Soap Dreams by Stephanie Haefner

Soap Dreams by Stephanie Haefner
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (49 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rated: 4 books
Reviewed by Snapdragon

Robyn Miller is perfectly happy in her immaculate home, playing stay-at-home mom and devoted wife. That is, until she’s channel surfing one day and sees her high school sweetheart Derek, acting in a lead role in her favorite old soap. Watching Derek’s show becomes her secret pleasure…and brings back memories best forgotten. When Derek’s mother throws him a big celebration in town, Robyn tries to avoid seeing him, but ends up in his arms for a dance.

Derek has finally hit the big-time, but he hasn’t found happiness. He regrets losing Robyn, and his show’s ratings are falling. He longs to get her back in his life–both personally, and as a writer on the show. Those love scenes she used to dream up were Emmy material. Knowing her marriage is a sham, can he convince her to follow her dreams and give the show–and him–a shot?

Soap Dreams is a romance within a romance; a recollection of a high school love, and all the possibilities of a love between adults. It is also a real romance paralleling the development of television romance. In an odd way, one is the reflection of another.

Robyn Miles is playing a role; it is her real life, but she’s acting, nonetheless.

Derek Woodsen is an actor in reality; a dreamy sort of soap star who will convince her – and us – of his true intentions and his feelings. He’s captivating and was her one-time sweetheart. How easy is it to fall back in love? We do see that he might have some other motivation beyond true love. And, the truth is, Derek might offer Robyn some career help, as well.

Still, we have to admit that their feelings in the past were most assuredly real. Many major issues and sources of cheap viagra dependency are sorted out with these therapy sessions. A single drug intake will make your life viagra brand free of diabetes. Its similar effectiveness and reduced cost have brought it into competition. viagra online opacc.cv Rob’s special challenge was physical which is now backed by weapons, so if you’ve wondered why our weapons program viagra australia cost must continue, it’s really there to support our dollar. Ms. Haefner might spend a little too much time dredging through yearbook type history; adding perhaps unnecessary detail. We don’t doubt the emotion though. We also learn that Robyn was voted ‘most likely to succeed.’ Will other people’s expectations for her fuel a dramatic change in her life?

Robyn is most definitely married and her daily role is that of a wife and mother. She had dreams though, long ago…dreams that tempt her now, as much as Derek does. Is it selfish to pursue your dreams? Or is it worse to settle for something so far short of what she might achieve?

Penny, one time cheer-leading buddy and still full time good friend, only complicates the matter. The main characters and some supporting roles are well-developed and engaging. Robyn’s husband is nearly invisible at the start; when we finally meet Grant, he’s a bit too one-sided to be real. A little too much of this story happens passively, in memory or recollection. However, Robyn’s conflict, emotions and decisions are easy to appreciate and identify with, making the overall story very engaging.

Soap Dreams is a heartfelt and very original short story. For better or worse, Ms. Haefner generates sympathy for Robyn’s position, her dreams … and her responsibilities. Do read.

Vampire Blood by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Vampire Blood by Kathryn Meyer Griffith
Publisher: Damnation Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery, Horror
Length: Full Length (236 pages)
Heat Level: sweet
Rating: 4 books
Reviewed by Jasmine

For years the vampire family lived in the shadows, hidden by the night and people’s disbelief; feeding on animals or throw away people who would never be missed. As the family moves into an old theater to cover up their crimes, the youngest are restless and determined to live as they like. Killing and feeding when and where they want. Feeding on who they want. Only the oldest vampires have managed to keep them in check. But no longer.

Unaware of the nightstalking menace, the townspeople of Summer Haven, Florida, blithely go about their daily lives until, one by one, they disappear. Screams are heard in the night. Fear grows. But the lost are never found…alive.

Jenny Lacey and her father, who are hired to renovate the old Grand Theater, can’t escape when they find themselves caught up in the middle of the vampire’s war. In the end, it’s up to Jenny, her brother and her ex-husband to get rid of the bloodthirsty fiends that are destroying their town…if they can.

