A Daughter's Place

A Daughter's Place by CJ Carmichael

When Libby Bateson was seventeen her world fell apart.  Her mother and brother were killed in a tragic accident and another trauma leaves her pregnant and homeless.  Now, eight years later, Libby finds herself needing to seek shelter with her now-reclusive father whom the entire community believes she abandoned.  Does she have the courage and strength to claim a place in his world for her and her daughter, even if he isn't ready to give it?

Gibson Browning knows a lot about the struggles of being a single parent.  After his wife's death five years ago, Gibson has been doing the best he can to give his daughter everything she needs.  But when his best friend's little sister moves back to town after eight years with a daughter of her own, Gibson is forced to re-evaluate his struggles and parenting style.  Can he and Libby find a happy medium, or will they be forever separated by a secret Libby is just not ready to share?

How many ways can you break a person until they are damaged?  I think this book was a perfect study in just that subject.  Poor Libby is put through the ringer in more nightmarish ways than any one person would care to imagine, yet she still manages to come out of it.  Not on top, just above water.  She is not proud.  She is not even a shining example of how to handle a situation.  But she survives.  That in and of itself is remarkable.  Her daughter still loves her and comes out not terribly damaged.  Again, another victory.

The characters in this book really run the gamut from lovely to despicable.  The main characters are flawed in many ways, but still manage not to be awful people.  Most of the rest of the support characters can't really say the same.  Connie and Garnet manage to stay on the side of awesome, but everyone else, including Allie spend a bit of time in the "shame on you" category.  Surprisingly, I think that is a good thing.  You can't grow if you don't make mistakes, and some of these people make very understandable mistakes that they (mostly) learn from.

Overall, I think this is a very healing book.  Sometimes people come to point where they need to know that life is truly unfair, but that doesn't mean it is hopeless.  It is a tough book for the subject matter, but a great story about survival, hope, and trust.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Characters – 5

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

Undressed by the Earl

Undressed by the Earl by Michelle Willingham

David Hartford doesn't really want to get re-married, but there are two things keeping him in London in search for a wife:  he is the Earl of Castledon and in need of an heir, and he promised his daughter she would have a new mother after this Season.  His only stipulation is that she can't be someone he could fall in love with.  That pretty much eliminates the beautiful and lively Amelia Andrews from the list of eligible debutantes.  The problem is, he keeps getting pulled in to her schemes.  Why can't he just walk away from her?

Amelia Andrews has been in love with one man for four years.  Yes, this man is a known rake who ruined her sister's reputation by crying off their wedding, but Amelia was in love with him first.  Now that Viscount Lisford is finally showing interest in her, she is starting to realize that her family was right about him all along.
When Lisford kidnaps her in an attempt to elope, Amelia finds herself married to save her reputation.  Unfortunately, it is to the man she was trying to match with her sister; the man whose personality she once likened to a handkerchief; the one man she might actually love, but who will never love her:  the Earl of Castledon.

Much like all of Ms. Willingham's previous work, this story is gut wrenchingly emotional and full of many plot twists and turns.  Some might see this book as a challenge to keep track of all of the "balls in the air", but Ms. Willingham is a masterful juggler and none of the balls hit the ground during the performance.

Perhaps the greatest attribute of this book is the trove of characters that have been built up and carefully cultivated throughout this series.  While a new "villain" needed to be introduced for this story, the reader was kept on guard, waiting for the true villain to emerge.  It was only when this character was once again wrecking havoc on the world that the main and supporting characters were allowed to truly flex their proverbial muscles.  I might be sadistic, but there is something innately more interesting about characters in crisis than otherwise.

Outside of the crisis area, though, the story falls a bit flat.  The hero was not my favorite of the series, and came off not very heroic.  I did like the story between Amelia and David's daughter, and also of Beatrice and her husband, but, again, those were mostly during crisis.

