REVIEW: The Secret Rooms: A True Story of a Haunted Castle, a Plotting Duchess, and a Family Secret by Catherine Bailey
Stevie‘s review of The Secret Rooms: A True Story of a Haunted Castle, a Plotting Duchess, and a Family Secret by Catherine Bailey
Biography and Memoir published by Penguin Books 31 Dec 13
This book is both a biography and a memoir, although it was originally planned as something else entirely. The story of the author’s research, fraught with unexpected difficulties, is interwoven with the story of the late Ninth Duke of Rutland, the man she decided to focus her work on after originally planning to write the story of his estate workers during the First World War. And a fascinating story it turned out to be, even if some sections of the Duke’s story are still a little obscured by the scarcity of documents relating to three distinct periods of his life. Then again, without the author’s diligent work, we’d probably know nothing at all about what happened in those gaps and would have been deprived of a compelling account of one aristocratic family’s struggle to continue their name into the next generation.
REVIEW: The Bride Says No by Cathy Maxwell
Liviania’s review of The Bride Says No (The Brides of Wishmore, Book 1) by Cathy Maxwell
Historical Romance published by Avon 28 Jan 14
I enjoyed the Chattan Curse series, the first books I’d ever read by Cathy Maxwell, so I decided to take a look at her new series. I definitely like the title The Bride Says No, and the blurb seemed mildly intriguing. A potential public jilting, a ruined reputation — there’s quite a bit of potential drama there. And The Bride Says No really is a page turner.
REVIEW: Dark Bites by Sherrilyn Kennyon
Veena’s review of Dark Bites (Dark Hunter, Book 24) by Sherrilyn Kennyon
Paranormal Romance published by St. Martins Press 21 Jan 14
I am not a huge fan of short stories unless they’re freebies you download. I’ve always felt a collection of this nature is just another way to package and commercialize little tidbits that provide additional content to existing stories. So when I was invited to read this collection. my first instinct was to refuse. However……
REVIEW: Emily: Sex and Sensibility by Sandra Marton
Veena’s review of Emily: Sex and Sensibility (The Wilde Sisters, Book 1) by Sandra Marton
Contemporary Romance self published through Amazon Digital Services 28 Apr 13
Poor little rich girl. Emily is overshadowed in a family of overachievers. Not content to rest on the family laurels or money, she moves away to New York, determined to find herself in the big city. She’s willing to try anything, but either her family name or beauty get in the way. Still hopeful, she changes her name and continues to try until one cold and rainy night she’s finally at rock bottom when billionaire Marco Santini comes to her rescue. One good Samaritan act from a man with more money than heart might provide Emily with the opportunity that she needs. read more…
REVIEW: Dark Heat by Donna Grant
Veena’s review of Dark Heat (The Dark King Stories, Books 0.1-0.3) by Donna Grant
Paranormal Romance published by St Martin Paperbacks 31 Dec 13
We’ve been introduced to the secret behind Dreagan Whisky and had the opportunity to meet the dragon kings as they helped the dark warriors and their druids vanquish evil. Clearly we all know that evil won’t stay down for long and we’ll need new warriors on the white side and, lo and behold, welcome the dragon kings. While I thoroughly enjoyed these stories, I didn’t know that they had all already been released in e-format over the summer and this book is a just a compilation of these short stories. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this up-close and intimate look into Guy, Banan, and Hal’s stories and am salivating at those still to come.
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REVIEW: All I Want for Christmas is a Cowboy by Cane, Ryan & Lane
Sandy M’s review of All I Want for Christmas is a Cowboy Anthology by Emma Cane, Jennifer Ryan & Katie Lane
Contemporary Romance published by Avon Impuse 10 Dec 13
I have one more Christmas book I unfortunately didn’t get my review written for during the holiday season, but I wanted to let all of you know about it, because it’s a darned good book about some really sexy cowboys. I’ve been in a cowboy mood lately, and these novellas certainly hit the spot. So even though it’s holiday-themed, it’s never too late to find some fun and lovin’ in the arms of a cowboy.
REVIEW: The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles by Katherine Pancol
Veena’s review of The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles by Katherine Pancol
Women’s Fiction published by Penguin Books 31 Dec 13
This title sounded intriguing, so I picked this book over another about fairy tales, which, as it turns out, is the better choice in light of Stevie’s review on her book. As to what crocodiles are doing in a French tale with very convoluted family relationships, you’ll have to read the book to find out, but, I assure you, there are definitely crocodiles in the story – a lot of them as it turns out. I found myself becoming a part of Josephine’s family as she deals with the crap that life hands out, and she makes the best of it until she moves into the light as a self-confident, vibrant woman. Through Josephine’s eyes we get to see how family and friends shape us into the people we are and how adversity can actually free us to soar.
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REVIEW: Kisses, She Wrote by Katharine Ashe
Stevie‘s review of Kisses, She Wrote (The Prince Catchers Book 1.5) by Katharine Ashe
Historical Romance novella published by Avon Impulse 03 Dec 13
This is one of those books that feels very much as if two separate, competing stories have been shoehorned together to provide sufficient word count for the desired book length. The first seems to be a Christmas treat for fans of the previous book, which I haven’t read and am not really encouraged to read on the basis of what we see here. The second story is altogether more interesting and could have stood very well by itself were the book not destined to be a series extra. Although the story is set around Christmas and New Year, there are only a few festive touches in there, so it should work well at other times of the year too.
DUCK CHAT: Getting to Know Alison McQueen
Alison McQueen has one of those lives that makes for great imagination that a writer benefits from with every word written.
With an Indian mother and an English jazz musician father, life experiences were hers for the taking as she grew up in London. Thus began her inspiration for her latest book, Under the Jeweled Sky.
We want to introduce you to both Alison and her book. Be sure to read our review of Under the Jeweled Sky and also enjoy these few minutes with Alison in today’s Duck Chat.
REVIEW: Under the Jeweled Sky by Alison McQueen
Veena’s review of Under the Jeweled Sky by Alison McQueen
Historical Fiction published by Sourcebooks Landmark 21 Jan 14
When I was first offered this book to review, I was concerned that my ethnic heritage might make me more critical than most in the reading and reviewing, but then remembering that one of my all-time favorite romance novels is Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye, I felt that I would be able to do it justice . Perhaps I should have heeded my first instincts after all. read more…
