BOOK REVIEW- Christmas Shorts by Mimi Barbour, Mona Risk, Stephanie Queen & 15 more *

The Authors’ Billboard has a special holiday treat for you this year! Spanking new short stories – from the naughty and the nice list – to add fun to your 2019 season and keep your spirits high.
Eighteen of our masters of romance have contributed to this incredible deal for your entertainment this Christmas. Eat goodies, drink hot toddies, read, enjoy, make wishes and… dream.

 

Christmas Runaway: Mimi Barbour, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author: A teenager, mad at her father, runs into the bush and is saved by Sara’s big white Samoyed.


The Captain’s Christmas Leave: Mona Risk, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author: The wounded captain is resigned for the worst. But his soon-to-be ex-wife has some ideas to cheer him up.

Christmas Games: Stephanie Queen, USA Today bestselling author: He's got game with an old flame.
Second Chance Christmas: Jen Talty, USA Today bestselling author: Will Angel be able to put the past where it belongs and give Darren a second chance?

Meeting Sam Klaus: Melinda De Ross, USA Today bestselling author: Can two people fall in love after only a few hours spent together?

Stuck On The Naughty List: Joan Reeves, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author: Can the new Police Chief mend Cassie's broken heart?

A Match Made in Mistletoe: Leanne Banks, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author: Can a scarred attorney and his assistant find love when they're trapped in an Inn haunted by a romance-happy ghost?

Candy’s Christmas Rescue: Cynthia Cooke, USA Today bestselling author: A broken-down car, a dog on the run, a wedding cake in peril, what else does Candy have to lose other than her heart?

A Christmas Creek Caper: Rachelle Ayala, USA Today bestselling author: Someone’s stealing packages off the Christmas Creek porches. Sheriff Brad Wing is on the case--until he’s caught with his hands up and his pants down.

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fearies: Taylor Lee, USA Today bestselling author: Can the drool-worthy financier persuade her that Christmas dreams can come true?

Peter Elph: Dani Haviland, USA Today bestselling author: A gambler finds a huge surprise in 1886 Tombstone.

Christmas Cupid: Nancy Radke, USA Today bestselling author: Cupid uses all his arrows to help two strangers find romance.

A Love on the Edge: Jennifer St. Giles, USA Today bestselling author: He expected to quickly catch a stalker and send the celebrity heiress on her way, but the case is more complex, and she might not be the wrong woman

Because We’re Snowflakes: Susan Jean Ricci, USA Today bestselling author: When a grad student from across the pond meets the campus librarian, will he teach her the true spirit of Christmas?

A Magical Christmas: Jacquie Biggar, USA Today bestselling author: When a little girl goes missing, it takes faith, love, and the help of a Christmas angel to guide her to safety.

A Chance of Snow: Alyssa Bailey, USA Today bestselling author: Can winter weather, a fall, and an unexpected invitation bring love?

Holiday Pickup By The Sea: Traci Hall, USA Today bestselling author: Harley’s job as a dating service coordinator has left her jaded, when it comes to little white lies. Are Marc’s pickup lines and bumbling attempts at a connection enough for her to lower her guard, and give them both a chance at love?

A Chocolate-Box Christmas: Josie Riviera, USA Today bestselling author: Love is sweeter with a touch of mischief.

AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

 Something to remember is that this is a collection of SHORT stories.   I liked this definition of that term and thought it might be helpful to others.  So here it is:
"A short story is fictional work of prose that is shorter in length than a novel. Edgar Allan Poe, in his essay "The Philosophy of Composition," said that a short story should be read in one sitting, anywhere from a half hour to two hours."  Definition Link
I'm working my way through the book and the stories that I read in this series fit that bill neatly.  They were emotional, with good main characters, who were fairly well formed.  They had challenges being overcome in the required short amount of time. I thought the authors did a good job packing as much as they could within the short story parameters.  It reminds me a bit of T.V. hour long programs where something similar happens.  A problem is formed and then magically solved in that hour.  I've heard of people complaining about that but hey, they still watch them.  To me, this is a quick, feel good at the end, short escape made available in each story.  You don't like one?  Move on to the next one.  And if you don't like short stories then don't get this book.  If you are looking for the depth of a long novel, you need to order something else.  But for the rest of us, it has moments of Christmas joy and cheer in short form during a very busy time of the year.  Besides I thought the price was right.

BOOK REVIEW- The Viking's Captive by Ingrid Hahn *

Description

Thorvald Longsword can’t believe all he has to do is kidnap the daughter of his jarl’s enemy to get his land back. Easy. But when he finally snatches the princess up and tosses her over his shoulder, the beautiful spitfire makes him question his determination to get his land back at any cost.
Alodie gladly agrees to impersonate the princess so the bloodthirsty Northmen will take her instead. While Alodie might be ready to die for her people, she wasn’t prepared for how her pulse races for the maddeningly noble captor whom she’d just as soon hate.
But when Thorvald finds out she’s not who she says she is...it could mean death to them both.
AMAZON LINK
 3 STARS

This book had good and honorable main characters. Alodie and Thorvald were people that I found interesting. The world-building involved two different cultures and was done well too. Things in the story were well described.  Several different secondary people  added interest.  However, I did have mixed feelings about the story. It had moments that I enjoyed and then it just seemed to settle to a point where not much was happening.   Even though their were challenges that had to be overcome by both Alodie and Thorvald and a totally fungus like villain in play.  It gave me a smile here and there and has a good outcome.  I just wish I had liked it more. For me, it just felt like the story went on a bit too long.  I guess that is the bottom line for me.


 I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- This Is Love (Harmony Pointe, Book 2) by Melissa Foster *

Description

She has everything money can buy, but her bodyguard is all she wants—and together they’re exactly what each other needs in this heart-racing romance by Melissa Foster, the New York Times bestselling author of Call Her Mine.
Actress Remi Divine is sick of bodyguards, sick of stalkers, and sick of feeling like she is always under a microscope. But this movie star isn’t helpless by any means. She’s got a rebellious streak, and she knows how to use it. First order of business: getting rid of the overbearing bodyguards who are sticking to her like glue.
Mason Swift has made protecting others his life, and when Remi ditches his two best men, he takes over and gives it everything he has. Having grown up in the foster-care system, and as a former special operative, he knows all the tricks. Nothing gets by him, especially not gorgeous, sneaky Remi.
He thinks she’s a diva. She thinks he’s arrogant. But when sparks turn to flames and their walls come down, their true hearts are revealed, and their connection is unstoppable. And when tragedy strikes, Remi realizes that being protected isn’t the worst thing in the world—but losing Mason just might be.
AMAZON LINK
3 STARS

This could have easily been a poor little rich girl but it's not really.  Remi has earned everything that she has gained as an actress.  But she's reached the pressure of being too contained, too cut off from normal life.  One of the main reasons for her giving her bodyguards the slip.   Even her brother Aiden who loves her has over protected her most of the time.  As her much older brother he stepped up to raise her when they lost their parents when she was twelve.  
I liked that Remi was more than what you saw. This was an emotional story not only because of the current dangers but because of some of the past hurts in her life.  I really did like that there is a phrase that helps Remi so much in tough situations.  "Just Breathe" is the phrase that holds a lot of meaning for her and we get to see that as well.
Mason was a really good , honorable man who was top notch when it came to security issues.  Remi was also surprised as time went on that he "got" her, he understood some of the things she felt.  He did look below her surface.  And the longer he looked, the deeper he was pulled into wanting her.  They had plenty of dangers around them without that.  But the attraction was too intense to hold off for very long.  He also brought a lot of emotional pain to the story too because his past  isn't as smooth as most people might think.

I have to say that although I know that this is Book 2 in this series, I was a bit unprepared for all of the people introduced in this story.  I was unfamiliar with them although I liked the Dalton family and those that supported Remi.  It's just that I often lost my place with who was who, who was single, who was married, who the babies went with which couple.  You get the idea, right?
Still, the stalker is found as we knew they would be even if we didn't know exactly how that was going to happen. Watch for the dangerous surprise twist. This leads into a H.E.A. adding more tender  moments to the story.


  “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- Seconds to Live (Homeland Heroes #1) by Susan Sleeman *

Description

When cybercriminals hack into the US Marshals' Witness Protection database and auction off witnesses' personal details to the highest bidders, the RED Team led by FBI Agent Sean Nichols begins a high-stakes chase to find the hacker. But before he can even get started, the first witness is targeted and barely escapes with her life. Sean believes Phantom, an obsessed hacker who previously outwitted the top minds in the field, is behind the attack, and Sean needs this witness's help, as she's the person who has come closest to discovering Phantom's identity.

Trouble is, she's a witness under the care of US Marshal Taylor Mills, and Sean is reluctant to work with the captivating marshal who knows his deepest secrets. But Phantom claims he knows where the witness is hiding and will kill her, so to stop the hacker, Sean and Taylor must work through their personal pain and learn to trust each other. . . . The seconds are ticking down before someone dies
 AMAZON LINK     .
   4 STARS

Dramatic start to the story.  You feel the intensity of it pretty quickly.   There's a clever, cruel villain out there that won't be easy to find let alone stop. 
I liked that the two main characters have only known each other for six months.  Well, they have communicated online for six months but haven't met yet.   But this case is something that changes that.  They have shared some pretty private challenges in the anonymity of being online.  But now, it's going to be a bit awkward as they meet face to face.  It leads to some frictions while they are on the job. It also has a low key romance which they are fighting.
Some of the people that Taylor is responsible to protect those who follow the rules in WITSEC.  Dustee just didn't happen to be one of those.  It is putting her twin sister and herself in even more danger.  Taylor will still go to the mat when it comes to protecting them and that also puts her in the line of fire. 
This was an intense, emotional, action story with twists and surprises.   It even has touches here and there of faith in God being shown.  
Some of the most dramatic surprises awaited me towards the end of the story.   The identity of Phantom had to be one of the biggest. 

  “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- Midnight Kisses by Alexa Rivers *

 Note: this novella has been previous published as New Year's Wedding.

Book Details

Emily Parker has a secret. One that none of her friends or family could possibly guess. Not because she’s good at keeping secrets—she’s abysmal—but rather because it’s so far out of the realm of possibility that it’s incomprehensible. Good-natured Emily has had the hots for reclusive Justin Simons for fifteen years. Fifteen.

This wouldn’t have been such a bad thing, except that until a year ago, Justin had been engaged to another woman. Now he’s free, rocking the gorgeous bushman look, and she’s ready to make a play for his heart.

Justin doesn’t trust easily. Not since his fiancé ran off with his cousin two weeks before their wedding. But he can’t seem to stop lusting after Emily—him, and every other guy in their New Zealand hometown.

Then he’s invited to his ex’s romantic New Year’s Eve wedding. Because why not rub salt in the wound? Fortunately, Emily might just be available to go with him.

But what happens when one person falls and the other is scared to let go?

4 STARS

Unrequited love?  That just might be about to change .  That doesn't mean it's going to be a smooth ride for anybody.  
Grumpy, gloomy Justin was kind of a loner before he got dumped.  Now its worse because he couldn't bear to be the butt of all the gossip.  Sure, he knew most people were rooting for him but this small community still liked it's gossip.
Sweet, sweet Emily.  The whole town basically loved her.  She is a very successful businesswoman.  And the whole town would attest to the fact that she never had a mean word to say about anyone.  She is not only sweet but evidently gorgeous.  She attracted more than one man's eye but she ever so kindly didn't let any man get close.  Oh they tried but the locals knew it wasn't going to happen.
I wouldn't say it's a really deep story.   But it was a fun, quick story that was sweet but with a touch of heat as well.   You can count on at least one misunderstanding before they get their H.E.A.  
I really liked the eBook cover too. 

"I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

BOOK REVIEW- The Christmas Princess by Patricia McLinn

A Princess for a few weeks …
The coming Christmas season isn’t looking great for April Gareaux. Her job is uninspiring, her engagement is off, and she has nowhere to live. Certainly her family would take her in, especially Leslie and Grady Roberts and their circle of friends who have become her extended family. But it’s time she stops relying on them.

Then comes an extraordinary offer – spend the holidays in Washington, D.C., with King Jozef of Bariavak as his possible long-lost granddaughter. Even more extraordinary is the man behind the offer and the one who will be beside her through the coming weeks, Hunter Pierce.

This is the last assignment Hunter would pick. Determination and grit have moved him beyond his past in Bariavak. Yet, here it is standing in front of him again, refusing to be ignored. … Just like his reactions to April. How can he fight what he’s feeling when they’re together all the time.


King Jozef has known tragedy in his life. Now, comes this lovely young woman bringing joy to his holidays. How can he resist dabbling in some royal matchmaking. Wouldn’t it be delightful if he could give April a Christmas gift she will never forget …
… Her Prince for a Lifetime    AMAZON LINK
                                4 STARS



What an enjoyable book this was.  The main characters of April and Hunter had layers of interesting to them. Both had painful childhoods even if they were wildly different.  
April is such a kind, caring woman who is also pretty astute when it comes to people.  She sees things that others often miss.  And she's there to help the people she cares for. Everyone she meets usually becomes a friend because of that caring heart.  Whether it be at the homeless shelter, or with hotel staff or the dog shelter that she volunteers at.  She  sees herself as always being rescued but her family sees it differently.  One family member showed her later on that she has been the rescuer as well.  April also added some humor to the things going on as well.   I got a big kick out her observation about Hunter having the "The Jaw."
Hunter was so much the opposite of April.  She was fairly open with her feelings and Hunter was often described  as being like granite.  His supervisor, Sharon Johnson (who I also really liked) said that he needed to let his feelings out before it basically blew the top of his head off.
 King Jozef was holding some secrets close to his chest but also liked meddling in slightly mischievous ways too.  Some of those secrets that he is holding will give the story some really good surprises. 

There were plenty of other secondary characters.  Some of them not so sweet and light either.  It doesn't make them bad people just a little tougher to like at first. 
There is of course a H.E.A. for Hunter and April.  And I appreciated the quick look into the next book, "The Surprise Princess (The Wedding Series Book 6)"  I just might have to follow up with that one too.

BOOK REVIEW- British Bratva : A Russian Mafia Romance (Russian Underworld Book 2) by Flora Ferrari *

 *British Bratva is an insta-everything standalone instalove romance with an HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger.

Book Details

 Maxim
Staking out the London journalist who's set on exposing the Bratva's money launderer, my mission is to stop him in his tracks. But it's the man's stepdaughter who stops me in mine. The younger woman I fall in love with from a distance is everything I ever wanted and when I find out he's been hurting her, there's nothing I won't do to make her mine.

Elizabeth
All I wanted was to find a way to tear down my stepfather's reputation and make a life of my own on the other side, but when a mysterious Russian keeps turning up to save the day, I have to make a choice between the plans I made and the future I never thought I'd have.

Will I risk everything I thought I ever wanted to give myself body, soul and all of my heart to an older man? Would I join the Russian Mafia to be with him forever?  AMAZON LINK

     4 STARS

As you can guess this from the book blurb this was an action story with an emotional romance.  Both Maxim and Elizabeth were interesting main characters who each tell the story from their own P.O.V.  Both of them also had some hostile things happening in their childhood that made them older than their actual age.  Something that was a strong connector between Maxi and Elizabeth besides just their attraction to each other.

I like that each of their P.O.V's  isn't done in a way that is just a re-hashing step by step of what has happened.  Done first by one person and then the other; not my favorite way of reading P.O.V.'s in a book.  It's fine if that person is responding to how they felt about the same situation because doesn't that make part of the story?  

As I'm reading the story I couldn't help but keep thinking, "how is this going to end well, or does it?"  That kept me reading for sure. 

While I thought the writing was pretty good as was the tensions I also had some mixed feelings about the story.  One of those feelings was about all the sex and his "twitching" body part. That phrase might have just been a bit overused to my way of thinking at least. 

 Still, I think it deserves 4 Stars on Amazon.   It was written when it comes to a dark romance with a lot of sex sizzle to it.   It was something different with an Anti-Hero main character.  

It has a good Epilogue with a surprise Extended Epilogue which I enjoyed.  So all in all I have to say that I liked it but with some reservations. 

 

"I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”