#358 - Too Close for Comfort

Too Close for Comfort

Heidi Rice

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Contemporary > Romance

Mills & Boon (Modern)

Description:

Rescued by a bone-meltingly handsome stranger! After a run-in with a Californian con-man, Scottish Iona MacCabe has no money and nowhere to go. She quickly discovers LA can be a very unfriendly city without tons of hard cash… Millionaire security expert Zane Montoya can hardly leave a pretty Scottish tourist at a dodgy motel to fend for herself. His long-lost chivalrous side takes over: he turns on the legendary Montoya charm and whisks Iona away to upscale Monterey. Independent, wilful Iona might be spitting daggers at being rescued, but that doesn’t stop the sexual heat between them reaching scorching point! Zane’s used to keeping all his women at arm’s length, and Iona’s way too close for comfort – but Zane only realises his long-held emotional detachment is at risk once it’s too late

Product Details:

I was very kindly sent a paperback copy of the book by Heidi, the Author, via the Good Reads Giveaway/First Reads system.

However, it is available on Amazon as a Kindle download HERE.  Actually, at the moment it's a bargain at £2.30 (usual listed price £3.49).

Published by Mills & Boon (Modern) on 7th June 2013.

192 pages (998 KB)

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Summary/thoughts:

As I mentioned above, I was kindly sent a copy of this in paperback form my Heidi (the Author) under the Good Reads Giveaway/First Reads Scheme.  Lucky me, she also signed it and enclosed just about one of the coolest business cards ever.

To be honest, it wasn't the longest book in the world, more a novella, but it made up for it in decent writing and a lovely story. Very definitely in the Mills & Boon tradition, and I've loved Mills & Boon since I was a teenager.

I thorough enjoyed it, and have added Heidi to my list of favourite authors' as consequence. 

Zane Montoya by the way was a yummy full on Alpha Male Hero, with a cute and vulnerable side, who definitely met his match with the fiery lass from Scotland.


Rating:

4 stars from me, I just wish it had been a little bit longer.  Still, the story was more than adequately told within the length.

Errors/Bug Bears:

A well delivered product.  My only slight criticism was that Iona was a redhead, but on the cover looks more like a brunette to me ...... maybe it's just that the publisher felt a Red Head wouldn't help it sell.

Hugs

Kay

In My Mail Box

Too Close for Comfort

Heidi Rice

*NEW AUTHOR

I forgot to mention earlier last week that I received another book from an Author ..... so thank you
Heidi for sending me a "first read" copy via Goodreads for review.

Paperback > Fiction > Contemporary > Romance

I started it this morning, and I have to say that it's a great little read .... but, you'll get a fuller review in the next day or so - for now I will say that Zane Montoya is a sexy hunk of PI that makes me just melt!

The large title at the top of this post will take you to the book's Amazon page if you'd like to download a copy, or pick it up in your local book store.

If you want to find out more about Heidi Rice, then click HERE to go to her site.

Hugs

Kay

#336 (#54 of 2013) - Secrets Uncovered - Blogs, Hints and Inside Scoops from Mills & Boon Editors and Authors

Secrets Uncovered - Blogs, Hints and Inside Scoops from Mills & Boon Editors and Authors

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Contemporary > Hints & Tips

Description:

Blogs, hints and the inside scoop from Mills & Boon editors and authors. Our fabulous authors and editors have joined forces to compile some of the highlights from this years New Voices competition advice, last years help and some handy Mills & Boon Community posts from the last year! You can refer to the words of wisdom from those in the know at your leisure whilst also enjoying some of our editors brilliant blog posts on making the most of your romance writing!

Product Details:

Another snagged as a freebie Kindle download, and at the time of writing this post it is still available for free.  Obviously, if you are reading this post retrospectively it might not be free at that time.

61 pages

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Summary:

Interesting insight by the Mills and Boon Editors and Authors, on what makes a good novel good, puts the H in Hero or the ingredients that make up a Heroine to turn you into an addict.

For anyone who is thinking about writing a romance read it, and even if you aren't it's well written  and light hearted.

4 star read, and looking forward to more of the same from the Mills and Boon crew.

Hugs

Kay

#328 (#46 of 2013) - Her Vampire Husband (Mills & Boon Nocturne) - Michele Hauf *NEW AUTHOR

Her Vampire Husband (Mills & Boon Nocturne) ~ Michele Hauf  *NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Fiction  > Fantasy > Vampire

Description:

He may resist his bite, but she can't resist his charms…

Werewolf princess Blu won’t allow her seductive husband to consummate their marriage with his bite, marking her forever. Blu curses the marriage arranged to bring their rival nations together, especially since Creed calls out to her darkest desires. 

Yet when Blu uncovers her pack’s secret plot to destroy the vampire nation – and Creed – she is forced to confront her growing feelings for him. Will she choose the only life she’s ever known or accept his sensuous bite?

Product Details:

I managed to get this as a freebie download, at the time of writing this post it is still listed as free HERE.  Obviously if you are reading this retrospectively that may well not be the case.

363 pages

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Summary:

Overall I quite enjoyed this one .... and it was different to have Vamp on Were to mix things up.

I particularly liked the two main characters, Creed and Blue and found their loving story quite lovely, especially given that there were forced to marry at the very start of the book.

There were times whilst reading that it simply stopped flowing, and would then pick up.

Happy to say that if there were any editorial/typographical errors in it I didn't notice.

I've added this to my Mills & Boon folder on my Kindle, and whilst I don't think I would actively go out and buy anything else by this author, it was good enough that if something came up as a freebie I would download it.

The blog score would be 3.5 stars, but for Amazon it will get 3 as I don't feel the whole justified a shift up to 4 stars.

Read it though if it's still for free download, it wasn't too bad.

Hugs

Kay

#327 (#45 of 2013) - Emergency: Wife Lost and Found ~ Carol Marinelli *NEW AUTHOR

Emergency: Wife Lost & Found ~ Carol Marinelli

Kindle Store  > Books > Fiction > Contemporary > Romance

Description:

Marriage reunited – in A&E! 

Every emergency doctor dreaded recognising someone in Casualty – even cool-headed consultant James Morrell. But he was doubly shocked when the unconscious patient he was asked to treat was instantly familiar. It was his ex-wife! 

Dr Lorna McClelland hated being ill, hated being stuck in a hospital bed, but above all she hated having to rely on James. Then, as she recovered, all the wonderful things about their marriage came flooding back…....

Product Details:

Another one I snagged as a Freebie Kindle Download HERE.

At the time of writing this post is still appears to be free.  Obviously, if you are reading this post retrospectively that still might not be the case.

Novella - 192 pages.

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Summary:

Don't just focus on the first three words of the following paragraph, but keep reading:

Dull, dull, dull .... I first thought when I started reading this ..... it felt monosyllabic and mono-tonal, no depth and very little interest.

HOWEVER, and it is a big one .... I didn't notice the improvement as it went along - it crept up on me until I was crying at the end (my personal sign for quiet a lovely read).  Therefore, it must have improved greatly without me realising it.  Isn't that the sign of good writing?

It wasn't perfect, there were typographical errors, and some grammatical ones too here and there, but that many to actually detract from the whole (I did surprise me a little as it is a Mills & Boon after all (and for some reason I always seem to associate them with correct presentation, rightly or wrongly!).

Not fabulous enough to be a 4 star read, so on Amazon I will give it three stars, and hope that everyone will note that I have also added a little half star to that.

Hugs

Kay

#321 (#39 of 2013) - Wedding at King's Convenience ~ Maureen Child *NEW AUTHOR

Wedding at King's Convenience ~ Maureen Child

Kindle > Books > Fiction > Romance > Mills & Boon

Description:

In one unforgettable night, Jefferson King, movie mogul, had made Maura Donohue pregnant. Worse, he’d been avoiding her phone calls. Naturally he’d give the expectant mother a wedding worthy of a King’s bride. But Maura wouldn’t marry without love.

Product Details:

I got this as a free download in December, and it is still listed as free.  Obviously if you are reading this retrospectively it may well not be.  Interestingly, the "you save" price is £13.99.  

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Summary:

My first observation is the price £13.99, that's arrogantly expensive!  I downloaded it for free, so was it worth it .....

No, no no .... is the quick and clear answer to that it would definitely not be worth that price - hello, it's 288 pages long - I read it this afternoon!

Even though it's a Mills and Boon I can only think they have incorrectly priced it - even at say, £3.99 it would be a damp squib for your buck.  Also, I noticed on the front cover that it said "2 in 1".  My downloaded version definitely only had the one story.

Don't get me wrong it's an okay read, a little slow in places, but nothing more.  Only a literary epic masterpiece would induce to pay that.

At best it is worth a 3 star rating.

Hugs

Kay

#314 (#32 of 2013) - Bought: Destitute Yet Defiant ~ Sarah Morgan *NEW AUTHOR

Bought: Destitute Yet Defiant (Mills & Boon) - Sarah Morgan

Description:

Ruthless Sicilian, virgin mistress 

He’s scarred, sexy, and unashamedly Sicilian… 

Silvio Brianza dragged himself out of the slums, but his scars run deep… 

She’s defiant, desirable, and utterly disobedient! 

Jessie still scrapes her living, scrubbing floors by day and singing in seedy bars by night… Silvio turned his back on that world, but now he’s found Jessie he’s going to make her his! 

Jessie may be powerless to resist Silvio’s raw sexuality, but no amount of dresses and diamonds can change their history. He’s her enemy, he’s shunned his past – he’ll never love the street girl she is…will he? 

Product Details:

I managed to pick this one up for free for Kindle just before Christmas, and at the time of writing this post it is still listed as free HERE.  That's isn't to say if you are reading this post retrospectively that will always be the case. 

Novella - 188 pages.

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Summary:

Short punchy novella with betrayal at its heart, and how love can conquer all.

There were some bits that lagged a bit in the telling, however all all it was well written, and I'd certainly choose something by this author again.

All in all a 3 star read, a shame it wasn't slightly longer with a bit more jeopardy woven in as it could have garnered more.

Hugs

Kay