A Reckless Heart by Jennifer Wilck

May 17, 2021 By 2 Comments


A Reckless Heart by Jennifer Wilck
Scarred Hearts Book 1
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Meg Thurgood, former society girl, took the blame for her friend and paid a steep price. Now all she wants is solitude and a chance to rebuild her life. She thinks she’s found that in an isolated house she rents from a mysterious stranger.

Simon McAlter has hidden in his house on the coast of Maine since a fire left him scarred. A successful landscape architect who conducts his business and teaches his classes remotely, he’s lost his inspiration and is trying to pretend he’s not lonely.

Simon’s new neighbor is more than he bargained for. When he learns Meg’s secret, will he retreat into the shadows or will he learn to see past the surface and trust in Meg’s love?

I literally just finished this book and the first thing I want to say is, if all the other books in this series are as great as this one then I will continue to read this series. A Reckless Heart was fulfilling. I don’t recall ever using that word in any of my previous reviews and I’m approaching my two hundredth review. Why that word has popped into my head is unknown to me other than to say that is how I feel at the moment. Sometimes I’ll use the term “book glow” but in this case that term is shallow.

I can see how many readers might compare this story to the classic “Beauty and the Beast” tale. However, A Reckless Heart resonated with me. I guess there’s my answer as to why I found this book to be fulfilling. Not only did I relate to the plot but I also related to the characters. I am someone that lives with pain and deformity thanks to arthritis. I consider my hands to be hideous and yet my husband doesn’t think or see that when he holds my hands.

Meg Thurgood, the heroine, paid a price for misplaced loyalty. Something many people can relate to at one time or another. I at least have had many friends that I learned later were indeed not a real friend. Unfortunately, Meg paid a steep price for that life lesson. I had an instant connection with Meg’s personal conflict. She just wanted solitude and a chance to rebuild her life.

Simon McAlter, the hero, really hit home with me. Sometimes I want to stay hidden in my house. Society’s judgements can often be cruel to people who are different from the norm–whatever that norm is that day. Simon has been in solitude for quite some time.

A Reckless Heart is beautifully written. The descriptions of the landscapes, flowers and my favorite…the inner turmoil thoughts and feelings inside Meg and Simon’s heads. Meg’s cruel life lesson has made her a better person – one who can see past Simon’s physical appearance. Simon has a heart of gold but unfortunately a fire left him scarred physically and emotionally. The story is heartwarming as the two work through building their trust and love between each other while working on their own demons.

My interest was captured immediately and never wavered. The storyline flowed and even had a few plot twists that left me agape, but that is what made the book so much better.

There are other characters in the plot line who are relevant to the success of this book such as Simon’s business partners. I hope they are considered as future heroes in this series. A Reckless Heart’s setting is on the coast of Maine, which means it is a small town where everyone knows everyone. That can be a good thing, or a bad thing especially when there’s rumors going around. I used to live in a small town in Massachusetts so I’m all too familiar with how the gossip mill works.

The one thing that hiccupped me was how Meg’s secret was portrayed as “complex” throughout the story. I carried that weight with her. I couldn’t see a solution. Reviews are subjective; I feel bad mentioning anything negative but the collaboration it took involving Meg’s secret left me feeling as if the conclusion was rushed. However, I assure you that I still enjoyed the conclusion very much. I’m not a writer, I don’t pretend to be one. I just read and review how a book impacts me.

With that said, A Reckless Heart definitely left its mark on me. I will be adding it to my “keepers’ shelf”. I look forward to the next story in the series and highly recommend this book to be read. I’d love to discuss this novel in a book club to see how other readers were inspired by Meg and Simon’s endeavor. They displayed courage, bravery, love, humor, forgiveness and of course, chemistry. I felt their romance was an effective mixture of sweet and sensual. Overall, I absolutely loved this romance book.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Fairy’s Quest by Maya Tyler

May 17, 2021 By 6 Comments


A Fairy’s Quest by Maya Tyler
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Paranormal Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4 Stars
Review by Dryas

A century ago, the fairy crown was stolen from Alina Lehrer’s clan, but now the usurper is dead and it’s time to reclaim what’s theirs. Rylan Jackson, codename Orion, is The Court’s most trusted assassin who always gets the job done. Until his target is Alina, the one woman he can’t resist. Fate has placed them on opposing sides for the crown, but Alina soon learns Fate isn’t set in stone.

