reprint

This is a reprint of the first Hannah Swenson mystery with a bonus short story and cookie/candy recipes.

This is a reprint of an anthology originally published in 1998.  There are four stories--one by each of the authors.

Two years ago, Corinthians Avery made a big mistake--she walked into the wrong man's hotel room intent on seduction, and found sexy Trevor Grant instead. Since that fateful night, neither of them have been able to forget the desire the other inflamed.

     I've been looking at this book from my keeper shelves for awhile now and, after reading the back of the book and not remembering much of anything decided that I was up for a re-read.  I'm really glad that I did!  But then it's by Sharon Sala so, for me, that's a given that I'll love it.
     I wrote up a synopsis rather than copying the blurb from the back because it was, IMHO, misleading and not very well done.  Of course I then ended up practically writing a short essay, but... oh well.  *shrug*

     The story is first and foremost a story of love, but also a story of character ~ not story-type character, but a person's character, that something which defines us.  Sharon Sala excels at the elements of love and character; in this story she's written a strong hero and heroine ~ both of whom are just that.  The emotions that she writes of are almost tangible, certainly something that we can relate to.  Her characters come to life and develop and live... and I love it.  VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! 

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent to Outstanding ~ 4.5 stars
Steaminess: Sensual

Another book from the Harlequin family.

The Book: 

     I'd been looking for this book for months, ever since I read a review for it during last year's challenge.  I don't remember just who it was reviewed it, but my thanks go out to this person!  This story was everything that I expected, and more!  I loved this story on so many levels, but the part that i loved best was that Juliet took her future in her hands and decided that, as she was the only one who was going to be able to change her life, she better do it.  Her transformation began before the story opened, but she's at a fairly critical point as the story started and she went with it.  Speaking as a once-upon-a-time very shy person myself, it's not easy... but, as Juliet's experience shows, it's worth every bit of effort.  Wonderful heroine and great hero ~ and a romance that will knock your socks off as you watch a butterfly emerge from a cocoon of self-imposed isolation.  FABULOUS!! VERY, VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent to Outstanding ~ 4.5 stars
Steaminess: Sensual

     I liked Joe... a lot... but he really wasn't enough to save it from a, to me, very unlikely heroine who just couldn't see her nose in front of her face and two very lacklustre and "filler" secondary characters.  There was more life in Cait's brother Martin, and other than her memory of him, a telephone call and a brief appearance at the end, he was barely in the story.  Sorry, the character of Cait just pushed a lot of buttons for me and I really, really wouldn't have continued to read it past the first chapter except for Joe.  *shrug*

                Original release in 1991 

RATING:
Excellence: Okay (kinda) ~ 1.5 stars
Steaminess: Romantic to (barely) Sensual

     I've had this book for quite awhile on my keeper shelves:  I'm not sure why I kept it all those years ago, but I won't this time around.  The story was okay, but I just never really connected with either Dori or Gavin.  Of course connecting with Gavin was nearly impossible for anyone:  not just committment phobic, but running terrified due to a disastrous first marriage.
   To be honest, I've never been a fan of Debbie Macomber's writing... definitely one of those examples of "not everyone is going to love every author...."  Well, this is one of mine.  It was pretty much a case of not being able to get into the story, or into the characters... not the fault of the author, just a personality 'thing' I guess.

                    Original release 1986

RATING:
Excellence: Good ~ 2.5 stars
Steaminess: Romantic to (barely) Sensual

     I got this book last summer along with Steven F. Havill's Statute of Limitations (which I've yet to read) and just never did get around to reading it.  In fact, I very nearly gave the book away, but something kept me from getting rid of it and whoa, am I ever glad that it did.  I finally read it due to a review, that I cannot find!, and the fact that it fit in with the March challenge (anyone tired yet of me talking about the March challenge?  I promise, this is the last time!!).  Anyway... reading this mystery someone's ~ and I keep thinking that Paisley is the one, but I can't find it... Merri? ~ review prompted me to add it to my list and I am now kicking myself... because of course now I want to get all of Linda Berry's Trudy Roundtree Mystery books.

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent to Outstanding ~ 4.5 stars
Steaminess: NA

     New line, new series. Since I read a review of one of Maureen Child’s Bachelor Battalion books, I’d been searching when, while at one of the thrift stores that I visit, there was one of the books from this series. I was tickled pink! In short order, I came across two more books from this series and then chanced upon a Silhouette by Request title with the second of the Bachelor Battalion books in the series… happy? You bet! So while I know that I’m missing a LOT of these books, I’m off to a good start. Yee haw!
            This book was originally released as SD #1174 [1998]

RATING:
Excellence: Great to Very Good ~ 3 stars
Steaminess: Sensual