Forever Beside You in Time by Bess McBride

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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.

Champion of Sherwood by Laura Strickland

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Champion of Sherwood by Laura Strickland
The Guardians of Sherwood Trilogy Book Two
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (220 pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rated: 5 stars
Reviewed by Dandelion

When Gareth de Vavasour, nephew of the Sheriff of Nottingham, is captured by the outlaws of Sherwood Forest and held for ransom, he knows he will be fortunate to escape with his life. Amid the magic and danger that surround him, he soon realizes his true peril lies in the beautiful dark eyes of Linnet, the Saxon healer sent to tend his wounds.

Granddaughter of Robin Hood, Linnet has always known she is destined to become a guardian of Sherwood Forest, along with her sister and a close childhood companion. She believes her life well settled until the arrival of Gareth. Then all her loyalties are tested even as her heart is forced to choose between love and the ties of duty, while Sherwood declares its own champion.

Well written, with a fascinating and unusual premise, Champion of Sherwood grabbed my attention from page one. It is 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. The magic there keeps them safe and they do what they can to protect the people. When they are no longer able to provide this safety, the guardianship passes on. The next three will be the two daughters of the daughter of Robin Hood and her husband, the present guardians, Lark and Linnet, twin sisters. The third party will be a young man named Falcon. His father has been the third of the guardians till now.
The villagers raid a group of the sheriff’s men, returning from collecting taxes and kill all but one, who is the nephew of the sheriff. They hold him and plan to ask for ransom for him.

As I read I became so involved with the story, I found it difficult to put down the book. How they fight to protect the village, and how they resolve the situation, if only temporarily, is done so well, you have no doubts as to the magic surrounding them.

I was with the every moment while the story progressed. This was similar yet much different than the Robin Hood story. It is different in that the nephew becomes an important part of the solutions.

I really loved this story and would highly recommend it. I plan on finding book one in the trilogy and then the next ones as they are written. Definitely a series and an author to watch.

Mr August by Jan Romes

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Mr August by Jan Romes
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (138 pages)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fennel

Fashion designer Libby Griffin has had the week from hell–terminated from her job and heart-wrenching news from the doctor. Hoping for time alone to regroup, Libby rents a cabin on Grand Lake St. Mary’s for five months. Right away she meets the most irritating man on the planet, who also happens to be drop-dead delicious.

Recently divorced author Maxwell August has a book due, and his muse has gone into hiding. With a chip on his shoulder, his writing in stuck-mode, he heads to the lake only to encounter a monumental distraction with blonde hair and hazel eyes.

Will these two right-brainers allow the off-the-charts attraction brewing between them to grow? Or deny it to focus on the things they think are more important and miss a chance at forever?

Nearly running down the hero in the first paragraph is an attention grabbing way to open a story. And right off sparks fly between Libby Griffin and Max August. Both are reeling from major setbacks in their lives. Libby from losing her job and her boyfriend, and Max from his divorce. Neither is looking for another relationship but…

Ms. Romes offers flawed characters this reader empathized with. And she provided the hero and heroine with backup support in her minor characters too. Her use of these secondary characters to move the plot forward is woven through the fabric of the story.

While her setting is not unique it is vividly portrayed and I could easily imagine myself there at the campsite.
If I had a problem with anything it was the number of times the author had her hero and heroine driving through blizzards and ignoring the dangers and official advice to stay off the roads when snow storms hit.

All in all, I enjoyed Mr. August and in part was drawn in by the unusual title. I found Mr. August a light and enjoyable read, and read it in one sitting.

Someone to Watch Over Me by Jerrie Alexander

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Someone to Watch Over Me by Jerrie Alexander
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (96 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Stacey McKinney returned to her home town to escape a stalker. When people around her turn up dead, she fears he’s found her. Is the maniac keeping his threat by killing off anyone who gets close to her?

A different kind of risk is also in town. The man who broke her heart has also come home. Their attraction is stronger and hotter than ever, but he walked away once. Will he do it again?

A bullet ended Cash Butler’s career as an Army Ranger. His life on his horse ranch is without complications until he hears Stacey is back in town. He was a kid when her dad used his wealth and power to drive him away. He’s not that kid any longer.

When Stacey goes missing, a search proves her stalker had followed her to Oak Hill. But he’s dead. Who killed him? And who has Stacey?

Stacey’s problems are multiplying by the minute.

Ms. Alexander packed a lot of history into a rather short book. Stacey’s fear and frustration are palpable, giving the story a real sense of urgency. I found myself racing through the pages wondering just how many people wanted Stacey dead. The list of likely suspects is short, but can Stacey and Cash look beyond their painful past in time to save Stacey’s life?

At first, Stacey and Cash are a complicated couple, but once they clear up a major misunderstanding, their relationship progresses very quickly. Since Stacey and Cash have a long history, I found it easy to believe they would become serious so soon. They make a great couple and certainly have chemistry to burn.

I do wish Stacey and Cash had been a bit more rounded. Stacey struck me as the typical rich girl trying to get out from under her father’s thumb. Cash is the classic poor boy trying to make it on his own and prove his worth. While I really enjoyed the plot of their story, Stacey and Cash never really moved beyond being character types in my mind. Despite this issue, Stacey and Cash are likable, and I enjoyed watching them reconnect.

While I managed to figure out who was behind Stacey’s disappearance, I was blindsided by the culprit’s motivation. Ms. Alexander revealed a huge twist right at the end of the story that I found confusing and a bit out of place. Despite this issue, I think the conclusion as a whole was satisfying, if a bit odd.

Someone to Watch Over Me is intense and fast paced. Looking for a fun book to spend the afternoon with? Someone to Watch Over Me might be the romantic suspense for you.

One Stormy Night by K.R. Bailey

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One Stormy Night by K.R. Bailey
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (55 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

How can a hunting trip go terribly wrong?

Evie loves to hunt, and she’s a better shot than any man. Scott is fun-loving and sexy–the perfect companion. But what starts out as a wonderful date turns deadly when they witness a terrible crime and must flee for their lives.

Evie and Scott begin their day laughing and teasing, but car trouble and a freak blizzard force them to seek refuge in a deserted farmhouse. Once they get a fire started, the farmhouse seems like the perfect–and perfectly romantic–place to wait for help. Until three strangers arrive carrying assault weapons.

When they witness a murder, Evie and Scott must escape back into the frigid, snowy darkness to hide from the criminals. Only by relying on each other can they survive.

Sometimes thinking on your feet is the only option.

Evie and Scott have great chemistry. They clearly are in a new relationship, but their strong friendship makes me think they will continue to make a good match even after they’ve settled into a routine. The best scenes in this story focus on how attached they’ve become to one another.

It was difficult for me to understand why they were so underprepared for their excursion. Most hunting trips are straightforward, of course. Travelling to an extremely remote area where communication with the outside world is spotty at best requires a level of safety and first aid preparation that these characters seem to have overlooked.

Scott is clearly a very smart guy. This fuzzy thinking on his part doesn’t match up with how he responds to the crime they witness on their trip. People make mistakes, though, and how he reacts in the heat of the moment is well worth reading. I enjoyed seeing him in action, and I can understand why Evie is so attracted to him.

I would have liked to see Evie’s personality fleshed out. While it’s completely understandable that someone who doesn’t have any real experience in this kind of environment will make mistakes, certain decisions of hers defy common sense. It was difficult for me to sympathize with Evie at times because how mismatched her reactions are to her surroundings.

The setting is perfect for this tale. It’s much easier to get injured or killed in a desert than it would be in a less volatile climate. These dangers added a level of suspense to the plot that made it hard for me to stop reading until I’d reached the conclusion.

One Stormy Night is a solid blend of romance and mystery. It’s a good choice for anyone in the mood for a short, satisfying read.

He Loves Me He Loves Me Not by Kathryn Keller

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He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Kathryn Keller
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (186 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Quince

After Stacey Granger discovers Ian, the man she is about to marry, is cheating on her, she calls off their wedding and vows not to trust another man anytime soon. But when her father hires Cole Madigan to help him operate his floundering construction company, attraction blossoms between Cole and Stacey and she begins to live again.

As a former employee of Ian’s, blackballed by him and unable to find work, Cole is determined to restore his reputation. Confronted by the firm’s mounting problems, Cole and Stacey fight side-by-side to keep the business afloat after her father suffers a heart attack.

Then Ian returns admitting he made a mistake, wanting back into Stacey’s life, warning her that Cole is a womanizer and intent on taking over the business for himself. Stacey wonders if she can trust either man, or if she is just a bad judge of character about to have her heart broken again.

A feisty heroine, two guys and one ex-wife /ex-girlfriend —  that can all be very complicated and interesting at the same time. He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not had all of that and it sounded like a promising story.

It started good and intriguing, the heroine and hero meet but they did not get on well at first. But as the story progressed it seemed that the emphasis was put more on the heroine’s relationship with her ex fiancé and her father, while the relationship with the hero was happening in the background. Because of that, the whole romance seemed a bit rushed.

On the other hand when the relationship between the hero and heroine was the main focus, they spent their time in an “I love to hate you” trope. That became a bit repetitive after a while because I really couldn’t figure out why the heroine disliked and mistrusted the hero so much.

The story did not leave me indifferent though.  On the contrary and regardless of the issues that caught my attention, there was something in the story that had me enjoying it. For example, although I did not always understand the heroine’s actions I cheered for her and I was happy when she made right choices and when she saw through the villain’s schemes. I was happy that the hero found the way to the heroine’s heart and that all ended well.

Although He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not  was a bit predictable, I enjoyed it. The story flowed nicely, it had a good plot and a satisfying ending that matched the character’s personalities. I had fun reading it. Because I did find enjoyment, for me, that was enough to recommend it to those readers who reach for contemporary romances.

Twice the Trouble by Sandra Dailey

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Twice the Trouble by Sandra Dailey
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (242 Pgs)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Gardenia

Lacey Carlyle has worked for years to create the perfect blend of home, business and family. Now she risks losing everything when the land she farms is bought by the man who abandoned her thirteen years ago.

Alex has never understood why Lacey walked away from him. Now, he holds the deed to her farm and intends to make her pay. The only problem – two kids weren’t part of the plan.

Jenna and Jarrod may not see eye-to-eye but they are both determined to find happiness for their mom and keep their home safe. Can Lacey and Alex put their pasts behind them and embrace a future together?

After thirteen years, Lacey is forced to reach out to Alex. Inadvertently, he has bought the land she is leasing on which her home and business reside. As a real estate magnate, Alex is about to tear down her home and business to develop the land into ranch houses. Everything Lacey has worked so hard for is about to be taken from her leaving her destitute.

Gripping, emotional, heart wrenching … this story grabs you right away. What could be more interesting to read than a mother of twins who is fighting for the right to survive?

Lacey and Alex have a past together. He was her first and only love. After he left for the Armed Forces, Lacey was left to contend with the aftermath of their love. Shunned by Alex’s parents, Lacey was forced to depend on the only other person she had in the world – her cantankerous and opinionated grandfather.

There is also Jenna and Jerrod – the twins. They are both hardworking and protective of their mother. Being on the verge of teenage-hood, these two tornadoes make for a lively and intrepid story. As anyone who is a parent knows, this age is the beginning of the most difficult period in a young person’s life. As they assert themselves and attempt to help Lacey, these two provide for more emotional turpitude.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Although at times the plot was predictable, it still provided such enjoyment in reading that I could not help but rate this a 4 Star book. Enjoy!

Touching Ghost by Regina Carlysle

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Touching Ghost by Regina Carlysle
a SEALs On Fire story
Publisher: The Wilder Roses
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (61 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

SEAL Ren “Ghost” Ramsey never expected sparks to fly when he meets up with his childhood friend, Dr. Sadie Ballew while on leave in Key West. He’s surprised to discover she’s successful, sexy, and divorced. Sadie had always been too good for the likes of him, a son of an alcoholic and slated to become no better. He should keep her at arm’s length, but he wants nothing more to burn up the sheets with the sassy lady she’s become.

Sadie isn’t fooled by the badassed, dangerous facade Ren wears like a second skin. She only sees the sweet yet conflicted boy she loved and lost all those years ago. Afraid to let him go off on another dangerous mission without knowing how she truly feels, Sadie needs to find the confidence to make the leap from friends to lovers.

Ren Ramsey hadn’t seen Sadie Ballew in over a decade, but she still looked like a gorgeous blast of sunshine even now. She’d been a loyal friend exactly when he’d needed one, and that wasn’t something the hard as nails SEAL was likely to forget. When Sadie had heard Ren would be in Key West for a few days R and R she’d booked a flight and hotel without even thinking about it. Determined once and for all to find out if she was woman enough for the man her childhood crush had become, she’s not willing to take no for an answer. Ren wants to keep this one ray of sunshine in his life, cling to the friendship he’s always held dear with Sadie, but a man can only resist so much.

This is a lovely, spicy story of when childhood crushes finally get realized in adulthood. The author does an amazing job of presenting both Ren and Sadie. I found them interesting, vibrant characters from the first page and once I started reading about their reunion I just couldn’t stop. While this is one of a series, it’s not at all necessary to have read the other ones to fully enjoy this. Having said that, readers who want to catch up on the other SEAL team members exploits won’t find too many nuggets here. The men are all off for some R and R and the story focuses fully on Ren and Sadie. While I was pleased with this, fans of the other characters might be a bit disappointed.

The sex in this book is prolific and smoldering. There are a few oral sex scenes and some exhibitionism – both of which I found tastefully written and smoking hot to read. Definitely keep the oven mitts handy and a glass of cold water too. I really fell in love with Ren and found Sadie a perfect match for him. Finally, a heroine with a backbone who can still be sweet too! When Ren tries to ease her down gently, to “save” her from further heartbreak by letting her go, she verbally punches the hell out of him for it – and I laughed and cheered aloud at this. The only slight disappointment I had was there was no plot outside of Ren and Sadie getting together. There’s tension knowing Ren will have to go back out into the field, and the heat of them finally taking that step beyond friends was amazing, but a little more plot or conflict would have made this a perfect book. But I adored the characters and found this still a really excellent story and one I plan to recommend to friends.

Nothing is sexier than a man in uniform, and a SEAL who has overcome a hard past and finally claimed the women he grew up loving is a hard act to beat. With awesome characters, good pacing and a lovely writing style, Regina Carlysle is definitely someone I want to look into, and this series is one I plan to look up again.

Tamed By the Fire by Maxine Mansfield

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Tamed By the Fire by Maxine Mansfield
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Fantasy
Length: Full (344 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Poppy

Kitrina Dragonheart is a hunted woman, but the last thing the savvy rogue wants is to partner in a quest with the arrogant but oh-so-sexy prince who deflowered her. But when the threat extends to her legacy and her loved ones, she has no choice but to accept his skills as an extraordinary warrior. Now if she can just get past the distraction of his touch.

Barbarian Zander Hammerstrike vowed to protect Kit with his life. But who’s going to protect Zander from the sensually sassy human? She’s playing havoc on his sanity—as well as his libido—and she’s on the verge of stealing his heart…again. He can’t let that happen. As future ruler of Alaria, Zander must take a barbarian wife to keep the bloodline pure, and Kit being human…

Destined from birth to follow different paths, their love seems impossible, but does the Dragon Heart Opal have other plans in store for the pair?

My favorite book in the series so far, Tamed By the Fire was hot, fun, and exciting. And the gnomes are slowly starting to grow on me.

Kit’s been crushing on Zander for as long as she can remember, and she’s chosen him for the one to take her virginity during her deflowering ceremony. While she can’t see into his mind, we can, and we know the idea of being with her is more than tempting. Unfortunately, he’s heir to the throne and there are very strict guidelines on who he must marry, so he doesn’t want to act on his feelings, and says some unflattering things about her to make it seem he’s less interested than he is. Still, after much time and strong encouragement by her parents, he agrees to her deflowering.

It makes for a very hot scene as he’s determined to make sure she enjoys her first time. Ms. Mansfield is remarkably skilled in her writing of these scenes… they’re descriptive, sexy, and stimulating, but not coarse. Exactly the type of sex scene I appreciate most.

There’s a misunderstanding immediately following, and it causes years to pass before Zander and Kit meet again. I admit to being a bit frustrated by it — If Kit had simply asked one question of Zander, it wouldn’t have been the mess it was. Still, she was very young and immature, so it wasn’t completely outside of her nature to behave the way she did.

And the gnomes … we can’t have a review without mentioning them. I think the gnomes were less annoying to me this book because they were integral to much of the plot, whereas they’ve typically felt more like comic relief and not much else in the other books. You get their disgusting sense of humor here, but they do more than entertain.

When Zander and Kit meet again, Zander is sworn to protect her when it’s discovered her life is in danger. This, of course, forces them to spend time together and the spark is still humming between them.

We see characters from previous books as well, but I think this story stands alone fine.

There’s plenty of fantasy action here, as well as many typical fantasy characters that one expects including elves and dragons and more. There’s magic and mischief and really it’s just a book that succeeds famously in entertaining the reader. It seems the author just keeps getting better with each book.

If you’re a fan of fantasy, but want plenty of heat with your story, I recommend grabbing a copy of Tamed By the Fire, and probably the three books before this one. I think you’ll be glad you did.

Switcheroo by Herbert P. Holeman

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Switcheroo by Herbert P. Holeman
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (178 Pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

When environmentalism clashes with financial treachery, the results can be murder…

A nature advocate, Erin Archer, is working to restore a now-flooded and dammed up Hetch Hetchy Valley in the Yosemite National Park to its original state. When her father, a private investigator and experienced mountaineer, dies in a rock-climbing fall, Erin doesn’t believe it’s an accident. Determined to find the truth, she uncovers a connection between her father’s last case and Nick Oliver, a business intelligence analyst.

Fired from his job in San Francisco, Nick is seeking refuge in the coastal redwoods when Erin brings his solace to a jolting end. Even though he doesn’t think his work has any connection to her father’s death, Nick can’t resist her plea for help.

However, Nick and Erin’s sleuthing begins to make someone very nervous…and dangerous. Just how far is that someone willing to go to hide the truth?

Nick Oliver is fired from his job as a business intelligence analyst with no reasons given. Nick sees this as a chance to rethink the direction his life is going in and so he heads off to the coastal redwoods to relax and get a better perspective on his life. But then he meets Erin Archer who is convinced that her father’s death was not an accident and she asks Nick to help her find out who killed her father.

Switcheroo is an exciting, fast-paced mystery. Erin and Nick are both good detectives and they stir up a lot of trouble as they seek to find the answer to Erin’s father’s death. Soon they are being tailed and threatened by a pair of low life private eyes. I liked both Erin and Nick and I was quickly caught up in the mystery, trying to figure things out right along with them. The mystery takes a number of turns along the way, but I didn’t figure out who did it until the very end. The plot was well-crafted and the pacing was good.

There is also a wealth of environmental history given in the novel, and I found this both timely and interesting. In addition, the world of business intelligence analysis was revealed and again, it was a real eye-opener. While I was enjoying the mystery, I also learned a lot about both fields, and that makes for a great combination in my opinion.

The setting is described with excellent details so that I felt as if I were right in San Francisco or the coastal redwoods. The atmosphere is complete and very realistic. There are a number of minor characters, several of whom are portrayed with depth and richness so that the entire novel feels very lifelike and authentic.

Mystery lovers are sure to enjoy Switcheroo. Keeping track of the twists and turns as Nick and Erin try to solve the puzzle is a ride well worth taking.