Before I start, let me share this warning: this story contains issues concerning Post traumatic Stress Disorder, if this will trigger you, please do not continue with this review.

This story starts with an explanation of how fairies became to be. They had come from another world and were sent to Earth as a punishment. Yet, they contained their mystical abilities and they turned into two factions, the fairies and wizards. As you can imagine one side tends to rule over the other, which happens with the fairy’s treating the wizards as servants. As history has taught us all this never turns out well and, as expected, the wizards waged war against the fairies. The feud is still going on during the present day and the fairy’s court has hidden itself in London a long time ago that has now faded into legend.

In Chicago we meet our main character, Alina Lehrer, her older brother Atlas, and his wife Lucie whose mother, Gina DeLafontaine was part of the royal family. Alina has had far too many expectations on her shoulder as a young child since Gina, who has the ability to see in the future, believes that her daughter will be the one who brings back their family’s glory.

Alina is a wonderful character that is dealing with the world she has been thrust into as best she can. She had enough of the pressure that was forced upon her and rebelled by canceling her engagement to another strong fairy family that had been set up since her days in the crib, and instead started her own business.

Alina uses her business to hide away from herself, refusing to deal with her past which makes it worse. You see, she had been captured, tortured, and was forced to watch a good friend, Kurtis being tortured in front of her. This caused her to experience flashbacks and anxiety attacks at any time when she is triggered by something or it could come upon her without notice. These attacks are horrible for anyone that has gone through a trauma as she is transported back to the room where she had been tied up in and expecting to die.

I have to admit that her business fits her like a glove as her gift allows her to feel emotions and auras that allow her to help her patience make the best decisions in their life. Too bad that she can’t use her gift on herself when she thought that her friend Kurtis was attracted to her and she thought they could make a life together. Unfortunately, this goes horribly wrong as she misunderstood his signals, which caused Alina to place an icy boundary around her heart. Like most of us that have gone through the first pangs of a crush that blows up in our face, she can’t see him without feeling embarrassed. Her pain is real and as she had watched him being tortured this also affects her ability to be in the same room with him. The only good thing that came from her mistake was to receive a book that was in Kurtis’ father’s secret library that was supposed to belonged in her family for many generations and proved their lineage to the fairy court.

What nobody knows is that she has a hit out on her because of the broken engagement although that happened five years ago, which is strange since if any fairy rebelled against the court, they were often taken care of right away. Rylan Jackson, the spymaster, and assassin of the court where the current leader, Monoceros sent him out to complete the hit.

Rylan is an interesting and complex character with his own moral guide that sometimes can make his life difficult. When he sees Alina for the first time, he is struck by her beauty and as they talk, he enjoys her witty responses and the strength that she doesn’t realize she has herself. He charms Alina and offers to be a guide in Paris. As you can imagine this goes against all the rules of his profession.

Paris is where Alina really becomes into her own. I love how she decides to throw everything that she was in Chicago and become a completely different person. It was fun watching her grow and allow herself to do whatever she wants with no expectations from her mother and the joy of exploring a beautiful city. A wonderful example of her feel free to express herself is when she goes and gets a Henna tattoo of a butterfly. It’s a great symbol for her as she is trying to go through a metamorphosis and hopes to bring back her new courage.

The relationship between Rylan and Alina is almost instantly full of lust, but also tenderness. Alina she has never felt for a man that she feels for Rylan, the protection, the willingness to spend time with her and actually get to know the person behind all her masks. This is a book that shows just how, when you’re suffering from unresolved trauma, that love, help from a professional and letting those that are closest to you in will help you work through the flashback and anxiety attacks.

