Tag Archives: Carmen

Betting the Scot by Jennifer Trethewey – a Review

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Betting the Scot by Jennifer Trethewey – a Review

 

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Description:
Declan Sinclair is a Highlander who believes his dreams never lie. When he spots Caya at a public house, he knows instantly she is the woman in his dreams—his future wife. Though her brother had promised never to gamble again, he engages Declan in a card game—and the prize is the lovely Caya.

Caya Pendarvis has no time for childish things like dreams or fairy-tales or love. She’s the sacrificial lamb on her way to the far north of Scotland to wed a wealthy merchant in exchange for settling her brother’s gambling debts.

Winning at cards is one of the many things Declan Sinclair does well. Unfortunately, the ability to court a woman—a talent he lacks—is the only skill he desperately needs to win Caya’s heart

 

Review:

“Declan Sinclair would have called to his wife, but he didn’t know her name. They hadn’t met. Not yet. Nevertheless, the pretty blonde seated on the far side of the tavern was his wife. Or would be. Soon. She was the wife in his dreams, and his dreams never lied.”

As crazy a premonition as that may be, it’s far less toxic than the impetus behind Caya’s decision to marry Declan. It may have even surprised Caya to be so willing. But it’s not all Bluebells and heather from the jump. Caya is a proper lady from Cornwall, England, and this arrangement to marry Declan, “a soldier by trade, a man of blood” is far from conventional. The bumps and stops, “false starts and misunderstandings”, apply nevertheless. This is when you know what really matters! Betting the Scot by Jennifer Trethewey is an enchanting journey to discover a home is truly where the heart is.

Thrust together by foul deed (you’ll rue the day you meet Caya’s brother, Jack), Declan and Caya are kept at arm’s length. While it allowed them to contemplate the enormity of marriage, it also fueled their desires. It felt as if Caya’s ruminations, which developed into realizations, went undeclared for far too long. She chastised herself for engaging in heated fantasies when she could have acted upon them with an all too willing Declan. Before you go thinking less of my man, “I’m no’ a heathen”, Declan wanted to give Caya a real future, a true happiness as his wife. Feelings and avoidance are bound to collide. And to make matters more tense, Ms. Trethewey inserts the most hurtful of words uttered by Caya that both ramps up the drama and has you changing sides, lol! Having said that, restoring feelings and/or mending fences sounds so much sexier with a trilling burr.

The Highlands of Scotland are the perfect setting for this romance. The writing and language were authentic to the culture — I looked up so many Gaelic words to hear them in their native tongue. Humor was lovingly imbued with words and thoughts. Take a bet on this book! True love was achieved, you’ll swoon alongside it, but there will be hateful, vengeful action to keep you in suspense!

Lucky me just discovered this is book 2 of the series. I’ll rewind to the courtship of Alex and Lucy…and await the romance that is sure to sweep big Magnus off his feet in book three!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Pursuit of Mrs. Pennyworth by Callie Hutton – a Review

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The Pursuit of Mrs. Pennyworth by Callie Hutton – a Review

 

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Description:
Recently widowed, Charlotte Pennyworth is relishing her independence and it rankles to have to rely on a man to help her with an increasingly sinister stalker. Former Yardman, Elliot Baker, is reluctant to take on Charlotte’s case but despite himself and his history with another woman, he is drawn to the bright, attractive widow.

Sparks smolder between the PI and his client but neither is looking to form an attachment. Elliot thinks Charlotte is hiding something. Charlotte has no desire to marry again, especially to a private investigator, no matter how handsome, brave and kind he is. The risk to his life and her heart is too great. But more dangerous than a menacing stalker is secrets and when Charlotte’s come to light, even the passion between them might not douse the flames of Elliot’s distrust.

 

Review:

When a woman’s word is often overlooked, if not blatantly dismissed, few options are available when threatened with Scotland Yard. Charlotte was poor and struggling to make ends meet, but she did not steal her employer’s jewelry. Be that as it may, Charlotte flees, desperate to avoid repercussions (and the unwanted advances of her employer). Callie Hutton tells a tale of wicked torments, overcoming adversity, and embracing second chances in The Pursuit of Mrs. Pennyworth.

