Catherine Chernow

She's a cougar, he's a cub, can they find happiness together and be...Lucky in Love?

Maddie Summers' friends nicknamed her 'Lucky'. The scratch-off lottery tickets she gives them for their birthdays are winners. There's only one place Maddie could use some of that good fortune – her love life. She's at that midpoint of her life - 50 - with grey hairs and a few inches added to her waistline. When her husband left her for a younger woman, a part of her died, but she bounced back, and now she's ready for...what? Maddie isn't sure what she wants to do with the rest of her life, but she's determined not to let it slip by.

Her dormant hormones spring to life the day six-feet, four-inches of drop-dead gorgeous man moves in to the vacant house next to hers. He's got her hot. He's got her panting. There's just one problem - he's thirty-five.

Jake Conroy's life changes the day he finds his sexy new neighbor standing on his doorstep. He's not looking for love, he's looking for a fresh start in a new town, with a new job. He never figured on meeting Maddie, an older woman with a new attitude.

Maddie is patient and forgiving, while most of Jake's peers are not. Her family has raised eyebrows and his job isn't working out. Is their cougar and cub relationship just a fling, or will they prove they are...

Lucky in Love.

Maddie Summers thinks she’s taking a "welcome to the neighborhood gift" to the older Mr. Conroy and gets a pleasant surprise when he’s actually young and gorgeous.

I enjoyed this story from the very first page. Maddie comes across as a real person and you felt her excitement and slight embarrassment when she discovers her new neighbor is actually a young hunk. I enjoy older woman/younger man stories and this one didn’t disappoint me. I felt Maggie’s attraction to Jake who comes across not only as handsome and sexy but as a nice guy too.

While you’re reading this story you cheer Maddie on and find yourself saying just go for it when you sense her reluctance to take their relationship to the next step because of their age difference. The sex scenes are well placed and sexy. The dialogue is natural sounding and the pacing just right for this short read.

If you’re looking for a quick and enjoyable story, I recommend you pick up Lucky in Love.

Sloan Benton, a New York art promoter, has worked hard at building her business and her name to be one of the best around. When she sees new talent, she makes certain she grabs their business and she molds and shapes them into budding artists of their time.

When Dallen O’Neal sends Sloan a few pictures of his sculptures and an invite to see his studio, she’s enthralled by his talent and marvels at his workmanship. She’s never seen such seductive, sensual and erotic sculptures as Dallen has created and she knows he’ll be in high demand once the public gets wind of his talent. So she goes to talk to him and offers to represent him.

Ironically, Dallen doesn’t tell Sloan immediately about how they met years ago when they were both new to the field. Or how she had dashed any hopes of him being a famous artist because she felt he didn’t have the talent to survive in the art world. He’s out for revenge to prove to her that he deserves being an artist and a damn good one at that. Sloan has no idea that once she offers him a contract both their lives are going to change drastically.

What happens when Dallen finally tells Sloan the truth? Does she remember him at that point? Sloan has never broken a contract in the past, but will she break Dallen’s because of his deception with her?

Ms. Chernow has penned another story that is smoking hot. The chemistry between Sloan and Dallen is incredible and I felt bad for her that he was being so deceptive with her just to prove a point. Ms. Chernow has a very distinctive voice and is a master at picking the perfect combination of words that aids in molding her own beautiful masterpiece for her readers. If you’re looking for a read that’s hot, sensual and totally erotic than look no further!

Clarise Masters is the elderly owner of Bride's Inn, an establishment that's said to be haunted. Her nephew, the mysterious Seth, shows up unannounced on a stormy night and frightens Clarise's caregiver, Serena Reilly.
Sparks fly between Serena and Seth. They're physically attracted to each other, but they're afraid to get emotionally involved. When Serena's life is endangered, however, they have no choice but to confront their feelings.

Reviewed By: Gail Pruszkowski

Bounty hunter Shyra Lawrence wakes up to her favorite radio station’s announcer’s declaration that today is National No Undies Day.  While she’s never entertained the thought of ‘going commando’ she has to admit the idea has merit and of course there is that added bonus of not having to worry about the annoyance of undies getting wedged in your… ummm, crack.  She decides to go with the flow and ditch the undies for the day and in her enthusiasm, fires off an email to her best friend, Donna, declaring the benefits of going sans panties – only the email goes to the wrong recipient.  Ditching the undies may have unexpectedly delightful benefits that Shyra’s only considered in her fantasies.

