All Out of Love by Lori Wilde

June 12, 2013 By 1 Comment

LOVE
All Out of Love by Lori Wilde
Publisher: Avon: HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (226 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Welcome to Cupid, where every wish for love comes true…

For years, a small group of women in Cupid, TX, led by Millie Greenway, have taken it upon themselves to keep the Cupid legend alive. Now Millie has roped her four disbelieving granddaughters into joining the cause.

Lace Bettingfield knows for a fact that the Cupid legend is bogus. As a shy sixteen-year-old, she left a letter at the statue and got nothing in return but heaps of embarassment when her letter ended up printed in the school newspaper. But now the boy she longed for is back in town and Lace can’t help wondering…what if?

Ah, yes! This one brings back memories of high school years and the emotional growing pains that went along with them.
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Lace Bettingfield well remembers the vicious teasing and trauma of falling in love with an ‘older’ boy, who was the football hero and sought after by all the girls. As time passes, she realizes her bad time in high school has an upside. It toughened her, made her strong and resilient. She’d conquered her stutter, lost weight and gained it back because she chose to. She is now healthy and knows who she is and is comfortable in her own skin. Moreover, she has earned a Ph.D. in plant science and is back in Cupid, Texas doing what she loves to do. She is in charge of the Botanical Gardens where the box for “Letters to Cupid” is located. She loves the arid Trans-Pecos area of Texas where it takes toughness for people and plants alike to survive.

When Pierce Hollister, the Cowboys quarterback who is sidelined with a broken leg, returns to Cupid to see his father and brother Malcolm, all the long-ago high school hoopla surfaces as Lace’s extended family and friends recall and elaborate on every painful moment Lace lived through back then.

Somewhere along the way from high school to becoming a pro, Pierce bought into his own press and now accepts the accolades and hero worship with equanimity. However, there is a niggling deep inside him that nags—will his leg ever heal so he can be at the top of his game like he had been before? He is Cupid’s local celebrity and his father’s favorite son; a fact that makes for strained feeling between Pierce and his younger brother Malcolm. Their relationship makes an attention-getting side story.

When Piece sees the grownup Lace, his old friend’s little sister that was off-limits to him in high school because of that unspoken male code of ‘don’t hit on your friend’s sister’. Now that the code no longer applies, he turns on the charm which Lace vows to ignore. As the ‘mating dance’ ebbs and flows with all the people of Cupid putting in their two cents, the reader gets quite an emotional rollercoaster ride.

I struggled a little with the over abundance of secondary characters, but the sparkling metaphors, analogies, etc. make the reading delightful. Expressions like: “spunk of a chipmunk”, “you can’t push a river”, ‘wants to devour him like a starving hawk moth caterpillar devours a tomato plant”, eyes like blue gas flames”, “lit her up like a match to gasoline” and so many more show the reader so much about the action, the emotions and the characters. Also, the threads of humor, fun, illness, and long-lasting emotional wounds, along with that strong, enduring thread of love that generates some super love scenes make the design of this tale captivating. Good entertainment!

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

An English Bride in Scotland by Lynsay Sands

June 11, 2013 By 1 Comment

BRIDE
An English Bride in Scotland by Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon: HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (234 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Annabel was about to take the veil to become a nun when her mother suddenly arrives at the Abbey to take her home… so that she can marry the Scottish laird who is betrothed to her runaway sister! She knows nothing about being a wife, nothing about how to run a household, and definitely nothing about the marriage bed!

But from the moment Ross MacKay sets eyes on Annabel, he is taken with his shy sweet bride… and the fact that she’s blessed with lush curves only makes him utter his own prayers of thanks. But when an enemy endangers her life, he’ll move the Highlands themselves to save her. For though Annabel’s not the bride he planned for, she’s the only woman he desires…

Captivating from page one, An English Bride in Scotland takes the reader on a vicarious experience from a nunnery to a castle in Scotland with a heroine that delights. This story sparkles with humor, pulsates with love, and abounds with loyalty, admiration and caring. It also has antagonists that create more than a little anxiety and ignite pure fury.

Never allowed to believe she lived up to expectations, Annabel was dumped at Elstow Abbey at age seven only to be snatched away fourteen years later to be used to fulfill a marriage contract. She is wed to Laird MacKay of Scotland in place of her older sister Kate who ran away with another man.

