Review: Smoke on the Water by Lori Handeland

Posted August 5, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Smoke on the Water
Series: Sisters of the Craft #3
Author: Lori Handeland
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Published: August 4, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Abandoned beneath a black willow tree on the banks of a northern Wisconsin creek, Willow Black spent her entire childhood in foster care. Her entire life she’s had terrifying visions, and it is these visions that eventually land her in a psychiatric facility. And so Willow takes her meds and believes she is getting better. Until she meets a fellow patient who doesn’t think she is crazy at all. She thinks Willow is a witch.

Willow’s psychiatrist, Dr. Sebastian Crane, works hard to resist his feeling that he and Willow are destined to be together while also working to convince her that strange occurrences aren’t the result of witchcraft… until he is thrown into the middle of a storm of supernatural events that can’t be explained any other way.

Reunited after four hundred years, three sisters join together to vanquish the power that tore them apart…and embrace the sorcery that is their birthright.

Abandoned as an infant, Willow Black spent her childhood in foster care, the object of whispers and pity…and rumors about being certifiably crazy. Telling your young friends that you can foresee the future-and summon the rain-is a surefire way to end up in the psychiatric ward. But when Dr. Sebastian Frasier arrives at the facility, Willow’s whole life takes a turn. Sebastian is the handsomest man she’s ever actually laid eyes on-even though he has been in Willow’s visions for years. But not even she could have predicted the storm of passion that engulfs them both. With Sebastian by her side, Willow is emboldened to embrace her history, and the sisters she never knew. Soon, the true power in her blood awakes-and the battle she was born to fight begins. While the tempest rages, Willow must depend on the friends and family she’s found-and the man she has loved forever.

Read on for my thoughts on Smoke on the Water. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: His Every Need by Terri L. Austin

Posted August 3, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: His Every Need
Series: Beauty and the Brit #1
Author: Terri L. Austin
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: August 5, 2014
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: Owned, Kindle Edition
Cover Description:

How far will she go to hold on to her family home?

When Allie Campbell’s father loses their home to British tycoon Trevor Blake, she pleads for more time to pay off the loan. But Trevor refuses to acknowledge his own family, so he’s completely unconcerned with hers. Allie impulsively offers to do anything to keep the house, so he teasingly tells her to move in with him and cater to his every need. To his amazement, she agrees.

Read on for my thoughts on His Every Need. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: To Be His by Terri L Austin

Posted August 2, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: To Be His
Series: Beauty and the Brit (companion novella)
Author: Terri L. Austin
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: August 1, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

I didn’t amass an empire without taking risks, but I’m not a complete arse. So yes, when I offered to trade Allie Campbell three months as my mistress for her family home, it was a joke. Only thing is, she wasn’t laughing…and she bloody well took me up on it.

Well, all right then; I could play that game. I figured I’d take her on, we’d have some fun, and in three months, she’d walk away with her family intact and I could get back to what I do best: making money.

But I’d made one mistake along the way. I stupidly assumed that after having her, I could walk away. I was wrong. I don’t know how long this feeling-this consuming need-will last, but I’m not ready to let her go.

Not now. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Read on for my thoughts on To Be His. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: She’s The One by Kim Boykin

Posted August 1, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: She’s the One
Series: Island Bliss #32
Author: Kim Boykin
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: August 10, 2014
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: Borrowed, Kindle Unlimited
Cover Description:

Melissa Bliss has just set a personal record. She’s matched up 49 couples, and she’s just itching to make it 50. While most days find her working at her Isle of Palms vacation property, Island Bliss, her true passion lies with matchmaking, a gift handed down through generations. Melissa cherishes using her gift to find the perfect match for friends, lonely hearts visiting the island and anyone but herself.

Shane Carver would like to make a match with Melissa since he met her six months ago. Trouble is, Melissa’s believes Shane’s perfect match is the tall, stacked brunette who’s new in town. While Melissa admits she has strong feelings for Shane, going against her matchmaking gift when all signs point to a different soul mate for Shane, isn’t an option.

To prove that Melissa’s the one for him, Shane will have to convince her to go against everything she thinks knows about true love and perfect matches and for once to listen to her own heart.

Read on for my thoughts on She’s the One. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Impossible by Laurel Ulen Curtis

Posted July 31, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Impossible
Series: Huntsford Hearts #1
Author: Laurel Ulen Curtis
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 28, 2015 (original June 24, 2013)
Publisher:
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley & Kindle Edition
Cover Description:

One Accident. Two losses. Three years.

Veronica Russo chases storms, but runs from her past by staying firmly in the present. Unwilling to consider the possibility of a future, she’s checked out of life by using solitude and standoffishness as her armor and a sharp tongue and quick wit as her weapons.

Coleman Cade is a walking contradiction- just like his mismatched eyes. A rough and manly bull rider with a playful side. A ladies man with thousands of willing victims, but what he really wants is one woman. The right woman.

Will Roni be able to let go, move on, and find a way to fulfill her dream of having everything? Or will unsubstantiated choices and unresolved demons stand in the way of their happily ever after?

In order to overcome past tragedies and find true happiness- in order to have Everything- Roni needs to do one thing. Find the impossible.

Read on for my thoughts on Impossible. No true spoilers, promis.

How Much Do Book Covers Matter?

Posted July 30, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 0 Comments

Lately when I browse through Amazon or even my local Wal-Mart on the look out for new and interesting books – I could swear I’m seeing double or even triple.

I’m seeing books with the same cover. And to be frank – I don’t like it.

Book covers are often a way that I identify whether I’ve read a book before or not… OR… I know a book is coming out, have a picture of the cover in my mind and in a hurry pick up a book… the wrong book. Yeah, I know my bad.

I freely admit that I love book covers, they are a special kind of art and as such I often will pick up a book purely because the cover draws me in. So when I see that same cover on more than one book it’s not only confusing – it’s also annoying to me.

Okay, I’m not trying to be rude here – I suppose there could be a hundred and one reasons for using the same cover for totally different books. I simply don’t understand why.

To me as a reader, the cover is part of the book’s story. I might visualize the characters based on the cover photo, or even a location that is unique to one story because it fits the story perfectly. There is an emotional attachment to book covers for me – and I know I’m not alone in this.

How about you?

Review: I Don’t Want To Talk About It by Jane Lovering

Posted July 30, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: I Don’t Want To Talk About It
Series: Yorkshire Romances #5
Author: Jane Lovering
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 31, 2015
Publisher: Choc Lit
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

What if the one person you wanted to talk to wouldn’t listen?

Winter Gregory and her twin sister Daisy live oceans apart but they still have the ‘twin thing’ going on. Daisy is Winter’s port in the storm, the first person she calls when things go wrong …

And things are wrong. Winter has travelled to a remote Yorkshire village to write her new book, and to escape her ex-boyfriend Dan Bekener. Dan never liked her reliance on Daisy and made her choose – but Winter’s twin will always be her first choice.

She soon finds herself immersed in village life after meeting the troubled Hill family; horse-loving eight-year-old Scarlet and damaged, yet temptingly gorgeous, Alex. The distraction is welcome and, when Winter needs to talk, Daisy is always there.

But Dan can’t stay away and remains intent on driving the sisters apart – because Dan knows something about Daisy…

Read on for my thoughts on I Don’t Want To Talk About It. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Midnight Kiss by Nancy Gideon

Posted July 30, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Midnight Kiss
Series: Touched by Midnight #1, Midnight #1
Author: Nancy Gideon
Genre: Paranormal
Published: July 12, 2015 ebook edition (original May 1, 1994 by Pinnacle)
Publisher: ImaJinn Books
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley (& an original paperback owned)
Cover Description:

Hunt or be hunted . . . A centuries old obsession stalks a noble family fighting to hide their dark secret from an ever-changing world. Sink your teeth into Nancy Gideon’s Touched by Midnight series.

A DARK CURSE

Miss Arabella Howland is content to forgo the London marriage mill to assist her father in his research, especially when it comes to his intriguing patient, Louis Radman. But it’s not long before Bella’s curiosity alerts her to the danger of her father’s work . . . and to the fact that Louis is not who or what he seems.

A BRIGHT PROMISE

After centuries struggling with his vile existence, Louis Radman will soon be free of his affliction, thanks to his very capable physician. Unfortunately, his heart is less secure around the man’s tempting daughter. His yearning to walk in the light once more is complicated by his desire for the delightful Bella, who is as intelligent as she is fearless. But if history has taught him anything, it’s not to tempt fate.

AN UNFORGIVING PAST

Still, happiness has a price and Louis is soon reminded that mortality comes with unfortunate limitations. To protect his new bride, he must face the demons from his past who wish to pull him back into their vampiric fold.

Yet, if he’s forced to return to his midnight world, will he lose his beloved Bella forever?

Read on for my thoughts on Midnight Kiss. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Pleasure Island by Anna-Lou Weatherley

Posted July 30, 2015 by Marsha in Women's Fiction / 0 Comments

Title: Pleasure Island
Series:
Author: Anna-Lou Weatherley
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Published: July 31, 2015
Publisher: Bookouture
My Rating: 5 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Secrets. Scandal. Betrayal. In Paradise, pleasure comes at a dangerously high price…

Three couples each receive an exclusive invitation to the fantasy holiday destination of a lifetime…

The host: Martin McKenzie, global billionaire and media mogul. Charismatic, powerful and always gets what he wants.

The location: A breathtakingly beautiful undiscovered island, nestled in the Aegean Sea. Private, secluded and not quite as it seems.

The details: Seven days of pure hedonism, five-star luxury tailored to every desire, also includes… secrets, lies, and infidelity.

As the guests begin to enjoy everything the luxury island has to offer, cracks begin to surface between the three couples. But that is not all. Someone is watching them. When they discover the truth – it will be explosive in more ways than they can ever imagine.

Read on for my thoughts on Pleasure Island. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Unbound by Emily Goodwin

Posted July 29, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Unbound
Series: The Guardian Legacies #1
Author: Emily Goodwin
Genre: Paranormal
Published: July 27, 2015 (original 2011)
Publisher:
My Rating: 3 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

The world of ghosts and spirits is nothing new to Anora Benson; she’s spent her whole life trying to ignore them, trying to be normal. But when the Pricolici, a group of ancient bounty hunters, are sent after her, Anora realizes she is more than just a medium.

As a witch she has power, power she doesn’t know how to use, power that makes her vulnerable to the demons that desire her gifts. Anora is alone and scared, forced to face the darkness on her own.

Then she meets Ethan, a handsome and mysterious stranger who shows up in her life right along with the magic, and he seems to know quite a bit about her and the Coven she hails from. Will she risk everything by trusting him or risk fighting alone?

Read on for my thoughts on Unbound. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Opposing the Cowboy by Margo Bond Collins

Posted July 29, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 0 Comments

Title: Opposing the Cowboy
Series: Hometown Heroes #2
Author: Margo Bond Collins
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: July 28, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Bliss
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:

Yoga teacher LeeAnn Walker has no desire to see the unspoilt beauty of her grandmother’s ranch violated by a greedy oil company. But unless she finds the paperwork confirming she owns the mineral rights, that’s exactly what could happen. The worst part? The guy spearheading the whole mess is none other than the hot and sexy stranger LeeAnn just kissed to make her ex jealous.

Jonah Hamilton thought his day was looking up until he found out the gorgeous blonde who kissed the hell out of him is the same stubborn woman he came to town for. And she’s not too happy to find out she might be forced to allow drilling on her land.

But Jonah has a job to do, even if LeeAnn tempts him to turn his professionalism into something much more personal.

Read on for my thoughts on Opposing the Cowboy. No true spoilers, promise.