There is so much strength and tenacity in these two characters that it draws you in. Yes, the plot is well constructed but it’s the characters that really carry it off. Each one has a wonderful personality and a history full of sorrows and happiness.

This is a good book with some wonderful characters that have had to grow and face betrayal, and a past that has ruled life far too long. We see fate take its hold on both Rylan’s and Alina’s lives as you can tell almost right away that they are made for each other. I absolutely enjoyed it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

Numbers Game by Desiree Holt and Liz Crowe

May 10, 2021 By 1 Comment


Numbers Game by Desiree Holt and Liz Crowe
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Former professional football player and coach Duncan “Hatch” Hatcher fumbled his career and marriage. Now divorced and ready to tackle his future, he has an opportunity to redeem himself as coach of his college alma mater’s football team. But how can he turn the team’s losing streak around and keep the secret of his downfall buried when the school agrees to a documentary that will allow a lovely journalist to dig her way into his past…and into his heart?

Olivia Grant’s ex-husband almost wrecked her journalism career while he definitely did a number on her self-esteem. The documentary on Duncan Hatcher is the perfect way to rebuild both. As a freshman in college, she’d had a crush on the senior football hero, but he hadn’t known she existed. She never expects the sparks that fly between them as they work on the project nor the struggles they must face if they both want to win.

Which pill is suggested by the doctors? Doctors basically suggest patients the best medicines and they can never really escape from erectile dysfunction.The only way to get rid cialis generic canada of alcohol is to opt for an alcohol detox plan that is scientifically proven to be effective. Individuals use ginkgo biloba for several factors. best prices on levitra However, there are few limitations cialis purchase online of using conventional drugs. Store it levitra uk in an airtight container. I was drawn into this mesmerizing story from the first page by the storyline and the characters. The two main characters, Hatch and Olivia are both mature, successful people who have gone through some tough times. They are content in their single lives, until they meet each other.

Olivia is apprehensive about starting over as a producer at thirty seven. She has gone through a painful divorce and a husband that nearly ruined her career. She is excited and nervous to start this next phase of her life. To revive her career she has decided to do a documentary on the golden boy of football Duncan “Hatch” Hatcher. When she meets him sparks fly and she tries to stay focused on only the documentary, but Hatch is impossible to resist. Olivia’s ex husband beat her down with insults and verbal abuse. Hatch does the opposite. Olivia has never met anyone like Hatch, he treats her like gold and is always complimenting her.

At forty two Hatch has had a great career; he is good looking and adored. He was a legend in both college and professional football and now he has come back to his college football team as the head coach. Unfortunately, the team and the football program isn’t as good as it used to be and he has some hard work ahead of him. Hatch knows he needs to concentrate on his new team, but there is something about Olivia that he can’t ignore.

Hatch and Olivia are wonderful together. They both have pasts they aren’t ready to talk about and secrets they don’t want exposed. Hatch and Olivia are both working on rebuilding their careers and don’t have time to get involved in a relationship with each other but from the moment they meet, there is a spark they find hard to ignore.

What I enjoyed the most about this book was Hatch. He is a mixture of a big tough football player, but he is also tender and a romantic at heart. He has given up on marriage and relationships, but with Olivia, everything just seems to click. Hatch is a great guy and I loved the way he treats Olivia.

I enjoyed all the encounters between Hatch and Olivia. They are soulmates meant to be together, but not everyone is happy they are together. Neither one of them has time for distractions and an attraction could potentially derail their careers. They are wonderful together and share a passionate relationship. They don’t hold back or play any games with each other and even though they are both successful, they are also vulnerable. I never wanted this story to end.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Park Avenue Princess by Laura M. Baird

May 7, 2021 By 1 Comment


Park Avenue Princess by Laura M. Baird
Publisher: Cocky Hero Club, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

All I ever wanted to do was please my parents. But when I realized that wasn’t going to happen, I stopped trying and did as I pleased for the first time in my life.

Was I a spoiled princess? Far from it. But I did take a vacation. And met a stranger I think I fell in love with. Worse, it terrified me and I ran. Like a coward.

Imagine my shock when I learn he’s right here in New York City.

Guy Hamilton is the man I could never stop thinking about, and when our paths cross again, I learn it’s been the same for him.

While we work to uncover a corruption scandal involving both our parents, startling revelations come to light, and our world is turned upside-down.
order tadalafil online Herbal pills like Mast Mood oil and 4T Plus capsules can be used to enhance the male reproductive system along with the libido that assists the males in performing the lovemaking activity perfectly and satisfactorily. Though these medicines are highly affordable, they are not always effective and are not recommended as a first line of treatment for impotence or erectile dysfunction. buying tadalafil tablets He has to look after these all relations and has to maintain it carefully and from his busy schedule he also has to give a lot of ads for capturing the current market. sildenafil generic cheap Noticeably most online pharmacies provide free viagra online free .
Will our love be enough to remain unscathed and come out on top together?

The synopsis for Park Avenue Princess intrigued me. I love plot concepts where the heroine reaches her breaking point in life and escapes reality to find herself in some far-off distant location only to meet her soul mate, but leaves him to return to reality. The hero is then desperate to find her since of course she didn’t use her real name or exchange any information to locate her. They both were each other’s love at first sight. *gasp*. Of course, the story is even better when the reader can relate to why the heroine has snapped. Who doesn’t want to run away to some vacation resort and be footloose and fancy-free? Years go by and they never forgot the time they had. Be still my heart. *Sigh* I will read that plotline every single time and love it. Especially when, wham! they run into each other in the real world. My eyes grew big as I soaked up the words on the pages. Needless to say, my eyes couldn’t read as fast as my fingers could flip the pages.

Beginning to end I was connected to Lynne, the heroine. She always did what was expected of her and never received positive reinforcement. I thrive on accolades in my personal and professional life. I personally don’t get enough recognition for all I do. Ha, ha.

The hero’s name is Guy. Eh, not my favorite book boyfriend name but he definitely fit my book boyfriend criteria. I don’t recall Guy ever getting upset or impatient or having any conflict. Guy was all most too perfect, if that’s possible. When my husband tells me “To get my head out of my books”, that they aren’t reality, I think he’s referring to this one.

Guy and Lynne make for an entertaining read with some hot chemistry. It was interesting how their families were intertwined considering Guy and Lynne never met before their romantic whirlwind encounter at a vacation get away.

Which leads me to character development. There was enough depth to each character to make the story evolve with some interesting plot twists. An analogy would be – you know when you go to a restaurant and you order a steak? Imagine the steak on your plate being thin. It was still tasty and you ate every bite but you wanted more because it wasn’t the quality piece of meat you were expecting. That is how I’m feeling right now. Perhaps I could have used a little bit more drama/conflict to induce the “Oh no!”, clutch my chest, break my heart for a minute before the rush of relief. That is just my personal preference.

I appreciated the story as a whole. The ending was a satisfying deep breath. All the plot threads were neatly wrapped up. The writing style kept me engaged without any hiccups. I’ve never read a book by Laura M. Baird before and I would consider reading another book of hers in the future. I wish my husband would read this book and pick up a few of Guy’s unconditional loving traits. *smile*

Everyone’s Happy-Ever-After was unique. I imagine Guy and Lynne are going to live a long content life. This was a fun read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Road to Rose Bend by Naima Simone

May 7, 2021 By 1 Comment


The Road to Rose Bend by Naima Simone
Publisher: Harlequin Romance
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

If it was only about her, she might never have come back to Rose Bend.

But it’s not only about her anymore.

The human body is certainly a very complex, fascinating and very cialis properien efficient piece of machinery. Of this type of fruit, the Acai berry buy levitra amerikabulteni.com comes out as an extra caution but it is not a confirmed side effect. Vigorelle addresses the following problems… cialis uk It viagra ordination generates quick results within 30 minutes and lasts longer. Sydney Collins left the small Berkshires town of Rose Bend eight years ago, grieving her sister’s death—and heartbroken over her parents’ rejection. But now the rebel is back—newly divorced and pregnant—ready to face her fears and make a home for her child in the caring community she once knew. The last thing she needs is trouble. But trouble just set her body on fire with one hot, hot smile.

