Category Archives: Random House Publishing Group

October 29, 2013 · 3:59 am

Review: Wild Child by Molly O’Keefe

Title: Wild Child by Molly O’Keefe
Boys of Bishop Series Book One
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Imprint: Bantam
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Perfect for readers of Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Rachel Gibson, this sizzling romance tells the story of a sexy small-town mayor and a notorious “bad girl,” who discover that home really is where the heart is.

Monica Appleby is a woman with a reputation. Once she was America’s teenage “Wild Child,” with her own reality TV show. Now she’s a successful author coming home to Bishop, Arkansas, to pen the juicy follow-up to her tell-all autobiography. Problem is, the hottest man in town wants her gone. Mayor Jackson Davies is trying to convince a cookie giant to move its headquarters to his crumbling community, and Monica’s presence is just too . . . unwholesome for business. But the desire in his eyes sends a very different message: Stay, at least for a while.

Jackson needs this cookie deal to go through. His town is dying and this may be its last shot. Monica is a distraction proving too sweet, too inviting—and completely beyond his control. With every kiss he can taste her loneliness, her regrets, and her longing. Soon their uncontrollable attraction is causing all kinds of drama. But when two lost hearts take a surprise detour onto the bumpy road of unexpected love, it can only lead someplace wonderful.

“Molly O’Keefe is a unique, not-to-be-missed voice in romantic fiction.”—New York Times bestselling author Susan Andersen

The Review:

As I have come to expect from Molly O’Keefe, Wild Child is a deliciously steamy romance that has plenty of substance. It is a light read in the sense that there is no angst but there is definitely a lot of depth to the characters and the plot.

At first glance reality star turned author Monica Appleby and small town mayor Jackson Davies share little in common. Monica’s sordid past and wild teenage exploits have been vividly detailed in her auto-biography Wild Child while Jackson leads a pretty quiet and rumor free life raising his teenage sister, Gwen. Their two very different worlds collide when Monica returns to the small town of Bishop, AR to write a tell all novel about a tragic event from her childhood. Negative publicity is the last thing Jackson needs while Bishop is participating in a nationally televised competition for a relocating factory that will resuscitate the town’s dying economy.

The similarities between Monica and Jackson are apparent at their first contentious meeting. Both are very different than their public personas and they are very good at hiding who they really are from other people. Neither of them had very little choice in the direction their lives took. Monica’s mother dragged her into the limelight while the unexpected death of Jackson’s parents left him in charge of his teenage sister.

Monica and Jackson quickly enter into a very hot and incendiary sexual relationship but their pasts soon derail their relationship. Jackson’s relationship with Gwen is distant and things between them are becoming increasingly rocky. Monica has successfully avoided her mother Simone for several years, but Simone’s unexpected arrival in Bishop lead to several unpleasant confrontations between the two.

Wild Child is a delightfully charming romance and while Jackson and Monica are flawed and imperfect, they are very appealing. Their problems are not glossed over, and the resolution of their issues is handled in a realistic manner. The secondary cast of characters adds another layer to this intricately plotted story and hopefully Molly O’Keefe has plans to bring us their stories in the future.

Another fabulous book by a very gifted author that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys contemporary romances.

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Filed under Bantam, Boys of Bishop Series, Contemporary, Molly O'Keefe, Random House Publishing Group, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Wild Child

October 8, 2013 · 3:59 am

Review: Starry Night by Debbie Macomber

Title: Starry Night by Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Imprint: Ballantine Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 256 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

’Tis the season for romance, second chances, and Christmas cheer with this new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

Carrie Slayton, a big-city society-page columnist, longs to write more serious news stories. So her editor hands her a challenge: She can cover any topic she wants, but only if she first scores the paper an interview with Finn Dalton, the notoriously reclusive author.

Living in the remote Alaskan wilderness, Finn has written a megabestselling memoir about surviving in the wild. But he stubbornly declines to speak to anyone in the press, and no one even knows exactly where he lives.

Digging deep into Finn’s past, Carrie develops a theory on his whereabouts. It is the holidays, but her career is at stake, so she forsakes her family celebrations and flies out to snowy Alaska. When she finally finds Finn, she discovers a man both more charismatic and more stubborn than she even expected. And soon she is torn between pursuing the story of a lifetime and following her heart.

Filled with all the comforts and joys of Christmastime, Starry Night is a delightful novel of finding happiness in the most surprising places.

The Review:

If you are a fan of sweet holiday romances then you are going to LOVE Debbie Macomber’s latest release. Fast-paced with engaging and likable characters, Starry Night is a charming love story that will melt your heart.

Carrie Slayton has a plum job as a society page columnist, but she would much rather be writing edgier more serious stories. Her editor agrees to let her pick any story she wants if she can obtain an interview with best-selling author Finn Dalton. Carrie accepts his challenge then discovers that Finn NEVER grants interviews and in fact, no one knows exactly where the publicity shy author lives. Carrie puts on her investigative journalist skills to good use and manages to track Finn down at his remote cabin in the Alaskan wilderness. Carrie soon discovers tracking down Finn is the easiest part of her assignment when she comes face to face with irascible writer.

Carrie has plenty of spirit and she is willing to work to get what she wants. Even if that means she has to give up spending Thanksgiving with her close-knit family. Carrie is dismayed by Finn’s attitude towards her, but she does not let it deter her from trying to convince him to agree to an interview. Carrie cleverly gets her point across to him in a pretty amusing and ingenious manner.

Finn is gruff, grumpy and determined to maintain his privacy. His parents’ contentious divorce and a betrayal by a woman he thought he knew leaves him wary and distrusting of women. But somehow Carrie slips past his defenses and surprisingly, he is the one who initiates contact between them after she returns home.

The romance between Finn and Carrie occurs pretty quickly and it is mainly a long distance relationship. Although both have doubts about a future together, they get to know one another through daily texts, e-mails and phone calls. Their road to happily ever after takes a short detour, but Carrie never gives up on Finn and her faith in him pays off beautifully in the end.

As someone who used to live near Fairbanks, I am always thrilled to find a story set there. While Carrie and Finn are only there for a brief time, Debbie Macomber easily conveys the beauty and wonder of Alaska and she brings it vibrantly to life. Her description of Finn is dead on and she perfectly nails his reactions when he is out of his element.

Starry Night is delightful love at first sight romance that is quite heartwarming and believable. It is a truly magical holiday story that fans of contemporary romances do not want to miss.

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Filed under Ballantine Books, Contemporary, Debbie Macomber, Random House Publishing Group, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Starry Night

August 12, 2013 · 3:58 am

Review: Rose Harbor in Bloom by Debbie Macomber

Title: Rose Harbor in Bloom by Debbie Macomber
Rose Harbor Series Book Two
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Imprint: Ballantine Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 338 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Hailed as “the reigning queen of women’s fiction” (The Sacramento Bee), #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber is renowned for her novels of love, friendship, and the promise of fresh starts. Now Macomber returns to the charming Rose Harbor Inn, where each guest finds a second chance and every room comes with an inspiring new view.

Since moving to Cedar Cove, Jo Marie Rose has truly started to feel at home, and her neighbors have become her closest friends. Now it’s springtime, and Jo Marie is eager to finish the most recent addition to her inn. In memory of her late husband, Paul, she has designed a beautiful rose garden for the property and enlisted handyman Mark Taylor to help realize it. She and Mark don’t always see eye-to-eye—and at times he seems far removed—yet deep down, Jo Marie finds great comfort in his company. And while she still seeks a sense of closure, she welcomes her latest guests, who are on their own healing journeys.

Annie Newton arrives in town to orchestrate her grandparents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary celebration. While Annie is excited for the festivities, she’s struggling to move on from her broken engagement, and her grandparents themselves seem to be having trouble getting along. Worse, Annie is forced to see Oliver Sutton, with whom she grew up and who has always mercilessly teased her. But the best parties end with a surprise, and Annie is in for the biggest one of all.

High-powered businesswoman Mary Smith, another Rose Harbor Inn guest, has achieved incredible success in her field, yet serious illness has led her to face her sole, lingering regret. Almost nineteen years ago, she ended her relationship with her true love, George Hudson, and now she’s returned to Cedar Cove to make amends.

Compassion and joy await Jo Marie, Annie, and Mary as they make peace with their pasts and look boldly toward their futures. Rose Harbor in Bloom is Debbie Macomber at her heartwarming best.

The Review:

Debbie Macomber’s Rose Harbor in Bloom is a warm and inviting story of love, healing, family, and friendship. This second outing in the Rose Harbor series brings readers back to the Rose Harbor Inn where B&B owner Jo Marie receives unexpected news and her guests make peace with their pasts and find love in the process.

Jo Marie has made significant progress dealing with her grief over her husband Paul’s death but she continues to cling to the unrealistic hope that he might somehow still be alive. Just as her newest round of guests is arriving, her life is complicated by unsettling news that the Army is finally to retrieve the bodies of Paul and the servicemen who died with him in Afghanistan. Jo Marie has plenty to distract her from dwelling on the recovery effort as she goes about her B&B hosting duties.

Annie Newton and her family are staying at the Rose Harbor Inn as they celebrate her grandparents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary. She is shocked by her grandparents’ constant squabbling and she is dismayed by the appearance of her teenage crush, Oliver. Will her grandparents’ renew their vows as planned? Will she set aside her animosity towards Oliver long enough to uncover the truth about his feelings for her?

As Mary Smith comes face to face with her mortality, she is plagued with regrets over her failed relationship with George Hudson. Unable to resist the pull of her past, Mary reconnects with George but will the secret she carries ruin their reunion?

Rose Harbor in Bloom takes place over a long weekend and each of the characters’ stories are told in alternating chapters from their perspective. Jo Marie’s point of view is first person and her conflict is the most vivid of the three. Of the remaining storylines, Annie’s is the most realistic and heartwarming while Mary’s is sweet but it is too full of coincidences and wrapped up a little too neatly.

The story arc that is the most compelling (and frustrating) is the growing friendship between Jo Marie and handyman Mark Taylor. Mark is quite enigmatic as he gives away little information about himself. In Rose Harbor in Bloom he is still grumpy and a bit cantankerous but we also see a more vulnerable side to him as well. I don’t know about anyone else, but I am dying to know more about his mysterious past. And I am also curious to see if my suspicions about why he is dragging his feet on Jo Marie’s garden project are correct.

Rose Harbor in Bloom is a fast-paced and engaging story and I wasn’t quite ready for my visit with Jo Marie and her guests to end. I enjoyed catching up with characters from the previous novel and I am intrigued by the brief glimpses into the lives of Jo Marie’s next guests. As you can probably guess, I am impatiently awaiting Debbie Macomber’s next installment in this heartwarming series.

Click HERE for my reviews of the other books in the series.

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Filed under Ballantine Books, Contemporary, Debbie Macomber, Random House Publishing Group, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Rose Harbor in Bloom, Rose Harbor Series

July 1, 2013 · 3:58 am

Review: The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman

Title: The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Imprint: Bantam Dell
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: A+ & A Recommended Read

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In this utterly charming debut—perfect for fans of Cecelia Ahern’s P.S., I Love You and Allison Winn Scotch’s Time of My Life—one woman sets out to complete her old list of childhood goals, and finds that her lifelong dreams lead her down a path she never expects.

1. Go to Paris
2. Have a baby, maybe two
3. Fall in love

Brett Bohlinger seems to have it all: a plum job, a spacious loft, an irresistibly handsome boyfriend. All in all, a charmed life. That is, until her beloved mother passes away, leaving behind a will with one big stipulation: In order to receive her inheritance, Brett must first complete the life list of goals she’d written when she was a naïve girl of fourteen. Grief-stricken, Brett can barely make sense of her mother’s decision—her childhood dreams don’t resemble her ambitions at age thirty-four in the slightest. Some seem impossible. How can she possibly have a relationship with a father who died seven years ago? Other goals (Be an awesome teacher!) would require her to reinvent her entire future. As Brett reluctantly embarks on a perplexing journey in search of her adolescent dreams, one thing becomes clear. Sometimes life’s sweetest gifts can be found in the most unexpected places.

The Review:

Lori Nelson Spielman’s extraordinary debut, The Life List is an emotional and thought-provoking journey of self-discovery. It is an unforgettable reminder that it is never too late to follow our dreams even if those dreams seem unobtainable. This captivating story will inspire you to take a second look at your long forgotten and abandoned dreams and give you the courage to fulfill them.

Although devastated at her beloved mother’s passing, Brett Bohlinger is ready to step in her mother’s shoes as CEO of the family cosmetic business. At the reading of the will, Brett is stunned to discover that instead of inheriting the vast fortune and her mother’s position, she has one year to fulfill the remaining dreams on her teenage life list. As she checks off each goal, Brett receives a precious letter from her mother that contains wisdom, advice and startling insight that will forever change Brett’s life.

Hurt and angry by what she perceives as her mother’s lack of faith in her, Brett reluctantly begins to knock the goals off her life list. Some are easy to accomplish while others seem not only ridiculous but impossible to obtain. But as Brett begins to take each task more seriously, she begins to reflect on the true reason behind her mother’s stipulation and she is soon rethinking many of her decisions and priorities. Uncomfortably aware that she is compromising in very important areas in her life, Brett re-evaluates her life and is very surprised by she learns not only about herself, but her mother as well.

One of the most interesting things about The Life List is the sometimes unconventional ways Brett fulfills her goals. She discovers that her dream might be right for her, but that achieving it might mean taking a non-traditional approach. As she steps further and further out of her comfort zone, Brett’s growing dissatisfaction with her previously materialistic life sparks some unexpected decisions that prove to be emotionally rewarding and ultimately, life altering.

Brett’s character undergoes tremendous growth throughout the course of The Life List. In the beginning, she allows her fears to dictate her decisions and instead of taking a risk, she often makes the “safe” choice. Her lack of self-confidence drives her career decision and keeps her in a dysfunctional relationship. It is incredibly gratifying and uplifting when Brett takes control of her life and finds the happiness she so richly deserves.

The Life List is an incredibly heartfelt and moving novel. Lori Nelson Spielman easily captures the reader’s attention with her engaging writing style, incredibly well-developed characters and refreshing plot. The riveting storyline keeps the pages quickly turning in this captivating story about love, loss and healing.

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Filed under Bantam Dell, Contemporary, Fiction, Lori Nelson Spielman, Random House Publishing Group, Rated A+, Recommended Read, Review, The Life List

May 7, 2013 · 3:56 am

Review: The Lost Husband by Katherine Center

Title: The Lost Husband by Katherine Center
Publisher: Random House
Imprint: Ballantine Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Fiction
Length: 305 pages
Book Rating: A

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Perfect for fans of Jennifer Weiner and Emily Giffin, this tender and heartwarming novel explores the trials of losing what matters most—and how there’s always more than we can imagine left to find.

Dear Libby, It occurs to me that you and your two children have been living with your mother for—Dear Lord!—two whole years, and I’m writing to see if you’d like to be rescued.

The letter comes out of the blue, and just in time for Libby Moran, who—after the sudden death of her husband, Danny—went to stay with her hypercritical mother. Now her crazy Aunt Jean has offered Libby an escape: a job and a place to live on her farm in the Texas Hill Country. Before she can talk herself out of it, Libby is packing the minivan, grabbing the kids, and hitting the road.

Life on Aunt Jean’s goat farm is both more wonderful and more mysterious than Libby could have imagined. Beyond the animals and the strenuous work, there is quiet—deep, country quiet. But there is also a shaggy, gruff (though purportedly handsome, under all that hair) farm manager with a tragic home life, a formerly famous feed-store clerk who claims she can contact Danny “on the other side,” and the eccentric aunt Libby never really knew but who turns out to be exactly what she’s been looking for. And despite everything she’s lost, Libby soon realizes how much more she’s found. She hasn’t just traded one kind of crazy for another: She may actually have found the place to bring her little family—and herself—back to life.

The Review:

Katherine Center’s The Lost Husband is a beautiful journey of self-discovery that is a little poignant but uplifting. This heartwarming and humorous novel has an all star cast of charming characters that will steal your heart.

