Rating: 
Summary: Amusing
Review: Although all four stories would be considered more "fluff" tan "stuff", they were at least entertaining fluff!"The Icing on the Cake" had the male as the homemaker-type and the female as Grizzly Adams. The interactions between them were fun since it was the male who got mad at such things as his cakes being eaten too soon, etc. The plot itself was pretty weak and there were all kinds of asides that were merely distracting and totally unecessary. But it got laugh or two. "Short Hot Summer" was nice to read as the weather gets colder since the description of the heat was believable. Unfortunately the story wasn't -- believable, that is. Can a high-power business man who actually schedules every minute really decide in a week that he'll live in an un-air conditioned hotel in the middle of nowhere and do nothing? Even for love? Hmmmmmm. "Pride and Prejudice" was the story I liked best. It was funny and I learned a lot about dog shows. Although I can't see the pampered heroines -- both girl and dog -- moving to a sheep ranch, the dialog and interactions were lively and the parts where the dogs got to have their say were great! "The Princess and the Adventurer" was the worst of the lot. A very typical "indiana jones" type plot -- girl looking for someone/thing gets into trouble and the tough-guy has to bail her out. Neither charactor had anything new or even interesting to recommend them. Boring. All in all, not a bad read but nothing too deep or memorable.
Rating:
Summary: Amusing
Review: Although all four stories would be considered more "fluff" tan "stuff", they were at least entertaining fluff! "The Icing on the Cake" had the male as the homemaker-type and the female as Grizzly Adams. The interactions between them were fun since it was the male who got mad at such things as his cakes being eaten too soon, etc. The plot itself was pretty weak and there were all kinds of asides that were merely distracting and totally unecessary. But it got laugh or two. "Short Hot Summer" was nice to read as the weather gets colder since the description of the heat was believable. Unfortunately the story wasn't -- believable, that is. Can a high-power business man who actually schedules every minute really decide in a week that he'll live in an un-air conditioned hotel in the middle of nowhere and do nothing? Even for love? Hmmmmmm. "Pride and Prejudice" was the story I liked best. It was funny and I learned a lot about dog shows. Although I can't see the pampered heroines -- both girl and dog -- moving to a sheep ranch, the dialog and interactions were lively and the parts where the dogs got to have their say were great! "The Princess and the Adventurer" was the worst of the lot. A very typical "indiana jones" type plot -- girl looking for someone/thing gets into trouble and the tough-guy has to bail her out. Neither charactor had anything new or even interesting to recommend them. Boring. All in all, not a bad read but nothing too deep or memorable.
Rating: 
Summary: When Opposites Attract, sparks fly!
Review: Hi Readers, When my editor suggested the idea for this romance anthology, I was delighted. I think that men and women are opposites anyway, but then to take it from there and create a man and a woman with entirely opposing personalities, and then have them have the audacity to actually embark on a love affair -- it just sounded like too much fun! There are four novellas in this collection, mine is the last of the bunch and titled "The Princess and the Adventurer". Picture Indiana Jones meeting up with a very cool Grace Kelly and you have an idea of the opposites that I worked with! Add in a fortune in gold, a steamy Mexican jungle, non-stop action and adventure, and I hope it has the makings of a fun summer read! I'd love to hear back from you, what you thought and if you enjoyed it. All my best, Elda Minger
Rating:
Summary: Amusing
Review: I flew to read it because Lynn Kurland. It's not very good--imaginative though. Ms. Kurland can't really write short stories--her characters always hint at something deeper which can't be brought out in a short story very well--unless you are P.G. Wodehouse. Short stories are sometimes more difficult than books. Can't wait for your next book Ms. Kurland!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Not the best
Review: I flew to read it because Lynn Kurland. It's not very good--imaginative though. Ms. Kurland can't really write short stories--her characters always hint at something deeper which can't be brought out in a short story very well--unless you are P.G. Wodehouse. Short stories are sometimes more difficult than books. Can't wait for your next book Ms. Kurland!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Both ends of the spectrum
Review: I love all of Lynn Kurland's stories, and _The Icing on the Cake_ is no exception. I *loved* Sydney! A tough exterior, with a vulnerable heart. And I will grant, it's not LK's best, but it's very difficult to have a fully-fleshed out story in a novella. (There have been very few short story romances where I've felt really satisfied, and that has usually only happened when the 2 main characters already had a history before we meet them.) Read her other books! And once you get to know and love the 2 families she writes about, then grab a LK novella - hers are great for when you want just a little taste, or don't have all night to read! :) I was really indifferent to _The Short, Hot Summer_. It wasn't bad, nor very good. _Pride and Prejudice_ was a good story. I also enjoyed reading about behind-the-scenes at a dog show, and it was nice to see people that weren't catty! Nothing against cats, of course (my 3 would take me to task over that remark if they could read!). There is very little I can find to recommend _The Princess and the Adventurer_. It felt like a very bad remake of _Romancing the Stone_. And then it got worse. I'm sure the author can write some very good tales, but this one must have fell through the cracks. I hope this review helps some people. I hunted this book down in a used book store, specifically for "Icing", and found another gem in "Pride".
