An Ember in the Ashes

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Publisher: Razorbill

April 2015

ISBN: 978-1-59514-803-2

Pages: 446

Historical YA, Romantic elements

Laia is a slave and while Elias is a soldier neither is truly free.

The Martial Empire meets defiance with death. People that live there are expected to vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor.  If they don’t they chance execution of their loved ones and also the destruction of what they hold dear.

It is inspired by ancient Rome and it is brutal.  It is also the world where Laia lives with her older brother and grandparents.  They eke out an existence in the impoverished backstreets of the Empire. They also do not challenge the Empire.  They know what happens when someone does they have seen it happen.

Laia is forced to make a decision when her brother is arrested for treason. She will get help from the rebels who promise to rescue her brother but to get that help she has to risk her life.  She will have to spy for the rebels in the Empire’s greatest military academy.

At the school Laia meets Elias who is the school’s finest soldier.  Though secretly he is the most unwilling. Elias is being trained to enforce the tyranny he wants to be free from. Soon Elias and Laia realize that their destinies are intertwined. They also realize that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

This is an amazing book that pulls the reader in and doesn’t let go. Not even after the reader has finished the story.  The world comes to life with every word read. It has action and suspense that keeps the reader engrossed and reading just so they can see what will happen next.  It will also have readers hoping for more from this author and world.  Readers get to see Laia find the strength to do what she must to both survive and save her brother.  Elias also finds out what is most important to him and just how far he will go to fight for what he believes in.  This is a book that readers will find themselves reading over and over.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

The Prince and I

The Prince and I by Karen Hawkins

Publisher: Pocket Books

August 2015

ISBN: 9781476785974

Pages: 384

Historical Romance

Scotland

Max Romanovin is the warrior prince for Oxenburg. When he is escorting his grandmother to a house party that is deep in the Highlands they find themselves at the sword point of a group of ruffians.  The group is led by a man that the locals call the Scottish Robin Hood.  The prince is battle-savvy enough to instantly realize that something is off about the thief.  It is isn’t the Scottish accent either.  It is the fact that the “he” is actually a “she”.

Lady Murian is out for revenge against the earl that killed her husband and stole his birthright. She is now living in the woods with her family’s retainers that have also been banished.  She and her band of men rob the rich nobles that are visiting the evil earl just so that they can stay alive. She gets much more than she expected when she ambushes the Prince of Oxenburg’s golden coach.  When the prince finds out her true identity she is no longer sure who is the thief and is afraid the prince might just be the real thief of her heart.

This is the second book in a series that is proving to be a lot of fun to read.  It also will have readers wanting the next book right away to see what else will happen in this series.  While each book can be read as a standalone they are greatly more enjoyable when the reader reads the books in order.  The story also proves to be hard to put down once the reader starts as they will want to know what is going to happen next and just how things will end for Max and Murian and if they will be able to overcome the obstacle that are in their way. 

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Claimed by Pleasure

Claimed by Pleasure Wonderland Book 2 by Jaymie Holland

Publisher: Pink Zebra Publishing

March 2015

ISBN: 978-1-939778-68-0

Pages: 240

Contemporary Paranormal Romance

San Francisco, CA & Tarok

Alexi O’Brien will not let anything stop her from finding her missing twin especially as she is pissed. Then she is abducted into a world that is both beautiful and highly sexual.  She is also determined to escape and resume her search for her sister.  Even if she is excited in unimaginable ways by the dangerous and dark man that has captured her.

King Darronn prefers submissive women especially when they are his.  His future queen is anything but. Darronn plans to convince spirited and fiery Alexi that she belongs to him body, heart and soul no matter what it takes.

This story picks up a little after the first book ended. It is just as hot and sexy as the first book was and will have readers wanting to read the next book to see what is going to happen in this series.  While the books are linked together they can be read somewhat as standalone books though the reader will find it a lot more helpful in understanding the overall story line if they read the books in order.  This is proving to be a fun series that will have readers never looking at fairy tales the same again.  It is also a good idea to have a glass of ice cold water nearby while reading this one.

I give this one 4 red roses

LRH

Stolen Ecstasy

Stolen Ecstasy by Hannah Howell

Publisher: Zebra

Reissue: May 2011

ISBN: 978-1-4201-0466-0

Pages: 427

Historical Romance

Colorado, Texas & Mexico 1870

Leanne Summers learned in one night that everything about her life as she believed it is a lie and in that same night lost her home and every possession.  She doesn’t think of the consequences when she witnesses a bank robbery going on.  She barges in after stealing a gun and within minutes finds herself a captive.

Hunter Walsh knows he should leave Leanne behind as soon as he sets eyes on her. He doesn’t need the distraction of the desire he feels for her.  He finds that abandoning an impulsive, brave woman isn’t as easy as it should be. Even a ruthless outlaw can’t ignore temptation especially one that is irresistible.

This is a story that can be re-read over and over.  The laughs and action make for a book that is very hard to put down.  The characters are well written and help bring the book to life. The reader never knows what will happen next and just what each character will do besides having the reader laughing out loud. The story will also pull at the reader’s heartstrings and make for a book that will stay with them long after they are done reading it.  This is a great book to read for readers that love historical books.  It will also have readers wanting to read this author’s other books.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Zack Armed and Dangerous

Zack Armed and Dangerous by Cheyenne McCray

Publisher: Cheyenne McCray LLC

July 2015

ISBN: 978-1-939778-65-9

Pages: 234

Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Douglas, Arizona

Ten years ago Sky MacKenna had her heart broken by Zack Hunter who was a bad boy.  Since then Sky hasn’t been able to find a man that sets her on fire the way he did.  Suddenly he comes back into her life, sexier, bigger and badder than ever.

Zack Hunter works for Immigration and Customs Enforcement as an agent.  What he never expected was to be lead back to his small hometown by that job. He also never expected to see Sky again. The stupidest thing he ever did was leaving her behind. This time he is determined to keep her. Zack makes his intention very clear when he sets eyes on Sky again.

Zack is investigating a case that Sky ends up entangled in which makes him take the threat personally. Their passion burns hotter than even as the danger mounts.

This is a great romantic suspense that provides plenty of suspects and will keep the reader guessing just who is behind what is going on. It is easy to get sucked into the story as the plot is well written and moves along at a fast pace.  While the story starts out in the present the history between Sky and Zack are explained in such a way that the story keeps flowing very smoothly and the reader never gets lost in what is happening.  The suspense doesn’t stop until the very end of the story and readers will hate that the story is done. With this story it is a good idea to keep a glass of ice cold water nearby.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Taken by Passion

Taken by Passion by Jaymie Holland

Publisher: Cheyenne McCray LLC

February 2015

ISBN: 978-1-939778-69-7

Pages: 217

Contemporary Fantasy Paranormal Romance

Alice O’Brien has been cheated on yet again and no longer believes she’ll find a Prince Charming. She decides she is just going to enjoy men and not risk her heart again.

Suddenly she leaves her familiar home in San Francisco when she literally falls down a rabbit hole. She lands in a world that is both strange and beautiful. She also meets shapeshifting brothers, that are all fierce and irresistible. Jarronn, though is that and also powerful and dominant.

Jarronn has deliberately lured Alice to his realm because of the draw of a card foretelling his kingdom’s future. He hopes by doing so he will avert a danger that is threatening his people. His intention to save his kingdom is with his and Alice’s bond of passion.  Nothing will stop him from making Alice his Queen of Hearts.

This takes Alice in Wonderland and turns it on it head and inside out.  It also makes for a book that is very hard to put down once readers start it. The world building is fun and full of wonder that makes for an amazing read.  The characters are relatable and move the story along very well. Watching Alice start out in one place and ending up in another makes for an intriguing story. Readers will want to read the other books in the series just to see how everything turns out. This is also one book that having a glass of ice water nearby would be a very good idea.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Publisher: Quirk

June 2011

ISBN: 978-1-59474-476-1

Pages: 351

Contemporary and Historical Time-Travel Paranormal YA

Florida & Wales, England

Jacob is a sixteen-year-old that is set on a journey when a horrific family tragedy strikes.  He goes to a remote island off the coast of Wales and discovers a crumbling ruin that was once Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. The more Jacob explores the abandoned bedrooms and hallways the more he finds that Miss Peregrine’s children were much more than just peculiar.  They may have been quarantined on a deserted island as they might have been dangerous and where there for a very good reason.  Even more impossible is the fact that they might actually still be alive.

This is a story that takes photographs and remarkable story telling to a level that makes for a book that will have readers eating it up.  While there is a bit of a cliffhanger it still proves to be a story worth reading and will have readers eagerly getting the next book just to see what will happen next.  The book is very different and with the photographs in it and it transports readers to another place.  It will be interesting to see just where the journey of the books will take readers. While it is a young adult book adults will enjoy this one just as much as teens will.  This one will also end up on many keeper shelves.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH