ARC Review: Real Men Will {Donovan Brothers Brewery #3} by Victoria Dahl

 

 

 

 

It was meant to be a one-night stand. One night of passion. Scorching hot. Then Beth Cantrell and Eric Donovan were supposed to go their separate ways. That’s the only reason he lied about his name, telling her he was really his wild younger brother. Hiding his own identity as the conservative Donovan. The “good” one.

But passion has its own logic, and Eric finds he cannot forget the sable-haired beauty with whom he shared one night of passion. When Beth discovers that Eric has lied, however, she knows he cannot be trusted. Her mind tells her to forget the blue-eyed charmer. If only every fiber of her being did not burn to call him back.

From Goodreads.

• Publisher: HQN Books 
• Release Date: October 25th, 2011   
• My Copy: eCopy received from NetGalley.
• Pages: 336 
• Series: Donovan Brothers Brewery Series 
• Genre: Contemporary Romance 
• Author's Website
• Buy the Book:

Real Men Will (Hqn)

*NO Spoilers

Ok ok, I will trust Victoria Dahl’s brilliancy wholeheartedly next time, I promise. I was definitely reluctant to read Real Men Will, the final book in the Donovan Brothers Trilogy, since I have never been a fan of Eric and have been quite disgusted by his behavior in the series thus far.

However, he is finally able to win a little piece of my heart in Real Men Will, and even though I still think he is a big control freak baby with some serious issues, Reall Men Will has helped me understand his motives better and I feel like I can forgive him a bit for being such a jackass most of the time.

Now, Beth as a heroine. She is ok, not fantastic, but a good one and great for Eric in every way. They complement each other and make a very good couple, as long as they stop their whining and self doubt for 5 minutes and just be themselves for once.

Regardless of the personality issues, these two are HOT as hell in the romance department and I thoroughly enjoyed their naughtier moments, thanks to the brilliant writing of Victoria Dahl.

After these three novels, I have to say I had so much fun with these characters that I will absolutely them and their world. I can only hope that Victoria plans to revisit them sometime in the future and I will be right there, along for the awesome ride! 

 

My Review of Good Girls Don’t

My Review of Bad Boys Do

 

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ARC Review: Bad Boys Do {Donovan Brothers Brewery #2} by Victoria Dahl

 

 

 

 

 

 

Olivia Bishop is no fun. That's what her ex-husband said. And that's what her smart bob and glasses imply. So with her trademark determination, Olivia sets out to remake her life. She's going to spend time with her girlfriends and not throw it all away for some man. But when an outing with her book club leads her to a brewery taproom, the dark-haired beauty realizes that trouble—in the form of sexy Jamie Donovan—may be too tempting to avoid.

Jamie Donovan doesn't mean to be bad. Sure, the wild streak in his wicked green eyes has lured the ladies before. Now it's time to grow up. He's even ready for a serious romance. But how can that be when Olivia, the only right woman he has ever met, already has him pegged as wrong?

From Goodreads.

• Publisher: HQN Books 
• Release Date: October 1st, 2011   
• My Copy: eCopy received from NetGalley.
• Pages: 384 
• Series: Donovan Brothers Brewery Series 
• Genre: Contemporary Romance 
• Author's Website
• Buy the Book:

Bad Boys Do (Hqn)

*NO Spoilers

YES! YES! YES! This is exactly what I was waiting for when I signed up to read this new Contemp. Romance series by Victoria Dahl. Bad Boys Do is a fabulous novel and not just because of the romance but for it’s emotional depth and look into family dynamics.

As I have said before, and it is worth mentioning again, I LOVE Victoria Dahl’s writing! She has been the only Contemp. Romance author that has enthralled me so much that she has become an auto-buy author for me.

After agreeing with ALPHA reader when she said that Good Girls Don’t had “too many uninteresting and intersecting stories detracting from the main romance.”, Bad Boys Don’t is proof that Dahl can write one hell of a book.

The Donovan Brothers Brewery trilogy follows three siblings on the road to love, but with a lot of obstacles and bickering.

I really enjoyed the romance between Luke and Tessa. However, I was completely sucked in by Jamie in Good Girls Don’t and was thrilled he got his HEA in Bad Boys Do .

Jamie has basically been the family for years and even though he has grown up and changed, he has the worst time in proving it to his older brother that he is fit for more responsibilities in the family business.

The family rift is a big plot line in Bad Boys Do and it’s extremely necessary not only for the storyline of the book but for the character’s growth and his romance.

Olivia is the older woman, the scorned woman, left by her husband for being “too plain and boring” and stuck in a life she did not choose. She then decides that some fun is in order and Jamie might be the perfect person to have fun with. What she didn’t expect was falling in love and finding in him a partner that not only is hot as hell but actually believes in her.

I LOVED Bad Boys Do ! Yeah, some characters really annoyed me at times, but that is just part of life, isn’t it? I mean, the annoying, overbearing and condescending older brother is not really  anything new and I was glad Jamie and Eric’s relationship did get better, but it made me worry for the third and final book in the trilogy, Real Men Will, since it will be Eric’s book and he is just SO self-righteous!

But I digress, specially since this was Jamie and Olivia’s book. Bad Boys Do is full of family drama, but the main romance was sexy, heartbreaking and beautiful, all at the same time.

Good Girls Don’t might have been bittersweet for me, but Bad Boys Do was AMAZING and even though I’m afraid to read Eric’s book, since I don’t really like him, I most definitely will!

 

 

November 2011 

 

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ARC Review: Good Girls Don't {Donovan Brothers Brewery #1} by Victoria Dahl

 

 

 

 

 

 

Too much of a good thing…

With her long ponytail and sparkling green eyes, Tessa Donovan looks more like the girl next door than a businesswoman—or a heartbreaker. Which may explain why Detective Luke Asher barely notices her when he arrives to investigate a break–in at her family's brewery. He's got his own problems—starting with the fact that his partner, Simone, is pregnant and everyone thinks he's the father.

Tessa has her hands full, too. Her brother's playboy ways may be threatening the business, and the tension could tear her tight–knit family apart. In fact, the only thing that could unite the Donovan boys is seeing a man come after their "baby" sister. Especially a man like Luke Asher. But Tessa sees past the rumors to the man beneath. He's not who people think he is—and neither is she.

From Goodreads.

• Publisher: HQN Books 
• Release Date: August 30th, 2011   
• My Copy: eCopy received from NetGalley.
• Pages: 384 
• Series: Donovan Brothers Brewery Series 
• Genre: Contemporary Romance 
• Author's Website
• Buy the Book:

Good Girls Don't (Hqn)

*NO Spoilers

I LOVE Victoria Dahl’s writing! I have always been prejudiced about Contemporary Romances, but her books taught how awesome the genre can be. So when I saw a new series from her on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance o reading it.

Good Girls Don’t is book #1 in the Donovan Brothers Brewery, a trilogy that will follow three siblings on the road to love, but with a lot of obstacles and bickering.

I really enjoyed the romance between Luke and Tessa. However I did have some misgivings with Good Girls Don’t. For one I didn’t find the obstacles that kept Tessa and Luke apart weren’t very believable for me, I kept thinking to myself “who cares? anytime either character mentioned one of their “reasons” for not being together.

Another thing was something my friend Danielle from ALPHA reader put it quite nicely when she said:

“I really liked the general brewery-basis of this series and will be reading the next two books. But as a series debut, ‘Good Girls Don’t’ didn’t impress me. I think it was a case of too many uninteresting and intersecting stories detracting from the main romance.”

YES! I could NOT have said it better myself.

Despite all that, I have to say that thoroughly enjoyed Good Girls Don’t and read it in one sitting. Dahl can write a hell of a HOT scene if I may so and I totally recommend it to Contemporary Romance readers out there and I for one will be definitely devouring the next two books in the series!

 

October 2011         |      November 2011 

 

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Top 5 Sundays #46 – Favorite Genres NOT UF or PNR!

Hey There my dear readers! =) Top 5 Sundays time is here! YAY!

Let’s get right to it, shall we?

 

This week’s results:

Favorite Sci-Fi Movies! = 7 (28%)

Favorite Genres NOT UF or PNR! = 13 (52%)

UF Book Recs to Guys! = 5 (20%)

 

The theme for today is:

Favorite Genres NOT UF or PNR!

 

But first, a little bit about this feature and the rules to join in…

Every Sunday I will post a TOP 5 list on the blog. It can be about anything and every week I'll have a new theme {You can vote on next week’s theme on my left sidebar!} and I will ad the Mr.Linky bellow the post so you can do a list with the theme and add you link to it.

Rules:

1. Write a post listing your TOP 5 choices within the theme I chose (or was chosen on a poll) for the week.

2. Mention this Blog on the post and link back to it.

3. Fell free to use the Feature's image (there is a smaller size version of it bellow)

4. After you've finished your post, add you link (of the post, not your blog's main page) to the Mr.Linky at the end of that week's post.

5. If you don’t have a blog to post, just leave your list in the comments =)

This week’s theme is Favorite Genres NOT UF or PNR!

I am an avid Paranormal devourer reader, YA, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance and anything that might fit in that category, but even a lover like me needs a break once in a while and here are some of the genres I usually turn to =)

*in no particular order

Literary {S&M/Ms} Erotica

LOVE Kitty Thomas books and from her rec I ended up reading “As She’s Told” and Loved it as well!

Definitely not a genre for everyone.

 

Gay Romance

I am a huge Josh Lanyon fan and I’ll read anything he puts put, but his more humorous side is awesome and led me to L.B. Gregg, Score!

 

Contemporary Romance

For the longest time I turned my nose to contemporary romance, but I finally gave in and I am so glad I did!

The funny incarnations by MJD, Victoria Dahl and Alice Clayton are amongst the best!

 

Space Opera

Spaceships, Alien and Adventures Oh My!

 

Fantasy

Not to dis the Urban kind, but pure Fantasy will always have a part of my heart!

 

Special Mentions:

Steampunk 

Dystopian

 

 

Attention!

Please HELP!

If you have any theme ideas for the next Top 5 Sundays Posts, please leave them in the comments!

Your input would be much appreciated!

 

 

Now I can’t wait to see who is in YOUR List of Favorite Genres NOT UF or PNR!

Write you post and leave your link so i can check it out!

Hope you guys have fun with it!

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Lala’s Book Corner: Crazy For Love by Victoria Dahl

 

 

 

 

“Chloe Turner thought she was going to marry the perfect man-until her fiancé's plane crashed. And then she got the really bad news: he'd tried to fake his own death to avoid marrying her. Now America's most famous bridezilla (a tag she most definitely does not deserve), Chloe escapes to a remote island to avoid the paparazzi. And right next door is a man who just might be the cure
for Chloe's heartache....
A magnet for wild, complicated women, Max Sullivan is relieved to have finally found someone "normal." Chloe is his girl-next-door fantasy come to life, and best of all, she gets him. With her, he can be himself, a treasure-hunting millionaire who desperately wants out of his sexy but reckless job. But when Chloe's notoriety catches up with them, will their torrid romance make it to the mainland?”

From Goodreads.

Publisher: HQN

Release Date: June 1st, 2010

My Copy: NetGalley

Pages: 376

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Author's Website

Buy This Book:

Crazy for Love (Hqn)

 

I just finished this book and It is official, I have an official girl crush on Victoria Dahl! Ever since I decided to get out of my paranormal comfort zone and read het Tumble Creek series (and loved it, review HERE), my reluctance against contemporary romances has been much smaller. Specially when it comes to Dahl’s books, in that case I just rush forward and get the book hehe.

Crazy for Love is a very unusual but very compelling story. Victoria puts her main characters through the ringer and gives such a depth to them that it’s impossible not to care.

In this book we two-for-one in the Romance department. We have the main romance between Chloe and Max, and a secondary romance between Max’s brother Elliot and Chloe’s best friend Jenn.

Chloe is an accountant from a middle-class family with a very normal life. That is until her fiancé decides that the best to end their 2-year relationship is to fake his own death and when people find out, to blame Chloe and label her as too much of a Bridezilla for him to handle. That’s when Chloe’s life spirals out of control and she is plastered all over the media, hounded by paparazzi and basically unable to live her life in peace.

We meet Chloe when Jenn rescues her for a week getaway on an island, away from the photographers pestering her life. But the girls down time takes a left turns when Max and Elliot, the Sullivan brothers, settle in the cabin next door. Neither woman will know what him them…

Max is a treasure hunter, whose life seems to be one huge adventure. However, things are never as it seems and he is actually a man with serious control issues victim of circumstances that just wants a normal life for himself, but seems unable to get there.

Max and Chloe are HOT! But they are also so perfect and cute together. Their interactions and conversations are such a treat to read. Jenn and Elliot don’t fall that much behind, even though they get less stage time, their story is just as great. I hope Dahl writes their story.

I LOVED this book! I read it in one sitting and had a smile through out the whole novel. Dahl’s writing is flawless and hilarious, her characters are extremely flawed, but also adorable and lovable. She has such a knack for writing amazing character driven stories that can’t help but capture your heart and have you hang on her every word. I laughed, I cried and I felt like I knew these people. I can’t read to read more Contemporary Romances from her.

Smut Meter Says:

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Doing It Write!

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