Tag Archives: Romance

Review

Modern Girl’s Guide to Vacation Flings

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I don’t know what I expected. Delight wasn’t actually on the table when I grabbed a sample of this book but I’m carving my way through Gina Drayer’s Modern Girl’s Guide series and loving it. Vacation Flings is just the first bag of chips.

So, this is the “pretend boyfriend” trope melded with “I’m not looking for love” and “Dump that cheater.” Drayer does a masterful job of keeping those pages turning. As in a lot of mainstream romance, the basic conflict hinges on the two characters not talking to each other. I expected this and found the ways they didn’t talk to each other to be as fascinating as the characters themselves. Beth, healing from her past, and Matt, hounded by family, meet in first class (where else), but both believe their connection ends at the airport. Ha.

I loved this book (and I’m loving the sequel). It’s got some steamy bits but nothing too explicit and they’re done well. But don’t take my word for it. Why not grab a sample and see if you might like a little vacation fling – at least a literary one – for yourself?

[Transparency: I know Gina virtually, but we’ve never met in person. She doesn’t know I’m reading her books.]

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Taste For Trouble

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Susan Sey’s Taste For Trouble presents a delightful first course to this Blake Brothers trilogy. Like most romance series, this one starts with one set of characters and works through the line up. When I noticed this in the list, it tweaked my nose. I read it in 2015 – and I still remember the plot!

I won’t spoiler it, but I can recommend it. Sure it’s a bit sappy in places. It’s a romance. Yeah, there’s a lot of wish-fulfillment happening here, but I also found a satisfied sigh at the end. And two more helpings waiting in the kitchen if you liked the flavor of this one. Yes, I read them all.

So, I enjoyed this book – and its sequels – but don’t ever take my word for it. Why not grab a sample and taste for yourself.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Lost And Found

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Willow Summers has created a nice little series of edgy romances. This first one deals with a woman fleeing an abusive relationship and landing on her feet.

I really enjoyed the interplay between the characters and the struggle that Krista dealt with while trying to recover from her ex. I thought Summers did a great job walking the line between pathos and pathetic, between fear and maudlin.

As always – don’t take my word for it. Why not grab a sample and see what you think?

Note: Yes. This is posted late. Somehow I lost Sunday.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Fish Perfume

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Sammie Grace knocked this one out of the park for me. Yeah, it’s a bit silly, probably overly predictable, but I loved it anyway. Maybe it’s the setting – a marina on the ocean – or maybe it’s the adorable characters. Any way you look at it, this was a fun read.

Maggie’s burnt out and ready for a break when she heads out to take care of her Grandmother’s marina for the summer. Little does she know that she’s in for way more than a summer’s worth of struggle, most of which is with herself. The cast of characters are all just as salty as you might imagine. Together they’re a whole school of crazy.

But don’t take my word for it. Why not catch a sample and see what you pull in?

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Beyond Repair

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Susie Tate has written a moving, sometimes funny, sometimes dark, series of contemporary romances about some deeply flawed characters. Beyond Repair is the gateway drug. The books took me on a trip like I’ve not seen. Tate is an actual physician and her background shows in the meticulous way her characters present their afflictions – both to the reader and to each other.

As with most of my favorite books, the characters carry me along. Katie is all bright and bubbly with a scarred and damaged core. Sam is a wounded warrior who hides his pain behind a gruff exterior. They drive each other bonkers. So, of course, you know they’re bound to get together. It’s a romance, after all.

You can read the blurb yourself. I’ll leave my description of the story at that, but suggest – as always – you might grab a sample and see what you think for yourself.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

London Falling

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Here’s another one from the wayback machine. Emma Carr’s charming story doesn’t fall into the usual “If they’d only talk to one another” trap I see a lot of. Yes, there’s a little of it but Aimee and Simon are such cute characters, I was able to over look it.

As with so many of the titles I recommend here, it’s the characters that keep me reading. This pair made me smile and smile. It’s one of those books where the characters each work toward their own goals to the detriment of themselves. Obviously, it’s no spoiler that they come to their senses before the end of the book. It’s a romance, after all.

But – as always – my opinion is just my opinion. Why not grab a sample and see what you think?

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Lingerie Wars

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Back to the romance category. This time with a fun romp from Janet Elizabeth Henderson. I’ll confess, this probably has nothing to do with the Scottish highlands – other than the names. Her bio indicates she grew up in Scotland. Good enough for me. The beauty of this story (and the follow-ons) are the characters.

Like most rom/coms these days, the men are strong and rich, the women feisty, and there’s some odd-ball character (or four) who just make life miserable for everybody along the way. These Scottish Highlands books tickled my funny bone and warmed my cold heart with every one. My Kindle tells me I read four of them – and Amazon says there are two more. What better for a bit of belated Valentines reading?

But – as always – don’t take my word for it. This first book is free so why not grab a copy and see for yourself?

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Love Handles

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I read this book back in 2013. I remember it for the humor and the characters. I like characters who aren’t the normal beautiful people. I just scanned the first few paragraphs and started smiling. It’s that kind of book.

The set up is basic “girl inherits the business, doesn’t want it, but takes it anyway.” Hijinks ensue. Between the in-fighting and lusting, it’s engaging enough and I fell in love with Bev myself.

This is the first book in what I see is now a six book series. I got through the first few in short order, but I can see I’ve got new titles to draw me in. If you’re a fan of romcom, you might grab this book (it’s apparently perma-free) and give it a try. You might find a new literary love of your own.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Dating A Cougar

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Okay, I’ll grant you this isn’t my normal fare. I’m generally not in favor of labels, but in this case I just rolled with it and I’m glad I did.

This is one of books I read in 2014 while I was reading a lot of romance. I think it was a freebie from one of the promo sites and I went ahead and read at least one more after this because it was just too much fun. I was drawn to it because the main character is not the typical ingenue and the whole series is about women finding love later in life.

The set up involves a retired marine, a lingerie designer, and a family complication that resolves itself – as one might expect – satisfactorily. This is sheer popcorn romance. The story giggles along nicely and kept me turning pages right into the next volume. The Amazon page says there’s seven of them now and I may have to get back in to see where I left off.

These days we can all use a laugh and a warm feeling, right? Why not grab a sample and settle in. See if you like this one as much as I did.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]

Review

Secret Blend

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The first book of Jennifer Bramseth’s Bourbon Springs series hooked me. I knew nothing about bourbon and what I knew of Kentucky was limited to what I’d learned by teaching remotely. Now I find myself eyeing the Kentucky whiskey and bourbon displays at the local and wondering which one might be to my liking.

Yeah, this is a romance. The heat comes from more than just the bourbon and every book has a couple of scenes where the characters heat up. I never found them to be gratuitous nor salacious and I read quite a lot of this series (like eight of them, I think). I’d read more but I need to get my head away from Woodford’s Reserve.

The thing for me was the town – Bourbon Springs. Bramseth did such a great job painting in the town to create a stage for her stories to play on. That depth, woven over time with layers of culture and history, gave each of her pairings more depth as the series unfolded. I did not find the problem of “cookie cutter” stories as each new couple paired off and followed the same story line over and over. Loners and misfits, misunderstanding and miscommunication all contribute to the richness of Bourbon Springs.

I’ve included the link to the free box set of the first three books. If you ever thought about trying some romance – and even if you haven’t – this is a nifty place to start. Why not grab your copy, settle in with whatever beverage of choice you enjoy, and begin to discover the warmth of a good Kentucky Hug.

About the reviewer:

NathanLowell_150x150Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]