The Highlander by Terry Spear

October 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

HIGHLANDER
The Highlander by Terry Spear
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (203 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Anora, the shepherdess, finds a half-naked man in her bed, so what’s a woman living alone in a cottage in the Lowlands of Scotland supposed to do? Prod him with her pitchfork to chase him off! Only the man is not just a traveler seeking her bed for a rest—but a wounded Highlander, who fights back, swinging his sword!

Niall MacNeill is searching for a Frenchwoman of nobility to escort to his cousin’s castle for safekeeping, when he and his friend, Gunnolf, are attacked by another Highland clan, seeking the same woman. The other Highlanders wish to sell her to the highest bidder—English or French—it does not matter.

Niall takes refuge in a sheepherder’s cottage to heal up from his wounds and discovers the shepherdess taking care of him may very well be the woman he seeks. He has no intention of doing anything but what his cousin requests of him—ensure her safety on their way to Craigly Castle—but when the lass so bravely wields her pitchfork at him, he is thinking of other, more interesting possibilities.

Having a heroine as a shepherdess is a very unique angle I’d never seen before. A woman more at home with her sheep and a dog than with her fellow man has either relationship issues or something to hide. In this case, it’s something to hide; and its discovery was an interesting journey.
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Niall is kin of the Laird of Craigly castle. This tale is part of a series loosely based on following the male kin of the Laird on their rocky road towards finding their wives. So far, every single novel has been interesting, entertaining, and all are complete standalones. This one is very much a standalone read and continues the thread of a strong willed yet honorable Highland warrior finding his match in an equally strong heroine who isn’t a pushover no matter how sexy the hero might be. In Niall’s case, he’s a very determined and focused man who just happens to be sexy, and he knows it.

Anora is the unusual heroine. She’s different because she lives alone, tends her sheep and prefers her life to be exactly as it is – controlled and predictable. She’s independent, feisty, and is self-assured. Thing is, her life isn’t at all what a reader is first lead to believe. Yes, she’s hiding something. And yet, she’s not. She’s been herself for so long that being any other way is an anathema to her. Eventually, she’s going to have to face the truth and all that it entails. The heroine has choices to make and they aren’t the light and fluffy kind.

I think that’s what made Anora an interesting character. The author slowly fed me tidbits of who she might really be and as the story unfolded, allowed certain facts that supported the possibility to be revealed. It was the interaction between the heroine and Niall after each reveal that made for engrossing reading, mostly because each time something came to light, it affected their roles and their relationship to each other. It’s how they worked around it or with it to get beyond the conflict that it created which contributed to the effectiveness of the romance plot.

I enjoyed the dialogue between both Anora and Niall because it made their personalities come to life. I liked their teasing banter because it illustrated how close they were becoming. Add in the silly jibes Niall and Gunnolf traded between each other and it further reinforced how likable they all were as characters. Even Charlie, the dog, was highly entertaining and his furry personality came through quite clear. Scenes where Charlie interacted with Anora, Niall and Gunnolf were some of my favorite parts because I could “see” them happening for real. Ms. Spear wrote the dog’s antics very true to life.

Not everything jived for me during the book. I am not sure how to describe the off-note feeling I received. I thoroughly enjoyed the romance and felt it was the strongest element of the whole book. The conflict was a good choice and it was believable. It was the execution of the characters that provided some elements of the conflict that didn’t feel quite right to me. Matthew annoyed me and his actions confused me. Throw in Pierre and the Baroness and again, I wasn’t comfortable with how they were written. I think it’s possible that there was too little information about them coupled with their sudden appearance and how supposedly they were super important to the overall plot conflict that didn’t make it work for me 100%. I understand from the heroine’s POV that there was no real way to differentiate between friend or foe, especially when everyone except Niall and Gunnolf were acting as foe. That’s the feeling I got. I was waiting for the drama and suspense to feel like balancing on the edge of sharpened knife, instead it felt more like walking on a plank – only a little precarious. The only times I felt antsy with suspense were the sword fights and the river scene. Those were pretty cool and I liked that the drama and action were so strongly written. It’s a good example of the tighter quality of writing I’m used to seeing from Ms. Spear.

