Category Archives: Sourcebooks Casablanca

October 3, 2013 · 3:59 am

Review: The Christmas He Loved Her by Juliana Stone

Title: The Christmas He Loved Her by Juliana Stone
Bad Boys of Crystal Lake Book Two
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: A

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

All he wants this Christmas is her…

In the small town of Crystal Lake, Christmas is a time for sledding, hot chocolate, and cozying up to the fire with those you love. For Jake Edwards, it’s also time to come home and face the music. He thought there would never be anything harder than losing his brother. Turns out there is: falling in love with his brother’s widow, Raine.

Ever since they were little, Jesse was the Edwards brother who was always there for her, and Jake was the one who knew just how to push her buttons. Raine can’t imagine a life without them, which is why it was doubly decimating when Jake left town after his brother’s sudden death. Now he’s back and she doesn’t know whether to be mad or thrilled. Maybe both. Or maybe it will be the perfect chance for both of them to finally find happiness again.

The Review:

The Bad Boys of Crystal Lake are back and Oh. My. Goodness. Juliana Stone pretty much ripped my heart to shreds with Jake and Raine’s story. There is so much raw emotion and anguish in The Christmas He Loved Me, it is positively gut wrenching. This deeply emotional read will make you laugh, cry and ultimately rejoice as Jake and Raine finally break free of their haunting pasts and find their much deserved happily ever after.

A year and a half after he left town following his brother Jesse’s funeral, Jake Edwards returns home just in time for the holidays. Waiting for him are all of the problems he left behind and topping the list of things he would give anything to avoid? His childhood friend and Jesse’s widow, Raine. Running a pretty close second? His overwhelming (and somewhat misplaced) guilt. Guilt over Jesse’s death. Guilt over his feelings for Raine. And underneath it all? The never ending grief he feels for the brother he has lost.

Grief is an emotion that Raine knows all too well. She is deeply depressed, barely able to function and spends most of her days with her head buried under the covers. Jake’s homecoming is just the catalyst Raine needs to begin emerging from her sorrow.

Neither Jake nor Raine are prepared for the irresistible attraction they feel for one another. Nor are they ready for the emotions that surface after they give in to their passion. Both are haunted by an incident that precipitated Jake’s departure and neither knows how to bring it up without destroying their fragile new relationship. But it is long buried secrets that threaten to destroy them as they try to plan their future together.

Jake and Raine are also facing some difficult family issues. Raine’s mother, Gloria, essentially abandoned Raine as a child to work as a missionary. Gloria has recently returned to try to salvage their relationship, but Raine’s hurt and anger make it difficult for her to give Gloria a chance. Jake has an easier time repairing the damage to his relationship with his parents but the secret Jake is keeping from them keeps him mired in the past. Their tight bond is strong enough to withstand anything, but it takes almost of the entire novel before Jake fully believes this.

The Christmas He Loved Her begins around Thanksgiving and continues through the Christmas season. It is not a light and fluffy holiday read, but it is a beautiful story of love and forgiveness. Jake and Raine are dealing with realistic and incredibly painful issues but Juliana Stone makes all of the heartbreak (and tears) worthwhile with a touching and uplifting ending that perfectly sets up the next novel in the Bad Boys of Crystal Lake series.

Please click HERE to read my reviews of the other novels in the Bad Boys of Crystal Lake series.

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Filed under Bad Boys of Crystal Lake Series, Contemporary, Juliana Stone, Rated A, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks, Sourcebooks Casablanca, The Christmas He Loved Her

September 5, 2013 · 3:58 am

Review: Geek Girls Don’t Date Dukes by Gina Lamm

Title: Geek Girls Don’t Date Dukes by Gina Lamm
Geek Girls Series Book TWo
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Historical, Romance, Time Travel
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

All Leah wanted was a little gallantry, a bit of chivalry. What she had was Kevin, the ex-boyfriend who’s asked her to be his new fiancee’s bridesmaid. Fat chance. Why can’t it be like the good old days? It’s as though someone hears her plea because the next thing she knows, a plump housekeeper full of mischief sends her back in time to Regency England. And now Leah is determined to snag her very own duke…

Avery Russell was polishing boots when the woman fell through the mirror into his arms, breathlessly babbling some nonsense about “my one true love, Your Grace.” If the chit couldn’t tell a valet from a duke, she was in a sorry state indeed. And as much as he wanted to give in and give her a good tumble, he knew it wouldn’t be proper. No, he’d take his time wooing this one… as long as necessary to convince her that sometimes a duke just won’t do.

