Did I Mention Invention? Fascinating Stories Of Inspiration And Human Ingenuity

Did I Mention Invention? Fascinating Stories Of Inspiration And Human Ingenuity: 'I Ask Innovators What Advice They Would Give To Future Innovators, Then I Take That Advice And Apply It To My Own Life'

 

BOOK REVIEW- The Lady's Deception (Rogues and Rebels #3) by Susanna Craig *

Description

Can a runaway English bride find love with a haunted Irish rebel?

Paris Burke, Dublin’s most charismatic barrister, has enough on his mind without the worries of looking after his two youngest sisters. The aftermath of a failed rebellion weighs on his conscience, so when the young English gentlewoman with an unwavering gaze arrives, he asks far too few questions before hiring her on as governess. But her quick wit and mysterious past prove an unexpected temptation.

Rosamund Gorse knows she should not have let Mr. Burke think her the candidate from the employment bureau. But after her midnight escape from a brother bent on marrying her off to a scoundrel, honesty is a luxury she can no longer afford. With his clever mind and persuasive skill, Paris could soon have her spilling her secrets freely just to lift the sorrow from his face. And if words won’t work, perhaps kisses would be better?

Hiding under her brother’s nose, Rosamund knows she shouldn’t take risks. If Paris learns the truth, she might lose her freedom for good. But if she can learn to trust him with her heart, she might discover just the champion she desires . . .AMAZON LINK
                                                                     3 STARS


The lovely eBook cover caught my attention.  Even the book information hinted that it was probably a pretty good story.  For me though, it had some hits and some misses. 
The main characters Rosamund and Paris had their share of pain and troubles.  Rosamund had such a bleak childhood with little to no warmth and no real love  or affection shown to her.   At least after her father died anyway.  But it came mainly from a lot of years under her brother's stifling control. 
Paris has so many regrets and sorrows.  Many that were really never his to shoulder.  He did have a loving family though and they missed him.  Because he has basically hid himself away.  His family has their moments in this book that adds a warmth and got-your-back feel.
 I have to say right here, that this book didn't quite draw me in as much as I had hoped.  There was a slower pace where not a lot really seemed to be happening for quite a while. I had a hard time staying interested in the story.
I will say that Daphne and Bell, who Rosamund is supposed to be a"governess" to did add so fun and adventures.  
There are some moments of sweetness as well as some heat from a couple of sexual scenes in the book.
I did like the twist at the end of the book.  It does contain a couple.  And the Epilogue is a nice touch as well.   


 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
 

BOOK REVIEW- Ruthless (Detyen Warriors Book 2) by Kate Rudolph *

 Each Detyen Warriors novel can be read as a standalone. Enjoy feisty women, alpha aliens, fated mates, and relationships hot enough to steam up your screen.

Sparks fly when a ruthless alien warrior meets the one woman who can save his soul…
Toran NaLosen has no future and no hope. His path is bleak: die at thirty or sacrifice his emotions to survive a few more years. Stranded on Earth and far from home, the last person he expects to meet is the one woman meant for him, his denya.

Iris Mason protects the Earth in her own way by investigating threats and reporting on them to the Sol Defense Agency. At work she’s thriving, but personally the past year has ground her down and tested her resolve. Still recovering from the implosion of her last relationship, she doesn’t want the risk that comes with a new man. But when her job puts her on a collision course with Toran, a lightning bolt of lust hits her and has her questioning everything.

These adversaries must forge an alliance if any bond between them stands a chance, but it may not just be their hearts at stake. An ancient foe of the Detyen race lurks wherever they look and he has a new target in his sights: Earth.   AMAZON LINK
                                                3 STARS

The world-building was well done and the appearance of some of the aliens was pretty good too. 
Toran and Iris had some depth to them when it came to what they have gone through separately.  And also the challenges that they were now facing.
However, for me there is a big But right here.  I like less sex and more story in my story.   There are moments of actions and villains being chased.  Also times that the villains caught the good guys for awhile. Secondary people support the M.C.'s and form a team of sorts.  But the sex, the mate bond between Toran and Iris seemed to overtake the story.  
Some parts of the story come to a good conclusion but the door is also wide open for more adventures.  Because the ultimate villain/villains haven't been totally stopped. 

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- Beautiful Storm (Lightning Strikes Book 1) by Barbara Freethy

n these connected novels, lightning leads to love, danger, and the unraveling of long-buried secrets that will change not only the past but also the future…From #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy comes the first book in a new romantic suspense trilogy: Lightning strikes.


When her father's plane mysteriously disappeared in the middle of an electrical storm, Alicia Monroe became obsessed with lightning. Now a news photographer in Miami, Alicia covers local stories by day and chases storms at night. In a flash of lightning, she sees what appears to be a murder, but when she gets to the scene, there is no body, only a military tag belonging to Liliana Valdez, a woman who has been missing for two months.
While the police use the tag to jump-start their stalled investigation, Alicia sets off on her own to find the missing woman. Her search takes her into the heart of Miami's Cuban-American community, where she meets the attractive but brooding Michael Cordero, who has his own demons to vanquish.
Soon Alicia and Michael are not just trying to save Liliana's life but also their own, as someone will do anything to protect a dark secret… AMAZON LINK
                                                            4 STARS

This was a really good story that I enjoyed a lot.
Both Alicia and Michael were interesting and complex people.  The author gave a good depth to them.  Even their families had depth to them as well. 
I can't even imagine how tough it would be to have people suspicious of you like Michael had to deal with.   To be considered as a murderer even with no real proof.  Even some of Liliana's family looked at him with a hard eye.  He wasn't even sure that his own family thought he was innocent.
I liked how storm driven Alicia was.  I was surprised she didn't get the nickname of "Lightening Lady."  But I liked how lightening did play an unusual part of this story. 
The mystery surrounding Liliana's disappearance was a good one.  There were quite a few twists and turns in the story before the truth really comes out.  And what a truth that was!!   I have to say that my jaw dropped just a bit when the culprit was exposed and it neared the dramatic ending. 
There is a good Epilogue and a quick peek into another book.  "Don't say a Word" just might have drawn me into another book to be read.   

BOOK REVIEW- This Earl of Mine (Bow Street Bachelors Book 1) by Kate Bateman*

Description

Introducing the Bow Street Bachelors—men who work undercover for London’s first official police force—and the women they serve to protect. . .and wed?
WILL A FALSE MARRIAGE


Shipping heiress Georgiana Caversteed is done with men who covet her purse more than her person. Even worse than the ton’s lecherous fortune hunters, however, is the cruel cousin determined to force Georgie into marriage. If only she could find a way to be . . . widowed? Georgie hatches a madcap scheme to wed a condemned criminal before he’s set to be executed. All she has to do is find an eligible bachelor in prison to marry her, and she’ll be free. What could possibly go wrong?
LEAD TO TRUE AND LASTING LOVE?
Benedict William Henry Wylde, scapegrace second son of the late Earl of Morcott and well-known rake, is in Newgate prison undercover, working for Bow Street. Georgie doesn’t realize who he is when she marries him—and she most certainly never expects to bump into her very-much-alive, and very handsome, husband of convenience at a society gathering weeks later. Soon Wylde finds himself courting his own wife, hoping to win her heart since he already has her hand. But how can this seductive rogue convince brazen, beautiful Georgie that he wants to be together…until actual death do they part?   AMAZON LINK
                       4 STARS



Good main characters with some surprising depths.  
Georgina is fed up with fortune hunters who have been chasing her since she was sixteen.  She had one savvy father though that helped her weed them out.  He passed on his smart, sharp mind to her.   Good thing he encouraged her ability with numbers and the shipping business.  When he died in a shipping accident, the business was left in good hands.  Hers.  She has one NASTY cousin, who is too lazy to work but isn't too lazy to come up with some sleazy ideas to try to compromise Georgina.  He wants control of her fortune and the business.  The more time that goes on he gets more and more desperate.  A true weasel.  
There is so much more to Benedict than meets the eye.  Although from all of the descriptions he is a strong, handsome, eyeful.  Although the ton may look down on him because of his father's debts they still like him enough to invite him to most of the social events.  I got a kick out of how amused he was by his first encounter with Georgina's sister and mother. 
I found the first meeting between the M.C.'s as unusual as promised. 
There is humor, secrets, action and sex in this book.  It also has undercover activities with his best friends Alex and Seb.  Together they are on the trail of some people working against The Crown.   
There is a surprise twist or two at the end of the book which made me smile.  Who says nice guys always finish last? 

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- Once Upon a Cowboy Christmas ( A River Ranch #3) by Soraya Lane *

Romance on Netgalley

Description

Billionaires, cowboys, and romance collide during the holidays in this next book in the River Ranch series!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year at the Ford family ranch. Will one cowboy’s homecoming be the greatest gift of all?
He left town and never looked back.
Cody Ford is a Wall Street honcho with humble Texas roots. This holiday season, he’d be content to just stay in New York and not face his family—and dodge their questions about when and with whom he plans to settle down. . .and if he will do so back at home. But his father isn’t getting any younger, and Cody doesn’t want to miss any last chances to see him and the rest of the folks back on the ranch. The last person Cody was expecting to see? His one-time girlfriend, Lexi Murphy, who’s been working as his dad’s new live-in nurse.
She never forgot him. Can she ever forgive him?
Lexi still holds a grudge against Cody. Back then, the college-bound heartthrob believed he was too good for a small-town girl like Lexi. But now Cody can’t help but see her in a whole new light. Could it be that this beautiful single mother with an unbeatable can-do spirit is the one he’s been waiting for all along? That depends on whether Cody can prove to Lexi that, this time, he means business—and if a sudden snowstorm can lend just the right amount of Christmas magic to help move things along. .
AMAZON LINK
3.5 STARS


Both of the main characters had depth and challenges and I liked them both.  Well, even though Cody could be such a tactless jerk at times.  All in all it was an emotional story.  When Cody and Lexi meet back after all those years it was one surprising encounter.
Cody's family was one tight group of people even though Cody had run out on them.  His father adds some spunk to the story even though he is so terminally ill. 

Wow, I think his brother Tanner had it right when it came to. Cody's approach to dealing with people.  He basically said, you don't live in the real world do you?  And several other times when he urged Cody to reveal something and he wouldn't?  Cody blew him off saying everything would be fine.  I totally agreed with Tanner's assessment that he was into wishful thinking.  Cody did have a lot of good qualities but he was also kind of selfish.  He wanted what he wanted and he was used to pushing through to get it, no matter what. 
I think that the world-building when it came to the family and people's history was pretty good. The one down-side thing I would mention is that if felt like a little bit too much time was spent re-hashing  how Cody ran away because he was afraid to stay for the pain of his mother's slow battle with death.   About how the memories still plagued him and it made him want to run again.  He wanted to stay but he wanted to go.  It felt like it slowed the story down at times and went on too long.
Things work out to a H.E.A. for Cody and Lexi although you just know it won't be a walk in the park.  
A nice Epilogue rounds everything out.

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- Santa in a Kilt by Donna Kauffman *

Description

On the wild dunes of a Scottish Isle, mistletoe and mischief are the best way to heat up a holiday best shared by two . . .

The wind-whipped December sea air of the isle of Kinloch invigorates Kira MacLeod as she sets out to tame rugged Shay Callaghan. The Scottish bachelor may be as wary of a wedding ring as a snowman is of the hot sun, but it’s no secret how he looks at her—as if she were the only woman in the world. Now, with the encouragement of the canny islanders, and watching two of their best friends tie the knot in a romantic winter wedding, Kira will ignite Shay’s heart—and weave the perfect Celtic Christmas to say aye do . . .AMAZON LINK
                                                                                         3 STARS

While establishing the history of the main character and their surrounds, I still felt like it was still a slow start. 
It was good to get a feel of the community and the friendships there. I just wish that I had liked it more.  It just didn't draw me in all that much. 
There's a lot of talk that goes on about how Kira was a forever kind of girl and how jaded Shay was because of what he has witnessed off the island as an attorney.  It felt kind of repetitive conversation between the M.C.'s and even some of their friends.  
There will be some intimate times shared in this story even as Shay is fighting a losing battle against anything deeper.
There is a sweet ending with an interesting   Epilogue included.

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”