Perfect Mate by Aubrey Rose

Julia always thought that she was human. When the blind leader of a pack of straggling misfits claims her as his one true mate, she accepts that she is in love with Damien despite their radical differences.

But after another shifter wolf attacks them, he points to her as he dies and utters words that will change Julia's life forever:

"...she's not what you think she is..."

This was a bit confusing until I realized it wasn't the beginning of the story. It does hold its own really, but it is makes so much more sense that I have read Blind Wolf.  I like that Damien is building his own motley crew of misfit shifters. I did think that it was interesting learning about Julia's history, the fact that she really wasn't what she seemed, and that people were out to get her.

I am a fan of shifter stories and this one was a nice addition to the repertoire.

A Midsummer Bride by Amanda Forester

I really liked this story. It was different than the normal and the characters were interesting and real. I liked that Harriet was an American who wasn't interested in fitting in with the Ton. Her interest in chemistry was a nice addition to her quirky nature. I also enjoyed Duncan, he really wanted to be her friend and found himself fighting what he knew was "best" because he wanted something that he deemed that he couldn't have.

I really thought that there was great balance between the secondary characters like Madame X and Penelope.... I can see the writing on the wall there.. :)

It is really nice to know that there are still ways to freshen up the traditional romantic themes.

Club Wonderland by Christine D'Abo

Alice White isn't used to being ignored. So when the object of her lust does just that, she's bound and determined to get his attention. Her pursuit leads her to Wonderland, the kind of club she's only read about, and suddenly Alice is craving something she never knew she needed.
Gael Hernandez wants to be the youngest partner at his prestigious law firm, and not even a certain tempting legal assistant can distract him from his goal of financially helping his family. Until she shows up at his favorite club and surprises him with an interest in being restrained. But the BDSM lifestyle is no game to him, and he won't take things further until Alice is schooled into submission.
After a taste, Alice wants more. She offers to be Gael's sub for one weekend, with nothing forbidden and no boundaries. In a few short days, he gives her the strength to be the person she's always wanted to be. Now Alice just needs to convince Gael that he can dominate in the bedroom, and submit to love.


So, I have read my share of erotica with BDSM themes and this was decent. I did think that the angle that had Gael hiding his relationship with his uncle was rather unnecessary, and it didn't add a lot to the story. I also liked that Gael didn't just pick up his Dominant interests by chance, he grew up with that dynamic and had a good model from which to base his behavior.  The  one thing that I think is the hardest to swallow with the short books like this is that there is virtually no time between starting down a new path to total acceptance. It is totally not realistic to my mind. I accept it as a necessary byproduct of the limited word allotment.

All in all, it was a fairly quick read and I liked it.

A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears

After three failed attempts, Everett Cline is not happy when another--uninvited--mail-order bride steps off the train. But is she the wife he's been waiting for?

I thought that this was an interesting premise for a story. It is unusual in that Everett has such bad luck with brides. I really felt for him in that he just wasn't sure he wanted to put his heart on the line again.  Also, it was intriguing that Julia had so much baggage coming in. She had to deal with the bad memories concerning her mother's death in childbirth and her own attack.

So many times I really just wanted them to find a few minutes to talk instead of building on all of the miscommunications and  personal issues.

I also liked that she was so willing to learn how to do things that she had no experience with beforehand. Even when it caused her to get hurt.

It was a good read and one that I would recommend to friends. :)

Friends to Lovers by Christi Barth

When I started this book it put me in mind of Nora Roberts' Bride Quartet series. Probably since I am currently rereading it, but there were a lot of similarities. Friends running a business surrounding weddings, the long time friends who fall in love... I have not read the rest of the series, and so there were a few aspects that I think would have made better sense if I had the full background. It can be read by itself, but I think it best that I go back and read the rest for the full effect.

Friends to lovers happens to be one of my favorite romantic tropes. Mainly because I like the idea of finding love where you least expect it, and with someone who knows you more completely than anyone else. I have to say though that the Cinderella moment, where Daphne kisses Gib in the dark was super fun, especially when he was going on and on about her and she was right there the whole time!
The emotional depth was enjoyable. I really felt for her as she dealt with what she assumed was rejection, and the ensuing crisis of friendship. I liked that Daphne was determined to make positive changes at the beginning of her year and that she actually made some headway, unlike me... :)

Gib and his conflict of leaving the country on such short notice added plenty of angst and denial on Daphne's part, but all is well that ends well.