Christmas Awards 2011

Friday 25 June 2010

An Interview with Elle Druskin


Tell us a little about yourself

Hello everyone, my name is Elle Druskin and I currently live in Israel. I am American born and educated, lived in Australia, and traveled to many places around the world. As a child, I read about all sorts of places that seemed exotic to me, and I distinctly recall telling my Mom and Dad, "One day, I am going to go there." At the time, it must have seemed a typical kid's remark without a chance of coming true; travel wasn't as common in those years, but I did it. I have traveled all over Europe many times, been to China, Thailand, Singapore, India (went to a terrific Bollywood type wedding there!) and I am richer for all those experiences.

What do you write?

I have mostly written contemporary romance and some time travel. Honestly, To Catch A Cop—I thought I was writing a romance. I wrote it to figure out how to write a book since I didn’t have a clue. When I asked my critical readers to have a look, all of whom are published authors or editors, one told me it was a bit unconventional, but a romance which was fine with me. Another one told me she thought it was a cute mystery. I never saw that but didn't much care as long as she liked it. She did. The third reader thought it had some elements of a thriller. In the end, I didn't know what I wrote but I had a great time doing it and the process taught me important lessons.

Why do you write?

Good question. I have always loved writing. Anyone who has known me since childhood would be likely to say that I was always a writer. I learned some basic journalism skills in school and I loved being known as a "writer" during those years. I think I am a storyteller. There are some great storytellers in my family.

I have published a lot of scholarly work; academic writing is a different skill and technique, but it's still writing and you learn from that process. I have a PhD which effectively means I spent a few years researching something that had not been done before, wrote a book that 3 people read and received a degree. I chose to write mine with narrative elements, weaving oral history and interviews with the archival information to create a picture and come to some conclusion. You can see some connection with the fiction process there.

As for fiction, I like "meeting" characters. They are in my head and I need to get them out and share them with anyone else who might be interested. I find them aggravating, entertaining, charming, lovable and loathsome. By that I mean, all characters in a book, not only the protagonists who are usually likeable if not downright charming, are in that place in my head, including the stinkers. You need conflict for a book so there have to be some stinkers. I do like characters that evolve and are resilient. Chaos can be running riot around them but they get on with it no matter what. I like that. Not all of them can be, but I am fond of that particular sort of character whether a man or a woman.

The characters in To Catch A Cop are like a long-running television series in my head. I flick the dial, watch and listen. Sometimes the picture is not clear, or the sound, and I have to fiddle or wait but it does come through eventually. I don't tell them what to do and I might not even like what they do sometimes, but I don’t force them to do anything, that doesn't work. They decide what to do and I have to let them get on with it and interpret them in words. That might not make sense but that is how it works.

The same applies to Outback Hero, an upcoming book due out in August 2010. The background was obvious to me from all those years in Australia. I sat back and waited for the "program" to start. In between allowing it to take shape, I shlepped my kids (that's the voice of Lindy Kellerman from To Catch A Cop coming through—oops!) around to country towns, country music festivals, rodeos and so forth to get a feel for the Outback and its culture. Met a few rodeo cowboys, and rodeo clowns, who were a bit suspicious of this woman asking all kinds of questions until I explained it was for a book. They were terrific, answered everything, answered emails and stayed in touch during the writing because each one was firmly convinced he was "the hero." Nice blokes and very generous with thoughts and time.


What are you writing now?

I am working on a few things. A relatively short contemporary that I hope is humorous, finishing off (I hope) a mainstream romance, another Lindy Kellerman, (To Catch A Whatever this time, I am very fond of Lindy and Co.) and two mainstream works. They are coming in bits and pieces and I write as they come to me. They both have historical elements which require rigorous research bearing in mind that the history is the background, not the story which is about people and relationships. Both have romantic elements within the overall work. I like the idea of tackling a very complex piece of work. It's a challenge and a stretch and opens the door to many possibilities. A romance is basically a courtship story and I have always enjoyed that genre but being a lover of history, and having a PhD makes me reasonably confident that I have the necessary research skills to undertake the digging and hunting for information involved in such a complex work and utilize it skillfully. Hope so, anyway. The history should not overtake the story but provide elements that weave a tapestry together with the characters. If chosen well, the history will provide some elements of conflict since that is essential to a novel.

In the final analysis, writing is not easy but if you choose to do it, it can be very rewarding.

What kind of clothes do you like to wear?

That might depend when and where. I think I look best in dresses, not skirts. I am fairly tall and dresses give me a nice line in my view. I do wear pants, jeans, leggings and that sort of thing. I also like wearing men's shirts over a camisole. And on occasion, I get "dressed up" which is always fun, but if I am sitting around at home, especially on a day off (what's that?) and a chilly, rainy day, I enjoy sitting around in a flannel robe, quite cozy and not bothering to get dressed.

Are you in love? Have you ever been?

Not with anyone right now, but yes, I had a sublime experience years ago of being deeply, totally and completely in love. It was the stuff of novels because you can't believe such a love could really exist and there are no words to totally describe that extraordinary experience.

Do you have a dream lover – and what does he or she look like?
I don't know that I do, or if I would share that! It is more what a person is about than what he looks like. That's as much as I am willing to say at this point.

What kind of comfort food do you like best?

Ah well, I'm a sucker for pasta. I shouldn't eat it because I inflate like a helium balloon from wheat, but I love it. For a snack, nothing beats popcorn, but same thing, blow up from the darned stuff so I have to be careful.

What makes you laugh? Cry?

Everything makes me laugh. I laugh at myself harder than anyone else. I have no idea why, I start out all the time thinking things are going to be normal. Nothing will go wrong and somehow, invariably it does, bordering on the insane at times. The ATM eats my money; not the card, the money. I smacked myself in the face with my own surfboard and ended up looking like Rocky Balboa after ten rounds with Hulk Hogan. I set my coat on fire. Actually, I didn't. I was talking with some colleagues and one said, "Um, have you noticed you're on fire? Looked down and my pocket is scorched and slowly burning. Put out the fire and had to toss the coat. Most annoying since it was new. I have absolutely no idea how that happened. And those are just a few things, the list is endless. For years, I used to play a game with my friends called, "Can You Top This?" and you had to tell the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you. I always won. But the saving grace is that I laugh, it’s much better than crying when these things happen, unless you laugh so hard that you cry at the same time.

As for crying emotionally, sure, I do that. From happiness and sadness. I cried when my kids were born and that was pure joy. I cry in sadness, like everyone. At funerals, saying good-bye to people that I probably will not see again. Some books, movies. I cried for I don't know how long when I lost the man that I was so deeply in love with that I mentioned earlier. Lost, because he died and we never got the chance to build our lives together the way we hoped, dreamed, and planned. I still cry over that sometimes. I was telling a childhood friend about him and to my mortification, I started to cry even though this was years in the past and he told me, "Crying is good for the soul." He was right and we shouldn't apologize for tears, as long as they are not a daily habit.

What do you do to amuse yourself when not working?

I go to several dance classes. Not that I am a great dancer, on the contrary. I do it for several reasons. As a child, I wanted desperately to dance and never got the chance which is a shame because it is good grounding for many things so I am fulfilling that wish. Second, I like music and movement and we all need exercise. I hate the gym, it bores me to pieces but dancing is another story. You have to concentrate on what you are learning, so your mind empties of any stress or aggravation and I think that is mentally healthy. You meet some interesting people along the way which is always a good thing. I meet people everywhere because I talk to people and I am comfortable with just about anyone and far too curious for my own good. Everybody has a story and I like to hear them.

I have to be honest; I have not picked up my guitar in months although I like music. I love the beach—you are either a beach person or you aren't. I like going to movies, concerts, museums--things like that although rarely get much free time to do those things. I still enjoy cooking if I don't have to do it too often other than the daily meals. I studied photography years ago and while I don't run around with a camera other than the usual digital that everyone has, I still enjoy photography exhibitions. If I had the time, I have a huge list of things I would still like to do; beef up my French which is not as good as it was, learn Gaelic—don’t' ask me why. I have tried and it's impossible without a teacher, such a challenging language. Take some cooking courses, decorating courses, learn to play the piano. Work on an archeological dig. That's a genuine possibility in Israel so maybe that one is going to happen. Oh, and I decided to take up surfing last summer. Mostly fell off the board but I will be back for more this year since I have comprehensive health insurance . That's only a partial list of things!


What is it in a man or woman that turns you on? The clean version please!

The ability to listen, a trait which is quite rare in my view. By that, I don't mean a pretense, or daydreaming and nodding in a conversation, but active listening to what is being said, and maybe what is not being said. A sense of humor helps but not laughing at other people unless they are laughing too. I wouldn't consider laughing at other people funny at all unless they were part of it. Manners. I am so grateful when a man opens a door, helps me with a coat, holds a chair for me to be seated. They speak of thoughtfulness and that is important. There are other things, sure, physical things, but the inner core of someone is important.

What do you hate about life?

Not enough time! It's the commodity of our lives and there never seems to be enough of it to do all the things we need to do, want to do and hope to do.

What do you hope to achieve in life and when will you know that you have been a success?

Good one. Success is measured in many ways, but ultimately, I would like to look back without regrets. That’s probably impossible. I know we have them, but I’d rather not dwell on them and focus on what we have managed to achieve whatever that is; raising kids, traveling, writing a book because you wanted to, learned a new skill that was a challenge. I would like to be financially secure (wouldn't we all, and it's getting tougher in many ways recently), be a good family member—mother, sister, daughter, etc. and seen that way by others, develop more loving relationships in whatever way you want to take that and lots of other things too. Success? When you meet a challenge and overcome adversity in some way, it is always a success whether personal or professional, large or small. Lots of small successes are important; they don't all have to be huge. I believe very much in taking chances and risks, you might get bruised along the way but better to take them than sit on the sidelines. Whether they lead to a "success" or not might be immaterial. It might be enough of a success to be willing to take chances.
In the context of writing, I would like to write a complex novel with many elements. Write it well, craft it with precision and touch the heart and mind of the reader. Wow! Better get going on that one, it could take a long time.

What are you going to write next?

See above!

Thursday 24 June 2010

Sweet Surrender


Sweet Surrender by Maya Banks



Publisher: Heat



March 2008



ISBN: 978-0-425-21943-0



Pages: 344







Gray Montgomery is a Dallas police officer that is after the person that killed his partner. He has managed to get one link to the killer and that is Faith Malone. Gray plans to get close to Faith so that he can catch the killer. The one thing he never expected was his overwhelming attraction to Faith. Now things are starting to get complicated and Gray isn’t sure he is going to come out of this unscathed. Gray is finding out that he is starting to feel guilty about what he has told everyone about why he is in Houston and as time goes on he finds that he wants to tell the truth but before he can do that, everything starts to go wrong. He is going to have to talk fast to get everything straightened out so that he doesn’t lose everything that he has finally found.



Faith Malone is looking for a strong dominant man. She just may have found him in the form of Gray. Faith is sweet and feminine, but is she what Gray is looking for? All she knows is that there is an attraction between them but Gray seems to be fighting it. Faith has a plan to see if maybe they just might be able to go somewhere with the attraction between them.



Gray thought the only thing that really mattered was catching the killer but when things start heating up between them, Gray starts thinking that maybe there are more important things in life. Now there is a threat against Faith and Gray will do anything he needs so that nothing happens to Faith and the happiness that is within their reach.



This is another great book by this author. It has all the things readers have come to expect, the emotions pouring out of the book that just draw you into the story until you do not want to stop reading until the very last page. It also has humor that helps lighten the emotions in all the right places. This story has a wonderful plot that will not let you go until the very last word.





I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

Tuesday 22 June 2010

For Better For Worse


For Better or Worse by Dehanna Bailee



Publisher: Literary Road Press Publication



2008



ISBN: 978-1-934037-53-9



Pages: 60





Sandra Brown has been married for less than a year but in the time she has found the happiness and contentment she has always wanted. It also looks like things are going to get even better. Then events happen that puts everything in jeopardy. Now Sandra is going to have to depend on an old lover and friend to help her get out of trouble. Having Kahne Westmoreland around is making things difficult for Sandra and her husband. Sandra thought she was over her love for Kahne but his being around is showing her that she still has feelings for him but her marriage means more to her and she is going to have to make sure that her marriage stays strong.



Trent Brown has things in his past that makes it difficult to trust but he has a marriage now that he wants. His son now has a stepmother that he can get along with. It also looks like things are going to be a lot better at work so that he will have more time with his family. Things are definitely looking up for them. That is until Kahne shows up and starts to turn things around. Trent is going to have to deal with the situation or he takes the chance on loosing Sandra.





This story has a good story line but unfortunately it doesn’t have a smooth transition from scene to scene at times. This story has some interesting characters that make the story enjoyable. This story shows a lot of promise but just doesn’t quite get there.





I give this one 3-1/2 red roses

Forbidden Highlander


Forbidden Highlander by Donna Grant



Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks



June 2010



ISBN: 978-0-312-38123-3



Pages: 331







Scotland, Summer 1603





Fallon MacLeod has come out of hiding only because his brother Quinn has been taken. Now Fallon is going to go to the King to see about getting some help. Being an immortal warrior isn’t as easy as he would like but it looks like things are turning around for him when at court he meets Larena. Fallon is working hard on getting his life back as much as possible before an evil druid turned his life upside down.



Larena Monroe has secrets that she has managed to keep without any problem until now. She has been searching for a way to vanquish the evil druid. She looks to join with Fallon since they are both after the same druid and they both want that druid gone for good. Larena is attracted to Fallon even though she has a hard time trusting anyone. The past has made sure of that. Larena is going to have to decide if she wants the chance for happiness with Fallon or if she is going to turn her back on the sizzling attraction between them.



If Fallon and Larena want the chance at happiness they are going to have to clear the obstacles in their path. Fallon thinks they have a chance at a love worth everything even though he will have to fight to get a chance at having that love. All he has to do is convince Larena that they can have that enduring love only if she is willing to give it a try and let go of the past and trust that he will be there no matter what.





This story picks up shortly after the first book in the series and continues with a great storyline. The story gives you several twists which makes it a lot of fun to read. It is a fast paced book that is hard to put down with a little something for everyone. I hated to see this one end. The characters are very well developed with several secondary characters that grab your attention too. This is turning into a great series and you will be eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.







I give this one 5 red roses

Monday 21 June 2010

A Knight's Enchantment


Lindsay Townsend
A Knight’s Enchantment
ISBN 13-978-1-4201-0697-8
Zebra Books
US $5.99
Can $6.99

Because Bishop Thomas has her father imprisoned and threatens his life, Joanna must find the secret that alchemists have searched for throughout the ages, but she must do it in a few weeks. When the landless knight comes blundering into her life and kidnaps her in an effort to free his brother from the crafty bishop, Joanna is desperate to escape him and return to the bishop’s palace.

Hugh Manhill is fascinated by his lovely captive and wishes it were possible to free his brother and keep her. Drawn by a strong passion that neither can deny they hatch a plot to free both Joanna’s father and Hugh’s brother, but it involves risk to them both and there is no help from Hugh’s father. Can they achieve all they want and still find happiness?

This is an earthy, passionate romp through medieval England and keeps the reader on the edge right to the last. Townsend has warmth and a way of brining a scene to vivid life so that in turning the pages the reader is transported to another place and time.

Anyone who enjoys a good story that is well written will want to read this book. It is well worth five red roses. Linda Sole

Friday 18 June 2010

Marked


Marked by Elisabeth Naughton

An Eternal Guardians novel



Publisher: Love Spell



May 2010



ISBN: 978-0-505-52822-3



Pages: 321





Present Day



Casey bears the mark of the chosen. Unfortunately that means she is meant to die so that the immortals can live. Casey has no idea about the immortals but she is about to get a crash course. She is just trying to live the life she has always lived. Casey is hoping she has finally found a place that she can fit in, call home and to put down some roots. She is starting to make some friends but she also realizes that the friends she is making are a little strange. She is going to find out just how strange and have to decide what to do with the information. Find out if she can accept it or if she is going to pretend it isn’t real.



Theron is a two hundred year old descendant of Hercules. He is also the leader of the Argonauts. They are an elite group that protests the immortals from the Underworld. Things get complicated when he realizes that he can’t seem to stay away from Casey no matter what he tells himself. That is going to make everything much more difficult if Theron doesn’t get control of his emotions fast. Theron takes his leadership of the Argonauts seriously but he is also realizing that there just may be more in life than fighting.



