Showing posts with label Diana's Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diana's Reviews. Show all posts

January 5, 2016

Diana's Reviews! Knotted, Manhattan Bound #3 by Juliet Braddock


Spiraling from the bustling streets of New York City to the opulence of Paris, KNOTTED, the third book in Juliet Braddock’s Manhattan Bound series, continues the steamy journey of Maxine Kirk’s whirlwind romance with star of the Broadway stage, Drew McKenzie. 

As their love continues to flourish, Maxine finds herself ensconced in Drew’s world, where power reigns in his all-consuming lust for her. From a blackout in Manhattan to a back alley in Paris to a castle in the Loire Valley, their passion knows no boundaries. 

All the while, though, traces from their separate pasts continue to haunt, threatening to disrupt their happiness. 

Maxine must confront the harsh, emotional realities that she’d thought she’d conquered. However, she wonders if her courage will withstand the crushing heartache that has threatened to destroy her soul. 

As Drew continues to fit together the missing pieces of his childhood, danger shadows his every move. Drifting through the tumultuous events of their public and personal lives, Drew will stop at nothing to keep Maxine safe—and to guard their secrets from the world. 

Passion and peril collide, culminating in the explosive revelation of the enigma that’s followed Drew for years. 




Another book delivered by the talented Juliet Braddock. 

In Weakened and Wrapped, we got to see Drew and Maxine’s first encounter, watched them fall in love and build a relationship based on sincerity, respect, trust and love. From two complete strangers to soul-mates, they overcame many obstacles. 

“In Maxine, Drew had finally found everything he needed. So lonely with such a generous heart, she have not only Drew but to everyone around her.” 

Now, they are about to take the final step, that of becoming husband and wife. 

“Oh, she cherished nothing more than that man standing before her. There was absolutely nothing she couldn’t accomplish or conquer with Drew at her side. She loved him – needed him – without a single condition, even throughout their most anguishing moments.” 

In Knotted, things change. From New York to Paris, the author depicts scenes that give us a glimpse of the amazing architecture and the different lifestyles. 

Though their pasts don’t stop interfering with their newfound happiness, their connection is stronger than ever. 

“All of the anxiety he’s been shouldering for months dissipated into the vibrant Paris night. Systematically, he shoved all thoughts of any threats to the side for just a single moment. For the first time in his life, Drew felt overwhelmed by his own happiness. He’d never dared to indulge in such joy before, and this new feeling of bliss was as spectacular as it was intimidating. He’d married the love of his life.” 

The thing I liked most about this series is that, although the relationship between characters grows every day, they do not change. Drew is the same dominant man who, at the same time, is a hopeless romantic and Maxine is the woman who can undo his resolve in just a matter of seconds. The same thing about the other characters -- they are one big family who help and support each other each step of the way. 

The writing is flawless. I had the impression I was visiting the City of Lights right alongside them. Without a single doubt, this is one of the best series I have read so far. I cannot wait for the next book! 




Juliet Braddock loves eighties music, wine, food, theater and all things French. When she’s not exploring the big cities of the world—most notably Paris—she lives and writes in Manhattan, and is the proud cat mom to a very spoiled Russian Blue rescue. 


November 21, 2015

Diana's Reviews!! A Kindled Winter by Rachel L. Demeter


“Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.” — Dale Evans

A week before Christmas, Jeseca Reed sets off for Blue River, Oregon—her childhood home and a vault of tender memories. However, fate takes an unexpected turn when she’s left stranded in the mountains’ vast, untamed wilderness. Desperate and alone, she seeks shelter at a cottage and finds herself in the arms of a mysterious stranger.

Dr. David Drake was once a renowned cardiovascular surgeon. But a devastating tragedy has left him scarred both inside and out, unable to use his hands to operate again. For the past five years, his Blue River cottage has been his sole escape—a safe haven where he can shut out the world, bury himself in his grief, and reunite with his son’s memory.

