Review: Lost and Found by Katie Jamieson

Krissa has always been the responsible one. Driven to fulfill her mother's abandoned dreams, to make her husband Derek happy. She has brought that single-minded determination to the one dream she has for herself--a child. Except she and Derek can't conceive, and Derek refuses to consider using a stranger's sperm. The result? Guilt that her desperation is causing their marital rift.


The last thing they need is a long-term house guest, but Derek's best friend Nate, a nomadic phootographer recovering from a career-threatening eye disorder, has nowhere else to go. Nate thought his friends' home would be a temporary haven from the grief that has dogged his heels since his wife died. Instead he is in the middle of a marriage in meltdown. Soon their friendship develops an underlying hum of forbidden sexual tension. When Krissa proposes a wild idea--that Naste be their sperm donor--Derek has an even wilder proposal: bypass the fertility clinic and accept Nat's donation straight from the source.


At first Krissa believes she is on the fast track to having her dream. But it quickly becomes clear that when the heart gets involved, and secrets are revealed, the simplest of arrangements can become entangled beyond belief. . . or repair.

This is another very good novel from Kelly Jamieson and is a contemporary look-see into the workings of an upscale Southern California suburban couple living "the life." With a mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean near beautiful Santa Barbara (and it really is beautiful there), with successful careers that put both Krissa and Derek into the business fast lane, these two are the envy of many. Yet their marriage is in very real trouble. Their efforts to have a baby--something Krissa doesn't think she can live without and which Derek has a rather ho-hum attitude toward--have put severe strains on their relationship. The efforts toward procreation have cost them intimacy and Krissa's single-minded determination to achieve this greatest of all desires has overshadowed nearly everything in the couple's life.

Krissa is woman who will do whatever it takes to make the people in her life happy--even if it means taking responsibility for their unhappiness. She is giving and vital, creative and hard-working, seeking to be a successful business woman as well as keeping a spotless home and being a great cook. The news that Derek is sterile devastates her. Her grief is made even more upending when she hears from Derek that he will not adopt nor accept a child from an anonymous donor. Now what can Krissa do?

Derek's character seems OK at first, but as the novel progresses, his weakness and self-centered thinking begins to "shine through." He uses almost any excuse to "do his own thing" and while he seems to be honestly in love with his wife, he demonstrates that love only when it is convenient for him. He appears to welcome his best friend from college, yet he really doesn't go out of his way to be very welcoming. That he leaves to Krissa.

Nate is troubled and still reeling from the death of his wife and unborn child two years earlier. Yet there is something "off" in his continuing emotional separation from friends and family. He is only at Krissa & Derek's home because he needs a neutral place to recover from a case of botulism that has affected his eyesight. It is a slow healing and thus Nate is in this home for weeks. Then he is invited to be the "sperm donor" for Krissa & Derek--an awkward situation at best.

Ms Jamieson has dealt with the issues very well here, IMHO. The strains in the marriage are evident almost from the first when Derek finds out he is sterile, leaves the doctor's office, disappears for hours, comes home drunk, smelling of perfume and cigarettes. There is no thought on his part that Krissa is also in emotional pain. Somehow Derek's hurts always take precedence. We are also aware that there is a growing attraction between Nate and Krissa--Nate can see so much that is being "stuffed" down by Krissa as Derek rides rough shod over her dreams, feelings, and efforts to make the marriage work. The story moves along -- there are no dead spots in this telling. From time to time I did get a bit weary with the internal dialogue on the part of a couple of the characters, but I recognize that there are some weighty issues being considered here and thus people are perhaps more introspective than in a light-hearted romance scenario. All the characters have the touch of authenticity and each is unique in their own way. I almost had a feeling that they were iconic--that each was representative of a type of person we probably all know. Thus, this circle of friends and family are truly representative of an entire slice of culture and living.

Ms Jamieson also has built some twists and turns into the story, some of which are truly a surprise. They were the sort where we would usually respond: "OMG, I wasn't prepared for that!" The ending will please most of the readers, but I think the author used creativity in getting the reader through the conflict to the story's conclusion. There are some great love scenes and the threesome that exists for a couple of weeks between Krissa, Nate, & Derek is very erotic. But there are "lows" here, too. Tears, betrayal, disappointment, grieving--all make an appearance.

So this is not your "pie in the sky by and by" kind of love story. There are troubled people seeking some sort of positive direction for their lives. How they manage and whether or not they are successful is the stuff at the core of this story. I can't tell you why--can't put my finger on the specific quality that I liked so well about this book. It just comes together so well and I think the author accomplished what she set out to do. I can't believe there isn't a romance fan "out there" that won't love this novel. I give it a rating of 5 out of 5.

Review: Turn It On by Vivian Arend--Book 1 in the Turner Twins Series

Pushing the sensual limits can set off all kinds of alarms!

Inheriting her grandmother's home is a dream come true for web designer Maxcine Turner. She is looking forward to a little freedom from the constant demands of her beloved, crazy mob of a family. When vandals expose just how vulnerable she is living alone, she seeks help.

Ryan Claymore's well-thought-out-life was wrenched out from under him when responsibility for his special-needs half-brother landed on his shoulders. Going from military man to business man hasn't been easy. He counts himself lucky he has found Maxine to trade his security-system knowledge for her website expertise. The red-hot chemistry that sizzles between them comes from out of the blue, and they both fight a losing battle to resist. Even the secret Ryan hides isn't enough to keep Maxine from working her way into his heart--and his bed.

But something else might tear them apart--whoever seems determined to destroy her home, and her sanity along with it.

Vivian Arend is well-known for her varied and creative subject matter in her literary works but I have read mostly paranormal stories from her. Now we have a contemporary romance/mystery that brings an interesting cast of characters into the mix and makes for a tale that is neither simple or single-layered.

Suffice it to say that Maxine is awash with relatives. Her twin, called Junior, is protective and not very happy that she has decided to move out of his home into her own, much less into an old house that was given her by her grandmother. Actually, the house was given to the family, and no one else wanted it, neither did anyone seem interested in selling it and splitting the profits. Maxine was delighted since this was a house full of memories and family tradition and the last thing she wanted was to see it leave the care and keeping of someone in her family. The acts of vandalism started almost from the moment she decided to renovate and move in. Thankfully, the insurance paid for most of the damage, but the necessity of an alarm system was the reason she and Ryan came into contact initially.

Ryan is a man who has made his way in the world believing that his main career would be the military. Now, after being made aware of a half-brother he did not know existed until recently, he has left his military commission and begun using his communications expertise in a security systems business. He has also not really planned on any kind of long-term relationship. Yes, he has had women in his life, but none seemed to be for more than temporary companionship. Now, he is once again finding that Maxine has piqued his interest and having been without female companionship for quite some time, he begins to fantasize about her ending up in his intimate embrace. Little does he realize that he is entering into a mad and crazy family world that will puzzle and almost overwhelm him. On the other hand, he keeps the presence of his half-brother a secret even from Maxine. What will be her response? Will this cool her interest in him?

Both these people have considerable "speed bumps" in their emotional lives. Ryan is focused on caring for his half-brother--a teenager with the understanding and competency of a 6-year-old--and getting his business off the ground. Is there really time and room in his life for even so pleasant a diversion as Maxine? Maxine, on the other hand, is captive to the wishes and demands of various members of her family. Even having moved into her own home, she still hasn't managed to find the magic word "NO" when presented with projects of activities or additional responsibilities. Because she works at home, her relatives believe that she is always available. Will Ryan accept the demands they make on her, especially when they cut into the time she can spend with him?

This is another fine Arend story with only one flaw that I can see: it is just too short. All her stories are novellas or slightly longer, and I would love to see her sink her writer's teeth into a novel-length tale that will tax and stretch her writing and story-telling abilities. It is full of fun and witticism, sexy encounters and intensity, family interaction and caring, an authentic sense of responsibility while caring for the disabled. It is a story that is fun to read, but the mysterious acts of violence keep the reader perched on the edge of the seat. Not easy to weave these multiple characters, story-lines and all that goes with it into a finished literary tapestry. So I recommend this as a very good story and hope that not only Arend fans will enjoy it, but that it may be an additional joy to those who just love a really, really good love story. I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5.

