Thursday, October 31, 2019

Happy Halloween!!

We all love Halloween, so post your favorite GIFs in the comments. 
C'mon. Show the love!

Here's a few fun ones... 


Monday, October 28, 2019

#BookReview – “Silk and Scandal” by Cassandra Dean

Blurb

Eight years ago…
Thomas Cartwright and Lady Nicola Fitzgibbons were friends. Over the wall separating their homes, Thomas and Nicola talked of all things – his studies to become a barrister, her frustrations with a lady’s limitations.

All things end.
When her diplomat father gains a post in Hong Kong, Nicola must follow. Bored and alone, she falls into scandal. Mired in his studies of the law and aware of the need for circumspection, Thomas feels forced to sever their ties.

But now Lady Nicola is back…and she won’t let him ignore her..

Review

Lady Nicola Fitzgibbons has traveled all across the world at her diplomatic father’s side. No matter where she goes or what she does, she always causes scandal.
Thomas Cartwright lives in London and wants nothing more than to become a respectable barrister and make his adopted parents proud. He and Nicola are childhood friends. He cares deeply for her, but her scandalous actions have made the London papers, even though she’s in another country. For the sake of his future and career in politics, he broke ties with Nicola through a letter. When she finally returns to London, she turns his quiet world upside down and everything he’s ever wanted is on the verge of ruination.
I really like Thomas. He’s an honorable, respectable man who wants to do good things with his life. I couldn’t connect with Nicola. She’s immature, irresponsible, and a flirt with no care as to whose life she affects. I felt sorry for her, but she brought her problems on herself.
The novella starts with and ends with a series of letters between the H/h to show at first their friendship and then their romantic relationship as the years pass. Though the letters were interesting, I would’ve preferred a prologue and epilogue to have shown the same things.
Overall, it’s a good story with an interesting plot, but the heroine was too flamboyant for my tastes.
3 Stars 

Saturday, October 26, 2019

#BookReview – “Handcuffed to the Sheikh” by Teresa Morgan

Blurb

When she opened her front door, the last thing Maxine Foss expected was a hot stranger with a set of handcuffs. Now she's shackled to a sexy, but crazy, person who claims he's an Arabian prince—and her lover. No way. If she had ever gotten naked with a guy this delicious, she would never forget.

Insanity is catching...

Alone in a secluded cabin, Sayd offers his body for her pleasure. But the price for giving in to his temptation could be her sanity, not to mention her freedom... and just maybe, her life.


Review


Max is seriously jetlagged when she returns home from a vacation in the Dominican Republic. Though it’s late at night, she answers the doorbell and finds herself face-to-face with the most gorgeous and angriest man she’s ever seen. He drugs her, kidnaps her, and then demands she apologizes to him. Yeah, Max is totally confused, but she can’t help her attraction to the hot psychopath who claims she’s his wife.
Sayd isn’t as crazy as she believes. He’s been searching for his missing wife for the past three months. Though he thought his enemies had kidnapped Max, he finds her alive and happy, so he’s furious when he goes to her apartment, thinking she lied and betrayed him. But as they start to talk and put the puzzle pieces together, they soon learn the truth. She doesn’t remember the past two years of her life—she doesn’t remember Sayd—and he’s determined to make her fall in love with him all over again.
I liked the story but found it confusing. I honestly don’t understand how Max didn’t realize she was living a lie when her family knows about her marriage. Doesn’t she talk to them? Wouldn’t they wonder why she left her doting husband, a prince? The proof of their marriage is also plastered all over the Internet.
I liked the characters and felt bad for both of them. Poor Sayd has been through a terrible time with losing Max, and Max has been totally violated with her mind being wiped. Though the story ends with a HEA, I wish the mystery around Max’s past, how she and Sayd met (as adults, not kids), and their relationship would’ve been better explained.
3 Stars

Thursday, October 24, 2019

#BookReview – “A Reputable Rake” by Diane Gaston


Blurb

Cyprian Sloane's reputation is of the very worst. A gambler, smuggler, rake and a spy, he now faces the greatest challenge of all--respectability! He will force Society to accept him. Nothing will stand in his way....

Until he meets Morgana Hart, whose caring nature thrusts her into the company of ladies of the night and risks a scandal that will destroy them both. To become a gentleman Cyprian must sacrifice the lady--or is there a way for the rake to save them both?
 

Review

When respectable Miss Morgana Hart realizes her young maid intends to run away with a scoundrel and join a bawdy house, Morgana intends to stop her by any means necessary. She just never expected a dashing, rakish stranger to help her in the middle of a dark park as she’s fighting with said scoundrel.
All Cyprian Sloane wants is respectability. He’s lived the life of a carefree rake, a smuggler, and an English spy, but he couldn’t stop himself from helping the woman and her charges. Then he learns Morgana is the cousin of the flirtatious debutante he’s courting. Though Morgana intrigues him, he’s determined to woo and marry Lady Hannah for her family’s connections. Once Morgana embarks on a crusade to help Lucy and a few other unfortunate girls (teenage prostitutes) to better themselves in their scandalous lifestyle (to become courtesans), Sloane sees the proper future he envisioned for himself slipping away. After all, he cannot allow Morgana to delve into London’s underworld and expect her to survive. Likewise, with his stained reputation, society would surely blame him for Morgana’s actions, especially since he’s her next-door neighbor. The only thing for him to do is help her run the “courtesan school” and introduce her to decent-enough people in that seedy world.
There was a lot of sexual tension between Morgana and Sloane, but very little romance, at least until the last quarter of the book. He’s determined to marry Hannah, and Morgana is determined to make sure he does. They’re both likable characters and their motivations for their actions are honorable.
A few loose ends aren’t tied up, so I have some questions. Mainly, I want to know what Sloane did that was so horrible during his time as a spy (he’s keeping this a secret even from Morgana) and I want to know about his past relationship with Harriette. Harriette is a courtesan, so it’s likely she and Sloane have been intimate, but Sloane has stated he’s never paid for a woman, so that leads to confusion.
The story is written in British English, which I enjoyed, but the single quotation marks for dialogue was hard to read. There were formatting issues in my print copy, such as the use of both normal and large font size for words.
Overall, I liked the plot and the characters, but I wish Sloane and Morgana would’ve spent more time developing their relationship than trying to manage the four girls in Morgana’s care.
3 Stars

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

#BookSpotlight - "Naughty Appetites: Favorite Recipes"



Naughty Appetites: Favorite Recipes from the Naughty Literati Authors

Delicious recipes from the Naughty Kitchen. BONUS juicy excerpt from upcoming NAUGHTY LITERATIbooks!

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Tuesday, October 22, 2019

#BookReview – “The Curse of Lord Stanstead” by Mia Marlowe


Blurb

London, 1819

When only seduction will do...

Wherever Cassandra Darkin goes, fire is sure to follow. It's not until she's swept into the arms of a handsome, infuriating stranger that she learns she's responsible for the fires. As it turns out, Cassandra is a fire mage...and with her gift comes a blazing desire for sins of the flesh.

With his pretenatural ability to influence the thoughts of others, Garrett Sterling is sent to gather Cassandra for the Order of the M.U.SE. He's entirely unprepared for his immediate attraction to the comely little firestarter. But it's an attraction that he must quell, even as his body craves her touch and her fiery, sensual hunger.

For Garrett's gift has a dark side...and the moment he begins to care too much for Cassandra, he knows he will doom her to an inescapable fate.

Review 

In the first The Order of the M.U.S.E. book, society debutante Cassandra Darkin learns quite unexpectedly that she has the ability to create and control fire, and she doesn’t know what to do about it. When a handsome man abducts her from Almack’s after she’s set the place on fire, she knows her life will never be the same.
The reclusive Garret Sterling, the heir to an earldom, can send thoughts into other people’s heads and bend them to his wishes, and his nightmares always come true. He’s sworn off friendships, acts snide to most everyone, and he doesn’t care for anyone to protect them. If he cares about them, then he’ll dream about them. Then they’ll suffer and possibly die. He joined the Order for help to control his nightmares, and he agreed to help Cassandra get control of her gift as well. He just never expected the young fire mage to break through his defenses and claim his heart.
I absolutely loved this story. Both Garret and Cassandra are very likable characters with serious problems with their psychic gifts and in their personal lives. They both want to love and be loved, but it feels as though everything is standing in their way. They brave through it together, and it was amazing to watch them grow and learn to trust each other and in the other members of the Order.
The side characters are awesome. The Duke of Camden, usually just called Camden, is the head of the paranormal defense agency that works to protect the English Crown from supernatural threats. Vesta is a saucy, wonderful woman who is also a fire mage with a romantic entanglement with Camden. Viscount Westfall is a strong but mentally unbalanced man. His story is next, and I would love to read it. Miss Anthony is absolutely adorable, and I can just imagine how she’ll grow throughout the series.
I have a few questions but none affect the overall plot or the love story between Garret and Cassandra. Mainly: what will happen to Paschal? His plot wasn’t wrapped up very tight. He’s the villain, yes, but he’s not really a bad guy. I’m very curious about him.
Anyway, this is a great paranormal historical romance. I would definitely recommend it.
5 Stars

Monday, October 21, 2019

#PreOrder - "Naughty Temptations: Collection One"



Naughty Temptations: Collection One

A collection of BESTSELLING PARANORMAL STORIES
Featuring NY Times, USA Today, Amazon & International bestselling authors
Written by the Naughty Literati™

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Sunday, October 20, 2019

#BookReview – “Her Lord and Protector” by Pam Roller


Blurb 

His is a heart of iron...Embittered lord Alexander Fletcher must shelter a penniless mute in his ancestral home, Drayton castle. Although he makes no pretense he resents the intrusion, the woman stirs his heart into an unwelcome gallop. He wants only to be alone and not to love another woman who, like his wife, might grow to hate him so much she will take her own life.

and she is slowly melting it...Lord Drayton's detachment only adds to Katherine Seymour’s distress of losing her voice. But after he gives her a searing kiss just before he introduces the husband he's chosen for her—and whom she promptly refuses—she discovers his horrid secret.

but someone is watching.Only Agnes Cooke knows how Alex's insane wife died, and she will not hesitate to kill again in order to be the next Lady Drayton. Watching Alex go out of his way to help Katherine regain her voice, however, is more than she can take. This plan will require more than just laudanum and mercury....

Review

When the Great Fire of London in 1666 swept through the city, Lady Katherine Seymour lost everything. The fire claimed her home, her father’s life, and her voice (she breathed in heated smoke and it seared her throat). Now, a year later, the king claims her dowry due to her father’s treason and her fiancé abandons her. She’s mute and everyone treats her like a simpleton, but she’s buried her rage and frustration under polite smiles. She soon finds herself as the unwanted ward of Lord Drayton, and her new guardian has made it clear he wants her married off as soon as possible.
Lord Drayton, Alexander Fletcher, just wants a simple life after the death of his mentally instable wife. When the king requests he take Katherine into his home, he agrees out of loyalty to the king. He’s shut himself off from the world and doesn’t allow himself to feel any emotion other than despair and self-hatred. When he meets Katherine, she brings light into his life. He resents her for it and plays the cruel, heartless cad to protect his own heart.
Katherine and Alex are likable characters. They both have tragic, painful pasts and it rules their lives. Alex is used to people obeying him, but Katherine’s spark and stubbornness challenged him at every turn. Chemistry sizzled between.
Most of their problems stemmed from lack of communication. Yes, I understand Katherine cannot speak, but she can write to communicate. She doesn’t do it often and usually keeps her thoughts to herself. This became a little annoying after a while. Alexander often spoke his mind to distance himself from her, but his heart constantly warred with his cruel words. Even after they finally broke through the walls and fell in love, he learned something horrible about Katherine’s father and he shut her out again. This led to a slew of problems that kept me in suspense, desperate to know what would happen next.
I love all the description. The clothes, the manor/castle, London, the country and village, everything was detailed and beautifully described. I also liked how the author showed the startling differences between the wealthy nobility and the poorer classes, and how generosity can go a long way to change someone’s life for the better.
I really like this story. I cried for both Katherine and Alexander. Their pain and struggle to emerge free from the past is definitely heart wrenching, and I would definitely recommend the story.
4 Stars

Friday, October 18, 2019

#BookReview – “Felix” by Elizabeth Reyes


Blurb

They say the only good thing about hitting rock bottom is that it can't get any worse . . . or can it?

World famous boxing champ, Felix Sanchez, had it all—the fame, the fortune, and all the women any man could ask for. When the hours of partying followed by hours spent in court and in rehab begin to outnumber the hours he spends training, losing his title comes as no surprise to everyone. The world assumes he deserved to lose it.

Only those closest to Felix know the real truth behind his sudden downward spiral. And if Felix has his way, no one else ever will. With an uncertain future ahead of him, he heads back to his roots—5th Street—the gym that started it all for him. It's where he meets the humble but mighty little Ms. Ella.

The only times Felix had ever decided to forgo the usual meaningless fling and try a real relationship he was burned badly. Now the adorable but tenacious self-defense instructor has him considering this love thing one more time.

Then just when he begins to worry that his past is letting his possessive and jaded heart get the best of him, he's blindsided in the most brutal way—he's brought to his knees—to what could be the one low in his life he may never recover from.
 

Review

In the fifth book in the 5th Street series, boxing heavyweight champion Felix Sanchez hits rock bottom when he loses his title due to drugs, alcohol, women, and his massive ego. After court-ordered probation, he returns home to the 5th Street Gym in LA where he got his start. He co-owns the gym with his four friends. Though he knows he needs to get his life straightened out, Felix doesn’t really care to until he meets the women’s self-defense instructor.
Ella Castellano started up the self-defense program after disaster struck her brother and his girlfriend. Though she’s secretly thrilled with Felix’s attention, she’s careful and doesn’t trust a man with his reputation.
Both the H/h are strong, well-developed, emotionally-damaged characters. They’ve experienced the loss of loved ones and bonded over their shared grief.
I really liked this book, but their ages surprised me. Ella is only 21 years old. Felix’s age is never mentioned, but you’re led to believe he’s about four or five years older than her. Even at age 26, I found it hard to believe he was that high up the boxing ladder, but then again, I don’t know anything about boxing. I wish the sport would’ve played a stronger role in the story, but Ms. Reyes focused more on the characters and their romance, with Felix’s boxing career in the background.
Even though the book is a standalone, I think I would’ve enjoyed it more if I’d read the previous books in this series. Felix’s friends—Noah, Gio, Hector, and Abel—were all there with their wives and children, but I couldn’t really connect with them. There were a lot of side characters, including friends and family members, and I couldn’t keep track of which woman was married to which man.
Ella’s ex, Grayson, grated on my nerves. I understand why she wanted to stay friends with him—he really did care about her—but he was manipulative and controlling. He treated her and Felix horribly, always trying to break them up, but she continued to forgive him because he was “worried” for her. I lost all respect for her when she refused to cut ties with Grayson after a certain embarrassing incident that plastered her face all over the media.
The story could use an edit to fix some punctuation errors/typos and repetition, but I still enjoyed it. For anyone who wants to read a NA sports romance that’s not too heavy on sports, this is a good book to try.
4 Stars

Monday, October 14, 2019

#AuthorInterview - "Reaper" by Valerie Ullmer


Thanks for chatting with me today, Valerie. Let's get started. 
Author Interview 

Do you have any quirky writing habits? 

I don’t know if you would call it quirky, but there are several steps I have to go through before I start writing my book. I write out all the ideas I have for story, then I write what if questions to try and fill in the holes that bother me, and after that, I outline using plot points. All of this is written freehand. Once I am finished with my outline, I enter it into Scrivener and go over it to see if I am missing anything and only then do I start writing. Being so detailed oriented allows me to write the story faster and with fewer problems.

The biggest surprise you had after becoming a writer

That if you want to be a writer, you have to write. For years, I studied different books on how to write a novel, how to be a romance writer, and everything under the sun on plotting, outlines, character arcs, you name it, I read about it. But it wasn’t until I sat down and wrote my first book (which I have to admit it was horrible), that I realized that the only way you become a writer is to just write. I still study material on writing, but nothing compares to putting something on the page. 

A fun fact about writing your book

Well my entire Dark Assassins series has a completely different spin than most paranormal romances. Vampires and shifters work together as immortal assassins, but they are also close to each other and care for one another. They are family to one another. Also, while they feel a pull to their mates, there isn’t an instant connection or automatic knowledge that they are meant for one another. 

What you struggle the most with when you write the story?

There is always a spot, usually around the first plot point or midpoint, when I notice there is a lack of conflict or tension between the characters. I have to take a couple of days to work through it, but my story is always stronger after. But it’s a little frustrating.

Which kind of scenes are the hardest for you to write? Action, dialogue, sex? 

I would have to say action. It drives me nuts when I read over an action or fight scene and it makes no sense. Instead of writing too much, I tend to write very little and add more later. I end up with a scene that lacks flow, and it takes me a bit to fix it, but it’s worth it.

How do you keep from resenting your duties and every human’s sleeping requirement when you have to stop writing to take care of them? 

I’m very lucky that I have such a supportive husband who encourages me and my writing. He also is very good and telling me when I need to quit or gives me encouragement when I need motivation to finish. Errands and other responsibilities make for a good break from sitting in front of the computer, but I usually wait until my husband is with me.

How long does it take to write a story? 

I learned the hard way to make an outline and to have as much information as possible before writing the story, so between outline and finishing the first draft, anywhere between 3 months for novellas or 6 for novels.

Pen or computer 

Pen for outlining and computer for writing.

Music or silence 

Music, silence drives me batty.

Alone or in public 

Alone, while I love music I can’t stand low-level conversation, it’s very distracting. 

Routine or when inspiration struck 

Routine, every day, even on the weekends. It’s like my favorite quote about writing. “Waiting for inspiration to write is like standing at the airport waiting for a train.”

You were stranded on a deserted island and can have only 2 people with you, a person from your book and a person from any other book which would they be? 

The only two people that come to mind is Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. I think they are the epitome of love and it would be interesting to hear their conversations. I love the characters in all my books, but it would be hard to pick only two.

Have you ever found someone in a story who’s exactly like you? 

To be honest, no, I’ve never met a character that resembled me, but I have read author interviews and I have noticed that I have a lot of qualities that other authors have. A wicked sense of humor, introverts, a love of reading, and a love of writing.


Reaper (A Dark Assassins Novel Book Two)
Valerie Ullmer

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Blurb 

A wolf-shifter and his powerful human.

Reaper had expected it to be an easy assignment. Break into a biotech facility with minimum security and rescue a group of immortals who were subject to deadly experiments and eliminate those who might try to fight back. But the moment he walked into the glass prison and spotted a human woman being held with the immortals, his mission changed.

She became his mission.

Before Reaper had a chance to explain that he was there to help her, she blinded him and the rest of his team and slipped away. Although she had escaped him, a protectiveness that he'd never felt washed over him, and he became determined to find her.

Ara has always depended on herself, but there was something about the shifter that made her want to trust him. She recognized him as someone who was capable of protecting her as well as understanding her secrets without turning her away, but before she could allow herself to trust him, she ran.

But with no resources and running out of ideas about how to protect herself, will she be able to lower her defenses and allow the shifter to help her?
Excerpt
Copyright © 2016 Valerie Ullmer
 
All of his muscles locked down as he scanned her, making sure that she hadn’t been hurt.  When he found her injury-free, he blew a sigh of relief.
Comparing the last memory he had of her, he took note that she had lost even more weight from her time on the run.  Her body, clothed in scrubs that were similar to the pair she wore close to a month before, hung loosely on her curvy frame.
Before he could rein it in, a low growl of disapproval slipped past his lips.  Either too tired or determined to get into the house, she missed the noise.
He kept his gaze on her as she ran up the porch and hesitated a moment, before she waved a hand in front of the door.  When the door unlocked, she pushed her way in and closed it behind her.  He heard the distinct click of the lock sliding back into place.
Although he wanted to rush after her, scoop her up, and take her home while she would be too tired to launch him down the block, instinct told him to wait.  If he found her, then someone else could’ve as well.
Less than five minutes after she entered the house, a figure emerged from the woods several yards from where he stood.  Without disguising his movements, the man ran up to the porch and jiggled the doorknob.  His amateur actions covered the noise of Reaper’s advance.
As Reaper stood feet away from eliminating the new threat, a male voice erupted through the man’s earpiece, making the asshole jump.  Reaper paused and listened to the angry voice.
“Have you got her yet?”
Instead of answering, the stupid git removed the offending object from his ear and stomped on it.  “I’m going to kill that bitch when I get a hold of her.”
Reaper waited until the man went back to his futile attempt at picking the lock before he unsheathed a knife from his thigh.  Not giving his target time to make any more progress on the lock, he stepped forward and wrapped a hand around the man’s mouth and nose, silencing his shout of surprise.  Rage filled Reaper at how close this man had gotten to her.  So with precise movements, he drove the knife into the man’s chest to the hilt and twisted.  The man was dead within a matter of seconds.
He hid the body on the side of the porch.  The bushes would prevent anyone from the street happening upon him.  After the woman was secured in his home, he would call for a cleanup crew to make the body disappear.
Reaper hadn’t been surprised that they caught up to her, and he knew that this one man’s incompetence didn’t mean that whoever chased her would make the same mistake twice.  He had to rush before the man in the earpiece realized that his colleague lay dead.
Stepping up to the door, he placed his hands, several inches apart, and pressed until the locks gave way.  He slid inside without a sound before shutting the door.  Taking a deep breath to get a trace on where she might have gone, he was surprised because it seemed as the entire house smelled of her.  Light and sweet.
He darted from room to room.  They were running out of time before they were discovered.  Desperation clawed at his chest as he found each one empty.  At the top of the stairs, he paused when a faint cry reached him.  Unsure of where the sound came from, he wandered farther down the hall, hoping that the sound would repeat.
Mumbles and whines of pain came through the door farthest away from the master bedroom.  As he opened the door, the floor beneath him started to shake, which intensified the closer he moved into the room.  Not knowing what had caused the house to move, his need to protect her ramped up.


About the Author

Valerie writes romances. 

Contemporary, Paranormal, Erotic, and M/M. 

She lives in Denver, Colorado with her wonderfully supportive husband and their funny and wise black lab, Maddie. Valerie is addicted to coffee, crime shows, and reading and writing character-driven romances. 

As a voracious reader, she’s believes that all writers are rock stars, and she hopes that people enjoy her stories as much as she loves the romance novels she’s devoured over the years! 

When she’s not writing or learning about the craft of writing, she can be found surfing the internet way too much, watching Investigation Discovery and thinking that her neighbors are up to no good, and finding new ways to get her husband to laugh. 

She loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at valerieullmer.com, Facebook at facebook.com/valerieullmer.author, or Twitter twitter.com/valerieullmer

Sunday, October 13, 2019

#BookReview – “The Prince Kidnaps a Bride” by Christina Dodd



Blurb

Betrothed in the cradle, Princess Sorcha and Prince Rainger were destined to rule their countries together. Then revolution sent Sorcha to a remote Scottish convent—and Rainger into a dungeon so deep rumor claimed he was dead.
Now danger threatens, and Sorcha must travel home with a simple fisherman as her companion—Prince Rainger in disguise. Changed by his imprisonment from a careless lad to a dangerous man, he's determined to win back his kingdom—and the woman he wants more than life itself. But can he protect a woman who believes every person she meets is her friend, every tavern is an opportunity to sing bawdy songs, and each turn in the road hides new adventure? To keep his princess safe, he must resort to his most treacherous weapon: seduction.

Review

In the third and last book in the Lost Princesses trilogy, Crown Princess Sorcha lives in a secluded island convent in northern craggily Scotland. She enjoys her simple, uncomplicated life but knows she’s meant for something greater. After she meets a strange poor fisherman stranded on the beach, she takes him to the convent for shelter and her life changes forever.
Arnou is a kind, simple-minded, and very foolish fisherman, but he has a secret. He’s the hardened Prince Rainger in disguise, and he’s determined to do anything to marry Sorcha and take her home to Beaumontagne, the country she’s destined to rule. A terrible tyrant has seized Rainger’s country of Richarte and held him prisoner for eight brutal long years. He managed to escape and needs the Beaumontagnan army to secure his crown and rescue his people. If he can’t convince his childhood betrothed Sorcha to marry him and provide him with an heir, his plans of revenge are for naught.
Sorcha is a wonderful and vibrant character, but she’s very naïve to the ways of the world. Her self-discovery takes her on the journey of a lifetime. Best of all, she falls madly in love with a lowly fisherman. When she finds out his identity, she’s heartbroken, humiliated, and betrayed.
Worst of all, Rainger believes he’s done nothing wrong. After years of mental, emotional, and physical trauma, he only cares about his goals and doesn’t realize he’s hurting the woman he’s supposed to protect.
I loved their romance and this story until she finds out the truth. I expected tears and shouts, but Rainger’s sudden heartlessness and Sorcha’s pathetic surrender to his seduction schemes didn’t make sense. I understand why he was so callous and why she accepted it, but these problems continued throughout much of the book. Once they finally realized their mistakes, I started to like the characters and the book again.
There were a few typos, inconsistencies with the other books, and loose ends not tied up, but nothing affected the overall plot. Though the H/h frustrated me at times, Sorcha and Rainger are my favorite couple and I enjoyed this book the most from the trilogy.
5 Stars

Saturday, October 12, 2019

#BookReview – “The Barefoot Princess” by Christina Dodd


Blurb

Once upon a time...in a kingdom high in the Pyrenees, three young princesses were forced to flee the chaos in their land -- vanishing without a trace and lost to their people...until the day a courageous prince can bring each princess home.

Life in exile has taught the passionate Princess Amy to hate injustice, and on the enchanting English isle of Summerwind, she finds injustice personified in the powerful and wickedly handsome Jermyn Edmondson, marquess of Northcliff. Since he has stolen the islanders' livelihood, Amy decides to steal him. She kidnaps the arrogant nobleman, chains him with his own manacles, and holds him for ransom.

It's a simple plan, destined to succeed. Surely Jermyn's uncle will pay his ransom. Alas, his uncle would be delighted if someone killed his nephew and left him to inherit the title and fortune. And holding the furious, guileful, sensual Jermyn chained in her basement provides a challenge to Amy's restraint...and her virtue.

How could such a little revenge and blackmail go so passionately wrong?
 

Review

In the second book in the Lost Princesses trilogy, Princess Amy of Beaumontagne is in trouble, but she’s too stubborn to realize it. After she left her sister Clarise two years earlier, she’s lived a life of danger and finally finds a home on the small English island of Summerwind. Now friends with the villagers, Amy is appalled to learn that a dastardly marquess owns the island. The people are starving and in danger of losing their decrepit homes because they cannot pay the rent. So she decides to put a stop to it and kidnaps the marquess to hold him for ransom.
Jermyn Edmondon, the marquess of Northcliff, wakes up chained to a cot in a cellar. He doesn’t know why he’s there or why his kidnapper, Amy, hates him with a passion. He’s arrogant, rude, a male chauvinist, and he believes himself so superior to everyone around him, especially the women. As he and Amy butt heads, he begins to realize his lazy, carefree lifestyle has threatened to ruin the lives of the people he once respected. Not only that, the crooked manager of his estate may be the real threat to his life, not the mysterious, sensual Amy.
Amy is a wonderful heroine, but her temper often gets the better of her. Of the three princesses, she was always the wild one who broke the rules in the name of justice. She’s strong, passionate, and willing to do anything for those she cares about.
Jermyn is a very unlikable character at first. His disdain, coldness, and haughtiness irritated me—as the author surely intended for her readers—but his attitude hides deep pain. Once his back story is revealed, I sympathized with him. I definitely loved the way he matured in captivity and the way Amy grew to trust her own feelings in the sexy marquess’s arms.
Other than stray POV shifts that I’ve come to expect, there were a few typos like repeated back-to-back words and missing words. I noticed a few inconsistencies between books 1 and 2. For example: in book 1, Prince Rainger was imprisoned for eight years. In book 2, it’s seven years. Despite little things like that, I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading Rainger and Sorcha’s story, the conclusion to the trilogy.
4 Stars


Friday, October 11, 2019

#BookReview – “Some Enchanted Evening” by Christina Dodd


Blurb

Once upon a time . . .

in a kingdom high in the Pyrenees, three young princesses were forced to flee the chaos in their land—vanishing without a trace and lost to their people . . . until the day a courageous prince can bring the princesses home.

One of Scotland's most dangerous men, Robert MacKenzie is dazzled by the enchanting beauty who rides into the town he is sworn to defend. Though he is wary of the exquisite stranger, Clarice stirs emotions within him that Robert buried deeply years before. And now he must have her at any cost, vowing to gain her trust through the powers of his sensuous seduction.

Torn between her need to protect her secrets and her aching desire for the dark, tormented earl of Hepburn, Clarice is pulled into Robert's glamorous world . . . and into his perilous plan for justice and revenge. And with the winds of treachery swirling around them, a runaway princess must draw Robert's heart from the shadows and make him believe in happily-ever-after.

Review

In the Lost Princesses trilogy, the French Revolution has swept Europe into turmoil. The king and the dowager queen of the small mountainous country of Beaumontagne have sent his three young daughters to England for safety.
In the neighboring little county of Richarte, a cruel usurper has seized the throne from the rightful prince. He’ll do anything to find and kill the princesses, for the eldest princess and the prince are destined to wed in order to unite the two countries.
In the first book, the middle princess, Clarise, and her younger sister Amy live the lives of peddlers and charlatans. They claim to be exiled princesses to sell face creams made with special “royal” ingredients. Though their scam often works, it’s attracted the attention of a nefarious English magistrate who wants to see Clarise hung. As they employ their skills in a little Scottish town, the local laird takes Clarise under his protection, but he doesn’t believe she’s a princess.
Robert MacKenzie, the earl of Hepburn, needs to rescue his friend from a vicious officer in the English Army and requires Clarise’s help. After seduction fails, he blackmails her into helping him.
Clarise is a kind, beautiful, compassionate woman who always tries to make other people feel good about themselves.
Robert is stubborn, determined, so single-minded in his objectives, and downright cold at times. Once you learn his back story, however, his calculated coldness makes a lot of sense and you see the honorable man underneath the dark veneer.
My favorite character is Lady Millicent, Robert’s older spinster sister. I loved the way she blossomed into her own woman, gained confidence, and finally started to live her life.
Though Robert got his revenge and I loved the way it happened, I wished the despicable Colonel Ogley would’ve been publicly humiliated and punished for his sins.
There are a few unanswered questions. The most important one, in my opinion, is that Clarise and her sisters went into hiding because people wanted to kill them. By the end of the story, Clarise is no longer “hiding” and it should be very easy for the bad guys to find her, but this isn’t mentioned as if she’s no longer in danger. Also, I found the timeline of the story confusing. The princesses have lived in England for several years, but there are discrepancies as to how long when you compare the number of years to their ages.
The pacing slowed in the middle. There were a few typos but nothing major. I love stories told in multiple POVs—more than just the H/h—but this one sometimes lacked scene breaks to denote the change, which led to confusion. Even so, I really enjoyed it, and I’m anxious to read the next book in the series.
4 Stars

Thursday, October 10, 2019

#BookSpotlight - "Felice: Shield-Mates of Dar" by D.V. Stone


Blurb

One foolish thought. One brutal act. Instead of a peaceful alliance–war.

From the shifter nation of Dar, Felice carries a peace accord. A treaty will bind her sister to Abelard, Prince of Argatha–a human–and forge an alliance between Dar and Argatha. An attack by rogue soldiers sets off a chain of events, binding Felice to Abelard her sister’s betrothed. While her new Shield-Mate chips away at the walls around her heart, Felice struggles to maintain control over her life–something she and her inner Panther have fought hard to attain. Responsibility for the dying Emissary lies heavy on Abelard’s shoulders. Abelard is a good soldier, but not, he realizes a good man. Felice is the catalyst that brings him purpose. War comes, but not the one expected. An invasion from an old enemy, thrusts shifters and humans together–they must unite, or each may fall. Amid treachery and chaos, love blooms and Abelard and Felice must come to terms with the past if their love is to survive.

Excerpt
Thick fog muffled the horses' hoof beats on the final leg of their journey toward Sorota. The normal sound of city life was absent. An unnerving silence blanketed them as Felice’s bay mare followed behind Nolan’s dapple grey. There was no noise coming from the city. The hair on Felice’s neck stood up. “Lord Nolan, do you feel something amiss?” 
 He looked over his shoulder, a bland, patient expression on his face and said, “Princess Felice, we do not act on feelings. We act on learning and knowledge. Feelings should never enter into diplomacy.” 
When they arrived in Sorota, humans escorted them down the narrow, cobbled street, toward the Overseer’s dwelling. Through the thick fog, gas lamps cast shuttered houses and shops along the street in an eerie yellow glow. Other than the soldiers who escorted them, there were no other signs of the population. 
Outwardly she assumed a placid demeanor, but she couldn’t tamp down her instincts. The Panther in her hadn’t emerged yet, but Felice’s nerves clawed at her insides. Glancing from side to side, she kept a close eye on the men of Sorota. A bead of sweat rolled down the nearest, though the day was cool and damp. She could smell the anxiety in some of them.
Felice fidgeted, on edge. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong. Her mare pranced sideways and snorted. Whirls of vapor rose from the horse’s nose into the chilled air.
Nolan glared over his shoulder at her. “Control your emotions, Felice. They are affecting your horse.” 
She sat straight in her saddle, focusing her eyes ahead and pushed down the worry. Felice tried to soothe the mare by stroking her neck. The horse’s ear twitched when she leaned forward and whispered, “Easy, Arundel, I feel it too. We will keep our eyes open.”
Nolan, who acted under the security of the king’s authority, never questioned the large contingent of guards when they entered the cavernous hall of Overseer Gedeon. The arrogance of Nolan’s position was their downfall. Not until they were behind the large, barred doors, did his brow furrow in concern. Still, he said nothing. But Felice loosened the strap on her knife and reached behind under her cloak to slacken her sword leather.
After being more herded, rather than led, Felice and Nolan were pushed through a door into the Sorotan’s meeting room.
“That is not Gedeon, but his brother Dunbar,” Nolan whispered into her ear. “Be careful, he is a very dangerous man.” 
“Seize them!” Dunbar ordered, and before the Darrians could respond, Nolan was struck down. Several knives pierced his body. Regret was replaced with the glaze of death, and he muttered, “I am sorry, my lady.”
The men in the room turned to her. Their cruel eyes revealed no regard for her tender age when they moved toward her with raised weapons. Shortly after her torment began, Felice’s Panter erupted, and her life changed forever.

Hi, my name is D. V. Stone. I am a multi-genre author of two independently published books. Felice, Shield-Mates of Dar is a fantasy romance. Agent Sam Carter and the Mystery at Branch Lake is a mid-grade paranormal. Recently, Rock House Grill, a contemporary romance has been signed with Wild Rose Press. I also host Welcome to the Campfire, a weekly blog. 


Born in Brooklyn, D.V. Stone has moved around a bit and even lived for a time on a dairy farm in Minnesota before moving back east. Despite her wandering, she always considered herself a Jersey Girl. She met the love of her life and moved, this time to Sussex County. Her husband, Pete, is a lifelong Sussex County man. They share their home with Hali a mixed breed from a local shelter and Baby a small gray cat who bosses everyone around. 


She’s had varied career path from working with the disabled led to becoming a volunteer EMT, which in turn led to working in hospital emergency rooms and then in a woman’s state prison. After a few years, she took a break from medical tasks and became the owner of Heavenly Brew, a specialty coffee shop in Sparta NJ, and small restaurant in Lafayette. Life handed some setbacks, and she ended up back to medical field, but this time in a veterinary emergency hospital. 


During the poor economy, she was laid–off from a long-time position she cared about. Devastated, D.V. wondered what to do with her life. Finding comfort in her love of reading, she realized it was now time to follow her dream of writing. It's been a long road but worth every minute of it. Now a published author she also works in a people medical office again.
“Thank you for taking the time to read about me. Each time you open the pages to one of my books, I hope you'll be swept away by the story and to, never in the real world give up on hope.” D.V. Stone