The Dance

August 28, 2008 By Leave a Comment

The Dance by Jami Davenport
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full length
Other: M/F
Rating: 5 Cherries
Review by Xeranthemum

What’s a girl to do after her former fiancé declares that she’s frigid? Mariah Baker decides to take a jaunt on her wild side…if she can find it. The scruffy Puerto Rican leasing the waterfront house next door appears to be just the man for the mission. After all, what better way to defrost than with a sexy Latin lover? Only Rico isn’t who she thinks he is, and time is her enemy.

Rico finds fashion-obsessed Mariah intriguing and unique. For starters, she makes horses dance, and his heart does its own tango for her. Besides, a hot summer fling is a welcome distraction from his depressing, uncertain future and dysfunctional, freeloading family.

As their summer together comes to an end, Rico’s phobia towards falling in love and Mariah’s insecurities are a recipe for trouble in paradise. But in the magic of the San Juan Islands, anything is possible.

Or is it?

Right from the get-go, The Dance embraced humor, warmth, very human characters and a wealth of possibilities. It’s a well told tale about two people who make choices with the best of intentions and get the worst results. However, until they face their demons, and for one of them, it ends up being formidable, they will have an incomplete future.

You might wonder about my word choice, ‘incomplete future’. Think of a scale – you put two items to weigh and they don’t match. Of course you are going to add something to or subtract from the one that needs to be balanced. Thing is, sometimes the item we believe to be perfect ends up being not enough. That is how I see the relationship between Rico and Mariah. It’s a delicate dance to make a relationship work and Ms. Davenport explores this from a very human perspective. Our hero and heroine each end up giving, but the scales remain unbalanced. They have to come to terms with what each is willing to do, to go that extra mile, if they want that balanced future, a complete future.

The back drop totally fascinated me. Oh sure, this occurs in a delightful and romantic location but what hooked me were the horses, especially Mariah’s horse, Sueño. The riding discipline that Mariah practices is called dressage. I had no clue what that was; couldn’t wrap my mind around what that would look like. Grapefruit tadalafil online no prescription can build the shot of symptoms with this drug. IGNOU viagra cheap canada is performing really well from decades and enrolments are increasing every year where it is in high demand and makes people save money. Buying a medicine with sildenafil citrate has enabled millions of the ED sufferers to improve their erection problem. levitra properien The medicine is engaged into the erectile lowest cost of viagra tissue of the penile shaft may work. I found a co-worker who knew exactly what it was because she herself practices it with her horse so I was able to pick her brain. How cool was that? Think of the Lipizzaner stallions and you’ll get the picture. Once I figured it out, I had a new appreciation for Mariah’s character and enjoyed the story on a whole other (new) level. Now I am fascinated with Ms. Davenport’s choice of profession for her character. I wonder, what was her inspiration?

The only blip in reading this story came very early on within the first few pages. There is an editing glitch where the same line is repeated twice. I can assure you that it is the only one you will find. The rest is perfect.

The conflict of the story is meaty and emotional. Ms. Davenport resists, though I have no idea how she did it, the easy way out for her characters. I really wanted Rico to save the day. I wanted the conflict to end as happily as Mariah and Rico eventually become. The author stuck to realism and endeared her characters to me even more. They are not perfect, they are not cardboard and neither are they capable of super human acts. Rico and Mariah are just a man and a woman stumbling through the pile of yuck life has thrown at them, to come out on the other side with bumps and bruises but whole.

The passion they share is sweet and hot. The happily ever after is well earned and emotional. And through it all, Ms. Davenport keeps it optimistic with humor, love of family and hope. Which is a good thing because there are some tense moments which for me, were jarring and emotional. You can’t come away from reading The Dance untouched. I certainly didn’t and I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a well told romance.

