Showing posts with label Signet Eclipse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Signet Eclipse. Show all posts

Monday, May 4, 2015

Review: Two of Hearts by Christina Lee

Two of Hearts by Christina Lee
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Genre: Contemporary Romance Two of Hearts Cover
ISBN: 9780451473257
Release Date: May 5, 2015
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N
Christina Lee Reading Order

Dakota Nakos was always the resilient, strong-willed achiever. But when her father dies and she’s entrusted with the family’s casino, she feels vulnerable, scared, and more than a little emotional – not exactly the best time to see an old lover she’s never really gotten over.

Dakota once meant the world to Shane Garrity. Then suddenly he left town to train as a U.S. Marshal, and their love for each other crashed into a memory. Now he’s come home for her father’s funeral, and one look at the girl he left behind stirs up both memories and regrets, and reignites a fire he feared he'd lost forever.

Dakota may be the same driven girl she always was, but she's also changed in ways neither could have anticipated. She’s not just a young woman searching for own identity in the Native American community in which she was raised, but one questioning her new life outside her father’s shadow. Above all she wonders if Shane can push past her weakened defenses to rekindle what they once had, or whether the intense blaze between them will ultimately reduce her heart to ashes.

Two of Hearts is an engaging story of finding and fighting for home, wrapped up in a passionate reunion romance. Dakota and Shane have sizzling chemistry and author Christina Lee delivers incredibly hot scenes in Two of Hearts. On its own, this could make the book a highly entertaining read. But it’s the way Dakota and Shane are as individuals and how that plays into their rekindled romance that makes their story shine.

Shane is a strong, protective hero who’s nearly at the end of his rope with his job as a U.S. Marshal. I loved that Shane was not only over the moon about Dakota, but also isn’t afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. He’s open about what he feels for her, his need to protect her and her family, and damn if that isn’t sexy. Shane is a wonderfully self-aware, genuinely kind and giving hero. Dakota is as drawn to Shane as he is to her, but she’s also got a hell of a lot on her plate. Dakota’s a smart, determined woman fighting for her legacy in the wake of her father’s death. Though her mother is Dutch, Dakota has always identified as Native American and is now feeling a bit lost in her own community. Since her father’s murder and her mother’s inheritance of their family’s casino, some people have – whether out of fear, distrust, or because of the manipulation of others – started making Dakota feel like an outsider. One of my favorite things about Two of Hearts is watching Dakota find her voice in the Native American community. Ms. Lee’s research dedication to showing the beauty of Native American culture and the struggles the Nation faces shows and I really loved the care she took in weaving this throughout the book.

Though Dakota and Shane are undeniably the heart of Two of Hearts, Ms. Lee gives depth and attention to a dynamic supporting cast. I absolutely loved Shane’s fellow Marshals, Charlie and Alex, and I have my fingers crossed in the hopes that one or both of them will get a book. It’d also be remiss of me not to mention Dakota’s brother and sister-in-law, Kai and Rachel. Kai and Rachel are the two characters whose clear love for one another brought a smile to my face every time they were on the page. Of course, this isn’t surprising since they happen to be the hero and heroine of Whisper to Me, part of Ms. Lee’s Between Breaths series. Two of Hearts isn’t part of the Between Breaths series, nor is it a New Adult book like Whisper to Me. Dakota and Shane’s book takes place a years after Kai and Rachel’s story, and I’m sure fans of Whisper to Me will love seeing Kai and Rachel a few years into their marriage.

Between Dakota and Shane’s steamy romance, the wonderful supporting characters, and the attention given to Dakota’s heritage, there’s a lot to love about Two of Hearts. Add in a dash of suspense revolving around the murder of Dakota’s father and it’s easy to see how a reader can get swept up in this book. I loved Two of Hearts and I hope Ms. Lee continues to write more compelling adult contemporary romances.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Review: Hillbilly Rockstar by Lorelei James

Hillbilly Rockstar by Lorelei James
Series: Blacktop Cowboys, Book 6
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance Hillbilly Rockstar Cover
ISBN: 9780451413970
Release Date: August 5, 2014
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

She’s protecting his body and guarding her heart...

Country music star Devin McClain understands there’s a downside to life in the public eye, but the laidback Wyoming cowboy has never imagined he’d attract crazed fans who would do anything to garner his attention. When veiled threats become real, he agrees to hire a discreet security detail. But Devin is shocked when that bodyguard is a hard-bodied woman. He’s even more stunned to be attracted to the steely-eyed stunner.

Former soldier Liberty Masterson’s return to civilian life has been fraught with challenges until she lands a job with a prestigious security firm. But when she agrees to provide personal protection during a cross-country tour, she doesn’t realize she has signed up to masquerade as the playboy star’s girlfriend. Though she’s more comfortable in combat boots than high heels, she has no choice but to appear to be the sexy groupie Devin prefers.

Living in close quarters causes the chemistry between them to ignite, and Devin realizes he wants to turn their charade of a romance into reality. Although Liberty surrenders to his every whim behind closed doors, she fears the sexy country star doesn’t see the real her; and Devin can’t help but worry when the tour ends that there might not be enough between them to build something that won’t fade away...

Get ready for a rockin’ good time with Hillbilly Rockstar! Lorelei James kicks up the heat with this sultry romance and keeps things lively thanks to her two endearing, heart-headed leads.

Liberty is a tough-as-nails veteran who’s an intriguing mix of strength and vulnerability. I loved how kick-ass she was and admired her intelligence, and the way Devin gets under her skin and into her heart made the pages of Hillbilly Rockstar fly by. And speaking of Devin…man, he’s just about every woman’s fantasy come true. Who could resist a charismatic, gorgeous musician with a good heart? Thankfully, Ms. James doesn’t make Devin perfect. His pride and resistance to admitting he needs protection leads him to be a bit of a jerk to Liberty in the beginning of the story. But not only does she call him on it, Devin does a complete one-eighty once he gets to know Liberty. The two of them have excellent chemistry and there’s a sense of realism to their relationship thanks to the ups and downs their burgeoning romance faces. It isn’t smooth sailing when a protective, traditional (for lack of a better word) guy like Devin has a female bodyguard. But every bump in the road is worth it in the end.

Though Devin and Liberty’s relationship is the center of Hillbilly Rockstar, the threats against Devin and the not-always-glamorous life of a musician on tour round out the story and were just as entertaining as the romance. In addition, we get to see Liberty and Devin’s friends and family, many of whom are past Blacktop Cowboys heroes and heroines. While Hillbilly Rockstar can be read as a standalone, fans of the series will undoubtedly love the opportunity to catch up with some of their past favorite characters. I’ve been reading this series out of order, but after finishing Hillbilly Rockstar I definitely want to catch up on the characters whose books I’ve missed.

Hillbilly Rockstar delights from beginning to end thanks to the story’s appealing leads and Ms. James’s lively prose. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Liberty and Devin and I can’t wait to read more Blacktop Cowboy books.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Review: Moonlight Kiss by LuAnn McLane

Moonlight Kiss by LuAnn McLane
Series: Cricket Creek, Book 5
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Genre: Contemporary Romance Moonlight Kiss Cover
ISBN: 9780451415585
Release Date: November 5, 2013
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

After not one, but two very public broken engagements, Addison Monroe is ready to take a break from men, weddings, and the paparazzi. In order to do that, Addison escapes the Southern California spotlight to rest and relax in Cricket Creek. Yet while she might be able to avoid the media in this small Kentucky town, fate has a funny sense of humor when it comes to the other two things on Addison’s “avoid” list. It’s not long after she arrives in Cricket Creek that Addison finds herself opening a bridal boutique on Wedding Row, a job that throws her directly in the path of one sexy-as-sin farmer.

Investment consultant Reid Greenfield left Lexington to temporarily help out on his family’s farm. A farm that may just be turning into a wedding reception venue if his sister, Sara, has her way. Reid’s not about to let his sister lose everything she’s worked for on a foolish venture, and he hopes that Addison, as both a wedding consultant and the daughter of a famous financial guru, will help Sara see the light. Only Addison thinks Sara’s idea is brilliant. For a man like Reid – one who wants to avoid weddings – being at the eye of a wedding storm has a strange effect. Or maybe it’s just Addison who is turning his world upside down. Will a man who doesn’t like taking risks take the biggest leap there is and give his heart to a woman who has been burned by love more than once?

LuAnn McLane will charm your socks off with this fresh and fun tale! Moonlight Kiss is a sweet, sprightly story with charm to spare. Like Addison, I fell in love with Cricket Creek from the first moment. There’s a welcoming vibe to the town that just radiates off the page. From Addison to Reid to their loved ones, there’s not one person in Cricket Creek I wouldn’t love to get to know.

Endearing small towns aside, Moonlight Kiss features not one, but two romances that will leave you sighing. The primary love story is, of course, between Reid and Addison. These two are both understandably wary of deeper commitments, yet both learn that you can’t control emotion, no matter how hard you try. Ms. McLane made these two fit one another incredibly well without their pairing ever falling into “cardboard perfect” territory. The couple that almost steals the show from Addison and Reid are Maggie and Richard. Richard, the rock star who was almost Addison’s father-in-law, comes to Cricket Creek to try and make some of his son’s mistakes right. Instead he winds up finding love with Maggie, a single mother who is stepping out into the dating world now that her son is grown. I had a huge grin on my face whenever these two were together. Theirs was a beautifully understated romance that melted my heart more than once.

Moonlight Kiss is one of those comfort reads that is perfect for making you smile when you need it most. The only issue I had with the book was Addison’s seemingly endless streak of good luck and instant success in her professional life – it seemed a bit too unrealistic, and thus drew me out of the story. Even with that minor niggle, I adored Moonlight Kiss and I can’t wait to read more Cricket Creek stories!