Katie Lane - Trouble in Texas

 

Title : Trouble in Texas

Series : Deep in the Heart of Texas #4

Release date : December 18, 2012

Publisher : Grand Central Publishing

Genre : Contemporary Romance

THERE'S A FOX IN THE HENHOUSE

Inheriting the most notorious house of ill repute in Texas can spell trouble for a girl's reputation . . . especially when she's Elizabeth Murphy, Bramble's prim and proper librarian. Yet when she discovers a buck-naked cowboy handcuffed to a four-poster bed, she forgets all about the town gossips. Elizabeth has sworn off men, but the stranger's kisses melt her resolve faster than ice cream on a hot summer day.

Waking up in Miss Hattie's Henhouse isn't how Brant Cates reckoned on getting to the bottom of his great-granddaddy's murder. The plan was to solve the centuries-old crime, then get the heck out of Dodge. But after meeting Elizabeth and discovering that the buttoned-up beauty is a sexy siren in disguise, he just can't pull himself away.

Now Brant needs Elizabeth to finally put his past to rest, but is she willing to risk her future on Bramble's newest bad boy?

 

Trouble in Texas by Katie Lane is the fourth book in her Deep in the Heart of Texas Series. I have to admit that I haven’t read any of the previous books in the series, but that doesn’t matter, you can read this book on its own.

Brant Cates is on his way to attend his brother’s wedding, but he decides to take a side stop at the famous Henhouse, believing it’s abandoned. But some of the old hens are still living in the Henhouse and they don’t like strangers on their land.  The story goes that Brant’s great-grandfather was killed there during one of his visits. He believes that the murder of his great-grandfather sparkled the “Cates Curse “. Never in a million years could he imagine getting shot, then drugged and kept captive by the three old hens in order to stop him from reporting them to the police.

Elizabeth Murphy works in the local library as the head librarian and is also the owner of the “Miss Hattie’s Henhouse”. Lizzie was raised by only by her mother and was taught that men were all “scumbags”, but that never stopped Lizzie from reading her beloved romance novels. She wants to sell the Henhouse, but the three little old hens who still love there won’t let her. Their plan is to re-opening the Henhouse in the old glory and they might have a plan to just to that.

I loved Brant and Lizzie together; from their first meeting you can sense the huge attraction between them. Yes, they are definitely the opposite of each other, but that won’t stop chemistry between them. And of course with a little help of the three old hens, they never stand a chance against fate and love.

Katie Lane has written a great romance novel with a fabulous storyline, great characters and a terrific mystery to solve. I just loved reading this light read, I have read one other novel by this author and I’m definitely going to check out the others. I know I will have a great time reading them.

Vanessa Kelly - His Mistletoe Bride

Title: His Mistletoe Bride

Release date: October 1, 2012

Publisher: Kensington Books

Genre: Historical Romance

Blame It On The Mistletoe …

When Major Lucas Stanton inherited his earldom, he never dreamed his property would include the previous earl’s granddaughter. Phoebe Linville is a sparkling American beauty, yes, but with a talent for getting into trouble. Witness the compromising position that forced them into wedlock. Whisked away to Mistletoe Manor, his country estate, it isn’t long before she is challenging his rules—and surprising him in and out of bed.

Phoebe has no intention of bowing to Lucas’ stubbornness, even though he offers all that she wants. His kisses and unexpected warmth are enticing, but Phoebe is determined to show the Earl of Merritt what real love is all about. And if that takes twelve nights of delicious seduction by a roaring fire, she’s more than willing to reveal her gifts very slowly…

His Mistletoe Bride by Vanessa Kelly was a great read, I always enjoy reading a holiday spirit novel and this one was no exception. I loved the fact that she used Mistletoe as the manor’s name and that some of the servants had the surname Christmas.

I’m fortunate to have been given the opportunity to read this copy of His Mistletoe Bride by this author for an honest review. This was my first historical novel that I read by Vanessa Kelly and I have to say that she has a great writing style.

Phoebe Linville travels from America to England to meet and live with her grandfather from her mother’s side, after both her parents died. She hopes to finally find the acceptance she desperately craves. After weeks on the sea she arrives in England only to discover that her grandfather has passed away too. Will she accept her grandfather’s last wish or should she return to America alone?

Major Lucas Stanton became the new Lord Merritt when her grandfather past away, now he feels obligated to make sure the old man’s last wish concerning his granddaughter will be followed. Luckily the whole family wants to meet and get to know her and decides to step in.

The chemistry between Lucas and Phoebe was there from the first moment they met, but it became clear that they both wanted something different in their relationship. While Phoebe wants love and family, Lucas only wants Phoebe in his life but at a safe distance with his heart behind the wall he built. We all know that love and determination of a woman is always stronger, so Lucas is in for the ride of his life.

I just loved Phoebe’s English family and the way they accept and welcome Phoebe in their family. The moment they meet her they pull her in the family circle and embrace her as one of theirs from the start.

Vanessa Kelly has written an amazing holiday historical romance novel full of great characters, a good holiday season world building and a fabulous storyline. I’m definitely going to check out her other historical novels because I know I will have a great time reading them.

 

Author's Bio:

Vanessa Kelly is an award-winning author who was named by Booklist, the review journal of the American Library Association, as one of the “New Stars of Historical Romance.”  Her Regency-set historical romances have been nominated for awards in a number of contests, and her second book, Sex and The Single Earl, won the prestigious Maggie Medallion for Best Historical Romance.  Her latest book, My Favorite Countess, was nominated for an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Regency Historical Romance.

Vanessa spends most of the year in Ottawa, Ontario with her husband, but she’s lucky enough to spend some of the winter near lovely Amelia Island, Florida.  When she’s not dreaming of plots for her next Regency novel, she’s writing contemporary romances with her husband, under the pen name of V.K. Sykes.

Connect with Vanessa Kelly: Website / Blog / Twitter

Angie Fox - Immortally Yours

Title: Immortally Yours

Series: Monster M*A*S*H # 1

Release date: August 28, 2012

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Genre: Paranormal Romance

IN THE WAR BETWEEN THE GODS… 
No one patches up the incoming wounded like Dr. Petra Robichaud. Recruited by the gods for her uncanny medical skills, she’s the best M*A*S*H surgeon in the army. Along with a nosy guard sphinx, vegetarian werewolf, and other paranormal paramedics, she bandages soldiers who are built like Greek gods (literally). But when one sexy immortal ends up on her operating table—half dead and totally to-die-for—Petra’s afraid she’ll lose her patient and her heart…

NOTHING IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN LOVE
Commander Galen of Delphi is one gorgeous but stubborn demi-god. When his spirit tries to slip out of his fatally wounded body, Dr. Petra has to slip it back in—unwittingly revealing her ability to see ghosts. Now that Galen knows her secret, he’s convinced she’s part of an ancient prophecy. If the oracles are right, Petra could lead Galen’s army to peace. And if he seduces her on the way to hell and back? Heaven knows—all’s fair in love and war….

Immortally Yours by Angie Fox is the first novel in her Monster MASH Series and I enjoyed reading it. I have to be honest that I haven’t read any of the other books by this author and didn’t quite know what to expect. But I have to say that this book pulled me in from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down for long, I just loved the book.

I loved the way this author created a world where immortal gods and demi-gods are fighting each other. Now things are getting out of hand, which shifts the balance on Earth.

Dr. Petra Robichaud has been recruited to join other doctors and work in one of the MASH hospital right in the middle of this war. She didn’t have a choice and knew this was something for the rest of her life. She is one of the best surgeons they have, but she has a gift she wants to keep quiet. She can see ghosts and if the gods finds out about this, she will be dead before dawn.

When demi-god Galen turns up on her table with a deadly wound, she cannot help herself and use her gift to slip his spirit back into his body. Now Galen know her secret and is convince she is the female doctor in the prophecy and that she could turn this war in the right direction.

Petra and Galen are the hero and heroine of this book and they are exactly what I thought they would be. She is the human, down to earth doctor with a paranormal ability to communicate with ghost and sometimes help them back into their bodies. He is the handsome demi-god and very determined to convince her of the prophecy.

Secondary characters and Petra’s roommates a werewolf doctor and a vampire doctor  are hilarious, the companionship between them is so good, they had me laugh quite a few times.

Angie Fox has written a fabulous novel with some amazing characters, great world building and a very good storyline. I always loved to watch MASH on TV and this really reminded me of that time when I was younger, only the male characters in this book are definitely better looking.

I’m definitely going to check out Angie Fox’s Demonslayer Series, because if they are as good as this one, then I know I will have a great time reading them.

I received this novel as an ARC, courtesy of Angie Fox and St. Martin’s Press.