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