Just A Taste 18+

The following review is for 18+ readers

 

 

To really heat things up, get them together.

Since his wife's untimely death, Anthony Dante has thrown himself into his cooking, making his restaurant, Dante's, a Brooklyn institution. So far, his biggest problem has been keeping his retired hockey star brother out of the kitchen. But now, a mademoiselle is invading his turf. And you know what they say: too many chefs spoil the neighborhood.

Stunning Vivi Robitaille can't wait to showcase her tastebud-tingling recipes in her brand new bistro, Vivi's. Her only problem is an arrogant Italian chef across the street who actually thinks he's competition. The table is set for a culinary war until things start getting spicy outside of the kitchen..

Review

Vivi is trying to open her own cafe in a new city; she doesn’t plan on meeting surly chef Dante. Dante is a widow, who works at his families’ restaurant, he is not happy with Vivi opening a cafe across from his restaurant. While they are attracted to each other Dante is not interested in getting involved with another woman. He has enough troubles trying to keep his retired brother from changing everything he has worked to build. While they have great chemistry, Vivi's financial problems and Dantes' unwillingness to get emotional involved they have more problems than they can handle. Vivi is a wonderful chef and a self assertive woman, but she has serious blind spots when it comes to her sister. Dante is rude, temperamental and he has no people skills. The story is cute, but I didn’t like Dante and I really did not like how utterly clueless Vivi turned out to be. The story line was good, the struggles and heartache the characters have dealt give the story depth. I just really hated the main characters, if they were more likable I would have loved the book. However, I found myself getting mad at them more often then not, that aspect of it overshadowed everything else which made this book just ok.

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Fair Play 18+

The following review is for 18+ readers

 

  

A little competition never hurt anybody...

Theresa Falconetti has it all: brains, beauty, a quick wit, and her own PR business. To the Deep disappointment of her large family, she never dates Italians, men from her old Brooklyn neighborhood, or professional athletes. Especially not athletes...

Michael Dante, popular hometown hero and winger for the Stanley Cup champion New York Blades is all three—and he is head over heels for her.

For Michael, Theresa's NO HOCKEY PLAYERS rule is a check to the heart. Nothing he does seems to melt her resolve. His stubborn refusal to give up on this wisecracking brunette, who—he knows—is hiding from her roots, is driving them both nuts. And whe he hires her to publicize his family's restaurant, more than the kitchen heats up. Then Theresa finds herself an Upper East Side kind of guy and Micheal is forced to take his game to the next level.

IT'S FACE OFF TIME... 

Review

Theresa and her best friend have opened their own PR business, she is working hard to put the past behind her and get on with her life. Michael is best friends with Theresas best friends’ husband and he has wanted Theresa for a really long time. Theresa wrote him off the first night they met, when he forgot to put his teeth in. Theresa was assaulted by one of his teammates and now she has a firm no athletes rule. Michael hires Theresa to promote his families restaurant and hopefully to spend some more time with her. Theresa tentatively starts to date Michael but has problems trusting him. Michael tries to convince Theresa that he really is the guy for her, before she makes the mistake of choosing the boring nonsense other guy. Theresa is strong, bull headed, wounded and prejudiced; she thinks she wants something that is wrong for her. Michael is awesome, he does everything to make Theresa laugh and he tries his hardest to help her get over her assault. They really are perfect for each other; they have some humorously embarrassing moments. They also have a few bad fights and I really thought Theresa was going to lose her chance and Michael would give up on her. I liked the book and loved how the author dealt with the emotional issues that came from Theresa’s assault. I did start getting annoyed with the main characters and Theresa started to become too much of a bitch to make me love this book. I really did like it though.

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Chasing Stanley 18+

The following review is for 18+ readers

  

 

What do a New York City dog trainer and a pro hockey player have in common? They both love Stanley, an adorable but naughty Newfoundland...

When dog trainer Delilah Gould spots a rambunctious Newfoundland disobeying orders, she can't help but stepping in and teaching the gentle giant to heel. But it's his hunky owner she's really like to teach a few tricks. Too bad he's clearly the untrainable kind.

Professional hockey player Jason Mitchell is thrilled when he's traded to the New York Blades--the team of his dreams. There's just one problem: his pooch isn't adjusting to city life too well. Good thing he crosses paths with dog trainer Delilah Gould. At least that's what he thinks--until he realized he's fallen for her.

Now, with the season heating up, Jason realizes he'll have to score big-time to win the Stanley Cup and the woman who had tamed his dog and unleashed his heart

Review

Delilah is a drug trainer who can't stand to see a dog that is abused or not properly trained, she is obsessed with dogs. Jason has recently been traded to the New York Blades; he moves into a great apartment and brings his dog with him. His dog is having problems and when he meets Delilah in the park, he believes his problems are solved. While Delilah trains his dog Jason keeps messing up. When Jason and Delilah start dating and Delilah makes a fool of herself and Jason at a party they think it is over. Except now Jason is having problems on the ice and once again he needs Delilahs help. Delilah is an interesting woman, her life is all about dogs and she has zero idea of how to act around humans. Jason is full of himself and while he does try to do the right thing sometimes, he doesn’t follow through and ends up messing up more. They are an interesting couple, they have tons of chemistry and there relationship has some pretty comedic moments. They also have some serious cringe worthy, I can’t believe he/she did that moments. I liked the characters and loved seeing both of them change through out the story. I had a few problems with some of the scenes in the book but beyond that it was a nice, funny read.

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The Penalty Box 18+

The following review is for 18+ readers

 

  

Can a jock and a nerd find true love together?

Everyone from Didsbury High remembers Katie Fisher as the dumpy brainiac from the poor side of town.

Everyone from Didsbury High remembers Paul van Dorn as the school hockey star and heartthrob.

But now they're facing off -- and matching up in more ways than one. Katie's lost the pounds, added some self-confidence, and become a drop-dead gorgeous sociology professor.

And since a series of concussions put an end to Paul's pro hockey career, his star has dimmed. Now he hits the ice as a coach. But he's still got the hometown crowd behind him as the owner of a bar called The Penalty Box.

Paul is reliving his glory days. Katie wishes she could put those years behind her. And the battle of wills that ensues just might knock love right out of the game.

Review

 Paul is retired from the New York Blades; he goes home where he opens a sports bar. He is the hero of the town and bored out of his mind, he doesn’t know what to do with himself. He gets drunk and sleeps with an old girlfriend, sneaking out of her house after her son finds him the next morning. Katie used to be the fat smart girl, she moves out of town goes to college loses the weight and becomes a hot professor. Katie comes back to help her mom with her nephew and maybe go to her schools class reunion. When Paul and Katie see each other again, they find out that they are very different people than they used to be. The two start dating while Katie tries to help take care of her nephew. An ex of Pauls tries to get between them; now that she is divorced she wants Paul. Katie doesn’t want to move back to her hometown and Paul wants to stay so he can continue being a hometown hero. While they both like each other, they have a hard time figuring out what they really want. I liked Katie she worked really hard to become the woman that she wanted to be. Even though it is not her responsibility, she changes her whole life to take care of her nephew. Paul was a annoying in the beginning, but he became less so towards the end. I did like how the author had a story of a retired player, but I had a hard time dealing with Pauls selfishness. Katie was selfish in her own way, but she has things up easier than the rest of the characters. The Penalty Box was ok, but I had a hard time reading about the drug addicted mom. While the main characters did have chemistry I think they had to try to hard to be together.

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Sacred Sins 18+

The following review is for 18+ readers

 

  

Combining explosive suspense with sensual passion, Nora Roberts turns up the heat in this classic tale — the sizzling story of a man and woman on the trail of a demented killer, a search that will plunge them headlong into danger....

In the lazy days of summer, a merciless heat wave is the biggest story in Washington, D.C. But the weather is knocked off the front pages when a young woman is found strangled to death. A note left behind reads Her sins are forgiven her.

Two more victims soon follow, and suddenly every headline is devoted to the killer the press has dubbed “the Priest.” When the police ask top-notch psychiatrist Dr. Tess Court to help with their investigation, she comes up with a disturbing portrait of a twisted soul.

Detective Ben Paris doesn’t give a damn about the killer’s psyche. What he can’t easily dismiss is Tess. Tall, dark, and good-looking, Ben has a legendary reputation with women, but the coolly elegant Tess doesn’t react to him like other women he’s known — and he finds the challenge enticing.

Now, as the two are thrown together in a perilous quest to stop a serial killer, the flame of white-hot passion flares. But someone also has his eyes on the beautiful blond doctor ... and Ben can only pray that if the madman strikes, he'll be able to stop him before it’s too late...