Shyra’s boss Derek Grayson has it bad for Shyra but there’s that pesky little sexual harassment problem and he certainly doesn’t want to lose his top bounty hunter just because she doesn’t feel the same way about him as he does her.  It’s causing a lot of frustration but opening his email and reading all about Shyra’s plans for a panty free day pushes him over the edge.  After all, why would she send him an email like that unless she’s interested in him personally, right? 

Thanks to traffic Shyra’s late getting to work.  It’s a sure sign that it’s going to be a long day.  Meanwhile she’s blissfully unaware of the conversation between Derek and his brother Mike about Derek’s attraction to her.  Derek’s boys adore Shyra and Mike believes they’d make a wonderful couple but Derek’s not about to ruin the company or his friendship with Shyra by making unwanted passes.  That is until he reads her email and then all bets are off.  He wants her and he’s determined to have her – in any and every position imaginable… and well, if she’s not wearing panties then that just makes her even more accessible. 

By the time Shyra arrives at work Derek’s prepared for her and determined that nobody else would see her naked nether region.  Shyra’s embarrassed to learn that she sent the email to the wrong person but if it gets a reaction like this out of Derek then she’s certainly not going to regret the mistake.  Her main worry is that getting involved with the boss could be detrimental to her career but Derek’s suddenly become overly protective and in their line of work sometimes risks have to be taken.  Can they reach an understanding or will Shyra be forced to seek work elsewhere?  

There are definite benefits to GOING COMMANDO and Catherine Chernow adds a few new erotic benefits that definitely make it infinitely appealing to ditch the undies!  I had to laugh at the whole email mistake, I’ve done that so many times and I could just imagine the fallout if some of those emails had fallen into the wrong hands.  In Shyra and Derek’s case, this mix-up is definitely a good thing as it forces them to acknowledge the attraction between them.  Ms. Chernow infuses plenty of heat, suspense, laughter, and love into this storyline with delightful results.

Discount store bigwig Jared Martin has every intention of building a MegaMart in the small town of Summersville. What he doesn't anticipate is the extreme opposition he receives from Kat Sullivan, a local shop owner, or the feelings he develops for the community and the spitfire who possesses the audacity to fight him.

Kat Sullivan is the proud owner of KISS (Kat's Incredibly Special Store). She takes great pride in the beautiful creations which she designs and sells at KISS. More importantly she’s able to use her store and creations to restore hope and a sense of femininity to women in dire need. She isn't about to allow anyone to step in and destroy everything she’s worked so hard for or the community that she loves.

Kat’s written tirade in a newspaper regarding Jared and his plans to build a MegaMart in Summersville produces unexpected results. Rather than ignore her challenge Jared shows up and confronts her at KISS. He fully intends to garner her support as well as the support of the rest of the townspeople and he's willing to do whatever he has to in order to win. Kat admits to herself that she's extremely attracted to Jared but he's the enemy so there's no way she's going to act on her feelings. She devises a plot that she's sure will prove to Jared that Summersville is not the place for MegaMart. Jared realizes that Kat is the sort of person that doesn't like any change whatsoever and if he's going to win her over it's going to be an uphill battle. He'll soon discover that Kat is more than just a business owner in the community, she's a well-loved pillar of the community. Jared rises to each challenge Kat throws his way but she's convinced there has to be a way to win - all she has to do is uncover whatever secrets she can find about Jared and threaten to expose it. Kat isn't without her own secrets either. What will happen when emotions explode and life as they've come to know it is threatened?

Catherine Chernow's KISS is an emotional read that is sure to capture readers hearts. I adored Kat and Jared's sense of right and wrong and their love and devotion to the people in their lives. The more I read the easier it became to understand Kat's need for her town to remain the same and I was actually brought to tears when she was forced to face the fact thatsome changes are necessary regardless of how she feels about it. Jared also had a touching story that really endeared him to me. Jared and Kat's relationship gets off to a rocky start but their passion for the community of Summersville and their attraction to each other combine and will quickly have readers praying that they'll find a happily ever after. I loved the emotional appeal of the secondary characters and how casually Ms. Chernow incorporates several devastating diseases to add a sense of realism to the storyline. There's even a character who lost her husband during 9/11. KISS will appeal to readers on many levels and incorporates a variety of emotions that will make it an unforgettable story you'll want to read many times.

“Catherine Chernow's THE FINE ART OF KISSING is a fast-paced charming look at the courtship between an author and a talk show host. Both Brad and Julie are enamored by each other but neither of them are willing to admit it. Julie's statement that she's kissed a hundred men while researching her book puts her in the hot seat so to speak when the producer decides that she should demonstrate technique on the show. The idea doesn't appeal to either Julie or Brad, but neither of them are willing to back down from the challenge either. Ms. Chernow combines the fun of viewing Brad and Julie's "war of the sexes" with the seriousness of partner abuse to create a story that will draw readers in, have you smiling while you read, with just a touch of sadness that will have you applauding Julie's determination to help women's shelter in any way she can.”

Read the full review by clicking on the link below:

http://romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/contemporary/The_Fine_Art_of_Kissing.shtml

I just loved this contemporary thriller from Ms. Chernow. I was thoroughly entertained and sitting on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story. My heart was racing as I was reading the action scenes and I found myself quickly flipping the pages as fast as I could just to see what happened next....I’m definitely adding this one to my library and I assure you that if you pick this one up, you won’t be disappointed. Ms. Chernow has amazing writing talent.

Nolan Frey has found a refuge of sorts by working as a maid at Bride’s Inn.  She’s hiding from a cousin who’s convinced that she stole his inheritance. The inn’s in trouble because the lady in white has begun scaring the patrons so it’s time that something is done. 

When her appearance terrifies a couple staying at the inn, they demand a refund for the night and plan on leaving immediately.  They also insist that they will want a refund on the payment they’ve made for their daughter’s wedding which is to take place there.  Nolan lies and tells them that ‘Ghost Seekers’ a television program, is going to be featuring the inn in an upcoming episode.  Unbeknownst to her Clarice knows the producer of the popular show and can make her lie a reality.

Nolan’s first encounter with ‘Ghost Seekers’ director Ian McIntyre is an embarrassing situation as she had been unaware that he was still in his room when she went in to clean it.  He accuses her of trying to steal from him but underneath their heated discussion is a sexual tension that they both try hard to deny. 

Nolan is perfectly content in her obscure position but with the arrival of the ‘Ghost Seekers’ show staff her power to ‘see’ the unexplainable becomes obvious and she’s asked to aid the show staff with the lady in white.  The ghost’s discontent is apparent to everyone who encounters her.  The entire inn staff is determined to find a way to help the lady in white to escape her ghostly existence but Nolan is the only one with a means to communicate with her.  Will Nolan be able to maintain her safe existence and still help the ‘Ghost Seekers’?  Is there any hope for a real romance between Nolan and Ian?

Catherine Chernow continues her BRIDE’S INN series with this stimulatingly intense story GHOST SEEKERS.  This is the first time in the series that the lady in white’s discontent is obvious.  I was fascinated by her determination to pay back the man responsible for her death and stunned by how everything comes together.  Nolan and Ian make a wonderful couple but there are issues that may threaten any happiness they could find together.  What I especially loved about this story was the revelation that Clarice and the producer of ‘Ghost Seekers’ once had a passionate love for each other - which apparently neither of them ever got over.

 If you’d like to know more about Clarice or the other residents of the BRIDE’S INN then be sure to pick up the rest of the books in this series.

In order they are:

BRIDE’S INN 

TIGER’S EYE

MAGIC MAN

GHOST SEEKERS

Crystal Lane owns the Bride’s Inn jewelry concession.  Her jewelry is as unique as the proprietress herself.  She longs for a normal life but accepts that normalcy isn’t something that will ever be associated with her.  She’s no stranger to unexplainable events but a ‘confrontation’ with the Inn’s ghost bride is enough to send her into the arms of the MAGIC MAN, who just happens to believe that there’s no such thing as magic.

‘Mind Freak’ Anthony Zodan is a mentalist and magician.  Despite making his living through magic, he’s a non believer.  As far as he’s concerned there’s a scientific reason for all ‘magical occurrences.’  He’s been hired to entertain the guests of Bride’s Inn during the holiday.  Meeting Crystal and discovering that there are some wonders he can’t explain away forces him to admit that some magic may be more than just an illusion.

 Anthony may not believe in ghosts but he is thankful when Crystal’s belief that she was visited by the Lady in White sends her racing into his arms - even if she believed him to be someone else.  She passes out and reawakens in his arms but when she explains about what caused her distress, it’s obvious that Anthony doesn’t believe her story.  Fortunately the other people present have had experiences with ‘The Lady in White’ and are well aware of the impact of that first encounter.  Anthony’s convinced they’re all crazy but then Crystal begins to cry and he discovers a mystery that even doctor’s have been unable to explain - Crystal’s tears are actually tiny crystals that shrink and disappear after a few seconds. 

 Anthony’s completely captivated with Crystal.  Not just because of her unique tears but she’s a beautiful woman who displays a vulnerability and trusting personality which he can’t resist.  He’s determined to find out how she does that ‘trick’ with her eyes.  If he’s looking for just a good time or to exploit Crystal’s unusual trait he’s quickly dissuaded from this notion by her loving friends.  There’s no denying their sexual attraction but can she trust a man who refuses to believe in magic or unexplainable phenomena.

 MAGIC MAN is the third tale in Catherine Chernow’s BRIDE’S INN series.  This series just keeps getting better and better.  I’ve been fascinated by the Bride’s Inn and its resident ghost since the very first story in this series, but MAGIC MAN really captivated me with Crystal and Anthony’s volatile relationship.  There are several unexpected surprises and a shocking twist that caught me completely by surprise.  This is a series that continues to evolve and bring new and exciting aspects to the characters, Bride’s Inn and the resident ghost who I must admit I’ve come to care about and really hope for a happy ending for her.

Miranda Hollander is still reeling from the horrifying loss of the little boy she'd cared for as if he'd been her own.   She's been staying at Bride's Inn with her friend Serena while she tries to come to grips with what happened, but even here there's no escaping her memories or grief.  

Jake Hunter is visiting Bride's Inn under false pretences.   Oh, it didn't start out that way, when he arrived at the Inn Clarice and Serena assumed he was Grady Smith, the handyman sent by Serena's husband Seth. He just neglected to correct their error and failed to mention that he owns the land development company who has been making offers on the Inn.

 Miranda experiences her first encounter with the resident ghost just before Jake's arrival at Bride's Inn.   Afterwards she decides the whole episode was simply a figment of her imagination but she can't erase the Lady in White's words from her mind – "he's coming."

 The following morning, Miranda wakes up to discover a man she's never met before in her bed.   Jake arrived in the middle of the night and Clarice had sent him to a bedroom on Miranda's floor – only he enters the wrong room and since the power is out doesn't realize it is already occupied until much later.   Being awakened by a lovely woman rubbing against him isn't a hardship but realizing that she's asleep and blissfully unaware of what she's doing could put a bit of a strain on a man’s control.  

 Once she is fully awake and realizes what happened, Miranda is mortified and blames him entirely for the whole episode.   Of course Jake finds her enchanting and sets about winning her over during his time at Bride's Inn.   They've both had more than their fair share of heartache and loss and have no desire to experience such pain again.   Maybe finding love in each other's arms is exactly the balm they need to begin to heal.   But what will happen when Miranda discovers that the man she's fallen in love with isn't who he's claiming to be?

 Catherine Chernow has written a truly captivating tale with TIGER'S EYE.   We first met several of the characters in LADY IN WHITE, the first book of the BRIDE'S INN series and I really liked getting the opportunity to revisit them and see how their lives have turned out.   Miranda and Jake add a new dimension to the tale with their heated sexual attraction, heartbreaking pasts and other assorted issues they’re facing.   Throw in a touch of suspense and a stunning conclusion and this is a book you won't be able to put down.  

