Showing posts with label Adult Romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adult Romance. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Fallen Angel by Lisa Swinton

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Title: Fallen Angel
Author: Lisa Swinton
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Romance
Rating: Love
Alerts/Warnings: None
Premise: "Antonio does not believe in love at first sight until he sees her fall into a street in Milan and get hit by a motorcycle. Compelled to know if she can return his affection, he becomes Renatta's hospital volunteer only to learn that the accident erased her memory. Together they must discover her past, present and future. In the way of happily ever after stand her opera career, tyrannical mother, and fiancĂ©. Antonio must win Renatta's heart before she bends to the will of her mother and marries Marcello. Failure means a lifetime of loneliness, for love at first sight never happens twice" (GoodReads.com).  
Opinions: I haven't read a lot of romance lately as I'm trying to read in the genre that I'm writing in. But when this author sent me an copy to read I went for it and stepped out of my comfort zone. Fallen Angel has the feel of the movie While You Were Sleeping, but with intriguing twists. I was glad to see the majority of the story is told from Antonio's point of view. I enjoyed getting a greater glimpse of romance from a man's side of things, plus it was absolutely wonderful getting the Italian setting. What I loved most was the interactions between Antonio and Renatta as they learned who she was as a person; they felt flirty, fun and realistic. I was also fascinated by the family intrigue intertwined throughout the story.  Overall, I loved reading this story. If romance is your thing, then give this book a try.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Fall by Jennifer Hurst

Stephanie and I have been asked to participate in an on-line blog tour to support the author in the release of this book. Usually, only Stephanie or I will write a review for a book, even if we both have read it. However, this time we have been asked to provide dueling or co-reviews. As such, I have read the book first and am posting my review of it now. Then, I am sending it to Stephanie who will read it and post her review in September. We hope that this will better help you decide whether or not this book piques your interest so that you choose to read it.

Also, please stay tuned for details regarding an author-sponsored contest in relation to FALL that will be posted later today.




Title: Fall
Author: Jennifer Hurst
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Rating: Love
Alerts/Warnings: One swearword, one incident of implied sex
Premise: "Women and construction shouldn't mix. At least, that is what the client, Mr. Blackwell, thinks when Twenty-one year old Julia D. Halstead is promoted to project manager to remodel a turn-of-the-century schoolhouse into a bed and breakfast. However, the schoolhouse contains a dark secret that has been hidden for nearly a hundred years. A secret that will unleash the furies of Hell and cause the Angels in Heaven to weep as ethereal brothers, Matthew and Nathan, battle over Julia's very soul." (Book Jacket blurb)
Opinions: I had the pleasure of reading this book almost a year ago, as it was still a work in progress, and to provide my feedback on it for the author. I had a hard time putting it down then, and I must say that I love what Jennifer has done with the finish product. Paranormal romances are usually not my first choice of books to pick up and read, but I was instantly intrigued with Fall's premise. I was fascinated by the idea of JD (Julia), a strong woman trying to make headway in a male dominated field and wondering if she'll ever fall in love, then melding the story with the idea of Angels and Demons playing a major part in what happens in her life. I loved getting to know JD and experiencing with her each twist of the story. And I love that she is personal enough and quirky enough to wear pink leopard spotted construction books to work, and relishes a good chocolate chip milkshake with brownie broken up through out it. I was fascinated by Nathan and Matthew and the choices that they made, but honestly I think my favorite other characters are Liu (the oriental general store clerk) and Meagan (the mother of four precocious and unique boys). I also was entranced by the locale of the story, Torrey, Utah. I loved that it is a little known place and that the construction project that JD worked on is based on a true school building that has been made into a bed-and-breakfast. Plus, the descriptions of the area surrounding Torrey made me want to pack a bag for the weekend and go check it out.

Warning: For those who may be uncomfortable with sex in books there is one instance of sex. It is not described, but you know it happens and that the person is faced with consequences for those actions throughout the rest of the story. I loved that there was a balance between the choice and consequences for all of the characters' actions throughout the story.

Overall, I found this book unique, intriguing, and a fascinating twist on an adult romance that made it hard to put down. Please take a moment to read it yourself and let me know what you think.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

My Brother Michael by Mary Stewart

Title: My Brother Michael
Author: Mary Stewart
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Romance/Suspense
Rating: Like (I think)
Alerts/Warnings: Two overheard sex scenes, Some swearing, violence, murder
Premise: "Nothing ever happened to Camilla Haven -- until a stranger approached her in a crowded Athens café, handed her the keys to a black car parked by the curb,and whispered, "A matter of life and death."

The ride was Camilla's first mistake..." (Good Reads)
Opinions: I just reread this book for the third or fourth time and I have to say my opinion has changed over time. When we initially wrote our Top 100 book list over a year and a half ago this book was on the list (I even own it). I've been reading Mary Stewart books since a pre-teen and like I said this is not the first time I've read this book. The last time I read it was before I was married a good 10+ years ago. I still love seeing Greece through the eyes of the main character. I first fell in love with Greece because of Mary Stewart's descriptions in this book, and I still long greatly to visit this incredible and ancient land because of this book. I love the main character's struggle to find strength within herself after having ended a previous marriage. I love Simon and learning about the history of his brother Michael and what happened during World War 2 in Greece. My ultimate favorite character is a teenage boy by the name of Niko that we see periodically through the story. His vibrant energy is only matched by the kinds of clothes that he wears.

Where my attitude has changed in regards to this story is the reference to sex in the book that I don't recall so vividly from previous read throughs. Pardon me if I spoil a part of the story, but I feel compelled to explain why it bothered me. There are two scenes in the book were the main character is uncomfortably nearby when another pair of characters is having sex. Concerning how graphic it could be, I would say it was fairly clean and brushed over to some degree (I mean the main character does everything to ignore it this side of plugging her ears and saying "I'm not listening".) The biggest concern is the second time this happens it ends in the death of one of the characters because that person had learned too much about what their partner was involved in and the partner couldn't let the person live. So as romance books go the description is moderately clean, but I still felt it was highly disturbing to me at this stage in my life. As such, even though I LOVE the rest of the story, I feel compelled to take this book off of my Top 100 list and sell my copy. That is just my personal opinion. I still love Mary Stewart as an author and leave the decision up to you whether or not you choose to read this book.