Quick Reads and Quick Reviews 16

  

• Mr. Darcy's Kiss, Krista Lakes
• Gibraltar, Cristina Bruni
• Delivering Her Secret, Kira Blakely

There were some really good points to this book and some meh points as well. My favorite aspect of this story were the characters. Those the author chose to keep in her version and what roles they played were creative and modern. I enjoyed the small twists with the roles because they were much more applicable to the setting and for the length of the story. A touch of perfection in this relatively short modern take on a classic. What I was not super excited about were the moments that I could see were pretty much taken right out of the Keira Knightley version of the movie. Now, admittedly, those were the best parts but aside from modernizing them they were too close to it and read as cheesy rather than heart-achingly wonderful. I'm sure a ton of people would disagree with me here, but I feel what I feel, what can I say? The epilogue was a little too short for me but the intent and content were spot on. A wonderful ending to a tender story. Overall, the story was a successful modern take, the story flowed really well and read sweetly.  3 stars.

A sweet and tender short romance between two men that have muddled pasts.  One has a past of heartbreak and loss, the other can't remember his.  Between the two of them they search for healing, affection, friendship, love, and even a future.  But will their love and future be together or will their pasts keep them apart?

Benjamin is a captain in the royal navy and lost his male lover during a tragic moment near the West Indies.  Seeing his Jack shot and falling overboard never to be seen again has given Ben nothing but sadness, loneliness, and a recognition of his own cowardice.  A quiet moment in a book store, however, brings his past rushing back to him.  The blonde man has to be his Jack!  After running after him and finding out that his Jack is actually a man named John Walsh, a man who has amnesia, Ben is determined to help John find himself and their mutual past.  Not everything is as it seems, however, and John becomes saddened and yet carries a small flame of hope when he learns the truth.

Watching them come together to find tenderness, understanding, and passion was nice.  The book was a solidly enjoyable read and gave a sense of hope and finality that was fitting for the characters.  3 stars.

I have to be honest, I was expecting something like The Surprise by Alice Ward.  While there were a couple similarities there were enough differences that kept the story fresh and kept me from skimming forward.  The passion was intense and super hot, which is expected from this author, but there was also heart.  Difficulties between the two MC's were pretty formula and the mud-slinging in the town was also expected.  How everything worked out was satisfying and provided closure without unnecessarily drawing out the drama.  The end, though, that epilogue was sweet, tender, hot, and full of feels.  It made getting to the end so very worth it.  Houston's desire to woo rather than fast-forward was noble, admirable, and totally sweet which seemed contrary to his initial personality coming off as immensely volatile.  He was realistic where he could have forced the issue and Charlie would have capitulated.  In a situation where he could have pushed for more he respected her and their future as well as refused to take advantage of her vulnerability and desire.  3 stars.