Stephanie Queen

Tammy Murphy is a girl from an ordinary family in small town Hamlin, New Hampshire. She has ambitions--she's starring her own fashion line--but she intends to do it while keeping her home town as her home base. Her best friend has just gotten married, and left on an extended honeymoon, and Tammy's latest crush, the wedding photography, has returned to his high-flying home turf in London. She's feeling a bit lost.

Roark Donovan is the son of a wealthy Boston family, staying in Hamlin, interning at the local bank, while his family is summering in their nearby summer home on Lake Winnipesauke. He's not really feeling it with any of the careers his family would like him to pursue, and he's not really feeling it with the young woman he's known all his life, whom his family and hers have hoped he will marry. He really does like her, but marriage? No.

Then Tammy and Roark meet in the local diner. Sparks fly, and anyway, he's obviously not staying, and Tammy isn't looking for another summer fling with a man who is only in town for a few weeks.

So of course she has soon recruited him into the local community theater Romeo and Juliet performance, and Roark has convinced her to come to his family's Sunday barbecue. Misunderstandings ensue, including the moment that Tammy realizes she's there partly to send the message that Roark is really not going to marry the old family friend, Amanda. There's Roark's godfather, who is a charming man, but also a man of mixed and somewhat questionable background. There's the cute squabble over whether it will be Roark or his father who recruits a celebrity to do a walk-on for the Romeo and Juliet production. The Boston charity gala for which Roark asks her to make a dress for Amanda, so that Tammy's work will be seen by influential people, and also asks her to attend the gala with them so that she can meet those influential people as the designer of Amanda's dress.

This is a very gentle novella, where everyone ranges from essentially decent to very good, and misunderstandings are always resolved in the end. Not heart-pounding excitement, but enjoyable.

I bought this book.… (more)

This book sucked me in from the beginning. The storyline was absolutely amazing. Heartbreaking tragedy that rips at your heart from the start. Your emotions start with some definite feelers. As they get back together, there are just so many little issues to work through that threaten to tear them apart. I did have to wonder how a grown man couldn't stand up to his family for the love of his life. Could the love of his life remain the love of his life? Tears of sadness, joy and feelings of anger for Mad. The characters were very well written. I will need to find more on Dooley as he actually turned into my favorite because he turned into a side character that played an integral role. The ending surprised me. I thought it would turn out different but I am glad that they both seemed to mature from that situation. Definitely a must read.… (more)

DESCRIPTION, NOT REVIEW: Playing Santa and rescuing a puppy is one thing. Playing prince charming and rescuing a struggling beauty and her son is a whole other crazy.
Sean Patrick here. I'm a player, and not just for the Boston Militia football team.
I've earned my reputation as a confirmed bachelor and I've enjoyed every minute of it. Until now.

The minute I lay eyes on the jewel-eyed beauty, Ronnie, and her precocious boy, Jimmy, at the animal shelter, my heart is hi-jacked.
Does Ronnie want rescuing? Nothing doing. She's as tough as she is gorgeous.
I need to somehow convince her that I'm not the player I used to be. That once I adopt Dasher from the shelter I'm committed to more than finding random bedmates for random nights of empty fun.
I need to convince her that playing Santa is more than a game...… (more)

Christmas Shorts by Mimi Barbour, Mona Risk
The book out of the collection that I was given to review:
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The Chocolate Box Christmas by Josie Riviera
This short story is about Maise who's relocated from Alaska to CA and she's taken a job being a food/writer reporter.
On this assignment she must judge the chocolate contest at a nearby shelter. She knows many of the contestants as she's been around town.
She is able to meet Ben and she discovers his secret as to why he is there. He also finds out why she doesn't really want to be a judge, especially with anything to do with chocolate.
Fun Christmas read, enjoyed it.
Book ends with a note from the author, recipes, and about the author, other works by the author in series format but all can be read as stand alone.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.… (more)