REVIEW: Rustlers and Romance by Lorelei Confer

Rosie’s Diner is at the center of the small town of Saddle Creek, Wyoming, in the shadows of the Grand Teton Mountain range. When horse rancher Chase Montgomery first lays eyes on a waitress’s bruised and swollen face, and beautiful green eyes, his first instinct is to kiss the bruises away.

Lauren McCray flees Michigan and heads west to escape another beating from her ex-boyfriend, Clint Jackson. When she sees him looking inside her car outside the diner where she works, she runs again. This time, jumping into the bed of a nearby pickup truck hauling a horse trailer.

Chase’s life is enriched when he pulls back the tarp in the bed of his pick up and finds the green-eyed beauty. Lauren is running and needs protection from something or someone, and he agrees to protect her with his life, but will it be in time?

Available at: http://www.bookstrand.com/rustlers-and-romance
REVIEW:

RATING: 4.5 Stars

‘Rustlers and Romance’ is a comfortable, enjoyable, and just plain fun romance, involving a Michigan woman, Lauren McCray, on the run to escape her abusive husband, and Chase Montgomery, a Wyoming horse rancher.  They meet at Rosie’s Diner, in Saddle Creek, Wyoming. Lauren has taken a waitress position, and Chase is on the way home from a horse sale, tired and wanting a quick meal.  But Clint, Lauren’s husband, is still looking for her, and she spots him outside the diner, examining her car. Desperate to stay ahead of him, she hides in Chase’s vehicle, and ends up at Jack of Aces, his ranch, which becomes her refuge.

This is only the start of their relationship because now they’re both facing a variety of threats: Lauren’s angry husband, still searching for her, and a valuable item she brought with her; Chase’s housekeeper, an angry young neighbor who wants Chase for herself, and can be pretty nasty about it; rustlers who have been stealing horses from the ranch, and are willing to kill along the way; and the possibility that someone is also trying to force Chase off his ranch.

The story is well planned, with interesting friendly relationships as well as the growing romance, skillfully balanced with mystery and danger.  Lauren and Chase feel like your personal friends, and you really want them to come together.  This is, after all, the goal of a romance novel, but the dangers the characters face are compelling, and very believable.  Along the way, there are questions about just who all the villains are, and why they are doing these despicable things.  This was all put together in a very interesting fashion.

There were a few segments that could have used more space and detail, but overall the book was well worth reading, so I give it 4.5 points. I will be recommending it to certain friends of mine who also like well-planned suspense as part of a good romance story.  If you like the pairing of romance and mystery, ‘Rustlers and Romance’ should definitely be on your list.

I am very grateful for the reviewer’s copy I was sent.

 Reviewed by: Roberta

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REVIEW: Soul of a Warrior By Faith V. Smith

Two warriors, one from the past, one from the present, are blindsided by magick and given a second chance at love. 

Viking, Go Home 

Wulgar Thorrason’s inability to control his desires earns him the ire of a faery princess. Sent forward in time to modern-day Michigan, he will have to learn the difference between lust and love. The petite beauty, Raven Harrison piques his interest, but how can he prove his feelings are more than lust when she scoffs at his advances and doesn’t believe his tale of being a time-traveling Viking? 

Semper Fi Magick 

After a failed mission, Special Ops Marine Derek Harrison wants peace and quiet as he recuperates at his cousin’s home. What he gets is a sex-on-heels woman with a snooty attitude. Not only does she remind him of his ex-fiancée, but she claims she’s a faery princess of the Seelie Court. Now she’s not only getting under his skin, she’s getting into his head and delving into his nightmares. Maybe there is more to Catriona than he first realized. 

Two couples battle time and destiny. Will they discover love before it’s too late? 


Available at: http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Of-Warrior-Faith-Smith-ebook/dp/B00V5JQVQ2

REVIEW:

RATING: 4 Stars

‘Soul of a Warrior’ is actually two connected stories, both a combination of paranormal romance, fantasy, time travel, and suspense.  Both stories are fun to read, with interesting characters and a concluding implication that more could happen.

‘Viking, Go Home’ is the first story, pairing Wulfgar Thorrason, a Viking warrior, and Raven Harrison, a modern day author.  Wulf offends Princess Catriona, daughter of Tiernan, King of the Tuatha de Danaan, the world of the Faeries.  As punishment, she sends him forward in time, to 2010, to an old graveyard where author Raven Harrison is taking pictures to help research her latest book.  Their confused meeting is suddenly interrupted by gunfire, and Raven gets Wulf to flee home with her.

While Raven is introducing Wulf to the modern world, they must also face threats from the man responsible for the gunshots at the cemetery, and along the way, they fall in love, but how can this romance end happily?  Will Princess Catriona allow Wulf to stay in this century?  Would she consider sending Raven back to Wulf’s village?

I really enjoyed the time travel elements of this story, along with two nicely drawn characters.  On its own, I would rate this story as worth 4.5 stars.

‘Semper Fi Magick’ brings Raven Harrison’s Marine cousin Derek to meet Princess Catriona, fleeing from her father’s wishes for her to marry.  Derek is in a Special Forces team combating terrorism, and presently blames himself for the death of one of his men.  As Derek and Catriona begin building a relationship, they have to face King Tiernan’s reluctance to accept a mortal mate for his daughter, a lack of understanding of each other’s worlds, and a major terrorist threat to Raven’s city.  And once again, how can a romance between individuals from such different worlds ever be resolved?

Although the characters were interesting, including King Tiernan, the cross-world dilemma of ‘Semper Fi Magic’ didn’t draw me in as deeply as the first story.  I rate it worth 3.5 stars, giving the book a combined score of 4 stars. I definitely recommend ‘Soul of a Warrior’ to fans of paranormal romance. 

I am very grateful for the reviewer’s copy I was sent.

 Reviewed by: Roberta

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REVIEW: Banished (The Dragonsong Trilogy - Part One) by H C Brown

Banished to the Singing Forest for witchcraft with only her cat for company, alone and desperately afraid Thalia sings to her dream lover, in the hope someone, anyone will help her. 

Lumos enjoys the favors of many women until his dragon hears the Dragonsong of his mate. Consumed with passion for the girl who haunts his dreams, he leaves home to search for her. 

Nothing goes to plan and he falls into a devious trap set by a dark wizard to destroy all of his kind.


Available at: http://www.amazon.com/Banished-The-Dragonsong-Trilogy-Part-ebook/dp/B0128EAM1W

REVIEW:

RATING: 3.5 Stars

Banished (The Dragonsong Trilogy Party One) by H C Brown was a great read. It drew my interest from the first chapter on and by the time I finished it I was wanting more. It's definitely a story worth reading and is quite a sensual love story. The main characters had great chemistry and the story is multi faceted; it's an emotional adventurous ride the reader will love going on. I highly recommend this book.

 Reviewed by: Nikki

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REVIEW: Dirty Rotten Vampires 4: Dare Me Once by J. Hali Steele

Vald Gerlach is the oldest vampire alive and the power encompassed in his body can only exist in one monster at a time.

Today, he's that monster. With thousands of years to devise ways to make a creature beg, Vald will test some on Drecara, whose hot, curvaceous body he desires. And because he must, he plans to experience the charms of Mictain, her protector, just to feel his burn.

The game is on and Vald hopes the extraordinary demons are up for the challenge!

Available at: https://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2391

REVIEW:

RATING: 4 Stars

Vald is no poetically philisophical vampire. He's about as evil as evil can get. There is not too much he wouldn't do and a lot he would to get what he wants. He's ruthless but give him the one being in exsistence that has ever made me crave something above blood, power, and well power and you have Dare Me Once by J. Hali Steele. This book was well worth the read. Dre and Vald are dynamic and combustible. You'll believe him to have mastered her but by book's end, Dre is the one who is the master. I really did like this book and wish it would have been longer but it was a great thrill ride from start to finish.

 Reviewed by: Nikki

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REVIEW: Red's Wolf Series: Grimm Woods Book One by Arianna Archer

The deeper the woods, the darker the secrets...

Arden Wilde is at the top of her game. She's got a gorgeous, attentive boyfriend on the fast track to a promising medical career, she attends the best culinary school in the nation—the Culinary Institute of America in New York, and is nearly finished with her externship with an eminent chocolatier. But when she's called home to Grimm Lake, California to help care for her ailing grandmother, Arden agrees without hesitation. 

Running through the woods becomes one of her passions, and she runs every day on her way to help care for her grandmother. Until she meets the enigmatic Tate Foster, the darkly handsome, tattooed manager of the Little Bear Brewing Co., sunbathing nude by the path to the lakeshore. He invites her to swim with him, but Arden declines—she has a boyfriend, after all. But it isn't long before thoughts of Tate become more than she can ignore. 

When she mentions him to her grandmother, she's given a stern warning. The Fosters are "old Grimms," from one of the original founding families in the town, who keep mostly to themselves. There are legends, ugly stories, about the old families and their Germanic roots, and about the Grimm wolves—shapeshifters who lived double lives as wolves and humans. Arden doesn't believe a word of her grandmother's fairy tales, until a night of Tate's fierce, skilled sexuality drives all rational thought from Arden's mind. 

When a tourist is found murdered in the woods, savaged by animals, Arden isn't sure what to believe. She knows she can never go back to her old boyfriend in New York. And the brazen, feral Tate has no intention of letting her go anywhere...
Available at: http://www.amazon.com/Reds-Wolf-Grimm-Woods-Book-ebook/dp/B00YUTEASK

REVIEW:

RATING: 4.5 Stars

Red's Wolf is RED HOT! I thought I was going to get some spin off of the fairy tale but this is NO SPIN OFF. This book stands alone and was a red hot intense read. Not only did it have one heck of a love triangle but the chemistry between Arden and Tate was sensual, wild, passionate, and untamed. It had me re-reading as soon as I ended the book. I wish it had been longer it was just THAT GOOD! I highly recommend adding this book to your reading library like ASAP! Red's Wolf has everything a steamy hot paranormal romance needs to be a great story. Well done Arianna Archer! Well done!

 Reviewed by: Nikki

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REVIEW: The Mating Ritual by Tory Richards

Toni, a woman on the run for her life, finds safety with the descendants of a legendary creature living deep in the mountains. An ancient mating ritual with their leader, Cormac, protects her from being claimed and mated by the other males. She gradually falls for him, but can she give up her old way of life to stay with him in the mountains?
Available at: http://www.amazon.com/The-Mating-Ritual-Tory-Richards-ebook/dp/B00GP1S6NG

REVIEW:

RATING: 3.5 Stars

This quick inferno of a read is well worth it. This is NOT "Harry and the Hendersons" or your usual Sasquatch encounter. This is a mere God of a rugged man named Cormac who is sure to ignite everyone's favorite pair of skivvies when they read "The Mating Ritual" by Tory Richards. The story starts out pretty simple enough-Toni is finally getting a great vacay way up in mountain country after a murder trial and when her civic duty comes to bite her in the butt for it, she's running for her life until Cormac intervenes but one look at Toni and he knows she's his. This book had A LOT OF "Oh my God, get me to the cold shower" scenes but it's beautifully blended with story and the chemistry of both Cormac and Toni. The only thing I hated-the length is so short. I would have loved to have gotten more but all in all it was a very good read.

 Reviewed by: Nikki

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REVIEW: Fallen Justice by Monica Owens

Dagon is a fallen Archangel. When he fled Hell, he took along his soul killing sword of Hellfire. After centuries with his sword, Dagon has it stolen, causing him to descend into a whirling madness. 

Gina Marcos has just found her grandmother and now is forced to bury her. The murder of the ex-nun comes to the attention of the church and they ask the Fallen Angels to investigate. Gina, and her many secrets, finds it necessary to coexist with Dagon and his roommates. 

As the investigation into Sister Mary Ruth's death continues, Gina and Dagon enter into a dangerous relationship. And if Gina's past doesn't come between them, then Dagon's madness surely will.
Available at: http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Justice-Angels-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B00WZS867O

REVIEW:

RATING: 4 Stars

I am fallen for Monica Owen's "Fallen Justice". Dagon and Gina are two hellaciously hawt hawt hawt characters who take the reader on a pretty great thrill ride. Dagon, is a bad boy that every reader is going to fall for and Gina is the spit fire that you will root for. This story is not your regular paranormal romance by any stretch. It's going to take everything you THOUGHT you knew about what makes a great romance and shake it up before making a totally new formula that you will be sure to love as much as I did reading it. I just wish it had been longer. Love is hell but who better than Dagon, Gina, and the Devil's own children to take you on one hell of journey.

 Reviewed by: Nikki

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REVIEW: Rise by Mary Cox

Drop-dead gorgeous alive, Matt Brenner had never lacked for feminine attention. Undead, he’s even more potent. Immortality would be stellar, if only he accepted his life as a vampire. Matt and fellow vamp, Richard Hiatt, have created a BDSM empire catering to vampire/Doms and willing donor/subs who trade sexual ecstasy for blood. The clubs have made Matt’s existence manageable, if uninspired. Inspiration comes in the form of Catherine Temple, a beautiful and trusting co-ed, he feels obliged to rescue from a wanna-be Dom.

Matt’s made it a rule not to get emotionally involved with human women, and he sticks to it. Cat is the woman who can entice him to break all the rules. Almost one hundred years as an immortal in Los Angeles has left him wrecked by his decadent lifestyle. Paralyzed by a terrible sense of ennui, he hungers for a lost passion for life. That is, until he meets a young woman who inflames every inch of his passion.
Available at: http://www.forevermorepublishing.com/marycox.html

REVIEW:

RATING: 4.5 Stars

Rise by Mary Cox is definitely a book to add to your TBR lists. I absolutely LOVED the book. I loved the plot, the steamy and sensual scenes that oozed passion, the chemistry between Matt and Cat, and even Ms.Cox's take on vampires. The story was well balanced and never lost me at all. The BDSM element to the story was tastefully and respectfully done and complimented the real love story that was unfolding between Cat and Matt. It was sweet yet passionate.

 Reviewed by: Nikki

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REVIEW: Rise of the Lost Prince by London Saint James

Lost Boys, 1

They fight to protect those who would never welcome them into the human world... 

Petúr always knew he and his brothers-in-arms were different. Something more. Something not human. Yet, he never expected to find out the truth of their origins, nor fall for a human woman whose father was set to destroy Neverland. 

Ever since she was a child, Wyndi dreamed of an angel with eyes of the purest gold, although she never really believed such a man existed until she met the hauntingly beautiful Petúr of the lost boys. 

With a prophecy to fulfill, a woman to protect, a portal to find, and evil darklings out for blood, will Petúr be strong enough to rise up and claim what’s rightfully his, or lose everything to a long-time nemesis, Grapple the Dark?

Available at: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/rise-of-the-lost-prince-by-london-saint-james/

REVIEW:

RATING: 4.5 Stars

Get ready and hold on tight because you're getting ready to go on one heck of an adventure ride. This is not Disney's "Peter Pan" but a steamy, passionate, and adventure story for adults. J.M. Barrie would have never imagined "Rise of the Lost Prince" when he wrote his children's book. "Rise of the Lost Prince" had me absorbed and obsessed through each page. I literally could not put it down because the story captivated me right from the prologue on through to the end. I can literally not wait until I can get a hold of the next book from London Saint James. She has scored an epic Babe Ruth kind of home run with "Rise of the Lost Prince". This is a must read with an URGENT MUST READ attached to it. LOOOVED this book!

 Reviewed by: Nikki

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