Review: Ice Cream in the Snow by Diana Castilleja

Ice Cream in the Snow by Diana Castilleja

Publisher: Purple Sword Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 1

Blurb

A past she never knew, a debt never paid. Will it cost her life, and her heart?

Jessica Harden has lived her adult life raising and protecting her son. Except her surprises have been lying in wait. With the inheritance of her own business, her ordered life begins to experience the darker side of her ex-husband's history, involving secrets and money. And someone in the shadows knows about both.



Monica's Review

Ice Cream in the Snow by Diana Castilleja was a very suspenseful, mysterious and loving book. The characters of the book were very well thought out and how each one had an impact on each other. Jessica was a single parent to a teenage son and also trying to find her self again. Then you have Brick, the man that has come into her town to seek answers to his dilemma. Living in a small town is something a good thing but you never know truly who leaves there and why.

Jessica has learned that she has to protect herself and her son due to the past life she lived but how can you if you have no idea what has been done. How do you know when something is coming your way to seek refuge? Situations happen in this book that make you wonder can she actually ever get away from the debt that was never paid, but then again how could you have known about it. Castilleja disguises all of these lingering questions throughout the book that just make you not want to put the book down until you have completely read it all.

4 Tea Cups!

   

Review: Damaged Cargo by Sandra Sookoo

Damaged Cargo by Sandra Sookoo

Publisher: Purple Sword Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

When survival is of the utmost importance, it’s best to shoot first and ask questions later, especially if you won’t like the answers.

The 22nd century is heinous and finding a comfortable life in the Levinese Galaxy grows increasingly difficult.
Emma Gardine, one of a handful of female pirate captains in this throwback Victorian society, begs, borrows, steals and cheats her way through the planetary system on the hunt for a profit. An expert of guarding her heart and keeping people out, she never shows remorse and uses people until she gets what she wants, but the hope for a normal life glimmers just beyond her reach. Then she meets Tarik Vartouth and her world splinters with new emotions and possibilities.

Tarik survived the murder of his sisters and the collapse of his laid-back existence. He’s sick of the mandatory breeding programs for genetic supremacy on Nazulara that send innocent people to death and is looking to campaign for democracy for his species. When the opportunity to befriend Emma is presented, he takes it and makes a play for her ship in order to carry out his own plot for revenge against his father—the Premier and ruler of the planet. Stakes are raised when sparks between him and Emma fly. Now their future, as well as the planet’s, hangs in the balance.

These two independent and strong-willed people must learn how to set aside their own issues in order to work together for survival and the greater good—unless they kill each other first.



Dodie's Review

Sandra Sookoo has created a whole solar system for her space pirate captain to fly through. The romance elements in this book certainly outweigh the sci-fi aspects, but I enjoyed exploring the Levinese Galaxy with the pirates aboard the Wraith Orchid.

Emma Gardine, the pirate captain, uses men like tissues and throws them away. She goes to Nazurlara and meets Tarik, and for a long time ponders doing the same thing to him. Tarik is searching for a way off Nazurlara, and takes up refuge as the newest crew member on her space ship. He is only planning on overthrowing the Nazurlara government, and seeking revenge against his father – the Premier, but what is Emma going to do when he tries to take over her ship.

I loved that the tables were turned in this book. It was a great change of pace that the touch as nails, hiding from their emotions, pirate captain was shown HER softer side by the love interest in the book. Emma has had a hard life, and has been abandoned or betrayed at every previous opportunity. She has a difficult time trusting anyone, much less men. Tarik, really is no different than other people in her life, but he is intrigued by the enigma that is Emma. I guess really, that they are both saved by the love of a good person, each other.

If you love books with strong independent females, this one is for you.

4 Tea Cups!

   

Review: Love's Learning Curves by Diana DeRicci

Love’s Learning Curves by Diana DeRicci

Publisher: Purple Sword Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Dario Acardi has enough stress in his life. His family is hounding him to marry, his father wants him to take over as head of the pride, and his cousin needs to borrow the car. All he wants is a little peace.

Narrowly escaping another engagement his uncle deems as an "appropriate" showing for the coming heir of the Taja pride, he chaperones his cousin and date to the State Fair. The obvious problem is they don't want a chaperone and leave him in the dust to find his own entertainment. Except he finds himself standing behind a curvy brunette, and suddenly both he and his cougar are pacing like wild animals.

Sheridan Donovan is nursing a bruised heart and her brother and friends are driving her crazy with their coddling. What stung wasn't the break up. It was her ex's immediate engagement to a skinny friend.
But now that a certain cougar has decided she's the woman he needs, Dario has to convince her that what she believes isn't true at all. That size isn't what rules the heart. And perfection really is in the eye of the beholder.



Yadkny’s Review

Dario is an Alpha male in every sense of the word. He is the financial director at his father’s company and is the heir to the Taja cougar pride. Power, wealth, and status makes Dario an extremely valuable catch for a mate, but his families continued interference in his personal life has left him wanting to throw it all away, so he can be left in peace. He decides to shirk his duty for a day as heir to the pride and goes to the state fair under the guise of chaperone to his cousin and girlfriend. He never expected to get on the ride of his life with the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.

Sheridan has deep emotional wounds left by a couple of former boyfriends. Her brother and friends have branded her as fragile, so they treat her like she might break. All she wants is to forget the past and move on by graduating and start her career, but the past has reared it’s ugly head in the form of a wedding invitation. Sheridan’s ex-boyfriend is getting married to her friend and all because of an introduction in which she made. Two years of her life was given to that man and although Sheridan was the one to initiate the break up, he easily accepted. Sheridan’s physical appearance is to blame and it’s not the first time her figure has gotten in the way of happiness, but a ride on the Ferris wheel just might change that.

I absolutely loved this book! Diana DeRicci created a world that will swallow you up until the last page. There was predictability in its finest form with an extremely likable couple, but I never once found the storyline boring. I was completely captivated. I’m putting Dario and Sheridan into my list of all time favorite fictional couples. Sheridan’s emotional struggle to accept what Dario tells her was heartfelt and every woman will be able to sympathize. Body issues are common in real life and the way in which it is addressed in this story was amazingly well done. I walked away after reading this book feeling just a little bit better about my own self image and now the search is on to find my own Dario. He treats Sheridan like gold from the moment they met and the unpredictable shift of tenderness and greed that he possesses when he’s with her only adds to his appeal. The tender moments were sweet and romantic without being cheesy and the greedy moments were out of this world sexy. The ending is tied together so nicely I can only say that I want more. A must read and a must re-read and this being my first Diana DeRicci story, I am proud to say this won’t be my last.

5 Tea Cups and a Recommended Read!