Archives for July 2014

Someday My Prince by Christina Dodd

PRINCE
Someday My Prince by Christina Dodd
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (358 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

The Princess Must Marry

Princess Laurentia leads a fairy-tale life, attending glittering balls and wearing beautiful gowns. But after the ball is over, Laurentia finds herself getting into bed…alone. She dutifully agrees to choose a husband, but when she casts her eyes over her sea of suitors, she doesn’t see a single man worthy enough to claim her.

But Who Will She Choose?
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Then suddenly, she is swept off her feet by Prince Dominick, soldier of fortune, black sheep of his family…and the man hired to protect her. He’s brazen enough to steal her kisses, yet tender enough to soothe her with one touch. He makes no promises, speaks no vows of forever…yet Laurentia can’t help but hope that her prince has finally arrived.

Talk about second chances. Someday My Prince succeeds in doing the impossible.

If a reader has already tackled The Runaway Princess they’ll have an idea by now as to why I mentioned ‘impossible’. Dom wasn’t exactly a nice guy in the previous book. He was a villainous character but what he really was and is, is an anti-hero. I saw hints of personality quirks that hinted at something that could be redeemed. In Someday My Prince Ms. Dodd took those little flickers of goodness and used some rather impressive bellows to fan the flames of decency, creating a hero worth checking out in this novel.

It’s hard to banish the past, either from a reader’s mind or even from Dom’s own point of view. Yet Ms. Dodd presented enough proof for me to believe the hero could be a better man, a happier man, with the right incentive. That incentive comes in the form of Princess Laurentia. She’s got teeth, an attitude and a lot of secrets. She alternates from being feisty, temperamental, innocent, brave, conniving, trusting and adventurous. Basically, she’s the kind of woman who wouldn’t bore a man like Dom but keep him on his toes and wouldn’t let him run roughshod over her. He tries because after all he’s a mercenary, and like he tells everyone, a bastard. Acts like it at times too. I appreciated the fact that he didn’t completely act like a total loser – he has in inner code of honor- rusted to be sure but it’s there. The odd thing is his tenacity and his ability to rationalize errant behavior with honor. I’m not sure if I would buy that story if it were me instead of Laurentia. I’m almost sure I would have used the gun in a different manner. The heroine is made of sterner backbone than me.

The plot was interesting and I liked seeing two kingdoms duking it out. I figured out who the traitor might be only because of the extreme stiffness of the character. It was like watching a prune with legs. As for the top villain, a reader is told he’s bad and there are brief glimpses that lend credence to the claim but nothing that made me gasp or shiver or worry. Dom is such a wounded bear anyway so I knew he was going to trounce someone at some point. As for resolving the overall conflict, it was a bit too simple for any reader who thrives on details and suspense to appreciate. The story used the background conflict to further the romance between Dom and Laurentia and caused bumps, trials and tribulations for them to navigate so readers could see their relationship grow. It was entertaining but nothing spectacular.

The happy ever after was satisfactory. The true heroes and heroines of the kingdom were recognized and it was nice to see. Laurentia and Dom’s finally coming together isn’t sweet, sappy or boring. It’s fraught with emotional passion right up until the end, which is on par for those two. I believe they will be happy and Dom will finally know peace and acceptance. After reading the book, it’s a beautiful hope and I felt good about that.

Someday My Prince is a nice sequel and it tied up all its loose ends completely. I think the heroine was the right type of woman for the hero and their relationship sure wasn’t dull. This novel entertained me and I felt it worth my time. It’s not quite as frenetic as the previous book but it’s meaty just the same. I think it has much to offer readers, especially those who like to see bad boys finding their redemption. Dom isn’t cured of being bad, but now he’s bad for all the right reasons. That’s good enough for me.

The Many Lives of June Crandall by Suzanne Whitfield Vince

LIVES
The Many Lives of June Crandall by Suzanne Whitfield Vince
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Contemporary, Historical
Length: Full Length (308 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Shuffled from one orphanage to another and finally abandoned into foster care, Grace Adams finds comfort only in her dreams, only these dreams are unlike anything Grace could ever dare to imagine. From a Nazi concentration camp in World War 2 to a Geisha house in Feudal Japan, in her dream world Grace is loved and protected by one person: a woman named June Crandall with a face she is unable to forget.

Believing that the woman from her dreams is the mother she’s never met, Grace petitions the court to unseal her birth records, and what she learns about her birth mother will shake her to her core. Years later, at the urging of her husband, Grace publishes a book about the woman from her dreams. At a book signing, a stranger appears and offers a clue to the mystery surrounding Grace’s birth.

Putting her skills as an investigative journalist to work, Grace uncovers a web of secrets and betrayal that threatens to destroy her dream of being reunited with her birth family. Will Grace find the woman from her dreams? Will she solve the mystery of her birth? Will she be able to put the past behind her and find forgiveness for the family that abandoned her?

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It was interesting to watch Grace change as a result of everything that happens to her as she’s growing up. Her painful childhood doesn’t give her much of a reason to trust others, but her intelligence makes her question these knee-jerk responses. The result is a young, troubled woman I couldn’t help but to root for. Don’t get me wrong – Grace is deeply flawed. Her weaknesses make her more relatable, though, and kept me glued to the plot even when I encountered bumps in the road.

The character development of everyone Grace meets during her life was weak. Her friends and enemies are described in such a black and white manner that I had trouble connecting to them emotionally. It was never quite clear to me if the sketches of them were meant to subtly cast light on Grace’s damaged psyche or if the author intended to skim past these characters. Some of them had fascinating backstories either way, and this tale would have earned a much higher rating if they’d been given more of a chance to express themselves.

This book has the kind of premise that snags my attention right away. As soon as I read the blurb, I couldn’t wait to find out what happens next. What I liked most about it was how straightforward it was about the events in Grace’s early life. It gave away enough details to spark my curiosity, but the author did a good job at keeping enough of the plot hidden that I didn’t feel as if I already knew everything in advance.

It would have been helpful to have more showing instead of telling. Grace experiences a lot of traumatizing things as a child and young adult, but the rough times in her life weren’t given as much attention as I would have liked to see. The scenes describing them were often brief and factual even when what was happening should have evoked much stronger emotions from the characters involved in them.

I should note that this isn’t a traditional romance novel. While there are many tender moments later on, the characters involved in them don’t necessarily fit into the tropes that one would typically find in this genre. When I first started reading I was expecting an entirely different sort of plot. It was a pleasant surprise, though, and the romantic subplots ended up working well with everything else that was going on.

The Many Lives of June Crandall is a good choice for anyone in the mood for something unique and (mostly) contemporary.

The Tea Shop on Lavender Lane by Sheila Roberts

TEA
The Tea Shop on Lavender Lane by Sheila Roberts
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full length (326 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

When it comes to men, sisters don’t share!

After a fake food poisoning incident in L.A., Bailey Sterling’s dreams of becoming a caterer to the stars collapse faster than a soufflé. Now Bailey’s face is in all the gossip rags and her business is in ruins. But the Sterling women close ranks and bring her back to Icicle Falls, where she’ll stay with her sister Cecily.

All goes well between the sisters until Bailey comes up with a new business idea—a tea shop on a charming street called Lavender Lane. She’s going into partnership with Todd Black, who—it turns out—is the man Cecily’s started dating. It looks to Cecily as if there’s more than tea brewing in that cute little shop. And she’s not pleased.

A man with any sexual problem is just get viagra in canada powerless. Practice any number of the guidelines laid out above and your cialis generika body will thank you later, IBS or not. It is important for finding out what is causing your Impotence issue to rule out serious underlying viagra canada samples health conditions. Kamagra tablets contain sildenafil citrate, an FDA-approved chemical that relaxes the blood vessels and allows the penis to stimulate tissue production in cialis no prescription india response to pressure. Wait! Isn’t Cecily seeing Luke Goodman? He’s a widower with an adorable little girl, and yes, Cecily does care about him. But Todd’s the one who sends her zing-o-meter off the charts. So now what? Should you have to choose between your sister and the man you love (or think you love)?

All’s good in the family when they stick together and this bunch sticks like glue!

I mentioned it above, but the central theme of this book is family being important and it’s true. Ms Roberts has penned a book about love, relationships and how your family will always be with you no matter what.

