C2′s review of One Reckless Summer (Destiny Series, Book 1) by Toni Blake
Contemporary Romance published by Avon 26 May 09

One Reckless Summer is the first book in the Destiny series.  I read the second book first (I hate going out of order but Ms. Blake was new to me), but I must say that they stand alone very, very well – probably the best of any series books I’ve ever read.

Jenny Tolliver has always been a good girl – well-behaved, polite, got
good grades, followed the rules…her father is Chief of Police, for
crying out loud – but being good hasn’t worked out all that well for
her, as things happen.

Jenny has come home to Destiny after catching her husband Terrance making out with a student teacher.  In a classroom. Apparently they had been involved for a while because Jenny wasn’t passionate enough for him, she was just so good…too good.

After the divorce, Jenny decides she wants to re-evaluate her life.  She
went along with a lot of things because Terrance thought it would be
best for them, but now she can do what she wants.  Now she has come
back to the lake house she grew up in to heal and decide what happens
next.

One night when she needs space to think, Jenny (an amateur
astronomer) paddles across the lake to a favorite star-gazing hill.  No big
deal since the family that owns the land left Destiny ages ago…or so
everyone thinks.  As Jenny is climbing the hill, she bumps into Mick
Brody.

She remembers him from when they were younger – the bad boy a
good girl like her would never associate with.  When Mick tells her she
is trespassing and to run along “like a good girl,” it is the last straw.
An argument turns into a very steamy encounter in the woods.  I’ll admit
I thought about ticks and mosquitoes but they didn’t.

I must say that the good girl/bad boy romance is a favorite of mine,
faithful reader, and this book follows that plot line very nicely.  In
fact, the bad boy is even more forbidden because he isn’t supposed to be
in town at all and, if anyone finds out, he could be in very serious
trouble.  And not a made up bit of drama trouble – although the
circumstances of the setup are unlikely in real life, the fallout
would be very real trouble.

Watching Jenny and Mick deal with their relationship and the relationships they have with others over the course of the book feelsreal.  They aren’t perfect people – not even good girl Jenny – but they try to do the best they can.  I enjoyed this book very much – more thanthe second in the series even, because the hero and heroine are more likeable.

If you are in the mood for a touching, steamy read, you should
totally check this one out.

Grade: B+

Summary:

It’s tough to play it cool on a sultry summer night . . .
The perfect daughter. The perfect prom queen. The perfect wife. Jenny Tolliver’s been the good girl all her life, and it’s gotten her nowhere. Now that her marriage has been busted up by her cheating ex, she’s decided it’s time to regroup and rediscover herself. This summer she’s headed back to her hometown of Destiny, Ohio, to the very lakeshore cottage where she grew up, to figure out what life holds in store for her next.
She never dreamed the answer would be Mick Brody, Destiny’s #1 hellraiser. He comes from the wrong side of the tracks (or in his case, the lake), and he’s landed in hot water more times than he can count. He’s exactly the kind of guy Jenny’s always kept her distance from . . . but soon the good girl and the bad boy are caught in a raw heat that’s out of control. Too bad Mick’s got a secret that threatens to tear them apart and ruin Jenny’s perfectly, passionately reckless summer . . .

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of Taming the Highland Bride (Devil of the Highlands, Book 2) by Lynsay Sands
Historical Romance published by Avon 26 Jan 10

I keep telling myself, every time I read a current book from Lynsay Sands, that I’m going to pull all of her books from the TBR mountain and put them right on top so I can get to them soon. I love her writing, her characters, her stories, I love everything about her books. Sigh. My problem is time, but I’m one step closer. I’ve found a good portion of her books in that mountain and they’re nearly ready to be read. Just have to find the rest now, because I refuse to read Ms. Sands out of order anymore. I want the full effect from start to finish, and I intend to have it!

This is the second book in the Devil of the Highland series. The hero, Alexander, is the brother of the heroine from that first book, so we do get a little update about Cullen and Evelinde along the way.

Alexander has just learned of his father’s death, so he’s come home from the Crusades at last. That’s when he learns his sister is married to the Devil of the Highlands and he’s determined to make sure she’s well and happy at that man’s hands. But before he can begin his journey, word comes that his intended bride is on her way to him. Having put off marrying the Stewart Shrew so far, it looks as though the deed will now have to be done.

Tired of picking up after and taking care of her father and brothers, drunken sots that they are, when they give Merry the news they’re taking her to her betrothed, her resistance lasts only so long. Anything has to be better than the life she’s led since her mother died. Leaving behind the tedious and heading toward a new adventure, Merry finally comes face to face with Alexander and learns he isn’t any better than the men in her family. Her new life will be exactly like her old.

But Alexander is determined to prove to his new wife that he’s truly not what she believes. So begins the wooing and loving between these two characters, who I thoroughly enjoyed. Alexander is confident in his position as laird, has a good rapport with his people, and knows he’s got a good woman and means to keep her. Merry has a heart that wants to experience love, companionship, and some wildness thrown in for good measure, and she eventually knows that Alexander is the one to give all of that to her.

They work hard at their relationship and when all comes together is when danger shows up on their doorstop and defeating that peril together only makes them stronger. This is another terrific book from Ms. Sands and I’m anxiously looking forward to the third book in the series, The Hellion and the Highlander. Release is only a month away!

Grade: A+

Summary:

She was ready to let her heart run wild . . .

Merry Stewart has had enough! Enough of her brothers, whose behavior would make even the most improper lady blush. Enough of their highland home, which would surely have fallen to ruin were it not for her. She dreams of escaping into the arms of her betrothed, Alexander d’Aumesbery—even though they haven’t yet met. But when they do, Merry is devastated. It seems he’s no better than the men in her family.

So beautiful, so brazen . . . From the moment he meets Merry, Alexander is overcome with desire. Desperate to convince her he’s nothing like the members of her roguish clan, he will prove he is every bit the well-mannered gentleman. Yet beneath it all beats a heart as intense and uncontrollable as hers. And finally, when his life is threatened, Merry realizes he’s the husband she’s been waiting for . . . and their passion becomes the one thing that cannot be tamed.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Liviania’s review of Dream Stalker by Jenna Kernan
Paranormal romance released by Silhouette Nocturne 1 Dec 09

Jenna Kernan gets bonus points for using Lakota mythology. As urban fantasy and paranormal romance have become more popular, authors have diversified their interests from vampires.  But Native American myths remain sadly underused, possibly because many of their legends are lost to us.  Nowadays folklorists work to preserve those myths, but nothing helps more to preserve a culture than getting people interested in it.

That is not to say that Dream Stalker is a cultural artifact.  It’s a likeable story, but predictable.  Kernan’s system of Halflings is intriguing, and I hope to see her do more world-building in this Lakota influenced setting in later books.  Dream Stalker is the story of Michaela Proud, a woman who can see spirits and is on the run from the Ruler of all Ghosts, Nagi.  Her attempts to escape him attract the attention of Sebastian, who can turn into a bear.

Michaela, of course, is not just an ordinary human.  She’s a little passive for my taste, spending most of the novel following Sebastian and letting him protect her.  In the end, I can’t fault her much for that since there wasn’t a better action she could take.  She isn’t weak.  She decides what she wants and pursues it, not allowing other characters to decide what they think is best for her.  But until she began making those decisions, she felt somewhat blank to me.

Sebastian is better realized.  He wants love and acceptance, but has been burned by humans before.  A previous girlfriend took issue with the fact he could turn into a bear, increasing his wariness to become involved with a non-skinwalker.  Of course, as Michaela becomes easier to understand he tends toward silliness as he refuses to trust her.  At the point where she finally convinces him of her love, I’d understand it if she smacked him and informed him that if she didn’t love him she’s have left him five chapters ago.  (At which point every other character in the book would say, “Duh.”)

Nagi is an intense bad guy.  How do you escape someone who can track your soul?  How do you fight a spirit?  Kernan leaves Dream Stalker open ended, with Nagi plotting another way to gain power.  (In fact, it sounded like she might write a story where Nagi gets redeemed by love.  I could be wrong.)  As I said before, if she continues writing in this setting I would be happy to read more, but I’m not sure that I like the brief passage about Nagi that keeps the story from being totally resolved.

The writing and romance in Dream Stalker are slightly above average.  I wouldn’t say there was anything unusual, but the setting was fresh and there weren’t any major flaws.  Dream Stalker was pleasant, if not earth-shattering.  I hope Kernan aims higher next time, because it feels like she could write a memorable paranormal romance as opposed to a serviceable one.

Grade: B+

Summary:
Native American Michaela Proud thinks her escalating nightmares signal madness. But the truth is far worse. For she is being stalked by the god of death. And when she suffers a brutal attack at his hands, she awakens to find a devastatingly handsome stranger kneeling before her. Whose gentle touch eases her pain…and makes her feel safe.
An Inanoka shape-shifter and healer, Sebastian doesn’t want to feel anything for the beautiful woman he’s rescued. But he can’t abandon her once he discovers she has a spirit wound. As he cares for Michaela, he realizes that he can read her thoughts, emotions… and desire. Sebastian realizes that he’s found his true mate. But will she accept him once she learns his darkest secret?
Read an excerpt here.

Liviania’s review of Rage: A Love Story by Julie Anne Peters
LGBTQ Young Adult released by Knopf Books for Young Readers 8 Sept 09

Julie Anne Peters is known for writing novels about LGBTQ teens.  While the main characters of Rage are lesbian or bisexual, it’s not a focus of the story.  Johanna and Reeve are both out and comfortable with their sexuality, though every once in awhile someone says something derogatory to one of them.  The focus, instead, is on their emotional issues caused by unstable family life.

I’ve read books about abusive relationships before.  Alex Flinn’s Breathing Underwater is an excellent look into the head of an abuser, and her Diva an equally interesting portrait of the girl recovering from the relationship and beginning new ones.  Sarah Dessen’s Dreamland is an equally compelling look at a girl and why she would stay with the guy abusing her.  Rage plays with the formula by making Johanna not an ordinary girl fighting to stay with her abuser, but a girl who was severely damaged before she even entered the relationship.

When the book begins, Johanna has been fantasizing about Reeve as an escape to her life.  Her mother and father are dead; her sister stayed at college while she cared for their dying mother.  At the crucial point when she needed Tessa’s support, her sister said nothing.  With that trust broken, the only person she can rely on is her best friend Novak.  But Novak’s dating a scummy guy, and pretty soon her relationship with Johanna is on the rocks.  And Johanna’s fantasy relationship is about to become a reality.

Reeve had an abusive father, and now she’s left with her druggie mother and abusive uncle.  She also has to care for her autistic twin brother.  She’s grown up with only Robbie’s love, and she’s best at using people.  She isn’t the classic abuser, trying to keep Johanna under her thumb.  Reeve wants to push Johanna away because she understands the relationship isn’t healthy.  I half expected Johanna to erupt into a rage of her own, the psychopath upset that the reality isn’t her ideal.

Despite being almost 300 pages, Rage felt a little thin.  Rage is a psychological novel, and there’s little going on aside from a series of interconnected relationships.  It’s in Johanna’s point of view, but I still found her the most opaque character.  I understand her on a logical level, but not an emotional one.  (It’s hard to explain.) However, the supporting cast helps out by being engaging.  I can’t help but wish for more of Novak in the novel.  She’s a magnetic presence, even when her actions are repulsive.

Rage can be enjoyed even by those who dislike lesbian content.  The only actual sex scene is done subtly, and Johanna’s (explicit) fantasies are clearly marked by heading and italics.  For those who have been in abusive relationships, Rage may contain triggers.  Other than that, it’s extremely interesting on a psychological level.  But for those who prefer plot-driven fiction to character-driven, it might not be the best choice.  I have not read Peters before, but I would be willing to try one of her other novels out based on Rage. (Edit: Just looked at the author bio and I know I’ve read Define “Normal.” But it’s been a long time and I remember nothing.)  She seems to have a strong understanding of the way teenagers really act, always a bonus in YA novels.

Grade: B

Summary:
Johanna is steadfast, patient, reliable; the go-to girl, the one everyone can count on. But always being there for others can’t give Johanna everything she needs—it can’t give her Reeve Hartt.

Reeve is fierce, beautiful, wounded, elusive; a flame that draws Johanna’s fluttering moth. Johanna is determined to get her, against all advice, and to help her, against all reason. But love isn’t always reasonable, right?

In the precarious place where attraction and need collide, a teenager experiences the dark side of a first love, and struggles to find her way into a new light.
Read an excerpt here.

Gwen’s review of Bound to Shadows (Riley Jensen, Book 8 ) by Keri Arthur
Urban Fantasy released by Dell 27 Oct 09

It’s been a while since I read and reviewed one of the Riley Jensen books.  Have I told you lately how much I love this series?  Well, I love this series.  Of all the Urban Fantasy, first person POV series out there, this is one of the best.  I’m always amazed at how totally immersed into Riley’s  stories I become.  And since Arthur is one of the more prolific writers out there, there’s plenty to jump into.

In this entry to the Riley-verse, our heroine is relishing her role as a Guardian – one of the enforcement types who keep the paranormals from consuming humans and each other.  Until recently in the series, Riley resisted this role.  She’s also firmly in love with Quinn – an ancient vamp who is the love of her life.  She’s also in reluctant lust/hate with her soul-mate, Kye.  As per normal, Riley’s personal life and libido is wild and crazy, and very eventful.  Arthur is in fine form in the sensual scenes with this entry.  If you enjoy Riley’s lovelife, don’t miss this book.

As usual, Riley is also doing a kick-ass job kicking bad guy butts all over Melbourne.  There’s a very good suspense element to this entry that is actually rooted in somewhat normal, human motivations.  Sure some otherworldly (and very creepy) things happen, but Shadows has a very good suspense element.

If you’ve never read a Riley Jensen novel, this might be a passable standalone. You may be at bit at sea with some of the details and history, but if you just roll with the story, you’ll be entertained.  Nevertheless, I highly recommend trying to read as much of the series as possible.

The only reason I’m giving Shadows a B instead of an A is because of the first person POV.  Even though Arthur is one of the absolute best authors out there with this POV, it’s still a pet peeve of mine when a story is told using it.  This POV is too limiting to the story and I’m left guessing too much.  I have a very difficult time giving them A’s unless something about the book just blows my socks off.

I recommend this book to any UF fans and anyone following the Riley Jensen series.  Good storytelling, good romance, good action… good book.

Grade: B+

Read other reviews and information on this series by following its tag here.

Summary:

In the darkness, demons come out to play… and someone must bring their sins to light.

Part vampire, part werewolf, Riley Jenson knows what can happen when vamps don’t play well with others. But she’s never seen anything like this: a series of brutal murders surrounding the latest hot spot for vampire-human hookups—and the victims aren’t just killed, they’re beheaded. Now Riley is launching into action, toying with a seductive—and highly suspicious—club owner, and finding herself in the middle of another mystery: women being killed one by one, without a trace of violence.

For Riley, solving multiple cases—in a world going mad with human and vampire passions—would have been tough enough. Instead she has two jealous lovers on her hands: Kye Murphy, the amber-eyed werewolf who makes Riley’s wolf blood howl—and Quinn, the cool, elegant vamp who has over a thousand years’ experience at fulfilling women’s desires. While she’s busy juggling these two sexy beasts, Riley’s detective work takes a stunningly violent turn. Finding a murderer is now a matter of life and death. Especially since the killer has long since found her…

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Lynne Connolly‘s review of The Billionaire’s Marriage Mission by Helen Brooks
Contemporary romance released by Harlequin Presents 1 Feb 08

The heroine, Beth, has been deceived by her ex husband in a big way, so she’s sensibly taken time off work and rented a cottage in the country so she can take it easy and recover. The hero, Travis, is her neighbour, whose first sight of her is in pink pyjamas and fluffy slippers, with animal dung on her clothes and face. She’s locked herself out of the cottage on her first night and she has slipped in something noxious. 

Travis behaves with remarkable restraint and instead of smashing the mullioned windows – which do take some smashing, believe me – he takes her home to spend the night at his house, which is bigger and on the impressive side.

At first Beth is understandably wary. A different writer might have made this clumsy, but Brooks conveys well the feeling of not-quite-sure-of-herself and Beth’s annoyance with her own attitude. She’s an architect, and sometimes when in her pov Brooks will bring in a few phrases and descriptions that were appropriate. I think the whole book is from Beth’s point of view, or it seems that way. We can tell that Travis is smitten, but he doesn’t push it, because he sees how upset this makes Beth.

I liked how Travis was nothing but honest with Beth. He was interested, but he was willing to give her time, because he knows this is more than a passing fancy. I liked that Beth wasn’t stuck in a rut, she knows she needs this break, and time to get over her crisis.

They date, they talk, and she keeps shying away. He persists, but not in a stalker-ish way. When she asks him to back off, he backs off. Travis is one of the few Modern heroes you could actually imagine yourself liking in real life.

The friendship goes on for months, and the friendship matures in a natural way. We learn, and guess from the beginning that Travis has fallen for Beth virtually from sight, but he doesn’t let her know until the right time.

The only thing I didn’t like about the story was the Black Moment. It seemed imposed, the only thing that didn’t flow like the rest of the story. Beth is pushed that bit too far, and begins to seem hysterical.

But I knew why it was there and carried on. After the BM it gets good again. Beth seeks closure in the best way, visits her ex husband, to satisfy herself, that she’s really over him, doesn’t even hate him anymore. A grown-up solution, thank you! Only then does she go back to see Travis and tell him what he wants to know.

An enjoyable read, well written.

Grade: B

Summary:

Billionaires always get what they want!

Travis Black might be darkly, broodingly handsome, but as far as Beth is concerned he’s also very infuriating! What would a rich, successful and charming man like him want with a quiet, vulnerable and oh-so-ordinary woman like her?

Travis soon makes that abundantly clear. However, Beth isn’t into casual affairs–so this is one billionaire who won’t get what he wants. Or will he?

This was a good read. It kept me absorbed in the story when I was convalescing from a nasty bout of illness, so thank you, Helen Brooks.

Brooks is a solid Harlequin Presents/Mills and Boon Modern author and she usually delivers. She writes smoothly, paces the story well and gives you what you expect from this line—an engaging modern fairy story with believable characters and a touch of spice.

No excerpt available.

Sandy M’s review of My Dearest Mr. Darcy (Darcy Saga, Book 3) by Sharon Lathan
Historical Fiction published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 1 Jan 10

The extraordinary love and romance of Darcy and Lizzy continues in this third book of Ms. Lathan’s Darcy Saga, and this time we experience their passionate love affair up close and personal, spending more time with this wonderful couple on their own instead of surrounded by family and friends, though we still get a good dose of the intriguing Darcy and Bennet families.

The best part of this series for me is the way Darcy is becoming more and more outgoing because of his wife and his love for her. Lizzy is a natural when it comes to wit and socializing, her intelligence shining, and people gravitate to her just to be part of what she has to offer. Though Darcy is reticent about mixing in crowds of any kind, he is learning little by little how to let go and revel in the small enjoyments in life. I thoroughly enjoyed his scavenger hunt for Lizzy on her birthday, totally endearing and romantic. Darcy is definitely growing into himself.

A trip to the ocean turns out to be relaxing and also quite romantic for the Darcys. They spend a week doing nothing but lazing about the shore, making friends, swimming, taking fun side trips, and, of course, making love whenever the mood strikes. Ms. Lathan has done an extremely terrific job in her research, as is shown by not only the wealth of historical information in this book but also shown by the little nuggets of detail that make Darcy and Lizzy’s trip that much more interesting. There are other lesser trips too, but this particular one is a main part of the story and my favorite.

Of course, there is much concerning Lizzy’s pregnancy throughout the book, and once again it’s Darcy who pulls at the heartstrings. Like Lizzy, I fell more in love with the man every time he speaks to his son as he caresses Lizzy’s rounded belly, every time he rubs her back when he knows she hurts after a long day, every time he tells his wife how much he loves her for giving him such a precious gift.

And when the big day arrives bringing Baby Darcy into the world, Darcy again is right there for Lizzy, doing anything and everything necessary for her and their son during a very long labor. Another favorite part of the story for me is the aftermath of the baby’s birth, Lizzy and Darcy counting fingers and toes, not able to take their eyes off of him, Darcy cooing in that voice we all use when holding an infant, Lizzy nervous about leaving her son even for the length of dinnertime, and a whole host of other similarly delightful tidbits.

Darcy and Elizabeth’s families are well represented at different points in the book, with Darcy’s Uncle George being the main draw for me. He is one of those larger-than-life characters you can’t help but like. The scenes between him and Darcy are extra special, as are those when he delivers the baby. I hope he’s a character that will continue to pop in and out throughout the rest of the series.

As terrific as the historical aspect of this series is, as fun as it is having Darcy family and friends together for whatever reason, as intriguing as the mishaps, little tiffs, and other circumstances throughout are, it’s the love, the romance between these two characters that outshines it all, and Ms. Lathan has kept that front and center and kept it true to these characters who are loved the world over. Darcy and Lizzy are the epitome of that love and romance as Ms. Lathan first envisioned them and has now written them in her interpretation of their life together. I doubt anyone could have done it much better. Not even Jane Austen herself.

Grade: A

Summary:

Darcy is more deeply in love with his wife than ever. As the golden summer draws to a close and the Darcys look ahead to the end of their first year of marriage, Mr. Darcy could never have imagined his love could grow even deeper with the passage of time.

Lizzy is full of surprises. She is unpredictable and lively, pulling Darcy out of his stern and serious demeanor with her teasing and temptation. Looking ahead and planning for celebrations and life events large and small, Lizzy can still catch Darcy unawares when he least expects it.

But surprising events force the Darcys to weather absence and illness, and to discover whether they can find a way to build a bond of everlasting love and desire.

The romance and bewitchment is never-ending…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Limecello’s review of Powerful Italian, Penniless Housekeeper by India Grey
Contemporary romance released by Harlequin Presents 1 Jan 10

This is my first book by India Grey, and it definitely won’t be the last. I used to like Harlequin Presents the most as a Harlequin line, but it got to be a bit too much for me. Aside from a few of my go-to authors, I had been avoiding it. However, I decided to venture back, and had to admit that I loved the premise of this book. So I gave it a try – and am so very glad I did. Books like Powerful Italian, Penniless Housekeeper are what made me devoted to the line in the first place. (Although yes, I do so wish the titles were different.)

Sarah Halliday is a heroine who is difficult to describe. In a way, she’s hard to get to know, as pieces of her character and personality are slowly revealed throughout the course of the book. I actually liked that she was essentially two different people when dealing with her family, and then in general. Sarah’s life is a bit of a mess at the beginning, and she’s desperate. On the other hand, Sarah is very strong. She has an adorable daughter, and while being the rational, steadfast one in her family, has led a somewhat non-traditional life. I liked that there were little quirks about Sarah that kept her from being too predictable or cookie cutter. Sarah isn’t assertive or protective of herself all the time, but when her back is against the wall, she does make decisions best for her. I really liked that. Sarah is an incredibly strong heroine – not physically, but emotionally and mentally when it’s important.

I found Lorenzo Cavalleri to be a delightfully confusing character. First he was a very nice guy, and then a jerk, then considering, but also manipulative. This was fitting, because Lorenzo himself is confused. He has a plan, and a goal. Unfortunately, people are involved, and emotions always make things uncertain, confusing, and messy. Poor Lorenzo has all his ducks in line… except for Sarah, and she’s the most important one, for various reasons. While I understood Lorenzo’s motives and reasons, on some level, I didn’t… and I actually like that. It kept him, and the story from being too pat. Lorenzo can be a jerk and abrupt, but he has a conscience, and feels deeply. His guilt and confusion make him brusque with Sarah at times, and that adds a special something to their developing relationship. Oh- and he’s also an incredibly gifted and talented movie director. That helps.

Ms. Grey writes a terrific story here – everything falls into place just as it should. Nothing is too perfect, or too wrong, or too much. It’s a thin line that requires delicate balance, and Ms. Grey walks it with aplomb. At one point it did seem to me that Sarah was too put upon, but it makes sense, because she’s lived her life feeling as if she was not enough- and that she is to blame for her father’s death. (It sounds ridiculous, or maudlin, but truly isn’t. I believed Ms. Grey’s story, and am completely behind it.)

The honest misunderstanding between Sarah and Lorenzo, the hurt they experience and how close everything comes to falling apart- all of that was done realistically, and naturally. None of the scenes or scenarios between them felt contrived to me, and perfectly fit both the situation, and the personality of the hero and heroine. Lorenzo and Sarah acted as themselves, which gave both their persons, and the story an appreciable depth. In fact, this book made me cry. There were some scenes where I knew exactly what would happen, and it did as I predicted… but the language and words that Ms. Grey used were just so evocative.

What I didn’t enjoy as much, was the secondary characters, particularly Sarah’s family. They were so one dimensional, and vapid. Not only that, but it seemed they changed a bit too much and inexplicably at the end. Nevertheless they were minor characters, so it wasn’t something that really detracted from the book. It was nicely balanced that both Sarah and Lorenzo had their own baggage to deal with.

I loved that the Lorenzo and Sarah were connected in a way, even before they met. It takes a lot for me to get over the hurdle of the hero being married to someone else at the beginning of the book… but Ms. Grey definitely convinced me here. And as I haven’t mentioned it… Lorenzo does some terrific groveling. There’s a big misunderstanding, but it makes sense. Kudos. Reading this Presents book has prompted me to read others, and I can only hope they’re all as good as this one.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Though Sarah Halliday is very ordinary, her dangerously attractive new boss is not content with her scrubbing the marble floors of his Tuscan palazzo….

Instead she finds herself catapulted into Lorenzo Cavalleri’s star-studded life—with a wardrobe to match! Makeup masks her blushes, silk evening gowns flatter her fuller figure, but underneath Sarah’s still the shy, frumpy housekeeper Lorenzo hired…and not the sophisticated bedroom siren he seems to be expecting….

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of Getting Lucky (Lucky Series, Book 3) by Carolyn Brown
Contemporary Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 1 Jan 10

I’m always for giving an author a second chance, and I’m certainly glad I did for Carolyn Brown. This third book in her Lucky series is a little better for me than the second book was. However, there’s a few things in this one that still didn’t work for me, but overall this is more of an engaging read despite those issues.

There’s two really huge issues. First is the dialogue. Most of the time it’s just stiff and awkward. There’s several points where I wondered who on earth talks the way these characters do. Not anyone I’ve met anyway. What even makes it more difficult is that there are parts where the dialogue flows just fine and then suddenly it’s stilted, making the scenes almost comical. There is some good stuff here, but I’m just not sure what happens to make it go so off track.

Also, the way the author chooses to have Annie and Lizzy speak  in this book is just as bad. I realize they’re only five years old and five-year-olds don’t understand verb tense and sometimes just use the wrong words when talking. Well, these two kids definitely do that. Quite a bit. What irritated me even more than the fact that they do it so much is that neither of their parents, nor their grandparents, aunts, friends, or whoever, ever correct them to teach them to speak properly. Maybe that’s too much of a nitpick on my part, but all I know is that it really distracted me throughout the book. We all correct kids when we hear poor grammar coming out of them, but not once did that happen in this book. The only correction either child got was the pronunciation of the name of a town.  But it did happen with heroine, however; her mother corrected her at least once. You’d think the heroine would then do the same with those children.

My second issue with this book is the downright meanness some of these townspeople have for each other, all the name calling that goes on. Okay, I know this stuff happens in real life. Heck, I’ve done it myself a time or two in all my years. But as much as it happens in 416 pages, it’s just way too much and it’s a big turn off. I especially got tired of two mean old women going after each other every time they showed up in the story. But it’s not just the two old biddies who do this. Even the hero and his sister jump to the same conclusion without asking questions of Julie to find out what the heck is going on when she coincidentally finds her way into the hero’s life. The only thing I didn’t like about the hero is he never thinks about how what he’s doing is affecting his brother’s child. I found that simply outrageous.

And all this seems to be a way of writing for Ms. Brown in this series. That was part of my problem with the previous book I read. If it’s toned down some, it probably wouldn’t be all that bad or distracting. But the way it is now, is just too negative to read over and over and over again.

What is good about this book, though, is the fact that despite these things, Ms. Brown makes me care about these characters. I liked the premise of this book. Julie has a one-night stand six years ago as she’s going through a divorce, something she’d never done before and hasn’t since. The charismatic G. Luckadeau shipped out to Iraq the very next day, so when she finds herself pregnant, she has no way of getting hold of the man. She’s been raising her daughter just fine on her own since then, even despite the white streak in Annie’s black hair, something that kids constantly tease her about. So much so that they’ve moved to St. Jo to start anew.

But when she crosses paths with the man she thought she’d never see again, suddenly her life is in turmoil again from both the man himself and the townsfolk, because they all assume Annie is his daughter. And it doesn’t help matters when Annie befriends his daughter, Lizzy, who looks just like Annie, white streak and all. Come to find out, her one-night stand has a twin brother, Griffin, and now he thinks Julie is only in St. Jo to get a cut of the family ranch, and there’s no way in hell that’s going to happen.

I really liked these two characters right off the bat (even despite the aforementioned lapse on the hero’s part). Though they also have some arguments that are a little too much and too frequent when a different type of scene would have worked, I cared about what happens to them and their daughters. I wanted to know how they were going to come to an agreeable solution to their situation, something that would work for everyone.

For me, all those extraneous characters and their name calling could have been left out, Griff and Julie could have worked together sooner, and the book would have gotten a much better grade. I’m on the fence now when it comes to reading any more by this author. I wanted to read more of her work after reading the previous book to see if the negativity is a theme in her writing.  Finding out it is as far as this series is concerned, this book did work slightly better, though  it’s not quite as good as I’d hoped.

Grade: C

Summary:

Single mom Julie Donavan is looking for a place to start over. What she finds after buying a small house on five acres is nothing short of a nightmare. Single dad “Lucky Griffin” Luckadeau has been crossing horns with his elderly neighbor for years. But when his daughter, Annie, decides she wants the new little girl who lives on the feuding property to be her friend, or better yet her sister, the sparks fly.These two stubborn hotheads, who irritate each other beyond endurance, refuse to admit that it’s fate that brought them together. And running from the inevitable is only going to bring a double dose of misery…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

We couldn’t leave you today without a smidge of Helen’s newest book in her Magic Knot Fairies series, The Phoenix Charm.

If you’ve read The Magic Knot, you know that Michael, Niall’s twin, is as sexy as can be but a little irresponsible. Boy, are you in for a surprise when it comes to that roguish twin!

If you’ve not read Helen’s work yet, you need to get busy. No paranormal fan wants to miss out on stuff this good. And if you’re not into the paranormal all that much, you will be a convert by the end of this book. That’s guaranteed!  Here’s a little something to get you started:

HE’S PURE TEMPTATION.
Cordelia has sworn she’ll abstain from looking into Michael’s future–particularly when the image in the gilded smoke of her divination mirror shows him half naked. Yet she can’t resist watching the sexy rascal slowly running his hand down his ribs, over his abdomen, flicking open the button on his jeans with a little flourish like a magician performing a trick.
SHE’S TRYING TO RESIST.
Respectable wise woman Cordelia restrains her secret water nymph sensuality with the Celtic symbols painted on her skin. But Michael’s powerful fairy glamour leaves her breathless, off balance, struggling for control. When Gwyn ap Nudd, the Welsh King of the Underworld, steals away Michael’s infant nephew, Cordelia must work with him to save the child. But how can she trust her instincts with Michael tempting her to explore the hidden elemental depths of her nature and insisting that she believe in the power of…The Phoenix Charm.  Now on to the good stuff…….

Chapter One

The sun sank into the Atlantic, painting the water molten gold and casting a warm glow over the granite manor house set atop the rocky cliffs of Cornwall. After years of neglect, Trevelion Manor, ancestral home of the Cornish pisky troop, now thrived under the care of the new pisky king and queen. Sun sparkled off the tiny diamond panes of glass in the windows. Tumbling creepers dotted with purple and yellow flowers clothed the walls, while granite tubs on the terrace overflowed with scarlet, pink, and white geraniums.

Seated on a Windsor chair at the table in the library, pisky wise woman Cordelia Tink paused at her work and glanced out the open window, inhaling the floral-scented air. She ran her hand down the crease of the huge leather-bound book laid on the table before her and took a moment to reread the last few paragraphs she’d written. With a sigh, she set aside her pen and rubbed her eyes.

The task of recording the history of the pisky troop fell to her, but she would have gladly handed the job to another of the piskies. Two years ago, Niall and Rose O’Connor, the new pisky king and queen, had rescued the troop from thirty years of imprisonment in the shadowy nothingness between life and death called in-between. Today, Cordelia had finally summoned the strength to relive her failure to protect her people from that horror and enter an account in the pisky annals.

Lazing in the last few rays of sunlight on the desk at Cordelia’s side, her gray cat Tamsy opened one eye. She peered at Cordelia critically and flicked her tail. “You’re right, poppet.” Cordelia nodded to her cat. “Enough doom and gloom for one day.” Cordelia closed the book with a thud and pushed it away.

She stroked the soft fur on Tamsy’s belly and smiled at the rumbling purr of response. What she needed was something to take her mind off the past—something pleasurable. Just the word “pleasure” summoned the image of Michael O’Connor’s seductive smile in her mind. A quiver of awareness ran across her skin, light and tickly as the brush of a feather. She’d once seen him do that—trail a feather across a woman’s naked body…

Cordelia screwed her eyes closed, trying to rid herself of the image she’d seen while foretelling his future. Instead, the memory became clearer, his long naked body spread languorously on the sheets while he brushed the feather over the woman’s breasts.

Cordelia stood and swiped her hands down the front of her dress to rid herself of the tingling sensation tightening her skin.

Although the pisky king Niall O’Connor was not Cornish, but half noble Irish Tuatha Dè Danaan and half leprechaun, he was a strong, caring leader they could depend on. How the womanizing rascal Michael could be related to Niall, let alone be his twin brother, baffled her.

She pressed her hand to her bodice where the hot thud of Michael’s psychic presence beat in her chest like a second heart. She was powerful enough that fairy glamour didn’t affect her, with one darned annoying exception—Michael O’Connor.

Unwillingly, her eyes rose to the silver divination dish she used to foretell the future. The skin on her scalp prickled and her cheeks warmed as she tried to pretend she wasn’t thinking of doing what she was thinking of doing.

“Not again. I promised myself I’d abstain.” Despite the firmness of her tone, her feet were already moving toward the door. She pulled it open just enough to poke her head out and check that the hall was empty. The ancient oak creaked as if trying to alert someone to her wicked intent. She drew back quickly and turned the long iron key, grimacing at the thunk of the lock.

Pressing her back to the door, she rubbed her temples. In anticipation of what she was about to see, the sensual water nymph allure she’d inherited from her mother churned within the confines of the restrictive magical wards painted on her skin.

She drew a slow, deep breath and stared through the dust motes dancing in a shaft of sunlight at her divining dish. Were the gods themselves tempting her to indulge? Surely everyone was allowed one illicit pleasure—even she.

Tamsy sat up and watched with enigmatic gray eyes as Cordelia gave a defiant huff and marched back to her seat. She lit the three fat white candles floating in the silver, water-filled dish. Within seconds, wide ribbons of smoke rose before her.

Raising a hand, she sketched a magical symbol in the air. The smoke stilled and glazed over into a mirror. Her insides trembled expectantly while she concentrated on Michael’s psychic signature and waited for an image of his future to appear in the shiny surface.

She pressed her fingers to her lips as the picture became clearer. When she peeped into Michael’s future, half the time she saw him performing routine activities at the pub he owned in a nearby village, the other half…

Her breath caught. She stared, too entranced to blink as an image of Michael’s naked shoulders and lean back filled her scrying surface. Muscles rippled beneath smooth skin when he moved. His biceps clenched as he lifted a hand and flicked back a handful of dark wavy hair from his face.

A woman appeared before him, an indistinct form clothed in muted colors. When Cordelia watched Michael, she chose to ignore the identity of his numerous human lovers. All her attention focused on him.

Cordelia’s heart thudded as he prowled forward, faded jeans riding low on his hips. Slowly, sensuously, he ran his hand down his ribs, over his abdomen, flicked open the buttons on his fly one by one with a little flourish of his hand like a magician performing a trick. Although it was no white rabbit he was about to pull out. As the last button popped and the jeans slid lower, a small needy sound escaped Cordelia’s lips. Heat flashed across her flesh, gathered and swirled, a hot whirlpool in her belly. Her sensual water nymph allure flowed closer to her skin, preparing to draw in and capture the man she desired. When the energies met the barrier of the magical Celtic symbols painted on her skin, her temperature shot up as though she were trapped in a pressure cooker.

She flapped a hand in front of her face, fanning herself. If she kept watching Michael, she would expire from lust.

Although she was burning up, a breath of chill through the window raised goose bumps on her arms. She caught a whiff of something rotten on the breeze and reluctantly dragged her eyes from Michael to glance out at the twilight sky.

When she looked back to the divination mirror, darkness oozed across the gilded smoke like oil on water, obscuring Michael and his faceless woman. Cordelia blinked in surprise and leaned closer to get a better view. A howl issued from the murky surface, a mournful wail that slashed fear through her. Her cat shot to its feet, fur on end, puffed up to twice her normal size. Hidden within the mirror’s shadowy image, other creatures joined the lament until the eerie clamor of baying filled the room.

Tamsy scooted off the table and crouched beneath a chair in front of the huge stone fireplace, but Cordelia had no time to comfort her. She stared at her divination mirror, searching the gloom for any clue to the meaning of the augury. Was this still Michael’s foretelling? Had another possible future for him intruded? The hair on her neck prickled when pairs of small red dots appeared. They looked like animal’s eyes glowing evilly in the darkness.

Her fists curled against the table as the memory of being imprisoned in-between crawled back to haunt her. Then, on the edge of perception, a whispered name snapped her to attention, trapped the breath in her lungs.

Gwyn ap Nudd.

The King of the Underworld.

Her concentration shattered. The murky image dissolved with a pop, scattering wisps of smoke. Her eyes watered, and she waved a hand to clear the air. The thought of the red-eyed creatures unsettled her, but more worrying was the fact that the whispered words had not come from the mirror. Someone nearby in Cornwall had actually spoken the name Gwyn ap Nudd.

She thrust out her awareness, tried to identify who’d called the King of the Underworld. Behind the deep pulse of Michael’s psychic signature, the members of the Cornish pisky troop filled her senses with the white noise of their presence. Cordelia focused on the lingering chill of the dreadful name.

She was sure the call had not originated from inside the manor. She puffed a misty sigh of relief in the cold air, wishing the granite fireplace held a roaring fire instead of a stoneware pot full of dahlias.

What would happen if the Welsh King of the Underworld answered the summons and came to Cornwall? Niall and Rose had left for two weeks to search for displaced piskies in America, leaving her in charge. Why on Earth did this have to happen now? Cordelia glanced at the Queen Anne clock on the oak mantelpiece. They’d already be in the air over the Atlantic. The earliest she could call them for advice would be the following day.

She traced her finger across a lacy layer of ice that had formed on the water in her divination dish, and shivered. When the pisky troop had been trapped thirty years ago, she should have foreseen the danger, but she’d been so distracted by the old king’s death, she had let her duties slide. This time she wouldn’t let the piskies down.

She glanced at the rows of massive leather-bound tomes holding records of pisky life going back centuries. She must find out quickly if the piskies had any history of conflict with Gwyn ap Nudd or the Welsh fairies in his domain.

Tamsy slunk out from beneath the chair and jumped on the desk. She padded closer, mewed softly, and butted her forehead on Cordelia’s chin.

Cordelia laid her cheek against Tamsy’s shoulder and considered what to do. She couldn’t check through a whole shelf of books in one night on her own.

She winced. “Oh, rats’ tails!” If she needed help, the logical choice was Michael. Not only was he the pisky king’s brother, but while the king and queen were away, he was responsible for their twin boys. He had a right to know immediately if the children might be in danger.

With luck, she might catch him upstairs putting the babies to bed before he went down to the great hall below the manor house for the night’s entertainment. In Ireland, he’d been Seanchai, the official storyteller in the Irish fairy court. Now that he lived in Cornwall with the piskies, he’d fallen into the routine of telling a tall tale to the assembled troop most evenings.

Cordelia stood and peered at her rosy cheeks in a small mirror near the door and thanked the gods that Michael would never guess the reason she was flushed. She fastened the three small buttons on the front of her dress, closing the garment to her throat.

When she reached the nursery, she found Michael’s leprechaun half sister Ana dozing in a chair beside the cot, keeping watch over the babies. But no sign of Michael.

She huffed as she closed the door. Tamsy wound between her legs and looked up at her with inscrutable gray eyes. “All right, I know. I’ll have to look for him in the great hall.”

After she descended the stairs, she strode purposefully along the moth-eaten carpet runner covering the passage. She’d rather stick pins in her eyes than walk into the packed hall and interrupt Michael when he was telling a story, but if she wanted his help, she had no choice.

When she reached the top of the narrow staircase that led beneath the house, she paused for Tamsy to catch up, and grabbed a fortifying breath. Then she descended to the rooms carved from the granite underneath the manor grounds. At the bottom, she grasped the doorknob for a couple of heartbeats before she pushed the door open.

The jaunty beat of Irish music assailed her.

She slipped in and pressed her back to the wall, hugging the shadows. Rising on tiptoe, she peered between the tall brown-haired piskies. Most of them worked the land, turned wood or forged metal, and lived in cottages around the estate. Many were still dressed casually in work clothes, but a few had donned brightly colored jackets and hats in anticipation of the rowdy evening that always ensued when Michael told one of his bawdy tales.

A lump formed in her throat when she glimpsed Michael O’Connor on the far side of the room putting a mug down on the bar. His shaggy dark hair shone in the low light. The divine masculine shape of his wide shoulders and narrow hips silhouetted against the lamplight sent a hot shiver through her. How she hoped she could get the image of him naked out of her mind before she talked to him.

Michael grabbed the hand of an older pisky woman. She grinned up at Michael like a teenager on her first date and giggled as he spun her into a dance. The piskies clapped to the beat. Cordelia plucked at the neck of her dress, the collar tight on her clammy skin. Despite its size, the confounded hall was always stuffy in the evenings.

Tamsy pressed her silky body against Cordelia’s legs. Relieved at the distraction, Cordelia scooped the cat into her arms. She rested her cheek on Tamsy’s head and watched the laughing crowd of piskies.

Mewing, Tamsy turned a speculative eye on Cordelia. “I know.” She buffed the top of the cat’s head with her fingers. “No need to bully me. I’m about to ask him.”

Michael had escorted his partner to her seat and was now weaving between the tables toward his storytelling stool. As usual, the spiky auburn hair of her ward, Thorn, marked his presence a few steps behind Michael. She wished Thorn had chosen a more suitable male role model: Niall for instance. But at least Michael had generously taken the young man under his wing. She couldn’t fault him for that.

Cordelia threaded her way through the crowd. When people noticed her, they stepped aside with deferential nods. She pasted on her serene wise woman mask and held her head high.

When she entered the brighter circle of light near the bar, Michael looked toward her. He caught his bottom lip between his teeth and flicked up his eyebrows in question. Cordelia nodded in answer to his unspoken query. He grinned the wide seductive smile that had women falling at his feet.

Streamers of heat unfurled inside her, rippled beneath her skin. Her heart raced and she gritted her teeth. She could hardly think straight when she got close to Michael. But she’d eat worms before she admitted as much. The reprobate was already far too cocky.

He held out his arms and shimmied sideways between the tables, heading in her direction. The disreputable faded jeans he wore were the ones she’d just watched him unbutton. Cordelia swallowed. She wanted to look away; she really did. But his fairy glamour entranced her so much, she couldn’t fight the compulsion to stare.

Since St. Patrick’s Day, he’d insisted on wearing a green trilby with shamrocks embroidered on the band. He turned to face her, tilted the hat at a rakish angle on his mop of dark wavy hair, and captured her with his sinful blue gaze.

“You be wanting me, darlin’?”

Cordelia opened her mouth to answer, but there didn’t seem to be any air in her lungs. She sucked in an embarrassing gasp that made Michael’s lips twitch. “I need to speak to you on troop business.”

Michael reached out and rubbed a finger underneath Tamsy’s chin. The cat tipped back her head and purred, vibrating against Cordelia’s chest.

“Here’s me hoping you might be wanting me for something a tad more interesting.” As his finger lazily caressed Tamsy’s fur, he glanced up at Cordelia from beneath his lashes. A hot spurt of desire shot through her body, making her legs tremble.

This is ridiculous.

Fantasizing about him in private was one thing, being seduced by his glamour like a gullible human was another. After the effort her grandmother and father had put into hiding her uncontrollable sensual allure, she couldn’t let them down and shame herself—again. The price she’d paid the one time she defied them still haunted her night and day. Cordelia tightened her arms around Tamsy, shielding herself. The poor creature squeaked and Cordelia hastily loosened her grip.

“This is no time for joking. It’s a matter of urgency.” Someone chose that moment to reduce the volume of the music. Her final word came out rather louder than she intended. A few anxious glances shot her way.

She smiled reassuringly. The last thing she wanted was panic.

With a nod toward the exit she said, “Come upstairs where we can talk in private.” She ignored the wicked sparkle in Michael’s eyes.

“Your wish is my command, darlin’.”

In the two years since she’d met Michael, Cordelia could count on one hand the times they’d exchanged more than a polite greeting. Yet the way he called her darling with that deep Irish lilt to his voice was exactly the way he spoke to the women she watched him take to bed. She reached the door and ascended the first few steps, then paused and looked back at him. “I’d rather you didn’t call me…darling. I don’t feel the name’s appropriate.” And if he kept speaking to her in that tone of voice, she was likely to muddle fantasy with reality.

He grinned up at her, mischief twinkling in his eyes.

With a sigh of exasperation, mostly at her own ludicrous reaction to him, she hurried up the stairs, promising herself she was strong enough to ignore his glamour.

He grinned as he stopped in the doorway at the top and rested his shoulder against the frame. “Maybe I should call you sugarplum? You have the sweet ripe fullness of fruit ready to be—”

“Michael!”

In the silence that followed her explosive retort, all she could think was ready to be what? A small part of her wished she hadn’t interrupted him.

And she hated that she fell for his suggestive banter.

Anger bubbled up, giving her words a harsh edge. “Just call me Cordelia in a normal tone of voice like everyone else.”

He flicked up his eyebrows, unabashed.

“Enough nonsense.” Cordelia smoothed her skirt, reluctant to admit she needed his help. “While I was foretelling in the library, darkness invaded my divination mirror. I also heard someone whisper the given name of the Welsh King of the Underworld.”

The mischievous half smile that always hovered on Michael’s lips dropped away. He pushed off the door frame and straightened, his expression serious.

“When did this happen, lass?”

“About fifteen minutes ago.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, turned, and glanced up the stairs. “Ruddy Badba,” he cursed. “I hope the babies are safe.”

Before she could reassure him that she’d just visited the nursery and the boys were fine, he took off, running up the stairs two at a time. She stared up at the landing while he put his head in the nursery door.

Thirty seconds later, he closed the door quietly and descended more slowly, a look of relief on his face.

“The babies are still there. When we tried to put them to bed, I half expected them to disappear and reappear somewhere else.” At Cordelia’s raised eyebrows he continued. “The rascals have just discovered they can walk unseen like me father.”

Cordelia shook her head in disbelief. Rose had told her the children took after their air elemental grandfather. But it had never occurred to her the children would exhibit the rare air elemental gift of walking unseen: disappearing and reappearing in another place.

“What sort of threat do you think Gwyn ap Nudd could be?” Michael asked.

“We’ve had no dealings with him during my life, but it’s possible he holds an ancient grudge against the piskies. You know what long memories these immortals have.”

He nodded and something dark passed behind his eyes. “Aye, I know.”

When Michael and Niall had lived in the Irish fairy court, Niall had apparently had problems dealing with the self-obsessed Irish fairy queen. Perhaps life had been just as difficult for Michael.

“I want to check through the pisky troop records for references to Gwyn, but there are at least fifty volumes in the library. I need another set of eyes to help me.”

Michael took off his trilby and ran his hand through his hair, lifting the luxuriant chestnut waves off his face, then letting them tumble back. All thought deserted her as she watched the silky strands settle against his skin.

“‘Tis not a problem, lass. I’ll gladly offer you me eyes. I read fast, so we’ll be through the books in no time.”

Cordelia blinked, pulled her attention back to the conversation. Michael O’Connor might be a master storyteller, but the possibility of his speed-reading seemed as unlikely as his sprouting wings. “Great. Thank you,” she uttered, feeling a touch guilty for doubting his word when he’d offered to help. “I’d rather not involve anyone else until we know if the danger is real.”

Michael nodded and popped his green hat squarely on his head. “We don’t want to go causing alarm, to be sure.”

He extended an arm graciously in the direction of the library and smiled, a hint of mischief creeping back into his expression. “Lead on, sugarplum.”

For a moment, Cordelia debated whether to argue over her name. With a sigh, she decided she must choose her battles, and this wasn’t important. She marched off toward the library, acutely aware of him striding behind her, probably ogling her bottom.

* * * * *

Michael enjoyed the view as he paced along the hall to the library. Cordelia Tink might be uptight, but she had a damn fine arse. Although she’d covered herself from head to foot in a nondescript gray dress, it hugged every curve—and she had plenty of curves to hug. Her waist nipped in neat and small, accentuating the sweet roundness of one of the sexiest rumps he’d ever seen.

Realizing she’d halted, he raised his eyes to find her peering at him over her shoulder with a frown.

Oops.

He did the same thing he always did when he was caught out–grinned, infusing the expression with glamour.

She rolled her eyes and pointed at the massive green leather-bound books that filled the bottom two shelves of the wall facing the fireplace. “We need to start from…here,” she said, resting a hand on a book.

Michael dragged out five volumes and hefted them onto the desk where she’d cleared a space. “A bit dusty.” He wiped his hands on his jeans and then drew in a deep breath.

Her hand shot up. “Don’t you dare.”

Confused, he let the air go.

“You’ll spread dust everywhere if you blow it.” She marched to her desk, pulled a duster from the drawer, and arched an eyebrow at him.

He stepped away, leaned an elbow on a chair back, and watched while she dusted each book, shaking the cloth out the window at regular intervals. Niall was always full of praise for Cordelia’s prophetic skills and thoughtful advice. But on the one occasion Michael had approached her because he thought having his future read would be fun, she’d nearly bitten his head off. According to her, she wasn’t a carnival sideshow for his entertainment.

Her gaze flicked up to him, then darted back to her book. She was attractive in a repressed way, as though she didn’t want anyone to notice. But whatever she wore, she couldn’t hide the fact she had a damn fine body, and incredible hair. Up close, he could distinguish pale gold strands mingled with the dark, and her braid was as thick as his wrist. He imagined her naked, her loose hair draping her shoulders like a cloak. He pressed his lips together to keep from smiling. She’d be all covered up, but he’d bet her nipples would poke through.

“Michael.”

He jumped guiltily.

“Are you going to help me or not?” She held out a dusted volume.

Book in hand, he settled in one of the wing chairs before the fireplace. He’d tried not to worry about Gwyn ap Nudd, but the possibility his nephews were in danger flipped his stomach with a sick lurch. He pictured the sleepy little lads snuggled together in the cot they shared. The mantle of responsibility hung awkwardly on his shoulders, but he would do whatever was necessary to protect them. He loved the boys. Besides, Niall would string him up if he let anything happen to them.

Taking a steady breath, he focused his concentration on the key words to search for, then scanned the first page, flipped it over, scanned the next page, flipped, read, flipped, read—

“Michael! If you’re not going to take this seriously, I’ll find someone else to help.”

He blinked, adjusting his gaze. “Crikey O’Reilly, lass, I can’t go any faster.”

Confusion swept the annoyance from her face. She set down her book and swiveled in her chair to face him. “You’re reading the pages?”

“Aye.” He grinned. “I’m thinking you didn’t believe me when I said I could read fast?”

She opened her mouth—closed it again without making a sound, her gray eyes huge and soft. Beautiful eyes. Not like the normal pisky earth elemental brown or hazel. Somewhere in her lineage, she must have an ancestor who was not a Cornish pisky.

Cordelia swallowed audibly. “You’re sure you know what’s on each page?”

“Aye.” He gave her a moment to absorb the truth.

She stared at him as though he’d suddenly grown an extra head, but in a good way, as though the extra head impressed her more than the original. The possibility that reading fast would impress females had never occurred to him. Actually, he didn’t need any help attracting women. His local fame for telling tall tales meant there were always eager human women crowding his bar on the lookout for fun. Using his fairy glamour it was oh so easy to send them home with lovely memories but no recollection of his face or name.

Cordelia cleared her throat and turned back to her page. Michael settled again and did the same. When he finished the book, he placed it back on the shelf, and selected another from the pile. He forbore to comment that Cordelia was only on the tenth page of her first book. Ms. Starchy Pants would not appreciate the comparison.

As he prepared to start his second book, the library door cracked open. His friend Nightshade, the vampiric fairy, poked in his head. The lamplight cast a sheen on his ebony skin, and his silver eyes glinted with predatory satisfaction. Michael suppressed a sigh. Since he’d allowed the nightstalker to bite him and forge a blood bond between them two years ago, Nightshade hardly let him out of his sight. The way the vampire watched his every move was worse than being handfasted to a jealous woman.

Nightshade sauntered in, bare-chested, his wings folded tight to his back. He tilted his head and with one hand swept his long black hair off his face “I wondered what had become of you, bard. They’re asking for you in the great hall.”

Michael smacked his forehead. “I can’t believe I’ve gone and forgot about tonight’s tale. You’ll have to tell one.”

The vampiric fairy gave Michael an incredulous look.

“Erm, you’re right. ‘Tis a bad idea.” Although Nightshade’s mother had been a pisky, and his nightstalker father had left before his birth, Nightshade had confided that he’d always felt like an outsider. Thirty years ago, he’d betrayed the piskies and conspired with an evil druid to trap them in between life and death. He’d later repented and helped Niall and Rose free the troop, but the piskies had never forgiven him.

“Could Thorn tell a story? He’s listened to you often enough.” As Nightshade spoke, Thorn’s cheeky grin appeared around the door.

“I’ve been down to the hall and told them you’re busy tonight and won’t be back.” Thorn’s green eyes sparkled with mischief. “They assumed I meant busy with the babies.”

Thorn dogged Michael’s heels, but the lad was full of fun. He’d just turned twenty and needed some mates to have a laugh with. Michael had no idea what had happened to the young man’s parents. Cordelia seemed to be his surrogate mother.

Thorn grinned. “Hello, Dee. What you doing?” Without waiting for her to answer, he hurried to Michael’s side and stared eagerly at the book on his lap. “Can I help?”

Cordelia released a resigned sigh, nodded, and placed a hand on the pile of books. “Grab one each and make yourselves comfortable. We’re looking for any reference to Gwyn ap Nudd, Welsh King of the Underworld.”

Thorn lifted a book and took the chair across from Cordelia. Nightshade remained standing, hands on hips. “Why?”

Cordelia rubbed her temples. When her eyes met Nightshade’s, the tension in the room thrummed. “Someone nearby called his name this evening. I need to know if he has any reason to threaten the piskies.”

Nightshade remained rooted to the spot. Cordelia stared at him, her soft gray eyes now hard as flint, her lips pinched. The antipathy rolled off her in waves, far stronger than the other piskies’ dislike. Michael’s curiosity pricked to know what had happened between them to cause such hostility.

When Nightshade continued to glare at Cordelia, Michael decided that as he was blood-bonded to the vampire, he might as well make use of the connection. “You going to be helping us or not, boyo?” he asked softly.

The tension snapped when the nightstalker turned to him, his gaze softening. “Whatever you want, bard.” He gave Michael’s shoulder an affectionate squeeze, then hefted two volumes off the table before claiming the seat beside Michael.

Michael purposely avoided Cordelia’s questioning gaze. He did not want to explain his relationship with Nightshade. Ms. Prim and Proper would disapprove of the fact that he’d enjoyed the illicit pleasure of a vampire’s bite.

He resumed flipping pages. He knew little about the Welsh fairy king, but as Cordelia had observed, these immortals could be difficult. Growing up in the Irish fairy court, Michael had learned to survive the whims, wiles, and spiteful temper of the Irish fairy queen. If Gwyn were at all like the Queen of Nightmares, he did not want to meet him anytime soon.

If you’re looking for something different to read, something fun, magical, and romantic, then The Magic Knot by Helen Scott Taylor is for you.

You will fall in love with the writing, the characters — even the bad boy — and the uniqueness of this story. And it’s just the beginning, the first book in Helen’s Magic Knot Fairies series. There’ so much more to come!

Here’s just a taste before the main course:

HE’S A BIKER WITH AN ATTITUDE
What woman wouldn’t be attracted to Niall O’Connor’s soft Irish brogue and dark good looks? But Rosenwyn Tremain must find her father, and she isn’t going to let a sexy, stubborn Irishman and his motorcycle distract her. Rose’s intuition tells her he’s hiding something, a secret even the cards cannot divine. Her tarot deck always reads true, but how can one man represent both Justice and Betrayal?

SHE’S A WOMAN ON A MISSION
Magic. Niall’s body tingles with it when he finds the woman snooping in his room. Rosenwyn might believe she’s a no-nonsense accountant, but her essence whispers to him of ancient fairy magic that enslaves even as it seduces. Her heritage could endanger those he’d die to protect, but her powers and her passion, if properly awakened, might be the only thing that can save both their families, vanquish a fairy queen bent on revenge, and fulfill a prophecy that will bind their hearts together with…THE MAGIC KNOT.

THE MAGIC KNOT

Now that his jacket was off, she could see that his shirtsleeves  were folded up. She examined the webbing and Velcro wrist sheaths, each holding a  crystal-bladed knife. “How very untraditional of you.”

He opened the Velcro and dropped the knives and sheaths onto the nightstand. “ ’Tis more comfortable and con venient. I told you, lass, I value practicality.”

With a relaxed smile, he took her hand and drew her toward the side of the bed. “Unless me sums are wrong, I’ve removed three pieces of clothing, and you’ve taken off only one.” He hooked one of his sexy long fingers beneath the shoulder strap of her bra and flicked his eyebrows. “I’m thinking ’tis your turn again.”

Rose laid her hands on his chest and reveled in the flex of muscle beneath his shirt. Soon she would have her hands on his skin. All her inhibitions fell away as she grinned up at him. His eyes glowed with pleasure. For a moment time seemed to stop. Was it possible to lose oneself in the gap between seconds and feel like this forever?

Niall blinked; her heart stumbled and she snatched a breath. “Weapons don’t count,” she said, trying to keep a straight face.

“Who says?”

“Me.”

With a little grunt, Niall wrapped an arm around her waist and flung her backward onto the bed.  Rose squealed as he trapped her legs between his knees and tickled her. “I say we get equal voting rights on this, and ’tis me vote that weapons count.”

He grazed his fingertips across the front of her pan ties. The muscles in  Rose’s stomach quivered and jumped. An aching clench of need grabbed low in her belly.

“Oh, God,” she whispered, and stilled. Suddenly she didn’t care who took what off, as long as all the clothes came off and fast.

“I say we both take something off.” He nudged the tip of his finger beneath the waistband of her pan ties. Rose grabbed his wrist, felt his tendons flex beneath the skin. Their eyes met and held for a beat.  Rose remembered to breathe.

She pushed up on an elbow, unhooked her bra, and tossed it away without caring where it landed.

Niall stared at her breasts. A flush of arousal crept across his cheeks, and he licked his lips.

“Your turn,”  Rose said softly.

“Aye.” Niall pulled his shirt over his head without unfastening it.  Rose bit her lip, hard.

She’d imagined he’d look the same as Michael, but Niall’s muscles  were precisely defined, his body a living sculpture. With an unsteady hand she traced the bulge of his pecs, his ribs, the ridges of his abs, solid as warm wood beneath her fingertips. Anticipation rippled through her, making her hand tremble against his skin.

When she touched the waistband of his pants, his abs tightened and she heard him swallow. She glanced at his face, but he was looking down at her hand.  Rose brushed her fingers across the heavy cotton of his combat pants, and flattened her palm over the ridge of his erection.

Niall closed his eyes. His nostrils flared. In precise, economic movements, he stripped off the rest of his clothes.

Rose lay back and dug her fingers into the satin bed-covers. Heat sizzled beneath her skin as he moved toward her, lean muscles rippling beneath silky skin.

“Move back.” Niall knelt next to her, his eyes devouring her body as she slid up the bed. Stretching out beside her, he placed his palm on her belly and splayed his fingers. “You’re so smooth.”

Running her hands over his shoulders, she molded his muscles in her palms like a sculptor savoring her creation. He kissed her, his body warm and heavy against her side. The swirling well of emotion filled her chest, leaving her  light- headed.

With work- calloused hands, Niall rubbed her breasts, cradling them in his palms, first one, then the other, as though he wanted to learn her shape.  Rose closed her eyes as his kneading fingers shot silky ribbons of plea sure through her.

“Rose, lass.” He waited for her to open her eyes. “Watch me.” Then he touched the tip of his tongue to her nipple.

Oh, my God.

Rose flexed against him. Wanting more. Wanting everything. Now.

When he closed his mouth over her breast and sucked, flashes of fire raced across her skin, igniting a flaming core of need low in her belly.

Burying her fingers in his hair, she pulled him closer, moving her thigh against the hot, hard length of his erection. With a small grunt of pleasure, he rubbed against her, the friction sending shocks of desire into her tender places. She pressed her nose to his face, drugging herself with the fragrance of him: green leaves, spicy wood, the tang of mountain air.

The bumps and hollows of his muscles flexed beneath her palm as she fingered his biceps. She ran her hand along the taut strength of his forearm, his ribs, gripped the angle of his hip. He stilled when her fingers drifted onto his belly, hissed in a breath as her hand slid lower. Wrapping her fingers around his hard, silky shaft, she explored the sensitive parts of him until he gasped and pulled away.

Niall raised his head, hair tousled, cheeks flushed, pupils huge and dark. “I want you naked.”

With shaky legs,  Rose lifted her hips. He stripped her panties and tossed them away.

Niall sprawled over her, heavy, hard, hot, pressing her into the soft embrace of the mattress. Her Magic Knot around his neck throbbed between them. With the rough hunger of dwindling control, he found her mouth, demanded her body, and she gave him her soul.  Rose clutched at his back, wrapped her legs around his waist, lost herself in the sensual press of him against her delicate flesh.

“Not this way,” he mumbled, and raised his head. He slid to the side, exposing her to his gaze, and grazed his palm down her body to the join of her legs. He touched her with exploring fingers, watching her face as he found his way inside.

Rose closed her eyes, trembling on the edge of losing herself as he stroked.

He pressed his mouth against her ear. The wet tip of his tongue circled, and then he whispered, “Must be sitting up.”

She opened her eyes and watched him trail his hand up her body to rest over her heart. “Why?”

“ ’Tis the way it works, lass.” He pulled her into a sitting position, then balanced the pillows behind him and sat, his back against the ornate gold headboard. “Come  here.”

With gentle command, he steadied and guided her as she lowered herself onto his lap. Hands on his shoulders, she gazed, breathless with wonder, at the eager intent on his face. He nipped his lip between his teeth and stared at her body as though she  were a priceless treasure.

The fact that he trusted her enough to accept her Magic Knot and reveal his emotions brought tears to her eyes. He was normally so guarded. She would never hurt him, never make him regret this.  Rose framed his beautiful face in her hands and pressed her lips against his forehead, his eyes, his nose, breathing him in, languishing in the heat undulating around them like a warm sea.

Her career, her professional image, the ac cep tance of her  colleagues—none of it mattered anymore. Niall mattered. He’d help her make her future with the piskies. Confirmation of who she was and the ac cep tance she’d searched for all her life shone from his eyes.

Gripping her hips, he pulled her closer. The hot length of his erection pulsed against her belly. Heat exploded through her. Rose gasped before pressing her mouth to his.

“A ghrá.” Niall’s endearment whispered in her mind, wound silken threads around her heart. At his bidding, she let her weight carry her down on him. Colors exploded behind her eyelids as he slid inside. Holding her hips, he urged her down, pushing deep. Pleasure rippled up through her, sighing from her lips.

Rose pressed her cheek to his, shuddering as waves of sensual heat overtook her. Niall touched his mouth against her ear. “Move, my love. Move.”

She watched the pleasure on his face as he lifted her, then let her slide back down. The flash of blue between his dark lashes glowed inhumanly bright, the light of a million stars trapped in sapphires. He moved within her, physically and with the boundless caress of the infinite. Deep memories stirred within the fabric of her being, unfolding toward the light.

“Niall.” His name rolled over her tongue, dark and rich. Had she known he was the one from the first moment she saw him? “Niall,” she whispered against his lips, sharing the delicious sound.

They devoured each other with long, breathless kisses feeding mind, body, and spirit. Blissful peace ran deep and quiet beneath the sparkling ripples of pleasure that shook her body. She’d waited all her life for this. She trusted him. He wouldn’t let her down.

When the ache of delight grew too much to bear, Niall held her still and rubbed his lips over her face. “Steady, lass. Take your time.”

He stared into her eyes, his gaze so deep and intense it mesmerized her. Slowly he lifted her, then let her slide back on him.  Rose gripped his arms, his muscles granite hard as he took her weight. He rubbed the side of his nose against hers, nibbled her lips. Love consumed her, gave her the strength to forget what she’d been and become what she must.

Nothing in her life had prepared her for these feelings. Ecstasy pulsed in rhythm with her heart. Was this her inner fairy waking up?

“Now.” Niall urged her faster. Her thighs trembled as pleasure bloomed, a hot surge from her belly, streaking along her limbs, singeing the edges of her mind, consuming her. Niall put his face against her neck, held her down, grunted softly.

Rose pressed her lips into his hair, stilled, breathed him, tasted him, felt him around her, inside her. All was perfect in the world, and she never wanted to move again.

Niall sucked in a ragged breath against her skin. A tiny frisson of disquiet skittered through her. Warily she reached toward him mentally, and brushed cold ripples of pain. The breath locked in her throat. As cautiously as if she  were handling a panicked animal, she cradled his head, stroking his hair. Slowly increasing her connection, she let warmth and love flow into him. “Are you all right, my love?”

His eyes remained closed, lashes scrunched into dark semicircles against his skin. Disquiet grew into jagged spikes of fear. “Niall,” she whispered. “Talk to me.”

Welcome once again to Duck Chat!

Today Helen Scott Taylor joins us, and if you’ve not picked up Helen’s books as of yet, you need to hurry down to your local bookstore and pick up the first two in her Magic Knot series. You’re not that far behind with only two books out to date, so hurry! This series is fun, mystical, magical, and romantic. I mean, how can you miss starting out with Fae twin brothers?

Helen lives in Devon, England with her husband and their two children. After obtaining degrees in botany and zoology and a varied occupational background in both sales and marketing in the pharmaceutical industry and later operating a pest control business with her husband, she returned to her roots of creative writing that she enjoyed as a child. What a lucky thing for all the romance readers out there!

Some of her favorites are: TV – Greys’ Anatomy and Lost; music: Vittorio Grigolo and Il Divo; film: Bride and Prejudice and The Bodyguard. Her faves are just as varied as her characters and her storylines.  Helen will be dropping in throughout the day, so if you have a question or comment for her, now’s your chance. Make it good, because she’s giving away to one lucky commenter a copy of both The Magic Knot and The Phoenix Charm, which is her latest in the series.

Now let’s chat!

DUCK CHAT: Helen, welcome to TGTBTU! Let’s start off by talking about how the idea for your Magic Knot series came about. Was it one of those it-came-to-you-in-a-moment ideas, perhaps something specific spurred the thought, or was it germinating a while before coming to fruition?

HELEN SCOTT TAYLOR: The first book I wrote was a short contemporary and in the days when I still thought I might be able to write ‘normal’ people, I had other ideas for short contemporary stories. One of those ideas was about Irish identical twin brothers who owned a pub in Cornwall. Once I realized I liked writing fantasy more than contemporary, the story morphed into a fantasy in my head. My identical twin brothers became Irish fairies and the rest of the story evolved from there.

DC: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions, or dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?

HST: I start a book knowing my main characters (hopefully) and with a vague idea of where the plot is going. The rest is a surprise. I make the stories up as I go along and sometimes they go off in unexpected directions. I have just finished the first draft of The Ruby Kiss, the third book in my Magic Knot Fairies series. I had to write a synopsis of the book before I started it for my editor, but the actual story ended up being quite different from what I’d initially imagined.

DC: Let’s talk about The Magic Knot first. I really enjoyed Niall and Rose’s story, they’re a terrific hero and heroine. Would you tell our readers about them, please?

HST: The Magic Knot is set in Cornwall, England and in Ireland. My hero, Niall O’Connor, is half Tuatha dé Danaan and half leprechaun. (He gets rather touchy if anyone teases him about leprechauns!) The Tuatha dé Danaan are a romance writer’s gift: a race of tall, beautiful fairy people descended from the Greek gods who traveled to Ireland millennia ago. Niall wears crystal knives strapped to his wrists, rides a motorcycle, and plays the stock market using his leprechaun touch of luck. My heroine, Rose, is half-human and half Cornish pisky. Rose sets out for what she believes to be a normal accountancy job. She slowly discovers that in the mystical depths of rural Cornwall, there is a world full of magical creatures, and she is their queen!

DC: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing? Who usually wins?

HST: I never argue with my characters. I feel as though I’m just writing down what happens to them. It is almost as though I’m a spectator watching the period of their lives covered by the book. I often have no idea how the characters are going to get out of the trouble. There is a scene near the end of The Phoenix Charm where the hero, Michael, has to face a huge winged vampiric nightstalker much stronger than he is. I had no idea how Michael would deal with the problem until I wrote the scene. He came up with his own unique way of handling things. (Or that’s how it felt to me.) I just wrote it down.

DC: What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?

HST: I procrastinate if I haven’t got the characters clearly defined in my head. If I don’t know them properly then I can’t write about them. If this happens, I usually go for a long walk to think. I am distracted from writing a first draft by noise. I like undisturbed silence when I’m composing the story. But I can revise and edit with noise around me, as the process is so different.

DC: What is it that draws you to magic and mysticism, the Irish, and all things paranormal?

HST: I’m sure there is more in this world than we comprehend and I love speculating on what other beings share our space with us. I enjoy every shade of speculative fiction from pure mysticism right through to books based on our expanding knowledge of physics. I love the way science eventually catches up with and proves many of the things authors dream up. And the Irish—they have magic in the blood.

DC: Is there a genre you haven’t tackled but would like to try?

HST: I haven’t tried writing high fantasy yet, and I would love to do so. I have an idea for a story—probably a YA romantic fantasy—set in a fantasy world that I’m working on in my head now.

DC: The Phoenix Charm hit the shelves yesterday – congratulations! Again, you have a charming couple who grow so much throughout their book. Would you give us some insight into Michael and Cordelia and their story?

HST: In The Phoenix Charm, the heroine, Cordelia, is half Cornish pisky and half water nymph. It is the water nymph qualities inherited from her mother that have manifested, making her a water elemental. The sensual water nymph allure that attracts males has so far caused her nothing but trouble. When she reached puberty, her grandmother bound the power by covering the energy centers on Cordelia’s body with Celtic symbols. But the water nymph energies are also the source of her healing power so she has never reached her full potential.

The hero of the story, Michael, is an Earth elemental. He is a storyteller and has the gift of glamour, which makes him attractive, and silver tongue, which makes his words persuasive. As the story progresses he discovers a greater power he has inherited from his father. Michael gives Cordelia the courage to explore her sensual side, while she encourages him to accept his amazing legacy of power.

DC: What advice would you give to your younger self?

HST: Start writing sooner! I loved making up stories when I was a child, but then I moved into the field of science for most of my working life. I wish I had studied English at University instead of Botany and Zoology.

DC: If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

HST: Helen Scott Taylor loved writing when she was a child; then she lost her way for many years until she hit forty and started looking for the something that was missing in her life. In 2003, she rediscovered her creative side and started making up stories again.

DC: What would be your “voice’s” tagline?

HST: Jennifer Ashley read The Magic Knot and called my work “Decadently delicious adventure-fantasy romance.” I think that about sums it up!

DC: Do you have more books planned in the series?  If so, would you give us a sneak peek into the next one?

HST: The third book in the series is Nightshade’s story, The Ruby Kiss. This will be released on December 28, 2010. I send Nightshade to Scotland to the Gathering of Kith and Kin where he gets embroiled in the disagreements between the Seelie and Unseelie courts. There are some interesting new characters in this book, as well as familiar ones who have appeared in the first two stories. I also have a novella called The Frost Fairy in a Fantasy anthology due out in October 2010. This story is related to The Magic Knot Fairies, as the heroine is Troy’s daughter. I also have plans for two more full-length installments, one featuring Devin (the Arabian djinn), the other Troy.

DC: You have a fun quiz on your site to determine your element: earth, air, fire, and water, of which you also use for your characters. I’m air, which turned out to be pretty accurate. How do you determine which element to give to your characters? What’s yours? How accurately does it describe you?

HST: I’m air as well, and it’s amazingly accurate for a quiz just designed to be a bit of fun. I definitely have my head in the clouds much of the time. I don’t really choose my characters’ elements–when the characters spring into my mind they come fully formed. I know immediately which element they are as it relates to their personality. I always feel as though my characters already exist somewhere; I just have to find them.

DC: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?

HST: A lot of reading! Running around after my kids—which I do anyway, even though they are grown up now. I like art as well, so I might be studying some kind of art or craft. I need some creative outlet or I implode. My husband and I run a business together, so I’d also be spending more time on that than I do now.

DC: The Feast of Beauty is your novella in The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance, which is slated to be released January 26. Would you tell us a little about it?

HST: This novella is loosely connected to my Magic Knot series. It is about King Esras who is mentioned in both The Magic Knot and The Phoenix Charm. It is set in the world of the People of the Irish Sea god Lir. This is the short blurb:

Kate’s grandmother’s dying wish is that she should return her pearl pendant to the tiny fishing village in Ireland where she was born. At the village’s Midsummer Feast of Beauty, the unearthly silver hair and emerald eyes of Esras, the wealthy local landowner, mesmerize Kate. But how can she trust her heart to a man who claims to be a sea-fairy king?

DC: Are you like most authors, you have a book or two under the bed or at the back of a drawer that you never finished for some reason? Any chance of dusting it off and taking another look at it?

HST: My first book was a short contemporary aimed at Harlequin Romance. They told me that my characters were too unorthodox for the line. My second book was a paranormal about a parallel world where demons live. That actually won a number of writing contests. I did consider resurrecting it, but I’d rather spend my time writing new stories than repairing old flawed ones.

DC: You describe on your website where you live in England as “near Plymouth in Devon between the windswept expanse of Dartmoor and the rocky Atlantic coast.” It sounds like one of those places where magic does actually happen. Do such surroundings help you at all in your writing?

HST: I often get inspiration from walking in the countryside. I’m very much a country person. When I go shopping in Plymouth, I always breathe a sigh of relief when I get home to the countryside again. I love woodland and the sea. Both inspire me.

DC: Also on your site your talk about starting a pest control business with your husband and the inevitable things you’ve seen over the years. What’s the worst you’ve faced that will always stick in your memory?

HST: The worst was actually a huge rat I found in my horse’s stable when I was young–long before we started the pest control business. I’ve never seen such a large rat since. The creature jumped at me and scared me out of my wits. I’m told that they jump toward the light, but I thought it was leaping toward my head.

DC: Is there another book or series you’ve got in mind for the future? That one book you’ve always wanted to write?

HST: I have lots of ideas in my head that I want to write. All are fantasy, paranormal or speculative in some way. Many are YA stories. I’m currently writing a novella for inclusion in The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2. This is about a race of men called The Sons of Ra who are descended from the Sun god Ra in Ancient Egypt. They renew themselves and the women they love with magical fire. That could develop into a longer series.

DC: What’s on the horizon for Helen Scott Taylor?

HST: Next up after I’ve finished revising The Ruby Kiss is my YA fantasy. I’m really excited about the world developing in my head. I love books containing animals and they play a large part in this world. Once that is finished, I’ll return to my Magic Knot world to write my Arabian djinn’s story. I had fun visiting Morocco at the end of 2008 to find out about his world.

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate?      – Both. If it’s chocolate I’ll eat it.

- smooth or chunky peanut butter?      – Chunky.

- heels or flats?     – Flats.

- coffee or tea?      – Decaf coffee or Earl Grey tea.

- summer or winter?      – Summer.

- mountains or beach?      – Mountains.

- mustard or mayonnaise?    – Oh, hard choice. Mayo.

- flowers or candy?       – Flowers. I always have cut flower in the house. Tulips are my favorites.

- pockets or purse?       – Purse. (We call it a handbag in the UK.)

- Pepsi or Coke?      – Diet Coke.

- ebook or print?      – Print—at the moment. I’m thinking about buying an ebook reader, as there are so many great books come out in ebook first now.

And because we still enjoy the answers we get:

1. What is your favorite word?      – Bliss.

2. What is your least favorite word?      – Snot.

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?      -  Beautiful music.

4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?      – Inner city areas. I need space and freedom.

5. What sound or noise do you love?     – Water running.

6. What sound or noise do you hate?    – Dogs scratching at the door.

7. What is your favorite curse word?      – Damn.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?      – Veterinarian.

9. What profession would you not like to do?      – Doctor.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?    “Pets welcome.”

DC: Helen, thank you so very much for spending the day with us!

Sandy M’s review of Breakfast in Bed by Robin Kaye
Contemporary Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 31 Dec 09

After the first several chapters in this book, the idea of putting it down and starting a different one came to me a number of times. I’m one, however, who doesn’t like to not finish a book. And in this case, am I glad I didn’t succumb to that original thought.

During those first chapters I kept telling myself this is a plot we’ve read before. Over and over again. Hero and current girlfriend break up before a big to-do he needs for his career, gets heroine to help him out, they fall in love along the way. That’s pretty much how it all starts. After the break-up, Rich asks Becca to help him become more domesticated so he’s relationship material to get the ex-girlfriend back. Even though Becca’s been attracted to him since they met at her brother’s marriage to his sister, she’s kept that to herself and pretended not to like Rich very much. But when they’re thrown into living together for a few months — all platonic of course — to keep the peace she agrees to help him out.

I also didn’t care much for Rich in these chapters. He’s in his early thirties, is a slob at home, typical man when it comes to women. I felt the author needed to do some fancy footwork to make me change my mind about him.  What did she do, you ask?  Humor. She had me laughing out loud.

When the cooking lessons begin is when this book picks up and the fun starts. Rich’s first assignment is to fix grilled cheese sandwiches. Simple, right? Yeah, Rich thought so too when Becca explained it to him. Didn’t turn out that way, however, and that ends up being one of the best scenes in the book. There are several more that also made me laugh quite a bit. This is where I started to soften toward Rich.

Rich comes from a big Italian family, one he calls dysfunctional. But they don’t have a thing on Becca’s family. She left Philadelphia to get away from their influence, especially when it comes to her work. She’s an artist and she wants to make it on her own, not on the coattails of her doctor father or socialite mother. It’s interesting how Rich, growing up as he did, was actually coddled, so to speak, so that he didn’t learn the basics of keeping house; whereas Becca, coming from money, servants taking care of the home, and she’s the one who’s teaching him how to cook, clean, and do laundry.

First come an undeniable attraction between them, Rich really seeing Becca for the first time. The sex is great of course, and it’s Rich who says the L-word first. He’s straightforward with his feelings; one who knows what he wants and he goes for it. It’s Becca who’s the list maker, who has to think things over before making a decision, and who doesn’t believe love is for her. Their conflict stems from Rich wanting Becca to succeed, to get what she wants, though he goes about it the wrong way, and even Becca is a little guilty of that in her own right.

But as the two of them talk about a few times during their story, the make-up sex is great. I enjoyed their love scenes. They’re honest and fun as well as intense and fulfilling.The scene with the dining room table is one of the best and one of the most heart wrenching when all is said and done.

I got the feeling from things I came across this is not the first book about some of the characters I read about, and, sure enough, there’s two books prior to this one. I”m sure I even have one in the TBR pile. I’m going to be digging that one out and hunting down the other. Ms. Kaye’s characters are engaging and charming and I want to know more about them.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Rich, the epitome of “anti-domestic,” can’t cook to save his life, and his idea of cleaning his apartment is to invite his mother over. But he’s ready to settle down, and he can’t stop thinking about the ex-girlfriend who got away. When he notices that his soon-to-be-married friends cooked and cleaned their way into their women’s hearts, he asks his friend Becca to help transform him into a nurturing man to win back his ex.

Rich is the only guy who’s taken the time to know Becca for herself. She decides she’ll give him the makeover he’s asking for, though she’ll be damned if she’s going to turn him into a domestic god for another woman. She wants Rich for herself, but how can she convince him that her kitchen and her bedroom are the only domestic locales he desires?

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of Hunting Julian (The Gatherers, Book 1) by Jacquelyn Frank
Paranormal Romance published by Kensington 29 Dec 09

Once I discovered how good Ms. Frank’s books are when I began reading her second series, The Shadowdwellers, I was determined to keep up with that series and anything new she has to offer in the future. She’s just too good to miss, as I’ve done with her debut series, The Nightwalkers. She has once again left me spellbound with this newest series and in awe of her talent.

Asia has been doing her own investigation on Julian Sawyer, a handsome playboy who she suspects of kidnapping and killing women, the latest victim her sister. She’s been the only one to put the pieces together and now she’s so close to proving her suspicions. Assuming the airs of the type of woman who attracts Julian, Asia puts her plan in motion, but she couldn’t be more surprised at the outcome when all is said and done.

Trying to save his colony and his people, Julian takes willing human women to his world where they are revered. As he’s forced to take Asia home with him when she learns too much, he realizes she’s his kindra, the one meant only for him. Now he has to make sure she acclimates to his world which is so very different from hers, fraught with danger at every step. Asia, however, doesn’t need anyone, especially a man as domineering as Julian, but she finds out very quickly she just may need him in this strange land where she has no choice but to leave her previous life and now make the best of things as an alien among stangers.

Since I began reading Ms. Frank’s Shadowdwellers series, I’ve been simply amazed at her imagination. She always gives readers something very different from the norm in paranormal romance. This new series is no exception. Julian’s world is several layers beneath the Earth’s crust, a world where one misstep will send someone spiraling to their death, a world that is ruled by energy and the beings who have learned how to harness it. Asia ends up doing quite well in his world due to her independence and defense training and, of course, Julian’s love when she finally lets it consume her.

This is another series I’ll be waiting for book by book to see what happens next. I have a feeling at this point every book or series Ms. Frank writes will be like that for a lot of readers out there. Each book is definitely worth the wait.

Grade: A+

Summary:

As an Advocate for his colony, Julian Sawyer travels to Earth to bring back the Chosen—women who possess energy potent enough to help revitalize his people. The stunning, silver-clad beauty who strides into his club one night radiates a sensual magnetism unlike any he’s encountered, and Julian realizes that Asia Callahan is not just Chosen, she is his kindra: his one true mate.

For months, Asia has tracked the beautiful and mysterious Julian across the country, convinced that he’s behind the disappearance of her sister and a dozen other women. She’s prepared to believe he’s a ruthless killer, but when she presents herself as bait, she discovers that the truth is far more shocking. Taken to a strange, hazardous realm she never knew existed, Asia will face the ultimate choice—between abandoning the life she’s always known, and forsaking a passion as dangerous as it is powerful.

No excerpt available.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of A Highlander’s Destiny (Daughters of the Glen, Book 5) by Melissa Mayhue
Paranormal Romance published by Pocket 29 Dec 09

Though Ms. Mayhue’s Guardian books are part of her Daughters of the Glen series, she has spoiled me with her Guardian heroes so that they are now my favorites of all her books. The time travel aspect she normally writes is not included to the same extent as in her previous books, there’s enough magic and mysticism to make up for that.  And, as usual, her hero and heroine have secrets and issues to overcome, but when love strikes, there’s no stopping them, no matter what’s thrown in their way.

Destiny Noble has had visions all her life. They come to her in her dreams, one piece of the puzzle at a time. The latest vision has led her to Coryell Enterprises to ask for help in the search for her sister, Leah, who the police have labeled as a runaway. Refusing to believe that, Destiny follows her vision, knowing that Jesse will be the one to help her in her quest.

Finally home after completing his Guardian training, Jesse Coryell’s young niece tells him to find his destiny, and when he discovers it’s Destiny Noble who has requested help to find her missing sister, something in his Fae blood tells him to follow up with Destiny. What he finds is an independent woman who is very determined to do things her way, who is definitely hiding something from him, and who calls to him on a level no other woman ever has. He tries to deny his attraction to her, she’s a client after all, but fighting it just may not be a choice when it comes to their destiny.

Afraid of what Jesse might think of her when he finds out about her visions, Destiny holds off telling him about herself. But she learns quickly she has to trust the man for him to find her sister. The only little disappointment I have is with Destiny when she doesn’t take that trust very far. She’s constantly getting herself into trouble and never seems to learn from her mistakes when Jesse has to rescue her each time. I know she’s anxious and worried about her sister, will do anything to find her, but a couple of times she’s just downright lucky things turned out as they did when she went too far on her own.

That being said, Destiny is still a very likable character and she complements Jesse quite nicely. Jesse is a modern day Highlander, but he’s just as alpha and sexy as any medieval counterpart. They both have things they need to work out if there’s to be a relationship between them, but that’s when the trust truly does come and they talk things through to insure their future.

The villain, Adira, and her henchmen are always one step ahead of Jesse and Destiny for the most part, but eventually things turn around in their favor. I was definitely glad to see the last of Adira. Talk about a narcissistic maniac. Ms Mayhue writes those villains just as well as she does her heroes and heroines.

I also like the setup we get for the next book in the series, which is Robert’s story and will be out late January. We met him in an earlier book when he traveled through time to present day. He’s now volunteered to return to his era and I think he’s going to have the trip of a lifetime.

And I have to say I really love the covers Pocket’s artists have created thus far for Ms. Mayhue’s books. Each one is distinct and beautifully done, and you can immediately tell they’re part of a series, and, of course, Ms. Mayhue’s fans know at a glance when they see her books on a bookstore shelf.

Grade: A-

Summary:

When the worlds of Mortal and Fae collide, the magic of true love is put to the test.

JESSE CORYELL is a man adrift in life, searching for his destiny. He doesn’t trust women; too many have chased him for his money and power. He’s tried to lose himself in his work, taking on the worst mankind has to offer, but as a Guardian and Fae descendant, what he really needs is to find his true love. When he sets out to help a mysterious woman find her sister, what he gets is much more than he bargained for, battling an undeniable attraction to his sexy new client while fighting to save her life and rescue her sister.

DESTINY NOBLE is desperately searching for her missing kid sister. Not even her own attempted abduction will stop her in her quest. Abandoned by everyone she’s ever loved, losing Leah is the last straw. Authorities have declared the girl a runaway, but Destiny knows better. Her dreams have shown her the truth. They’ve also shown her Jesse.

Jesse and Destiny race against time to save an innocent girl from a powerful ancient evil. Will true love be their only weapon or will they each sacrifice their own destiny in the process?

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of The Phoenix Charm (Magic Knot Fairies, Book 2) by Helen Scott Taylor
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by Love Spell 29 Dec 09

It’s official, Helen Scott Taylor has become my newest favorite author. She has the magic touch, as far as I’m concerned, to give readers terrific characters, a unique storyline, and a lovely romance. This second book in her series is every bit as intriguing and charming as her first. If you haven’t read her yet, you should. If you’re not, you’re missing out on something very special.

Cordelia, the Pisky wise woman, is left in charge when the King and his wife are out of town. She’s always been drawn to Michael, the King’s twin, but because she’s half water nymph, she’s always kept her allure warded so havoc won’t ensue because men, including Michael,  lose control around her. In the Pisky realm there’s an accidental portal breach to the underworld, and because the King is not in attendance to help seal it, his son Finian is taken to ensure closure.

Michael is a lover of women, the clan storyteller who has a voice full of glamour that can entrance nearly any being. He’s always been free of responsibility, but when young Finian is placed in danger it’s up to Michael to rescue his nephew, even give his life if necessary for the return of his brother’s son. Journeying with Cordelia, her familiar and her ward, as well as Nightshade, a vampire who is blood bonded to Michael, they walk right into danger, death, and enlightenment, the last two courtesy of Michael’s father who bestows on him the Phoenix Charm, along with the knowledge Michael needs to finally know who and what he is.

I think I like this book even a little better than the first in the series, The Magic Knot, and I loved that one. Michael grows and steps into himself at first with doubt, then with stoicism, a little fear, and eventually a lot of pride. He’s one terrific hero. His love for his nephews is just as moving as his growing love for Cordelia, and she is the perfect heroine for him. She has her own battles to face, but when the chips are down, she’s as selfless as can be.

There is a side story for Nightshade that caught me off guard.  It’s tender and happy and I was completely taken with it. We also meet another son of Troy, who I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m hoping his story is what we might get next. He’s definitely hero material.

Good versus evil, life and death, magic, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, love of every kind imaginable, and, of course, romance are all just a smidgen of what you’ll find in this book. The writing is simply perfection, the emotion is raw and heartrending, the story is something you’ll not find anywhere else. You cannot miss by giving this book — this series — a chance. I think you’ll like it every bit as much as I did.

Grade: A+

Summary:

HE’S PURE TEMPTATION.
Cordelia has sworn she’ll abstain from looking into Michael’s future–particularly when the image in the gilded smoke of her divination mirror shows him half naked. Yet she can’t resist watching the sexy rascal slowly running his hand down his ribs, over his abdomen, flicking open the button on his jeans with a little flourish like a magician performing a trick.
SHE’S TRYING TO RESIST.
Respectable wise woman Cordelia restrains her secret water nymph sensuality with the Celtic symbols painted on her skin. But Michael’s powerful fairy glamour leaves her breathless, off balance, struggling for control. When Gwyn ap Nudd, the Welsh King of the Underworld, steals away Michael’s infant nephew, Cordelia must work with him to save the child. But how can she trust her instincts with Michael tempting her to explore the hidden elemental depths of her nature and insisting that she believe in the power of…The Phoenix Charm.

Read an excerpt. (scroll down halfway & click link)

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of The Christmas Kite by Gail Gaymer Martin
Inspirational Romance published by Steeple Hill 1 Oct 08 (reissue)

I’m still searching for that feel-good Christmas story, and I think I’m about out of time for this year. While this book is an emotional and up-lifting story, it really doesn’t have a whole lot to do with Christmas, just as the previous four or five books I’ve read in the past month. To me, if the word Christmas appears in the title of a book, the majority of the book should be about that holiday, set during that season, and anything else to do with yuletide. So far I’ve been a little disappointed in my choices.

What I do like about this book is the use of kites, not only those free-flying wonders themselves but also well-done analogies when it comes to life and emotion, and this book is packed with both.

Meara and her son, Mac, who is a Down Syndrome child, are finally free of her deceased husband’s family and they’re starting a new life in a small Michigan town. Renting a cabin on the lake just outside of town, they meet Jordan Baird, the local recluse, while out on a walk. Mac spies a kite riding on the breeze and finds Jordan at the end of the string. Finally having their freedom to steer clear of people who stare and make remarks about Mac, Meara can do without the coldness coming from the handsome man who designs and builds such beautiful kites.

But as they are thrown together more and more, the wall Jordan has built around his heart since his wife and son died begins to crack. Maybe God has sent Meara and Mac to him for a specific reason, but why would God do that after punishing him so horribly by taking his family away. He struggles with the new faith he’d found years ago that Meara and Mac are now bringing to the surface once again, and Meara has her own demons to quash when it comes to faith, namely her former in-laws, who were no better than the strangers who treated their grandson so badly because of his disability.

Mac is such an endearing character. He’s a sweet, gentle eight-year-old who’s been overly protected by mom and now with this new-found freedom, he begins to spread his wings and take flight. Just like the kites he loves so much. He works his way into Jordan’s heart as well as Meara does. Each time Mac throws himself at Jordan and hugs the man’s legs whether in happiness, sadness, or fear, he works himself into your heart too.

The only disappointment for me is the actual Christmas kite. I expected something totally different than what I got. After learning about the wonderful kites Jordan creates, ones that people pay big bucks for to decorate their homes or offices with because they’re too expensive to fly, I waited for that beautiful Christmas kite, a one-of-a-kind creation, and it never came. What I did get was nice, no doubt, but I just expected more.

All in all, however, this is a satisfying read about love, faith, and forgiveness shown in a variety of ways.

Grade: B

Summary:

The life of a single mom with a Down Syndrome child is turned around by a mysterious kite-flying stranger. Reclusive, Jordan Baird is drawn back into the world by a happy-go-lucky eight year old, Mac Hayden. His mother, Meara, is determined to make a life for her son and finds a niche in the Michigan town of Mackinaw City where her life becomes as colorful and exciting as the kites flying over the water. With her abundant faith, Meara comes to grips with her past and Jordan learns that forgiveness is possible with love and faith in God.

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of The Most Wicked of Sins (Seven Deadly Sins, Book 2) by Kathryn Caskie
Historical Romance published by Avon 29 Sep 09

I was intrigued with Ms. Caskie’s series when I got hold of the first book, just liked the idea of it. Seven brothers and sisters allowed to run wild when their mother dies, and after causing such havoc to be named after the Seven Deadly Sins, their father decides to put his foot down: shape up or lose family and all that goes with it. Two books in, the sins have been wickedly represented.

Lady Ivy is next in line when her father, the Duke, wields the family axe, warning her if she isn’t betrothed by the time he’s in London next, she will be cast out. Thirty days is all she’s got to make sure her future is safe. That future lies with Lord Tinsdale, a man who is about to propose, she’s positive. But the next thing Ivy knows is her envy is flaring when her almost husband-to-be throws her aside and showers his affection on the newest beauty in town.

Her only recourse, according to Ivy, is to make Tinsdale jealous so he’ll return to her and secure her future. Hatching such plan requires just the right man to do the job, thus she hires an actor from the local theater when her sister spies one who should fit the bill. Handsome and doing his profession justice, Ivy is immediately attracted to the pretend Marquess Counterton, but she must keep her eye on the eventual prize.

Intrigued by this fiery-haired woman and the game she’s playing, Nick goes along with her ruse to see how far she will take it. After all, posing as one of the nobility is illegal, but it seems the woman is determined to follow her plan through no matter the cost. Halfway through the game, however, Nick begins to play for himself and what he wants with Ivy. He’s sure she feels the same, but she also feels she has to protect him because she doesn’t know the truth that will set them both free to allow them to be together.

I’m enjoying this series thus far. It’s fun and the moral of the story isn’t preached at you but you still get the drift of the pitfalls of the most wicked of sins. I like the family dynamic between the brothers and sisters, each knowing their time will come while still being very supportive of the one who’s in the hot seat currently. While the meeting between Ivy and Nick in this book is rather trite, it still works and is an enjoyable read. I look forward to rest of the series.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Lady Ivy Sinclair can’t live without funds much longer, so she vows to land a sensible, serious husband her father will accept. But just when the gentleman is about to pop the question, another woman snatches away his attentions. Furious, Ivy hatches a plan—make him jealous by hiring a handsome man to impersonate a marquess—a marquess who happens to be madly in love with her.

The moment Ivy boldly kisses Dominic Sheridan—to test his fitness for the task at hand—she’s sure he’s perfect. What Ivy doesn’t know is that the blue-eyed rake isn’t acting at all, but intent on seducing her into committing the most wicked of sins.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Limecello’s review of Double the Heat by Lori Foster, Deirdre Martin, Elizabeth Bevarly, Christie Ridgway
Contemporary romance released by Berkley Trade 1 Dec 09

I’ve actually been waiting for this book since I read Double the Pleasure. A new Winston story? Heck, a new Lori Foster novella? Yeah – I was curious. Stories by Deirdre Martin, and Christie Ridgway were just a bonus. As well as Elizabeth Bevarly – I’d never read her books, but have heard good things-  so I was excited about this anthology.

Hart and Soul by Lori Foster

I liked this novella- and enjoyed it generally more than Ms. Foster’s more recent new stories. In fact, it reminded me again of why Ms. Foster was one of my favorite romance authors. I really enjoyed the romance in the story, and felt that the hero and heroine were well matched. As for the plot – that was definitely lacking and much less believable.

Hart Winston and Lisa Vogle are great characters. Hart is charming, clueless, and hot. He’s the guy everyone loved- the guy who gets everything he wants – and you don’t hate him because underneath it all he really is a nice guy. Lisa is smart, sweet, and likable. It helps that Hart has to grovel early on, and realizes first that he’s in love with Lisa. (This after his whambamthankyouma’am and disappearing act.)

The fact that Ms. Foster manages to get the reader past that is impressive. However, the reason why Lisa finds it “so imperative” to contact Hart is a let down. And the “action” thrown in to keep things interesting falls flat. I really could have done without it.

Nevertheless, Hart and Soul was ultimately just a quick, fun read, but not memorable. I had to skim through the novella again to remind myself of the key points to write this review.

Grade: C

Breaking the Ice by Deirdre Martin

The story had so much potential… but I couldn’t get over the fact that there was so little romance. Lennie Buckley and Sebastian Ivanov just… seemed a bit off for me. They started off as friends, and while they’re physically attracted to each other I couldn’t go with the emotional attraction. Lennie and Sebastian only hung out a few times – and to their, and Ms. Martin’s credit, they hold off on getting physical. Specifically, Sebastian originally is just looking for a friend, who is female. Lennie happens to be mistaken as his “meet and greet” and they hit it off. They’re determined to just be friends, but Lennie makes a move on Sebastian. He holds her off, and they just hang out – both lead busy lives.

A few weeks (I believe) later, they’re meeting each other’s family, and dating. And having sex, now. And then, Sebastian tells Lennie about his lack of job stability, and she goes crazy. Lennie is pretty bitchy, and I thought extreme, even for fiction. They have nothing to do with each other for three months… and then – they’re together again! O_o

But even more than that, their personalities didn’t seem to mesh. Lennie’s so focused on school, and a bit odd. Sebastian is, well, chivalrous, and doesn’t get Lennie’s love and fascination with retro and vintage clothing – and she’s a clothing designer. He’s a hockey player. Basically, I never really believed in Lennie and Sebastian’s romance, or that they’d work. Sad. I did love the cameo appearances by the other Blade players though.

Grade: D

Double Booked by Elizabeth Bevarly

If Ms. Bevarly’s writing is consistent, I’m sorry to say that she’s not the author for me. The premise of the story is cute, and I could get behind the “opposites attract” concept – but Double Booked was a bit much for me. I actually put the book down for a bit.

Amanda Bingham and Max Callahan are… well, spastic. I’m pretty well known for being random, and these characters made even my head hurt.

Amanda was so much a workaholic, that she was unreal. It just didn’t make sense that someone so smart, capable, and put together would cower like she did and kow tow to her boss. Yes it was part of her “character” – but otherwise, why?

Also, Max seemed to be too extreme as well. The listless, good for nothing bum, who only cares about getting laid and having a good time. He seems to be a loser, but then isn’t – and it almost seems like the sole reason his depiction changes, is because Amanda is attracted to him.

She’s so determined to have a fling, and avoid Max in general, working and ignoring her vacation- and then at the end Amanda does something completely out of character, and they’re in love. Maybe it was the length – basically the word limits that hurt this book – which may have been the pitfall for the other stories… but it just didn’t work for me here.
I could believe Amanda and Max as a vacation fling much more than a couple that would go back home to Chicago and stick together.

Grade: D

Original Zin by Christie Ridgway

John Henry Hudson, and Zinnia Friday are fantastic characters. This was also my favorite story by far. It was also the shortest novella in the book, which makes me incredibly sad.

Ms. Ridgway has a lot of humor in her story, but it’s also realistic. I was amused and entertained, but not rolling my eyes because situations were over exaggerated. Zinnia luckily goes by the name “Zin” and she has some hang ups. While skating the edge of believability, it works. Zin’s parents are hippies. She has a brother and sister. Kohl and Mari. Whose full names are Kohlrabi and Marigold. Those poor, poor children. Nevertheless, Ms. Ridgway sticks to her theme, and builds around it. This makes me believe the story, rather than making things seem hokey.

John Henry Hudson is your typical stick in the mud executive, but he’s got a sense of humor. I like that there’s a slight twist of him being something of a hound dog. Not in general – just that he’s super attracted to Zin and has decided to go after her with all of his considerable focus.

Zin and John Henry are actually quite compatible and similar. Both driven, workaholics who follow the rules.

I have to say… I love Zin. I love that she looks out for herself, that she gets mad and gets it out- and chooses what is best or most practical for her. She chooses her career, not love. Which elicits something of a “you go, girl!” response in me. But don’t worry – romance wins in the end, and there’s a happy ending. And it’s great. Suffice it to say, I’m determined to read more of Ms. Ridgway’s stories.

Grade: B+

Really, if you like these authors – Ms. Ridgway’s alone is enough to recommend reading this book. I really liked parts of each novella. I can definitely see myself re-reading sections… but unfortunately when taken as a whole, I found myself underwhelmed by a few of the stories. Has this turned me off the authors? No. I’m glad I read the stories – especially Hart’s, as it’s another Winston story and connected to the anthology Double the Pleasure – and even more so Ms. Ridgway’s Original Zin because it’s such a good read.

Final verdict? Eh – it’s ok. :X If you love the authors – read it. Get it from the library, thumb through it at the book store before you make your decision – do what you like. It’s worth reading. Worth $15.00 of reading… I’ll let you decide.

Overall Grade: C-

Summary:

What could be more fun than a game between friends- or lovers? In these four sexy stories of mixed-up couples and mistaken identities, it’s not about winning, but how much you like to play.

With a brand-new novella featuring Hart Winston, whose switch with his identically hot twin brother has landed him in some serious foul play, it’s a safe bet that in the game of love no one is going to follow the rules.

Read an excerpt by Lori Foster here.
Read an excerpt by Deirdre Martin here. here.
No excerpts from Ms. Bevarly or Ms. Ridgway, who both desperately need to update their websites.

Gwen’s review of Never Romance a Rake (Neville Family Trilogy, Book 3) by Liz Carlyle
Historical romance released by Pocket 22 Jul 08

I enjoy breaking up my urban fantasy and contemporary reading with a nice, refreshing historical.  I tend to the “heavier” historicals and try to avoid “teh funny” as much as possible.  This book delivered on all levels – it cleared my palate mid-pile o’ UF, and is a weighty tale that distracted and entertained me. 

I realize I’m late to this series – the last book was released a year ago last July – but at least I came along for the ride.  I’m glad I read this book before the other two.  Though it would be entertaining to read them all in order, I don’t believe it’s necessary – this book stands alone fine.

The hero is Kieran, Lord Rothewell, and the heroine a young French woman named Camille.  Through some rather tried but true authorial maneuvers, the hero “wins” the heroine in a card game (he cheats, by the way). The two are thrust together mostly by choice and somewhat by circumstance.

Kieran is a rake of the worst sort – dissolute and depressed.  He is convinced that he’s an awful person and punishes himself suitably by totally abusing his body.  Camille has been raised by two of what must be the most selfish people on the planet.  As a result her self-image is not the best.  Nevertheless, Camille is determined to have a child so that she can have someone in her life she can truly love.

What I found surprising about both of these damaged people was how much I liked them.  I’m not a fan of the “oh woe is me” type of character.  You know the kind – Kenyon’s heroes are almost all a bunch of whiney babies.  Camille and Kieran doubt themselves, and Kieran wallows a bit, but neither of them whines.  They eventually talk to each other about what has damaged them and then overcome it together.  They act like, gasp, adults!

There’s a few other things that happen in the book that made me think for a few pages that I was reading a Dynasty script.  Regardless, the book remained entertaining and didn’t fall into the “no way!” realm.  Near as I can gather, this is the only book of the trilogy that doesn’t rely on a political suspense element to carry the story.  It’s all about the couple – another thing I really liked.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a meatier romance that is truly centered on the couple.  If you’re a fan of historicals, you’ll also like it though there’s actually not much about the period in this entry.

Grade: B+

Read more reviews and information by following the series tag here.

Summary:

Baron Rothewell lives a dark, shuttered existence by day, and a life of reckless abandon by night. Scarred by a childhood filled with torment and deprivation, Rothewell cares very little anyone or anything. His life on the edge of ruin suits him—until he meets a man who just might be his nemesis. The Comte de Valigny likes to play deeply and dangerously, but Rothewell’s recklessness is undeterred. Until one night when de Valigny wagers something just a little more valuable than gold.

Mademoiselle Marchand is a desperate woman in a strange land, and her pleading eyes seem to swallow Lord Rothewell body and soul—assuming he still has one. Now the baron must play his hand with the utmost care, for at last something meaningful is at stake…

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series (I adore these covers – such pretty colors):

Sandy M’s review of A Highlander Christmas (Highlander Series, Book 7) by Janet Chapman
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by Pocket Star 27 Oct 09

This is my fourth Christmas book in the last three weeks. The previous three didn’t have a whole lot to do with Christmas or they didn’t deal with the holiday that well, and I wasn’t thrilled with them for one reason or another beyond that. Though I was expecting some warm season’s greetings and other related Christmas goings-on in this book, none of that happened. But, you know what? This time I didn’t care. That’s what a good story, great characters, and terrific writing will do for you.

I’ve been a fan of this series from the start and the books are now focused on Grey’s daughters, but I’m absolutely fine with that. As long as Ms. Chapman gives me a hot hero to go with all those daughters, as long as she keeps the magic different and interesting along with the story, I’m happy with it all. That’s exactly what she’s done in this book and that’s exactly why I didn’t mind one bit that whoever titled this book thought they’d make an extra buck or two pulling readers in by expecting Christmas when, in fact, Christmas is a very, very, very small part of this book.

Quitting her job a year before, Camry has been bartending and walking dogs for a living since. And her parents have no idea. She’s a physicist for NASA and lately has been having difficulty with magic and science mixing, which has to be done if you know her family. So she quits her job when further pushed by an arrogant Frenchman who questions her at every turn on her latest project. Living up to her mother’s reputation in the scientific world is not easy.

Concerned when Camry’s correspondence abruptly ends and that he may have been responsible for the crash of her mother’s satellite, Luke Renior treks to Springy Mountain for what information he can find. Only he’s the one found and now faces Camry’ parents, an understanding mother and a protective father. They send him to a small Maine town to bring their daughter home by the winter solstice. How in the world they think he’s going to do that is anyone’s guess. Little does he know that magic is in the air.

And the magic starts immediately when Camry and Luke come face to face for the first time, in more ways than one. Their ragtag team consists of two dogs and a young runaway who plays matchmaker for them whenever she gets the chance. Secrets are finally revealed and the attraction between them is still there, so they continue on to see where that magic leads them. Wizardry and avalanches can’t keep them apart nor away from their goal for very long.

Ms. Chapman always writes a delightful story and this book is no exception. Along with everything else, I really enjoyed that Grey and Grace, Camry’s parents, have a fairly good part in this particular story. Their romance started the series way back when and it’s nice to find out what they’ve been up to through all these years. You’d think endearing characters ensconced in magic would grow old as a theme in this series, but with Janet Chapman at the helm, that will never happen.

Grade: A+

Summary:

Camry MacKeage has absolutely no intention of telling her parents that she left her job as a NASA physicist for the small-town life of a dog-sitter — which is why she’s spending the holidays alone in coastal Maine with her furry friends Tigger and Max. Unfortunately, her irresistibly handsome rival, scientist Luke Pascal, accidentally spilled the beans. Now he’s on a mission from her mother to tempt Camry home for the family’s annual winter solstice celebration. But Luke is hiding his own secret, and he’ll need a little bit of magic to earn Camry’s trust…and a whole lot of mistletoe to seduce his way into her heart.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of Luke: Armed & Dangerous (Armed & Dangerous, Book 2) by Cheyenne McCray
Romantic Suspense published by St.Martin’s Griffen 27 Oct 09

When I discovered romance books oh so many years ago, my tender heart became enamored of a fantasy world of handsome, sexy (though my tender heart was too young to really know true sexiness at the time), men who would take care of their lady no matter what. He would protect her, he would die for her if need be. Luke Denver is that type of hero that I fantasized about then and that I certainly fantasize about now. I’m older now, so the sex in today’s books just make him that much more appealing. And he’s a cowboy. Be still my grown-up heart.

I’ve said in reviews before that I don’t really care about historical accuracy when reading that genre, and the same holds true for me in other genres as well. Since I’m a hero girl, when an author gives me a man like Luke, I don’t care in the slightest about the little details in a story. Yes, if it’s something super outrageous that’s incorrect or whatever, that’s a different thing. Luke is a DEA agent who works with local officers, and I’m sure Ms. McCray did her research on law enforcement, both state and federal, to get procedures and whatnot right. But it wouldn’t have made a bit of difference to me if she hadn’t. As long as it sounded good while Luke was doing it, that’s all I want.

Trinity is nearly in the same boat when she meets Luke. His sexy voice, his Texas drawl, his to-die-for bod, they all add up to the kind of man she could very easily fall for. But she’s only visiting from England for a short time. She could never call the ranch home again, it brings back too many memories of her growing up years when she was teased unmercifully. And she’s nearly engaged to a handsome albeit relatively unexciting Englishman. No wonder the woman’s system goes crazy whenever she’s near Luke.

Keeping his cover doesn’t seem that important the more he gets to know Trinity. Luke will tell her the truth soon, he’s not really the foreman at her sister’s ranch. He’s there to help uncover a drug lord’s illegal business. He wants everything on the up and up with Trinity because he also wants something more with her. Even something more than sex, which is a first for Luke, especially considering his last relationship.

Ms. McCray does a great job with these two characters. You feel their attraction from the beginning, and it’s a very explosive attraction. They can’t keep their hands off each other from the start. Sex for Trinity has been fairly staid, and she can tell immediately with Luke it will take on a whole different meaning. And Trinity is a terrific kick-ass heroine. Kick-boxing is her choice of exercise and it definitely comes in handy for her when facing danger later in the story.

There’s a whole host of other characters, including those from the first book in the series, and they each hold their own. The villain came somewhat as a surprise. As a caveat, this particular book started out as a short story and Ms. McCray has beefed it up for a full-length novel. So if you read the short, take a look at it again. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Grade: B+

Summary:

After four years abroad, Trinity MacKenna has returned home to her family’s ranch in southeastern Arizona. Everything in her life is going just the way she planned it—a home in London, a brilliant career, and she’s practically engaged to a gorgeous English gentleman. But when Trinity meets Luke, the cowboy turns her perfect world upside down. Everything about him is virile and sexy, dark and dangerous—and definitely not part of Trinity’s carefully arranged plans.From the moment Luke Denver sees the sensual strawberry blond, he knows he’s got to have her. Luke is intrigued by Trinity’s combination of sophistication and innocence, boldness and shyness. Even when Trinity tells him she’s taken, Luke doesn’t let that stop him, because he’s determined to make her his…no matter the cost.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Gwen’s review of Divine Misdemeanors (Meredith Gentry, Book 8 ) by Laurell K. Hamilton
Urban fantasy hardcover released by Ballantine 8 Dec 09

Laurell K. Hamilton’s Merry Gentry novels typically revolve around the politics of the Unseelie Court.  A couple of the early books were more about Merry’s Men and her day job working for a private detective agency.  There are many LKH fans who, after the last few Merry books that were all about sidhe politics, were begging for a return to the private investigation roots.  With DM those beggars get their wish. 

I’m not sure what side of that fence I sit on – politics or private life.  I enjoy reading about Merry’s problems juggling all those men.  I also enjoy reading about the utterly foreign and Machiavellian sidhe courts.  With both, there is a significant sex element.  Merry has TONS of mystically enhanced sex with all sorts of creatures big and small.  It all normally combines to be a rather wild tale that is fun to read.

DM is certainly a return to Hamilton’s roots.  Merry and her men meander their way around a serial murder mystery involving the fey.  The PI agency that Merry works for is brought in for expert advice.  Things happen, sex is had, and the mystery solved.  End of book.

What I think LKH is trying to do with this entry in the series is show how Merry is growing into her role as leader of the sidhe.  In spite of her rejection of the crown(s) in the previous book and frequent verbal rejections of the title in this book, it becomes apparent that Merry still subconsciously feels she will have to be queen.  Her actions, decisions, and general behaviour in DM all point to Merry eventually accepting the crown(s).

If feels like DM is one of those “bridge” books that transitions the Merry Gentry story into the next big phase.  If I had a crystal ball, I’d say that the next book will have Merry giving birth to her twins – no doubt in some crazily mystical method – and something significant will happen on the throne(s) front.

I enjoyed this book, but felt the sex scenes were a little forced and not as hot as previous books.  And let’s be honest, we read Merry Gentry partially for the rampant sex.  Also, the “mystery” is a bit obvious.  It’s resolution is a little confused and facile.

Even with the flaws, this is a very readable book and an interesting entry in the Merry Gentry world.  I do not recommend the book if you haven’t read any of the other entries – it’s not a standalone book.  However, if you’re a fan of Merry, you should read it to see how she continues her evolution into the queen of the sidhe.

Grade: B-

Read more reviews and information on this series here.

Summary:

You may know me best as Meredith Nic Essus, princess of faerie. Or perhaps as Merry Gentry, Los Angeles private eye. In the fey and mortal realms alike, my life is the stuff of royal intrigue and celebrity drama. Among my own, I have confronted horrendous enemies, endured my noble kin’s treachery and malevolence, and honored my duty to conceive a royal heir—all for the right to claim the throne. But I turned my back on court and crown, choosing exile in the human world—and in the arms of my beloved Frost and Darkness.

While I may have rejected the monarchy, I cannot abandon my people. Someone is killing the fey, which has left the LAPD baffled and my guardsmen and me deeply disturbed. My kind are not easily captured or killed. At least not by mortals. I must get to the bottom of these horrendous murders, even if that means going up against Gilda, the Fairy Godmother, my rival for fey loyalties in Los Angeles.

But even stranger things are happening. Mortals I once healed with magic are suddenly performing miracles, a shocking phenomenon wreaking havoc on human/faerie relations. Though I am innocent, dark suspicions of banned magical activities swirl around me.

I thought I’d left the blood and politics behind in my own turbulent realm. I had dreamed of an idyllic life in sunny L.A. with my beloved ones beside me. But it becomes time to wake up and realize that evil knows no borders, and that nobody lives forever—even if they’re magical.

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Liviania’s review of Newly Fallen by Megan Hart
Paranormal romance released by Spice Briefs 1 Dec 09

I’ve followed the advice of several of the other duckies in the past.  Today it was limecello’s turn.  Anyway, I know that limecello loves Megan Hart.  Megan Hart just released a Spice Brief, the perfect way to try out her writing without committing to a large page count.  This is only my second foray into the Spice line, so it was also a chance to get a feel for that.

Let’s start with the line.  I’m clearly not an expert, but I believe the Spice books are spicy, the closest thing Harlequin publishes to erotica.  While Newly Fallen includes several explicit sex scenes, they don’t really set off my spicy meter.  They’d be fine in almost any romance, though slightly less concentrated. However, I have never been one to read a story for the sex scenes.  (Not that a good sex scene isn’t a bonus.)

Lilly Gold is celebrating Hanukkah alone when a man falls into her yard.  We’re given a brief explanation that she’s always accepted unusual things to explain why she isn’t freaking out that she has a strange naked man in her yard that knows her name.  But hey, I’ll go with it.  It’s a short story and Hart needs to move onto the relationship as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, the romance fizzled for me.  Lilly and Zacharias played games some before falling into bed, but it still seems like most of their interaction was the sex.  I’d buy that it was good and thus they wanted to develop something different, but instead there was instant falling in love.  It felt too easy.

Hart’s writing was competent.  I was excited to see a Hanukkah story instead of a Christmas one.  I enjoyed that Hart used the holiday in a meaningful way instead of leaving it as window dressing.  The story was sweet.  But in a short story about a miraculous love, I need to believe in the love and I didn’t.  I found it very disappointing.  (Perhaps it’s lime’s fault for talking her up so much!)

As it is, I still need to try a full-length Spice.  But I probably won’t go for a Hart first.

Grade: D+

Summary:
Faced with spending her first Hanukkah alone, Lilly Gold wishes for a miracle that would change her life just a little bit. Then her prayers are answered–in a big way–when the most perfect naked man appears in her yard during a blizzard.

Zachariah tells Lilly he’s been sent to be–and do—anything she wants. And for eight passionate days, trapped together by the snow, he does just that, giving Lilly all the pleasure she could have hoped for. But when their holiday is over, only another miracle can keep their affair from ending, too…
No excerpt found.

Thanks to Sasha White for a terrific back during her Duck Chat with us!

Sasha offered four books as a giveaway, so here are the very lucky winners!

Two copies of Primal Male:

Ilona (1) and Crystal GB (5)

And two copies of My Prerogative:

kh (12) and Fedora (14)

Congrats, ladies! Please send your snail mail addresses to lighthousetagger (at) gmail (dot) com and we’ll contact Sasha for you!

Gwen’s review of Vampire Sunrise (Delilah Street, Book 3) by Carole Nelson Douglas
Urban fantasy released by Pocket 24 Nov 09

I’m a huge fan of urban fantasy.  I love it when authors cut loose and create a whole new reality that’s only loosely based on the “real” reality.  It’s an opportunity to really explore the “hey, what would  happen in our world if…”.  They’re almost always set in a slightly futuristic world, too — which I find even more fun. 

This series is based on the adventures of our heroine Delilah, who has some unusual abilities that make her valuable in this world’s alternate Las Vegas.  Delilah threatens the existing were and vampire power structures, while at the same time she seems to tantalize them into keeping her around.

Naturally, she has an ex-FBI boyfriend – otherwise, she would have a tough time doing what she does.  Delilah also has one of my favorite heroine accessories – a really big, really loyal dog. Lots happens with and around that dog in this book, so if that’s one of your favorite things too, you’ll like this book.

This is the first book in this series I’ve read.  I found it stood alone fine and there was little I struggled with understanding.  The author does a fine job giving the reader details without info dumping.

Douglas’s writing and storytelling rhythm is quite good in Sunrise. I immediately enjoyed reading the heroine’s thought process and internal dialogue.  The book is told in first person POV, so it’s important to like the pace.

However, there is one element of her writing that almost ruined the book for me – scene transitions.  These segues are very often clumsy, with the characters deciding – out of the blue and apparently with little to no reason – to do something or go somewhere.  The reader is jerked along for a rather bumpy ride with a “whoa – wait, why are we here again?” kind of feeling.  Sometimes very jolting.

I found this a very interesting quandary for a book told in first person POV.  It’s downright difficult to not give the reader the full skinny in this voice – almost impossible, really.  It made me think that perhaps quite a bit of this transition text didn’t make it through one of the edits.  I can’t imagine a writer not writing about why a heroine goes to a place or does an important thing.  It makes the heroine appear a bit aimless and that she’s just dithering along through life.

I also think this author hates commas.  That made some of the sentences difficult to read, but d0-able.

Nevertheless, I was entertained by the book.  I like the heroine and the story enough that I’ll probably read the next in the series.

I gave this book a C+ because it was good, but not so good that I could recommend it without reservations.  If you’re a fan of urban fantasy, books set in a future Vegas, or wry humor, you’ll like it.   But it’s a narrow recommendation.

Grade: C+

Summary:

Werewolf mobsters and vampires run Vegas, but that’s yesterday’s news for Delilah Street, paranormal investigator. What’s truly fearsome is her bloody discovery of an undead evil rooted in ancient Egypt. Now, with her lover Ric fighting for life after a grim battle, the chips are down.

But Delilah is a born winner who has never let a little danger throw off her game, and she’s been learning fast since she came to Sin City. Her affinity for silver is making mirror-walking a real breeze, and being forced to accept the albino rock star sorcerer Snow’s Brimstone Kiss has ramped up her powers to a startling new level. With the help of her trusty uber-wolfhound Quicksilver, not to mention the orange demon parking valet Manny, Delilah is determined to solve even more paranormal secrets, and hopefully save the few innocents left in town. But can Delilah win her high-stakes gamble for life and love against ancient gods and lethal supernatural odds?

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Limecello’s review of Jealous Lover by Brandi Michaels
Contemporary romance released by Samhain Publishing 16 Jun 09

I haven’t read a Samhain book in a while, and this was a cute, fast read. I’ve heard of Brandi Michaels, but this is the first book by her that I’ve read. I’ll definitely look into her back list – and see if she has any stories connected to this one.

Crystal Moran is a nice heroine. She’s smart, rational, and likable. She stands up for herself, and doesn’t fall into too many stereotypes. I like that she left Demetrius originally  – although she does “take one for the team” and agree to er, be with him, for money – but it’s for charity! Anyway, more importantly, Crystal, after finding “damning evidence” does something about it. Sure, there are a few melodramatic moments, but then she pulls on her big girl pants, and confronts the issue. I was pleased, and impressed.

Demetrius is a great hero. He’s… amusing, almost, in how arrogant and overbearing he is – but you like him. He’s not an asshat-  just… very Greek, and you find yourself charmed by his character. He’s obviously also very attached to Crystal, and does have a brain. Demetrius just isn’t very good at cooperating so much as asserting his will. I liked that he actually was rational, and regretted his harsh actions. It was nice to see a hero admit fault and show remorse- and before the “big reveal” even.

I thought of this book as an X-rated Harlequin Presents (…until I read another HP book- and was surprised as to the content) on fast forward.  I liked that the hero was Greek and certain aspects of his personality reflected that, but overall, I didn’t think it mattered. Yes, Ms. Michaels did her research, and I’m sure the Greek she uses was correct. (After all, she asked Tony and Lori Karayianni.) Nevertheless, as very few people in her audience likely understand Greek, everything Demetrius says is repeated in English. This bogs down the story and makes it repetitive. The Greek becomes a distraction, rather than a part of his character.

There were some basic misunderstandings, but nothing that annoyed me. In fact, the book pleasantly surprised me, because I thought it might become mired or be trapped by one of the pitfalls available- but it doesn’t! The characters are relatively rational and intelligent, though it’s somewhat crazy everything takes place in basically 24 hours. (Hence the “fast forward” aspect.) What also makes this story different is the er… techy underwear Demetrius brings for Crystal. Seemingly unnecessary kink, but hey – to each his or her own.

If you’re looking for a cute, smart, and short story – I’d recommend this one. I’ll probably re-read it when I want something quick, and entertaining.

Grade: C

Once burned, twice shy-until the passion reignites.

Three years ago, heiress Crystal Moran gave her heart to a man, only to have it crushed by his accusations of infidelity. Miserable, she picked up the pieces and returned to the United States to run her family-s non-profit corporation. Now, just as she-s got her life in order, he shows up at her big fundraiser. He thinks making a sizeable donation will win back her good graces.

As if.

Greek millionaire Demetrius Vartolas knows his money can-t turn back the clock, but it just might buy him enough time to convince Crystal she belongs in his life. And his bed.

The reunion of bodies leaves them both begging for more. Rebuilding lost trust won-t be so easy-unless she can prove her innocence to him once and for all…

Read an excerpt here.

This just in…

All Romance eBooks is sending out the Christmas spirit this year, giving away free ebooks to lucky Wildfire eZine newsletter subscribers.

~ Select ebook titles from Harlequin, Liquid Silver Books, Tease Publishing, Pink Petal Books, Excessica Publishing, Eternal Press, The GA Hauser Collection, and eXtasy Books will be free of charge for a limited time during ARe’s 12 Days of Christmas campaign.

~ If you’re an ARe Wildfire eZine subscriber already, just sit back and wait for the special announcements that will be sent to you daily to receive your free books.

~ Not a subscriber yet? Simply head over to All Romance eBooks and register as a new customer. You will be given an option to  check to receive the newsletter when filling out the necessary account information.

~ In addition, Harlequin is giving away Wrapped and Ready, a holiday short story by Julie Kenner. The link for the free download can be found on any book detail page on the ARe website. Put the free selection in your shopping cart, check out, and the title will appear in your library instantly.

~ So hurry! You don’t want to miss even one day of this special event!

Consider yourself flashed.

Liviania’s review of Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Young adult released by Delacorte 22 Sept 09

I’ve got to admit: I actually don’t like the Gemma Doyle books that much.  I know, I’m a young adult fantasy lover with a thing for strong heroines.  But in the end, Libba Bray left me somewhat cold with her bestselling trilogy.  Going Bovine, on the other hand, is a cow of a different color.  It’s an absurdist, magical realist, road trip adventure about a guy with a fatal illness.  Bray takes something that should be depressing and turns it into a clever satire with plenty of laughs.

The narrator Cameron hits all of the right notes.  He’s your basic, unambitious sixteen-year-old boy.  It’s kind of sad that the blurbs give away that he’s been diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jacob’s disease (Mad Cow for humans), as it builds slowly in the novel, with Cameron having no clue what’s happening to him.  What follows is the saddest part of the novel, as Cameron slowly loses more and more control of his body in the hospital.

Then he meets an angel named Dulcie who tells him to set out with his roommate, hypochondriac dwarf Gonzo, and find Dr. X before he destroys the world.  It is a trip that will end up involving jazz, bland smoothies, a band even bigger than the Beatles, and the Norse god Baldur trapped in the form of a lawn gnome.  (Baldur tends to steal the show.  But hey, he is a god.  Perhaps.)  That is, if Cameron actually goes on a trip at all.  Wherever he goes, the fire giants still manage to find him and cause him unimaginable pain.

Whenever I read a book with a premise like Going Bovine’s, I always wonder if the author will have the guts to kill off the main character in the end.  And with Cameron, you really do wonder if Bray will have the guts to kill off such a great character.  He begins the novel going nowhere, but by then end he’s clearly going somewhere.  Deadlines do work wonders on high school students.

In addition to the character development, humor, and crazy adventure, there is (as mentioned) excellent satire of modern adolescence.  Going Bovine will be particularly entertaining to anyone who dislikes MTV and its slate of reality programming.  There’s also some fun stuff to learn.  Perhaps Going Bovine will cause someone to become interested in physics.  There are also physics Easter eggs.  For instance, there is an important band known as the Copenhagen Interpretation.  The Copenhagen Interpretation relates to quantum physics in some way.  (I wasn’t paying attention when the TA mentioned it.)

I still don’t like the Gemma Doyle books, but now I feel like I’m a Bray fan.  She pulls off dark humor with a heart, which is a feat for any author considering the distance between the two.  And for those who can’t do without it, there’s also a bit of romance.  Let’s not forget that Cameron is sixteen years old.  Any truly great adventure has to involve a girl.  If the girl is a punk angel . . . well, that just makes it even more awesome.

Grade: A+

Summary:
Can Cameron find what he’s looking for?

All 16-year-old Cameron wants is to get through high school—and life in general—with a minimum of effort. It’s not a lot to ask. But that’s before he’s given some bad news: he’s sick and he’s going to die. Which totally sucks. Hope arrives in the winged form of Dulcie, a loopy punk angel/possible hallucination with a bad sugar habit. She tells Cam there is a cure—if he’s willing to go in search of it. With the help of a death-obsessed, video-gaming dwarf and a yard gnome, Cam sets off on the mother of all road trips through a twisted America into the heart of what matters most.
Read an excerpt here.

Limecello’s review of The Maverick by Diana Palmer
Contemporary romance released by Silhouette Desire 8 Dec 09

I’m pretty sure people believe that Diana Palmer is one of my favorite authors. This statement isn’t true. It’s more that Ms. Palmer is almost a compulsion – like a drug I can’t quit. I know there are other Palmer addicts out there, so you know what I’m talking about. Many people read a book by Ms. Palmer and think “I don’t get the hype.” But generally, every story has something about it that makes it special. I’m sorry to say, that The Maverick wasn’t one of these surprise gems.

Both the hero and heroine have had appearance in previous books by Ms. Palmer – her seemingly never ending Long Tall Texan series. (I do not lie- I’m pretty sure there are more than 60 interconnected stories at this point, and that’s low balling it.)

I’m going to talk about the hero, Harley Fowler, first because he’s been a part of so many previous stories. Harley seemed to be perpetually unlucky in love. He’s dated practically every heroine from when he first appeared, to now, when he finally gets his own book. I don’t want to say it, but I’m a little disappointed. (Not as much as others, based on reactions I’ve seen – but… still a bit let down.) Harley has surprising depth, and the reader knows him to be a good guy. He used to be cocky and immature, but now has grown into a respectable, and likable man. Harley knows what is important in life, and doesn’t care about image or what other people think of him in regards to what is “in” or “fashionable.” All of these characteristics are things you look for and want in a hero, but unfortunately Harley just falls a bit flat here.

Alice Jones I believe was a medical examiner, but regardless, she also has appeared in a number of previous books. She’s quirky, has an off kilter sense of humor, and essentially weirds people out. Alice uses her off beat humor as a way to amuse herself and cope with the cases she deals with. I understand that. However, Ms. Palmer takes it too far in the book. I don’t think there’s a single instance where someone doesn’t walk away from Alice. The reader feels beaten about the head with Alice’s supposedly “fun and sassy” personality, that simply isn’t. Alice is just… weird. I get that she’s supposed to be whimsical or idiosyncratic… but it reads as if Alice, or Ms. Palmer is trying too hard. (And sadly without succeeding.)

I liked Alice and Harley as individuals, but didn’t think they had any chemistry as a couple. It seemed as if Ms. Palmer had a check list – one she uses for every book, and made sure she hit the high points, and let the rest go. Harley used to be a jerk, but now he’s matured and ready to settle down. Check. The heroine falls in love with the hero first. Check. The heroine is inexperienced [generally a virgin- which yup, she is here] – check. (And it’s not that I have an issue with the concept – simply that there seems to be no reason for it here. Other than… Alice’s social skills or lack thereof may have guaranteed that happenstance.) Someone is murdered/there is a horrific crime committed in Jacobsville. Check. The townspeople all come out en masse – check.

Alice proposes to Harley – jokingly- I believe the first time she meets him, and every subsequent time. Their first meeting is incredibly antagonistic, and yet suddenly they become friends. And more than that, they begin dating, and hello they’re all over each other. O_o Oh and Harley just so happens to be a senator’s kid, though he’s been estranged from his parents for over a decade. Don’t worry – they reconcile by the end of the book. Of course. (Oh- check mark here too.)

This isn’t the worst Diana Palmer book I’ve read, and by no means one of the worst books in general I’ve ever read. I’m just sad that it’s very disjointed, and essentially not up to par for other books by Ms. Palmer. The flow isn’t quite there, and too much is happening at once, in too short a time period. As a result, the plot, romance, and pacing of the book are all shortchanged.

If you’re a die-hard Diana Palmer fan, or love Harley, read this book. It’s cute, and explains a lot about him. If you’re wondering if you should try out a Diana Palmer book, stay away from this one. She has so many better ones out there.

Grade: D-

Always in the middle of trouble, be it during roundup or at Jacobsville county dances, Harley Fowler emerges unscathed. Until he meets whirlwind, top-notch investigator Alice Jones, who is trying to solve a murder involving the one family Harley doesn’t want to talk about—his own. Suddenly he’s in the midst of mayhem—and all he can think about is protecting Alice. But the stubborn woman is unappreciative of his efforts. What’s a confirmed maverick to do? Is seduction the solution?

Read an excerpt here.