Theron isn’t the only one that is after Casey and if he wants her for himself he is going to have to take care of the obstacles in their way. It is going to be a race against time to find a solution that will work for everyone otherwise someone is going to have to make the ultimate sacrifice.







This story takes Greek mythology and puts a great spin on it. It also brings a lot of the characters from mythology to life and makes the characters a lot of fun to read about. This story has a great storyline and a lot of action that moves the book along at a fast pace. You will hate to put it down and as enjoyable as the ending is you hate to see the book end. The world building is fantastic and really comes alive for the reader.







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

Wednesday 16 June 2010

Dangerous Highlander


Dangerous Highlander by Donna Grant



Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks



January 2010



ISBN: 978-0-312-38122-6



Pages: 335







West Highlands of Scotland, Spring 1603



Cara has been warned to stay away from the MacLeod castle though she has never believed the rumors surrounding it. No matter how much she tries to stay away from the castle something keeps drawing her closer. When Cara was young she lost her parents and has been alone ever since even though she lives in a small village she has never really fit in. One day going out of the village to gather some much needed herbs sets in motion events that will completely change the path that Cara had set for herself. She will have a chance to obtain the things she has always wanted and never thought to have the chance to obtain.



Lucan MacLeod has hidden away in his castle for three hundred years. With a vengeful god living in his soul he thought it would be better to be locked away from everyone. He has watched as the world around him has changed and moved on without him. Now things are about to change for him and only time will tell if it is for the better or the worse.



Lucan and Cara are going to be in the fight for their lives against forces that are truly evil. They are going to have to find a way to beat the evil after them if they want a chance to have a future together. Lucan is starting to realize that maybe staying hidden for the past three hundred years wasn’t for the best and just might put him at a severe disadvantage. Lucan had given up on happiness until the moment he saw Cara and he has found the best reason to overcome his ancient foe. If he isn’t careful his enemy will take Cara from him and he might not be able to get her back. He is determined that he will do everything in his power to make sure that he never loses Cara.







This is a great story that draws you in and refuses to let you go until the very end. It also leaves you dying to get your hands on the next book in the series. This book has it all with a great romance and action throughout. You never know what will happen next. This is a fast paced book that you hate to put down for any reason. This story has richly drawn characters that lets you feel what they are feeling as they deal with their enemies as they fight to survive and find the happiness that they both want so much.







I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

Jewel In The Wild


Jewel in the Wild by Bonita



Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press



2010



ISBN: 978-1-60313-844-4



Pages: 167







Fall 1887, Somewhere along the Okanagan River





Brenna Summers is on the run from her Grandfather. Changing her name to Bobby Richards so that people will not know who is, is just one step she is taking to make sure she is not found. Trying to find her father that has been gone for years is not going to be easy as she doesn’t know where to start looking. Brenna feels that if she can make it to her aunt she might have a chance to escape her fate and find her father also.



Jake Hudson has been looking for his sister for years. Since she disappeared without a word he is unsure of her fate. Checking on his cabin after his latest search he comes upon some men who are attacking a woman. After he gets the men to leave he tries to find out why the men were after the woman but the only thing he is able to get is her name, Bobby and the fact she says she doesn’t know who the men are. Knowing there is more to the story than she is telling he also realizes that unless she is willing to tell him what is going on there is not much more he can do to help her.



As Jake and Bobby meet yet again in the town of Clearwater Bay it seems that something keeps drawing them together. Jake realizes he just might have another chance to help Bobby and get to know her. If Jake wants a chance to get to know Bobby he is going to have to first take care of the trouble that is hot on her trail, which is going to be a lot harder than he thinks since Bobby is afraid to trust anyone with the truth. She has been taught the folly of trusting too easily and has paid the price too many times to make that mistake yet again. As Jake and Bobby get closer Bobby is starting to realize that she wants to be able to tell the truth to Jake but as their relationship get deeper she is afraid how Jake will react to the truth and that truth is getting harder and harder to keep a secret. Only time will tell if their relationship will survive the truth.







This is a very good story. It brings the old west to life as you read the story. This one has a lot of twist and turns and you never know what will happen next. You will be surprised as to what happens as you read the story. It is unpredictable and completely engrossing so that you want to keep reading just to find out what the next twist is going to be. A very enjoyable book to read.







I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

Monday 14 June 2010

Chasing Rachel


Chasing Rachel by Lindsay Townsend



Publisher: BookStrand



May 2010



ISBN: 1-60601-769-1



Pages: 296







Rachel Falconer is an ethnobotanist, studying plants and plant uses within the cultures that they are found and used. She has also just agreed to be acting director of Kestrel House while her father finishes his work on a very important cure for malaria. Her father has been having some trouble lately and he feels that Rachel can help him figure what is going on and who is behind the sabotage that is going on.



Michael Horton is an environmental archaeologist that works at Kestrel House. Michael and Rachel knew each other as children but lost touch with each other when they got older. Now with the saboteur out to cause a lot of trouble it brings Michael and Rachel back together only this time around they are dealing with each other as adults and their feelings for one another are a lot different this time around.



With several suspects to choose from the one causing all the trouble is starting to really get dangerous. They are starting to set fires that are endangering the people at Kestrel House. It helps that Michael is a volunteer firefighter but that still may not be enough to stop the trouble. The only way they are going to be able to stop it is if they can figure out who the trouble is aimed at and what is the trouble maker is hoping to accomplish. Though it is starting to look more and more like Rachel now has a stalker, but are the stalker and the trouble linked? Or are they separate problems. Only time will tell if Rachel and Michael are going to be able to get out of this alive.







This is a great romantic suspense that will keep you guessing right up until the very end when you get to see the culprit unmasked. With so many suspects to choose from it really keeps you on your toes trying to find out who is behind the trouble. This one is hard to put down until you find out who is behind the troubles and what it is they are after. This story is very engrossing. The reader is going to love of the twist and turns this one takes. Just as you think you have it figured out the story takes another turn so you are not sure if you have it figured out or not. This one has a lot of action that really keeps the story moving right along as you read.





I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

Sunday 13 June 2010

Coming Home


COMING HOME

BY VONNIE HUGHES.

PUPLISHED BY ROBERT HALE LONDON.

ISBN 978-0-7090-9005-2.





This Historical romance is set in the early eighteen hundreds, it begins in Portugal. Miss Juliana Colebrook orphaned and alone in Portugal longs to travel to England to meet her father’s relatives, but has no idea how she is going to achieve her dream.

Then a young officer, whom she had nursed, when he was very seriously wounded in Portugal, came to visit her and tells her that he has sold out of the army and is returning home to England to manage a friend’s estate, she begs him to take her with him.

But Brigade-Major Colwyn Hetherington, explains that it would be impossible for him to take her to England. He has a secret past which will make it very difficult for him to make a life in England again and he cannot possibly take Juliana with him, it would ruin her reputation

Juliana knows that to travel to England unaccompanied by another Lady would be impossible and she is devastated. She is desperate to get away from the horrors of war and the hospital where she has worked since her father died and left her destitute.

Because Juliana was so upset by his refusal to take her with him The Major feels guilty he longed to take with him, but he could not offer her a future and if it was found out the she had travelled with him as her only companion, her relations would probably refuse to help her. But eventually he decided to take her with him in his cabin, as his wife.

On the long sea journey to England the Major was sorely tempted to make love to Juliana and she was not adverse to the idea but he kept himself under control, as he was a gentleman and could not offer her his hand in marriage, truly. He was disgraced and could not assume his real place in society with his true family. Was this dark secret in his past his own doing or was he wrongly accused?

Juliana was very attracted to the Major but somehow she knows that it can never be she also has a dark secret which she can never reveal.

Juliana wonders what her relatives will be like and whether they will really want her. There are many things which are about to happen to both Juliana and Major Hetherington which will alter both of their lives forever.

Will they both find the happiness they deserve or will outside influences prove too much for them to fight.

Read this intriguing romance and enjoy their daily journey through the up and downs of Regency England. I am sure you will not be able to put this book down.

I award this book 4.5 Red Roses.AS

Wednesday 9 June 2010

Beast Behaving Badly


Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly Laurenston



Publisher: Brava



June 2010



ISBN: 978-0-7582-3168-0



Pages: 379







Blayne Thorpe has never forgotten Bo after the first time she saw him. Now 10 years later everywhere she goes Bo is right behind her. Blayne is a wolf-dog shifter hybrid that has been targeted by people that want to put in her in shifter dog fights. Blayne just wants to live her life the way she has always lived it even if that means driving some people crazy.



Bo Novikov knows it would be better to leave Blayne alone but he just cannot let her go. Bo also knows there is a lot more to Blayne than he is currently seeing and he is determine to find out more about her. Being a Polar Bear shifter he has all the patience in the world to get to know Blayne a lot better. Before Bo can have a chance to get closer to Blayne he is going to have determine who is after her and why. Bo is determined to do whatever he has to so Blayne will be safe. Even if keeping her safe means dragging her off to an isolated Maine town. Where the only other inhabitants of that town are bears as crazy as Bo.





This is a great story that will keep you laughing all the way through to the very end. It is also guaranteed to get you some very strange looks from perfect strangers. This is one book that should not be missed. Blayne and Bo will have you rolling on the floor as they work through their relationship and all the pitfalls that it ultimately entails. This story will not let you put it down until the very last page. The story line moves very quickly and keeps you engrossed until you find out what happens next. With this author you always get a great story and this one is no exception.





I give this one 5 red roses

Colters' Woman


Colters’ Woman by Maya Banks



Publisher: Samhain



February 2010



ISBN: 978-1-60928-023-9



Pages: 229







Holly Bardwell is on the run from some bad decisions she has made in the past. Unfortunately those mistakes just might cost her more that she would like to pay. It just might kill her if she is not careful. Holly ends up in a ditch during a winter storm and has to decide if she can trust the three men that found her. Holly wishes with all her heart that the decision would be easier to make if she could trust her instincts rather than be afraid that she is making yet another mistake.



Adam Colter is one of three brothers that runs the Three Brothers Lodge. The last thing he expected to find in the middle of winter was a woman unconscious in a ditch. Now he has to figure out who she is. Adam and his brothers Ethan and Ryan are determined to help Holly as they feel that she is the one woman that will be able to complete the three of them together and make their family whole.



Now all the brothers have to do is convince Holly that the only place she belongs is with them. For the brothers to do that they are going to have to take care of what and who Holly is running from. Holly is starting to care very deeply for all three brothers and she will do whatever is necessary to protect them from her past but that is not going to be easy for anyone. Only time will tell if the four of them are going to be able to have the life together that they all so desperately want.





This story is one that was reissued and has extensive changes made to it. It is like have the same characters but in a completely new story. This is just as great as the original if not better with all the changes made. Once you get caught up in the characters you hate to put it down until you finish it and see how things are going to work out. This one is a great emotional book to read.







I give this one 5 red roses

Sunday 6 June 2010

Comanche Moon


Comanche Moon by Catherine Anderson



Publisher: Signet



May 2008



ISBN: 978-0-451-22418-7



Pages: 468







Texas 1864



Loretta Simpson was orphaned when her parents were killed by Comanche warriors. Since that time seven years ago she hasn’t been able to talk because of her fear that the warriors would return.



Hunter of the Wolf is the U.S. Army’s most cunning and feared adversary. As a Comanche warrior he is known far and wide across the plains of Texas. Hunter believes that Loretta is the woman foretold about in an ancient prophesy, which will bring about a whole new set of problems for the two of them than just survival in the war between their people.



Now Hunter and Loretta are fighting to hang on to who and what they are. For them to have the love that was prophesied a long time ago they are going to have to overcome a great deal of problems that are standing in their way. Loretta is determined to never give in to Hunter after she is taken from her home. As they head further and further into Comanche land and away from her home, Loretta starts to see a side to the Comanche that she never thought to see. The more time Loretta spends with Hunter the more she sees the Comanche as people and less as the murderers of her parents. Loretta is also getting her voice back. They are both going to have to learn to put the past behind them so that they have a chance at the future but with all the obstacles in their way that is not going to be easy. Once they get past their troubles they will have the happiness that neither thought would be possible.





This is an excellent story that exposes the time period when the Comanche were fighting to retain their land and way of life. It also shows what the families and people that lived on the land had to deal with on a daily basis, not just the threat of the Comanche but also what the land could do to them. The story gives you a peek into the way both the Comanche and settlers felt about each other and how each point of view was valid. You feel the anguish that both felt. Overall this story is very good though there are times I felt the need to slap the heroine upside the head over her immaturity.



I give this one 4 red roses