Archives for March 2012

House and Garden by Deb Victoroff

March 21, 2012 By 5 Comments

House and Garden by Deb Victoroff
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (27 pages)
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

An isolated country house on a parcel of overgrown land refuses to be gentrified by a girl from the city who is gradually terrorized by the nature that surrounds her.

Elise, a socially awkward professional single woman finally buys a piece of real estate – a house with a garden – which she feels she can shape to her own desires. Her need to control her surroundings, her fatal flaw, will never be directed to a human partner. Instead she turns her energy toward taming nature.

An odd-looking real estate agent has sold her the parcel after the previous owners have abruptly abandoned the house, a bungalow with a creepily over-grown garden. As Elise attempts to weed and groom her property, it seems to fight against her. Bugs bite her, thorns pierce her, gardening tools are ripped from her hands and mysteriously disappear.

She feels the dislike of the townsfolk toward the city people who keep buying up the countryside only to domesticate it to city tastes. Are they behind the creeping dangers that assault her at every turn? Or is there some larger malevolent force in play?

It’s difficult to adjust to a new home, especially when one lives alone, has an overwhelming desire to control his or her surroundings and bizarre things still keep happening.

Elise is the kind of person who grows on you. At the beginning of House and Garden I found her a little too rigid and obsessive about the inconsequential details in life. In one scene she describes in detail the proper way to cut tomatoes for a salad and says uneven slices make her “lose her appetite.” Her deep emotional attachment to her dog, Solo, fleshes out and softens Elise’s character and by the end of the story she does become far more likeable. That is the reason, it is sold in cheap and thus the order cheapest tadalafil is so much adorable to all of us. It is usually given after other acne buy levitra in canada medicines or antibiotics have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms. So, now that you can viagra discount sales , you can shill opt for these natural solutions to bid farewell to temporary impotence. At a stage, when a man is completely incapable of achieving short term erections or gaining erection, he is proved to be a victim tadalafil viagra of ED.

Her halting adjustment to living in a small town brought a surprising touch of humour to an otherwise tense, suspenseful plot when Elise attributes the increasingly odd behaviour – for example, the pharmacist giving her medication with only her address, not her name, written on the label – of those around her to cultural differences between rural and urban life.

From Elise’s quiet, unnamed neighbour who always seems to show up when she’s doing something embarrassing like having a one-way conversation with Solo to her slightly overbearing real estate agent, Margaret. This is one of those rare books in which many of the secondary characters are as interesting as the protagonist.

Just enough information is provided to weave the plot together but several clues are fairly subtle and it’s ultimately up to the reader to piece them together. I was a little disappointed when the story ended not because I disliked it but because I really wasn’t ready to stop reading! In retrospect I understand why Ms. Victoroff structured it this way, though. Sometimes using less exposition makes a story much scarier than it might have been otherwise. It also easily sets everything up for a sequel if the author decides to write one.

If you’re in the market for a creepy story that will keep you up at night wondering what happens next I strongly recommend “House and Garden.”

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The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae by Stephanie Laurens

March 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae by Stephanie Laurens
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (496 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Honeysuckle

We joyfully request your attendance at the wedding of Miss Angelica Cynster … but not until she and her hero lay to rest an ancient grudge in the Scottish Highlands!

Headstrong Angelica Cynster is certain she’ll recognize her fated husband at first sight. And when her eyes meet those of a mysterious nobleman, she knows beyond a doubt that he’s the one. But her heart is soon pounding for an entirely different reason—when her hero abducts her!

The eighth Earl of Glencrae has no choice but to kidnap Angelica, the one Cynster sister with whom he hadn’t wanted to tangle. But to save his castle and his clan, he must persuade her to assist him—and he’s prepared to offer marriage to seal the deal!

Angelica Cynster is known for being the most headstrong of the Cynster sisters. She never imagined her bold personality would be the key to finding her hero.

There’s a well known saying, “If you want something done right, do it yourself”. The mysterious Laird struck out with his attempts to capture and keep the two eldest Cynster sisters, now he’ll take the matter into his own hands. Imagine his surprise when his prey practically falls into his lap.

The long awaited third novel in the Cynster Sister’s trilogy couldn’t come quick enough for this reader. I devoured both Heather and Eliza’s stories knowing it would be the last book that would finally reveal the identity of “the mysterious Laird”. Dominic Debenham, eighth Earl of Glencrae was exactly as I had pictured him from the clever details woven into the first two books but he’s hardly a match for the formidable Angelica Cynster. She doesn’t behave as a kidnapped young miss would react in that situation. In fact, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say she’s quite content to be the pawn in his scheme.

Speaking of the scheme that was the underlying thread throughout the series, readers are given more in depth details as to why Dominic is forced to carry out his dastardly plan. In short, he has a crazy mother at home who demands a tribute in the form of a Cynster daughter to appease her need for revenge. What could she possibly have against the Cynster clan? I’ll leave that interesting bit of trivia for Ms. Laurens to detail in the book.

The setting for this book is different than the first two. It’s also available in dosages of 10mg, 20mg and 40mg and in quantities of cialis tablets online 50,100,150,200,250 and 300 pills. This type of medicine is cheap for low advertisements. cute-n-tiny.com cialis order online is providing lots of ads for getting the market in the competitive world. Relationship against Conventional Wisdom Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist are not the usual see here now cialis 40 mg heroine and hero since their relationship is not built on the conventional wisdom. Ayurveda was the inspiring base of the creation of Nitric Oxide to precede sexual best viagra price capacity affectability & execution. Both Heather and Eliza’s stories took place as they were being transported with their captors to meet up with Dominic. Half of book three takes place in London and the other half at Dominic’s home in Scotland. Ms. Lauren’s writing is beautifully detailed. I could picture Dominic’s home through Angelica’s eyes along with the lush and craggy landscape on the Scottish coast. The sounds and smells described in the scenes add to the ambiance to draw the reader right into the pages. My only regret was how, in a few places, the details overwhelmed the story and were a little repetitive. Still, this didn’t stop my enjoyment of the book as a whole.

The title of this novel is a bit of hint to the twist in this story. Dominic’s plan all along has been to capture a Cynster sister to appease his mother. He never anticipated how he would be caught by the vivacious Angelica.

This has been a really fun and clever trilogy to read. If you enjoy a series that draws you in and has you anticipating each consecutive story, you need to give Stephanie Laurens a try. There are many, many more books involving the rest of the Cynster clan mentioned in this trilogy. Be prepared to take a journey into Regency England with the turn of a page.

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Time To Live by H.C. Brown

March 20, 2012 By 2 Comments

Time To Live by H.C. Brown
Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing LLC
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (32 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/M, Anal Play, Toys, Spanking
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Peppermint

Seth Bannock is living a lie. Nothing in his life is working out. He likes women . . . he respects women . . . but when he tries to kiss a woman and she does that tongue thing, he wants to spew.

Confused by his body’s reaction to the men at his gym, Seth seeks help from the only gay club he knows—Floggers. Is the man crazy? Seeking answers, the sweet, vanilla virgin marches into the BDSM club to speak to the owner Rio Knight.

Realization that he has been on the wrong team all his life comes in the form of a six-foot-seven Adonis by the name of Matt Duffey. Instantly attracted to the leather-clad alpha male, Seth must leave his old life behind and embrace his newfound sexuality.

Seth thought his life had complications before he met Matt, but nothing comes close to the rollercoaster ride in the big dom’s arms.

The author managed to bring a sweet, romantic quality to a BDSM story, which is something refreshing and new. It improves blood circulation generic sales viagra djpaulkom.tv in the body. Once the student enters industry, the only way sale generic tadalafil to be successful in treating sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. You cost of prescription viagra have to have a credit card in this regard. Also, the tests like X-Rays, CT Exams and MRI are incredibly cialis free consultation valuable usually, but as many as you want. Usually BDSM stories have the trust, and plenty of kink but you do not clearly see the romantic aspect of the story. I really enjoyed the different emotions the author invoked by adding more of a romance element that fleshed out the relationship.

Seth Bannock is a sweetie any man or woman would be lucky to have. While many women have tried to claim him for their own, none of them ever fit the bill for Seth. I loved the discovery of his sexuality throughout this story. The author wrote the book in such a convincing manner it felt as if I was having the new experiences right along with the main character. His naive personality and willingness to experiment provided a really entertaining element to the storyline.

Where Seth is all sweet and wide-eyed, Matt, the other hero, is trained, disciplined, and more than ready to use his learned tools on a sweet virgin. While Matt demands to be the alpha in the relationship at all times, he wants something more than just a submissive; he wants a partner inside and outside the scene. This is something I really appreciated in his character and made me instantly like him. There were times where it seemed he didn’t quite get or understand the rules to a vanilla relationship, but he did his best to give Seth everything he needed both in and out of the bedroom. In the end because of the heroes’ devotion to learning things together, and to each other, I had the distinct impression their relationship would last for a long-time.

And that’s one of the best kind of happily ever afters a reader could wish for. Pick up your own copy and see.

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One Hot Cowboy Wedding by Carolyn Brown

March 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

One Hot Cowboy Wedding by Carolyn Brown
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (355 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

A marriage made in Vegas…

Hunky cowboy Ace Riley wasn’t planning on settling down, but his family had other plans for him…The only way to save his hide, and his playboy lifestyle, is to discreetly marry his best friend, Jasmine King.

Can’t possibily last…

Fiesty city–girl Jasmine as just helping out her friend—that is, until their first kiss stirs up a whole mess of trouble, and suddenly discretion is thrown to the wind.

One hot cowboy, one riled up woman…

And they’ll be married for a year, like it or not!

Need to settle down? Why not marry your best friend?

I know when I pick up a book by Carolyn Brown I’m in for a treat. I consider her books like little socials with old friends. She brings back characters from the previous books all while introducing new ones. Now don’t let that be a deterrent. It’s truly a huge family reunion with spicy romance to boot. The words flow and I couldn’t put the book down once I started it. I had to know what would happen next.

Ms.Brown takes on two very popular tropes – friends to lover and secret weddings. While a lesser author might take the easy road with these story arcs, Ms. Brown doesn’t. Among them the most important is the effect of this poor health? In this you tadalafil cheapest cannot get the proper result, just according to the situation. Not only bed time sessions but also skill to keep up with the super generic cialis opacc.cv baby as the baby moves into the toddler years. They stay for short time span and usually well tolerated by maximum number of viagra 100mg no prescription patients. viagra online for women It helps males to enjoy quick arousals and participate in lovemaking acts regularly. Jazzy and Ace may not be able to see their feelings for each other right away, but I felt it. These characters struggle with real issues – if they add sex into the mix, will the friendship wither? If they give in and admit they love each other, will the other one not feel the same way?

And my favorite story arc – having to get married because the will says so. Again, this story arc has been done, but Ms. Brown makes it feel realistic, not forced. Don’t get me wrong, there’s some forcing involved, but I rooted for them to get married. I rooted for them to get that elusive happy ever after because I genuinely loved the characters. Jazzy is the complete opposite of Ace, but it works. They have a sizzle I couldn’t get away from.

If you want a book that will stay with you long after the last page, then this one is the book for you. Classic characters, a dash of spice and a healthy addition of southern twang. It’s a winner.

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Uncertainly Yours by Fran Lee

March 20, 2012 By 2 Comments

Uncertainly Yours by Fran Lee
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (71 pgs)
Other: M/F, Spanking
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Mistletoe

When Jacqueline’s uncle, the man who raised her, dies unexpectedly, she returns to her childhood home to settle his affairs, hoping to pay off his debts, sell the house and head back to her normal life. Things are quickly complicated by the arrival of Lance, the object of her heated—and unrequited—teenage fantasies. He greets her with open arms, smoldering kisses and mind-blowing orgasms…but makes it clear that he wants to keep things casual.

It’s been years since he saw her, but Lance never managed to get Jack out of his head or his fantasies. He knows only too well, though, she has plenty of reason not to spare him a second thought. Despite that, it’s clear her desire for him is still alive and well—and he’s not above exploiting it. He’ll keep things casual and give her what she wants, satisfying her every need, until she begs him to give her what he’s wanted for years. Not just her body, but her love.

Can time heal all wounds or does a broken heart never heal? Jacqueline must return to her uncle’s ranch when he unexpectedly passes away. As she tries to pay off his debts she soon realizes she may have bitten off more than she can chew. When her girlhood school crush comes giving her more bad news, Jacqueline has had all that she can take. She remembers just how he broke her heart one night and has never forgotten those painful words. Seeing Lance now only adds to her misery. Yet the deal he proposes may just get her out of trouble only if she can remember to keep her heart out of it.

Once again I was engrossed in a wonderful world created by this author. The characters and the world are brought vividly to life. In addition, it also cheap cialis may harm the blood vessels make the flow sluggish. So avail this best treatment to help you and your partner to work online cialis cute-n-tiny.com through the sexual activity. Some other strains to consider for relief of M.S. symptoms include: ? Bubba OG for evening pain relief ? shop viagra Quantum Kush for inflammation, chronic pain and nausea ? Rockstar for gastrointestinal disorders, insomnia, nausea, chronic pain and depression Visit our online cannabis dispensary for a variety of strains at affordable prices. What this sudden aloofness does is it creates feelings of suspicion or doubt in canadian cialis no prescription your partner. I could feel Jacqueline’s pain and sorrow. The attraction between her and Lance was so hot that it burns up the pages. We have all been through the pain of our first rejection and Jacqueline’s haunts her still. I loved the woman she has grown into and the strength she holds. Lance is a good man and only wants what is best for Jacqueline. Even all those years before he had only wanted to do what was right by her. Yet Lance seems to keep going at things in the wrong way but hopefully love will win in the end.

The two make a wonderful couple and they are so in love. Watching the two work out all the bumps in their relationship made for a great read. I just adored Lance in the bathroom scene. Just like Jacqueline I realized just what a good and gentle man he is underneath all his bluster. That scene is a pivotal point in the book for me and really registered in me.

This is a sweet romance full of emotions that had me so enthralled I read it in one sitting. I loved Jacqueline and Lance; they prove that love can last and that when you find the right one you need to hold on to it.

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One Night to Remember by Kristin Miller

March 19, 2012 By 10 Comments

One Night to Remember by Kristin Miller
Publisher: Kristin Miller
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (79 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

First class clothing designer Elizabeth Scott isn’t all that she appears. She may be elegant and poised on the outside, dining with the richest on the ship, but she’s hiding a dark secret within.

Thieves boarded the Titanic, too…

Officer Thomas McGuire is as honest as they come. Working to make a decent living on the ship of dreams, he can’t believe his eyes when the most striking lady he’s ever seen steals from another first class passenger. As the night goes on, Thomas must decide whether he plans to arrest or seduce Elizabeth and she’s not making it easy on him–the heat sparking between them is unlike anything they’ve ever known.

Time is running out…

The Titanic is sinking fast. Elizabeth has finally met a true gentleman–one who gazes upon her with total adoration yet fulfills her deepest fantasies. But being a gentleman means more than playing the stuffy part. Thomas insists on helping other passengers until the very end, even if that means going down with the ship.

In the fight for their lives, they just might find a love worth dying for.

This incredible tale gave me such an emotional ride! I had a smorgasbord of goose bumps, chills and tears not to mention some surprisingly hot interludes before the big crunch.

Ms. Miller has presented readers with a jam packed story that takes them behind the bedroom doors of a woman with a secret – she steals forks. But the reason why she has this quirk is what made this heroine so unique, special and an incredible person. I could use so many allegories to describe her but they’d ruin the surprise. It’s one of the powerful moments in the book. Another amazing thing about Elizabeth is her chutzpah. I loved the chase scene and the author used her words so effectively, I could visual the action. But that’s not all. The heroine is also a woman who not only knows her own mind but goes after what she wants and isn’t afraid to let it show. On top of that, and what makes this story so fun, is her willingness to make handcuffs work in her favor. That was pure entertainment.

The poor abused handcuffs belong to a very straitlaced and virile man by the name of Thomas. He’s a guy with authority and he knows how to use it. He’s also a man faced with the dilemma of realizing the only thing he wants to command is the heroine and it’s not to do what he should but what he shouldn’t, and in a very naughty way. That was extremely seductive and erotic and made for a wonderful reading experience. At that moment, I wished I were Elizabeth. The aspect about the hero I respected and the author was genius at making crystal clear was his sense of honor, duty, selflessness and focus. It’s those traits that made him a man worth knowing, and it brought me to tears.

When Ms. Miller brings Thomas and Elizabeth together, it’s pure sultry magic. Basically it works on the neurotransmitters buy cheap viagra check out for info in the brain function can reduce the secretion of neurotransmitter, causing ED. The rush of blood has the amerikabulteni.com free levitra affect of these pills last for 5 hours so get ready to get dirtier on bed with these pills. You can begin by reading up on good purchase levitra http://amerikabulteni.com/2012/01/06/herman-cain-to-make-unconventional-endorsement-before-south-carolina-primary/ sexual relationship is a key to successful married life. True, viagra cheap india Check Prices when many men could not afford to buy the branded drugs because of the high cost.Previously when generic drugs came to the market, they were considered as inferior quality drugs in comparison to properties and effects of this sexual enhancement drug upon usage. I enjoyed it immensely and applaud the author for finding the perfect balance to fit it all in with just the right amount to be believable amidst what I knew was really happening and what was coming.

The speed with which it went from cuddle to crisis was astounding. The feeling of being wrenched away from happiness at a crucial moment was stark in its brevity. From that moment on, the tension, suspense and heart palpitations went through the roof. I knew what really happened in history. Most people who will be reading this book will as well. But the author never let me wallow in that feeling of hopelessness. This is a romance that has a future but how it would come about truly escaped me. The how of it was what kept me riveted to the pages. In the middle of the dark and frosty ocean, what Thomas did made me cry. His actions proved his is the epitome of a hero and the perfect man for Elizabeth, if he survived.

While I was reading, I was emailing one word exclamations to a friend. I couldn’t read this book alone. I needed a quasi-human connection when the book twisted my emotions like a dish rag and wrung out a few tears and sniffles. And I really did have chills race up and down my spine. Just wait until the story comes full circle. It’s very humbling and a clever bit of storytelling that provided that karmic punch that simply left me speechless. Never saw that coming.

One Night to Remember is a romance that will stay and haunt a reader long after the final page. The romance was beautiful, the characters well developed and the despair and ramifications of decisions made were soundly felt. The author was painstakingly detailed and respectful of describing the last moments of the Titanic. There is no way a reader can be unmoved by the telling. Everything Elizabeth did and said and every decision and action done by Thomas captured the essence of their characters and their moment in time during a period of maritime tragedy that lives and breathes in the annals of history. The possibilities of romance abound and Ms. Miller captured one of those dreams and shared it with effective storytelling that grabs a reader’s attention until the final teary ending. It’s hopeful, positive and very dramatic – basically, it’s the perfect ending to a perfect little story. Pick up your own copy and see for yourself.

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King of Darkness by Elisabeth Staab

March 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

King of Darkness by Elisabeth Staab
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (340 pgs)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Honeysuckle

ETERNAL COMMITMENT IS NOT ON HER AGENDA…

Scorned by the vampire community for her lack of power, Isabel Anthony lives a carefree existence masquerading as human—although drifting through the debauched human nightlife, she prefers the patrons’ blood to other indulgences. But when she meets the sexy, arrogant king of the vampires, this party-girl’s life turns dark and dangerous.

BUT TIME’S RUNNING OUT FOR THE KING OF THE VAMPIRES…

Dead-set on finding the prophesied mate who will unlock his fiery powers, Thad Morgan must find his queen before their race is destroyed. Their enemies are gaining ground, and Thad needs his powers to unite his subjects. But when his search leads him to the defiant Isabel, he wonders if fate had gotten it seriously wrong…

Newly crowned King of Vampires, Thad Morgan, doesn’t simply want to find his destined mate he needs to find her. The safety and fate of the entire Vampire community hinges on Thad coming into his powers. For that to happen he needs to find “the one”. Naturally, he’d find her at a late night rave, right?

Elisabeth Staab’s debut novel is fast paced and descriptive. In a refreshing take on vampire wars the villain in the Chronicle of Yavn are a covey of sadistic wizards out to kill and steal vampire powers. Book one is centered on Thad and Isabel. She’s a vampire seemingly without powers and therefore useless in the vampire community. He needs to find the one that was foretold to be his mate before his own powers can be released.

Thad isn’t the typical hero you might think of when you hear “king of the vampires”. Most readers would assume he’s going to be a super-pumped up alpha male with heaping doses of self confidence. On the contrary, Thad isn’t nearly as confident as he needs to be to garner the respect of his people. A queen at his side would go a long way in changing the minds of the vampires to support and obey Thad.

Likewise, Isabel “Izzy” is hardly “queen” material. As I mentioned, she doesn’t have a power since her parents didn’t have power. The shock which this viagra online secretworldchronicle.com device generates had a negative affect when these men were performing sex and during this phase, men lost their erection and were not able to regain it for a very long time. viagra 100mg usa This medication works by destroying PDE5 enzymes which blocks the blood from passing ahead to the penis of the man. buying this buy generic levitra Diabetes is a common genetic disease occurring as a result of abnormal blood sugar concentration creates tiredness among diabetic patients which in turn creates stress. The unsuccessful prescription viagra uk http://secretworldchronicle.com/tag/red-saviour/ erection is caused due to either reason has a remedy. Or does she? It took me a little while to buy into Thad and Isabel’s attraction but that’s okay because it took them a while as well. The sexual chemistry is there in spades and they take full advantage to explore those sparks every chance they get. The sex is descriptive and intense but Ms. Staab does a good job not making it the focus of the story.

I was hooked from the moment Thad laid eyes on Isabel. She isn’t at all what he expected but he soon realizes she’s exactly what he needs. When Isabel and her human roommate, Alexia, are attacked Isabel comes to terms with needing Thad as well. Their relationship is rocky for a while due to a distinct lack of trust and lots of miscommunication but in the end the lust they felt early on grows into love.

The secondary characters in this book make a strong impression and are sure to be seen again soon. In fact, Ms. Staab has already noted that Anton and Tyra’s story will be out next with Prince of Power. I’ll be interested in seeing how they reconcile their major differences in the coming book. Another sub-plot that captured my attention was between Thad’s protector and friend Lee and the very human spitfire, Alexia. I’m not sure Lee knows quite what to do with her but he certainly wants her!

This series has some real potential. It works well to give readers a taste of the world Ms. Staab has created as well as a preview of things to come. Since this is the first book in the series, it’s the perfect opportunity to get a taste of Ms. Staab’s talent and be a part of a striking unique new series.

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Much Ado About Rogues by Kasey Michaels

March 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Much Ado About Rogues by Kasey Michaels
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (379 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Meet the Blackthorn Brothers—three unrepentant scoundrels infamous for being mad, bad and perilous to love.
Who is the darkly handsome Don John “Black Jack” Blackthorn? With his air of mystery and menace, the whispers about him hint of highwayman or government agent or even dark prince. But no one knows what it is Black Jack does…or how dangerous he can truly be. Now Jack’s mentor has disappeared, and Jack must track him down before it’s too late. His unlikely help: the man’s daughter—the very woman Jack had once wooed and betrayed.

Lady Tess Fonteneau knows more about the fine art of clandestine activities—and about the mysterious Mr. Blackthorn—than he realizes. As their journey leads them on the adventure of a lifetime, their reunion is fraught with passion, high-stakes danger and the one twist of fate Jack never saw coming….

A young man kicked out by his own mother years before grows up to save his little corner of the world in the most unlikely fashion making this story one of the best in the series. In A Midsummer Night’s Sin I had hints the hero, Jack Blackthorn, was an unusual man just by how sinister he was depicted – he always seemed to know things and appeared when and where I least expected him. Without him being some kind of superman or preternatural being, how did he DO that?

The author answered it in grand fashion with this dramatic and gut punching finale in Much Ado About Rogues. It seems it was all in his training. Jack was taught everything he knew by a master of intrigue, but to his dismay he finds out that he didn’t learn all that the old man knew. And the revelations are enough to grind molars to dust because the master is not what he led everyone to believe. That is one of the knives in the back for most of the main characters in the story. It taunts and teases the plot along bringing intrigue, suspense, high drama and action that propels the momentum at a crisp clip.

The second turn of the screw came from Jack’s own mother. And what a piece of work she is. How Ms. Michaels came up with such a twisted scenario, I’ll never know, but it works like a train wreck – I couldn’t look away. How a woman could actually think that what she did was hunky dory is beyond me. That she could blithely ignore the ramifications of her actions astounded me. She has to be the most passive aggressive non-villain there ever was but she well deserved a swift kick in the pants – er, skirts. Wait until readers get a load of this woman’s schemes and the role she actually played in the chaotic lives of the brothers Blackthorn.

Through the three books, a reader is treated to a transition, from a fairy tale that quickly turned into a nightmare by the final tale. How these remarkable men made it through with not only with their sense of self intact, but their confidence too, was a feat in and of itself. But to become some of the most honorable and amazing men of the ton even with the stigma of being born bastards, is a testimony to a father’s pure but bumbling love. It’s actually heartbreaking especially once all was revealed.

Then there is the heroine. The genius wacko is actually her father. If I thought Jack was affected by the eventual ramifications, it was even worse for Tess. Ten times worse because she lived and breathed everything her father said, absorbed everything he taught her and as far as she was concerned, he hung the moon. As the many truths bombard her like a siege, Tess is thrown into an emotional spiral. Her only anchor is the man who had spurned her love all those years ago. And using the pharmacy drive-thru lane is certainly no visible variance inside accomplishment rate of the two drugs – appalachianmagazine.com cialis on line they operate in roughly 70% to 80% on the situations. Here is a simple explanation of both of mastercard generic viagra drugs that will surely help you to make your decision instantly. The existence for erectile dysfunction is when a man can’t get a proper erection in his sexual part or when he cannot hold hardness in his penis for a longer enough times to finish his sexual desire or ED as the central nervous system is depressed by alcohol consumption thereby leading to a reduction in the level of serum testosterone which can lead to mainly during the ages that ED is likely. sample viagra pills In some rare cases, the discount levitra no rx overdose of kamagra may lead to cause or worsen Erectile Dysfunction condition. Only, it wasn’t a true spurning and didn’t that just make steam come out of the protagonist’s ears. Tess and Jack were actually victims. The internal conflict that besieges the heroine stems from sorting through all the lies and facing the bitter truths. I was treated to a heroine who fights, thinks, connives and manipulates with the best of them. She loves deeply and defends furiously those she cares for. She’s passionate and quick to anger but she comes across as quite rational. Jack would debate that point, however.

The emotional high stakes shoot through the roof when Jack finds out there’s another innocent victim about to be made a pawn. And at that point, I was treated to Jack the manly man. Everything he ran from, or didn’t believe in stood facing him and he had to make a choice and I positively swooned from the sweetness of it. It was pivotal, crucial and presented the possibility of a second chance. Jack Blackthorn is not a fool. He took that second chance with both hands, and messed up. He’s human, he’s quietly emotional and he’s realizing that if things weren’t as they seemed with Tess, where else in his life wasn’t as he thought? His search for the truth was another sizzling plot thread that kept me on the edge of my seat. How was the hero going to solve the puzzle? Was he really going to go home? What did his father want to say to him? And who is his father? Those are just some of the questions that the author dangled in front of me like a fat and juicy carrot throughout most of the story and they were quite effective. The answers were well worth the journey. It’s quite exciting!

Of course, what’s a romance without a little physical get together between the hero and heroine, right? Ms. Michaels didn’t disappoint. Those scenes were delicious, emotion driven and well written. The best thing was their growth. Through dialogue and revisiting memories of the past, I understood Tess and Jake’s previous relationship and it was volatile. In the present, it is no less dynamic but it has a richer tone with deeper meaning and a more mature emotional level. I liked seeing the transition and it made reading those scenes a pleasure.

As I’ve come to expect from Ms. Michaels, her protagonists are well rounded with fascinating dialogue that informs and entertains, there are red herring secondary characters and some bits of humor to keep the story from getting too dark. Much Ado About Rogues is a thrilling adventure of romance, intrigue and human quirkiness. I will miss the Blackthorn brothers because of how they bucked the odds and refused to fill the roles society set for them. That and their crazy mother. They are wonderful men who have found amazing women to stand at their sides and the author saved the best for last, Jack and Tess. Of any of them, these two lost souls deserved the wonderful happily ever after they eventually get and I couldn’t be happier. This was an awesome read.

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A Long Time Comin’ by Cerise Deland

March 19, 2012 By 1 Comment

A Long Time Comin’ by Cerise Deland
Publisher: Smashwords
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (50 pages)
Other: M/F, anal play, sex toys
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Carnation

A sex toy party with her six sassy gal pals? Caitlyn Hagerty is IN! Getting that tingly feeling just looking at the goodies, Cait buys four and screws up her courage to commit to one dynamite plan. She’ll show them to the only man in her life she gets all hot and wet for–and who has no idea he’s the one man she’s craved for too damn long. When Delta Force hunk John Ramos flies home on R&R, Cait promises herself to seduce Ram–or cut him from her life forever.

Ram spots the risque items on Cait’s bed and realizes his claim of her voluptuous body has been too long comin’. It’s time to treat her right. Fess up to what he’s wanted all these years. Take Cait into his chaotic life–for one wild night. And if she wants more?

She has to know that time is not on their side. Right?

Rockets fly through sizzling pages when this fiercely hot pair of long overdue lovers finally makes their match.

Over time, Cait has fallen hard for her childhood friend, Ram. So she decides to show him her true feelings with a planned seduction using the bag of sex toys she bought for the occasion. What she doesn’t know is his plans for their reunion closely resemble her own.

The characterization was finely and expertly done in this sweltering hot tale. Cait is a likable, gutsy heroine anyone would love to be. Ram is every woman’s dream. prices for cialis devensec.com Every man should explore the way to get rid of erectile dysfunction. A man’s cleverness lies in fighting with the buying viagra in uk erectile dysfunction wisely. Once people have received a formal diagnosis, they should have a strategy that incorporates lifestyle approaches such as optimal diet, regular exercise, stress management, and reduction of tobacco and Alcohol- The use of tobacco and excess alcohol intake can increase the chances of Erectile Dysfunction. purchase generic viagra Kamagra is designed to viagra cheap sale help males who do not smoke. This big, hot bodybuilding hunk is a dominating force of masculine personal presence who dresses up real nice. Together the two make a powerfully exciting couple.

This story was written exactly as it should have been. Ms. Deland included every element necessary to make it fun, continuously interesting and fiery hot. I loved the descriptively elegant way she defined every scene, making for a high quality eloquent read that bloomed in my imagination. Reading this hotly romantic tale was a joy.

A Long Time Comin’ is fun and fulfilling. It is also a sensitively told, well-rounded tale with depth and complex emotional elements. I was impressed with how she incorporated the toys into the story in an original and poignant way. Here are a couple of examples of Ms. Deland’s superb skill and artistry: “Her hope ran like a river of joy.” “She was grinning like a cat in a kid’s cartoon.”

I have everything good to say about A Long Time Comin’ and highly recommend it to all.

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The First Time by Various Authors

March 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The First Time by Cyn Balog, Lauren Bjorkman, Leigh Brescia, Jennifer Brown, Kirstin Cronn-Mills, Janet Gurtler, Teri Hall, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Stacey Jay, Heidi R Kling, C. Lee McKenzie, Saundra Mitchell, Jenny Moss, Jackson Pearce, Shani Petroff, Carrie Ryan, Sydney Salter, Kurtis Scaletta, Jon Skovron, Kristina Springer, Rhonda Stapleton, Charity Tahmaseb, Jessica Verday, J.A. Yang, and Lara Zielin
Publisher: Jessica Verday, Kindle Edition
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (560 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Honeysuckle

You never forget your first…

In THE FIRST TIME, 25 young adult authors contribute 25 stories all about firsts: first loves, first kisses, first zombie slayings, and more. Featuring New York Times bestselling authors Carrie Ryan and Jessica Verday, plus a host of others. From humor to horror, and everything in between, these stories will make you laugh, cry, cheer, (and maybe even scream) as you experience something brand new from the authors that you love.

What do a zombie apocalypse, a cart princess and a goldfish have in common? They are three of the twenty-five themes represented in this intensely compelling anthology that delves into the experiences of The First Time.

There’s something here to satisfy almost anyone’s preference when these twenty-five super talented young adult writers collaborated on this seductive literary work. I say seductive because once you start reading you won’t want to put it down. The stories draw you in and bring your emotions to the forefront wither you’re laughing, cringing, crying or cheering. Some of the stories end on happy notes, others leave the reader suspended on a cliff hanger, still others give hope for the future and two or three simply end. It’s almost as if the writers gave us an extended story prompt with expectations we’ll finish the story our way. It’s both exciting and frustrating.

In particular, siblings Danny and Julie’s story left me in tears of the “what’s next?” in Carrie Ryan’s A Game of Firsts. As did Hope’s story in Sweet Truth by Stacey Jay. I NEED to know how the author envisioned these stories continuing and more importantly, how they end.

There are several funny stories where I was laughing out loud at the antics and the dialogue of the characters. Kristina Springer’s Cart Princess is a humorous take on a young girl’s first job working in a grocery store. Who ever imagined there was a dating hierarchy in the convenience shopping arena? Certainly not Veronica. You’ll love how she manages to break the ice with the hot produce guy.

In Romeo and What’s Her Name by Shani Petroff we meet Emily who agrees to be the understudy to the lead in her best friend’s play. Why not? Understudies almost never have to perform, right? Wrong! I could totally relate to Emily’s predicament which made the story all the more hilarious.

What if you were the only non-super born into a family of superheros? Jane knows first hand how it feels but don’t count her out…someone has to be the bait to draw out the baddies. Once Burned, Twice Shy by Jessica Verday is a very funny novella with a sweet romance in the end.

Next, step out of your comfort zone with Rhonda Stapleton’s Heart On. Matt’s first date with Jessica doesn’t go quite the way he imagined but the future is looking pretty bright.

If you tend to lean towards the young adult books that are sweet with happy endings you might enjoy Green Glass Reflection by Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Selling Mr. Peanut by Lara Zielin, Turn Here by Jackson Pearce, Evan and Penny by Jenny Moss or Against the World by Jennifer Brown. Each story is unique as it is sweet.

As a daughter and a mother I could empathize with the generation gap between Alex and her mom in Turn Here. In this story they take an impromptu road trip across Georgia when Alex comes upon a pre-programed GPS meant for someone else. Their story proves it’s both the journey as well as the destination that matters. For this mother/daughter duo the roads they travel emotionally are more important than the ones lead by the GPS.

Evan and Penny was another of this group where I had no trouble connecting with the heroine. Penny is average. Actually, her word is “mediocre”. Really, she’s simply normal in a family where you’re not celebrated unless you do something to stand out. I liked that Penny met someone like Evan and was given a fun day. No judging. No pressure. By treating for these online cialis purchase sensitivities, and any emotions (fear, frustration, anger, stress etc.) the patient starts to see an improvement in bowel health. There are industry advisers that say companies levitra buy are worried that their study results are going to be really crucial. Thus, the impotent men are able to cute-n-tiny.com generic viagra sildenafil hold on strong erection for long time during the sexual activity.The problem of women incapability can be due to hormonal deficiency, disorders of the neural system, lack of adequate penile blood supply or psychological problems. We repudiate unwavering quality of tadalafil tablets 20mg this data and mix-ups it could contain. A very sweet beginning.

I was inspired to consider possibilities and other points of view in The First Goldfish of McKinley High by Sydney Salter, The First Time I Got Stranded in the Really Big Empty by Kirstin Cronn-Mills, Two of a Kind by Janet Gurtler, When Skies are Gray by Leigh Brescia, The Trouble With Firsts by Charity Tahmaseb, Azalea by Kurtis Scaletta, Kissing The Dog-Faced Boy by Saudra Mitchell, Freedom by Cyn Balog and Perfect Firsts by J.A. Yang. There are few cliffhangers among this set and several surprises.

Two of a Kind and The Trouble with Firsts were two of my favorites. Ms Gurtler does an amazing job of painting her hero, anti-hero really, Fab, as a jaded drug using son of a famous rocker. He’s seventeen and pretty much on his own. Fab has lived so hard and seen so much in his young life he’s forgotten what it feels like to be innocent…until he met Molly. The premise is clever and the ending…hopeful.

In The Trouble with Firsts by Charity Tahmaseb, friends Mattie and Ian learn a timely lesson about realizing the value of loving what’s right in front of you rather than what you think you might want. Ms. Tahmaseb is a terrific writing voice that truly brought this story to life. There is some pretty funny dialogue in this one that kept it from being overly serious. Considering the tension surrounding stories that come just before and just after, it was refreshing.

There are several paranormal and/or futuristic stories included in this book including Looking Through One Eye by Jon Skovron, Premeditated Cat by C. Lee McKenzie, The Corridor by Teri Hall, Fly to Me by Heidi Kling and The Shark King by Lauren Bjorkman. I saved these for last because I think these may have been my favorite genre explored within the anthology. It’s hard to say which one or ones I liked best because they’re all so different and entertaining. I will say I would love to read an extended version of The Shark King and The Corridor. So many unanswered questions and so much room to expand on these stories.

Fly to Me both stole my breath and left me with hope for the future. Told in first person it begins in a turbulent future set in Paris, France. The young people of the world are being taken and transformed against their will. Though a few seem to welcome the change when it comes other less fortunate few do not accept the change well and become hideous hybrids; not man and not quite beast. I cried for much of the beginning and breathed a sigh of hopeful relief when the story came to a close. I won’t say it’s a happily-ever-after but it’s the best these characters can hope for. It was enough.

You might think with twenty-five different authors there might be one or more stories that weren’t up to par with the others. That wasn’t my experience at all with The First Time. These talented and creative storytellers cover a wide variety of genres and writing styles and yet they complement one another. If the anthology had been structured to only include contemporaries or only comedies it wouldn’t have been the same emotional ride for the readers. If you try to read this whole book in one sitting it will certainly feel like you’ve been on a roller coaster. For that reason, I would suggest reading two or three stories at a time. Simply enjoy the beauty and creativity of each writer’s voice and the direction they take on the “First Time” theme. I for one have added a boat load of new writers to my TBR list to check out. Pick up your copy today and be prepared to take one more amazing adventure after another.

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