The Defiant Lady Pencavel by Diane Scott Lewis

January 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment

LADY
The Defiant Lady Pencavel by Diane Scott Lewis
Publisher: Books We Love
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (161 pgs)
Heat: Sensual
Rated: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

In 1796, Lady Melwyn Pencavel has been betrothed to Griffin Lambrick since she was a child—and she hasn’t seen him since. Now almost one and twenty, she defies being forced into an arranged marriage. She aspires to be an archeologist and travel to Italy during the upheaval of the Napoleonic Wars. Griffin Lambrick, Viscount of Merther, resents these forced nuptials as well, as he desires no simpering bride and wants no one in his business. For the thrill of it, he smuggles artifacts from Italy at his Cornish estate. Two reckless and stubborn people will meet—with chaos and humor—in this romantic satire, and face their fears.

This is because people are cipla levitra looking for an experienced counselor with specialties in relationship and family counseling, Denver Colorado is your best bet. When you are under stress, buy levitra online you run the risk of stroke. The web sites of fake pharmacies are normally bad or have numerous cost of viagra canada typos and grammatical errors. Not only do you make yourself more comfortable by doing so; you also get rid viagra 25 mg Recommended website of unwanted toxins this way. Diane Scott Lewis’s The Defiant Lady Pencavel is unexpectedly humorous and lively. Our heroine Lady Melwyn Pencavel steps forward as a typical eighteenth century about-to-be-married young woman, in a way that is immediately recognizable to fans of the Historic English Romance Genre. She grouses about her lot but – unlike the typical marched-to-marriage young woman, has her own aspirations and more than enough spirit to take of family and society expectations.

Her aspirations do not include a decent marriage, life, or society,  and how she wishes she could conjure magic to get her out of it all!

Griffin Lambrick, the Viscount of Merther is not her dream.  As a matter of fact, betrothed or not, it appears she is not his either. Oddly, they do share this interest in archeology. There are stern moments, light-hearted, and downright silly (Oh, and Lady Melwyn’s maid! So fun!).

In spite of a person and plot that kicks off in an entirely recognizable manner, Scott Lewis bring us an imaginative and unpredictable storyline. Surprises delighted me, and that is enough reason alone to recommend reading The Defiant Lady Pencavel. My recommendation is not without some reservations: some conversations are too wordy and so cluttered with explanation or backstory that they become unbelievable. At the opening, the tale bogs down with too much discussion of society – as if the norms of the day were to be remarked upon. However, once things get going, they really do take off. Better yet, they charge forward in entirely unpredictable ways.

Fans of the English-style romance will have to put aside expectations and let themselves enjoy some silliness here – a worthwhile read (and nice change of pace).

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

Metastasis by Rhonda Parrish

January 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment

META
Metastasis by Rhonda Parrish
Publisher: Wolfsinger Publications
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary, Historical
Length: Full Length (196 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Walk with us as we explore the world of cancer as seen through a speculative lens. Hold our hands while we venture into the world of what ifs. Take a journey at our side as we experience the full spectrum of what cancer has to offer. The light, the darkness.

Within these pages you’ll meet a woman who adores her cancer as a lover, another who sees it as her ticket to immortality. We’ll meet a boy willing to do anything to save his mother and another with superpowers. There’s a witch who uses magic to fight against the beast ravaging her friend’s body, a cat whose capacity for love is unparalleled, a damaged musician, aliens, a goddess butterfly and so much more.

These are not easy stories to read. This is not a comforting collection that will wipe your fears away and make everything all right. It’s not that kind of book. These stories will make you cry, but they’ll also make you laugh. They’ll touch you and stir emotions, some of which you might not like, but that’s okay. It really is. These stories aren’t all fun, but they are important. All of them.
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Cancer scares us. There is so much we don’t know about it, but it’s out there, waiting to strike. This anthology attempts to strike back. To support research that will develop new treatments and, eventually, a cure.

Few diagnoses invoke as much fear and misunderstanding as cancer does. It’s much more difficult to feel awe when facing this disease. Until now.

“Oil and Water” was by far my favourite tale. Tasmin and Maya adopt a baby they name Bob who soon develops the ability to fix certain things with his mind. He can clean a window or take stains out of clothing using mental powers that average humans can’t understand. Telling their tale under the guise of conducting an interview with one of Bob’s mothers matches the tone of the plot quite well, and the ending took me by surprise. Had this been a standalone piece it would have earned a much higher rating. It would be interesting to meet these characters again in a sequel one day.

In “The Gypsy Cure” a young boy visits a gypsy hoping to find a cure for his mother’s illness. Her time is extremely limited and he’s hoping for a miracle. While this tale has an intriguing premise, the ending felt anticlimactic and abrupt given everything the reader learns about the characters in this piece. This pattern repeats itself with several other stories in the collection. With rare exceptions, the premises of these pieces are quite interesting. They simply needed more time to be developed. I had trouble understanding what the authors were trying to say in poems like “A Murder of Crows,” but this also could have been easily fixed if a little more time was spent ironing out certain metaphors.

I couldn’t stop reading “The Dead Rise for Me.” In it a dying, pregnant woman named Regan must decide whether or not to help a ghost she notices while walking to her temporary home. There were a few plot points that were never fully explained, but I was haunted by the choices Regan has made. She remained in my thoughts long after I finished her adventure.

What I liked most about this collection was its diversity. These stories and poems cover a wide range of experiences and emotional reactions to cancer, including what it feels like to love someone whose prognosis is poor. As someone with personal experience with the latter, I was pleasantly surprised by how universal certain thoughts and feelings are when one is in this situation.

I stayed up late to finish Metastasis. I would especially recommend it to anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer or has a loved one living with this disease.

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

When the Rogue Returns by Sabrina Jeffries

January 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment

ROGUE
When the Rogue Returns by Sabrina Jeffries
Publisher: Pocket Books
Genre: Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (365 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Victor Cale never imagined that his sweet, shy bride, Isabella, would use her talents for creating exquisite imitation jewels criminally. But there’s no denying that her handiwork was used in the theft of the Dutch royal diamonds– right after Isa disappeared into the night.

Ten years later, Victor is sent to Edinburgh to investigate a wealthy baron’s mysterious bride-to-be… who turns out to be Isa, masquerading as an alluring widow. No longer the meek girl he once knew, Isa boldly asserts that it was Victor who abandoned her, after he helped steal the royal diamonds!

Piecing together the truth of the past reawakens their volatile passions, which burns hotter than ever. But with a decade of secrets between them, Victor and Isa must trust each other to bring the real thieves to justice– without getting burned themselves.

I love it when a plan comes together. I enjoy it even more when the plan is against someone who believes that they are unstoppable and who have no compunction in using people to get their way. What this one person did many years ago ended up destroying the lives of two young people in love and this story is how they get their lives back. It’s also about how they relearned to love the people they’ve become and like the mighty phoenix, rise from the ashes of the past to embrace a glorious future. It’s the journey of getting from A to B that makes this book an amazing read.

Since find out this link cheapest viagra a very long time, males have been experiencing the problem. They are on the clock and must see levitra properien a set number of patients an hour. Kamagra Pills are a good alternative of cialis professional effects as available at the lowest prices with the same natural ingredients as VigRX and allows more blood flow move to the penis. Erectile dysfunction can affect men’s lives at any age. canadian pharmacy cialis I absolutely adore the heroine, Isa, in this tale. It’s because of how Ms. Jeffries wrote her character that made the difference from a humdrum run of the mill type historical heroine to a woman I can respect, cheer for and be impressed with. Isa is not weak, meek or easily lead. At least, the woman she became isn’t. A reader is first introduced to her when she was innocent, trusting and easily manipulated. Even though it was a drastic measure that set her apart from the people who destroyed the life she had, she’s made her own life, on her own terms and doing a deuced fine job of it. The heroine, when the story really gets going, is woman fully grown and wise to the world. She doesn’t suffer fools gladly, has gained wisdom beyond her years and is a person worth knowing. In short, she’s worthy of the hero.

If anyone has been reading that past few books that Ms. Jeffries wrote, they might remember Victor. He’s come a long way and his story is one I looked forward to reading. In this book, I got to see him as he was early in life, and then when he and Isa are reunited, I saw a man also fully grown, come into his own but for the hero, there’s a lot of bitterness, anger, determination and obsession driving him. He’s also a man of lethal talents and he intends to right a wrong. Except the wrong he intended to right isn’t the one he ends up tackling. That plot twist was divine and thoroughly exciting.

