Captured by the Sheikh by Kate Hewitt

September 12, 2014 By 1 Comment

CAPTURED
Captured by the Sheikh by Kate Hewitt
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (192 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Lisianthus

“I took your bride. I’ll take your throne. Because both are mine by right.”

Banishment and shame has turned Sheikh Khalil al Bakir into a man determined to reclaim the crown of Kadar from his rival. Khalil’s campaign begins by kidnapping his enemy’s bride-to-be. She’s a means to an end, so why is he so inflamed at the thought of her in anyone’s bed but his own?
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Queen Elena Karras of Thallia was prepared for a cold, mutually convenient marriage. Instead she is carried off into the sands, where the virgin queen soon discovers an unexpected desire for her sinfully sexy captor that leaves her craving more….

Queen Elena needs to marry quickly to save her monarchy, she doesn’t expect to be kidnapped by Sheikh Khalil al Bakir, who needs to stop her marriage so he can reclaim his rightful throne.

I was very amused by how easily Khalil kidnapped her, and then tricks her in to thinking he lives a very primitive existence. I enjoyed that Elena does attempt to escape and doesn’t just roll over and give up. It’s only because they’re in the middle of the desert that she doesn’t escape. Elena easily falls for the kindness Khalil shows her and after they get lost in the desert things get even more complicated.

I enjoyed Khalil. He’s a gruff alpha male and while he feels a bit bad that he’s ruined Elena’s plans, he goes out of his way to get her to realize that she doesn’t need a consort in order to rule her country. I love that he went out his way to build up her self-confidence.

These two together were very sexy, and the chemistry is off the charts. The author does a great job of bringing the desert nomad life alive on the page. I found myself imagining the heat and the sand.

This story had everything I’ve come to love in Sheikh stories, a brooding male, a strong but innocent female, and an exotic backdrop for it all. I highly recommend this for fans of Sheikh love stories.

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

Risking It All by Lucy Oliver

September 12, 2014 By Leave a Comment

ALL
Risking It All by Lucy Oliver
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (56 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Hawthorn

Beneath bomb-filled skies, Head Radio Operator Lynne Cecil takes the safety of her RAF pilots seriously. They’re England’s last defense against the Luftwaffe. But too many pilots die on her watch. The top brass harass her for answers, but her team is giving their all.

Devastated by the death of his brother, Spitfire ace Billy Jenkins accepts a secret assignment to investigate the high rate of deaths. But the person who seems at fault is his old flame, Lynne. Torn between duty and love, Billy must discover if the woman he still adores is responsible for the loss of his fellow flyers.
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Lynne can’t afford the distraction of falling for a fighter pilot like Billy at this dangerous time. But every flight could be Billy’s last. Will she settle for one night of passion or risk losing him forever?

Love in the time of war is a precious thing, albeit dangerous. Both Billy and Lynne fight it because they can’t be sure they will survive and they’ve both lost so much already that they are not sure they could face more heartbreak.

The air raids and bomb-filled skies set an atmospheric background to this love story. The world is fraught with danger, and yet, for Lynne and Billy, there’s a chance they could find some peace in each other’s arms. But everything seems to be against them: Lynne’s humiliation over Billy ignoring her years ago, Billy’s doubts about how well she’s doing her job as head radio operator, their fears of heartbreak … Both characters were well-portrayed and made me want to know more about them. I wished the story were longer so that their relationship could be presented in greater detail. As it was, it felt a bit rushed, and although I wanted to, I didn’t feel the chemistry between them.

The characters and events brought the war era to life. The descriptions of the airplanes taking off to go fight the attackers, the bombings, everything added to the tension, making it even more apparent why the relationship between Lynne and Billy seemed unwise at such a time. It was easy to imagine what life was like at the time, and this was a large part of the appeal of this story. It sounded authentic and realistic.

The plotline about the traitor at the airbase felt too much like a plot device because there was little development in the storyline and it mostly served to plant the seed of doubt about Lynne in Billy. With more details and a slower build-up, it would’ve worked better, I felt.

