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Review & Giveaway: Breakaway by Deirdre Martin

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012


Breakaway
Author: Deirdre Martin
Publisher: Penguin Group/Berkley
Pub. Date: February 7, 2012
ISBN-13: 978-0425243688
Pages: 432
Digital Price: $7.99
Print Retail Price: $7.99
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They had it all planned out: college, marriage, happily ever after. But it didn’t quite work out that way…

Erin O’Brien was everyone’s favorite in Ballycraig, while Rory Brady was the town’s golden boy: the local lad who moved to America and because a professional hockey player. Rory promised to return to sweep Erin away to the life of her dreams in New York. But the bright lights and late nights turned his head and he never came back.

Two years later, Rory realizes he’s made the worst mistake of his life. Heading back to Ballycraig, he’s confident that all he needs to do is flash his winning smile and Erin will fall back into his arms. But Erin’s moved on.

Racing the clock, Rory needs to prove to her that the man she fell in love with is still there. But can happy-go-lucky Erik risk it all and give another chance to the man who broke her heart?

~*~*~

REVIEW

Breakaway is a romance about second chances. Erin and Rory were once the “it” couple and had their future all planned. Then everything fell apart and Rory broke Erin’s heart. She has moved on and has found her own path in life. Now Rory is back and Erin’s world is once again turned upside down by the sexy Irish hockey star.

This story worked for me on some levels and didn’t on others.

The things that worked:

I loved Erin. She has been hurt and she let it get her down for a while, but now she is back and better than ever. She is moving forward no matter what anyone says. I love how she doesn’t cave to Rory like everyone expects her to. She makes him work to get back into her good graces.

I loved the community that surrounds Erin. The people in her town are there for her 100%. They don’t want her to be hurt by Rory again and aren’t going to give him a chance.

I loved Erin’s best friend, Sandra. She knows what Erin needs and wants almost more than Erin does. She makes sure that Rory gets the opportunity to be around Erin and work toward patching things up with her.

The writing is fantastic. Deidre Martin is one of my top ten contemporary writers and I love the way she tells a story.

What didn’t work for me:

The story seemed to go on and on. After the HEA is achieved there are several “misunderstandings” that felt as if they were just for the sake of prolonging the book and adding words. I would have liked the story more if it had ended without the silliness.

I also didn’t like Rory much. He dumps Erin because of his ego. He doesn’t need his hometown girlfriend now that he is a big shot hockey player in New York. I didn’t feel that he had really changed enough to realistically be back in Erin’s life. He still thinks he’s God’s gift when he comes back to Ireland. I didn’t see any growth in the character.

As an addition to the NY Blades series I found this book lacking. There wasn’t the interaction with the hockey team until the end of the story and it just felt as if the vibe from the first books in the series wasn’t there.

Rating: 2.5 (Fair)

Heat-Level: 3 (Sensual)

Reviewed by Carrie

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Review: Gift of Magic by Lynn Kurland

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Gift of Magic
Author: Lynn Kurland
Publisher: Penguin Group / Berkley Trade
Pub. Date: January 3, 2012
ISBN-13: 978-0425245200
Pages: 320
Digital Price: $9.99
Print Retail Price: $15.00
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Sarah of Doìre knows the pattern of spells is no accident. With each page, each powerful rune, she and Ruith are being led somewhere, to someone-but by whom, she cannot tell. Sarah’s gift of sight only allows her to see the spells themselves, not the person behind them.

A reluctant sorcerer still learning to trust his own magic, Ruithneadh of Ceangail knows he’s woefully unprepared for the adversaries they’ll face. But he and Sarah must collect and destroy his father Gair’s spells soon. Many mages seek their power, and in the wrong hands, Gair’s magic would plunge the Nine Kingdoms into an eternity of darkness.

