Chance at Redemption - Samantha Harris

Chance at Redemption

Gwen Stevens had a privileged life until her father spoke three little words that turned her world upside down. “You’re cut off.”

Broke and desperate, Gwen is forced to accept a waitressing job, but this glimmer of hope has a price. As if being a cocktail waitress isn’t bad enough, she has to do it in a dive bar called The Den, and her bad luck doesn’t stop there. She also needs to deal with the new owner, a blue-eyed, self-righteous ass determined to make her life miserable.

Liam Sinclair walked away from the entitlement and obligation his family planned for him, vowing to make his own way in the world…

Adjusting to life as a new business owner, Liam has experienced more than his fair share of setbacks. When his only waitress breaks her leg, his sister takes it upon herself to hire a replacement—a spoiled, self-indulgent hothead with too much makeup and more than enough attitude. Gwen represents the world he’s trying to escape, a world of excess and greed that he was never cut out for.

Appearances can be deceiving, and first impressions aren’t always right…

Despite their apparent differences, the tension between them turns to a fiery passion that neither of them can resist. Together they find balance and learn to appreciate the simpler things in life. But Gwen soon discovers that old habits die hard, and one mistake is all it takes to ruin everything.

Forgiveness must be earned, but even a villain deserves a chance at redemption…

My Review

When I started this book, I really wasn't sure if I was going to get on with it. One of the key things about a good book, is how likeable the characters are. Gwen, when she is first introduced to us, is not particularly nice. She's a spoilt, selfish 'princess' who hasn't had to do a days work in her life. Unfortunately for her, her father has had enough and has cut her off. Finally Gwen has to make her way in the world.

To begin with, Gwen doesn't really improve, she's still the spoilt, privileged brat, who really doesn't care about anyone or anything else but herself. Fortunately, Liam is a lot more likeable. He struggles with Gwen to begin with, but the more he gets to know her, the more he sees behind the persona she projects.

Liam and Gwen can't deny their attraction, Gwen slowly leave behind the spoilt princess that she's always been before, and becomes a lot more likeable in the process. Has Gwen really changed though? Can Liam really trust her? Do they have the future that they dream of?

I enjoyed this story, I think the fact that Gwen starts out so unlikable, but then grows and redeems herself, really helps to drive the story along and you find yourself really hoping that they manage to sort out their differences. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes a nice love story and people having the chance to prove that first impressions aren't always the right impression.

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The Women Who Love Rome by London Tracy

The Women Who Love Rome

Rome is a rich, successful movie producer, accustomed to having his way; Thursday is sweet, naive, and eager to please. When the two ex-lovers cross paths, it’s love at first sight all over again.

After an explosive reunion, Thursday learns that Rome now shares his home with two ladyloves and has every intention of making her his newest conquest. Together, they embark on a daring, unorthodox living arrangement that pushes the boundaries of lust, love, and the forbidden.

My Review

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to share your man with two other women? Not only to share him, but to actually all live in the same house, sleep in the same bed and even all shower together? I can't actually say that I have, but that's the idea behind the women who love Rome.

Fortunately, this book doesn't take itself too seriously. There is quite a bit of comedy and humor in the plot and I think that really helps. In many ways, this is a tongue in cheek fun book. It does touch on jealousy and how the women involved in such a relationship might feel about each other. Interestingly, despite all of the bed, shower and man sharing, there isn't a great deal of sex in this book. Although it gets a mention, it's not really what the story is about. 

All of the characters in this book have ridiculous names. We have India; not too bad, Rome; slightly stupid, Storm; quite silly and Thursday I'm sorry what? Maybe they match a book that doesn't take itself too seriously. Although I thought this was a fun, quick read, I think that I might have taken to it more if I'd have liked it more if I'd have liked the characters more. India is really quite whiny and annoying. Storm and Thursday just could do with being a bit more feisty. As for Rome, well, in all honesty, I'm not entirely sure why one woman would be interested in him, let alone three.

It's hard to know what genre this book fits into, it's not quite humor, it's certainly not romance. A fun look at modern relationships and jealousy? I'm not really sure. If you are looking for a quick read that's a little different, then this might be just what you are after.

The Seduction of Viscount Vice - Nicola Davidson

The Seduction of Viscount Vice

Proud Scot and Fallen co-owner, Lord Iain ‘Vice’ Vissen is dedicated to performing in and producing the pleasure club’s hedonistic shows. Until the night he apprehends a rogue footman in their midst and discovers the spy is Lady Mairi MacNair—the woman who long ago broke his heart.
Born an earl’s daughter but now a seamstress, Mairi has returned to London to help open a superior pleasure club to Fallen, and finally realize her dream of being the seductive leading lady. But when she discovers her main rival is Iain, the man she loved beyond reason and was forced to abandon, she is soon caught in a web of lies, secrets, and raw, scorching passion that time hasn’t dimmed…

My Review

If you like your historical romances on the hot and steamy side, then the Seduction of Viscount Vice is for you. Although this is the third in a series of books, I don't think it really mattered if you hadn't read any of the earlier ones. I hadn't and I enjoyed the book just the same.

Compared to a lot of other books in the genre, this is definitely on the sexier side, with the main characters not only being really turned on by each other, and wanting lots of sex. But they both also want to perform in front of an audience. 

This is a second chance book, Iain and Mairi were lovers once, a long time ago. They both wanted more, but it wasn't to be. Now, thrown back into one another's paths by chance, they have the opportunity to try again. 

While this might not be a book that sticks slavishly to the period, it is a lot of fun. So if you're looking for quick, hot and steamy read, then you won't go far wrong with The Seduction of Viscount Vice.

Thicker than water - Lexie Coyngham

If I were to write a list of my favourite things in a book, you'd probably find history, murder mystery, well written and engaging characters. Thicker than water had all of these things, even more exciting, this is a brand new series for me. This is book ten, but now I'm planning on going back and reading all of the other books in the series.

Thicker than water

When young Walter finds a dead body along with the dead fish in his tutor’s fishpond, he knows he should tell his old master, Charles Murray of Letho. The dead man leaves a pretty wife and child and a broken string quartet, but someone must have profited by his death – could it be the avenger from his past as his widow fears, or is it someone from closer at hand? St. Andrews is once again the setting for a murder mystery, and a puzzle that Murray must solve before the murderer strikes again.

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My Review

I have to admit, when I started the book, I hadn't realised that this was a historical mystery novel. As you may know, this is one of my favourite genres, at least when it's done well. Thicker Than Water is very well written, so I had no concerns there. It perhaps took me a couple of chapters to get my head around the various characters, but that did not put me off at all. I do wonder if I would have felt that, had I read some of the earlier books in the series. 

Set in Scotland, in and around the university town of St Andrews, in the early 1800's. The book focuses on the murder of a young man. After he is found dead, seemingly drowned in the bottom of a pond. There are no shortage of people who seem to have motive for getting rid of him, or at least having argued and disagreed with him, but what really happened.

Charles Murray of Letho, our lead character and solver of the mystery, is a very likeable character. He manages to move through the pages with both a commanding style and being less obtrusive when needed. As often happens in series such as this, Murray is the type of person who always seems to be stumbling across dead bodies. He has managed to solve similar problems in the past, so the local police turn to him for help.

I like to try and solve mysteries as I read. I wasn't able to completely get to the bottom of this one, although I was right about one or two things. What really matters though, is how well the solution works when the big reveal comes. Thicker Than Water worked for me and the solution made sense. 

I really enjoyed this book. I was really excited to discover a new series, even though I've started with the newest book to be written, I'll be going back to read the rest of the series from the start now. I'd highly recommend this series.