If you haven't read LADY IN WHITE yet, be sure to pick up a copy of that book as well – the characters, including the bridal ghost, really take on a life all their own.  

Serena Reilly is staying at Bride’s Inn as a companion to Clarice Masters. Night after night she hears an eerie voice calling her name and it terrifies her. Combine that with a raging storm and she’s a complete bundle of nerves.

After hearing the voice again, Serena hightails it to Clarice’s room to check on her. Clarice is fast asleep so Serena sits and watches the storm through the window. Lightening hits the ancient oak directly outside Clarice’s bedroom window. The lightening strike wakes up Clarice who then requests a glass of her nightly concoction - warm milk and butter. Serena is grossed out by her ‘snack’ but goes to make it anyway. On her way back up to Clarice’s room she encounters a woman standing at the top of the stairs - dressed in her wedding finery. The woman never speaks, but she descends the stairs and points to the door before disappearing.

When Serena looks at the door she’s able to see a shadow moving. Someone is lurking outside. The would-be intruder tries the knob, presses his face to the glass, and pounds on the door which causes Serena to drop the tray with Clarice’s nasty concoction - shattering the glass. She heads to the kitchen and arms herself with a heavy pan as she hears the front door crash open. Seconds later she’s swinging the would-be weapon at the intruder only to have him block her attack and restrain her on the couch with his own body. She just attempted to bludgeon Clarice’s nephew, Seth, who’s arrived a full day early. While the storm outside begins to calm a new one begins inside Serena as she fights her own desire for Seth which is only intensified by his wicked teasing and gentle caring manner.

Seth doesn't believe he has anything to offer a woman like Serena aside from a few stolen kisses and a little loving. When another man enters the picture, Seth's instincts go on high alert and he's filled with distrust for the reporter who's supposed to be doing a feature on Bride's Inn. To complicate matters even further, the reporter, Peter Collin, is showing far too much interest in Serena - a fact that isn't sitting well with Seth at all. What do a ghost, a reporter, and an Inn made famous because of the numerous weddings and a tragedy that took place there have in common? Well, you're just going to have to pick up a copy of this book to find out.

LADY IN WHITE is the first book in Catherine Chernow's BRIDE'S INN series. While this story is relatively short in length, it's chock full of exciting events that will keep readers glued to the pages anticipating what will happen next. I was captivated by the history of the Inn and the ghostly inhabitant. Seth and Serena's relationship is intensely rocky and as a reader I was never sure what would happen next with them which makes them a delightful couple to read about, especially once Peter enters the storyline. This story concludes with a deeply satisfying ending you won't want to miss and will have you eagerly awaiting the next book in this thrilling series.

Paranormal Erotic Romance
Rating: 3 cups

The howl of the wind awakens Serena Reilly out of a sound sleep during a nasty spring storm. Thinking it is Clarice, her elderly charge, she rushes towards her bedroom but suddenly sees an unknown woman in a white gown on the stairs. Serena calls out to her but, the woman vanishes; she assumes it was her imagination playing games on her. Before she can go back to bed, someone else comes into the house. Before Serena can defend herself, it is only Seth Matthews, Clarice’s nephew. Seth than proceeds to kiss her senseless!

They are interrupted by Clarice, but kissing Serena has already gotten her under his skin. Seth has only come to visit his elderly aunt and never would have thought he would be so attracted to her home aid. This passionate redhead makes him feel things he has not felt in a long time and although he has only known her for a very short time, he wants her in his bed.

Serena can not deny her attraction to Seth and soon they are embarking on a passionate affair. But Serena is frightened by the ghost known as the “Lady in White” who haunts the Bride’s Inn. Seth does not believe in ghosts and soon they are at odds with each other. Serena and Seth must break the curse of the “Lady in White” along with making sure they come out alive with the possibly of a future together.

The Lady in White, is a nice erotic ghost story all rolled into one. From the moment Seth grabbed Serena and kissed her, I knew these two were meant for each other. Their passion and overall loving nature for each other which includes Clarice was very touching. The plot had a very atmospheric feel that left me hungry for more.

Kate
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books