Review: Holiday Man by Marilyn Brant

With New Year's Day behind us and Valentine's Day fast approaching, I thought it would be the perfect time to review Holiday Man by Marilyn Brant. This contemporary romance takes readers through a year of holidays, beginning on Valentine's Day. 

Shannon Quinn is suffering from a romantic dry spell. Perhaps it is running Holiday Quinn, a quaint holiday themed bed and breakfast, that keeps her too busy for romance. Sure, there is her young, good-looking assistant Jake Marcolis, who brings sexual suggestiveness to every conversation, but that’s just his way; he’s a Grade-A flirt. He can’t honestly be serious about Shannon. Could he? But when the tall, dark and deliciously handsome Bram Hartwick walks through the inn’s doors on Valentine’s Day, Shannon’s dry spell may be coming to an end.

Surprising herself, Shannon begins sizing up the intense looking man with jet-black hair and a rather unsettling gaze. As her thoughts rapidly begin taking a more erotic bend, Shannon remembers what her friend and mentor, Margaret Ashland, once said, “Some temptations should never be resisted.”

For Bram Hartwick, there is also no denying the sexually charged energy between them. This may well be the thing he’s looking for: a hot, short-term romance with boundaries. As Bram visits Holiday Quinn throughout a year of random holidays and passion-filled trysts, can their relationship stay hot and short-term or has it gradually moved into something more? What’s more, can our carnal couple overcome their frequent misunderstandings and differing desires in life? Shannon wants to experience world adventures outside Door County, Wisconsin while Bram seems ready to settle down into a relaxing life in the country. Shannon continually finds herself asking if one adventure will lead to another, if one small risk opens the door to larger ones? And are these risks she is willing to take, both emotionally and personally?

I have yet to encounter a novel by Marilyn Brant that I have not either simply enjoyed or altogether loved. With each story, I am impressed at how well scenes are described and how easily I am transported to them. Adding to my sensory experience, Brant seamlessly finds a way to incorporate music and food into each novel, with Holiday Man being no exception. Readers are taken back in time with classic tunes such as “Playing with the Queen of Hearts” during the inn’s Valentine’s Singles Dance, the appropriate “Monster Mash” at Halloween, and “White Christmas” during the Christmas season. When it comes to food, I do not think I will ever look at a cupcake the same way after Shannon’s tantalizing Memorial Day cupcakes, and I have a great desire to try some Česnica, Serbian Christmas bread, after Bram and Shannon’s savory scene. I have come to look forward to the various and illustrated ways Brant draws me in, enlivening my reading experience.

Holiday Man is a hot, quick, and titillating read, sure to keep one warm during these long, cold winter months. 

Read an excerpt from Holiday Man HERE! 

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*Review copy provided by author

Review: Twelve Days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley

With Twelfth Night tomorrow, I thought it would be appropriate for me to post my review for Twelve Days of Christmas today. Enjoy!

Holly Brown might not be the most festive person when it comes to celebrating Christmas, but who can blame her when her husband, who taught her the love of the season, passed away eight years ago, just days before Christmas? Adding to her seasonal funk is the loss of her gran mere weeks ago, and Holly is in anything but the Christmas spirit. When asked to housesit in the wilds of the Lancashire moors, Holly jumps at the opportunity, looking for an escape from the holiday cheer and painful memories. However, we all know the best laid plans of mice and men, often go awry.

When Holly arrives at Jude Martland’s home, Old Place, in Little Mumming, she quickly discovers this will not be her typical housesitting job. The Martland family has always spent Christmas together at Old Place. They look forward to this as a child looks forward to presents on Christmas morning, but this year will be much different. With no regard for his family’s traditions and expectations, after reading the engagement announcement of his ex-fiancé to his brother in the newspaper, Jude Martland has selfishly taken off in a fit of pique, leaving his relatives to their own devices this Christmas.

When Jude unexpectedly arrives back home, his house is not at all as he has left it. Finding both welcomed guests and an unwelcomed ex-fiancé in his home, it appears the dark and broody Jude Martland is less than happy with how Holly has been taking care of his property. However, Holly has no qualms about putting this stubborn and selfish man in his place by making him aware of his neglected duties towards his relatives. With acerbic exchanges and masked glances, can these two make it through the twelve days of Christmas without acknowledging the undercurrent of something more?

Ashley begins each chapter with snippets from Holly’s gran’s journals. It is through these excerpts that Holly learns a shocking secret from her gran’s past that could change her future. Jude believes Holly is not at all who she appears to be, but what will happen to their love-hate relationship once he discovers her true identity?

My only complaint about this story is that the author tends to repeat herself. I quickly became annoyed that I was provided with the same facts, questions, and dialog multiple times. One example happens on page 230. While talking with the Martlands, Holly comments, “I hope they’re going to be all right and Coco doesn’t do anything stupid.” A mere 6 pages later the reader finds Holly saying the same thing, “I hope Coco doesn’t do anything silly.” It was repetition like this that frustrated me. Even though this was a point of contention for me, that is not to say that other readers might not notice or be bothered by it.

The familial banter that takes place between the Martlands, Holly and a few other guests, had me feeling as if I were there, as part of the family. Twelve Days of Christmas is a delightful read that has the feeling of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Snuggle up with an oversized mug of hot cocoa and a cozy blanket as Ashley’s writing will have you snowed in amongst the pastoral countryside of Lancaster. 

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Kindle | Nook

2013 Regency Romance Reading Challenge

As the new year is upon us, I have joined my first reading challenge for 2013: the Regency Romance Reading Challenge, hosted by Austenprose and featuring the talented Candice Hern. This is one challenge I am rather excited about. As a Georgette Heyer fan, I stumbled across Hern’s writing last year and immediately fell in love with her writing style and historical accuracy. I also enjoy following Candice Hern on Facebook so I can see all the magnificent Regency and Georgian artifacts she acquires for her collection.

So far, I have taken joy in the five Hern novels I have read: Just One of Those Flings, Lady Be Bad, Desperate Measures, A Proper Companion and The Best of Intentions, making me all the more excited for this new reading challenge.

There are several different levels of participation for this challenge. I have decided to go down the middle and participate as a Disciple, committing to read 3-5 novels and short stories between now and September 30^th.

Here are Hern’s pieces that I am planning on reading:

Miss Lacey’s Last Fling

Lady Ann’s Excellent Adventure

The Social Climber (Hern’s next release, given it will be published in time. If not, I will choose a different novel).

If you are interested in the Regency Romance Reading Challenge, head over to Austenprose to find out more and to sign up.

Are you participating in any reading challenges this year? If so, in which ones are you participating? I’d love to hear about them.