Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Copyright: 2009

Pages: 384

Rating: 3.5/5

From the authors site:
Meet the Roncalli and Angelini families, a vibrant cast of colorful characters who navigate tricky family dynamics with hilarity and brio, from magical Manhattan to the picturesque hills of bella Italia. In this luscious, contemporary family saga, the Angelini Shoe Company, makers of exquisite wedding shoes since 1903, is one of the last family-owned businesses in Greenwich Village. The company is on the verge of financial collapse. It falls to thirty-three-year old Valentine Roncalli, the talented and determined apprentice to her grandmother, the master artisan Teodora Angelini, to bring the family’s old-world craftsmanship into the twenty-first century and save the company from ruin.

While juggling a budding romance with dashing chef Roman Falconi, her duty to her family, and a design challenge presented by a prestigious department store, Valentine returns to Italy with her grandmother to learn new techniques and seek one-of-a-kind materials for building a pair of glorious shoes to beat their rivals. There, in Tuscany, Naples, and on the Isle of Capri, a f amily secret is revealed as Valentine discovers her artistic voice and much more, turning her life and the family business upside down in ways she never expected.

Book Review:
This is a book filled with laughs, sorrow, romance, and the love for your family and the love for shoes. They play a big part in this book and she presents those doing it the old fashioned way. A way that might be forgotten today. It’s the first book in a trilogy but it can be read as a standalone novel. The next book, Brava Valentine is out in February 2010.

Valentine gave up much to make shoes and she loves her job. It is what she was born to do. She a person easy to like for the reader, even if she herself does not always think so. She is the funnyone in her family, not the brain, not the beauty, and that has colored her. But she is in her best element when she is creative and making shoes. But it looks like the company might be going under, and they need help fast. A situation is presented that might give them a chance. She will be able to prove herself and make her family see that this is what she wants and is great at. The Angelini shoe company might live to see another day.

Trigiani knows how to write a compelling book. It has humor in hidden depths and it’s an easy book to read, but a hard book to put down. The family dynamics is real and they argue a lot, but they also love each other fiercely. Everything is not always that easy when it comes to family and love. Her grandmother is my favorite, she has spirit and she has a little story of her own in this book. A sweet story that is not to be missed.

The romance is not easy either in this book. It deals with real life and two very busy people. They hardly have time for each other and their budding romance. Valentine deserves her romance and even if this can be read as a standalone novel it does make you curious what will happen in the next one. How does the romance go, and what about their little shoe company? Because they do make the most remarkable shoes, and I do love shoes, and reading about them.

It’s a warm novel, and she knows what she is doing. She brings in a little of everything into the book so there is something for everyone and all ages. If you want some romance, some smiles, some hard times, and some shoes then this might be a book for you.


Thanks to Linda from Book Girl from Mur-y-Castell for this great review!

KISS OF CRIMSON (Book 2, Midnight Breed Series) by Lara Adrian

Genre: Romance/Paranormal

Copyright: May 29, 2007

Pages: 416 pages

J. Kaye’s Rating: 3/5

KISS OF CRIMSON is the second book in Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed series. I fell completely in love with the first book, A KISS OF MIDNIGHT. In this second installment, there is a deadly drug that’s turning vampires into Rouges. When a vampire turns into a Rouge, he savagely kills any human that crosses his path. Dante is on the drug trail when he is injured. He stumbles into a veterinarian clinic late one night where he meets Tess Culver. All he needs is a little of her blood to heal. Once he’s done, he’ll wipe her memory and no one will be the wiser. Too late did he discover Tess was a Breedmate. Once a vampire drinks a Breedmate’s blood, their bonding begins.

With his brethren in danger of this drug, Dante doesn’t have time to deal with Tess. He soon discovers that Tess is somehow connected, only she has no clue. He will also come to understand the power this bond has over him. Unfortunately, Tess has no idea who Dante is. By the time she finds out, the bonding ritual is done.

What I loved in book one wasn’t found in book two. In the first book of this series, the author focused on just the love interest of the two main characters, Gabrielle Maxwell and Lucan Thorne. In this story, it was split between Dante/Tess and Chase/Elise. I really find that distracting and have to skim the story when it splits off from the main two characters. That could be why I was halfway through the book before the story hooked me.

Will I continue with this series? You betcha! I do have one recommendation and that’s to start with book one and read the series in order. Each book is a continuation from the previous one.


Visit J. Kaye at her blog: J. Kaye's Book Blog

THE SEDUCTION OF SNOW WHITE by Cathy Yardley

Genre: Romance/Fairytale

Copyright: June 3, 2008

Pages: 272 pages

J. Kaye’s Rating: 3/5

CRAVE is a modern-day story, loosely patterned after the classic tale of Snow White, only this one is adult rated. Beth Cordova barely escaped her stepmother who intended to killer her. She found refuge under another name with a group of people called the Penitents in rural Pennsylvania. They were shut off from the outside world, which is why Beth felt safe until a new arrival came to the compound.

Stephen Trent is an investigative reporter. His boss sent him undercover in order to dig up dirt on the Penitents, but he knew this was punishment over his last assignment. Two things he didn’t expect from this assignment. One was to find a princess who had disappeared and rumored to be dead. Two, he’d never expected to fall so deeply in love.

The cult leaders aren’t what they appear. Beth finds out that her stepmother isn’t the only evil person intent on killing her. Stephen tries to get Beth out, but places himself in the middle of danger as well. This assignment might just be his last.

While the story is creative in the location and set-up, I had a difficult time connecting with the hero and heroine. I also didn’t feel the intensity of the story. Of course, that might be my inability to bond with the main characters. This is the first book I’ve read by Cathy Yardley. I’d like to give her other book, RAVISH, a go before making up my mind.


Visit J. Kaye at her blog: J. Kaye's Book Blog

UNMASQUED: AN EROTIC NOVEL OF THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA by Colette Gale

Genre: Historical Romance

Copyright: August 7, 2007

Pages: 352 pages

J. Kaye’s Rating: 5/5

As sad as this might sound, I’ve never read the original PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. I did watch the movie with Gerard Butler and the book followed along somewhat. The part that really had me excited was the way this story was told. The book opened with a Biographer’s Note. In it, the author claimed to have received the personal diaries of Miss Christine Daaè. This story is Christine’s story. From the beginning, this book had a realistic feel to it.

The story unfolds much like the classic, but with some interesting additives. There are rumors of a Opera Ghost who is blamed for anything wrong that happens. Christine, a chorus singer at the Opera House, knows him as her angel who has protected her, tutored her, and is the inspiration behind her singing. What she doesn’t realize is that he has fallen deeply in love with her.

When Christine takes center stage, Victome Raoul de Changy, a childhood friend, is in the audience along with his brother, Philippe. On that night, she steals Raoul’s heart with her beautiful voice, but his brother wants to possess her too. Soon she’s caught in an erotic web of seduction.

This was my second book to read by Colette Gale and though I enjoyed both, this was by far my favorite. In both books, the author has the ability to portray the deep pain of betrayal on paper. She does it in such a manner, parts of the book are hard to read and I have to stop to catch my breath. This is definitely the best historical fiction I’ve read in a long time – lots of sizzle and plenty of adventure.

Visit J. Kaye at her blog: J. Kaye's Book Blog