Love Romance Passion » Acting http://www.loveromancepassion.com Because Books Don't Fall Asleep Afterwards! Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Review: His Leading Lady by Paula Martin http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-his-leading-lady-by-paula-martin/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-his-leading-lady-by-paula-martin/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:23:43 +0000 Keira http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=13572

Heroine: Jess Harper is the twin sister of a rising West End actress. But when her twin, Lora, goes missing, Jess is begged to step in by her agent. With Lora off the map and her career in jeopardy, Jess does what she’s always done – help! But the theatre director is both too arrogant and too sexy and he’s bound to see through her act.

Hero: Kyle Drummond needs his leading lady. When he discovers Jess is playing Lora he decides the better twin is present and gets her to take over Lora’s role in his new show. Jess is everything he’s looking for both on stage and off – but can he convince her nothing was happening between him and Lora besides contractual obligations?

The Show’s Financial Backer: Watch out for this guy!

Review: Sometimes it’s nice to dream of the life you didn’t choose, the paths you didn’t take, but what happens when the dream you let go of comes back into your reach again? That’s what happens to Jess – she chose a life off the stage, but with her sister’s disappearing act suddenly she has a chance at the limelight again. It’s very tempting, but her worry about her sister keeps her from fully believing the life she stepped into. Can she give it up? Can she give up Kyle? It was a nice read, a little lacking in tension and not enough loving between hero and heroine for my tastes. Could have used more!

Rating: ★★★½☆

Buy: His Leading Lady

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Reviewed by Lynn Reynolds

This is book 2 of the “Jane Austen/Mr. Darcy” series.

Kay Ashton is helping to take care of a very sick woman. They also have something in common – they have a love of Jane Austen. We see that her favorite romantic hero is Mr. Wentworth or to be more specific the actor Oli Wade Owen. If you had one romantic hero you could dream about, who would it be? We also see that Kay is a book illustrator. She quits her job to follow her dream.

Adam Craig is a screenwriter and film producer who lives near Lyme Regis. Kay doesn’t know it yet but they have a connection. But Victoria surprises us by making him painfully shy. Will he get over his shyness to let Kay know how he feels?

Kay has opened a Bed & Breakfast and her first guests are a group of actors doing a film based on one of Jane Austen’s works. We see that Kay has a very easy going personality which works well for her new line of work. She appears to be one of those people who likes everyone. And with a house full of celebrities she’s just a little awe struck.

One of Victoria’s characters sticks out. Her name is Gemma. She’s one of the actresses staying at Kay’s B & B. She’s quiet, a daughter of an actress, and one who hopes she won’t turn out be just like her mother. She doesn’t appear to be your typical ingénue.

For those readers of romance that don’t know much about Jane Austen, Victoria sneaks in little bits and pieces about her into the story – a miniature history lesson if you will. She may make you a fan before the book is finished.

In Kay’s interactions with the film group, she makes certain observations. Be we have to question how on point her observations are. Kay has a crush on the “pretty boy” actor Oli Wade Owen. Is she just star struck because of all his attention? Is she misinterpreting that attention? Will she miss her true soul mate because of her walking around with her head in the clouds?

Victoria helps to fuel the romance bug. You’ll become a fan of hers and she may change your mind about going back and reading some of Jane Austen’s work. She will also get you hooked on the surroundings – she’s our travel guide as she takes us through the English countryside.

This story is definitely like a film. Victoria puts in so many twists and turns you have to keep reading to see who ends up with whom. But if you expect to read sex in this story, you will be disappointed. If you expect a cut and dry romance between main characters, you will also be disappointed. If you love a romance that takes its time and comes out to be a surprise, this book will be for you. You may also want to go back and read the first book and then wait for the Spring when her third book comes out.

Rating: ★★★½☆

Buy: Dreaming of Mr. Darcy

Online Stores ]]> http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-dreaming-of-mr-darcy-by-victoria-connelly/feed/ 0 Review: Wild Rides by Elizabeth Coldwell http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-wild-rides-by-elizabeth-coldwell/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-wild-rides-by-elizabeth-coldwell/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:22:03 +0000 Sharon S. http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=13369

Reviewed by Sharon S.

Ridden Hard, Stud to Go, Layover... A collection of three intensely erotic gay novellas – prepare yourself for a Wild Ride!

