Book Review – Love You to Death (ARC) November 7, 2009
Posted by Bobbie Crawford-McCoy in **(08 out of 10 Diamonds), ALL Book Reviews, ARC's, Book Review Ratings, Fiction, Romance, Romantic Suspense/Thrillers, Suspense, Thrillers.Tags: Fiction, Forever, Love You to Death, Shannon K. Butcher, Suspense/Thriller
1 comment so far
Love You to Death
Written by: Shannon K. Butcher
Published by: Forever
Date: October 1st, 2009
Pages: 400
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 978-0446510295
(Available NOW!)
“Love You to Death is a spine-tingling, romantic thriller that will creep-you-out and scare you half to death!”
Book Description – From Amazon.com
“Delicate, expressive hands…long, graceful legs…One man is looking for his perfect woman–and he’ll stop at nothing until he finds her.
LOVE YOU TO DEATH
It’s been days since reporter Elise McBride has heard from her sister, Ashley. She’s convinced Ashley has met with some kind of foul play, especially when she learns that bodies of other missing women have surfaced in and around Chicago–all victims of a brutal serial killer. Convinced her sister is still alive, Elise vows to risk everything to save her…
The last thing ex-cop Trent Brady needs is more blood on his hands. Yet when he catches Elise breaking into her sister’s house, full of reckless determination and fear, he knows she needs his help. But just as desire ignites between them, a twisted madman sets his sights on Elise. Hell-bent on possessing her for himself, this psychopath won’t rest until he has his perfect woman.”
Love You to Death is a really great book! One of the best parts about this suspenseful, romantic thriller is the progression of the drama…the story keeps getting better and better! The serial killer character is so fascinating and horrifying at the same time…what amazing writing! Shannon’s portrayal of the serial killer is so lifelike and believable that I would LOVE to read non-romantic thrillers written by her…hint, hint. The romantic elements between Elise McBride and Trent Brady are sweet, but I found that the cold-blooded gruesomeness actually overshadowed the romance…and I’m so glad that it did! I think that Shannon Butcher has missed her true calling as a Thriller writer; I would have enjoyed seeing more of the killer’s character developed and explored. The story has very good flow, momentum and it keeps the reader’s attention riveted as tensions are heightened and the killer gets desperate.
I highly recommend this book to all suspense and thriller fans…if you don’t mind a little romance, you’ll really enjoy the rest of the story!!
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ (8 out of 10 Diamonds) – Thoroughly enjoyed it
Read more about Love You to Death.
Find out where to buy this book.
Author’s Website
Publisher’s Website
A special thanks to A. at Hachette Book Group for sending me a copy of this book to review.
Book Review – A Christmas Ball (ARC) November 2, 2009
Posted by Bobbie Crawford-McCoy in **(08 out of 10 Diamonds), ALL Book Reviews, ARC's, Book Review Ratings, Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance.Tags: A Christmas Ball, Alissa Johnson, Anthology, Emily Bryan, Fiction, Historical Romance, Jennifer Ashley
3 comments
A Christmas Ball
Written by: Jennifer Ashley,
Emily Bryan & Alissa Johnson
Published by: Leisure Books
Date: September 29th, 2009
Pages: 336
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 978-0843962505
(Available NOW!)
“A Christmas Ball is a heart-warming anthology that offers you three romantic, historical love stories for the price of one; you can’t beat it!”
The first story in A Christmas Ball is My Lady Below Stairs by Emily Bryan. Emily’s characters are refreshing and unique and the witty dialog between them is just what I’ve come to expect and I have always loved about Emily’s writing.
Jane Tate, the illegitimate daughter of nobility, is coerced into impersonating her legitimate half-sister to save the family from disgrace. It’s no surprise when Jane has the presence of mind and generosity of spirit go along with the plan to impersonate her sister for a short time and hopefully save the Somerville family’s name from disgrace. There is one tiny problem; Jane’s muscular beau Ian, doesn’t like the idea one bit! Tempers flare and adventures abound in this historical romance as Jane and Ian fight for their love and a future together.
The second story in this anthology is The Longest Night by Jennifer Ashley. I have never been a big fan of mixing paranormal elements into historical romances, but I’m sure that this story will still be a big hit with many readers.
Mary Cameron offers to chaperone the daughter of a deceased friend as a generous favor. While her charge is whirling with excitement and anticipation, Mary solemnly does her duty by the girl and accompanies her to a much talked about, Christmas Ball. Never far from her thoughts, the darkly handsome Valentin is the last person she expects to see again; yet here he is. Though some time has passed since their first, fiery encounter; sparks still fly between Mary and Valentin as they rekindle what they once had. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say that Valentin has some amazing talents and he has a very colourful heritage.
