Blog Tour Revew: IMMERSED by Jennifer Griffith (Ripple Effect Romance, #6)

Immersed by Jennifer Griffith Lisette Pannebaker speaks five languages and has a brilliant business plan—personal language immersion. Clients can hire her to shadow them and speak all day in any language they need to learn for business or travel—whatever. But there’s a major hitch: she’s far too pretty. Clients with less than honorable intentions sign up just have Lisette at their side. Solution? A make-under. Way under.It works like a charm. None of her male clients show her the least bit of interest. Until… Erik. Erik Gunnarsson is charming, kind, and smart—everything she’s ever looked for. Even though he seems to have a secret and she swore she'd never date a client, Lisette is tempted to shed her disguise—even if it means jeopardizing her career.

Amazon

 ~* My Review *~

Audience: Adult (Clean)

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Novella

Length: 153 pgs

Rating: *****

Review: I loved how the series wrapped up with this one. It was so fun and had a lot of great voice to it, which didn't surprise me from Jennifer. The characters were fun. I don't always dig make-unders in storylines (I know, it's weird, but at the end of Shrek I pretty much hate that she has to be an ogre), but it absolutely works and it's hilarious. I also love that Lisette still wants to push her true self to the surface.

Content: 

Sex: 0/5

Language: 0/5

Violence: 0/5

Overall rating: PG

Author Jennifer Griffith Jennifer Griffith studied French, German, Japanese, and a wee bit of Spanish in her school days. Her grandmother was Norwegian, and Jennifer grew up with lots of Scandinavian traditions floating around, including fabulous cardamom laced cookies called Krumkaker, made on a fancy waffle iron. However, she’d never dream of trying to teach someone any of those languages. And she might botch the cookies. Instead, she writes novels in English, drives her five kids a million places, and laughs with her husband, who came up with the plot for Immersed because he’s just a cool muse like that.

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  Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 6/9/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

THE RELUCTANT BACHELORETTE by Rachael Anderson (HEA, 2012)

From Rachael Anderson's Blog: Unknowingly cast as the bachelorette for her town’s charity event, Taycee Emerson wants out. Especially when she discovers her old teenage crush, Luke Carney, is one of the bachelors and it's up to the viewers--not her--to decide which bachelors stay or go.

Coerced into participating, Taycee does what any self-preserving girl would do. She launches a subtle attack on Luke’s good name with the hope of getting him voted off the show. Unfortunately, Luke's an eye-for-an-eye kind of guy, and when he discovers what she's up to, it means revenge.

But when their pranks go south, will they screw up any chance they have at a future together, or will they be able to forgive and forget and prove that love really does conquer all?

Review: SPARE CHANGE by Aubrey Mace

I hope you guys aren't getting sick of romantic comedy reviews! I'm sure not, and there's definitely more to come! (But don't worry, I did take a brief time out to read BAND OF SISTERS by Annette Lyon, so that's coming up soon.) I discovered Aubrey among the TIMELESS ROMANCE authors in the latest edition for spring. I knew right away I'd like her writing, so I searched Amazon pretty much the minute I finished with the SPRING VACATION anthology of TIMELESS ROMANCE.

From Amazon: Twenty-three and single, Riley thinks resolutions should be fun, not hard. Just before midnight, she vows to make the easiest resolution ever: save her pennies and at the end of the year, buy something nice for herself. Easy! ...Or is it?
Working at a cancer treatment center can change one's perspective, and before long Riley decides to donate her extra money to cancer research rather than reward herself. At first her resolution is her own secret, but all too soon the nurses figure out her plan, and then things really begin to get out of hand!
As people through the hospital, and then the town, begin to get involved, Riley finds herself at the front of the fund-raising campaign. She also finds herself face-to-face with Paul, the grouchy but cute bank teller. But can she overcome the memory of a failed relationship - and can he do the same? And who is the secret admirer who keeps leaving pennies and notes for her to find?

Audience: Adult (Clean)

Genre: Romantic Comedy 

Length: 201

Rating: ***+

Review: I love the premise of this book and how Riley's resolution really snowballs. There's lots of fun characters, and right off when I met Paul, I knew he'd be someone Riley needed to keep an eye on. I love the way their relationship slowly develops and also the flashbacks that show how much "change" means to Riley. Her ex-fiance seems to pop up out of nowhere and the setup until we meet her true love interest (we're introduced to a guy named James first) seem to lag and can get confusing. Still, Aubrey is an author I will come back to and read more from.

Disclaimer: Nothing.

Review: TWITTERPATED by Melanie Jacobson

Have I ever mentioned how glad I am I discovered Melanie? Some day I'm going to catch up to her books and have to wait for each one to come out -- like the current agony I endure waiting to buy them ... or for Sarah Eden's books. :)

From Deseret Book: Jessie Taylor is furious when her roommate secretly posts her picture on the dating website LDS Lookup — furious, that is, until she spends all night instant messaging Ben Bratton, a man whose wit and warmth just might make Jessie forget the train wreck of her last romantic relationship. Their first date is a smashing success (literally), but Ben’s overall awesomeness can’t save Jessie from having to deal with Craig, her competitive coworker whose baiting behavior sets new standards for obnoxiousness. Determined to beat Craig at his own game, Jessie spends long office hours finishing projects and putting out fires, but while her performance wows her boss, it only makes Ben skittish— after a failed engagement to an up-and-coming lawyer, he’s not about to pair up with someone who’s married to her job. Will Jessie figure out how to be true to herself and take her big chance at love before it’s gone with a click of the mouse?

Audience: Adult
Genre: LDS Romantic Comedy
Length: 247 pages

Rating: ****

Review: There are lots of things I love about this book. One, the witty banter between Jessie and her roommate Sandy. I love the clear opening I see for Sandy's story. (SMART MOVE, can't wait to get it!) The new twist Melanie puts on her trademark theme of online dating. Ben's take charge attitude and **SPOILERS** ultimatum. (Although, I think Jessie should have had to go chase after him with the way she acted...) So I mentioned in one of my recent reviews that romance heroines that are too stubborn for their own good are kind of a pet peeve of mine. (This is why I don't like many of J-Lo's rom-com movies...) Jessie is the same way, much like the other two of Melanie's heroines. Here's why I don't care and why I'll always keep reading Melanie's books, even if their stuffed full of them. 1) They always have a believable and legitimate back stories for acting the way they do. (Even if I don't agree, haha!) 2) Melanie has a captivating, witty way of writing that, even if I despised the story, I'd still read. I love the way I giggle and sigh and race through her books, which brings me to 3) Clearly I don't care enough about this pet peeve to put her books down, because I usually finish them in days if not hours. :) Plus, Jessie doesn't like Jane Eyre, and that's a girl I can get behind.

Disclaimer: None.

He Said/She Said: Okay, so I know I need to limit myself here, but you should all go get the book because there are SO MANY great lines in this one.
Sandy/Jessie -
[Sandy] glared at me. "Yeah, you know my type so well. A guy in a sheet in the middle of winter made a style statement I couldn't resist." 
"Was the statement, 'I can't afford pants'?"

Describing the first kiss - "There's not much to say." Sandy's face fell. "Except it was kind of awesome."

There are so many, I could go on and on, but then you wouldn't need to buy the book and Melanie might get kind of mad at me for that.

Buy at Deseret Book.

Try this: Love witty writing? Try THE ACTOR AND THE HOUSEWIFE by Shannon Hale.

Review: A TIMELESS ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY SPRING VACATION COLLECTION

I've started a new TBR list. Actually more than one. It consists of books I will buy and books I can request from my library. TMA Spring Vacation Collection was right at the top of my "buy" list and as soon as my work was done the other day, I sat right down and bought it and read it in two days. Mmmmm.

From the TMA blog: Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Spring Vacation Collection. Readers will love this collection of six sweet contemporary romance novellas, centered on a Spring Vacation, all with one thing in common: Romance.

Review: LUCK OF THE DRAW by Rachel Renee Anderson

So, if you think I'm on a Romantic Comedy kick, you'd be right. And I swear to you I have a good reason. I'm researching. You're supposed to be well-read in your genre (um, have I mentioned this before or something?), so as I prepare to pitch my very own LDS romantic comedy, I'm reading everything I can to appear knowledgeable.

Guys. I'm serious. That's why.

Anyway. I'm going to ignore your snickering and continue with the review...

From Amazon: When Brighton's roommates bet him that he can't get three girls to go out with him at the same time, he has no doubt that he's up to the challenge. Besides, the prospect of an entire month of free laundry is just too enticing to resist. Of course, that's before he meets Dani--a girl who's never had a problem turning down a not-so-perfect guy. Soon Brighton realizes that winning the bet might mean losing what really matters most. This fast-paced modern romance is told with wit, sweetness, and a healthy dose of fun. It's a sure bet that Luck of the Draw will keep you laughing to the very last page.

Audience: Adult (Clean)
Genre: Romantic Comedy, LDS
Length: 214 pages

Rating: ***+

Review: I've been trying to pin down why I'm only rating this three-plus stars. I feel like maybe I should rate it four . . . mostly I'm not because it has to do with expectations. I expected something different from this novel. For me it felt . . . heavy? In the RomCom category anyway. And all the RomComs I've read so far deal with issues, but this one didn't quite keep the lightness in the mid-section as it dealt with those issues. It just sort of felt like it swung from RomCom to Romance (Drama) then back to RomCom. I still loved Brighton and Dani's relationship. Brighton is a fun hero that I enjoyed. I don't always have the best feelings for heroines who refuse to see the utter worthiness of the cool males we drop into these stories for them, so Dani and I didn't click so much, but she's still a fun character with gumption and get-it-done togetherness.

Disclaimer:  None.

Buy LUCK OF THE DRAW on Amazon.

Try something new: Do you like witty romances? Venture historical and read FRIENDS AND FOES by Sarah. M. Eden.

Review: THE LIST by Melanie Jacobson

Once I read an author and LOVE them, I will always go back. AND usually buy everything they've written. Fan for life. That's how I am with Sarah M. Eden -- that's how I feel now about Melanie Jacobson. 

From DeseretBook.com: Ashley Barrett doesn’t want to get married. At least, not anytime soon. She doesn’t care how many of her friends and family members and fellow churchgoers had weddings before they finished college — the last thing she needs in her fun-loving twenties is the dead-weight of some guy. And that’s why she created The List. By the time she completes all twenty-five goals — from learning a language to skydiving to perfecting the art of making sushi — she’ll be more ready to settle down. Maybe.

This summer in California is a prime time for Ashley to cross two items off the list: learn to surf (#13) and have a summer romance (#17). And Matt Gibson, the best surf instructor in Huntington Beach and the most wanted guy in the singles ward, is the perfect man for the job. Ashley hatches a plan to love him and leave him before heading off to grad school in the fall (#4, get a master’s degree). But when Matt decides he doesn’t like the “leaving” part, Ashley’s carefully laid plans are turned sideways. Now Ashley faces an unexpected dilemma: should she stick to the safety of The List, or risk everything for a love that may tie her down — or might set her free?