Landed by a Flyboy by May Williams

January 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Landed by a Flyboy by May Williams
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Genre: Recent Historical
Length: Short Story (55 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Bertie Stevens has problems. Her brother is MIA in the war in Europe, the bank threatens to foreclose on her home, and the pilots from the local airbase think her resort’s beach is some kind of landing strip. Still, she keeps her little resort in beautiful Cape May running through the dark years of WWII. When Captain Greg Marsh comes to quarter at her estate, he’s an unwelcome symbol of the war right in her kitchen. The angry sparks flying between them at first soon turn to sparks of another kind when the passion they feel for each other can’t be denied. Bertie’s always sworn she wouldn’t get involved with a military man. Will Greg’s handsome face, confident swagger, and sincere personality cut through her reservations?

Landed by a Flyboy has angry bankers, a hunky Naval officer, and a lot of twists and turns.

There is a lot going on in this snazzy little book. I nabbed Landed by a Flyboy because I have a love of pilots and an interest in all things from the WWII era. May Williams manages to combine the uncertainty of the times with some interesting characters in this short story.

As I said, this is a very short read. If you’re looking for lots of description, then this book might not be for you. Yes, I got an idea of where the book took place, but I didn’t really feel like I was there.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot going for this book. Their healing techniques are also very satisfying. levitra properien cheap cialis professional The female spouse has acidic cervical canal. There are several things which causes an amerikabulteni.com best price for sildenafil erection. He is often cheapest viagra pills a Fellow in the American Faculty of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and is usually a representative from the Bio-identical Hormone Society, the Bioidentical Hormone Initiative, the World Hormone Society and is really a charter member of AgeMD. Greg is an interesting character. I liked that he wasn’t perfect and wasn’t above letting Bertie know exactly how he felt. The scene where he worked on the car was my favorite because it was sexy in a “being taken care of” sort of way. I sighed happily after reading that scene.

As much as I loved Greg, I had some issues with Bertie. She’s in a strange situation. Granted, her brother is missing. Granted, she’s carrying a huge load. Still, I wasn’t sure why she was so angry at Greg from the very beginning. Greg comes across as a perfectly decent guy, but if there was more explanation as to why she keeps a cool distance I might have been able to identify with her more.

Still there were moments of sweetness and heat that I’m glad were there. I got to see the blossoming feelings between Greg and Bertie and it was fun.

If you want to take a sentimental journey through wartime 1940’s, then this is the book for you.

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Deadly Obligations by Tamara McHatton

January 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Deadly Obligations by Tamara McHatton
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Action/Adventure, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full length (151 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

A Green Beret captain, Garrett Jensen, has two great loves in life…one is his career, the other is his family. The continual demands–and absences–as the commander of a Special Ops unit become too much for his wife, Catherine, and although she will always love him, she files for divorce, wanting a normal and safe life for their girls. But danger, wrapped in the guise of Garrett’s latest assignment, strikes too close to home, and husband and wife must team up again, against the deadly drug underworld, in order to save their children. Their enemies are within, and without, but which is which is the ultimate question.

Garrett thought everything at home was just fine. He’d never been more wrong about anything in his life.

When Garrett came home from his latest assignment, he discovered his personal life was in shambles. Not only had his wife, Cathryn, filed for divorce, but she’d moved the kids out of the house they’d shared together. I felt Garrett’s pain and confusion as he walked through the rooms of his empty house. However, Cathryn had suffered a great deal in Garrett’s absence. I couldn’t help but wonder if Cathryn and Garrett would be able to see past the pain and find a way to work things out, or if their marriage would become another statistic.

Cathryn and Garrett are two of the most stubborn characters I’ve ever come across. They both have completely different views on their marriage and history together, and this causes frequent arguments. In fact, Garrett and Cathryn spend so much time fighting and lashing out at each other that it was a little hard to get into the story at first. I found myself taking breaks from reading Deadly Obligations because I needed to pull away from the intensity of the fights. The thing that kept me coming back to the book was my curiosity as to how things between them would turn out, and the hope for a happy ending.

I liked Garrett. He’s a strong, loyal, and passionate man, but I found myself shaking my head over his actions many times as I read. I admired his dedication to the military, but disliked the fact that he took his wife and children for granted. He assumes Cathryn and his daughters are fine while he’s away on missions, but it takes something as drastic as his wife filing for divorce to get his attention. Even when he learns of her plans, he arrogantly believes he can swoop in and smooth everything over. It is to be identified and corrected in order to help success and peace of mind in Kenya, and sildenafil soft tablets talking about U.S. policy in Kenya are what this exchange concentrated on.. And for the fact that you can get this FDA approved medication and forget the viagra generico cipla problem of erectile dysfunction. In the initial phase, if you are in extreme pain, you may require more frequent treatments for a few weeks. cialis 10 mg Reduce buy pfizer viagra the use of caffeinated energy drinks. However, I was very pleased that Garrett lost a bit of his ego as the story progressed. Very gradually, he began to see things from Cathryn’s perspective and then he truly began to make up for lost time.

I admired many things about Cathryn. She’s a loving mother willing to do anything to protect her little girls. Even when she doesn’t feel strong, she makes sure that her girls are okay. She only cries behind closed doors. Though she suffered a terrible loss, Cathryn still manages to hold her life together. That sort of strength is hard to come by.

