Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis

Why I read it:  I picked this up from NetGalley. I'm a fan of Shalvis and enjoyed the previous Lucky Harbor books.

What it's about: (from Goodreads)  Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his lean, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he's gone . . . 

For the first time in his life, Ty can't bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn?t?including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all . . . anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.

What worked for me (and what didn't): Instalment 4 of 6 of the Lucky Habor series, this is the first book in the second trilogy.  The first was about the sisters Tara, Maddie and Chloe. This trilogy features the "Chocaholics", three friends, Mallory, Amy and Grace, who bond over chocolate.   It was fun to return to Lucky Harbor, catch up on their Facebook page and some of the other characters (I'm looking at you Lucille).  The girls from the first trilogy don't appear and their men are barely mentioned or only have small parts to play.  You can absolutely start here in the series if you haven't read any of the previous books (although I have enjoyed them all).

August Ice by Dev Bentham

Why I read it:  The author offered me a review copy.

What it's about:  (from Goodreads)  It takes a special kind of person to work in Antarctica. Max Conway, an ex-Navy Seal, loves working at the bottom of the world. Like any other diver, he's tough and hard drinking. Half the year he's stuck in the States traveling the commercial dive circuit and hitting gay bars every night. The other six months he's lead safety diver at McMurdo Station in Antarctica, reveling in the cold blue Antarctic Sea. The only drawback to life way down under is that Max feels like he has to tuck his libido into storage while he's on station, stashing all those free condoms for use back up north.

That is until Andre Dubois, a gorgeous French scientist, shakes up his world. Not only is Andre out and proud, he's sober as the day is long. And the days are long during an Antarctic summer. Max must choose between his comfortable inebriated closet and a life in the sun with Andre.

What worked for me (and what didn't): I enjoy this author's voice and loved the idea of the setting.   I also love broken/tortured heroes so I was pretty happy to dive in to this book (pardon the pun).  The descriptions of Antarctica and life at McMurdo Station were interesting and felt authentic.  I'd love to visit Antarctica (well, except for the cold) - I guess reading about it will have to do for now.

Sophia's Secret (aka The Winter Sea) by Susanna Kearsley, narrated by Carolyn Bonnyman

Why I read listened to it: I've become a Susanna Kearsley fan and when I had a choice of reading The Iron Duke (Meljean Brook) or Sophia's Secret (both of which I have in print) I decided to "read" both at once and downloaded the audiobook from Audible. 

When this book was released in the US it was renamed The Winter Sea and the US audiobook release won narrator Rosalyn Landor an audie award this year.  I'm not a huge fan of Landor audie or not, so I went with the Bonnyman option - she narrated Mariana and I enjoyed her narration very much so I chose this version which, apart from the title, is exactly the same. 

What it's about: Carrie McClelland is a successful historical fiction writer. She is writing a novel about the Jacobite rebellion of 1708 and travels to Scotland to attend the christening of her agent and BFF's child.  While there, she visits the ruins of Slains Castle, where The Dowager Countess of Erroll and her son the Earl of Erroll lived during that time, they both having great influence and involvement in the rebellion.  Her book hasn't been coming together and she decides to relocate to Cruden Bay, near Slains and start again, with a "point of view" character.  That person is not supposed to be real, but rather someone who can "link the scenes together by her presence".  When Carrie gives this character the name Sophia Paterson after one of her ancestors, she thinks it is a deliberate, conscious choice. She also thinks the ideas about her book, which are coming thick and fast now, are subconscious.  She's wrong on both counts.    

Firelight by Kristen Callihan

Why I read it: I bought this one a while back after hearing the buzz.  More recently Mandi at SmexyBooks loved it and I moved it up my TBR. 

What it's about: (from Goodreads)  Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . .

Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask. 

What worked for me (and what didn't): Generally speaking I'm a fan of masked hero/Beauty and the Beast stories.  Unfortunately, this one didn't work for me as well as I'd hoped.  Perhaps it was at least partly that I'd just finished The Iron Duke (which I felt was much better written) or maybe it was a hangover from listening to some wonderful Susanna Kearsley novels on audio (her writing is just beautiful).

July Reads

on Paper/eBook

A Little More Scandal by Carrie Lofty - B+   This recently released novella is a prequel of sorts to Flawless and the just now released Starlight and features the patriarch of the Christie family.  I've heard good things about Ms. Lofty's books but had never read one before. A 99c novella is a good way to test the waters with a new author.  I do think it is hard to write a complete story in such a short word count so I was especially pleased with my reading experience.  William Christie is a self made made, a large, arrogant, boorish Scot who is tolerated in Society because of his wealth and a previous advantageous marriage (he is now a widower).  Catrin Jones is a Welsh nurse who, on returning from the Crimea, was the only survivor of a shipwreck.  She realises she will have notoriety for a short time and wishes to use that time to find a suitable husband.  William wants shares in a newspaper and his part of the bargain is her story (which she has been notoriously closed mouth about).  Both have mercenary goals but both are deeply attracted.  I enjoyed the banter and the curious honesty between them.  It definitely made me want to read both Flawless and Starlight - and there are lengthy excerpts from both in the back.  Well played Ms. Lofty.

Sweet Talk by Julie Garwood - See my full review here.

Seven Day Loan by Tiffany Reisz - C-/D+  I found this hard to grade because although the story was written well, ultimately I found parts of the story distateful.  Also, it's not so much romance as erotica. I think I may have missed something. Maybe it is something to do with The Siren (which I haven't read yet)? I definitely got the sense that this was related to another book.  I think I would have had a better connection if I had understood the context more clearly but as it was, it felt a bit like a mid book excerpt rather than a complete story. There was something a bit unsavory and unsettling about Eleanor's background and primary relationship. Daniel seemed nice enough but I wasn't 100% sure about Eleanor's ability to give consent.