Blog Tour: Goodnight, Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros

Amazon.com:

New York Times bestselling author Teresa Medeiros absolutely dazzles in this quick-witted, laugh-out-loud funny, and highly moving love story that will set readers’ hearts atwitter. 

Abigail Donovan has a lot of stuff she should be doing. Namely writing her next novel. A bestselling author who is still recovering from a near Pulitzer Prize win and the heady success that follows Oprah’s stamp of approval, she is stuck at Chapter Five and losing confidence daily. But when her publicist signs her up for a Twitter account, she’s intrigued. What’s all the fuss?

Taken under the wing of one of her Twitter followers, “MarkBaynard"—a quick witted, quick-typing professor on sabbatical—Abby finds it easy to put words out into the world 140 characters at a time. And once she gets a handle on tweets, retweets, direct messages, hashtags, and trends, she starts to feel unblocked in writing and in life. After all, why should she be spending hours in her apartment staring at her TweetDeck and fretting about her stalled career when Mark is out there traveling the world and living?

Or is he?

Told almost entirely in tweets and DMs, Goodnight Tweetheart is a truly modern take on a classic tale of love and loss—a Griffin and Sabine for the Twitter generation. 

Being a fan of twitter and romance and novels told in the epistolary format I just had to give this book a read! While it did succeed in entertaining me and keeping me coming back for more (which isn't happening a lot lately to be honest) I feel like I just needed more in a few instances.

Using something like Twitter I think this book could have benefited from a bit more design and formatting a la the book Tweet Heart. Having the tweets treated pretty much like the rest of the text in the book had me confused a bit at the beginning as far as if it was an actual tweet or a direct message. Also to help shape this conversation between Abby and Mark I would have loved to have seen some of their just regular tweets not directed at each other.

Their tweets were pretty fun, though sometimes very full of current pop culture references which might not stand the test of time or fly right past some people's heads. I loved the idea at the heart of the book, Abby struggling to write her second book after a huge amount of success with the first and some wonderful stranger there encouraging her to do so. 

From the summary I knew they had to be some kind of twist coming about Mark and who he really was. So I definitely kept reading to find out what it was. To be honest I was hoping for something a little different, trying to be vague here to not give much away. Also I would have loved a bit more at the ending, it ended pretty quickly for me. But overall a fun book!

Goodnight Tweetheart was released on December 14th 2010
Genre: Contemporary Romance
3.5/5 Stars
Review copy provided by the publisher

Blog Tour: The Icing on the Cake by Alison Kent (True Vows)

Amazon.com:

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match . . . dot com! An online dating service is not Michelle Snow's idea of how to find love, but when the Big 3-0 hits, Michelle decides she has nothing to lose since she hasn't brought a date home in ten years, she's professionally burned out, and her climb up the corporate ladder has come at the expense of abandoning her sweet dream: to own a boutique cupcakery.

Todd Bracken, early thirties and a successful technology consultant, isn't exactly a player after being off the market for ten years, and pours himself into his dual passions of martial arts and home-sweet-home renovations. Only there's no one to come home to so he decides to give Match.com a try. Todd isn't so sure the Internet dating scene is his thing—until a message pops up in the wee hours on a weekend night: 'I like your smile.' Todd likes—a lot—the whole package that glides into a French bistro in Washington, D.C.

It's serious mojo-at-first-sight but there's a glitch: Todd and Michelle live in different cities. Will love find its way in the digital age with a 'You've Got Mail' courtship when video cam kisses just aren't enough? And when Todd challenges Michelle to not only go for her dream but let him share it, will they be able to make it happen together despite obstacles more plentiful than a shower of rainbow sprinkles? 

Ever since I heard about the True Vows series (the first reality-based romance series) last Spring I have been so excited about the concept! Taking a real life love story and turning it into a book, how cool! I would love to find out more about how the books were written, did the authors interview the couples. read interviews with them, how much is straight from the couple and how much is the author's addition, I just love the concept!

And specifically with The Icing on the Cake which deals with Michelle's dreams of opening up a cupcake bakery, I mean what's not to love about CUPCAKES! Michelle and Todd meet via match.com. I sort of figured there would be a bit more in the book about online dating but they meet up face to face pretty quickly and the whole internet relationship thing is very short lived.

Like a lot of the romance novels I've read, I love that The Icing on the Cake switches between both Michelle and Todd's perspectives, I felt like I got to know them both equally that way. And the story is rather sweet, you can tell they are both genuinely caring people and since this is about real people, I love knowing these two are really out there living their life together! One of my favorite passages is about a tour of bakeries that Todd puts together in New York City for Michelle, I am happy to say I have been to two of their stops, delicious!

But, since this is based on a real life couple, the ups and downs and excitement you find in all stories is sort of softened, nothing really that shocking happens, they both have their own personal struggles and triumphs but I guess I could have used a little more zing in one way or another.

Overall a sweet book from what looks to be a very promising series of books!

The Icing on the Cake was released on September 14th 2010
Genre: Reality-Based Contemporary Romance
3.5/5 Stars
ARC picked up at BEA

I also have the opportunity to give away the entire 3 set series (The Icing on the Cake, Hard to Hold, and Meet Me in Manhattan!
To read about the series click here.

Here is how to enter!

Fill out the giveaway entry form here.

The giveaway is open to addresses within the US and Canada only, and no PO Boxes. 

The giveaway will end November 29th at 6:59 pm Central Time.

Entries left in the comments of this blog post will not be counted, please fill out the giveaway entry form.

**Prize provided by the publisher**

Crush On You by Christie Ridgway

Amazon.com:

She made knitting sexy.

Now she's taking on a dilapidated winery, three sisters, and the bad boys next door.

The Baci sisters are on a mission to save the winery that's been in their family for generations-by transforming it into the perfect wedding destination. If only Alessandra Baci-affectionately known as the "Nun of Napa"-didn't need the help of tempting neighbor and business rival Penn Bennett.

Crush On You was a fun contemporary romance with a bit of everlasting heartbreak on the side. What I found most interesting about this book was that besides the main romance between Alessandra and Penn there was a secondary romance between Alessandra’s best friend and her cousin, and to me that secondary romance completely stole my heart. It was the story between two best friends, one of whom is about to be married when the other realizes he’s completely in love with her but it’s basically too late to do anything. It was fantastic and I found it to be a lot more emotional than the main plotline.

But onto the main plotline, I liked how Alessandra carried around this heartbreak about her wedding that never happened 5 years ago and because of this, the entire town treats her as the “Nun of Nana” and they handle her with kid gloves. She likes it, she likes it until Penn (a la Ty Pennington from Extreme Makeover Home Edition) shows up in town and shows her she’s able to get over this past tragedy and move on as a woman instead of a girl. Their relationship becomes a sort of experimentation in the sexual department, basically to show Alessandra what she has been missing. And on that note it’s rather steamy.

I found the story to be a pretty straight on contemporary romance not really delivering anything groundbreakingly new but it was still fun to read. I love the idea of the trilogy exploring all three Baci sisters finding love. So I will definitely be watching out for the second book, Then He Kissed Me, from the sample at the end of the book it looks like a lot of fun.

Crush On You was released on June 1st 2010
Genre: Contemporary Romance
3/5 Stars
Review copy provided by Amazon Vine

All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins

Amazon.com:

One Happily-Ever-After Rocking Chair…

and no sign of any forthcoming babies to rock in ol' Georgebury, Vermont. For Callie Grey, turning thirty means coming to grips with the fact that her boss (and five-week fling) is way overdue in his marriage proposal. And way off track because Mark has suddenly announced his engagement to the company's new Miss Perfect. If that isn't bad enough, her mom decides to throw her a three-oh birthday bash in the family funeral home.

Bad goes to worse when she stirs up a crazy relationship with the town's not so warm and fuzzy veterinarian, Ian McFarland, in order to flag Mark's attention. So Ian is more comfortable with animals…. So he's formal, orderly and just a bit tense. The ever-friendly, fun-loving and spontaneous Callie decides it's time for Ian to get a personality makeover. But dang, if he doesn't shock the heck out of her, she might actually fall for Vermont's unlikeliest eligible bachelor….

Oooh this book, this book made me burst out laughing on a regular occasion and also had me tearing up at one point. It was everything. You couldn’t ask for a funnier narrator than Callie, days later I’m still thinking about some of the things she said, what a voice!

While this book is classified as Romance it falls right into Chick Lit category for me. People tell me the difference between Chick Lit and Romance is that in Romance, the relationship between the main character and the potential love interest takes center stage and I agree with that, except for that’s not what All I Ever Wanted is like. It’s so well rounded, yes, the relationship is there but there is also a great multiple family and friends storylines, job storyline (yay advertising agency- i loved those passages) and a whole bunch of other things. That well rounded-ness is something that was missing for me in other contemporary romances, but this one hit it right on the head for me, a perfect balance.

I felt like this book was written for me, it's not everyday a book takes place in an ad agency and involves a sad and hilarious scene with a turkey. Yes, I have a turkey obsession, live turkeys that is. And the relationship between Callie and Ian is so great, at first glance they hate each other and slowly they begin to tolerate each other, become friends, lean on each other and you can see where it goes from there.

Overall this is my favorite contemporary romance of the handful I've read and I cannot wait to read more of Higgins'a work! I hear Catch of the Day is a great second stop!

All I Ever Wanted will be released on July 27th 2010
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Chick Lit
5/5 Stars
ARC picked up at BEA

Slow Hands by Leslie Kelly

Amazon.com:

His price? Pure pleasure... This is Maddy Turner's lucky day. The civilized society girl just bid on sexy rogue Jake Wallace at a charity bachelor auction and won! But Maddy knows Jake's dirty little secret. And it should keep her from trying out her new boy toy. Too bad she can't stop herself from indulging in raw, quite uncivilized sex all the same....

Jake Wallace is utterly bewitched by Maddy and utterly bewildered. How can this tantalizing woman melt so rapturously under his ministrations one moment, then turn into a haughty queen the next? He's determined to get to the bottom of Maddy's agenda. One slow, delicious inch at a time...

My first e-book! Yay! Ok onto the actual book. Slow Hands was my second book from the Blaze line and I liked it a lot more than my first one, which was a collection of short stories that were so short I didn't really buy the chemistry. In Slow Hands Jake and Maddy actually get the page count to get to know each other to make the story believable.

I love the whole idea of mistaken identity. When Maddy first bids on Jake she thinks he's a male escort, a male escort that she has a chemistry with, but still a male escort. It takes Jake awhile to figure this out and when he does he's dumbstruck but also kind of finds it funny, he's just an EMT that wants to do his family and sisters proud! I thought it was pretty funny!

I really liked their relationship, Maddy doesn't find herself lovable for many reasons including her appearance and her family history but Jake is awe-struck by her and wants her to know it. So as you might suspect their chemistry was great!

Overall Slow Hands has resorted my faith in the Blaze line and I can't wait to check out more books by Leslie Kelly, including Heated Rush which tells the story of the real male escort and the women that bid on him thinking he was an EMT!

Slow Hands was released on June 1st 2008
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Category
4/5 Stars
Free E-book from BarnesandNoble.com

His Little Black Book by Heather MacAllister

Amazon.com:

1 wrong text message + 1 impending hurricane = 1 sexy surprise for 3 couples!

Text and the Single Girl

Sophie Callahan is angling to move up the corporate ladder…and attending a client party is her ticket. But she doesn't count on being trapped by the hurricane with sexy entrepreneur Adrian Dean. Suddenly, "riding out the storm" sounds like a very good idea…

Text Appeal

When Mia Weiss skids off the road en route to the party, hottie Kevin Powell comes to her rescue. Only he's not her ideal savior. He's abrupt, a little grouchy…and, oh yeah, the best lover Mia's ever had!

Safe Text

Being the assistant to a demanding boss is running Cammy Phillips ragged. But Gil Shaughnessy, Cammy's former partner, has the perfect cure in mind…and it involves getting Cammy more deliciously worked up than the hurricane raging outside!

