When The Lights Go Out by Nina Jaynes

July 21, 2014 By Leave a Comment

LIGHTS
When The Lights Go Out by Nina Jaynes
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (43 pgs)
Other: M/F, BDSM (mild)
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Darby Abbots. Polite. Professional. In control. Until the night comes and fantasies of her younger co-worker, Kaidan Shawnessy take over. Then she’s sexy, wild, and doing things with him she wouldn’t dare in the light of day. But when a blackout traps them together in her office and Kaidan makes a move, will Darby let go of her inhibitions and allow the hot computer tech to fulfill her deepest desires?

Darby is a lawyer in the middle of a massive negotiation. Her world is full of rules: show no emotion, only show strength and keep herself under control. But Kaidan Shawnessy, a computer technician, threatens to break her iron-held control. When they’re both stuck alone in the office tower during a black out, Darby’s every good intention can finally be thrown out the window, and Kaidan decides to show her just how strict he can be.

This is a seriously sensual, smoking hot short story. Definitely one to hide if you’re reading it on the train or sneaking a quick peek at work, this naughty story will inflame your every sense. I loved how the author wrote in some short, sharp, choppy sentences. It really made me feel like there was an urgency to the entire tale. Naughty things happen in the dark when the lights are off, and this sizzling story is proof of that. I liked how we knew just enough about Darby and Kaidan to give them life, but weren’t bogged down with pages of back story or explanations as to how, why, when and where they could finally come together. Their attraction was instant and very explicitly written. As a reader I had no doubt about where they would end up and the quick, sharp ride there was delicious.

I found this hit a lot of good spots for me. A smart, controlled, confident heroine who knows exactly what she wants but has a few, secret, weak spots. A strong, dominating hero who knows when to bend and when to stand firm. Mix these two characters in with some truly fantastic writing and this is totally going on my keeper shelf. Indeed, I happily read it twice before even coming up for air to try and assimilate it all in my head. An astonishingly good read from a surprising new author. I’ll definitely be checking more of Ms. Jaynes’ work out.

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

When Swallows Fall by Gloria Davidson Marlow

July 16, 2014 By Leave a Comment

FALL
When Swallows Fall by Gloria Davidson Marlow
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (262 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Although Ophelia Garrett loved Cade Scott first, it was her sister he married and took home to his plantation. When Ophelia receives word of her sister’s murder and Cade’s arrest, she travels there on a mission to learn the truth. She soon finds the halls of Almenara are haunted by secrets, peril, and quite possibly her sister’s ghost.

Despite the cold, angry man Cade has become, Ophelia’s heart refuses to believe he is a murderer. Vowing to do everything she can to prove his innocence, Ophelia must open wounds she’d hoped were long healed and face the feelings that still burn between her and Cade. As everyone looks to Cade as the suspect, evil haunts the dunes and halls of Almenara, bringing death to two more young women and forcing Ophelia to confront the danger.

Ophelia was betrayed by the two people she loved most.

Ophelia is a sweet young woman who has every reason to be angry with her late sister and her brother-in-law, Cade. The first time she falls in love, her sister swoops in and steals the man away from her. My curiosity was immediately piqued. I wanted know what could have possibly induced Cade to marry Desdemona when he was clearly in love with Ophelia and then cut Ophelia out of their lives entirely. I eagerly dove into the pages searching for an explanation. The truth behind Desdemona’s betrayal is dreadful.

I have a lot of respect for Ophelia. Desdemona’s betrayal regarding Cade was simply the last in a long line of offenses she committed. It took a lot of courage to go to her sister’s funeral, investigate the murder, and face the man she once loved. It took even more courage to examine herself and acknowledge the very small part she played in the tragedy. I do think that Ophelia is a little too hard on herself. Desdemona and Cade are adults and clearly responsible for their own actions.

Ophelia is heart broken when she learns how unhappy Desdemona’s life had been. However, I had a very hard time sympathizing with Desdemona’s plight. Desdemona struck me as a cruel woman who rarely thought of anyone but herself. She used people and then tossed them aside when she was done. Her tragic situation was entirely of her own making. I couldn’t really sympathize with Cade either. I understand that Ophelia was called away from him when their romance was still young, but no one forced him to find comfort in the arms of Desdemona.

