Tequila Dirty by Mickey J. Corrigan

March 25, 2015 By Leave a Comment

 

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Tequila Dirty by Mickey J. Corrigan
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery, Action/Adventure
Length: Short Story (72 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Something bad has happened (again) in Dusky Beach. And Rita Deltone, a tough talking waitress from Lemon Run, Florida, is smack in the middle of it. She knows all too well the dirt road she took to get down so low, but she takes the long way ’round in the telling.

Liam Donell is the new detective in town. His partner is on vacation so he has to handle all the dirty work. But this Rita chick is pretty cute. He’s not making the best decisions regarding the case. Soon enough, it turns ugly.

An unlikely couple, Rita and Liam try to make the best of a bad situation. With hot, hilarious, and surprising results.

Tequila Dirty opens up with Rita Deltone being questioned by Detective Liam Donell concerning the murder of two men. Rita is in the hospital with a gash on her head that required several stitches. Will Rita be able to help the detective solve this case?

The plot is interesting along with the author’s writing style a reader can’t help but be drawn in. Rita seems like a character that trouble seems to find and the kind of person that has an interesting life. I like the set-up of how the story is told from Rita and then later from Detective Donell. Rita’s story is one almost of humor in the way that she tells it, it almost makes you forget about the seriousness of the two murders. I felt sorry for Detective Donell, because seeing Rita at her worst he was taken by her, which leads him to not follow job protocol that could have very well opened up a can of worms that he isn’t quite able to deal with.

I’m thinking the sentencing style is along the lines of how Rita and Detective Donell would actually talk, but after so many choppy sentences it came to be a nuisance. To read. Like the editor missed checking a few sentences. That could have read smoother if they were in the proper format.

Tequila Dirty is a quick read that has a nice unpredictable twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. Though the story was short the author did a good job in building the characters and having a developed and complete plot.

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

Outlaw in Love by Tanya Hanson

March 19, 2015 By Leave a Comment

OUTLAW
Outlaw in Love by Tanya Hanson
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical
Length: Short Story (141 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

On the run from his gang, having robbed his own sister, outlaw Ahab Perkins has no place to go but …good. He’d give his heart in a single beat to the woman he all but kidnapped…if only the beautiful lady in gray wasn’t a nun.

Hiding out in disguise at a rundown mission, Teresa Avila is as wanted as Ahab. Her past crimes and her evil stepfather’s abuse have her thinking she’s not good enough for any man. Giving her heart to Ahab Perkins would be far worse than spending her life pretending to be a nun—wouldn’t it?

But there’s more to this hardened outlaw than meets the eye. A burned-out homestead, a kindly sheriff, and an abandoned little girl bring out his tender side, and Teresa finds it harder and harder not to reveal her true identity.

Ahab is trying to do the right thing for a change. He just didn’t realize how hard that would be…

Ahab is an outlaw, specializing in horse thieving. He loves horses and they know they can trust him. He’s not so good with humans but after his childhood, that’s understandable. Right now, he’s been told that the woman who nursed him back to wellness after a gunshot is having his child. He can’t remember having sex with her, but he was drugged up. It might have happened. And he wasn’t going to run out on his own child! First, though he has to find his sister and get his mother’s pearls to pawn them for money for the baby.

Ms. Hanson writes a simple story about a man who got off on the wrong foot with life. Due to an abusive father and a need to provide for his sister, he did what he could to get by. She pairs him with a nun who is willing to help him find his sister and make amends for what she thought had happened to her. Sister Teresa, though has some secrets of her own.

This is a tale of a mix of good and bad and how love reconciles things. I felt like the romances were too rushed to be real. Just a few days together and everybody is in love. Under high stress situations it can happen, but it seemed just a bit too neat to me.

The author’s writing style is smooth and easy to read. She adds enough excitement to keep your attention. The story was good, I enjoyed the banter between cowboy and nun and it made my heart soften to see them take in a little girl who survived a tragedy. Overall it was good western with two unusual heroes.

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

The Harvest Club by Iona Morrison

March 12, 2015 By Leave a Comment

CLUB
The Harvest Club by Iona Morrison
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (323 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Jessie Reynolds has no idea when she moves to Blue Cove, that she will be sharing her life with a ghost. A young pastor has been murdered, and Jessie finds herself following the trail of that death into the dark and deadly world of organ trafficking.

