Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Blog Tour (Review + Giveaway): Summer in New York Collection by Various Authors

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Summer in New York Collection
by Various Authors

Genre: NA/adult, contemporary, romance
Published July 12th 2014 by Mirror Press
Source: Tour host
Purchase:  Amazon * Barnes and Noble
Local purchase/order: National Bookstore

Blurb (Goodreads):
Amazon #1 Bestselling series in *New Release* for Clean Romance 

Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Summer in New York. Readers will love this collection of six contemporary romance novellas, all set in renowned New York City with one thing in common: Romance. 

In USA Today bestselling author Janette Rallison’s delightful novella, JOB HAZARDS, Lydia Robinson is posing as a prostitute. Undercover of course. Lydia’s job as a police officer hasn’t reeled in her prince charming yet. That is, until Harrison Aldridge, old high school flame, pulls up to the corner to rescue the fallen damsel. Lydia can’t exactly give Harrison the truth without blowing her cover, and it takes a series of mishaps and another whole set of misunderstandings before Lydia will even consider letting Harrison back into her life. 

In Heather B. Moore’s enchanting novella, A TASTE OF SUN, Winona Grant embarks on a summer-long visit to NYC to house-sit for her great-aunt after a nasty break-up with her boyfriend Paul. But when her aunt commissions neighbor Steve Monti to tour Winona around, they strike a deal. Winona has too many deadlines to play tourist, and Steve is looking for a distraction from his looming gallery opening. So Steve goes on the tours by himself, and Winona reports back to her aunt as if she’d gone too. The longer this happens, the more Winona wants to change her mind. Seeing the city with Steve might be the perfect solution to forgetting about Paul. 

In Luisa Perkins’s sweet romance novella, DULCE DE LECHE, Marisol is desperate for another nanny job after being unfairly fired from her previous position. She has only two more semesters of college, but she’s too proud to ask her wealthy parents for financial help. When her potential new employer, a single father working long hours as an anesthesiologist, decides she’s too young and pretty to hire, she practically begs him for the job. Darius finally agrees, and as he watches her work miracles with his Asperger’s son, he realizes there is much more to Marisol than he first believed. 

In TAKE A CHANCE, a captivating story by Sarah M. Eden, Miguel Santos has a stopover in New York. When the announcement of delayed flights comes over the PA system, Miguel is looking at spending several hours at the airport. Determined to get comfortable for the long wait, he’s surprised when he spies a familiar face amongst the stranded passengers: Jane Schoonenburg, the last person he expected to see. Three months have passed since he asked Jane to marry him—three months of misery. And now he knows that he must talk to her, if only to find out why she broke his heart. 

Annette Lyon’s entrancing novella, FIRSTS AND LASTS, begins with Dani’s last week in New York. She’s failed in her dreams to catch a break as an actress and is now ready to return home and dust herself off. As she visits the places on her final to-see list, she meets Mark, another New York City transplant with big dreams. Except Mark hasn’t given up on his. As they spend the day together, Dani realizes that even though she hasn’t hit the “big time” she might be living her dream after all. Only problem: she has a one-way ticket back home. 

In Lisa Mangum’s whimsically titled story: &, Lucy is riding a wave of success at having found a bestselling novel in the slush pile at an exclusive New York publishing house. If only her personal life was storybook perfect as well. Her relationship with Devon is on the rocks, and even though she's been put in charge of the house while her boss is gone on business, Lucy isn't sure she's up to the task.





My Thoughts:

Summer in New York Collection is a romance anthology by six award-winning authors such as Janette Rallison, Heather B. Moore, Luisa Perkins, Sarah M. Eden, Annette Lyon, and Lisa Mangum. I am excited to read this book because it has Janette's work in it! I have read two books from her and it was amazing--I'd read more from her! Although I haven't read any from the other authors mentioned, I'm also looking forward in reading their short stories too. "Clean" romance is also a plus factor. Since this is an anthology (and my first time to review one), I have short reviews and rating on each story. My overall rating (where I added all rating and divided it to 6) is shown below.

The first story was from Janette Rallison. It was called Job Hazards. Okay, so you might say that I'm bias, but I'm not. Janette showed her readers again how brilliant she is even with a short story. I find Job Hazards really cute, light, funny, and romantic. I was tingling all over! Even if this was only a short story, I felt like I've read an entire novel. It has its important details such as the history and personal backgrounds. It was satisfying--I love it! (Rating: 5/5)

The tingling continues on A Taste of Sun by Heather B. Moore. Like Job Hazards, this story felt like an entire novel because of the sequence and ending. The pace was fast but won't left you hanging or lacking. I like that the art--their passion--was part of the two main characters' lives and connected them more. (Rating: 4/5)

Dulce de Leche by Luisa Perkins had a nice plot. I found the idea of relationship building and characters admirable. However, the story seems to skip and left the important parts missing like how or when did the relationship or how they see each other bloom. It was more like of a rush than showing. (Rating: 3/5)

The following story by Sarah M. Eden, Take a Chance, kept me guessing from beginning to end. Not that it's mystery--it's not. I think I've kept on guessing because I didn't expect or have an idea about the characters' story. I also have hopes on the ending, which didn't happened, so it all turn out to be surprising. But despite of guessing and hoping, it has one of the cutest couple on this anthology. I really liked them. This is an entertaining one. (Rating: 4/5)

Firsts and Lasts by Annette Lyon was, to be honest, unfortunately my least favorite on this anthology. The two characters had a crooked start and the "next days"--even the beginning--are more of telling. Include the fact the they had the same sad story. I was glad they found happiness and home in each other. (Rating: 3/5)

& by Lisa Mangum was an interesting read. I love that the main characters love books and words. I felt the connection not only between them, but also me to them. There was significance they felt with each other even if they just met. It's like you've met your soulmate. I also love that the meaning of the title was explained and lived by the characters in the story. That's what happens when book people talk about books. Clever author! (Rating: 5/5)

Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I've seen and experienced New York in different POVs combined with swoony romances. I would recommend this anthology to all romance readers--whether YA, NA, or adult. Taste sun, NY, happiness, and love!


*Thanks to Dianne of Oops! I Read A Book Again tours for the review ecopy in exchange of an honest review!

Overall Rating:





GIVEAWAY!
- 1 winner of an ebook copy of Summer in New York
- open INT
- ends September 20th





1 comment:

  1. I've read the Winter and Autumn Timeless Anthologies. I love reading clean romance novellas- it's a perfect way to relax after a long stressful day :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete

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