A Kiss Is Just A Kiss by Melinda Curtis

When you need a quick shot of romance during the spring warmup, garden planting, and schedules for the new season, this is the best pick.  

Florida can be decorated for a beautiful wedding when the pockets are picked, and there aren't any second guesses.  

Here's the problem:  the second guess isn't from the bride or groom, but rather Kitty, the bride's close sister.

Kitty realizes a broken rung in the ladder of love at the door of the church wedding.  She has a few minutes to solve or ignore the issue.  Guess which avenue she picks.

Beck thinks he's got all the contracts and steps to a successful life planned and executed until Kitty gets in the way.  His wedding is in a few minutes to finalize the signature on the marriage license.

Wedding over, guests stranded, and unhappy family members depart.

Kitty is left with Grandma Dotty and no way get back to their home state.  At least G. Dotty has a way of making the worst seem funny.  Even when they take their only opportunity to ride with the (former) groom.  

Beck and Kitty start the ride home like oil and water.  Fortunately, with the right ingredients of information and knowledge the bumps in the ride smooth out.

They may even respect and like each other as the miles accumulate.  Who knows what will happen by the time they reach their destination.  There's never a set timeline for love!

Happy reading,

Dawn

In the by Isabel Allende

A blizzard in Brooklyn and a car accident is what is needed to bring three lives together and turn them around for the better.  

Richard owns a Brooklyn brownstone with a lower floor rented to Lucia.  Lucia stays in during the blizzard, but Richard forces himself to head for the store.  On his way, he rear-ends a Lexus that Evelyn is driving. 

This small accident creates the three to need more from each other than could be guessed until the story relays the details of their lives.

Richard obtained an academic position at NYU after his regrettable life in Chile.  In Chili, he started with a wife and two children.  Shortly after moving to the states, he no longer has children or a wife.  He sank into a rigid life of work and little socialization.

Lucia moves from Chile when Richard offers her a teaching job and a place to rent.  Her former life had also been full of family losses and humanitarian grievances.  She feels empty and alone.

Evelyn immigrates to the US from Guatemala seeking asylum and a job for a young woman barely speaking English.  

The accident proves more than just a fender bender.  Evelyn has her boss's car.  In the car is evidence of a horrible crime.  

Evelyn, Richard, and Lucia grouped together to plan how to hide someone else's crime to save Evelyn.

During their quest, each learn and begin to love one another. Richard and Lucia find a need to be together, and Evelyn becomes a pseudo daughter to them.   

Their fragile lives are reconstructed out of love.

Happy reading,

Dawn Kunda

True colors by Kristen Hannah

 The beautiful landscape of Washington provides a perfect spot for the horse ranch of the Grey sisters.  Three distinct personalities and three distinct sisters, each having trouble in the romance department, figure out how to continue.

The beautiful equestrian, Vivi Ann, leads the attempt to make the ranch profitable.  She doesn't have any problem attracting men, yet her final choice isn't respected.  A Native American, Dallas, is hired to help with the ranch. His hard personality intrigues her, and she finds an undeniable attraction.

Aurora appears happy and set with children and a doctor as a husband.  Always the peacemaker of the family, her own problems are hidden.

School and grades provide Winona a position as an attorney.  She hides behind work, lacking confidence because of her excess weight. The man she's had on her mind since childhood supplies her with a best friend, although her wish for more is always on her mind.

The tight bond between the sisters frays as a tragic murder shocks their township.  Disagreements on who's right or wrong, men who don't live up to expectations, and who's to blame for everything creates a tangle that the law ties tight.

With each of their attributes, the sisters travel a long road back to comfort in their relations and love and romance that can thrive.

Happy reading,

Dawn

The French Mis-Connection by Vicki Hilton

 Iris Hawthorne decides on a grand adventure for an un-grand reason.  She and her best friend, Chloe, decide to leave London to backpack Europe.  Iris broke up with her no-good boyfriend and needed to get away.   

Running out of money, they find a vineyard that needs temporary help.  This will also help Iris save money as she has found out that her ex is holding her cat ransom.  Time will mend her heart and money will get her cat back.  At least, that's the plan.

