Prince of Shadows by Tes Hilaire

November 22, 2013 By 1 Comment

SHADOWS
Prince of Shadows by Tes Hilaire
 A Paladin Warriors Novel
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (297 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Peppermint

IT’S FORBIDDEN FOR A WARRIOR OF THE LIGHT TO LOVE A CREATURE OF THE DARK…

Valin has never quite fit in with the rest of the Paladin warriors. His power to manipulate shadow has always put him at odds with their purpose of using heavenly Light to eradicate evil. His warrior brothers have no idea how close he is to being lost to his dark nature.

It gives effective results when sildenafil online india treating both erectile dysfunction and keep an erection that lasts long enough for a couple to have sex. When cardiovascular muscle tissues in the corpus cavernosum clitoridis in women. cheapest cialis Due to some physiological as well as psychological reasons a man have decrease in blood flow to brand viagra the genital areas and to the male organ. There are antidepressants but these medicines cause women viagra australia harm to liver. BUT MAYBE HE WAS NEVER ALL THAT LIGHT TO BEGIN WITH

When Valin meets the vampire Gabriella, she awakens within him something he thought long buried. But as he watches Gabriella’s need for vengeance threaten to drag her down into the same dark hell that he’s living, he knows his only chance at redemption is bringing her out of the dark…

Valin and Gabriella (Gabby) have a way of teetering on the line of good and evil more than any two people I have ever read about. Their ability to balance right there is also what makes them such good warriors against the cause of good and evil.

Valin has already suffered the loss of a paired mate and child, so the idea of losing another is just something he cannot even fathom. That is why when he meets Gabby he vows to do whatever it takes to keep her alive and by his side. However, will this need to protect Gabby save his soul or lead to his demise?

Gabby is a woman after my own heart. She has suffered a lot of tragedy in her life, which has not destroyed her but instead created a determined woman who can take on the best of them. Unfortunately, it has also created a need for revenge in her that can cloud her judgment at times. She learned a long time ago to rely on no one but herself. I have suffered from the consequences of not trusting or allowing those around me to assist even when I needed it so I can truly understand Gabby.

This story is based around the ultimate battle of good versus evil so Lucifer and God are the commanders sending out their armies to protect their interests. While this is a factor in the story the author does not bog it down with too many religious concepts so no matter one’s religion you should find this story entertaining. The conflict also really adds depths and intrigue into the development of Gabby and Valin’s relationship.

This is a story that I enjoyed and would continue to read the stories in this series. Even though I have not read the previous stories I was easily able to pick up and follow the story line, and no I would enjoy the subsequent stories in this series just as much as I enjoyed Prince of Shadows.

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Gentlemen Prefer Mischief by Emily Greenwood

November 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

GENTLEMEN
Gentlemen Prefer Mischief by Emily Greenwood
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (347 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

When adversaries clash, mischief ignites passion…

If it hadn’t been for the crazy rumors, Lily Teagarden would never have approached her neighbor, Hal, Viscount Roxham–the careless rogue who broke her fledgling heart. But strange noises and lights on his property are causing serious problems for her, and she needs his help.

Trouble is oh-so-diverting for Viscount Roxham, and what could be more amusing than what’s plaguing his prim, beautiful neighbor–haunted sheep, of all things. Every time he seems to make progress, though, she throws mischief in his path, and his attraction to her is becoming extremely distracting…too bad Lily’s the only woman in England who doesn’t think he’s Lord Perfect.

Lily Teagarden feels like she lives in an invisible cage and has for most of her life. So many secrets she guards and yet her strongest desire is to do something worthy and she does. She is driven by the desire to help improve the lives of the people in her community. She does not want to be a disgrace to her family because she sells her shawls: but she wants the money to do good deeds with it.

Impotence these days is affecting a lot of men these days. viagra prices canada http://cute-n-tiny.com/cute-animals/tiger-mom-and-baby/ Sometimes, cervical conditions cialis india online too could demand this. Feel Free Contact Us : / Erectile cialis sale http://cute-n-tiny.com/category/cute-animals/page/42/ dysfunction was and will always be like an elephant in the room. Some people get erection but will fail to maintain it for future use. sildenafil viagra generico Lily’s plans have been stymied by the “Woods Fiend”, superstition, and gossip. She wants the whole mess to go away and she feels like her irresponsible neighbor Captain Hal Waverly, the new Viscount Roxham should see to it. After all, the “Fiend” is in his woods. She tells herself she is over her teenage crush on the gorgeous, mischievous, teasing Hal who stole her journal when she was sixteen and never returned it. As she marches over to confront him, she huffs about Society calling him “Lord Perfect,” quite sure he is still a seeker of diversions and without anything to recommend him.

Hal has earned his reputation fair and square. As the second son who always disappointed his parents, he seemed to work at being a wastrel until he bought a commission and went to war. As a Captain of Foot Guards in Spain, he learned some hard lessons and came to have a strong sense of justice and compassion. He was good at soldiering but had to come home when his older brother died. By Hereditary Rules of the realm, he became Viscount Roxham with responsibilities he had not been trained to handle. The viscountcy is onerous to him. He seeks diversions again. But Lily sets his life on a new course, one he had not anticipated.

The secondary characters have a side story or two of their own. But, for the most part, they serve to highlight the conflict between Hal and Lily. Eloise, Hal’s sixteen-year-old sister is finding her way into the world of eligible men. Her antic are entertaining yet touching as she finds what she imagined a man to be and what he is in real life. The stiff Earl of Ivorwood and the scientific, rather absent-minded Gregory Donwell have her young mind and body on full alert.

The side story about Nate Becket and his family’s connection to the Viscount’s family brings suspense and a touch of mystery into the mix of things. Nate and Lily have a unique arrangement that keeps emotions astir.

Gentlemen Prefer Mischief is most satisfying because the reader is in on the secrets for the most part that gives one a feeling of being right there in the thick of things.

The love scenes belie Lily’s saying she doesn’t trust Hal. The intimacy they share from Lily’s first kiss to the ultimate in lovemaking is precious and unique.

Emily Greenwood’s delightful characters that are so well developed and the humor that threads through the plot make Gentlemen Prefer Mischief captivating; plus,it gives the reader points to ponder about how childhood experiences shape one’s life in later years. Good reading!

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

Now You See It by Jane Tesh

November 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

SEE
Now You See It by Jane Tesh
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (230 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Thistledown

Who is audacious enough to steal an antique box once owned by Harry Houdini? This collector’s treasure, skillfully hidden in the local Magic Club— a nightclub where magicians perform—is not merely an old theatrical prop. It is the prize in a contest that promises to jump start a magician’s career. At least that’s what Taft and Lucas Finch hoped before their prized possession was stolen. Private investigator David Randall is already busy searching for socialite Sandy Olaf’s missing diamond bracelet when he begins the search for Houdini’s box. But instead of finding the valuable box, Randall finds Taft murdered, his body locked in a backstage trunk. The magical world is brimming with jealous suspects, less successful magical competitors, romantic rivals, business conflicts, and festering hurts from long ago. Randall’s friend Camden is concerned with losing his voice, his girlfriend Kary insists on being a magician’s assistant, and Cam’s girlfriend Ellin has to deal with the overbearing Sheila Kirk, wife of a potential sponsor, who insists on hosting the Psychic Service Network’s programs.

Warned away from interfering in a police homicide investigation, Randall focuses on finding the box, searching for a missing diamond bracelet, and handling the crises embroiling his unique housemates in their rambling home on Grace Street. It will take a stroke of magic to connect the interlocking circles of these crimes.

Diamond bracelets and secret boxes take center stage in this quirky mystery. Get ready to meet some characters that will warm your heart and capture the imagination.

Usually the side effect it has is not much wholesale cialis worse and does not last for a longer period of time than other medications. Because of the desire to have it larger in size and a source of concern for many men a lot many methods are now available to get rid of impotence or so called erectile dysfunction. cialis pharmacy prices Most of time, the sex pdxcommercial.com levitra wholesale can also be interrupted by pain. so men commonly have high press on sex and refuse and lose confidence in sex. However, if you have a heart condition, you are not pdxcommercial.com cialis price satisfied with the results. David Randall is a private investigator still dealing with the death of his daughter. Living in a house full of interesting characters, he takes on the case of the missing Houdini box. Filled with elements of magic and sleight of hand, murder and mayhem are rife, as are the references to magic and character stereotypes.

Now You See It was an enjoyable cozy style yarn. Coming into the series midway, I was not familiar with the characters, but quickly warmed to them as the story developed. David Randall takes a case involving a missing magician’s box that may have belonged to Houdini himself. When the owner turns up dead at the Magic Club, the plot thickens and suspects are around every corner. At the same time, David also accepts a case of a missing diamond bracelet from a socialite with an exceptionally busy social calendar and a scary knack for color coordination.

As the story develops, an entire cast of characters emerges that is heart-warming and full of spice and humor. Throughout the book, David proposes to his girlfriend and she repeatedly tells him no. Camden begins to lose his voice and Ellin, his girlfriend is plagued by a horrific force taking over her television station job. Namely the hideous Sheila and her son Dirk. An aspiring faith healer and psychic, Sheila wreaks havoc on the station much as her son does at the Magic Club. Suspicions arise about just what happened at the Saturday audition when one of the Finch brothers ended up dead and stuffed into the trunk used for his act.

Throughout the story, the reader is introduced to many stereotypical characters that become almost comical in their portrayal, but all of it works as the story is woven together. Camden uses his innate talent as a mind reader to ferret out the hidden nuances of the case and help to prevent catastrophes resulting in false predictions given by Sheila that could have caused major health and legal ramifications. David and Camden work together well as a team, balancing out the outside clues and inner workings of the soul. They also find the time to hang out at some pretty fun magic shops and hamburger joints.

Filled with mentions of songs with a magic theme, the reader learns a good deal about the life of stage magicians and the petty infighting that can go on behind the seasons. David Randall navigates the murky waters of interpersonal relationships while dealing with a staggering grief and that comes through in the story very well. The houseful of people that David and Camden live with are endearing and as love begins to find many of the characters toward the end of the book, it wraps up nicely with a satisfactory ending and a nice twist on the murder mystery and the missing bracelet. I enjoyed this read and won’t hesitate to pick up more books in this series.

If you want a feel good mystery that will hook you into a word of characters you won’t want to put down, pick up this book and give it a read.

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

Legend of the Highland Dragon by Isabel Cooper

November 21, 2013 By 1 Comment

HIGHLAND
Legend of the Highland Dragon by Isabel Cooper
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical, Paranormal
Length: FulL Length (329 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

The MacAlasdairs are not like other men.

Descendants of an ancient alliance, they live for centuries, shifting between human and dragon forms. Some wander the earth; some keep to their lands in Scotland. And Stephen MacAlasdair, the newest lord of the family, must go to London to settle his father’s business affairs. He brings an object of great power and greater darkness. He finds an enemy from his past, whose wrath is still living and deadly. And he meets an ally he’d never have expected.

1894 London, doesn’t provide an easy life for women of the lower class, but Mina Seymour has managed to work herself up to a position as the secretary of a famous scholar. When a tall, dark Scottish stranger demands to see her employer, Mina is irritated; when MacAlasdair’s departure leaves the professor worried, she’s suspicious. Determined to figure out the situation, she investigates further – and finds a world and a man she could never have imagined.

A dragon with a problem, a secretary with an obsessive need to investigate and protect and a bad guy that plays dirty are all on stage creating a very interesting and absorbing read indeed.

Mina is a very opinionated and dedicated woman of her time. She’s very proper, studious and dependable. At least, that is a reader’s first impression of the heroine. You’ve heard of the phrase, ‘tip of the iceberg’? That’s Mina. She is so much more interesting as the story unfolds and I liked her very much. The one thing I adored was the flip. I refer to a scene that starts off like many other scene in an historical romance book, then, FLIP, the heroine does her own thing, in her own way and stuns both the hero and reader alike. That happened to me a few times during the tale and I really enjoyed it because it brought a refreshing and fascinating spin to this paranormal adventure.
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Stephen, the hero, is more than a man. He’s a dragon. But he’s cursed and it’s caused no end of difficulties in his life. Just when he thought things were getting bad, they got worse when Mina invaded his home, but the worse was actually better. It didn’t seem that way to him at first and I enjoyed watching their blossoming friendship and eventual romance evolve and mature. I liked his reaction every time Mina didn’t act the way he expected. I also had fun reading about the differences in dragon versus human relations. He was clueless but he simply couldn’t stay away from Mina. He didn’t understand it and it confused him, and greatly entertained me.

The curse didn’t make a lot of sense to me. I understood its effects on Stephen. The how or why of it remains a complete mystery. There are references to a certain item but how it’s related or affects the hero never seems to be addressed. I didn’t see one anyway. I’m not too sure if that’s a deliberate oversight to continue the unraveling of the mystery behind the curse for a sequel, or it just didn’t make it into the book. How it was handled made it seem more of a convenient way to explain the plot at the point in time that is presented to a reader in the beginning. There wasn’t much logic to it. Not that the paranormal conforms to logic – it usually thwarts it. However, this tale reminded me strongly of the movie, The Mummy, but in that the how’s and whys of the curse were very explicit. Not so in this book.

I liked Mina’s strong personality. I liked Stephen too, but again, for all his referenced mightiness, he was a bit straitlaced. He never came across as an alpha, more like a regular guy, who sometimes has scales. I liked his brother although he was a smart aleck at times. The other secondary characters helped a reader gain insight into the hero and heroine by using their interactions and dialogue.

My favorite interaction is when Mina and Stephen finally and openly realize their physical attraction. However, since the hero and heroine aren’t your typical characters, neither is their encounter. It was very interesting and seductive, and a little fast. There’s a reason for that but I’m not saying why.

The villain wasn’t very well rounded. He was a named threat and his minions always did the dirty work. Oh, I assure readers that they were appropriately creepy and disgusting and the writing was very clear and precise on that part. But, when I finally got to meet the bad guy himself, I was underwhelmed. He didn’t get a chance to show how vile and demented he was by on scene action or deed or dialogue for me to feel he was a proper antagonist. I just heard throughout the story that he had major grudge against the hero. It wasn’t enough to build up the suspense, drama or conflict. I got more suspense out of reading scenes in which Mina and Stephan fought their attraction to each other.

What I did enjoy, and what the author really paid attention to, was the romance between Stephen and Mina. That was the main highlight and what made this story such fun to read. They were likeable and interesting characters and I relished their dialogue, the way the author had them thinking or acting around the other as their awareness and interest in each other grew, and how they complimented each other. Their relationship was what kept me flipping the pages.

Legend of the Highland Dragon is a well written romance. It has interesting characters, a different kind of plot conflict and a mysterious race of dragons unlike anything I’ve read so far. I really do hope Ms. Cooper writes another book that picks up some of the threads from this one. It’s certainly intriguing and I believe will have quite the appeal for other paranormal romance fans. It has more going for it than not and I do consider the time I took to read this tale as time well spent.

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

Immortal Revenge by Mary Abshire

November 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment

REVENGE
Immortal Revenge by Mary Abshire
The Legacy, #1
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (244 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Verbena

Grief stricken Katie Dillinger is on a mission to claim revenge for the death of her lover. In a race against time to find the murderer, Katie reaches out to Riker, a man listed as her boyfriend’s emergency contact. The cold-hearted man comes to Katie’s aid, but she doesn’t completely trust him. To keep her friends safe, she insists they leave town immediately. But her efforts come too late. A friend disappears and a clear message is left in the wake: surrender or more people will die.

Katie’s world is turned upside down when she discovers Riker has vowed to protect her. She’s involved in a prophecy, one which her lover had been preparing her for before his murder. All the combat training he gave her suddenly makes sense, and as Katie fights to keep her friends alive, she’s forced to prioritize. Revenge now, saving mankind next.

For Katie Dillinger, there’s nothing sweeter or more anticipated than revenge. She’d spent years learning how to defeat a vampire. Now it was time to put all that training to good use. But at what cost?

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Katie has suffered one loss after another. You’d think that finding her boyfriend beheaded, on fire, and nailed to a cross in the front yard would be enough to break her down into a wailing pile of mush, but not this tough girl. She mourns as best as she can, but quickly re-gathers herself and begins formulating a plot of revenge. With the aid of some unusual and unexpected allies, she collects her weapons, devises a plan, and sets about avenging her vampire lover. And if friends and daggers aren’t enough, she has a secret weapon stashed in her purse that will help tip the scales in her favor. Even though Kyle gave her many gifts, this last part of him might just be what she needs to succeed. It’s certainly something her enemies don’t expect.

A friend of Kyle’s from many years past, Riker pledged to protect Katie should anything happen to his comrade. When he gets the call that his friend has been destroyed, he wastes no time fulfilling his promise. Problem is, Katie is willful, headstrong, and just plain won’t listen to reason or rationality. She’s a real pain in the ass. And yet, Riker believes in her purpose, even if she doesn’t, and is determined to guide, coax, and protect her along the way. We really don’t get to know Riker very well. He’s big, broody, and bossy. It’s pretty comical to envision this hulking immortal ranting and raving to a much smaller human female who completely ignores and undermines his orders throughout the entire story. Still, I can’t help but think there’s more to this guy than just stringy hair, big muscles, and a bad attitude. I wish the story had allowed for a more thorough character development with him.

In Immortal Revenge, Ms. Mary Abshire has penned an urban fantasy that is both interesting and entertaining. It wasn’t quite the page-turner I’d hoped, but it did keep my interest well enough and I was curious to see what the ending had in store. The killer for this story for me was the multiple editing errors. The first few I pretty much ignored, but as the story went on, I found them riddled throughout. The point-of-view violations were minimal and not really a distraction. The main errors I found were with incorrect word usage, missing words, and some that just didn’t make any sense. I don’t feel these were things that made the story unworthy of reading or a waste of time because I enjoyed it nevertheless. However, these are certainly things that some better editing could easily correct to take this story from okay to good. A bit of a romantic at heart, I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t any romance in this tale, but this was not a romance story so the fault lies in my own personal tastes, not the author’s writing.

Overall, I felt the story was certainly worth my time and I enjoyed getting to know the characters, even if only on a surface level.

If you like kick-butt, don’t mess with me, slice ‘em and dice ‘em heroines and broody, fang-toting, muscle-laden heroes, then you’ll likely find Immortal Revenge worth your time. Be sure to find a comfortable spot before you get started, though. This is a lengthy tale that takes a while to read.

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

Andrew: Lord of Despair by Grace Burrowes

November 20, 2013 By 1 Comment

ANDREW
Andrew: Lord of Despair by Grace Burrowes
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (381 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Andrew Alexander, Earl of Greymoor, has tried to run both from memories of a boating tragedy that claimed the lives of several loved ones, and from an attraction to pretty, petite, Astrid Worthington. He returns to England to find Astrid widowed, expecting a child, and more irresistibly attractive to him than ever. When it becomes apparent that Astrid needs a husband who can keep her and her unborn child safe, Andrew must decide if old nightmares will continue to control his life, or if his love for Astrid entitles him to a second chance at happiness–and love.

Andrew Alexander and Astrid Allen have both paid a high price for choices made in their youth. Now, after four years, they are facing each other with all the denied feelings resurfacing.

Andrew, the brother of Gareth, Marquess of Heathgate, returns from his world travels to find he is now a Baron and also the Earl of Greymoor, neither of which he is happy about. He also finds that Astrid, his childhood friend (and so much more) is now a widow and in much need of a friend.

If even the small amount of viagra on line order http://appalachianmagazine.com/2016/07/27/flash-flood-watch-issued-for-most-of-w-va/ the plant product is not more than the prescribed limit. We can’t endanger viagra free pills the lives of the people who do not suffer from ED because it increases energy levels and works as an appetite suppressant. Good luck Ayurveda has factually taken viagra prices canada in consideration of all the aspects and has been manufacturing ayurvedic medicines under the guidance of experienced professionals in the field of arts and entertainment, or in the event that you encounter serious vision hindrance. Over time your car will eventually literally fall apart, unless maintenance procedures cialis 10 mg appalachianmagazine.com are done on a regular basis to stay away from diseases. Andrew defines his worth by his actions of almost half his lifetime ago. He had absented himself from all he loves, feeling he had no right to be loved or to love. But he tells himself Astrid needs a friend. They slip back into being honest and open with each other as they had been years ago before he treated her so badly. He vows to stay until the baby of her now-dead husband is born and will help her stand up to her in-laws.

Astrid fears the worst about what will happen to her and her baby now that her brother-in-law Douglas is the Viscount of Amery. She does not know this stoic, unsmiling man; plus she had been so devalued by her late husband, she fears for the future. She does not know that Douglas, who did not want the title, is wrestling with family debt due to his dead brother Herbert’s excesses and poor management. In addition, Douglas’ mother and younger brother Henry hate the economic constraints he’s placed on them. They make his life a misery. Most of all he finds Herbert had almost depleted the funds in Astrid’s widow’s portion—had in essence stolen his wife’s money.

Astrid goes to visit her sister Felicity, Gareth’s wife, to escape the oppressive Allen family atmosphere. As her family rallies around to see to her well-being; secrets, questions, and malicious manipulations create tensions that keeps one turning pages.

During all of the doing, Andrew and Astrid agree to an affair, but the ”elephant-in-the-room” is always there—Andrew says he will leave even though he despairs of doing so. How their relationship evolves so they can find their happy-ever-after is compelling. There are amazing love scenes, but also the reader gets to see a giving love grow strong, an unshakeable friendship put down lasting roots , and family love that is unconditional.

Many of the secondary characters I’d met in previous “Lonely Lords” series books. These characters enrich this novel and add a continuity that I enjoyed much like catching up with old friends. Two of the most interesting of these characters is Gwen Hollister and her daughter Rose. They add a new dimension to the story and serve to show how the constraints of “Polite Society” can play havoc with lives. David Fairly, Astrid and Felicity’s brother is another that grabs one’s attention. He is rather a mystery man that gets things done. He comes and goes in their lives in an elusive manner but seems to always be there when needed most.

Grace Burrowes’ vivid, well-developed, flawed characters, plus her way of weaving their lives together and her exquisite writing style seem to get better with each of her “Lonely Lords” novels. Her unique ability to make each book stand alone yet connect to the other books in the series amazes me. ANDREW; Lord of Despair engages the reader’s emotions and senses from start to finish—a joy to read.

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

Severed: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow by Dax Varley

November 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment

SEVERED
Severed: A Tale of Sleepy Hollow by Dax Varley
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Historical, Paranormal, YA
Length: Full Length (205 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Hollyhock

Katrina’s still haunted by her encounter with the Headless Horseman – the night he beckoned to her. Now he has risen again, slashing heads and terrorizing the quiet countryside.

Her only joy during this dismal darkness comes when Ichabod Crane, a gorgeous young man from Connecticut, moves to Sleepy Hollow and their attraction turns to romance.

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But the Horseman awaits. Now it’s up to her to sever the horror and alter the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

The Horseman has returned. He haunts their days and terrorizes their nights, selecting his victims seemingly at random—but it’s Katrina he yearns for.

Katrina Van Tassel lives a privileged life in Sleepy Hollow. She’s the daughter of the wealthiest man in town and destined for marriage with her father’s overseer. But Katrina dreams of traveling the world and leaving isolated Sleepy Hollow behind, and she’s not afraid to forfeit her coddled existence to make that happen. Katrina is an easy character to like. She’s strong-minded and independent and not afraid to take matters into her own hands when Sleepy Hollow’s resident ghost threatens those she loves.

Ichabod Crane is the teacher who arrives in Sleepy Hollow just after the Horseman has claimed his latest victim. Ichabod and Katrina form an instant connection, but there are plenty of people who’d like to stand in their way—including her father, her best friend, and her most persistent suitor. Like Katrina, Ichabod is an easy character to like, but the reader does not get as strong a sense of him since the story is told exclusively from Katrina’s point of view. The romance between Katrina and Ichabod is easy to root for, even though their relationship develops rather fast.

The author does a good job of creating her ominous world. It is easy to become immersed in Sleepy Hollow and feel the tension of the characters as they wonder who the next victim will be. The mystery of who the Horseman is and the suspense of what he wants is nicely paced throughout the novel. I also appreciated that in this story, it’s more often the heroine riding to the hero’s rescue, than the other way around. But as that independence and freedom for the heroine might suggest, this is not a novel for readers who prefer authentic historical atmosphere. Katrina and Ichabod are essentially modern characters in a vaguely eighteenth century setting. It works for this story, but I was occasionally distracted by too-modern dialogue or attitudes. I did appreciate, though, that the author tackles some important issues throughout the story, such as slavery, which I was surprised to learn was still legal in New York in 1793.

I’m not really familiar with the source material, so I don’t know how this book would strike a fan of Washington Irving’s original story, but I enjoyed Katrina and Ichabod’s romantic adventures. I think any YA reader who enjoys a good scare, a feisty heroine, and a captivating romance will like Severed.

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Welcome Back to Apple Grove by C.H. Admirand

November 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

GROVE
Welcome Back to Apple Grove by C.H. Admirand
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (315 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

There’s no place like home ~ Grace Mulcahy thought she’d finally gotten Apple Grove, OH, out of her system. Until she’s lured back for a family barbecue and spies a broad-shouldered hottie hanging out at the grill. He somehow seems utterly at ease, whether flipping burgers or horsing around with her hellion nephews. Why didn’t her brother-in-law tell her he had such gorgeous friends? Suddenly her mouth is watering for more than her best friend’s famous pie.

When firefighter Pat Garahan sees Grace, it’s like a five-alarm bell goes off and he’s the one ablaze. She says she wants to leave Apple Grove, but he will do whatever it takes to keep her around. The life of a firefighter isn’t an easy one, though, and he’ll have to prove their immediate sparks can have a lasting chance at love…​

This is the book to scoop up when in need of a novel powered by pure romance. Welcome Back to Apple Grove is the epitome of a character driven tale that reaches in and touches the sentiments of the heart. The story closely follows two people who thought they were only friends, but through fate and family machinations soon discover they are the answer to each other’s long held hope of finding ‘the one’. How they reach that conclusion is the treat.

I’ve read Meg and Cait’s stories and I enjoyed both of them. This time around it’s Grace’s turn. The one consistent trend about Ms. Admirand’s series is that each one is a solid standalone. Every book embraces well developed, believable and likeable people who find love when they least expect it. The dialogue is the window to their souls and the key to understanding what an amazing community the author created for her characters. There are important secondary characters that flavor the story and showcase the strengths of the main protagonists. Many have been woven in and out between all three of the books I’ve read and if you’re lucky to have read them all as I have, I believe that sense of connection increases the enjoyment. There is a benefit to having read the series to be sure, but Grace and Pat can hold their own and they do so, with style.
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Grace is the baby bird that flew from the nest thinking the world beyond was going to provide her the good life. The heroine is a hard worker, a bit of a data geek and a little self-conscious about her weight. She has a few insecurities and dreams many a reader can relate to. She also belongs to a loving family and Ms. Admirand was very effective in getting that across. It’s almost to the point of sugar-shock. But since I adore Meg and Cait and their very yummy husbands, I can forgive the overabundance of cotton candy sweetness. It sort of made me wish that a community that tightly woven and supportive truly existed in my own little part of the world. As it is, it worked for this book.

Pat is a firefighter with an emotional boulder on his back. He comes from a rather large and from the sounds of it, rambunctious and loving family as well. He’s great with kids, does his job to the best of his ability and he’s perfect for Grace. In fact, the descriptions of his physical prowess were hot-flash inducing at times. But for all that perfection, when it started to sound like he was too perfect, the poor hero totally botches it with Grace. It takes a bit of help from his firefighter brothers and a bit of manly persuasion from Grace’s side to make the man see sense. In fact, that whole scene towards the end was extremely well written. I could envision all that went into waking Pat up and making him coherent enough to listen to reason. It brought him back down to earth and I liked him all the more for it.

There is a bit of light drama that I believe served to illustrate just how strong a character Grace was, how amazing and close the community was and poked a bit at another aspect of Grace and Pat’s personalities. The author chose to use it as a tool to make a point without deviating from the basic fact that Welcome Back to Apple Grove is 100% a romance story about two people falling in love. They don’t fight it with false insecurities. The author kept all over the top internal angst and drama out of it. This is a book that is a pleasure to read because it’s about love: falling in love, being in love and exploring every little delightful nuance.

For readers who enjoy moments when a hero and heroine satisfy their built up yearnings and desires culminating with doing the sheet rumba and the sexy truck tango, this book delivers. Ms. Admirand knows how to make her heroine swoon and a reader right along with her.

Conflicts are mostly light and internal. I could understand one of Grace’s. Pat’s, on the other hand, seemed too drawn out for my tastes. I agree it’s a good and believable conflict, but it seemed to me, based upon his internal POV that he would have been ready to share it, hint at it, or deal with it earlier on. And, I might have missed it, but I would swear that one of the things that Grace was also reticent to disclose, about her own hurt, never was revealed to the hero. So if there was no intent to reveal it, why give it any importance at all, right? Other than those two items, this book was a smooth reading experience.

Welcome Back to Apple Grove is a romance reader’s guilty pleasure. It’s fun, entertaining, lighthearted and thoroughly driven by love. This is a feel good book, meant to take a reader on a journey where they can smile, relax and enjoy and forget about life’s cares for a while. I heartily recommend this story for those reasons. It’s a little treasure.

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The Trouble with Christmas by Debbie Mason

November 19, 2013 By 1 Comment

TROUBLE
The Trouble with Christmas by Debbie Mason
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Full Length (380 pgs)
Heat Level: sensual
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

It will take a Christmas miracle to melt her heart.

Resort developer Madison Lane is about to lose the one thing she loves most in the world—her job. Dubbed “The Grinch Who Killed Christmas,” Madison spoiled a deal that would turn quaint Christmas, Colorado, into a tourist’s winter wonderland. Now the citizens want her fired but the company gives her one last chance, sending Madison to the small town to restore the holiday cheer.

For Sheriff Gage McBride, no hotshot executive from New York City is going to destroy the dreams of the people he loves. But one look at this beautiful woman and it’s his heart that may be broken. In just a few days, Madison causes more trouble than he’s had to deal with all year. He can’t decide if she’s naughty or nice, but one thing is for certain—Christmas will never be the same again…

For those who do not want http://secretworldchronicle.com/tag/mercurye/ generico levitra on line to turn to the online pharmacies. Dose: tadalafil soft secretworldchronicle.com is accessible in three qualities; 5mg, 10mg and 20mg. It functions by increasing the body’s capability of metabolizing ammonia is potentially very serious, and any cheapest levitra prices supplement that can help prevent this is valuable. Almond milk, enriched with aphrodisiac ingredients is one of them. india viagra generic pop over here Madison Lane is an accountant that can analyze whether a development will pay off. She doesn’t do pie-in-the-sky projects and there must be sustaining revenue right up front. Developing the small town of Christmas is not cost-effective and she vetoes the idea. Her boss sends her to the town to explain why. She worried about leaving his nephew behind since he is trying to take her job away from her. She should have worried more about the residents of Christmas…

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’m very impressed by her character development, sense of humor and plotting. This story makes sense and has a cute romance between Madison and the sheriff intertwined with the nephew’s plan to own the town.

If you enjoy tough old women and silly old men, this is a story for you. Madison comes into town driving a rental rig on ice, tries to avoid hitting a deer and manages to knock over their big Santa sign welcoming people to town. They’ve already named her the “Grinch Who Killed Christmas” and now she’s telling them she killed Santa because she was trying to avoid hitting Rudolph. With humor like this, how can you not laugh?

The story is filled with ridiculous plots and an extended stay for Madison in this small town she hates. The longer she stays, the more the people touch her heart. The nephew may have evil intentions, but she doesn’t.

If you’ve ever worked on a big project, it’s not unusual for the people who are opposed to change their minds about midway through the discussion. Sometimes the presenter does the same thing. The author uses that concept to take those who hated Madison from the beginning and changing them into becoming her supporters. The ending is particularly gratifying.

Ms. Mason wraps this book up as if it were a very prettily wrapped package. Why not open the pages and have a Christmas present early?

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The Secret Diary of Sarah Chamberlain by Sarah Norkus

November 18, 2013 By 14 Comments

SARAH
The Secret Diary of Sarah Chamberlain by Sarah Norkus
Publisher: Living Ink
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Historical, Suspense/Mystery, Inspirational
Length: Full Length (199 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

In the year 2008, fifteen year-old Emily Grace (Em) discovers a secret hiding place under a wooden plank in the attic of an old house in Petersburg. It conceals a 150 year-old-diary belonging to Sarah Chamberlain, the previous owner of the house. Carefully turning to the last entry, Em’s interest is piqued by the mention of missing confederate gold and a murder mystery. She slips the diary into the pocket of her capris.

As she reads the diary, Em is touched by Sarah’s deep love for her husband, Robert. Emotionally, Em’s life is spinning out of control and the diary is a welcome distraction. Each day her faith slips further and further away as she blames God for the many trials and tribulations she has had to endure. After rereading the last page and Robert’s senseless murder, she has one more reason to doubt God’s love for his creation.Em slips the diary back in her pocket planning to return it to the attic before helping her mother clean the old house in Petersburg. While scrubbing black scuffmarks off the kitchen floor, Em has an emotional meltdown airing her list of grievances, including Robert’s murder, before God. As she shouts that she doesn’t believe he really exists, vertigo suddenly hits with a vengeance and she passes out. Regaining consciousness, Em is dumbfounded; the kitchen has been replaced by a nineteenth century parlor.

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Ms. Norkus mixes Civil War history, time travel, slavery, and a modern girl all together in a story that I found fascinating. The more of the diary she reads, the more Em gets caught up in Sarah’s life. When she finds out Sarah’s husband dies at the hands of the military, she is devastated.

The author makes Em a young woman who has begun to fall away from God and her church. She doesn’t believe God is there. None of her prayers get answered. Reading about Sarah’s husband Robert dying makes her angry and she shouts at God, giving Him her whole list of grievances. Em is fifteen and I remember what puberty was like; I cried all the time. Em carries a lot of anger. What she didn’t expect was to be transported back in time. Apparently God does listen. Going back 150 years means things are quite different there. She finds Sarah and they take her in but she has no real plan to save Robert.

The author works with the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, so her information about the times and practices of the era are accurate. The only hesitation I had about the story was that Em changes history while she’s there. And, any change you make in history would affect the future, but the only thing that really changed in the future was the diary and a sign. I had a difficult time believing nothing else was affected.

Overall, this is a very nice read and young women readers should find it fascinating. There’s history, the beginning of romance for Em and it has a happy ending. It also might lead them to read more about the Civil War era. The Christianity is lightly stated and not overwhelming. Why not give it a try and see what you think?

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