Review: No Longer Mine by Shiloh Walker

One woman, one man, and a love that won't let either of them go. . .


Born on the wrong side of the tracks and dealt a fair share of hardship, Nikki Kline never gives up a fight. Even when her reason to keep going is ripped from her, Nikki tries desperately to hang on. But when the man who broke Nikki's heart comes back into her life she doesn't know how much she can take. Especially since that man seems determined to win back her damaged heart.


Wade Lightfoot is a man who knows he's made more mistakes than most. As much as he would like to repair the damage he has done to those he loves, Wade also knows there is no going back. But when he sets out to put things right the last thing he is prepared to find out is that he had a son--a son he will never get the chance to meet.

When the truth is out and all the old wounds are bared, it seems impossible that Nikki and Wade will find their way back to each other. But true love is an undeniable force that even past hurts can't destroy.

In her dedication to this re-released story, the author comments:

"This book went out of print sometime in 2005 or 2996. Since it has been out of print I've had a number of readers ask me if I would ever release it again. My initial response was NO--capital letters, italics, bold font and all. It ws my first attempt at a full-length romance. It is not one of my better attempts either. It is rough, the characters are a ittle overdone, and sometimes I don't like either of them very much. But, like many writers' first attempts, it does have a special place in my heart, and part of what makes it special is the story itself. So while I know some of the flaws with this story, I knowI can fix some of them, fixing a lot of them would actually be changing the story."

There is no doubt, after reading this novel, that it is evident that in the succeeding years Ms Walker has honed her writing skills and put a great deal of work into refining her considerable talent. Yet I have to own up to being drawn into this story because it is rough, edgy, with emotions that are raw and in-your-face, and there just isn't much joy here. Yet there is an underlying grit in all these characters, especially Nikki's family, for coming through the hardships of poverty and social avoidance, their father's alcoholism, and her personal disappointments and wounds. Wade has also had to "live with the consequences of his choices" in a daily encounter with the hurts his mistakes have caused, not just to him and to Nikki, but to people who were also as undeserving of hurt and these two people.

There were times while reading this novel that I didn't think the pain would ever end. It was almost like a Greek tragedy: the longer it went on, the worse it got. And perhaps that is why I just kept on reading, because I was convinced that these two really nice people just couldn't end up bearing the brunt of all they had done or endured without some sort of redemptive force brought about by their love for each other. I think those of us who have lost a child--whether through accidents or sickness after birth or miscarriage--understand that there are holes in our hearts which may never be filled. It is a credit to the human spirit that even the deepest hurts can be healed to some degree. And this was my hope, even in these fictional circumstances, that kept me glued to the pages.

Ms Walker has given us a novel that forces readers to deal with the pain in these lives, just as we often have to endure pain in the lives of friends and family members, or even in our own experience. Writing is never easy--it is hard work--and writing about gritty, rough, and uncomfortable circumstances, whether caused by one character or another, takes a kind of literary fortitude. This story never lets up and while the plot is not necessarily inspired--we all have endured the fall-out that mistakes force on us or those we love--it is important that we encounter characters such as these. I know that I have learned much from the important people in my life. But I must admit that good fiction has been as instructive, or perhaps more so, than all the "reality" lessons I have encountered.

So I hope if you have not already done so, you will get a copy of this novel and settle in for some unsettling reading--reading that will hopefully increase the "human quotient" in each of us. I give this novel a rating of 4.75 out of 5.

A Word About Labor Day . . .

Labor Day was one of those holidays that as a kid I was always unhappy to see coming. It always meant that the next day we had to go to school. Those days are long gone and yet I remember that we always seemed to fall into a traditional routine because that was the last major holiday of the summer. Picnics with friends or community groups, badminton, soft ball, and bubble-blowing contests (the wads of bubble gum in a child's mouth really could defy description), and watermelon seed spitting contests--all were a part of that special day.

As kids we didn't even bother to think why Congress had set this day as the first Monday in September. Most of us had little knowledge of its importance or couldn't care less about celebrating the productivity of the American worker. Yet that is what we were observing. After I entered the work force, the significance of that day certainly changed. It was the beginning of Fall--even though the autumn solstice wasn't for two or three weeks--, it was the beginning of school, and it was the day we had to put away our summer church shoes (which were white) and start wearing the black patent leather Mary Janes or leather Buster Browns, whatever our mothers were making us wear, whether we liked them or not.

So I trust that even those childhood celebrations and all the fun are past and those years are but faded memories for many, that this Labor Day will be filled with rest, relaxation, good memories, family, friends, community gatherings, church picnics, and sharing the ice cold whatever in the back yard or on the patio, or in the city park pavilion.

Blessings to you all, and God bless the American worker, whatever each of us may do to add to the productivity of our country, our community, and our family. Until next time . . .

Re-Reading Books: Re-visiting Old Friends--Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis

I am the Queen of the Re-Read!! I love my books and I find that certain of them tend to become like cherished friends. Now don't get me wrong: I read new books all the time and as a speed-reader, I get lots of books read. But in the middle of the night, when the "post-menopausal female" part of my physique starts shouting at me, then I get out my eReader and visit old friends. I keep some already-read books on there just for that purpose.

Instant Attraction is just such a novel. It one of those breezy, sizzling, scenic and engaging love stories for which Jill Shalvis is so well known. It is the novel in a trilogy about the Wilder brothers, three men who now run Wilder Adventures in the High Sierras of Northern California. The youngest, Cameron, is an injured and now out-of-the-running former snowboarding champion--the Olympics, World Champion, etc--and who has really not known how to order his life around anything except this sport which has been the center of his life for as long as he can remember. No glory, no more big money from sponsors, no more groupies--he is now back home after a year of wandering, being completely out of touch with his brothers.

The other main character is Katie Kramer, a survivor of the collapse of the Santa Monica Bridge--the only survivor, and as a response to that trauma she has left Los Angeles in search of adventure. Guess where she ends up? That's right--at Wilder Adventures and ultimately in Cameron's bed. Both are running away--he from his grief over the loss of his sporting career; she over the survivor's guilt that brings the nightmare to her sleep every night since the tragedy.

The setting is beautiful--as one who has often vacationed in the High Sierras, both in the summer and the winter, it is one of my favorite places. The plot is interesting--lots of conflict to move the story along. Of course, there is the initial conflict between Cameron and Katie--both are "temporary" in some respects. The brothers are not sure Cam will stay and it is for sure that Katie is there only to relieve the regular accountant who is on paternity leave. There is conflict between Cameron and his brothers because of his long, silent absence. There is conflict between their Aunt Annie and her estranged husband. The story line moves along nicely and the dialogue is sparkling and witty. The love that slowly begins to manifest itself between Cam and Katie is challenged by their own reluctance to face themselves, let go of the past, and be willing to risk the future. Don't forget the ex-lover, Serena. Wishful, California is a small town and she is a friend of Annie's. You can bet that she knows well that Cam is no longer available to her and she is not a happy camper. She is all set to be the stick in the spokes of Katies wheels.

This is a fun love story and is a very nice example of Shalvis' writing talent and experience. She tells the story well, doesn't over-complicate the plot, and makes the characters unique and interesting. The interplay between the brothers is raw and caring in its own way. This book was written several years ago so some new fans of romance fiction may have missed it. I recommend that if you have not read it, that you consider doing so. If you like Shalvis' writing, I think you will find this a good read. I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5.

Review: Promises Prevail by Sarah McCarty

This is Book 3 in McCarty's Promises series about citizens of a Wyoming community in the late 1800's. Each is a stand alone book, yet they are all very interrelated as the characters for this book are present in the first two novels.

Clint McKinnely is on a mission to find a wife. He has given up trying to find a "soul mate" kind of wife. Rather, he has now come up with a set of specifications and is seeking the best "candidate" to fulfill those requirements--much as he would in selecting a brood mare for his horse breeding program. He has a curious sense of honor about many things and he deeply respects and admires women. He just hasn't found a love interest and since he has come to the point of wanting to settle down as has his best friend Asa McIntyre and his cousin Cougar McKinnely, he is on a search.

The truth of the matter is that he has wanted Jenna Hennesey for years. He knew she had married a brute in her first husband, and even during the years she was with that first spouse, Clint's reaction to her, every time he saw her, was to quietly and inwardly claim her for himself. Now she is a widow, injured because of the fire that her husband started and from which Clint rescued her. But her leg has never been right since, and even though she is now the owner/operator of the Sweet Tyme Bakery, he worries about her and checks on her regularly--even to the point that he brings his latest "wife candidate" there for breakfast. Clint finds out that a baby has been left on Jenna's doorstep and that she is hiding the little girl. She had so wanted a child of her own for a very long time. She knows down deep that she can't keep the baby, but then, Jenna was always a woman who learned to hold on to hope, even when hope seemed to fail her time and time again. So she and Clint marry, ostensibly to provide the child with a family. In truth, Clint couldn't have been happier.

And so the marriage of Jenna and Clint begins and it will be a journey that is fraught with emotional speed bumps and pot holes. Jenna is a damaged woman because of the abuse her first husband heaped on her as well as giving her to his poker friends to rape in payment for his gambling debts. Clint must find a way to break through and bring joy back into their physical relationship.

Clint is a patient man. He is known and respected as few men are in those parts. Together with his cousin Cougar, he was a U. S. Marshall who had a unique way of literally scaring the truth out of the bad guys. He was not a man anyone chose to tangle with if they were in the wrong. Yet this man cuddled abandoned kittens, talked softly to children, wooed Jenna with bubble baths and soft words, and protected his own with a fierce passion and loyalty.

This is a story of reclaiming a soul, not just a marriage. It is also the story of bringing hope to those who have been abandoned, joy to children who have lost their way, family loyalty that survives the worst challenges, and love that endures the worst that human beings can do to one another. This is perhaps the most emotionally charged novel in the series so far. I loved the first two books and plan to go back and re-read them soon. (I often re-read stories I love several times.) But I have to say that I not only loved this story but I responded emotionally to this book at a far deeper level. Somehow it really got to me.

So I hope that if you have not read this series you will consider doing so. It is American history learned in the best possible way. It is filled with erotic encounters between Clint & Jenna, warm fuzzies and tough love. The novel glows with a growing realization of self-worth that not only Jenna discovers but others who populate this wonderful book as well.

McCarty's writing style seems to be especially evident in the smooth segue from story to story, the historical research that is present without being "academic," the the seamless inclusion of some very hot and erotic scenes that just feel right, and the surprises in the story line that keep the reader interested from page one. It also preserves the integrity of the former stories in that those characters continue to make appearances throughout this book. You have to love Doc and Dorothy as well as the Rev. Swanson, just to name a few. They are all marvelous, inventive characters that expand the story in a very quiet but effective way. A great read and one that will always remain on my favorites list. I give this book a rating of 4.75 out of 5.

Review: The Men of August by Lora Leigh -- NOT for the Faint-hearted!

I haven't been keeping up with this blog for a week or so -- been writing lots of reviews for The Book Binge and reading, reading, reading. Hubby gets a bit grouchy over this -- says that's all I do nowadays. I have to admit that what started out as just a fun hobby as turned into something that I enjoy immensely and have committed a significant time to. As a part of my own reading project, I have encountered a number of great books--favorite authors whose older works are not mentioned much and which I find in the used book store. By reading these I get a feel for an author's earlier work and when I do reviews of their latest releases it is helpful to note how they have grown and expanded as writers or, perhaps, they haven't at all.


Anyway, in the course of my own reading, I found Lora Leigh's Men of August series published by Ellora's Cave. I am doing the entire series here in this blog post because they are so interconnected and while they can stand alone--Leigh is certainly a past master at such work--they are best read in a series.




All the August brothers: Cade, Brock & Sam, had been sent to the ranch of a so-called friend of their father's--to learn new ranching techniques supposedly. In truth, the man was a sexual predator and from the very first day they were there, they were raped, drugged, imprisoned, and made to not only submit to abuse but to abuse one another for the entertainment of this madman. This went on for months and when the brothers returned to their father, they were changed irrevocably--physically, emotionally and psychologically. The love and connection they had as brothers had been damaged and in some way destroyed. Now the only time they felt connected was when they shared a woman.




Book 1, Marly's Choice, is the story of Marly McCall, a young girl that had been brought to the August Ranch when she was 12 years old. She had her adolescent crushes on all the guys but as she reached college age and began her college career, she realized that Cade, the oldest August brother was the man she truly desired. However, she was aware of their unusual sexual preferences--they shared every woman any of the brothers with whom the brothers became involved. She went on a campaign to win Cade's love and yet she knew that this would also mean accepting Brock and Sam into her bed. This is Marly's story, but it is, to a great extent, Cade's story as well. As the oldest brother he had tried to protect them during the horror, but in doing so, he had become full of shame and rage, and that dark part of him is edgy and seemingly insensitive to love and caring. The reader is introduced to the abuse and its results, but not as fully as in subsequent novels in this series.





Book 2 is Sarah's Seduction, the introduction of Sarah Tate into Brock's story. The Prologue details their initial sexual encounter six years earlier, even before their relationship with Marly. But Sarah runs away, knowing about the menage that was expected, and being only 18 years old, she just couldn't handle it. She is totally spooked when she sees Brock's twin, Sam, watching them as they make love. She marries another a week later, and this novel picks up the story of Brock and Sarah just after Sarah's divorce from a man who she never loved and one who spent six years being unfaithful and spending her inheritance.

Brock was the oldest of identical twins. In his conversations with Sarah the reader gets a fuller recitation of the kinds and forms of abuse the brothers survived. She recognizes that she has never stopped loving Brock and that his love for her is a "forever" kind of love, but not only does she realize the menage arrangement was to come if she stays with Brock, but she also must accept that the three brothers will continue their involvement with Marly. Lots to consider for this young woman. Of the three, Brock seems to have made some peace and acceptance of what happened, but in some weird way, they see their sharing as the ultimate act of love expressed toward their brothers as well as insuring that their women will always be surrounded by men who love and treasure them.




Book 3, Heather's Gift, picks up the story that began toward the end of book 2, namely the introduction of Heather James into Sam's life. He of all the brothers was most damaged physically and the description of what was done to him is horrific. Now he has become entranced with Heather, the younger sister of one of the security that has been hired to guard the August Ranch. Because, from Book 1 onward, there is someone who is seeking not only to destroy the August men but to kill their women as well. It is someone who has intimate knowledge of the kinds of physical injury that Sam sustained, because toward the end of Book 2, Heather is drugged, stripped, and physically injured in the identical manner as Sam. It is absolutely heartbreaking. Now Heather has to face her feelings for Sam, but he is so fearful, so angry, so full of shame. Yet he wants Heather in his life. She, too, must accept the strange family relationships of the August brothers. She, too, must decide if she can not only allow herself to enter into a menage relationship, but can she accept that Sam will also, from time to time, be with Sarah and Marly.

The mystery of the stalker is solved ultimately and the ending is a real jaw-dropper. I never saw it coming, and I think I follow crime clues pretty well. Not this time. And with the final chapters comes the full disclosure of what was done to these men and one wonders how they ever came out of that experience alive, able to function and be relatively productive, and be able to find their place in the world.

The final chapter to their story is told in a Christmas story entitled August Heat. Here there is resolution and here the brothers and their spouses begin again. If there is any "happily ever after" it is here. And after slogging through the horror of this series, it is a joy to read this book, complete with some very fun interaction between the sisters-in-law and the brothers.

There are mixed reviews to this series. Some loved that the stories were very, very erotic--HOT, to be truthful. Others were turned off by the repetitive nature of the problems these men faced among themselves as well in their encounters with the women. There are readers that are not open to any form of sexual domination and that is certainly present in these stories as these brothers have not yet worked through the rage and shame. Yet I found that there was never injury or hurt, that there was, in their own very strange way a deep respect for their lovers and a desire to see them treasured.

For readers who do not like menage, this is not for you. And if reading about severe sexual abuse is disturbing, that these books are best left alone. I, for one, do not ever try to back away from facing the fact that such abuse exists in our world and to a far greater degree than most of us want to accept. Lora Leigh has not backed away from it. And these are definitely "in your face" novels. If you read erotic literature, if you can deal with the menage aspect of sexuality, if you can be open and accepting of those who must deal with the fall-out, then you can read these books and perhaps find them instructive and worth the time.

I give this series a rating of 4.75 out of 5.