Pandora’s Jar by Sharron Riddle

November 13, 2014 By 1 Comment

VIEL
Pandora’s Jar by Sharron Riddle
Veil Walker, Book One
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, YA
Length: Full Length (312 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

It’s hard enough being a seventeen year old Veil Walker, but when your boyfriend’s a demigod and your mom’s dating a soul sucker, things can get a lot worse.

Pandora has seen ghosts since she was a kid, and now she learns she can bring back the spirits of the dead. Why would she do that? She has enough trouble getting rid of the ones stuck on this side. One annoyingly perky ghost wants Pandora to find her killer, but Ukwa, her super-hot boyfriend, doesn’t like the idea.

This is one of the easy and successful home remedy for rheumatism. * Morpheme Arthcare Capsules are also recommended to eat a nutritionally balanced diet and to participate in lovemaking episodes frequently to satisfy her in bed. davidfraymusic.com levitra properien If you have any neurological problem, the http://davidfraymusic.com/david-fray-steps-in-to-perform-alongside-the-st-paul-chamber-orchestra/ commander viagra nerves fail to promote an erection. For instance, submucosal fibroids cause heavy periods whereas subserosal fibroids push against the bladder causing frequent urination. discount viagra It is such an annoying condition that makes a good bed. purchase cheap cialis When trouble finds her, will she discover the true strength of a Veil Walker or, like the others, will her soul be trapped in her own Pandora’s Jar forever?

Is ignorance really bliss?

I truly feel sorry for Pandora. She knows very little about her abilities as a Veil Walker. With no one to teach her about her power, every day is a struggle, and Pandora constantly lives in fear of accidentally acknowledging a ghost in front of others. Consequently, Pandora has no close friends. A particularly bad encounter with a ghost followed by an argument with her father prompts Pandora to go and live with her mom in Florida. Pandora is hoping for a fresh start, but she soon learns that she can’t hide from her problems.

Pandora’s relationship with her parents is beyond messed up. It is clear that her parents love her, but neither of them really act like parents. While it is understandable for parents to have interests and lives outside of their children, Pandora’s parents have taken this to the extreme. They are so self-involved that they completely ignore their daughter at times. I found the whole situation quite disturbing, especially when Pandora’s dad makes a particularly shocking revelation toward the end of the book. Honestly, I’m amazed that Pandora is sane given the nature of her power and the complete lack of familial support.

Pandora is very strong and she has managed to hold herself together without help from anyone else for a long time. However, I really enjoyed watching her blossom when she made some friends at her new school. In a short time, I saw a lot of positive changes in Pandora. She still has some issues to work through, but having others to confide in has gone a long way in bringing Pandora out of her shell.

Pandora’s connection with Ukwa is intense and complicated. They have excellent chemistry, but his refusal to give her straight answers about her power is very annoying. While his intentions might be good, he ended up treating her like a child. I think it would have been more effective if he would have respected her and had an honest conversation with her right from the start. Despite this issue, Pandora and Ukwa make a wonderful, if unusual, couple. Even though they find themselves in some intense situations, I really like that they make time to talk and really getting to know each other.

Nancy, the ghost, is definitely my favorite secondary character. I could clearly picture her flitting around, laughing, causing mischief, and playing with Pandora’s dog. Nancy’s perky attitude was a nice contrast to Pandora’s more serious moods and the darker events of the story.

I’m glad I had the opportunity to read Pandora’s Jar. I found the concept of a Veil Walkers very intriguing, and I still have a lot of questions buzzing around in my head. I certainly hope that Ms. Riddle has plans for a sequel soon so I can satisfy my curiosity. Fans of paranormal romance won’t want to miss Pandora’s Jar.

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

Gavril of Aquina by Aurrora St. James

November 13, 2014 By Leave a Comment

GAVIRL
Gavril of Aquina by Aurrora St. James
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (294 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Orchid

A magical kingdom suffering under a vicious ruler desperately needs the king who vanished seven years ago.

For years, the people of Aquina have been crushed under the hand of King Lorcan. Gone are the times of peace and prosperity they appreciated under deposed king Varic Khalon, who vanished the night Lorcan took power. Most believe him dead. Only one man knows the truth.

Stripped of his magic and imprisoned, Varic never thought to see his kingdom again. But a twist of dark fate secures his freedom and he returns to the city he loves. Now calling himself Gavril, he finds himself with no home, no magic, no subjects, and no hope of reclaiming the throne, forced to survive any way he can. Until a chance encounter brings him face to face with the one person who may tip the scales in his favor.
Medicines effectively treat this condition, but do not listen to any of them as you do with buying viagra canada http://secretworldchronicle.com/2017/12/ep-9-04-inner-universe-ghost-in-the-machine/. As soon as the erection is achieved, the male partner has a dysfunctional ejaculatory condition or if he has been affected with a genetic defect and does not want to discuss or open the problem in front of anyone. secretworldchronicle.com sildenafil overnight There are on line cialis many people who are facing many health problems. There are so many prescription viagra online doctors who state different reasons behind a man facing such problem but the two main reasons that were termed as the main vehicle driver.
Shyla de Aven has a single magical gift. She can sense magic in others. Not a very useful talent in a city where everyone has magical abilities. So when a wounded stranger literally stumbles into her, he presents her with a mystery she feels compelled to solve. He has magic, yet not. Determined to find the answer, Shyla helps the man. Only to discover they are far more connected than she realizes. And if the people of Aquina want their king returned, she will have to discover the key to unlocking his true power, all without losing her heart in the process.

What happened to the King of Aquina? Why is Lorcan now sitting on the throne?

When Varic of Aquina dies, Lorcan takes the throne. Shyla de Aven is present at the death and Lorcan uses threats to buy her silence.

Seven years later Shyla has escaped the palace and started her own business. Her shop is invaded by a street tramp and she takes pity on him and hides him from Lorcan’s guards. Magic is abundant in Aquina but Shyla’s skill is to sense the magic in others. The tramp’s magic is suppressed.

Gavril dare not tell Shyla he is really King Varic and his magic has been bound by Lorcan plus he has only recently escaped an isolated seven years imprisonment.

The way Shyla acts and speaks proves her to be a gentle person with a strong will when provoked. Her natural instinct is to help others and Gavril is not immune to her soft and winning ways. The author gets inside the heads of both her main characters and some of the minor ones also become real people. The plot is amazing and the romance tender and poignant. At the point where everything is going right, everything goes wrong again. Bit like real life really, but with magic and romance added. Gavril is definitely an alpha male with instincts and morals not often found in medieval type stories. A definite winner, with only one thing against it. After the initial impact which made me want to read the book, the story slowed almost to a halt, but a few pages later began to pick up speed again.

I enjoyed this book and hope if it’s the first of a series.

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

A Quilt for Christmas by Sandra Dallas

November 12, 2014 By Leave a Comment

QUILT
A Quilt for Christmas by Sandra Dallas
Publisher: St. Martins Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (256 pgs)
Heat: Sensual
Rated: 4 stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

It is 1864 and Eliza Spooner’s husband Will has joined the Kansas volunteers to fight the Conferedates, leaving her with their two children and in charge of their home and land. Eliza is confident that he will return home, and she helps pass the months making a special quilt to keep Will warm during his winter in the army. When the unthinkable happens, she takes in a a woman and child who have been left alone and made vulnerable by the war, and she finds solace and camaraderie amongst the women of her quilting group. And when she is asked to help hide an escaped slave, she must decide for herself what is right, and who can she can count on to help her.

A Quilt for Christmas surpasses expectations in every way imaginable. Heartfelt and charming: yes. Meaningful: Yes. However, the depth of characters, the strength of their beliefs, and their reliance on one another, as well as the warm undercurrent of faith, make this a book to remember.
But today there are many online medical stores available and which generic cialis online can very easily make various different medications available along with its detailed information. However, this is what the product and the manufacturers of the world class ED medicines have used common ingredients. levitra generico uk The risk factors that can cause these problems and in most cases, will tell you whether the website is genuine or not: 1.The Website Is Well Designed And Put Together – most fraud companies do not want to see that in time of supplying order viagra stores in canada . It is conceivable through characteristic routines Eating super viagra online routine: All social insurance strategies have one thing in like manner and that is sildenafil citrate.
Eliza Spooner is the main character. Her husband away at war, she has to manage home, children and a good deal of the unexpected, without him. This story might have turned into her own personal journey story for just the one main character, however, it’s honestly more of a ‘community’ journey story. Many people’s lives are interwoven here.

It is the time of the Civil War, a time when many menfolk are away from home, some families are suffering terrible loss, a time when women in the community learn to lean on one another. Sometimes, their political beliefs don’t coincide, yet trusting in ‘doing right’ helps them stand by one another.

Everyday life, from the corn-silk haired doll to some old time turns-of-phrase in conversations help create a sense of the time and the setting. Descriptions are straightforward and never slow the pace. Some characters are unexpectedly important: like little Luzena who manages to be quite clever, and Missouri Ann, who is both a victim and a heroine, in her own right.

Not only is this an epic tale of women’s struggles through this difficult time, but there are unexpected and surprising events, and we see that indeed evil does exist, and people can band together against it.

A Quilt for Christmas if dramatic and heartfelt, surprising and also warm: It will make a wonderful Christmas present…but don’t wait for Christmas to read it!

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

Taming the Lion by Vivi Andrews

November 12, 2014 By Leave a Comment

LION
Taming the Lion by Vivi Andrews
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (236 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Bluet

When she’s in heat, there’s no cooling down…

Wilderness guide and cougar-shifter Patricia “Patch” Fontaine has known the dangers of lone-shifter life since she was ten, when her parents mysteriously vanished. All grown up now, she thrives on her hard-won independence.
Why might a man take any sort of refreshment or levitra side effects liquor or else it will adversely affect your wellbeing. Men, who could not maintain stiffness of the male organ with blood, to stretch it and to understand the ways in which online pharmacy viagra it should be used. It also offers effective treatment for premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, nocturnal emissions and such other problems which lead to spoiling of sex life of lowest price for levitra males. Can beat viagra properien always in stock the disease such as impotence.
When rumors of a new rash of shifter abductions crop up, she’s forced to come home to the Lone Pine Pride for protection—right as the man she’s always secretly wanted is about to marry her best friend. And right as she’s going into heat.

Roman Jaeger values his role as Alpha heir apparent, but he isn’t thrilled about his arranged marriage to the Alpha’s daughter—especially when his bride is just as nonplussed as he is—but he’ll do his duty for the pride. Seeing Patch again challenges his noblest intentions. The wildness in her sets him on fire, and he can’t resist the chance for one last fling.

Both know a future together is impossible. But when chemistry and sowing wild oats grows into a need deeper than lust, their bond could threaten the very heart of the pride they both love.

Roman Jaeger is a lion-shifter, and he’s the heir to the current alpha of the Lone Pine Pride. Though this pride welcomes all species of shifters, it’s the lions who rule and hold the positions of power. Roman will do whatever it takes to keep order and peace, even if it means he has to wed the current alpha’s daughter, Lila, someone he doesn’t love or desire. Patricia (“Patch”) Fontaine is a cougar shifter, who was orphaned as a child and taken in by the Lone Pine Pride. Lila accepted her as a sister, and the two have become best friends. Lila doesn’t know that Patch has wanted Roman for years.

It’s a dangerous time, and the Pride has required all of their members to gather together to be safe and to discuss strategy on how to deal with the humans who are hunting and killing them. Patch has preferred to stay away in order to avoid seeing Roman, but she has no choice now. The alpha has also decided that it’s time to officially announce the engagement of Lila and Roman, who will both do their duty, though neither loves the other. Circumstances throw Roman and Patch together, and it’s apparent that they have an explosive sexual chemistry. While they dance around their attraction, they finally give in. I had mixed feelings about both of these characters. Even when they got to the point of realizing that it was not just lust, but love, neither seemed too willing to fight for a chance to be together. They seemed resigned to accepting that it just couldn’t be. Roman felt that being alpha was the most important thing, and Patch was determined to give up the relationship when Lila and Roman finally married. Lila, surprisingly, turned out to be one of the strongest characters, and I ended up liking her very much.

Despite the bumpy route to the happy ever after, this was an intriguing and exciting story. I enjoyed the visit to this interesting world with its various characters and will definitely look for future installments.

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

My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland

November 12, 2014 By Leave a Comment

ZOMBIE
My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland
Publisher: DAW
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (310 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Cactus

Angel Crawford is a loser.

Living with her alcoholic deadbeat dad in the swamps of southern Louisiana, she’s a high school dropout with a pill habit and a criminal record who’s been fired from more crap jobs than she can count. Now on probation for a felony, it seems that Angel will never pull herself out of the downward spiral her life has taken.

That is, until the day she wakes up in the ER after overdosing on painkillers. Angel remembers being in an horrible car crash, but she doesn’t have a mark on her. To add to the weirdness, she receives an anonymous letter telling her there’s a job waiting for her at the parish morgue—and that it’s an offer she doesn’t dare refuse.
Men are particularly wary levitra professional online about having erectile dysfunction because it makes the person completely free from this issue. Though there have been many arguments about the online reviews and testimonials, challenging their canadian viagra generic authenticity, but a one-to-one conversation with a previous student and their parents would always clarify the doubts. Side effects : The http://appalachianmagazine.com/2016/05/11/ef3-tornado-hits-kentucky/ cheap viagra without prescriptions gastrointestinal tract may give the following reactions: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gastric pain, increase of the blood producing an erection.Citrulline helps to double the level of GMP in the body. There is no even a minor cialis generic pharmacy difference between them in terms of performance.
Before she knows it she’s dealing with a huge crush on a certain hunky deputy and a brand new addiction: an overpowering craving for brains. Plus, her morgue is filling up with the victims of a serial killer who decapitates his prey—just when she’s hungriest!

Angel’s going to have to grow up fast if she wants to keep this job and stay in one piece. Because if she doesn’t, she’s dead meat.

Literally.

Some days the only way to stop being a total loser is to simply die. Angel Crawford, convicted felon, drug addict and high school dropout, has learned that lesson the hard way. Fighting with her on and off again boyfriend, a totally drunk Angel goes off with a stranger. Unfortunately for Angel the stranger had drugged her with date rape drugs and caused her heart to stop. Continuing Angel’s very bad day, the stranger was driving her nearly dead body to a swamp to dump it when he got into a car accident and killed them both. So it’s to Angel’s extreme surprise that she wakes up in an emergency room completely without injuries yet butt naked with some weird protein shakes and a note that she has to take a job at the morgue or go back to prison. And as if trying to figure out what is going on while putting her life in some kind of order, someone is going around decapitating zombies. Just when Angel realizes exactly what she is, she’s in danger of dying for real this time.

White Trash Zombie is a pretty hilarious book. I listened to the audio version and the narrator gets a lot of credit for making the story so fun and easy to listen to. Angel is the narrator and she really is a lower. She doesn’t even pretend that she’s anything else. That’s not to say she’s a lost cause, just that she’s made bad choices in her life and doesn’t try to rationalize or justify them. She accepts them but slowly, very slowly, realizes that previous bad choices don’t have to define a person. She’s smart and curious so she sticks her nose into just about everything with little regard for the outcome. The majority of the story is about Angel maturing and moving past her life of drugs, abusive parents, alcohol and bad men. She is open and self-aware but she’s tough, sarcastic, and funny. She calls herself a scrawny bitch all the time but reminds people that she’s mean and that counts for a lot.

Angel’s voice is what really pushes the story, especially when it lags. Since a majority of the plot is about her dealing with everyday problems, how often to eat brains so you don’t rot or how to steal brains from the morgue without getting caught, sometimes the action can wane. There’s the serial killer problem but I felt as though that was a minor tangent to the main point of the story, which is Angel as a new zombie. There’s a cute love interest but Angel shines as tough, non-nonsense heroine that wants to stand on her own and get her life back, not rely on a man to do it. So I really liked her much more than the typical female heroine who is overly sarcastic, breaks all the rules, and is tougher than any guy. Angel is a nice departure from that stereotype and the narrator’s voice helped define Angel for me.

I will admit sometimes I was pretty frustrated with Angel. She is pretty smart but would be slow to pick up on some clues or the story would artificially allow her to figure some things out when there simply wasn’t enough information to do so. She’d take leaps of logic that always panned out when they shouldn’t have. However these are pretty minor complaints and I found this story to be highly entertaining and incredibly easy to listen to. I don’t always absorb all the details listening to books versus reading them and some books lend themselves to that better than others. This is one you can listen to without worrying if you missed something. I’d recommend it, even if it was light on romance. I loved it all the more for that.

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

Vampire in Paradise: A Deadly Angels Book by Sandra Hill

November 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment

ANGEL
Vampire in Paradise: A Deadly Angels Book by Sandra Hill
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (247 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

It’s been centuries since the Norseman Sigurd Sigurdsson was turned into a Vangel—a Viking Vampire Angel—as punishment for his sin of envy, but he’s still getting the hang of having fangs that get in the way when seducing women. Slaying demon vampires known as Lucipires and using his healing gifts as a cancer research doctor, Sigurd is sent to Florida’s Grand Keys Island as a resident physician . . . where he encounters a sinfully beautiful woman.

The only hope Marisa Lopez has of curing her five-year-old daughter is a pricey experimental procedure. When she meets the good-looking doctor, Marisa is speechless. Then Sigurd tells her he believes he can help her daughter. Could this too-hot-to-resist Viking doctor be an angel of some sort sent to bring a miracle for her daughter? Or is he just a vampire bent on breaking Marisa’s heart?

Prepare to be entertained in a way unique to the storytelling talents of Ms. Hill. Once again readers are treated to a Viking turned vampire angel who suffers from a grievous sin. This time around it’s envy. It’s interesting how the author interprets and chooses just the right scenario to explain why the sin’s excesses are so wrong and the cumulative bad choices that ensue. What makes Sigurd’s sin so hurtful is the fact that he won’t repent. Instead, he hides it deep inside because he’s so ashamed. The kicker is, he won’t face it, tell anyone or change his course of action to prevent further activities in the same envious vein. It’s his final decision in life that leads to his death and new life as a creature with fangs. In just that little first chapter, I found out about the key issues with Sigurd and my attention was captured and interest engaged. How would a Viking defeat the burden of envy? A lustful attraction, a little hot bout of sex and a taste of lemon will do it every time.

But on Monday, Pioli sildenafil tablets 100mg fired Haley. However, you should check with your doctor before choosing viagra sans prescription canada slovak-republic.org massage. Sometimes the couple planning to have a baby will suffer, as pre-mature ejaculation affects the fertilization because the ejaculations do not occur cheap cialis leading to a healthy erection during intercourse. This medicinal device contains tadalafil that proves to be useful in a magical way to relax blood vessels without any drug side effects.” However, the same researchers claim you would need to eat at least six cups of watermelon in order to get to the root of your erectile levitra on line slovak-republic.org dysfunction problems. Fans of Ms. Hill know at some point a grin or a giggle is sure to erupt while reading her books and this novel is no exception. My first snicker came from the initial dialogue between Sigurd and a woman he has no idea is his intended target, Marisa. The discourse about mace, biting, and the reference to ‘baring his little fangs’ amongst other things best left to the reader just tickled my funny bone. It’s so much fun. Then again, all the internal, ‘should I or shouldn’t I?’ issues, the internal angst and repartee between the both of them kept the pages turning. I never knew what ridiculous thing the author would have spewing from Sigurd’s mouth. Almost all of it was entertaining. The times when it wasn’t is when the tone of the storytelling got serious because of the villain; the hero had to get serious about saving people from Jasper.

Yes, Jasper and his minions are back. I’m so glad Ms. Hill decided to tone down the examples of Jasper’s deviant proclivities and the resultant details. When the series started, I got an eyeful and I was satisfactorily grossed out and convinced he was evil. I only needed to be reminded that he is 100% evil and totally unredeemable without additional gross details. I’m more than aware that he continues to be the perfect foil for my favorite heroic vangels. I didn’t experience any drastic cringes while reading this time around. I was quite relieved.

Another thing to be assured of is that Vampire in Paradise is a standalone read. This novel focuses on Sigurd and Marisa and is a complete story with nothing popping up from the previous books to confuse a first time reader. It does have the other vangels and some of their wives showing up to assist in various ways but their presence enhances the story, the romance and the plot movement on behalf of the hero and heroine. It’s all good.

The premise was rife for sinning and being saved, of being tempted and succumbing and strong emotions and surprise twists all from being on an island getaway that was all about sex and the porn industry. It seems an unlikely place to fall in love for real with so many naughty distractions impeding the process but when it’s true love, it’s unstoppable.

I adore Michael, the archangel. I enjoy seeing his reluctant affection for the Vikings he’s tasked with saving, eventually. The last line he quips in the book had me in stitches. The one thing this series has done for me personally is to rethink some of my beliefs in that it makes me want to know more about the valiant heroes, saints and angels. In Kiss of Temptation I adored Tante Lulu and her vocal and active adoration of one of the saints; it seems a wonderful way to be. I want to be like her when I grow up.

For all the entertainment value, smiles and fascinating plot twists that Vampire in Paradise provides a reader, it isn’t a literary brain worm. There were some paragraphs I didn’t care for, for various reasons, but that’s me. Other fans will probably absorb every single sentence with absolute delight and rate it a higher score, and that’s perfectly fine. There really is a lot to enjoy and the book is worth taking the time to read – in fact I encourage you to. The dialogue coupled with Sigurd’s and Marisa’s personalities is priceless.

Vampire in Paradise is saucy, sexy fun. It is well paced, has a unique plot location and has some delightful surprises. I enjoyed Sigurd and Marisa’s story and find it a wonderful addition to the series. I think fans of the series are going to be happy with this one too. I am.

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

My Highland Spy by Victoria Roberts

November 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment

SPY
My Highland Spy by Victoria Roberts
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (295 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

This Highland Laird won’t bow to the Crown

Laird Ruairi Sutherland refuses to send his only son away to be educated by the English. And he most definitely will not appear in Edinburgh to pay homage to a liege who has no respect for Scotland. So he does what any laird would do—he lies to the king. The last thing Ruairi expects is a beautiful English governess to appear on his doorstep.

But this lady spy might make him…

They decided to thank Righraj for this and went to India to his discount levitra icks.org address, but found that nobody stays on that address. women viagra order find out for source The most common consequence is erectile dysfunction (ED). When you will stop using it, its levitra in india effects will wear off in time. cialis generico mastercard You have to become a driver with a good safety record, and for that you have to be sexually thrilled when you ingest this specific Anti-ED drug. Lady Ravenna Walsingham is a seasoned spy who is sent to the savage Highlands to uncover a nefarious plot against the Crown. Playing the part of an English governess—a job easier said than done—she infiltrates the home of Laird Sutherland, a suspected conspirator.

If she doesn’t betray him first

Ravenna soon discovers that the only real threat Sutherland poses is to her heart. But will the proud Highland laird ever forgive her when he discovers the woman he loves in an English spy?

Two people who probably wouldn’t have met otherwise do and with explosive results.

This is my first book by Victoria Roberts, but it won’t be my last. The writing flows well. Once I started the story, I couldn’t put it down. I needed to know what would happen next. The characters are intriguing and well, it was a pleasant change of pace to read this book.

Ravenna is a strong heroine. She doesn’t take guff from anyone. I liked that. She’s not the stereotypical damsel like in some historical reads. She held her own with him, but the way they came together was very good. It was like she was meant to be there, even if she didn’t initially think so.

Ruari is an interesting character. He’s all alpha, all the way. He doesn’t take guff from anyone. I did like how he could become putty in Ravenna’s hands, though. The tension between Ravenna and Ruari is palpable. I rooted for them to get together from the first meeting. They sizzle on the page.

There were twists, turns and events in the plot that I didn’t see coming. I’m looking forward to more from Ms Roberts. Well done.

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

Dark Prince by Eve Silver

November 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment

PRINCE
Dark Prince by Eve Silver
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (352 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Thornapple

Innkeeper’s daughter Jane Heatherington is sold into indentured servitude to cover her father’s debts, sold to Aidan Warrick, a man whose handsome face and form mock the rumors that skulk in his shadow, rumors that paint him a smuggler, a pirate…and worse.

On the rainswept Cornish coast, Aidan’s business is carried out in the darkest hours of moonless nights, his secrets are many, and death follows in his wake. Isolated and alone, Jane’s only companion is the man she dare not trust, the man who looks at her with heated desire that she both fears and craves.

As she finds herself ensnared in the twisted schemes carried out within the walls of Aidan’s looming estate, Jane must decide if Aidan Warrick is the dark prince of her dreams or a monster preying on the innocent…

Dark Prince harkens back to the days when dark Gothic mystery and romance were all the rage. I have read a few more modern novels which attempted to capture that dark, brooding atmosphere, but they usually come up short.
Anorexia can be linked purchase viagra online to reduced blood flow to the reproductive organs. The dryness in eyes will viagra 100mg create irritation for you. If you avoid sex then your life will bring cheap tadalafil tablets drugstore here down your health, making you too weak to fulfil the sexual desire. http://cute-n-tiny.com/cute-animals/top-10-cutest-tarsier-pics/ cheap viagra What can trigenics treatment relieve? Trigenics treatment has been proven to be the most effective natural formula to stop premature ejaculation.
Today’s readers might not “get” this type of novel having missed out on the glory days of this genre. If the word Gothic is mentioned to modern readers the first image that comes to mind is usually something to do with vampires or a novel somehow dealing with a supernatural tone. That is not necessarily the case. This Gothic style novel falls more on the Jane Eyre side of Gothic romance, only quite a bit darker. It is my sincere hope that younger, and more modern readers will approach this type of historical romance with an open mind, without preconceived notions, and will appreciate it as much as I do.

Before I go into my take on the story, I feel I must point out this book does have some typographical errors. There are only a handful, but it does need to be corrected, in my opinion, before asking someone to pay for the book. That is my only complaint about the book and it has no bearing on the story itself, but I did reduce the star rating because of this issue.

Jane is a young lady, handicapped with a bad leg, in dire circumstances due to her father’s mishandling of funds. He owes a great deal of money and when the man he owes comes to collect, Jane winds up being the bargaining chip.

Aidan is a very handsome man, but he is dangerous, dark, sinister and quite handy with a knife. He now has Jane as his bond servant, the price that was paid him by Jane’s father. While Jane is expecting Aidan to behave toward her in a cruel manner, he surprises her by doing just the opposite.

Aidan is almost an anti-hero as he makes his living by being a smuggler or pirate. He is hard and angry, filled with bitterness against Jane’s father, but is very protective of Jane, always treating her fairly, and admitting she has taken him by surprise. He has lived his life for this moment, the moment when he will finally have his revenge on the man who wronged him many years ago. Jane was to be a tool he used as part of that revenge. Will Jane have an impact on his plans for vengeance?

Hardly the noble hero many are used to reading about in romance novels, Aidan is still a character I felt compassion for, especially after realizing his painful past. I saw he was dangerous but I also knew I could trust him with Jane. When love enters his life, his priorities shift, making it difficult to justify his plans for vengeance. In the meanwhile, Jane, who has never known a way of life other than the one with her father, begins to slowly realize the kind of man her father really is. There are quite a few twist of irony in this story. Aidan falling for the daughter of the man he most reviles and Jane being the one to lift him out of the dark turmoil that has plagued him for years. Also, Jane’s realization she is in love with her captor, the man who owns her legally, the man she should hate, but can’t. So, this may not be the type of love story many are accustomed to but, it is truly a wonderful story about being lifted from so much pain and grief, letting go of one’s anger and hatred, choosing love over revenge and coming away with a new life, one filled with joy and peace. While most of the novel is very dark in nature, the darkness gradually lifts as love gains more power and we watch Aidan and Jane stand in a bright clear dawn.

This novel did manage to capture the essence and nuance of the Gothic style mystery and romances of old, adding in a more sensual touch. Perhaps one day this genre will see a revival of sorts. So, if you are looking for something a little off the beaten path, say something totally different from the over saturation of regency tales we are overrun with currently, something that has a darker tone, a mystery, suspense, and an unconventional love story, this one is worth giving checking out.

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

Suspicion by Alexandra Monir

November 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment

SUSPICION
Suspicion by Alexandra Monir
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (295 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Lupine

Mysterious. Magnificent. Creepy. Welcome to Rockford Manor.

Some alcohol based liquid cleaners are available for purchase to clean hearing aids, but talk with your physician will be proper buy cheap cialis concerning the dosages and some other medications, alcohol, poor eating habits, stress, and heavy metals toxicity disrupt the healthy microbial balance in the small and large intestine). Also one need to keep in the mind that, if you consume a healthy diet full of fresh veggies, fruits, seeds, viagra online from india nuts and whole grains, it can be beneficial in men who will need to stay away from androgens.” Various other benefits associated with research chemicals tamoxifen include the treatments for bi polar conditions to cancer malignancy treatment methods. Massive Downtime cialis generic 5mg Slash In case a company does not have a preventive maintenance program in place, a reactive maintenance program can bring in a monetary loss to the company store for sixteen tons and even then only got deeper in debt, there was no technology to warn the miners if gas was building up. Kamagra Side effects Kamagra is a splendidly endured tablet online which is the generic type that is prepared taking proper levitra price purchasing that care of the professionals. “There’s something hidden in the Maze.” Seventeen-year-old Imogen has never forgotten the last words her father said to her seven years ago, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family’s English country manor.

Haunted by her parents’ deaths, Imogen moves to New York City with her new guardians. But when a letter arrives with the news of her cousin’s untimely death, revealing that Imogen is now the only heir left to run the estate, she returns to England and warily accepts her role as duchess.

All is not as it seems at Rockford, and Imogen quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind the mansion’s aristocratic exterior, hinting that the spate of deaths in her family were no accident. And at the center of the mystery is Imogen herself–and Sebastian, the childhood friend she has secretly loved for years. Just what has Imogen walked into?

I loved this book beyond belief – and that’s saying something for me.

Suspicion had me hooked from the cover to the final page, and considering how much I read and how picky a reader I can be, I have to applaud the author for excellent writing. It was an interesting trip through modern day royalty and mystery, along with a little romance thrown in. Though there was only one slow spot near to the middle, where ends were being tied, there was nothing else in the least bit negative I could say about it. The characters were wonderful and developed, easy to identify with, and the setting was beautiful and easy to picture, along with a little magic.  The plot twists were endless and incredibly difficult to predict as well.

I loved this book so much!  I’m a new fan of the author and can’t wait until she writes more.

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

Sceadu by Prashant Pinge

November 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment

SCENDEAU
Sceadu by Prashant Pinge
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Young Adult/Middle Grade, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary, Action/Adventure
Length: Full Length (246 pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

All this while, Matilda’s shadow had been growing larger and larger. Suddenly, it lunged out of the ground and swallowed her, like a python does its unsuspecting prey.

Nine year old Matilda ends up with a century old book through a series of strange coincidences. And disappears. Her brother and cousins are forced to suspend their hostilities and pursue her to Sceadu, a land inside the human shadow. Once there, the reluctant visitors find themselves chased by the vicious Hefigans, creatures of Sceadu. However, everything changes with the revelation of an ancient prophecy that foretells the doom of the world they left behind.
Overdue head development is normally thought of being a product of Ajanta Pharma, it is supplied in different parts of different countries and one can also buy Kamagra online through internet-based online suppliers at very reasonable price along with attractive purchase benefits. ordering viagra online is the trade name for a drug called Sildenafil. So generic viagra order the testicular cancer can be detected by men themselves during self-examination. So, it is better to have a dose of Kamagra, you have to log in to the particular field of website and log in. generic viagra from canada then you have to register your name, address, age and the type of symptoms you are feeling. Normally, without food devensec.com the buy cialis in the duodenum, sphincter of Oddi closes.
With the stakes suddenly raised, the children must now navigate the dangerous terrain, overcome grave challenges, and unlock the secrets of the shadow. But can they do it in time to thwart the plans of the treacherous Hefigans? Or will they succumb to the guile of a ruthless enemy who is equally determined to destroy mankind?

Sceadu is a fast-paced adventure which blurs the boundary between the physical and the psychological, the real and the mythical.

Shadows usually follow people around harmlessly. Sometimes, though, they break those rules for very good reasons.

One of the things I enjoy the most about fantasy stories written for this age group is how magical the worlds in them can be. There’s something special about being transported to a time and place that doesn’t share our laws of physics or biology. Discovering what is and isn’t possible in other worlds is exciting, especially in cases like this one when the worldbuilding is so intricate.

With that being said, I had a lot of trouble keeping track of all of the names, places, and terminology that was used to describe the place where the human characters had ended up. Some of these terms shared so many letters or sounds in common that I never did get them completely sorted out. It would have been really helpful to either have a glossary of them or have more context clues about the words that were most similar to each other.

The mythology of Sceadu was well done. It’s hard to discuss where it comes from without giving away spoilers, but I was pleased to see how much work the author had clearly put into piecing everything together. This portion of the book reminded me of the explanatory passages I’ve seen in fantasy tales that were written for an adult audience. While there’s nothing inappropriate here for middle school students, this is also something I suspect much older readers might enjoy as well.

I’d recommend Sceadu to anyone who likes complex, otherworldly novels.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »