Christmas Awards 2011

Sunday, 25 October 2015

Friction

Friction by Sandra Brown

Publisher: Grand Central

August 2015

ISBN: 978-1-4555-8116-0

Pages: 410


Contemporary Romantic Suspense


Prentiss, Texas


Crawford Hunt is a Texas Ranger that wants his daughter back. When his wife died four years ago he fell into a downward spiral that left his five-year-old daughter, Georgia, in the custody of her grandparents and he was relegated to desk work. Since then Crawford has met all the court-imposed requirements and cleaned up his act. Now the fate of his family lies with Judge Holly Spencer.

Holly is ambitious and confident. She also temporarily occupies the bench of her mentor who is recently deceased. She must prove herself worthy with the upcoming election if she wants to make her judgeship permanent. That also makes every decision high-stakes. Holly is wary of Crawford’s checker past despite his obvious love for his daughter and his commitment to being an ideal parent. Her opinion radically changes when a masked gunman barges into the courtroom during the guardianship hearing. Crawford reacting instinctually and saves Holly from a bullet.

Soon though his heroism takes on the taint of recklessness. After he uncovers a horrifying truth about the courtroom gunman the cloud over him grows ever darker. He also realizes that the unknown person that is behind the shooting is still and large and still a threat.

Crawford is determined to catch the culprit as it is now a personal fight for him. Soon his chances of gaining custody of his daughter is in jeopardy and Judge Holly Spencer is further compromised as he pursues the killer with this customary diehard fashion. Holly needs protection not just from an assassin but also the forbidden attraction between herself and Crawford but also from Crawford himself.


This is a book that is extremely hard to put down once the reader starts it.  The twists and turns that the story takes will have readers questioning just what will happen next and who is behind what is happening. It will also have readers on the edge of their seats as the action doesn’t stop until the end and as reader tries to guess where this one will end up.  This is definitely one book to check out for anyone that loves thrillers and/or romantic suspense.  The characters are flawed and relatable and will have readers hoping that everything will work out for them in the end. This is a must read.


I give this one 5 red roses



LRH

What Happens Under the Mistletoe

What Happens Under the Mistletoe anthology

Publisher: Pocket Books Romance

October 2015

ISBN: 978-1-4767-8608-7

Pages: 391


Historical Romance

The Heiress and the Hothead by Sabrina Jeffries
Two strangers share an unexpected kiss on a cold winter’s eve. They find themselves stunned by the heat of it especially as they come from two vastly different worlds.


Twelve Kisses to Midnight by Karen Hawkins
A rakish duke finds an alluring lady under the mistletoe that he surprises and she is not who he expected. Though what he does find is a long-lost love with a score to settle.


By Any Other Name by Candace Camp
With Edinburgh aglitter a curious gentleman finds himself in hot pursuit of an intriguing lady that is in disguise.  A lady that refuses to reveal who she truly is. Though she is also a lady that fears the gentleman has already stolen her heart with just one kiss.


Sweetest Regret by Meredith Duran
A feisty heroine finds the festive spirit of the season sweeping her under the mistletoe.  Though will it also sweep her back into the arms of the dashing rogue that broke her heart two years ago?



This is a book that is sure to have a story to please everyone that enjoys historical romances.  The stories are all different and all fun to read.  Readers will also find themselves getting into the spirit of the season with each and every story. Seeing each couple get around the obstacles that are standing in their way to getting the happy ever after they all want makes for some compelling reading. With each story being short it makes for a book that anyone can read during short breaks or even all at once.  For holiday reading this is definitely a book to check out and find a new author to read.


I give this one 4-1/2 red roses



LRH

Reckonings

Reckonings The Battling McGuire Boys by Cynthia Eden

Publisher: Harlequin

October 2015

ISBN: 978-0-373-69860-8

Pages: 217


Cotemporary, Romantic Suspense


Austin, Texas


Dr. Jamie Myers has worked on outrunning her past.  Now it seems she has someone stalking her and leaving her deadly messages.  She trusted the wrong man once. She has hired Davis McGuire, a handsome ex-SEAL as her bodyguard and she wonders how she can rely on him. She also has to figure out how to ignore his hands-on attention that excites her.