Over all, I simply felt that the first half of the book was good, but the second half was spectacular.  If you are one of those readers who only read the first five chapters before deciding to finish or not, don't cheat yourself out of an amazing experience.  Stick with it.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 4

Sex – 4 

Characters – 5

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

Unraveled by the Rebel

Unraveled by the Rebel By Michelle Willingham

Juliette Andrews has been living what many women of her class would deem the a nightmare.  With the knowledge of her ruination at the hands of a monster and the nightmares it still provokes, she has declared that she shall never marry, especially not the man she has loved for years and is now unworthy of.

Dr. Paul Fraser has been fighting against the tyranny of the Earl of Strathland since the day the Earl killed his father for a crime Paul had been accused of.  After years away from home studying and helping the rebellion with its medical needs, Paul returns to woo the woman he left behind, but never forgot.  Not understanding her dismissal of him, he is determined to win back Juliette's trust and affection, even if it means agreeing to marriage in name only.

The second book in the Secrets In Silk series, this one is a LOT more emotional than the first.  Juliette has to deal with a truly horrifying experience.  Unfortunately, that experience brought with it consequences both physical and psychological.  No one in her family, save her aunt and uncle, are aware of this experience, and they aren't even aware of all of the details.  She has kept it bottled up inside her until she is almost completely dead inside.

Paul is haunted by his own demons, as well.  The death of his father has left him hungering for vengeance to a point where he is willing to turn his back on everything if it means eliminating the Earl from existence.  There are some other qualities that add depth to Paul.  He is honorable and loyal.  His love for Juliette is strong and unyielding.  When she finally agrees to a marriage in name only, he knows that he will never touch any woman but her...therefore, none at all.  He is also humble enough to know that his position in society as a doctor is not enough to recommend him as husband material, so he decides to use his uncle's legacy for the first time since it was offered to him many years ago.

Again the cast of supporting characters are wonderful.  Lively and memorable.  The villain is even more evil than before, and a few more characters pop up to add flavor to an already delicious world.

Overall, this is a great book.  I read it quickly, as I couldn't put it down, and loved every minute of it.  Not for the faint of heart as it deals with some highly disturbing situations, but the end is very satisfying.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 5 

Language – 4

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

Undone by the Duke

Undone by the Duke By Michelle Willingham

Victoria Andrews has designed some of the most sensual and scandalous lingerie for the most exclusive modiste in all of London.  Yet she hasn't met the modiste in person, hasn't left her Scottish home in five years, and hasn't felt the touch of a man...ever.

Jonathan Nottaway, Duke of Worthingstone, has had his fill of women for the time being, marriage minded or otherwise.  After his fiancee dumps him due to a family scandal beyond his control, he disappears from society for a year without any intent on returning.  Deciding to check on a piece of property he one in a card game, Jonathon heads north to Scotland, not realizing that the man he won the property from was so cruel and so hated among his tenants that showing his face was likely to get him shot and leaving him to the uneasy ministrations of a skittish female and her superstitious servants.  Will his recovery bring about a healing for both of them?

This was a tantalizing, intriguing, and emotional read.  The heroine suffers from a truly debilitating phobia that she cannot even put in to words, much less explain or reason.  The incident that led to this phobia was truly horrifying to her, and given the fact that she has been letting it build and fester for five years, it seems almost insurmountable.

Aside from the phobia, Victoria does have a certain amount of quite bravery about her.  She is highly observant of things around her and is thoughtful when contemplating solutions to issues that come up.  Upon the appearance of Jonathon she proves that her phobia is consistent with her personality.  She is naturally skittish around strangers and has to force herself to socialize with anyone, even just one person.

The hero in this story is a bundle of emotions held together by a contradictory disconnect.  His life has been full of abuse, anger, shame, grief, and guilt.  After ending up on Victoria's doorstep he is cautious and hopeful all at the same time.  He hopes to protect her from his world and protect himself from the heretofore unknown feelings that she seems to bring about in him.

The supporting characters in this story are memorable.  The sisters are very much like any sisters you meet.  They are loyal to each other and very close, but nothing alike.  Their different personalities complement each other and lead to the successful clothing design endeavor.  Jonathan's aunt is brash, but likable, as are Victoria's aunt and uncle.  Their neighbor, Cain, is cunning and harsh, but is an overall good guy and his connection with Madison is an interesting subplot.