One thing that did not disappoint is when Anora and Niall finally take the physical step. Nothing about the heroine is typical and the same can be said for her first intimate encounter. The location and what lead up to that moment was handled in a unique and thoroughly satisfying manner. The hero is an unusual combo of practical and romantic gestures all wrapped into one sexy package.

The Highlander is a charming and delightful romance. It’s a tale filled with sexy shenanigans, dramatic sword play and interesting characters. I enjoyed getting to know the hero and heroine and felt they were the strongest component in the tale. The Highlander has an adorable happily ever after full of cheek and saucy seduction and is the perfect ending for both Anora and Niall. The book also provided hints as to the kind of woman that would intrigue Gunnolf, the Viking. His is a story that I avidly look forward to reading. I can’t even begin to imagine the kind of heroine that would fit him. The one thing that Ms. Spear always provides, no matter what, is a solid, entertaining and attention-grabbing romance. She accomplished that with this novel; I can’t wait to find out what’s next.

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

To Have and To Hold by Leigh Greenwood

October 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

HAVE
To Have and To Hold by Leigh Greenwood
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (365 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

The Blaine brothers learned how to survive at a young age the hard way. But after a life of working odd jobs, Colby thinks he might just be ready to settle down. Until his fiancé jilts him for a man with more money.

Naomi Kessling is already plagued by nightmares and a violent past when her wagon train is attacked. Colby saves her life, but Naomi is convinced he’s been sent by the army to arrest her for a crime she can’t remember.

Colby will help her face her nightmares, but will her love be enough to break down the wall he’s built around his heart?

On the Santa Fe Trail, Colby Blaine most likely saves the lives of the people in the Spencer’s Clearing wagon train; but Naomi Kessling does not trust him. He wears a Union uniform. Her horrific nightmare that comes night after night has a man in a Union uniform and blood everywhere. Accepting Colby Blaine as their leader after they lose their guide makes her uneasy. He is not like anyone she has ever known.
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Nineteen-year-old Naomi is a strong, independent, opinionated young woman who has run her father’s household since the death of her mother. Dr. Kessling depends on her as do her two brothers Ethan and Ben. She is a fixer of things that go wrong. She never expects others to do it for her. However, she is like the others from Spencer’s Clearing. None of them realize how difficult and dangerous life on the trail can be. As the story unfolds, she controls her fears and does what has to be done to help all of them survive life on the trail. Whether it is learning to ride a horse, crossing a rain swollen river full of debris even though she doesn’t know how to swim, tending the sick and wounded, or consoling the bereaved, she screws her courage to the sticking point and gets the job done. She becomes Colby’s ‘go-to’ person when he needs special help—he sees her worth and so much more.

Colby Blaine is a loner. He seeks isolation not wanting to be hurt like he’s been hurt in the past. His being abused by people who adopted him to make him fit an image they had of how he should be, plus, his one true love’s lack of loyalty and fidelity to him make him feel that for some reason he is not worthy of love. As his back story unfolds, one can see how these feeling came to be. However the urge to tell him to get over it; don’t mess up a chance for happiness is strong. He is capable, intelligent, open to learning, quick to solve problems, and handles people with respect and good humor most of the time. He is a natural leader that works to get the best out of the people he feels responsible for. The joy he gets from teaching Naomi new things that she need to know to survive on the frontier and from just spending time with her makes their time together seem so real one almost forgets To Have and To Hold is fiction.

The Spencer’s Clearing people are a strange lot. While they travel together and make decisions together, they are three distinct groups that don’t really like each other for some unknown reason. Their reason for leaving Spencer’s Clearing is somewhat of a mystery, but it seems to have something to do with what Naomi had done, something she cannot recall but she feels guilty and is sure it has to do with the recurring nightmare that makes her scream in her sleep.

Norman Spencer, the rich man of the group who feels he should order everyone around, and Cassie Greene, the young widow with a tiny baby and acts like a spoiled brat, are certainly memorable characters but for very different reasons. However, when the actions switches to Santa Fe, a unique story all its own unfolds with new characters—an antagonist to really, really dislike come to the fore, a remarkable, long-suffering soul to be admired comes on the scene, and adorable children who are told they are “misgotten” wiggle their way right into one’s heart.

The reader gets to see the true strength of character of both Colby and Naomi during this threatening, dangerous time.

Leigh Greenwood gives the reader all the things expected in a westward trek to new lands. He involves the reader in actions that make the heart jump up into one’s throat at times. Best of all he gives the reader a love that grows simply and steadily in every aspect of the hero and heroine—it reaches not only the emotional and physical but also the mental and spiritual—the forever kind of love that makes them strong and able to reach out to others with love and caring. To Have and To Hold is a keeper to be enjoyed more than once.

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

By Degrees by Elle Casey

October 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

DEGREES
By Degrees by Elle Casey
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (350 pages)
Heat Level: HOT
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Gardenia

Celebrities all suffer from the same disease. I call it the create-your-own-reality disease. Most of them start out normal, like you and me, but somewhere along the way they lose sight of up and down, left and right, and then eventually right and wrong.

It’s my job to fix that.

Who hires me? Agents usually. Producers sometimes. Occasionally a spouse or other concerned family member (although I’m usually skeptical of those calls, but that’s another story). They know they can trust me to be professional, discrete, and above all, not personally involved with my clients. I come in, I take over their lives, and I get them back on track. Help them remember what it’s like to be an average Joe.

I attribute my success to my take-no-prisoner’s attitude. I don’t have time for games or playing around. I’ve closed down every job in thirty days or less, and no one, not even the most outrageous celebrity screw-up will ever change that, hard as they might try.

Your whole focus is on the penis then naturally you cipla tadalafil can be prevented from ED. At cialis australia prices that time, liver bile is forwarded into gallbladder. At some point outlines are rejected and at some point any old spe cheapest online viagrat will do. Have a look, if you too are looking to get hard or stay hard ? He can have sex and take the pleasure as well as also satisfy your needs and you can feel much better cheap viagra after taking these pills. Case in point, my latest job acquisition: his friends call him Tear-It-Up Kilgour, but I just call him Tarin – lead singer and guitarist for the band By Degrees. I have thirty days to get his butt back on planet earth before he loses his record deal, his movie contract, and possibly even his life.

I’ve never failed so far, and I don’t plan on failing this time either, even if Tarin has other ideas.

Scarlett Barnes has another name she goes by sometimes. People call her The Normalizer when they need her to take care of a certain kind of problem. A certain kind of Hollywood problem.

She is the pro and they call her The Normalizer. She is the one they call when everything else has failed. She always gets the results she wants. She is Scarlett Barnes and she does this in the memory of lover she was not able to help. Her methods are not orthodox, requiring complete control over the life of her charge. She can hire and fire people…if you are fired, you will NEVER be allowed back. This is how she can guarantee results. No one who is enabling the drug addiction will ever be allowed to destroy the work that she does rehabilitating her charge.

Tarin and his current girlfriend, Jelly, are both at the point where their impending downfall is just a breath away. The complex relationship that develops between Scarlett, Tarin and Jelly is the driving force in this story. Jelly is the enabler, refusing to admit that drugs and alcohol are killing her. Scarlett is trying to save Tarin and so Jelly must go if she continues to enable the drug use.

The author makes us feel the pain of the addict, as Jelly continues to use drugs and loses all her integrity trying to score her next fix. It’s frightening to see how her addiction had her in such a stronghold that she was physically unable to think about anything else but her next fix.