Review

  Ben is looking for a man who is killing women and leaving a religious calling card. The police department calls in Tess a local psychiatrist. Ben doesn’t like psychiatrist, he does have a thing for Tess though. While trying to find the killer, Ben and Tess begin a relationship. Bens prejudice towards psychiatrist and Tess belief that people can be helped are not the only problems that they have to deal with. The killer has decided that he wants Tess dead and Ben has no idea who he is. Tess is a strong beautiful woman and she really cares about her patients. Ben is a hot womanizing detective who doesn’t put anything before his job. They have problems in the beginning and Tess standing up to Ben was humorous. She made him look like an idiot without even trying. Ben was dedicated to his job, while he may be a jerk at times when he finally admits he loves Tess he is just as dedicated to her. There was some suspense and I was a little surprised at who the killer turned out to be. The characters were well developed and the story line was good. The writing itself was good as well; this book was a good easy read.

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Public Secrets 18+

The following review is for 18+ readers

 

  

Emma. Beautiful, intelligent, and radiantly talented, she lives in a star-studded world of wealth and privilege. But she is about to discover that fame is no protection at all when someone wants you dead.

All Emma has to do is close her eyes and she remembers the day Brian McAvoy swept into her life. A frightened toddler, she didn’t know then that she was his illegitimate daughter or that he was pop music’s rising new star. All she knew was that with Brian, his band mates, and his new wife, she felt safe. And when her baby brother arrived, Emma thought she was the luckiest girl in the world—until the night a botched kidnapping attempt shattered all their lives . . . and destroyed Emma’s happiness.

Yet now, even though Emma is still haunted by flashes of memory from that fateful night, she has survived. She’s carved out a thrilling career and even dared to fall rapturously in love. But the man who will become her husband isn’t all that he seems. And Emma is about to awaken to the chilling knowledge that the darkest secret of all is the one buried in her mind—a secret that someone may kill to keep.

Review

  Emma has spent her entire life growing up in the spotlight, her father Brian has been a rock star for as long as she can remember. She still has flashbacks of the night her little brother died and while she did see what happened she can’t remember. Emma marries a man that she thought she loved, even though she is still hasn’t forgotten the son of the detective who investigated her brother murder. The man abuses her and when she gets away she runs into the detectives’ son who is now a detective himself. Michael remembers teaching Emma how to surf and has wanted her for a long time. When he finds out about the man has hurt her he does everything to protect her. When Emma finally starts to be okay someone finds out that Emma is starting to remember what really happened to her little brother. I loved this book; they main characters meet several times before they finally get together. Emma has to go through some really rough things to get a good place with a good man. The back story with the rest of the band members is done really well. It shows what hardships rock stars have and how when they play into the stereotype it can really ruin everything. The romance aspect was not overplayed and the who really did it parts added a bit of mystery. The book had a nice slow and even pace.

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Sweet Revenge 18+

The following review is for 18+ readers

 

  

At twenty-five, Princess Adrianne lives a life most people would envy.  Beautiful and elegant, she spends her days dabbling in charities and her nights floating from one glamorous gala to the next.  But her pampered-rich-girl pose is a ruse, a carefully calculated effort to hide a dangerous truth.

For ten years Adrianne has lived for revenge.  As a child, she could only watch the cruelty hidden behind the facade of her parents' fairy-tale marriage.  Now
she has the perfect plan to make her famous father pay.  She will take possession of the one thing he values above all others--The Sun and the Moon, a fabled necklace beyond price.

Yet just as she is poised to take her vengeance, she meets a man who seems to divine her every secret.  Clever, charming, and enigmatic, Philip Chamberlain has his own private reasons for getting close to Princess Adrianne.  And only when it's too late will she see the hidden danger...as she finds herself up against two formidable men--one with the knowledge to take her freedom, the other with the power to take her life

Review

Adrianne is a princess, with jewels, power and lots of money. She also happens to be one of the world’s greatest thieves and she has been practicing for years to take revenge on her father. Philip used to be a thief and now he is a cop, he catches thieves, but he can’t seem to stop wanting Adrianne. When Philip finds out that Adrianne plans to steal what was supposed to be her mothers’ dowry back from her father, he decides to help her. Now he and Adrianne have to decide whether they want to make what they were only pretending to have real. Adrianne is a tough heroine, she had a messed up child hood and had to take care of her mother. She is also really smart and giving, she tries to help other woman. Philip is interesting, he is strong but at the same time he has more patients than a saint when it comes to Adrianne. I loved the storyline, not many women would have the courage to go back to a place that holds such horrible memories. The romance in the book was not overplayed, there was just enough to keep the story going without it consuming the entire book. Sweet Revenge was an enjoyable afternoon read.

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