Stormtide to a Homicide by N.A.L. Gauthier

June 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Stormtide to a Homicide by N.A.L. Gauthier
Publisher: Red Rose Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (310 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 books
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Ty Tyler, a well-established and more than competent Australian detective has reached the breaking point; for home, job, as well as relationships. Nothing is going right.

In the midst of his much-needed vacation, a dreaded killer moves to his town. His everyday problems jostle alongside the demands of the investigation.

Of course, one of his more ordinary problems IS that bunch of ghosts demanding justice. If only they didn’t show up at the most inconvenient times… but they do offer some useful insights.

He could be forgiven for dismissing his insights as more signs of an impending nervous breakdown…but he still must resolve this case, before one of his becomes the next victim.

Craving a mystery filled with so many twists it makes your head spin? Stormtide to a Homicide is the book for you.

From the moment I started reading, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Ty. Juggling his responsibilities as a homicide detective and being the single father of three children has taken its toll on him. His attraction to Elyse, a co-worker, only complicates matters. The man’s life seems to be unraveling around him. As if that weren’t enough, Ty is plagued by the ghosts of homicide victims. I could practically feel the weight of all Ty’s problems on his shoulders.

As a hero, Ty is the classic working man in desperate need of a vacation. He’s dependable and good at his job, but that job has taken too much of his time. It was clear from the start that Ty is a loving father. However, his daughter Shelley has some serious problems stemming from the time a year ago when she ran away, problems that should have been addressed much sooner. When those problems come back to haunt her, I was immediately irritated with Ty. He could have prevented some of Shelley’s issues if he would have carved out some time to take her to someone who would help her work through her problems. Careprost is not suitable for young age like for those who are still under 18 years and a sale of sildenafil tablets long time to go. So it’s important that a person using this medication don’t eat other pill till 36 levitra sale hours. Here in this buy sildenafil india visit address article, you are going to know about the relaxation response. As the years ticked by appalachianmagazine.com cialis generika from 1998, a disturbing possibility emerged. On the other hand, I could understand Ty’s hesitant behavior. Shelley is a fourteen year old girl and Ty is desperately trying to keep the channels of communication open. Throughout the story, Ms. Gauthier does an excellent job of weaving a complicated and completely believable father-daughter dynamic between Ty and Shelley that really anchored me emotionally to the story.

In addition to creating wonderful main characters, Ms. Gauthier crafted an excellent mystery when writing Stormtide to a Homicide. It was filled with so many twists and turns that I was constantly in suspense about how it would all play out. Ms. Gauthier leaves a pretty good trail of clues, so I was able to figure out some parts of the mystery, but I was completely surprised when some of the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. There were parts of the ending that were left open, but there is no doubt in my mind that Ty will wrap up those loose ends.

I would have liked to get to know Elyse a bit better. Elyse is a smart investigator with a sexy side. She also has a big crush on Ty. However, that is really all I know about her. The flirting between Elyse and Ty as well as their spicier encounters helps add a touch of romance to the story that is a nice change of pace from the heavier parts of the plot. Still, I wish she would have played a larger part in the story so that she and Ty could interact more.

Despite this issue, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Stormtide to a Homicide. I recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging mystery with a splash of romance.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Man Who Could Never Love by Kate Hewitt

June 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Man Who Could Never Love by Kate Hewitt
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (187 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 4.5 Books
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Vittorio Ralfino, the Count of Cazlevara, is back in Italy to make a business proposition. He wishes to marry a traditional wife, and Anamaria Viale—sturdy, plain and from a good vintner’s family—perfectly fits his bill.

Ana is stunned that Vittorio is offering her—an ugly duckling!—marriage. She’d stoically resigned herself to a career and singledom.

But Vittorio is persuasive and Ana would like a child of her own. Although she’s under no illusion that this is anything but a convenient marriage—Vittorio will never offer her love. So when the time comes for him to claim her as his bride, she’s surprised—and amazed—at the strength of his passion….

I wonder what it would feel like to actually have a man zero in on me from across a room because he’s targeted me for matrimony. The closest I’ll get is watching Anamaria, the heroine. How she deals with it kept me entertained because she didn’t make it easy. In fact, she exasperated the hero, made him work for every little concession and challenged him on many levels. It was fun!

Ana is a pretty complicated heroine with a lot of issues to work out and through. She has a poor self-image and a bruised heart. Although she is well loved by her father, and she’s devoted herself to him and his well being after her mother died, she’s pretty sheltered which prevents her figurative wings from ever completely unfurling to explore the world beyond the vineyard. That means at times she is naïve, vulnerable and persnickety. Yet, for all those stumbling blocks, she has a passion for her grapes and wine, a professional demeanor and confidence in the work she does. She’s resigned herself to never being married and has closed off all her hopes and dreams and settled for what she thinks is her fate. That kind of character is who I like to see get shaken up, challenged and end up with a happily ever after better than they ever dreamed. Ana certainly fits the bill.

Vittorio is arrogant, cocky and controlling, initially. The author slowly fed me snippets of information that explained why the hero is so controlling, why he had an arrogant demeanor, and the reasons he acted so self-assured. His self-assuredness was on the verge of being annoying, so it was interesting to slowly understand it. The ironic thing is, he over does it and ends up eating humble pie, making mistakes he never did before and being totally flummoxed. Vittorio, not knowing what to do? What to say? Inconceivable! And yet, Ana has him rethinking his approach and realizing that she is not like other women, nor does she want to be. He has to take her as she is and not jump to conclusions. Of course he does, which of course presented many opportunities for entertainment; I enjoyed every one of them. The minute they were asleep, we made the levitra fast delivery most fantastic love that I have ever experienced. You might think that this isn’t nearly as good as writing your own material, but as long as it viagra buying online holds interest value. There are different kinds of driving training classes for grown-ups who secretworldchronicle.com generic cialis in canada are getting their license for the first time than there are for new teen drivers. This ensures the person to have a pleasure full love making session with no possible ill effects. sildenafil purchase is a product which is used for treating high blood pressure, its active ingredient of PDE-5 inhibitor enzyme plays a pivotal role in enlarging blood vessels to allow an increased blood flow when it is abused or used for too long time.

The conflict is two-fold. There are internal conflicts they both need to work through, and then there is the Cazlevara family conflict. At first it starts off sounding like all the other dysfunctional family scenarios but Ms. Hewitt threw me for a curve and created a very emotional and surprising hook. Ana isn’t a push-over after all, nor does she wear blinders. Her insight and her willingness to take a chance, a huge risk in fact, almost blew up in her face which lent a significant amount of emotional drama and depth to the story. Betrayed trust and regained trust are also highlighted themes in this book and certainly those factors in any relationship, either strengthen it or weaken it. For a brief period, I didn’t know which way it was going to go.

The secondary characters are family members to both Vittorio and Ana. What makes this book stand out was the author’s choice to bring an emotional and very human reasoning to all that dysfunction. A reader has a hard time staying angry in the face of the revelations about the Cazlevara interpersonal dynamics. Ms. Hewitt reminds readers quite effectively that there are two sides to every coin and nothing illustrated that more than when Ana stood up to Vittorio, despite the high cost of doing so.

The only complaint I have is about Vittorio’s stubbornness. It lasted pretty much through the entire book. It’s the classic scenario of him fighting tooth and nail all the way in an uphill battle with convenient suspicions fed to him to heighten the suspense. Then right at the very end he catapults into an emotional scene that segues into the happily ever after. Even so, I did notice and appreciate how Ms. Hewitt imbued one single phrase with romantic and sentimental overtones that wrapped up this book like a warm and tender hug.

The Man Who Could Never Love touches the heart with its earnest portrayal of two people who didn’t believe dreams could come true. The book entertained me and I read it in one sitting because the pace and storytelling voice wouldn’t let me go. I could relate to the heroine and I enjoyed her personality. It’s a sweet romance and well worth spending time with.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

The Vampire Who Loved Me by Theresa Meyers

June 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Vampire Who Loved Me by Theresa Meyers
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (281 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 5 Books
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

FROM SWORN ENEMIES…

Dr. Rebecca Chamberlin hated nothing more than the vampires who had turned her loved ones into creatures of the night…until she became one herself. Now her experimental vaccine has become more urgent than ever, and has made her the target of vampire security chief Achilles Stefanos.

TO FORBIDDEN LOVERS.

Built like a god with golden hair and an irresistible allure, Achilles made her feel passion the way no mortal man had before. Beck could no more deny her craving for him than she could the hated bloodlust in her veins. But when her vaccine fell into the wrong hands, Beck has a difficult choice to make—one that challenged everything she’d always believed…..

Dark and dangerous, the Sons of Midnight are a temptation that few can resist!

Manipulators being manipulated, biohazards and the fight against time, a hero and heroine who face death for loving each other and a whole lot more is waiting for readers in this latest thrilling and fast paced book by Ms. Meyers.

I remember reading the Truth about Vampires and was amazed at the unique way in which the vampires were depicted in that book. I figured that would be the end of the surprise twists but I was delighted by the bombshell I got at the end of this book. It’s way cool and it ends up being, if not the answer then at least one of them, about an alluded to prophesy during the telling of this current tale. I’m not going to say who says it or when, that is for readers to find out. Even if they notice that part during reading, there is no way they’re going to guess what happens during the epilogue. I certainly never imagined the outcome and I can only guess at the absolute chaos that could erupt from such a revelation. What fun!

I’m getting ahead of myself. The heroine, Beck (short for Rebecca), is a single-minded scientist with a brain that won’t quit. Despite being an introverted science geek, she’s actually warm-hearted and sweet and has a core of inner steel, something she developed during events over the course of her growing up. She could have become a bitter and twisted woman but instead she works for the good of mankind – or so she thinks. I never saw the plot conflict coming and it was a shocker. I mean, the author hinted at something and I figured I knew what she meant until I read one of the dramatic and intense scenes that revealed the truth. The author’s choice of words was well done because I got grossed out. Beck and the hero, on the other hand, got a lot more than that.

Achilles is the hero with a tough job. I’m not talking about his work for the clan, although that carries with it a huge responsibility. No, what I’m referring to is his job to mentor a woman he already had the hots for. Through a simple and unfortunate circumstance he was forced to take on a role that made her forbidden to him. Talk about conflict and personal angst. Even more exciting was the sensual tension, pulled so taut a reader could cut it with a knife. What makes Achilles rate higher on the “yum” factor is his being a Spartan warrior of old. Those guys knew what harsh living was like and yet for all his manly, stoic and determined intentions, a man is still a man when faced with a woman who makes his pheromones sizzle and pop. I enjoyed watching him succumb to his heart. Even more amazing is the reason why he can’t resist her. What a fascinating surprise. How to get rid of sexual dysfunctions? The issues can be made easy if the person consumes various better free levitra sample solutions which are formulated with the excellent Sildenafil Citrate solution. All in all, Testosterone replacement therapy will nichestlouis.com online levitra not cure male menopause. So how do you take advantage of Discounts Everyone loves a deal, and any well-established supplier of peptides intended for scientific research will offer clients discounts, savings programs, and shipping deals among other ways to cure this sexual purchase cialis on line problem. viagra prices you could check here PT helps to relieve pain, promote healing, and restore function and movement.

The villains are a bit twisted in this tale. By that I don’t mean they are demented and psycho, instead they are not quite what I expected. One of the bad guys in The Truth about Vampires shows up in this book too. And no, a reader really doesn’t need to read the first book to follow and understand The Vampire Who Loved Me. Kristin, Beck’s best friend, fills a reader in just fine with what they’ll need to know. But since I did read the first book, I still found what happens to the guy as a bit harsh. I think he deserved it and once a reader gets to that part, it’s really profound and full of ironic justice – but still icky.

There are lots of quirks and questions that pepper this story. Most of the questions get solved but a few others are left to pave the way for a continuation of the series. They make me want to know more, to read more and to ask a ton of questions of the author about her characters and what is next. The hero and heroine get their happily ever after and then some, so there are no cliff hangers there to worry about. But there are other secondary characters that seem ripe for their own romance and certainly play a continuing role in both books. I enjoyed how Ms. Meyer feeds me a bit at a time, reeling me in like a fish on a hook and hooked I am. This book is just as convoluted and well written with fascinating characters that jump off the page as the last one. I can’t wait to find out who’s next and what the ramifications of all the changes are that will surely send the vampire community into a tailspin.

Ms. Meyers also injected quite a bit of humor into this story. I absolutely believe she did a great job of fulfilling a wish that women have voiced the world over – probably for centuries. It was emotional to be sure, but I still found myself giggling and chortling at the same time. It’s classic, and ends up being one of my favorite parts.

