The Highland Renegade (Lords of the Highland #5) by Amy Jarecki-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

The Highland Renegade (Lords of the Highland #5) by Amy Jarecki-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

THE HIGHLAND RENEGADE
Lords of The Highlands #5
by Amy Jarecki
Release Date: January 8, 2019
Genre: adult, historical, Highland, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 8, 2019

She is the daughter of his sworn enemy.
Famed for his fierceness, Laird Robert Grant is above all a loyal Highland clan chief. But when redcoats capture his rival’s daughter, he sets aside their feud and races to her rescue. Aye, Janet Cameron is beautiful, cunning, and so very tempting, but a Cameron lass is the last woman he should ever desire.

He is her one hope of happiness.
Janet refuses to meekly surrender, not even when surrounded by foes. She takes every chance to escape, first from the English soldiers and then from the wickedly handsome Robert. Yet with each day they spend together, his unexpected gallantry chips away at her reserve little by little. As danger and treachery loom, can she trust him enough to choose love over vengeance?

••••••••

REVIEW: This well written and imaginative story begins in 1712, late October in the Highlands, Inverlochy livestock auction. Janet Cameron is being escorted by her brother Kennan. She is delivering knitted goods to the Highland Benevolent Society to be distributed to the needy. Her brother will attend the livestock auction and Janet plans to do a little shopping and attend the dance later.

Robert Grant, Laird of Clan Grant, has also come to the livestock auction. He’s lost over sixty head to thieves and believes some in Clan Cameron are the ones who stole them. The evidence is only circumstantial, but there is a long running blood feud between the Cameron and Grant clans.

Robert and Janet exchange glances and glares, each feeling an attraction for the other, but denying it, even to themselves. This is a summary of the beginning and certainly not as well done or as interestingly complete as the author did. I don’t do spoilers and believe the details of the story are something a reader should discover for themselves. That in mind, the intense action begins when at the dance later the villain Lieutenant Cummins, of the Queens Dragoons, is very in his cups and insists on Janet dancing with him. She declines, and he grabs her arm, turning she slaps his face.

That sets up her rescue by Robert Grant and the reason they spend time together. Each learning and trying to deny their attraction, but love is inevitable. But loving between feuding clans is not a clear-cut course.

I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptive language, the wonderful and fully developed characters, and the situations the author created. I will be reading many more stories from this author. I thought the story was thrilling, informative and wonderfully romantic. In fact, I fell for Robert Grant as much as Janet did! If you love highland romance, this is a must read. Be prepared for a wonderfully powerful, sometimes frustrating, romance. Enjoy!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Georgianna S

Research for Amazing Story Lines
by Amy Jarecki

Any novel requires a fair bit of research regardless of its genre. I write historical romance which, to do well, entails an inordinate amount of world building. Fortunately, I love history and discovering nuggets of factual data to weave into my stories.

When I’m at home, the first place I go is non-fiction books. My shelves are lined with volumes about the time periods in which I write. The Lords of the Highlands series takes place in the early 18th Century during the reign of Queen Anne and I read a very dry 600-page volume about her life before I started writing. Even though the queen and her court only have small roles in the books, she was the monarch and my characters were greatly affected by her rule. I’ve written over twenty Scottish historical romances, and most of my research books are about historical Scotland including, costume, clans, kings, flora and fauna, complete history and notable battles. I even have a two-volume set of books about herbal remedies, and one of my funniest references is The History of Underclothes by C. Willet and Phillis Cunnington.

I also cannot discount online research. Wikipedia is a great place to start, especially if I only need a tidbit of information. I almost always can find historical maps in the British archives, and official clan websites can lead to a wealth of information. Most castles have websites with historical information page that can be windows to more ideas. And genealogy charts are priceless when writing about figures from the past—their decedents often add notes to the chart adding color to the character’s biography.

But my favorite part of research is visiting the places I write about. It is amazing how ideas flow when standing in the midst of a ruined castle in the Highlands or alone on a secluded beach in the far north of Scotland. I’ve driven and hiked through the Scottish Caringorm Mountains. I’ve slept in 400-year-old manors. I’ve hiked through a dense forest to find an old ruined castle visited by William Wallace, and I’ve stood atop Arthurs Seat and looked out over the stunning city of Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth beyond. My bi-annual adventures to Scotland fill my tank with descriptions I could never get from a book or find online.

Below is a picture of Dunrobin Castle I took on my way up to Thurso and Orkney.

And one not-so traditional form of research is karate! I weave a great deal of action and adventure into my stories and, with it, may come a myriad of fight scenes. Almost three years ago, I embarked on a journey to make my fight scenes more realistic and enrolled in a local karate school. At the time, I thought I might take classes for six months and that would be the end of it, but two-and-a-half years later, I traveled to Salt Lake for my State black belt test. This was no easy feat. There were a series of five grueling three-hour tests before I qualified for State. I’m the oldest person in the school and I mostly train with teenagers who are far more flexible and less breakable that me. But I’ve learned so much, and hope it shows in my stories.

Receiving my black belt from my sensi in Salt Lake.

There is a critical fight scene in THE HIGHLAND RENEGADE where Robert Grant is fighting a duel of honor against Janet Cameron’s brother Kennan. The men are from opposing clans with a feud that has endured for generations, and their hatred is inbred and deep. As Janet watches them fight, Robert gains the upper hand and, just as quarter is called, Kennan lashes out with a hidden dagger and slashes the Grant laird across the cheek. Before Robert can retaliate, they are surrounded by dragoons and accused of an illicit gathering. An all-out brawl erupts with Janet in the middle. But who spirits her away? None other than her father’s greatest enemy, Grant himself.

THE HIGHLAND RENEGADE releases on January 8th and you won’t want to miss this wild ride as Janet and Robert face a devastating blizzard while they climb higher into the Highlands to elude a retinue of hostile dragoons.

Amy Jarecki is a descendant of an ancient Lowland clan and adores Scotland. Though she now resides in southwest Utah, she received her MBA from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Winning multiple writing awards, she found her niche in the genre of Scottish historical romance. Amy writes steamy edge-of-your-seat action adventures with rugged men and fascinating women who weave their paths through the brutal eras of centuries past.

Website  /Facebook /Twitter /Goodreads

 

Amy Jarecki, Author’s Umbrella and Grand Central Publishing are graciously offering a mass market copy of THE HIGHLAND RENEGADE to ONE (1) lucky commentator at The Reading Cafe.

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The Highlander’s Welsh Bride (Hardy Heroines #5) by Cathy MacRae & DD MacRae-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

THE HIGHLANDER’S WELSH BRIDE (Hardy Heroines #5) by Cathy MacRae and DD MacRae-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release DateDecember 27, 2018

From the sweeping mountains of Wales where Prince Llywelyn made his last stand against the English, to the treacherous Isles of Scotland where Vikings and pirates rule the waters, comes a tale of betrayal and loss, deceit and passion. An epic tale of honor and the redeeming power of love.

It was over. Prince Llywelyn was dead, his soldiers fleeing before King Edward’s army. Carys, a distant cousin to the prince, herself a princess of Wales, had picked up arms alongside her husband more than a year ago in the fight for Wales’s independence. Now homeless, her husband buried beneath the good Welsh soil, she seeks shelter in the north, far from the reach of Longshanks’s men.

It was time. Birk MacLean has been ordered to take a bride and produce an heir. He grows weary of the lasses paraded before him, women of delicate nature and selfish motives. He desires a wife strong enough to help lead one of the most powerful clans in Western Scotland.

One like the Welsh woman sitting in his dungeon, arrested for poaching MacLean deer.

Can Birk convince Carys marriage to him is preferable to a hangman’s noose? And will the heard-headed Scot be worthy of a Princess of Wales?

••••••••••••

REVIEW: THE HIGHLANDER’S WELSH BRIDE is the fifth instalment in Cathy MacRae and DD MacRae’s adult, Highlander, historical romance series. This is Baron and Laird Birk MacLean, and Princess Carys Wen, filia Pedr’s story line. THE HIGHLANDER’S WELSH BRIDE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: THE HIGHLANDER’S NORSE WELSH takes place approximately thirty years after the events of The Highlander’s Norse Bride.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Birk and Carys) THE HIGHLANDER’S WELSH BRIDE follows Carys in the aftermath of war as she journeys, along with her brother Hywel, to safer land. Pirates and a storm at sea find Carys one of only two survivors of a shipwreck that claimed the lives of everyone she loved, a shipwreck that would place her in harm’s way once again. Enter Baron/Laird Birk MacLean, the man with whom Carys would fall in love. What ensues is the marriage of convenience, and building relationship between Carys and Birk, and the potential fall –out as secrets and lies continue to follow our story line couple.

