all embedded in.
** (2 stars) only for the promising storyline that sadly falls short of delivering

Perfect balance for some of us., April 17, 2010
I don't read a lot of romance novels, but I've read some in the past. Since this one was free, I thought I'd try it out. Since I'm not an avid romance reader, I don't have anything recent to compare this to or know what to expect. I have to say I LOVED the characters and the story regardless of other reveiws I saw. It's a story people, purely for entertainment. Sit back and enjoy it, don't disect it and rip it apart so much. It had love, action, defiance, passion, leather. Ravin is a strong willed warrior and not a weak little damsel in distress as most romance novels seem to have. I liked her transformation from a tough chick to a big softy in love. And Nikolaus is just an adorable puppy. Then he switches gears back to being an angry vamp intent on revenge. The push and pull with these two is entertaining. So what if it's predictable, it's a colorful balance. And Himself...in my mind's eye, he cracks me up. I can see him preening in front of a mirror in Ravin's image like a kid with a new toy "Now THIS is delicious!" I read it a couple times. I'm no book critic, but I know what I like. I definitely liked the pace of the book. I'm not one for loooong drawn out conflicts based on miscommunication between the lovebirds. That's why I stopped reading most romance novels. 'I love you, but my father won't let me. Boo hoo!" fainting to the ground. No, this book was more modern, sleek, and the vampire/witch love fiasco was fantastic. I enjoyed it, as it should be. Not as a hardened critic.

Squandered Story Idea, February 16, 2010
I got Kiss Me Deadly as a Kindle freebie offer. I don't just download everything that's free, only those that seem like they will interest me. This was one, based on the description on the Amazon page, that I had been looking forward to reading. I ended up being really disappointed and I'm glad I didn't have to pay to read it. (Edit to add: I guess maybe I should have read some of the reviews before downloading!)

The story itself sounded very intriguing. I liked the whole concept of witch blood being poison to vampires and something happening so that a vampire became immune, setting up everything else. Unfortunately, the writer squandered a good story idea with poor execution.

The characters were shallow and not too far into the book I had significant difficulty maintaining any interest. The love spell idea was a tricky twist to do right, and in this instance I think it fell completely flat. There was an opportunity for a lot of humor there, but that was squandered too. In the end the book just wasn't written well enough to care about the characters or keep me interested in what was going to happen.

It's also extremely difficult to take a book seriously when the author writes such gems as:

"If his tribe ever got wind of this they'd flail him alive."

"She stirred the officious brew as it began to boil."

"It was designed to only affect the recipient, not the receiver."

The above examples also beg the question, how in heck did an editor let those things slide past? Did the book even have an editor?

If you're looking for a good read this one isn't it.

creative paranormal romance, September 11, 2007
Vampires know that one drop of a witch's blood touching them is fatal. Nikolaus Drake died two months ago when witch Ravin Crosse dropped her blood on him. However, he recovered and believes he is now immune to this toxin. He plans to kill the witch who almost killed him.

Ravin the vampire hunting witch owes three debts in order to free her soul. She works on a love spell to meet one of her obligations only to have Nikolaus arrive at a critical juncture. The love spell enters his soul and he finds he loves the witch. She quickly reciprocates as these natural enemies are unable to stop kissing one another.

KISS ME DEADLY is a creative paranormal romance in which Michele Hauf uses a Twilight Zone like spin to create love between the witch and the vampire. Nikolaus and Ravin are a superb pairing as he wants to avenge her killing him with her blood only to fall in love with her due to a spell. Ironically he must convince the witch he cherishes that he loves her spell or not and that they belong together taboo or not. This is a winner for sub-genre fans.

Harriet Klausner

Completely unbelievable...and I'm not talking about witches and vampires here, February 24, 2010
Thank goodness this book was free. The story was completely unbelievable. I like fantasy. I like romance. I don't mind witches, werewolves and vampires. But PLEASE give me some kind of plot and character development. Two people just wandering around and screwing a bit doesn't make for a great book. It may be free, but my time is worth something!

what?, January 30, 2010
really bad. conversations with the devil who appears as johnny depp and is named "himself". poor writing creates characters you have no attachment to, making the sex scenes as boring as can be. free, yes - but i couldn't even finish it! honestly, even if i had paid for it, i would't have finished it.

Horrible, not even worth the time to download, January 19, 2010
This has to be the worst book I have ever TRIED to read. I couldn't even make it past the first 3 chapters. The character build-up was horrible, there was zero plot, and read as though written by a 5th grader. Bottom line- don't waste your time!

Love, Love, Love It!, August 4, 2010
Oh this book was so good! It had the paranormal aspect that I loved with the loving romance. I've read over paranormal books and I loved how this one taught me something new,different (witch's blood is poison), but was so sweet and romantic. The romance parts weren't too raunchy when I compare them to over romance novels that I've read. And I promised myself beforehand that I wouldn't cry, but there were definitely times where I had to choke it down. Without giving too much away, this book has a vampire and witch who are supposed to hate each other. But the vampire comes under the witch's love spell (by accident) and falls in love with her. But, of course, all good things can't last. And the moment that the spell wore off was at the perfect part and my heart totally broke for the witch. The book said that was more books to continue and I am definitely going to be ordering those! ... Read more

Editorial Review

New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr takes readers back to her beloved Virgin River country in this heartwarming tribute to Rhonda Clemons, founder of Zo� Institute and a winner of a Harlequin More Than Words award.

By discovering ... Read more

Reviews

Not earth-shattering literature, but a nice way to spend some leisure time, September 15, 2010
This free Kindle download is a short story by the romance author Robyn Carr. I have seen her name on books over the years but had never read anything by her so it seemed like a good opportunity to do so at no cost to me. In addition, it's written specifically to highlight the Zoe Institute (located in Oklahoma) and all the good work it does to support single mothers. The support isn't just food, diapers, shelter, etc. but includes workshops and classes to teach life skills and rebuild self-esteem for women who have left abusive relationships. Not only did I get the chance to read a short story at no cost, I learned more about this wonderful institution and the work it does. This short story is just one of five that are included in the "More Than Words, Volume 6" book with the other stories written by different authors.

Commenting on the work itself (and separating it from the commendable purpose for which it was written) - the short story is long enough that it has time to develop characters, relationships and situations the reader can relate to and care about. Fairly typical of this type of writing, what you see is what you get, but it is still enjoyable and a good, light read. A message about the struggles of single moms, particularly battered women is front and center which does mean it definitely isn't all starshine throughout.

If you enjoy Robyn Carr or Debbie Macomber-style books, you will probably enjoy this one. If you end up purchasing the entire book, the proceeds are going to be donated to charity so you will also have done your good deed for the day.

marketing tool?, September 1, 2010
the only plot to this story was to make the reader aware of a charity called the Zoe Institute for single parents. no romance, no drama, no plot. the characters were so unselfish and dedicated, which is nice but it was just overdone. As the reader, you felt very inadequate as a person. So this was just a hard sell for the charity as far as I'm concerned.

More Than Words, September 12, 2010
The purpose of Robyn Carr's story WAS to make people aware of the Zoe Institute. This was Robyn's story in the More Than Words Volume 6 book. Five bestselling authors wrote about five real-life heroines. To celebrate their accomplishments the authors wrote short stories inspired by these fabulous women. Good stories about great women.

A little heavy handed with the "single mother" issue, September 22, 2010
Its a well-written book, but it feels very heavy handed about the problems "single mothers" have to deal with. It actually feels like the evangelical minister who is so over-the-top with their religion that it turns most people off. Also, it seems to imply that only single mothers have to deal with certain issues - like having to take time off because of sick children. A lot of child-rearing within two-parent households is still done by the female, so to imply that this is a single parent-only issue is rather insulting.

Sheltering Hearts, September 24, 2010
And Robyn Carr does it again! She touches on ALL bases of life and shows us there is always hope. Thank you Robyn! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Twins? The startling revelation that his affair with Jenna Baker had produced two little boys was almost impossible to grasp.Tycoon Nick Falco had never considered himself the settling-down type, yet now that fatherhood had been thrust upon him, he was determined to give his sons his name. But their mother wasn't about to let him back into her life...at least not without those three little words Nick had never, ever said.

Reviews

Pleasantly surprised, February 7, 2009
I really didn't expect to like this book. I mostly favor mystery novels and detective fiction, so when I downloaded this free book, I figured I'd read a few pages and decide it wasn't for me...but I was wrong.

