Need You Now by Mika Jolie

http://smile.amazon.com/Need-You-Marthas-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B00PGC2OFQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

Elementary school teacher Liliana Serrano has never been one to let others determine her future. Whether it’s her pack of three overly protective brothers or her Puerto-Rican, American heritage, she stands on her own. Which is exactly how she entered her arrangement with Adam Aquilani. The hot formula one driver is aloof, detached and not interested in relationship. After a cheating fiancé, no strings attached sex was just what she needed. 

Except one year later, they’re still hooking up and things aren’t so clear cut anymore. Especially when a surprise pregnancy enters the picture. 

Adam is determined to marry Lily and raise their child as a family. But Lily refuses to settle for anything less than love. 

As the two go on a journey of discovering, secrets are revealed, testing the strength of their connection. Can they learn not to give the past the power to define their future?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23549702-need-you-now?ac=1

Publisher and Release Date: Secret Cravings Publishing, November 19, 2014

Time & Setting: Contemporary, Martha’s Vineyard

Heat Level: 2

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Vikki’s Musings

I am a member of the Secret Cravings E-Book club and each month I receive four novels. I am always impressed with the quality of books offered and usually enjoy them immensely. In December, I received Need You Now. The title grabbed me along with the tagline on the book. The first few pages did not engage me, but I continued to read. Many a book can start out slow and end up fantastic.

Liliana Serrano is on a date with some guy named Paul and there is no chemistry, zilch, but then she receives a text from her friend with benefits, Adam Aquilani. That caught my attention. This is a guy that she intends to dump? He sounds intriguing to say the least. This makes no sense to me. The boring date continues with them discussing her non-relationship with Adam. Once the boring date ends, Liliana arrives home to find Adam in her condo, looking incredibly hot and sex sound asleep on her couch.

Dazed from a nasty fall cold, she finds herself thinking about the ecstasy he gives her, but wait a minute, “she needed to dump him not jump him”. Turns out she wants to break it off because she saw him kissing a woman on TV after his race. Oh, yeah, did I mention he is an Italian race car driver? They make up, jump into bed and five weeks later, she discovers she is pregnant. Oops, the antibiotics messed up her birth control pills. Can this unlikely couple find a way to turn their meaningless non-relationship into a meaningful one?

This is a much deeper story than meets the eye. Adam has gigantic emotional scares that keep him from being able to commit to a meaningful relationship. I do not want to divulge what these scares entail, but they are horrendous and will affect him for the rest of his life. Liliana on the other hand, is determined to have it all. She wants the kind of love her parents have and is not willing to accept anything less, even if it means being a single parent.

I enjoyed going on the emotional journey with this engaging couple. Liliana and Adam are an interesting pair and had me rooting for their “Happily Ever After”. There are actually four couples, and I understand that the first book in the series is Minka and Jason’s love affair. I believe the next book will be Forrest and Claire’s story. I can see why this story has so many great reviews.

For me, it could have been a bit shorter, especially at the end. The pacing is a bit slow, and I think it is because there is much more narrative than dialogue. I tend to enjoy dialogue, and this story could have used a few lighter moments since it deals with some truly heart wrenching topics. My hat goes off to the author for tackling such a difficult subject.

Even with this issue, I am glad I read this book. It is extremely well-written and superbly edited. Happy reading!

 

Romantic Chanteuse: Rescue my Heart

Romantic Chanteuse: Rescue my Heart: Virtual Book Tour Dates: 1/6/15 – 2/3/15 Genres: Contemporary Romance This pug picture was graciously pro...

Books That Touch The Heart: Contemporary Romance Spotlight & Giveaway: Rescue ...

Books That Touch The Heart: Contemporary Romance Spotlight & Giveaway: Rescue ...: Virtual Book Tour Dates: 1/6/15 – 2/3/15 Genres: Contemporary Romance This pug picture was graciously provided by th...

The Baron’s Betrayal by Callie Hutton

http://smile.amazon.com/Barons-Betrayal-Entangled-Scandalous-Marriage-ebook/dp/B00R69XMOY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1420315463&sr=1-1&keywords=the+baron%27s+betrayal

It's been two years since Lady Marion Tunstall lost her husband at sea. Two years of sorrow and grief. Only now has the young, comely widow finally re-entered society. It isn't until she and her family attend the merriment of a country dance that Lady Marion sees her dead husband, alive and well... and faints dead away.

Lord Tristan Tunstall has no choice but to confess - he is alive, yes, but not a whole man who can be a husband and father. When he offers her a divorce, however, Marion stubbornly refuses. Now she has forced herself back into his life, and into his home and (oh, God forgive his weakness) his bed. He cannot stop himself from wanting her. Loving her. But can he live with the secret she is keeping from him?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23941312-the-baron-s-betrayal?ac=1

Published & Release Date: Entangled Publishing, January 12, 2015

Time and setting: 1815 Regency England

Genre: Historical Romance/Regency

Heat Level: 2

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Vikki’s Musings

While browsing titles offered on Net-Galley, I came across this Regency historical romance. The book description caught my eye, and I accepted it from the publisher for an honest review. I always enjoy Regency romances, and I have read books by this author in the past and have enjoyed them. I am so glad I found this fantastic book! It captured my attention from the first page and kept me enthralled all the way to the end. I adore a story that grabs me right away and can keep my attention the entire time I am reading.

