Novel Review: Kissing Under the Mistletoe (The Sullivans, #10) by Bella Andre

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: HarlequinMira

Release Date: 2013

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

For Mary Sullivan Christmas is, and always has been, about family. And this year is no different. As she awaits the arrival of her eight children and their partners at the cottage in Lake Tahoe, she hangs the ornaments that they made for her over the years. Each decoration brings with it a tide of memories, all of which she holds dear to her heart. But when she comes across the oldest ornament, the one her beloved husband, Jack, gave her on their very first Christmas together, Mary is immediately swept back to the first days of their whirlwind romance, to the love that would be the foundation on which they built the family she is so proud to call her own.

Join the Sullivans this Christmas for a story that explores the wonder of the holidays, the meaning of family and a love that transcends time.

The Cover:

I think this cover is pretty. It's in the same realm as the rest in this series, pretty to look at and gives a good idea of what you're getting. Not overly eye-catching, though.

Review:

This is the story of the Sullivan sibling’s parents, how they met and fell in love and started a family together.

It’s clear where the siblings come from, as they are very much like their parents, in the best way. Mary and Jack have a fast connection, and Jack is insistent on not giving her up. It leads to a very solid base to their relationship, which only grows as the book goes on. I liked that even when they fought they didn’t overreact, and listened to each other and talked things out. It was more of a sweet romance than anything, slow but steady, too much for either of them to deny.

I will admit that I’d wanted more of their relationship later on. I thought we’d get to see more of them together as the kids grew up, and even when Jack died. Sadly, it ends when Mary first gets pregnant. Still, it was a sweet story.

It was a solid Sullivan story, and I want to read the rest of the series badly.

Novel Review: Can't Help Falling In Love (The Sullivans, #3) by Bella Andre

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5-4

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Harlequin Mira

Release Date: 2011

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

How much is worth risking?

Gabe Sullivan risks his life every day as a firefighter in San Francisco, but he knows better than to risk giving his heart again. Especially not to the woman he saved from a deadly apartment fire…and can't stop thinking about.

Megan Harris owes everything to the heroic firefighter who saved her and her daughter. Everything except her heart. Because after losing her pilot husband, she has vowed to never suffer through loving—and losing—a man with a dangerous job again.

But when Gabe and Megan meet again, how can he possibly ignore her courage, determination and beauty? And how can she deny not only his strong bond with her daughter…but also his sweetly sensual kisses, challenging her to risk everything she's been guarding for so long?

The Cover:

While the covers for this series are pretty stereotypical, they do give a good idea of what you're getting with the book. And while sometimes the scenery is a little iffy for the book, I do think the couple and the colors chosen are always pretty good picks for each book.

Review:

This one took me a little longer to get through, I’m not sure why. My mood slowed down, maybe.

Either way, this was a cute story, nonetheless.

Gabe is a firefighter, and he saves Megan and her daughter. There’s an attraction there, but Gabe fights it because he thinks it’s hero worship, and Megan fights it because he has a dangerous job.

I like the attraction between them, and I liked their progression to getting to know each other. Megan’s daughter plays a big part, and I really liked how Gabe wanted both of them, and how the daughter kind of pulled strings to put them together.

I’d never really thought so much about the danger of Gabe’s job, but Megan’s worries really made me aware of it. It’s definitely a bigger worry and courageous thing in my eyes now, though. 

This book doesn’t stand out to me as much as some of the others, but I still enjoyed it. All of these are good books so far, and I am really looking forward to reading more.

Novel Review: If You Were Mine (The Sullivans, #5) by Bella Andre

Rating (Out of 5): ~4-4.5

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Harlequin Mira

Release Date: 2012

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Finding forever…with you 

The last thing Zach Sullivan wants is to take care of his brother's new puppy for two weeks. That is, until he meets the dog trainer. Heather is bright, beautiful…and she just might be the only woman on earth who wants nothing to do with him. 

Heather Linsey can't believe she agreed to train Zach's new pup, especially since his focus seems to be more on winning her heart than training his dog. Having sworn off love, she has vowed never to fall for a charming man. But Heather's determination to push Zach away only fuels his determination to get closer—and the sensual and emotional connection between them grows more undeniable. Will the biggest Sullivan bad boy of all tempt Heather into believing in forever again?

The Cover:

Much like the other covers in this series, I think it's very pretty, and the couple works. None of them really stand out to me, although I suppose the scenery works well for this book.

Review:

This is definitely my favorite of the series so far.  Maybe I just have a thing for mechanics?

Zach is the mechanic Sullivan, owning a franchise and running the one in town. He gets pushed into taking care of his brother’s puppy for a couple weeks, and signed on to taking the dog to Heather, the animal trainer in town. Heather is intent on not being interested or impressed by Zach, but he immediately feels the attraction and wants to do something about it.

This book was so fun. The banter between the two was great, and the attraction was obvious. Heather had a bad experience in the past and so was hard to Zach, but Zach pushed, and he proved that he was there for her and he wasn’t giving up. His growing attention to the dog definitely helped, too.

There was a conflict near the end, of course, where Zach let his worries about his family let him push her away, but Heather pushed him back.

I love the two of them together, and I loved the humor they both had. The sexy stuff was nice, the chemistry was great, the writing—all of it made this go by so fast. And now I really want the next one.

I can’t get enough of these books.

Novel Review: The Look of Love (The Sullivans, #1) by Bella Andre

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Harlequin Mira

Release Date: 2011

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Expanded Edition! More Story! More Sullivans!

Fans of Bella Andre's Sullivan Series will love this long-awaited print edition of THE LOOK OF LOVE. It features a longer, more-detailed story with all the emotion and sensuality that readers love. Not to be missed!

Sometimes one look is all it takes

Chloe Peterson has vowed never to make the mistake of trusting a man again. Her reasons are as vivid as the bruises on her cheek. So when her car skids off a wet country road straight into a ditch, she's convinced the gorgeous guy who rescues her must be too good to be true.

As a successful international photographer, Chase Sullivan has his pick of beautiful women. He's satisfied with his life—until he finds Chloe and her totaled car on the side of the road in Napa Valley.

With every loving look—and every sinfully sweet caress—the attraction between them sizzles, and Chloe can't help but wonder if she's met the man who may be the exception to her rule….

The Cover:

I don't mind this cover. I think it's pretty, and it works for the book. I think the colors and the couple work for the book as well.

Review:

I have definitely read this series in the wrong order, but I don’t care. They can be read easily as stand-alones, thankfully. But I do love seeing the couples as they grow later in the series.

This is Chloe and Chase’s story. Chloe has been on her own for a while now after separating from her abusive ex-husband, when she runs into Chase. She’s not ready for a new relationship yet, because she doesn’t quite feel ready with herself. But the chemistry between them is immediate, and it’s hot.

Chase is a sweetheart, so very gentle and slow when she needs it. But there was also some fun kinks thrown in between the two, as Chloe wants to find out what she likes, without shame. I loved that aspect. But Chase is also just what Chloe needs; she needs someone who can take things slow, give space, but be there when she needs him, and accept her. 

I do kind of think that the scene between her and her ex at the end was added just to add tension/excitement, but I do also kind of think it was fitting. Something needed to happen there, and that definitely added to her character and showed her a different side of Chase. And I don't think her ex needed to be given more attention, really. Him as a person wasn't important. What he did was.

I’ve already discovered that I love Bella Andre at this point. These books are fun, fast, and sexy. I love the humor, the back-and-forth that Chase and Chloe had. But the sexy stuff was super fun, as well. I’m just in love with this series at this point, and can’t wait to get my hands on more.

Novel Review: From This Moment On (The Sullivans, #2) by Bella Andre

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Harlequin Mira

Release Date: 2011

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository.

Goodreads Synopsis:

For thirty-six years, Marcus Sullivan has been the responsible older brother, stepping in to take care of his seven siblings after their father died when they were children. But when the perfectly ordered future he’s planned for himself turns out to be nothing but a lie, Marcus needs one reckless night to shake free from it all.

Nicola Harding is known throughout the world by only one name – Nico – for her catchy, sensual pop songs. Only, what no one knows about the twenty-five year old singer is that her sex-kitten image is totally false. After a terrible betrayal by a man who loved fame far more than he ever loved her, she vows not to let anyone else get close enough to find out who she really is…or hurt her again. Especially not the gorgeous stranger she meets at a nightclub, even though the hunger – and the sinful promises – in his dark eyes make her want to spill all her secrets.

One night is all Nicola and Marcus agree to share with each other. But nothing goes as they plan when instead of simply tangling limbs, they find a deeper connection than either of them could have anticipated. And even though they both try to fight it, growing emotions – and sizzling attraction – keep drawing them closer together.

Close enough for them to wonder if stealing one more secret moment together can ever be enough?

The long awaited print edition is out now from Harlequin MIRA with expanded editorial. More story, more Sullivans!

The Cover:

The cover is pretty, and gives the right feel for the book--it definitely shows that it's a contemporary romance, which is honest and fitting. I don't know if it really represents the setting or the characters, but it works.

Review:

“…I’ve always thought what makes a song really special is some indefinable magic that’s either there or it isn’t. I’ll bet your grapevines are like that. […] And that you’re the magic that makes them grow so well.’” (Paperback, pg. 221)

I’ve heard a lot of buzz over this author, and given that I’m already a fan of the genre, I knew I needed to get some of her books. I read one of her novellas on kindle and enjoyed it, so when I got to the bookstore, I picked this one up. And I will definitely be going back to pick up a few more.

This book features the oldest Sullivan brother, the one to take care of all his siblings, who just became single. He’s looking for a fling, just as Nicola is when they meet at a club. The attraction is instant and hot, and though they try to ignore it and push it off, they keep meeting up and the attraction only gets hotter.

Nicola is a popstar, living somewhat of a lie, who just wants someone to see her and love her. Marcus is the type to take care of the people he loves.

Having never read any other Sullivan novel, I got a glimpse of the clan here, and am really excited to read more. They all seem great, very close-knit, and I love those kinds of families. I can’t wait to read the previous book, and the twins’.

This book was hot and sweet, the sex nice and the attraction believable. Maybe a little fast, but I liked it. The book went by very fast and I can’t wait to read more.