A New Novel in the Haven Point series

REDEMPTION BAY
Haven Point
RaeAnne Thayne
HQN
ISBN:   978-0373785063
July 2015
Contemporary Romance

This second in the Haven Point romances is sure to delight readers.   McKenzie Shaw didn’t come to live in the town until she was about 10 years old.   The result of her father’s one night stand with a Latina woman, she came to his family when her mother died.   While both her father and stepmother have passed away she remains very close to her half sister, Devin, the local family physician.   Even though she is young in years, Kenzie is completely devoted to her small town and to her role as the mayor.

Kenzie is shocked when her high school crush, Ben Kilpatrick, returns to town to scope out a new setting for one of his business expansions.   His family has sold the boat building business that had kept Haven Point an economically viable community for years.   Kenzie and many other people in town have never forgiven Ben or his family.   Now a billionaire, Ben also finds himself living temporarily next to McKenzie and her beautiful poodle.

This delightful book is trademark Thayne, who is so skilled at taking everyday activities and weaving them into a story that gives us a window into life in a small town.   I only wish there had been a little more emphasis on the romance between Ben and McKenzie.   That said, this is a terrific book and I can’t wait until the next book, EVERGREEN SPRINGS, giving us Devin’s story.   A lovely end of the summer read!

Reviewed by Jeri Neal
Rating:   4

THE ART OF SINNING by Jeffries

THE ART OF SINNING
The Sinful Suitors Book 1
Sabrina Jeffries
Pocket Books
ISBN# 978-1-4767-8606-3
August 2015
Historical Romance

Sabrina Jeffries' new series starts off with an unlikely pair - an almost spinster and an American artist who wants to paint her. After seeing her at a wedding, Jeremy Keane knows he has found his muse for his next work of art. When he discovers that she is the sister to the Earl of Blakeborough, he is surprised when the Earl agrees to have her portrait painted in the hopes of securing her a marriage.

Lady Yvette Barlow agrees to this only because she needs to find a friend and she needs Jeremy's help in doing that. However, the more time they spend together, their attraction grows. Jeremy has secrets in his past that threaten his happiness with Yvette, who has her own trust issues where Jeremy is concerned. When Yvette discovers from his sister why he wanted to paint her, those feelings resurface. However, when everything is revealed, things are not quite as they seem for both of them.

There is a lot of sensual tension, heart-aching moments and secondary characters that keep the pace moving along. The art aspect is enticing, especially since Jeremy's known for painting some less than respectable women. I enjoyed this start to the series and look forward to the next installment. Sabrina Jeffries continues to write engaging and delightfully complex characters that keep readers returning for more.

Reviewed by Jennifer Jones
Rating: 4
1/2

New baseball series start by Jennifer Bernard

ALL OF ME
Love Between the Bases Series - Book One
Jennifer Bernard
Avon
ISBN# 978-0-06-237216-1
June 2015
Contemporary Romance

Minor League starting pitcher for the Kilby Catfish, Caleb Hart, has just come off of a horrific start when he literally runs smack into Sadie Merritt. Sadie has come to deliver a petition to remove the Catfish from town. From this moment, these two have sparks between them and it takes some coercing by the team's manager to get Caleb to run some PR with Sadie and get the Catfish back into the good graces of the Mayor. After devising a plan of action, they work together in changing the image of the team.

Things get a little more complicated when these two start having to deal with their attraction to each other. Yet Sadie has a big problem of her past coming back to haunt her in the form of a despicable ex-boyfriend that is from an influential family of the town. A small town has no secrets and Caleb is about to learn Sadie's. Sadie knows that it's just a matter of time before Caleb heads off to the big leagues, and what's left behind is something she will have to deal with, including her own heart.

First off, I'm a huge baseball fan. I grew up watching it with my family, watching my son play, sitting through minor league and major league games as any die hard fan loves to do. So when a romance novel comes along that involves a baseball player, it's a win win for me! As much as I found the book charming with it's quirky look at minor league life, I didn't quite feel connected to the characters or their romance as I wanted to. Sadie's previous relationship has kept her lying low, her tail between her legs so to speak. So when Caleb comes along, he helps give her confidence a boost that is needed for her to overcome it. Caleb, a pitcher, is cute, charming and devoted to everything he does, including Sadie. I wanted to enjoy this more than I did, but it was still an alright read.

Reviewed by Jennifer Jones
Rating: 3

          

A POUND OF FLESH

Sophie Jackson

Gallery Books

ISBN: 978-1-4767-9559-1

Contemporary Romance

June  2015

 

Kat Lane witnessed her father’s death from a gang of violent criminals when she was only nine years old. That nightmare continues to haunt her, even now at age 25; she honored her father’s death by becoming a teacher and working at Arthur Kill, a correctional facility. Her father had taught her “to give back” and working as a tutor to the facility’s inmates defines her father’s wish.

 

Wesley Carter is in trouble. As an inmate at Arthur Kill, he needs to qualify for parole. Unfortunately, his temper has made marks against him; his parole officer suggests he redeem himself by enrolling in classes at the prison. His tutor in English Literature is Kat, and Carter manages to get himself thrown out of her class on his first day. Kat manages to convince his parole officer to allow one-on-one lessons since Carter cannot keep his temper in check in a conventional class.

 

The romance between the two begins but it has to be kept a secret or Kat loses her job. The couple both have family relationship problems. With Carter, it is his brothers and for Kat, it is her mother. The two have a lot to overcome if their relationship is going to work.

 

This is definitely a romance novel; however, even though I don’t normally read this genre, there was enough of a fascinating plot to keep me entertained!

 

Reviewed by

Charlene McConnell

 

 Rating: 4

 

THE SUMMER OF GOOD INTENTIONS

Wendy Francis

Simon & Schuster

ISBN: 978-1-4516-6642-7

Women’s Fiction

July 2015

 

The Herington family always spends the month of July at the family’s Cape Cod house. Maggie, the organizer, makes sure everyone has a great time  However, this summer Maggie is facing an empty nest with her youngest attending kindergarten in the fall. She wants a foster child, but she has to convince her husband, a police officer, that a fourth child is the best for their family.

 

Jess is the middle sister. She loves her job, but her relationship with her husband Tim; not so much. There are problems both she and Tim are not willing to face. Will this be the last summer on the Cape as husband and wife?

 

Virgie is the youngest of the three and single. She loves her job as a television reporter and she has finally found a boyfriend who she thinks might be the one. She also has been presenting concerning physical symptoms and her family is worried. Virgie is also her father’s favorite, however, after her parent’s divorce, she is surprised at her dad’s behavior.

 

This year the vacation “at the Cape” will prove to be unlike any other in the past. This author has written a riveting novel of life and the unknown we all must eventually face.

 

Reviewed by

Charlene McConnell

 

Rating: 4