4th Blogiversary Giveaway Winners!!

Credit to I Am a Reader, Not a Writer for picture

Yes it is Friday and no, no, we haven't forgotten! It's time to announce the winners for our 4th Blogiversary Giveaway!! First, we'd like to thank everyone for their love and support! It means a lot to know that there are people out there enjoying our reviews :)

And the winners are:

Mollie

Rowena

Li

Woohoo!! Congratulations!! So ladies, please get in touch with one of us to let us know from which bookstore you'd like your 20$ gift certificate :)  Also, we'll iron out the details for the upcoming buddy reviews! :)

Congratulations again to the winners!! And thank you everyone for participating!!

Nath, Ames & Monroe

4th Blogiversary!!

Nath: Today is a special day :) Not only is it Valentine's Day (Happy Valentine's Day!!), but it is also Breezing Through's 4th Blogiversary!! Wow, time really goes by fast! I know I say this often, but it's really how I feel ^_^; You blink and a few weeks, months, years have gone by :P

I remember the idea of starting Breezing Through came to me around the time Ames came to Montreal for a visit. We were always discussing the books we read and I wanted to have a blog together, something that both Ames and I have started and would really belong to us. A blog focusing on buddy reviews sounded good and fun :) The idea was only reinforced after we visited Chantal. While we liked the idea, Ames and I can be huge procrastinators LOL and it took months before we finally got Breezing Through started :) Then later on, we asked Monroe to join us :)

Monroe: YAY Im so glad yall asked me to be part of the team!

Ames: LOL I won't argue with you there, Nath, I know I'm a big procrastinator. And I'm glad you've joined our team Monroe.  :P

Nath: We both are, Ames LOL.

Breezing Through has gone through many ups and downs since its creation. Mainly because of the format of the blog: buddy reviews. Maintaining a regular review blog is already hard what with balancing our reading and blogging as well as our real life, but add in reading the same book, the actual discussion and putting the reviews together... Well, it's really been challenging LOL. Still, we're definitively not giving up on Breezing Through and hopefully, there'll be many, many reviews to come for you all to enjoy :D

Ames: I think the driving force behind BT is you, Nath. :) You're so good at getting people to buddy review with you and I have to say thanks for that. I will try harder this year.(hint hint friends *snicker*)

Monroe: I second Ames comment...Nath you are the backbone to this shindig and we love you for it girl!

Nath: What you two mean is that I'm pushy LOL. However, I really have to thank everyone who has agreed to participate to buddy reviews on Breezing Through. It is really appreciated! LOL, without you all, I'd have pushed Ames and Monroe out of their mind LOL.


Ames: Yes everyone. Thank YOU. haha

Nath: In any case, every year, Breezing Through has an Anti-Valentine's giveaway. This year however, Valentine's Day kind of crept up on us LOL. Since we weren't prepared, I thought we'd give up the Anti-Valentine's giveaway this year and wait until Breezing Through's blogiversary to do one... but LOL, turns out Valentine's Day IS Breezing Through's blogiversary!! Oups ^_^;

Still, it's a bit last minute, so instead of giving away books, Ames, Monroe and I are each giving out a 20$ gift certificate for the bookstore of choice :) All you have to do is comment on this post and if you have any suggestions to make Breezing Through better or a feature you'd like to see, please feel free! However, there is a trick to this giveaway :P The three winners of this giveaway will have to help Monroe, Ames and I and contribute a buddy review to Breezing Through :) So beware!! :)

Ames: The winner gets to pick which book we review too. :) So three winners, three reviews. One with Nath, one with Monroe, and one with me. :P

Monroe: WOOP WOOP FREE BOOKS YOU GUYS! ;) Thanks for lovin' our blog as much as we do!

Ames: The contest is open till midnight February 17 and the winners will be announced on Friday, February 18.

Good luck!

Buddy Review: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

It's been a while since there's been a buddy review up here at Breezing Through. But we haven't forgotten why we started this blog and so here it is, our first review of 2011!

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
published by Knopf in October 2010

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Genre: Young Adult
Series: n/a

Ames: First of all Nath, I want to say thank you for bringing this book to my attention. Thank you! LOL I don't know why, but I just kept overlooking this book. Besides the fact that I'm a gooberhead, maybe something in the blurb turned me off. Anyway, I'm glad you told me you liked it - because I did too!

Nath: LOL, don't thank me, Ames. Thank the people who brought this book to my attention... which would be Leslie and Christine. Thanks ladies!!

I like these books with alternative POV, especially when each POV is written by a different author :) I think it makes it more interactive and realistic.

Ames: Yes, thank you ladies! LOL

I enjoy those kinds of books too. And with a writing duo like Rachel and David, the results are fun! Really, I don't know why, when I enjoyed Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List so much I wouldn't have picked this up right away. Like I said, gooberhead. LOL

And Dash? I loved Dash. I had my own Dash in high school. I still re-read the emails he sent me after he moved away. Of course I wasn't his Lily, but he was my Dash.

Nath: Oh, lucky you!! I really liked Dash as well, he was a great character and made the book :) I liked his personality - the fact that he enjoyed solitude and him being snarly. There was definitively something charming in a sarcastic/cynical way :) In contrast, Lily was very upbeat... but at some times, I thought she was very spoiled and bratty ^_^;

Ames: I definitely feel like Lily was less mature than Dash. I mean, she had this almost-perfect family situation going on and he comes from a divorced family. He knows how to work that to his advantage but it still leaves a mark. I like that he was snarly and I like how these two characters balanced out.

At the beginning of the book, it was like Dash was kind of hopeless - he just wanted the Christmas season to be over. But Lily was full of good cheer and optimism and hope. And through the events of the book, you can see how that switched for each character. Lily lost her hope and optimism and Dash lightened up. It worked.

Nath: I think you've actually pinpointed it - the almost-perfect family. She's surrounded by people who love and care for her, so in that sense, her life is quite idyllic. I don't think she's ever experienced her family letting her down before this Christmas, and so her lack of maturity stems from not being independent enough. In a way, she's extremely lucky ^_^;

The difference in personality definitively worked well in this book :) The reversal in personality was also well done and with a lot of subtlety.

I have to say, I really liked the premise of the book, how Dash and Lily met through that red notebook. I'm a tad disappointed though that the idea came from Lily's brother.

Ames: I like the concept too. But listen you - Lily kept it going! That's the important thing. I like how the other characters were incorporated into the story. Lily's family and Dash's friends. I really liked Boomer. He reminded me of a puppy, always underfoot but you can't get mad because he's just so cute. LOL

And Lily's great-aunt. She was the best. One of my favorite scenes is with her and Dash.

"Is Lily home?" I asked.
The woman settled down across from me and laughed.
"Who's to say I'm not Lily?" she asked back.
"Well," I said, "a few friends have actually met Lily, and I like to think they would've mentioned if she were eighty."
"Eighty!" The old woman feigned shock. "I'll have you know I'm not a year over forty-three."
"With all due respect," I said, "if you're forty-three, then I'm a fetus."
~
"Seriously," I said. "Where's Lily?"
"I need to gauge your intentions," she said, "before I can allow you to dillydally with my niece."
"I assure you I have neither dillying nor dallying on my mind," I replied. "I simply want to meet her. In person. You see, we've been-"
She raised her hand to cut me off. "I am aware of your epistolary flirtation. Which is all well and good - as long as it's well and good. ..."

LOL! Epistolary flirtation!

Nath: LOL, great passage. I just truly love Dash and his dry wit! LOL.

Okay, you're right, she continued and that what matters... but still...

I liked Boomer as well! A bit over-excited, but very loyal... indeed, a puppy LOL. I think in this case, the secondary characters were very important especially since it takes a long while before Lily and Dash meet. They are the ones that really show us who Lily and Dash are.

Ames: True, true. Also, I liked the places where they made the other go.

Did you recognize the band at the club from the one in Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist? The band belonging to Norah's ex-boyfriend?

Also, the boots. :)

Nath: The places were awesome. I think it really captured New York City during the holidays well :) I could kind of imagine it and how crowded everywhere must be!

And no, I didn't recognize the band, because I read Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist afterwards.

I thought the first 2/3 of the book was really great... and then, it started losing steam a little bit after Dash and Lily met. It felt the first 2/3 were fun and then, it suddenly took a more serious tone.

Ames: I agree it got a little serious, but I don't think that meant it lost steam. That's where the changes start to happen for Lily. She gets some bad news and she's reacting to that. But also, the baby snatching plot was towards the end and I loved that!

