Winter Reviews 2014
December Reviews
Blood Assassin by Alexandra Ivy
Paranormal Romance -Dec. 30th, 2014
4 stars
Blood Assassin is the second in the author new and exciting Sentinels series. This book can be read as a stand alone.
Serra is a powerful psychic. She works with the Sentinels to protect humans from people with powers like herself. But there is a specific Sentinel that Serra cares for, his name is Fane. But the stoic Fane refuses to acknowledge they are meant to be -no matter how much she tries to show him how good they could be together. Now Fane has decided to leave the Sentinels and live in Tibet far, far away from Serra. So Serra has finally accepted defeat and decided to find someone else. But she suddenly finds herself being magically kidnapped by a ruthless assassin named Bas. Bas is a man that does not take no for an answer. He needs Serra to find the one thing he loves, his stolen daughter, Molly. He has poisoned Serra and will not give her the antidote until she has successfully finds Molly for him. The problem is that the devious villain that has stolen Molly wants something terrible from Bas and Bas will do almost anything to prevent it. To add to the drama, Fane has discovered Serra is missing and is intent on rescuing her before the poison kills her. Can Fane save Serra and the innocent Molly in time?
This was an exciting romance. The only drawback in the storyline was the tough hero, Fane. Fane is a hard-hearted man. He hurts Serra and humiliates her by denying their mutual attraction. When she is kidnapped he suddenly decides to let himself care for her and expects her to return his passion immediately. After denying her for years. I thought it was a bit unrealistic and selfish of him. It took me a while to warm up to his character.
Serra is a woman with spirit and a heart of gold. I also liked how tough she is. Once she realizes she has been kidnapped she vows to seeks her own brand of justice against Bas. And I believe she will get her revenge! The most surprising thing about this book is how utterly fascinating the kidnapper, Bas is -he soon became the person I wanted to read about in the story. (I often wished he had been Serra’s love interest!) It takes a great deal of skill in an author to make a reader sympathetic and actually admire the evil, villain of the story. Yes, he is utterly ruthless but Bas’s obvious love for his daughter and his reasons for using Serra make him multi-dimensional. His secret past including the mysterious mother of his daughter will make you want to read more about him. Luckily, it appears he and his ‘lost love’ may be reunited. But she wants something from Bas -their daughter! Ohh, I can’t wait for their story to be written. I hope Bas’s story is the next in the Sentinels series. I also enjoyed reading about the Sentinels’s leader, Wolfe, and his crush on the Mave. A woman of seemingly limitless power but one that holds her emotions in strict check. I would love to read their romance, too.
A promising paranormal series with fascinating characters.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Full Blaze by M.L. Buchman
Contemporary Romance - Dec 2nd. 2014
4 1/2 stars
Full Blaze is part of the author Firehawks series about heroic men and woman that fight fires, save lives, and still have time to find love, too!
Jeannie Clark is a helicopter pilot from Australia. She part of the Mount Hood Aviation team. They are responsible for putting out fires by dumping water, retardants, etc from their helicopters. Jeannie is particularly passionate about her job because she was a victim of a deadly fire in Australia. On one of her missions she spies a man caught in a fire and ends up saving renown photographer, Cal Jackson. But Cal isn't just a pretty face, he also used to fight fires, too. But on the ground level. His unique skills are recognized and he is recruited by the MHA team. However, Cal is used to flying solo. Being part of a team, no matter how much he likes the MHA group has a sound of permanence. To add to his emotional confusion, the beautiful Jeannie calls to him like no other woman. Is Cal willing to make a commitment on anything or anyone more than himself?
This was an interesting story. At first, this book seemed like any other action romance. But as I read more about Jeannie and Cal I grew to love them. They are both people that have suffered a great deal. Each has coped in their own way. Jeannie has finally found a home and friends that have give her support and she had become a stronger person. But she still feels that each day is a struggle. Cal is a shiftless loner. He doesn't realize he really wants family and friends. In fact, the idea scares him. He can sense the Jeannie has had to overcome great hardship to become the person she is today. If he stays with her he will have to do the same. It is because he respects her that he is scared -by how much he wants her in his life. I liked that together they seemed to heal each other and find a peace and happiness they would otherwise not find with another person. They are both people that try and don't give up easily -at work or at play. This was an emotionally satisfying romance with plenty of action and passion.
Readers of this series will not be disappointed! Raging fires, sexy 'firemen' and loads of adrenaline make this a memorable romance.
Reviews by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
The Winner Takes It All by Jennifer Dawson
Contemporary Romance – Dec. 2nd, 2014
4 1/2 stars
Cecilia Riley is burnt out and falling fast, except she doesn’t know it. Unfortunately, she has promised to visit her old summer haunt for her brother’s upcoming wedding. But tensions run high as her father, the important senator has had an affair. Celia feels caught in the middle of the family drama between her parents and her father’s shady political wheeling and dealing. Plus, her soon-to-be married brother and Cecilia haven’t seen eye to eye on their father’s treatment of his family in general. To complicate matters her brother-in-law to be, Shane Donovan is there. And he hates her, or does he?
Shane finds Cecilia Riley irresistible, the only thing keeping his hand off of her is how frigid she appears to be. But as the days grow longer, the Ice Queen begins to melt and Shane can’t seem to like what he sees behind Cecilia’s perfect facade. Soon Cecilia and Shane are finding passion and laughter but Cecilia’s misguided ambition may pull them apart unless she realizes that love is more important than power or approval.
This romance was Hot! Shane and Cecilia find each other attractive but neither thinks the other likes each other! As tempers cool, passions heat up and it was fun to read them snap at each other. And then finally realize how much they actually liked each other as people! Shane is a noble self-sacrificing hero that readers will love. But it is the cold, cold, Cecelia that transforms. She has always longed for her powerful father’s acceptance. But she slowly realizes how he will sacrifice her for his own political needs. The exact opposite of love she has found with Shane. When her father threatens Shane, Cecilia must dig deep and find her own inner strength and trust herself. As she steps out of her father’s shadow, she proves that it is never too late to live your own life. I also liked that the story was realistic at the end. Not everything needed to be perfect but Cecilia is strong enough to accept that and still be happy.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Love Me Tender by Susan Fox
Contemporary Romance -Dec. 2nd 2014
4 ½ stars
Love Me Tender is the fifth book in the author’s Caribou Crossing series. It is set in a small Candian cowboy town where everybody knows everyone’s business! In this book, the town hunk finally finds the woman of his heart after he thought his heart had died with his dead fiancee.
Dave Cousins is the owner of an Inn in Caribous Crossing. When an unexpectedly pretty breathe of fresh air arrives. Her name is Cassidy Esperanza. Dave feels compelled to help the down-on-her-luck nomad and gives her a job so she can get back on her feet. But attraction flares between them and soon they are finding ways to be together. However, Dave still carries a torch for his tragic fiancee, a woman that died. And Cassidy is not the type to stay when there is life to be lived. But soon they find passion and a love that overcomes their initial hesitation. Until a very troubled Cassidy decides that love maybe isn’t enough. Can Dave convince her to stay or will Cassidy wreck the chance of love and happiness that has been given to her?
At last, Dave has his romance. Throughout this series I have had a big soft spot for him. And couldn’t wait to read him finally find the love her deserves. He is the ultimate beta male without being in any way wimpy. As the local heart throb with a sad past he deserved a strong and loving woman. However, when I first read Cassidy I wasn’t sure if she was good enough for him. As a fun and cheery drifter she did not want permanence. But she did want the sexy Dave and set out to get him! While I liked her pursuit of him I felt she needed to give him more of herself than just a fling.
Cassidy is a bit of whirl wind. I liked that she brought Dave and his daughter laughter and brought him back into the living. But she has demons that seemed to prevent her from being an adult. And take a hard look at the consequences of her actions. It was good to read her change but I only wish she had grown up sooner. Dave’s kindness is finally rewarded by a woman he could love but I wondered if he needed Cassidy because he liked that she needed him and couldn’t quite stand on her own. I also enjoyed reading the stories of the other characters in the town. This book has a feeling of homecoming that will keep you returning to its characters again and again.
A romance of healing and triumph which also includes a hero fans will fall in love with.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
The Deepest Night by Kara Branden
Contemporary Romance –Dec. 2nd, 2014
4 stars
The Deepest Night is a light romance about a injured SEAL and the sweet, ‘mousy’ innkeeper he meets on the Isle of Scilly.
Ray Powell loves his life as a Nave SEAL. But on his last mission he was injured. So he returns to his roots to stay with a friend named Liam. Liam owns a Bed and Breakfast. Ray sold Liam his grandparent’s house to convert it into the B & B in exchange for staying there when he wanted. Unfortunately, when Ray arrives at the B & B it is strangely quiet and the only occupant is a woman named Michelle Cole. Liam is dead and the B& B had been closed until new management is arranged. But Michelle takes pity on the slightly scary looking SEAL and lets him stay anyway. Soon Michelle and Ray find they like each other’s company very much. But Michelle can’t believe that sexy Ray would be interested in someone as boring as her. Can she let go of old past hurts and see the prize before or will she give up her chance on love?
This is a slow romance that builds. Michelle is a rather timid heroine that has been disappointed by life. She has always felt like the unattractive one of her friends and she is recovering from disappointment in her love life and latest job. When larger than life and a very scruffy Ray arrives she feels overwhelmed by his presence. At first she is scared of Ray but gradually opens herself up. I liked how she grew out of her shell. This was a sweet romance. But initially I felt Michelle was kind of dull it took her a long time to take a chance and open herself up. Sometimes she was frustrating to read, so the novel dragged. I often felt that Ray had to overly prove himself in the beginning because she has had a bad experience with her past boyfriend. Ray is the perfect hero, understanding, patient and hot. I only wish Michelle had seen it sooner!
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club