Monthly Archives: June 2013

Compliance by Maureen McGowan – a Review

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Compliance by Maureen McGowan – a Review

Compliance800

Links to order Compliance: Amazon / Barnes & Noble /  The Book Depository

Description:
Haven Equals Safety.

The slogan is emblazoned on the minds of every Haven employee. But for Glory, life inside the domed city is anything but safe.

After rescuing her brother, Glory returns to Haven as a double agent to locate and save fellow Deviants. Far from her family and from Burn, Glory faces danger at every turn as she trains to be a Compliance Officer–to track and subdue her own kind–while she works undercover to rescue as many Deviants as she can.

When people she trusts turn against her and a powerful member of Management takes her under her wing, Glory questions everything she believes and can no longer tell her allies from her enemies. A Deviant, a member of the secret police, a double agent–Glory fights to save others, but can she save herself?

Review:

Compliance by Maureen McGowan is her second book in her Dust Chronicles series.  When we last left off in Deviants (first book), Glory was going to be sent back to Haven; this time as a spy for the Freedom Army.  To refresh your memory, Haven is a city under a dome, that protects everyone from the dangerous outside world of Shredders, Deviants, etc. But Haven hides the truth inside that dome.

Compliance picks up about three months later, with Glory back to training with The Comp.  She was accepted back, as they thought she escaped her captor, who had kidnapped her. As described above in the book description, Glory is working undercover, finding and saving Deviants (hidden powers).  When she meets her new contact from the FA, who tells her she is to stop until further notice, since the last one she thought was saved, was killed by shredders.  Despondent, Glory tries to get more information, so that she can convince the FA to allow her to continue.   

Glory is also working with one of Haven’s management leaders to find a mole inside the Comp.  During all of this, she has to be careful not to reveal that she is a Deviant (she can kill just with her eyes), which will cause her to be expunged (sent outside to face the crazed Shredders), and die. Glory is still with her boyfriend Cal, but tries hard to not to allow herself to trust anyone.  Her friends from the first book, Jayma, and Scout are still there, though not as much. 

The story concentrates on Glory finding the deviants inside Haven & saving them, finding the mole; but the major arc in this story is the introduction of a new character, Mrs. Kalin, who is one of Haven’s top management.  She takes a liking to Glory, and Glory finds herself becoming very close to her. Over time they become like mother and daughter, but something isn’t right.  As her friends and Cal fall into danger, Glory must fight her feelings for the woman who claims her as her adopted mother, and control her Deviant powers to rise up to save her friends, as well as herself.  Without giving spoilers, I’ll just throw out some questions we faced heading towards the climatic ending.  Will Glory be able to save her friends? Why is Glory concerned about her feelings for Mrs. Kalin?  Will Glory act on her feelings for Cal, or is Burn still the one?  Will Glory survive?   The last half of this book was extremely exciting, with many twists that McGowan seems to throw at us in this series.  If you have read Deviants, then you must read this book.  If you have not, then start with Deviants.  I love this series, and Maureen McGowan does a fantastic job continuing the flow from Deviants to Compliance flawlessly.  With most things resolved at the end, McGowan does leave it somewhat open for book 3, Glory.  Can’t wait.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

 

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The Loneliest Alpha (The MacKellen Alphas #1) by T.A. Grey

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THE LONELIEST ALPHA (The MacKellen Alphas) by T.A.Grey-a review

The Loneliest Alpha 1

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Barnes and Noble /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 14, 2013

ONE LOOK WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER

Lingerie designer Alicia Clarkson just had to open her stupid mouth. Now thanks to trying to defend a fellow pack mate, Alicia’s been blindfolded, tied up, and carted off to the new alpha of the Oregon pack—Gavin MacKellen.

However, the blindfold doesn’t come off so soon as Gavin reveals he’s searching for a mate. But Alicia’s curiosity gets fired up when Gavin refuses to reveal his face to her. Just what happened to him? He talks to her from shadowy corners and behind closed doors. The man is as allusive as a squirrely fox. But Alicia doesn’t play games and the quiet spoken, hoarse-voiced alpha doesn’t stand a chance against her. They settle on an agreement, thirty days for them to get to know each other because that’s the only way this cowboy alpha will have it.

