Review: The Scot Beds His Wife

Synopsis:

The Scot Beds His Wife is the next lush, captivating Victorian romance in the Victorian Rebels series by Kerrigan Byrne.

They’re rebels, scoundrels, and blackguards—dark, dashing men on the wrong side of the law. But for the women who love them, a hint of danger only makes the heart beat faster.

Gavin St. James, Earl of Thorne, is a notorious Highlander and an unrelenting Lothario who uses his slightly menacing charm to get what he wants—including too many women married to other men. But now, Gavin wants to put his shady past behind him…more or less. When a fiery lass who is the heiress to the land he wishes to possess drops into his lap, he sees a perfectly delicious opportunity…

A marriage most convenient…

Samantha Masters has come back to Scotland, in a pair of trousers, and with a whole world of dangerous secrets from her time spent in the Wild West trailing behind her. Her only hope of protection is to marry—and to do so quickly. Gavin is only too willing to provide that service for someone he finds so disturbingly irresistible. But even as danger approaches, what begins as a scandalous proposition slowly turns into an all-consuming passion. And Gavin discovers that he will do whatever is necessary to keep the woman he has claimed as his own…

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Scot Beds His Wife by Kerrigan Byrne is the most fascinating yet most complex plot line I’ve ever read. This historical tale was engaging from the start. Never a dull moment. Dark, sad, and unforgettable. Both bad and good. The characters had to deal with a lot. From family that was no good, to even worse situations. These past memories have left deep wounds festering for so long, that it takes almost to the end to find any lightness within them and their future. 

Gavin St. James, Earl of Thorne, had a past that literally gave scars. Wounds that were both physical and emotional. His father was cruel to him, his siblings, and to the women his dad brought home. The jerk of a father who put his young boys through absolute hell. He forced them to participate in cruel punishments to women. Treated their mother like a prisoner…and took their innocence of childhood away. Gavin had to grow up fast. His hatred for his father fueled his energy to get revenge. But his older brother Liam beat him to it. Then, there’s this lass who comes tumbling into his path. Sam…she makes him want things he never thought he wanted or could have.

Samantha Masters is a woman who grew up the hard way. Her family were going to give her to some pervert. So, she escaped by marrying a man who was rotten to the core. The Master brother were cruel, reckless, and dangerous. Samantha is a pro with guns. Her husband has threatened to kill a young innocent woman…only in split seconds, Sam does the unthinkable. By doing so, she has sealed her fate. But then, the victim became her hero. Giving her a new life and a new chance at redemption…a path that leads her straight into the sexy lord, Gavin…

What started off as two enemies fighting turns into much more passionate, fun, and unforgettable for two broken souls. At first, they fight their feelings and attraction. But as times goes by and trouble comes to them, they end up wanting what they thought they can’t have. The Scot Beds His Wife is a beautifully written story. Full of action, intrigue, suspense, and romance.  There’s also a lot of humor. I loved it. Kerrigan Byrne is a master of historical romances…I can’t wait to read more by her. Overall, I highly recommend this book to all. 

Review: The Promise of a Letter

Synopsis:

A letter brings him back to his Amish family. It will take someone truly extraordinary to make him stay. 

Roman is on the verge of leaving the Amish ways. Feeling confined by the strict rules, he longs to do something more with his life. But when things don’t go as planned, Roman’s prospects outside of the community dwindle. Upon learning that his beloved grandmother has died and left a letter urging him to reconcile with his brother in Birch Creek, Roman decides to return home. But he doesn’t plan to stay for long.

Leanna Chupp has always made her own way in her small community of Birch Creek. Though some may call her unconventional–strange, even–Leanna is happy. Her unique outlook on life has meant she’s never had many suitors pursuing courtship, which Leanna doesn’t mind. She is content being single.

But when Roman and Leanna find themselves working together again, everything changes. Though neither fit squarely within the strictures of the Amish faith, their differences could be the very thing to help them form a deeper connection to their community and to each other. The question remains: will this strengthening bond be enough to make Roman stay for good? 

Rating: 5-stars

Review: 

The Promise of a Letter by Kathleen Fuller is an exciting adventure. A book with meaning and purpose. Two protagonists feel trapped, lost, and hurt. But with some time, hope, and faith they will be able to heal and move forward with happiness. The title is exactly what the story is about and shows that even the things we want are not what we may need. 

Kathleen Fuller is a writer with a magical wand. I love traveling deep into her books.  The characters are hard to ignore. Their life issues sucked me into their dilemmas and had me rooting for them. The book also contained a great emotional journey. I felt each characters loss, hope, faith, worry, anger, and fear. It was exciting to watch them grow. 

Leanna is a young Amish woman who is nothing like the others in her community. She hated school except for a few subjects like math. Her ability to fix things is amazing. Mechanical knowledge is for men. And here, I got to watch her fulfill that role. Leanna struggled with what others said about her working as a mechanic. But still, she never gave up…and it was thanks to one man who gave her that break. Only…soon, a gossip breaks out, bringing forth doubt and fear. This causes Leanna to lose her job. I felt sorry for her. It was funny to watch her fulfill more duties suited for her gender….like canning tomatoes. Leanna is terrible at the traditional women duties. But as a mechanic, friend, daughter, and as a sister, Leanna does well. 

Roman is a young Amish man. Not wanting to marry just like Leanna. He too, is interested in mechanics and engineering. In fact, he was pursuing a degree in it. But then, tragedy strikes. Causing Roman to travel home once more. He’s not happy about it. The way he left the last time, will cause for hardship between him and his older brother, Daniel. Daniel is all he has left. But Daniel doesn’t want him home nor helping him. However, Daniel is foolish and gets injured. This causes him to feel worse. With his injuries, Roman automatically takes up the challenge to help his brother. A mechanic shop should be easy…only Roman knows he needs help. Leanna…

Daniel is the older brother of Roman. He owns his own memchanic shop. Before it was just him and Roman. Until he got married…then, things changed. Roman left never saying goodbye. This hardened Daniel’s heart and made him angry. Struggling with things, Daniel is to stubborn to ask for help. His wife is pregnant and he’s afraid she loose the baby…then, there’s the nasty rumor that has him and his wife upset. He lets go of his only employee. His best employee, Leanna. 

The Promise of a Letter is an outstanding read. Kathleen Fuller knows how to nab her readers’ attention immediately. Every page was full of action, suspense, tension, and drama. I loved it. A good clean Christian novel with a bit of romance. Overall, I highly recommend this to all. 

Review: Take to the Limit

Synopsis:

They are part of an elite unit. On task. Off grid. These are the men of the Shadow Ops task force. Be seduced and thrilled by Take to the Limit, the next Unbroken Heroes novel by Dawn Ryder. 

Holding out for a hero…
A hardened military machine, Bram Magnus is a tough, combat-ready, all-American hero who never surrenders. But the one thing he can’t fight? His smoldering, intense attraction to his girlfriend’s younger sister. He’s always kept his feelings locked deeply down. But when his girlfriend betrays him the night before he ships off to Afghanistan, Bram has one chance to show the woman he’s resisted for years that he wants her as fiercely as the first day he saw her.
Ever since her older sister first brought home the soldier with steely hard muscles and piercing eyes, Jaelyn has wanted Bram, and when her sister casts him aside the night before he leaves, Jaelyn can’t resist one steamy hot kiss with him. But danger is not far behind, and even as a deadly enemy hunts them, their relationship only grows more explosive. It’s all Bram can do to keep Jaelyn safe, but with a threat this powerful, will they pay the ultimate price for their passion?

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Take to the Limit by Dawn Ryder is a sexy tale featuring alpha males. Males who think only about their work and nothing else. Or so they thought…Enter a beautiful woman and a Bram can’t let go. He’s leaving on a mission. Told to leave her alone. But his heart can’t. So, he does what he can. Writes letters to her. Not one, not two, but dozens of letters. Letting her know she’s all he’s thinking about while away. Hot sex. Instant chemistry. And fear. Jaelyn loves Bram. He is a sexy tall man who has her toes curling in the hot sand. Her dreams are filled with nothin glut him. She kissed him hard before he left. Her heart aches for him. Thinking she won’t ever see him again, she hardens her heart against him. When he arrives back to her, all hell breaks loose. His letters he wrote were never given to her….someone stole them. Jealousy. Jaelyn pushes Bram away. But he’s not giving up without a hell of a fight. Hell, she’s worth everything to him. Then, danger comes and knocks their world into a crazy space. No one knows where it will lead. But Bram is going to fight until he has Jaelyn safe again in his arms…and in his bed. 

Dawn Ryder knows how to heat up the pages. I blushed every time. The heat was scorching. The sex soon turned to love making. The characters each had their own fears and struggles. But somehow they keep moving forward and work through them. Friends who tease but also have their backs. Family that will always support them no matter what. I loved the granddaughter and grandfather relationships in this book. It was sweet, charming, and hilarious. Overall, I enjoyed reading Take to the Limit. It’s a perfect title for the scenes inside…a super solider and his strong yet bold woman. 

Review: A Wedding Tail

Synopsis:

’TIL DEATH DO US BARK…

Wedding planner Zoe Plum has brides from all walks of life vying for her services. The only problem is: happily-single Zoe doesn’t actually enjoy weddings—but that might change when she meets the singer of a local band playing at one of her weddings. His name is Levi Dolson and he’s too gorgeous for his own good. And now he’s gone ahead and charmed her new dachshund. . .

It’s no secret that Zoe doesn’t believe in fairy tales, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to make sweet music with Levi. While she’s convinced she doesn’t need a man, when someone starts setting one trap after the next to make sure she never plans a wedding ever again, she might need Levi in more ways than she could have imagined. But just how far is Zoe’s hidden enemy willing to go? The only thing Levi knows for sure is that he will do everything in his power to protect the woman who brings music to his soul. Maybe that will prove to Zoe, once and for all, that he is a man worthy of her heart. . .

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

A Wedding Tail by Casey Griffin is spectacular. It combines murder, mystery, and romance into one amazing read. This is also a great book for animal lovers. Especially, those that love dogs. An adopted wiener ends up rescuing his adoptive mother from a murderer. She ends up saving the man who has become so much more to her than just hot kisses. Her heart is totally in love with him. Now, it’s up for her to call the shots. The murderer was a character that I didn’t expect to be the killer. Surprises are everywhere in this book. Humor, intrigue, heat, and an unforgettable emotional journey. Casey Griffin has once again, hooked me. Her books are worth reading. I was so happy that her latest novel, A Wedding Tail, turned out perfect. Crazy brides, a weddding gone wrong, a flirtatious man, someone sabotaging Zoe’s business and much more…this, was one adventure I’ll never forget. Hilarious, sweet, and engaging. Overall, I highly recommended this title to all. 

Review: Woman Enters Left

Synopsis:

A woman sets out on a cross-country road trip, unknowingly tracing in reverse the path her mother traveled thirty years before.
In the 1950s, movie star Louise Wilde is caught between an unfulfilling acting career and a shaky marriage when she receives an out-of-the-blue phone call: She has inherited the estate of Florence “Florrie” Daniels, a Hollywood screenwriter she barely recalls meeting. Among Florrie’s possessions are several unproduced screenplays, personal journals, and—inexplicably—old photographs of Louise’s mother, Ethel. On an impulse, Louise leaves a film shoot in Las Vegas and sets off for her father’s house on the East Coast, hoping for answers about the curious inheritance and, perhaps, about her own troubled marriage.

Nearly thirty years earlier, Florrie takes off on an adventure of her own, driving her Model T westward from New Jersey in pursuit of broader horizons. She has the promise of a Hollywood job and, in the passenger seat, Ethel, her best friend since childhood. Florrie will do anything for Ethel, who is desperate to reach Nevada in time to reconcile with her husband and reunite with her daughter. Ethel fears the loss of her marriage; Florrie, with long-held secrets confided only in her journal, fears its survival.

In parallel tales, the three women—Louise, Florrie, Ethel—discover that not all journeys follow a map. As they rediscover their carefree selves on the road, they learn that sometimes the paths we follow are shaped more by our traveling companions than by our destinations. 

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Woman Enters Left by Jessica Brockmole is an interesting adventure. A young woman suddenly learns that she inherits quite a lot from a woman she barely knows. This only intrigues her curiosity. As the plot unfolds, she finds more clues. Turning to her father she learns about her past. Then, there’s the situation with her husband. Not exactly on best terms, but then she learns things about her husband. Understanding sets in and maybe forgiveness too. It was a heartfelt story that holds a lot of details in the beginning…making the plot feel a bit like it’s dragging but then, it picks up speed. I enjoyed following the main protagonist, Louise. Her marriage and history is fascinating to follow. Overall, I recommend this tale to readers everywhere. 

Review: Take Me Home for Christmas

Synopsis:

Christmas is a time for remembering….
Too bad all memories aren’t pleasant. Everyone in Whiskey Creek remembers Sophia DeBussi as the town’s Mean Girl. Especially Ted Dixon, whose love she once scorned. 
But Sophia has paid the price for her youthful transgressions. The man she did marry was rich and powerful but abusive. So when he goes missing, she secretly hopes he’ll never come back—until she learns that he died running from an FBI probe of his investment firm. Not only has he left Sophia penniless, he’s left her to face all the townspeople he cheated…. 
Sophia is reduced to looking for any kind of work to pay the bills and support her daughter. With no other options, she becomes housekeeper for none other than Ted, now a successful suspense writer. He can’t bring himself to turn his back on her, not at Christmas, but he refuses to get emotionally involved. He learned his lesson the last time. 
Or will the season of love and forgiveness give them both another chance at happiness? 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Take Me Home for Christmas by Brenda Novak was another brilliant read. I don’t know how she does it. Every book is good. Engaging, whole hearted, and stunning. This latest novel, was centered on family. There were other themes like dealing with bullying, harassment, alcoholism and other stuff. Plus, old flames rekindling. 

First, I was introduced to a young woman. One that was super gorgeous and still is. She used her popularity around Whiskey Creek to her advantage. However, that left her with enemies, a broken heart, and no friends. Sophia left a good guy for one that turned out to be way worse than she ever feared. Her one night with a rich guy ended up with her being pregnant. So, her only option was to marry him. Leaving behind the one guy who truly cared about her as she did for him. 

Now, after having lost her husband on the day of her anniversary, Sophia returns back home. Whiskey Creek is her home. But then, she finds her husband stole money from all the people. Their home, cars, furniture, and jewels were taken. The people in town hate her. All but for one man. The one she left behind…Ted Dixon. 

Ted Dixon doesn’t want to be around Sophia. He wants to be over her. But he’s not. He’s hurt but seeing her current situation, he hires her to be his housekeeper. From there, he finds out what has happened to her before her marriage and afterwards. Ted can’t stop himself from saving Sophie and her little girl. But things are getting more complicated…

Take Me Home for Christmas left me feeling sad, angry, and happy. The emotional journey was epic. Brenda Novak has once again, swept me off my feet. Her book was intriguing. I was hooked from the beginning. Life is messy. The characters were three dimensional. Believable and realistic. I can see Sophie and Ted’s situations happening worldwide to real people. Hurt, betrayal,  hope, and love. So many emotions. I loved it. I wasn’t sure how the book would end. Overall, I recommend this contemporar romance to all. 

Review: Starting Over on Blackberry Lane

Synopsis:

Time for a Change—or Three! 

Stefanie Stahl has a husband with renovation ADD. He can’t seem to finish anything he starts and her house is littered with his “projects.” If he doesn’t smarten up, she swears she’s going to murder him and bury him under the pile of scrounged lumber in the backyard.  

Her friend Griffin James is suddenly single and thinking maybe she needs to sell her fixer-upper and follow her career bliss up the ladder of success, even if that scary ladder is clear across the country. Getting her place ready to sell proves harder than she originally thought. She needs help.  

She’s not the only one. Cass Wilkes, their neighbor, has an empty nest—with a leaking roof. When her ceiling crashes in, she knows it’s time to do something. When Grant Masters offers his handyman services at a fund-raiser auction, the three women go in together to outbid the competition and win their man. (Cass’s friends think she should win Grant in a different way, too!) Now, it’s time to make some improvements…in their houses and their lives.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Starting Over on Blackberry Lane by Sheila Roberts is an interesting women’s fiction piece. I liked the sweet romance that was brewing. The three female friends each had their own issues. One dealing with her husband who starts but doesn’t finish projects, another is feeling lonely, and the last one just got out of one relationship and may dive into another. The themes were friendship, love, and second chances. 

Steph has a husband who does construction. The only issue is that he starts many projects but hasn’t gotten anything done yet. Her frustration is understandable. However, I didn’t like her attitude towards her husband. He’s a sweet man who only wants to make his wife happy. Only he feels like whatever he does, she doesn’t approve…

Cass is my favorite of the three women. She is separated from her ex, has three adult kids, and her roof collapses on her. Cass feels lonely. It was super easy to connect with her. I felt her loneliness througheach lage. Until a certain construction guy comes to town. Then both their lives change. 

Last but not least, is Griffin. She’s finding that her current relationship isn’t working. So, she’s left with ending it. From there she wants to pursue a career somewhere else…but then, a man steps into her life and things may just get interesting…

Overall, Starting Over on Blackberry Lane is a great read. Definitely, for women everywhere. The characters were believable and so were their situations. Readers like myself can connect immediately due to the realistic telling of the story. I recommend it to readers everywhere.

Review: Sweetbriar Cottage

Synopsis:
When Noah and Josephine Mitchell discover their divorce was never actually finalized, their lives are turned upside down.
Following his divorce, Noah gave up his dream job, settling at a remote horse ranch in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia, putting much-needed distance between himself and the former love of his life. But then Noah gets a letter from the IRS claiming he and Josephine are still married. When he confronts Josephine for the first time in months, they discover that she missed the final step in filing the paperwork and they are, in fact, still married.
Josephine is no happier about the news than Noah. Maybe the failed marriage—and okay, the botched divorce—was her fault, but her heart was shattered right alongside his, more than he would ever believe. The sooner they put this marriage behind them, the better for both of their sakes.
But when Josephine delivers the final paperwork to his ranch, the two become stranded in his cottage during the worst spring snowstorm in a decade. Being trapped with Josephine is a test of Noah’s endurance. He wrestles with resentment and an unmistakable pull to his wife—still beautiful, still brave, and still more intriguing than any woman he’s ever known.
As they find themselves confronted with each other and their shared past, old wounds surface and tempers flare. But when they are forced out into the storm, they must rely on each other in a way they never have before. Josephine finally opens up about her tragic past, and Noah realizes she’s never been loved unconditionally by anyone—including him. Will Noah accept the challenge to pursue Josephine’s heart? And can she finally find the courage to trust Noah?

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Sweetbriar Cottage by Denise Hunter is a beautifully written novel. Inside, I met a couple that resemble today’s couples everywhere. Divorce. It’s a messy and complicated monster that takes over the lives of couples. Here, I got to watch two people once happily married wanting a divorce. However, the wife forgets to sign it in time…and it leaves them as a married couple. The emotional journey was epic. I loved every moment. Clean, engaging, and sweet. Josephine and Noah will have a tough time of roughing their situation and until they fix it…or maybe not. Life is unpredictable and even more so for these two. Overall, I recommend this Christian novel to readers everywhere. 

Review: Under a Desert Sky

Synopsis:

There comes a time in life when we find ourselves in the desert place of burning questions. Why? Why me? But even as we shake our fist heavenward, the heart whispers another question. Who? Who are you, God? It is a question of relationship, a question we all murmur in the hardest places. 

Against the backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, Lynne Hartke asks her own hard questions as cancer arrives like a thief with one goal: to take it all. Hair. The contents of a stomach. A marriage. A life. As her days become a blur of doctors’ appointments, treatments, and surgeries, she wrestles with a tumble of tangled emotions, a shaken faith, and self-doubt. Cancer is now not only threatening her own life, but, in a surprising twist, the lives of both her parents as well. 

Through her raw, lyrical words, Hartke invites fellow sojourners to discover that in life’s hardest places, they are not alone in their fear, they are not foolish to hope, and they are never forgotten by a loving, pursuing God. Never. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Under a Desert Sky by Lynne Hartke is an inspiring memoir of one woman’s journey with cancer. Cancer is the toughest path one finds in life. It takes hold of us, crushing us under its pressure. Sometimes, we feel like we’ve lost the battle and want to give up. However, this book, redefines hope, beauty, and faith in the hardest places. Lynne Hartke’s words grabbed my attention immediately. Her words made me cry and feel that hope never dies. Pain only makes one stronger. Beautifully written by a survivor, who went through it all. Pain, grief, and hope. Overall, I deeply recommend this memoir to all. 

Blog Tour: Play for Me by Celine Keating

Interview with Celine Keating

ULM: What inspired you to write your novel, Play for Me?

A train trip across Canada, a kind of concert in motion, jumpstarted the idea. I had begun studying classical guitar, which led to writing for music magazines. When I heard about the train ride and how several bands would be performing, jamming, and interacting with their fans, I decided it was something I just had to be part of and write about. It was quite an experience, and I found myself wanting to explore why music is so powerful for us and about obsession and hardcore fandom. To top it off, on the train I was berthed next to the leaders of two of the bands and had a front row seat to their very explosive romantic breakup – they became the models for my lead singer Blaise and her guitarist JJ. 

 ULM: What was it like creating the main character, Lily?

I actually based Lily in large part on my sister. Her twin daughters were going off to college and she was suddenly confronted with empty-nest angst and the realization thatshe had lost sight of her own needs through years of work and childrearing. I wondered,is it possible to reinvent yourself in middle age, to rediscover your own creative potential? In a way, Play for Me is a cautionary tale, especially for women, of what can happen if you lose touch with your deepest self.

ULM: Since your novel is around the central theme of music, what kind of music do you enjoy listening to? 

While I love most styles and kinds of music of music, my favorite is anything guitar-centric, whether rock, acoustic, classical, flamenco. I also really enjoy singer songwriters.

ULM: How would you describe your novel, using only three words? 

emotional, intelligent, honest 

ULM: How would you describe your other main character, JJ? 

 He’s charming, sweet, needy, super talented, and, ultimately, selfish.

ULM: What advice would you give to other writers?

I advise writing every day, even if just for 15 minutes. One trick I use if I’m stuck is to work off other writers. Sometimes I copy out entire passages I admire and then use that as a base to write something of my own. It’s a great way to improve technique. I also recommend joining a writing group – whether in person or online –for feedback, advice, and support. 

ULM: Do you have any future writing projects that you can share with us, readers?

I’m currently working on a new novel set in Montauk, Long Island, with a broad cast of characters. It’s about the conflicts and pressures – environmental and financial – on a beach/resort town.

ULM: What is it like being both a writer and editor? Which task would you say was easier? How long have you been an editor?

A very interesting question! I think it’s sort of right brain/left brain – both are creative in their way and both also require basic language skills, but overall, editing requires the analytic part of the brain while fiction depends on the intuitive and on the imagination. Happily editorial work doesn’t make the same kind of demands on me that fiction does –of invention and imagination. So they are complementary but very different. For me, editing is easier, because most of it can be learned, whereas fiction is an art, and any art relies on being able to tap into the deeper parts of the self and on honing one’s creativity and unique point of view—and how all of that works is something of a mystery! I’ve been an editor for decades. I started out in publishing as an editorial assistant and worked my way up through various editing jobs. Then I switched to magazine copyediting, and now I work as a freelancer. 

ULM: Being a music reviewer, would say that this had some influence on writing your novel, Play for Me? 

Yes, absolutely. I have been able to do many interviews with musicians for various articles and found their lives and struggles to be quite interesting. So I used a lot of that material in the novel. Also, in writing reviews one has to describe – to people who are listeners but not necessarily musicians – how music sounds. Finding the right descriptivewords and a way to put them together is a unique kind of challenge. The experience writing reviews really helped when I was trying to communicate how JJ’s music sounds to Lily so the reader can imagine it, and also to understand the profound effect the music has on her. 

 ULM: How did you become a music Reviewer?

 I find that pretty interesting. It’s not every day one hears about meeting a Reviewer of music. Breaking in to music reviewing is similar to breaking in to other writing for publications—with a query letter and your clips (already published work)—except that you are requiredto play an instrument yourself. I wrote a query letter to Acoustic Guitar magazine about a CD I wanted to review, and they accepted. After that they asked if I’d like to review for them regularly, and that led to longer pieces and to writing and reviewing for other places as well.

ULM: Where can readers find you and your work online?

 I’m at www.celinekeating.com and I’m always happy to hear from readers. Many of my stories and reviews are available, as well as excerpts from my novels.  

Synopsis:

International Book Award finalist in literary fiction

Indie Excellence Award finalist in fiction

USA Book Award finalist in fiction
“Keating combines the soul-searching of Eat, Pray, Love with the rock ’n’ roll fable of Almost Famous to create a novel of midlife crisis with music at its core.” —Booklist 
Middle-aged Lily impulsively joins a touring folk-rock band, leaving her job and marriage behind in an attempt to find a second chance at life, passion, and art.
It happens without warning: At a folk-rock show at her son s college, Lily becomes transfixed by the guitarist s unassuming onstage presence and beautiful playing and with his final note, something within her breaks loose. After the concert, Lily returns to her comfortable life an Upper West Side apartment, a job as a videographer, and a kind if distracted husband but she can t stop thinking about the music, or about the duo s guitarist, JJ. Unable to resist the pull of either one, she rashly offers to make a film about the band in order to gain a place with them on tour. But when Lily dares to step out from behind her camera, she falls deep into JJ s world upsetting the tenuous balance between him and his bandmate, and filling a chasm of need she didn t know she had. Captivating and provocative, Play for Me captures the thrill and heartbreak of deciding to leave behind what you love to follow what you desire.” (less)

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Play for Me by Celine Keating is a contemporary piece written mostly for women. I can feel the main characters’ emotions as the scenes played out…I also noticed that the writer’s book held her passion for music. Deep, entertaining, and well-told. As I followed the main character, Lily, I got lost within her story. She goes out doing what she loves and ends up entangled in her own problems. Decisions have to be made….and the consequences are intense. Making the novel’s atmosphere that more electrifying. Romance between two that shouldn’t occur, a marriage held by a strong, and destruction of her daughter’s life lay ahead. As I read through the pages and wasn’t sure what advice I would give to Lily. I felt her pain as the plot continued. Celine Keating has a way of luring readers like myself further into the book. 

Play for Me is exactly as it states and the options get harder as one wife slash mother tries living her life and balancing the old with the new. But as with reality, life has a way of knocking us back down to earth. Overall, great read for women everywhere. Easy to relate to and connect with the characters. 

Review: Spring Fever

Synopsis:

The New York Times bestselling author of Summer Rental delivers her delicious new escapist novel about small towns, old flames, and deep secrets

Annajane Hudgens truly believes she is over her ex-husband, Mason Bayless. They’ve been divorced for four years, she’s engaged to a new, terrific guy, and she’s ready to leave the small town where she and Mason had so much history. She is so over Mason that she has absolutely no problem attending his wedding to the beautiful, intelligent, delightful Celia. But when fate intervenes and the wedding is called to a halt as the bride is literally walking down the aisle, Annajane begins to realize that maybe she’s been given a second chance. Maybe everything happens for a reason. And maybe, just maybe, she wants Mason back. But there are secrets afoot in this small southern town. On the peaceful surface of Hideaway Lake, Annajane discovers that the past is never really gone. Even if there are people determined to keep Annajane from getting what she wants, happiness might be hers for the taking, and the life she once had with Mason in this sleepy lake town might be in her future. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews is a contemporary romance worthy of reading. The raw chemistry that flares between characters is great. Two families that have a controlling mother. A father who slept around…and fathered a child outside his marriage. An older son who takes responsibility far greater than he should. Another son who takes no responsibility at all. Two former lovers have had a lot on their plates…and their love for each other hasn’t died. But where their lives are headed is one intense journey. Love conquers all. Other themes like marriage, faith, and family are popular throughout this book. Another interesting twist was the rich and poor charcaters intermingled on every page. Friendship lasts a lifetime. 

