Category: Reviews-Sourcebook(2010)

TITLE: A Secret in Salem
AUTHOR: Sheri Anderson
PUB DATE: November 2010
PUBLISHER: Soourcebooks
PAGES: 309
SOURCE: Received from publisher

ABOUT THE BOOK:
On the winding roads leading to Monaco, a convertible careens off the road and over the cliffs-killing a mother and leaving her distraught daughter Amelia in critical condition. Amelia’s accident reveals that she is not truly her father’s daughter. Against her aristocratic fiance’s wishes, Amelia sets out on a quest to find her biological parents that leads her to Salem. She begins a determined investigation of the denizens of the city and tracks down the possibilities- Patch and Kayla, Bo and Hope, John and Marlena-gobbling up every bit of history she can find. As she uncovers secrets and scandals, she finds herself growing dangerously close to the truth. (From Good Reads)

Marlena & John have never been so close, and yet so far apart…

Marlena’s love, John, has been paralyzed for two years, and she is becoming desperate. Although her love for him has never waned, she must find a cure before they drift too far apart as man and wife. But John’s illness may not be all that it seems, and the truth could tear them apart forever.

On the winding roads leading to Monte Carlo…

Charlotte Gaines, daughter of one of the world’s richest men and one of the hottest fashion designers, discovers a hidden truth about her family that she never suspected. It sets her on a quest that will uncover long-buried secrets, hidden passions, and dangerous mysteries…all leading to a city called Salem, and a revelation that will change all of their lives forever. (From Publisher’s Website)

MY THOUGHTS:
I have to send out a huge THANK YOU to Liz from Sourcebooks (who I got to meet at BEA and when I was in Naperville this summer) who emailed to ask if I would be interested in reading A Secret In Salem. She didn’t have to ask me twice. I think that might have been one of the fastest email replies.

Days of Our Lives is one of my favorite all time Soap Operas and I started watching it back in 1988. I watch it all the time and its sad to see your favorite characters leave the show either by death (Alice Horton on the show and in real life) or their contracts expire.

The reason I started to watch it back in 1988 was because of Mathew Ashford, who played Jack Devereaux. I thought I would include this picture taken roughly around 1990 or so when I got to meet him when he came to Montreal. He was so sweet.

Anyways, back to my review. I LOVED, LOVED this book. You don’t have to be a fan of Days to read this but if you are you will realize that the book takes off where the characters left such as John and Marlena, Belle, Shawn and Claire, and Abby and Chelsea. Do you remember when John and Marlena left? Well we find out that they are living in Switzerland and John was paralized when he left and no idea why. Well the answers will be revealed. Plus John has a few secrets of his own that as your reading the book you wonder what John is up too and could it possibly ruin his relationship with Marlena. I mean what man makes his workers sign a confidentally agreement about his treatment and Marlena isn’t to know? Well John Black does. I was curious to see what John was doing.

Belle, Shawn and Claire left Salem and decided to see the world aboard the Fancy Face IV. They are in Monte Carlo when life changes from them. Belle has a secret that could possibly tear up hers and Shawn’s relationship. Plus she has some good news to share with Shawn which the reader can almost guess right away what it is but then as you are reading you wonder more about it.

WE are introduced to some new characters, siblings Charlotte, Chance and Jackson, their rich parents Olivia and Richie. They are the couple behind OMG a fashion design label.

I was curious to see how they would play into the storyline and it kept me reading and turning the pages to find out plus a few late late nights.

When Olivia suddenly dies in a car crash The Gaines secrets are revealed and they especially hurt Olivia the most because she begins to question her life and changes her world as she knows it.

So, if your a fan of Days then I have to say you must read this. You won’t be disappointed. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series called A Stirring in Salem (February 2011) and A Scandel in Salem (May 2011). I am not sure if all the books are linked together but from the sounds of it A Stirring in Salem might pick up where this one finished.