Whew! I think I need to fan myself after reading these stories <G>.  I read and reviewed Ridden Hard a while back for LRP and gave it 5 stars. So when I got a chance to read more by Coldwell I jumped at the chance. I always say I don’t like erotica, but I think I might have to rethink that when it comes to m/m romances. These three stories are over the top, throwing every possible sexual scenario at you in a very short amount of time. Ben, the lead character in Stud to Go manages to be involved in voyeurism, BDSM, ménage, masturbation and probably some others I forgot, with multiple people. In his defense, he was working as a male escort.

These stories worked for me because of how well developed and likable the characters are.  Each story is told in the first person POV, which I am quite fond of. I immediately loved each lead character. They are good natured, funny and all around nice guys. Coldwell has a talent for writing wonderful characters and she will have you rooting for them and their HEA, which they all get I might add.  The sex might be rough and crazy, but the romance behind all that is so strong and sweet it will leave you wanting more.

My favorite of the three was Stud to Go. I loved Ben and Jeroen. It is almost like a m/m version of Pretty Woman (for those who remember that one <G>). Layover was my least favorite of the three, but I still liked it! We are talking 5 stars vs 4 stars, but I didn’t feel the same connection between Cal and Justin as I did with the other two couples.

If you like m/m, HEA, and freaking hot sex, then you will love this collection :)

Rating: ★★★★★

Buy: Wild Rides

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Reviewed by Sandra Scholes

Actor Jamie Desmond gets some information on a new project he could be involved in, a movie called Grail. It is a loosely adapted script based on the popular Holy Grail story that involved King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table. He instantly likes the way it reads, and desperately wants to be a part of the making of it.

Jamie does something he's been doing since he got into acting, though, he lies about his riding ability, and lands the job, but when it comes to showing his riding instructor how good he is in the saddle, he has to confess he can't ride at all, and in doing so, he might lose the job.

He is good with a sword, though, and that catches the eye of the others working on the set. This story is more about Jamie and his riding instructor, Andrej, even though he spends the occasional bit of time with Fin, an old friend he had who goes way back - they have fun together, and the occasional fuck, but their relationship is nothing more than that.

With Andrej there is a certain chemistry Jamie finds highly attractive as it pulls him closer to him. The fact he lied to him about his riding ability doesn't bother him, in fact it entices him to want to get to know him more - and for the reader that is the sexiest part. The wanting, the needing to be with someone like Jamie, but there is a catch - Andrej tells him to come to his place later and he offers to tutor him in the art of riding - but does he want to teach him other things too?

Exciting excerpts from this novel can entice and inspire readers:

Why did my mind flash to thoughts of Andrej brandishing a riding crop as I grovelled at his feet, promising to do as he wished? I wasn’t into any of that kinky master and slave punishment stuff - at least, I didn’t think I was, but the image of Andrej towering over me, powerful and dominant, wouldn’t go away.

Andrej is the totally dominant instructor, and Jamie is the pupil, yet this is more of a master and servant relationship at first, as the situation Jamie gets into at first veers from it being only about the work he does for the movie, into Andrej’s eventual domination of him. And it is a domination that delves into sexual territory with Andrej teasing him and making him want his touch more and more.

He strode over to me. ‘I told you that you have much to learn. Not all of it is to do with riding a horse. Much of it concerns how to show due respect to the man who instructs you. I look at you and I see a boy who thinks he has it all. The acting ability, the body, the cock…’ As he spoke, his cool fingers closed around my shaft. I stifled a groan, excitement pulsing through me at his touch.

Readers are set to enjoy the overall story as the erotic elements are slowly introduced into the novel by way of Andrej. He has a subtle way of making Jamie feel at ease around him, but that is only his bedside manner – he finds out what Andrej is really like once he submits to him, and that is when the story really starts, and he begins to appreciate what Andrej is trying to do for him.

Rating: ★★★★★

Buy: Ridden Hard

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Reviewed by Sharon S.

I was intrigued by the premise of the story, but unfortunately this book didn’t move me. It wasn’t so much the content of the book as the way the story was told. I never felt like I was a part of the story. I was more like an outsider listening to a narration. I never felt connected to the characters. I was just watching them go through the motions.

Another problem I had was the story seemed very plotted out. We went from point A to point B to point C in a methodical and unrealistic way. It is almost like the story was edited too much. It kind of reminded me of the way some YA novels are written, but this is by no means YA. There is some hot sex going on.

I wanted to like this book and I did read it till the end because even though it was predictable, I did want to know how things happened, but I did skim through a big portions looking for dialogue and action. I can see how some types of readers would like this story and its linear progression so I suggest you check out other reviews before deciding it this book is for you.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Buy: Absolute Obsession, Absolute Obsession (UK)

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Only Mine is Dakota’s story, the first story of the Hendrix triplets in the Fool’s Gold series.

Heroine: Dakota Hendrix can't have kids and she wants one so she’s in the process of adopting. Meanwhile there isn’t a guy on her radar (could be because of the man shortage) and she’s doing a favor for the mayor by being the contact person between the town and the new reality TV show being filmed there.

Hero: Finn Anderson is the opposite. He doesn't want kids after raising his twin brothers for so long. He's a pilot with a business in Alaska. He’s in town to force his stupid twin brothers back to college and off the dumb reality show they’re trying out for, but of course, as they’re twins they are automatically voted on and once they are they’re not leaving. He’s an overprotective brother, but a solid good guy.

The Twins:

Sasha: In a word - metrosexual. It doesn’t take more than his name to peg him as a character. He wants to be famous and he’s willing to do what it takes to get there including pretending a wild romance with Lani who is also interested in the same thing.

Stephen: He wants out of small town Alaska and the best thing for that is to follow Sasha onto this dating reality show. In the process he’s matched with an older woman (as un-cougar as they get) and he really digs her (can we say hot?).

Review: I wasn’t really into the main romance. It could be because it reads friends-to-lovers, a trope I’ve never been behind. And Dakota getting pregnant was too predictable. I was hoping a miracle pregnancy wouldn’t enter the picture, because it made the story highly unrealistic. It took care of the angst and depth to Dakota’s character in one too neat package.

I also thought it was unrealistic that Finn who didn’t want kids after raising his brothers after their parents’ deaths would jumped back into raising kids again so soon even if he loved Dakota. He’s never had a chance to be a carefree adult and I felt he really deserved it.

As far as the side romance goes, it really upstaged the main romance in my opinion. I loved their first date. The two of them had a lot of depth and were cute. They could easily have had their own stand alone.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Buy: Only Mine

Online Stores ]]> http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-only-mine-fool%e2%80%99s-gold-book-4-by-susan-mallery/feed/ 1 Review: Dark Passages by Kathryn Leigh Scott http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-dark-passages-by-kathryn-leigh-scott/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-dark-passages-by-kathryn-leigh-scott/#comments Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:24:14 +0000 Lynn Reynolds http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=12093

Reviewed by Lynn Reynolds

Genre: Paranormal Romance

In Kathryn Leigh Scott’s story, she puts a new spin on what a vampire is. We meet Meg as a young girl trying to act as “normal” as possible. Meg is different from most vampire characters than I have read in the past. She is a vampire that can talk to dead people.

I did love how Kathryn put a different spin on our vampire. Meg grows up in the year 1962 and becomes a Playboy Bunny. I also loved the fact that Kathryn references actual historical events instead of making up history to fit her story line.

As I start getting into the story, I read more about Meg’s “Bunny” lifestyle and her trying to become an actress then I do about her being a vampire. There were times that I felt that the character, Meg, could just have been anyone and not someone with special “gifts”.

A personal tragedy occurs and then we start to see Meg thinking about her vampire powers. But so far she doesn’t really act on them. Kathryn also gives us a look into more of what Meg’s childhood was like.

Every once in a while we do get a glimpse of the vampire – we see Meg “feed”. In most vampire stories, our vampires “feed” from humans but Meg uses alternatives. This makes Kathryn’s story a little different from most.

I found that the first couple of chapters were moving a little slow. Kathryn is giving the reader a lot of information about what is going on in Meg’s life. Sometimes I felt that it was a little too much.

Then we see Meg become a member of a soap opera entitled “Dark Passages”.

I do like that Kathryn is very descriptive. It helps the reader get an idea of what is going on in the story. But I also think this works against her because it makes the book hard to read because the scenes move so slowly. It also makes the reader feel that they are watching an actual soap opera - albeit a slow one.

And we haven’t even seen the romance end of it yet. Who is her love interest? Will we ever find out who he is? I’m hoping by the start of chapter 4 that the love interest will show himself and then maybe the story won’t appear so slow. But I was to be disappointed.

