Monthly Archives: January 2018
Temptation by Moonlight by Barbara Goss
Pittsburgh, 1900. The mysterious Vanderhorn family hires Nora Bennett as a nurse and companion to her injured, handsome, stepson Alex. Nathan Vanderhorn is drawn to Nora even though he’s betrothed to the socially elite Celeste. Though Nora vies to steer clear of the family problems, a sinister plot pulls her in deeper than she’d ever imagined. Who in this strange household could she trust?
Nathan is forced to run the family steel mill when all he really wants is to become an attorney. Alex wants nothing more than to walk again and run his steel mill. The willful stepmother strives to keep them both from their desires. Both brothers seem to be attracted to Nora. Which brother will she fall in love with?
Such an awesome classic! Historical romance for any age. The story of Nora and Alex is written with very mild religious undertones so is excellent for younger readers. The characters are strong and sensible, believable and compelling as well. I had one or two minor issues but they didn’t hamper the story at all. I felt the timing was off in how quickly Alex responded to Nora, but can understand the possibility of a younger aide being enough to shock him out of his funk. I also would have liked a bit more of Nathan’s story to have been included. Knowing his thought process concerning the paperwork would have been interesting.
As an independent reviewer for Romance Authors that Rock, this one earns a full five hearts. It’s sweet, romantic and exciting all with not a single inappropriate scene!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2271695458?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
https://www.amazon.com/review/R1C68MW1PEK7M1/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv
Whispers of a Faded Dreamer by Celesta Thiessen
A love-starved young woman slips away every night to adventure with dragons, mermaids and even aliens but then she wakes up.
In this unusual, Christian sci fi fantasy novel, Cara Peirce wants to help people. She wants love but making connections in real life just isn’t something she’s good at. Through an unsettling turn of events, Cara finds herself a mostly-willing participant in a bizarre life in which she only feels truly alive in her dreams. Her surreal adventures in other realms seem important, somehow. And, almost every night, she dreams of the same guy – Blaze Saxon.
In the end, only whispers remain. But the end is only the beginning.
This is the story of a faded dreamer.
This book is rated 13+
Cara is a high school student who has very few connections in life. After learning that she has a hidden special talent of being able to see and understand FUN waves, she becomes employed as a “Dreamer”, for an astronomical amount of money. Her only task is to dream and to allow the company to somehow access these dreams for others. How was never made clear in the book? Through her dreams, Cara learns many important life lessons, primarily about the faith of a higher power. These dreams almost always feature Bryce “Blaze”, who Cara obviously has a crush. These two ultimately come together to have a happily ever after by the end. This book unfortunately never pulled me in. Although the author has a very creative imagination, even the “real life” portions of the book just seemed outlandish to me and the last few chapters went off the rails to me, even to the point that I had to put the book down for a bit before returning to finish. I rate this book 3 hearts.
***reviewer for Romance Authors that Rock***
Music, Mousse and Murder by Lori Woods
Ever since she was a child, Megan Lee loved her mother’s cafe. The Pearl Street Kitchen was a little spot of dining goodness, and big city flavor in the small seaside town of Ampleforth.
But, tragedy strikes at The Pearl Street Kitchen. When one of the performers dies with poison on her lips, and a fork in her hand, it looks like Megan’s dreams for the place are about to crash and burn in a huge way.
When all fingers point to the newest employee as being a conspirator for the murder, Megan has to make a choice to either cut him loose and save her dream, or risk everything and trust him when he swears he’s innocent.
But will digging for the truth put her own life at risk?
And, why does Megan feel an inextricable pull towards the mysterious and handsome reporter, Max?
It’s all up to Megan Lee to find out who killed the songwriter before the killer targets someone else!
All Megan Lee wants is for her reopening of the Pearl Street Kitchen to go well. She wants her mother, Bianca, to approve of the work that she and her best friend Karlie have done in getting the place ready. To make sure that the night goes well, Megan’s booked two acts to perform: Anomaly and Electric Madness.However, all of these plans come to a crashing halt when Anomaly member Destinee keels over dead, murdered by poison in her dessert. Can Megan find out who is behind this nefarious crime, and will the mysterious and handsome Max be a help or an added complication?