His Little Black Book was my first of the Harlequin Blaze line. I just loved the premise, 3 short stories interconnecting all based out of an advertising agency when a high up sends a private text message to everyone in his phone book! It follows 3 women as they try to get to the company beach house for the "party" he has invited them to, during a hurricane!

All the stories sounded promising and started off great, but by the end of each of them I wasn't convinced by the chemistry between the characters, I think the stories were too short to make much really believable. I wanted more from all of the stories.

The best to me was the last story, Safe Text, because Cammy and Gil had a history, they already knew each other, so that made it most believable that all these feelings, emotions and naughty bits would happen between them. But overall I didn't find any of them hitting the right note for me, everything happened so quickly and ended just like that. I needed more!

All in all, I had fun with this book, great premise but the delivery was a little too quick handed for me. I look forward to trying another full length story from the Blaze line to see how I like it!

His Little Black Book was released on was released on March 1st 2010
Genre: Contemporary Romance
3/5 Stars
Purchased from publisher

Something About You by Julie James

Amazon.com:

There's something about Julie James...

Staying overnight in a luxury hotel, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Lynde overhears a high-profile murder involving a U.S. Senator. Special Agent Jack Pallas is assigned to the investigation-the same Jack Pallas who still blames her for nearly ruining his career three years ago. Now the pair will have to put their rocky past behind them, focus on the case at hand-and smother the flame of their sizzling-hot sexual tension.

Something About You is my second Julie James book and I think I've found a new favorite author! Once again Julie's heroine, Cameron is very confident and good at what she does, she's not sitting around waiting for a man to fill her life. Through a series of (murderous) events she finds herself thrown together with Jack Pallas the glowering Special Agent who she was mutually attracted to before she pissed him off and he embarrassed her three years ago.

I love seeing what hoops characters in romance novels have to jump through to end up in a situation where the guy and the girl are stuck together, usually against their will... at first. I just love it!

The mystery in this book was great, it's not so much who, because you find out early on, but how, how it is going to end, all the while Cameron and Jack's relationship is growing. I also love how the secondary characters are important in Something About You, it's not strictly about Cameron and Jack. They both have friends and things they do outside of being together which makes the story very well rounded.

I mentioned in my review of Just the Sexiest Man Alive that it borders on Chick Lit and I think Something About You veers more so into the Romance genre, especially with the naughty bits! Can't wait to read more from Julie James!

Something About You was released on March 2nd 2010.
Genre: Contemporary Romance
4.5/5 Stars
Purchased at Borders

Impetuous by Lori Foster

Amazon.com:

She was his obsession.

When she was bad, she was better!

On the outside, Carlie McDaniels was a shy, no-nonsense schoolteacher. But on the inside, there was another Carlie -- a sultry, sexy femme fatale -- burning to get out. One night, she did. And lady-killer Tyler Ramsay didn't know what -- or who -- hit him!

Tyler had a problem. He was obsessed with a mystery woman -- and fascinated by prickly Carlie McDaniels. How could he desire two women at the same time? And what was he supposed to do when he found out they were one and the same?

I loved the premise for this book, shy woman dresses up for a costume party in a costume that no one can recognize her in, she has a very HOT interaction with a man she's always had a crush on and then makes a run for it before he can find out it is her. In their real lives they end up working on a project together and start to have feeling for each other but Tyler doesn't know that Carlie is also his mystery woman who he can't stop thinking about!

I loved their interactions, their flirting, their are we just friends one minute and maybe more the next. Tyler tries to lure Carlie out of her shell and she makes him think about his actions. They are a perfect match, helping each other grow.

Towards the end of the book when all is revealed and they are hashing it out they sort of lost me, for awhile I had no idea what they were actually fighting about. But this is a romance novel and eventually all is sorted out.

When reading this book it was like my nose was glued to the book, I started it in the afternoon and finished that evening, and that almost never happens for me! I look forward to reading more of Lori Foster's books.

Impetuous was reprinted on June 1st 2009
Genre: Contemporary Romance
4/5 Stars
From Bookmooch

The Cowboy's Christmas Miracle by Raeanne Thayne

Amazon.com:

Christmas was tough for widow Jenna Wheeler and her four children. But even though she'd sold part of her family's land to make ends meet, she was determined to spin the holiday into the stuff of magic—no matter what it took. Now if she could only find a job….