It was a quick read with a fast-paced (often racy) plot. Though the subject of proving paternity is a serious one (and treated as such by the author), the characters were light-hearted and even, at times, humorous.

Though I don't think this Harlequin romance book will change my mind about my favorite literary genre, it WAS a pleasant diversion from more serious stories of murder and the criminal mind.

Nice, quick read, February 27, 2009
I like reading books that I designate as "fluff" after I read some heavy hitters. I would recommend this book to those that tend to do the same. It was a quick read, but the story [.............] me right in. I finished it in one sitting and was never disappointed.

Better free romance novels out there, June 30, 2010
I don't have very high standards when it comes to harlequins, so I'm usually gentle in my reviews. They're short by design, so there isn't a lot of room for plot development. But still, most have no plot holes. There were a few things that just didn't make sense. For example, the girl e-mails the billionaire who got her pregnant and he doesn't respond. Well, this is retarded, but when they meet again, she doesn't ask about it. ??

Also, I've come to a place where I find I am no longer satisfied with the "let's get married and everything will be great even though we've only known each other for a few weeks and each have serious personal problems to work through." And babies just make everything better. (NOT)

I'm in my early 20s, and have been reading romance since I was a teenager. I guess I just now appreciate books that give their characters time and distance. That said, it's not BAD as far as harlequins go, but I've read much better. The girl is not too bright and the guy is just obnoxious.

on the plus side, it is free.

Spoiler Review--Don't read if you don't want to know the story end, July 24, 2009
This book was HORRIBLE. I am so embarrassed that I read it that I have tried to completely remove it from my Kindle, but unfortunately can only "archive" it.

I thought this was a romantic comedy based on the cover that was pictured, so made the mistake of not realizing this was a Harlequin romance type novel when I bought it. (Okay, I got it for free which the only reason I took it). That was apparent soon after the first page, but since the last time I read such a book was when I was a teenager, I thought I'd at least quickly read it to see if the genre has changed.

Well, the answer to that is a resounding NO!! I cannot believe the good reviews this has gotten. Either the author has a lot of friends, or there are a lot of women out there still believing in white knights and shining armor, or they are all na�ve teenagers living a very protected life.

I KNOW this is a fantasy, but geez, an ounce or two of reality may have at least made it somewhat believable.

So, let me get this straight--a woman doesn't tell her billionaire boss she is an employee, sleeps with him, and then gets fired. What would really happen--when he found out, his attorneys and HR department would work out a "settlement". (And by the way, we are supposed to believe she is not at all interested in his money.)

Then, per the story, she gets pregnant with twins and she tries to tell him by EMAIL?????? This scenario is so ludicrous, I don't even know where to start. First of all, in real life, she would not be doing the contacting, her attorney would. But let's just say she is so convinced that the billionaire will respond better if she doesn't use an attorney, does any person in their right mind think that a billionaire actually reads their own email???? That's what secretaries and personal assistants are for. And even if he did look at his own email, which the story indicates he did but deleted without reading, after seeing the first 10 or so, he would have had his IT department set up a filter so he didn't receive them, or have his attorneys contact her for being a nuisance. At this point someone would have read one of the emails and he would have found out about the babies.

But no, she goes on a cruise to meet up with him. Amazing how a billionaire just walks around a cruise ship with no security. THEN, of all the MOST ludicrous things, when he finds out why she is there, he moves her into his OWN cabin to "keep an eye on her". Oh gee, I wonder what is going to happen next? To make it worse--she goes. This woman is so stupid, I found myself wishing some not so nice things would happen to her, but she has two babies, so I control my thoughts.

But alas, it is a romance novel, so the billionaire simply abandons his shipping business to sleep in her extremely small house on the sofa until she agrees to spend forever with him. And I went into my bathroom......

Fun!, March 19, 2010
A lovely way to while away a few hours. Nice balance of humor, romance and plausible characters.

Really Fun Book To Read, August 10, 2009
Another one of those candy for your brain books. It was a good story. You felt for the characters. I felt for the little babies. And I was happy in the end. Isn't that what these books are for? A fun read.

a harlequin happily ever after, March 31, 2010
Desperate for a book to read i downloaded this free read, while i wouldn't dare say that its a best read i was pleasantly surprised to find a well written book that was enjoyable and entertaining.

