Author Archives: Barb

Joy by Danielle Steel – a Review

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Joy by Danielle Steel – a Review

 

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Description:
When she is only six years old, Allegra Dixon’s party-loving mother leaves without so much as a goodbye. Her father, an emotionally distant military officer, is also unable—or unwilling—to care for her. Sent to live like a ghost in her grandparents’ joyless home, Allegra finds her only solace through an escape into books.

Attending boarding school, life finally takes a turn when she meets a dashing young West Point cadet named Shep Williams. Soon their friendship blossoms into something more, and they fall deeply in love. 

After college, Allegra has established herself as a book editor and Shep is rising through the ranks of the military. But then Shep suddenly receives a posting to Afghanistan, and they decide to marry before he goes. Between his deployments, they cling to their brief and fraught stolen moments together. Each time he leaves, Shep promises the separations will soon come to an end. 

But soon Allegra realizes that the horrors of war have begun to change her husband into a man she no longer recognizes. The trauma he has experienced proves to be too harrowing, and Allegra will find herself feeling utterly alone again just when she thought she’d finally found happiness.

In her new novel,Danielle Steel tells the unforgettable story of a woman who refuses to give up until she finds the joy she deserves.

 

 

Review:

Joy by Danielle Steel is another one of her wonderful novels.  The story follows Allegra Dixon, who had a sad childhood, when at six years old, her mother, who never wanted a child, walked out of her life. Her father was in the military, and sent Allegra to stay with her grandparents; with her spending time reading books, and little joy in her life.  She spent her childhood at boarding schools, camps and rare visits from her father or mother.  

At school, she meets Shep Williams, who comes from a prestigious family, and became her best friend; they both fell in love; while he went to West Point, Allegra went to college.  Upon graduation, they got married before he left for the Army, keeping it a secret until he got back from time overseas. After college, Allegra got a job as book editor, while Shep began to rise through the ranks of the military. Allegra and Shep had a happy marriage, but over the years, he began to suffer PTSD, especially after his deployment at Afghanistan.  Allegra knew her father was still at Afghanistan, and worried that Shep was changing. After a few assignments, every-time Shep came home, the nightmares became worse, and he was putting her through dangerous dreams.  Shep decided to go back to Afghanistan, and decided to get a divorce, since he had no control of his PSTD and wanted Allegra to be safe; she couldn’t convince him to stay home and get help.

Once the divorce was complete, Allegra decided to move to California and looked for a job.  She managed to get a job as an assistant to Henry Platt, a famous workaholic music and film composer, who is 30 years her senior. She loves her job, as she is willing to work long hours, and their friendship escalated to a bond. Over time, the two fell in love, as Allegra’s life will give her more joy and purpose with Henry; as he treats her like a queen and takes her on travels to Europe. After being together for 9 years (7 married years), Henry will succumb to Cancer. Still in her early stages of her life (30 +), Allegra decides to write, and begins to do a biography of Henry’s life and career, which was successful; leading into her becoming a famous author.

Allegra will go through two decades of her life, with disastrous family, sadness, two marriages, love, emotional and closer to the end joy. Joy was an emotional, sad, happiness, compelling and inspiring story throughout.  Joy was so very well written by Danielle Steel. I suggest you read Joy, as it was a very good story.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Everything We Never Knew by Julianne Hough/Ellen Goodlett -Review

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Everything We Never Knew by Julianne Hough/Ellen Goodlett -Review

 

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Description:
When the stars align, anything can happen. On stage at an awards banquet is the last place Lexi Cole expected to drown. But as she accepts the award for top-seller at her realty firm, something unusual catches Lexi’s a man surrounded by a dark haze. Then she hears a woman screaming for help, and the taste of saltwater overwhelms her. Just as Lexi’s throat begins to close, the man leaves the room and the sensation of drowning abruptly stops. Later that night, the man dies of an overdose, and Lexi learns about the traumatic boating accident that killed his sons and tore his family apart. Lexi wants to believe it’s a bizarre coincidence. Any other explanation would disrupt the normal, comfortable life she’s worked so hard to build. Lexi is an expert at denial, a pro at fitting in. But as more strange events unfold, Lexi can’t deny the something is changing inside her. She feels other people’s emotions, sometimes even glimpses their private memories. By embracing her new abilities, Lexi can help heal people―though not until she confronts the past she’s spent a lifetime burying. But when a vision reveals her husband is in danger, Lexi must face her inner demons or lose the person she loves most. Atmospheric and emotional, Everything We Never Knew is the gripping story of one woman embracing her power, no matter what the world thinks.

