Exile by Anne Logston

November 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment

EXILE
Exile by Anne Logston
Guardian’s Key
Publisher: Mundania Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full length (226 Pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Neve has spent her life in the shelter of the Crystal Keep, developing her talent for magic and preparing to inherit from her father the Guardianship of this mysterious world.

With this post comes the remarkable magic of the Nexus. But control of the Nexus is an awesome and dangerous responsibility, and to prove that she is capable of manipulating its formidable energies, Neve must journey through the outside world to the home of the Keep’s creator.

Along the way, she will meet a handsome young sailor whose love and guidance are essential to her survival.
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And, in this brutal foreign land, she must confront the dark side of the Nexus … to claim the power that is her birthright.

Neve has lived her entire life in the shelter of the Crystal Keep preparing to inherit the Guardianship of this mysterious world from her father. But when she tries to create living dragons and ends up creating a colossal mess instead, her parents decide that she needs to leave the Crystal Keep and learn about the outside world. She is told to take a dangerous journey to prove herself worthy of inheriting the power of the Nexus.

Anne Logston has written an exciting, fast-paced story about a young woman’s journey to find her true destiny. Neve is a complex character, a bit spoiled, definitely stubborn, courageous, but at times terrified, and I really liked her. She is totally unaware of regular human life, and so it is easy for her to be taken advantage of, but she learns fast. She meets a young sailor named Ash who is as different from the normal humans as she is and together they work to conquer a series of trials.

The settings for this story are richly drawn in complete detail so I really felt as if I were in the middle of the action, dodging blows, fighting my way through jungles, sailing through storms, and trying to manage magic. I enjoyed the relationship between Neve and Ash as they each tried to figure the other out. Both of them are different and both have had to learn to cope with their differences. It was wonderful to see how their friendship and trust develops through their many trials and tribulations.

This is a very exciting book with a number of twists and turns in the plot which keeps the suspense building until the very end. I found that I was unable to put the book down and I read it in one sitting. I think fantasy readers will find Exile to be an excellent choice for a thoughtful and at the same time rivetingly exciting adventure. I look forward to reading more works by this author.

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

The Crowded Kingdom by Louella Dizon San Juan

November 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment

KINGDOM
The Crowded Kingdom by Louella Dizon San Juan
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (182 pages)
Age Recommendation: 6+
Rating: 4 Stars
Review by: Astilbe

Imagine that you and your sister wake up as tiny as dandelions and find there are elves and fairies living in New York City.

That is what happens in The Crowded Kingdom, where sisters Jada and Jinny find that someone or something has shrunk them to just a few inches tall!

In their quest to return to their normal size, the girls discover the crowded magical kingdom within New York City, that elves and children are very much like, and that a rebel purple fairy, with a passion for science and a penchant for power tools, could also be their friend. But Jada and Jinny also learn that the magical world has declared war on mankind, and that something more sinister than the old fairy rivalries…has awakened.

The Crowded Kingdom is a children’s fantasy for ages eight through eighty, and is the first in a series of books featuring the girl heroines, Jada and Jinny.

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What makes The Crowded Kingdom something I plan to read over and over again is the unforgettable imagery in it. From the creative explanation of why it’s sometimes so difficult for humans to walk up steps to the truth about what really happened to dragons over the last millennium, I chuckled my way through this engrossing adventure.

Jada and Jinny are brave, resourceful sisters whose reaction to their predicament is much calmer than mine would have been. Their ages are never directly stated, but I imagine them to be somewhere in the range of 6 to 9 years old. I really enjoyed watching these sisters take on new challenges as a team. They honestly seem to like one another as individuals, and while they don’t always agree on everything it was refreshing to see siblings get along so well.

Some footnotes eventually became distracting for me. Even though they contain factual information that enhances the reading experience (especially for the age group for which this book was intended), in some sections this writing style is used so often that it slows down the plot. I suggest skimming the footnotes to anyone reading this book aloud and only sharing the ones that their listeners are not already familiar with. In general the footnotes in the beginning were more helpful than the ones that occurred later on. This is a minor critique of an otherwise wonderful story, though.

While the first half of this tale may be quite appealing to younger readers, the age recommendation should not be ignored. The second half includes creatures and events that are far too frightening for toddlers and preschoolers. There is no upper age limit on this piece. Some of the references are actually meant for readers who are adults or much older kids, and the plot is complex enough to appeal to the whole family.

The illustrations in this book appear to be simple sketches at first glance, but after looking closer I realized how beautiful and appropriate they are for the scenes they highlight. More than once I found myself wishing I could see how the author imagines a particular event only to scroll down and have my wish fulfilled. I figured out early on that the author was also the person who illustrated this work. Her passion for this tale shines through in every stroke of her work, and I, for one, am eagerly anticipating future stories from her. The final pages assured me that Jade and Jinny will return for more adventures, and I can’t wait to discover what they do next.

I never wanted The Crowded Kingdom to end. This is an excellent choice for anyone who loves the fantasy genre, especially if they’re interested in a modern twist on old legends.

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

Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh

November 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment

HEAT
Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh
Psy-Changeling #2
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Genre: Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (340 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Cactus

Hailed as a major new talent in paranormal romance, Nalini Singh takes us deeper into the world of the Psy and the changelings in her latest extraordinary novel, where a gifted woman sees passion in her future – a passion that is absolutely forbidden by her kind…
Used to cold silence, Faith NightStar is suddenly being tormented by dark visions of blood and murder. A bad sign for anyone, but worse for Faith, an F-Psy with the highly sought after ability to predict the future. Then the visions show her something even more dangerous – aching need…exquisite pleasure. But so powerful is her sight, so fragile the state of her mind, that the very emotions she yearns to embrace could be the end of her.

Changeling Vaughn D’Angelo can take the form of either man or jaguar, but it is his animal side that is overwhelmingly drawn to Faith. The jaguar’s instinct is to claim this woman it finds so utterly fascinating and the man has no argument. But while Vaughn craves sensation and hungers to pleasure Faith in every way, desire is a danger that could snap the last threads of her sanity. And there are Psy who need Faith’s sight for their own purposes. They must keep her silenced – and keep her from Vaughn.

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Visions of Heat is the second book in the Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh. Although you could read this one on it’s own, I’d recommend reading the series in order to fully appreciate the various relationships and connections. Not to mention all the background and world building. The second book builds on the foundation and information offered in the first book. That said, I read the books back-to-back and I was definitely more annoyed with this book because of that. The two books are so similar it set my teeth on edge. Some readers definitely look for a familiar and comfortable formula with books and they may love that the second book so closely resembles with the first with a few obvious differences. For me, this hurt my enjoyment.

The book simply feels like a carbon copy of the first story. Here the gorgeous, but fragile Psy is Faith and her dominant, overbearing, highly sexual mate is Vaughn, a jaguar in a leopard clan. The two are immediately attracted to each other but must overcome the changeling’s hatred of all things Psy and Faith’s emotions slowly emerging. At the same time, there is yet another Psy serial killer that they must stop and Faith (of course) has a unique connection to the murders. These elements aren’t bad on their own and even together they can still make for an entertaining erotic romance for the right reader. I found myself frustrated by the obvious similarities when I wanted something more unique to each couple.

The writing is decent though I find it at times overly melodramatic and hyperbolic. There are also many overused phrases such as “nightsky eyes.” I wish the author had come up with a different descriptor, especially since the same phrase was definitely overused in the first book too. Here reading one book so close to the other easily affected my view and enjoyment of them both. I also got frustrated with the continual painting of the entire Psy clan as evil and wrong. There is no nuance or subtly to the characters, they’re very one dimensional and good or bad. There’s no in between.

What I did like about the book was its ease. I listened to it, rather than reading it, and found the narrator had a pleasant voice and was easy to listen to. The story was engaging enough to keep my attention but not complicated or intricate to need a lot of effort. There are a lot of sex scenes and a main focus of the story is the erotic romance. Faith slowly experiences an awakening of her emotions and needs – all Psy are virgins of course, but never have a bad first time – and Vaughn is the romantic jaguar that loves her to a ridiculous amount and will never let her go. The serial killer subplot keeps the players moving around and the book progressing forward while giving more insight into the secondary characters that will eventually have their own books.

While I didn’t love either this one or the first one in the series, it’s an easy series to read/listen to. It’s not great for me and it’s one I’ll need a lot of space between books to appreciate it more but it has the elements of popular series. It has a ton of romance and sex and those are the main focus with an action subplot to keep things interesting. I’d recommend it for fans that like more formula books and series.

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

A Change of Heart by Barbara Longley

November 6, 2013 By 14 Comments

MEDIA KIT Longley_ChangeHeart_FrontCover_Final
A Change of Heart by Barbara Longley
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full (312 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rated: 4 Stars
Review by Poppy

Cory Marcel worked tirelessly over eight grueling years to develop a successful military career. After her commanding officer violently assaulted her, she lost everything—especially her trust in people. Despite the emotional damage threatening to sink her, Cory agrees to accept a new job at a furniture store in Perfect—a job that could offer the fragile brunette the chance to start over.

Ted Lovejoy cofounded Langford & Lovejoy Heritage Furniture, but lately he feels like an outsider in his own business. When he meets Cory, Ted realizes his company can do more than just build furniture—it can also help rebuild lives. He longs to help Cory recover from her pain, yet every time he gets too close to her heart, she pushes him away.

While Cory can’t resist her attraction to Ted, she fears the demons haunting her will drag down both of them. Could this kind, soft-spoken man help her finally bury the past…and unlock a future full of hope and happiness?

A Change of Heart is one of the sweetest, most tender romances I’ve read in quite some time.

Cory was brutalized by her commanding officer while stationed overseas. Instead of keeping quiet about it (which is apparently expected), so brought charges against him in a highly publicized case. And because of it she lost everything.
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Now, back living in her mom’s mobile home, feeling like worthless “trailer trash” again, she’s drowning in despair until her lifelong friend, Brenda, comes along and shoves her back out into the world.

I really liked Brenda. She was a hoot and could make Cory do things like only a forever friend could. She truly saved Cory’s life. Along with “Bunny”, Brenda’s brother (and I admit I LOVED that nickname for a big, strong guy) Cory is dragged, kicking and screaming, into the world.

Cory was exceptionally and realistically created. She has to learn how to be human again. How to trust, to allow casual (and less than casual) contact with people, to realize really deep down that the world isn’t out to get her. She knows this in her head, but PTSD doesn’t come from the logical part of a person. Thankfully, she’s plopped down into a group of people who know what she’s going through: the veterans at L&L who’ve gone through similar things themselves.

The odd man out, “not a veteran”, Ted is the love interest for Cory. As much as I absolutely adored Ted–he was everything any woman would want–sometimes he seemed too perfect. Aside from the fact he was not a big, strong alpha male like typically seen in romances (which is good, since Cory would never have been attracted to that type after her experience), he just didn’t seem as if he had any flaws. My first impression of him was when he was talking to several of his employees, all veterans, and he stood with his back to the open door because he knew it made them all nervous, allowing them to keep their backs to the wall. It was interesting to see how well he understood them all since he wasn’t part of the “group”. His only show of being human was his frustration at being called “kid” and the lack of respect afforded him largely due to his relative youth and that he hadn’t served.

A Change of Heart is apparently part of a series, and while I didn’t feel lost, exactly, I could tell I was missing things that might have made this a much richer experience. We have couples, one of whom is expecting their first child, and allusions to the fact that everyone who’s stayed in the carriage house has fallen in love. The story is filled to the brim with secondary characters and I loved that — it’s why I adore choosing small town romances, because of that — but I knew that most of them were probably ones that had been included in the previous books. Again, there is no trouble at all following the story line, but I think you will realize that it’s part of a larger series.

Still, I really enjoyed my time in Perfect. The people were amazing, the story was the kind to make your heart sigh. Watching Ted and Cory fall in love, seeing how incredibly patient Ted was with her as she struggled to be normal again, chuckling over the other characters giving Ted grief, all the while circling their wagons a bit (Cory was warned not to hurt him because he’s such a great guy with a huge heart) … it made me hungry to go back and read the other stories in the series. And I suspect there’s another one coming up …

A Change of Heart is a book I recommend to people looking for a tender, touching romance with plenty of emotion. There are some difficult parts to read when Cory flashes back, and it may be tough for anyone who survived a similar assault to read, but it’s handled well and realistically.

Ms. Longley has done a stellar job with her creation of Perfect and the people who populate the town. I can’t wait for a return visit.

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

Echo Prophecy by Lindsey Fairleigh

November 6, 2013 By 8 Comments

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000037_00039]
Echo Prophecy by Lindsey Fairleigh
Book #1 of Echo Trilogy
Publisher: L2 Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (386 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Gardenia

Discover what’s hidden–a powerful, mythic race, an ancient Egyptian prophecy, and a love strong enough to shatter the boundaries of time.

Alexandra Larson isn’t human…but she doesn’t know that. As far as Lex is concerned, she’s simply an ambitious and independent archaeology grad student with a knack for deciphering ancient languages, especially the various forms of Egyptian. When she’s recruited to work on her dream excavation, her translating skills uncover the secret entrance to an underground Egyptian temple concealed within Djeser-Djeseru–the famous mortuary temple of Queen Hatchepsut. Lex is beyond thrilled by her discovery…as is the enigmatic and alluring excavation director, Marcus Bahur.
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As the relationship between Lex and Marcus heats up, a series of shocking revelations leave the young archaeologist reeling. Once Lex discovers the truth of her ancient Egyptian roots–the truth of her more-than-human nature–the people she trusts most make one final, terrifying revelation: Lex is the central figure of a four-thousand-year-old prophecy. She is the only thing standing between the power to alter the very fabric of time and an evil megalomaniac…who also happens to be her father. As events set in motion over four millennia ago lead Lex and Marcus from Seattle to the heart of Egypt, the fate of mankind depends on one thing: the strength of Lex’s love.

I feel like I just took a trip to Egypt. One of my dreams as a child was to become an archaeologist, so I could explore the Pyramids. Anything that dealt with Ancient Egypt excited and delighted me. If a reader is passionate about Ancient Egypt with a twist, there’s a good chance this book is going to please.

This story is set in contemporary times with a twist. The ability to explore the past, the present, and the future as an out of body experience is not something we humans can experience. The book’s characters are only partly human, therefore able to develop unique abilities. This is not what we might call time travel. Their ability is one that allows them to view but not participate. Only special ones can actually manipulate, mask, and smell, etc. during these exposures. I loved the ability they possess. They are able to help humanity avoid catastrophes. Although due to an evil faction masking of the Hitler era prevented them from foreseeing the impact would have on humanity, their purpose now is to prevent this ability from being taken away from them. This is a real threat as the evil faction lead by Set (Lexi’s biological father) attempts to usurp unknown power and control time to the detriment of humanity.

The developing love affair between Marcus and Alexandra (Lex) is a “slow simmer” coming to a boil that will embrace you in pure fire. Theirs is a love that has been in the making for centuries. Unbeknownst to Lex, she is the ultimate partner for Marcus. It takes her a while to accept her ancestors, parentage and her place in the hierarchy of this new race, including her purpose as a leader.

The historical facts the author uses in developing this story are accurate and factual, as we know them today. She just takes them and gives them a fantasy/sci-fi twist. She has creatively taken a spin that is both believable and engrossing. I was not able to put this book down once I started reading it.

I am eagerly awaiting book #2. I hope Ms. Fairleigh provides us with this book early in 2014!

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

Behind the Gem by Ken Hart

November 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

GEM
Behind the Gem by Ken Hart
Publisher: Gypsy Shadow Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (277 Pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Ripped from heart and home by galactic farmers, Ray and his co-workers are taken hundreds of light years across the galaxy and left to fend for themselves. When he begins hearing a voice in his head and is unjustly blamed for the deaths of his friends, he is separated from them by a mysterious silver pod and is led to a peaceful race of aliens called the Draasen. He experiences a new way of life with responsibilities and challenges that he never could have imagined. He is accepted into their society, but at a high cost to his dignity when he is led into protecting and birthing their eggs. When the galactic farmers arrive to take the Draasen population as fodder, the Draasen’s fate becomes entwined with that of the nearly extinct human race, and their struggle to survive.

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Ken Hart has written a wonderful story. He has created an entire world populated with what to Ray are alien beings in a highly intelligent matriarchal culture. I liked the Draasen and I found this alien world to be totally believable. Hart describes every aspect of the people and its world, so that it is easy for the reader to be fully present in it. I especially enjoyed the fact that the female implants her eggs into the male who becomes the birthing animal. Ray becomes the birthing animal for Amber, the Draasen High One, and the description of the process is very well done.

Ray obviously has a lot to learn and to adjust to, and his learning proves to be a great vehicle for the author as it allows the reader to learn first hand what it is like to enter into this alien world. At times I felt the action was a bit slow, although there was a lot of information to convey and Hart conveys it well, doing much more showing than telling. The suspense builds slowly throughout the novel as Ray realizes that something is happening within the culture which he is not privy to. When he finally does discover the hidden agenda, he is taken by surprise, and it takes him awhile to adjust to the new situation.

Lovers of fantasy are sure to find this to be an interesting read. The descriptions of a race totally alien to and more advanced than our own is fascinating. I certainly enjoyed the journey to the world of the Draasen.

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

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

November 6, 2013 By 1 Comment

SLAVE
Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
Psy-Changeling #1
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Genre: Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (340 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Cactus

In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of “rehabilitation” – the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was…

Penile erection ends when the cute-n-tiny.com cialis cost muscles contract and the blood comes from heart. You can use this herbal without any cute-n-tiny.com viagra no prescription fear of side effects. All these factors are directly and indirectly contributory to better erection and sexual performance. viagra in uk Glycation is an inflammatory biochemical process that takes place when generic cialis cipla the tiny arteries leading to the penile organ dilate. Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy coexistence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion – and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities – or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation…

Sometimes the thing you fear the most can be your saving grace. Sascha Duncan is afraid her mind is deteriorating and she’s on the brink of going mad. She’s doing everything she can to hide the fact from her powerful mother. To that end Sascha agrees to spy on a local changeling band of leopards in hopes for information. What she learns there may change her life forever. Lucas is the head of the Dark River leopard pack and he wants information from Sascha as well. Changeling women have been kidnapped and murdered and he wants answers. Together the two produce enough heat for an inferno but think they’re on the opposite side.

Slave to Sensation is the first book in the wildly popular Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh. I decided to read it based on a recommendation from another series I loved. Slave to Sensation has all the elements to make a very popular book and series, but I personally didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I liked it and felt it was fine but it didn’t resonate and connect with me the way it has with other readers, judging by how many times it’s been recommended to me. That said, I can see why it’s so popular and I’ll try to offer my own reactions balanced by what I instinctively can tell may work for other people.

To start the plot is basic but with enough interest to really draw readers in. I found it too basic and predictable myself but it has all the elements to balance out the heavy romance aspect. First the characters are from different races that hate each other. Sascha is a Psy, a race of mentally talented people that eschew all emotion. Very borg like but if each borg could think and act independently while still being connected. Or for those non-science fiction fans, like a beehive or an ant colony. She is actually starting to feel emotions and it makes her uneasy and frightened. She’s of course gorgeous, brilliant, kind, self-sacrificing, sensual, strong, and basically has no flaws. This bugged me as I like some more depth and dimension to my characters but it wasn’t so out of control that I hated her.

Lucas as a contrast is your very typical alpha male. Totally in control at all times, completely and utterly dominant, often irrationally so; frequently over protective forcing Sascha to prove her strength and ability despite his desire to keep her safe. He’s also madly in love with Sascha, his one true love that he’ll never let go and never live without. So there’s definitely some major romance and true love going on from the start with a heavy, heavy dose of erotica. The plentiful sex scenes are explicit. Here I quickly got bored with Lucas and Sascha. While I enjoy the concept of the stereotypes, they felt like every other romance couple with their status quo. It’s romantic for sure but nothing really new.

The non-romance plot involves a Psy serial killer preying on changeling women. Lucas and Sascha must work together to identify and stop the killer. This is a decent storyline and it helps incorporate a significant amount of background on the two races and how they came to be without information dumping. The killer is easy to pick out early on, he’s the only viable suspect, but the race to save a kidnapped woman and the threat to Sascha from her own people for defecting helps carry the action and tension along. It was a decent first book but the overly familiar elements and perfect main characters kept me from really engaging and loving the series. I can see why others do though and readers’ tastes vary.

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

Mr. Right Now by Kristina Knight

November 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

RIGHT
Mr. Right Now by Kristina Knight
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length; Full Length (170 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Gardenia

The wrong guy might be just right for her.

When her celebrity boyfriend of three years dumps her and claims he’s now gay, unlucky-in-love author Casey Cash decides to get out of New York. A cruise seems like the perfect escape: everyone onboard will be locked away from television, newspapers and internet gossip pages, allowing her some much needed relaxation. There’s only one problem: her oh-so-helpful agent has hired a male escort for her…and a big NYC paper has sent a pesky reporter on-board, vowing to get the dirt.

Unmatched Optics Optical performance that can be trusted is the primary demand of most users and the Vortex Viper HD Binoculars is preferred by many. discount cialis Abortion features generally were prescription viagra without to provide a man stronger and longer erection. And considering no doctors, pills or shots are necessary with male enhancement pills, they viagra order shop are more a convenient and more effective than other generic drugs of other brands. He Find Out More purchase of levitra had no insecurity issues and was perfectly comfortable with his girl talking to other guys. Mason Drury doesn’t want to write an expose on Casey, but he’s in a bind. After a source flipped on him, he’s persona non grata at his newspaper. Celebrity trash or not, this story will put him back on top. Too bad he finds himself breaking the first rule of reporting by getting attached to his subject and letting bias influence his story.

Casey’s much more interested in sexy Mason than the annoying escort who’s bunking in her room. Mason might even have romantic potential if she can shake her well-meaning—but nosey—fans. Oh, and that reporter. She’s got to avoid him at all costs…

Dumped by her boyfriend, humiliated in the press, lonely and afraid, Casey is at the end of her rope. Taking this cruise through the Caribbean should be just what the doctor ordered so she can relax. What ensues is anything but relaxing.

I need to warn you that you need a little suspension of disbelief when reading this novel, after all this is not reality but a romance novel. Having said that, this story is fast moving, entertaining, and full of emotions of all kinds.

Mason is a “book boyfriend” worth remembering. He is handsome, well built, intelligent, and most of all, kind. He and Casey could be said to have been struck by the “thunderbolt”. From the moment they meet, the chemistry between them cannot be denied. Casey is alarmed by how attracted she is to this stranger. She is unable to keep her clothes on and her hands to herself when she is alone with him. Mason is no less affected. He is driven to her and is unable to stop himself.

The plot evolves as misinformation, lies, and coincidence contributes to a “comedy of errors”. In an age where finding Mr. Right is sometimes impossible, finding Mr. Right Now provides a means to finding sexual release without commitment… or is it? Sometimes finding Mr. Right is just a cruise ship away!

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

A Thousand Years of Johnny Von by Edith M Cortese

November 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

VON
A Thousand Years of Johnny Von by Edith M Cortese
Publisher: Trumpet Boy Press
Genre: Contemporary, Historical
Length: Full Length (420 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rated: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Sure, Johnny Von is a real life movie star on the rise, but that’s no reason to think he won’t fall in love with Estella? Right? I’m mean, she’s nice, and genuine, and probably pretty enough. After all, this could be what the universe has been planning for her, placing her on the quiet, light dappled street where he lives, walking dogs in the Hollywood Hills. This could be why, at 33, she is still single, why the International Playboy wasn’t the ‘one!’ The universe has been saving her for THIS! The only hitch is that in order to fall in love, Estella will have to talk to Johnny Von. It’s going to be a problem. And not just a logistics problem, being that she is a dog walker with tendencies towards shyness and he is a big, beautiful movie star. Creating a meeting is one thing, but actually opening her mouth to speak to him is going to be an Everest of a challenge for Estella! If only he were someone like, say, Johnny Von the Priest, battling his faith in 1574 in love with a young orphaned Estella, or Johnny Von the Bossman in 1901 and Estella was a young girl running the plantation, all on her own. Yep. That would be easier. If it was 1592 and he was a Venetian Silk Trader and she was a famous courtesan! She would really have confidence then. Or 2574, and Johnny Von the Scientist is about to save the world by solving Xbox 6000! So, maybe Estella doesn’t have a network of supportive girl friends to bolster her confidence, but she has the dogs. She has Moochie. And, she is about to learn that sometimes that’s all you need, the love of a good dog and a little imagination…to get you where you need to be; to get you home to the big love that’s meant to be yours.

