Jen in Bookland

The American Heiress: A Novel Synopsis: Traveling abroad with her mother at the turn of the twentieth century to seek a titled husband, beautiful, vivacious Cora Cash, whose family mansion in Newport dwarfs the Vanderbilts’, suddenly finds herself Duchess of Wareham, married to Ivo, the most eligible bachelor in England. Nothing is quite as it seems, however: Ivo is withdrawn and secretive, and the English social scene is full of traps and betrayals. Money, Cora soon learns, cannot buy everything, as she must decide what is truly worth the price in her life and her marriage. Review: It took me quite a while to get into The American Heiress . A friend lent it to me since she loves it, but man at first I couldn't figure out why. It opens with Cora before she leaves for Europe to try and buy a title. Really her mom is the one who wants that. She is rich so they can pretty much do what they want, though they have to be proper and go about it the right way. At first I r

Elect (Eagle Elite) Synopsis: Would you die for the one you love? Nixon Abandonato made his choice. And now he has to pay the price. Tracey is the love of his life, but being with him has made her a target of his family's enemies. The only way to keep Trace alive is convince the world she means nothing to him.  Trace Rooks has fallen irrevocably in love with the son of her family's sworn rival, and she knows in her bones nothing can tear them apart. Until Nix suddenly pushes her away and into the arms of his best friend... But Trace isn't ready to give up on a future with Nix--and if he won't fight for them, she will.  In the end, a sacrifice must be made. A life for a life. For what better way to cover a multitude of sins than with the blood of a sinner . . .  Review: I always am excited to read a Rachel Van Dyken book, but then once I do I am a little disappointed. They are good, light reads but not amazing. I enjoy them, but I always think the

The Boy Who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window Synopsis: Amber Walker and her older brother, Jake, have an abusive father. One night her brother's best friend, Liam, sees her crying and climbs through her bedroom window to comfort her. That one action sparks a love/hate relationship that spans over the next eight years. Liam is now a confident, flirty player who has never had a girlfriend before. Amber is still emotionally scarred from the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. Together they make an unlikely pair. Their relationship has always been a rocky one, but what happens when Amber starts to view her brother's best friend a little differently? And how will her brother, who has always been a little overprotective, react when he finds out that the pair are growing closer? Find out in The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window. Review: I was really excited to read The Boy Who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window , but unfortunately it was really not good. Apparently n

The Last Summer (of You and Me) Synopsis: Riley and Alice, two sisters now in their twenties, and as fiercely different as they are loyal, have spent every summer at their parents’ modest beach house on New York’s Fire Island. Each year, they return to the house and community they have known since they were children—and to Paul, the boy next door. But this summer marks a season of change: budding love and sexual interest, an illness, and a deep secret force all three to confront the increasing complexities of their lives and friendships. Review: The Last Summer (of You and Me) did not start off very good for me. Up until 50% I had a really hard time even focusing on the story. I am not sure why. Something about the way it was written did not keep my attention even when I was actively reading it. I kept finding myself thinking of other things. Then around half way through I was able to focus on the story. It still wasn't very good, but I did read the last half wi

Promise Me, Cowboy (Copper Mountain Rodeo) Synopsis: Sage Carrigan never meant to be the other woman. Unfortunately, bronco rider Dawson O’Dell neglected to mention he was married the night he invited her to his bed after they’d both placed first in their rodeo events. When his wife walked in on them – Sage was deeply hurt and humiliated.  After an accident in the ring the next day, Sage decides she’s quitting the rodeo–and cowboys—to become a chocolatier in her hometown ranching community, Marietta, Montana.  She’s doing just fine, but then Dawson shows up —five years later, with a little girl in tow. He’s here for the Copper Mountain Rodeo hoping to win big. But he’s also got plans of settling down with his daughter and buying a house—the very same one that Sage has been dreaming about.  He says he’s here for her and he’s making lots of promises. But can he keep them? Review: Promise Me, Cowboy was too short. I knew where it was heading and it wasn't

Collide Synopsis: Fated to love. Fated to break. Fated to die.  As a loner his entire life, Shay Pearce feels abandoned and left for dead. Being stabbed in the back more times than he could possibly count has left his trust broken beyond repair. However, all of that threatens to change the moment he meets Avalon. She’s flawless, friendly, and incredibly talented at breaking through Shay’s defenses—which drives him absolutely insane. But there’s something alluring about her upbeat attitude and playful sense of humor, and before he can stop himself, he’s falling for her.  When things take a turn for the worst, Shay discovers more about his world than he could’ve imagined in his wildest dreams. There’s far more to his existence than meets the eye. He knows one thing for sure: he has to fight the evil that haunts him. It’s the only way to save Avalon and finally get the vengeance that was always his. But some things were meant to be set in stone. If the course of fate cann

Beautiful Chances (The Beautiful Series) Synopsis: After losing her parents and sister in a tragic car accident, Lily distances herself from those still around her. As she solely focuses on her work, she refuses to form any emotional attachments in fear of struggling through another unbearable loss.  …until Kyle enters her life with his possessive and overbearing personality. Instead of running, Lily finds herself drawn to him. Helping her on a path to healing, Kyle stands by her side and lends her his strength. A bond is formed, but it is tested when the unthinkable happens. Can taking a chance on love conquer all? Review: Beautiful Chances was a strange read for me. I kept waiting for Kyle to turn into an abusive jerk. He was way too overbearing and possessive and I did not like him at all. But I guess Lily likes that. She likes her "sexy alpha with his badass, overbearing hot side." Yes, because overbearing is always high on my list of attribut

Handle with Care Synopsis: "Even tortured souls can be freed..."  All Abigail Miles’ wants is some time and space – to be left alone, hoping to find peace in solitude in the sleepy Oregon town she has fled to... that is, until she's discovered...  Haunted by her past, made a pariah by the media, Abigail feels like her entire life has been destroyed. But the gentle patience of widower Craig Port, and his young daughter, throws what Abby knows into doubt. Her profession is to know people, yet she is a total stranger to herself. She believes she doesn't deserve their kindness, their mercy or their love.  Can Abby learn to trust Craig's insights and risk what he has to offer? Or will she keep on running... from herself?  Handle with Care is a sweet contemporary romance, a journey of forgiveness, ownership, and recovery from trauma. Review: I finished Handle With Care yesterday, but am only getting to the review write up today which is

Love In Bloom (Finding Mr. Right) Synopsis: Dr. Paige Conrad needs Clay Reynolds' help. However, he can't give it because she and the rest of the town of Langley, Maryland, might discover his secret. Clay has no memory of the first twenty-five years of his life. The past and his father's rejection is behind him. Digging it up brings back nightmare he has fought for ten years to control.  After spending three years in underdeveloped countries following her parents' vision of healing, Paige has come to Langley to gain perspective on her life and help an old friend with his Clay  practice. Learning Clay was involved in a rock climbing accident and went through the rehabilitation process, she wants him to share his experience with a trouble teenager to give the boy hope.  Paige and Clay are inexorably drawn to each other. But can Clay trust Paige and share his secret? Can Paige dare to follow her own dreams. Review: I swear I have read Love in Bloom

Just One Reason Synopsis: As teenagers, Lindsay and Grady found a love together that few people are lucky enough to ever experience.  When Lindsay Ross decided to visit her aunt for the summer in a small lake town in New York, she didn’t expect anything other than an escape from her demanding parents. She certainly didn’t expect Grady Hawke. At the end of the summer, Lindsay and Grady made plans for their future and vowed to be together forever. Back in New York City, events beyond her control forced Lindsay to turn her back on Grady and their love.  Grady has spent the last five years trying to forget the one girl who broke his heart. But when Lindsay arrives back in town unannounced, will Grady get to know the woman she has become and find out the real reason she left him all those years ago? Or will he push her away for good? Review: Just One Reason was a welcome change from the not so good books I have been reading recently. I was in quite a funk and not e

My Cup of Tea: Summer of Love, Volume 1 Synopsis: It’s another suck-tastic summer for book nerd and baker, Sara Lee-Affen. She’s broke, she’s single, and she’ll probably die a virgin. At her beautiful cousin’s wedding, Sara meets a sexy and delicious stud muffin, Ian Forrests. He’s totally her cup of tea, that is until he laughs at her misery when a bee burrows into her ear. Yes, a dang bee. She’s dying (well not really) as he’s dying from laughter.  What a jerk. A smoking hot, Adonis of a jerk with strikingly green eyes, dark hair, and drool-worthy pecs and eight-pack abs. As luck and fate would have it, Sara keeps bumping into Ian all summer long and ends up working for him as a pastry chef at his failing bakery. Despite her better judgment, Sara falls for the sexy, badass rich boy. She discovers the truth about Ian: he’s a tortured soul who’s still pining for his deceased girlfriend, Sarah. One look at Sarah’s picture and poor Sara knows that she could never compete. Sh

Synopsis: Misty found out early in life that things just don't come easy. She has learned to trust no one, and that you can't depend on anyone but yourself when the chips fall. Finally free of the states clutches she sets out on a whirl wind adventure called LIFE.... But she never expected Drake.... Drake... is Use to being in the lime light just graduated from college. Wondering what's next? Misty is a welcome surprise. So different from his everyday mundane experiences.. Can two completely different people share a journey that could change both of their lives forever? Or will they end up destroying each other in the process? Escape to The UnKnown Review: The Unknown was not a very good book. The writing of the story was just not good. There was no real...it was just everything happened instantly and the conversations and everything were so unbelievable. The whole thing came off a bit clinical and too easy. It was just not good. I didn't

The Bourne Identity: Jason Bourne Book #1 Synopsis: His memory is a blank. His bullet-ridden body was fished from the Mediterranean Sea. His face has been altered by plastic surgery. A frame of microfilm has been surgically implanted in his hip. Even his name is a mystery. Marked for death, he is racing for survival through a bizarre world of murderous conspirators—led by Carlos, the world’s most dangerous assassin. Who is Jason Bourne? The answer may kill him. Review: After watching the movie The Bourne Identity I thought I would give the book a go. I really enjoyed the movie and most times the book is way better. Unfortunately this is one of the very rare times when the movie is way better than the book. I actually did not finish this book, my library loan expired before I managed to make it to the end. I only read 70% so...I usually have a very hard time not finishing a book once I start, but I just don't care enough to wait for this  book to come in again at the

Mud Vein Synopsis: When reclusive novelist Senna Richards wakes up on her thirty-third birthday, everything has changed. Caged behind an electrical fence, locked in a house in the middle of the snow, Senna is left to decode the clues to find out why she was taken. If she wants her freedom, she has to take a close look at her past. But, her past has a heartbeat…and her kidnapper is nowhere to be found. With her survival hanging by a thread, Senna soon realizes this is a game. A dangerous one. Only the truth can set her free. Review: *There may be spoilers from the first half of the book* Man I have no idea how this book received such praise from some people. I would think the reviews are all fake or something, but I have read rants on how amazing this book is from people I trust, people who wouldn't just say they loved it when they didn't. I don't get it. I really cannot wrap my head around it. It was not a good book. I have a really hard time not finishing a

Ten Tiny Breaths: A Novel Synopsis: Just breathe, Kacey. Ten tiny breaths. Seize them. Feel them. Love them . Four years ago Kacey Cleary’s life imploded when her car was hit by a drunk driver, killing her parents, boyfriend, and best friend. Still haunted by memories of being trapped inside, holding her boyfriend’s lifeless hand and listening to her mother take her last breath, Kacey wants to leave her past behind. Armed with two bus tickets, twenty-year-old Kacey and her fifteen-year-old sister, Livie, escape Grand Rapids, Michigan, to start over in Miami. Struggling to make ends meet, Kacey needs to figure out how to get by. But Kacey’s not worried. She can handle anything—anything but her mysterious neighbor in apartment 1D. Trent Emerson has smoldering blue eyes, deep dimples, and he perfectly skates that irresistible line between nice guy and bad boy. Hardened by her tragic past, Kacey is determined to keep everyone at a distance, but their mutual attraction i

Cornerstone (Souls Of The Stones) Synopsis: Epic Fantasy combines with Young Adult romance in this stunning new adventure set in a richly developed medieval world. When Emariya Warren learns enemy forces have captured her father, she'll do anything to save him. Anything. Even marry a mysterious prince she knows nothing about in order to rally the strength to arrange a rescue. During her journey to Torian's foreign castle, Emariya comes face to face with her mother's killers--and a deadly secret. Not only does Emariya possess a powerful but unexpected magical gift passed down through each of her families, the prince she's promised to marry possesses a third, and an ominous prophecy has warned the three gifts must never be combined. If she breaks her promise to marry Torian, she won't be able to save her father and if she keeps it, she may bring a curse upon everything she holds dear. Determining which choice is best won't be easy, but when sh

Wanting Synopsis: Jonah Beckett has been in love with his older brother's best friend, Laurie, since he was thirteen-years-old. When his boyfriend, Dirk, breaks up with him for refusing to put out, Jonah uses his heartbreak over the situation as an excuse to ask Laurie to teach him all about sex before he starts college in the fall. Problem is, he made Dirk up, and Jonah has no idea what will happen when Laurie finally finds out the truth. Review: I don't know why I continue to try and read novellas. It is rare that I find one that is actually good. The authors always seem to try and fit a full length story into not very many pages which just does not work. If anyone has any novellas suggestions where this is not the case, where it is a good story and does not try and do too much, please let me know.  Wanting was alright for a novella, but still not good. It didn't have much of a storyline and everything just moved so quickly. When you are not writing