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Crimson Heart by Heather McCollum – Interview & Review

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Crimson Heart by Heather McCollum – Interview &  Review

 

Crimson HeartAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description:
Elena has spent her entire life hiding her family name while walking the thin line between lady and servant in a Protestant household. Keeping the secret of her lineage has been a success for years, but now, with a new, fiercely Catholic queen on the throne, Elena’s Protestant caretaker is being targeted. And when Bloody Mary discovers Elena’s true identity, she must not only flee to Scotland for her freedom, but also for her life.

Highland warrior, Searc Munro, has secrets of his own. In a family of healers, his own dark, killing magic must never be known. But when his father’s life is threatened, Searc unleashes his lethal power to save him. With his clan’s suspicious glances and whispers plaguing him, he sets off alone, only to find another use for his magic in saving a beautiful lass being attacked in the forest.

Teaming up as exiles, Elena and Searc head toward Edinburg to find refuge. Yet, with a series of ritual killings haunting the city and a traitor attempting to assassinate Scotland’s regent, suspicion turns to Searc. As word of another British heir reaches the country, the two must find a way to trust each other, despite their secrets, before it’s too late.

 

Review:

Crimson Heart is book three in Heather McCollum’s Highland Hearts Series. Now for anyone who knows me, they know I don’t like reading series out of order, but I made an exception for this one and I wasn’t disappointed. I really enjoyed Crimson Heart and Heather’s story telling ability. It was fun, fast paced, filled with danger, suspense, intrigue, magic, and of course a lovely romance. I do believe I’ve now found a new author and I plan to go back and read her previous books in this series when I have the time. In the meantime, I went back and read the book synopsis on the previous books and they sound just as good as Crimson Heart.

Heather does a wonderful job of spinning her tale of a lady in hiding and on the run due to her lineage, and a hero who has a dark form of magic that he fears he will be labeled a monster should anyone find out. The pretense to this story had me hooked from the get go and it just carried me away on a fun and adventurous story that had plenty of twists, turns, danger and comical situations that kept me entertained from beginning to end. From the moment I met both Elena and Searc it was an instant like of both characters. When an author can get me to like characters from my first meeting of them, I know I’m in for an enjoyable read and that the author will spin an exciting and fun story.

Elena is quite the enjoyable female lead. She’s feisty, brave, intelligent and can hold her own with a bow and arrow in a fight. She’s not your typical lady of that time who would swoon at the sight of bloodshed, instead, she jumps right in there and helps out all the while protecting our dashing hero in a kilt. Oh yes, Searc is every bit the sexy powerful Highlander and Elena is the perfect woman for this poor crushed soul. Elena doesn’t see Searc’s magic as dark, demon cursed or however Searc would label himself. Elena was able to see past his magic to the brave and powerful protector that Searc is. Thanks to Elena Searc finally sees that his magic isn’t a curse, but instead a source of magic that allows him to protect those he loves and see no harm brought to them.

Searc, what can I say, he’s your dream come true sexy Highlander, and he’s got a very powerful form of magic. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do to protect those he loves and cares for, including Elena now, who’s somehow managed to get under his skin and worm her way into Searc’s heart. He’s so sweet with Elena, and had me melting as I read the scenes with Elena and Searc. Yes, she caused our poor highlander plenty of headaches as she’s quite the headstrong lass and very rarely stayed put when Searc told her too. Those scenes had me laughing out loud, but at the same time falling more and more in love with Searc over his growing feelings for Elena. Just as Elena helps Searc too see his magic isn’t a death sentence, he helps Elena come to terms with who she is, and that she doesn’t need to be afraid of her lineage anymore because he will always be there to love and protect her.

The romance between Elena is slow to build and nicely weaved around all the danger, intrigue and suspense that Ms. McCollum creates in her story. Elena and Searc both fear their lives are doomed due to who and what they are, but in finding one another they come to realize that they can have the one thing they never thought they would, love, and someone to love them unconditionally. Watching them slowly come to this realization, and learning to trust each other is sweet, and romantic and will have you shedding a tear by the end of the book with Elena’s unselfish actions to help Searc. That scene was expertly written and had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what the outcome would be.

I know I’ve found a new author in Heather McCullom, and I think anyone who loves sexy powerful Highlanders, magic, a damsel on the run, danger, and intrigue with a good healthy dose of romance on the side, then I feel you too will have found a new author to put on your TBR list.

Until next time, happy reading everyone.

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher

Interview beige 2

Heather-Sophie

 

Hi Heather. Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today.We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

 

Heather:  Thanks so much for having me on The Reading Café!

TRC:  Would you please tell us something about yourself? 

Heather:  Let’s see – I’m a mom of three loud and spirited kids, ages 15, 13 and 7. I’m a dog mom of a crazy, rescued golden retriever and wife to my very own Highland hero, Braden. I’m also an author of historical, paranormal romance, an ovarian cancer ass-kicker, and a lover of baked goods fresh from the oven.

TRC:  Have you always been interested in writing? 

Heather:  I’ve written stories and poems since I was little. By high school I was writing romance for all of my creative writing assignments. Everyone thought I’d be an English major. I surprised them all by majoring in Cellular Immunology, a branch of Biology. I said that I didn’t like people telling me how to write. Ha! And now I have editors doing just that and it’s not so bad. It’s funny how I’ve come back around full circle to my first love, writing.

TRC: Is there anything (in general) you find particularly challenging about writing? 