Following her husband’s death three years earlier, Libby Moran and her two young kids, Abby and Tank moved in with her narcissistic mother. On the heels of yet another argument, Libby impulsively accepts her Aunt Jean’s offer to move in with her on her goat farm. Aunt Jean and a simpler life on the farm are just what Libby needs to make peace with her past.

All of the characters in The Lost Husband are well-developed and just a little bit quirky. Libby is a loving but overprotective mother who always expects the worst in any given situation. What makes her unique is that she accepts fully accepts herself, flaws and all. Aunt Jean is a free spirit who perfectly balances Libby’s overprotective nature. Farm manager O’Connor is gruff but caring and endlessly patient with Libby and her kids.

The Lost Husband is a light-hearted and thought-provoking novel that is engaging and witty. Katherine Center’s character development is flawless and she brings them vibrantly to life. A delightful story of family, friends and love that I absolutely loved and heartily recommend.

3 Comments

Filed under Ballantine Books, Contemporary, Fiction, Katherine Center, Random House Publishing Group, Rated A, Review, Romance, The Lost Husband

April 23, 2013 · 3:57 am

Review: Claim Me by J. Kenner

Title: Claim Me by J. Kenner
Stark Trilogy Book Two
Publisher: Random Publishing House Group
Imprint: Bantam
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, Romance, BDSM
Length: 386 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

For fans of Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You comes the second novel in the erotic, fast-paced trilogy that started with Release Me. This sexy, emotionally charged romance continues the story of Damien Stark, the powerful multimillionaire who’s never had to take “no” for an answer, and Nikki Fairchild, the Southern belle who only says “yes” on her own terms.

For Damien, our obsession is a game. For me, it is fiercely, blindingly, real.

Damien Stark’s need is palpable—his need for pleasure, his need for control, his need for me. Beautiful and brilliant yet tortured at his core, he is in every way my match.

I have agreed to be his alone, and now I want him to be fully mine. I want us to possess each other beyond the sweetest edge of our ecstasy, into the deepest desires of our souls. To let the fire that burns between us consume us both.

But there are dark places within Damien that not even our wildest passion can touch. I yearn to know his secrets, yearn for him to surrender to me as I have surrendered to him. But our troubled pasts will either bind us close . . . or shatter us completely.

Claim Me is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

The Review:

Claim Me is the passion-filled and intense second installment in J. Kenner’s Stark Trilogy. A little more angsty than Release Me, Damien and Nikki face many challenges once their agreement comes to an end. Intense media scrutiny, betrayals from unexpected sources and the ghosts from Damien’s past threaten their tenuous relationship.

Nikki is a lot more fragile in Claim Me. She falls back into her past destructive coping mechanisms in order to deal with her mounting anxiety. The uncertainty Nikki feels in her relationship with Damien adds to her turmoil and she is becoming increasingly insecure about their future. A close friendship also becomes a source of tension as she tries to figure out if he is trying to undermine her relationship with Damien. But the biggest problem facing Nikki and Damien is his unwavering refusal to discuss his troubled past.

Damien steadfastly maintains tight control over his life and to some extent, Nikki’s. He is very protective of her and I think this sometimes does her more harm than good as she becomes more and more dependent on him. Damien’s secretiveness keeps Nikki off balance for much of the novel and she is continually questioning her decisions. I liked that she examined her motives, but it occasionally becomes repetitive.

The BDSM element intensifies with Damien becoming more dominant. Nikki’s need for pain increases as her life spins out of control. The sex scenes between Damien and Nikki are plentiful and quite steamy.

Claim Me is full of emotion and some very unexpected twists and turns. J. Kenner’s writing style is quite dramatic and every sentence is laden with heavy meaning. The characters are multi-dimensional and exquisitely developed. The story is a little slow moving at times, but the shocking ending is well worth the wait and will leave readers eagerly anticipating Complete Me, the final installment of the Stark Trilogy.

Read my review of Release Me HERE.

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Filed under Bantam, BDSM, Claim Me, Contemporary, Erotic, J Kenner, Random House Publishing Group, Rated B, Review, Romance, Stark Trilogy