BOOK REVIEW- ALIEN GENERAL'S BRIDE by Vi Voxley

Nothing could have prepared her for the general...
Isolde Fenner had big dreams, but surprisingly enough, the universe was even bigger. Curvy and confident, she set out on her first intergalactic mission as a scientist from Earth, studying alien species. But she didn't even get to step foot on her shuttle when everything was turned upside down. The most powerful man in the universe wanted her. Her. And despite knowing better, she wanted him too. No one says no to the general. But she can't let him know that.

Diego Grothan is undefeated. Body, mind, soul - there is no one stronger than the Brion general, one of the most feared men in the universe. But even he finds himself on the brink of destruction when a human woman calls to him like nothing else. She is his. She simply doesn't know it yet. Not only is it unthinkable to want a human, but it might just be the push his enemies need to come for him. But Diego Grothan is prepared. Always.

Thrust into intrigue, war and hunted by enemies hiding behind veils, Diego must prove himself not only to his new bride, but the galaxy at large. It is no easy feat, but he is, after all, undefeated...

Will Isolde give into the mouthwateringly hot and equally as ferocious alien general or will fate make the decision for her?    AMAZON 4 stars



Strong main characters; and strong secondary ones too.  The different cultures and world building I thought was pretty well done too.  Twists, turns and unexpected enemies and allies are revealed.  Kept the reader guessing at times.  I enjoyed it and it kept me interested.  
I liked both Diego and Isolde; they were so different from each other but the sparks are there.  
There is a H.E.A. and no cliffhangers.  

P.S. This is a adult story because of the seduction and eventual sex scenes.

Elevation Worship - I Will Look Up (Live Performance Video)

Unspoken - Open The Clouds

Unspoken - Call It Grace (Lyric Video)

Keith Urban - The Fighter (Audio) ft. Carrie Underwood

To worship you I live - Bethel live

Look Who's Dancing Now (Spontaneous Worship) - Steffany Gretzinger and A...

Jesus Culture - In The River (Live) ft. Kim Walker-Smith

BOOK REVIEW- ABANDONED & PROTECTED by Bree Wolf

He forced her hand.
Now, she will deny him her heart.

After what her father did to her mother, Henrietta’s worst fears are to be realised when her uncle decides to marry her off to a Scot. Gentleman or not, Henrietta knows that at his core he is still a barbarian. What will she suffer at the hands of this savage?

Connor Brunwood, Marquis of Rodridge, can’t believe he fell head over heels in love with this thin, pale twig of a girl. However, the moment he saw her, he knew he had to make her his wife. If only she didn’t hate his guts!

However, when his life is suddenly in danger, an assassin lying in wait, everything they thought they knew is put to the test.

Will Henrietta betray her husband or stand by his side? Will she take the opportunity to rid herself of him forever? Or will she risk everything to save his life…as well as her heart?   AMAZON 5 STARS

*Although certain characters appear in multiple books, 'Abandoned & Protected - The Marquis' Tenacious Wife' can be read as a stand-alone. However, in order to avoid spoiler, I'd advise against reading them out of order.
Love's Second Chance Series

#1 Forgotten & Remembered - The Duke's Late Wife
#2 Cursed & Cherished - The Duke's Wilful Wife
#3 Despised & Desired - The Marquess' Passionate Wife
#4 Abandoned & Protected - The Marquis' Tenacious Wife
#5 Ruined & Redeemed - The Earl's Fallen Wife
#6 Betrayed & Blessed - The Viscount's Shrewd Wife (coming fall 2017)
#7 Deceived & Honoured - The Baron's Vexing Wife (coming 2018)
More to follow!


Loved this story.  Henrietta and Connor carry it well.  Her mantra was, "Only the strong survive" and she lived that to the hilt.  She trusted no one.  She was going to survive and never surrender.  But when it came to Connor, that "wisdom" just might have meet it's expiration date.  The story was emotional, with plenty of roller-coaster feelings.  
There is also several mysteries going on.  I could tell pretty early on at least 2 people were questionable when it came to their true motives.  I had my eye on them; hoping it wasn't just 2 red herrings.   Even though my sense was proved right, I still had to wait for the how (and when) and the why.  And there were more people involved than I first thought.  It was just as interesting to see who was suspicious but ended up not being a threat.
There were other good secondary people in the story.  There also is a good ending, well of sorts.  Connor and Henrietta do get their happy beginning.  If you want you could end it right here OR you could continue on to find out more about Tristan.  Tristan is Henrietta's troubled brother. 

BOOK REVIEW- SARAH'S CHILD by Linda Howard

In a split second they were gone . . .

A tragic accident took everything that mattered to Rome Matthews -- his wife, Diane, and their two little boys. And it robbed Sarah Harper of her best friend. In the two years since the tragedy, Sarah has wanted to reach out to Rome, but she knew she needed to stay away, guarding the secret she had kept from him and Diane all those years -- that she was in love with her best friend's husband.

But now Rome needs her. And though another woman will hold his heart forever, Sarah agrees to be his wife, knowing that everything has a price, including love. Then something totally unexpected rekindles her hidden hope that a marriage of convenience will become a union of love. Will Rome keep fighting his own growing need for a woman who dares him to believe there are second chances in life . . . or will he give in to the healing power of love and miracles?  AMAZON 4.5 stars

What a really good emotional story.  It had me close to tears more than once.  Even when it hurt her so badly, Sarah just kept on loving.  She just kept loving Rome back to life. Oh, he fought her so often because he was a strong, vital man, so determined to have things his way.  But he is kind of unprepared for her gentle but just as strong strength that she has.  He is also often mystified by her ability to be cool and almost untouchable when she was around him during their days together.  He so wanted to break through that reserve that she had and a few times he thought her a Ice Queen.   That changes when they marry and he finds that she is able to be wildly passionate in his arms at night.   You could also feel some Rome's pain at what he had lost through the death of his wife and children.  And his slow thaw when it came to his new wife and life.

Because of the title, we know that there is a horrible storm coming, but the author kept the tension up when it came to the how it was going to happen and when.  Of course I knew it wouldn't be a planned pregnancy because Sarah wasn't deceptive.  After finding out about the pregnancy, the tension mounted and there were several things happened that I wasn't expecting.

There was also a really good supporting cast of people. Max, Derek and Marcie, just to name a few.   People who found it so easy to support Sarah.  She just drew people to her.

The link that gave above is for the paperback although I read the eBook ((ISBN13: 9781552545270)

this is the closest picture and info that found on Amazon. 

This the newer picture and link if anyone is interested:  AMAZON

BOOK REVIEW- THE CUTAWAY by Christina Kovac

The Cutaway draws you into the tangled world of corruption and cover-up as a young television producer investigates the disappearance of a beautiful Georgetown lawyer in this stunning psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn.

When brilliant TV news producer Virginia Knightly receives a disturbing “MISSING” notice on her desk related to the disappearance of a beautiful young attorney, she can’t seem to shake the image from her head. Despite skepticism from her colleagues, Knightly suspects this ambitious young lawyer may be at the heart of something far more sinister, especially since she was last seen leaving an upscale restaurant after a domestic dispute. Yet, as the only woman of power at her station, Knightly quickly finds herself investigating on her own.

Risking her career, her life, and perhaps even her own sanity, Knightly dives deep into the dark underbelly of Washington, DC business and politics in an investigation that will drag her mercilessly through the inextricable webs of corruption that bind the press, the police, and politics in our nation’s capital.  AMAZON  5 STARS

What a good, intense story with plenty of powerful, high intensity people in it.   In the beginning, I had a little bit of trouble getting into the story.  I'm so glad I kept with it though.  Virginia, wow.  Now she was quite the pit bull when it came to getting a story and not only that, it had to be the truth.  She also wasn't out to destroy people with the truth which made her so refreshing.  She had her code of conduct and she stuck with it.  She was a complex person.   I liked her unique photographic memory that had more to do with pictures than any other kind of content.  She saw just a quick glimpse of a picture and it stuck with her.  I can see now why the book was titled Cutaway.
Secondary people were such a good addition to the book, even though so many times I began to wonder, "Trust this person or don't trust this person?"  The writer pulled you right into Virginia's dilemma pretty easily as time went on. One person who really did seem to have her back was the Evening News Anchor, Ben.  He would get snippy at times and give her attitude too but he did try to help her as much as he could.  They made for a good team.
The office politics were easily believe, it was so like what you see in regular, non-book life.  Some people had to go, they needed to leave their positions.  They abused their power, took credit for others work , intimidated their staff and were just plain unpleasant.  I'll let you read the story to see how that goes.
The twists and surprises in this book were excellent.  Every time I thought I knew the who and the why of what was going on, I found out I was wrong.  The story kept me guessing; I liked that.
The only thing I didn't like was that one relationship ended, I had been pulling for them.  But, *sigh* I guess I can see why it had to work out this way (at least for now?)


I received a copy of this book via Netgalley and this is my honest thoughts on it.

BOOK REVIEW- TEARS OF THE RENEGADE by Linda Howard

BLACK SHEEP'S RETURN...

The world stopped for Susan Blackstone when she looked across the crowded room and saw the stranger, and then her heart stopped when she learned his name. He was Cord Blackstone, the family black sheep, and her own cousin by marriage, even though her husband had been dead for five long years.

Cord had come back for only one reason: revenge. But he hadn't counted on Susan any more than she had counted on him. Love became the wild card in the battle for control of the family company, and it was too soon to know who had been dealt the winning hand. 

An Intense story that I really liked.  Great main characters and like the story says Cord is there for revenge.  And the family's dysfunction is right there at the top.  Cord is well described in Susan's thoughts as being so much like a pirate.  She also compares him to a powerful, dangerous untamed tiger.  She has always played it safe but just can't seem to stay away from him. Cord on the other hand is used to being on his own and having no one but himself to watch his back.