Lady Marion Tunstall has mourned the loss of her beloved husband for over two years. At last, her family has convinced her to rejoin society. When she enters the assembly room, her gaze falls upon her deceased husband on the arm of another woman. She swoons and her brother, the Duke of Manchester sweeps her up into his arms and carries her from the room after telling her husband he will call upon him on the morrow.

Lord Tunstall is stunned when he realizes his wife is in attendance at the assembly room. His companion apologizes, but the damage has been done. His wife now knows he is alive. Tristan is blind and had planned on his wife never learning he had survived the explosion of his ship, which took his sight.

Now that Marion knows her husband is alive, she refuses to be parted from him and moves into his country estate against Tristan’s wishes. He tells her he wants a divorce, but then he finds out that a divorce is not possible. He informs her that while they will remain husband and wife, it will be in name only because he will never chance getting her with child. However, there is one small problem. He allows passion to sweep them away one evening when he hears her weeping from his cruel words.

Marion discovers she is going to have a babe. Afraid of Tristan’s reaction to the news, she keeps it from him. Will her secret tear them further apart, or will her husband allow the blinders to come off and embrace the woman he has always loved? 

Tristan is my favorite kind of male character, a tortured soul, filled with angst and denial of what is clearly in front of him, a hero to hate yet love at the same time. At times, I wanted to shake his pig-headedness out of him. His determination to deny Marion’s love and refusal to accept that she does not care that he is blind throve me a bit crazy at times. Although part of me wanted to despise him, my compassionate side would not allow it.

Marion is a saint to put up with his attitude. She is determined to get her husband back and refuses to allow him to turn her away, which he does repeatedly. Personally, I would have given up on the man, but she never does. Talk about a loyal woman, Marion takes it to the extreme, but I am glad she does.  It makes for an engaging read fraught with deep emotion and passion.

I loved the pacing of this emotionally-charged story. It kept me flipped the pages on my Kindle wanting to know if Marion would succeed and get her stubborn, extremely bull-headed husband to accept that it does not matter that he is blind, she loves him regardless. I promise that if you like a tale of deep devotion and determination against all odds, then this is a book you will enjoy. Happy reading!

His Saving Grace by Sharon Cullen

http://smile.amazon.com/Saving-Grace-Secrets-Seduction-Book-ebook/dp/B00LKJHTMC/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1415226679&sr=1-2&keywords=his+saving+grace

Perfect for fans of Mary Balogh, Sharon Cullen’s captivating novel tells the deeply emotional tale of two devoted lovers facing the ravages of war.
 
For months now, Lady Grace Ashworth has mourned the death of her beloved husband—until the day a very-much-alive Michael arrives at her front door. It’s nothing less than a miracle. However, Grace soon realizes that this Michael isn’t the same man who left for the Crimean War. She’s stunned to learn that he has suffered a devastating head injury. Putting all her own desires aside, Grace resolves to devote herself to Michael’s recovery and to love him no matter what troubles may come.
 
Convinced that his wife is wasting her time on a broken man, Michael attempts to shield Grace from a life of inconvenience by driving her away. But Grace will have none of that. Despite every obstacle Michael throws in her path, she stubbornly soldiers on, fighting not only for their marriage but for the love they once shared. In the end, will her determination alone be enough to save Michael from the darkness that threatens to consume him?

Published & Release Date: Loveswept, December 23, 2014

Time and setting: Victorian England 1855

Genre: Historical Romance

Heat Level: 1

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Vikki's Musings

I received an advanced reader copy from Net Galley for an honest review. I’m so glad I took a chance on this incredible story. It is a story that will haunt you and cling to your memory for days after you finish the book. This is a story of overcoming great odds and coming out of it a stronger and better person.

The deep emotional pain that Michael Ashworth, the Earl of Blackbourne experiences, ate at my soul and brought tears to my eyes. His utter despair at times is palpable. At times, I did get a bit irritated with Michael when he is at his lowest, but ultimately, he faces up to his challenges and begins to move forward. However, this is after he puts his wife, Grace, through a lot of needless pain.

While this story does have several secondary characters, it is primarily about Michael and Grace and their struggle to be together and learn to live with his disability, a disability that cannot be seen by the world. It is a disability that would torment anyone, and especially a strong, proud man such as Michael.

The story opens with Grace as a widow, mourning the loss of her husband, Michael, who is presumed dead from a great battle of the Crimean War. His brother has assumed the title and has accepted a marriage proposal from Sir Timmons. While Grace’s year of mourning is almost at an end, the last thing she wants is to marry again when she is still deeply grieving Michael’s death. The only man she will ever love.

