REVIEW: SHALLOW GRAVES By Christina Wolfer

When a young girl’s body is discovered in a shallow grave on a farm outside of Ripley, Ohio, FBI Agent Kendal McNally returns to her estranged hometown to investigate. The similarities to another murder on the same farm seventeen years earlier is unnerving, not to mention the fact that she helped put her best friend’s father behind bars for the crime. Her search for the truth puts her in the middle of a serial killer’s graveyard.

Reed Harvey’s life was turned upside down when his father was convicted of murder. It didn’t help that Kendal had been the key witness in the trial or that she turned her back on him and their friendship. Now she has returned to investigate another murder, living in an apartment above his restaurant and making him remember what almost was.

Despite their pasts, Kendal and Reed turn to each other as Kendal’s investigation unravels a web of lies in a town where everyone thought they knew everyone’s business. And when another girl goes missing, Kendal will unearth a devastating secret that may put an end to the murders—except one. 

Hers.

Available at:  All Romance eBooks 



REVIEW:

RATING:  5 Stars

If you enjoy romantic suspense, are interested in how behavioral analysis works into murder investigation, and/or simply like an intriguing murder mystery, I can definitely recommend ‘Shallow Graves’, because it blends all of these together tightly and skillfully.

Kendal McNally, an investigator and behavioral analyst for the FBI, reluctantly returns to her small hometown in Ohio, when the murder of a small girl is discovered, with circumstances very similar to another murder that occurred seventeen years earlier. The much younger Kendal provided the testimony that sent the father of her good friend Reed Harvey to prison for that murder.  It didn’t just ruin their friendship, it destroyed Kendal’s young life, and in the end, sent her away from her home.  Now, for the first time, she’s back, and as the case she’s investigating turns out to be the work of a serial killer, Reed and Kendal find themselves growing close again.

Wolfer builds this mystery very carefully, and with considerable skill.  The possibilities, and the fear, keep growing.  Could it be a copycat killer?  If not, although Kendal was honest, could she have sent the wrong man to prison?  How many more victims will be found? Adding to the ever-building tension are questions about the suicide of Kendal’s mother, and the obstructive behavior of the local chief of police – who happens to be Kendal’s estranged father.  With every chapter, the atmosphere intensifies, and as a reader, I found myself not only trying to figure out who the killer was, but hoping I was right about who the killer wasn’t.  And yet, through all of this, the ties between Kendal and Reed pull them closer all the time, both emotionally and sexually, in ways that add to the plot rather than distract you from it.

I have been a devoted fan of romantic suspense/murder mysteries for decades, ever since I first started reading what were then called Gothic Romances, by such gifted authors as Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt.  These books were a few steps above most romantic mysteries; as much attention was given to the murder(s), the suspense, and the settings, as to the characters, the romance and whatever sex was included.  The tension kept building from the first chapter on, giving the readers a unique feeling of excitement.  Well, ‘Shallow Graves’ achieved all of that, and I definitely felt that excitement.  This book is well worth 5 stars; actually, I wish I could award it 5.5!

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

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: EVE'S NEW YEAR BY SARAH CASS

Eve Ellery has been in love with her best friend for years, but an old wound keeps her from telling him how she feels. Certain she's been forever relegated to being the fat friend and naïve girl he has to protect, she jumps on a job offer three hours away. When her mother's illness worsens, Jake's there to help her, but is it just his white-knight act?

Jake Gardner has been fighting his growing attraction to his life-long friend tooth and nail. The last time he tried to bridge that gap, she cut off their friendship. He decided he'd rather have her in his life as a friend then not at all. Lately, the feelings are harder to ignore, but when she says she has a job offer that can help her out of a tight spot, he knows he has to let her go if he really loves her.

A drunken night leaves both of them thinking it's over for good.
Will Jake and Eve’s bold resolutions bring them closer together or farther apart?



Available at Amazon

REVIEW:

 

RATING:  4 Stars

‘Eve’s New Year’ is a short, nicely written love story, involving two characters, Eve Ellery and Jake Gardner, who started a relationship in high school that they both called ‘friendship’ – because that’s what each of them thought the other one wanted.  Eve was one of the unpopular girls in Lake Point high school, and is convinced that the only reason Jake pays any attention to her was that he felt sorry for her.  But Jake no longer sees her as a shy, lonely girl who needs protection; he just believes that friendly protection is all this attractive woman will accept from him.


On top of her unpopularity, Eve had a lot of other struggles in Lake Point, mostly because her father abandoned her and her mother when she was still in high school, but she still managed to get her college degree.  His father has retired, so Jake has taken over the family business, and Eve is now his assistant in the store. She’s very good at her job, and with her help, Jake has kept the business running quite well. Then Eve gets a very tempting job offer that would require her to move several hours away, but it would pay considerably more, helping both Eve and her mother, who has Alzheimer’s and is in a nursing home.  Jake is torn; he wants Eve to stay, but he still believes she only wants him as a friend, he can’t pay her any more, and so the new job could help her. Things continue to tangle up, especially when Eve’s mother’s ex-lover comes back into the picture.  So, will Eve leave Jake to take the new job?  Will they lose any chance of getting together, or will these two long-time ‘friends’ finally get past the fake wall they built between themselves?


Sarah Cass did a good job putting all this together, especially in her careful characterization of Jake and Eve, blended in with other small town events and relationships, making this an enjoyable story.  Although certain elements are predictable, what the characters do to cope are pleasantly appealing – and, in some ways, still surprising.  All told, this is a believable, interesting romance, with likeable characters and very nice settings.  I would have liked to see more of Eve with her mother, and learn more about her experiences getting her college degree, but it was still a fun book to read.  So, I give ‘Eve’s New Year’ 4 stars.

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


Reviewed by: Roberta 

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REVIEW: Andromeda's Fall by Abigail Owen

If you enjoyed this book, don't miss the Svatura series: Blue Violet, Hyacinth, Crimson Dahlia, & Black Orchid!

From the Inside Flap

 

Mountain lion shifters have allied into ten groups called Dares which together form the Shadowcat Nation. A rocky alliance at best, its success is vital to their survival against other species of shifters who threaten their very existence.

REVIEW:

5 Stars

‘Andromeda’s Fall’ is one of the very best shape shifter novels I have ever read.  One of the strongest points is that Owens doesn’t waste a lot of time showing how the shifting happens or how shifters fit into the non-shifting population. The subject matter she concentrates on are the politics within a ‘Dare’, or family of cougar shifters, and between separate Dares, and also some of the differences between species.  After all, in nature, cougars are solitary animals, and therefore it was hard for cougar shifters to adapt to living as a group, unlike wolves, who are used to their packs.  Because shifters frequently hunt other species, solitary cougars wouldn’t survive very long.  So there are now several different Dares, all part of the Shadowcat Nation.

 

Love and matrimony is different within a cougar Dare than among non-shifting humans, including the possibility of predestined mates which also forms a major plot point.  Andromeda Reynolds is a strong member of the Carstairs Dare, so strong that the Alpha wants to force her to be his mate, because it would increase his power. Andromeda definitely doesn’t want that, so she decides to go to the Keller Dare and ask for asylum. She hopes she could mate with their Alpha, Jaxon Keller, to guarantee her safety.  Instead, she is put under the watchful eye of A.J., one of the Alpha’s Protectors, to be tested and trained, and before she even gets to meet Jaxon Keller, Andromeda finds herself strongly attracted to A.J.

 

Things get even messier when Kyle Carstairs figures out where Andromeda has gone, so he organizes an attack to get her back.  But there are secrets everywhere.  A.J. has a big one.  Certain of the Carstairs cougars have a few of their own.  And Andromeda has some; she surprises everyone after the attack. The battle brings a lot of serious disputes, and some pretty spectacular action, into the story, along with a few other species of shifters.  One of these shifters is Zac Montclair, a character I just love!

 

There is a lot of action in this book, involving many very well drawn characters and a lot of strong, beautiful romance, with the shape shifting details carefully blended in.  I think this is the way a shape shifter story should be told, and I highly recommend ‘Andromeda’s Fall’ to anyone who likes paranormal romance.  I’m looking forward to other books about the Shadowcat Nation.

 

‘Andromeda’s Fall’, in my opinion, well deserved 5 Stars.  I am very, very grateful for the reviewer’s copy I received.

Reviewed by: Roberta 

 

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REVIEW: Sizzle and Bang by Keta Diablo

A collection of four novellas
Blood Oath
Kale travels to Savannah to find his destiny. Instead, he's attacked by rogue vampires and saved by the most beautiful man he's ever laid eyes on. Questions about who killed his parents years ago are answered, but more arise about his future. Action/Adventure/ in sultry Savannah.
Hot and Sticky
An attorney must call in his paralegal at the midnight hour to locate an important file. Both men finally surrender to the passion and lust they've stifled for months. An office romance that will leave you breathless.
Valentine's Vindication
Deke attends Val's party with the intent of winning him back after their breakup. Deke knows he'll never find another Dom like Val. Now he must convince the man he's sorry for hurting him.
Lip Service
Navarre sets out to surprise Bryan when he arrives at his hotel room. Instead, he finds another man in the room! Who is the stranger, and what does he do now?

REVIEW

 

Rating: 4 Stars

Keta has done a great job with her compilation of 4 Hot short stories. All have their own unique story line that stirs the senses and the characters reach out to you in a quest to bring you along on the journey. Hot, Sizzling Sex with a touch of BDSM in a couple of them. Definitely worth the read.

Blood Oath - A vampire who meets his destiny, who loves him and saves him...Vampire to Vampire....Hot!
 
Hot and Sticky - Boss/employee lust turns into more...Much, much more....Hot
 
Valentine's Vindication - DOM/Sub brought back together after infidelity, and the HOT BDSM in asking for forgiveness. Hot! HOT!

Lip Service - Surprise anniversary visit turns to jealousy, but ends into another forgiving act of submission.
 
These stories are very enjoyable reads. If you love MM Romance and Love. you will like these. Enjoy!  

 

REVIEWED BY: Pam

 

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REVIEW: Dream Lover by Nancy Fraser

When offered the position of nanny for widowed Eric Garrison’s young children, Haley Parker hesitates only a moment before accepting what could be the perfect job.
Despite a hectic workload as a defense attorney, Eric does his best to spend time with his family. The more he gets to know Haley, the more he admires how she handles his kids. And the more insistent his attraction for the lovely, young nanny becomes.
Despite Haley’s resolve to not become involved, at night she dreams of him. Dreams far too steamy to share with even her closest friend Chloe.
On a family vacation to Paris, they spend an incredible night together, but will her dream lover disappear in the light of day?

REVIEW

 

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Haley Parker had to withdraw from her university studies to take care of her dying mother.  Now, she needs to find a job, hopefully one that will give her some evenings free so she can take night classes, get her degree in Education, and become a teacher.  Her friend Chloe has already done so, and helps Haley get a position as a nanny.  Widowed criminal defense lawyer Eric Garrison needs help caring for his two children, and Haley fits his requirements very well.

And so begins ‘Dream Lover’, a very traditional love story by Nancy Fraser.  The story takes place in 1959, set primarily in Boston but including a beautiful family vacation in Paris, to visit Eric Garrison’s widowed step-mother.  Now, by traditional, I mean that this book feels very much like the romances that I read and loved in college, back in the early ‘70’s.  The characters are nicely drawn, and quite likeable.  There is no real villain, although there are suggestions that Eric’s younger brother is somewhat less than a gentleman, and you may suspect his step-mother at first, also.  Primarily, though, Fraser has built a straight-forward romance between Haley, a lonely woman without any surviving family, and Eric, a widower who loves his children very much and wants them properly cared for.  You really want this pair to end up together, especially after the one less-traditional night they spend together, including a very powerful, and enjoyable, sexual romantic sequence.  Yes, these two are quite definitely in love.  The only question remaining is, can they make room in their life plans for each other?

There is nothing complicated, mysterious, or suspenseful about ‘Dream Lover’.  It is a lovely, enjoyable romance. You meet two very attractive but somewhat lonely people, from different backgrounds; a pair of adorable children; and some other characters who are important to the lovers’ lives.  Kick off your shoes, curl up in a comfortable chair, and meet some new imaginary friends.  I give this book a 4.5 rating, for any readers who yearn for a relaxing love story.

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

 

REVIEWED BY: Roberta 

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REVIEW: Light a Candle for the Beast by Echo Shea

If you’ve ever been caught in a riptide, pulled down into the water, then you know me. Or, more accurately, what
 
Delia was beautiful, smart, and kind. He wasn’t. He said he loved her, but he didn’t know what love was. He was manipulative and cruel—more than a thief. A beast.
 
All she wanted was a rose…
 
These are the words on my sister’s grave. Her sadness, her obsession, forever a reminder I didn’t--couldn’t save her.
 
I’m not vindictive or cruel. I’m simply as the river--my memory is winding and my reach is long. I watched him steal her beauty, her essence. Watched him become a beast. He thought he'd get away with it, thought he'd go free.
 
I lay a rose upon my sister's grave.
 
Light a candle for the beast.

I’m like when I’m angry.




 
Purchase Links: 
http://www.amazon.com/Light-Candle-Beast-Echo-Shea-ebook/dp/B00Q0FO550
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/light-a-candle-for-the-beast-echo-shea/1120812975?ean=2940150731523

REVIEW

 

Rating: 3.5 Stars

  

Eden’s sister, Delia was a victim of love for the wrong man.  Andrew was possessive, cruel, violent, and intolerant, and finally, in 1734, Delia died.  But Eden, unlike her sister, was a Naiad, goddess-touched so she could live on land, and using her own special strengths, she took revenge, condemning Andrew to a cage in the land of the dead, transformed to a beast, a never-ending punishment.

But now, over 200 years later, Delia wants his punishment to end.  She loved Andrew, after all, and she is in pain knowing of his agony, so she is doing everything she can to make Eden forgive him.  After all, vengeance doesn’t just punish the guilty; Delia can’t rest while he suffers, and Eden herself is damned, if only from the memories, from knowing that she hadn’t been able to save her sister.  But she does not believe in forgiveness.

And this is the theme of this tightly-written short story: revenge punishes everyone, and no one can be freed from that punishment until the guilty is forgiven.  ‘Light a Candle for the Beast’ is an interesting recreation of Greek mythology, only 23 pages long but still a complete story.  Yes, there were times I would have liked a few more details, perhaps more description or characterization, but I also respect Echo Shea’s ability to tell a complete story without stretching anything out, accepting that her readers have their own knowledge and imagination.

Although I did enjoy reading this story, I still had a few questions I would have liked answered, so I rate it 3.5 stars.  Still, I recommend it to anyone who enjoys delving into Greek myth. If you’ve studied any of these legends, you are quite likely to have a few interesting dreams after you finish the story.

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

 

REVIEWED BY: Roberta 

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REVIEW: Chasing the Dead by Keta Diablo

The Apache kidnapped me to dispel an evil ghost from their village. If I tell them I don’t possess the same skills my madre did, they’ll cut my throat and feed me to the dogs. Celesta was the best spirit chaser in all of New Mexico before she died.

 

The most I can hope for is that Emmett, my fiancé, will rescue me. Is he capable of such a thing? Poppy must not have thought so because he sent Deacon Bannister to save me. Deacon…the man who walked away days before our wedding a year ago. The man who still melts my bones after one look.

 

We’re running for our lives from Uday, the vaporous ghoul tracking us. He wants Sacheen, the beautiful maiden banished from the Apache village who travels with us. The warrior killed her father when Sacheen refused to marry him, and then Sacheen’s brother killed Uday.

 

The ghost’s powers grow stronger every minute on our journey back to El Vaquero…and so does my love for Deacon.

 

~ Madrid Arrende

 

Purchase on AMAZON or BARNES & NOBLE

 

 

REVIEW

 

Rating: 5 Stars

 

I must say this book surprised me, and not in a bad way. I hadn't expected it to pack such a punch. I've always been a sucker for characters that have an unrelenting passion and one that won't quit no matter what obstacle is thrown their way. And Maddie and Deacon did not disappoint in this aspect. Their connection is so palpable you can literally feel it. 

 

But that's not the only reason I would rate this a 5 star book. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this wasn't just a western romance. It also has paranormal elements as well. Of which I won't delve into too much to avoid spoilers, but suffice it to say that this book didn't disappoint. 

 

I highly recommend Chasing the Dead by Keta Diablo for anyone who loves a great romance and a riveting plot line! 

 

REVIEWED BY: CJ 

 

 

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Review: The Black Lion

When Melissa fleetingly meets Sascha in a nightclub, she hopes he will approach her.
Sascha has secrets and it’s a long time since there was a woman in his life.
Unknown to both of them someone watches jealously.

Will this jealousy stop the budding romance between two people who both have something to hide?

An erotic, paranormal romance, full of surprises.









Available at: Amazon



REVIEW:



RATING:   4 Stars




Erotic, passionate, hot, sexy, and a total turn on are just some words I would use to describe Elodie Parkes's erotic paranormal romance novel, The Black Lion. The story is engaging from the first five pages and then it's hard to put down. The only disappointment I had was that it ended. I loved this book. The sensuality and obvious chemistry of Sasha and Melissa but the element of danger with the antagonist really made it a real adventure roller coaster.  Elodie Parkes hit a home run with this one and I can't wait to read more of her books. This is one book that is a MUST READ!





Reviewed by: Nikki

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Review: Escaping Christmas

Author, Alexandra Storm, escaped to the mountains of Colorado to avoid everything about Christmas, including her ex-boyfriend. He dumped her on Christmas Eve two years ago, and the holiday has haunted her since. Her plan is to write her way through the dreaded Christmas cheer.
But, she didn't expect her new landlord, Zach Camden, to be a hunky savior on a snowmobile. After learning of her aversion to the holiday, he vows to give Christmas back to her. The attraction is undeniable, but she doesn’t need another failed romance. And she most definitely doesn’t need a reunion with her ex, or the escalating threats from an unknown enemy.

As the danger increases, will she survive the season and allow love to restore her holiday spirit?







Available at:   Wild Rose Press, Amazon, and B&N.


REVIEW:



RATING:   4 Stars


All Alexandra Storm wants is a quiet Christmas by herself, to work on her latest book and be away from publicity about the movies based on her book series, away from her ex-boyfriend and her interfering mother.  She’s chosen to rent a solitary cabin up in the mountains of Colorado, where she can be completely alone.  She didn’t count on a hunky host, Zach Camben, who owns the cabin, along with several ski resorts, or on weather conditions that leave her and Camden stranded together – or her ex-boyfriend, Owen Banks, showing up trying to win her back, or someone breaking into her cabin to leave threatening messages, or phone calls from her mother ordering her to reunite with Owen.  But who are the threats from?  Is there something odd about Owen’s supposed marriage?  And then reports about her father’s health draw Alexandra back home ….


It’s very easy to like, and sympathize with, Alexandra.  To like and admire Zach.  To hate self-loving actor Owen – at least, for a while.  And to be very happy your own mother is, hopefully, nothing like Alexandra’s.  These characters grabbed my attention from the first pages.  This was a fun book to read, with romance, suspense, a little mystery, and several nice surprises, which kept my interest all the way through.  I finished the book cheering for the hero and heroine,  pleased to know the villains had been caught, laughing at the pathetic Owen – and still happy that I never had to cope with a mother like Mrs. Storm.


‘Escaping Christmas’ was a comfortable, relaxing read.  It was well-planned and nicely laid out, with good characters, an interesting main plot, and fun sub-plots.  I truly enjoyed it, and give it 4 Stars.




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




Reviewed by: Roberta

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