Dance of Love by Sandra Carmel

May 10, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Dance of Love by Sandra Carmel
Intertwined Love, Book 3
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

An unexpected dance into virgin territory…

Jeb, a hot, late-twenties virgin is plagued with guilt and a history of heartache. Issy, his passionate physio patient is the first woman he’s fallen for in forever but she’s travelling overseas in a month to advance her dancing career. So why does he still want her so bad? After what he’s endured, he must be crazy. Although he shouldn’t pursue her, he can’t ignore his heart’s desire.

Issy has craved Jeb for months and plans to proposition him following her farewell drinks. But instead of flirting back, he wants to chat. What straight, hot-blooded man refused guaranteed sex? Surprised and intrigued, she indulges him and he relays his heartbreaking story. Touched by Jeb’s admission, combined with her incredible attraction to the guy, she offers to teach him how to be a great lover before she leaves. With their feelings deepening each day, can they work out a way to stay together before time runs out?

They weren’t supposed to happen, but what if they do? Would that be so wrong?

This is my first story by Sandra Carmel, but it won’t be my last. This book stayed with me long after the last page and had me thinking about the characters. I liked the way the author allowed them to be relatable and fun, but heartbreaking, too. I read this in a matter of an afternoon and it was time well spent.

Issy is sweet, but she knows what she wants–Jeb. She wants him so much, but when he puts her off a bit, she’s got a choice to make. Help him become better in the bedroom or leave him alone. I liked how she handled the problem and how the book seemed to unfold rather like a TV movie–I could see what was happening and felt like I was there. Jeb is so sweet, too. He feels like he’s the last of the virgin men. I liked his fumbling and his confusion. I also liked his interactions with Issy. So good.

This book is part of a series, but I wasn’t lost. Not at all. I’ll read the others, but if one picked up this book without reading the others, it’s not a bad thing.

This book has steam, heart and I can’t wait to read the others in this series. If you’re looking for something hot for the afternoon, then this might be good. It’ll sear your ereader!

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

Nelican’s Lemons by Riya Aarini

May 9, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Nelican’s Lemons by Riya Aarini
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Nelican is a happy island pelican. One morning, he stumbles upon a crate of lemons. He tries to share, but none of his neighbors want his bitter fruit! Will Nelican find a clever solution for his sour lemons? Find out in this charmingly illustrated picture book featuring rollicking rhymes that are sure to entertain!

Sharing isn’t always as easy as it may seem.

I’ve been a fan of Ms. Aarini’s work for a few years now. One of the things I’ve consistently enjoyed about it the most was how whimsical it is. This tale continued that trend in all sorts of delightful ways. It amazes me how the author can consistently create such playful and creative characters no matter which age group she’s writing for or what’s happening in her settings. This sort of storytelling works well for kids of all ages, and many of us adults love it, too! I couldn’t stop smiling as Nelican tried to figure out how to use up the lemons he discovered, especially once he came up with an idea that seemed like it might be a winner.

There was one thing that I wish had been described in better detail, and it had to do with how the other pelicans responded to Nelican when he first offered them some of his lemons. They all said no without giving a reason why or a chance to try the fruit. It would have been nice for them to explain their decisions, especially since I was never quite clear as to whether these animals had previous exposure to lemons. This is a minor criticism of something I otherwise thought was well done.

Generosity was woven into every scene of this short story. The narrator didn’t need to directly tell the audience about why Nelican was behaving this way or why it’s a kind thing to do. Instead, we were left to come up with our own theories about these topics which made their conclusions even more powerful. It makes me happy to see storytellers trust their audiences like this, and it’s yet another reason why Ms. Aarini is on my must-read list!

Nelican’s Lemons was a sweet and thoughtful read.

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

Across Everlasting by Beth D Carter

May 5, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Across Everlasting by Beth D Carter
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Erotic Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Kellen Tavist has had the same dream most of her life. A dream of battle. Of war. Of loss. During a Halloween séance, she and her friends try to conjure the spirit of a departed loved one. Instead, they conjure a ghost from Kellen’s past life.

