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!
My Thoughts:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Roman Holiday #1: Chained by Ruthie Knox
Expected Publication: November 11th 2013th by Random House: Loveswept
Pages: 40
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 11th and then we get a
new installment each week with the last one on December 9th. 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
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.
I would choose Roman Holiday #1 Chained by Ruthie Knox because I adore everything she writes and then The Diary of Brad de Luca (Innocence #1.5) by Alessandra Torre based on your recommendation because I haven't read anything by her yet.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance!
Thanks for the post, I too enjoy well written novellas. I already own Otherwise Alone so will choose The Diary of Brad De Luca and Roman Holiday. Thank you! =D
ReplyDeleteI'd pick Otherwise Alone and Roman Holiday :) I'm really starting to enjoy novellas and serials. Perfect to read on my phone when I have a spare 5 minutes or so. thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove novellas. :) I would pick The Diary of Brad de Luca by Alessandra Torre and Roman Holiday #1: Chained by Ruthie Knox. Look forward to reading both. Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI used to not like novellas, but I think that I just wasn't reading good ones. I have now been able to find a few that I actually enjoyed, and they are a nice option when I don't have time for a full book.
ReplyDeleteRoman Holiday and Diary of Brad de Luca.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
I tend to love novellas, and the first two sound so good. The first because of the steam and the second because of the intriguing blurb. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Rachel!
ReplyDeleteI would pick Roman Holiday and the Diary of Brad de Luca
ReplyDelete