Reprise Review: Courting Love by Mardeene

 Genre: Contemporary Romance

Description:

“In this Sexy Boomer TRIPLE Romance, three sisters meet at a tennis resort in Florida for a birthday reunion which climaxes like no other. Madison and Pamela plot to make this a wonderful celebration for sister, Jenny, who still grieves the death of her husband and dreads her big 50th birthday.

Their plan to make her happy? Find her a man! Which is their idea, not hers. Trouble already. More trouble—three game-changers coming on to the court who heat up the sets with more than their 130-mile-per-hour serves: the fascinating Croatian Grand Slam champion who owns the resort; the young blond ridiculously handsome All-American coach; the charming Latino camp groupie with heart but suspected of being a gigolo. When romance courts them, the sisters end up playing more love matches off the court than on—culminating in a more memorable birthday than they could have even imagined.”

Author:

“Mardeene has worked in the publishing and film industries for over 32 years as a photojournalist, scriptwriter, nonfiction book author, literary manager and producer of events for writers in Northern California’s Silicon Valley, Hollywood, Atlanta, and Brazil.

She's launching her debut fiction with her collection of short erotic romances as a celebration of life after a near death experience and an affirmation of living and loving full out at any age! Read a free story on her website.”

Appraisal:

Courting Love is a smartly told, steamy novelette. The three sisters; Madison, Pamela, and Jenny are all strong, smart, successful women with different lifestyles. Madison, the oldest sister, is probably the most competitive. She makes a startling declaration to her sisters, at the beginning of their get-away to the tennis camp resort, which she soon regrets. However, she stands firm in her commitment to herself.

The plot is character driven and readers are given points-of-view from each sister, which shows their different personalities perfectly. I enjoy well-written and developed characters which added depth to the entire story. This is a fun sexy romp and all three sisters come away with a change of heart. I would highly recommend this novelette for a fun afternoon, evening, or vacation read.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Courting Love is a novelette which is more sweet, sexy, and less sexually explicit than Mardeene’s other short erotic romances.

Original review published February 27, 2017.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant proofing errors.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ? wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 10-11,000 words

Reprise Review: Capturing Gabriel by Lyn Horner

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense/World Mythology/Magical Realism

Description:

“What’s a handsome Colombian psychic with super-hero-power to do with a spirited Navajo beauty who invades his territory? Why, kidnap her of course.

Chopper pilot Josie Tseda served in Afghanistan, extracting soldiers from deadly situations. She knows how to take care of herself. But when she vows to find Gabriel Valdez, a Guardian of Danu, and deliver him to a gathering of the Council of Guardians, she may have bitten off more than she can chew.

Locating Gabriel in the mountains of Colombia is hard enough. Josie didn’t count on ending up his prisoner – or on falling for him.

Gabriel is battling Colombian drug traffickers and seeking revenge against the man who murdered his mother. He’s not looking for romance and doesn’t trust the feisty American female who wants to fly him off to the U.S. The message she conveys directing him to return with her, supposedly coming from the High Guardian, may be a lie to ensnare him and steal the precious scroll he guards.

Yet, he can’t help wanting her. Will he allow her to capture his heart or will the secret power he wields ultimately drive her away?”

Author:

“Lyn Horner is a baby boomer born in San Francisco, California, raised in Minnesota and now residing in Texas with her husband and an ever-changing band of cantankerous, beloved cats. Trained in the visual arts, Lyn first worked as a fashion illustrator in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and later as an art instructor for Art Instruction Schools… After quitting work to raise her children, she took up writing to save her sanity. This hobby quickly morphed into an obsession with historical research and plot building.”

Learn more about Ms. Horner by visiting her website or follow her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

Josie Tseda is totally out of her element on this mission to collect Gabriel Valdez from the midst of the Colombian mountains. Gabriel is busy fighting his own war in hostile territory and has no reason to believe Josie’s far-fetched tale of murder and intrigue. The action and tension start early in this story. Josie must learn to change her tactics and go along with Gabriel for her own safety; in the process she is able to learn more about the man who holds her captive. As her trust grows, Gabriel lets his guard down a little at a time.

As their mutual respect increases so does the passion neither one of them can deny. Showing that vulnerability, though, is another story for both of them. They are both warriors, so getting them to fight for a kindred cause at the same time is the biggest problem. Being a guardian of an ancient scroll complicates Gabriel’s quest to avenge his mother’s death against the local drug cartel. He is an honorable man and believes in both causes.

This book has it all; adventure, violence, sexual tension, magic, and a heart-rending family history to hold it all together. I think Gabriel is my favorite character so far, and it makes my heart ache for him at the same time for the burden he has to carry. What more could a reader ask for?

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Capturing Gabriel is book three in Lyn Horner’s Romancing the Guardians series, following Rescuing Lara and Decoding Michaela. I would recommend reading this series in order. This book does contain sexual situations that may offend some.

Original review posted September 2, 2016

Format/Typo Issues:

I found no significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 100-105,000 words

Reprise Review: Two Hearts in Winter by Donna Fasano

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Description:

“Loss and betrayal have caused Heather Phillips to give up on love. She’s thrown herself into running The Lonely Loon, her Bed and Breakfast located on the boardwalk of Ocean City, Maryland. The 'off season' in this tourist town is usually a time of rest and reflection for her; however, DB Atwell, a famous author, arrives at The Loon for the winter to finish his long-overdue novel. Daniel, too, has faced grief, and tragedy continues to haunt him. Once Heather and Daniel meet, their lives will never be the same.”

Author:

“USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR DONNA FASANO is a three-time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, a Golden Heart finalist, and a two-time winner of Best Romance of the Year given by BigAl's Books & Pals Review Blog. Her books have sold 4 million copies worldwide and have been published in two dozen languages. Her novels have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #5.”

Learn more about Ms. Fasano at her website, In All Directions, and feel free to follow her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

You can always count on Ms. Fasano to write about a topic that many women struggle with and do it with finesse. Her characters are also always strong but flawed. How she is able to shine a light on these flaws and allow us to follow their journey to completeness or happiness as they gain insight to tackle their problems head on is one of Ms. Fasano’s greatest strengths.

In this second book of Ms. Fasano’s Ocean City Boardwalk series we meet Heather Phillips, the owner and operator of The Lonely Loon Bed and Breakfast. She seems to have her life on track after suffering through a devastating break-up with a fiancé years ago over a decision she made for her own wellbeing. She’s now happy, prosperous, and has good friends she can count on. Her life would be almost perfect if it wasn’t for this cranky author, DB Atwell, who has rented the entire Bed and Breakfast for the whole winter so he can have peace and quiet to finish his next best seller. Heather has been walking on egg shells for over a month now and the quiet is driving her nuts. Heather is a social person who loves getting to know her guests, which is one reason her B&B is such a success, and it is Christmas Eve.

It turns out Daniel is dealing with more than his next novel and he is hiding from the paparazzi. I love the way Ms. Fasano is able to unfold her characters through realistic dialogue, it gives the reader a genuine sense of who they are. Daniel’s story is heartbreaking and gut-wrenching as he tries to navigate international politics while trying keep his sanity. When Heather begins to learn his story a compassion is awakened in her that she thought she had safely buried and she is forced to confront her past decision in a way she never imagined. I was able to feel her emotional turmoil as if it was my own.

The plot moves at a steady pace, but never too slowly, because there is a lot going on. We also get to revisit and learn more about people and events from her earlier works in this series. While it is not necessary to have read the first book of this series, Following His Heart or the related novella, An Almost Perfect Christmas to enjoy these parts of this story, I have to say that you are missing out on a couple of gems if you haven’t read them. Now I am anxious to learn more about Cathy!

I found Two Hearts in Winter a unique, captivating, emotional tale that will keep you thoroughly enthralled until the very end. Don’t miss this one, it will make your heart smile.

Buy now from:    Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Two Hearts in Winter is Book 2 in the Ocean City Boardwalk series. This book can be read as a standalone story, as is true with other series books by Ms. Fasano.

Original review posted April 15, 2016

Format/Typo Issues:

I found exceptional proofing and editing.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 40-45,000 words

Review: Chasing Ginger by Marie Lavender

 

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Comedy

Description:

“Chased by a group of angry men. Saved by quite a hunk.

This is not the résumé Ginger Halloway ever imagined having. But thanks to a miracle pill, which makes her size 22 body instantly sexy, that’s what happened.

Yet, now Lance Franklin is showing interest in her, and she can’t figure out if he really likes her for her, or if it’s just because of a bizarre drug.

And her wild bunch of friends, The Misfits…well, they’re always getting her into some interesting situations.

So, yep, business as usual. Except for the guy. What the hell should she do about him?

As for Lance, he believes he’s lucky to have found Ginger. But can he convince her they should go for it?

With some new attention from the hottest guy she’s ever met, Ginger can’t help but wonder…is this all too good to be true?”

Author:

“Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and two cats… At the tender age of nine, she began writing stories. She majored in Creative Writing in college because that was all she ever wanted - to be a writer… After graduating from college, she sought out her dream to publish a book.

Since 2010, Marie has published 21 books in the genres of historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, romantic comedy, dramatic fiction, fantasy, science fiction, mystery/thriller, literary fiction and poetry. An avid blogger on the side, she writes adult fiction, as well as occasional stories for children, and has recently started some young adult fiction.”

To learn more visit Ms. Lavender’s website or follow her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

Ginger Halloway is desperate enough for a male companionship to sign up for an experimental drug testing program, for a new drug called Instasin. The doctors report the pill contains pheromones to attract the opposite sex. Her only obligation is to keep a journal while taking the pills. After three months the guinea pigs would report back with their findings.

Ginger is a smart, savvy, and mostly comfortable in her plus size body. She has beat down her insecurities about her weight, instilled from her parents while growing up. She tries to look at things through realistic eyes. When she meets Lance through happenstance she is immediately smitten. When Lance seems to be pursuing her, she writes it off as ‘the instasin’ effect. There is no way an intelligent, handsome, rich man could be interested in her.

Chasing Ginger is a unique, intelligent story that will capture your heart. Their journey together and apart shows character growth and acceptance. Ginger’s group of close friends, the Misfits, add levity and a sense of realism. Ms. Lavender takes a serious subject and has written an entertaining tale with smart dialogue and heart.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Chasing Ginger is book 1 in Ms. Lavender’s, Misfits Series. Several F-bombs are dropped, and graphic sex scenes.

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of proofing misses.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 125-130,000 words

Review: Fire Me Up by Alicia Street

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Description:

“FDNY Firefighter Harper Sheehan made a career out of saving others, so how could he forget the small, determined woman who shoved him out of the path of a careening car that would have taken his life. Not that quiet schoolteacher Marni Ross has an easy time forgetting him either. But she knows a handsome hunk like him would never be interested in someone like her. When Harper loses his fiancée to a rich Wall Streeter and seeks a new start in a sleepy village on the North Fork, he runs into the same woman who once again surprises him, this time shaking up his world like never before.”

Author:

“Alicia Street is a USA Today bestselling author and a Daphne du Maurier award-winner. She writes both sweet and spicy romances and sometimes collaborates with her husband, Roy. She spent many years as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher. A compulsive reader of every genre, Alicia loves watching old black-and-white movies and inventing new recipes for soup.”

To learn more about Ms. Street you can visit her at her web site or on Facebook.

Appraisal:

Marni Ross seems like a mild mannered second grade school teacher, however she is anything but that. Harper Sheehan, a New York Firefighter, is in the midst of changing his career for his fiancée. He thought she wanted a less stressful life for them so they could settle down and raise a family. So he leaves his position as a New York Firefighter and buys a partnership with his Uncle Phil who owns a bar and seafood grill, The Blue Albatross Tavern, in the peaceful seaside community of North Fork. But firefighting is in Harper’s blood and he joins the volunteer fire department and other out-reach classes on fire safety. His fiancée thanks him by breaking their engagement for another man.  

Marni and Harper have chemistry going for them, however, both are reluctant to give in to it. Harper’s recent breakup prevents him from moving too fast, he doesn’t want to scare Marni away. He already has a cottage in which he can see his dream of a family come true with Marni. Marni’s abusive ex-husband prevents her from developing any relationship beyond friendship with any man, but her blood boils when Harper is near. It’s exhilarating to watch their relationship develop, Marni is full of surprises. Then it’s heartbreaking to watch pride and misunderstandings complicate their journey. Thank goodness Harper has Uncle Phil to mansplain Marni’s behavior to him. Uncle Phil became a surrogate father to Harper when his own father died firefighting when he was fourteen.

Then all bets are off the table when Marni’s ex-husband shows up in town. Tension and emotions run high when Harper’s protective instincts go into overdrive. If you like a bit of suspense in your romantic stories this may be right up your alley. Fire Me Up is an enjoyable read.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Fire Me Up is book 1 in Ms. Street’s, North Fork Series. 

"Heat level ~ some steamy love scenes."

Format/Typo Issues:

Nothing significant in proofing or formatting.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 40-45,000 words

Review: Just You by Cait London

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Description:

“Kenna Peck doesn’t trust her ex-husband now, though part of her aches for Hugh Donovan, for what might have been….

To leave the past, she heads for a new life, traveling cross-country in her RV with her friends, Olivia and Crystal, to the small town of Fresh Start.

And who walks into Kenna’s new life, her Fresh Start, demanding answers and stirring her with passion, but Hugh…”

Author:

“USA Today Best Seller/NY Times Author Cait London's book list includes romantic suspense, paranormal, contemporary, humor, western historical, and women's fiction. Always busy, she travels and loves any distraction. Her small town Northwest upbringing is relived in her stories, also her life experiences as the mother of 3 daughters and as an artist.”

To learn more about Ms. London please visit her website or her Facebook page.

Appraisal:

Hugh Donovan and Kenna have several years of history and neither one of them really knows the other. The book begins with Hugh’s point of view. He wants answers he never got from Kenna about what went wrong with their relationship. He feels like he’s given Kenna enough time for her to recover from her traumas. He’s tried to live up to her expectations to give her whatever she wanted, even the divorce she asked for out of the blue.

Now Kenna and her two friends have all bought camper type vehicles and they are going to take their little caravan cross-country, from New York to Washington State. The small town of Fresh Start is calling to Kenna. After swimming around in Hugh’s head we join Kenna towards the end of her trek across the country and are introduced to her two friends, Olivia and Crystal, who are looking for a fresh start themselves. Kenna seems dead set on forgetting about everything she left behind in New York, including Hugh and her buttinski family. You know how those best-laid plans go, right? Yeah!

Just You is a decent story and I loved the way the plot moved along, and the sexual tension between Hugh and Kenna. What didn’t set well with me was all the repetition of what happened between Hugh and Kenna. It was more than just hearing the story from their different perspectives. I’m not sure if the author was trying to reinforce their views or was afraid the reader might be forgetful and she wanted to reinforce the sexual tension. It felt like the story didn’t really start moving forward until about 40%, I was about to give up on it.

I wanted to slap some sense into Kenna several times. Hugh and Kenna’s problem was they didn’t communicate on the level they needed to. So much heartache and pain for both of them, all because of their pride. I also feel like the ending came too easily for Kenna, Olivia must have had a heart to heart talk with her that we weren’t privy to? Bottom line, I don’t think I was the right reader for this book.  However, like I said earlier, there is a good story here. If you can hang on, you’ll find it.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Just You is book 1 in Ms. London’s, FRESH START series. Clean and wholesome.

 

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant errors.

Rating: *** Three Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 65-70,000 words

Review: Tempting Adam by Lyn Horner

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense/World Mythology/Magical Realism

Description:

“He walked away from her once meaning to protect her and broke her heart.

Can she forgive him and overcome his stubborn resistance to love?

Guardian of Danu, Adam Dvorak has the power to make plants grow with a mere touch, but will he allow love to grow? An agronomist teaching better farming methods in a semi-desert region of northern Kenya, he has an accident and ends up in the local hospital where, to his shock, his former love Ellie Graham is a nurse. He’d never expected to see her again.

Ellie is equally shocked to see him. How could fate be so cruel, putting her in Adam’s path again? Her bruised heart tells her to avoid him, but circumstances dictate otherwise, and their mutual attraction soon flares to life. Will the temptation to accept Ellie as his mate conquer Adam’s fear for her? The High Guardian’s arrival and the pernicious Hellhounds may force him into a difficult decision as this saga builds toward a climax in the eighth and final book, A Might Chieftain.”

Author:

“Lyn Horner is a baby boomer born in San Francisco, California, raised in Minnesota and now residing in Texas with her husband and an ever-changing band of cantankerous, beloved cats. Trained in the visual arts, Lyn first worked as a fashion illustrator in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and later as an art instructor for Art Instruction Schools… After quitting work to raise her children, she took up writing to save her sanity. This hobby quickly morphed into an obsession with historical research and plot building.”

Learn more about Ms. Horner by visiting her website or follow her on Facebook.

Appraisal:

Adam Dvorak is a Guardian of Danu who has the power to make plants grow with a mere touch. He also understands the danger that comes with being a protector of his family’s ancient scroll. He has devoted his life to help desert area inhabitants develop profitable farm lands with their limited water supply. He is in Kenya in a remote village teaching and helping form crop terraces on the side of a small hill to increase crop yields. While in Kenya Adam is injured and knocked unconscious when moving a large boulder. Ikeno, his assistant and translator, and the farmer, Jebril, rush him to the nearest hospital.

Ellie Graham is a nurse in the small hospital. Two years ago Adam broke her heart by leaving her when he felt like being in a relationship with him could cause her harm. His intent was to protect her, but he wouldn’t or couldn’t explain to her why. When she recognizes Adam her heart is torn open again. She treats him while he is unconscious, but as soon as he awakens she changes schedules with another nurse to avoid speaking to him. However, he is crafty and sly and manages to find where she lives. He wants to apologize for the way he left her two years ago. Then he complicates their relationship again when he gets drunk and finds her at a tribal celebration with a man he doesn’t like. Yeah Adam is a mess, but a likeable character with baggage.

The plot is an emotional roller coaster as it twists and turns in unexpected ways. Ellie refuses to let Adam leave her behind again. However, she is in for a rude awakening when they are chased by the Hellhounds after Conn and Lara come to bring Adam back to the states to be with the rest of the guardians. Tension is ratcheted up as they are chased across the desert with very few places to hide. Back in the states the Hellhounds are quickly on their tail again, and are zeroing in on the Guardians’ hidey-hole. More hints are dropped about who has organized the Hellhounds. I also foresee that Lara will have some difficult decisions to make. The showdown between the Guardians and the Hellhounds is imminent. Better get ready to hold on tight.   

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Tempting Adam is book 7 in Lyn Horner’s Romancing the Guardians Series. This book does contain sexual situations that may offend some.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 40-45,000 words

Review: Profiling Nathan by Lyn Horner

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense/World Mythology/Magical Realism

Description:

“Nathan Maguire is a Guardian of Danu, and he possesses a deadly psychic gift. He also has a checkered past. As a young man, he spent time in prison, where he learned the rudiments of tattooing, a skill he has built into a successful business in Tampa, Florida. He’s content with his life – until a beautiful FBI profiler walks into his shop.

Talia Werner has come to deliver an urgent message from one of the other Guardians. The trouble is no one outside that select group is supposed to know they exist. Nate doesn’t believe Talia and suspects she is up to no-good. Meanwhile, she finds out a woman was brutally murdered not far from Nate’s shop. This is the third such killing in the past two months. A serial killer is loose in Tampa.

Working with the police, Talia discovers all three of the victims bore a blue butterfly tattoo, one of Nate’s designs. Suspicion falls on him but quickly points to other tattoo artists. Enlisting his aid in meeting and interviewing them, Talia develops a growing attraction to the man, who isn’t at all what he seems to be on the surface. Nate returns her feelings and their relationship heats up.

However, the killer is still on the hunt, and he knows Talia is after him. Will the stubborn woman accept Nate’s protection or will she be the murderer’s next victim?”

Author:

“Lyn Horner is a baby boomer born in San Francisco, California, raised in Minnesota and now residing in Texas with her husband and an ever-changing band of cantankerous, beloved cats. Trained in the visual arts, Lyn first worked as a fashion illustrator in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and later as an art instructor for Art Instruction Schools… After quitting work to raise her children, she took up writing to save her sanity. This hobby quickly morphed into an obsession with historical research and plot building.”

Learn more about Ms. Horner by visiting her website or follow her onFacebook.

Appraisal:

Nathan Maguire has a good reason to be suspicious of the woman who walks into his tattoo parlor with a message asking him to make a phone call to a man he doesn’t know. He’s a member of an elite secret group of protectors for the Goddess Danu. He isn’t aware that Talia lied to her boss, at the FBI bureau, to deliver an urgent message to Mr. Maguire, in Tampa, Florida, from her former FBI partner, Dev Medina. Needless to say the mistrust is mutual.

When Talia hears about a possible serial killer in the Tampa area she offers her service to the local police since she is a profiler for the FBI. She plans on using the extra time in the Tampa area to convince Nathan to make the urgent call to Dev. Things heat up, in more ways than one, as Nathan helps her investigation and they get to know each other better. It turns out the woman who doesn’t think she needs protection really does need Nathan to protect her.

The plot twists are an emotional roller-coaster ride as I became invested in both character’s journey. One twist in particular is downright funny. Another is horrifying. The dialogue is realistic and engaging. Profiling Nathan is another great addition to Ms. Horner’s Romancing the Guardians series, weaving together mystery with a touch of paranormal, adventure, and romance. I am looking forward to locating the next guardian of Danu.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Profiling Nathan is book five in Lyn Honer’s Romancing the Guardians series. I would recommend reading this series in order starting with Rescuing Lara. This book does contain sexual situations that may offend some.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant proofing issues.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 40-45,000 words

Reprise Review: Rescuing Lara by Lyn Horner

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense/World Mythology

Description:

“Lara Spenser is running for her life. She guards a treasured relic from ages past that no one outside a select group is supposed to know about. Yet, an evil one has learned of its existence and his minions are hot on Lara’s trail. Although she has escaped to Ireland and is living under an alias, her special sixth sense tells her the ‘Hellhounds’ are growing near. Injured in a car wreck that killed her beloved uncle, she is desperate for someone to act as her bodyguard.

Enter Connor O’Shea, ex-Special Forces soldier. Now the foreman for a crew of oil and gas well firefighters, Conn is on an extended vacation after a devastating explosion on his last job. Out of curiosity, he answers Lara’s ad for a ‘strong chauffeur’ and takes on the job of guarding her temporarily.

Conn has his hands full, not only keeping Lara safe but also trying to help her recover from deep physical and emotional wounds. As days and weeks pass the two grow closer and romance blooms, but their tenuous peace is shattered one terrifying night by Lara’s pursuers. Conn may prove his ability to protect her, but can he help her fulfill her destiny as High Guardian of apocalyptic secrets? Can he rescue her from the soul-deep pain that holds her prisoner?”

Author:

“Lyn Horner is a baby boomer born in San Francisco, California, raised in Minnesota and now residing in Texas with her husband and an ever-changing band of cantankerous, beloved cats. Trained in the visual arts, Lyn first worked as a fashion illustrator in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and later as an art instructor for Art Instruction Schools… After quitting work to raise her children, she took up writing to save her sanity. This hobby quickly morphed into an obsession with historical research and plot building.”

Learn more about Ms. Horner by visiting her website or follow her onFacebook.

Appraisal:

Lara is temporarily wheelchair bound after a suspicious car wreck that left her scarred and her uncle dead. His death makes her the heir to an ancient family scroll of their Druid ancestry and sacred secrets she has promised to guard with her life.

She flees to Ireland hoping to dodge the Hellhounds who are pursuing her. Realizing she needs a bodyguard, she hires Texan Conner O’Shea, but she is reluctant to share too much information with him. Conner happens to have Irish blood in his family also and has promised his mother while he is in Ireland he will try to locate some descendants from their family line. Lara quickly begins the search with the help of her hired housekeeper, who wasn’t too fond of Conner in the beginning. However, Conner is a smooth operator and finds his way into her good graces easily enough.

It was easy to imagine the Irish countryside with the author’s descriptive prose as Conner becomes tour guide for Lara, trying to distract her from obsessing about the Hellhounds. When Lara’s sixth sense picks up a warning that the Hellhounds have found her cottage, Conner decides to take Lara back to Texas with him as quickly as they can. Ms. Horner does a good job weaving the tension and suspense of the main story arc of Lara’s mission with the ancient Druid scroll and being pursued by the Hellhounds with Lara’s own emotional dilemmas. She is a strong-willed woman with some emotional insecurities that get the best of her at times. Conner has lost his heart to her and does his best to prove his worth and devotion to Lara despite the fire and brimstone she throws at him. He will pull all of his resources together to protect Lara and help her fulfill her mission to locate the other guardians and defeat the Hellhounds.

This is book one of the Romancing the Guardians series. It ends with Conner and Lara fleeing west out of Texas in search of a safe hiding place. It’s going to be very interesting to see how things develop next with Dev, an ex-friend/employee of Conner’s, who has offered to assist Lara.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

This book does contain sexual situations that may offend some.

Added for Reprise Review: Rescuing Lara was a nominee in the Romance category for B&P 2015 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran February 15, 2015.

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of proofing errors.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 55-60,000 words

Reprise Review: Mischief in Italy by Beate Boeker

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Sweet Romance/Humor

Description:

“All Henry wants is a serious talk with his grown-up son Josh about the wrong women in Josh's life. However, the conversation immediately spins out of control and somehow, they reach a compromise that leaves Henry highly uncomfortable. Has he really promised to place a personal ad in a newspaper to have more fun in his life? And why on earth did he agree to put the words 'house with pool at Lake Garda' into the ad? He doesn't want any gold diggers at his heels! To counteract the undeniable attraction of a villa in Italy, he comes up with an unusual concept for his ad, and from then on, mischief is running rampant in Italy.”

Author:

Beate Boeker describes herself as a cautious cosmopolitan. She lives in northern Germany and works as a marketing manager by day. Ms. Boeker is married, has a young daughter, and a university diploma in International Business Administration.

On her website she says… “It was inevitable that I should work with books sooner or later; I even have it in my name: Boeker is the word for books in the local German dialect and my first name Beate is straight from Latin and can be translated as ‘Happy’. With a name that reads ‘Happy Books’, what else could I do but write romances?” Also check out her Facebook page.

Appraisal:

This book was an absolute delight to read. Told through multiple points of view that are clearly indicated we get to see how this father and son relate. It is clear they are better at talking about finances than feelings. Henry and Josh both agree changes need to be made in both of their lifestyles and a challenge is set. Josh needs to rein in his playboy lifestyle and Henry needs to get a life, he has become a recluse since his wife passed away five years ago. So Henry agrees to post a lonely-hearts personal ad looking for companionship. Luckily for us we get to see the responses from Cinderella, Lucinda, Ayleen, Andrea, and Carla.

I caught myself smiling and giggling through the meet-ups and the twists and turns as Tina, Carla’s concerned daughter, arrives from Germany to stage an intervention between Henry and her mother Carla. As the story progressed it was easy to become concerned about the number of little white lies flying around. At that point I was so involved in the story I was concerned that the lies had grown too big to be overcome without serious consequences.

Honestly, I read until my eyes could not stay open any longer. If you are looking for a quick, lighthearted, enjoyable read, I highly recommend this book. It will leave a smile on your face. 

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Added for Reprise Review: Mischief in Italy was a nominee in the Humor category for B&P 2015 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran August 8, 2014

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant errors.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 50-55,000 words