In chapter 5, Meg mentions a guy named Eric who appears to be special to her. We have to take her word for that because there is no mention about him in previous chapters. I felt he was “plopped” into the story line because a love interest had to show up somewhere. But I didn’t feel a connection between the two characters. Then we find that Meg has a crush on another actor. This just confuses the reader as to who her love interest is.

Kathryn wrote a beautiful love scene between Meg and Eric. But when it came, it was a surprise. I didn’t expect it because I don’t see a past romance between the two. And they don’t even stay a couple.

Meg gets a “lucky charm” from a very dear friend. One you don’t think she will ever give up. But then we see that she gives it away. Can’t be much of a “lucky charm”.

We then find out that Meg’s nemesis, Camilla, joins the cast of “Dark Passages”. Now we get into a story of good versus evil. It isn’t until chapter 18 that we see what type of vampire Meg really is. It takes Meg’s mother to let the reader know why Camilla hates Meg so much. This conflict between the two of them is what brings out Meg’s powers that we haven’t seen before.

And still at this point I don’t see any real romance. Romance grips you and you can feel the chemistry between the two characters. I don’t feel that anywhere in this book. There is plenty of suspense but the romance is lost in the story line. Usually the romance builds through the book and sometimes they “live happily ever after.” Maybe I missed something but I just didn’t see that here.

I got to a point in the book that I had a hard time concentrating on the story. I found that I had to keep putting it down, go do something else, and then pick it back up again. I didn’t feel that the story picked up until a few chapters from the end. It took me the longest time to read this book (the first time ever).

A lot of my good paranormal romances I have read more than once. I’m sorry to say that once was enough for this book. You as the reader will have to decide if you agree with my feelings about this.

When I received the book “Dark Passages” I was very interested to see that the author was on my favorite show when I was growing up. I always looked forward to watching “Dark Shadows”. It was like an addiction. I had to watch it every time it came on. That was when I first fell in love with vampires.

I had such high hopes that Kathryn would grab my attention right from the beginning but this book failed to deliver. Maybe if the book had fewer pages it would have helped. But I don’t know if that would be true or not. It is not a book that I would go out and buy but I would recommend that if you want to read it, get it from your library.

Rating: ★★½☆☆

Buy: Dark Passages

Online Stores ]]> http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-dark-passages-by-kathryn-leigh-scott/feed/ 0 Review: Midnight Brunch (Casa Dracula Book 2) by Marta Acosta http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-midnight-brunch-casa-dracula-book-2-by-marta-acosta/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-midnight-brunch-casa-dracula-book-2-by-marta-acosta/#comments Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:18:55 +0000 Keira http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=8165

In the second installment of the Casa Dracula series, Milagro meets many more vampires as they come to celebrate the naming ceremony of Sam and Winnie’s baby, an event she just so happens to be excluded from which irks her to no end. Why must Oswald and the Grants always keep her out of the loop?

When Oswald takes off to perform cosmetic surgery for underprivileged children with clef palates, Milagro attends Nancy’s wedding to Toad Todd. She asks Ian to be her escort so she won’t be ignored the whole evening and together they end up hijacking the attentions of society queen Gigi Barton of Barton’s facial tissues (It’s nothing to sneeze at if it isn’t Barton’s!)

The evening ends in disaster when Milagro saves Ian from a faceless thug and is slashed deeply through an arm. The blood loss is devastating and Ian acts quickly transfusing some of his blood with hers and giving Milagro the vampire infection for the second time. It heals her but also brings about some dire consequences. Every time she touches somebody, be they vampire or human, she gets bloody and gory visions of their insides and the urge to attack (and drink) overwhelms her.

Not willing to put the baby or anyone else at risk from the ranch, Millie takes up a job offer from a Fancy University acquaintance, Skip Taylor, in the desert to rewrite the script Teeth of Sharpness. When famous Thomas Cook, a Latino actor, takes over her room and blackmails her into being his assistant, Milagro folds like a deck of cards. It doesn’t hurt that Thomas seems to be the only one who doesn’t bring about the scary visions.

When tabloid writer for the Weekly Exposition, Bernie, tries to tell her that the hotel Paragon has some sneaky and suspicious dealings, Milagro laughs him off. Then he leaks pictures and a story about her and Thomas and a flying goat eating monkey, irking Milagro to know end, but she has to admit the flying monkey is suspicious and so is the hotel’s Diamond Club members… and the crazy vampire Silas and his New Vampire Century who might be behind her hiring for script rewriting.

