Tag Archives: Contemporary Romance

The Girls of Mischief Bay

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Author: Susan Mallery
Publisher:  MIRA
Genre:  Contemporary Romance             girls
Source: Emer Flounders

 

 

Goodreads:  Nicole Lord wants to be a good wife, but there’s a difference between being supportive and supporting her husband, who quit his job to write a screenplay she’s never seen. He won’t even help take care of their son, leaving Nicole to run the house and work full-time at her Mischief Bay Pilates studio. Can she say enough is enough without losing the man she loves?

Sacrificing a personal life for her career is how Shannon Rigg rose to become vice president in her firm, but she wonders now whether she made the right choice. An exciting new relationship with a great guy convinces her that it might not be too late—until he drops a bombshell that has her questioning whether she can have it all. And if she can, does she want it?

Although Pam Eiland has a beautiful house and a husband she adores, she feels… restless. She wonders who a stay-at-home mom becomes after the kids are grown. Finding sexy new ways to surprise her husband brings the heat and the humor back to their marriage, but when unexpected change turns her life upside down, she’ll have to redefine herself. Again.

Through romance and heartbreak, laughter and tears, three very different women will discover that friends can become family, and that life is richer with sisters at your side.

Ope’s Opinion:  Susan Mallery writes such wonderful, relatable characters and weaves an awesome story.  There are three women in this story, you can identify with one of them or maybe all three!  

I felt like I could live at Mischief Bay and be friends with these women.  Pam is closest to my age and I have the most in common with her.  Her story is very close to my own.  Some of her story made my heart ache.

I really enjoyed the fact that these women were of different ages, interests and stages in life, yet they are friends and supported each other.  I am looking forward to going back to Mischief Bay and seeing these women as Susan Mallery continues this series.

Rating: 5 – This book is so good it will be passed on and on and on….

Echo Lake

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Author:  Carla Neggers
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Contemporary Fiction          echo
Source: Emer Flounders

 

 

 

Goodreads:  In snowy Swift River Valley, unexpected romance is just around the corner…

Heather Sloan has landed her dream job—the renovation of Vic Scarlatti’s stately 1912 country home overlooking the icy waters of Echo Lake in Knights Bridge, Massachusetts. It’s the perfect project for the family business, but for once, Heather is in charge.

Diplomatic Security Service agent Brody Hancock left Knights Bridge at eighteen, a few steps ahead of arrest and the wrath of Heather’s older brothers. Though Brody had never planned to return, Vic, a retired diplomat and friend, needs his help.

Staying at Vic’s guest house makes it impossible to avoid running into a Sloan at every turn—especially Heather. Seeing her again has affected Brody more than he wants to admit. But Heather is wary of Brody’s sudden interest in her, and she suspects there’s more to his homecoming than he’s letting on…

Set against the scenic backdrop of a New England winter, Echo Lake is a captivating tale of family, friends and the possibility of new love.

Ope’s Opinion: This is a quick, easy romantic read with a little mystery in it.  This is the fourth book in the Swift River Valley series. It is the first one I read.  I did not feel lost.  The author did a good job of introducing each character and letting you know how they are related to others.  I did feel like I might want to go back and read the other characters stories.

The first half of the book felt very repetitive.  I think I was told several times that Brody had a pumpkin incident with the Sloan brothers.  I never did hear that whole story.

The second half of the book was great!  I loved how strong and independent Heather Sloan was.  I liked that she fell in love, but continued with her life and her dreams.  She didn’t get swallowed up by Brody.

The story was predictable, but had a lot of fun along the way.  There was an adorable pup, a lot of Sloan brothers and Brody’s friends that all add a lot of enjoyable characters to Brody and Heathers story.

I would read Carla Neggers again.

Rating: Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.
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Having My Baby

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Author: Theresa Ragan
Publisher:  Createspace                               having my baby
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source:  BEA

 

Goodreads:  “Mr. Baylor,” the officer said, “have you ever met either of these women?”

Derrick’s mind was numb, but somehow he managed to say, “No. Never.”

“You’re making the ladies nervous, and truthfully, you’ve got me wondering too–what is your business with this woman?”

Derrick pried his gaze from the woman’s stomach and raised his eyes to hers. “She’s having my baby.”

Growing up, Jill Garrison never daydreamed about having the perfect wedding. Instead, she dreamt about having a baby. Boy or girl, it didn’t matter. Unfortunately, her fiancé can’t have children. Determined to realize her lifelong dream of having a baby, Jill spends years searching for a company (CryoCorp) that provides high quality donor sperm. Everything is right in Jill’s world until her wedding day when her fiancé leaves her at the altar to be humiliated before friends and family. She doesn’t waste any time moving from New York City to California to start over. And she keeps her appointment with Cryocorp. She may never have the wedding or the husband, but nothing is going to stop her from having a baby. She’s tired of everyone telling her what to do. The baby she’s carrying is hers and hers alone. Nobody can take that away from her.

Or can they?

Ope’s Opinion:  This is a very unlikely scenario, but it was so much fun to read.  You should go into this book with the mind set of just enjoying it, not thinking it could be real.

I think this book should be made into a Hallmark movie.  It is so cute, easy to read and just enjoyable.  The characters are fun to follow.  It is pretty predictable, but that is part of the charm of this book.

The Baylor family is a large one. I would love to read about the rest of them in another book by Theresa Ragan.

Rating: Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.            de9fc-4chairs

Forever and a Day

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Author: Jill Shalvis
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance                  forever
Source:  BEA

 

 

 

 

Goodreads:  LOVE CAN HAPPEN IN A HEARTBEAT.

Grace never thought she’d be starting her life over from scratch. Losing everything has landed her in Lucky Harbor, working as a dog walker for overwhelmed ER doctor Josh Scott. But the day his nanny fails to show up, Grace goes from caring for Josh’s loveable mutt to caring for his rambunctious kids. Soon Grace is playing house with the sexy single dad…

With so many people depending on him, Josh has no time for anything outside of his clinic and family–until Grace arrives in town. Now this brainy blonde is turning his life inside out and giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “good bedside manner.” Josh and Grace don’t know if what they have can last. But in a town like Lucky Harbor, a lifetime of love starts with just one day…

Ope’s Opinion:  I enjoyed this easy romantic read.  It was another part of the Lucky Harbor series.  Some of the characters from previous books were in this story.  You did not have to read  the other books to enjoy this one.

I liked the characters in this book.  I liked Toby.  At times his Arf was annoying.  I thought the doctor was overwhelmed – which seemed likely with all he had going on.

The part that I did not enjoy was all the mishaps that Grace had with the dog and getting locked out of the house and on and on.  It was just too much after a while to think it was cute.

I also wish that the characters had taken the time to get to know each other before they fell into bed together.  This seems to be the way Jill Shalvis writes her romances.

Rating:  Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.
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At Last

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Author: Jill Shalvis
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre:Contemporary Romance    at last
Source:  BEA

 

 

 

Goodreads:  HER LOVE HAS COME ALONG . . .
Amy Michaels loves her new life in Lucky Harbor. A waitress in the local diner, she’s looking forward to her first weekend hike through the mountains. But when a wrong turn takes her off the trail, she finds herself up close and personal with forest ranger Matt Bowers. And even though she’s tempted to kiss that sexy smile right off his face, she won’t make the mistake of getting involved with the town heartthrob.

A former cop whose life went south, Matt doesn’t let anyone get too close. But something about the feisty beauty caught his eye the moment he first saw her in the diner. After a hot night under a starry sky, Matt can’t deny their attraction-or the fact that for the first time in a long time, he feels the stirrings of something more. Now it’s up to Matt to help Amy see that, no matter what is in their past, together they can build a future in Lucky Harbor.

Ope’s Opinion:  This was a very predictable story, but isn’t that what you want when you read Jill Shalvis?  She writes good romance.

I could use a little less detailed on the sex scenes and a little less foul language – which I know is coming from Jill.  I just usually like the story enough to read through the parts I don’t really care for.

This story was not my favorite Jill Shalvis book. If you like her as an author, you may like this one better then I did.   I am still planning on reading Forever and a Day next.  I hope I like it a little better then this one.

Rating: Three Chairs – I like the book enough to suggest it to a friend or two.
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In Your Dreams

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Author:  Kristan Higgins                  in your dreams
Publisher:  Harlequin HQN
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Source:  Little Bird Publicity 

 

Publication Date: September 30, 2014

 

Goodreads:  Emmaline Neal needs a date. Just a date—someone to help her get through her ex-fiancé’s wedding without losing her mind. But pickings are slim in Manningsport, New York, population 715. In fact, there’s really only one option: local heartthrob Jack Holland. Everyone loves Jack, and he won’t get the wrong idea…. After all, Jack Holland would never actually be interested in a woman like Em. Especially not with his beautiful ex-wife creeping around, angling to reunite ever since he rescued a group of teens and became a local hero.

But when the wedding festivities take an unexpectedly passionate turn, Em figures it was just one crazy night. Jack is too gorgeous, too popular, to ever end up with her. So why is she the one he can talk to about his deep, dark feelings? If Em is going to get her dream man, she’ll have to start by believing in him…

Ope’s Opinion:  It was a lot of fun reading about the Holland family updates and more about Jack’s story.   Kristan Higgins writes stories that make me keep reading and anxiously wait for her next book.

I found it refreshing to read a wonderful love story without all the explicit sex scenes.  It was nice to read about a realistic relationship.  They obviously were physically attracted to each other, but all the sexual details were left out – really nice!  Loved that part of the book.

The middle of the book drug on just little longer then I wish it had.  Not enough for me to put the book down and not want to read it – just ready for it move along a little faster.

The ending was expected and exactly what I wanted.  Ready to read another one of her books.  May go back and see if I can find one I haven’t read yet.

Rating: Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.
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After I Do

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Author:  Taylor Jenkins Reid                           after i do
Publisher:  Washington Square Press
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Source:  BookSparks

 

Goodreads:  From the author of Forever, Interrupted—hailed by Sarah Jio as “moving, gorgeous, and at times heart-wrenching”—comes a breathtaking new novel about modern marriage, the depth of family ties, and the year that one remarkable heroine spends exploring both.

When Lauren and Ryan’s marriage reaches the breaking point, they come up with an unconventional plan. They decide to take a year off in the hopes of finding a way to fall in love again. One year apart, and only one rule: they cannot contact each other. Aside from that, anything goes.

Lauren embarks on a journey of self-discovery, quickly finding that her friends and family have their own ideas about the meaning of marriage. These influences, as well as her own healing process and the challenges of living apart from Ryan, begin to change Lauren’s ideas about monogamy and marriage. She starts to question: When you can have romance without loyalty and commitment without marriage, when love and lust are no longer tied together, what do you value? What are you willing to fight for?

This is a love story about what happens when the love fades. It’s about staying in love, seizing love, forsaking love, and committing to love with everything you’ve got. And above all, After I Do is the story of a couple caught up in an old game—and searching for a new road to happily ever after.

 

Ope’s Opinion:  This book starts out with a quick look at where Lauren and Ryan’s marriage is at the moment.  Then you go back in time.  It is a very cute, traditional courtship. Then the story brings you to the present to see how Lauren and Ryan think they need the time apart from each other.

Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing  flows and her story is very easy to follow.  Each character has different situations going on, but it does not seem overwhelming.  Since each one has flaws and difficulties, it is easy to relate to them and root for the best for each one.

There is a lot of marriage advice given in this book.  It is interesting to hear all the different characters perspective of marriage, romance and love.  It will make you reevaluate what you think is important in your relationship.

I don’t usually quote a part of a book, but this one will stick with me for a long time –   when Lauren’s grandmother says, ” Just because you can live without someone doesn’t mean you want to. ”

** Side note – I am not sure why the author felt the need to insert the “f” word into odd places in the book.  It did not add any emotion to the book.

Rating: Five Chairs – This book is so good it will be passed on and on and on….
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The Promise

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Author:  Robyn Carr                                             promise       
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Source:  Little Bird Publicity

 

Note:  This will be available to buy tomorrow.
June 24th!

 

 

Goodreads:  #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr returns to Thunder Point with an uplifting story about overcoming loss and finding unexpected love

Scott Grant has a bustling family practice in the small Oregon community of Thunder Point. The town and its people have embraced the widowed doctor and father of two, his children are thriving, and Scott knows it’s time to move on from his loss. But as the town’s only doctor, the dating scene is awkward. That is, until a stunning physician’s assistant applies for a job at his clinic.

Peyton Lacoumette considers herself entirely out of the dating scene. She’s already been burned by a man with kids, and she’s come to Thunder Point determined not to repeat past mistakes. When Scott offers her a job, at a much lower salary than she’s used to, Peyton is surprisingly eager to accept…at least for now. She’s willing to stay for a three-month trial period while she explores other options.

Scott and Peyton know the arrangement is temporary—it isn’t enough time to build a real relationship, never mind anything with lasting commitment. But love can blossom faster than you think when the timing is right, and this short visit just might hold the promise of forever.

Ope’s Opinion:  Reading this book is kind of like going home to visit and see how things have changed.  This is the fifth in the Thunder Point series.  Robyn Carr has done an awesome job of weaving the new comers to Thunder Point with the previous characters.

I like how Peyton was always trying to learn from her past decisions and mistakes.  It made her a little cautious in her relationships.  Scott and Peyton having their careers in common helped Peyton trust Scott.   I really liked Peyton’s family.  They were down to earth.  They were her anchor – her stability.  It was fun to see such a great family portrayed in this book.

It was great to see Ted and his family situation explored in depth, even though they do not live in Thunder Point.

I really liked how this book ended.  It took place back at Peyton’s safe place  (no more details – don’t want to spoil it ).

Rating:  Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.
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