Baron Birk MacLean is a widower with two young daughters, and is desperate to find a wife equal to his power and charm. Hearing about a ‘warrior’ woman aboard The Seabhag from its’ captain Murdoc Ferguson, Birk was shocked when the woman found hunting on MacLean lands turns out to be the woman he believed would be a perfect mate for a widower like himself. Carys lost her family to war and the sea but meeting Birk MacLean meant a second chance at a happily ever after but second chances came with a price. Once a prisoner, now Lady of the Manor, Carys is a strong willed, fierce fighter and protector of the people she loves.

The relationship between Carys and Birk begins acrimoniously as Carys is held prisoner in our hero’s dungeons. Drawn to the woman that would steal his heart, Birk makes Carys an offer of marriage, in exchange for her life. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate and seductive.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Birk’s daughters Abria and Eislyn; Captain Murdoc Ferguson and his son Tully, and Carys’ brother Prince Hywel. We are reintroduced to Birk’s mother Hanna (The Highlander’s Norse Bride 3.5), and his half-sister Gillian.

THE HIGHLANDER’S WELSH BRIDE like the previous instalments blends historical facts and fiction as the author weaves a wonderful tale of secrets, lies, second chances, and love. The premise is intriguing and lively; the characters are sassy, strong and spirited; the romance is provocative and energetic. THE HIGHLANDER’S WELSH BRIDE is an enthralling and animated story line that is sure to please. Fair warning-there is plenty of Gaelic and Norse prose throughout the story.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Highland Escape
The Highlander’s Viking Bride
The Highlander’s Crusader Bride
The Highlander’s Norse Bride
The Highlander’s Welsh Bride

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Historical accuracy in historical romance by Cathy & DD MacRae

The Highlander’s Welsh Bride is the 5thbook in the Hardy Heroines series, stories created to showcase the power of women in a medieval setting. Each book begins with a historical challenge, and in the back of each you’ll find our notes for the research on that particular story. Does every author accept historical fact into their tales? Undoubtedly, many—or even most—do. However, with accurate information often sketchy from ancient times, we’ve found that historical facts are either verbatim on multiple websites due to the ‘copy and paste’ that is so easy to do, or possibly wildly divergent depending on who’s viewpoint you’re doing research from.

For example, in The Highlander’s Norse Bride, the Battle of Largs had very different meaning and context to Scots and the Norse. A Norse saga praises King Haakon for commanding the largest armada ever seen, sent to Scotland in righteous anger over King Alexander II’s attempt to wrest control of Western Scotland from Norwegian rule (https://deremilitari.org/2016/09/the-norwegian-invasion-of-scotland-in-1263/). Scottish accounts show a young king wily enough to stall the powerful Norwegian king until fickle Scottish weather destroyed King Haakon’s advance.

Yes, being historically accurate has its challenges. Here are some points of note from The Highlander’s Welsh Bride. We liked the possibility of our hero, Birk MacLean, marrying a woman from Wales, but what would it take to bring the two close enough to meet when an entire country separated them?

The setting became 1283, Wales. Prince Llywelyn was dead, possibly betrayed by his own countrymen, though accounts differ. From a war-torn land, we created Carys Wen, filia Pedr, a young woman who took up arms against the English when King Edward Longshanks rode against the Welsh. She is widowed, her family dead or scattered, and in danger should she, a cousin of the prince, be captured. What should she do?

Sail to Scotland, of course.

We loved researching the shipping routes, timing, currents, etc. Actually, DD is more into ships than I am, but we put together the circumstances that would allow her to sign on as an oarsman (in disguise, of course) and flee Wales.

Towns are also scrutinized for historical accuracy. Carys and Birk visit Campbelltown in The Highlander’s Welsh Bride, but in the 13thcentury, it was called Kinlochkillkerran. Character names are always of interest to us, as well. I prefer names that are easy to pronounce, and tend to suggest names that haven’t been over-used. You’ll note most of the names in this book are rather unusual, but all are as accurate as we can make them.

One cool twist to the story (imho) was the discovery of the Corryvreckan whirlpool which lies between the isles of Scarba and Jura. It’s the 3rdlargest maelstrom in the world, and lies along the sailing route I’d planned for Birk and Carys to travel on their trip to Kinlochkillkerran. I believe my thoughts went something like: “maelstrom—birlinn (sailing ship)—pirates—oh, my!” And the rest of the story was born.

Do we twist historical accuracy to fit our stories? Typically, no, though I adjusted the timeline in The Highlander’s French Bride to include an intriguing historical figure. I gave full disclosure at the beginning of the book, and readers appear to be okay with that.

In an upcoming book slated to release late 2019, we plan to take an historical figure from one of the Hardy Heroines stories and give him a HEA. History will tell you he died by poisoning at the hand of his wife during a political struggle, but we thought he deserved better than that.

Do you expect complete historical accuracy in historical romance? Do you enjoy an ‘alternate’ history if you are told up front the historical facts have been changed to suit the story?

Thanks so much! It’s been a pleasure being here today!

~Cathy & DD

 

Follow Cathy: Twitter / Goodreads /Website / Facebook

Cathy MacRae lives on the sunny side of the Arbuckle Mountains where she and her husband read, write, and tend the garden—with the help of the dogs, of course.

You can visit with her on facebook, or read her blogs and learn about her books at www.cathymacraeauthor.com. Drop her a line—she loves to hear from readers!

••••••••

D.D. MacRae enjoys bringing history to life and considers research one of the best things about writing a story! With more than 35 years of martial arts training, DD also brings breath-taking action to the tales. You can connect with DD through Cathy’s website.

Cathy MacRae is gracious offering an ebook copy of THE HIGHLANDER’S WELSY BRIDE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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Imagine (Black Raven #4) by Stella Barcelona-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

IMAGINE (Black Raven #4) by Stella Barcelona-Review, Guest post & Giveaway

IMAGINE
Black Raven #4
by Stella Barcelona
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic, suspense
Release Date: October 30, 2018

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 30, 2018

One cruise ship. Multiple kidnappers. In the dark waters of the South China Sea, a handful of Black Raven agents are the only hope anyone has of living to see Christmas.

From the back cover:

Seventy-five of the world’s wealthiest gamblers are ringing in the holidays with a high-stakes, three-day tournament aboard the Imagine. As the ultra-luxury cruise ship departs from Macau, financial risks are enormous and security is tight. Agents Sylvia (Leo) Leon and Adam (Ace) Evans lead Black Raven’s on-board team. Months earlier, they gave into feelings that caught them both by surprise. Now, Leo wants nothing more than to ignore what Ace is dying to confront.

While adversaries execute a seemingly perfect, diabolical plan, Leo and Ace operate in stealth mode to save the Imagine’s passengers. As danger tests the limits of their training and expertise, and their simmering chemistry hits a boiling point, their chances of living to see Christmas narrow. For these two best friends, the Imagine job could change everything…in more ways than one.

•••••••••

REVIEW:Imagine begins with Agents Sylvia (Leo) Leon and Adam (Ace) Evans in New Orleans celebrating Halloween. The two have been best friends since joining Black Raven. Nothing has ever threatened that friendship until that night and that one unforgettable kiss…….. As they come to their senses, Leo wants nothing more than to forget that ever happened. Ace, however, has other ideas……….

Flash forward about six weeks or so, and we see Leo, Ace and a whole lot of other Black Raven agents in a meeting planning their next job. This is the first time the two have seen each other since New Orleans and the job sounds easy enough, until they find out they’re going undercover as an engaged couple. Once they are on board the ship, they play their respective parts to a tee, as do the other agents who have gone in undercover. During a break before the night’s festivities, Leo and Ace head to their room in order to get ready for the night. Ace confronts Leo about what happened between them and the feelings it has stirred within him and wants to know if she feels the same. She tries to shut him down, but gives into their mutual attraction. Ace then awakens a little bit later, or so he thinks. When he sees the time, he knows they’re in trouble. Knowing they’ve been gassed, he drags an unconscious Leo out onto their balcony so that they can get some fresh air and, hopefully, recover quickly from the affects of the gas. It doesn’t take either of them long to determine that the ship has been hijacked and spring into action. It also doesn’t take them long to figure out that they are up against a foe that is willing to do anything to get what he wants……

Imagine is a superbly written tale that draws you in from the very beginning. Leo and Ace have a chemistry that jumps out at you from their first words, but when the feelings heat up, the chemistry reaches out and grabs you and doesn’t let go. Their backstories add to the complexity of their friends to lovers story, but it’s Ace’s who will tug at your heart. The mystery and suspense is very well written and keeps you guessing, and gasping, until the end. If you’re a fan of friends to lovers, with a lot of suspense and action thrown in, along with scorching chemistry, you will never go wrong with any of the Black Raven novels. Well done, Stella Barcelona! Very, very well done!

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Deceived
Shadows
Jigsaw
Concierge
Imagine

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie K

Thank you for inviting me to The Reading Café. Your question – how do I keep focus while writing my stories – is a great question, because the truth is that keeping focused is difficult. Like everyone, I’m busy. Apart from writing, I have a legal career. I also have a family – humans and furry ones. To maintain my health, I have to exercise, stay reasonably fit, and eat the right things. The list goes on and on! I’m not complaining. It’s simply reality, and I’m grateful that my days are so full.

Are you wondering when I’ll focus on your question? Right now, I promise!

Part of my method of keeping focus involves eliminating all the distractions that I just mentioned (and more!) from the precious time that I’ve carved out of the day for writing. I use a mixture of plotting techniques, but the most important tricks I employ for focus are daily writing, eliminating distractions when writing, and writing early in the morning. Here’s a bit more about each one of these “habits:”

First, when working on a first draft, I try to write a bit every single day. No exceptions! If I skip a few days between writing sessions, I lose focus on the story. Plus, when I write every single day, my subconscious mind is better able to keep the story in play throughout the time that I dedicate to tasks other than writing.

In each writing session, I aim for two to three hours of writing time. However, I don’t beat myself up if I don’t have that much time; the important thing is sitting in the chair and thinking hard about the story, even if I only have a half hour.

Second, at home, I have a quiet office with two desks. One desk is dedicated to fiction writing, and nothing else. I don’t even conduct the business of being an author at that desk – it is dedicated solely to creating stories. There is no temptation to look at social media there, or do online shopping, or anything else, because I DON’T allow myself to do it. I think having a desk and chair dedicated to creativity helps me slip into writing mode the minute I sit. I also wear noise reduction headphones when I’m in my writing chair and I turn up music, which helps me focus.

If I’m in first-draft, daily-writing mode when we’re traveling, I find a place to write and, even if the place isn’t that quiet, using the headphones with music playing helps me focus on writing and eliminate distractions.

Third, I’m most creative in the early morning, so that is when I write. Procrastination until the end of the day kills my creativity and destroys my determination to write every day. I don’t always love pulling myself out of bed at 4:30 a.m., but once I’m in my writing chair I’m always glad that I did it!

I can’t say exactly why, but these three habits seem to work for me. Thanks again for inviting me to The Reading Cafe!

~~ Stella ~~

Follow Stella: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Stella Barcelona, author of romantic suspense novels, has always had an active imagination, a tendency to daydream, and a passion for reading romance, mysteries, and thrillers. From her early days of reading, when she first escaped reality through the pages of a well-written novel, she knew that her daydreams needed an outlet, and she knew that her outlet would be writing.

In day to day life, Stella is a lawyer and works for a court in New Orleans, Louisiana. Currently, Stella lives minutes from the French Quarter, with her husband of sixteen years and two adorable papillons who believe that they are princesses. Stella loves to hear from readers on her Facebook page and can also be contacted through her website, www.stellabarcelona.com, where there’s information on appearances, her next release, and exciting contests that you won’t want to miss! While she doesn’t have a lot of free time with her legal and writing careers battling for her every minute, she does enjoy any chance she and her husband get to go out on their boat. In addition, she attends conferences, workshops, and retreats for writers. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Southern Louisiana Chapter of the Romance Writers of America.

Stella is graciously offering a $25 Amazon Gift Card, and a signed copy of Stella’s debut release that introduced the Black Raven series DECEIVED  to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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8. Giveaway open to USA only

9.. Giveaway runs from December 1-6, 2018

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Summoned to the 13th Grave by Darynda Jones -Reviews & Giveaway

 Summoned to the Thirteenth Grave (Charley Davidson #13) by Darynda Jones-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

SUMMONED TO THE THIRTEENTH GRAVE
Charley Davidson #13
by Darynda Jones
Genre: adult, contemporary, urban fantasy
Release Date: January 15, 2019

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: January 15, 2019

Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper extraordinaire, is pissed. She’s been kicked off the earthly plain for eternity – which is the appropriate amount of time to make a person starkraving mad. But someone’s looking out for her, and she’s allowed to return after a mere hundred years in exile. Is it too much to hope for that not much has changed? Apparently it is. Bummer.

She’s missed Reyes and her daughter, Beep, but now that she’s back on earth, it’s time to put to rest burning questions that need answers. What happened to her mother? How did she really die? Who killed her? And are cupcakes or coffee the best medicine? It all comes to a head in an epic showdown between good and evil in this final smart and hilarious novel.

••••••••

REVIEW: ☠️ SUMMONED TO THE THIRTEENTH GRAVE is the thirteenth and final instalment in Darynda Jones’ contemporary, adult CHARLEY DAVIDSON urban fantasy series focusing on part time private investigator, full-time grim reaper, and omnipotent god Charley Davidson. SUMMONED TO THE THIRTEENTH GRAVE should be not read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events of book twelve – THE TROUBLE WITH TWELFTH GRAVE.

NOTE: If you have not read the previous instalments there may be some spoilers in my review.

SOME BACKGROUND: The Charley Davidson series is the continuing story of Charley Davidson’s life as the Grim Reaper and private investigator; the corporeal spirits who have yet to pass; and the man to whom she has pledged her undying love-the son of Satan-Reyes Alexander Farrow. Charley has recently discovered she and her hunky husband Reyes Farrow aka the Son of Satan, are gods-powerful, omnipotent beings whose futures, along with their infant daughter Elwyn Alexandra (aka Little Beep) are destined to either destroy the world, or bring peace to the heavens and earth.

Told from first person point of view (Charley Davidson) SUMMONED TO THE THIRTEENTH GRAVE follows Charley and her husband Reyes as they try to stop the end of the world. At the end of THE TROUBLE WITH TWELFTH GRAVE Charley was sent to one of the ‘Hell dimensions’ for disobeying the Almighty’s directives, after Reyes accidentally opened a portal to Hell allowing Lucifer’s minions access to this world. Upon her return to Earth’s dimension, Charley and Reyes must uncover the source of the illness and demonic possession of a number of people in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as Charley is pursued by a not-so-otherworldly spirit. As Charley’s group of intrepid friends are brought together in preparation to ‘bug out’ of Albuquerque, they begin to establish a timeline, and commence their own investigation into the who, how and why including the appearance of a young boy who may or may not have already departed to the great beyond. What ensues are Charley and Reyes’ attempts to destroy that which cannot be destroyed, and the realization that our leading couple may have to sacrifice themselves to save the people they love.

All of the major plotline, secondary and supporting characters from the previous twelve books make an appearance or say goodbye: Cookie and Ubie, Amber and Quentin, Garrett Swopes, Charley’s sister Gemma, former slave demon Osh, Rocket and his sister Blue, gang-banger Angel, Strawberry Shortcake, Mr. Wong, Officer David Taft, FBI Special Agent Kit Carson, Artemis the dog, and three members of the Bandits MC: Donovan, Michael and Eric. I am going to miss these colorful and charismatic friends but the author has plans for a spin-off, and I am hoping for the reappearance of many of the aforementioned characters although some of their stories have come to a close.

As per Darynda’s style of writing, the back and forth interaction between characters is energetic and playful. The author’s use of euphemisms, sarcasm and sass are fun are blindingly entertaining and, on their own, are worth the price of admission. SUMMONED TO THE THIRTEENTH GRAVE answers some of Charley’s most heart breaking questions including the circumstances surrounding her mother’s death, and the birth of a god.

SUMMONED TO THE THIRTEENTH GRAVE is an exciting but bittersweet conclusion to Charley and Reyes’ story. Most of our questions have been answered but there remain a number of open –ended pathways that continue to meander in different directions: Osh and Beep, Quentin and Amber, and my favorite MC member Donovan and the Bandits. Beep’s army remains behind to protect their charge as Charley and Reyes come to an understanding as to what must be done. SUMMONED TO THE THIRTEENTH GRAVE is a dramatic and entertaining ensemble storyline.

Reading Order and previous reviews
First Grave on the Right
Second Grave on the Left
Third Grave Straight Ahead
Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet
Fifth Grave Past The Light
Sixth Grave on the Edge
Seventh Grave and No Body
Eighth Grave After Dark
Brighter Than the Sun (novella)
The Dirt on Ninth Grave
The Curse on Tenth Grave
Eleventh Grave in Moonlight
Trouble with Twelfth Grave

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

ebook deal ONLY $1.99-THE CURSE OF TENTH GRAVE

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ebook deal ONLY $2.99 – ELEVENTH GRAVE IN MOONLIGHT:

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____________

 

FIFTH GRAVE PAST THE LIGHT
(Charley Davidson #5)
by Darynda Jones
Genre : adult, contemporary, UF

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 9, 2013

Charley Davidson may not look like your everyday, run-of-the-mill grim reaper, but she has vowed to reap grimness wherever she goes despite this unfortunate fact. Sadly, she gets sidetracked when the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, moves in next door. As he is the main suspect in her arson case, she is determined to stay away from him until she can find out the truth. According to her therapist, however, she lacks conviction.

When dead women start appearing in her apartment – lost, confused and terrified beyond reason – Charley has no choice but to ask for Reyes’s help, especially when it becomes apparent that her own sister Gemma is the serial killer’s next target. With his ability to observe incorporeally, surely he can find out who’s responsible. And even if he can’t, he is the one man alive who could protect Gemma no matter who or what came at her. But he wants something in return: Charley. All of her – body and soul. And to keep her sister safe, it is a price she is willing to pay…

•••••••••••

NOTE: The publisher has asked that we re-read and post a review of our favorite Charley Davidson instalment-enjoy !

REVIEW:☠️  FIFTH GRAVE PAST THE LIGHT is the fifth installment in Darynda Jones’s paranormal/UF/romance/contemporary Charley Davidson series featuring twenty-something Charley Davidson-part time PI/part time grim reaper/ and full time love of Reyes Farrow-the son of Satan. Like all of the previous installments, Fifth Grave is jammed packed with humor, sarcasm, witty one-liners, t-shirt slogans, bumper stickers, murder, revenge and of course, more sex and romance with Reyes Alexander Farrow.

Fifth Grave Past the Light reveals plenty of information and answers some of our questions about the mysterious map and the key, both of which are believed to be residing on earth, awaiting their destiny. But the story surrounding the key to the map reveals the destruction of the world and in this, the truth may be stranger than fiction and the person who revealed the information is someone who has been to hell and back-literally and figuratively. He has the inside information from both Satan and his son.

Once again, Charley’s private life will be invaded by a series of spirits-twenty seven to be exact- who are drawn to her light as the grim reaper but for some reason, none of the woman are willing to move on until Charley uncovers the truth behind their murders. And it will take one small, young spirit, not much older than seven or eight to help reveal the person who may be the only one able to identify the person responsible. And in this particular case, he has a connection to Charley and her family. Oh, and someone recognizes Mr. Wong in the corner of Charley’s apartment. Let’s hope his presence and identity is finally revealed.

Cookie and Uncle Bob return as Charley’s confidants and aids. And Charley will need Ubie more than she ever thought possible when the person she was hired to tail turns out to be more dangerous than she had ever suspected.

Charley’s abilities come into question when local authorities take a look at her unbelievable record of solving cold case files and crimes. And the latest cold case to come across her desk is frighteningly familiar and heartbreaking.

The relationship between Reyes and Charley is romantic, sensual, hot and well worth the wait. Reyes, as the son of Satan, has never known love but he has found his soul mate in Charley Davidson-the one woman who is capable of putting out the fire that burns within. The romance sparks within the story as Reyes makes his feelings known to Charley and for him to make them a permanent couple will take some tricky dialogue and promises on both of their parts. Reyes is the epitome of sex on a stick; the ultimate lover and sensual male; he oozes sex appeal by virtue of his looks and presence; and it is Charley Davidson-the grim reaper who will capture his heart and his soul-forever.

Fifth Grave Past the Light is one of the best installments in the series thus far. I am still hoping that Darynda gives some life to Donovan and the Bandits and writes a series or at the very least, a series of novellas so that the reader can be kept up to date on their travels. Angel, Rocket, Garret Swopes, Gemma and Leland Davidson all play pivotal roles throughout the story. And the ending comes with a couple of surprises and not the least is the possibility of a new direction for Charley and Reyes.

Darynda Jones takes an UF/paranormal storyline and adds her sarcastic wit and humor as she pushes her series into another direction. The humor, the sensuality and the action filled storyline make this a must read for anyone who wants it all in the stories they read. Charley Davidson is a heroine who is strong yet feminine; heroic yet vulnerable; loved and yet hated by those she seeks to reveal. Fifth Grave Past the Light is an amazing and fascinating instalment in Darynda Jones’s Charley Davidson series.

Own a copy

Reviewed by Sandy

NOTE: The excerpt is intended for mature readers due to language and content

 

What, pray tell, the fuck?
—T-shirtIt wasn’t until I felt the sun on my face that I knew, really knew, I’d made it back. The bright orb drifted over the horizon like a hot air balloon, blinding me, yet I couldn’t stop looking at it. Or, well, trying to look at it. After giving it my all through squinted lids, I gave up and closed them. Let the warmth wash over me. Let it sink into my skin. Flood every molecule in my body.
God knew I needed it. I hadn’t had a drop of vitamin D in over a hun- dred years. My bones were probably brittle and shriveled and splintery. Much like the current state of my psyche.
But that’s what happens when you defy a god.
Not just any god, mind you. No siree Bob. To get booted off the big blue marble, one had to defy the God. The very One a particular set of children’s books called Jehovahn.
The Man had some serious control issues. I bring one person back from the dead and bam. Banished for all eternity. Exiled to a hell with no light, no hair products, and no coffee.
Mostly no coffee.And, just to throw salt onto a gaping, throbbing flesh wound, no tribe. In this dimension, the one with the yellow sun and champagne-colored sand on which I now walked, I had a husband and a daughter and more friends than I could shake a stick at. But in the lightless realm I’d been banished to, I’d had nothing. I floated in darkness for over one hundred agonizing years, tormented by dreams of a husband I could no longer
touch and a daughter I could no longer protect.
She would be gone by now. Our daughter. I will have missed her en- tire life. The thought alone shattered me. Cut into me like shards of glass every time I breathed.
But I’d missed more than her life. It had been prophesied that she would face Lucifer in a great battle for humanity. That she would have an army at her back and, fingers crossed, a warrior at her side. And that she would stand against evil when no one else could.
I’d wondered for dozens of years if she’d won, the pain of not know- ing, of not being able to help, driving me to the brink of insanity. Then I realized something and a peculiar kind of peace came over me. Of course she’d won. She was the daughter of two gods. More to the point, she was her father’s daughter, the god Rey’azikeen’s only child. She would’ve been wily and cunning and strong. Of course she won.
That’s what I’d told myself over and over for the last thirty-odd years of my exile. But now I was back. An exile that was supposed to be for all eternity stopped just short, in my humble opinion, of its goal.
Unfortunately, I had no idea why I was back. I’d felt myself being drawn forward, pulled through space and time until the darkness that sur- rounded me gave way to the unforgiving brightness of Earth’s yellow sun. That big, beautiful ball of fire I’d so often complained about as a resident of New Mexico, where sunshine was damned near a daily occurrence.
The horror!
And here it was, bathing me in its brilliance as my feet sank into dew-covered sand with every step I took. I walked toward it. The sun. Crav- ing more. Begging for more.
“I will never complain about you again,” I said, tilting my face toward the heavens, because the thought of my daughter growing up without me wasn’t the only thing that had driven me to the edge of sanity. Nor the heartbreak of missing my husband. His hands on my body. His full mouth at my ear. His sparkling eyes hooded by impossibly thick lashes.
No, it was the perpetual darkness that pushed me so far inside myself I could hardly stay conscious.
I’d tried to escape. To find my way back to my family and friends. Boy, had I tried. But it seemed like the harder I struggled, the deeper I sank. The realm in which I’d been cast was like an inky, ethereal form of quick- sand. If not for the wraiths . . .
I stopped and bent my head to listen. Someone was following me, and for the first time since materializing on the earthly plane, I tried to take in my surroundings. With my vision adjusting, I could just make out the sea of peaches and golds that stretched out before me. Sand as far as the eye could see.
Then it hit me. The Sahara. I’d been here before. With him.
I started walking again, slowly, making him come to me as I used every ounce of strength I had to tamp down the elation coursing through my veins.
I’d dreamed about this moment for so long, a part of me wondered if it were real. Or if I were hallucinating. But I felt the warmth radiating from his body and I knew. Heat—his heat—pulsated over me in rich, fervent waves, stirring parts of me that hadn’t been stirred in decades. Or churned. Or even whisked, for that matter.
I dared a glance over my shoulder. My knees weakened and my stom- ach clenched at the sight. Dressed as a desert nomad in traditional, sky- blue garb, he followed at a leisurely pace. A light breeze pressed his robe against his body, outlining his wide shoulders, long arms, and lean waist.A turban of the same sky blue had been wrapped around his head and face until only his eyes shone through.
Dark. Shimmering. Intent.
Like that could fool me. Like I wouldn’t know my husband from a thousand miles away. His essence. His aura. His scent.
Of course, the ever-present fire that licked over his skin, the lightning that arced around him, didn’t hurt.
He moved like an animal. A predator. Powerful and full of confidence and grace. Every step calculated. Every move a conscious act.
And he was closing in.
I turned back to the horizon, my heart bursting with the knowledge that my husband was still here. Still on Earth. Still sexy as fuck.
And yet, there was something not quite . . .
I whirled around to face him when I realized part of what I was feel- ing, part of the tangle of tightly packed emotions that made Reyes Reyes, was anger.
No. Not anger precisely. Anger would be far too tame a word. He was livid. Furious. Enraged. And it was all directed at me. 