Jessie is soon introduced to the detective in charge of the case. Matt Parker is a tall, scruffy, ruggedly handsome man who takes an instant dislike to her and the feeling is mutual. He wants her out of his case and she finds herself entangled in it. The tension between them mounts and so does the attraction.

Blue Cove isn’t quite the tranquil escape Jessie is hoping for.

Jessie is a successful and well liked reporter in New York, but city life isn’t for her. When an opportunity to move to Blue Cove presents itself, Jessie takes it. I could practically see the stress melting off of Jessie as she drove to Blue Cove and made her dreams of living in a town by the sea a reality. From the moment Jessie arrives in Blue Cove, it becomes clear that it is not as peaceful as it seems. Something sinister is happening in Blue Cove, and Jessie has landed right in the middle of it. Can Jessie use her investigative skills to solve the mystery before she becomes the next target?

I really felt sorry for Jessie. She was looking for a more relaxing lifestyle when she moved to Blue Cove and all she found was trouble. Fortunately, Jessie is a tough woman. Whether it is a ghost seeking justice or a hired thug, Jessie takes everything thrown at her in stride and always remains focused on her mission of discovering the truth. While it is very easy to like Jessie, I do think she is too perfect. Literally everyone in town likes her, except the villains she was attempting to unmask. I understand that some people have magnetic personalities, but I think Jessie would have seemed more real to me if she would have had more flaws.

Jessie’s only flaw seems to be her desire to control everything in her life. Romance wasn’t something she was looking for, and certainly not with Matt, a bossy detective. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of Matt and Jessie’s relationship, or lack thereof. They truly seem to get on each other’s nerves and most of their exchanges end in arguments. In private, they both profess to find the other attractive, but it takes a while for this to become evident in their actions. Even though I would have liked to see more tender interactions between them, I still enjoyed watching them slowly grow into a good couple.

The suspense regarding how and when Jessie and Matt put all the clues together was very well done. Ms. Morrison did an excellent job of revealing the puzzle piece by piece through Jessie’s investigative work. Though Jessie and Matt are both very smart, they almost didn’t solve the mystery before it was too late. I had some suspicions regarding one of the last hidden members of The Harvest Club, but I can honestly say I wasn’t completely sure until the very end.

Overall, I enjoyed reading The Harvest Club. The pacing is well done, and Jessie is a smart and sweet heroine. I recommend it to anyone looking for a mystery that alternates effortlessly between being chilling and heartwarming.

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

The House by Lara Parker

March 9, 2015 By Leave a Comment

HOUSE
The House by Lara Parker
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Genre: Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (44 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Thornapple

Hauntings in the Garden

Unexpectedly, Leslie Harrison inherits a sprawling horse farm in Florida from a distant relative. She packs up her life and relocates to the Sunshine State with no idea what awaits her. Upon her arrival, she meets the farm manager, Preston McClay and, to her chagrin, he isn’t happy to see her. Quickly the cantankerous, but rather good looking, farm manager becomes the least of her worries when things start to go bump in the night. Will the sinister activity in the house chase Leslie away, or will she prevail in the struggle between good and evil?

This is a good old fashioned haunted house story written by the actress best known for her role as Angelique on the wildly popular Dark Shadows serial in the early 1970’s.

When Leslie inherits a house from her Aunt Victoria, she was stunned. Even more so when she sees the estate. This is a new beginning for Leslie and she is ready to get started. Things get off to a rocky start when a horse handler named Preston takes an instant dislike to her . But, that’s nothing compared to the reaction the house has to Leslie. However, Leslie refuses to give up on her new life without a fight.

This story would be the perfect tale to share around the campfire or on Halloween. Classic haunted house elements like footsteps, doors that won’t open, and cold spots abound, but this is not the usual benign spirit, this is an evil entity and Leslie will need help to rid her home of it.. if she survives. Thankfully, Preston gets over his initial impressions of Leslie and the two find they are a good team.

If you like a classic haunted house tale with chills and thrills and a mild romantic element, then this is the book for you!

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Lethal Dose of Love by Cindy Davis

February 20, 2015 By Leave a Comment

LOVE
Lethal Dose of Love by Cindy Davis
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (389 Pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Payton Winters thinks she’s leaving her skeletons behind when she starts a new life in Sackets Harbor, NY. But starting over isn’t as easy as changing hometowns. An errant word or action can spawn gossip and trouble. Big trouble. In Sackets Harbor, that trouble comes in the form of the handsome Sean Adams. With Sean around, no secret is safe. When he dies, no one is surprised. Neither does anyone mourn.

The surprise is that Sean was poisoned with monkshood. And the only place in town to buy it is Payton’s new exotic plant shop. Can Payton clear her name before she is handed an orange jumpsuit? She looks awful in orange.

Claire Bastian has a secret, a secret which torments her as she watches Sean Adams destroying the dreams and hopes of the small community of Sackets Harbor, NY. Finally, after nearly a year of planning, she decides to take action. She feels responsible for Sean because he is her son, given up for adoption at birth. When he grows up to be so evil, Claire feels horrible guilt, as if it were all her fault.

The first part of Lethal Dose of Love is told from Claire’s point of view and I watched as she plans and carries out her deadly scheme. But did she succeed? So many residents of Sackets Harbor want him dead and when he does die, it is on his boat during a race, his fellow sailor dying also. Suspicion falls on everyone whom Sean had wronged, especially the women since he was poisoned.

Payton Winters is still grieving for her husband, who was murdered in a home burglary. She moved to Sackets Harbor in an effort to heal, but now this murder has brought back all her memories of her beloved husband’s murder, a murder which was never solved. On top of that, the plant used to poison Sean came from her new exotic plant shop. Payton can’t face the memories from her past, but she finds some healing energy from trying to solve Sean’s murder, little realizing that she herself could become the next victim.

The characters are well defined and very believable. The small town of Sackets Harbor seems real as well, with the quirks expected from such a community. My only complaint with this novel is that it could have used another round of editing, with special attention paid to the use of pronouns. Sentences such as “she’d come to patch things up between she and Helen” are very jarring and pulled me out of the story. Thankfully, there were not many of these, but some editing would help.

The plot moves well, and there are a number of excellent action scenes. I didn’t figure out the murderer until the very end. Those who love cozy mysteries will certainly enjoy trying to figure out who gave Sean his just desserts.

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

Don’t Let Go by Nona Raines

February 13, 2015 By 1 Comment

DONT
Don’t Let Go by Nona Raines
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (81 Pages)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Willow

Annalee wants a no-strings fling. Eric’s all about the strings.

Twelve years ago, when Eric Sorenson’s date dumped him right before the Senior Prom, his older sister’s best friend stepped in to save him from total humiliation. He never forgot Annalee or what she did for him that night…or the kiss they shared. He wants Annalee, and if he has his way, they’ll take up where they left off. And this time, he won’t let go.

After a messy divorce, Annalee’s not looking forward to her high school reunion. She’s shocked when Eric appears at her door ready to return the favor and play escort. Gone is the inexperienced boy with a severe stutter—he’s a striking, confident man. The memory of the kiss they shared rekindles an attraction that never died, and she’s been on her own for a year. Isn’t she entitled to kick loose and have a let’s-go-crazy night?

I really wish that Don’t Let Go was longer, I would of loved to keep reading about Annalee’s life.

Annalee has put on a brave face after her messy divorce, so much so that even she thinks she is fine. When her best friends younger brother Eric comes back in to town, Annalee starts to think of ways that can help her move on – for real this time.

This was a good second chance love story. It’s all about right timing and finally being ready to put a little faith into the opposite sex – not all guys can be as bad as her slime-ball of an ex-husband…right?

Annalee and Eric’s story was really sweet. What she did for him at his senior prom when he was a geeking high school kid with a shutter really seemed like something right out of a fairytale.

The author’s writing style is brilliant, I absolutely loved the characters and their back stories. Ms Raines fit so much in to this book and I couldn’t put it down once it hooked me.

Don’t Let Go is a fun and quick read that I enjoyed immensely. This fabulous novella is a cute read with a great romance that I just couldn’t get enough of.

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A Woman of Honour by Marlow Kelly

February 12, 2015 By Leave a Comment

OMAN
A Woman of Honour by Marlow Kelly
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (68 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Duncan Campbell wakes to discover he is imprisoned with a woman in his enemy’s dungeon in the Highlands of Scotland. The disenchanted warrior hopes his last few moments on earth will be spent in the arms of the sweet-voiced Isabel. If only she will cooperate.

Isabel Douglas has no intention of obliging the crude captive. The penniless noblewoman considers herself too tall and thin to be desirable. She intends to become a nun. But first, disguised as a boy, she must deliver an important letter to Scotland’s hero in hiding, King Robert the Bruce.

Together, the pair make a daring escape that plunges them into the bleak countryside in the middle of winter. In the struggle to survive, they learn the true strength of their feelings for each other. But when Duncan’s animosity towards the king becomes evident, Isabel must decide between her heart and her country.

Can Duncan convince Isabel to give love another chance?

Isabel and Duncan meet under some very unusual circumstances and their first encounter is less than pleasant. Despite all that, they share some undeniable chemistry. In the pitch black dungeon, I began to see the first sparks of attraction flare between them. Even after they manage to escape their captors, the odds are definitely against Isabel and Duncan. I couldn’t help but wonder if they would survive long enough for their mutual attraction to grow into something more.

I really enjoyed getting to know Isabel. Even though this is a short story, I was able to get a good sense of what kind of woman Isabel is. She is strong, smart, and loyal. Her self esteem needs a bit of a boost. She’s never considered herself attractive, so Duncan’s attentions catch her off guard. She wants to believe she can have a future with him, but she has some serious doubts. Despite her self esteem issues, Isabel is definitely not a damsel in distress. She manages to survive in unbelievably harsh situations determined to fight until her last breath. On top of all that, she can more than hold her own when faced with a strong man like Duncan. It is easy to admire and cheer for such a strong woman.

Isabel and Duncan definitely have an instantaneous connection, and I must admit I’m usually a little skeptical concerning love at first sight. However, the chemistry Ms. Kelly created between Isabel and Duncan is so well done, and the circumstances these characters find themselves in are so extreme that I was easily able to suspend my disbelief and believe their romance was genuine. The intensity of Isabel and Duncan’s feelings fit the fast pace of the story perfectly.

A Woman of Honour is thoroughly entertaining. Isabel and Duncan’s story is compelling and almost impossible to put down once started. I recommend it to anyone looking for an intense, fast paced historical romance.

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

Making Room at the Inn by Misty Simon

February 9, 2015 By Leave a Comment

ROOM
Making Room at the Inn by Misty Simon
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (256 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Hawthorn

Single mom Chelsea Moore may not have had a happy marriage herself, but she’s bound and determined to pull off the wedding of the year for her sister. It should be a piece of cake as long as she can keep her mother from trying to hook her up with every eligible guy in the county.
Jack Barton has no qualms about hosting his sister’s best friend for the final week before the wedding, along with said best friend’s adorable daughter. But when Chelsea asks him to be a shield against the impending bachelor parade, he doesn’t think it through before agreeing. That’s when he finds out how little it feels like pretend and how much he wants to make room for these two wonderful females in his life and at his inn.

Making Room at the Inn is a quick and cute read with an expected sweet ending.

Misty Simon does a good job at describing the internal conflict of the protagonist, Chelsea. Although she finds herself suddenly falling for her childhood friend, she has responsibilities she can’t forget about, particularly her four-year-old daughter and a job where she’s just been promised a promotion.

Jack, on the other hand, is desperately trying to not get involved with Chelsea because she is his sister’s best friend. But he’s been harboring fantasies about Chelsea since his teens and she’s grown into a wonderful woman he can’t seem to resist. Jack was actually my favorite character because, unlike Chelsea, he knew what he wanted and he tried his best to get it.

Although Chelsea’s indecision and some unnecessary and lengthy descriptions slow the plot down, the story is still enough emotionally intense to keep the reader’s interest. Since this story has been done countless times before, the reader can trust that the tension between Chelsea and Jack will be resolved and will eventually bring about a sweet ending.

Belinda, the bridezilla, and Chelsea’s daughter Mazzy brought some nice comic relief to the story and livened up the pace.

Making Room at the Inn is a quick chick lit read with warm characters and a happy resolution.

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Dragon Warrior by Diana Green

February 5, 2015 By 1 Comment

WARRIOR
Dragon Warrior by Diana Green
Dragon Clan #2
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (145 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Sorrel

Harith is a dragon-shifter with something to prove. As the son of a clan chieftain, he has an impressive family legacy to live up to and a driving need to make his father proud. When this leads to a rash confrontation with monstrous enemies, his life will be changed forever.

Nyssa seems to be nothing more than an ordinary peasant woman, but appearances can be deceiving. In truth, she is a fugitive, hiding from a barbaric clan of dragon-shifters who live in the northern wastes. Can she maintain her disguise, and if not, will her clansmen come to claim their own?

Harith and Nyssa cross paths in the winter forest. From the start, a fire is kindled between them, but their way is not clear. She lives with the constant fear of discovery, and he is betrothed to another. Can their love win through these obstacles, and what if the northern dragons attack? Will Harith be able to protect his home and loved ones?

“Her fiery red curls would be a warning flag to any potential game.”

Harith, while following a couple of trolkin, meets his mate and is introduced to his mate’s barbaric clan. It’s simple but not so simple.

The whole story was weaved with extreme care and attention because it portrayed Harith as the star. It was written so that this reader, who had never read the first book, didn’t at any point think that this might be a series. It didn’t feel like I was missing out on information that was important or necessary but missing because it had been revealed in a previous book.

The characters had their own personalities and was easily defined and showed in every facet of the individuals without straying too far off topic. If I had to, I could go on and explain every character in detail. For me, that is a huge achievement because it doesn’t happen in a lot of books I’ve read.

Harith is a powerful dragon who adores his siblings and hopes to make his father proud. But he is arranged to wed a princess who is a long way away from being anything near what he wants in a mate.

Nyssa is a dragon with a secret. Hiding in a human village was out of necessity. But after she meets Harith she is glad that she had to. Nyssa is a fiery haired dragon with immense strength, passion and will to protect that rivals any warrior.

The plot and story pulled me in with every word and painted a clear picture of every scene. I can’t say I finished it in a single sitting but only because it was because I didn’t want it to end. I tried to prolong the action as long as I could but my curiosity couldn’t be denied.

Dragon Warrior was descriptive and evoked some serious emotions out of me. I was right there with every emotion that the characters experienced.

I hated to see this one end and I’m sure any reader with a love for dragons would love this series, too.

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

A Case for Calamity by Mackenzie Crowne

February 4, 2015 By Leave a Comment

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A Case for Calamity by Mackenzie Crowne
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Short Story (94 pgs)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Sorrel

For Jane Whitmore, agreeing to switch identities with her best friend seems like innocent fun, but spending a romantic night in Paris with a man who doesn’t know her real name turns out to be a lark gone bad. When their one night of passion proves to have lasting results, tracking down Gabe Sutton and telling him he’s about to be the father of her child is just another calamity Jane would rather avoid.

After years of avoiding long-term romantic entanglements, Gabe has found a woman he might just be able to build a life with, only to have her disappear. When he finally finds her, his belief in happily-ever-after staggers under the weight of deception, and looming fatherhood leaves him with two choices: fight her for custody of his future child or cling to the promise of true love.

Calamity Jane gets a Happily Ever After.

Jane agrees to go in her best friend Shae’s stead to meet Gabe when the best friend’s father tries to set her up again. Jane never thought that one meeting would change her life so much.

Jane Whitmore is a woman with family and money problems. While Gabe is a six foot cowboy who built his own charter air service. Their relationship gets built on deception and becomes hectic when unexpected news develops.

I loved the whole plot and how it started at first. But the climax was somehow a little disappointing for me. The relationship and instant passion between Gabe and Jane got me through the start but I expected it to continue to grow and develop but it never really happened.

That said the characters were likeable and attractive (not only in the physical sense). I would have loved to see more interaction between Jane and her friends. It would also have been great if there were more scenes that showed the reasons for her nickname.

As a short story, I would recommend it to anyone who looks for stories centered around cowboys in the city!

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