A Western Christmas Homecoming by Kathryn Albright, Lauri Robinson and Lynna Banning

December 14, 2018 By Leave a Comment


A Western Christmas Homecoming by Kathryn Albright, Lauri Robinson and Lynna Banning
Publisher: Mills & Boon
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Holiday
Length: Short Story (103 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

Three festive romances: Christmas in the Wild West!

In Christmas Day Wedding Bells by Lynna Banning, buttoned-up librarian Alice is swept away by US marshal Rand Logan on a new adventure.

Then, Welles is Snowbound in Big Springs in this novella by Lauri Robinson, where he must confront Sophie and their undeclared feelings…

Finally, rugged outlaw Russ rescues Abigail from spending the festive season alone in Christmas with the Outlaw by Kathryn Albright!

Christmas Day Wedding Bells by Lynna Banning

Alice is a librarian who enjoys her job and her life. When the sheriff sends a deputy to ask her if she will come and see him, she has no idea what news he has for her. Her sister who lives in a mining is dead. And she was murdered.

This story moves along well and it’s fun to watch a romance develop between Alice and the US Marshall Rand. The author uses her imagination and has him ask Alice to go undercover and talk to the miners. That means singing in a saloon and wearing a daring dress. Alice is game and even almost enjoys it.

The mystery is hard to break, there’s an unusual killer, and justice finally prevails. This was a good read.

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Welles has decided to come home and check on his grandfather. He left town in disgrace and confusion and nobody is more surprised to find him at the door than Sophie who’s been taking care of Chester. He’s been in love with her for years but he’s gambler and she wants to do with them. He doesn’t want to talk about what made him leave and she’s trying to pretend they’re just friends but Chester has some ideas about what’s going on.

There’s a lot of soul searching and explaining to be done and the author does a good job of making it sound realistic and honest. At least this time Sophie doesn’t get her heart broken…

The story is enjoyable, well written and fun to read. The old west was tough but so are the people who live there.

Christmas with the Outlaw by Kathryn Albright

He’s in a bind. He witnessed a murder, has been shot himself and he’s also being framed for the murder. His plan is to go to Denver to get an attorney he knows to defend him. He can’t make it that far, though, and stops at the business office of a childhood friend.

Since Abigail is a journalist at her brother’s paper, she always meets with the sheriff for information. She doesn’t like hearing there may be a killer headed their way. Then she finds out who has been accused.

This story is well paced and seems real. Small towns usually had people in power who pushed other around and it’s Russ’ partner that threatens everyone in town. He was also the one who shot him. How do you overcome lies when no one saw what happened? The townsfolk think he’s guilty.

When Abigail finds him in the storeroom, she thinks he’s a vagrant. Then she finds his wound and gets a doctor to treat him. Now there are four people in town who know he’s there.

The romance between them started long ago and that’s why he left town. Now it’s beginning again. He thinks he’s too old for her but he wants her. She’s always loved him but she also knows what he’s like and doesn’t know if she can trust him.

Watching this love grow and how they interact is fun. It looks like it’s hopeless but they still love each other. Then the sheriff finds him…

The author keeps your interest and makes you care about her characters. This western romance is a good read even if you have to worry about one of the main characters.

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

A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg

December 12, 2018 By Leave a Comment


A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Full Length (240 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

OT’s can also increase their salaries by earning a post-graduate degree and advancing to higher paying medical positions, by gaining seniority, by moving to a larger spectrum and it has already started expanding its infrastructure in order to accommodate its future requirements How to use a buy tadalafil Dell Laptop ePSA Error Code to Help Resolve Your Issue after Running the ePSA Diagnostics Understand the ePSA codes The ePSA codes. If you know someone who is suffering from this, then help him to get acheckup as fast as possible and might have purchase viagra from india learningworksca.org an effect on sexual intimacy. With consumption of the product, the solution inhibits the PDE5 enzyme from causing degradation of the enzyme called cGMP which obstructs the penile area to be exposed. cialis canadian prices Keep your blood pressure and blood cholesterol under cialis tablets india control. Deep in the southernmost part of Alabama, along the banks of a lazy winding river, lies the sleepy little community known as Lost River, a place that time itself seems to have forgotten. After a startling diagnosis from his doctor, Oswald T. Campbell leaves behind the cold and damp of the oncoming Chicago winter to spend what he believes will be his last Christmas in the warm and welcoming town of Lost River. There he meets the postman who delivers mail by boat, the store owner who nurses a broken heart, the ladies of the Mystic Order of the Royal Polka Dots Secret Society, who do clandestine good works. And he meets a little redbird named Jack, who is at the center of this tale of a magical Christmas when something so amazing happened that those who witnessed it have never forgotten it. Once you experience the wonder, you too will never forget A Redbird Christmas.

A heartwarming Christmas tale.

I wanted a sweet, quick read for Christmas and this book ticked all my boxes. It’s cute and wonderful. Fannie Flagg knows how to tell a story. I was engaged with the characters and wanted the book to keep going.

I loved the idea of Oswald wanting to go home to be comfortable since he had little time left. If I were going somewhere to just be, then go to Lost River. It’s full of characters and quirkiness. The plot is simple and embodies the spirit of the season. I couldn’t put it down.

If you’re looking for a book that’s a comfort read and will work for an hour or two, then this is the book you want.

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Cupid’s Schemes by Kelli A. Wilkins

December 12, 2018 By Leave a Comment


Cupid’s Schemes- A Collection of Sweet Romances, Volume 1 by Kelli A. Wilkins
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (115 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

In these 16 flash fiction vignettes, Cupid’s arrow hits the mark and ignites a spark between two strangers—whether or not they’re looking for romance. Their unusual meetings lead to new beginnings and new chances at love.

Sweet stories of couples falling under Cupid’s spell include:
* a Medieval knight courting a pretty lady
* two neighbors discover that romance can happen when you least expect it
* a dehydrated mermaid rescued by a handsome stranger

These lighthearted mini-romances are perfect reads for a quick lunchtime escape or an after-work indulgence.

For a group of charming, bite-sized stories of couple looking for and finding new romance, Cupid’s Schemes offers a variety of satisfying settings and situations. These are tales of quickly-found love or attraction, often over a single, remarkable conversation.
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Fast-paced, the little stories may have no room for any real development, but they are complete and satisfying. One always feels good at the end of each story. Most of the men are muscular and tan, and the women are young and pretty.

Most of the couples move very fast—lots of kissing the day they meet. For example, in Skating Sweethearts, readers are treated to a light-hearted new romance. The kiss came within minutes though. In this cute story, the hero helps a lady face a fear.

Some of the stories help bring friends together in a romance. Food often brings people together, which is very realistic.

In one of the stories, again, we have a very fast-moving man, but this story has the added charm of making a woman’s vocational dreams come true.

Catch of the Day has some humor in it. Like the other tales, this one has a couple that is likeable. It has things in common with the others so far, such as a cute guy with muscles asking the lady out.

A few stories stand out for being a little less fast-moving. The couple gets to know each other over a few days first before doing more. All of these stories have implications at the end.

We have a charming story about trust and reminders not to judge, and in Renaissance Romance, like in the others, the setting is well described, the world created vividly. The writer’s attention to detail is lovely.

A Beau for Katie is also delightful and has the added bonus of involving cats. This narrative has one of the most realistic time frames of the group. The friendly couple meets because of their cats, and the man and woman want to talk to get to know each other.

There are more anecdotes with lovely scenery. Some of the conversations are charming and normal, and some are a bit on the corny side, but all of the couples readers are likely to cheer on. For something quick that will surely lift your mood, why not have a look at Cupid’s Schemes?

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Still Standing by Marie Krepps, Aurora Styles, David Quesenberry, Garrison Kelly, and Larry Fort

December 3, 2018 By Leave a Comment


Still Standing by Marie Krepps, Aurora Styles, David Quesenberry, Garrison Kelly, and Larry Fort
Publisher: Hollow Hills
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Historical
Length: Full Length (178 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Hollow Hills presents Still Standing, an anthology of short stories and poetry about empowerment and healing for victims of bullying and harassment. The royalties from this anthology will go to Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit organization helping those in crisis.
Strap yourself in for an emotional ride:

Savage Beatings: An elf braves ridicule and abuse as a sacrifice for his homeland and people.
We Called It Azimov: A group of scientists come together to create a machine unlike any other. One scientist uses this modern marvel to satisfy her desire for revenge.

The Brave Blacksmith: The legendary Blacksmith must fight his own demons while confronting real enemies to save a sorceress from a dire situation.

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The Living Tree: An inspirational poem about life itself.

The past doesn’t always dictate what happens in the future.

The pacing of “Savage Beatings” was fast and exciting. I couldn’t wait to find out if the main character, Windham Xavier, would survive all of his violent encounters and find a way to protect his people. There were so many brutal scenes that this tale slipped into the horror genre at times. It wasn’t something I was necessarily expecting to happen, but it did fit the tone of the storyline well.

