Category Archives: Donovan Brothers Brewery

October 24, 2011 · 3:00 am

Real Men Will by Victoria Dahl

Title: Real Men Will by Victoria Dahl
Donovan Brothers Brewery Book 3
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

It was meant to be a one-night stand. One night of passion. Scorching-hot. Then Beth Cantrell and Eric Donovan were supposed to go their separate ways. That’s the only reason he lied about his name, telling her he was really his wild younger brother. Hiding his identity as the conservative Donovan. The “good one.”

But passion has its own logic, and Eric finds he can’t forget the sable-haired beauty with whom he shared a night of love. When Beth discovers that Eric has lied, however, she knows he can’t be trusted. Her mind tells her to forget the blue-eyed charmer. If only every fiber of her being didn’t burn to call him back.

The Review:

With Real Men Will, Victoria Dahl exposes the hidden depths and secrets that Eric Donovan has concealed from his siblings Tessa and Jamie. The third and final installment in the Donovan Brothers Brewery series is deliciously sexy and sometimes poignant as Beth Cantrell and Eric turn their one night stand into a meaningful relationship.

In the previous novels of the Donovan Brothers Brewery series, Eric’s behavior toward Jamie and Tessa has been controlling and hypercritical. In Real Men Will, a surprising revelation divulges the motivation behind his actions and reveals the vulnerability he hides from Tessa and Jamie. He is an intense man that is attempting to redefine his position in the family owned business. In addition, changing family dynamics are forcing him to question his role in Jamie and Tessa’s lives.

Beth Cantrell is struggling with identity issues as well. Unresolved issues from her past have left her mistrustful of men, and she finds it difficult to embrace her sexuality. With Eric, Beth finds it easy to relax and the sex between these two is explosive and HOT.

Interspersed with Beth and Eric’s story are the ongoing and sometimes complicated interactions between Eric, Tessa and Jamie. Eric and Jamie’s tenuous relationship is tested and miscommunication is a large part of their problem. Tessa is still the family peacemaker who cannot bear to see her brothers at odds with one another.

Victoria Dahl is an immensely gifted author whose writing is startling authentic and immensely appealing. Her characters are easy to relate to, and Ms. Dahl defies convention and writes refreshingly realistic yet happy endings.

Real Men Will is a delightful end to the Donovan Brothers Brewery series. The various subplots that have carried throughout the previous novels are successfully and satisfyingly wrapped up. And I must say that Ms. Dahl spectacularly redeemed Eric Donovan into a sympathetic and likeable protagonist.

While I am sad to say goodbye to the Donovan siblings, I am very much looking forward to Ms. Dahl’s next novel.

My review of Good Girls Don’t can be found HERE.
My review of Bad Boys Do can be found HERE.

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Filed under Contemporary, Donovan Brothers Brewery, HQN Books, Rated B, Real Men Will, Romance, Victoria Dahl

September 26, 2011 · 4:00 am

Bad Boys Do by Victoria Dahl

Title: Bad Boys Do by Victoria Dahl
Donovan Brothers Brewery #2
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Olivia Bishop is no fun. That’s what her ex-husband said. And that’s what her smart bob and glasses imply. So with her trademark determination, Olivia sets out to remake her life. She’s going to spend time with her girlfriends and not throw it all away for some man. But when an outing with her book club leads her to a brewery taproom, the dark-haired beauty realizes that trouble—in the form of sexy Jamie Donovan—may be too tempting to avoid.
Jamie Donovan doesn’t mean to be bad. Sure, the wild streak in his wicked green eyes has lured the ladies before. Now it’s time to grow up. He’s even ready for a serious romance. But how can that be when Olivia, the only right woman he has ever met, already has him pegged as wrong?

The Review:

With Bad Boys Do, Victoria Dahl brings us Jamie Donovan’s sexy, but emotional story. Despite Jamie’s efforts to prove otherwise, his brother and sister persist in viewing him as the irresponsible bad boy of the family. To help dispel that image, he strikes up a deal with college teacher Olivia Bishop. In exchange for teaching her to have fun and loosen up, Olivia will help him with his presentation to expand the family brewery business.

Hidden behind Jamie’s flirtatious and good natured exterior are a wealth of doubt, uncertainty and guilt. He is simmering with anger at his brother Eric’s inability to see view him as anything but the immature partying playboy he was in his younger years.

Olivia leads a controlled and rigidly scheduled life. She always does the proper thing even if it is not what she wants to do. Now divorced, she is attempting to bring some much needed fun into her well ordered world. And Jamie is just the man to help her.

Jamie and Olivia begin an intensely passionate relationship that becomes much more than either imagined. There is plenty of hot sex and fun but it does not take long before their emotions become involved. It is absolutely delightful seeing the growth of each character as they step out of their defined roles and change their families’ and friends’ perceptions of them.

Bad Boys Do is an engaging read with unexpected emotional depth. Jamie and Olivia are well developed winsome characters that will capture your heart. The chemistry between them is blazing hot and their sex scenes are scorching!

The last novel of the Donovan Brother’s Brewery trilogy is Real Men Will featuring Eric Donovan. Eric’s behavior towards Jamie was pretty reprehensible in Bad Boys Do, and I am looking forward to seeing how Victoria Dahl pulls off redeeming his character.

This review is also posted at

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Filed under Bad Boys Do, Contemporary, Donovan Brothers Brewery, HQN Books, Rated B+, Romance, Victoria Dahl

September 19, 2011 · 3:00 am

Good Girls Don’t by Victoria Dahl

Title: Good Girls Don’t by Victoria Dahl
Donovan Brothers Brewery Series Book 1
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: A

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Too much of a good thing…

With her long ponytail and sparkling green eyes, Tessa Donovan looks more like the girl next door than a businesswoman—or a heartbreaker. Which may explain why Detective Luke Asher barely notices her when he arrives to investigate a break–in at her family’s brewery. He’s got his own problems—starting with the fact that his partner, Simone, is pregnant and everyone thinks he’s the father.

Tessa has her hands full, too. Her brother’s playboy ways may be threatening the business, and the tension could tear her tight–knit family apart. In fact, the only thing that could unite the Donovan boys is seeing a man come after their “baby” sister. Especially a man like Luke Asher. But Tessa sees past the rumors to the man beneath. He’s not who people think he is—and neither is she.

The Review:

With Good Girls Don’t, Victoria Dahl begins a new series that promises to be highly entertaining and deliciously sexy. Centering around the Donovan siblings and their family business, this first installment of the Donovan Brothers Brewery series is baby sister Tessa Donovan’s story. And oh, what a fabulous story it is!

Tessa is a perfect combination of naughty and nice. Beneath her girl next door exterior is a woman who revels in her sexuality. She is struggling to keep the peace between her brothers Eric and Jamie as they butt heads over their changing roles in the brewery. What begins as a light-hearted fling with Luke Asher quickly becomes a turning point when Tessa’s life slowly begins to spiral out of control. It is not until late in the book that readers and Luke see the vulnerable and scared woman Tessa hides behind her fun loving façade.

Luke Asher is a complex man whose bad boy reputation could not be farther from the truth. He is a caring and sensitive man that refuses to let his devastating divorce keep him from risking his heart again. He is a reflective man who owns up to his past mistakes and expects the same from Tessa. Luke does not shy away from confrontation with Tessa and they work through their respective issues.

Good Girls Don’t has several subplots that are appealing and provide added interest. Luke’s relationship with his partner Simone adds another layer to his complex personality. Tessa’s relationship with her brothers is the key to understanding who she is. Luke and Simone’s investigation into the break-in and their subsequent arrest sets in motion an unforeseen chain of events that become the catalyst to Tessa addressing her fears and moving past them.

Good Girls Don’t is a passionate romance that resonates with realistic characters and situations. Victoria Dahl’s dialogue is often hilarious but also hard hitting when the occasion calls for it. Tessa and Luke’s sex scenes are playful and scorching hot. There is an underlying poignancy to Good Girls Don’t that adds a great deal of depth to this engaging, fast paced, fun read.

Ms. Dahl leaves her readers highly anticipating Bad Boys Do the next novel in the Donovan Brothers Brewery trilogy.

Originally posted at The Reader’s Roundtable

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Filed under Contemporary, Donovan Brothers Brewery, Good Girls Don't, HQN Books, Rated A, Romance, Victoria Dahl