Heather:  Oh gosh! There are so many things, but challenges keep us on our toes, right? Characters who refuse to follow my plot (Highlanders are stubborn) and just finding time to write while balancing a family are the two hardest parts of writing for me.  

TRC: Crimson Heart is the third book in your Highland Hearts series. For those who may not have read the first two books, can Crimson Heart be read as a standalone? 

Heather:  Yes, each book in the Highland Hearts series can be read alone, but past characters come into play in later books. Knowing something about those characters can make the reading more fun. So I recommend reading them in the following order:

HIGHLAND HEART – short prequel to Bk 1
CAPTURED HEART – Book 1
TANGLED HEARTS – Book 2
UNTAMED HEARTS – long novella, I call it Book 2.5
CRIMSON HEART – Book 3

TRC: Can you tell us the premise of Highland Hearts, and how many books do you have planned?

Heather:   Highland Hearts takes place in 16th century Britain and follows the Macbain and Munro clans. The characters journey from the rugged Highlands to King Henry VIII’s court in London and then back up to Edinburgh Castle, which was the seat of Scottish rule.  The series is a cross between The Tudors, Braveheart, and The Pirates of the Caribbean. And what makes it even more fun is the spark of magic within the series. All the women, descended from a magical healer from the 10th century, inherit the ability to move small particles such as blood and tissue to heal a body or air and water to affect the weather. Only women possess the magic, that is until Searc Munro reveals his secret in Crimson Heart.  I only had three books in mind but ended up publishing the prequel and then writing a long novella (Untamed Hearts) to give the reader more fun after Tangled Hearts. So Crimson Heart is supposed to be the last book in the series, although one of the characters at the end of Crimson Heart is begging me to write her story. So I’ll have to see : ) 

TRC: Would you please give us a brief description of Crimson Heart?  

Heather:  Sure! Here is the blurb.

Elena has spent her entire life hiding her family name while walking the thin line between lady and servant in a Protestant household. Keeping the secret of her lineage has been a success for years, but now, with a new, fiercely Catholic queen on the throne, Elena’s Protestant caretaker is being targeted. And when Bloody Mary discovers Elena’s true identity, she must not only flee to Scotland for her freedom, but also for her life.

Highland warrior, Searc Munro, has secrets of his own. In a family of healers, his own dark, killing magic must never be known. But when his father’s life is threatened, Searc unleashes his lethal power to save him. With his clan’s suspicious glances and whispers plaguing him, he sets off alone, only to find another use for his magic in saving a beautiful lass being attacked in the forest.

Teaming up as exiles, Elena and Searc head toward Edinburg to find refuge. Yet, with a series of ritual killings haunting the city and a traitor attempting to assassinate Scotland’s regent, suspicion turns to Searc. As word of another British heir reaches the country, the two must find a way to trust each other, despite their secrets, before it’s too late 

TRC:  You write both Historical Romance and YA Paranormal Romance. Do you have a preference? Have you ever thought about writing in another genre?

Heather:   I always love the book I am currently writing and the genre follows. I wrote the YA so my teen could read my books as my others are rated “R”. And I fell in love with the fun, snarky voices of my teen characters. But after a few months of slang, I start to yearn for my Highlanders again and usually find myself dreaming of Scottish brogues and brawny heroes in kilts.  I have all sorts of books in my head, waiting to be born. I have a contemporary romance ghost story series, a sci-fi dystopian trilogy, and a memoire based on my Russian grandmother’s life surviving a concentration camp in WWII. Although there is also another Scottish paranormal romance series whispering at me too.  

TRC:  You recently released Siren’s Song, a YA Paranormal romance. Is this a standalone or a series? Can you please give us a brief description of Siren’s Song? 

Heather:  Siren’s Song is definitely a standalone, but I am currently writing a sequel which follows one of the other characters in the book.  Jule Welsh can sing. She enthralls people with her bel canto voice. But it takes more than practice to reach her level of exquisite song; it takes siren’s blood running through her veins. Jule is starting her senior year at Cougar Creek High when her relatively normal world begins to resemble a roller coaster flying through a carnival scare house. Her mother is diagnosed as insane and committed, a psycho-stalker is snapping pictures of her to put into his homemade Jule-shrine, her voice is suddenly putting people into comatose trances, oh and the gorgeous new guy in town, Luke Whitmore, is interested in her . . . but also wants to kill her.  If you’d like to see the book trailer, it can be found here: SS Book Trailer (Psst, the house in the first shot was mine in high school and it was haunted). 

TRC:  You also have a series, Dragonfly Chronicles, which you note on your website that you are thinking about book #5. What is the status on this, and can you please give us a brief description of this series? 

Heather:  Yes, there is a 5th and final book coming in The Dragonfly Chronicles. I have just started writing Sacrifice and hope to release it early next year.  The Dragonfly ChroniclesA powerful Wiccan mother is hunted by a pack of thirteen bound demons. To save her four daughters before she’s killed, she hides each of them in a different time period with one of her magical powers. So each book takes place in a different era with the heroine possessing a different magical ability. In the fifth book, they will come together with their soul mates and the overall story protagonist, Drakkina (a spirit woman), to save the world from the demons.  

TRC:  What are you currently working on?

Heather:   Right now I’m writing the first draft of Sacrifice: Book Five in The Dragonfly Chronicles and also working on edits to the sequel to Siren’s Song, my YA.

TRC:  What is your writing process? Do you like to write at specific times, in a special place? 

Heather:  I’m a very visual writer. I like to see my characters (basic features & strong emotions) and settings (authentic historical details). So I create collages for my books. I take a day toward the beginning of each new project to cut out pictures of landscapes, people and objects that mean something to my story. I paste them on an open folder, poster board or even in a blank book to give me something to glance at while writing.

