Shadows In the Sky

Shadows in the Sky by Mary de Laszlo


Published by Robert Hale. ISBN: 978-0-7090-9948-2



It is May 1940. Clemency Franklyn, her sister Verity and their mother Nancy have left their home in London to move to Scotland. Clemency’s father, Gerald, is the commander of a battleship based in Orkney and his sister Mattie lives close-by in Wick. Wishing to be closer to her husband during the war, it seems ideal to Nancy that she and the children should move in with her sister-in-law. Clemency and Verity, however, would have preferred to remain in London, surrounded by their friends, but both are trying to make the best of their new situation. Clemency, who is almost 18 years of age, is helping man the canteen van at a nearby aerodrome and Verity, who is 16, is discovering that there are plenty of young servicemen with whom she can fall in love.



Whilst Verity is now more than happy with her life, Clemency feels she should be doing something more vital for the war effort. She had been taught to fly by her godfather, Tony, who had given Clemency and his own daughter, Dory, flying lessons. She longs to fly again, but can see little chance of this happening as women are not allowed to fly in combat.



To try to add some spark to her war work, Clemency volunteers to help at the hospital in Wick, but she still does not feel she is achieving much. Then she receives a letter from Dory, who is still living in London. Dory has heard that some women who are able to fly are being trained as ferry pilots to take medicines and supplies and even new planes from factories to airfields. Dory is intending to volunteer and Clemency immediately wishes to do the same. She becomes even more determined to do so when Wing Commander Harry Chatwin, who is billeted with the family, encourages her to join the Air Transport Auxiliary. Some time afterwards, Clemency receives another letter from Dory who has enrolled on the ATA training course and begs Clemency to leave Scotland to do the same. Clemency knows that her mother and father will never agree to her signing up with the ATA and so, with the help of her friend Alice, she devises a plan to travel to London without her family knowing. All does not go as it should, however, when Gerald arrives unexpectedly at his sister’s house early one morning, just as Clemency is about to creep out to start her journey to London………



Can Clemency persuade her father to let her join the ATA or will he forbid it and let her flying skills go to waste when they are so desperately needed. Read on to find out whether Clemency’s future lies with her commendable voluntary work in Wick or in the dangerous skies above Britain.



This is a thoroughly enjoyable page- turner of a novel. It explores an aspect of women’s role in the war I knew little about and it was fascinating to learn what these brave young women did to help the war effort. The author pulls no punches with regard to the effects of war on ordinary people and the novel is undoubtedly true-to-life in that very few are left untouched by the horrors of war.



I happily award Shadows in the Sky five red roses



PS

The Wolf Within

The Wolf Within by Cynthia Eden

Publisher: Cynthia Eden

November 2012

Contemporary, Paranormal Seattle, Washington

Duncan McGuire is an agent with the FBI who spends his time day and night tracking the kind of monsters that most people don’t know anything about.  Duncan faces the horror of tracking vampires and werewolves that the humans know nothing about that walk among them.  Duncan knows that by tracking the monsters he protects the innocent from harm.  What he never expected was to become one of the very monsters he hunts but after a brutal werewolf attack he starts changing to one of the beasts he has always gone after. 

Holly Young is a doctor for the Para Unit in the FBI, the same unit that Duncan is an agent for. Holly is charged with helping Duncan through his transition and to keep him sane so he can continue to work and hunt for the FBI.  Holly has always kept her feelings and attraction to Duncan a secret as she isn’t exactly human and she wasn’t sure Duncan could handle her.  Now that he is getting stronger so is their attraction to each other.

As the attraction between Duncan and Holly heat up and they deal with that they are also going to have to take care of the danger that is moving in on the Para Unit as the monsters are determined to take out the unit.  Duncan is going to have to use his newfound abilities and strength to keep the monsters from winning and just maybe with the help of Holly they just might be able to succeed.

This is an action packed paranormal romance that is sure to please readers that enjoy vampires and werewolves.  With all the twists and turns this story takes it is sure to keep the reader guessing just who is who and who can be trusted.  Just as the reader thinks they have the answer the story takes another twist.  This is a great story that will have the reader counting down the days for the next story in this series.  This is one not to miss.

I give this one 5 red roses 

The Better to Bite

The Better to Bite by Cynthia Eden

Publisher: Cynthia Eden

October 2012

Pages: 358

Paranormal Haven, South Carolina

Anna Lambert is a sixteen year old girl and she and her father just moved to the town of Haven.  Anna knows that the woods by her house aren’t safe to enter.  She has seen the wolves that are there.  Anna has the ability that to some is a curse to others a gift that allows her to find anything or anyone that is lost.

Now people are disappearing and Anna’s sheriff father needs her to use ability to help him hunt a killer, though the killer isn’t exactly human.  Anna is being pulled into the secrets of the town.    Anna is also finding herself drawn to two different boys that are very mysterious.  Anna is going to have to decide if she can trust either or both of the boys.  Because with the danger closing in around Anna she is going to have to decide if one of the boys could be her savior and the other one could very well be very bad. 

This is a YA story that is sure to please readers of all ages.  The story is sure to pull the reader into the mystery that is the town of Haven and all the secrets that seem to be hiding in the small town.  Where every one seems to know everyone else there are a lot of secrets in the town that keep the reader eagerly turning the pages just to find out who is who and just what everyone is hiding.  This is a fast paced story that moves along very well with the story’s plot that is sure to keep the reader guessing just who might be behind the killings in the town.  The author puts enough twist and turns in this one that just when the reader thinks they may have the answer more is thrown in to keep the reader guessing. 

I give this one 5 red roses

Charmed and Dangerous

Charmed and Dangerous by Toni McGee Causey

Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks

May 2007

ISBN: 978-0-312-35549-5

Pages: 333

Contemporary Lake Charles, Louisiana

Bobbie Faye was looking forward to the Lake Charles Contraband Days Festival not waking up to a flooded trailer, a kidnapped brother or criminals after her mother tiara.  Now she is going to commit a bank robbery and a carjacking just to retrieve her family heirloom.  The bank robbery might have been unintentional but the carjacking was definitely intentional. 

Now Bobbie Faye has a hard body extremely sexy Trevor on her hands when she took his truck hostage.  At least Bobbie Faye can deal with angry bears, driving a speed boat and handling a gun.  What she is having problems with handling is a state police detective that also happens to be a pissed off ex-boyfriend.  Just when she thought things couldn't get any worse they do.  Now if she could just get her ex out of her way.

Bobbie Faye takes the reader on an adventure they will not soon forget.  This story is sure to have readers laughing out loud at the high jinx that Bobbie Faye gets up too.  Just as the reader thinks Bobbie Faye can’t get into any more trouble Bobbie Faye proves them wrong.  This is one book that will have the reader staying up late into the night just so that they don’t miss any of the action or humor.  It is also one that will have the reader hating to finish and will have the reader contemplating mayhem of their own when it ends. 

I give this one 5 red roses  

A Favorite Re-Read

Angel by Johanna Lindsay

Publisher: Avon

December 1992

ISBN: 978-0-380-075628-5

Pages: 403

1881 Texas, St. Louis & Wyoming

Cassie Stuart only had the very best intention when she tried to stop a twenty-five year old feud.  Instead of stopping it she managed to pour fuel on it and got both sides angry at her.  Now both sides are telling her to get out of Texas or her father’s ranch will be going up in flames.  What she needs now is a peacemaker not the widow-maker she has ended up with.

Angel is a hired gun that would just as soon leave Cassie to her dilemma but his stubborn sense of duty just won’t let him leave her in the mess she is currently involved in.  Angel may be unwanted by Cassie and he might want to leave but first he is determined to see if Cassie’s kiss is as sweet as he thinks it will be.  Angel is also determined to change Cassie’s mind about wanting him for more than his gun, no matter what it takes.

Cassie and Angel are going to have to find a way to deal with each other if they are going to have to any chance of dealing with the mess Cassie has stirred up with the neighbors.  That might be a lot easier said than done though.  Only time will tell if they are going to be able to fix everything.

This is a sweet story will a lot of humor that will have the reader hoping everything will work out for Cassie and Angel.  This story is sure to take the reader on a very interesting and funny ride as the characters work on the problems between them.  This is one story that can be read over and over and will be enjoyed each and every time. 

I give this one 5 red roses 

Hidden Agendas

Hidden Agendas by Lora Leigh

Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks

July 2007

ISBN: 978-0-312-93993-9

Pages: 332

Emily Stanton has loved Kell Kreiger since they were kids and her father rescued him from the streets.  Now Emily is ready to do something about the attraction she feels for Kell but she is going to have to convince him that not only is he good enough for her but he is exactly what she needs.  Emily is being threatened by a drug lord, Diego Fuentes, that Kell had already rescued her from Diego’s compound.  Now the drug lord had decided that he isn’t done with Emily just yet.   

Kell Kreiger is a Navy SEAL that is tough as nails and the best at search, rescue and taking no prisoners.  Kell is haunted by his past that he tries to escape by using dark intimacies as a distraction.  The one bright spot in his life is Emily.  What Kell doesn’t expect is to go deep undercover in order to protect the one thing that means the most to him, Emily.  Kell will do whatever he has to do to keep Emily safe from the drug lord that is after her. 

Kell will have to use all of his skills to keep Emily safe from Diego.  And he will have to bare his heart and soul if he wants to keep them both alive because the drug lord has changed the rules and Emily and Kell will have to figure out the news rules quickly if they have any hope of surviving this latest threat.

This is another great story in a series that is full of action and suspense.  As Kell and Emily try to find out who the traitor is in the story the reader is taken on one very wild ride that is sure to keep the reader engrossed until the very end.  You can’t go wrong with hot sexy SEALs and this one has those in spades.  This is one book that will have the reader eagerly reaching for the next one in this series.  The characters are complex and will have the reader emotionally involved before the end of the first chapter. 

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses 

Angel Betrayed

Angel Betrayed by Cynthia Eden

Publisher: Brava

July 2012

ISBN: 978-0-7582-6761-0

Pages: 310

Contemporary, Paranormal

Seline O’Shaw has a problem and she really is in need of some protection.  With the hounds of hell after her she will take the protection from anywhere she can get it.  Sammael owes her a favor and it doesn’t hurt that he very powerful and smoking hot.  Seline can deal with lusting after an angel especially when that is nothing compared to what coming after her.

Sammael “Sam” was once an Angel of Death.  He lost his wings when he got tired of staying on the sidelines watching when evil went after the innocents.  Now he takes care of the bad guys himself.  Sam doesn’t have any problems dealing with the bad guys but when he has to deal with one bad girl that is when his life starts to get complicated. 

Sam and Seline are going to have to deal with the trouble that is after Seline if they are going to have a hope of being able to take care of the attraction that is suddenly between them.  Dealing with the passion between them and the trouble that is after them is making life difficult but it is also making life very interesting all of a sudden.  Once the trouble after Seline is taken care of Sam and Seline are going to have to decide if what they have between them is enough to last a life time or if it is just a temporary attraction.

This story takes Fallen Angels to a whole new very hot level that will have reader begging for more.  While this can be read as a stand alone book it is much more enjoyable if it is read with the first book in the series, Angel of Darkness.  This story takes several elements of paranormal stories and mixes them in such a way that the reader will be doing whatever necessary to keep reading this one until the very last page.  Fallen Angels have never looked so hot before.

I give this one 5 red roses 

Melissa and the Impossible Frenchie

Melissa and the Impossible Frenchie by Averil Ireland

Publisher: Leap of Faith Publishing

2012

ISBN: 978-1-6199-358-3

Pages: 507

Regency England & France

Melissa Davenport is a young Englishwoman whose first meeting with Frenchman Andre Devante was anything but typical.  Melissa isn’t sure what to make of Andre at first though her first impression is that he is impossibly arrogant. 

Andre Devante doesn’t have time for Melissa or any woman for that matter.  He must return to France to rescue loved ones.  Though he has no intention of getting involved with Melissa he is quickly finding out what his head wishes and what his heart wishes are two completely different matters.  It doesn’t help that Melissa is troublesome, stubborn and beautiful.  When Andre is forced to take Melissa with him on his latest dangerous mission he is determine to punish Melissa but he is quickly finding out that when it comes to Melissa his intentions never go the way he plans.

Melissa is falling in love with Andre though there are several obstacles to them having a future together.  Andre is impossible at times and is enough to drive Melissa to tears but she is determined that no matter what she will not give into such weakness.  Now if she can just find a way to get past Andre’s arrogance they just might be able to find happiness together.  Andre is going to have to find a way to tame Melissa if he is going to have any peace in his life.

For readers that enjoy books set in the Regency period this is one to read.  As a debut story this will have readers hoping for more from this author.  The story quickly draws the reader in and takes them on a wonderful ride full of twist and turns.  The reader will wonder what will happen next and if Andre and Melissa will be able to find their happily ever after.  Once the reader picks up this one they will find it hard to put down until the very last page. 

I give this one 4 red roses

Dangerous Games

Dangerous Games by Lora Leigh

Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks

February 2007

ISBN: 978-2-312-93992-2

Pages: 352

Morganna Chavez is doing work with the DEA secretly to find the source of a thriving date-rape drug which is quickly leading her team to a shadowy faction that is proving just how deadly they truly are.  Morganna is determined to do her job despite having to deal with Clint McIntyre while not letting anyone, including Clint, know exactly what she is doing.

Clint “Iceman” McIntyre is a Navy SEAL that is taking some much needed R&R.  What he doesn’t expect is to find himself neck deep in trouble because Morganna is his best friend’s little sister.  She is also the only woman with any power over him.  He thought when they took out an infamous drug cartel that was difficult but that is proving to be nothing compared to dealing with Morganna and his determination to keep her safe.

The passion between Morganna and Clint is proving to be as dangerous as the mission they are now on together.  Clint will do whatever it takes to keep Morganna alive.  He is also quickly finding that he also wants Morganna in his arms and life and he is determined to keep her there and never let her go. 

This story takes off from the very first page and the action doesn’t stop until the very last page.  With all the twists and turns this one takes it will have the reader wondering when they got on the roller coaster ride and when it is going to stop.  This is the first book in a series that will be sure to hook the reader on this series.  The characters are well written and have all the fallacies that most people have which makes the character realistic and will get the reader emotionally invested in this one.  This is one romantic suspense story that readers that love the genre definitely do not want to miss. 

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses 

The Shadow Wranglers: Caleb

The Shadow Wranglers: Caleb by Sarah McCarty

Publisher: Heat

October 2009

ISBN: 978-0-425-23057-2

Pages: 392

Allie is attracted to sexy rancher Caleb Johnson.  She thought that attraction was mutual but isn’t sure she is right when he does nothing about that attraction.  Just as she is about to give up in defeat she is attacked by a wolf only to be saved by another one.  There is something about the wolf that saves her that makes her think of Caleb.

Caleb Johnson is a vampire that lives with his three brothers and the McClaren werewolf pack.  While Caleb and his brothers are okay with be rogue he never wanted to bring Allie into his dangerous world.  He secretly desires her but he also wants her safe.  That all changes when his enemies make the mistake of targeting Allie.  Now Caleb will have to bring Allie into his world so that he can protect her and keep her safe. 

Caleb is going to have to tell Allie his secrets if he wants to have any chance of keeping Allie safe.  The question become does Allie have what it takes to survive in his world as a human which makes her vulnerable in his world.  Allie is fast finding out about a world that she never knew existed and she is going to have to learn fast if she is going to have any chance at living through the threat against her and just maybe the future she always hoped was possible with Caleb. 

This story is the perfect blend of cowboys and the paranormal world.  When vampires and cowboys are mixed together the reader gets a story that is so hot it is sure to curl their toes.  This one also throws in some very hot werewolves to make for a story that the reader will not want to put down for any reason.  The world building is different and makes for a great read.  This is the first book in a series about vampire cowboys that is sure to please.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses 

Nauti Boy

Nauti Boy by Lora Leigh

Publisher: Heat

March 2007

re-released November 2009

ISBN: 978-0-425-21413-8

Pages: 294

Kelly Benton has been trying to capture Rowdy Mackay’s attention even when she was too young for his attention.  She has dreamed of Rowdy for years though after she is attacked by a stalker she is not sure if she has what it takes to be able to handle any man’s touch.  After her brutal attack she has been left with the fear that all her dreams are gone. 

Rowdy Mackay has spent the past eight years putting distance between him and Kelly.  Being in the Marines helped him stay away from a too young Kelly.  Now Kelly is old enough to engage in the type of fantasies and games he has indulged in over the years and that have earned him and his two cousins a reputation in three counties. 

Rowdy is determined to show Kelly that they can still have a future.  Rowdy will also make sure that the stranger that is making threats against Kelly will never get the chance to get near her as he will do whatever it takes to protect Kelly from any and all threats.  Rowdy will also help Kelly get rid of the demons she has been left with after her attack and show just powerful the hunger between them really is. 

This is one erotic romance that heats up the pages it is written on.  The story is sure to keep the reader up late into the night reading so that they find out who the bad guy is and just how it ends.  This is an intense story that has some great action scenes that is sure to keep the reader engrossed in the storyline.  The reader will have to read this one in front of the a/c with the heat that is generated in the story.

I give this one 5 red roses  

Relentless

Relentless by Lauren Dane

Publisher: Heat

May 2009

ISBN: 978-0-425-22760-2

Pages: 339

Futuristic

Abbie Haws has been battling a system that has seen fifteen Families ruling the Federation Universes since the time the first settlers came through the portals from Earth.  This is the perfect time to get rid of the old way of ruling and introducing a new order that would give voice to those that are unranked.  Now Abbie has been granted an audience with Roman Lyons so she has a chance to make a difference. 

Roman Lyons is the head of House Lyons.  As everyone knows the Known Universe revolves around Ravena which in turns revolves around Roman.  He was raised to lead from the very beginning.  Now he must meet with a rabble-rouser which he dreads until the moment when he sets eyes on Abbie.  Now the attraction between them has caught them both off guard. 

Both Roman and Abbie have headstrong personalities and it makes for some very hot trysts between them in private as they also learn that they both can learn a lot from each other.  They come from different ways of life and teaching each other about how the other one lives is making the attraction between them even stronger than it was in the beginning.  But can this lead to anything more than a secret tryst between them or will they find a common ground that they can build a relationship on?

While this is technically the second book in the series it can be read as a stand alone book.  The world building started in the first book, Undercover, and continues in this one and gives the reader a wider view of this new world in this series.  The reader will get emotionally invested in the hero and heroine in this book and will hate to reach the last page of this one.  The plot is well written and the story flows very well.  The story also has enough spice to make it one very hot story.  This one is well worth taking the time to read. 

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses 

Sweet Surrender

Sweet Surrender by Maya Banks

Publisher: Heat

March 2008

ISBN: 978-0-425-21943-0

Pages: 344

Contemporary, Texas

Faith Malone looks soft on the outside but she is one woman that knows exactly what she wants and that is a man who will take exactly what he wants without asking because she is more than willing to give him everything.

Gray Montgomery is a cop from Dallas that is determined to catch the man that killed his partner.  Now Gray has found a link between Faith and that man.  Gray is finding that getting close to Faith won’t be a hardship and she seems to be everything he wants in a woman but is she real or is she playing games.  Can she really be a woman that would let a man call the shots in the relationship?

What Faith sees in Gray is the strong, dominate man that she is searching for though he seems more interested in keeping her at arm’s length.  Faith is determined to show Gray exactly what she is looking for and that she is very serious about what she is willing to do for the right man. Gray has made catching his partner’s killer his priority even though the more he learns about Faith the harder it is to keep his focus on what he needs to do.  When Faith is threatened Gray realizes that there are some things more important to him than he first thought and he will do whatever he has to so that Faith is kept safe. 

This is a start of great series that will have the reader eagerly reaching for the next book in this series.  The story with its twists and turns will have readers eagerly turning the pages just to see what will happen next.  The main characters are engaging and the secondary characters add a great deal to the story.  This one will also have readers reaching for an ice cold drink to bring their temperature down after reading this one.

I give this one 5 red roses 

Undercover

Undercover by Lauren Dane

Publisher: Heat

December 2008

ISBN: 978-0-425-22464-9

Pages: 336

Futuristic

Sera Ayers is a lieutenant in the Federation military and is used to giving orders.  Now she is on new team and has to take orders from the one man that she has never forgotten and can no longer stand. 

Ash Walker is assembling a covert team now that the Imperialists are gaining ground.  Ten years ago Sera submitted to Ash in the bedroom but then he was forced into a political marriage and Sera refused to be his mistress.  Now Ash is no longer married and is determined to have Sera on his team and in his bed. 

Brandt Pela is the third member of the team.  Their plan involves Sera posing as his lover while they are undercover but that ignites a passion between the whole team.  The passion just might prove to be more dangerous than the mission they are on.

Sera, Ash and Brandt are going to have to find their way through the relationship they now have and still keep alert while they are on their mission because if they don’t it could very well cost lives and not just their own.

This is a very hot story that will have readers reaching for ice water as they read this one.  The characters have a depth that makes the story interesting and engrossing.  The action makes for an exciting read that will have the reader hating to put this one down for any reason.  The world building is fascinating and realistic and comes to life as the reader gets farther into the story.  The plot is interesting and keeps the story moving along very well.  For readers that like hot erotic romances and/or futuristic stories this is one to read and the reader will not be disappointed with this one. 

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses 

Be With Me

Be With Me by Maya Banks

Publisher: Heat

November 2008

ISBN: 978-0-425-22404-5

Pages: 376

Contemporary, Texas

Regina “Reggie” Fallon is now a police officer that is dedicated to her job.  She loved her friendship with Hutch, Cam and Sawyer when she was a girl and felt loved and protected for the first time ever in her life but when the four of them had one night of passion it sent Reggie running the other way.  Now there has been an attempt on her life and the guys are determined to protect her and this time they are not going to let her run away. 

Hutch Bishop, Cam Douglas and Sawyer Pritchard may have been juvenile delinquents when they were kids they are not the same anymore. When they were kids they were wild and reckless but they also had Reggie, a lonely wealthy girl in their lives that formed a friendship with them that no one expected.  Now that they are grown they are determined that they are going to have more with Reggie and they are going to keep her safe no matter what it takes.

While Reggie, Hutch, Cam and Sawyer work their way through this new relationship between them they are also dealing with a killer that seems determined to finish what they started by getting rid of Reggie.  The guys are determined to make sure that doesn’t happen.  But will the four of them be able to build a relationship together and have a lasting relationship or will the killer get to Reggie before any of them have a chance at a future together.

This is another great book by this author.  The dynamics between the characters make this a great story to read and the action keeps the storyline moving along at a great pace.  The suspect list will have the reader guessing as to who is behind the attempt on Reggie’s life and will keep the reader guessing until it is finally revealed.  This is a romantic suspense story not to miss.  Reading how the characters work through the relationship they want with each other will get the reader emotionally invested in this one that will have them hating to see it end.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses  

Watch Me

Watch Me by Lisa Renee Jones

Publisher: Harlequin Blaze

September 2012

ISBN: 978-0-373-79714-1

Pages: 217

Meagan Tippan is a producer that is trying to make twelve young dancers dreams come true with a reality TV show.  But there are rumors of a curse when sets are sabotaged and their living quarters end up flooded.  If Meagan can’t turn things around and quickly the dancers’ dreams aren’t the only dreams that won’t be coming true but Meagan’s dream of the TV show being a hit won’t happen either.    

Sam Kellar is a former Special Forces and now head of security.  While it is his job to make sure the security for the show and dancers are covered he is also proving to be a pain in Meagan’s butt.  As Sam and Meagan work together on the show the tensions between them continue to heat up and it is soon becoming clear that their only choices is to either get everything out between them so that they can take it all off.

Meagan knows Sam is hot but he is also an alpha male that she has a tendency to steer clear of but for some reason when it comes to Sam she is more inclined to head his way rather than away from him.  Sam enjoys the challenge Meagan presents him as she keeps him on his toes but he knows another way for them to work out what is between them; he just has to convince Meagan to see things his way.

This story is a fun take on the reality TV craze.  The characters are interesting and will draw readers into the story and keep them hooked.  And with this being a Harlequin readers are guaranteed an HEA.  The story also gives the readers a small peek into the behind the scenes of what can happen on a reality TV show.  This one will have readers eagerly awaiting the next book in the Step Up books. 

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

The Lonely furrow

THE LONELY FURROW,



BY



PAMELA KAVANAGH,



PUBLISHED BY



ROBERT HALE.



ISBN NUMBER 978-0-7090-9637-5..













This story which is centred on the Drummond family, begins in Glasgow. The young man who begins the story is walking from his home, in Langsdale Avenue; it is a big imposing house, to his father’s Grocery store which is on Argyle Street.



He is in a very happy state of mind, swinging his silver topped cane as he walks. He has his life very much in order and has everything to look forward to. He is engaged to Isobel Mcnair, a beautiful and rich young lady, who was shortly returning home from a country visit and he is longing to see her. He will next year be starting at the Glasgow University, to read for his degree in engineering. Life is good and he couldn’t be happier. But this sublime feeling of happiness and contentment was about to come to an abrupt end.



As Nathan Drummond walked briskly through the park, a short cut to town and his father’s store, he heard the news boys cry, ‘read all about it City bank collapses’.



Nathan’s heart jerked and he rushed to buy a news paper. It was true, the bank where his father was an investor had fallen, taking many of its investor’s with it, his father included. Rushing up to his father’s office he handed the paper to his father, with shaking hands.



Balfour Drummond took the paper and bowed his head, he had heard the news. Straitening his back he said.’ It is bad, devastating news, but if we sell everything we own, we should be able to pay all our creditors and hold our heads high.'



Nathan looked at his father, he seemed to have aged suddenly. ‘Sell everything,’ he echoed. ‘Will we have nothing left father? His father shook his head. Thoughts of Isobel and his University place rushed through his head, they were ruined, and all his father had worked for in the last thirty year was gone.



The Family were in shock, where would they go and what would they do if all had to be sold?



Balfour Drummond told his wife that they must sell her inheritance from her uncle. This was a farm in Shropshire. Glebe Farm was just outside of the village of Hadnall, it had not been inhabited for a long while. But Florence Drummond refused to do so, she decided that they could all go to England and make a home at Glebe Farm and work the land.



The family were stunned by the plan their mother had outlined for their future, Balfour demanded that she obeyed him and sold the farm, but she was adamant they should move to England where no one would be aware of their shame.



The next day Nathan made his way to see Isobel, expecting to see the same sad story again in the Mcnair household, but he was surprised when his visit was very different to his expectations. Mr Macnair had apparently sold all his shares in the bank just in time and his fortune was safe.



Isobel was very cold towards him and said that had she had only a few minutes to talk to him as she was going out with her parents. Nathan said that perhaps they should no longer be betrothed because of his altered circumstances, and to his surprise Isobel handed him the ring back and left him alone as she went to meet her parents.



Will the Drummond family move to England and make a home at Glebe Farm and will they all settle there to make a new life or will Balfour have his way and stay in Glasgow?



Read this powerful story and find all the answers, you won’t be able to put it down; it pulls you into their lives and keeps you there. There are highs and lows in this book, but it is compelling right to the last page. AS





I award this book 4.5 roses.

A Werewolf's Soldier

A Werewolf’s Soldier: Warwolves by Kayley Scott

Publisher: DLZ Entertainment LLC

May 2012

ISBN: 987-1-937608-06-4

Present day, Afghanistan

Joshua “Josh” Tanner is a sergeant in the army and he has seen numerous deployments, first to Iraq and now to Afghanistan.  Through all of his tours he has gotten the reputation of being one of the best soldiers around.  He has been very lucky in his tours but on his latest mission he is behind enemy lines and injured in the Korengal Valley.  Josh isn’t sure if he will make through this latest mission until a mysterious and sexy stranger comes up to him.

Tuck is a werewolf that has been sent on a special mission and while on that mission he finds the one man that just might be his mate.  Now he has to get Josh to safety so that Tuck has a chance to learn about his mate.  Though Tuck will have to explain that the world as Josh knows it is vastly different because there are things out there that Josh thought was only make-believe.  Tuck is part of a secret unit for the military that is charged with finding the bad things that go bump in the night and taking care of the threats they pose to the humans unaware of their existence.

Just as Tuck thinks the last 12 years he has spent looking for his mate has come to an end with his discovery of Josh they suddenly find themselves being hunted by an ancient evil.  Now Tuck is going to have to show Josh who he truly is if they are going to have a chance of surviving but Tuck isn’t sure that by showing who he really is isn’t going to end up costing him the love of his life.

This is a great story that has super hot military men that will have the reader reaching for the nearest ice water.  This is one story that once the reader starts reading it they will find it extremely hard to put it down for any reason.  While for some readers will love the sexy military men they may not enjoy the m/m factor in the book.  This story blends paranormal and military perfectly for an excellent plot that will have the reader wondering what will happen next.  This one will also have the reader eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.

I give this one 5 red roses 

If I Were You

If I Were You by Lisa Renee Jones

Publisher: Lisa Renee Jones

August 2012

ISBN: 978-0-985-81700-8

Pages: 320

San Francisco present day

Sara McMillian is a school teacher that has inherited a storage unit from her friend when her friend decided to elope.  Now Sara finds herself with the task of trying to clean out a storage unit before the lease expires.  Sara finds herself uncomfortably going through a woman’s possessions and wondering where she went when she obviously took such care to pack up her items and store them.  Now Sara is left with puzzle that as she digs through this woman’s intimate papers and journals Sara finds she is unable to let the mystery go.  Soon Sara finds herself working in a prestigious gallery and starting to live her own dreams.  Suddenly Sara has met several men that could easily be the man that is written about in the journals she has found and read from the storage unit.  

Chris Merit is an artist that is more than Sara first thought. Not only is he rich, famous and successful but there is a dark side to him that Sara finds calls out to her more and more.  That side draws Sara to him and she finds that although she should probably turn away from him that no matter what she can’t. 

Sara is suddenly in a world where she is not sure exactly who she can trust or if she can trust anyone at all.  Intent on finding out the truth of what really happened to the journal writer she is going to have to find a way to maneuver through the world she finds herself in. And while Sara wants to trust Chris she is not sure if she really can or if he knows more about the writer than it seems.

This is a wonderful story that the reader will find hard to put down once they start reading it.  The plot has some wonderful twists that will keep the reader on edge until the very last page and beyond.  This story needs to come with one caution because this one has a cliffhanger that hopefully will have some answers in the next two books.  This book does not have an ending though it is sure to keep the reader eagerly counting down the time until the next book comes out so that the reader can find out just what will happen next.  This is a great suspense story that is sure to please.

I give this one 5 red roses 

The Claimed

The Claimed by Caridad Pineiro

Publisher: Grand Central

May 2012

ISBN: 978-0-446-58460-9

Pages: 343

Victoria Johnson lives in a small beachside town where she has what she needs in that she is her own boss and has some great friends.  The only problem is that her friends really don’t know who she really is and that is someone with superhuman powers that she has because she is an heiress to an ancient race.  Victoria is a Light Hunter whose sole duty is to restore her people to the glory they once had and to do that she has to find the perfect mate. 

Christopher Sombrosa is a Shadow Hunter that has defied his father for the good of his people so that they can get away from the affliction and violence that has so far ruled their world.  Christopher also knows that the best chance for his people to survive is to find a mate, one that helps him carry on his bloodline. 

Christopher and Victoria find everything they hope to find in their mates though with Christopher being a Shadow Hunter and Victoria being a Light Hunter they should be mortal enemies but they are finding that their attraction is too strong.  There are those on both sides that will stop at nothing to keep Christopher and Victoria apart and make sure that their people never get a chance to unite and possibly find the peace that they have not had for generations.

This is a great paranormal story that continues the storyline from the first book in this series, The Lost.  The characters draw the reader into the story and they don’t release the reader until the very end. The potential of several secondary characters getting their own stories will have the reader eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.  While this one can be read as a stand alone the story is much richer if the reader first reads the first book before reading this one.  This is one series that not be missed.

I give this one 5 red roses   

Lady of Shadows

Lady of Shadows: Sister of the Ring by Anne Ireland

Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing

June 2012

ISBN: 978-1-77127-075-5

Pages: 189

Wales 1393 & 1399

Rhianna is forced into a marriage with a man she is not sure she can trust or if she should.  What she doesn’t expect is for her feelings to change towards him.  Rhianna knows that her husband’s father killed her mother but is her husband like his father or is he a completely different man?  As she gets to know Robert better she finds him to be a man that she can love until what Robert feels is her betrayal threatens the happiness the have found with each other. 

Robert feels that Rhianna and he have had enough bitterness in their lives due to his father killing her mother.  Robert is drawn to Rhianna and he is determined that the past should be just that the past, but he is afraid that his father’s curse now lies on him and that he may never get away from it.  There are those that say Rhianna is a sorceress but can she free him from his curse and more importantly will she be willing to after the past? 

Now Robert and Rhianna are going to have to find their way back to each other if they are going to have the happiness they both want and that was theirs in the beginning.  While working through the obstacles that stand in their way Rhianna is finding out that the power that her mother had is now hers to command if she can just figure out how to control it.

This is the start of a trilogy that will have readers eagerly waiting for the next book.  The story brings the time period to life for the reader and the reader will have a hard time putting down the story as it pulls the reader in and refuses to let go.  While this has a nice ending this story is definitely open at the end so hopefully the reader will find out more about Rhianna and Robert in the next book.  There are scenes in this story that may disturb some readers but it is one book that is worth picking up and reading. 

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses   

The Vampire's Consort

The Vampire’s Consort by Caridad Pineiro

Publisher: Harlequin Nocturne Cravings

April 2012

Pages: 58

Eliza was given a choice to either die of the fatal illness she had or to become the consort to the vampire Adrian.  Eliza would have to attend to his every need.  Eliza chose to live.  What she never expected were for her feelings to grow to the point that she fell in love with Adrian.  Now things are getting complicated. Eliza finds it very erotic to watch Adrian pleasure his many conquests though she just wishes he would see her more than just his consort. 

Eliza is ready to move on and in with her human lover until Adrian changes everything with an encounter between the three of them.

This is a well written story that is fast and engrossing.  The characters are fully developed and sympathic.  This story packs a lot in a few short pages but the story is done so well the reader will believe it is a full length novel instead of the novella it truly is.  If readers enjoy paranormal stories and vampires this is one to check out.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses. 

Bound by the Night

Bound by the Night by Cynthia Eden

Publisher: Cynthia Eden

April 2012

Pages: 114

Jamie O’Connell needs Iona if he is going to have a chance of defeating his enemy.  Jamie is finding that Iona helps make his wolf stronger which gives him a better chance of winning against his enemy.  What he didn’t count on was that he might need Iona to make him stronger but he is finding out that he just needs her period and he will do whatever he has to so that he doesn’t lose her. 

Iona has been dead to the world for fifteen years.  Now that she is awake she is finding out that the world as she knows it has changed quite a bit.  Iona had a dark reputation and because of the reputation she is now known as the Blood Queen.  Being asleep for so long she is hungry and she is finding out that the blood of one man is the only thing that will satisfy her, and Jamie really isn’t a man, he is a werewolf.

Jamie is hiding things from Iona that just might mean she has traded one curse for another.  Jamie and Iona are going to have to find a way to defeat Jamie’s enemy and find a way for the two of them to find a happiness that is fast becoming more important than anything else in their world.

This another great story in this series.  The story is fast paced and the reader will not want to put this one down until the very last page.  The characters are wonderfully written and full of a depth that makes them come alive for the reader.  The plot is engaging and very well written.

I give this one 5 red roses