A Girl Named Christmas Wild Rose Press

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Author: Kimberlee R. Mendoza
Publisher: Wild Rose Press

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Chris, whose name is short for Christmas since she was born on that day, is about to turn forty. Her life is comfortable, but dull. Living with a cat named Mike and one of her sisters, Chris fears she’ll never marry. A birthday journal and a Christmas tree ornament sends her on a trip down memory lane, and she recalls the days as a bright teen girl who had once fallen for a boy named Elijah.

What follows is a melancholy tale of a young woman who blames herself for a family crisis. Although well-written for the most part, I found this story a bit melodromatic. My favorite paragaph, however is:

A fresh snow blanketed the ground and the icicles held steady to the roofs, but the sun had begun to break through the gloom. Chris, bundled in at least three layers topped off with a purple wool hat and matching gloves…

This is a vivid section of prose that presents a perfect image of a wintry landscape.

If you like very sweet fiction where life turns out perfectly, you may enjoy A Girl Named Christmas. I give it three flutes.

The Wedding War Wild Rose Press

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Author: Jenny Gilliam
Publisher: Wild Rose Press

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Wedding planner Mia is struggling with her fledgling business following the death of her beloved aunt. Her best friend Jillian is the heiress to a hotel chain, so when she asks Mia to help plan her wedding, Mia’s hopeful that more jobs will result from organising such a big society event. On her way to meet Jillian and her fiancé Gabe, Mia is forced to sit beside a hunky guy. It’s such a shame that he’s also totally obnoxious.

Jake is on a rescue mission to stop the wedding of his younger brother Gabe. From a young age, Jake was forced into playing the role of a parent to his brother. Their mother abandoned them, and their father became an alcoholic. Jake mistrusts love and is determined to prevent Gabe from making what Jake sees as a big mistake.

Both Mia and Jake have their missions clear. What they don’t count on is finding each other. With Jake determined to stop the wedding and Mia determined to make it go ahead, it’s a clash of personalities and hearts as The Wedding War commences!

I absolutely loved this book. From the strong, humorous opening scene right until the last word, author Jenny Gilliam doesn’t put a foot wrong.

The characters are a joy to read. Even the minor characters fizz with energy. Mia is especially well defined, a sympathetic and instantly likeable heroine. As for Jake – wow, he’s just sex on legs! Take a look at this (slightly biased) description as he and Mia clash for the second time:

Jake Ryan stood in the doorway, one long, sinewy arm propped above his head as he gripped the doorframe. An intricate black tribal tattoo circled his bulging bicep. In his other hand, a bottle of beer dangled from his fingertips. He still wore the black T-shirt that fit him like a second skin, and those Levis. He’d removed the ball cap in what she supposed was respect for dinner, though she still wasn’t convinced he knew how to walk without dragging his knuckles. His black hair was silky, short on the back and sides, a little longer on top. He had close-cropped sideburns that ended at his earlobes. They should have looked ridiculous, but on Jake they were outrageously sexy.

Yum!

As the wedding preparations lurch from one minor disaster to the next – Jillian’s interfering parents, obnoxious relatives, a secret pregnancy, a recalcitrant priest, a hurricane, plus the reappearance of Jake and Gabe’s mother – Mia and Jake overcome their demons and fall in love. With bucket-loads of sexual tension combined with sizzling love scenes, a brisk plot and truly excellent characterisation, The Wedding War is a superb read. This is one of the most perfect contemporary romances I’ve seen in a long time – buy it now!

Queen of Trees Wild Rose Press

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Author: Lynn Lowery
Publisher: Wild Rose Press

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Lana is an orphan raised by her adopted father Marek, the Keeper of World Wood, to follow in his footsteps as a Tree Warder. She guards the forest and has a special empathy with the trees surrounding her, protecting them from harm. When she discovers a group of intruders threatening a lone man, she saves the stranger’s life – only to discover that he’s Kail Mageking, Crown Prince of Mordavia.

Kail has fled his home in the capital Lightforge after the murder of his father the King. Natyva, an evil Dark Chantress from a northern kingdom, has corrupted the government and soldiers of Lightforge. Kail hopes to find allies amongst the World Wood and neighbouring Tunasia Valley – but along the way he also finds Lana, who will become his Queen…

This is the first in a series entitled ‘Royalty’s Destiny’ set in the magical fantasy world of Mordavia. It’s a very short story – and for me, it’s too short.

The concepts, language and plot are all very simple in the manner of a fairy tale, but I can’t help wondering if this story wouldn’t be better off aimed at children. In fact, if the (brief) love scene were removed, it’d be an ideal children’s fairy story as it has all the right ingredients – a confident heroine, a prince needing help, a quest, a cheeky elf, danger to a kingdom, and an evil witch.

The world-building is lovely (maybe a map could be included with the next book?) and there’s a real sense of fairy tale enchantment here, but alas, the story is way too short and the characters not fully developed. However, the series has definite potential and I’d be interested to read the second book.

A Hero For Jessica

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Author: Pamela S Thibodeaux
Publisher: Wild Rose Press

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Paul is a successful New Orleans lawyer. One evening he gives a lecture and is attracted to a woman, Jessica, in the audience. Thinking that her name is familiar, he discovers that she’s a writer of romantic suspense. He’s intrigued enough to buy Jessica’s books, and at a book-signing event he witnesses a man acting in a threatening manner towards her.

Jessica has long admired the handsome lawyer and has occasionally used some of Paul’s more bizarre legal cases as fodder for her books. She’s looking for a change of direction in her writing and also wishes that she were free of the corrosive influence of her ex, Jasper, who refuses to accept her rejections.

Jessica approaches Paul to help her with a contractual problem, but as they begin to know one another and fall in love, Paul realises he has to deal with a much bigger problem of Jasper before he can win Jessica’s heart.

This is the first time I’ve read an inspirational romance so I wasn’t sure what to expect. The religious references range from subtle (in Paul’s life) to the more obvious (for Jessica and Paul’s mother). Speaking as someone who’s not particularly religious, I didn’t find the book preachy. In fact it was a rather refreshing read in those terms.

However, events happened a little too fast for my liking, which is often the problem with short stories. There were also a few moments that made me go ‘huh?’, such as Jessica’s request that Paul negotiate her out of her contract with her publishers. He discovers that her publisher and indeed her editor are pushing for an inspirational line, which would be ideal for Jessica’s new work. I found Jessica’s ignorance about her profession and publisher a bit odd here.

The character of Paul’s mother was wonderfully written and she really held my interest. I also liked the way the author handled the topic of dementia with both care and consideration.

The resolution of the plot involving Jasper felt too quick, so I didn’t quite get the satisfying ending I was hoping for. A Hero for Jessica is a nice story with three solid plotlines to it, but as a whole it didn’t gel for me. Ms Thibodeaux has a strong voice and a readable style; my complaint here is the brevity of the story and what it does to the characters. I would definitely read a longer work from this author.

Hotter After Midnight Kensington Brava

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and a half!

Author: Cynthia Eden
Publisher: Kensington Brava

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Dr Emily Drake is known as ‘the Monster Doctor’ because she treats ‘Others’ – the paranormal creatures who live alongside humans. Emily’s skill as a psychotherapist comes from her psychic gifts, which enable her to read the minds of, and thus empathise with, paranormal creatures. She enjoys her job until she’s called on by the police to help track down a suspected serial killer who appears to be one of the Others.

Cop and were-shifter Colin Gyth has recently transferred forces after his best friend tried to kill him. He’s learned the hard way that Others are not welcomed by humans, so he hides the truth of what he is. When he calls on Emily to help with the murder case, he’s stunned to realise that she recognises him as Other.

Emily has a rule – don’t date Others, and never get involved with a shifter. As the case progresses, Colin and Emily are forced to work together, building an attraction that they can’t fight. Colin is determined to win Emily’s love, but she’s got a whole heap of skeletons in her closet – not to mention the fact that she’s the serial killer’s next target!

I feel quite torn about this book. On one hand I enjoyed the simple, direct language and style with its smart licks of good humour. On the other, the story itself was pretty forgettable and suffered in terms of pacing and an over-simplification in the world-building.

Emily is an interesting character with whom readers can readily engage. She’s not a kick-ass heroine but she’s tough and streetwise, a real survivor who’s grown used to fending for herself and being alone. She’s the perfect match for Colin, who as a shifter has been made to feel like an outcast. Their romance is well handled and sexy, with plenty of complications on the way to the HEA.

However, the secondary characters, with two exceptions (McNeal and Smith – McNeal in particular really jumped off the page) were fairly faceless. AS mentioned before, the world-building was way too simplistic for me, and given that there are dozens of shifter paranormal romance novels out there, it would’ve been nice to have something fresh and original rather than an ABC approach.

There’s a couple of great twists towards the end that I didn’t see coming, but apart from that, Hotter After Midnight is pretty much formulaic and demonstrates nothing new within the genre. This is a shame, as I really enjoyed the opening chapters and Emily’s profession as ‘Monster Doctor’ had a lot of potential. It’s fun while it lasts, but it’s not a keeper for me.

Seti’s Heart Torquere

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Author: Kiernan Kelly
Publisher: Torquere

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Young academic Logan is less than happy with his new job as assistant to a cantankerous old scholar, Lincoln Perry, deep in the bowels of the museum. He resigns himself to hours of boredom, but when Perry is out of his office one day, Logan opens a forbidden door and discovers an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus. Being a curious individual, Logan opens it, fiddles with the canopic jars inside, and raises the mummy of the pharaoh Seti.

Five thousand or so years ago, Seti’s favourite, Ashai, was murdered by men who wanted to usurp the throne. Seti took revenge, angering the god for whom he was named, Setekh (one of the names of the Egyptian god of Chaos). Setekh buried Seti alive and took out his heart. But now Seti’s awake again, and he’s ready to hit the streets of New York.

But Perry’s one-time colleague Ethan Wilder has plans for Seti. Fascinated by the Egyptian’s immortality, Ethan wants to learn Seti’s secret so he can extend his own life – and Ethan is prepared to go to any lengths to capture Seti.

Together, Logan and Seti embark on a wild ride of treachery, magic, god-baiting, murder, and, of course, true love…

This is an eminently readable and light-hearted romp written with the same easy humour that made Kelly’s previous title Dancing On The Head Of A Pin so enjoyable. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, such as this early exchange between Seti and Logan. Seti has just been served a Budweiser:

Seti cocked a brow, sniffing at the mug. “What is this white foam?”“That’s the head.”

“Your beer is alive?”

“No, that’s just what we call the foam.”

“It doesn’t smell like beer.”

“How would you know?”

“We had fine beer in my day. Brewed with barley and wheat,” Seti answered. He took a small sip of the golden liquid, immediately crinkling his nose. “This is not beer. This is piss water.”

Logan is an endearing romantic hero, shy and studious and completely normal. Seti is a prime alpha male who’s not above doing things differently if it pleases his new lover. The culture clash brings plenty of comedy but also the occasional piece of pathos as both men struggle to understand and compromise for one another.

My only complaint: I could really do without the CAPITAL LETTERS FOR SHOUTING!!!!! It’s a bit too reminiscent of fan-fic.

Overall, Kelly’s style is smooth and entertaining. With plenty of comedy, sex, and angst combined with a strong supporting cast and a boo-hiss contingent of baddies for our heroes to battle, Seti’s Heartis a satisfying and engaging read. This one’s a keeper.

Lutin’s Heir Phaze

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Author: James Buchanan
Publisher: Phaze

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Julius ‘Jules’ LaRousse has settled with his family in Paris, where he’s still mourning the death of his mentor, Cardinal Richelieu. Jules has it all – good looks, wealth, an open marriage to his beautiful wife – but he’s never been able to learn the secret of his birth…until a letter from Richelieu reveals the truth.

Jules discovers that his mother was from the deBussy family. By chance, he meets a young girl of this family, who leads him to her aunt – the sister of Jule’s mother. Soon Jules is embroiled in a battle with the deBussy family as they seek to deny any connection with him.

Jules’ family, his Irish lover Curran and even his long-standing enemy Charlotte ‘la Tisson’ Mollion are all drawn into the war of words and power. At the same time, a strange magic is at work in Jules’ household – and then tragedy strikes…

Reading this was like trying to watch a Harry Potter film when you haven’t read the books. A lot is assumed of the reader – that we’re familiar with the characters (there’s little description given), familiar with the world-building (no explanations are given), etc. This seems to be a sequel, as there are a large amount of references to earlier events. Such references aren’t particularly well explained, and to be honest by the end of the book I still had no idea what Jules was, beyond the rather vague epithet of ‘Le Fé’. Given that the word can cover any multitude of otherworldly creatures, it would have been useful if the author had told readers new to this universe exactly what was going on, rather than drop in a hint on p166 out of 179.

The characters are flat and uninspiring, the dialogue clunky, and the plot meandering. I found myself wishing for more sex scenes to liven the pace. There’s no emotional connection to any of the characters – granted, many of them are meant to be amoral and devious, but at least the hero should evoke some kind of emotion other than boredom.

One of my pet peeves is the irritating habit of characters dropping foreign words into dialogue when we’re meant to assume they’re already speaking that tongue. It gets even more irritating when French words are not just sprinkled but slathered throughout the book. I’ve never seen so many italics on a page and I don’t want to see that many again – it’s distracting and unnecessary.

There’s some very bad editing in this book, with typos scattered throughout, names changing, titles uncapitalised, bad French, place names italicised when they don’t need it, and worst of all, Provence is referred to throughout as ‘Provance’. How this escaped the notice of an editor is mind-boggling.

The only good thing I can say about this book is that at least the history and period detail is accurate. For that reason alone, I give Lutin’s Heir 2 stars.

The Sound Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Stan Grimes
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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Alien ‘orange-hatters’ have come to town, and their intentions don’t look promising. What are they up to? Why is their location shrouded in secrecy and heavily guarded? How come the town mayor doesn’t seem phased by their presence? In fact, half the town is unperturbed by the orange-hatters. And what has Endwell Inc. got to do with it?

Larson Bash intends to find out just what’s going on. Unfortunately, the orange-hatters don’t take kindly to his snooping. Larson creates a newspaper with the sole purpose of showcasing the orange-hatters and their activities. Someone—the aliens’ leader? The mayor?—decides that Larson needs to be quiet…for good.

Orange-hatters visit Larson’s home and destroy it—and his wife. Despite his massive loss, Larson has no choice but to flee for his life and takes residence at his newspaper office. Sinister occurrences plague his days, and his assistant, Josie, and Larson’s dog, Jonas, stick it out together.

An unknown man attempts to kill them, and Larson’s insurance man proves to be anything but an insurance agent. As the heat gets hotter, Larson, Josie, and Jonas are forced to escape—to a place riddled with more orange-hatters.

Imagine living somewhere where anyone wearing a hat is a suspect. Who do you trust? Orange-hatters don’t have any tops to their heads, and Larson can’t just walk up to random people and demand that they remove their hat. With terror as their best friend, the trio, along with Josie’s sister, Tempest, and a fellow they meet along the way, must overcome all odds to survive.

Will they find out exactly what is going on? Why do spacecrafts suck up animals? What do the aliens want? And just what is Wasp Whiteman up to?

A highly enjoyable read with an excellent main and thrilling sub-plots. The Sound kept me spellbound, and I read it in two sittings. I closed the book at bedtime, and the first thing I did in the morning was open it to finish.

A great read.

In The Gloaming Freya’s Bower

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Authors: Various
Publisher: Freya’s Bower

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At The Edge of Twilight by Cora Zane

Left on her aunt’s doorstep when her parents split up, Colleen O’Shea returns to her childhood home as an adult. Smells of the old days bring back strong memories, and she battles to gain control of her emotions. A kindly man, Herman, cuts the back yard grass, and Colleen is able to once again gaze upon the old oak tree at the far edge of the property.

While enjoying some air one evening, Colleen hears a melody. Is someone playing a tune in the darkness? Despite her fear, she investigates and meets Rowain…

An absolutely charming, well written read. I thoroughly enjoyed the excellent imagery, the emotions, and the ‘being there’ feeling Ms. Zane created. I loved At The Edge of Twilight and urge anyone who adores captivating writing to check out Cora Zane.

Robin’s Cap by Esmerelda Bishop

Graham skydives, and Kat has always feared for his safety. Graham went skydiving without telling Kat. When she found out, she felt he had abused her trust. So Graham takes Kat to Hermitage Castle in an attempt to save their relationship.

However, the castle is haunted. Neither of them really believes the stories surrounding the castle, but they are forced to admit that something sinister is definitely afoot when falling rubble lands near Graham and they get locked inside the castle.

Redcap needs a human… Will he succeed in his quest to ensnare Graham and Kat? Or can the couple outwit him and flee the castle to safety?

Any enjoyable read that deals with adversity helping a couple forget their former squabbles and realise just what they mean to one another.

The Icicle by K.M. Frontain

Elli is on vacation with her mother, stepfather, and stepbrother. Unfortunately, she has a broken leg, so can’t join in the usual holiday activities. This suits Elli—she likes being alone, and for good reason. She has a penchant for her homemade dildo…

Elli’s family head off for some holiday fun, and Elli opts to go in the sauna. Finally glad to have some privacy away from her infuriating step brother, Glen, she settles down for some toy time. Glen walks into the sauna, though, almost catching Elli in a compromising position, infuriating her. Does Glen have a thing for Elli, despite his words and actions suggesting otherwise?

Other wordly beings also have their sights set on Elli, and their appearance stuns and entrances her beyond anything she has ever imagined.

The Icicle explores the frustrating feelings of a young woman learning about her sexuality. Why, if Glen annoys her so much, does she want him all the same? And who are those beings, and what do they want?

Great imagery, great writing, great twist, great plot. What more can a reader ask for? Highly recommended.

The Dream by Nita Wick

Katie is visiting Scotland. Her mind filled with tales of faeries, trolls, and banshees, she explores the area surrounding her hotel in the hopes of seeing such beings. Surely these tales of fantasy must be based on truth and the beings in the tales could still exist? If she found the enchanted forest that the bellboy told her about, this trip would be complete. She rests on a bridge, soaks up the balmy evening air, and closes her eyes…

She dreams of the lover that always visits her during sleep. However, her dream doesn’t go the way it always has in the past, and Katie questions whether she has woken up without realising it. No, she can’t have done, for she and Aidan, the Mr Fantasy of her dreams, find themselves inside a faerie ring—and faerie rings don’t exist. Do they?

They enter an enchanted world, one rich with imagery and rich characters. The Dream is a lovely tale that kept me entertained throughout. I wish it had been longer.

The Enchanted Meadow by Kelley Heckart

Taran leads his men and cattle to some grasslands. While taking it in shifts to sleep and guard, the men find out that the area they inhabit has strange qualities. One particular cow disappears, only to reappear some time later. Is a band of cattle thieves using trickery to confuse them?

While Taran sleeps, he dreams of a beautiful woman. She enchants him. The dream seems so real… Once awake, a tree catches his attention. What is it about the tree that captures him? Is that a face he sees on the bark? No, it can’t be—can it?

Someone or something is trapped inside the tree, cursed to remain there. Who, or what, is it? Who is the woman in Taran’s dream? Can Taran solve the mystery that weaves itself around him and his men?

A unique story, The Enchanted Meadow brings the other worldly right to your door. I felt like I was a part of Taran’s group—a sure sign of a fine writer.

Summary:

In The Gloaming really is a superior set of tales. I have read many authors and many anthologies, and this is the first one for me where every tale is rich and enthralling in their own right. I turned the page expecting more and found myself deflated that the book had ended. I wanted more, damnit!

For Kicks Black Lyon Publishing

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Author: Jenna Bayley-Burke
Publisher: Black Lyon Publishing

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Assistant store manager Breeze Cohen has a long-term life plan. She’s set her sights on becoming the youngest ever store manager in her company’s history. Her drive to succeed was instilled in her by her workaholic grandmother, who’s just been retired from the Mendelssohn’s senior staff. Breeze eats, breathes and sleeps her job, and doesn’t see anything wrong with what she’s doing. She hasn’t seen her family for years and can’t remember when she last went on a date.

Logan Chandler is an ex-soccer player turned brand manager for Nitrous Kicks, a special brand of sports shoe aimed at the soccer market. He’s in town to ensure that Mendelssohn’s, which has an exclusive deal with Kicks, is placing the product to its best advantage. When he discovers that the only staff member with the knowledge to deal with Kicks is Breeze, at first he’s pleased by her professionalism – but then he realises just how much her work is ruling her life.

As they work together during a whirlwind tour of several states, Logan coaxes Breeze out of her rigid, self-imposed discipline and teaches her to live a little. But what starts out as a challenge for Logan quickly becomes something more – but can Breeze take that final step and shake off her inner career woman for the sake of true love?

This is one of those ’slow burn’ books that starts off apparently going in one direction and then the heart of the story sneaks up when you least expect it. The author clearly has a background – or at least considerable background knowledge – of working in retail. The first chapter read more like a corporate report than a romance, and my attention started to wander. Too much unnecessary trivia bogs down the all-important introduction to the hero and heroine, and while I’m all for realism and scene-setting detail, it’s laid on too thickly here.

Having said that, the story really picks up after the initial couple of chapters. At first I really wasn’t sure if I’d keep going with it, but soon I was hooked by the cat-and-mouse game of seduction between Breeze and Logan. I liked the quirky character traits like Breeze’s addiction to utilising every second of her spare time with flash cards and kits. The Tarot, self-help books, astrology, reflexology… all of them are used by Logan to woo her.

I’ve lost count of how many love scenes I’ve read over the years, so it’s always nice to find a book where the love scenes catch my interest and really stand out. With this book, the phone sex scene was one of the better ones I’ve read in a long time.

It took a while for Logan to open up as a character, and similarly with Breeze I couldn’t fully empathise with her. In her workaholic attitude and failure at hitting a sensible work/life balance she reminded me a lot of one of my best friends. Sometimes I want to bang my friend’s head against a wall to make her see sense. I wanted to do the same with Breeze. So, while I couldn’t empathise with her, I did want to *help* her – and this is really what the story is about – making the time for a ‘real life’ rather than a ‘work life’.

After a somewhat shaky start, I found myself enjoying this book and rooting for Logan to overcome Breeze’s inhibitions. Ms Bayley-Burke demonstrates fine potential with For Kicks and I look forwards to her future work.

Shadow Cat Phaze

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Author: Zoe LaPage
Publisher: Phaze

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Isabelle, an art historian, has come to the Loire Valley in France to work on a major restoration project at the Chateau Limoges. On her first night as she’s out for a stroll, she’s attacked by a panther – and saved by her new neighbour, Jules Valdrome.

She soon learns that there’s more to Jules than a handsome face and a hot body. He’s a Favrés, a werecat descended from the Egyptian goddess Bastet. The creature that attacked Isabelle is Rouvier – a Rogue, an evil vampiric werecat descended from the goddess Sekhmet.

Through a series of puzzles revealed by the fresco, Isabelle learns the secrets of the werecats, only to discover that she’s embroiled in a battle between good and evil as the Favrés try to fight against the increasing power of the Rogues. When Jules’ impressionable younger brother Satie is lured by the seductive Rogue Dominique into danger, only Isabelle has the means to save him.

Then Rouvier bites Isabelle and makes her a Rogue, and her world turns upside down. Together with Jules and Satie, she must find a way of defeating Rouvier and his Rogues before they can begin their plan of human genocide. Armed with her knowledge from the fresco, Isabelle calls on the ancient cat-goddesses of Egypt for help – but can she take on Sekhmet – the goddess of War – and win?

This is a long book (295 pages) but a rewarding read, full of fascinating art historical details and an intriguing blend of cultures and references. The world-building of the history behind the Favrés and Rogues is fantastic and has the potential for more stories featuring these werecats.

Isabelle is a strong heroine, a confident woman who’s not afraid of her sexuality. She doesn’t dumb down but uses her knowledge to help and save her men. But she’s not all gung-ho bravado, either – she has an uncertainty that’s very endearing. I particularly liked the scenes where Isabelle struggles with her first transformation into a werecat. Her resolve continues to be tried throughout the book – she’s a peaceful vegetarian, yet she has to come to terms with eating meat, drinking blood and killing her enemies.

The rest of the numerous fade a little in comparison, although Satie did stand out for me. There are so many characters and so many plot threads that this could well have been two separate books, or even a series. Isabelle is the key to the whole story, though, and indeed the key to unlocking the secrets of the goddesses and the werecats.

If you’re a fan of Christine Feehan’s Dark series, or if you’re just a cat lover, I recommend taking a look at Shadow Cat - a fascinating mix of mythology and erotic paranormal fiction.

Blackout Wild Rose Press

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Author: Dara Edmondson
Publisher: Wild Rose Press

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Kendra overhears a conversation—one about a fellow workmate and her boyfriend, Tommy. Only Tommy is also Kendra’s boyfriend, and Tommy has been sharing details with his new woman about his relationship with Kendra. I felt really sorry for her here. We all know the phrase about eavesdropping and not hearing good about yourself, but this scene struck me as particularly sad. I despised the two women discussing Kendra.

Tommy had said he was visiting his parents on the Memorial weekend break—but Kendra hears different. Sadly, though she’d have been spending that weekend alone anyway—this time it will be in pain from that dratted conversation.

She finishes up her tasks and prepares to leave work. However, fate sends a nudge in the right direction via the maintenance man and an elevator. I just love happy endings!

A read that will have you gritting your teeth at the conversationalists one minute, relating to Kendra’s upset the next, and cheering for Kendra thereafter. If you want a smooth read, I recommend Blackout.

Uthiel’s Embrace Freya’s Bower

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Author: Rae Lori
Publisher: Freya’s Bower

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Uthiel is a water Undine who resides with her sisters and mother in a waterfall. A great concept that really struck my curiosity. She can breathe out of water—good job, too, as the rather gorgeous Nikolas stops for a rest beside the waterfall after aiding a village during an attack from pilferers and scoundrels. Uthiel steps out of the water to study Nikolas and finds herself attracted to him.

However, Uthiel is betrothed to another—a nasty, spiteful little beastie whom I detested as soon as he appeared. Will Uthiel be able to spend the rest of her life with Nikolas, or will the rules of her kind bind her to the despicable little creature?

Intrigue, tension, and rooting for Uthiel made this reader enjoy Uthiel’s Embrace very much. Great imagery, especially the scenes involving Uthiel in the water. If I had one gripe, I’d say I wished it had been longer! A highly recommended read.

Hibiscus Bay Wild Rose Press

REVIEWED BY:

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and a half!

Author: Debby Allen
Publisher: Wild Rose Press

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Ashleigh is on a Mediterranean holiday with her friend Laura. She’s intending to use the break to get over a failed office romance with her boss – a married man. When Laura spots an expensive yacht at a local harbour, Ashleigh only has eyes for the hot guy on board. But while her friend urges her to enjoy a holiday romance, Ashleigh is afraid of being hurt again.

Remmao is half Egyptian, half Arab, a wealthy playboy who used to have a woman in every port until a bad experience left him emotionally damaged and extremely cautious. But Ashleigh intrigues him – he’s never had to chase a woman before, and he’s determined to track her down.

While both are ready for a physical relationship, their emotions keep getting in the way. Only by learning to let go of the past and trusting one another will they find a future together.

This was a great novella-length read. I loved the underplayed humour, such as Ashleigh’s embarrassment at being caught ogling Remmao on his yacht. In this scene, she’s going to great lengths to pretend she wasn’t looking at him. In the process, her sunglasses fall off and he tries to give them back to her:

“I, no, it’s ok, they’re not expensive,” she stammered stupidly. He shrugged. “Well, I am sure there are litter bins around if you wanted to dispose of them.”

“I don’t! I mean, I wasn’t throwing them away. They fell off my head.”

I also enjoyed Ashleigh’s first proper conversation with him. It’s cute and breathless, and I liked the sly dig at the romance novel genre of ‘every Egyptian/Arab is a prince’.

Ashleigh is a strong character. I like the fact that she doesn’t hide or sugar-coat the truth of what she did in the past – she admits she was in the wrong with her affair. You can really feel her anger and guilt – and her fear of being hurt so easily again.

Remmao is a true romance hero, but with a modern slant. He’s open about his feelings, and while he encourages Ashleigh to forgive herself and move on, he continues to hold onto his own secret – a lesson he learned a year ago and which still haunts him.

Like a short version of a M&B/Harlequin title, Hibiscus Bay delivers on all fronts with an exotic locale, wealthy foreign hunk, a good dose of angst, enjoyable love scenes and a HEA. Formulaic? Yes, of course. But that’s why I love them so much. I’d recommend this to any fan of the genre.

Mi Toro Wild Rose Press

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Author: Brenna Zinn
Publisher: Wild Rose Press

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Part of the ‘Destination Pleasure’ series, Mi Toro is set in Seville, Spain.

The heroine, addressed only once by her surname, is a photographer about to complete a coffee-table book of naked hunks around the world. She’s aware of her own beauty and tired with the fawning attentions of men – she’s arrogant and cocky, believing herself to be the boss of every situation. Her Spanish model, matador Phillipe Cordova, shows her it’s not always the case.

Phillipe is a hero who epitomises the machismo of Spanish men. Aggressively sexy and extremely confident, he’s the perfect foil for the heroine. It’s a clash between nature and artifice, neither character wanting to give way to the other, which ramps up the sexual tension to fever pitch.

The sex is blistering hot, low-down and dirty (the heroine’s lack of a first name makes it feel even more wicked), and emulates the bullfight – with Phillipe as the bull, the heroine as the matador. This very steamy little story is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. It’s perfect if you fancy a quick, sexy and satisfying read.

Desert of Desire Wild Rose Press

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Author: Dara Edmondson
Publisher: Wild Rose Press

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Eve, assistant editor and columnist for a glossy magazine, is used to interviewing celebrities and socialites. She’s a New Yorker through and through, so when her boss tells her to interview fashionable but reclusive gardener Red Calloway at his home in the middle of the Arizona desert, she’s none too pleased.

Things get off to a rocky start when she mistakenly believes that Red is gay. She has a city girl’s assumptions and at first judges people by her own New York standards, but as soon as she begins to relax and appreciate the wild beauty of the desert – and of the man – her perceptions begin to change…

This short story has some beautiful and evocative descriptions of the desert and the plants with which Red surrounds himself. There’s some nice foreshadowing with the cab driver, and an enjoyable tension between hero and heroine as Eve loses her city defences and opens up to new possibilities.

I liked how Red is always very practical – for example, when Eve stumbles across him in the outdoor shower and begins to make love with him, he stops long enough to remind her: “This is the desert. Can’t waste precious water.”

The contrast of mirage and reality with their lives is a strong metaphor that carries throughout the story. Although the ending felt a little rushed and I wished it had been longer, overall this was a lovely, heart-warming read.

Beyond Gehenna: Tour of Duty Wild Child Publishing

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Author: Scott Leddy
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

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Elgin Thomas has been brought up by his mother, a woman who believes in the paranormal. Elgin’s aunt also dabbles in the occult, and the young boy suffers terrible nightmares that follow him to adulthood. After impregnating his girlfriend, he joins the army to focus on something other than what his life was prior to the war.

Selected for a secret mission, Elgin finds himself the leader of a band of soldiers. They have to infiltrate the enemy’s leaders and bring them down. Struggling through the Vietnamese scrublands proves difficult, and the band of soldiers diminishes. However, Elgin, along with his trusted friend, Scout, stumble upon an unused temple, where Elgin finds an artefact that is invaluable on their travels.

A creepy crow follows Elgin, turning up every now and then, making sure Elgin is aware of its presence. Is the crow a portent? Or is it spying on him? Elgin senses the latter. Faced with a monumental decision during his time in Vietnam, Elgin soon realises things about himself. At one time, he didn’t think himself capable of killing…

At his journey’s end, I was left a little bereft. I had grown to like Elgin as the book progressed, had come to know him, in a sense. Closing the book was almost like losing a much loved friend. However, I was excited to learn that Elgin’s story doesn’t end there. Book two is on the way, leaving me a very happy camper!

It’s How You Play The Game Torquere Press

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 and a half!

Author: Willa Okati
Publisher: Torquere Press

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Anthony’s best friends Seth and Clay are planning their wedding. Anthony offers to help out by catering for the reception – even though he has no clue how to cook. Enrolling at a cookery course, which turns out to be erotic cookery, he meets Roan, a guy with a devil-may-care attitude who doesn’t take no for an answer.

Roan pursues Anthony at full pelt, trying to break down his barriers and to convince him that they should try a relationship. Anthony is running scared, yet his attraction to Roan keeps him coming back for more. While they go back and forth, Roan advancing, Anthony fleeing, Seth and Clay get involved when cop Seth recognises Roan from the past.

But Anthony’s fear of commitment is so strong it drives Roan away. Can he undo the damage he’s caused before it’s too late?

I enjoy Willa Okati’s fantasy stories but hadn’t tried any of her contemporaries. Also, I have a thing for men who cook, so I admit to a certain level of expectation when I read this book. Unfortunately those expectations weren’t met.

This is a sequel of sorts to a book focused on Anthony’s friends Seth and Clay, who feature heavily throughout this story. There’s a certain amount of backstory that’s filled in along the way, but I’m still left wondering who, exactly, Anthony is. There’s no explanation given for his fear of commitment, particularly as everyone describes him as being an easy lay (and again, there was no evidence of such behaviour in the story). I kept expecting him to admit to Roan what was keeping him so stubbornly away from a relationship, but nothing was ever said. Roan’s attitude is explained towards the end of the book, but Anthony remains a frustratingly blank page.

The cookery plot breaks down early on and is only alluded to throughout the rest of the book, and it seems that the characters – particularly Roan – run away with the story. I enjoyed the earlier scenes where Anthony and Roan cause havoc in the kitchen, but ultimately the humour became relentless and wore me down, especially as many of the references went over my (non-American) head.

Okati writes very well: the characters are well-rounded and interesting, and perhaps if I’d read the first book I might not be feeling so bewildered by this one. However, it left me with more questions than answers. This wasn’t the book for me, but I can imagine it would appeal to plenty of other people.

Apache Eyes Phaze

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Author: Yeva Wiest
Publisher: Phaze

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Ranch-woman Jenny has just buried her husband, who was killed by a gang of Apache braves. She’s glad he’s dead – he was vindictive and abusive – but being a widow brings danger for a white woman alone. Saved from death by an Apache woman, Miakoda, Jenny soon becomes her lover. Miakoda is the moon priestess of her people, a powerful woman in a man’s world.

Jenny struggles with her upbringing and the expectations of society. She only feels free when she’s with Miakoda. When the men who killed her husband turn up at the ranch, one of them wants Jenny for himself. Miakoda protects her, but this starts a train of events that attracts the attention of the Army. To be with her lover and to win the trust of the Apache, Jenny must help Miakoda capture Fort Bowie – even though it means betraying her own people to do so.

After reading many a white woman/Native American warrior story, I was happy to find a lesbian romance in the same setting. Unfortunately I had a lot of problems with this story. I felt that I was missing huge amounts of information. Things happened without much explanation or build-up, and the scenes in the fort were rushed and under-developed.

The characters were one-dimensional – granted, this is a fairly short story with not much room for character development, but I didn’t feel like I could connect with Jenny or Miakoda at all. The story also rather showcases the disadvantages of using first person POV. Perhaps if the story had been longer and the characters more sympathetic, this could have been a much better read.

However, the saving grace was the author’s obvious affinity and love for the ways of the Apache. Miakoda’s way of life is by far the most fascinating segment of the book and I wish more had been done with it.

Dancing On The Head Of A Pin Torquere Press

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Author: Keirnan Kelly
Publisher: Torquere Press

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During the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, novice angel Malak allowed himself to be distracted by the lewd behaviour he was supposed to be wiping off the face of the earth. His wings damaged, he was helpless and alone when he was saved by Cael – a demon.

For a couple of millennia, Cael and Malak have lived together in a constant state of unresolved sexual tension. If Cael can bed Malak before a certain period of time elapses, he will share part of the angel’s soul and will be free of Hell. Cael’s been trying to get into the angel’s pants for centuries without any success, but now time is against him – and Lucifer’s lieutenant Asmodai can’t wait for Cael to be sent back to Hell. Asmodai and his interesting body parts have great plans for Cael.

It’s not spoiling anything to reveal that Malak finally gives his virginity to Cael. In fact, after the angel and demon become lovers, that’s when the fun really begins. Asmodai, unwilling to give up his lust for Cael, reveals that the End of Days is about to begin. Together, Cael and Malak must reconcile their differences and fight the incarnations of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse – even if it means the destruction of their love.

This was a fun story that kept me entertained from the first page to the last. Kiernan Kelly has a wicked sense of humour and a deft touch, balancing the laughs with sexy love scenes and the deepening romance between Malak and Cael.

Naturally the demons get all the best lines. The Four Horsemen are hilarious – I particularly liked Mephistopheles’s disguise and the way everyone ragged him about Dr Faustus – and the Third Horseman, Famine/Pestilence, is a stroke of side-splitting genius.

I’m not sure Thomas Aquinas would approve, but I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. Recommended if you’re looking for some light-hearted fun with a satisfying romance.

Auf Wiedersehen, Mon Amour Torquere Press

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Author: AJ Wilde
Publisher: Torquere Press

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NYPD cop Rick is tormented by nightmares of when he was captured and abused by criminal Carl Becker. Since then he’s kept himself apart from his colleagues and avoided relationships, although he’s got a helpless crush on his beat partner Jay. Through a series of past life regression sessions with his therapist, Rick relives different encounters with his soul-mate (Jay), loving and losing him each time.

In this incarnation, it’s 1938. Rick is Russian émigré Nikolai Kazinski, living the high life in Berlin during the height of the power of the Third Reich. Although he disagrees with their policies, Nik is a party member as it gives him a certain amount of freedom. One evening at a club, he’s attracted to a beautiful woman, Gina. Usually Nik’s taste runs to men, but Gina is so alluring, he can’t resist.

Gina reveals herself to be a young man, G – short for Gabriel – a cross-dresser and cabaret performer. G is a French Jew who’s risking everything to find his missing brother. When Nik realises the horrors of Nazi persecution, he promises to protect G and help him find his brother. Their search leads them to the concentration camp at Dachau, where they’re betrayed and incarcerated. But G refuses to give up hope of freedom – the safety of neutral Switzerland is only a short journey away…

This is the second in a series of novellas entitled Soul Journeys. It’s not necessary to your enjoyment to read the first story as the set-up is explained at the start. Although linked by the two modern-day characters and their will-they-won’t-they romance, each story in this series can be read as a standalone.

I loved the set-up of this story. It’s a great idea, two souls meeting each other through many different lifetimes. Indeed, this is what we believe in China, that every person you meet you’ve met before, and that life-debts accrue through each cycle and carry forward to the next life.

Nick can be a bit of a cry-baby at times and I did find myself wishing he could be tougher and more masculine in his responses. G, by contrast, was the cool and collected character and therefore the most interesting of the two. At times the characters can become caricatures – occasionally it read like a script for Allo Allo, but there’s real passion between Nik and G. It’s clear the author loves these two characters throughout their different lives, and it’s hard to resist such enthusiasm.

This is a ‘historical wallpaper’ novella, where the setting serves the characters. There’s nothing wrong with that, but in places the plot strains credulity where it parts company with historical fact. I’m still not sure what I think about the scenes set in Dachau but I applaud the author for using such a controversial setting.

Despite its flaws, I enjoyed this story and the concept behind it. I’m intrigued enough to go looking for the first volume and will be interested to see where Rick’s memories take him and Jay next.