Archives for June 2013

Jilted In January by Clarice Wynter

June 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

JANUARY
Jilted In January by Clarice Wynter
Publisher: Self Published
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (88 pgs)
Heat: Sensual
Rated: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

Harper Shaw is certain she’ll never live down her reputation as the jilted bride after her fiancé bails on the wedding and decides to go on the honeymoon by himself.

Grant Addison’s career depends on saving the failing catering hall where Harper’s wedding was supposed to be held. He can’t return her deposit money to her, but his business proposal could help them both stay out of the red.

One of these tests is called the ORAC-test. viagra for sale online Perhaps it is time to take a proper levitra overnight shipping cure to the issue. And this is effective to activate collaterals, harmonize qi and blood, improve the function of sildenafil online the body, and enhance immunity. Making love is good, but making love regularly will promote your sleep tadalafil in uk and you will feel much more relaxed. Their unlikely partnership heats up the cold winter nights in Spring River Valley, and leads them to discover January just might be hottest month of the year.

Jilted in January is an all-too-accurate title.

It’s mid-winter and poor Harper Shaw is most decidedly alone, not on her honeymoon, and not with the love of her life. She does have best friend Audrey – and their conversations are realistic and revealing. She also has a problem – getting what funds back she can, from the various would-be wedding venues. One of those, and a dear man named Grant, manage to involve her in their problems…and slowly… we begin to hope for Harper’s future. This is really a nice, focused romance, with a bit of an unusual twist.

I truly hated the jump in point-of-view in this one: it so interrupted the flow of the story. I was already too attached to Harper and interested in her next move. On the other hand, I loved how Harper’s best friend was never forgotten. Aside from this issue, it was a pleasant story.

I have to think this the perfect beach read: Perfect length, and nice to be sitting on white sands while the main character is dreaming of them.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

O Res Mirabilis by Iyana Jenna

June 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

DOG
O Res Mirabilis by Iyana Jenna
Publisher: Alfie Dog Fiction
Genre: Young Adult, Historical, Holiday, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (5 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

London, 1853. An orphaned boy, Timmy had to leave the orphanage when he grew up and had to work as a chimney sweep in people’s houses when their residents were not home.

That night didn’t start well for Timmy. He lost his coat and the money he earned earlier to some bullies before he went to clean a chimney. It wasn’t so bad despite the smothering dust. Then he fell and cracked his ankle.

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This story was so descriptive I could smell the soot on Timmy’s clothing and feel the bitterly cold night air seep into my bones. Every day is a struggle to survive for this character, and my heart ached for him as he works incredibly long hours in a dangerous environment in order to eke out a living. Even though I know the cultural mores were different in the 1830s, it’s difficult to imagine how any of the adults in his life could have been ethically comfortable with forcing a boy barely into his teens to sleep on the streets and face the constant threat of starvation.

Take my age recommendation for this piece seriously. Timmy lives in a violent, chaotic world that too dark for younger readers. Abuse, neglect, and child abandonment are rampant in this story. While none of the descriptions of these things are particularly graphic, Timmy has never had a loving relationship with a parent figure to counterbalance his traumatic experiences, and he is so deeply scarred by his past that he doesn’t realize how much he’s missed out on. His only positive memories of the orphanage involve having a warm place to sleep and a few bites of food in his stomach.

The final scene made me wish I could keep following Timmy’s path. It provided closure for the main character’s biggest conflicts, but it was open-ended enough to allow for multiple interpretations of what actually is happening and what Timmy should expect to discover in the near future.

O Res Mirabilis is a modern-day Dicksonian fable. I highly recommend it to readers who like detailed descriptions of another time and place and see ambiguity as a chance to choose their own ending for a sympathetic protagonist.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Rock Your Soul by Sara Brookes

June 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

ROCK
Rock Your Soul by Sara Brookes
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (169 pgs)
Other: M/F, M/F/M, BDSM, Anal Play, Spanking, Toys
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review by: Plumeria

Beth has been scarred both inside and out by a sadistic Dom and has worked hard to put the pieces of her life back together. However, the successful disc jockey knows one piece doesn’t quite align. She yearns to submit and searches for the one Dom she is convinced will help bring her to lusty new heights.