As she contemplates whether she should marry Sir Timmons, a carriage pulls up at the Dower house, and a man remarkably like Michael climbs out. At first, she does not believe it is her beloved husband, but then he shows her a small scar, and she steps into his arms for the first time in almost a year.

While overjoyed to find out Michael is alive, He has returned a changed man, gone is the laughing warm-hearted gentleman. As they try to pick up the strands of their life and move forward, Michael’s disability builds a wall between them. Can Grace help him learn to cope, or will he allow it to tear them apart?

I love Grace’s determination and will to help Michael adapt to his changed world. She refuses to cower when he gives into his temper, anger he never had before his injuries. She is a true saint and never gives up on him, even when he is at his worst. She fights for their love, even when Michael attempts to send her away.

This is not an easy story to read. It’s filled with angst as Michael faces the changes his disability has caused in his personality. One thing that is never in doubt is the love they feel for each other, but this couple has to go through a lot to find their HEA.

The story line is quite unique and kept me turning the pages. Ms. Cullen does an excellent job with building tension, yet not so much that it frustrated me. The timing of the love scenes are close to perfect and highly charged with passion and deep emotion.

If you enjoy a well-written historical romance with great character development then this is a book you will want to read. I will be looking for other books from this talented author. Happy reading!

A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows by Diana Gabaldon

http://smile.amazon.com/Leaf-Wind-All-Hallows-Outlander-ebook/dp/B00A5MREAM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1419895914&sr=1-1&keywords=a+leaf+on+the+wind+of+all+hallows+an+outlander+novella

Available for the first time as an exclusive eBook in this original Outlander novella, Diana Gabaldon reveals what really happened to Roger MacKenzie Wakefield’s parents. Orphaned during World War II, Roger believed that his mother died during the London Blitz, and that his father, an RAF pilot, was killed in combat. But in An Echo in the Bone, Roger discovers that this may not be the whole story. Now, in “A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows,” readers finally learn the truth.

Published & Release Date: Random House, December 3, 2012

Time and setting: World War II England

Genre: Historical Romance/Time-Travel

Heat Level: 1

Reviewer rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Vikki’s Musings

When I discovered this novella that explains more of Roger MacKenzie’s parents, I could not wait to read it. Roger is one of my favorite characters from the Outlander series. I found this tale enthralling. There is a sweet romance in it showing a brief glimpse of the love between Jerry MacKenzie and his ‘Dolly’. While this is primarily in Jerry’s point of view, since it depicts his adventure, there is a scene, involving Dolly and Frank Randall, which is in her POV. Yes, I did mention Frank Randall, Claire Randall’s first husband.

Jerry meets with Captain Frank Randall and is given a new covert mission to fly over the Nazi camps in Poland and take photographs of the atrocities that are happening there. Before he leaves for this dangerous assignment, he is able to visit his wife and young son, and there is a tender, playful scene between the couple, that touches my heart.

While practicing for his upcoming mission, he is flying over Northumberland when his plane experiences difficulties and he has to make a crash landing. When he regains consciousness, he finds himself lying in mud and grass. He has clearly been thrown from his plane. Darkness is starting to fall with mist swirling around him. Staggering to his feet, an attack of vertigo has him reeling, “but to his right he made out two or three large, bulky shapes, standing upright”.  

As he draws closer, he realizes they are huge stones. He leans against one of them to get his bearings; outside the ring of stones he sees what must be his plane. Then a terrible ringing in his ears and intense pain in his head causes him to black out again. When he awakens, it is now dark. He looks around for his plane, but all he finds is the thick meadow grass. Thus begins his travel back to a time where the speech is unintelligible and obviously not the England he knew. During a misadventure with several men in odd looking short pants, they take his jacket and dog tags and throw him into a ravine.  

The story then jumps to two year later in London, when Dolly receives a visit from Captain Frank Randall. He has brought her a little box, inside is a MID oakleaf cluster, awarded posthumously for her husband’s bravery and sacrifice. She does not want it and rages at the captain, who handles it stoically. The pain Dolly feels is palpable and brought tears to my eyes. After she has her tirade, she calms down, they have tea and then she shows him to the door. Captain Randall tells her, “The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it. He did that, every day, for a long time.”

Then Dolly replies, “You sent him, though,” she said, her voice as low as his. “You did.”

Then the door closes and the captain is gone.

Then the story takes me back to Northumbria and Jerry’s continued misadventures. I will leave it at that because I do not want to give you any spoilers. Even though this is a short novella, it still has the excellent character development that I always expect from Ms. Gabaldon. While this story does not have a happy ending, it does give me the chance to get to know Roger’s parents, to see the love and honor that made Jerry a man that Roger could be proud of. This is a book you will want to read if you are a fan of the Outlander series. Happy reading!

Happy Year! 

I hope 2015 is is the best year ever for you and your family!

As we continue to explore the new books, especially the ones that will be offered in 2015, I hope you will find the one I will review as enjoyable as I am sure I will. I have lots of books loaded on my Kindle just waiting to be read. How about you? Any favorite authors with new books coming out? Let me know and I will check them out!