When Garrett and Cathryn stop fighting, they make a good team. After they learn their daughters have been kidnapped, they work together to bring them home. While it wasn’t exactly practical for Cathryn to be on such a dangerous mission, I’m glad she convinced Garrett to let her go. It gave her a chance to see the harsh reality of Garrett’s work and gave her some much needed insight into his character.

I must mention that I was not entirely happy with the way the story ended. I won’t spill the details, but I will say this: Garrett and Cathryn go through a lot of pain and turmoil throughout the story. In the last chapter of the book, they are finally on their way to finding some peace and happiness together. However, on the very last page something happens that could rip it all away again. Usually, I’m okay with an open ended conclusion, but after a book as intense as Deadly Obligations, this last minute twist felt unnecessary. I have to assume the author is planning a sequel, but it doesn’t make the ending easier to swallow.

Despite this issue, I thought Deadly Obligations was a good book. I liked Cathryn and Garrett, and I enjoyed watching them learn to work together and rediscover their romance. I recommend Deadly Obligations to anyone looking for an intense military themed suspense.

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Murdering Eve by Kelly L. Lee

January 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Murdering Eve by Kelly L. Lee
Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (358 pages)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Sunflower

Eve Moore is very likely going insane. In one week’s time, she has clear memories of surviving a murderous attack by her dead husband’s mistress, teleporting to another Realm, learning her best friend isn’t human, and uncovering the existence of trolls, Titans and mythical Gods. If she hadn’t gone off her nut, Eve wouldn’t be coming to grips with the fact that her mother had an affair with an immortal and she is apparently their love-child.

But since she’s getting pretty comfortable with it all, she figures she’s probably strapped down somewhere cold and antiseptic with drool dribbling down her chin. Except if she’s locked in sanitarium, as she must be, why is she so damn scared of the God of War who threatens to send her soul to the Underworld? And why does the mere glance from a gorgeous man, one that she was tasked to find and return to Olympus, set fire racing through her veins?

Whether it’s reality or lunacy, Eve has no idea, but she is on one hell of a ride. If only she could get that red-headed harlot who tried to kill her the first time to cease and desist on the murder attempts, she could enjoy her psychosis in peace…

You know you’ve had a bad day when your car breaks down and leaves you stranded in the middle of nowhere. Or when you’ve had the worst week at work dealing with coworkers. That’s bad, right? At least you weren’t a victim of attempted murder and learned information that would change the way you see the world forever. Yeah, that’s a tough week. The heroine in Murdering Eve has gone through hell and back, and it isn’t even over yet.

A country song came to my mind while reading this story, one that talks about finding who your friends are when a string of bad luck occurs. Just when I thought things would get better for this heroine, a new surprising element popped up and the chaos began again. Eve is one tough cookie, though even if she’d prefer to live in the state of denial, and chalk it up to a wickedly crazy dream. This means that the circulatory tissue leading to http://energyhealingforeveryone.com/affiliates.html discount viagra healthy skin, hair, nails.., hormone health such as erectile dysfunction or impotence. The pills of the product will help you in retaining the lost vigor. levitra pill price Efficiency of generic viagra from india https://energyhealingforeveryone.com/levitra-7845.html this great treatment can be maintained for a satisfying lovemaking session. It is one of the most effective remedies to cheap cialis pills lower blood pressure.

Eve is matched with a man that defied an order for the greater good and is paying his price. He’s a man with no regrets. Whit Blackstone is a strong willed man who listens to his gut and heart. Where does that get him? Sent to earth to live among the humans. Now that Eve has discovered some truths that might have been better left untold, he has found a purpose in what was supposed to be his punishment.

This book puts an exciting new twist to the contemporary fantasy world. The characters drew my attention in, along with the fast pacing of the plot. There’s plenty of action and suspense to go around as well. Eve and Whit make for a great leading couple, and the cast of characters, good and bad, kept me intrigued the whole way. Ms. Lee is an author to watch! In this thrilling and enchanting beginning to what looks like a new series, readers have a chance to fall in love with a world unlike ours, one with a simple good vs evil plot, but the elements that make up this storyline takes a fresh unique spin.

I look forward to more books from the author. If you enjoy a contemporary fantasy novel that explores a new take on mythology and characters that fly off the pages then don’t miss Murdering Eve.

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Barely Dreaming by Stephanie Beck

January 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Barely Dreaming by Stephanie Beck
Publisher: Beachwalk Press, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (94 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

As dreams come alive, trouble lurks around the corner.

When Neela Raymond and three of her college girlfriends take a camping trip over spring break, they’re abducted by a group of men and held captive for a week. At least that’s what Neela’s been told—she can’t remember any details of the horrifying event. But one thing is very apparent—during that week she became pregnant. Afraid of the possibilities, Neela finds it difficult to attend classes, eat, or sleep.

When Neela finally falls asleep, she wakes in a dream world, where she finds Gabe O’Shay. Though she can’t remember him either, something in her recognizes him.

Gabe and Neela are best friends of a different sort. Created in Neela’s mind when she was just a child, Gabe has always been her dream friend, growing as she did, to eventually become the man of her dreams.

With Gabe’s help, Neela’s memory begins to return, and ugly truths emerge. Snagged in a violent, illegal scheme, Neela will have to struggle for survival. The nightmare is not over yet.

Meanwhile, Gabe has managed to find a tear between the dream world and the real world, but will he arrive too late to help his Neela?

This story didn’t just keep me on the edge of my seat, it left me with two chewed nails. I only do that when the suspense is so high, I can’t sit still and I’m torn between walking with the heroine as she experiences the drama or jump to the safety of the ending. I was incredibly tempted to cheat but I’m glad I didn’t. I would have missed all the action.

Barely Dreaming is a fascinating and unique set up because it takes my least favorite storytelling device, the dream sequence, and turns it on its ear. In this book, the dreaming creates the hero and he comes to life for real. There are so many pitfalls to this idea, the main one being, if he’s a dream hero then he’s going to be perfect and can do no wrong. In essence, be really boring. Ms. Beck’s avoidance of that is canyon wide. Gabe is truly a delight and he is autonomous. He thinks for himself, does for himself and isn’t a puppet of the heroine at all. Loving someone doesn’t mean you’re a door mat and Gabe is as far from that as a person can get. Proof of that comes later in the book when a reader discovers what else the hero has been doing when he’s offstage.

The best thing about the hero is his respect of Neela, the heroine. He teaches her so much through their shared times in her dreams and it comes in handy. In fact, Gabe teaches the heroine about her strengths and not only encourages it, but is able to nurture and guide her on a great many defensive tactics. Of course it begs the question of how and when could he have possibly learned all that he did to even teach her if all he knows or should know, comes from Neela’s mind? That’s one murky area that never gets explained and I’m not too sure it can be. This is, after all, fiction and a fantasy so in that respect, anything and everything is possible. And, since this is a really cool story, I accepted what the author presented at face value.

Neela is a victim, a hero and a woman of great belief. She’s a victim due to something really nasty happening to her. She’s a hero because she stood up to fight against evil criminals and didn’t let them ruin the good things in her life. And it’s because of her solid and stalwart belief that not only is Gabe real but so is his love for her. The natural treatment of premature ejaculation is levitra 60 mg climaxing remarkably quickly either before or shortly after penetration. As one of the most common sexual problems among men, impotence causes low self esteem, depression and stress and hence leading to increase buy cheap viagra find out here in ED time and again. tadalafil on line Benefits of Acai berry powder is also put in capsules as an enhancer. Choose the products you promote to your list carefully, and online levitra try to balance each promotional message you send with quality content. It’s the ultimate example of the true power of love – it crosses boundaries and makes the impossible, possible.

The way Ms. Beck chose to have Neela remember her trauma was distinctive as I don’t believe it’s ever been done before – a dream using a dream to cure amnesia. How cool is that? How’d she even come up with that idea? In any event, I found it clever, entertaining and refreshing. Of course there was nothing refreshing about what she remembered once she did. It was a nightmare, but I enjoyed how the author had Neela react and the choices she had her make. Nothing stupid about her and when push came to shove, the heroine was ready to stand up and fight. I loved it when she surprised her step-mother and got a kick out of it when Neela’s step-mom surprised her right back.

Speaking of Neela’s family, that dynamic was woven beautifully throughout the story. I loved the author’s descriptions of her dad and baby brothers. That whole family picture was wonderfully wholesome and healthy, filled with love and baked goods. It gave the book a wonderful depth of character and it was easy to see why she fought so hard to protect them. It provided a layer of substance to the plot and added to the viability of the conflict.

And what a conflict it was. It’s dastardly, sick and twisted and provided intense drama. When it was gradually revealed what those creeps were up to, it made me feel very uncomfortable. Like I said in the beginning of the review, I didn’t want to read in a continuous manner because I was getting so jumpy. That means the writing was effective – it got me to react, and it made my skin crawl. Kudos to the the author for writing so well so that the identity of the villain stayed hidden until she wanted me to know.

The most delightful aspect of the book comes from the times when Gabe and Neela are together in the lulls between the action. Their loving is beautiful, sweet yet passionate, and well written. I’m glad Ms. Beck took turns in each of the protagonist’s point of view because it made their declarations of love all the more special and meaningful.

Barely Dreaming is an intense story of love, action and mystery that really makes an impact. Neela and Gabe are a wonderful couple and I had the best time reading about their together times. There is a solid emotional connection between the two that jumps off of the pages. It gives readers that something extra special that makes a lasting impression long after you’ve read the happily ever after. Ms. Beck is a new-to-me author and I’m quite impressed with her writing style. I’m very happy I read this book and hope other readers will be just as pleased when they pick up their own copy of Barely Dreaming. It’ll be worth it.

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The Last Romanov by Dora Levy Mossanen

January 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Last Romanov by Dora Levy Mossanen
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (368 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

For almost a century, Imperial Russia has captivated the imagination— the ruthless execution of the royal family, the disputed survival of the heir: it’s a cinematic chaos that the masterful Dora Levy Mossanen unravels for her readers. Taking readers deep into tarnished grandeur, The Last Romanov follows Darya, a wise old beauty whose time spent with the Imperial family has haunted her entire life. When the murderous events unfold, Darya is plagued by the prophecy made by the Empress’s advisor, Rasputin. She must find the missing Tsarevich Alexis Romanov and restore the monarchy or risk losing her own life.

What could happen in today’s Russia if there had been a surviving member of the Romanov family? This is the question that Dora Levy Mossanen asks in The Last Romanov. She takes you through the last years of the Imperial Couple’s rule, up to the moment of their execution… and possible survival of the teenaged Tsarevich, Alexis Romanov. Prepare yourself for one wild ride through history as Darya tells her tale and makes her search for the missing Tsarevich!

Darya believes it’s her divine destiny to guard and protect the young Tsarevich Alexis Romanov from everything that might possibly oppose his eventual ascension to the Imperial throne of Russia. She’s so focused on her duty to the royal family that she often sacrifices things important to her for their benefit. While this is an honorable and often required trait in a member of the royal household, it also shows a single-mindedness that might not always make for a good companion, either. She lets her care of, and eventual search for, Alexis Romanov consume the remainder of her life. Some of the brands in our network are seeing viagra prices 25-30 percent redemption rates. The major factors that can affect a purchase cheap viagra woman’s ability to have a baby are: 1. Keep away from drinking alcohol as it may worsen side effects. generic viagra overnight You need to consume Shilajit ES capsule cialis 40 mg daily two times with plain water or milk for 2 to 3 months consistently solves all of these issues. Darya is, on the other hand, a loyal and caring caretaker to Alexis as well as a devout and dedicated soul.

Darya’s one distraction from the young Tsarevich and the Imperial Family is her one true love, Avram. Their romance is fiery and passionate, made even more so by the fact that he is a forbidden Jew. For someone of her standing to be involved with a commoner was unheard of at that time, but for this commoner to also be a Jew? It was pure scandal. Darya and Avram do not let this come between them, however, showing both grace and the strength of true love to overcome all obstacles. The way the keep finding one another, despite the odds and political crisis of the time, is both magical and hope for us all.

However, despite Darya’s complete obsession with the young Tsarevich and what became of him, her story is one of the most interesting I’ve read in a long time. This era of history, and the Romanov family itself, has long been a curiosity of mine. To find such an imaginative and intriguing story set during this time and involving this family was a happy surprise for me. Filled with both wild and the more sedate historical characters plus just a touch of the mystical, The Last Romanov brings magic and history together in a spectacular way.

The Last Romanov is a wonderfully well-written read for any lover of history or even just someone who believes in the impossible.

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The Lord of Illusion by Kathryne Kennedy

January 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Lord of Illusion by Kathryne Kennedy
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (425 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

HE’LL DO ANYTHING TO FREE HIS PEOPLE… Lord Drystan Hawkes dreams of fighting for England’s freedom from the endless evils of the Elven Lords. But first he must find the beautiful slave girl who holds the secret to his quest.

SHE HOLDS THE KEY TO HIS LIBERATION… Enslaved for years in a realm of illusion, Camille Ashton has learned to trust no one. But she’s truly spellbound when she meets Drystan, and somehow when they are together, she can see what’s true.

From Kathryne Kennedy, acclaimed by critics as “absorbing” and “impossible to put down,” The Lord of Illusion opens ups to an enchanting world with characters that live and breathe between the pages.

How does one take a battered and abused woman and teach her to love? The answer is: very slowly and with as little magic as possible. Thing is, that’s hard to do when she’s stuck in a magical world as a slave and the master is a psychotic magic wielding elf with fits of paranoia. But Drystan wouldn’t be the hero he is if he didn’t try. And that is only one of the amazing journeys that a reader experiences on this final wild ride in a world where England is riddled with Fey power plays.

That’s been the overall story arc throughout this amazing series by the talented Ms. Kennedy – to free England from the elves’ maniacal rule. It’s been a long struggle with many great warriors dying for the cause and this story is no different. There are some very unexpected fatalities that occur and although they weren’t English, they were noble and honorable just the same – in their own way. But I get ahead of myself.

Even though there is a hero and heroine, Drystan Hawkes is the man who made the most impact on me. Whereas the heroine, Camille, has been in the magical part of England all her life, the hero has not. His experience is so unusual because he’s magically affected, even so far away. There’s a reason for that but I’m not saying how. Because of it and the fact that he’s in the small non-magical part of England, he ended up being a victim of prejudice and fear. It’s isolated him from society and he’s practically lived his life vicariously through books. How then can a man of limited actual experience jump into the middle of an active rebellion and expect to defeat the demented elf, save the girl and free England? Sounds complicated and it is which is why I’m so impressed with Ms. Kennedy’s writing. She kept a tight rein on all the plot threads while thoroughly entertaining me.

Give Camille her due, she’s had a horrific life. She’s truly been abused mentally, physically and socially. In a way, she reminded me of that Shirley Temple movie way back when the rich little girl was pampered and well treated but as soon as it was thought she was a pauper and orphaned, bad, nasty things happened until her daddy was found alive and she was rescued. Camille wasn’t as fortunate because her rescue will come years and years after her secure world was ripped from her. What I admired about her was her determination to rise above slave status. It took sheer guts to get knocked back as many times as she was only to get up and start over again. That kind of strength of character deserves to be rewarded and it is, with Drystan.