When Ryan agrees to assist Beth, he’s surprised by her determination. Intrigued, he pushes her limits by using his gifted carpenter’s hands to bring her wild, erotic pleasure. Ryan, though, has scars of his own, and a tragic past filled with death keeps him at a distance.

Beth discovers what she needs in Ryan, and her journey mends Ryan’s heart. But when the life Beth abandoned rises from the shadows, Ryan realizes there is something far worse than his tortuous past—a future without Beth.

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From the first page, I loved Beth in her old school muscle car as she took matters into her own hands and tried to take back her life. Most people who had lived through a nightmare of a Dom like she had would have given up. The fact that she strut her stilettos into another Dom’s sanctuary told me this girl had to be not only brave, but ballsy too. Next chapter in and I find out she has a vintage t-shirt collection that made me drool and I wanted to be her friend. By this point I was rooting for her.

Then there is Ryan; sweet, grumpy Ryan. He comes home to build boats after having tragedy strike and leads a quiet life. Of course until hurricane Beth comes into his life and basically knocks him on his butt. Admiring her spunk and disgusted by her previous experience with a Dom, Ryan decides to help her not knowing that mending her would also mend him.

I adored this couple from page one. The chemistry literally lights the page and they play off one another beautifully. There is one scene when they first meet that had me thinking HOLY SPACEBALLS when I thought it was going a certain direction. Needless to say I didn’t put the book down after that. The secondary characters were great leading me to look forward to the next book in the series. This is book two and I was able to pick this up without having read the first, even though I will be going back to read it. Sara Brookes did an awesome job with this book about love, healing, kinkery and geeks all rolled into one.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Haunted Sanctuary by Moira Rogers

June 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment

HAUNTED
Haunted Sanctuary by Moira Rogers
Green Pines Book 1
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (198 Pages)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Foxglove

The shadows of her past could destroy their future.

Green Pines, Book 1

Eden Green can’t remember a time she didn’t believe in monsters—her cousin was born one. Her family’s dark past casts a long shadow, making it hard to make friends and harder to commit to a lover. She lives a quiet life in small-town Clover, Tennessee, but she’s always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Tired of the city packs’ corruption, yet too alpha to be a subordinate in a sanctuary town, Jay Ancheta satisfies his need to protect by serving as Clover’s Chief of Police. As much as he’s drawn to Eden, he can’t offer forever to a woman who doesn’t know what he is—or trust himself to let her go after one taste.

When Eden’s cousin and his battered pack stagger into town, their tormentors hard on their heels, Eden is bitten in the chaos. Now Jay not only has a traumatized pack to deal with, but a newly turned wolf with enough hungry alpha power to consume them both.
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With their combined strength, they can create a new sanctuary—if their passion can survive the ghosts of the Green family’s legacy.

Sanctuary. To most, it is a place of peace and quiet, safety. To those in the supernatural world, sanctuary is so much more; it is a place you can belong, no questions or hassles as long as you don’t endanger the group.

In tiny Clover Tennessee, Jay Ancheta has blended in with the people, taking his role as Chief of Police seriously. No one knows he is actually a lone wolf, an alpha, in a place that has no idea his kind exist. When word comes that there are people out at Green Pines, Eden Green gets the Chief to accompany her out to the old family place, empty since her cousin Zack left. Eden knows there are things most folks don’t understand, because she knows her cousin was more than human; he could become a wolf, and that was a secret she never revealed. At the farm, she and Jay find that Zack has returned, along with his small and ragged pack, after some very hard times in Memphis. When the Memphis alpha tracks them down and attacks the farm, Eden is turned, and Jay decides to create a Sanctuary right there at Green Pines. But there are still secrets, things that will rock everyone’s world, and threaten them all. Can Jay help Eden accept her new status, and claim her for his mate? Can Zack and his pack accept Jay as their new alpha? And can the ghosts of the past be laid to rest once and for all?

Haunted Sanctuary is the first book in Moira Rogers’ Green Pines world, a world both new and yet familiar. The small town feel of the setting, combined with new characters and established ideals, makes for engaging and intriguing reading. I like this world, and liked that this story brought the action to Middle America, with just a salute to Southern life. I found the characters easy to like, and the story was filled with romance, danger and mystery.

Eden Green, unlike the rest of Clover Tennessee, knows that there are more things possible than most are aware of. Smart, loyal and strong, she’s known about wolf shifters since she was just a child. After all, her cousin Zack had that ability, and she was always just a bit jealous of his ability. I like Eden; she has this girl next-door personality, if the girl next door is able to accept becoming a wolf after being attacked, without losing her mind. I love her sense of loyalty, her ability to roll with life’s surprises, and her willingness to accept the attraction she has for Jay when they begin spending time together after her turning.

Jay Ancheta has been a ‘lone wolf’ for years, after being an enforcer for some of the packs around the country. He has strength, and a sense of loyalty to his friends, and a determination to build a community where shifters, vampires, witches and any other magical being can be safe and free from persecution by the less than honorable alphas of the world. When Eden is attacked, and changes so swiftly, he realizes there is magic at Green Pines, and believes that it is perfect for a Sanctuary. I enjoyed watching as Jay and Eden becomes closer, and I liked that they didn’t try to fight their attraction, but celebrated life and love, even in the face of all the difficulties.

There are some wonderful supporting characters in this story, folks who are learning how to accept who and what they are. Some are born shifter, some are made, but all are determined to make the Sanctuary Jay and Eden are forming as much of a success as they can. I liked Jay’s friends, who were his team of Enforcers and now are helping build a place. Colin, Shane and Fletcher are each strong, and yet all consider Jay their leader. I like the acceptance that Zack, Kaley, Lorelei and Mae have at Green Pines, and, when trouble comes, I like the unity these relative strangers find to keep life safe for all. I love this world that Moira Rogers has built, and hope that there are many more tales in this world to delight and enjoy. I will warn you that there are some secrets that are revealed here, and some mysterious happenings that are left for the future. I recommend this for all those who like a really good shifter romance, with heat and a hint of mystery and danger to keep you on edge.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Apprentices by Maile Meloy

June 21, 2013 By 1 Comment

APPRENTICES
The Apprentices by Maile Meloy
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Full Length (414 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rated: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

Two years have passed since Janie Scott last saw Benjamin Burrows, the mysterious apothecary’s defiant son who stole her heart. On the other side of the world, Benjamin and his father are treating the sick and wounded in the war-torn jungles of Vietnam. But Benjamin has also been experimenting with a magical new formula that allows him to communicate with Janie across the globe. When Benjamin discovers that she’s in trouble, he calls on their friend Pip for help. The three friends are thrown into a desperate chase around the world to find one another, while unraveling the mystery of what threatens them all.

Acclaimed author Maile Meloy seamlessly weaves together magic and adventure in this breathtaking sequel with stunning illustrations by Ian Schoenherr.

Where magic and mystery meet!

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The Apprentices is a sequel (to The Apothecary) but this reader had not read the first (an oversight I will correct) and this is perfectly comprehensible as a stand-alone. The plot is definitely interesting and unpredictable, yet it is Janie, Benjamin, and Pip who drive the story. The three friends search the world to find each other… well, the search actually starts sooner than that. Janie searches her mind for memories of three missing weeks. Her search allows us readers to get a sense of that first novel, and works as something of a prologue. I might wish this bit had been a bit shorter.

