Andrea LaurenceReviews

Several years ago, Harlequin came up with a fantastic way to celebrate and make known real life causes like Miracle Flights For Kids (a charity that provides transport for kids in need of medical treatment) by incorporating them into fictional romances.

I liked the set up here, a billionaire pilot falls for a single mom while flying she and her son to medical appointments. I just found myself wishing this were a novel rather than a novella as the short page count left the romance feeling a bit on the rushed side.

The author touched on some character stuff that interested me like the mom’s guilt for thinking about someone other than her ill son and the pilot already hurting over losing contact with a child from a previous single mom relationship, but again, due to the length there just wasn’t time to explore those things as thoroughly as I would have liked, but this is still worth a try if you’re in the mood for a quick read that isn’t all fluff and honors a great cause.

Romance

Romance

This Harlequin Desire novel was perfection at it's finest! The romance novel had a wonderful pace and moved fast enough that I didn't get bored or want to put it down. I could hardly stop reading each chapter since it was highly addicting and I wanted to know what would happen with Tyler and Amelia!

Tyler and Amelia, two best friends, have a wild night in Vegas where they get married on a whim and discover they are pregnant. These two conflicting personalities must find a way to get along and solve their marriages woes and the problems that come along with expecting a baby with one of your best friends.

The plot was a very common used one in most novels, but I adore this wacky spin with these two very strong characters. I did wish there would have been a sequel or more chapters about the extent of Tyler and Amelia's relationship, but for a single novel it was excellent! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a quick read and a good romance! There was no cliffhangers either and the story ended in a nice way that made the novel come together perfectly!

Five out of five stars! A solid romance novel that is a quick read.

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

What Lies Beneath
3 Stars

Badly injured in a plane crash, a woman awakens with no idea who she is. Immediately introduced to family and a fiancé she has no recollection of, Cynthia Dempsey must rediscover herself and the man who has trouble reconciling this sweet and caring woman with the treacherous ice queen who betrayed him in the past.

The beginning of this romance is reminiscent of [b:Mirror Image|685788|Mirror Image|Sandra Brown|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344265614l/685788._SY75_.jpg|358067] by Sandra Brown, one of my all-time favorite mistaken-identity novels.

However, aside from the two women exchanging seats immediately prior to the crash, the plots are very different as Brown's heroine does not suffer from amnesia. Rather she assumes the other woman's identity in order to solve a mystery.

Back to this book...

"Cynthia" and Will are likable characters and their romance is engaging up to a point. As soon as the truth is revealed, Will's behavior leaves much to be desired. He leaves his intelligence and common sense behind, and ignores the facts to believe the worst about the heroine. This is exceedingly irritating and puts a damper on the relationship.

Another issue is the focus on clothing design. This might be my own personal issue as I am really not a fan of clothes or fashion, so this aspect of the storyline went right over my head.

All in all, this is quick read, but for anyone looking for an intense romantic-suspense thriller with similar themes, you cannot go wrong with Sandra Brown's masterpiece.

Molto carino, una lettura piacevole che mi sono gustata anche se nel finale avrei preferito che Claire avesse fatto “tirare il collo” a Luca un po’ più a lungo, se lo meritava proprio!

Amnesia story. This time the heroine is mistaken for someone else after a plane crash. This was a decent enough amnesia story for us aficionados. The heroine was super sweet and the hero here was really a bit of a non entity. He did have one fun asshat moment.

Good friends to lovers story, helped along by an unexpected marriage of convenience. Kal and Lana have been best friends for three years. Lana is the choreographer and a dancer for the hula show at Kal's Maui resort. They spend most of their free time together, except on those occasions when Kal lives up to his reputation as one of the Bishop Bachelors.

When Lana's older sister, Mele, is arrested on drug charges, her six-month-old daughter ends up in foster care. Lana petitions for custody, but as a single woman and dancer in the tourist industry, she worries about her success. Lana turns to best friend Kal and proposes a temporary marriage for Akela's sake.

I loved how Kal jumped right in to help. He's a little wary, as marriage has never been in his plans, but it's for Lana and only temporary. I liked his all-in attitude, from the traditional Hawaiian wedding to setting up the perfect nursery. Kal and Lana began the marriage as friends and determined to keep it that way. Neither wants to risk their friendship. However, between taking care of Akela and "playing house," the marriage soon begins to feel all too real. Add in the attraction that neither can deny, and it is obvious that their hands-off vow is in trouble.