Rating:
Summary: Both ends of the spectrum
Review: I love all of Lynn Kurland's stories, and _The Icing on the Cake_ is no exception. I *loved* Sydney! A tough exterior, with a vulnerable heart. And I will grant, it's not LK's best, but it's very difficult to have a fully-fleshed out story in a novella. (There have been very few short story romances where I've felt really satisfied, and that has usually only happened when the 2 main characters already had a history before we meet them.) Read her other books! And once you get to know and love the 2 families she writes about, then grab a LK novella - hers are great for when you want just a little taste, or don't have all night to read! :) I was really indifferent to _The Short, Hot Summer_. It wasn't bad, nor very good. _Pride and Prejudice_ was a good story. I also enjoyed reading about behind-the-scenes at a dog show, and it was nice to see people that weren't catty! Nothing against cats, of course (my 3 would take me to task over that remark if they could read!). There is very little I can find to recommend _The Princess and the Adventurer_. It felt like a very bad remake of _Romancing the Stone_. And then it got worse. I'm sure the author can write some very good tales, but this one must have fell through the cracks. I hope this review helps some people. I hunted this book down in a used book store, specifically for "Icing", and found another gem in "Pride".
Rating:
Summary: This was a very disappointing effort by Lynn Kurland !
Review: I love Lynn Kurland's books but this one left me feeling disappointed. I honestly think this was a waste of my money and time. Her short story "The Icing on the Cake" was, by far, the weakest in the group. The characters were flat and the situation unbelievable---even for this reader who likes time travel romance ! Sydney and Sam just didn't seem the type to fall in love, and the character of Sam (and her life story) was especially far-fetched. The other short stories were mildly entertaining but certainly the whole book was waste of time. I can only hope that future story anthologies, like this, will be better.
Rating:
Summary: This was a very disappointing effort by Lynn Kurland !
Review: I love Lynn Kurland's books but this one left me feeling disappointed. I honestly think this was a waste of my money and time. Her short story "The Icing on the Cake" was, by far, the weakest in the group. The characters were flat and the situation unbelievable---even for this reader who likes time travel romance ! Sydney and Sam just didn't seem the type to fall in love, and the character of Sam (and her life story) was especially far-fetched. The other short stories were mildly entertaining but certainly the whole book was waste of time. I can only hope that future story anthologies, like this, will be better.
Rating:
Summary: Not Quite Up To Par
Review: I'm certain that quite a few people will purchase this anthology (as I did) to read Kurland's latest novella. I hate to be the one to break the news to you, but hers is the least enjoyable of the whole book. I would have given it a 1 or 2 had it stood alone. Kurland's story "The Icing on the Cake" reads like something out of the young adults section of your local bookstore. I love Kurland despite the fact that she is a G-rated author (a typical love scene in one of her books consists of the line "and then he loved her sweetly"), but "The Icing on the Cake" was not only devoid of love scenes, it was devoid of mature adult emotions. The interaction between the hero and heroine left me feeling as though I was reading from an old episode of "Happy Days" or something. Unfortunately, the hero is more of a Potzie than a Fonz. Regardless, here's a short recap of the novellas for you (taken from inside the book's jacket word for word): 1. "The Icing on the Cake" - He's a writer working on his new novel, and baking cakes on the side. She's an Alaskan wilderness buff more experienced at fending off grizzlies than men. But she's about to discover the joy of coming in from the cold... 2. "The Short, Hot Summer" - He was as out of place in Alabama as she would be in Manhattan. But the temperature spikes whenever an executive stuck in town for a big-time deal and his small-time landlady are together--creating enough heat to rival the sultry summer nights... 3. "Pride and Prejudice" - A double-booked hotel room during a prestigious dog show pits a cartoonist and her pet papillon with an award-winning Border collie. What ensues is a sexy contest of wills. And its winner take all... 4. "The Princess and the Adventurer" - She stuck out like a debutante at a monster truck rally. What was a lady doing in a cantina on the border of the Mexican jungle? Little did Matthew Kincaid realize, he was just the man she was looking for...
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