At certain points in the story, I was ready to knock Tarin in the head to make him realize how he was throwing his life away. However, as the story continued, I felt deeply for him and his struggle to clean up, as I began to understand the guilt he was carrying. The feelings Tarin and Scarlett share lead him to understand his addiction and hope for a new beginning.

This book is an honest look at drug and alcohol abuse and the effects it has on everyone’s lives. The journey is not an easy one. The author does a stupendous job of showing us how the addict has to struggle to remain sober and clean, focusing solely on controlling the urges to score or drink while reaching for life through hope of a new beginning. There is death, betrayal, suicide, but there also is renewal and hope, which in the end makes the journey worthwhile.

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

Oliver Muncing, Exorcist by John Paulits

October 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

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Oliver Muncing, Exorcist by John Paulits
Publisher: Solstice Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (150 pages)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Review by: Astilbe

After a catastrophic invasion of elementals from “the other side” kills his grandfather and leaves him crippled, Oliver Muncing vows to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and dedicates his life to investigating other-worldly phenomena.

The problem with piercing the veil and connecting with the spirit world is that not all supernatural beings have good intentions, as Oliver is about to find out.
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Imagine trying to prevent others from doing something they don’t realize is extremely hazardous. Most of the people in Oliver’s world don’t realize that seeking out the spirit world is fraught with danger until they’ve invited something into their homes they can’t control. Oliver’s responses to these emergencies aren’t always graceful, but seeing him leap to action to save strangers made me wish his adventures would never end. The first chapter in particular was so intense that I couldn’t imagine where the author intended to take the plot once that scene ended. It was rewarding to see how quickly Oliver leaps from one case to the next as well as how he handles the elementals he meets who are not necessarily friendly beings.

This is a fast-paced, plot-centered novel that is far more concerned with how Oliver relates to the elementals than his personal development. While I was able to intuit a thought-provoking explanation for Oliver’s sometimes obsessive habits it would have been nice to have my theory clearly confirmed or disproven at some point. Had the author included a few additional scenes to explore and further develop Oliver’s idiosyncrasies I would have easily given this tale a Best Book rating.

The foreshadowing, atmosphere, and pacing were absolutely perfect for the sci-fi/fantasy and horror genres. Mr. Paulits knows exactly how to slowly build tension through the addition of small detail that in any other type of story could easily be brushed off as mere coincidence. I had not heard of this author before reading Oliver Muncing, Exorcist, but now that I’ve been introduced to him I can’t wait to read his back list.

If you love supernatural horror I highly recommend checking out Oliver, Muncing, Exorcist. It’s spooky atmosphere and diverse cast of otherworldly beings is an excellent tonic for anyone in the mood to be frightened.

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

Fabrick by Andrew Post

October 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

FABRICK
Fabrick by Andrew Post
Publisher: Medallion Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery, YA
Length: Full Length (604 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

Clyde has worked for Mr. Wilkshire for a very long time. Life is comfortable in his keeper’s chateau—until Mr. Wilkshire is attacked. Clyde goes into hiding and emerges to find his only friend dead.

Brokenhearted and clueless how to bring Mr. Wilkshire’s killer to justice, Clyde accepts the help of a unique group of friends, including Flam the Mouflon treasure hunter and Nevele the royal stitcher. Throughout their adventure, Clyde learns he isn’t alone in this world with his magical ability: there are others like him called fabrick weavers, and for all it is both a special gift and a curse. His gift is to ease the conscience of anyone who makes a confession to him, but the curse is that the person’s luck will be reduced in proportion to the severity of the offense.

Having left his pampered life behind to set things right, Clyde joins his new friends traveling into the razed city of Geyser, into the labyrinthine world beneath, and to the palace beyond. Along the way, the group deals with an unrelenting maniac pursuer, a corrupt king, a band of pirates, a small army of guardsmen, and just a few million dog-sized bugs—all while hopefully managing to avoid jinxing their own members.

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Clyde is an interesting creation. He needs no food or sleep, he can’t love anyone or he forgets them, and he’s spent his life hidden away. He can listen to your troubles and make you feel better, but he also gives you bad luck. He has no idea why would anyone sweep into the yard and kill the man who was raising him. And why did he need to hide away for three weeks?

This is a unique story, I’m impressed. I read a lot of fantasy/science fiction books and some plots seem to dribble together. This one stands alone and stands proud. Mr. Post has created a world that is different but his characters are the ones that are unique. You need to open your mind wide to get into this story and really appreciate it.

Pirates and their associates are the ones who have killed his master. He’s never been outside the walls of their compound, so how’s he going to survive? He finds some hope when he finds this Mouflon pilfering anything of value in the house and around the property. He’s huge, has horns, and also has a big appetite. By accident, he agrees to help Clyde, and then he’s stuck. He has to honor his word.

As they travel across the destroyed world, they meet other interesting creatures: Mice that can become one entity and travel as person, and a stitcher who can weave her own being into tools like twine or rope to help with Clyde’s quest. All Clyde wants to do is find the man who killed his master, but that changes as he travels.

This story is well written, full of tension, and full of friendship built from nothing but strangers working together. Mr. Post has created a good team. This imagined world has a lot of depth, a lot of danger, and death is common. It makes a great adventure. The part that really pleases me, as a reader, is that there has to be a sequel. Too many questions are still unanswered. And there’s another character in the shadows that must be going to run across Clyde sooner or later. I’m more than willing to go on another wild ride with Clyde!

I really enjoyed this read. Why not share this unique world with your young adult reader? (I won’t tell if you read it, too.)

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

How to Handle a Highlander by Mary Wine

October 25, 2013 By 2 Comments

HIGHLANDER
How to Handle a Highlander by Mary Wine
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (298 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Moira Frazer is betrothed to a man who is old enough to be her father, but it’s her duty to her clan to marry him, and she’s determined to see this through…until she meets Gahan Sutherland.

Gahan knows this match is designed to start a feud between the clans, which is why he decides to stop the wedding. But when Moira awakens a passion within him that he never knew existed, he realizes that the outcome of this perilous situation will determine the future of his own happiness.

As trust and honor clash with forbidden attraction, manipulations, rivalries, and schemes will threaten to blow the Highlands sky high…

The obstacles are mind-boggling—mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual—that Gahan Sutherland and Moira Fraser must overcome to share a love that feels so right but is deemed to be so wrong. These two ‘wrong-side of the blanket’ characters come from very different upbringings but there is an immediate connection the first time they meet. Good reading indeed!

What a Highlander will do to get the woman he loves and craves sets a string of events in motion that takes the reader to the cold north in Scotland where greed and the struggles for power fuel manipulations that chill the blood at times. In late fifteenth century Scotland, the old Scottish ways and the oppressive new English rule rubbed abrasively together creating a breeding ground for feuds.

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Gahan’s mother was Lytge Sutherland’s true love though not his wife, but by Highlander custom Lytge claims Gahan as his own just like he claims Norris, the son of his wife. Lytge understands love and can relate to Gahan’s actions, but he holds his son to duty to the clan. Yet he looks the other way long enough to let nature take its course with Gahan and Moira. When push comes to shove, the Sutherlands stand together against all odds.

The Fraser clan, ruled by Bari Fraser, is entirely different. A type of insanity seems more evident in Fraser after the loss of his beloved sister Sandra. He had always used and abused his half-sister Moira; but when he insists she marry a man old enough to be her grandfather, she is horrified. She’d learned to endure the pain he inflicted on her and considered refusing until he threatens reprisal on the clan—the people she loves and feels duty bound to protect—if she doesn’t comply.

She bows to his order that she marry the crafty, crude, ugly old Achaius Matherson. Gahan Sutherland is at the wedding and recognizes Fraser intent to form an alliance with Matherson then start a feud with the Sutherlands because of what had happened to Sandra. Although Gahan knows Fraser is the enemy, he is drawn to Moira and longs to snatch her away and make her his own. In a secluded place, he waits for Moira and tells her not to marry then gives her a kiss that sends sweet ripples all through her like nothing she’d ever felt before. His power both inside and out fascinate her. She wants him, but tells him he should not teach her how to kiss like that when she must wed another.

Since I read some of Mary Wine’s other Highlander stories, I recognized some of the secondary characters and enjoyed catching up with what had transpired in their lives such as Saer MacLeod and Daphne who play important roles in Gahan and Moira’s story. Another character I enjoyed is Cam. He stands steadfast by Gahan. Cam is Gahan’s half-brother, the son of his mother. He is Gahan’s bodyguard whether Gahan wants a bodyguard or not—making private matters not too private at times.

How to Handle a Highlander is chock full of evil manipulation, breathtaking love scenes, events at court with the young English king, making and breaking of alliances, and so much more. It is a gripping tales of a turbulent time in the history of Scotland. BUT most of all, it is an incredible love story of two strong characters, though bound by duty and honor; find a way to reach their happy-ever-after.

Mary Wine weaves a tapestry of a tale with adrenaline-pumping action, political manipulation, sweet and spicy love scenes, clan culture, a touch of humor, and a twist and turn here and there that makes one say, “Really!”

Super satisfying romance reading!

 

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

Operation: Date Escape by Lindsey Brookes

October 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment

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Operation: Date Escape by Lindsey Brookes
Publisher: Self
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full
Heat: Spicy
Rated: 3.5 stars
Review by Poppy

Since her divorce two years before, Kelsie Collins has been determined to guard her heart and steer clear of seemingly ‘perfect’ men. An easy task considering the kind of men her matchmaking mother and her best friend, Nanci, keeps setting her up with. She allows them to set her up, knowing their hearts are in the right place and that there is no risk of her letting any man close enough to hurt her again. Her growing experience in ways to slip out of those ‘dates from hell’ prompts her to start writing a bad date survival guide. One aptly titled – OPERATION: DATE ESCAPE. And it’s during one of those escapes that sexier than sin firefighter Cole Maxwell comes to her rescue.

Cole isn’t sure what to think when the sexy redhead he’s just ‘rescued’ from a bad date informs him that he’s too ‘perfect’ to date. That’s a first. He’s had relationships end because the women couldn’t handle the risks that go along with his chosen profession, but never because he’s too perfect.

When his crew gets called out to rescue someone who is stuck in a tree, Cole finds himself once again coming to Kelsie’s rescue. This time he’s not about to let her get away without agreeing to give him a chance, even holding her high heels hostage to make it happen. She finally gives in and things heat up between them like a 3-alarm fire. But there’s more than passion between them and Cole sets out to prove to Kelsie that he’s nowhere near ‘perfect’, but he is the ‘perfect’ man for her. Can he get past the wall she’s built up around her heart? Or will he end up being just another chapter in her book of men she ran from?

So, they invest generico cialis on line more millions in establishing the cause. This is the online viagra basic demand for patients with various kinds of diseases. Film Connection Los Angeles Film School 6253 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA (800) 755-7597 School psychologists help children and the youth succeed academically, socially, and cialis viagra generico emotionally. What do Snoop Dogg and Sylvester Stallone have in common? Unfortunately it’s not a hot new musical viagra professional uk collaboration. Operation: Date Escape is a fun read for any time you just want to escape and smile. Kelsie is a nice girl who just wishes her mom would stop setting her up with any man she meets. She’s divorced and determined to never risk her heart again, but can’t seem to say no to the dozens of blind dates she keeps having with unacceptable men.

Hence her “date escapes”. She keeps a notebook of them … ways to get out of a bad date without hurting the feelings of the guy she’s with. Okay, so maybe climbing out the window of the bathroom of a strip joint isn’t very subtle, but she did get to see that hot fireman again. Too bad he’s perfect. She has a real problem with perfect men … her ex-husband was one and look how that turned out. The author definitely showed some creativity with her date escapes and I wouldn’t mind reading the book Kelsie was writing. I bet it would be a hoot.

I have to say I loved Cole. He really was perfect. I don’t think he had one flaw. Handsome, smart, funny, patient, heroic, determined … in fact, I think the only time I thought he might actually be human was at the very end. As much as I loved him, though, I really wish he’d have had something wrong with him to make him more real.

I utterly adored Nanci, Kelsie’s best friend. She was smart-assed, straight talking and a hoot and I was tickled pink she hooked up (pretty much literally — Nanci’s all about sex all the time) with Cole’s buddy, Joe. They were quite possibly the best part of the book and made me laugh more than once. They were involved with Cole and Kelsie without being overtly manipulative, had some awesome one liners and just made me grin every time they showed up on the page. I hope they stick it out to their own HEA because, while they weren’t perfect, they sure were perfect together.

I wanted to smack Kelsie’s mom. I didn’t find her particularly endearing … I think I was supposed to, but between telling her daughter she needed a boob job, and shoving men at her all the time, refusing to listen to Kelsie, she just grated on me. I know moms aren’t perfect, but I kept thinking she’d grow and change a bit. And I really, really wanted Kelsie to tell her off.

The author is quite skilled with words. I have no complaints with the mechanics of the story. Her descriptions were perfect, her dialog real and believable, the editing was clean. She’s clearly amazingly talented and while I didn’t love the story (mostly because I spent much of the time wishing Kelsie would grow a spine), I’d absolutely pick up another book by her. Operation: Date Escape had its shining moments — and it’s a book I’d recommend to folks looking for a light, funny, sweet and romantic read.

 

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Don’t Want to Miss A Thing by Jill Mansell

October 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

MISS
Don’t Want to Miss A Thing by Jill Mansell
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (418 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Stephantois

Dexter Yates loves his fun, care-free London life; he has money, looks and girlfriends galore. But everything changes overnight when his sister dies, leaving him in charge of her eight-month-old daughter Delphi. How is he ever going to cope?

Comic-strip artist Molly Hayes lives in the beautiful Cotswold village of Briarwood. When it comes to relationships, she has a history of choosing all the wrong men. Leaving the city behind, Dex moves to Briarwood – a much better place to work on his parenting skills – and he and Molly become neighbours. There’s an undeniable connection between them. But if Dexter’s going to adapt, he first has a lot to learn about Molly, about other people’s secrets…and about himself.

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Don’t Want To Miss A Thing is yet another story filled with delightful characters who you grow to love as the plot progresses. Dex is a character who draws you in because he goes from playboy to dotting uncle and sometimes he melts your heart, sometimes you’re frustrated with him.

And then there’s Molly, his next door neighbor who you know is perfect for him and that’s part of the fun of reading this story.

Along with these two main characters, there are the secondary ones who are just as fascinating, and with problems of their own which provide interesting sub-plots.

The setting is also great and Ms. Mansell makes the quaint English village come to life. Dialogue as always was realistic, and despite this being over four hundred pages long, it’s fast paced.

If you’re looking for something to add to your fall reading list, this might be one for you to try.

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Mitchell’s Run by Amy Gallow

October 24, 2013 By 1 Comment

RUN
Mitchell’s Run by Amy Gallow
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (220 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed By Daisy

Cynthia Sheldon is a modern young woman. She does not believe in ghosts. When Andrew Mitchell rescues her from a blizzard and shelters her in his mine, she knows there has to be a logical explanation. She finds it in Drew Mitchell, the current owner of Mitchell’s Run. Proving that she wasn’t fooled by any ghostly masquerade seemed quite simple in the beginning. Then her emotions got in the way…

This book demands time to decipher and dwell on its questions, both during and after reading, but the protagonist Cynthia is even more confused than we are. Cynthia has to discern whether Drew and Andrew are the same man, an elaborate hoax thought up for gold, or different men, which would mean she has walked into a ghost story.

Mankind has always been concerned about the buy viagra for cheap ability (or lack thereof) to get an erection. It promotes collagen production and eliminates wrinkles. commander viagra An active routine consumption of nitrate drugs also need a restriction from the use of this concerned drug over these situations has been monitored to be successful and worthy. cialis properien discover for more info Gokhru Fruit is very buying cialis from canada much beneficial to combat this awful situation. The atmosphere of this novel is an intense homage to the wild frontier and the gold digging days where any man could find his treasure and future in the outback. However this fuses with the modern in ways which make this genre new and titillating to read. It’s an adventurous romance with an old time man at dances and horse rides which is picturesque in its scenery and historical through modern gestures, a homage to the old and celebration of the new.

Andrew/Drew and Cynthia are well thought out with a witty repartee continuing between them throughout the novel. They fight to get the advantage of the other and understand them enough they are not five steps behind. Chess has been provided by Gallow as a good metaphor for this process.

These characters never become dull or predictable as the sheer force of their personalities keeps them on the road to the unique and unexpected. There were many times I had to change my mind over Andrew/Drew and his intentions and Cynthia had to change hers along with me. It is a debate of the mind from start to finish.

In addition, Ms. Gallow provides language like ‘awareness advanced and retreated like gentle waves on a beach’ which sets the scene but also feels classic. Much like a later description of Drew’s horse race, a historical scene is paired with a stark, atmospheric visual which draws the reader into the story and binds us with Cynthia and her questions.

Mitchell’s Run is a story I will not forget any time soon. Its visuals and characters whisper on my periphery and the love story seems to endure across the centuries. This is not a novel which stops with the last line. It’s one that continues beyond the horizon and the people of its making.

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Jane’s Melody by Ryan Winfield

October 24, 2013 By 1 Comment

JANE
Jane’s Melody by Ryan Winfield
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (336 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Gardenia

What boundaries would you cross for true love?

That’s the question a grieving mother must answer when she takes in a young street musician she believes can shed light on her daughter’s death—only to find herself falling for him. A sexy but touching love story that will leave you both tantalized and in tears, Jane’s Melody follows a forty-year-old woman on a romantic journey of rediscovery after years of struggling alone.
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Sometimes our greatest gifts come from our greatest pain. And now Jane must decide if it’s too late for her to start over, or if true love really knows no limits.

The loss of a child to drugs and alcohol is beyond imagination. Being a mother myself, I cannot conceive the pain of burying my child in her early 20’s due to a drug overdose. This book deals with the impact a situation like this has on our main character Jane.

Living and breathing, as normal as that is to anyone, can seem impossible once you have lost your child. Thoughts of suicide are normal when you are going through this type of loss. The hardest thing to do is pull yourself by your “boot straps” and find a reason to continue living.

Our author weaves this story masterfully. He places Jane in a position where, as she is trying to reconstruct the last days of her daughter’s life, she physically runs into someone who can both give her a glimpse of her daughter as well as give her a new beginning. It is not common to read a book where the love interest is 15 years younger than the heroine. In this case, Caleb is an old soul in a young body. Having lived through some horrific situations and living on the streets since age 16, he has been exposed to situations a person his age would not normally know about.

The meaning behind this book is perhaps multifaceted. I think it makes us think about loss from a different angle. It makes us realize once again that tomorrow is promised to no one and you must make the most of what you are offered right now. Friendships are to be cherished. You can only do your best to morally support those you love, the rest has to come from them and they have to work at improving their lives. Finally, and most of all, love knows no boundaries of age. If you are lucky enough to find your “other half”, kindred spirit, whatever you want to call the love of your life, you must grab love with both hands and have the courage to cherish that love regardless of what others might think. The ultimate loss is to not have had the courage to live life with your whole heart.

This book is an “experience”. Be prepared…I kept my box of tissues close and my heart open.

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