Stephanie Rowe (1)

Paws Up for Love by Stephanie Rowe

3rd in the Canine Cupid contemporary romance series. Can stand alone. Best of the three.

Lots of humor. Mostly aimed at themselves but also at the situations. Loved the internal dialog that was sarcastic, hopeful and hysterical.
I loved this couple so much. Totally confused about each other and themselves. Denial. I was rereading paragraphs over and over because of the witty (and clueless) dialog.

I couldn’t resist. Here are examples of the round-about type show more dialog.
Excerpt:
“Because...hmm..." No need to share her fantasies with him, or to admit how her life failed so completely to measure up to them. "You're a jerk because you're taking Buddy's side against mine." Actually, that was true. "Yes, that's why. I'm an innocent victim and you're trying to turn the situation against me. Typical male. That's why I've sworn off men for the next three years. Insulting, untrustworthy, and despicable. It just takes a woman of my fortitude to see through your hot body to the truth."
Evan lifted his brow and she replayed her comments in her mind. Oops. Hadn't meant to let the hot body comment slip out into the open.
"Not that you're hot. I was just being hypothetical."
Nice recovery.
Not.
There was no doubt about it. She was positively horrible at taking control of her life.”
Excerpt From Paws Up for Love: A Canine Cupids novel by Stephanie Rowe
This material may be protected by copyright.

Excerpt:
“Stop it!" He snapped so fiercely that even unflappable Bertie looked startled.
But only for an instant, after a while she recovered nicely. "Why does it bug you for me to speak the truth?"
He scowled at her. "She belongs to Buddy."
Bertie laughed, so hard she actually snorted. So hard she couldn't even apologize for being so unladylike.
"I fail to see what's so funny."
"You!"
At least that's what he thought she said. Kinda hard to tell between the guffaws. "Bertie!”
Excerpt From Paws Up for Love: A Canine Cupids novel by Stephanie Rowe
This material may be protected by copyright. show less

Irresistibly Mine by Stephanie Rowe

Instant compassion for the burnt out hero that's lost his sh*t and the irreverent heroine with a sad childhood.
A beautiful romance that touched me deeply. I laughed a lot at Chloe and grinned a lot when Blue gave Chloe a grin. I read paragraphs over and over in the middle of reading to slow it down. I didn't want that joy and laughter to go away. I didn't want this feeling of love and adoration to end.
Sure, midway through me, and I'm sure ever other reader, show more wanted to shake them both and give them the solution, but it takes them and a friend quite a bit longer to come to the same solution.
And then I was crying. It's not sad. It is emotional. Oh, so good.

An absolute must if you love a good romance with heart.
If I could give this one six, seven or more stars, I so would.

Excerpt
“He crouched beside her, his hand going to her elbow. "You okay?"
"No. My heart just exploded in terror, and my brain is irretrievably melted from fear." She closed her eyes, trying to keep the dizziness at bay. "I am not built for that kind of running."
"I really am sorry. I was asleep and reacted instinctively when you barged in."
"I didn't barge. I was fleeing killer mosquitoes." Her lungs hurt. Her throat hurt. Had she been screaming? She kind of thought she might have been. "How much was I screaming just now?"
She heard him chuckle. "Not enough. If I really was a bad guy, you should have worked harder to alert help."
"Because the raccoons and skunks would definitely have come to my aid." She finally got a decent breath into her lungs, enough to look up at him.”
Excerpt From: Rowe, Stephanie. “Irresistibly Mine: A Birch Crossing Novel.” show less

When We Least Expect It by Stephanie Rowe
Contemporary romance, romantic comedy. Loosely connected to the Hart Ranch Billionaires series which is connected to the Wyoming Rebel series. Name dropping really but it does set the atmosphere and location. Dual POV told in third person.
Piper Townsend is a wedding planner for the elite. Sadly, when three of her past brides make it known they are getting a divorce and Piper herself is a run-away bride, her career takes a major hit. With Declan’s show more help, she’s going to spin it as being a bride protector instead, wanting only the best for any bride she works for. Piper really wants this job to work. It’s what her mother wanted for her the most.
Declan Jones has buried all his feelings for the loss of his job and his wife into being a loner and working by himself on a house he bought. He’s a grumpy landlord and a part time bartender.
His tenant is sassy and always smiling. Until her work reputation gets ruined and he finds himself willing to do anything to put a smile back on her face. And when she smiles, he feels just a little bit better himself. Agreeing to be her fake finance on a temporary basis should be easy. But he finds himself healing and then kissing and then more.
Their arrangement was supposed to be temporary. Maybe they can have more.

This author can write a very emotionally fulfilling story. You know exactly how he feels from being out of sorts, to waking up to his surroundings to feeling lighter having kissed his girl. You know how she feels from the struggle to be enough doing a job, to the satisfaction of helping someone to do the right thing, to feeling his kiss just melt everything away.

Unfortunately, the more I like a book, the slower I read, reading paragraphs and pages over and over again in the process. That’s not helpful when I’ve got other books to read! Or a deadline to meet! The past few days I keep finding myself doing other things instead of reading this book, while it’s in my hands! Yes, I’m one of those, saving the best for last.

All that, I love this book, the banter, the couple, their connection, the angst, their kissing, the feelings, their falling, their happiness.
I’m swooning. And it’s going to be a bad hangover.

Too much?
A fantastic romance by a brilliant writer of romance. All the stars. show less

Hunt the Darkness by Stephanie Rowe

Selfless. These characters are all so strong, confident and selfless. Heroes really. Kind of makes you want to be a better person.

The Order of the Blade. Each warrior is consumed by his relentless search for redemption.
Book 11 in the series. Can be read on its own.

Long in the middle. Drama and self punishment? No, self sacrifice. Repetitively. Although it was always insightful it seemed to sometimes stop the action in the middle of a fight or crucial show more moment.
In the end, the depth of love between the lovers, between the warriors, and the family made this romance a beautiful, fulfilling chapter in the Order of the Blade.

Excerpt:
“Is this seat open?"
Vlad looked up slowly, his trademark scowl in place. An old man with grizzled, gray hair was standing next to him, holding a bottle of the same beer Vlad was drinking. His hair hung in tangled mats down his back, and his beard was the same, reaching almost to his waist. His blue eyes were vivid, sunk deep into pits in his heavily wrinkled skin. He was wearing a black wool cape pulled tight around him, obscuring all but the tips of what appeared to be battered cowboy boots.
Vlad was kind of impressed that the old man had dared to speak to him. Not many people did these days. Sophie had always had a soft spot for old people, so he sighed and decided that practicing courtesy once a century wouldn't be a bad thing. Vlad responded, lifting one shoulder in a shrug, granting the old man permission to take the chair to another table that was overcrowded with pompous self-absorbed bastards pretending to be friends.
"Great." The man pulled out the chair and sat down beside him.
He sat down.
At Vlad's table.
Beside Vlad.
What the hell? Clearly, Vlad had made a strategic error by showering this morning. Apparently, he smelled too good. Or maybe it was his hair. It always got shiny when he washed it. He had to stop doing that. Shiny hair wasn't antisocial enough.
The old man set his beer on the table with a solid thud.
Vlad couldn't remember the last time anyone had sat next to him. It was irritating to have someone so close, but at the same time, the boldness of the old man was mildly interesting.”
Excerpt From: Rowe, Stephanie. “Hunt the Darkness: An Order of the Blade Novel.” show less