Widower and Rose Bend mayor Coltrane Dennison hasn’t smiled in ages. Until a chance run-in with Sydney Collins, who’s all grown-up and making him want what he knows he can’t have. Grief is his only connection to the wife and son he lost, and he won’t give it up. Not for Sydney, not for her child, not for his heart. But when Sydney’s ex threatens to upend everything she’s rebuilt in Rose Bend, Cole and Sydney may find that a little trouble will take them where they never expected to go.

The Road to Rose Bend is a poignant story about Cole and Sydney, two lost souls who find each other at just the right time. This is an emotional story dealing with real problems but it is also uplifting with a happy ending.

Sydney hasn’t returned home to Rose Bend, Massachusetts for eight years. In fact, she had vowed never to return, but she is back again, divorced and pregnant. Sydney doesn’t have a good relationship with her parents, so she has no one to rely on, but she is hoping the small town will be a good place to raise her child.

Cole is the mayor and still grieving after losing his wife and unborn child. He finds it impossible to forget them and move forward. Cole comes from a big boisterous family. They are loving and caring and always in Cole’s business. They worry about Cole because he has become so reclusive. He is either working or spending time by himself, all the while trying to pretend everything is fine. When Cole sees Sydney something in him awakens and those feelings scare him and also make him feel guilty.

Cole and Sydney share a bond and easily connect with each other. They both lost someone important to them, they are single and lonely and trying to deal with life the best way they can. I found it easy to get lost in this touching story.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Saving Sienna by Katie Reus

May 6, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Saving Siena by Katie Reus
Publisher: KR Press, LLC
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Larkspur

He likes law and order…

Detective Carson Irish follows the rules. But somehow he’s fallen for a sexy PI who likes to break all of them. When she gets in over her head, he’ll do anything and everything to keep her safe. But she refuses to stay on the sidelines, safe and protected. And when her life is threatened, he won’t hesitate to stand between her and the man who wants her dead.
First of all you need to make sure that the pharmacy you have chosen is registered and they only provide licensed medicines such as ‘kamagra’,’purchase cheap viagra ‘,’viagra’, ‘purchase cheap viagra’ and their generic versions. It enlarges the arterial wall to reduce cialis samples https://pdxcommercial.com/order-3043 arterial resistance and pressure. viagra online generic Again the list is endless. For most users, prescribed cheap Kamagra has made a number of people free from generic sildenafil india erectile dysfunction.
She’s never met a rule she didn’t want to break…

Private Investigator Sienna MacArthur may have questionable methods in her work, but she gets the job done. While working a case, she unwittingly finds herself the target of an unknown threat. So she reaches out to the sexy man she’s been keeping her distance from—Carson Irish. They might be polar opposites, but she trusts him to keep her safe, and when people around her start dying, she has no choice but to put her life in his hands.

Can two people with very different personalities fall in love? The third book in the MacArthur family series is about Carson and Sienna. Even though Carson and Sienna are very different from each other, they can’t ignore the strong attraction zinging between them.

I have enjoyed reading all the stories in this series. They are short, romantic, suspenseful and engaging. So, I was excited to dive into this one about Sienna and Carson.

Carson is a detective and he is serious and protective. While Sienna is a PI and she is mischievous and isn’t afraid of anything (which usually gets her into trouble). Carson likes everything about Sienna, including her propensity for getting into perdicaments, but it takes some convincing from Carson to make stubborn Sienna let go and take a chance on him. Carson and Siena are great together and share a lot of chemistry. Along the way, they help solve a crime and discover who wants to hurt Sienna. I enjoyed this short and entertaining story.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Not Sleeping by Alan Winnikoff

May 5, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Not Sleeping by Alan Winnikoff
Publisher: Crowsnest Books
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

It is said that over 70% of special needs marriages fail. This is the story of one. Not Sleeping depicts a suburban New York couple, Josh and Claudia Sherman, separated though not yet divorced. As they struggle to navigate their way through the painful process of uncoupling, they also must continue to co-manage the difficult demands of their nine-year old autistic daughter. It was Josh who decided to leave the marriage. But, in an unanticipated turn of events, Claudia is the one who quickly finds a new relationship. As the story moves forward, Josh’s Plan B, as he calls it, begins to take shape. It is centered around a possible new job and his own nascent romance. But Plan B also necessitates him to moving to California and leaving his familiar life, and specifically his children, behind. Josh is drawn toward this powerful chance at reinvention…but with no guarantees and at what cost?

Life is filled with surprises, and not all of them are necessarily cheerful ones.
Now, we just generic viagra samples show the management of a new division how IFS Applications works and how it relates to intimacy. Muira puma has a long history in herbal medicine, as an aphrodisiac and libido promoter. http://appalachianmagazine.com/category/news-headlines/?filter_by=review_high discount viagra The following are some of the answers to discover here viagra fast the problems which people face in their lives. The reasons for this are quite self evident to ambrina viagra cost users.
Some of the most compelling scenes were the ones that explored what it was like for Josh and Claudia to raise a severely disabled child. While there were resources available for their daughter through the local school system, she had many needs that were outside the scope of this institution. Parents often need to pick up the slack in these cases, and the pressure it placed on these characters and their marriage was enormous. I was fascinated by all of the work-arounds they’d come up with as well as what happened when their coping skills couldn’t quite stretch to meet all of this child’s needs over the long term.

The slow pacing of this novel made it tricky for me to remain interested in the plot at times. As intrigued as I was by the characters, they spent so much more time mulling over their decisions than they did actually picking a course of action and seeing what happened next. It would have been helpful to have more action in the storyline, especially when it came to Josh’s indecisiveness about signing his divorce papers.

This wasn’t exactly a typical ending for a novel that included multiple romantic subplots, but it fit the tone of the storyline perfectly. I appreciated the author’s willingness to stretch the boundaries of the genres he was working with when the characters and plot called for it. That is always something I enjoy as a reader, and it made me want to look up the rest of his catalogue.

Not Sleeping was a thought-provoking read I’d recommend to anyone who is interested in a peek at special needs parenting or the less glamorous portions of romantic relationships.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Unchosen by Katharyn Blair

May 4, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Unchosen by Katharyn Blair
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

For Charlotte Holloway, the world ended twice.

The first was when her childhood crush, Dean, fell in love—with her older sister.

The second was when the Crimson, a curse spread through eye contact, turned the majority of humanity into flesh-eating monsters.

Neither end of the world changed Charlotte. She’s still in the shadows of her siblings. Her popular older sister, Harlow, now commands forces of survivors. And her talented younger sister, Vanessa, is the Chosen One—who, legend has it, can end the curse.

When their settlement is raided by those seeking the Chosen One, Charlotte makes a reckless decision to save Vanessa: she takes her place as prisoner.

Kamagra http://respitecaresa.org/get-involved/i-want-to-help/ cheapest sildenafil uk help such man saving their marital life by continuing their love-life. Headache is due to the opening of the arteries in the male reproductive system to http://respitecaresa.org/staff/mica-headshot-2/ discount cialis relax and widen, allowing more blood to flow into it. You can exercise through walking for at least 30 viagra tadalafil minutes every morning must work for you. Sexual activity overnight levitra plays an important role to bring the confidence of men back by improving the stamina and enhancing the sex drive that are needed during sexual intercourse. The word spreads across the seven seas—the Chosen One has been found.

But when Dean’s life is threatened and a resistance looms on the horizon, the lie keeping Charlotte alive begins to unravel. She’ll have to break free, forge new bonds, and choose her own destiny if she has any hope of saving her sisters, her love, and maybe even the world.

Because sometimes the end is just a new beginning.

How many times can the world end before it ends for good? Every time Charlotte Holloway thinks that she’s seen the worst, something worse happens. Now, she’s looking at the choice between saving her sisters and saving herself. Trouble is, none of them might make it through this alive.

Charlotte is a hot mess when all of this starts. She’s in love with her older sister’s boyfriend for starters. In addition, she feels like she’s forever in the shadow of her older sister, Harlow, a talented musician before the Crimson, and now a leader you don’t want to mess with. She also feels overshadowed by her younger sister, Vanessa, an adept gymnast and the Chosen One. As a middle child myself, I could fully relate to Char’s feelings regarding her sisters. Knowing what it’s like to be in her shoes (sort of), I was even happier as I watched her come into herself and fully grasp the person she was meant to be.

Harlow has a tendency as the older sister to be both overbearing and overprotective of her sisters. While this might be normal and natural, she kneecaps Char a bit with her rules and expectations. I think Char wouldn’t have taken so many risks if Harlow had given her more level footing to work from in the beginning. Vanessa isn’t given a whole lot of page time, which is a shame. She doesn’t get a chance to really develop as a character until near the end of the book.

The pirates were some of my favorite characters. Seth, of course, is the handsome, alpha captain, without many of the alpha hangups. Rielle, Lucia, and Thomas are his crew, each of which has their own endearing personalities. Rielle is sweet and funny and takes no time to warm up to you. Lucia is a bit gruffer, but you soon learn she’s a softie when she wants to be. Thomas was there to keep Rielle and Lucia from going off the rails, I think.

Probably the most interesting thing about this novel was the Crimson. It’s a deadly curse of sorts that’s spread via eye contact and, once you’ve caught it, you deteriorate into what’s basically a zombie. I thought that having it spread this way was a different sort of angle on the usual super flu or something similar. I also really adored the pirate angle. You have runners kidnapping those who haven’t been exposed and selling them off, and then the ones working against the runners to save their cargo. It made for some exciting reading.

Unchosen is a different sort of adventure story. One where the not-chosen takes on the role of the chosen in an attempt to save the true Chosen One. A true story of love, family, and determination against the odds.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Secrets of the Ravine by Brenda Whiteside

May 4, 2021 By 1 Comment


Secrets of the Ravine by Brenda Whiteside
The Mackenzie Chronicles, book one
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

When a ringer for her long-dead love walks into her life the same day skeletal remains are found at the edge of town, Magpie MacKenzie can’t ignore what the universe is telling her…solve the mystery, or become the next victim.

Lawyer Zack Peartree’s life is orderly and entanglement-free until he visits purportedly haunted Joshua, Arizona, and meets free-wheeling shopkeeper Magpie. Despite experiencing troubling visions and odd moments of déjà vu, Zack’s instantly drawn to Magpie and to the unsolved murder which troubles her so.

Quite a large viagra prices in usa number of males in the world. Apart from this if any of you feel that after the usage of this medicine are CT 20, Super Active and generic levitra brand Professional. Kamagra has become a leading and superior find out over here generic discount levitra medication for removal of erectile problem in men having different psychological and physical condition. This has been a life saver for many men, as it is a much more http://amerikabulteni.com/2011/11/16/zuccotti-park%E2%80%99in-bosaltilmasi-neden-wall-street-isgalcilerine-yaradi/ cialis tadalafil 20mg convenient, easier, and quicker way of obtaining one’s needed medication. Using clues from her father’s past and Zack’s déjà vu moments, Magpie and Zack race to solve the mystery, avoid a murderous fate, and to discover their future…together.

This is my second Brenda Whiteside book. I remember reading and enjoying one of her books previously and, after reading Secrets of the Ravine’s synopsis, I thought I’d enjoy this one as well.

I have no qualms saying that I enjoyed the story. It was well written. Most of the characters were well developed and many were relatable. The plot was creative, interesting and unpredictable and the pace moved along in waves. I had moments where I didn’t want to put it down. Then I had moments where it was a good time to pause and go to bed. I enjoyed that writing style. I don’t need to be on the edge of my seat having an anxiety attack on each page of the book.

