Friday, February 7, 2014

Mini Review: The Trouble with Christmas by Debbie Mason & Taken by Storm by Kelli Maine


The Trouble with Christmas (Christmas, Colorado #1) by Debbie Mason

Resort developer Madison Lane is about to lose the one thing she loves most in the world—her job. Dubbed "The Grinch Who Killed Christmas," Madison spoiled a deal that would turn quaint Christmas, Colorado, into a tourist's winter wonderland. Now the citizens want her fired but the company gives her one last chance, sending Madison to the small town to restore the holiday cheer.


For Sheriff Gage McBride, no hotshot executive from New York City is going to destroy the dreams of the people he loves. But one look at this beautiful woman and it's his heart that may be broken. In just a few days, Madison causes more trouble than he's had to deal with all year. He can't decide if she's naughty or nice, but one thing is for certain—Christmas will never be the same again...

Type: Contemporary Romance
Heat: 2 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon | All Romance | BAM | Goodreads
Yes, yes. I know. It's...February. But yall are getting a little more Christmas from the herd. lol I love Christmas stories and read them all year and this one kinda slipped by me back in Dec but I loved it so much and wanted to share it with yall even if it is late.  

The Trouble with Christmas was a different, yet wonderful, read about a small town and all it's messy crazy Christmas loving glory and a heroine who's been sent to mend fences between the town and her company after a commercial deal falls through that they'd been promised by someone who shouldn't have promised it. 

My favorite part--which so usually isn't the case--was the heroine. Madison is having a devil of a time with her job and life just knocking her on her rear. I could feel her frustrations and despair over how everything she did was twisted and turned by those against her. And I swear I wanted to wrap this woman up and just hug her then turn around and have a throw down with everyone else that was picking on her. *nods* She was awesome.

The town of Christmas. Yeah. They had to win me over. And they did manage to in the end and I absolutely loved them and can't wait to read more about them. They gave Madison such a hard time for a good portion of the book and whewboy yeah they had to make that up to me. Including the sexy sheriff that wants her gone but can't seem to resist her and falls for her just as hard as I did. He was...pretty tasty. Especially when he stopped making me want to pinch him. ::snort:: Heat-wise it's fairly tame but there's some excellent tension between them and a friendship of sorts that starts up. I really did love them together and seeing Madison take on this town and change their ways. It's quirky, sweet and had me a bit emotional as I read it and related to Madison and her plight. Will definitely be reading more in the future. 

Have you read Mason? 
Do you have a favorite small town or Christmas story?



Taken by Storm (Give & Take #2) by Kelli Maine
Maddie Simcoe knows the devastation that comes from keeping secrets. Now, she's desperate to move on from the heartbreak that almost destroyed her -- trading wild passion that once made her knees weak for a life of comfortable stability. But before Maddie can start over, she must return home to put the past behind her once and for all...

When Maddie blows back into MJ Rocha's life, nothing will stop him from proving to her that walking away from him was the biggest mistake of her life -- not even the engagement ring she wears. Her every look, every touch tells MJ that the fire that once raged between them still burns hot, and MJ won't give up until Maddie gives in to the inferno.

Trapped by a hurricane roaring through Turtle Tear Island, MJ and Maddie find shelter in each others' arms. While the lightning flashes, MJ and Maddie are helpless to fight bonds of desire that tie them together. But just as they're about to surrender to the torturous longing that consumes them both, the storm unleashes violent secrets from MJ's past...secrets that could wash away all MJ and Maddie's hopes of forever...

Type: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Heat: 3 out of 5
Rating: 3 out of 5
Taken by Storm was my first from Kelli Maine and I enjoyed it. It's a very, very easy read and I flew through it pretty quickly. I loved the set up of Maddie and MJ having had a past relationship that was suddenly ripped apart when she seemingly up and left him one day. And then having to deal with his anger, drinking and the hurts and mystery behind it all when she returned a year later.

I liked these two for the most part. They're young and have had a hard go of it together and I wanted them to figure it all out. There were some sexy moments as the two dealt with things. Some frustrating ones and some sweet ones as well. While I enjoyed it overall it was a little too simplistic for me writing-wise and a few spots left me wanting more-- bit more heat, a bit more depth--and for Maddie to come clean as to the whys of it all. Even with that I enjoyed the read though I don't know that I'd pick up more from the series due to the simple writing style that doesn't really appeal to me and some niggles in the storyline's plausibility. For fans of NA though who just want a quickie easy read I think it might work.

Have you read Maine? Have a favorite?
Do you have a favorite NA author?


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