The attraction between Cord and Susan is also intense and  the sexual tension between them does get fulfilled. But of course that doesn't solve all of the problems. The emotional parts of the story were well displayed.

There will be a H.E.A.  but not before Susan gets pulled back and forth through the wringer .  She may be a person who is peaceful but when needed her backbone does come out.

I liked the fact that there was a good Epilogue at the end. 

On a side note- I read the older version of this eBook 

ISBN 978-1-4592-0399-0 from 1985

Prophetic Moments: Prophetic Exercise | Prophesy Over Yourself | Jennife...

BOOK REVIEW- BILLIONAIRE UNBOUND by J.S. Scott

Chloe Colter is finally able to fulfill her dream of getting married after over a decade of school to become an equine vet. But her dreams of a perfect life are shattered when her fiancé becomes abusive, forcing her to finally break away from a destructive relationship. 
Life has always been simple for Gabe Walker…until the moment he kisses Chloe Colter at a New Year’s Eve party. He wants her, and he’s used to getting what he wants. Can he convince Chloe to accept a job at his horse ranch so he can see her every day and slowly watch her passion emerge as she learns to trust a man again? 

The fire between Gabe and Chloe burns hot, but can Chloe finally let go of her horrifying life before Gabe and give him a chance?, Is she strong enough to reach out and take a man who wants her, doesn’t want to change her, and who cares about her exactly as she is? or will the emotional turmoil of how Gabe makes her feel make it even harder for her to heal, and force her to walk away?

Not intended for readers under 18 years of age.AMAZON   4 stars


Chloe and Gabe; what great main characters.    They had known each other for so much of their lives growing up.  They hadn't really seen much each other in a while.  But that kiss on New Year's Eve?  That really did change everything....Gabe saw who Chloe was and he really liked everything about her; just as she is. Chloe had been so worn down by her boyfriend/supposed fiance.  He was all for number 1- himself and his abusive behavior was both verbal and physical.  And he seemed to be escalating.  Time will show just how vile he is.

Gabe treats Chloe like gold; even as he struggles with some hesitation when it comes to being more than just a friend to her.  He knows she needs time to heal.  She is his best friend's sister which should put her off limits.  But that only works for so long because he really does care for her.  I can see why there is a 18+ reader suggestion because there will be sex scenes.
Some surprises are in store, there is a H.E.A.  This a good stand alone story without any real cliffhanger. Although one question remains unanswered.  What happened to Ellie, Chloe's best friend?  There is a quick look into the answers to that in the Excerpt at the back of the book called, "Billionaire Undaunted".



I also really liked the attractive cover for the eBook.

BOOK REVIEW- HIGHLAND HEAT by Mary Wine

Ruined, Betrayed, and banished...

As brave as she is impulsive, Deirdre Chattan's tendency to follow her heart and not her head has finally tarnished her reputation beyond repair. But when powerful Highland Laird Quinton Cameron finds her, he doesn't care about her past-it's her future he's about to change...

But it's never too late for redemption...

From the moment Quinton sets eyes on Deirdre Chattan, rational thought vanishes. For in her eyes he sees a fiery spirit that matches his own, and he'll be damned if he'll let such a wild Scottish rose wither under the weight of a nun's habit...

With nothing to lose, Deirdre and Quinton band together to protect king and country. But what they can accomplish alone is nothing compared to what they can build with their passion for each other..

.AMAZON 3.5 stars

Both of the main characters were strong people and I liked both of them.   Deirdre had been shamed for being a strong woman.  She had also been betrayed and tossed aside.   

Quinton liked her fiery personality although he didn't exactly treat her well the whole time either.  At least he was one of the few who didn't try to change her.   The attraction between the two was red hot and there was sex a plenty in the story.

The story seemed true to its era where women were used as a commodity for power, and alliances.  When a Highlander found a woman she was his to keep and do whatever he wanted to her.  Deidre in her bid to escape was grabbed by one man after another.  She managed to escape them often by the skin of her teeth.  There was more twists and turns and political shenanigans.  

There is a H.E.A. but Deidre also has some close calls with imprisonment and death before that happens.  

BOOK REVIEW- BILLIONAIRE'S VEGAS NIGHT by Claire Adams

She didn't expect to end up in her boss' Vegas bed...

How does happily ever after begin? While you can no doubt think up a million romantic ways for it to get started, getting sloppy drunk and passing out probably isn’t one of them. Which is why Luna is so mortified to find herself waking up in her boss’ bed in Vegas, her memory of the night before little more than sporadic flashes.

While she is embarrassed, her billionaire boss, Gabriel, is unfazed. Unlike Luna, he remembers the night before—including their wedding, officiated by Blues Brothers impersonators. No, for Gabriel, everything is just fine. Until the police come knocking at the door of his hotel suite.

And why are they knocking on the door of his hotel suite? Because not one, but two of his ex-girlfriends are in the same hotel as him—and they are both dead. Strangled to death during the night. And he is their number one suspect.

And his alibi can’t remember a thing.

