Editorial Review

Joan Sanderson's life is stuck. Her older sister, Allie, is starting a family and her younger sister, Tori, has a budding career. Meanwhile, Joan is living at home with Mom and looking after her aging grandmother. Not exactly a recipe for excitement. That is, until a hunky young doctor moves in next door. Suddenly Joan has a goal--to get a date. But it won't be easy. Pretty Tori flirts relentlessly with him and Joan is sure that she can't compete. But with a little help from God, Allie, and an enormous mutt with bad manners, maybe Joan can find her way out of this rut.Book 1 of the Sister-to-Sister series, Stuck in the Middle combines budding romance, spiritual searching, and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry. ... Read more

Reviews

Virginia Smith lives up to her newly won title of Writer of the Year (Mount Herman Writer's Conference) in Stuck In The Middle
Stuck In The Middle is an aptly named book revolving around Joan Sanderson--whose life has been put on hold while she looks out for her Grandma, who is wedged between sisters that Joan thinks are far more gregarious and personable than she is, and who is stuck in a superficial relationship with God. Stuck, that is, until a handsome, single doctor with an intensely personal relationship with God rents the house next-door and involuntarily drags Joan out of her rut.

As Joan struggles to break free, the reader is blessed with the genuine interactions between sisters, and family as a whole that Smith has woven into the story line so well. The dialogue is strong and realistic, the situations true to life and sometimes quite comical, and Joan, though a dejected character in many ways, is likeable and one you cheer for right from the beginning.

This alone would have made the book an enjoyable read, but Smith along with entertaining the reader reinforces the need for a personal relationship with God. She takes Joan, a Christian who has had a superficial relationship with God into discovering how to connect on a deeper level. Smith also does an excellent job of portraying the fear that Joan's sisters have of the kind of Christian Joan wants to become simply because they don't understand it.

Stuck In The Middle is not different than many other Christian fiction titles in that is has a spiritual message, but often, that message is dealt with in heavy handed and stilted way. Not Stuck In The Middle. This is the sort of book that while you read it you find yourself pleasantly entertained, seriously not wanting to put the book down even when you should be doing other things, and in the end you are surprised when you come away with a strong spiritual message.

Stuck In The Middle has something for everyone--romance, shopping, dating advice, sibling rivalry, family and spiritual relationships, and real life issues like caring for elderly family members all wrapped up in an entertaining package. Pick it up, today. You won't be disappointed.

Characters Sparkle in "Stuck in the Middle"
Viginia Smith does it again in "Stuck in the Middle". Her characters are realistic, artfully crafted, and endearingly flawed (aren't we all?) and will pull you right into the story from page 1. Here's a warning, though -- don't give the book as a gift unless you're prepared for trouble. Now I have several friends calling to complain that they're chomping at the bit to read the next installment in the series. Please bring us book 2 soon!!!

very good
Once I got going (only a few pages in) I read it in one day. I was laughing hysterically at parts, and love a good heart-warming message with God at the center. Sending it onto my sister - the interactions of the sisters were very real - I have 3 of them!

Moving story about one woman's quest to break free
Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith is the story of Joan Sanderson and her boring, going-nowhere life. She's been dumped by her long time boyfriend, Roger the Rat, her older sister is pregnant, and her beautiful younger sister has a terrific job. Joan lives with her mother and grandmother, who is becoming increasingly fragile. When a hunky doctor moves in next door, Joan sees what she's been missing, but little sister Tori also wants him. This book is far more than just chick-lit. Joan feels alienated from everyone around her. Her father left her as a young teen, and she resents her mother for his departure. She can't relate to God, because she doesn't feel like He is reaching out to her, but when she hears a missionary speak at her church, she feels the need to know God personally. Joan is a Christian like so many; she believes in God and has faith; she attends church regularly and does all the right things. But she's not connected to Him and hasn't experienced His wonder, until some chocolate ice cream shows up at just the right moment. Joan realizes that she can't get things right with her mother, sisters, or even the cute doctor, until she makes things right with God, and that means examining things in her past. Joan is believable and sympathetic, her heartache shows on every page as she struggles to do what's right without really knowing what that is. Very often our relationship with God has been influenced by our relationship with our earthly father, and this book is an excellent lesson on how to break free from the bonds of the past and security to find God. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Putting the past to rest has never been this much fun.

Tara Walsh has come a long way from paying her dues in a smoky New Orleans club. Her albums sell millions, her tours sell out and she has a hit DVD. Her name is known around the world. Now she’s back home for a holiday charity concert—and to say a proper goodbye to the past. A past named Duncan Rousse.

Five years ago, Duncan pushed Tara away for one reason: to force her to reach for the stars. She deserves the life she’s earned, even though it left him with a broken heart that’s never healed. Having her back in his arms only makes the pain worse, yet the last thing he can do is beg her to stay.

One wild, passion-filled night in the sexy Cajun’s bed has Tara’s body singing with pleasure. But can they both get what they want this Christmas?

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, second chances, making up for lost time with a sexy Cajun, and Christmas wishes that might really come true.

Reviews

Could of been great, November 22, 2010
I didnt realize this was going to be a short story when i started. Only 5% (if that much) of the book was an actual storyline. The other 95% was extreme Sex... Very detailed. If this book would of a been a full length novel the sex scenes wouldnt of been that bad but when that is all the book is it makes it boring to read.

Nothing to write home about, November 24, 2010
My Christmas Wish was an okay read. I felt myself daydreaming as I was reading it, not in a good way, but because I was bored. I guess it was a good thing that it was a short read.

My Christmas Wish, July 11, 2010
Five years have passed since Tara left home with a broken heart to pursue her career. Burying her broken heart into her singing brought her fame but never another love. Returning home, Tara plans to seduce Duncan one more time, walk away and forget him for good. But one night with the man from her past doesn't work out as planned.

My Christmas Wish is about regrets. What begins as a mission to forget a past love turns to a reliving the memories, and the possibility of making more. My Christmas Wish is a sentimental story hopeless romantics will love. I did.

Raine
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Disappointed, December 19, 2010
I am new at this but felt I had to express my opinion of this book. There was nothing in the "sample" of writing I read that would have prepared me for the main content of this book. It is disgusting with no point or storyline beyond the first page. The rest of the pages serve only to talk about sex in a vulgar manner. This book is not about romance. This review may help sell it for those who enjoy no plot or finish to a book. I wish I could find out how to get it off my reader.

good naughty short story., December 8, 2010
for a short story it was very naughty and if you like those kinds of books(i do) then you will enjoy this book.

Language a little over the top for me., December 1, 2010
I enjoyed this book. I haven't read a romance in a while and it was kinda sweet. Some of the language was a bit more direct than what I am use to, but that's just me. It wasn't a long drawn out story and I like that too. I would read this author again.