Mary Kay Andrews brought to life a real world inside her novel, Spring Fever. The characters’ lives were troubled from day one. Drama, money, and family always got in the way. In the real world those same things change and alter people’s lives. I was addicted. The plot wasn’t a fairy tale. It was rough around the edges. Entertaining, well-told, and fascinating to follow. Spring Fever was believable in every way possible. Overall, I recommend to readers everywhere. 

Review: The Gay Preacher’s Wife

Synopsis:

The deeply personal memoir of Lydia Meredith, a woman who spent almost thirty years married to a preacher—only to have her husband leave her for a MAN —and how her life becomes a testimony of tolerance and a theology of love and acceptance.
After being married to Reverend Dennis A. Meredith for almost thirty years, Lydia Meredith discovers a shocking truth: the love of her life left her for a MAN. Now, Lydia opens up for the first time about how that revelation shattered her world—and strengthened her faith.
With her life turned upside down, Lydia struggled to put the pieces of her broken heart back together and that led her to pursue understanding through an accredited theological education. She wanted a way to put her family back together and she found Jesus’ ministry and teachings were “actually” about teaching tolerance and love for people who are labeled different.
Candid, honest, and incredibly touching, Lydia Meredith shows that faith and perseverance can get you through any challenge life throws your way.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Gay Preacher’s Wife by Lydia Meredith is a deep memoir. Inside, I followed her journey as an African American women. Just being in that category is hard enough. Then, to add to the fact her husband had lied to her for the past 30-years. Well, it was easy to sympathize with her. I can only imagine how hard that was to deal with after finding out. Having a man lineage his wife for an reason is hard on the soul and heart. Lydia Meredith’s husband left her for another man. Wow. I wouldn’t know how to handle that scenario myself, if placed in the same situation. Her journey was emotional and interesting. I believe the writer dealt with the situation in the best ways possible. I can’t judge her nor her husband. Life is complicated, messy, and hear shattering. Readers can easily connect with Lydia as her words engage them further into her life. Overall, this personal memoir took great faith and courage to share. I recommend it to others. 

Review: The Significant Other by Nicole Strycharz

Synopsis:

Adam: I swore off men years ago to protect myself. I don’t trust guys. Guys break hearts, they take, and they don’t give like women do. That’s why for the past ten years I’ve entrusted my heart to a tattooed, multi-hair colored, vixen named Trix. Trixie is my safe haven. She doesn’t just back up my voice in our band she backs me in life. 
Sadly, I don’t reciprocate like I should. My phobia of PDA and my over-protectiveness are hard to put up with. It might be because I need more than I let on. More than I would dare to admit to. 
We moved to NY to grow as a band but then I met ‘him’…our boss; a sexy as hell, bad boy with a convict’s past and a talent for breaking men and women’s hearts alike. He’s bad news… An urban beast with too much edge and he’s prowling around my comfort-zone relationship. 
Now I’m not sure who my significant other is… my girl or the man determined to remind me who I really am and what I truly want. 

Trixie: Coming to the city was our ticket to fame. It was me and Adam against the odds of notoriety but since we arrived in the Big Apple, we’ve also been made aware how small our bubble of safe love is. 
I know what my boyfriend probably hasn’t admitted to himself… that I’m not enough for him. We both are just too chicken to do anything about it. 
New York is changing us. The people we meet here, the emotions we face, even our music… and if there is anything you learn from these streets, it’s this… 
Traffic and life, they both wait for no one. You have to go with the flow, ride the current, and keep up the pace. Both Adam’s love and mine is being tested, or it’s about to end. 
Hopefully we can figure it all out. Oh and add that to my list of to do’s like keeping my twin away from a dangerous drug lord, struggling not to fall from a stranger, keeping the band from falling apart and not becoming a bumbling idiot in front of our criminally hot boss. Yeah…criminal…

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Significant Other by Nicole Strycharz is another brilliant masterpiece. Striaght and the LGBT community will love this book. Once more, I got another taste of the heart and soul the writer puts into her words. Emotionally, tugging on my heart strings. I cried, I laughed, and I fell in love. Frustrating, stunning, and well-told. The entire tale was nothing but epic. 

Nicole Strycharz created her first novel featuring a gay couple. A man who likes other men. That was until he had his heart broken. Then, he went and fell for Trixie. A female singer. But despite her loving him…something just was missing. Both knew it. Adam just didn’t want to face it and neither did Trixie. Adam is a sexy hot alpha male who easily gets under readers skin, like he did to me. His has a big heart. I noticed that from the beginning. Adam hid himself with Trixie…keeping his heart guarded. Until, they meet their new boss. A boss that is more alpha than Adam, sexy hot too, and has a thing for Adam…

Trixie is a submissive kind of woman. Made her great for Adam. But she wasn’t meant for him. That’s thought love. She knew Adam’s real love and it wasn’t for her. Trixie too, has the biggest heart anyone has read in fiction. Despite her sexy tough looks, lies a sweet engaging woman looking for love. Trixie finds love but it fails…then she has a sister that made me want to hug Trixie. Trixie goes out and beyond for her sister. A sister who will never change…

Overall, The Significant Other is a book I can easily see made into a movie for 18-year-olds and above due to its content. Sex, drugs, and other things. Life is messy, complicated, and unfair. I really enjoyed this novel, because it brought out real life issues that people battle with each day. Believable, intriguing, and well-written. Nicole Strycharz has done it again with her latest piece. I applaud Nicole for her astounding job in creating three-dimensional characters whose stories I’ll never forget. So readers, yes, I highly recommend this talented writer’s book, The Significant Other to all. 

Review: Mr. Make Believe

Synopsis:

Marnie Martin’s formerly perfect life is not quite going to plan. 
Hard-hitting newspaper journalist turned stay at home mum slash part-time (terrible) cookery columnist slash full-time day dreamer, she’s not entirely sure when it all went wrong… 
She suspects it was at exactly the moment she gave up writing the front page for the apparent bliss of perfect motherhood. But while her (tall, handsome, lawyer) husband Matt’s career is taking off, she is left behind with the impossible task of pairing socks. His late nights at the office are turning into late nights who knows where else. They haven’t had a proper conversation in weeks, sex in months, and a full night’s sleep in what must be years. Love has taken a back seat to the laundry pile and Marnie is feeling a little lost. 
So when an extended fantasy about movie star Maddox Wolfe leads to a missed deadline, a very high profile case of food poisoning, the loss of her job and potentially her husband… Marnie becomes Mrs Make Believe: Anonymous blogger, secret spiller and voice of fantasy-life spinning imperfect mums everywhere. 
Mrs Make Believe knows the bedtime battles, the marriage screw ups and the shrinking clothing (she remains a size 10, what are her clothes playing at?) only too well. She also knows that it’s ok to let your mind wander into make believe… What she didn’t know was that a movie star crush could walk off the screen and into her life, turning her already muddled world (with a husband with one foot out the door) totally on its head. 
Will Marnie be sucked back into the world of uncomfortable cocktail dresses and Botox-frozen smiles? Will she find happiness in her infuriatingly imperfect marriage or in the arms of the (literal) man of her dreams? Or will Marnie find that true love is just make believe? 

This laugh out loud romantic comedy will have you glued to your sofa. Journalist turned author, Beezy Marsh, is perfect for fans of Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones, Tracy Bloom and The Bad Mother’s Diary. The battle through love, life and laundry should never be a one woman struggle. 

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Mr. Make Believe by Beezy Marsh is a hilarious women’s fictional tale. A romantic comedy about life and marriage. Inside this book, readers will find a strong woman whose life changes after becoming a mother. Her fashion writing career comes to a halt as well as the romance in her marriage. Her career comes to a haunt, while her husband is to busy with his. Lately, he becomes more interested in his work and other things than in the woman he loved and married. 

Marriage has its ups and downs. Beezy Marsh clearly shows readers just that withevery page. However, its more complicated than just a marriage suffering. The main charcater, Marnie finds a way to combat her dead end life. She creates a column about fantasy life. Her readers become so engaged in her that she ends up selling a book. By that time, Marine will have had a romance with her fantasy crush, experienced being cheated upon,and come to realize that her love for her husband is greater than what she thought. Whether she leaves her crush for her husband is for readers to figure out for themselves. I loved following this emotional journey. 

Mr. Make Believe is the type of novel, that pulls in readers like myself. I became addicted. Page after page, the fun never stopped. The ending was just as brilliant as the beginning. Love, marriage, betrayal, and second chances are all inside this book. Beezy Marsh has a way with brining her charcaters and words to life. Over, I was satisfied with reading it. Highly recommend it to all. 

Review: The Idea of You

Synopsis: 

With her fortieth birthday approaching, Lucy Carpenter dares to hope that she finally has it all: a wonderful new husband, Jonah, a successful career and the chance of a precious baby of her own. Life couldn’t be more perfect.
But the reality of becoming parents proves much harder than Lucy and Jonah imagined. Jonah’s love and support is unquestioning, but as Lucy struggles with work and her own failing dreams, the strain on their marriage increases. Suddenly it feels like Lucy is close to losing everything…
Heart-wrenching and poignant, this latest work by bestselling author Amanda Prowse asks the question: what does it mean to be a mother in today’s hectic world? And what if it’s asking too much to want it all?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Idea of You by Amanda Prowse is a powerfully written novel. A novel that all women can relate to easily. Love, relationships, and family are just a few of the themes presented inside this tale. From the beginning, I felt saddened by the main charcater’s life. She gave up her one and only child. A child that kept her wondering for forty-years, if she had a good life or not. The  Idea of You was indeed a perfect title. It perfectly worked for this read.  This same woman felt like a loner. Always single at events that couples would be attending. My heart reached out to Lucy. But then, the unexpected happens and she meets Jonah. He’s a great man. Their love is true and it made me smile to watch them as they worked out their issues and are just as happy as when they wedded.  However, a secret comes out and before readers know it, Lucy’s and Jonah’s world has been flopped upside down and inside out…then, Jonah’s daughter has a secret to tell. I felt that this tale was very believable. I can see this situation happening to anyone. Jonah’s struggles as a father and husband were tested. I loved the end results that Amanda Prowse created. So much sorrow and then some healing and laughter. Lucy went through a lot more than giving up her only child, she also miscarried. I can only imagine her hurt…overall, I highly recommend The Idea of You to readers everywhere. Emotionally deep and satisfying to read. 

Review: The Weight of Him

Synopsis:

In The Weight of Him Billy Brennan undergoes an unforgettable journey in a startling attempt to resurrect his family and reignite hearts, his own most of all.

At four hundred pounds, Billy can always count on food. From his earliest memories, he has loved food’s colors, textures and tastes. The way flavors go off in his mouth. How food keeps his mind still and his bad feelings quiet. Food has always made everything better, until the day Billy’s beloved son Michael takes his own life.

Billy determines to make a difference in Michael’s memory and undertakes a public weight-loss campaign, to raise money for suicide prevention–his first step in an ambitious plan to save himself, and to save others. However, Billy’s dramatic crusade appalls his family, who want to simply try to go on, quietly, privately.

Despite his crushing detractors, Billy gains welcome allies: his community-at-large; a co-worker who lost his father to suicide; a filmmaker with his own dubious agenda; and a secret, miniature kingdom that Billy populates with the sub-quality dolls and soldiers he saves from disposal at the toy factory where he works. But it is only if Billy can confront the truth of the suffering and brokenness within and around him that he and others will be able to realize the recovery they need.

Told against the picturesque yet haunting backdrop of rural, contemporary Ireland, The Weight of Him is a big-hearted novel about loss and reliance that moves from tragedy to recrimination to what can be achieved when we take the stand of our lives.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review: 

The Weight of Him by Ethel Rohan was a heartfelt read. I felt the deep connection to the characters pain. An overweight father stressing over the loss and pain of losing his son. His wife seems to have pulled away from him completely. No touching her for pain of her moving away from his touch. The father is determined to lose weight and make it a memorable thing for his dead son. There are others who have lost someone due to suicide. The father isn’t alone. The tale carries the heavy weight of the dead son on every page. Loss, grief, blame, denial, and then finally admitting the feelings of having lost the child. His wife opens up…his other son is still alive. Life will move forward. Slowly but memory of their son stays with them forever. The loss of a child is something we all can relate to as well as losing a loved one to suicide.  Eating ourselves up for the death of that loved one. Thinking we could have done something different to stop it. Then, the question as to why the son killed himself plagued the father. Why…

The Weight of Him is a steady paced novel. Full of darkness overshadowing a family. They’re struggling with the death of a son and brother. The father’s journey of overcoming the darkness was powerfully told. I enjoyed watching him take on the pain and trying to keep his family together. Death has a way of breaking things. Hearts are broken. Readers take on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Ethel Rohan has masterfully created a realistic telling of the sad reality of life. It’s not always picture perfect not a happily ever after. It’s a scale whose bad days sometimes out weigh the good ones. Overall, I recommend the book to all. 

