Djinn and Tonic by Stephanie Cage #Fantasy #Romance

As fashion photographer Sally Purdew sets up her studio for a special shoot, she wishes for the perfect male model, and he appears. Sal just wants to win at the Alternative Fashion Awards, but her model, Ashtad, is a djinn with the power to grant her wishes and turn her into anything she wants to be. From the pretty English town of Whitby to a tropical beach, Ash whisks Sal away on a magical trip neither of them can forget. When Sal finds herself falling for Ash, she has to decide: do they have a future together, or will his magic always come between them?
 
Purchase Links: 
http://www.amazon.com/Djinn-Tonic-Stephanie-Cage-ebook/dp/B01A9PUTME

REVIEW:

RATING: 4 Stars 

If you’re looking for some light, fun reading, this one’s for you. 

Sally Purdew is a fashion photographer in Whitby, Yorkshire. At the opening of ‘Djinn and Tonic’, she’s preparing for a shoot that she hopes will be a winner at the Alternative Fashion Awards, and is only waiting for the right model.  And then, that model walks in: not only the right model, but the perfect model.  Ashtad Parisa is unbelievably attractive, sexy, with a charming accent, and he’s more than willing to do whatever Sal wishes.

But that’s exactly what Ash is there for, to do what Sal wants, because he’s specifically what she wished for – he’s a Djinn, and he’s there to grant any and all of her wishes.  Not only does Sal get the perfect photo shoot, she falls into an incredible romance, including a surprising visit to a beautiful tropical beach.  She finds herself believing that he really is the djinn he claims to be, and she also begins to fall in love with him.  This means it just might be possible for Ash to get what he’s wishing for as well, but for his wish to really come true, Sal has to truly accept who and what he is.

‘Djinn and Tonic’ is a paranormal romance that’s interesting, amusing, and easy to read.  On my first reading, it helped me forget that there was a blizzard going on outside my apartment walls, which was just what I needed.  I made myself wait a week before reading it again in order to write this review, so I could be sure it wasn’t just a desire to escape the miserable weather that made like the story.  Well, it wasn’t – today, the weather is absolutely gorgeous, and I enjoyed the story every bit as much.

This is a reasonably original story.  I would have liked it to be longer, to have some more details about both Ash and Sal, and about the background and the development of djinns.  I would also have liked a little more info about Sally’s friends, and her overall lifestyle.  Still, it was so much fun to read, that I’m more than willing to rate it worth 4 stars, and again, I recommend it to anyone who’s in the mood for a light, fun, nicely written romance.

I’m grateful for the reviewer’s copy I received.


Reviewed by: Roberta

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REVIEW: Dianne's Destiny by Winona Bennett Cross

 When Dianne Jacobson returns to her home town of Wichita Falls, Texas after a fifteen year absence, she hopes to find peace while recovering from panic and anxiety brought on by a mugging in New York City.  The last person she expects to see is her first love, Kip Mahan–the man she left without explanation more than a decade ago.

Kip Mahan never expected the woman he couldn't forget to walk into his life at the Equestrian Therapy Center. He doesn’t know why she left him, or why she’s back now with a haunted look in her eyes.

Slowly, the two find their way to the love lost years ago. But when Dianne’s ex-husband tracks her down, it puts not only their newfound love but their very lives in danger. Will Dianne’s destiny slip from her grasp before she’s even found it?


Available at:  Wild Rose Press



REVIEW:

RATING:  4.5 Stars

Dianne Jacobson grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas, suffering a lot of bullying from other kids because her father was in prison.  But her mother was strong, and built a solid home for her daughter, and Dianne found a wonderful friend in Kip Mahan, a boy from a much more socially acceptable family.  Then, Dianne’s mother died of cancer, Dianne was thinking that Kip deserved a better mate, and when she was offered a college scholarship to a different university than the one Kip was going to attend, she took it.  Without really explaining anything to Kip, she simply left Texas.
 
Now, fifteen years later, after building a career in New York and marrying a wealthy and influential attorney, Dianne runs home to Texas.  She had been viciously mugged, and was suffering from anxiety and panic attacks.  Her therapist recommends that she try equestrian therapy, so she goes to the Horses of Hope Ranch, only to find that Kip, now the owner of a horse ranch, is also in charge of the therapy horses.
 
All this is just the opening of this intriguing love story.  From there, readers will find themselves wondering if Dianne will be able to aptly apologize to Kip so they could get back together – but what about her husband, who turns out to be an arrogant ass who refuses to accept a divorce, and wants to force her to return to him?   And then there’s the ugly scrimshaw doll Dianne felt compelled to buy at an estate sale – just exactly does the doll have to do with any of this?
 
A lot happens in this story.  Dianne is desperate to recover from the after-effects of being mugged, there is still a lot of chemistry between Dianne and Kip, and then Simon,  her scoundrel of an ex-husband, shows up, willing do just about anything to get her back.  Dianne’s best friend Jocelyn comes to visit, and tries to guard and help Dianne.  And then there’s Rosa, the scrimshaw doll with the rose painted on its torso; could it be cursed?  It’s hard to put the book down for any length of time, because there is so much going on, and the characters are all so interesting, everything pulling you into Wichita Falls, hoping for a happy conclusion.
 
I really enjoyed this book.  It was skillfully written, tightly put together, and inhabited by carefully constructed characters.  Romance and intrigue blended with character development and the beautiful use of horses and equestrian therapy.  I rate ‘Dianne’s Destiny’ worth 4.5 stars, and am grateful for the reviewer’s copy I received.



Reviewed by: Roberta 

 

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REVIEW: Undiscovered Angel

Empath Katrina Shepard spends most of her time alone, preferring solitude to the constant press of the pain and emotion of others.  When she meets publishing tycoon Kassian McAllister at a party she finds herself intrigued.  He is the first man she can't read.  Maybe she isn't the only one with strange psychic powers.

An Earthbound Angel, Kassian has spent the better part of a century hunting Jack the Ripper.  His personal quest for vengeance has locked his heart and emotions behind a tightly guarded door.  But Kat reawakens the emotions he thought long dead.  As they grow closer they both learn truths about themselves and see a chance for love.

But Jack the Ripper still roams the Earth and Kat has become the ideal target.  Will Kassian finally have his revenge or will he lose yet another woman he loves? 

Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and The Wild Rose Press

REVIEW: 




RATING:       4 Stars



‘Undiscovered Angel’ sets the foundation for what could become an excellent paranormal suspense series, based around those fallen angels who came to regret following Lucifer and asked to be forgiven, turning into the Earthbound Angels, fighting to protect humans from those who still walk Satan’s path.  In this book, Sharon Saracino introduces a contemporary heroine with a painful family background and empathic abilities that have made her choose a solitary life, until she reluctantly goes to a girlfriend’s party and meets a man who appears to have stronger abilities than she does.
And he does – but Kassian McAllister isn’t just a man, he’s an Earthbound Angel who’s been hunting for the demon Jack the Ripper for almost a century.  Kassian is intrigued by Katrina Shepard and her psychic powers, especially when those powers show her the Ripper carrying out yet another murder, very close to her friend’s party.  This obviously puts Katrina in considerable danger, so Kassian and several of his Earthbound compatriots, must put her under their protection.
These characters are all intriguing.  There are family ties, very close friendships, and fierce enemies; there are past experiences that were extremely painful and difficult to live with;  betrayals old and new; and at the center of all this are Kassian and Katrina, both beginning to realize that they are still capable of falling in love. 
Saracino builds all of this into a well-organized, very suspenseful and frequently surprising book.  Using Jack the Ripper as the villain of the story keeps everything familiarly based on Earth, and also leads to scenes where our contemporary world feels Victorian.  I enjoyed reading it – twice, actually – and I recommend it to any reader who likes wonderful characters placed in a strongly suspenseful paranormal setting.  I give it 4 stars, and am very grateful for the reviewer’s copy I was sent.


Reviewed by: Roberta  

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