Review: WANTED: Wife by Gwen Jones

WANTED: Wife
by Gwen Jones
Publisher: HarperCollins/Avon Impulse
Publication date: June 4, 2013
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Gifted from publisher
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository 
*purchases made through buy links support this blog 

Wanted: Wife- Landed, Financially Secure 40-Yr-Old Male * Handsome, but with old-school communication skills and a secret past * Seeks Healthy, Athletic Female *Preferably a pretty reporter with a messy love life who has never spent a day in the woods* For Marriage and Family * What could possibly go wrong? * If you love the humor and romance of Rachel Gibson and Susan Elizabeth Phillips, don't miss the fabulous debut of Gwen Jones!

One of my favorite story troupes is contract marriages and Gwen Jones delivered a delightfully funny, totally hot tale with WANTED: Wife. Filled with romance, suspense, a little mystery and a whole lot of heat I consumed this in record time. Three word review:  hot, intense and romantic.

We first meet Julie Knott on the worst day of her life as her fiancé tweeted the end of their engagement. As a TV reported she handles random and strange stories a segment the locals enjoy. When a tip comes in about a man advertising for a wife on a utility pole she and her crew set out to interview him. He has scheduled interviews with perspective wives at the local fire station and Julie is knocked over when she interviews Andy Devine. He is drop dead gorgeous, seems intelligent and knows exactly what he wants -Julie to be his wife. He gives her three days to decide and the tale that unfolds was deliciously hot, sweet, suspenseful, and romantic.

Julie goes into this using her brain. She is clever, observant and nobody’s fool. She has a plan and I loved seeing it all unravel on her. Andy Devine is a muscled, educated, walking, talking, god of double-oh-yum. He is smart, a smooth talker and did I mention part French? Oh yeah, he whispers French words of endearment, and whatever he is saying in the bedroom this chick is buying..oh-la-la. I enjoyed Andy despite his sometimes quite reserve and air of mystery. The author does a wonderful job of showing us his softer side  through his actions and comments she slowly reveals his past and I enjoyed uncovering his secrets and flaws. Julie is strong and I admired that she stands her ground even if it breaks her heart. While the sexual heat was intense from the beginning, I really appreciated and enjoyed the slow-building emotional aspect of the relationship. It felt genuine and I found myself rooting for a happily-ever-after. Other characters help flesh out both the main characters and propelled the plot forward.

I live in the Midwest now but I am a Jersey girl and the Pine Barrens are very familiar to me so of course I found the setting perfect! The farm, the animals and being away from town really added to the romance, suspense and created some wonderful situations. I laughed, I cried and delighted in their everyday lives as the tale unfolded. Jones added some twists and turns which kept me flipping the pages. I love how she slowly revealed all of Andy to us even if she made me nervous a few times. Did I mention how hot the romance was? The scenes were steamy with just enough heat to have the pages simmering beneath my finger tips. The author shared Julie’s thoughts, wove in the French language and made me believe in the impossible romance.  A thoroughly entertaining, funny and romantic tale that left with me a smile.

Fans of marriage troupes, humor, and hot romances will enjoy WANTED: Wife. This is Gwen Jones debut novel with Avon romances (HarperCollins) and I think she has a winner. I look forward to reading more of her work. 

Four cups of coffee out of five 

Review: Less Than a Gentleman by Kerrelyn Sparks

Less Than A Gentleman
by Kerrelyn Sparks
Publisher: HarperCollins/Avon Books
Publication date: July 2, 2013
Genre: Historical Romantic Suspense
Source: Publisher in exchange for unbiased review
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon
*purchases made through buy links help support this blog

In this never-before-published historical romance, New York Times bestselling author Kerrelyn Sparks returns to the 18th century, where the fight for freedom is as dangerous as the fight for love. Between searching for the missing Munro sisters and South Carolina being all but lost to the British, Captain Matthais Thomas has more important things to worry about than finding a bride. But his mother has other ideas. When Matthais finds a beautiful woman in his bed who claims to be his betrothed, he is suspicious of her identity…and determined to discover the truth. Caroline Munro had few options. The British burned down her home, and now, traveling with her very pregnant sister, Caroline is pretending to be someone she’s not so they can have a safe place to rest. But she didn’t count on a matchmaking matron or her rogue of a son…and certainly never dreamed she would fall in love with a spy.

I was delighted when Less Than A Gentleman was among the books gifted to me from Avon books when I became an Avon Addict. Have I ever shared my affection for men with facial scruff? Hmm, let’s see, one need only look at my Pinterest boards to discover three of my favorites; Jensen Ackles, Ian Somerhalder and Joseph Morgan. *fans self* How did I get on this subject? Oh yes the cover of Less Than A Gentleman immediately caught my eye and yum!  I didn't know what it was about but oh dang I wanted to find out. Thankfully Kerrelyn Sparks delivered on more than just eye candy and what I discovered was a suspenseful historical romance that had me turning the pages. Three word review: suspenseful, romantic and riveting.

The tale is set during the American revolutionary war in the south. Caroline Munroe is in a pickle. Her homestead has been burned to the ground and she is traveling with her very pregnant sister and her two children. She is hoping to reach her father who is serving in the war against Britain but when they approach a southern plantation and the lady of the house assumes Caroline is her son’s intended bride Caroline lies to protect her family.  Recently escaped from a Red Coat prison, Captain Matthais Thomas is charged with the task of cutting off the British supplies routes and finding Major Munroe’s daughters. When he stops by his home and discovers a woman in his bed masquerading as another he lies and claims he is a servant. The tale that unfolds is suspenseful, romantic and had me completely enthralled.

I love feisty, strong and opinionated heroines and Caroline fit the bill. A Major’s daughter she is strong, capable and fearless. She is also naïve, sweet and made me giggle. Captain Matthais Thomas is a fearless soldier who is loyal to his men and haunted by the past. He is brave, smexy and complicated so naturally I fell for him. Getting to know him, his mother and the slaves on the plantation was interesting. The interaction between Caroline and Matthais from the onset was hilarious, filled with sexual tension and a joy to watch unfold. The fact that he keeps his true identify from her added to the tale and the two worked side by side against the Brits.  Jacob, a slave was fascinating and his storyline was very interesting. I would like to know more. Everyone from the children to the British soldiers added and enhanced this suspenseful tale.

We've seen this troupe before or similar ones regarding meddling mothers and  their sons. He says no, she says yes and then he ends up falling for the girl his mother picked despite his protests. What Sparks did was delightful; she wrapped this troupe in suspense with spies and danger. She added in humor, social issues of the period, and a haunting past. She then stirred in a romance with two of the most likable characters. The result was a tale that kept me turning the pages, fearful of discovery and hoping we’d get out happily-ever-after. I would be perfectly content reading a series about this man, woman and their families. The romance felt genuine and built slowly. What I would have liked was a little more heat but the banter and innuendos had me laughing and rooting for them. The ending gave closure but also left things a little open ended. I would love to see more books develop.

Fans of strong characters, spies, suspense and romance will love Less Than A Gentleman. This was a wonderful tale set in one of the most fascinating and dark periods in American history. There is a book that precedes this one called The Forbidden Lady and it tells the story of Quincy Stanton. (each work as standalone)

Four and half cups of coffee out of five