But as they pursue the final spells-acquiring strange companions, welcome allies, and unexpected foes along the way-Sarah and Ruith realize that their true quest has only just begun. The real enemy is closer, darker, and more power hungry than they ever imagined; and until he is defeated, the fate of the Nine Kingdoms hangs in dire peril.

~*~*~

REVIEW

Fantasy is delicious in this final novel of Kurland’s Spellweaver series.

Ruith and Sarah are on the last steps of their mission to gather the spells created by Ruith’s father. The course of their journey has been incredibly long, and this last leg has Ruith and Sarah wondering who is truly a foe or a friend. Of course spell weaving is a devious art, and secrets are about to be shed that will finally shine some light on this incredible tale.

Upfront and honest, this is my first Lynn Kurland novel. Coming in on the last leg is an absolute, horrible thing. The story is interesting, but I felt completely disconnected because I didn’t have the inner details from the other books. Kurland does a decent job of keeping readers informed about previous events that are important to the current plot points, and the characters are fully visualized. I was easily absorbed into the dialogue and personalities.

Unfortunately lengthy, hard to pronounce names and a large cast made it difficult for me to keep up at times. I continually had to reverse track and see if a character was mentioned in a previous chapter or was related to someone, etc. The book was challenge from that angle. Yet, the developed relationship between Ruith and Sarah is extremely enjoyable. Their romance is not a key part to the story, with more efforts focused on the plot to save the world from impending doom at the hands of a ruthless man.

Regretfully, I have to say that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I probably would have if I’d read the previous novels. It’s still a good story and has a satisfying conclusion. Kurland doesn’t leave anyone hanging and readers of the series can rest easy knowing that the author wraps up each character’s place. Overall, if you’re thinking of jumping into this book I recommend getting a hold of the previous ones.

Rating: 3 (Satisfactory)

Heat-Level: 1 (Inspy)

Reviewed by Landra

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Posted in Berkley, Reviews | 5 Comments »

Review: Affairs of Steak by Julie Hyzy

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012


Affairs of Steak
Author: Julie Hyzy
Publisher: Berkley
Pub. Date: January 3, 2012
ISBN-13: 978-0425245835
Pages: 304
Digital Price: $7.99
Print Retail Price: $7.99
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White House executive chef Olivia Paras just wants to create first class cuisine for the First Family. Unfortunately, dangerous politics keep spoiling her recipes…

Assigned to work with her arch nemesis, Peter Everett Sargeant, the White House Sensitivity Director, Ollie must find a venue for an event to honor the Secretary of State. Instead they find one of the First Lady’s assistants and the Chief of Staff, both murdered — and Ollie and Peter may have witnessed the killer making his getaway.

News reports suggest that the assistant and Chief of Staff were having an affair, but no one on the staff believes the rumor. Now, with their jobs–and their lives–in jeopardy, Ollie and Peter must depend on each other to learn who killed their colleagues and why–before they become the next victims of a merciless assassin with a secret agenda…

~*~*~

REVIEW

For fans of: Diane Mott Davidson, Dorothy St. James

White House Executive Chef Olivia “Ollie” Paras has been tasked with the impossible: she must collaborate with her archenemy, White House Sensitivity Director Peter Everett Sargeant, to select a location for the Secretary of State’s birthday gala. Trudging around Washington with the whiney, ill-tempered man is miserable work, but the pair is somehow able to come to an agreement regarding the fourth place they visit – a venue called Lexington Place.

At first blush, Lexington Place seems perfect: gorgeous, spacious, and completely state-of-the-art, it’s the ideal location for an elegant, high-profile affair. All Ollie and Sargeant have to do is take some pictures and write some notes and they can finally go their separate ways. Or so they think, anyway. Then they stumble across the corpses of two White House staffers stashed in the facility’s kitchen, and it becomes clear that their shared ordeal has only just begun.

Affairs of Steak is the fifth of author Julie Hyzy’s fabulously entertaining White House Chef Mysteries, and in my opinion, it’s her best book to date. Part thriller, part culinary cozy, it’s one of those rare tales where the plot is driven equally by character and by action, making it impossible to put down. The sense of atmosphere is strong, the pace is breakneck, and the plot is marvelously well-constructed. Hyzy’s prose reads effortlessly, and she makes sure to show you the world she’s created through all of Ollie’s senses, making for a completely immersive reading experience.

The story starts with a bang, and the first twenty pages have more action, tension, and drama than the climaxes of most traditional mysteries. By page forty, you’ll be on the edge of your seat and snarling at anything and anyone that threatens to distract you. I intended to read this book over the course of a weekend – to read it in small chunks so that I could savor it – but once I started, there was no stopping, and I wound up devouring the entire thing in a single sitting.

Hyzy’s character work is top-notch, as always. Ollie’s a strong, smart, determined heroine for whom you can’t help but root, and the fear and paranoia she feels over the course of the book is so effectively conveyed by Hyzy it’s practically contagious. By using the central mystery to turn sworn enemy Peter Everett Sargeant into Ollie’s reluctant ally, Hyzy manages to give depth – and dare I say warmth? – to a character I spent four books wanting to bash over the head with a frying pan. And the appeal of Ollie’s dark and mysterious new love interest, Special Agent in Charge Leonard “Gav” Gavin, continues to grow.

I’d be remiss if I ended this review without giving a nod to the skill with which Hyzy writes the relationships between her characters. Particularly spectacular is Ollie’s bittersweet and occasionally antagonistic relationship with ex-lover and former confidante Tom MacKenzie; their shared scenes are realistic, nuanced, and charged with emotion, and they help push the book past excellent to extraordinary.

Rating: 5 (Perfect!)

Reviewed by Kat

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Posted in Berkley, Reviews | 8 Comments »

Review & Giveaway: Colorado Dawn by Kaki Warner

Monday, January 23rd, 2012


Colorado Dawn

Author: Kaki Warner
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Pub. Date: January 3, 2012
ISBN-13: 978-0425245224
Pages: 304
Digital Price: $9.99
Print Retail Price: $15.00
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The next in Kaki Warner’s sweeping new series about unlikely brides who make their way west-discovering newfound freedom and rediscovering love…

After only three letters and one visit during her six-year marriage to a Scottish Cavalry Officer, Maddie Wallace decides to build a life without him. Accepting an assignment from a London periodical to photograph the West from a female perspective, she sails from England, determined to build a new life as an independent woman.

After injury ends his military career, Angus Wallace returns home to find his wife gone, his family decimated by fever, and himself next in line to an earldom. His new mission is clear–find his wife and sire heirs. His search takes him across an ocean and half a continent, but he finally tracks her to Heartbreak Creek, Colorado. There his biggest challenge awaits–to convince his headstrong wife to return home as his viscountess.

Amidst statehood struggles, claim jumping, and railroad disputes their passionate battle rages…until word comes that Angus has become the earl. Now they must decide between a life in the mountains of Colorado, or in the glittering ballrooms of London…and between duty and desire.

~*~*~

REVIEW

In Colorado Dawn, Kaki Warner’s trademark humor, grit and attention to detail come together in a beautifully vibrant, entertaining, and emotionally gripping story.

Maddie and Angus Wallace have spent only a few nights together in their six-year marriage. The last time Angus deserted her to rejoin his regiment, Maddie struggled unsuccessfully to make a life with his family in Scotland. She finally leaves and strikes out for Colorado Territory, where she becomes a celebrated photographer introducing the world to America’s west through a female eye.

She tells her new friends in the failing mining town of Heartbreak Creek that she’s a widow, a lie that catches up to her when Angus (now Viscount Ashby, or Ash) seeks her out because he needs an heir.

But how can she even think about forgiving him, much less giving up a meaningful career, for a lazy life among the backbiting aristocracy? And how can Ash give up centuries of duty for a life thousands of miles from his family and heritage?

I’ve read all of Kaki Warner’s novels, and they go from strength to strength. Colorado Dawn is the second in her Runaway Brides series (Heartbreak Creek is first), and this novel cements Kaki’s place as one of my favorite novelists.

For me, one of the great pleasures of reading a Kaki Warner novel is the voice she gives her heroes. They’re rough, rugged and funny, but they’d do absolutely anything for their heroines. Unlike their Victorian England counterparts, there’s nothing polished about them. They’re survivalists, and it’s a good thing because hoo-boy! Kaki throws a hell of a lot of conflict their way.

Though Ash is a new member of the British aristocracy, he has much more in common with the sheriff and ranchers of Kaki’s previous novels than he does with English toffs. Ash is a Highland warrior, a soldier, who has suffered grave injuries and losses. Although he devoted most of his life to his career, and was devastated to lose it, he has managed to keep his sense of humor, as shows in this scene when he’s driving Maddie back to town after a night of passion.

They spoke little. It was one of those highly charged female-type silences that eroded a man’s confidence and had him scanning through recent events to determine what he might have done wrong. Ash tolerated it as long as he could, then looked over at his wife. “It was the uniform, right?”

In the slanted light, her eyes were as brown and clear as the medicine bottles that had lined the windowsill beside his hospital bed. Filled with promises and hope. Addictive.

“Uniform?”

“That caught your eye.” When she still showed no understanding, he explained. “I can feel you drifting away, lass, and I’m seeking a way to draw you back. The ladies always seemed taken with the uniform. As once did you. Shall I send for it?”

“Drifting away? You can say that after what we—you and I—when we—after last night?” She clasped her gloved hands in her lap and looked away, her cheeks as red as strawberry ice in a paper cone.

“So it went well for you then, love? You dinna say, so I wasna sure. But with all the squealing and carrying on, I should have known.”

Her head whipped toward him. “I did not squeal or carry on.”

“No? Then it must have been me.”

And the scene just gets better from there.

I love that Ash is a man of his time, completely befuddled at first by the fact that his wife doesn’t want to give up her photography for a lifetime of leisure and balls. But I also love that he learns how important her career is and strives to find ways to support her in it.

If you haven’t read Heartbreak Creek, I recommend you start there to get a feel for the friendships and the secondary romance that run through the series. I highly recommend this series.

Rating: 4.5 (Excellent)

Heat-Level: 3 (Hot)

Reviewed by Kat Latham

Comment and enter to win your own copy of COLORADO DAWN

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And the winner is…

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

CRASH INTO YOU by Roni Loren

&

SEVEN DAY LOAN by Tiffany Reisz

is…

CHARLI

Congratulations, Charli! Please email your snail mail address to me at contests at theseasonforromance dot com and don’t forget to include the title you won. You have one week to collect your prize.

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Posted in Berkley, Giveaways, Harlequin | 4 Comments »

And the winner is…

Friday, January 13th, 2012

JoAnn Ross’ ON LAVENDER LANE and Jodi Thomas’ THE COMFORTS OF HOME is…

JOYE

Congratulations, Joye! Please email your snail mail address to me at contests at theseasonforromance dot com and don’t forget to include the title you won. You have one week to collect your prize.

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Posted in Berkley, Giveaways | 5 Comments »

Testing your boundaries through Erotic Romance

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

by Katrina Latham

I’ve never been an erotic romance reader, but lately I’ve been testing my reading boundaries a little more and stretching out to read things that’re different from the contemporary and historical romances I usually choose.

I tell myself it’s because I want to improve my writing skills, but really it’s because I’m curious. (And a bit pervy.)

The first erotic novels I read turned me off completely and, I’m afraid, gave me a distorted view of the sub-genre. They were short books in my local library in London, and their authors had names that would make porn stars look clever. In fact, the books had a lot in common with movies you might find behind a curtain at your video store.

The storylines were no more interesting than the “Did-somebody-call-a-plummer?” plots in those videos. And the characters had more in common with dogs than with humans; they basically wandered around sniffing each other’s crotches before humping away – whether they liked the person or not.

Gross.

But then I “met” some friends online. Clever women who are strong, funny and creative.

Oh, and they write erotic romance.

So I gave their work a try. And guess what? I might be an erotic romance reader after all.

The first of those online buddies is Tiffany Reisz. She offered a free read, Daniel Part Two, on her blog last year, and who am I to turn down a free chance to test my boundaries?

Tiffany’s writing is powerful and entertaining. The witty, compelling characters in Daniel Part Two kept me returning to her blog as she posted a new chapter every week. Her stories are definitely beyond my comfort zone, as they involve a lot of pain (which apparently is pleasurable, though I’ll take her word for it) and sleeping around, but I’ll definitely read more of her work.

The second online friend is Amelia James. I bought Tell Me You Want Me in December and read it in an evening. The book is hot, with loads of sex (of the non-painful variety) and monogamy once the two main characters meet. For a good time, call Amelia James. (Or, better yet, download one of her books.)

The novel that really convinced me I could be an erotic romance reader is Roni Loren’s Crash Into You. *fans blushing face* Holy freakin’ hotness!

I confess, Roni Loren and I were critique partners for a short time before she sold this novel, so I got to read some early chapters. There’s nothing more vicious than a writer who’ll tempt you with an amazing story and then make you wait two years to read more. I ran (okay, drove) to the bookstore the morning Crash Into You was released, and once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down.

Crash Into You is my kind of erotic romance. Even though the focus is on the main characters’ developing sexual relationship, their emotional relationship is very much part of that, enhancing it every step of the way. There’s a deep bond (and a bit of bondage) between these two, and although it’s BDSM, it never scared me the way those early books I read did. Crash Into You is the thinking woman’s erotic romance.

Do you read erotic romance or erotica? What do you think of it? If you don’t read it, what turns you off about it? If you’re on the fence, like me, which authors do you feel are within your reading boundaries and write books that suit your tastes? Comment and enter to win a print copy of CRASH INTO YOU and a digital copy of SEVEN DAY LOAN!

Kat Latham has been reading romance for a couple of decades. With degrees in English lit and human rights, she loves stories that reflect the depth, humor and emotion of real life. When she’s not writing contemporary romance novels, she can usually be found blogging or tweeting overly personal information. She loves meeting other readers and writers online, so follow her on Twitter or check out her blog and say hello!

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Posted in Berkley, Giveaways, Harlequin, Katrina | 32 Comments »

Review & Giveaway: On Lavender Lane by JoAnn Ross

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012


On Lavender Lane
Author: JoAnn Ross
Publisher: Penguin Group / Signet
Pub. Date: January 3, 2011
ISBN-13: 978-0451235435
Pages: 400
Digital Price: $7.99
Print Retail Price: $7.99
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Sometimes the second time is the charm. . .

After seeing enough of war, former Navy SEAL Lucas Chaffee is settling back into civilian life when he accepts a job refurbishing a farmhouse for an old friend, who plans to turn it into a culinary school.

Celebrity TV chef Madeline Durand was badly shaken when her husband’s illicit video went viral, so she jumps at the chance to reevaluate her life in Shelter Bay while helping her grandmother turn the family farm into a new business. Little does she know that the man who broke her heart year ago is already on the job.

Having Maddy leave Shelter Bay once, Lucas isn’t about to let her get away this time. But rekindling their romance won’t be easy, as she still hasn’t forgiven him for a fateful night ten years ago. But Lucas is a man on a mission, and with the help of some Shelter Bay matchmakers, he plans to come up with a very special recipe of passion, patience, and perseverance to win her over. . .

~*~*~

REVIEW

On Lavender Lane couldn’t have arrived at a better time for me. At work we recently opened a Culinary Adventures Center that host cooking classes. My life for the past couple months has been immersed in culinary topics and kitchen centered activities. Why not read about it too?

On Lavender Lane introduces Madeline Durand, a celebrity TV chef whose recently been burned, pardon the pun. Her husband’s illicit video has gone viral, shaking up Madeline and everything around her. When given the chance to help her grandma turn the family farm into a culinary school, Madeline accepts the offer and looks forward to time away in Shelter Bay. While re-evaluating her life, Madeline is reunited with Lucas, the man who broke her heart long ago. It appears Shelter Bay won’t be the escape she thought it would be.

Lucas Chaffee, former Navy Seal, has seen enough war and looks forward to settling back into civilian life in Shelter Bay. Lucas, who accepted a job helping a friend refurbish a farm house located in Shelter Bay, soon finds Maddy, the one who got away, is in town as well. Intent on rekindling their romance, Lucas isn’t about to let Maddy get away again. Since Maddy still hasn’t forgiven him and is currently nursing wounds of her own, Lucas has his job cut out for him. Lucky for this former Navy Seal, the mission is nothing compared to war and Lucas is intent on making his match. With a little help and the right recipe, love is soon in the air and with it fiery passion that will heat up any room.

On Lavender Lane is a warm and inviting romance, full of charming characters and unique topics. While there are some new characters introduced in this book, the romance also includes previous characters from the series which ties the books together while enabling them to stand alone as well. Those who haven’t read the predecessors will still be able to enjoy the story without confusion.

The romance includes some pretty serious topics yet remains idyllic due to its setting and character’s charm. Ross does a wonderful job approaching these topics in a compassionate and enlightening manner. I found myself emotionally involved with the storyline and enjoyed reading a romance mixed with cooking. It reminded me of Louisa Edwards’s books, though not quite as steamy. Since I happen to love food, this book was fun to read. Who doesn’t want a hot ex-Navy Seal to come sweep them off their feet? Likewise, what guy doesn’t want a chef? Isn’t food the way to a man’s heart? On Lavender Lane was an enjoyable and emotional read. I fell in love with the characters and enjoyed the story told by Ms. Ross. I would recommend it to others, especially if you enjoy idyllic towns, charming characters and food!

Rating: 4 (Very Good)

Heat-Level: 3 (Sensual)

Reviewed by Tiffany

Comment and enter to not only win your own copy of ON LAVENDER LANE but also a copy of Jodi Thomas’s THE COMFORTS OF HOME. :)

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Posted in Berkley, Giveaways, Reviews, Signet/NAL | 30 Comments »

And the winner is…

Sunday, January 8th, 2012

DESTINY by Carly Phillips

KIM

Congratulations, Kim! Please email your snail mail address to me at contests at theseasonforromance dot com and don’t forget to include the title you won. You have one week to collect your prize.

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Posted in Berkley, Giveaways | 7 Comments »

Review & Giveaway: Destiny by Carly Phillips

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012


Destiny
Author: Carly Phillips
Publisher: Penguin Group / Berkley
Pub. Date: January 3, 2011
ISBN-13: 978-0425245743
Pages: 304
Digital Price: $7.99
Print Price: $7.99
Amazon ~ B&N ~ iBookstore


Nash Barron may be cynical about love, yet even he likes a good wedding. But the only good thing about his brother’s wedding is Kelly Moss. Nash can’t help but admire her confidence and beauty, but he’s forced to keep his distance because getting involved with Kelly could destroy his relationship with his newly discovered half sister, Tess…

Kelly came to Serendipity to give Tess–her half sibling as well, thanks to an illicit affair–a second chance at life. She learned long ago not to rely on anyone but herself. Besides, she doesn’t want to upset Tess’s life by pushing for a fling with Nash. Except the more she gets to know him, the more vulnerable she becomes to the kindness beneath his gruff exterior, and the less she’s able to stay away. But she has other reasons for keeping her distance. Like the secret from her past she knows Nash will never forgive…

~*~*~

REVIEW

Readers were first introduced to the Barron brothers and the town of Serendipity in Carly’s first book of this series, titled Serendipity. If you enjoyed reading Serendipity, you’ll love Destiny. Destiny tells the story of Nash Barron and Kelly Moss. It also expounds on the first novel, giving insight into the town of Serendipity, its people, the Barron brothers and their past. Like most novels, these brothers have a past they’ve tried to escape. Unfortunately, you can run but you can’t hide, at least not forever. This town and its people have secrets ready to be spilled, scandals to peak your interest and its fair share of life, complete with love, pain and change.

He shook his head, reminding himself he wasn’t here for sex, no matter how suddenly primed his body was.
“Kelly?” He called out.

“In the back.”

He headed to the file room and found her waiting for him, her hand on a stack of legal files.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.

She drummed her fingers on the stack of documents, then finally met his gaze. “Richard asked you to help out on anything I was doing in the office, right?”

“Right. Is there something you’re having trouble with?” He took his jacket and laid it over a stack of files.
She shook her head. “I’ve actually put current work on hold and I’m archiving old files.”

He frowned. She couldn’t possibly need his help on those.

“Some of these date back to the nineteen eighties.”

“Okay,” Nash said, still not sure where she was headed or why he was here.

She drew a deep breath, her nervousness contagious and his palms began to sweat.

“Let’s say I wasn’t comfortable handing you a set of files to look at for no reason connected to any current case,” Kelly said as if posing a hypothetical.

Lawyers were used to hearing those “what if” situations all the time, but that didn’t easy his sudden anxiety.

“But,” she continued, “If I were to need your help getting through all these case files that would be different. And if, while helping me, you happened to read through this top file to make sure everything was in order that would be in the regular course of doing business.”
He glanced from her worried eyes to that file folder she hadn’t taken her hand off. There was something in there she wanted him to see but was obviously worried about violating confidentiality.

“Am I right?” she asked.

He nodded, recognizing that she was leading him to something important without actually handing him the information. “Whatever is in that file and how I came by it would never come back to bite you,” he promised her, his heart beating faster, though he was still in the dark about the contents.

She blew out a deep breath. “Okay. So I’m going to step out and take a break. But I’ll be in the other room if you need me.” She eased closer and placed her hand against his cheek. “And I think you’re going to need me,” she whispered, before walking out.

True to Carly’s writing style, Destiny is a magnificent story. Carly is one of those writers who tell a story with her heart and soul leaving the reader wanting more. Thankfully, Carly writes plenty of series, including this trilogy which still has its final chapter for readers to anticipate. I enjoyed watching Nash and Kelly’s story unfold. The characters are well developed, enabling them to come alive in my imagination as I read through the pages of the book. There’s a lot of fun entanglements in this romance, considering both Nash and Kelly are related to Tess. I enjoyed how each of the characters were concerned about their relationship with Tess and put it as a priority over love. Of course, when something’s meant to be, love happens anyway. The relationship between the characters is deeper than a surface attraction and includes mutual admiration, respect and understanding. Mix that with an explosive attraction and you have one hot and enjoyable romance.

Of course, every relationship has its secrets and speed bumps. In this novel, Kelly’s past includes a secret that could threaten her entire relationship with Nash, which gives her reservations about starting a relationship with Kelly, due to his recent discovery of his half-sister and fear of ruining their new found relationship. One of my favorite aspects of this book and its series is the realistic approach Carly takes to her characters’ lives. The story of these brothers and their estrangement is one that is likely true for others in reality. Carly’s stories feel real. Her characters are like friends or family. Her stories are relatable and natural. It’s always a pleasure to read books like this making this book one I would recommend to others.

Rating: 4.5 (Excellent)

Heat-Level: 3.5 (Sensual/Hot)

Reviewed by Tiffany

Comment to enter to win a copy of your own!

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Posted in Berkley, Giveaways, Reviews | 41 Comments »

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