Review: Maggie’s Mates by Bronwyn Green

Maggie’s Mates by Bronwyn Green

Publisher: Resplendence Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Having recently ended a bad relationship, Maggie Ryan returns to her hometown in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to discover things aren’t quite the way she remembers. Her childhood friends, Quinn and Lucas Makwa, are all grown up and keeping secrets. The shape-shifters want Maggie for their mate, but she’s not sure she wants to trust another man—let alone two that can shift into black bears at will.


Hunter's Review

I have read this scenario before. Girl leaves small town and the two men she can’t pick between only to return after a bad relationship to the small town and finally fill her heart’s desire with the two men she couldn’t forget. The difference in this book? The two men are actually bear shifters, which I loved.

Ms. Green does a wonderful job of making Maggie really wonderful. Her reaction to the news…or the demonstration…of what Quinn and Lucas actually are is right on. Quinn and Lucas are fun, sexy, men who want one thing: Maggie in their bed. Or the floor. Or wherever they can have her.

I think fans of Paranormal Romance with a Ménage twist will love this book. I did.

5 Tea Cups and a Recommended Read!

      

Review: Taken with the Enemy by Tia Fanning

Taken with the Enemy by Tia Fanning

Publisher: Resplendence Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Mathews, Brenna Marie
Sergeant
Combat Medic
U.S. National Guard

My captor tells me that I’m not a prisoner of war, but how else can I see myself? I was abducted and brought to an unknown location in the middle of the desert. I’m sequestered behind a locked door and bars cover my windows. I even have an armed guard who takes me for walks.

But he, the nameless captor responsible for my care, claims otherwise. He tells me that he’s not my enemy, that if he was, I’d already be dead. He promises to release me when the time is right. He says I’m safer now—with him—than I was before.

Despite his reassurances, I do not feel safe. Though he has treated me kindly, given me every comfort a prisoner could ever want or need, I have to find a way to leave—and soon. I don’t understand how it’s possible, but my captor knows me. He knows my past, he knows my secrets, knows just what to say to move me… and what to say to break me.

I have been taken by the enemy… and I must find a way to escape before I’m taken with him.



Hunter’s Review

I loved this book. I’ve actually read it three times because I love it so much. Whenever I’m in need of a book to act as ‘comfort food’ for my brain, I turn to this book.

Brenna’s unnamed captor is a wonderful character who charms both Brenna and the reader while Brenna’s strength of character and spirit makes her completely wonderful to read in a first person book.

The love scenes are hot and the ending fulfilling in the best possible way. In fact, I have to admit to having shed a few tears the first time I read it. If you haven’t read Tia Fanning I would say run, don’t walk, to give her a try. You won’t be disappointed and you may find yourself reading this book over and over again.

5 Tea Cups!

      

Review: Daughters of Persephone by Julia Barrett

Daughters of Persephone by Julia Barrett

Publisher: Resplendence Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

Book One: Exile

Aja Bokinan, of noble blood, is the Thousand Year Empress who has grown to adulthood in exile. Throughout the Empire, women are banned from public life, have no legal rights, and they have become little better than property.

In an attempt to kill off the royal line and end all resistance, Aja is kidnapped by a General who intends to inject her with a lethal virus, hoping she will infect her family and Women of the Blood everywhere.

Kyr Aram, is a smuggler and secret Resistance fighter. He must find a way to protect Aja from both the General and a traitor on his own ship who wishes to see her dead. With the Thousand Year Empress, he gets more than he bargained for.

Book Two: Return

The Lady Ennat, has been sent by her mother to Resistance Commander, Karna Aram. She is a Blood decoy, her role is to protect her sister Aja, the Thousand Year Empress, and draw the bulk of the Coalition forces away from the Resistance fighters. Knowing she may not live to see tomorrow, she gives into her growing feelings for Commander Aram.

Karna Aram wanted the woman from the moment she set foot on his supply depot, but nobody touches a Princess of the Blood. He resists his bone deep desire until Ennat challenges him to pick up a sword and spar with her. All bets are off. Karna has a different kind of sword play in mind.

When the Ennat and her sister, Aja, are reunited, they know the Coalition is coming after them. They must risk all to save their followers, and the men they love.



LynnMarie’s Review

I’ve read other books by Julia Barrett, so I was eager to start Daughters of Persephone. I commend Ms. Barrett for the time and devotion in creating a realistic sci-fi world with its own terms and rules. You are pulled into the realism of a new world and kept there by the larger than life characters.

In book one, we meet Aja and Kyr. Their romance is sweet and humorous, both knowing they’d found their mate from their first encounter. Aja is a daughter of The Blood, a race of women developed long ago on Earth and since descended from Persephone. They have unique abilities and can defeat a male with their eyes closed. Kyr is captain and responsible for Aja’s safe delivery in a time of political unrest.

In book two, Aja’s sister, Ennat, and Kyr’s brother, Karna are the focus. Ennat has the same mahogany hair and grey eyes of her sister, but she’s stronger, ready to fight and kill whenever necessary. Her relationship with Karna is sexy and playful. They challenge each other, but can’t deny their desire. Once they take the step to join their blood, their fate is sealed, joining them together forever.

There is a lot of politics in this book which can be a bit heavy at times. However, the dialogue, humor and developing romances keep the reader’s interest. The entire book was consistent and followed the rules created by the author early on in the book. The two Daughters of Persephone are ready to take on their evil father in hopes to bring peace and stability to the world. We learn a little of a third sister, but only meet her briefly.  Each woman would easily give up their lives for their cause, or for their mates.

If you enjoy a complex and engaging sci-fi read with kick-ass heroines and steamy romance, escape into Julia Barrett’s new world in Daughters of Persephone.

4 Tea Cups!

   

Review: Beauty and the Feast by Julia Barrett

Beauty and the Feast by Julia Barrett

Publisher: Resplendence Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Eva Raines is an uncomplicated country girl who's all about food. Eva moves to the Napa Valley where her culinary skills come to the attention of the owners of a start-up, All Things to All People, and Eva finds her niche as a personal chef. Now all she needs is a man as perfect as her cooking, but she has serious doubts that such a creature exists.

When wealthy entrepreneur, winery owner, and noted lothario, Gabriel Abbott, makes plans to seduce his flavor of the month, his assistant hires All Things to All People to cater a gourmet dinner. Eva expects to use her way with food to showcase the startup. What she unexpectedly discovers is that her culinary skills showcase far more.

Once Gabriel finds himself seduced by Eva's voice, and the sensual flavors and textures of her food, his previous plans are quickly forgotten. He begins to obsess about meeting his little chef in person. But when Eva and Gabe finally come face to face, the question is, how hot will their fire burn?



Lena’s Review

Can a woman chef and a great winery owner find love with one another?
Eva Raines loves cooking and baking; it’s her whole life. Life to her goes by quick when she is working with food for there are no problems of men leaving her. That is until an appointment brings  Gabriel Abbott into her life and somehow into her heart.

She always knew food was to a man’s stomach but something about Gabe brings out more in her. For the first time she feels safe, cherished and loved. Eva knows she is different from the other women he has dated before, but she cannot stay away from him. Something about him makes her feel more of a woman than just a chef. Only thing is, can she keep her man when an evil woman wants her away from Gabe. Can her food keep her man in her heart?

Gabriel Abbott is a man who loves money and women, with no time for love in his life. So it comes as a shock that he cannot forget about his little chef. Hearing her voice was like a breath of fresh air but meeting her in person just knocks him away. He’s dated beautiful women before and a country girl like Eva is so unlike his style. Yet he cannot forget about her no matter how hard he works. He knows his flavor of the month Stephanie wants him, but something about Eva seems pure. Eva completes him in every way and a day without her is killing him. Can he convince her that a little chef like her and a winery owner like him belong to one another?

One word for this book is WOW from the beginning to the end. I can’t decide who I loved the most for everybody in this book was awesome from Gabe, Eva, and Jason to even the evil Stephanie. The food in this book was delicious and the passion between Eva and Gabe, beautiful. This is the first  book I have read by Julia Barrett and definitely won’t be the last. This author is talented in bringing the story to life from the food, passion and secondary characters all in one book. Great job!

5 Tea Cups!

      

Review: Dead Girl Talking by Annmarie Ortega

Dead Girl Talking by Annmarie Ortega

Publisher: Resplendence Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

Until recently, I led a pretty normal life. But then I did something that kind of changed things for me: I had a one night stand with a vampire.
Things got a little carried away and he bit me, turning me into a vampire too. I guess you can say I learned the hard way that love bites, and once bitten there's no going back.

LynnMarie’s Review

This book was written in a first person POV, which can sometimes be annoying, but not in this novel. Janice is a great heroine. She’s had it with her life, and doesn’t expect things can get much worse. Her best friend has forgotten she exists after moving in with her new boyfriend. When she meets Jake, she’s blown away. It’s so easy to ignore any feelings of right and wrong when he looks so edible. But before she can do anything she regrets, he leaves her in the heat of the moment, with a promise to meet with her again.

What starts as a hot love affair, turns into a lifetime connection, when Jake accidentally turns Janice into a vampire. At first she’s shocked and pissed, but after noticing the great physical changes in her appearance, she’s more accepting.

Jake turns out to be a great friend and helps her on her journey as a new vampire. It’s the vampire killer, Hunter, who touches her heart in a way she can’t deny. Though she knows Hunter is dangerous and would destroy her life in a second if he knew her true identity, she can’t stay away from him.

The sex Is hot, and the love story sweet and fulfilling. This paranormal romance wasn’t just another cookie cutter vampire romance. Dead Girl Talking held my interest to the end. Our heroine, with her accepting, humorous nature made this book a winner.

For a refreshing, fun, paranormal romance that’s hot and has enough depth to keep your interest, try Dead Girl Talking by Annmarie Ortega

4 1/2 Tea Cups!