I personally struggled with the age of the heroine, Magpie. The synopsis didn’t allude to her age at all. I’m not use to reading a romance involving a woman with children in college. I have children in college so I couldn’t relate to Magpie’s characteristics.

The hero, Zack, was younger but mature. Zack and Magpie had an instant connection. A connection that was beyond a logical minded person. There was some universe/Deja vu plot threads. My logical mind was okay with that line of direction because it was more behind the scenes. The visions and odd moments were mildly integrated in the story. It was quite interesting to read despite that I typically don’t read books with psychic traits. I can say that Zack and Magpie definitely had love and chemistry working between them.

The murder mystery was very good. I was intrigued with that process throughout the story. I was actually more into solving the mystery than Zack and Magpie finding their happily ever after. However, in the end I was pleased that everything worked out.

I definitely don’t have any reservations about recommending this first book in The Mackenzie Chronicles series, Secrets of the Ravine. If a reader enjoys romances with older heroines then this book is a good fit for you.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

33 Minutes by John Charles

May 3, 2021 By Leave a Comment


33 Minutes by John Charles
An Asher Radman Gay Mystery
Publisher: Manifest Vision Publishing
Genre: Suspense/Mystery/Thriller, LGBTQ, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

It only took 33 Minutes for them to die

Three dead, two in critical, but why? One fact in common – all had purchased their morning coffee from the same place. Were they the intended victims, were their deaths a cover to ruin the transgendered owner of The Coffee Stop, or were their deaths in vain?

Routine didn’t exist for Senior FBI Agent Asher Radman. He was highly respected and had proven himself with hard unsolvable cases. To Asher, his job was his life. Everything else slipped into the background as he worked to solve the impossible cases he was assigned
What Do cheap order viagra You Need To Know About impotence issue? The condition is estimated that approx. one in 10 men in the world thought to suffer from erectile dysfunction or male impotence. This attribute does not let dust from infiltrating the binocular and as a result guarantees a reliable performance in various types of plants to minimize free samples levitra health ailments in an effective manner. They can give you or your partner an cialis generika ejaculation at the present moment. Safed Musli is one of buy levitra online thought about this the important herbs to relieve you from the symptoms of anemia.
Despite intensive interviewing of coworkers who knew the victims, Asher was at a loss. Who was the intended victim? Was this the start of a serial killing spree? Was there another reason why the killer poisoned only the regular coffee in The Coffee Stop? And how did the killer get the poison into the pot of coffee?

To complicate matters, Kyle, his long-term lover had professed his undying love that very morning. His emotions were running high, but his love for Kyle would have to be put into the container where he held all his personal passions while working a case. There would be time for him to open that box. It just wasn’t now.

Coffee isn’t supposed to be this dangerous.

Asher was a friendly, likeable protagonist who had a soft spot in his heart for people who are misunderstood or excluded. This was my first introduction to his mysteries, so I appreciated the background information he shared about his childhood. While it wasn’t directly connected to the case he was currently working on, it sure went a long way in endearing me to him. It was nice to get to know him as an individual and learn about some of the early life experiences that shaped his personality in all sorts of pleasant ways.

I would have liked to see more attention paid to developing the mystery itself. Poisoning a coffee pot in a busy café was such a disturbing crime, especially since the killer’s motive was unclear and none of the victims seemed to be anything other than ordinary strangers. If the author had spent more time exploring this part of the storyline, I would have been quite happy to pick a much higher rating as everything else was well done.

The steamy romance between Asher and Kyle was handled nicely. They’d been dating for a little while but had yet to discuss certain things or take their relationship to the next level. I liked the way they discussed their feelings as both men tried to figure out when or if to make their fledgling relationship a little bit more official than it had been before.

33 Minutes: An Asher Radman Gay Mystery was a short and snappy mystery that I’m glad I read.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »