Winner of the Christmas Award

I AM DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE WINNER OF THE CHRISTMAS AWARD IS:
MC HALIDAY FOR
I CAME UPSTAIRS
PUBLISHER ETERNAL PRESS

CONGRATULATIONS MARIE. YOUR BOOK WAS A CLEAR WINNER.
WE WISH YOU GOOD LUCK FOR THE FUTURE

Sloane Taylor and Robert Appleton

Lucky us! Look who is here today folks.

Robert Appleton and Sloane Taylor!


Today I have two of my favourite authors here at the site to tell you about a book they have written together. Individually they have strong voices that are instantly recognisable and both are good on plots. I think this is going to be a fabulous book.

Read it and see if you agree.

CLAIRE DE LUNE
Robert Appleton & Sloane Taylor
ISBN-13: 978-1-61124-011-5 (Electronic)
ISBN-13: 978-1-61124-995-8 (Electronic)
Amber Quill Press – Amber Heat

Genres: Science Fiction / Futuristic / Action / Adventure / Mystery / Detective / Voyeurism
Heat Level: 2
Length: Novel (70k words

Buy Link http://amberquill.com/AmberHeat/ClaireDeLune.html

BLURB:
You’re invited to the galaxy’s most prestigious beauty pageant. Clothing optional. Romance and danger…fully provided…

Cocky young detectives Gerry Rappeneau and Sebastian Thorpe-Campbell arrive at the premier lunar resort expecting a week of eye candy and long massages. With a half-billion-credit purse up for grabs, this year’s pageant is the focus of a hundred worlds. And beauty isn’t the only thing in the eye of the beholder.

One contestant, Evelyn Lyons, is attacked and her assailant killed. Surely a simple case of a stalker gone mad, as nothing bad ever happens at the Selene contest. So the brochure says.

The closer Gerry gets to Evelyn, the more he is convinced she’s hiding something. His meticulous character sparks with her wild, sassy nature, and they embark on a torrid affair. Their forbidden romance isn’t the only thing set to ignite in Pont de Reves.

Sebastian’s infatuation with demure Claire Villiers, another contestant, threatens to put all four of them in harm’s way.

A deadly trail of corporate conspiracy, monstrous assassins and hot bikini wax is more than anyone bargained for in this incendiary erotic mystery. Get ready for some serious heat on the dark side of the moon.

EXCERPT:
Gerry raised his hand, then dropped it back to his side. Nervous as a teenager on his first date, he scrubbed his sweaty palms down his pant legs. A few deep breaths proved another fruitless attempt to calm himself. He stood straighter, ignoring the giggles from farther up the corridor, and cleared his throat. A few ahems later, he managed to find the balls to knock on Evelyn’s door.

His pulse quickened at the click of a switch inside the room. A trace of exotic perfume. The jingle of a purse chain. All familiar, but never old: the details preceding a first date.

A double beep signaled the door unlocking. Evelyn flung it open.

“Hey, thanks for being on time.”

Her greeting wasn’t the most romantic he’d experienced, but, Christ alive, her dress more than made up for it. A deep purple Aeon evening number, off-shoulder, the kind all the hottest policewomen wore to the annual ICLA social on Io.

He’d…um…encountered it before on a few occasions, but never on such mouth-watering curves. When she turned to lock the door, her pert ass and shapely hips, accentuated by a waist-hugging belt, roused his dick to Mach 9.

She wheeled around and flashed him a hungry glance. Her red lipstick, dark eyeliner, and blonde hair tied back, exposing her swan-like neck, conspired to steal his breath.

“You look lovely,” he whispered, ashamed it was the best he could manage without panting like a Labrador in heat.

“Thank you. Love that shirt.” She spun too quickly and almost clashed heads with him, before dropping her keycard into her purse and wrapping the chain around her wrist. She offered him her free arm and added, “Shall we?”

The touch of her soft white skin on his bare arm ghosted him for a moment as they walked to the elevator. He noticed her lip quiver—the girl inside the goddess—and it settled him into his old confident self. Charming, some might say. At the very least, a smoother groove from which to guide the evening.

“Where are we going?” she asked. “Not too far, I hope. We’re supposed to adhere to a strict curfew.”

“Farther than you’ve ever dreamed.”

“Goody. Rules are for wimps anyway. And you are my official bodyguard.” She squeezed his arm to her supple body, her soft breast pressing into him. “Is it expensive? Not that you should spend the Earth on me or anything, but—”

“It’s obscenely expensive. You’ve no idea.”

“Really? And a secret, I take it.”

“And a secret.”

At the elevator, he held the door open and gestured for her to go first. He then followed and pressed the button for the tenth floor. They were alone in the small space, which seemed to shrink as they climbed higher. He watched her reflection in the mirrored wall while inhaling the full body of her delicate honey scent. Delicious. He swallowed hard, mustering all his strength not to wrap her in his arms and kiss her senseless.

The doors pinged open and he led her across a beige carpet and into an elegant tunnel. Pastel murals of strange, exotic landscapes, encompassing all colors, morphed and blended into one another in a rolling three-sixty display that dizzied as much as it dazzled. Evelyn appeared fascinated as she brushed her hand in front of the imagery, wanting to touch those wild alien locales.

Gerry grinned to himself. So far, so good. If she liked this swirling intro, she’d flip for the full service.

LINKS:
Robert Appleton www.robertappleton.co.uk

Sloane Taylor www.sloanetaylor.com

It was great to have you here Rob and Sloane.

I can recommend Rob for his wonderful mystic creatures and thrilling descriptions. No one does Sensual better than Sloane Taylor.

Read this sizzling book for Christmas. Go on, treat yourselves. I'm going to.

All the best to everyone, Linda

Cristmas Awards 2010

I am happy to announce that the following books have been nominated for the Christmas Awards this year. In no particular order:

Counterfeit Kisses by Sandra Heath
Publisher Robert Hale

LadyFarquahar's Butterfly by Beverley Eikli
Publisher Robert Hale

The Curse of Beauty by Anne Ireland
Publisher Amirapress

A Knight's Enchantment by Lindsay Townsend
Publisher Zebra Books

I came Upstairs by MC Halliday
Publisher Eternal Press

Vampire Trinity by Joey W. Hill
Publisher Heat

Caroline's Christmas Angel by Aimee St. Clair
Publisher Red Rose Publishing

To vote for your favourite please email
indsole@yahoo.co.uk

The winning author will receive a prize and one person who voted will receive a free ebook

Get voting and make your favourite author happy

Caroline's Christmas Angel

Caroline’s Christmas Angel by Aimee St. Claire



Red Rose Publishing



ISBN: 978-1-60435-495-9



Pages: 24





Caroline and her husband, David always celebrated Christmas as it was their favorite holiday. David made Christmas as special as possible for their son, Robbie. Now that David is gone do to unexpected accident, Caroline does what she can to make the holiday season special for 6 year old Robbie.



Jeannie, Caroline’s friend is determined to do something special for Caroline. So for Christmas this year Jeannie sends Caroline to a psychic so maybe Caroline will be able to talk to David. Caroline isn’t sure she really believes but is willing to try for a chance to talk to David again.



Life doesn’t feel the same even though David has been gone for 5 years. Since they were high school sweethearts Caroline feels that she had her chance at love even though it wasn’t nearly long enough to suit her. The holidays are still hard to deal with her loss but having her son helps as she concentrates on him.







This is a very sweet Christmas story. Bound to bring anyone’s spirits up. Reminding us of the joy even in the worst of situations. This is worth the time to read.



I give this one 4-1/2 red roses.

Compromised Hearts

Compromised Hearts by Hannah Howell



Publisher: Zebra



November 2010



ISBN: 978-1-4201-0467-7



Pages: 421





Colorado Territory 1870





Emily Brockinger is traveling from Boston to the Colorado Territory to stay with her brother. What she doesn’t expect is to have the wagon train she is traveling with to be attacked by Indians. Now she is struggling to make it to her brother’s home safely while caring for a small boy, Thornton, since they are the only two survivors of the attack. Just as she thinks she has been rescued she finds out she just might have more problems than she thought possible.



Cloud Ryder crests a rise and finds the last thing he ever thought he would see, a woman and small boy struggling across the land without the first idea of how to truly survive. Once Cloud gets his first up close look at Emily he knows that the only thing he cares about is getting her into his bed. Knowing that she isn’t the type to just fall into some man’s bed he is going to have to be devious about getting her into his. Cloud gives Emily an ultimatum he will get her to safety but for him to do that she will have to share his bed for the duration of the trip.



Emily knows that she and Thornton have been lucky up to now in being able to survive. Emily also knows that if the want to make it to her brother safely she is going to have to accept Cloud’s proposal. What she is starting to fear is that Cloud is getting much more than her body and she doesn’t seem able to stop herself from falling in love with Cloud. Now she is going to have to find a way into Cloud’s heart so that when the trip is finally over he won’t want to leave her at her brother’s. That might not be very easy to do though. With all the trouble they are facing on the trail they will be lucky to finally make it to their destination in one piece. Only time will tell if they are going to be able to do that or not.





This is a story that is guaranteed to make the reader feel good. It has humor and action that keep the story moving at a very brisk pace that makes it very hard to put it down once the reader starts it. The characters are well developed and fun to read about and see how they will handle each situation that is thrown their way. Emily is very spirited and watching her having to deal with different parts of Cloud’s past is fun and will be sure to have the reader laughing at what she gets up to with each bit she is forced to deal with. You never know what she will do next. And you are never disappointed in what she does.



I give this one 5 red roses

Heart of The Wolf

Heart of the Wolf by Terry Spear



Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca



April 2008



ISBN: 978-1-4022-1157-7



Pages: 384





Portland, Oregon, present day



Bella, a wolf shape-shifter, has been on the run for many years trying to stay away from her adopted wolf pack’s alpha male, Volan. Volan is determined to force Bella to be his mate and she is just as determined to never be his. There is only one man she is willing to be the mate of and that is Devlyn, but she would rather run than take the chance that Volan might kill Devlyn. Now it looks like after so many years of being able to hide they have finally found her.



Devlyn, a wolf shape-shifter, has been in love with Bella since the time they were young. He knows that the only way he will be able to make Bella his mate is if he eliminates Volan, once and for all. Now that Devlyn has finally found Bella after all these years he knows that he will never be able to hand her over to Volan which means he will have to fight Volan to the death to keep Bella. Now he just has to convince Bella that her place is at his side and not on the run anymore. Devlyn is going to have to prove to everyone including himself and Bella that he is alpha enough to hang on to and protect what is his, Bella.



Before Devlyn and Bella can have the final showdown with Volan they are going to have to take care of another problem. Someone is killing women that look a lot like Bella. The killer is also putting all of their kind at risk with the chance of exposure. If their kind is going to be able to survive and hide in plain sight they are going to have to stop the killer before he kills again. First they will have to find the killer and with several obstacles in their way that isn’t going to be as easy as they would like.





This is an excellent take on wolf shape-shifters that the reader is sure to enjoy. The story is fast paced with enough twist to grab the reader’s attention and never let it go until the very last page. The author took the usual shape-shifter story and put a great spin on it to make it unique. This is one that is definitely worth reading.





I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

Vampire Trinity

Vampire Trinity by Joey W. Hill



Publisher: Heat



September 2010



ISBN: 978-0-425-23670-3



Pages: 406







Gideon Green is a vampire hunter that has dedicated his whole life to hunting vampires. One thing he never intended to do was become a vampire servant. Gideon and Anwyn have a connection that makes absolutely no sense since they only had one night together but it also knows no bounds. Gideon only knows one thing when it comes to Anwyn and when she was attacked by vampires and turned, and that was he will do whatever it takes to make sure that she survives even if that means he must become her servant. Now by being Anwyn servant Gideon is in an alliance that at best is uneasy with one of the oldest and most dangerous vampires around, Daegan Rei.



Anwyn Naime has had her life turned upside down. She was aware that there were vampires in the world because of her relationship with Daegan. She just never figured on becoming a part of his world and in such a brutal way. Now she has to find her way in a world that preys on those it sees as weak. This comes abundantly clear when she has to go before the vampire council so that they can decide what is to be done with her. Things are fast becoming much more difficult than she ever thought possible.



Daegan Rei has always cared for Anwyn but when she is attacked he is forced to deal with his feelings for her and face the possibility that the vampire council will not let her live a long life. Daegan has gone his whole long life on his own and he is finding himself more and more dependent on his feelings for Anwyn and now her servant Gideon. Daegan just doesn’t know where this is going to end up or if things will work the way he wants them too. Only time will tell and right now it isn’t looking like there is a whole lot of time left.



Gideon is going to have to use his combat skills with Daegan’s warrior skills so that both men can protect the one person who means the most to them. Someone is out to get them and that person will do anything and go through anyone that gets in their way. Gideon and Daegan are going to have to work together if they have any hope of proving who is behind all the trouble they are facing and make sure that their enemy doesn’t succeed in his plans. Gideon is also going to have to make some very difficult decisions and figure out what is most important to him and what he can ultimately live with and without.





This story is very powerful emotionally. The reader will see Gideon come to terms with who he is becoming and the reader will see if he is going to be able to handle the turn his life has taken. Gideon is a very strong character that is at a crossroads in his life and which way he goes will decide on if he will have a life or if his life will be over. The interaction between the three characters is so powerful that they just pull you in and will not let you go until the very last page. This is a difficult book to read with all the emotions going through the whole story and it will tug at the emotions of the reader but this is one that is a must read.





I give this one 5 red roses

Half Past Dead

Half Past Dead by Zoe Archer and Bianca D’Arc



Publisher: Brava



December 2009



ISBN: 978-0-7582-4697-4



Pages: 259







The Undying Heart by Zoe Archer



Yorkshire, England, 1858



Samuel Reed never would have believed in magic if he hadn’t become a victim to it. Now his life has been changed in ways he never imagined and he is after the one that did it. Sam never thought that he would have the chance at the dreams he once had. He just might be able to have a second chance when he runs into his best friend’s younger sister, Cassandra.



Cassandra Fielding has always been fearless but she proves that even more when she takes on a dangerous mission. Sam keeps telling Cassandra that he is no longer human but she can see past all of that to the man he is inside and she is determined to prove it to him no matter what the cost. Cassandra also gives Sam hope for the future that he thought he had lost forever. Now they just have to defeat their enemy and make it out alive.





Simon Says by Bianca D’Arc



Present Day, Quantico Military Base



Simon Blackwell was a Special Forces soldier that ended his relationship with Mariana three years ago when a mission went horribly wrong. Simon may have ended the relationship with her but he never stopped watching over her and protecting her from a nightmare that she has no idea is very close to her clinic.



Mariana Daniels has never forgotten Simon and never knew what happened until three years later when they meet again and under circumstances that are far from ideal. Mari has a chance to get her answers and just maybe a second chance at the life she always wanted with Simon. First she is going to have to get Simon to tell her what is going on. Simon isn’t going to have any choice but to tell Mari what is going on otherwise he just might lose her again but this time it will be for good.







These stories are very good and give a great twist to the usual zombie stories. The reader is never sure what will happen next but it is guaranteed to keep the attention of the reader as the action keeps coming. This is a wonderful paranormal that is hard to put down once you start reading. The story line in each one of the stories have characters that bring the stories to life for the reader and makes the reader believe that they are right there with the characters. This one is definitely worth picking up and reading.





I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

Her Mates

Her Mates by Suzanne Thomas



Publisher: Siren Publishing



March 2010



ISBN: 1-60601-725-X



Pages: 57





1800’s Dalton, Colorado





Alice Purcell is desperate to get away from the wagon train she is travelling with. Looking for work in the small town of Dalton is her only hope until she meets Brand Dupries. All she knows is that unlike with most people she encounters Alice trusts him on first sight. Not sure why or if she really should she goes with him to his ranch with the understanding he has a job for her.



Brand Dupries and his brothers Seth, Jason, Jean-Paul & Francis are were-bears that have been looking for the one mate that would complete them. Now that Brand has finally found her he will say and do anything to make sure she comes home with him. Once he and his brothers have her they know that they will be able to convince her to stay with them.



The hardest part was going to be convincing Alice that what is happening between all of them is meant to be and that she is not losing her mind. Alice is learning that when the Dupries’ brothers tell her that she is their mate that means that they will do anything and everything to make sure she is always happy and protected from any and all harm. She is everything to them. That will not be too difficult to deal with. It seems that suddenly her life is going to be a lot happier than she ever imagined it would be.







This story is very hot. It is also a very fast read. Let’s not forget that this book is hot. The characters are likeable and help the story move along quickly. The story is written well and doesn’t really stretch the imagination of the reader. It also has some action that makes it move along very well.





I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

Lord Barry's Dream House

LORD BARRY’S DREAM HOUSE.

BY

EMILY JOHNSON

PUBLISHED BY ROBERT HALE LONDON.

ISBN 978-0-7090-8412-9.



When Lord Edmund Barry unexpectedly arrives from Jamaica, where Lady Juliana thought him to be safely out of the way, it was somewhat of a catastrophe. Not only has she to explain to him that her beloved father, Architect and builder overseer, of Lord Barry’s future home has passed away, but also that she had taken over the job of finishing his house and that she has without so much as a by-your -leave, altered some of the plans and added features which she was sure lord Barry would desire and enjoy,him being a modern and forward thinking young man, as she was sure he was.

Lady Juliana had been trained by her father, an eminent Architect of the day, as had her cousin Henry Scott, who was also her right hand man; no decisions were made without Henry’s input. To be a trained lady Architect in the Regency era was virtually unheard of and would not be accepted by the majority of society. This was why Lady Juliana had omitted to notify Lord Barry of her father’s demise, but had carried on sending him information just as she had always done before, when her father was still alive.

The house was going well although some mishaps had occurred and both Juliana and Henry were sure that they could lay the blame at Sir Phineas Forsythe’s door. He thought it most irregular for a woman to be in charge of finishing the house, which had been the brainchild of Lady Juliana’s father. He decided he was the right man to finish the job and had caused problems from the time that Juliana took over the job. Unfortunately Juliana and Henry could prove nothing against the wretched man. Lady Juliana was determined to finish what she judged to be her father’s finest work and not to let an amateur architect like Sir Phineas take it away from her.

Lady Juliana found Lord Barry a tiresome patron and wished him back in Jamaica and when he was offered accommodation at her home while he was viewing his new house, by her mother Lady Hamilton, Juliana’s heart sunk. Now she must account to him for all of the changes which she had made, it was unlikely that he would leave until he had inspected everything, would she still be charge when he did leave?.

The news that Lord Barry was staying at the Hamilton residence soon spread and many morning calls were made by hopeful mamas. A lord in the village and a very rich one, who was soon to become a neighbour, set many hearts fluttering. Lady Juliana’s sister lady Barbara who was undeniably very beautiful and their mother’s obvious favourite, fluttered her eyes at the eligible visitor as did another notable local beauty Lady Rosamund, whenever they were able to catch his attention, which was quite often as they called at the building site to inspect the progress as much as they were able to.

Lady Juliana was fearful that Lord Barry would not agree with some of the changes which she had made and that he would give the finishing of the house over to a man, but as time progressed and he looked over the work she became less apprehensive and more daring in her suggestions for the finishing touches of the house. When to her great surprise he asked her to accompany him to London to pick furniture for his home she could hardly believe her luck. But when in London he also determined to look about him for a suitable wife she was devastated, why she could not explain, as she detested the man. Obviously the local beauties had not taken his fancy, despite flattering him and hanging on his every word, they would be disappointed if he settled on a wife in London, she mused.

This is an unusual book and the heroine is an unusual lady of those times. Can Lady Julian’s find her heart’s desire and does she indeed know what she desires?

There are many unusual characters in this delightful story and I hope you will read the book and get to know the characters and enjoy them. I award this book 4.5 red Roses.

Arctic Shift

Arctic Shift Denali Heat Book 1 by Lissa Matthews



Samhain Publishing



August 2010



ISBN: 978-1-60928-159-5



Pages: 103





Denali National Park, present day



Ruby Adams is headed to Denali National Park, as that was the place her sister was headed the last time anyone had heard from her. Ruby is determined to find her missing sister, Melanie no matter what. The first step in that direction is to hire a local guide that knows the area and can help her look in the right places. The driver that is taking her to the small village where she will be meeting her guide tries to tell Ruby about the shape-shifters that are in the area. Ruby might be a mythologist but that doesn’t mean she believes in shape-shifters.



Carson Jenings is the guide that is going to take Ruby to her sister. As Carson knows exactly where Melanie is that won’t be a problem. Melanie is his brother’s mate. The problem is going to be convincing Ruby that she is Carson’s mate and that shape-shifters really do exist. Since he is a polar bear shape-shifter he knows what he is talking about. Now all Carson has to do is convince Ruby that they belong together. That might not be so easy since Ruby has a career that might cause some problems for them.







This one is a very fast read but that is very fun. The story has a different take on the shape-shifters that makes it a different shape-shifter story than the usual but it all makes it fascinating to read. If a reader is looking for a nice short story and if they love paranormals this is one to read.







I give this one 4 red roses

Desire For Three

Desire for Three – Desire, Oklahoma 1 series by Leah Brooke



Publisher: Siren Publishing



September 2008



ISBN: 1-60601-238-X



Pages: 172









Desire, Oklahoma present day





Jessica “Jesse” Tyler is approaching her fortieth birthday and she is looking for a fresh start. She has put her very bad marriage behind her and is trying to deal with the emotional wreckage that it has left. After having to deal with her ex-husband for so long she feels like a cold shell that is completely unable to feel anymore. She is completely done with men. Jesse gives in to her sister, Nat to finally visit her in Desire, Oklahoma. What she doesn’t expect is what she finds there. It is a town that has Dom/sub and ménage relationships and that is what is normal there. It is a town where the men protect and adore their women. It leaves Jesse fascinated by the dynamics of the town. When she first meets brothers Clay and Rio she is attracted to them but that quickly turns to alarm when the brothers rush to claim her for themselves.