Together they are summer and winter. Fire and ice. And yet a poignant connection forms between them. Jeseca awakens David and thaws his heart with a romance hot enough to melt snow. But before David and Jeseca can fully embrace each other, they must wade through darkness and confront the ghosts of their pasts …

Equal parts steamy and heartfelt, A Kindled Winter brings the spirit of the holidays to life with a passionate story of second chances and healing love. 



“Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.” 

A Kindled Winter is a short story of two people who find love in unexpected circumstances. 

On her way to visit her mother for Christmas in Blue River, Oregon, Jeseca Reed stumbles upon Dr. David Drake, a damaged man who lives his life surrounded by loneliness. 

The two of them come from different worlds: after he lost his beloved family and the job he dedicated himself to, David got used to being withdrawn, guarded and being away from people. On the other hand, Jeseca is his opposite: she comes from a big city, she’s surrounded by people every day, she’s full of life. 
But the one thing they have in common is that both of them lost the people they had loved.

“Ever since the accident, he’d distanced himself from humanity—and rightfully so. He’d found a fragile contentment within his self-imposed solitude—and, in an unexpected twist of fate, Jeseca Reed was changing everything.”

I think that the author proved she can write contemporary romance as well as she does historical romance. Given the fact that the story is short, she kept it simple and very easy to follow. She focuses on the two characters and how their relationship develops: from two complete strangers, their relationship grows in just a matter of days. 

“Then David surprised himself and flashed her a genuine smile. It was the first smile he’d gifted anyone since the accident, and he momentarily felt his heart open to this strange woman.”

One thing I liked was the strong connection between Jeseca and David. She is capable to make him open up to her and confront his past, and realize that he may have a second chance at love and happiness after all. 

“Suddenly, David was struck with a ridiculous thought. He yearned to wrench away those hideous glasses, press his lips against the smooth patch of skin between her brows and inhale her lemony scent… 
I’ve been alone far too long…

I think the message the author transmits is that everyone should be given a second chance, because these are rare and we should take the opportunity to right things whenever they go wrong. 

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a well-written novel or just a short story based on the things that really matter in life. 




I live in the beautiful hills of Anaheim, California with Teddy, my goofy lowland sheepdog, and high school sweetheart of eleven years. I enjoy writing poignant romances that challenge the reader’s emotions and explore the redeeming power of love.

Imagining dynamic worlds and characters has been my passion for longer than I can remember. Before learning how to read or write, I would dictate stories while my mom would jot them down for me. I hold a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether crafting the protagonist or antagonist, I ensure every character is given a soul.

I endeavor to defy conventions by blending elements of romance, suspense, and horror. Some themes my stories never stray too far from: forbidden romance, soul mates, the power of love to redeem, mend all wounds, and triumph over darkness.

My dream is to move readers and leave an emotional impact through my words. ♥

August 28, 2015

Diana's Review!! Finding Gabriel by Rachel L. Demeter


Colonel Gabriel de Laurent departed for the war intending to die.

After a decade of bloodstained battlegrounds while fighting in Napoleon's army, Gabriel returns to the streets of Paris a shattered and haunted soul. Plagued by inner demons, he swallows the barrel of his flintlock pistol and pulls the trigger.

But fate has a different plan.

Ariah Larochelle is a survivor. Orphaned at twelve and victim to a devastating crime, she has learned to keep her back to walls and to trust no one. But when she finds a gravely injured soldier washed up on the River Seine, she's moved by compassion. In spite of her reservations, she rescues him from the icy water and brings him into her home.

Now scarred inside and out, Gabriel discovers a kindred spirit in Ariah—and feelings he imagined lost forever reawaken as he observes her strength in the face of adversity. But when Ariah's own lethal secrets unfold, their new love is threatened by ancient ghosts. Can Gabriel and Ariah find hope in the wreckage of their pasts—or will the cycle of history repeat again?

Perfect for fans of Gaelen Foley's Lord of Ice and Judith James's Broken Wing, Finding Gabriel features all the dark romance, searing passion, and historical intrigue of The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables.


Let me start by saying that I am a big fan of historical romance and, any well-written book that bears this label, has always been close to my heart. 

The story Rachel L. Demeter has chosen to bring to life – that of a tormented man saved by a woman, who manages to convince him that he isn’t the person he thought he was – became one of the best I have read so far. 

After losing his family and experiencing the tragedy of wars and countless fights, Colonel Gabriel de Laurent makes up his mind and decides to kill himself. Without any trace of faith or hope, the last thing he expects is to be saved from his own doing and be given a second chance. 

“Broken and alone, Gabriel had returned from the battlefields months earlier. And he’d departed for the war fully intending to die. But things hadn’t gone according to his plan.” 

Ariah Larochelle has been through a lot in her life, but she still has a lot of goodness left in her soul. When she stumbles across a wounded soldier who only has minutes left to live, she immediately decides to take him under her roof. 

Both Gabriel and Ariah are survivors of awful events that marked their lives and themselves. Their relationship unfolds beautifully and, together, they heal each other’s wounds. 

“Thoughts of Ariah and his past invaded his mind, refusing to grant him rest. He wanted to hate her – non, he wanted to despise her – for thwarting his plan. He’d finally mustered her courage to do what should have done long, long ago… then she’d appeared.
Indeed, she’d appeared within the darkness, like a lighthouse among the jagged sea cliffs, steering him away from destruction.” 

I fell in love with their story immediately. Gabriel’s stubbornness and passion and Ariah’s compassion and capacity of love made this book even more marvelous. Also, the other characters made the book even more endearing to me. 

The author’s writing is simply alluring and flows naturally as she vividly portrays her characters and the Paris of the nineteenth century. I highly recommend it! 




I live in the beautiful hills of Anaheim, California with Teddy, my goofy lowland sheepdog, and high school sweetheart of eleven years. I enjoy writing dark, poignant romances that challenge the reader’s emotions and explore the redeeming power of love.

Imagining dynamic worlds and characters has been my passion for longer than I can remember. Before learning how to read or write, I would dictate stories while my mom would jot them down for me. I hold a special affinity for the tortured hero and unconventional romances. Whether crafting the protagonist or antagonist, I ensure every character is given a soul.

I endeavor to defy conventions by blending elements of romance, suspense, and horror. Some themes my stories never stray too far from: forbidden romance, soul mates, the power of love to redeem, mend all wounds, and triumph over darkness.

My dream is to move readers and leave an emotional impact through my words. ♥


July 16, 2015

Double Review!! Weakened & Wrapped, Manhattan Bound 1 & 2 by Juliet Braddock

Against the glittering backdrop of New York City, budding theatrical publicist Maxine Kirk, fresh off the bus from a small Pennsylvania town, stumbles into the arms of her beloved teenage crush, unleashing desires that she never imagined. 

Enter Drew McKenzie, a rising star on Broadway with dashing looks and talent to match, who masquerades behind the characters he portrays. 

Instantly, Maxine finds herself lured into Drew’s high society world only to uncover a complicated man beneath the glitz and glamour of his public persona. As soon as the curtain falls, Drew sheds his stage costumes to reveal a daring Dominant side. 

Titillated by his enigmatic life, Maxine clamors to discover a surreptitious and possibly perilous affair with Drew, all the while questioning her own preconceived notions on romance. 

Secrets surface, revealing haunting truths that test both Maxine and Drew of their own intentions. But in this high-stakes game of trust, only the strongest survive.
~~

When Drew McKenzie presents Maxine Kirk with an ultimatum, challenging her to engage in his wanton brand of desire, she readily embraces her awakening hunger for a lifestyle that defies her perceptions of romance.



Entranced by Drew’s charming appeal and by his sensual assault to her senses, Maxine clamors to discover every nuance of this new relationship, ravenous to explore verboten fantasies that seem possible to fulfill only with Drew.


Along the way, he introduces her to his glamorous world of wealth and celebrity—where lavish galas and luxurious gifts are the norm—and entices her into his realm of control with his tender mode of domination.

All the while, however, they both grapple with painful emotions brought about by the extenuating circumstances of their separate pasts.

While Drew remains both confident and conscientious in his parlay of power over Maxine, his own tragic secret lurks in every shadow upon his path in life. Behind the façade of his stage persona and the origin of old Manhattan society, he struggles to hide the unforgiving reality he faced as a child.

Just as Maxine finds the strength to conquer her own torment with Drew’s patience and guidance leading her toward closure, terrifying truths begin to chip away at the surface of his composure.

As the nightmarish details of Drew’s unimaginable life emerge, he fears that this new world he’d begun to build with Maxine will crumble around him.

As Maxine finds herself embroiled in the battle to save Drew’s tortured soul from the atrocities that continue to stalk his every move, two lost souls struggling to find comfort and completion converge.

However, as Drew opens his heart to Maxine’s unwavering support, he questions his own bravery, wondering if she’ll take a bow and make her exit…or if she’ll stick around for the encore?



Weakned & Wrapped are only .99$ for the duration of the tour!!!






HOLY HOTNESS!!
Now, THIS is what I call a great book! 

After more than a year after her mother lost her battle with cancer, Maxine moves to New York, her and her mother’s beloved city, with her best friend, Ben. Leaving her father back in Pittsburg, she’s now ready to embark on her new job as a theatrical publicist and make a career for herself. 

The last thing she expects after her short arrival is to stumble in the arms of her biggest crush, Drew McKenzie. 

“Electricity, white and hot, radiated through the palm of her hand that he held so delicately in his own. This single moment rendered her speechless. She couldn’t mode, paralyzed by this blond, curly haired gentleman with the chiseled jaw, steely gaze and too-handsome face that she recognized immediately.” 

One thing is for sure, though: the connection they share is instantaneous and undeniable. 

Drew is a man with a past that he isn’t ready to share with anyone and, despite his charming exterior, he’s an enigma. In truth, he has built high walls around himself and, when he meets Maxine, he’s taken aback with her spirit and her cleverness. For Drew, she is unlike any woman he’s ever met. 

Drawn into his world, Maxine discovers he has a dark, Dominant side that surges strange desires within her and that she isn’t that repelled by a lifestyle she has never considered for herself. 

“There was something so very different about Drew that evening – something a little dark, and maybe even fraying on the cusp of sinister – yet Maxine couldn’t take her eyes off him. He wasn’t the sweet, polite gentleman she’ met at the stage door. 
There was a certain edge to him that she would never have imagined, yet she wanted nothing more than reach out and rake her fingers through those blonde curls. And pull him closer and… Stop it, Maxine, she warned herself. “

Juliet’s writing style is just flawless and, ever since I began her book, I wasn’t able to stop. She managed to create a striking story that lures you in, with characters that seem so real, I felt like I knew every one of them. 

I don’t know what else to say, except that I loved it and I cannot wait for the following books in this amazing series.




I won’t go into how Maxine and Drew met because you’ve read about it in Diana’s review of Weakened. Let me tell you instead why I loved this book.

First of all, a little something about the characters.

I loved every single one of them.

Drew is fascinating, charismatic, funny and a hopeless romantic. His way of behaving even when he’s in Dom mode is so sweet. He takes such good care of Maxine and he’s so tender. 

Maxine. Life hasn’t been very kind to her but she’s strong and, with the support of her loved ones, she is finally following her dream. Little did she know how much she will achieve when she took that bus to New York.

Ben. He’s the best friend a girl, hell, ANYONE could ask for. He’s there for Maxine every step of the way even when he himself could use some love and tenderness. And he’s such a hoot. The guy has no filter but it’s just a part of his charm and it suits him perfectly. Aaaand, HE’S MINE!! Seriously, don’t make me fight you.

In Wrapped we see Maxine and Drew’s relationship evolve, we see them evolve and change.

Maxine is embracing her new role as a submissive under the careful and caring guide of her lover.

Drew is finally opening up, at least to her, about his past and his fears. Step by step, they start the process of healing each other.

You’ll also get to meet Drew’s family and his older brother Adam. He’s a very … colorful character and he kind of steals the show. You’ll love him.

One of the things I loved about this book: no useless, senseless drama. No ditzy heroine who’s falling all over herself to please the guy she likes. No insta-love.

This is a slow building story that will pull you in from the beginning and won’t let go until you’re done.

Maxine is strong, she knows what she wants and follows her dream. She might be an innocent when it comes to sex, but this girl is no pushover.

Drew’s start in life has been rough but he hasn’t allowed his past to ruin his future. He might have his demons, but he keeps a good grip on that part and it doesn’t let it interfere with his life. 

He’s successful, he’s chosen to follow his own dreams instead on taking his wealth for granted and he has no problem in creating new relationships and forging new bonds.

His relationship with Maxine is healthy. The BDSM side of it is something they both enjoy and not just a sick, twisted way for him to prove something.

He doesn’t feel the need to own her to prove his manliness. 

Another great thing about these books is how Juliet made the city feel like a character. The descriptions are so accurate, it felt like I was walking the streets myself. 

This series it’s totally worth it and I can’t wait to read Knotted. Is it September yet?

We highly recommend!



Juliet Braddock loves eighties music, wine, food, theater and all things French. When she’s not exploring the big cities of the world—most notably Paris—she lives and writes in Manhattan, and is the proud cat mom to a very spoiled Russian Blue rescue.



July 3, 2015

Review, Excerpt & Giveaway! Falling Fast, Falling Fast #1 by Tina Wainscott



Fans of Jasinda Wilder and Colleen Hoover will adore this emotional new small-town romance—a smoldering tale of first love and long-awaited redemption from USA Today bestselling author Tina Wainscott.


Raleigh West works in an auto shop day and night, trying to put his broken past out of mind. It’s been seven years since the fiery crash that landed his teenage sweetheart in the hospital . . . and him in jail. In an instant, he lost everything: his passion for racing, his hope of escaping his father’s shameful legacy, and the only girl he ever loved. Raleigh hasn’t seen her since that awful night. Never got a chance to apologize. And never forgave himself, either.

When brave, beautiful Mia Wentworth returns to the Florida coast for the first time in what seems like forever, it’s not to see Raleigh. Even so, the moment she arrives she can feel his presence like a gust of wind that gives her goose bumps. Opening her heart to him again seems impossible. But staying away? That might be harder still. Lucky for them both, Mia’s never been the kind of woman to take the easy way out.


Raleigh looked up, and his eyes softened in a way she knew, and felt, right down to her bones. He didn’t smile, but he stood, his body tensing as he took in her approach. Friendly or hostile? He was no doubt trying to figure it out. She tried to smile, to let him know that she wasn’t here to yell at him, but her face felt frozen. Paralyzed. Hell, was she going to freeze up again?

She tried to utter a greeting, but her dry throat prevented the words from emerging. She waved instead.

Raleigh stepped out from behind the stone, coming toward her. His eyes hungrily roamed over her, skipping from her face down her body, then quickly back again. Not lustily but as if sating a deep thirst. And there, beneath the question in his eyes, lay a hint of a smile. Suddenly she was transported back to that first time she’d gone into the garage just to see him. To ask him more about the races. He’d looked both pleased and surprised.

“Mia,” he said, her name loaded with more than she could interpret.

For a moment, she forgot about the scars that would be visible in the bright sunlight. She forgot to breathe. “Raleigh,” she said. She thought she was smiling, but it might look more like a grimace. Gawd, get hold of yourself. You’re just here to let him know you don’t hate him. “I—”

“Mia! We have to go!” Her mother’s voice pounded harshly from behind her.

Mia turned, spotting her mother duck-walking over in spiked heels that kept sinking into the earth, hands fisted at her sides. She turned back to Raleigh. “I just wanted to say . . . I don’t —”

“Mia,” her mother ground out.

“Blame you,” Mia managed, and quickly walked toward her mother, not wanting her anywhere near Raleigh. He would probably think she was still that timid seventeen-year-old who was afraid her parents would find out that she was sneaking out at night. But she wanted to protect him from all the angry, imprudent things that would gush from her mother’s mouth.

“What are you doing?” she hissed as Mia hooked her arm through hers and spun her back toward the casket.

“It’s called closure, Mother. The last time we spoke, he’d called to see how I was doing, and I hung up on him.”

“Well, he deserved it,” she shot back, flicking a glance backward.

Mia fought not to do the same. She didn’t want to see what expression he might have. Disgust. Sympathy. Regret. Or, even worse, just dismissal. “No, he didn’t.”

“She was talking to him,” her mother said when they reached her father. “She went to him.”

Mia met her father’s curious and disconcerted expression. “I just wanted him to know I wasn’t angry at him.” Though, dammit, she hadn’t gotten that part out.

“Why do you care what he thinks?” her father asked in his low, emotionless voice.


“Or do you care?” her mother asked. “You’re not still—”


“Of course not.” Even uttering the words in love was preposterous. Mia couldn’t help herself, glancing toward Raleigh. He was kneeling in front of the stone again, but his eyes were on her. “It was just a summer romance. Teenage hormones.”

They seemed gratified by that last declaration, even though it sounded hollow to her ears. “We should go,” her father said, nodding toward the people now milling by the limousine.

Once they reached it, she shot one more look toward Raleigh. She wanted to believe her recent declaration, but she felt exactly like that girl who had fallen fast and hard for the boy who’d made her a woman.


Falling Fast is the story of two teenagers who come from different worlds, brought together by fate.

After she survived the battle with cancer, Mia goes on a summer vacation in her grandmother’s small town. Being the over-protected child that she is, Mia decides to have a normal life and make friends. 

She meets Raleigh, the boy who grew up on his own, and whose passion is racing. For once in her life, Mia seems to have finally found someone who understands her and who doesn’t treat her like a helpless child.

They are drawn to each other immediately, but a quick turn of events ends with Mia in hospital and Raleigh behind the bars.

Seven years later, Mia’s grandmother’s death brings them together again and staying away from each other seems impossible.

Mia’s character is strong, hard-headed and determined to convince Raleigh that what happened 7 years before wasn’t his fault, while Raleigh has a heart of gold, but is incapable of forgiving himself.

While the author’s style was quite good, I didn’t like the lack of details regarding their previous relationship. It wasn’t enough for them to recall a time or two together through the whole book. I felt like I needed to see how their connection grew into something more, because it was hard to get me to believe that their love was ever-so-present after so many years. 

All in all, I really enjoyed Mia and Raleigh’s story and I will definitely pick another book of Tina’s.




USA Today bestselling author Tina Wainscott has always loved the combination of romance and suspense, because nothing complements falling in love better than being hunted down. The author of more than thirty novels and novellas, Wainscott creates characters with baggage, past hurts, and vulnerabilities. They go through hell, find love, and, at the end, find peace in who they are and everything they’ve gone through. And isn’t that what everyone wants?





June 10, 2015

Diana's Reviews! Back-Up (Back-Up Series, #1) by A.M. Madden


THERE'S A NEW ROCK STAR IN TOWN AND HIS NAME IS JACK LAIR...



Leila Marino’s biggest dream is to become a rock star. A lucky opportunity has her auditioning with an up & coming rock band named Devil’s Lair. The band hires Leila as their back-up singer, signing her up for months in the studio and touring on the road with the sexy bunch. 


Jack is the quintessential rock star…gorgeous…sexy…a walking orgasm. Jack Lair is the lead singer of Devil’s Lair and his dreams are becoming reality as his band climbs the ladder of success. He’s living the perfect life, and enjoying every minute of it. With a steady stream of sexual conquests that satisfies his raging libido, he thinks he has all he needs in life…until Leila enters it. 

Jack is not prepared for the sudden pull he feels towards Leila, and struggles daily to deny his attraction is anything more. Leila finds falling for her new boss is constant torment. Both convince themselves friendship is their only option. 

An intimate moment causes their willpower to collapse, and their erotic love affair to begin. Finding love was a bonus that neither Jack nor Leila anticipated. As they begin their tour together professionally and personally, life couldn’t be any better for the couple. Until a mistake from Jack’s past threatens their new relationship, and their perfect future together.


Warning: This book is meant for mature readers who are 18+. It contains explicit language, and graphic sexual content.


Back-Up is the first installment in the Back-Up series written by A.M. Madden and a must-read for those who love a hot lead singer.


When Leila Marino hears that her favorite band, Devil’s Lair, is searching for a back-up singer, she doesn’t miss the opportunity to audition and she’s quickly accepted because her voice is the perfect match for what the band was looking for. She is quickly drawn into a world she has dreamed of since she was a little girl. Besides that, there’s a strong chemistry going on between her and the lead singer.

Jack lives the perfect life… or so he thinks. He’s surrounded by beautiful women willing to share his bed every night and his band is about to become famous now that they have included Leila and are starting their tour. He hasn’t been committed to a girl since high school and he isn’t planning on a relationship now, with all the important events that are going to make his dream come true.

Jack may appear carefree and hard-headed, but, in reality, he has a great capacity of loving someone and being loyal. Both him and Leila are determined to accomplish their goals in spite of their feelings. There’s always the chance that the passion they share will interfere with their work and neither is willing to take any chances. 

One thing that I appreciated was that the secondary characters were equally involved and the author didn’t leave out any important details. Also, nothing seems too rushed or too slow and the relationship between the main characters develops as it should.

Back –Up is the best start for this series because romance and humor and an unexpected twist blend into an amazing story that will keep you glued to the pages of the book from beginning to end. I cannot wait to read the next volume!



A.M. Madden is a wife, a mother, an avid reader of romance novels and now an author. In Back-up she aspired to create a fun, sexy, realistic romantic story. She wanted to create characters that the reader could relate to and feel as if they knew personally.
A self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, she loves getting lost in a good book. She uses every free moment of her time writing, while raising teenage boys.



May 6, 2015

Diana's Reviews! Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins


Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend. 

But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?


You know that kind of books that you can’t wait to read because the description sounds so good?

Those reviews you read before the book where everyone says they loved it? And you finally put your hands on it and begin to read and the story isn’t what you hoped it might be?

Well, that was for me, Anna and the French Kiss.

I was so excited to see what all the fuss was about, because some of my friends recommended it. And don’t get me wrong, because I wasn’t disappointed. I just wasn’t able to connect with the characters.

In the beginning, we meet Anna, a teenage girl who’s looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta. She’s the typical student: good grades, she has good friends, and her biggest passion is watching movies - which she loves to write about. 

Things changes when she has to go to a boarding school in Paris. She’s less thrilled about the concept of leaving her entire life behind, and the fact that she doesn’t even know to speak French in order to survive her last year of high school. There, she meets Étienne St. Clair. He’s charming, intelligent, attentive, kind and beautiful and about to complicate Anna’s life.

It was very interesting to see how she is accommodating with her surroundings and makes new friends. 

I found the other characters interesting and I think they had an important role in the development of the story. I’m actually excited to read more about them.

I liked the author’s style, even though, there were moments where I thought everything was just dragging and other times when Anna got on my nerves for being very irresponsible.

There were a lot of funny scenes, making up for the story moving at a slow pace and saving it from being boring. I think Stephanie Perkins did a great job at pointing out the fact that it’s a great thing when you fall in love with the right person and I’m looking forward to reading her other books.




Hi, there! I'm Steph, and I wrote ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS, LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR, and ISLA AND THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER. I also edited the romantic holiday anthology MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME and the upcoming SUMMER DAYS & SUMMER NIGHTS.