Gavin MacKellen needs a mate. But he knows no good woman would ever want to look at his face after the incident he suffered. After one look at Alicia Clarkson all his plans fly out the window. The woman’s beauty has stunned him damn near speechless. She torments his thoughts and Gavin finds himself yearning to know everything about her. As a relationship forms and love threatens to grow between them, Gavin struggles to cope with his physical appearance in the face of the beautiful Alicia. Will she be the one to stand in the face of a monster and accept him or will she turn her back on him?

••••••••••••••

REVIEW: THE LONELIEST ALPHA is the first storyline in T.A.Grey’s new series-The MacKellen Alphas. This is Gavin MacKellen and Alicia Clarkson’s story-a story of beauty and the beast.

As the blurb says, Gavin is searching for a mate. As the new alpha of the Oregon pack, Gavin needs a mate to stand by his side and support him in his role as leader, but there are no available females in his pack –or at least – there are none who are willing to mate with a man whose face has been ravaged by an attack. When his lieutenants kidnap several potential females from other packs, Gavin will find himself intrigued and attracted to feisty lingerie designer Alicia Clarkson. But Gavin refuses to show his face and forces himself into the shadows where Alicia is unable to get a clear view.

The storyline progresses as Gavin begins to fall for Alicia, knowing he would have to reveal his appearance but for the time being Alicia is kept in the dark or blindfolded whenever in the company of the Oregon alpha. Their relationship is obviously acrimonious in the beginning but will become one of friends to lovers when Alicia’s life is threatened on numerous occasions. Believing a former alpha rival is to blame, Gavin will go in search of proof to his guilt only to find that another member of his pack, once closer to home, is leading the assaults against the alpha and his mate.

The relationship between Gavin and Alicia is slow to build because of Gavin’s reluctance to reveal his scars but Alicia is having nothing to do with his secrets and pushes Gavin at every opportunity until another threat against her life has the truth finally revealed. I don’t know if Gavin felt sorry for himself, but he definitely had issues with the scars and disfigurement- a once seductively beautiful man, Gavin has been reduced to the wounds and stigma of an attack that was both personal and familiar.

There is no question that Gavin knows Alicia is his mate but the only question is whether Alicia will accept Gavin-scars and all. Gavin is a well respected and trusted alpha but there are problems plaguing his pack and it is his responsibility to uncover the who and what behind the threats and missing members.

The world building is smooth but limited as a good portion of the story focuses on Alicia. I would have liked to learn more about the pack dynamics but as this was only the introductory storyline perhaps there will be more revelations in future installments. The characters are colorful and Gavin’s sisters add plenty of humor when they ‘steal’ Alicia for a girl’s night out-I was laughing along with the trio.But one thing I did notice– there was no mention of shifting or characters shifting in the storyline-interesting considering this is a story of lycans and the paranormal.

THE LONELIEST ALPHA is a fast paced, and interesting spin on the Beauty and the Beast storyline phenomenon. This is a story of suspense and mystery, love and hate, betrayal and heartbreak, friends and family. T.A. Gray pulls the reader into the storyline of one man’s need for a mate, only to be refused over and over because of his scars. But in the end it is the scars in his heart that will be healed first-when he is willing to die for the woman he loves.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

About the author

T.A.Grey

 

 T.A.Grey loves to write the kind of stories that will keep you up late at night and make your heart pound. It is her goal to make each new book better, more exciting, and more action-packed to keep thrilling the reader. She is always trying to push the boundaries with her imagination, as well as the reader’s, to create something new and different.

Open up one of her novels and the reader will find hot, erotic stories that will make you laugh out loud, cry, and fly through the pages. 

Visit T.A.Grey’s website to learn more about her books at www.tagrey.com.

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John Heldt – The Show/The Mine – Combined Reviews

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John Heldt – The Show/The Mine – Combined Reviews

The Mine
Northwest Passage series – Book 1
Amazon

the mine

Description:
In May 2000, Joel Smith is a cocky, adventurous young man who sees the world as his playground. But when the college senior, days from graduation, enters an abandoned Montana mine, he discovers the price of reckless curiosity. He emerges in May 1941 with a cell phone he can’t use, money he can’t spend, and little but his wits to guide his way. Stuck in the age of Whirlaway, swing dancing, and a peacetime draft, Joel begins a new life as the nation drifts toward war. With the help of his 21-year-old trailblazing grandmother and her friends, he finds his place in a world he knew only from movies and books. But when an opportunity comes to return to the present, Joel must decide whether to leave his new love in the past or choose a course that will alter their lives forever. THE MINE is a love story that follows a humbled man through a critical time in history as he adjusts to new surroundings and wrestles with the knowledge of things to come.

Review:
4.5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

The Mine written by John A. Heldt is an incredible book.  This had a different feel to many of the books that I have been reading lately, and I absolutely loved that.  I am not normally a huge fan of time travel romances, but if it’s well composed and realistic than I am sold.  I am SOLD on this book.

We first meet our leading man Joel Smith in year 2000 while travelling with his buddy Adam through Montana.  Joel is about to graduate from college, has the world at his fingertips and intends to live life to the fullest.  Joel is described as a handsome, carefree, adventurous, full of wit soul that generally loves being himself.  I totally fell in love with him, but not for the gushing, swooning reasons I normally fall in love with my heros, but because he was believable and could be the guy next door.  He’s adorable, intelligent, risky in some ways, confident (but not in that arrogant way) and ultimately SO MUCH FUN.

So … while coming into some traffic blocks, he manages to talk his buddy Adam into taking a rough road up to a shut down mine so he can explore.  Turns out this so happens to be on the day that planets are aligned just right and there is some freaky cosmic phenomenon going on.  Joel notices a funky light in the cave (he is a geologist at heart so really the poor guy had no chance ..lol), has an encounter with a snake, a low level beam and somehow manages to come out the cave in 1941.

Joel comes to terms pretty quick with his time travelling ways (despite the fact that the moula and cell phone in his pocket are of NO HELP to him), jumps on a train (yes literally) and heads to Seattle.  After a rough few days, he meets a guy named Tom who befriends him, gets him employment and becomes his new best buddy.  Just so happens, Tom is engaged to his grandmother “Ginny”, but isn’t his grandfather.  Joel becomes completely smitten with Tom’s group of friends and really begins to live the 1941 way of life.

In this group he also meets Grace.  Grace was a bit of a colder fish for me at first but she has much to deal with in her life and as I continued to read I found her to be very “real” and likable.  Grace becomes Joel’s love interest and ultimately a huge part of the choice he has to make of “should I stay or should I go?”

In many of my reviews, I love to indulge the romance of the book, and while the romance was beautiful in this book, it was not the highlight nor the most enticing part for me.  It was Joel and his dilemmas about how to not intercede in history in the event he changes the future and perhaps his own existence.  He develops a true friendship with his grandmother, falls in love with her best friend and is best buddies with her fiance who he knows will not be his grandfather (nor why he won’t be).  Can you imagine having all this kind of knowledge and not being able to stand up and say “I KNOW WHAT’S COMING!”  Especially something as pivotal as a countries entrance into a world war.  That isn’t a small thing to carry on one’s shoulder’s.  Mix into the equation finding your soul mate and good grief, I am surprised this guy didn’t self com-bust!

I am going to leave the story explanation at that .. seriously so much happens, and chunks of the story are just way to good to spoil for you. The only reason this was not a solid 5 out of 5 for me was because I did find Joel’s reaction to time travel a little too accepting.  There was no freak out just a simple “yah okay I’m in 1941!”  I did find that a little far fetched.  I also am not in love with this book cover!  This is such a great book and that cover is way too dull.  

Leaving this review on a super happy note though, I add that this is an adventurous, page turning read that is hard to put down.  John A. Heldt is an honest to goodness very talented author.  From the beautiful descriptions, tidbits of history, the conversations between characters and the relationships formed, I was completely drawn in.  Do yourself a favour though, grab some tissues is you plan to dive in .. I sure needed them! 😉

HAPPY READING!

 

The Show
Northwest Passage Series – Book 3
Amazon

the showDescription:
Seattle, 1941. Grace Vandenberg, 21, is having a bad day. Minutes after Pearl Harbor is attacked, she learns that her boyfriend is a time traveler from 2000 who has abandoned her for a future he insists they cannot share. Determined to save their love, she follows him into the new century. But just when happiness is within her grasp, she accidentally enters a second time portal and exits in 1918. Distraught and heartbroken, Grace starts a new life in the age of Woodrow Wilson, silent movies, and the Spanish flu. She meets her parents as young, single adults and befriends a handsome, wounded Army captain just back from the war. In THE SHOW, the sequel to THE MINE, Grace finds love and friendship in the ashes of tragedy as she endures the trial of her life.

Review:
5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

Oh John A. Heldt, how you write a beautiful story.  I completely loved this book and how it all tied together into a continuation of the first book in this series called The Mine.  The Show is a continuation of Joel and Grace’s story but this time it is told from Grace’s POV.

This book begins with Grace’s determination to make her way to year 2000 to be reconciled with her soul mate Joel.  She has come to terms that he was in fact from the future and her journey through the mine was an absolute joy to read.  It was wonderful to have some pieces filled in and revisiting little details that where mentioned in the first book and how she interacted with all these details.

Once Grace finds herself in year 2000 she is befriended and cared for by other kind souls (much like Joel was in The Mine) and is assisted in her reconciliation by none other than the very friend she had in 1941.  Reading Grace’s and Joel’s realization that they get their happily ever after was a bit of a tearjerker!  LOL  Fast forward a couple of years, they are now married, have twins and they are madly in love.  Grace has adapted to the future beautifully .. all is well!

One night Grace and Joel attend a retro movie night (kinda funny considering it doesn’t feel so retro to our couple) AKA “The Show” and Grace finds herself traveling through another time portal landing her in 1918.  Well let me tell you, our Graceful Grace isn’t so graceful when she realizes paradise is no more.  She FREAKS OUT!  Can’t say I blame her as now nothing is certain.  She has a husband and children in the future and tries desperately to return to only to find out it’s pretty much impossible.  She is thrown into an epidemic (Spanish Flu), and reunited with family she thought she had lost forever.  She gets to experience her parents young and falling in love (her parents died too early in Grace’s life) and become close and in love with another man (although not her soul mate) Captain Walker.  Captain Walker seems to ease the ache that Grace feels in her tornado of a life and it was quite endearing reading these two together.  BITTERSWEET!

John A. Heldt is so eloquent in his words.  His writing absolutely flows and captures a beautiful picture in the reader’s mind.  I dare say he is the best self published author that I have ever come across.  He effortlessly weaved a continuation of a time travel story from one book to another and added more depth to it all the while keeping the reader completely captivated.  

Once again, like The Mine, this isn’t just a love story.  I appreciated the love story, but again it was the history and the cast of characters that kept me intrigued and that were highlighted in this book.  Once you start reading, you will have a trouble putting it down! WINK!

So… do Joel and Grace once again reunite or has Grace resigned herself to the fact that she has time traveled twice in her life and it’s all for a reason?!  Does she concern herself with changing anything in the past only to negate the future??  You’ll have to pick up a copy of The Show to find out!  LOL

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Reviews by Rachel

Copies provided by Author

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Guardian (The Protectors #2) by Nancy Northcott-a review

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GUARDIAN (The Protectors #2) by Nancy Northcott-a review

Guardian

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

GUARDIAN (The Protectors #2) by Nancy Northcott

ABOUT THE BOOK: July 2, 2013

A POWER TO KILL

FBI agent Camellia “Mel” Wray is no stranger to violence but when an old friend is brutally murdered, she takes it personally. The case hits even closer to her heart when the best person to help with the investigation is Dr. Stefan Harper, the only man she ever loved-and lost. One look at the gorgeous medical expert and Mel realizes he’s still impossible to resist-and still harboring a secret after all these years . . .

A POWER TO LOVE

Afraid Mel wouldn’t accept him, Stefan never revealed his study of magical medicine or his abilities, instead allowing her to believe he’d been unfaithful. Now she’s back in his life-and their mutual attraction burns hotter than ever. But when something dark and otherworldly threatens humans, Stefan must summon his mage powers to keep everyone safe. Will Mel be able to trust him again? Or will their love cost him even more than it did the first time?

••••••••••••

REVIEW: Some background: Mages are a gifted species of people who source their power from the elements. But there is an enemy against their kind, who suck the power and life essence from the mage, known as ghouls. Similar to vampires, the ghouls take down their prey, both mundane and mage, to feed from their blood. Leaving behind a trail of venomous poison in their victim’s blood, those who survive will eventually become ghoul.

GUARDIAN is the second full length novel (third storyline) in Nancy Northcott’s The Protector series focusing a group of human beings with the ability to manipulate the elements focusing their energy to save and protect themselves and the ‘mundane’ from ghoul attacks. This is Stefan and Mel’s storyline.

We have followed Stefan throughout the previous two storylines. As the resident physician and mage doctor, Stefan has the ability to heal using energy and magic. But there have been a series of attacks against both the mage and the mundane where the resulting tests and investigations prove that something else is at work among the ghouls. The attacks against the mage have been increasing and now the ghouls are targeting humans with artistic abilities and very little magic. When the identity of the latest victim is revealed, Stefan will come face to face with the only woman he has ever loved, but a woman who walked away believing she was betrayed and used.

The prior relationship has already been established as the couple were friends to lovers more than nine years earlier. But Mel believed Stefan was unfaithful and for over nine years she has had time to build up the animosity and mistrust. Having to work with Stefan as he investigates the death of her friend, Mel will be pulled into a world unlike anything she has seen. Magic and mage, ghouls and demons-and the man with whom she is still in love-is caught in the middle of the chaos.

Nancy’s intimate scenes are romantic and loving; there is nothing overwhelming or erotic in their presentation. The world building is detailed and there is plenty of background and expansion in this particular storyline as it appears Nancy is taking the series in a different direction: but at times, it slowed the pace of the story. A good portion of the novel was used to develop the premise but it got lost in the bit and pieces and the smaller side stories.  I was also hoping for some more details regarding Mel and Stefan’s earlier relationship as it would have set the stage for their present day alliance and association.

Overall GUARDIAN is a well-written and interesting storyline. There is some action and adventure; love and romance; and a little bit of sex. Nancy continues to build on her series of magical beings and poisonous ghouls. If you are a fan of a paranormal series with alpha heroes who love their women as much as they love life then The Protector series must be added to your TBR pile.

READING ORDER
1. Renegade
2. Protector
3. Guardian

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

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Entwined With You (Crossfire #3) by Sylvia Day-a review

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Entwined With You (Crossfire #3) by Sylvia Day-a review

Entwined with You

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

ENTWINED WITH YOU (Crossfire #3) by Sylvia Day

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 4, 2013

From the moment I first met Gideon Cross, I recognized something in him that I needed. Something I couldn’t resist. I saw the dangerous and damaged soul inside–so much like my own. I was drawn to it. I needed him as surely as I needed my heart to beat.

No one knows how much he risked for me. How much I’d been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become.

Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession…

••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: ENTWINED WITH YOU is the third storyline in Sylvia Day’s erotic, contemporary Crossfire series focusing on Gideon Cross and the woman he would kill for-Eva Trammel.

At the end of REFLECTED IN YOU Gideon and Eva’s life had been cemented together with the knowledge about who killed Eva’s step-brother and the secrets from each other’s past-pasts filled with betrayal, abuse and questionable parenting from all concerned. Entwined With You furthers the storyline yet does very little in the way of developing a different direction for the leading couple or continuing the story.

Many questions from the second book have been answered-questions regarding some of Gideon’s behavior and Eva’s mistaken beliefs. But a good portion of this particular novel involves sex and issues of trust-and there is plenty of sex between our leading couple-in the bedroom; in the kitchen; on the couch; on the floor; in the shower; on the plane; in the office and….well, you get the idea ! Sex in this series has always been prevalent and a major part of the storyline but I felt overwhelmed very quickly.

Issues of trust, once again, come to the forefront as past lovers continue to force themselves into Gideon and Eva’s lives. Whether in the guise of love or obsession, these ex-lovers will wreak havoc for our couple. From Corinne to Brett and another from Gideon’s past, as well as some revealing video, Eva and Gideon must weather the firestorm that continues to burn hot and bright.

But I am not sure where Sylvia is going with this particular series. She was originally contracted for a trilogy -3 books- but now there are plans for a total of 5. Most (but not all) of the major issues between Gideon and Eva have been solved as well as some important aspects of their future, therefore, Sylvia has ventured into secondary character storylines. The secondary characters including Eva’s parents, Megumi and especially Cary’s love triangle with Trey and Tatiana, will all play a much more prominent role in future storylines. Sylvia Day has used Entwined With You as the building block to several potential story arcs in the series that may or may not directly involve Eva and Gideon (although all secondary characters are connected to the couple) and, therefore their stories will reflect directly back.

The relationship between Gideon and Eva continues to be very physical and co-dependent. There is rarely a moment where they were not touching or kissing or enticing the other into another round of steamy sex or forbidden touch. They risk public disclosure and decency laws on more than one occasion. The bond between Gideon and Eva is one of need and want; love and obsession. They are each other’s addiction. Regardless of Gideon’s need to protect and defend, there is also his need FOR Eva as well. He is a man who is unable to function without the woman that he loves. At some point Gideon will want to take their relationship to the next level.

Overall, Entwined With You is an interesting storyline but one that I found not to be on the same level as the previous two books. Perhaps there is the issue of expanding the trilogy into a series of five and therefore a different approach and direction was required to shape and construct the new storyline arc but there is a definite lack of closure and satisfaction in book three. It was like running on a treadmill when you needed to go somewhere else.

Crossfire Trilogy

Reviewed by Sandy

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Act Like You Love Me by Cindi Madsen

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Act Like You Love Me by Cindi Madsen

Act Like you Love Me

Links to order Act Like You Love Me:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Description:
Brynn McAdams isn’t the awkward drama geek she was in high school—she’s grown up and confident, or at least she likes to think so. But when her old crush, the impossibly handsome and impossibly unattainable Sawyer Raines, comes back to town to direct her community play, Brynn finds herself determined to be someone other than the girl he doesn’t even recognize. Good thing she’s an excellent actress.  

After his bad breakup in NYC, the last thing Sawyer wants is to get involved with another actress. But the glamorous and beautiful Brynn draws him in, even though as her director, he knows she’s off-limits. There’s just something about the woman that feels…familiar. Like home.  

As Brynn’s lies start to snowball, she struggles to stop acting and come clean. But what if Sawyer is already falling for the fake Brynn, not the Brynn she truly is?


Review:

ACT LIKE YOU LOVE ME by Cindi Madsen is a wonderful contemporary romance, available just in time for summer!!  This novel will draw you in, hook, line and sinker!  Yes, that is a fishing reference, because our heroine works in her family’s bait shop, Bigfish!!  Brynn McAdams was an awkward teenager growing up and in love with the dreamy football player, Sawyer Raines.  She had a rough time in high school!  As a drama geek, she lost her skirt in a school production and earned the dreaded nickname—McFlasher.  Well, Brynn has outgrown her awkwardness and is a beautiful, confident woman.  

Brynn is starring in a local production and Sawyer Raines, the elusive and dreamy screenwriter, is roped into directing the play.  Sawyer doesn’t recognize the hot and sassy Brynn!  He thinks that she is an actress from LA and the comedy begins!!!

Brynn is performing the role of a lifetime!  Sawyer assumes many things about Brynn and she doesn’t correct him.  She even lets the man teach her how to fish!  She is the fishing expert, but she doesn’t want to lose her new connection to her childhood love!  It becomes a comedy or errors, which Brynn is Sawyer falling in love with?

This is a charming novel about a wonderful woman, afraid of rejection and a man who fears commitment!  Brynn is such an engaging heroine, I was rooting for her from the beginning.  She is so full of life and love! There are some great secondary characters too!  I loved their families, especially their matchmaking mothers!  Sawyer has some demons to overcome, due to the death of his father when he was a teen.  I won’t tell you the ending, but I was kind of surprised!  This is such an engaging story with a great cast of characters.  I felt like I lived in their lakeside town!  It’s great when an awkward teenager can overcome that insecurity and bloom as an adult!

Reviewed by Jules

Copy provide by Publisher

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How to Tame Your Duke by Juliana Gray – a Review

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How to Tame Your Duke by Juliana Gray – a Review

 

How to tame your duke

Links to order How to Tame Your Duke:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository / Kobo

Description:
Three intrepid princesses find themselves targets in a deadly plot against the crown—until their uncle devises a brilliant plan to keep them safe…

England, 1888. Quiet and scholarly Princess Emilie has always avoided adventure, until she’s forced to disguise herself as a tutor in the household of the imposing Duke of Ashland, a former soldier disfigured in battle and abandoned by his wife. When chance draws her into a secret liaison with the duke, Emilie can’t resist the opportunity to learn what lies behind his forbidding mask, and find out what adventure really means…

The duke never imagines that his son’s tutor and his mysterious golden-haired beauty are one and the same. But when the true identity of his lover is laid bare, Moreland must face the demons in his past in order to safeguard both his lady—and his heart.

Review:

How to Tame Your Duke by Juliana Gray is the first book in her new Historical Romance series. Early on we are introduced to the three sisters, (Louisa, Stefanie and Emilie), who will be part of each book in this series.  They are princesses on the run from a plot to overthrow their German principality crown, as their father has been killed.  Their uncle, the Duke of Olympia, puts together a plan to separate them in disguise, until it is safe. 

How to Tame Your Duke is Emilie’s story. She travels in disguise as a man, Mr. Grimsby, to Duke of Ashland’s estate to tutor his 16 year old son.  What ensues is a different and fun story that builds into a wonderful romance.  I loved Emilie, both as herself and as Mr. Grimsby.  Her friendship with Freddie, the duke’s son was fun. 

Duke Ashland is our hero in this book.  He stays on his estate, as he does not like to travel, since he lost his hand, and was badly scarred on the right side of his face during war time.  His wife left him years ago, when he came home from the war, leaving him to take care of his son alone.  Emilie was shocked when she first saw Ashland, looked at his perfect handsome profile, and then to see his flawed side.  But as time goes on, Emilie finds herself becoming attracted to Ashland, but of course, she is unable to show any feelings, as they see her as Mr. Grimsby.

Until Emilie goes on her day off to the hotel nearby to relax as herself, but under another assumed name.  To her shock, she sees Ashland at the hotel, and discovers why he visits there weekly.  Emilie is mistaken as the woman Ashland was waiting for, and comes face to face with him in his room.  He also is under an assumed name, and when he meets Emily, he immediately begins to fall for her, as she treats him not like the other woman, whom he will not let see his face.  Their liason begins tentatively at first, as Ashland has no idea that this Emily, is Grimsby, and what starts out only as her reading to him in blindfold, to a full fledged sexual affair after a few visits, that Emilie cannot stop meeting Ashland.

What follows is a wonderful romance that builds in time,  and the obstacles in the way that could cause danger to Ashland, that prevents Emilie from pushing more for this relationship; not to mention her at some point revealing who she is.  It was a fun and interesting story, as Ashland becomes embroiled in Emilie’s situation, and the danger involved.  But true love will always suffice in romance, and though Gray keeps this open for the next few books, we do get a happy solution to keep us coming back for more.  A wonderful and different type of romance by Juliana Gray.  I look forward to the next book in this series, which belongs to Stefanie.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

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Obsession (Arum) by Jennifer L. Armentrout-.99cents limited time only

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Obsession (Arum) by Jennifer L. Armentrout- .99cents limited time only

DEAL NOW CLOSED-thank you to all who purchased a copy 

Obsession

OFFER now CLOSED-thank you to all who purchased a copy

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OBSESSION (Arum)
by Jennifer Armentrout
Release Date: May 31, 2013

This is a stand alone novel that is an adult spin-off of the Lux series

He’s arrogant, domineering, and… To. Die. For.

Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.

Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something… unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.

Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life… or is it Hunter?

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