Friday, January 29, 2016

KISS ME AGAIN BY MONIQUE DEVERE


Title: Kiss Me Again

Series: A Candy Hearts Romance
Author: Monique DeVere
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 86                  

Publisher: Wild Rose Press

SYNOPSIS:  A Valentine’s Day wedding on a Caribbean beach! The last thing Riley Flynn wants is to be present at her ex-fiancĂ©’s wedding-which should have been hers—but she refuses to give him the satisfaction, despite the nosedive her life has recently taken. Now, if she can only find a plus one to prove she isn’t a complete failure. All Sam Rutherford wants is a peaceful life, but his zany neighbor is making it impossible.   The woman is a menace to herself, and anyone in her path—he has the dent in his car to prove it. But when she raises those big amber eyes and confides in him, how can he say no to anything she wants? Soon she’s invading his life and bungling her way… into her heart.

REVIEW:  This short story is a great one, packed full of all types of mishaps by Riley Flynn. Sam Rutherford has moved in next door to her. He has noticed her exercising and walking along the beach but has never approached her until the day she backs into him. He can tell she is nervous and very apologetic. She is a walking accident or so Sam Rutherford thinks that.  Little does he know Riley needs a job?

She winds up confiding in him that she needs someone to go to her ex’s wedding and she decides he should take her. Sam isn’t so sure but as the story goes on you can tell he starts to fall for her. She has trusts issues and isn’t going to make it easy for him.

Riley is hilarious and does such crazy things. Such as climbing in Sam’s window because she thought someone was breaking in. She sees the mess of his office and decides to organize it for him. He is shocked to see her sleeping in his office with it all organized. Riley is shocked to see Sam standing in front of her nude. He forgot he didn’t have any clothes on.

Sam becomes her hero hiring her to work in his office. He has a hard time working with her distracting him. Riley had a hard time fighting the attraction also. They both give in to their lust.

What a great romance you won’t want to miss out on.


I highly recommend it.  


BE MINE BY APRIL HOLLINGWORTH

 Title: Be Mine
Series: A Candy Hearts Romance
Author: April Hollingworth
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 55

Publisher: Wild Rose Press


SYNOPSIS:  Beth has always loved Mark.  He was the boy of her dreams even though she was nothing more than his little sister’s best friend.  Now he’s back from the military and looking at her differently. Though that could be the plate of lasagna she dropped in his lap.

A series of mishaps gives Mark opportunity to spend time with her. He is sure that he is the man for her but experience has taught Beth not all men can be trusted. Can he convince her that he wants her to be his for Valentine’s Day and ever after?

REVIEW:  Great story from beginning to end. Beth and Mark both had such great chemistry. Even though Beth was protecting her heart Mark was able to break through the barrier and prove he wanted her for always not just one day.


I recommend this story.



Wednesday, January 27, 2016

FORGET ME NOT BY MAUREEN L. BONATCH

 Title: Forget Me Not

Series: A Candy Hearts Romance
Author: Maureen L. Bonatch

Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy/ Futuristic Romance
Pages: 79
Publisher: Wild Rose Press


SYNOPSIS:  The car accident totaled Sabrina Post’s convertible and reinvented her memories. She can’t recall dumping Cole Dawson ten years ago.  What her new clairvoyant visions tell Sabrina is he’s her husband.

Any practical girl would question her sanity.  But if Sabrina wants to make this imaginary future a reality, she’ll have to regain Cole’s trust and eliminate her rival, the coffee shop waitress who’s pegged Cole as husband #4.

To prove she’s foreseen their destiny, Sabrina stirs Cole’s interest by revealing specifics about him she couldn’t have otherwise known.  Unfortunately, the one detail he vividly remembers is the pain when she left him and their “rinky-dink” town in her rearview mirror.

If Cole can’t believe she’s a changed woman, can Sabrina accept the only second chance she has a love exists in her memories?