Risking It All is a tender love story that speaks of hope and optimism. Although short, it succeeds in creating an authentic atmosphere that emphasizes the importance of recognizing when something good is coming your way and grabbing it with both hands. You never know what tomorrow will bring.

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

Bloodstone by Helen C. Johannes

September 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment

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Bloodstone by Helen C. Johannes
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (426 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Edelweiss

What if looking at the face of the man you loved meant death?

Years ago, warrior Durren Drakkonwehr was cursed by a mage. Now feared and reviled as the Shadow Man, he keeps to himself, only going to town to trade rare bloodstones–petrified dragon’s blood–for supplies. Though he hides his face, he can’t hide his heart from the woman who haunts his dreams…

Needing bloodstones for a jewelry commission, Mirianna and her father journey across the dreaded Wehrland where the beast-men roam. When their party is attacked, only the Shadow Man can save them. Strangely drawn to him, Mirianna offers herself in return for her father’s rescue.

Living in the ruined fortress with the Shadow Man, Mirianna slowly realizes that a flesh-and-blood man–not a fiend–hides there in hoods and darkness. But are love and courage enough to lift the curse and restore the man?

A man whose face can kill, a woman bound to him by a promise, and both haunted by mysterious, intimate dreams of each other. Bloodstone’s story is rich and layered, nuanced and engrossing.
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The main characters are both engaging. Mirianna is instantly likable as you see the way she looks after and cares for her widowed father. She is resourceful and capable, but most of all passionate. Her choices are intuitive and her feelings strong. I respected and admired her and appreciated how smart and quick-witted she was written.

The Shadow Man is deeply layered and deeply flawed. When he is presented with ethical choices, he often genuinely considers taking the wrong path. He can be brusque and harsh, when he should be kind and gentle. He is deeply conflicted, torn between the man he used to be and what he is now. He is constantly at battle with himself, and you can feel this leaking through his scenes and encompassing his thoughts.

I loved reading these two characters respond to one another. The dreams that have haunted them for years attract them to each other as much as it scares them. Both are powerful characters with strong personalities and the results are scenes which swept me up and gripped me, and kept me eagerly waiting to see what they would do next.

However both characters are not only haunted by their dreams, they both find themselves followed by a mysterious lioness. Other things are afoot, as it’s soon made clear that not everyone is who they claim to be. The story was very well done, with some truly surprising plot twists and revelations I did not see coming, and there was more than one point in the story where my jaw was left hanging open.

The romance in the book was for the most part excellent. Though it did feel a little rushed once or twice, with the motivations and reasons behind their feelings and changing attitudes towards each other, not always being clear to me.

The opening of the book moves a little slowly, taking a significant amount of time to reach the plot described on the back of the book. However the author has a beautiful writing style and a keen eye for detail, and I was never bored or disinterested in what was happening.

Helen C. Johannes has built up a rich fantasy world, with an intriguing and unique history. I loved reading about the world, the things that inhabited it, and the way it worked. She knew exactly how much to dole out and when, in order to keep me informed but eager for more.

The ending is very satisfying, but I suspect there may be a sequel planned, and if there is I will certainly be reading it. The book works well as a breathtaking romance and as a fantasy story of heroes, magic and mystery. If you’re in the mood for either, read it!

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

Richard Berkeley’s Bride by Cate Parke

September 9, 2014 By Leave a Comment

BRIDE
Richard Berkeley’s Bride by Cate Parke
Dreams of Oakhurst, Book One
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (279 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Will his ambitions and her fears imperil their future?

In Charlestowne, South Carolina Colony, 1769, a ship docks containing a treasure beyond most men’s dreams—Lord Edward’s lovely daughter, Alexandra—destined for one fortunate man, Richard Berkeley.

