Who Saw the Deep by Christine Lim

December 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

WE


Who Saw the Deep by Christine Lim
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (147 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When Noah moves back home after grad school, he doesn’t expect a simple handyman job to turn deadly. Amelia seems like a sweet old lady with a run-down house, but appearances can be deceptive. When an alien ship lands in her woods, Noah discovers that everything he believed about Earth and human civilization is wrong.

Amelia already gave her heart to one man—does she really want to let another one inside? Even though Noah is everything she ever wanted, can she really trust him? He seems like a good person, but her family’s genetic legacy is more important than romance.

When all their secrets are laid bare, Noah and Amelia discover that the survival of their species may be more dependent on love than either could have imagined. Civilization endures because of anonymous acts executed by ordinary individuals. And love, especially in the face of betrayal, is worth everything.

Imagine seeing a strange object fall from the sky and noisily crash into the woods nearby. Would you call for help or run into the forest to investigate?

The characterization in this novel is slow and subtle at first, but eventually even the smallest clues are tied together in ways that I never would have anticipated. I was especially interested in watching the friendship between Amelia and Noah develop during the first half of the plot. At first glance I never would imagined that they’d share so much in common, and it was fascinating to see two people from such different stages in life find so many things that unite them.

While the pacing remains steady throughout the story, the climax includes quite a bit of information that is vitally important in order to understand everything that is happening. My sole criticism of this piece is minor, but I would have preferred to learn certain facts a little earlier on in the plot so that there was less competition for my attention when the tension reaches its highest point.

With that being said, postponing the revelations does make sense given the subtly creepy atmosphere of earlier chapters. Ms. Lim knows exactly how to paint a thin veneer of dread over what otherwise appears to be a perfectly ordinary day, and her ability to find the dark underbelly of even the most mundane chores and experiences plays a large part in why this tale earned such a high rating.

This book desperately needs a sequel. While all of the most important questions find answers, I am extremely interested in finding out what happens to Noah and Amelia after Who Saw the Deep ends. The final chapter drops hints about the future that made me wish the narrative would never end.

Who Saw the Deep is a must-read for anyone who loves alien invasion stories or heart-stopping mysteries.If these genres are up your alley, go pick up a copy today!

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

Purr-fect Love by Heather M. Sharpe

December 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

PUSSY
Purr-fect Love by Heather M. Sharpe
Publisher: Etopia Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (115 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Hollyhock

With time running out, there’s no pussyfooting around…

After her fiancé’s last betrayal, Mahri Lassler decides she’d rather become a crazy cat lady than live with another man. Yet when her sister drags her to the animal shelter to make that dream a reality, Mahri just isn’t ready to commit. Not even to a litter of cuddly kittens. But when an odd black and white tomcat reaches through the bars, it’s almost as if he’s choosing her…

Cursed by a scorned lover for all eternity, Scottish clansman Morgan Felix resigns himself to living eleven months each year as a cat. Now, nearly a millennium later, he’s trapped in a cage at the animal shelter with no hope in sight. He has to escape before the first day of spring, when he’ll change back into his human form and find himself in a very tight squeeze. So when the pixie-like woman stops just outside the cage, he takes the situation into his own paws and reaches out to touch her hand…

Anyone might open her home to a stray cat, right? But extending that same courtesy to a stray (naked!) man? That might give any woman pause. Luckily for readers of Purr-fect Love, when Mahri Lassler is faced with that question, she never hesitates, and that generosity makes for a charming romance in Heather M. Sharpe’s enjoyable novella.

After a bad breakup, Mahri is looking for a little feline companionship in the local animal shelter, when a black cat grabs her hand and her heart. Smitten, she takes him home only to find he’s a much more challenging companion than she could have imagined. Mahri is an easy character to like. She’s emotionally wounded, but her kindness toward Morgan shows she hasn’t given up on life or men, despite her ex-fiancé’s betrayal. I must admit I found her generosity a little naive at times—it’s one thing to open your home to a down-on-his-luck stranger, but to let him live with you and not even balk when he wants to watch you get out of the shower? That goes a little beyond generosity in my book, but overall, it worked for the story and the situation.

