Friday, February 26, 2016

Katharine Ashe---The Rogue

I have read and enjoyed all of Katharine Ashe's Falcon Club books. I have waited for three years to read Lady Constance's story and it's FABULOUS!!

Ms. Ashe is known for creating intelligent , one-of - kind heroines, such as Lady Constance Read, and pairing them with honorable heroes!


Saint left the room, crossed the antechamber and reached for the door handle. The panel swung open and abruptly she was before him, her cheeks flushed and her lips parted. She had changed her hair and wore jewels about her bare neck now. The lamplight set them aglitter, like the candid blue of her eyes. She practically glowed. 

She was an heiress, a woman of beauty and wealth and rank who had in her youth engaged in a careless flirtation with an idiotically susceptible young man. She was no grand villain, No matter that he'd spent years avoiding this moment, now he saw only the soft, quick surprise of that girl with whom he had spent one forbidden fortnight, the girl he had not for one day in six years forgotten. 


Ms. Ashe’s is an excellent storyteller. Her deeply romantic writing style and attention to historical detail lend itself to this story as the reader becomes immediately immersed in the novel. I could visualize Haiknayes Castle and the six -pointed star carved over it's front door. I felt the couple’s desire for each other as each scene unfolded. And, I believed that I was watching Saint teaching Constance how to fence in Lord Read's ballroom. 

The author does an excellent job crafting the novel's heroine and hero. Lady Constance Read is an agent for the Falcon Club who has been tasked with solving the murders of two young woman who were murdered on the grounds of Haiknayes Castle. Saint is an honorable man, a soldier and a master swordsman who has been hired to teach Constance the art of self defense. The couple shared a passionate kiss six years ago that neither has forgotten. I wondered if this couple would be able to rekindle their relationship or if Saint would let her go. Constance learns to trust Saint and they are both pulled into the mystery of the missing women. Saint puts Constance's safety before his own and vows to protect her because he loves her unconditionally. 
 
The Rogue is an intricately woven story which combines the quest for the kidnapper’s identity with Saint and Constance’s love story. The novel has an original and very intriguing storyline and there were several clever plot twists and turns. The last one hundred pages are very suspenseful and the writing is superb. Each of the author’s words adds to the building tension within the novel and leads to its fabulous conclusion. 

If you are looking for a fabulous regency read, I recommend The Rogue!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman 
Edited by Brian McGee 
Graphics by Celeste and Avon 
Book purchased from Amazon by the reviewer.




Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Wind Chime Cafe by Sophie Moss


by Sophie Moss

I came across this story on my kindle. Do you ever
do that? Just see a story somewhere and feel drawn to
read it? Even if you don't know the author? Or have any
connection to it?
That's how this was. I have never read Sophie Moss.
But I felt like I just had to read it.
Thank goodness!

It has been a wonderful, heart touching, demanding,
real life, emotional story. The characters were
wildly diverse. And still, came together beautifully.
I could not wait from moment to moment to find
out what was going to happen.


Annie Malone is a single mom. She is not always
lovable. She has a lovely eight year old daughter,
Taylor. Taylor is in an emotionally fragile place.
Sometimes, Annie puts people off in the process of
protecting Taylor. But she is putting everything on the
line on Heron Island to make a new, safe,
comfortable life for the two of them.
Will Dozier is a Navy Seal trying to get
a hold of his own life. He grew up here on
Heron Island. But he has not been home for
10 years. He is being forced to be here to take
care of his grandparents homestead. And do it
in such a way that it stays true to their memory.

Taylor and Will have everything in common.
Even though she is an 8 year old girl and he is
a grown man and Navy Seal. The emotions everyone
in this story goes through are written so well. They will
all settle deep in your heart. You will picture
the diner and the beach. You will hear the wind
chimes. You will feel the children in their pure
happiness and then in desperate fear.
Its been some time since I read a story that has
touched me so much. There are no slow times. Its
not all hard. But it flows and moves along steady.
I really loved this story.
Review by Lisa Hutson



Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Secrets on the Sand by Roxanne St Claire

by Roxanne St Claire

This is Book One of the
Barefoot Bay Billionaires series.
The kindle version of this one is free.

Zeke (Ezekiel the Geekiel) Nicholas does
not recall his high school years fondly. Though
there was one good memory. One memory he has
held onto all these years. All the years he has spent
using his "geekiel" talents to become a billionaire.
Mandy (Mandy the Magnificent) Mitchell had a very
different high school experience. She was the popular
one. The girl everyone knew and wanted to be around.
Sadly, Mandy does not remember herself being
the nicest of people.
Turns out Mandy was nicer than she thinks.
Frankie Cardinale was a freshman at Mimosa High
back in Mandys time. Mandy was kind to her and
Frankie has never forgotten. Mandy was also very
nice to Zeke, which is the one good memory he
has from high school.
Then, cut to the time of the story. Mandys life has
taken a series of turns she did not see coming. Now, she
finds herself working as a maid in her hometown.
There are people from her school days that never want
her to forget how easy her Mimosa High time was.

Zeke finds himself staying at the Barefoot Bay resort that
Mandy works in. He cant believe his luck when she comes
to his villa door. Loaded with cleaning supplies. To him,
she is still the most beautiful, desireable woman he has
ever seen.
Mandy wants to earn a new better life for herself. She
wants to work and make it happen. She has plans for
her own cleaning business.
Both Zeke and Mandy know how it feels to be kicked
when you are down. They have issues with trust and
self confidence.
Kinda makes you think they would be the
perfect couple, doesn't it? Can she let down her guard?
Can money buy happiness?
This is one of my favorite story types. One is a good
person. Who is poor. One is a good person that's rich.
Roxanne St Claire has written a fun,

 romantic believable story. I enjoyed it.
And I look forward to the rest of the series.

I got my kindle copy from Amazon.
Review by Lisa Hutson







Friday, February 12, 2016

Life, Love and Babies Series by Samantha Chase

I loved each of the novellas in Samantha Chase’s Life, Love and Baby series. Each story has a sweet couple, an engaging story and can be finished in one sitting.



The Baby Arrangement
Kayleigh Mitchell agrees to help her boss Derek Sloan care for a baby that was dropped off at his office. I am not a huge fan of the office romance trope but this sweet story is quite heartwarming. The characters are likeable and the plot moves along at a good pace. Kayleigh and Derek bond as they care for baby Emery and learn what the word ‘family” truly means.

Baby, I’m Yours
Nikki and Josh’s story was my favorite of the three novellas. Nikki celebrates the end of her college education by going out to a bar with friends. She meets a handsome man named Tyler and has a one night stand with him. The fast paced story takes place three years later and the characters are well written. Samantha Chase has the knack for taking an often used storyline (in this case the “surprise baby’ dilemma) and making it her own by creating wonderful characters who are challenged to work through every day issues. I appreciated that the author portrayed Nikki as an independent woman and loving mother. I enjoyed reading the scenes when Josh (aka Tyler) recognizes Nikki and realizes that her daughter maybe his child. I wish this novella had been a full length story as both the main and secondary characters were well developed and the storyline touched each character.

Baby, Be Mine

Olivia had a huge crush on her brother’s best friend Jake in high school. She returns to her hometown for a month long vacation. Her brother Mike convinces her to help Jake care for his new born twins. Olivia’s vacation plans didn’t include babysitting but she agrees to help. Jake  and Olivia disagreed about everything at first and then learned to talk things through and work together. The story's ending surprised me and was perfect for this couple.


It's Valentines week and......

If you are in the mood for three sweet contemporary novellas—pick up these stories!

Reviewed By Susan Gorman 
ARC provided by Sourcebooks
Graphic from Samantha Chase




Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Second Chance Summer by Jill Shalvis- Audio Version

by Jill Shalvis

Cedar Ridge, Book 1
Audio Version
Lily Danville is a hot mess. Her professional life is
a disaster at the moment. She struggles every day
dealing with the loss of her sister and her father.
 Now she has been let go from her job.
She is being pulled to a new job. Tugged kicking and
fighting to her hometown for this job. That she knows
she needs. She knows it. But it doesn't really help
knowing that. It doesn't help when she pulls into town
with almost no money and right off the bat comes
face to face with the guy that her sister had feelings for.
The same guy Lily has been crushing on forever.
Aidan Kincaid is a rescue worker & firefighter. He comes
with a hodge podge family of tough determined people.
They love each other no matter what.
Funny thing is, Aidan has been crushing on Lily forever.
Neither of them knows the other is feeling it.  
Aidan's mother is just as tough as the rest and she wont
let them forget it. She wont let any of them forget
that life is to be lived. Full out, head on. She is nothing
if not determined to get herself some grandchildren.
And so, she is a very busy woman.
It's Jill Shalvis, so you know you are in for lots of feels.
Some laughs. And some great images in your
imagination. I always like a Shalvis story. Even when
they aren't her best, they are always good. That is not true
for very many authors.  
Karen White is the narrator. She has done a lot of Jill's stories.
Review by Lisa Hutson
I bought my audio copy from
Audible.com



Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Anything For You by Kristan Higgins - Audio Version

Anything For You
by Kristan Higgins

Anything For You is from the Blue Heron series.

Connor O'Rourke has been in love with Jessica Dunn
since they were 12 years old.
Connor has not had the easiest life. But really, he always
had his twin sister, Colleen. Their parents broke up.
Their mother did not take it well. Their dad started a
new family for himself.
Meanwhile, Jessica has been trying to survive. Taking care
 of her parents, herself and her little brother, Davey.
Davey suffers from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Only Jessica
can take care of him. At least, that's what she thinks.  
She never asks for help from anyone. Never.

That is hard for Connor to accept. He is the guy that takes
care of the people around him. Especially the women.
Its always been his fondest wish to take care of Jessica.
But Jessica is determined to take care of herself and Davey.
She struggles and strives to reach her goals.
With her own personal life being her last concern.
The story runs over a long span of time. The way its written
draws you in. Closer to the characters. Into their relationships.
You will find yourself cheering when the good things happen for
everyone. Then, of course, crying when the bad things happen.
The Holland clan. The O'Rourkes. Everyone from Manningsport
is in this story. Oh gosh, just thinking about this story makes
me smile and tear up a little bit.
I have to add, I have read quite a few Kristan Higgins stories.
I have always liked them. I feel like her writing style is
changing. The last two stories of hers have felt different.
More and deeper emotion. The characters are interesting
and real. Even the ones that aren't so likable are important
and you want to know about them.
Amy Rubinate is a wonderful narrator for Kristans books.
I have not listened to her for a while and as soon as she
started talking, it reminded me how great she does.
Review by Lisa Hutson
I bought my audio copy from Audible.com