This is not a book. This is not even a story..., November 29, 2010
I now understand why this book was free. However, I am not sure I can call it a "book" or even a "story." "My Christmas Wish" is basically a string of poorly written sex scenes. Essentially a bunch of pages filled with words like "hunger" and "moan." Very cheesy. Looking forward to deleting this from my Kindle...

Where's the plot?, November 25, 2010
If you're looking for a steamy romp novel with no substance whatsoever, this one is for you. Unfortunately for me, it was a waste of time and a bad first read for my new Kindle.

What she wants on Christmas, November 19, 2010
Five years ago, Duncan has pushed Tara away from his life in order to allow her to pursue her dream of singing. A successful Tara comes back for two nights only to participate in a holiday charity concert, and to lay the past to rest.
This is a short story with hot sexy scenes. If you have only an hour to devote to reading, this is for you.
These are great characters and my only complaint is that this story could have been developed into a full lenght novel. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Rhyne Abbot is fierce, brave, and used to a life of isolation on her father's spread on the outskirts of Reidsville, Colorado. But when, overcome with sickness, she collapses, she knows she must return to town if she is to have any hope of recovery. Only there is no place for her but the new doctor's home, and he wants more than just to heal Rhyne. He wants her hand in marriage.

Doctor Cole Monroe's hands are already more than full with his orphaned little sister to look after, and yet somehow he can't resist the magnetic pull of Rhyne's bewitching eyes--or her tempting kiss. But convincing her to trust him won't be easy. For Rhyne's heart needs as much tender care as her ailing body. And the only cure is the thing she most fears: to let herself fall in love...

"Once again, Goodman delivers a luscious and sensual romance."--Romantic Times ... Read more

Reviews

I'm not fond of Westerns but I'll make an exception for a Jo Goodman novel.
I first became acquainted with Goodman's writing in the early 2000s when she released her Regency England quartet about the Compass Club, 4 men who had been friends since boyhood. All four of these novels have these friends as characters, take place within the same time frame and share some plotline, but each book focuses on one friend, with his point of view, adventures and romance. (These books are LET ME BE THE ONE, EVERYTHING I EVER WANTED, ALL I EVER NEEDED, and BEYOND A WICKED KISS and are very good.) Since then I have Goodman on my auto-buy list. Some of her books are better than others but all are, IMO, far superior to most of the HRs coming out in recent years.

Her last two releases, NEVER LOVE A LAWMAN from 2009 and this new one take place in the 1880s in the small mining town of Reidsville, Colorado. They both work as stand alones but many characters from the 2009 book are in this more recent one and are fun to meet up with again. MARRY ME focuses on a New York medical doctor who moves to Reidsville with his 16-year-old scarred and mildly-troubled sister. His romantic interest is a woman who has lived in the area all her life but has been relatively isolated from society, living on the outskirts of the town. OK, that's really all you should know to fully enjoy the story. Everything should be revealed to you as you are reading about it. You'll find the story's progression satisfying, the writing excellent and the dialogue humorous and very revealing of each character's personality. (BTW, I hope you have not read the Booklist review by Pat Henshaw which Amazon has published here above the Product Detail. It reveals far too much about the story and should have been outlawed.)

Goodman is a skilled writer who writes with humor and obvious compassion for her characters, who are 3-dimensional, realistically-portrayed people. This means that at times she doesn't pull her punches. Real themes such as physical, sexual or emotional abuse, rape and other traumatic experiences can be found in her books. However, they are NOT there to titillate or shock the reader. They are there to show us the resilience of the human spirit as her characters deal with their problems, helped by the friendship, humor and compassion of others.

Another big plus for me in a Goodman novel is that the heroes are really good guys, principled and with strength and depth to their character. And they can control their horndog tendencies, something a lot of heroes in recent HRs have trouble with. This doesn't mean we don't have hot love scenes. We do, but friendship, love and trust grow between the H and h before they act on their physical attraction.

I had a few criticisms of this novel. One with respect to a plotline towards the end. Something to do with the heroine's father which felt contrived to me. And there were two very strange grammatical errors, with the author writing "trodding the boards" instead of "treading" and her use of "forbid" as if it were the past tense of the verb. But that's not enough for me not to like this book a lot. I gave it 5 stars, rather than 4 (Remember I don't like Westerns?) a bit subjectively, because I'd been reading a lot of really bad paperback HRs lately and this one was a welcome change. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In the first book of the Prescription for Trouble series, Code Blue means more to Dr. Cathy Sewell than the cardiac emergency she has to face. It describes her mental state as she finds that coming back to her hometown hasn t brought her the peace she so desperately needs. Instead, it s clear that someone there wants her gone...or dead.

Cathy returns to her hometown seeking healing after a broken relationship, but discovers that among her friends and acquaintances is someone who wants her out of town...or dead. Lawyer Will Kennedy, her high school sweetheart, offers help, but does it carry a price tag? Is hospital chief of staff Dr. Marcus Bell really on her side in her fight to get hospital privileges? Is Will s father, Pastor Matthew Kennedy, interested in advising her or just trying to get her back to the church she left years ago? When one of Cathy s prescriptions almost kills the town banker, it sets the stage for a malpractice suit that could end her time in town, if not her career. It s soon clear that this return home was a prescription for trouble. ... Read more

Reviews

Not really a medical thriller...
This book involves a doctor who is being harassed and that's about as "thriller" as it gets. Mabry's book is really a book about re-finding one's faith in God and learning to trust fellow humans and the church in times of crisis. I would not have downloaded the book if I had known that in advance as I thought I was getting a true medical suspense/thriller book. Also, the writing is not as good as it could be although it's a decent first effort. I won't be reading any more books in this series--I read the synopsis for the second book and it sounds exactly like this book with a different set of characters. It would be nice to see Mabry put his obvious wealth of medical knowledge to use in a different plot formula.

Perfect dose of Medical, Suspense and Romance!!!
When I think Christian fiction, I always automatically think female authors, and very rarely do I associate a male author. I think female authors because they create characters that are unforgettable and with whom I can undoubtedly relate to in some way or another. But I must confess and say that I am super pleased with Richard Mabry's work. CODE BLUE is a terrific start to a new medical series written by a highly talented male author.

In CODE BLUE,book 1 in the Prescription for Trouble series, we get a healthy dose of crisis, suspense, faith tested and of course, romance! Inject that with a bit of humor and mix it up for the perfect drug! It will cure any ailment! The characters in this particular story blend well with the plot of suspense. This plot is one that grips your soul and puts you right in the middle of the medical action! I loved the thrill of not knowing what was gonna happen next to Dr. Sewell, and I also loved the feeling that Mabry created by those perfect injections of God's love and faith. It certainly made for better entertainment than those TV medical dramas!

