A Rose In the Storm by Brenda Joyce

A Rose In the Storm

Brenda Joyce

June 25, 2013

3 ½ stars

I was ecstatic to see a new medieval period romance coming out. There are two few of them being released, so I pounced on the chance to review this. I started off sort of ambivalent as I felt, in my opinion, that the writing was a bit passive- heavier on the telling than showing side of things. Luckily the characters and story itself was intriguing enough to maintain my interest.

Margaret Comyn is enroute to her legacy, the dowry provided by her mother, in the form of Castle Fyne. It is a strategically placed keep and she is heading there to prepare the castle for her marriage to Sir Guy, who is English. Both Margaret and her brother are uncertain in regards to a highland lass marrying an English knight, but her uncle feels it is a good match. Upon arrival, Castle Fyne is under siege from the Wolf of Lochabar, Alexander MacDonald. Having too few knights and warriors, the castle put up a fight, under Margaret’s untried guidance, but ultimately fell. Margaret fights her attraction to Alexander, as he is a MacDonald, a blood enemy of the Comyns and he also fights for Robert Bruce in his attempt to take the crown.

Alexander finds himself attracted to Lady Margaret and treats her with respect and kindness regardless of what plots she stirs against him. He spends his time trying to woo her to his side and loyalty, knowing that Sir Guy would not treat her well. Alexander knows she is desirous of him but in denial.

Once I reached the climax of the story, with the battles between King Edward’s armies and Robert Bruce’s, as well as the ultimate showdown between Alexander and Guy, I couldn’t put the book down and stayed up late into the night, engrossed in the world Ms. Joyce had created.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for review.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0373777701/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

The Better To See You by Kate SeRine

The Better To See You

Kate SeRine

Kensington Publishing

February 7, 2013

5 Stars

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513O5mPt1jL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-67,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

The Better To See You is the second story in the Transplanted Tale series, and it does not fail to keep up the romance, the action and the fun from the first book Red.

Many of the Tales from Make Believe were transported to the Here and Now during a battle during a fairy godmother and a genie, and the fairy godmother’s magic went awry. The Better To See You is the story of Lavender Seelie, the fairy godmother in question. Cut off from her family and her powers limited, Lavender settled in to continuing on as Cinderella’s fairy godmother in the here and now. Lavender has had it and during a fight with James AKA Prince Charming, not only did she shrink his manhood, but lost control of her magic again and burned down their castle. In order to keep Lavender safe, her friend Red sent her across the country to the Refuge where other tales were making a life of their own.

Seth Wolf, also known as the Big Bad Wolf, has been living on the outskirts of the Refuge and trying his best to fit in. The last thing he needs is a fairy godmother with magic gone awry, but when he saves her from a hellhound not far from his cabin, their lives become entwined and then their hearts. But the hellhound was just the tip of the iceberg. Something is very wrong in the Refuge.

Transplanted Tales is becoming one of my favorite series ever. With a touch of the show Once Upon a Time and the darkness from Grimm and a lot of originality, this series is a win. The main characters are likable and work through their conflicts in a believable way, there is a good mix of grey area characters who are bit good and a bit bad and her villains are just as dark as can be.

This series isn’t to be missed.

This book was purchased by me.

Driven by Eve Silver

Driven

Eve Silver

Eve Silver

May 28, 2012

4 stars

In a bleak, dystopian world Raina Bowen is a loner and survivor. At twelve, she survived a brutal attack by Duncan Bane, the man who is running the world and the constant abuse inflicted on her by her father Sam. Now an ice trucker Raina has one goal on her mind…to win the delivery to Gladow contest so she can leave the frozen wasteland and make a home at the equator for her previously unknown sister and herself. All she needs is a pass…

Wizard, the man who was to meet Raina and deliver the much needed pass to her is not only late for their meeting, he has run afoul of Bane’s men and the pass he has is stolen, rendering it useless. He insinuates himself into Raina’s life as a traveling companion and as they face the hazards of the road , they grow closer. But once she finds out about his betrayal, Raina has to determine if she can overcome it and build a future with Wizard. Oh and did I mention that Wizard reminds me of Mr. Spock?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0087704KO/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Driven was so much fun to read. Ms. Silver’s skill has the story play out in your mind like a big screen summer blockbuster. It has everything, exciting action, romance, over the top villainy. If you like futuristic tales that would make great movies, you have to pick this book up!

Driven was purchased by me.

Texas Hold "Em by Kay David

Texas Hold ‘Em

Kay David

Entangled Publishing

April 28, 2013

4

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CGFJ1KM/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img stars

Texas Hold ‘Em is the first in an ongoing series called Smokin’ ACES. We begin with the team leader, Timothy Santos’s story. He has come back home in undercover operation to bring down a Mexican cartel drug lord as well as find out what happened to his informant who was on the inside. He stumbles on to is former lover, the sheriff of the town, Rose Renwick, pinned down by gunfire in a remote location. He tries to explain what is going on, but Rose isn’t believing him.

Rose Renwick feels her former lover only cares about one thing, catching the bad guy by any means possible. When she discovers he is using her black sheep mother, things go from the frying pan in to the fire. The trail leads over the border to Mexico where Rose discovers her mother and his informant are one and the same.

I have to say, I’m not sure I would have given Timothy nearly as much trust as Rose does, even hesitatingly. For a while his lies to her were compounding and I was doubting they would get together but the author managed to believably bring Timothy around to some self-discovery. Texas Hold ‘Em is heavier on the suspense side than the romance side, but that’s the way I like it. I enjoy a lot of action in my romantic suspenses. I eagerly look forward to the sequel, Follow the Cowboy coming in November.

ARC provided by publisher in exchange for honest review.

Gaming For Keeps by Seleste Delaney

Gaming For Keeps

Seleste Delaney

Entangled Publishing

June 10, 2013

5 stars

http://www.amazon.com/Gaming-Keeps-Entangled-After-ebook/dp/B00CK51J9Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1374871856&sr=1-1&keywords=gaming+for+keeps

Only after inviting a girl that he met in an online MMORPG to meet him at a gaming convention does Cal Burrows learn there is danger afoot at the convention. As a spy, he has been enlisted to get hold of a code that a terrorist is sending through at the convention so they can find out what he’s up to.  He can only hope that her hesitation in accepting his invitation will convince her to stay home.

Penelope Holloway is drawn to the online persona of the man who invited her to the game convention. Her first relationship begun online and ended badly, and while she is hesitant, Pen not only is curious about her online friend but she has enjoyed going to the convention in the past. After a case of mistaken identity, she decides her friend is a jerk as well before accidentally meeting up with him in the bar and finding out later who he is. Except she never suspected he was a spy or that her life was going to be in danger at the convention.

Gaming For Keeps was a pure delight to read. The characters were likable (I always find the geek characters are people I would enjoy hanging out with). The pace was face, the sex was hot and the action kept me on the edge of my seat. If you’re worried that the novella length won’t give you a full story, leave that worry at the door. This is the perfect length.

ARC provided by publisher for honest review.

Charming by Elliott James

Charming

Elliott James

Orbit

September 24, 2013

3.5 stars

John Charming is an outcast. He was raised as a knight Templar but he found himself hunted by them when it was discovered that he was part werewolf. After the knights killed Allison, his fiancée, he became a lower, always fighting the wolf inside. He never expected that his life would be turned upside down when Sig, a Valkyrie vampire hunter, walked into the bar he managed.

Sig is in a bad relationship but doesn’t have the heart to leave him as he is part of her team that hunts monsters. When she returns to the bar and finds John under attack from vampires, she steps in to save him and he ends up working with her team.

I really liked John and Sig. Their conflicts were realistic and worked within the perimeters of the story. Charming is the first in what I hope is a long series, and I do hope Sig returns to work with John. They really make a great team. There is no romanticizing the vampire element in this book, and the villains are written chillingly.

ARC provided by Netgalley for review.

http://www.amazon.com/Charming-Pax-Arcana-ebook/dp/B00BAXFFY2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374811376&sr=8-1&keywords=elliott+james+charming

Gambling On Love

Gambling On Love

Nancy Fraser & Patti Shenberger

Entangled Scandalous

May 20, 2013

4 Stars

Jake McCade has been duped! Not only did the young man arranging transport north for a family of slaves trick him in to accepting half the money now and half upon arrival, when the young man is injured, it turns out he’s no man at all but a young woman.

Felicity Beaumont only wants to do what is right. Her father tricked the family into signing papers keeping them indentured even after slavery was abolished. Only her father caught up with her before they reached their destination and she and Jake must wed or he faces jail.

What a refreshing historical romance. Felicity is a smart woman who knows how to take care of herself, her man and others along with making her place in the town. Jake was not a jerk of a man, rather one that despite his reluctance to give his heart again, finds himself caring deeply for his woman and he supports her in all that she does.

The sex scenes are hot and believable because you can feel the growing affection between the couple. I’m looking forward to the next book by these two authors.

I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.http://www.amazon.com/Gambling-Love-Entangled-Scandalous-ebook/dp/B00CK51J9E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1374025586&sr=8-2&keywords=gambling+on+love