Louisa George

Oh-Emm-Gee.

Something Borrowed by Louisa George was seriously cute and is totally hyping me up for Valentine's Day!

Chloe Cassidy just had the worst thing that could possibly happen to a wedding planner happen - her husband left her at the altar. Jump forward, and suddenly she's getting flirty with the Best Man, otherwise known as the sexy Vaughn Brooks. Will this chef and wedding planner fall in love? Will her ex come running back to her? No matter what happens, romantic chaos ensues!

This book was seriously fun and absolutely delightful. I couldn't put it down and I honestly didn't want to. I love a good dramatic romance when I want to take a break from schoolwork. This book perfectly fit the bill! It is a wee bit stereotypical, but that's exactly what I signed up for!

The big bonus of this book is that the characters are definitely flawed. They aren't perfect and they've all had some rough times. Chloe's ex does seem like quite the psychopath, but having one strange character out of the bunch is fine with me. I enjoyed watching these characters grow and change, it was refreshing. I don't always see character in romance-y chick lit books so I'm impressed.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the side plot that I think will be carried on into another book. It was very sweet! I was confused at first as to why it was happening, but then I just enjoyed the ride. No spoilers, of course, because that would give away half the fun!

Are there negatives for this book? Yep, there sure are. Chloe's Mother's depression made me feel uncomfortable. There's also a lot of blame in this book for certain situations that realistically wouldn't happen (only through assumptions). None of this tore me away from the book, but I can see some readers not enjoying these aspects.

Overall, this book was a great read and I totally loved it. I want more books by Louisa George ASAP! I accidentally stumbled upon this book from Bookbub and the free iTunes bookstore, and I'm so glad I did. Hopefully more Louisa books find their way onto my shelves.

Four out of five stars.… (mehr)

Save by Their One-Night Baby
4 Stars

A traumatic event in his past has led pediatrician Ethan Reid to dedicate his life to saving others, but his latest humanitarian mission aboard a rescue ship in the Mediterranean has him questioning his goals when one of his fellow medics turns out to be Claire Durand, the gorgeous woman with whom he spent a memorable night. Will Ethan change his priorities now that Claire is back in his life?

Aside from the really cheesy title, this is a delightful read.

The characterization in this relatively short read is excellent with both the primary and secondary cast fleshed out amazingly well. The prologue outlining the reasons for Ethan's PTSD provides important background and goes a long way to explaining his belief system and his actions. Claire is a charming heroine, sweet and caring, but with an independent streak and a backbone. They have wonderful chemistry, and their conflict is believable yet not overly angsty.

The original setting aboard a humanitarian vessel rescuing desperate immigrants seeking a better life is poignant and compelling, and one cannot help but think more deeply about the current situation in the world that forces people to risk their lives for the children's future.

All in all, a well-written and absorbing romance. This is my first Harlequin Medical but it certainly won't be my last.

… (mehr)

Good story about starting over. Carly lives on a small island off the coast of New Zealand, where she runs an outdoor camp for children. Several years ago, she lost her husband in a boating accident, and she has been grieving ever since. She's decided that the only way to move on is to sell the camp and fulfill the dream of traveling she gave up when she married.

After his wife left him and their son, Owen sold his medical practice in the city and came to Rawhiti to be the island's doctor. With less stress and shorter hours, he can spend more time with his son, Mason. He hopes to become a better father.

I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Owen and Carly. They got off to a rough start when Carly called him out on what she saw as reckless behavior on the water. But underneath the antagonism that flared between them were sparks of attraction neither was happy to feel. Carly only has a few weeks left on the island before she leaves, possibly for good. She doesn't want anything to derail her plans. Owen is still dealing with the fallout of his ex-wife's departure and doesn't want to get involved with another woman who isn't going to stick around.

But with Carly being the island's first responder, she and Owen are frequently thrown together and soon develop an easy working relationship. They also live near each other, and Owen's son takes an immediate liking to Carly and her to him. There are plenty of sweet scenes of the three as Carly and Owen do their best to give Mason the attention he needs. At the same time, the attraction between Carly and Owen grows stronger. I ached for both as Carly fought her feelings. Part of her wants to stay and see where it goes, but the other part feels the need to get away. Owen wants to ask Carly to stay but doesn't want her to resent losing her chance to travel. Additionally, he is afraid that her "itchy feet" would cause her to leave after a while anyway. Each of them allows their fears to get in the way of going after what they want. It takes a dangerous situation for them to come to their senses and realize that they belong together. I loved the epilogue and seeing how they overcame those fears.

As always, I enjoyed the medical aspects of the book also. Seeing how a big city doctor dealt with the differences of working in a small, isolated clinic was intriguing. There were a variety of medical emergencies that called on Owen's capabilities, and I liked seeing him rise to them all. I also enjoyed the small island setting. The descriptions of the land and animals (I loved the living alarm clock!) made it sound like a neat place to live or visit.

#netgalley… (mehr)