Customer Reviews

To All A Good Night

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Three of today's hottest romance authors warm the holiday season win To All A Good Night.

Unleashed by Donna Kauffman has pet sitter Emma Lafferty working for a billionaire CEO during the holiday season. She was told that it would just be her and the pets. Emma ends up meeting the man's great nephew Trevor Hamilton. Trevor is searching for answers about his heritage. Emma and Trevor find love in the most unlikely of places.

Jill Shalvis's Finding Mr. Right has brilliant chemist Maggie Bell fed up with always ending up with Mr. Wrong when they started out as Mr. Right. She decides to go against type and have a wicked fling with hunky contractor Jacob Wahler. Jacob Wahler is amazed that someone as smart and beautiful as Maggie would give him the time of day. What starts as a no strings affair grabs both of them by the heart strings.

HelenKay Dimon's Hand Me The Tape has Natalie Pritchard turning to attorney Spencer Donovan for help. After dumping her ex she needs help getting a risque tape back. Since Spencer is in partnership with her ex, to Natalie its logical to turn to Spencer. Spencer isn't so sure. He never really noticed his partners girlfriend before but he sure is now.

To All A Good Night has three warm and toasty stories to get every romance lover in the holiday spirit. Each story is funny and all out sexy. You can't go wrong picking up this delightful Christmas anthology.

Unleashed by Donna Kaufman was good up to a point. The characters were well written and believable. Leaving the story dangling was not something I like or appreciate. The intrigue of what Trevor will find out about his family kept me wanting to get to the end and find out the truth. Not only does the author have him drop his entire quest, she adds to the mystery in the epilogue. This does not make me want to read the next story to find out what happened, it makes me wonder if the next will be just another installment in a series. I read a lot of series and trilogies. In those even though there is a storyline to follow through to the end the authors do not build up the anticipation then stop abruptly and leave more questions than you started with. Basically it ruined the whole thing for me.

Finding Mr. Right by Jill Shalvis was the best of the three stories. The characters are believable and while I usually don't like stories that have characters that have a past, these two were never involved until now so it was quite enjoyable to see how they interact.

Can You Hand Me The Tape by HelenKay Dimon started out well and went luke warm quickly. The main characters were not suppose to like each other and that did not come across at all. Her other books and short stories have been excellent at the character animosity so I don't know what happened with these two. The character of Charlie was the best of them all as he was a jerk from beginning to end and you really did dislike him as was intended. The fact that he got what he wanted in the end was not what I had expected. While it is a nice story it fell flat.

TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT Donna Kauffman
Emma Lafferty agrees to house sit and pet sit for an eccentric billionaire over the holidays, knowing the pay and references it would generate would be a hefty boost to her new pet sitting business. When she arrives at his country home in the middle of an ice storm, the last thing she expects to find is the gorgeous great-grandson of the CEO, and although she doesn't quite believe the story he's telling about why he's there, she finds his charm irresistible.
Trevor Hamilton knew his great-uncle was going out of the country for two weeks and was certain he could pay off whoever had been hired to pet sit so he could search the mansion for clues to a family secret - a secret that has eaten at him for several years. It immediately becomes clear that Emma isn't budging. It isn't long before Trevor is totally captivated by Emma and he finds himself questioning the importance of the supposed family secret in comparison to his desire to build a relationship with Emma.
Emma and Trevor are absolutely charming together, despite a slightly rocky start. The sparks fly immediately, although they're a little hesitant to trust each other. Trevor's questions and doubts about his place in his family is heartening, as is Emma's gentle persuasion for him to do whatever is necessary to ease his mind and allow him to find the peace he has desperately wanted for several years.
FINDING MR. RIGHT Jill Shalvis
Maggie Bell is a chemistry genius, working extremely long days on what she hopes is the next medical miracle. Maggie seems to be a Mr. Wrong magnet - finding him time and time again. When she decides to just go ahead and find Mr. Wrong right off the bat, who better than her high school crush, Jacob Wheeler, a contractor who is working in her building. The trouble is, once the two start spending time together, Jacob is beginning to look more and more like Mr. Right.
Seeing Maggie for the first time since high school, Jacob is incredulous that he's never noticed how beautiful she is. When he learns that she's decided to "use" him as her Mr. Wrong, he decides to make the most of it and convince her that he wants more than a temporary fling, encouraging her to use her lab for more than test slides.
Jill Shalvis has done a great job with this reunion story. Past familiarity spares Maggie and Jacob time in the "getting to know you" stage and despite their differences in profession, they find that there's a definite attraction that both are eager to investigate and research. Add a little intrigue and danger and Maggie and Jacob's story is especially interesting.
CAN YOU HAND ME THE TAPE? HelenKay Dimon
Natalie Pritchard breaks her engagement to a sleazy, self-centered jerk only to discover that he's unknowingly in possession of a naughty tape she made for him in an effort to boost her self-confidence. She decides the only person she can go to for help is her ex's law partner, Spencer Donovan. To say that Natalie and Spencer don't see eye to eye is an understatement and it takes tremendous courage for her to even talk to him about the tape. Somewhere in the course of their meetings to discuss strategy, the two share their secrets and feelings and soon begin to see each other in a totally different light.
Spencer Donovan would be the first to admit that he had never really noticed Natalie before. As the fiancee of his law partner she was off-limits so he had no reason to check her out as a woman. Now that she's no longer taken and has requested his help, he has checked her out - and plans to continue checking her out. Because Natlie's self-esteem is nearly broken, Spence knows that a soft-touch is needed. He's counting on gentle attentions and the success of a grand gesture to prove to Natalie that she's the perfect woman for him, just the way she is.
HelenKay Dimon has written Natalie with vulnerabilities that are shared by so many women. Spencer sees these vulnerabilities immediately and rather than act on them for his own benefit, he's determined to make Natalie see how very beautiful and special she is. Talk about dreamy! It was a pleasure to see these two gradually move from verbal sparring to passionate whispering!
I give this book the highest of recommendations - everyone should have it on top of their stack of holiday reads!

Unleashed by Donna Kaufman
It's instant love and attraction between Emma the Pet Sitter and Trevor the Houseburglar and before she lets him make his move she wants to know why he is skulking around the house that she had been told would be empty over the holidays. Apparently Trevor has been looking for clues about his family tree since he was a boy and when he learns that his uncle's house is going to be empty over the holidays he hopes to learn something about his history. Instead he finds the love of his life in Emma and decides he doesn't need to know anything about his past because all he cares about now is his future.

*gag* I didn't notice any chemistry between Emma and Trevor nor can I discern a reason as to why this novella was even created. Pointless love story set during Christmas. Our H/H meet and fall in love. The End.

Finding Mr. Right by Jill Shalvis
Brilliant chemist Maggie Bell has a knack for choosing the perfect guy. All her ex boyfriends were successful, reasonably attractive and very intelligent. And boring. So she hits upon the excellent idea of picking Mr. Wrong to be her Mr. Right.

Enter Jacob. The ripped and sweaty construction guy who is working in her building. Hubba Hubba. Our brilliant but clumsy heroine trips her way into Jacob's arms and into his heart. This was fun, a little slapstick-y and hot. Stick a big red bow around Jacob's....er, Jacob and it's Merry Christmas to me!

Can You Hand Me The Tape by HelenKay Dimon
Natalie has a big problem. She's just broken up with her turd of a boyfriend but not before he unknowingly made off with his Christmas present. A homemade video. *wink wink* She can't tell him to give it back because that would just rouse his curiosity and cause him to watch it. So she turns to Spencer Donovan for help.

This was a little annoying. Nat has been mentally pounded into nothing by her emotionally abusive ex boyfriend and so she distrusts Spencer's sudden declarations of love and devotion. This entire novella is just endless rounds of "didja get the tape?" and "I'm too fat to be loved!"

Unleashed by Donna Kaufman

When Emma Lafferty signs on to babysit millionaire CEO, Lionel Hamilton's pets while he is away, she expected to be alone with the animals. Needless to say, bumping into hunky Trevor Hamilton in the middle of the night is a shock. Trevor was hoping to get to his great Uncle's house before the pet sitter arrived. Now he has to find a way to get the information he came for without Emma knowing. When the power goes out, the sparks that fly between Emma and Trevor have nothing to do with the fire Trevor built to keep them warm. When Emma finds out what Trevor is up to though, things might get cold, fast.

Unleashed is a faced paced, fun, and sexy story. In less than 24 hours, Emma's and Trevor's lives are changed. It might be a little unrealistic, making the story more fantasy than reality, but it's not a bad thing. Unleashed is a real love at first sight romance with a happy ending. It is an unfinished ending though. I'm looking forward to seeing where this story goes.

Finding Mr. Right by Jill Shalvis

Maggie Bell thinks of herself as having more brains than body- something Jacob Wahler wholeheartedly disagrees with. Maggie and Jacob went to school together, but haven't seen each other in years. Maggie is now a chemist and Jacob is doing the earthquake retrofitting in her office building. Jacob is everything Maggie doesn't think she can get. Jacob is all for some fun between the sheets with Maggie but soon he's looking for more. Someone else is looking for something from Maggie too though. Maggie isn't worried about it, but Jacob is.

Finding Mr. Right will leave a smile on your face. It's pretty lighthearted and seeing the girl (finally) get the guy, is also a treat. Maggie's nervous babbling is adorable, and educational. She's a sexpot who sounds like a geek. I love how Jacob reacts to her nervousness and how he respects and likes her for who she is. Mr. Wrong turned out to be oh so right for Maggie!

Can You Hand Me the Tape? by Helen Kay Dimon

Natalie Pritchard needs Defense Attorney Spencer Donovan's help. Although they aren't friends- they often face each other in court, and Natalie was dating Spencer's' partner Charlie- Natalie feels Spencer is the only one that can help her get what she needs. Natalie ends up with more than she bargained for though, and it's a very good thing.

Outwardly, Natalie is confident and successful but her inner insecurities keep her from seeing how awesome she is. Ironically, Spencer, a guy she is often at odds with due to their careers, is the one who shows her how terrific she is. Spencer is pretty terrific himself. I love his dry sense of humor. Can You Hand Me the Tape is my first taste of Helen Kay Dimon. I'll be going back for more!

To All a Good Night has three stories of sensual delight. Strangers meeting on a cold dark night, old acquaintances who become more than friends, and adversaries who become lovers- To All a Good Night has something for every romantic heart.

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

When the winter nights grow long, you'll be oh-so-glad to have a toasty little romance to warm you all over. Luckily for romance readers, Kensington Books is releasing a trio of stories that fit the bill in TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

As you would expect from the title for this anthology, each story is set during the Christmas holiday. But that's not where the similarities end between the three tales. Each also serves a healthy dose of fun along with the romance, with sexy banter and appealing characters.

~UNLEASHED by Donna Kauffman~

When Emma accepted a job pet-sitting for a billionaire over the holidays, she never expected to find her employer's hunky great-nephew in the house. She especially wasn't prepared for his romantic interest, or the way Trevor makes her feel...

I absolutely loved the chemistry between Emma and Trevor in UNLEASHED! Donna Kauffman delivers a great little romance that is as inspiring as it is fun.

Trevor undergoes a life-altering transformation during his time with Emma at the mansion. Family secrets he once thought crucial for him to uncover now seem less so when face to face with the woman who proves herself the love of his life without even trying.

Emma is unlike any woman Trevor has met before. Unimpressed by his name, fortune, or even his looks, she never pulls her punches with him, endearing him more surely than the most flattering sycophant ever could. She never lets him get away with anything, even as he can see that she is as attracted to him as he is to her, making her the kind of woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with.

Ms. Kauffman ends the story with a bit of a tease, hinting at a sequel that might further explore the mysteries in Trevor's family. I, for one, am certainly looking forward to it!

~FINDING MR. RIGHT by Jill Shalvis~

Unlucky in love, Maggie decides to change her tactics. Instead of dating men who seem right for her, maybe it is time to date someone who seems totally wrong for her. And who better than hunky Jacob Wahler to explore that theory with?

Brainy Maggie Bell has had a crush on Jacob ever since they were in high school together. Now the handsome contractor is back in her life with a construction job for her employer, and is just the ticket for a sexy little no-strings-attached one night stand. Sounds simple, right? But it's that one-time part that trips her up when she realizes once with Jacob will never be enough...

I've been meaning to read something by Jill Shalvis for some time, so I was pleased to find she was part of this anthology. Having heard great things about her work for some time now, my expectations were high, and Ms. Shalvis did not disappoint me.

My, oh my... Why in the world don't the construction workers in my world every look like Jacob? This hero proves himself more than capable of fixing just about anything a woman might need help with - and he shows that admirably when he helps Maggie with her little problem. *grin*

Maggie is hilarious! Quirky, smart, and sweet, this heroine had me laughing all the way through, even as I identified with her on more than one occasion. I was thrilled to see her get her man.

~CAN YOU HAND ME THE TAPE? By HelenKay Dimon~

Natalie will do just about anything to get the naughty tape she made for her ex-boyfriend back. Unfortunately, that means enlisting the help of Spencer Donovan - bane of her existence. OK, maybe not quite the bane, but neither their personal nor professional interactions have been exactly friendly in the past.

Criminal defense attorney Spencer isn't quite sure how he let himself be conned into helping Natalie retrieve the tape, but he knows exactly what he wants from the sexy probation officer in return for his assistance...

The main reason I wanted to read TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT was because I am a fan of HelenKay Dimon's. The fact that I really enjoyed the other author's entries in this anthology was just icing on the cake for me.

As usual, Ms. Dimon gives readers a treat to excite their romantic hearts. This author can always be depended on for a story that is as simultaneously witty, sweet, and sexy. Her characters engage readers from the first page, and soon feel as if they are people you might know in real life.

Natalie and Spencer are beautiful together. When the story begins, they've already known each other for some time, but neither has considered the other in a romantic sense until now. The fact that Natalie was dating Spencer's business partner until recently had a lot to do with that.

But now that she is free, Spencer begins to see her in a whole new light - the idea of Natalie performing on camera in the buff for her ex inspires quite a few new ideas about her. His interest isn't as superficial as that sounds, however. It isn't long before Spencer realizes his feelings for Natalie goes a lot deeper than he ever expected.

Natalie's ex did a number on her self-esteem. She's slowly rebuilding her confidence, but still isn't quite prepared for Spencer's romantic interest. Of course, she isn't opposed to it - not once she realizes how serious he is. What woman in her right mind would be? Watching as this woman recovers her belief in herself is wonderfully moving.

CAN YOU HAND ME THE TAPE? is a perfect illustration of why HelenKay Dimon is in my list of favorite authors.

**Courtesy of Wild on Books**

I think the reason I was not wowed by these storeies is because I habe read other stories by these authors that were better.
The first story felt like it wasleading up to another story. It left questions unanwsered. The two main characters were believeable, but not very round. I wanted to know more, but did not get it.
The second story was my favorite. I could just imagine what Maggie was going through, and it was great.
The third story was interesting. The animosity that was to be there well was not. So when the characters got together is was not as much of a suprise. But the Charlie character was great, you really did dislike him.

"Unleashed" by Donna Kauffman. Through her best friend who works in the personnel department of Hamilton Conglomerates, Emma Lafferty is hired to house sit and pet sit for the firm's CEO billionaire Lionel Hamilton. At his vast Randolph County estate, his great-nephew Trevor arrives. Trevor wants Emma to leave as he searches for something; while Emma wants Trevor to leave because she does not trust him. As they warily watch one another an attraction ignites.

"Finding Mr. Right" by Jill Shalvis. Data Tech lead chemist Maggie Bell is working on a skin cancer cure, but laments about how she only dates wrong Mr. Rights. Her sister tells her to drop the brainy and go for the brawny like contractor Jacob Wheeler whom she tutored in high school. He is attracted to the trivia queen, who tests lotions and other items given to her by the twins running the firm.

"Can You Hand Me the Tape? by Helen Kay Dimon. After Natalie Pritchard broke up with Charles Adams, she hates asking his legal partner Spencer Donovan for a favor. She wants him to "steal" a tape that Charles has of her naked. Spencer who is ending his partnership with obnoxious Charles reluctantly agrees.

These are three fun contemporary romances in which the lead female falls in love with someone whom they assume could never love them back; the hunks prove them wrong.

Harriet Klausner