Saturday, March 31, 2018

THE WANTED BRIDE by Sylvia McDaniel


Title:  THE WANTED BRIDE
Series:  N/A
Author:  Sylvia McDaniel
Publish Date:   04.14.13
Publisher:  Virtual Bookseller
Audio Release:  12.12.16
Narrator:  Lia Frederick
Length:  6 hours
Category /Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content
Listenability:  OK  or  NSFW
Received from:  Sylvia McDaniel (as a gifted Audiobook)
Goodreads link: The Wanted Bride
Date completed: 03.09.2018

Description from the publisher:
She’s a Runaway Bride
Valerie Burrows is running from a wedding, her attorney fiancé and the law. Pampered Valerie takes a bus to no-wheres-ville, where she learns her cash and credit cards have been stolen. Left with only her designer clothes and luggage she takes on a new identity and must learn to be self-reliant. She swears off men, especially attorneys, only to find the one man who refuses a one night stand and wants a relationship.

He’s Looking for a Wife
Matt Jordan, the Colorado Crusher, is the most successful liability lawyer in the state. After the death of his brother-in-law, he realizes he’s ready to settle down with a family of his own. His only requirements are intelligent, great-looking, wants more than a hook-up and doesn’t lie. After witnessing the lies his father told his mother, he demands complete honesty. Yet Valerie Brown shows him sometimes in order to find yourself, you must become someone else. Even if that means lying.
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THE WANTED BRIDE is a stand-alone, contemporary, chick-lit, romance.  That said, why is it standing alone?  There are plenty of people in Springtown, Colorado that I would love to see find their HEA, too!

I loved listening to this fun story of a runaway bride wanted for torching the groom’s vintage car when it, too, lets her down.  I’ve never seen the Julia Robert’s movie, so this was a fresh storyline for me and I loved it.  I’ll definitely be listening again during my endless work commute.

The characters are wonderful.  The location is enchanting and captivating.  The story is engrossing.  I enjoyed listening to the banter between Matt and Valerie as much as Valerie’s eye-opening discovery of life beyond her debutante upbringing.

To me the moral is that relationships require trust from both sides.  Read/listen and tell me if you think they have figured that out.

I am satisfied – for now – but looking forward to more from this author!

Note:  while I was given this book as an Audible gifted copy, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

Also from Sylvia McDaniel:
·         My Sister’s Boyfriend
·         The Relationship Coach
·         The Reluctant Santa
·         A Scarlet Bride
·         Secrets, Lies, & Online Dating
·         The Wanted Bride
American Brides Series:
1.      Katie:  Bride of Virginia
Burnett Brides Series:
2.      The Outlaw Takes a Bride
3.      The Marshal Takes a Bride
4.      The Christmas Bride
Cuvier Women Series:
1.      Wronged
2.      Betrayed
3.      Beguiled
Lipstick & Lead Series:
1.      Desperate
2.      Deadly
3.      Dangerous
4.      Daring
5.      Determined
6.      Deceived
Magic Mirror Series:
1.      Touch of Decadence
2.      Touch of Deceit
Racy Reunions Series:
1.      Paying for the Past
2.      Her Christmas Lie
3.      Cupid’s Revenge
The Return to Cupid, TX series:
1.      Cupid Stupid
2.      Cupid Scores
3.      Cupid Dances
4.      Cupid Help Me!
5.      Cupid Cures
6.      Cupid’s Heart
7.      Cupid’s Song
8.      Cupid’s Second Chance
Scandalous Suffragettes of the West Series:
4.      Abigail
5.      Bella
6.      Callie
7.      Faith
8.      Mistletoe Scandal
Western Historicals:
1.      A Hero’s Heart
2.      Ace’s Bride
3.      Second Chance Cowboy
4.      Ethan












Friday, March 30, 2018

CUPID STUPID by Sylvia McDaniel


Title:  CUPID STUPID
Series:  Return to Cupid, TX #1
Author:  Sylvia McDaniel
Publish Date:   02.13.2017
Publisher:  Virtual Bookseller, LLC
Category /Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing:  B – a few small errors
Received from:  Sylvia McDaniel (Newsletter Valentine’s gift)
Goodreads link: Cupid Stupid
Date completed: 02.27.2018

Description from the publisher:
Contemporary Western Small Town Romance

Nothing says bad judgement like trying to prove a superstition true…
 
Taylor Braxton, along with a few adventurous girlfriends, decides to test one such superstition on Valentine’s Day – the day Taylor’s ex-fiancĂ© is to be married. A few bottles of wine help lower her inhibition and go a long way to giving her the courage to try to heal her broken heart. After all, Taylor reasons, what is the worst thing that can happen – the superstition of finding her true love might come true?
 
Sheriff Ryan Jones is used to getting calls about the odd dancing around the downtown fountain. When you live in Cupid, Texas, there were always some residents who believed if you dance naked around the fountain, you were guaranteed to find your true love. What he doesn’t expect is to find the lovely, but spirited Taylor Braxton confronting him at midnight – sans clothing. Unfortunately, a long-held promise and his badge stand between him and what he wants – Taylor.
 
Will the Cupid Superstition help Taylor and Ryan overcome the past and take a chance on love again? Or will a promise he made to her best friend, and his career, deflect Cupid’s arrow?
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CUPID STUPID is the first book in the Return to Cupid, TX series.  While each book does focus on a different couple, it is still best to read them in the order of release.

From beginning to end, I enjoyed reading this story as three best friends decide that it’s never too late in life to test the superstition that most of their classmates tried out when they were still teenagers.  Taylor, Meghan, and Kelsey had me in stitches from Galentine drinks to dancing around the Cupid statue in the middle of town (naked, mind you), to figuring out what to do about the fallout of that dancing.

This is Taylor’s story, along with the Sheriff, Ryan, who caught her while her friends took off in other directions.

Where I most associated with Taylor was in the lack of confidence.  After rejections, it’s hard to believe that another man will see something good where one has belittled and shamed.  Allowing chemistry to lead the way is a good start.  Communication is the rest of the formula for a positive new relationship.

My only complaint is the ending.  I thought I had hit the jackpot and we were going to find out about another couple.  Instead it was a teaser leading to the next book.   Yes, I’m whining!  I don’t have the next book!  Of course, I’m looking forward to getting it and reading more of the results of that little rascal Cupid’s magic.

Note:  while I was given this book as a gift, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

The Return to Cupid, TX series:
1.      Cupid Stupid
2.      Cupid Scores
3.      Cupid Dances
4.      Cupid Help Me!
5.      Cupid Cures
6.      Cupid’s Heart
7.      Cupid’s Song
8.      Cupid’s Second Chance
Also from Sylvia McDaniel:
·         My Sister’s Boyfriend
·         The Relationship Coach
·         The Reluctant Santa
·         A Scarlet Bride
·         Secrets, Lies, & Online Dating
·         The Wanted Bride
American Brides Series:
1.      Katie:  Bride of Virginia
Burnett Brides Series:
2.      The Outlaw Takes a Bride
3.      The Marshal Takes a Bride
4.      The Christmas Bride
Cuvier Women Series:
1.      Wronged
2.      Betrayed
3.      Beguiled
Lipstick & Lead Series:
1.      Desperate
2.      Deadly
3.      Dangerous
4.      Daring
5.      Determined
6.      Deceived
Magic Mirror Series:
1.      Touch of Decadence
2.      Touch of Deceit
Racy Reunions Series:
1.      Paying for the Past
2.      Her Christmas Lie
3.      Cupid’s Revenge
Scandalous Suffragettes of the West Series:
4.      Abigail
5.      Bella
6.      Callie
7.      Faith
8.      Mistletoe Scandal
Western Historicals:
1.      A Hero’s Heart
2.      Ace’s Bride
3.      Second Chance Cowboy
4.      Ethan