Although he’s the scion of a wealthy prominent family, the arranged marriage unlocks the door to far greater wealth and power than Richard ever hoped to achieve. He soon learns his lordship’s offer to instate him as his sole heir isn’t the only treasure worth risking his life for. Alexandra is the true prize.
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Intrigued by the proud, wealthy beauty soon to become his wife, Richard sets aside his mistress. But Eliza Perrineau had long schemed to become Richard’s fiancée and is furious when he cast her off. Her plans for revenge quickly swell wildly and threaten to destroy Richard. Her cousin, Lord Thomas Graham plans to ensure his untimely demise and has him charged with her murder. Unless Richard can prove his innocence fast, he’ll swing for a crime he didn’t commit.
Alexandra has her own secrets—including deep-seated fears that imperil their chance for happiness. But Richard discovers Alexandra’s love is a prize worth protecting—if only he can help her overcome her fears and past struggles to create a marriage truly worthy of their love.

Can Alexandra spend a lifetime with a man she’s only known for two weeks?

Alexandra’s situation is definitely difficult. Not only is she abruptly called back to the colonies, but she learns she is to marry a man she knows nothing about. Even worse, she barely has any time to get to know him. Her trepidation at the thought of marrying a complete stranger is completely understandable, and I truly felt sorry for her. Fortunately, Richard is a kind and intelligent man. The chemistry between Richard and Alexandra is palpable from the moment they meet, but is chemistry enough to build a successful and happy marriage?

Alexandra is an interesting woman. She is smart, beautiful, and very well educated. Alexandra is very charming, and almost everyone seems to admire her. I found it interesting that Alexandra could be so outspoken about some of her more unconventional beliefs to those in her social circle. However, she was unable to express even her simplest feelings to Richard. Granted, they had a short time to get to know each other before they were married, but he is very gentle with her and gives her many opportunities to speak her mind.

Alexandra is the chief obstacle to her own unhappiness. At first, Richard gave Alexandra ample opportunities to express her thoughts and feelings to him, but she failed time after time to take advantage of these chances. Instead, she kept everything inside and insisted to everyone else that she was fine. Then she was surprised when Richard didn’t understand why she was unhappy. Alexandra is surrounded by people who love and respect her, and yet because she refuses to open herself up, she always feels alone. Richard is certainly not innocent of causing difficulties in their marriage. He treats Alexandra like a child many times, which only serves to push her away. It was very difficult for me to watch such a promising relationship slowly deteriorate. At times, I truly doubted whether or not Richard and Alexandra would be able to repair the damage they’d done.

After reading the blurb for Richard Berkeley’s Bride, I expected the situation concerning Richard being accused of murder to be a fairly large part of the plot. However, that situation was resolved so quickly that I feel the blurb is misleading. The blurb indicates that there will be some suspense regarding Richard’s attempt to prove his innocence, but this is not the case at all. Richard handles the accusations very well, and Lord Graham is nothing more than a minor annoyance who is almost comical in his attempts to disrupt Richard’s life.

Despite this issue, I enjoyed reading Richard Berkeley’s Bride. Richard and Alexandra make a great couple once they finally take the time to get to know each other. Their happy ending is certainly well deserved. Fans of historical romance might want to give this tale a try.

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

Two In The Afternoon by Cora Cade

September 8, 2014 By 1 Comment

TWO
Two In The Afternoon by Cora Cade
A Day Of Pleasure – Book 2
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (88 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

When it comes to hand-to-heart combat, no hold is barred.

A Day of Pleasure, Book 2

However, this did not occur very cialis prescription cheap often. Impotence and erectile dysfunction are the disturbing problems in love making due to the ever viagra purchase on line increasing stress and tension in his life. This type of hype is counterproductive and cheapens the honest programs that are lumped in with this pop over here levitra 10 mg garbage. The ingredients used in the formulation of these creams and gels are 100% natural. see now now buy generic levitra Molly Ryan survived one attack, and she’s not about to be a sitting duck for another. With her attacker harassing her from his jail cell, she packs up her life in Chicago, follows her Delta Force brother to North Carolina and gets work in a pub.