 

 

Review:

Everything We Never Knew by Julianne Hough and Ellen Goodlett is a standalone novel. We meet Alexis (Lexi) when she is accepting an award for being the top-seller at her real estate firm. Suddenly, she sees a man, and hears a woman screaming for help’, and Lexi begins to taste saltwater, and just as she feels like she is drowning, everything clears up. Later that night, she learns that the man died of an overdose, as the family was torn apart when an accident killed his sons. Lexi begins to feel things changing inside of her, with glimpses of other people’s emotions, including private memories.

Lexi and Shane are married and seem to have it all; he is a firefighter and she surprisingly quits her job.  She begins to explore the emotional and spiritual journey, and finds herself at Bea’s Odd and Ends Store, with Bea, who is a reputed witch.  Bea will take Lexi under her wing, teaching her about sensing energies, as she navigates in her quest for self-discovery. Lexi slowly embraces her new abilities, and learning how she can heal people; as well as her own past (the loss of her baby and issues with her own family). I did like how Lexi opened up to Bea, and vice versa; as their friendship bond brought them together.  Shane and Lexi had problems, due to Lexi always working closely to Bea; her friends Tanya and Chloe also did not approve of Bea.  

As Lexi began her journey of healing others, as well as finding a way to heal herself from her past; it is Bea who was always helping her move forward, and when Lexi needed help, her friends, including Bea   they will be there to help her get past her family issues.  In time, Shane will open up and together their bond will heal both of them. 

Everything We Never Knew was an emotional and gripping story of energies and psychic abilities with human spirits.  I did like the story, but thought it was a bit slow early on. Everything We Never Knew was very well written by Julianne Hough and Ellen Goodlett.  If you enjoy spiritual stories, you should give this book a try.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

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Buried Too Deep by Karen Rose – Review & Giveaway

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Buried Too Deep by Karen Rose – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead.

Employed as the nighttime security guard of Broussard Private Investigations, Phineas Bishop has been working through overwhelming PTSD episodes from his Army service while still utilizing his military skills. But when a violent break-in occurs at the office, the accusatory eyes of the NOPD glance to Phin, and he resolves to track down the intruder and clear his name.

Phin’s only lead and witness is Cora Winslow, a spirited librarian who also needs answers. Her father’s body has been discovered under a recently demolished building, murdered twenty-three years ago. So, who has been sending her the handwritten letters—written and signed by him—every year since she was five? Someone wants to keep Cora in the dark. And now, they’re coming for her.

As Cora’s bodyguard, Phin is surprised by his fondness for the woman’s fierce determination and research prowess. But New Orleans’s Garden District holds secrets as old as the streets themselves. With help from the entire Broussard P.I. team, Phin and Cora enter a labyrinth of fraud and homicide that threatens to bury them all.

 

 

Review:

Buried too Deep by Karen Rose is the 3rd book in her New Orleans series. As I have mentioned previously, I am a big fan of Karen Rose, as her suspense thrillers are amazing, and unputdownable.  Buried Too Deep is another fabulous book, as Rose always creates fantastic heroes and wonderful secondary characters, as well as evil villains. Buried Too Deep is a tense, violent, exciting, non-stop action filled story that kept me on the edge of to my seat from start to finish.

Broussard Private Investigations is an elite security firm, in New Orleans. Phin Bishop, suffers from PTSD, and the team always looks out for him.  Phin, now has a service dog, SodaPop, who follows him, and helps to make sure Phin is calm. Phin arrives at the office, only to discover their receptionist, Joy has been shot, and though the police suspect him, they realize that he was innocent, only arriving at the office after Joy was hurt.  Phin also saw a woman run out of the office, when he arrived, with someone chasing her.

Cora Winslow had contacted Broussard Agency to help to discover who was sending letters to her over the years, as her father had been missing for twenty-three years.  Cora is a librarian in the Garden District, and was talking to Joy, when she ran after someone shot Joy; she suspected that she may have been the target at the office.  She does go to the police to give further information about the shooting, which cleared her name, especially since a body was discovered buried under some foundations and it turned out to be her missing father. Cora also is determined to find out who has sent letters pretending to be her father.  The entire Broussard PI team will work together, which includes Burke, Molly, Val, Antoine and Phin to find the clues as to who is behind the attacks, as well as someone breaking into her home.  Molly and Val take turns protecting Cora, with Phin also fixing up things in her home. 

Phin will watch Cora, and soon the attraction between them escalates.  Cora has a lot of empathy and compassion, as she always is able to calm Phin, as well as SodaPop.  I really liked how both of them slowly found each other. Phin and Cora were great characters, but the entire Broussard team was equally fantastic.

We have another POV centered on the killer, as well as his grandson; with the grandson determined to discover the secrets of this grandfather.  The grandson, discovers many things about terrible things his grandfather has done, and ultimately must decide who to trust.

What follows is an intriguing, tense, exciting, and edge of your seat suspense story line that had me unable to put the book down; also, with plenty of twists and turns.  This was very tense from all the way through, especially with the evil villains constantly killing off many innocent people.  I do not want to give spoilers, as you really need to read this book from start to finish.

Buried too Deep is an intense thriller, with non- stop action all the way.  As I have said before, Karen Rose never fails to give a fantastic well written thriller that is intense, always on the edge, with fantastic characters, evil villains and a wonderful couple you care for. If you love suspense, with a touch of romance and a thriller all the way, then look no further then Karen Rose.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

                           Berkley Hardcover
                                  Excerpt

Phin Bishop stumbled to a stop, staring up at the building that was as close to a home as he’d known in a long time. It wasn’t the building itself, of course, although it was beautiful with its cast iron balconies and its shutters thrown wide in welcome.

Even to me. He hoped.

Because the magic of the building wasn’t in its bricks or balconies. It was in the people who worked within its walls. Burke Broussard and his people had become Phin’s family.

But I deserted them. I ran.

No. He could hear the voice of his therapist in his mind. You didn’t “run.” You have PTSD. You left to get better.

But was he better?

Am I ready to be back?

A hand closed over his shoulder, warm and reassuring. “Phin?” Stone O’Bannion murmured. “We can come back tomorrow. Or we can get SodaPop. This is exactly what she’s trained for. Helping you through situations just like this.”

Swallowing hard, Phin turned to meet his best friend’s eyes and saw understanding and compassion that Phin didn’t think he deserved. Stone was right. Phin should have brought his new service dog. But he hadn’t, wanting to stand on his own two feet.

Which had been wrong thinking. He knew that. Knew that there was no shame in needing a service dog. No shame in having PTSD. He’d accepted that. Accepted that he’d have episodes. That he’d sometimes relapse.

SodaPop made it easier to stave off his episodes. Helped him recover faster when he did relapse.

And you deserve that help. Those words were again in his therapist’s voice. Phin could accept that there was no shame in needing his dog. But he hadn’t been able to accept that he deserved the assistance. And that was the real reason he’d left SodaPop behind this morning.

“That we could come back tomorrow is what you said yesterday,” Phin said. And yesterday, he’d jumped at the chance to turn tail and run.

He’d been running most of his life.

“And I’ll say it tomorrow and the next day.” Stone gave his shoulder a squeeze. Anchoring him. “What are you afraid of? Be honest with me.”

Phin forced the words out. “That they won’t want me back.”

“If they don’t, it’ll hurt,” Stone acknowledged, and Phin was grateful that Stone hadn’t brushed his concerns away. “But I read their texts.” Phin had given Stone permission to read all the communication from his New Orleans friends. “These people care about you. They will want you back.”

“What if I flake again?” He hated losing control of his own mind, hated the spiral that tugged him under.

Stone shrugged. “Then you leave, you heal, and you try again.”

Phin’s chest hurt. “I’m so tired of leaving.”

“Then stay. Take a step. Right now. There you go. Now another. That’s the way.”

Phin forced his feet to move closer to the building that housed Broussard Investigations. “I should have stopped for beignets.”

Stone chuckled, clearly not fooled by the lame procrastination attempt. “I’ll get some for you. Once you’re inside and talking to your friends.”

The building grew closer and Phin’s chest grew tighter. “Why are you still here? Babysitting me?” He was grateful. He was. But he didn’t entirely understand why Stone put up with him. “You have better things to do.”

“No, I don’t. Right now, I’m exactly where I need to be, doing what I need to do. Because you need me. And because I’ve been where you are. Someone stuck by my side until I could walk alone.” Phin knew Stone’s story. His friend had been an addict, sober for years now. “So I’m paying it forward, doing it for you. Keep walking, Phin.”

They were nearly at the front door. Just another fifteen feet.

Then the door burst open, banging into the wall behind it. Startled at the sound, Phin lurched back, once again grateful for Stone’s steadying hand. When he’d righted himself, he got a glimpse of the woman who’d thrown the door open. She wore a gray hooded cloak that hid her face, but a wisp of black hair escaped the hood to whip in the wind. For a moment, Phin stood stock-still, staring as she rushed away, heading toward the center of the Quarter.

The only part of her body that was visible was her legs.

They were very nice legs. Her calves were perfectly defined, thanks to the three-inch heels she wore. How she was able to walk in heels that high-much less run-was a mystery.

She took an abrupt left at the next intersection and disappeared from view.

“Who was that?” Stone asked.

“I don’t know.” He’d never seen her before. He’d remember legs like that.

Importantly, her appearance had stopped the mental spiral of his anxiety. Sometimes a distraction was exactly what he needed to get his head on straight.

That’s what SodaPop’s supposed to do, you idiot.

Fine. Next time he’d bring her along.

“Did she come from your office?” Stone pressed. “From Broussard Investigations?”

Phin stilled. She hadn’t been a woman with nice legs. She’d been a fleeing woman with nice legs. “Shit.”

The sound of two gunshots, one right after the other, shoved his body into motion, and he started to run.

“Joy.” She’ll be alone. Because she was always the first in the office.

“Joy’s the office manager?” Stone asked, running beside him. “The lady who uses a wheelchair?”

“Yes.” Phin bypassed the ancient elevator and took the stairs. He’d told Stone about everyone in Burke’s office. He cared about them all, but Joy was special. She’d accepted him from the beginning. Taken him under her wing. Mothered him. Trusted him. “Ex-cop. Got shot on the job. Paralyzed from the waist down. Tougher than she looks.”

She’d be okay. Joy could take care of herself, he told himself, propelling himself up the last few stairs in a single leap.

They rushed from the stairwell into Burke’s lobby. It was an open space with large windows along one wall that faced the street below. Joy’s desk would be in the dead center of the room and she’d be sitting behind her computer, doing whatever it was she did every morning. She’d give him a look that was both chiding and welcoming.

Just like all the other times he’d returned from having run.

Except . . . she wasn’t behind her desk.

“Oh no.” Phin’s heart went from a gallop to a dead stop.

Because Joy lay on the floor next to her desk, her wheelchair on its side. Her white blouse was rapidly becoming red with blood and she wasn’t moving.

Excerpted from Buried Too Deep by Karen Rose Copyright © 2024 by Karen Rose. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved.

 


 

 

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Make It Real by Nan Reinhardt – a Review

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Make It Real by Nan Reinhardt – a Review

 

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Description:
They were only faking it … .

A landscape designer for his family’s construction firm, Joe Walker, is nearing completion on one of the most important projects of his career—gardens for spec homes that if they wow, Walker Construction will survive. When a freak accident sidelines him with a broken leg, the firm hires a competitor. Her ideas are radically different, but his stalker ex arrives to play nurse, and Joe needs more than gardening help.

After six-years working in English manor gardens, horticulturist Kara Sudbury returns to River’s Edge to help in her grandparents’ struggling garden center. She’s thrilled when Jackson Walker hires her to execute his injured cousin’s designs. Ignoring Joe is difficult because he’s as sexy now as he was in high school and even more stubborn. But when. Kara’s up for the subterfuge…for a price, but then the pretense feels real, and Kara is reminded that every rose has its thorns.

 

 

Review:

Make it Real by Nan Reinhardt is the 2nd book in her wonderful The Walkers of River’s Edge series. We meet Kara Sudbury, our heroine, who returned to River’s Edge, to help her grandparents with their struggling garden center.  Joe Walker, our hero, is a landscape designer for his family’s construction firm; and he is currently working on a very important project. Joe has a freak accident that will sideline him with a broken leg and a protruding bone. Kara happened to come to his rescue, and tries to get him to move away from poison ivy, which will make matters worse. It is Kara who helps get Joe to the hospital, and call his family.

Kara visits Joe at the hospital, and also finds Joe’s ex-girlfriend falling all over him, with Joe telling the nurses to kick her out; as they broke up weeks ago.  Joe asks Kara if she can pretend to be his girlfriend, so he can get rid of the other girl; they agree that Kara will play the current girlfriend role, and Joe will let Kara handle the landscaping and pay her for the work.  This will help Kara bring the Sudbury’s Nursery back on track, allowing them to bring more business.    

Kara is very good at her job, especially after spending a number of years in England, as a landscaper.  She tries to tell Joe about more colorful plants to will make things look better, which in time he will begin to realize that Kara knows what she is doing. Joe’s brother Jackson, hires her to execute his injured cousin’s designs.  Kara also aids in helping Joe get around from his severe injury, which in a short time, they will both begin to have feelings for each other.  The chemistry between them was off the wall.

I really enjoyed watching Joe and Kara fall in love. I also loved all the Walker family, as well as Kara’s grandparents.  It was a bit sad close to the end, which I won’t reveal why; so not to ruin it for you. 

What follows is a sweet wonderful heartwarming romantic story, with a great couple, excellent secondary characters; and great small town.  Make It Real was so very well written by Nan Reinhardt; as I have read her other previous series, and loved them.   If you enjoy a fun, sweet romance, I suggest you read Make It Real.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

 

 

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Broken by Kaitlyn Legaspi – a Review

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Broken by Kaitlyn Legaspi – a Review

 

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Description
The world of the fifty-two domains finds itself fractured.

After the awakening of the rogue leader’s powers and the invasion of the dark creatures known as Vain, Neela answers the summons of the Card Holder of the Ace of Spades. He seeks to rigorously hone and strengthen her powers for the arduous battles to come as she plays her part in the prophecy of sibling gods.

Neela is put through a series of trials that not only challenge her physical abilities, but push her to an emotional limit. Doubts of past decisions fester as her morals are tested. Her fears of becoming someone unrecognizable grow with each passing day. As she reflects on her unsettling changes and increasing isolation, she can’t help but think…

Just one small push could send her plummeting over the edge.

 

 

Review

Broken by Kaitlyn Legaspi is the 4th book in her Card Holders series.  It’s been a while since I read the previous books. But once I dived into Neela’s world, I soon became engrossed…You definitely need to read in order as it’s an ongoing story.

It’s paced pretty well, we get a little back history, but not too much (that’s why I recommend reading in order.) Action is written really well, and we have the side characters that just add to the story. We have our love interest, but it’s not at the forefront, the story is Neela’s up and coming battle (with herself and what lies ahead.)

It’s really hard not to just spill out the story, but that ruins it for others, so I’ll just give my thoughts on the book and try really hard not to give away anything 😃

Neela is still fighting, surviving and trying to live as normal a life as possible. But losing loved ones take its toll, it takes a piece of you that you never get back 😔 she has people she cares about, but through the books Neela has lost people she truly loved. Her powers grow ever stronger, and a side that we don’t expect appears 🤐 and Neela finds herself scared and worried for the people around her!

And the ending…. Although not a cliffhanger in anyway, it does make me sad for Neela!

What a great addition to this series. I’m thinking of going back to the beginning to reacquaint myself with it all, as I’d forgotten how good they were. A highly recommended read. I’m fact I’d recommend the whole series. And at the end of the book, we find out there is another one to look forward to 😁

Reviewed by Julie

Copy supplied for Review

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The Scenic Route by Katie Ruggle – a Review

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The Scenic Route by Katie Ruggle – a Review

 

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Description:
Why date a mountain man? Because climbing him will leave you breathless.

Felicity Pax loves her job. She craves excitement, and being a bounty hunter gives her that in spades. So when her estranged mother disappears with a small fortune in tow, Felicity chases her like she would any other skip. Too bad she didn’t barter on having increasingly infuriating (and infuriatingly hot) PI Bennett Green on her tail.

Bennett’s got a job to do, and if that means shadowing Felicity…well…he’s had worse assignments. Even if he’s 99% sure the increasingly intriguing bounty hunter is leading him on a wild goose chase through the Rockies.

If she has to drag her PI tail through endless quirky mountain towns in order to shake him, that’s what she’s determined to do…but it isn’t long before Felicity’s intended distraction turns up a mystery worth solving—and Bennett becomes the unexpected partner she never realized she needed. As things heat up, Felicity will have to decide what’s most important to staying one step ahead of the “enemy” or giving herself freedom to experience the adventure of a lifetime.

The Rocky Mountains get unBEARably hot in Katie Ruggle’s brand-new series packed with adventure, action, tall dark & scruffy heroes, and a sense of quirky humor that will be your next perfect escape.

 

 

Review:

The Scenic Route by Katie Ruggle is the 1st book in her new series, Beneath the Wild Sky. All of the 5 Pax sisters run a bounty hunter bail and recovery business; and their mother has recently stolen an expensive necklace, and has disappeared.  We meet Felicity Pax, our heroine, who loves her job as a bounty hunter, which gives her lots of excitement and fun. With her sister Molly, still searching for their mother, Felicity decides to head to Simpson, Colorado to chase a skip; and knows that her stalker continues to follow her.

Bennett Green, our hero, is a private investigator, who has been hired to find Jane Pax, and the necklace she stole.  He closely follows Felicity, as she knows he is tailing her.  When Felicty arrives in Simpson, Colorado, she stops at local coffee shop, and meets the waitress, Lou; who learns she is a bounty hunter. After a short time, Bennett walks in, and Felicity tells Lou that he is a stalker. But slowly, Bennett moves close to Felicity, helping her find the person she is looking for.  Lou excitingly calls her friends (Simpson Murder Club), to meet Felicity and join them in helping them find where the skip is hiding.  

Unable to get a room, Felicity and Bennett stay overnight in the car, and soon they discover the person they want, and end up in Las Vegas, where they team up together, as Bennett becomes the partner she really needed.    In a short time, the relationship between Felcity and Bennett escalates, as the chemistry between them was sizzling. 

What follows is an exciting, non-stop action-packed adventure with Felicity and Bennett working together, against a dangerous escaped criminal putting themselves in harms way.  I really liked the story line, and all the characters. I loved how Bennett and Felicity became a great team.  I also enjoyed Lou and her Simpson Murder Club friends, with the husbands helping them out.  It was an exciting story line, that was so much fun.

The Scenic Route was a captivating, enjoyable and heartwarming story.  Felicity, Bennett and all the endearing characters at the coffee shop were all entertaining.   The Scenic Route was a fun, exciting, action-packed story, with some very good characters.  The Scenic Route was very well written by Katie Ruggle.  I suggest you read The Scenic Route.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Sanctuary by Ilona Andrews – a Review

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Sanctuary by Ilona Andrews – a Review

 

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Description:
It’s not easy serving the Chernobog, the God of Destruction, Darkness and Death…especially during the holidays; and especially when you’re out of eggnog and one of your pesky, freeloading mythic creatures has eaten your last cookie.

Roman would like nothing more than to be left alone, but when a wounded boy stumbles into his yard and begs for sanctuary, Roman takes him in. Now elite mercenaries are camped out on his property, combat mages are dousing the house with fire, and strange priests are unleashing arcane magic. They thought Roman was easy pickings, just a hermit in the woods, but they chose the wrong dark priest to annoy. For while Roman might be patient, he is the Black Volhv, filled with the love of his terrible god. For his adversaries, it’s a fight to the death, but for him, it’s just another day in the neighborhood.

 

 

Review:

Sanctuary by Ilona Andrews is a standalone novel in the World of Kate Daniels. We did meet Roman (hero), in previous Kate Daniels books. Roman is the priest of Chernobog, who is the God of Destruction, Darkness and Death, and in Sanctuary, we learn more about his backstory, which includes his chaotic family, as well as becoming Chernobog’s Black Volhv.   Roman is depressed, wanting no company during the winter holiday, and to his surprise, a boy races to his house and begs for Sanctuary.

Almost immediately, elite mercenaries appear on his property, wanting the boy and his puppy; with them thinking this was going to be easy, with the hermit in the house.  Of course, little did they know he was a powerful dark priest.  Besides the mercenaries, they are also attacked by mages, strange priests, unleashing magic and trying to douse the house with fire. Roman collects a hoard of witchy pets and demonic beasties, which he manages to bring out in the fight to death against those who want the boy at any cost.  While the attacks continue, Roman teaches Finn what not to use and what is safe.

We learn a lot about Roman in his early years, especially with his perfect older brother. His father was Volhv with Chernobog, during those years, and always pushed for the older son to follow him.  Roman was lonely and felts ostracized from his family.  But when he got older, the choice to replace the father, was a complete surprise as to who Chernobog chose. In the current time, Roman’s dreams show him dragging a tree to give to Morena (Chernobog’s wife), where he sees Andora, a girl he knew when they were very young; he also sees Farhang (the mage) who is in the dream and Finn, who is in for the ride.

What follows is an exciting and intriguing story, with Roman tied to the Slavic gods in this world, with magical siblings; not to mention his wonderful menagerie. Finn was a very good addition, and Andora, a childhood friend, who may become a potential romance.  It was fun to learn about his younger years, being lonely with his meddling family.  I look forward to seeing the possibility of a full novel upcoming. Once again, Ilona Andrews, our illustrious duo, gives us another wonderful masterpiece.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

 

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That Prince is Mine by Jayci Lee – a Review

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That Prince is Mine by Jayci Lee – a Review

 

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Description:
A love-averse Korean royal court cuisine instructor in search of a perfect-on-paper husband is waylaid from her practical, heartbreak-proof plan when she meets a gorgeous professor—and prince in disguise—who will do anything to prove to her that love and happily ever after can be theirs.

Emma Yoon runs a small business as a culinary instructor in Los Angeles teaching Korean royal court cuisine to young ladies striving to marry into the exclusive upper crust Korean families. She has built her business alongside her renowned Korean matchmaker godmother, which brings her one step closer to her dream of opening up a culinary school on her own. But when her godmother’s fellow matchmakers decide to meddle in Emma’s love life in a bid to sabotage her godmother, and indirectly push Emma’s dream out of her reach, she must go on a series of arranged first dates and find herself the perfect-on-paper husband to help save both, her godmother’s reputation and her dream–even if she’s not ready for love. But when she meets Michel Aubert, a professor at USC, after a series of disastrous first dates, she wonders if she might reevaluate her position on love.

Prince Michel Aubert is bound by duty and responsibility to his country, but an arranged marriage is the last thing he wants. If he is going to spend the rest of his life in service of his people, then he at least wants someone he loves and trusts by his side while doing it. He needs to find a woman who loves him for who he is before his engagement to his handpicked bride is announced. Emma Yoon might be just the woman he is looking for.

 

 

Review:

That Prince of Mine by Jayci Lee was a sweet wonderful romantic novel.  Emma Yoon, our heroine, is a culinary instructor teaching her love of Korean food to young ladies who want to learn all things Korean. Emma is determined to own a Korean royal court cuisine cooking school. Her Godmother Auntie Soo is a matchmaker, and constantly tries to find a match for Emma; but she doesn’t seem to find the perfect man, who is compatible, has morals and respect, not to mention love.

Michel Chevalier, our hero, is a visiting professor at USC, who is spending three months in the United States.  Michel is secretly the Crown Prince of Rouleme, and is determined to find someone to spend his life with, instead of being stuck in a loveless arranged marriage. His father, the King, plans to abdicate from the throne in favor of retirement, with Michel taking the throne. 

While at a restaurant, Emma notices a charming, handsome man who is watching her on a blind date.  Michel stops at the local café a number of times, as he watches as she continually parts ways with her dates: he finds himself being attracted to her, and decides to ask her to go out with him on a date; as Emma herself is totally attracted to this gorgeous charming man.  The banter and wit between them were fun and very enjoyable.  It was a delight to see them falling in love, as they both were perfect for each other.  I loved all the wonderful Korean cuisine that Emma showed Michel, and his bodyguard, Sophia.  I really loved all the characters, such as Emma, Michel, Sophia, Gabriel, Auntie Soo, her father, etc.  I also liked that Sophia and Gabriel were avoiding a long-time friendship, and would also end up together.

That Prince is Mine was a wonderful, lighthearted, heartwarming, fun, cute, charming, engaging royal romance, with a bit of spice along the way. That Prince is Mine was so very well written by Jayci Lee. If you enjoy modern royal romances, you should be reading That Prince is Mine.  I totally enjoyed the book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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