Book Binge

Rowena's review of Sweet Venom (Sweet Venom Trilogy, Book 1) by Tera Lynn Childs.

Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they’re triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful Gorgon maligned in myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

This is the second book by Tera Lynn Childs that I've read and it was a quick read that I really enjoyed. I've never been much of a Medusa fan but I can totally see myself as a fan of the girls in this book, well most of the girls from this book. Right now, I'm not much of a Greer fan but I'm sure that will change over the course of the series which I'm super excited to read.

In this book, we meet Gretchen, Grace and Greer. Three sisters that are descendants of Medusa of Greek mythology who meet for the first time in this book. Each sister brings something different to the table and Gretchen is the fighter, the sister who knows all about the monsters that go bump in the night. She knows how to fight them and has been training to fight them for a long time with her mentor, Ursala. Then there's Grace, the peacemaker of the trio of sisters. She's been seeing these monsters in her dreams and when Gretchen enlightens her on what they are and what they do, Grace wants to learn all she can to help defend herself and innocent people from them and though there were times when Grace made me roll my eyes down the street because she was so naive, I had to keep reminding myself that she was a teenager and that's how they think. Then there's Greer. Greer, who I wanted to strangle because she's the bratty teen that doesn't want to have anything to do with whatever Gretchen and Grace has going on. She's the one that fought them at every turn but you could tell that she would come around when she was good and ready to. Of the three, Gretchen was my favorite because she was just so kick ass. She wasn't perfect but she'd kick your ass if you said so and I loved that about her.

This story is about bringing three sisters together to fight the bad guys. It's action packed and just a smooth read that you won't have trouble falling into. I'm mighty intrigued by everything that's going on and I'm looking forward to seeing the sisters grow closer and closer together, especially Gretchen and Greer. The way that those two bumped heads throughout this book, I'm looking forward to seeing their relationship evolve. I know it's going to make for some good reading.

I loved how each sister brought something different to the table as far as the story went and I really enjoyed seeing them deal with the new path their lives have taken. They're each dealing with different things and they're trying to find their footing and I'm looking forward to more as the series continues. They're not going to be able to move forward without all three of them providing a united front so it's going to be real interesting to see how this all pans out and man am I excited! I think Childs did a wonderful job of sucking the reader into this new world that she's created for these sisters.

All in all, this is a wonderful introduction into a series that I think I'm going to really enjoy. I enjoyed the writing, the characters and the overall story so I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested. It's going on my keepers shelf and I'm anxious for more.

Grade: 4.5 out of 5

This book is available from Harper Teen. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Book Binge has some pretty awesome guest authors joining us today. Sophie Jordan and Tera Lynn Childs both have books that are out that I have read and adored. I'm such a greedy wench too because I'm thirsty for more.

Sophie Jordan's Vanish is the second book in the Firelight series and it picks up right where the first book left off. Jacinda is back home with the pride and she's not one of the top draki's anymore. She's got a lot to make up for and nobody in her corner. Well, nobody but Cassian and the twists and turns this book takes will have you salivating for more. Sophie Jordan wrote a winner of a book and I can't wait for more.

In Tera Lynn Child's Sweet Venom, we meet Gretchen, Grace and Greer who are descendants of Medusa with trouble coming. Something's not right and the three of them embark on a mission to find out what's going on and they set out to try to find Gretchen's mentor to help them keep the evil monsters from destroying the world. I've never been very interested in Medusa but I am mighty intrigued with the world that Childs is building with this series. This was the first book by her that I've ever read and I'm hooked.

Both of these books are out now so you don't want to miss out because they're enjoyable books and if you've got teens that are into reading paranormal YA fiction then you will win cool points if you pick these books up for them, I promise!

We're thrilled to host Sophie Jordan and Tera Lynn Childs on their blog tour. Today they'll be talking about their favorite romantic travel destinations so really, let's get to it.

Favorite Romantic Travel Destination by Sophie Jordan

The best romantic destination? Well, it would have to be my honeymoon location – and that’s not just because it was my honeymoon and already romantic. I mean that helped, for certain – but I would have loved this destination if I was dragged there at age thirteen on a family trip, braces and pimple cream in tow. Everything about Barbados is lovely and romantic –it’s what an island paradise should be.

The beaches ….sigh. The water ... amazing. The bluest blue I’ve ever seen, but also translucent. You can see all the fish swimming around you. And they’re amazing. Just so colorful. Everywhere you look, there are flying fish jumping in the water. Yes, it was a frequent dish on the menu, too. So yummy.

Pinks and creams and pale oranges are the standard for homes and buildings. Sweeping verandas and gently whirring fans. Exotic and lovely. It all seemed untouched by time. Bridgetown! Such an amazing port city. Restaurants and shops edge the water. But it felt so old world, still small, intimate. You don’t get a big city feel. In fact, the whole island felt like that. Untouched by time. Small and intimate. You could picture the carriages rolling down the cobbled streets. Gentlemen strolling in jackets and cravats. Ladies with parasols and vibrant gowns.

The vegetation is just amazing … monkeys hop high in lush branches and leaves. Bright birds and plantain trees abound. Even poisonous trees marked with paint to warn you! Yes, maybe not everyone would see this as romantic, but taking it as a whole ... well, it’s like walking into another world. A past world. History is alive around you. I spent an afternoon strolling through an old plantation, certain I could hear the whispers of the past.

I’ve never visited anywhere like Barbados, and I’m determined to go back. I always tease my husband that we’ll buy a second home there someday. Hm, okay, maybe I’m not teasing. I’ve also determined to write it as a setting for one of my books. Hey … I would require another trip there for research, wouldn’t I? All right. Off to plot that book now. 