Maybe her new landlord could oblige—gorgeous, child-averse Carson McRaven. He needed a chef, and he knew the lovely Jenna could do a bang-up job—if only she could keep her brood out of his hair. But as he found himself catapulted into the cheerful chaos of her family…not to mention Jenna's arms… he learned more about the spirit of Christmas than he'd ever dreamed.

The Cowboy's Christmas Miracle is my first "category" or "series" romance. I had no idea what to expect and what I discovered was a wholesome, family Christmas story with a very sweet romance.

At first Jenna and Carson obviously dislike each other, Jenna because Carson bought up her ranch (except for the plot her home is on) and seems to dislike her children who are having a hard time letting go and Carson because Jenna's children always seem to be on his property making problems. They are polite to each other and nothing more. But quickly they start to see other sides of each other when they are thrown together in a series of events, from a banquet dinner to a catering emergency to an actual emergency.

Jenna and Carson get to know each other and Carson begins to warm up to Jenna's boys and the whole thing is very AWWWW-worthy. I ate the whole thing up and I think this would be a great romance for someone that is looking for a sweet and family friendly holiday romance.

The Cowboy's Christmas Miracle was released November 1st 2008
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Category
3.5/5 Stars
From Bookfairy

Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James

Amazon.com:

A fabulously fun, romantic comedy from a dynamic new talent.

Nothing fazes Taylor Donovan—not in the courtroom and not in her personal life. So when she’s assigned to coach People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” for his role in the next big legal drama, she refuses to fall for the Hollywood heartthrob’s charms. Even if he is the Jason Andrews.

I had heard great things about Julie James and her books and turns out I agree with them! Of the few romance novels I've read in the contemporary genre I would say Just the Sexiest Man Alive is so close to the Chick Lit genre the line is blurred and I loved it. That said, I would say this is a great place for someone to start if they enjoy Chick Lit and are curious about the Romance genre but don't want to dive in head first.

I loved the character of Taylor, she's confident and good at what she does. She doesn't let her past problems with a cheating finance steal her confidence but it does make her guard her heart a bit. When she finds out she is being forced to (and I mean forced to- she tries to get out of it!) work with hot superstar Jason Andrews she doesn't make it easy for him and doesn't bow to his every whim like everyone else does. She treats him like an average joe and that sure catches his attention!

Maybe it's not completely believable that the sexiest man alive would only have eyes for Taylor but he does and it's a fun ride! I love that he tries to woo her and she won't have any of that, at first! This book doesn't have the naught bits of some other romances so it would make a great read for someone that isn't looking for that or maybe a younger reader as well.

This book I didn't want to put down and had a great time reading! I can't wait to check out Julie James other 2 releases!

Just the Sexiest Man Alive was released on October 7th 2008
Genre: Contemporary Romance
4/5 Stars
Got from bookmooch

Lead Me On by Victoria Dahl

Amazon.com:
Raw, animal magnetism…

…is a big red flag to prim and proper office manager Jane Morgan. After a rough childhood with a mother who liked her men in prison-jumpsuit orange, Jane changed her name, her look and her taste for bad boys. So why is she lusting for William Chase with his tattoo-covered biceps and steel-toed boots? The man blows things up for a living!

She gives herself one explosive, fantasy-filled night with Chase. The next day it's back to plain Jane and safe men.

But when her beloved brother becomes a murder suspect, it's Chase who comes to her rescue. And Jane discovers that a man who's been around the block knows a thing or two about uncovering the truth….

This is the third and final book in Victoria Dahl's Tumble Creek series and like others have told me it's the best (with Start Me Up coming in a close second for me)!

Just like the other two books in the series this book takes a closer look at Quinn's secretary/office manager/receptionist/part owner Jane that we are introduced to in Start Me Up. And there is a lot more to Jane than her prim and proper outward appearance. Turns out Jane isn't proud of her wild past or her family that is still a bit on the wild side. I really enjoyed seeing Jane try and be the truest version of herself throughout the book with the help of Chase.

Chase... so kind and sweet and so tattooed. I love how he had a few secrets of his own, good and bad that he reveals to Jane as their relationship progresses. And they were so good together helping each other and each others families. But of course Jane doesn't think Chase is the right kind of man for her, he reminds her too much of her past she's trying to keep under lock and key.

And also like the other two books this one had a bit of a mystery involving Jane's brother and a possible murder. I really liked that the author kept this mystery element alive through all 3 books. And I especially like that Jane can sure handle herself in a fight, with boxing! Go Jane!

Overall definitely a Victoria Dahl fangirl and I can't wait for her next book!

Lead Me On was released January 1st 2010
Genre: Contemporary Romance
4/5 Stars
Review copy from Amazon Vine

Vision In White by Nora Roberts

Amazon.com:

Wedding photographer Mackensie "Mac" Elliot is most at home behind the camera, but her focus is shattered moments before an important wedding rehearsal when she bumps into the bride-to-be's brother...an encounter that has them both seeing stars. A stable, safe English teacher, Carter Maguire is definitely not Mac's type. But a casual fling might be just what she needs to take her mind off bridezillas. Of course, casual flings can turn into something more when you least expect it. And Mac will have to turn to her three best friends-and business partners-to see her way to her own happy ending.

This is my first ever Nora Roberts book, I thought the series sounded fun (4 lifelong friends living and working together) and thought I'd pick up the first two and start reading to see what she was all about.

Right of the bat I got Mac, appreciated her love of photography and loved reading about how she worked. And Quinn, can you say my dream man!! I was really pulling for them to work as a couple! And what I really appreciated about this story was that there was more to it than just their romance, it was about their families and friends too. It's important to me to have those secondary plots.

I thought the book started to lag in the second half. I got a bit sick of Mac's uncertainly about her relationship with Quinn and all Quinn became good for was to reassure Mac that their relationship was worth a try. It really started to get repetitive and annoying. I did like seeing Mac stand up to her mother with the help of her friends though.

Overall I think this is a fun start to a new series and I can't wait to check out the rest!

Vision In White was released on April 28th 2009
Genre: Contemporary Romance
3.5/5 Stars
Purchased from Borders

Start Me Up by Victoria Dahl

Amazon.com:

Lori had always planned to get out of tiny Tumble Creek, Colorado, but when her late dad left her his beloved auto body shop, she'd stayed. Now, according to her crazy best friend, Molly, what Lori needs is some excitement, in the form of hot, no-strings-attached sex…and lots of it.

Quinn Jennings has buildings on the brain—not love and romance. A serious architect, he's delighted to discover that Lori is willing to skip dating protocols and head straight for the sheets. And aided by the steamy books on Lori's bedside table, he's busy indulging both of their wildest fantasies. But when life in Tumble Creek takes a dangerous turn for Lori, Quinn's protective instincts kick in.

Suddenly he cares. More than either of them ever expected….

Start Me Up is a step up from Talk Me Down, the first of the Tumble Creek series from Victoria Dahl. While I didn't dislike Talk Me Down, Start Me Up really started going in a direction I was hoping for character and plotwise.

Lori was a realistic and spunky character, I just liked her. Her problems seemed real and she took her life serious but was able to realize she needed more fun in her life and went out and found it. Quinn was so sweet and nerdy *swoon*. Together they had a wonderful chemistry and I loved the push and pull of their relationship, was it going to turn out to be more than a fling or not? Was Lori going to turn her life into something she had dreamed of?

The *intimate* scenes in the book were of a bit of a different nature from the first book because of Lori's love of reading romance and erotica. So they take it a bit hardcore turn.

I also liked the mystery more so in Start Me Up (I like that both of the books have had mysteries!). What had really happened to her father all those years ago and who was vandalizing her shop and why? The culprit was a bit hard to figure out for me, which I liked. Their name crossed my mind but only for a brief second so I think that was really well done.

Just yesterday I got a copy of Lead Me On, the third and final book in the trilogy and can't wait to pick it up. I would definitely call myself a Victoria Dahl fangirl now!

Start Me Up was released on July 1st 2009
Genre: Contemporary Romance
4/5 Stars
Purchased at Library Bookstore

Fireworks over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff

Amazon.com:

Every so often that story comes along that reminds us of what it’s like to experience love for the first time—against the odds, when you least expect it, and with such passion that it completely changes you forever.

An unexpected discovery takes eighty-four-year-old Lily Davis Woodward to 1945, and the five days that forever changed her life. Married for only a week before her husband was sent to fight in WWII, Lily is anxious for his return, and the chance to begin their life together. In honor of the soldiers' homecoming, the small Georgia town of Toccoa plans a big celebration. And Jake Russo, a handsome Italian immigrant, also back from war, is responsible for the elaborate fireworks display the town commissioned. But after a chance encounter in a star-lit field, he steals Lily's heart and soul--and fulfills her in ways her socially-minded, upper-class family cannot. Now, torn by duty to society and her husband--and the poor, passionate man who might be her only true love--Lily must choose between a commitment she's already made and a love she’s never known before.

Fireworks Over Toccoa takes us to a moment in time that will resonate with readers long after the book’s unforgettable conclusion. A devastating and poignant story, this debut novel will resonate with anyone who believes in love.

This was promoted as in the spirit of Nicholas Sparks. I've never read one of his novels but had seen a few movie versions of his books so I thought why not. I'm also trying to expand my reading horizons so I thought this might open me up to a whole new type of story.

I rather liked Fireworks over Toccoa, it was a simple story spanning only a few days but also spanning decades, I love the idea of something in the present pulling you into the story and going back and learning what had happened all those years ago.

I like both Lily and Jake, Lily especially because we learn more about her. Her journey is very honest and true to heart. She goes for what she wants but also realizes her responsibilities, I think Stepakoff balances that line very well.

I tend to shy away from stories told in the past because they seem to revolve greatly around things I'm not so familiar with but I loved how Fireworks over Toccoa used the 1940s to accentuate Lily and Jake's story. It made it much more powerful to be in this certain time period with these certain values and expectations.

What I also liked about the book was it doesn't leave the reader hanging as to what happens, it's wrapped up all nicely with a bow at the end which sometimes is really nice to have and this book did just that!

Fireworks over Toccoa will be released on March 30th
Genre: Contemporary Romance
4/5 Stars
ARC provided by Amazon Vine

Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl

Amazon.com:

Molly Jenkins has one naughty little secret: her job as a bestselling erotic fiction author. Until her inspiration runs dry—thanks to a creepy ex—and it's time to skip town and move back to tiny Tumble Creek, Colorado.

One look at former high school hunk chief of police Ben Lawson and Molly is back in business. The town gossip is buzzing at her door and, worse still, a stalker seems to be watching her every move. Thankfully, her very own lawman has taken to coming over, often. The only problem now is that Molly may have to let the cat out of the bag about her chosen profession, and straitlaced Ben will definitely not approve.…

Let me start by saying this is only the second romance novel I have ever read, and the first contemporary romance. So I am not sure if I am reacting to elements from the genre or this book itself.

I liked how fun this the book was. You knew no matter what happened Molly and Ben would end up together! Molly was pretty easy going and didn't really get too whiny about anything. She did have a pretty one track mind about things that got a little old after awhile. I liked when she hung out with her friend Lori (whom I believe Start Me Up is about). And I liked Ben and how he was also pretty easy going and never rude to Molly without reason. He was a nice guy! I loved that they had this history from their childhood, it made their attraction instantly realistic.

I didn't so much like the stalker plot but did like that there was a mystery involved in the story. I wish there had been more secondary plots, Molly hanging out more with Lori more or hanging out with her brother Quinn at all, or maybe Ben hanging out with Quinn instead of just talking on the phone.

I will stay though I read this book in probably a day and a half over the weekend, which I basically I never do with any book. So it definitely kept me hooked! I've wondered what the different was between Chick Lit or Women's Fiction and Contemporary Romance and from this book I'll say I noticed less secondary plots with more focus on the relationship at hand and definitely more naughty interludes!

I'm definitely going to continue to explore this genre and this author's work!

Talk Me Down was released on January 1st 2009
Genre: Contemporary Romance
3/5 Stars
Purchased at local used bookstore