Novellas #1: Reviews & Giveaway

I know some readers are not a fan of novellas but I’m especially fond of them. They can provide a romance and wrap it up in just a small amount of pages providing you with the quick fix you crave if you’re short on time.  Or they can whet your appetite for a series.  A talented writer can use those pages and dazzle!  I thought it would be fun to showcase a few novellas that I’ve enjoyed.  I’ll give away a choice of two novellas from the ones reviewed below to one lucky reader!

Roman Holiday #1: Chained by Ruthie Knox

Expected Publication: November 11th 2013th by Random House: Loveswept

Pages: 40

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book: 

Meet Ashley and Roman—complete opposites who can’t hide their attraction—in Episode 1 of Ruthie Knox’s eBook original serial, Roman Holiday.

Ashley Bowman is having a bad week. Reeling from the death of her beloved grandmother, she returns to the Florida Keys only to learn that a heartless Miami developer has gotten hold of the crappy vacation rentals she calls home. Ashley has one day to clear out before Roman Díaz destroys the only place in the world that matters to her. Chaining herself to a palm tree in the bulldozers’ path seems like a good way to stop him . . . until she realizes she should’ve brought food and water. And pants. Also, it would help if the evil developer weren’t so ridiculously hot.

The last thing Roman Díaz needs is some sun-kissed blond protester getting her picture in the newspaper and messing up his plans. He bought the property fair and square, and the resort he wants to build on the site is the key to realizing his highest ambitions. But when a hurricane blows through, Roman has to hustle Ashley to safety if he wants to protect his reputation—and that means giving in to her unreasonable demands.

Roman needs to learn a little compassion, and Ashley’s decided to teach it to him . . . even if she has to drag him all over the Eastern Seaboard to do it.

My Thoughts:

Roman Holiday is the start of a 5 part mini-series, each installment released one week apart. Chained is the first installment and starts out fun and snarky with our potential love interests, Ashley and Roman, completely at odds with each other.  Some of the best romances start off that way, don’t you think?  I certainly do.

When we meet Ashley and Roman they are locked in a battle over Sunnyvale Vacation Rentals.  Roman is the cliché heartless businessman who wants to tear them down Ashley’s beloved family vacation apartments to build Coral Cay, a fancy high dollar resort.  Come the day of the tear down, Ashley impulsively chains herself to one of palm trees to halt progress. Roman is NOT happy.  She could potentially ruin everything if his investor backs out because of all the drama. 

Chained makes you laugh with wacky humor, and sets the stage for a sizzling romance.  All those feelings of hate when mixed with intense attraction can lead to combustible results!  And with the way Chained ended I think things are about to get very interesting!  Danger is a-brewing!

Even with such a small page count there’s a depth to both Ashley and Roman’s characters, and something darker and painful hinted at.  I expect we’ll get a little more of what makes these two tick as the story progresses.  I think both Ashley and Roman’s initial rush judgments about each other may prove wrong. 

Chained releases November 11^th and then we get a new installment each week with the last one on December 9^th.  I can’t wait to pick up the next one!

A copy was provided by Random House: Loveswept in exchange for an honest review. 

4 Suns

Otherwise Alone (Evan Adren Trilogy #1) by Shay Savage

Publication Date: December 15th 2012

Pages: 56

Purchase Link: Amazon 

About the Book: 

Lieutenant Evan Arden sits in a shack in the middle of nowhere, waiting for orders that will send him back home - if he ever gets them. Other than his loyal Great Pyrenees, there's no one around to break up the monotony. The tedium is excruciating, but it is suddenly interrupted when a young woman stumbles up his path.

He has two choices - pick her off from a distance with his trusty sniper-rifle, or dare let her approach his cabin and enter his life.

Why not? It's been ages, and he is otherwise alone...

My Thoughts:

I wanted to pick up another read by Shay Savage after reading and LOVING Surviving Raine, and I'm not disappointed. 

This novella, really just a morsel, is only 56 pages but it's a brilliant set up for what promises to be an addictive series! And it was HOT, with a capital H!! Oh Ethan, I hope you're around if I get lost in the desert! He's dark, mysterious, dangerous, and I want more! He's a couple of quotes for you:

"You say the word, and I'm going to give it to you just how you need it." 

My lips smash down on hers, and my tongue invades her mouth. She gasps and cries out into my mouth, but I don't stop. I don't even slow down. I need this as much as she does. 

I'm left with lots of questions that make me want to pick up the next book Otherwise Occupied ASAP! 

4.5 Suns

The Diary of Brad de Luca (Innocence #1.5) by Alessandra Torre

Publication Date: September 30th 2013 by Patchwork Press
Pages: 55

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the book:

I was happy with my life. And who wouldn’t be? Beautiful women, money, a job that I could sleep through and still make bank. But I was bored. And I never could walk away from a challenge.

This challenge turned out to be brunette. Feisty. Just the way I like them. But innocent. Too innocent for me. Too innocent to do anything other than sample and then toss back. Anything more would be too risky, too much work.

I was unprepared for Julia Campbell. I should have done my homework, should have looked before jumping off that cliff. Ditching her proved to be problematic, my sexual needs greater than my common sense.

She was different. She became more than a challenge.

She may just bring my world crashing down.

*

This novella is meant to complement, and be read after, Blindfolded Innocence, a #1 Erotica Bestseller.

My Thoughts:

The Diary of Brad De Luca was a companion novel to the first in this series.  It’s scenes from the first story told in Brad’s POV instead of Julia’s.  I must admit I haven’t read the first book so my thoughts are limited because I’m not clued into all that happened.  I only got glimpses, jumping forward in time and events.  In spite of that, I was drawn in and I can see this could be an addictive, erotic series.

Brad comes off as completely arrogant and without much in the way of morals. He’s good-looking, and a successful lawyer who seems used to getting what he wants.  I have a feeling Julia might take him down a peg.  Instead of being obsessed over he’s the one doing the obsessing. 

She should be texting, emailing, calling, begging for more of him. Instead, silence. She was doing godknowswhat with godknowswhom and not giving him a second thought. It was maddening, made even worse by his realization that he had noticed the slight.

At this point I don’t really care for Brad.  He’s screwed about four different girls in the space of 55 pages. Plus, Brad takes Julia to a strip club and more than just Brad and Julia were involved. Not my cup of tea, and not a place I’d find appealing to be taken for a date. I’m all about animal passion and lust, but I like there to be a deeper connection as well.  What can I say, I’m more of a vanilla, sweet romance kind of girl!  Maybe this will change as the story progresses and their feelings for each other grow.

I will say this is a scorcher and I suspect that the rest of the series would probably light your panties on fire! 

A copy was provided by the Patchwork Press in exchange for an honest review. 

3 Suns

I’m giving away a choice of two of the above novellas to one lucky reader.  Simply fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win.  Note: Otherwise Alone is only available through US Amazon.  The others can be fulfilled through US Barnes & Noble or US Amazon.

a Rafflecopter giveaway