Review: Twice Fallen by Emma Wildes

Lady Lillian Bourne is re-entering society after her disastrous elopement four years ago, and has to be the very picture of propriety. But when she finds herself locked in a library with an enigmatic stranger during a party, she risks falling from grace a second time...

After years working as a spy, Lord Damien Northfield finds London tedious-until his encounter with the lovely but notorious Lily. When he's enlisted to investigate a scheme of blackmail and murder, he's thrilled to discover that Lily may be the key to catching a ruthless killer...

For Twice Fallen, we move to the eldest half-sister of Jonathan Bourne, Earl of Augustine (who was the hero of One Whisper Away) -- Lady Lillian Bourne.  Lillian is a victim of a scandal and is re-entering society.  Almost immediately, she finds herself trapped in a locked room with Lord Damien Northfield, a character I believe has been introduced in another of Ms. Wildes' series.  

While there is an attraction between Damien and Lillian, theirs is not as instantaneous, all-consuming, or passionate as that of Jonathan and Cecily's.  I think part of the reason is the other stuff happening around Damien and Lillian:  blackmail Damien is asked to investigate; Lillian's ex-fiance, Sebring and his new wife, who seems completely out to destroy what remains of Lillian's reputation; Lillian's cousin, James, and his affair with Regina.  

Given how much I enjoyed One Whisper Away, I expected the same kind of romantic connection here and was disappointed to find Twice Fallen not as strong.        

Review: The Bro-Magnet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Women have been known to lament, "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride." For Johnny Smith, the problem is, "Always a Best Man, never a groom." At age 33, housepainter Johnny has been Best Man eight times. The ultimate man's man, Johnny loves the Mets, the Jets, his weekly poker game, and the hula girl lamp that hangs over his basement pool table. Johnny has the instant affection of nearly every man he meets, but one thing he doesn't have is a woman to share his life with, and he wants that desperately. When Johnny meets District Attorney Helen Troy, he decides to renounce his bro-magnet ways in order to impress her. With the aid and advice of his friends and family, soon he's transforming his wardrobe, buying throw pillows, ditching the hula girl lamp, getting a cat and even changing his name to the more mature-sounding John. And through it all, he's pretending to have no interest in sports, which Helen claims to abhor. As things heat up with Helen, the questions arise: Will Johnny finally get the girl? And, if he's successful in that pursuit, who will he be now that he's no longer really himself? THE BRO-MAGNET is a rollicking comedic novel about what one man is willing to give up for the sake of love. 

The Twitter buzz about this book made me pick it up, and I'm so very glad I did.  It was a wonderful way to spend a Friday afternoon and evening.

First, put aside the title and the cover (though I do think the title is funny -- a definite precursor of what's to come).  Johnny Smith is center stage as a guy's guy, a single house painter in his 30s who seems to attract and keep a variety of male friends.  He feels cursed with women -- his mother died in childbirth -- so he's maintained a specific style throughout his adult life.  It's only when he meets Helen that he believes he needs to step up his game in order to woo and win her, and he turns to his lifelong buddies for hysterical help and advice.

The Bro-Magnet is a really, really funny book.  Most of my internal thoughts while reading consisted of "Oh, Johnny."  He does get himself into some sticky albeit laughable situations.  While I don't think most men think like Johnny does, it's those thoughts which make him so down-to-earth and likeable.  And who doesn't like a man who watches General Hospital? 

(A very special thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Bro-Magnet.)

Happy Birthday + Giveaway

CONTEST NOW CLOSED

 

My House of Books is Two Years Old! 

I'm so excited about this accomplishment, I'm giving away a $10 Barnes and Noble gift card.  Please leave a comment on this post, and I'll draw a winner on Friday, March 16th.  

Review: Some Like it Hot by Louisa Edwards

A sizzling blend of food, passion—and searing romance—the Rising Star Chef competition brings together the world’s hottest chefs for an all-star cook-off that’s sure to stir up excitement...and melt some hearts.

HE’S FEELING THE HEAT

Sexy, single, and even sweeter than the treats he bakes, New York pastry chef Danny Lunden is trying to stay focused on food—not females. With the Rising Star Chef competition approaching, he doesn’t have time to get all steamed up over the gorgeous woman he encounters on the plane to Chicago. Even if she is Eva Jansen—the billionaire heiress in charge of the contest...

SHE TAKES THE CAKE

Danny assumes that “Eva the Diva” is a spoiled rich girl who doesn’t share his passion for food. But when the two meet up again in an elevator—alone—they share more than just passion. They share a kiss hot enough to start a kitchen fire—and they’re hungry for more. To indulge their new secret craving, Eva and Danny have to break every rule in the cookbook. But—like chocolate and caramel—some ingredients are are so sinfully good together, one scrumptious bite is never enough...

A continuation of the Rising Star Chef competition, Some Like it Hot focuses on Danny and Eva.  The two had met -- and shared some sparks -- in the first book of this series, Too Hot to Touch.  Eva is a little abrupt and a little spoiled, or at least that's the air she puts on; Danny is a "fixer," the only one he believes can hold the Lunden's team together so they have a fighting chance in the competition.  Since Danny is more sensitive than Eva, my initial concern would be that she would hurt him.  After all, Eva thinks Danny's hot and wants him -- she doesn't look past the physical aspects of their relationship.   But as we move along, we learn that Eva's outward persona is masking someone who is afraid of rejection and has insecurities.  True to his nature, Danny is able to "fix" Eva, or certainly start down that path, at the conclusion of the novel.  

Some Like it Hot also continues the May-December romance of Claire and Kane, who may be my favorite couple.  I cannot wait to read the final book, Hot Under Pressure, though I will be sad to say good-bye to these characters. 

Review: Die Job by Lila Dare

St. Elizabeth, Georgia, offers charm, Southern hospitality -- and an occasional dollop of murder.  Now, rumors that a local mansion is haunted are more real than ever when an amateur ghost-hunter comes upon something quite deadly...

THE UNINVITED

High school senior Rachel Whitley thinks the field-trip idea -- playing ghost hunter with her class in Rothmere mansion, where the spirit of a murdered plantation owner is said to still reside -- is a lark.  But instead of a ghost, Rachel stumbles upon fellow student Braden McCullers, sprawled out in the very spot where Cyril Rothmere died.

As Braden lingers in a coma, Rachel enlists the ladies of Violetta's salon to investigate the attempt on his life -- and unravel the secrets that somehow link a high school student with a centuries-old crime.  The intrepid team of hairdressers find themselves in a tangled and treacherous mystery where the roots to the past are very ominous, indeed.

The third in the Southern Beauty Shop mystery series, Die Job, picks up where the second book, Polished Off, ended.  In addition to the mystery Grace Terhune and the women of Violetta's seek to solve, the town of St. Elizabeth is battening down the hatches for the arrival of a hurricane.  And as tensions in town rise in anticipation of the hurricane and the murder investigation, this who-done-it isn't exactly what it would appear to be.

I was surprised by the presence of the romantic triangle featuring Grace, Special Agent Dillon, and Grace's long-distance boyfriend, Marty Shears and a little bit disappointed it was left open-ended.  So I do hope there will be another book in this series, simply to solve the mystery of Grace's love life.

Review: The Making of a Gentleman by Shana Galen

Stripped of his humanity...

Armand, Comte de Valere, has spent twelve long years in a French prison.  Now he's barely a man, until his beautiful tutor vows to help him come alive again...

Prey to a terrible fate...

Felicity Bennett finds safety only in Armand's embrace, but the evil man pursuing her has joined forces with Armand's ememies...

They cling to each other as a lifeline, until a long-buried secret emerges, threatening to annihilate their growing passion...

I've held onto The Making of a Gentleman for a year, simply waiting for the third book of the trilogy to be released.   On one hand, I'm glad I waited because now I can jump directly into the final book; on the other hand, I cannot believe I waited this long! 

Armand, imprisoned for twelve years, does not talk to his family nor can he tolerate their touch.  Felicity Bennett is determined to pay back the man she believes took advantage of her father in order to form a marriage contract with her and accepts a tutor position within the de Valere household in the hopes of ridding herself of him forever.  She believes she will be tutoring a young boy and is surprised when she learns Armand is a grown man.  Surprisingly -- or not -- Armand becomes infatuated with Felicity's beauty and piano playing.  He also wants to maintain and keep physical contact with Felicity. 

We segue nicely from The Making of a Duchess into The Making of a Gentleman, though I do not believe it's necessary to have read the first book of the series.  Suspension of belief might be necessary, however, as some aspects of this novel were a bit too convenient.  That being said, I still enjoyed The Making of a Gentleman and am looking forward to the reuniting of the entire de Valere family in The Rogue Pirate's Bride.

Review: Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate) by Amy Thomas

Forever a girl obsessed with all things French, sweet freak Amy Thomas landed a gig as rich as the purest dark chocolate: leave Manhattan for Paris to write ad copy for Louis Vuitton. Working on the Champs-Élysées, strolling the charming streets, and exploring the best patisseries and boulangeries, Amy marveled at the magnificence of the City of Light.

But does falling in love with one city mean turning your back on another? As much as Amy adored Paris, there was part of her that felt like a humble chocolate chip cookie in a sea of pristine macarons. PARIS, MY SWEET explores how the search for happiness can be as fleeting as a salted caramel souffle's rise, as intensely satisfying as molten chocolate cake, and about how the life you're meant to live doesn't always taste like the one you envisioned.

Part love letter to Paris, part love letter to New York, and total devotion to all things sweet, PARIS, MY SWEET is a treasure map for anyone with a hunger for life.

Not the best book to read on a diet, but I really enjoyed this nonfiction book about Paris (and chocolate).  Paris is on the short list of places I'd love to visit, and while I'm not sure I'll ever make it there, Paris, My Sweet was a great way to journey and eat the desserts without any of the guilt. 

(A very special thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Paris, My Sweet.)