Pint Sized 'Pinions: Contemporary Romance Edition

Pint-Sized 'Pinions are mini-reviews that I post often (usually weekly). The books reviewed have either been reviewed a lot or I don't have much to say for them, whether negative or positive, to justify an extended review.

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Well, the first one's not technically a contemporary romance, but fans of the genre may like it...

Family Affair by Caprice Crane
Women's Fiction/Chick Lit
Bantam (September 29, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0553386233
368 pages

When Layla Brennan married her high school sweetheart, Brett Foster, she finally got the big, loving family she’d always wanted: his. Now she’s closer to Brett’s parents than he is, partners with his sister in a successful pet-photography business, and confidant to his younger brother. She couldn’t be more of a Foster if she’d been born one. There’s just one problem: Brett wants a divorce. Stunned and heartbroken, Layla turns to the Fosters for comfort, only to realize that losing Brett means losing them as well. What else can she do but sue him for the most valuable thing he’s got–namely, his family. Breaking up may be hard to do, but for Layla and Brett it’s even harder to undo.

Fresh, funny, poignant, and brimming with insight into what makes modern families tick–and what can blow them apart–Family Affair proves that in love and war, everything’s relative.

Told in alternating POVs, Caprice Crane tackles an interesting subject in a humorous way. Unfortunately, all the humor in the world can't make up for Brett's selfishness. He's initially unwilling to work on their (relatively minor) issues and instead decides to dump his wife. After that, he goes on to be pretty hateful towards her when what she really deserves is some compassion and sympathy. While he goes on to make it up to Layla, I can't say that he was totally redeemed in my estimation. Still, Crane's trademark humor managed to rescue this novel for me somewhat. However, if you're looking for more likable characters, try her novels Stupid and Contagious and Forget About It.

Grade: C+

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Crazy for Love by Victoria Dahl
Contemporary Romance
HQN Books (July 1, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0373774623
384 pages

Chloe Turner thought she was going to marry the perfect man—until her fiancé's plane crashed. And then she got the really bad news: he'd tried to fake his own death to avoid marrying her. Now America's most famous bridezilla (a tag she most definitely does not deserve), Chloe escapes to a remote island to avoid the paparazzi. And right next door is a man who just might be the cure for Chloe's heartache….

A magnet for wild, complicated women, Max Sullivan is relieved to have finally found someone "normal." Chloe is his girl-next-door fantasy come to life, and best of all, she gets him. With her, he can be himself, a treasure-hunting millionaire who desperately wants out of his sexy but reckless job. But when Chloe's notoriety catches up with them, will their torrid romance make it to the mainland?

Victoria Dahl has written some well-received contemporary novels in the past year. I particularly like the first two in her Tumble Creek series, Talk Me Down and Start Me Up, for their memorable and funny characters. Again, she does pretty well here with her plot and characters - all except for Max, the hero. He's quite boring and a bit weak. I did enjoy the book while reading it and I still wanted him to get it together with Chloe. Not my favorite Dahl book, though.

Grade: B-

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CaddyGirls by V.K. Sykes
Contemporary Romance
Carina Press (July 5, 2010)
eISBN: 9781426890383

Torrey Green once had a promising golf career, now she's stuck caddying for butt-pinching businessmen. She doesn't mind playing dumb while hauling clubs if it means she can get her golf career back on track, and she's going to need an influx of cash to focus on the pro circuit. A booking from video game mogul Julian Grant could be Torrey's cash-flow solution.

In town for a business deal, Julian's partners plan for a little action on the greens. They're looking for some fun with their rent-a-caddy girls and have a lot riding on who can score, on the course and off. This type of gamble isn't Julian's style, but he'll do whatever it takes to keep his partners happy—even if that includes breaking a few hearts along the way.

Julian soon discovers that Torrey is more than just a caddy girl, and they spark an intriguing attraction—but if Torrey discovers the truth behind his foolish wager, all bets are off...

I wasn't sure what to expect prior to reading this ebook - I had never heard of the authors before (a husband and wife team). It turned out to be steamy and surprisingly complex for such a short read. Torrey is a strong and unique heroine and Julian was sexy, if a bit hard to love at one point. There romance begins fast but manages to remain mostly believable.

Grade: B

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Each book was a review copy was provided by the publisher for an honest (and uncompensated) review.

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