Jenna Baker worked for a billionaire(Nick) who owned a cruise line, when she met him he thought she was a guest and she didnt bother to correct him. After a week long affair he found out about her lie and fired her, not speaking to her at all. When she got home Jenna realized she was pregnant and tried to contact him but he ignored her, now that her twin boys are 4months old she goes on a cruise determined to tell him about his children.

Nick Falco is a playboy, and ever since his time with Jenna he can't get her out of his mind. Now he get a picture of twin boys and a note to meet her. When he finds out what she tell him is true he does his best to integrate himself into their lives.

Though this could never happen in real life the book is still an enjoyable read for anyone who wants to escape to a fairytale world for just a little while

ash

Quick and easy read, March 11, 2009
I don't usually read romance books, but downloaded this because it was a Kindle freebie. Surprisingly, it was better than I'd expected. I just recently came back from a cruise. So reading the story and the description of the cruise ship actually brought back a lot of memory. The story line was quite simple. But the author did a great job to make the story fun to read.

Surprisingly not bad., February 8, 2010
Yes it was predictable and fast and easy to read. It was well-written though, and the characters somehow do shine as the story enfolds. It seems at first that it will be a typical fast and 2 dimensional read, but somehow to me the writer conveyed more depth inside its words and characters than I expected. For a 'mundane' story to pass the time with its good. Just don't expect it to be a grand literary novel.

Love Boat chapter 1000, March 16, 2009
The plot is a chapter of that old TV program. That doesn't mean this isn't a very good story. The book is fast paced and you'll get hooked to the plot since the first page and you won't be able to close it till you finish it. This is my first MC's book and I'll be looking for more. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This Christmas, Emily Merkle (call her Mrs. Miracle!) is working in the toy department at Finley's, the last family-owned department store in New York City. And her boss is none other than…Jake Finley, the owner's son.

For Jake, holiday memories of brightly wrapped gifts, decorated trees and family were destroyed in a Christmas Eve tragedy years before. Now Christmas means just one thing to him—and to his father. Profit. Because they need a Christmas miracle to keep the business afloat.

Holly Larson needs a miracle, too. She wants to give her eight-year-old nephew, Gabe, the holiday he deserves. Holly's widowed brother is in the army and won't be home for Christmas, but at least she can get Gabe that toy robot from Finley's, the one gift he desperately wants. If she can figure out how to afford it…

Fortunately, it's Mrs. Miracle to the rescue. Next to making children happy, she likes nothing better than helping others—and that includes doing a bit of matchmaking!

This Christmas will be different. For all of them. ... Read more

Reviews

Delightful Read, September 28, 2010
"Aspire to inspire before you expire." ~Mrs. Miracle

The only words I can think of to describe Call Me Mrs. Miracle is, delightful, funny, and inspirational. This is my first book by Debbie Macomber, but it won't be the last. Last year I watched a delightful movie on TV around Christmas time called Mr. Miracle, so when I saw that Debbie Macomber had a new Mrs. Miracle book out I jumped at a chance to review it.

The author has a great way of blending great characters with a sweet storyline. You just fall in love with all the characters and get that great feeling at the end when it's over - but there is also that sadness for the same reason.

It's a romance story but it has so much more to it. I would really call it a light romance and one of the things I love about it is the fact that it has no sex scenes at all in the book. Its not written as an inspirational book, yet I could without a doubt tell my Christian friends that it would be a great book for them to read for the Christmas holidays. I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone! It's a great light read.


originally posted at: [...]

Heartwarming thoroughly enjoyable Christmas story, I loved it!, October 2, 2010
I can't say enough good things about this book. It was just completely entertaining and enjoyable from start to finish and I didn't want to put the book down.She does a wonderful job of creating that special warm Christmas feeling and the characters are real and relatable. This is the kind of book I'd give as a holiday gift and/or definitely pass around for friends and family to enjoy. I'll definitely be on the lookout for the movie too, which according to the book notes should be airing in December and I think will be starring Doris Roberts from Everybody loves Raymond, and who I kept picturing as Mrs. Miracle as I read this. Seems like perfect casting to me.

Everything I like about the best of Debbie Macomber's writing was in this story, family focused, with warmth and fun, and of course a great happy ending. You really can't go wrong with this one. Enjoy!

The Perfect Holiday Story, October 1, 2010
I may be one of the last people on the planet to have not heard of the author Debbie Macomber before reading this book. She's written a lot of bestseller books and I can see why. While this isn't usually the type of book I would read (I lean towards a lot of paranormal books), I thought I would give it a go as the storyline was appealing to me and I'm happy I did so.

The story is uplifting overall, even though there were a couple of scenes that had my eyes watering. The characters within the book are all written so well that they seem like people I know personally. All of the locations used within the story are described just enough that I can imagine them as places I've already been and already know as well. The writing style had me flying through the book, not wanting to put it down, and not realizing the time that went by as I was reading.

It's a perfect holiday story, so perfect in fact that Hallmark is making a movie out of it. Apparently there was another book previous to this one called Mrs. Miracle that was also made into a movie. Call Me Mrs. Miracle is set to air on November 27, 2010 and I plan on watching it since I enjoyed the book so much. (I'm hoping that they will be replaying Mrs. Miracle as well as I am sure I will enjoy it as well.)

Cute Christmas Story, October 31, 2010

Tis the season ..., November 8, 2010

Lady Kay Reviews: Call Me Mrs. Miracle, December 11, 2010
To start with, I want to point out that this was a ridiculously quick read for me, as in, I finished it in under 3 hours. Also, from the author's note at the beginning of the book, the novel is a sequel to Mrs. Miracle, which I will admit, I've never read.

Holly Larson's widower brother Mickey is in Afghanistan for 15 months (including Christmas), and (as her parents are helping out in Haiti) Holly is the current guardian for her 8-year-old nephew, Gabe. Jake Finley manages the toy department of his father's department store. The two connect briefly over coffee (as Holly's credit card is declined, Jake kindly pays for his and hers), and both seem to feel that spark. With the help of toy store worker Mrs. Merkle (referred to as Mrs. Miracle, hence the title), who is more than what she seems, the two manage to spend time together and fall in love, bringing the joy of Christmas back into Jake's life, and further happiness into Holly's.

***Please note, I find cannot complete my complete review without spoilers. If reading the above is enough for you, then go forth and enjoy. If not, you've been warned.***

The story is often predictable, and often so sugary sweet, your dentist may worry for you. I enjoyed Holly, she was sweet, if not occasionally a doormat (her boss is a troll, and doesn't do her 180 until the tail end of the book). The adjective I keep coming back for, for almost all of the characters, as well as the situations, is cute. Cute, cute, cute. The main pair's interactions are cute, the way Mrs. Merkle ("Miracle") interacts with J.R. (Jake's father) is cute, Gabe is a cute little boy. I'm sure, if one is a Christian and enjoys religious themed books, the religious mentions and "quotations" could be considered cute. The fact that there are recipes connected to the story included in the book itself is cute. The message (love, family, the joy and spirit of Christmas) is well used and cute. One thing I didn't really find cute, however, was this: If I'd ever met someone like Mrs. Merkle ("Miracle") in real life, and she acted as she did in the book, I would think her sweet if senile, and do my best to avoid her as much as humanly possible. Sure, she meant things for the best, but she knew too much, and it would have creeped me out. (Spoiler: From what I can gather, even though it's never overtly stated in this book, she's an angel on a mission. Still. In real life, no.)

***End spoilers.***

I wish we'd gotten more back story of the main characters than we had, but, again, for light, fluffy reading, if you don't mind the religious overtones (or you happen to like them), this book isn't bad.

I'm giving this book 3 Stars, because it was... cute.

(This was edited from its original post on my blog.)

cute yet contrived, December 10, 2010
Call Me Mrs. Miracle Having never read anything by Debbie Macomber before yet seeing how wildly popular her books are, I decided to read this book.

The book was sweet, the characters did their jobs at being either likable or unlikable, and I felt it was a book worth finishing. I even believe that there are angels here on earth so I did not need to be persuaded. I just felt that the entire book was incredibly contrived,
and I wished I'd chosen a different book. It's a feel good book and that's a wonderful thing, so if you want light reading and a love story with a contrived, very perfectly stitched up ending, read this.

No real surprises, but it's a fun little book, December 5, 2010

Couldn't put it down, this book will make for a classic Christmas film !, November 27, 2010

Got me in the Holiday Spirit!, November 23, 2010