No, this certainly is not how we imagine happily ever after starting, but despite things being less than picture perfect, will Luna and Gabriel be able to carve a path together?  AMAZON 4 STARS

A good story with good main characters.  Both Gabriel and Luna were good people in their own right and also worked well together as a team when it came to work.  Now if only they can communicate as well personally as the tensions increases.  I liked them both and found them interesting.  Not only is the murder case against Gabe a nightmare but so is Gabe's family tensions.  His sister-in-law and his nephew have a lot of resentment towards him and they aren't shy about expressing it.
There is several good secondary people and a mystery of who is trying to frame Gabriel.  Luna's father was at times kind of unlikable in his pushy overprotective ways.   Her best friend Kim showed up in the story as a funny but got your back kind of woman.

It has a good ending with a Epilogue included.  

By the way there will be marital sex in the story.  That's where the steam comes in. 

What If Millie Dresselhaus, Female Scientist, Was Treated Like A Celebri...

BOOK REVIEW- HIS UNEXPECTED WIFE by Maureen McKade

High-spirited Annie Trevelyan leaves the mountains of Colorado behind, seeking fame and fortune, and no one is going to stop her. Not even Colin McBride, who's accompanying her West to make sure she goes to finishing school—and doesn't go astray! The lovely Annie's sure some timely flirtation will soon have Colin wrapped around her finger, but her coolly calculating kiss stokes unexpectedly passionate fires in them both. So now Annie must escape...because Colin's got marriage on his mind!

In watching over Annie, Colin was just doing a favor for a friend. Now that he's tasted the sweetness of Annie's lips, though, Colin wants her for himself—and that means a wedding! He'd once thought only a prim, docile wife would do, but now visions of a fiery wedding night with this independent hellion fill his mind. The trouble will be convincing Annie—and holding on to her long enough to do so! 

 AMAZON 3.5 stars

Although I liked the main characters, I did get a little tired of how immature at times Annie is.  The story also felt a bit slow at times which I didn't enjoy as much.   I did give Annie some slack because she was still young and she had been sheltered some.  I did like the background of Colin and Annie having known each other for so long.  They had a history of sorts although they had some years missing where Colin was out of her family's life.  The emotions of the two of them were displayed pretty well.

I did like some of the secondary people; including 9 year old Toby and his silent friend, Alexander. 

The book had a really good Epilogue, which was nice to see.  

  

It was a little odd that the book is listed as part of a mail-order bride category on Amazon because that wasn't exactly accurate.

BOOK REVIEW- FALLING FOR GRACIE by Susan Mallery

First comes love, then comes marriage…

At least, that was Gracie's plan at the ripe old age of fourteen. She loved eighteen-year-old heartthrob Riley with a desperation that made her a town legend. Even now that she's all grown up, the locals in sleepy Los Lobos won't let her forget her youthful crush.

And how can she, when she's face-to-face with Riley at every turn? The onetime bad boy has come back to town seeking respectability—but the sparks that fly between them are anything but respectable! Gracie's determined to keep her distance, but when someone sets out to ruin both their reputations, the two discover that first love is sometimes better the second time around.  AMAZON 5 STARS

I enjoyed every minute of this book. Gracie was a hoot!  At age 14 she was one ingenious, creative child in love.  But she sure paid dearly for that "love".   She "lost" her family and her home for years because of it.   She did end up with other family members (her aunt and uncle who sound like they loved her dearly and showed it.)  So that was one good thing that came out of it.   It was hard for her to come back to her hometown but she did have high hopes that she would be able to find her place back in her family.  That was one huge disappointment many times over.   I could really feel for her, they might not approve of her but they sure didn't mind using her.  Ugh.
Her mother and her 2 sisters are one group of selfish people.  Will that ever change?  You'll have to read the story to find out.   Of course, they aren't the only ones in the town who are selfish AND scheming either.
Riley was an interesting mix of good looking, hard working guy, with daddy and uncle issues.  Gracie scared him to death with her determined pursuit when she was 14.  When he saw her again, he felt that again.  But things began to develop as he reluctantly spent time with her.  He began to see things about her that he liked and he was intrigued by her.  Gracie began to see that when she was 14 she was in love with a cardboard cutout of the man, she really didn't know him.   But she does begin to see him as a man with flaws as well as goodness too.
I absolutely loved the writing style and conversations.  Some of her mutterings made me laugh.  I could easily see her as a person that I could be friends with.  Just the humor alone; she was so quirky but someone you could still relate to. I like one of Riley's observations after she was leaving his office, "he had the sense of having been visited by a larger-than-life force."  Well put.
The whole town's involvement in the Riley-Gracie situation was something else.  You would think that this was a story about romance only but you would be wrong.  It's so much more with some unexpected twists and turns as well.
I'm glad that there was an Epilogue as well.   

The picture above was the cover on the eBook that I read but I see that there is a new cover and link for this book.  That one is shown below:

  AMAZON

Angelica Hale GOLDEN BUZZER FINALLY! - This Girl is On Fire Cover AGT 2017

Angelica Hale: 9-Year-Old Singer Stuns the Crowd With Her Powerful Voice...