Elliot and Charlotte are at odds in terms of relationships. She hires him to investigate a series of disturbing gifts arriving anonymously on her doorstep, but such proximity blossoms into business of a personal nature. Problem is, Elliott was humiliated by a former lover and now views every woman with a scrutinizing eye; suspicious of her character. Charlotte could break the mold, but he won’t pursue her. *Let’s just put a pin in it for now, shall we?* Charlotte is a widow after the briefest of marriages. She’s out of the mourning phase and is experiencing personal growth, but she does miss the intimacy of marriage. The attraction is a slow burn. Both anxious to explore, both reluctant to succumb.

This was an up and down read. I got caught up in several scenarios, frightened by the heightened aggression in the “gifts”, and ecstatic when a subtle touch lingered past propriety. It just seemed to drag on for too long; same dilemma, different scenario. Charlotte should have trusted her gut. While her escape might have extracted her from the hands of a lothario, she didn’t seriously connect her past to her present. Elliott would have considered the nasty character; if his grudge was capable of such pursuits. I ended up frustrated by recurring scenes that didn’t advance the plot. A good 50 pages less might have made the book more enticing to finish.

I enjoyed Charlotte’s new found independence. She wasn’t miserable in her first marriage, but there seemed an air of deprivation. Widowhood was desolate, but running her own home and answering only to herself was rather life affirming. Reading the newspaper while she drank her tea, instead of waiting until her husband was done, was a tiny, but fulfilling victory. Seemingly innocuous duties reinvigorated Charlotte’s self-esteem.

There was potential to devour this book had an editor curbed the redundancy and augmented the whodunit aspect. For all the buildup and drama attached to the perpetrator, the resolution was too tidy an ending for this reader. Callie Hutton is a seasoned writer, the love story is both endearing and sexy, but I wished to be swept up on all levels.  

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

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Enchanter Redeemed by Sharon Ashwood – a Review

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Enchanter Redeemed by Sharon Ashwood – a Review

 

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Description:
Ancient magic and new passion…

In the last battle for Camelot, Merlin had to make a terrible choice. Now he must pay the price. When a demon from his past reappears, she wants nothing more than to destroy the wizard. Now to reap her vengeance as a lover scorned, the demon occupies the body of Clary—the apprentice who is capturing his heart—and has the innocent behaving in uncharacteristic ways. Ways that push the forbidden desire Clary and Merlin share into heated play…

 

Review:

Author Sharon Ashwood informs her audience about the character, Merlin, you’re about to meet (swoon for, it’s inevitable) before the prologue. This introduction gives you a brief history and depiction of the character you’re about to lose sleep over. It’s precious insight, but in no way does it prepare you for the action and emotion in this story — it will bowl you over. Bravo to Ms. Ashwood for Enchanter Redeemed, a stunning conclusion to a fabulous series!

Merlin’s ultimate success in the battle for Camelot was short-lived because while it ensured King Arthur’s crown, it also stripped away emotion from the fae, their trusted allies. Recruited to defeat the demons plaguing Camelot, Arthur regrettably compromised their spirited nature. That issue, its resolution to restore feelings, troubles Merlin to no end.

As troubling as that is, Merlin’s priority is to stay on top of any vulnerabilities since the Queen of Fae’s incarceration by the Lady of the Lake; any suspicious activity that threatens King Arthur’s reconstructed Camelot. When Merlin’s stealthy surveillance of demons begins to yield promising information, Clary, his unsuspecting student, and wildest, albeit secret, fantasy, trespasses into his domain not only revealing Merlin’s presence, but she’s accosted by a spiteful, powerful demoness named Vivian.

  “Ever since first meeting the knights of Camelot, Clary had wanted to help in their battle against Morgan LaFaye. Now she was infected by the enemy, a liability instead of an ally.”

Vivian, you’ll learn, is a woman instrumental in…all things Merlin. A woman scorned and all that jazz prompts Vivian to hijack Clary, body and soul. Torment aside, what nefarious deeds can Clary/Vivian commit to undermine Camelot under the scrutinizing eye of Merlin?

 “He released her, but didn’t back away…Her skin glowed the same delicate cream, her mouth still invited him-and yet something was different. It prickled against a sense that had no name.”

Imbued with fantastic humor, when you’re hosting a demon hell-bent on revenge, you pray for compatibility. Listening to the inner dialogue between Clary and Vivian was equal parts enlightening as well as chilling. Their banter is both light and combative as they tangle amidst dueling purposes. On top of their communal attributes comes the knowledge (and jealousy) of the relationship once enjoyed by Merlin and Vivian. Talk about conflict of interest! Clary is beginning to understand Vivian’s history, and goals (that resolutely includes the demise of her mentor and lover, Merlin), but this invasion is also affording Clary new perspective: it’s impossible not to wonder (Clary flat out asks) if it wasn’t all bad between this once formidable pairing. There’s only so much confidence one has, am I right?

Will Merlin become The Enchanter Redeemed? Does Clary rid herself of the unwanted neighbor? Does Vivian earn any redemption? Will Camelot prevail in the end? All the answers will satisfy and delight. Don’t miss out on this epic finale. This is an engaging series that maintains energy with every character’s book. Your faithful fan awaits your return, Ms. Ashwood!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy supplied for review

 

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Haunted by Shari Nichols – Review & Giveaway

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Haunted by Shari Nichols – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
When medium Karly Matthews agrees to move into a haunted inn, she’s not sure what’s more dangerous, the ghost or the sexy innkeeper she tries to resist. She can’t deny the intense rush of desire she feels every time he’s near. When she agrees to embark on a no-strings-attached relationship, she finds herself thrust into a world of mind-blowing pleasures. Now she must face the aching truths of her past.

Hotel heir Thayne Harper has a laser-like focus on success that doesn’t include the help of his family. He’s always been the black sheep, living in the shadow of his dead brother. His dreams are put to the test when a supernatural entity threatens to ruin everything. The one bright spot is the woman who intrigues his mind and heats his blood. If only he can convince her that, despite his bad-boy ways, he can change for the good. Her love becomes his only salvation. Passion burns white-hot as a dark threat looms. The ghost doesn’t want them to be together and sets her sights on Thayne, luring him to a place that goes beyond death. Will Karly be able to save him before it’s too late?

 

Review:

A would-be one night stand that wasn’t. When that ship sails, it’s delicious fun to face each another anew in the most surprising of settings: employer and employee. Karly is a medium hired to clear Thayne’s ghost-laden hotel before opening night. Given their attraction, stronger than ever for proximity, never mind delayed gratification, who exactly is making those sounds that go bump in the night? Haunted by Shari Nichols explores supernatural events with hair-raising details and a red-hot love story.

“Well, this certainly complicates matters.” There was an edge to his voice. “Only if we let it.” And she wouldn’t, because she had no intention of seeing him again outside of these four walls. Rule number one: never, ever cross professional boundaries. Rule number two: constantly remind yourself of rule number one, especially if the client is hot as sin.”

Karly does all the preliminary work to ascertain the presence of ghosts, but when the sexual tension rises, and the haunting stems from a singular spectre, Karly aims full throttle to banish the ghost…and leave her unsatisfied fantasies behind. In her haste to remove herself from the temptation of Thayne, Karly aggravates the spirit, yeah, it went nowhere, and is forced to up her game. While this menacing ghost can doom his hotelier venture, it also ensures Karly remains on the premises…and face her avoidance issues with Thayne. Game on, indeed.

I enjoyed Haunted. There is ghost hunting and hotel business, but love is the central story. Ghosts and vengeance (human and inhuman alike!) spook and strike and generally vie for attention, but Thayne and Karly are haunted by each other. They navigate past insta-love pretty quickly, trusting that this feels too right to be superficial. It’s when things turn tempestuous that we witness our H/H build, and topple, their relationship. This tenacity to survive, to drive past hard lines, is what maintains their desire to fight another day.

Haunted is a sexy ghost story sure to keep you up well into the night.
Reviewed by Carmen

Copy supplied for review

 

About The author

Shari NicholsShari Nichols grew up in a small town in Connecticut where haunted houses, ghosts and Ouija boards were common place, spurring her fascination with all things paranormal. Ever since she read her first Barbara Cartland novel, her life-long dream has been to write sexy, romantic stories. Shari has been married to her own alpha hero for twenty-two years. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, going to the gym, or hanging out with family and friends.

She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two teenagers, and her adoring golden retriever. Shari graduated from Rider University with a degree in Business Administration. After spending several years in the grind of Corporate America, she left to stay at home with her kids. Now she’s thrilled to spend her days in sweats, eating chocolate while pounding on her keyboard to create her next novel.

Her next book, Haunted, another steamy romance, will venture into the world of ghosts and haunted inns. Shari is a member of Romance Writers of America, New Jersey Romance Writers, Liberty States Fiction Writers and Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal Romance Writers.

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Instagram

 

giveaway

Shari Nichols is offering an e-copy of HAUNTED to ONE (1) 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).

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. LIKE Shari Nichols on Facebook

4. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

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8. Giveaway open internationally

9.. Giveaway runs from December 16-21, 2017

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Countdown by Carey Baldwin – a Review

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Countdown by Carey Baldwin – a Review

 

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Description:
Don’t believe everything you see.

Special Agent Atticus Spenser and forensic psychiatrist Dr. Caitlin Cassidy are in Tahiti enjoying a much-needed break from the FBI when they spot newlyweds taking fun photos on the beach. But as the groom carries his bride deeper into the waves, Spense is positive he sees a flash of terror cross her face. All his instincts scream that this woman is in danger. Yet moments later, it’s the groom who has nearly drowned… and the bride has vanished, leaving a bloody wedding dress floating in her wake.

The authorities aren’t sure who to believe—the groom, who insists his wife tried to murder him… or her twin, who claims her sister must have acted in self-defense. Intrigued, Spense and Caity agree to help investigate. But when they discover that the missing bride is the daughter of a notorious confidence man, they begin to suspect that all is not what it seems. Now they’ll need to separate victim from villain, fact from fiction, truth from lie, to determine if there’s really a killer on the loose… or if it’s all one big con.

 

 

Review:

Countdown is the final installment of the fabulous Cassidy and Spenser Thrillers series by the wonderful, Carey Baldwin. I have had the tremendous pleasure of reading, and reviewing, this incredible series since its introduction, and this finale is Carey Baldwin‘s swan song to Atticus and Caitlin. It’s never easy to say goodbye to characters, but the joy they’ve brought me far outweighs the sadness.

Our dynamic duo finally arrives in Tahiti, their long-desired, always-postponed escape from duty, but the purpose is of grand proportion now: Spense and Caity are getting married! This destination wedding comes with a timetable/plans to abide by…but when our H/H happen upon a frisky bride and groom taking their free spirit out to deep waters, and the unconventional dip devolves into a near drowning, Caity and Spense find themselves torn between private citizen status and FBI profilers yet again.

As focused on their big day as they intended to be, Caity and Spense simply can’t overlook attempted murder in their idealic island. Rose and Tommy Preston, newlyweds, have a checkered past that only research and discovery can make decipher. Now, if only the bride hadn’t gone “missing”, things could go a little easier for Caity and Spense! Throw in Rose’s twin sister, Lilly, who has a past of her own with good ole Tommy, and the plot thickens. But even in the midst of chaos and confusion, unearthing details that lead to major revelations, there are stolen moments between Caity and Spense that bring a sense of peace, of pause and perspective, that love truly is the end all. When Caity reaches out to touch Spense after a harrowing moment or when Spense lets his gaze linger on Caity…that’s the stuff. That gut reassurance of devotion. Carey Baldwin has developed a tender love story, woven lovingly throughout the series, between two strong characters who’ve become a formidable combination. Who’ve forged an unforgettable partnership.

Not only will you scrutinize the actions of the twin sisters and find yourself glued to Tommy’s seedy behavior, seriously questioning good choices all around, but Ms. Baldwin brings back beloved characters who shone in the background while supporting our H/H. “The moms” are darling and committed to the cause, but Spense’s relationship with Dutch Langhorne in particular is proof of not squandering love. It warmed my heart to know Spense has someone else to rely on.

