Archives for October 2014

The Guardian by Aneta Cruz

October 29, 2014 By Leave a Comment

GUARDIAN
The Guardian by Aneta Cruz
Publisher: Imagineer
Genre: Historical, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (304 Pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Dr. Josef Stein was trained as a man of science and rationality, but after a tragic experience, he believes that there is something within—or even without—the human body sciences cannot explain. And Stein would do anything to witness it! When his patients begin seeing a ghost, and a woman suspected of killing her child even accuses this spirit of the crime, Stein takes it upon himself to investigate. Unexpectedly, evidence of a supernatural phenomenon starts to mount. The good doctor’s quest to see is ignited with fervor. He thinks he is on the verge of uncovering the veracity of a thousand-year-old myth when his research gets interrupted by the Gestapo. Stein turns to his colleagues and friends for help, but they begin to suspect that the doctor’s determination may have unhinged his mind. Has Stein, after years of treating the crazy, gone mad himself?

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Now, Dr. Stein feels that time is against him. He searches for answers about the nature of the soul. When his young son died in his arms after an epileptic seizure, “Stein thought he saw his son’s soul take its leave. He was certain he saw a luminous vapor of some sort, ascending from his son’s body. It was the something he couldn’t explain. He would never forget that experience, for it had changed him forever. From then on, he wanted to learn about the body, to understand the soul, so that he could one day find his son’s. But he would never admit that to anyone.” He is still trying to find answers, but will the Gestapo allow his work to continue?

Dr. Stein is a rich and complex character who hooked me from the very beginning. I could feel his drive to uncover the truth behind the mental illnesses of his patients. I felt his fear every time the Gestapo stops him. And I believed in his theory that Magdalena, the Guardian of Unwanted Children, is real, that somehow a women named Magdalena who had died in the year 1002, is still looking after children who are in distress, taking their souls to a better place.

The pacing in this novel is excellent and by the end, I was totally immersed in this world, watching in horror as the Gestapo has its way against helpless victims. I felt that the historical information is accurate as well as vivid. The supernatural events are spine-tingling.

If you enjoy an historical mystery with a supernatural element, then be sure to check out The Guardian. It is one you won’t want to miss.

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

The Night Belongs to Fireman by Jennifer Bernard

October 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment

FIREMAN
The Night Belongs to Fireman by Jennifer Bernard
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (296 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Daring . . . Sexy . . . Irresistible . . .
They’re the Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel

When fireman Fred Breen rescues a bachelorette party after a construction crane collapses onto their limo, the media labels him the “Bachelor Hero.” But all Fred can think about is the petite brunette with the sexy mane of dark curls who bolted away from him faster than a wildfire after he carried her to safety. And when he discovers she’s none other than Rachel Kessler, the daughter of a tech billionaire, the girl whose kidnapping riveted the nation, he intends to learn every intimate detail about this intriguing woman who sets his pulse on fire.

This is widely known as second best ED med after blue pills ( soft cialis online). If you are not comfortable with online mode, then can select any retail pharmacy to viagra sale buy get the medicine. This is because they know that unlike their other male counterparts, they have nothing to offer viagra wholesale price a woman in return. However, if the pages take enough time to load; there are competitors. viagra samples uk Rachel can’t deny the lean-muscled firefighter is smokin’ hot. But after having one too many drinks at the bar where she first meets him, Rachel knows she’s made a fool of herself. Yet when he rescues her from the limo, she feels safe for the first time since she was held for ransom as a child. Then her overprotective father insists Fred be her bodyguard—and his close presence kindles a burning desire that only he can extinguish.

I find nothing more romantic than a story about two people who love each other so much, they want the absolute best for the other person, even at their own expense. It’s a theme that has been done numerous times in the past but this time it’s special. The author put her own clever stamp on the storyline by making the hero a hunky fireman who doesn’t think he’s anything special, and a woman with a scary past who is so rich, she’s been stuffed behind a wall of protection all of her adult life. The basic outcome is eventually the hero finally understands he IS special, and worthy of the title ‘hero, and the heroine learns to stand up for herself and not let the terror of the past dictate her future. They each do things that benefit the other but as is the course of human nature when crisis is in the mix and emotions and passions run high, folks don’t always say or do the brightest things in those types of situations. Such is one of the conflicts in this story and Ms. Bernard navigated it well.

I really like Fred. I also find it unusual to have a hero named Fred. Initially, I thought of Fred from Scooby Doo but that didn’t last too long. Ms. Bernard’s Fred is intelligent, fit, and talented in Martial Arts and performs a job that has him run into danger and possible harm, not away. He has a few chips on his shoulder that he has to face during the course of the story. Leave it to Ms. Bernard to put her hero in the most dramatic and suspenseful of situations to get a reader’s blood pumping. Some of the scenes with Fred are full of action, written with tight descriptions that make the gritty drama and fast pace pop off the pages. He comes through at the end with heroic flair and I enjoyed every moment of it. Even his dialogue showcases his personality.

Rachel is not a typical heroine. Yes, she’s pampered by daddy, but there’s a reason. A very good reason. She’s sweet, earnest and has an adventurous, fun side that seems to come out only with Fred. She’s a little rebel too and her actions, though they sometime verge on the annoying, contribute to the plot conflict. Ultimately, she does find the strength within herself to face her greatest enemy and those scenes prove to be quite gripping.

The villain of the piece was two-fold. And the one person I thought all along it might be, was not. One was a total nutcase, of which there was a tiny hint but I didn’t catch it until Fred remembered it, and the other came out of left field. That villain truly freaked me out. What a great choice of character!

When Fred and Rachel finally have had enough of their simmering feelings and act on them, the only thing I can say is, it’s a good thing that Fred is a fireman. Those pages were smoking and their getting together was sexy.

One of the cutest parts was when all the firefighter’s wives gathered to give Rachel some advice. It was adorable and fun. In fact seeing Vader again, and quite a few of the other firefighters from past books, was a true treat. This is solidly a standalone read, but it was a wonderful touch to have the other guys help Fred out when some of the situations got sticky. That reporter needs to be gagged. She’s NOT a nice person.

The Night Belongs to Fireman is a terrific addition to the Bachelor Fireman Series because it keeps the tradition of a great story, a hero and heroine that are fun to read about and a nice and easy storytelling voice. This novel has a lot going for it, including a wonderful dog, Greta. The author’s descriptions of scenes with Greta painted a clear picture and it was a delightful addition to the tale. I definitely recommend this book for romance readers, especially those who enjoy a bit of mystery and suspense to spice it up. Ms. Bernard sure knows how to entertain a reader.

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

A Saved Woman by Nancy Fraser

October 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment

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A Saved Woman by Nancy Fraser
Lawmen and Outlaws Series
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (64 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Katy Anderson has experienced more heartache than most know in a lifetime. Given to a man old enough to be her father, she has spent the past six years secluded from everyone except for her three young children. Her husband’s untimely death brings relief that … finally … she and her children are free.
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When Sheriff Mitch Logan arrives at the Anderson homestead, he is moved by her sad circumstances and vows to right the wrongs done to Katy. Mitch has always shied away from marriage due to his dangerous profession, yet he quickly changes his mind when Katy comes into his life, and into his heart.

Despite her best intentions to keep the handsome sheriff at arm’s length, Katy can’t help but admire his honesty, and his kindness. All too quickly, she finds her resolve weakening as Mitch convinces her to trust again.

Can Katy’s broken heart be mended?

Katy is an amazingly resilient woman given the path her life took six years ago. The tragic circumstances of Katy’s life are conveyed very quickly and without any graphic details. However, Ms. Fraser provides enough to give me a sense of what Katy had to do to survive as well as protect her young children. Katy immediately won my respect and sympathy. Despite the hardship she’s endured, Katy is still a strong and loving woman. She never let her life with Tobias break her. While she is understandably slow to trust, Katy still tries to see the best in others. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly Katy makes friends given the fact that she’d been isolated from society for so many years.

Katy and Mitch make a wonderful couple. I really like how slow and gentle Mitch is with Katy. He never pushes her and always lets the relationship progress at her pace. I enjoyed watching Katy learn what a relationship between a man and a woman could be. Clearly, Katy’s children are the priority of her life. Fortunately, Mitch is great with Katy’s children. His interactions with them are natural and completely genuine. I do think that Mitch and his relationship with Katy are a little too perfect. Katy and Mitch encounter a small hiccup on the path to their happy ending, but it was resolved before it became a serious issue. I would have liked that situation to be teased out a bit to give Katy and Mitch’s relationship more depth.

A Saved Woman is a truly enjoyable read. Katy is definitely an admirable character, and Mitch might be the kindest and most generous hero I’ve ever encountered. I recommend A Saved Woman to anyone looking for an uplifting tale of love and kindness.

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

Waves in the Wind by Wade J. McMahan

October 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment

WAVES
Waves in the Wind by Wade J. McMahan
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (199 Pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

It is an age when kings and gods rule Ireland. The sun, but a pale orb, labors across somber skies; the moon and stars, distant memories. Ash falls upon the land like fine gray snow, while crops wither in the fields and famine creeps into every home.

It is an age of endless wars and chaos. Kings, great and small, fight among themselves for land, wealth and power. Ships from distant lands bring plague to coastal villages and certain death for all who fall ill.
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Families cower about their fires calling upon their gods, the old and new, for salvation. Yet, the old gods of the Druids, the Lords of the Sidhe, are falling back in the face of the irresistible Christian incursion.

Within this maelstrom of inevitable change, Ossian, a Druid among the Eoghanachts, battles Christian priests and their Holy Trinity, but risks losing everything he holds dear—including the eternal love of a goddess.

Richly steeped in the sights, sounds and emotions of the sixth century, this historical novel allows a glimpse into an Ireland that exists today only in conjecture, and gives insight into the people whose presence may only be felt and never seen—like waves in the wind.

Ossian had been training all his life to follow the path of a Druid. His father had begun his training when Ossian was very young, and at the age of twelve, Ossian is accepted by Master Tola the head of the Druid school at Dún Ailinne. Ossian proves to be an excellent student, rapidly advancing in his studies. He even succeeds in building his first sacred fire in the pouring rain after Master Tola remarks, “I cannot recall the gods challenging an acolyte with a more difficult trial. To succeed you must maintain confidence in yourself, keep your mind clear and apply the knowledge we instilled within you.” Ossian rises to the challenge, the first of many in his life. He is soon fighting for all Druids and their gods as Christianity tries to destroy Druid practitioners and believers. All the time Ossian is fighting he wonders, “If gods can hold all men in their hearts, why can’t men hold all gods in theirs? Perhaps that is a singular failing of men. Perhaps our hearts simply aren’t large enough to contain more than one faith. What a pity. I fear it will prove a bane for humanity throughout all time.”

Ossian’s world comes alive for his readers and I truly felt as if I were back in sixth century Ireland. All of my senses were engaged and I could feel the darkness that overtook this world, causing fear and panic to rise as the food supplies dwindled. The actions rang true. Some turned greedy and violent while others tried to help. People are fighting for their gods, as if the gods wouldn’t exist if there were no believers. While this novel is set in the far distant past, the conflicts remain with us in the present day. I watched Ossian grow from a man filled with hatred and revenge to a man who began to understand what was truly needed for all to survive.

Lovers of fantasy as well as those who enjoy ancient history are sure to find Waves in the Wind to be both exciting and thought provoking.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

Secrets by Lynn Crandall

October 27, 2014 By 10 Comments

Cover_Secrets

Secrets by Lynn Crandall
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full (223 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Poppy

Someone is making homeless cats disappear and Michelle Slade wants to put a stop to it. The office manager at Aegar Investigations and owner of cat rescue Cats Alive, she struggles to keep together the life she’s forged since the one she knew shattered five years ago on the night she was raped. She couldn’t have predicted that the rape’s impact would reach into her present life and put a strangle grip on all she holds dear, thanks to the evil machinations of powerful businessman, William Carter.

When Michelle’s problems with Carter escalate, friends rally to help her, with private investigator Casey Mitchell at the top of the line. When Casey finds his investigation takes him down a very dark path of diabolic and life-threatening research conducted by Carter Enterprises, he attempts to keep his work life and his private identity as a were-lynx separate. However, though he’s been trained his whole life to keep his identity and his colony of were-cats protected, he now struggles with terrible aloneness.

As they are thrown together to save the missing cats and remedy worse problems, Michelle and Casey can triumph and find true love, or lose everything.

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Secrets was a well plotted and interesting story filled with mystery and longing. Our heroine, Michelle, is a strong, intelligent women trying to rebuild her life after being raped five years earlier. She struggles with feeling safe and it’s also impacted her willingness to become involved with any man.

Casey is the perfect foil for her. He’s incredibly patient and sweet, and also just crazy in love with her. He treats her much like the fearful, feral cats they both deal with and it keeps her from running completely away. He’s such a great guy!

At first, I thought the premise in the blurb sounded a little silly. I love cats (I have cats), but basing an entire mystery on some missing cats? I think the blurb misrepresents the depth of the story, however, and I hope it doesn’t keep other readers from giving it a try. The truth is there is a much deeper, more frightening mystery in there and it’s all tied together with Michelle’s past and Casey’s past and current life.

The plot was interesting, but it’s clear there was at least one other book in this series. Not that this didn’t stand alone, but I could tell there was backstory with one couple here that I was missing. Even so, it didn’t really impact my enjoyment of this book, just made me wonder what had happened before (and I’ll most likely go check out what came before).

The story was also packed with interesting and unique secondary characters. The author did a great job creating a community here, and that always makes the story a better read for me. I adore having a group of people to get attached to. It gave the story a richness to be savored.

I also enjoyed her voice and writing skill, though occasionally some lines seemed strangely constructed. For example, “The thought hit Carter’s face, and the truth registered for a moment, then dropped to the floor.” While I understand what she’s trying to convey, the odd vision of a thought flying across the room like something tangible, hitting him in the face and then falling to the floor pulled me right out of the story for a moment.

Still, I completely fell in love with Casey and the romance in this book made my heart sigh. Michelle is a very lucky girl. Her solid group of friends were amazing, and I can’t wait to read more about them. While the mystery of the missing cats, and Michelle’s property battle are wrapped up in this story, other questions arise, which makes it clear there’s another installment coming. I, for one, am glad. I look forward to revisiting these characters and their world.

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

Nice Girls Don’t Date Dead Men by Molly Harper

October 27, 2014 By Leave a Comment

DEAD
Nice Girls Don’t Date Dead Men by Molly Harper
Publisher: PocketStar
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (380 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Cactus

With her best friend Zebs Titanic-themed wedding looming ahead, new vampire Jane Jameson struggles to develop her budding relationship with her enigmatic sire, Gabriel. It seems unfair that shes expected to master undead dating while dealing with a groom heading for a nuptial nervous breakdown, his hostile werewolf in-laws, and the ugliest bridesmaid dress in the history of marriage.

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Should Jane warn her grandmother of Wilburs marital habits or let things run their course? Will Jane always be an undead bridesmaid, never the undead bride?

New vampires probably shouldn’t be involved in anything Titanic-themed. Jane Jameson is back and she’s the matron of honor in her best friend’s wedding to his ladylove werewolf. Zeb and Jolene want a Titanic-themed wedding because…well why not? Jane is not overly excited about the wedding, losing her best friend’s undivided attention, her mysterious boyfriend’s recent odd behavior, and the consistent pressure from Zeb’s mother to stop the wedding so Jane can marry Zeb. You’d think all of it would be too much for a newbie vampire but Jane still finds time to look into her grandmother’s sixth fiancé. Although her plate is more than full with anything but food, Jane and her friends transverse the crazy town of Half Moon Hollows once more.

Nice Girls Don’t Date Dead Men is book two in the Jane Jameson series by Molly Harper. Although you technically don’t need to read book one to understand this one as the author does a really nice job of reminding new and returning readers of important details, I think readers should as it’s essential to understanding the cast dynamic and fully appreciating the characters themselves. In this new outing, Jane doesn’t really mature much unfortunately and I thought she came off slightly worse for the wear with her antics. The plot revolves around Jane’s best friend Zeb getting married; an event that Jane is ambivalent about at best since she’s struggling to come to terms with Zeb maturing and growing up while she isn’t. Additionally Zeb’s mother, Mama Ginger, is of course a caricature from hell bent on destroying the wedding in an attempt to make Zeb and Jane marry instead.

I found the story humorous and entertaining for the most part. The few issues I had were that Jane could have easily stopped the drama with Zeb’s mother by simply telling her that Jane was a vampire. Of course there would be no book with over the top wacky hijinks if logic actually prevailed so there is a reason for the lack of any common sense. Whether readers like that or not is a personal choice. Furthermore it was almost ridiculously easy to figure out what was going on, and who the bad guy was this time, and Jane started to look rather stupid in not figuring it out sooner. The book did everything but paint neon signs with the answers while Jane just shrugged and did nothing to add any intelligence nor intuitive thinking to any of the problems brought up. So I was much less enamored of Jane’s pratfalls, witty mumblings, and general air of buffoonery in combination with her less than average intelligence.

That said I still love the ensemble cast of characters and their ability to act as wonderful counterpoints to Jane’s sometimes irritating personality. I am not a huge Jane lover as she feels like a character pandering to a certain reading demographic. However the supporting cast is funny, entertaining, and generally helps soothe over any frustration. The writing is quick and easy to absorb without really remembering the details. It’s a little repetitive and formulaic to be sure but with the lack of real humor in the vampire genre I find this series much like ice cream. It’s not exactly something to be proud of binging on but it seems to taste so good at the time.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Slow Hand by Victoria Vane

October 27, 2014 By Leave a Comment

HAND
Slow Hand by Victoria Vane
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (288 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

In rural Montana…

Wade Knowlton is a hardworking lawyer who’s torn between his small-town Montana law practice and a struggling family ranch. He’s on the brink of exhaustion from trying to save everybody and everything, when gorgeous Nicole Powell walks into his office. She’s a damsel in distress and the breath of fresh air he needs.
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Even the lawyers wear boots…

Nicole Powell is a sassy Southern girl who has officially sworn off cowboys after a spate of bad seeds-until her father’s death sends her to Montana and into the arms of a man who seems too good to be true. Her instincts tell her to high tail it out of Montana, but she can’t resist a cowboy with a slow hand…

Who wouldn’t want a handsome cowboy to come to their rescue? And that’s exactly what happens to Nicole, (Nikki), when she leaves her purse on the plane. Enter Wade, attorney, and cowboy who not only gives up his seat on the connecting flight for Nikki, but helps her find her place to stay while she gets duplicate ID. Put aside the coincidence that he just so happens to be the lawyer handling her dead father’s estate, and you have the beginning of a story about a knight in shining armor.

I really liked Wade’s character and not only because he’s a man with old fashioned values. He comes across as caring and tender while at the same time as being a tough as nails cowboy. He’s got problems of his own, one being the struggling family ranch and a bad relationship with his brother Dirk who lost a leg while serving his country.  Sometimes I thought Dirk wasn’t all bad and I was waiting to see where all his hurt and anger stemmed from. He’s a great secondary character, as are all the others in Slow Hand.

Nikki was also likeable, and throughout the book I hoped she wouldn’t let this cowboy get away and would realize that he and Montana were her future. And of course, the setting was perfect. The ranch and the small town setting complimented this story perfectly. And though the plot was a bit predictable and particularly new, it was solid and enjoyable.

If you like Western settings, and can’t resist a guy in a cowboy hat and boots, I’d say this one’s just for you.

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

The Sweetest Thing by Lilian Darcy

October 27, 2014 By Leave a Comment

THING
The Sweetest Thing by Lilian Darcy
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (312 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rated 4 stars
Review by Snapdragon

Tully Morgan hasn’t been back to Marietta for more than a few brief visits since the night of the 1996 senior prom eighteen years ago, when the chance exposure of a long-held family secret sent her running to her uncle in California in shock. She stood up her date Ren Fletcher that night, and she hasn’t seen him since. Now she’s here for an extended stay, to help take care of her seriously ill mother. It’s an edgy reconciliation, the first time that Tully, Patty and Sugar Morgan have been together since that long ago prom night. Tully has had so much anger toward Sugar… can she ever forgive her? And Sugar still has one more secret that needs to be dealt with, one that needs Ren Fletcher’s help. Has he forgiven Tully for leaving him in the lurch on prom night? And is there any chance that he and Tully can rekindle what they might once have had, when he’s still tied to someone else?

