Deluged With Books Cafe

In romantic Paris, we meet Dominique Richards, famous artisanal chocolatier whose creations carry within them a note of darkness and bitterness from the world he came from. Jaime Corey has been coming to this particular chocolate shop for the last few weeks.  In this place, she finds the warmth and sustenance her body has needed for the last 3 months.  Two people with pasts they would rather forget.  In chocolates, they communicate their wishes and wants and their desire to be able to keep one another despite feeling they are on borrowed time.    Coming off from my first Laura Florand novel, The Chocolate Thief, I was expecting The Chocolate Touch to be of similar vein. Surprisingly it was not. The author's unique style of writing in vivid imagery was still very much present. The sensual touch of each word transports you to Paris and the delightful world of artisanal chocolates. Dominic and Jaime are both well written characters, broken but in t...

In North and South we are introduced to Mr. Thornton and Margaret Hale, their story entwined with the turbulent social issues of their time set in the background of the industrial city of Milton. Mr. Thornton rose up on the top spot of my most beloved classic book hero of all time (yes, I'm sorry but kindly move over Mr. Darcy). I admired a lot of his characteristics and even more his subtle change over the course of time since he became acquainted with Margaret Hale. But it sure does make me laugh out loud (and I can't pin down why) in a sort of giddy incredulous way every time Mr. Thornton appears. There's this disarming irony in his contained appearance in contrast to his passionate inner musings. Margaret though is a bit of a slow warm to me. She flits from girl to woman in sporadic times. She's given over to trifling fears and doubts at certain points as if her sympathies and affectations appear half-formed. However, when she shows her calm and power, it a...

All Dressed Up also known as the The Great Wedding Dress Caper, is an absolute thrill ride made up of quirky characters, madcap detours, laughter and family. Its about fulfilling your dreams and the road (or wrong turn) you take to get there. Molly Wright, is in the city of Paris, a dream come true for a fashion design graduate like her. Along with her long time boyfriend, they were on their way to attend her sister's celebrity wedding in Italy. Paris was supposed to be something special. Instead Molly has been dumped, is alone and oh yes, has found herself agreeing to bring her sister's wedding dress to Venice. No one can say "No" to Bridezilla. The dress, made by the famous designer Delametri Chevalier, was picked up and along with Pascal, Chevalier's assistant, they were on their way. Well it wasn't really that simple. There were several detours, mishaps, and overall hilarious events along the way. This book was highly entertaining and funny! I...

Meet Julie Greene, the dating diva columnist for the famous Stiletto Magazine and with friends Grace and Riley make up the triumvirate of Dating, Relationship and Sex.  For Julie, there is nothing more thrilling than dating, the first kiss, the flirting, the cusp of a beginning romance and then kaput she goes to the next one.  Anything more than that was well, simply boring.  Until she was assigned the article that might break her winning streak at Stiletto unless she succeeds.   Then there is Mitchell Forbes, the straight guy, a Wall Street fellow, successful and just coming off from a two year relationship.  For Mitch, thats all he's ever had, relationships.  He's never engaged in the fun of a fling. And people around him thinks that he never could until a bet was proposed. These two people could never be anything more than polar opposites, they would never really get attracted to one another at all, or so they thought. This was a funny and eng...

This was a sweet, romantic novella about second chances. Garrett and Kiersten had been best friends for a long time. Garrett has always been in love with Kiersten while Kiersten has issue's with trusting any man. Especially since the one she did give her heart to cheated on her. But one night together changed all that. Play Me is a well written romance with a hero that's been carrying the torch for the heroine, while our heroine seems to be dragging her feet to the inevitable conclusion that they are perfect for each other. Although most would be swooning over Garrett and his sweetness and the way he seems to be so in love with Kiersten, others would be trying to shake Kiersten and ask what her problem was. The plot was simple but cute however there was some difficulty relating to Kiersten's character. It seemed that she was distrustful of love and relationship cemented only by her recent failed relationship which was never fully expounded upon. So her push and...

Beatrix, the last remaining unmarried Hathaway sister, is a heroine I surprising loved most out of the family. This fifth book is the last of the Hathaway Series and by then you have become acquainted with the charming, intelligent and unique Hathaways. I must admit I didn't read the other books prior to this and if you read them, Beatrix wouldn't really catch your fancy because you will probably be bothered by her 'little problem'. But Beatrix is a captivating heroine; full of spirit and compassion, with an independent mind heading for spinsterhood, a bit peculiar, and has a menagerie of wounded animals running around the mansion. It is perhaps the embodiment of Beatrix's character that drew her to me. She's not a stereotypical odd girl (for even unconventional book heroines have that sort of sameness in them) and her own eccentricities become her dynamic charm. Phelan is a bit mean at first before he was sent to war. He is your typical egotistical, han...

Follow my blog with Bloglovin I was expecting a fluffy romance and I got one of the best romantic suspense novels I've read this year. Catherine Bybee's unique writing style kept me at the edge of my seat.  Part of the Weekday Brides Series, Fiance by Friday can be read as a standalone with no confusion as to what has gone before.  The plot was simple. However, the tension and suspense was kept tight that the reader's interest never waned. The resolution of the conflict was well done, with plausible explanations as to why certain events happened. The character of Gwen and Neil was well developed.  The dialogue swift, sassy and the chemistry between these two was about to blow when you start reading.  Although the book is part of a series, with some of the past characters coming into play there was never any doubt that this was all about Gwen and Neil and dealing with Neil's past. Their appearance simply enhanced the suspense aspect of the book, keeping it ...