The Warrior

The Warrior by Wanda Ann Thomas

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

November 2013

ISBN:  978-1493579044

Pages: 294

Historical Romance, Upper Galilee 48 BC

Nathan of Rumah earned the name the Angel of Death when he was a soldier in the Jewish army with his lethal talents.  Now he just wants to have a quiet life on his family’s olive farm.  Everything changes when he rescues a wealthy Pharisee and his family from rebels that Nathan calls friends.

Nathan is determined to right the wrong done to this family, never dreaming it would lead to his marriage to Alexandra the Pharisee’s shy daughter.  The passion Nathan feels for Alexandra strengthens as he seeks justice for her and her family.  Nathan picks up his sword again because he is determined to end the bloody rebellion against Rome. Nathan seeks help from the newly-minted governor of Galilee, Herod, his friend.

Alexandra Onias always expected to marry a scholar but finds herself married instead to a warrior who both enthralls and unnerves her.  The risks her valiant husband had undertaken on behalf of her and her family is proving to come with a price that is turning out to be very high when Nathan’s countrymen turn against him.  When Alexandra realizes how much Nathan has sacrificed for her she fights to save her husband from the rebel’s revenge and Herod’s ambition.

Nathan and Alexandra have been betrayed by those they thought of as friends so they fight side by side to save everything that means anything to them, their loved ones and their very lives along with their home. Can their blossoming love withstand the full fury of Nathan when the rebels strike out?

This is a wonderful historical story that comes to life for the reader.  There are historical people in this story that many will recognize and the reader will see a different side to them as they get to explore an area that there are too few stories about.  This is a start of a series that should prove to be very interesting.  The characters are well written and interesting and help bring the story to life.  The descriptions of the places and people are written in such a way that the reader will have no problem believing they are right there in the story with the characters.  For those that enjoy stories of ancient Rome this is one to check out. 

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH

The Girl and the Raven

The Girl and the Raven by Pauline Gruber

Publisher: Dragonfly Inc.

December 2013

ISBN: 978-0-9910774-0-3 (print)

ISBN: 978-0-9910774-1-0 (ebook)

Pages: 406

Contemporary Paranormal, Lexington, Tennessee & Chicago, Illinois

Lucy Walker is a sixteen-year-old girl who wants a normal life.  Just as she thinks she has a chance at normal she finds out that she is half-witch and half-demon.  Now her life gets even more complicated as she works to keep her demon father from killing her boyfriend.  She also has to try and keep the witches in her life from killing her father and protect her non-supernatural friends from getting hurt from either side.  As if that isn’t enough to keep her busy she also needs to find the family raven that has her magical legacy.  She is doing a balancing act between the good and evil in her life and is drawn to both.  She just doesn’t know which side she will ultimately choose.

This is a fantastic young adult story that can be read by anyone.  The plot and characters are well thought out and written well.  The story comes alive for the reader in a paranormal story that is very different from most paranormal books.  Once the reader starts this one they will find it very hard to put down as they will be pulled into the story with every word they read.  This is done is the first person point of view but that just adds to the story rather than takes away. When character point of view changes the reader will not be lost in the least and it is written in such a way that it flows from one chapter to the next with nothing lost during the switch.  If the next book proves as good as this one it is going to be one series that will be a must read for those who love paranormal romances.  This is one to definitely take the time to read. 

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Where Evil Waits

Where Evil Waits by Kate Brady

Publisher: Forever

February 2014

ISBN: 978-1-455-50206-6

Pages: 426

Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Atlanta Georgia

Kara Chandler is a special prosecutor that is very good at the job she does.  Maybe a little too good as a mastermind that is homicidal has vowed to kill everyone she cares about and also Kara, herself.  She is desperate to save herself and her son and the only way she sees to do that is by seeking out cartel hit man, Luke Varon.  The last time she dealt with him was when she was prosecuting him and watched him beat the system and escape going to prison.  He is also the only man that can possibly keep her alive.

Luke Varon isn’t quite what he appears to be. He has spent years in the criminal underworld and he is seeking revenge and redemption.  Though when he sees the very real fear in Kara’s eyes he can’t just let it go.  People around her are being murdered and he may be the only one that can uncover the killer’s motives before it is too late. As the danger closes in on them, Kara and Luke must trust each other with their darkest secrets before the evil hunting them can kill them both. 

This is a great romantic suspense with some psychological elements thrown in.  This one will take readers on a lot of twists and turns before the truth finally comes out in the end.  The story proves to be very hard to put down as the reader will want to find out the why behind it all.  The action is pretty much nonstop and the story proves to be very fast paced and intriguing.  The characters and plot are very well written and believable.  This is part of a series but the story can easily be read as a standalone.   Though if the reader starts with this one it will have the reader wanting to read the rest of the series to see if the others are as good as this one.  This story is also one that once the reader finishes they will find the story staying with them for a while to come.

I give this one 5 red roses

LRH

Raphael

Raphael by D. B. Reynolds

Publisher: ImaJinn Books

December 2013

ISBN: 978-1-933417-47-9 (print)

ISBN: 978-1-61026-074-9 (ebook)

Pages: 224

Contemporary, Paranormal, Malibu, California

Cynthia “Cyn” Leighton once was a cop but is now a private investigator that is sexy, smart and tough.  She is also tired of tracking down and spying on cheating spouses so when she is asked to help tracking down some kidnappers, Cyn is more than happy to accept this newest case. Cyn soon realizes that while she thought the danger came from the humans the biggest danger is from her newest client, Raphael the king of the vampires.

