Crystal Cove

Justine Hoffman has made a comfortable life for herself on the island of Friday Harbor. She is the proprietor of a successful boutique hotel, and she has the safe, predictable life she has always wanted. Growing up with her flighty, nomadic mother, Marigold, has instilled in her a deep longing for stability. But in spite of everything Justine has achieved, there is still something missing. Love. And after years of waiting and dreaming, she is willing to do whatever it takes to change her destiny.

What Justine soon discovers is that someone cast a spell on her when she was born, with the result that she will never find her soul mate. Determined to change her fate, Justine finds a way to break the enchantment, never dreaming of the dangerous complications that will follow.

And when Justine meets the mysterious Jason Black, she accidentally unleashes a storm of desire and danger that threaten everything she holds dear . . . because Jason has secrets of his own, and he wants more from her than fate will ever allow.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Lisa Kleypas knows love stories. That's a given. But, when it comes to paranormal, fantasy, magic... not so sure. Crystal Cove is a contemporary paranormal romance that explores the relationship between a soulless man and a cursed woman. 

As a young girl, Justine had a geas (Scottish Gaelic spelling of geis) cast upon her. A word that can mean either a curse or a gift. The geas was placed upon her so she would never have to know how hurtful love can be after the witch's bane strikes. But Justine is a powerful natural witch and she's determined to remove the geas. Unbelievably, she succeeds. And the world goes into an imbalanced upheaval. 

Justine is an interesting character. In the previous series book, Dream Lake, Justine vowed she'd never fall in love, that she didn't need a man, and that she was happy alone. I guess she changed her mind because now she's on a mission to find true love. Justine is blunt, open, honest, and focused. She knows what she wants and that's powerful knowledge to have. Readers will connect with Justine's desire to share her life with someone. 

Jason Black has no soul and he's very much aware of it. Knowing that soulless people only have one chance at life, Jason knows that he must do everything he wants in the moment he wants it. He's an insomniac control freak who has too much money. Jason also knows that Justine's a witch and a certain spell could add years to his life. But falling in love with her wasn't part of his plan and he could end up putting both of them in danger. Readers will understand Jason's wish to live longer but I'm not sure they'll connect with him. Like him? Yes. He's a mysterious romantic man. Of course readers will like him, for the most part. 

The plot of the novel is quite complicated, with lots of tangles. Jason Black wants to build a sort of community center at Dream Lake so he visits Friday Harbor to iron out the details and make an offer. Him and his team stay at the bed and breakfast that Justine owns. This is how Justine and Jason meet, but Jason already knew about Justine before visiting. He actually sought her out because of her abilities as a witch and the grimoire she owns. At the same time, Justine is removing her curse and upsetting the balance of nature, putting her life in mortal danger. They fall in lust at first sight and so mote it be. 

Though the paranormal aspect of the story isn't Lisa's strong suit, I thought the novel overall was fantastic. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the two main characters battle back and forth, using mistakes as weapons, all while falling in love and looking for a solution to an unsolvable equation. 

Rating: 3/5 Cups

Dream Lake

They say that opposites attract. But what happens when one has been devastated by betrayal and the other is so jaded that his heart is made of stone? Enter the world of Friday Harbor, an enchanting town in the Pacific Northwest where things are not quite as they seem and where true love might just have a ghost of a chance….

Alex Nolan is as bitter and cynical as they come. One of the three Nolan brothers who call Friday harbor home, he's nothing like Sam or Mark. They actually believe in love; they think the risk of pain is worth the chance of happiness. But Alex battles his demons with the help of a whiskey bottle, and he lives in his own private hell. And then a ghost shows up. Only Alex can see him, Has Alex finally crossed over the threshold to insanity?

Zoë Hoffman is as gentle and romantic as they come. When she meets the startling gorgeous Alex Nolan, all her instincts tell her to run. Even Alex tells her to run. But something in him calls to Zoë, and she forces him to take a look at his life with a clear eye and to open his mind to the possibility that love isn’t for the foolish.

The ghost has been existing in the half-light of this world for decades. He doesn’t know who he is, or why he is stuck in the Nolans’ Victorian house. All he knows is that he loved a girl once. And Alex and Zoë hold the key to unlocking a mystery that keeps him trapped here.

Zoë and Alex are oil and water, fire and ice, sunshine and shadow. But sometimes it takes only a glimmer of light to chase away the dark, and sometimes love can reach beyond time, space, and reason to take hold of hearts that yearn for it…

*May Contain Spoilers*

What is it about a man who has lost his way that attracts attention like a magnet? The answer doesn't exactly matter. All that matters in Lisa Kleypas' novel, Dream Lake, is Alex Nolan. He's a little cynical, very broken, and is haunted not only by his past. Ladies, eat your hearts out.

Readers will connect with Alex through their desire to help him. He struggles with alcoholism, fear of love, and low self-esteem. With help, Alex could be the greatest version of himself, but his stubborn nature might get in the way. Enter Zoë. 

Zoë is the girl next door. Blond hair, gorgeous, giving, a natural nurturer. She's an outstanding cook at the local bed and breakfast with a grandmother suffering from Alzheimer's. When she meets Alex, he takes her breath away and she wants to show him that love can change everything. She and her cousin hire him to renovate a cottage on Dream Lake so that it will be easy for Zoë to take care of her ailing grandmother. Thrown together, Alex fights his fate as his cynical nature takes over. Though his resistance can only stand against so much. 

With the help of a ghost, Alex might just get the message. Tom, a ghost who's been stuck on Rainshadow Road has never been able to remember his life. But when Alex shows up, Tom becomes stuck to him, going everywhere Alex goes, remembering bits and pieces of his life. And Alex is the only one who can see or hear him. With the ghost's help and Zoë, Alex might be able to stop drinking and turn his life around, allowing himself to fall in love before he ends up alone. 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

WWW Wednesday (110)

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

          

01. Currently Reading:
Elixir by Ted Galdi. After creating an algorithm that could threaten internet security, Sean is whisked away by the FBI to hide in Italy and forced to resurface because of an ill girlfriend.

02. Recently Finished:
Crystal Cove by Lisa Kleypas. When a young woman learns that a curse was put on her at birth, she'll do anything to reverse it, promising to reap the unwanted consequences.

03. Reading Next:
Leverage by Nancy Thompson. Sequel to The Mistaken, a thrilling novel focusing on what hero Tyler Karras would do to save his new family.

Love in the Afternoon

Simon Howden

"As a lover of animals and nature, Beatrix Hathaway has always been more comfortable outdoors than in the ballroom. Even thought she participated in the London season in the past, the classic beauty and free-spirited Beatrix has never been swept away or seriously courted... and she resigned herself to the fate of never finding love. Has the time come for the most unconventional of the Hathaway sisters to settle for an ordinary man--just to avoid spinsterhood?

Captain Christopher Phelan is a handsome, daring soldier who plans to marry Beatrix's friend, the vivacious flirt Prudence Mercer, when he returns from fighting abroad. But, as he explains in his letters to Pru, life on the battlefield has darkened his soul--and it's becoming clear that Christopher won't come back as the same man.

When Beatrix learns of Pru's disappointment, she decides to help by concocting Pru's letters to Christopher for her. Soon the correspondence between Beatrix and Christopher develops into something fulfilling and deep...and when Christopher comes home, he's determined to claim the woman he loves. What began as Beatrix's innocent deception has resulted in the agony of unfulfilled love--and a passion that can't be denied..."

* * 

As the last installment in the Hathaway series, Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas was a must read for me. And again, Kleypas did not disappoint. Beatrix has been one of my favorite characters throughout all of the Hathaway novels and after completion of this book, she immediately jumped to the top of the list. 

SAMMAI

I formed an immediate connection to Beatrix. She's an honest girl with a love for animals beyond any normal bond and as the proud owner of a dog, a cat, and a rabbit -- I must say we share that love for four-legged friends. 

Beatrix's longing for true love is a main factor in forming a connection. She wants a husband that accepts her with all of her peculiarities, a man that doesn't want her to be like every other girl in London society. A man who won't make her hold back her thoughts, or hide her love and desire for the world she lives in. Kleypas writes Beatrix's character in a way that allows readers to understand her, their dreams and desires coinciding with those of Beatrix. 

This novel was a wonderful ending to the series bringing tears of sadness and of joy, and of course out loud laughter. However, it disturbs me to say that I found one huge typo in the novel in which (upon reading) I yelled "Noooooo" to my ceiling (not claiming that I don't make frequent typos in my own writing). I was greatly disturbed when I realized it was impossible to reply to a letter written in December ten months before it had been written. 

Ignoring that small fact, Love in the Afternoon captured my heart. I may even read it again tomorrow, or on some rainy day when I have nothing to do but revel in Beatrix's soul-warming story. 

Love in the Afternoon
                     on Amazon
                     
                  rating : 4/5 cups

Married by Morning

"What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?"

zirconicusso

A.k.a. Catherine Marks and Leo Hathaway, Lord Ramsay. 

Which is which? That's up to the reader. 

Leo is, and has always been, a notorious rake with a history of self-destruction. After his first attempt at love, he isn't to keen on the idea of doing it again. While Catherine Marks, governess to the Hathaway ladies, is the picture perfect example of propriety... with a past that haunts her, promising to catch up. 

Every time they meet, an argument undoubtedly ensues. But there's something about Miss Marks that has Leo more than intrigued. And he's overly determined to shed light on her past, no matter how much she resists, hiding behind her spectacles. Perhaps he can win her with one of the kisses he simply cannot stop himself from giving her... 

* *

Lisa Kleypas definitely outdoes herself in this amazing novel, Married by Morning. With a love story that travels through all of the previous books in the series (Mine Till Midnight, Seduce Me at Sunrise, Tempt Me at Twilight, and Love in the Afternoon), Leo and Catherine are characters that readers have already come to care for throughout the previous novels. And the story that Kleypas gives them is, without a doubt, the most interesting one so far. 

Readers will not be able to resist Leo's charm or his heart-breaking history that almost sent him over the edge. His quick-witted nature will cause out loud laughing, while his internal demeanor tugs at the reader's soul. 

Catherine will not be left out, by any means, however. She's a timid woman who had plenty of reasons to fear life itself. Her background will have readers cheering for her to overcome all of her fears as they simultaneously understand every feeling she has. 

Though it isn't necessary that readers start with the first book of the series, or read any of them before this one, it definitely makes the connections with the characters that much stronger. Once read, these books are those that will never slip from memory. The loves stories within the pages will remain, always. 

 Married by Morning
                             on Amazon

               
                          rating: 5/5 cups

Teaser Tuesday (6)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Married by Morning (p.83)
       - Lisa Kleypas 

"He had tried it once, letting himself fall madly in love, nearly losing everything as a result.
And there were some risks a man couldn't take twice." 

Should Be Reading @ Wordpress

Nowhere Near Normal

Poppy Hathaway longs for a normal life. Her family, though nowhere near normal, is wonderful and loving but Poppy doesn't want that life for herself. She wants a routine. She wants predictability.

Simon Howden

And marrying Michael would do just that.

Marrying Harry Rutledge, hotel owner and inventor, would not.

After a scandal, including Poppy, erupts at a society ball, she is made an offer of marriage... from Harry, to save her reputation.

Harry has already made it clear that he'll do anything to make sure she says yes, because he refuses to not have Poppy for himself.

* * 

Tempt Me At Twilight by Lisa Klepas, (whom I've come to love as an author !) was absolutely thrilling, heart wrenching, and loving. The Hathaway family is a circus of various amusements with Poppy quickly becoming one of my favorite sisters. I read the entire book in one sitting, :)

Poppy is a strong young woman who accepts herself. She loves politics, debating, questioning motives, basically everything a woman should not talk about in London society. But, she also longs for normalcy, which is impossible for a Hathaway to obtain. 

Harry Rutledge though is a different matter. I liked the character well enough but he had a few traits that I couldn't imagine in a man for Poppy. He was controlling, domineering, selfish, and had to have his way - no matter what it cost. Not that he wasn't civil, even nice, to Poppy, but as the story played out I kept thinking that she didn't deserve this man. Although, the end did take out my tongue for saying that. :) 

Tempt Me At Twilight 
                            on Amazon

                
                         rating: 3/5 cups

Gypsy Boy and Gentle Girl

Since childhood they have loved each other.
Win, the only one able to bring calm to Kev.
Kev, the one who doesn't believe he's worthy of Win's love.

Simon Howden

When Kev, a gypsy boy, is found by Win's father, he brings Kev home to be cared for and raised as one of his own in Lisa Kleypas' novel Seduce Me at Sunrise. Win is a gentle girl and as soon as Kev lays eyes on her, he knows he could never live without her. But a gypsy boy and a lady in society should never, could never, be together.

Then Win grows sick, severely weakened, the only answer a hospital in France. She would stay if Kev would only ask, but he knows he cannot, no matter how much they love each other.

But things change quickly when she returns to England - healthy. With a handsome doctor in tow who has his eyes set on marrying Win.

* * 

Lisa Kleypas does yet another wonderful job in telling this love story. The reader can form a connection with Win almost immediately. The young girl who will do anything for love, but is unable because of something she cannot control. Readers will find themselves thinking as Win, struggling for a life of their own without the air of sickness and pity, and demanding charge of herself. A woman who wants to make her own decisions, strike out for what she wants, and damn what others want for her. 

Yet, stubbornness gets in the way, as it seems to want to do. Kev doesn't want to take any chances with Win in which she might be worse off. Therefore he ignores her love, or tries to. Stubbornness at its best. And though readers can connect with his fear of love and the unknown outcome, I'm sure they'll side with the other family members in wanting to scream "What in the hell are you doing?" and in turn, slap some sense into Kev.

  Seduce Me at Sunrise
                          on Amazon
             
                       rating: 4/5 cups

Who Would You Be?

Who would you be if you woke up not knowing who you were?

Without a memory, without a past. A blank slate waiting with a piece of chalk poised above it. If events and how we react to them make us who we are, then would you become a different person when given the chance to start over?

The story of "Vivien" revolves around this thought in the novel Someone to Watch Over Me by Lisa Kleypas. I, personally, couldn't connect with the main character when it comes to her amnesia. But I could connect with the way "Vivien" rejected her past to become someone new because it was so thought provoking. It forced me to ask myself what I would want to change about my personality and past if I was given the chance.

Then the novel forced me to go even deeper when the plot took a turn I never saw coming. It left me questioning whether people ever really change.

Is the person we'll grow up to be an innate form? Or one of evolution?

Someone to Watch Over Me on Amazon

rating: 4/5 cups