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Guest Review: Tempting the Best Man by J Lynn

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Romance Gal’s Review

Tempting the Best Man by J Lynn
Contemporary romance released by Entangled Publishing on April 23, 2012

Madison Daniels has worshipped her brother’s best friend since they were kids. Everyone thinks she and Chase Gamble would make the perfect couple, but there are two major flaws in their logic. 1) Chase has sworn off relationships of any kind, and 2) after blurring the line between friends and lovers for one night four years ago, they can’t stop bickering.
Forced together for her brother’s wedding getaway, Chase and Madison decide to call a truce for the happy couple. Except all bets are off when they’re forced to shack up in a tacky 70’s honeymoon suite and survive a multitude of “accidents” as the family tries to prove their “spark” can be used than for more than fighting. That is, if they don’t strangle each other first…

Tempting the Best Man is a very short story as the whole book takes place within four days. Everything is covered, from the history of the hero and heroine, their attraction to one another, and  them finally being unable to resist each other. Madison loves and hates Chase at the same time but the love always tops the hatred. Chase is handsome, single and successful, so why is he denying himself love and happiness? Because he believes he is just like his father who cheated on his mother. He doesn’t want to hurt Madison but he invariably ends up breaking her heart, albeit unknowingly, every time he rejects her.

Chase is your typical hero, one who tries to avoid anything to do with relationships like the plague. His love for Madison is obvious to everyone including himself but he remains too stubborn to act on it. He is a successful business man trying hard not to turn out like his father though he can’t change the fact that they look exactly the same.

Madison is an independent, funny, sassy and witty heroine. She makes being the only girl in a group of four guys (her older brother and Chase and his brothers) seem so sexy and enjoyable. Madison is a strong heroine in some instances but she also has her weak moments. For instance, when Chase rejects her for the first time she really tries to move on but at the same time she can’t help wanting to be close to Chase and she does this by not only living in the same city as him but also in the same building! Thus, proving that she doesn’t let disappointments hold her down from getting what she wants. She is relentless and determined to win over Chase’s heart and making him see her as something [someone] other than his best friend’s little sister.

Despite knowing this is a novella I felt like I didn’t get enough time to really know the characters. In addition, there are so many things that are too predictable while reading and all the clichés you can think of are found on this one. To name a few: Madison’s car breaks down on her way to the vineyard and even though she calls her dad to come and get her, guess who shows up to the rescue? Yup, the hot guy, who happens to be her brother’s best friend that she’s had a crush on since she was a kid. They both get locked up in the wine cellar where they share a ‘steamy kiss’ but then pretend it didn’t happen. Then, of course the main one, where the rooms are overbooked so they have to share one- and coincidentally, it is a honeymoon suite! There is also the fact that the main reason that they are dancing around being in a relationship is because of Chase’s misgivings about turning out like his dad!

I also got a bit frustrated with Chase for his tendency to be possessive over Maddie. It was contradictory and unreasonable because he doesn’t wasn’t to see her with another guy but he doesn’t want to be with her himself!

Nevertheless, the book is so funny and some scenes are just beyond hilarious and I constantly found myself laughing out loud. The love between Chase and Madison was palpable and everyone around them knew about it. The relationship between the families-the Gamble brothers and the Daniels enhances the story and makes you wish you had interfering relatives around. They are corny and entertaining. Plus they are all so carefree with one another that you just have to love them.

This was a fun, short, romantic read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a light happily ever after. I hope this becomes a series because I would love stories for the other Gamble siblings as well as catch up with Madison and Chase.

Grade: C+

You can buy a copy here.

Guest Review: About That Night by Julie James

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Romance Gal’s Review:

About That Night by Julie James
Contemporary romance released by Berkley on April 3, 2012

Though Rylann Pierce tried to fight the sparks she felt for billionaire heir Kyle Rhodes the night they met, their sizzling chemistry was undeniable. But after being stood up on their first date, Rylann never expected to see him again. So when she finds herself face to face with Kyle in a courthouse nine years later, she’s stunned. More troubling to the beautiful Assistant U.S. Attorney is that she’s still wildly attracted to him.
Just released from prison, Kyle Rhodes isn’t thrilled to be the star witness in a high-profile criminal case—but when Rylann comes knocking at his door, he finds she may be the one lawyer he can’t say no to. Still as gorgeous and sharp-tongued as ever, she lays down the law: she doesn’t mix business with pleasure. But Kyle won’t give up on something he wants—and what he wants is the one woman he’s never forgotten. . .

Julie James is at the top of the best contemporary romance authors and she doesn’t disappoint in her newest release. Her books seem to be getting better every year and in her previous book A Lot Like Love we get to meet Kyle who is the hero in About That Night.

Kyle is the son a multi-billionaire, a computer geek who is jaw-droppingly gorgeous, and has no trouble attracting the ladies with said good looks and adorable hair. He also happens to be an ex-con who has just been released from prison. Nevertheless, he is still the kind of guy that every woman wishes for! I mean, despite the fact that he is wealthy, being hot, and a genius, he doesn’t put on airs. To the contrary he has a heart of gold. Kyle is the kind of guy who is not afraid to admit when he is wrong and suffer the consequences of his mistakes. All these make him such a captivating character that you cannot help but fall in love with him right from the beginning.

Rylann is beautiful, smart, and always has a plan to follow –whether it’s a 6 month or 5 year one. She is a girl who knows where she wants to be 10 years from now and won’t let any kind of distraction deter her. Rylann is a tough lawyer (a prosecutor in fact), sassy, and sarcastic as can be. At the beginning of the book we see that she knows where she is going. For example, while in college she drops a hot guy who gives her a great kiss because he stood her up for their date.

The thing that I love most about the book is the smart and witty characters! The dialogue between the characters alone makes one excited to keep on reading. I am so glad that Ms. James is still writing books with such strong minded characters that do not bore you with their dialogue. Instead you become avidly engaged in their conversations. The friends and family of the main characters also help add unforgettable moments throughout the course of the book.

About That Night is a very well written book that won’t disappoint Ms. James’ fans. The story brings together two characters that enjoy mentally and verbally sparring with one another. In Ms. James’ books we get to meet a male hero who is very insecure about relationships. The fact that he is sort of vulnerable makes him even more lovable. But don’t confuse that for weakness for you’ll see that he is not.

The reunion between Kyle and Rylann has been a long time coming with them not having seen one another in nine years. However, they do not exactly run into each other’s arms. Instead they try to deny the attraction they feel for each other. Not for long though and the sexual build-up ultimately culminates to very spicy, heated sexual scenes. I think they’re the hottest that Ms. James has written so far! We get to see uninhibited love making that made me wish for more. We also get to enjoy their relationship develop albeit in secret. They both get to learn their innermost feelings about themselves and each other. Despite the obstacles that appear to hinder a long lasting relationship with each other (a prosecutor and an ex-con), they eventually throw caution to the wind and go for what they both want. It’s a story that will make you shed some few tears while experiencing the tough decisions that Kyle had to make but also make you laugh in between.

The only thing that did not impress me about this book is the conflict between Kyle and Rylann before the book ends seemed farfetched. I don’t know if it’s just me but the misunderstanding that separates them for a while doesn’t seem believable. The whole scenario seems to be thrown in there for the sake of the expected norm of having a conflict almost at the conclusion of the story. Despite that this book was great!

This book is a must read for everyone who loves romance novels with the good old happy ending and I would highly recommend it. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in James’ FBI/US Attorney series.

Grade A-

You can read an excerpt of the book here, or buy it here.