Raphael is very powerful and charismatic.  He also has the power of life and death of every vampire in existence though he isn’t the only one that has that power.  Raphael is determined to catch the ones responsible for a daytime raid that killed many of his people and kidnapped the one female vampire that he would willingly give his life for.  He knows that one way to track the humans is to get Cyn’s help. Now they are fighting for their lives and are caught up in the passion of blood and violence that could destroy them both.

This is a very different vampire story. It gives new life to a genre that has had many books written about it. The story line pulls the reader in from the very first page and keeps them engrossed until the very last page.  While the plot of this story is tied up very nicely it also leaves the story between Raphael and Cyn open for the rest of the stories in this series.  If the rest of the books continue along this line it is sure to be a fantastic series that will have readers wanting to read all the books.  It will also have readers wanting to know what will happen to Raphael and Cyn in the end.  The way the back story for Raphael is woven into the overall story is well done and keeps the story moving along well and doesn’t leave the reader wondering what is going on.  For those that love vampire stories this is one to definitely check out. 

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH

Release repost: His Secrets

His Secrets by Lisa Renee Jones

Publisher: Pocket Star Books

February 2014

ISBN: 978-1-4767-7235-6

Pages: 68

Contemporary, Paris, France

Chris Merit has always found his art to be his escape until the day he met Sara McMillan. She has proven to be a light in the darkness of his life. Unfortunately that darkness bleeds from Chris’s life into Sara’s. Now Chris needs to show Sara everything about his life. He is afraid of what will happen once he does because he is sure that Sara doesn’t understand or really sees everything that he has shown her so far.

This is another great installment in the Inside Out series. This one is done from Chris’ point of view. With every novel or novella that is added to this series makes the series even better. It also gives readers more chances to visit some favorite characters and see just what else is happening.  It also gives readers more to whet their appetite and keep them coming back for more. This is one series that once a reader is pulled in they will find it very hard to leave and will have them wanting more. While this series has flavors of Fifty Shades of Grey it has proven to be its own with a story line that keeps on building with each story.

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

LRH

Hard Glamour

Hard Glamour: The Glamour series by Maggie Marr

Publisher: NLA Digital

January 2014

ISBN:

Pages: 262

Contemporary romance, LA

Lane Channing is determined to follow her dreams since it will be honoring her mother’s last wish.  Lane is taking a big risk going to LA from her small Kansas town.  She already has a job lined up luckily since she only has her old jeep and 20 dollars to last her until she gets paid.  Everything changes and her hopes are shattered when she finds out that her job has been given to someone else and if she doesn’t find another job quickly she is going to be in a lot of trouble.  The last thing she needs is to be living on the streets.  What started out as a dream come true is quickly turning into a nightmare.  Lane definitely isn’t in Kansas anymore.

Dillon MacAvoy is determined to become a star no matter what.  One way for him to do that is by honing his bad-boy forever single image.  Though that image really isn’t far from the truth.  Dillon only cares about his younger brother and succeeding at his career.  He is on the brink of stardom as long as he can decide on his next right script.  For that he needs a script reader, one that he can trust.

Lane is Dillon’s last chance.  If she can survive the summer without being another notch on Dillon’s bedpost she will be guaranteed a job in the entertainment business. That shouldn’t be a problem so long as she can ignore the way her body heats up and her pulse races every time Dillon walks into the room.  Dillon isn’t the type to fall for a small town girl and love and commitment would ruin the image of Dillon.

This is very good story of what ifs and about the entertainment business.  The story is engaging and pulls the reader into it.  The reader gets to ride the roller coaster of emotional ups and downs with Lane and Dillon as they try and figure out just what is most important to them.  The story will pull at readers’ heartstrings.  This is the start of series that if the books continue along this line will be fun and interesting.  Especially if readers get more about the behind the scenes of entertainment.  With every word the reader can see the world this book is based in coming to life.  This will have readers wondering just what might happen in the next book.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH 

True to the Highlander

True to the Highlander: The Novels of Loch Moigh by Barbara Longley

Publisher: Montlake Romance

February 2014

ISBN: 9781477817445

Pages: 337

Time Travel Romance, present day New York & Scotland 1423

Alethia Goodsky is working at the New York Renaissance Festival and getting the chance to meet all different types of people.  Though the one that stands out the most is a fortune teller that has sent her on a life saving mission back to the 15^th century.  Now she is in a completely different time and place and needs to figure out just what is going on and what needs to be done so that she can go back to her own time.  Alethia just never counted on falling in love with a man from a different time.  Alethia has always taken care of herself and is finding it difficult to deal with a man who is determined to protect her against the enemies that are closing in on them both.  She is also going to have to decide if she wants to stay with the man that has stolen her heart or does she want to go back to her own time?

Malcolm of clan MacKintosh has enough going on with bloodthirsty feuds and rivalries.  When he comes across a maiden by the side of the road he thinks it must be a bad omen though a very beautiful one.  Protecting her from one of the men in his own garrison he is quickly brought to his knees by a woman that is determined to defy him at every turn.  He is left reeling by a woman that has managed to lay siege to his heart without him even noticing. 

With all the treachery going on in the Highlands while their king is held captive by the English the situation is made worse while some clans are busy trying to ransom their king, James and other clans that are just as determined to keep him off the Scottish throne.  Only time will tell just what will happen and who can be trusted.

This is a wonderful story that brings history to life for the reader.  It also shows the comedy of a modern woman trying to deal with a completely different time and a way of life.  The misunderstandings between Alethia and Malcolm are interesting and shows that love can overcome even the biggest differences.  The modern way of speaking that Alethia does while in the past causes some very interesting situations to take place and keeps the story moving along at a fast pace.  With all the ups and downs this story takes it really pulls the reader in and gives them an ending that is sure to please.  This is a time travel novel that is very enjoyable and is worth taking the time to read.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses

LRH