Nath: For me, it did, because it started out all fun and that's what I wanted it to be :) Also, I was as disappointed as Dash about their meeting :( It's the romance reader side of me that wished for something more idyllic.

The baby snatching plot was hilarious, but at the same time, so absurd ^_^;

Ames: I think it was silly fun, not so much absurd. :P  And yeah everything would be great if life were idyllic but I liked their first meeting.  Dash needed a reality check when it came to Lily and teenager's make stupid decisions sometimes.  It shows you how they've both grown that they can get past that less-than-perfect first meeting.

Also, as book lovers, I really like where they were at the end of the book.

Nath: Oh definitively, Ames! I think the ending fit given everything they went through :) Although, me personally, I'm not sure I'd be happy being locked with the Oxfort English Dictionary, but a couple boxes of romance or fantasy novels... and yes baby! :)

So, what grade would you give Dash & Lily's Book of Dares? It's a B+ for me. A good and solid read with engaging characters. I wished the book would've been longer though!

Ames: B+ for me as well. I think it might have lost steam if it were longer.

Nath: Perhaps. I noticed that most of their books are short. Ah well, still looking forward to their next books :)

February New Releases

It's the start of a new month, which means... new releases!! What are you looking for to this month? Here are the books that will make us - or at least me :P - run to the bookstore :) Seems though I won't be running that often :P


February 1

Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis
published by Berkley

Co-owner of the town's only kennel, Lilah Young has lived in Sunshine, Idaho, all her life. Pilot-for-hire Brady Miller is just passing through. But he soon has Lilah abandoning her instincts and giving in to a primal desire.

It's Brady's nature to resist being tied down, but there's something about Lilah and her menagerie that keeps him coming back for more.

Genre: Contemporary romance
Series: TBA

Ames: Jill is an auto-buy author for me. Plus the combo of Jill and a heroine that loves animals? There's no way you can keep me from reading this one. LOL

Nath: To tell the truth, I'm still trying to love this author. I enjoy her books, but I want to love them like everyone else... so I'm going to get this book and give it another go :P

Monroe: Its no secret that I love Jill!!! This is a given for me! ;)


The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton

published by Berkley

Football pro Mick Riley is an all-star, both on the field and in the bedroom. But a sexy, determinedly single mom just might be the one to throw him off his game…

For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meets and beds confident, beautiful event planner Tara Lincoln, he wants much more than the typical one-night stand. Too bad Tara’s not interested in getting to know football’s most notorious playboy any better.

As the single mother of a teenage son, the last thing Tara needs is the jet-set lifestyle of Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand was unforgettable. Tara’s life is complicated enough without being thrust into the spotlight as Mick’s latest girl du jour. Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn’t intend to put herself out there again, especially with a heartbreaker like Mick.

But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind.

Isn’t it just yummy?

Genre: Contemporary romance, Sports romance
Series: Play by Play series, Book #1

Ames: I've tried Jaci's writing in the past and it was more her romantic suspense book that didn't work for me. I really enjoyed her erotic romance anthology so I'm going to check this one out. Also that cover is hot stuff!

Nath: Very hot cover! I've heard good comments about this book, but what's holding me back right now is the fact that the heroine is a single mother. Haven't been in the mood about reading books with single mothers as heroines... although she has a teenage son, that might tip the scale :)

Pride and Pleasure by Sylvia Day
published by Kensington

Wealth has its dangers...

There are disadvantages to being an heiress, as Eliza Martin knows well. Fortune hunters flock to her, acquaintances lie and pander, and lately, someone is engineering "accidents" to propel her to the altar. But Eliza will not be bullied, and she will get to the bottom of this plot. All she needs is a man to infiltrate her assemblage of suitors and find the culprit. Someone not easily noticed; a proficient dancer, quiet, and even-tempered.

...so do certain men

Thief-taker Jasper Bond is entirely too large, too handsome, and too dangerous. Who would believe that an intellectual like Eliza would be seduced by a man of action? But the combination of her stubbornness and the mystery makes the case one Jasper can't resist. Client satisfaction is a point of pride and it's his pleasure to prove he's just the man she needs after all...

Genre: Historical romance
Series: none

Ames: Sylvia Day is an auto-buy author for me. Nuff said. But doesn't that blurb just sound delish?

Nath: Saw Lori's review for this book and Ames is so excited... I might wait for the paperback version though.

Monroe: Sylvia Day rocks! Shes a new author for me so I love being able to get her new and old books to read! =)


Absolutely, Positively by Heather Webber
published by St. Martin's Press

“Exposed” by a Boston Herald reporter, Lucy is suddenly the talk of the town. Long back-story short: Even though the rest of her Valentine ancestors were blessed by Cupid with psychic abilities, Lucy’s only special power lies in her ability to find things. This skill has proven quite a blessing for those who come to her matchmaking agency in search of finding their long-lost loves. Now that Lucy’s secret is out, she has more new clients than she knows what to do with. But soon a certain man of mystery steals Lucy’s spotlight…

No, it’s not Sean Donahue, the sexy fireman-turned-private-eye who’s stolen Lucy’s heart. It’s a masked man in a cowboy hat, dubbed “The Lone Ranger,” who’s been throwing handfuls of cash across the Common. Now all of Beantown’s abuzz. Can Lucy unmask the mysterious money man, track down all her clients’ old flames, and turn up the heat on her love life? Absolutely, positively...

Genre: contemporary, mystery, fiction
Series: Lucy Valentine series, Book #3

Nath: I read the first two books in this series and just enjoyed them so much :) It's just a really fun and fluffy series! Looking forward to this book :)

Monroe: Ok I have books 1 and 2 and havent read them yet BUT I know they are good! lol So ya Ill have to get this one as well!

The Last Goodbye by Sarah Mayberry
published by Harlequin

Ally Bishop knows the settling kind when she sees one. And Tyler Adamson is definitely one. Ordinarily this never-in-one-place-long girl would stay far, far away. Maybe it's the way he looks in jeans, or the way he looks at her, but suddenly Ally is breaking her own rules with dizzying speed. All that Australian temptation right next door…well, there's only so much resistance one girl can have.

As she dives into a fling with Tyler, Ally assures herself she can maintain perspective. After all, he's only here long enough to care for his ailing father. That gives them a time limit, right? With each passing day, however, she falls for Tyler more. And soon she has the strongest urge to unpack her suitcase and stay a while.

Genre: Category romance
Series: none

Ames: Sarah is an auto-buy author for me. I really enjoy her books. And I like the twist on this one, the heroine is the one who's afraid of commitment.

Nath: Still debating. I still have Ms Mayberry's latest release, Best-Laid Plans in my TBR pile...


Everyone Loves a Hero... and that's the problem by Marie Force

published by Sourcebooks

Everyone loves a hero. That's the problem.

Hero pilot Cole Langston is learning to live with—and enjoy—his newfound fame and the rabid female attention that comes with it until a lucky punch knocks some sense into him and opens his eyes to true love.

When his copilot suffers a heart attack in flight, Cole lands the jetliner in a blizzard and revives the stricken captain. Catapulted to national hero status, Cole has more women vying for his attention than he knows what to do with. They all have one thing in common: they try without success to bring this happy-go-lucky pilot down to earth. Then comes an airport altercation, a punch to the face, and the lovely Olivia—a shy, timid artist who does what no other woman has ever managed to do: steal Cole's well-protected heart. With women coming on to him everywhere they go, Olivia struggles to believe that Cole is ready for a committed relationship. His biggest problem is getting rid of all his extra ladies before the only one he wants figures out that she's one of many.

Genre: Contemporary romance
Series: none

Ames: I read Love at First Flight and even though some aspects of it bothered me, I'm willing to give this author another try.

Nath: I've been looking for a good contemporary romance and this might be it :) Although, man, there is a lot of pilot heroes lately!!

Monroe: What a yummy cover...SOLD! ;)

The Sworn by Gail Z. Martin
published by Orbit

As plague and famine scourge the winter kingdoms, a vast invasion force is mustering from beyond the northern seas. And at its heart, a dark spirit mage wields the blood magic of ancient, vanquished gods.

Summoner-King Martris Drayke must attempt to meet this great threat, gathering an army from a country ravaged by civil war. Neighboring lands reel toward anarchy while plague decimates their leaders. Drayke must seek new allies from among the living – and the dead –- as an untested generation of rulers face their first battle.

Then someone disturbs the legendary Dread as they rest in a millennia-long slumber beneath sacred barrows. Their warrior guardians, the Sworn, know the Dread could be pivotal as a force for great good or evil. But if it’s the latter, could even the Summoner-King’s sorcery prevail?

Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Fallen King, Book #1

Nath: Seems like this is the start of a new trilogy. I didn't even realize it was coming out. Not sure whether I'll get it or not, but it's good to have it on the radar :P


February 3

Mr. Bishop and the Actress by Janet Mullany

published by Little Black Dress

What could be more important than a lady's reputation?

Although initially alarmed by their unconventional ways, strait-laced Harry Bishop is content in the service of Lord Shad and his family. But when he is sent to London to rescue Shad's wayward relation from debt and self-destruction, he also has the dubious honor of dealing with the man's illicit lover - troublesome actress Sophie Wallace.

A man of dignity and decorum, Mr Bishop is desperate to disassociate himself from the scandalous Sophie. Unfortunately, avoiding her proves harder than he could ever have imagined and soon she's causing him all kinds of bother...

Genre: Historical Romance
Series: none

Ames: Janet is also another auto-buy author for me. Read the Rules of Gentility and you'll know why. :)

Also, this book is available at Book Depository in case you see it somewhere else with a different date.


February 15

Outside In by Maria V. Snyder
published by Harlequin

Me? A Leader? Okay, I did prove that there's more to Inside than we knew. That a whole world exists beyond this cube we live in. And finding that led to a major rebellion - between worker scrubs like me and the snobby uppers who rule our world. Make that ruled. Because of me, we're free. I thought that meant I was off the hook, and could go off on my own again - while still touching base with Riley, of course. He's the one upper I think I can trust. But then we learned that there's outside and then there is Outside. And something from Outside wants In.

Genre: Young Adult
Series: Inside Out series, Book #2

Nath: I love, love, love Ms Snyder's writing and stories. Inside Out is still on my TBR pile, but it's been getting good reviews :) This one as well, so definitively going to get it. Does anyone know whether Ms Snyder is going to write more books in the Poison Study world?


February 22

What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long

published by Avon (Harpercollins)

For years, he's been an object of fear, fascination . . . and fantasy. But of all the wicked rumors that shadow the formidable Alexander Moncrieffe, Duke of Falconbridge, the ton knows one thing for certain: only fools dare cross him. And when Ian Eversea does just that, Moncrieffe knows the perfect revenge: he'll seduce Ian's innocent sister, Genevieve—the only Eversea as yet untouched by scandal. First he'll capture her heart . . . and then he'll break it.

But everything about Genevieve is unexpected: the passion simmering beneath her cool control, the sharp wit tempered by gentleness . . . And though Genevieve has heard the whispers about the duke's dark past, and knows she trifles with him at her peril, one incendiary kiss tempts her deeper into a world of extraordinary sensuality. Until Genevieve is faced with a fateful choice . . . is there anything she won't do for a duke?

Genre: Historical romance
Series: Pennyroyal Green, Book #5

Ames: I really enjoy this author's writing but I know I'm a few books behind on this series. So I want this title...but with my new resolution, I need to catch up on the series before I can buy it. *sigh*

Nath: Or maybe someone nice will send it to you :P I'm thinking of getting this one because of the great buzz the book has been getting :) Hopefully, I don't need to have read the other books in the series ^_^;

The Heiress by Lynsay Sands
published by Avon (Harpercollins)

Desperately seeking a husband...

Suzette is not like other heiresses; she wants a poor husband, a gentleman who will be so grateful for her dowry that he will allow her access to it so that she can pay off her father's gambling debts. When this alluring beauty encounters Daniel Woodrow—handsome, titled, single... and even more impoverished than she could have hoped for—it seems Suzette's wildest dreams have come true.

But Daniel has not been truthful. Tired of being accosted by an endless stream of vapid coquettes and their fortune-hunting mothers, Daniel has decided to plead poverty to stop them in their tracks. Yet here is a most refreshing and delectable lady, who claims to be thrilled by his penury. Now all Daniel has to do to find true happiness is to keep a little white lie alive... while avoiding a villain who's determined to prevent this union by any means necessary.

Genre: Historical romance
Series: Madison Sisters, Book #2

Nath: Whether I get this book will depend on my enjoyment of The Countess :) However, this is another Avon release that's been getting a good buzz. Avon is seriously on a roll!


Green-Eyed Demon by Sabina Kane

published by Orbit

The clock is ticking for Sabina Kane. She has to save her sister from her mysterious captors. And in order to do that, she has to broker a deal between the mages and the vampires before all hell breaks loose.

But as much as Sabina is focused on surviving the present, the past won’t be ignored. Before she can save those she cares about, she’s got to save herself from the ghosts of her past. Because the past is haunting her. Literally.

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Sabina Kane series, Book #3

Nath: I'm not sure whether I'll be picking this one up or not. My problem is I'm not totally engaged while reading the story. I like the action, but seems to have a problem with the writing. Also, Sabina in the last book... some of her action, meh.

Treachery in Death by J.D. Robb
published by Putnam

Detective Eve Dallas and her partner, Peabody, are following up on a senseless crime-an elderly grocery owner killed by three stoned punks for nothing more than kicks and snacks. This is Peabody's first case as primary detective-good thing she learned from the master.

But Peabody soon stumbles upon a trickier situation. After a hard workout, she's all alone in the locker room when the gym door clatters open; and-while hiding inside a shower stall trying not to make a sound-she overhears two fellow officers, Garnet and Oberman, arguing. It doesn't take long to realize they're both crooked-guilty not just of corruption but of murder. Now Peabody, Eve, and Eve's husband, Roarke, are trying to get the hard evidence they need to bring the dirty cops down-knowing all the while that the two are willing to kill to keep their secret.

Genre: Romantic Suspense, mystery
Series: In Death series, Book #32

Nath: Need I say more? LOL.


How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

published by Simon & Schuster

Northern Exposure

Even in Grundy, Alaska, it’s unusual to find a naked guy with a bear trap clamped to his ankle on your porch. But when said guy turns into a wolf, recent southern transplant Mo Wenstein has no difficulty identifying the problem. Her surly neighbor Cooper Graham—who has been openly critical of Mo’s ability to adapt to life in Alaska—has trouble of his own. Werewolf trouble.

For Cooper, an Alpha in self-imposed exile from his dysfunctional pack, it’s love at first sniff when it comes to Mo. But Cooper has an even more pressing concern on his mind. Several people around Grundy have been the victims of wolf attacks, and since Cooper has no memory of what he gets up to while in werewolf form, he’s worried that he might be the violent canine in question.

If a wolf cries wolf, it makes sense to listen, yet Mo is convinced that Cooper is not the culprit. Except if he’s not responsible, then who is? And when a werewolf falls head over haunches in love with you, what are you supposed to do anyway? The rules of dating just got a whole lot more complicated...

Genre: Paranormal romance, chick-lit
Series: Naked Werewolf, Book #1

Nath: Last year, I've read and enjoyed the Jane Jameson series. This is by the same author, a three back-to-back releases :) What I like about Ms Harper's books is that they are light and fun, a bit more on the comedic chick-lit side. That also means that they are not for everyone ^_^;

Harvest Moon by Robyn Carr
published by Mira (Harlequin)

Rising sous-chef Kelly Matlock's sudden collapse at work is a wake-up call. Disillusioned and burned out, she's retreated to her sister Jillian's house in Virgin River to rest and reevaluate.

Puttering in Jill's garden and cooking with her heirloom vegetables is wonderful, but Virgin River is a far cry from San Francisco. Kelly's starting to feel a little too unmotivated…until she meets Lief Holbrook. The handsome widower looks more like a lumberjack than a sophisticated screenwriter—a combination Kelly finds irresistible. But less appealing is Lief's rebellious stepdaughter, Courtney. She's the reason they moved from L.A., but Courtney's finding plenty of trouble even in Virgin River.

Kelly's never fallen for a guy with such serious baggage, but some things are worth fighting for. Besides, a bratty teenager can't be any worse than a histrionic chef... right?

Genre: Contemporary romance
Series: Virgin River series, Book #13

Nath: I really enjoyed Wild Man Creek, so I'm crossing my fingers for Harvest Moon. Have to say, I'm not convinced with Kelly. She was sort of in a relationship in Wild Man Creek and it kind of turned me off ^_^; Luckily, it's going to be a new relationship in this book :)