Review: Scottish Brides by Julia Quinn et al

Scottish Brides

by Christina Dodd, Stephanie Laurens, Julia Quinn, Karen Ranney

Fairchild Family #2.5



An anthology full of hot Scottish dudes...how was I supposed to resist?

Under the Kilt by Christina Dodd


One slippery Scottish lass with abandonment issues and the wily Englishman determined to catch her, let the fun begin!

I know this one is part of a series, and if the series is as cute, romantic and a touch naughty like this short story was then I think I need to look for the first book! It was a good start to the anthology.

Rose in Bloom by Stephanie Laurens

Rose was always a thorn in Duncan's side when they were children, but now they are all grown and now Duncan wants to turn the tables and play a few adult games with his delectable thorn...

Och I love a broody Scottish hero and Stephanie Lauren delivered and it was fun watching Duncan and Rose realize their attraction for one another. Although not my favourite story it was a good quick read with a satisfying *waggles eyebrows* ending.

Gretna Greene by Julia Quinn


Margaret is looking for her imbecile of a brother who has decided to run off to Gretna to marry a very unsuitable bride, instead she finds Angus, a vexing, gallant and very attractive Scotsman. Angus is looking for his moronic sister who has decided to runaway to London he never meant to come to the rescue of a bedraggled, beautiful and argumentative Englishwoman...

I got this anthology when I saw that Julia Quinn had a short story in it, I love her books they are always funny, sweet and a little quirky. This one was no exception, I loved it! My only complaint...why wasn't it longer? Before I knew it I had finished it.

The Glenlyon Bride by Karen Ranney


A classic tale involving a case of mistaken identity, a prophecy and...whiskey!?

I liked this, but I think I was still flying high after having read the Julia Quinn story so it didn't really capture my attention. But it was okay, the hero and heroine were likable and it had a air of mystery and almost magic with their clandestine moonlit meetings and a prophecy weighing heavily on the hero's mind. A solid addition to the anthology, but not my favourite.

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Betrayal by Christina Dodd

Betrayal

by Christina Dodd

(Bella Terra Deception # 3)

The final book of the trilogy is about the youngest Di Luca brother, Noah.  He has been the quiet one that we don't know much about. Especially about his mother.  His situation was never explained much but this book threw in a crazy twist about his past.  We finally find out who his mother was, and this has been his dirty little secret.  She came to him when he was a teenager and he's never told anyone he knew who she was.  Now she wants his help to get that bottle of wine or she will kill him.

Throw in the mix Penelope, Noah's first and true love, who comes back into town after her husband died to find her father.  And get ready to find out who her father is!  Yes, things got complicated in this book, maybe a bit too much.

I will admit that I might've skipped through some parts, mainly the past that related to past events.  I wish there would've been more of the today stuff to fill in those spaces.

But, oh boy, Penelope and Noah were hot and raw.  The tree scene, the hotel scene, just hot and emotional.  I really liked them as a couple.

The final resolution of the bottle of wine, the diamonds and the rattle was action packed and I enjoyed the fact that it was a good resolution to a plot that has been going on through the whole series.  The only thing I felt was missing was the italian flavor we have been getting in the past books.

Favorite Quote:

“Civilized?” He nudged his still-strong erection against her. “All I want is to sleep with you, screw you, come with you, come in you, make you mine until you can’t remember any man, and life except me and mine.”

She whimpered, his words creating a brief aftershock of climax.

He waited until she had finished, then said, “So don’t talk to me about civilized. There is nothing civilized about you and me.”

*ARC provided by publisher

Review: Revenge at Bella Terra by Christina Dodd

Revenge at Bella Terra

by Christina Dodd

(Scarlet Deception # 2)

The Di Luca family is never without excitement.  Eli Di Luca, the wine expert in the family has been keeping a secret from the rest of his family.  The vineyard is struggling.  His accountant fled town and left behind a trail of stolen money and debts to the IRS that if not repaid soon will shut down his business.  Except he doesn't have the money to pay it back and doesn't want to ask his family for anything and let them know about the issues he had.

So a solution comes along.  Mr. Conte, a millionaire and somewhat Eli's business partner wants him to marry his daughter and give him grandchildren.  Eli comes from a good family so he offers to pay ofrf all of Eli's debt if he can get his daughter to marry him.  Bad choice?  Yeah maybe.

Eli is very serious and the type of guy that does for everyone else but holds himself behind high walls that no one can come through and get to know the real him.  But Chloe finds the cracks.

Chloe Conte is younger than him, she's independent, she's adventurous, she's an author.  Just finished her first book, had massive success, and is now struggling with the stress of writing a second book that would be as good.  Her father offers her to spend time with Eli and enjoy beautiful California to get over her writers block.

Chloe is onto her dad's scheming about getting her married, but Eli seems genuine and for the most part he is.  I liked that throughout their relationship he was *mostly* honest and himself.  There were only a few pushes along the way that he had to do to get her to agree to marry him.  But at a certain point, I just got pissed off that he waited that long to come clean.  Should've been sooner.

There is still mystery and suspense!  There is still a missing bottle of wine, yes the same one that seemed to have started the Di Luca problem in book one, but now we find out there's more to that bottle than the old wine it contains.  It has something else of value in it.  And people are willing to kill for it.

This was a good installment in the series and in my opinion better than the first one because I liked the characters better.  I am looking forward to the next book since it will be about the youngest Di Luca, and he seems to have a dark past hidden somewhere!

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Secrets of Bella Terra by Christina Dodd

Secrets of Bella Terra

by Christina Dodd

(The Scarlet Deception # 1)



Where to start with the things about this book that hit a great spot with me?  Well, for one this series revolves around a family in a small town.  However this is no ordinary family, their mother is a Hollywood star, they own a succesful vineyard, they're some of the most looking people in town, they own a resort, yeah, way above average right there.  But they are all so nice and with a wonderful feeling of family unit. 

They're of italian descent, and from the north of Italy more specifically.  Me being northern italian and seeing a lot of people always show us with the wrong stereotypes, I was very happy to see that the ways this family was portrayed, the things they say, the way the act, and even the food they eat, was very accurate!  And I enjoyed the food descriptions in the book, they were making me hungry!!  Polenta, prosciutto wrapped canteloupe, and all with a nice glass of wine! *sigh*

Now the story is a bit of romantic suspense actually.  Someone is after the Di Luca's, starting with the grandmother being attacked, a dead body shows up, among other things.  Rafe Di Luca has been away for a long time, after being in the military now he has his own private security type firm.  He comes back to investigate what's going on in his town and with his family.

To do this he enlists the help of his old high school flame and the girl he hasn't been able to forget.  Brooke is now working at his family's resort and they're relationship had ended because she couldn't deal with his profession.

The sparks are still there between them, and between fighting them and giving in they will also have to catch whoever is after Rafe's family.  Overall, I enjoyed the story, the intrigue, and the family most of all, so I am looking forward to reading the next book about the sexy Di Luca brothers.

Purchase Links: Amazon