Mandy's Romance Corner Reviews!!!

Unfinished Business by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

First in a series by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson. This book is a chick lit novel with a paranormal element. 

When Angela's mother Fran dies and comes back as a ghost, Angela's ordinary life turns into a carnival show, starring both Angela and her nosy, dead mother. 

It seems Fran's got some unfinished business on earth and she's determined to get it done, no matter what. 

When Fran returned, she reignited her daughter's long suppressed psychic gift, one she neglected to mention to Angela, and now Angela sees ghosts everywhere. And they won't leave her alone. 

Fran can't help but stick her transparent nose where it doesn't belong, making Angela's life even crazier. 

Now Angela has to find a way to keep her old life in tact and help the dead with their unfinished business, all while trying to keep her dead mother out of trouble. And it's a lot for one woman to handle.

Mandy's Review

This is a great debut novel by Carolyn Aspenson.  It is a witty, laughable, emotional roller coaster that will make your shed a few tears and make you really think about life.  Angela's life is pretty simple until her mother comes back to haunt her from the after life.  Things go from simple to chaotic throughout this tale.  Carolyn does an awesome job in the telling of this story.  I would recommend this book.  I give it 4 stars.

Cupidity by Holly Hepburn

About the novella: What if Cupid fell out of love with love?

Cupid is exhausted. Modern day matchmaking is tough – people are busy, their hearts are harder to hit and he’s had enough of wall-to-wall romance. And St Valentine has noticed…

Annelise is a Lost Cause. She runs a dating agency but her heart is colder than a penguin’s feet. She thinks love is about compatibility and has no time for passion.

Can Cupid prove to St Valentine that he hasn’t lost his touch by melting Annelise’s heart? Or is it curtains for Cupid?

A romantic comedy novella - 23,000 words long

Mandy's Review: What happens when Cupid falls in love.  Well if you want to find out then you will have to read this lovely book by Holly Hepburn.  This was an adorable book, I read it in one afternoon.  Cupid is sent to the modern world to help one of the Lost Causes, Annelise.  If Cupid can not accomplish this task then he will lose his job.  Can he accomplish this monumental task or is Annelise really a lost cause.  You will have to find out for yourself.  I really enjoyed this book, it is witty, charming, and warms your soul.  This is a must read.  I give it 5 stars.

The Color of Rain by Cori McCarthy

About the book: If there is one thing that seventeen-year-old Rain knows and knows well, it is survival. Caring for her little brother, Walker, who is "Touched," and losing the rest of her family to the same disease, Rain has long had to fend for herself on the bleak, dangerous streets of Earth City. When she looks to the stars, Rain sees escape and the only possible cure for Walker. And when a darkly handsome and mysterious captain named Johnny offers her passage to the Edge, Rain immediately boards his spaceship. Her only price: her "willingness."

The Void cloaks many secrets, and Rain quickly discovers that Johnny's ship serves as host for an underground slave trade for the Touched . . . and a prostitution ring for Johnny's girls. With hair as red as the bracelet that indicates her status on the ship, the feeling of being a marked target is not helpful in Rain's quest to escape. Even worse, Rain is unsure if she will be able to pay the costs of love, family, hope, and self-preservation.

With intergalactic twists and turns, Cori McCarthy's debut space thriller exists in an orbit of its own.

Mandy's Review: This book takes us into the future and the story of Rain White.  Rain will do anything to help her brother find a way to deal with his disease.  Cori McCarthy takes us on the journey of Rain's life as she fights for her brother's survival.  This novel was gritty and riveting, an emotional roller coaster.  The descriptions and flow of the story line kept me going until the wee hours of the morning to finish this book.  I would recommend this book, it is really good.  I give 4 stars.

The Circle by Cindy Cipriano

About the book: Calum Ranson is sure of three things: his cousin Finley is alive, Calum will find him, and no one knows Calum and his family are Sidhe. No one until Laurel shows up at his mother’s bookstore wearing a dark clan’s mark.

When Calum learns the details surrounding the disappearance of Laurel’s brother, he suspects the evil Hobayeth clan. Calum and Laurel work together in the Realm of Man and the Otherworld to rescue her brother – revealing a connection between Calum and Laurel that may cost Finley his life.

Mandy's Review: Calum Ransom is trying to find his cousin Finley.  This story takes us into the world of Sidhe, faeries and magic.  Cindy does a great job of weaving this tale to keep the readers entertained and engrossed in the story.  This is a great YA book.  I really enjoyed reading this book.  I give it 4 stars.

Hotshot by Julie Garwood 

About the book: Peyton Lockhart and her sisters have inherited Bishops Cove, a small, luxurious oceanfront resort, but it comes with a condition: The girls must run the resort for one year and show a profitonly then will they own it.A graduate of a prestigious French culinary school, Peyton has just lost her job as a food critic. Out of work and in a bad place personally, a year doing something completely different sounds wonderful.There are countless challenges and too many people who want to stop the sisters from succeeding. Among them are Peytons contentious cousins, who are outraged that they didnt inherit the resort, as well as a powerful group of land developers who have been eyeing the coveted beachfront property.Its soon apparent to Peyton that their efforts are being sabotaged, but she refuses to let the threats scare heruntil shes nearly killed. She calls on her childhood friend and protector, Finn MacBain, now with the FBI, and asks for his help. He saved her life once; he can do it again.Julies previous two titles, The Ideal Man and Sweet Talk, both debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list.

Mandy's Review: Peyton Lockhart and her sisters have been given the task to run their uncle's resort in Florida for 1 year and then it is theirs.  There is only one problem, well maybe more then one, and Peyton calls on Finn MacBain to help her out.  Julie Garwood is a masterful story teller.  I love the dominating men in her books, but I especially love Finn.  There is just something about his protectiveness that draws me in.  The twists and turns will keep you enthralled till the very end.  I highly recommend this book.  Julie Garwood is one of my go to authors.  I give it 4 stars.

Drawn Together by Lauren Dane 

About the book: Beauty is more than skin-deep…

Tattoo artist Raven Smith is blunt and hard, broken and jaded, dark and beautiful. While she doesn’t hide her painful past, she does keep a wall around her heart. She’s free sexually—but no one gets to the real Raven beneath the prickly exterior.

With a voice like smoke, Jonah Warner is a smooth-talking, highly successful attorney, with a body that should never be hidden by a suit. He’s the kind of man who never takes no for an answer and always gets what he wants. And what he wants is Raven. She’s a survivor, and he finds that incredibly alluring.

Jonah gets under her skin in a way Raven has never experienced. He makes her break all her rules—including her no-monogamy rule.

But when a figure from Raven’s past shows up at the tattoo parlor and drops a bomb into her life, their relationship will face the ultimate challenge…

Mandy's Review:  I have been waiting for this book.  We finally get to read Raven's story - what makes her tick, why the prickly exterior, what she is really like.  Jonah Warner is the one man who can get through to the real Raven and oh what a tale it is.  I absolutely love Lauren Dane; her writing is magical, real, emotional and entertaining.  Raven is a character who has been present in many of Lauren's other books, so it is great to finally see the real Raven blossom to life.  You can never go wrong with Lauren Dane.  I give it 5 stars.

  

Against the Ropes by Sarah Castille

About the book: He scared me. He thrilled me. And after one touch, all I could think about was getting more…

Makayla never thought she’d set foot in an underground mixed-martial arts club. But if anyone needs a medic on hand, it’s these guys. Trouble is, at her first sight of the club’s owner she’s the one feeling breathless.

All sleek muscle and restrained power, the man they call Torment plays to win at any cost. Whether it’s in the ring or in the bedroom, he knows exactly when to use a soft touch and when to launch a full-on assault. He always knows just how far he can push. And he’s about to tempt Makayla in ways she never imagined…

Mandy's Review: Makayla does not like violence, can not stand it.  So what is she doing helping her friend sell tickets at an underground fight event?  Then she sees him, Torment - fighter, man, and owner of the underground club.  What will happen next when these two collide.  Sarah Castille does a fantastic job of bringing this story to life.  Her words bring out the emotions of the story and the characters to life.  I was completely engrossed in the book and could not put it down.  A must read!!!  I give it 5 stars.

Viper by Patricia Rasey

About the book: Kane 'Viper' Tepes is one of the oldest living descendants of Vlad III. Vampirism is in his blood. So is being the President of the Sons of Sangue. Those who break motorcycle club rules that protect their coven are dealt swift punishment. No exceptions. Until one pretty little detective has him compromising his beliefs, and endangering his position as head of the MC.

Vampirism had Cara Brahnam turning tail and leaving behind her life in Pleasant. Now, ten years later, she's back as lead detective and wants to see the person responsible for draining the women of Lane County brought to justice, no matter what deal the gang of miscreants has struck with the sheriff. Or the fact that her number one suspect is the sole reason she fled in the first place.

Now someone has targeted Cara as the next victim and Kane must join in the hunt to find the ancient vampire that wants her dead.

Mandy's Review: Vampirism and a motorcycle club, plus a paranormal romance.  What a combination.  In this book we meet Kane Tepes (Viper) who is the head honcho of the motorcycle club and a Vlad.  Women are turning up dead and drained in his town and he doesn't like it.  Cara Brahnam is the lead detective on this case who also knows Viper from her past and she knows what he is.  Patricia does an awesome job of writing this story and keep the reader hooked.  It is an intriguing tale.  It is a great book.  I give it 4 stars.

  

Perfect Fling by Carly Phillips

About the book:  In the picturesque town of Serendipity, New York, three siblings have grown up in the shadow of their proud and respected police chief father. But what do love, fate, and fortune have in store for the next generation of Serendipity's finest?

Assistant D.A. Erin Marsden is Serendipity's quintessential good girl. The daughter of the former police chief, she's never made a misstep, content with her quiet, predictable life...or so she thinks. Until Cole Sanders shows up with heated interest in his eyes and shadows in his past.

After seven years of deep undercover work in New York, Cole returns to town to help his aging father and find his moral compass again. Not to get involved with wholesome Erin Marsden. Even as a rebellious teen, he knew a girl like Erin was off limits. But neither can resist their off-the-charts chemistry, and a one-night stand brings complications neither expected.

Then a case puts Erin in a killer's crosshairs, and Erin succumbs to Cole's take-charge attitude. As a bodyguard, he's the best. As a lover, he's even better. But there's more than Erin's safety at stake. And Cole must forgive the sins of his past and prove to himself--and to Erin--that he's capable of the love and the forever she so desperately needs.

Mandy's Review: Here we are back in Serendipity, which is a wonderful place to be.  Erin Marsden is a good girl and the ADA, Cole Sanders was the bad boy and just got out of a long term undercover assignment.  When these two get together it is off the charts, but trouble is lurking around the corner.  Carly Phillips is a brilliant author, she is one I always read because she never disappoints.  This tale will keep you guessing and crave more.  I love the way Erin and Cole come together and what they go through.  You have to read this book, you can never go wrong with Carly.  I give it 4 stars.