BOOK REVIEW- FOOLISH HEART by Shirleen Davies

Foolish Heart, Book Nine, MacLarens of Fire Mountain Contemporary Western Romance Series

Ernesto Salgado’s life continues to change. An ex-Special Forces operative, he recently left the U.S. Marshals Service to start a new life—minus the woman who left him without an explanation or backward glance. Working as head of security for MacLaren Enterprises is the opportunity he needs to move on.

Paige Wallace made a choice that continues to haunt her every day and each night. The life she dreamed about, had at her fingertips, disappeared in one decisive moment. A new job with her longtime friend offers the break she needs, a chance to forget her biggest failure and start over.
No problem, right? Except Paige and Nesto now work for the same company.

And that’s not the only issue. The family member she dropped everything to help has become embroiled in illegal dealings, doing business with those who would harm not only Paige, but the entire MacLaren family.
As head of security, Nesto’s priority is to keep all employees and owners safe. He’ll do whatever needs to be done to excel at the job, even when it includes protecting the woman who walked out of his life.
The more he digs, the deeper the threat becomes, affecting everyone. Nesto has to face a hard truth—the only way for him to succeed is with Paige’s help.

How can he trust a woman he thought loved him but walked away, especially when they acknowledge the passion still burning between them?

As the threat increases, Nesto uses all the resources available to protect those he cares about. If he could only use the same resources to protect his heart.  AMAZON 4 STARS


The opening starts out strong.  It made me wince just a bit because the author did such a good job of stirring up the expectation on Nestos's part.  And because of the book blurb, you knew there was a hit coming.  We're left as much in the dark about the why of it as Nesto is.  And when I found out why, I wanted to slap Paige right in the back of the head. Although as information began to come out as to some of her reasons, I began to understand a little better about her thought processes.  Still wanted to slap her but had a little more sympathy for the pressure she was under.  And she did cave to some emotional manipulation too.
So many times Nesto talked himself into being professional around Paige, coolly professional.  But time after time that icy rage under the surface showed up when he was around her.
The twists, turns and dangers were pretty well done; with a few surprises coming out of the woodwork.
There is also a side story about the drama going on in Paige's mother and father's life.  At first I felt like her mother was a highbrow woman who looked down on people in lesser stations in life.  It wasn't a true picture of her and as time went on I began to like her.
The only downside for me was the fact that more than once I felt overwhelmed with the amount of people in the story.   There was a pretty large cast of people in the families alone. At times I found it hard to keep track of them all and how they related to each other.  .


By the way, I liked the choice for the eBook cover.

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion of it.

BOOK REVIEW- A HERO TO KEEP by Susan Gable

Sometimes you have to fight for what - for who - you love.

Shannon Vanderhoff’s childhood taught her early on that nothing was hers to keep, not clothes, or toys, or even people. So she lives, loves, and lets go. She’s not looking for a hero.But with custody of her traumatized six-year-old nephew on the line, she needs help. Charming Greg Hawkins, a comic book artist and art therapist insists he can coax Ryan into speaking again, enabling the boy to reveal what he saw the night of his mother’s death at his father’s hands. And though Shannon’s skeptical of Greg’s methods, there’s no denying that he brings light and color to their lives.

Greg, one of twelve siblings, knows anything worth having is worth fighting for. If anyone can prepare Shannon for the upcoming battle, it’s Greg and his family.

But will she fight to keep him, too?  AMAZON 5 STARS

What a great story.  Shannon, Greg and Ryan (the six year old) made for outstanding main characters. I enjoyed every minute of it.  The Hawkins family figure in later and there is a bunch of them.  Shannon is used to just Ryan and herself being the remaining members of her family.   Life had taught her in her childhood that basically everything was temporary.  You couldn't afford to love it too much because eventually you were going to lose it.  She had learned to embrace and enjoy blessings when they were there but also to know how to let go.  Greg had a loving HUGE family and he was a fighter; he fought for what was right  And he didn't lose easily or quit that way either.  His talent as a comic book geek and art therapist was a different kind slant to the story and kept me involved in the book.  He was like the Piped Piper of kids and helped them so much.  Shannon was the opposite, she was awkward in her dealings with people especially kids.  But she was doing the best she could. 

 There was some laughter, fun AND tears.  The tears come from some of the serious challenges that both Shannon and Ryan are facing.  Even with the seriousness it isn't a story that is a downer; I liked that. 

I thought that it was all well done.  

BOOK REVIEW- THE COWBOY WHO CAUGHT HER EYE

The Shopkeeper's Shame

Pregnant and unmarried, Molly Thorson knows her livelihood is under threat. The last thing she needs is a distracting cowboy swaggering into view. Especially one who knows she has a secret and still looks at her with desire in his eyes.