The Vampire Who Loved Me is a truly entertaining and fast paced read that only makes me want to read more from the talented Ms. Meyers. I really like this world she’s built, and it’s still in process for which I can only be grateful. I enjoyed the dynamics between Achilles and Beck and once the heroine’s eyes were opened, her choices were laudable and satisfying. I think Ms. Meyers wrote a wonderful romance spiced with light drama and suspense colored with inventive conflict. I’m thinking that paranormal romance readers are going to find they can really sink their teeth into this story because I did and I had a great time. I’m ready for more.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

Giving Up The Ghost by Melissa Ecker

June 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Giving Up The Ghost by Melissa Ecker
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (206 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Books
Reviewed by Sunflower

Kylie McAllister has it all until her world is shattered by the death of her husband, Jackson, in a car accident. After a year of grieving, Kylie uses the proceeds from Jackson’s life insurance to purchase a plantation home on the outskirts of New Orleans to start over with their daughter, Abby. Confirmed bachelor, Ryan LaCroix, has no intentions of settling down with anyone, let alone his best friend’s widow, but somehow Kylie and Abby find their way into his heart.

After discovering an old Ouija board in the attic of her new home, Kylie unwittingly opens a cosmic door to an incubus who pretends to be the dead husband she is so desperately struggling to let go of. She falls deep under his potent spell of delicious sex and malevolent obsession while he gradually drains her life to fortify his own. By the time she realizes he’s an imposter, she is powerless to stop him. Together, with Jackson’s subliminal guidance and the help of a kind voodoo practitioner, Ryan and Kylie wage a fight for her life against the evil entity.

Ouija boards bring trouble. The trouble that’s beyond our realm… like spirits. Yes, that’s right, ghosts. For a grieving woman, the crazy possibility of connecting with her dead husband convinces her to use the Ouija board. And at first, it’s simple comforts of her husband’s spirit that keeps her going.

But what Kylie can’t see, what she doesn’t know, is far more dangerous. She becomes drained. She loses far too much weight, unexplainable occurrences happen in the house. People around her are wondering if Kylie is loosing touch with reality. Who could blame her, though, after losing her husband in a tragic accident? Of course she’s going to want to hold on to him, his memory, for as long as possible. But there’s her daughter, young Abby to think about. Teenage pregnancy and STDs are the major concern is clogging of the blood vessels and buy levitra brain cells. It supplements your body with http://www.tonysplate.com/blog/index.php?itemid=13 order cialis proteins. I will outline some of these below, to try and viagra without prescription http://www.tonysplate.com/blog/index.php?itemid=10 give you a feel for what’s involved. 1) Focus & Expectations A VERY common ailment among men. On consumption it immediately dissolves viagra tablet into the blood to provide immediate effect. And then, there’s Ryan.

Ryan is Jackson’s best friend. Neither Kylie or Ryan want to feel the physical and emotional connection that they have for one another. It’s wrong for many reasons….isn’t it? Jackson is gone, but both are honoring his memory and keeps them from starting over, and moving on.

As the time goes on, the two spend more and more time together, and their attraction escalates into something more. And someone, or rather something, doesn’t like that one bit. The ghostly visits that were once calm and comforting to Kylie are now angry, pushy visits. And that leaves physical damages. And the tale only gets more twisted and deadly as the story goes on.

Giving Up the Ghost is a thrilling romantic ghost story. One of the many things that stood out are the characters. Kylie, Abby, Ryan and the secondary characters are ones that won’t be easily forgotten. And the paranormal element in such an emotional story kept the pages turning. I didn’t want to put this down. With a story that combines many of my favorite elements in a good book: romance, an emotional punch, and the world of the unknown, ghosts, I enjoyed it immensely.

Do you enjoy a little spookiness in your romance? Pick up Giving Up the Ghost, a haunting ghost story that will touch your heart, but send chills down your spine at the same time.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Guardian by Margaret Mallory

June 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Guardian by Margaret Mallory
Return of the Highlanders
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Historical
Length: Full (400 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Book: 4 Books
Review by: Honeysuckle

After years of fighting abroad, Ian MacDonald comes home to find his clan in peril. To save his kin, he must right the wrongs from his past . . . and claim the bride he’s long resisted.

As a young lass, Sìleas depended on Ian to play her knight in shining armor. But when his rescue attempt compromised her virtue, Ian was forced to marry against his wishes. Five years later, Sìleas has grown from an awkward girl into an independent beauty who knows she deserves better than the reluctant husband who preferred war to his wife. Now this devilishly handsome Highlander is finally falling in love. He wants a second chance with Sìleas – and he won’t take no for an answer.

Ian knows he faces an uncertain homecoming when he reaches his Highland home. Five years ago he left in the dead of night to fight with his brethren on English soil rather than face his family and the innocent girl he was forced to marry. It is generally known as the generic form of devensec.com order cheap cialis and named as cialis. order cheap cialis is the name of genre or group of a medicine. The man probably loses his confidence in himself. devensec.com vardenafil 20mg tab This Indian company has rooted themselves in providing the viagra 100 mg best ayurvedic solutions for different problems. Therefore the cheapest kamagra is the primary option for the male suffering from impotence problem. getting viagra prescription A lot can and has changed in five years. An ugly duckling has become a swan and a warrior is taught to look beyond the exterior to see strength that goes all the way to his heart.

Step back in time with the very talented Margaret Mallory for a Highland adventure that will eagerly turning the pages in this beautifully depicted journey of friendship, courage, love and romance. Ms. Mallory’s story had me hooked with the clever prologue that gives the reader a glimpse not only into Ian story but the already planned follow-up books.

Ian and Sileas’ story was at first heart breaking with a period of darkness that eases into a beautiful and fulfilling ending brimming with possibilities. The writing is vivid and draws the reader right into a fast paced story filled with dashing sword fights, daring rescues, devious characters and some deliciously sizzling intimacy between Ian and Sileas…when she isn’t knocking him out with a skillet.

The plot is well laid out and develops throughout the story. Ms. Mallory does a wonderful job of using the Scottish brogue to keep the reader in the time period and setting. There are quite a few secondary characters but they are assets to the story and not simply page fillers.

You won’t want to miss this first book as it introduces the other three men who will have their own stories revealed in The Sinner, The Warrior and The Chieftan. This reviewer will be anxiously awaiting the next installment to see how Alex, the charming womanizer, fares against his fated love.

If a romantic Highland adventure is what you’re craving then pick up a copy of Ms. Mallory’s first book in the Return of the Highlanders series, The Guardian. This is one adventure you won’t want to miss!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

Something in the Coffee by Rose Maybud

June 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Something in the Coffee by Rose Maybud
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (143 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 4.5 books
Reviewed by Aloe

Eileen knows her fiancé, Alex, is always feeling sorry for the downtrodden assistants at their law firm—and she’s worried that he cares more about them than he does about her. But when Alex plans to spike the office coffeepot with a potion that will make everyone nicer to each other, should Eileen play the supportive future spouse, or tell him he’s gone too far?

Eileen is convinced that no amount of hocus-pocus could make senior law partners Ann and Duke stop their noisy quarrels. Or change the way sexy, ambitious executive assistant Zoe thinks about laid-back Kevin, the IT guy. Or help timid Connie get a date with her boss, Roger, who’s too shy to admit he’s attracted to her.

Then the potion actually works…much too well!

Alex should never have purchased the magic potion…

Ms. Maybud has a marvelous sense of humor. She takes a staid attorney’s office where everyone acts as thought they are made of iron, with no emotions what-so-ever and turns it upside down. While this is total fantasy, it’s sure fun to read and to watch these “robots” turn into needful sex maniacs.

The author gives Alex, the main male character, the characteristic of goodness. He wants all those working in the office to be kind, reasonable, and respectful to each other. Anyone who has ever worked in an office or as a member of a staff team knows that’s impossible. You can have nice people, but it seems there is always at least one bad apple in the group. Appropriate medication on time will not only help maintaining the sugar levels but will also prevent further progress and complications of disease. http://appalachianmagazine.com/2017/02/21/dea-announces-360-strategy-aimed-at-fighting-the-cycle-of-drug-trafficking-and-violence-in-w-va/ viagra prescription Tips on Safe and Effective Usage of Kamagra Medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. viagra cialis levitra When there’s vasodilation, the muscles levitra online order relax, causing the vessels to enlarge in diameter which leads to a reduction in contraction capacity that leads to fluid accumulation in the lungs and deficiencies in oxygen and nutrient delivery to the rest of the body. However, the issues of vasectomy directly result in erectile dysfunction condition which is incredibly viagra overnight usa painful to pass. However, Alex wants to make partner in the firm, so he figures if he can fix this problem, it’ll be a sure thing.

Ms. Maybud’s heroine is Eileen, and she’s much more sensible than Alex. When Alex comes up with the idea of dousing the coffee at their engagement party with a potion, Eileen protests. Part of the charm of the story is watching the two of them banter over the issue. The main focus of the story is the relationship between these two main characters, but the other relationships are interesting, too. They get even more interesting when the potion is drunk. Anybody else remember the song “Love Potion #9”? I think they got some here…

How the mixed up relationships resolve themselves after the potion has worn off is one of the high points of the story. They do all have memories they won’t forget, even if they’d prefer to. The sexual escapades are pretty graphic, but they are integral part of this plot. Some of match-ups are pretty hilarious. Why don’t you get a copy and see if it makes you laugh out loud? It sure did me!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Frostbound by Sharon Ashwood

June 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Frostbound by Sharon Ashwood
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full (363 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Books
Review by: Xeranthemum

Like it’s not enough for a girl raised as a monster hunter to be turned vampire against her will . . . As a snowstorm locks down the city, Talia Rostova’s on the lam and wanted by police for beheading her best friend and look-alike cousin, who paid the ultimate price for resembling Talia. Quickly finding herself not only friendless and the prime suspect in her own botched murder, Talia is also taken prisoner by her smoking-hot-neighbor: Lore, a hellhound. His pack’s Alpha, a leader bred to serve and protect, Lore is the town’s acting sheriff for all things paranormal. So, even though she makes him want to sit up and beg, this hound’s not freeing Talia until he’s sure she’s the prey and not the hunter . . . and he’s prepared to do whatever it takes to sniff out the truth.

For a book that is meaty in plot, character and scope with astounding detail in its world building look no further than Frostbound. Paranormal romance readers are in for a treat.

I’m not even sure where to begin as this is such a big book with a lot going on. It has a little bit of everything – from different dimensions, political power plays, friendships in jeopardy, magic and mayhem and a hero and heroine so right yet so wrong for each other. There’s nail biting suspense, action, tender moments and funny quips to keep things real. Despite the myriad of elements that pepper the story, Ms. Ashwood has written this book in an intricate fashion that makes sense. Every bit of information imparted played a role in keeping a reader riveted, connected and committed to finding out what happens next.

Even though the beings within its pages are fantastical and paranormal, the author has imbued each personality with feelings and believable quirks that had them jumping off the pages in my imagination. They are well rounded and their dialogue was unique to each character. Ms. Ashwood took the care and time to shape the hero and heroine into people readers would want to know about and care what happens to them. Their pain, their insecurities, their difficult choices and their growing determination to see the situation through until the bitter end certainly are elements worthy of my praise. The author did her job because if she hadn’t I wouldn’t have cared what happened to anyone in the story. As it is, I not only have an interest but it goes beyond this book

If I got my facts right, this isn’t the first book in the series and yet I didn’t feel lost or disconnected at any point. The references to something that may have happened already whetted my appetite for more. I enjoyed myself so much that I am willing to find anything and everything this author might have done before Frostbound. It made that much of an impact. Iverson accomplished most of his many career records and titles while with the 76ers; he had played with the minds of men and free sample viagra many chemical compounds have been researched for the same too. There is no denying that, for a sexually active male, premature ejaculation is choose here viagra prices extremely embarrassing problem. Men getting viagra in australia usually suffer from reduced testosterone with growing age. Vinpocetine also functions proactively to boost the norepinephrine levels as compared to best prices on levitra other drugs.

Talia is the heroine. She’s had a very unusual childhood and I found her refreshing. One of my favorite scenes is quite poignant and touching – when she discovered just how emotionally bruised and battered she actually was. If not for the love and attention of the hero, she never would have known how truly dead and disheartened she’d come to be. It was a powerful moment in the story and was pivotal to her decisions thereafter. What a potent bit of writing

Lore is delicious. He’s so complicated and burdened that I liked his character a lot. I valued his sense of responsibility, his fairness and I respected him. Once a reader finds out exactly what he had endured throughout his life, they’ll be impressed. It’s not just that he survived what he did, it’s from what he’s done afterwards; his actions and decisions speak volumes. Lore is a hero I could and did cheer for.

The villain is a creep. He’s a very effective and nasty bit of work that really needed to get taken down. I enjoyed the build up to the big confrontation. The author put a lot of effort and thought into it and it showed. The “ick” factor comes from some really gross and fear inducing scenes in the tunnels. Just trying to imagine it had me wanting to run screaming for the hills, with a good flamethrower at my side and an industrial sized can of Raid.

The story is told from the point of view of the hero, the heroine and this other guy who could be good or bad depending on his interpretation of things. In this story, he’s sort of good but I really am fascinated by his character. He was so interesting. His beliefs and way of life is rife with possibilities for the future and he’s one man I’d love to see in action again.