Favorite Romantic Travel Destination by Tera Lynn Childs

The most romantic travel destination I can imagine is the South Pacific. Bora Bora to be exact. I’ve never been there, and I’m actually saving it for a very special occasion, but I’ve long fantasized about an extended vacation in paradise.

There are so many romantic things about the South Pacific. First, there’s the isolation. Not only is the region isolated from the rest of the world, but there are plenty of places to find complete seclusion among the islands. Undeveloped beaches, secluded coves, romantic picnics on sand-covered islands.

Second, there’s the natural beauty. Pristine white sands, gorgeous turquoise waters, lush tropical jungles. The islands of the South Pacific are covered in colorful flowers, and the waters are full of exotic sealife. And images I’ve seen of the sunsets are simply breathtaking.

Finally, I think the most romantic thing about the South Pacific is the slower pace. What is more romantic than spending time in a place where things move more slowly? Where it’s perfectly okay to lounge all day in your overwater bungalow, to stroll to dinner in a sundress, and do nothing more ambitious than walk on the beach or take a ride through the jungle.

Sounds like romantic paradise to me.

Barbados and Bora Bora? Both places are beautiful and the perfect romantic spot for lovers. I'd love to go to either places.

Huge thanks to Sophie Jordan and Tera Lynn Childs for stopping by our blog today and sharing their favorite romantic spots. If you haven't already, go out and get their books! If you're nearby and want to check these fabulous authors on their physical book tour, you'll be able to catch them at the following places:

Rowena's review of Vanish (Firelight, Book 2) by Sophie Jordan.

An Impossible Romance.
Bitter Rivalries.
Deadly Choices.

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever.

This is the second book in the Firelight trilogy by Sophie Jordan and while I'm kind of wishing that I read the first book, I enjoyed reading this book. This book follows what happened in the first book which I'm guessing was quite a bit. The main character, Jacinda is a draki and draki's are not to reveal themselves to anyone. They need to keep their secrets because there are hunters out there that would see all of the draki's killed and Jacinda does the unthinkable. She falls in love with a draki.

So in the first book, twin sisters Jacinda and are whisked away from their homes to start somewhere fresh, away from the pride that they've known all their lives. Jacinda isn't a real fan of the runaway deal because she was the pride and joy of the Pride. She's a fire breather and she was a celebrity in their pride until her family stole away in the night. While she's away from the pride, Jacinda does the unthinkable- she falls in love with the enemy. And just when you think she can't do anything worst...she does. She reveals herself in her draki form to the very people who are hunting her, putting her and her pride in danger.

This book picks up when they're back home with the pride and everyone knows of Jacinda's shame. She's fallen from the popular ranks to the lowly ranks and she has the piece of crap jobs and nobody really talks to her anymore. I felt really bad for Jacinda because she was shunned by the people who she used to love. She's away from the boy she loves and she feels so very alone.

Getting to know Jacinda made for some interesting reading. She's a teenager with a big heart and while she knows what and where her thoughts should be, she's still young enough to rely heavily on where her heart is leading her...and her heart is leading her right to where she shouldn't be going if she's going to give living a life as part of the pride a go...but the heart wants what the heart wants and her heart wants Will.

Now, it was hard for me to be Team Will because I hadn't read the first book but once Will was back in the picture, there was no denying the chemistry between him and Jacinda. The love they share is real and Jacinda is confused because while her heart wants Will, she can't help but feel things for Cassian.

Of the two, right now my heart is with Cassian. The whole unrequited love thing that he's got going on melts my insides and makes me want him to get his in the end. While I can't be mad about Will, my gut is telling me that with Cassian, Jacinda can have the best of both worlds. The love of a man that truly loves her for who she is and not what she can bring to the pride. Cassian cares deeply for Jacinda and I'm digging him for her. I can't help but wonder who's team I would be on if I had read the first book (which I'm going to fix lickety split) but for right now, it's Cassian. I want him to be the one she chooses to be with.

Lots of things pop off in this book and Jordan does a wonderful job of weaving it all together. The story is colorful and the characters leap right off the pages and I'm a fan. I can't wait to read more. I definitely recommend this book to lovers of the YA genre and to lovers of paranormal stories. This is a great one. There were times when I wanted to give Jacinda a swift kick in the ass because of some of the decisions she made but for the most part, she was okay.

Grade: 4 out of 5.

This book is available from Harper Teen. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Tracy’s review of Changeling Moon (Changeling #1) by Dani Harper

He roams the moonlit wilderness, his every sense and instinct on high alert. Changeling wolf Connor Macleod and his Pack have never feared anything—until the night human Zoey Tyler barely escapes a rogue werewolf's vicious attack.

As the full moon approaches, Zoey has no idea of the changes that are coming, and only Connor can show her what she is, and help her master the wildness inside. With her initiation into the Pack just days away and a terrifying predator on the loose, the tentative bonds of trust and tenderness are their only weapons against a force red in tooth, claw. . .and ultimate evil.

Zoey is the new newspaper editor in town. After covering a meeting she heads out to her truck during a sleet storm. Unfortunately for her the locks on her truck are frozen shut and her cell phone is inside the car. Things take a decided turn for the worse when Zoey is attacked by a huge silver wolf. She manages to hold her own and even hurt the wolf a bit but she still gets bitten.

Connor is a vet and is on his way home when his Changeling “farsight” aka precognition kicks in and he sees the whole scene with the crazed wolf and Zoey. He heads to her rescue and runs off the wolf. Since Connor knows that being bitten by a Changeling will result into turning into one he’s anxious to prevent the effects of the bite by administering silver nitrate. Unfortunately it doesn’t work due to a couple of extenuating circumstances.

While Connor tries to take care of Zoey he gets closer to her – he’s very attracted to her, yes, but his inner wolf is saying, “MINE!” A few times the wolf almost makes it to the surface but Connor manages to avoid revealing his animal nature until he chooses to tell Zoey all the details. Zoey herself feels a strong attraction to Connor but it’s not just sexual as they become friends and realize that they have a great time being together and just talking.

Changeling Moon showed a world where “werewolves” can be both born and made and that there were a few other magical beings out in the world that Connor and his pack didn’t know about.

I liked Zoey and Connor a lot – both together and separately. I think they fit each other quite well and was happy to see that it didn’t take the entire book to get the two together. Yes, there was the issue of Connor’s wolf that needed to be revealed but for the most part it was a pretty smooth romance. Of course there was the problem with the evil wolf that wouldn’t give up on his chance to order Zoey around and gave Connor an opportunity to save his woman. I didn’t care for that part all that much but it was I guess there had to be some angst in there. :)

The book was cute and had some good parts to it. I liked it enough to start the next book in the series, Changeling Dream, and so far it’s proving to be quite good.

Rating: 3 out of 5

You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place

This book is available from Brava. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Holly's review of Good Girls Don't (Donovan Brothers Brewery, Book 1) by Victoria Dahl.

Too much of a good thing…

With her long ponytail and sparkling green eyes, Tessa Donovan looks more like the girl next door than a businesswoman—or a heartbreaker. Which may explain why Detective Luke Asher barely notices her when he arrives to investigate a break–in at her family's brewery. He's got his own problems—starting with the fact that his partner, Simone, is pregnant and everyone thinks he's the father.

Tessa has her hands full, too. Her brother's playboy ways may be threatening the business, and the tension could tear her tight–knit family apart. In fact, the only thing that could unite the Donovan boys is seeing a man come after their "baby" sister. Especially a man like Luke Asher. But Tessa sees past the rumors to the man beneath. He's not who people think he is—and neither is she.

I didn't think I was going to like this book. The first half was really hard for me to take. The lying and scheming of the heroine, plus the strange plot, really annoyed me. I was just about to give up when I got really intrigued. Plus, my husband helped calm me down (strange, I know), and pointed out that I was taking it a bit too seriously.

Tessa wants to hold her family together. When her brother Jamie sleeps with the daughter of a client they're trying to land, she begs him not to tell their oldest brother Eric until she can figure out what to do. She's worried that Eric will be furious with Jamie and not allow him to make any decisions in the business. In the meantime, their brewery is broken into and Detective Luke Asher is investigating.

Luke and Tessa are instantly attracted to each other. She makes the first move and they realize they have chemistry. They also have a lot in common and really enjoy each others company. Unfortunately, Tessa's brothers don't like that she's dating and the stress of keeping so much from them is making her a little (a lot) crazy.

My issues begin and end with Tessa. Her lying and scheming was immature and silly. She didn't act like a 27 year old woman. She acted like a 12 year old girl. This lying and scheming didn't stop at her brothers. She also schemes and plays in other areas of her life. Luke accuses her of being a control freak and I would agree with that. I'd also say she needed to pull up her big girl panties and realize life doesn't revolve around her.

In the end, I felt this was an extremely well done tale of Tessa growing up. I would almost call it a coming-of-age novel, except she's 27. It worked, despite Tessa's age. The family dynamics were interesting and the romance was well done, though I did struggle with how old these two were. The romance read more like that of a younger couple.

In any case, despite my hesitancy and the frustrations I had early on, I'm glad I read this. It was an emotional tale that pulled me in.

3.75 out of 5

The series:

Rowena's review of A Night to Surrender (Spindle Cove Series, Book 1) by Tessa Dare.

Hero: Victor "Bram" Bramwell
Heroine: Susanna Finch

A peaceful resort by the sea, Spindle Cove is a retreat for Regency ladies—offering intelligent, often unconventional women a temporary escape from men and their madness. Unfortunately for Miss Susanna Finch, the seaside safe haven she has so painstakingly nurtured is no longer quite so safe. The Cove’s been invaded—not by Napoleon’s forces, but by battle-weary, barely civilized, dangerously handsome men.

Victor Bramwell, the new Earl of Rycliff, knows he doesn’t belong in Spindle Cove. So far as he can tell, there’s nothing in this godforsaken place but spinsters… and sheep. But he’s stuck here—with orders to gather a local militia. It’s a simple mission, made complicated by the spirited, exquisite Susanna. Not only has she driven all red-blooded men from the place with her "modern" notions, but her lively wit and tempting beauty are distractions Bram doesn’t need.

Bram fears he may have met his match, for Susanna won’t easily surrender.

The scene is set for an epic battle ... but who can be named the winner, when both have so much to lose?

Before picking up this book, I was trying to remember if I'd read anything by Tessa Dare before but I can't for the life of me remember. I don't think so, though I did get all of her books when she came out for a So Cal Blogger Meet Up and for some reason, I never followed through on that.

Shame on me because I enjoyed this one.

This book follows Susanna Finch and Victor Bramwell toward their happy ending. Bramwell is a soldier in the British military who was injured on the battle field and is now trying to make his way back to fight in the war. He's got instructions to come to Spindle Cove and make an army out of the men in the village and he needs the good word of the only gentleman in residence, who just happens to be the heroines father so that he can go back to the war. He won't be able to go back to the war without Mr. Finch's help so he agrees to gather a militia in Spindle Cove. He doesn't know what he's in for until he gets into town and finds women, men catering to those women and a whole bunch of sheep.

Susanna Finch lives in the resort town of Spindle Cove and has turned the whole town into a resort that caters to women. She's created an environment that gives women a place where they can just be themselves without worrying about fitting in. Everyone fits in in Spindle Cove, Susanna has seen to that. Everything was going swimmingly until Bram brought his manly men over and started ruining the women's fun.

Bram wasn't prepared for what awaited him in Spindle Cove and when he gets a title just for taking over the militia gathering, it makes things even more complicated because he just inherited a crumbling castle as well but he's gonna stick it out because he needs to. If only he wasn't so attracted to Mr. Finch's daughter. She's got fire in her that he can't stay away from and despite his intentions, he can't help but want her and kiss her and well, you get the idea.

Watching Susanna and Bram together made for a fabulous read. They're relationship blossomed with lots of laughs, lots of sighs and I enjoyed it all. There are interesting characters aside from the main characters and I'm looking forward to seeing more from the others in this series. I'm very curious to see what happens with Bram's cousin Colin, Thorne and their women as well. Dare introduces a cast of characters that have much to offer readers for entertainment and lovers of historical romances and of Dare's work will definitely get a kick out of this book.

I definitely recommend this book and cannot wait for the next book!

Grade: 4 out of 5

This book is available from Avon. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Tracy’s review of Anna Doubles Down by Missy Martine.

Anna can’t believe how much the woman in the picture looks like her. They could be twins, except the picture was taken in 1871. Either she’s a relative, or Anna had a past life in Hamilton, Nevada. Either way, the temptation to visit the old ghost town is too much. She and her friend Kat travel west.

While off exploring on her own, Anna is knocked unconscious when she falls down the steps in the saloon. She can hardly believe her eyes when she wakes.

Beau and Zeke won the Silver Rush Saloon in a poker game and have been partners and secret lovers for over ten years. They don’t know what to make of the woman they found half-dressed in their cellar. She claims to know something terrible that’s about to happen to their town and needs their help.

Will Anna be able to win their love and trust before it’s too late?

When Anna goes back in time while exploring an old ghost town she’s scared and confused. But Beau and Zeke – the owners of the saloon that she falls into – make her feel quite comfortable. They’re not sure what to believe when she tells them she’s from the future but that doesn’t stop them from falling in lust and love with Anna.

Anna felt like she was in the right place. She really didn’t think all that hard about going back to her own time and because of that became quite cozy with the men almost immediately. This did give me pause in the story because even though it felt right she had no clue who these men were and if they were good people – it just was odd to me. The threesome worked together to make things work and from what I can tell lived happily ever after.

Anna Doubles Down was a fun and entertaining erotic novella.

Rating: 3 out of 5

You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place

This book is available from Siren Publishing. You can buy it here in e-format.

Rowena: With my trip to Vegas last week, I didn't get as much reading in as I had hoped I would but I tried reading more this week and that's why right now I'm reading three books. One Night in London by Caroline Linden, Lie by Caroline Bock and Vanish by Sophie Jordan. So far, all three books are good and I'm anxious to read more.

Holly: I was on vacation all last week and did zero reading. This week I started school and so did my kids, so I haven't had much reading time. That's basically two weeks of no reading. I'm dying here. I did squeeze in a few shorts: Her Perfect Stranger by Jill Shalvis. I took this with me on vacation and managed to read most of it over the course of the week. It was pretty good, though I think it shows how far Jill has come as an author.

I also read Malachi by Shiloh Walker, an in-between Hunters novella that gives the backstory for Malachi. I really loved it and decided to pick up his book right after finishing the novella. So now I'm reading Hunters: Heart and Soul. So far I'm really enjoying it (the first story is Mike and Leandra's). Unfortunately I have two psych papers to write. Who knows when I'll get to finish this. Being an adult sucks sometimes, yo.

Casee: I'm reading Kissing Comfort by Jo Goodman. I started it a few weeks ago when Holly first sent it to me, but then I got distracted by a few really good romantic suspense books that came out. Plus I wasn't really into historicals. That doesn't usually matter to me because I'm always into Jo Goodman. Now that I've finally gotten into it, I'm loving it. It's been slow reading the second half of this month with finishing off summer vacation and school starting. I'm hoping that I can finish it off this weekend.

What are you reading?

Rowena's review of Only Yours by Susan Mallery.

Hero: Simon Bradley
Heroine: Montana Hendrix

Montana Hendrix has found her calling-working with therapy dogs. With a career she loves in a hometown she adores, she’s finally ready to look for her own happily ever after. Could one of her dogs help her find Mr. Right…or maybe Dr. Right?

Surgeon Simon Bradley prefers the sterility of the hospital to the messiness of real life, especially when real life includes an accident-prone mutt and a woman whose kisses make him want what he knows he can’t have. Scarred since childhood, he avoids emotional entanglement by moving from place to place to heal children who need his skillful touch. Can his growing feelings for Montana lead him to find a home in Fool’s Gold, or will he walk away, taking her broken heart with him?

Montana Hendrix gets her happily ever after in Only Yours by Susan Mallery. Of the triplets, Montana was my favorite. For some reason, that she considered herself the family screw up made me like her more. When we first meet Montana in Chasing Perfect, Montana befriends Charity and she talks her ear off. She's friendly and she's chatty and I immediately liked her. She's like that with everyone and when Mayor Marsha comes to her and asks her to take the new doctor in town around, show him the hot spots of Fools Gold in an effort to keep him around, Montana does it because that's the kind of person she is.

Judith's review of The Shadow Wolf by Bonnie Vanak

On the run from authorities, gutsy Megan Moraine knows shadow wolves like herself have no place in this world. But she's still prepared to do anything to protect her young charges. That resolve is tested when the trio is captured by Gabriel Robichaux. Everyone knows that Gabriel is a ruthless bounty hunter, a member of an elite group called the Enforcers. Why then is Megan so attracted to her enemy—a wolf who hunts his own people? A wolf whose languid, sexy drawl makes her dream the impossible?

A new novel from this author and one that is filled with tension and suspense, watching a woman and her two twin child cousins try to escape the prejudice and oppression that had become the norm for "shadow wolves" -- those shifters who had the ability to become invisible. Deemed abnormal, these shifters had been consigned to an island camp where they were quarantined from "normal" werewolves. Megan has planned this escape attempt but nothing has really gone as it should.

Now Gabriel, an undercover advocate for "shadow wolves" has come to their aide, yet there are still humans and shifters who are after their lives and who are also seeking Gabriel to wreck revenge for deaths they cannot accept--sons and daughters who had become feral and whose existence Gabriel had been ordered to end. This is a story that is never easy, one that has at its core both the budding romance between Gabriel and Megan, but also the never absent issue of how can these three live in a world that has declared them abnormal, broken, unwanted and feared. Gabriel has his own secrets that make complications in their flight from death, but also impinges upon any potential future Megan and Gabriel may have together. The two little girls have learned well that they are different, that their very survival depends on remaining "mum" about lots of stuff in their lives, and are loyal to their older cousin to a fault. As their parents are dead, Megan is their only older relative and she wants to re-unite them with their father in New Orleans, believing that then they would be safe, surrounded by a family and father's embrace, and able to have a good life instead of the crippling existence in their quarantine situation.

This is not easy reading and is not for those who want a light, fluffy, quick read. It is a novel that pulls at the emotions, is one that the ultimate resolution grows more and more improbably, and which is indeed ended only with some surprising developments. This is the first novel by this author I have read but I was impressed by her expertise and by the overall excellence of the composition of the work. It is somewhat a different kind of paranormal but most of all it deals with the issue of prejudice and how being comfortable with someone who is "different" is so difficult for some, especially when they gain power and are able to enforce their prejudice upon a significant segment of society. It is no different in human society, but the author, I think, has used the paranormal setting to make her point. I was wooed by the love between Megan and her cousins and I was blessed by their loyalty to one another. I experienced deep distress at the rejection of those who should have loved them, and deeply affected by the girls' questions as to why everyone hated them. Prejudice hurts everyone.

I highly recommend this book to those looking for a paranomal romance that is out of the ordinary and which, while easy to read and told in a very readable style, still deals with some hard issues and entertains while it is educating. This particular issue of this novel also includes another shorter work that was previously released. Thus, there is more here for readers to enjoy.

I give this novel a rating of 4 out of 5

You can read more from Judith at Dr J's Book Place.

This book is available from Harlequin. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Judith's review of Never a Gentleman (Drake's Rake series, Book 2) by Eileen Dreyer.

HE HIDES HIS TRUE COLORS . . .

Miss Grace Fairchild is under no illusions about her charms. Painfully plain, she is a soldier's daughter who has spent her life being useful, not learning the treacherous ways of the ton. She may have been caught in a scandal with society's favorite rogue, but how can she marry him when it means losing herself?

WHILE SHE HIDES HER TRUE SELF . . .

Diccan Hilliard doesn't know which of his enemies drugged him and dumped him in Grace's bed, but he does know the outcome. He and Grace must marry. To his surprise, a wild, heady passion flares between them. Yet Diccan is trapped in a deadly game of intrigue Grace knows nothing about. Will his lies destroy Grace just as he realizes how desperately he needs her? And how can he hope for a future with her, when an old enemy has set his murderous sights on them both?

Contrary to what is ordinarily found in historical romances, there is no beautiful but poor heroine here, no heroine that thinks she is plain, or a heroine whose reputation is suspect, or one that is connected to a family not held in high social esteem. Rather, we have a heroine who is plain, knows she is plain, and doesn't even try to lie to herself about her plainness. So it is a considerable shock to find England's most celebrated rake in her bed and to realize that both he and she have been drugged and dumped in this compromising situation together. What Grace doesn't know is that Diccan Hilliard, presently involved in the diplomatic corp of England, is the bearer of important information about the future security of the English throne, and those who don't want that information delivered have orchestrated their social ruin. Grace's desire, her demand to retain her independence ultimately falls in the face of social reality, if not a concern for her, then certainly for Diccan and any effectiveness diplomatically he might enjoy in the future. And while Diccan seems to accept the inevitable with charm and gracious actions toward Grace, there is considerable doubt that he can face her sufficiently to consummate the marriage.

Both the schemers who sought to do Diccan in and Diccan himself have planned and sought to determine their destinies without consideration of "Grace's Grenadiers." These stalwart military men have a loyal to this woman that exceeds understanding. They were loyal to her father, the General, they were loyal to her because her nursing efforts saved their lives or those of brothers or fathers, they were loyal to her because she nursed and saved the lives of their wives and sisters who were married to soldiers and were ill, birthing babies, or needing shelter and care during messy military actions. Grace seemed to be everywhere during the Napoleonic War, and now Diccan must face the fact that these men are going to protect Grace, her reputation, see to her safety, and hold his feet to the fire, so to speak. They were also adamant in the face of Grace's refusal to marry Diccan, and so when all was said and done, Grace and Diccan tied the know at a small ceremony officiated by his uncle, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Marrying her was one thing; consummating the marriage quite another. Yet Diccan found that again Grace's supporters would countenance no breech of the agreement and so the possibility of annulment was out the window. Throughout their tumultuous marriage, absent though Diccan was much of the time, Grace took her vows seriously and did her level best to please her husband, giving up a number of her favorite activities, curtailing her love of riding astride, and ceasing to spend time with some of her friends who would not be acceptable to the ton. In spite of all this, it became evident--she was even given proof positive--that Diccan was again spending time with his old mistress and acting markedly indifferent to her in public. Even though Grace had no expectations that her husband would even come to love her, she had at least expected to be treated with dignity, and when that was not forthcoming, she left London to spend time in her own country home.

What Grace did not know and which fact was deliberately kept from her was that Diccan's enemies had threatened her as a way of getting to him. Over time he had come to not only respect her and begin to see beyond her plain face, but was coming to love her for her spirit, her kindness to people for whom there was little kindness, her open acceptance and work with orphans, military widows, and others considered the dregs of society, and for her willingness to please him even when he was being deliberately cruel. His supervisors in the English Home Office were advising him to treat her with coldness in order to convince his enemies that she was not important to him, hoping that this would insure her safety.

This is really a very unlikely love story between two people who may have been acquainted in social situations, but who would never have thought to marry. Yet when forced to do so, each discovered hidden strengths, honor, kindness, and deep concern for the downtrodden which were kept hidden for a variety of reasons. Diccan no longer cared about Grace's plainness. When she began to gain confidence as a married woman of social standing, she changed her drab wardrobe, began to accept her natural auburn hair as being beautiful and not he mark of a whore (as she was told repeatedly by her father), and to let a natural attractiveness shine through. Diccan saw that other men were beginning to be attracted to Grace and this was one of the factors that began to reveal his own deep feelings for her. But Grace still had no idea that her husband's life as well as hers remained in danger and those who continued to plot the downfall of the King were still hiding among society's eschelons.

I absolutely loved Grace!! What a woman and what a champion for the people of her surroundings who needed a friend, a nurse, an advocate, an outspoken voice for them when no one else would speak up. She knew she was a "plain Jane" and was beyond caring about the censure or criticism of society. Her caring overwhelmed any concern for herself, but she was also a woman who, even when society said she was "under the thumb" of her husband, was able to stand up for herself to Diccan, leaving him and setting up her household as she saw fit, in spite of anything he may have said to her.

But I also like Diccan as well. He was willing for Grace to think badly of him in order to protect her, to insure her safety, to even convince her that he didn't care for her at all, was leaving her daily for his mistress, and publically denouncing her as abhorent to him. "I may have had to marry her, but do I have to sleep with her as well?" It took tremendous strength of character to deliberately mislead people who could endanger her safety simply because he was coming to love her. And above all, I like a man who can not only stand up for himself, but one who also knows the value of some sincere groveling. Never underestimate the value of groveling. I think it works best when accompanied with flowers and candy, but that's just me.

This is a novel by an author whose work I have not previously read. But after reading this book, I am determined to find other books she has written. I have a feeling that those characters will be the brazen and strong-minded people I have encountered in this novel. I hope you will find this novel and read it. It is well worth the time and effort to do so.

I give it a rating of 4.25 out of 5.

You can read more from Judith at Dr J's Book Place.

This book is available from Forever Publishing. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Judith's review of Breathe Again by Bonnie R. Paulson

Maggie Lachlan is struggling to get over the death of her husband. After being overcome by emotion during a shift in the E.R., she's suspended indefinitely. Making things worse, she needs a place to stay after the quick sale of the house she shared with her late husband.

Fortunately, her friend Ryan Stewart offers her a room while she gets her life in order, much to the chagrin of his brother and housemate, Brodan Steele. Brodan doesn't want to like Maggie, not when he knows Ryan has feelings for her too. But it's hard to deny the attraction he feels for her when she's sleeping under the same roof.

Being so close to Brodan awakens something in Maggie, something she never felt during her marriage. But as long as she's haunted by the past, she can't open herself up to the future.

Suicide is an ever-present wound in the body of any society and the author has chosen to build her story around a hurting and wounded woman whose husband had shot himself 10 months earlier. She was angry, frustrated because of so many unanswered questions, still deeply puzzled and troubled about the dead and dry nature of her two year marriage to a veteran of the Middle East conflicts, but who was a man she had loved since early high school days. And like so many whose loved ones take their own life, there was a part of Maggie that blamed herself--she could have been more understanding, more loving, tried harder, etc. Certainly her husband's family had blamed her for Dean's death and had essentially withdrawn themselves from any kind of on-going emotional support for her. Now she is just simply trying to survive, to escape from the inevitable nightmares after finding her husband with his brains splattered all over the room, and deal with a grief that just simply never seemed to turn her loose. Exhaustion and poor eating had left her body ravaged and her emotions just barely below the surface. Her relationships at her job where she was a radiology technician had effectively gone "south" and her responses to patients and co-workers alike had become harsh and unfriendly. Ultimately, she was put on a forced leave of absence and she went home to figure out where her life was headed.

One of the patients she met during an emotional melt-down was Ryan, a young man who had been hospitalized because of cystic fibrosis. He was, nevertheless, up beat, pleasant, welcoming, and seemed to reach out to Maggie in a way she could accept and a friendship was born. However, Ryan's half-brother, Brodan, was another matter entirely. Having devoted his life to caring for Ryan, he wasn't too happy about welcoming Maggie into his brother's inner circle, nor was he at all happy about his attraction to her, one that had the potential of upsetting his life and his brother as well. Yet even after being discharged from the hospital, Ryan insisted on reaching out to Maggie and consistently dragged her into their lives and their home.

This novel reminds me of a really bleak and cloud-covered day but one where there are shafts of sunlight shining through breaks in the clouds. Just a ray of sunshine now and then. That is what was happening in Maggie's life with Ryan and Brodan. This novel is not easy to read. It is full of hope, questions, a deep sense of failure on Maggie's part--failure to really understand Dean's needs and provide them, failure to heal him with her love, failure to understand why he would kill himself with no word or explanation. Yet amidst all this bleak and dark reality, shafts of hope shone through as Ryan's friendship enabled Maggie to begin talking about Dean, their marriage, the changes she saw in him after each of his overseas tours of duty, the deadness she perceived in him even after they married, and her persistent belief--based on she really didn't know what--that Dean really didn't love her. As if Maggie's life wasn't bleak enough, Brodan's consistent resistance to the attraction between them nurtured her anger. When it seemed like she finally had found someone who wanted her for herself, who responded to her as a woman, she was pushed away because Brodan couldn't see himself having any kind of personal life while he remained focused on Ryan's needs. Ryan had been his entire life since they were boys. So even when she was tantalized by the possibility of warmth and acceptance, once again Maggie came up empty.

I found this novel to be compelling in its honesty and couldn't seem to tear myself away from it. It almost read like a Greek Tragedy--started out hurting and just got worse. But there were always those illusive rays of hope, and I was drawn deeper and deeper into Maggie's story as Ryan's friendship and even Brodan's reluctant acceptance of at least her presence in their lives began to help her gain a new perspective in life. There is grieving and worry, death and loss, hurt and disappointment, challenge and hope--all are here in this story. But all are so expertly woven into the experience of these characters, individually and c ollectively, that the reader keeps hoping for resolution, not only to Maggie's pain and grief, but hopefully for a future for her and Brodan. How it all works out is quite surprising and I wasn't really expecting what happened. But I have to say that as unusual as the ending was, it fit the story and in the final analysis, that is the best kind of ending. This is a novel serious readers don't want to miss and one that will be quite different than your usual boy-meets-girl kind of romance. My sense is that this is so much what real life is--messy and hopeful--and thus it will be one that will teach us all just a little bit more about what it means to be human and in relationships with others.

I give this novel a 4.5 out of 5

You can read more from Judith at Dr J's Book Place.

This book is available from Carina Press. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Tracy’s review of Scandal of the Year (Heiress in London #3) by Olivia Drake

The youngest of the Crompton heiresses, Blythe yearns to marry into the aristocracy to bolster her family’s place in society. The widowed Duke of Savoy seems to be the perfect choice, yet it’s another man who sets her heart to pounding: the new footman, James. He’s devilishly handsome and far more fascinating than any of her noble suitors. And he alone has the power to stir her romantic dreams.

Little does she know, however, James Ryding is the true heir to the Crompton fortune. He’s posing as a servant in order to find evidence to prove her parents are imposters. By charming Blythe, he hopes to use her to regain his rightful inheritance. But as heat flares between them, he realizes that fulfilling his quest will mean ruining the beautiful, spirited woman who has captured his heart.

James Ryding has been living in Barbados for 20 years when he gets a letter stating that the people who are supposedly his cousins are imposters. James takes it upon himself to try to discover the truth as he can’t quite tell from looking at Edith and George Crompton if they are who they say they are (he was only 10 when he last saw them). He poses as a footman in the Crompton household and sets about trying to obtain evidence. While posing at a footman he has interactions with Blythe the youngest daughter of the Crompton’s. James immediately decides he wants her in his bed but he really wants the truth more – which will get him his rightful inheritance.

Blythe is a bit put off by forwardness of the new footman but since he’s so different she can’t help but notice him and after a bit, converse with him. Blythe is trying to make a advantageous marriage match and since her parents so desperately want her to marry the Duke of Savoy that’s what she decides to do to make them happy. But the duke’s daughter Lady Davina is a snob and wants Blythe no where near her father. Blythe concocts a plan to distract Lady Davina from her guardianship of her father so that Blythe can get near. She fabricates a foreign prince…of course talking James into being the fictitious prince…only her plan backfires and her mother decides that it’s the prince she is to marry.

But what happens when Blythe falls in love with James and what will happen to their marriage when James admits that not only is he not a footman but her parents probably aren’t who they say they are either?

This was a pretty good story but found it to be slow at times. It caught my attention right off the bat but then slowed and it continued on that vein for the rest of the book. I thought that the decision to become a footman was a bit far fetched for James to discover the truth but I went with it and it seemed to be ok. When Blythe decided to add in the prince it was too much. Here we have James acting as a footman, acting as a prince? It didn’t work that well for me. I understand this is romantic fiction but I just couldn’t suspend belief for this story.

The end of the book was interesting when everything…and I do mean everything, was revealed to Blythe - but James’ actions (or non-action as was the case) after the reveal were odd. I know that he grew up during the course of the book and his priorities changed so that made it a bit better but I have to say I felt a bit let down by it all.

Overall a cute story that I had some issues with.

Rating: 3 out of 5

The Series:

The wonderful folks at Pocket have offered to giveaway a copy of Laura Griffin's upcoming book, Snapped, which comes out on Tuesday 9/6. I can attest to the fact that romance suspense fans will love this book. Here is a blurb for your pleasure:

SOPHIE BARRETT THINKS SHE’S LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.

SHE MAY BE DEAD WRONG.

On a sweltering summer afternoon, Sophie Barrett walks into a nightmare. A sniper has opened fire on a college campus. When the carnage is over, three people—plus the shooter—are dead, and dozens more injured. Sophie escapes virtually unscathed. Yet as details emerge from the investigation, she becomes convinced that this wasn’t the random, senseless act it appeared. No one wants to believe her—not the cops, not her colleagues at the Delphi Center crime lab, and definitely not Jonah Macon, the homicide detective who’s already saved her life once.

Jonah has all kinds of reasons for hoping Sophie is mistaken. Involving himself with a key witness could derail an already messy investigation, not to mention jeopardize his career. But Sophie is as determined and fearless as she is sexy. If he can’t resist her, he can at least swear to protect her. Because if Sophie is right, she’s made herself the target of a killer without a conscience. And the real terror is only just beginning. . . .

You can also read an excerpt at Laura's website here.

To be entered in the giveaway, all you need to do is leave a comment with a valid email address. The giveaway will run through Tuesday 8/30.

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

Judith's review of One Good Reason by Sarah Mayberry.

It's time to move on...

Any day now Jon Adamson will pack his bags and hit the road. After all, his intention was never to hang around Melbourne once he’d settled his late father’s affairs. Yet he hasn’t moved on. And it might have something to do with Gabby Wade. The not-so-big office manager with the really big attitude is making Jon’s days…interesting…engaging…fun. It’s impossible for him to resist her.

But he knows himself—long-term commitments and cozy family dinners aren’t his style. If that’s what the future holds, why is he still here? And why is he spending all his days—and nights—with Gabby? Because maybe she’s the one reason strong enough to make him stay. What if you discovered that all you ever wanted were the things you’d left behind?

This book is the second in a series about Tyler & Jon Adamson, native Australians, both of whom have established their own place in the business world, and both having to deal with the long-term effects of parental abuse. Now in this second book, Jon Adamson's story is told--a story that is clouded in pain and personal hiddenness, a man who is still trying to find a way out of the maze of guilt that has encompassed his life since those childhood days when he and his brother were being beaten senseless by an angry and selfish father. Jon is now again in his homeland where he has spent some time settling the estate of his recently deceased father and staying at the old family home, a house that needs major effort to bring it up to snuff in order that it can be sold. As Jon is a contractor and builder, this appears to be right down his professional alley. But it also would appear that Jon is finding this project difficult because this same home is the site for so many painful memories of happenings he ran all the way to Canada to escape. Now that he is home, his escape is the bottle, a "companion" that can be trusted to never judge, ask unwanted questions, make unwanted demands of an emotional nature. Of course, those who buy into that kind of nonsense find out that "the bottle" has a way of quietly ending up biting the drinker in the backside. It is not as friendly as it first appears and that truth began to come across to Jon after a while.

Enter Gabby Wade, a character who played a major role in Tyler's story, his girlfriend and lover for three years, and a woman who eventually cut Tyler loose. Yet the old feelings don't seem to have anywhere to go, and while Tyler and Gabby are still great friends in the truest sense of the word and Tyler's new bride has become a genuine friend of Gabby's as well, there are still difficult moments for this lady who is loyal and good-hearted, truly desiring Tyler's best and genuinely delighted that he has found a woman with whom he can be himself. He didn't seem to be able to be open like that with her. Now Jon has entered her life as a "contract" worker in Tyler's furniture design and manufacturing business as it seems Jon is having trouble deciding what to do. His business has been sold and he is at loose ends. His initial meetings with Gabby are anything but friendly or easy. (This is where I think the cover blurb is off.) And while they eventually seem to click in some romantic fashion, there are problems that go deeper than deciding which movie to see, which flavor pizza to order, or whether or not they will be friends "with benefits."

Tyler and Gabby are both people in deep pain. Admittedly, Jon is struggling with some heavy-duty hurts and guilt over his perception that he failed to protect his younger brother. No matter how close he gets to Gabby or how deeply it appears their attraction for one another is, Jon just cannot share the deep hurts of his life. There comes a point in which Gabby declares and end to the relationship. She was "shut out" of Tyler's life to a degree that she was hurt and their relationship was hurt beyond repair. She is not prepared to repeat the same circumstance with Jon.

This is a highly emotional read and one that the reader needs to be prepared to encounter. It is not all sweetness and light, but it is about the tough stuff of life, especially when parental loving and caring is overwhelmed with anger and self-concern. Both these men felt that they had left their childhood behind and moved on to adult relationships and taking a proud place in their respective business communities. The old memories and hurts rose up to sabotage their present, and Jon and Gabby may not be able to overcome the difficulties that inevitably arise when these kinds of wounds are left untreated.

I highly recommend this novel as one of the best I have read in recent weeks. Just the fact that the author had the fortitude to write a story that opened up this wide variety of personal issues is an indication that she wants to be a part of the contemporary "conversation" in her own way, even as a fiction writer. This will be a worthy addition to any romance lover's library. It is simply a splendid read!

I give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5.

You can read more from Judith at Dr J's Book Place.

This book is available from Harlequin. You can buy it here or here in e-format.