The Legend of Lady McLaoch by Becky Banks
The Legend of Lady McLaoch*
Promising Start that Failed to Deliver
I so wanted to like this book! I adore all manner of Scottish books, fiction and nonfiction. It had a promising start with not one but two out-of-time-sequence chapters. The first was very strong, of a dying young woman in long-ago Scotland cursing her father and her family for generations because of how he had made her suffer. The next prologue (can a book have 2 prologues?) was a rather intense battle scene that took place 3 years before the main text’s time frame.
Once contemporary, the book starts with Cole (and the rest of her family) finding out that they are not really Bakers but Minarys, her grandfather having taken the former name of his mother’s second husband (not Grandpa’s biological father). Grandpapa dies before revealing anything else. After graduating from college, Cole decides to research more about the name, and this brings her to the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
I only like to give a tease about the first part of the book. Aside from the set-up above, the first 25% of the book had little action; yes, Cole meets the current laird, Rowan MacLaoch (one of the fighters in the prologue battle scene), whose history is bound up with that of her family’s. In that first 25%, she learns about her family altered history and meets the laird twice (thinking him a caretaker of the castle, not the laird). That’s it. In a book that promises “mystery” and “quest,” I found it a very slow and boring start.
I found Cole to be rude and disrespectful, not “feisty” as the description promised; I could just never warm up to her as a character. Some of Cole’s reactions to people in Scotland just seemed bizarre. Her mother seemed a stock character of a middle-aged Southern lady, and some of the Scottish people seemed to stereotypes of what one would think of those living in that country; these secondary characters fell flat. The book’s formatting was annoying; just one skinny space of paragraph indentation and no padding between paragraphs made the narrative appear like giant blocks.
I received an advance review copy for free, but–obviously–that did not affect my review.
Kingdom Cold by Brittni Chenelle
Kingdom Cold*
Sassy Teen Princess Delights in YA Fantasy Romance
Oh, my gosh! I love Princess Charlotte! She’s a sassy teenage princess who is NOT pleased that her parents have betrothed her boring Prince Young to form an alliance. She attempts a hunger strike (oh, but for the hot-out-of-the-oven bread) and she shoots an arrow at the prince’s carriage when he arrives. She find Prince Young’s older brother far more interesting than her betrothed.
Everything changes on the day of the wedding but not in the way you’d think! The wedding is cancelled because the bad guys attack beyond the castle…and then they breach it; the king may be dead and Prince Dreamy (not his name) is captured. Oh, my! There are many twists and turns; the author was able to keep the suspense up for the duration. Prince Charlotte matures.
I have to warn you … there is no HEA, so if that is crucial to you, you will want to skip this delightfully written book. The ending is wistful and sweet but no HEA.
The author is very skilled at writing with humor (not easy), and she creates mini-hooks at the end of each chapter. The one that pulls you from two to three had me laughing out loud. She alternates viewpoints by chapter, and each character has a very distinct voice and viewpoint. The bratty, snarky Princess Charlotte is a delight, and Prince Young has hidden depths of character. The others…you will have to read and see!
If you’re a fan of well-written YA fantasy romance or just looking for a good read, this book may very well fill the bill.
New Kindle Unlimited Contemporary Romance Jan 20
Here are some new contemporary romances coming out this week that available via Kindle Unlimited or direct purchase.
New Contemporary Romance Jan 20
Here are some contemporary romances coming out this week…
Welcome to New York by Luana Ferraz
Welcome to New York*
Not Your Regular Contemporary Romance…Slow Build, Sweet
This is not quite your normal contemporary romance. It is slow and sweet. There’s no big meet-cute. The hero and heroine just work at the same place It even takes a while for Harry and Alana to become friends, let alone lovers. They both have pasts that they don’t want anyone to know about. They are both scarred by their pasts but learn to trust and love again. They both have dreams for careers but are held back by confidence and opportunity, and slowly, they just help each other realize them. They heal each other’s past wounds and find true happiness. A lovely, sweet read!
It is written in 3rd person present, which was a little awkward to get used to…but it was worth it! There were some awkward phrasing and some grammar errors but not enough to detract from the story.
New Contemporary Jan 13
Here are some new releases available this week in contemporary romance. All are available for direct purchase or through Kindle Unlimited. Most have no reviews yet…be the first!
New Contemporary Romance Dec 11
Here are some new contemporary romance novels I found today! …
Click on the book cover to be taken to its page at Amazon.
| Book | Mini Blurb |
|---|---|
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For urban-legend hunter and television host Gabe Powers, it’s business—investigate the most notorious haunted places in Savannah. Then he meets his new sound engineer, a dewy Georgia peach who may just turn this gig into (im)pure pleasure. All it takes is one night for them to conjure floor-rattling, wall-banging moans…but they’re not from the ghosts. Blame the rippling abs, the cocky swagger, the granite jawline, the whole muscle-bulging package, but Gabe is bringing out good-girl Lily Jameson’s dirty side. Damn her code-of-conduct contract—this isn’t just a molten-hot fling… |
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When freelance writer Nikole Paterson goes to a Dodgers game with her actor boyfriend, his man bun, and his bros, the last thing she expects is a scoreboard proposal. Saying no isn’t the hard part–they’ve only been dating for five months, and he can’t even spell her name correctly. The hard part is having to face a stadium full of disappointed fans… At the game with his sister, Carlos Ibarra comes to Nik’s rescue and rushes her away from a camera crew. He’s even there for her when the video goes viral and Nik’s social media blows up–in a bad way… |
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The world is his stage… Exodus End’s legendary drummer, Steve Aimes, plays the role of a rock star better than anyone in the business. Since his divorce, he’s embraced every rock ’n’ roll stereotype and uses those vices to keep women at a safe emotional distance, while keeping their physical distance recklessly close. He vowed years ago to never give any woman the power to break his heart again. He just has to keep playing the part, and never drop his guard, and stop obsessing over the keyboardist in their new opening act. He didn’t want Roux’s band on this tour in the first place, but somehow she shattered his barriers without even trying. The only way he knows to save his heart from breaking is to make her his forever, so why does she keep pushing him away? |
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Sutton Briar has lived the past several years doing everything in her power to remain invisible. Boxy skirts? Oversized tops in muted colors? Yes please! She learned the hard way that gaining the attention of the opposite sex could lead down a very dangerous path. She’s content to blend in with the wallpaper, but then her boss makes a request she can’t refuse for fear of losing her job. Pretend to be the girlfriend of legendary musician, Camden Knight. There’s just one problem. She can’t stand him… and the feeling is mutual.They’re complete opposites in every way, but what starts as a fake relationship quickly turns into something neither of them expected… |
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Love is weakness. Which is why Annabelle Mills vowed a long time ago to never let it destruct her. A former pageant queen with a bite equally as lethal as her bark, she’s interning at her dream job on the set of the highest-rated home design show on television. Everything in Annabelle’s life, though it may be cold and isolated, is going exactly as she always planned. Until her ex-high school sweetheart moves to town. The same boy that she cheated on once upon a time, essentially breaking both of their hearts. But no one knows the full story, and being vulnerable enough to open up about it is not on Annabelle’s checklist… |
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Dr. Russell has a bad reputation around our hospital. The scrub techs say he’s cold-blooded, the nurses say he’s too cocky for his own good, and the residents say he’s the best surgeon in the world—really, just a swell guy!—on the off chance he’s within earshot. I try to avoid him and his temper at all costs. It’s just as easy to admire his sexy, grip-it-while-he’s-ravishing-you hair, and chiseled jaw from a healthy distance, preferably from the other end of the hallway…half-hidden behind a plant. Unfortunately, my plan crumbles when my trusty ol’ boss decides to swap his white coat for a Hawaiian shirt. His retirement leaves me with two terrible options: switch specialties and spend months retraining, or take an open position as Dr. Russell’s surgical assistant… |
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Growing up, Lilí María Fernandez was affectionately known as the family “wild child.” The life of the party, she loved to dance, especially salsa, merengue, and bachata, and often sang beside her father during rehearsals for his trío group. But tragedy and loss have drawn out Lilí’s caretaking side, compelling her to become a victim’s advocate. These days, the special rhythms of the past seem like a distant memory. Until she meets Diego Reyes . . . A police officer with the Chicago PD, Diego also has a talent for playing classical Spanish guitar. And Lilí soon finds herself inspired by his passion—for the music, for her, and for their shared love of familia and community. Can Diego reignite Lilí’s fun-loving spirit, persuade her to balance work and pleasure—and embrace her wild side once more? |
Free Contemporary Romance Dec 3
Here are some free Contemporary romance novels I found today! MMA, second chance, billionaire, inter-office…
Remember, free books may only be free for a few days! Grab them when you see them!
Click on the book cover to be taken to its page at Amazon.
| Book | Mini Blurb |
|---|---|
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Everyone asks me why I’m so angry all the time. Let me count the ways. I threw away my dreams when I was forced to fight and beat men bloody for her, but she doesn’t even know it. Whenever I try to protect her, she pushes me away. I’ve been in love with her for three years, and she only sees me as a friend! |
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What would happen if you lost everything? That’s exactly what happened to 10-year-old Madeleine Becker when her parents died. Ripped from her home and everything that she had ever loved, she is forced to start all over again. The only way for her to move on is to build walls around her heart tokeep everyone at a safe distance. Her logic: She can’t get hurt if she doesn’t fall in love. That theory is blown to pieces when she meets Reid Connely during her freshman year at college…. |
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True power is never held by good men, only the most perfect of villains. And she and I are both villains…I stole her, and she’s so very angry. The cartel princess doesn’t like being a pretty little pawn. She fights me when she should fear me. But oh, how her defiance excites me… |
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Loyal to the wrong people, Zoey Blakely runs to survive and keep those she loves, safe. Desperate to keep her secrets hidden, she struggles to trust the only person who can help her reclaim her life, Ace Wagner. On a path to restoring the Wagner name, Ace is forced to use the only woman he’s ever cared about to bring down his enemy… |
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She has it all—or does she? Calm and competent, Amanda Sinclair has taken her family’s import business to new heights of success, but the rest of her life … well, there isn’t anything else. Love? Not a chance. Attachments are dangerous. Since losing his wife two years ago, Jacob McKinnon, the new accountant at Sinclair Imports, has centered his life around his daughter, Norah, now six. He’s wary of risking his heart again, knowing all too well the pain of losing someone you love… |
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Mickelle Hansen never realized marriage could be so challenging. Her husband’s epilepsy has caused him to become cynical and verbally abusive, but with love in her heart and strength from her Heavenly Father, Mickelle is determined to make her marriage work. Then the worst happens. Can she ever pick up the shattered pieces of her life? Meanwhile, Rebekka Massoni arrives in America to work for handsome widower Damon Wolfe, leaving all her hopes and dreams back in her beloved France. She has loved and idolized Marc Perrault since she was five years old, but he can offer only her friendship in return… |
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Being rich means living up to the expectations of others… even when you don’t want to. Matt’s always lived on the high end of society, and while his brother and father love it… he hates it. A creative at heart, he’s forced into the world of accounting to help build a family empire from the ground up. His true passion is art, life, and love. Erica is the Chief Advertising Officer for the family firm and has had her eye on the CEO’s son, Matthew, for quite some time. He’s a bit docile in public and often plays the fool, but something tells her that a very different man exists just beneath the surface. She’s willing to wager her career by taking Matt beneath her wing, and hopefully to her bed… |
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A secret masquerade hookup leads to complications with Rourke’s new boss. As a celebrity personal assistant, I pride myself on professionalism. When a mysterious stranger offers to show me the wonders of a clandestine club at the masked ball, I jump at the chance. Because no one will know me, right? One night. No names. No faces. It should have ended there. I had no idea that the handsome, enigmatic man would turn out to be my new employer… |
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