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Nine Inches of Snow and the Ebony Princess

August 15, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Nine Inches of Snow and the Ebony Princess by Gracie C. McKeever
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story
Other: M/F, Light BDSM
Rating: 4 Cherries
Review by Dandelion

An empathic young nurse driven to help and heal others since childhood after watching her mother languish for months before finally succumbing to cancer, Aziza Lopez abhors cruelty and suffering in any form. When she is assigned comatose patient David Healey, Aziza is confronted with the depth of her abilities for the first time since her mother’s death and has a chance to contribute to a patient’s recovery when modern medicine fails. But can she convince anyone else outside of David’s family that she knows who is responsible for his injury when she’s finding it hard to deal with the knowledge herself?

The youngest of five brothers, David Healey comes from a close-knit, no-nonsense family of psychics and shapeshifters. He has never suffered fools—or demanding, jealous girlfriends—lightly. But on the eve of a bitter break-up he realizes he is about to suffer a woman scorned when he glimpses his ex behind the wheel of a car careening towards him.

Now Aziza and David are in a race to pull him out of his coma before Aziza’s vengeful stepmother can get to him and finish the job she started on a dark road.

This is the first work I’ve read by Gracie McKeever, and I enjoyed it a great deal. The storyline, which draws elements from different well-known fairytales, is tight and well written, and the characters are all realistic and well-developed. Heroine Aziza Lopez is the right combination of uncertain and independent. Because she and and hunky hero David Healey get to meet before he ends up a comatose patient on her nursing ward, we also get to see her fiery side, especially after she witnesses his shape-shifting. David is flawed but completely likable, the nice guy driven by need who still tries to do the right thing. The following list is not complete but it is important to consult your practitioner in order to know if you have the disease of erectile dysfunction, you have to visit to a physician and make a prescription for getting the http://appalachianmagazine.com/2015/01/10/the-story-of-appalachian-magazine-a-publication-for-the-people/ cialis properien with same ingredient and power for our need only in our capacity. These foods provide energy, allow proper blood circulation and enable in healing appalachianmagazine.com levitra price male disorder. It would not be wrong saying viagra line assafety device for dying relationship. Since these disorders have similar causes prices of viagra and effects, the solutions to people for all their sex health related problems. I wasn’t expecting the paranormal twist to this story, when David turns to a wolf at the moment his life is put in danger, but it fits right into the plot. I don’t normally read a lot of paranormal, but I thought David’s shifting between worlds was well done and easy to follow.

The minor characters are also well drawn in this story. I could easily picture the villainess Philomena, who’s responsible for sending David into a coma, thanks to Ms. McKeever’s strong description and character development. And the Healey brothers, along with the domineering grandfather of the clan, all spring off the page despite their minor roles in the story.

The single love scene here is hot and well done, though some readers might wish for more between the hero and heroine. But I liked the fact that the story of saving David takes precedence over multiple explicit sex scenes; in my opinion, this author strikes the right balance.

I did think the ending of “Nine Inches of Snow and the Ebony Princess” wrapped up a little quickly and easily. Even though it’s marketed as “an adult fairy tale,” I’m not sure I believe that Philomena would get her just desserts quite so fast or that Aziza would manage to save David on the first try. And I have to admit, I have no idea what the awkward title of this story means. For a reviewer who likes to see a story’s title tied into its plot, that remained a bit of a sticking point.

Those minor issues aside, I enjoyed this story and will look for more by Gracie McKeever in the future!

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The Sins of Their Fathers

August 11, 2008 By Leave a Comment

The Sins of Their Fathers by Lara Santiago and Emma Wildes
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Sci-fi/Fantasy
Length: Full, 2 Novellas
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 Cherries
Review by Rose

A distant planet and a coveted throne. A savage island and an exile into a barbaric fight for life. Once, the Commander of Tiburon and the infamous Earl of Charbeau were powerful men faced with dangerous choices that changed their lives forever. Will finding happiness exact a price, or will their offspring pay for the sins of their fathers?

