Sunday, January 29, 2012

Sunday Salon: Romance Comes In Many Flavors


coffee-romanceSunday Salon - Gather around my friends, refill your cups and let’s talk books!

When it comes to placing books in genres, I’m amazed at how many sub-genres there are and just how many ways a book can be listed.

Romance is one of those genres that can cover a vast array of sub-listing. I have only 3 examples of that today and they fall into paranormal, western and historical sub-categories of romance. May we always find a little romance in everything we do.

A DEMON DOES IT BETTER by Linda Wisdom

A Demon Does It Better CoverDoctor Lili Carter is a witch healer extraordinaire with a cat familiar named Cleo. After more than a century, Lili returns to San Francisco and has taken a job at Crying Souls Hospital and Asylum, well-known to the supernatural world.

As of late, however, there is something peculiar and wicked happening at Crying Souls. Patients are disappearing and being the curious witch she is, Lili wants to know why.

In a short time, Lili finds herself undeniably attracted to perhaps the most mysterious patient of all — a demented but seriously sexy demon named Jared. What’s behind the gorgeous chameleon demon’s late-night escapades? Before long, Lili and Jared are investigating each other—and creating a whole new kind of magic. But what other dangers are around the corner for both Lili and Jared? Who has the strongest magic?

Author Linda Wisdom has a way of creating a world filled with witches and demons that seems normal and ordinary. Her characters are realistic despite their unique abilities. While her characters may be zany and a bit ‘different,’ they are filled with love, caring, loyalty and friendship (except for the evil ones, of course).

The storyline flows smoothly and quickly. Wisdom combines steamy, sexy characters with humor, adds in a dose of danger and intrigue, stirs in a few surprises and a measure of history for a spellbinding story you can’t put down.

Author Linda Wisdom’s website is www.LindaWisdom.com

A Demon Does It Better by Linda Wisdom, A Demon Series, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2012, ISBN: 978-1402236723, Paperback, 352 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

DYLAN by C.H. Admirand

dylannewcoverEarn some extra cash and helping out the club owner, Dylan Garahan is working as a dancer at the Lucky Star club. When he’s asked to lasso a brunette as a birthday surprise, he’s the one gets surprised. This time even his formidable strength can’t tame this filly. 

She’s wily and beautiful… and she soon becomes his new boss. Dylan’s had his heart broken before, but even an honest cowpoke has to wrestle with temptation. 

Ronnie DelVecchio had recently purchased the Guilty Pleasure store and was attempting to make a go of it when vandals struck not once but twice. Now her store needs some major repairs and a Garahan brother is suppose to be the carpenter.

While she might be fresh off the bus from New Jersey, Ronnie is a hard-edged businesswoman and has had her fill of men she can’t trust. Should she consider getting off her high horse for that big handsome rancher with a Texas drawl?

You know from the moment these two meet that it’s going to be a bumpy road to the end filled with humor and enough twists and turns to make you want to ring both of their necks while loving it all the way. Author C.H. Admirand has created characters that you feel you’ve known all your life and ones you want to get to know more.

DYLAN is the second installment in the Secret Life of Cowboys series, but is a stand alone read. There are references to the prior book (TYLER), but not so that new readers are lost. If you’re looking for a sexy cowboy to swept you off your feet as you read of ranch life, you’ve come to the right book. Looking forward to seeing what the youngest Garahan brother (JESSE) gets into next.

Author C.H. Admirand’s website is www.chadmirand.com

Dylan by C.H. Admirand, The Secret Life of Cowboys Series, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2012, ISBN: 978-1402258077, Paperback, 384 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 
IRISH LADY by Jeanette Baker

Irish Lady CoverBorn in the slums of Belfast, Meghann McCarthy thought she had left that life far behind. Now a successful and brilliant barriester, Meghann is a woman who has made all her childhood dreams come true - becoming a rich and living in London’s classiest district. 

Yet Meghann can never quite banish Ireland from her heart, or forget Michael Devlin, the boy from the slums she once loved with a passion that nearly tore her apart. Now Michael needs her help.

Because she has never forgotten, Meghann agrees to defend Michael — a notorious Irish nationalist — when he becomes involved in a vicious court case. She’ll risk everything to save him and she’s not the first of her family to do for a man she loves. As Meghann delves further into Michael’s case, further into the history that binds them so irrevocably, she slips into the unfolding drama of centuries before…of another woman’s desperate fight to free her rebel husband from the clutches of Queen Elizabeth.

But even as she jeopardizes her hard-won success, she at last finds the true power and spirit of the Irish heritage she has too long denied…and the courage to face her love for Michael Devlin. 

This is a tale of love and turmoil weaving with the past and present. Author Jeanette Baker places the reader in the setting with her vivid descriptions and wonderful dialect. The love and loyalty will tug at your heartstrings.

Baker beautifully transitions between the present and past making the story flow smoothly as you are caught up in the adventure. The story will captivate you and not let go until the end.

Author Jeanette Baker’s website is www.jeanettebaker.com.

Irish Lady by Jeanette Baker, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2012, ISBN: 978-1402255922, Paperback, 336 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 
Do you enjoy a little romance in what you read? Do you like finding other genres – history, paranormal, western, etc. – in with your romance stories? Thanks for stopping by and have a safe and wonderful Sunday.

18 comments:

  1. Mason - Thanks for this Romance Roundup. I have to admit honestly that romance that's branded "romance" isn't usually "my thing," 'though there are some I've liked very much. What's interesting is how often it's woven into novels that I wouldn't have thought of as romance novels and like very much. Maybe I should broaden my horizons.

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  2. Margot, you make an excellent point. I understand that books have to be branded into genres and categories. However, sometimes I think that keeps us from trying a book that we might otherwise have tried and liked. I know of several authors who write romance but also include a good mystery and/or history into their stories. An example is IRISH LADY. I think that one might appeal to you as it is filled with wonderful information about Ireland and history, yet it's labeled romance (which it does also include beautifully).

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  3. I'm not into romance either (fiction only:),but I must say when it's woven with history or countries I can't visit, then I enjoy the book with romance.

    Great reviews--as always!

    T

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  4. I'm with Margot in that I don't read books branded as "romance," though I do enjoy a romance which adds another layer in a novel.

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  5. I don't mind romance if it's part of a mystery, but I've never been intrigued by the paranormal or strictly romance books. Irish Lady looks like a good read. I like to have history thrown in.
    Ann

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  6. Teresa, thanks I'm glad you enjoyed the reviews. A book that weaves romance, mystery, history and/or a foreign land does make for an intriguing read.

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  7. Joanne, I also tend to shy away from just 'romance' books. However, once in awhile I will try one for a change in my reading. I've found some interesting authors that way.

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  8. Ann, IRISH LADY is a good read and has interesting history. If you ever decide to try the paranormal, give Linda Wisdom's books a try. She makes the paranormal seem normal. They are loaded with fun, history and mystery.

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  9. I think a little romance helps just about any book. I love mysteries and still like romance thrown in.

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  10. I enjoy a little romance in what I read but I usually like it when there's a mystery involved. Thanks for the reviews.

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  11. Renee, I so agree with you about a little romance helping any book. It's hard to think of any that romance or at least caring couldn't be added.

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  12. Clarissa, I've been surprised at some of the more serious mystery books that I've read that contain quite a bit of romance.

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  13. These sound like fun! I definitely like romance in books I read - and in those I write. :)

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  14. Jemi, these are books with lots of fun. Romance in our books just makes things happier.

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  15. You have provided a great list of examples...and I'm eager to explore them.

    Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  16. A little romance is good to break things up a bit.

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  17. Laurel-Rain, hope you have fun exploring these titles. And I always enjoy stopping by your blog. You also provide some interesting examples.

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  18. Harvee, you are so right. Romance is a good thing to break things up.

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's post. Thanks for dropping by.