Category Archives: Sourcebooks Casablanca

January 11, 2015 · 11:57 pm

Review: A Single Kiss by Grace Burrowes

single kissTitle: A Single Kiss by Grace Burrowes
Sweetest Kisses Series Book One
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 416 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A single kiss can change everything…

In the first novel of the Sweetest Kisses series, Hannah Stark has set her sights on corporate law to assure her a career of paperwork, predictability, and conservative suits. Contracts, finance, and the art of the deal sing to her, while the mess and misery of the courtroom do not. But her daughter needs to eat, so when Hannah is offered a temporary position in a small town firm’s domestic relations department, she reluctantly accepts.

Trent Knightley is mightily drawn to his newest associate, though Hannah is as protective of her privacy as she is competent. When their friendship and attraction heat up, Hannah’s secrets put her heart and Trent’s hopes in double jeopardy.

The Review:

A Single Kiss by Grace Burrowes is a phenomenal contemporary romance that is sweet, thought-provoking and poignant.   A wonderful opposites attract love story, this first book in the Sweetest Kisses series is a beautifully written novel that is emotional and quite compelling.

Hannah Stark is a single mom with a heartbreaking past who finds herself temporarily working as a family lawyer in Trent Knightley’s law firm. Working for Trent is about the only perk of her new job and he is not only her boss, he is a friend and mentor. The two are also attracted to one another and when their paths unexpectedly cross outside of the office, Hannah and Trent decide to explore their passion.

Hannah is very closemouthed about herself and her life outside of the office. She has many layers that take much of the novel to peel back but bits and pieces of her traumatic childhood are slowly revealed to readers as she fights for the best possible outcome for her clients. Despite the scars from her upbringing, Hannah is a loving and compassionate woman, but she is very apprehensive about revealing her secrets to anyone.

Trent is idealistic but pragmatic and he is very passionate about his chosen profession. He wholeheartedly believes in the legal system but it is not until he gets to know Hannah that he sees how imperfect it can be. He is loyal and confident and despite his dedication to his career, he is very devoted to his family. Trent is stunned by the depth of his feelings for Hannah, but he is also endearingly uncertain about acting on his attraction.

There are definitely sparks between Trent and Hannah, but they are both reluctant to indulge in an office fling. They easily settle into a comfortable working relationship and a friendship grows naturally out of their mutual respect for one another. Hannah is surprised by how easily she begins to trust Trent, but she still remains very guarded and self-protective. Their romance is sweet and sensual, but Hannah refuses to divulge her closely guarded secrets until she comes close to losing everything she holds dear.

A Single Kiss is an incredibly heartwarming romance with a charming cast of well-developed characters. The plot is unique and Grace Burrowes does not shy away from realistic, hard hitting topics. It is an absolutely captivating story that will leave readers impatiently awaiting the next installment in the Sweetest Kisses series.

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Filed under A Single Kiss, Contemporary, Grace Burrowes, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca, Sweetest Kisses Series

January 5, 2015 · 11:57 pm

Review: The Trouble with Texas Cowboys by Carolyn Brown

texas cowboysTitle: The Trouble with Texas Cowboys by Carolyn Brown
Burnt Boot, Texas Series Book Two
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Can a girl ever have too many cowboys?
No sooner does pint-sized spitfire Jill Cleary set foot on Fiddle Creek Ranch than she finds herself in the middle of a hundred-year-old feud. Quaid Brennan and Tyrell Gallagher are both tall, handsome, and rich…and both are courting Jill to within an inch of her life. She’s doing her best to give these feuding ranchers equal time-too bad it’s dark-eyed Sawyer O’Donnell who makes her blood boil and her hormones hum…

The Review:

The Trouble with Texas Cowboys, the second installment in Carolyn Brown’s Burnt Boot, Texas series, is another sweet and fun-filled romance. After their inauspicious first meeting, Sawyer O’Donnell and Jill Cleary team up to avoid getting caught in the middle of a longstanding feud between the Gallaghers and the Brennans.

Jill and Sawyer have not had time to settle into their new home or jobs on Fiddle Creek Ranch before disaster strikes. Jill’s aunt is injured and in addition to their ranching duties, Jill and Sawyer are also busy manning the local bar and town store.  They easily handle their workload but keeping out of the clutches of the rival families? More work than all three of their jobs combined, but Jill and Sawyer quickly devise a plan to steer clear of the determined families. The feud promptly heats up but so does an unanticipated romance between Jill and Sawyer.

Jill and Sawyer are both fairly laidback and their relationship begins with an easygoing friendship. After they each attend one dinner with the rival families, they both know that they do not want to take sides in the feud. The Brennans and Gallaghers are pretty relentless in trying to convince them otherwise but Jill and Sawyer successfully avoid being alone with any of them. Constantly thrown together, Jill and Sawyer are both surprised by their unexpected attraction, but instead of fighting it, they agree to see where it leads them. Their resulting romance is slow growing but very sweet and steamy.

The Gallagher/Brennan feud is instrumental in bringing Jill and Sawyer together and it is a big part of the storyline. The various family members are involved in some pretty crazy and over the top schemes that keep everyone plenty stirred up. There are also plenty of cat fights between the women and fistfights and brawls erupt between the men. The feud is a unique device to keep Jill and Sawyer united in their efforts to stay neutral, but their romance is sometimes eclipsed by all of the fighting and scheming of the Gallaghers and Brennans.

The Trouble with Texas Cowboys is a light-hearted addition to the Burnt Boot, Texas series. Jill and Sawyer are engaging, likable characters and their romance is delightfully angst free. An overall witty and charming love story with just a touch of drama, this latest offering from Carolyn Brown is sure to be a hit with anyone who enjoys contemporary Western romances.

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Filed under Burnt Boot Texas Series, Carolyn Brown, Contemporary, Rated B, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca, The Trouble with Texas Cowboys

January 4, 2015 · 11:58 pm

Review: A Little on the Wild Side by Robin Kaye

wild sideTitle: A Little on the Wild Side by Robin Kaye
Wild Thing Series Book Three
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 416 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

A woman who gets what she wants…

Bianca Ferrari-ex-supermodel turned successful business woman-seems to have it all: beauty, brains and a career she loves. And she did it all by herself…through sheer force of will and ruthless determination. So when her life is suddenly turned upside down, it’s hard for her to admit that going it alone may not be an option…

A man who knows what she needs…

Sexy, rugged and down-to-earth, Trapper Kincaid has a knack for attracting all kinds of women-mostly the wrong kind. When he finds out that the exhaustingly independent and drop-dead gorgeous Bianca is in serious need of help, he knows he’s the man for the job. But Bianca isn’t going to make it easy…

The Review:

A Little on the Wild Side is the newest addition to Robin Kaye’s delightfully entertaining Wild Thing series starring the Kincaid family. In this outing, it is oldest brother Trapper’s turn to find love with ex-super model Bianca Ferrari, but they have a few problems to overcome before they can live happily ever after.

Trapper and Bianca are both commitment phobes with busy lives so a fling is the perfect solution to their unexpected attraction. Both are deeply scarred by past betrayals and they have serious trust issues. Trapper was burned by a former girlfriend and he now indulges in short-lived, casual affairs. Bianca’s parents took advantage of her from a young age and she has maintained an emotional distance from everyone except her grandmother and close friend James since she was a teenager.

A health crisis gives Trapper the opening he needs to whisk Bianca away from New York and into the warm and inviting arms of his family. Although Bianca has her defenses firmly in place, she finds it impossible to resist the Kincaid clan and she becomes close friends with his various family members. But more surprising is the unanticipated change in her relationship with Trapper. Their passion gives way to deeper emotions but Bianca remains reluctant to make a permanent commitment despite Trapper’s declaration of love.

A Little on the Wild Side is a very heartwarming novel of love, family and friendship. Bianca and Trapper are well-developed, multi-faceted characters and it is very gratifying watching them grow as individuals and as a couple. Robin Kaye once again puts a unique spin a familiar plot and the resulting story is funny, poignant and emotional. It is an absolutely charming romance that old and new fans of the Wild Thing series are going to love.

2 Comments

Filed under A Little on the Wild Side, Contemporary, Rated B+, Review, Robin Kaye, Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca, Wild Thing Series

December 31, 2014 · 11:57 pm

Review: One Mad Night by Julia London

one mad nightTitle: One Mad Night by Julia London
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 160 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A delightful new contemporary romance novella from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia London.

One winter’s night a blizzard sweeps across the country, demonstrating that fate can change the course of lives in an instant…and fate has got a sense of humor.

Chelsea Crawford and Ian Rafferty are high profile ad execs in cutthroat competition for a client. When a major winter storm puts New York City on lockdown, the two rivals have to make it through the night together-oh, the many ways in which opposites attract…

The Review:

One Mad Night by Julia London is a fun, flirty and fast-paced novella. It is also a sizzling hot romance that has a surprising amount of depth and substance.

Business rivals in the same advertising firm, Chelsea Crawford and Ian Rafferty are locked in a fierce competition for the same account. Chelsea has worked her butt of the agency for six years while Ian is a relative newcomer to the company. When both of them are stranded in the office by a blizzard, Chelsea and Ian are surprised by how much they learn about one another and ultimately, themselves.

Chelsea is a little uptight and focused on her career, whereas Ian is more laidback and easygoing. Both are good at their jobs, but Chelsea lets her boss take advantage of her which leaves her at a distinct disadvantage in the aggressive advertising world. Ian has worked hard to get ahead and while he has earned his place in the company, he becomes disillusioned once he realizes he has been given an unfair advantage.

One Mad Night is an absolutely charming story that is impossible to put down. Ian and Chelsea are wonderfully developed protagonists, their attraction is scorching hot and their banter is delightfully witty. Despite its short length, Julia London delivers a believable love story that is heartfelt and engaging.

2 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Julia London, One Mad Night, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca

· 11:56 pm

Review: Texas Mail Order Bride by Linda Broday

texas mailTitle: Texas Mail Order Bride by Linda Broday
Bachelors of Battle Creek Series Book One
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Historical, Romance, Suspense
Length: 416 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Rancher Cooper Thorne thinks his life is finally on an even keel-until Delta Dandridge steps off the stagecoach and claims she’s his mail order bride. Brash and quick-witted, the meddling Southern Belle is everything Cooper thought he never wanted…and everything his heart is telling him he needs.

But Cooper swore long ago that he’d never marry, and he aims to keep his word, especially now that the demons from his past have returned to threaten everything-and everyone-he holds dear…

The Review:

Texas Mail Order Bride is the first installment in Linda Broday’s Bachelors of Battle Creek series. This historical western series centers around three close friends who have settled in Battle Creek, TX. The first novel is an action packed romance between the oldest of the trio, Cooper Thorne and mail order bride, Delta Dandrige.

Delta is fuming when her intended groom fails to meet her when she arrives in Battle Creek and things swiftly go downhill once Cooper explains he did not place the ad for a bride. Unfortunately returning home is not an option for Delta, so she quickly finds employment at the local mercantile. While Georgia happily settles into life in Battle Creek, Cooper finds himself embroiled in a battle to save his ranch from an unseen enemy.

Delta is more than capable of taking care of herself and she charms everyone she meets. She loves her new life but when she looks around, she sees that the neglected little town is in desperate need of a little TLC. Delta rallies the other women and her revitalization project soon takes off.

Cooper is an orphan whose only close ties are with his blood brothers, Rand Sinclair and Brett Liberty. Cooper has a compelling reason to avoid marriage, but he does not count on his unexpected attraction to Delta. With his past haunting him, Cooper has no intention of getting involved with Delta, but he finds it difficult to keep his distance from her.

While Delta and Cooper are very likable characters, their romance gets lost in the numerous subplots. The change in their relationship from antagonistic to romantic is abrupt and in the midst of all of the turmoil, they manage to explore their mutual attraction. Although well-written, the novel is overwhelmed with various story arcs and the plot is rather predictable.

Despite a few issues, Texas Mail Order Bride is a fast-paced and entertaining beginning to the Bachelors of Battle Creek series. Linda Broday’s glimpses of Rand and Brett are quite intriguing and I am very much looking forward reading their stories.

2 Comments

Filed under Bachelors of Battle Creek Series, Historical, Linda Broday, Rated C+, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca, Suspense, Texas Mail Order Bride

November 30, 2014 · 11:55 pm

Review: The Deepest Night by Kara Braden

deepest nightTitle: The Deepest Night by Kara Braden
Longest Night Series Book Two
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 288 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

When everything you love is on the line…

The Isles of Scilly off the coast of England are remote, windswept and wild. They’re the perfect place for Ray Powell to recuperate after the toughest Afghanistan mission the military contractor has ever run. Except instead of the peace and quiet he so desperately needs, he’s faced with a beautiful American woman who instantly challenges his iron control.

It’s best to proceed with caution…

Seeking her own safe haven, Michelle Cole is intrigued and flustered by the intensely compelling and irresistible man.

As their cautious friendship slowly builds into simmering attraction, their hearts and souls are about to be broken open…if they’ll allow it.

The Review:

The Deepest Night is a sweet, angst free romance. Kara Braden once again brings together a charming couple in another wonderfully unique setting and the resulting love story is absolutely delightful. Although the novel is the second installment in the Longest Night series, it can be read as a standalone (but I also recommend the first book in the series too).

In this outing, a British B&B on the Isles of Scilly is the perfect location for an unexpected holiday romance between Ray Powell and Michelle Cole. Needing to decompress after a harrowing mission, Ray returns to his favorite island where he is surprised by his attraction to Michelle. Michelle is also drawn to the handsome stranger, but she has a dismal track record with men and she finds it difficult to believe Ray is truly interested in her.

Michelle has a few self esteem issues and a recent betrayal by a friend leaves her questioning her judgment. As a result, she is even more cautious than before when it comes to making decisions both professionally and personally. Once her initial fears about why Ray is staying at the B&B are laid to rest, Michelle lets down her guard and enjoys getting to know him while he shows her the wonders of Scilly. But she still remains reluctant to act on their mutual attraction.

Ray is retired from the Royal Marines and he is presently the vice president of a private firm which deals in security for both the military and civilians. He shies away from commitment of any kind except when it comes to his career. He is very dedicated to his career and does not take much time off from work.

Both Michelle and Ray are endearingly inept when it comes to relationships. Fortunately, they each have a close friend they can turn to for advice. Michelle remains close to her fun-loving college friend Vicky who advises her to throw caution to the wind and enjoy a vacation fling. Ray’s bond with his business partner Preston extends well beyond their professional relationship and he proves invaluable when it comes to matters of Ray’s heart.

The relationship between Michelle and Ray is slow growing and it is such a joy watching them get to know one another. Their growing friendship provides a firm foundation for their evolving feelings for one another and although they do run into a few issues, they take the time to talk through their problems. Although they fall in love very quickly, the depth of their emotions is believable.

The Deepest Night is a well-written and captivating novel. Kara Braden does a wonderful job bringing the Isles of Scilly vibrantly to life and it is an idyllic backdrop for Michelle and Ray’s burgeoning romance. It is a superb, drama free addition to the Longest Night series that old and new fans are sure to love.

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, Kara Braden, Longest Night Series, Rated B, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca, The Deepest Night