Love Romance Passion » Older Woman/Younger Man

Review: Fortune’s Son by Emery Lee

Susan S. — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:40:46 +0000

Reviewed by Susan S.

Summary: Hero, Philip Drake, is the proverbial black sheep of his family. And an embarrassing disappointment to his father, the Earl of Hastings. Philip is a rebellious and impulsive young man; who’s spent the last four years drinking, bedding tavern maids, and gambling. Drake’s life is an unmitigated disaster; a reckless gamester locked in a cycle of wins and losses.

When Philip reluctantly agrees to teach a young widow to play cards, he turns a deaf ear to his friend’s cautionary warning. It’s not long after Susannah, Lady Messingham, enters his life that he finds himself in financial ruin.

Life is about to teach Philip and Susannah that when there’s nothing left to lose, there’s still something to be gained.

Review: I could pardon Philip’s impulsive nature in youth, but felt let down he reverted back to old patterns of behavior (after a ten year military career). His good intentions fell short. Sadly, I wasn’t able to connect with the hero. And when he marries “another” lady for her dowry, I stopped sympathizing with his character. His sulking and self imposed pity also failed in endearing me to him.

Now, the heroine is a horse of a different color. She was more relatable. Here’s this young widow managing her finances for the first time, while trying to maintain her mode of living among societal circles. Sure, she makes mistakes. Some were monumental, but she learns from them. Matures.

I enjoyed the twelve year journey showing the evolvement of the main characters; with their highs and their lows. And think the author did a nice job with the story’s resolution. Her strength lies in presenting the reader with great imagery. Her details also appear to be accurate, seeing as I did verify a few out of sheer curiosity.

The story itself would’ve been much improved with the editing of the terminated near rape scene. It felt misplaced in this story, and would’ve fitted more comfortably within another genre. I would read Ms. Lee’s future novels, but am hoping for a stronger hero next time. As that does seem to be my preference.

Recommendations: This novel will appeal to those readers who enjoy the damaged hero/nurturing heroine as well as the older woman/younger man tropes. If you like card games (like Blackjack) and gambling, this is definitely “the” book for you. I’m also recommending it to those who like to read romantic historical novels, more specifically, during the Georgian era. Certain readers may not agree with the infidelity themes throughout, or with the capture of a young lady (near rape scene).

Disclosure: I received this novel free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Favorite scenes:

Favorite scene #1: After riding on horseback in the rain for almost four hours, Philip shows up at Susannah’s home completely drenched. LOVE that scene! Wanted more of them. Anyhow, she recommends he remove the wet clothes. Which he does. But he hit a snag; Drake’s having trouble with the wet boots. He can’t take them off. His instructions to her are absolutely hilarious. Picture his leg between hers, Messingham’s rear end facing him-while she’s yanking and yanking. `Course, he loves every minute of it. He’s turned on.

Favorite scene #2: You know what I love about Georgian romances? That there’s always a duel. Some man is always seeking satisfaction, and I love when he gets it! This novel has a duel. J

Rating:

Buy: Fortune's Son

Fortunes Son by Emery Lee 2011 Paperback Original

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Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc., Historical Romance, November 2011, Mass Market Paperback, Print Pages 445. ISBN# 978-1-4022-5644-8.

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Review: Absolute Obsession by C. Elizabeth

Sharon S. — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 09:36:43 +0000

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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Review: For the Love of Mollie by KT Grant

Susan S. — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:32:56 +0000

by Susan S., guest reviewer

World Class Gym

Owners: Conner Bean/Seth Bean

Personal Trainer: Becky

Co-Ed Gym

Step Classes

State of the Art Equipment

To join contact Conner at Email: CB@WCGYM.ORG (fictitious email)

Mention this ad and receive free gym bag. (While supplies last).

This novella deals with the struggles of weight loss, and low self-esteem. I recommend it to all women, and those who enjoy contemporary romances and chick lit.

Summary: Mollie McGree (heroine) is a new member at World Class Gym. She joined in the hopes of losing weight. If she succeeds, maybe JC will be interested in more than just her friendship. Mollie’s a bit on the heavy side. Her self-esteem is so low as to be considered non-existent, and her confidence turned tail and ran. (Probably in search of food).

While exercising one day, a gorgeous man named Conner Bean (hero) strikes up a conversation. Turns out, he’s a trainer and one of the owners of the gym. He’s hot and millionaire-rich sans the arrogance. Right off the bat, Mollie knows she has a snowball’s chance in hell with this guy. He’s too perfect; she’s too…well, heavy. Conner belongs with one of those women that look as if they materialized right out of a skin mag.

Ms. McGree soon realizes two truths. Her friend JC is interested in someone else, and Conner appears interested in her. Will Mollie have the confidence to let a sexy trainer into her life? Or, will she drop him like a heavy set of dumbbells?

Review: It was refreshing to read about a relatable heroine. One that doesn’t have a perfect physique and that deals with issues many women face today. I enjoyed the secondary characters, as much as the main ones. Especially Suzy, Conner’s cousin and Mollie’s best friend, respectively.

Favorite Scene: There’s a massage session where Conner’s sexually multi-tasking. Getting in touch with his manhood and pleasuring Mollie. Holy massage session, Batman!

Favorite Character: Conner. Why? He’s amiable, good looking, successful, and family oriented without arrogance, or womanizing tendencies. A really nice hero. (I may have to change my stance on rogues. Maybe.)

Comedic Element: There’s a scene where Mollie wants Conner to bite her. This is where we learn she’s always had a vampire fantasy. I laughed because I was thinking to myself, who doesn’t?

Cute story.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Buy: For the Love of Mollie

eBook, Contemporary Romance, Novella, 110 Pages, 2010.

Publisher: Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

ISBN# 978-1-936394-03-6

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Review: The Unidentified Redhead by Alice Clayton

Keira — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:58:27 +0000

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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Review: Courting Miss Hattie by Pamela Morsi

Keira — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 09:20:17 +0000

First off, thank you to Katiebabs for recommending this book in her post, Those Wonderful Comfort Reads. It’s taken me a while to acquire my own copy, but boy oh boy was it worth the wait. This novel is definitely one of those where you wonder why you never heard of it sooner!

The biggest gossip in town is that spinster Hattie Colfax is going to be courted for the very first time by widower Ancil Drayton. He even has special permission from the preacher due to the fact that his wife hasn’t been dead very long, but the Lord will understand his need for a new woman. He has seven kids after all and a farm to maintain.

The minute the news reaches Reed Tyler’s ears he’s annoyed. That man is the worst farmer in the county and Hattie deserves better. Hattie on the other hand is very excited by what appears to be a man for the first time looking past her face and interested in her. This just annoys Reed even more.

Hattie goes to Reed, her 'Plowboy', for help. She doesn’t want to appear completely pathetic to Ancil by having him be her first kiss. She’s afraid it will put her on unequal ground; that Ancil will always look down on her and think she should be grateful he wanted to marry her. Reed agrees to teach her. There are three kinds of kissing that he teaches her that night, and that MhoFho and D.D. will teach you tomorrow, plus a fourth he teaches her later in the novel. Very hot and sexy scenes!

Really this was just a fantastic novel, though it would have benefited from less smoochy-smooches and Ancil. The man was made for a sexual harassment suit and he’s just plain unlikable and cruel. I felt bad for two of his seven children. I wanted Hattie to adopt them.

Rating: 4 Stars

Buy: Courting Miss Hattie

Find and Buy More Pamela Morsi Books.

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Review: My One and Only by Kristan Higgins

Keira — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:38:43 +0000

Heroine: Harper James is a divorce attorney and good at her job. She knows odds are stacked against couples and can see the discrepancies that the people in the relationship avoid until it’s too late. She’s living proof not all relationships built on love can last. When her younger stepsister, Willa, calls out of the blue during Harper’s botched proposal to longtime boyfriend Dennis to announce she’s marrying Harper’s ex-husband’s half brother, Harper senses blood in the water. The relationship can only be doomed and she’s determined to get Willa to see the error of her ways before it’s too late.

Hero: Successful architect Nick Lowery loves his half brother and wants to see the marriage work between Willa and Chris. He thinks Harper is too cynical. It’s her greatest fault. He blames her for their failed marriage and in equal parts hates and loves her. He’s not sure he can ever forgive her, but when a snafu with the airlines downs all the planes at all of the Midwest small town airports, he offers to drive her to a big city to catch a plane. Will time spent together help them untangle the twisted heap of their failed marriage and rekindle their passion for each other? You bet!

Other Guy: Dennis is a thirty year old firefighter who plays too much video games, calls Harper dude all the time, and is still basically a boy in many respects. He lives in an over the garage apartment, drives a crappy junker, and wears his long hair in a rattail. Sex might be good, and he might give Harper the control she craves, but a relationship with Dennis means always taking care of him. They break up at Willa’s destination wedding and the path seems clear that Harper will end up with Nick, but wait – there’s more!