What makes newlyweds turn and spitefully twist on each other? Lines of loyalty are crossed and Caity and Spense determine that not all is what it appears to be. As the race to prove innocence lapses, murderous consequences hang in the balance. It is suspenseful and dramatic. Be prepared for face-palming, “smh”-ing, and even high-fives for getting shi# done!

Countdown dragged Caity and Spense away from ticking off all the wedding details, but their commitment to one another never wavered. Caity and Spense are perfect together and cases seem only to enhance their uniqueconnection. I bid them a fond farewell for all they’ve meant to me. Soooo…how will you wow us next, Ms. Baldwin?

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy supplied for Review

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Corsair’s Cove Chocolate Shop – The Complete Set (Volume 6) – Review

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Corsair’s Cove Chocolate Shop – The Complete Set (Volume 6) – Review

 

Corsair's Cove Chocolate ShopAmazon

Description
The sweetest life is the one you make together … Corsair’s Cove has a reputation for being one of the most haunted places in the Pacific Northwest. It also has a way of drawing to itself the people who need it most—like the Blackthorne cousins. When Great Aunt Ruby passes and leaves them her chocolate shop, it comes with a few extras she forgot to tell them about—such as a talking parrot and a pirate ghost! Cursed by an angry ex, Daniel Blackthorne, the Wolf of the West, must help the last descendants of his family find true love before he’s banished forever on Hallowe’en night. But even a skilled sea captain will encounter heavy weather when he tries to get Prudence, Livy, Brynn, and Eloise—four cousins with everything but romance on their minds—into the arms of their soulmates before the clock strikes midnight

Review:

The lovely Sharon Ashwood, author of the terrific Four Horsemen and Camelot Reborn series, has collaborated with three equally fine authors, Lee McKenzie, Rachel Goldsworthy, and Shelley Adina to create a charming anthology series titled Corsair’s Cove Chocolate Shop. Set in a Pacific northwest town, four formerly inseparable cousins reunite, for lamentable reasons, to reestablish bonds and contemplate HEA. Not only are there paranormal elements nestled within the Blackthorne family folk tale, but the swoon-worthy love stories are sure to sweeten your life. Dive in to taste their calorie-free goods! 🙂

KISS AT THE COVE by Lee McKenzie

Prudence delivers Happily Ever Afters as a wedding planner and Spencer is a scientist who disproves the unfounded. What’s more confounding than love? How can this possibly work?

When great aunt, Ruby, the matriarch of the family, passes away, life is upended for Pru. Ruby’s untimely death ultimately brings to life plans for business expansion that Pru had always envisioned, but it’s unseemly to rejoice. Just when opportunity presented itself,

“Ruby had been wise to name all four cousins in the will, even if Pru hadn’t seen that at first. And what better way to remind the cousins of their bond than to physically bring them together in Corsair’s Cove.”

Amid the uncertainty of livelihood, and common goals gone awry, Pru gets a “crash course” in all things romantic. Spencer is on a sabbatical of sorts, mostly affecting matters of the heart, and when he makes contact with Pru, swearing off women sounds like the most preposterous of plans. This pair works. It’s an effortless attraction that may, or may not, have been given a supernatural shove in the right direction.

KISS IN THE WIND by Rachel Goldsworthy

The romance continues to build with Pru’s cousin, Livy, a food chemist, newly arrived to honor Aunt Ruby’s wishes. When she meets Mack, local tavern owner, real salt of the earth kind of guy, relocating to Corsair’s Cove was practical magic!

While this love story may have simmered a bit longer than the first, there was immediate impact upon meeting. Chill-inducing energy!

Can two independents step outside of their own comfort zones to make a go of collaboration? Enchantment inside and outside the kitchen is much more than chemistry!

KISS ON THE BEACH by Shelley Adina

The third novella involves another Blackthorne descendant, Brynn, and her unrequited high school crush, Jamie. Jamie is a homebody who stuck around after high school, built a name for himself in carpentry, and envisioned his future dream home, albeit harbored. You see, he’s pined after Brynn for time immemorial.
When Brynn arrives in Corsair’s Cove to settle her share of Aunt Ruby’s estate, something akin to a dine-and-dash act, life takes on new perspective. Surrounded by family, enveloped in quaint town magic, when did she become so adverse to HEA?

“It was as though she was a part of something larger than herself. Part of a heritage that actually belonged to her. Something else she’d never thought about before. It was this place. Give the Cove an inch, and it took a mile, darn it.”

Brynn’s return has certainly stirred up old feelings for Jamie. An executive though she might be, her demeanor belies an inner turmoil. A longing, Jamie hopes, to preserve tradition, to create new memories with her cousins…and to finally set fire to their romantic spark of old.

KISS IN THE DARK by Sharon Ashwood

The quartet of this lovely series, and sexiest, delves deeper into the Blackthorne curse (excellent paranormal activity!) and the details of his sin. A crime of passion as it were, but Daniel Blackthorne, the legendary pirate ghost himself, has the opportunity to break said curse and, surprisingly enough, find some HEA of his own.

Eloise, the “flake of the family”, arrives with a lot to prove. Fresh out of business school, she’s tasked to promote a fundraising ball that will enhance the shop’s productivity as well as sustainability. Discovering her spectral roommate is none other than Daniel Blackthorne, the legend, the heart of Corsair’s Cove, their lives become entwined forevermore.

Will Eloise yield to the charms of a ghost (the undead have game, trust me!) and undo the blight clinging to him or will a nefarious character shatter hope and bring ultimate despair?

Not only are the love stories delectable, but each author is allowing her main character, a grand-niece, the ability to reconnect with Aunt Ruby; to make peace as she designed. The touch of paranormal, we are talking about ghosts after all, shifts and develops with every novella. You’ll enjoy every revelation, every step to victory. Corsair’s Cove came to life with every author’s depiction. Every sweet and savory concoction sampled at Red Gem’s Chocolate and Confections sounds as tantalizing as pirate Blackthorne himself. Beginning to end — a thoroughly tasty treat!

~~~~~

But wait! What’s that I hear?? Why wedding bells, of course! Pru and Spencer are near solidifying their unending love when ghosts, of course ghosts!, return to haunt Corsair’s Cove.

A revival of Pru’s history at the altar does not a marriage make. What could possibly prevent this promise of forever? Cold feet? Too easy. All the answers are available in Kiss at the Altar, each sweet chapter an author cooperative. Line forms here for Corsair’s Cove Orchard series!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy supplied for review

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Against All Odds by Jezz de Silva – a Review

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Against All Odds by Jezz de Silva – a Review

 

Against All OddsAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM

Description:
The bomb ticking inside Abigail Williams has shadowed every moment of her adult life. With the timer counting down, Abi embarks on one final adventure into theAustralian outback before returning to L.A. to fight for her life.

Sergeant Ryder Harper survived over a decade in Australia’s most elite military unit. He’s ready to hang up his assault rifle and drag what’s left of his broken body back home. He dreads the long flight back to Brisbane, until he collides with the stubborn, maddening seductress sitting beside him.

Abi ignites a need deep inside Ryder, leaving him desperate for more time with this woman with mesmerizing eyes and an even more intoxicating spirit. But when Abi finally relents to Ryder’s offer to be her outback guide, she has one condition: When it’s time, he’ll have to let her go.

 

Review:

Against All Odds. Anyone remember the movie – the namesake song within the movie? I barely do, but it’s hardly necessary when reading this powerhouse of emotion. Escapism might be the initial common bond for these two strangers, but HEA is their unexpected miracle. Jezz de Silva‘s debut novel, Against All Odds, tells a mighty love story derived of hope and promise. They go hand in hand and blessedly held forever.

Abi’s future is so bleak, she’s created a bucket list to complete in a once in a lifetime trip to Australia. But when her window-seat neighbor offers her an authentic tour of the Outback only a native can claim, who knew her heart would be the ultimate sacrifice? There’s steam, and plenty of it, but you’ll get swept up by Ryder and Abi’s instant connection, their shared sensibilities, their natural communication. A good writer makes baring their souls as provocative as shedding their clothes.

Ryder is a man’s man. He’s gained notoriety in his home country, as well as the States, for exemplary service. But while Ryder may have received military honors, his unflinching bravery shines upon discovering Abi’s personal battle. In spite of their two week friendship, Ryder’s heart unquestionably beats alongside Abi’s. Ryder’s new mission may not be on the battlefield, but failure is not an option: He wants Abi, heart and soul.