The sun is so hot, Iris figures a small dip in the off-limits pool will be worth the clandestine effort.  After the cool water covers her shoulders, not only did a big splashy dog find her, but also its owner, Luc Du Comtois.

Luc acted quite perturbed until he came up with a plan.  Beneficial to all involved.  

He will lose everything, which affects the whole family, if he's not married by his thirtieth birthday.  A few months is not long enough to find a wife unless it's a setup.  Perfect idea if Iris agrees.

Luc offers a payment for her to act as a fake fiancé and get married for a short time.   Iris agrees to the amount she needs to get her cat back.  A pet is like a kid.

Spending excessive time together at fancy functions, Iris and Luc get to know more about each other, and it's not all bad.  They can be civil and somewhat friends. 

It's always hard to say goodbye to friends, so if a man and woman become more than friends, will they say goodbye?  Is it inevitable, or can things change?  Can Iris accumulate enough to get her cat back, and will that be enough?  

In the vineyards under the French sun, find out if two hearts will melt together or burn apart.

Happy reading,

Dawn

   

The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar

A fabulous contemporary/historical romance!  As an auctioneer in New York, NY, Emsley Wilson's life is on auction.  Her grandmother, Violet, passes after a "free bird" life in painting and social connections.  

Emsley inherits Violet's New York brownstone and a blue box with an old painting and a pile of yellowed letters.  The initial intention is to sell the home along with saving her auction business, ditching one of the partners who wants to ditch her, and meeting the real estate attorney Violet suggested.

Can we add a little more to Emsley's to-do list?  Of course.  

Bram Dekker, attorney, meets with Emsley to help her with legalities.  He wears a wedding ring, so Emsley doesn't understand his interest in her.  He's gorgeous, kind, and respectful, but he has a ring on.  

In between cleaning the house, and everything else. Emsley takes a minute to transport us back in time through the old letters in the box.  The letters are written about Johanna Bongor-van Gogh. 

The story is rich in contemporary and historical romance along with such an interesting background of Vincent van Gogh.  I may have to pick up his biography to see how close the information is.  It also exemplifies the fight women take up to be recognized.  

I hope, if you pick up any of the books I review, this is one of them!

Happy reading,

Dawn

 

An Unexpected Find (Silver Falls, book 1) by Hayleigh Sol

 I couldn't help but chuckle as the story began.

Sophie Grimaldi's Friday night adventure starts after work as she hustles to the library before closing to retrieve her reserved romance novel.  Her dates consist of pages of someone else's love story.  The funny part is when she discovers a handwritten love scene tucked in between the pages.

It's horrible.  It's written by a man.

She cringes as she reads the scribble.  Unable to stop herself, she edits the scene and tucks it back in the book and later returns it that way.

Jax Rowland is a bestselling mystery writer.  When his publisher wants him to add a triste to his stories, he finds himself at a loss on how to write a readable sex scene.  The best way to figure that out is to borrow a few romance novels and study their composition.  

Accidently leaving his notes in the returned book, he desperately wants to retrieve them.

He reclaims his notes along with the edits.  Maybe, just maybe he can hire this  "editor" to do the love scenes for him.  Worth a try.

This begins an online love scene swap.  The scenes are hot and encourage Sophie and Jax to consider meeting each other in real life.  

The introduction doesn't start so well.  As with the writing, the meeting has room for improvement.  With a little effort, will Sophie and Jax become friends or more?  Relationships can begin with a text!

Happy reading,

Dawn

  

Just A Kiss (A Fake Boyfriend Billionaire Romance) by Tabatha Kiss

 Millionaires don't appear to be enough anymore, so let's hit on the billionaires.  They're people, too.

Penelope has a hated family reunion at an all expense paid high-class resort.  I think I could tolerate that just for the fact of a free sort-of vacation.  Penelope's problem is that the family has a perfect match for her, and it's the same Dillweed every year.  Family friend, of course.

The fake boyfriend she set up ditched her last minute, so with a desperate plan and a good-looking man at the bar twenty bucks might by her freedom for the weekend.

Hayden hangs out at the Botsford Hotel while he recovers from a baseball injury and is bored.  Bored enough to play the game with a beautiful, desperate, but not eager woman.  Game on.

I mentioned Penelope's desperation.  Her mom is leery of the "new" boyfriend.  Mr. Dillweed doesn't like or believe it.  Penelope's dad loves Hayden.  Hayden is surprised at his interest.  Mainly because she's not gushing all over him like most other women.  He's had a lot of girlfriends/one-nighters.  

There are a few hurdles to leap for an understanding between Penelope and Hayden to come to at the same time...over zealous reporter, parents, Dillweed butting in, Penelope's dream job as a hair stylist, and Hayden's bank account with his family's name on it.

It's a delightful ride from the first kiss for money and the last kiss which could be real!

Happy reading,

Dawn

A Magnolia Move-in (The Red Stiletto Book Club Series) by Anne-Marie Meyer

 Naomi and Penny, two women looking to start a new life with or without men. Preferably without.  

Penny moved to Magnolia, RI and bought a newspaper with excitement to be her own editor.  She also wanted to reconnect with her daughter who owned a local hotel.

Naomi was forced to Magnolia after a car accident.  Her brother, Jackson, brought her to Magnolia to help her through the injury and another surprise her body revealed.

Penny's basement apartment flooded, urging her to rent a room from grumpy Spencer.  Spencer was a local that revealed very little about himself to the community.  She was determined to find out what he was about for a "get to know your neighbor" spread in her newly acclaimed newspaper.

Naomi wondered where her unofficial fiancé was during her accident.  Jackson hated him and didn't want her fiancé around. Jackson's best friend seemed to have his eye on Naomi, which she thought about reciprocating until the fiancé contacted her.  

Penny found an accidental loophole to get to know Spencer, and I can say that I like the direction they're going in.

Whereas, Naomi needs to stand up for herself and make a wise decision.  Not sure what she's going to do.

You may wonder what the Red Stiletto Book Club has to do with this.  The book club is a group of women who do read books and may chat about it, but their main goal is to help one another and to make everyone feel needed and loved.  What a great theory!  It's a cheery and warm story.

Happy reading,

Dawn

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley

 Author Carrie McClelland finds a humble cottage to rent in Scotland where she plans to write an historical fiction novel of the nearby Slains Castle.  

The owner of the cottage has two sons, one kind and helpful, the other both kind and helpful and a university history professor.  Not to mention, the second, Graham, the mutual attraction building through walks around the castle and horse rides.

In the 1700's, Carrie's focus for her novel, the French and Scottish attempted to reclaim the exiled James Stewart crown.  She created in her mind the setting of the castle and the people involved.  Yet, it became apparent that her memory matched the history and she may be dealing with ancestral memory.  

As Graham shows up at her cottage frequently, her connection to her character begins to cause problems in the current day.  She knows what really happened between the invasion and mysteries surrounding Slains Castle and the relation to her character and Graham's family.

The atmosphere of The Winter Sea is richly produced giving the reader a feeling of being in the present and the past along with Carrie.  The intensity between Carrie and Graham is spine tingling while you read to find out if the past will remain a problem with the present. 

Happy reading,

Dawn Kunda

 

 

People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry

 Vacation is Poppy's favorite activity.  She does it on a whim, cheap or expensive, she writes about it, magazine and blog, and now she can't figure out why it's "just not the same".

Once a year her best friend, Alex, and her picked a low-budget, out-of-the-ordinary trip.  Spontaneous and whacky are the the best ways to describe everything they do, yet two years ago the trips together ended and they haven't talked.  No discussion of why they ended.

Poppy lives in New York and writes for a travel magazine and considers it her dream job.  Although, she's lost a bit of that carefree, happy attitude that exotic places have brought her.

Alex lives in her hometown in Ohio. He's bookish, quiet, and a teacher at their old high school.  

She misses her best friend and takes the chance to send a text, hoping he'll reply positively.  Maybe they could try one of those fantastic, cheap vacations like old times.  

The question is:  How can they jump into another vacation without talking so long and rekindle the missing thread of their happiness in life?

The key is what happened two years ago.  If they discover the problem, can they enrich their relationship and take it another step?  I hope so!

Happy reading,

Dawn

Not You, It's Me by Julie Johnson

 It's great when you hear a woman using the line "It's not you, it's me" instead of the man.  Gemma Sommers is well acquainted with saying that.  She doesn't believe love is a real emotion that she can attain after many pathetic dating experiences.

Such as at the beginning of her story, she's dating her apartment neighbor who can barely pay attention to her.

This is evident when Mr. Gorgeous, Chase Croft, saves her on screen with a smothering, in a good way, kiss.  Her boyfriend is standing right next to her and doesn't even notice, by the way.  The rest of Boston sees it.

Gemma has a creative job at an art gallery where she sells exclusive art.  Her apartment is small and full of color just as she wants it.  Her funds are low, but she's pleased with her lifestyle.

Chase has a different type of problem.  His bank account is exploding, woman love him, and his penthouse is spacious.  He thinks he doesn't have room for the right woman, yet he seeks out Gemma as his art consultant.

Sounds easy for them to fall in love, but Gemma is short on the trust theory and Chase has a meddling family and doubts of his own ability to run his business and treat Gemma in the way she deserves.

It's a fun read as the insecurities of each are hashed out, thrown against the wall, and hope to reach the finish line in a compatible manner!

Happy reading,

Dawn

Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score

 A delightful read as Naomi Witt runs far and fast at the last moment from the aisle and still wearing the white dress.

Always a planner, she has only one sense of direction toward her twin sister, Tina, in need of help, as always.  The only "twin" thing about the sisters is their looks.  Otherwise, her sister is a complete troublemaker and completely irresponsible.

Naomi arrives in Knockemout, Virginia and finds an unknown eleven-year-old niece, Waylay, waiting for her.  

No wedding, no money, no home, no job, and an abandoned niece.  What else can upset Naomi's planned existence?

Knockemout is a charming and tight community with the necessary coffee house to ease anxieties.

Knox Morgan owns the cafe plus a lot more in town, yet he's not a people person.  He makes it plainly clear when confronting the new girl in town.  He's a bad-boy biker with a hidden heart of gold.  He wants to keep that a secret and be left alone.

The funny thing is, Knox has it hard for Naomi, and she can't help but search for his good qualities.

The story is loaded with Knox attempting to secretly help Naomi, Naomi falling for Knox, Knox falling for her, and both holding back.  

As I read the love story, I wanted to tell them to "Quit being stubborn!", and "You're perfect for each other!".  Knox and Naomi will have to figure it out themselves as they didn't listen to me!

Happy reading,

Dawn

My Everything by Melanie Shawn

 Be honest, a one-night-stand is not as horrible as it sounds.  

Amber spends many nights in her cozy bed in Harper's Crossing dreaming about one night, one man, eight years ago.  

Most would think it's time for her to give up her fantasy.  She has a successful clothing boutique and fabulous friends.  Find a different man who exists.

Seth is a God.  Medically released from an elite Marine Corp unit, he's back home and having a hard time relating to civilians and a civilian's life. 

 

Amber has family issues, which make it hard for her to trust those she loves.  Her mom has a hand in this.  Along with a stressful mom/daughter relationship, someone is intent on breaking in and vandalizing her home and property.

Let's hope that Seth realizes he has a lot, which includes safety, to offer Amber.  If only he thinks he's good enough for her.  

Fortunately, Harper's Crossing is a small town and has a great sense of community.  It's a challenge not to be put in a situation where the residents mix and mingle, so let's hope there's enough mixing to cause mingling between Amber and Seth.  Their fantasy can be reality!

Happy reading,

 Dawn

Mister Know-It-All by Amelie S. Duncan

 This is a fun read.  Although the cover makes me think of summer on a beach, it takes place in New York city where there's too many fun and exciting experiences to mention.

Finding out that her long-term boyfriend cheats on her and thinks nothing of it, Jasmine writes to a help column, written by her cousin, for advice.  Her parents are all about her relationship with her professor who employs her to get the advantage she needs for future success, so an objective view is necessary.

More advice from a best friend and the the Summer of Me evolved.  Don't date men, use them for a confidence building fling.

Fine idea, but not really Jasmine's style. 

Men everywhere.  Of course Ford appears, all handsome and touchable.  Naturally he has issues.  Past (maybe still current?) girlfriend, work related to Jasmine's employment, and acts like a know-it-all.

Not good at the "fling" thing, especially when she's interested, Jasmine plays her cards tightly and probes the idea of a casual relationship complete with the sex.

As summer, the work, and college looms, Jasmine makes a big decision on how to tie her future plans with a complicated and arousing man.  Hopefully her family will back her, but a girls got to do what a girls got to do!

Happy reading,

Dawn      

French Kiss For Hire by Nana Malone, Nikki Jefford, Amanda Lance...

So many authors tangled a great story together!
An American dream by French student and visa holder, Luc Du'mont, is on the edge of falling apart if he doesn't find a job in his field soon.  Just so happens he went to acting school, really likes it, but has a few months to make his dream come true.
Serena Dawson, beautiful and sweet sister of Luc's kind and forgiving roommate, is off limits by Luc's own rules.
That's until she pops over to the apartment.  Her sadness at always picking the boyfriend who doesn't appreciate her, needs another man's explanation.
Luc is available.
And what does this have to do with a French kiss?  Everything.
"Somehow" the word gets around that Luc has the best kiss around, and women offer to pay for it.  Could this extra cash pay Luc's way until work appears?  Maybe the originator of the rumor will want him as her own.  Maybe there's a way for a love to flourish, Luc to stay in America, and a sad and beautiful woman to become happily in the middle of it all.
Let's hope for all of these in what seems like an impossible situation.

Happy reading,
Dawn

Not So Prince Charming by Lauren Landish

Landish, a bestselling author, has another great series, Dirty Fairy Tales.  Not So prince Charming is the second in the series and a great read!

Loved the heroine, Isabella.  She's a hardworking waitress putting herself through college and never giving up.  She has fabulous friends who watch her back, and the thought of time and energy for a man in her life is something she thinks won't happen for a long time.

Now, Gabriel, he has a lot of baggage.  After his brother was murdered, he sets out to do whatever it takes to find the killer.  That includes being a hit man.

Now how can a hit man redeem himself? That's the black hole he has to dig himself out of if only Isabella can understand.

Oh wait!  Gabriel is hired to take Isabella out.  Just another kink in the story of Gabriel and Isabella meeting and somehow finding love in between the grey areas. 

Quite the story of who finds love and who does the killing.  Don't expect to find a typical plot or typical love.  Have to read! 

Read on!

Dawn

  

Ache for You by J.T. Geissinger

Most the time when we read, it’s a quiet time.  When you occasionally chuckle, snort, catch your breath, and have a smile cracking the corners of your face, you know you’ve found a delightful, lovely romance!

How can we enjoy reading the devastation that comes with groping in the dark for a true, trustworthy, and honest romance?  The characters.  The characters tug us in.

Kimber, who’s name is explained through her personality, has one catastrophe after another.  I’d have to say, the majority involve men.  She starts in San Francisco, the perfect wedding massacred, she somehow gets to Florence, Italy after buying a ticket she doesn’t use, informed of another disaster back home, then meets more disaster in the form of a gorgeous Italian designer.  By the way, she designs upscale woman’s dresses, so how bad can it be to meet a famous designer??

Matteo, the famous designer, meets Kimber at the airport.  Love at first sight?  No one admits to that.  Plus, he doesn’t know her name, she doesn’t ask his, and they ultimately aren’t on the same flight by his design.  When they end up at the identical Italian destination, sparks fly. 

I can’t help but laugh when Kimber states her opinion on anything.  The words she uses would make a dog blush.  Yet, Matteo loves the challenge.

Kimber is not in the mood for another man who makes love promises.  Strike one for Matteo.  She doesn’t believe him, trust him, or think that Matteo’s business plan is in her best interest.  Strike two.  He might do better in softball where there’s four strikes.

He has his own allegiance to avoid commitment.  Maybe any interest Kimber lets slip his way is strictly in the form of rebound or revenge on men.  Granted, when she tells him where his dick belongs, that Cinderella can kiss her ass, or simply claim that her uterus betrays her, he falls farther into the whole of eternal love.

I want to tell you the whole story, but the better the book, the less I want to reveal.  We have stubborn, comical, honest, desperate, and generous souls at stake in this novel.  The unique predicaments at home and abroad sucked me into the lives of Kimber, Matteo, and their friends and family!  I begged the book to let them all live and love a lot…

Don’t put the book down!

Dawn

Norah Roberts' Land by Ava Miles

Novel idea for a romance story!  Meredith Hale lived her free time by reading and nearly memorizing all of Norah Roberts novels.  Meredith wants them to be true, the fact that there can be a happily ever after.

She hasn’t found it in her life, yet. 

Meredith’s good-for-nothing ex-husband not only treated her with disrespect and disdain before, but also after the marriage ended.  Her ex-, Rick-the-Dick, is running for senate in New York and is doing what he does best.  He’s making sure his infidelity and other bad habits aren’t reported by Meredith when she decides to write a series of articles for a well-known paper.

Meredith’s topic is “Can a person live in Norah Roberts’ Land in real life?”

This is where another journalist comes into play, hired by Rick-the-Dick (I like writing that!).  Tanner’s hired to love her and leave her.

Tanner is better than that.  But blackmail has its strength.

Ava Miles runs the gamut putting in love, comedy, murder, and multiple conflicts.  The language is fun, yet a bit chatty.  The story is creative with a lot of twists and turns, although I felt a tad wordy.  Yet, for Norah Roberts fans, this is a must to find out if her “land” is real.

Happy reading,

Dawn    

From Here To You by Jamie McGuire

 

Here’s a classic, ‘I need a good man’ story!

A lovely Texas weeding was planned for the first pages of the book.  Until Darby spent an extraordinary amount of time in the bathroom.  You ask, “So?  It’s normal for a bride to rent time in a bathroom to look perfect for her perfect day.”

Less than a day later, Darby is in Colorado and it’s not for her honeymoon.

She’s needy

 at this time.  She needs food, clothes, a home, and a job.

She finds everything at a Colorado hotel that specializes in the hotshots who are battling fires in the surrounding area. 

Trex is in the mix with a few skeletons of his own.  He has an undeniable interest in Darby, along with most the other men at the hotel. 

Darby and Trex have so many secrets and conflicts, it’s amazing that they’ll ever find a middle ground.  Although, ultimately just being themselves might have the desired effect along with honesty, which evolves to trust.

And that is the basis of a great relationship!

 

Happy reading,

Dawn

Match Making for Beginners by Maddie Dawson

Watch out where the gold dust sparkles and splashes the air because that is where love is wonderful and real.

And if you can’t see the shimmers, mistakes will be made.  Marnie can see the love in the air, but not for herself, so she’s not any better off in the mistake category than you and me.

At her first marriage to Noah, she meets the groom’s Great Aunt Blix.  Blix has the touch of magic, the books to cast spells, and a true belief in love for a life time no matter how many men it takes!

The marriage ends after two weeks.  Marnie falls into the idea that settling and being “normal” is her best choice.   Just ask her fiancé, Jeremy.  Yet, Blix has no intentions of letting Marnie off the hook that easily.  Marnie has a great life ahead of herself and don’t think it’s getting back together with Noah, settling for a sweet but boring man, Jeremy, or being alone.

But how can Blix help Marnie after Blix dies?  I didn’t want her to die as I loved her as a character, but I didn’t feel she was gone when Blix left her Brooklyn triplex to Marnie with a condition.  Live in it for three months.

Marnie has to learn about love, how she can be a matchmaker, and what true love entails.  With built in tenants in Blix’s home, Marnie meets Julia, Lola, Sammy, and Patrick.  All have parts in creating her Big Life and it’s nothing but grand when a Thanksgiving fiasco sets it in motion.

Adorable story that I nearly passed up!

Happy reading,

Dawn