REVIEW: Sabrina returns home to find that she can’t remember much about the past but she keeps imagining her husband and when she finds out he is her ex-boyfriend, Cole that she dumped for the big city what is she to do? She tries to win him back and he doesn’t want to let himself get his hopes up. He is afraid his heart can’t take it again.

When Sabrina surprises him and buys a coffee shop in town to prove she isn’t going anywhere. The heat they once had ignites even more than before.  Cole hasn’t gotten over her and she knows she will always love him.

I like this story. Sabrina tried to go her own way and to let Cole go his by joining the army. She knew their relationship wasn’t going to work long distance. She wasn’t as happy as she thought she would be and missed her family and her “rinky-dink” town. Cole did follow his heart and gave Sabrina a second chance. She had proven to him she had changed for the better.

I recommend this story.

DIVERGENT BLOODLINE BY TJ SHAW

Title: Divergent Bloodline

Author: T.J. Shaw

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Erotic, Vampires, Suspense
Pages: 360

Publisher: Wild Rose Press

SYNOPSIS:  While tracking down a killer, clues lead a homicide detective, Viviane Taylor to suspect, Julian DeMatteo. From the get-go, DeMatteo unsettles and irritates her. He’s a force she has never encountered, someone who excites her even though he is forbidden.  Her instincts warn the he’s hiding something and she is determined to uncover those secrets.

As king of the vampires, Julian DeMatteo protects the immortal clans.  So, when the beautiful, bullheaded cop embroils herself within his world, he must choose between the woman who reminds him of the humanity he’s lost or his loyalty to his people.

As confusing emotions awake inside her, Viviane can either accept her fate as the one chosen to save the immortal race or lose her soul to darkness.  With Julian’s help, she fights an evil that would rip her apart in order to forge a new future with the homicide suspect who’s stolen her heart.

REVIEW:  Viviane is a tough cop trying to find a murderer. When a member of Julian DeMatteo’s gang is killed, Viviane is forced to confront the lethal man of power.

Julian DeMatteo is the king of all the vampire clans. Viviane is drawn to him but she doesn’t back down. Julian can’t believe she treats him like a common criminal. He knows it isn’t wise to get involved with a human because things can go terribly wrong and he has to protect their secret of being vampires.

When Viviane can’t say no to Julian, she feels she has compromised her investigation. So what is she to do? She doesn’t figure that her partner will be killed and she will be kidnapped by another vampire clan and fed on slowly. She eventually escapes her captors and drives to Julian’s’ estate. She is let in and collapses in Julian’s councils arms. Julian is notified and returns to find her near death. He gives her his blood and chooses not to live without her.

This story grabbed me from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. The sex scenes were steamy and very hot. You might want a cool drink with this book. Wow!

I loved that Viviane could give Julian back his humanity and that he would fight to the death for her. He was strong and truly the king of the vampires. But Viviane being an orphan didn’t know her origins and is shocked to find out who her dad is. She is the promised one that was foretold by the vampire’s books. She was changing and was trying to understand it all. She also was having a baby with Julian which should be impossible. Nothing is impossible in books.


I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait to read another book from this author. 



Tuesday, January 26, 2016

CHILL OUT BY JANA RICHARDS

Title: Chill Out

Series: A Candy Hearts Romance
Author: Jana Richards

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 76

Publisher: Wild Rose Press
  
SYNOPSIS:  Renata Cabral needs to hide for the weekend. Her cousin’s Valentine’s Day wedding means she’ll face embarrassing questions from her large, extended family.  Questions like “Why aren’t you married yet?” Since the breakup of her last relationship, she’s not ready to answer that question. She invents a work-related excuse and escapes to a friend’s lakeside cottage.

Noah Brownlee has been hiding for two years. But now he’s ready to come home and mend his broken relationship with his brother.  When a friend offers the use of his lakeside cottage, Noah arrives in the middle of a blizzard with his English Mastiff, only to find the place is already occupied.  With her big brown eyes and quirky sense of humor, Renata stirs feelings he thought dead.

