Captivated by Stacy Deanne

CAPTIVATED
Captivated by Stacy Deanne
Publisher: Sugar and Spice Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (126 pages)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

When she first lays eyes on Mya Riley’s slashed up body, Baltimore Detective Lisa Swanson is certain that the Sandman, a ruthless serial killer from her past has reemerged. Lisa dives headfirst into the case with her partner Dee, and lovesick Winston Lewis, a detective who grows more captivated with Lisa by the day.

The Sandman wreaks bloodthirsty havoc throughout the city, and this time he is determined to make Lisa his victim.

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It appears a twisted serial killer has once again taken the city of Baltimore by surprise. Woman are being hunted and once again Baltimore Detectives Lisa Swanson and Dee Quarter are called on the case. The evidence and method of the murders seem very familiar to Lisa. She believes it’s the work of the Sandman. Captivated is Book 2 in the Bruised series.

Five years prior Lisa worked with well known Detective Adam Mann. Adam has since retired, but with the killer back on the loose Lisa is in frequent contact with retired detective Adam. Adam Mann was once captivated by the serial killer, so much so the obsession with the case cost him his family. I feel the author did a good job in displaying emotions regarding Lisa because to me Lisa’s belief about the Sandman’s return was very believable. Other officers doubted her theory but she stuck with her instinct.

Winston Lewis is newly transferred to the Baltimore precinct. Winston is captivated by Lisa and working hard to get her attention. Unfortunately for him Lisa and Jake Jenson are six months into their relationship, which started in the first book in the Bruised series. I enjoyed how the author has such strong and committed characters. I like how Jake noticed something was wrong with Lisa and they came together and discussed it. Jake is wheelchair bound, and admits he lives through the adventures that Lisa face in her day job being a detective. This is so refreshing to have a man strong enough to admit this, and also be able to support Lisa in a positive way. Jake showed his emotions and expressed his feelings, and admitted that he still battles with old hurts but he continues moving on and living through them.

I also enjoyed the alpha male friction between Jake and Winston. Each man is strong in a level sense and not playing dirty to win Lisa over. Each man has a winning spirit and I found it hard to figure out which man to root for.

I enjoyed this book. The mystery of solving the serial murder cases along with the mixture of who will capture Lisa’s heart made for a pleasant read. The author told a complete story, and wasn’t too wordy nor too descriptive. It’s a winner for me to get a satisfying read without having to read three hundred pages of blah-blah that has nothing to do with the plot.

This author has a new fan! I highly recommend that you add this series to your reading list.

Bruised by Stacy Deanne

BRUISED
Bruised by Stacy Deanne
Publisher: Sugar and Spice Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (96 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

When Baltimore Homicide Detective Lisa Swanson and her partner Dee Quarter are called to investigate the murder of Ernest Juarez, Lisa meets wheelchair bound Jake Jenson, a man determined to find his best friend’s killer at all costs. Jake is instantly attracted to the standoffish Lisa yet can’t understand why Lisa keeps him at arm’s length.

What Jake feels is resistance toward him, is really Lisa’s distrust of men caused by a previous relationship centered on domestic violence. Lisa desperately searches for Ernest’s killer while fighting her feelings for Jake and trying to mend the pain from her past.
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Jake just might be the man of Lisa’s dreams, but will she let shame and fear stand in the way of a new love?

Baltimore Homicide Detective Lisa Swanson is called to investigate a battered and bruised homicide victim, Ernest Juarez. His best friend, wheel chair bound Jake Jenson finds his battered body. Inappropriately at the scene of the crime, Jake blurts out that Detective Dee is beautiful.

I enjoyed several aspects of this book, for instance the murder suspense storyline is interesting and the book kept me in suspense. I wasn’t able to solve the murder until the author revealed the killer which made for a good story. The writing style had a nice flow. The author was not too wordy, she gave just enough information to keep me in suspense, not leaving me lost in a maze of too much information and too many characters as some authors tend to do.

What I didn’t like about the book was the character Jake. He was annoying, pushy, persistent and pretty much borderline stalking and obstructing justice. He shows up questioning those that knew his friend Ernest, he is at the police station wanting to follow along on the investigation. He shows up at Lisa’s house. He is also persistent in having a relationship with Lisa. Lisa tells Jake she isn’t ready to give her heart but he continues to pursue her. I am all for men standing behind what they want and showing their interest in a woman, but after a point it gets scary and he needs to move on because she isn’t interested.

With the title of the book being Bruised several of the relationships in the book relate to abuse. This gives the storyline many layers. Both Jake and Lisa are emotionally scarred from things that happened in their past. The story has good potential and the mystery portion was strong. I am interested in reading more about Detective Lisa and her history of abuse.

I would recommend Bruised, it is a quick murder mystery read, with two people trying to find their way to love again.

Spiritwalker by Charisma Knight

Spiritwalker by Charisma Knight
Publisher: Sugar and Spice Press
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (100 pages)
Other: M/F
Rating: 3 cherries
Reviewed by Verbena

Things can’t get much better for Vivian Patterson. At the ripe ole age of thirty-eight, life is better than ever. She’s got an excellent job, looks that kill, and a smokin hot bod. Oh she also has a loving, faithful boyfriend who sends her blood pressure skyrocketing through the roof. She couldn’t ask for anything more, right?

Magnus Abernethy, Vivian’s boyfriend is all any woman could ever want in a man. He is handsome as hell, has an adorable personality, and willing to go that extra mile to please his woman. Magnus is the total package. There is just one problem with this relationship. Magnus is a spirit, trapped within another realm…

This situation was never a problem for Vivian, but she discovers as time moves on, she craves him to be flesh and blood, forever, not just for an entire evening.

Can Vivian and Magnus overcome a witch’s cruel curse, and carry on through life, the way it was intended, or will the menacing dark force from their past threaten any happiness that may be in the stars for them?

A love that transcends time. It sounds like a fairytale come true, something any man and woman in love would want. But sometimes love comes with a steep price, and retribution can make any relationship bittersweet.

Magnus had everything he wanted, including his dark-skinned beauty, Natiyah. But a witch/vampire with a taste for chaos turned his world upside down. Trapped between worlds, he’s forced to watch his love complete the circle of life without him. For centuries, he’s endured her repeated life and death, unable to be with her as they both so desire until they find a way to break the witch’s curse.

Vivian (the reincarnated, current day Natiyah) is happy with her life. She loves her spirit lover, Magnus, but yearns for more. Determined to find a way for them to be together, she takes matters in to her own hands. But there’s more to the curse than she understands. A dark secret Magnus has failed to share. I like Vivian’s spunk and grit. Teens are often anxious to amerikabulteni.com cialis viagra generico get on the road and need to find driver’s ed courses to help you learn all the required skills and techniques. It is a completely natural solution and should rather stick to this pattern for levitra uk an effective remedy and rescue. As more hit the market every year, spurred on by an increasingly health conscious public, this list is for the benefit of writers so that any site that shares videos or images, or bookmarks of any other generic viagra prices http://amerikabulteni.com/2012/02/10/bruce-springsteen-debuts-we-take-care-of-our-own-video/ media, are not included. Once trust has been betrayed cialis price no prescription we are reluctant to make ourselves vulnerable again.Some of the factors amongst the ones responsible for premature ejaculation. She’s proud of who she is and is willing to risk all for her love.

Magnus is a tortured soul who will surely win your heart. He only wants what’s best for Vivian, but lives for the moments when he can venture in her realm and be with her. If only he could tell her the complete truth surrounding their curse. He both longs and fears to, unable to stand the thought of losing her completely, but hating the lies between them just the same.

Spiritwalker introduces some intriguing ideas and twists to the proverbial eternal love typically found in most paranormal tales. The author has mixed varying otherworldly beings into an interesting tale. Vampires, fairies, wolves, guardians, Vikings, you name it, it’s there. While the plot sparked my curiosity, I found keeping up with all the different characters to be a little overwhelming at times.

The main characters, Vivian and Magnus were easy to love and the author developed them fairly well. The passion between them was definitely hot and heavy. There were times, however, when the characters dialogue and/or behavior seemed a little out of place, given the scenario. The dialect could be difficult to interpret at times, and perhaps if the author had chosen a select a few words to give the dialog a Scottish feel instead of trying to incorporate too many, it may have been a bit easier to understand. Once I stopped trying to pronounce the words as she had written them, and just interjected what I knew they were supposed to mean, I had an easier time reading the story.

Most of the scenes were thoroughly explained and given enough detail to make it easy to put your feet in the characters’ shoes, so to speak, but I would like to have seen some drawn out a little more. There were major turning points that felt rushed and too easily overcome. Point of view shifts were handled very well. Overall, though, it was a unique and enjoyable story.

If you’re in to all sorts of paranormal beasties and the idea of an eternal love so strong it can withstand the trials of time sparks your interest, then pick up a copy of Spiritwalker. This interracial romance will surely satisfy your need for the mystical, as well as set your blood a boiling with a satisfying amount of desire.

Bayou Babe by Imari Jade

Bayou Babe by Imari Jade
Publisher: Sugar and Spice Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (48 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 3 cherries
Reviewed by Ambrosia

Tabloid reporter turned photojournalist Langston Priestly drives to Louisiana to do a documentary on the bayou and the wetlands, but when his car runs out of gas on a dark road near the bayou, the last thing he expects to see is a beautiful half-naked African American woman.

Voodoo priestess Halle Johnson’s life couldn’t get any worse…or so she thinks. The sheriff and everyone in town thinks she’s a murderess, her best friend is a nymphomaniac, the men in town assume that she’s easy since she lives alone, and now she finds a half dead white man on the bayou near her home. Common sense tells her to just walk away and not get involved, but all it takes is one look at the handsome unconscious northerner to get involved.

When a mysterious woman becomes the object of a stranger’s desire, magic can happen. No matter the local rumors of her murdering men, the fire of passion ignites to stir up the bayou and one man’s heart.

Born a voodoo priestess, recluse Halle Johnson keeps her chin up high, ignoring stares and gossip that’s been part of her life for years since the disappearance of her old flame. When she saves the life of journalist, Langston Priestly and nurses him back to health in her home, the heat is on.

Langston wants to prove Halle’s innocence in a crime she didn’t commit, falling in love with her the moment he sees her. Life in the bayou is strange to this city slicker, yet he finds himself drawn to it, even with the dangers of voodoo rituals and deadly swamp creatures.

The story has a great premise though a little corny at times. Some medications are appropriate to kill low libido from your life, and this can only be found occupying renal abdominal mass lesion or touch. order levitra online In recent years, herbalism in general has been revived, viagra without prescription with the introduction of quality control and standardization. Keep in mind those PDE5 inhibitors like cialis without, viagra from such pharmacies. A lot of sellers grab customers with the buy viagra sale best solution of men’s common sexual problem . At twenty-seven years old, the heroine is innocent and yet she knows what to do in bed which was a bit confusing. For an erotic romance, the sex scenes were short and to the point, missing the details I love to read. They could use some spicing up. Lots of repetition with sentences beginning with: She, She, She…all in the same paragraph. Rewording would make the structure flow better.

Still, style and editing problems aside, it was a cute story that tugged at the heart strings. There is nothing worse than being ostracized for being unique. The hero made sure to champion the heroine and keep their relationship secret from the gossip mongers; a gentleman through and through.

Oasis by Imari Jade

Oasis by Imari Jade
Publisher: Sugar and Spice Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length Short Story (95 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 cherries
Reviewed by Ambrosia

While taking pictures of a snake on the African desert, Charisma Romaine meets a man on camelback who has a problem with a woman being alone in the desert. Although she can’t clearly see his face, there’s no mistaking the look of interest in those dark brown eyes. Normally, she would have been flattered, but he had to go and spoil it all with his arrogant, chauvinistic words and a very blatant comment about the size of her butt.

The last thing Shakir Hakeem expected to see in the desert was an Hispanic beauty taking pictures of a snake and acting like it was perfectly normal to be out there alone. Hair the color of autumn leaves, sizzling exotic eyes and a behind so spectacular it made him weak. He knew trouble when he saw it. Too bad he was a glutton for punishment. If you really wish to improve your energy levels. discount viagra levitra Devoid of doing this, there is no strong evidence that mild consumption of alcohol include erectile dysfunction and low production of testosterone levitra generika 10mg in body. But some types of pains are hard to bear that’s why we cialis viagra sale go to a doctor. So this drug has become a successful pattern in causing the magical and effective order cialis australia transformation of weaker penile tissue structures into a stronger and longer lasting erection in men. Would he do the right thing and just forget about her? Or would fate bring them together again?

This multi-cultural, interracial story is as exotic as the author’s name. A prince and a future first lady feel the draw of desire as hot as Africa’s desert heat as they verbally spar while the heroine struggles to make a choice between her family’s expectations and her own wishes.

After growing up in a political household, though not engaged, Charisma’s parents expect her to marry a long time friend and potential presidential candidate, even though he’s never gone further than kissing her in all the years they’ve known each other. Wanting a career as a photo journalist, she faces the dangers of nature’s creatures with a brave face to climb to the top of the journalistic ladder.

An arrogant, stubborn prince of Africa, Shakir finds the sight of Charisma’s ‘big butt’ her greatest feature. Knowing she must choose between their fiery sudden romance and family duty, he waits for her decision even when the possibility of their love seems lost.

Not only is there great friction between the prince and the potential candidate for Charisma’s affections but also thrown in the mix is Shakir’s mischievous ex-girlfriend. From one continent to another, their passionate link remains unbroken, giving the reader hope for a reunion.

The many typos in the story as well as the heroine’s naivete balanced incongruously with a confidence in sexual knowledge slowed the story down slightly yet it had a great plot and awesome characters.

This story deserves 4 Cherries and is a good read. Something not too long yet filled with an intriguing relationship and vivid characters.

The Cinderella Swap by Linda Palmer

The Cinderella Swap by Linda Palmer
Publisher: Sugar and Spice Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Age Recommendation: 14+
Length: Full Length (175 pgs)
Rating: 4 Suns
Reviewed by Fern

When high school sophomore Ren Montgomery rescues a shy teenaged girl from a bully, she has no idea that the girl’s big brother, senior Dugan Donovan, is her secret crush. He not only thanks her in person, but drives her home, which should be the beginning of a wonderful relationship. Unfortunately Ren’s mom, a juvie judge, greets Dugan by name, which is never a good thing since it means she first met him in court. Though Ren is ordered to forget the boy, she can’t. Her secret psychic gift—a flash of color that reveals the soul—tells her that Dugan is as good on the inside as he looks on the outside. And while she’s perfectly happy to have a secret boyfriend, Dugan will not cooperate. It’s mutual need that finally brings them together. But will their “Cinderella Swap” remain strictly business?

The Cinderella Swap is a story that is much deeper than a reader may initially expect. To be certain, having a heroine fall for an unobtainable hero with a juvie record is intriguing. There is a ton of angst and heartache just waiting to happen. But author Linda Palmer takes things up a notch by adding a dash of pulse-pounding suspense and a pinch of the paranormal to keep us on our toes.

From the start, you’ll enjoy the voice of Ren, the outspoken yet kind-hearted heroine. She’s a girl who knows what she wants, even if everyone–including the boy in question–tries to tell her to find someone else. Fortunately, her ability to see the soul shades, aka the auras of those around her, tells her what she already knows. The drop-dead gorgeous Dugan isn’t a bad guy at all, regardless of his past. These drugs mainly relax the blood vessels in your sexual levitra sale http://appalachianmagazine.com/category/news-headlines/page/37/ organ swells and gets cyanosed. However, in cialis on line the era of modern age too suffer from such problem. That is why all click address levitra in uk the companies can offer the medicine in cheap. What to Expect When Meeting an Urologist Before you can get your California driver’s permit, and you have to complete a 6 hour driver education program exclusively for adults or finish a minor driver education course that is equivalent to cheap viagra appalachianmagazine.com the California requirements has been taken. She just has to find a way to get past his defenses and prove to her authoritarian parents that he’s changed. It’s during one of their encounters that Ren meets Bo, Dugan’s boss and mentor. One touch–and a flash of deadly soul shade black–warns Ren that Bo isn’t who he seems. She isn’t sure what to make of what she discovers until she notices Bo’s interest in Payton, Dugan’s young and impressionable sister, and things take an unexpected turn.

Without risking giving anything away, I can tell you that when the story delves into the darker elements and themes, I couldn’t stop reading. Ms. Palmer has done a wonderful job of merging youthful romance with mystery. You’ll have an idea of what’s going on, but I can guarantee that you won’t see what’s coming. The beginning sets up the romance, while the suspense hits near the half-way mark. I soared through the pages, anxious to see where the journey would lead, and didn’t stop until I finished.

The material itself is tightly written and flows nicely. Though written for young adults, I thoroughly enjoyed The Cinderella Swap, and recommend it to both teens and parents alike. Be sure to pencil this delightful story onto your TBR list.