Review: Honky Tonk Christmas by Carolyn Brown ~ ARC

She Means business...

Sharlene Waverly is determined to have the "new and improved" Honky Tonk up and running before the holiday. For that, she'll need Holt Jackson, the best darn carpenter in the state. But his warm, whisky-colored eyes make her insides melt, and before she knows it, she's sharing her darkest secrets and talking about the nightmares...

He's determined to keep things professional...

Holt Jackson needs the job at the Honky Tonk, but is completely unprepared to handle the beautiful new bar owner he's working for.


Sharlene and Holt try like crazy to deny the sparks flying between them, but their love may just be the best Christmas present either one of them ever got. description taken from here.

I have wanted to read a honky tonk romance for a while now and was excited when I got my hands on Honky Tonk Christmas.  I just love cowboys and all their tight fitting wranglers too ; )  Brown did a great job with this book.  In the beginning I was a bit confused about Holt's situation (that's all I'm going to say about it, no spoilers here!) but it cleared by quickly enough and that was the end of my confusion.  All of the characters were nicely developed, even the more minor characters that didn't really have much of a part.  The plot was nice, while it was also predicable. 

There were good moments, but in between those good moments seemed to be a lot of boring (yet needed for the story to make sense and progress) details.  The characters were nicely developed and the plot was there, it was just that the story didn't really want to hold my attention.  It was an ok book, but I didn't need to read it, I didn't need to know what was going to happen next, and that element is really what was missing from this book.

The ending was soft and sappy. Yes, I know this is a romance, but it was sappy for a romance too. Overall though, it was ok. It wasn't my favorite book simply because it didn't keep my attention for too long at any one time.




**I received a free ARC in order to write my review. I did not get paid. All opinions are 100% my own unless otherwise stated.**



* Eh, ok...
Heat Rating= Sweet/ MILD


Until Next Time,
Happy Reading!

Review: Highland Hellcat by Mary Wine

He wants a wife he can control...


Connor Lindsey is a Highland laird, but his clan's loyalty is hard won and he takes nothing for granted. He'll do whatever it takes to find a virtuous wife, even if he has to kidnap her...
She has a spirit that can't be tamed...

Brina Chattan has always defied convention. She sees no reason to be docile now that she's been captured by a powerful laird and taken to his storm-tossed castle in the Highlands, far from her home.

When a rival laird's interference nearly tears them apart, Connor discovers that a woman with a wild streak suits him much better than he'd ever imagined... description taken from here.





I've read a few Wines before, and this one surpasses the last one by quite a bit.  And, boy am I glad.  The first Mary Wine I ever read, I completely loved it, the next one I thought 'what happened?' and, thankfully, this one took after the first book.  Highland Hellcat is about a spirited woman who is to become a nun, but along the way gets kidnapped by a Highland laird. 

I enjoyed Brina's spirit, her bite and enthusiasm.  I found it refreshing in a way that other 'spirited' heroins don't come across in many of today's Historical Romances.  I found the writing to be clever, the plot interesting and well wrote, and the characters nicely formed as well. 

Overall, the book was pretty good, and if you like Historical Romances, chances are, you will probably enjoy it too.  : )

You can check out Mary Wine's website here to find out more about her past and future books.


**I received a free ARC in order to write my review.  I did not get paid.  All opinions are 100% my own unless otherwise stated.**

** Pretty Good
Heat Rating= Sweet / mild


Until Next Time,
Happy Reading!

Review: Backstage Pass by Oliva Cunning

Backstage Pass is going to be, hands down, the hardest book for me to review.  This is because it will be so difficult for me not to moon over the whole book and give away all of the details.  I have re-read this book about 4 times now it is so good.

Human Sexuality Professor, Myrna Evans, wants nothing but a weekend of hot, no-strings-attached sex with Sinners' sensual lead guitarist, but Brian Sinclair is looking for something more permanent than a one-night stand. Unable to compose music for months, when Brian makes love to uninhibited Myrna, he hears exquisite guitar riffs and finger-burning solos. In Myrna, he's found his muse.     taken from the author's site


Each of the characters (and not just Brian and Myrna, but all of the band members AND the roadies) have amazingly developed characteristics and profiles.  I love how they really are their own person, and Cunning really lets you know each of their little quirks.  I honestly fell in love with each of the band members.  I cannot say I love one more than the other, because they are each that amazing.

The plot.  Oh, the glorious plot!  So good, so yummy, so hot, and so much sex!  It was a great plot : )  If you haven't guessed it already, I am now a HUGE fan of Olivia Cunning and her work.  I am just so happy that I found her books, and so glad I received an ARC to review. : ) 

I just cannot say enough times how extremely well written this book was. It was as if Olivia was writing the book specifically for me.  Backstage Pass kept me running through the pages at the exciting points and slowing down when it took a sweet turn.  It was just so good.

I am looking very forward to the next book in the series SINNERS ON TOUR to come out.  The next book to come out, according to Olivia's website is Rock Hard, Sed's book, which is set right now to come out in April of 2011!  Can you say excited?  It seems like a really long time, but if I have to wait that long, I will, and I will be one of the first people in line to buy it when it hits the shelves.



**I recieved an ARC to review.  I did not get paid for my review.  My opinions are 100% my own unless otherwise stated.**





***** KEEPER!!
Heat Rating= Erotic / watch out, here comes some book porn!

Until Next Time,
Happy Reading!