As the blizzard rages, the candy hearts predict love. Can Valentine’s Day work its magic between them?

REVIEW:  Chill out is a great title for this story. When you put a man and a woman hiding out together, and you add in a huge dog, Spike who seems to be fond of Renata, things get very interesting. Even though they have different reasons for hiding out they decide they might as well enjoy themselves. She hadn’t planned on being snowed in. Noah is sending all kinds of signals and Renata thinks he isn’t interested in her. Little does she know he is fighting himself not to make a move on her?  

When Noah finally gets the nerve up to call his brother, Renata is there to support him. She is a caring person and he wants to know more about her. His brother doesn’t answer but does call back. He agrees to meet Noah and once the snow is cleared away Renata and Noah go their separate ways.

Noah will need to decide to go after Renata if he wants her in his life.  Renata wants Noah too but is afraid of rejection.


I really liked this story. I highly recommend it.


Monday, January 25, 2016

CHARM ME BY TENA STETLER


Title: Charm Me
Series: A Candy Hearts Romance
Author: Tena Stetler
Genre: Paranormal Romance 
Pages: 65
Publisher: Wild Rose Press




SYNOPSIS:  Summer Dawn Riley’s an extraordinary elemental witch whose troubled past haunts her.  She’s created a calm life for herself teaching yoga and keeping people at a distance.  Her life takes a one eighty degree turn when she enrolls in a woman’s weapon’s class and meets ruggedly handsome Devlin Sawyer.

Devlin, a former Navy Seal, has sworn off women after two long-term failed relationships, but there is no denying his attraction to Summer.  She intrigues him like no other woman ever has.

Despite her attempts to ignore him, Summer is drawn to Devlin. His magic signature is strong, but he’s no warlock. Will Valentine’s Day magic find them a future together?

REVIEW:  Summer and Devlin are both hiding from their pasts and not really living. Then they meet and it is an instant craving or magical connection they have for each other. Neither one understands it but they will take it slow to get to know each other.

I really liked this story and the characters. It seemed to flow easily. Devlin didn’t want to scare Summer off and her dog liked him so it was a plus all around.


Read on to see if Devlin does charm Summer in this great story.


Saturday, January 23, 2016

Friday, January 22, 2016

DEAD OF WINTER BY SEAN HARRIS

Title: Dead of Winter
Series: Ghosts of Alaska Series
Author: Sean Harris

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 330

Publisher: Wild Rose Press



SYNOPSIS:  “Fairbanks, Alaska is a city filled with colorful characters and I was one of them. Since I was a teenager, I’ve seen spirits and ghosts walking among us. There’s a lot more of them than you might think.”

A young woman reaches out from beyond the grave, and a reluctant clairvoyant, Allysen Coles, answers her pleas to solve a decades-old murder.  With the help of her friends-a spiritually magnetic computer programmer and a hockey-playing priest—Allysen uncovers something far more sinister than murder.  In the long, dark winter of Fairbanks, things aren’t always what they seem.

REVIEW:  Allysen Coles moves to Fairbanks, Alaska to get away from everything. She wanted away from her family, her husband’s family and her past. She had an accident and ever since she can see spirits or ghosts.
She has been seeing a woman in her dreams who she believes needs her help. She sees her murder over and over. Allysen doesn’t know what to do until she is contacted by her friend Harry who can sense spirits but not see them. There is a doctor who needs their help. He thinks he may be crazy because there are things going on in his house that he can’t explain.

Allysen and Harry decide to try and help the doctor. There is more to the house than meets the eye and before she knows it Allysen is in way over her head. She is fighting not only for her life but her son’s, Harry’s and the priest that she has befriended who is trying to help her.

I liked this story it was very spooky in parts and I wouldn’t read it in the evenings. Not in a scary way but eerie way.
I like Allysen because she was stronger than she thought and when it came to protecting her son and friends there was no stopping her. The story had a steady pace and kept me guessing throughout it. You won’t figure out the story until the end. I can usually get some idea of what will happen with the story but not with this one.

I recommend this story.



Thursday, January 21, 2016

TAKING PASSION BY STORM BY RAVENNA TATE

Title: Taking Passion by Storm
Series: The Weathermen Book #6
Author: Ravenna Tate
Genre: Erotic, Futuristic, Sci Fi Romance
Pages: 147
Publisher: Evernight Publishing




SYNOPSIS:  When Nadine Jarvis’s father disappears in a tornado on the surface during his Storm Trooper duties, life-long friend Addison Carlyle puts together a search team.  Nadine convinces him to let her come along, where she embarks on a journey that changes her life forever.

Addison is part of a group of friends financing the efforts to put a stop to the Madeline Project.  The program now has a mind of its own, thanks to a virus called Tommy Twister.  These men have power, resources, and money, but they’re as ruthless and possessive as the storms ravaging Earth.

They call themselves the Weathermen.

REVIEW:  This is the 6th book in the Weathermen series. Nadine Jarvis has been hiding out at the same job and same home since her attack that only the school and police know about. She hasn’t even told her father. He is a storm trooper and is working on the surface when a tornado comes up and he is separated from his group.

Addison Carlyle is a member of the Weathermen group that are all working to find out who has the Madeline project and trying to stop it. They want to be able to one day return to the surface. He has to deliver the horrible news to Nadine and decides to form a search party and go up to find her father. Nadine decides that it would be unbearable to wait underground for news about her father. He is the only family she has left. She tells Addison that she is going with them and Addison understands that it is something she has to do.

Addison has fought his attraction for Nadine ever since he met her as a teenager. He is good friends with her dad and has always kept his distance. Now the woman who is in front of him is playing havoc on his senses. Nadine has been attracted to Addison also. They can’t fight the pull between them and they get separated from their group on the surface and wind up in a cave alone. They are so into each other and it is only a matter of time before they are sleeping together.

His crew gets to their cave and tells them that they found Nadine’s’ dad’s camera. They had a lead and were going to find him.

You will have to read the story to find out if Nadine finds her father and will Addison and Nadine have a chance at a happy ending.

I loved this story. Ravenna Tate has done it again. I love the story and she continues to build on it with each new member of the Weathermen that she unveils. I love that they all are so focused on their work that they aren’t looking for love and it happens to be right in front of them.
I can’t wait until the next book to see what happens in this story and I hope it is even more exciting than this book.

I highly recommend it.





Wednesday, January 20, 2016

RESURRECTION BY ANITA COX

Title: Resurrection
Series: The Shifters Chronicles Book 2
Author: Anita Cox

Genre: Erotic, BDSM, Paranormal Romance

Pages: 191

Publisher: Syn Publishing

SYNOPSIS:  Wendy Baker is a staple in the Belfast Lycan pack.  She serves others, manages the house and events. So when Nala Baker, her sister-in-law and new Alpha of the pack, asks her to relocate to the new shifter university, she feels lost. How can she leave her pack behind?

Zoltar, the Centaur King, has eyes for Wendy, but years of animosity between Lycans and Centaurs could mean Wendy’s excommunication if they’re discovered.

As new Headmistress at McGovern University, Wendy struggles to find her place and considers Zoltar.  He’s smart, sexy, and thoughtful.  What will her brother think?  But before they can enjoy their new relationship, a Pixie is murdered and the school falls under attack by a group that does not appreciate integration, the Separatists.

Can Wendy overcome her fears and find true love? Can she defend her school and her new pack from the murderous revenge of the Separatists or will she lose everything?

REVIEW:  This is the second installment of the Shifters Chronicles. You don’t need to read the first book but I believe it is so good you will want to read it first.

As the construction of the new university is under way, the school has a need for a Headmistress. They need someone who will help all shifters and keep order at the school. They go to Wendy Baker who is in charge at the Belfast pack and offer her the job. She is shocked and worried that she is no longer wanted or needed with her pack. But the offer is with a totally different reason. The Alpha, Nala and Wendy’s brother Collin believe she is the best person for the job. She will work well with everyone at the school. She will watch out for all students there and she will protect them. She will try to make the students transition easier.

Wendy goes to check the school out and runs into Zoltar the king of the centaurs. She is nervous around him and wonders if it is the pheromones he is putting off that are driving her wild with lust for him. He assures her that his herd is keeping the hormones turned down so they can work around everyone.

Wendy likes the school and starts to settle in and get to know everyone. She finds a friend in one of the pixies and finds out that because they are so small it takes them forever to get to any meal. So Wendy and Zoltar try to make things better for the pixies by building cars for them to drive around the school. 

Zoltar and Wendy find themselves being pulled together. Wendy wants a mate but doesn’t believe Zoltar is the one until he shows her he can shift to a wolf.

She has fallen for him and decides to give it a try between them. Before they can get too far into their new relationship there is a murder and the whole school is worried about the group targeting them because they are trying to exist together.

Wendy and Zoltar have their work cut out for them. But they do have time for some alone time. They can’t stop wanting or touching each other. Talk about scorching the sheets. They had several steamy love scenes.

I really loved this story. I like the characters that Anita Cox has come up with. The different groups of paranormal creatures trying to work together, and build something great for the future.  I also enjoyed seeing Wendy come into her own not only as a leader at the school but as a woman with Zoltar. I can’t wait to read more of this incredible series.

I highly recommend this book.


I am giving it 4 Flaming Hearts.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

CERTAINLY SENSIBLE BY PAMELA WOODS-JACKSON

Title: Certainly Sensible

Author: Pamela Woods-Jackson

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Pages: 312

Publisher: Wild Rose Press


SYNOPSIS:  Susan Benedict and her daughters Caroline, the sensible one, Allie the high-strung artist, and teenage Megan, are stunned to learn they are being booted out of their family home when her ex-husband Daniel’s new trophy wife wants the social status the address will bring her. The Benedict women find themselves in unexpected financial straits, so oldest daughter Caroline is determined to help make ends meet.

However, in order to do that, she must consider leaving not only the job she loves, but the man who has her heart - a man engaged to someone else.  All four women doubt their ability to make the transitions necessary to succeed, but deep within each lies a well of strength only adversity can uncover.

REVIEW:  I really loved this story. Each woman showed her true strength that they had within. Susan was a mom of three who hadn’t worked since her husband was wealthy but had to start over basically. She got a job and then found a house for them to live in. She had to deal with the moans and groans of the younger girls because one had to go to public school and the other couldn’t continue at the Music School she was attending. It was very hard on her but she made it through.

Megan was the youngest and even though she initially didn’t like the public school she learned that the friends she made there were truly her friends. Not her friends because she had money.

Allie was always trying to find love and she would be pushy even with the guys. When she finally has a nice neighbor professor willing to let her use his piano to practice she blows him off for another guy who only went out with her for the money he thought she had. Soon enough Allie realizes what she did to the neighbor. They decide to take things slow and continue their friendship. She knows that she doesn’t want to rush into anything with him because it feels right. He is someone she can trust.

Caroline was the oldest and decided to interview for another job to get more money to help her mom out. Even though she loved what she did and she was in love with her boss. He was blind to that fact even though he liked her too. He was promised to a woman who was a society woman who was horrible. He didn’t even remember proposing to her. He had been drunk. Caroline gets an offer to leave the company and he decides to take matters into his own hands and gets his grandmother to help him hire Caroline on fulltime to have the job that she deserves. He couldn’t live without her in the office.

But throughout the whole story I wondered if the absentee father would ever figure out what he was missing. I believe in the end he finally understood what he had let his new wife do. He had abandoned his children and they wanted nothing to do with him. They weren’t comfortable going back to their childhood home and he never seemed to have time for them.

I loved this story. There were several small stories going on at the same time and it kept the story flowing smoothly and effortlessly. I liked Caroline’s boss’ grandmother. She tried several times to talk to her grandson about marrying someone he loved and not out of a promise from years ago. She tried to get him and Caroline together. She actually set them up on a dinner date and they decided to stay and have dinner together.  It was a wonderful evening but Caroline knew he was going to go through with the wedding anyway.

You will have to read this story to see what happens to the Benedict women on this journey for them. Each one has such a strong spirit and I admire that.

I highly recommend this book.




Monday, January 18, 2016

KEEPING HOPE ALIVE BY FRAN MCNABB

Title: Keeping Hope Alive

Author: Fran McNabb

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Pages: 248

Publisher: Wild Rose Press


SYNOPSIS:  Casey Morgan opened Hope Ranch for troubled teens in a rural Texas community, but not everyone welcomed her.  The unexplained death of her security guard and the other disturbing activities prompts her to advertise for help to make her ranch the safe haven she envisioned.

The lady pointing a rifle at his head wasn’t the greeting Major Nathan “Max” Maxwell expected.  Max needed the job to give him a place to finish his recuperation before returning to his Spec Ops Team, but instead of the serenity he expected, he walked into a web of deceit and danger.

Torn between his growing feelings for Casey and his need to return to his team, Max searches for strength to help the beautiful ranch director.  Casey wasn’t looking for a man, especially one whose career choice didn’t mix well with her life.  Would Hope Ranch give them a chance to find a future together?

REVIEW: Casey Morgan is a very strong, intelligent woman who has sunk all her inheritance from her uncle into Hope Ranch and with all the mishaps going on she isn’t sure she will be able to keep it open.

She is trying to help the troubled kids there and has found that they are making progress but she is worried they are in danger. She decides to hire a security man and that is where the story starts.

Major Nathan “Max” Maxwell arrives at the ranch to hear gunshots being fired. He is instantly thrown into Special Ops mod. He stalks his way to where he hears the gun firing. He is surprised to see a woman with a rifle pointing at him. She has a stern look on her face and asks who he is before she lowers the gun. She was shooting with the kids.

He introduces himself and she feels a little silly and lowers the gun. She takes him on a tour of the ranch and he finds out that this won’t be his typical security job. He says he isn’t a babysitter for the kids but he decides to stay and give it a chance. The longer he is there he finds himself drawn to Casey. She is a caring person and she tries to help out the kids as best she can.

As the story unfolds more “accidents” happen and Max decides that there is something very funny going on here. He starts investigating and Casey feels more relaxed with Max there.

They are all invited to a neighbor’s party and dance and decide to go. Some of the neighbor kids try to start a fight but Casey’s group doesn’t fall for it. She dances with Max and she can feel the warmth and caring for him as well.

They decide it is time to head out and when they are turning toward Hope Ranch they see big smoke clouds.
Someone has set their barn on fire. Max again goes into Special Ops mod and runs into the burning barn to get out Carl, the horses and their dog before falling down. He needs oxygen. Casey can’t believe he was her hero but he had done so much for her already.

Read this story to see if Hope Ranch last the mishaps and if Max stays or leaves Hope Ranch.

I really liked this story. It really shows that there are people out there that want to help others. Not only Casey helping the troubled teens but her neighbors came to her rescue to help build a temporary barn for her horses, and the feeling of first love with Max and Casey.

Max was so stubborn wanting to return to his team he didn’t see what was right in front of him until it was almost too late. He never had a family or love in his life because of the job. He said it didn’t make for long lasting relationships. Unfortunately Casey knew about that all too well. Her dad had been in the service also and her parents had split up. She decided to throw caution to the wind though and give herself a chance with Max.  

I highly recommend this story.




Friday, January 15, 2016