Last week Kate and I (Anne) were on the phone and she mentioned that she’d checked her FIRST out from the library again. Her FIRST, the very first romance novel she’d ever read, the one that made her fall in love with romance. We both wondered if it would still be as good now as it was then. (I’ve never read it, I just wondered with her.) So, she read it, loved it, and decided to write up a review for us. So here’s to firsts! What was your first romance novel? Would it still be good today? ~Anne
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Genre-historical, touch of paranormal
Series – St. Leger #1
Reviewed by Kate
When I was 19 or 20, I ran across The Bride Finder in the check out lane of our local Shopko. The title alone fascinated me. I bought it without even reading the back. It turned out to be my first romance, one of my best impulse buys, and still one of my favorites to this day.
Anatole St.Leger comes from a rather strange family. Some of his ancestors have been conjurers, clairvoyants, exorcists, sorcerers, etc. Anatole’s own powers include seeing visions of the future, sensing a person’s presence, and levitating objects.
One of the family’s unique members is the Bride Finder, a person able to locate the one true mate for each St.Leger male. Anatole’s father chose to marry someone who was not chosen by the Bride Finder. Anatole’s mother ended up being terrified of her son and his powers. As a result, Anatole grew up feeling unloved and shut off from the world. Reluctantly, he sends the Bride Finder out to find his one true bride, determined to keep his powers a secret from her. It would crush him to have another person he loves be terrified of him.
When Madeline arrives at Anatole’s castle, she find herself facing a husband who won’t open up to her and a house full of secrets. Ever a logical person, she is determined to show Anatole the truth behind all of his family’s legends and myths. Little does she know…
A magical journey of Madeline fighting her way to the heart Anatole locked away years ago, and Anatole doing his best to keep himself from falling in love. I don’t think I can say enough to recommend this book except:
1. This is the book that I most regret donating when we moved, and
2. When I checked this book out from the library, even my husband got excited about rereading it (I made him wait until I had finished it though).
Month: January 2013
All Over You by Emily Snow
Grade-B+
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-Low
Series-Devoured #0.5
Reviewed by Kay
This is the prequel to Emily Snow’s Devoured series. It is about the events that led up to the night Lucas and Sienna almost shared together. Lucas is a rock star and Sienna is the wardrobe assistant at the video shoot for his band. He sees her and decides he must have her. No matter what. He pursues her and she finally gives into his invitation to dinner.
Sienna is a shy and kind person. Almost too soft hearted if you ask me. She tried to rebuff Lucas but to no avail. She was just in awe and over her head where Lucas was concerned. He takes her to his house where they have dinner and then the seduction starts. Sienna is right there with him the whole way until he brings out the handcuffs. She refuses and all bets are off now. He throws her out and that ends the story pretty much.
I liked having the prequel to read even if I read it after the first book. It filled in the blanks a little bit. I would recommend this story and the first book in the series. Good reads. Can’t wait for book three.
Raphael/Parish by Alexandra Ivy and Laura Wright
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Bayou Heat #1
Reviewed by Kay
These joined novellas start a co-authored series by Alexandra Ivy (Guardians of Eternity series) and Laura Wright (Mark of the Vampire series). Ivy wrote the first novella and Wright the second one. Raphael is a Pantera puma shifter and Ashe is an abused and neglected girl from town that has spent most of her life caring for her alcoholic mother. The two met when she came to the Cougar’s Den bar to pay off her mother’s tab. They have sex, Raphael takes away her memories about that night and Ashe realizes six weeks later she’s pregnant.
Raphael can’t seem to find her but he can smell she’s pregnant and that’s a huge thing because Panteras have been infertile for the most part. He hunts her down and kidnaps her to protect her from people who want to harm her and the baby. She is hesitant at first but she knows she’s in love with him, so she just goes with it.
Parish is a Hunter for the Pantera and also a puma shifter. He’s sent to get Ashe a doctor to care for her until the baby arrives. Parish also hates humans as one was responsible for his sister’s death years before. He sees Julia and falls for her instantly, which is humorous to his fellow Panteras. They kind tease him about it. Julia had just lost her job, her home and her boyfriend before Parish kidnaps her. She not only has to come to grips with her captors but also face the fact that the boyfriend she lost wasn’t really anything to lose. She bonds with Parish instantly and their love grows quickly. Ashe is attacked and that’s the cliffhanger for the next story.
I love Alexandra Ivy and read her Guardians series and I have read Laura Wright also and enjoyed her but this just didn’t click for me. It was hot which I love and appreciate in my paranormal books but that was about it. This review is, as always, just my opinion but I don’t think I’ll read anymore in this series. I’m very picky about my paranormal, so perhaps I’m overly critical. Both of these authors are absolutely fabulous and I am disappointed that I didn’t enjoy the stories.
Dirty Girls' Good Books 