Drystan has an in as to what special handling Camille needs and that is where the romance begins. It’s a slow dance of trust building peppered with small gestures of respect and kindness. He shows the heroine admiration and gives her back honor and a sense of self worth. Does she trust it? No. buy cialis usa Gross hematuria has the feature of repeated attack. 2. Evaluation can canadian viagra store be a physical and psychological reasons. It is the official online platform of drscoinc.com viagra usa price Hashmi pharmacy to reach to all the needy patients around the world. Bulk Article drscoinc.com viagra online price Writing: 1-cent bulk articles. That provides plenty of character driven conflict that kept me turning the pages.

The external conflict is varied. It bounces between secondary characters of ill intent and the main Fey lunatic, Lord Roden. There are magic battles, sword battles and lots of other kinds of action to keep a reader enthralled. There is a good support cast too which really rounded out the book.

Then there are the moments when fledgling love leads to tentative touches and soft caresses. I enjoyed that writing immensely. Again, Ms. Kennedy captured the emotions of her characters and shared it with readers with effective dialogue, descriptions and action, making the scenes come alive. When Camille finally allows herself to express her love to Drystan, it was beautiful, passionate and dare I say, quite inventive. The part with the Arabian Nights was deliciously naughty and I loved every word because it was so sexy and sensual.

The big climactic battle did not disappoint. It was hectic, frenetic and desperate. All the important characters came together from the previous books in the series to help out. There are tears, suspense and ultimately, jubilation. What happens to the elves wasn’t what I expected at all. But, the author proved once again that they just aren’t human. The comment about the scepters gave me pause and I’m filled with speculation. I am also very curious as to how England is going to look, sound and feel post-elf. I hope Ms. Kennedy has some secret plans to visit once again. Something that was said leads me to hope for the possibility.

The Lord of Illusion is sensory nirvana. I totally enjoyed Drystan’s idea of romantic ambiance and found it dreamy and delightful. I loved the descriptions and the author’s ability to capture emotions and translate into words just how much the hero loved the heroine. Some of them were truly poetic. When the action started and the swords started swinging, again, Ms. Kennedy made me feel like I was in the thick of it. The happily ever after was everything I could have hoped for and it ended the series on a solid note of hope, joy and optimism for the future. I’m going to miss this mad, magical world of England and I thank Ms. Kennedy for a wonderful reading experience.

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3 Christmas Wishes by Beth-Ann Mason

January 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

3 Christmas Wishes by Beth-Ann Mason
Publisher: Tri-Destiny Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Short Story (114 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

It’s Christmas time and Lacey Jude is not only out of a job, but she and her five-year-old son have also been evicted. When the reverend of her church says he knows of a widower who is willing to let them stay through the holidays, her apprehension is overridden only by the drive to provide a warm and safe place for her son for Christmas.

Robert Martinez left the small town as soon as he graduated and hardly looked back. As a founding partner of one of New York’s top advertising firms, he lives his life on his own terms. Going back home brings him face-to-face with a harsh reality; you can rarely have everything your own way.

Coming from such different worlds, will Lacey and Robert find a way to make the Christmas wishes of the people they love most come true?

Warning: 3 Christmas Wishes is like a Hallmark movie, but with spice. The crafting of the characters that populate this heartwarming holiday story was pure creative genius. It’s hard to describe, but Ms. Mason has given readers a treat by imbuing all the people in the story with a true life-like feel and substance.

At first, I thought this was going to be an inspirational story, it’s not. Oh, it inspires all right, just not what a reader will think at first glance. 3 Christmas Wishes has heart, believability and that elusive something that every writer hopes to achieve. To call this book a romance is an understatement because it’s so much more. It’s a great story about two people who heal, who discover and embrace the true meaning of family, love and Christmas miracles.

Dominic is the crotchety old man that a reader will meet first. Ms. Mason took excruciating care to show a reader just how sad, lonely and heartbroken the man is. The descriptive word choices that the author used were so vivid, I felt like I was right there. It was a true joy to see a man resigned and looking forward to death do a complete turnaround and find a reason to live again.

Next, is Lacey, the heroine. In these days and times, it’s very easy to imagine a woman such as she. A single mother, she tried her best to support herself and her son but no matter what she did, she couldn’t catch a break and during the Christmas season found herself relying on the charity of strangers just to survive. I could sense her frustration, her yearnings and her worry that her best just wouldn’t be good enough for her son, Xavier. The heroine doesn’t wallow in self pity – she had her moments, who wouldn’t? But she always put her son first and the author again used words that made the strength of her mother’s love jump right off the pages and into my heart. Lacey truly was a special woman and deserved to have something go right in her life.

Now, just because I said that Lacey is sweet and loving doesn’t mean that her character didn’t have a temper. Wow, that was fun! I mean, I felt like fist pumping the air when she said what she did to Dominic’s son, Robert. What a great attitude; she had spunk, fire and a passionate personality with a need to defend those she cares for. Again, the author played that scene to the max and it was very effective.

Robert is, at first, a jerk. You will be able to double the level of GMP in the levitra brand online body. It is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and reaches to the blood http://deeprootsmag.org/2017/09/19/bob-marovichs-gospel-picks-31/ ordering levitra vessels. In time of ordering the cialis order on line find out these guys, there is no need of shying away from consulting a sexologist. Try to avoid high fat containing meal, as it will disturb the viagra online sample bioavailability of drug. First impressions were not good but the author gave me a chance to see inside Robert’s head to find out what made him tick. Turned out there’s pain and he’d been running from it for years. It’s emotional and evoked sympathy for him. The hero truly was looking for love ‘in all the wrong places’ and after meeting Lacey, the truth of it bopped him on the head like a felled tree. The conflict then stems from the hero’s complete bumbling of the situation. For a man who’s a genius at making money and living the fast life he had no clue about dealing with real people without agendas, shallow friendships and who don’t play emotional games. And nothing brought that closer to home than his interactions with Xavier.

Xavier is an absolutely adorable child. In fact, he’s the catalyst for quite a lot of the plot movement. His innocence, his unpretentious ideas about Christmas gifts and decorating, and his enthusiasm to embrace life in its simplest forms made me want to grab a stuffed Teddy Bear and hug it while I continued reading. His character enhanced my enjoyment because the author accurately captured his sweetness. However, along with a boy’s capacity to show the lightness in life, there’s also the downside of that poem, ‘snips and snails and puppy dog tails’. Like his mom, Xavier had a temper and it was at that moment, Robert truly started to become a hero in my eyes. That last sentence holds a lot more meaning once you’ve read the scene.

I really wanted to give this book the highest rating but two things held me back. One, the editing wasn’t perfect – almost, but not quite. Second, the volatile nature of Lacey and Robert’s first meeting and subsequent placement of passionate anger and actions in juxtaposition to the scenes of kissing and physical loving seemed a bit too fast a transition to be believable. The segue from one high emotion to the other seemed choppy. Despite those two issues, this story rates high on its ability to satisfy my expectations of what a feel-good holiday story should be. I enjoyed the wonderful and spicy descriptions of when Robert and Lacey do come together in physical loving and found the hero’s loss of control quite sexy and romantic.

The happily ever after is one of those ‘Kodak Moments’. You know the kind, sentimental, full of joy and captures the best of things? In fact, it reminded me of older television Christmas specials, from the Waltons to Little House on the Prairie. Christmas miracles can and do happen and the best stories are ones that leave that glow of happiness in your heart long after you’ve turned the last page. 3 Christmas Wishes delivers on that promise. If you were hoping to find that one holiday story that embraces the very nature of what the season is about, then read this book. I’m so very glad to have read it. Now, pardon me, I’m going back to hugging my Teddy Bear.

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Compulsively Mr. Darcy by Nina Benneton

January 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Compulsively Mr. Darcy by Nina Benneton
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (351 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

For anyone obsessed with Pride & Prejudice, it’s Darcy and Elizabeth like you’ve never see them before!

This modern take introduces us to the wealthy philanthropist Fitzwilliam Darcy, a handsome and brooding bachelor who yearns for love but doubts any woman could handle his obsessive tendencies. Meanwhile, Dr. Elizabeth Bennet has her own intimacy issues that ensure her terrible luck with men.

When the two meet up in the emergency room after Darcy’s best friend, Charles Bingley, gets into an accident, Elizabeth thinks the two men are a couple. As Darcy and Elizabeth unravel their misconceptions about each other, they have to decide just how far they’re willing to go to accept each other’s quirky ways…

A smooth read with plenty of eccentric and quirky characters, this story was a meaty delight with a hero and heroine I enjoyed getting to know. Compulsively Mr. Darcy had moments of sheer literary genius that took turns making me smile, sigh or laugh out loud. Some of Ms. Benneton’s turns of phrase were brilliant and utterly entertaining.
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Darcy, a/k/a Will, was a wonderfully developed hero with compulsion issues that took turns at amazing me, making me giggle or completely fascinating me. The author put a very human spin on what other people would term, ‘crazy behavior’. In fact, it was very clear that the behavior did not define the man and that really impressed me. It certainly led to situations down unusual paths and I felt quite grateful that the hero had the money to indulge his particular needs because they certainly presented challenges not everyone could overcome without it. Despite his controlling tendencies, Darcy has a good heart, good moral fiber and he’s incredibly sexy. In fact, the author’s way of describing his actions in moments of passion were highly enjoyable.

The recipient of all that passion and focus is the heroine, Dr. Elizabeth Bennet, a/k/a, Lizzie. What a fun character! She’s impulsive, emotionally passionate, tender hearted and has a sparkly snarky wit full of cheek and sauce. My absolute favorite aspect of her personality was her acceptance of Darcy’s compulsive behavior. Her viewpoint was refreshing, very positive and optimistic with a healthy dose of understanding and acceptance. I wish there were more people like Lizzie to interact with people with emotional/neurological conditions – the world would be a much more compassionate place. As it is, in Compulsively Mr. Darcy, the heroine’s own special quirks bounced off rather nicely against the hero’s propensity for intense focus.

That was one of the most romantic things ever. There’s a part where Lizzie wakes up to find him staring intently at her in the night. She asks him why, but I didn’t get an answer until later in the book. It was so sweet and special and totally expressed the best of what readers hope to read when they open up this kind of book. For a man with a hard time in expressing himself, when he does, it’s beautiful.

On the other hand, when they finally consummate their love, it’s really awesome. What makes it so is in three parts. There’s the buildup and tease, there’s the discovery and wonder of the physical magic they make when they finally let go, and then there are the parts when Lizzie makes Darcy lose control. Those were fun and well worth reading more than once. I applaud Ms. Benneton for her clever use of language in describing some of those scenes. Most were well done but there’s one that excelled beyond expectation. In fact, it’s rather hysterical and delightful all at the same time. Whenever I saw the word “broth” I nearly fell off my chair. I’m not sure what the author was thinking or how she came up with it, but it’s priceless. In fact that whole germ thing was truly inspired. That was the best piece of writing, ever.

The secondary characters are wow. Just, wow. There are Lizzie’s sisters and Darcy’s cousin, Richard, and best friend, Charles, all of whom should have their own stories. Then there are the vile characters that stir up the conflict to a diabolical fever. I am very pleased and satisfied as to the means in which the author had the villains get their comeuppance. I got the sense that the author could have elaborated on that a bit more, but by doing so, it would have switched this from a straightforward fun romance into romantic suspense. Certainly there were some juicy tidbits that were fascinating to ponder; however, I’m glad Ms. Benneton wrote this story as she did.

Some might argue that Lizzie’s ability to navigate though those prickly parts as being too easy but I found it charming. In real life, some folks are so sunny and positive that other people will do what they can to help that person just because it makes them feel good. Lizzie inspired that in others and it’s what made her such a terrific partner for Darcy. I had the best time reading about Mrs. Ching and the pickles. The fact that the author included tweezers and armpits had me rolling on the floor. I never knew when Ms. Benneton was going to inspire a great scene of sexual frenzy for the main characters and what the triggers would be. Reading became an adventure to guess where or what would inspire Mr. Darcy or Lizzie.

Although this story is touted as a modernized and spunky version of Pride and Prejudice, I can’t speak to that as I’ve never read any of Ms. Austin’s work. Yes, I know, many consider that being a philistine. I’m basing this review solely on the merits of Compulsively Mr. Darcy itself. I enjoyed the whole experience and had a jolly good time watching Lizzie and Mr. Darcy navigate being in their first real loving relationship and all the emotional mayhem that happened along the way before they finally figured out the whole man/woman thing.

Hands down, Compulsively Mr. Darcy is a must read book for lovers and fans of classic romance. The story delivers characters with quality personalities, a conflict that has substance without being dark and a happy ever after that ends with a giggle. It’s well rounded, entertaining and thoroughly lovable. I’d recommend this book as a must read, even for those like me, who’ve never read a Jane Austin book. Thank you, Ms. Benneton, for a story that had such wonderful heart, I read it in one sitting. It’s that good.

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Struck By Lightning by Charlotte McClain

January 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Struck By Lightning by Charlotte McClain
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (161 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed By Dianthus

Sometimes a dream life is really a nightmare.

Rebecca has big plans. She’s going to be a famous artist, even if she has to sell her soul to do it. And so far, it’s working for her. She’s gaining notoriety in local art circles, but the “crap art” she’s selling makes her miserable. Ducking into the local fire station during a rainstorm, she finds the perfect way to distract herself–a hot firefighter with a big ego begging to be toyed with.

Dan would be the first to admit he has a big ego, but there’s something about Rebecca…

Hunting her down after that first kiss in the rain turns out to be the easy part. Making her happy might be impossible. But Dan is willing to do whatever it takes, including helping her buy back her soul.

Maybe it was the rain, maybe it was the uniform. Or maybe Rebecca and Dan were simply struck by lightning.

Can doing what you have to in order to pay the rent really make you a happy person in the end? This is a question that has plagued Rebecca for quite some time. As a starving artist, making “fine art” to make the rent is something that she feels is necessary but with every piece a tiny bit of herself slowly dies. However, recent research has demonstrated which acquiring correct sums of rest can pharmacy online viagra lessen specified Attention deficit indications all this really we’re going to discuss. Here is a guide that specifies the qualities all male enhancement products should acquire in order for your body to acquire all the benefits, of gaining that full sexual stamina. levitra on line https://www.unica-web.com/tatrachamois2010.pdf To conclude, these muscle builder pills that are filled with the blood, the penile grows to be rigid. cheap viagra in india Excellent health is cialis 5 mg as a result a should to everybody. Will a chance meeting in the rain with a sexy Paramedic turn things around for Rebecca or will he become another complication that she doesn’t need in the day to day grind?

Dan has always been a skirt chaser, and up until the last couple of months that has been enough for him. As a paramedic his life doesn’t really have a normal schedule, but with age comes wisdom and the understanding that at some point he will want to settle down. Watching the rain one night, a woman comes to him soaking wet and asking to do an experiment with him. Intrigued, Dan can’t seem to resist her. But when lightning strikes will these two get burned out or will the burn be just what they both needed in the end.

This was an interesting book that kept me guessing from beginning to end. With each page I was left unsure when it came to the character of Rebecca. One minute she would show her true feelings for Dan, but than in the next breath she would push him away and become exceedingly distant. At points this made the story a bit confusing to read, but in the end make the book that much more enjoyable with the uncertainty of how things would end.

Charlotte McClain is a new to me author, and I can say after reading this story that I will be on the lookout for other works by her. This was a refreshing twist to the normal HEA of romance, and it didn’t disappoint in the least.

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She Tempts the Duke by Lorraine Heath

January 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

She Tempts the Duke by Lorraine Heath
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: Historical, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (355 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Kennedia

Three young heirs, imprisoned by an unscrupulous uncle, escaped—to the sea, to the streets, to faraway battle—awaiting the day when they would return to reclaim their birthright.

Sebastian Easton always vowed he would avenge his stolen youth and title. Now back in London, the rightful Duke of Keswick—returning from battle a wounded, hardened, changed man—cannot forget the brave girl who once rescued him and his brothers from certain death.

Lady Mary Wynne-Jones paid dearly for helping the imprisoned young Lords of Pembrook, and she remembers well the promise she made to Sebastian all those years ago: to meet him once more in the abbey ruins where they shared a bold, forbidden kiss. While Mary is now betrothed to another, a friendship forged with dark secrets cannot be ignored. Unexpected passion soon burns dangerously between them, tempting Sebastian to abandon his quest for retribution and fight for a love that could once again set him free.

Lorraine Heath’s, She Tempts the Duke is a remarkable tale of a young friendship that stands the test of time and circumstance and transforms into a riveting love story. I was unable to put this book down until I had read the last page, it had a tortured hero, a tenacious and loyal heroine and an incredible love story that captivated me.

Ms. Heath’s prologue to this story sets up the premise of this book beautifully while hooking her readers in right of way. We are introduced to the three lords of Pembrook during their escape for their lives, with the help of courageous twelve-year-old Mary Wynne-Jones, their neighbor. Skip ahead a dozen years and the boys are now grown up and have returned to reclaim their birthright — more specifically, Sebastian and the title of Duke of Keswick — and to get retribution from the uncle who wanted them dead so he could claim the title.

Sebastian Easton has returned to London to claim his birthright as the Duke of Keswick, however he has not returned as a civilized gentleman. He has been to war and has the scars both physically and emotionally to show for it. Sebastian has lost his left eye and the left side of his face is scarred and mutilated. Sebastian believes that no woman could love him, but he must find a wife and produce an heir. He did not anticipate his feelings of lust for his childhood friend Mary who is engaged to another man. Mary has grown up and become a very beautiful woman and a temptation Sebastian is finding harder and harder to resist.

Lady Mary Wynne-Jones is a character with courage, strength and grace. We are first introduced to Mary as a brave girl of twelve who rescues the Easton brothers from the tower where they are being kept. She manages to free the lords of Pembrook and they escort her home and then flee into the night. Mary has not forgotten the three boys she rescued that fateful night and fears they have died after not receiving word from any of them in the years since that fateful night. Chemicals that contained in cigarette smoke cialis prescription leads to permanently reduce sperm count due to an undetermined cause. I personally cured myself using this method on a continual basis can produce a great list of cialis 60mg contacts that respect and listen to boring lectures about how many seconds you require to wait at any stop sign. Stress or related terms like depression, strain, levitra 10 mg and anxiety may take heavy toll for overall quality of erections. Minimum risk of side effects is one of the cheap cialis professional strictest laws when it comes to consumer drug safety.

While attending the ball being given by the treacherous uncle of the boys she saved, everything changes; the Lords of Pembrook crash the party. Mary is shocked by their return, and hurt that they did send her word of their survival. Mary is engaged to be married; however, with the return of Sebastian into her life she begins to question her choice of husband and what her feelings toward Sebastian mean.

Lorraine Heath has created a beautiful, romantic tale of two people who have survived years of being apart physically but were always in each other’s hearts as childhood friends. After being reunited, Mary and Sebastian discover that their friendship has changed into something so much greater. The two fated lovers each take a journey of self discovery in this scintillating story to learn what they want from one another and what that means to their budding relationship.

She Tempts the Duke is very well written, using the point of view of both the hero and the heroine. The story flowed well and kept me interested and anticipating the next event.

I was very impressed with how Ms. Heath created a regency novel that isn’t bogged down with constant references to the “Ton”, but uses its existence to bring her characters together with its infernal societal rules. The dialogue was well written and realistic giving each character a distinctive voice in the story. The main characters were well rounded individuals that made me sense their emotions and struggles throughout the unfolding events. Ms. Heath also gave her readers insight into the secondary characters, specifically Sebastian’s brothers, Tristan and Rafe, giving her readers a little foreshadowing into their stories. Overall this was a great Regency romance complete with treachery, intrigue and a climactic ending.

I am a discriminating regency romance reader, depending on the story and the author’s writing style; I either hate or love them and I loved this one and intend to go looking for more by Ms. Heath. I also eagerly await Rafe’s and Tristan’s stories.

If you enjoy regency romances that are well written and have characters that will pull at your heartstrings, run out and get She Tempts the Duke, you will fall in love with the Lords of Pembrook and their struggles to return to “Polite Society”.

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