The third story in the anthology is Traditions by Alissa Johnson. Alissa’s story was truly delightful to read; Traditions is just what I was hoping for!
William Renwick, Earl of Casslebury and Miss Patience Byerly are perhaps the most incompatible couple you could ever hope to find. As the fates would have it, William doesn’t have any interest in the average-looking Patience unless she can get him closer to her best friend and heiress, Miss Caroline Meldrin. As time passes and William gets to know both women better, he finds himself attracted to Patience because of her honesty, her generous nature and her intelligent mind. The sometimes humorous and always witty dialogue creates a touching, deeply sensual and very unique love story that made me smile, laugh and blush.
You won’t be disappointed with this book; I promise! So go on out there and pick up a copy for yourself and maybe grab a few extra copies as stocking stuffers! I recommend this book for historical and paranormal romance fans!!
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ (8 out of 10 Diamonds) – Thoroughly enjoyed it
Read more about A Christmas Ball.
Find out where to buy this book.
Author Websites:
Emily Bryan, Jennifer Ashley and Alissa Johnson
A special thanks to E. at Dorchester Publishing for sending me a copy of this anthology to review.
Book Review – Chosen by Desire (ARC) October 22, 2009
Posted by Bobbie Crawford-McCoy in **(10 out of 10 Diamonds), ALL Book Reviews, ARC's, Book Review Ratings, Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Romance.Tags: Book 2, Book 2 in The Guardians of Destiny Series, Chosen by Desire, Fiction, Forever, Hachette Book Group, Kate Perry, Paranormal Romance
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Chosen by Desire
,
Book 2 in The Guardians of Destiny Series
Written by: Kate Perry
Published by: Forever
Date: October 1st, 2009
Pages: 368
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 978-0446541015
(Available NOW!)
“Chosen by Desire is a mouth-watering paranormal romance guaranteed to make you blush; a fast-paced story that pulses with action, emotion and luscious, sensual romance”
Bookish and devoted to her work, Carrie Woods is the last person who you could imagine as a thief; yet here she is, stealing ancient texts and scrolls from a Chinese monastery for her research project. Terrified by her criminal behavior, Carrie is doubly shocked when a monk seems catches her attention. With steely determination, Carrie clutches her bag of stolen goodies even closer to her and carries on her way. Maximillian Prescott knew by her nervous movements that the blond woman had something that didn’t belong to her. In his monk robe he felt that it should be someone elses job to find out what she had taken; unfortunately, Max’s master had other plans. As Max re-joins the outside world he lures the unsuspecting Carrie into a trap; needing to know exactly what she has stolen from the monastery, Max becomes her employer, which puts Carrie in his home, right where he wants her.
I have enjoyed both books in this fantastic series and if anything, book 2 is even better! I loved this story and I adored all the piping-hot sensuality and sexual tension that surrounds Max and Carrie, when they are together. Max is gorgeous, gruff, domineering and guarded while Carrie is open, honest (except for the latest misstep) and generous to a fault; they compliment each other well and I fell in love with their story. There is sizzling erotic bedroom (and other places) scenes; they are descriptive and sexy HOT, HOT, HOT! I enjoyed the witty banter between Carrie and Max as well as the relationship between Carrie & her mother and Carrie & Gabe, from Book 1 in the series.
I very highly recommend this book to Kate Perry fans and to all paranormal romance lovers!!!
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ (10 out of 10 Diamonds) – Absolutely LOVED it!!
Read more about Chosen by Desire.
Find out where to buy this book.
Author’s Website
Publisher’s Website
A special thanks to A. at Hachette Book Group for sending me a copy of this book to review.
Book Review – Highland Rebel (ARC) October 22, 2009
Posted by Bobbie Crawford-McCoy in **(09 out of 10 Diamonds), ALL Book Reviews, ARC's, Book Review Ratings, Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance.Tags: ARC, Fiction, Highland Rebel, Historical Romance, Judith James, Sourcebooks Casablanca
1 comment so far
Highland Rebel
,
A Tale of a Rebellious Lady and a Traitorous Lord
Written by: Judith James
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Date: September 1st, 2009
Pages: 480
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 978-1402224331
(Available NOW!)
“Highland Rebel blends history and fiery romance together in an adventurous story of divided loyalties, betrayal and blazing passion”
Detached and jaded, Jamie Sinclair wants to do nothing more than follow his orders and return home to reap the rewards for his faithful service; until one day on a battlefield, when he meets and mistakes Catherine Drummond for a lad and he is forced to act. Before long, Jamie and the rest of the men realize that the struggling youth is actually a woman. To save Catherine (Cat) from the blood thirsty band of mercenaries, Jamie finds himself married to the daughter of a Highland laird and heiress. Through out all of the confusion, Cat remains suspicious and fears the worst about her captivity and the handsome, aloof Englishman who guards her.
This story grabbed my attention from the first page and held on until the very end! The story is fast-paced, full of intrigue, excitement (bloody battles) and romance. The plot has really good momentum so there is never a dull moment. The camaraderie between Cat and Jamie that made me laugh, smile and really pulled me deeper into the story. The romantic chemistry between the two main characters really sizzles off the page.
I highly recommend this book for romance readers who enjoy lots of romance with their historical adventure stories!
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ (9 out of 10 Diamonds) – Loved it!
Read more about Highland Rebel.
Find out where to buy this book.
Author’s Website
Publisher’s Website
A special thanks to D. at Sourcebooks, Inc. for sending me a copy of this book to review.
Book Review – Tall, Dark & Fangsome (ARC) September 10, 2009
Posted by Bobbie Crawford-McCoy in **(10 out of 10 Diamonds), ALL Book Reviews, ARC's, Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Romance.Tags: Book #3, Fiction, Forever, I very highly recommend it, Immortality Bites, Michelle Rowen, Paranormal Romance, Tall Dark & Fangsome
4 comments
Tall, Dark & Fangsome
Immortality Bites, Book #5
Written by: Michelle Rowen
Published by: Forever
Date: September 2009
Pages: 352
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 978-0446505857
(Available NOW!)
Product Description – From Amazon.com
“Sarah Dearly’s vampire life is not all B-positive cocktails. A curse made her a nightwalker, the most vicious vamp there is; the charm she wears to curb her deadly tendencies is losing its juice; and a hunter from hell is turning up the heat. Gideon Chase will kill the ones she loves most if she doesn’t obey his orders. That includes breaking up with master vampire Thierry and turning Gideon into an immortal vamp so he can escape a doom of eternal hellfire.
Making things worse are Sarah’s growing feelings for Gideon, a bad boy who keeps showing a vulnerable side . . . but is it for real? Will Sarah’s dark side take over? Or can she cure herself of the nightwalker curse in time to stop Gideon and finally live happily ever after with Thierry . . . forever?”
Tall, Dark & Fangsome is something else; in a good way of course! Set in Toronto, Ontario this story has the appearance of a contemporary romance novel…until you start reading. I haven’t read books 1-4, but this final volume in the Immortality Bites series is a winner in my books! There are so many colourful, well-developed characters in this story that it was hard to choose a favourite. With a fast-paced, action-filled plot the reader is going to have a really hard time putting the book down. There is a wealth of romance in this story even though there isn’t any graphic sexual content; there are some super-HOT, romantic moments that sizzle. Sarah Dearly was turned into a vampire by Thierry de Bennicoeur in one of the earlier books so one could say that she has “grown into her fangs” by book 5. Her life seems to be confrontation after confrontation but Sarah does her best to persevere through it all with scathing wit, sarcastic humour and a deadly sense of purpose. Thierry and Sarah have a strong connection to one another despite the fact that Sarah was forced to end their relationship in an attempt to protect everyone she loves. With a cast of humans, vampires, demons, vampire hunters and a nightwalker, the reader is guaranteed a good time. Hold on to your seats and prepare yourself for a paranormal romance that will take you for one WILD ride.
I very highly recommend this book!
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ (10 out of 10 Diamonds) – Absolutely LOVED it!!
Read more about Tall, Dark & Fangsome.
Find out where to buy this book.
Author’s Website
Publisher’s Website
A special thanks to Anna at Hachette Book Group for sending me a copy to review.
Book Review – Lucan: The Pendragon Legacy (ARC) September 9, 2009
Posted by Bobbie Crawford-McCoy in **(09 out of 10 Diamonds), ALL Book Reviews, ARC's, Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Romance.Tags: Book #1, Fiction, Forever, futuristic, I very highly recommend it, Lucan: The Pendragon Legacy, Paranormal Romance, Susan Kearney
2 comments
Lucan
The Pendragon Legacy, Book #1
Written by: Susan Kearney
Published by: Forever
Date: September 2009
Pages: 368
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 978-0446543316
(Available NOW!)