Morgan Felix, the shifter at the heart of the story, is also an easy character to like. When he chooses his clan over his Scottish lover, she curses him to a feline existence for eleven months of the year, which he seems to accept with a fair amount of serenity (or perhaps after a thousand years of it, he’s just learned to cope). His determination to protect Mahri from his crazy life, as well as from anyone who might threaten her, is commendable and makes him a satisfying hero to read about. Their romance develops quickly, but it is never less than involving and believable.

If I found the writing a touch clunky at times and thought that, in such a short novella, the focus could have been a little tighter, it never took away from my enjoyment of this sweet story. I would especially recommend it for any cat lovers who like their stories with an element of the paranormal.

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The Brides of Black Mountain by D’Ann Lindun

December 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

BRIDES
The Brides of Black Mountain: Shiloh’s Song and Mending Fences by D’Ann Lindun
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (182 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Shiloh’s Song
All Shiloh Jamieson wants is a chance to make it in the country music business. Unfortunately, her mother—a bitter failure in the biz—stands in Shiloh’s way. So does Shiloh’s own fear of what she might have to do to succeed—sleeping her way around Nashville—is not an option.

Country music superstar Dillon Travers left Nashville’s bright lights and fame for Black Mountain, Colorado, craving peace, solitude and to run his rescue horse ranch. His wife’s death has left him disillusioned with the career he once loved.

Can a sassy newcomer and a jaded veteran each find their way together when one desperately wants what the other needs to forget?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mending Fences
Starla Jamieson owns a successful bar, and it’s enough for her. She’s never wanted a child of her own because between helping raise her younger brothers and a dozen half-sisters, Starla’s parented plenty. To avoid the motherhood trap, she walked away from the only man she ever wanted. But nobody else has ever been able to fill Trevor Lee’s boots.

Trevor Lee has never forgiven Starla for the lie she told him. He’s also never stopped loving her. His head tells him she’s not the right woman for him because he wants a traditional family… and that’s just not Starla. But his heart can’t forget her.

When the unexpected consequences of a night of passion forces them to examine their past, they have to decide whether to forgive and forget …or to let love slip away again.

The two novellas that make up THE BRIDES OF BLACK MOUNTAIN entwine and add to the saga of the daughters of Clem Jameison. My gracious, that man would take first prize for being the totally dysfunctional father. Since I’d read previous books in the Black Mountain series, when I started reading “Shiloh’s Song” I felt as if I’d dropped by to see what was going on in the lives of old acquaintances.

Shiloh’s dream is to make it as a singer in Nashville. But her mother Racine made it in Nashville, made bad choices, and came home a bitter woman. She dissuades Shiloh and leaves Shiloh thinking she is not a good enough singer to realize her dream; so she sings on weekends at her sister’s bar.

Her extraordinary talent with horses, a talent she inherited from her father the undependable Clem Jameison, lands her a job with the wealthy Dillon Travers, a popular, young, but supposedly retired Nashville singer.

Trust issues for both Shiloh and Dillon create a stumbling block for their budding relationship. How they overcome conflicts and cope with the best-intended meddling of friends and family captivates.

The second novella “Mending Fences” is Starla Jameison’s story. She owns the local bar where all important social events seem to take places. She and Lee Trevors, the manager of Dillon Travers’ horse operation, have a history that goes back to their high school days. Starla’s sense of guilt and Lee’s unforgiving attitude create an uneasy atmosphere. To “hook up” is one thing but to wipe the slate clean of past mistakes and let true love work its magic is a whole new issue. They, like Shiloh and Dillon, have trust issues, but for much different reasons.

Country music, the rescue and rehabilitation of abused horses, and life around the local bar furnish the props for the love stories. Even though the plots were somewhat predictable I found THE BRIDES OF BLACK MOUNTAIN to be a entertaining escape into the world of romance with a western flavor—fun to read after a day of coping with the hassles of daily living.

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Doubtful by Ann Warner

December 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment

DOUBTFUL
Doubtful by Ann Warner
Publisher: Silky Stone Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (164 Pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Doubtful Sound, New Zealand – For Dr. Van Peters, Doubtful is a retreat after a false accusation all but ends her scientific career. For journalist David Christianson, it is a place of respite after a personal tragedy is followed by unwelcome notoriety. Neither is looking for love or even friendship. Both want only to make it through another day. But when violence comes to Doubtful, Van and David’s only chance of survival will be each other.