Ms. Marlow did a good job of weaving the mystery surrounding Desdemona’s death. There were a lot of plausible suspects. In fact, there were so many suspects that the sheriff’s insistence that Cade killed Desdemona as well as the other young women is completely ridiculous. With such an abundance of suspects, I was on the edge of my seat, and I didn’t figure it out until the very end.

Overall, I enjoyed reading When Swallows Fall. Its pages are filled with heartbreak, mystery, and love. Anyone looking for a story of tragedy and romance of Shakespearean proportions should give When Swallows Fall a try.

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

A Shadow on The Ground by Rebecca Lee Smith

April 29, 2014 By 1 Comment

GROUND

A Shadow on The Ground by Rebecca Lee Smith
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (222 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Poppy

Morgan Maguire is afraid to believe in second chances. The family orchard is failing, her twin brother is being framed for murder, and the sharks are circling. The tough exterior she’s spent years hiding behind is beginning to crumble, just as the man who shattered her heart is back in her life. Gage Kirkland is as compelling and magnetic as ever, and he’s offering the kind of help she may not be able to refuse. But can she trust him?

To finance his troubled son’s therapy, Gage, a former investigator, takes one last job–recovering a stolen Civil War artifact. Unfortunately, it’s in the possession of the woman he left behind, the woman who’s haunted his dreams ever since. The electricity between them still crackles, but unless he helps exonerate her brother and finds a way to confess his true reason for returning, how will he ever recover Morgan’s heart?

Looking for a romantic suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat and also make your heart sigh?  A Shadow on the Ground fits the bill.

Morgan was a bit hard for me to like at first.  If I hadn’t seen hints of her soft heart in the way she dealt with Gabe’s son or the worry she had for her brother, I might have given up on her.  She made herself quite difficult in the beginning, mostly due to how much she complained about being stuck in the small town she grew up in instead of off living the big city life she wanted.  She didn’t want to stay and was trapped by her twin brother’s need.

Then she finds a body and things really start getting crazy.  Every time I thought I had it worked out who was good and who wasn’t, I was wrong (though I have to admit I had the murderer figured out about half through the book, which is the only reason this wasn’t rated a five — but I didn’t have all the reasons why this person did it until the end, so it was still a great mystery).

I really liked Gage, though I didn’t always agree with the things he did. I could understand why he did them, so that went a long way to keeping me on his side.  And I just loved Morgan’s brother (will he get his own story?) and while few of the other secondary characters were folks I enjoyed, they were definitely unique and well created. The author’s voice and skill were really very good and I’m definitely going to be looking for more of her work.

The romance was sweet and touching and full of potholes.  These two have quite a bumpy backstory and even though we know early on they’re still crazy about each other, they have a lot of issues to work through.  It made their relationship real and interesting to follow.  I was glad it wasn’t all rosy and fine.

Overall, A Shadow on the Ground was one of my favorite books this year.   I have a soft spot for romantic suspense, but also have pretty high standards.  This book hit all the right notes and I can easily recommend it to anyone looking for a little excitement with their romance.

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

That Dating Thing by Mackenzie Crowne

April 4, 2014 By Leave a Comment

THAT
That Dating Thing by Mackenzie Crowne
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (196 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Quince

The daughter of Wall Street’s most notorious stock swindler, dog trainer Rylee Pierce has perfected the art of flying beneath society’s radar. Prosecutor Cooper Reed is a threat to her carefully hidden truths, but how is a woman supposed to resist a man capable of handling a psychotic Great Dane while charming her out of her panties before she has the chance to blink?

Rylee Pierce has trust issues because her father was a stock swindler. Cooper Reed is a charmer, a flirt, and atop of that, a public prosecutor. But love is such a great thing that strikes when one is least prepared, and no matter what the obstacles are, love finds its way to a happy ending. And that is exactly what happened to Rylee and Cooper.

That Dating Thing is an love-at-first-sight story. Their romance really progresses and develops nicely and the problems they encounter are resolved in a satisfying manner. The only thing I found a bit over the top is the emphasizing of Rylee’s father’s crime that occurred some ten years in the past. I think that people tend to forget these kinds of things because there are so many scandals on a daily basis. And in relation to that I found Cooper’s reaction way too selfish, not to say unnecessary, even for the sake of the story. In spite of all that, I enjoyed reading this story; it was fun, a quick read, with lot of interesting characters and two funky dogs. I love how Rylee dealt with the situation once the truth came out in public and I was so happy that Reed saw that Rylee is way more than her father’s daughter.

If you are looking for something light with big dogs with a clever and compassionate heroine, read That Dating Thing.

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

The Last Straw by Nia Simone

April 3, 2014 By 1 Comment

STRAW
The Last Straw by Nia Simone
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (55 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Ally Tobin left New York after one too many bad dates, determined to rebuild a stable life and career as a private investigator in Silicon Valley. But when the man she knew as one name walks into her office with another, will her curiosity once again lead her to risk her heart?

The last thing Special Agent Jared Green needs is “security risk” stamped on the resume of his latest undercover identity. Especially by the woman his job forced him to leave in New York without any explanation.

She may threaten his cover, but it’s his heart on the line.

He’s good at playing a part. She’s good at catching a fake. Can they trust enough to give love another chance?

Ally Tobin can hardly believe it when she sees the photo attached to a resume on a job application she’s reviewing. The man is undeniably her ex-lover, but the name and fictitious history to go with him is puzzling to say the least. When Jared secretively scrawls a note asking if she can meet him for dinner, she agrees – against her better judgment. Jared Green regrets leaving Ally in the lurch like he did, but working undercover is difficult and dangerous. Now he’s been offered a second chance, and he doesn’t plan to make the same mistakes again.

I found it really refreshing how the author hasn’t just let her hero get off the hook with his bad behavior. This is not a story where a quick grin, a few sexy moves and a simple “I’m sorry” win the heroine’s heart back over again. Ally makes Jared work for his atonement and the deeply emotional writing really won me over. Usually I’m not so keen on heroes who wear their hearts on their sleeve and over-talk everything, like a woman is wont to do. But I also realized Ally and Jared’s situation wasn’t something that the usual male uncommunicative response (or the other common “I’ll seduce her till she can’t think straight” approach) would work. Ally and Jared had some genuine issues, baggage that needed talking and a rebuilding of trust to right things between them, and I feel the author gave the reader that in spades.

Amongst the romantic relationship, there’s also a secondary plotline of someone stealing intellectual data from the company. I was a little disappointed how most of the work Jared did hunting down the thief was done off-camera. Indeed, I was surprised when mid-way through the book Ally asked if Jared was making any progress, and he simply said they’d found him and named the person responsible. None of the work, searching or detective side of this plot was really shown to the reader and I found it made this secondary plot seem very weak – as if it had just been thrown in as a reason for Jared to be present at the company and reconnect with Ally.

If you’re looking for a strongly emotional romance with a smoking hot love scene that leaves little to the imagination this is an excellent book to try. While there is a plot around the stealing of intellectual property, I found the main focus to be on the rebuilding of trust and connection between Ally and Jared, and the establishment of their relationship after Jared has left Ally high and dry. Filled with emotion and chemistry, I really enjoyed this novella.

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

Only If You Dare by Margo Hoornstra

March 31, 2014 By 1 Comment

ONLY
Only If You Dare by Margo Hoornstra
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (146 pages)
Heat Level: sweet
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Fennel

All the pleasures and none of the pain, that’s what Cynthia Buckingham wants in a relationship these days. A one-night stand with Jonah Colt seems to fit that bill perfectly. Newly divorced, she’s too busy planning her daughter’s wedding for any serious involvement. Besides, her true passion is helping victims of PTSD reclaim their lives.

Waking up after spending the night with a woman he barely knows, Jonah is stunned to realize sex for the sake of sex isn’t enough for him anymore. A veteran of more military battles than he cares to count, he wants to forget it all and focus on peaceful civilian life. Except flashbacks won’t allow it.

Falling for Cynthia makes Jonah regret his weakened state, but he’d rather hide the truth than face it. When she sets aside everything she believes in to help him heal, can he accept her help–and her love?

Given that Ms. Hoornstra sets If Only You Dare smack in the middle of the difficult emotional background of a PTSD victim and counselor, you may be forgiven for thinking this will be a depressing and difficult read. It is neither.

The author’s heroine, Cynthia Buckingham, is a well intention-ed, and well-qualified PSTD counselor. She’s read the books, passed the exams and helped victims face their future with all the tools they need.

Or has she?

War veteran, Jonah Colt, has seen it all, and survived to return home, but the memories, experiences, guilt and regrets are his constant companions. Never-the-less he’s managed to glue over the cracks and make a presentable life for himself – until he bumps into Cynthia Buckingham in the hallway of the local courthouse – and then his life changes.

The author’s characters take the reader through the trials when practice meets theory and the effects it has on her hero and heroine in a realist and sympathetic manner, and with a light touch that took this reader right into the situation. I felt Cynthia’s frustration, and Jonah’s anger. I watched as they struggled to overcome major differences and sympathized with both while wanting to knock their heads together on a couple of occasions.

Ms. Hoornstra’s writing style offers an easy read, provides clear settings and a smooth transition from scene to scene. Her character’s have depth, both in their strengths and their flaws. Her minor characters balance the struggles her hero and heroine have with learning to trust, that while they ‘listen’ they truly ‘hear’ what the other is saying.

In a short story this author has used a difficult subject to create believable characters, and a charming, easy-to-read, sweet romance.

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

April Love by Nancy Fraser

March 27, 2014 By Leave a Comment

APRIL
April Love by Nancy Fraser
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (112 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 2.5 stars
Reviewed by Hollyhock

Eleanor Martin is every company’s dream employee. She arrives early, stays late and never misses a day. If it weren’t for Eleanor’s skill as a private secretary, her architect boss would never make a deadline. Not only does she keep him on track, she runs interference between him and his over-bearing mother, his deadbeat brother, and the half dozen or so women who want to bed him and/or wed him.

When Jess Norton acquires a new client who asks him to build a palatial hideaway on Grand Cayman Island, Jess is certain he’ll never be able to complete the multi-million dollar job without the help of his efficient secretary. Despite her reservations, he convinces Eleanor to accompany him on the assignment of a lifetime.

The sun and the sand cast the perfect spell for romance. But will the tides turn in the opposite direction?

I’m a sucker for those career-themed movies from the 1950s where girls in crisply tailored suits conquer the business world and—of course!—find romance along the way. So naturally I was drawn to the premise of April Love, a novella about a secretary in 1958 who falls in love with her boss. That the romance takes place on Grand Cayman Island just adds Caribbean flair to the appeal.

Eleanor Martin is the perfect secretary and office manager. She’s her boss’s right hand woman, knows everything about the company, and is always one step ahead of his requirements. The fact that he happens to be gorgeous just adds spice to her interesting job. Her boss, architect Jess Norton, is a bit of a playboy but never lets his private life affect his dedication to his craft. When a commission requires him to travel to Grand Cayman, and no project manager is available to go with him, it is only natural that he bring along his super-efficient secretary instead. Once in the sultry tropical atmosphere of the islands, though, their relationship changes in ways neither anticipated.

The idea that leaving their familiar surroundings makes Jess and Eleanor see each other in new ways really appealed to me, but the premise didn’t hold my attention as well as I would have liked. For a novella, April Love takes a surprisingly long time to get going, and when it does, it doesn’t spend enough time developing the characters or building the emotion of the romance. Interactions that should draw the reader into Jess and Eleanor’s changing relationship are often summarized (“They sat there for the longest time, enjoying the warm evening, the cool water, and each other’s company”) or happen off-page (“They’d spent the remainder of the evening in light conversation”) while story space is expended on minor details like business arrangements and clothing choices. That lack of characterization, combined with the author’s tendency to tell rather than show, gave the story a flat quality and made me feel I had little sense of Jess and Eleanor as people and still less idea why they fell in love. Even their physical encounters were more matter-of-fact than involving (“when she offered no resistance, he pressed his lips to hers a second time”).

I wish there had been more atmosphere of the fifties. Beyond a reference to some baseball players of the era and mentions of the Pat Boone song of the title, this story could have taken place any time. In fact, I only remembered it was supposed to be the fifties when I wondered things like: would it really have been so easy to fly from Detroit to Grand Cayman in the pre-jet age and would there have been multiple daily flights to choose from? And did men wear shorts and casual shirts when dining in opulent hotels back then?

Overall, though, this story has an appealing premise and an attractive hero and heroine I wanted to root for, even if I didn’t enjoy their story as much as I would have liked.  I’m certainly not sorry I read this, and still enjoyed much of it. So, if you’re in the mood for a short read that takes place during the Golden Age of Rock and Roll, April Love might be just what you’re looking for.

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

A Song for Sophie by Mackenzie Crowne

March 18, 2014 By 4 Comments

SOPHIE
A Song for Sophie by Mackenzie Crowne
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (153 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Quince

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Jobless, practically homeless, and tired of being manless, Sophie Taylor jumps at the chance to be Beaumont Walker’s personal assistant. Six weeks on the road with country music’s bad boy–and, more importantly, his all-male crew–is the perfect opportunity to change her life.

Beau Walker doesn’t need any more distractions. Sophie, with her butt-ugly suits and balls-to-the-wall attitude, shouldn’t be one, but she proves to be distracting and more–even, surprisingly, a friend. So when he discovers her plan to snag a man from his worldly wise crew, he’s determined to protect her from herself.

When Sophie realizes Beau is behind her failure to attract even one member of his crew, the last place she expects to find herself is in his bed. But will one night of passion convince her she’s woman enough for him? Or will it destroy their friendship and his budding belief in true love?

A Song for Sophie falls into my personal hall of fame. I felt wonderful and over the moon with happiness when I read it.

This is a beautiful, delightful, flawless story of two people who would probably never meet, because they do not move in the same social circles and their interests are polar opposites. But some misfortune on the one hand and lucky coincidence on the other brought them together. It was their destiny to meet, and to fall in love. Sophie Taylor is a high school history teacher who is used to living a quiet life, that is until she became the personal assistant of a famous country singer Beaumont (Beau) Walker. But Sophie is not a doormat; on the contrary she is clever, full of wit and she knows how to deal with Beau’s moods and how to put him in place.

Beau lives a big life, on the stage and in his private life; he can be moody and he does not know what love is until he meets Sophie. Love makes both of them different, love changes them. I love the way their relationship progressed and developed and the ending is so dramatic, romantic and heartbreaking at the same time. Besides great relationship development, this story has great secondary characters who are alive, three dimensional and funny.

I enjoyed A Song for Sophie tremendously. It is so well written. It doesn’t leave loose ends and it culminates in a big satisfying, feel good HEA ending. A must read.

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

A Deal with Lord Devlin by Jennifer Ann Coffeen

March 12, 2014 By Leave a Comment

DEAL
A Deal with Lord Devlin by Jennifer Ann Coffeen
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (57 pgs)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Charlotte, the infamous Lady Mallen, has divorced her husband for his rakish ways, even taking his dog when she left. Now she wants only to be accepted by the ton, a nearly impossible desire. The Earl of Devlin’s cousin has romanced her but is announcing his betrothal to another. Forsaken and snubbed at the engagement party, she burns his love notes, one by one, in the drawing room where she has taken refuge.

When the Earl of Devlin pulls her back from his fireplace, rescuing her from a fiery mishap, he also pulls from the fire the means to redeem his family’s fortune. A scandalous deal is struck, her love letter in exchange for his help in repairing her reputation. Their bargain is sealed with a kiss that quickly spirals out of control.

So what will the Earl and his independent lady choose — honor, family loyalty, or true love?

He’s practically penniless and she is has a reputation in tatters – how can they be perfect for one another? Sometimes you just have to live for your own dreams and refuse to survive on the dictation of others – but what has to happen for someone to take that step? This short little story delivers the answers to those intriguing questions.

The tale opens up with Lord James being forced to wear the most hideous of clothing. The description of which was almost painful to witness but it does an excellent job of helping me understand the pressure that the hero is under. He’s not in a good place in his life and he’s not too sure what to do about it. Inspiration comes from an unlikely source.

Lady Charlotte Mallen walks into a ball like she owns it. However, that’s only a surface description. The author wasted no time in presenting me a heroine who at a crossroads in her life. She’s done her duty but at this point, she’s come to a realization that duty isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Life should be…more. Nothing proves that with more clarity then time spent observing an Oriental rug up close. It’s very entertaining.

As you can imagine, Charlotte and James strike sparks off one another and it shocks them both. What happens next is very spicy as a whirlwind passion overtakes them. When they both give in to their basic needs something happens. Before the revelation is presented, the hero and heroine explore a no holds barred interlude that has flavored elements of BDSM and a bit of oral fun. The author used mild language to describe the events but there’s no doubt that Charlotte lets loose her inner vixen and James ends up being the one seduced beyond control. Those scenes were quite potent.

As cute and entertaining as this story was, the weakest link is the dialogue. A few of the verbiage choices seemed either a bit modern or out of time. Sometimes it didn’t seem to fit the characters. The tone came across as having a younger voice, far younger than the protagonists are depicted. She’s a divorcee and he’s a man who seemed more mature yet sometimes they acted and said things that didn’t fit the scene, their age or the circumstance. The only time that it was perfect is when they are seducing each other. Then the dialogue compliments the scenes.

The flow of the story seemed a bit disjointed at times but the overall plot was cute and it kept my interest. The happy ever after seemed a bit too fairy tale-ish. As far as I’m concerned, there are still a few practical matters that they will have to face and it seemed a bit premature to end it the way it was ended. However, as a piece of whimsical romantic fiction with its goal being entertainment, I’d say this book succeeded.

A Deal with Lord Devlin is a cute bit of writing that was easy to read. I liked the premise, the passion and what Charlotte did with those offensive hideous clothes of James’. I think that was one of my favorite parts. If a reader is looking for a quick bit of fluff to pass the time, this novelette should do nicely.

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

Forever Beside You in Time by Bess McBride

March 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment

BESIDE
Forever Beside You in Time by Bess McBride
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (364 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Aurora Morrison scrimped and saved for a tour of Britain but, exhausted after the long plane trip to London, she falls asleep in Kensington Gardens and wakes to find herself somehow thrust back in time to 1902. The first person she meets is Jonathan Saunders, who takes her under his wing and introduces her to his family and friends as an American cousin. How can she help but fall in love with this handsome man of a bygone era? And how can she find her way home to her own time? Newly engaged Jonathan Saunders is fascinated by this mysteriously lost and confused American woman and vows to protect her. When Aurie decides to pursue her original plan–touring the British Isles–Jonathan follows her across England and Wales, his fiancee hot on his heels. He knows he can’t have it all, but he doesn’t want it all. He just wants Aurora.

Aurie has some very romantic ideas about Edwardian England. Will the reality live up to her dreams?

Aurie is definitely a fish out of water. Despite having read countless books on Victorian and Edwardian England, Aurie never could have prepared for the reality of living in a time that was much more restrictive, particularly for women. With Jonathan’s help, Aurie struggles to conform to the standards of the time. Both quickly develop feelings for each other, but Jonathan is not a free man. Only his fiancée can set him free, and she doesn’t seem inclined to let him go.

Ms. McBride definitely kept my attention throughout the novel. I was constantly wondering how in the world Jonathan would get out of his engagement. Jonathan is a man of honor who always tries to do the right thing. He would never break his word, even though he can hardly stand Emily, his fiancée. The whole situation is heartbreaking.

I do think that Jonathan and Aurie become attached too quickly. They hardly know each other and yet suddenly they are intensely in love. I would have liked the pacing of their relationship to slow down a bit, especially at the beginning. However, Jonathan and Aurie do have the opportunity to get to know each other better on the tour. As I watched their relationship blossom, it became increasingly clear that they are perfectly suited for each other.

Emily is a thoroughly unlikable character. I felt sorry that Jonathan ever had to associate with such a cold woman. I must admit that I was very confused by Emily’s conduct toward the end of the book. At first she seemed intent on having Jonathan and making Aurie’s life miserable. However, she suddenly switched her focus to other pursuits. Emily is known for her cool exterior, but she really seemed to unravel toward the end of the story. Her actions were quite erratic at times. Despite this issue, she made a good villainess. Her nasty behavior made me cheer for Aurie and Jonathan even more.

I enjoyed reading Forever Beside You in Time. Jonathan and Aurie’s romance is touching, and I found the solution to their predicament to be quite interesting. Looking to travel back in time? Give Forever Beside You in Time a try.

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