This is also a good illustration of how wonderfully Meloy builds characters: Janie’s roommate Opal’s family are as real as any of the main characters, in the space of a paragraph. And the very first of the surprises happens so quickly after we disregard both Opal AND her parents… that I am immediately shocked and then mad and intrigued. However, I must tell you that I absolutely hate spoilers, and that makes writing a review for this (that anyone can comprehend, anyway) darn near impossible. Just as we begin to think we can see where this is going, we realize we cannot see at all.

This book is getting a 5 star review because the plot is magically plotted – and as I read on, I can only tell you that further events are both logical and suprising, that magic is a delight – and friendship, true friendship, never lets you down.

The writer’s style: Polished professionalism. This story is completely engrossing, and the writing fades to the background – it is simply never intrusive. The classic ‘good read.’ In fact, from cover to layout, everything about The Apprentices is top quality. If you like a true spellbinder, do read.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Skates by Mark Rigney

June 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment

SKATES
The Skates by Mark Rigney
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Horror, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (47 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A tragedy from the past that will not die.

Reverend Renner’s quiet, well-ordered Michigan life is turned upside down after he purchases a pair of nineteenth-century ice skates at a yard sale. First an enormous black dog takes to following him all over town, and then the skates attach themselves to his feet in the middle of the night. Frightened but curious, Renner seeks help from the one man he’d most like to avoid, ex-linebacker Dale Quist. Together, Renner and Quist work to unravel the mystery of the skates, a potentially fatal task that will lead them to England, and one of London’s greatest historical disasters.

Sometimes the past refuses to be forgotten.

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The plot would have flowed more smoothly had there been only one narrator for this piece. Switching between Reverend Renner’s and Dale Quist’s perspectives was a little jarring because I couldn’t always tell who was speaking. In a full length novel, readers have ample time to get to know the voices of multiple narrators, but for this particular short story this technique wasn’t as effective as choosing just one of them.

With that being said, Dale’s wry personality and extensive knowledge about haunted objects made me anticipate the scenes that were shown through his eyes. The brief glimpses we’re given of his work with the Grand Traverse Mentalist’s Club made me eager to learn more about how Dale and his fellow club members first became interested in communicating with the spirit world. I didn’t realize that The Skates was part of a series until I started writing my review, but it will be intriguing to see how Mr. Rigney develops all of the characters in this universe over time.

If The Skates is any indication of what is to come in the future, I can’t wait to see what exciting plot twists the sequels have in store. This is a great choice for readers who love being frightened but aren’t in the market for blood or gore. Why not try out a promising new series as it is first released?

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Frozen Shroud by Martin Edwards

June 21, 2013 By 1 Comment

SHROUD
The Frozen Shroud by Martin Edwards
A Lake District Mystery
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery, Holiday
Length: Full Length (276 Pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Foxglove

Death has come twice to Ravenbank, a remote community in England’s Lake District, each time on Hallowe’en. Just before the First World War, a young woman’s corpse was found, with a makeshift shroud frozen to her battered face. Her ghost – the Faceless Woman – is said to walk through Ravenbank on Hallowe-en. Five years ago, another woman, Katya Moss, was murdered, and again her face was covered to hide her injuries.

Daniel Kind, a specialist in the history of murder, becomes fascinated by the old cases, and wonders whether the obvious suspects really did commit the crimes. He spends Hallowe’en at a party in Ravenbank – only to find death returning to this beautiful but isolated spot. Once more, the victim is a woman, once more her damaged face is shrouded from view.

One get viagra overnight shouldn’t rush to do sex when under the assault of erectile brokenness. Gupta and get rid of cost viagra online your sexual potency with help of this green leafy vegetable. Sodium is known to raise blood pressure, even in order cialis on line those that don’t have high blood pressure problems. Imagine a team meeting around viagra without side effects a conference-room table. It is said that Ravenbank is haunted. Haunted by the ghost of a young woman murdered mysteriously just before the start of the First World War. For decades, it was believed she was murdered by the lady of the house, when she discovered that the young woman had dallied with the lady’s husband. When the Lady of the House died by her own hand the day after the murder of Gertrude Smith, it was always believed that as an admission of guilt, and the case was closed.

When the new owner of Ravenbank and his lady took ownership, Shenagh Moss and Francis Palladino settled right in, and enjoyed their romance. It was whispered that, every Halloween, the ghost walked the property, and, after decades of sightings, Shenagh is still nervous on that day. When Francis goes searching for her, he finds her dead, murdered, in the same exact spot Gertrude Smith had been found so many decades earlier, exactly the same way, with a rough woolen blanket spread over her face, a face that had been pulverized beyond recognition. It was said that a jealous ex had caught her, and once more a case was closed. Now five years later, noted writer Daniel Kind is touring, signing books and spending time with his sister and enjoying the Lake District. Invited to Ravenbank by current owner Oz Knight and his wife, Daniel becomes fascinated by the mysterious murders, and when yet another occurs, to a woman of his acquaintance, a friend of Cold Case Inspector Hannah Scarlett, Daniel becomes curious about the earlier cases, and wonders if there is some connection between the two most recent murders. Can Daniel find the secret that ties these cases together, with some help from Hannah? When all is done, will three murders finally be solved?

The Frozen Shroud is a delightful mystery in the tradition of those old fashioned English mysteries of earlier days. I loved the leisurely pace Martin Edwards sets here, letting things slowly unfold, and building the suspense as we become acquainted with the characters and the neighborhood. I was drawn into the story, trying to solve this case along with the characters, and enjoying the leisurely trip through the countryside of the Lake District. I like that, although I could see that some of the characters had a prior history, it never got in the way of the enjoyment of the story, and made this a stand alone book. I enjoyed watching the hesitant and budding attraction between Daniel and Hannah, and how that relationship stayed firmly in the background until near the end of this.

This is an ensemble cast of characters, with many of the stereotypical English mystery stalwarts: the rich business owner who isn’t so rich at all, the loyal and dedicated servant, the eccentric pair of actors seemingly a couple. But Daniel and Hannah are the main characters, he with his insatiable curiosity for unsolved murder, and Hannah with her position as head of the Cold Case Squad. These two have a history, but neither is ready for more at the onset of this story, although they grow closer as time passes. The twists and turns kept me on my toes, and I can honestly say that I was sure I knew just who the guilty party was, but after each chapter, my culprit was shown to be innocent…or so it seemed. I will say that when the murderer was revealed, I was surprised and delighted that Mr. Edwards was able to keep me guessing through the whole thing. I recommend this mystery for all those who want a leisurely stroll through the English countryside, with puzzles to keep you enthralled and mystified till the end.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Close Up Magic by Michelle Garren Flye

June 20, 2013 By 14 Comments

Cover_CloseUpMagic
Close Up Magic by Michelle Garren Flye
Publisher: Self
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full (299 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rated: 4.5 Stars
Review by Poppy

Do you believe in magic?

Reporter Stacey Matthewson has made a living writing sensational stories that knock celebrities off their pedestals. Now she’s got a hot lead on an even hotter magician who’s mystifying Las Vegas with his new show–the problem is, she’s had a crush on him for years. How can she write a story that might ruin him, especially when he proves himself to be so much more than she’d ever dreamed?

Magician Andre Hawke has a knack for making things disappear, but when it comes to his brother’s drinking and gambling, he’s got a problem. Hiring the sexy reporter who threatens to blow away his carefully wrought illusion might be the answer to his problems…or she might bring on a whole new set of them.

Stacey’s never believed in magic, and Andre doesn’t know who to trust anymore. Can passion overcome their inhibitions, or will betrayal stem the tide of love?

Close Up Magic was a book I gobbled up in one night, and it was tasty!
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First, I have to say how much I fell madly in love with the hero, Andre. Yum! Sweet, funny, sexy, smart, loyal … if it wasn’t for his trust issues, he’d be 100% perfect.

Our heroine, Stacey, isn’t quite as perfect, but still great to read about, and a good fit for Andre. She has her own share of trust issues, stemming from her parents rocky marriage. She sacrificed a career she wanted in order to support herself and the sister she rescued, and ends up being pretty much a tabloid reporter, finding weakness and scandal in famous folks and knocking them off their pedestals. It’s unsatisfying, and makes her unhappy, but puts food on the table.

I think I was supposed to like Bella, or at least care a little, but I didn’t. She disgusted me. She was selfish, thoughtless and more. From the first moment I met her, I almost couldn’t stand reading the pages she occupied. I know Stacey loved her, but I honestly couldn’t understand her patience and understanding. You can love someone, especially a family member, but not like them or trust them.

There honestly isn’t tons of conflict between the H/H for the first 3/4 of the book … there is story conflict, of course, but the course of their romance runs pretty smoothly. Of course, we know that can’t last and what does happen, the dark moment of the story, broke my heart. And the way they H/H reacted to it is why this book didn’t rate five stars. I can’t explain in more detail without spoilers, but I really felt like it was out of character.

The ending, though, was sweet and fun and brought back all that stuff I loved from the majority of the book. Michelle Garren Flye is a wizard with words and I completely enjoyed her voice. Also, I always worry about self-published books, but this one was well edited and had no overt errors.

If you love fun, sweet romances with a hero you’ll fall for just as hard as the heroine does, then I recommend Close Up Magic. I can’t wait for the next book in the series (Tony? Will it be Tony?).

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Untimed by Andy Gavin

June 20, 2013 By 8 Comments

untimed

Untimed by Andy Gavin
Publisher: Mascherato
Genre: Fantasy
Length: Full (342 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rated: 4 Stars
Review by Rose

Untimed is an action-packed time travel novel by Andy Gavin, author of The Darkening Dream and creator of Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter.

Charlie’s the kind of boy that no one notices. Hell, his own mother can’t remember his name. So when a mysterious clockwork man tries to kill him in modern day Philadelphia, and they tumble through a hole into 1725 London, Charlie realizes even the laws of time don’t take him seriously. Still, this isn’t all bad. Who needs school when you can learn about history first hand, like from Ben Franklin himself. And there’s this girl… Yvaine… another time traveler. All good. Except for the rules: boys only travel into the past and girls only into the future. And the baggage: Yvaine’s got a baby boy and more than her share of ex-boyfriends. Still, even if they screw up history — like accidentally let the founding father be killed — they can just time travel and fix it, right? But the future they return to is nothing like Charlie remembers. To set things right, he and his scrappy new girlfriend will have to race across the centuries, battling murderous machines from the future, jealous lovers, reluctant parents, and time itself.

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While there, he meets a young Benjamin Franklin and gives him an idea about checking lightning for electricity. Also, oops, he gets Franklin killed. That kind of changes the future that Charlie finds once he gets back to it with the help of his new girlfriend Yvainne.

With the reluctant help of his father and aunt, Charlie does his best to get back to London to clean up the mess he makes.

Mr. Gavin has written some great characters in Charlie and Yvainne. I enjoyed the banter between them and the development of their relationship. They start off together just because they need each other (boys can only go back in time, girls have to go forward); however, they soon develop a real relationship.

The story is fast paced–I never could find a time I wanted to put it down to do something else. I don’t often find a book that I read in one sitting any more, but I did with this book. I’m looking forward to the rest of the books in the series because there are a lot more adventures ahead for Charlie and Yvainne.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , ,

Once Upon a Tartan by Grace Burrowes

June 20, 2013 By 3 Comments

ONCE
Once Upon a Tartan by Grace Burrowes
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (381 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Camellia

Honor or happiness-he can’t have both.

Tiberius Flynn travels to Scot land with orders to snatch his young niece away from her Highland relations. He thinks it’s going to be an easy task, until he meets the feisty little girl and her fiercely protective step-aunt. A smart, headstrong beauty, Hester Daniels has no use for an English lord with high-handed ways, no matter how handsome or beguiling he may be…

Tye sets out to seduce Hester and win over Fiona, only to discover that he’s losing his heart to a woman who’s as untamable as Scotland itself…

Mm, mm, good, maybe even better than the first book in the MacGregor series!

Once Upon a Tartan is skillfully written with eloquent, revealing words, and subtle humor to tantalize the senses and send the reader on an emotional rollercoaster ride for an awesome vicarious experience.

Hester Daniels, her young, irrepressible niece Fiona, and the very old, worldly-wise Aunt Ariadne have cobbled together a household comfortable for them all while Fiona’s mother and stepfather are on an extended trip. When the Earl of Spathfoy, Tiberius “Tye” Flynn appears, lives are forever changed. He is Fiona’s uncle on the paternal side of her family that has ignored her existence until now. The conflicts, the subtle maneuvering, and the many types of love that come to the fore make Once Upon a Tartan a keeper. It sparkles, shimmers, and shines with characters that are multi-faceted who all seem comfortable in their own skin and not afraid to speak up for themselves. I admire and cheer on strong characters.

I fell in love with the vivacious little Fiona. She is a breath of fresh air. She climbs tress, reads to trees, and sings to them and declares them very nice. She chatters like a magpie, is a trove of information, and it never enters her mind to be daunted by her Uncle Tye. She even grins and winks at him when he’s grumpy. The fact that he is an earl means nothing in her young life. How she relates to all the adults in her life is an amazing story in itself.
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Hester hates that good manners force her to offer the Earl of Spathfoy hospitality, while Aunt Ariadne is quite happy to have him around. Hester cannot get past the fact that Tye’s deceased brother, a spoiled, selfish womanizer, had not dealt honorably with her sister. Moreover, his family had not acknowledged his “handfasted” wife or his daughter.

Hester does not hold men in the highest regard since Jasper Merriman forced his sexual attention upon her while they were engaged. She jilted him and alienated London Society and her own mother. Now, in virtual exile with most of her options gone, she considers herself a spinster. She is certain she is not marriage material for an Earl. Her self-esteem has been battered. However, with Aunt Ariadne’s encouragement and Tye’s (at first) aggravating attention, a most delightful and heart-warming story of love and friendship takes root, sprouts and grows strong.

The arrogant, but honorable Tye is plagued with guilt but feels honor bound to carry out his father’s wishes. His bluster with an undercurrent of humor often revealed in an avalanche of big words—in some cases naughty words—makes the interaction between him and Hester, Fiona, and even Ian brings chuckles and giggles at times. It keeps one’s attention focused on what is going to happen next.

Ian MacGregor, Fiona’s uncle on the maternal side of her family, and his wife Augusta were primary characters in The Bridegroom Wore Plaid , the first book in the MacGregor series. They have a strong influence in this story also. Their side story, so full of love and humor about their “Terror”, the baby that rules their life captivates and blends in to the main story beautifully. Ian’s love for Fiona and the length he’ll go to in order to protect her shows a wonderful, deep, familial love that touches the heart.

The love scenes with Hester and Tye let the reader know that there is so much more to their love than just the physical attraction. They bolster each other’s sense of self-worth and reach out to each other in sincere caring. Their awesome sexual encounters show a joy for living that takes the breath away.

Grace Burrowes weaves her magic with words to show the many facets of the characters that emerge as she immerses the reader in the environment, the inner struggles of the characters, the joy of life they have, and the machinations of Tye’s manipulative father. He is an antagonist one could hate yet feel sorry for at the same time.

The strong women, the strong yet sensitive men, and a child as untamable as her fiercely protective and loving aunt make One Upon a Tartan a memorable love story—excellent and exquisite.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,
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