I liked this book. The writing flows well, although there are a lot of characters to keep track of. Granted, in a family of three sisters, with beaus to go around, there will be quite a cast of characters. Once I got into the book, keeping everyone straight got a lot easier. The more I read, the more I wanted. I wanted to know what would happen with all of the characters, because even if I didn’t like them on one page, by the next I liked them again.

Cecily was my favorite. She’s got a boat load of troubles. She thinks she likes one guy, but kind of likes another, too. She’s easy for the reader to relate to because I could see a lot of me in her. She struggles with her decisions and not upsetting her family. Easy to understand.

I also liked Todd. Whether he’s the one for Cecily aside, he tries so hard. Gotta give him credit for that. He wants to make her happy, even if he’s less than happy. He’s endearing.

In the end, the book works and that’s what matters the most.

If you want a book that’s heavy on heart and family, then this might be the book for you.

Love Story of a Reaper by Elvira Bathory

REAPER
Love Story of a Reaper by Elvira Bathory
Publisher: Tiger Dynasty Publishing
Genre: Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (46 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Waratah

What would you do if you found out that you weren’t like everybody else?

That you were special but only in a way that no one could find out about?

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A family that you didn’t know you had?

Kymber was moving through life, with a part time minimum wage job and few friends. She was different from other people, and they treated her that way. She was happy with her life, though. Until the day she met Kheelan. That is when her life was turned upside down. She finds out that she isn’t even human, and that a family, she wasn’t aware she had, needed her to complete a mission.

As Kymber and Kheelan’s adventure progresses, will their focus on business remain professional? Or will their growing passion take over?

It’s always a bit more challenging to review a shorter read. The story line is intriguing, but didn’t have a lot of back ground. This isn’t a stand alone and the end will leave you waiting for the next one. I have to read the next one, just to see how Kheelan fills out.

Kheelan is a young Fae male that has a job inside a job to do. Kheelan’s father is a tyrant and his tough love leaves a bit to be desired. Kymber was more accepting of her fate than I’m sure most would be. But as Kheelan explains her life to her, things kind of slip into place. The loneliness, the isolation… how many Reapers do you have as friends? Kymber handles herself remarkably well and that is what is endearing to me.

Is it love at first sight… or lust at first touch? If you love magic and the Fae, then this cute little story will surprise you. Mix in some heated bed scenes, and you have a short story made for your reading pleasure.

Unexpected Vacation by Jennah Scott

VACATION
Unexpected Vacation by Jennah Scott
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (89 pages)
Other: F/F, BDSM, Anal Play
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The one thing Savannah didn’t plan for on her wedding day was to be left standing alone at the altar. Runaway bride? Try runaway groom.

Haley had planned to stand at her best friend’s side through sickness and health, for richer or poorer…not to mention watching the woman she fell in love with marry a man she barely gets along with.

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When emotions boil over, desires are shared—hello, nipple play and oral teasing—and the sun and sand beckon. And two women discover they need each other more than they realized.

Sometimes there are second chances with the one that got away, but second chances are no guarantee of a different outcome this time.

Some friendships will always include an underlying sexual attraction even when you’re both sure that nothing will ever come of that spark. The chemistry between Savannah and Haley is smoking hot, but the little details about their friendship that popped up randomly made it even better. These anecdotes were well-placed and fleshed out their history together quite well.

While I appreciated all of the time spent on describing Savannah’s wedding day and the long history between these two characters, those sections interfered with the pacing of this story. In a full-length novel it would have been the perfect amount of backstory, but for something this length it made the plot feel uneven in certain places. It was slow to begin with, and then seemed to move a bit too fast at the end.

The premise of this story snagged my attention immediately. It was one of the most unique ideas I’d heard about in this genre recently, and I was curious to see how Savannah would recover from such a huge betrayal. It’s hard to discuss this part of the plot without giving away spoilers, but I was pleased by how this issue was dealt with. The ending left room for a sequel while also being satisfactory on its own.

I’d recommend Unexpected Vacation to anyone who is interested in getting to know characters well before things heat up. This is a nice, slow burn.

Ten Things You Might Not Know About Us by Anne Rothman-Hicks and Kenneth Hicks – Guest Blog and Giveaway

NBtM Kate and the Kid Banner copy
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Anne and Kenneth will be awarding a $40 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. click on the tour banner to see the rest of the stops on the tour.

Ten Things You Might Not Know about Us
1. We love to travel. Recently, we have visited ancient sites in Turkey (Ephesus and Troy) and Egypt (the pyramids at Giza and the Valley of the Kings at Luxor). We are planning a trip to Rome and Venice in the fall, then a cruise to more ancient places along the Adriatic and the North Coast of Africa. You may be seeing a pattern here.

2. Our family is very important to us. We have three children whom we adore and of whom we are very proud. Our eldest son is an actor who also conducts tours in Manhattan and Brooklyn. His younger brother is a teacher of high school English and drama in the New York City public schools, and also writes and directs plays. Their even younger sister is a tutor for many high-end tutoring companies and is an actress and singer. Did we mention how proud we are of them?

3. Ken has been a lawyer for almost forty years in New York City. Anne was an editor and since then a full-time mom. Both Anne and Ken never stopped writing. Ken would do his in fits and snatches on weekend mornings, and Anne found time here and there and anywhere during the week. The experiences both have gained from being parents, as well as while working in publishing (she), and in law (he), have found their way into the novels.

4. We have lived in New York City for over forty years. We have enjoyed the museums, theatre, opera, orchestras, movies and restaurants, and all the rest that New York has to offer. It is a fascinating place where we can walk around the same neighborhood again and again and always count on seeing something different. Kate and the Kid is set in New York City, and much of the action occurs in Central Park and the various playgrounds nearby in which we spent a lot of time with our own children. New York plays a big part in three of our other books, including Mind Me, Milady (a mystery/suspense novel), Things Are Not What They Seem (a ‘tween suspense/fantasy story), and Praise Her, Praise Diana (a suspense novel). An intimate knowledge of this complex place helps us to ground the plot incidents.

5. Cape Cod is a favorite spot of ours. For several years we went to Wellfleet, which is one of the prettiest towns anywhere. During the last few years we have moved north on the Cape to Truro and rented a house in the dunes that is wonderfully peaceful and beautiful and that allows us to hear the surf every night before we drift off to sleep. We have read our books for children at the Truro and Eastham libraries and also displayed photographs of local picture stones there.

6. Even though there are loads of restaurants of all kinds in New York, we enjoy cooking and have tried with varying degrees of success to imitate the variety of styles that we enjoy – Indian, Chinese, Thai, Italian, North African and Middle Eastern.

7. We go to the gym three mornings a week together, usually arriving at 6:00 a.m.. Anne supplements the gym time with yoga and aerobics classes. Ken likes to play tennis whenever he can. We also enjoy many long walks through the City’s various neighborhoods and take in all the arts that we can. Never a dull moment!

8. Photography is a major interest of ours. While on the beaches of Cape Cod we looked closely at stones and saw that many had beautiful miniature pictures on them, which we photographed and put together in a book that is available on the iBookstore. We also have published a book containing images of hearts that we have photographed on the streets and sidewalks of New York City and which is similarly available on the iBook store. Examples of these and other photographs can be seen on our Pinterest page.

9. We have used photography and the wonders of Photoshop to illustrate a book for children called Stone Faces, which is about a young girl, Alice, whose parents are getting a divorce. Alice is feeling lonely and depressed until she finds a stone on the beach at Cape Cod that begins to talk to her and becomes her friend. Through a series of adventures she starts to come to terms with the divorce.

We have also planned a picture book called Country Mouse, which has images from the sidewalks of New York City and another book called Splotch!, which will rely more on text with some pictures appearing as necessary throughout.

10. We are also interested in the history of New York City, and in our novel Mind Me, Milady, one of the main characters, Susan, seems to be remembering an earlier life when she was an indentured servant at the time of the Battle of Manhattan during the Revolutionary War. McGown’s Pass, in the northern section of Central Park, is the site of a culminating scene in this book.

MEDIA KIT Cover Kid 6 x 9KATE AND THE KID is about a young woman (Kate) who has just lost her job and had a major fight with her boyfriend (also arising from the trauma of being fired). At this very low point in her life, Kate is tricked into taking care of a sweet but emotionally damaged six-year-old girl (Jenny) who only communicates with adults through a doll she calls “Miranda.” As a result of an eventful night of babysitting, Kate begins to bond with Jenny, which causes a whole new set of complications with the people in Kate’s and Jenny’s lives. This book tells the story of how Kate and Jenny help each other to heal, grow, and navigate the difficult and sometimes dangerous world of New York City.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Like any kid sleeping in an unfamiliar place, Jenny was up at first light. She crept into the living room and sat cross-legged within a few inches of Kate’s sleeping form. When Kate stirred, Miranda’s plastic face was pressed gently against her cheek.

Smack.

“Hi, Katy!” Miranda said in her high-pitched voice.

“Hi, Miranda!” Kate replied in the deepest basso tones she could manage without harming her vocal chords.

Jenny giggled. Miranda danced with delight on the mattress.

“Say it again!”

Kate sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

“Hi, Miranda! Wasamatta?”

Jenny giggled harder than before, but Kate noticed that Jenny had changed her clothes again. Her pink shirt had a bright yellow flower on it, which matched smaller yellow flowers on her pink shorts. Miranda wore a new matching outfit also, yellow with a touch of pink.

“Girls,” Kate said very seriously now. “You didn’t go out on the fire escape again, did you?” The answer was obvious, both from the downcast look on Jenny’s face and from the fact that Miranda also turned away in apparent shame. “Please, no more walking on the fire escape? Okay? Please? Will you promise me that?”

“Yes, Katy,” Miranda said sweetly. “And Jenny promises too.”

About the Author: MEDIA KIT Melange pic 2Anne Rothman-Hicks was born in New York City and, except for a brief exile to the suburbs imposed by her parents, she has lived there all of her life, the latter part of which she has shared with her co-author, Kenneth Hicks, and their three children.

Website ~ Facebook
Buy the book at Amazon.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Moccasin Trace by Hawk MacKinney

moccasin trace

Moccasin Trace by Hawk MacKinney
Publisher: Archebooks
Genre: Historical
Length: Full (237 pgs)
Heat: Sensual
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Snapdragon

… it was about the land…a tale of love and loss and hope…

“The most engaging and brilliantly crafted historical work since Margaret Mitchell’s great classic.” Barbara Casey Author, The Gospel According to Prissy

Hamilton Ingram looked out across the fertile Georgia bottomlands that were Moccasin Hollows, seeing holdings it had taken generations of Ingrams to build. No drop of slave sweat ever shed in its creation. It was about the land…his trust, his duty to preserve it for the generation of Ingrams to come…

It is July of 1859, a month of sweltering dog days and feverish emotional bombast. Life is good for widower Rundell Ingram and his Hazel-eyed, roan-haired son, Hamilton. Between the two of them, they take care of Moccasin Hollows, their rustic dogtrot ancestral home, a sprawling non-slave plantation in the rolling farming country outside Queensborough Towne in east Georgia. Adjoining Ingram lands is Wisteria Bend, the vast slave-holding plantation of Andrew and Corinthia Greer, their daughter Sarah, and son Benjamin.

Previously there were not several alternatives in cheapest cipla tadalafil market place, so problems have been a large selection of products to reduce this. Each cheap viagra in australia individual’s needs, wants and requirements change from time to time a) Online status and billing b) Online dispatch of invoice c) Auto reminder for payments d) Information systems report e) Online alerts for critical information via texts or emails, etc. One can viagra tablet without prescription written by doctors which does not require him to explain his intimate and personal situation where both the individuals become one to seek sexual pleasure of similar kind. It boosts order cialis pills endurance, stamina and energy to last longer in bed and satisfy her. Both families share generations of long-accepted traditions, and childhood playmates are no longer children. The rangy, even-tempered Norman-Scottish young Hamilton is smitten with Sarah, who has become an enticing capricious beauty—the young lovers more in love with each passing day, and only pleasant times ahead of them.

But a blood tide of war is sweeping across the South, a tide that might be impossible to stand before.

Charm marks Mackinney’s civil war-era romance: The charm of the south, the built-in, home grown sort of charm that happens in families that rely on one another, and among people who strive to maintain their own sense of self in such times. There is much here on the strength and gentility of specific personalities that have struggled through such a difficult time.

Mocassin Trace is full of the sense of old time southern flavor–war torn and struggling, but somehow still sweet. Conversations, from tone to choice of language help create an aura of ‘old time south.” Hamilton and his lovely Sarah are our main characters, and both are refreshingly human. They are nice people, obviously attracted, but also, human and flawed. They aren’t the sort of characters, nor have they the sort of relationship, that keeps one madly turning the page, but they are interesting, if a bit precious.

