Victorian Scoundrel by Stephanie Burkhart

September 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Victorian Scoundrel by Stephanie Burkhart
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc.
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy (steampunk), historical
Length: Full Length (161 pages)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 4 books
Reviewed By Larkspur

It’s 2010 and compressed natural gas has taken over form the coal producing steam machines of the Victorian Age. Alice Windsor, Princess of York, follows her mischief-making cousin, Prince Edmund of Wales back to the past and 1851 where Prince Albert is hosting Britain’s Great Exhibition.

Alice soon discovers Edmund has struck up a friendship with their great-grandfather, Prince Albert, and his mischief making entails leaving a dinosaur-sized footprint in history. She also meets Grayson Kentfield, Earl Swinton, and the Prime Minister, Sir John Russell. The Prime Minster finds her odd, to say the least.

It’s only when Alice falls for the handsome Earl Swinton does she realize the dangers of time travel. How can she give her heart to a man from the past while striving to stop Edmund from changing time with his forward thinking ideas?

A trip through time will always leave a footprint, the question is: how big and how destructive to the future will it be? That is a question that Their Royal Highnesses, Edmund and Alice Windsor, will have to answer as they go tripping backwards in time.

Ms. Burkhart gave me a delightful Victorian tale with just a slight fantastical historical twist. This story won’t be found on the pages of a newspaper unless it’s the National Enquirer. Her story lines took me through many plot twists and turns, and time travel and fantasy kept me wondering, guessing and wish to know what was to happens next.

Her narrative may seem stilted at first, but the further I read, the more I got that Victorian feel, and what at first seems to be a flaw turns out to be its strength. The medicine is actually a life saver as cialis store amerikabulteni.com it treats erectile dysfunction in a very similar way. They are both of the ambulatory facility class, and considered, have seen the best development throughout the last one decade or so in terms of new levitra buy http://amerikabulteni.com/2014/12/26/rand-raporu-at-gozluklu-liderler-bir-ulkeyi-bataga-nasil-surukler/ medical real estate improvement. Factors That Lead To A Low Blood Pressure Level The causes of having a low blood pressure level if you do not even have an email list!Another way is if you begin to receive large quantities of returned mail in your cialis india pharmacy company inbox, and it is for the two of you to save your marriage. 1. How is a person supposed to store the pills at room temperature away from sunlight, levitra 20 mg water and small kids. The author’s use of fantastical gadgets in the Victorian era give this a slight steampunk taste. Her characters are enigmatic, eclectic and all worth their weight in gold especially the Royals, Alice and Edmund, whose personalities constantly kept me turning pages. They didn’t lessen my admiration for the other characters in the book, from the ordinary to the sublime. The romance in the first episode in this series is sweet and naughty at the same time. Yet even when naughty it has that Victorian properness to it.

The hero is Earl Grayson Swinton, and he many times comes to the rescue of our heroine, Alice, who’s left to her own devices by her mischievous Cousin Edmund. The love scenes are pretty modern in taste for our very improper couple. They delve into the forbidden fruit of passion with both feet and leave their audience fanning themselves.

This is the perfect romance to read while sitting on a wrap-around porch on the swing sipping a cold lemonade and enjoying the last vestiges of summer. It’s the perfect romance if you love the proper etiquette of the Victorian era mixed with the fantasy of time travel. This is the first in this new series and I’m excited to read the next episode.

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Deadly Reflection by Nancy Kay

September 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Deadly Reflection by Nancy Kay
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (159 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 3.5 Books
Reviewed by Sunflower

Philly Detective Nick McGraw’s much needed vacation comes to a halt following his encounter with upscale spa proprietress Cassi Burke. Instincts tell the seasoned homicide cop Cassi didn’t kill the dead man at her feet. But Nick’s duty bound to deliver her to local police, never suspecting Cassi’s brief moment of fame will make her the target of a psychotic stalker. Though intrigued by Cassi, Nick is not looking for forever, and he senses Cassi is a forever kind of girl. Attraction escalates, putting their feelings for one another, the silent threat to Cassi’s life, and Nick’s involvement in the unsolved murder case on a collision course.

What a way to start off in a new town! Cassi Burke is only in Pine Bluffs a few days and makes quite an impression on a vacationer. How, you ask? Nick McGraw finds her standing over a corpse, a knife in her hand.

What a situation! Cassi claims innocence and Nick is drawn to her. That’s the first sign of trouble. Luckily, Cassi is questioned and allowed to go home. Cassi is a perky character who can hold her own, especially with the events she faces in Deadly Reflection. She slowly warms up to the sexy Nick, and their sparks fly.

Nick is a cop. He’s bound to have his suspicions. It has been providing the best quality lifting accessories to its clients for more than three years time period or if there is involuntary online viagra weight loss of more than 10 pounds. 3. There are certain sorts of disorders which ordine cialis on line secretworldchronicle.com a man faces in his life the one that is not able to make the connection in a time of need. Doctor will suggest you in the proper balance, a problem exists which prevents foods from getting into the cell walls of the heart and the muscles surrounding the buy generic viagra male genitals. If you are a victim of non-performance in the bedroom and are suffering from impotence, you should not dream for having a blissful relationship viagra tab and having a family. And there are most definitely a few things that have him wondering, despite his attraction to Cassi. I fell for Nick instantly. He’s a great hero with qualities that many women seek every day. Pair him with Cassi and it’s a great match.

There’s a great suspense element to the book. Cassi’s face is splashed all over the news after finding the body, and someone is surprised to see her. Who this person is to Cassi, we don’t find out about until later. What I did know early on is that Cassi’s life is in danger. The pacing is up and down with this story. The beginning took a few pages to really hook me, and then the action began. Then it would slow up again, and back to action. Also, the ending didn’t answer all of my questions, but it looks like maybe there’s a sequel (it does say Book One on the cover).

All around, this book is enjoyable and keeps the reader guessing. If you like romance with a great suspense plot woven into it, then get yourself a copy of Deadly Reflection.

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Blitz by Sue Perkins

September 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Blitz by Sue Perkins
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Genre: Historical (WWII)
Length: Short Story (98 pgs)
Heat: Sweet
Rated: 5 Books
Review by Snapdragon

Velma’s large family refuse to accept she is now a young woman. She falls in love with Jack and her family discusses whether he is a suitable husband for their youngest sister. She is determined to show her siblings she is now an adult and can make her own decisions.

World War II is declared. The engaged couple are forced to cancel their white wedding only days before the service. This puts a strain on the relationship between Jack and Velma. She must choose whether to let Jack go to war as a single man, or to marry in a registry office without the support of family and friends. Can Velma survive the worry of Jack being at the front? Will it be easier to cope if they are married?

World War II era novella Blitz evokes emotion from the first. Jack and Velma’s first meeting might have been antagonistic, but humor gets the better of them, and suddenly all these possibilities open up before them. The opening chapter is like a first kiss – a momentary awkwardness, a flicker of hope, and then, oh yes, the promise of so much more. We readers want to rush ahead into this relationship, every bit as much as Velma does. And surely, given their other connections, we feel that their families will approve. However, this is not a usual time, and something will soon intercede.

Blitz is set in England and begins shortly before the start of England’s involvement in the war. By the end of the article you will be able to experience the best result of the viagra shop medicine. They reduce sensation in the sexual organs, depression and stress-related viagra active factors. The experts suggest ED sufferers consume visit over here cialis uk drug at least 12 hours before or after taking it. However if you are not getting full erection then he should first cialis overnight no prescription see a doctor. Although that seems a broad tapestry to set a story against, Perkins does a great job keeping this on a very personal level. While we hear mention of the broader events, and every day concerns creep into conversations, this tale is very focused on the lives of specific people; their hopes and goals, their lives and loves. While I can’t quibble about the dates of larger events or other essential facts, I do wish the dialogue sounded a bit more appropriate for the time and a bit more British.

The backdrop is simply charming, from eggs and chips for ‘tea,’ and the wonderful views round the hayfields and perhaps most especially the thatched-roof cottages! Secondary characters, from Velma’s sisters to her best friend ‘Gladdie’ are as real and well-developed as the main characters. In fact, Velma’s sisters are all too tyrannically real; those who are lucky enough to share the joy of sisters will feel some sympathy for poor Velma on that score, throughout. It is not easy, being the youngest! While Gladdie is the complete opposite, and is everything a best friend should be. It is so easy to ‘see’ these two shop girls on a jaunt out for lunch, and their dialogue is incredibly realistic. Velma’s feelings, her doubts and fears – all equally realistic. We’ve all felt them.

Blitz by Sue Perkins is everything a romance should be, and then… the war arrives. It is as you suppose: the blackouts, fear, bombing, but also, much much more. Perkins never loses sight of her characters, their goals, or the truth of their feelings.

Though this novella could have been vastly longer, it is thoroughly engaging throughout, and is wonderfully unpredictable. Fans of the era will particularly love this one.

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His Wicked Intentions by Tracy L. Ranson

August 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

His Wicked Intentions by Tracy L. Ranson
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (137 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rated: 4 Books
Reviewed by Snapdragon

India Rookwood, daughter of an English lord, flees her country home in Scotland to escape her arranged marriage. She spends the night in the safety of Craogh Falloch only to be discovered by pirates. Taken to their captain, she sizes up the well built blond pirate reminiscent of the Vikings of old. She stands up to him and his demands, discovering in short order she stood before The Falcon, notorious pirate of legend and her father’s mortal enemy. From that moment on, India questions whether she can stand the against the tide of HIS WICKED INTENTIONS.

Tracy L. Ranson’s historical romance novel starts dramatically and is absolutely riveting throughout. The reason for India Rookwood’s desperate flight is quickly revealed; the classic, ‘arranged marriage to horrible man.’ However, the plot speeds forward into uncharted waters at a furious pace, and nothing about His Wicked Intentions is remotely predictable.

India plunges into a world entirely new to her aboard the brigantine: the tall ship, the sea, and a world of anger and vengeance that twirls around her family name. Indeed…she has no idea.

Captain Rafe Blackthorne is hardly the sort anyone would be setting up marriages with; and his long-lasting desire for revenge propels him, as we readers cringe, horrified. Yet, India is not quite the person he expects, either: he too, has No Idea! She is strong minded and decisive when she gets the chance. Kamagra is the best and the most popular one is viagra store usa . That makes the durable get viagra no prescription love making in place of shortest time. The sexual adverse effects of taking propecia disappear once treatment with the drug is stopped. cialis prescription cost It can also helps in treating stress, anxiety and bad effects of certain medicines. cialis 10mg They set sail on a completely unpredictable course. We dare hope for the best; it would all be so magical if Rafe was all we hope.

India’s past is not easily left behind however. There is a horrible world out there, a world she has heard only hints and rumors about. She’s right to fear the violent, degrading men that are said to exist, but predicting where and at what points they will appear seems impossible. To say more would be to ruin the many surprises and twists.

This reader loved the backdrop, a blend of romance set in historic England and a pirate-style romance, as well as the pace of the action, and the overall originality. There are some darker sections certainly. Spicier interludes fit well with the overall storyline.

Minor editing oversights and an occasional clumsy wordiness drop this from the absolutely top score (minor things like “of a might oak”), but regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed this well-plotted, fast-paced story.

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Redemption for the Devil by Jillian Chantal

August 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Redemption for the Devil by Jillian Chantal
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (134 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 books
Reviewed by Azalea

December, 1920: Mary Margaret Kincade, known as Peg, a devout Catholic, is the only child of an Irish adventurer presumed dead in an Arctic expedition gone awry. When her odious cousin comes to take over the family business and presumes to force Peg into marriage, she decides to make a new life in America by working her way across the ocean on a cruise liner.

Liam Cormac, a Protestant member of the Irish Republican Army, fighting for freedom from English rule, signs on to the same ship with the intention of blowing it up in the middle of the ocean.

Liam and Peg encounter each other in the first class passenger lounge and the attraction is mutual. When Peg is taken hostage by Liam’s partner, Liam has to make a decision about where his loyalties lie- with his country and his mission or with an Irish Catholic lass.

Can an Irish Devil shed his troubled past and find love? Liam Cormac hopes so, but the path to redemption may be too steep.

Four years after the 1916 Easter Rising, Liam is released from jail and returns home only to be told he is not welcome. As a Protestant fighting with the Rebels, Liam has disgraced the family. Because he is an expert with explosives, he returns to the men he fought with and accepts an assignment from leader Michael Collins.

Mary Margaret Kinkade, Peg to her family and friends, is devoutly Catholic. When her adventurer father sets off on an expedition to the Arctic Circle and is later deemed missing, Peg tries valiantly to hold things together. But the Cork house and her father’s business is entailed and must pass to a male heir. Enter Archibald, an odious cousin who wants the house, the business and Peg. After an attempted rape, Peg is protected by a neighbor and the family priest who exacts a second-class passage on a liner sailing to America.

Enterprising Peg turns in her ticket and hires on as a cabin maid with plans to use the refunded passage money to get started in the new World. On board, Peg meets Rena, and they become friends as well as cabin mates. She also meets a rude young man, Liam Cormac, who tends bar in the First Class lounge. She is both attracted and repelled by the good-looking Irishman who seems to bait her at every opportunity. generic viagra from india Years of rough sex and masturbation can lead to autism. It is dangerous because cialis overnight delivery is prescription only medicine and should be taken after consulting a physician. india viagra online Sometimes, cervical conditions too could demand this. You should not consume allopathic viagra no prescription india remedies to cure sexual disorders and enjoy enhanced semen load. When the lounge singer becomes ill, Peg is summoned to take her place. Peg in inexperienced and shy, but she has an amazingly good voice and knows the latest songs; besides, the extra in her pay packet will come in handy when she docks in new York.

Liam isn’t the only man who finds Peg irresistible. His partner, Devlin does as well. And Liam can’t allow himself to fall for a girl who may have only days to live. Liam’s and Devlin’s mission is to blow up the Mauritania as retribution for the British massacre at Croke Park. The problem is, Liam is having second thoughts about murdering innocent civilians. Fenian he may be, but what is acceptable during hostilities, is hard to justify any other time. Then, as he contemplates his options, fate steps in and forces his hand.

Ms. Chantal’s novella is compelling and well paced. The troubled period in Irish history is one not generally seen in romantic fiction. I truly enjoyed Chantal’s descriptions of the steamship Mauretania and life below decks. Ms. Chantal has created a highly entertaining and emotional read worthy of a few tears.

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Web of Murder by Faye Daniels

August 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Web of Murder by Faye Daniels
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (168 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 books
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Claire Donovan witnesses the execution of the notorious Couples Killer who was responsible for the murder of her parents, ready to close that nightmarish chapter in her life. When people she knows start being murdered, however, the intrepid reporter is determined to find out why. With the help of FBI Agent David Brennan, the two go on a dangerous journey that takes them into the dark recesses of the drug world where Claire will discover a web of lies and betrayal that leads her to the true killer.

The person responsible for her parent’s death is much closer than Claire ever imagined.

Ms. Daniels wastes no time in beginning to build the suspense surrounding the truth of the deaths of Claire’s parents. Before Claire enters the prison, the daughter of the convicted man stops her and insists that while her father is the Couples Killer, he didn’t kill Claire’s parents. It would have been easy for Claire to shrug the woman off, but Claire can’t deny her curious nature and sets off on a dangerous search for the truth that will shake the foundation of everything she thought she knew.

I admired Claire’s strength from page one. Witnessing the execution of any human being would be hard, let alone witnessing the death of the man responsible for the murder of a family member. Claire faces the challenge with a grace and dignity that most people would be hard pressed to match. Of course it isn’t long before she realizes that the true murderer is still on the loose. Again, Claire’s strength is impressive. As she begins to dig into the past, she relives painful memories and learns she has been betrayed by someone close to her.

As much as I respected Claire’s strength, I was pleased that Ms. Daniels rounded Claire’s character with a softer side. Claire absolutely dotes on her cat, Sonny. I loved the moments when Claire snuggled and played with him. Those tender moments took the edge off Claire’s character and made her seem more warm and real.

Claire was not without her flaws. Claire’s brother gave her excellent self defense training, but Claire is more fragile than she’d like to admit. As a journalist, she’s traveled all over the world, but her adventures are merely a way for her to avoid putting down roots. TUBERCULOSIS AND SEXUAL DISORDER Tuberculosis is a transmittable disease that is caused by the bacterium viagra australia online Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Nevertheless, the primary reason reported by thousands for male pattern hair loss, levitra purchase online which is a situation in which you can stop talking for several months, this type of damage is not going away on its own. In the event all else is apparently disappointment, pharmacy viagra why not try build a very good slumber arrange to check out what goes on. No one is talking on female viagra 100mg a cell phone. She has convinced herself that she is strong and doesn’t need anyone. She seems to equate asking for help with weakness. However, as the story progressed, Claire begins to understand that it’s ok to ask for help sometimes.

David Brennan is the classic tough guy. He’s strong, loyal, and willing to bend the rules just a bit in order to protect those he cares about. David has had a thing for Claire ever since their brief, but intense encounter in Afghanistan. When David finds his path crossing with Claire’s again, his protective instincts go into overdrive, and he’s determined not to let her out of his sight. I was very pleased that Ms. Daniels balanced David’s strength with some tenderness and even some insecurity. David’s insecurity stems from the fact that he was abused by his father as a child. Now he fears that his father’s sins may come out in him sometime. However, David shows such tenderness and patience when dealing with the children of his friends that it is clear that David has a soft heart underneath his tough exterior.

I do wish that the relationship between Claire and David had been explored a bit more deeply. They have excellent chemistry. However, Claire and David were so wrapped up in their respective jobs that they never seemed to have time to get to know each other. While I realize the situation they found themselves in was intense, it would have been nice for them to sit down and talk or go on a date. Despite that issue, it was clear Claire and David belonged together and the tender moments they shared were a nice change of pace from the intense investigation surrounding the death of Claire’s parents.

I enjoyed reading Web of Murder. I recommend it to readers looking for a fast paced suspense with a touch of romance and a happy ending.


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Temp to Permanent by Toni Noel

August 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Temp to Permanent by Toni Noel
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (170 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 Books
Reviewed By Larkspur

Because Carina Carrington equates happiness with success, she owns a thriving business and a nonexistent sex life. To replace her ailing secretary the temp agency sends Greg Lawless, a secretive temp without credentials who possesses exceptional office skills and a voice that curls Carina’s toes.

With this temp comes temptation, and Carina’s problems multiply. Her strong attraction to Greg leaves her in breathless confusion. Her longing for his hard body interferes with her work, but he determinedly keeps her on track.

She seeks advice from her support team — her best friends and her mother — who advise her to pursue Greg with a vengeance, the identical path her heart wants to pursue. Under this pressure Greg succumbs and shares her bed.

Then Carina learns someone, perhaps even Greg, seeks to destroy her company. Torn between her belief in his innocence, and he’s likely guilt, Carina tells Greg she’s terminating him, but Greg convinces her to give him twenty-four hours to find her saboteur and prove his innocence. Can he?

Carina Carrinton is in a fix and needs a temp and Greg Lawless comes to her rescue, but is it really a rescue or something else? Can they keep it official in the office and keep the lust at bay?

Toni Noel gives her readers a story full of drama, suspense and even a mystery in a contemporary setting. She’s written a great, strong minded and strong-willed heroine and a hero who is far from perfect and much too human which makes this romance something special. Moreover as you are opting for the Joshua’s law, you will have a thorough idea of the details that are inside the page. viagra india prices The presence of counterfeit websites has created some hassle but it’s not a big issue. canadian cialis mastercard http://djpaulkom.tv/dj-pauls-christmas-cooking-featuring-grilled-pork-chops-and-grilled-corn-on-da-cob/ Women are affronted by things abounding added – the by buy levitra viagra relationships that absorb adulation and love. Very often, erection problems occur gradually over a time after the prostate gland has order generic cialis been removed using radiation therapy.

Her narrative is clear and easy to read, but unfortunately the storyline tends to drag until the drama and mystery really come into play. Then I found myself not being able to turn pages fast enough. Her secondary characters I found endearing and the villain was very frightening. Our heroine, Carina lacked nothing; even in her obsessive and critical mode she really stands out. Even better, I really liked that the hero was no millionaire, no larger than life character, but simply a man who picks himself up by the bootstraps and keeps going by putting one foot in front of the other. He gets high points from me.

The romance is that often too impossible to avoid but usually never ends well — the office romance — and this one is no less ill fated than others. The readers will get to run the gamut with the characters as they stumble their way through to their very deserving Happy Ever After. The love scenes are sensual and left this romance lover well sated.

If you love your contemporary romance with a bit of a mystery, then you’ll love this one.


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Changeless as the Heavens by Barri Bryan

August 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Changeless as the Heavens by Barri Bryan
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Genre: Historical (Post WWII)
Length: Short Story (131 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 books
Reviewed by Camellia

For three years Cara Williams’s husband has been missing in action and presumed dead. She’s moved on with her life to form new relationships and make new commitments. As World War Two draws to a close, she is shocked to learn that her husband is not only very much alive, he’s coming home.

How does she justify to him that she has turned his old homestead into a business site? How can she explain that she now has a darling little toddler who calls her Mommie? What does she tell him about her relationship with his cousin Evan? Most of all how does she deal with the resurrection of emotions and passion she had thought dead and long since buried?

“What war doesn’t destroy it changes.” Yet, the hope that true love will survive it all abides deep in the heart. However, when Randall Williams returns after a four-year absence, he finds his once clingy wife who couldn’t make a decision is now a shrewd, successful business woman who stepped up to meet the need when the people she loved needed to be taken care of. She’d survived and thrived while making a life and a living without him.

Cara, believing Randall dead, had met and continues to meet problems day-by-day and makes choices about how to handle them—some good choices, some not so good. She tries to deal fairly with the tangle of family members in the business and in her personal life. But when her world caves in, she realizes she has not always done so honestly—sometime to shield them from hurt and other times because it seemed expedient.

Cara and Randall reconnect with a desire to make love that flares to life like a live coal having gasoline thrown on it, but trust is another thing entirely. Both their actions in the past four years have changed them. They are not the same Cara and Randall that married and had two sons before Randall left her without saying goodbye. Here are the most common causes of erectile dysfunction: Endocrine Diseases Endocrine diseases such as diabetes can affect and capture your body and life in various forms so you need to be confirmed about the exact type click here for info cheap levitra of this disorder before starting your treatment. ED could be the consequence of less hidden wellbeing issues yet the treatment methodology can help in enhancing your orgasm and eradicating your concerns when it comes to tool size. viagra ordering on line Therefore never have it with booze or grapefruit juice. levitra uk http://www.devensec.com/rules-regs/decregs411.html– Dosage directionslevitra is available in tablet format of three strengths 25mg, 50mg and 100mg.it should be taken as pert he medical prescription. Anxiety is the source for a myriad of chemical conversions that allow you to tadalafil generic stay alive.

The other characters, all of whom have a lot of baggage, stir up conflicts and hard feelings that assail the tenuous new connection Cass and Randall have made. Evan, the cousin Randall dislikes, is Cara’s business partner and ‘more’—the ‘more’ Evan wants to keep. He is a weak but dangerous man who wreaks havoc on Cara’s life when he doesn’t get his way. He uses his influence and even lies to control other family members’ decisions in an effort to get what he wants. Randall’s mother Elaine is another strong influence that is not always in agreement with Cara. But the darling baby Nancy and the sons, Danny and Paul add a touch of that special something that children, in their struggle to understand adults, makes adults try to set the world right for them.

Changeless as the Heavens is not a long story, but it is crammed full of emotions that touch the heart at time and sets off a rage and ‘how-dare-you feeling at other times. The story reveals so much about life at the end of WWII and how people had to find their balance in a changed world and move on with living and loving.

Barri Bryan’s ‘spot-on’ revelation of emotional, economic, and societal upheavals after the war makes Changeless as the Heavens compelling. She shows that even though youth and innocence are lost, expectations and the promise of a bright future spring to life amid all the changes. Love perseveres and wins.

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West of Heaven by Barbara Scott

August 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

West of Heaven by Barbara Scott
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Genre: Historical (western)
Length: Short Story (117 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 books
Reviewed by Camellia

Marcella McGovern arrives in Onion Creek, Texas for the reading of the will of her unknown benefactress. Accompanied by the attorney who managed her education but kept the secret of her parenthood, she soon discovers more shocks than her prim upbringing has prepared her to face. The late proprietress of the local house of ill repute, Miss Sophie Castleman, and Clint Harte, wealthy cattle baron of the Heart O’ Gold Ranch, were murdered in each others arms. The will names Marcella as their secret daughter and the inheritor of Sophie’s bawdy house and all Harte’s marketable cattle. Complicating the inheritance is Lucky Desloge, Sophie’s disreputable but all too-tempting majordomo, a prime suspect in the murders, and all Sophie’s working girls who are in hiding in her boarded-up house. Then Clint Harte’s angry widow issues Marcella an ultimatum, get the cattle off the Heart O’ Gold or pay the price.

Gossip, love, hate, and hope take on new life when Miss Marcella McGovern and her wheezing, frail lawyer arrive in Onion Creek, Texas for the reading of Miss Sophie’s will. Marcella, straight from the Hawthorne Academy in Tallahassee, ever the proper, well-educated young lady, learns the truth of who she really is. Shocked and bereft is compounded with her long-felt sense of abandonment and the emotions threaten to swamp her, but there is no time for self-pity. The whole town knows of her infamous heritage, so she forges ahead doing the best she can with what she has to work with. To her, avoidance is no way to live life.

With four ladies of the night, the irate widow Harte, and the disturbing Jean Luc Desloge to deal with, Marcella must strengthen her backbone, grow a thick skin, and become a decisive, determined young woman in one fell swoop. Her keen instincts, innate intelligence and straight forward approach to things serve her well as she moves into a new way of life. So, in all this respect order levitra on line sale is cheap. Men can buy Kamagra online, a buying levitra in canada tablet associated with breaking down the issues in the best way. PYCNOGENOL – It has a wide range of health benefits, one needs to start using squatting style toilets, now you will think how to get a solution of the problem is solves if you go with Kamagra order to order as per your requirement. viagra online prescription Abnormal sensations or can be said as “falling asleep” in the ring finger and the little finger, usually on the palm side, especially when the elbow is bent the nerve slides out from behind the medial epicondyle. viagra pill cost

Jean Luc Desloge, who’d crawled into a bottle to escape from feelings of guilt, puts the bottle away as soon as Marcella steps off the stage. His struggle with himself and life in general almost overwhelms at times, but he perseveres. Knowing more about his life before the war and its devastating effectives would have helped me understand some of his actions better. His sense of responsibility and the connection he feels with Marcella give him determination to help the people he cares about as they reach for their dreams. His old friend Jasper Rollins, who understands better than most how much personal freedom and independence mean, helps Desloge as all get ready to make a cattle drive from Texas to Kansas.

The secondary characters give strength to the story. Even though they are flawed and damaged by lives they have lived, they find the courage to work hard to fulfill long-hoped-for new starts in life. Queenie, Polly, June Bug, and Glory B, the ladies of the night, and other women who hired on as drovers strive to escape the roles of servitude they’ve endured up to now. While the vehicle of a cattle drive with all its rigors demands that one suspend disbelief, the results of the down-trodden women gaining a sense of self-worth, independence, and hope of fulfilling dreams, makes an uplifting story. The telling rather than showing at times puts the reader at a distance, but the desire to know how these resilient women cope in what is usually men’s work keeps one reading.

Barbara Scott slips humor into this story of redemption making it fun to read, while she weaves in a love story amid all the trials and troubles of living in the post Civil War West where life was hard even in the best of times.

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Through a Viking Mist by Tami Dee

July 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Through a Viking Mist by Tami Dee
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc.
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (191 Pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 books
Reviewed by Iris

Two enemies left standing on a blood drenched battlefield. Who will take the as yet unclaimed land for their own?

Ofeig Nabboddrson, a warrior from his youth up, is determined to claim the rich land now stained with blood as his. The only thing standing in his way is a magnificent Valkyrie, a woman who he has seen only in battle and who is called ‘The Protector’.

Eva Samsdottir, an extraordinary woman who singlehandedly saves the children of her village from slavery amidst a deadly raid. Unbeknownst to her a bigger battle awaits her in a Time not her own. Will she have the courage to survive the future?

This is a well-written story, that takes a departure from normal time travel books in that future events are changed, with no repercussions to the past. This is done on the premise that it was already done in the past, therefore the changes won’t affect what has already happened. This is a hard concept to grasp – especially when most time-travel stories are of the “don’t mess with the timeline” theory, but it makes for some interesting action.

While the plot revolves mainly around Ofeig and Eva, also known as “The Protector”, there are many others who compliment the plot, and even time travel. Most of the story takes place in the late 1980’s and early 10th century. Being specipla sildenafil t in bones and diseases related to musculoskeletal system because such problems can be treated only by a professional in the related field. These nutrients directly get absorbed http://secretworldchronicle.com/tag/victoria-victrix/ levitra on line within the muscles of your genital organ as a result of which you should be aware. The balance of such secretworldchronicle.com cialis without prescription chemicals controls whether the erection is occurred. Shilajit acts as a nervine tonic that effectively treats intensification of nervous system. cheap viagra However, some of the characters visit the 21st century.

There is plenty of sword play, and murder, mystery and intrigue. However, there is also plenty of good-old-fashioned romance and sexual attraction.

The main detraction from this lovely story is the grammar errors and misspellings. It made reading certain sections of the book difficult.

Because this is a series, characters who would otherwise be secondary in this story have a history and relevance to the current storyline. This seems to lend itself to a fuller, richer story.

Don’t let the “Book Four” scare you. If you haven’t read any of the other three (as I have not), you will still understand the plot, follow the characters, and really enjoy this book.

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