I’ve also started using a process that Blake Snyder describes in his screenwriting book, Save the Cat. It helps with plotting and pacing. I use a big white board, divided into four acts, and lots of index cards.

I have a lovely little writing desk with curvaceous, slender legs which I’ve named Eleri. I light my stained glass lamp (named Jule) and lose myself in my stories. But on cool days (I live in the south so below 90 degrees is a must) I sit with my lap top on my screened back porch to write. Out there I can listen to the birds and breezes and smell my herb garden. I write best before 3PM, partly because my energy level drops then but also my children are about to come home from school.  Last but not least, I must have a hot chai latte to sip to wake up my muse. She seems to require the taste of cinnamon to produce beautiful narrative and snappy, authentic dialogue.  

TRC:  Many authors have friends or family, that they bounce ideas and information back and forth. Do you have anyone you like to discuss your stories with? 

Heather:  I brainstorm with my 15yo daughter about my YA books. She helps me (while rolling her eyes) with teen slang and attitude.  I bounce ideas off my mom, husband, and girlfriends for my adult books. One of my friends, who is a technical editor in her day job, has become my beta reader and offers fantastic insight and catches my inconsistencies (especially eye color, don’t know why I can’t remember that!).

TRC:  What books, authors or people in your life have influenced your writing? 

Heather:  Every book I read influences my writing, from my first romance The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss to the screenwriting book I read a few weeks ago called Save the Cat by Blake Snyder. Karen Marie Moning opened up the world of paranormal Scottish romance with her time traveling Highlander series. Even Twilight has influenced my YA stories with its dangerous hero.  Gosh – everything has influenced my writing. I lived in a haunted house for five years. That certainly opened up my eyes and my mind to the unusual in the world. And I’ve recently fought and hopefully won the war against ovarian cancer with fifteen months of chemo and a year of recovery. Meeting cancer warriors, watching them quietly battle to save their lives and the worlds of their families, has influenced the themes of my books and ideas of what love looks like. In my upcoming YA sequel, the heroine must learn to handle her fear of dying, something I struggle with myself (not that I plan to die anytime soon : ).  

TRC:  When you are not writing, what other interests or hobbies do you have?

Heather:  Well I’m a full-time mom of three, so my kids keep my interest with boyfriends, learner’s driving permit, hockey practice, soccer practice, horseback riding, gymnastics, parties, school projects, etc. I’m also a dog mom to a crazy rescued golden retriever who requires daily runs to keep her from exploding with energy.  Since I’ve been sick and recovered, my amazing Highland husband and I have started the SHOUT Against the Whisper campaign to educate women about the sneaky, nearly-silent symptoms of ovarian cancer. I knit hats for chemo patients and the two of us run a booth at a popular women’s event in the area each year. We hand out symptom cards everywhere.  What are the symptoms? I’m so glad you asked because knowing them may save your life or the life of a woman you love. I list them in the backs of my books too in hopes that the information will reach more and more women.  

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms every day for more than three weeks, please go see your doctor. My tumor grew to grapefruit size in 5 short months and was spreading.
Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer:
Bloating that is persistent
Eating less and feeling fuller
Abdominal pain
Trouble with your bladder
Ovarian Cancer cannot be detected by a PAP Smear. Additional symptoms may include fatigue, indigestion, back pain, pain with intercourse, constipation, and/or menstrual irregularities.

Other hobbies? I also like watching birds, mild gardening, and baking things I shouldn’t eat on my diet. Let’s see, I also like decoupage, knitting, and all things related to drinking a proper tea.  

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else? 

Heather:  Thank you so much for having me here today! Your questions were so much fun! For more information about me, my books and ovarian cancer, please check out my web site at www.HeatherMcCollum.com. I can also be found here:
Twitter https://twitter.com/HMcCollumAuthor
FB https://www.facebook.com/HeatherMcCollumAuthor
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/hmccollumauthor/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4185696.Heather_McCollum

LIGHTNING ROUND

Heather:  Yay! This is like being a contestant on Family Feud except all my answers are right : ) 

Favorite Food: Haddock burger with cheese and tartar from the pier on Beals Island, Maine. After that, nearly any breakfast food that exists.  

Favorite Dessert: Pie, blueberry, pumpkin, shoo fly, chocolate chess, coconut custard, and so on. 

Favorite Movie: Pitch Perfect 

Favorite TV Show: Big Bang Theory 

Favorite Movie or TV Celebrity: Ellen DeGeneres  

Dark or Milk Chocolate: Dark, especially with cranberries and nuts in it 

Favorite literary character (not your own): Charley Davidson in Darynda Jones’ Grim Reaper series. She’s hilarious! 

Dog or Cat: Dog, I’ve grown up with them and love them despite their shedding. And unfortunately I’m allergic to cats.   

TRC: Thank you Heather, for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with Crimson Heart.  

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Born of Fury by Sherrilyn Kenyon – a Review

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Born of Fury by Sherrilyn Kenyon – a Review

 

Born of Fury

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository / BAM

SPECIAL – AUDIO Clip of Born Of Fury
MacmillanAudio – Born of Fury by Sherrilyn Kenyon audiobook – Chapters 1 & 2



Description:
Setting: Ichidian Universe

The war is on…

Counted among the fiercest Andarion warriors ever born, Hauk is one of the five founding members of the Sentella- an organization that has declared war on the League that rules the Ichidian universe with an iron fist and terrifies it with an army of well-trained assassins. Hauk’s enemies are legion, but he fears nothing and no one. He will do whatever it takes to survive and protect his Sentella brethren.