Review: The Night Mark

Synopsis:

She has nothing to live for in the present, but finds there’s something worth dying for in the past…

From Tiffany Reisz, the international bestselling storyteller behind The Bourbon Thief and The Original Sinners series, comes an enthralling new novel about a woman swept away by the tides who awakens to find herself in 1921, reunited with the husband she’s been mourning for four years. Fans of Kate Morton and Diana Gabaldon will fall in love with the mystery, romance and beauty of an isolated South Carolina lighthouse, where a power greater than love works its magic.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Night Mark by Tiffany Reisz was superb. It made me cry so hard, I needed a box of tissues. Loss, grief, and love. All of these entangled into one marvelous read. Imagine finding a love that works, then losing a child. Soon afterwards, losing that husband. For Faith, she seems to go about this round of loss again. Only she lets her husband go. Her heart really wasn’t for him. She still longed for her dead husband. He made her laugh so easy. The past consumed her whole. Over took her life. Faith was drowning in her sorrows. One day she decides to divorce and accept a job photographing. Her life soon turns for a different route. Maybe, just this once, she will be happy again…

The Might Mark is stunning. Every page was more intense than the previous. Engaging me to read further. Entertaining in that a modern woman goes to live with a man from the past. A love that swallows her whole. I couldn’t stop reading this book. I finished it within an hour. The plot was so entertaining, I didn’t dare put it down or stop. Tiffany Reisz is indeed a talented writer. She dragged me deep into her world of fiction and I loved every moment. Tears and all. Overall, I highly recommend this title to readers worldwide.

Review: Close to Home

Synopsis:

The best journeys take us home….

When Tessa Alexander came to Sanctuary Island, she left behind a marriage to a man who didn’t love her the way she loved him. When she finally found the strength to set them both free, she discovered friendship and self-acceptance in her adopted hometown. Now she’s settled into a quiet life on her own—never expecting to see her husband again.
Johnny spent almost two years deep undercover, unable to let his wife into his cold, dangerous world. He’s shaken to the core when he comes home to find her gone. It’s painfully clear that Tessa is no longer the timid young woman he married—she’s become a force of nature, a brave and determined beauty. Johnny can’t let her go without a fight so he sets out to seduce his own wife. But will passion alone be enough to convince Tessa that her new life should include a second chance at happiness with a man who must learn to believe in love?
Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Close to Home by Lily Everett is a stunning piece. This contemporary romance appeals to the physical and emotional side of readers. The story instantly sweeps readers off their feet. A sexy undercover FBI agent comes back home. Only to find that his wife moved a year ago, created a new life, and sent divorce papers. Talk about a blow to man’s heart and ego. Johnny won’t accept it. So, he does what any man who loves his wife does. Goes chasing after her. Make her love him again. But his wife has greatly changed. Tessa has redefined herself. She won’t let others dictate her lifestyle. She has worked on being independent. She doesn’t want her husband to love her because she needs his help. Little does she know how much he loves her…and it has nothing to do with just protecting her from the world…

Close to Home shows the reality of life. Marriage isn’t always a fairy tale. Communication issues were apparent in this fictional piece as they really are in real life. Husbands not understanding women’s ways…their bafflement makes me laugh. Especially Johnny admitting he had no idea what his wife wanted back then and even now…I enjoyed reading this tale from both characters’ point of view. It wasn’t told by their view, yet Lily Everett mastered it in a way that I got to see, hear, and understand from both Johnny’s and Tessa’s sides. Overall, this romance was engaging, exciting, and super sweet. The romance is beautiful. I highly recommend it to all. 

Review: Death by Roses

Synopsis:

Death by Roses is an outrageous, laugh-out-loud, exploration of life and love before and after death. Leading us on a journey full of shocking revelations, eccentric characters, and perhaps even enlightenment, Vivian Probst is a master of her craft. Death by Roses mixes just the right blend of irreverence, ingenuity, and heart-felt sincerity in a touching story of life and relationships as the universe’s sense of humor unfolds.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Death by Roses is a hilarious yet heartbreaking story. Vivian R. Probst is indeed one talented writer. She had my hooked. I was both laughing and crying all the way. Excellent characterization and visually engaging. The main characters, Mae Rose and Mary Lee are two women who have been given another chance to make things right. Mae Rose died on a toilet. She is funny, sweet, and a meddler. She loves putting herself into other’s business. Then there’s the woman, Mary Lee. A dying woman who is struggling with her career. Mae Rose is sent back to earth and has to share Mary Lee’s body. This is crazy, entertaining, and eccentric. 

Death by Roses is a great read. The title is a fit for this tale. Both female characters will keep readers in suspense as they go about fixing other people’s lives as well as their own. The writing was clear and easy to read. I had no trouble following the characters as the book progressed. My curiosity Rose with every page. I loved Mae Rose. Her husband is another fascinating character. Their marriage was real and believable. I wanted to hug Art. I felt so sorry that he had ‘to let his wife go and move on’. Letting go is tough. Missing loved ones never gets easy. Even with their blessing. Love may just be on the horizon for Art in the future…and as for the two lady characters they may just be successful enough to get more assignments. I really enjoyed reading this book. I can’t wait to read more by Vivian R. Probst. Overall, I highly recommend her novel to readers worldwide. 

Review: Drama Cruise

 

Synopsis:

Theater professors and couple, Nicky Abbondanza and Noah Oliver, are going overboard as usual, but this time on an Alaskan cruise, where dead college theater professors are popping up everywhere from the swimming pool to the captain’s table. Further complicating matters are Nicky’s and Noah’s parents as surprise cruise passengers, and Nicky’s assignment to direct a murder mystery dinner theater show onboard ship. Nicky and Noah will need to use their drama skills to figure out who is bringing the curtain down on vacationers before it is lights out for the handsome couple. You will be applauding and shouting Bravo for Joe Cosentino’s fast-paced, ribald, edge-of-your-seat entertaining third novel in this delightful series. Curtain up and ship ahoy!

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review:

Drama Cruise by Joe Cosentino has delivered my favorite gay couple. Nicky and Noah are on a cruise while on vacation and things get pretty crazy fast. First surprise, was one they weren’t expecting. Family. Both their families came onto the cruise. They caused a groan from Noah and Nicky to smile. Soon their families are planning all their wedding details…but then, other surprises much darker start to happen. It will be up to Nicky and Noah to navigate through the suspects to solve who murdered the gay professors on board.

I was not expecting the murderer to be who it was…I was surprised. Nicky and Noah were funny as always, but this time…the story didn’t quite match the previous magic by this talented writer. The engaged couple’s antics were realistic, however, it appeared the Nicky didn’t mind his family fussing with the wedding plans but got super mad at Noah pretty fast…but then, Nicky was like whatever Noah wants that’s what he wants too. But it seemed like Nicky just gave in to easily to Noah in this tale. Other than that, Joe Cosentino’s writing was great. There’s always a murder case to be solved when Nicky and Noah are around doing theater. Acting, action, and death…follow these two amazing guys everywhere even to Alaska. I can’t wait to see what holds for Nicky and Noah in Hawaii. I love these characters and the plot is always intriguing. Drama Cruise is another stunning piece…once more this book was written strong isssues and heartfelt feelings. Overall, I highly recommend it to all.

 

 

Review: To Love a Viscount

 

Synopsis:

Her childhood friend is available, but a handsome stranger makes her doubt her choice.

One of the society’s most beautiful eligible women, Miss Emma Roberts knows that her father is dying and she must choose a husband. She has always known Viscount Francis Turner, and he seems the solid choice in her desperate situation. However, another opportunity has arisen. He may be the better choice for pretty Emma.

Handsome Viscount Francis Turner loves his childhood best friend, but he’s also in a desperate situation and must marry quickly in order to save his inheritance. Then the dashing Captain Jonathan Green captures her attention, and he doubts whether she is the right choice for him. He must make a choice to pursue her heart or watch her be claimed by another man, but he must also choose a bride for himself before time runs out.

Emma and Francis must find a balance between romance and friendship—and decide whether a solid friendship is a right foundation, for a lasting marriage. Theirs could be a marriage for love, but Emma must choose between security and the desire of her heart.

Can she overcome her reservations and discover which man is her true love?

Will Francis find a way to save his family home and win the heart of the woman he has loved since childhood?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

To Love a Viscount by Jessie Bennett is an enchanting historical read. This romance is clean. The soul and heart of this story will captivate readers everywhere. Two best friends find themselves in a desperate situation. One’s father is ill the other is getting weaker. One friend is penniless and the other needs a husband. When both friends meet, their attraction towards each other is visible. However, Francis has to work for his money now, sacrificing his own pride to save his and his father’s home. Emma needs to find a husband before her father dies. He seems to be getting worse each time…and he wants to see his girls married before his last breathe. Fate is funny sometimes. Francis soon becomes a hero in rescuing his best friend Emma for a bad suitor and her father from an evil relative. Francis can’t ignore his blossoming love for Emma; however, he feels unworthy of her love. Emma has feelings for her best friend Francis but then there’s a new man trying for her undivided attention. Who she chooses will affect the rest of her life in many ways.  Jessie Bennett is a talented writer. Her work never ceases to amaze me. I love the charming yet realistic characters. Their drama and troubles make for an interesting read. I enjoyed following both Francis and Emma as their lives changed them and led them into new beginnings. To Love a Viscount is definitely a must read for all. I highly recommend Jessie Bennett’s novel.

 

Review: Written in the Stars

Synopsis:

A half-breed Indian raised by abusive white grandparents, Emily Baker was led to believe she was half Italian with no recollection of her life among the Lakota. Yet in her dreams an old warrior was intent on getting her. Dreams become reality the day Timber Wolf aides in her abduction from the cabin. Known to The People as Little Fawn, sins of the past make perfect sense and breathing in the very essence of Timber Wolf mends her wounded and broken soul. Daring to open her heart to him, secret enemies threaten to separate them forever and make their love nothing more than a dream.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Written in the Stars by Beverly Herr is an outstanding read. I loved reading about the Lakotas and their way of life. Indians have a much more simply way of living. It surprises me how happy they can be living that way. This interesting novel digs deep into a young woman’s past. She was brought up thinking she was Italian when in truth was was Indian. Her two uncles always treated her well. But some like one man in particular wants nothing more than to cause her trouble. Trouble he does cause for her. He rallies the town against her. Soon they arrest her and a hanging is planned. However, her own people and her two uncles come to her rescue. That is when she heads back to the Lakotas. Once there, fate has a way of making her life exciting. Danger never ends and trouble follows Emily Baker everywhere she goes. Beverly Herr has also woven a bit of romance into this cultural read. Emily soon loves a Lakota warrior who may also, love her too. But their banters are funny and sweet. I couldn’t put this book down nor stop reading it. Readers everywhere will fall in love with the characters, the plot, and Beverly Herr’s writing. Overall, I highly recommend Written in the Stars to all.  

Review: Roman Crazy

 

Synopsis:

A delicious, sexy, laugh-out-loud modern romance about a newly single woman and her journey to find love again, from New York Times bestselling author Alice Clayton and debut author Nina Bocci.

Avery Bardot steps off the plane in Rome, looking for a fresh start. She’s left behind a soon-to-be ex-husband in Boston and plans to spend the summer with her best friend Daisy, licking her wounds—and perhaps a gelato or two. But when her American-expat friend throws her a welcome party on her first night, Avery’s thrown for a loop when she sees a man she never thought she’d see again: Italian architect Marcello Bianchi.

Marcello was the man—the one who got away. And now her past is colliding with her present, a present where she should be mourning the loss of her marriage and—hey, that fettuccine is delicious! And so is Marcello…

Slipping easily into the good life of summertime in Rome, Avery spends her days exploring a city that makes art historians swoon, and her in nights swooning over her unexpected what was old is new again romance. It’s heady, it’s fevered, it’s wanton, and it’s crazy. But could this really be her new life? Or is it just a temporary reprieve before returning to the land of twin-set cardigans and crustless sandwiches?

A celebration of great friendship, passionate romance, and wonderful food, Roman Crazy is a lighthearted story of second chances and living life to the fullest.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

As I just finished reading, Roman Crazy, I felt my heart race with all the possibilities of true love. Once it’s found, it there planted firmly. Never leaving. Imagine getting the chance of a lifetime to go to a foreign country and study abroad. While their fate has brought a man who is perfect in every way…both inside and out. Time flies by and a deep love formed. Yet life calls back, and back one goes. Just when everything was mapped out, life dumps unexpected surprises once more and time is lost.

Until Avery goes to see her husband and sees him dicking around in a way that he never has with her. He’s creative, passionate and just raw energy. But then the anger comes out and without a second thought she hits him with a bat. Her husband…messedaroundn with his personal assistant. Ouch! Mega ouch…but Avery won’t stand to be around a man who doesn’t love her. A friend calls her to Rome. There she has a life she’s missed out on in nine years. But then fate knocks her off her feet once more.

An unexpected person is now, among her mist. A friend of her friend. But all those memories from nine years ago come rushing back in…the time and love feels fresh again. Giddy as a teen, Avery has a lot to handle. Divorcing her cheating husband, enjoying spending time with a past lover who’s not sure if she’s there to stay or leave him again. Avery isn’t sure herself. But once she’s spending more time with the man of her heart, how can she leave? Roman Crazy is a feel-good romance with travel, food, and family too. Finding love and happiness that just a bonus. However, both Alice Clayton and Nina Bocci, have left the fate of Avery and her lover to themselves. Will they work out or fall apart once again? I highly suggest readers dig in and read. I loved this journey and following the characters. Charming, sweet, and truly a page turner. Overall, I recommend Roman Crazy to readers worldwide.

 

Review: Hit the Road, Jake!

 

Synopsis:

Thrilling, romantic, and sprinkled with humor, HIT THE ROAD, JAKE! reinvents the ‘buddy movie’ concept with the written word … and a pretty woman. Jake and Lindsey are good at tracking down offenders responsible for petty theft and blackmail, but when new mysteries become personal—slashed tires, spattered blood, steamy love letters, a stolen pet—everything changes.

Who is this enemy that secretly harasses them from town to town? Jake calls in some favors and manages to finagle the DNA testing of several blood samples. The results are shocking, and the dangers they face become deadly.

Practically, newlyweds, the couple thought they’d created the perfect win-win plan. While traveling between Tucson and Estes Park in their RV, Jake would solve embarrassing mysteries that schools wished to keep under wraps, and Lindsey, being the ‘cover’ for their presence, would conduct workshops for teachers. Then all hell broke loose.

Rating: 4 stars

Review:

Hit the Road, Jake! by Cricket Rohman is a great cozy mystery that soon gets deadly. The beginning introduces readers a wonderful yet newly wedded couple. Jake and Lindsey and their dogs. This couple is deeply in love with one another and their bantering will keep any reader grinning. It was hard not to laugh along. Then, as they dive into their first mystery case it seems things get peculiar fast. Threats that look like a harmless prank is more than beats the eye. The couple will soon discover fast just how dangerous their mystery case is.

Cricket Rohman’s novel reminded me much of the Miss Fisher Mysteries. Funny, dangerous, and a puzzle not only to the detectives on the case but also to the readers at hand. I was intrigued at the mystery. A rhyming poem, literature, and petty stuff…what was the real MO and who was behind it and the more puzzling question was why. This novel will keep readers guessing and entertained from beginning to end. Hit the Road, Jake! is an excellent mystery full of suspense, intrigue and a great set of characters.

Hit the Road, Jake! by Cricket Rohman is indeed the perfect read. An unforgettable journey with the world’s best couple. Both Lindsey and Jake are a perfect match. Their investigating soon leads them into more than just trouble with their clients. It comes straight to them as well. The humor and romance that fill the pages as well made it believable. I recommend this novel to all. I look forward to reading the other novels by this talented writer.

 

 

 

 

 

Review: Where Hope Prevails

 

Synopsis:

When Beth Thatcher returns to Coal Valley, she has much to be excited about. She anticipates Jarrick’s proposal of marriage and perhaps a spring wedding. The mine is expanding, and there are more schoolchildren than ever.

But the town’s rapid growth brings many challenges. A second teacher is assigned, and Beth finds herself going head-to-head with a very different philosophy of education–one that dismisses religion and rejects God. Fearful for the children who sit under the influence of Robert Harris Hughes, Beth struggles to know how to respond.

At the same time, Beth wonders if Jarrick is considering a position at her father’s company simply for her sake. Should she admit her feelings on the matter? Or keep silent and allow Jarrick to make up his own mind?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Where Hope Prevails by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan is a heart melting read for all. Inside the tale brings readers out to the West where danger and surprises always happen. Love comes and goes. The characters within the story have both internal and external struggles to handle. The word of God is one way that they cope with their new situations. A way of guidance for them when all seems lost.

Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan have both woven a Christian novel that entices readers from beginning to end. Here, readers get to meet a woman who comes from a wealthy family roughing it out in the west to teach children. She has been visiting her family is now, coming back to Coal Valley. However, things have changed since she was gone. More school children to teach, a booming coal town, and a new teacher to help out with the school. Then there’s the man who has captured the attention and love of Elizabeth Thatcher. He’s a Mountie. Travels where ever his job leads him. Both Jarrick Thornton and Elizabeth are mutually attracted towards one another. Ony time will tell if they end up married or not. Where Hope Prevails is an interesting adventure that will have readers hoping, laughing, and falling in love. I absolutely loved the characters and the coal town people. Impossibilities are turned into possibilities and dreams can come true. Overall, I highly recommend this brilliant novel to all.

 

Review: A Middle Class Dream Coast to Coast

 

Synopsis:

In the pouring rain, while her husband is out of town, a woman gives birth to her second child: Krish. Raised in a typical Indian family in Mumbai and later in Chennai. Krish deals with the struggles typical too many.

His caste determines much about his life, and cultural ideology limit his potential. His family’s progressive ideas about women cause the neighbors in Chennai to resent them, culminating in the murder of Krish’s sister.

The family flees the neighborhood, and Krish works hard in school to make a better life for himself. At school, he meets his first love, Sweetie, but his love is unrequited, leading him to feel years of rejection. His continued pursuit of Sweetie over the years yields no results, and it is perhaps this rejection that forces him to strive so hard in his own life.

Though he obtains a college degree with average grades, he is able to get a decent job in the fiercely competitive IT services industry. Against all odds, his perseverance and determination allow him to rise to the top, and when a massive downsizing occurs, he finds he is one of the few remaining employees. The downsizing forces him to move overseas and leave his new wife behind in India. This ends up being one of many overseas adventures, as he lives and travels coast to coast, to places such as Malaysia, Singapore, China, Japan, US, Switzerland, and Europe.

Eventually, he and his wife decide to move to New York and create a new life together in the US. It is here where Krish devotes himself to fitness and discovers an uncanny ability to make the best of himself despite genetic limitations. Eventually, he and his wife move to Houston, Texas, and life couldn’t get much better.

From his humble beginnings, Krish was able to persevere and become a wealthy, self-made success story. In an effort to share his success with the world, he writes a book of his life, which ends up being turned into a Hollywood blockbuster, starring Krish himself.

This naturally leads to more wealth & fame, and Krish devotes himself to philanthropy, as he develops a new communal center devoted to education, healthcare and more.

A Middle Class Dream is a truly astounding tale of the American dream and self-betterment.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

A Middle Class Dream Coast to Coast by Kamlesh Thakur is by far an interesting and compelling read. I have recently taken several sociology courses that went over the life of those who live in a caste system. Making it out of that life is hard and only those with lots of wealth can move up and out of the system. Life in the Indian family is indeed an engaging and fascinating thing to read about, as well as imaging how they manage to keep living that way when the rest of the world has moved to more complex societies. The main character, Krish, reminds me of a movie that was similar to this. A poor Indian boy who lived in the slums lost everything but stayed in contact with the girl who he loved. Eventually, he made tons of money for them both to live well and that is similar to this tale. Kamlesh Thakur is a superb writer. His fictional masterpiece brings readers deep into a poor yet highly cultural society that lives in a caste-like system. Depending on what caste your family is in…that basically determines an Indian’s whole life unless they find a way to rise above it all. Struggles, determination, and a bit of success and make a huge impact on an Indian man’s life including the character, Krish. He alone is an inspiration to his people that working hard and not giving up are worth every struggle. I found the entire book entertaining, educational, and inspiring. A Middle Class Dream Coast to Coast is definitely worth every readers’ attention. From culture to travel to dreams and success, this novel is a must read for all. Overall, I highly recommend it.

Review: I Can’t Trust You

 

Synopsis:

Jori Wallace is a child therapist who is both outgoing and confident. Jori is married to Shaun who she discovers early on in the story is cheating on her. Shaun wants to work on the marriage, but Jori becomes distracted by her interest in a childhood friend Dave. A man who finds her on Facebook. She flip-flops between the two until things begin to take a dangerous turn.

Lauren Pierce is the timid friend who works as a secretary for a childcare center and has a 3-year-old son DJ. Lauren is dating Jordan who is not who everyone thinks or appears to be. Lauren somehow gets caught up in some drama being at the wrong place at the wrong time and it could end up being life or death for her.

LaTasha Banks is the friend who seems to be more reticent and introverted but has a completely different side of her no one would expect. Both a paralegal and mother of three children, she is in an abusive relationship with her husband Lance. LaTasha’s alter-ego that she uses to cope with her issues with her husband gets the best of her when she gets caught up in a court case that becomes messy rather quickly.

Melanie Ramsey is the friend who is outspoken and does not work because her drug dealing boyfriend Q takes care of her. Melanie enjoys living the high life, but when Q begins to provide more of what she asks for, she has to live up to her role of being his ride-or-die chick. Melanie has to determine if she is really cut out for this lifestyle after all.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

I Can’t Trust You by Christina Fletcher is an addictive urban romance. One that readers such as myself can’t stop reading. The drama is thick, entertaining, and crazy. There is never a dull moment and just when things seem okay, they turn out for the worse. Christina Fletcher has brilliantly woven themes like abuse, cheating, and betrayal. Love, murder, and secrets are also a major part of this novel. Women everywhere can relate to one or more of these issues portrayed within the story. The female characters are strong but all it takes is the men in their lives to pull the rugs from under their feet. The characters don’t see it coming to them until it’s too late. Life is chaotic but the four women friends will find that chaotic isn’t a strong enough word to describe the events happening to ruin to lives. Trust is hard to come by and rarely exists…but there are a seldom few who will find it. Will Jori, Lauren, LaTasha, and Melanie be able to find it? Overall, I highly recommend this well-written tale to women everywhere. Christina Fletcher has a talent for hooking her readers. I Can’t Trust You is definitely a must read for all.

Review: Jesse’s Seed

 

Synopsis:

It’s autumn, 1941. The Nazis have fired on the USS Greer; London is ablaze, and the streets of Leningrad are red with blood. Still, David Dremmer is content to work his father’s ranch and dream of his best friend’s wife. When the United States finally enters the war, David escapes his father’s disappointment and a loveless marriage by enlisting in the Air Corps. His choice proves fateful. His B-17 is shot down over Belgium. Now, he is in the hands of the Nazis, and a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues as Second Lieutenant David Dremmer wages a private war with the Luftwaffe, the Wehrmacht, and his own conscience to save the life of a beautiful Resistance operative. It’s then he discovers that the weakness that has kept him from his dreams is, in fact, the key to becoming who he was born to be. An award-winning, lyrical novel, Jesse’s Seed explores the power of choice, finality, love, and redemption.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Jesse’s Seed by Sam D. Pakan is a historical WWII novel that all will want to read. Readers are instantly taken back to 1941. The horrors of Pearl Harbor being bombed and the declaration of war will send back memories and chills down readers spines. Japanese and German soldiers. Americans fighting both. They tried to stay out of the war until it got personal and then all bets were off…attacking one’s country does things to a nation. So many boats destroyed and lives taken that day. Death, loss, war, and love. These walking together on a journey that will keep readers interested for a long time to come. A young man seems to be a disappointment to his father. His weakness is that of a good heart. Imagine flying over enemy territory…the chances of crashing on enemy territory is high. Flying during wartime is the scariest part…threats of being bombed or crashing is real. If the pilot makes it to the ground in one piece…the person could be tortured and die a slow painful death. Then, readers are taken to 1943 when flying is constant and members of a crew have died. Moments like these will create emotions like regret, sadness, and frustration.  So much evil in this world…and the good trying to save the world, seems to die faster than the bad. Soon, the destruction of Jewish businesses and places of worship are destroyed. The Nazis are here and all hell breaks loose. Nazis are the one nightmare that seems to never go away. Then, despite all the war and danger the main character is also stuck in a loveless marriage.

Then, readers are taken to 1943 when flying is constant and members of a crew have died. Moments like these will create emotions like regret, sadness, and frustration.  So much evil in this world…and the good trying to save the world, seems to die faster than the bad. Soon, the destruction of Jewish businesses and places of worship are destroyed. The Nazis are here and all hell breaks loose. Nazis are the one nightmare that seems to never go away. Then, despite all the war and danger the main character is also stuck in a loveless marriage.  Jesse’s Seed has a little of everything to lure readers to its pages. I found the tale suspenseful and well-developed. It was an emotional journey that I won’t ever forget. The characters were believable. I felt like I was there…back in time when and where it all was happening. The scenes rolling on by like an old movie playing images to my eyes. Overall, I highly recommend this stunning war novel to readers everywhere. Sam D. Pakan is a talented writer.

Review: Vinegar Girl

 

Synopsis:

Kate Battista feels stuck. How did she end up running the house and home for her eccentric scientist father and uppity, pretty younger sister Bunny? Plus, she’s always in trouble at work – her pre-school charges adore her, but their parents don’t always appreciate her unusual opinions and forthright manner.

Dr. Battista has other problems. After years out in the academic wilderness, he is on the verge of a breakthrough. His research could help millions. There’s only one problem: his brilliant young lab assistant, Pyotr, is about to be deported. And without Pyotr, all would be lost.

When Dr. Battista cooks up an outrageous plan that will enable Pyotr to stay in the country, he’s relying – as usual – on Kate to help him. Kate is furious: this time he’s really asking too much. But will she be able to resist the two men’s touchingly ludicrous campaign to bring her around?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Anne Tyler’s Vinegar Girl is indeed the perfect read for all. There is just the right amount of humor, romance, and intrigue to keep readers hooked. I absolutely loved reading this novel. The story itself is realistic. The main character is beyond believable. She suffers from the same things that the rest of us do. Demanding work, impatient parents, and grief. This leading female character is smart and funny. Anne Taylor brings many topics to her interesting tale. Topics like marriage, love, and family. A remarkable journey Vinegar Girl is. There’s plenty to keep readers buried in the pages.

A young woman struggles with living life. Her father is like a dictator controlling everything she and her sister do. Then her sister gives her and her future man a hard time. Her father’s science project is at its break it or make it moment. Then, his assistant is being sent away…unless he can marry someone. A brilliant young Russian scientist is soon married to a woman. A woman who at first refuses the marital set-up by her father. But once the marriage plans are set…she actually goes through it all. At the ending, Anne Tyler surprises me. Her leading character does something that wraps up the whole novel and sets it off in a satisfying way. Overall, I highly recommend this exciting and well-written novel to all. Vinegar Girl is the perfect read for all.

 

Review: Regret the Day I Said Yes

 

Synopsis:

How much of yourself are you really willing to give up to keep a happy home?

After catching her husband with a mouth full of someone else’s vagina, Janelle has to decide if she can forgive and forget.

That thing called LOVE can turn your entire world upside down and knock you on your ass in the blink of an eye.

Alan has done the unthinkable and just might have burned any chance of reconciliation with his wife after leaving her stranded and flown home with his mistress.

Regret the Day I Said Yes: Too Late For Sorry is a story about a group of couples who think they have found the answer to having a happy lifelong marriage.

Bailee & York and Tiffany & Damon have been secretly swinging for years. As they see their friends’ marriages on the brink of disaster they encourage them to give it a try to spice things up.

While it all seems logical at first, time later reveals that every choice has a consequence; Good or bad, their actions can come back to haunt them.

Can these marriages be saved? Can these friendships be rebuilt?

Have you ever regretted the day you said yes? Sometimes it’s too late for sorry.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Regret the Day I Said Yes by Regina Swanson is one brilliant masterpiece. Talk about drama! This story is full of drama. The emotions are so intense and flying everywhere. Readers will be intrigued from the first page. The action and suspense of what will be, keeps readers hooked. Regina Swanson has once again, put her superb writing into another fabulous read. Her characters are three-dimensional. Their issues become the readers’ issues. Marriage can rip apart faster than we thought…just how fast is something readers will be shown. When men have it good with a good decent woman…they somehow think they

When men have it good with a good decent woman…they somehow think they need something more because their lives got too boring or too hard to handle. Wusses. If a man needs another woman on the side then, the issues lie with him. The wives and other women in this story are realistic that it’s funny. I can visualize all the scenes. Regret the Day I Said Yes is more like a fast-paced movie than a novel. Detailed just enough to pop images into readers’ minds. Jealousy, rage, lust and the feeling of loss are all woven into this title. Great emotional journey. Ups and downs just like real life. Regina Swanson has a way of making her novels real. It’s hard to believe they’re just fiction. Juicy, steamy, and addictive. I managed to read the whole novel in an hour. Absolutely, loved reading this urban romance. The harsh realities that couples face when their loved one cheats…hurts. Friends are more entangled in each other’s lives than they thought. Sex with the other person’s partner. Yet not all couples know that their partner is cheating until it comes out in the open. Children are angry because their father cheated on their mom. Then the woman he cheated with is awful towards his kids…now, he’s rethinking his relationship with her. Friendships are forever changed. The sparks and desires are enchanting. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers everywhere.

 

Review: House of Curds (5)

 

Synopsis:

The leaked, unauthorized, complete, original, first-draft script plans, treatments, and dialogue for season five of “House of Curds”.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The House of Curds season five brings danger, clandestine activities, and a whole lot of humor. Another great political satire by Richard M. Fleegle. Readers will be dragged once more into the drama filled episodes. The plot is fast-paced. There’s plenty of action, intrigue, and quirky stuff. Politicians are dangerous, dirty, and crazy. That’s exactly what readers will find in this latest book. Then’s there’s unpredictable stuff like characters skinny dipping in a shark tank! Murder, mayhem, manipulative and dirty…House of Curds is richly entertaining. I highly recommend this book to readers everywhere.

 

Review: House of Curds (3 & 4)

 

Synopsis:

The zany saga of Frank and Clear Underwire continues.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

House of Curds by Richard M. Fleegle season begins! Here readers brought into a two-volume book containing seasons three and four. The book for those unfamiliar with House of Cards (Netflix show) is a political satire. Hilariously entertaining as well as intriguing. Every page has action, drama, and secrets. The characters are beyond quirky and keep readers interested. The writing by Richard M. Fleegle is superb. His words have ways of dragging in readers.

Inside season three, readers will find out more lies, miserable people, and someone who clearly hates dogs. Then in season four, readers will find more anti-political- psychosis, traveling to Moscow, and murder as well as much more. A journey unlike any other book, I have read. This book has it all…ups, downs, and in-betweens. Redoing wedding vows...House of Curds is intense, gritty, dirty, and well-told. The characters…well, readers just have to read on to find out for themselves…overall, I highly recommend this title to readers everywhere. Richard M. Feegle is indeed a talented writer whose work readers should add to their TBR piles.

 

 

Review: I Take You

 

Synopsis:

Lily’s fiancé Will is a brilliant, handsome archaeologist. Lily is sassy, impulsive, fond of a good drink (or five) and has no business getting married. Lily likes Will, but does she love him? Will loves Lily, but does he know her? As the wedding approaches, Lily’s nights—and mornings, and afternoons—of booze, laughter, and questionable decisions become a growing reminder that the happiest day of her life might turn out to be her worst mistake yet.

Unapologetically sexy with the ribald humor of Bridesmaids, this joyously provocative debut introduces a self-assured protagonist you won’t soon forget.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

I Take You by Eliza Kennedy is a sassy, sexy, hilarious read. Instantly, I found myself turning the pages fast. The main character is quirky. Her ways are not what I would do yet, the way she is presented is great. Eliza Kennedy has done a fabulous job in creating a leading female character that has more flaws than perfections. That’s what made this book so easy to connect with…there’s a lot of sex with men and things that would leave me utterly speechless. However, Lily, the soon to be bride knows how to live life fully. Lily is about the most impulsive character I have met. Readers will never be able to guess what she does next or why. A woman about to be married may or may not actually get married. Her journey to that moment will string readers along and leave them laughing at the craziness of who Lily is. Overall, I highly recommend I Take You to readers everywhere. This is definitely a must read for all.

Review: The Girl Who Came Back

 

Synopsis:

When Jules Bright hears a knock on the door, the last person she expects to find is a detective bringing her the news she’s feared for the last three years.

Amelia Quentin is being released from prison.

Jules’s life now is very different from the one she knew before Amelia shattered it completely. Knowing the girl is coming back, Jules must decide what to do. Friends and family gather around, fearing for Jules’s safety. They know that justice was never served; each of them wants to make the Quentin girl pay.

The question is: What will Jules do?

And which of them—she or Amelia—has the most to fear?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Girl Who Came Back by Susan Lewis is a frightening read. The opening part sends chills down readers spines. It gives you nightmares just thinking about it. A young girl. Shows no signs of being a normal girl…she soon pushes her mother overboard. The saddest part is that no knew about that incident. A daughter who pushed her mom over the rail. A mother who just told her daughter that she couldn’t swim…when asked, by her father, where her mother was…the little daughter shrugged her shoulders. I wanted right then to transport myself to that spot and shake the little girl…the father may not have been aware or really cared what his daughter is…but he’s just as bad. Later when the same girl grows up…the deaths don’t stop. She hurts people. No empathy. No feelings. She’s a living walking nightmare that goes off anytime…a girlfriend ends the friendship and the girl takes the cutoff as a stab in the heart. Leaving she warns…you’ll be sorry. Those last words echoing off in my mind as the horrors begin happening again. Torture, rape, distrust, and murder…The Girl Who Came Back is dark and stunning. Susan Lewis knows how to drag her readers into a world of jealousy, murder, and secrets. The destruction is amazing what one girl gets away with over and over again….all because of politics and money. Overall, I highly recommend this brilliant novel to readers everywhere.

 

Review: Dark Psychosis

 

Synopsis:

Take a journey into the disturbed, delusional mind of Jack Cyrus … take a journey into Darkview … a small, remote coastal town, deep, within the Scottish Highlands. The sleepy, isolated spot bears a sinister, horrific history, shrouded by a chilling secret. A secret one man must unveil, which will ravage his soul … and sanity! Jack Cyrus is in damnation! After witnessing the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, he has become plagued by dark memories and devilish visions, the result of post-traumatic stress.

Compounding his trauma, he is faced with the sudden death of his wife, from cancer, after returning home to Scotland. Lost and alone, and struggling to forget the horrific circumstances surrounding her passing, Jack has developed schizophrenia, experiencing chaotic, disturbed thoughts and demonic hallucinations. On the sixth anniversary of his wife’s death, Jack receives a cryptic, hand-written letter from her, telling him she is still alive.

Suffering and held captive, she pleads with him to return to Darkview, the place she spent her last days, and rescue her from purgatory. Upon arrival in Darkview, strange things start happening, and what appears to be a centuries-old mystery, starts unravelling itself. Jack must piece together the clues and lost fragments of his sanity to solve the unravelling mystery. Is any of it real, or is it just a manifestation of Jack’s mind, or another facet of his schizophrenia?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Darkview Psychosis by R.J Bathgate and M.J. Hall is one of the darkest and most traumatized novella I have ever read. It’s one dark ride after another one. A sadness unlike anything I have experienced is brought forth from the words on every page. A misery of hell that appears to be a nightmare or is it? Readers will be stuck in suspense and intrigue even after the ending. Wow…explosive, edgy, and full of danger. Loss, love, and craziness that leaves more questions than answers. Both R.J. Bathgate and M.J. Hall have a raw talent for creating a thriller suspense that will blow readers away. From the beginning to end I was sucked into the fast-paced plot before me. If this is turned into a movie, I will forever have the worst nightmares imagined…overall, I highly recommend this novella to all. Definitely, a must read.

 

 

 

Review: The Lost Ones

 

Synopsis:

Single, childless and reduced to writing celebrity profiles, investigative journalist Suzannah Quinn’s life is not going to plan…

Then, during an interview with top publisher Roland Winterbourne, she meets Jamie Davis.

It’s love at first sight and within hours she has agreed to marry him.

But Jamie insists on inviting no friends or family to the wedding and Suzannah’s millionaire father quickly suspects him of being a fortune hunter.

At first, the couple is blissfully happy.

Suzannah’s only worry is Jamie’s mysterious past, which he refuses to talk about.

However, when Suzannah suddenly inherits a flat off Portobello Road, everything changes.

Whilst she is eager to reconnect with her happy childhood roaming the market before her father made his money, Jamie loathes Notting Hill.

The move quickly triggers a change in their relationships and it’s not long before the arguments start.

Then one morning, after a particularly bad row, Jamie goes to work and doesn’t return.

Suzannah thinks he’s sulking, but when he still hasn’t returned after several days, she fears something’s happened to him.

His colleagues are unconcerned because his job as a sales rep often takes him off the radar, but Suzannah becomes increasingly frantic.

When she finds a scrap of paper in his jacket pocket with a name and address in North Devon, she is eager to investigate.

What she discovers when she goes there brings her world crashing down.

After a visit from a mysterious woman, who brings even more life-changing revelations, she realises that in order to move on she must find her missing husband and discover the truth about him once and for all.

If Jamie is not what he claims to be then neither is her beloved Notting Hill, beneath whose perfection beats a dark and rotting heart that is finally exposed over a horrific Carnival weekend.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Lost Ones by Vena Cork is a dark psychological thriller. The story left me guessing as well as hanging onto the edge of my seat. I didn’t know what to expect. I thought the main male character was just a con man…until he disappeared. Then, my curiosity got to me. I turned the pages in haste to figure it all out…then, Vena Cork pulled a surprise on me. Never would have guessed…maybe true love does exist. A love that drags people together and left them so emotionally wrapped up that when their loved one disappeared, it’s heartbreaking…thoughts like he lied and conned me felt like real answers to what happened. But when I saw one thing, it turned into a whole different and deadly situation. A former investigative journalist falls helplessly for a man. Not just any man but one with a dark hidden past and one whose looks can melt any woman, on the spot. Soon, their love develops to a boiling point and then cuts off…but real love doesn’t just end…it lasts even when they think it has ended…The Lost Ones by Vena Cork is highly engaging and sucked me straight into the book. The plot was fast-paced. Vena Cork’s writing is phenomenal. I was taken on a power yet emotional journey unlike any other. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers everywhere.

Review: Sex and “Mine Alone”

Synopsis:

Blonde, beautiful, and sexually confident, Carla Tersen revels in her sexual freedom. She enjoys nothing more than picking up married men to amaze them with her sexual prowess. But when Dr. Kenneth Grant, handsome and rich, offers her an opportunity to trade her sexual freedom for a monogamous life of luxury, Carla agrees, despite the cost of giving up what makes her happy.

Sandra, Carla’s younger sister, is unlike Carla. Sandra is a true romantic. However, the target of her secret affection is none other than her brother-in-law, Kenneth. But Sandra, a successful investment banker, would never dream of seducing a married man—much less her sister’s husband—until a fateful business trip to Mexico City changes everything.

Sex and “Mine Alone” is a dark examination of a couple’s unspoken yet most sacred pact—For sex, you are mine alone—the damage the covenant can cause to a marriage or a relationship, and what happens when Carla dares to confront the mine alone barrier.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review:

Sex and “Mine Alone” by Ari Nemsira is a journey readers won’t forgot. It explores an intimacy that breaks boundaries. A sister-in-law wanting her sister’s husband. A husband who just happens to be a wealthy doctor. He is attracted to the other sister. He and his wife have a relationship where they can be with anyone and still be married. However, the husband still wants his wife. But she realizes that what her husband needs from her is something that she can’t give to him…but her sister can. She releases her hold on her husband and allows him to go be with her sister. A sister who loves the husband in a way that the husband desparately needs from his wife. Sex and “Mine Alone” explores sex, boundaries, self-discovery and love. I found it quite entertaining. Readers will enjoy reading every page just as much as I did. Overall, I recommend the book to readers.

Review: Sins and Lovers

 

Synopsis:

Jeannie’s marriage is slipping away as fast as her friend Batya’s sanity, and she can’t seem to put on the brakes.

Jeannie, a social worker at a psychiatric hospital, considers her friendship with Batya problematic but can’t desert her. Meanwhile, Jeannie’s coworker, the zany psychiatrist Jack, becomes Batya’s secret lover, and Batya and Jack take on a crusade against the “shady side of psychiatry.”

Their battle clashes with hospital administration—an administration Jeannie’s rich husband and father support through managed funds she doesn’t quite understand.

Family ties to the managerial elite and secrets Jeannie isn’t privy to lead to scrutiny when authorities start investigating issues at the hospital. An outside inquiry turns up questions about drug approval, the hospital’s relationship with pharmaceutical companies, and its resistance to any corporation dealing with marijuana research. When everything goes wrong, Batya suffers a complete mental breakdown, and a body turns up in the sea next to the hospital.

What other secrets lie in the psychiatric institution? Author Michael Benjamin, a retired Israeli psychologist, questions his profession in Sins and Lovers, a morality play hidden in the guise of a murder mystery.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Sins and Lovers by Michael I. Benjamin is a murder mystery readers don’t want to miss. Inside, readers will find enough danger, intrigue, and mystery to keep them hooked. Two parents being taken by cops and questioned. A marriage on the verge of collapsing,secrets at a psychiatric hospital, and two friends who create more questions than answers. This novel is filled with an intensity that grabs readers instantly. The plot is faced-paced. A well-written tale that keeps readers guessing and hanging on the edge of their seats. The mystery captured me in whole. I didn’t know what to expect. I loved the characters. Their relationships were believable. The scenes created realistic pressures and danger. Sins and Lovers is a definite must read for readers everywhere. Michael I. Benjamin’s writing is masterfully woven in an entertaining way…that left me satisfied. This was his first novel I have read. I enjoyed reading it. Overall, I would recommend this murder tale to all.

Review: All Summer Long

 

Synopsis:

All Summer Long follows one charming New York couple – prominent interior designer Olivia Ritchie and her husband Nicholas Seymour, an English professor and true southern gentleman.  They are seemingly polar opposites, yet magnetically drawn together and in love for more than fourteen years.

As they prepare to relocate to Charleston, S.C., Olivia, the ultimate New Yorker, has reservations about the promise she made to retire in the Lowcountry, where Nick wants to return home and lead a more peaceful life.  They are moving north to south, fast pace versus slow pace and downsizing.  Nick is ecstatic.  Olivia is not.   She can’t let Nick know that their finances are not what he thought.   Her client list is evaporating, their monetary reserves are dwindling and maybe that house she picked out on Sullivans Island needs too much work.  Thank God, for her assistant, Roni Larini, her right (and sometimes left) hand.

As they find themselves pondering the next step of their lives, Olivia and Nick travel with her billionaire clients and their friends and are swept up into the world of the ultra-rich and explore the globe with a cast of zany eccentrics over one tumultuous, hot summer. All as Olivia grapples with what lies ahead for her and Nick.

This is a story of how plans evolve and lives change in unexpected ways, how even those who have everything are still looking for something more.  Even the most successful people can often struggle to keep things together.  All Summer Long asks the ultimate question: can money buy happiness?  From Sullivans Island to Necker Island to Nantucket to the beaches of Southern Spain, we’ll come to recognize the many faces of true love, love that deepens and endures but only because one woman makes a tremendous leap of faith. And that leap changes everything.

Rating: 4 stars

Review:

All Summer Long by Dorothea Benton Frank is a truly a thoughtful novel. One that takes readers on a journey of finding what they really want and need in life. Marriage is not easy but it takes courage, sacrifices, and love. A woman and her husband get to take a vacation and it’s on this vacation she gets to think about everything. Maybe her marriage is okay and will survive no matter what is happening with her work and career. Marriage, after all, is for better or worse, rich or poor. All Summer Long is an exploration and deep thinking that leaves readers wondering what will happen next. Dorothea Benton Frank portrays the life of a wife and husband beautifully in this tale. I found the beginning a bit slow for my taste but once I moved past that…the plot was steady. Overall, I enjoyed the sneak peek into these characters lives and recommend it to all.

 

Review: Who’s Between the Sheets

 

Synopsis:

What’s done in the dark will always be brought to the light. Some secrets can never be kept hidden.

Hazel and Jamal have been together for six years and are just now getting married. Just after the wedding Hazel soon starts regretting saying the words I Do. Hazel eventually begins to realize that Jamal isn’t the perfect husband that she thought she married.

Jamal has never really been faithful to Hazel but marries her anyway. He has been cheating on her for over two years. He loves Hazel but Hazel doesn’t know how to sexually satisfy him, which puts Jamal in a complicated situation.

Xavier has been with Jet for four years and they have one daughter together. Jet wants her freedom to drink and party all night without hearing Xavier breathing down her neck. Xavier wants Jet to be responsible and stay out the clubs, but she isn’t hearing any of that. Jet soon starts sleeping with someone else and when Xavier finds out Jets secret all hell breaks loose, he dismisses her and decides to raise their daughter on his own.

Who’s between the sheets tells a story of different couples who just aren’t satisfied with their partners sexually. You will be amazed when you find out WHO IS actually BETWEEN THE SHEETS.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Who’s Between the Sheets by Shanice B. is definitely one urban romance that readers don’t want to miss. Shanice B.’s talent continues to shine on with every novel that she writes. I can’t believe how realistic her characters are. The emotional journey is powerful and believable. It’s easy to lose oneself within each character’s shoes. Understanding and sympathy can be felt for some female and one male character. Marriage life is full of its ups and downs…especially for characters like Hazel. Her husband has been cheating on her for two years with a stripper. The stripper is pregnant and then ends up losing the baby. But that doesn’t stop the stripper from destroying what’s left of Hazel’s marriage. The marriage is barely hanging on by a thread and only hanging on due to her recent discovery of being pregnant with her cheating husband’s baby. As soon as the stripper comes by with her plan to destroy…Hazel gives up and her husband, Jamal, finds that marriage is just not what he wants anymore. His brother is fed up with the way he treated his wife Hazel but knows that he can’t his brother. Then there’s Jamal’s brother is having relationship issues with his girl. Finds out that she’s been sleeping with another woman. On top of all that, she’s been an irresponsible mother. But after his woman’s lover secret comes out…Jamal’s woman comes back to him. Working on being a better mother and girlfriend to Jamal…but only time will tell if everything will work out for Jamal and his woman. Drama is tenfold in this exciting tale. I was surprised by all the crazy stuff going on that Shanice B. was able to keep things going straight…it was easy and fast to read. I felt like I was watching everything happen as it happened. Incredible…steamy, and contains a lot of adult content…but definitely a must read. Who’s Between the Sheets will keep readers guessing…

 

Review: Mocha & The Billionaire’s Son 2

 

Synopsis:

The fast paced BWWM novel with a twist is back. Mocha and Billy have professed their love to each other in holy matrimony. As they begin their journey as husband and wife, they face the everyday trials associated with being newlyweds. Can their love overcome and sustain them through the honeymoon stage and beyond?

Crazy Amy is still off her meds and wreaking havoc wherever and however she pleases. When she is on the loose, it’s wise to keep your husbands closer than ever before. Hollywood meets psychopath is bound to send someone over the edge.

Erin is still dealing with the effects of Amy’s torture and being held, hostage. Putting her life back on track is proving to be more difficult than expected with a new threat to her life and future happiness. Will Charles be able to protect her from the past life that she once loved?

As these lives intertwine and stretch from Houston to Hollywood, take a front row seat to find out whose relationship is as solid as a rock and whose will crumble under pressure.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Mocha & The Billionaire’s Son II by Regina Swanson is spicy, intense, and full of drama. Inside this exciting new novel, we find that Mocha and Billy are now a married couple. They experience their first disagreement. Then there’s Billy’s dad who doesn’t approve of Mocha and won’t accept her as his daughter-in-law. Billy’s mom, Nancy, was just caught having sex with her lover, in Billy’s basement. Mocha finds out that her husband is ticked off with his mom for sleeping with a man other than his father. But then there’s Billy’s father who has slept with almost every one of his female employees…Also, the crazy killer is still on the loose. No one knows where she went. Erin is still afraid that the killer will come after her for not going with the killer’s plans. Erin is also, trying to make amends for what she has done wrong…especially to Mocha and Billy. Mocha won’t accept Amy’s apology. Mocha is still feeling the after effects of Erin’s ill intentions. But that’s not all…there is a loving man in Erin’s life. What happens to each of these characters is exciting to follow as the addictive and heated plot continues to unfold. Mocha & The Billionaire’s Son II is a highly entertaining contemporary romance that will keep readers turning the pages. Regina Swanson has the raw talent for creating plotlines that drag readers deep into her fictional worlds and for creating characters, that are easy to connect with on every level. Overall, I highly recommend this hot, sexy, and juicy tale to all.

Review: Damaged

 

Synopsis:

One boy. One lawyer. One chance for justice.

Ten-year-old Patrick O’Brien is a natural target at school. Shy, dyslexic, and small for his age, he tries to hide his first-grade reading level from everyone: from his classmates, from the grandfather who cares for him, and from the teachers who are supposed to help him. But the real trouble begins when Patrick is accused of attacking a school aide. The aide promptly quits and sues the boy, his family, and the school district. Patrick’s grandfather turns to the law firm of Rosato & DiNunzio for help and Mary DiNunzio is, on the case. Soon Mary becomes Patrick’s true champion and his only hope for security and justice. But there is more to the story than meets the eye and Patrick might be more troubled than he seems. With twists at every turn and secrets about the family coming to light, Mary DiNunzio might have found the case that can make her a true protector, or break her heart…

With Lisa Scottoline’s trademark emotional depth and fast-paced action, Damaged will have readers riveted to the last page as they root for the beloved characters and their fight for justice.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Lisa Scottoline has done it again! She has once more brought readers an intriguing legal thriller that leaves readers on the edge of their seats. I liked that the characters are a variety and how a child with learning disabilities is brought into the light. Just because someone is different doesn’t make them the enemy. Here, readers are taken on a deep journey that’s not just vividly physical but emotional as well. Anything that involves that law can be messy and super stressful. What really happened at a school shooting is a mystery that Mary DiNunzio will figure out…and hopefully come out of it with no worries. A case that seems to be tough gets harder as she digs through the evidence…Damaged is exactly what will happen if Mary isn’t careful.

Inside Damaged, readers are brought a fast-paced action thriller that will keep them turning the pages. A successful lawyer takes a case involving a young boy with dyslexia being accused of a school shooting. Mary NiNunzio works on proving the boy’s innocence. However, what she never expected was to fall in love with the young boy. Mary is also balancing her love life that might just hold a marriage in her future. Is it possible to have everything in life or will Mary lose what she has worked hard for? Lisa Scottoline’s novel is deeply satisfying. Every page is bone deep in suspense. Plus, there is a lot riding on the young boy, Patrick. The why’s and who would want to frame a kid is one that will perk up readers’ interest as the plot continues to roll. Abuse, family, and love are strong themes within this exciting tale.  What I really enjoyed was how one smart woman was brave and bold enough to face the challenges ahead and know what could possibly happen by committing herself to the case at hand. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this masterfully woven story. I would highly recommend Damaged to readers everywhere.

 

 

 

 

Review: Only in Naples

 

Synopsis:

Full of lighthearted humor, sumptuous food, the wisdom of an Italian mother-in-law, and all the atmosphere of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels, this warm and witty memoir follows American-born Katherine Wilson on her adventures abroad. Thanks to a surprising romance—and a spirited woman who teaches her to laugh, to seize joy, and to love—a three-month rite of passage in Naples turns into a permanent embrace of this boisterous city on the Mediterranean.

When I saw the sea at Gaeta, I knew that Naples was near and I was coming home.

“There is a chaotic, vibrant energy about Naples that forces you to let go and give in,” writes Katherine, who arrives in the city to intern at the United States Consulate. One evening, she meets handsome, studious Salvatore and finds herself immediately enveloped by his elegant mother, Raffaella, and the rest of the Avallone family. From that moment, Katherine’s education begins: Never eat the crust of a pizza first, always stand up and fight for yourself and your loved ones, and consider mealtimes sacred—food must be prepared fresh and consumed in compagnia.

Immersed in Neapolitan culture, traditions, and cuisine, slowly and unexpectedly falling for Salvatore, and longing for Raffaella’s company and guidance, Katherine discovers how to prepare meals that sing, from hearty, thick ragù to comforting rigatoni alla Genovese to pasta al forno, a casserole chock-full of bacon, béchamel, and no fewer than four kinds of cheeses. The secret to succulent, tender octopus? Beat it with a hammer. While Katherine is used to large American kitchens with islands and barstools, she understands the beauty of small, tight Italian ones, where it’s easy to offer a taste from a wooden spoon.

Through courtship, culture clashes, Sunday services, marriage, and motherhood (in Naples, a pregnancy craving must always be satisfied!), Katherine comes to appreciate carnale, the quintessentially Neapolitan sense of comfort and confidence in one’s own skin. Raffaella and her famiglia are also experts at sdrammatizzare, knowing how to suck the tragedy from something and spit it out with a great big smile. Part travel tale, part love letter, Only in Naples is a sumptuous story that is a feast for the senses. Goethe said, “See Naples and die.” But Katherine Wilson saw Naples and started to live.

Rating: 4 stars

Review:

Only in Naples by Katherine Wilson is a surprising memoir that took me on a fabulous journey to Naples, Italy. There I followed a young woman who has just graduated and decided to intern in a foreign country like her parents did. This read was full of adventure and unexpected moments. Like when crumbs from the main character’s piazza fell, into her lap and the next moment a young woman sitting next to her reaches down by her crotch area…was like omg….what?! Then there was the car ride with the wind howling loud and she mentions marriage to a Neopolitan man like this: marriage…us? The answer was fine. Okay fine. Crazy, exciting, and definitely a memorable ride as readers like myself follow the American woman’s experiences living in Italy. The cultural, food, and language kept me turning the pages. Little by little I was learning words here and there in the Italian language. Not only was Only in Naples an entertaining read but also an educational one too. I loved reading this title that was brilliantly written by Katherine Wilson. Overall, I highly recommend this to readers everywhere.

 

Review: The Body in the Piazza

 

Synopsis:

Faith Fairchild and her husband are celebrating a big anniversary with a trip to Italy, filled with exquisite indulgences—the art, the Chianti, the food, the Ferragamos! After a weekend in Rome, they’ll travel to Tuscany, where Faith’s former assistant Francesca has opened a cooking school.

But, along with pecorino, pannacotta, and prosecco, it looks like murder and mayhem are also on the menu! On their fist night in the Eternal City, the Fairchilds stumble upon a dying man in the Piazza Farnese. Mysterious characters from Rome resurface in Tuscany. And somebody is intent on sabotaging Francesca’s new business. It’s up to Faith to put everything right—and still whip up a mean Spaghetti a la Foriana, of course!

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Body in the Piazza by Katherine Hall Paige is an exciting adventure that took me traveling to one of my most favorite cities…Rome. A woman and her husband get the chance to travel to Italy for their anniversary. While there, a friend of theirs will be teaching classes on cooking. What should have been just a peaceful yet busy fun-filled romantic time for the couple soon turns into a deadly intense situation from nowhere… Inside this brilliantly told novel, readers will find murder, assassination, kidnapping and a mystery full of suspense. Can Faith Fairchild save her husband from a situation that will require the utmost courage and planning or will Faith loose her husband and let the assassin get away with it all?  Food, adventure, and a great way to travel from home. Katherine Hall Paige writes superb mystery novels that will keep readers turning the pages and on the edge of their seats. I found myself intrigued and completely plunged within the dangerous journey ahead. Overall, I highly recommend this well-written and well-developed novel to readers everywhere. The Body in the Piazza is definitely a must read for all.

 

Review: Deceived

 

Synopsis:

Stony Jackson is a man easy on the eyes and a total charmer, he’s well accustomed to having his choice of women with a simple flash of his million-dollar smile. Even after settling down with the one tryst that could make his toes curl, he is not completely fulfilled. It’s not until Stony is reunited with the woman he failed to conquer, that he realizes he wants to have his cake and eat it too. A chance meeting brought her back into his life and he staked his claim on her for keeps, but will it last if she finds out about the secrets he is working so hard to keep hidden?

Addison Short is hot on the path to becoming the top attorney in the state when she stumbles upon the man of her dreams. A face from her past, this man proves to be a total package. Their marital bliss is in full swing, yet Addison finds herself unfulfilled with her motherly duties. Will a trip to New York help rekindle her passion or will her world be turned upside down?

Adrian Jordan is living the fairy tale life that most people can only dream of. With a college-sweetheart marriage, a pampered, lavish life, and a man that offers good looks, charm, wealth, and serious pipe-laying, Adrian lives every day in orgasmic bliss until a secret bond with a long-forgotten acquaintance threatens to expose skeletons long locked away.

This sizzling page-turner places all three lives on a collision course as they’re thrown into the flames of deceit, betrayal, and turmoil–will they escape or become fatalities of love?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Deceived: One Man Two Lives by Sydni Anderson is full of urban drama, romance, and betrayal.  One man is secretly living two separate lives with two women who are completely clueless of the situation…however, both knew each other from college. It has gotten to the point that both women suspect that their man is cheating…and one night’s events will almost blow his cover and set the ball rolling for his destruction. One woman was making her way to the top of her career when she had met her husband. They have a daughter but she wants more…she wants back in her job field. She thought her husband cheated on her and when she went to discover the truth…she ended up arrested. Addi has met a new man who heats her from outside and within…but she doesn’t want to cheat on her husband. Then there’s Adri who is also with Addi’s husband. She thinks their man has cheated but she settled for his lies that he’s not. But as the juicy intense plot unfolds…can one man hold his two lives together or risk losing both? Addi is at a crossroads in her life and her best friend has hooked up with the hot policeman that arrested Addi. Where fate has taken these characters is left for readers to discover on their own. I loved reading this title from Sydni Anderson. Her characters are believable and the scenes are smoking hot. Overall, I highly recommend this tale to readers everywhere.

 

 

Review: Love Me If You Can 2

 

Synopsis:

Ethan thought that Kayla was down for him until he finds himself locked up and serving 30 days in the county jail. After serving his thirty day sentence, Ethan is released and revenge is on his mind. Kayla has moved on and has decided to work things out with her baby daddy A.J.

Ethan starts following Kayla and A.J and begins to play both of them against one another. Ethan doesn’t plan on Kayla ever having a happily ever after with A.J.

Keandria is devastated when she learns Ethan has been released from jail. She’s fallen in love with James and prays that Ethan stays away from her and their son. But Ethan has other plans. Keandria soon realizes that Ethan wants his family back and is willing to do whatever he can to work things out with her. Who will she choose James or Ethan? Will she forgive Ethan for being abusive and cheating on her?

Jasmine has stepped back into the picture and throws everyone for a curve ball. She wants what she wants and is making it her business to expose everyone’s secrets. She has a lot of anger directed towards Ethan and Keandria and she doesn’t plan on stopping until everything that has been done in the dark comes to light.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Love Me If You Can 2 by Shanice B. is wound up too tight in this urban drama that it’s hard to resist. The plot thickens to a boiling point…who will survive and who doesn’t, keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they race through this exciting tale. I simply can’t get enough of these fabulous characters. Their sassy strong personalities and heated love debates and love triangles keep me guessing. I want Keandria to be with a man that make her happy but now it seems that her new man, as well as her old one, have both sunk low in handling things with her. Who she picks to keep on living with is a question that drives readers further into the plot. Then there’s an unexpected twist with Jasmine wanting to wreck havoc on everybody’s life that has the power to flip the entire plot over and make it interesting…Love Me If You Can 2 is the craziest yet most intense urban drama romance that I have ever read. I absolutely loved reading this new title by Shanice B. Her writing is brilliant and realistic. Overall, I highly recommend this new title to readers everywhere.

 

Review: Love Me If You Can

 

Synopsis:

Some people chase love, some people chase money, while others chase both. Love and money can bring out the best and worst in people.

Keandria is a single mother who is working as an escort to make ends meet. She has just left her abusive baby daddy and is doing her best to make it on her own. Drama soon escalates and turns deadly when her baby daddy makes it clear that he will not help her with their child and would rather spend his money entertaining his new chick, Kayla. Keandria soon finds comfort from one of her clients which complicate matters. Keandria finds herself feeling emotions that she hasn’t felt in years, but soon wonders are they all in vain. Will the love prevail or will past betrayal and hurt destroy her future?

Michele is Keandria best friend and works as a stripper at Choppers night club. When Michele meets Jason one night at the club, things soon start to change. Jason starts to catch feelings and decides that if they are going to be official, she has to stop stripping and find another job. Michele doesn’t want to stop stripping, but she doesn’t want to lose Jason either. Michele will have to decide what she loves the most her money or Jason.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Love Me If You Can by Shanice B. is  hot, sexy, and seductive. The writing takes readers deep into the drama high story. This urban romance is intense…it starts off with a woman who deals with her annoying baby daddy that doesn’t know when to quit. She works her butt off, at an adult center so that she can pull off enough money to take care of her and her child. There is plenty of trouble between parents and the threat of child visitation rights.  A woman fighting to provide for her child finds out that things between her parents are just as bad as her own issues. Then there is her friend who also works as a stripper. She too has men issues. Men screwing other women when they already have a woman who wants them. I rooted for the two women as they kicked their men’s butt out to the curb. The future looks bumpy but it might just be worth fighting for…Keandria has a new man in her life helping her with the custody battle and Michele has a man that wants her but she has to quit her stripper job…can these ladies find the happiness they both deserve or will their battles take everything away? Love Me If You Can by Shanice B. is absolutely a must read for all. I couldn’t get enough of these tough female characters and their men issues. Romance is in the air and drama is so intense that it’s addictive like a drug. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers everywhere.

 

 

Review: Charmed by the Best 2

 

Synopsis:

You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice that you have. Chayne knows this all too well. Being pregnant is supposed to be a happy time, but being pregnant and alone is an entirely different story.

Add to the mix the uncertainty of who fathered her child and you can see why nine months of pregnancy would put Chayne on an emotional see-saw. Although Chayne finds the strength to get through her predicament and welcomes her bundle of joy into the world, she realizes that she needs and wants to know who her child’s father is. Chayne knows who she wants to be the father of her child but does he want to take on the responsibility of a ready-made family?

The highs and lows of being caught in the ultimate love triangle are kicked into high gear, and the drama is heating up. Buckle up and hold on tight as you embark on Chayne’s roller coaster ride of life.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Charmed by the Best 2 by J. Shanay is amazing! Her novel is just as hot and intense as the previous book. The set of characters has once again been brought together waiting for news that may decide their fates once again. Having a baby and being stuck in love with a past lover may set Chayne on a new adventure. The drama is juicy and addictive. As with the previous book, I still didn’t know what to expect nor when.  Charmed by the Best 2 is just that. Chayne has been charmed by the best…Devon. Devon still loves Chayne…his first love.  Sterling hopes that if the baby is his that he and Chayne can be a unit…but it all depends on the results and where Chayne’s heart truly lies.

Charmed by the Best 2 is an urban fiction drama that instantly pulled me into its depth and kept me there like a prisoner. The writing is well done and the characters are magnificently well-developed. J. Shanay continued to impress me as her story unfolded. The excitement and thrilling adventures in this urban romance led to me falling for the characters especially for Chayne and Devon. Life can be bumpy but it can also be smooth too. Overall, I highly recommend this, fast-paced action novel to readers everywhere. I promise you will be charmed by the best.

 

Review: A Thuggish, Ruggish Love 3

 

Synopsis:

How far would you go to protect the one you love? Can you be that Ride or Die Chick?

When Blaze is faced with a lengthy prison sentence, Aleah is given the opportunity to become his savior. With an indecent proposal on the table that can be used to set Blaze free, will Aleah put aside her values and morals so that they can be reunited?

Xavier has Mackie on the brain! She was just that good. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep her in his life, including going against doctors’ orders. But this time, will it cost him more than just his time and money. With his body weak and frail, will he put his trust into someone who doesn’t have his best interest at heart?

Mackie has the weight of the world resting on her shoulders. On the run from three different law enforcement agencies and with Blaze and Diesel not easily accessible, she has to decide if life is worth living. As she is pushed to the limit, can she find the strength needed to overcome the possibility of losing everything that she holds near and dear to her heart?

Keya has found the love of her life in Khalil. He’s just what she needed to bring peace to her chaotic life. With Xavier in the hospital and Aleah consumed with Blaze, she learns to stand on her own. Trying to find a balance between loving Khalil and taking care of Xavier stretches her beyond her limits. Soon she will have to choose between love and happiness or putting family first.

Every woman needs a Blaze and every man needs an Aleah. Let A Thuggish Ruggish Love show you why.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

A Thuggish, Ruggish Love 3 by Regina Swanson is superb. Yes, it contains adult content. The sex is steamy hot and everywhere. The attraction among the characters is enough to heat any night. There’s abuse, drama, and romance. The suspense of what is and will happen to Blaze, Xavier, Mackie, and Aleah is stunning. I never knew what to expect. The romance between couples is high and messy. Emotions, as well as hearts, are on the line. Decisions will have to be made. Once again, I found myself deeply lured within Regina Swanson’s brilliant series. A Thuggish, Ruggish Love 3 is perfect. It realistically portrays the urban street life and the hostility between law enforcement and the thugs. Life isn’t all about happily ever afters and starting a family. It’s about finding yourself, being true to yourself and finding a way to survive what one has been dealt with…I enjoyed following the set of interesting characters as well as news ones. The story comes to life with this writer’s talent on every page. Overall, I highly recommend this latest novel by Regina Swanson.

Review: A Thuggish, Ruggish Love 2

 

Synopsis:

“For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” – Luke 8:17, NIV

When Mackie, Xavier, Blaze and Aleah all met up in the same place at the same time it was explosive. Nobody knew how their lives were intertwined.
The result left Xavier fighting for his life.

With Xavier unconscious and not able to point his finger at the shooter, detectives begin their investigation into who shot him?

Aleah is falling in love fast and hard. She’s never been a part of anything close to resembling street life but for a chance at love she’s willing to ride or die for Blaze.
Mackie has been thrown for a loop with Xavier being shot. She seeks the comfort of her best friend since childhood as she tries to come to turns with what she’s done.
Diesel has always been team Mackie. He wants to carry her away from the only life that she has ever known. With several obstacles in their way, will they be able to avoid the demons that are chasing them?

Blaze has spent his entire life protecting his little sister. As Mackie’s sins are trying to catch up with her, he continues to put his life on the line to keep her safe. But with the Feds hot on his tail, he must decide if he is willing to continue to put Mackie first or accept a life that includes being locked up.

Keya’s stress level is through the roof. When she finds out Aleah’s role in Xavier being shot, she comes unglued. Their sisterly bond is stretched to the point of popping.
As the anticipation builds surrounding these lives, find out if Xavier is given a lease on life; if Blaze and Aleah can build a life together; if Mackie is able to leave the game behind; and if Keya can find it in her heart to forgive.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

A Thuggish, Ruggish Love 2 by Regina Swanson has just got hotter and more intense than one before it. Wow…the drama and romance heat up inside this new novel. The writing continues to impress me as it lures me deep into four lives that just keep getting more complicated. Complicated, sexy, and emotional…that’s A Thuggish, Ruggish Love 2 by Regina Swanson. The suspense from the last novel’s ending expands into this title and it’s impressive. The old and new issues get tangled and loyalties blur. Where will Keya, Xavier,  Aleah, Mackie and her brother Blaze end up…then there’s a new character who gets more attention…and Keya might just find a bit of happiness for once. The big questions that keep readers on the edge of their seats are whether or not siblings will stick together or go with what finally makes them happy.

A man is left hospitalized and his sister, new lover, and wife are worried if he’ll make it out fine. Then there’s his sister who works hard at her job and trying to help her brother and his wife with their issues. Blaze doesn’t want the thug life but his sister loves it and now it’s coming back to bite them both in the ass…only thing is Blaze willing to go to the lengths to protect his sister from what he tried telling her not to do or will he do what he needs to do to be happy? Aleah is in a rut. Her husband went from a loving great man to very abusive faster than she could ever imagine. He stops with abuse but ignores her all the time and then finally goes after another woman. A woman that is highly dangerous…and living a dark lifestyle that’s about to crumble….a simple fight ensues and all of them are involved in some way or another. Will they survive or fall trying? A Thuggish, Ruggish  Love 2 is steamy, fast-paced, and intriguing. Regina Swanson doesn’t disappoint. Her characters have once again, dragged me deep into the center of their lives. Their world became my own…Overall, I highly recommend this urban street romance to all.