Saturday, January 18, 2014

REVIEW: ENEMY MINE: Mending the Veil, Book 1 By Kelliea Ashley



Witches and Guardians are mortal enemies, but when Rissalynn finds herself Travis Holt's target, fighting him is the
last thing she wants to do.
Rissalynn Jennings is a Witch promised to a Warlock she doesn't want. When she goes to a secluded cabin to hide from her upcoming nuptials, she receives an unexpected visitor. The Guardian is her mortal enemy, blood-bound to kill her kind. She never expected to feel an undeniable attraction for Travis Holt, but one touch on a moonlit night is all she needs to know she belongs in his arms.
Travis has carried a gut-deep hatred for all Witches since the death of his parents. He joined the Guardians of the Light in order to annihilate their evil and cleanse the earth of their blood. He sought out the Witch with subterfuge and treachery on his mind, but after he's tasted her lips will he be able to take her life when the opportunity presents itself?

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REVIEW:

4.5 Stars
 
‘Enemy Mine’ is an entrancing paranormal romance, with suspense and intrigue throughout.  Rissa Jennings is a witch, the daughter of the High Priest.  She has come to a solitary cabin in the woods, dreading the marriage her father has arranged.  Travis Holt is a Guardian of the Light, a group dedicated to destroying witches and magic.  He also has a desperate need to avenge his parents’ murder. So, it isn’t an accident when these two come together; Travis intends to use Rissa against her people if possible, or just to kill her outright if necessary.
 
Instead, these two find themselves drawn inevitably toward each other, yielding not only to sexual attraction, but also a growing, intense need to love each other, that proves much too powerful to resist. Now everyone is their enemy. Their only friend is Theophyline, Rissa’s faithful familiar, usually seen as a fluffy white cat, but with special powers of her own.
 
Yes, this is definitely a love story, but there is violence, tragedy, and betrayal also.  It’s a compelling tale, with three appealing central characters.  Although the heat factor does get very high, the sex doesn’t push aside either plot or character development.  Overall, ‘Enemy Mine’ is very much worth reading.  The only flaw, in my opinion, is that Rissa makes two very crucial decisions abruptly, without any warning to the reader, which was a little confusing.
 
I give this book 4.5 stars, and I am eager to see what happens as this series continues.

I am grateful for the free reviewer’s copy I was given.

Reviewed by: Roberta 

 
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REVIEW: All I Want for Christmas by V. L. Locey




 

Alexander Dawson thought this Christmas would be a lonely one. He has no way of knowing that his cantankerous cat, Mister Tibbets, will turn a simple online shopping trip into a cataclysmic Christmas conundrum. Alex ends up on a madcap dash to another state during a snow storm to return a painting to dreamy wildlife artist, Cooper Reynolds.  Once he stumbles across Cooper's remote log cabin, he and the sexy but emotionally distant painter end up sharing more than a kiss under the mistletoe.

Things aren't all holly-jolly for the men though. Cooper gets a terrible case of icy feet, and Alex hits the road as soon as the snowplow clears it, feeling hurt and angry. Can Alex, Cooper, and their feline friends find a way to have purrfect holiday together?

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REVIEW: 
4.5 Stars

I would like to say that is has been awhile since I’ve had the pleasure of reading such a tongue-in-cheek story as All I Want for Christmas by V. L. Locey.  I giggled, out loud, several times at the antics of the cat, Mr. Tibbets, owner of Alex Dawson the main character of this story as told by his point of view.  I say a cat owns his human because what Tibbets does to his human as his human meets and falls in love with a painting artist, Cooper Robinson, is deliciously funny, sweetly romantic, and enough angst to keep it interesting without going overboard.  And angst does happen when Tibbets meets Cooper’s cat, Jezebel.  This is definitely the story for you if you are a lover of cats and a lover of funny, slightly demented pets, and two men who are really perfect for each other getting together at the best time of the year, Christmas.  It is romance, snark, and amusement watching these men find happiness together set in a winter wonderland where odd snowmen, expensive paintings, and cats are involved.  There were a couple of references that I didn’t get but for the most part I could follow the common ones.  All in all, I give it 4.5 stars out of 5.


Reviewed by: Eloreen 



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REVIEW: RIBBON OF DARKNESS: The Trouble With Elves, Book 1 By Decadent Kane


 
An old family secret draws Ribbon into an Elven world while Draven is forced to find a way to drag her back home to save Christmas magic.

Before Ribbon had a chance to get used to the idea of being an elf, she ran into Draven who's body jingled her bells. Unfortunately, he's the spy sent to haul her and her family back to the North Pole on Santa's orders.
Draven North has had one task for the last twenty-four years: find the Winters family and bring them home. He wasn't expecting their only daughter to deck his halls. No matter how hot and sassy he found his roguess, he had to take her back before the darkness devoured the Pole and Christmas magic along with it. But was it already too late?

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REVIEW:
3.5 Stars
 
This book presents readers with a very original view of Santa Claus and his Elves, and it is a fun story.  Ribbon Winters is a young woman working in her parents’ bookstore in Florida.  When you first meet her, she is suffering a burning sensation in her ears, and it turns out that her parents are two ‘Claus Elves’ who left the North Pole before her birth and do not intend to return.  However, Santa has sent one of his Elven spies, Draven North, to find them and bring them back.  Draven has been searching for 24 years, and finds them just as Ribbon learns about her true background.
 
This is the heart of ‘Ribbon of Darkness’: how Draven brings the missing elves back to the North Pole to save Santa’s world, and meets his true mate along the way.  It’s intriguing, with interesting characters facing a serious problem they must resolve.  I very much enjoyed reading it.  However, when I finished reading, I had several unanswered questions. I sincerely hope that subsequent books in this series will clear up this mystery, and others.
 
I give ‘Ribbon of Darkness’ a rating of 3.5 stars, because of the unanswered questions, and a somewhat intrusive encounter between Draven and his Sylvan Elf lover.  I like most of the characters, the handling of the Christmas elves, and the definite chemistry between Ribbon and Draven, but I don’t feel like I have read a complete story.
 
I am grateful for the free reviewer’s copy I was given.

Reviewed by: Roberta
 
 
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REVIEW: Midwinter Night's Dream by Whitley Gray



Two years ago, Joe Blake lost his secret lover, firefighter Bryce Marshall. Grieving, Joe left his job as a fireman and paramedic to become the spokesmodel for undergarment company Escalade. They lured him into the limelight and drove him deeper into the closet. Modeling doesn't provide fulfillment; Joe wants privacy and to feel useful again. A holiday at his mountain cabin outside Denver is the perfect escape. The last thing he anticipated, or wanted, was sharing his retreat with another man.

Last Christmas, actor Errol Lockhart discovered boyfriend Carson had stolen a play. Carson accused Errol and then blackballed him in the theater community. Some Christmas that was. Now Errol has to take whatever work he can to survive. Delivering a singing telegram during a blizzard isn't wise, but it pays double and rent is overdue. He's got dreams, not of a white Christmas, but of getting a shot at Hollywood. He's determined to make it, if he survives this storm.

As Joe and Errol ride out the blizzard, more than marshmallows get toasty in front of the fire. When Errol discovers Joe's identity, he's sure he's found his way in, his big break. But Joe won't sacrifice Errol to the Hollywood sharks. Unless they can forge a compromise, they're going to wake from their midwinter night's dream to lumps of coal in their stockings.

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REVIEW: 
Midwinter Night's Dream, felt more like a quick day dream than an actual dream. I give this M/M romance a 3 star rating. I feel as if over all Ms. Gray had a wonderful story in mind but I just didn't feel hooked in. It felt rushed and flat. The intimate parts didn't feel sensual. I felt that there were things missing aside from the visual attraction-it just felt like I was looking at these two men who were supposed to be finding passion but read more like a Hallmark card. I googled Ms. Gray and a friend passed along High Concept and I really thought it was exceptional. Midwinter Night's Dream was a nice read-even a lovely read but it didn't start any fires or hook me in.
 
On a positive note, I thought the idea of two men finding romance and passion in a cabin in the woods not to mention one is a hunky firefighter was great.


Reviewed by: Nikki
 

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Wednesday, January 8, 2014

REVIEW: Not So Silent Night by Kelly Ryan



Another lonely Christmas approaches for Anna and her life of penance—until the otherworldly Alexander appears.

Anna is a lonely woman, running her dead grandmother's flower shop. She hates Christmas and could not feel more lost when a handsome and mysterious Russian, Alexander, walks into her shop and her life. Each has secrets and magic they are harboring. Just as their passion erupts, the good old boys in town threaten to ruin everything. Getting to know each other is tough for most couples, but with a pack of werewolves out to destroy them, things become intense. They find themselves in a fight for their lives. Can their newfound love give them the strength to win against this threat and trust in the future?

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REVIEW: 

4 Stars - Be prepared for a very different Christmas!

Anna runs her late grandmother’s flower shop in Vermont, but due largely to some personal losses, she is not very happy about the Christmas season.  Now, she has learned that she is allergic to poinsettias and other holiday greenery, which doesn’t make it any easier.  Then, with Christmas hardly a day away, a new customer shows up, right at closing time.  Alexander is a very impressive Russian, visiting Vermont with his family, and the chemistry between him and Anna is immediate and explosively hot.  Throw in Anna’s friends, Alexander’s family, and two local brothers who want Anna for themselves, along with a few personal secrets, and you will be celebrating an intense holiday!

I rate this book worthy of 4 stars.  It is an original, tightly written holiday romance, set in a Vermont town that turns out to be just a bit unusual.  The characters are interesting and nicely portrayed, the romance is fast and VERY hot, and there are some wonderful surprises in store.  The only fault I found is that the romantic relationship gets too hot too soon – personally, I would have preferred a slightly slower introduction, giving the readers a little more time to meet the characters before the flames took over.  However, it was still well worth reading.

I am grateful for the free reviewer’s copy I was given.



Reviewed by: Roberta
 



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Sunday, January 5, 2014

REVIEW: Stand and Deliver Your Love by Killarney Sheffield



Mistress Sarah was once a woman of promise, until a greedy relative left her to fend for herself on the cold, hard streets of London. Now she does the only thing she can to survive and care for those she has sworn to protect.

Lord Byron Cobbett has given up on life after the death of his beloved fiancee. On a trip to London to clear his family's name he tangles with disaster.


Sarah gets more than she bargains for when she unwittingly rescues Byron. She must find a way to convince him to keep her secret. Can she allow herself to love him and still keep her promise? Will Byron stand and deliver his love to the auburn haired bandit and risk his own freedom?

The twists to this plot provide more than just the expected romance traits, giving a deeper level of complexity and drama to a risky relationship. Killarney tells a gripping tale. Rosalie Skinner, author of The Chronicles of Caleath series. 


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REVIEW:

I gave this book 3 stars

Sarah is a young woman with so much on her hands to take care of orphan children. She is a good person with a heart of gold, but is it enough to overcome the string of bad luck that happens with her and her love interest Byron? It is a good story, some things in the story will have you guess what is to come next. It has some passion as well as some adventure.It is a good read and one I recommend if you want some excitement to read with unexpected surprises along the way. 
 
Will love prevail? You will have to read it to see what I am talking about. A very passionate book, an interesting story and read.

Thank you to the author for the reviewers copy.
 
Reviewed by: Ana
 
 
 

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REVIEW: The Cracksman's Kiss by Killarney Sheffield


 
When Lady Cassandra is visited by a thief in the dark of night, she finds her body awakened in a way that her husband's touch has never stirred her desires. However there are consequences for even a brief stolen night of passion that leave Cassie in dire straits. She turns to the only one she thinks can help her...but will he come before it is too late? 
 
Comte Cohen Ashton's mission is to retrieve a priceless artifact and return it to its former country of origin. He doesn't expect to have his heart stolen by his sworn enemy's lovely young wife or to discover a treasure of his own making that is more valuable than any other. 
 
In the midst of a war between England and France, they struggle to deal with their sins and outside forces that threaten to destroy them. Can love prevail or will they be forever torn apart by the cracksman’s kiss?
 
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 REVIEW:
 
I rated this book 4 stars. The writing was solid and readable minus some typos. It starts off slow but it has a very historical feel to it where it brings you back in the time era that it is writing in. The romance is very adventurous and very different from what I have read in the past. It was engaging to follow the characters through their adventure. It bring you to France from England where the voyage begins. 

Cassandra Lamb, is a the small villagers pastor's daughter. She was promised to someone than rather than love. She wanted to marry for love not because she has to, the person she was promised to was an Earl of Everton the would bring wealth and money once a child was born after marriage. But she had an obligation to her village and her father.This story will keep you reading to see what will she chooses and what else may lie in her future.

The author keeps you on your toes and there are also some steamy sex parts.  A good read a on cold winter's night.

I received a free copy for an honest review. Thank You to the Author. K.Sheffield.
 
Reviewed by: Ana 
 
 
 
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