Sumi Antaxas is one of the best assassins the League has ever trained. In her world, failure is not an option and she has never met a target she couldn’t execute. So when she’s assigned Hauk, she believes it’ll be a quick and easy mission.

But nothing is ever as simple as it seems, and Hauk is far better trained and skilled than his dossier shows. More than that, as she pursues him, she stumbles upon the key that will bring down not only Hauk, but the entire Sentella organization.

In the race to report her information, she is overtaken by enemies out to end her as effectively as she intends to end Hauk. Now her only key to survival is the one man she’s been sent to kill. And Hauk doesn’t trust her at all.

The only question is, will he help her to live… or send her to her grave.

 

Review:

OMG Sherrilyn has done it again. Born of Fury is book 8 in her League series and another fantastic addition to it. I have so much floating around in my head that I want to say I just can’t figure out where to begin. It rocked, and blew me away with everything.  I finally learned about Hauk and the Andarion culture . Ever since I first met Hauk in the beginning of the series in Nykerian’s book I’ve been intrigued by him and wanted to learn more. I’m so happy he finally got his story told, and what a story. Born of Fury had me howling with laughter many times, well at other times I wanted to slap a few characters silly and give them a beat down for their treatments of Hauk, and of course other times near tears over some scenes.

Once again Ms. Kenyon spun her magic and pulled me in from the first scene. She had me sitting on the edge of my seat, turning page after page wanting to see what has going to happen next, and then of course when I get to the end of the book I’m sad because I know I have to wait an entire year before I can read the next installment and be entertained by this wonderful cast of characters and brilliant story telling and world building by my favourite author.

I absolutely love this cast of characters in The League series and was so happy to see all of them return in this one to help their friend Hauk. The banter and chemistry that Kenyon creates with these characters to me is the driving force of the series. Her characters literally run away with the story and keep the reader riveted to what’s unfolding on the pages. On top of the core group of Sentella members making appearances in this one, Ms. Kenyon now introduces us to the next generation of League characters in the kids. If what I saw in Hauk’s book with the kids is any indication, I feel she can keep writing this series forever. The kids are just as amazing and bring laughter and trouble wherever they go, just like their parents. Let’s just say there’s never a dull moment when this motely crew get together. Sorry I got a little off track there, it’s just so hard to keep focused on just Hauk and his story because everyone who makes an appearance adds a little something to the story to keep it entertaining.

Hauk, absolutely love this character, he’s everything I hoped for and more. He’s fearless, intelligent, powerful, sexy [(in Sumi’s words, her sexy beast 😉 ]and will do anything and everything to keep those he loves safe and secure from his enemies. Including giving up his chance at love, and doing right by his family and following through with Andarion customs where his dead brother’s widow is concerned. Now don’t even get me started on her, I couldn’t stand Darianna, and absolutely loved the scene where Sumi handed her butt to her. I was so happy to see Darianna got what she had coming to her in the end. Sumi is a brilliant heroine and I absolutely loved her as Hauk’s mate, even though she was sent in by the head League Commander to take him in and eventually take down the Sentella. It isn’t until we learn more about Sumi that we see why she is with the League and why she takes this assignment. The poor girl really had no choice because if she didn’t do what her commander ordered, she’d never see her daughter that was taken from her when she was born.

I loved the romance between Hauk and Sumi, and the way Kenyon writes it and develops it is nothing short of magic. Even though they are constantly fighting their way out of situations and dodging their enemies, somewhere along the line both learn to trust one another and realize that they are stronger together then alone. Somehow they find the time to show each other how they really feel and their romance takes flight from there and no matter the problems Hauk knows he’s going to face back home from his family, he’s not willing to give up his Sumi. Even though Hauk is Andarion and there are customs to follow, he’s willing to suffer the consequences, and Sumi is no different. She never once wavers once she commits herself to Hauk and she stands up to everyone who opposes their union, or tries to bring harm to Hauk. She may not be Andarion born, but Sumi acts and handles herself like a true Andarion warrior and lady where Hauk and his grandmother are concerned.

This was an amazing addition to an already amazing and very creative series from Sherrilyn Kenyon. Each one of her characters brings their own special personalities to each story and this one is no different. Hauk is the type of character you can’t help but admire and love. His loyalty knows no bounds and he will do anything and everything to keep those he holds dear safe. I absolutely loved the scenes with him and Darice (his nephew), Thia (Nykerian’s girl), and Sumi’s daughter Kalea. In these scenes we get to see a whole other side of Hauk that endears us even more to him. Even though he’s a fierce Andarion warrior, he’s also got a very loving and nurturing side to him and we see it come out in these scenes, and also with Sumi. There isn’t a single thing I didn’t love about this story. The only thing that made me sad was when I read the very last line because I knew I’d have to wait a whole year to read the next book which I’m sure is going to be just as good as Hauk’s.

Until next time, happy reading my Kenyon Menyons.

Reviewed by Marcie

 

 

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Straddling the Line by Jaci Burton – Review & Giveaway

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Straddling the Line by Jaci Burton – Review & Giveaway

Straddling the Line Banner

Straddling the Line
Play by Play – Book #8
by Jaci Burton
Release Date: July 1, 2014

Straddling the LineAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description:
Trevor Shay has a successful career straddling the two sports he loves—football and baseball. He puts it all on the line for old friend Haven Briscoe, though, when she has a tough time getting her professional career together after the death of her father. Despite her misgivings, Haven accepts the assignment of doing a feature bio on Trevor, but he’s an attractive force of nature and there’s a lot more to him than meets the eye. Secrets are revealed and chemistry is added to the mix as they each help each other through some tough times.

