Category Archives: Sourcebooks Casablanca

November 2, 2012 · 3:57 am

Review: A Wedding in Apple Grove by C.H. Admirand

Title: A Wedding in Apple Grove by C.H. Admirand
Small Town U.S.A. Trilogy Book One
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

He’s not so sure about small town life.
She can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Welcome to Apple Grove, Ohio (population 597), where everyone has your best interests at heart, even if they can’t agree on the best way to meddle. When the townsfolk of Apple Grove need handiwork done, there’s no job too small for the Mulcahy sisters: Megan, Caitlin, and Grace.

Specializing in hard work and family loyalty, tomboy Meg Mulcahy has left behind any girlhood dreams of romance. Enter newcomer Daniel Eagan, looking to bury his own broken heart and make a new start. He’s surprised-and delighted-by the winsome girl with the mighty tool belt who shows up to fix his wiring.

But Dan’s got a lot to learn about life in a small town, and when Meg’s past collides with her future, it may take all 595 other residents of Apple Grove to keep this romance from short-circuiting.

The Review:

A Wedding in Apple Grove, C.H. Admirand’s first installment in her Small Town U.S.A. trilogy is a delightfully charming romance. The sparks fly between Meg Mulcahy and newcomer Dan Eagan and they are quick to act on their mutual desire. But when Dan is not ready to move forward with their relationship, Meg must decide if the sexy high school soccer coach is worth waiting for.

Meg and Dan are magnificently developed, three dimensional characters who have both been hurt in previous relationships. Meg is devoted to her family and she shares a close bond with her father, Joe and her sisters, Cait and Grace. She works long hours in the family business and I love that her character has a non-traditional career as a handywoman who can repair just about anything. Putting her life on hold following her mother’s death years earlier, Meg still lives at home as she waits for her on again/off again boyfriend to fully commit to their relationship. But her instant attraction to Dan becomes a catalyst for Meg to make some much needed changes in her life.

Handsome, sexy, a little bit wounded by his ex and a true gentleman, Dan is definitely a sigh worthy hero. He is kind, caring and considerate to everyone but it is his relationship with his Great Aunt Trudi that reveals his loving nature. Having been betrayed in past relationships, Dan is not ready to rush his relationship with Meg, much to her dismay. Afraid of losing Meg, Dan turns to Aunt Trudi who provides some much needed advice and a gentle push in the right direction.

The relationship between Meg and Dan moves fairly quickly from lust to love. Their sex scenes are sensual and understated. They truly compliment one another’s strengths and weaknesses and I enjoyed watching them figure out how to make their relationship work for them.

The secondary cast of characters is also well-developed and equally likable. Meg is very close to her Dad, and their scenes together are quite touching. The relationship between Meg and her sisters is a typical sibling relationship and I got a laugh out of some of their antics. But it is the friendship between Meg and longtime friend Honey B. that I enjoyed the most. The bond between them is strong and their honesty with one another is quite refreshing.

While A Wedding in Apple Grove is well-written, some of the timeline was difficult to keep up with. I was confused on a couple of occasions when I could not tell if the scene was taking place on the same day or a different one. A small issue that did not lessen my enjoyment of the story, but it did cause me to flip back to see if I had missed a transition from one scene or day to another.

C.H. Admirand’s A Wedding in Apple Grove is a heartwarming romance that is fast-paced and engrossing. The small town setting adds warmth and appeal to the story. If you enjoy novels with terrific character development, witty, intelligent dialogue and a homey atmosphere, then you are going to love A Wedding in Apple Grove.

1 Comment

Filed under A Wedding in Apple Grove, C.H. Admirand, Contemporary, Rated B, Review, Romance, Small Town USA Trilogy, Sourcebooks Casablanca

October 2, 2012 · 3:58 am

Review: Sultry with a Twist by Macy Beckett

Title: Sultry with a Twist by Macy Beckett
Sultry Springs Series Book One
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Welcome to Sultry Springs, Texas:
where first loves find second chances…

Nine years after June Augustine hightailed it out of Sultry Springs with her heart in pieces, one thing stands between her and her dream of opening an upscale martini bar: a bogus warrant from her tiny Texas hometown. Now she’s stuck in the sticks for a month of community service under the supervision of the devilishly sexy Luke Gallagher, her first love and ex-best friend.

If Texas wasn’t already hot enough, working side-by-side with June would make any man melt. Luke wants nothing more than to strip her down and throw her in the lake—the same lake where they were found buck naked and guilty as sin all those years ago. In their heads, they’re older and wise. But their hearts tell a different story…

The Review:

Macy Beckett’s Sultry with a Twist is a spectacular debut novel and first installment in what promises to be a fun and engaging series. It is a well-written second chance at love and friends to lovers story that fans of contemporary romances are sure to enjoy.

Best friends for much of their lives, June Augustine and Luke Gallagher shared one incredible night of passion that ended effectively ended their friendship. Luke left for a stint in the Army while June headed off to college. Following a heated argument with her grandmother, June vowed never to return to Sultry Springs, and she’s kept her word for nine years. That is until the terms of her community service force her to live with her grandmother while working for Luke. Will thirty days be enough time to mend her relationship with her grandmother and heal her broken heart?

June and Luke are beautifully developed characters. Neither June nor Luke have had an easy life and they carry the emotional scars of events from their respective childhoods. Of the two, Luke has the most obstacles to overcome; he feels unworthy of love and finds it difficult to believe that June can genuinely love him.

June is sassy, smart and works hard to achieve her goals and dreams. She is a strong woman and I really appreciate the fact that she stands up for herself when she needs to. She has enough self-worth that she won’t settle for what Luke is willing to give her.

The relationship between June and Luke does not fix itself over night. For every step forward they take, it seems like they take three steps back. Their relationship is complicated and the glimpses of their shared past make their present day relationship more realistic. The sexual chemistry between June and Luke is off the charts smokin’ hot and their sex scenes are positively sizzling.

What makes Sultry with a Twist such an outstanding read are the relationships between the various characters. June’s grandmother, Pru, is stubborn and no nonsense but underneath her gruff exterior lies a marshmallow soft heart. There is conflict between Pru and June, but it does not take long for them to work out the issues between them. Luke’s friendship with his Army buddy Trey is wonderful and the scenes between them are some of the best in the book.

Sultry with a Twist is a deliciously sexy and heartwarming romance. The characters are well-rounded, appealing and genuine. Macy Beckett is a not to be missed new author in the romance genre and I am eagerly awaiting her next novel in the Sultry Springs series.

6 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Macy Beckett, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks, Sourcebooks Casablanca, Sultry Springs Series, Sultry with a Twist

October 1, 2012 · 3:56 am

Review: Mistletoe Cowboy by Carolyn Brown

Title: Mistletoe Cowboy by Carolyn Brown
Spikes & Spurs Series Book Five
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: C+

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Commitment! It made Sage run the other way. It made Creed shudder. But Sage’s granny, the Widow Presley, was determined to get her granddaughter a cowboy for Christmas. And who better than Creed, the man interested in purchasing the widow’s Rockin’ C Ranch?

The fact that a three-day blizzard was blowing in just made things all the better. A person can’t run from commitment when they’re snowed in, now can they?

The Review:

A scheming grandma comes up the perfect plan to bring together her beloved granddaughter and a sexy cowboy in this latest installment of Carolyn Brown’s Spikes & Spurs series. Mistletoe Cowboy is an enchanting Christmas romance about two commitment phobes who fall in love when they are snowed in together during a blizzard.

Sage Presley and Creed Riley are likable characters who may start off on the wrong foot but quickly realize they are attracted to one another. Both are carrying emotional baggage and neither is interested in a relationship. Their back and forth bickering is delightful and their heart to heart discussions are quite touching. And their sex scenes are soo sexy!

While Mistletoe Cowboy is well-written, it is a slow moving story. I like Sage and Creed as individuals but I really never connected with them as a couple. I absolutely loved the descriptions of Sage’s creative process and I could easily visualize her paintings. Creed is a typical well-mannered cowboy and I was really rooting for him to buy the Rockin’ C Ranch.

But what I enjoyed the most about Mistletoe Cowboy is Sage’s grandma, Ada and her Aunt Essie. Their scenes together are a perfect combination of humor and love between two sisters. Ada’s conflicting emotions about her desire to live with Essie and her reluctance to leave Sage just about broke my heart. But I loved the compromise she came up with and her negotiations with Essie just cracked me up!

But what I found most striking about Mistletoe Cowboy is the setting. I live close to the Canyon and Carolyn Brown does a wonderful job of bringing this amazing place vibrantly to life.

Mistletoe Cowboy is a light-hearted holiday novel that fans of contemporary Westerns will enjoy. Even though it is part of the Spikes & Spurs series, it can be read as a standalone story.

Read my reviews of the other books in the Spikes & Spurs series HERE.

4 Comments

Filed under Carolyn Brown, Contemporary, Mistletoe Cowboy, Rated C+, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks, Sourcebooks Casablanca, Spikes & Spurs Series

August 2, 2012 · 3:55 am

Call Me Wild by Robin Kaye

Title: Call Me Wild by Robin Kaye
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

She doesn’t know a single thing about relationships…

Unemployed sportswriter Jessie James plans to make a killing writing a bestselling romance novel. She’s never read one, but really, how hard can it be? Moving cross-country to a borrowed house in Idaho, Jessie starts her research with the first gorgeous guy she runs into…

Luckily, he knows everything…

Sports doctor Fisher Kincaid notices Jessie right away–the transplanted Easterner sticks out like a sore thumb in the small town. When he discovers she’s researching attraction and romance, he graciously offers himself as a test subject. That’s when everything starts to go wrong, and they both find out how much they need a few good lessons in love

The Review:

Robin Kaye’s Call Me Wild is a sweet, sexy and all around fun read. Recently laid off from her job as a sportswriter, Jessie is planning to write that novel she has always been planning on writing. With romance novels in hand (for research purposes, of course), Jessie is ready to devote six weeks to writing a romance novel. The only problem? She has never been in a relationship and she does not believe in love. Hmm, maybe a little hands on research is what this aspiring author needs.

Fisher Kincaid happily volunteers to be Jessie’s research assistant. He is an easygoing, handsome and successful doctor. Who cooks AND cleans. Despite his best efforts, Fisher has been unable to talk Jessie into going on a date with him. Until a little matchmaking by Fisher’s sister Karma presents him with the perfect opportunity to jumpstart their non-existent relationship. All in the name of research, of course.

Jessie James is not a girly girl type of woman. She is low maintenance, more comfortable in sweats and running shoes than a dress and heels. Her domestic skills include microwaving TV dinners. Tall, athletic and in better shape than most men, Jessie does not need a man to rescue her or, well, for anything.

Complete opposites in many way, Fisher and Jessie are a marvelous couple. They perfectly complement one another’s strengths and weaknesses. The sexual chemistry between them is sizzling hot and their love scenes are passionate and quite steamy.

Robin Kaye’s engaging writing style and unique storyline keep Call Me Wild moving at a fast pace. It is a captivating read with appealing protagonists and entertaining, witty dialogue. The supporting cast of characters is delightful and equally well drawn.

Although it is part of a series, Call Me Wild can be read as a standalone novel. But if you are like me and have not read the previous books, you will quickly add them to your to be read pile.

3 Comments

Filed under Call Me Wild, Contemporary, Rated B, Robin Kaye, Romance, Sourcebooks, Sourcebooks Casablanca

March 29, 2012 · 3:57 am

One Hot Cowboy Wedding by Carolyn Brown

Title: One Hot Cowboy Wedding by Carolyn Brown
Spikes and Spurs Book 4
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A marriage made in Vegas…

Hunky cowboy Ace Riley wasn’t planning on settling down, but his family had other plans for him…The only way to save his hide, and his playboy lifestyle, is to discreetly marry his best friend, Jasmine King.

Can’t possibily last…

Fiesty city–girl Jasmine as just helping out her friend—that is, until their first kiss stirs up a whole mess of trouble, and suddenly discretion is thrown to the wind.

One hot cowboy, one riled up woman…
And they’ll be married for a year, like it or not!

The Review:

Buckle up, lovers of cowboy romances, you are in for a wild and wicked ride with Carolyn Brown’s latest installment in her Spikes and Spurs series, One Hot Cowboy Wedding.

Good friends Jasmine “Jazzy” King and Ace Riley discover pretty quickly that what happens in Vegas doesn’t necessarily stay in Vegas. When their plans to keep their in name only marriage a secret go up in a flurry of unexpected publicity, they are forced to live in close quarters for a year. With their mutual desire for one another burning out of control, both are left wondering if their friendship will survive their marriage.

While the marriage of convenience and friends to lovers plot device is nothing new, Carolyn Brown keeps One Hot Cowboy Wedding delightfully fresh and unique. Jazzy and Ace are beautifully developed characters that are immensely appealing. Jazzy is energetic and strong-willed and she is absolutely perfect for the charming and oh so very sexy Ace. The sexual chemistry between them is scorching hot and their sex scenes, while understated, are incredibly romantic and playful.

There is a little conflict in the story as both Jazzy and Ace struggle with their emerging feelings for one another. There is also an interesting subplot between Jazzy and her mother that is easy to relate to. As the fourth novel in the Spikes and Spurs series, readers get the opportunity to catch up with characters from past novels.

One Hot Cowboy Wedding is a charming novel that is heartwarming and deliciously romantic. Engaging characters and a captivating storyline keep this fabulous story moving at a brisk pace. Carolyn Brown’s writing style has a such a down home country feel that is so realistic you will feel like you are right in the heart of Texas. Definitely a recommended read for fans of contemporary cowboy romances.

8 Comments

Filed under Carolyn Brown, Contemporary, One Hot Cowboy Wedding, Rated B+, Romance, Sourcebooks, Sourcebooks Casablanca, Spikes & Spurs Series