The Sweetest Thing (A Riverbend Novel) by Lilian Darcy really is sweet: it’s a sweet love story, a sweet family story, and leaves that sort of heartwarming-sweet feeling in its wake.
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Of course, it is the characters who evoke the sweetness readers will savor. Tully, introduced first, is acting as her mother’s mainstay, sweetly reassuring her, even though she has her own concerns. Ren, dear soul, is sweet; the first visual of him has him holding Tully’s hand — but he is unexpectedly complicated, as is their relationship.

They’d both agreed to the parameters of their relationship, and Tully makes dutiful, rational-seeming decisions , but there is all this other stuff going on, in the way. ‘An interlude’ seems like a terrible thing to call a relationship. I have hope, though, and the hopes grow as the story carries on. But…

Every character seems to have secrets, or suspect others of having their own. Secrets might not be awful, but they get in the way:  of people, relationships, and trust. Charles, Uncle David, even her mom are important and meaningfully deep secondary characters. Sugar Morgan is somehow, someone more. Characters truly are at the center of this charming romance. Still, it IS a romance, and no matter the things between them, I continue to have hope for the main couple throughout.

The Sweetest Thing is nicely written, if occasionally wordy. Author Darcy it seems, won’t have readers overlook a detail, so perhaps too thoroughly explains points, or must include one more adjective than necessary. The wordiness occasionally slows the pace, but by no means disturbs the wonderful tenor of the story.

And I must note: I love the ‘candy’ themed cover of The Sweetest Thing. Perfectly appropriate!

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

The Dog Park by Laura Caldwell

October 27, 2014 By Leave a Comment

DOG
The Dog Park by Laura Caldwell
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary, chick-lit
Length: Full Length (344 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

A couple’s best friend?

Stylist Jessica Champlin knows it takes more than a darling goldendoodle to save a marriage. She and her ex-husband, investigative journalist Sebastian Hess, had too many irreconcilable differences for even their beloved dog, Baxter, to heal. So they’ve agreed to joint custody, and life has settled into a prickly normalcy.
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But when Baxter heroically rescues a child and the video footage goes viral, Jess and Sebastian are thrown together again, and her life takes some very unexpected twists. The line of dogwear she creates becomes wildly successful, and suddenly she’s in the spotlight with everyone watching — the press, the new guy she’s seeing, Sebastian and the past she never imagined she would face again. Soon there’s only one person by her side — and it’s the person she least expected. She’s willing to open up to a new normal — just as long as Baxter approves.

I have a weakness for any book featuring a cute animal so I was immediately hooked on this one. The animal in question is Baxter, a goldendoodle. Baxter’s the fur baby of Jessica and Sebastian, now divorced and sharing joint custody of him.

The story is told in the first person, through Jessica’s viewpoint. She’s an interesting character and things get more interesting for her when Baxter saves a child and the video goes viral. All through the story you have a strong feeling that her relationship with Sebastian isn’t quite over, but then Gavin enters her life. He was a fun character but deep down I kept hoping that maybe, just maybe Sebastian would win the day.

The story is full of twists and turns regarding Gavin, and also Jessica’s past. I won’t give away the last half of the book but let’s just say it had me turning the pages and reading on longer than I intended just to see if this story has a happy ending.

The dialogue is natural sounding and pacing is fast so it’s actually a quick read. I wouldn’t categorize it as a romance per se, but more about couples finding second chances and moving into the second part of their lives with a new perspective type of book.

Most readers won’t have a past like Jessica’s but she dealt with lots of emotions that most of us can relate to and that’s what made this a compelling read.

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

Dark Mist: The Hidden Series by LaVerne Thompson and Tenaj

October 27, 2014 By Leave a Comment

MIST
Dark Mist: The Hidden Series by LaVerne Thompson and Tenaj
Publisher: RP World Group, LLC
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (68 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Verbena

For over a thousand years, Deacon has led his vampire brethren to live in peace amongst humans. But that was before he entered the dreams of the beautiful Rose, hungering desperately for that which he could not claim because the very laws he had set forbade it. Laws that meant certain death for the Hydden should they be broken…laws that Deacon himself might just shatter for one human. But he hungered for her blood and someone knew it.

Could he take what he desired most while still protecting himself from those who sought to destroy him? Or will Rose mourn the promise of an eternal forever if Deacon brings about his own demise?

Church going vampires who don’t drink blood…human blood, anyhow. That’s what you’ll find between the pages of Dark Mist by LaVerne Thompson and Tenaj.

Deacon is not your typical brooding vampire who sits around and pines for his lost humanity whilst loathing his bloodlust. While he certainly craves human blood, he’s forbidden all vampires from drinking it. Long ago, vampires were out of control, killing humans at will and endangering their own future. He put a stop to it by banning drinking from the vein. Even though there’s been times when younger vamps have threatened his rule or challenged his decree, Deacon governs with an iron fist and doesn’t think twice about eliminating any vampires who jeopardize the safety of their kind or humans.

The reasons for erectile dysfunction can be many, like hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, heart disease levitra for sale etc. So to get treated from such occurrences, http://seanamic.com/news/page/2/ sildenafil 100mg uk forms an excellent source of treatment from this disorder of males. The former uses the peripheral nerves and the lower seanamic.com cheap levitra parts of the hair have seen the bottom. Acai’s benefits to the circulatory system include strengthening the capillaries, which can help to prevent free viagra in canada diabetes related retinopathy, which can lead to blindness. Building his empire around the idea of saving souls—in more ways than one—he’s capitalized on the desire of most species to congregate and fellowship by building churches. These “safe houses” for vampires allow them to come, feed, and get the support they need. The only one allowed to drink human blood is him and it’s only to bind a human to him to protect their kind. Allowing anyone else to do so is just too risky.

Rose is a young girl who has proven herself with hard work and dedication. Her advancement at Hydden Enterprises—HE for short—was something she’d strived for. She’d lost her parents at a young age, but was graced with good stepparents who instilled a strong work ethic in her. Their encouragement and love was a blessing. She’s ready to make them proud by stepping into her new role at HE, and showing the big wigs there what a little orphan girl is capable of.

Despite her excitement and anticipation at starting a new life in a new city at a growing company, she has a few moments of hesitation. For the last few months, she’s experienced strange dreams about a man who seems too perfect to be real, dreams that leave her yearning for his touch and more. She doesn’t understand why these dreams feel so real, or why these fantasies have affected her so much. But the sight of her friend quickly dispels her unease. Krystal welcomes her into her home and soon the two pick up where they’d left off….giggling over beers and discussing everything from house renovations to battery operated boyfriends.

I have to admit, the initial thing that grabbed me about this book was the male character’s name—Deacon. It’s a rare name that I’m rather partial to because I have a son named Deacon. So when I saw this, I of course had to read it. The fact that it was about vampires made it even more tempting as I love almost anything supernatural.

The storyline itself proved interesting—I’ve never considered vampires hiding their true natures behind the façade of a church—but if you’re expecting a lot of excitement or danger, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. This was more of a “get to know you” kind of story that spans about two days’ time. The main characters, Rose and Deacon, are really just laying the groundwork for what appears to be future installments in this line. There’s plenty of hot, descriptive sex, but also a little bit of background info about both of them, which helped me get a feel for their characters.

One thing that made reading difficult was the excessive use of commas. I found myself having to reread things to figure out what the author was trying to say. Many of them were simply unnecessary. Some minor word errors and point-of-view violations also distracted me, but not as much as the commas. I think with some more editing, this could have been a much easier read.

The ending left me hanging with some major happenings occurring in the last few paragraphs, but I expect it’s a lead up to future stories. I honestly feel that this story could have easily continued as it was just starting to really get interesting when it ended. This seemed more fitting of a saga or soap opera with new installments coming at frequent intervals as opposed to stand-alone book. Hopefully the authors won’t leave their readers hanging for too long.

Vampires with a new twist…it surely got me thinking. I’m always game for a story with sexy supernaturals and intelligent women. With such a blunt ending, I’ll likely be wondering what happens next for a while to come. And if Ms. Thompson or Tenaj need any name suggestions for future sexy vamps, I also have a Jacob, Jared, and Joshua they are welcome to borrow. *wink*

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