Doubtful Sound, New Zealand is the location of the Doubtful Research Institute, a facility devoted to the study of native New Zealand plants. Dr. Van Peters is hired to set up a mass spectrometer and she takes the job gratefully after a false accusation costs her her position as a toxicologist in a Cincinnati hospital. Then David Christianson, a prominent journalist, arrives in Doubtful to recover from his own personal tragedy. Each is absorbed in a world of pain and neither wants to be around anyone else. But when they are kidnapped, they discover they can only survive by working together.

This story is filled with action and suspense. It is a real page-turner. But what set this novel apart for me wasn’t the suspense but the way the author establishes the characters of Van and David and how she develops the relationship between them, gradually revealing their pasts and allowing them to heal. These two characters are very real, believable people who have been through traumas of heart-wrenching proportions. Yet, each is finding a path back to life, a real life rather than one filled with bitterness and pain. And I suspect, that even without all the suspense, over time, they would have developed a friendship.

The kidnapping along with other acts of violence against the research institute heightens the tensions and certainly Van and David’s very survival is at stake. I liked the way they work together as a team, each figuring out a part of the puzzle that they need. Most of the secondary characters are also fully fleshed out, lending support to Van and David. The main villain is pretty flat, but then that actually works to raise the level of suspense simply because he is such a loose cannon. The settings are described in great detail so that I feel as if I have actually been to Doubtful Sound. Everything in this novel works together so that I found that I couldn’t put it down, reading it in one afternoon.

Readers who like romantic suspense stories are sure to fall in love with Doubtful. I know I did.

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

Freedom of Love by G. S. Carr

December 4, 2013 by 4 Comments

LOVE
Freedom of Love by G. S. Carr
Publisher: Amazon Digital
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (186 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

The stunning daughter of the French nobleman Dominique, marquis d’Chartes and the African beauty Imani Marsan, Soleil is captivated by everything during her first trip to America including Alex. She loves him almost from their first meeting. However, their love is interrupted when she is abducted and sold into slavery. Alone and scared she only wishes to regain her freedom.

Alexander couldn’t help but love the exotic beauty with the caramel skin that made him want to taste it. Losing her was the hardest day of his life. After years of searching she appears as if conjured by his deepest desires. But she returns far from the same. Can they rekindle their love or will they never find the freedom only love can bring.

May 1821, a time fifteen year old Alex Cummings will never forget. The Marquis Dominique von Marsan and his family are on their way to secure contracts with local cotton farmers. Alex’s dad is one of the biggest cotton farmers in Alabama, and it will be Alex’s responsibility to watch over Marquis Dominique’s twelve year old daughter Soleil during their fathers business visit. Of course Alex is not too happy about babysitting a girl and he would rather be hunting or fishing, that is until he set his eyes on the beautiful Soleil. Alex is taken by Soleil’s caramel skin tone, and blue-green eyes.

Time spent between the two over the years horseback riding, enjoying nature, and getting to know each other, also growing to enjoy each others company. Alex answers questions and explain to Soleil, who being from France doesn’t understand the reference to people of African descent being called Colored, and why Coloreds are slaves. Fast forward to Soleil’s sixteenth birthday. Soleil is kidnapped and sold into slavery. For four years she has been missing until she escapes.

I have never heard of this author, but I am a lover of historical reads, so I figured I would give this book a try. I have to say that the author is descriptive, and has a beautiful use of words. A novel based in this time in history can be very sensitive, and I have to say I found the beginning to be inviting. The story jumps right into the plot and I do admit I found myself caught up in the life of Alex and Soleil and wanted them to have a happy ending. They discovered each other, played games of question and answers, explored and learned beyond the color lines. I think and felt their love was destined to be, even though during this historical time their relationship would not have been accepted. Their story did have oppositions from those thought to be trusted, Soleil suffered abuse and had marks of being whipped, but the author didn’t give detail description of this abuse. There were a few typos, however they did not take away from the story.

The author demonstrates an ability to craft an intriguing plot that pulled me anxiously through the story. I highly recommend Freedom of Love. Alex and Soleil have a love story that will inspire and live on well after the book ends.

