The Cult

The Cult/ Maddie James/Resplendence Publishing/ebook/219 pages

Tory is the daughter of Clare and Jack from the Curse, Maddie James's first book in this series. Tory is a passionate woman of the eighteenth century and always getting into trouble. When her brother Jeremiah finds her sitting on the lap of a rough sailor in a tavern he tries to take her away and is shot dead. Tory cries until she is almost too weak to live, but then Jeremiah comes back to her and tells her to move on with her life. She has a quest, something she must fulfil but she does not yet know what it is or the way to find her destiny.

Colt is an author in need of a best selling book. When the idea of a pirate novel about Blackbeard comes to him he little knows that he is about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime – an adventure that will carry him through time as he helps Tory in her quest to return Blackbeard's head.

This is another sensual, imaginative story from a clever storyteller and the good thing is it isn't the last of the series. This is a book that keeps you hanging on until the end and great fun to read. Five red roses, Linda

A KNIGHT'S VOW

A KNIGHT'S VOW
LINDSAY TOWNSEND
Zebra Historical Romance
ISBN 978-1-4201-0361-8
US $3.99
CAN $4.99
Paperback/ 320 pages

Alyson of Olverton has often dreamed of marrying Guillelm de la Rochelle. Guillelm went to the Crusades after being turned down as a suitor by Alyson's father, but now he has returned to claim his inheritance. Meanwhile, through necessity, Alyson had taken refuge in his father's house and would have become his bride had he not died. Although her heart belongs to Guillelm she cannot bring herself to tell him for he seems distant and different to the young knight she loved. What Alyson does not know is that he has been scarred by a woman's cruel words, and though he loves Alyson he is afraid that she can never love him. Their path to true happiness is strewn with dangers, especially for Alyson who has an enemy in Guillelm's best friend.

This is romantic and compelling reading for all fans of historical stories. I enjoyed it and recommend this author for her strong voice and narrative skills. Five red roses, Linda

Valerie

VALERIE

By
JOAN SMITH

Published by

ROBERT HALE
ISBN 978-0-7090-7922-4



When Valerie’s Aunt Loo, short for Louise, asked her to go home with her for a month’s visit to her estate, Troy Fenners, In Hampshire, she was delighted. Valerie’s mother was not too happy with the invitation but gave in when her husband suggested that his sister Louise was perhaps lonely in that great barn of a house on her own.
Valerie at the age of twenty-two had had several suitors but mostly they were much shorter than she was, as she stood a fine five foot ten inches and she bulked at trying to look shorter to blend with her escorts. She longed for a suitor who was at least six feet tall, although there was no hope of meeting one at her Aunts home but it would be wonderful to escape for a time, from her family.
When Valerie arrived at Troy Fenners her Aunt amazed her by telling her that she was a writer and in her new novel the heroine had certain tasks to perform, and Aunt Loo had decided Valerie would be the very person to try out the tasks. She was sure that Valerie would make a splendid Gloria, the heroine of her novel.
Also staying with her Aunt as a permanent guest was Pierre St Clair her late husband’s cousin, who was smuggled out of France as an infant, during the reign of Terror, he was raised on a farm in Normandy and educated at a seminary but now lived in England. His broken English would be a source of amusement to Valerie during her stay but his amorous advances were not amusing.
There were many things going on at Troy Fenners, which Valerie was beginning to wonder at. Was her Aunt being blackmailed? Money was obviously short, but she had thought her Aunt wealthy. Overhearing a conversation between Pierre and her Aunt she thought that Pierre was perhaps blackmailing her Aunt, but why?
Strange things were happening here and Valerie intended to get to the bottom of it all, was it anything to do with the couple who were invited to hold séances in the feather room or did it involve the mysterious Mr Sinclair, another cousin who wore green spectacles to hide his expressive eyes or his identity and lately had moved into the gate house on her Aunt’s estate.
Valerie was really enjoying herself, would she solve the mysteries and help her Aunt regain her money, or was there more danger than she realised? Would she be able to carry out the tasks her Aunt had set for Gloria and keep herself safe? Why were these strange cousins using her Aunt? And who were the strange couple that her Aunt set such store by and involved her in the séances which seemed to really scare her, what was her Aunt searching for? So many questions but the answers are all in this book, read and enjoy this unusual book set in Regency times. I award this book 4 red roses, AS.

Blood and Honey

Blood and Honey/Melissa Glisan/Red rose Publishing/ebook/131 pages

Barbara is a big girl. Love doesn't come easily and her encounters in bars are not likely to bring happiness. After one rather frightening one she decides that she needs to find an old friend. Her great friend Charlie is unfortunately for her gay. Perhaps it is a longing for old times that prompts her to push on and find out what happened to Marlene. However, her investigation takes her to dangerous places and only the man she finally loves can help her to find a kind of peace and happiness – though even here she has secret fears.


This story dabbles in the world of demons and evil spirits, of a parallel life where some of us are doomed to dwell against our will. This is strong stuff, well written and intriguing. 4.5 red roses, Morna

The Stone Beach

The Stone Beach/Kim Chatel/Eternal Press /46 pages

Caroline loves her cat, but Casey is old and ill. She is terrified of losing him and lonely because her friends are absent. Aimee is an odd girl who doesn't make friends easily. Caroline knows that her other friends would laugh at her if she made friends with her, but loneliness draws them together. Caroline is moving on, growing up, but it is Aimee who shows her many things, including how to understand that Casey has to leave her.

A charming, heart-warming story of friends and first love. I enjoyed this a lot. 4.5 red roses, Morna.



Blood and Honey/Melissa Glisan/Red rose Publishing/ebook/131 pages

Velvet

Velvet/Lisabet Sari/Eternal Press/Ebook/18 pages
Marta is dressed in an emerald pantsuit that molds to her body when she takes centre stage at the business conference. Lori's thoughts are lustful as she listens avidly, but would someone like Marta every look at her?

This short story is about lust rather than love. If you enjoy F/F sex you may like this one. Award 4 red roses. Roxy

A Valentine's Gift For Tori

A Valentine’s Gift for Tori by Zenobia Renquist/Red rose Publishing/ ebook





Tori and Christian are having problems in their marriage. For the past two years they have been fighting each other. Tori decides it is time to make some changes. She doesn’t want to divorce Christian but if they don’t find a solution soon they will continue to be miserable and see their marriage die completely.



Tori has come up with a plan. Now she just needs to find out if Christian is going to be a problem or accept this as the best solution for them both. Tori is looking for a boyfriend to get the romance back. Tori has come to realize that she and Christian are good friends but there is no sexual spark in their relationship. She wants that spark she has never felt with Christian.



After several false starts and deciding this isn’t going to be something that will be for her, Christian has come up with the perfect solution to their problem.



Now the fun really starts. Tori is finding the spark that has been missing and realizing Christian came up with the perfect solution.



This is a book that is worth reading. It was fun to see Tori and Christian work through their problems. Even the secondary characters add to the fun and hilarity. It is the type of book that once you start you don’t stop reading until the very end.





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