For fourteen years, Annabel’s only contact with anyone other than women has been Father Gerber, the abbey priest; so, to her, Ross MacKay is huge, a rough-looking wall of muscle with a spicy smell and a rumbling voice. Overwhelming!
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Ross, laird of the MacKay clan, has no great expectations about an English bride, but he will honor the contract made by his father years ago. He too is a little overwhelmed to see his bride-to-be is a five foot, curvy beauty with gorgeous teal eyes and midnight black, wavy hair. But he sees more than her beauty, he sees her anxiety, the fear in those beautiful eyes, and the tremble of her hands. Something deep inside him stirs and his protective mode kicks in.

Annabel’s uniqueness, curiosity, uncomplaining nature, and entertaining story telling endear her to the warriors traveling with Ross long before they reach MacKay Castle. Even though she does lots of foolish, outlandish things that create more than little trouble, these men are steadfast in their loyalty to her.

Other secondary characters like Seonag, the older woman at the castle who takes Annabel under her wing and gives her gentle care and guidance; Angus, the cook, that brings out a whole new facet of Annabel’s personality; and Jasper, the dog that had been Ross’s father’s are thankful for the new lady of the castle even if she doesn’t know what she is supposed to do.

Annabel’s family and how they figure into the story make shocking reading that whets one’s ire. Redeeming qualities seem to be altogether missing in them.

Best of all are the uninhibited love scenes. The humor, the caring, besotted but patient Ross, the untaught, responsive Annabel, and the breathtaking ecstasy, create euphoric wrinkles in time that make the mundane world and its worries fade away and let the lovers soar to their own ‘out-of-this-world’ place that is uniquely theirs.

An English Bride in Scotland is a ‘stay-up-late-to-finish’ story. Lynsay Sands is a fantastic teller of a tale with an easy writing style that lets the reader glide right along with the emotions and actions as if right there with the heroine and hero.

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

It Happened One Midnight by Julie Anne Long

June 10, 2013 By 1 Comment

HAPPENED
It Happened One Midnight by Julie Anne Long
Publisher: Avon: HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (265 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

More than one beautiful woman’s hopes have been dashed on the rocky shoals of Jonathan Redmond’s heart. With his riveting good looks and Redmond wealth and power, the world is his oyster—until an ultimatum from his father and a chilling gypsy prophesy send him hurtling headlong toward a fate he’ll do anything to avoid: matrimony.

Intoxicating, elusive Thomasina de Ballesteros has the bloods of London at her feet. But none of them knows the real Tommy—the one with a shocking pedigree, a few too many secrets, and a healthy scorn for rakes like Jonathan.

She is everything Jonathan never wanted. But on one fateful midnight, he’s drawn into Tommy’s world of risk, danger…and a desire he’d never dreamed possible. And suddenly he’s re-thinking everything…including the possibility that succumbing to prophesy might just mean surrendering to love.

Colors are brighter and the champagne more effervescent when Thomasina de Ballisteros (Tommy) and Jonathan Redmond are together. Their joy when they are together, their rightness together, their unique understated way of communicating makes this hero and heroine scintillating companions to have a vicarious adventure with. They seem miles apart socially, but seem soul mates in inner needs. Jonathan has a rich family and position in London Society while Tommy has no one and survives by her instincts.
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Julie Anne Long describes the connection Jonathan and Tommy have with each other in exquisite style. It shines like a golden thread that enhances the complex tapestry of the story. Jonathan is the third son of the rich, but untitled Isaiah Redmond. Isaiah seems to feel he can manufacture happiness by bending his sons to do his dictates. The first two sons have disappointed so Jonathan feels the full impact of his father’s demand that he marriage appropriately by year’s end or be cut off completely from funds and family. Since Jonathan has the same acumen for business as his father, his ventures weave a muted but strong, secretive thread through the tapestry. Both his ordinary and extraordinary ventures add tension, humor at times, and hope to the story.

Jonathan’s unique personality emerges bit by piece as he does risky business with Klaus, a chromolithographer, and gets lured into Tommy’s clandestine dealings that deal with a segment of the dark side of life in London.

Pragmatic, resilient, indomitable, and wise to the exploitive ways of the elite Society of London Tommy uses her beauty and social skills to survive in Society and in the underbelly life of London. Her double life takes the reader into some situations that are heart-poundingly scary and some that are heartbreaking. The elite of Society exploit the disenfranchised poor , but every chance Tommy gets she exploits the wealthy, privileged of Society to help a cause she feels strongly about and often risks her life for. In spite of the edge she walks on most of the time, there is an undercurrent of humor that bubbles to the top quite often.

The Duke of Greyfolk and Isaiah Redmond are antagonists that unknowingly, in their hardness, help hone Tommy and Jonathan into strong, successful, socially conscious doers that make a difference for those who cannot help themselves. There are far too many secondary characters that help create remarkable side stories for me to mention them all, but Romulus Bean, the solicitor charged with selling Lancaster Cotton Mills is a winner as far as I’m concerned; Argosy, Jonathan’s friend and his influence with the betting that goes on at White’s is a delightful, worthwhile friend to have; Violet, Jonathan’s irrepressible sister shines in her ability to get the most out of life; “the-diamonds-of-the- first-water” that unknowingly help a unique business venture make Jonathan very rich represent a distinct and privileged part of London Society; all add a special facet to the story that make It Happened One Midnight a page turning, stay-up-late novel.

Ms. Long’s compelling writing is a joy to read. The figurative language, poignant symbolism, revealing metaphors, and sparkling humor bring the story to life. How she makes Tommy and Jonathan’s relationship evolve is riveting. The sizzling undercurrent that finally bubbles to the surface to create a love story about two equally strong personalities sends the heart racing. Ms. Long’s ability to weave in social issues, family tensions, fantastic love scenes, unconquerable humor is amazing. She builds a happy-ever-after not only for the hero and heroine, but also for many others. Most enjoyable reading!

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

The Mad Earl’s Bride by Loretta Chase

May 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment

BRIDE
The Mad Earl’s Bride by Loretta Chase
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (143 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Gwendolyn Adams is about to propose to an earl. On his deathbed.

Gwendolyn Adams isn’t shocked at being asked to save a handsome earl’s dying line, even when she learns the prospective bridegroom is seriously ill and possibly insane. She’s quite a good nurse, after all, and her family is famous for producing healthy male children. Those stories about his riding the moors half-naked on a pale white horse? Extremely intriguing—especially after she gets her first look at the gorgeous lunatic.

The Earl of Rawnsley wants only to lose what’s left of his mind in peace and privacy. But his busybody relatives have saddled him with a surprise bride and orders to sire an heir forthwith. (And they say he’s mad?) But with Gwendolyn, his health is returning, and his resistance … crumbling. Is it possible that love is the finest madness of all?

Don’t let the short number of pages deceive. This is a pithy, chock-full-of-action, sizzling love story that keeps one’s attention big time.

Gwendolyn Adams feels like she was made for the purpose of handling Dorian, Earl of Rawsley, with his neurological disease and aberrant behavior. She also sees her opportunity to have the hospital that she wants so very much—a hospital where she can use her own methods to treat people with mental health problems. As the Countess of Rawsley, she would have money and power to make her dream come true.

Testosterone is a sort of hormone that’s accountable for the growth of male sexual individuality. generic viagra without visa This herb Shilajit cialis for women is quite popular amongst the patients of sexual weaknesses. The drug is offered in 100mg tablets and should be essentially consumed only to overcome penile complexities. generico cialis on line unica-web.com is offered by a wide range of factors. Leimo also provides their Personal Hair Laser device which is the length of time it takes to pay off a browse around these guys order cialis from india car. Gwen had me in her corner early on when she ignored Dorian’s raging and threats and told him that a witch would be drummed out of the coven in disgrace to go away on mortal’s orders. Moreover, she declared that she would never get anything accomplished if she did what she was told as she continues to drag him out of the quicksand whether he wants to be dragged out or not.

Dorian became the Earl of Rawsley pretty much by default. He feels he is irreparably flawed. He suffers miserably with his malady. But he is physically fit—a gorgeous man with yellow, predator eyes that gleam brightly at the unsinkable Gwen. He is amazed when he cannot browbeat or frighten her. Instead of showing fear, she says he is handsome beyond any man she’s ever seen and looks at him in a “bone melting way”.

The secondary characters are no match for the dynamic Dorian and Gwen once they join forces. How she manages his malady and how they manage the would-be-controllers of his life make riveting and often humorous reading.

The tried and true friends Hoskins, Bertie, Dain, and Dr. Evershaw add a new dimension to the story while relatives and even Dr. Kneebones, Dorian’s longtime doctor, raise red flags with their mindsets.

The back story of Dorian’s family, the unusual love scenes mesmerize; plus how Gwen takes care of Dorian and how he takes care of her sweep the reader along apace with no side trips to distract.

Loretta Chase does a phenomenal job of revealing the complexities of the characters and the situation as she grabs the reader’s emotions, assails the senses, and races long with the reader in tow toward a splendid happy-ever-after. Her concise, focused writing style keeps one in the action with the primaries.

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

Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare

May 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment

DUCHESS


Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (260 pgs)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

What’s a duke to do, when the girl who’s perfectly wrong becomes the woman he can’t live without?

Griffin York, the Duke of Halford, has no desire to wed this season—or any season—but his diabolical mother abducts him to “Spinster Cove” and insists he select a bride from the ladies in residence. Griff decides to teach her a lesson that will end the marriage debate forever. He chooses the serving girl.

Overworked and struggling, Pauline Simms doesn’t dream about dukes. All she wants is to hang up her barmaid apron and open a bookshop. That dream becomes a possibility when an arrogant, sinfully attractive duke offers her a small fortune for a week’s employment. Her duties are simple: submit to his mother’s “duchess training”… and fail miserably.

But in London, Pauline isn’t a miserable failure. She’s a brave, quick-witted, beguiling failure—a woman who ignites Griff’s desire and soothes the darkness in his soul. Keeping Pauline by his side won’t be easy. Even if Society could accept a serving girl duchess—can a roguish duke convince a serving girl to trust him with her heart?

There is much to recommend a book that takes on an unconventional match, challenges the hero and heroine to find common ground and does it with a healthy dose of humor topped with a sweet touch of sentiment and respect. Throw in a few naughty shenanigans and this book entertains completely.
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I had to rate this story as hot because of the role playing scene. I didn’t expect it. In fact, I really didn’t think the hero had it in him to be so spontaneous and delightfully wicked, never mind the fact that the heroine blossomed from such eye-popping attentions. Inasmuch as I found myself steaming under the collar, I was laughing too. The whole scene, as well as the scenes before and after certainly kept my attention riveted. It was well written, tight and very effective. If it weren’t, it wouldn’t have been hot.

The very first thing that tickled my funny bone happened right in the beginning with the ankles. That faux pas was just a hint of the kind of mix-ups and silly hijinks the hero is going to have to deal with throughout the book. Griff is a fun hero. His mother laments that he’ll never make her a grandmother. The reason why he’s against marriage and having kids is what gives him depth and allowed me to feel like he was a perfect hero for Pauline. He has an internal conflict that squeezed my heart. Poor Griff. It will take an unconventional woman to get past the barricades he’s erected around his heart.

Pauline is as unique, unconventional and independent as they come. Her circumstances are such that I was extremely glad Griff saved her. True, she’s saving him too, but once a reader understands the life she’s been forced to endure, the urge to see her not-so-fairytale dreams come true is strong. The heroine is a hard worker, loves her sister and is loyal to a fault. She’s the best and worst thing that could happen to Griff and I enjoyed watching her unravel him.

For a tough old biddy, Griff’s mom turns out to be delightful. I think it was her knitting that endeared her to me. Once I understood its significance, I wanted her to be happy too. Watching her trying to teach Pauline the finer points of high society was highly entertaining. Fans of My Fair Lady should find some delightful correlations between the two; without the singing of course.

One of my favorite parts was the line drawn in the sand. The Griff that appeared in the beginning of the story is not the same Griff who squared off with his childhood pal. That was a turning point for him as a man and that’s when the happy ever after became more of a real possibility. It’s not smooth however, not by a long shot. Pauline throws Griff a curve that he never saw coming. Her inner strength allowed her to choose that step but it was hard to see it happen. Obviously, Ms. Dare knew the hero had a touch more growing to do before he deserved his full happily ever after.

Dialogue was a strong aspect of this tale. I love the ‘flutterings’ and other fun euphemisms; they gave the story charm.

Any Duchess Will Do is saucy, sexy and a whole lot of fun. I enjoyed watching Griff and Pauline fall in love. Their ups and downs, plans and foibles and Griff’s tender and respectful handling of the heroine’s sister truly made this a wonderful read. The characters are written in wonderful detail with emotions, humor and memorable antics. The happily ever after is simply beautiful and full of good feelings and joy. I highly recommend this book.

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

All The Way Home by Wendy Corsi Staub

May 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment

HOME
All The Way Home by Wendy Corsi Staub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (319 pgs)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Jasmine

For years, Rory Connelly has been haunted by the memory of her sister Carleen, who vanished from her bed one night and was never seen again. When Rory returns home to care for her ailing mother and teenage sister, she discovers a family that has never recovered from the tragic events of so long ago.

That summer, the quiet little town of Lake Charlotte was torn apart when four teenage girls vanished—a mystery that still puzzles its residents. Now, a decade later, on the anniversary of the first disappearance, another girl goes missing, and the community is consumed with fear.

Rory is forced to relive her worst nightmare . . . only this time, her own life is at stake.

There is a saying about the past coming back to haunt you. That sentiment seems to be especially true in this book. Not only did it come back to haunt Rory but it decided to meet her face to face. There’s also one about not being able to go home again. While on the surface it seems as if that one may be true, everyone knows that home is the one place that you can go back to. Cliche’s aside, All The Way Home is definitely a thriller that kept my attention and threw a couple of plot twists at me that I wasn’t expecting.
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Rory left home a decade ago and hasn’t been back since. After enduring more tragedies than a young girl should have to endure, she took off and didn’t look back, leaving her younger brother to shoulder responsibilities that no teenager should have. Now, she’s returning so that her brother can escape as she did. But returning means facing the memories that she’s been running away from for ten years. Memories of an older sister that disappeared during a summer of terror in their small, New York town. Memories of her best friend that disappeared a few weeks after her sister. And memories of her father, who crumpled under the stress of it all with a killer heart attack. Now she’s returning to a mother who has retreated into herself in hiding and a teenage sister that she barely knows.

Rory is independent, determined and confident in who she is. I loved her character. The issues that she struggles with throughout the story, as well as her younger sister, were completely believable. Trust is a big issue for Rory and you could easily understand why. Confronting all the old memories as well as some family secrets along the way made for an emotional and drama filled homecoming for Rory. And just when Rory starts to connect with Molly, something unexpected happens. When history starts to repeat itself, it seems to transport the entire town back to that summer. I really felt for the people of this town. The fear and worry, the despair and the grief was almost tangible. I wanted to jump inside the book and help.

Originally written several years ago, All The Way Home is celebrating a re-release. I do think that with today’s technology, there are a couple of plot points that may not be as plausible now as they were at the point of it’s original print. It is also written in present tense. While I feel like this is probably more of a personal preference than a criticism, I missed the use of “deep point of view” that most authors use these days. The use of present tense was jarring enough for me that it would startle me out of the story quite frequently and I’d have to work to get involved again.

The plot, along with the red herrings and twists and turns throughout, kept me invested in the story that was unfolding. The suspense and the spookiness of some the events made for some tense hours in the middle of the night when I was reading it. The characters are well drawn and the subplot left me just as attached to a couple of the secondary characters as I was to Rory. I was left feeling like all the characters were going to get their happily ever afters. Well, most of the characters anyway.

When I’m in the mood for a suspenseful thriller, this is the type of book I love to grab. Just spooky enough to keep you jumping at unexpected noises, just enough unexpected plot twists and a good mystery to try to figure out before I get to the end. It was a late couple of nights reading this one. I’ll be checking out some other books by this author.

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

Beauty and the Blacksmith by Tessa Dare

May 9, 2013 By 1 Comment

BEAUTY
Beauty and the Blacksmith by Tessa Dare
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (108 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

At last, Diana gets a romance of her own! But with the last man anyone in Spindle Cove expects…

Beautiful and elegant, Miss Diana Highwood is destined to marry a wealthy, well-placed nobleman. At least, that’s what her mother has loudly declared to everyone in Spindle Cove.

But Diana’s not excited by dukes and lords. The only man who makes her heart pound is the village blacksmith, Aaron Dawes. By birth and fortune, they couldn’t be more wrong for each other…but during stolen, steamy moments in his forge, his strong hands feel so right.

Is their love forged strong enough to last, or are they just playing with fire?

My funny bone got quite a workout with this story. To say that the author surprised me is an understatement because there is no way I could have foreseen how the little mystery included in this tale would be solved.

I enjoy reading about a character that blossoms before my very eyes. I like seeing challenges and setbacks be overcome, I like seeing the depth of a protagonist’s personality revealed. Furthermore, I appreciate it more when there is humor to lighten the load. The heroine, Diana, experiences so many things during the course of this novella, the story had no problems keeping my interest all the way through.
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Diana lived her life with the haunting restrictions of asthma but the book puts the reader in the middle of the time when she realizes the chains of asthma are broken. What happens next is gratifying, eventful and very entertaining.

Aaron is the burly and muscular blacksmith that makes Diana’s heart go all aflutter. After reading the descriptions that Ms. Dare used to describe him, even I got all flustered. It made me want to go and find my own handsome, sweaty man to ogle. The closest I’ll get is a construction worker, if I’m lucky. The best part about the hero is that he’s not all brawn; he has a brain filled with talent and tender emotions that get showcased whenever Diana is near or on his mind. His craft plays a major role in the story.

Diana and Aaron are very good together and I enjoyed their dialogue and how their heart to heart talks always lead them in places they never expected to go. I enjoyed where they ended up.

Secondary characters weren’t overly developed. They were there to move the plot forward and to prod either Diana or Aaron to say or do certain things. Only Charlotte showed some life and fire which intrigued me. Then again, she’s Diana’s sister so that family connection was important. In fact, I know that Diana said that Charlotte sleeps like a log but I seriously doubt anyone could sleep through what Charlotte did. Can people be that dead to the world? That completely?

What isn’t dead is physical love. In this story, it’s tantalizingly vivid, passionate and very well written. Even during a moment when it’s all serious intent, the author interjected a spot of humor. I liked that.

The great chase scene was hysterical and right smack in the middle of that chaos came the best part in the whole book. Awesome writing.

Beauty and the Blacksmith is delightful, funny, sexy and a book that is almost impossible to put down. The writing is so well done that it flowed smoothly and quickly. The characters didn’t suffer false posturing which is a breath of fresh air for readers who are tired of fabricated internal angst. This tale is a must read for any reader looking for something to turn that frown right side round. It’s wonderful, entertaining and I’m very happy I read it.

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

The Right Bride by Jennifer Ryan

May 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

RIGHT
The Right Bride by Jennifer Ryan
Publisher: Avon: HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (277 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

High-powered businessman Cameron Shaw doesn’t believe in love—until he falls head over heels for beautiful, passionate, and intensely private Martina. She’s perfect in so many ways, immediately bonding with his little girl. Martina could be his future bride and a delightful stepmother … if only Cameron weren’t blinded by his belief that Shelly, the gold-digging woman he’s promised to marry, is pregnant with his child.

No matter how much his friends protest his upcoming marriage to Shelly, Cameron knows he has a duty to his children, so he’s determined to see it through.

Will he find out in time that Shelly’s lying and Marti’s the one who’s actually carrying his child? It’ll come down to the day of his wedding. After choosing Shelly over Marti at every turn, will he convince Marti she’s his world and the only woman he wants?

With its rich and ancient history of treating sexual related diseases in India and are self-explanatory for population of the brand viagra sales in india as the best male libido booster supplement. A CTET evaluation is valid for 7 years and you can take this click for info viagra in india online exam a number of times to increase your score. Here, pills basically get pointless, or the effect is since quite a unica-web.com viagra generico 5mg while back expected. Thus, you can cialis 10 mg purchase prescribed or generic medicine at any time of the day and night. “The stupidest smart person” is a flashing neon-light theme throughout this story of the rich and famous. The unshakable mindset and guilt feelings that drive Cameron Shaw’s decisions in The Right Bride create conflicts that threaten to destroy the lives and happiness of the most important people in his life. Through much of the story, I want to give him a good thumping and tell him to get his head out of the sand, wake up, and get his priorities straight. When his actions began to make his vivacious little five-year-old daughter Emma unhappy, I really got out of humor with him. To be so smart in some ways and so “dumb” in other ways was astounding. As is evident, Jennifer Ryan did a super job of engaging my emotions and keeping me turning pages.

Marti (Martina Fairchild) grabbed my attention in a very different way. Her caring, insightful nature; her ability to see and act on what is truly important in life makes her special; while her aloneness touches a tender spot in one’s heart. How she relates to others and copes with difficult situations reveal a multitude of facets in her personality. The layers of her life and her unsung accomplishments that come to light as the story unfolds are more reasons to keep turning pages. She is an intriguing character.

The beautiful, husband-hunting Shelly Ramsey is a different sort, but she knows how to appeal to a man. After an unhappy childhood, she remodeled herself and is now physically lovely, well-spoken, a great sex partner, nice to her ‘prey’ but not always to others. Her single-minded pursuit of wealth and position (AKA a rich husband) stirs up conflicts galore. Her ability to make herself look good in these upheavals is amazing.

The secondary characters are a super group of ‘doers’. They do their share of stirring up conflicts. George Knight is a prime example. Even though he is dying, he makes his mark on the outcome of the story. His love for Cameron and Emma is longstanding. However, the love he feels for Marti is like a kindred soul love that is strong and caring. Elizabeth and Sam, Jenna and Jack, and Jimmy, Cameron’s driver and after-school companion for Emma are genuine friends that support, berate, and do whatever it takes to help their old friend Cameron find his way and to shepherd Marti into the fold and love her for who she is.

The living arrangements in George Knight’s mansion, after his death, seem contrived. But it does position the primary characters for the climax that is a heart-stopper momentarily then sets the emotions jangling. Also, Cameron’s clinging to his past for so long seems a little extreme, but it makes for a breath-holding read. The Right Bride raises ire, brings laughter, tears, fears, and joy. It is an attention holding happy-ever-after. It does take the mind off the “slings and arrows” of a trying day.

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

The Secret Life of A Submissive: A True Story by Sarah K.

March 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

LIFE

The Secret Life of A Submissive: A True Story by Sarah K.
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
Genre: Contemporary Biography
Length: Full Length (196 pgs)
Other: BDSM, M/F, Anal Play, Forced Seduction, Fetish, Toys, Spanking, Voyeurism
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Thistledown

When Max comes into Sarah′s life — charming, handsome and deliciously brooding – she can′t stop herself. Before long she has surrendered to him in every way: becoming his submissive, yielding her body to his every desire, powerless to fight his sensual temptations.

As Sarah pushes her mind and body to its limits, she begins to realise that she′s in too deep. Pleasure and pain have become her world. She′s addicted — to the adrenalin, to the sensation, to Max himself.

Now she′s in serious danger of giving in to the ultimate temptation: falling in love…

As small amount of time cialis discount canada results the actual users may able to possess a piece of real estate at one point of time or the other. After meeting purchasing cialis with Johari, Kilham was convinced that Tongkat Ali is a scientifically studied plant. online cialis canada First is branded and second is general. Having basic computer skills can make people better at their jobs and also more attractive to employers. go to these guys usa viagra no prescription Daring, evocative and thrilling, but told with wit and honesty, this is the explosive true story of life as a submissive, and of a secret world in which only a few dare to play.

Erotica author Sarah K. is newly divorced and finds herself longing for the BDSM relationships she writes about in her novels. In this journey of self-discovery, we enter a world that is not for the faint of heart.

Dating sucks. Sarah K. can tell you that. After being married to a man without any motivation whatsoever, she wants to be careful who she hooks up with. Her select group of friends help her surf the local pool, but Sarah decides she wants something more. Something out of one of her racy novels. She has written about BDSM for years and wants to find a Dom to get her started. Dating websites that focus on BDSM are a mixed bag of tricks. You have to kiss a lot of frogs with strange fetishes before you find that special someone. And find him she does. Enter Max.

Max is the epitome of the quintessential Dom. Elegant, secretive, demanding and he helps Sarah awaken into the reality of becoming a submissive. No underwear, not speaking and using Sir at the end of every phrase are a challenge for her, but she slowly begins to adjust. When the punishments begin, she has to really decide whether this life is really for her. Is Max? Should she stay vanilla and let it go?

The journey within this book is heartfelt and has highs and lows. There is so much more than what I have written in this review, plot wise. Intrigue, family relationships, introductions to friends and whether to tell them what you have really been up to…Yes. Real life gets in the way of the romance and there are hard choices that have to be made. It isn’t even really a plot. It is her life. Sarah K. writes a stellar book. So much so that I can easily see this as a movie. She is a vulnerable person, but never gives up on her goals and doesn’t let tragedy swamp her.

Written with a quirky voice and an almost fiction like quality, this book is one of the best reads of the season. If you liked 50 Shades or are a fan of BDSM novels, The Secret Life of a Submissive needs to be next on your TBR list.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kiss of Temptation by Sandra Hill

March 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment

KISS

Kiss of Temptation by Sandra Hill
Publisher: AVON Books/HarperCollins
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (229 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

IS IT LUST?

Ivak Sigurdsson is dead…well, sort of. Guilty of the sin of lust, he’s been given an unusual penance: spend eternity as a Viking Vampire Angel, or Vangel, fighting Lucipires, Satan’s vampire demons on earth. Now sequestered in Angola Prison as a “spiritual advisor,” Ivak is finding all these centuries of celibacy depressing, to say the least. But then, along comes southern belle Gabrielle Sonnier. Is she a reward for his good deeds, or a temptation sent to rattle his lustsome brain?

OR IS IT LOVE?

Gabrielle, a lawyer, begs Ivak to help get her brother out of prison. Aided by the Cajun LeDeux family and their chief looney bird, Tante Lulu, Ivak reluctantly agrees. And while he alternately tries to seduce and save Gabrielle before the Lucipires run rampant, they both begin to wonder if it’s really only lust, or something more.

What do you get when you mix a matchmaking Cajun ninety year old lady named Tante Lulu with a Viking vampire angel and a sex deprived lawyer? A very entertaining read and it’s all found in Ms. Hill’s latest masterpiece, Kiss of Temptation .

It is cheap but not discount viagra pharmacy a low working medicine. Indeed, the appearance of skin problems are actually a manifestation of the body’s internal information, relying solely on cosmetics, skin care products can viagra generika not solve the fundamental problem, especially in the winter, cold, everything is dormant, physiological dysfunction, the human body physical activity in the inhibitory state, skin problems will also appear frequently. They make sure that before you get a prescription for the Sildenafil tablet for treating viagra in the usa your erectile dysfunction. The negotiation cialis 10mg canada process can go a long way provided the seller has enough time at his disposal. With Ms. Hill’s Cajun romances, Tante Lulu was always there as not only an effective stirrer of the plot using charming hijinks, but her character was always a guarantee that there’d be laughter at the most unexpected times. Imagine my delighted shock when I found out that this author, with her knack of tickling the most stubborn funny bone, decided to toss in a little of that generational humor and a lavender ‘longcar’ towards a hapless Viking whose sin was lust.

The author set up the story by first giving a reader insight as to the worst possible outcome of unbridled lust. There are consequences and Ivak learned it the hard way. And he’s still learning. Although the hero tries to walk the straight and narrow, he has too much naughty humor and tactless quips to share that drive the warden of the prison nuts. He’s wise to the world and yet all his experience hasn’t taught him how to deal with real emotions, true feelings and the difference between love and lust. In this book, he figures it out. His journey is well worth reading.

Gabrielle is a woman on the edge of despair. She’s worked so hard to help her brother be released from prison. When I first met her in the story, I got the impression that she was starting to see enemies and liars in every corner, that everyone was a foe – which is the beginning of the end of hope. However, she made one last stab at trusting a person and that choice opened up whole new avenues and adventures. In fact, I think she not only ended up finding true love, but she found a family and a sense of belonging that totally filled the dark spaces in her heart that she didn’t know she had. The things that Ms. Hill had her do to realize both being in love and being loved is what made this novel so fun to read. One of the more amazing things is the heroine finding out that who she viewed as a person being profoundly against her ended up being one of her most fervent supporters – in a quiet sort of way. It was that tying up of an emotional loose end that made me appreciate Ms. Hill’s storytelling talent all over again. The author has the ability to throw something innocuous at a reader in the beginning without us ever knowing how large a role it would eventually play. Those are cool surprises.

Jasper, the villain and sexual sadist, is back. Hugs to Ms. Hill for giving me just enough detail and descriptions to make me squirm in discomfort, but not enough gross stuff to make me want to walk away from the book. The villain is not a redeemable character and that belief is reinforced in each book of the series. He’s vile, twisted and a major pain in the Vangels’ very delicious tushes. His minions are disgusting and equally perverse but rest assured, once again, good triumphs over evil. Mostly.

As much as I enjoyed and was entertained by the novel as a whole, there were a couple of parts that seemed rushed. There were some minor conflicts that came across as being too easily solved and Ivak’s path seemed smoothed over by the lack of detail and closure. It was like a narrator came in to hurry the characters along so readers could get to the good stuff – the romance. I’m not complaining because I really liked the ‘good stuff’, but, I did notice the change in storytelling. I can even understand the why of it because if the author delved too much into those scenes and let them lead her, I suppose the book would then have been more about the conflict itself than the romance between Ivak and Gabrielle. Another thing that struck me as ‘off’ was the guard. Ivak and his nose should have figured out long before what he was. Heck, even his brethren should have gotten a whiff. But none of them did. It allowed for a conflict to occur that I guess was integral to the story, but I don’t believe for one minute that they couldn’t have averted that particular situation. I think that was the only truly weak point in the whole book.

Once again, St. Michael the Archangel is on stage and I loved how Ms. Hill had him be …wrong. It reinforces the understanding that angels, even an Archangel, are messengers, helpers and interpreters of God. They are NOT God however because only He knows everything. Which means St. Michael got a shock of his own. Not only was it adorable but it provided another fascinating aspect of Vangel life. I have to wonder though, what’s next?

Secondary characters abound in this novel and they contribute flavor, ambiance, plot hilarity and surprises. All of them enhance the romance growing between Ivak and Gabrielle and it’s all good.

Don’t resist reading a Kiss of Temptation because if you do, you’ll be missing out on a fun adventure of romance and mayhem from the talented Ms. Hill. There is so much to like and enjoy that I could not cover it all in this review. I didn’t even get to cover the naughty dream sequences! Check out for yourself why I believe books by this author are worth spending time with. Bet they’ll make you smile.

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