Clay Erickson and his brother Rio have been searching for the right woman for them so that they can have the type of relationship and marriage that they have always dreamed of. When they first set eyes on Jesse they think they have finally found the woman that will complete them in ways they have only dreamed of before now. For them to have what they want Clay and Rio will first have to get around the wall that Jesse has built to protect herself from emotional pain over the years. Clay and Rio are determined to do anything it takes to get the woman of their dreams.



Jesse is just starting to deal with having not one but two lovers when her ex-husband shows up to cause a lot of trouble for Jesse. Jesse is determined to handle things on her own but she didn’t count on how protective and determined Clay and Rio are. They will do whatever they have to so that Jesse is safe from all harm. They are also determined to make sure that she is happy so that she will never have a reason to leave. Jesse is going to have to decide if she is going to take a chance on these two men and trust that she will be able to still be independent and protected and cherished or if she is going to let her fears control her.





This is a great story that has a lot of emotion in it. It is very engrossing watching the character work to a place that they all can be happy and have all the things that they want in their lives. The secondary characters really add to the story and all of it together will have the reader hating to put this one down. The author really handles the dynamics of a ménage relationship very well and makes it very believable.





I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

Lord Of The Nile

Lord of the Nile by Constance O’Banyon



Publisher: Leisure



May 2007



ISBN: 978-0-8439-5821-9



Pages: 321







Greece & Egypt 47 B.C.



Danae’s life is being turned upside down with the death of her father. The one thing she knows more than anything else is how to tame wild beasts. Now with all the turmoil in Egypt right now things are getting more difficult and she is not sure exactly who she can and should trust. Trusting the wrong person could very well mean her life. She isn’t sure what to believe about Ramtat. All she knows for sure is that the attraction she feels for the dangerous lord just might be her downfall if she is not careful.



Ramtat is having to walk a very fine line right now with all the different fractions that is trying to take over the power of Egypt. The last thing he needs is to be attracted to a mysterious woman that could be anything from a slave girl to a princess. The emerald-eyed cobra charm that she wears is the only thing that is a clue to who she truly is. The only thing Ramtat is sure of is that no matter what the truth is about Danae he is determined to make her his. First he is going to have to get her out of the intrigue that she has found herself in.



From the battlefields of Rome to the royal court of Egypt Ramtat has finally found his match in Danae and if he isn’t careful he might just end up in a plot that will have them both forfeiting their lives. Danae has her secrets that Ramtat is determined to find out about and nothing will stop him from doing what he must to keep them both alive.







This is a wonderful story which brings to life the times of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar. It draws the reader into the power struggle that was going on at the time and even knowing what the outcome is it still will keep the reader engrossed in the story and time that helped shape the world as we know it today. This is great story with wonderful characters that keep the pace moving very well. This one brings a period of time of great ambitions and turmoil to vivid life for the reader.





I give this one 4 red roses

Forbidden

Forbidden by Christina Phillips



Publisher: Heat



September 2010



ISBN: 978-0-425-23808-0



Pages: 324









Roman invasion of Britain





Carys is a princess of Cymru and she is also a Druid which is even more dangerous now that the Romans have invaded their land. When she first spied Maximus she found a desire that was as undeniable as it was illicit. Now Carys’s loyalties are being pulled in two directions and she has to find a way to protect her people from the Romans and still have a chance to with Maximus. Once the only thing Carys could focus on was a way for her to have her freedom and that was the only driving force in her life. Now that she has found Maximus she is finding that there is something much more important to her than her freedom.



Maximus is a Roman centurion that has been charged by the emperor with the task of eliminating all of the Druids. When he first sees Carys all he sees is a beautiful woman that he wants. Only after he has managed to capture her heart and body does he find out the full truth of what and who she truly is. Maximus is going to have to find a way to do his duty and still protect Carys and her kin from the wrath of Rome.



Now Maximus and Carys are going to have to find a way to overcome the devastation of war. They will have to find a way to get what they want which is a future together. Maximus and Carys are also going to have to find a way to stop Carys former lover that is obsessed with both Carys and stopping the Romans. Carys’s former lover is powerful but is he powerful enough? Or will the love Maximus and Carys have for each be more powerful than any force on earth. Only time will tell if Maximus and Carys will be able to protect their respective people from the evil that is now Carys’s former lover.





This story is wonderfully written in the fact that it gives the reader a glimpse into both side of the fight that was fought when Rome conquered what is now England. The story is very rich in detail and draws the reader to a different time and place that will have the reader hating to leave at the end of the story. This is a difficult story to put down once the reader starts to read it. All the different characters really bring this one to life. This one is worth the time to read.





I give this one 5 red roses

The Highlander's Bride

The Highlander’s Bride by Michele Sinclair



Publisher: Zebra



June 2007



ISBN: 978-1-4201-1721-9



Pages: 248







Scotland 1307



Conor McTiernay has always wanted a marriage like the one his parents had, full of love and respect. He found that women were only interested in his title and lands, which was exactly what he wasn’t interested in. He has come to the conclusion that he will never be able to find the one woman that will give him the marriage he wants so he has sworn off marriage for good. That all changes when his men come across an Englishwoman that is cover in dirt and grime and definitely on the run from something or someone. Now he just has to find out the truth of what has happened so that he can protect her from the ones that are after her.



Laurel Cordell is hoping that Conor will be able to protect her and keep her safe from the very dangerous laird that is after her. Laurel instinctively knows that she can trust Conor but she has to be very careful as others are also in danger. Laurel will have to take a leap of faith with Conor that he will be able to protect her and the others and that he will be able to live up to his reputation.



Conor and Laurel have a chance at a love that they both have been searching for and happiness that they never dared hope to have. First they are going to have to take care of the problem in Laurel’s past before it has a chance to ruin their future. They will also have to learn how compromise since they are both very stubborn and used to getting their own way in things. That just might be the biggest problem that they will have to overcome to have the happy future that just might be in their reach.







This story brings the time period alive so the reader is able to see what it was like back then The whole cast of characters make this a fun story to read and keep the story moving along at a very nice pace for the reader. It is enjoyable to see the characters work through their difference so that they can have what they truly want in life. This is a great story that takes place in the Scottish highlands that will have the reader wanting to read more.







I give this one 4 red roses

Lady Farquhar's Butterfly

LADY FARQUHAR’S BUTTERFLY

BY

BEVERLEY EIKLI

PUBLISHED BY ROBERT HALE LONDON.

ISBN 978-0-7090-9057-1.





This Regency romance is staged in the year of 1816. Lady Olivia Farquhar had been married unhappily to a sadistic rake, who had made her act in a way that had both disgusted and terrified her. To please his lustful friends and entertain them ,she was made to dance in very flimsy clothes and display a butterfly which she had tattooed in a very private place. Her only friend and confident seemed to be her husband’s religious mentor the Reverend Kirkman, who treated her with care and tender understanding. He was the only person she felt she could turn to, when beaten and abused by her cruel husband.

Now that she was widowed she still had no peace, her husband had condemned her in his will as an adulterous wife who was not fit to bring up her young son Julian, so he had willed the little boy to be brought up by his cousin Max Atherton. Max was a war hero back from the peninsular campaign and knew nothing of Olivia, except what his cousin had said of her, as they had never met.

Unfortunately the Reverend Kirkman seemed to take it for granted that now Olivia was a widow she would marry him and under his protection she could regain both her son and her place in society. But he had changed since her husband’s death he had become very possessive and demanding and Olivia was frightened of him, fearing that life with him would be just as terrifying as it was with her late husband, or even worse.

Olivia’s aunt Eunice Dingley, who had known how bad Olivia’s marriage was to Lord Farquhar, knew that to marry the Reverend Kirkman would be a dreadful mistake too, was trying to persuade Olivia to pretend to meet Max Atherton accidently, by falling off her horse on his land.

Reluctantly Olivia agreed to carry out her aunt’s plan and while riding on the land belonging to Mr Atherton, a bad storm suddenly raged and her horse was frightened she fell in the field. Luckily Max found the frightened horse as he rode to his house, so he began search for the rider. Finding her semi conscious he jumped down from his horse and bent over her. A sudden clap of thunder sent his own horse bolting for home and he was forced to carry Olivia to his home.

Max was very concerned for Olivia and obviously attracted to her and if she only dared to tell him the truth maybe he would believe her story, but she dare not trust him and so a web of lies began to be spun.

Will Olivia be able to trust Max before it is too late? And if she does will he believe her, or will the Reverend Kirkman win and make her his wife. So many lies stand between Olivia and happiness ,can true love really happen for her against all odds. Have fun reading this Romance and learning Olivia’s fate, I am sure you will enjoy her story. I award this book.5 red Roses.AS

Here Kitty, Kitty

Here Kitty, Kitty by Shelly Laurenston



Publisher: Samhain



July 2007



ISBN: 1-59998-521-7



Pages: 529







Nikolai “Nik” Vorislav is a tiger shifter that has always been happy with the way he lived his life. The one thing that would make his life even easier is if his father wasn’t such a strange tiger. Most tigers do not have the same mate for life but that is what his parents have done. When Nik first sets eyes on Angelina the instant attraction he feels for her makes him a little concerned but as they were passing in the airport he figured he would never see her again. What he didn’t plan on was his idiot brothers kidnapping her and dropping her off at his house.



Angelina Santiago has been very happy with her life as it has been up to this point. She has her two best friends and she is happy with that. Finding out that there are shape shifters in the world has thrown her some but nothing she can’t handle. What she doesn’t expect is to be in Texas one day and to wake up in North Carolina the next day. Now she has to figure out why she is in North Carolina and not where she is supposed to be.



Now Angelina needs to figure out how to get out of this latest mess she is in. She just has to convince herself that leaving is really what she wants to do. Nik is finding out that as much as he has always denied that he is his father son that when it comes to Angelina that he just might be a lot more like his father than he ever dreamed was possible. Now he is going to have to come to terms that there will only be one mate for him and then he has to convince Angelina that they are perfect together. That might prove to be harder than liking her psychotic friends are proving to be. And Nik thought that dealing with his weird relatives was bad, Angelina’s friends have them beat completely.







This book is another winner by the author. This one is going to have the reader laughing out loud at all the antics that the characters get into. Once the reader starts this one they will hate to put the book down for any reason. The reader will happily let dinner burn just so they don’t have to stop reading this one. This will make any day much better after reading just a little of this book. This is one not to miss though it is better to read this one as part of the whole series of books.





I give this one 5 red roses

The Cruellest Month

The Cruellest Month by Janet Mary Tomson
Published by Robert Hale
ISBN 978-0-7090-8989-6


Grace Harrison is approaching 60 years of age. Her mother, Edna, has just died and Grace has been left very much alone to contemplate her life and what might have been.

At 18, Grace met the love of her life, Joe, who was visiting his grandparents on the Isle of Wight from Australia. They fell very much in love and, despite having to return to Australia in the meantime, Joe was due to start Warwick University in October that year. Grace had been entered for the Civil Service examination and if she passed, intended to work in London, but with offices all over the country, maybe a vacancy would arise near Warwick! Life looked promising for the young lovers, but as she was taking her A levels, Grace received a letter from Joe telling her his plans had changed and he would not be returning to the UK. A devastated Grace later learned that Joe had returned to Australia to find out he had got a girl into trouble and was doing the decent thing by marrying her.

Grace went on to pass her Civil Service entrance examination and left the Isle of Wight to work in London. She had only been there a year when her father had a stroke and she returned home to help her mother care for him until his death. Grace’s plan to return to London after her father’s death was curtailed when her job was no longer open, but there was a vacancy on the island and so she started work in the local office. Tied to the island by her demanding mother, the years rolled by uneventfully for Grace until she finally had to give up her job to care for the failing Edna. On her mother’s death, save for a cousin, Joan and a neighbour, Molly, Grace was very much alone.

This unhappy situation does not last long, however, as her life is turned upside down within days by the arrival at her home of Joe’s son, Alex and a disturbing discovery in her garden. But events do not end there by any means, as Grace’s life turns into a roller-coaster journey with men falling at her feet and vying for her affections, each with the promise of a very different future for her.

Read on to find out which path Graces chooses and the startling truth about the discovery in her garden. You will not be disappointed.

This book is truly enthralling and epitomises the fact that life can sometimes suddenly throw everything at you when before there was nothing! The characters are believable and endearing and the plot moves at such a pace that the book is impossible to put down. I can highly recommend this book and am very pleased to have had the opportunity to read and review it.

I award this book five red roses.

Dragon Actually

Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken



Publisher: Zebra



September 2008



ISBN: 978-1-4201-0373-1



Pages: 336







Annwyl the Bloody has a better chance of making a man run the other way than getting one that would seriously be interested in her. After decapitating legions of her brother’s ruthless men it is hard for men to see her as anything but the bloody solider she has become since the rebellion against her brother has started. She has always had to fight to survive and has never really known any other way of life. When she meets Fearghus she feels safe for the very first time in her life.



Fearghus the Destroyer is not a typical man. In fact he is not a man at all. He is really a shape shifting dragon that is deadly in his own right. He has made it a point to stay to himself and ignore the way of the humans that live around him. That all changes when he meets Annwyl for the very first time. Here is a woman that isn’t the least bit afraid of him. Fearghus finds Annwyl fascinating, the only being around that has ever had that affect on him.



Now that Fearghus and Annwyl have met things are definitely changing. Fearghus is determined to keep Annwyl no matter what but in order to do that he is going to have to help her defeat her brother. Annwyl has the desire to defeat her brother but not enough skill to overcome her brother. Fearghus is going to have to help Annwyl get the skill needed to defeat her brother once and for all or else he will lose her completely and she will end up losing her life.





This is a great story with a lot of sarcastic wit that will have the reader snickering all the way through the book until the very end. When Fearghus’s family gets involved with his wooing of Annwyl anything and everything is bound to happen that makes this a fun book to read as Fearghus has to fight his inclination to kill his family just to get some peace in his life. This is one story that the reader will definitely find worth the time reading.





I give this one 5 red roses

Black Jaguar, chronicles of Kassouk Book Three

Black Jaguar Chronicles of Kassouk Book Three by Vijaya Schartz



Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc.



November 2010



ISBN: 1-936000-55-5



Pages: 154







Kahuel Prince of Yalta is on a mission to explore some new territory. He sets sail with his brother and warriors in an attempt to find new land and to find trading routes for their people. When a typhoon hits things go terribly wrong very quickly. When the ship wrecks and they are stranded on an island that no one knew about things get very dangerous even faster. Now things are happening that they have no idea what is going on and if they don’t find out quickly what is happening they are going to have a lot bigger problems than they currently have.