Product Description – From Amazon.com
“THEIR LOVE IS FORBIDDEN
Healer and high priestess of her people, Lady Cael is fated to life without a mate. But a mysterious explorer named Lucan Rourke doesn’t know her secrets, and his touch makes her crave a future that her extraordinary birthright has forbidden her. . .
BUT DANGER IS NO MATCH FOR DESIRE
Lucan has just one mission on Pendragon: to find the mythical Holy Grail, Earth’s only hope for survival. His powerful attraction to Cael is a distraction he can’t afford, unless he convinces her to join forces with him. Yet working so closely together only heightens their passion . . . even when the terrifying truth of Cael’s heritage threatens to shatter Lucan’s every belief-and the galaxy itself.”
Lucan: The Pendragon Legacy is an extraordinary book! This paranormal romance novel is one of my new favourites because it’s jam-packed with action, adventure and erotic romance. Lady Cael, high priestess to her people, is isolated by a wall of fear and reverence. Her rank and position among her people offers untold riches and magnificence but she can never share her life with anyone. When Lucan Rourke begins working alongside Lady Cael on an archaeological dig, she senses that there is something different about him and his confidence and ease of manner surprises and pleases her; the attraction between them is forbidden but that doesn’t keep either of them from wanting more. Lucan is fiercely protective of beautiful Lady Cael and it warms the heart. There are some amazing things that happen in this story, but I can’t share them with you because I would ruin it for you; suffice it to say that this paranormal romance isn’t afraid to take the reader outside their realm of reality and create worlds that are so realistic that you get pulled into the story right away. This fast-paced plot will take you on a wild ride that soars with emotion, drama and romance.
I highly recommend this book!
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ (9 out of 10 Diamonds) – Loved it!
Read more about Lucan: The Pendragon Legacy, Book #1.
Find out where to buy this book.
Author’s Website
Publisher’s Website
A special thanks to Anna at Hachette Book Group for sending me a copy to review.
Book Review – The White Queen (ARC) August 3, 2009
Posted by Bobbie Crawford-McCoy in **(10 out of 10 Diamonds), ALL Book Reviews, ARC's, Fiction, Historical Fiction.Tags: Book 1 in a new series - The Cousin's War, Book Review, Historical Fiction, I very highly recommend it, Philippa Gregory, Review, The White Queen, TOP PICK!, Touchstone/Simon & Schuster
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The White Queen
Book 1 in a new series – The Cousin’s War
Written By: Philippa Gregory
Published By: Touchstone/Simon & Schuster
Date: Available - NOW!
Pages: 432
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1847374554
“The White Queen is another smashingly-successful novel from Philippa Gregory; this gifted writer gives us yet another breathtaking book about warring kingdoms, witches magic, bloody battlefields and so much more…YOU do not want to miss this one!”
Product Description- From Simon & Schuster
“Brother turns on brother to win the ultimate prize, the throne of England, in this dazzling account of the wars of the Plantagenets. They are the claimants and kings who ruled England before the Tudors, and now Philippa Gregory brings them to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women, starting with Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen.
The White Queen tells the story of a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition who, catching the eye of the newly crowned boy king, marries him in secret and ascends to royalty. While Elizabeth rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the missing princes in the Tower of London whose fate is still unknown. From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores this most famous unsolved mystery of English history, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills.”
The White Queen is the 6th book written by Philippa Gregory, that I have reviewed. I am very pleased to share a little something with you all; like a fine wine that improves with age, so too, does Philippa Gregory’s writing. As a fan of Philippa’s work in general, I was hopeful that her latest book would sweep me up and transport me back in time with a historic tale that was convincing and very compelling; I am happy to tell you that I was not disappointed! The White Queen is book 1 in a new series called “The Cousin’s War” where we meet the young King Edward of York, not long after he has taken the throne. This is also considered to be the beginning of a time in English history called the “Wars of the Roses”. When the widowed Lady Elizabeth Grey meets the charismatic and handsome young King Edward, she can’t help her feelings and yearnings as she dreams of spending more time with him. Elizabeth is strong-willed, determined and fiercely loyal; though loving and kind, she is not a woman to be trifled with. This fast-paced story has a winding plot that pulses with conspiracy, betrayal, witchcraft, bloodied battles and some exquisite, g-rated romance threaded in amongst it all. This book was really hard to put this book down and I feel confident that the reader will enjoy this detailed, skilfully-written story from beginning to end!
I very highly recommend this book to all Philippa Gregory and Historical Fiction fans!
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ (10 out of 10 Diamonds) – Absolutely LOVED it!!
Read more about The White Queen.
Find out where to buy this book in the UK, the US or Canada.
Watch a video with Philippa Gregory:
Seeing the Past Through 21st-century Eyes
Link to the Author’s Profile:
http://www.philippagregory.com/
Link to the Publisher’s Website:
http://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/
A special thanks to Ally at Simon & Schuster UK for sending me a copy to review.
Book Review – Lady Anne and the Ghost’s Revenge (ARC) July 20, 2009
Posted by Bobbie Crawford-McCoy in **(06 out of 10 Diamonds), ALL Book Reviews, ARC's, Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance.Tags: adventure, ALL Book Reviews, Book 2, Book Review, Donna Lea Simpson, Historical Romance, Lady Anne and the Ghost's Revenge, Review, Sourcebooks Casablanca, Suspense
2 comments
Lady Anne and the Ghost’s Revenge (Book 2)
Written By: Donna Lea Simpson
Published By: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Date: August 2009
Pages: 368
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 978-1402217920
(*Publication has been delayed…future publication date unknown*)
“Lady Anne and the Ghost’s Revenge is a lightly-romantic, adventure-filled historical romance.”
Product Description - Back of the book
“A FASCINATING AND EXASPERATING YOUNG LADY…
After the Marquess of Darkefell offers her the most inopportune marriage proposal, Lady Anne Addison flees to the Cornwall coast for a bit of sun and rest. But the place is anything but restful, with smugglers on the beaches, ghostly apparitions in the night, and the obsessively passionate marquess in hot pursuit of her…
A COMPELLING AND MASTERFUL MAN…
Even if she doesn’t want his help, Lord Darkefell is determined to assist Lady Anne in uncovering the secret of the mysterious-and apparently dangerous-goings-on. When a murder takes place, Darkefell is the prime suspect, and now he needs her help even more then she needs his…”
Lady Anne and the Ghost’s Revenge is the continuing story of Lady Anne, as she tries to distance herself from Marquess of Darkefell and ends up in more trouble then she’d bargained for. The Marquess is darkly handsome and very intense; his devotion to Lady Anne, though sometimes misguided, is very sincere and heartwarming. The story itself is fast-paced, has some interesting plot twists full of intrigue and has sprinklings of g-rated romance. I found many of the names of the people and places just a little bit silly; it seemed to me anyhow, that many of the names were just random one-syllable words mashed together. This is book 2 of 3 in a series (as far as I can tell) and it is different from many traditional Romance formats in that the relationship between these two strong-willed characters takes place over the 3-book span; there isn’t a conclusion to their relationship until book 3 (at least I hope it ends there). This particular format isn’t my cup of tea, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t be yours.
I recommend this book for readers who are looking for a historical romance that is heavy on adventure and light on the romantic.
♦♦♦♦♦♦ (6 out of 10 Diamonds) – I enjoyed it
Link to the Author’s Profile:
http://bookblogs.ning.com/profile/DonnaLeaSimpson
Link to the Publisher’s Website:
http://www.sourcebooks.com/
A special thanks to Danielle at Sourcebooks Inc. for sending me a copy to review.
Book Review – Holly’s Inbox (ARC) June 24, 2009
Posted by Bobbie Crawford-McCoy in **(07 out of 10 Diamonds), ALL Book Reviews, ARC's, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Romance.Tags: addictive and entertaining, ARC, Book Review, Fiction, Holly Denham (Bill Surie), Holly's Inbox, Romance, Sourcebooks Casablanca
12 comments
Holly’s Inbox
Written By: Holly Denham (Bill Surie)
Published By: Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks Inc., 2009 (originally published in 2007), 672 pages, paperback
ISBN 978-1402219030
(Available NOW!)
“Holly’s Inbox is addictive and entertaining; a fresh, fun take on inter-office politics and romance in the workplace.”
Product Description – From Amazon.com
“System alert: Inbox full of scandal, romance, and office hilarity!
Meet Holly Denham. It’s her first day as a receptionist at a London investment bank and inexperienced Holly is struggling. How’s a working girl supposed to have a love life with a demanding job, crazy friends, a dysfunctional family, and gossipy colleagues? Not to mention that Holly’s been keeping a secret from everyone – and the past is about to catch up with her.
An affair with a sexy VP heats things up at the office, but when Holly’s first flame (who, she thinks, left her in the lurch) gets a job at the same company, complications abound and Holly’s inbox becomes a daily source of drama, laughter and scandal.”
Holly’s Inbox is written in an email format which is unique and for me, a little distracting as well (having to check on who the emails are to and from all of the time). Holly’s new job as a receptionist gets a rocky start and she gets more then she’s bargained for with the new employees that she communicates with. As she settles in, Holly finds a new love interest who provides a great deal of fodder for the email gossip-mill. The story is told via emails that Holly and the other characters send to one another. For the most part, it is fairly enjoyable to read; the first 2/3’s of the book was a little slow for me but I am happy to tell you that it picked up in a BIG way after that and it finished with a satisfying, well written ending! As I read through the book, I began to care about Holly and how I hoped her life would turn out…as I said before, the last 1/3 of the book is where Holly’s story really starts to seize the readers attention. The story isn’t as fluid as I would have liked; it is broken up by the email format and the constant back and forth between the different email senders. The plot consists of some fairly typical office-type romances and the stresses that office workers deal with on the job.
Make sure you check out www.hollysinbox.com/ to visit the fun, interactive website that looks like Holly’s REAL inbox!
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ (7 out of 10 Diamonds) – I really enjoyed it
Link to the Author’s website:
http://www.hollysinbox.com/
Link to the Publisher’s Website:
http://www.sourcebooks.com/
A special thanks to Danielle at Sourcebooks for sending me a copy to review.
Book Review – The Actor and the Housewife (ARC) June 17, 2009
Posted by Bobbie Crawford-McCoy in ALL Book Reviews, ARC's, Fiction.Tags: Bloomsbury USA, Book Review, depth-emotion-humour, Fiction, I recommend it, Shannon Hale, The Actor and the Housewife
7 comments
The Actor and the Housewife, A Novel
Written By: Shannon Hale
(New York Times Bestselling Author)
Published By: Bloomsbury USA, 2009, First US Edition, 352 pages, hardcover
ISBN 978-1596912885
(Available NOW!)
“The Actor and the Housewife is an entertaining romantic drama with depth, emotion and humour; I couldn’t put it down!”
Product Description – From Amazon.com
“A very different kind of fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Shannon Hale.
What if you were to meet the number-one person on your laminated list—you know, that list you joke about with your significant other about which five celebrities you’d be allowed to run off with if ever given the chance? And of course since it’ll never happen it doesn’t matter…
Mormon housewife Becky Jack is seven months pregnant with her fourth child when she meets celebrity hearththrob Felix Callahan. Twelve hours, one elevator ride, and one alcohol-free dinner later, something has happened…though nothing has happened. It isn’t sexual. It isn’t even quite love. But a month later Felix shows up in Salt Lake City to visit and before they know what’s hit them, Felix and Becky are best friends. Really. Becky’s husband is pretty cool about it. H er children roll their eyes. Her neighbors gossip endlessly. But Felix and Becky have something special…something unusual, something completely impossible to sustain. Or is it? A magical story, The Actor and the Housewife explores what could happen when your not-so-secret celebrity crush walks right into real life and changes everything.”
The Actor and the Housewife had me from page one! I read this wonderful book in one sitting; it’s just that good! This smoothly-flowing story is about the quirky and confident Becky Jack and the sexy-as-hell Felix Callahan. Becky has always secretly had a crush on the Superstar Hunk and she is shocked and awed when he shows genuine interest in her, despite the fact that she is a happily married woman with several children. Once Becky and Felix meet, their lives become entwined and their hearts get tangled up in a mess of insecurities and confusing desires. This isn’t a soap opera-type story full of vulgarities and sex; it is actually very genuine and in-depth; a very human story about choices, desire, love and devotion to family. As the story progressed, I was pleasantly surprised when at several points throughout, I was brought to tears with the poignancy of the moment; a real roller coaster of emotion and feeling. One negative was my disappointment at the ending; I can’t go into detail because I don’t want to ruin the story, but let me just say that it was rather abrupt, felt forced and for me, was anti-climactic. Still in all, it was a good book because it made me smile, laugh and cry.
I recommend this book.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ (7 out of 10 Diamonds) – I really enjoyed it
Link to the Author’s Website:
http://www.squeetus.com/stage/main.html
Link to the Publisher’s Website:
http://www.bloomsburyusa.com/
A special thanks to Barbara at Penguin Canada for sending me a copy to review.
