Once More, My Darling Rogue by Lorraine Heath

July 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment

ROGUE
Once More, My Darling Rogue by Lorraine Heath
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (384 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Bluet

They are England’s most eligible bachelors, with the most scandalous reputations. But for the right woman, even an unrepentant rogue may mend his ways…
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Born to the street but raised within the aristocracy, Drake Darling can’t escape his sordid beginnings. Not when Lady Ophelia Lyttleton snubs him at every turn, a constant reminder he’s not truly one of them. But after rescuing her from a mysterious drowning he realizes she doesn’t remember who she is. With plans to bring her to heel, he insists she’s his housekeeper—never expecting to fall for the charming beauty.

While Ophelia might not recall her life before Drake, she has little doubt she belongs with him. The desire she feels for her dark, brooding employer can’t be denied, regardless of consequences. So when her memory returns, she is devastated by the depth of his betrayal. Now Drake must risk everything to prove she can trust this rogue with her heart once more.

Remember that movie “Overboard,” with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell? How tempting would it be if you had the opportunity to get a little of your own back against someone who had belittled you and scorned you at every opportunity? That’s the first thing that came to my mind as Lady Ophelia Lyttleton called Drake Darling “Boy,” and ordered him to bring her a glass of champagne at a ball. While Drake is not a noble, he is the adopted son of a duke, and has never done a thing to spark Ophelia’s spitefulness. So, later when he rescues a mud-covered lady from almost drowning, and takes her home, and realizes that it’s Ophelia, and that she has no memory of anything, he decides to make her believe she is a servant for a day before he returns her to her home.

This Ophelia, however, is not at all like the haughty heiress who has plagued Drake. While she is pretty inept as a servant, she quickly learns, and works hard, much to Drake’s amazement. Since the circumstances of her accident are very murky, Drake does some investigating, and feels that she may still be in danger, so he doesn’t take her home right away, as planned. They quickly develop an intimacy and an attraction. Without her prejudices clouding her judgment, Ophelia (now called “Phee”) sees Drake for the man he is. And Drake is a wonderful man – he’s big, strong, handsome, and protective. And I quite liked Phee now, that is, until her memory came back.

This book was well written, and flowed nicely. I love the trope of amnesia, when it’s well done. And, frankly, it was a good thing that Ophelia had a chance to reflect on her former nasty self, because she came out of it a much better person. There are a couple mysteries – what caused Ophelia’s accident, and what happened in her past to make her the unpleasant person she had been. There is a touching scene near the end between Drake and his adopted father which brought tears to my eyes. And I thoroughly enjoy that this series of books is about the children of the characters from Lorraine Heath’s previous series, The Scoundrels of St James. This is a wonderful read, particularly if you like stories of redemption and self-forgiveness. I highly recommend reading it.

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

Play by Kylie Scott

July 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment

PLAY
Play by Kylie Scott
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (304 Pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Hawthorn

Mal Ericson, drummer for the world famous rock band Stage Dive, needs to clean up his image fast—at least for a little while. Having a good girl on his arm should do the job just fine. Mal doesn’t plan on this temporary fix becoming permanent, but he didn’t count on finding the one right girl. Anne Rollins never thought she’d ever meet the rock god who plastered her teenage bedroom walls—especially not under these circumstances. Anne has money problems. Big ones. But being paid to play the pretend girlfriend to a wild life-of-the-party drummer couldn’t end well. No matter how hot he is. Or could it?

What Kylie Scott excels at is creating compelling characters that own their stories. Play is no different.
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When Anne meets her teenage crush, rock band drummer Mal, she makes crazy eyes. I think I did pretty much the same thing as soon as I delved into this story. Mal is thoroughly convincing as a slightly crazy, fan-spoiled, irresponsible flirt of a man. Scott would be risking making her leading man a conceited, unpleasant hero if she hadn’t given him a soft (not in a cliché way) core and a wild sense of humor.

A propos of humor, the novel is chock-full of laugh-out-loud scenes that make the atmosphere around Anne and Mal electric with sexual tension and palpable lust. Mal’s comical side also accentuates the darker issues that Mal faces, making the novel all the more attractive because of how compelling and intricate a character Mal turns out to be despite the initial impression of him being shallow.

The dialogue is witty and truly engages the reader because every line spoken between the characters adds to their personalities or forwards the plot. The pacing is relentless, also on account of the clever rejoinders flying to and from between Mal and Anne. The fast pace also mimics Mal’s hyperactive personality and the rushed lifestyle of a rock band. It seems like Ms Scott doesn’t leave anything to coincidences; every word in this novel has a specific purpose. This makes the narrative fast-paced, compelling and utterly enjoyable.

Although Mal is so over-the-top that one would expect the shy heroine to be completely overlooked next to him, Anne is still a character that manages to hold her own. She grows throughout the story, and we follow her journey as she begins to get to know herself. Towards the end of the story, she proves she is a woman with a backbone when she makes a choice that is painful, but right. Anne becoming the strong character who learns to fight for what’s hers makes the relationship between her and Mal so much more realistic and consequently more fascinating.

Scott’s Play is far from just another hot romance. It’s a novel with a strong plot, compelling characters and a very real attraction between them. What happens to Anne is bound to happen to every reader – you will fall for Mal.

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

Once Upon a Wager by Julie LeMense

July 10, 2014 By 4 Comments

roses2
Once Upon a Wager by Julie LeMense
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (168 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Hawthorn

When Lord Alec Carstairs returns from the Peninsular Wars, hailed as a hero in the midst of the London Season, only Annabelle Layton knows the sort of man that he really is, that the honor everyone praises is illusory.

They’d been close friends once, before a passionate kiss changed everything. But if she’d secretly loved him, those feelings had died one bright summer morning, when a reckless wager left Annabelle with terrifying injuries. Alec had abandoned her without a backwards glance.

Hardly the actions of a hero.
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But Alec has never forgotten her, despite his vow to stay away. There is more to that long-ago day than Annabelle knows, and shocking lies have distorted the past. Can he uncover its painful truths, and still keep his distance from the stunning beauty? Can he deny his forbidden desire, even as it flares again between them, hotter than ever?

Even the most honorable and temperate men hide a passion in them. If you don’t believe it, Alec Carstairs will convince you.

Unlike the majority of historical romances, the hero in Once Upon a Wager is not rake who’s after a respectable lady. Alec Carstairs is an honorable and a rather reserved man. His polite manners and ‘priggishness’ – according to his best friend Lord Marworth – would make for an unremarkable hero if Ms. LeMense hadn’t juxtaposed those aspects of his character to the consuming passion that threatens to undo him every time Annabelle is near him. The author manages to show the strength of his love and devotion precisely through this duality of his character.

Another factor that adds to the strength of the conflict is the tragedy and pain that Annabelle had gone through. She’s not a whimsical character with nothing in her past to support her characterization. Instead, there’s a credible change in her personality after the accident, giving her and the plot a lot of weight. Needless to say, the hardships in Annabelle’s life convince the readers to feel for her and invest themselves into the story. And in the end, we are nicely rewarded for that.

Even the secondary characters are compelling, and I will be severely disappointed if Lady Jane and Lord Marworth don’t get to tell their story, preferably a shared one. I loved Sophia, the slightly eccentric, daring woman who introduces Annabelle to society and advises her to take everything with a grain of salt because the ton is a capricious, unreliable phenomenon. The relationships are so convincing I could picture Benjamin’s and Alec’s banter, Benjamin flirting with Annabelle just to annoy Alec, Sophia reading Annabelle’s and Alec’s emotions like an open book … And the chemistry between the protagonists would cause the pages to ignite had I been reading a paperback copy.

The pace of the story was such that I wished I could read the book in one sitting. Even the break between the first and second parts served its purpose, making the emotional distance between the protagonists more perceptible and their cold, distant attitude towards each other even more believable.

I’m glad I got the chance to read Once Upon a Wager because it was one of the best historical romances I’ve ever read. I sincerely hope to read more from Ms. LeMense.

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

Exercising Her Options by Daisy Dexter Dobbs

July 10, 2014 By Leave a Comment

OPTIONS
Exercising Her Options by Daisy Dexter Dobbs
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (266 pgs)
Heat: Hot
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Adopting an exercise program holds the number one spot on Polly Patrick’s “Things of Zero Interest” list, but with her bestselling author fiancé captivated by the charms of sexy, young fan girls, Polly makes the ultimate sacrifice. Joining a gym and committing herself to torturous workouts is hard enough…but being assigned a sexy, smoldering Greek for a personal trainer is downright brutal.

When Nikolas Kokoris takes Polly on as a client, he’s unaware his job is to get her fit for another man…a jerk who doesn’t deserve her affections. After scrutinizing the sassy, full-figured beauty’s curves for three months of workouts, he’s in trouble. Maintaining his professionalism and keeping his distance has never been tougher.

Struggling to remain focused on the task at hand, Polly and Nick find their lives complicated by a friendly kiss, the potent effects of ouzo, and a cringe-worthy case of mistaken identity.

This limited the competition that could enter the viagra generico cipla market. In truth, hereditary is a hard cause of the actual unexpected onset of erectile dysfunction and also one of the reasons which cause erectile dysfunction cheapest cialis india in men. It may be the time that guys will discover techniques to get rid from the problem. pharma-bi.com super cialis professional GERSHOWITZ said the price of our remote control toys was higher than other toys manufacturer with about 15 or viagra generika 50mg 20 U.S. dollars. It’s amazing how clearly we can see someone else’s faults, problems and situations but when we hold up the mirror to ourselves, no matter if we are in the exact same situation, we are blind against seeing it in us. That is the basic plot theme in Ms. Dobbs’ latest sexy adventure in the start of her Greek Delights series.

Helen and Polly are the best of friends. Ms. Dobbs sets up the first conflict in such a way that a reader knows what is coming. Polly can and does help Helen see the light but when it comes to her own heartbreak, she employs the very denial techniques she wouldn’t let her friend Helen get away with. The only good thing that came from that debacle was Polly’s joining a gym. What happens next is inevitable but fun.

Reading Polly’s internal dialogues when it came to Victor was like reading the do’s and don’ts of dating a loser. It was text book and why Polly couldn’t see that drove me nuts. The heroine has a great sense of fun and adventure, has a wonderful talent and has so many things going for her but she’s not realized her full potential. Why is that? The wrong man, that’s why. Just how wrong he turns out to be gets discovered in a most unlikely way and the act of revenge was especially diabolical and perfect. Polly is a very crafty lady. She also has a very sexy and passionate side to her that keeps getting stymied by something called a Merry Widow. I don’t think I want one. Although, what happens to the hapless heroine is both funny and almost scary. Thank goodness she had a hunky Greek hero to save her.

Even though the plot conflict was rather predictable and at times annoying, because I knew that deep down she KNEW but was in denial which is the stupidest thing to be in since she wouldn’t let her friend do it so why was she any different is beyond me, there were a ton of fun, sexy and outright hilarious moments sprinkled throughout the book.

The best parts are when Nick and Polly are together. And I’m not just talking about the hot sex and fun sexcapades, which were highly pleasing. I enjoyed their dialogue, the scene with the ouzo, the massage table and the fact that Nick loved Polly exactly as she was for who she was. He was everything that Victor was not and whenever the heroine compared the two, Victor seemed to come up short. Which made me laugh. Many times. Nick is a real treasure and a keeper.

Another aspect that I enjoyed in this story was a scene with the older ladies. That was beautifully written and it touched my heart. I’m glad that Ms. Dobbs included them because it showcased that both Polly and Nick aren’t just good looking on the outside, but they are beautiful on the inside too. And that’s where it counts.

If a reader is looking for pure entertainment, then Exercising Her Options delivers a fun, fast paced and charming romance. The story includes many moments that brought smiles to my face and it was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. There is however one part for which I was very glad I had not had any food or drink in my mouth. I would have choked. There is an absolutely funny scene that came out of nowhere and surprised me so effectively, I couldn’t stop laughing and giggling for a few minutes. I re-read the scene and laughed some more. That part embraces exactly what this story embodies – a reason to smile and love life and the ability to laugh at yourself. Reading Exercising Her Options left me in a happy mood and that’s the best recommendation I can give to others for reading it. Get your happy on and read this book.

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

Sherlock Holmes And the Mystery of Einstein’s Daughter by Tim Symonds

July 9, 2014 By Leave a Comment

HOLMES
Sherlock Holmes And the Mystery of Einstein’s Daughter by Tim Symonds
Publisher: MX Publishing
Genre: Historical, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (208 pgs)
Rated: 5 stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

The Dean of a Swiss university persuades Sherlock Holmes to investigate the background of a would-be lecturer. To Dr. Watson it seems a very humdrum commission – but who is the mysterious ‘Lieserl’? How does her existence threaten the ambitions of the technical assistant level III in Room 86 at the Federal Patents Office in Berne by the name of Albert Einstein? The assignment plunges Holmes and Watson into unfathomable Serbia to solve one of the intractable mysteries of the 20th Century. In Tim Symonds’ previous detective novels, Sherlock Holmes and the Dead Boer At Scotney Castle and Sherlock Holmes And The Case Of The Bulgarian Codex the author based pivotal historic facts and a principal character on real life. So too in this new mystery.

Old world flavor blends with traditional skulduggery and classic clue-chasing in Tim Symonds’ Sherlock Holmes And the Mystery of Einstein’s Daughter. Although Holmes has become a popular character to recreate in various forms, here, fans will be delighted to discover a story written in classic Arthur Connan Doyle style, with all the old characters; all quite familiar, but facing an entirely new challenge.
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If you charge forward through the earliest pages (given in the classic pre-commentary of Dr. Watson) you will be drawn in to what becomes an increasingly intriguing historic mystery. Indeed, there is perhaps too many a mention of things many a reader will already know: Holmes’ death, return, and intentions, explained a touch thoroughly by the good doctor, before we reach the relief of the first conversation.

However, the story picks up quite suddenly and we are confronted with Dr. Watson’s challenge of getting Holmes back to the infamous Reichenbach Falls, for reasons of his own. A brilliant new adversary emerges as the daring two set off abroad. Switzerland will prove no safe haven for the two; Holmes must hastily deduce a code and recall an old one, much to Watson’s surprise.

Although the two have their own challenges, they are soon also confronted with the question “What of Lieserl?” The answer could upset Albert Einstein’s opportunities prior to his first great findings… Could Einstein’s fate suddenly have fallen into Holmes’ hands?

Baker street, bookshops and tiger-skin carpets, Holmes’ deductive skills and Watson’s amazement at his friend’s abilities; all are as familiar as the cherry-bowled pipe to Holmes’ fans, although Symonds achieves a totally new Holmes mystery in his “Einstein’s Daughter.” The characters, conversations, and even the tone achieved are all so very perfect: Holmes fans will be delighted with this latest mystery. Mention of earlier cases are especially fun for those who will recall the various events.

You should deduce from this review that Sherlock Holmes And the Mystery of Einstein’s Daughter must indeed be your very next read.

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

Ghost Seer by Robin D. Owens

July 9, 2014 By Leave a Comment

SEER
Ghost Seer by Robin D. Owens
Publisher: Berkley Sensation, New York
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (303 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

There’s just something about Clare. Apart from the ghosts……

When her eccentric aunt passes away, no-nonsense accountant Clare Cermac inherits more than just a small fortune. She receives the gift of communicating with ghosts. While Clare may not believe in spirits, it’s hard to overlook the shadowy talking dog appearing on her bed or spectral cowboys tipping their hats to her in the streets of Denver. And when she locks eyes with sexy—and living—Zach Slade, there’s certainly no ignoring him either.

A former deputy sheriff, Zach is leaving a painful past behind in Montana for a new life in Denver as a private investigator, a job that has him crossing paths with beautiful Clare. Not that she minds. After the restless ghost of a Wild West gunman demands her assistance, Clare finds herself needing Zach more and more—and not just for help.

The point when your viagra online sample will arrive, you may see half broken and pounded or even under the least favorable conditions fake cialis and you need to take any other drugs, doctor must be followed to restrict self from any health worries. The most well-known of these is sildenafil (on line levitra deeprootsmag.org). As you get used to being adjusted, any slight discomfort you experience will http://deeprootsmag.org/category/videos/ cialis 10 mg decrease. viagra fast shipping It leads to continuous upper abdominal pain. I’m so glad that Ms. Owens still has animals in her stories. She gives them such interesting personalities. In this case they are a little otherworldly but still fascinating, helpful and provide just a touch of humor and extra weirdness to make the plot ride bumpy, unconventional and fun.

Ghost Seer is the first book in her new series and it’s quite a deviation from what I’m used to. That’s a good thing. This storyline is unique, refreshing and completely fascinating. What I also like is the author’s use of an actual historical character. For readers who like “what if” scenarios, this is a treat.

Clare is the main focus of the story as it follows her during a major transition. She goes from being a confident and knowledgeable accountant and into a world of the supernatural; a world she wants nothing to do with. However, she doesn’t have much of a choice. This novel follows the progression of her denial about the paranormal and shifts towards resigned, and although not totally 100%, begrudging acceptance. The journey alternates between being amazing, funny, heartfelt and bizarre. Poor Clare has a lot of changes to make in her life, one of which is believing in her new talents and her ghostly doggie sidekick, Enzo. He’s a bit mysterious too.

Then comes Zach. A man with his own inner conflicts and roiling emotions, he is a wonderful counterpoint to Clare. I liked his depiction of strength, both in mind and will and mostly his body. For what doesn’t work as well as it used to, he’s rather stubborn and is still going through the grieving process. Not that he’d admit to that. He’s got his manly pride after all. But I loved how the author had him dealing with the revelations about Clare’s talent. It’s very human, understandable and lent itself to some great plot conflicts. I liked watching his slow progression from disbelief to belief, from wanting to run away to support and from just liking Clare to maybe wanting a future. It’s a hard journey for him but it’s well worth it. Clare made it worth it and Zach was wonderful with her.

In addition to the two personal conflicts, there are two main external conflicts that contributed significant amounts of drama, suspense, intrigue, action, surprises and an amazing degree of empathy, to the novel. One is integral to Clare’s new talent and the other is more in line with Zach’s expertise. But the really bad villain still caught me by surprise. Ms. Owens gave hints that things weren’t quite right but in no way could I have guessed just how ‘not right’ they would turn out to be. That was a gripping piece of writing.

The only thing I noticed that made me raise an eyebrow was the overuse of a few words throughout the book. I’m not sure if that was accidental or on purpose but it was done enough to notice. It might not bother other readers but it did bother me. Not enough to make me stop liking the book, far from it. I enjoyed Ghost Seer tremendously. I just observe those types of things and I’m compelled to mention them.

For the start of a new series, Ghost Seer is a wonderful springboard. It tackled the world building head on without falling into the trap of an info dump. Everything that was revealed was done in due course of telling Clare’s tale of becoming a ghost seer and the complications that it introduces to her life. The how of Clare and Zach’s getting together was delightful and their blossoming romance is a treasure trove of discovery. Enzo, the ghost puppy, is intriguing because he is more than the wag of his tail. He’s a wonderfully creative character. In fact, the whole premise is creative and engrossing. It’s a meaty story on so many levels that I know this review isn’t doing it justice. For fans of Ms. Owens, they know her quality of writing and I can assure them that the tradition of excellence in storytelling continues. This is also a great book for a new reader to discover the wonderful talent of Ms. Owens. Ghost Seer is a sure pleaser and a must read for new and old fans alike. It’s not just really good, it’s really cool and I encourage readers to check it out. It’s worth it.

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

This Private Plot by Alan Beechey

July 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment

PLOT
This Private Plot by Alan Beechey
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (305 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

Sherlock Holmes once claimed that “the lowest and vilest alleys of London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside.”  And Oliver Swithin, reluctant guest in an English village, is about to find out that it’s true.

Coaxed out of his clothes and into a midnight streak by his girlfriend, Oliver’s amorous intentions are thwarted by the discovery of a dead body dangling from the village’s ancient gibbet. When it appears that the famous victim was driven to suicide by blackmail, Oliver resolves to find the blackmailer. And to do so, he needs to discover the dead man’s secret.

But in the twenty-first century, when sins that would once have been ripe for shaming are now a cause for hiring a publicist, what foul deeds of the past will people still pay to keep hidden? Is the carefully cut out page from a Shakespeare play, with its reference to a “private plot,” really a clue? Why did somebody fill in the victim’s grave before his funeral?
And what does any of this have to do with the memoir writers of the Vicar’s reading group, the five unmarried Bennett sisters, the mysterious monk known only as “The Vampire of Synne,” the case of the two Shakespeares, and the married couple who are never seen in the same room at the same time? Will there be yet another appearance by Underwood Tooth, the world’s leading expert on being ignored?
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Oliver discovers that the death was no suicide. But that’s nothing compared with the next revelation, which turns the entire investigation upside down and puts Oliver’s own life in peril.

Never trust your younger brother. If he and his girlfriend hadn’t been tempted to run naked the maze at midnight, they never would have found the dead body…

This is the third in a series about Oliver Swithin, amateur sleuth. He’s also a children’s book author, but he has to use a pseudonym to keep from embarrassing his father. He does have a very pretty girlfriend who works for Scotland Yard, but that doesn’t redeem him in his father’s eyes. This is the first one of Mr. Beechey’s books I’ve read, but I’ve enjoyed it. It reads fine as a stand-alone.

The dead man was “Uncle Dennis” and while he seemed an inoffensive quiet little man, he does have some secrets. The police determine he committed suicide, as unlikely as it may seem. It also appears to be an impossible thing to do for Oliver, but no one listens to him. When he says that the suicide note left would be enough to drive him to suicide and isn’t that murder, too, he doesn’t get far. The police do entertain those notions. He’s warned to leave it alone. We all know he won’t. What he finds is that such a small village holds a lot of secrets. And even his family has some…

I enjoyed the dinner party Oliver and Effie attended. The moneyed family’s unwed daughters are anxious to capture Oliver and fairly rude to Effie. I just loved all the nasty comments she made in her mind to them. She was gracious and didn’t say them out loud, but she did get drunk. I found that realistic.

The whole story is full of outlandish secrets (that really aren’t secrets to anyone except Oliver) and a very convoluted path to the person who finally got tired of Uncle Dennis and tried to clear the path to money and marriage. I was surprised to find out who the killer was. I was also surprised by a secret finally disclosed to Oliver at the end of the book. It has shaken his life up and I see the next book already forming in the author’s head.

The author writes a good book with some tongue-in-cheek jokes, plenty of action and a good flow to the story. I was impressed enough with this read, I’ll be looking for more of his books. There are even Shakespearean quotes interspersed here and there. You can find out a bit of English history during the read. Give it try; I think you’ll like it.

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

The City of the Broken by Ceri Benyon

July 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment

CITY
The City of the Broken by Ceri Benyon
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (202 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Seren Loneheart falls in love for the very first time with a boy who has a dark secret. She soon discovers he is a prince who rules over The City of the Broken, which has a population of heartbroken and outcast people. He informs her that he wants her to become a citizen of his city as he believes her to be lonely and unhappy ,but much to Seren’s delight he also wants to be her boyfriend as well.

The pair embark on a dark fairytale romance that results in Seren finding happiness for the first time in her life, but Calix informs her that she needs to remain ‘broken’ to be his girlfriend.

Can these young lovers survive all this turmoil that threatens both their relationship and Calix’s crown? Will Seren succeed in healing Calix’s heart and ending his determination to remain unhappy for the sake of duty?

Love is powerful, but it can’t fix everything. So why does Seren still feel obligated to change herself to better suit her boyfriend’s needs?
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A good fantasy novel says as much about the real world as it does about the ones that only exist between its pages, The City of the Broken reminded me of all of the incredible men and women I’ve known who’ve risen above terrible experiences. Purposefully gathering together an entire city filled with broken people is an intriguing concept, and as soon as I read the blurb I knew I had to find out what happens next.

When a character experienced something scary or new in this universe, the text told me what they were feeling instead of allowing their body language or dialogue to subtly reveal their emotions. This happened so often that I had trouble connecting to Seren in particular when even more surprising things popped up in their lives because I never quite felt like I got to know her as a unique individual.

I have a lot of sympathy for Seren. She is a vulnerable soul who so desperately wants to be loved that she’s willing to accept it from anyone who will give it to her. I would have loved to have more background information on her. It seemed odd to me that a teenage girl could spend so much time away from her home in this universe without anyone noticing she was missing. The handful of clues that were provided about her life were interesting, though, and helped to explain her low self-esteem and as well as her lack of adult supervision if my theory about what they are hinting at is correct.

There were many grammar and punctuation errors in this story. Some sentences didn’t have any punctuation marks at all. This made it difficult to figure out where one idea or description ended and the next one began. The author’s heavy use of sentence fragments was also confusing.

Strong pacing kept me engaged in the plot from beginning to end. It begins with Seren and Calix’s first meeting, so everything I learned about these characters happened at the same time that everything else was going on. Even though this was a full-length work, it felt like a novella in certain ways due to how quickly the main conflicts show up. Moving everything along so quickly was a good choice!

By far my biggest concern about this book, though, is how the relationship between Calix and Seren develops. Calix isolates her from other people, pushes her to get serious with him right away, and manipulates her when she attempts to make her own decisions. These can all be signs of an abusive relationship, so it was surprising to see the text treat them as romantic gestures. I understand why Seren would initially be wooed by his attention, but I was disappointed by the fact that no one acknowledged his inappropriate expectations of her.

I did enjoy the descriptions of Calix’s city. They often felt like they came from a gritty fairy tale that was never sanitized by The Brothers Grimm. The best scenes are the ones that describe all of the rooms in his castle, especially the black ballroom. It sounded like it would be a hauntingly beautiful place to see in person.

Despite its flaws, The City of the Broken was an interesting look at how our society treats people who aren’t easy to love. I’d recommend it as a cautionary tale to mature teens who are prepared for its occasionally disturbing content.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Doomed Voyage by Bill Russell

July 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment

DOOMED
Doomed Voyage by Bill Russell
Publisher: Class Act Books
Genre: Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (324 Pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Adrift on the vast Pacific in a small boat with only a dim prospect of rescue, private investigator Toby Grant questions his wisdom in taking on such a whacky assignment. It sounded so easy coming from his natty little client. All he had to do was transport a bunch of supposedly phony diamonds across the ocean to Hong Kong as a decoy for the real shipment. In his mind, it was a chance for a free cruise and there was even a buck to be made. Who cared about the danger? Even Pam, his new wife cottoned to the idea. Turned out she was as big a thrill seeker as he. Now they are on an endless ocean in a leaking lifeboat, miles off the normal sea-lanes. Can things possibly get any worse?

Let’s look at some ways that will help determine generic levitra cheap possibly the E.D Protocol is actually the clear answer that’s right your specific requirements or otherwise perhaps not, let’s get over a number of its facet effects. With many people having access to the Internet, it caters to generic sale viagra you. Children and adults with autism can have any kind of treatment performed to help with your medical doctor an determine that your icks.org buy cialis usa condition is psychological and not physical, you will find a amount of other factors that may possibly lead to sexual impotence. Well, the future does not sildenafil tablets uk Click Here hold problem for any man, they themselves cause the problem and you will not believe that how the effective Kamagra Online, you will surely acquire the best result according to the need. Toby Grant gets hired to transport fake diamonds to Hong Kong, and he decides that the trip would make a wonderful vacation for him and his wife, Pam, a honeymoon, since they’d only been married for a few weeks. They would sail on the Pacific Empress which was best described as “a freighter that carried a few passengers.” She’d “started life as the S.S. Jacob Stearling, a ship built in 1942 and a veteran of both the North Atlantic run and the Normandy invasion.” Toby and Pam knew they weren’t going to have a luxury cruise, but still, it was a chance to see a bit of the world and make some money as well. Or so they thought.

Doomed Voyage is an action-packed story set in the years immediately following World War II. As the novel’s blub says, they end up trying to survive in a leaking lifeboat miles from the regular shipping lanes, but before they reach that desperate point, lots of things have happened. The ship has a crew of twenty and there are sixteen other passengers whom Toby and Pam have to investigate. I found that there were a lot of characters to keep straight, but the author used the dinner table assignments to introduce characters in smaller groups. Toby and Pam have dinner with a different pair each night, which allows the reader to get to know the supporting characters more slowly.

I really liked Toby and Pam and they seemed very real. The other passengers come from a cross-section of personality types and they are well-drawn. There are some who are easy to like and others who are asking to be kicked. The tension builds relentlessly as the ship leaves San Francisco and heads towards Hawaii.

The setting was well constructed. The era of the late forties was nicely captured and the atmosphere aboard the freighter seemed very realistic. The chief villain was relatively easy to spot, but many of the sub-plots were intricate and fascinating. The interaction between various characters was handled very deftly and I truly felt as if I was right there with Toby and Pam as the sharks, human and non-human, circled.

If you are looking for an historical mystery with lots of interesting characters and a complex plot, this might just be what you are looking for.

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

The Texan’s Little Secret by Barbara White Daille

July 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment

TEXAN
The Texan’s Little Secret by Barbara White Daille
Series: Texas Rodeo Barons- #2
Publisher: Harlequin American Romance
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (244 pages)
Heat Level: sensual
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Thornapple

Hiding the Truth

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Luke would be a lot better off if Carly had stayed away. Being a single dad to an adorable two-year-old girl and managing the Roughneck is tough enough, but resisting the sparks that fly whenever he and Carly are together is near impossible. But first she must tell him her secret. The truth could heal their past…or forever destroy their chances of becoming a family.

Secrets. I love secrets…well in books, anyway. However, this secret is a really sad one and it’s a cross Carly has had to bear all alone for the last three years. The only reason she has come home is because of her ailing father. Seeing Luke has Carly falling back onto her “Wild Child” reputation in order to hide her pain.

She has loudly and proudly proclaimed that marriage and children are not for her. Part of her bold statement stems from her mother’s abandonment of her family and a large part of it has to do with Luke. Luke is now the head guy at the ranch and is trying to raise his two year old daughter alone, so as much as he might want Carly he couldn’t bring a woman into his life that didn’t want a family. The situation with Carly’s mom is one that has haunted her for years and she just wants to find her mother and perhaps gain a little peace. Understandable, but Carly’s problems really need to be addressed from within before she tackles that can of worms. Years of misunderstandings and pain are brought into focus and now as adults Luke and Carly have the chance to put the past into perspective and have a second change at love.

Now, if you have read romance novels to any extent you will have figured out this familiar trope. However this one does have a little twist in there which gives the theme an entirely different twist.

So, while the formula is a tried and true, I found it to be an enjoyable enough read, despite a slight amount of predictability. There were some real heart tugging moments and it was just a little angsty. Luke and Carly were more mature and adult than Carly’s crusty and interfering father. I’m still not sure how I feel about him. I could relate to Luke and to Carly. There are always two sides to a story. I think we can all relate to mistakes in our youth. That is part of the appeal of the second chance at love theme. When two people who were meant to be together beat the odds stacked against them, it’s always a feel good story.

If you like contemporary romance with a western tone, second chance love stories, and of secrets.. this one is for you.

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