He’s every man and he’s hot… but is he enough for her?

It’s been proven to help guys with all degrees of viagra buy usa more information ED. viagra 100mg for sale It is found in two categories–tablet and jelly. You are advised to stop intake of processed viagra from uk foods. History of Sildenafil Years back, it was first discovered by Pfizer scientists Andrew Bell, David Brown, and Nicholas Terrett and was utilized as a medicine to treat Erectile buy viagra tabs Dysfunction, provides quick and effective response. Edith Cortese is a new to me author. I wasn’t sure what I was going to get when I picked up this book. It sounded cute and interesting, so I nabbed it. I’m glad I did. There were a few quirks that kept me from fully enjoying it, but it was worth the read.

First, there’s Johnny. He’s every man, but he’s still got that quality of Hollywood that comes across as being a bit of a jerk. There’s good in him that Estella sees, but there’s also a veneer that’s not so great. He’s got issues, which makes him relatable and I liked seeing “Johnny” through the years, but at times it got a tad distracting.

I liked Estella. She’s easy to relate to because she’s got issues, too. But she’s like most women. She’s unsure of herself and sometimes unsteady in social situations. She’s also got a plan. She’s quirky and when she’s working hard to get what she wants, it’s fun to see what happens.

I do have to mention this is written in first person present tense. I’m not wild about this style of writing so it was distraction for me. But, might not be for everyone. I like seeing what’s happening from both the hero and heroine’s point of view. I’m greedy that way. *Grin*. I understood what the author was trying to do by showing the different “Johnny” characters, but at times it got a little too much to take. I had to reread to make sure I caught everything.

Still, this book has a little for everyone. Estella is fun to read. I liked Moochie, the dog, the best. If you want an afternoon beach read, then this might be the book for you.

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

Trust by Tim Mettey

November 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment

TRUST
Trust by Tim Mettey
Publisher: Kenwood Publishing Group
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, YA
Length: Full Length (350 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Nicholas Keller has come to terms with his Thusian heritage and has finally achieved some normalcy in his life. But when new neighbors move in next door at the beginning of his junior year, everything changes. He is launched into an impossible search, uncertain of who to trust, and this time it’s not just his own life that hangs in the balance—it’s the lives of countless others and everyone he loves.

For effective results, take the dose on empty tadalafil cheapest stomach and avoid alcohol or fatty foods may delay the effects of the drug and hence should be avoided. For those who find levitra 60 mg important site it uneasy to swallow tablets. The 5 -reductase levitra online inhibitors finasteride and dutasteride are another treatment option. For more effects you overnight cialis tadalafil should be sexually stimulated. Having survived his sophomore year – if only just – Nicholas Keller is back and ready for his junior year of high school, and all the usual drama that comes along with it. When new neighbors move in next door, he’s force to reevaluate all he knew to be true before. Nicholas’ biggest issue? Learning who he can trust and who he should steer clear of while searching for the answers that might just change the course of everything.

Nicholas has come a long way since we first met him in Secrets. He’s become more mature, a bit more worldly, and he’s finally at ease with himself. Despite this, he still has a tendency to overreact to the slightest of things. That said, he is a teen and I think that, to an extent, is part and parcel of being a teen. His increasing independence is a nice show of character growth, even if he sometimes uses that independence to be a bit reckless.

Cora takes a bit of a back seat in this sequel, however, we are introduced to so many new characters that it’s not as big of a loss as it could have been. I liked getting to know Elle better and seeing her flourishing relationship with Nicholas added just the right amount of softness to an otherwise action-based story.

The author answers some questions laid out in the first novel as well as hits you up with a few new ones, always a good way to hook the reader in for the long haul. He also has quite a knack for slipping surprises in on you in a way that they really catch you off guard, which is always a fun thing when reading as far as I’m concerned. Trust still suffers from a few of the flaws I found in the predecessor, Secrets, however, I also believe that the dialogue has smoothed out since the first novel as well. Overall, the quality of the story trumps the few technical stumbles you encounter.

Trust is an exciting and action-packed sequel to Secrets. I cannot wait to see what Nicholas Keller is up to next.

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