Although the story ‘starts’ in 1865, events can happen at different times: more than once I was confused as to whether I was reading something that had happened, or was looking forward to something that was going to. This story is both their marriage and their courtship, and there’s no concern on giving away the romance, as it sets off with them married. They run in to their share of troubles, and that is the more unpredictable piece.

In this work, oddly enough, some secondary characters are greater and more appealing than the main characters. The wisdom of Corinthia shines through whenever she appears, and her voice seems so authentic. “Although my place is here, I can’t put away thoughts of other mothers and daughters weeping for sons and loved ones and husbands they may never hold again. It’s the same dread I felt when you had whooping cough. That whole dreadful night Bessie and I sat up praying for you…”

And author Mackinney has a deft hand with humor as well, and makes the most of a turn of phrase (For example: We don’t want you mopin’ like some cow off its feed. from Bessie, who has a whole different slant on Wisdom.)

Those interested in the era will find this book heartwarming.

Ablaze by Nancy Tesler

BLAZE
Ablaze by Nancy Tesler
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (330 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Thornapple

Samantha Barron, victim witness advocate for the Bergen County, NJ prosecutor’s office and a Munchausen by Proxy survivor, has her world shaken up when the man who threw her off his elite crisis response team for defying his orders and running into a burning building to save a dog, insinuates himself into a case involving the disappearance of one of her clients. A terrified young girl had shown up at Samantha’s office blurting out a story about having witnessed a horrific stabbing murder at the Greenwich Village Halloween parade; then suddenly bolts crying that she is a Judas, she should never have come.

Samantha must put aside her feelings about this man, attorney, Douglas Ruark, with whom she had once been passionately in love. They are forced to work together to find and rescue the girl before the religious cult that they believe is holding her captive discovers that she can identify the murderer. When another eyewitness is found bludgeoned to death and a prostitute mysteriously kidnapped, Samantha, to Ruark’s distress, agrees to enter the cult house ostensibly as a perspective convert, but in reality as bait.

From the relatively safe streets of suburbia to the remote country house of a malevolent sect, Samantha finds herself caught up in a world where power and greed rule, where “love” is given and withdrawn as a brainwashing technique, and life is cheap if you’re a troublemaking outsider…

The title says it all! This book sizzles with suspense, mystery, drama and steamy romance. Samantha and Douglas are white hot together. When a young girl needs help, Samantha and Douglas team up once again to expose a deadly religious cult.

Samantha almost lost her career because of Douglas. He’s the last person on earth she ever wanted to work with. Douglas did what he could at the time to keep things from completely derailing her career, but it’s obvious Samantha hates him with a pink, orange and purple passion. These two just can’t keep from getting under each others skin. Douglas deals with his frustration by being sarcastic and Samantha closes herself off so he can’t get too close. The two wind up having several ultra knock down drag outs. I couldn’t help but laugh since it was so clear they wanted each other.
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When certain information comes to light regarding Samantha’s childhood, Douglas realizes he was a little too harsh on Samantha in the past, but he simply can’t seem to stop trying to control everything so she will be safe. Samantha of course resents his interference. Both Douglas and Samantha had tragedy in their past and it has made them into the people they are today. That could be a good thing or a bad thing. Both are sensitive to crimes against children especially and that makes them consider going outside proper procedure to save a life. I loved this couple and enjoyed their fiery banter and hot passion

While we don’t often hear about religious cults in the press like we once did, they are still very active.  Cults have always creeped me out. The idea of being brainwashed and manipulated is just spooky. The fictional cult featured in this book is especially disturbing.

As the case heats up so does the heat between Samantha and Douglas, but Samantha has a big job ahead of her and it’s really dangerous. I was on the edge of my seat when Samantha has to do a little undercover work.

I thought the blend of romance and suspense was well balanced and evenly paced. The characters were human and had good qualities and of course like all of use there were a few flaws. Samantha and Douglas both wanted to be charge and run things their own way, but for different reasons. Trust is a really big thing in relationships and when you have been through something as traumatic as these two have, trust is even harder to achieve.

