Review: Remind Me

After 12 years of marriage, Priscilla Blackwood has decided to leave her husband. Retreating to their mountain cabin, she hopes the time away will help heal the heartache she feels from leaving the only man she’s ever loved. 

When Max Blackwood returns home to find out that his wife has left him he is devastated. Refusing to give up on her or the life they’ve built together, he sets out to find her before it is too late. When a winter storm hits, his plan to rescue their marriage careens off course. 

Will being stranded together in a blizzard be enough to repair their broken relationship? Or will Max be forced to say goodbye to the woman who stole his heart so many years ago. 




Available at:   Evernight Publishing



REVIEW:



RATING:   4 Stars



Maximus and Priscilla Blackwood have been married for close to 13 years, and then Cilla decided she just couldn’t take it anymore.  Max is once again working longer than he should, making her feel like he didn’t want to spend any time with her, so she drives herself up to their very isolated cabin in the mountains, leaving a letter for Max to find when he finally gets home, telling him she planned to file for divorce.  When Max finds the letter, he just can’t figure out what his wife’s problem is.  He works so hard and so long to be able to give her everything she needs, and as a result, they have what he thinks is a great life, even if they haven’t been able to have any children yet.

So, what is missing in this relationship?  It isn’t love, and it quite certainly isn’t sexual attraction.  One word: communication.  This couple has never learned how to truly talk to each other, and as a result, there are so many important things they each assume, incorrectly, that the other already knows.  This is the core of Nicole Morgan’s short but passionate love story, ‘Remind Me’.  When Max figures out where his wife must have gone, he drives up to the cabin in the middle of a blizzard, comes close to being killed when a tree falls on his car, and then the two of them, husband and wife, are stranded together in this small, almost primitive cabin.  In this situation, there really is very little they can do – so eventually, they start to talk.  To really, truly, communicate with each other, not only physically, but verbally.

No, this is not a completely original or unique plotline, but in a story like this, it is the characters and their interactions that make everything fit together in an original manner.  Morgan has built a solid, believable, foundation here, wrapped around elements of personality, childhood experience, social background, self-image, and simple misunderstanding, to pull her readers into a desperate relationship: two people who know they are in love, but still need to figure out to build a life they can share.

‘Remind Me’ is a pleasant story, and I enjoyed reading it.  Morgan put things together carefully, so despite the shortness of the story, you are not truly sure what Max and Cilla will decide to do, until you reach the end, and yet everything is believable.  It took skill to accomplish this is in so few pages. I highly recommend this story to fans of erotic true romance, and give it 4 stars.

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




Reviewed by: Roberta

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REVIEW: CATS IN THE CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION

Glenda Nagel, editor for Getty Museum’s monthly magazine loves her home in the Juniper Hills and her cats. When an ivory and emerald statuette of the cat goddess Bastet makes its way to her home and sets her cats on edge, Glenda is panicked.
Who knows about his and why has the darkly handsome, new Director of Egyptian Antiquities become so determined to visit her high desert home? Doesn’t Egypt have enough sand?



Available at Rogue Phoenix Press





REVIEW:


 RATING: 3.5 Stars



Glenda Nagel has built a reasonably happy life for herself. She is the editor of Getty Museum’s monthly magazine, and lives with her three cats in a nice house in Antelope Valley, outside Los Angeles.  If she wishes, she can arrange to work at home instead of in her museum office.  Presently, she is working on a magazine article about the discovery of the tomb of an Egyptian Princess, Kia, and also looking forward to meeting the museum’s new Antiquities Director, Dabir Riyadh, whose family is highly respected in the field.

But on the day she meets Riyadh, her comfortable life starts falling apart.  She learns that some very valuable artifacts from Princess Kia’s tomb have been stolen.  Two Interpol investigators, Lydia Thompson and Nasim Shabouh, are coming to talk to Riyadh, and when the new director learns of this, he unexpectedly gives Glenda a gift, a lovely vase.  She can’t find a good place for it in her crowded office, so she takes it home.  One of her cats gets extremely upset, the vase is broken, and Glenda finds that an exquisite, ancient statuette of the goddess Bastet was hidden inside it.  From there on, things become very tense and alarming. Glenda starts working with the Interpol agents, and hiding from the tomb thief and a criminal organization that wants to buy the artifacts.

I really enjoyed most of this book.  Many of the characters, especially Glenda, Nasim, Riyadh, Lydia, and even Glenda’s secretary, are interesting and believable.  There are some very nice settings: the museum, Glenda’s home, Riyadh’s mansion, and a few other homes in the Antelope Valley region.  The central plot is an excellent romantic suspense story.  Glenda is definitely being pursued, and the little statuette of Bastet becomes very important.  I even enjoyed the relationship between Glenda’s Persian cat and the statuette, although this plot point actually just drifts off.

And that, unfortunately, is the major reason I cannot say I enjoyed the whole  book.  There are a few too many little plot lines that are brought in, often getting in the way of more important elements, and then just fading away, either forgotten completely or getting a very brief resolution.  I’m still glad I read the book, because there were so many interesting characters and fascinating important plot points. I hope the author writes some more suspense stories.  But I have to give this one 3.5 stars.

I’m grateful for the reviewer’s copy I was given.


Reviewed by: Roberta

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REVIEW: Cross Keys by Ally Shields

Conspiracy, murder, and magic…and the death of all they hold dear.
When the first wanderer—a common elf who isn’t authorized to use the portal—is spotted on the streets of New Orleans, the king assigns Kameo Ryndel to assist in the elf’s capture. But before she can intervene, humans with guns shoot the wanderer and steal his body. When Seth Lormarc, an Elite elf from a rival guild, appears at the scene, Kam suspects he is involved.

Seth Lormarc is in New Orleans to find out who was behind the portal breach, and his best lead is the intriguing Kam Ryndel. When he stakes out her apartment and finds her sneaking out in the middle of the night, dressed in black and leaping to the top of the nearest building, he knows there’s something unique about the beautiful elf. That kind of feat requires magic. Ancient magic.

As their paths cross during their investigations, they develop an irresistible attraction, although there’s little time for romance. The portal breach is tied to an illegal smuggling operation that has come to the attention of the human CIA. But the stakes are raised when Kam and Seth discover a band of conspirators and a rebellion deep in Elvenrude that promises nothing except destruction of their world.



Available at Amazon


REVIEW:

RATING: 5 Stars


‘Cross Keys’ works equally well for fans of romantic suspense, crime drama, and paranormal fiction, which have all been blended together in a wonderful piece of cross-genre literature.  I enjoyed all of it, and recommend it highly.


The novel begins by revealing that there are active elvish businesses in New Orleans, as in other cities, and that these elves are expected to follow strict rules, to avoid letting humans know about them or about the portals between the human world and Elvenrude.  Kameo Ryndal is assigned by the elvish king to find a violator of the portal rules, but she ends up witnessing the murder of this common elf by humans who also steal his body.  Then she spots another Elite elf, Seth Lormarc, at the scene, and must determine if he is involved.  But Lormarc is there investigating how a common elf breached the portal, and he sees Ryndal as a possible answer to his question.


Members of rival guilds, Lormarc and Ryndal don’t want to work together or trust each other, but as their two investigations continue to cross paths, they have to form an alliance, especially when the human CIA learns of a smuggling operation that may be part of a dangerous elvish conspiracy.  Even though their quest becomes more and more dangerous, revealing a serious threat to Elvenrude, they still develop a strong attraction to each other, making them both more determined to save their world.


I have been a fan of mystery and crime fiction since I was in high school – my father got me hooked on Ellery Queen and others of that ilk.  In the decades since, I have also gotten very fond of fantasy and paranormal romance.  ‘Cross Keys’ appeals to all those interests, and can therefore pull a reader in so deep you don’t want to leave.  Everything is here: intriguing mystery, constant suspense, very appealing characters, well-drawn settings both human and elvish, and surprises around every corner.  Therefore, I rate this book worthy of 5 stars.


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

Reviewed by: Roberta

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REVIEW: Cafe in the Park

When Emily joins a dating agency, she never expects to meet someone like Chris. Everything she ever hoped for in a man, he’s special in more ways than one. Their intense attraction to each other is fueled by their shared loneliness. Will Emily find out his shocking secret when someone from his past comes back to haunt him?
How can love blossom, when someone is trying to tear them apart?







Available at: Amazon







REVIEW: 


RATING: 4 stars


Cafe in the Park is a very passionately sexy story that has your jaw dropping  and you jumping at the mystery and intrigue of the book. The author has really developed the chemestry between her two main characters very well and they were both relatable as well as very hot cha cha cha! What do you expect? Chris is in a rock band, hello what woman isn't screaming already for this book! I mean hello, do they have this on E-Happyeverafter.com because I want me some of this and you can read exactly why YOU will want it by reading Cafe in the Park by Elodie Parkes.

Reviewed by: Nikki

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REVIEW: When I Dream of You

**Mature Content Warning** Recommended for ages 17+ due to language and sexual content. Nina Archer battles memories of a trauma that occurred twelve years ago… With plans to move to North Carolina, she hopes to separate herself from her mother, whose excessive drinking is becoming unbearable. Then suddenly, fate steps in to help her heal in a way she would never think possible. While running a race in Juno Beach, Nina finds herself next to a man whom she’s immediately attracted to. Wes Ladner, the same man she dreamt about one year ago… Wes is focused on his writing, and has no time for a woman. But the night before they met, he dreamt of Nina. Although they come from two very different worlds neither of them can deny the sparks that fly between them. As her time runs out to make a decision, Nina wonders if she’s been given the chance to come to terms with her past, and accept a gift that some never receive—true love.


Available at :  Amazon



REVIEW:



RATING: 4 Stars

‘When I Dream of You’ is an intensely dramatic portrayal of Nina Archer, a woman battling Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, trying to break through all the painful barriers around her so she can finally begin a happy life. This story, told completely from Nina’s POV, is short, only 68 pages, but it covers so much ground that when I reached the end, I felt like I had finished a novel. Nina is in her late twenties, living in Florida with her widowed alcoholic mother, working at a bookstore and trying to become an author herself. She suffers from the memories of a horrible trauma suffered when she was fifteen, compounded by her mother’s abusive behavior, and losing her PTSD counsellor because of his own problems. Despite having only one close friend, she spends as much time as possible away from her mother’s apartment, sometimes even driving to the beach and sleeping in her car. She is planning to move, taking a job at another store, in North Carolina. But one day, Nina decides to run in a race. Fate brings her next to a friendly man and they stay together, running side by side, all the way to the finish line. Wes Ladner is an attractive man from a wealthy family, concentrating on building his writing own career. Remarkably, Nina has clear memories of dreaming about Wes, a full year before this meeting, and he in turn dreamt of her the night before the race. The attraction is mutual, and very strong, but before they can build a loving relationship, Nina has to leave her past behind. Rosa Sophia tells this story vividly, without wasting words or time, and still covering pretty much everything essential about her heroine. She makes you really want Nina to move past the PTSD into a happy, loving future, and believe that Wes is the man who could truly help her do just that. It takes skill and determination to tell this complex tale in such a short space, to pull readers in rapidly and completely. I admire her efforts, and give ‘When I Dream of You’ 4 stars. I am grateful for the reviewer’s copy I was sent.


Reviewed by: Roberta

 

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REVIEW: Arden's Mate

Can you run from fate, or is destiny's pull too strong?
Remy, a young woman with the ability to harness fire, finds herself helping a group of werewolf shifters and other paranormal beings in a battle against demons who want to take over the world. When she is badly injured and on the brink of death, Arden, a werewolf shifter, bites her, giving her supernatural healing abilities. The last thing she expected was for it to also mark her as his mate. With her choices for her life slowly disappearing as it becomes clear what being with Arden will entail, Remy flees.
Arden is devastated when his mate runs from him. Hope for his future disappears and his wolf takes over, turning him into a feral mess.
Remy soon realizes she's made the biggest mistake of her life. Returning to the shifters and a changed Arden, Remy has to not only gain their forgiveness but also build their trust in her while helping Arden overcome his feral nature.
Will Remy be strong enough to be the mate Arden needs or will she let the fire she controls consume her and run again, this time never looking back?
Content Warning: contains graphic sex, strong language, and violence


Buy Links: http://beachwalkpress.com/ardens-mate/



REVIEW:

RATING:       5  Stars

Forget the Werewolves of London and welcome to Arden and his pack! I requested this book, and I thought, "Well, this sounds like a really good read." IT WAS A GREAT READ! Not only did it have a great plot, plenty of action, and Arden and Remy's chemistry is off the charts, but it was a whole case of HAWT SAUCE! Bravo Hazel Gower for this awesomeness that had  me going in for not one but two re-reads. I literally could not stand to put it down! I really loved how Remy really discovers herself in this book. No weepy damsel in distress with this firecracker, but Arden compliments Remy in every way with his patience, strength, and his love for her. Remy could be bent on giving him gray hairs before it is all said and done but they are a powerhouse together. IT IS A MUST MUST MUST READ!!! Arden's Mate is by far one of the best shifter books I have read in 2014.


Reviewed by: Nikki

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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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REVIEW: Stolen Rapture

When work brings Deluna Jordan face to face with a man who knows her better than she knows herself, she soon discovers he shares everything with his boss, including lovers…and a thirst for blood…and she is about to become the lucky recipient of all their desires…

 

 

 

 

Available at :New Dawning International Bookfair

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVIEW:

 

RATING:       4.5 Stars

If you have two deliciously sinful hot and hunky vampires, a fully modern woman, and a great erotic story line you get the short but exhilarating ride that is Stolen Rapture by Denyse M. Bridger. I have always loved Denyse's books but this is one of my favorites. Her two male main characters work seamlessly with their female lead to where there is a real and true erotic story instead of a "Wham! Bam! Cue the Porno Music" kind of thing. I didn't feel like that at all while reading Stolen Rapture. I felt as if I was right there in the story and yes, yes I skipped to the cold shower after I got done reading it. Loved it! I can't wait for a sequel-a much longer sequel!

Reviewed by: Nikki 

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REVIEW: Cover Him with Darkness

In a remote and mountainous part of Europe, a priest keeps a dark secret beneath his chapel—a prisoner. Even the holy man does not know how long he has been there—hundreds of years, perhaps, or even longer. The priest's fear is that anyone in his parish would ever come in contact with his mysterious and unholy charge.

But what happens is even worse than he could have ever imagined. His lovely young daughter Milja, whose innocence and devotion to God he prizes over all else, trails her father into the cavern and catches a glimpse of the prisoner, a beautiful being like the most handsome of men, and yet not. She looks into his eyes and sees pain and wisdom and eternity. Unable to keep away from this silent creature chained to an altar stone, she is torn between family loyalty and her growing connection to their prisoner. One day her father discovers their forbidden intimacy and sends Milja off to America to be raised by her aunt in Boston.

Cover Him in Darkness is a dark and thrilling story of an archangel banished from heaven and the human woman with whom he falls in love.

 

Available at : Kindle

REVIEW:

RATING: 5 Stars

I began reading this and by the third chapter, I was possessed. I couldn't stop reading. I literally was sitting at a Powder Puff Football game, reading it on my phone. I LOOOOOVED IT! I am usually not a fan of 1st person books BUT with the exception of books like  The Fever Series, The Dark Prince series by Jeaniene Frost, and a few others-"Cover Him With Darkness" has joined the list of the few and proud 1st person POV books that I adore. It is dark, possessive, seductive, and deliciously sinful. Aside from that, the love story between the two strong main characters is passionate and beautiful. I literally did not want this book to end! Cover Him With Darkness by Janine Ashbless is a must read. It is an absolute MUST! Five stars just doesn't seem enough.

Reviewed by: Nikki 

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REVIEW: Her Ancient Hybrid

Brolach is old. Ancient. A hybrid, half vampire and half werewolf, he’s a true immortal who can never die. He’s lived for three thousand years, but has slept buried for two of them. It isn’t until a female comes to the hill where he sleeps does he come awake, ready to protect her, his vampire side knowing she’s his mate.

Physically threatened by her ex-boyfriend while out on a hike in the grasslands has unexpected results for Waverly. A man, muddy and covered in dirt, explodes out of the ground to rescue her. After he turns into a wolf and chases off her ex, she soon loses it when he turns his attention to her.

With the help of Waverly, Brolach adjusts to the new world he’s awakened in to. The new life he sets about making with his mate is soon threatened by one of the vampires who’d killed his family and had buried him alive.



Available at Amazon, Nook, Kobo, iTunes, All Romance, Bookstrand, and Smashwords.



REVIEW: 
 

RATING:  4  Stars



This book was HOT HOT HOT! It was so hot that when I finished it, I had to read it for a second time. Marisa Chenery not only has written a very captivating story and has strong main characters but a really great read. I enjoyed it a lot.

Reviewed by: Nikki

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