Review: The Lovesick Cure by Pamela Morsi

Source: we received an e-ARC of the book through NetGalley for review purposes.

I’ve heard good things about Ms. Morsi’s books, so when I saw this book available to review I requested it. The story is a balanced mixed between Women’s Fiction and Contemporary Romance, but I didn’t live up to my expectations. 

When Jesse’s fiancé marries someone else, she quits her job and moves to her aunt’s isolated town in the Ozarks. She does it to lick her wounds and to get a change of pace. Her aunt is almost a local celebrity. She makes different potions and gives advice, like a spiritual leader. But she’s old and tired, so they take care of each other. One of the potions aunt Will makes, it’s called the lovesick cure, and once she starts the treatment it sets a series of events that will help her realize what makes her happy, and even find love with aunt Will’s doctor.

Review: The Waiting Sky by Lara Zielin

This book caught my attention because it sounded similar to the movie Twister. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but I’m glad I read it.

Jane McAllister’s mother is an alcoholic. Her brother left home as soon as he could, leaving Jane to fend for herself. She handles the situation as best as she can, or at least as best as she thinks she should. She pays the bills, covers for her mother and is basically the adult responsible to take care of their crumbling home. Her brother asks her to move with him, but she can’t leave their mom.

Things get complicated when Jane’s mother causes an accident that almost kills them and her best friend, Cat. When Cat tells her that it’s time so seek help because covering for her mother is not helping anyone, Jane realizes that she can’t keep denying what’s going on. So she decides to join her brother Ethan and his team of tornado-chasing friends. Spending time away from her mother helps her put things in perspective, but is that enough to make the right decision? She’s very conflicted so it’ won’t be easy.

Winner! Until There Was You by Jessica Scott

Thanks to everyone who participated and to Jessica for stopping by and making the giveaway possible.

The winner is: Gail Nichols

Congratulations! The email is on its way.

Interview & Giveaway: Jessica Scott

Today we’re happy to welcome author Jessica Scott to the blog. She

writes military romance with a twist because the stories focus on theromance and there’s no suspense subplot. Please let’s give her a warm welcome!

Hello, Jessica! Welcome to Romance Around the Corner.

Q. For all of our readers who may not be familiar with your work, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your books?

JS: Thanks so much for having me at Romance Around the Corner. I’m pretty much insane eight days of the week. I’m an active duty army officer who is in charge of a company right now, full time author, mom to 2 kids, 3 cats, 3 dogs, and 2 hamsters (the fish are on their own). My only social life exists pretty much on the interweb where I can be found on twitter most of the time, facebook sometimes and always obsessively checking my email.

Review: Sweet Talk by Julie Garwood

Source: we received an e-ARC of the book through NetGalley for review purposes.

I’m a huge fan of Julie Garwood. She’s one of my favorite historical romance authors and I also like her contemporaries. I thoroughly enjoyed her last book, The Ideal Man, and I was anxiously waiting for Sweet Spot. I regret to say that I was very disappointed. 

Olivia is an IRS agent and an attorney that works with children in danger. She’s investigating a Ponzi scheme to bring her father down. In the middle of a job interview, she interrupts an FBI investigation. Grayson Kinkaid, the agent in charge, is equal parts pissed and attracted to Olivia. He doesn’t want a serious relationship so they flirt a bit and leave at that. But when she is attacked, he realizes that keeping her safe means keeping her close.

Review: August Ice by Dev Bentham

Source: we received a copy from the author for review.

I don’t recall ever reading a story set in Antarctica, so that alone was enough to make me want to read it. Also, one of the characters is French. Enough said!

Max Conway is a former Navy SEAL with more baggage than an airport. Since he was discharged from the teams, he’s been working as a safety diver at a research base in Antarctica. During his free time he either gets drunk, has anonymous sex or both. So is no wonder that one day he wakes up in bed with someone he doesn’t know. The stranger’s name is Andre, a French scientist heading for the same base as Max. Andre is angry at him for falling sleep before sex and not remembering anything after. So when they meet again in Antarctica and are assigned to work together, neither is happy about it.

Review: Within Reach by Sarah Mayberry

Source: we received an e-ARC of the book through NetGalley for review purposes.

I’m sure you’re tired of hearing me say how much I love Sarah Mayberry’s books, but it’s true. I love them so much, that I’m willing to read a story that revolves around my least favorite trope. Unfortunately for me, not even Ms. Mayberry could make me enjoy it. 

Michael and Angie had one person in common: Billie -- his wife and her best friend. One day Billie died, and just like that their lives changed. Almost a year later, Angie is ignoring her pain and Billie and Michael’s children are coping, but Michael is a mess. He doesn’t take care of the house, makes the same dinner every night and forgets promises he made to his daughter. Basically grief has rendered him useless. When Angie sees what a mess he’s become, and how the kids are suffering because of it, she wakes up from her own pain. Little by little they help each other put their lives in order, regain some normalcy and deal with their loss. Then the attraction begins. Subtle and unwelcome at first, they get to the point in which they can’t deny what’s happening. They both feel like they are betraying Billie, Michael isn’t ready to let go, and Angie doesn’t want to fall for a man whose heart belongs to someone else. Saying this is a tricky situation is putting it mildly.

Winner! Copy That by HelenKay Dimon

Thanks to everyone for participating and to HelenKay for the great post and price.

The winner is: donnas

The email it's on its way!

Congratulations!

Review: Dream Lake by Lisa Kleypas

I love Lisa Kleypas’ contemporaries. The Friday Harbor series isn’t her best, but the books are charming and sweet. I was a bit weary of this book because there was a ghost in it, but the hero was intriguing so I was ready to like it. Unfortunately, the story didn’t work for me at all. 

The series follow three brothers that come together to raise their orphaned niece. Actually, that’s not accurate – one brother raises her, the other helps and the third one, Alex, is a mess that drinks and wants nothing to do with his brothers or the kid. Alex also happens to be our hero. You don’t have to be familiar with the previous books to read this one, although the extra background helps a bit even if only to make you emotionally invested in him.

Guest Post & Giveaway: Copy That by HelenKay Dimon

Today we welcome author HelenKay Dimon. She writes Romantic Suspense stories filled with hunky heroes and awesome heroines. She’s here to tell us a bit about her latest book, Copy That, and she’s also offering a copy to one lucky commenter. So stick around!

*****

Thank you for letting me be here today and talk about my newest release, COPY THAT.

This book starts off with a bang – literally. The poor heroine, Meredith Samms, comes downstairs to visit her usually out-of-town neighbor, Garrett Hill, and is attacked.  She gets out of the house with the help of the man she thinks is Garrett only to find out the house is about to blow up and her rescuer is not Garrett.  He's Garrett's twin, Jeremy. How's that for a hard start to the day?

Guest Post: A Quick and Dirty Guide to Ireland by Violetta Vane

Weeks ago, author Heidi Belleau shared with us the anatomy of a co-written scene. Today the other co-writer, Violetta Vane, is here to tell us a bit of their research process. So get ready to meet Violetta, their Irish friend, Emma, and Ireland!

A Quick and Dirty Guide to Ireland

by Violetta Vane

Heidi and I write some pretty research-intensive stuff, and one reason is because we enjoy the research process in and of itself. Another reason is that we’re passionate about settings. I like reading and writing stories with vivid settings; the characters seem more real to me, their stories more exciting. So when we decided to write a story set in Ireland, I was absolutely thrilled. Colorful Ireland! And then I thought, wait a second, what do I really know about Ireland? Despite my fanatical devotion to the Father Ted comedy series (or perhaps because of it), the answer was... I don’t know very much at all.

DNF Review: The Navy SEAL’s Bride by Soraya Lane

Earlier this year I discovered Ms. Lane’s books when I read Back in the Soldiers’ Arms. It even inspired my post about cheating heroes, and overall I thought it was a great story. It takes a good author to make me enjoy a Romance with a cheating hero and I really enjoyed that book.

I was anxiously anticipating The Navy SEAL’s Bride, not only because I like Ms. Lane’s books, but also because the hero played a minor role in Back in the Soldier’s Arms. Unfortunately, instead of the great, emotional story I was expecting, I got a mess of a heroine and an even worse hero.

Guest Review: Time After Time by Constance O’Day-Flannery

About Sarah: Who am I? I'm a part-time library science student, part-time librarian, and full-time mom. When I'm not wrangling my little girl or my husband, I'm reading all sorts of books to be able to recommend that "next" book for shy readers or those new to the romance genre. I can be found on Goodreads or on my blog at sarahsbookshelf.com.

I've been on the lookout recently for some more established historical authors to sink my teeth into and came across Constance O'Day-Flannery. She's best known for her time travel romances, so being a newbie to this type of historical, I thought I'd give her a shot. 

Review: In His Eyes by Emmie Dark

This book caught my attention because it promised an agnsty, lovers-reunited story. It delivered that and more.

When Zoe was little, her less-than-stellar mother died in an accident and she was left in the care of a grandfather that was emotionally distant and too engrossed in his work as a winemaker to pay much attention to her. As consequence, she became the town’s bad-girl, known for her disregard of authority and her shoplifting tendencies. Hugh, the boy next door, was the only one who truly saw her, something that, along with the fact that their families were historical enemies and competitors, made for the perfect recipe for star-crossed lovers. As you can probably guess, things didn’t end well for anyone involved and Zoe left tow with plans of never coming back.

Review: Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis

Source: we received an e-ARC of the book through NetGalley for review purposes.

The newest Lucky Harbor trilogy comes to an end with Forever and a Day. This is a series about three friends that bond over their mutual love for chocolate and find a place to belong and their happily ever after in a small town. 

Grace is a workaholic who lost everything—job and home included—and is temporarily in Lucky Harbor while she finds a new job. She’s been unsuccessful so far and to pay the bills she’s been forced to take odd jobs. But when she impulsively answers an add searching for a dog walker she ends up finding something completely unexpected.