 

A FUN FACT FOR EACH OF THE CHARLEY BOOKS:

First Grave on the Right
• The concept for First Grave came about while Darynda was working as a sign language interpreter in her hometown. She stole many of the names from students at the schools where she worked, including Reyes, Garrett, and Amber. As far as Darynda knows, they have all forgiven her for her thievery.

Second Grave on the Left
• Uncle Bob is a combination of two people: Darynda’s oldest brother, Luther, and the principal at the high school where she worked for several years.

Third Grave Dead Ahead
• This was originally titled Third Grave Straight Ahead, but Darynda’s web designer, Liz Bemis, asked her to change the name to Dead Ahead. Firstly, it fit the content better, and secondly, Liz got tired of spelling the word Straight wrong while updating the website. Dead is much easier to type.

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet
• Quentin Rutherford makes his first appearance in this book. While his first name was stolen from Darynda’s little brother and his last name stolen from yet another Jr. High student, Quentin is physically sculpted from her oldest son, Jerrdan, a bona fide blond-haired, blue-eyed devil with a sparkling smile that melts even the staunchest of hearts. And, like Quentin Rutherford, he was born Deaf. Not that he let it stop him for a second.

Fifth Grave Past the Light
• This book was fun to write! Darynda was trying to come up with something truly creepy to throw into the book, and she figured what would be creepier than having an apartment full of departed women crawling up the walls, skittering across the ceiling, and huddling in the corners? Also, it is one of the hotter books, so that was fun, too. Because, you know, Reyes.

Sixth Grave on the Edge
• Darynda really wanted to open this one on a humorous note. She wanted to have Charley on a stakeout with a departed elderly man, who also happens to be naked, riding shotgun. Which begs the question: Are we really stuck in (or out of) whatever we are wearing when we die for all eternity? ‘Cause that would suck.

Seventh Grave and No Body
• Osh’ekiel was originally supposed to be in one book only. And he was supposed to be a very bad guy. But Darynda fell in love with him while writing the book and decided to redeem him and give him a bigger role. Just how big his role would become didn’t come to Darynda until plotting Eighth Grave. He has been one of her favorite characters since she wrote that first scene with him.

Eighth Grave After Dark
• Darynda wanted to really turn the tables on Charley and force her to have to stay in one place, thus the sacred ground of the convent came into play. It was fun and challenging to write a “locked room” mystery, so to speak, but that’s why she loves writing so much.

The Dirt on Ninth Grave
• One of Darynda’s favorite books in the series, she looked forward to writing this book ever since she came up with the concept while plotting Sixth Grave. Part of what makes a romance so fun is the falling-in-love part, and she wanted Charley to fall in love with Reyes all over again. This book was doubly fun because the audience knows all the characters’ backstories, and they get to watch in anticipation as Charley slowly unravels the mysteries of her past, while seeing her fall head-over-heels for the same guy all over again.

The Curse of Tenth Grave
• This book had one of those too-close-for-comfort calls. Right before Tenth Grave went to print, after going through editors and copyeditors and readers of all shapes and sizes, a savvy proofreader let Darynda in on a little secret: A Sherpa is part of a culture, not an occupation. Thanks to this razor-sharp reader, Darynda narrowly escaped insulting an entire culture in one fell swoop. Aka, her worst nightmare. Her gratitude is unending.

Eleventh Grave in Moonlight
• Darynda dreamed of going to Scotland for so long, she finally decided to just put it in one of her books. She had Charley accidently materialize in the magical country, only to find out weeks after finishing the book that she would finally get to go there herself. In person. For realsies. It was even more magical than she’d imagined it would be, and she can’t wait to go back.

The Trouble with Twelfth Grave
• This book has one of Darynda’s favorite epiphanies EVER!!! She thought, what if someone out there in the universe, a child perhaps, knows everything about Reyes and Charley? Everything starting from their supernatural heritage to their human identities? And what if that person wrote a book about them? Or a series of books? Say, perhaps, a set of children’s books and Garrett just happens to stumble upon them while doing research? How fun would that be? And the international bestselling children’s book (fictionally speaking) The First Star was born.

Summoned to Thirteenth Grave
• By far the hardest story in the series to write, penning the last Charley book was a bittersweet experience. But Darynda knew she had to go big or go home, so what better way to go out with a bang than to end the world as we know it by starting the zombie apocalypse? Because that’s what writers do. We start apocalypses.

Follow: Website / Facebook / Twitter /Goodreads

NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious Golden Heart®, a Rebecca, two Hold Medallions, a RITA ®, and a Daphne du Maurier, and she has received stellar reviews from dozens of publications including starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and the Library Journal. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike, and she is ever so grateful for the opportunity to carry on that tradition. She currently has two series with St. Martin’s Press: The Charley Davidson Series and the Darklight Trilogy. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of almost 30 years and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. She can be found at www.daryndajones.com.

–>There are TWO (2) ways to WIN<–

Darynda’s publisher ST. MARTIN’S PRESS is graciously offering an ARC copy of SUMMONED TO THE THIRTEENTH GRAVE to ONE lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page (at the top of your computer).

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9. Giveaway open to USA only

10. Giveaway runs from November 9-14, 2018

Enter for a chance to win the entire Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones, an ARC of the epic finale, Summoned to Thirteenth Grave, plus fun swag! 

Open to USA only

NOTE: Rafflecopter Giveaway runs October 31, to November 14, 2018

https://read.macmillan.com/promo/charleydavidsonseriessweeps/

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First Kiss of Freedom (Whitemoon Warriors #1) by Nichole Wolfe-Review & Guest Post

FIRST KISS OF FREEDOM (Whitemoon Warriors #1) by Nichole Wolfe-Review & Guest Post

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon. uk / Amazon. au /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 30, 2018

Centuries of waiting…..

For four hundred years, Charlie Matthews has waited for his revenge, becoming the very creature he seeks to destroy. When he finally returns to his Maker’s mansion, he knows the time is close. And only one thing stands between what he wants, and what he never knew he needed.

Leads to a single moment…

On Nessie Robinson’s eighteenth birthday, she gets an unexpected surprise.
Her ex-best friend. Emphasis on “ex.” Since he left ten years ago, she’s had to deal with the overbearing power of their Master.
With his return comes tragedy, and feelings she doesn’t want to face. But every moment makes them harder to ignore.

That changes everything ….

With one bite, Charlie and Nessie are forced to run for their lives. Leaving behind everything they’ve known, fighting for survival, freedom, and a chance at a future neither of them ever imagined.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: Haven’t read a vampire story in a while ?

In this book, not all vampires are nice, in fact after the humans find out about the vampires, things went from bad to worse, many became “blood slaves” no better off than cattle, used and abused with no thought to how they’d feel to be an unwilling donor.

Vanessa is such a human, a child when she first became a donor, now a young woman, she loathes and despises them, their cruelty when taking blood, and using them as house slaves as well.

She thought she had a friend for life in Charlie, but he left her and never looked back. She yearns to escape, but knows that’s an impossibility.

Charlie hates his master with a passion, his master is a cruel and violent vampire.

Charlie has watched as humans are turned into cattle and slaves, and now the vampire council are deciding on wether to let his master expand his slave trade. It needs to stop, and Charlie thinks he is strong enough to do it. And returning to the “home” he once knew fills him with dread, but he knows this may be his best shot.

Coming home has a few surprises for Charlie, one being the little girl who lightened his heart and made him want to be a better supernatural.

“Nessie” was an endearing soul, and always knew how to make him smile, but their first meeting didn’t go as planned, and the look in her eyes wasn’t joy, it was hatred.

Their relationship is slow in returning, but once it does, then both Charlie and Nessie have life changing decisions to make.

It was a very well written book, and the author described this new world in all its technicolour glory.

Do Charlie and Nessie get to make a life for themselves? And what about the master ? And will the council let them live ?

Copy supplied for review

? Julie B

How to Make a Monster Readers Will Swoon Over

A Halloween Guest Post to Sink Your Teeth Into

In the world of Paranormal Romance, monsters are everywhere.  And can be just about anyone. Main character. Love interest.  Villain. Side characters. It’s what readers not-so-secretly crave.  Because, let’s face it, we get to interact with humans every day. Whether or not we want to.  But with this beloved genre, we get to meet characters we could only dream about (or read about, in this case.)  But, be careful how far out you go with your creepy creatures because no one wants to make out with The Blob (even if it’s imaginary).  The trick is getting the right blend of man and monster.

Take a quick glance at some popular titles.  I’m sure it won’t take long for you to notice that all those heroes and heroines have one important thing in common.  They look mostly human.  Sure, they might have green skin, but they probably also have a six-pack.  While it’s true that readers don’t want your average Joe, they still require some sense of familiarity to really connect with your characters.  Limit yourself to three deviations from the human form.  Examples could be 1.) Green skin; 2.) Webbed fingers; 3.) Sticky tongue OR 1.) Blue fur; 2.) Pointy ears; 3.) Fangs

Not only should your characters be humanoid, they should act human, as well.  This is especially important because without some sense of human emotions, your characters will feel stale and blank to the readers.  And we all know that’s not good. Besides, how will readers fall in love with your characters if it’s obvious they aren’t even capable of love themselves?  So, even if you want your character to seem emotionless and unfeeling for whatever reason, their thoughts or actions should demonstrate that they’re not as cold as other characters think them to be.  

Think about people you’ve come across in your own life that you didn’t particularly like.  What about their personality made you dislike them? Give that personality trait to your character and voila!  They have a flaw to overcome! At minimum, your character should have two dominant emotional responses.  In many cases, these could be part of your character’s personality flaws.  Perhaps they’re a hothead that refuses to trust anyone. Or maybe they’re judgmental and arrogant.  Maybe they’re a Type-A people pleaser that doesn’t know how to relax. Because that won’t cause any problems in your plot, I’m sure…

Another important thing to consider is making sure your monster isn’t invincible.  Figuring out your character’s weaknesses or limitations are just as important as their strengths.  Try to connect their strengths and weaknesses to their origin (or their species’ origin) to help make them more believable.  It’s important to ask a lot of why questions. Why do they fly on a broom? Why do they hate black cats? Why does eating pumpkin pie turn them into the Orange Hulk?  

Keep in mind that the more unique your monster, the more explanation the readers will require.  Some monsters are so well-known these days, they need little explanation (vampires, shifters, demons, etc.).  But even if you choose to use these, giving them a unique origin or special quirk could set your vampires or shifters apart from the horde of others.

So, now that you know the basics of how to build a swoon-worthy monster, here is a little cheatsheet for you.  Just in case you forget. It happens to the best of us. No worries.

The HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER Cheatsheet

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Nichole Wolfe lives in a small, one-traffic-light town in Pennsylvania with her childhood sweetheart and their two children.  Her slight obsession with all things paranormal and fantastical may have snuck its way into her tales of love conquering all.  When not reading or writing heart-throbbing, fog-up-the-mirror stories, she enjoys other creative outlets.  Scrapbooking her many amateur photos and making thrifty home decor with her many, many emptied wine bottles are some of her favorite go-to hobbies.

 

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Outlaw King (Renegade Scots #1) by Julie Johnstone-Dual Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

Outlaw King (Renegade Scots #1) by Julie Johnstone-Dual Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

OUTLAW KING
Renegade Scots #1)
by Julie Johnstone
Release Date: August 31, 2018
Genre: adult, historical, medieval, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 31, 2018

She’s the weapon intended to destroy him. He’s the key to her freedom.

Dark days have come to medieval Scotland, and fierce warrior Robert the Bruce would do anything to release his country from English rule—and not just because he’s the rightful heir to the Scottish throne. As the bloody war rages on, enemies on both sides of the fight surround him, and Robert must dance a dangerous line between truth and deception. One misstep could topple his nation and cost him his life, yet one woman tempts him—and threatens his mission—as no other ever has.

Elizabeth de Burgh longs for freedom in a time when women have none. So when she finds herself ordered by her ruthless father and her godfather, the King of England, to seduce the leader of the Scottish rebellion and reveal his secrets, she yearns to fight back against their cruel plot. But they threaten to kill her beloved cousin, leaving her no choice but to comply. As she grows close to Robert and the mask that hides the man who would be king is peeled away, she cannot imagine aiding in the destruction of the noble Scot bent on liberating his people.

Bound by duty and honor but ensnared by passion, Robert and Elizabeth must determine if they are each other’s biggest threat or greatest source of strength. And moreover, they must decide how much they are willing to risk for the one thing neither ever imagined they’d find with the other—extraordinary, boundless love.

••••••••

Georgianna’s REVIEW:Outlaw King is book one of the new Renegade Scots Series by Julie Johnstone. It’s a historical romance that relies on historical research and a bit of literary license by the author to make the story flow and engaging to the reader.
This is the story of Robert the Bruce and Elizabeth de Burgh.

It begins in 1296 AD in Northern Scotland. This is a complicated story of not doing what you want, but what you must do to survive. Robert the Bruce’s father is old and probably soon to die. Bruce, the elder is basically a coward and refuses to fight the English. As his son, Robert is required to serve the man his father is allied with, so he’s in the process of helping the King take strongholds in Scotland. During this battle, Robert decides he is on the wrong side of the fight. It’s during this battle that Elizabeth de Burgh, disguised as a squire, helps to save many Scots from being burned alive by her father’s order. She must then return with her father and face his wrath, but first thanked Robert for aiding her… and that began their story.

How they managed to actually fall in love, despite the circumstances was a remarkable story. The writing is excellent, the history interesting, the romance and love scenes hot, the action not too brutal.

I loved this story and look forward to the next in this series. For me there’s no high as outstanding as a highlander renegade Scot.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Georgianna

––––––––––––––––

Julie’s REVIEW: Books that are based in fact are always tricky. Do you believe everything you read ? Or do you just go in and read it for what it is ?

Robert the Bruce was an actual character in history as was Elizabeth, so with bated breath I opened my kindle …..

Beautifully written and very descriptive, I could imagine roaming the hills.

Elizabeth has a job to do …..seduce “the Bruce” and finds out all she can about his army and intention’s towards England.

But Elizabeth isn’t happy with that deal, she is ordered by both the king of England and her father to do her duty (you have to remember that women had NO SAY in what they did in those days) all she wants is a quiet life, and when they threaten her beloved cousins life, Elizabeth sees no other choice but to do ask they demand.

But the legend is nothing like the man, and Elizabeth must make a choice …. the man or her family ??

Robert wants his Scotland free from the tyranny of England, and soon a bloody war erupts, so he has enough on his plate with war and feuding clans, the last thing he needs is Elizabeth ruining his concentration, but she does that, and soon Robert will need to reveal to Elizabeth his plans …. can he trust her, or will she betray him ? And will he use her to fool the English, ensuring she hates him forever ??

Reviewed by Julie B

 

How much do you really want to know?

As a writer of historical romance when I’m developing my story I often have to ask myself how important is historical accuracy. You may be surprised to learn that is not such an easy question to answer for every aspect of the story. Sometimes, I feel like a circus tight rope walker balancing precariously on a very thin cord. To my left sit readers who think they want complete accuracy in their historical fiction novels, but to my right fall the readers who want a dab of accuracy here and there. I’ve learned this through 22 published historical romance novels.

So just how important is accuracy in historical fiction when you are trying to please two different mindsets of people? For me, accuracy is very important because I want readers to get a true picture of what was really happening in the time my book pertains to. However, I’m very aware that I cannot be totally accurate with every single aspect of history.

Take for example my Medieval books. If I wrote the books in Gaelic, as the Scots spoke in Medieval times, the modern day reader would not even understand the book. The same holds true for my Regency books. If I used all of the words that they did in the Regency period many of them have gone completely out of use. The modern reader would not grasp the meaning of my sentences. I have to pick and choose the words I use in my historical books very carefully. I like to pepper in actual words that were used during the time for authenticity without sacrificing accuracy.

On the flip side of using words no longer in existence, I have to be very careful not to use words that seem too modern and would pull the reader out of the time period of the story. I actually have a word bank that my editor and I have developed which contains thousands of words and expressions that were not in use in the Medieval and Regency period. We spent countless hours finding substitutes for these words so that my stories would be as historically accurate as possible while not causing the reader to stumble over a word.
Sometimes the historical accuracy of what I know about certain words as a researcher can come into direct conflict with the history that I realize many readers think they know of a term. For example, I would never use the word ‘claymore’ to speak of a sword in my Scottish Medieval books because the word was not used in reference to swords until the 18 century, yet many readers believe that all swords should be called claymores. Thanks, Hollywood. ☺

I have to make decisions all the time about whether to go with what I know to be the absolute truth or what I know to be reader expectation. I make these decisions on a case by case basis. Another example is bathing. Most people do not want to hear in stories that your character has not bathed in quite a while, so I chose to bend historical accuracy in this instance and make all of my character hygienic. Now, you will not find a laird in a modern day bubble bath day after day, but he will take a dip in a loch more than once a month. See how niftily accuracy can be bent just a tad while maintaining as much historical integrity as possible and delivering a wonderful reader experience.

Another fun example is clothing. I always put my characters in historically accurate clothing, but when it comes time for the steamy love scenes, those many layers of clothes are going to come off a lot quicker than they would in real life. If stayed completely accurate with how long it really took to disrobe, I fear my readers would get bored. However, a caveat to this statement is that I have often taken off layers of clothing on characters while working in a kiss here, a caress there or even turned the disrobing into a game of seduction where each layer removed increased the tension in the room. But sometimes this is not possible, and the clothes just have to go quickly!
As far as dates and actual events that take place, I like to stick to the facts and not change these things. I will never put a historical battle at a time or place that it wasn’t, but I will certainly make up characters that didn’t exist and put them there. However, the characters I create from my imagination could have existed, and that makes all the difference.
Whenever I use events or places that existed, I put in hours of countless research to make sure I am historically accurate because I feel there should be no bending on this type of thing. But sometimes, I have been known to make up a castle or an event, which is why what I write is called fiction. ☺

In my newest book, OUTLAW KING, RENEGADE SCOTS, Book 1, I like to say it is a marriage of historical accuracy meets author imagination. I hope you will consider reading it! I could go on about historical accuracy forever, but I have to go write my next book! How important is historical accuracy to you as a reader? One commenter will win a digital copy of OUTLAW KING.

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Author Julie Johnstone first fell in love with romance fifteen years ago when she picked up her first romance novel in an airport gift shop on the way to Conroe, Texas for a family reunion and spent her whole weekend reading rather than water skiing, which up until then was one of her favorite things to do.

Julie is staying up way too late and typing furiously on her keyboard to finish her next book or blog with her fellow authors at Ladyscribes. Julie is married to an amazing lawyer and when she is not running her two precocious children to one activity or another she is trying to seek out some time to stay in shape and see her dearest friends.

Julie Johstone is graciously offering an ebook copy of OUTLAW KING to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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Defending Allye (Mountain Mercenaries #1) by Susan Stoker-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

DEFENDING ALLYE (Mountain Mercenaries #1) by Susan Stoker-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / Chapters Indigo /
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 7, 2018

Ever since his rescue op off the Pacific Coast, Mountain Mercenary Gray Rogers hasn’t been able to forget his latest “job”—Allye Martin. Any other woman would have panicked during a rescue, but the wily dancer kept her cool—even after being kidnapped by an elusive human trafficker. And Gray couldn’t be happier when a grateful Allye follows him home to Colorado Springs…

For Allye, finding sanctuary in the arms—and bed—of the former Navy SEAL is only temporary. People are disappearing off the streets of San Francisco, victims of the same underground trade that targeted her, and Allye could be the key to dismantling the entire operation. She’s willing to do anything to bring them down. Gray isn’t—for good reason. But you don’t say no to a tough girl like Allye who refuses to play it safe.

Now Gray is risking more than ever before. The Mountain Mercenaries have his back. But is it enough to keep the woman he loves out of harm’s way?

••••••

REVIEW:DEFENDING ALLEY is the first instalment in Susan Stoker’s contemporary, adult MOUNTAIN MERCENARIES erotic, romantic, military, suspense series focusing on a group of six former soldiers and Navy SEALS who call themselves Mountain Mercenaries, headed by the mysterious ‘Rex’. This is thirty-six year old, former Navy SEAL Grayson Rogers, and twenty-nine year old, dancer Allye Martin’s story line. The Mountain Mercenaries is a spin off from the author’s Ace Security series but you do not have to have read the previous series to understand or follow the current timeline. The Mountain Mercenaries were first introduced in CLAIMING FELICITY (Ace Security 4).

NOTE: DEFENDING ALLYE contains scenes of abuse, torture and threats of a sexual nature, and may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from several third person perspectives including Allye and Gray DEFENDING ALLYE focuses on the hunt for a kidnapper in the San Francisco area, and the person responsible for a suspected human trafficking ring. Grayson Rogers and his fellow Mountain Mercenaries have been handpicked for their current roles by the mysterious, and as yet unidentified, team leader ‘Rex’. Hoping to intercept the hand-off of money, Grayson discovers more than he had bargained for when he finds Allye Martin instead. A quick take-down of the kidnappers, a struggle out at sea, and the rescue of our story line heroine, finds Allye falling for Grayson but not before she reveals she has information that may be important to the team’s investigation. What ensues is the quick building romance between Allye and Gray, and the potential fall-out as a number of women are kidnapped and killed in an effort to draw Allye out into the light.

Grayson Rogers knows lost first hand when his entire team of Navy SEALs was killed leaving our hero the only one to survive. Memories, of the horrific ordeal including the murder of his friends, have forced Gray into an over protective male where it concerns the woman with whom he is falling love. Never again wanting to lose anyone close, or witness the death of someone he loves, Gray struggles with Allye’s demands and need to place herself in harm’s way.

The relationship between Allye and Grayson is quick to develop. From hours alone at sea, to finding herself ‘living’ with the man that calls to her heart, Allye knows that Grayson will protect her against the odds, but Grayson battles between memories of the past, and his ability to stop the woman he loves from becoming a willing target in an effort to catch the bad guy. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Grayson’s fellow Mountain Mercenaries: Ronan ‘Ro’ Cross, Lowell ‘Black’ Lockard, Meat, Arrow, and Ball. Ronan and Chloe Harris’ story is next in Defending Chloe.

DEFENDING ALLYE is a story of action, suspense, romance and love. The premise is entertaining and engaging; the romance is passionate and intense; the characters are colorful, dynamic and animated but the heroine’s need to place herself in danger to ‘save’ a friend and other potential victims screams TSTL (too stupid to live), incredibly destructive and ill-fated. DEFENDING ALLYE is a sexy, intriguing and fated introductory story line in Susan Stoker’s new Mountain Mercenaries series.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Writing Defending Allye by Susan Stoker

Defending Allye is the first book in my new Mountain Mercenaries series. In the last book in my Ace Security series I introduced the characters and hinted that they’d get their own stories. The series’ main characters Gray and Black are former SEALs, Ro is a former British SAS member, Arrow is a former Marine, Ball is a former Coast Guard member, Meat was former Delta Force, and Rex, the handler, was also former military, but he’s a bit of a mystery at this point.

In the series starter, Grayson Rogers is on a Mountain Mercenary mission that goes completely sideways and unexpectedly finds himself in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, without a boat, with Allye Rogers.

Allye is a dancer from San Francisco who unfortunately, found herself the object of a crazy man’s obsession.

But of course, after being rescued from the sea, Allye’s life is still in danger and Gray uses his skills as a former Navy SEAL to track down the bad guy who has become obsessed with her. He’s possessive and Alpha, but not a jerk (at least most of the time…he does make one BIG mistake which causes a whole lot of chaos).

The Mountain Mercenaries are a group of former Special Forces soldiers from all branches who were hired by their their mysterious handler, Rex, a man they’ve never met, only spoken to on the phone. They take cases primarily involving women and children and are based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado. As Allye points out, they are really more like Vigilantes, but that didn’t sound as good as Mercenaries. HA!

I lived in the Colorado Springs area for a few years when my husband was stationed in South Korea. I love how diverse the area is and it was fun to include places I’ve actually been to in real life. Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, Black Forest, The Broadmoor, etc.

 

Pulling her closer, Gray wrapped an arm around Allye’s waist again, using his legs to keep them above water. Her body felt cold even through the wet suit, and her lips were no longer ringed with blue as they’d been earlier—now they were almost completely bluish purple. She needed to get out and get warm. Now. But she didn’t complain. Just did whatever he asked of her with minimal questions. He liked that.
He liked Allye. A lot. He knew nothing could come of his attraction, as he lived in Colorado Springs and she lived in San Francisco. But it had been a long time since a woman had piqued his interest as she had.

Gray eyed the boat and saw the second Black picked up his signal. The vessel took an obvious turn and changed course to head straight for them. He turned to Allye and gave her a smile. “There are one hundred and eighty-seven quintillion gallons of water in the Pacific Ocean. That’s sixty-two-point-four million square miles. If karma had it out for you, as you claim, there’s no way that boat would be headed straight for us right now. No one would find us out here . . . especially not in the dark. Chin up, kitten. We’re about to be rescued.”

She turned once again and faced the oncoming boat. “It’s a good thing,” she quipped. “My fingers and toes are prunes. I’m not sure they’ll ever go back to their original state.”

Gray couldn’t stop the chuckle that escaped. She never ceased to surprise him.

They waited without another word as the light from the boat came closer and closer.

Finally, Gray heard Black call out his name.

“Yo! It’s about time!” Gray yelled back.

He heard his friend laugh as he cut the engine and slowed the boat. It floated toward them, and Gray maneuvered himself and Allye so he could grab one of the ropes on the side of the rubber boat when it got close enough.

“Where’d you pick this thing up?” he asked Black. It wasn’t the sleek fiberglass boat they’d been on earlier.

“Long story. Jeez, Gray. Only you could pick up a chick in the middle of the ocean, my friend.”

“How about you talk less and help me get her inside?” Gray asked dryly. He wasn’t going to introduce Allye to his friend while they were bobbing in the ocean.

“Yeah, sorry.” Gray turned to Allye. “You ready to go home?”

“Oh yeah,” was her heartfelt response.

“Grab Black’s hand. I’ll push from here, and he’ll pull you up.”

Black reached down, not waiting for her to reach up, and grabbed her under the arms instead. He began pulling her on board the large, inflatable Zodiac boat. Gray did as promised, putting a hand on her ass and pushing upward as Black pulled, and within seconds, she’d disappeared over the side.

He heard her “umph” as she hit the bottom of the boat, but when she didn’t scream out in pain or otherwise protest, he relaxed a fraction. She’d still need to be looked over by paramedics, but hopefully her little swim hadn’t done her any long-lasting harm.

Black’s face returned over the side of the boat a second later, and he held out a hand. Without fanfare, as they’d done this exact thing many times, Gray used his friend’s help and his own upper-body strength to haul himself over the side of the boat.

He immediately looked for Allye. He could see her more clearly now with the lights from the boat. She was huddled against the side with her knees drawn up. Her face was slightly blue from the cold water, but she gave him a weak smile.

Ignoring his own chilled body, Gray turned to ask Black for a blanket, but his friend was already there, handing him a stack of them. Gray crawled over to where Allye was huddled. He tried not to look at her long legs, but he was only human. She was built, her thighs thick and muscular, appropriate for a dancer, he supposed. He could see her calf muscles clearly, even through the wet suit. He had the thought that she’d look amazing in a pair of high heels.

Holding out a blanket, he said, “As much as it’s gonna suck, you need to get out of that wet suit.”

“But I’m freezing.”

“I know, kitten, but all that thing will do is make you colder. Take it off, and I’ll get you wrapped up in these nice, warm blankets.”

She rolled her eyes at the cajoling tone of his voice, but did as asked. She struggled with the zipper, but just as Gray was going to offer to help with it, she managed to pull it down. She wriggled and squirmed as she attempted to pull the wet suit off.

Gray handed the blankets back to Black and kneeled next to her. He pulled on the sleeve of the wet suit as she eased her arm out. He helped her with the other arm, then said, “Lie back. I’ll pull it off your legs.”

She did as he asked without question, but as soon as he began peeling the material down her legs, she quipped, “If I’d known I’d have a cute guy taking off my pants in the middle of the night, I would’ve made sure to shave.”

 

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives, but this all-American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.

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A Witch’s Revenge: Operation Underworld- Henrietta and Alex Part 1 (The Shadow Files) by Carly Fall-Review & Guest Post

A WITCH’S REVENGE:Operation Underworld -Henrietta and Alex Part 1 (The Shadow Files) by Carly Fall-Review and Guest Post

ebook anthology ONLY 99¢ at Amazon / B&N:

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 7,2018

If he catches her, he’ll steal her soul. The future of magic is in her hands.
When Henrietta Thomas’ mother is brutally murdered, she discovers that her past is filled with lies that will deeply affect her future and her powers as a witch. It soon becomes clear that her mother’s death is tied to missing young witches and warlocks in Seattle. Henry must locate the party responsible, find out what happened to the children, and then … exact her revenge.

With the help of Operation Underworld, an organization that hunts rogue paranormal entities, she follows the trail to homeless magic-wielding children in Seattle. They in turn lead her to the culprit—a warlock with greater power than she could ever imagine. The dark secrets of the past not only threaten her, but every child with magical ability … if she doesn’t destroy the powerful warlock before it’s too late.

THE SHADOW FILES: Join the Release Event for THE SHADOW FILES on FACEBOOK

Magic, mystery, and adventure await you in these 22 paranormal suspense stories!
Ever wonder what lurks within the shadows? Then, search no further. The Shadow Files features your favorite paranormal entities as they battle what prowls deep within their supernatural, mystical worlds.

Dance with Lucifer, cast spells with witches, experience love from beyond the grave, solve a case — Grimm-style. Tangle with vampires, discover relics, and get ready for adventures more exciting than Tomb Raider or Indiana Jones! Follow mages and rebel angels as they battle the evil threatening to end magic … forever.

If you like your suspense with a paranormal twist, secure your copy of this limited-edition collection from today’s hottest bestselling authors!

••••••••••••

NOTE: My review covers A WITCH’S REVENGE by Carly Fall

REVIEW: A WITCH’S REVENGE is the first instalment in Carly Fall’s contemporary, adult  OPERATION UNDERWORLD: Henrietta and Alex  paranormal trilogy. A part of the multi-authored THE SHADOW FILES Limited Edition Collection of Supernatural Suspense stories, A Witch’s Revenge introduces the spirited and interesting characters we will come to know and love.

Told from third person perspective (Henrietta) A WITCH’S REVENGE follows our heroine, Henrietta Thomas, a witch of unknown powers, in the aftermath of her mother Esmerelda’s murder. Secreted and secluded at Gladstone Cabin, a paranormal hideaway for the adolescent supernaturals, twenty-five year old Henrietta Thomas aka Henry must leave the safety of her home to search for the evil she believes is responsible for her mother’s death. An invitation to join Operation Underworld, an organization that polices the supernatural finds our heroine venturing into the unknown to take down a powerful warlock she believes killed the mother she loves. What ensues is the slow building release of Henrietta’s powers, powers that prove both evil and good.

Henrietta Thomas is a bit of a loner; an impulsive, tenacious and strong-willed witch who is steadfast in her belief about the who and why of her mother’ death, but a woman who is unaware of her powerful lineage, a lineage hidden all of her life.

We are introduced to Ms. Gladstone, a powerful witch and the proprietor of Gladstone Cabin; warlocks Alex, and Niram Turek; Operation Underworld’s computer hacker Harper; Helter, Skelter and Sherlock the cats; as well as a number of young witches and warlocks just coming into their powers.

A WITCH’S REVENGE reads a little bit like X-Men and Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters as Ms. Gladstone teaches the young supernaturals how to control their gifts and their powers, all the while protecting the children from those who do not understand. A WITCH’S REVENGE focuses on one woman’s dogged determination to avenge the murder of her beloved mother but a woman who discovers not all is at is seems, or she was led to believe. Carly Fall invites the reader into an enchanting and suspenseful tale of witches, warlocks, power and magic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

The Benefits of Box Sets for Readers
By
Carly Fall and Natalie G. Owens

When done properly, box sets have always been a win-win for both readers and authors. As a reader, you get dozens of amazing stories by your favorite authors … and it’s a fabulous opportunity to discover new-to-you authors.

For authors, it is a chance to find new readers!

It’s a win-win!

In this box set, there are 21 USA Today and award-winning authors. All of the stories are original and never published before, which means they have been written specifically for this box set. No re-hashing going on here! You’ve never seen these books before, and that’s a promise.

We’ve got stories about witches, vampires, and ghosts, just to name a few of your favorite paranormal entities. Every author has sent their characters on a journey to solve a mysterious case. Maybe they need to find a missing person. Perhaps they need to solve a murder, unearth a dark, magical conspiracy, win a war, deal with an unexplained phenomenon … or save a school of witches from an evil warlock. Some are in the fights of their lives to save magic! Other protagonists find themselves on an adventure to search for missing paranormal relics and uncover deep family secrets. Some may even find love!

Each story is an exciting quest or whodunit for you to take, follow, and enjoy.

The best part of this box set is that you receive all these stories for only .99. Yes, ninety-nine pennies. That’s a steal for 1000s of pages of never-before-seen material. The collection won’t be around for long, so make sure to grab your copy today – and start following new authors and series you can enjoy for years to come!

~~ Carly ~~

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I am a wife, a mother and a slave to Nicky the dog.

I think chocolate and wine should be considered their own food group, and I wish Christmas happened twice a year.

I love the hot summer nights here in Arizona when my family and I play in our pool until late at night, and I hate 99.8% of politicians.

Pre-order THE SHADOW FILES for ONLY 99¢ and claim up to 12 freebies to enjoy:

Click HERE for details.

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