 

Review:

What can I say, I’m a sports nut and this series couldn’t be more up my alley. I love a good story where the hero is an athlete, and once again Jaci Burton delivers with Straddling the Line. I don’t know how she does it, but book after book, she makes me feel as though I’m a part of the story and right there cheering her hero on as he plays his particular sport. Now, I’m a huge hockey and baseball fan, so her hockey and baseball centered stories are my favourites of hers, but I’ve enjoyed all her other books in her Play by Play series as well. Straddling the Line is book 8 in this popular series by Jaci Burton.

Once again, Jaci delivers on the hotness factor with her latest hero. Trevor Shay is the ultimate in athletes thanks to his sporting prowess in two sports, baseball and football.   The guy is a natural in both sports and somehow manages to juggle a dual sporting career. I loved Trevor from the get go in this one and only grew to love him more and more as the story went on. The guy is not only amazing on the field, but also in the bedroom. Let me just say you will need a pitcher of ice water and a fan close by when you read this one. Trevor definitely knows how to turn on the heat and make a girl loose any inhibitions she may have when it comes to sex. Ms. Burton brings the steam in this romance between Trevor and Haven. This couple burned up the pages in Straddling the Line. Just when you think they can’t get any hotter, they do, but these scenes also provide much needed insight into Trevor and Haven’s psyche’s regarding love and trusting someone else. Neither character has ever been in a long term relationship, or experienced feelings like this before, and seeing them explore them through a sexual relationship as well as friendship helps draw the reader even more into the story and allows us to get to know both characters even better.

As their relationship progresses we see Haven finally come to terms with the death of her father, and it’s Trevor that helps her to finally accept all that happened and what’s happened since her father’s passing. As Haven finally moves forward she starts to see Trevor in a new light, but at the same time realizes there’s a part of himself he’s not letting her see. It’s not until Haven accidentally backs him into a corner that she finally learns his secret. At first it looks as though things are finished between them but in true Burton fashion she allows the characters to work through the issue and see that they are better together then apart, and when Trevor and Haven both go to each other to make up, the scene is magic. There are no other words I can possibly use to describe that scene. I think Trevor had me tearing up a little when he was talking to Haven in that scene. These are two characters who are meant to be together and their journey to their HEA is beautifully written.

Once again Ms. Burton writes a fun, fast paced and emotional story that centers around a sports hero. Both hero and heroine are strong characters and compliment each other very nice in Straddling the Line. They hold their own, and are able to drive the story page after page, making the reader not want to put the book down. As an added bonus for any sports nut like I am, the sport footage scenes are well written and make you feel like you are at the ball field and foot ball stadiums watching Trevor play his two favourite sports. It was also nice to see some past characters return in this one and be a part of Trevor and Haven’s story. The scenes with these characters are fun and comical at times and also provided a nice balance to the emotional part of the story taking place between our hero and heroine. I’d say Ms. Burton has another hit on her hands with this current installment in her Play by Play series. I’m already looking forward to her next installment and I highly recommend this series.

Until next time, happy reading my little sports nuts. 😉

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher


giveaway

Jaci and her publisher, Berkley, are offering a paper copy of Straddling the Line to one (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

 1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

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

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

4. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry

5. LIKE  Jaci Burton  on Facebook.

6. The giveaway is open to U.S. only.

7. The giveaway runs from July 16  to July 20, 2014

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Engaging the Earl by Diana Quincy – a Review

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Engaging the Earl by Diana Quincy – a Review

 

Engaging the Earl
Accidental Peers – Book #4
by Diana Quincy
Release Date: June 9, 2014

Engaging the EarlAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Description:
Vivacious Lady Katherine Granville is the toast of the ton, but society’s most eligible miss secretly yearns for her childhood love, an untitled loner who vanished long ago after her father forbade their marriage.

After years abroad, the dark and brooding Edward Stanhope returns to England a changed man. No longer a second son with no prospects, his battlefield strategies have won him an earldom. His return should be a victorious one, but the new Earl of Randolph is battling secret demons that no one can discover. Least of all, Kat.

When the man she can’t forget reappears at her betrothal ball, Kat’s perfectly arranged future is thrown into tumult. Edward remains cold and distant, hoping she’ll marry a man worthy of her. But nothing is settled when Kat sets out to win back her first love. Can the new Earl of Randolph resist the woman he’s loved for so many years?

 

Review:

Engaging the Earl is the 4th book in Diana Quincy’s Accidental Peers series and is Edward and Katerine’s story. I’ve only had the pleasure of reading the previous story in this series titled Compromising Willa and was quite happy to read the latest installment as I enjoyed the previous book immensely. Needless to say, I was not disappointed with Engaging the Earl, and of course not being one to read a series out of order, I went online and read story synopsis’ of the first two books in the series so I could be brought up to speed. 😉

Once again Ms. Quincy weaves her magic and transports the reader back in time to a place where women are the Belles of the Ball and every single available male is clamouring to seek their attentions and claim their hand in a marriage proposal. Her character and world building is superb in this one and allows the reader to get swept away on a fun, fast, yet emotional journey between two love struck characters. Both Edward and Kat are two very strong, determined, and capable characters and manage to carry the story and keep the reader involved from the first chapter. Their love for each other is so well written and felt from the first chapter that I found myself unable to root for anyone else in their lives as the story progressed.

Even though it’s years later when Edward returns from war with the title of Earl of Randolph for his bravery and strategies, he is still very much in love with his childhood sweetheart. However, after witnessing the horrors of war, he is now suffering bouts of melancholia, or as we call it today, PTSD. Edward loves Kat, or Kitty as he’s always called her from their childhood days, that he’s willing to sacrifice his own chance at love and happiness and allow her to marry the man she has recently become betrothed too. He’s worried that should he go to her and offer for her hand, she would be committing herself to someone who isn’t whole anymore. However, now that Kitty knows he’s alive and back in England, she isn’t one to idly sit back and allow Edward to get away with explaining himself, or for that matter fighting for their love. What ensues between them is nothing short of scandalous back in those days.

Kat “Kitty” Granville is a wonderful, feisty, and loveable heroine. I loved that fact that even though she’s the toast of the ton, the most incomparable as she’s been dubbed for her years of turning down suitors, she’s not afraid of being who she is and not what society expects of her. She loves her Edward, or Rand as he’s called now due to his new Earldom title, and she will stop at nothing till she gets him. The cat and mouse game that progresses between Edward and Kat is quite funny at times, but also hot and steamy as well. I often thought her betrothed Lord Sinclair had to be completely clueless to not see the attraction between Kat and Edward.

I absolutely adored this story and both Kat and Edward. Quincy’s take on PTSD back in those days is well handled and written with care, and watching Edward battle through those episodes and then finally opening up to Kat about them, allowing her to really see how the war has affected him is a very emotional yet uplifting scene. The love they have for each other just pours off the pages and sweeps the reader away on an emotional yet lovely journey between two people who are meant to be. Kat will keep you in stitches at times and other times have you yelling; ‘you go girl’, even though back in those days that was unheard of. Ms. Quincy definitely has another hit on her hands with Engaging the Earl. For anyone who loves historical romance, strong characters who will keep you captivated from beginning to end and rooting for love to win out in the end, then this one’s for you.

Until next time, happy reading everyone!

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Collector by Nora Roberts – a Review

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The Collector by Nora Roberts – a Review

 

The CollectorAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description:
When professional house-sitter Lila Emerson witnesses a murder/suicide from her current apartment-sitting job, life as she knows it takes a dramatic turn. Suddenly, the woman with no permanent ties finds herself almost wishing for one. . . .

Artist Ashton Archer knows his brother isn’t capable of violence—against himself or others. He recruits Lila, the only eyewitness, to help him uncover what happened. Ash longs to paint her as intensely as he hungers to touch her. But their investigation draws them into a rarified circle where priceless antiques are bought, sold, gambled away, and stolen, where what you possess is who you are, and where what you desire becomes a deadly obsession. . . .

 

Review:

As I said before, when I need a break from all my paranormal and fantasy genre books, Nora Roberts is my go to author, and with her latest stand alone book The Collector, I couldn’t have been happier to step away from my favourite genres. Even though Nora is classified a romance writer, I find more and more with her stand alone books at least, that the romance in the book isn’t the central plot. For me, it feels more like she’s telling a story of suspense, murder and adventure with a lovely romance intricately weaved throughout the main plot. As is the case in her latest book The Collector.

Right from the first chapter Nora draws the reader into her story with her heroine Lila Emerson witnessing the death of a total stranger. Thanks to her joy of people watching while house sitting, her life is turned upside down and poor Lila soon finds she’s smack in the middle of a crime investigation /adventure where not only is her life in jeopardy, but so too is her soon to be lover and artist Ashton Archer(don’t you just love his name?), who just happens to be the half brother to one of the deceased.

While trying to solve his half brother’s murder both Lila and Ashton keep getting deeper and deeper into a world of high stakes thievery and murder. With a hit-woman hot on their trail as they try to discover who is behind the murders of his family members over lost Russian Faberge Eggs, Lila and Ashton find romance and love as he discovers she’s his muse and needs to paint or sketch her, and Lila discovers that it’s okay to let someone in and allow herself to depend on someone else for a change.

I really enjoyed the way Nora set up the romance between Lila and Ashton. At first I thought these two characters are complete opposites of each other, and just how is this romance going to work? Well, being Nora, she found just the right way and weaved a beautiful romance around mystery, murder and adventure. I love the fact that with any of her books Nora never rushes the romantic plot. She keeps it slow and low key at the beginning but then once the romance takes off, the characters run with it and it pulls the reader in even more. Yes I will admit at times I wanted to smack Ashton for his over bearing ways where Lila is concerned, but as we get to know more and more about Ashton and his life, I began to see why he’s like that. I finally stopped wanting to smack him and instead began swooning over him and his protective ways. As it turns out Lila is the perfect female for him because she brings out the best in him not only with his art, but also his personality. I also love Lila as the heroine, she’s funny, flirty, and keeps our poor hero on his toes every moment of the day. He never knows just where she’s going or what she’s rambling on about most times, and it’s these scenes in the book that pull the hero and heroine even closer together.

The romance between Lila and Ashton is fun, sexy, flirty but with danger and murder following their every move. I absolutely loved the whole Faberge Egg and Russian Tsar history we got in this one. I absolutely love that kind of history and the stories that go with it. Nora really did her research on that part of plot and had me wanting to book a trip to Russia and Italy to visit some of the places that our couple journey too as they try and solve the murder mystery while dodging a crazed hit-woman who’s after them. I got so carried away while reading this book thanks to Nora’s amazing way with words and the pictures she can paint in my head that there were a few times I jumped when my phone or doorbell went off. For all I know it could have been the crazed hit-woman coming after me, LOL!!! If you are a Nora Roberts fan I promise you this one won’t disappoint. Nora paints a world full of danger, thievery, murder, cons, Russian atifacts, and romance all wrapped up in one fun filled adventure.

Until next time, happy reading!!

Reviewed by Marcie

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Deadly Bloodlines by Elke Feuer – a Review

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Deadly Bloodlines by Elke Feuer – a Review

 

Deadly BloodlinesAmazon / Barnes & Noble

Description:
A serial killer determined to repeat a murderous pattern that started twenty years ago.

Years after leaving Cayman because of her notorious serial killer mother, Angel Mason returns as an inspector on the police force. On the twentieth anniversary of her mother’s capture, someone is murdered in the same manner as her mother’s victims.

To complicate matters more, Angel’s old flame, Bren McDougal, is assigned to help her with capturing the killer, and it’s soon undeniably clear that the passion between them is hotter than ever.

As the killer repeats her mother’s deadly pattern, Angel must face the terrifying truth she’s been hiding for twenty years.


Review:

Deadly Bloodlines is the first book in Elke Feuer’s new Deadly Series. I was very excited when asked to read and review this book, because after reading Elke’s first book For the Love of Jazz, I knew I’d discovered a new favourite author.  I just want to say, I think Miss Feuer has another hit on her hands with her new Deadly series.  I was not disappointed at all with this latest book by Elke Feuer.

In Deadly Bloodlines, Miss Feuer sets the tone for the storyline right from the first chapter.  She hooks you from there and there’s no going back.  Deadly Bloodlines is a fast-paced, exciting read with a ‘who done it’ mystery that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat throughout the entire story.  Just when you think you may be getting closer to solving the mystery, she throws another bread crumb that gets you thinking in another direction.  There’s never a boring moment in this one people, it’s the type of book you just can’t put down once you’ve started until you get to the end and find out ‘who done it’.  When we finally get to that scene, I think my jaw dropped, because I never suspected the turn of events, or that person, not even for a second.  Now you know me, I’m not a spoil sport, so if you want to find out ‘who done it’, then you will have to read Deadly Bloodlines. 

On top of a nail biting mystery that’s full of suspense, second guessing of character’s motives, pulling your hair out over the fact that you think you know who the killer is, but then you turn the page and you think it’s someone entirely different, Ms. Feuer adds the element of romance to the story which only adds to an already action filled, tense story.  The romance between Angel and Bren is nicely balanced with the murder mystery and Angel’s past/present demons.  We get to explore both Bren and Angel’s personalities, learn of their past, and see how they navigate the current situation they are in. I like that their romance isn’t hurried, but instead is explored from their past and brought front and center with their present,  and with the possibility of a future if they can solve this mystery.   Both love each other very much and never stopped loving each other over the years they were apart.  Now if only they can overcome the obstacle in their path and find their way to their HEA. 

As I said earlier, Deadly Bloodlines is a fast paced, exciting yet nail biting read.  It will keep you guessing from beginning to end, making you turn page after page not wanting to stop till you get to the end.  Both the murder mystery and romance are well written and nicely balanced throughout the book.  Ms. Feuer has another hit on her hands with Deadly Bloodlines and I feel the hits will just keep coming for her. She has a talent for storytelling, world and character building and keeping her reader engrossed throughout the book.  For anyone looking for a ‘who done it’ type story with romance on the side, then look no further because Ms. Feuer delivers what you are looking for. 

Until next time, Happy Reading everyone! 

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Author

 

About the author
elke feuer Elke was born and raised on Grand Cayman and lives there with her husband and two kids who keep her on her toes. She has a sarcastic, quirky sense of humor not everyone gets, and is in a race to become the first Caymanian in space. When not writing, she’s helping other writers in Cayman through her organization CayWriters.

The author of For the Love of Jazz and Deadly Bloodlines, book one in her Deadly Series. She stumbled into writing romantic suspense because of her fascination with serial killers, but writes other genres because characters keep telling her their stories and she’s a sucker for a crazy story.

Connect with Elke: Website |Twitter|Facebook|Amazon|Goodreads

 

 

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Mad About You by Joan Kilby – a Review

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Mad About You by Joan Kilby – a Review

 

Mad About YouAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Description:
A man she can’t refuse…

Accountant Cassy Morris knows she’s putting her heart on the line when she agrees to move in with her best friend, multi-millionaire geek Scott Thornton while she manages his nanotechnology lab and finds an angel investor for his revolutionary new product. She’s loved him forever even though he’s only ever regarded her as a friend. But Cassy never could refuse Scott anything…

A woman he can’t resist…

When Scott is named Seattle’s sexiest man, the attention from women threatens to get in the way of him finishing his pet project and putting it on the market. Cassy steps up once again and pretends to be his fiancé. A lifetime of repressed sexual tension explodes in a passionate affair. Soon Scott is wondering how he can convince Cassy to turn their fake engagement into reality…   

 

Review;

Joan Kilby writes a fun, fast paced read that’s filled with friendship, love, tension of both the sexual and friendship type, romance and humour in Mad about You.  I really enjoyed this book, as I found it was very easy to relate to the characters and storyline.  Cassy and Scott run away with this one and you can’t help but find yourself swept away on an adventure that moves from friendship into romance and love.

I really liked both Scott and Cassy.  Cassy is smart, funny and a social butterfly, whereas, Scott is a computer geek who’s more comfortable in front of his computer figuring out his latest project, then having a relationship.  It was a lot of fun watching these two together.  I swear poor Cassy couldn’t have spelled it out more to Scott about how she really feels about him had she slapped him over the head and put a sticky note on his forehead so he’d see it next time him looked in the mirror.  LOL!!!  Watching Scott bungle his way through a fake engagement, then later realizing that yes he truly is in love with Cassy and needs her in his life and is trying everything under the sun to convince her he’s genuine was quite funny, yet charming.  I really enjoyed the ending of this one, seeing Scott and Cassy finally together and in love the way it was meant to be.  The perfect ending to a sweet romance.

Mad About You is a perfect book for a lazy Sunday afternoon where you can just sit back with a nice cup of tea, or glass of wine and relax while you enjoy a sweet and charming read.  Scott will have you shaking your head at his obliviousness where Cassy is concerned regarding her true feelings, while at other times chuckling over his bungling ways.  Cassy, she’ll have you rooting in her corner for her and Scott to make it to that that HEA.  Miss Kilby has done a wonderful job writing a romance about two long time friends who move from a BFF relationship into one of love and romance, that had me smiling, and laughing all the way through it.

Until next time, Happy Reading. 

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher

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Illusion by Sherrilyn Kenyon – a Review

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Illusion by Sherrilyn Kenyon – a Review

 

 Illusion
Chronicles of Nick – Book #5
by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Release Date: April 1, 2014IllusionAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description:
Be careful what you wish for…
You just might get it.

Nick Gautier is tired of his destiny. He doesn’t want to be the son of a demon who’s fated to end the world. Nor does he want to see another demon or other preternatural creature who wants to kill or enslave him. He just wants to be normal and have normal problems like everyone else.

But normality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. When he gets sucked into an alternate reality where his mother has married his mentor and his Atlantean god best friend has become a human geek, he begins to understand that no life is free of pain, and that every person has a specific place in the universe… Even the son of a hated demon.

Most of all, he sees that his powers aren’t the curse he thought they were, and that the world needs a champion, especially one its enemies can’t imagine rising up to defend the ones he should destroy.

Old enemies and new friends square off for a major battle that will either restore Nick to his real world, or end him forever.



Review:

OMG, OMG, my head is still spinning.  This book was freaking awesome and then some.  I can’t even begin to put into words just how amazing this edition to the CON series is.  I’m telling you now, if you haven’t read it yet, what are you waiting for????  Seriously people, you are missing out if you haven’t read this one yet, or for that matter the whole series up to this point.  Ms. Kenyon has done it again and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series Defiant that comes out next April.  Why do I have to wait a whole year, why????  Okay, enough of my ranting, I shall be patient, or try to, now onto my thoughts.

As I said, this edition to the CON series to me is a pivotal point in the series. We learn so much in this one.  There are connections made between the past, present and future that I had my sticky notes attached to my Kobo as I read this one. I kept jotting down little tidbits of information to keep every thing straight and help me connect the dots.  If anyone would have seen my Kobo by the time I was done reading Illusion, ppl would have thought I was nuts.  LOL!!!  The major reveal in this one is who Kody’s parents are!!! I’m still flabbergasted, but I’m so happy over who they are.  No I’m not telling you, it would spoil the way Kenyon reveals it and I don’t do spoilers.  So if you want to know, go read the book!!  Kody up to this point has been pretty secretive about herself, her family and basically how she comes to be a part of Nick’s life, but in this one we learn everything about her. I really enjoyed the way Kenyon sort of split the story’s plot between Nick being stuck in an alternate reality without his powers, and learning about Kody.  This makes me want her to be Nick’s HEA all the more now. I really do like these two together and hope they make it to Nick’s DH book in one piece, especially given the crazy things that happen to these two in this series.  

Along the way, we also get to see many of our favourites return, along with some new and interesting characters.  However, being stuck in this alternate reality doesn’t mean events, or people are the same here.  Nick learns the hard way and fast that he can’t take anything, or anyone for granted.  The only person he can trust is himself at his point.  As Nick struggles to find a way back to his reality, we also get to see and learn more of Caleb and Zavid(Aamon demon) whom we met in the last book.  It was also nice to see more of Adarian and his relationship with Cherise.  After reading those scenes with Nick and Adarian, we get a good dose of hope that Nick can indeed redeem his future’s self and that maybe, just maybe his father wasn’t as bad as first thought thanks to Cherise.  One new character who grabbed my attention is Xevikan, and I can’t wait to learn more about him, especially going by what we’ve learned so far, and how Illusion ends.

Of course in true Kenyon form, there is plenty of action, well written fight scenes, and of course her classic Kenyon humour and snarky one liners from Nick.  Man I love that character and am enjoying watching him grow and develop his powers and seeing what he needs to do in order to change his future’s path.  There was never a dull moment in this book, and it just seem to fly by thanks to Kenyon packing if full of important and mind blowing information.  There were many times where I was able to draw conclusions and make important connections to events in the Dark Hunter series.  As we’re halfway through the CON series and getting closer and closer to Nick’s adult DH book, I can see where Ms. Kenyon is starting to overlap events and start to the tie the two series closer and closer together.  Like I said, this one is amazing and indeed worth the read.  Once again if you haven’t read this one, you are missing out people, I don’t know how else to say it.   Just trust me on this one, go read the series, you won’t be disappointed. 

Until next time, happy reading!!    

Is it April 2015 yet??????  LOL!!!

Reviewed by Marcie

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