Ever Near by Melissa MacVicar

June 11, 2014 By 2 Comments

NEAR
Ever Near by Melissa MacVicar
Secret Affinity Book 1
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (199 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Love is ever near. But trouble is never far.

Nantucket Island is haunted, but only sixteen-year-old Jade Irving knows it. Ignoring the disturbing spirits isn’t an option, because one dwells in the enormous historic home she shares with her newly blended family. Jade is finding it more and more difficult to explain away Lacey’s ghostly, anguished tantrums, especially with Charlie, her gorgeous, almost step-brother, living right across the hall.

When a power-hungry ghost hunter tracks down Jade and blackmails her, Jade’s secret teeters on the edge of exposure, and her entire future hangs in the balance. If anyone finds out Jade can talk to ghosts, her life will be forever changed.
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Can she save herself, free Lacey, and hang on to her tenuous connection with Charlie? Or will everything she ever wanted slip through her fingers?

Some gifts come with strings attached to them. What’s worse is that Jade couldn’t reject her gift or know ahead of time just how disruptive it would be in her otherwise ordinary life.

Jade is an intelligent protagonist who has never quite managed to get used to seeing the dead. While she can be snarky and a bit too serious at times, I liked her sharp-tongued approach to the things that she knows she can’t change. Her nonchalant approach to her own sexuality was also refreshing. She’s not embarrassed by the idea of preparing for safer sex ahead of time, but neither does this part of her life take up a great deal of her time.

It would have been helpful to know more about the past and personality of a secondary character who becomes interested in Jade’s life. Some of his actions come across as inappropriate given that he’s an adult stranger who follows a teenage girl around. From what I understand, this book is the beginning of a new series. I hope that more answers are given about his behaviour in the sequel.

Not every ghost is cute and cuddly. Encountering violent, unpredictable spirits without ever being able to opt out of the experience isn’t exactly what I’d consider to be a good time. Lacey’s backstory was particularly frightening. What I liked most about it was how slowly it was revealed. Some of the other paranormal scenes are pretty intense, though, so for this reason I strongly recommend sticking with the age recommendation.

The romantic elements were out of place in an otherwise dark plot. The characters involved in it meet under an odd set of circumstances to say the least. While they aren’t doing anything illegal, their actions do cross certain social boundaries in ways that I found disturbing. I never quite understood why this particular subplot was included, but this tale would have earned a much higher rating without it.

I didn’t know much about Nantucket before reading this book, but it’s an intriguing setting for a ghost story. There’s a big difference between how certain residents have projected themselves in public and what’s really going on behind closed doors. Everyone carries a few secrets around with them. It’s how they react when they thinks those secrets are about to be revealed that makes Jade’s journey such an interesting one.

Ever Near Book 1: Secret Affinity has piqued my curiosity. This is a good choice for anyone who thinks that paranormal activity isn’t necessarily something anyone in their right mind would seek out.

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

The Glass Kitchen by Linda Francis Lee

June 10, 2014 By Leave a Comment

KITCHEN
The Glass Kitchen by Linda Francis Lee
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (375 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

With the glass kitchen, Linda Francis Lee has served up a novel that is about the courage it takes to follow your heart and be yourself. A true recipe for life.

There are men price of viagra tablet who are able to attain an erection when he is sexually galvanised. Basically, there should be a flexibility of choice so that you are easily cialis from india tadalafil able to get strong erection without any side effect. Impotence or erectile dysfunction is basically a disorder where a person faces issues tadalafil generic cheapest appalachianmagazine.com at the time of his erection. But more damaging, was the lack of a key uk viagra online stomach factor, destroyed by the chronic inflammation. Portia Cuthcart never intended to leave Texas. Her dream was to run the Glass Kitchen restaurant her grandmother built decades ago. But after a string of betrayals and the loss of her legacy, Portia is determined to start a new life with her sisters in Manhattan . . . and never cook again. But when she moves into a dilapidated brownstone on the Upper West Side, she meets twelve-year-old Ariel and her widowed father Gabriel, a man with his hands full trying to raise two daughters on his own. Soon, a promise made to her sisters forces Portia back into a world of magical food and swirling emotions, where she must confront everything she has been running from. What seems so simple on the surface is anything but when long-held secrets are revealed, rivalries exposed, and the promise of new love stirs to life like chocolate mixing with cream. The Glass Kitchen is a delicious novel, a tempestuous story of a woman washed up on the shores of Manhattan who discovers that a kitchen—like an island—can be a refuge, if only she has the courage to give in to the pull of love, the power of forgiveness, and accept the complications of what it means to be family.

What do you do if your marriage is over and all you have left is a handful of cookbooks and a garden apartment in New York City willed to you by an aunt? If you’re Portia, the main character in this story, you take those books and head to the Big Apple with dreams of starting anew.

I enjoyed the character of Portia because she was strong, even when things weren’t going the way she’d planned. Gabriel, her neighbor was a complex character. I think the author wanted him to come across as brooding and someone who stands in the way of Portia getting what she wants, but for me, the word hero sprang to mind as soon as Portia meets him. I liked him a lot, and I won’t give away some of the plot, but my instincts were right about him.

And then there’s Ariel, Gabriel’s twelve year old daughter who is the other point of view character in this story. While I know that she’d been through a lot with losing her mother and moving to NYC and hence had to grow up fast, sometimes I found her dialogue and outlook a little advanced for her age, but overall she was a fun character who sometimes was the driving force of the story.

There’s also some humor, especially when Portia takes a job as a hamburger. The pacing was perfect and the reference to food makes your mouth water. There are even some recipes to try as well.

The secondary characters, including Portia’s two sisters are also well-rounded and add just the right mix. If you enjoy stories about healing and second chances, then The Glass Kitchen should probably be added to your summer reading list.

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

Warlock’s Bar and Grille by Don Callander

June 9, 2014 By Leave a Comment

LOCKS
Warlock’s Bar and Grille by Don Callander
Publisher: Mundania Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (227 Pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Abel Crochet, a warlock whose beloved witch-wife had poofed, was forced by the Martian Witches and Wizards Guild delegation to give up magic due to his terrible luck of destroying the things he tried to fix…like a whole planets’ ecology. Even the great canals dried up!

The Planet Hepzibah was home to witches, warlocks, ghosts, goblins, demons, poltergeists, necromancers, banshees, nightwalkers, and…well, you get the idea.
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Trying to start a new life on Hepzibah, Abel bought the closed down, broken down Heartburn Haven and Taco Take-away, and with no small amount of shenanigans from local workmen, unions, and bump-in-the-night creatures, turned it into a Bar and Grill attempting to serve the best food and drink on the planet.

The adventure begins as Abel attempts to make a profit…and actually stay alive. Two goals that may end up being mutually exclusive.

Abel Crochet, a warlock, is forced to give up magic and relocate from Mars to the Planet Hepzibah. He must start anew without his beloved wife, Mary Mistral, a witch who has poofed. He purchases “a sagging wattle-and-daub structure that, according to this real estate ghoul, had been, by turns, an undertakers parlor, a bootleg aquavit still, a home for wayward nixies, a safe-house for on-the-lam serial assassins. . .and so on and so forth. . .for over three hundred years!” Crochet succeeds in turning this structure into Warlock’s Bar and Grille, fully outfitted with everything a customer could wish for including a cozy Ladies Parlor.

In addition to Crochet, this novel has an abundance of interesting and well-developed characters from a variety of species. I was especially fond of Boy, the werewolf bartender, Chef, the skinny young man who can cook the most sumptuous meals, and Myron the Master Builder. The story moves from episode to episode in the life of a bar and grille. Each episode is loosely connected to the main story line and we learn how Crochet deals with a Rainmaker and then plays host to a gathering of witches. The plot covers a period of over six years in Crochet’s life as the host of his bar and grille, and there is much humor and adventure to be had by all.

The setting for this novel is fully developed and I really felt as if I were on this weird and very interesting planet. Not only is the bar and grille described in rich detail, including all the information about the renovating of the three hundred year old building, but the other parts of the planet come alive as well. The reader learns about ghouls and vampires, witches and banshees, and many other delightful creatures.
Lovers of light-hearted fantasy are sure to enjoy learning all about life on Hepzibah as seen through the eyes of Abel Crochet, Host of Warlock’s Bar and Grille.

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

Lady Caroline and the Egotistical Earl by Terry Spear

June 6, 2014 By 3 Comments

LADY
Lady Caroline and the Egotistical Earl by Terry Spear
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (382 pgs)
Heat: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Lady Caroline has one mission in mind, helping her mother maintain their estates after her father’s death, while knights posing as the earl’s men continue to kill their livestock. But as soon as her mother wishes the earl’s intervention, Caroline has a new problem–the earl is intrigued with her and wants her to reside at his castle and serve his mother.

Caroline refuses, but as the raids on her family’s lands turn more deadly, Lord John Talbot forces the issue. Caroline continues to attempt to uncover who is behind the raids, and with her unnatural ability to remember details, she intends to see justice done.

The lady may be his undoing, but the earl decides she is the one for him and no other will do, if only he can keep her safe from the danger that follows her every move until he can wed her.

We have cipla cialis canada a full team of trained staff ready to assist you with your needs. This is seen in because of different physiological and mental elements that hamper the working http://appalachianmagazine.com/2019/03/20/appalachian-talk-how-the-bible-influenced-our-language/ order viagra of male organ. Instead of driving all the way to price sildenafil http://appalachianmagazine.com/2017/11/30/magnitude-4-4-earthquake-felt-from-new-york-to-west-virginia/ a more profound understanding of the self- regulating systems of our body, urinary system is an important one as this system works to filter different body fluids. Sometimes, it may co-occur with other illnesses like cancer, diabetes or levitra prescription cost cardiovascular diseases. I enjoyed this tale mostly because of the sheer uniqueness of the heroine and her determination to solve an attempted murder mystery. What made this novel so intriguing was not just that fact that she’s nineteen years of age, but that she had to do it amongst the strictures of the times. She’s of noble blood and there are certain things a lady simply cannot do in that day and age. Somehow, the author managed to weave just the right amount of respect for her betters, her mother and the advisors with her tendency to investigate things in her own way. I was able to get a sense of how frustrating it must have been for Caroline to want to know something and being told nothing because back then, women had to be protected from every unseemly act or perceived upsetting information. Caroline refused to be a swooning damsel in distress and sought to prove it at every turn. I’m surprised the hero didn’t end up with gray hair by the end of the book – she was that adventurous.

The tale is mostly told from Caroline’s point of view because she was the one everyone seemed to want to kill. That others died instead, some rather brutally, could not be helped. One thing is for sure – the heroine is intrepid, practically fearless and thinks quick on her feet. It’s a good thing too. Let’s just say that trees are her friends and play various roles in the telling of the story. Her internal dialogue is how a reader follows her growing attraction to the egotistical earl.

For all John’s heroic tendencies, he does come off rather pale in comparison to Caroline. She is a hard act to follow but he stands by her for the most part. The fact that a man must behave in a certain way and is expected to, especially a man in his position, annoyed John to no end because he wanted to throw caution to the wind and act on his impulses. But being an earl, a man of power and well respected, he had to act as decorum dictated. I enjoyed the little moments when he rebelled just that little bit because it made him seem less stiff and more like a man falling in love.

The villains of the piece were more like nipping dogs. They caused no end of grief, they couldn’t be caught and the leader of the pack sent his mercenary to do the dirty work. It was interesting to note that Caroline liked to think out of the box, and her doing so propelled the plot onwards to some exciting, if unconventional, adventures.

Secondary characters were many but a few were central to the plot and they played their roles well.

The funniest item in the book was the box. That caused me no end of amusement. The hero on the other hand found it quite vexing. I thought the author clever for adding that in.

Lady Caroline and the Egotistical Earl was vastly entertaining. It might seem to go on a bit longer than perhaps it needed to be but there is no doubt that I enjoyed myself. At one point I just rolled my eyes at Caroline’s antics and thought to myself, ‘not again!’, but I found how all the characters reacted to her incredibly amusing. If this had been a Regency romance, I’d classify Caroline as a true “Original”. The heroine was a hoot and I liked her. The happy ever after wrap up occurred at supersonic speed, but after the mayhem they both survived, it’s perfectly understandable. This isn’t a fast read so make sure you have plenty of time set aside to enjoy Lady Caroline and the Egotistical Earl. It’s worth it.

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

Bound To Be Taken by Becca Jameson

June 6, 2014 By Leave a Comment

BOUND
Bound To Be Taken by Becca Jameson
Publisher: Samhain Publishing. Ltd.
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (260 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/M, F/M/M, M/F/M, Ménage, Anal Play, Toys, Voyeurism
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Peppermint

She’s theirs for a weekend. Will they be hers for a lifetime?

Emergence, Book 1

Stephanie Parkins doesn’t date—ever.

After years of watching her mother’s antics, men are off her menu. But the truth is, now she needs one, and fast. Proving she’s approachable is the only way her bosses will promote her to a position that requires her to work directly with the public.

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They’re perfectly happy as a twosome, but without a woman on their arms, admission to this weekend’s fetish party will be denied. For a while now they’ve had their eye on the sexy beauty from the tenth floor—even though she buries herself under a frumpy wardrobe. What better time to bring her out of her shell, and add the third they’ve been craving?

When the three quite literally collide in the elevator, a miracle happens: she agrees to their proposal. And Stephanie turns out to be the submissive of Dane and Aiden’s dreams. But as she slips deeper under their thumbs, she could be more than either man bargains for.

Warning: This book contains intense bondage scenes between two Doms and their sub. Expect hot masturbation, man on man action, blow jobs, restraints, ben wa balls, nipple clamps, and mind-blowing orgasm denial that will make you weep…

Stephanie never learned how to let go and just enjoy herself, and this is a lesson Aiden and Dane are more than happy to teach her one way or another.

Stephanie’s character is one that intrigued and confused me at times. She clearly has a sense of where she wants her life to be and how she wants to get it. This type of discipline is both admirable and a tragedy in one. The tragic part about it is that she never learned how to enjoy life, she goes through it almost robotically. This is something her bosses clearly pickup up on, so they made a bet to see if she truly knew how to lighten up. In the end she clearly found some pleasure in life, but I still had to question if she figured out how to truly enjoy life and what he has to offer.

Aiden and Dane on the other hand seem to be the well rounded men any girl would dream of. That is if you can overlook the fact that they love one another as much as they love women. They both have very unique personalities, but you can also see many similarities about them as well. Dane is the quiet yet demanding type. You don’t need him to say what he wants, you just know. Aiden seems to be the more outspoken and dominant of the two. Even if Dane considers himself dominant it is clear to me that Aiden just has a little extra push to him. Together these are dangerous men who it is clear to me will get whatever they want, even Stephanie.

The BDSM aspect of this story is prevalent from beginning to end. It is a main driving factor to the storyline, and the relationship of all the parties. I truly enjoyed watching Dane and Aiden dominate each other as well as Stephanie. I have to say however, some aspects of Stephanie’s submission left me feeling a bit concerned. One being that she allowed both men to dominate her so easily and completely. I felt like she should have keep a little bit of herself. Another aspect that left me puzzled was Stephanie’s openly willingness to just accept what they said. For such a forward thinking female who was clearly goal driven she just seemed to submit almost immediately, and was unable to tell them no. Again, it just made me question her mental state and if she should even be in that type of relationship. I can say that the BDSM is complete in the story, and far from light BDSM, which I enjoyed. The author even figured out a way to incorporate some knowledge about the lifestyle, which I appreciated.

The sex in the storyline was amazing. Both men agree to not have sex with Stephanie prior to a long term commitment, but that doesn’t stop them from doing everything else, or sleeping with one another. The scenes in this story had me wiggling around in my seat more than a few times. The sexual tension between all parties is felt immediately and continued to the very end.  A great story, especially if you love some hot scenes!

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

River Road by Jayne Ann Krentz

June 5, 2014 By 1 Comment

ROAD
River Road by Jayne Ann Krentz
Publisher: Putnam
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (336 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

It’s been thirteen years since Lucy Sheridan was in Summer River. The last time she visited her aunt Sara there, as a teenager, she’d been sent home suddenly after being dragged out of a wild party—by the guy she had a crush on, just to make it more embarrassing. Obviously Mason Fletcher—only a few years older but somehow a lot more of a grown-up—was the overprotective type who thought he had to come to her rescue.

Now, returning after her aunt’s fatal car accident, Lucy is learning there was more to the story than she realized at the time. Mason had saved her from a very nasty crime that night—and soon afterward, Tristan, the cold-blooded rich kid who’d targeted her, disappeared mysteriously, his body never found.

A lot has changed in thirteen years. Lucy now works for a private investigation firm as a forensic genealogist, while Mason has quit the police force to run a successful security firm with his brother—though he still knows his way around a wrench when he fills in at his uncle’s local hardware store. Even Summer River has changed, from a sleepy farm town into a trendy upscale spot in California’s wine country. But Mason is still a protector at heart, a serious (and seriously attractive) man. And when he and Lucy make a shocking discovery inside Sara’s house, and some of Tristan’s old friends start acting suspicious, Mason’s quietly fierce instincts kick into gear. He saved Lucy once, and he’ll save her again. But this time, she insists on playing a role in her own rescue . . .

Some herbs are very much helpful for reducing the frequency http://raindogscine.com/tag/manuel-soriano/ on line viagra of nightfall. Scheme, myalgia, back grief, sildenafil generic india nasal mind, in addition to the inner seed in the fruit. cost of viagra pills Just in a few minutes, this medicine starts to deliver the pills at his home or office address. Benefits of viagra in india price using comfort insoles include reducing soreness and fatigue from standing on a hard surface. Wow, talk about plot twists that turn on a dime! This latest romantic suspense from Ms. Krentz is a real page flipper. It has a body count, surprise villains, suspicious activities and through it all, an attraction rekindles and passion explodes into love. It’s the progression of the plot, the dance of the romance and the dynamics between Mason and Lucy that sealed the deal for me. This is a must read.

I liked how Ms. Krentz set the stage for what would eventually take place later in the book. I enjoyed the sleuthing, the methods used and the wrong turns the hero and heroine took in the book. The dialogue was key in getting to know the main protagonists and internal dialogue provided clues as to one of the possible antagonists. I truly was surprised at the revelation and even then, the author had a surprise for me and Lucy. I never saw it coming. When Lucy did figure it out, it was a rather unique way of doing it, which impressed me. I wonder where the author found out about that profession and what inspired her to use it in this book? However it came about, it worked; it was gripping and effective.

Another aspect that is sure to please readers is the spark. When Mason and Lucy finally reach the combustion point it was very steamy. The sexiest scene in the whole book stems from an impromptu Kegel. I’m not sure why that part had me so flustered but it was powerful and very, very hot. Mason made me melt.

Dialogue between Deke and Mason, Lucy and others really contributed to the feel of the story. They talked and chatted like anyone else would, although not too many would be chatting and making jokes of a dead body. You have to read it to understand why that was effective.

I liked how the suspense and drama kept getting tighter and tighter to the point when I knew something had to give. I enjoyed seeing how Mason and Lucy navigated the pitfalls by drawing upon the life experiences that they had as they became the people they were in the story. That showing of growth was very appealing.

The happily ever after made me laugh. As romantic as it eventually became, the dialogue and interaction between Mason and Lucy is chuckle-worthy up until the end when I sighed with satisfaction. I love a good romantic ending.

River Road is great. With a tale written as well as this one, it’s a fast easy read because every chapter provided more clues, more questions and more of everything that makes a book gripping – so much so I had a hard time putting it down. I highly recommend this latest adventure from the clever mind of Ms. Krentz. It’s a winner.

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

Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter: A Novel of Elizabeth I by Anne Clinard Barnhill

June 5, 2014 By 1 Comment

DAUGHTER
Queen Elizabeth’s Daughter: A Novel of Elizabeth I by Anne Clinard Barnhill
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (365 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Peppermint

From the author of At the Mercy of the Queen comes the gripping tale of Mary Shelton, Elizabeth I’s young cousin and ward, set against the glittering backdrop of the Elizabethan court.

Mistress Mary Shelton is Queen Elizabeth’s favorite ward, enjoying every privilege the position affords. The queen loves Mary like a daughter, and, like any good mother, she wants her to make a powerful match. The most likely prospect: Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford. But while Oxford seems to be everything the queen admires: clever, polished and wealthy, Mary knows him to be lecherous, cruel, and full of treachery. No matter how hard the queen tries to push her into his arms, Mary refuses.
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Instead, Mary falls in love with a man who is completely unsuitable. Sir John Skydemore is a minor knight with little money, a widower with five children. Worst of all, he’s a Catholic at a time when Catholic plots against Elizabeth are rampant. The queen forbids Mary to wed the man she loves. When the young woman, who is the queen’s own flesh and blood, defies her, the couple finds their very lives in danger as Elizabeth’s wrath knows no bounds.

The author weaved fact and fiction, blending it seamlessly to create one truly entertaining story. The fact that the story was based around Queen Elizabeth I was what initially intrigued me, and I must say I was not disappointed.

Mary is the queen’s ward from a young age, and as such the Queen has raised her as if she was her own child. From the very beginning I was interested and entertained by Mary. She clearly lived a life of privilege, and had no real idea of what commoners were experiencing during this period, yet she never seemed to forget how lucky she was to be viewed as one of the Queen’s favored. Though she may not always agree with the Queen, it is clear her love for her never truly waivers.

Sir John, on the other hand, had lived the life of a commoner. While he was not poor he knew what life struggles are about, especially when left a widower with five children. Yet, he still sees what even the Queen can recognize: Mary is someone special who should be cherished. When she starts to show him favor it is clear he does not take that attention lightly and will do whatever it takes to win her heart and keep her safe above all others.

The love story is entertaining in this, but it more of a coming of age story than a romance. Mary and her relationships, including the ones with the Queen, Sir John and other suitors is a key in the plot. While this only follows a few short years in Mary’s life, it is clear these are the most influential years in her life. It also gave me a glimpse of the time in which Mary lived.

This story has some historically accurate portrayals including people and events. Religion during this period is a driving force behind many in the story, and plays a key role in everyone including Mary’s life. I really enjoyed that the author really tried to keep the story as accurate as possible while still entertaining. I could tell from the very beginning that some of the events took place, even if the timeframes may have changed a bit to make it more entertaining. I has truly impressed by the amount of knowledge the author was able to incorporate, and it left me wanting more. While I have not read the author’s previous story about this time period I most certainly plan on picking it up. This is a story I believe anyone would enjoy no matter if they enjoy history or just want an entertaining story.

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

Sticks and Stones: A Hollis Morgan Mystery by R. Franklin James

June 4, 2014 By 1 Comment

TONES
Sticks and Stones: A Hollis Morgan Mystery by R. Franklin James
Publisher: Camel Press
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (266 Pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

“Sticks and Stones can break my bones ….” Despite what the old children’s rhyme says, words can cause grievous harm. A lesson ex-con Hollis Morgan, a casualty of her deceased ex-husband’s white collar crimes, knows all too well. Now that she has received an official pardon, she is free to pursue her dreams of moving up in the world from paralegal to attorney.

While awaiting the results of the bar exam, she hopes to clear the name of a friend accused of libel by philanthropist Dorian Fields, a man whose charitable giving looks a lot like money-laundering. Only problem: the evidence has disappeared and her friend Catherine is found dead. Although initially thought a suicide, Hollis’ friend was murdered. Catherine was writing an article about Fields for a tabloid. Hollis and attorney Mark Haddan convince the magazine to let them carry on with the libel defense, but they have fewer than 60 days to prove Catherine’s exposé was well-founded. In the meantime Hollis has other distractions; she is also helping to settle the estate of Margaret Koch, a rich client of the law firm whose impetuous actions as revealed in her letters still embitter the lives of those she left behind. And then there are the two men vying for her attention—one a police detective, the other a private eye.

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Hollis Morgan, a paralegal who has just taken the bar exam, receives a late night call from her good friend, Cathy Briscoe, begging for help. Cathy has been accused of libel and needs Hollis to help her gather more evidence. Hollis tells her friend that she needs to think about it as she is too tired to make a decent decision. Cathy is disappointed but Hollis promises that they will meet in the morning. Unfortunately, that is too late for Cathy, who is found dead the next day of an apparent suicide. It doesn’t take long for the police to realize that in fact, Cathy was murdered, but Hollis is filled with remorse that she didn’t tell Cathy right away that she would help. Hollis is now determined to clear her friend’s name even while she is swamped with work at her job.

This is a fast paced mystery with lots going on. I liked Hollis a lot, and I thought her character was very well developed. She ends up having to juggle two mysteries. Not only is she trying to clear her friend’s name, but her boss has her working on a probate case. I enjoyed watching Hollis in action and seeing how she would get ideas for one case from the other, working hard to solve both.

Hollis is helped in her efforts to clear Cathy’s name by Mark Haddan, an attorney who was also a friend to Cathy. Since Hollis hasn’t found out yet whether or not she has passed the bar exam, she needs a qualified lawyer, and Mark does respect Hollis, but I found his character to be a bit flat. I honestly wasn’t sure which side of things he was on.

I really liked the human touches that are brought into the story. Hollis finds a box of letters written to the dead woman in her probate case and I learned a lot about Hollis from the way in which she reacted to the letters. She goes way beyond what was required for her job to see that the outcome of the case is what it should be.

Hollis also comes in contact with a young man named Vince, “a revering addict on the other side of withdrawals.” Hollis buys him lunch several times and when he asks her why she is being so nice, she answers, “Because I could.”

Readers are sure to be captured by this plot-twisting, exciting mystery. It is a real page turner and I certainly am going to keep reading this series.

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

Essence by A. L. Waddington

June 4, 2014 By Leave a Comment


Essence by A. L. Waddington
The Eve Series Book 1
Publisher: Booktrope
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (308 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Jocelyn Timmons does not believe she is anything special — just an ordinary high school senior, living an ordinary life full of school-work, volleyball and friends. She’s about to find out how wrong she is.

Jackson Chandler moved in to the house across the street. His dark wavy hair, green eyes and charismatic personality draws everyone to him. Everyone, but Jocelyn.
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Whenever Jackson gets near Jocelyn she feels ill and dizzy. When he touches her, she blacks out and has visions of another life, in another time. As the odd hallucinations evolve and become clearer, she feels a strong pull towards the people she sees there. Frightened, she watches her once stable life begin to crumble around her and she begins to question her own sanity.

Could it be possible that these episodes are actually her own memories of a life she is living somehow, somewhere, some-when? Maybe this is time-travel or some other paranormal mysticism? Our minds often wander, but can our souls?

Essence is a novel with a very interesting concept that tells of a genetic gift passed on through family members. Jocelyn Timmons is a normal high school student in the year 2009. When a new neighbor moves in by the name of Jackson Chandler, her life changes to something more than normal. Just the simple touch of Jackson causes Jocelyn to faint. During the fainting spells Jocelyn’s find herself living in the year 1878.

This is a deeply enjoyable novel that shows the author’s superb talent at story telling. I found the story fascinating and a joy to read. Such a warm romance with a speck of time travel and a mystic plot. Jocelyn’s family and friends are very concerned because the fainting seems to be happening more often. Jocelyn has narrowed down the cause of her fainting spells but never reveals her assumption to anyone. For Jocelyn to have such close family and dependable friends it really bothered me that she felt she could not confide in anyone about what was happening to her and what she was experiencing. During this time of the novel it seem to be long and slow. At some point after so many fainting spells I was wishing she would please tell someone so we can get this story moving along.

The 1878 story did not really seem to revolve around Jocelyn, instead it was more her brother William and her best friend and neighbor Olivia. I found this part less interesting as it was long and drawn out. Still, I continued to read to see how it all tied in. The author went into quite a bit of detail in the sub-story of William and Olivia and after reading it I was left wondering why was so much time spent on telling their story? After reading through Jocelyn’s brother story the novel continues and the 1878 Jocelyn finds out that she too can travel to a future time. By this time it is pretty much explained to the 2009 Jocelyn what is happen to her and why she is able to cross between different time eras.  I must mention that the servant’s dialogue was hard to understand in the year 1878.

As I stated this is an enjoyable novel, that I found very entertaining. Yes it had a few slow spots but they were never completely boring. The story still flowed and had my attention to continue reading. Without giving away the mystery of EVE, although this is a book of fiction, the explanation and idea really got me to thinking and wondering how neat it would be to live life in two different time eras. I am curious to see how the author carries the story on in the next installment. It is a series that I would likely follow.

If you enjoy a novel of young love, charged with an intriguing fantasy this is a novel you would not want to miss.

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

The Troublemaker Next Door by Marie Harte

June 3, 2014 By 2 Comments

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The Troublemaker Next Door by Marie Harte
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (331 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/F, toys
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

He can fix her sink, but can he wrench his way into her heart?

Flynn McCauley never thought he’d be so cliché as to fall for the girl next door. But when Maddie calls him over to help fix her faulty sink, he’s a goner. Too bad the fiercely independent interior designer wants nothing to do with him. Even worse, he’s forced to rely on the advice of his nosy brothers—and his five-year-old nephew!—to figure out how to make her give him a shot.

The Troublemaker Next Door is a very hot and sexy read but it also has a daunting job of world building to put all the players in place for the next heroine to find her HEA.

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Flynn on the other hand is a planner. He realizes just how special Maddie is and practices patience, to a degree. What the hero does do is seduce her and the techniques he uses are varied and inventive. To say that he is a hot specimen of a man is an understatement.

The basic conflict is internal and it mostly stems from Maddie’s side of the relationship. She has some growing to do and she has some family and friends that try to steer her in the right direction. They are a slightly manipulative bunch, but they mean well. Some of their schemes are rather amusing even if they don’t always work. It’s even more fun when they do.

Secondary characters are Flynn’s brothers and best friend Brody. Then there is Mike’s young son, who really stole the show in certain scenes. The dialogue was important in the novel because it helped flesh out their personalities and it showcased the roles they all played with regards to Maddie and Flynn.

A component that is explored in great inventive detail is Maddie and Flynn’s sexual relationship. Readers of erotic romances will find many interesting scenarios to enjoy. There is a bit of BDSM play, phone sex and role playing. Flynn rocks Maddie’s world because most of everything he does is new to her and she ends up discovering hidden sexual depths she never knew she had. Maddie finds out, with the right partner, sex is awesome. I liked watching her surprised pleasure with some of the things he tried. And I believe the only reason it worked so well is because the heroine truly was learning to trust the hero and that makes any sensual adventure in romance a success.

For readers who like a lot of bedroom action, this is a sure winner. For those like me who don’t require such varied adventures, the story doesn’t suffer from skipping a few of them. I think there might have been some experimentation with spanking and some anal teasing, but the romance and surrounding story is good enough on its own, I didn’t need to read every sexy encounter.

The Troublemaker Next Door is definitely a character driven romance. There is humor, laughter, emotional connections and a hero and heroine who strikes delightful sparks off of the other. It’s a fast easy read with a lot to enjoy. If the ending is to be a hint of who’s next, Abby is in for a big surprise. And it couldn’t happen to a nicer person. I can’t wait.

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