My advice to you? Read CODE BLUE. It's 5 star worthy, like Candace Calvert's Mercy Hospital Series....BETTER than any Grey's Anatomy, ER, or House episode could ever be. I can't wait for a second dose of medical mystery and fast paced thrills with this amazing series! And we'll get that with Prescription for Trouble's book 2: MEDICAL ERRORcoming in September of 2010!

Read this one STAT!
Richard Mabry, MD has retired his stethoscope and now writes novels instead of prescriptions. And he has quickly earned a spot on my shelf next to Harry Kraus MD, Candace Calvert, and Hannah Alexander as an author of great medical fiction. Code Blue is so fast-paced, suspenseful, and authentic that I could practically hear the sirens! Dr. Cathy Sewell longs to establish her practice in her hometown, but the obstacles mount. Obstacles such as the sacred "good old boys" club that seems determined to thwart her at every turn. And the fact that someone apparently wants her permanently removed from the scene, causing her to interact more often with the local EMTs as a patient than as a physician. When she treats the local banker for a heart condition and his prescription results in his coming perilously close to death, even those who supported her begin to question her competency. Will her career be resuscitated or will it flatline before it even begins? Grab a copy of this compelling book; it's just what the doctor ordered!

Code Blue: Good medicine for readers of medical thrillers
Do you like to settle in at night with a great book? Get ready to lose some sleep if you pick up Code Blue. Each twist and turn of this debut novel is bound to keep readers turning pages as retired doctor-turn-novelist Richard Mabry ratchets up tension chapter after chapter.

Main character Dr. Cathy Sewell returns to her hometown in Texas to start all over, only to face unyielding opposition. People she grew up with seem to hold grudges. And someone might even want her dead. The cast of potential villains is staggering as Dr. Mabry does a great job of casting suspicion upon just about everyone who crosses Cathy's path. Even the man she once loved. She must fight for economic and physical survival as one mishap after another begins to tear her world apart. She begins to question everything--even her relationship with God.

This novelist has taken a lifetime of experiences in the medical field and created a page-turning medical thriller that is hard to put down. This novel is just what the doctor ordered.

Code Blue resuscitates Christian Medical fiction single handedly
Dr. Cathy Sewell is finding her hometown reception cool when she returns to practice medicine. Several near misses cause her to wonder if she is being paranoid, a victim of mental illness as her mother was presumably so, or on someones hit list. The list of prospects that would want her gone-in one sense of the term or another-grows and getting to the bottom of who has the most against her takes time, patience, and nerves of steel.

Accented by a host of supporting roles-Will, his parents, Marcus Bell, and the always helpful Jane-Code Blue is an intense ride along side Dr Cathy as she relentlessly tries to establish her practice in spite of the odds stacked against her. I've worked the ER and have participated in treatment scenarios first hand and found my pulse quickened and racing during some of the medical drama's. Not many writers can recreate medical situations so closely that they adequately stir the adrenaline that accompanies the pace. Mabry not only sufficiently describes and stimulates the precise emotions, as a writer, he is superior at creating a fictional recipe of medical drama, thrills, and romance. By page 50 or so, I was so enraptured by the action, characters and plot, I did a speed read to get to the end, and then felt sad to close the last page. As a reader you will fall in love with everything about the book-from characters to story lines. I also appreciate an author that keeps his scenes short because that keeps the pace rolling along. And, need I say it again, am indebted to any author that is not afraid to mention a Christian lifestyle in their novels and incorporate it effectively so that the story revolves around God, not vice versa. I respect Mabry for capitalizing on Christianity by showing love in action, not condemnation.

Code Blue, the first in the Prescription for Trouble series, is a promising start to what I believe will be a long standing writing career for Mabry.

A Fresh New Voice In Christian Fiction
Cathy Sewell doesn't just find herself a woman doctor in a man's world. She is a family doctor in a town ruled by specialists. And she has to prove herself and her abilities to gain the hospital privileges she needs to best help her patients. But someone doesn't want her to succeed.

I enjoyed watching Cathy prove her worth over and over. But would it be enough?

Richard L. Mabry, MD is a writer to watch. He brings a fresh new voice to Christian Fiction and medical suspense.

Couldn't put it down, refreshingly authentic medical mystery!
I admit, as an RN/nursing supervisor, I'm usually skeptical of medical-related fiction. But Dr. Mabry's CODE BLUE had me in the first few paragraphs. His use of medical knowledge and details is accurate, but not overwhelming; in-depth, but not over-powering. The storyline captivated me, too. I really felt Cathy's struggle with learning to trust again, and her relationship with Will was believeable, tender, and inspiring. This is a perfect snuggle-under-the-covers-and-stay-there-'til-you're-finished mystery. I read this in one day becuase I couldn't put it down, and can't wait until his next book is released!

quick flowing light thriller!
found it hard to put this book down. fun and inspiring look into a new doctors life in a small town. good character development, and a hard to figure out who done it until the last page turn. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Praise for The Fire Lord's Lover:
"As darkly imaginative as Tolkien, as richly romantic as Heyer,
Kennedy carves a new genre in romantic fiction."
-Erin Quinn, author of Haunting Warrior

If his powers are discovered, his father will destroy him...

In a magical land ruled by ruthless Elven lords, the Fire Lord's son Dominic Raikes plays a deadly game to conceal his growing might from his malevolent father-until his arranged bride awakens in him passions he thought he had buried forever...

Unless his fianc�e kills him first...

Lady Cassandra has been raised in outward purity and innocence, while secretly being trained as an assassin. Her mission is to bring down the Elven Lord and his champion son. But when she gets to court she discovers that nothing is what it seems, least of all the man she married...

Then Dominic and Cassandra together uncover an unspeakable evil, one that threatens the destruction of the magical realm they would give their souls to save...

Praise for Enchanting the Lady:
"Simply delightful...imaginative, historically vigorous, and ripe for further adventures."
-Publishers Weekly
"Will cast its own spell over readers with its fabulously imaginative setting and charmingly original characters."
-Chicago Tribune
"This captivating tale combines the excitement and edgy danger of a thriller with the treat of a romantic romp. Kennedy is going places."
-Romantic Times

Reviews

Mixed feelings
I love Fae stories. When I read about this book a month before it was released I happily added it to my wishlist and counted down the days until I could buy it.

What really got my interest was the unusual set up; an arranged marriage between a convent educated woman and the son of a Fae Lord. Oh, also, the added spark that the Fae Lords ere EVIL. Evil, maniacal dictators who have divided England into their own personal playlands where they arbitrarily kill and maim people for sport. Their main sport is fighting for the King. Yep, the King of England is their trophy and they advance huge armies in a continual game to capture the King (who is rather aptly described as a silly, dull, chubby man who is a fashion obsessed).

Into this exciting world enters our heroine, Cassandra. Fair Cassandra has been trained as an assassin. Her entire life's work is training to kill the Fire Lord. Her route of access to him is through his complicit son, Dominic, who is half human, half fae and all sexy.

Just a little tidbit about the Fae Lords and their powers. They have the typical super magics and the Fire Lord, of course, works magical fire and can raze a building to the ground in an instant. Anyway, Cassandra isn't without a touch of powers herself. She dances. Not just dances, but she does magical sexy dances and when needed, death dances. Here's where the story hits its first snag for me, 'DANCING?!!! What the hell?'

Anyway, I was totally grooving with the dancing, I mean sure, it's not as super duper as invisibility or magical potions but oh well, Cassandra has killer moves, sure, why not.

Moving along to the arranged marriage now, because by this point in the book you already know enough about the world Cassandra lives in. Just a little clarification, I'm a fan of arranged marriage romances. I like it when the author puts the hero and heroine in this super intimate position without having an emotional connection and then lets them fall in love gradually after spending time with each other. The key word here is 'gradually.' There is no gradual emotional response in this book. Cassandra loves Dominic pretty much from the get go and Dominic takes just a couple of hours to fall in with her womanly ways.

Anyway, on to the main gist of the story. Cassandra's super plan is to marry Dominic, the Fire Lord's, cold, unfeeling, bastard son and use him to get to his father. Cassandra, who is described as sorta plain and unnoticeable is going to use her position and her feminine wiles to learn any weakpoints that the totally awesome Fae duo have. As a trained assassin she will use her keen intellect, her fighting skills, dancing and most of all, patience, to annihilate her enemies. Here's where the story hits its second snag, for a trained assassin she behaves a lot like an impatient schoolgirl.

Okay, on with the wedding. After a bout of dirty dancing,Miss Cassandra and her new hubby adjourn to their bed chamber for a bout of heated lovemaking. What?! I know, she hardly knows Dominic and as I've already stated, he's cold and unfeeling, but Cassandra turns all eager and lovelorn once she gets a look at his manly chest. I thought to myself, okay, sure, he is a hottie and he is her hubby, maybe it is best to try to enjoy the sex part, but from here on out, she's not just in love with him, she's crazy, writing-his-name-on-her-binder in love with him.

Same, same with Dominic, except he fights his feelings for her by hanging out with some trash whore his father approves of.

Now, just to clarify, I picked this book up because it's a romance. But I can't totally feel the romance if the characters fall in love and in bed with each other way before the halfway point. Talk about disappointing.

So, with the romance gone, all that's left is the secondary plot of the resistance trying to overthrow the Fae Lords. This plot was okay, except when Cassandra would muck things up by being impatient and lame.

So, I guess my feelings about this book are a little less than positive. There's a lot of cool stuff going on but I didn't love the heroine and after Dominic fell in love with her he seemed less like the strong, decisive, smart Alpha male and more like a thoughtless, emotional teenager with his first girlfriend.

Borrow this from a friend.

If you love fantasy and romance, this is a book that is guaranteed to get you hooked!
Fire Lord's Lover by Kathryne Kennedy
Paranormal Romance- July 6th, 2010
4 � stars

Kathryne Kennedy has written an epic romance that at first feels like a straight fantasy novel. The romance is very moving but comes in much later in the story than most romance books. I think this is because the author has really taken the time to described her characters. The world she has created is: detailed, imaginative, and original.

In this world, Elf Lords and Ladies rule the world in sectors and most are mad and/or cruel. They perceive humans as animals or playthings for their amusement. In this dangerous world, being human means being expendable. The elves are cold, emotionless and single-minded in their pursuit for power and domination. They look upon emotions that humans and the part elf humans have as frail weakness. Being human or partially human in a climate of fear involves intrigue just for survival. In this book brave humans and their part human counterparts risk their lives for their independence and freedom from the all powerful Elf Lords and Ladies.

Dominic is the champion of the Elven Fire lord. He is also the Elven Lord's bastard half human son. Although Dominic has some of the magical powers (and beauty) of the elves his human half keeps his mortality to the lifespan of regular humans. It also prevents him from protecting himself from his powerful father who tries to teach him the cold and dispassionate ways of the elves by killing anything Dominic cares about. To survive Dominic has learned not to care or at least to pretend not to care. Dominic's reputation has become cold and inhuman. He must vigilantly guard against his father's awareness of any weakness. Alone and apart Dominic lives at the whims of his father's amusement and ambition. Secretly, Dominic wishes his powers were greater so you could protect himself and the rest of humanity from his father and the rest of the Elven Lords.

Although his father has been cruel and power hungry Dominic is appalled to discover the true depths of his depravity and the other Evlen lords but despairs because he does not feel he has the power to free himself from his father's power. When his father orders him to marry to produce a child Dominic prepares for his duty intending to ignore his new bride and keep her away from danger. But Lady Cassandra won't let him ignore him. Her willfulness, sensuous and tenacious attract him. And although he knows it will only bring them both danger he begins to care for Lady Cassandra. But can he protect her from his father and his spies?

Lady Cassandra is part of the Resistance, a small select group of humans and elf- humans determined to gain independence and freedom from the Elven lords and Ladies. Although she is an innocent she has been secretly trained as an assassin to murder the unfeeling son of the Fire Lord, Dominic. However, she doesn't not count on her unwanted attraction and longing for the general. For she sees a part of his humanity that he tries to hide. Lady Cassandra begins to wonder if Dominic is really a part of his father cruelty of someone trying to break free, too. As she pushes him to reveal himself she is caught up in a dangerous game.

This was a fascinating story and the world the author has created is vivid, alluring and ambitious. The elves reminded me of sparkling diamonds beautiful to look at but utterly cold and deadly inside. The beauty and cruelty of the Elf Lords and Ladies was both fascinating and scary. In this treacherous world life is lived on the edge and all that you think is real is not. I enjoyed reading the different magical powers the elves and their partial human counterparts inherited. This story kept me on my toes as I wondered how the fragile love between the main characters could survive in such a hostile and cold environment where the discovery of their relationship would be certain death. If anything this story only wet my appetitive to know more about this world and particularly the Resistance. I feel Kathryne Kennedy has left a lot unrevealed for future books. She has included many intriguing characters like Lady Cassandra's handsome mentor and the mystery of the other Elven Lords and Ladies who rule different sections of this perilous world.

If you love fantasy and romance, this is a book that is guaranteed to get you hooked!

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Awesome Read
I had previously read some of the author's novels and was totally blown away with this one. I sinerely hope there will be more novels in this setting and world. She caught me from the begining and never let go. I loved it.

Cass is the chosen bride of the Fire Lord's son. The Fire Lord wants to breed a new champion. Although the Fire Lord is immortal his son and champion is not. Cass has been trained as an assassin to kill the Fire Lord.

Mor'ded, the Fire Lord, is one of seven fae who chose to leave fairy and come rule England. All of the fae are mad and spend their time trying to capture the king of England. It is a game played between the fae. They care nothing for the death or suffering of their people.

Dominic is the Fire Lord's mortal son, he looks almost exactly like his father, but he is mortal and leads the armies of the Fire Lord against the other fae. He has recently captured the king, and returns home to face his wedding to CAss.

Although Dominic has feelings and suffers for others, he can not allow his father to see that he cares. His father will kill anything that he loves. The only thing Dominic can allow himself to care about is Ador, his father's dragon. So he pours out his thoughts and feelings to the Dragon, who continues to ignore him.

Now he finds himself drawn to Cass and must use everything he has learned and can find to protect both of them. There are many secrets in the castle, many he knows and many hidden from even him. Cass is a spy and an assassin and Dominic is falling in love with her.

Wonderful story and setting. I really enjoyed it. It is well worth the money.

Dark, sexy and magical!
History books don't reveal the dark secrets of magical Victorian England, an England ruled by elven lords. Together these lords enslave humans to create their armies. Dominic Raikes, the elven Fire Lord Mor'ded's half son, marries the Lady Cassandra to fulfill his father's desire for a new champion. Lady Cassandra has been raised in a convent. Her innocence and purity are evident to human and elven eyes alike --- but no one would guess her secrets. Cassandra plans to assassinate the evil Mor'ded. As part of the resistance, she plans to free humanity from his power. Her marriage will help her get close to the king. What she doesn't expect is that she will fall in love with the son of the man she must kill. As this planned marriage brings them together, somehow love has a way of defying their original intentions. Can the two of them defy the fire lord and escape with their lives? Can they save England and its inhabitants from the diabolical plans at work under the elven lords?

In the fantasy romance THE FIRE LORD'S LOVER, the first book in The Elven Lords series, Kathryne Kennedy creates compelling characters, joining together two memorable characters in a dynamic, challenging quest. Cassandra may be pure and innocent but she is certainly no push-over. Cassandra is an active, strong heroine who can stand up for herself and take the initiative. She is trained to fight and she does not need to be rescued. For Cassandra, love is a matter of the heart. Dominic needs to open his heart but he fears the risk that might come to those he loves. After suffering abuse and humiliation from his father, his only friend is the enigmatic dragon steed Ador. Will Cassandra be able to find the key to unlock the heart of the wounded soul of her husband? In the pairing together of hero and heroine, Kathryne Kennedy creates the perfect characters to start off her new series with a stunning combination. Both Cassandra and Dominic will live on in this reader's imagination long afterwards.

In THE FIRE LORD'S LOVER, Kathryne Kennedy creates a dark world in which imagery plays a poetic, powerful role. Certain revelations are likely to make a reader gasp at the pure evil behind the Fire Lord's schemes. Be forewarned, if you are looking for a light, fluffy romance, look elsewhere. If on the other hand, you are looking for a fantasy romance that takes you on a voyage to another world where the stakes are high and the romance sexy, Kathryne Kennedy's new series is one of those special rare finds. Kathryne Kennedy fans will find the ingredients they have grown to love in this author's work --- lovable characters, an enchanting world, a heart-warming romance and above all the magic of beautiful storytelling --- all brought together in a world that is darker but just as magical as her previous works. Romance readers who have not read Kathryne Kennedy are truly missing out. Few authors grab the imagination and the heart so deeply. Outstanding!

Courtesy of Book Iluminations

A Hero To Die For
The FIRE LORD'S LOVER by Kathryne Kennedy is a dark tale of intrigue, treachery, and unexpected love in a fantasy Georgian England where malicious elves rule their despised human slaves with a brutal hand.

This first book of the series takes place in Firehame, the domain of the Fire Lord, Mor'ded. Dominic, Mor'ded's half-human son and general of his army, has just won the latest of the war games the elves wage to amuse themselves. He returns home to wed Lady Cassandra in an arranged marriage. He also returns to his father's continued scorn of his human side.

Cass, assassin for the humans of the Rebellion, weds Dominic to get close enough to his hated father to kill him. In spite of her intentions, she falls in love with Dominic, but he disdains her. A confused Cass wonders how she can convince him to return her love.

His father's cruelty has forced Dominic to bury his human emotions deep. He does his best not to fall in love with Cass. But when he does, his contempt is a mask to protect her from Mor'ded, who has tortured to death everyone for whom Dominic has ever cared.

Those of you who read my reviews know that I like nice guy heroes, decent men who've been kicked around and it's made them even better men. In Dominic, Ms. Kennedy has created a spectacular version of my favorite hero. Literally tortured by his father in an effort to eradicate his humanity, Dominic emerges more human than ever and the kind of hero I never tire of finding.

ARC provided by Sourcebooks

A Stay up late to finish read
I have always enjoyed Kathrne Kennedy's books but this is by far my favorite to date. The concept is a new mix of historical romance and fantasy where elves, magic, and regency England all collide. The storyline is fascinating and the book will keep you up to see how it ends. Well done! ... Read more

Editorial Review

It's that time of year again, and with excitement and high expectations, Rose has planned the perfect Christmas for her family and friends. But when she feels them drifting away during a time that should celebrate togetherness, Rose is forced to slow down in the most unexpected way. In this whimsical, uplifting story, she discovers the true meaning of giving. ... Read more

Reviews

It's the most stressful time of the year
The Christmas season has come and Rose is busy, busy, busy with preparations for the holidays. She's worn out from doing all sorts of stuff for the church, cooking meals for sick friends, volunteering in the thrift shop, taking on prayer requests, etc etc. She doesn't have time for anything else including cooking dinner for her own family. Everyone else is getting grumpy and Rose is beginning to feel worn out. The Christmas season is starting to look not so jolly after all, but isn't a Christian supposed to put others first before themselves?

Ok so I know the Christmas season isn't for another 2 and a half months. But Sam's club already has Christmas trees and lights up! So what better way to get into this mood that this short novella from Lori Copeland. It's really a modern day holiday version of the story of Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus from the Bible. Christians today seem to think that they need to sacrifice their own needs and wants to make everyone else happy. I've seen many Christian families torn apart because they will go out and do things for others but not for their own children. Many pastor's and missionary spouses and kids suffer because of this type of attitude. This book showed that while there is a time to help others for the glory of God, you should also be careful of not trying to do things to make your own self look good. Know your limit and do not let false guilt take over you. The story is written really well and I enjoyed the characters and getting to know their busy hectic lives. It was funny at how Rose tried to figure all the different meals as she didn't have time to cook, who knew kids could get tired of pizza? I also liked learning more about the Advent with the tidbits at the beginning of each chapter. The only downside about this book is now I can't wait for Christmas to come. Even though this book is short, you will get a LOT out of it.

Wonderful Story!
I read this book in one sitting. It is the story of one who wants to help everyone and truly cannot say "no" to anyone. She takes on so much that her family never sees her and her health suffers. It's a message that needs to be spread: Know your limitations and don't allow your family to be left behind. A wonderful Christmas story!

Slow down and enjoy Christmas with family
Review
It's short, sweet and packs a powerful punch. Lori reveals through her main character, Rose, what loving one another looks like. Rose is challenged by another verse "Be still and know I am God." She is rarely still long enough to know God is God - too busy. Sound familiar? Another verse "Rest in His assurance." Rest? Who has time for that? Things women struggle with daily. Lori reveals God's love in action through Rose. This book will gently remind you in practical ways, how to love one another & rest in God's assurance at Christmas and always.

Before some chapters begin, Lori weaves the meaning of Advent, explains the symbols and what they represent. The treat at the end of the story is the Bergman's holiday traditional recipes talked about in the story.

Lastly, a powerful letter written by Karen Hancock titled Jesus Didn't Hurry. This letter sums up the message of Unwrapping Christmas. A must read.


Nora St. Laurent
Book Club ServantLeader
www.psalm516.blogspot.com

A Nuanced Story
What I really like about Unwrapping Christmas is that it is a nuanced story. It makes its points subtly. It doesn't just make the point "Service is good" but goes on to add: "Service is good, but make sure that in serving others you don't do it in such a zealous, all consuming manner that you do a disservice to yourself or those you love most. This is a story about priorities. It is well written and should be read more than once.

I also highly recommend Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices--an excellent story about the impact of small acts of kindness. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A Rough Riders free read.

Keely McKay Donohue is enduring the longest wedding reception of her life: her own. The only saving grace is that Jack Donohue is finally hers. Usually her hunky man gives her everything she wants, so why is her groom denying her the one thing she wants right now?

Jack thought his secretive wait-for-the-honeymoon plan was romantic, until he realizes he’s only put Keely in a fighting mood. If he wants to get back on his temperamental bride’s good side, he’d better find a way to sweep his cowgirl off her boots…fast.

Reviews

Short and Sweet
This short story was an unexpected treat. If you're a fan of Rough Riders then you will love this. I think Ms James did a wonderful job taking us into the beginning of Keeley and Jack's life together. If you haven't read any of the series then try this. I'm sure it will make you curious to learn more about the McKay clan. My favorite book was Cowgirl Up and Ride, so I really enjoyed reading more about those characters in this story too. Lorelei can you give us some more of this? Loved it!

SO GOOD I WOULDA PAID FOR IT!!
Keely has always been my favorite female character...What a treat to be able to read more about her wedding and Jack's plans for their honeymoon.

Slow Ride is funny, definitely SEXY and emotional...yes I cried while reading it. I also fell in LOVE with Jack all over again =)

Better and Better
Keely & Jack are 2 of my favorite characters in the McKay Family series. I was so happy to get a glimpse into their wedding. This story gives a taste of Lorelei James writing. Hot, funny and the family scenes are spot on.

The scene where Carson dances with his daughter, Keely, was both touching and telling. His wild-child only daughter has grown up into a beautiful, smart woman.

If you are not familiar with this series, try this story....you will be hooked

A Rough Rider Taste
Slow Ride is only supposed to be a taste of what the entire Rough Riders series is all about. It gives us another glimpse of the wonderful relationship between Jack and Keely that began in All Jacked Up. This is a treat for the Rough Rider fans! To get the full effect of the Rough Riders, read the series from book 1, Long Hard Ride, before dismissing this short tease!

Loved It
Ive enjoyed the entire series. This book is no exception.....
Cant wait till the next book :)

Just a little bit more...
What is there not to love about Keely and Jack? The answer nothing. Slow Ride is just a little bit more of one of the two most beloved Lorelei characters. And the fact that it was free just goes to show you how awesome Lorelei is. This is a great transition book between All Jacked up and Cowgirls don't cry. Which if you haven't read, you can't fairly judge this book. That goes the same for the rest of the Rough Riders books which happens to be just as awesome.

Sarah

A free treat for fans and an intro for the unintiated!
Slow Ride: A Rough Riders story Keely and Jack have different ideas about when their honeymoon should start. Keely wants it to begin now but Jack has another plan! This tells you about the couple and I think leaves you wanting more of their story. Which I think is the job of a free read! If you love hot cowboys, strong women, a family to root for and lots of good sex that is a part of the story, then the Rough Rider series is for you! If not, enjoy the free read that Lorelei states in the beginning takes place between the end of book 8, All Jacked Up All Jacked Up: Rough Riders, Book 8and book 10, Cowgirls Don't Cry.Cowgirls Don't Cry: Rough Riders, Book 10

Charming Short Story
What a nice surprise! Author Lorelei James gives us another look at life between wild child Keely and her now husband Jack. Readers looking for a free read to get them involved with her Rough Riders series may find the story a bit confusing as it really should be read, at the very least in conjunction, with All Jacked Up - HOWEVER - If this is your first foray into James's novels, don't judge! Her Rough Riders series is one of the best erotic western romance series out there. I can't recommend it enough.

Slow Ride
I was curious to know what would happen at Jack and Keely's wedding reception
and I was not disappointed! I was really touched by this short story, I laughed and cried.
Author Lorelei James Knows how to write a great story! Rough Riders has to be my all time favourite Series!!

... Read more

Editorial Review

The higher the stakes, the harder they fall—in love.

Julia Savage’s weekly poker games are tearing her apart. She’s in love with two of her fellow card players, and much as she’d like to pick and confess her true feelings to one man, she won’t. Not if it means risking the love of the other.

Hunter Miles has wanted Julia for four months, and he’s about to deal a hand she couldn’t see coming. He’s determined to give her a New Year’s Eve celebration she never expected. He’s going to seduce her—in front of his friend and rival for her affections, Jay Baxter. But Jay’s not willing to lay down his cards. He’s going after Julia too, and he’s not above bluffing to get what he wants. Either way, one of them is going to win her over.

Unless they change the rules of the game. If they double up, there’s a chance they can split the pot…

Warning: This book contains two hunky heroes, a heroine worth betting on, sizzling hot three-way action (m/f/m and m/m/f), a whole lot of unexpected fireworks and a New Year’s Eve to remember.

Reviews

copy machine repair stories are more believable, December 16, 2010
Don't get me wrong--I like the steamy stuff, but this was garbage. Don't waste your time, even for free. Plus, it was super short--the last third of the download was nothing but excerpts and adverts for similar stories.

Hot and romantic, December 23, 2010
Even though it was a short story, it was one of few free books that was romantic, intriguing and lusty. I liked what character development the author was able to fit in there which brought me to look at her other books.

Wow- hot and romantic!, January 7, 2010
I've read and enjoyed Ms Dee's work before, and I've always appreciated the fact that while the stories are very hot and spicy, they are first and foremost love stories. People with real emotions and real brains in their heads populate her stories. This book is no exception.

While the trio is red hot together, they are more than simply bodies in the bedroom. Well done, Ms Dee, and I look forward to your next work eagerly.

5 Hearts from TRS!, August 24, 2010
Going All In was a quick and enjoyable story. I was cautious about the story as it was very short but I applaud Ms. Dee on an impressively well written and fully developed story despite the brevity. The characters were realistic, flawed and very inventive. The sex was intense and graphic. The reader should be aware that there are scenes of m�nage in which the male characters do not interact sexually and others where they do. There are issues that the characters have to overcome which were very unique and interesting. I enjoyed that Ms. Dees included a plot twist which allowed the characters to change and adapt in that suppressed amount of time. Nonetheless, the story is quickly paced with an excellent story line and well developed characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and will have to try out another of Ms. Dee's novels. - Shalanda

Deal me in!, February 16, 2010
Wow, Jess Dee strikes again! Hunter and Jay are smoking hot heroes. This short but spicy read has ultra-hot love scenes paired with emotional depth. The interactions between the triad outside of the bedroom were touching and left me wanting more. Hurry up, Ms. Dee. Writer faster, please.

Not worthwhile!, December 24, 2010
While the plot seemed interesting enough, I was highly disappointed after the first 20 pages or so on my kindle. Initially the story wasn't bad. The m/m/f sex scenes were believable at first when the female was the center of attention but when it got to the part when the males began to uhh...interact with each other was a little awkward. I'm not opposed to guy on guy action, but the way it was done just did not appeal to me as a reader.

Just okay for me..., December 21, 2010
This book was okay, but I definitely won't be reading it again.. The sex scenes and hot, but the plot is not...

Some spark with little fire, December 20, 2010
The writing was pedestrian and the story had the emotional depth of a puddle.

If you want sex scenes, read it. Otherwise, pass.

Hot read, February 12, 2010
I love Jess Dee's books!! She never disappoints me.She is a auto buy.She makes the characters beleivable.I fall in love with them every time.I often find myself either cheering or yelling at the characters..lol.I await eagerly for her next book. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Oedipal Complex has never been so sexy…

Alex Carradine can’t believe his father wants to come and visit his ski resort. Could it be that after so many stormy years, “slick Mitch” Carradine wants to offer an olive branch? Maybe the old man is mellowing, settling down with the new lover he’s bringing along.

Then Alex realizes the acid truth. This is no warm family visit. His father’s new conquest is none other than the woman of Alex’s sexual fantasies, meant only to dangle tauntingly in front of his face. At least an unexpected blizzard has frozen his father out of the picture entirely.

Angeline Kastakis was looking forward to taking the next step in her relationship with Mitch. Too late, she realizes she’s been led into a familial battle zone. Now it’s Christmas and she’s marooned in a blizzard with an insolent, gorgeous hunk of man whose blazing blue eyes tell her loud and clear he wants her in his bed. Preferably tied to it with a bow.

There’s no escape in sight. But as Alex stirs her secret longing to be mastered by a man, escape is the last thing on her mind…

Warning: This book contains scenes of sensual submission hot enough to make you sweat in a blizzard.

Reviews

Sweet sexy christmas story

Well done short erotic love story. How would you liked to be trapped in a cozy log cabin during Christmas with the man of your dreams? And it's a free download, well worth getting. ... Read more

Editorial Review

New Year’s resolutions have never looked so good.

New Year’s Eve. The party is rockin’, and Claire is in her usual spot holding up the wall. It’s all right. She’s much happier scribbling in her trusty little notebook than mingling. Especially since those notes turn into the sexy erotic romances she pens in secret. Those two gorgeous gods across the room are perfect hero material and…oh dear, are they headed her way?

Mason and Hunter know she won’t remember them as the scrawny geeks they were in high school. She also doesn’t know they’ve been lusting after her for ten long years, waiting for her to meet a man and have a normal relationship. They’re through waiting. The time has come to make their move—and show her exactly how much they’ve changed.

One night in the middle of a Mason/Hunter manwich, and Claire has enough research material to fill a hundred notebooks. Good thing she’s got OfficeMax on speed dial to order more. Except suddenly her two hunks have this crazy idea that keeping her is selfish. Selfish? She may be mousy, but this mouse is about to roar…

Warning: Threesomes! Light bondage, blindfolds, breakfast made by two hot men who used to be geeks. Parades, cotton candy, more sex, and convincing said men they are WRONG and threesomes are RIGHT.

Reviews

Sexy but flimsy plot
It's entertaining, but not the next great romance novel.

Con: Plot is flimsy (even for a shorter work). The characters aren't believable, changing their minds for absurd reasons.

Pro: The sex is hot. The flow is easy to follow and the characters humorous.

It's worth the price if you're looking for an entertaining threesome.

Bringin' in the New Year, Menage Style
Great hot short tale of a closet erotica writer finding the two men of her dreams. Fun, sexy, touching. Old schoolmates being reunited has never been this hot. Annmarie McKenna satisfies again.

Make Mine Midnight
Claire Crater is at a rocking New Year's Eve party but is she celebrating? No, once again she's sitting against a wall writing in her notebook. Claire is an erotic writer and her characters seriously have a richer love life than Claire ever has. While searching for her next hero, Claire focuses on a man who is gorgeous and seems slightly familiar. No, she would remember if she had ever known anyone who looked like him. Mason Ledbetter along with his best friend, Hunter Morris, went to high school with Claire. They were the typical class nerds and never had the guts to ask her out even though they wanted to. While she still looks the same, they have changed--for the better. Tonight, both Mason and Hunter plan on fulfilling a long-time dream to have Claire between them - not only tonight but forever. After a night of fireworks, reactions make the two decide to give up Claire. Too bad they didn't ask her first because she has other ideas.