Review: This sweet, snarky, chaste second chance at love is a keeper. The heroine’s issues with abandonment are a large part of the novel and are gently dealt with to reach a hug-the-book-happy-ending. You’ll root for Harper (who does well in getting Nick to finally admit he also had a hand in their failed marriage), wish you could spend time in the hero’s head (though Nick’s feelings are pretty upfront), sigh at the hot sexual tension between the two, and laugh at all the antics of Coco the dog. Definitely one of my favorites for 2011!

Favorite Scene: I like a bunch of tiny moments – when Nick and Harper first kiss after all their years estranged, Nick’s reaction when Harper walks out of the airport, Nick’s groveling to get her to stay, and Harper’s repeated crapolas as things begin to pile up rapidly at the end.

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Review: Protecting Paige by Norah Wilson

Karin — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 09:32:07 +0000

by Karin of Savvy Thinker, guest reviewer

Protecting Paige is the third book I've read in Wilson's Serve and Protect Series. This is a genre that I like. The book introduces the love story of another of the characters who work together as police officers.

The story: Paige Harmer’s son Dillon is in big trouble, though she doesn’t know it. He is in way over his head. As a single mom, Paige really doesn’t know what to do about his increasing attitude. But that’s the least of it. He is being forced to make a delivery across the border to the US, but he is doing his best to distance himself from the people who want him to do this.

Paige is a caterer. When she takes some food next door to a neighbor, she learns he is a policeman on medical leave. On her part, there is instant attraction, even though he is a few years younger than she is and definitely not looking for any kind of help.

Paige's cooking is enough to make you hungry and yearn for the recipes. Yum!

Tommy Godsoe was shot in a police raid and is recovering, but he is convinced his days as a cop are over, and he has zero interest in a desk job. He used to be a dog handler, but he has had to give up the dog he loved and trained, because he can hardly walk, much less track with a dog. His anger comes off him in waves.

It is his ability as a dog trainer that opens Dillon up to him. When Dillon finds a dog that has been hurt (intentionally by the bad guy), he begins to love and train the dog with Tommy’s help.

Paige continues to bring Tommy food and begins to talk about her son with him. Soon Paige’s business is targeted as the way to make Dillon do what is demanded of him.

And then she is kidnapped. The guy who kidnaps her is genuinely scary. There's no doubt what his intentions are.

How they survive: Dillon realizes that the likelihood of either his mother or him surviving is nil, after the job is completed. He uses his wits and comes up with the right actions that keep him and ultimately his mother safe, though if he had opened up sooner, there would have been less need (which drives me crazy!)

And it is very lucky that Tommy has taught his dog to track. Because of this, he is reunited with his dog. Together they save Paige’s life, even if it is almost physically impossible for him to do.

My take: Norah Wilson has another winner in this book. The good guys are rescued; the bad get what's coming to them. And Dillon and Paige find new lives as their love grows.

I give it 4.5 Stars. I would have said 5 Stars but I was a little tired of Tommy's attitude, though it is entirely believable. Of course, that makes the rescue all the sweeter.

Have you read it? If you like this genre, you will like it. Maybe in real life things might not turn out so tidily, but I'm always glad when they do in fiction.

Rating:

Buy: Protecting Paige

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Review: Getting Lucky by Carolyn Brown

Susan S. — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 02:16:22 +0000

By Susan S., Guest Reviewer

Brown’s novel will warm your heart, and bring you characters so real, you’ll swear they’re flesh and bone. Getting Lucky will move to the top of everyone’s list of new comfort reads.

Getting Lucky is book three from Brown’s Lucky Trilogy. It stands alone, here’s why: In this novel the hero (Griffin Luckadeau) tells the heroine (Julie Donavan) fate stories. These stories will retell Milli and Beau’s fate in Lucky in Love. Griffin also goes on to retell Jane and Slade’s fate in One Lucky Cowboy.

Do we have “small” cameo appearances in Getting Lucky? Not just no, hell no! We got the whole family together!

In book three, which tells the story of another hunky Luckadeau cowboy named Griffin, we’ll stumble upon a chockfull of clichés, idioms, silly sayings, and similes. Here’s a glimpse:

Cliché: Don’t get your panties in a wad.

Idiom: The pot calling the kettle black.

Silly saying: One legged chicken at a coyote convention.

Simile: Her heart thumped in her chest like a bass drum.

This book reminded me of my first romances, First Love from Silhouette. I’m recommending this novel to anyone who enjoys romances, HEA’s, and heart-warming stories which leave you smiling.

Julie moves from Jefferson, Texas to St. Jo. As a single mom raising a daughter named Annie, she hopes to leave the gossip-mongers behind. She’ll soon realize she’s jumped out of the frying pan, and straight into the fire. Julie’s first day as a kindergarten school teacher has left her stupefied. Her new student Lizzy, is the exact double of her daughter Annie.

Lizzy’s single father Griffin feels perplexed over the girls' similarities. While the story unravels, the reasons for these similarities will begin to surface.

Getting Lucky gives us plenty of new characters to fall in love with. My favorite of these? Alvie, the love-stuttering rancher.

What will you love? References to Wild Sex Anonymous, bumping headboards, bull riding, women making bets, and the six sheets to the wind stories.

What did I love? In the barn, Julie’s heel gets caught on a loose board. She trips, Griffin grabs her, but ultimately they both fall to the floor. Is there more to this? Maybe.

Fundamental themes: Friendships are to be cherished, and fate will not be ignored.

Julie thinks Griffin’s egotistical, domineering, and too young for her (she’s six years older.)

He thinks all women are shrewd, conniving, with ulterior motives.

They certainly feel the attraction, but will they overcome prejudices, and stop letting their past cloud their judgments? Maybe.

This is a 5 Star Comfort Read!

Buy: Getting Lucky

Contemporary Romance, ARC, Trilogy, Sourcebooks, Inc., Casablanca, January 2010, Mass Market Paperback, Print Pages 393. ISBN# 978-1-4022-2436-2.

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Review: Enchanting the Beast by Kathryne Kennedy

Keira — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 09:47:44 +0000

This was an impulse buy. The cover was pretty (I only saw the front b/c this was an online purchase) and I was fairly certain the inside would give me a wounded/scarred/brooding hero because of the title. To my surprise it was a historical paranormal!

Nicodemus Wulfson is as you guessed it, a werewolf. His brother is being tormented by ghosts, something he emphatically does not believe. He decides the best way to help his brother is to go to London and obtain a person who claims to hold an affinity with ghosts and winds up with Philomena, a ghost-hunter/communicator with spirits.

The mystery behind the haunting was fairly predictable but contains several unique elements. I easily narrowed it down to the two major suspicious persons but was undecided as to which one it was until much later in the novel.

Philomena is a much older heroine than we are used to seeing in romance. She’s forty years old and a spinster, though she’s not unaware of what takes place behind closed doors due to the ghost of a prostitute named Fanny.

Nicodemus is twenty-seven and is determined to claim Philomena. Around her his wolf practically demands he get on with making her his in every way. At first he thinks it is just lust but quickly concludes that he wants more than an affair; he wants a wife and mate.

This book is quite possibly part of a series involving Merlin’s Relics but is well written enough to be a stand alone. Kennedy has marvelous world building skills. We are introduced to this alternate reality of the world where the aristocrat are descendants of Merlin and hold magical powers. The most powerful are royalty followed by the other noble ranks in order. It is the baronets that are lycanthropes or weres and they can be many animals from the more traditional werewolf to snakes, ducks, horses, etc.

Another element that I liked but wasn’t a major factor in the story was the idea of hedge witches (and wizards) who were the bastard children of the nobility. Even if they were claimed, most of them lack the power to be associated with rank.

Rating: 3 Stars

Buy: Enchanting the Beast

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Review: Lessons from a Younger Lover by Zuri Day

Cara Lynn — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 09:47:43 +0000

by Cara Lynn, guest reviewer

I got this book for free for my Kindle when it was offered that way on Amazon. It is no longer that way.

Gwen Smith is back in her home town at a low point in her life. She is 40 years old, her husband has left her for a younger woman, and she is reeling. Her mother is no help to her, but needs her help because she is losing her mental abilities.

The last thing she expects to find is a man that she will fall head over heels with -- and on top of that, he is 26. Ransom Blake is older than his years, because he has the responsibility for his young daughter whose mother has practically abandoned her.

And before she knew who he was, she was already falling in love with his daughter. And he definitely is more than interested in her.

This is a black romance. At times some of the black language with her friend (about sex and body parts) got in the way of the story for me. (I am not black.) The dialogue between them seemed coarse.

I really did enjoy the story and the characters though. Everything (story/characters) was well developed. The good characters were very good and the bad characters very bad. I would read another story by her.

I particularly enjoyed the way the treatment of the older people in the book... though older people was actually quite young.

Oh and the sex is hot and the romance believable!

Ransom's daughter needs a mother, and Gwen needs to be appreciated. Of course there are some twists and turns in the story, including her almost-ex coming back into her life with a last ditch offer prior to their divorce and Ransom's daughter's mother coming back in hopes of picking up where she left off (and her meddling mother.) Thankfully she doesn't fall for it and stays the course with her new love.

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