The storyline is interesting and although cults have been written about numerous times, it’s been awhile since I have read a book that drew attention to this disturbing phenomenon as well as the Munchausen syndrome. The story involving Samantha’s mother was chilling. I don’t know how I would feel in Samantha’s shoes. I do think she handled the situation with grace and for her own sanity it was the best way to go.

There weren’t any psychological twists but there were a few really big shocks, horrifying actually. So, the suspense was top notch.

The book ends on a really positive note. I think Sam and Doug are going to have a red hot relationship and could make a good investigating team if the author ever wanted to bring them back. I could see this turning into a long running series.

I love it when I read a book that entertains me and if I learn something I didn’t know before that makes the experience that much more rewarding. Reading about cults and learning which ones are still going strong in the US right now was very thought provoking. This is still an issue regardless of the lack of exposure the press gives the topic at this time. I’m glad Nancy decided to go ahead with this book even if the original plans for it didn’t work out. Well done!

The Marvellous Cakery by Laura Gavin

CAKERY
The Marvellous Cakery by Laura Gavin
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (18 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Baker and fairy godmother-wannabe Ms Cake has a bad habit of lacing her customers’ cake with magic. Her assistant Lacey is the only one who knows about her secret ingredient, or the way she feels about Fred, the bookish cafe owner across the street. But the gossip-mongers of small town Spinningham are about to get a treat. Because when Ms Cake’s well-meaning meddling goes awry, the Marvellous Cakery and its owner start down a path of very sticky self-destruction.

Penile erection is a combined result of mental and physical stimulation. cialis without prescriptions mastercard Also, ex-smokers with high blood pressure are 11 times more likely to experience ED as compared to men with anxiety is if problem of ED is purely psychological in nature. generic viagra rx It is now scattered among all at cheap rate. best price on viagra The owners, Phil Longo and his wife, Mamie, doted on them, methodically brushing the felt tops, polishing the ornate, exotic wood rails, bodies and legs, and watching like hawks for even a hint of any abuse by the players. prescription cialis usa Every job has its share of little mysteries, but Lacey’s workplace might have a few more than average.

Ms. Gavin has a smooth, conversational writing style that makes it hard to stop reading. This was my first introduction to her work, but it times it felt like hearing a dear old friend tell a story over a hot cup of tea instead of reading words from a page. I enjoyed my first taste of her creativity and will definitely be keeping an eye out for more books from her in the future!

This tale includes a larger cast of characters than I would normally expect to find in something this length. While I was soon able to sort out everyone’s identity, it was a little confusing to get to know so many different characters in a short period of time. The plot was well paced, but it would have been helpful for me to have either not met so many of Cake’s customers or to have been introduced to them a little later on instead.

I wasn’t expecting the fantasy elements to be quite as strong as they were, so it was pleasant to see how they interact with the romantic subplot. It was also fun to experience the plot twists alongside Lacey and her boss, especially since I didn’t see them coming ahead of time.

The Marvellous Cakery gave me an almost irresistible urge to run down the street and visit my favorite.

How to Marry a Cowboy by Carolyn Brown

boy
How to Marry a Cowboy by Carolyn Brown
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (324 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Rancher Mason Harper’s two little girls want nothing more than a mama of their own. So when a pretty woman appears on his front porch in a tattered wedding dress, while Mason’s looking for a nanny, he can’t help but wonder if it’s fate.

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Carolyn Brown has done it again.

I don’t say that lightly. She’s written quite a few books, but she’s one of the few authors I grab once I see the book on the shelf. Her work sparkles and I’m glad to get the opportunity to read the novels. This one is no different. I felt like I was right there with Annie Rose and Mason. The book is a fluffy, happy read that should be a staple at the beach or on your kindle.

Mason is a bit of a broken and frazzled man. He’s got two little girls who are champions at chasing away potential nannies. Why? They’re precocious kids. They are off the charts. Then again, I can’t say I’ve met too many completely docile kids. I loved how Ms Brown makes Mason lovable and kept nudging me to want to hug him. Did I mention she describes him well, too? Oh yeah.

Annie Rose is another fine mess. Really. She’s on the run from an abusive relationship, ends up in a pond, submerged and in a wedding dress. See? A fine mess. There were times I loved her and times I thought things were a tad too easy for her. Still, I rooted for her the whole way.

If you want a book that is sheer entertainment, then this might be the book for you. Grab a copy today!