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

December, December by Emma Shortt

December 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment

DECEMBER
December, December by Emma Shortt
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (40 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Falling in love doesn’t only happen when you’re in your twenties or thirties. Sometimes it comes later in life, and when it does it is worth waiting for.

Kathy Reilly is a forty-four year old florist adjusting to an empty nest. Single and lonely, she doesn’t believe love will come her way again. So when she meets Jake Newton, she doesn’t expect much of anything, certainly not a night of blazing passion.

For Jake, Kathy is like a breath of fresh air, and she awakens something in him that he hasn’t felt before in his fifty years. One night with her will never be enough, and he will do whatever it takes to make her give him a chance.

But can both of them look past their old lives, and their old heart breaks, to take a chance on a romance that neither expected?

Kathy Reilly had always been incredibly busy. Free time was a thing of distant memory. But now her kids are grown and at college and her small florist shop is no longer enough to keep her active anymore. Urged on by her best friend, Kathy found herself entering Newton’s bar for a fun night of socializing surrounded by “people their own age” and not the twenty-something crowd more the age of her kids. When she locks eyes with the devastatingly handsome Jake Newton her world is turned around, and everything shifts.

Equal parts sweet romance and spicy love story, this is an interesting blend of both worlds. I was originally drawn to the story because it’s not about the classic twenty or thirty-something hero and heroine. Kathy is past forty and Jake over fifty, both have lived well and already experienced full and active lives. I was intrigued by how neither would be novices, and yet both still having plenty of oomph and living left to do. It was a surprise, therefore, when Kathy appeared to be practically a born-again virgin and very skittish and shy, embarrassed by Jake’s admittedly forward, but perfectly normal and understandable interest in her. I was torn. On the one hand I understood how a mum of two college aged kids, dipping a toe tenuously into the dating scene after so long out of it might not be some lush, sexual vixen, but I’d also hoped to read of a mature, comfortable woman at ease in her own skin and sexuality – and that wasn’t the case here. Every time she insisted internally that he couldn’t “possibly” be interested in her I wanted to give her a shake, and demand she have more faith in herself. Even after she and Jake get together Kathy constantly doubts herself and his interest in her. Really, this was my main and only serious complaint about the book.

While that aspect of the heroine was quite disappointing, the rest of the story is really enjoyable. The pacing is spot on for me, the characters were interesting and not cardboard cut-outs, and the whole plot (while brief) was fresh and different, drawing me in and tempting me to read further. Taken as a “rediscovering love and your sexuality” in their more mature years story – I found this a very good book. While I was disappointed Kathy wasn’t as wordly or confidant as I’d hoped, I certainly liked her and wanted to see her be snared by Jake. I was relieved that Jake didn’t let Kathy deny him, I loved how he walked her home when she insisted she was “just leaving”, and how even though he didn’t force anything upon her – neither did he let her dictate to him. A strong willed man, he clearly knew what he wanted and was not the least worried about going after it with a single-minded purpose. That was lovely to read and kept my interest piqued, wondering how he’d overcome Kathy’s shyness and serious self-confidence issues.

This book was not quite what I was expecting, nevertheless I found it a good read and certainly something a bit fresh and different. Although the heroine’s lack of self confidence grated on me, Jake’s strength and certainty was lovely, the sex scene was steamy and satisfying and I overall enjoyed both their chemistry and the fact they were real people with real problems. A good, quick read.

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

Searching for Someday by Jennifer Probst

December 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment

SEARCHING
Searching for Someday by Jennifer Probst
Publisher: Gallery Books
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (384 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Gardenia

Kate has given up on love—at least for herself. She is both blessed and cursed with the ability to sense a romantic connection between two people—a gift that her family passed down for generations. When Kate launches her own matchmaking company, Kinnection, with her two best friends in a cozy New York town, she has to put aside her own romantic disasters to make her business a success.

But when a furious man stalks into her office and accuses her business of being a scam, Kate is given the ultimate challenge to prove herself. Slade puts himself in her hands and asks Kate to find him love. Enraged at his arrogance but stubbornly eager to prove herself, Kate agrees, dedicating herself to the journey of finding him love…only to find herself falling for him along the way.

That little book with the Love Spell is back! It is a powerful spell … You write down what you want in a man, you follow the steps in the spell and… Yes! You hit the jackpot! Right?

The main theme running in this book is (besides a HOT romance story) the power of believing in you. Life is meant to be lived honestly and without subterfuge. For those who believe in Fate, the main concern is to recognize the opportunities you are given in life and to seize the day. We sometimes are so wrapped up with the minor aggravations of life that we fail to recognize what is right in front of our eyes. This is how happiness comes knocking and we must be smart enough to recognize it,

Jennifer Probst is the mistress of romance. Her writing style and characters involve us with the magic of romance and our dreams and visions take off in an orgy of fantasies. This story is both romantic and amusing. Even though we are dealing with magic gifts and spells, somehow she makes a believer out of her readers.

Get ready for a new journey in this series with the women that own Kinnections, a matchmaker service. I am still trying to find out their address so I can try them!! Enjoy reading this gem!

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

The Dragon’s Heart by Eden Ashe

December 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment

DRAGON
The Dragon’s Heart by Eden Ashe
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (229 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Verbena

The dragon-shifter king will do anything to keep his mate alive…even if it means war.

“We’re dragons. We don’t do the mushy friend thing.” – Daniel

Dragon Lore, #1

After millennia as king of the dragon-shifters, Daniel Ashborne wants a little peace and quiet, especially from the beautiful Hollywood starlet who haunts his memories. His escape tactics end abruptly when he is called to the ER to save the one woman he wants to forget, but who now bears his mark.

Shelby Kincade’s life and movie career were nearly destroyed when Daniel vanished a year ago. Now he’s back, claiming they have been accidentally mated. Getting over him once was hard enough, but she must choose either the life of her dreams or the man she can’t live without.

With peace finally on the horizon between the dragon-shifters and the Hunters, an assassination attempt on the dragon king and his mate shatters everything. Tensions rebuild as Daniel and his loyal team of shifters try to discover who put out the hit. Enemy and ally lines are crossed, but in the end–after the battle ash has settled–no one could have foreseen who has plotted for their own gain.

They say you fight fire with fire, but sometimes it takes a gentle hand to tame a raging inferno. Shelby Kincaide might just be the tender heart Daniel Ashborne needs to cool the fury consuming his soul. That is, if Shelby can survive the consuming anger sheltering the true core of the man buried deep inside.

On television and behind the scenes, Shelby is ever bit the famous actress and spoiled performer everyone assumes her to be, but it’s all an act. Underneath all the glamor and pampering, Shelby yearns to be heard and treated as a real person. Unfortunately, fame has surrounded her with people looking to use her for her status and make a name for themselves. Even her own family has jumped on her coattails, expecting to get ahead in the movie world. No one really cares about the real Shelby. Despite her envied glory, she’s had a hard life. A modern day Cinderella, she’s lived through evil step-mothers and jealous step-sisters. Her own father even turned his back on her, leaving her yearning for the love and support she’s never had. Daniel is the only person that seems genuinely interested in her for who she really is. Unfortunately, someone is hell bent on squashing any chance she has at happiness. After a Hunter breaks into her home and attacks Daniel, he’s convinced she’s no different than the woman who imprisoned him long ago. The last time Shelby sees Daniel is when medical personnel take him away. She’s got a dead Hunter in her home and a MIA boyfriend. The media, ever present and intent on bringing all the sordid details of her life into the spotlight, do what they do best: pick out the juicy details they want and willfully attempt to ruin her reputation.

Daniel’s life hasn’t exactly been a picnic. A dragon shifter, he’s had to hide his true identity and watch his back for a long time. Gone are the days of the glorious dragons who protected mankind. Now he and his dwindling dragon folk are forced to live in hiding and secrecy, their inner dragons bound and contained against their true nature. Once their allies, Hunters have turned against them and have hunted the dragons to near extinction. If that isn’t enough to make someone thoroughly pissed off, Daniel was imprisoned for months by an evil woman hoping to force him into mating with her in order to make her immortal. Tortured both mentally and physically until he nearly broke with insanity, Daniel now carries more than just physical scars. He’s a mess, to say the least. Too bad he can’t just slink away and dwell in his own misery. Unfortunately, he’s also the dragon king and has a responsibility to lead his remaining kinfolk. He doesn’t have time for a mate, especially one who threatens to tear down the cold exterior he’s so carefully crafted around his heart and make him feel things he’s determined not to acknowledge.

I’ve always loved dragons. Not many creatures can possess rage, power, magic, and beauty all at the same time. And besides, who wouldn’t want a gorgeous dragon shifter in their bed? Eden Ashe’s dragons seem to have mastered the art of truly being mystical and marvelous creatures. The Dragon’s Heart grabbed my full attention at page one. The main characters, Shelby and Daniel, are so multi-faceted and complex, they both won my heart. Daniel’s tangible pain and misery made me want to break through his stony exterior and love him myself. I cheered Shelby on as she persistently refused to back down from his fury and outbursts. She skillfully used her heart and her love to work through his old wounds and bring him back to himself. Ms. Ashe has a lovely talent with words and manages to keep me turning each page, eager to see what happens next. When Daniel and Shelby finally come together (sexually) in an explosive and intense bout of emotion and need, I couldn’t help but get all warm and fuzzy inside. I wanted these two together and Ms. Ashe does not disappoint. There were a few slow parts midway through the book, and a couple of times I wondered about some of Shelby’s actions, but I realized that most of this was necessary for her to make some changes not only in Daniel, but in his fellow dragons as well. It’s pretty comical to watch these proud, solitary, and fierce dragon men be put in their place by a five-foot-nothing woman less than half their size but with a temper to match their own.

By the end of the story, Shelby could certainly change careers from actress to author. What would her first book likely be? How to Train Your Dragon(s), I would imagine. She certainly has her work cut out for her, but I for one most definitely envy her. This is book one of Ms. Ashe’s Dragon Lore series. I know I’ll be chomping at the bit to get my hands on book two.

Hot, sexy dragon men to melt your heart (and maybe your clothes off as well), a strong-willed woman whose stature might be tiny but her determination is anything but, lots of great sex, and graphic violence…what else do you need for an awesome, story? Heck, it’d make a great movie! Don’t miss out on Eden Ashe’s The Dragon’s Heart; it’s a smokin’ hot read that left me yearning for a dragon of my own.

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Unclaimed: An Amoveo Novel by Sara Humphreys

December 2, 2013 by 1 Comment

UNCLAIMED
Unclaimed: An Amoveo Novel by Sara Humphreys
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (288 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Peppermint

Tatiana Winters, from the Timber Wolf clan, is a spirited veterinarian who wants nothing to do with the Amoveo—the ancient race of shape-shifters who live secretly among humans. But when the Amoveo Prince’s horses fall sick, Tatiana reluctantly heads to his ranch to help.

When she meets Dominic Trejada, a handsome warrior from the Tiger Clan, they instantly clash and sparks ignite. But when danger stalks near, they will have to find a way to trust each other if they want to stay alive.

When enemies seem to be lurking around every corner it can be difficult to know just which one is attacking you now. Dominic’s job as an head enforcer is to protect his king at all costs, no matter what. Yet he doesn’t  necessarily  know who he is protecting the king from, and then in walks Tatiana who just makes his job more difficult by being his one and only mate.

Tatiana is similar to many of the other hybrid Amoveo in this series. She doesn’t have a great understanding about life as an Amoveo an fears what it may mean for her. Yet, she cannot avoid the call to heal animals no matter the cost to her. So she tampers her fears and does what she needs to do to help heal the kings horses. I have to say that Tatiana is very much the calm within a storm. She is willing to put everything aside to do what it takes. I have similar traits so this was something I can certainly identify with and made me have a better appreciation for her character. I also loved that she stood up for herself, and was able to hold her own. This was important because the Amoveo world is so male dominated.

Dominic’s plight when it came to Tatiana was amusing at times, and at others I really felt for the guy. He is use to having to be the strongest and calculated. Whether it was in the military, or has head enforcer for the Amoveo. Dominic knew what he had to do to get the job done no matter the cost. Tatiana sure did throw a monkey wrench into his life. She creates unpredictability to his life, that he is just not happy about. I loved getting to experience him trying to figure out where his life would lead him now that Tatiana has changed everything.

This story has the complex plotline that I have come to expect from author Sara Humphreys. The Amoveos have to deal with both Amoveo and human enemies from various groups looking to eliminate them. This certainly adds depth to the story, as well as some excitement. On top of that the story evolved some additional twist and turns, such as mated couple problems, and traitors that left me on the edge of my seat. I have recommended previous stories in the series to others, and will continue to do so because Unclaimed was everything I have come to love about the Amoveo world.

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

Miss Fishfly by Linda S. Glaz

December 2, 2013 by 3 Comments

FLY
Miss Fishfly by Linda S. Glaz
Publisher: White Rose Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday, Inspirational
Length: Short Story (89 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Searching for love everywhere but in the right places, Christie Hayes is confounded when chocolate brown eyes wink at her at her best friend’s wedding. A narrow miss of the bedpan, and she discovers old Mr. Hartway’s grandson, Colton Keller, and brown eyes are one in the same.

Christie Hayes has a record for falling for the bad boy, then having her heart crumpled and broken. Maid of Honour at her best friend’s wedding, freshly single again, she swears not to repeat her mistakes, only to find herself unable to look away from one of the best men. Cole Keller has a new mantra – love ‘em and move on. With his shady past and wounded heart after his previous love had run off with a friend while he was captured in a cell in Iraq, Cole has no desire to open himself up to that brand of heartache again. Thrown together again after the wedding, Christie is surprised when one of her patients turns out to be Cole’s grandfather, dying of cancer but determined to live until the fireworks on Fourth of July. This is a heart warming story where Christie and Cole have more than a few cupids trying to set them up – and also some obstacles and mis-communications confounding them both.

I found this to be really well written, with characters that sucked me in right from the first chapter. Cole and Christie have both been hurt, damaged in their own way, and both are trying to make the best of their solitude. Working through their personal issues, and with friends and family urging them to open themselves more to the spiritual side of human nature, and have faith and trust in God more, there is a lot going on in this story. Full of fun antics, heartwarming friendship and complicated relationships this is a fast-paced novel that draws you in and held my attention throughout. I also got a bit of a kick out of the “friends without benefits” line they tried to describe their burgeoning relationship as it was different to so many other novels out there.

While Christianity and God are a heavy influence in this book, it’s not the sole driving force behind the plot. Instead, it’s woven quite skillfully throughout the story, instead of being Bible-bashed or hammered into the reader. I found this far more realistic, and more of a pleasure to read than other Christian inspirational books. Church, God, spirituality and Christian beliefs are a strong theme, especially relating to love, marriage and trust – but it’s worked well into the characters, their interactions and their friends giving advice. I found this still managed to give a strong impression, but not drive the whole story. I thought this left the characters and plot far more room to shine and grow, and quite enjoyed this style of story telling.

Conversely quite a bit of the story is dedicated to misunderstandings between Cole and Christie. While this was a bit more clichéd and predictable, there were enough surprises and fresh, different aspects that it didn’t overshadow the story or detract much from my enjoyment. One of the most notable surprises was a particular scene where Cole and Christie go on their first date, and Cole tells Christie about his experiences in Iraq. While not graphic or gore-filled, I personally found them a challenging read – and certainly something totally different for a romance novel. I think the author had a lot of guts adding this into the book. To my mind it adds an extra layer of reality to the character of Cole, an ex-solider, but also was something quite unexpected. While the mis-communications were a little clichéd, they were totally offset by some of the stronger details of soldiers getting used to civilian life after war, the realities of facing death from sickness (cancer), and learning to overcome hurt in the past and betrayal by family, lovers and other people important in our lives. This certainly isn’t your average Christian romance book, that’s for sure.

An interesting blend of classic, sweet and military – I feel certain this will appeal to a wide range of readers. There is no graphic sex, and indeed nothing stronger than a few kisses between Cole and Christie. I found this sweet enough to let mature teenagers read or to loan to your mum or granny. This is still undoubtedly a romance and filled with a strong, interesting cast of secondary characters and a vibrant moral/Christian themed basis. I think there’s also plenty of reality and enough adventures to interest a broad range of tastes. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would happily read more by this author.

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