Showing posts with label avon impulse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label avon impulse. Show all posts

Monday, November 5, 2018

Review: Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews


Publication Date: November 6th 2018 by Avon Impulse
Pages: 160
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

Nevada Frida Baylor and Connor Ander Rogan cordially invite you to join their wedding celebration. Summoning, weather manipulation, and other magical activities strictly forbidden.

Catalina Baylor is looking forward to wearing her maid of honor dress and watching her older sister walk down the aisle. Then the wedding planner gets escorted off the premises, the bride’s priceless tiara disappears, and Rogan's extensive family overruns his mother’s home. Someone is cheating, someone is lying, and someone is plotting murder.

To make this wedding happen, Catalina will have to do the thing she fears most: use her magic. But she’s a Baylor and there’s nothing she wouldn't do for her sister's happiness. Nevada will have her fairy tale wedding, even if Catalina has to tear the mansion apart brick by brick to get it done.
My Thoughts:
I loved the first three books of the Hidden Legacy series, so I was a little worried the series ended with book three.  To be honest, it ended in a great place, but of course I wanted more, because it’s simply amazing!  We begin with a little more of Rogan and Nevada (yes!); the prologue from Nevada’s POV, but shift gears and get Catalina’s, Nevada’s sister, POV.  Catalina is smart and powerful, but a little afraid to use her power, and I can already tell I’m going to love her journey! 

If you haven’t read the first three books, stop now, because there are details here that would spoil the prior books.

Nevada and Rogan are getting married, but the small wedding the wanted just isn’t in the cards. A much larger affair must happen due to family and social obligations, and somehow Catalina and Arabella, Nevada’s younger sisters, have become the wedding planners.  Nevada may or may not have become a bit of a bridezilla here, lol. Not because she wants extravagance, just because some of her choices aren’t what a bride marrying into House Rogan “should” be, and she’s kind of stubborn.  Good times, funny times, and it all makes me smile.  During “normal” wedding drama, a family heirloom typically worn by the Ramirez (Rogan’s maternal family) bride’s goes missing and Mrs. Rogan (Connor Rogan’s mother) enlists the help of eighteen-year-old Catalina to track it down. Catalina has been working for the family business for some time so she’s no stranger to investigations.  Plus, she’s a Prime magic user and her talents are especially valuable in this investigation even though she’s a little hesitant to use them.

Catalina’s gifts were showcased previously, and they are no joke!  I can understand why Catalina would be so hesitant to use them, but I’m thrilled she’s testing/trying them out to gain experience and control.  She’s amazing with this investigation and I loved the big reveal at the end.  I’ve long been a fan of Agatha Christie mysteries! I could always count on the big reveal at the end with all the relevant parties present, and this felt a little similar.  

From the first page I was addicted! Ilona Andrews’ talents of storytelling are in a class above most.  I love the Baylor family dynamic, they have fierce loyalty to each other, but aren’t afraid to tease or deal out reality checks when necessary.  The banter between them cracked me up! Catalina is quiet and reserved, as she’s been taught with her brand of magic, but I can see her coming out of her shell and I can’t wait!

 5 Suns




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Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Excerpt & Giveaway: A Gentleman Never Tells by Eloisa James

I've been having a lot of fun with historical romances lately and A Gentleman Never Tells by Eloisa James sounds right up my alley.  I don't know about you, but I have a special fondness for novellas because sometimes I want a quick romance fix without having to read for hours to get my HEA! Below I have an excerpt to tempt you, as well as a giveaway provided by the lovely people of Avon Impulse!


Publication Date: June 28th 2016 by Avon Impluse
E-ISBN 9780062573063 * $.99

About the book:

 A witty, sexy novella about a virgin widow and a rake with something to prove.
Eighteen months ago, Lizzie Troutt’s husband died in his mistress’s bed, leaving her determined to never marry again….and unfortunately virginal.

Eighteen years ago (give or take a few) the Honorable Oliver Berwick blackened his own soul, leaving him hardened and resolutely single.

When the chance for redemption in the form of a country house party invitation comes his way, Oliver is determined to prove himself a gentleman.

Until he breaks all the codes of gentlemanly behavior…once again.


Excerpt from A GENTLEMAN NEVER TELLS:





About the Author

ELOISA JAMES is a New York Times best-selling author and professor of English literature who lives with her family in New York, but can sometimes be found in Paris or Italy. She is the mother of two and, in a particularly delicious irony for a romance writer, is married to a genuine Italian knight. Visit her at www.eloisajames.com

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Monday, June 8, 2015

Review: When Love Happens by Darcy Burke

When Love Happens
When Love Happens by Darcy Burke
Published on May 26th, 2015 by Avon Impulse
About the book
Tori Archer is married…well, on paper anyway. She hasn’t actually seen her husband since the disastrous morning after their impulsive Vegas wedding. The memories of their intense passion may still make her weak in the knees, but Tori knows their marriage was a mistake.

After six months filming abroad, television producer Sean Hennessy wants nothing more than to track down his sexy, captivating wife and get her into bed… fast. So when his boss sends him to Oregon to persuade the famous Archer sextuplets—the former stars of a reality TV show—to do a reunion special, Sean sees the perfect chance to win Tori back.

Only, Tori wants nothing to do with him and is determined to push him away. But their attraction is as hot as ever and Sean will do anything to prove their relationship was more than just a fling…because he knows that when real love happens, it changes everything.
My Thoughts:
I have been out of the romance game for awhile now and honestly I was a little scared to jump back in.  My tastes have drastically changed in the last few months and romance just hasn't interested me, but When Love Happens is a perfect example of what an author can do for a reader.  Darcy Burke has renewed my faith in romance and shown me what I have been missing!

Tori and Sean engaged in a whirlwind 5 week romance that ended in a quickie wedding in Vegas.  That same night though tragedy struck and Tori runs home leaving Sean and their newly marriage behind.  After six months Sean, having no other options, goes to Tori to try and save his job and also to see what might be left of their relationship.  He isn't ready to throw in the towel and knows things won't be easy because sometimes a heart can't relearn love no matter how hard you try.

I fell into this story with ease. The writing kept me engaged and I truly enjoyed each and every character.  What I thought was fascinating was the Archers.  Yes they were rich and yes they were all driven, but they weren't perfect.  They each had their own flaws some being bigger than others and honestly it was nice to not read the "they have it all and some" storyline.  I liked the edge the author gave this family.  I did get a bit confused at times because there were just so many of them, but I still really loved them all.  For me they took center stage.  Tori and Sean had a very nice storyline, but I was totally captivated by this family and I know I will definitely pick up the previous books because I have not had enough of them.

As I said Tori and Sean had a really good storyline.  I liked the whole reality show storyline because yes I admit it I am a reality show junkie, but what I really enjoyed was just them.  It was exciting to see how Tori reacted to Sean and I rooted for them from the beginning.  Sometimes I could take or leave the main couple in romances, but not these two.  I wanted Tori to forgive herself and let Sean in and I wanted Sean to give everything and more to Tori to remind her of what they once were.

This was a fast and fun read that left me wanting more from the whole crew.  I am thoroughly captivated by this author and her writing and I can't to find out how the rest of the Archers find their HEA's!

4 suns