i want to be justine montgomery when i grow up.

While scowering the ridiculously over priced airport convenient stores for my obligatory airport mass paperback (it's my favorite tradition), I was SOOOO excited to discover that the third installment of the Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy was available in tiny copy! I loved the first two books but lost touch with the series, I blame Stephanie Plum and Cathy Dollanganger for taking over my life. But anyways, The Perfect Hope was THE PERFECT book to read on my honeymoon. Super romantic and adorable, and an excellent finish to the trilogy. The first two books covered the budding relationships of Claire and Beckett and Avery and Owen, which leaves the third Montgomery brother Ryder, and the last of the bestie threesome, Hope to fall for each other even though they are total opposites. Ryder is super rough around the edges, musky, sexy, moody, doesn't like to talk about his feelings. Hope is the classiest broad ever, organized, sweet, former beauty queen. Hope is the manager of the inn, and Lizzy, our inn ghost plays matchmaker again, pushing these two together just as she did to the other couples.

The Perfect Hope is a wonderful continuation of The Last Boyfriend, the small town of BoonsBoro is expanding with Avery's new restaurant and tap house, also a bakery and gym are being built in town, keeping the Montgomery boys very busy, but not busy enough for Ryder and Hope to stop the urge strike up a casual sex relationship that turns into something so much more. Hope also finds more information on Lizzy's past, and what's keeping her in the inn, who is she waiting for?

umm…apparently nora roberts has an alter-ego that no one cared to tell me about.

Whoa, I am WAY behind.  The In Death series by J.D. Robb is actually Nora Roberts???!  Who would have thought? Some of what I’ve read by Roberts has had an air of suspense, but it’s mostly full of love and fluff, and when in the mood, I crave that stuff. Come to find out the futuristic Celebrity in Death novel and the 33 previous installments of the series are all her. Nora Roberts, your Kick Ass Book Reviews street credibility has gone up about eleven notches. You’re welcome. 

I have read the In Death series sporadically, which works for me. But if you are just hearing about it, I would start with book one and continue on through. I mean, why not have a 34-book series to read? Especially when it’s a good one. And what else are you going to do this summer?

Celebrity in Death is quieter than previous novels, chilling really, in a good way. Set in New York City year 2060, Lieutenant Eve Dallas continues to be the star, and all of the favorites from previous books in the series are there as well. The Icove Agenda was Nadine Furst's book that sky rocketed to the bestseller list, Eve had lived it, and now she is standing on the set watching an actress play out the lines she, herself spoke when finding young Dr. Icove dead in his home office. In celebration of the upcoming film the main cast and crew, along with Eve, Roarke, Peabody, McNabb and the Mira’s are enjoying a nice dinner party when actress K.T. Harris is found dead in the rooftop pool where the party is being held. There are a ton of suspects, and Eve is already on the case. Well, Nadine Furst’s lucky day, she’s getting a sequel dropped right into her hands.

roberts' latest trilogy.

Whenever I crave a feel-good, mildly sexy, happily ever after novel, I look no further than a Nora Roberts, lovey-dovey series. They are always easy reads that don't require a whole lot of thinking, and after finishing the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, which confused the hell out of me with all of the Swedish names and psycho drama, I desperately needed to relax my brain and indulge in something breezy. Enter Nora Roberts' latest series: the Inn at Boonsboro Trilogy, book one: The Next Always.

As always, Roberts creates a lovely picturesque setting in the small town of Boonsboro, Maryland where three single brothers and their widowed mother are building an inn, turning old into new again. The first one out of the gate is the architect of the family, Beckett Montgomery and his falling in love story with local bookstore owner, girl-next-door and widow, Clare Murphy Brewster. They've known each other since they were kids, and Beckett always had a thing for her. But when Clare was nineteen, she up and married her high school sweetheart, Cliff and moved to Kansas where he was based in the military. Cliff was killed in Iraq six years ago, before Clare could tell him she was pregnant with their third son. After her husbands death, Clare moved home to be near family and start a new life with her three boys.

It took years of trips to her bookstore for coffee and browsing for Beckett and Clare to finally have their moment. Shared in the half built inn with a mysterious ghost who walked the halls of the old building. Their relationship develops, and includes some drama, as most do. However, this drama is very different from Roberts normal lover's quarrels. I was even on edge while reading, wondering if Roberts was finished with happily ever afters and turned to the dark side. This novel is a spooky, dangerous, page turner, and unfortunately the next installment is not released until May.

say goodbye to the ladies of vows.

Let me just start by saying that I HATE when a series I love has to end. I know endings are a part of life,  but I feel that Norah Roberts could have turned her Bride Quartet series from four books into, well, more. I just finished the final book, Happy Ever After, and I am sad to say goodbye to such a funny, honest and ballsy group of friends.  

I have reviewed the previous three titles in the series, Vision in White, Bed of Roses and Savor the Moment, and was very excited to read about our fourth and final female, Parker Brown. You get to know the other girls in each book, even if that particular story is not based around them. I have been dying to hear Parker's story since book one.

Parker is the glue that holds Vows together. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Vows is the wedding planning company Parker and her three friends, Mac, Emma and Laurel, own. It is very successful in their small Connecticut town, but the difference is not only is Parker planning weddings for clients, but also her three best friends.

Malcolm is not a stranger to the series. He has been involved with this group of friends in some way since the first installment. He is a rough around the edges, car mechanic, not exactly Parker Brown, of the wealthy Connecticut Browns, type. They've had some sexual tension for a while, and its Parker's turn to try out her hand at love. Taking a chance worked out well for the other three, but will Parker be so lucky?

perfect vacation series.

I have been on vacation for the past 8 days; one of those 'sitting around in the sun and reading' types of vacations - the best kind. Not only am I really brown, I also had the chance to read the first two books in The Bride Quartet series that I mentioned a few weeks ago. Remember? I read the third book first without realizing it was a series? Nora Roberts? Okay, now that we are on the same page...

Vision in White and Bed of Roses were just as fabulous, maybe even more fabulous than Savor the Moment. I love the characters Roberts created in Mac and Emma. The story line behind this series is just too good to not repeat. So here's the background again: Four best friends own a wedding planning company in Connecticut, named Vows. Mac is the photographer (first book), Emma is the florist (second book), Laurel is the cake maker (third book) and the fourth book comes out later this year which stars Parker, the planner. I am so excited about this book because learning about Parker through the other books has made me love her already.

The stories are about how each individual woman finds the man she will spend the rest of her life with. Perfect summer vacation lazy reading, and you can't not appreciate Roberts' sex scenes. I think that every women's goal in life should be to find the man that you have book-sex with, you know what I mean, the kind of sex you only read about in books. And once you find him, marry him right away.

friendship you can relate to.

Okay, number one, I am an idiot. I literally just got done reading Nora Roberts', Savor the Moment, got to the end and noticed there is preview for the NEXT book in the series. I had no idea this book was part of a series, (The Bride Quartet) and I am soooo pissed that I read the THIRD book first. UGH. Not that I needed to read the first two, the book stood beautifully on it's own, I just feel like I missed out, and I HATE missing out. Bah.

I am not hugely familiar with Nora Roberts' writing, but I have to say, the dialogue was a little, slow. I loved the story, LOVED the characters, blushed at the many sex scenes, but at times the dialogue didn't flow naturally. I will not hold that against her (like I even have the right to), or the book, because I really enjoyed reading it. It was just something I noticed. Now that I am thinking about it, maybe each book is one of the four best friends' personal love stories. I haven't done any research, so don't think I am dense, but Savor the Moment was solely about Laurel McBane and her relationship. There are four books, and four best friends, and two of the girls were already engaged at the start of this third book. GENIUS. Now I really need to get a copy of the first two books.

Now on to the story....Laurel McBane and her best friends own a wedding planning business called Vows. Laurel makes the cakes/desserts, Parker plans the events, Mac takes the pictures and Emma does the flowers. They all live on the same property where the events take place. Laurel has been in love with Delaney Brown (Parker's brother) since she was a little girl. The story basically revolves around them and how their relationship goes from friends to lovers. It's a really sweet and sensual story.

I, of course only got to the steamy pages while spending time with my family at our cottage this weekend. That wasn't awkward at all. I strongly suggest you romantics read this book, but learn from me and pick up Vision in White and Bed of Roses first!

sweet and romantic.

Norah Roberts' latest book, "Bed of Roses" (book two in the Bride Quartet) is filled with wonderful characters that you will no doubt fall in love with. They will take you out of your own life for a while, and let you live vicariously through them.

This is the love story of Emma and Jack. Emma works as the florist for Vows, the wedding planning business she is a part of with her three childhood friends. Jack is a close family friend, and architect, and he's known Emma for a significant number of years. Their relationship is a question of: should friends become lovers or not?

Lovers or friends? Hmm, pick up a copy and you shall find out which road they take.