Kal was aware of his attraction to Lana early in their friendship but fought it. He has no intention of ever marrying and knows that Lana has those dreams. Kal lost his parents ten years earlier and never wants to open himself up to that kind of pain again. So he limits himself to superficial encounters. Lana is attracted to Kal, but their friendship is too important to her. Besides, a man like him would never be interested that way in a woman from a family like hers.

I loved watching Kal and Lana's relationship grow and change. Before their marriage, Kal was a workaholic who spent more time at his office than at home. But with the arrival of Lana and Akela, suddenly, he had a reason to go home. Spending so much time together, it wasn't long before their attraction got the better of them. Kal was all for enjoying it while it lasted, but Lana is warier. She senses that it would be very easy for her to fall in love with him. I ached for Lana as she was proved right. When it was time for Akela to go back to Mele, that signaled the end of the marriage.

I hurt for Lana, who was brave enough to tell Kal how she felt. I hurt for Kal, too, because he was oblivious to his own feelings for her. I had to laugh when his brother, Mano, showed up at the hotel. Kal's misery rubbed off on his employees, and they called for help. It was fun to see the tables turned, as Mano gave Kal the same advice he had received a few months earlier (The Pregnancy Proposition). Once Kal saw the truth, I loved what he did with it. His big moment at the end was terrific. It's always great to see a strong man willing to put himself out there in public, all for love.

I enjoyed the setting of Maui for this book. The descriptions of the wedding and the dances were vivid and made me feel that I was there.

Terrific book. Paige has had a rough few weeks. Her boyfriend dumped her for her prettier sister. Then Paige found out she was pregnant with his baby. To make matters worse, her beloved grandfather died. In his will, her grandfather specified that Paige was the one he designated to take his ashes to Hawaii, to be interred with his shipmates on the Arizona. He even made the arrangements for the trip - first-class flight and luxury accommodations at a Waikiki resort. Paige was stunned to find herself in the penthouse suite at the Mau Loa hotel. It is far more than she expected, but so like her grandfather to spoil her that way. On her first night there, she runs into the hotel's owner, Mano Bishop, an incredibly handsome and sexy man who is also blind.

Mano has been blind since an accident when he was a teenager. Despite the challenges, he has become very successful. He rarely leaves the resort property, preferring to remain where he is comfortable and confident in his surroundings. He doesn't do relationships but indulges in flings with hotel guests once or twice a year.

I loved the first meeting between Paige and Mano. She's flustered and embarrassed about her clumsiness and floored by her immediate attraction to him. Mano is intrigued by the woman who isn't like any other woman he's met. Because he can't see, Mano depends on his other senses to learn about the people and things around him. It was fascinating to see the things that made an impression on him. Mano is determined to get to know Paige better and immediately makes arrangements to see her again.

I loved watching the relationship between Paige and Mano develop. Because of her work at a VA hospital, Mano's blindness does not fill her with pity or the need to baby him. She tends to lean the other way, and I enjoyed watching her push him outside his comfort zone. There were so many sweet scenes of their dates where Mano introduces Paige to the beauties and fun of the island. Both agreed at the start that it would only be a one-week fling, with neither expecting their emotions to become involved.

Mano has never forgotten that his high school girlfriend broke things off because she thought he'd be a burden. That feeling has stayed with him, making him determined to avoid any kind of permanent relationship. But Paige works her way past his walls, and he wants longer than a week with her. He doesn't recognize his feelings as love, and can't give her the commitment she needs.

Paige has two issues to overcome. The first is her pregnancy. She can't believe that Mano would be willing to raise another man's child. Paige also has some serious self-esteem issues. She considers herself to be very plain and that Mano wouldn't look twice at her if he could see. I especially loved how Mano saw Paige's inner beauty and worked to convince her of that beauty. I liked how she gained a bit of confidence, thanks to him, and the way it came out during that fantastic pool scene!

I ached for them both when the end of the week came, and neither could admit their feelings or get past their fears. Their parting did not go well, and some hurtful words were exchanged. It was fun to see Mano's grandmother call him out on his moping and give him the kick in the pants he needed. The ending was awesome. Mano's big moment was sweet and romantic, and I loved the reactions all around!

One of my favorite things about the book was the setting. I was born in Honolulu, though we left when I was only a year old. I returned with my husband when he was stationed there, and we lived there for four years. So many things in this book brought back wonderful memories of our time there, from luaus to the hotels on Waikiki to the beautiful beaches of the North Shore. Paige even had my favorite flavor of shave ice - Tiger's Blood!