Men in uniform are definitely off her menu, but her boss’s friend, Army Ranger Callum Eversman, is one hot hunk she’d like to sample.

Home on a two-week furlough, Cal has agreed to watch over Molly as a favor to fellow Ranger Noah Harper. Accomplishing his mission without her noticing? That’s going to be tough, as any idiot can see their sparks of attraction from a mile away.

Despite her hands-off-military-men policy, Molly is tempted to indulge, just this once, in a no-strings-attached fling. No dating, no kissy face, no hearts involved. But when her past threatens her future, there’s only one man to turn to. The one who’ll risk everything—body, heart, and soul—to protect her.

Molly Ryan has been stuck in the pub’s office doing the bookwork for six hours on a Sunday. It’s two in the afternoon and she’s just cracked open a well-deserved beer. Although she’s taken on some extra duties while co-workers were away on a honeymoon, Molly is up for the challenge. She wasn’t, however, expecting the sexy stranger to drop in on her – otherwise she’d have worn her sexy pajamas for the day of surreptitious work and not her common regular ones. Cal’s flight had been delayed, but he was staying around to watch over Molly and living in the apartment over the pub for a while. He hadn’t, however, expected his attraction to the sexy woman to be so instantaneous, or strong, especially when there was trouble lurking around Molly and Cal’s job was to protect her, not hunger for her gorgeous body.

An interesting plot woven skillfully around a bucket-load of sexual tension had me turning the pages of this book like a woman possessed. With a strong cast of secondary characters – and clearly links and hints for past and future books in the series – this seemed to me to be a well fleshed-out town and a solidly written addition. Cal was an interesting character, one I found myself wanting to know more about even as I admired him from the start. Molly is a kick ass, take-no-prisoners type of woman, and one who has dealt with problems and backs down for no one. I felt the story got a little over-populated by the number of secondary characters – but this was somewhat balanced by the fact they each fed into the various twists in the plot. No one was “filler”, though it did get a bit jumbled for me at times. There’s plenty going on though, from Molly’s shadowy stalker to goons doing reconnaissance and Cal’s twin sister’s ex-boyfriend problems. I loved how so much was going on, but felt some of these sub-plots were a bit rushed and could have been given more time to really enrich the story.

This is the first book in the series I’ve read, and while it stands well alone, there was clearly a connection between Molly, Chris and Noah – the brothers who own the pub she works for – and it took me a short while to catch up on the already fleshed-out relationship there. This didn’t detract from my enjoyment, but is something to keep in mind if readers really prefer to read their series in order. I also loved the chemistry between Molly and Cal. Their connection was present from the start, but circumstances keep them just skimming the surface for quite a way through the story. There are a few sex scenes (one of them oral sex). I found them tastefully written but mildly explicit. Readers who like the bedroom door closed might want to consider this before reading.

I found this to be a wonderful book, full of interesting characters (and plenty of hooks for future books) and an energetic plot that kept me interested. Saucy enough to keep spicy romance readers involved, but not erotic enough to make you blush, this struck a good balance for me. An author and series I’ll keep an eye out for more of. Recommended.

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

Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt

September 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment

MIDNIGHT
Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (261 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

WHEN A MASKED MAN . . .

Twenty years ago Maximus Batten witnessed the brutal murders of his parents. Now the autocratic Duke of Wakefield, he spends his days ruling Parliament. But by night, disguised as the Ghost of St. Giles, he prowls the grim alleys of St. Giles, ever on the hunt for the murderer. One night he finds a fiery woman who meets him toe-to-toe—and won’t back down . . .

MEETS HIS MATCH . . .

Artemis Greaves toils as a lady’s companion, but hiding beneath the plain brown serge of her dress is the heart of a huntress. When the Ghost of St. Giles rescues her from footpads, she recognizes a kindred spirit-and is intrigued. She’s even more intrigued when she realizes who exactly the notorious Ghost is by day . . .

DESIRE IGNITES A DANGEROUS PASSION
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Artemis makes a bold move: she demands that Maximus use his influence to free her imprisoned brother-or she will expose him as the Ghost. But blackmailing a powerful duke isn’t without risks. Now that she has the tiger by the tail, can she withstand his ire-or the temptation of his embrace?

The Duke of Midnight certainly starts off with a clever and unusual twist with me never suspecting that I was actually watching the future hero and heroine meet. It was adventurous, slightly out of the ordinary and it immediately showcased that the heroine isn’t fresh from the school room and the hero has a dark secret. The start of the novel is promising and I’m happy to say it carries forth for the rest of the book.

I liked the dynamics between Artemis and Maximus, the Duke of Wakefield. I enjoyed their banter, their slow and unusual courtship and how they eventually came to grips with their feelings for each other. She was first to admit it, he was last. Figures. Her realization that she loves the hero is a bittersweet thing and it prompts her to make some hard and emotional choices. Artemis’ decision isn’t a grand gesture but it’s heartfelt and a reader sees that clearly. Maximus on the other hand, and being a man, needs a rather dramatic and suspenseful act to get him to take that final step to let go of the past and grab for his future. The sort of droll, matter-of-fact dialogue that occurs between some secondary characters after the action had me laughing. It was just so … conversational and understated, I giggled.

I guess this is a long series in the making, the sixth book I believe. I have not read any of the previous books so I can guarantee this is a solid standalone read. I’m tickled because not only does it raise my curiosity of what came before, but there is already a hook for the next book. I may not have read the books in the past, but I sure am interested in following it into the future. Any hero named Apollo has got to be fascinating – must have something to do with adoring Apollo from the original Battlestar Galactica – they all seem to have hero complexes.

The dogs were a cute touch and I enjoyed the roles they played. Basically, animals are a good judge of character so it was telling. I liked some of the secondary characters that supported Artemis. Frankly, I didn’t expect her to have that much support so it made me feel good to see it.

When Artemis and Maximus succumb to their physical passion, it’s steamy writing but the characters’ emotions are never far away. I can see that the author used their sexy encounters to further their romance and attraction, and the fact that it’s done so well is a plus.

The villain was a scoundrel but not a lot of attention was paid to his badness. I know what he did in the past was horrible, and what he currently did in the story was equally noxious, but the descriptions or actions never were delved in deep enough to send shivers up my spine, or gasp in horror or genuinely feel like he was a real threat. He was more a pompous toad with a criminal bent. There were some distractions and misleading clues so the mystery that haunted Maximus took a while to unravel but I never felt the ‘evil’ of the villain so his finally being revealed and addressed drew from me a tepid response at best.

Oh, and Penelope annoyed me. How anyone can look upon that ditherhead and feel fondness I will never know. For me she was the equivalent of a Regency Valley Girl with less to talk about. Ugh. She made Artemis look like a cerebral giant.

On the whole, The Duke of Midnight is a crowd pleaser. It’s not overly dark but has enough suspense and drama to keep the pages turning. Maximus and Artemis have wonderful chemistry that insured I enjoyed reading their story. There were enough wonderful secondary characters to make their world a fascinating place to visit and an as yet unsolved mystery that makes me want to read more. I liked the pace of the novel, the dialogue and the plot momentum. If you have a few hours straight to just sit back and read, The Duke of Midnight is a wonderful choice to spend time with. It’s very entertaining.

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

Deeper Than Need by Shiloh Walker

September 3, 2014 By Leave a Comment

NEED
Deeper Than Need by Shiloh Walker
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (384 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Thistledown

Time heals all wounds

Eager to put a dark, troubled past behind her, Trinity Ewing buys an old house that will make the perfect refuge for her and her young son once renovations are complete. The last thing on her mind is finding someone new…but the contractor she’s hired is an irresistible distraction—and Trinity can’t help but fantasize about all the business they could be doing behind closed doors.

So does one man’s touch

Noah Benningfield thought he’d put his demons behind him. But the moment he lays eyes on Trinity, the temptation he feels is too powerful to deny. Soon the attraction between them explodes into something neither of them could have imagined. But their desire will be put to the test when a shocking local murder has them dodging danger at every turn. Can the beautiful and damaged Trinity trust someone like Noah, whose own past is as haunted as her own? The only thing she knows for sure is that she can’t live without a man who makes her feel this good—over and over again…

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Noah Benningfield has troubles of his own. His demons haunt his dreams and waking hours. When he sees Trinity, he thinks maybe there is a chance to find something more.

Deeper Than Need had a good premise. Two characters with haunted pasts coming together in a house with a less than savory history. Trinity needs a new start with her son and Noah wants to silence the voices that keep him up half the night. Organizing the clean-up and repairs for the old Frampton place, the two find the past is very much alive-or dead if you count the body waiting for them underneath the floorboards of the house.

Just like that a local murder is discovered, and with it the door to the past is wrenched open. Two wounded characters fumble their way through attraction, murder, taking care of Trinity’s son and the deaths of kids under Noah’s protection. The story spins up and the plot has some interesting twists. Bodies. A murderous history in Trinity’s new house. Missing kids. Missing women. Addiction. Coping. Random sex with people who hate each other.

I hadn’t read any of the previous novels/novellas in this series. From the start I felt like I was missing something. Pieces that should have made sense didn’t as a stand-alone book. The other issue I had was I could not connect with the characters. They were not relatable to me. I tried to like Trinity, but ended up being annoyed with her most of the time. Her thoughts were disjointed and much of her thoughts about Noah were insipid and repetitive. Noah was much more likeable because of his work with troubled kids, but even still the back and forth of the foreshadowing was distracting. I kept putting the book down and had to struggle my way through to the end.

One thing about the book that did resonate with me was the aspect of healing as part of the reconstructive process. Noah wasn’t just there helping Trinity repair her house, a house that held a prominent place in his past. He was rebuilding himself along the way. Trinity was as well. They both had shattered and scarred lives and were desperately trying to build something on a solid foundation. That something just happened to be a house with a body buried beneath it. The love Trinity bears for her son and her willingness to sacrifice herself for his safety was also something I appreciated.

This book is more mystery than a contemporary romance.  The mystery and sinister goings on were a good start. Not being able to connect to the people and feeling lost really put a damper on this story for me. If you are going to read it, I would go back and read the beginning. It would have filled in some of the plot holes.

An interesting mystery with some potential as a series.

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

Lord of Sherwood by Laura Strickland

September 2, 2014 By 6 Comments

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Lord of Sherwood by Laura Strickland
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical, Fantasy
Length: Full (228 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rated: 4.5 Stars
Review by Dandelion

Curlew Champion, master archer, has always known his destiny. With his cousin, Heron Scarlet, he will become a guardian of Sherwood Forest and further his people’s fight against Norman tyranny. But the third member of the triad is still to be revealed, the woman who will complete the magical circle and, perhaps, answer the longing in Curlew’s heart.

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Only the magic of Sherwood can bring them together, and only their union can complete the spell woven so long ago…

I loved this story from page one. It continues the story of Robin Hood’s daughter and grandchildren and the mysterious and magical Sherwood Forest. There are still problems with the Sheriff of Nottingham and his men. The people are still being victimized, and are fighting back. This leads to many of their homes being burned and villagers slain.

There is a circle of three who are guardians in Sherwood Forest. This magic keeps them and Sherwood Forest safe and they do what they can to protect the people. When the three guardians are no longer able to provide this safety, the guardianship passes on. The two men, Heron and Curlew, grandchildren of Robin and Marian, will be two of the next three. They are still waiting to find the third. It must be a woman. The present guardian, Lark, is dying and it becomes crucial to find the woman.

I thought that this would be similar to the second one, and I was prepared to be a little bored. However, as I read I became so involved with the story, I found it difficult to put down the book. These guardians are different and there are different challenges. As they search for the third person, it becomes really unique and I could hardly wait for them to resolve situation. As the story progresses, you can really see and have no doubts as to the magic surrounding them. The woman in the story is a surprise and yet, it makes perfect sense.

There is much going on, and they must keep protecting the people and the forest. I could hardly put this story down. Although this story stands alone, I enjoyed it so much I can only hope there is a book four in this series. I would highly recommend this book and all the others. A great series.

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Right Kind of Wrong by Chelsea Fine

August 28, 2014 By 3 Comments

WRONG
Right Kind of Wrong by Chelsea Fine
Publisher: Forever Yours
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (212 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Hawthorn

Sometimes wrong can feel oh so right . . .

Jenna Lacombe needs complete control, whether it’s in the streets . . . or between the sheets. So when she sets out on a solo road trip to visit her family in New Orleans, she’s beyond annoyed that the infuriatingly sexy Jack Oliver wants to hitch a ride with her. Ever since they shared a wild night together last year, he’s been trying to strip away her defenses one by one. He claims he’s just coming along to keep her safe-but what’s not safe for her is prolonged exposure to the tattooed hottie.
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Jack can’t get Jenna out from under his skin. She makes him feel alive again after his old life nearly destroyed him-and losing her is not an option. Now Jack’s troubles are catching up to him, and he’s forced to return to his hometown in Louisiana. But when his secrets put them both in harm’s way, Jenna will have to figure out how far she’s willing to let love in . . . and how much she already has.

There’s no better feeling than coming across a great road trip story. I love those, and I loved Right Kind of Wrong for all the right reasons: great main characters, good story-telling, intense conflict, well-written plot.

There was chemistry between Jenna and Jack the first time we see them together. As we get to follow their story, the dynamics between them become only more intense and captivating. While Jack’s devotion to Jenna was bittersweet to watch as she kept refusing his advances, the real magic was happening inside Jenna. Her inner struggle between what she felt and what her mind wanted was very well-written.

Jack’s secrets and his past life could easily sound unnatural and forced because that ‘old’ Jack was so different to the man Jenna knows, but even that blast from the past fit into the story perfectly, adding to Jack’s character, not making him less real. Not to mention that the intense experience, the fear and excitement help Jenna see him in a new light – or rather see her own feelings for him in a new light. The intriguing subplot also adds suspense to the story and speeds up the pace of the second half of the novel.

There was little I didn’t like about this book. One of those things was – considering how hung up on her plan Jenna was – the smooth ending that didn’t feel realistic. Maybe more struggling with the relationship on her part would feel more in-character. But they deserved a happy ending, so that was what they got. Some secondary characters felt too flat, such as Pixie, Kayla, Daren. Others, like Jack’s brothers and Mom, were a delight to read. Some of the dialogue and scenes felt a little bit contrived, as if they were only there to give additional information about the story or characters.

But with Jenna and Jack in the forefront, any faults can be overlooked. Their vivid portrayal made me want them to be real. Jenna’s feistiness, and Jack’s patience and loyalty were a wonderful combination for their road trip. It was a journey I enjoyed from the beginning to the very end.

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

For Love of: Tangi by Antonio

August 28, 2014 By 1 Comment

TANGI
For Love of: Tangi by Antonio
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (218 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Colt Asbury’s life was good. He was captain of the football team in high school, popular with his classmates, and adored by his family. The only thing missing was someone special to share it with. But, between football and schoolwork he didn’t really have much time to think about romance—no that wasn’t exactly the whole truth. He had thought about it, and decided he wasn’t ready to deal with the ramifications of being gay. But, sometimes things can bubble to the surface in unexpected ways. In just a few minutes Colt’s whole world changes when he accidentally outs himself in front of his homeroom class over a new male student named Tangiers (Tangi) Reynolds. Suddenly he’s the talk of the school, yet all he can think about is Tangi. He’d never felt anything like what he felt when he’d first laid eyes on auburn-haired, green-eyed Tangi.

Still, it’s all too much for someone whose held so much in for so long and it takes its toll on Colt physically and emotionally. Confused and feeling broken down, he tries to find someone he can turn to, but discovers his best friend Mickey has turned against him. The rest of Colt’s friends aren’t even sure what to think about him anymore. His ex-football hero dad, whom he idolizes, and his ex-cheerleader mom are acting strangely too, and it turns out they’ve been hiding a closely guarded secret of their own. A secret shared by some of the parents of Colt’s friends. It will take the help of his younger brother Neil and Tangi’s sister Zen as well as allies in unexpected places to aid Colt in his time of greatest need. And then, there’s still the homecoming dance to think about, a homophobic chaperone to deal with, and a mystery man named Cameron. Will Colt be able to navigate these once calm now troubled waters of his life? More importantly will he be able to embrace a life with Tangi? All he knows is that he’ll give it his best shot for love of Tangi.

This is normal for adults purchase levitra online to have various types of problems with absolute perfection. Other than the heart, its consumption has been unveiled as a fertility booster in men. order viagra effects of cialis So, it’s not suitable to wear jeans and tight pants frequently, especially at summer and wet weather. 7.Don’t worry too much about premature ejaculation. Azoospermia can be mainly divided into two types: The first type often sudden onset, chills, fever, fatigue, weakness and systemic symptoms, accompanied by will on the genitals and pubic bone pain, and even with acute urinary retention. purchase tadalafil online frankkrauseautomotive.com Coming out doesn’t usually happen all at once. It’s a process that begins when one finally admits the truth to himself and ends when everyone knows. The question is, what other secrets will Colt uncover as he begins to come out to his family and friends?

At first Colt seemed a little too good to be true. He’s a popular jock who fearlessly stands up for other kids when they’re being bullied, an affectionate big brother to his much younger siblings, and a son who idolizes his parents. What I appreciated most about this character, though, was what happened when he revealed his true self. Colt is most definitely a nice guy, but I fully warmed up to him once I realized what was going through his mind as he did all of these kind things. The image people project is often quite different from what’s going on behind the scenes. Getting to know who Colt is when no one else around is ultimately what made me like him so much.

The dialogue in this book was inconsistent. One moment the characters would speak in full, grammatically correct sentences. A paragraph or two later the same individual would reply with a shortened version of a single word. Many people adjust their speaking patterns based on who is around them, of course, but it was jarring to switch so rapidly between slang and conversations that felt a little too stilted given the ages of the people involved in them. It was just as likely to occur with the teenagers as it was with adult characters.

The chemistry between Colt and Tangi is strong. The first taste of love is often the sweetest, and I found their reactions to their growing attraction to one another to be perfect for guys their age. It was fun to see how both of them responded to their first meeting. I can’t say much more about it without giving away spoilers, but it was quite the memorable experience.

I was surprised to see how reluctant the teachers were to address the bullying at Colt’s school given that this story is set in present day. It would have been understandable for them to ignore vague rumours or not notice the subtle stuff, but their refusal to even do something as obvious as break up a fight on school grounds didn’t feel realistic to me. I don’t doubt that some adults are willing to look the other way when a student is teased because of his sexual orientation, but I found it hard to believe that multiple teachers would be willing to ignore such blatant signs of harassment given how easy it would be for someone to record their behavior with a cellphone and get them and the school into serious trouble.

My favorite scenes involved Colt and and Tangi’s families. Both boys have warm, loving relationships with their parents and younger siblings. Neither family is perfect, of course, but I enjoyed seeing how they worked together. It was particularly interesting to see what happens when the families get together for dinner.

For Love of: Tangi made me think about all of the assumptions I’ve made about other people. This is a good choice for anyone who is willing to step into someone else’s shoes for a little while.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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