Tempting

by Susan Mallery

rated 4 Stars

Back Cover:

After three romantic flame-outs in a year and a restaurant career going nowhere, Dani Buchanan needs a fresh start. She goes looking for her biological father, but never expects to find a senator running for president. As his long-lost 'love child,' Dani could seriously derail the election— something his handsome campaign manager Alex Canfield isn't going to let happen. Dani isn't about to let Alex run her life, no matter how tempting she finds him—and Alex isn't going to allow Dani to melt his cynicism, no matter how close he has to get. The last thing either of them wants is love, especially with scandals brewing and family trouble on the way. But Dani and Alex are forced to trust each other, and when trust turns to passion, the potential for disaster is only a tabloid scandal away.

My Thoughts:

I wasn't sure how I'd like Dani's story. She lost points with me over Gary in the last book. I need my lead characters to be sympathetic characters. We met Dani a few weeks after the end of Sizzling. Her grandmonster Gloria has bequethed to her the name of her biological father. He happens to be Mark Canfield the Junior Senator from the state of Washington. He happens to have dreams of the White House. Dani tries to meet him and meets his Campaign Aid, Alex, who happens to be his adopted son. Alex will stop at nothing to protect his family and that means also protecting his father's bid for the White House.

Unfortunately for Dani and Alex sparks fly. It's unfortunate for them, because it really complicates things. Not only is he the son of a high profile politician but he has entered into an affair with that same politician's daughter. Luckily for us, they are not really related by biology, since the chemistry is soooo slamming. (Get it...biology/chemistry?)

Alex is not the only adopted child of Mark and Katherine Canfield. He is the first of 8 all of whom have some circumstances that many would think would make them unadoptable. Dani falls in love with the children even before she falls for Alex. Katherine is the ultimate politician's wife and suffers her shame (not able to bear children/husband's secret love child) in silence and always says all the right things in the right way, while wearing the right pearls. She's redeemed by the fact that she is hopelessly in love with her husband. He finally redeems himself in my eyes by making her understand that he really does love her completely.

Alex and Dani do the near miss until they finally connect. The chemistry is great and the journey is good. I like Ms. Mallery's use secondary characters. I didn't bond well with Mark or Katherine. He was cool and distant and she was insecure and a martyr. Ick! Well, he warmed up a little and she grew a pair. I'm very proud of her. I'm also proud of Dani and Alex for opening themselves up to Love!!!

Irresistible

by Susan Mallery

Back Cover:
When ex-Marine Walker Buchanan stops to help Elissa Towers change a tire, he tells himself it's just the neighborly thing to do.

And when Elissa finds herself baking him a thank-you pie, she's just returning the favor... right?

Both of them have sworn off dating -- Elissa's determined to protect her little girl, and that means ditching her taste for dangerous men... especially former Marines with dark secrets. Walker knows that he's not cut out for hearth and home; his own crazy family made sure of that. But the sparks won't stop flying between them.

My Thoughts:

This was the story of Walker Buchanan the younger brother of Cal Buchanan from "Delicious". Walker is the loner of the Buchanan family. Immediately after graduating high school he joined the Marines. It is understood by all that he did so, to aggravate his evil Grandmonster Gloria. Upon retiring from the Corps, he is on a mission to find the loved one of a fallen brother. He rents an apartment in the same building as Mrs. Ford, the 90-something spitfire and Elissa Towers and her daughter Zoe.

Elissa is an independant single mom trying to do the best she can. She has sworn off men, so she can focus on raising her daughter. Besides, if her track record shows anything, it's a lack of good choices in the Dude Dept! However, her new neighbor sure is a sight to behold.

A flat tire starts a chain of events that neither of them knew would change their lives forever.

I have to say, that for some reason I love old folks as secondary characters. I especially like when they are spunky. My grandma was kinda spunky, so I think that's what I find so endearing. I also like when big burly Mancakes are forced to interact with little kids especially little girlie girls. There is just something about the finding of your inner opposite that apeals to me. So imaging my glee when Ex-marine bad Dewd, Walker gets more than his fair share of 90+ Mrs. Ford and 5 year old Zoe. Love it!!! He even babysat, and it would have been great for him to be caught, having a tea party or humming the Dora song or something. Like when my DH let my 11 year old paint his toenails the other day. Lime green toes with glitter. (he can pull that off.)

I did find their "secrets" a little annoying. They were too witholding for too long. I felt like, most people would have opened up a little sooner, or the whole relationship would have come around more slowly. I mean, she's ok with letting a single man, babysit her daughter but would tell him that the Daddy isn't in fact dead, just a money grubbing deadbeat. Call me crazy, but I would have told the built in security (as a marine isn't he a lean mean fighting machine?) about the possible threat, but not left my kid alone with a man. However, that kinda reality doesn't progress the plot very well, does it. That's why I'm a reader, not a writer.

Ms. Mallery has an endearing cast of characters. We see Dani's next step in her personal progression toward true love. She meets Ryan and starts a fun fling with him, only to find out ::::::spoiler alert------he's married. The jerk::::::::: We see Reid, meet and hire the Grandmonster's new nurse. She doesn't know who he is, and isn't all that impressed, if you must know. So, I'm guessing I know where this is going. Cal and Penny's baby is born. Won't spoil that for you.

All in all, I thought this was a good book. I am invested in the characters and their interrelationships. I give it a solid 4 stars.

Delicious

by Susan Mallery (1st Buchanon Series)

Read for Readers of Romance Summer Challenge

Rated 4 stars

Synopsis:

Cal Buchanan needs a top-flight chef to take over his failing Seattle restaurant, The Waterfront. He can afford to hire the best in town--the only problem is that the best happens to be his ex-wife, Penny Jackson.

Penny really needs this opportunity, but she doesn't need the distraction of working with her ex. She's sworn off romance--she's even having a baby on her own. But before she knows it, the heat is on...and the attraction between her and Cal moves from a low simmer to a full boil!

The rest should be easy as pie, but a secret from Cal's past could spoil everything. Maybe it's true that too many cooks spoil the broth--or maybe two is enough to make it irresistible.

My Thoughts:

Susan Mallery has been hit and miss with me so far. I first read Accidentally Yours and loved it. (Ate it up!) Then I read the Keyes Sister Trilogy. It was alright. I'd heard some good things about those Buchanons, so I was very hopeful! This is Cal and Penny's story. He is the oldest Buchanon and Penny is his ex-wife. I felt like Ms. Mallery wrote well the interplay between 2 exes. I liked that Penny wanted to make Cal "eat crow" a little bit, and that he knew it. I liked that there was plenty of banter between them, but also with her friend Naomi, Eduardo, and the rest of the Buchanons. I love the friendships that she wrote so well.

I will definately be reading more of those Buchanons. Very soon!!

Accidentally Yours

Accidentally Yours by Susan Mallery

#13 New (to me) author

Rated 5 stars

Back Cover

Single mom seeks billionaire's pocketbook to fund dying son's research cure. Will seduce if necessary. Blackmail is not out of the question. Miracles welcome.

Cynical billionaire seeks working mom with a heart of gold for PR campaign to improve his standing in the community. Must to willing to attend social events. Anyone looking for love, need not apply.

It seemed like the perfect match...until the unthinkable happened.

My Opinion

I really loved this story. I loved that Kerri was willing to go to these extremes to help her son. I loved that even in times of struggle, she was able to give her son as normal a life as possible. I also felt like her guilt at being attracted to Nathan was there. I think I would have felt the same thing. If I'd prayed that prayer, and felt like I was supposed to sacrifice my happiness for my child, then when I was a'lustin over luscious Nathan, and something bad happens to my child...You better believe I'd feel to blame. Is it rational....Nope! Is it what I'd feel...Yep! I think that's SO realistic. I LOVED Tim and Lance! I loved the romance also between Abram and Linda.

Nathan was a true tortured hero. It's impossible to imagine how he felt in letting his son "go". The guilt he felt at working so much, and losing his own child. His only coping mechanism was to drown in work, and distance himself from human connection. It's safer that way! I understand why he would feel that. I love the transition for Nathan, in his own personal growth, and in his relationship with Frankie. In my mind's eye Frankie gets well, and hooks up with Grant! Yeeeaa!

Susan Mallery reminds me of Nora Roberts in all the ways that I love! Her ability to touch my heart and make me giggle. I love a heroine who is driven, but is able to maintain a healthy heart. I love a hero and heroine who can be sarcastic with one another. I adore a story with humor, and wit. This was that kind of story for me! LOVE IT!!