Davis is one of McGuire Securities’ best.  He wants to play by the rules and protect the sexy doc 24/7.  Davis’ desire grows stronger as Jamie’s stalker grows bolder. Now he is breaking all of his rules as he is determined to uncover all of Jamie’s secrets so he can protect her.  He also wants to discover the key to her heart.


This is another amazing book in a series that is proving to be unforgettable.  The characters are well written and complex and makes for a story that pulls the reader in and doesn’t let go until the very last page.  With Jamie’s issues that stem from her past and seeing her get past them to find her happy ever after makes for a compelling read that is hard to put down.  It will also have reader eagerly awaiting the next book in the series and just how the overall story line that links all the books together turns out.  With all the mysteries and suspense that twist and turn in each of the books it makes for some addictive reading.  This is definitely a series worth checking out. 


I give this one 4-1/2 red roses



LRH

Hardpressed

Hardpressed The Hacker Series Two by Meredith Wild

Publisher: Grand Central

May 2015

ISBN: 978-1-4555-9172-5

Pages: 299


Contemporary Romantic Suspense


Boston, Massachusetts


 Blake Landon is wealthy, young and a hacker and despite his controlling ways he has managed to win the trust of the woman he loves. Erica Hathaway is an internet entrepreneur that has finally broken down the walls that kept her from opening her business and heart to Blake.

Erica is ready to start a new chapter in her life and is determined that nothing will come between them. Even if that means giving Blake some of the control that he needs in and out of the bedroom.

Erica soon makes a decision that changes their lives forever when the demons from her past threaten their future.


This story picks up just after the first book in the series leaves off.  This is a series that should definitely be read in order to understand all that is happening throughout the series.  This is proving to be a wonderfully written series that draws the reader in and has them wanting more and more.  It will be interesting to see just where the series ends up and how it end. The characters are well written and watching them work through their pasts and the issues that it creates in their presents makes for an engrossing read that is very hard to put down. This story really pulls at readers heartstrings and will have them hoping things will work out for Blake and Erica.  The story also ends in a cliffhanger that actually works very well with the overall story line. If the next book picks up right after this one does it should give readers some closure. This is proving to be an addictive series that readers will love.


I give this one 5 red roses



LRH

Sunday, 11 October 2015

Ruin & Rule

Ruin & Rule by Pepper Winters

Publisher: Grand Central Forever

July 2015

ISBN: 978-1-4555-8933-3

Pages: 436


Contemporary MC Romance


Florida


The lies she has lived for the past eight years prove to be as twisted as her past, present and future. She is also a woman divided. She is desperate for the truth which means she must turn to the one man that might also be her greatest enemy.

He is a heartless biker, retribution-deliverer and the president of Pure Corruption MC. He lives only to reap revenge on those that have wronged him. He obeys no one and accepts no rules. Now he has stolen her body and soul.

She is plagued by mystery and must decide if she can fall in love with a man that refuses to face the truth. He needs to figure out if he can finally find redemption even though he is drenched in darkness and if he can forgo his quest for vengeance.


This is a book that stays with you long after the last page is read.  It will also have readers wanting the next book to see what will happen next.  This one ends with a cliffhanger but it works very well with the story.  The reader will be sucked into the story and lives of the characters as they try to figure out just what is going on. With each clue that is revealed it makes for a story that drenched in suspense. It is full of action and suspense that doesn’t stop at all. This is definitely a different story that makes for an original read.  This is definitely one to check out.


I give this one 5 red roses



LRH

Light My Fire

Light My Fire by Christie Ridgway

Publisher: Christie Ridgway

July 2014

Pages: 258


Contemporary Rock Romance


California


Rolling Stone magazine once dubbed the nine collective children of the most famous band in the world “Rock Royalty,” years ago.  All the princes and princesses are coming back to L.A.’s Laurel Canyon now that they are all grown up. They are also trying to discover if love can be found among the ruins of their childhoods that was steeped in sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll.

Ren Colson is a band tour manager that is world-weary. He has left his London business behind for a stay in Southern California.  He never expected to wake up beside Cilla Maddox. Cilla Maddox has managed in the years since their last meeting to turn out sexy as hell. Ren is a man that has been hardened by dark roads, long nights and too many faceless women. He is also convinced that Cilla deserves more than that.

Cilla Maddox never thought to see the bad boy of her dreams again. Next thing she knows he is sharing her home, her air and her bed. He claims he has no heart. Cilla wants it to be hers. Now she needs to see if she can convince him that the flames between them just might signify forever.


This is the start of a series that should prove very interesting.  The characters are interesting and readers will enjoy seeing them get beyond both their pasts and the issues that have resulted from that past.  It will be interesting to see how each one of the Rock Royalty gets past their demons to find the happiness they all want. All the different personalities makes for some very interesting reading.


I give this one 4 red roses



LRH

Darksider

Darksider by Erin Kellison

Publisher: Fire Flower Publishing, LLC

June 2014

Pages: 143


Contemporary Paranormal Romance


Sarafina Rochan is a chef that is about to open her second restaurant and she is sure that is the reason behind her recurring nightmares of pursuit. Soon she has to swallow her pride when a stalker appears in the waking world. She has to risk her heart to call the one man she trusts to go into her dreams.

Harlen Fawkes is a Marshal and when he receives Sera’s call nothing else matters to him. The power of his feelings for her have not eroded with time. When they go Darkside together their connection evokes their longing and desire for each other even after years apart. Sera abandons all her reservations to embrace Harlen even if it is only for one night as the past and present collide.

Harlen aligns himself with disavowed friends so he can protect Sera even though by doing so he is drawn deeper into the secrets and perils of the dreamwaters. Harlen faces his demons with Sera who is determined to fight just as fiercely for the dream of a life together as the tide of darkness rises.


This is proving to be an amazing series that is very different. It is filled with action and suspense and makes for series that is hard to put down. With each book the world building gets more complex and fuller and makes for story that comes alive with each word that is read.  It will be interesting to see where the next book takes readers and just where this series is going to end up at.  Readers that enjoy paranormal romances should check this one out.


I give this one 4-1/2 red roses



LRH

Ransom Canyon

Ransom Canyon by Jodi Thomas

Publisher: HQN

August 2015

ISBN: 978-0-373-78844-6

Pages: 335


Contemporary Romance


Ransom Canyon & Crossroads, Texas

Staten Kirkland is a rancher and also the last descendant of Ransom Canyon’s founding father.  He is also practical and rugged. When his troubling memoires threaten to overwhelm him he runs to Quinn O’Grady. No one knows that he does so. Quinn is reclusive and lovely and has her own secret that no one living knows about.

Lucas Reyes is young and a ranch hand’s son but he has his eye on the prize of college and a chance to be more. His life is set on a course he hadn’t imagined one night with one wrong decision.

Yancy Grey has a troubled past that he is running hard from.  He doesn’t plan on sticking around Ransom Canyon.  He just wants to be around long enough to learn the town’s weaknesses and how he can use them for his personal gain. He has been a common criminal since he was old enough to reach a car’s pedals. He also isn’t prepared for what he encounters. 


This is a great book that has several stories going that are woven together brilliantly.  It makes for a book that is hard to put done and will have readers happy that it is the start of a series.  The town comes to life with all the characters that live in and around the small town.  It will be interesting to see where the series goes and to see what happens to the characters of the town. For those that enjoy small town romances and western romances this is definitely a book to check out.  It will also have readers wanting to see what else the author has written.



I give this one 4-1/2 red roses



LRH