January Book Reviews
Title: Forever Love
Author: Melissa Miller
Publisher: Hearts on Fire Books
Faced with horrid circumstances, Emily Malone has made lemonade out of the lemons fate dropped on her doorstep. With the help of her best friend Michael, she has managed to raise her son, Andrew. Despite Andrew being a result of a random rape attack, he is the love of her life and she harbors no regrets. Faced with creating the best possible environment for her son, she decides to leave her New York City life behind for the simple life on her Uncle Arty’s ranch in Texas. As Emily walks off the airplane, Austin is breathless at the sight of this beautiful woman whose husband or boyfriend would be stupid enough to let them move without him. How could Michael give Emily and Andrew up that easily? As the time passes and they get to know each other, they both realize how much they love each other. Austin is hesitant to make a move because he thinks that Michael is Austin’s dad. Emily is terrified to explain the truth about Austin’s dad. Will he hate her? Will it repulse him? She loves him too much to withstand the rejection. As their physical desire is tempted and emotional bond tested, only Michael can shake the reality of the situation into Emily. An emotionally seductive tale of a woman and a man who both love each other very much yet fear the result s of bearing their soul to the other. This novel is not only entertaining but plays on the fears and hesitations of most single and divorced adults in today’s society. The combination of selfish ignorance, dramatic events and deep unavoidable love creates a must read tale.
March 2009
Title: Market For Love
*Erotica*
Author: Jamaica Layne
Publisher: Cheek Books
ISBN: 9780352342034
With her client’s stock portfolio crashing into the ninth circle of hell and mascara running down her face, not to mention the keyboard imprints on her face, Miranda Johanson’s spiraling world collides with Max. A force to be reckoned with, this drop dead gorgeous man with ice blue eyes and a body to die for threatens her entire existence. Immediately losing control of any and all will power she ever possessed, she attacks the man with a “grab-his-ass, stick-her-tongue-halfway-down-his-throat kind of kiss.” Not stopping until his hard throbbing cock is buried deep inside her, her world is awakened by a sexual desire and want she didn’t know existed.
Twenty minutes later, the bottom falls out of her world all together when the new CEO and her direct supervisor shows up at her office with a dozen red roses. Staring into Max’s ice blue eyes, she is dumb founded by the fact that she just fucked her new boss’s brains out immediately after losing $88 million for her clients. She was fired!!! She might as well pack her personal effects now. However, he proceeds to inform her that despite their professional relationship, he wants more from her and ALWAYS gets what he wants. As the weeks drag on and she tries to deny the passion between them, she only falls deeper making him fall even harder than his amazing shaft that she craves so much.
Reality along with Victoria Markham come crashing into their crazy world of earth shattering orgasms. Not only are Max and Miranda both named in Victoria’s insane lawsuit against the company, Max could lose the company and Miranda forever. Throw vindictive Victoria Markham and old vendettas to settle with Max and Miranda in the mix, and you are in for a wild ride. Filled with erotic sex, one hell of a story line and some of the best writing I have read in years, this book will have you riveted from cover to cover. I am in love with Jamaica Layne.
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Title: Down Home Ever Lovin’ Mule Blues Author: Jacquie Rogers Publisher: Highland Press ISBN: 9780980035681 What do rodeos, Rita, and Socrates – a smart-ass yet very wise - miniature mule have in common? One hot rodeo clown named Brody Alexander. Brody walks into Judy’s house to drag his stubborn mule from her pantry only to be stopped dead in his tracks by the sultry voice of Rita Markum. The once skinny teenager is now a voluptuous bombshell. Brody, hard pressed to keep his gaze from her full bosom and shapely thighs, was silently cursing Socrates. After all these years, Rita’s heart still does a flip at the sight of Brody. The sight of him dredges up the old humiliation of throwing herself at him ten years ago. The rejection she faced then did nothing to prevent that same desire from overtaking her now. She must be insane. With a successful fiancé, great job and wedding invitations sitting at home, the last thing she needed to think about was some busted up rodeo clown without a dollar in the bank. She just needed to survive this podunk town long enough for her mom’s knee to heal while avoiding Brody like the plague. Complications arise when David shows up demanding that she work on “his” project for which she has done all the work on so that he can get her promotion. Trying to remind herself that this promotion is important to their pending marriage while ignoring her reaction to Brody’s presence, she is forced to deal with old emotions and new realizations. Will she fall for Brody all over again? Will Brody live up to the expectations of his life and family? How far will he go to win Rita? If Socrates and the rest of Brody’s mismatch bunch of animals have any say, neither Rita nor Brody have a chance in hell. One of the most hilarious romance novels I have ever read, I laughed from start to finish. A ton of laughter and a great story packed into a short read, I highly recommend this book and look forward to more from Jacquie. It’s one hell of ride I must say. Rating: ©©©©© Title: Love Heals All Pain Rachel Connors has been through a lot in her short life. The last thing she expected was to fall in love with Kyle Landers, a worker on her family’s ranch. Life seems to be perfect as the two become engaged, but tragedy strikes – taking Kyle away from Rachel. Feeling cold and empty, Rachel isn’t sure she can continue on without Kyle, until a miracle happens – she finds out that she’s pregnant with Kyle’s child. Finding a new purpose to live, Rachel dedicates her life to her child’s happiness and well-being. Imagine her surprise when the fates throw Marcus into her path. Wanting nothing more than to ensure Rachel’s happiness, Marcus convinces her to marry him. Kyle had been gone for a year and it was time for her to move on. Accepting his proposal, Rachel once more finds happiness. Unbeknownst to everyone, Kyle is lying in a hospital in a coma. Upon waking up, the first person he asks for is Rachel, but no one seems to know who she is or where she is. Imagine Kyle’s shock when he finds Rachel engaged to another man. Rachel has a tough decision to make. She doesn’t want to hurt either man, as she cares deeply about both of them, but there is only one man she will ever truly love – Kyle. Marcus, however, does not take the rejection well and takes off with Rachel’s child to another state. As Rachel and Kyle struggle to locate their missing child, the two of them become closer than ever before. Love Heals All Pain is full of heartache, joy, sadness, and love. Its twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see what happens next. While there are heart-wrenching events that will make you cry, there is an underlying story of hope. And in the end, you will know that love truly does heal all pain. Rating: ©©©© Reviewed by Jessica Smith Title: Charade Pamela Kimble has always thought of herself as a plain, ordinary woman, a woman who was lucky to have the attention of man, any man. Then something remarkable happens. She is reacquainted with Randall Stuart Vanhorn, only she doesn’t realize who he is. Thinking that Randy is only asking her out in order to get some details ironed out on the sham engagement she plans on telling her family about, she goes with him without question. But it only takes a few dates for Pamela to realize that there’s more to Randy than meets the eye. He’s charming, sweet, and funny. Without realizing it, she starts falling in love with him. But what could Randy possibly see in her? Randy, an ex-lieutenant in the Army, has secretly desired Pamela for four years. The charade she plans on putting on for her family is the perfect excuse to get to know her better. Wining and dining her, he gets to know more and more about Pamela, and the more he knows the more he loves her. The story was well-written and had me hooked from beginning to end; it was easy to fall in love with the characters. Pamela faces a lot of insecurities that women deal with on a daily basis, but in the end she was able to over-come them all with the love of a good man, a man who always saw her for the jewel that she was. J. O. Parks has created a delightful tale that I wouldn’t mind reading again. Rating: ©©©.5 Reviewed by Jessica Coulter Smith
Author: Melissa Miller
Publisher: Hearts on Fire Books
Author: J. O. Parks
Publisher: Hearts on Fire Books
November 2009
Title: Raeliksen
Author: Renee Vincent
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-0-595-5236-9
Daegan Raeliksen has decided it’s time to take a wife, but not just any woman will do. He has spied a dark haired beauty near the Shannon that he plans to claim. However, the day he introduces himself, marauders invade the area, forcing him to abduct the delectable lass and flee the area. He’s certain she will grow to love him and agree to marry him.
Mara is frightened when she first spies the large blond man. However, as events unfold she is forced to place her trust him. It doesn’t take her long to realize that she has feelings for him and does indeed wish to marry him. But her father is no ordinary Lord; no, he’s a King. Knowing that her father will never agree to her marriage to Daegan, Mara is distraught and unsure of what to do.
In the midst of their budding love, the marauders are hot on their trail. Little does Daegan know that the threat to him and his beloved is none other than his twin brother, Domaldr. Feeling slighted by his family, Domaldr will stop at nothing to find the woman and seek vengeance against his brother. Who will win? The couple who are fated to love one another? Or the blood-thirsty Viking, bent on revenge and destruction…
The imagery in this book will take your breath away. Ms. Vincent’s way with words is stellar, drawing the story in your mind as you read through the pages. Her characters are well developed and come to life, jumping off the pages and into your mind – and finding their way into your heart. The storyline is engaging and will keep you in intrigued from the first very page to the very last. This delightful book is definitely a shelf-keeper and one that I will gladly read again.
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Reviewed by Jessica Coulter Smith
Title: Whispering Lake
Author: Jessica Coulter Smith
Publisher: Wild Horse Press Release Date: August 2009
Paperback ISBN: 9781448645565
also available in e-book format
http://www.the-wild-horse-press.com
Torn between the intense fire that Cole’s deep kisses ignite within her and the deep love she secretly harbors for Matt, what will Cassie do? Matt, the amazingly handsome ghost and her best friend of years, longs to be with Cassie but knows that she deserves a man who is well, alive. All the while, Cassia yearns to tell him how she feels and to have his warm soft lips on hers. However, the hope of sharing a life with a ghost is but a pipe dream. To escape from it all, she takes a road trip to Whispering Lake with her best friends where her Wiccan intuition comes alive surrounded by the beautiful lake and three strapping brothers whom she is sharing a cabin with! Cole and his twin brother Michael both go crazy over Cassie’s full lips and long wavy chestnut hair cascading over her shapely bust trailing to her tiny waste and voluptuous hips.
As Cassie and Cole are drawn to each other through deep conversation and intimate kisses, she reluctantly reveals her ability to speak to ghosts. However, the love and desire she has for Matt still weighs heavily on her heart and conscious while her body turns to fire every time Cole takes her into his arms. Cole wishes to tell her his secret but is fearful of losing her. Torn between Matt and Cole, she must decide. Will she accept that he and his brothers are shape-changing werewolves? Will she chose to have Matt for a matter of days or Cole for a lifetime?
The author weaves an amazing and riveting tale of love and desire, hope and fear with a little bit of wicked fun thrown in the mix. This book will stir your senses with the combination of fantasy and reality leaving you wanting more from this amazing new author. This is a must read story.
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Title: Moonlight Protector
Author: Jessica Coulter Smith
Publisher: Wild Horse Press
Release Date: January 2009
Not your typical romance novel, the story line of this book brings to life real fears and takes you through the journey of a frightened woman. As she finds her way from a weak insecure victim to a strong vibrant woman, your faith in the ability to heal wounds and renew love will flourish. I definitely recommend this book. Once again, Jessica Coulter Smith has done an amazing job!!!
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