Unnerved, Kellen’s life soon begins to unravel. Not only are her dreams growing stronger, but someone seems to want her dead. She turns to freelance journalist Raney Williams to help her figure out what she saw that warrants her silence.

The past and present are intertwined, and she can only have a future if she can figure out the conflicting feelings that have come across everlasting time.

Spooky, suspenseful and hot!

I love the work of Beth D Carter. Her writing flows well. It drew me right in and made me want to know what would happen next. This story was no exception. I flew through this story in an afternoon and only wish the story had been longer.

I liked the characters of Raney and Kellen. They’re hot together and the descriptions of them made them pretty much leap off the page. I liked the suspense in this story. The spookiness of the story helped, too. I also loved that Kellen is a strong heroine. She might be in it up to her eyeballs, but she can take care of herself.

The thread of reincarnation and understanding the past is a great addition to the story. I’m glad I picked up this novella.

If you want something that’s sexy, a little spooky, suspenseful and smooth reading, then this is the book for you.

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

Love and Lavender Ice Cream by Sara Freeze

May 4, 2022 By 1 Comment


Love and Lavender Ice Cream by Sara Freeze
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Romance, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A sudden summer storm drives Miss Sophia Selkirk into a confectioner’s shop filled with the delicious scents of ice cream and candies. Just as she settled in with her glass dish of delectable ice cream, a shadow falls over the table: the fiancé she jilted without explanation two weeks before has appeared. Can she trust him enough to reveal the secret that sent her fleeing from the only man she has ever loved?

Simon Warren’s entire life was jolted the night before their wedding when Sophia sent a brief note informing him she could not marry him. Now, he has tracked her down to this small confectioner’s shop, where over two dishes of ice cream, they will grapple with a secret scandal from the past and discover whether their love can overcome all obstacles.

Ice cream can’t fix everything, but it might be a good place to start.

Great chemistry is crucial for the romance genre. Luckily, Simon and Sophia had plenty of it! It was delightful to see how many different methods the author came up with for showing why these two people deserved to end up together. Ms. Freeze gave the audience plenty of information to work with, and she trusted us readers to put some of the pieces together for ourselves. It’s always neat when that happens.

I would have liked to see more character development. Of course, one can’t generally expect as much of that in a short story as in something that has a few hundred pages to work with, but I did find myself wishing for more detailed explanations of why both of these characters behaved the way they did. This was especially noticeable when it came to their discussions of how their pasts might impact the happy life they’d one dreamed of sharing together. Do note that this was a minor criticism of a tale I otherwise thought was nicely done.

The dialogue made me chuckle. I adored the fact that Sophia and Simon were both such witty and quick-thinking characters. Honestly, they could have discussed what to add to their grocery list or how quickly the price of tea was rising and still kept my interest. That was how much I enjoyed reading their banter! They were quite well matched for each other.

This is part of the One Scoop or Two series. It can be read as a standalone work.

Love and Lavender Ice Cream was a sweet treat.

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

Bibi Blundermuss and the Tree Across the Cosmos by Andrew Durkin

May 4, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Bibi Blundermuss and the Tree Across the Cosmos by Andrew Durkin
Publisher: Yellow Bike Press
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Twelve-year-old Bibi Blundermuss is terrified of trees. Being around them makes her dizzy and sick to her stomach—even comatose. So, when her only to chance to find her missing parents means climbing a magic tree in the forest near her home, she almost doesn’t take it.

When Bibi grits her teeth and scales the trunk, the tree grows—so violently that she and her cat Eek are catapulted into another world. Here, she befriends a herd of elk, on the run from a pack of vicious white lions. And she discovers, to her amazement, that her mother is a witch who has been protecting the elk with a poison flower spell, which keeps the lions away.

Yet the longer Bibi stays in the world of the elk and lions, the less sure she is that her mother is truly on the elks’ side—or even on Bibi’s side. In the end, a dangerous journey into the lions’ lair and a reunion with both parents uncovers a secret that changes Bibi’s life forever. Drawn into an epic snowbound battle against an army of zombie trees, she must face her greatest fear to discover her greatest power.

Courage makes all sorts of things possible.

Bibi was a well-rounded and likeable main character. Her severe anxiety endeared me to her, especially when she was doing her best to face her fears despite how overwhelming they felt. I also enjoyed seeing how she incorporated her Zulu and Icelandic heritage into her everyday life. She loved both of her cultures and found all sorts of creative ways to honor them. Little details like this were what really made her personality come alive to me.

It would have been nice to see more attention paid to world building. For example, animals can talk in Bibi’s world and phobias don’t work the same way there as they do in our world at all. Both of these things were accepted at face value by all of the characters. I would have found the phobia storyline especially confusing if I were a middle grade reader because of how oddly Bibi’s hylophobia presented itself and how the resolution to that issue was framed. This is something I’m saying as a reader who loves fantasy and can easily suspend my disbelief when magical things happen. There’s nothing wrong with following a different set of rules, but not having clear explanations of why these things happened did prompt me to go with a lower rating than I would have otherwise chosen despite loving everything else about it.

The pacing fit the tone of the storyline well even though it did not always follow the same patterns. Some scenes worked best if they were savored, and others benefited from a quicker explanation of what was happening in them. It isn’t always easy to write a story that can make all of the adjustments necessary for this sort of pacing, so I commend the author for pulling it off here. He did a great job of preparing this reader to slow down and admire the glittery flowers of a magical forest filled with talking elk and then speed up again as pivotal scenes loomed on the horizon.

Bibi Blundermuss and the Tree Across the Cosmos was a wild ride that I’d recommend to anyone who loves adventurous fantasy.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

May 3, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

THE HUSBAND
A heart surgeon at the top of his field, Stephen Aston is getting married again. But first he must divorce his current wife, even though she can no longer speak for herself.

THE DAUGHTERS
Tully and Rachel Aston look upon their father’s fiancée, Heather, as nothing but an interloper. Heather is younger than both of them. Clearly, she’s after their father’s money.

THE FORMER WIFE
With their mother in a precarious position, Tully and Rachel are determined to get to the
truth about their family’s secrets, the new wife closing in, and who their father really is.

THE YOUNGER WIFE
Heather has secrets of her own. Will getting to the truth unleash the most dangerous impulses
in all of them?

Still married to his current wife, heart surgeon Stephen Aston falls for his younger interior designer, Heather. This is definitely a required ingredient if you are looking for a recipe for disaster or maybe even death.

It took me a brief moment to get use to the author’s rhythm with the varying timeline, and each being told from Tully, Rachel or Heather’s point of view.

It’s a quick and entertaining read that tackles several real issues. Some being difficult subject matter such as domestic violence, sexual assault, kleptomania, binge eating and Alzheimer’s disease.

The author is skilled at building tension which lead me to take in each short chapter in a haste. The family drama led the two sisters, Tully and Rachel, to become close, sharing their own personal and somewhat embarrassing secrets. Since both women seemed to have helpless moments where they would lose control both sisters made me question what could cause such dramatic personal traits. I liked both ladies and I easily empathized with them. I enjoyed seeing their growth as individuals and I guess family drama can either cause family to bond or grow apart. I’m glad to say that Tully and Rachel’s bond grew stronger.

It’s not all good for Rachel and Tully though. They are dealing with mixed emotions and feeling betrayed by what they thought was a perfect family. In addition to their feelings of guilt for their mom who has Alzheimer’s. The stress of this dysfunctional family is bringing about more kleptomania and binge eating episodes.

Their mother Pamela has plenty to say against her soon to be ex-husband. Heather, the future young bride is dealing with her own memories of a childhood growing up with an abusive father and keeping a secret from her future husband that her dad is serving life in prison for murder. Stephen has questioned Heather about if she has a problem with alcohol. As I mentioned earlier a recipe for disaster which makes for a suspenseful and entertaining read.

The ending caught me by surprise. It was a clever ending that spoke volumes and gave light to the bonds that were built and where loyalties lie. I was left wondering whether any of their viewpoints were reliable? Could one single voice cause this chain of events?

I rated the book 4 stars because it kept my attention, I couldn’t read it fast enough and the book also made me think. Our memory can be tricky. It can fail us, betray us even. Various influences can affect our perceptions, beliefs and memory.  We see this after Rachel went through her mother’s things, and memories became vague and were questioned.

I can’t complete the review without saying there were several odd parts that stuck out for me, but it didn’t take away from the story, in fact it made the story what it is.  Overall I enjoyed the book. It’s entertaining and one I would recommend.

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

A Time for War, A Time for Peace by Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

May 2, 2022 By Leave a Comment


A Time for War, A Time for Peace by Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Nick is a soldier from Eastern Europe, making a life in America. Tina catches his eye as a customer in the diner that he runs. Attraction leads to love but before they can enjoy their newfound relationship, the fight for freedom in Kosovo draw Nick back to his homeland.

At first, he plans to go alone to protect Tina, but he can’t leave her so she comes with him to face a world fraught with danger, fear, and hardship. When she becomes pregnant, he sends her home and plans to follow. If he survives, if he returns to her, then they have a chance at their happily ever after in the United States.

If they can make it, they’ll be golden, but can they make it?

I’d never read anything by Ms Sontheimer Murphy until this week and I’m glad I rectified that problem. This story flows well. The characters are captivating and I couldn’t put it down. I rooted for the couple to make it and have a happy ending. Boy, I got emotionally involved and that’s a good thing.

Tina and Nick are fascinating characters. He can’t handle the fact that his homeland is in danger. He also can’t leave Tina behind. He’s in a truly rough place, but he’s determined not to give up. That’s what I liked about him. He’s strong, but he’s not so strong he can’t show a sensitive side. Then there’s Tina. She’s strong, too. She is relatable and I could see her as someone I knew. I liked that because it helped me get involved with the story. The heat between them is great, too. I knew they had a connection because I could feel it.

If you’re looking for a read that’s not always easy, but it’s got a lot of heart and heat, then this might be the one for you. Give it a try.

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

Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour

April 29, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour
Publisher: Candlewick
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), LGBTQ, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A little girl stays home with Mama when Mommy goes off on a work trip in this tender, inviting story that will resonate with every child who has missed a parent.

For one little girl, there’s no place she’d rather be than sitting between Mama and Mommy. So when Mommy goes away on a work trip, it’s tricky to find a good place at the table. As the days go by, Mama brings her to the library, they watch movies, and all of them talk on the phone, but she still misses Mommy as deep as the ocean and as high as an astronaut up in the stars. As they pass by a beautiful garden, the girl gets an idea . . . but when Mommy finally comes home, it takes a minute to shake off the empty feeling she felt all week before leaning in for a kiss. Michael L. Printz Award winner Nina LaCour thoughtfully renders a familiar, touching story of a child who misses a parent, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita, whose distinctive style brings charm and playfulness to this delightful family of three.

It’s never fun to be left behind.

One of my favorite scenes happened early on when the main character was in a classroom setting and mentioned missing her Mommy. The details might differ a little from one family to the next, but everyone misses someone they love at one point or another. Seeing how the teacher and her classmates responded to her was heartwarming. I couldn’t have imagined a better response to her admission that she was having a hard time.

The only thing I wish had been written differently in this tale was the ending. There were so many touching scenes earlier on in the plot that I was a bit surprised by how quickly it was all wrapped up. It would have been nice to have an extra scene or two at the end where the girl talked about her week at home with Mama and heard what Mommy had been up to during her business trip as well.

This was a gentle, honest exploration of how a young girl dealt with going through her normal daily routines while her Mommy was away. It’s hard for a little one to be separated from a parent even if it’s temporary and for a good reason. I thought it was lovely that she felt comfortable sharing her feelings with her Mama, her teacher, and the many other supportive people in her life. That is an excellent way to deal with difficult feelings, and it made me eager to recommend this.

Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle was a wonderful read.

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

The Magicians of Ysavar by Z.B. Lee

April 29, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Magicians of Ysavar by Z.B. Lee
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Johan Finley dreams of being a warrior for his home, Center City, but he is devastated when his own arrogance costs him his dream. When all seems lost, a cheery little fellow comes knocking on his door. Johan could never expect the fantastic journey that awaits.

There is one problem: Blazer, an enchanted sword, has fallen into the wrong hands. A shadowy enemy seeks to use this powerful weapon to turn the tides in a greater war of good versus evil. Johan must find the strength to face down this sinister foe and take back the sword before it’s too late.

Under the tutelage of a wise magician and a battle-tested knight, along with the friendship of a courageous halfling, Johan is going to learn what it means to be a true hero in the Order of Ysavar. But when the fate of the world rests on his shoulders, will he crack under the pressure? Or will he rise to the occasion?

Sometimes adventure sneaks up on you when you least expect it to.

The world building in this novella was fantastic. It explained everything the reader needed to know clearly while still leaving ample room for a sequel to dive much more deeply into the history of Articus and what the various races in this world thought of each other. These were complex topics that Johan and the audience were just beginning to understand. The author did such a good job of explaining them and showing what life was like for the members of the Order of Ysavar that I felt as though I were walking alongside the characters every step of the way.

I would have liked to see more attention paid to character development, especially when it came to Johan. Other characters mentioned his faults a few times, but there weren’t enough opportunities for the audience to see whether their opinions of Johan were correct or how he grew as a result of his experiences in my opinion. Even a few extra scenes showing this would have been sufficient. This was the only thing holding me back from selecting a five-star rating.

The plot was fast-paced and exciting. I was intrigued by how it explored what happens after someone failed to accomplish a goal in one of the very first scenes. That wasn’t something I’ve seen discussed in quite the same way in most of the fantasy I’ve read, so it immediately piqued my attention. It’s always nice when authors play around with the audience’s expectations and keep us guessing like that. This is all I can say on that topic without sharing spoilers, but do pay close attention if or when the storyline veers away from what you assumed might happen next.

The Magicians of Ysavar made me yearn for more.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Promise Of Annie by T. Lee Garland

April 28, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Promise Of Annie by T. Lee Garland
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Annie is a nurse who promised a dying patient that she would deliver an envelope to the woman’s estranged nephew after her death. Annie intends to keep that promise, even if the nephew is a sexy bar owner who makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with the envelope or her.

Van hasn’t seen his aunt in years. Now that she’s gone, he doesn’t care about her or her damn envelope. Except he does care about the curvy nurse in the cotton-candy pink scrubs that barges into his busy bar on a cold Friday night in Tennessee, and insists that he open the envelope.

A freak ice storm leaves them unexpectedly stranded together. Annie has a secret that she hopes will change Van’s mind and heart about his aunt. Van just knows he wants Annie and the promise of her in his life forever.

Annie had no idea when she promised to fulfil the dying wishes of a patient that it would lead her to a seedy bar and a dangerously good looking man. Van wants nothing to do with his aunt – dead or not – nor is he thrilled with the sexy nurse she sent to deliver a message. Annie, however, is determined to complete her friends dying wish and isn’t willing to take no for an answer.

I found this a refreshing and different style of short story. While the dark, brooding and sexy bar owner meeting the sexy do-good girl is a well loved trope for a reason, I found the tension and small twists to the plotline really intriguing and well handled. This gave the whole story – short as it was – a slightly different outlook and while it still had many of the features of a tried-and-true comfort read, it was new and different enough that I found it really interesting.

Van and Annie’s characters were realistic and fun, but I have to admit there was nothing too unique about them. Readers looking for a comforting kind of read with well-established parameters should find this a lovely and easy sort of read. I was really pleased the chemistry between Van and Annie was a slower sort of burn – not just because that helped them take a bit of time to get to know each other and merge from strangers into sexual partners, but also because Annie was clearly grieving the loss of her friend a few hours ago and it would have felt very odd to me had she jumped right into bed with a complete stranger. That said, the sex was spicy and explicit so readers looking for a steamy read should find this aspect to the story satisfies them.

Fun and a slightly different style of story I really enjoyed this quick read and will happily try more titles by this author.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »