Review - - Imperfect Angel

Imperfect Angel

by Christi Barth

Publisher: Entangled

Release Date: October 25, 2022

Reviewed by Hellie

 

Three days ago, all Maisy Norgate had was a stack of bills, about a gazillion jobs, and her sunny-as-hell outlook. Now, thanks to an uncle she never knew about, she’s inherited an ornate skeleton key with absolutely no idea what it’s for—or why she has it. Which is exactly when a ridiculously handsome guy claiming to be an angel shows up at her door and all hell breaks loose…

Nephilim Rhys Boyce cannot believe that Maisy is the new Keeper of the Key. Why would anyone bequeath this warm, bubbly redhead the key to Hell? And to make matters worse, she’s given the key to the first person who asked for it. A demon. Yep, Maisy is determined to make his job—not to mention some seriously inconvenient temptation—as hard as possible.

First a half angel with a very human chip on his shoulder must find a way to convince Maisy that angels and demons do exist. Then Rhys will have to break the really bad news…that she might have accidentally ended the world.

 

Hellie’s Heeds

I try to keep up with my review books, but it feels lately I have had less free reading time–or the free time gets eaten up by out-of-state travel or LOVE IS BLIND episodes. So this is why this is coming out later than I meant and I do apologize. It’s not the book’s fault by any means: it’s a cute book and when it comes to paranormal, I’ll always pick an angelic hero over one who turns into a wolf…or wants my blood. Rhys Boyce lives up to his angelic hype as one gorgeous, broody, protective hero. Maisy is a lovely heroine who is very much the human who is just trying her best to be a good person–and always believing she is falling short–but always impressing Rhys whose experience with humanity has been with a more selfish kind. 

The blurb actually sums up the story very well (not always the case) so I don’t feel I need to go into more details because it would give more away. I was impressed by the dark moment for the heroine–the thing she must sacrifice in order to get the key–and also how the ending was resolved. I’m also glad there wasn’t a large dramatic “I’m not worthy of you because I’m only a half-angel” type of black moment where I would have thrown the book down–but a normal amount of romantic doubts that the characters worked through with conversation, trust, and action. Not to say that these characters don’t do dramatic and sorta dumb things–as people do when feeling self-doubt–but I think you and I have both read books where that has been dragged out way too long and you no longer want the couple to get together because you think the whiny hero(ine) should get therapy instead of a relationship.

I did spend a lot of my time thinking there should be more books associated with these characters–and wondering if those books are in development. I looked at her website–where she says she writes sassy, smart, and sexy romances–and I would concur. The banter of the characters was all of these things; and by avoiding creating “conflict for the sake of conflict”, she made her characters smarter and more emotionally intelligent, more worthy of a happy successful relationship. I do hope we get to see more books set in this universe of angels, demons, and the humans who love them, but in the meantime, she has all sorts of books for all sorts of vibes to fulfill your need for smart, sexy romance. (There’s a royal series that has my name all over it! I do love discovering new-to-me authors.) 

Review - - Wrong for Him & Birthday Giveaway #24

Wrong for Him

by Christi Barth

Love Lottery - Book 3

Publisher: Tule Publishing

Release Date: September 27, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

 

Amelia Kirkland’s been head-over-heels for Teague Sullivan forever. Not that she’s ever let him know—as her brother’s best friend, he’s officially off-limits. That’s even more true once they become partners in rehabbing a historic inn. She can’t risk what she’s building with her brother and her friends just to fulfill a lifelong crush. Can she?

When Teague left the Special Forces, he didn’t know what would come next. Until his best friend, Alex, won an inn as a lottery prize and made him a partner. It’s his shot at getting everything he’s always wanted. Except for Alex’s beautiful sister. Amelia’s friendship was a lifeline while he was deployed, but that’s a line he can’t cross. He owes his friend too much to betray his trust. Now, though? Working and living with her every day? He wants more.

If their secret romance is discovered, it could ruin everything before the inn has a chance. But does their one shot at happiness require them to break all the rules?

PJ's Thoughts:

This is the story I've been waiting for since book one and I'm happy to say it did not disappoint. Teague and Amelia are my favorite couple in what has been a very enjoyable series. Friends-to-Lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes and this one has many emotionally complex layers that bring it to another level. Not only is the fact that Teague has been Amelia's older brother's best friend since they were kids enough for him to keep his distance from Amelia but there are secrets in his past that he seeks to protect her from as well. 

Amelia's brother has been more parent than sibling since their parents were killed in an accident when she was still a young girl. But she's an adult now and ready to fly on her own. If only she can convince her brother of that fact, especially when it comes to Teague. Amelia's feelings for him have been growing for years and when she and Teague end up sharing a cabin to conserve space at the Inn for guests, they both begin to realize just how strong - and real - those mutual feelings are. But are they real enough to risk the relationships of a lifetime?

This book gave me everything I look for in a romance. It's tender, emotional, humorous, and complex. I loved the witty banter and the evolving relationships among family and friends. I fell in love with a certain rescue pup. And I certainly enjoyed the sizzling chemistry that Amelia and Teague finally succumb to. I have a whole new appreciation for the term "hot shower!" 

Wrong for Him concludes the Love Lottery trilogy. It can be read as a standalone but I think readers will enjoy it more if the three books are read in order. 

Christi Barth's next offering is a contemporary, second-chance, Christmas romance scheduled to be released November 16. The Christmas Project has already been added to my holiday reading list. 

Have you read any Christi Barth books?

Do you enjoy the sibling's best friend romance trope?

Birthday Giveaway #24:

One person who comments before 11:00 PM, September 26 will receive a package of books from PJ's home collection.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

Review - - Definitely Not Dating

Definitely Not Dating

by Christi Barth

Love Lottery - Book 2

Publisher: Tule Publishing

Release Date: May 4, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

 

It's a chance to start over for both of them...

Everleigh Girard always dates the wrong men at the worst times. The last debacle cost her a job and an apartment. But thanks to a crazy lottery win, she and her friends have a fresh start restoring a historic inn. Determined to make it a success, Everleigh swears off the dangers of dating entirely. Except…the town’s police chief is distractingly hot. So how much trouble could friends with benefits really cause?

Police chief Matt Halliday always puts protecting his town first. He’s blindsided when his house mysteriously burns down, and grateful his friends rent him a room at their inn while they finish renovations. It’s a great deal. Mostly. It’s hard to resist the very beautiful Everleigh. Love is permanently off the table for him—but lust is definitely on.

After their first red-hot kiss, keeping it casual is impossible. Can Everleigh teach Matt to trust again—especially when he’s keeping a secret that may put him and his new friends at risk?

PJ's Thoughts:

I am having so much fun reading this new series from Christi Barth. I love these four long-time friends who have bonded together to form a family of the heart, uprooted their lives, and moved to Maryland to restore the dilapidated inn they unexpectedly won in a Christmas Eve lottery. With an enormous amount of work ahead of them, and a limited amount of time, they make a pact to not date until the inn is open and making money. We saw how well that worked (not) in book one, The Accidental Fiancé and it's not looking too promising for Ever and Matt in this one either. Which, of course, makes this romance fan giddy with delight.

Barth has assembled such an intriguing cast of characters for this series. I really enjoy the dynamic not only among the four friends but also with members of the community as business ties and friendships form and begin to deepen. There are some great secondary characters in the series and I'm appreciating the fact that Barth continues to develop them from book to book. The fact that Matt is keeping secrets from two of those characters - friends (and inn owners) Teague and Alex - and the fact that those secrets are tied to the woman they view as a little sister adds another layer of complexity to his story. And the scene where they confront him? Perfection! 

Ever and Matt have a wonderful chemistry that sparks whenever they're in the same vicinity and they're finding it increasingly difficult to ignore it, especially after his house burns and he moves into the not-quite-ready-to-open inn. But they also both have emotional baggage that has them convincing themselves that they're not really "dating" (they so are).

 

They both have great character arcs that exhibit a significant amount of growth on each of their parts. Ever, especially, has deep-seated self-worth issues that are the result of years of emotional abuse from her parents. My heart ached for her but also I cheered for the progress she makes. She comes so far from the beginning of book one and the pace Barth sets for her is just right. I loved Matt's support of her. Of course, he also has some lessons to learn and they aren't exactly easy. In the end, though, he comes through with flying colors and proves to me - and Ever - that he's worthy of her love. ::SIGH:: 

There's also a suspense thread that runs through this book that helps to develop Matt's character and adds a touch of mystery to the romance. I enjoyed the added depth it brought to the story and the fact that it kept me guessing as to the who, how, and why. 

The third book in the series, Wrong for Him (9/27/21), features a best friend's little sister trope, one of my favorites. I can't wait to discover what Barth has planned for Amelia Kirkland and former Special Forces soldier (and her brother's best friend), Teague Sullivan. 

Review - - The Accidental Fiancé

The Accidental Fiancé

by Christi Barth

Love Lottery - Book 1

Publisher: Tule

Release Date: February 23, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

When former hotel manager Alex Kirkland, his sister and their best friends pooled their money for an unusual lottery prize—a historic, dilapidated inn on the Maryland shore—as a last-ditch attempt to escape rotten circumstances, they never expected to win. But they’re all looking for a fresh start and a second chance, so Alex convinces everyone to move in and repair the building in time for the spring wedding season.

Sydney Darrow never planned to return to her hometown. But her family needs her and Sydney can endure anything for 90 days—including making sandwiches and serving coffee with a smile until she returns to her jet-setter career. When her grandma mistakes a handsome customer for the “fiancé” Sydney created when she thought her grandma was on death’s door, well...Sydney will do anything to keep her spirits up during treatment. She can persuade him to keep up the charade for a few months, right?

But when Alex agrees to play along, will they both fall for their own fiction?

PJ's Thoughts:

What a thoroughly charming story. Christi Barth has created a welcoming community of intriguing characters on the Maryland shore that have me wanting to return again and again. 

At the heart of the story are Alex, his sister, Amelia, and their two best friends, Everleigh and Teague. I really loved this small family of the heart. It was fun to watch them come together to create a place that will hopefully secure their future as well as become their home. Their relationships are realistic, heart-tugging, and not without their issues but their love for, and support of, one another is solid. Sometimes, too solid for those who would like a little more independence from well-meaning but over-protective siblings. I'm looking forward to getting to know all of them in more depth and follow their individual journeys in future books.

Sydney may not hold any love for her hometown but her loyalty to her family is bone deep. It's that family love and loyalty that causes her to propose a fake engagement to a stranger and Alex's own family history that leads him to agree. These two are so sweet together. I really enjoyed their journey from strangers to friends to so much more. There's a twist in their story that I did not see coming and though some might find it a bit beyond the realm of believability, I was willing to buy into it and the conflict it caused. It gave both Alex and Sydney the vehicle they needed to look deeply into their own hearts and evaluate the importance of their hopes, career dreams, and personal desires in order to determine what was most important to them. Without that twist, I would not have been as confident in the staying power of the love that was developing between them. 

If you're in the mood for a sweet, charming, contemporary romance with heart, humor, likeable characters, and one feisty grandma, give Christi Barth's The Accidental Fiancé a try. I'm already gearing up for book two, Definitely Not Dating, featuring Everleigh (whose bad dating choices usually leave her holding the short end of the stick) and Police Chief, Matt Halliday (a great guy who's keeping a secret that may put everyone at risk). It's available for pre-order and will be released May 4. 

Review - - The Magic of Christmas

 

The Magic of Christmas

by Christi Barth

Publisher: Tule Publishing

Release Date: October 15, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

It’s the opportunity she’s dreamed of…

After spending two years focused on her career, Rowan West is finally up for an advertising manager promotion. Holiday parties and gift-buying are on hold as Rowan travels to New Hampshire to create a marketing campaign that can revive a struggling, Christmas-themed resort and adventure park. Rowan’s brains and ambition make her shine, and she won’t allow anything to get in her way—especially not her far-too-handsome competitor with a sense of humor and high-up connections.

He needs to prove himself…

Jeremy Kincannon is competitive enough to fight tooth and nail for a promotion he doesn’t even want. Because his stepfather owns the company, no one believes he earned his spot despite having climbed up from the bottom like everyone else. He’s intrigued by his button-upped, business-only colleague who’s distractingly pretty. So he lays down a challenge—he’ll call a truce to their verbal sparring if she tries to have fun.

As their rivalry wanes and attraction grows, will Jeremy and Rowan embrace the magic of Christmas?

PJ's Thoughts:

I love a workplace, enemies-to-lovers romance. Even better when your nemesis turns out to be the complete opposite of what you believed. Toss in a head-to-head competition for a coveted promotion, forced proximity in a Christmas wonderland, a temporary corporate cease fire, and over the top holiday cheer, and you just may have the ingredients for a happy, heartwarming, holiday romance. And, with luck, perhaps a happily ever after.

I've always enjoyed Christi Barth's books. She has a knack for bringing both characters and the settings in which she places them to life. The Magic of Christmas is no exception. It sparkles with wit, humor, snappy dialogue, and undeniable attraction. Jeremy and Rowan are both complex, interesting characters who I enjoyed getting to know while the cast of secondary characters added warmth, humor, and wisdom along the way. Barth also tucked in a few surprises to keep things from becoming too predictable. I enjoyed both the journey and the ultimate destination. 

If you're looking for a charming holiday romance (I could so see this as a Hallmark movie) to put you in the Christmas spirit, give this one a try. 

Christi Barth Winner

The randomly chosen winner of a Kindle copy of

Up to Me and All for You by Christi Barth is:

girlygirlhoosier52

Congratulations!

Please send your email address to us at

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Today's Special - - Christi Barth

Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage. A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes award-winning contemporary romance. Christi is President of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives in Maryland with her husband.

Please welcome Christi as she chats with PJ about her new book, All for You.

Hi Christi! It’s a pleasure to welcome you back to TRD to celebrate the release of All for You, the second book in your Shore Secrets series. For readers who aren’t yet familiar with this series, will you please give us an overview? 

Book 2

Thanks for the opportunity to share my disclaimer: this whole series is based on real life. The premise is of a mailbox on a lakeshore where everyone in town anonymously writes their questions and problems - and people respond with their advice. As crazypants as it sounds, the idea came to me after hearing a radio story about a town in North Carolina that actually does this. Wild, huh? So yes, each book contains secrets the hero and heroine keep from each other...but the whole rest of the town finds out. 

All for You was released February 9^th.  What should readers expect from this book?

Oh, the usual: romance, sex, laughs, bromance. Oh, you want specifics? There's a park ranger who has been hiding - in plain sight - from the nation for over a decade. Casey wants a summer fling with the hot new college professor. Except...he's more than just a professor. Zane's a world famous cult expert who has been searching for the last survivor of the Sunshine Seekers for his entire career. Can she risk revealing her secret for love? Would Zane choose another guaranteed book and film deal if he learns her true identity - or her heart?

Would you like to share an excerpt from All for You? 

Bwahahaha - of course!

Zane lifted one finger to cut her off. "Stop."

Sorry, I babble when I'm nervous. And I'm really, really nervous. I don't want to embarrass you.

Or accidentally insult someone."

"Casey, I stared because you look exquisite. You take my breath away."

He reached out, hauled her off her feet into a tight hug and kissed her. Kissed those glossy, luscious pink lips until she moaned and opened them beneath his persistent pressure. They didn't have time, and this sure as hell wasn't the place. Still, Zane slid his tongue inside in an already familiar caress.

Her hand clutched the shirt at the back of his neck. Ordinarily, he would've love this display of her passion. But tonight, with a navy tie already noosed around him, Zane could barely breathe. He wrenched out of the lip-lock. 

"Can't breathe," he gasped.

Casey clapped her hands to her mouth and giggled. Then giggled some more. "Well, you said I took your breath away."

"Very funny." Zane smoothed his tie. "As long as my near-strangulation was for a good cause. Are you still nervous?"

"Not really. But now I have to fix my lipstick before we go inside."

"Are you complaining?"

"Not a bit. Your kisses are worth dozens of re-swipes of lipstick." She snapped open a gold purse not much bigger than his smart phone and pulled out a silver tube. To his surprise, Casey swiped it across her lips without a mirror. Women were miraculous that way. Zane couldn't even put sunscreen on his face without leaving white streaks behind.

Some readers like to use their imaginations to visualize characters in a book while others prefer real-life people.  Who do you use as visual inspiration for your heroes and heroines? 

Book 1

Oooh! I love an excuse to send people to my Pinterest page! I've got one for every book, where you can see not only my H/H inspiration, but also setting and wardrobe pictures. In All For You, the hero is based on Nathan Fillion and the heroine on Amy Smart. Trust me, they make an adorable couple! 

Any couple that includes Nathan Fillion is adorable in my opinion!

According to your website, the third book in the series, Back to Us will be released in June. Are you able to share anything about that book with us? (I have to tell you, this is the one I’m most anticipating!)

You'll get two romances for the price of one, since a couple of secondary characters that maybe/sorta/no spoilers get interested in each other in book 2 get a HEA in book 3. It is no secret that Ward and Piper had a bitter breakup after high school, so you can be sure there will not only be groveling, but some imaginative tactics used to win his way back into her heart!

Dancing with glee over here! I was so hoping the maybe/sorta/no spoilers secondary couple would get their HEA!

Will there be more books for the Seneca Lake folks beyond these three?

Never say never, but at this point in time, I've wrapped everyone up in tulle and engagement rings, so Back To Us is the end. 

Your books always make me smile. To what authors do you turn when you need a feel-good book fix?

I love immersing myself in another world to do that, so I turn to the paranormal: J.R. Ward, Chloe Neill, Nalini Singh, Darynda Jones. Something about impossible-to-resist magical allure always cheers me up.

What else can readers expect from you this year?

Well, please mark your calendars for the summer release of book three, Back To Us!

In the fall I'm releasing The Opposite of Right, the first novella in my Bad Decisions series about hot rockers.

2016 kicks off with the release of Book One in my just-sold Naked Men series (title still to be tweaked, but currently Risking It All). It centers around five men who survived a high school tragedy, how it made them into the men they are today, and of course, the women who complete them.

Thanks for visiting with us today, Christi. Would you like to ask our readers a question?

This book - indeed, the entire series - is about secrets. Big ones. Do you keep any secrets from your significant other? (Don't worry - I guarantee they won't read this blog post!)

One randomly chosen person leaving a comment on today's post will receive a Kindle copy of the first two books in Christi's Shore Secrets trilogy, Up to Me and All for You. 

Purchase at: Carina Press Y Amazon Y Barnes & Noble Y  iBooks

Website | Blog | Pinterest | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page |Facebook

  

Christi Barth Winner

The winner of an e-book copy of UP TO ME by Christi Barth is

LauraL

Congratulations, Laura!  

Please send us an email and let us know if you would like Kindle or Nook format.

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Today's Special - - Christi Barth

Amy Jones Photography

I'm pleased to welcome contemporary author Christi Barth back to TRD today.  For those of you who aren't familiar with Christi, she write "sassy, sexy and smart romances" for Carina Press. Prior to kicking off her writing career, Christi earned a Masters degree in vocal performance, performed on the stage and was a wedding planner.  Her newest book, UP TO ME kicks off her new Shore Secrets series set among the lovely Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.  UP TO ME is the perfect book to kick off your summer vacation reading.  I laughed, sighed, sniffled, sighed a bit more and immediately started counting the days until book #2! You can find more information about Christi at her website and connect with her online on Facebook and Twitter.    

Welcome to the Romance Dish, Christi and congratulations on the release of UP TO ME.  Please tell our readers what they can expect from this book. 

Laughter. A few spots that’ll make you put your hand to your heart and sigh/gasp. A few spots that’ll make you fan yourself. But to be specific, here’s the blurb:

Ella Mayhew’s always appreciated the beautiful view of Seneca Lake from the spa window of her family’s hotel. But the view improves dramatically when a hot stranger runs across the grounds—shirtless. He’s the first man to kickstart her hormones in the three years since she lost her parents, and she doesn’t even know his name.

Graydon Locke’s on his umpteenth undercover assignment. The routine’s always the same: assess a business, recommend it for closure, then roll out before anyone discovers his decisions impact hundreds of lives. He’s always believed nothing good comes out of small towns. Why would this one be different? Then he makes two classic rookie mistakes—falling for the sweet, sexy girl who owns the very business he’s on the verge of axing. And letting the town’s residents get involved in both his life, and his relationship with Ella.

Ella’s the best thing to ever happen to Gray, but he’s lied to her from the start. If he pulls the plug on Mayhew Manor, the entire town may crumble. Ella couldn’t save her parents, but it’s up to her to save their hotel. Even if that means turning her back on true love.

Gray and Ella both face potentially life altering personal decisions as well as a major obstacle to their happy ending.  What do you want readers to understand about these two characters? 

The title really says it all. Ella has to realize that she needs to stop taking advice and make her own decisions. Gray ends up taking responsibility for his actions, for once. But as much as they have to take individual stands, the book is about how they bring out the best in each other, and becoming a stronger unit together. Oh, and that Gray is really hot & charming, and Ella’s sweet & sassy.

Would you like to share a short excerpt from the book?

“You look stressed.”

“Well, we’re not exactly talking baseball stats here.”

His humor and resiliency amazed her. Gray was a man she could fall hard for—and if she had to be honest with herself, had already started that tumble. Not that it mattered. He’d be gone in just over a week. But Ella could pack a lot of fun into the days they had left together. Over the last six months she’d bounced all the way back to normal. Embracing this time with Gray would seal her leap back into embracing life fully, the way she used to.

“Nevertheless, it’s my job as manager of the spa to make sure my guests leave looking happier and more relaxed than when they arrived. You’re going to be walking bad press. Come do yoga with me tomorrow.”

“I’m a guy. We’re all about being hard and stiff, not soft and bendy.”

Ella blinked rapidly to clear the images of a naked, hard-muscled Gray that popped into her mind. And hardness…other places. “Don’t be so close-minded. Didn’t you end up enjoying the massage I gave you?”

“Yes.” He sounded adorably sulky at being forced to acknowledge it. Why was it that men found it so hard to admit when they were wrong? Definitely a topic of discussion for her next margarita night with the girls.

I love the closeness of the Seneca Lake community and the role they play in Ella and Gray’s relationship.  What are your plans for Ella’s circle of friends? 

True love, of course! If somebody has more than a paragraph of dialogue in this book (oops – aside from the bad guy), it is a safe bet that they are going to get paired up and have a romantically happy ending by the end of book 3. That’s just how I roll.

Speaking for myself and all the other readers who will love UP TO ME, I'm so happy to hear that!

Your descriptions of Seneca Lake and the people living there have me wanting to pack my bag and board the next plane to New York.  What’s your ideal summer vacation spot? 

The beach. Hands down. Something about sitting in a chair with sand beneath my feet watching the ocean refills my soul and makes me unbelievably happy. Or maybe it is just all the books I read and the salty snacks I eat while at the beach that puts a grin on my face. But I adore vacationing in the Finger Lakes (there are sixty wineries around Seneca Lake – it is impossible not to have a great weekend up there!) and do encourage everyone to visit.

UP TO ME is the perfect story to add to readers’ summer reading lists.  What books are on your reading radar this summer?

I’ve been saving The Collector by Nora Roberts to read when we hit the beach in August. I can’t wait to read the start to Christie Ridgway’s new series, Take My Breath Away. Ooh, and Laura Kaye’s Hard To Hold On To in August!

What is something that readers would be surprised to learn about you? 

In high school, I sent away to get an application to the FBI because I was convinced I wanted to be a special agent. But when I saw the requirements of college majors – all things that bored the heck out me – I abandoned that particular pipe dream.

Will you be attending any conferences or booksignings this summer where readers will have the opportunity to meet you? 

Well, I just finished a fun but exhausting three conferences in four weeks: RT in New Orleans, BEA in New York, and RAGT in Cincinnati. So I’m afraid that wraps up my traveling for the summer. But I will be hanging out at the Baltimore Book Festival in September, so come on by!

What’s next?

Love on the Boardwalk, the sequel to Love at High Tide, comes out in September. It is a madcap romantic caper set in Atlantic City. And for those who enjoy Up To Me (which is everyone, I hope!), book 2 of the trilogy, All For You, releases in February.

I'll be looking forward to all three!  Thanks for visiting with us today, Christi.  Hope you have a wonderful summer filled with lots of great books!

Readers, Christi has graciously offered an e-book copy of UP TO ME for one randomly chosen person who leaves a comment on today's post.  So tell us, where is your ideal summer vacation spot?  

Rainy Day Reading

I don't know about you but there's nothing I enjoy more on rainy winter days than snuggling under a cozy blanket with a mug of hot chocolate and a good book.  Since it's been raining practically non-stop for the past week,  I've been doing a lot of snuggling...and reading.  And thanks to the handy dandy convenience of my e-reader, I don't even have to leave the comfort of my couch to buy the new books that catch my eye!  Here are a few stories  I've recently enjoyed.  These three are Christmas themed but they are wonderful romances that can be enjoyed any time of the year.   

The Winter Wife: A Christmas Novella
By Anna Campbell
November 29, 2012
Amazon Digital Services

Wed at much too young an age, Sebastian, Earl of Kinvarra and Alicia Sinclair, his countess were both ill-equipped to deal with the realities of marriage.  When the bride is terrified of physical intimacy and the groom is too young and selfish to be concerned with anything other than his own pleasure, disaster is sure to follow, as it did with Sebastian and Alicia, sending one to the continent for an extended tour and the other to London.

Estranged for past ten years, Alicia is on the verge of taking the monumental step of engaging in an affair when a carriage accident in the middle of a Christmas Eve snowstorm brings her face to face with Sebastian. Forced to take refuge from the storm in an inn. they soon realize that the feelings they had for one another when newly married have lurked below the surface for all their years apart.  But, while desire forges to the surface, there are tender emotions, long held animosity and a fear to trust that threaten to keep them apart still.  Will Sebastian be able to convince Alicia that he has matured over the years?  Will Alicia have the courage to overcome the fears of that young bride and meet him as an adult woman with adult desires?  Will they succumb to one magical night then go their separate ways or discover a love that will last a lifetime?

Anna Campbell packs so much emotion into four short chapters that I felt as if I was reading a complete novel.  A heartwarming, emotional tale that sizzles; I highly recommend The Winter Wife. 

Miracle in New Hope (digital novella)
By Kaki Warner
Penguin
December 11, 2012

Colorado...1871

Trapped in an avalanche of snow that buries the General Store, it is only the voice of the young girl trapped with him that gives loner Daniel Hobart the will to live.  When he's rescued, Daniel is stunned to discover that he was the only person in the store and the widower, haunted by the deaths of his wife and child, wonders if he's finally lost his mind.  When Hannah continues to appear to him however, he's convinced the young girl is real and has reached out to him for help.  He was unable to save his own child.  He's not about to let Hannah down, even if the whole town thinks he's crazy.

When her daughter, Hannah disappeared on their journey to New Hope, Lacy Ellis was devastated.  She searched and searched but found no trace and now, one year later, the young widow is just beginning to come to terms with the loss of her only child when Daniel Hobart appears in town with claims of having seen her.  Lacy wants to believe him but his tale is so outlandish.  Dare she hope?  Her brothers want to run him out of town but when Daniel insists he's going to search for Hannah, Lacy is determined to go with him.

As Daniel and Lacy re-trace the route of the previous year's journey, they find in one another understanding, compassion and an attraction that's been simmering since they first glimpsed each other on the streets of New Hope.  As the attraction deepens and feelings emerge, Lacy and Daniel are given a second chance at love but will that fragile emotion withstand the crushing disappointment if they are unable to find Hannah?  Or, will this couple who have known more than their share of heartbreak be given a second chance with a miracle in New Hope?

Kaki Warner is one of my favorite authors.  When I read one of her books, I'm not just reading about people and places; I'm experiencing her characters' journeys with them.  Their hopes and dreams, heartbreak and despair, joy and salvation.  I feel it all.  If you've read Warner, you already know what I mean.  If you haven't, this novella is a perfect way to sample this author's immense talent.

Ask Her at Christmas
By Christi Barth
Publisher:  Carina Press
December 3, 2012

Caitlin McIntyre has been in love with her best friend, Kyle Lockhart forever but would never jeopardize their friendship by admitting her feelings so she's understandably shocked - and overjoyed - when Kyle kneels in front of her and proposes.  Unfortunately, he's only practicing for the proposal he plans to make to Monica, the daughter of the man who will be merging his business with Kyle's father's business.  Kyle, a computer nerd, has never been able to please his father, the business shark but he's sure that marrying Monica, a woman he doesn't love and really doesn't even know all that well, will finally be the act that proves him worthy in his father's eyes.

Caitlin and Kyle have been there for each other through thick and thin, happiness and heartbreak and even though it breaks her heart to do so, Caitin agrees to help the clueless Kyle come up with a wonderful way to propose before Christmas.  That's what best friends do.  However, it gradually becomes clear that there's going to have to be a change. Caitlin can't imagine living in the same city with Kyle and his wife, especially when the future wife is a witch of a woman who makes it abundantly clear that Caitlin will have no place in their life.

Eventually, it becomes clear that Kyle will have to make a choice and it's not an easy one.  There are some bumps in the road along the way and one major pothole that broke my heart but I was willing to forgive, as was the character who was let down.  In the end though, the author brings it all together in a very satisfying manner that had me sighing with happiness.

I love the friends to lovers trope and Barth has created one that I enjoyed.  Filled with humor, emotion, heartache and romance, it's a great story to snuggle up with on a cold winter afternoon.

This novella can be purchased on it's own or as part of the anthology, Romancing the Holiday.

So what are you reading these days?  Have you jumped on the digital bandwagon or do you prefer print?  Do you snuggle on the couch or prefer a different reading location?  Do you read holiday stories all year long or just during December?  And, for the really important question, what's your snack and beverage of choice for those rainy reading afternoons?   

~PJ

Christi Barth Winner

The randomly selected winner of a digital copy of Planning for Love is:

fsbuchler

Congratulations!  Please send your email address to us at

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Today's Special - - Christi Barth

Today, we welcome contemporary romance author Christi Barth to The Romance Dish!  Christi's newest book, Planning for Love was released August 1st by Carina Press and is available in digital format.  Before her writing career, Christi earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage. A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance. Christi lives in Maryland with her husband. Please vist her on: Twitter or Pinterest or her Website


Authors dread the question where do you come up with your ideas?  There is no magic idea vault.  If we knew how to manufacture ideas, we’d all be millionaires, churning out bestsellers every month. (But if there is a secret idea vault that people are hiding from me, I’d really like to bribe my way in – spread the word!).

My Aisle Bound trilogy—centered around a wedding company--is an exception.  After I’d been a wedding planner in Chicago for, oh, all of a month, people started telling me that I should write a book.  They wanted the dish on tempermental bridezillas, overbearing mothers, and drunken bridesmaid/groomsmen hook-ups.  Well, if I did that I’d have about fifty lawsuits pending against me.  My guilty pleasure was watching Whose Wedding Is It Anyway, which follows harried wedding planners all around the country.  And one night, those two things clicked for me.  The idea for Planning for Love popped right into my head.

I’m a sucker for romance.  That’s why I love weddings so much.  And yes, just like my heroine Ivy, I would well up every single time one of my brides walked down the aisle.  Weddings are full of passion and love and, yes, occasionally hysterically funny drama (well, funny if it isn’t your wedding).  Here’s a quote from my hero, Ben talking about his assistant cameraman:  

“Sorry. The kid’s young, and is sure every gig we do has the potential for major drama. Instead of paying his dues, he plans to catapult to stardom on a clip of the bride falling off a chair during the Hora.”  Did I ever have that happen at one of my weddings?  No.  Did some other things go haywire?  You bet.  Three real events even made it into the book (although all the names were changed to protect the happily married).  Once you read Planning for Love, I’d love to hear your guesses about what wacky antics I made up, and what really happened.

So weddings mixed with the harsh spotlight of reality television sparked a plot for me.  How would a perfectly organized, detail oriented planner deal with being shadowed by cameras?  Why would she even agree to it in the first place?  No spoilers, but after she’s accidentally railroaded into being on one show, the network manages to talk her into starring in another one.  They think she’s a star.  Ivy disagrees.

“I can’t take all the credit,” Ivy said. “Aside from the excitement before the ceremony, everything ran according to plan.” Yes, aside from rolling around naked with the videographer after the wedding ended. Because really, no matter how ruthlessly a wedding coordinator organized the day’s itinerary, it never included three orgasms before dawn.

Of course, the story of where I got the idea for Planning for Love is exactly that – one story.  Somehow I convinced myself the wedding world provided enough inspiration for three books.  I started sorting through vendors in my mind.  Could I make anything funny and romantic about a DJ?  A caterer?  Nope.  But I do have a sexy baker/chocolatier doing unmentionably naughty things with melted chocolate in book two, and a florist hooking up with a hotel manager in a bed of rose petals in book three.  Oh, and of course another reality show to stir the pot by putting my characters under a different live spotlight.

Here’s what I want to know from all of you (because I’m still in the middle of writing book #3 in the trilogy – call it research):  What went hopelessly, and hysterically, wrong at a wedding you attended?

One randomly selected person leaving a comment on today's blog will receive a digital copy of Planning for Love!

Blurb: 

Hopeless romantic Ivy Rhodes

and

anti-Cupid Bennett Westcott

request the pleasure of your company for

their disaster of a courtship

Wedding planner Ivy Rhodes is the best in the business, and she’s not about to let a personal problem stop her from getting ahead. So when she gets an offer to star in the reality TV show Planning for Love, it doesn’t matter that the show’s videographer happens to be a recent—and heartbreaking—one-night stand.

Bennett Westcott can admit that he didn’t handle his encounter with Ivy very well. But looking at her beautiful smile—and, okay, great body—through the lens of a camera every day? He can’t be faulted for suggesting they have a little no-strings fun.

The more time Bennett and Ivy spend together, the more he realizes that Ivy isn’t the wedding-crazed bridezilla he’d imagined. But if he doesn’t trust himself to make a relationship last, how can he convince Ivy to give him another chance?

Purchase at Carina Press