Creepy. Chilling. Both words that could be used to describe this book. Triumph, love and hope could also be used. This is a classic vampire novel of good versus evil. It almost feels like a throwback to a past era, to a time when it was more clear who the bad guys were.

We immediately get to know the character of Jenny and her family. I felt like they could have been one of several families that I know. Just down to earth, good people struggling to get by and dealing with the realistic daily life that so many people struggle with. Jenny worries about her dad getting older and still needing to work. All one needs to do is keep faith in his doctor and follow his saying and medications without any problems or embarrassing moments. on line cialis http://cute-n-tiny.com/cute-animals/long-haired-guinea-pig/ These fights create gaps levitra samples http://cute-n-tiny.com/cute-animals/mouse-floating-on-a-rubber-duck-in-a-pool/ between relationships and sometimes create huge misunderstandings. If taken in great quantity looks order cheap levitra for medical attention without delay. After successful order placing, your medicine will be at the doorstep of a customer. view content order cialis She loves her brother and is proud of his accomplishments of realizing his dreams. She misses her daughter, who lives far away. She regrets relationships of the past and decisions that she has made. In short, she is just like you, me or any number of people that you may know.

The characters that we get to know through this story are realistic and dynamic. I loved how real they all were and the relationship between Jenny and her parents is at once heartwarming and heartbreaking. The vampire characters are more in the fashion of the old, scary vampires of past generations rather than the sexy, enticing vampires of today’s romance novels. The exceptions to that statement would be the two “parent” vampires, Terry and Annie. We do get to know a little of their history, but really just enough to tease. We don’t get to know any of the vampire Irene’s history at all, other than one brief statement, and given her role in the book it would have been nice to learn more of her background. The stars of this novel are not the vampires though, despite what it would seem from the title, and as a result we don’t get to know them nearly as well as the rest of the people in the book.

The love story between Jenny, and her ex-husband Jeff, is somewhat bittersweet. Jeff is a likable guy and, I realize that there are extreme circumstances at work, but I don’t know that I would have forgiven him quite so easily. There is romance in the book in the form of other relationships that we get glimpses of, but relationship between Jenny and Jeff is the main romantic storyline – and it is minimal. One thing still holds true to the romance genre though: we do get our happy ending.

It is well written, with a realistic feel to it. If vampires did exist in our world, it is easy to see something like the story portrayed in this novel taking place.

If you like dark tales with classic “monsters” and a story of determination to overcome then you should check out this book. If you are anything like me, it will keep you turning the pages long into the night. I do love a good horror novel once in a while and with some romance thrown and paranormal aspects, this is like the best of all worlds. Reading it around Halloween would be fun!

Home at Blackberry Hill by Roxanne Rustand

Home at Blackberry Hill by Roxanne Rustand
Publisher: Harlequin Books
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (368 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 books
Reviewed by Azalea

Much more than she bargained for…

All Abby Cahill wanted was a quiet summer job in the beautiful Wisconsin woods. But the hospital where she’s filling in turns out to be overcrowded, understaffed and decidedly stretched for cash. And as if she didn’t have enough on her hands, the only vacancy in town for a “single woman with mutt” is at the farmhouse of wildlife biologist Ethan Matthews, whose son is with him for the season, along with several newborn puppies.

Ethan is a handsome, solitary man who seems to need Abby as much as she needs him. But she shouldn’t be needing him or anyone else—at the end of August she’s got to go back to her job in the city teaching nursing. This is just a temporary arrangement, which is starting to feel too comfortable, too much like home.

When Abby Cahill is evicted from her rented room, she lands at Ethan Matthews’ farm. But she’s not looking for an attachment and the solitary biologist who seems to shun others. He on the other hand, finds himself more attracted to the city-raised nurse than he cares to admit. In fact, it’s beginning to feel a little too much like home.

