Wicked Intent by Lora Leigh

June 6, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Wicked Intent by Lora Leigh
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Control has meant everything to Tally Raines. Control of the office she ran as Jesse Wyman’s secretary, and now control of Lucian Conover’s office as well. But Lucian isn’t content to be controlled by his fiery secretary. As a matter of fact, Lucian thinks she needs to loosen up and let the sexy, sensual woman hiding beneath her cool exterior free.

And he will dare her to do just that… with a little help.

Three hearts and a lot of tension. Oh boy!

I knew when I picked up this book that it’d be hot. It’s a Lora Leigh and they’re always hot books. This one didn’t disappoint. I raced through this book because the pace was so quick. I liked that there weren’t any extra pieces. The story is tight and the pace just as tight.

Tally is hard to relate to because she’s so strong willed. I wasn’t a fan of her right away, but I did like her transformation and growth. I liked it because I can see myself and others in her. She had to go through hell to get to the point where she could grow, and I liked it. Dev and Luc are just drool-worthy. I could see them in my mind and oh boy, oh boy. I wanted a pair for my own. I liked the test of wills between them. It was a great game to see how it’d play out. No spoilers at all.

If you’re looking for a menage story that’s hot enough to burn the pages, has some kink and will keep you turning pages, then this might be the one for you. Luc, Dev and Tally are fantastic. Give it a read.

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

The Secrets She Learns by Jacqueline Diamond

May 16, 2023 By Leave a Comment


The Secrets She Learns by Jacqueline Diamond
(Sisters, Lovers & Second Chances Book 4)
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Shocking secrets, unexpected love, a cold-case mystery—and a nosy beagle!

At the age of 50, nurse Anni discovers she has two half sisters, both of whom were hurt by a con man who has disappeared. Determined to bring her new family together and unravel the past, she hires a handsome P.I., and gets more than she bargained for. That includes his newly adopted dog, who isn’t shy about fostering a romance or digging up evidence.

Former police detective Jon, now in business for himself, is frustrated by the one who got away, a swindler who tricked folks including Jon’s own mother out of their savings. His new neighbor, appealingly warm-spirited Anni, is more than the perfect client. She’s also a woman who sends the barriers around his heart crashing to the ground.

It’s never too late to make things right again.

The dialogue was realistic and well done. It made sense to me to see the many similarities in speech between the characters since so many of them had grown up in the same community and never left it. Little details like that are part of the reason why I look forward to seeing what Ms. Diamond has come up with next. When added together, they have such a positive influence not only on character development but also on the reading experience.

I was intrigued by the mystery storyline in this tale, so it was a little disappointing to see how much space was actually dedicated to it. While I understand that this series is a romance first and foremost, there was so much more the author could have done with the mystery the audience was introduced to. I would have gone with a higher rating if she gave it a better opportunity to shine.

Just like in any small town, everyone was connected to each other in all sorts of different ways. I once again enjoyed figuring out what those connections were and what the characters really thought of each other. One of the benefits of growing up in such a small place is that many people have known each other since childhood and have a lifetime of memories, both positive and negative, to draw upon when running into friends, relatives, enemies, and exes while out and about in town. Ms. Diamond always does a good job of including these sorts of complicated webs of relationships in her stories that both push the plot forward and explore how complicated and political small town life can be.

This is the fourth book in a series. While it technically can be read as a standalone work, keeping track of the large cast of characters will be easier for readers who have read everything in order so far.

The Secrets She Learns was an interesting mixture of themes and genres.

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

In The Name Of Truth by Viveca Sten

May 2, 2023 By Leave a Comment


In The Name Of Truth by Viveca Sten
Publisher: Self-Published (Amazon Crossing)
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A shocking abduction rocks idyllic Sandhamn Island in an enthralling novel of suspense by Viveca Sten, bestselling author of In the Heat of the Moment.

With the summer season on Sandhamn comes an unsettling mystery for Detective Inspector Thomas Andreasson. A bullied young boy has vanished from a sailing camp on neighboring Lökholmen Island. Has the terrorized eleven-year-old run away? Or, in this isolated vacation spot where strangers lurk, is it something more ominous?

The disappearance has also captured the interest of Thomas’s longtime friend, attorney Nora Linde. The missing child happens to be the son of her latest client, Christian Dufva. He is a key witness against his partner in a high-profile embezzlement trial, and Dufva’s testimony could be devastating. It’ll also be Nora’s biggest win—the next step toward a position as chief prosecutor. But with every anonymous threat against Dufva, the stakes get higher.

When new evidence surfaces in their respective cases, new questions and fears arise for Thomas and Nora. Time is running out to resolve them. So is hope of finding the boy alive. Because on Sandhamn Island, the truth is buried as deep as the secrets.

Detective Inspector Thomas Andreasson is called to the small community Lokholmen Island where an eleven-year-old boy has gone missing from a summer sailing camp. Thomas’ long-time childhood friend, Nora, is also caught up in the search as the boy is the son of her key witness, Christian Dufva. Nora’s important court case and Thomas’ missing child case are inextricably wound together, and each are seeking their own answers. Can the two friends work together again, and both receive the answers they need?

I’ve been enjoying this Scandinavian noir style of mystery series and was pleased with this addition. The author has added a good mixture of mystery/suspense plot along with a good smattering or Nora’s court case and the more legal/judicial side of events as they unfolded. I feel readers who like either genre should be very happy with the storyline of this book. I was also impressed that even though this book is well into the series it largely stands well by itself. The personal lives of both Nora and Thomas are quite well developed – but are easily understood and caught up on if readers haven’t read anything previous to this book.

While the pace is a little slower than I find most American styled plots to be, I felt this shouldn’t be too much of a deterrent for most readers who like British or Scandinavian styles of mystery novels. I also thought with the mixture of police and legal drama overlapping this helped keep the feel of the pace moving at a decent clip and it definitely gave me the feeling while reading that the plot was moving along. There was also some character grown for both Thomas and Nora – mostly in respect to their personal relationships. While I didn’t feel either of these partnerships overtook the main plotlines, it definitely added an extra element to the story and I feel made the plots feel a bit more well-rounded.

A solid – though not exceptional – addition to the series this was a good book and an enjoyable light read.

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

BaIT by D. I. Jolly

April 28, 2023 By 1 Comment


BaIT by D. I. Jolly
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Amber thought her life was perfect.

She was in love with her boyfriend Frankie, had a nice summer job at Taylor’s Book and was enrolled at Marshall University to become a teacher.

Everything was on track for the perfect life.

And then Bastian walked in. Not only was he the most handsome man Amber had ever seen, but she felt a pull that she’d never felt before.

From the very first moment she saw him he filled her every thought and made her body want things it had never had before.

Amber is happily in love with Frankie. Then Bastian walks into her coffee shop. Bastian has a secret—he’s a werewolf. Frankie is a good guy, but Amber is torn. She loves Frankie, but there’s something about Bastian, and she can’t pull away.

When Frankie gets suspicious, things take a bad turn. There are some real surprises along the way, making things hard to predict, yet this is a light page-turner with werewolves and vampires. Themes of family and friendship underlie the story. Another theme of consent adds strength to this paranormal tale.

One major situation after another presents itself. How will these characters resolve such issues? As they deal with some difficult things, we see their development.

This book has somber moments and ideas in it, but overall, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, being wrapped in casual conversations along the way with some humor. It’s an interesting story, at times silly, and at times thoughtful. For something fun to read, this might be a good one to consider.

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

Volume 1: The Limo Driver: The Pothos Chronicles by Skye Turner

April 27, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Volume 1: The Limo Driver: The Pothos Chronicles by Skye Turner
Publisher: Self-Published (Skye Turner Books)
Genre: Erotic Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

On what was supposed to be a dream night, Nora graduates from college but her life is falling apart.

The life she’s always envisioned is nothing like her reality.

Unwilling to tell her family what a sham her “accomplishments” are, she climbs into her present from her father, an elegant limo, for the night with a fake smile and a wave and indulges on the champagne intended to “celebrate” her big night.

At Nora’s drunken request, the limo driver takes her on a ride she’ll never forget. Sex abounds, fantasies are fulfilled, and her night takes a decidedly upwards turn as the limo driver becomes more than she ever imagined.

Hot, hot, hot.

I knew this would be a short story. That’s what I wanted. What I didn’t expect was there to be so much jam packed in this short story. It’s hot and that’s no understatement. The writing is good, and I had to finish the story. I wanted to know what would happen next.

I realize this is a short story, so there isn’t much detail, but really, it wasn’t needed. There was just enough to get the point across and keep the story heated. I can say it did singe the page.

If you’re looking for a hot short story for a lunch break read, then this is the one for you.

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

Miracles From the Heart by J Paulette Forshey

April 24, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Miracles From the Heart by J Paulette Forshey
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Holiday, Romance, Contemporary, Light Paranormal
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Two heartwarming stories for the price of one!

A little girl’s Christmas wish brings more than joyful holiday music to her family in ‘Magic of the Christmas Flute’.

It’ll take ‘The Christmas Gift’ to help a couple who married for convenience find love, happiness and the family they’ve always wanted.

Cute and fulfilling for the holidays.

I’m a sucker for holiday romances. Doesn’t have to be Christmas time. I’ll read them all year ’round. This one really fit the bill for me. These are two short stories, so there isn’t a lot there, but there didn’t have to be. The story was fleshed out just fine in both cases.

Magic of the Christmas Flute showed just what a little love, faith and belief can do. I liked that the little girl wasn’t just a prop in the story. She had a purpose, and it was cute. I enjoyed this story a lot.

The Christmas Gift is the shorter of the two stories, but again, there’s plenty there in such a small amount of pages. I knew what was going on and felt for both characters. I felt the pain and yearning, but also the healing.

If you’re looking for something sweet, cute and wonderful for the holidays or any day, then this is the story set for you.

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

Life in the Mississippi Marine Brigade: The Civil War Diary of George Painter by Beverly Wencek Kerr

April 7, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Life in the Mississippi Marine Brigade: The Civil War Diary of George Painter by Beverly Wencek Kerr
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Historical, Military, Non-Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Pvt. George Painter, a young man from Richland County, Ohio served in an unusual regiment during the Civil War. His journey as a member of the Mississippi Marine Brigade has been described in his personal diary for the year of 1863. Discover his descriptions of daily life on the brigade and marvel that his dates are exact to major events happening during the Civil War. Life on the Mississippi River and its tributaries held many interesting and exciting adventures and some days were yes, boring. Every time we find a diary of a Civil War soldier, we learn a little more about the trials and tribulations that brought about change in this country.

A man in a situation few thought they’d be in and writing about it along the way.

I picked this book up because the journalist grew up in the same area as I did and that fascinated me. I had no idea how much Ohio contributed to the Civil War. It’s not like many big battles were here, so the connection always seemed thin. Now I see it wasn’t so much.

This book is part journal by George Painter and part explanation by the author, Kerr. I liked that the author printed pages from the journal and the actual entries just as Painter wrote them – misspellings and all. I also liked that the author updated his words just below (so it seems the entries are in twice), with the corrected spellings and slight punctuation fixes. I have to say, just as the author did, for a man of his time period, Painter does write well and seems rather well-educated. Not just a farmer from Ohio.

I liked that the story isn’t just a reprint of the journal entries, but there are explanations alongside them. The author explains what was happening at the time, what battles might have been going on elsewhere, what the various terms mean and how the pay worked for the men of the brigade. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the time period.

The writing is simple at times, but this book doesn’t require something exceptionally technical. It needs the touch of a writer who writes like conversing with a friend. The writing flows well and drew me right in.

If you’re looking for a different take on the Civil War and the Mississippi Marine Brigade, then this might be the story for you. Check it out.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Maggie’s List by Brittany Severn

March 24, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Maggie’s List by Brittany Severn
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When Ivy loses her twin sister, Maggie, to cancer, she discovers a secret journal to be read after her death. Ivy discovers that Maggie has a bucket list that she was unable to complete. To honor her sister, Ivy sets out to complete it on Maggie’s behalf.

As Ivy works through her grief, visiting all the places Maggie never got to see, she finds herself in Scotland. Eager to tick off a few more items on her list, Ivy teams up with Evan, a handsome tour guide. Pouring her heart out in the journal, Ivy soon realizes that her old life is gone, but a new one might be ready to begin.

Every day is a fresh page in the book of life.

Some of the most memorable scenes were the ones that showed how many loose ends surviving relatives must tie up after someone dies. This can be something as simple as cleaning and organizing a bedroom all the way to far more complex tasks like, say, finishing a bucket list. I was especially intrigued by the way Ivy’s grief leaked through sometimes as she checked these tasks off her to-do list. This was such a realistic approach to the process of grieving and healing after a terrible loss.

I would have liked to see more character development in this novella. While Ivy was an interesting protagonist, there wasn’t enough time spent exploring how she changed as a result of her sister’s death and the trips she took after the funeral. There was plenty of material for her to work with. I simply needed to see more examples of her personal growth in order to feel comfortable giving this a higher rating.

The romance was handled nicely. Grief can be all-consuming, especially when someone as young as Maggie dies, so I was curious to see how the author would balance Ivy’s grief for her twin with her budding romance with Evan. Luckily, the romantic scenes were handled sensitively and gave Ivy plenty of time to say goodbye to her sister before she thought of what she wanted to do with her life next. It was also cool to see space left for a possible sequel. I don’t know if Ms. Severn has one in the works, but I’ll happily read it if she does!

Maggie’s List made me smile.

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

Dawning of Darkness: The Fall of Gods and Kings by James G. Robertson

March 14, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Dawning of Darkness: The Fall of Gods and Kings by James G. Robertson
Publisher: Self-Published / Next Life Publishing LLC
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Systems fall, planets die—darkness dawns on us all. When a god known simply as the Dark Creator enters our universe, the concord of the world inhabited by the spirits of men and their kings, the gods’ chosen few, fades. As this being and his overwhelming force of corrupted horrors and children eclipse Afterworld and its territories, the kingdoms of men must put aside their differences and band together.

After millennia of fighting, the final blockade separating man from those sinister entities has collapsed. With so much at stake, and with the Dark Creator approaching the Divine Mountains, will our protectors’ sacrifices ensure Afterworld’s survival? Or will this encroaching darkness consume it all?

Resistance is essential if good is to prevail.

Without giving away too many details, this was no ordinary war. Not only had it lasted for thousands of years, there were plenty of other magical things going on with it that made me smile. It was cool to see just how many fantasy tropes and mythical creatures the author was able to include in the storyline in ways that made sense. I wish I could gush about them all in more detail, but it’s best if other readers are pleasantly surprised just like I was.

I found the large cast of characters confusing. There wasn’t a lot of space in this novella to get to know the characters deeply, especially the ones who played supportive roles, so I didn’t have enough details about many of them to quickly recall who they were and how they were connected to everyone else.

The descriptions of the settings were well done. I appreciated the time the author took to explain the landscape, how it affected how people lived in that area, and how it may have changed since previous scenes. All of that attention to detail made it easy to imagine where the characters were and why they were so surprised by certain developments.

Dawning of Darkness: The Fall of Gods and Kings was an exciting ride.

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

Secured by Sean Michael

March 13, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Secured by Sean Michael
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

After five years of living under the threat of a stalker, Finn Wicker is finally free. About nine months ago, his stalker was finally taken down, but not before the man shot and nearly killed Finn’s bodyguard Chris. Finn had always had a crush on Chris, but he’d never done or said anything about it because the man worked for him. But when Finn walks into the Hammer Club and sees Chris up as one of the men to bid on at the Charity Christmas Auction, all bets are off, and Finn throws his hat in the ring to win his ex-bodyguard.

Could there be more between Finn and Chris than just a former business relationship? Finn sure hopes so and all he wants for Christmas is his feelings to be reciprocated.

Almost a year ago Finn was finally freed when his stalker – who had made his life hell for more than five years – had been brought down by the police. Finn had managed to take his life back, but when he walks into the Hammer Club for their annual Christmas Auction and sees his ex-bodyguard up for bidding, Finn can’t help himself. He’s always been attracted to Chris and while Finn wants his affections reciprocated, he hopes that by bidding on Chris they can maybe finally explore if they’re compatible in more than just a business sense.

This is a fun and seriously sexy quick read. A short story, I was impressed that the author managed to pack a fair bit of history between the two characters which really helped sell the speed and sparks of chemistry between them. While there is absolutely a wonderful, albeit smutty, short story there isn’t a huge amount of plot. Finn and Chris finally getting together really is the plot. It was delightful to watch them realize they have the solid workings of a long term, committed relationship together, each of them sharing the same taste in their bedroom kink and antics. Readers looking for something heavily plotted or complicated probably won’t find this story quite to their tastes.

I thoroughly enjoyed the steamy and sensual connections and relationship that quickly built between the two men. I found with their emotional connection and strong background together the speed with which they hooked up – and the intense trust they placed in each other – was quite believable and very well written. Indeed, a part of me wondered why – even though it was a bodyguard/client working relationship – with the strength of their attraction and mutual chemistry it seemed a little odd to me personally that neither had at least tested the waters until Finn bid on Chris at the auction. This was a fairly small point though, and one I could easily overlook.

Smoking hot and deliciously kinky, this is a great quick read and one I can easily recommend.

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