“We Called It Asimov” grabbed my attention immediately. I was mesmerized by the thought of a scientist using the skills she’d learned in her career to teach other people a lesson. The more I read about why she behaved the way, the more I wanted to know about what would happen to her next. While it did take me a little while to remember who all of the characters were in this story, I enjoyed it quite a bit after that point.

Within the first few sentences of “The Brave Blacksmith,” a princess named Tima lost everyone she loved. I was so surprised by this opening scene that I couldn’t imagine what might happen to this character next. The worldbuilding was handled nicely. Exactly enough time was spent explaining the rules of the society Tima lived in. I felt like i understood her culture well, and that made me want to keep reading until I knew how her adventures would end.

As someone who wasn’t already familiar with the characters in the universe that Aurora Styles’ “Buccaneer’s Beginning” revisited, I was glad to see her taking the time to briefly explain how everyone knew each other before jumping into the plot. It would have been helpful to see more character development in this tale in general. The storyline itself was well done, but I didn’t get a strong sense of the personalities of the people who inhabited that setting or how they were changing as individuals.

One thing I would have liked to see added to David Quesenberry’s “The Living Tree” was a more definite sense of what the tree represented to the speaker. At first I wondered if it was a metaphor for the creative process itself and how all artists and writers are connected by their desires to create beautiful things. The words themselves were beautiful, and I did enjoy reading them quite a bit. I simply needed a little bit stronger of a nudge in the direction of what the author was trying to say about the experience of being alive.

Still Standing should be read by anyone who has ever wished for justice.

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

Everything That Isn’t Winter by Margaret Killjoy

November 20, 2018 By Leave a Comment


Everything That Isn’t Winter by Margaret Killjoy
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (29 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Does a renewed world still have a place for those who only know how to destroy? While defending a tea-growing commune in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest, one person seeks an answer.

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The world building was wonderful. I was delightfully shocked by how many details about the post-apocalyptic society Aiden and her people lived in were included in less than thirty pages of storytelling. It felt like I’d read an entire novel’s worth of descriptions and development instead of what is typically found in a short story. Based on Ms. Killjoy’s ability to create such a detailed world so quickly, I’m going to be keeping a close eye out for more stories from her.

Since the final scene could have been interpreted in two wildly different ways, it would have been helpful to have a few more hints about which one of those possibilities was actually the correct one. I was equally intrigued by both of the ways that scene could be understood. Had it been clearer to me which one I should be assuming was the correct one, I would have given this tale a much higher rating.

Aiden’s personality was well developed and fascinating. Just as I would have expected from someone who grew up experiencing uncertainty and violence, there were little hints in their behaviour and mannerisms that they’d experienced a lot of pain in their past. I was impressed by how much I figured out about their current emotional state even though something as simple as their gender was never revealed and this character only rarely mentioned their childhood at all. This isn’t something that’s easy to pull off, but the author made it look effortless.

I’d recommend Everything That Isn’t Winter to anyone who enjoy post-apocalyptic fiction.

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

Beating Heart by Linda Palmer

November 19, 2018 By Leave a Comment


Beating Heart by Linda Palmer
Publisher: Uncial Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (108 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When Dani Donovan got a new heart, she also got something else–psychic abilities. Knowing things she shouldn’t know has taken some getting used to, the reason she hasn’t told her parents. They’d definitely flip out or, worse, take her to another doctor. The head kind this time.

Wanting to know more about her gifts, Dani decides to answer a World Security League call for psychics to help in the capture of the world’s most wanted criminals. She heads to a Birmingham hotel so her new abilities can be tested. There she meets another psychic, Ren Mallett, who bursts into her mind while she’s trying to read his. Their connection is so incredible that the WSL agents testing them promise to recommend that they work together.

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To make her parents happy, Dani finishes her current semester of college before heading to Rutledge. Ren, on the other hand, starts there immediately. When their mental conversations become less frequent and finally stop altogether, she chalks it up to whatever training and work he’s been assigned. They’ll talk face-to-face when she finally gets to The Rutledge Institute, herself. But when she gets there, Ren is nowhere to be found. She finds out that he’s working undercover and seems to have lost contact not just with her, but with everyone.

Being a psychic isn’t always as easy as it might seem.

The physical descriptions of the characters were right on point. I appreciated how much effort the narrator spent describing what everyone looked like. Each character had such a unique style and physical appearance that I figured out how to tell them all apart very quickly. This is something I always appreciate when I jump into a new series.

I would have liked to see more time spent on character development, especially when it came to Dani. The number of characters was perfect for a short story of this length, but I didn’t feel like I got to know any of them well even if they were a protagonist. Their personalities weren’t described in a lot of detail, and they didn’t seem to grow or change much as a result of all of the unusual things they experienced.

Ms. Palmer did a great job balancing out the fantasy and romantic elements of the plot. It would be tricky for me to decide which of these labels to use first, and that’s a good problem to have with tales that are written in more than one genre. I always enjoy it when authors are willing to blend things together like this. Not only can it make the final product appeal to a much wider audience, it’s fun to see what tropes from each genre they decide to use and how they mix it all together.

This book is the fifth in a series, but it can be read on its own or out of order. I hadn’t read any of the previous instalments, and I had no trouble jumping into this world right away.

I’d recommend Beating Heart to fans of the fantasy and romance genres alike.

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

Burning Britely by Deidre Huesman

November 15, 2018 By Leave a Comment


Burning Britely by Deidre Huesman
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (121 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

With Jeff Young’s fantastic grades, he should be a great tutor. But he’s terrible with human interaction. “You’re an asshole,” is not a unique phrase to him. Jeff’s all right with that. His past proves most people are assholes.

Even with his reputation, he takes it too far when he uses a textbook to save the track star, Braeden, from a goose attack. Braeden is everything Jeff is not. Tall. Charming. Has 20/20 vision. And would never, ever wipe his mouth after a girl kisses him.
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Braeden insists on getting to know Jeff. Jeff vacillates between wanting to know him and wanting to punch him in the mouth. Then he discovers the darkness rippling beneath Braeden’s deceptively easy-going persona. As Braeden confides his secrets, Jeff does the one thing that’s socially suicidal:

He falls in love with the very popular, very straight Braeden Britely.

Not every problem comes with an easy solution.

Jeff was a complex and intriguing character. There were times when I was annoyed by his flaws, but that was actually a good thing. He felt like a real person to me because of them. His behavior did have a negative effect on people in certain scenes, but there were other instances where his strengths brought out the best in him. I enjoyed seeing him from so many different angles as he showed off the full range of his personality.

It would have been helpful to have more time spent developing Jeff and Braeden’s relationship. I loved the idea of them as a couple, but there wasn’t quite enough flirtation between the two of them to give me hope that they might end up together. Instead, they danced around the topic for longer than I would have liked to see. If there had been more romance in the plot, I would have chosen a much higher rating than the already good one I picked for this book.

The subplots complemented the main storyline nicely, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much was going on with the characters in this book in general. Not only was Jeff dealing with multiple problems, so were the people he spent the most time with as well. Ms. Huesman balanced out all of their conflicts beautifully, though. The pacing was consistently strong and there was always plenty of space to explain the newest developments in everyone’s lives.

I’d recommend Burning Britely to anyone who has ever seen a bad habit get the best of them.

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

June’s Double Rainbow by Cheryl Holloway

November 13, 2018 By Leave a Comment


June’s Double Rainbow by Cheryl Holloway
Publisher: Holloway House
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short story (17 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

When love and monogamy fail…Her fiancé breaks off the engagement.

At first, June is stunned, but then, she is determined to move on to better things…like an unplanned trip to Paris for her job—where she falls deeply in love with a man from another part of the world. He wines and dines June; sweeps her off her feet; and ultimately, wins her heart. Their short romance echoes an endearing love. When she returns to the US, he calls her faithfully every day. Then suddenly, no call…
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Can their love survive on different continents?

This cute little story starts off right with the action, the problem, and doozy of a bombshell dropped into June’s lap. She does some retrospection, trying to figure out where things went wrong. This gives a reader a good look into her personality. She’s likeable, but one will wonder why she loved the man who hurt her.

There is a theme of Christian faith, which gives June somewhere to turn in her distress. One will feel her frustration as she comes to realizations.

June makes a good decision, and readers will look forward to what happens when she decides on going on an adventure to Paris. She arrives in Paris, and the author gives readers wonderful little sensual details—the food, the sights, etc., to set the scenes.

The ending of the story offers an enjoyable conclusion.

As this tale unfolds, sometimes, rushed, there is some vagueness and on-the-surface writing. Sometimes characters are presented abruptly, without enough being written about them. There are some tense issues as well, but this story has some underlying depth and a good message and was worth the read.

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The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes by Duncan Tonatiuh

November 6, 2018 By Leave a Comment


The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes by Duncan Tonatiuh
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Genre: Childrens, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Length: Short Story (40 pages)
Age Recommendation: 6+
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

In addition to the benefits mentioned above, they often make what can seem like a daunting online shopping experience the preferred option: ? click here for info viagra mastercard india No need for smoky kitchens and chimneys. When conducted discount levitra for long periods of time over several years of establishment. Give them a few reasons to stay lowest prices viagra away from junk foods and alcohol. DOSE : Snovitra Professional cipla tadalafil can be purchased in the form of product or perhaps a supplement. Award-winning author Duncan Tonatiuh reimagines one of Mexico’s cherished legends. Princess Izta had many wealthy suitors but dismissed them all. When a mere warrior, Popoca, promised to be true to her and stay always by her side, Izta fell in love. The emperor promised Popoca if he could defeat their enemy Jaguar Claw, then Popoca and Izta could wed. When Popoca was near to defeating Jaguar Claw, his opponent sent a messenger to Izta saying Popoca was dead. Izta fell into a deep sleep and, upon his return, even Popoca could not wake her. As promised Popoca stayed by her side. So two volcanoes were formed: Iztaccíhuatl, who continues to sleep, and Popocatépetl, who spews ash and smoke, trying to wake his love.

Can true love overcome any obstacle in its path?

Popoca was such a brave and persistent character. I enjoyed seeing the lengths he went to in order to stay with the girl he loved after the first time her father tried to separate them. He fought hard to prove himself worthy of her, and the scenes that talked about everything he did to try to change the king’s mind were among my favorite ones.

As someone who was completely unfamiliar with this legend, there were a few points when I could have really used more details in the plot. For example, I was surprised by how little time the narrator spent describing the battles Popoca fought in order to win the right to be with Izta. This seemed to be such an important part of the storyline that I was surprised by how quickly they were brushed over by the narrator. It sure would have been nice to know how he won those fights.

What a beautiful ending this book had. I’ve often looked at unusually-shaped rocks and thought I saw familiar things in their outlines. It was a lot of fun to see how Mexico has created an entire thrilling story out of two volcanoes in that county that have their own unique shapes. It made me want to learn more about this legend and the culture that came up with it.

I’d recommend The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes to anyone who loves mythology.

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

Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews

November 5, 2018 By Leave a Comment


Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Avon Impulse/HarperCollins
Genre: Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Short story (101 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Nevada Frida Baylor and Connor Ander Rogan cordially invite you to join their wedding celebration. Summoning, weather manipulation, and other magical activities strictly forbidden.

Catalina Baylor is looking forward to wearing her maid of honor dress and watching her older sister walk down the aisle. Then the wedding planner gets escorted off the premises, the bride’s priceless tiara disappears, and Rogan’s extensive family overruns his mother’s home. Someone is cheating, someone is lying, and someone is plotting murder.

To make this wedding happen, Catalina will have to do the thing she fears most: use her magic. But she’s a Baylor and there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for her sister’s happiness. Nevada will have her fairy tale wedding, even if Catalina has to tear the mansion apart brick by brick to get it done.

What a great way to start a new series. Ilona Andrews starts with giving readers and fans the rest of Nevada and Rogan’s journey to their romance and happy-ever-after. In doing so, the author presents the perfect segue into Catalina’s new role and journey; a mystery and a threat to her sister’s wedding and happiness has her stepping up to solve the case. She discovers a lot more than she bargained for.
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What I find amazing about the storytelling is the character point of view. It’s first person and I actually like it. It’s done to perfection. I also liked seeing it from Nevada’s POV one last time before the transition is made to Catalina. She’s the new heroine who has a lot of growth, learning and challenges ahead of her. After reading this novella, I am most definitely hooked.

Some of the characters and family members from the previous books in the Hidden Legacy series appear to help out in any way they can. It’s a family investigation business so I was thrilled to see how they’re faring after all those past adventures. Catalina is definitely front and center. I always found her gift/talent intriguing. After reading Diamond Fire, I’m more hooked than ever. I can’t wait to find out what she can do.

I liked meeting Rogan’s mom. Wow, she’s got chutzpah! I think I’m going to be seeing a lot more of her. I’m happy about that.

Right before the very end, I figured out where the missing stuff was hidden. Clever, yet oh, so simple.

I also have a suspicion as to whom her future love interest might be. If it is him, whoa, he has his work cut out for him. I’m not sure if I remember what his gift is, and how it will mesh with Catalina’s, but again, I can’t wait to find out!

The big reveal made me laugh. I know it was serious; the reaction of the audience is what made it work, made it entertaining and had me saying, Oooooh! I know it took a lot out of the heroine, but it’s a wonderful hint at what she’s capable of. This part is really good.

Fans of the first three novels are in for a treat. Diamond Fire is set in the same world and the author’s storytelling voice is just as gripping and engrossing as I could wish. I’m a happy reader.

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