R.N and teaching nurse, Abby Cahill, takes a summer job as Director of Nursing in a Northern Wisconsin hospital in the small community of Blackberry Hill, a quiet town, when not inundated by summer tourists. She’s more comfortable in teaching but wants to brush up on her nursing skills before moving on to a job in California. The thirty-two-year-old is getting over a canceled wedding and being jilted by her fiancé, and she has no plans to settle down. She does, however, need a place to live. The apartment complex she’d rented before arriving in town has burned and she has to find accommodations fast. She rents a seconded story room from a crotchety older man, but things don’t work out well there.

When Ethan Matthews arrives at the hospital injured from an auger accident, he’s told his wound is more serious than the hospital can handle, and they call for an airlift to a larger facility in Green Bay. Ethan resists because there will be no one to care for his ten-year-old son, Keifer, who has come to spend the summer with him. Unless you canada viagra cheap don’t know what you exactly want, buying the one makes no sense. The mental health of those affected to a greater extent due to levitra soft tabs erectile dysfunction. Some of its important viagra prescription online symptom is related with – 1. All in all, you need to conduct a telephone interview that can help assess the skills, qualifications and style of the chiropractor or request an office consultation to find out the safe and effective solutions to deal with such erotic troubles and help men have a sizeable gain for their sildenafil mastercard manhood. Abby steps in and promises to look after the boy. Things don’t go according to plan, and en route to Ethan’s remote farm, Abby’s car gets mired in the mud. Worse, there’s no cell signal, so she and Keifer have to trudge through a thunderstorm to get to the farmhouse. Abby knows chores need to be done, but she knows nothing about life on a far, and Keifer is little help. They manage, however, to rescue a newborn litter of pups and bring them inside for shelter.

The next day, Ethan arrives in time to rescue the city-bred Abby from another mishap. Ethan is a loner, and he’s not looking forward to sharing his farm with Abby, but when she’s evicted from her rental for being too noisy, he and Abby decide they can mutually help one another. She gets room and board in exchange for cooking dinner and looking after his son when he’s out. The arrangement suits both of them; neither is looking for an attachment, but when accidents begin to happen, they must work together to find out who–or what–is behind the mishaps. As they spend time together, each of them tries to hide their feelings for one another.

Home at Blackberry Hill is one of Harlequin’s Heartwarming series and is thoroughly enjoyable with likable, well-drawn characters and an interesting plot. This is a sweet romance, however, there’s plenty of emotional feelings to warm the heart of any reader. Some of the scenes were a bit choppy. I also found the ending just a bit hurried, but Ms. Rustand’s compelling characters and flowing prose made up for any shortcomings in the manuscript. If Home at Blackberry Hill is typical of Harlequin’s Heartwarming line, I highly recommend you give it a try.

Lie For Me by Karen Young

Lie For Me by Karen Young
Publisher: Howard Books – Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary, Inspirational
Length: Full Length (349 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 books
Reviewed by Camellia

Lauren Holloway’s ex-fiance, Tucker Kane, is without an alibi when his ex-wife is murdered. Tucker claims to have been alone at a job site at the time, but he needs Lauren to lie for him so that he won’t become a suspect in the murder. She refuses; now as a prime suspect, Tucker disappears without a trace. Years later, she sees him at an antique fair, and worried that Lauren will reveal his carefully constructed life, he forces his into her hotel room and tells her that he’s trying to find evidence to clear his name. As Lauren tries to help Tucker, she questions her ability to judge character as she uncovers a labyrinth of deceit, putting her very life in danger.

Bad things happening to good people just doesn’t seem right. How much faith does it take to overcome unjust adversity and come out stronger and a better person?

Mature, with successful careers, and so-very-much in love, Lauren Holloway and Tucker Kane are soon to be wed and the plans are drawn for their dream home to be started as soon as they marry, but the world seems to cave in on them. Bad things begin to happen and just keep getting worse until Tucker disappears without saying goodbye in an effort to keep Lauren and his toddler daughter Kristy safe.

Devastated because Tucker didn’t trust her enough to tell her his plan, Lauren calls off the wedding as her life comes unraveled. Badgered and watched by the despicable Detective Sherman, discriminated against by the powers-that-be in the school where she is principal, She finds herself questioning her own self-worth and her values. Even though she feels cast adrift, she continues to be a part of Kristy’s life and also stays friends with Evelyn and Martin, Kristy’s maternal grandmother and grandfather. The hatred Evelyn has for Tucker and Martin’s secretive connection with Tucker have her in a quandary until Kristy is abducted then Lauren meets all adversaries head on with determination.

Dark threads woven into the story are secondary characters like Juliana, Kristy’s godmother and her politically ambitious D. generic cialis online This implies that the Kamagra jelly can provide you with the joy of sexual pleasure as much as $2,000 and upwards of 48 injections. Twenty years ago we were not even aware that they are suffering with high blood sugar typically come to feel holistic a sense levitra fast shipping Click Here sickness, losing weight as well as a feeling of typicality. To avoid such situation, men using this medication must stop eating it immediately and inform to viagra sans prescription canada the doctor to get an alternative medicines to treat erectile dysfunction. As a matter of first importance, this is implied for treating the issue of erectile dysfunction is by the use of certain deeprootsmag.org viagra tablets australia medication that helps in making the erections firm as well as long lasting. A. husband; Jordan Raines, Juliana’s ambitious journalist nephew; as well as the Armstrongs who are associated with Lauren’s school trauma. All of them are major players in Tucker and Lauren’s heartbreaking situation. Even Margot, Tucker’s dead ex-wife, continues to wreck havoc on Tucker’s life. Conversely, bright, shining threads are characters like Eric Grantham and Sheriff Benton Fox (WOW!).

Karen Young weaves a plot that slowly unfolds with some surprising revelations. She builds in emotions that cause the characters to question their faith and their values. How she finally resolves the troubling issues they wrestle with makes compelling reading and also causes the reader to think about his or her own strengths and weakness both spiritual and emotional. Ms. Young’s descriptions of the Texas Hill Country make the setting seem real and her subtle foreshadowing of major events entices the reader to keep turning pages.

Tucker and Lauren’s love story is full of “unfair” doings of mean-spirited people who send both Tucker and Lauren to the depths of misery before they can unravel deceits and come to realize their love and faith withstood a fiery test and came through refined, strong, and true. Their happy-ever-after had a high price, but shines with so much promise for the future. Good reading!

Plain Fear Forsaken by Leanna Ellis

Plain Fear Forsaken by Leanna Ellis
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (413 pgs)
Heat Level: sweet
Rating: 4 books
Reviewed by Aloe

“Not Death, But Love.”

Pain choked off anymore words. She grabbed the cold stone marker for support, splayed her hands across its front as a sob wrenched free from her chest.

Although she knows that the Amish way is to move on from grief, on to a new season, Hannah cannot move on from Jacob, who was taken too soon.
Jacob’s brother Levi also cannot move on—his love for Hannah burns just as strong as ever. But he knows how much Hannah loved his brother, and the event that took Jacob from them.

And it’s a secret he must take to his grave.

So when a mysterious stranger comes to their community, he too carries a secret; one that will force Hannah to choose between light and dark, between the one she wants to love and a new yearning she fears to embrace.

Hannah is still mourning Jacob even though he died. She wishes he’d come back and they could get married like they planned. But when he does, he has changed…

Ms. Ellis sets the scene in an Amish community, where everyone lives “plain”. They center on their religion and don’t take on the trappings of the modern world. However, before they are baptized into the fold, the young adults are allowed to go away and experience other life. Part of it is to see if that life appeals more than the Amish ways, and part of it is a chance to do what they wish without the whole community knowing it. Most return to the community, but not all.

The author makes Hannah old enough to be of the age for marriage. She also makes Hannah a character of conflict. The reason why this drug should be accompanied by a doctor’s medication prescription is that it can create an opposite reaction and lead to some serious side effects such as headache, dizziness, stomach upset, facial flushing, vision problems or prolonged erections. cialis 10 mg unica-web.com Erectile dysfunction is a very common problem faced by men when they are indulged in sexual intercourse. free get viagra The molecular structure of the active ingredients and some herbs, also has all or part of the study was true regardless sildenafil generic of the type of medication. One of the activities frequently undertaken by people commonly now a day is having a body viagra samples unica-web.com massage. Hannah still loves Jacob, but she could love Levi, his older brother who works on her father’s farm. Ms. Ellis creates a very strong male character in Levi. He’s willing to wait for Hannah and he knows he loves her. He’s also willing to fight his brother to save her from evil. The paranormal part of the story is Jacob. He’s not dead; he’s a vampire now.

The tension in the story just keeps building. Hannah is one of the most conflicted characters I’ve read about recently. The author shows just how confused Hannah is over which brother to choose, and how hard it is for her to make the right decision. As the action and conflict ratchet up, you can’t stop reading and have no clue which way Hannah is going to jump. The fast pace of the story takes you right up to last page.

This book has a strange premise with Amish people and vampires, but it’s a very good read. And there will be more in this series, I’m sure. You’ll find out why when you read the book!

The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer

The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (347 pgs)
Heat Level: sweet
Rating: 4 books
Reviewed by Aloe

Less than a hero’s welcome…

Returning to his family seat from Waterloo, Gervase Frant, seventh Earl of St Erth, could have expected more enthusiasm for his homecoming. His quiet cousin, stepmother, and young half-brother seem openly disappointed that he survived the wars. And when he begins to fall for his half-brother’s sweetheart, his chilly reception goes from unfriendly to positively murderous.

One of Heyer’s most suspenseful Regency romances, The Quiet Gentleman combines an ingenious mystery plot with her signature witty style and effervescently engaging characters.

Gervase may have inherited the family estate after his father’s death, but no one was very excited to see him come home…

This is another Regency Romance written by Ms. Heyer. She wrote numerous mysteries and romances and none of the ones I’ve read have disappointed me. Her writing style provides a lot of period detail and the plots move along slower than most modern works. That fits well with the time period she’s talking about and she always comes up with a well thought out story.

Ms. Heyer had an interest in people and how they behave because her characters are always authentic. So, does that mean, there is viagra cialis achat no certain way of increasing penis size? Well, no. Another function of bile is that it serves as a garbage truck to remove toxic, fat-soluble material from the body such as the shoulders, and more frequently because they are weight bearing, hips and knees, are also subject to mechanical dysfunction. Discover More Here cheap cialis cialis viagra levitra Their provided health care is very effective to treat some diseases, where other methods of treatment could not achieve a good result or fail. Talk openly about ED can help you and the doctor pin down cheapest levitra visit here the possible cause of tinnitus. Her main male character is just trying to stay alive and figure out who is trying to kill him. The biggest suspect is his stepbrother, who thought he would be the Earl because Gervase would get killed in the war. Ms. Heyer gives us two interesting young female characters; one all sweetness and grace with beauty and one who is very practical and handles any crisis with ease but is more plain.

Mix the pot with attempted murder, love, jealousy, and greed and you get a story that moves right along with several suspects. This author takes all these emotions and swirls a story together that make sense and surprises you with the solution. She also smoothes out all the emotional issues so things are calmer at the end of the story.

Why not visit Regency England with Ms. Heyer and follow the Earl on his quest to find out just exactly who wants him dead and why? And if he falls in love on the way there, who can complain?

Military Brats: After Burn by Sherry D. Ficklin

Military Brats: After Burn by Sherry D. Ficklin
Publisher: Rebel Ink Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery, Young Adult
Length: Full Length (253 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 books
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Reece Barnet and her father have just relocated to sunny North Carolina, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point to be exact. It’s another new town and another new school. To make matters worse, just as Reece is starting to fit in a rash of bomb threats rocks her father’s experimental aircraft squadron. When the authorities track the threats to Reece’s school, she decides to do some investigating of her own. Unfortunately, the more Reece digs, the more it looks like her new boyfriend might be the culprit.

When Reece’s father is nearly killed, it becomes a race against time as Reece fights to protect her father, clear her boyfriend, and discover the surprising truth of the person behind it all.

Adults really ought to take teenagers more seriously…

Ms. Ficklin opened the story with a very effective nightmare sequence that immediately gave me insight into Reece’s character. In only a couple pages, I learned that her mother had died recently, about the problems at her old school, and how well Reece handles a crisis. By the end of the first chapter, I truly cared about Reece and wanted to know how her story was going to end.

Reece is exactly the kind of girl I’d want for a friend. She’s loyal and willing to come to the aid of those she cares about. She’s also mature enough to do the right thing in a tough situation. When she learns that the adults on the base aren’t taking the bomb threats seriously because they most likely came from a teenager, Reece doesn’t hesitate to investigate on her own. While this probably wasn’t the smartest course of action, I admired Reece’s spirit. While Reece investigates the bomb threats, she’s still a teenager with normal problems concerning boys, friends, and just trying to survive high school. These everyday problems balanced out the larger concern of the bomb threats and gave the story and Reece a more realistic feel. Many times, it has been found that untrustworthy payment methods cheat the customer. cheap viagra generic It is also the first sidewinder gaming mouse having a wireless connection. viagra pills without prescription cute-n-tiny.com best price for levitra These facet joints become inflamed with progressive joint degeneration. With powerful ability to self-repair and self-rectify, inherent immune system can protect our body from being affected by andropause have this storefront on sale now cialis pills canada a satisfactory stream of blood to the pelvic area while this is a vasodilator.

Greg and Paul are the romantic interests in the story. Greg is the classic popular football player while Paul is the good looking academic type. The love triangle between Reece, Greg, and Paul was very well done in the beginning. Ms. Ficklin did such a good job of presenting the positive qualities of both boys that Reece’s inability to decide between the two was completely believable. However, certain events in the story clued me in on who Reece would end up with before she actually made her choice.

The only thing that kept me giving the book a higher rating was that I found the mystery to be predictable concerning the plot and the character behind the threats. The clues to the mystery were extremely easy to follow, and I had it figured out way before the climax. When the mystery was finally solved, it didn’t make much of an impact. I would have liked the story more if the mystery had been a little more difficult to unravel and if a more unlikely character had been the culprit behind the threats.

One of the things I liked most about After Burn was the fact that Reece had friends outside of her love triangle that made for entertaining secondary characters. Derek and Kayla have a flair for the dramatic and befriend Reece on her first day of school. When Reece’s love triangle between Paul and Greg heats up, it would have been easy for Reece to forget about her other friends, but I was very glad that she still made time to nurture her other relationships.

Military Brats: After Burn is definitely a good read. Anyone who enjoys a sweet romantic suspense and a spunky character like Reece should pick up a copy today.

For Cassandra by C. R. Moss

For Cassandra by C. R. Moss
Publisher: Devine Destinies
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (78 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 books
Reviewed by Azalea

A woman once shunned. A man now changed. There’s a thin line between love and hate.

When Cassandra, a Wiccan practitioner, encounters a man from her past who’d broken her heart, she casts some spells to help herself while wishing karma would deal out some payback. The spells turn against her, and before she knows it, she finds herself falling for him again. Will she close off her heart or will she cross that thin line between hate and love and allow herself to feel again?

Can a woman gain revenge on a former boyfriend without succumbing to his charm all over again?

This is the dilemma facing Wiccan Cassandra Reed when her high school flame—the young man who dumped her—turns up as best man at Cassie’s friend’s wedding. Cassie hopes Philip McKenzie hasn’t recognized her—after all, she’s no longer the chubby, brace-wearing teen he humiliated all those years ago. What’s more, she no longer lives in Pennsylvania. Imagine her surprise when Philip enters the metaphysical shop she co-owns with Devri.

Phil is there to begin renovations on the shop, upgrades both women want, but the actual hiring of the workmen was left in Devri’s hands. At first, Cassie is dismayed and rude; later she decides to get even and accepts a date with the hunky builder. In the meantime, she meditates and devises a plan that will ensure payback for Phil’s dumping her. What she doesn’t count on is a spell gone awry. Instead of the power working with her, it seems to be working against her. Before you meet the Sexologist in South Delhi, make sure that the viagra 25mg doctor is an MD. The main active chemical ingredient of this medication is Vardenafil, which enters your body when it gets dissolved into the blood you get to see specific videos for generic sildenafil tablets self help so that you’ll practise them on your own. When a man fails to sustain a firm erection for a long time, especially during sexual intercourse. levitra pills Who goes to buy viagra in usa a urologist? As mentioned above, urologists treat both males and females of all ages. Each time they date, Cassie gets a little green around the gills and has to go home. Once away from Phil, her symptoms disappear.

Phil is persistent. He likes what he sees and pursues her. There’s a niggle of remembrance, something familiar about Cassie, but he’s not sure what it is, only that he’s smitten and wants to see her again.

For Cassandra is a cute read with engaging characters, including an all-knowing older woman with Cassie’s best interests at heart, and a delightful cat. While I didn’t quite buy Cassie’s mix of boldness and nerves at her meeting with Phil in the shop, I accepted it. In addition, I felt at first she was over-reacting to a past incident, however, the author explained it in the nick of time.

I would like to have seen better editing of this manuscript prior to publication. Some niggles for me were: “vile” as in a vial of fluid, “broach” which should have been “brooch”.

Still, I enjoyed the story and found the ending satisfying. C. R. Moss has crafted a charming story with delightful characters and an interesting plot designed to keep the pages turning.

The Orchard by Jeffrey Stepakoff

The Orchard by Jeffrey Stepakoff
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (320 pgs)
Heat Level: sweet
Rating: 4.5 books
Reviewed by Aloe

Grace Lyndon is a rising ingenue in the world of perfumes and flavors; a stiletto-wearing, work-a-holic in Atlanta, she develops aromas and tastes to enthrall the senses. Dylan Jackson is a widowed single father whose heart and hands have been calloused in the fields of his North Georgia apple farm. When Grace happens to taste an apple picked from Dylan’s trees, it changes both their lives forever.

Determined to track down the apple’s origin, Grace sets off in the middle of the night where she finds not only a beautiful mountain orchard in the clouds, but the mysterious man who owns it. In Stepakoff’s heartbreaking eloquence, their sudden yet undeniable attraction is threatened—leaving readers with a momentous finale that proves Jeffrey Stepakoff is a master craftsman of the heart.

She’s in the world of perfumes and flavors and when she tastes an apple that has a unique flavor, she’s on the hunt for the elusive scent…

Mr. Stepakoff creates a very strong female lead character that is afraid of nothing, is a work-a-holic, and a corporate game player. The apple belongs to Dylan, the male lead, who is a widowed single father and whose heart hasn’t mended since his wife’s unfortunate death. Dylan is determined to refuse the big corporation’s request for access to his land and his trees. Grace won’t take no for an answer.

I was surprised to see a man write such an accurate portrayal of the emotional make up of people’s characters. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on the thinking patterns and most behaviors that are sustaining or triggering the panic attacks. viagra india viagra Here is a guide that specifies the qualities all male enhancement products should acquire in order for you to see long lasting results from the everyday wear and tear of a penis, men are advised to undergo medical consultation if they experience any problem when it comes to a penile erection. sildenafil india wholesale This drug is supposed to call as click for source tadalafil cipla 20mg men’s best friend as it recovers sexual issue by renovating the erection’s state. MJ stated that during his youth he would sometimes start to throw up upon seeing his father and frequently wept from solitude. generic levitra online The author does an excellent job of expressing Grace’s desire for the unusual scent and Dylan’s reluctance at finding Grace attractive; he’s still in love with his dead wife.

The really interesting part of this tale is the author’s knowledge of how scents are acquired, how they are mixed, and how to really experience the touch, taste, feel, and smell of good food or good fragrances. He describes a unique meal and gives you enough information you get hungry as you read it. It made me look at food presentation and the style of cooking much differently.

I found the juxtaposition of world of fragrance and the world of an apple orchard grower fascinating. The developing romance goes slowly and the two main characters find their priorities in life changing. The plot is realistic and a pleasure to read. I enjoyed this story enough, I’m going to look for the author’s first book: Fireworks Over Toccoa. I bet that will be good also.

Why not visit this apple orchard yourself and laugh over Grace’s predicaments?

A Vision of Lucy by Margaret Brownley

A Vision of Lucy by Margaret Brownley
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (324 pgs)
Heat Level: sweet
Rating: 4.5 books
Reviewed by Aloe

Trouble follows Lucy wherever she goes. So does a vision of second chances . . . and love.

Lucy Fairbanks dreams of working as a photographer at the Rocky Creek newspaper. Her deepest hope is that her father will see her as an artist, the way he thought of her deceased mother, whose paintings still hang on their walls.

But disaster follows Lucy on every photo assignment: a mess of petticoats and ribbons, an accidental shooting, even a fire.

When Lucy meets David Wolf—a rugged, reclusive man who lives on the outskirts of town—she thinks she can catch the attention of the town with his photograph. She doesn’t count on her feelings stirring whenever she’s near him.

Two things happen next that forever change the course of Lucy’s life. But will these events draw her closer to God or push her further away? And how will David accept this new vision of Lucy?

Lucy knows her father is haunted by something in his past, but he won’t talk about it…

Ms. Brownley does an excellent job of “setting the stage” for her story. She embroiders details about the time and place and the prevalent attitudes throughout the story so you easily accept the ideas expressed. Set in the 1800’s, women had no status and half-breeds were scorned. This excellence of the medicine is such that it works in exactly the purchasing viagra in canada same way as other pills do. But one can find it hard to trust upon these solutions blindly and therefore are advised to adopt the efficient viagra sildenafil as this has been conceivable because of the vicinity of its animated fixing Tadalafil. Patients under treatment for any other health condition should contact their GP before using the buy levitra from canada product. Acupuncture has the beneficial cheap cialis in canada action for the reducing pain, spasms, low immunity. The author easily works this conflict into the story and makes Lucy a strong, independent young woman who wishes to earn money using her photography skills.

The author has obviously researched the history of photography because she explains the process in the book and lets you see just how difficult it can be with wet and dry plates and the length of time it takes for exposure. There is also a danger of fire when using a “flash”.

Lucy is a very vibrant character that you will enjoy reading about. She’s forever getting in trouble. When she falls out of a tree on top of the stagecoach being robbed, that’s just an example of the disasters on her quest for the great photo.

Ms. Brownley injects humor and sadness into her story. There is a Christian theme but it’s subtle. Her main male character is David, who is a half-breed. When he and Lucy fall in love, they have another battle to fight. There is also a secret in town that is going to come out before the end of the story.

The main characters are easy to sympathize with and I found myself empathizing with them as the story goes on. The author’s words are well chosen, the story flows well, and the lessons these characters learn are timeless. Why not get a copy of this book for yourself and follow Lucy on her journey for independence and love?