The villain, however, takes the cake.  The Earl of Strathland is more than words can describe.  Even curse words would not be strong enough to describe him and what he does to innocent people who are supposed to be under his care.

Overall, this is a good book.  Well paced, well written, and well plotted.  It is the first book in a quartet, so we will be seeing many of these characters again.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 4

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

Remembering That Night

Remembering That Night By Stephanie Doyle

Greg Chalmers is a human lie detector.  Confident in his theory about the physiology of lying, he walked away from his psychology practice after he was proven fallible by one of his patients.  Afterward, his life spiraled out of control, causing him to lose his much the rest of his life to the darkness that consumed him.  A year after hitting rock bottom he knows what his weaknesses are and has surrounded himself by the people who have his back.  Then he is called in to consult on an hysterical amnesia case after a beautiful woman is picked up on the side of the road, covered in blood.  Can he keep a professional mindset when all evidence point to her guilt, but all of his instincts are tell him she is not lying?

The first memory Eliza Dunning has is being picked up by a police officer on the side of a highway covered in blood.  She doesn't remember her name, where she is from, or how she came to be where she was in the state she was in.  Desperate to unravel her own story she turns to Greg, the only person willing to believe that she truly doesn't remember anything.  As bits of her memory start to surface, and her identity is revealed, she becomes to focus of a murder investigation.  The problem is, though the facts say guilty, her gut says not.  Can she keep Greg on her side long enough for her to remember what really happened?

What this story lacks in actual romance, it makes up for in suspense and drama.  Typically, I am not enamored with or sucked into crime dramas, but this one had a great set-up.  Neither characters' story was divulged all at once, so the readers feels like two mysteries are unraveling at the same time.  It does get a little frustrating that both characters have a hard time accepting help.  Whereas, in the second book of the series the characters' independence helped build them up, this time the trait actually tears them down.  It is very painful to watch, yet you get drawn in and feel you have to.

As far as the supporting characters go, in a complete reversal to all of my previous reviews for this series, Chuck and Elaine are not a strong point in this book.  Chuck is far from likable and Elaine comes off as immature and whiny.  Their romance is believable, but lacks the yearning undertones that make a romance worthwhile.  Hopefully, by the time their story is told in full we will learn something that makes the book worth reading.

Overall, the story is well written; the characters are well fleshed; the scenarios are fantastical, yet grounded in reality.  Normally this would be a formula for a 5-star book.  Yet the supporting characters drag this one down.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 3 

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

For the First Time

For the First Time by Stephanie Doyle

Former CIA agent Mark Sharpe is the best at what he does...just ask him.  Having decided to leave the Agency in order to be a full-time dad to his reluctant teenage daughter, Mark has set up as a private investigator specializing in cold cases.  Now, one of those cases seem to have come back to haunt him, forcing him to bite the bullet and hire on a brilliant partner who simply rubs him the wrong way.

JoJo Hatcher is a non-conformist.  If someone can't tell that from her attitude, her tattoos will leave them in no doubt.  She knows no amount of camouflage will work on Mark, but she finds herself oddly drawn to the idea of working with this genius of observation.  Can she keep her growing attraction from distracting her from her job?  Especially now that Mark's daughter has been threatened and he needs her so desperately.

The main characters are transparent.  Sometimes this can be a good thing, other times...not so much.  In this case it is a mixed blessing.  Mark's transparency worked great in the previous book, where he acted as the foil to the main character, Ben Tyler.  In this book, his transparency is a hindrance because there are only so many believable ways he can react to a situation, and none of them are very complimentary to him.  JoJo's transparency works in a way that is unexpected.  The reader knows that JoJo is motivated by her past, and as such will do what ever it takes to keep history from repeating itself.  This works because the reader does not get all of the backstory all at once, so we are kept guessing as to what really happened to her to make her the way that she is.

Once again, the supporting characters save the day.  Greg's story is intriguing, and as we are only given a morsel of it, we find ourselves salivating for more.  Sophie is a typical teen with an atypical life.  We can relate to her angst, but also marvel at her strength while she deals with stuff that most adults will never even deal with.

Overall, this is a good read.  I really enjoyed the story, but often found myself distracted by Mark being somewhat unlikable.    

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 3 

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

An Act of Persuasion

An Act of Persuasion By Stephanie Doyle

After a life of leading teams of CIA agents through life threatening maneuvers, Ben Tyler never believed he would be brought to his knees, especially by his own body.  There was no way he was going to allow cancer to kill him slowly, so he decided to undergo a drastic treatment behind the back of his personal assistant, and primary support.  Now, twelve weeks later, he is cancer free, and Anna-free.  Can he talk her in to forgiving him?  Especially now that his future is in her hands.

The only thing Anna Summers has ever wanted is a home.  Abandoned at the age of six by her mother, and spending twelve years of her life being bounced from house to house, she thought she had finally found that home caring for her boss, Ben.  Everything changes after one night when barriers come crashing down and they give in to a passion she is sure is mutual.  However, in the aftermath, she is left feeling used and betrayed.  Though leaving him was the hardest thing she had ever done, she will willingly walk back in to his life now that she is carrying the only child Ben will ever father, but it is going to be on her terms only.

This story is emotionally captivating and beautifully written.  The characters are both strong, in the sense that life has taught them that it is better to be independent than a victim.  That being said, it is understandable why they are drawn to each other.  Anna sees Ben as the only person who has ever truly needed her, and Ben sees Anna as the only person who has never pitied him.  It is also why they are wary of each other.  Anna doesn't want to be controlled, and Ben doesn't like being out of control.

The introduction of Mark and Sophie in the side story gave a great contrast to Ben's control.  Mark is confident and good at what he does.  But Ben has an emotional detachment that really becomes emphasized when compared to a peer who lacks that detachment.

Overall, this is a great read and my personal favorite of the series.  The language is strong at times, but in an isolated manner.  The love scenes are well written and the storyline never really lags.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 5 

Language – 3 

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

One Final Step

One Final Step By Stephanie Doyle

Michael Langdon did not have the most auspicious start in life.  Growing up on Detroit's infamous 8 Mile, Michael used cars to escape the reality around him.  After serving time for theft, he once again used cars to escape reality, and forget the horrors behind him.  From car thief to racing legend didn't seem too far of a jump, but now he needs another image make-over:  to mechanical innovator and corporate poster boy.  An old friend sends him the best publicist in the business, now all Michael has to do is convince her to take a chance on him...and not let her get too close to the truth.

Madeline Kane is a King Maker.  Once a highly respected member of the political scene, she let one moment of weakness get the better of her judgement, and it destroyed everything.  Now, seven years later, she has been called back in to service by her employer as a favor to an old friend. but can she work with such a high profile man without getting sucked back into the nightmares of the past?

This story surprised me by how captivating it was.  Both characters suffer from serious PTSD from their experiences, but what really got me was the heart break that occurs when one of them manages to pull out of it and realizes that they can't "fix" the other one.  To love someone so much and not be able to help them hurts, but then to know that they won't even try to help themselves is just killer.

His dark secret was a shocker; her dark secret was not so much a secret but a confession.  Either way, both of these characters are deserving of pity, and neither want it.  He doesn't want people to know about it, and she doesn't want people to even remember she exists.

My favorite part in this book was actually the sub-plot involving Ben and Anna, Madeline's boss and his assistant.  Their issue helps to mellow Madeline out and put her life into perspective, but it also gives us a glimpse at the next book.

Overall, it's surprisingly and fun and sexy read.  The subject matter should keep it from being sexy, but it really doesn't.  In fact, it brings a larger intensity to it all.  Warning on the language, though.  He grew up on 8 Mile and spent time in prison.  Expect cursing.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 5 

Language – 3 

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5