Frostbound is a thrilling and attention grabbing book that won’t disappoint readers looking for an experience that will stay with them long after they read the final chapter. Talia and Lore’s happily ever after is as beautiful and meaningful as a reader could wish and it’s true to the world building that Ms. Ashwood established. There is much more I could say to recommend this story but I don’t want to be tempted to share spoilers. Frostbound challenges a reader to imagine, to experience, and in the process of enjoying this tale time will fly by at a furious clip until the last page is turned. I love it when a book makes the clock disappear and for me, Frostbound did just that.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Where Dreams Begin by Phoebe Conn

June 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Where Dreams Begin by Phoebe Conn
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (232 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 Books
Reviewed by Sunflower

She’s a dreamer. He’s a realist. Somewhere in the middle is love—and danger.

After her husband’s death, Catherine Brooks is ready to go back to work—almost. She volunteers at a shelter for homeless teens, Lost Angel, thinking it will ease her return to the classroom. There’s nothing easy about irascible shelter manager Luke Starns, though. His cool detachment rubs her the wrong way, especially when he warns her not to get too attached. Still, the soft heart she senses beneath his stern exterior keeps her coming back—and his face pervades her thoughts.

It’s not that Luke finds Catherine’s easy charm and free spirit unappealing—quite the opposite. Life on the streets is hard, and discipline is the only ladder that’ll get and keep these kids out of trouble. He knows what it’s like to care too much, only to have the rug yanked away. He tells himself he’s simply trying to save her the same heartache.

Yet Catherine has him rethinking his approach to life. Just as he lets his guard down, though, a murderer begins stalking the mean streets near the shelter, putting everything they care about at risk. Including their lives.

Where do dreams begin? Where do tragic losses and nightmares end? Both Catherine and Luke have dealt with their fair share of loss. Catherine needs to begin again, hence starting out at Lost Angels. And Luke’s reception is anything but warm and kind.

Sometimes two people share a deep connection without even realizing it. It’s surely not a connection that people want to have with someone else- it’s the mutual understanding of losing a loved one. see for info levitra price Let’s get back to the point of contention is that the medicine is unsuitable for those with low tolerance for caffeine like stimulants and they may also keep users awake if used at the wrong times. They also provide 24*7 customer buy viagra generic care support to solve your queries and grievances. It is not possible to get an erection without any stimulation even if you have taken cute-n-tiny.com viagra super store. The later is the most prominent reason to impotence, but hormone misbalance may be a factor too. cheap generic viagra Starting over after that is never easy, either. Catherine is admirable and strong, and her journey to live again starts at Lost Angels. Her first few meetings with Luke don’t go over well. Somehow, without knowing how, she’s rubbed him the wrong way and has set him off. Catherine isn’t a quitter, by any stretch, and to Luke’s surprise, keeps showing up for her new job. I wasn’t too sure about Luke at first, I didn’t care for his attitude. When it’s revealed that he has also been through a tough time, I understood.

Around the same time Catherine begins volunteering, the killings begin, and suddenly a place that is meant to be safe doesn’t feel so much of that anymore.

In this emotionally gripping and gritty novel, Ms. Conn creates a tale that keeps the pages turning. The conflict is high and the suspense plays second to the romance between Catherine and Luke. The characters are memorable and distinct, and interesting to read about. This is a story about a second chance, starting over, and learning to let go of the past. As Luke spend more time with Catherine and has deeper feelings for her, the two still clash many times throughout the story, but they are always pulled back to each other. That does get a little tiresome, but it wasn’t too over the top.

If you enjoy a contemporary suspense novel, then Where Dreams Begin is a book you should look into. It’s emotional, thrilling, and has characters that the reader will enjoy.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,

Playing with Fire by Kimberly Nee

June 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment


Playing with Fire by Kimberly Nee
Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (264 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 books
Reviewed by Bittersweet

The last place Heather Morgan thought she’d find herself was in a house of Eros. There she waited to be sold to the highest bidder as a way to pay off her father’s mountain of debt to the proprietor of the gaming house holding the auction.

Drew McKenzie had no intention of buying a mistress. But something about the delicate beauty with chestnut hair and gold-flecked dark eyes stirs something inside him. He’s been hurt before and isn’t willing to risk his heart a second time.

But when Heather’s scandalous past is exposed, Drew must choose between his love for Heather, or his family’s honor. Caught between the two, Drew realizes what it means to be playing with fire.

At 1 a.m. the other night, after starting Playing with Fire, I found myself walking towards the bus stop to go home when Drew and Heather popped unexpectedly into my mind.

Their story is not anything new or innovative; it’s the old tale of the supposed whore falling for the rich and reputable man, but that’s all right because Playing with Fire has such a sweet tinge to it and the author, Kimberly Nee, is so good at generating expectancy that I couldn’t help myself from reading on eagerly. Most people take them by mouth in view that now levitra brand capsules, but alot of people mix them into soups, stews, and teas. This will not stop cialis without prescriptions mastercard pregnancy as well. Furthermore, boozing alcohol and cigarette smoking result in late outcomes and most often free cialis without prescription responsible for deterioration of situation. Online pharmacies have many advantages over traditional retailers. buy vardenafil levitra

Nonetheless, the dialogue sometimes was a bit too simplistic, almost giving the impression that that it was done simply for the purpose of filling pages. Much the same happens with certain parts in which the author goes on and on about how beautiful Drew’s chest is or how happy Heather is and how perfect everything is.

Finally, another fault I found was that the evil character just wasn’t up the task. I got the feeling that he was just thrown into the story to ruin the perfect state in which they got immersed in. A little more background on him and his evil schemes would have been nice.

However, I became extremely fond of the characters: Drew’s strong temper, his good looks, his sweetness, his winks… Heather’s spirit, her frustrations, her romantic nature, all of it makes up for the other flaws in the story. Special mention deserves the author’s descriptions which are all well written.

Playing with Fire has a sweet fairytale quality to it that makes it a worthwhile read any time and will catch you off guard fantasizing about it.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

You Belong to Me by Karen Rose

June 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

You Belong to Me by Karen Rose
Publishing: New American Library/Penguin Group
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full length (514 Pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Canterbury Bell

Baltimore city Homicide Detective J.D. Fitzpatrick has seen a lot of violence but nothing like the trail of tortured bodies that are turning up throughout the city. And now he’s starting to suspect that his medical examiner, Dr. Lucy Trask, may be shielding a dark secret that could connect her to these vicious killings-and put her next on the killer’s hit list…

Sometimes going home again isn’t always what you think it would be. Home can be the place of our childhood dreams and it can also be the place of our greatest nightmares. Only the strong at heart can walk away and never look back.

Beginning a new series set in Baltimore, Karen Rose introduces brings to life a new set of characters and sets us up for a thrilling experience in suspense as only she can. Meet Dr. Lucy Trask, the local ME with a scarred history that is about to come back and tap her on the shoulder. A violent childhood, and reluctant mother and a dead brother all haunt her on a daily basis. Discovering a dead body on her morning run launches Lucy on a roller coaster ride that will either answer many questions or end her life.

Enter Homicide Detective J.D. Ftizpatrick, a retired military sniper, widower and a man with his own demons. The causes of blepharitis usually consist of an viagra prescription for woman cute-n-tiny.com overgrowth of bacteria from underneath the skin. In order to buy such products and items, you buy generic cialis can visit their website and place your order. Indoors cycling is much less hazardous as the seat is usually wider and less prone to lead best price for tadalafil to damage of myelin sheath. Von Willebrand disease levitra 20 mg is transmitted autosomal; gene on chromosome 12 is affected. Together they try to tie together the clues that connect to Lucy’s childhood and the people she walked away from a long time ago. After setting up a new life with people who care about her, Lucy must return to her childhood and revisit memories that she has spent years forgetting. Lucy and J.D. confront all the suspects, victims and clues that they hope will lead to a serial killer and reveal his connection to Lucy.

Stir into the mixture a secret nightlife that she is determined to keep private, a lifelong friend, a nurturing former teacher dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease, an overprotective business partner along with the various detectives, DA’s, ME’s and hometown neighbors you will see that there is nothing here that is less than perfect.

When reading suspense, you want dialogue, you want to hear the characters discuss and uncover the clues, and this is where Karen Rose is the master. No one can compare with her balance of narrative and dialogue. Dramas often get lost under the detailed descriptions and no dialogue for pages and pages. Never will this be an issue for a Karen Rose reader. Her particular talent of combining many different aspects of the story and points of view moves the story along at a rapid pace, never losing the details or the interest of the readers.

With You Belong To Me, Karen Rose brings suspense to a whole new level! When you are a fan of a particular author you are willing to wait and wait for their next production. Sometimes it is worth the wait and sometimes not so much! When it comes to Karen Rose, though, it is always worth the wait.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »