humour

     This was an unplanned read, but it fits the criteria for this month so, when I saw it in the store the other day I was quite excited... and now I'm once again caught up on Wendy (Corsi Staub) Markham's Slightly series.  Over the years that I've been following Tracey Spadolini's rather angsty journey, I've enjoyed it immensely.  Now, usually, I don't care for books where a main character just can't seem to get with the plan, but Ms. Markham has created in Tracey a very likeable person who knows her own shortcomings... but she's also a very loyal caring person.  Over the years she's grown a lot, no longer second-guessing everything, needing to please everyone at her own expense.  Her very good friends have always been her support; and of course Jack, now her husband of over two years, has been just what she needs.  He knows Tracey and loves her as she is... the reverse is just as true, so their relationship works well.  A fun and entertaining read ~ Tracey and Jack are moving up and on... and boy, I do love spending time with them!   VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent+ ~ 4.5 stars
Steaminess: Slightly (heehee ) Romantic

Back Cover:

Taking over the business was just the first step
 
Anton Lakitos wanted Nina Lovell, too. But she despised him.
 
She was convinced that it was the arrogant Greek property developer who'd ruined her father's health because of his desire to add Lovell's to his list of conquests.
 
When she discovered he was hell-bent on buying her, too, Nina faced the kind of dilemma every loyal daughter dreaded?should she watch Anton ruthlessly break her father's heart, or should she attempt to keep the company in the family. . . by marrying the man she hated?
 

Spoiler Warning: All my reviews contain spoilers to some degree
  

Favourite Scene: (the hero is drunk and thinks he's dreaming)  

'No!' she choked again, 'Get your hands off me, you...'Tut, tut, tut,' he scolded, a long, incredibly sensitive finger coming out to tap her scorching cheek. 'This is my dream,' he announced. 'And I like my nymphs willing, not naughty. Well, maybe a little naughty,' he then amended on a husky little laugh.   

Favourite Scene:

"And hot," he finished, elation rising higher.
"Yeah, that, too…" She stopped, groaned. "I don't know why I'm telling you this…apart from the fact that I have this mind-to-mouth incontinence disease…when it's not business stuff…" She paused, seemed to struggle for breath, then burst out again. "This is ridiculous. This has to be the full moon…or the champagne. I'm not this socially handicapped."

Another Fav Scene:

"And what was that image that my name and reputation summoned to your
imagination?"
"A repulsive blob in traditional Bedouin garb, with a high nasal voice and a painful accent, reeking of musk and…"
Somebody gag and sedate her already. 

My Review:

Mmm!  I just grinned during this one.  Nice emotions.  I liked the hero and heroine both.  The heroine was a bit overly moralizing and agressive about telling the hero how he should be parenting, but she had innocent intentions.  I thought it was cute and funny that the heroine kept tripping over her own feet aroudn the hero.  And I loved when he mocked her and said that if she fell to her unfortunate demise they would have a real body buried in the basement, which should please the scandalmongers.  The hero was sweet around his son.  I liked that the hero wasn't the womanizer the public thought him to be (at least not anymore, not since his marriage and son's birth).  Great slow burning sexual tension between the hero/heroine.  I loved how at the end he came after her, saying he wanted her back as his son's nanny, then saying that his brother-in-law came up with an idea to keep her around as a librarian, before finally confessing he was looking for any excuse to tie her to him so that she was around because he needed her himself.  Awww!  Random rant about the cover: The hero and heroine had the same gold/blonde hair and it looked almost gold/green, kind of ugly. 

My Rating: 4/5 stars, a lovely warm story, great emotions.  NFM

Back Cover:

Grace under pressure.  Running into a potential business partner late at night in a broken elevator - when one was wearing a glamorous fur with nothing on underneath - was awkward, but Grace Blair was cool enough to handle a hot situation. 

Her poised, controlled demeanor belied the insecurity she felt taking over her late husband's business empire, but Scott Gregory was able with one caressing glance to strip away all her pretenses.  Especially since the handsome New Zealander had made it clear from their first inauspicious meeting that in business, knowledge was power - and that he knew exactly what he wanted. 

Favourite Scene: (gasp! I can picture him growling this out, control gone!) 

"I'm as sober as you are!"  

"For your sake, I hope that's a lie, Grace," Scott ground out savagely. "But if it is true then maybe you've done me a favour. If you were teasing me deliberately I don't have to feel guilty for what I'm about to do." 

Back Cover:

Self-made fitness tycoon Rory Flanaghan is tall, rugged and so, so sexy. When Cara Sheehan starts one-to-one sessions with Rory, exercise takes on a whole new meaning!
Though she might be inexperienced in the bedroom, Cara knows Rory's heart is locked away. But Rory will show Cara what she's been missing. With one touch, one kiss, one night, he'll have her complete surrender! 

My Review:

Mmmm, yummy!  This book was such an enjoyable read, it just made me feel good!  I was grinning and laughing my way through it.  The banter between the hero/heroine was such delicious, the sexual tension was built up very well.  The heroine's self-defense mechanism of sarcasm and barbs was just charming and made her equal to the challenge of taming her bossy hero who was used to commanding his own way. 

Back Cover:

Jack Devila always has a skinny blonde on his arm. How can he know about relationships when his family never provided a good role model for stable relationships? Merlina Rossi is a curvy brunette who comes from a solid Italian family. In the workplace, Jack and Merlina spar and butt heads ---- the game is electric! Has Jack gone too far when he asks her to plan his grandfather's birthday surprise or will she teach him a lesson? What happens when the sparks fly outside of the workplace?   

My Review:

This was a nice read because it had some funny scenes.  The premise was great, and I loved the combatative relationship between the hero/heroine, I love them warring with each other and trying to outwit and best their opponent!  However, I think this book had a problem: it jumped from scene to scene and the relationship progressed to fast between the hero/heroine. 

I loved this book.  The heroine found her boyfriend of five years having sex in HER bathtub with her best friend!  Feeling much betrayed, she dresses to the nines and goes to their business party, where she meets the hero and rushes into his arms to take the pain away and show her ex she's fine without him.  She gets second thoughts though, and runs out on the hero while he steps into the bathroom for a moment.  Boy is he frustrated to find her gone!  Unfortunately, the heroine accidentally picked up a disk with very sensitive info about the hero's business...  the hero chases after her thinking she's going to use the info to ruin his business deal (worth millions).  She wasn't planning to, however, she is a hacker and curiousity made her read the info for fun!  Whoops, the hero ain't happy and ain't trusting her.  He takes her captive until he can wrap up his business deal safely.  It's hilarious and sexy!  Smart heroine, powerful male who's not domineering and unlikeable. 

Rating: 4/5 stars, a fun romp with a smart heroine!