The Cowboy's Secret

Carter Buchanan knows all about secrets. It's his job to know. And Molly sure has something to hide. But the fear in her eyes touches a place he thought long-ago dead—and now this cowboy can't help but consider exchanging his pistol for a band of gold.…AMAZON  3.5 STARS



I did like Molly and thought it was nice that she wasn't shown to be this perfect, angelic person.  All the pressures and responsibilities that were on her shoulders was causing her to be uncharacteristically shrewish.   Believable, totally believable.  Each of her sisters added to the story. The bickering with her younger sister, Karleen was just what you might expect to have happen between two sisters.  The adopted sister, Ivy,  was well done as she captivated people around her.  She was a little Indian girl with a thirst to learn and have fun.  She was also well-loved by her family, her sisters. 
Carter was someone with some interesting skills and quite the lonesome childhood.  Almost against his will, he is slowly drawn in by the  Thorson family.   They were pretty hard to resist. 
There is a twist tor two at the end of the story and a H.E.A. 


This story had so much potential and interesting, solid main characters.  But the story was SO slow, it made me want to scream.  That is why I ended up giving it a lower rating.  

BOOK REVIEW- THE SEDUCTION OF LORD STONE BY Anna Campbell

Caroline, Lady Beaumont, arrives in London seeking excitement after ten dreary years of marriage and an even drearier year of mourning. That means conquering society, dancing like there’s no tomorrow, and taking a lover to provide passion without promises. Promises, in this dashing widow’s dictionary, equal prison. So what is an adventurous lady to do when she loses her heart to a notorious rake who, for the first time in his life, wants forever?

Devilish Silas Nash, Viscount Stone is in love at last with a beautiful, headstrong widow bent on playing the field. Worse, she’s enlisted his help to set her up with his disreputable best friend. No red-blooded man takes such a challenge lying down, and Silas schemes to seduce his darling into his arms, warm, willing and besotted. But will his passionate plots come undone against a woman determined to act the mistress, but never the wife?   AMAZON 3 STARS


Good main characters. I could understand Caroline wanting to let loose. She wanted to fill up with everything she missed during her miserable 10 year marriage. It was so restrictive and even her childhood was so severely controlled by her father. The Dashing Widows was a fun way for them to describe themselves.  The friendship between the 3 was nice. 
Silas was a good match for Caroline even though she was terrified of losing her freedom again.
I felt sorry for Silas more than once because of her looking for a lover and never considering how good they were together. He has been quietly wooing her for a year and she hadn't got that at all. 


The 2 Chapter look into the other book , "Tempting Mr. Townsend" sounded interesting as well. It's Fenella and Anthony Townsend's story.

BOOK REVIEW- THE ROYAL TRADE by Erin Hayes

Cara thought she was living the fairy tale life.

After all, she is engaged to the man of her dreams, who just happens to be the prince of an island nation in the Mediterranean. But when he publicly cheats on her, her life is turned upside down and she doesn’t want to come back to reality.
Then Eric, her ex-fiancée’s brother and a playboy prince himself, offers her the chance to run away from it all.
Because he fell for her first. And he’s going to prove to her that she fell for the wrong prince. 
AMAZON 3 STARS


Both of the main characters were likable in their own ways.   Cara's ex was a powerful man but weak in the area of fidelity.  Good thing that came out when it did instead of during a marriage.  He is charming but also spoiled when it comes to getting what he wants, when he wants it.  He's also been raised to be a mommy's boy when it comes to the Queen ruling his life.    Cara expects more of the same from Eric although he proves to be more trustworthy than expected.   Still, she is still reeling from her breakup and things did move pretty fast when it came to Eric's pursuit.  
Eric meanwhile has been hiding behind his playboy image and makes it worse because he doesn't think he will ever have a chance with Cara.  

This was a easy to read, interesting story idea with really good potential. I felt somewhat disappointed.  I did feel like it kind of missed the mark.  

BOOK REVIEW- WITH THIS RING by Debra Clopton

After her small son, Kevin, asked both God and Santa for a new daddy for Christmas, and then didn’t find him under the tree, school teacher, Jessica Lyons is starting the new year out with a very unhappy six year old on her hands. Kevin can’t understand that she’s only been a widow for 2 years and she can’t imagine marrying again—not yet at least. But, unknown to her Kevin has a plan and has decided that if God and Santa won’t give him what he wants then maybe the police can! 

When the very handsome Chief of Police, Levi Sinclair shows up as Kevin’s Show-and-Tell he believes, as does Jessica, that her son has asked him there to show him off as the "police chief"—it’s a little awkward when Kevin introduces Levi as his next daddy!

Things are getting a bit complicated on the shores of Windswept Bay! Come join the fun in With This Ring book 6 of this captivating series. You’ve watched the four Sinclair sisters fall in love now it’s time to watch the five Sinclair brothers find the women of their dreams.   AMAZON 3.5 STARS

Likable story with likable main characters especially Kevin.  He's bound and determined to have  a new daddy and his sights are set on Levi.  And as the story goes on, you can see why.  Levi is a gem and soon sought after hard by the single ladies in the town. 
It was a quick summer read that was just okay. The idea was a cute on and believable one that a young child could come up with.  
 I think it had the potential to be even better.

BOOK REVIEW- DARK DECEPTION by Nancy Mehl

Kate O'Brien has been leading a quiet life in small-town Shelter Cove, Arkansas, for the past four years when her past suddenly comes roaring back to life. Four years ago, she and her twin sister were attacked by an elusive serial killer. Only Kate survived, and it was her drawing of the attacker--along with some last-minute evidence--that convicted the suspect. 

She's been in witness protection ever since, but new evidence suggests the convicted man isn't the murderer and she's been subpoenaed to testify in the new trial. Nervous about the risk, she'll only agree if the same Marshal who protected her during the original trial escorts her to St. Louis.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Tony DeLuca accepts the assignment to bring Kate to the trial, remembering how her strength impressed him. While in Shelter Cove, however, he gets a call from his chief, advising them to stay in Shelter Cove until a new development in the case can be straightened out. But when Kate's safety is threatened, Tony must race against the clock to keep her alive and put this ugly case to rest before anyone else gets killed.  AMAZON 4.5 STARS

What a great title for this book.  I didn't realize how apt it was until I was near the end of it.  
The Prologue gave the book quite the dramatic start but it doesn't stop there.  The drama continues in a strong way for the first couple of chapters.  Everything is not as it seems and I got the sense of that truth about half-way through the book. 

I liked both Tony DeLuca and Kate O'Brien but I also felt that their "romance" was more told than shown.  I really like a bit more romance in the murder mystery books that I read.  There were times that told how Tony was a source of strength for Kate.  It showed some of their interaction during her protection detail and especially her testimony.  That was good and helped some at least. 
Great secondary characters added a great deal to the story as well. 

 At one point I thought, "Oh no, I'm afraid I'm only thinking this book is just okay.  And I'm going to have to give it 3 Stars on Amazon. " And then suddenly, the story took off like a runaway horse before the 200 pages mark.  And the "hits" kept coming.   Twists, turns, red herrings and flat out cunning began to show up.  Let me say, it got Intense.  I had to lay it down a time or two but not for too long.  It got to the point where I wasn't sure who to trust when it came to several people.  It had me questioning quite a bit.  That says a lot about how well the author did with the story. 
God will be a part of this story but I also believe it was a well written part of the book.  I think non-believers would still enjoy the book.


I received a copy of this book via Bethany House and this is my honest opinion of it.

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BOOK REVIEW- ABDUCTED HEIRESS (The Secret Clan) by Amanda Scott

Molly Gordon, the Maid of Dunsithe, would be the wealthiest woman in Scotland...if anyone could find her fortune. But spirited away by her greedy uncle, she is kept captive on a misty island, separated from her treasure and the rest of her family, perhaps forever. She longs for a hero to rescue her. But when Sir Finlay Mackenzie, the fiery warrior, gains possession of Molly, her defiance and his temper lead them into a battle of wills. Armed with the right to marry her or barter her, he finds a proud princess who resists his passion and fights his every command. Now the real adventures begin as together Molly and Fin face danger, desire, and the fate that will drive them until they can open their hearts to magic-and to love.
AMAZON 3 STARS

Although I liked the main characters; I just felt like this could have been better.  The potential was there, the action was there and just some of the "romance" was there.  It just felt like it fell a bit flat in the romance department and at times it felt like it dragged.  It would drag and then there would be some action; like another battle or someone coming trying to reclaim Molly.  Very few people had her best interests at heart.  One family who did was her temporary/foster father; which I did appreciate.  His ability to help her though are limited because he's caught between a rock and a hard place concerning her.  

The "little people" play important parts to the story as well. And there is a nice note at the end of the book that talks about some of the true history of the land that the story was based on. 

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BOOK REVIEW- KEEPER OF THE BRIDE by Tess Gerritsen

If Nina Cormier's wedding had taken place, she would be dead. But after the bride was left at the altar, the church stood empty when the bomb exploded. It wasn't until a stranger tried to run her off the road that Nina realized someone actually wanted to kill her.

But who?

That's what Detective Sam Navarro has to find out…fast. With a nightmare unfolding all around them, Sam and Nina must try to decipher the terrifying truth: they are at the mercy of a brilliant madman, one who is playing for keeps.…AMAZON  4 stars

This was an enjoyable romantic thriller.  Well, thriller in the sense of trying to stop the  the villain of the piece.  A very clever, methodical opponent.    I suppose it could have been a bit deeper but I enjoyed it as a quick read.

 There is a slow developing romance between Nina and Sam, which is fine because the main focus is on the danger and the mystery of the bomber.   What is the bomber's target or targets, how do they connect, do they connect, why was Nina's wedding bombed.  What does Nina and her ex-fiancee know that is enough to get them killed?  All great questions that will be answered as the story goes on.  But it won't be quick, snap answers and the tension just keeps building,  You can also feel the tension, frustration and exhaustion as the investigation goes on.  

The two main characters are likable and realistically played. I felt so bad for Nina at times because she seemed to just be tolerated by family.  How sad.  Sam and Nina fight being attracted to each other, so its one step forward and several back especially on Sam's part.  He's fully aware of how dangerous being distracted by an interest in Nina can be.  Not only to the investigation but for her safety.  

Good ending with no cliffhangers involved.  

BOOK REVIEW- CLARISSA AND THE COWBOY by Alix Nichols

~ Nathan ~
Right now Clarissa, our tour guide, is talking about prehistoric cave paintings.
In a moment, she'll point at the mammoth... Wait for it....
"Look at the mammoth on your right," she says.
Told ya! I've done her tour six times in two months.
Everyone gawks at the mammoth.
My eyes stay trained on Clarissa's lovely face.
After the tour, I'll ask her out, fully expecting her to say no.
I mean, why would a hotshot Parisian archeologist go on a date with a dairy farmer from the sticks?
But I need to hear Clarissa's no.
Maybe then I'll be able to forget her.

~ Clarissa ~
Nathan, aka Cowboy, is here again. Staring at me again.
I ignore him.
Just as I've ignored the hot, disturbing dreams I've been having lately.
Dreams in which a handsome cowboy undresses me.
Kisses me.
Pleasures me into oblivion.
Crazy dreams!
In real life, I'm going back to Paris to start a new job in a big museum. just might o
The one thing I don't need during my last week in Burgundy is a roll in the hay with Nathan.
Even if that roll turns out to be better than my craziest dreams... AMAZON  4 STARS


I liked this book but would have liked for it to be a bit deeper.  The feelings that Carissa has for Nathan are pretty clear though.  In the beginning it is more about her "non-feelings" for the cowboy that is what is the clearest.  She's kind of snobby, she's thinking that the cowboy who just stares at her is probably not too smart.  She thinks he's a hayseed, a hick probably.  It's kind of painful the way she just writes him off.  There is some attraction on her part though and she fights that because after all she has BIG plans and they don't include  a handsome farmer.   Well through no fault of his own, he's about to kick over that apple-cart.  When he goes on his final tour before giving up once and for all, things begin to happen.  And he just might be able to turn it to his advantage.   And I have to say, what's not to like about Nathan?  

Well, fantasies sometimes turn into reality and all those" crazy dreams" they each end up having begins to happen.  So yes, there will be sex and a H.E.A. and no cliffhangers.  That H.E.A. comes along with some steamy scenes in the book.  A good Epilogue, where things come to several startling conclusions.  

 "I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book.” 

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BOOK REVIEW- AN UNLIKELY COUNTESS by Jo Beverley

After leaving the army and falling out with his family, the Honorable Catesby Burgoyne is drowning his sorrows when he comes across a woman being attacked by thugs. A fight is just what he needs, but little does he realize the lady he rescues will change his life.

For Prudence Youlgrave is not just the victim of ruffians. Her life has been made a shambles by her selfish brother and brutish fiancé. But she has a bold and courageous spirit Catesby can’t resist, and before he knows it, he finds he has rescued her again by marrying her himself. 

A reckless adventurer may be forgiven for such an impulse. But when Catesby’s older brother suddenly dies, he finds himself Earl of Malzard, and Prudence is suddenly a most unlikely countess. Neither she nor Catesby are prepared to face the shock of his family. Still almost strangers, they have no one to turn to but each other, and it is in each other’s arms that they find a love neither ever expected. 
 AMAZON 3.5 STARS


I want to say right off the bat that I really enjoyed both of the main characters a lot.  They were what the world considered misfits in general.  But Catesby had so much to recommend him even though his own family saw him as a selfish failure.  They were SO unfair to him even if he wasn't the firstborn son.  His older brother was treated as the Golden One, perfect in every way although of course he wasn't.  It was interesting that there was a similar attitude with the way Prudence's brother was treated as though he was the only one worthy.  Prudence came from a different society than Catesby  but the fawning over a son was similar.  But in her family everyone had to do some serious sacrificing to  make sure he succeeded.  And that didn't make his character a solid good one either.  Although Prudence suffered, she also did have a benefit.  She got an excellent education because she HAD to help her brother in the area of study as well.
I liked how Prudence and Catesby came to understand each other fairly rapidly even while still being strangers.  There was a connection, an attraction but more.   Some of their conversations were down right amusing.  Catesby marched to the beat of a different drummer but it wasn't an unkind one.  He proved that time an again.  Prudence was able to see that quickly and be sure that he was an honorable man.  She was astounded how little his remaining family knew him. His friend, Perry had his back though and he was funny and helpful. 
There will be dangers of course and not just being introduced to "the family."  A dangerous enemy is made and we know who it is.  But it didn't take away from the story because we didn't know exactly how and when he would strike again.

The only downside for me was how at times the story dragged.  At those times there was a repetitious re-playing on the same several themes. Mainly, Prudence dealing with her insecurities, her feelings of unworthiness to be a countess and a few others.  Now, I know we needed to hear some of it because it was reality.  But for me, it felt like it went on a bit too long.  

It's a complete story with no cliffhangers.  And a well won H.E.A.  
And a beautiful cover for the e-book.  

How to Find Your Refuge in God- KCM

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