Talina Princess of the Chosen Ones never knew any life but the one that she lives with her brother and their village. When foreigners land on their island they are not sure what to think. All Talina knows is that her life is about to change drastically and she is not sure if it will be in a good way or a bad one, but she knows that there is an attraction between Kahuel and herself that won’t be denied. When they start to learn more about each other Talina is learning that what she was always taught was the ways of evil is the very way Kahuel lives. Talina is starting to question all the beliefs of her village and people because she feels deep down that Kahuel is not evil even though he does the very things they were always told was wrong.



Now they are going to have to find out what is going on exactly because something is going on at the island and if they are not careful they just might not survive. Talina is also going to have to decide what she truly wants in life because she is very much afraid that she can’t have the way of life she has always known and Kahuel too. If she wants a chance at a future she will have to find out the truth first. Things are not what they have always seemed and everything is about to change forever.







This is a good story with a futuristic world building that is written very well. The reader will be drawn into the story and find it very had to put down until the very end of it. This is part of a series that would probably be better read in order but this one does hold up well on its own. The story and people are very believable and engaging to read about.





I give this one 4 red roses

Assassin's Honour

Assassin’s Honor by Monica Burns



Publisher: Berkley Sensation



June 2010



ISBN: 978-0-425-23416-7



Pages: 342







Modern Day, Egypt and Chicago



Emma Zale is an archeologist with a very special ability, she can see the past of an ancient relic when she touches it. She has found evidence of an ancient order of assassins, the Sicari on her latest dig that she never truly believed was real until now. Now she is suddenly finding more trouble than she ever thought was possible. When someone shows up on her doorstep in Chicago looking for an item that she has no idea what it is her life takes a sudden turn that she never saw coming and she just might not be able to survive. She is going to have to use all of her wits if she wants to survive what is suddenly her life turned upside down.



Ares DeLuca is a descendant of a very old line of telekinetic assassins. He is a Sicari that only kills in the name of justice and honor bound to protect the innocent. When he first shows up on Emma’s doorstep all he is after is an artifact that was lost to the Sicari hundreds of years ago but now it seems Emma might be the key to finding it again. When he shows up though he bring a whole lot of trouble to Emma’s doorstep when all he really wanted to do was get in and get out. Now Ares is determined to protect Emma since he feels it is his fault that she now has a great many people after her for the artifact that she never knew existed.



What started out as a simple plan to protect Emma until he can find her a safe place to live has turned out to be anything but simple. Ares is trying to fight his attraction to Emma and he is starting to realize that is going to be a losing battle but one he hopes to win anyway. The last thing he feels he needs in his life is love but it seems that fate has something else in store for him and if he isn’t careful he will lose Emma to their enemies and he is finding out that she is the one thing he really can’t live without.







This story takes some historical facts and gives it some fascinating twists that makes the book a wonderful one to read. This is a wonderfully written story that gives the reader a glimpse into both history and archeology and makes it very interesting to read about. The author brings the story to life with the well written book that will keep the reader turning the pages just to see where it will go next. This is definitely worth reading.





I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

Go Fetch

Go Fetch by Shelly Laurenston



Publisher: Samhain Publishing



March 2007



ISBN: 1-59998-141-6



Pages: 527







Conall Viga-Feilan has never met a woman like Miki before. She is the one person that can see through his innocent act and will not let him get away with anything. Just what the wolf in him needs to make his life perfect. The fact that she is very intelligent only makes him want her more. What he wasn’t planning on was the fact that he is suddenly wanting her for more than just a short amount of time. He is starting to realize that she is the mate he was never looking for and that she is going to be a lot harder to convince than he would like.



Miki Kendrick is only after one thing and that is to finally get her PhD. She doesn’t have time for a man that sees more in her than anyone else except her two best friends has ever seen. Most men see her as someone to avoid as she can be very dangerous when she gets backed into a corner. Conall seems to find this a huge turn on when she starts to get mean. When a normal man would be running for his life Conall is right there wanting more.



Miki thought the only thing she had to worry about was her thesis but suddenly she has different people poking around in her life and finding out what she does during her everyday life. Now Miki and Conall are going to have to find out who is after her and why they are after her. Hopefully they can find out who before they end up in a situation that will end their lives. Mike never thought her life could get more complicated but it is now looking like she going to have a hard time keeping her head above water.







This book will have the reader laughing out loud. This is one that once you start reading it you hate to put it down as it will keep you laughing all the way through and you just have to see what new situation is going to happen next. This book is guaranteed to get you out of a bad mood as snicker your way through the book.





I give this one 5 red roses

A Matter of Deception

A Matter of Deception by Christy Poff



Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press



March 2008



ISBN: 978-1-60313-024-0



Pages: 248







June 1999



Adrienne Hewitt is all set to marry the only man she has ever loved. They have been together for a long time and now seems the perfect time to make everything permanent. Adrienne doesn’t see how anything could possibly destroy the happiness she is feeling. What she doesn’t know is that her life is about to be turned upside down and her life will never be the same again.



Seneca Manion knew that Adrienne was the only woman for him from the first moment he set eyes on her. He made sure that when it was time for college that he went to a school near Adrienne so that they could be together. It also helps that their parents are such good friends that both families are already close and their marriage won’t do anything but make that bond stronger. Adrienne is the most important thing in his life and she is the one thing that makes his life worth living.



Vincent Sonsella has plans of his own. No one is sure who he really is or what he does for a living. Vincent has always made sure that any obstacle that was in his way was removed one way or another. His biggest plan to date is close to being realized and he is determined that no one will be able to stop him from getting what he needs to make sure everything goes the way he wants it to. That includes Adrienne and Seneca.



Adrienne and Seneca are going to have a fight on their hands and if they are not careful they will not be able to survive it. They are going to have to outsmart Vincent so that they can have the life together that they have always wanted.











This story is a great one that will have the reader on the edge of their seat reading it. This is one that is very hard to put down as you never know what new twist is going to happen next and will have the reader biting their nails wondering if Adrienne and Seneca are going to be able to get out of the trouble that they have found themselves in. The emotional roller coaster that this story will send the reader on is amazing. You never see what is coming next and that will have the reader ignoring everything just to finish this story so that they can find out if everything will work out in the end.







I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

Journey To Ruination

Hearts of Ellan Vannin Trilogy Journey to Ruination Prologue by Gloria Wiederhold



Publisher: Red Rose Publishing



2007



ISBN: 978-1-60435-086-9



Pages: 73







England 1428





Emmanuelle Percy is set to become the ward of King Magnus the Bold and his wife Queen Rosalind of Ellan Vannin. Emmanuelle’s father was manipulated to send her to them by an old friend who in truth was no friend at all. What he doesn’t know is that this friend has plans to destroy him through his daughter as revenge for his acts many years ago. Though this enemy is convinced that they will have their chance at revenge they didn’t count on Emmanuelle being the high spirited and strong willed girl that she is.



Emmanuelle knows what is going on and is determined not to let her enemy get a chance to spring the trap that has been set for her. She knows that she is will have to be careful or she might yet get caught. Emmanuelle also has some plans of her own. She will not let anyone get in her way of what she wants and that includes the Queen. Now Emmanuelle is starting to make some more enemies that are pretty powerful and that is going to make things even more difficult for her. Only time will tell who is going to win this battle of wits that is being waged in the royal court.







This story is interesting with its historical backdrop. The characters help bring this story to life and will have the reader turning the pages just to see what will happen next and how this one will end. It has historical figures that are recognizable and they help move the story line along quickly. This one is worth picking up and reading as it will give the reader a glimpse into the world of the 15th Century.







I give his one 4 red roses

Pack Challenge

Pack Challenge by Shelly Laurenston



Publisher: Samhain Publishing



July 2006



ISBN: 1-59998-122-X



Pages: 462







Texas, present day





Zach Sheridan has only been interested in one thing in his life and that is to be the Alpha Male of his Pack. His chance is much closer now than it has ever been. First though the Pack needs to take care of a few things so that everything will be fine. One of those things is Sara Morrighan. Their Pack has been trying to take care of her for a very long time. The one thing that has always stood in their way was her crazy grandmother, who is now dead.



Sara Morrighan doesn’t know the full truth about herself or her heritage. She managed to survive her crazy grandmother with the help of her two best friends, Angelina and Miki. Now something is going on with her that she doesn’t have the first clue about and her best friends are starting to notice the changes in her behavior and the physical changes her body is going through.



Zach knows exactly what is going on with Sara. What he never saw coming was that Sara is the mate he has never looked for. Zach isn’t sure he is going to survive being with Sara and if he does he hopes she doesn’t drive him completely crazy. Though for them to have a future together they need to take care of some old business from the past first. Before that past comes up and bites them good. If they are not careful they won’t live to see that past taken care of and left where it belongs, in the past.





This one will have the reader laughing out loud and receiving many very strange looks. This story will make sure the reader has a lot of fun reading it. If you are having a bad day this is one book that will definitely make sure it turns around. This one will have the reader rolling on the floor laughing for all the antics that the characters get into. You never know what will happen next and will never be disappointed with what does. This one is very difficult to put down once you start reading it.





I give this one 5 red roses

The Chief

The Chief A Highland Guard Novel by Monica McCarty



Publisher: Ballantine Books



March 2010



ISBN: 978-0-345-51822-4



Pages: 405







Scotland 1305





Tor MacLeod is a Highland warlord and swordsman who has never had an equal in all of Scotland. The one thing he has always tried to do is stay out of the war between England and Scotland so that he can keep his clan safe. He doesn’t have the time nor the inclination to get draw into the war that is about to start even if it will give him the chance to be the leader of the deadliest fighting force that anyone has ever seen. Tor is getting drawn into this war whether he likes it or not. Now he has a new bride that he is determined to protect at all cost but not risk his heart to her.



Christina Fraser knows that her new husband is very fierce looking but she is convinced that there is a lot more to him than he lets anyone know. Christina is determined to find the tenderness that her husband is so determined to hide. She is also determined to win his heart so in a bid to do just that she comes up with a plan that she is certain will work. When things go awry Christina unknowingly thrust them into the very thing Tor has been trying to avoid, war.



Now Tor is going to have to race against time if he is going to be able to save his wife. Only now he is going to have to find out just what is in his heart or he might just lose his wife for good. With Christina’s life in danger Tor is finding out that what he thought was the truth is not what he thought it was and he is quickly finding out that the only way he is going to be able to face the future is with Christina by his side right where she belongs.





This story is emotionally wrenching one that will have the reader on pins and needles just to find out what will happen next. This story will bring the time period of Braveheart to life for the reader and will have the reader thoroughly engrossed in the book just to see what will happen next in the story. This one that is hard to put down as the reader will just have to see what is going to happen next and whether or not Christina will get what she wants most in the world. The story is the beginning of a new series by this author that is starting out with a bang and shows great promise for the next books in the series.







I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

Counterfeit Kisses

COUNTERFEIT KISSES

BY SANDRA HEATH

PUBLISHED BY ROBERT HALE LONDON.

ISBN 978-07090-8996-4.





When Susannah’s brother Stephen Holland loses the Famous Holland Tiara, together with their fortune, she is devastated. Stephen was very drunk when he was playing cards with the Duke of Exton and the Duke took advantage of his state to cheat him out of his fortune. Watching, merely as a bystander Sir Gareth Carew tried to reason with Stephen to stop and go home, but he would not listen. This dreadful event took place on New Year’s Eve, the last day of 1803.

Sir Gareth took Stephen Holland home after the card game and Susannah mistakenly thought that he was to blame for her brother’s losses and she was very rude to him.

It was to be in 1808 before she would encounter Sir Garth Carew again.

Susannah now widowed, was relieved and happy to be back in England. During her very unhappy marriage she had lived in Bengal. Now that she was back home again she was determined to retrieve the Holland Tiara which she declared had been stolen from her brother in a card game. To this end she had had a replica made of the Tiara from memory, while she was living in Bengal and she intended to find and replace the real Tiara with her copy. Just how she was to achieve this, was something of a mystery to her, but it was something she knew she must do, and she was determined to find a way.

When Susannah met Jane the young wife of The Duke of Exton they immediately became friends and Susannah was invited to join Jane and her Husband on a visit to their country estate. Susannah accepts the invitation gladly, but later that day when she attends the theatre with her new friend she discovers, to her horror, that Sir Gareth Carew has been invited too. When Sir Gareth is also invited to join them for the weekend at Exton Park, Susannah is annoyed that he has been included, but as he does not seem to recognize her she hopes that she will still be able to locate and exchange the Tiara sometime during the weekend, without his remembering who she is and when he last saw her.

Susannah suspects that Jane has a hidden motive for these invitations and wonders what it can be, but is delighted that it will give her the opportunity to carry out her plans.

However nothing goes to plan over the weekend and there are some startling events which become very dangerous and life threatening to both her and Sir Gareth. Will he remember who she is and on what occasion they last met and forestall her plans ?

Read this Historical Romance which has many twists and turns, I am sure you will enjoy it; it is something a little different. I award this book 4.5 Red Roses.AS

Highland Captive

Highland Captive by Hannah Howell



Publisher: Zebra



November 2008



ISBN: 978-0-8217-8003-9



Pages: 359







Scotland 1500





Aimil Mengue was enjoying a ride out on her family’s land when she is abducted by a feuding clan which is the very last thing she expected. Being betrothed to someone else should have protected her virtue but it just might not be enough to save her. The last thing Aimil expected was to feel the attraction for her abductor that she feels. What is starting out as simple abduction is getting more complicated by the day and only time will tell if Aimil will be able to hang onto her heart or if the ransom is going to be more costly than she would like.



Parlan MacGuin is the laird of his clan, he is also has a well known reputation for being a fierce fighter and his ability to conqueror the women in the bedroom. Once Parlan sets eyes on Aimil he finds a woman that is far different than most of the women he has known in the past. What starts out as a demand for ransom is quickly turning into something much more. If Parlan isn’t careful this ransom will turn into a blood feud and that is the last thing he wants or needs. Now Parlan is going to have to find a way to get what he wants without it getting bloody.



Someone is determined to keep Parlan and Aimil apart and will stop at nothing to make sure that they are never together. Parlan is going to have to find a way to protect Aimil so that she isn’t hurt by his enemy. Neither Aimil or Parlan saw how quickly their emotions where going to get involved with each other and the only way they will be able to survive and have a future together is make sure Parlan’s enemy is stopped once and for all. If Parlan and Aimil aren’t successful against his enemy than one of them might end up paying with their lives.







This is a story that has a lot of humor that will keep the reader entertained. When you have characters asking each other if they have made a study of all that is impossible you know that you will have a very fun read that will keep you engrossed until the very end. This is another great book by this author that is sure to please her fans and make a few new ones in the process.







I give this one 5 red roses

To Conquer A HIghlander

To Conquer a Highlander by Mary Wine



Publisher: Sourcebooks



July 2010



ISBN: 978-1-4022-5619-6



Pages: 222







Scotland 1437



Shannon McBoyd has always struggled to be the meek obedient woman that she has been taught to be. She also knows that for her to be the hotheaded and hot blooded self that she truly is will make her life much more difficult than it has always been. Now she has been kidnapped to stop her father from raiding the McLeren lands. With all the turmoil going on at the Scottish court that is causing an upheaval with the politics in Scotland Shannon must find a way to survive not only the McLeren’s but also what is happening in the royal court.



Torin McLeren is trying to stop the McBoyds from raiding his lands. First he has to stop McBoyd and he then also has to make sure that he doesn’t get caught up in the politics at court. One way to stop the McBoyds is to grab Shannon and keep her with him so that they will not be able to attack his people and lands anymore. What he never expected was to find a woman with a spirit that could easily match his own. Now Torin is going to have to decide the best way to stop the feuds between their clans with the least amount of bloodshed and that will make all their people happy. That is not going to be as easy as he would like but he has an idea that just might work. Though for it to work Torin is going to have to get Shannon to go along with it and that will not be easy as Shannon has a mind of her own and her own ideas on how things should be.



With the upheaval at court and the problems between their people things are not going to be as easy to fix as Torin and Shannon would like. If they are not careful they might make a misstep that could easily cost one or both of them their lives. They are going to have learn to trust each other and find a way that will shed the least amount of blood and make everyone happy. Shannon is gaining the respect of the McLeren people which is sure to help but there are those that will never accept her. Only time will tell if Torin and Shannon are going to be able to survive all the turmoil or if one of them will pay the ultimate price.







This is story that draws the reader into the history of Scotland and brings to life all that was happening at that time. The author writes a story that is so rich in detail that brings the characters to life. With the historical backdrop this is one not to miss. All the twists and turns in this story really makes for an interesting read. It will be hard for the reader to put the book down until the very end.







I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

Devil Of The Highlands

Devil of the Highlands by Lynsay Sands



Publisher: Harper Collins



December 2008



ISBN: 978-0-06-198422-8



Pages: 215







Northern England 1273



Lady Evelinde has lived the last three years in hell. Ever since the day her father died and she was left with her stepmother, a woman who has taken great pleasure is making Evelinde’s life miserable. Now her stepmother has come up with a way to make Evelinde’s life even worse if the rumors are to be believed. Marriage to the Devil of Scotland should make Evelinde as miserable as her stepmother could ever hope for. Evelinde thinks that maybe that even that won’t be as bad as dealing with her stepmother and it just might be her chance to escape to have a life that just might include some happiness.



Cullen, Laird of Donnachaidh, is known throughout Scotland and England as the Devil. Cullen is also one of the most notorious lairds in all of Scotland because of what other perceive as being fierce, cold, deadly and just maybe even more than that. Cullen knows that he needs to do his duty by his people and that means getting married so that he will have sons to carry on after him one day. With his reputation he knows that the best he can hope for is someone he will be able to deal with on a daily basis and that will follow his commands without question. He doesn’t expect to find a wife that arouses a passion that is anything but tame.



What neither of them expects is for the past to come haunting them. The only way Cullen and Evelinde are going to have a happy future is to find the answers to some mysteries in the past that someone is suddenly very determined to keep hidden. Evelinde’s life just might depend on her finding the truth because suddenly she is experiencing a lot of accidents that just might get her killed if she is not careful. Cullen knows that if anything were to happen to Evelinde that he just might not be able to survive the grief so the only way to protect her is to dig up the past and find the answers before someone makes one of Evelinde’s accidents a permanent way to keep her or anyone else from finding out the truth once and for all.







This story is one that once the reader starts is very hard to put down. The story will have the reader laughing out loud with the antics that the characters get up to. Just as the reader thinks they will have the story figured out the story will take another twist that will have the reader guessing as just who is behind all that is going on. The humor keeps the story from getting too dark or heavy and will keep the reader enthralled in the book. This is a very fun book to read and one not to miss.







I give this one 5 red roses

Favourite books

Angel by Johanna Lindsey



Publisher: Avon



December 1992



ISBN: 978-0-380-075628-5



Pages: 403







Texas 1881





Cassie Stuart was just trying to end a twenty five year old feud. Instead her efforts just made things worse and now both families are threatening to burn her father’s ranch down if she doesn’t get out of Texas pronto. What she needs is someone who can help calm everyone down before things are made even worse. What she ends up with is not the peacemaker she wanted but someone more suited to making widows.



Angel went to Texas as a favor to a friend. Being a hired gun was perfect in the fact that he would be able to keep Cassie safe from harm but with Cassie forbidding him from shooting anyone that is going to make his job that much harder to accomplish. He would prefer to leave Cassie to fend for herself but a sense of duty just won’t allow him to do that. Now he has to figure out how to get Cassie to stop meddling just long enough for her father to come home so that she can go back to her home in Wyoming. What he doesn’t expect is to have to deal with an attraction that he never saw coming. Now he is trying to keep Cassie safe and trying to find a way to make Cassie want him so that maybe they might have a future together.



Cassie has never had many suitors especially with her pet panther keeping most men at a distance. Now with things heating up with the neighbors and between Angel and herself, Cassie is going to be lucky to make it out of this latest predicament unscathed. Cassie keeps trying to tell herself that Angel and her are just too different from each other for things to work out between them but her heart isn’t listening and now she is going to have to find a way to keep Angel around permanently though that is starting to look like it won’t be a hard as she first thought it would be.







This story is a keeper that the reader will enjoy reading over and over. With the humor and action throughout the story this is one that will never get old. This one turns into a fast read since the reader will not want to put it down until the very last page. The way the characters handles each situation that is thrown at them will keep the reader very entertained with the humor that keeps the story moving.







I give this one 5 red roses

To Taste Temptation

To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt



Publisher: Hachette



May 2008



ISBN: 978-0-446-53722-3



Pages: 252





London England September 1764





Samuel Hartley was very different than what London Society is usually used to dealing with. He is a self-made man that is not only from the colonies but also dresses in moccasins instead of boots as the rest of the men in Society. He has come to London for one reason only and that is find the traitor that he believes is responsible for the massacre of his regiment. Though many may say he fled the battle he knows what the truth is and he will use any means necessary to catch the man that betrayed them all.



Lady Emeline Gordon finds Samuel fascinating and not just for the way he dresses. He was at and fought at the battle where Emeline’s brother was killed. Samuel is not only forthright in his manner but his sensual smile keeps her enthralled with him. He also just might be able to answer some questions about her brother’s last moments. Things get more complicated when Samuel tells her that he suspects they were betrayed and the man he thinks is responsible is none other than Jasper Renshaw, Viscount Vale, Emeline’s family friend and her fiancé. Emeline finds it hard to believe Jasper is responsible and will not end the betrothal with nothing to back Samuel suspicions. Now Emeline and Samuel have embarked on an affair that just might not survive the fallout of Samuel investigations. Only time will tell if they are going to be able to have a future together or if they will be torn apart by events beyond their control.







This is a story that moves along quickly due to the twists and turns this one takes. The reader will never see what is coming next and that will keep the reader engrossed in the story just to find out what will happen next. The characters are richly drawn and will have the reader sympathizing with all that the characters have to go through just to get their happy ending that they so richly deserve.







I give this one 4-1/2 red roses