Review: Bound by Trust by Lila Munro

Bound by Trust by Lila Munro

Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

The Widow

After her husband Gage is killed in combat, Madi Melbourne finds out just how hard being a widow can be. She’s been left destitute piecing together a life she never knew Gage was living, and as the puzzle takes shape she begins to fall apart.

Her Savior

Rafe McCarthy has always been known as the unit playboy. Having never married and childless he finds himself examining his life and looking at the what-ifs, then a beautiful widow moves in next door and he begins to discover something he never knew existed inside of him.

Learning to trust…

How can he convince her to trust again and place that trust in him? Will he be able to live up to the responsibility he has taken in teaching her love again?


Wendy’s Review

Let me say, I loved the book and I fell in love with the characters. Their story is so realistic that I felt as if they were my friends.

Madi Melbourne was starting life over after the death of her army husband. What she thought was a happy marriage wasn't all that happy, so now she moved back to her hometown in Fort Leonard Wood near a marine base. Tired of always being in debt for a debt that wasn’t hers, Madi needed a fresh start. What was a bonus was her neighbor Rafe McCarthy. Too bad she didn't trust him. Her trust was something, Gage, her first husband, took to the grave with him.

Rafe was in the marines for life. When he met Madi he was out to have a good time only, but then he knew she was the woman for him. Too bad she didn't trust herself or him to give it a chance. He was a good guy and he would prove to her that good guys win the girl in the end. He had to prove that he was a man of his word and get her to live in the present not the past with her ghost.

Through all the hardships, Rafe is a man who Madi learned to depend on and love again. He made her feel like a woman cherished while teaching her what she craves is right in his arms.

Theirs is a true love story with their share of disagreements and trials. The story had me from the first paragraph and is a must read if you want a real man falling in love with a real woman.

5 Tea Cups!

      

Review: Halloween Treasures Anthology

Halloween Treasures: A Jewels of the Quill Halloween Anthology by Barbara Raffin, Dee Lloyd, Karen Wiesner, Jane Toombs, and Margaret L. Carter

Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb
Rediscover chills and thrills…and quills…on Halloween! 

Five Jewels of the Quill authors offer stories that will charm, bewitch and scare you silly. 

A collection for readers to enjoy during the spooky season...or any day of the year!


Hunter’s Review

I’m not sure what I expected when I opened up this anthology but Halloween Treasures didn’t live up to any expectations I had created in my mind. To me, the best story in the book is the first one, The Scarecrow and Ms. Moon by Barbara Raffin. It is a fun, paranormal romance, about a woman who has to make it work with her lover after she has, in anger, turned him into a scarecrow. It was creative, unique and I really enjoyed it.

But after that I felt the book floundered. The other stories were all over the place, two of them part of an ongoing series that continued within the anthology (Boo!). I think if an author or a publisher is going to do that, they need to warn the reader on the cover with something like ‘this book contains an ongoing series’ so that its not such a shock to think you’re reading a collection of stories in a Halloween story and find that 2 out of the 5 stories are virtually unreadable unless you’ve bought previous work.

I think the Scarecrow and Ms. Moon is a wonderful read and I was glad to have read it. It’s always nice to find Halloween stories this time of year and it certainly got me ready for the holiday.

2 ½ Tea Cups!

Kaleidoscope Series by Karen Wiesner

Kaleidoscope Series by Karen Wiesner

Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

Kaleidoscope Office Building provides employment to nine
hot, young singles--all about to make a love connection.
Working 9 to 5 has never been so complicated...or so much fun!



Wendy’s Review

Karen Wiesner created a book with 7 individual stories that intertwined with each other through a company called Kaleidoscope, owned and operated by Angela Lewis.

The first story was set at Christmas with a much needed getaway for Keri Woods. The only problem was that she wanted to be alone with Joshua Lewis, but with Angela’s cousin there, she wasn't getting her Christmas wish. Keri and Josh shared a moment years before but Josh doesn't seem to remember while Keri can't forget. But what Keri doesn't know is that Josh does remember and has regretted not pursuing her ten years earlier. What seemed to be an accident was actually a match making scheme. Christmas is for magic and dreams and Keri got both when her and Josh finally got together again.

The second story was about Angela Lewis and Kiowa Mackenzie at Valentines. Angela came back to Fever, TX to go to her friend and cousin’s wedding. She worked hard but her true meaning in life was to see all her family and friends happy. Angela turned her back on the one man who truly loved her because of their age. Kiowa wasn't going to allow that to happen this time. The maid of honor and the best man decided it was time to show Angela that she truly deserved to be happy also. Valentines is a day of romance and for Angela and Kiowa, cupid stabbed them with the arrow of love.

The third couple is Aimee Cooper and Rob Channing. Aimee was mourning her father’s death when she secretly has had a crush on Rob, an accountant, who had a reputation of having many women. Aimee didn't think she had a chance with her looks, but Rob saw past that and he offered to help Aimee with her father’s estate. Rob was infatuated with Aimee and their friends warned him not to hurt her or trouble would happen. But all Rob wanted to do was love and cherish her, and give her something her father never was able to—acceptance.

The fourth story was Dex Everett and Jordana DeSoto. They lived across the hall from each other. Dex ran the graphic design shop, Lewis Graphics at KALEIDOSCOPE. He was gorgeous and wealthy. Jordana was gorgeous and she was a seamstress by the morning and waitress in the afternoon and evenings. Jordana had problems with not allowing anyone close. She lived in fear of losing everything because when she was young that was what happened with her parents, and they lived on the streets. Dex never had to worry about money or where the next meal would come from so when he heard her story he knew the reason he loved her. She was the woman he was looking for all his life, she was down to earth and worked hard for those she loved. Their story was a true summer romance and Dex and Jordana knew that life was too short to not take a chance.

The fifth story was Billy LaPointe and Veronica Spencer. Billy and Roni had been dating for years but Roni couldn't be honest with him for the reason she wouldn't allow their relationship to go further. Roni lived in fear that Billy and his son could be seriously hurt because of her past. Billy was tired of waiting so when push came to shove he was willing to lose her to get her to the altar. This story has you sitting on the edge of your seat to see how they get together in the end. It was a nail biter.

The sixth story was Shayna Cavanay and Dakota Loring. Shayna divorced Mason, a man who was self centered and the most selfish person in the world. The only thing that keeps her from removing him from her life is their son Ty. When trouble happens at school again and Shayna had to go in by herself, she started looking at Dakota more than her son’s teacher but as a man who was genuinely nice. She knew that she could count on Dakota. It was now the time to start over and begin a new life. Things come to head when her ex wants something that she isn't willing to give.

The seventh and final story was about Jolie Everett and Jag Myrick. Jag was never home—he was on assignment for most of their three year marriage. Jolie was tired of living alone and knowing that her husband was actually having an affair with his partner. When she thought all was done and was ready to start the new year by herself Jag comes home to his wife who he hasn't stopped loving. When he finds out about the divorce he does fast talking to try and save their marriage. When danger comes to their door, Jolie sees where she might have jumped to conclusions but she still didn't want to be alone again. Jag wants his wife and a life with her. Can her convince her of that?

Karen brought seven stories of family and friendships into one collective book, and the short stories were wonderfully written. She brought back what true friendships, love and commitments are all about where people care for each other and where you help family and friends when they have a need.

4 Tea Cups!

   

Review: Woodcutter's Grim by Karen Wiesner

Woodcutter's Grim Series: Classic Tales of Horror Retold by Karen Wiesner

Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
Genre: Fantasy Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

Anthology.

For the ten generations since the evil first came to Woodcutter’s Grim, the Guardians have sworn an oath to protect the town from the childhood horrors that lurk in the black woods. Without them, the town would be defenseless…and the terrors would escape to the world at large.


Dodie’s Review

I don't like short stories. To me, short stories have always seemed like an easy way out. Someone comes up with a good kernel of an idea, and just writes that, without fleshing it out all the way into a story. I'm always left frustrated. Why did they make that decision? How is that they reached this age and didn't know something that was crucial to the story? What happens next? They never have closure; to me it seems the story usually stops without being finished. That is not what happens here. Karen Wiesner has written four stories that are fully formed short stories on their own. They are linked by the setting, Woodcutter's Grim, and many of the characters carry from one story to the next, but different people get to shine in each story.

Karen Wiesner here has called what we normally call fairy tales, “classic tales of horror.” This choice really emphasizes that most people don't realize how scary and frightening children's songs, television shows, and stories really are. For example, did you know that ring around a rosy is a song about dying from the bubonic plague? Do you realize that Jack and Jill went up a hill to fetch a pail of water, and Jack fell down and hit his head so hard that it split his head open? Think about how frightened Jill must have been as she ran to fetch the nanny.

The stories in this book: Papa, Blood of Amethyst, Dancing to the Grave, and The Amethyst Tower are all re-tellings of fairy tales. It seems that evil took hold of the town Woodcutter's Grim one day, and the evil likes to possess the town and its inhabitants and force people into reenacting fairy tales. This isn't a happy possession; no Cinderella or Snow White here. The problem is that the evil has begun to seep outside the town limits and the town's protectors aren't able to keep the evil restricted to Woodcutter's Grim anymore.

In the first story, “Papa”, the evil reaches out and grabs someone with a tenuous connection to Woodcutter's Grim, and forces them to reinact Hansel and Gretel. Rand and his wife Amy are struggling to deal with the death of Rand's first wife and his two children. Amy has fallen into a deep depression, which Rand tries to fix by taking a vacation weekend in Woodcutter's Grim. Needless to say, it does not go well. This story introduces us to the evil of Woodcutter's Grim. Blood of Amethyst, Dancing to the Grave, and The Amethyst Tower are all set in Woodcutter's Grim, explain the hold that evil has on the town, and gives us a look into three other couples. Blood of Amethyst explains what Rumplestiltskin really wanted with the baby he tried to steal from the princess. In Dancing to the Grave, we learn how the Pied Piper enthralled the town's children. The Amethyst Tower is an explanation of why Rapunzel's hair grew that much, how the prince found the tower, and what happened when they climbed down her hair.

The overarching story of the evil of Woodcutter's Grim, introduced in Papa, is explained and dealt with in the remaining stories. All four have elements of horror, but also a healthy dose of romance between our protagonists. In each, they struggle with the evil that threatens to overtake and destroy their relationships, and their lives. These women almost those their Prince Charmings through depression, infidelity, the death of a parent, etc. Things we can all relate to. In this book, not only does love prevail, but good triumphs over evil, and you get two happy endings for the price of one.

3 ½ Tea Cups!

   

Review: Avia’s Secret by Bonita

Avia’s Secret by Bonita

Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
Genre: Historical Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

He’s not the man her father wants her to marry…

Cade Kildare is wild, handsome as hell, and completely out of her reach. Avia Rockwell must forget him and find a suitable husband. But one kiss from Cade makes passion ignite and all of her promises fall to pieces. When a mystery man comes to call, Avia is faced with a tough decision…follow her heart or make her family proud.

From Northern California’s wine country to the streets of San Francisco, two lovers battle each other and the evil forces bent on tearing them apart.



Hunter’s Review

This is a really fun, really passionate read and I enjoyed every second of it. For me, a mark of good writing is if the moment the hero first sees the heroine is memorable. Boy-oh-boy, is it ever memorable in this story, Avia slaps the heck out of Cade and goes back for a second try.

That moment is a pretty good representation for how their relationship progresses throughout much of the book. Cade is a hot hero. He’s the kind of man readers love to find in their romance novels. He’s strong, handsome, driven…and totally unacceptable for the Avia…at least as far as her overbearing father is concerned. This book is nothing if not a lesson in judging a book by its cover because the man considered to be more preferable to Avia is not anyone the reader wants her to be with.

The love scenes are hot and steamy (They will fog up your glasses) and it is a relatively short book but, unlike so many at this length, I wasn’t left feeling like I wanted more. I felt like Bonita did a good job of telling their story in the allotted length.

I was very impressed and will look for more from this author.

4 Tea Cups!

   

Review: From Out of The Shadows by Linda Mooney

From Out of The Shadows by Linda Mooney

Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

Croat was a Lupan, one of the half-man, half-beast creatures long thought to be extinct or fabricated from fairy tales. Lupan were folklore, nothing more than a myth.
Tora was a Sensitive. Her kind really existed, and normal people feared Sensitives because it was common knowledge that all Sensitives were evil and practiced the dark magicks.

Captured and thrown together inside Baron Agrino’s dungeon, they discovered a connection between them that defied all reason, and a love that transcended all boundaries.

But is their love strong enough to stop the baron from what he’ll do with every Lupan he plans to capture? Or, worse, what he’ll do with Tora once he learns what she is?

Warning! Contains torture, imprisonment, severe beatings, nasty bad guys, public nudity, molten wax, old wives' tales, forest folk, bad horsemanship, and lots of pissed off townspeople.



Ashira Datya’s Review

From Out of the Shadows is the tantalizing story of a young woman, Tora, who is kidnapped by the soldiers of the local Baron, a King like figure. She shares the cell with Croat, a very injured man. Together, they escape, but not without injury. Croat takes Tora to his village where she is nursed back to health so that she can return to her village to find her brother.

This was a very well written novel and it had me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it. I give From Out of the Shadows three Tea Cups and a heat rating of a two. The love scenes were sensual, erotic and just graphic enough for me to be able to imagine what it would be like to have Croat make love to me. I really enjoyed From Out of the Shadows and would not hesitate to read another story by the author of such an enchanting story.

3 Tea Cups!