Good book. Gabriel was the younger of the two Montoros sons, and the one with the reputation as a fun-loving, carefree playboy. When the family's homeland asked them to return to lead the country, Gabriel was happy that it was Rafe who would be stuck being the king, leaving him to continue his preferred lifestyle. That all came to a screeching halt when Rafe abdicated the throne to marry the woman he loved and the mother of his baby (Carrying a King's Child). Gabe had a very short time to learn what he needs to know, so he hired childhood friend and former crush Serafia to bring him up to speed. The former supermodel left the catwalk behind for a calmer, simpler life. She was happy with her consulting job and staying out of the spotlight. The last thing she expected was to find herself playing Pygmalion to a prince.

I really liked both Gabe and Serafia. In spite of the royalty/supermodel personas, both characters felt like real people with relatable issues. Gabe is one of those guys who seems to be the life of the party, and who everyone wants to be friends with. Though he gave a good impression of being carefree, Gabe suffered from some well-hidden fears. Years earlier he was kidnapped and held for ransom for a week before finding a way to escape. He now suffers from claustrophobia and panic attacks, something he doesn't talk about to anyone. Serafia was at the top of her profession when stress-induced health issues forced her to quit. The only way to avoid a relapse is to maintain rigid control over her feelings and actions.

I liked the development of their relationship. Gabe's reluctance to become king was glaringly obvious, and Serafia had no trouble calling him out for what she saw as his selfishness. The sparks flew between them as Serafia attempted to turn Gabe into the king that his people needed, while Gabe resisted at every turn. It wasn't until they arrived in Alma that Gabe seemed to finally accept what was happening. As they worked together on Gabe's transformation friendship and trust grew between them as well as passion. It wasn't long before Gabe realized that he wanted more, but Serafia feared what the spotlight would do to her. Challenges arose that played on their fears, and Gabe lashed out at Serafia with hurtful accusations. I wanted to shake him for the things he said and felt that he deserved every minute of the misery he felt. I liked his big moment at the end as he did a pretty good job of groveling. There was an interesting twist involving Serafia's father that put a new light on the rumors that had caused part of the blowup.

Good second chance story for a couple torn apart by infertility issues and pride. Scarlet and Mason had had a terrific marriage until the stresses of starting a family became too much for them. Just weeks away from divorce, Mason has come to Scarlet for help. His sister-in-law has died in a crash, and his brother is dying, leaving Mason to care for their baby girl. Jay doesn't know about the impending divorce, so Mason wants Scarlet to pretend everything is fine for Jay's final days.

This was an emotional roller coaster of a book. Scarlet has finally begun to adjust to Mason's absence and the end of their marriage. She had been blindsided by Mason's request for a divorce. She hasn't stopped loving him. Scarlet still hurts over the loss of the baby they'd adopted, whose birth mother decided she wanted him back. When Mason asks for her help, she is reluctant because she doesn't want to go through the pain of losing him again after the charade is over. She is also determined not to let herself get attached to baby Luna. I completely understood Scarlet's viewpoint. She had been through a lot and was simply trying to protect herself. I also knew that there was no way she was going to be able to resist Luna. I ached for her as she confronted her memories in the nursery and smiled as she overcame them.

Mason frustrated me for a good part of the book. Thanks to the unreasonable expectations of his father, Mason grew up expecting perfection of himself. When things aren’t going the way he expects them to; he tends to cut his losses and move on. While this may work in his business, in his personal life it has been a disaster. Mason blames himself for their lack of a family, decided that Scarlet would be better off without him, and asked for a divorce, all without actually talking to her to see what she wanted.

From the moment Mason and Luna moved in it was obvious that his and Scarlet's feelings for each other were as strong as ever, but so were their fears. Scarlet tried desperately to keep both Mason and Luna at a distance, but it was a losing battle. It didn't take long before both Scarlet and Mason started feeling hopeful about the future, but a part of each of them was also wary. Scarlet feared that if things got rough again, he would revert to his cut and run ways. I liked the way that she confronted Mason early on and explained her problem with him. Though he promised he wouldn't do it again, Scarlet had trouble trusting him. Mason still has bouts of self-doubt and can't believe that Scarlet will really be happy with him. Things are looking very promising for them until Jay's death. Mason has a hard time dealing with the loss of his brother and the guilty feelings brought on by what he sees as his happiness at his brother's expense and withdraws into himself. With Scarlet's fears of history repeating itself it doesn't take much to push her over the edge to a confrontation with Mason. I ached for the misery that they inflicted on themselves. I loved that it was hearing Jay's voice in a dream that finally pushed Mason into realizing the truth: "Climb down from the cross, Mason. We don't need another martyr in this family." I loved his big moment at the end and the way that he showed Scarlet the depth of his feelings. The epilogue had an unexpected and heartwarming twist to it.

This is the first book about the Newport brothers, a self-made real estate company, becoming one of the dynasties in Newport. This book is about Carson, the youngest Newport and CEO of the company. He never felt like he belonged into his family and the feeling of not belonging he has in common with the company’s PR agent, Georgia, heroine of the story. She was a foster child, had never really had a family. She and Carson have a very strong mutual attraction towards each other and so ones in a while control slips and they kiss. Georgia, feeling that the company is her family, doesn’t want to tread the delicate road of dating with the boss, while Carson in his mind strongly objects to an office affair and on the other hand can’t stop thinking about her.
At first I dove quickly into the story and after a couple of chapters and a thirty something pages I was bored. Nothing new (to me) was introduced, the story of a long lost father and a visiting mother I didn’t think it added much to the story. I thought after the thirty-ish pages, now that’s it, it’s the end. I had to wrestle myself through the rest of the story, but I didn’t like it that much. I got the feeling that the writer had some notes that had to be written into the story so the other writers of the series were prepared. I’ve read numerous books of Andrea Laurence and she always wrote her books so well (well documented, right amount of feeling etc) But I somehow missed it in this story and I really don’t like giving bad reviews. I’ve been putting it off for more than a week, but I had promised I would give an honest review. I am sorry I couldn’t be enthusiastic about the book.

I loved this book. I liked reading about Paige, not being very beautiful and noticeable, still being very spunky sometimes. That spunkiness was something I noticed later when she had her troubles lying by the pool and then I could relate it to her spunkiness which is required at her job. But I digress, about the book:
After her grandfather passed away Paige gets an all expenses-paid trip to Hawaii for a week in order to give her grandfather his last resting place. She suddenly lands in a very expensive hotel in the most luxurious suite. As she is so flabbergasted at where she is she bumps into the very sexy and blind hotel owner, Mano Bishop. He is very curious who this lady is and why she is on the island. She lands into bed with him and after a really bad breakup with a guy, she thought at first that a hot affair with the hotel magnate would be perfect, except that she is pregnant with her ex’s child.
Mano, though blind since his teenage years, is very successful as a hotel owner ad he has a flair for this business. He has an occasional fling but the week with Paige is a revelation to him. She never assumes a thing, she doesn’t want material things, but she has an inner beauty that almost blinds him. Can a week of explosive love be enough for him and Paige or do they have a future together?

The past is not forgotten….
I loved this book (even when folding my laundry I kept on reading, lol) and I couldn’t wait to finish it. The insecurities of the past crept up for both hero and heroine and I loved how they both handled it (at last). It was wonderful to read that the hero understood his heroine and loved her despite her imperfections and how he managed to reverse her character back to the girl she once was and still is when she’s not pressured to achieve.
Cecelia Morgan needs to take her business to the next level, and decorating the new luxury resort in Royal, Texas, is just the ticket. But at the meeting to pitch her designs, she comes face-to-face with Deacon Chase, her former flame from the wrong side of the tracks who grew up to be a billionaire hotelier. Turns out he's the silent partner in this project. Their chemistry is off the charts. Too bad she's spoken for.
But when the blackmailer terrorizing the Texas Cattleman's Club _targets Cecelia, revealing a past secret that ruins her present engagement, she turns to Deacon for comfort…only to soon be expecting!

After Lana’s sister is arrested on drug charges and must go to rehab, Lana petitions for custody of her sister’s baby to keep the infant out of the foster care system. Lana proposes a marriage of convenience to her very best friend Kal, since she thinks it’s the only way she’ll be awarded custody. Kal agrees. Once the two are living together under the same roof, it’s hard for them to deny the attraction that is pulling the two of them closer together.

The second book in the Hawaiian Nights duet, this was a cute friends-to-lovers story. Both Kal and Lana were very likable. Kal is the owner of a luxury hotel on Maui. Lana is one of the luau dancers at Kal’s hotel and she also choreographs the shows. I thought that their traditional Hawaiian wedding ceremony on the beach was lovely. At times the story seemed a bit too easygoing though and could have used more conflict. And I wish that more time had been spent out-and-about Maui than in Kal’s house. Still, it made for a nice enough read and I enjoyed when Mano and Paige (from the previous book) came to visit.

Review Posted on HarlequinJunkie.com

A Very Exclusive Engagement isn’t the first Andrea Lawrence book I’ve read, but I think it finally made me stand up and take note.

Liam and Francesca clash at first, he’s taking over the company for which she works, and in trying to save it, might be curtailing some of her projects. She mutters something about him in Italian and it allows him to take an active interest in her. He flags her down as she walks towards the elevator, and just after the doors close and the descent begins; the power goes out. Read More

After her grandfather’s death, Paige Edwards goes to Hawaii to have his ashes interred at the USS Arizona since he had been one of the few remaining survivors of the ship sunk in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Before he died, her grandfather had arranged the trip for her with luxury accommodations at a beautiful hotel/resort for the week preceding the ceremony. Paige is also pregnant and alone since her boyfriend dumped her for her sister, so she could really use this week on her own on the beautiful island of Oahu to try and think things through.

Mano Bishop is the owner of the resort, the Mau Loa. He has been blind since a car accident when he was seventeen, which also killed his parents. Mano has a run-in, literally, with his newest guest, Paige, when he goes to pay her a courtesy call. Although he can’t see her, he can just sense that there is something special about Paige that draws him to her, so he sets out to spend the week with her to get to know her better. The attraction turns out to be mutual, but it seems there may be too many obstacles keeping them apart.

This was such a lovely and beautiful romance. Paige and Mano made such a sweet and endearing couple and I really liked them both a lot. Paige always felt like a Plain-Jane and she has low self-esteem and feels that she’s invisible to people, but Mano really helped build up her confidence, and helped her to see what a beautiful person she really is. Mano didn’t do relationships because he didn’t want to be a burden to anyone because of his blindness, but with Paige, for the first time he hopes things might be different because he can’t imagine letting her go.

I thought the setting on the island of Oahu was just perfect for this beautiful romance. Loved the romantic walks on the beach at Waikiki. I was really glad that the USS Arizona Memorial was included in the story since it is such a fascinating part of history. I also loved Mano’s adorable service dog and constant companion, Hoku. This was a charming romance, and I’m really looking forward to the next book in the Hawaiian Nights series.

3 out of 5 stars. It had a good plot and intriguing characters. Yet, I wish I liked the last few chapters better than I did.

I recommend it for those looking for a sweet -- slightly erotic -- romance.

reunited true love

3 out of 5 stars. It had a good plot and intriguing characters. Yet, I wish I liked the last few chapters better than I did.

I recommend it for those looking for a sweet -- slightly erotic -- romance.

THE CEO'S UNEXPECTED CHILD by Andrea Laurence is part of the Billionaires and Babies continuing series from Harlequin Desire, but don't worry you don't have to read the other books to feel a connection to this series or these characters. Fans of the Desire line know they always offer great reads. This one is NO different. The characters are realistic, engaging and believable. The storyline is at once heart wrenching, believable and at the same time hard to believe. It's one of those lines that you say "this could never happen in real life" but then you realize wait it HAS happened in real life, not the falling in love part but the mix-up at the Fertility Clinic. Watching Claire and Luca navigate the struggles they each face with the mix-up, their feelings for each other, the attraction and the love is both endearing and heart-breaking. I loved the whole story. And I'm fascinated by the fact that author Andrea Laurence was able to make this book feel so much longer than the mere 192 pages it says. Not in a bad way,but in a way that made it feel as though you were PART of the story. You were there as Luca and Claire found out about the mix-up, came to terms with what it means and had to deal with the fall out. This is one of those romance novels that leaves you sighing and saying wow what a great story. Fans of the Desire line are going to find in THE CEO'S UNEXPECTED CHILD a read that will keep them up all night and not let go. You'll be thinking about this one long after the last page is turned or swiped. You'll be smiling but still you'll be thinking. Honestly I feel like I need to re-read the story just to make sure I didn't miss anything by reading so fast. I highly recommend this one to anyone seeking a quick read that will have you feeling everything from disbelief to humor to love......you will go through it all along with the characters. I can't wait for more!

Very good and very emotional book. Claire became a widow when her husband was killed in a car accident, accompanied by his mistress. Then she gets word that through a mix-up at the fertility clinic her daughter's father is actually another man, one who wants shared custody of little Eva. Luca had given up any hope of ever being a father after a devastating illness when he was a teen. When he discovers that he has a daughter thanks to the clinic mix-up there's no way he can walk away. But what are his chances of convincing her mother without a long and painful custody battle?

I must admit that my first impression of Luca was of a cold man who is only interested in getting his way. His threats against Claire really had me wanting her to fight back. But that quickly faded when his thoughts and feelings were described and I could see how much having a child would mean to him. I liked seeing the solution that he came up with, of the three of them spending a month together, getting to know each other. It also said a lot about Claire that she could see the benefit and was able to agree. I also liked the way that she had the graciousness to invite him to meet Eva before they left on their trip.

This is where Luca really began to shine. I loved the way that he was immediately enchanted by Eva and the effect that she had on him. Claire also began to realize that there was more to him than the ruthless businessman she first thought him to be. Something neither of them expected was the flare of attraction between them, something both were uncomfortable with. Luca had been burned by another woman and has serious trust issues when it comes to them. He had also determined long ago that a family was something he would never have. Claire no longer trusts her judgment when it comes to men, thanks to her husband's lies and infidelity. She isn't about to risk her heart again.

I loved their time at Martha's Vineyard. Claire quickly came to see that Luca would be a wonderful father to Eva. Luca also discovered that Claire was not as unreasonable as she had seemed before. I loved seeing them get to know each other and how easily they worked together as a family. I loved Luca's protectiveness toward Claire when he found out about her husband's treatment of her. She had never experienced that kind of caring and it only added to her growing feelings for him. Luca was also beginning to care for Claire, but tried to suppress those feelings. He was, however, willing to use her feelings to convince her that being married was the best option for them. He was also determined to keep the truth of his illness from her, as he felt it made him less of a man. It was interesting to see that Claire could tell that he was holding back on something important and that she was determined to get the truth from him before moving further with a relationship.

I loved seeing them grow even closer by the end of the trip. Luca was still guarding his feelings and I was sure that something was going to happen to crack the wall around his heart. And when it did, he made the world's biggest idiot of himself. I ached for Claire but loved the way that she stood up for herself. It was wonderful to see her call Luca out on his cowardice and stand strong. It was very satisfying to see him have to admit that she was right and do something about it. I loved his big moment at the end, and the twist that Claire added to it.

I loved Luca's family and the obvious love and support they had for each other. I could also understand why he had kept Eva a secret from them for so long, as they were certainly overwhelming as a group. It was sweet to see the way that they all embraced Claire right away. I also loved seeing Gavin from His Lover's Little Secret. He got quite a laugh out of Luca's reaction to Claire and I'm sure he could see where it was heading. I also liked his support of Luca at the end, and how he backed up Claire's challenge. His comments after Luca got the results of his test were pretty funny.

Very good book with some fun parts and some deeply emotional ones. Natalie is a wedding planner who is excellent at her job, but doesn't believe that love really exists. She has seen too many marriages fail, including those of her own parents. In her opinion it is all hormones and doesn't last. Lust is fine - indulge and move on. When she sees Colin again she would love a chance to fulfill her teenage fantasies with him.

Colin is just as attracted to her. The problem for him is that he isn't into casual flings any longer. He is looking for the woman that he can build a future with, and he can see Natalie in that role. He can't believe that she is so anti-marriage. He had been married once before, to another woman who hadn't wanted marriage, but he had convinced her. He didn't intend to do that again.

So, though the attraction is there, they agree to be just friends as they work together to give Colin's sister the best wedding possible. The whole wedding planning was very strange. Colin was determined to give his sister Lily a dream wedding, and didn't understand why she was so uninterested in being part of the planning, leaving it all in Colin's hands. It was very interesting to see the way that he ended up just going with so many of Natalie's recommendations.

Another thing that surprises Colin about Natalie is her anti-Christmas attitude. Once he finds out why, he understands, but he's determined to change that. He bets her that she will like Christmas by his sister's wedding or he will buy her tickets for a trip to South America. I loved the way he started out slow, but began to up his game bit by bit. It was fun to see her build new and better Christmas memories thanks to Colin.

Spending as much time together as they do, their attraction soon overwhelms their vow to stick to friendship. Both of them discover that their connection is deeper than just the physical, but what they do with that knowledge is an indication of their own personalities. Colin wants to believe that now that love has entered the picture, Natalie's opinion of marriage will change. Meanwhile, Natalie is afraid of the feelings Colin has raised in her, and that like the others she has seen, won't last, leaving her heartbroken in the end.

Colin made big plans to show Natalie how he felt, and they went quite well until that moment at the Grand Old Opry. Then he went too far, and I hurt for both him and Natalie. Natalie was too afraid to trust her feelings and his, and the only thing she could do was run.

They still had to face each other for the rehearsal and wedding for Colin's sister. While standing in for the bride at the rehearsal, Natalie finally begins to face her fears and realize what she really wants, but getting Colin to listen is a whole different problem. When it came time for the wedding, I wasn't at all surprised by what Lily did. I loved Natalie's big moment, and how she dealt with the wedding crisis. I saw it coming, but that didn't make it any less romantic.

I loved the epilogue and seeing where all four couples are a year later. It was an excellent wrap up to the series.

Series: Brides and Belles (Book 3)

What happens when a fake wedding date gets all too real?

Pretend to be famous bachelor Julian Cooper's girlfriend? Some women might be thrilled with the request -- not Gretchen McAlister. Her job is planning weddings, not being the best man's date. But after Julian's latest celebrity breakup, "ordinary" Gretchen is the perfect PR ploy.

Julian is against the whole plan…until he meets Gretchen. Honest and beautiful -- even beneath her fancy makeover -- his new "girlfriend" makes him want something more, something real…

Fun book. The wedding planning service that Gretchen and her friends own is hosting the wedding of a music superstar. The groom's best friend, Hollywood star Julian Cooper, just broke up with his girlfriend, so his agent hires Gretchen to be Julian's "girlfriend" during the wedding events. Gretchen is wary, but the money offered will allow her to fulfill her dream of visiting Italy, so she says yes.

Gretchen is not very comfortable around men. She has spent her life feeling unattractive just because she is short and curvy instead of tall and thin. She doesn't think Julian will be at all interested in her as his date, but she goes through the planned makeover anyway. I loved the way that it gave her a new view of herself, even though she didn't think it would make her any more appealing to Julian.

The first meeting between them is a bit awkward, as Julian isn't sure it's necessary and Gretchen is sure that he won't be interested. But there's something about Gretchen that draws Julian in, and he's suddenly more than willing to give the scheme a chance. I liked how he tried to put her at ease and his insistence on "practicing" so that their relationship looks real. Julian realized how much he liked being with a woman who seemed to be unaffected by his stardom and he really started to enjoy their time together. I loved the way that he told Gretchen about how fake Hollywood women are in order to help her see that she has nothing to be afraid of.

I really liked seeing the way that Julian's attention helps Gretchen gain confidence in herself. The attraction between them is there from the beginning, though it takes a little while for her to accept that he just as attracted to her. There's a little hiccup in their growing relationship when Gretchen reveals the basis for her discomfort, but once Julian recovers he is everything she could hope for. Gretchen also has an effect on Julian. Her joy in her work is a positive influence on him, as he struggles with his need to continue filming hits and his desire to portray something with more substance. As they grow closer he opens up about the secret he has kept from the rest of the world, happy to have her support during a crisis.

When that secret is revealed, he reacts badly. He's hurt to think that she's like all the rest and says some terrible things to her. Gretchen is devastated to think that he believes she would do such a thing. When the true culprit is revealed (and I didn't see that one coming) he realizes just how stupid he was. I liked that he knew he had some serious grovelling to do, and how he went about doing it. I did feel that Gretchen could have made him work just a little bit harder before she forgave him. Overall, the ending was very satisfying.

Reclaimed by the Rancher by Janice Maynard
Series: Texas Cattleman's Club: Lies and Lullabies (Book .5)

Only the fiancé she left in the dust can help her!

To fend off a mysterious oil company's aggressive buyout offer and save her family land, Lucy Peyton can only turn to one man for help. Yes, she'd practically left Jeff Hartley at the altar, but she'd had her reasons. Such as catching the rich rancher kissing her best friend before the wedding! But now, face-to-face with Jeff on his doorstep, she realizes the chemistry between them is as strong as ever and panics.

If Lucy wants his help, she'll have it—on his terms. She'll also receive a lesson in what she missed when she ran. Because in the end, Jeff Hartley always gets what he wants…no matter how long he has to wait.

Short story/prequel to the series, found on the Harlequin website and in the back of the November Desire books. It begins with Lucy showing up at Jeff's for the first time in two years, ever since she cancelled their wedding the day before it was to happen. Jeff is stunned, and none too happy to see her, remembering what her desertion felt like.

Lucy is desperate to keep her cousin from selling their family land to an oil company, she goes to Jeff for help. She's still hurt by the way he betrayed her, but believes that he'll be willing to do what's needed to protect the land. She doesn't think that the man she's worked so hard to forget can still attract her but he does.

Jeff can't believe that Lucy had the guts to come to him for help, but has to admit she knows which buttons to push to get him to agree. He's not going to make it easy for her, though, and lays down some conditions. He's determined to either get her out of his heart forever, or take the future they should have had from the start.

I liked the way that Lucy wanted to protect the family land. She seemed to have a realistic view of her cousin, though he insists that this time will be different. I'll be interested to see if there's any followup in future books. When she confronts Jeff about what happened at the rehearsal dinner, I could see the problem from both sides. Lucy felt betrayed that Jeff was kissing her maid of honor, and Jeff was furious that she never gave him a chance to tell her what happened. She simply reacted, without showing enough faith in him to want the truth. Jeff made his own mistakes by giving in to wounded pride and not insisting.

The heat between them when they met for dinner to discuss the deal was intense. Jeff was determined to show her what she had missed. Though his method was a bit underhanded, if she hadn't been willing I'm sure he wouldn't have done it.

The confrontation with Kristin went just the way I expected to and I didn't feel badly for her at all. I did feel for Lucy, whose feelings of betrayal were brought back to the surface, but with a different focus. The ending was good, especially with Jeff insisting on not waiting to get on with their future.

Good friends to lovers story. Amelia and Tyler have been best friends since high school. In a lighthearted pact they promised that if neither was married by their tenth reunion they would marry each other. Fast forward ten years to that reunion and, fueled by a little too much tequila they follow through on that promise. They also had a passionate wedding night, but in the light of day decided that they were better off as friends.

Tyler has a job that keeps him traveling, so it's several weeks before he gets to Nashville to talk to Amelia about their divorce. Amelia is ready for him, but there's a little kink in the plan - she's pregnant. She's still fine with the divorce, but Tyler isn't. He wants to do the whole family thing with her and their baby.

This is where things get complicated. Tyler doesn't want to be a part time father. He feels that he and Amelia can stay married and raise their child together. It doesn't matter that they aren't "in love", they are friends, which is better. Tyler was in love once before and it ended badly, so he isn't going to risk his heart again. Amelia doesn't agree. She has been planning her wedding since she was five and has been waiting for the perfect groom. She and Tyler may be friends but she sure doesn't see him stepping into that role. She wants a marriage like the one her grandparents have, based on true love. So she challenges Tyler to make her fall in love with him in just one month.

I liked Tyler. He really wanted them to be a family and was willing to do whatever he could to make it happen. Having been friends with Amelia for so long, he knows her really well, so he knows what buttons to push. He listens to her requirements and actually tries to fulfill them. One bad thing he does is tries to hold back his feelings to protect his heart. He doesn't see that the way Amelia has always been so important to him is an indication of his true feelings. I loved seeing him trying to do things that would make her happy. It was especially nice to see him help her with the food prep for one of the weddings.

I got a bit frustrated with Amelia. She had this unrealistic view of the perfect marriage and the perfect groom. I wanted to shake her and tell her to grow up. She also had a real aversion to accepting overt signs of caring from any man. Her father is the overprotective type that didn't encourage any kind of independence, and that makes it hard for her to accept that kind of help from any man. She sees it as taking over rather than caring. It takes awhile for her to see the difference in the way that Tyler treats her. When she lays down the rules for him, she forgets that he would see it as a challenge. She isn't sure what to make of all the things he does.

As the days of the challenge go by, I loved seeing them get closer. Their friendship was still there, but the attraction added another level to it. But both of them were so busy protecting themselves that they couldn't see the love that was already there. The scenes at the house, then at the hospital were heartbreaking and I cried for both of them. I loved the talk that Amelia had with her grandmother and Tyler's sudden appearance. The ending was sweet and I loved the epilogue. I can't wait for the rest of the series.