When the book has the two protagonists finally come together and truths are revealed, the book could have fallen apart right there. Why? Because that was the pivotal moment where the author could have had Isa behave as many authors do – and I would have thrown the book at the wall. Instead I was cheering and grinning and I would have given Isa a bear hug if I could have done so. Isa stayed strong. All the lessons she learned, all the beliefs she had and the love she had for Victor gave her a strength that not only did she not shy away from, but used it to good effect. If ever there was a perfect moment in time for a lady to use profanity, it was used to the ultimate good. I felt like saying, “You go girl!” ::fist pump:: I do not believe I have ever felt prouder of an historical heroine as I did at that moment. From that scene on she was my girl. That was how a heroine should be and in my mind, Isa has a theme song, Stand by Your Man by Tammy Wynette. Totally awesome.

Secondary characters are key. Everyone who was in Victor’s or Isa’s life played a role in helping them come together and in dealing with, in a most exciting and effective way, the villains. One of the villains was especially cruel because of the kind of betrayal perpetuated. There was a certain wisdom in how Ms. Jeffries had Isa and Victor choose to deal with it. In a way, it was very noble to give a choice when they’d not given any to Isa or Victor. Showed who had real class and honor.

After being away from each other so long, I was thrilled with how the author handled their rekindled passion. It was like they had to seduce each other all over again, but this time around, there is no blushing bride and awkward groom but a woman and man who know what they like and aren’t shy about going for it. It was steamy, charming, spicy and delightful all at once. The flowers were an over-the-top gesture that just oozed romance. I thought it rather sweet.

The culmination of the plan was very exciting and dare I say it, set the hook for the next of the Duke’s Men to fall into love’s trap. And if the heroine is as feisty as she was in the scene she barreled into, I’m going to be an impatient reader waiting for it. It promises to be very entertaining indeed!

Some readers might think that the risk of telling as many people as Isa did about her whole sordid past and not have even one person think badly or act against her is a trifle too goody-goody but as far as I’m concerned it stood as a testament to the life she’d lived, the woman she’d become and the respect she’d earned by interacting with them. I didn’t think it was unbelievable at all.

Ms. Jeffries has a solid reputation of delivering a high quality story about well-developed characters and a knack for making them a delight to know and read about. When the Rogue Returns is a reinforcement of that well-earned accolade. This is a thoroughly entertaining historical romance that new and old fans should absolutely try. I loved how the author wrapped up the “happy ever after”, making my reading experience complete. This book is definitely getting a high recommend from me.

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

Four Weddings and a Fireman by Jennifer Bernard

January 27, 2014 By Leave a Comment

FIREMAN
Four Weddings and a Fireman by Jennifer Bernard
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (285 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

It takes a certain kind of man to stand out among the Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel.

Firefighter Derek “Vader” Brown is one of a kind—six feet of solid muscle with the heart of a born hero. It’s that protective streak that has him pursuing a promotion to Captain to pay for his mother’s home care. And it’s why he intends to figure out why his sometime girlfriend Cherie Harper runs hot as hellfire one minute and pushes him away the next.

Cherie’s got it bad. Vader sweeps her off her feet—literally—and their chemistry is combustible. There’s just the little problem of a nightmare from her past she was desperate to escape. And then her sister Trixie arrives, causing havoc for Cherie and the male population of San Gabriel. Cherie doesn’t want her past to complicate Vader’s life or his career. But there’s nothing like a firefighter to break through all your defenses, one smoldering kiss at a time . . .

What’s awesome about a firefighter besides his bravery, brawns and courage? Brains, determination and the heart of a lion. Followers of the The Bachelor Firemen series will remember Vader as being a pumped up behemoth of a man who only seemed to be the perfect side kick, the jokester and the one most in love with pumping iron to the exclusion of all else except fighting fires. Four Weddings and a Fireman showed that Vader has deeper depths than anyone ever dreamed, and it made for one heck of an interesting story.

First, this is a solid standalone read. A new reader will fit right in with reading this book out of order and be perfectly fine. When I first discovered this series, it was by accident and it was the third book in. I’ve since grabbed all the back stories and all the ones since and have enjoyed every single one, Four Weddings and a Fireman included. There’s just something about Ms. Bernard’s talent that one bite is simply not enough. Those bachelor firemen create a craving and the author delivers such a fine and entertaining romance for each and every man that they are a treat to read.
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Vader is a very large man who is constantly seen perfecting his form with weights at the gym What the author does is explore why he is the way he is. What drives him and creates that intense focus is nothing less than heroic. However, the hero is under a misconception – one that he is so stubborn against changing that it almost costs him someone he loves. That pivotal moment when change is forced upon him opens his eyes to what amounts to his fearful arrogance and it alters the course of his relationship with his firemen brothers and to an even greater effect, his on again/off again romance with the love of his life, Cherie. It’s an excellent vehicle for drama, suspense and hope. Add frustration. Poor Vader is put through the “love wringer” so many times, my heart ached for him.

Cherie was a surprise. She’s neither shallow, nor ditzy, nor is she leading Vader on and toying with him. There’s a very good reason for blowing hot and cold all the time and it turns out, she was right to try to keep Vader at a distance. That overall fear guided her internal conflict until it became THE conflict – the one that effected everyone around her, even innocent bystanders, and produced some of the best tense, action packed scenes in the book.

Cherie’s sister sort of annoyed me but she sure was effective at mixing things up and her character got things done. Cherie’s brother and his cohorts were integral to the plot too. I thought her brother was a bit more emotional then he needed to be but that’s before the author revealed why he reacted so irrationally to some of Cherie’s decisions. Vader’s mom was important too because she provided motivation and some of Vader’s internal conflict. I’d say every single one of the secondary characters included in this book were vital because they enhanced Vader and Cherie’s strengths and weaknesses and certainly played a part in bringing them together – eventually.

The villain was not a figment of anyone’s imagination. He turned out to be much worse than even I could have predicted. The author created an effective villain who was irredeemable. He gave me the creeps.

Dialogue was key but so were the descriptions of Vader and Cherie seducing each other, even unintentionally, and the fun and sexy hijinks that ultimately took over. I enjoyed how even the most innocent of things could get the hero all hot and bothered, and how totally in love Cherie was with Vader that he was a constant aphrodisiac, her moth to his flame.

There were times, quite a few, in which I was vastly annoyed with the heroine’s constant dithering about whether to trust Vader, about how closed book she was and that waffling drove me nuts. After I read the story, I understood all, but while it was happening, it just seemed to go on and on, over and over and I wanted to yell at her, “Tell him!” That’s why I felt her sister was an important character – she helped give Cherie the shot in the shorts the heroine needed to do the right thing. Vader’s own “shot in the shorts” was dramatic and unnerving, but again, effective.

When it comes to the hero and heroine ‘getting it on’, I’m a happy reader. Ms. Bernard provided me with plenty of opportunities to see that those two get on, pardon the pun, like a house on fire. It’s the perfect cliché to attach to those two. Talk about steamy pages!

Four Weddings and a Fireman is a sure pleaser for romance fans. For readers who think the ultimate sexy and hot hero is a fire fighter, they’re going to find a lot to enjoy as Vader finally gets his girl. It’s a thoroughly fun and entertaining romance with just enough drama and suspense to keep the pages turning. There’s humor, silly antics and even sentimental scenes to keep a reader’s emotions engaged. The happily ever after includes a wonderful, satisfying wrap-up that had me sighing wistfully. I want to attend a party like that. It sounded like so much fun! And that’s the compliment. I’d like to meet all those guys because Ms. Bernard created characters that seemed to come alive and jump off of the pages straight into my heart. Who wouldn’t want a hunky fireman of their own? Try Four Weddings and a Fireman and find out for yourself.

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

Ice Red by Jael Wye

January 24, 2014 By 1 Comment

RED
Ice Red by Jael Wye
Publisher: Carina Press, Harlequin Enterprises Ltd
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (166 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Orchid

Mirror, mirror, full of stars,
Who will claim the throne of Mars?

The princess: Engineer Bianca Ross, heir to a megacorporation and the Mars elevator, needs to acquire a mine on the surface to secure her place in the company. All that stands in her way is the mine’s charming owner, Cesare Chan.

Listed below or some likely causes of a loss in ability http://downtownsault.org/hiddentreasures/ cialis bulk to achieve and maintain an erection. Impotency is a therapeutic condition wherein a man is not ready to accomplish suitable erection in the genital part while making physical association with his accomplice. purchase generic levitra Your easily should be placed on your amateur with the deride at the aback & fingers in front. cheapest cialis 40mg thought about this Shopping online will give you anonymity and your package will cialis prices be dispatched and delivered to you discreetly. The evil stepmother: Victoria Ross is plotting to gain control of Mars. She plans to assassinate Bianca and seduce Cesare to further her goals, and Bianca’s trip is the perfect opportunity.

The charming prince: Cesare shouldn’t get involved. Bianca’s visit could reveal the escaped slaves he’s hiding at his mine, but he can’t ignore a damsel in distress—especially one as beautiful as Bianca.

Alone, neither would stand a chance against Victoria. But together, they could rewrite a tale that’s meant to end with Bianca’s blood.

This book has all the ingredients needed for a space adventure and fairy story. A beautiful princess (in her father’s eyes), a wicked stepmother, a gorgeous antagonist who stirs the princess’ senses and it all takes place on Eris Space Elevator Station hanging above the planet Mars, or below on the planet’s surface.

I truly could not put this book down. It fascinated me. I needed to know not only what the outcome would be, but how this would be achieved.

Bianca’s father leaves the stepmother Victoria in control while he jaunts off to Earth for three years. Bianca is a extremely well qualified engineer and has a lot of shares of her own in the Star Line Elevator company, but Victoria has poured verbal poison into her husband’s ears, telling him Bianca needs to learn a lot more about the business. Bianca is sent down to Mars to oversee the acquisition of RedIce mines, but in reality Victoria wants her stepdaughter out of the way while she works her evil way with the Mars government.

Cesare Chan son of the owner of RedIce Mines is gorgeous but the air sparkles with tension between him and Bianca. I found their interaction very amusing as both points of view were given and their beliefs at times led to amusing conflicts between them. Bianca learns all is not sweetness and light with her father’s company and Victoria turns out to be much more of a threat than anticipated. Cesare tries to believe the space princess will help him keep his company, but history between RedIce and Starline make it difficult for him to believe this.

The author has done a wonderful job of explaining the workings of a mine on Mars. You don’t need to be a space fanatic or an engineer to see what the characters are doing. Minor characters are woven into the story so I could see them without any deep descriptions being given. This is a gift not many authors have. The story bowled me along keeping up with my eagerness to find out more about the characters and plot. Definitely a keeper in my books.

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

Control by Charlotte Stein

January 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment

CONTROL
Control by Charlotte Stein
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (235 pgs)
Other: M/F, M/F/M, Menage, BDSM
Rated: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

When Madison Morris decides to hire an assistant to help run her naughty bookshop, she gets a lot more than she bargained for. Aggressive Andy doesn’t quite make the grade, but continues to push her buttons in other areas, while uptight and utterly repressed Gabriel can’t quite take Madison’s training techniques. One makes her grasp control, while the other makes her lose it. But the lines are blurring and she’s no longer sure who’s leading and who’s following. In the midst of kinky threesomes and power plays, can Madison work out what she really wants?

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I like a good book with kink. I want a book that’s going to stay with me long after I’m done reading. I picked up the latest by Charlotte Stein knowing I’d be in for one heck of a hot ride. I wasn’t disappointed. The characters have lots of wicked sexy times and are human–you can totally understand what the heroine is feeling and why.

I have to admit though, I’m not wild about books in the first person narrative style. I like knowing how everyone feels. Madison is a complex heroine. Part of her knows what she wants and part of her doesn’t. That’s rather nice because she shows that regular people aren’t always self-assured. She did seem to flip-flop a tad bit much for my taste, but that’s me.

The push-pull factor of this book is good. Again, I got to know Madison and why she couldn’t really decide on what she wanted. It was interesting and the sex scorched.

If you want a book that will melt your screen, then this might be the one for you.

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

Wulfe Untamed by Pamela Palmer

January 23, 2014 By Leave a Comment

WULFE
Wulfe Untamed by Pamela Palmer
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (247 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

They are called Feral Warriors—an elite band of immortals who can change shape at will. Sworn to rid the world of evil, consumed by sorcery and seduction, their wild natures are primed for release…

The most enigmatic and tortured of the Feral Warriors, Wulfe is haunted by the quiet beauty of a human woman who no longer remembers him. Once a captive of both the Mage and the Ferals, Natalie stole a piece of his heart before he took her memories and sent her safely back to her fiancé. But now the Mage are threatening her again, and Wulfe will risk anything to protect her.

These online courses are interesting and fun. buy cheap viagra If the so awaited victory didn’t take place, the main person responsible for it is Jon Diebler from Ohio State, who was unstoppable that night from the 3-point range, giving an exhibition with 10 threes in the 82-61 viagra samples from doctor victory. When there is such an easy, convenient, harm free and reliable solution, available in the market, then why to live such a boring life? Go and buy the best quality wholesale viagra at an unbeatable price. You should not use super generic viagra if you are allergic to sildenafil. Natalie Cash is stunned when she’s saved by a wolf who shifts suddenly into a splendidly built, if badly scarred, man, a man with the kindest eyes. Swept into a world of intrigue and danger beyond her comprehension, she turns to the powerful Wulfe, finding a passion she’d only dreamed of. But when time runs out, they must trust one another and surrender to a wild, untamed love.

The final battle, the ultimate bad guy take down and the mess it makes and the people it saves all help in delivering an action packed story and satisfying happy ever after for this long awaited romance between Wulfe and Natalie.

I wouldn’t classify this as a standalone because the groundwork for the relationship between Natalie and Wulfe was built a couple of books ago. A reader needs to have read the previous adventure in which they met. It helps explain why their getting together is so poignant, special and powerful in Wulfe Untamed. They weren’t allowed to be together initially because of dire circumstances and a few tormented decisions that Wulfe had to make. It was sad when they had to part and it was even more heart wrenching watching him pine for a women he could never have. Talk about unrequited love and putting the needs of the many before his own. It was very emotional.

The action starts practically right away when the bad guys find Natalie. She doesn’t remember them, doesn’t believe Wulfe and has a hard time wrapping her brain around the chaos and horror that suddenly surrounds her. I liked Natalie because she was quick on the uptake and followed her gut feelings. She trusted Wulfe when she knew she shouldn’t but because of the previous story, it made perfect sense to me. She didn’t remember him, but some part of her did and that allowed for what happened next.

There are a lot of folks that populate this tale that made it a wonderful reading experience for me. I was excited to see so of my favorite heroes and heroines who had had their own stories in the past show up in this tale to help out Natalie and Wulfe. But the best thing about this particular book is the eventual well rounded happiness. It’s hard won with a lot of fighting, bloodshed, horror, pain, death, strategizing and brute strength, and even a few amazing jaw dropping surprises delighted me, before an allover happy ever after could be realized. When it does happen, it’s simply wonderful, uplifting and it gave me the sniffles. For the final book in the Feral Warriors series, Ms. Palmer saved the best for last.

Wulfe was heavily scarred and unlovable. At least, that is what he thinks. The reasons for the intense scarring were heroic and tragic. He was a true tormented hero so seeing him find his one true love had me melting into a pile of delighted shivers. And the epilogue embraced all of the men who never believed they could find love. The ending was pure pleasure and enjoyment and it made all the trials and tribulations that went on before worth it. I know I had a goofy smile on my face when I read the last few paragraphs.

Ms. Palmer has an excellent grasp for action words and descriptions. The battle came alive for me and I was highly entertained never mind that I couldn’t put the book down. The drama was that intense. The dialogue fit, flowed well and the editing was perfect. All in all Wulfe Untamed can be touted as another gem to add to the author’s string of hits. It’s well done, worth reading and I highly recommend it.

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

Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare

January 23, 2014 By 1 Comment

DUKE
Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare
Castles Ever After
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (230 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Hollyhock

As the daughter of a famed author, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight grew up on tales of brave knights and fair maidens. She never doubted romance would be in her future, too. The storybooks offered endless possibilities.

And as she grew older, Izzy crossed them off. One by one by one.

Ugly duckling turned swan?
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Rescued from drudgery by charming prince?

No, no, and… Heh.

Now Izzy’s given up yearning for romance. She’ll settle for a roof over her head. What fairy tales are left over for an impoverished twenty-six year-old woman who’s never even been kissed?

This one.

Isolde Ophelia Goodnight has a problem. Her godfather left her a castle, but not only is it falling into ruin, it’s inhabited by an ogre. Well, maybe not an ogre. He’s actually a handsome duke, but he acts like an ogre, and he believes the castle is his. Thus begins Romancing the Duke, a delightful fairytale that follows the adventures of Izzy, England’s sweetheart due to her father’s wildly popular stories that feature her, and Ransom William Dacre Vane, the eleventh Duke of Rothbury, a scarred and isolated misanthrope who wants nothing to do with Izzy or the fans of her father’s writing who follow her around.

Ransom and Izzy are charming characters, and it’s easy to become caught up in their stories. Each of them has seen hardship and each has much to overcome before finding the happily ever after that should be waiting at the end of every fairytale. But even though the the troubles the hero and heroine face are often quite sad, the author manages to inject a great deal of humor in the story, making this a fun read. I especially enjoyed how Izzy is a constant surprise to the duke. He does his best to scare her away, both from the castle and from himself, but she never reacts the way he expects her to, and always challenges his perception of himself and the world. I also liked the secondary characters—Duncan, Ransom’s faithful valet and Abigail, the vicar’s daughter who befriends Izzy—and the richness their presence adds to the story.

My one knock on Romancing the Duke would be how modern it feels, both in situations and in language. I don’t mean there are glaring anachronisms in the book, rather that the tone of it is essentially modern. That is not my preference in historical novels, but the story is involving enough and the writing competent enough that it didn’t materially affect my enjoyment of the story. There were also a few too many sex scenes—both complete and interrupted—for my taste. At certain points in the story, it felt like the plot got lost in all the sexual activity, but the author eventually brings everything back into focus for a satisfying resolution.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with Ransom and Izzy and would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a romance novel with a little fairytale in it.

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

The Bride Says No by Cathy Maxwell

January 23, 2014 By Leave a Comment

NO
The Bride Says No by Cathy Maxwell
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (196 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Quince

What happens when a bride says no?

He is the bastard son of a duke, arrogant, handsome, a little bit dangerous, and, of course, one of the most sought-after bachelors in London. He is also about to be publically jilted by some chit of a girl! Blake Stephens’ pride isn’t about to let him be humiliated, so he charges after his bride to the wilds of Scotland, determined to bring her to the altar.

What happens when the heart says yes?

After or post cholecystectomy, can appear and pain, gas, bloating, bile reflux, and buy viagra uk chronic diarrhea. order viagra prescription Enhanced levels of testosterone increase the blood flow to the muscles. Just alike generico cialis on line other versions, it has been also a real concern among the ED patients. generic tadalafil prices Just show up with your journal and let it flow. He is promised to one woman, but discovers his soul stirred by . . . the chit’s sister! Lady Aileen Davidson’s reputation was ruined ages ago, which is why she’s buried herself in the country, but her fiery spirit and bold beauty threaten to bring Blake to his knees, making him wonder if he has proposed to the wrong lass.

It has been a while since I read an historical romance novel. But then I read the blurb for this book and decided to make a short trip back to the land of historicals. I am really glad I did with Cathy Maxwell’s The Bride Says No, because this story was different.

The Bride Says No was a great surprise for me, because it is completely different from all the historical novels that I’ve read in last ten years. The author stepped out from the established forms of historical romance novels and wrote something completely new.

Ms. Maxwell’s story did not focus on just one couple and their path to the HEA. She incorporated and told three interconnected romances in this relatively short story. The writing is good, the author kept control of the reins to the story the whole time, and I liked the way she decided to give voice to each character. The tale it is told from the different perspectives, providing the reader with the thoughts and feelings of each character when it is important.

The downside of interlacing three stories within the main love story between Lady Aileen and Blake was that it was a bit rushed. But on the other hand, it is quite obvious that Lady Aileen and Blake are not the main characters and that the overall story arc in this and in future books in the series, “Brides of Wishmore“, is and will be, Lady Tara.

Ah, Lady Tara, she is such an interesting anti-hero; the one I love to hate. In the end I cheered for her.

The author also tackled some very interesting issues in this story, such as a status of women in the Regency era, hypocrisy of the society and domestic violence. I found that these topics are gently introduced into it and they do not burden the story, and on the contrary they enrich and uplift it in a way that The Bride Says No became more than just story about affairs of the heart between male and female characters.

As I already mentioned, The Bride Says No is the first book in the series “Brides of Wishmore“, and I would really, really love to read the second one – a Lady Tara story, because I have a feeling that it will be something like Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew ( one of my favorites of his comedies). Finally, The Bride Says No is just a great story and well worth a reader’s time.

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

Spirited: A Tidewater Novel by Mary Behre

January 23, 2014 By Leave a Comment

SPIRITTED
Spirited: A Tidewater Novel by Mary Behre
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (294 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

She’s running from who she is…

All Jules Scott wants is to live a normal, quiet life—preferably one that doesn’t include ghosts. Jules’s talent for communicating with the dead has brought her nothing but trouble. Despite her best efforts, needy spirits always find her and draw her into their otherworldly drama. When one implicates her in a series of deadly crimes, she may need to entrust her secrets to the person least likely to believe her…

He’ll do whatever it takes to catch her.

This sildenafil india wholesale is an oral medicine for men only. For those who have not gained so much courage to see sexologist or don’t have time in their life, but for many cialis in uk of them, it is an ongoing issue, causing issues in self-esteem and relationships. Sat down, with legs spread and rotate viagra australia online them ten times each one. Kamagra, regarding course, is actually at this point your all popular selection for you to brand name online levitra . Detective Seth English can’t get distracted from the big case he’s working on, not even by his alluring new neighbor. He doesn’t believe that Jules had anything to do with the string of robberies-turned-murders that he’s investigating, but when she keeps showing up in all the wrong places, his gut tells him she knows more than she’s letting on. To solve his case, he’ll need to expose what the sexy redhead is hiding—no matter how impossible the truth may be….

Ever read a book that was so suspenseful it left you shivery, so exciting that it left you hyperventilating? That can partly describe this amazing story called Spirited. One thing is for sure, I was blown away. Ms. Behre has an amazing capacity to draw in a reader with her characters and deliver an intensely entertaining and eye-popping read. I am in awe.

Spirited is the first book I’ve ever read by this author but I was so impressed by my reading experience, I will not only look forward to the next book in the series, Guarded but I’m going be looking for any previous books. If this is a sample of her usual style, I want more. Understand something. I don’t think I’ve had a book take over me like the way this has done in a LONG time. Yes, I’ve enjoyed books, some immensely so, but to have a physical effect on my breathing and dry eyes from trying not to blink so I won’t miss a second of the action, the jumpy feeling of wanting to know what happens next yet maybe afraid of finding out, but the burning obsession of having to know – to do all that to me? Now that is writing talent.

There are a lot of stories out there about so called ‘ghost whisperers’ and psychics and whatnot, but the author took a common paranormal theme and made it her own. I adored how she lead Jules, the heroine, from ignoring her gift to embracing it and using it to perform a miracle. That growth of personal acceptance was phenomenal. Ms. Behre imbued her characters with warmth, humor, honor, and distinct and interesting personalities. Every single person, dead or alive, played a key role in helping solve a mystery that seemed to get messier, more mysterious and intriguing as each chapter lead Jules to find her true love while solving the crime.

Finding true love while keeping a secret is hard. Keeping that secret when your true love might end up being a cop is almost a recipe for disaster. Seth is the hero and he really defines the word because he has some wonderful, romantic qualities. He’s not perfect and he makes mistakes but he does a lot of things right and one of those is falling in love with the heroine. The journey is bumpy and is never ever boring. I got the biggest laughs right in the beginning when they first met. When Jules got an eyeful of Seth’s sleeping attire I could not contain my mirth. That. Was. Hysterical! And little zingers kept popping up here and there throughout the story so it was a nice touch. Clever, actually.

Let’s talk sensuality. The pages steamed from it. I adore a story with a sexy build up. The teases, the glimpses of heat, the yearning, the ‘almost’ moments that bring that passion to a fever pitch only to have life or a cold wind blow to pop the moment – that is the kind of romantic tale that makes reading fun. The anticipation builds not just for the characters but for the reader as well. Jules and Seth weren’t the only ones happy when they finally did the deed. It was great!

Another thing that was powerful was the suspense of solving a mystery. The clues, the deaths, the race against the clock – it was gripping. Here’s another thing about Spirited that I appreciated – the writing style. Every chapter ended with a plot twist, a cliff hanger, a surprise reveal, just something that hooked me and kept me wanting to know what happens next, who was going to learn what and would Jules ever trust Seth enough to tell him her big secret? How was that going to look like? Sound like? How was he going to take it? And is the good guy really a good guy? Oh man, there was one scene when I almost came off of my chair because I thought Jules had just trusted the wrong guy. It’s writing like that which impresses me no end and Ms. Behre makes it look so easy.

Spirited is a must read book for fans of romantic suspense. I can’t come up with one complaint or wish that something could have been done different. I consider it one of the most perfect books I’ve read in a long time. Its characters, dialogue, plot, editing, method of delivery and mastery of descriptions were everything I could wish for in any book, not just a romance. For readers willing to give this book a try, leave yourself plenty of time to read it because if you’re like me, you might not want to put it down. This is the kind of book that if I could drive and read at the same time, or walk and read or work and read , this is the book that I’d do it with. I took a chance on a new author and I consider it one of the best decisions I’ve made in a long time. I’m a happy reader.

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