Venus in Blue Jeans by Meg Benjamin

Synopsis....which isn't much of a synopsis but it's what is on amazon.com....Docia Kent figures Konigsburg, Texas, is the perfect place to get over her lying fiance and hide out from her meddling parents, but she doesnt reckon on vet Cal Toleffson, a six-foot-five-inch hunk of gorgeous manhood who takes one look at Docia and knows shes the love of his life. Now if Cal can only convince Docia to give love a chance, while fending off burglars, con men, jealous rivals, and the eccentric citizens of Konigsburg, maybe they can even make it to happily ever after!

My thoughts.....This was freebie on kindle and not a horrible one but frankly am a little stunned by all the 5 star ratings that it got on amazon.com. It was an OK book but I found it lacking...something. I have been struggling to figure it out for a couple days now and am still not sure. There was some romance, a bit of a mystery, a uppity town witch with a B, a veterinarian and some smallish town charm but I think that other than the uppity witch none of the factors had any oomph to them. Even the sex scenes were a little off. On one hand they were fairly mild but then one or two sentences would throw the book towards an R rating only to finish the page with an "And then....two hours later" feel.

The romance part got better when the couple spent time talking and getting to know each other which I really appreciated because I was able to see a blossoming romance then instead of just having to go by the hero thinking to himself how much he loved her and having me wonder how it happened.

It did almost lose me when Docia and Cal were talking about some sort of party and Docia mentioned balloons and Cal's first thought was something to the effect of "Ballooooooooooons" while staring at Docia's chest. Seriously...it was one of the most ridiculous passages I have read in an adult romance. I don't think I have even read something that silly in a YA. It's something my 14 year old nephew might say to his best friend.

Oh and I don't know who is half naked on the cover but it isn't Cal because Cal is hairy.

What I did like....The chihuahua... the fact that Cal actually did have hair on his chest, because lets face it, men have hair...the nasty witch who hated Docia just because....Cal was from Iowa and so am I.

I guess that is it, my review kind of makes it seem like a bad book but it wasn't. It just wasn't great and it took me weeks to read it which is not like me. So overall 3.5 stars.

Sarah's Child by Linda Howard

Synopsis....

 A tragic accident took everything that mattered to Rome Matthews -- his wife, Diana, and their two little boys. And it robbed Sarah Harper of her best friend. In the two years since the tragedy, Sarah has wanted to reach out to Rome, but she knew she needed to stay away, guarding the secret she had kept from him and Diana all those years -- that she was in love with her best friend's husband.

But now Rome needs her. And though another woman will hold his heart forever, Sarah agrees to be his wife, knowing that everything has a price, including love. Then something totally unexpected rekindles her hidden hope that a marriage of convenience will become a union of love. Now it all comes down to her husband. Will Rome keep fighting his own growing need for a woman who dares him to believe there are second chances in life . . . or will he give in to the power of love and miracles? 



My Thoughts...

Originally published in 1985 I thought it was a solid book that really didn't come across as too "dated". The love scenes are mild by today's standard which is a nice change of pace really. I found my heartstrings twisting while reading this book. Sarah has loved Rome for over a decade but stepped aside when he became interested in her best friend (whom he later married). As the story opens we find that the best friend has died and left a man completely broken by the loss. (not spoilers by the way this is what is included on the back blurb) After a couple years Sarah and Rome find they have a connection and Rome proposes a marriage of convenience. He makes valid points even though I don't do the plot justice it does make sense from where he is coming from. Sarah decides that even though he doesn't love her she loves him and will take him anyway she can. There is so much more that takes place but you have to read the book to get the full effect.

What I liked....Rome. He was a completely flawed man and I liked it. Not drop dead gorgeous but he had a commanding way about him that makes him very attractive to people. Although he admits he has always found Sarah attractive he never strayed from his commitment he made to his wife. His attitude was often harsh and abrasive but his emotions were so raw that even when he was being a complete jerkwad I understood where he was coming from even if I didn't agree.

What I didn't like...Sarah's unfailing dedication to her love of Rome even after he suggested that he wanted nothing to do with a baby but still wanted to stay with Sarah. Suggesting that the kid should never be near him....as a matter of fact aside from some unforeseen illness where the child should need Sarah's attention, when he gets home from work she should dedicate that time to him and make sure the child is out of his way. I am paraphrasing of course but you get the gist. Sarah would never "not" have Rome's baby nor could she give it up for adoption but to sit around and hope for a miracle is a little much. If that miracle didn't happen that child would have been put in a horrible situation of a "Flowers in the Attic" proportion. Luckily this is a happily ever after romance novel so it all worked out. I just didn't think that realistically this should have or could have happened.

Overall a good book. You are either going to love it or hate it (mostly because of Rome). Because of my frustrations with Sarah I am giving this book 4 Stars.