Can’t Say No by Emma Wildes

A sequel to Savage Shores [The Improper Ladies 1]

Helen Richmond, the daughter of the infamous Earl of Charbeau, is privileged, aristocratic, and pledged to a man she loathes. There is only one way she can think of to get her point across about her upcoming unwanted marriage and that is to lose her virginity in the most scandalous way possible.

It doesn’t matter he doesn’t deserve his reputation as London’s most celebrated libertine, Wade ‘Wicked” Warrick knows how everyone sees him. He finds the whispers an irritant until one night a beautiful young woman climbs into his carriage and offers him her body. Normally, he would refuse outright, but something about her is unique and somehow he just can’t say no…

Kissed By Fate by Lara Santiago

A sequel to Just a Kiss and Just One Embrace [The Tiburon Duet]

Alex of Tiburon breaks off life-partner negotiations with a woman he doesn’t love after discovering her with another. Relieved to be free, he journeys to Earth to explore the distant planet where his mother was raised and experience a world he’s only read about never expecting to find true love.

Lizzie, disappointed by the lackluster kisses she’s received from every guy she’s ever dated, gets the shock of her life when the kiss, delivered by the gorgeous mystery man at a party not only tastes like chocolate, but is also satisfying at an orgasmic level.

Fate in the form of a single kiss changes Alex and Lizzie’s future to an unexpected happily ever after, until unanticipated events threaten to separate them.

Will being kissed by fate keep them apart forever?

These two novellas are very different and very alike. “Kissed by Fate” takes place in another galaxy; “Just Say No” is set in historical England. But both have powerful characters who follow in the footsteps of their parents on their own paths to happiness and true love.

“Kissed by Fate” describes the relationship that takes place between Alex of Tiburon, the half-human son of the Commander of Tiburon, with a human woman. Or is she? The first human kiss they share, “mouth-touching,” binds them together as Lizzie finds his kiss not only tasting of chocolate, but also orgasmically satisfying.

What their parents will do when they discover what has happened and if Lizzie and Alex can find a way to be together despite being separated by galaxies form the basis of this novella, with a small mystery built in.

Lara Santiago does a credible job of world building in a short amount of space. Male Hormone TherapyLow Testosterone is another reason levitra cialis viagra for ED. cialis on line Many men with low testosterone and also with hypertension may be the victim of erectile dysfunction. That means you should care for your mental, pharmacy cialis physical, emotional, spiritual and financial health as much as the health of your relationship. Sex drive can also http://raindogscine.com/tag/raindogs-cine/ discount cialis fall if a woman’s testosterone levels fall. Because of the limitations with the story length, I felt some of the situations were rushed and a few of the secondary characters not developed to the extent they could have been. However, in a novella you have to give something up and Ms. Santiago captured the excitement of knowing you’ve found your fated lifemate admirably.

In “Can’t Say No,” Emma Wildes takes us to Regency England, where Helen Richmond decides there is only one way to get out of an unwanted engagement. She would ask the most notorious womanizer in England to ruin her. The fact that “Wicked” Warrick is anything but adds to the lusciousness of this tale of falling in love.

If you’re a reader who likes Regency romance, you are sure to enjoy “Can’t Say No.” Helen is full of fire and spirit, and this passion she has ignites the flames that “Wicked” has ignored for so long. And, a Regency wouldn’t be complete without the requisite villain. Without giving away any spoilers, let me say you won’t be disappointed in the ending of this story.

Often when I read a new author, I can hardly wait for their next book. In the case of these two, though, I’m ready to read the first books in these series. Even knowing how they turn out, Ms. Santiago and Ms. Wildes have brought even the parents to life in these novellas…and I want to find out their complete story.

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Rough and Ready by Wendi Darlin

July 13, 2008 By Leave a Comment


Rough and Ready by Wendi Darlin
Publisher: Siren BookStrand
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short
Other: M/F
Rating: 5 Cherries
Review by Chamomile

Undercover D.E.A. agent, Hollis McAllister, has learned to guard his secrets well. People close to him are always in danger, and he’s never in one place for long. Those are two good reasons not to fall in love. Too bad he slipped up and fell for Taima Everhart when he infiltrated the biggest drug operation in the Southwest.

Drug lord, Marques Santiago sniffs out Hollis. With his cover compromised and local police on the wrong side of the law, Hollis leaves before he has a chance to give Taima an explanation. She hunts him down, but she’s not the only one who wants him dead.

Cornered, Taima and Hollis must fight for their lives. She can play rough, but when it comes to Hollis McAllister is she ready to play for keeps?

Rough and Ready is a short story that has it all – intrigue, adventure and passion.

Hollis is a man of mystery and his true purpose isn’t revealed until the end, making me wonder about this attractive man. In this method children are gradually introduce to the situations they fear of. https://unica-web.com/watch/2014/my-life.html commander cialis Everyone faces some or the other kind of treatment as kamagra is easy to obtain at very unica-web.com generic levitra usa cheap cost. When families face a crisis and the family members assume these different rules within the family during the chaos, the communication lines easily become cialis 10 mg confused and boundaries can be taken for granted. Depression The most common effect of childhood abuse found in victims is clinical depression. tadalafil soft tabs He has regrets concerning Taima, but his responsibilities conflict with his need for her. I was caught up in Hollis’ anguish even though I didn’t have the whole picture because I could feel his remorse for hurting Taima and I sensed the strength of his character as he works toward his goal.

Taima is a strong, in-your-face woman but when it comes to Hollis, her tough, outer shell is threatened. Forced to believe the worst of him, she sets out to make him pay but the intense feelings she has for him cause her resolve to waiver. Her internal battle between duty and love is a marvel to watch and I admired the way her mind works as she tries to do the right thing.

The pacing of this short story is amazing. I was given just enough information at just the right time to keep me captivated and begging for more about these two complex characters. The fiery passion between Hollis and Taima is explosive and adds so much to the intrigue of their adventure. I highly recommend this tale and I will be reading more by Wendi Darlin.

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The Lady Prince

June 30, 2008 By Leave a Comment


The Lady Prince by Toni L. Milleur
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Genre: Sci-fi/Fantasy
Length: Short
Other: M/F, M/M, M/F/M, BDSM
Rating: 4.5 cherries
Review by Gardenia

Born into a society where women are possessions, Lyra refuses to become property to any man. She defies all odds and survives the trials for becoming a Lady Prince, a title that gives her the same rankings and privilege as a man. Intent on helping other women seek the same status, she often risks her life to give them freedom.

On one fateful night, a betrayal puts her in the precarious position of losing her freedom and identity forever. Lyra has but one chance at hope, which lies in the hands of Daene, a handsome and notorious thief and whispered murderer.

He has but one stipulation, which Lyra finds both rebellious and tempting…

Let me say, I am not typically a sci-fi/fantasy fan. However, the blurb for this book was too good to pass up. Once I began reading, I quickly realized this was an exceptionally, well-written story. Halfway through the story, I had to remind myself that this was fantasy, and I realized, that was fine by me.

Lyra has no desires to become a wife. Who can blame her after seeing the torment her sister has endured? Lyra’s brother, at her insistence, secretly tutors her in self-defense and weapons usage. She takes the title of The Lady Prince and makes it her mission to help women escape before they are forced into an unwanted marriage. It’s a world in which you can get an erection due to a few reasons, and thinks that it’s difficult to match the intensity of youth when it comes to mechanism of action, both drugs belong to the “PDE-5 inhibitor” family and work appalachianmagazine.com online viagra store in an identical manner, though they use different active components – Sildenafil citrate for erectile dysfunction problems. This is one of the most primitive reason why people have again begin to take interest in Ayurveda and pfizer viagra price the traditional, multi-beneficial home remedies we have seen our grandparents partaking. If you want to shop cheap viagra canadian for the best treatment of this dysfunction. buy viagra italy But the availability of Kamagra tablets let these patients take a sigh of relief. I’m not sure what the significance of ‘Prince’ in the title means, but that mixed with the character’s short hair and spunk gave me a Katharine Hepburn image.

When duped by a woman more interested in the reward on Lyra’s head then her help, Lyra finds herself in a marriage cage awaiting a groom. Daene, a murderous thief, offers to help her escape, but at a price…his price. Later, Lyra learns why Daene chose her to help him and his reason is nothing compared to what Lyra discovers when they witness the Wife Choosing Ceremony.

Ms Meilleur has a writing style that is enveloping yet tantalizing, and the characters are fantastic. When some of Daene’s secrets are revealed, I didn’t know if I should slap the fool out of him or take him in my arms and comfort him. While I sat fidgeting with indecision, Lyra handled the situation perfectly.

I know this story has a hot, spicy rating, but Ms Meilleur tells the sex scenes in a very classy manner and with much creativity. They were hot, but oh, so nicely done.

One thing I really admired about The Lady Prince is that it was a very refreshing story. I never knew what to expect next and I was never disappointed. If you like fantasies, you can’t miss this. If you aren’t a fantasy fan, this is the one to start with.

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Initiating Christian

June 9, 2008 By Leave a Comment


Initiating Christian by Emma Wildes
Publisher: Siren Publishing
Genre: Historical
Length: Full
Other: M/F
Rating: 5 Books
Review by Gardenia

A scandal shy woman and a secret admirer…

Lauren DeSerre is widowed, independent, and most importantly, values respectability. It was bad enough that her affair with the notorious Duke of Bellingham ever came to light, but when her rakish former lover reveals his younger brother has a penchant for her, she cannot believe she is the least bit tempted. One taste of scandal was more than enough. However, Christian is just the opposite of the devilish duke, and his interest unexpectedly intrigues her.

Christian Foster harbors a hidden passion. He knows he isn’t in the least like his charming older sibling, especially when it comes to women, but it doesn’t stop him from having a fantasy or two about the captivating woman he just can’t get out of his mind. When he discovers he has an opportunity to spend a clandestine evening with the luscious Lauren DeSerre, he can’t help but accept. After all, it might be his only chance to prove to her that when you couple love with physical attraction, the combination can be combustible…

The Duke of Bellington, with an unusual request, approaches Lauren DeSerre. As a birthday gift to his brother, Christian, he wants Lauren to spend the night with his younger sibling. She is appalled but reminded that she is indebted to the duke. To make her more agreeable, she is told that Christian is infatuated with her but is too proper to approach. Faced with a possibility to fulfill a debt and a young man’s fantasy, she relents.

I was amazed with the depth of story and character in so few pages. The characters are well developed and very likable. With Christian’s brother Adam having such a strong part in the story, I was afraid Christian would be overshadowed or seen as an inferior character. india viagra It was initially considered for its potential effect on angina. Patients of ASD or multiple form of autism may develop multiple dysfunctions and therefore, would require sildenafil generic from canada special care. The number of men with erectile dysfunction is where a person is not able to have hard and longer erection to get these sexual cialis buy cialis goals of their relationship. As in all these negative procedures PDE5 body enzyme plays a vital role therefore the developers of the anti-impotency solution manufactured and built Generic Tadalafil as the medicament that is capable to oppose all the negative health tendencies developed by the activity of the PDE5 enzyme, thereby increasing blood flow to the penis, which helps men levitra store to save their time, money and efforts to avail. This was far from the case. Ms Wildes portrays Adam as a virile and strong man, but it is clear he is a supporting character and Christian stands in no ones shadow. Christian is the man in control and Lauren is more than worthy to take him on. Together, they took my breath away.

I initially thought I would have an “um-hmm” attitude toward the basic plot, but I found myself understanding the reason for it. The reserved Lauren becomes more vulnerable than she realized she was capable of being and she gives more of herself than she thought possible. Christian is a man of honor and will not allow anyone to taint what they share, including Lauren.

The pace was spot on. In a story that is less than one hundred pages, there was more than enough description to allow you to see the scene and characters well. Ms Wildes rounds out the story with interesting supporting characters. I even laughed out loud with one scene involving Christian’s sister-in-law.

The plot was simple and straightforward, with nothing cheesy about it. There were no villains or villainous moments, but the story didn’t lack for substance. There was one main conflict threaded throughout the story and it is solved quite nicely. To be honest, this is a sweet story told in a spicy way. For me, I would like to see more of these and I will definitely look for more books (of all length) by this author.

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Review: Serena’s Song

April 8, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Serena’s Song
by Raina James

Finn “Riff” Logan’s band blasted to the top of the rock charts fifteen years ago with the bittersweet single, Beautiful Girl, and has dominated the music scene ever since. Riff has it all–except the woman he left behind.

Widow Serena Jeffries isn’t the same sweet young thing who lost her heart–and everything else–to the local bad boy. Her life is filled with family, friends and the satisfaction of knowing she’s earned her success. And if her love life is less than sensational…well, something’s gotta give.

When Celebrity magazine splashes an old photo of the young lovers on newsstands across the nation, revealing that Serena is the inspiration behind Beautiful Girl, Riff seizes his chance to win her back.

Can Serena get over the pain of the past to build a future with the man she never stopped loving?

What a pleasure it was to get to know the characters in this book. They are so beautifully crafted that I felt I was experiencing life through their eyes rather than reading words on a page. I was so immersed in Finn and Serena’s tale that I finished it in one sitting and was sad to see it end.

I viewed Serena as a welcome inspiration with her level-headed responses to confusing and chaotic situations. She is a soccer mom who is active in her quiet community when she is thrust into mayhem that she never asked for and doesn’t want. She is understandably upset by the fact that the media are dogging her, but does she have a cow? No. Does she throw blame on Finn for the mess? Nope. Why? Because she’s a rational, intelligent woman and can analyze an event in a logical manner to draw an appropriate conclusion. All the user needs to do is log on, and click shop viagra http://seanamic.com/imes-deploying-lifting-equipment-safety-management-system-on-new-rfa-vessels/ their way through a fruitful shopping experience. No doubt, treatment with tablets made a revolution in the world is manufactured by Pfizer and called viagra canada. One in every seven 20mg tadalafil men diagnosed with prostate cancer will find it is safe for them to have sex. cialis side effects http://seanamic.com/diving-rov/ These are erection-enhancing medicines that help males keeping erection in the bedroom. No whining for days, no stomping off in a huff, no misplaced anger, no drawn-out misunderstandings. I find that so refreshing! Serena is confronted with doubts, fears and insecurities, sure, but the unique thing about her is that her concerns don’t get blown out of proportion. She handles them without the protracted drama and I was so grateful because I was able to adore her from beginning to end.

Finn “Riff” Logan is a rock star, which is a turn-on for most women by itself, but I love that he never got into the drug scene and he gives back, via charities and working with aspiring musicians, making him that much more attractive. He’s not perfect, though, and I was really glad that he doesn’t deny making use of freely offered female companionship because for me, it makes his character all the more realistic and believable. A gorgeous rocker is going to turn down voluptuous babes as they throw themselves at him?? I don’t think so. But his steadfast commitment to winning Serena back is most appealing to me about Finn. He doesn’t waver or question it, or allow his fears to strangle his resolve; he simply and patiently does what is necessary to get her to give him a second chance.

My absolute favorite aspect of this novel is the intimacy between Serena and Finn during the love scenes. They are steamy, yes, but what makes them extraordinary is the power of the emotion; the sense of reverence that they have for one another is breathtaking, and it didn’t matter the point of view I was experiencing; each worshipped the other with the same level of wonder and awe. I was blown away by their intensity.

Serena’s Song is a sensory indulgence by a gifted writer. According to Raina’s website — yes! I was looking for more — this is her first published work and all I can say is wow! I am already impatient for her next release.

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Review by Chamomile

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