The Last Kiss Goodbye

The Last Kiss Goodbye by Karen Robards

• Series: Charlotte Stone
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (August 13, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345535820
• ISBN-13: 978-0345535825
  Review copy provided by Netgalley

Dr. Charlotte Stone “Charlie” is a serial killer researcher who sees ghosts. As a girl she had her first encounter with a serial killer who murdered her friend's family. When a young woman escapes from a serial killer and ends up at Charlie's door she becomes involved with the investigation conducted by the FBI as the serial killer known as “The Gingerbread Man” is also after Charlie.

FBI agent Tony Bartoli and Charlie have been dating but there will be little time for dating as they try to capture “The Gingerbread Man” before he chooses his next victims.  Charlie has

 another complication because she sees ghosts.  She has her own personal ghost, Michael, 

who she  alternately pushes away and then pulls back to her. Michael was part of her research and he is  determined to stick around with Charlie.  He is jealous of the relationship developing between Charlie and Tony and makes no secret of it.

The FBI and Charlie must act quickly to locate the serial killer before he kills again.  Charlie's    emotional attachment to Michael continues to deepen even though her more rational mind tells her that Tony should be the one she chooses since he is a flesh blood man, not a ghost.  

I really liked Michael as he searched for a ways to assist Charlie with investigation.  There werealso some steamy scenes between Charlie and Michael.  The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat trying to determine who the serial killer might be.  I am hoping there will be a

third book as I would like to read more about Charlie and Michael.    

The Silver Chain

The Silver Chain (Unbreakable Trilogy, Book 1) by Primula Bond

Publisher: Mischief, (January 7, 2014)

ISBN-10: 000752417X

ISBN-13: 978-0007524174

Serena left the seaside town of Devon where she had grown up for a new life in London. Prior to arriving in London, she used inherited money from her abusive guardians to finance her new life of traveling from city to city, photographing people along the way. On her first night in London she meets powerful art gallery owner Gustav Levi. Gustav at first mistakes her for a boy until she reveals her hair hidden underneath a cap.

Gustav offers her a contract to display her photographs. To seal their contract, Gustav gives her a silver chain. While Serena wants a deeper emotional relationship with Gustav but he is still haunted by the memory of his ex wife who betrayed him. Gustav hasn't been attracted to any other woman since his ex-wife Margot left him, but Serena awakens his emotions.

This book was very wordy at times. It didn't keep my attention at first but I continued reading. It did improve and kept my attention. This book is labeled as BDSM but it is light. Also, the use of British terms sometimes made me pause in my reading to look up definitions. There is a cliffhanger.

Review copy provided by Netgalley.

A Vampire's Salvation

ebook

Publisher: Loveswept (April 22, 2013)
Review copy provided by www.netgalley.com

Jake Rios is the governor's head of security and a vampire who wants equal rights for vampires.  He recognized Francesca Stewart as his mate as soon as he saw her.  Jake has waited a long time for the woman who would become his mate.  He wants her to know that he is a trustworthy man but how can he when an unknown enemy seeks to destroy their fragile relationship.

Francesca Stewart has been attracted since she had first seen him.  She still suffered from the emotional and physical scars of a past relationship and was reluctant to become romantically involved with any man. 

Jake and Francesca were well-developed characters and  Jake certainly turned out to be a sigh worthy hero as protected Francesca from an unknown enemy.  I empathized with Francesca's ability to overcome the past and begin a relationship with Jake. I greatly enjoyed this novella and hope that Virna DePaul is writing the next installment

Carly Phillips giveaway!

https://www.facebook.com/CarlyPhillipsFanPage?sk=app_228910107186452&app_data

Unrealistic Expectations

I just watched a segment on The Doctors in which Fifty Shades was praised but other romance novels were put down as being too unrealistic because the characters don't use condoms and they give women unrealistic expectations.  I don't know what romance novels they have been reading but many of the contemporary romance novels that I read feature the use of condoms.  I have also read historical novels in which French letters were used.  I also have never experienced unrealistic expectations from reading romance novels.  

They gave credit to Fifty Shades of Gray for encouraging women to open up about what they want in bed.  How is this book realistic?  It's based on fan fiction which was based on the Twilight books.  Are sparkly vampires paired with whiny teenage girls realistic?  Is it realistic for a possessive  millionaire to buy the company for which his girlfriend works so he can keep tabs on her?  He is a control freak!!

Speaking of unrealistic! How are unrealistic are the James Bond movies?  Does every international dress daily in a tuxedo while sipping martinis and driving very expensive cars? James Bond is also sexism at it's finest.  He has a different voluptuous, beautiful woman as a love interest in every movie.  Even Dr. Ordon said James Bond wouldn't stop to put on a condom.  Romance novels end with Happily Ever After, but James Bond is a man slut who goes from woman to woman.  

I have enough reality living my life every day and I don't need it in my books which I read for escapism.  

It Started That Night by Virna DePaul

• Paperback
• Publisher: Harlequin Books 2012-04-17 (2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373277768
• ISBN-13: 978-0373277766

John Tyler returned to his hometown as a cop and he has never forgotten the beautiful young Lily Cantrell who had a crush on him as a teenager and she was his sister's best friend.  Lily was scarred by the murder of her mother fifteen years ago.  When John and Lily see each other again they soon realize the attraction of fifteen years ago is still there between them.  As John investigates a serial murder case he realizes that there are connections to the murder of Lily's mother.

 Virna DePaul kept me guessing until the end about the identity of the murderer.  I loved the sexual tension between John and Lily as they learned to know each other again and develop a closer relationship.  

In Love with Paris in Love

Paris in Love

      ISBN-13: 9780679604440

      Publisher: Random House Publishing Group

       Publication date: 4/3/2012

      Sold by: Random House

      Format: eBook

      Pages: 272

I

  

Paris in Love is a look into Eloisa James's life in Paris with her family. The book opens with Eloisa talking about her struggle with cancer.   Reading the memories made me want to return to Paris and visit my favorite places as well as the places that are new to me from the memoir.  The book is a collection of Ms. James’ Facebook posts, tweets and essays.  It is divided into easy to read chunks so that you can pick it up and put it down.  Her descriptions are vivid enough that I could picture it as I was reading (I’ve been there four times).

There are laugh out loud moments as she describes her children’s experiences with French school and adapting to Parisian culture.  I enjoyed her insight into the way French women dress and view themselves. 

I can identify with so much of this book.  I am a cancer survivor and a Francophile!! My own trip to Paris this summer was inspired by my own cancer diagnosis in 2008.   I love Paris!! There is no other city like it.   Reading the memories made me want to return to Paris and visit my favorite places as well as the places that are new to me from the memoir. When I return to Paris I will take along Paris in Love so I can visit some the places that James visited. I should have read it before my own trip to Paris in June.