We Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by Brenda Novak

 

Summary:

 

Jaclyn Wentworth is on her own with three little kids. She used to be married to the golden boy--former golden boy--of their small Nevada town. The marriage was a disaster because her ex-husband never grew up. And he sure wasn't much of a daddy.

Now Jaclyn's living in Reno. And who, of all people, does she run into there but Cole Perrini, bad boy of Feld, Nevada. Former bad boy. He was her ex-husband's opposite in every way--and he still is. Because Cole's made good in every sense of the word.

Will Jaclyn and her children get the husband and father they deserve? Not a Scrooge, but a Santa!

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 304 pages (Mass Market Paperback)

Source: Bought

Available Formats: Print/E-book

Publication Date: November 1st 2001 by Harlequin Books

 

This is the third novel I've read from Brenda Novak and I have to admit, it's actually my favourite one so far. I used to love Harlequin Super Romances back in the day so when I saw this for sale during the summer at my local used bookstore I just had to have it and since I'm participating in the Ho Ho Ho Read-a-Thon I thought this would make the perfect read and it was.

 

I was a little unsure of how this romance would turn out. I've read one of the authors newer historicals as well as one of her newer contemporary romances and I've learned to be a little leery of some authors older titles but with this one my fears were completely unfounded.

 

I read We Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus in one sitting, it was that good folks. I thought the story was so realistic that I couldn't help but root for Jackie the heroine. She went through a really bitter divorce and she's striving to make a life for herself and her three children but it's had because she has a dick of an ex-husband and she has to deal with his dick of a father who is set on controlling all of their lives. I'm a sucker for a heroine who already has kids because they're generally a lot smarter than some other female leads and I like that they generally aren't self centered. Jackie was great, she had lived a privileged life before her divorce but she has a good head on her shoulders and she understand the value of a dollar.

 

Cole, was a bit of an enigma at first. He was one of those strong silent types with a good heart, but very shy when it came to anything that dealt with feelings. He was smart, well to do and had a loyal heart and I loved how he was with Jackie and her three kids. He was very protective of not only her, but her 3 kids as well.

 

As a couple I thought they were great. They new each other in high school and she married her ex-husband who was the most popular guy in school while he was on the outskirts and was considered trailer trash. I liked how after both of them went through some difficult times in life that they found each other after years.

 

Overall, I thought We Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus was a great contemporary romance. It wasn't completely set around the holidays but Christmas did play a big part of the story in the latter half of the story. Brenda Novak is fast becoming a favourite author of mine, and I can't wait to read more of her books in the near future. She was able to create a great clean romance that was sweet without being sappy and like I mentioned it was realistic so there were some laughs and a little drama thrown in for good measure.

 

I would recommend this to all fans of contemporary romances. While the cover dates the novel (it was published in 2001) I think the story holds up well and I didn't think it was cheesy in the least and I thought it was a great quick read with a lot of warmth.

 

 

I read this book for the following reading challenges:

 

2013 150+ Reading Challenge

Loved It!
★★★★★

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What Once Was Perfect (Wardham #1) by Zoe York

 

Summary:

 

Heading home always stirs up mixed emotions for Laney Calhoun. Twelve years ago she left for graduate school, broken-hearted. She’s found professional success, but positive personal relationships have proved elusive. Running into her ex-boyfriend fans flames she thought long extinguished, and causes a renewed interest in love. Not with Kyle, of course. Never again. But as sparks fly and items of clothing disappear, she scrambles to keep her emotions in check.

Kyle Nixon let Laney slip away once. Their chemistry together is undeniable, but steamy sex is not enough to convince her to let him back into her heart. Even if she did trust him again, her medical career is five hundred kilometers away from the hometown that he loves, and the life that he once chose over her.

What Once Was Perfect is a short and sexy contemporary romance novel set in Wardham, Ontario, a fictitious small farming community on the shores of Lake Erie.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 170 pages (Paperback)

Source: NetGalley.com 

Available Formats: Print/E-book

Publication Date: July 1st 2013 by Zoe York

 

A few days back I was surfing NetGalley, yes that's what I do in my spare time but shush, you know you find yourself perusing their stock of books up for review just like I do. Anyways, I was on the website (going a little request happy) and I stumbled across this one and I just knew that I would love it. I mean come on it's written by a Canadian author and it's set in an albeit fictional Ontario town but ONTARIO WAS IN IT! This is big, I don't know about you but I just love when my province is mentioned in a book so the author got a big thumbs up for that.

Anyways, yesterday afternoon I decided I needed something to read. I'd just finished a 334 page book and was in the mood for something light, fun and a little bit sexy so I turned to my trusty kindle and saw this one sitting there and decided to give it a go and proceeded to read it on and off the rest of the day and I enjoyed every minute of it.

I'm a sucker for second chance love stories so Kyle and Laney's story was perfect, plus it was set in a small town and around the holidays, two other themes I love to see in my contemporary romances. Right away I liked Laney, yeah she had more hang-ups about relationships than more men that I know but I liked her fire. She's a workaholic but totally devoted to her patiants and to her family even though she lives in Chicago and they live in her hometown of Wardham. I thought she was sweet and funny and definetly not a woman who will let a man walk all over her which I thought was really refreshing.

The story basically centers around Laney's Christmas homecoming and it seems like the fates are frowning upon her when she encounters her ex-fiancée who broke her heart 12 years ago, the one who turned her off love, and the one who made her fear commitment.

Then there was Kyle, our handsome heroine, the heart breaker and the primary school teacher who I didn't really expect to like as much as I did. I really didn't I figured that I would totally be against him and Laney being together because of how he hurt her but he was just perfect. He was the most refreshing character to me. He wasn't a pushover but her definitely wasn't as controlling as some men in romance novels were. He was actually really sweet and understanding, and funny.

The two of them together was just grand and I loved reading about their love story. The fact that it was set around the holidays just made it all that much more perfect for me because I love Christmas and I think it's the perfect season to find love and rediscover old loves as well. I liked how the characters already had a past history and that while much of the novel takes place around the holidays there was no insta-love and it was great to see their love for each other grow as the story went on and their chemistry was so hot I swear my kindle was burning up.

Overall, I absolutely loved reading Zoe York's first novel and can't wait to read the second book in this series as soon as it comes out. The writing was great, there was no problem with the pace of the novel and I think the relationship was very realistic as were her characters. Kyle and Laney are absolutely going down as one of my favourite book couples and I really hope to see them make a brief appearance in the next book in the series.

I would recommend What Once Was Perfect was a great love story, sweet and fun but steamy where it counted. This one made me smile throughout the book and giggle more often then not with Laney and Kyle. If you like contemporary romance and want something that isn't too long and set in a small town during the holidays I highly suggest giving this one a read immediately!

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

I read this book for the following reading challenges:

 

2013 150+ Reading Challenge

 

 Loved It!
★★★★★

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Never Desire a Duke (One Scandalous Season #1) by Lily Dalton

 

Summary:

 

A secret from his past holds the key to their future...

A Marriage Beyond Hope

Lady Sophia has long been estranged from her husband, Lord Vane Barwick, the Marquess of Claxton, whose rumored list of amorous conquests includes almost every beautiful woman of the ton. Yet a shocking encounter with him in a crowded ballroom—and a single touch—are all it takes to reawaken her furious passion for him. But how can she trust the man who crushed her dreams and took away the one thing she wanted most?

A Love Beyond Reason

Lord Claxton has never forgiven himself for the youthful mistake that ruined his marriage to Lady Sophia. Now, after nearly a year abroad, the reformed rogue vows to win back the only woman he's ever truly loved. He'll do whatever it takes to prove he can be the honorable husband she deserves—and the passionate lover she desires. As the snowdrifts deepen outside their ancestral home, can they rekindle the flame that burned so bright and find a new path to forever?

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 416 pages (Mass Market Paperback)

Source: NetGalley

Available Formats: Print/E-book

Expected Publication Date: September 24th 2013 by Grand Central/Forever

 

Yesterday I requested Never Desire a Duke via the publisher through NetGalley and since I'm on the publisher's auto-approval list I didn't have to wait to be approved which served me well since I loved Never Desire a Duke so much it would have sucked if I had had to wait.

 

I'm a huge fan of historical romances, I have been since I started reading the genre and I especially love historical romances that have lots of banter, wit and chemistry between the hero and heroine. Plus I love when the book centers on an already married couple like the one in this romance. It's one of my favourite themes in historical romances and it's one that I don't see that often which is what really prompted me to request it.

 

Never Desire a Duke is Lily Dalton's debut and I think she did a really fantastic job. Sophia and Vane (Lord Claxton) were absolutely marvelous together. The chemistry they had throughout the novel practically leaped of the screen of my iPad. Set during the holiday's we see the couple get reacquainted with each other after they've spent a year apart after a tragedy that struck them when they were in the early days of their marriage. We see the couple go through some tough ups and downs, come to grips with how they feel about themselves and each other as well as get a glimpse at a great love story all at the same time.

 

 The book was full of laughs and there were times I found myself laughing and other times when Vane irritated me with his lack of sensitivity and lack of thinking where I wanted to hit him. Vane was a bit of a conundrum for me. I liked him at first, and then I didn't like him and then by the end of the book I loved him. His complete and utter devotion to Sophia was really admirable especially when he owned up to his mistakes and admitted his wrong doings. He really did love her and that showed. As for Sophia, I liked her right from the beginning and my heart really went out to her. She was smart, funny, and witty enough that she stood out from a lot of heroines that I've read about in the past. I really liked how she was able to admit her wrong doings as well.

 

Lily Dalton did a very good job in creating likable, realistic characters that were not perfect and flaws in their personalities but that is exactly what I liked to have in my historical romance novels. The story line was very sweet and I liked the fact that the book was set during Christmas since I've always really liked holiday romances and this one is definitely my favourite Christmas romance by far. The pace of the romance was just right and I didn't feel as if the story line was rushed whatsoever and everything was done very well. The love scenes were spicy but they didn't take up the whole of the novel which I really liked.

 

Overall, I think Lily Dalton's Never Desire a Duke was a great historical romance debut and I can't wait to read book two in the One Scandalous Season series that deals with Daphne, Sophia's younger sister. I hope it's just as good as this one but Daphne and her man have a lot to live up to when it comes to the chemistry part.

 

I would recommend Never Desire a Duke to all fans of historical romance novels especially set during the holidays where the book is more about the characters. If you're tired of the dreaded influx of insta-love that has been plaguing the genre than this one is the perfect one to read, Lily Dalton is a fresh voice in the genre and she's definitely someone to watch out for.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

 

I read this book for the following reading challenges:

 

2013 150+ Reading Challenge

 

Loved it!
★★★★★

To "Like" Lily  on Facebook CLICK HERE

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