Jessica Bird - Leaping Hearts

A beautiful young woman with a defiant spirit, A. J. Sutherland spends a small fortune on a horse with a wild reputation, and is forced to sacrifice her position at her family's stables to keep him. She plans to ride the magnificent stallion in the biggest event of the show-jumping season--and she knows she can win. But without the backing of Sutherland Stables, A. J. must rely on a stranger to help her: a man who makes her heart pound, her head spin...and who just happens to be a legend in equestrian circles.
When Devlin McCloud's career was cut short by a tragic accident, he never expected to get back in the ring. But when A. J. asks him to be her trainer, he finds he cannot resist the chance--or his stunning new employer. And what begins as a business arrangement soon becomes something deeper, as Devlin and A. J. learn that even in a sport full of hazards, sometimes the most dangerous thing to risk is one's heart.... 

Comment: This was the last book by the author I had to read. At this point, I’m not particularly interested in her Silhouette editions as I put aside all harlequin and similar books. I have to be selective and only special circumstances would make me grab harlequins now. Anyway, this is one of four contemporary books by the author. Now, that she’s fully into paranormal, I have to say I regret that a bit, as I actually liked the four books, even the one I considered the weakest.

This is the story of AJ, she loves horses and the book starts with her buying a stallion nobody actually wants because he has a lot of phobias. However, as someone who has been around horses all her life, AJ is confidant she’ll know how to train her new horse. But she won’t be able to do it by herself, so Devlin shows up, he’s a retired horseman, he used to compete but an accident ended up his career. He feels attracted to AJ and knows it’s risky to train her, but they don’t resist is and so their journey begins.

I liked this one. AJ seems a sympathetic character, she comes from a rich family but buying the horse was her first truly independent action and she spent all her money on that. Later on she takes drastic measures to pay off her debts to Devlin for his work. This shows she’s not too spoiled and she cares about her responsibilities. I liked this part of her personality, because at first I wasn’t very fond of her, trying to show off by calming down the horse and by feeling hopelessly attracted to Devlin the second she saw him. Do people really feel that much at first sight, it seems unreal to me. Anyway, throughout the book, I learned things about her and she grew up on me. She has secrets and I didn’t like how she went about those, but I can’t actually say if it were me, I wouldn’t do the same, when something is important we might be a bit blind for justifications anyway.

Devlin was very likable as well, especially for one reason, despite being away from competition he isn’t completely away from the world, and although he tried to stay away from AJ, when he made up his mind, he committed himself to the work and even to his feelings for AJ. I have to confess I was surprised by how easy it was for him to open up – after a while - even when trying to push AJ into a decision about their future whether if it was to be only as professionals working together or as soon to be lovers. At least, he had his principles.

There’s a lot of talk about horses and I’m an ignorant of that, anything I might know it’s because of books, so I felt the author did her research and I was impressed by how realistic it all seemed. Even the little details, like what might spook a horse, how to take care of a horse, I don’t know… many details pertaining that world were addressed here and there. I know she had to, in order to make the story more complete, but I liked that, nevertheless.

In the end, this book was easy to read, interesting; it provided an interesting enough story, a couple with chemistry and a HEA to match. It’s perfect to spend some good times with.

Jessica Bird - An Irresistible Bachelor

He was a confirmed bachelor--and a gorgeous work of art.
For struggling art conservationist Callie Burke, the chance to restore a world-famous painting is the opportunity of a lifetime--one that no one in her right mind would turn down. Call her crazy, but Callie has serious reservations about working with the painting's owner. Warm and sexy, Jack Walker makes no attempt to hide the strong attraction he feels for Callie--even as she tries to keep their relationship professional. Now, cocooned in his studio in Boston, she will either have to learn to ignore the man and concentrate on the masterpiece, or give in to the kind of passion that can never be captured on canvas.
Jack Walker is a practical man who runs his life, his empire, and his fortune effortlessly. Yet from the moment he met Callie Burke, he wanted her with all the intensity of a first crush. As he gets to know her, the desire blossoms into something more--and Jack finds that for the first time in his life he is leading with his heart instead of his head. . . .

Comment: This is another book with connected characters, the third in a contemporary series by the author. This 3rd book features a couple of protagonists we've met in the previous books and how their romance happened.

Callie Burke is the poor half sister of the rich Grace Hall. She wants to live her life alone but she couldn't stand her loneliness anymore and contacted Grace. The two are forging a bond but Callie doesn't want any favors just because of their family connection.

Jack is one of Grace's best friends and he's built up his father's reputation from scratch since he went into debt. He now wants to restore a painting sold to pay off debts and asks Callie to do it, as she works in art conservation. He wasn't counting on the attraction between them and even less in the challenge it would be to be with her.

I loved this book. So far, my favorite of the three. The main and more obvious reason is the female protagonist, she is close to the perfect heroine for me. Callie has never been rich and despite the fact she has now a very rich sister, she isn't using her to be better of. She's still poor and doesn't want others to know that or to have pity on her. She is a warm person, a hard working one and she just wants to have a decent living. However, she is out of work now but won't ask for help. In a way I get her, she wants to try on her own, she wants to have her independence. Grace helped before, not with money, but help nonetheless and she accepted so she isn't stupid either, she recognizes when is a good time to accept help. She also tries to protect her heart and with her mother's illness she devoted her time to work and her mother and never had a intimate relationship which means she's cautious and serious when needed. I really liked her personality and how the author portrayed her inner strength.

Jack is another rich guy but things weren't always easy for him so he's not perfect, which only adds up to his charms. I liked how at first he pictured a different Callie but when he found out about her, he didn't try to humiliate her or anything, he seemed supportive. Plus their relationship was slow paced and it seemed more real because of that.

The romance had many sweet moments and the chemistry between them looked real and I really enjoyed seeing them fall in love and how certain things were made so special for them. I liked how they started to trust the other so well even when some issues showed up and some caution happened, and how they talked about it and worked things out.

The story felt well written to me. The plot advanced at the rhythm of the couple's developing relationship but there are many secondary scenes where we can see them interact with other characters ans see some more glimpses of their behavior. I really liked knowing them.

I've said before sometimes the author focused too much on the money issues in these books, but in this case I liked the contrast a lot because it wasn't as obvious or as mentioned. Callie was poor but she wasn't after money or too rigid not to stay away from jack because of that, their relationship seemed quite balanced and I loved reading their story, it took me only one day actually.

I wish I could read more books with heroines just like Callie, poor but hardworking, innocent but cautious and not in a despairing state to not be a virgin and still be a funny and warm person. I recommend this book for any contemporaries' fan.

Jessica Bird - Heart of Gold

Her intense passion for unlocking the secrets of the past is what made Carter Wessex an archeologist. Now she's been given a chance to dig on Farrell Mountain where a doomed party of minutemen lost their lives--as well as the gold they were carrying during the Revolutionary War. Carter refuses to let the mountain's owner, Nick Farrell, rattle her, even though she's all too aware of his sexy yet sardonic presence. Her work on the mountain could be the most significant find of her career . . . if she can pull herself away from the smoldering attraction that is undeniably growing between them.
Beneath the steely facade Nick Farrell wears like a well-cut suit, he is a man of hidden tenderness. From his first meeting with Carter, there's an immediate flare--hotter than he has ever experienced before. But no one is more surprised than Nick when his desire for her deepens into something enduring. Now Nick must find a way to convince Carter that the real treasure to be found on Farrell Mountain is a true and lasting love. . . 

Comment: I've decided to read this one because after reading An Unforgettable Lady I realized this one is set before the other one and I didn't know that before reading it, so I got this one now to balance the reading order before reading the 3rd one in a following month.

This is the story of Carter, she's from a rich family but got angry with hr father and they sort of had a break up and she stopped seeing him. Carter is an archaeologist and wants to dig in Nick Farrell's mountain for a treasure. At first he says no, but there's a strong attraction between them and he changes his mind when he also finds out she and her father don't talk to each other and he figures her father can own him if he gets them together.

Nick is a business man and wants to control everything around him, including his orphan nephew. He sees in Carter someone he wants and sets up things in order to get her but he didn't count on having real feelings for her.

I liked this story much better than An Unforgettable Lady, simply because this one didn't mention the rich world as much and the characters seemed more likable too. I mean, it's more believable and interesting than to keep hearing about how wealthy someone is, and so on. This book wasn't as focused on the things around the fact the key players were rich and that didn't seemed as important in this book as it looked like in the other. For a poor person, in a way, it kind of feels better to like a character apart from his or her richness and in this book this happened for me. It sounds silly said this way, but after reading the books and being poor myself I felt closer to the characters in this book because the fact they were rich wasn't as mentioned or as obviously part of the plot.

The characters were also more fun to know about and their personalities more lovable for me and I liked knowing them. The dialogs were also funny and interesting. Some of the secondary characters were great and allowed for the story to feel more cozy and warm, just because they were there.

I liked the romance better too. Carter and Nick made a great couple and I liked how they both dealt with their fragilities concerning relationships before saying I love you or even before getting to a more advanced point in their relationship.Their attraction was believable and there was chemistry between them, I liked seeing them happy and was eager to see their HEA.

The writing as good, the plot was funny and interesting and apart from a cliché plot line almost in the end, the book run smoothly and in a balanced way. I liked it and I think it was quite strong. Many good scenes and reliable characters I truly wanted to see get their happiness.

I'll be reading the others in the future.

Jessica Bird - An Unforgttable Lady

She thought she had everything she ever wanted--
until she met the only man she'd ever need.
Forced into the spotlight by her fabulous wealth, heiress Grace Hall isn't always prepared for the consequences of her standing. When a string of attacks against the city's most prominent women leaves Grace vulnerable, the refined beauty reluctantly hires a bodyguard. Now she finds herself subject to the ironclad will of her new protector. In spite of her frustration, Grace is drawn to John Smith in ways she can't explain. For beneath his tough exterior and dark past, there's an inner core that is tantalizingly seductive.
John knows that when you're a professional bodyguard, it needs to be all business. But such conduct makes for a solitary life with few ties and too many good-byes. Grace was supposed to be just another assignment on a long list. Yet there's something about her that gets under his skin. With each passing day, the attraction grows more intense--until John is faced with a decision he never thought he'd have to make. Can he give up the only life he's ever known to be with the only woman he's ever loved?

Comment: This book tells us the story of Grace, a very known and rich heiress and John Smith, a bodyguard. They don't seem to appreciate the other in the beginning but after some deaths that have a connection to Grace, she asks for his services and then everything changes.
This book was recently published in Portugal, so I decided to read it because I confess I was curious to see how the author's writing would look like in a different genre, considering I like her BDB books so much.
First of all, the feel of the book. I've noticed the writing style is pretty much the same as in BDB books. Of course, considering it's the same author, but some writers can kind of camouflage things, depending on the genre, in a way that even tough we see it's the same person, it's like both things are from different sides of the author's mind, if you get my meaning. In this case, I was glad to see the author I love in this side as well, especially in the way the characters justify their actions, wonder about their reactions, the details of the thinking process. There are differences, obviously, but I felt myself relax when I read the first pages and things were...familiar.
The storyline was a bit predictable, but well, mainstream romance...and then the villain was a bit too obvious although I must confess my poor judgment and guessing skills because I only convinced myself about who it was after half of the book..*blushes* Yep, I'm pretty much an airhead about these things.
The romance. It was sweet but not entrancing. In this genre I've read better. I liked how they both discussed things many times and how slowly they progressed from antagonists to kind of friends to intimacy but John was always reluctant and I was a bit put of on how easily he accepted things in the end. I guess I'd have preferred if he admitted it to himself sooner, so it wouldn't feel rushed. I liked Grace's behavior and attitude and how she was humble and friendly despite her social position.
In the end I was glad for them but I wished I could see them together after because some issues - namely their financial differences - might still be obstacles to their HEA. Maybe in the 3rd book? Anyway, despite all, it was a very entertaining read.

I didn't investigate the author's books as mrs Bird, so I wasn't aware this is the second in related stories books (or should I say series?) so I've seen the couple from the previous one and I was intrigued by how their story might have developed so now I have to get it too...- I prefer reading things in order - ...but I have to say this story convinced me enough to want to find out if the others are as interesting.