The Review:

Geek Girls Don’t Date Dukes is another fast-paced and charming novel in Gina Lamm’s fun time travel series. I absolutely loved The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl so I was quite eager to read Leah’s story.

Ms. Lamm does an excellent job keeping the Geek Girls series fresh and unique and Leah Ramsey’s trip back in time has a few distinct differences. Unlike the first novel, Leah’s time travel is voluntary so she is able to bring a few items to make her stay in Regency England a bit more comfortable. She has more knowledge of the time period she is traveling to. But the biggest difference is Leah knows that she is destined to fall in love with someone in the Duke of Granville’s household. Since her friend Jamie’s true love turned out to be an Earl, Leah arrives at the Duke’s home anticipating a love match with the Duke. So she is a little confused by her attraction to the Duke’s valet, Avery Russell. And when she meets the Duke? Well, let’s just say he is definitely not what she was expecting.

Part of Leah’s desire to travel back in time stems from her beloved grandfather’s desire to see her happily married. So she gamely accepts a position as maid in the Duke’s home. The work is much harder (and more disgusting) than Leah thought it would be, but Avery is there to lend a helping hand. With the other servants openly hostile towards her, Leah is grateful for Avery’s assistance and his steady friendship.

Avery is a wonderful hero and there was not anything about him that I did not like. He cannot quite escape his past career as a boxer and although he is an honorable man, he is forced to make unsavory decisions to protect those he loves. Avery is quite protective of Leah and he does an admirable job looking out for her. But his past collides with his present and puts Leah in danger. His feelings of inadequacy override his love for her and their future together looks bleak when someone from Leah’s life arrives bearing bad news.

As with the first novel in the series, Ms. Lamm does not downplay the less than ideal living conditions in Regency England. Leah’s repugnance over cleaning chamber pots and the unsanitary street life dispels a little bit of the romance of the era and provides historical accuracy to the overall story. It is also a refreshing change of pace that the main characters are not nobility. Leah does experience a more glamorous life when a well-meaning member of the peer offers to introduce her to the Duke but she is soon disillusioned by the daily lifestyle of her patroness.

A wonderful addition to Geek Girls series, Geek Girls Don’t Date Dukes is a highly entertaining novel. Full of appealing characters, plenty of snarky humor and a wonderfully unpredictable storyline, it is a must read for fans of time travel and historical romances. I have my fingers crossed that Gina Lamm has more stories planned for this delightful series.

Please click HERE to read my review of the first book in the series.

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Filed under Geek Girls Don't Date Dukes, Geek Girls Series, Gina Lamm, Historical, Rated B, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks, Sourcebooks Casablanca, Time Travel

August 6, 2013 · 3:57 am

Review: Wicked Beat by Olivia Cunning

Title: Wicked Beat by Olivia Cunning
Sinners on Tour Book Four
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, Romance
Length: 416 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From the moment he lays eyes on Sinners’ new front of house soundboard operator, drummer Eric Sticks knows he has to make Rebekah his. Unfortunately, she’s too busy trying to seduce guitarist Trey Mills to pay him much attention. Rebekah never planned to fall for the tall, goofy drummer with the weird sense of humor and a heart the size of the galaxy, but Eric makes her laugh and his constant attention makes her feel sexy and irresistible–exactly what she needs after the things her last lover said to her. A woman who gives as much as she takes, Rebekah makes Eric feel like a total stud–exactly what he needs after surviving a decade of watching the incredibly talented members of Sinners from the wings.

The Review:

In Wicked Beat, the final installment of the über hot Sinners on Tour series, Olivia Cunning turns up the heat and delivers a plethora of smokin’ hawt and extremely erotic sex scenes. Rebekah “Reb” Blake and drummer Eric Sticks are playful lovers who eagerly act out their raunchiest fantasies with amazing frequency.

I have to confess that Rebekah is my least favorite Sinners’ heroine. In fact, I really did not like her much in the beginning or end of Wicked Beat. Rebekah is seriously crushing on Trey, but instead, she gets involved with Eric right off the bat. Now, I’ll be the first to admit, her self-esteem is at an all time low, she has zero sexual self-confidence, and she is attracted to Eric, but the fact is, she used him. I did like her through the middle of the story. Rebekah accepts Eric and she really gets his sense of humor. They are sexually compatible and their sexual chemistry is undeniable. But her reactions to certain events later in the book sent me back into dislike territory and I never did regain respect for her.

Now Eric? I LOVED him. He is offbeat with a quirky sense of humor and he is just adorable. Fans of the series know what Eric’s kink is and yep, he and Rebekah are on the same sexual page where it’s concerned. Eric has his own sexual insecurities and in this area, Eric and Rebekah are good for each other. Right from the start, Eric is serious about Rebekah and he only has eyes for her. He is just soo freakin’ cute and sweet once he falls for her. There is depth and substance to Eric’s character but his troubled past is barely touched on and his storyline remains sadly underdeveloped.

Rebekah and Eric’s relationship is superficial and outside of getting to know each other sexually, they really do not know anything about one another. So I had real problems with how quickly they fell in love. The “I love yous” were exchanged within days and I was highly skeptical that Rebekah could fall out of lust with Trey and into love with Eric that fast. There is little romance to the novel and while the sex scenes are definitely steamy, Eric and Rebekah practically do nothing but have sex. There are so many long and drawn out sex scenes that they eventually overwhelm the storyline.

With so little substance to their relationship, it is really no surprise when it implodes. While Eric tries to patch things up between them, Rebekah takes the advice of her ex, you know the man who crushed her self-esteem. And when she finds out how he manipulated her? She forgives him! I don’t care how close your friendship is, there are some things that are unforgivable and I was furious when Rebekah overlooked everything he did.

There are parts of Wicked Beat that I truly enjoyed. Trey and the rest of the band see how much Rebekah means to Eric and they take every opportunity to throw them together. Even though Trey knows that Rebekah wants him, he becomes an unlikely matchmaker for the duo. I love, love, love Eric and I am thrilled that I got to know more about this sensitive man. While I was not crazy about Rebekah, she is a good fit for Eric and I loved that they finally found their happily ever after.

Wicked Beat is an overall entertaining read that nicely wraps up Olivia Cunning’s Sinners on Tour series. I’m gonna miss these sexy rockers and the women who won their hearts!

Read my reviews of the previous two books in the series HERE.

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Filed under Contemporary, Erotic, Rated C+, Review, Romance, Sinners on Tour Series, Sourcebooks, Sourcebooks Casablanca, Wicked Beat

August 5, 2013 · 3:56 am

Review: Cowboy Seeks Bride by Carolyn Brown

Title: Cowboy Seeks Bride by Carolyn Brown
Spikes & Spurs Series Book Seven
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

He’s Tough as Nails and Ready to Ride…

Rancher Dewar O’Donnell is just an old-fashioned cowboy at heart, and he can’t wait to reenact the historic Chisholm Trail ride with his buddies. The trial-run cattle drive for a reality TV show sounds like a great time—until H.B. McKay pulls up in her slick red sports car…

She’s Way Out of Her Element…

Haley McKay is a feisty, high-powered businesswoman with the power suit and stiletto heels to prove it. She’s keen to research her company’s hot new idea for a reality TV show—but mount up with a bunch of modern-day cowboys? Are they kidding?

It’s too late to back out now, so Haley sets out to prove that it will take more than snakes, storms, and stampedes to make her back down.

The Review:

Take a step back in time in Carolyn Brown’s Cowboy Seeks Bride as Dewar O’Donnell and Haley McKay fall in love while reenacting a cattle drive on the Chisholm Trail. This fun romance will have you laughing out loud at some of the mishaps that befall them as they travel by horseback from Texas to Kansas. While it is a contemporary novel, the lack of modern conveniences gives the story a old-fashioned vibe that fans of contemporary and historical romances will enjoy.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to like Haley at first. She comes across as rather prissy and I was sure she was going to spend most of the cattle drive complaining. But I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly she adapted to the simpler life and I loved how she rose to the different challenges facing her. Haley is quite feisty and she can definitely hold her own against all the men on the trip with her. She is a little slower to change what she considers the perfect man, but Dewar is a hard man to resist. What I liked best about Haley is how much the cattle drive changed her perceptions of herself and what she is looking for in life.

Dewar is the quintessential cowboy and he loves his life on the ranch. While he is satisfied with his life overall, Dewar is ready to settle down, but he has not found Miss Right just yet. Haley is just his type except for the fact that is a city woman through and through. He is upfront that city life is not for him and with Haley’s adamant insistence that country life is not for her, Dewar is reluctant to act on his attraction for her.

I absolutely loved watching Dewar and Haley fall for one another. Even though they really do not know where their relationship is going, Dewar and Haley spend every free moment they can together after they decide to give in to their desire. The backdrop of the cattle drive adds romance to relationship because seriously, is there anything more romantic than making love under the stars?

What really made the story enjoyable for me is the cattle drive. It is a very unique setting and I really liked the change of pace from complicated every day life. One of Carolyn Brown’s strengths as a writer is her ability to bring the scenery vividly to life and wow, she really outdoes herself in Cowboy Seeks Bride. I could feel the raging thunderstorms and easily visualize the beauty of the moonlit nights. The cattle drive is not always exciting and this is reflected in the day to day monotony. It would be easy to romanticize the experience but Ms. Brown does not downplay the inconveniences and hardships they face along the way. At the end of the trip, each of the cowboys gives their honest opinions of their adventure and I thought their various reactions were realistic.

Cowboy Seeks Bride was a little slow in the beginning, but it picks up speed about a quarter of the way in. The romance between Dewar and Haley is sweet but sexy and their sex scenes are quite steamy. Their transition back to real life is a little bumpy but their conflict is wrapped up fairly quickly. The ending is pure romance and I savored every luscious second of it.

Cowboy Seeks Bride is the seventh (and final) installment in the Spikes and Spurs series but it can easily be read as a standalone story.

Read my reviews of the other books in the series HERE.

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Filed under Carolyn Brown, Contemporary, Cowboy Seeks Bride, Rated B, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks, Sourcebooks Casablanca, Spikes & Spurs Series

July 1, 2013 · 3:57 am

Review: The Officer and the Secret by Jeanette Murray

Title: The Officer and the Secret by Jeanette Murray
Semper Fi Series Book Three
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

If There’s One Thing He Hates, It’s a Secret…

Coming home after a rough deployment, Captain Dwayne Robertson wants some stability in his life, and finds it in the friendship he’s forged with Veronica Gibson while he was away. But her past is a well-guarded mystery, and Dwayne doesn’t know if he can deal with a woman who has something to hide…

And She’s Filled with Them…

Veronica Gibson doesn’t want anyone to know about her bizarre upbringing. She’s finally escaped her missionary parents and would be enjoying her independence if she didn’t feel so insecure about fitting in. She can easily envision a glorious future with Dwayne—but can she build a new life on a web of lies?

The Review:

Jeanette Murray’s tantalizing glimpses of Dwayne Robertson and Veronica Gibson piqued my interest in this couple in previous installments of the Semper Fiseries and I have been impatiently waiting their story. And I have to say, it was totally worth the wait. The Officer and the Secret is hands down my favorite novel in the series and I hated to say goodbye to Dwayne and Veronica.

Coming home from his latest deployment, Dwayne is stunned when he begins experiencing symptoms of PTSD. He is proactive in seeking treatment for his nightmares and flashbacks, but Dwayne finds the peace he so desperately needs with Veronica, the young woman he has been Skyping with for months. Veronica’s friendship was his lifeline during his deployment and with her, he is finally able to open up and talk about his time in Afghanistan. Underlying their friendship is a simmering attraction that catches both Veronica and Dwayne off guard.

