YotC Review: Baby Makes Three

Title: Baby Makes Three
Author: Molly O'Keefe
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Mitchells of Riverview Inn/Book 1
Published: Harlequin/
December 2007
Source: Library/ebook

Year of the Category Challenge

From the author's website ~

Alice Mitchell has seen better days. But that was before the heartbreak of infertility, divorce and losing her trendy New York restaurant. Then, after five long years, her ex-husband reappears in her life. Gabe needs a chef. Alice needs a job. The attraction between them is still undeniable—and just as impossible. Even if sparks fly again, she can't give him what they once wanted more than anything: a baby.

Creating a family, however, doesn't always mean creating a child… Sometimes it just means allowing love to survive. But will they realize that before it's too late—a second time?

While this may be the last book for the Year of the Category Challenge, it certainly won't be the last category I'll read. Going into the challenge I had thought I would read some of the earlier works of authors whose full length books I've enjoyed - Suzanne Brockmann, Nalini Singh and Jessica Bird to name a few. But what happened is that I tried some new to me authors who write category romances and found them quickly added to my "need to read" list. I really never thought I would enjoy the shorter format as much as I do. It was truly a pleasant surprise! Thank you KMont for hosting the challenge and giving me some wonderful reads and more to look forward to!

The cover ~ I think it's a pretty cover. I like the colors and thankfully there's no baby in the clouds, grinning down at them or something. You know how silly some of the Harlequin covers can be. :)

Molly O'Keefe is a new author to me who writes complex characters with real life problems. Baby Makes Three was not a light, easy read. It was a quick read because I had a hard time putting it down, or in this case, closing the laptop.

This is an emotional story dealing with loss, grief and alcoholism. The pain Alice feels comes off the page and hits you right in the face. She's such a mess both emotionally and physically. Alice has fallen off into the deep end and grabs hold of the life preserver Gabe throws her. I just wasn't sure if she could hang on. Her drinking I thought was realistic in that many people turn to alcohol or drugs for the temporary escape they offer. Alice is set in her less than stellar job and drinking herself into oblivion. It's what she wants because if she dares to want more she believes it will only lead to more pain and disappointment.

Gabe has been trying to get his life back on track ever since his divorce five years ago. He has undertaken the enormous task of opening an inn, complete with a restaurant and wedding facilities. His father and brother are there to help him but he is having a hard time finding a chef. All roads lead home or in Gabe's case back to Alice. He finds her working at a chain restaurant and coming off a hangover. Not a pretty sight. Gabe needs a chef and he is desperate enough to offer the job to Alice. He is also stubborn in his determination that he will keep their relationship professional. As far as he's concerned it will be strictly boss and employee. And believe me, Gabe can be very stubborn! There were times when I wished he had given in a bit quicker to his feelings for Alice, had a little bit more compassion towards her.

When Alice sees Gabe again she wants nothing to do with him. Seeing him makes all the pain and loss fresh. But she's desperate and decides to take Gabe up on his offer of becoming the chef for the inn. It's only temporary and Alice figures she can handle being around Gabe for a couple of months. Plus, she doesn't have much choice, she has to work or she'll lose her home.

What surprised me about this book is how much I got into it. Into the characters' emotions and actions. It's not a happy/light book. There were some funny and light moments, mostly between the men. I got some of that smart ass male banter that I enjoy but overall the story dealt with some serious issues.

The one problem I did have is that Alice is portrayed as having what I would consider a serious drinking problem when Gabe finds her. She basically works and then drinks until she's blind drunk. Then gets up and goes to work hung over. The impression I got was that the drinking was part of her daily life, you could say she practically scheduled it in. Once she gets to the inn she is still drinking and this causes problems. Then she stops. And that's it. There's mention of some cravings for alcohol but it's minimal. And it's not like there isn't booze around, it's a restaurant and the guys drink beer so Alice certainly had access. Maybe it was the short format and the author didn't have enough pages to devote to a more in depth look at the effects of stopping cold. Whatever the reason, I was expecting the alcohol to play a larger role in Alice's relationship with Gabe.

So while this wasn't a light read or a holiday one for that matter, I found myself enjoying getting to know these flawed people. There is a sub-plot with Gabe's brother Max. He was shot and is still recovery from it emotionally. And that's about all we know. He's likable enough but distant. His story is in the second book, A Man Worth Keeping. I know I'll be reading more from Molly O'Keefe. You can find out about her books on her website.

Rating: A-

YotC Review: Home for the Holidays

Title: Home for the Holidays
Author: Sarah Mayberry

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: November 2009

Harlequin Super Romance

Year of the Category Challenge

From the back cover ~

Joe Lawson has a thing for his new neighbor Hannah Napier. As a single dad, he shouldn't be thinking what he is about her. Still, that doesn't stop them from getting close. And the way she connects with his kids, it's as if they're a family.

Turns out it's too good to be true. Seems Hannah has plans that don't include staying in Melbourne. Joe won't stand between her and her dreams, even though letting her go is nearly impossible. The holidays are looking grim, with him and his kids missing Hannah like crazy. But it is the season of surprises, and Hannah may have one for them!

The cover ~ I like it. It's not too sugary sweet. The people look "real" and although most of the book doesn't take place during the holidays it still gives the feeling of the book.

So what is going on? Someone who used to shun Harlequins is now buying them when they are released? The world has tilted on it's axis and life as we know it has cease to exist. Okay, not quite that dramatic but still... a category author is now an auto buy for me is not something to sneeze at. Sarah Mayberry has become one of my favorite authors for 2009. I've yet to be disappointed by her books. I relish the chance to read her and will no doubt be sad once I've read her entire backlist. Then I'll have the long wait for her next release.

Home for the Holidays isn't a typical romance. There's a deceased wife, two kids - one's a teenager, an ex-fiance and a strained sibling relationship. Add to that the rocky start Joe and Hannah get off to and it certainly doesn't seem like they have any chance at becoming friends much less a couple. But Mayberry works her magic and Joe and Hannah get beyond those bad first impressions and get to know each other.

Joe Lawson is still feeling his way through the rough waters of single parenthood. He moves himself and his two kids, Ben and Ruby, to Melbourne to start over and be near his mum. In doing so he puts himself next to a woman who is so not his type. His first encounter with Hannah does not go well and he doesn't look forward to seeing his new neighbor again. Hannah isn't too happy about the "jerk" that has moved in next door. They almost subconsciously notice the attractiveness of the other but squash that down because how could they possibly be attracted to someone so exasperating?

Hannah Napier could not be described as a "delicate flower of womanhood". I can practically hear her snorting at the thought. LOL She is a mechanic and enjoys working on restoring a classic motorcycle in her spare time. Most comfortable in jeans and t-shirt, she is out of her comfort zone when dealing with dresses and make-up. But even in jeans and t-shirt Joe can't help but notice Hannah's curves. Even while being irritated by her, he still notices that she is all woman under her grease monkey exterior.

The conflicts, and they are many, are well developed for such a short format. Joe and Hannah must not only deal with their growing feeling for each other but also with the feelings of Joe's two kids. Ben is a teenager (13) who's unhappy with the world and is under pressure from school to try and fit in. Ruby is a precocious 10 year old that quickly takes to Hannah. At first, Joe isn't happy about Ruby hanging around with their "biker chick" neighbor. As Joe gets to know Hannah, he realizes what an important part of his family she is becoming.

I really enjoyed the dynamics of the characters. The way everyone kind of shifted and moved into place to create a new family. The moves weren't always smooth, there were definitely bumps along the way. Sometimes more shifting needed to be done but eventually two people became a couple and four people became a family.

So chalk up another win from Mayberry. Once again she's given the reader a romance couple different from the usual fare. With a heroine who can rebuild an engine and a hero who does laundry and washes dishes. The love scenes were sweet, sexy and funny. Two people who resort to getting hot and heavy in a car because they have no privacy at home makes for some hot and frustrating scenes. And the way they overcame their past pains to get to the point where they could trust and hope again was well written and left me, once again, happy to have found Sarah Mayberry's books. (Thanks KMont!)

Sarah Mayberry's website can be found here.

Rating: A

YotC Review: Joe's Wife

Title: Joe's Wife
Author: Cheryl St. John
Genre: Historical Romance/1865
Published: February 1999
Harlequin Historical

Year of the Category Challenge

From the back cover ~

Memories...

Tye Hatcher returned to Aspen Grove to find that life int he sleepy Western town hadn't changed much. The townspeople stubbornly refused to see the man he had become. That is, everybody but Meg Telford. Meg definitely took notice of the reticent rancher and gave him a chance in life when no one else would. Still, Meg clung to the memories of her late husband, afraid of the feelings Tye aroused in her heart. And though Tye vowed to proved his worth to the town, could he ever prove to Meg that he was worthy of her love?

The cover ~ I think it's sweet. It's certainly dated - it is 10 years old. But it's a fairly accurate portrayal of the hero and heroine. And the back has a picture of the hero, heroine with a little girl at a picnic - cute.

I had heard about this book around the blogs, mostly KristieJ's, and while I have a number of Cheryl St. John's books on my TBR pile there was just something about Joe's Wife that said "read me first". Maybe it's the title. You know from the synopsis that Joe isn't the hero but Meg is still referred to as "Joe's wife". Even Tye thinks of her that way. It's barely been a year since Meg received word that her husband Joe was killed in battle so she's still grieving and attempting to move on with her life.

Meg Telford at first comes across as a soft spoken, kind and gentle woman. And she is all that but she is also much more. Her kind and gentle nature hides a backbone of steel. She is still quite young and has every intention of keeping the ranch that her and her late husband Joe bought. The ranch was Joe's dream and Meg is determined to run it even at the opposition of her in laws. Her mother-in-law wants Meg to move in with her at her home in town. Meg sees this option as giving up and she sees her life as being very restricted and bleak if she were to move in with her mother-in-law.

I liked Meg but she was easy to like. She had a practical nature and wasn't afraid of hard work, in fact she seemed to enjoy it. She was much more at home on the ranch than in town at her mother-in-laws doing needlepoint or some other such "lady-like" pursuit. She was kind and not as condemning as the majority of the townsfolk were when it came to Tye. The other thing I liked about Meg is that she stayed true to her character. At the beginning she was still in love with Joe, still missing him terribly. Throughout the book she still thinks of Joe, will always love him, but she begins to understand that she doesn't have to stop loving Joe in order for her to fall in love with someone else. That she can still honor Joe's memory but move on with her life.

Tye Hatcher was the bastard son of one of the town's whores. He grew up around other whores and was shunned by the town because of his parentage. Growing up he understands why he's treated differently than the other kids and tends to keep to himself. When the war is over he returns to Aspen Grove, determined to prove to the townsfolk that he is worth something.

I couldn't help but feel sorry for Tye. Here's a guy that just wants a break. He's more than willing to work hard and do any job that's available. What he really wants to do is own his own ranch. His dream is to have a place that's his, one that he can work and make into something. He also has ideas on how to improve ranching in the area. He has big dreams but with the town against giving him a chance his dreams look like they'll stay only dreams. Then Meg makes Tye an offer he can't refuse and it looks like his dreams might just be within reach. But someone from Tye's past needs him and he finds that he can't refuse them either. So he does the right thing, the only thing that he can. He takes in a little girl who has no one left.

That little girl was Eve and she was a delight. Didn't get on my nerves at all. LOL Sometimes kids in romance novels or any story for that matter, can get on my nerves. But Eve became another piece of the puzzle and added another dimension to Tye. Eve and Tye had far more in common that anyone could have guessed. They were the misfits, outsiders who so desperately wanted to fit in. Meg was their champion in a way - she stood up for them. She showed them kindness and treated them with respect. She wasn't exactly crazy about Eve showing up but she dealt with it and didn't take it out on Eve. That's not to say Meg was perfect, she certainly had her faults. While she may have treated Tye better than everyone else did she still had her doubts about him.

One of the aspects of the story that I really liked was the lack of real external conflict. Sure, we had Meg's in-laws trying to get her to sell the ranch and the narrow minded townsfolk that would go to church and at the same time gossip and shun Meg and Tye but there wasn't any real bad guy. No railroad tycoon hiring outlaws to run Meg off her ranch. No gangs of vicious cattle thieves to deal with. It was just Meg and Tye and Eve getting to know each other and learning to trust each other. It was three heartsick people slowing becoming a family. Loved reading about these three and all the ins and outs of their lives.

Don't get me wrong, this wasn't all rainbows and roses. There was still Joe to deal with. He may have been dead and buried but he was still very much there on that ranch. It was Joe's ranch and Joe's dream and for all of Tye's hard work, Meg still wanted to hang on to Joe's dream. Trying to over come not only an ex but a dead ex is extremely difficult for the new guy. Then there's the fact that Tye was only there because Meg had no other options, there was no one else to help her. So Tye had a ghost to deal with plus his own horrors of war that he had to live with. Tye had also seen battle and been injured but he had lived to come home. Then he gets a child to raise and a new wife who's still in love with her dead husband. Yep, lots of conflict here. And yet I never once felt that St. John rushed the story, that I was reading what should have been a longer book. I had actually forgotten that this book came in at just under 300 pages. It felt full - full of characters and plot and story. The dialogue was crisp and gave such depth to these characters. Yes, I was indeed a happy reader at the end. And I haven't even mentioned Major, the dog, who I adored. :)

Cheryl St. John has an extensive back list that can be found here.

Rating: A

YotC Review: Flashpoint

Title: Flashpoint

Author: Jill Shalvis

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Series: American Heroes: The Firefighters/Book 1

Published: July 2008

Harlequin Blaze

Year of the Category Challenge

From the back cover ~

Zach Thomas risks his life battling flames every day. But since sexy EMT Brooke O'Brien joined the crew, he can't resist playing with fire. Brooke is feisty, a little uptight...and sexy as hell. And as Zach soon discovers, she's definitely hot stuff between the sheets. Still, every firefighter knows that the hotter the blaze, the faster the action's over....

After the whirlwind ride Zach's been taking her on, Brooke is ready to do anything for this man in and out of bed! But she knows footloose and fancy-free Zach doesn't do commitment. So she plans to build up a five-alarm fire between them. The kind he won't ever want to put out...

We gotta start with that cover ~ HOT - HOT - HOT

That's what happens when you fight fires for a living, you get hot and sweaty. Goodness, but I can't imagine fighting fires with out the proper equipment is a good idea. Major safety violation going on there. Although, he does look cute in the hat. :) And how come when I went on a field trip to the firehouse with my second grader none of the firefighters looked like that?

This is the first book in Shalvis' firefighter series that takes place at a firehouse in the fictitious coastal town of Santa Rey, California. I was surprised at how quickly I got to know not only the hero and heroine but also the other fire fighters that make up this family. Before I was even finished with Flashpoint, I was checking for more books from this series. The next book, Flashback is sitting on my TBR pile and I've added the anthology Heating Up the Holidays and the Harlequin Blaze, Stormwatch to my UBS list. Yes, I was sucked into this series and hope Shalvis continues to write more stories about these fascinating firefighters.

Firefighter Zach Thomas is very dedicated to his job, maybe just a little too much. He's been at the scene of some suspicious fires and can't shake the feeling that arson is to blame. When he talk to fire investigator Tommy Ramirez he's told to stay out of it and do his job. Zach is a hero in the truest sense. His love for his job, his fellow firefighters and the community he serves comes through in his actions and words. I liked how Shalvis had the subplot of the arson fires but it didn't overshadow the romance developing between Zach and Brooke. Zach's relationships with his coworkers showed how serious he takes his job but it also showed his playful side. The usual kidding around that goes on in a big, close family also goes on at the firehouse. I enjoyed the interactions with Zach and the crew. I always figured firefighters developed close relationships because of the nature of their job, having to depend on each other in life and death situations. The way these guys (and gals) treated each other with affection and respect gave greater dimension to Zach's character.

EMT Brooke O'Brien is only in Santa Rey for the short term. Once her six weeks are up, she gone. That's what she's use to and that's how she likes it. No ties to keep her in one place too long. She's in Santa Rey to box up her grandmother's belongings and sell the house. Then she plans to move on to another job in another city. So when things start heating up between her and Zach she doesn't plan on a potential long term relationship, he tells her he's just not that type. At first Brooke resists but then decides "why not". The fact that he's hot and sexy as hell doesn't hurt. And there's the mutual attraction. Brooke figures they're both adults and she can handle a short fling. Of course things don't go as she plans and she falls hard for Zach. But she sticks to her plan to leave, thinking that Zach doesn't want anything permanent.

Zach and Brooke made a good couple. They both understood the demands of each other's professions, having worked closely with others in their occupations. So Brooke understands Zach's concerns about the suspected arson fires. Of course from the very beginning we know their relationship won't be a short thing but watching them try to convince themselves that it will be was fun. The fact that they couldn't seem to keep their hands off each other should have been a dead giveaway. Even in the firehouse, LOL , they got caught in a compromising situation.

I've got Jill Shalvis on my reading list for her full length novels about the Wilder brothers and now will be on the look out for her Blaze categories. This was a fun read that worked well in the short format. Shalvis kept the story tight and the characters interesting. Jill Shalvis and her considerable back list can be found on her website. Shalvis also has a daily blog about life as a writer in the beautiful Sierras.

Rating: B+

YotC Review: In Care of Sam Beaudry

Title: In Care of Sam Beaudry

Author: Kathleen Eagle

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: May 2009

Silhouette Special Edition

Year of the Category Challenge

Keeping the people of his Rocky Mountain hometown safe was Sheriff Sam Beaudry's top priority. But his quiet life suddenly came under scrutiny when a young stranger came to town, claiming to be Sam's secret daughter, upsetting his very existence, not to mention his budding relationship with lovely nurse Maggie Whiteside.

Maggie wasn't swayed by all the talk surrounding Sam. Because she believed that she and the rugged lawman shared something special. Maggie and her young son had always known that he was a man to count on.

Now she had to show him that he could count on her...

What a beautiful cover. The colors are stunning in RL and even though it doesn't feature the hero or heroine I still like it. There is some horseback riding in the story but it's minor so my guess is that the horses on the cover are just there for show.

This was a short, sweet story. The local boy, Sam Beaudry gets out of the Marine Corps, comes back to his home town of Bear Root, Montana and becomes the sheriff. Sam's an easy going guy who has finally come home to settle down after doing some hard living. He left town years ago to work the oil fields. While traveling around the west he met and fell in with people who loved to party and use illegal drugs. Sam joined the Marines in the hopes of straightening his life out. Once out of the Marines he headed home, knowing that's where he really belonged. Sam's a hero that's easy enough to like but I didn't quite know what he wanted. He seemed like he was settled into his life as sheriff and had no ambitions beyond that. Sam is attracted to Maggie but he's certainly taking his time acting on that attraction.

Maggie has lived in Bear Root for almost two years, which is considered by locals about the time most outsiders leave. But Maggie intends to make this home for her and her son. She's a good nurse and good mom. She's easy to talk to and easy to like. Maggie is a single mom to her 12 year old son Jimmy who happens to idolize Sheriff Sam Beaudry. I liked Maggie for the straight forward way she had about her. She let Sam know that her son comes first and that she wouldn't do anything that wasn't in his best interest. She's attracted to Sam but doesn't think he's right for her. She isn't looking for anyone but can't seem to stop looking Sam's way.

Sam and Maggie dance around their attraction. Hilda, Sam's mom, has been encouraging the two to get together but so far she's having no luck. They are friends but keep that friendship from becoming more. When they finally do come together it's more of a clandestine meeting late at night. This is a small town and there is always talk and Maggie doesn't want that talk to hurt her son. Then there's Sam's past to deal with and the possibility that Star, the little girl, is his child. Who really is Star's father? Sam's not so sure it's him but he can't help but feel protective towards the little girl. The problem is he's not sure who or what he's protecting her from. There is an element of suspense and a bit of mystery to the story with no one knowing for sure who Star's father is.

I think this is one of those stories that while I enjoyed it, it could have done with more back story and more fleshing out of the characters. I didn't feel like I got to know them as much as I would have liked. Sam also has a missing brother, Zach, who might get his own book but I was unable to find any information on it. There was a character, a friend of Maggie's, that seemed to have a history with Zach. Maybe the two old flames will reunite in an upcoming book.

Rating: B

YotC Review: Scenes of Passion

Title: Scenes of Passion

Author: Suzanne Brockmann

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: July 2003

Silhouette Desire

Year of the Category Challenge

From the back cover ~

Safe, steady . . . and unsatisfying - that pretty much summed up Maggie Stanton's life. Then a stranger stirred her imagination until she blushed, a stranger who made Maggie do the unimaginable: take a risk. . . .

Shockingly, the man who'd compelled her to forsake predictability for passion was the full-grown version of her childhood best friend. Only, this Matthew Stone wanted marriage, not a walk down memory lane.

For a while, Maggie almost believed that their whirlwind wedding was the union of soul mates. Almost. Then she learned the secret Matthew was keeping.

Why the two covers? According to Ms. Brockmann's website, the second cover with the bedroom scene was the cover used to promote the book but when published the first cover with the creepy pinkish house was used for the book. Personally I like the bedroom scene cover better. The book is suppose to have an element of mystery surrounding the hero but the pink house just doesn't do it for me. I find it kind of boring so maybe it does work since I also found the story kind of boring.

I literally slogged through this book. Picking it up, putting it down. Trying to forget where I put it only to have it show up right next to me. Damn, I hate when that happens. :) It's a short book, only 186 pages. I kept thinking, this is Brockmann, I like her books and therefore I'll like this one eventually. Never happened. Maybe it was the New England setting. But no, I've read books set in New England that I've enjoyed. Maybe it was the technical aspect of the writing. Nope. Brockmann can write and no major editing problems that I saw. The plot - eh, it was a fairly standard plot. High school friends become lovers. I like that particular trope. So that just leaves the characters...

Maggie Stanton is the heroine. A heroine who lets just about anyone and everyone walk all over her. I could say she lost her backbone years ago but I'm not sure she ever had one. I know it sounds harsh but she just bugged the crap out of me. I do have to give her props for sticking up for herself when it came to the community theater. Her mother knew better than to have Maggie's pre-engagement party on the day the local community theater held their auditions. Of course this party was for a man that Maggie doesn't want to marry but she still hadn't gotten up the nerve to tell her parents or the non-fiance.

Matt Stone - former town bad boy who went away and came back Mr. Goodie-Two-Shoes. He doesn't smoke anymore; okay that's fine because the only hero I've ever found attractive that smoked is Roarke. And he only does it occasionally. Back to former bad boy Matt - he doesn't drink anymore, at all. He's into lots of excercising and he's a vegan. Talk about complete 180 on this guy. Why the big change? Don't know. He's all "mysterious" about the changes. Just that he was seriously ill and it made him change his life. We do find out by the end of the book what happened to cause the drastic changes and it all made sense but by then I just didn't care .

The main problem I had with this story is that I just couldn't drum up any concern for Maggie and Matt. I didn't care what happened to them, if they got a HEA, etc. Things did get a bit more interesting once they got together and Maggie stood up to her family but even then it was like the book was just going through the motions and their love story was just a typical story. Nothing really to make it stand out. The scenes concerning the play, which they both tryout for, were dull. I don't find live theater and the goings on very interesting so it could totally be my hang up. And as for Matt - I'm just a lover of bad boys and while I like reformed bad boys, I don't like them totally reformed - a little bad is not a bad thing. :)

So this book just proves to me that I need to stick to Brockmann's Troubleshooter series which I'm still reading even after the bump in the road know as Into the Fire. I did like Dark of Night (review here) but then I was just fine with the pairings that went on in that book.

Ms. Brockmann's huge backlist can be found on her website.

Rating: C

YotC Review: She's Got It Bad

Title: She's Got It Bad
Author: Sarah Mayberry
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: April 2009
Harlequin Blaze

Year of the Category Challenge

From the back cover ~

This has been a long time coming

Twelve years ago Zoe Ford let Liam Masters break her heart. But now? There's not a chance. Zoe is as tough and wild as they come. So when Liam shows up at her tattoo parlor, she's more than ready to take him on again. That's not going to be a hardship, since he's hotter than he ever was.

This time she's staying in charge. And she's not going to consider their score settled until he's hot, bothered and begging for more! Then she'll move on as callously as he left her. Unless all that deliciously bad sex is just too good to give up….

Another Sarah Mayberry and another splendid story. I was lucky enough to win this from the wonderful ladies at The Book Binge and I just ate this one up!

The cover: You know I have to say something about the cover, it's become a habit. :) Initially my gaze is drawn to their faces, that's good. But then it moves to her butt. IMO, not so good. Personally I would prefer ogling a man's rear. Sexiest, I know. The thing I do like about the cover is that it goes with the story. Doesn't it just bug you when the cover is so far off from what's inside? This one shows the heroine Zoe, giving the hero Liam a tattoo. That actually happens but I don't remember her being in quite that position. *grins*

The story actually begins when Zoe and Liam are teenagers. Something happens that causes Liam to hit the road and disappear from Zoe's life. When he eventually returns he's all grown up and has become a successful businessman. Zoe is grown up too but she's been through some difficult times and real success hasn't come to Zoe.

Zoe is a woman that I don't seem to have much in common with. She is single, 28 years old and works as a tattoo artist. By the time I was 28, I was married and working in an office, not a tattoo in sight. Zoe doesn't have much direction in her life, it's become a bit stagnate. Thanks to Mayberry's writing I still felt a connection to Zoe, an understanding of why she feels and does what she does. It doesn't have to do with what she wants but what she feels she deserves. Yeah, I liked Zoe and felt such sympathy for her and that says something about the writing because Zoe wasn't always the most likable character.

Liam thinks he knows what's best for Zoe, hence the leaving. So when he comes back he wants to make things up to her, show her that he can treat her right. The only thing Zoe wants from Liam is sex. No strings, no commitments. That's how she likes things and if Liam can't deal with that too bad. Liam, being the stubborn cuss is determined to change Zoe's mind. At first he tells himself that he just wants to help out an old friend but he gets to the point where he can't deny his feels for Zoe are more than just friendly. The sex is definitely a strong pull but they also have history. That history is something they can't ignore. It's something they have to discuss and deal with before they can create a future. Liam hopes to have a future with Zoe, she still wants only the sex.

Mayberry does a satisfying job of taking two distinctly different characters and showing the reader how they became a very believable couple while still maintain their distinct personalities. They each learn some things about the other that not only surprises them but gives them insight that they didn't have before. Both h/h do some more growing up and realise just how deep their feelings still are for each other. There is also some fun and games when Zoe tries to distance her self from Liam and dang if it doesn't seem like he keeps showing up everywhere she goes!

She's Got It Bad is an exciting, enjoyable read with anything but your run of the mill characters. A heroine who is a tattoo artist and a hero who builds custom bikes for a living are not the usual fair in romances. Mayberry gives us characters that are a bit off the beaten path and then makes them relatable. And that's what makes her stories so very good.

Check out Sarah Mayberry's site for her book list. The site doesn't look to be up-to-date so I would also suggest checking Harlequin's site for new releases.

Rating: A

YotC Review: Burning Up

Title: Burning Up
Author: Sarah Mayberry
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: February 2008/Harlequin Blaze
Year of the Category Challenge

From the back cover ~

Somebody get some ice... it's steamy in here!

Spending a month as personal chef for an overindulged-and mouthwatering -man? Sophie Gallagher is so up for the challenge. She's immune to charm... or so she thinks. Because when being screen start Lucas Grant turns up the temptation, she discovers -up close and personal-he's earned the name hottest man alive.

Sophie is fun, vivacious and couldn't be further from Lucas's bimbo bombshell type. Much to his surprise, she's captivated him. But as sizzling as they are between the sheets, once his hiatus is over, the credits will roll on this fling. Saying goodbye, however, isn't as easy as he'd thought. Will this production be The End of the Affair... or Love Actually?

The Cover: This one's not bad at all. His chest looks like it could use a good wiping down but I do like the way his arm is positioned, showing off the muscle. The heroine on our fine cover has normal looking legs, i.e. they're not sticks. Which is appropriate since Sophie isn't a super skinny model type. I do have a bit of a problem with the shirt. It's his shirt she's wearing but damn, he's not a giant! Judging by the shirt you would think he's Paul fricking Bunyan!

One thing I like about these challenges is getting to read new authors. Before the category challenge I would have only considered reading category romances by authors that I already enjoyed ~ Nalini Singh, Linda Howard and Suzanne Brockmann to name a few. So far I've found three authors that I plan to read more of their categories: Maya Banks, Linda Winstead Jones and Sarah Mayberry.

I haven't read many book that have the heroine as a chef and there were times that I got hungry while reading this one. :) Sophie Gallagher is a gifted chef who has been working at the same restaurant ever since she graduated culinary school. The restaurant is owned by her boyfriend Brandon's family and Brandon also works there. Sophie has also been with Brandon for 14 years, since she was 17 years old. She leads a safe, steady life of predictability. Then all that changes overnight. Sophie is set adrift and isn't sure how to get back on course. She takes the job as personal chef to Lucas Grant out of desperation. What Lucas expects and what he actually gets with Sophie are two very different things.

On the surface Lucas was a stereo-typical movie star. Expecting first class treatment and he definitely expects to get his way. He's used to having women practically fall at his feet. In fact the book opens with a woman in his hot tub waiting for him in nothing, her swimsuit removed for his viewing pleasure. Lucas wasn't exactly surprised to find her there. He might have been more surprised if there hadn't been a woman, or two, waiting for him. This is his world so when that world changes overnight and he's forced to take refuge at a mountain cabin he doesn't expect his star treatment to change. But he's in for a rude awakening when Sophie rebuffs his offer of spending some time between the sheets.

Sophie isn't immune to Lucas' gorgeous looks and smooth ways. I like the fact that she's honest enough to admit that she finds him attractive but she still has unresolved issues with Brandon to work through. Lucas also has issues from his past that are about to come to light when he would prefer they stay buried.

Sophie and Lucas had an intriguing relationship because neither thought the other was their type. Lucas was so used to movie starlets and cover models that he was surprised that he was so attracted to Sophie. Physically she was the opposite of what he thought he wanted in a woman. Emotionally Lucas doesn't do long term relationships. Sophie was used to steady, safe Brandon. Not someone who lived in the limelight and did things on the spur of the moment. Once they did give in to their attraction Lucas just assumes that the end will come when their time at the cabin ends. Sophie knows this but it doesn't make it any easier when she starts to care for Lucas.

I really like the way Mayberry writes. I'm not sure how to explain it other than to say that she writes the way people talk. There is some Aussie lingo/words in there but the dialogue and emotions are incredibly genuine. Sophie and Lucas are very real, flaws and all. And with the short format there was still lots of story packed into this book. No short-changing of the character development or the environments where these two remarkably different people came from. I think that's something that I expected when I started this challenge (the short-changing) and have been pleasantly surprised at the depth of the characters in these shorter novels.

There was one part towards the end when I thought Lucas was a first class jerk. I know why he did what he did but it still royally pissed me off and I felt such overwhelming sympathy for Sophie. I can't tell you how mad I was at him. I swear if I had been there I would have told him off! (Yeah, I know it's a book but you guys know what I mean.)

And the end, it was perfect how they came together after their time at the cabin. Don't want to spoil it but it worked for me. :)

Sarah Mayberry and her books can be found here.

Rating: A

YotC Review: Valentino's Love-Child

Title: Valentino's Love-Child
Author: Lucy Monroe
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: May 2009
Harlequin Presents #2820
Year of the Category Challenge

Under the Sicilian sun, Valentino’s mistress tempts him like no other!

Their relationship is scorching, its intensity unmatched, the desire indescribable. Only, love can never be mentioned....

But Faith, his stunning, intriguing American lover, is testing his resolve. He said he’d never marry again, that his principles won’t allow it.

The one person to tame the untamable Valentino is Faith—the woman who’s carrying his child....

What do you think of the title? No too bad, I've certainly heard worse. And the cover? It's not bad either. I like the colors of the brown and teal, they go well together. And you might not be able to tell but she has a little baby bump. But way the sheet is bunched at Valentino's rear it looks like a giant bow. I guess you could say he's got his essentials gift wrapped!

The story is about an American artist, Faith Williams, who meets the handsome Sicilian that she can't seem to resist. They spend their time together have wild, passionate sex but keep their relationship a secret. It's a type of arrangement that seems to suit them both at the beginning. But things rarely stay constant when dealing with men and women and feelings begin to change as it becomes more than just sex.

Valentino loves having Faith in his bed. But that's where the relationship ends. He believes it's convenient arrangement of mutual physical need. Faith is not a woman he wouldn't consider having a long term emotional relationship with. She is not Sicilian and nothing like Renata, his deceased wife whom he loved very much. If he were to ever marry again it would be to give his young son a mother. One like Renata so that his son will be raised the way she would have raised him. This is what Valentino believes regardless of his deepening feelings for Faith. He's surprisingly stubborn about this.

Faith, who is also widowed, cares very much for Valentino or Tino as she calls him. She knows that he considers the relationship only physical and the only place they have sex is his apartment in the city. His real home is at the vineyard where his son and parents live. A place that Faith has never been to or expects to be invited to. While she tries to understand Tino's feelings it's still hard for her to accept it. But when she finds out she's pregnant her life changes dramatically not only in the very real sense of the coming birth but also her relationship with Tino.

This book surprised me. It's a short 185 pages but Monroe managed to pack a fairly adequate story. It wasn't without it's share of problems. I wasn't crazy about Tino, geez, talk about needing to move into the 21st century. He thinks of Faith as his mistress even though he doesn't pay her bills etc. but he basically keeps their relationship hidden. Something only to bring out at night when he can satisfy his need for her. And without giving any spoilers some of the coincidences in the story were a little too coincidental. But considering the length I'd say Monroe does a decent job of developing the characters particularly the character of Faith. The reader was given enough background to get a sense of who she is and how her past experiences have brought her to where she is now.

So overall a satisfactory read but not one I'll pick up again. But I do plan on reading more of Lucy Monroe, next time I'll give her one of her trade paperbacks a try. Ms. Monroe's website.

Rating: B

And speaking of picking up a book I've got a little info to share about these category books. It's quite possible I'm the only one that didn't know this but I went looking for some category novels by Sarah Mayberry since she has come highly recommend by many in this challenge. I get to the UBS, head to the back wall where the categories are shelved, lots of those blue ones, don't remember what those are. Anyway, I spot the lovely red Blaze books and start looking for Mayberry. Oops! They're not in alphabetical order. They're shelved by number - the number is on the spine. Not knowing this ahead of time I didn't bother to write down any numbers. Luckily, there were only about 50 or so Blaze titles so I just started with the most recent releases. Found and bought Burning Up, Harlequin Blaze #380. I'll read that for the May challenge.

Review: Lucky's Woman

Title: Lucky's Woman
Author: Linda Winstead Jones
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Series: Last Chance Heroes/Book 4
Published September 2006
Silhouette Intimate Moments
Year of the Category Challenge

From the back cover:

She saw a killer in her dreams...

Annie Lockhart's colorful exterior concealed a serious psychic ability. And if her latest visions were true, a serial killer was preying on couples deeply in love. She had been burned by her talents before, so instead of going to the police, she hired private investigator Lucky Santana to find the killer.

Even though Lucky wasn't sure about this assignment, Annie drove him crazy, in more ways than one…which made their task all the more torturous: Annie and Lucky set out to look like a happy couple. As their faux relationship turned all too real and passionate, the killer came in for one last deadly showdown.

This is the second book I've read by this author and it makes me want to try more of her work. Maybe some of her full-length novels. The writing has an intrinsic flow, not stalling out at any one plot point. The story kept my interest enough to make this a very quick read.

Annie has dreams, vivid dreams of murder and death. She's tried to do the right thing in the past but going to the police turned out to be a disaster. When the dreams start up again she decides to hire a private investigator to help find out who the murderer is.

Annie went through hell five years ago when she dreamed of murder. She thought going to the police was the answer. Instead she was ostracized to the point that she moved from Nashville to the smaller town of Mercerville, TN. She owns and runs two shops called Annie's Closet that sells one of a kind hats and handbags. She loves designing hats and bags and has found her niche in the beautiful town. The last thing she wants to do is have to move again.

Lucky Santana is prepared to take a statement from Annie and be done with the case. He figures she's nuts and doesn't want to waste time listening to some crazy lady. But it turns out that Annie isn't crazy and Lucky soon finds himself deeply involved in Annie's effort to find the murderer.

Lucky is a hero who has a soft spot for women in trouble. He starts out very skeptical of Annie and her abilities. Even after he experiences proof of her psychic talent he still continues to try to solve the murders and find the killer through conventional methods. While he poses as Annie's love interest he also has a chance to get to know her far better than he planned.

I liked the way Annie and Lucky interacted. Even when the spark of attraction was there Lucky still held back and Annie still treated her growing attraction for Lucky as secondary to finding the murderer. That's not to say that they didn't do something about the attraction but it didn't completely overshadow the original reason for the two being together in the first place.

Lucky and Annie both have issue from their pasts to overcome and Winstead Jones deals with them in a way that doesn't come off as phony. The suspense was also well written and genuine. I hate it when I figure out who the killer is long before the hero/heroine do, when it's suppose to be concealed until the dramatic end.

Lucky's Woman was a quick, enjoyable read. It's part of the Last Chance Heroes series from Silhouette but IMO can be read as a stand alone. Since it and others in the series were published a few years ago the best chance of finding it is in UBS or Paperbackswap.

Linda Winstead Jones has also written under the name Linda Jones. Her website is a bit sparse but there is info on her previous and current releases.

Rating: B+

YotC Review: Raintree: Inferno

Title: Raintree: Inferno
Author: Linda Howard
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Raintree Trilogy/Book 1
Published: June 2007
Silhouette Nocturne
Year of the Category Challenge

Cheating is a bad thing, we all know that. And if you're caught cheating in a casino it can get you killed. Watching Lorna Clay on his video monitors, Dante Raintree knows she's cheating, he just doesn't know how. But he's going to find out. When she steps into his office a fire ignites in him and in the room. Literally. Dante is no ordinary man, he contols fire but when he sees Lorna his reaction causes that control to slip. Lorna feels something too but she just thinks he's weird and incredibly good looking. Figures.

Linda Howard is one of my favorite contemporary authors. She seldom writes a book that I don't find at the very least good and quite often wonderful. This is not her usual format of her more recent books, they tend to be full length novels. So reading a shorter length book (266 pages) I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The story was a little slow going and it took me a while to warm up to the hero and heroine, not good when there's less than 300 pages. There were times when the story got to be a little far fetched but I kept reading. I should warn anyone who plans to read Inferno that it leads right into the next book and the true ending, IMO, doesn't happen until the last book of the trilogy.

This first book in the Raintree trilogy introduces the leader of the clan, Dante Raintree. He is the Dranir, or king, of the Raintree clan. They are group of people with magical powers related to nature. Dante can control fire, His brother Gideon can use the power of electricity and their sister Mercy is a powerful empath. Over 200 years ago the Raintree clan and their rivals the Ansara clan fought a deadly battle that almost annihilated the Ansara. Except for the random, lone Ansara, the Raintree clan members have had little contact with the Ansara. But now there's a chance the Ansara are back and they are trying to kill Dante. Since Lorna is with him she ends up in the line of fire.

Dante runs a casino in Reno and also handles the finances of the clan. I would call Dante a typical alpha male with all the protective, "I know what's best" attitude that alpha males exude. Add to that his ability to use mind compulsion on people to do what he wants and it makes for a man accustomed to getting what he wants. His ability works exceedingly well on Lorna and she doesn't like it one bit. He can basically tell her to "be quiet" or "stay here" and she has to do what he says. Yeah, that would piss me off too.

Lorna Clay knew she was different than most people. Her affinity for numbers has led her to the casinos and helped her make a decent living. She sees numbers in her head, dreams of them. Sometimes their meaning isn't always clear. She also has a very strong sixth sense that she listens to most of the time. When she first met Dante her sixth sense was telling her to run unfortunately her body had other ideas.

I liked Lorna more than Dante. He was just too... bossy. Lorna was a survivor and a loner. She was also funny in her frustration of having to do whatever Dante told her. She let him know exactly what she thought of him. Good for her! He did ease up on the orders and they did get to know each other enough to fall for each other. This took place over the course of about a week. With the page limitations it had to be quick. The love story was kind of meh for me. It just didn't seem like there was much more than sexual attraction between the two. It just happened too fast.

So my overall opinion on this one is that it's not Howard's best work, not even close. I did read the other two books in the trilogy and I would say Raintree: Haunted (book 2) by Linda Winstead Jones is by far the best. Book 3, Raintree: Sanctuary was okay. Didn't really care for the hero in that one. If you do plan to read any of these read them in order since they are really just one long story with three couples.

Rating: B-

YotC Review: The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress

Title: The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress

Author: Maya Bank

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Series: The Anetakis Tycoons/Book 1
Published: January 2009
Harlequin ~ Silhouette Desire
Year of the Category Challenge
*Some spoilers*

Who wouldn't want to be the mistress of a gorgeous Greek tycoon? Live in a penthouse apartment in New York City. Shop at the finest stores and have everything you could possibly want. This was the attitude of Chrysander Anetakis, the tycoon. He expected Marley Jameson available to him whenever he wants her when he's in the city. Marley, in love with Chrysander, quits her job and moves in with him not knowing that he thinks of her as his mistress. She thought she was more, that there was more between them. When she finds out she's pregnant she knows she must tell him but she's not sure how he'll react. Then a horrible misunderstanding followed by an even worse tragedy tears the two apart.

My first book for the Year of the Category Challenge and it turned out to be a surprise. Thankfully in a good way. I have read Maya Banks erotic novels but this is her first for Silhouette Desire. It surprised me in a few ways. One was the fact that even though the premise involved amnesia Banks handled it well. IMO when dealing with amnesia the potential for disaster is high. It's just too soap opera-ee. Need to create some drama in a character's storyline? Giv'em amnesia. Fortunately Marley's amnesia was done in a believable way that didn't leave me shaking my head in disgust. The other surprise was the character of the Greek tycoon. Did he play the part well, in stereotypical fashion? Hell yeah! Was he redeemed by the end? Hmm... more or less. What surprised me is that I liked him. Not because he eventually came to see Marley as more than a mistress but because of his high-handed, autocratic ways. Heck, the guy owned an island. Can't get that far in life without being an ass at least sometimes.

And let's not forget the cover. The covers of the category romances have a tendency to be a bit over the top but in a different way than the bodice rippers of old. So it was a pleasant surprise that I actually liked the cover of The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress. The couple are in a natural pose, not all bent over backwards like Cirque du Soleil performers. Also they don't have those crazy-ass goofy grins on their faces that seem to be common in some of the category covers ~ the ones that usually feature a child or two. No, the cover for Tycoon is simple yet well done with a man and woman in an embrace and no baby bump in sight.

As for the story we've got the big misunderstanding and the tragedy. The misunderstanding is Chrysander finding evidence that Marley is stealing information from his company and selling it to his competitor. Or so he thinks. So what's a Greek tycoon to do when confronted with such treachery? Kick her to the curb! Yep, that's what he does. Gives her 30 minutes to get out of the penthouse. Marley leaves, thinking she'll give him time to think things over. Before she gets very far from the apartment she's kidnapped. OK, I know. First kidnapping then amnesia. All on top of there being a Greek tycoon (with an island!). Sounds way too much like something out of All My Children or General Hospital but once again Banks pulls it off.

A few months pass and Chrysander is back in New York. While watching the news he sees none other than Marley on a stretcher. She's escaped her kidnappers and her and her unborn baby are fine. What kidnappers? What baby?! Yeah, Marley didn't get a chance to tell Chrysander about the baby before he sent her to the curb. And he knew nothing about the kidnappers since he never got any ransom notes. So off he goes to the hospital to find out not only is she pregnant but she has amnesia. So in typical Greek tycoon fashion he whisks her away to his private island where he hires a staff to take care of her and his soon-to-be heir. Oh, and he may have given Marley the impression they were engaged. Gotta have a reason to get her to go to the island with him.

So then there's Marley. Even with the amnesia she's a likable character. When I first read about her giving up her job and moving in with Chrysander I thought "how stupid". But I think it's just her nature to give her all when she falls in love. She had her concerns but she loved him in spite of his faults. She really thought they were on the road to matrimony. And when she gets to the island she doesn't simply believe everything he says but questions what he tells her. Her confusion is believable and her character is developed in such a way to lend sympathy for her even if you don't agree with her choices.

Chrysander is... an ass. But likable in an "I'm gorgeous, rich, sexy, sophisticated and Greek" kinda of way. He did have his reasons for being cautious and not trusting easily. And for not wanting a serious relationship. This guy is all about control. Control in business and his personal life. He doesn't give up the control easily but he does learn to trust Marley. The path he takes to learning to not only trust Marley but want her in his life permanently is not easy but he does get there eventually.

Another surprise for me was the sex. I wasn't sure what to expect since I'm not familiar with category romances, having read only a few. But it was hot. This is Maya Banks after all. So that was another pleasant surprise.

The book is just under 180 pages but packs a good, solid story. There are two brothers of Chrysander that will be getting their own stories. The Tycoon's Rebel Bride in May and The Tycoon's Elusive Lover in September. I plan on reading both. For more info on Maya Banks check out her website.

Rating: B+