TITLE: Take A Chance On Me
AUTHOR: Jill Mansell
PUB DATE October 2010
PUBLISHER:Sourcebooks
PAGES: 432
SOURCE: I received an ARC from the publisher. Thank You Danielle.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Cleo Quinn doesn’t have the greatest track record when it comes to men, but now Will’s come along. Handsome and attentive, he could be her Mr Right. Things are definitely looking up for Cleo… apart from one small problem with a rather large ego. Johnny LaVenture, sculptor extraordinaire and her personal childhood nemesis, is back in Channing’s Hill and tormenting her as if he’d never been away.

Meanwhile Cleo’s sister Abbie has a problem of her own—husband Tom has become distant and withdrawn, and she’s determined to find out why. But will the shocking truth mean the end of their idyllically happy marriage?

The sisters are about to discover that the past can come back to haunt you, and that love can flourish in the unlikeliest of places…

MY THOUGHTS:
I must point out firstly that the cover that I have shown is the arc version and the final copy cover from Sourcebooks (US cover). Sadly the Canadian cover is totally different and I don’t really like it and prefer the US one much more.

I believe this is my fifth Jill Mansell that I have read since Sourcebooks was given the US rights too. I have to say that I am yet to be disappointed in them. They are funny, entertaining and quick reads. I love them and looking forward to the next Jill Mansell book to come out in the US.

One of the things that I think I enjoy from the books is that in someway I can relate to the characters. This time I thought I could relate well with Cleo. She is almost 30 and still living in the same little town she grew up in, Channings Hill. She is working as a limo driver. She is dating this guy Will and he seems to be the perfect guy and even though they have only been dating a short time Cleo thinks she has met the perfect guy but quickly realizes that he isn’t so perfect. His has a deep dark secret that will tear them apart.

Then if that wasn’t enough someone approaches her and what she thinks could be the worst thing to happen quickly turns into the best thing that could have happen not only to her but perhaps to Ash as well.

The other character I have to say I loved was Ash. He is Cleo’s best friend and next door neighbor. Ash is just your typical guy in the real world he has a hard time talking to the ladies but once he is on air working as a DJ he has women drooling over him. I can actually say I knew someone who was like Ash. You could listen to him on the radio and practically drool over this guy but upon meeting him was completely different. So when I was reading this I automatically thought of him and knew he was Ash in my eyes.

Cleo soon realizes through the course of the book that an old arch enemy has come back to town to try and sell the house he grew up in but quickly realises that Cleo has managed to ruin the one and only offer he might have gotten. Can old arch enemies be able to bury the hatchet and let by gones be by gones?

Another main character in the book is Abbie, Cleo’s sister. Reading the book you see that Abbie has the perfect husband and perfect marriage. We all know that in fiction that doesn’t always happen and this is a case of that being true. Abbie has to stumble on a letter that makes her question her husband and marriage? Is it what it is or something else?

My favorite quote in the book is:

They can give the impression on the surface of being really nice. But deep down, they’re capable of all sorts.

Is that the truth?

TITLE: Holly’s Inbox: Scandal in the City
AUTHOR: Holly Denham
PUB DATE: August 2010
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks
PAGES: 544
SOURCE: Received a finished copy from the publisher.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Dear Holly, isn’t it shocking…?

Things are finally going Holly Denham’s way: she’s in love, she’s getting the recognition she deserves at work, and her friends and family have graciously opted to avoid disaster for the moment.

Just when Holly is starting to settle into her new life, scandal erupts and Holly finds herself—and her in box—at the center of a gossip whirlwind that threatens everything she’s worked so hard for.

Written entirely in emails, this follow-up to the UK smash hit Holly’s Inbox will keep you glued to its pages as the scandal running rampant in the city threatens to ruin Holly’s hard-earned and long-awaited happiness.

MY THOUGHTS
I want to send out a thank you to April from Sourcebooks for sending me this book. I have anxiously been awaiting for this one to come out after reading the first Holly’s Inbox book last year. This wasn’t as huge as last years book (over 600 pages) and like last year it was a very quick read. I enjoyed reading it and actually managed to read this in a few hours.

Scandal in the City is just like the first book, its done in email format. The books characters have remained the same as the last book with Holly, Trisha, Jason, her mother, grandmother and many more. You don’t need to read the first one to read this one.

Holly is still working as a receptionist at DKHeurst and she is still with Toby. Just like the previous book Holly manages to get into some high jinx that you wonder how she will be able to get herself into that situation and how will she ever be able to get out of it?

In the first book Holly managed to get into alot of trouble and things weren’t the best but is seems in this book things are coming together but is the calm before the storm? Things seem to be running smoothly for her in the work place and in her personal life. Things are going great with Toby and at her she is being offered a promotion. She has to keep things quiet at work for now about the promotion and that means keeping that secret from her coworker and good friend Trisha so you can only imagine where this will go and how it will end?

As I am reading I have to say I laughed, wanted to reach into the book and shake Holly by the shoulders and gringe at the things she said and did. I guess you really can’t blame Holly because sometimes it did look like things were the way they seemed. I am sure we might react the same way or maybe not.

If you are looking for a light, fun and easy/quick read then this is for you. I am curious if there will be a book three. What do you think? If there is I can not wait to read it.

TITLE: Seduced by the Wolf
AUTHOR: Terry Spear
PUB DATE: August 2010
PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Casablanca
PAGES: 416
SOURCE: ARC was mailed to me from the publisher
COVER: ARC and Final copy are the same.

ABOUT THE BOOK
His first priority is to protect his pack…
Werewolf pack leader Leidolf Wildhaven has just taken over a demoralized pack. With rogue wolves on the loose causing havoc and the authorities from the zoo suddenly zeroing in on the local wolf population, the last thing he needs in his territory is a do-gooder female, no matter how beautiful and enticing she is…

With rogue wolves and hunters threatening at every turn, Cassie and Leidolf may find their attraction the most dangerous force of all…

MY THOUGHTS
I have to send out a very huge THANK YOU to Danielle at Sourcebooks for sending me this ARC of Seduced by the Wolf.

You will noticed that I don’t review alot of romance books here on my blog and honestly that is because I am not a romance reader. I think I can probably count on both hands the number of romance books I have read in the past 14 years and its not alot. I’m not sure why I am not a fan when so many are but it ranks right up there with historical fiction another genre I just don’t read.

When it comes to romance books I have to say hands down if I am offered a Terry Spears book I jump at the chance. I absolutely love this series.

Seduced by the Wolf is book five in the series with three more books to come. just a little note that you don’t have to read the previous books in the series to understand what is going on. I am going to buy the first two very soon.

Like the previous books I read I once again was drawn into the story right away and had a hard time to put this down and I pretty much devoured this book in one sitting. I love the cover for this.

As I was reading this several character names popped out at me that were in previous books and it was nice to see them again and to play more of a part in this book. You often wonder what happens to characters when a series continues so this was really nice.

Seduced by the Wolf is a perfect title of this book because that is basically what happens in Oregon. Cassie comes to town to give a lecture about wolves. She is a wolf biologist and there is more to Cassie then meets the eye.

Leidolf is the alpha male of the local pack and he is trying to bring some order to the pack which seems to be falling apart. He is dealing with an issue of a cougar that seems to be killing some of his livestock.

Cassie and Leidolf are forced together when someone slashes her tires before the lecture and being the gentleman that he is he looks after her by getting his men to fix the tires (apparently Leidolf owns quite a bit of the towns population)and telling them to keep an eye on her car to see is behind it.

He convinces Cassie to go out with him for a quick dinner which she agrees to until she steps into the restaurant its filled with wolves. She is worried that her secret will come out but really how long can she keep it and why hasn’t anyone figured it out?

You can see the instant connection happening between Cassie and Leidolf. The only thing is Cassie has no interest in looking for a mate while Leidolf is. Will he be able to change her mind?

If I write anymore I will really giveaway the book but if you are looking for a great book this is it.

BOOKS I HAVE READ IN THIS SERIES:
To Tempt The Wolf Book 3
Legend of White Wolf book 4

UP COMING BOOKS:
Wolf Fever book 6 December 7th/10 (Just in time for my birthday!)
Heart of the Higland Wolf book 7- June 2011
Dreaming of the Wolf book 8 – 2011 (no date yet)