The Cowgirl and the Stallion by Natasha Deen

September 19, 2014 By Leave a Comment

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The Cowgirl and the Stallion by Natasha Deen
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (260 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Hawthorn

A dying man’s wish, a son’s desperate struggle. To acquire the land his father always wanted, CEO Mason St. John will do anything—even lie about his identity…

From cranky cows to stormy skies, dairy farmer Aya Michaels can handle everything but her new farmhand, Nate Love. Nate’s wit and his gentle way with her son, though, hit Aya with the force of a hurricane. Coupled with his business ideas, which make the threat of Marion St. John moot, she takes a chance at love. But what will happen when she finds out who her farmhand really is?

The slightly misleading title of The Cowgirl and the Stallion perhaps makes the reader think the action takes place in the stables and pastures of Aya’s ranch, but in truth, most of the action happens in Aya’s and Mason’s hearts. And there’s plenty of the emotional sort of action.

The most remarkable achievement of this novel is how both Aya and Mason grow in front of the reader’s eyes as the story progresses. When we meet Mason (or Nate), he seems to be arrogant and flirty, all with the purpose of tricking Aya into selling her land. She, in turn, is stubborn and won’t listen even to the people closest to her when they try to help her and steer her in the right direction. But their meeting teaches them both a big lesson; it just takes time for them to realize it.

Spencer, Aya’s son, was a delightful character and I was very happy that he was so important to the story and wasn’t just a complication in Aya’s and Mason’s relationship. He was very charming with his pre-teen awkwardness and unexpected intelligence and it was wonderful to follow his interactions with Aya, but more so with Mason.

The biggest drawback of the story was that the roles were stereotypical. Mason was the big bad corporate beast and Aya was the helpless but brave small farmer. With a more original conflict between the two their story would have been even more powerful and deeper.

The Cowgirl and the Stallion shows that sometimes a win is actually a loss and that it takes courage to admit it. Despite the predictable plot, the strong characters make the novel a good read.

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Whatever, Forever by Lael R. Neill

September 15, 2014 By Leave a Comment

FOREVER
Whatever, Forever by Lael R. Neill
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (42 pgs)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 2.5 stars
Reviewed by Hawthorn

Audrey Taylor and her older sister Kelsey splurge on a two-week vacation at an upscale dude ranch in central Washington State. While Kelsey unabashedly pursues her goal of finding a rich boyfriend and goes clubbing, gambling, and drinking with a self-proclaimed movie producer, Audrey enjoys a flirtation with the handyman.

Dave is a down-to-earth maintenance man who knows how to do almost anything that needs to be done on the ranch. He invites Audrey to accompany him for an afternoon of riding fence and shows her the best scenery, he encourages her to go river rafting and to join a skywatch party. Finally, at the height of the Perseid meteor showers, they share a midnight tryst. But not everything is as it seems, and both sisters are in for a surprise.

Things are not what they seem at The Wedding Ring ranch, and Kelsey and Audrey are about to discover that.

I loved the idea of Dave’s hidden identity and how Audrey fell for him without knowing he’s actually the owner of the ranch and many other properties and companies. It gave their love a feeling of genuineness and innocence. The premise of the story has a lot of potential, and so do the characters, particularly Dave and Audrey, but I felt like they weren’t given a chance with the length of the story being so short.

I wished for a longer story which would allow for a more in-depth characterization and more detailed background of the characters. As it was, we got a few bits of information about Audrey and Dave, but other characters, like Kelsey, were virtually an unknown. This made the characterization very black and white, with no space in the text for some interesting nuances. The development of the romance between Audrey and Dave could also have been more detailed and gradual, and consequently stronger. Maybe it was the rushed development of the story, but on occasion the narration felt immature, particularly in Kelsey’s scenes.

While the interactions between Dave and Audrey flowed smoothly, the scene where they made love felt awkward – the too detailed descriptions kept getting in the way. Even in the rest of the narration, some word choices were surprising and they kept distracting me. Just one example: riposted instead of said.  The author has serious potential, though, and I look forward to trying more of her stories as her writing matures.

Whatever, Forever is a quick read about how important it is to love someone for the right reasons.

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Risking It All by Lucy Oliver

September 12, 2014 By Leave a Comment

ALL
Risking It All by Lucy Oliver
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (56 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Hawthorn

Beneath bomb-filled skies, Head Radio Operator Lynne Cecil takes the safety of her RAF pilots seriously. They’re England’s last defense against the Luftwaffe. But too many pilots die on her watch. The top brass harass her for answers, but her team is giving their all.

Devastated by the death of his brother, Spitfire ace Billy Jenkins accepts a secret assignment to investigate the high rate of deaths. But the person who seems at fault is his old flame, Lynne. Torn between duty and love, Billy must discover if the woman he still adores is responsible for the loss of his fellow flyers.

Lynne can’t afford the distraction of falling for a fighter pilot like Billy at this dangerous time. But every flight could be Billy’s last. Will she settle for one night of passion or risk losing him forever?

Love in the time of war is a precious thing, albeit dangerous. Both Billy and Lynne fight it because they can’t be sure they will survive and they’ve both lost so much already that they are not sure they could face more heartbreak.

The air raids and bomb-filled skies set an atmospheric background to this love story. The world is fraught with danger, and yet, for Lynne and Billy, there’s a chance they could find some peace in each other’s arms. But everything seems to be against them: Lynne’s humiliation over Billy ignoring her years ago, Billy’s doubts about how well she’s doing her job as head radio operator, their fears of heartbreak … Both characters were well-portrayed and made me want to know more about them. I wished the story were longer so that their relationship could be presented in greater detail. As it was, it felt a bit rushed, and although I wanted to, I didn’t feel the chemistry between them.

The characters and events brought the war era to life. The descriptions of the airplanes taking off to go fight the attackers, the bombings, everything added to the tension, making it even more apparent why the relationship between Lynne and Billy seemed unwise at such a time. It was easy to imagine what life was like at the time, and this was a large part of the appeal of this story. It sounded authentic and realistic.

The plotline about the traitor at the airbase felt too much like a plot device because there was little development in the storyline and it mostly served to plant the seed of doubt about Lynne in Billy. With more details and a slower build-up, it would’ve worked better, I felt.

Risking It All is a tender love story that speaks of hope and optimism. Although short, it succeeds in creating an authentic atmosphere that emphasizes the importance of recognizing when something good is coming your way and grabbing it with both hands. You never know what tomorrow will bring.

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Bloodstone by Helen C. Johannes

September 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment

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Bloodstone by Helen C. Johannes
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (426 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Edelweiss

What if looking at the face of the man you loved meant death?

Years ago, warrior Durren Drakkonwehr was cursed by a mage. Now feared and reviled as the Shadow Man, he keeps to himself, only going to town to trade rare bloodstones–petrified dragon’s blood–for supplies. Though he hides his face, he can’t hide his heart from the woman who haunts his dreams…

Needing bloodstones for a jewelry commission, Mirianna and her father journey across the dreaded Wehrland where the beast-men roam. When their party is attacked, only the Shadow Man can save them. Strangely drawn to him, Mirianna offers herself in return for her father’s rescue.

Living in the ruined fortress with the Shadow Man, Mirianna slowly realizes that a flesh-and-blood man–not a fiend–hides there in hoods and darkness. But are love and courage enough to lift the curse and restore the man?

A man whose face can kill, a woman bound to him by a promise, and both haunted by mysterious, intimate dreams of each other. Bloodstone’s story is rich and layered, nuanced and engrossing.

The main characters are both engaging. Mirianna is instantly likable as you see the way she looks after and cares for her widowed father. She is resourceful and capable, but most of all passionate. Her choices are intuitive and her feelings strong. I respected and admired her and appreciated how smart and quick-witted she was written.

The Shadow Man is deeply layered and deeply flawed. When he is presented with ethical choices, he often genuinely considers taking the wrong path. He can be brusque and harsh, when he should be kind and gentle. He is deeply conflicted, torn between the man he used to be and what he is now. He is constantly at battle with himself, and you can feel this leaking through his scenes and encompassing his thoughts.

I loved reading these two characters respond to one another. The dreams that have haunted them for years attract them to each other as much as it scares them. Both are powerful characters with strong personalities and the results are scenes which swept me up and gripped me, and kept me eagerly waiting to see what they would do next.

However both characters are not only haunted by their dreams, they both find themselves followed by a mysterious lioness. Other things are afoot, as it’s soon made clear that not everyone is who they claim to be. The story was very well done, with some truly surprising plot twists and revelations I did not see coming, and there was more than one point in the story where my jaw was left hanging open.

The romance in the book was for the most part excellent. Though it did feel a little rushed once or twice, with the motivations and reasons behind their feelings and changing attitudes towards each other, not always being clear to me.

The opening of the book moves a little slowly, taking a significant amount of time to reach the plot described on the back of the book. However the author has a beautiful writing style and a keen eye for detail, and I was never bored or disinterested in what was happening.

Helen C. Johannes has built up a rich fantasy world, with an intriguing and unique history. I loved reading about the world, the things that inhabited it, and the way it worked. She knew exactly how much to dole out and when, in order to keep me informed but eager for more.

The ending is very satisfying, but I suspect there may be a sequel planned, and if there is I will certainly be reading it. The book works well as a breathtaking romance and as a fantasy story of heroes, magic and mystery. If you’re in the mood for either, read it!

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

Amethyst Refrain by Kalliope Bell

September 9, 2014 By Leave a Comment

REFRAIN
Amethyst Refrain by Kalliope Bell
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (40 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Lily Graves possesses the gift of psychometry. She reads the history of an item through touch. When an amethyst necklace brings back the memory of her murder in a past life, Lily comes face to face with her guardian, Edgar Grant.

Edgar Grant has served as Lily’s guardian throughout several lifetimes, reaching her only through thoughts and dreams. Armed with the knowledge of Lily’s destiny and charged with protecting her, Edgar must help her stop history from repeating itself.

When Lily recalls Edgar’s refusal to believe her fears in the past, she must decide if she can trust him…and love him…in the present. And if she does, can she love a man who exists only in spirit form?

Some abilities come with a price.

My favorite passages in this tale went into detail about what Lily can and can’t do with her gift. As someone who had never heard of psychometry before, I was glad that the author spent so much time showing how Lily uses it. None of the explanations slowed down the plot at all because they were so embedded into everything else that was going on. Psychometry sounds like such a cool ability to possess!

There were some things I never understood about Edgar and Lily’s relationship. In certain sections it’s written in ways that made me think those scenes were intended to be taken as grand romantic gestures, yet I was surprised by how much Edgar wanted to be in control of everything that happened to Lily. It struck me as a little over the top given how well she’s managed this lifetime so far. I would have liked to know more about her reaction to this part of his personality as it’s not something that I’d find endearing if I were in her shoes.

This short story weaves mystery, romance, and science fiction together seamlessly. I really enjoy reading books that are comfortable mixing so many different types of fiction together. When its done well it brings out the best in every genre that’s represented, and I was pleased by how the author chose to bind everything together.

I’d recommend Amethyst Refrain to anyone who is in the mood to dabble in several different genres simultaneously.

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

Better Than a Present by Cynthia Moore

September 8, 2014 By 1 Comment

PRESENT 2
Better Than a Present by Cynthia Moore
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical, Holiday
Length: Short Story (54 Pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Bluet

While in London on business during the Season, Lord Paul Russell, attracted by a beautiful woman, fails in securing a place on her dance card. The next morning when he returns to Cornwall, he wonders if this mystery woman will still be available.

Bored by all the eligible gentlemen she meets, Lady Samantha Grayson desires more than their meaningless conversations and preoccupation with silly fashion requirements. Only one gentleman catches her eye, but she misses her chance to speak to him, never encountering him again the rest of the Season.

A sudden snowstorm on Christmas Eve morning catches Samantha alone and unprotected. When she seeks shelter in a nearby cottage, she is astonished when the door opens to the very man who caught her interest in London a few months ago. What was doomed to be an uneventful Christmas, to her pleasant surprise could be better than a present.

Does love at first sight exist? Lord Paul Russell and Lady Samantha Grayson have never met, but on two occasions, have noticed each other across a ballroom and felt a connection and an instant attraction. When he sees her for the third time, Paul decides he must be introduced. He approaches her aunt, and waits among the gentlemen surrounding her, only to discover that her dance card is full for the remainder of the evening. He has to leave for his country home early the next morning, as he’s been summoned by his steward to attend to urgent business. So, he leaves with a heavy heart, sure that this lovely lady won’t still be unmarried next season when he returns.

Samantha was very aware of Paul’s waiting to meet her, but the next dance started, and her dancing partner claimed her. As they were dancing, she notices Paul leaving, and actually has to fight back tears. She never knew who he was, or saw him for the rest of the season. Months have passed, and neither of them has stopped thinking of the other, wishing they could have met. It’s now Christmas time, and Samantha is visiting her sister. In order to escape her sister’s incessant matchmaking, she dresses up as a boy, and goes out riding. The weather starts to get bad, and she gets thrown off the horse. She sees a small cottage and seeks shelter there. Who should be in the cottage, but the mystery man she’s been pining over!

For a short story, we get a lot of insight into the character of both the hero and heroine. Samantha is kind, tender hearted and romantic. Paul is a gentleman, considerate, and just a tad wicked. Cynthia Moore does a very good job of letting you feel their emotions, and making you root for their happy ever after. The story flows along nicely, and has a very satisfying conclusion. If you like a sweet romance that will put you in a holiday mood, this may be the book for you. I enjoyed it, and recommend it.

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

Lord of Sherwood by Laura Strickland

September 2, 2014 By 6 Comments

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Lord of Sherwood by Laura Strickland
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical, Fantasy
Length: Full (228 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rated: 4.5 Stars
Review by Dandelion

Curlew Champion, master archer, has always known his destiny. With his cousin, Heron Scarlet, he will become a guardian of Sherwood Forest and further his people’s fight against Norman tyranny. But the third member of the triad is still to be revealed, the woman who will complete the magical circle and, perhaps, answer the longing in Curlew’s heart.

Anwyn Montfort has fled disgrace in Shrewsbury and come to Nottingham at her father’s bidding. He wishes her to make a good marriage and settle down. But the wildness that possesses her refuses to quiet. She knows she’s been searching for something all her life, but not until she glimpses Curlew does her spirit begin to hope it has found its home.

Only the magic of Sherwood can bring them together, and only their union can complete the spell woven so long ago…

I loved this story from page one. It continues the story of Robin Hood’s daughter and grandchildren and the mysterious and magical Sherwood Forest. There are still problems with the Sheriff of Nottingham and his men. The people are still being victimized, and are fighting back. This leads to many of their homes being burned and villagers slain.

There is a circle of three who are guardians in Sherwood Forest. This magic keeps them and Sherwood Forest safe and they do what they can to protect the people. When the three guardians are no longer able to provide this safety, the guardianship passes on. The two men, Heron and Curlew, grandchildren of Robin and Marian, will be two of the next three. They are still waiting to find the third. It must be a woman. The present guardian, Lark, is dying and it becomes crucial to find the woman.

I thought that this would be similar to the second one, and I was prepared to be a little bored. However, as I read I became so involved with the story, I found it difficult to put down the book. These guardians are different and there are different challenges. As they search for the third person, it becomes really unique and I could hardly wait for them to resolve situation. As the story progresses, you can really see and have no doubts as to the magic surrounding them. The woman in the story is a surprise and yet, it makes perfect sense.

There is much going on, and they must keep protecting the people and the forest. I could hardly put this story down. Although this story stands alone, I enjoyed it so much I can only hope there is a book four in this series. I would highly recommend this book and all the others. A great series.

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Cara O’Shea’s Return by Mackenzie Crowne

August 18, 2014 By 3 Comments

RETURN
Cara O’Shea’s Return by Mackenzie Crowne
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (214 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Daisy

After eight years of self-imposed exile, shy bombshell Cara O’Shea returns to her hometown to create her art in peace. Big city living has left her craving the quiet only a small town can offer. Bitter over the wreckage of her father’s infidelity, she risks town gossip, and her heart, when she enlists the town’s football hero to help renovate her studio and mend a decade-old rift.

A career-ending injury and a failed marriage leave Michael “Finn” Finnegan questioning his worth and avoiding anything smacking of permanence. A playboy lifestyle soothes his battered ego, but lately the pretense has lost its appeal. However, one look at Cara, with her expressive green eyes and bunny-of-the-month body, and he’s hell-bent on proving his worth with the shy artist–and himself.

As old truths are revealed, will Cara and Finn overcome the mistakes of the past, trust their hearts at last, and take a chance on love?

Since she was in school, Cara has known exactly what she wanted when she grew up: Michael Finnegan. This is the spicy rendition of her getting to know him in more than his capacity as a football player and it’s just as sweaty as a ball game!

Michael is famous, sexy and talented but more than a little insecure with a failed marriage behind him. This is refreshing in a romance as the man is not completely stable and confident all the time. Cara is the one in these pages who knows what she wants and doesn’t waiver, even if she is a little bad at expressing herself.

However, the reason for Michael’s reluctance to commit, beyond his failed marriage, is unclear. He often seems stone-headedly stubborn and I did wish there was deeper reason for this reluctance to have a relationship extending beyond one-night-stands. I also felt that Cara’s humiliating experience at school which caused her to move away from her home town as soon as she could needed more to the dramatisation in order for the depth of her embarrassment and her resulting reactions to be more realistic.

Despite these small faults, the sex scenes had me sweltering and heady and the chemistry between these two very intelligent characters is steamy as a fogged up car in winter. This is not just a honeymoon romance but a meeting of two like souls who fit each other well mentally and physically, as a real romance should.

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Poison Ivy by Misty Simon

July 31, 2014 By Leave a Comment

IVY
Poison Ivy by Misty Simon
Ivy Morris Mysteries, Book One
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (228 Pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Ivy Morris may be an adult, but she still lives at home with her widowed father long after her sisters have all left — until she gets a letter with the words “your inheritance” offering her a home and a business of her own 3000 miles away.

When she arrives to assume her new life as homeowner and proprietress of a popular costume shop, she is bombarded by a slew of people looking for the perfect outfit for the upcoming Harvest Ball. Between overpowering biddies and stolen lingerie from the worst-kept-secret side of the business, things get even more complicated when a woman is murdered at the ball–a woman wearing the same costume as Ivy.

With the help of her new friends, including a cute guy trying to rev up his journalism career to private eye status with this mystery–and revving up her heart in the process–she must solve the murder before someone succeeds in the quest to poison Ivy.

Poison Ivy is a light romance with a bit of mystery on the side. Twenty-four year old Ivy Morris has just moved from California to Kilmarnock, Virginia after inheriting her great aunt’s house and business, a popular costume shop. She is thrilled to be moving out of her father’s house and finally getting a place of her own. Kilmarnock is a small town and Ivy quickly makes friends with Bella, a hair-dresser, and Ben Fallon, the food critic for the local newspaper who has just completed an online course to become a private investigator.

The story is told from Ivy’s point of view and her point of view is definitely focused on Ben’s delicious body. Ben seems equally taken with hers, but the romance keeps getting waylaid by various mysterious events. There is a burglary at Ivy’s store, The Masked Shoppe. There are threatening phone calls. One of her new friends, Janice, is murdered the same night that Ivy meets her. And then one of Janice’s clients is threatening her lawyer about getting his files back.

Ivy decides that she will investigate on her own, but then she quickly teams up with Ben. It is Ivy, however, who solves the mysteries, and once the danger is over, Ivy and Ben are sure that they will have time for just them. Sure, that is until Ivy reveals that her father is arriving for a visit of indeterminate length.

This is a fun romp, and the mystery isn’t really difficult to solve. The characters are fun and Ivy’s perspective on them let’s the reader learn more about Ivy as well as the other characters. Both Bella and Ben prove themselves to be good friends to the newcomer in town.

If you are looking for a quick romantic summer read, with just a hint of mystery, then why not give Poison Ivy a try.

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

Getting Down To Business by Ginger Ring

July 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment

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Getting Down To Business by Ginger Ring
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (89 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Tired of living life out of a suitcase, traveling auto parts sales representative Jessie Knutson jumps at the chance for a position close to home. When a flat tire keeps her from an interview appointment and the hot tow truck driver awakens her inner cougar, she realizes too much time away has done a number on her libido. Now the only position she wants involves being naked and pressed tightly against a hot, younger man whose eyes say she’s more than a roadside pickup.

BJ Spencer has no time for love with an auto parts store to run, though he yearns to find the right woman someday. So when the smoking hot redhead he rescues alongside the road gives him a sexy smile, he remembers sometimes a man needs to enjoy the finer things in life. Long legs encased in thigh-highs are definitely fine, but Jessie seems to be total perfection in a tempting package. BJ just might be able to make both business and pleasure work for him this time.

Stuck with no cell service and a flat tire on the hottest day of the year, Jessie Knutson is not having a good day. When Bernard Spencer – BJ – drove by and offered to help, relief warred with her instant attraction to the sexy man. Taking BJ up on his offer of shelter as a storm comes through, one thing leads to another and soon Jessie has forgotten all about her business trip and is enjoying the sensual heat in BJs arms.

A fast moving, fun romp of a book, this was a great read. I loved how despite the fact outwardly Jessie appeared like a helpless female she knew her way around a car, she just not keen to change a tire in a tiny miniskirt. I also appreciated the manners and almost sweetness of BJ. Blushing at a few innuendo-laden comments and raised with strict etiquette, BJ wasn’t your average rough around the corners mechanic. I was a little disappointed at how BJ kept a few secrets, and equally surprised and sad that Jessie didn’t call him out on it. That part didn’t feel very realistic to me. While a tantrum or over-the-top anger also wouldn’t have suited the situation it felt really as if instead of exploring the hurt/conflict the author glossed over it to give us more sexy chemistry. I also felt BJ and Jessie cooling things down mid-book, while understandable, was a bit off. This did increase the conflict and sexual tension between them, but also felt a little stilted or contrived to my mind. This didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the characters or the situations they found themselves in.

I thought the author did an excellent job of the chemistry and relationship building between BJ and Jessie and while I felt the plot lacked in certain areas the sex and affection between the main characters was very well written. Readers looking for a highly charged, erotic story should really enjoy this story to my mind. The plot was interwoven between the romance and while the scales tipped a little toward the “more sex” side, the book read quite balanced to me. A fun read with great characters and pacing.

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