The Kerr Construction Company by Larry Farmer

December 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment

KERR
The Kerr Construction Company by Larry Farmer
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (71 pages)
Heat level: Sweet
Rating: 2 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Dalhart McIlhenny is restless after finishing college. With old school values from his rural upbringing in Texas and a chip on his shoulder from being a Marine during the Age of Aquarius, he sets off on a quest. He wants something different in his life. Something others of his generation wouldn’t understand.

The Indian Capital of America. That’s what they call Gallup, New Mexico, and that’s where he’ll search for whatever it is he wants. But first he must find a job. One no one else wants. One as a laborer for minimum wage for the Kerr Construction Company, working with the local Navajo and with illegal aliens. Far away from the fast cars and parties he doesn’t care about like others do. He becomes best friends with an ex-bullfighter from Durango and finds allure in just trying to survive in a world that doesn’t care. Then he meets Carmen.

In The Kerr Construction Company you meet Dalhart McIlhenny an unusual man embarking on a new city and a new job. Along his journey Dalhart finds a job and also a few friends and a love interest. Will this love interest settle Dalhart or will his quest to seek something different have him back on the road again?

The Kerr Construction Company was a book that left me puzzled. Starting with the book title; looking at the title and the cover I was under the assumption that the construction company would be a business owned by the primary character or a family business. That is not the case in this book. Dalhart is, as mentioned in the book several times, a graduate of Texas A&M and a marine who’s no longer on active duty, that for some reason is seeking something different in life. Why? The author really doesn’t go into a lot of details why. There is also no sense of the time era given in the novel. However, there is reference to President Carter being in office so I can only assume the story takes place between 1977-1981.

I am not sure what to take away from this story. Dalhart was a wanderer afraid to settle and commit to a location but settled enough to attend Texas A&M and become a marine. He is okay for some reason settling for a minimum wage job, sleeping in a vehicle and washing up in bathroom sinks were the scope of his existence. He meets Carmen, a newly divorced waitress, and Dalhart told her his status that he doesn’t have a place to stay but she thinks he is the best thing since indoor electricity. She ask him to the movies, and the next time they meet she wants him to meet her mom.

There are snippets of Dalhart work day but it’s not really telling any information. Then in the next sentence he will be with Carman. The story is missing a structured plot. The story is a consistent level tone with no flavor, real conflict or any kind of twist to it.

I’m not saying the author doesn’t have skill. The writing was clear and maybe could be more enjoyed by someone that likes the rugged life or a wanderer. As a woman reader I would have liked to see the man be a man and bring something more to the table, if not romance than something stable. Carmen is newly divorced and what made her attracted to Dalhart from any other man wasn’t really clear. I did enjoy the conversations and time spent between the two. And also when Dalhart was away from Carmen he did miss her and couldn’t wait to be with her again. That was touching.

All in all The Kerr Construction Company was an okay read, but it’s not one that I would highly recommend.

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

Shift Happens by J. C. McKenzie

December 2, 2014 By 1 Comment

SHIFT
Shift Happens by J. C. McKenzie
A Carus Novel, Book One
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press. Inc.
Genre: Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Length: Full Length (315 Pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Sorrel

Andrea McNelly’s job as a government agent is not asking questions, but then a routine assignment turns into a botched assassination of a Master Vampire’s human servant. Answers become a priority. Her search to discover the truth is riddled with obstacles, the largest being an oversized Werewolf who resembles a Norse god. Andy can’t afford the distraction he offers, because if she fails, she faces eternal enslavement.

Wick’s job is to monitor Andy, but he prefers more intimate activities, none of them G-Rated. His choices, however, are often not his own. His ability to help Andy is limited by his bond to the Master Vampire.

Facing many trials and challenges along her path to redemption, Andy learns the value of her freedom might be set too high.

In the night, something more than a mountain lion, wolf and falcon combined—a beast—had risen from within, answering a desperate call and then it went wild—uncontrollable.

Andrea is a shifter with a unique ability whereas Wick is an alpha werewolf who falls for Andrea, an assassin and agent of the government.

Andrea’s latest assignment leads her to kill a human. But everything is not as it seems when she gets caught and her handler is killed. She must find out who set her up with the assignment. In the process, saving herself and opening up to the man who could be hers.

The first thing that caught my eye about this book was the title, Shift Happens. I wanted to know what it meant to the characters and how it interwove within the book. The phrase was embedded in the story. By the end, the title is understandable and perfect.

Andrea’s past is important and a vital point not only in the story but also for Andrea and Wick’s relationship. In Shift Happens the author reveals her story right before the climax (ending). It wasn’t a total information dump since bits and pieces of her past is shared throughout the whole story but it is somewhat of a ‘big reveal’. It worked well and kept this reader interested throughout the novel.

The characters in the story are well developed. Really, the story as a whole is very good. There’s romance but it doesn’t overpower the story like in some books. I would read the second in this series just to know what happens.

Readers interested in Urban Fantasy where the plot is more than overwhelming romance will like this one. Though, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves urban fantasy/paranormal and romance.

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

Second Nature by Krista Ames

December 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment

ATURE
Second Nature by Krista Ames
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre:Contemporary
Length: Short Story (52 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Edelweiss

When the love of her life leaves without a word, moving on is the last thing Dana Stevenson wants to do. Despite loving him, she believes she will never see him again and builds a life without him. While Nicholas is present in her dreams, she runs when reality brings him face to face.

Navy man, Nicholas Prescott, did what he thought was best to protect the woman he loved. Driven by a family secret, he walked away from Dana without any explanation. When she arrives in town for her best friend’s wedding, he sets a plan in action. With this one chance, will he be able to make things right, or is he just too late?

How do you forgive someone for walking out on you without a word? And how can you even begin to give them a second chance?

Second Nature starts its story of lost love and second chances on an airplane, where the heroine Dana is experiencing her first airplane flight and is absolutely terrified. Dana is the real strength of this story. Her vulnerability makes her sympathetic and the author does a brilliant job of showing the effect Nick’s walking out without a word, had on her. You get the sense that Dana has only recently begun to recover from it and that her friend’s wedding is serving as an opportunity to finally put it all behind her and move on once and fall all. Because of that you feel particularly sorry for her when confronted with the shock of seeing Nick at the party thrown for her friends.

Dana’s best friend Amy is likable. She’s quirky and opinionated and has a lot of personality. Her part in trying to bring Dana and Nick together, while questionable on her part, was very much in-character and really helped her come alive for me.

Unfortunately I could not warm to the character of Nick. During the more steamy scenes between him and Dana, he had lines and actions that I was not entirely comfortable with. For example when she gets angry at him and says she’s going to walk home, his response is to grab her wrist, say “I don’t think so little lady,” and kiss her. The author does stress that Dana not only consents to the kiss but enjoys it. Still Nick didn’t not know that she would and there was a presumption and arrogance in the action given their history together. Also, at least to me, it felt oo aggressive.
In general Nick’s actions seemed more like a man who felt confident he’d win the girl, rather than those of a man who felt he had to earn her forgiveness. Indeed there seemed to be a disconnect between the way he acted and the way he thought during the passages when we saw things from his point of view.

Despite all of that however, I did like the actual relationship between the two leads. I enjoyed the honesty and maturity. Dana was open to what Nick had to say and the way she handled herself throughout the book only made me like her even more.

The story itself was very enjoyable however. I loved the short timeframe that story is told over and when was quite surprised by Nick’s story when he finally tells Dana why he left her five years ago. The book has quite a lot of plot and there was never a moment that felt dull.

Second Nature is a lot of fun. It’s very fluffy and sweet and makes for a light and enjoyable read. If you enjoy second chance romances, you’ll enjoy this one.

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

Lethal Abandon by Kallie Lane

November 27, 2014 By 1 Comment

LETHAL
Lethal Abandon by Kallie Lane
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (259 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

When wildlife biologist Remy Renaud gets lost in the Everglades, she doesn’t expect to find a body dump—and herself on the Endangered Species list. However, when a modern day warrior steps in to protect her, she is forced to trust a man she doesn’t know. A man she could come to love. A man she could lose if a killer has his way.

Micah Rivera agrees to hide Remy, but when the FBI decides to use her as bait to catch the killers, he and his team spring into action to keep her out of harm’s way. Now with both law enforcement and murderers on their trail, Micah is left in an untenable position—keep his team safe and Remy out of trouble without losing his heart to the woman he has sworn to protect.

As Remy and Micah join forces, one thing becomes clear. To survive, they must defeat the enemy at his own game.

Kallie Lane delivers another Shadow Soldier story that is full of action and emotion that keep a reader’s adrenaline pumping.

The horrifying, terrifying antagonists in Lethal Abandon make one shudder with fear and dread. Moreover, the reader learns about them early on and feels their ominous presence always lurking.

Remy Renaud, a wildlife biologist, while well-trained to handle herself in the Alberta Canada wilderness, is totally out of her element in the Florida Everglades. Lost, with a crocodile keeping pace with her boat, Remy thinks it cannot get any worse, then she sees a horrific sight—men burying a body in a secret graveyard in the swamp. Worse, they see her.

Micah Rivera, a reserve in a Special Ops Unit, owns a security service with several helpers trained in special ops. Theirs is a dangerous business, but they excel in getting the job done. While he is visiting his friend Pete Mandel in Florida he becomes involved with saving Remy—against her will. She is stubborn. He does what has to be done even when Remy is unreasonable. When she finally realizes how marked for death she is and how much Micah had one and continues to do to keep her alive, she is broken-hearted about being so mean and hateful to a magnificent man.

The chemistry Micah and Remy have makes the story sizzle at times giving the reader a respite from the danger. Also, the huge dog Tubbs added comic relief. But Ms. Lane doesn’t relent. She takes the reader into the group of psychopathic antagonists as they plan their campaign against Micah and his men and women.

If you have reader previous Shadow Soldier novels, you’ll be able to catch up with characters you already know, like Theo and Melena, Billie and Rocket, Hawke, Hunt, Law, and Rizzoli. None of them have lost their edge. They work together like a well-oiled machine when trouble comes.

Lethal Abandon takes the reader on a vicarious adventure that is high octane from start to finish—a total escape from the ordinary, mundane world. Exciting entertainment!

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

Close Encounter with a Crumpet by Fleeta Cunningham

November 26, 2014 By 2 Comments

RUMPET
Close Encounter with a Crumpet by Fleeta Cunningham
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (49 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Her septuagenarian traveling companions quenched every flicker of pleasure Gillian Banks had anticipated during her trip to England. Then Simon the bus driver, not quite a stranger but definitely an unknown element, challenged Gill to let her own heart lead the way. And she found that a close encounter with a “crumpet” can change a life forever.

Gill’s trip to England is about to get much more interesting.

Poor Gill. What should have been a wonderful experience is practically ruined by a bunch of snobby women. I was drawn into Gill’s story from the moment I started reading. I could clearly picture Gill sitting in a café lamenting how terrible her trip had been. To top it all off, she missed the one thing she’d truly been looking forward to. The whole situation was a complete nightmare. Then Simon appeared like a ray of sunshine after the storm. His kindness and positive attitude is exactly what Gill needed

I have often thought that it is hard to really get to know characters in short stories. However, Ms. Cunningham skillfully revealed what kind of woman Gill is through her conversations and interactions with Simon. Gill’s night out with Simon is nothing short of magical. He shows Gill a side of London she never would have experienced with her snooty traveling companions. While I thought some parts of the ending were a little over the top, Ms. Cunningham does a great job of building chemistry between Gill and Simon that absolutely sizzles. This made it easy to believe they could have such an intense connection after knowing each other for such a short time.

Close Encounter with a Crumpet was an absolute delight to read. I had a great time traveling around London with Gill and Simon, who is a true gentleman. I heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, fast paced romance.

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

Law of Attraction by Darlene Fredette

November 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment

LAW
Law of Attraction by Darlene Fredette
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (215 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Camellia

Lawyer Christina Crawford has a successful career and stable financial future, but is it enough? Her world is disrupted when a routine divorce case means working with a man she never expected—or wanted—to see again. During their first meeting, she can’t deny a connection still exists. Her head warns her to run, but her heart yearns to stay.

Steven Mitchell is ruthless in the courtroom, but outside those doors, his easy charm, good looks, and unlimited stream of female companions gives him an unscrupulous reputation. Six years ago, Christina saw beyond his façade, but the emotions she evoked scared him and he pushed her away. Now he wants a second chance and he is determined to get her back…even if he has to play dirty.

Jealousy is a devastating force for almost too long in Law of Attraction.

Professionally Christina Crawford survives Steven Mitchell’s actions that were prompted by his jealousy. But emotionally she still has a wound that has never healed even after five years.

Driven to prove herself, Christina excels as a lawyer. But stress from an overload of cases that she works on relentlessly to win and usually does, has taken its toll. When a long overdue vacation finally comes at the same time as her sister’s wedding, Christina looks forward to a rest and fun.

However, a pressing, supposedly straight forward, divorce case stalls her departure. The opposing lawyer is none other than the high-powered criminal lawyer Steven Mitchell. Why is he handling a divorce case? Emotional upheaval plus new, damning evidence against her client, have Christina multitasking as she works to find a solution for her client’s problems, takes part in her sister’s pre-wedding events, and copes with feelings for Steven Mitchell that refuse to die.

Darlene Fredette keeps tension at a fever pitch, engaging the reader’s full attention.

Steven Mitchell’s plan to win Christina back and his continued jealous antics work against each other again and again, but he preservers. His connection with Christina’s sister’s in-laws creates a new level of emotional conflict that neither he nor Christina handles very well. The couple in the divorce and how they settle their difference become the catalyst for change in Christina’s and Steven’s relationship.

Ms. Fredette’s vivid descriptions give the reader a strong of place. Her ability to use secondary characters to up the anxiety and stress is remarkable and keeps the tension high throughout the story. However, the hero’s jealousy, ruling his actions for so long, made this reader wonder: Can a leopard change its spots?

How Ms. Fredette works out the hurts relieves some of the doubt, but best of all, Christina and Steven’s love that forgives all things finally creates a hard-won happy-ever-after.

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

Common Enemy by Sandra Dailey

November 19, 2014 By Leave a Comment

ENEMY
Common Enemy by Sandra Dailey
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (273 Pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Sorrel

Jordan Holbrook is the single mother of a five-year-old daughter. She’s just inherited her grandmother’s house in South Florida where she’s hiding from an abusive ex-husband who’s been released from prison early. A new man in her life isn’t part of her plans.

Connor McCrae is a handyman who lives out of his van. He walked away from a privileged life and loving family after being badly scarred in a vicious attack. He doesn’t believe a woman’s love is in the cards for him.

They are brought together by a rundown house, a mutual attraction, and a common enemy: Bobby Ray Butler, who is cutting a path of murder and mayhem through south Florida in his quest for vengeance against his ex-wife.

Can Connor protect Jordan and her daughter from the enraged Bobby Ray? Can Jordan learn to trust men again? If anyone has a say in this–it’s Connor.

A classic mystery where the past is bent on revenge!

I think there are some who would say that the classic mystery would be where the male lead would be the handsome guy who would save the day at the end of the novel (with a Happily Ever After). I’d agree with those people too. However, classic mystery I think varies between different people’s opinion.

Here’s the general idea of this story. The male lead is an injured lawyer who have been running or trying to come to terms with his life after an injury. He drifts from town to town doing odd jobs for people. So when another odd job lands him with a beautiful woman and her daughter, they connect. All the old wounds start healing. Relationships are forged and strengthened. In the end it was surprising that justice was served but the road to find it wasn’t easy for them.

When I started reading this book it was simple. It caught my eye and kept me interested throughout to the end of the book. But what I disliked most of all was how fast everything was moving in the beginning. I like fast-paced books but this was smoking. It took me some time to wrap my head around it. I kept going back every couple of pages to make sure I didn’t misread or skip a page.

That said, the book also gives insight on how grief works and affects the whole family. The author did not let me get bored. Something was always happening. Questions kept rising in my head while reading, to answer it I had to read the coming pages. By the time those questions are answered I had a new set of questions at the ready. And then–Ta-da–I had finished the book.

This is a perfect book for readers looking for injured hero and heroines and how they help each other learn to live again.

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

Pandora’s Jar by Sharron Riddle

November 13, 2014 By 1 Comment

VIEL
Pandora’s Jar by Sharron Riddle
Veil Walker, Book One
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, YA
Length: Full Length (312 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

It’s hard enough being a seventeen year old Veil Walker, but when your boyfriend’s a demigod and your mom’s dating a soul sucker, things can get a lot worse.

Pandora has seen ghosts since she was a kid, and now she learns she can bring back the spirits of the dead. Why would she do that? She has enough trouble getting rid of the ones stuck on this side. One annoyingly perky ghost wants Pandora to find her killer, but Ukwa, her super-hot boyfriend, doesn’t like the idea.

When trouble finds her, will she discover the true strength of a Veil Walker or, like the others, will her soul be trapped in her own Pandora’s Jar forever?

Is ignorance really bliss?

I truly feel sorry for Pandora. She knows very little about her abilities as a Veil Walker. With no one to teach her about her power, every day is a struggle, and Pandora constantly lives in fear of accidentally acknowledging a ghost in front of others. Consequently, Pandora has no close friends. A particularly bad encounter with a ghost followed by an argument with her father prompts Pandora to go and live with her mom in Florida. Pandora is hoping for a fresh start, but she soon learns that she can’t hide from her problems.

Pandora’s relationship with her parents is beyond messed up. It is clear that her parents love her, but neither of them really act like parents. While it is understandable for parents to have interests and lives outside of their children, Pandora’s parents have taken this to the extreme. They are so self-involved that they completely ignore their daughter at times. I found the whole situation quite disturbing, especially when Pandora’s dad makes a particularly shocking revelation toward the end of the book. Honestly, I’m amazed that Pandora is sane given the nature of her power and the complete lack of familial support.

Pandora is very strong and she has managed to hold herself together without help from anyone else for a long time. However, I really enjoyed watching her blossom when she made some friends at her new school. In a short time, I saw a lot of positive changes in Pandora. She still has some issues to work through, but having others to confide in has gone a long way in bringing Pandora out of her shell.

Pandora’s connection with Ukwa is intense and complicated. They have excellent chemistry, but his refusal to give her straight answers about her power is very annoying. While his intentions might be good, he ended up treating her like a child. I think it would have been more effective if he would have respected her and had an honest conversation with her right from the start. Despite this issue, Pandora and Ukwa make a wonderful, if unusual, couple. Even though they find themselves in some intense situations, I really like that they make time to talk and really getting to know each other.

Nancy, the ghost, is definitely my favorite secondary character. I could clearly picture her flitting around, laughing, causing mischief, and playing with Pandora’s dog. Nancy’s perky attitude was a nice contrast to Pandora’s more serious moods and the darker events of the story.

I’m glad I had the opportunity to read Pandora’s Jar. I found the concept of a Veil Walkers very intriguing, and I still have a lot of questions buzzing around in my head. I certainly hope that Ms. Riddle has plans for a sequel soon so I can satisfy my curiosity. Fans of paranormal romance won’t want to miss Pandora’s Jar.

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

Silent Deceit by Kallie Lane

November 13, 2014 By Leave a Comment

perf5.000x8.000.indd
Silent Deceit by Kallie Lane
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Action/Adventure
Length: Short Story (85 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 2.5 stars
Reviewed by Daisy

When undercover cop Natasha Roberts sets out to find her missing brother, the trail leads to a biker bar where one false move will get her killed. Taking a job as a bartender at Trailblazer’s, she’s in over head almost before she starts.

Skip McQuade, a cop himself, isn’t impressed. But when orders from his CO come down, he’s forced to stick to her like Velcro in order to find out what she’s doing. It doesn’t take him long to realize the odds are stacked against her. Convincing her to become his partner is hard work, but when she finally agrees, he wastes no time getting in on the search.

Together, they continue the hunt while fighting the growing passion between them. Will they find her brother and stop a killer in time?

Silent Deceit is a short, kicker of a story with a hot-tempered heroine and a more reasonable (if a little shifty to begin with) hero. The pace is fast, the action is full of mysterious hiding places and a few dramatic scenes of peril.

The environment feels very wild west, with miles and miles worth of forgotten mines fixed up with brand new electronics for a very seedy character who lords over a bar full of criminals from both sides of the tracks. The description for the setting is well done and I had a clear visual and visceral sense of the scene. With the hot passion of the leads thrown in every time they slide up against each other while desperately trying not to think of sex, this story has everything to be a real show down.

Unfortunately, I found the action too fast to be believable. The heat between the protagonists is raging but Natasha goes from thinking Skip is a murderer to hopping into bed with him in record time. There is a need for more shock, character development and joining of hands before the sheets get covered in sweat.

Having said that, some readers will like the short wait until “the good bit” and may enjoy that the romance is not too romantic but rather more lusty. That’s not to say the protagonists don’t like each other, but they aren’t against getting in a quickie before work calls, either.

All in all, that style of romance is not to my taste but I can recognise the constraints of a novella and the time it leaves for character and plot development. I felt more could have been done with the space Lane had but some will love this book for the raunchy outdoors tumbles and high-risk undercover gambles. There’s even some questions left hanging at the end, ready for any lovers of the storyline to hang onto, ready for the sequel. In short, this is a book of young lust and mischief with a couple bad guys looking in.

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

Under The Covers by Jo Barrett

November 12, 2014 By Leave a Comment

COVERS
Under The Covers by Jo Barrett
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (95 pgs)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Jane Walters would love to fall for the right guy, but right now she’s too busy getting her new business open and avoiding her over zealous landlord. In a crazy attempt to avoid his unwanted attentions, she asks her neighbor, Jacob Hayes, to be her pretend boyfriend. But Jacob wants nothing to do with her. He’s been left at the alter once, and that was humiliating enough. Getting mixed up with the sexy new resident of Kings Gap is the last thing he needs, unless…

Agreeing to some secret fun under the covers, doesn’t solve Jane’s problem with her landlord, but it certainly heats up her lonely nights. Only problem now is, how does she keep from falling for the one man she can’t have?

Jane Walters is not interested in a ladies man, and that meant her landlord – Riley — was off limits. Now Jacob Hayes on the other hand sent energy zinging through her, but the man would barely utter more than a few words at her on any given occasion. It was enough to drive a girl insane. Jacob had no time for love. Having been jilted while waiting at the alter, one devastating relationship was plenty to sour him on the concept for life. Yet his thoughts drifted constantly to Jane and the possibilities. When her gentle hints fell on deaf ears, Jane decides the only way to get Riley off her back is to say she has a boyfriend. And Jacob is the perfect man for the job.

I thought this was a lighthearted, fun read. Jacob has his own issues to work through, and Jane is still hung up on a few things in her past, but neither lets their baggage hold them back, or ruin their future by being bogged down in their problems. I felt at times that the flow of the story was slowed by much of the inner thinking and both Jane and Jacob working through their problems alone. A part of me wonders if the book could have kept more momentum going if they’d worked through their issues together – either through their secret relationship or even just through talking and communicating better. But I also found myself drawn into their realistic characters. I was interested in them, invested practically from the beginning of the story.

The sex is sizzling and not for the shy, but I found it very tastefully written. I’m not completely sold on the plot device of them keeping their relationship secret. While I understand Jacob wanted to avoid local gossip about his ex being revived, I never completely understood why Jane went along with it. I’m not sure how well that part of the plot sat with me. While well written, it seemed a bit strange (and old fashioned) to me. The characters though are where this book really shines. I’m convinced that Jane and Jacob (and Riley) are realistic and well drawn. I was invested in them all right from the start and followed them along this tale, turning the pages well into the night. The author did a brilliant job in my mind bringing these characters to life and infusing them upon the pages.

I think readers who like small town, character driven books where the hero and heroine have their own issues but still overcome them should enjoy this story. There are a number of sex scenes where the bedroom door is left open – and this might change some readers mind. I found the sex emotional, well written and very tasteful, but more delicate readers could well find themselves in over their head in this department. A thoroughly enjoyable story I could hardly put down.

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