Lori Woods gives the readers a murder mystery in a brief read that takes place in just one night. Even though the novel is relatively short, there are several characters to interest the readers, and hints at a couple possible romances that might develop in further works. A supernatural element exists as well in the house spirits that seem to be aiding Megan in her investigation. It’s hard not to enjoy this story, especially as the author has included a recipe for the dessert at the end. (sans poison, of course)
There are a lot of characters involved in this story, and a few threads that are introduced but not really developed in this particular story. A good example is the fate of Megan’s father, who has disappeared and is presumed dead. I expect the author made the choice to keep the story brief and leave some of these other threads for the next stories at the Pearl Street Kitchen, but I personally tend to like things developed further. There are also several characters to juggle, as I’ve said, and not all of them have clear voices or motives. Overall, though, this is a fun and quick read for people who like a little mystery in their romance stories.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2061CI0W4JD7A/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B077CV7SVT
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Taliesin by Suzanne Redfearn
Sixteen-year-old Taliesin Boone knew she was different, but she had no idea how different until she returns to her childhood home to discover she is the only surviving member of a mysterious Keltoi society capable of returning the balance of the spirit worlds. Countless lives hang in the balance, all of them hinging on Tally’s ability to harness her newly discovered powers without destroying herself in the process.
Along the way, Tally becomes inextricably entwined with the ancient clan her family one belonged to, the spirit guides that empower them, an aunt she didn’t know she had, a courageous boy who loves her but who doesn’t belong, and another who seems to hate her but who is the only one who can guide her.
A gripping story of grief and forgiveness, honor and loyalty, self-sacrifice and love. Choice/Destiny is the first book in bestselling author Suzanne Redfearn’s Taliesin trilogy.
The Body Guard by John Day
Jack Sinclair
Former soldier. Ex-convict. Aloof.
Since Jack was released from prison a month ago, he is keeping his head above water with the odd job here and there.
His probation officer convinces him to accept a job with Simon Beauchamp. The influential politician is expecting positive PR from helping ex-prison inmates start over.
Jack, on the other hand, wants only one thing: to forget.
Abigail Beauchamp
Politician’s daughter. Obedient. Searching.
Abigail is living up to all of the expectations her wealthy father places on her.
Nobody knows that her first and last attempt to escape from this gilded cage almost ended in disaster. Ever since that experience five years ago, she has been desperately trying to find the one who rescued her.
When she meets Jack Sinclair, it’s all over for her.
But Jack remains tough and dismissive. When Abigail is in danger, he has to decide if he will bank on safety or rise to the challenge.
The Bodyguard is an alpha male bad boy romantic suspense short story with NO cliffhanger.
WARNING: Contains mature themes and language.
After serving 5 years for an accidental death sustained while protecting a stranger, Jack has taken a job protecting a politician, only to find out that he’ll be actually guarding the politicians daughter Abby, coincidentally the stranger who he protected and that never came forward to defend him. Abby has suffered from extreme anxiety since the incident, refusing to go out into the world and never knew anything about the trial. Now she has someone threatening her life and must again rely on Jack. I really wanted to like this story and for the most part I did, but it was so super rushed. It’s literally only 5 chapters and gets us from reuniting, telling of what happened, working through Abby’s anxiety and catching the stalker in the blink of an eye. I just felt like the story could have offered much more in development. I rate this story 4 hearts.
***reviewer for Romance Authors that Rock***
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2103042794?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1
Farbo by Mercedes Bleau
VAMPIRES YOU’VE NEVER ENJOYED SO WELL… Welcome to the Kingdom. ……she must surrender everything she is… to win her truest desire….. A sleeper waiting. Atlyn is an apprentice to the greatest dancer in the kingdom. All her life she dreamed of being trained to dance as her mother had before her. What seemed like a dream come true turned out to be her living nightmare. Petty jealousy and past rivalries have left Atlyn with nowhere to go, and no one to turn to. Denied her most basic needs, forced to live a colorless life, suffering in unrequited desire. Atlyn is but a shell of the female she was meant to be. Honor bound. Sayber is the trusted Reticine of the greatest dancer in the kingdom. He has served his mistress well, but can he continue to live the half-life he’s bound to? His body cries out with the need to take what is his. How could the Ritual deny him his heart’s true purpose? He would give anything to possess her, anything to keep her safe. He might have to give everything if he means to claim her for his own.
Daman’s Angel by Charmaine Ross
Daman Quade wants to die, but when he does an angel rescues him – an angel who doesn’t remember who she is or what she was doing in that dark alley. All Daman knows is that he should be dead and the angel shouldn’t be alive on earth.
Daman wants to help the angel return to her place in the otherworlds and enlists the help of Father Joseph. They discover that Angel has to returned by a flesh and blood sacrifice in three days or she is doomed to walk the earth until the end of time, neither angel nor human. Daman is torn, knowing he must be the sacrifice to save Angel and wanting to live and love again in the one chance of life Angel has given him.
Angel has a very big secret. She has fallen in love with Daman. Now that she is flesh and blood, her physical attraction is all-consuming. She doesn’t want to go back. She wants to become human, to live and love as a mortal woman. And she wants Daman at her side until death do them part. But that might be earlier than she thinks.
Daman must survive otherworldly demons and death itself to claw his way back to a life where they both can be together. But after all that – will Angel’s secret prove too much to overcome?
The Dead Knight’s Speech by Jeffrey Bardwell
At a time when the mere rumor of magic has imperial citizens peering through windows and a mage-detector hanging in every living room, Kelsa’s mother is a suspected mage. Only the towering reputation of Kelsa’s beloved G’fa, Sir Corbin, holds the wolves at bay. Then he dies while writing a speech.
Kelsa must travel to the capitol magically disguised as Sir Corbin and attend a ceremony in his honor. She dances between her grandfather’s scheming old friend and bitter ex lover to grab his pension. A life outside the empire is within her grasp, but tragedy strikes when she delivers the dead knight’s speech.
Hiding behind Sir Corbin’s face, Kelsa not only uncovers a conspiracy to exterminate the mages, but must break through a web of deadly intrigues and romantic entanglements to discover whether she is the same courageous person inside she pretends on the outside. Join the Metal vs. Magic series, a fantasy where underdogs can still etch their mark on history and heroes are more than fairy tales.
Very well written. The world has turned against the mages, putting her mother in danger. Her grandfather, possibly the only person who can keep her mother safe, has died unexpectedly. With a spell placed on the ring he always wore around his neck, Kelsa takes on more than just his looks, she becomes her grandfather. Taking his place at a ceremony honoring him sounds easy enough, until she discovers he wasn’t always completely honest with her about his past.
Characters that draw you in and make you feel, descriptive writing that draws a picture for you and suspense at every turn made this an awesome read! Political shenanigans abound, secrets and heartaches swirl through magic and military decorum. There are some sex scenes but they are tastefully done.
As an independent reviewer for Romance Authors that Rock, I’m giving this one 4.5 hearts!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2113845221?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
https://www.amazon.com/review/R31B4YMUGIWF9V/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv
Saven Deception by Siobhan Davis
A girl with a hidden past. An alien prince. Their unlikely attraction could save two worlds… or doom them all…
Sadie Owens desperately needed a do-over. When she’s chosen for a six-month residency in a government-run undersea city, she willingly drops everything to participate. After all, the experiment could be a huge step forward for her overcrowded planet and her life. She also doesn’t mind living next door to a hot alien with ocean-blue eyes…
Logan Chandler has kept a lot of secrets for his species. If humans knew the real reason the Saven were on Earth, then their coexistence would be anything but peaceful. But he can’t help falling for the different and beautiful Sadie. Unfortunately, protecting the girl of his destiny could destroy his own kind…
As Logan gives Sadie mixed signals, the mystery of the Saven starts to unravel.
When she finally understands what’s at stake, is it too late for Sadie to save her heart and the human race?
Saven Deception is the first book in a pulse-pounding YA sci-fi romance series. If you like mind-bending paranormal mysteries, swoon-worthy love stories, and sexy aliens, then you’ll love Siobhan Davis’ out-of-this-world tale.
A dystopian version of Earth, with a lower class working to support the middle and upper class. Not too far off the mark, honestly, and scary enough just for that. Then add in a heroine that will captivate you, a race of aliens masquerading as humans and a government plot to create mindless slaves of the lower class and you have a pretty awesome start to a series! Oh, and a rebellion, of course, underground and covertly fighting behind the scenes.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the suspense was perfectly built, the characters are well written and formed. There is plenty of romance, plenty of angst and even some horror. I highly recommend it to any one who loves young adult sci-fi. As an independent reviewer for Romance Authors that Rock, I give this one the full five hearts! Enjoy!!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2132585864?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
https://www.amazon.com/review/R27KRQFS2KAIVD/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv
When Darkness Breaks by Breanna West
Ebony has spent the last two hundred years trying to escape the Underworld, because who she is doesn’t match what’s in her heart. Being a demon that has a pure heart is unnatural, and those around her, mostly her family, want to keep her imprisoned for the rest of her life.
While escaping, she saves an angel imprisoned in the Underworld and the course of her entire life is change from the moment she meets the mysterious angel, Simon.
With the help of the Promiscus Guardians, and their lesser known subgroup, the Underground Guardians, Ebony is set on a path that will lead her to discovering the true depth behind her power, the value of her pure heart, and a life worth living. But will her undeniable connection with Simon lead to her undoing?
This is the first book in the Promiscus Guardians series and ends in an HEA for the main couple. Ebony is a demon with no evil in her. She is kept under lock and key her whole life. As she plans her escape from the Underworld, she hears about a captured angel and saves him. Simon is a powerful angel with a lot of secrets. He is instantly attracted to Ebony. Ebony is extremely naïve, but very kindhearted. She is always thinking of others first, sacrificing herself. She believes her worth is not more than anyone else’s.
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