Insta-love isn’t rational, but matters of the heart seldom are.

“It didn’t make sense, it was impossible, it was crazy, it was suicidal, but love wasn’t meant to be understood.”

I loved Abi and Ryder. They fought different wars, but virulent enemies all the same. When there appeared little hope, the unexpected jettisoned complacency and proposed a few more adventures. Bravo to Mr. de Silva for delivering an impactful , inspirational love story. Write on…I’m reading!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

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Famous by Jenny Holiday – a Review

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Famous by Jenny Holiday – a Review

 

FamousAmazon / B&N / Kobo

Description:
Everyone knows her face. He knows her heart.

Emerson Quinn is famous. Girls want to be her. Boys want to date her. Each record outsells the last. All that remains is to continue transitioning her brand from its teenage fan base to a more mature, diverse audience. So she’s under strict orders to play nice with her army of assigned co-songwriters and to knock off the serial dating that keeps landing her in the tabloids. If she follows instructions, she can look forward to an indefinite run at the top of the celebrity ecosystem. There’s only one problem with this plan: Emerson is miserable.

So she runs away, impulsively fleeing her L.A. life and heading for a small Iowa college town where a guy she once knew lives. He’s the only person in the world she can think of who might be enough of a nerd to not know about Emerson Quinn the brand. Who might be willing to provide a haven where she can lay low and write her new album by herself, on her own terms.
  
Art history professor Evan Winslow knows a thing or two about leaving your past behind. He’s worked hard to establish himself far from the spotlight of his infamous father. He’s up for tenure soon, which will mean job security for life. All he has to do to lock down his hard-won, blessedly quiet existence is keep his head down.

Too bad the most famous pop star in the world—who also happens to be his long-lost muse—has just shown up on his doorstep.


Review:

When Evan and Emmy first meet, he’s running away from attention and she’s running toward it. Seven years later, their paths reconvene in the “straight lines and right angles” of Iowa, “No twists and turns. Nothing and no one lurking unexpectedly behind a bend in the road. No blind spots.” Will such luxury of independence serve Emmy’s song-producing needs? And what of Evan’s newly-invaded heart, because Emmy whirls in and intensifies all his repressed emotions. Jenny Holiday is “Famous“, *wink, wink* for introducing wonderful characters whose lives she upends only to make them more life-affirming. Gotta love an author like this!

Emmy made her dreams come true, she’s a massive star, but when the music industry begins churning her into a machine, she tries to escape the “Famous” lifestyle she ambitiously created. Evan wishes he could resume his creativity that was deprived him by the sins of his father. Although struggling within an artistic spectrum, Evan and Emmy are more in tune than not. Surprisingly, and selflessly, Evan and Emmy don’t despair over their plights; seeking only to support each other’s goals. Their talents are reenergized in each other’s stasis.

When things turn romantic, as they’re clearly headed (I know I wanted it!), uncertainty overrides emotion. In an effort to achieve her most sought after independence, Emmy’s decreed a moratorium on dating. Evan, honorable dude that he is, abides by her wishes…and battles his burgeoning desires. This may, or may not, make them irritable. But it only enhances their communication. Jenny Holiday moonlights as a part-time therapist, I’m sure. 😉

“But, amazingly, the odd stiffness between them wasn’t enough to extinguish the attraction between them.”

Internal chaos turns innocuous Iowa into a catalyst for two uneasy souls. “The sense that even though everything was orderly and tidy, this was also, paradoxically, a place where anything could happen.” Famous is a beautiful love story that launches a watershed moment to epic proportions. Emmy and Evan weren’t unhappy, but complacent and ultimately compromising their potential. Shared sensibility and compassion inspired them to ask for more. Emmy and Evan surmounted a mountain of more.

On a fun note, I had likened Emmy and Evan to Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel from Safe Haven. But when Emmy was going on about how college girls must be dying to get into Evan’s class, I immediately thought of Indiana Jones and the student with her eyelids declaring devotion. Picture whomever you’d like, maybe even Taylor Swift? ;D. Just know that you’re in for some steamy scenes. Yeah, so not complaining.

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy supplied for review

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