Concerned about Milagro, Edna shows up at the Paragon Hotel demanding answers and even Oswald cuts his trip and humanitarian efforts short. He’s determined to get to the bottom of Milagro’s behavior and she’s equally determined to figure out what’s going on in La Garbage, California.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Buy: Midnight Brunch (Casa Dracula Series, Book 2)

Online Stores ]]> http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-midnight-brunch-casa-dracula-book-2-by-marta-acosta/feed/ 1 Review: The Unidentified Redhead by Alice Clayton http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-the-unidentified-redhead-by-alice-clayton/ http://www.loveromancepassion.com/review-the-unidentified-redhead-by-alice-clayton/#comments Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:58:27 +0000 Keira http://www.loveromancepassion.com/?p=8136

Okay, I’ve said in the past that a turn off for me is the Older Woman/Younger Man (OW/YM) plot. Alice Clayton has changed my mind. If all Older Woman/Younger Man romances were like this one, I would be as much a champion of them as I am of May/Decembers where the man is so much older.

Grace Sheridan, thirty-three, is back in Hollywood for the second time in her life. This time she’s not quitting until she lands a part. In the meantime she’s renovating her new fixer-upper, living in the guest bedroom of her best friend and agent’s place, and concentrating on her craft, her singing, and her freelance.

Holy, the best friend, is also the manager for Hollywood’s up-and-coming it boy Jack Hamilton. He’s twenty-four, British, and the lead in Time, a role that’s garnered him much attention before it’s even been released. Women flock to him, which is both a source of amusement and gratitude because he thinks he’s pretty boring. He’s said it before, he’ll say it again, he’s going to date the first girl he meets that hasn’t read the stories that Time is based on… which just happens to be Grace.

The age difference means nothing to Jack, but bothers Grace because she knows Jack is constantly surrounded by younger women, even those younger than he is. When the tabloids label her the unidentified redhead she is amused, but when one calls her a cougar, she is not. It hurts and she’s worried about the fan reaction. Holy is also worried. Jack is at a point in his career where it’s prudent to put on the appearance of being single and available. Again Jack doesn’t care. He will not rock his personal life to make himself more appealing to his fans… which both endearing and annoying for Grace who understands the situation.

When a job in New York is offered to Grace, she knows she must and should accept, but it comes at the worst time possible. She and Jack are just starting their relationship. Long distance doesn’t seem like the best possible plan and yet she doesn’t want to give him up.

The Unidentified Redhead doesn’t conclude by wrapping everything up, it leaves much open and enough questions for the sequel The Redhead Revealed to whet the appetite. There are enough hazards to their future that their current rosy ending could very well be in jeopardy. Navigation will be tricky. It will all come down to how much they both want it and what they’re willing to do to get it.

Rating: 5 Stars

Buy: The Unidentified Redhead (Kindle), The Unidentified Redhead (Paperback)

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by Sharon S., guest reviewer

This story is told from the POV of Jamie. I really like this character. He is a young actor living in London. If you like hot fast erotic m/m sex, this one will please you from the get go! <G>. Jamie has gotten a choice role in a film and he celebrates with his friend and casual sex partner Finn, but for the first time, Jamie feels like he is missing something in his life and a friend with benefits isn’t going to fill that void.

On the first day of filming, Jamie realizes that lying about being able to ride a horse to land the role, might have been a mistake. Then he sees the set horse handler, Andrej Berger. It was lust at first sight for Jamie and when Ajdrej offers private lessons for Jamie, I think I was just as excited as he was <G>. Meeting someone smexy in the stables at night? I knew where this was going and there was no way I was going to miss it.

You realize quickly Andrej is a Dom by the way he speaks to Jamie. And Jamie finds him self wanting to take the role of his submissive. Now this is where the whole Dom/Sub thing fails me. I have realized that I like a romantic version of dominant and submissive relationship. Making the sub lick his, you know what, off of the Dom’s shoes isn’t very sexy, but that is just me.

Much to my surprise this story turned out to be a very romantic love story. There is more to it than just the great sex (and there was some of that!). The story is about Jamie and how he handles life in general.

I really like Coldwell’s story telling. It moves quickly and smoothly and I loved being in Jamie’s head. The ending made me squeee with joy, and I even plan on reading it again! Yes, the ending is that good ;)

Rating: ★★★★★ wonderful stars!

Buy: Ridden Hard, Ridden Hard (UK)

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