Veronica is an absolutely delightful breath of fresh air. Due to her extremely sheltered childhood, she is a little bit naïve and innocent but she is finally beginning to adjust to her new life. Veronica is gaining ground in her attempt to fit in with today’s society but she is still a work in progress. In the beginning she is unsure of herself and ashamed of her self-perceived shortcomings, but as she gains confidence, Veronica begins to not only stand up for herself, but she also goes after what she wants. And when she sets her sights on Dwayne, the gruff and tough Marine better watch out!

Dwayne might have a rough exterior, but this charming Southern boy is kind-hearted and caring. He is definitely attracted to Veronica but he is a leery of getting involved with anyone while he is trying to cope with his PTSD. Dwayne has also been burned in a previous relationship so he has trust issues he is dealing with.

The romance between Veronica and Dwayne is slow growing and sooo sweet. Despite their obvious desire for one another, they take the time to date and get to know one another before they begin heating up the sheets. Veronica continues to keep her secrets and when they are faced with an unexpected complication, Dwayne finds it impossible to trust her.

The Officer and the Secret by Jeanette Murray is a heartwarming and engaging romance. Veronica and Dwayne are beautifully developed characters and the issues they are struggling with are easy to relate to. The conflict between them is believable and it is resolved fairly quickly with very little angst. An entertaining addition to a captivating series that I highly recommend to fans of contemporary romances.

Read my reviews of the other novels in the Semper Fi series HERE.

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Filed under Contemporary, Jeanette Murray, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Semper Fi Series, Sourcebooks, Sourcebooks Casablanca, The Officer and the Secret

June 4, 2013 · 3:56 am

Review: Billion Dollar Cowboy by Carolyn Brown

Title: Billion Dollar Cowboy by Carolyn Brown
Cowboys and Brides Series Book One
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A Billionaire Can Buy Anything…

Colton Nelson was twenty-eight years old when he won the Texas Lottery and went from ranch hand to ranch owner overnight. Now he’s desperate to keep the gold diggers away. It shouldn’t be too hard to find a pretty girl and hire her to pretend to be his one-and-only.

Or Can He?

Laura Baker’s got mixed feelings about this—she’s on the ranch to work, not to be arm candy. On the other hand, being stuck for a while in the boondocks with a gorgeous cowboy isn’t half-bad.

What neither Colton nor Laura expects are the intensely hard lessons they have to learn about the real cost of love…

The Review:

If you have ever dreamed of winning the lottery, then you are going to love Billion Dollar Cowboy. This first novel in Carolyn Brown’s Cowboys and Brides series, is a delightful (but slightly unrealistic) romance that is full of charming characters.

Laura Baker has a long history of bailing her sister Janet out of trouble. Janet’s latest disaster involves loan sharks and a huge debt, so Laura turns to her cousin Andy Joe for a loan. Andy gladly loans her the money and gives her a job as his personal assistant on Colton Nelson’s ranch. Laura’s life take an interesting turn when she agrees to pretend to be Colton’s girlfriend in an attempt to discourage the gold diggers continually plaguing him.

Laura and Colton are wonderfully developed and likable protagonists. Laura is a what you see is what you get type of person and she always stays true to herself. She is unimpressed with Colton’s wealth and that never changes throughout the story. Colton is pretty much the same guy he was before he won the lottery and he is very generous to his family and employees. Both have insecurities and trust issues stemming from their childhoods that threaten to derail their burgeoning relationship.

Now I will be the first to admit that the premise of Billion Dollar Cowboy is a bit of a stretch of the imagination. But I liked the Colton, Laura and the secondary characters enough to overlook some of the more improbable plot points and just enjoy the overall story. Colton and Laura’s romance is sweet with just enough spice to make their relationship believable.

Billion Dollar Cowboy is an entertaining homespun romance that is sure to appeal to fans of contemporary romances and leave them eagerly anticipating the next novel in Carolyn Brown’s Cowboys and Brides series.

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Filed under Billion Dollar Cowboy, Carolyn Brown, Contemporary, Cowboys and Brides Series, Rated B, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks, Sourcebooks Casablanca