What happens when the high school nerds grow up hot and sexy? Make Mine Midnight gives Mason and Hunter their fantasy - a grown up Claire in their bed. Claire is an erotic writer who lives in the worlds she makes up. Mason and Hunter are best friends with one common goal and are ready to achieve it. From the minute Claire re-meets Mason and Hunter at the party, sparks are flying and just get hotter as the night goes on. I was ready to give Claire a high five when she turned the tables on both of her men to show only they matter in any type of relationship. Make Mine Midnight is one erotic and hot meeting between old high school classmates - one that is an instant favorite in my erotic library.

Jo
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Good menage.
I thougth this was wicked hot! The menage was great and the story fit just fine. I really liked the easy style of reading and the erotic was right on. A real good read and good menage. I would defintely recommend it, along with Male/Female/Male and Romantic Hedonism: Two Erotic Novels. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Lizzie Paxton's dream in life is to be a widow--if only she could skip the wedding and the husband. When her childhood friend Captain James Marlowe proposes a marriage in name only, she accepts, knowing she'll have the independence she craves once he sets sail. Though James is the only man Lizzie trusts, she doesn't trust the scintillating desire he evokes in her.

James knows he shouldn't get involved with anyone, especially with his uncertain future. But he just can't help himself when he overhears Lizzie's declaration. Though he's promised her a marriage of convenience, he wastes no time in seducing her and taking her over the precipice of desire. Yet not even his beautiful wife can deter him from his cause.

But when Lizzie discovers her husband has deceived her, James must choose between devotion to duty and loyalty to the woman he cannot live without...

"Intrigue, sensuality and romance collide."--Jenna Petersen

"Elizabeth Essex's The Pursuit Of Pleasure is elegant, evocative, and absolutely dangerous to a good night's sleep."--Courtney MilanWhen not re-reading Jane Austen, sipping tea or mucking about her garden, Elizabeth Essex can be found at her computer, making up stories about people who live far more interesting lives than she.

It wasn't always so.Elizabeth graduated from Hollins College with a BA in Classical Studies and Art History and then earned her MA from Texas A&M University in Nautical Archaeology, also known as the archaeology of shipwrecks.While Elizabeth loved the adventurous life of a working archaeologist, after writing and reading all those dry, dusty reports on ship construction, she would daydream about how lovely it would have been if only someone had fallen in love on just one of those ships.And so now she writes stories about just that.

Elizabeth lives in Texas with her family. ... Read more

Reviews

wonderful late Georgian romance
In 1794 in Dartmouth, England Lizzie Paxton drolly chatting to another woman says being a widow would be ideal for the freedom granted to a woman however she also insists the first step to achieve this independent status will never happen to her as she will never marry. Her long time friend Captain James Marlowe overhears her feelings about marriage and astutely concludes her need for independence and his goal is to avoid a marriage entanglement fit nicely together. He offers her a marriage of convenience; she accepts.

Although he knows he should not, James seduces delectable Lizzie. Soon after that passionate tryst, he leaves. A few days later, she learns her wish is true that she has become a widow. However, the Ton assume Lizzie killed her new husband; placing her spouse in an untenable spot between his loyalty to his beloved wife and his loyalty to his beloved England.

The Pursuit of Pleasure is a wonderful late Georgian romance due to the strong likable lead characters. Lizzie is terrific as an intelligent witty individual while James is a dashing hero. Readers will enjoy this engaging historical as patriotic James is trapped in a nasty situation as duty and love war inside his soul.

Harriet Klausner
... Read more

Editorial Review

In the quiet safety of the Bluebird Ranch, old promises resurface and unexpected love brings new hope.

Though tragedy has wrecked her life, Allie Siders holds on to the hope that her five-year-old daughter, Betsy, will speak again. But with a stalker out for revenge, all Allie can think about now is their safety. She must sever all ties and abandon life as she knows it. She heads to the peaceful Bluebird Ranch, nestled deep in Texas hill country, and to the only person who can help them.

The ranch is a sanctuary for abused horses, and also for troubled youths: the perfect place for Betsy to grow and recover. Ranch owner Elijah DeAngelo eagerly welcomes the duo. But Rick Bailey--the ranch foreman and DeAngelo's right hand man--hasn't decided to let his guard down . . . yet.

Promises made long ago soon force Rick and Allie to work together to escape danger. Will they discover love along the way?

Reviews

Top notch!
Tragedy is etched into Allie Siders' life, with the loss of husband in Afghanistan, her parents suddenly and finally the murder of her sister. So traumatised by the shocking losses, Allie's five year old daughter Betsy has not spoken a word in over a year and Allie is desperate to ease her suffering.

Seeking out her husband's best friend, Allie finds herself at the Bluebird Ranch, a place where endangered horses and kids on the edge learn to trust again. Ranch owner, Elijah DeAngelo, is welcoming but the cold reception Allie receives from foreman Rick Bailey has her doubting they can stay.

With threats from an unknown stalker and Betsy's grandparents seeking custody, Allie may have to take an unthinkable way out.

Lonestar Sanctuary is just what the reading doctor ordered! When I long for an uncomplicated and engaging read, Colleen always hits the spot. With effortless prose, sweet characters and intriguing suspense, I enjoyed every page as Allie, Betsy and Rick battled their fears within and without. With the perfect combination of suspense and romance, underpinned with threads of faith, Colleen's latest novel is sure to please.

GREAT BOOK!!!!
LONESTAR SANCTUARY was my second read by Colleen Coble, and it will definitely not be my last. Ms. Coble writes great romantic suspense, and what's even better - she writes great Christian romantic suspense, without beating you over the head with the Christian references.

Allie Siders has dealt with too much death over the last few years. First, her husband was killed in the war in Afghanistan, and her in-laws are determined to gain custody of her daughter. Then her parents died in a tragic plane accident, and her sister was killed during a burglary. As if that wasn't enough, her five-year-old daughter, Betsy, has stopped talking.

Allie has made a life barrel racing on the rodeo circuit. But trouble has a way of finding her, and when a man claiming to be behind her sister's death tries to attack her in her trailer, she decides that it would be in the best interest of both herself and her daughter to leave the rodeo and travel to the Bluebird Ranch.

The ranch is owned by Elijah, a man who holds more importance to Allie than anyone knows, and who also runs a program that uses horses and ranch work to help troubled kids. But even more importantly, the ranch is run by foreman Rick Bailey - the man who was her husband's closest friend during the war, and who is harboring secrets of his own.

When it becomes clear that someone is determined to make Allie suffer for a sin she doesn't even know she committed, both Rick and Allie will have to put their differences aside to keep Betsy safe.

Let me just say, this book is a real page-turner. The suspense is perfectly plotted, and although I wasn't personally fond of people close to Allie dropping like flies, it worked with the story. And as I mentioned, the Christian/inspirational references were well done, without being over done.

The ending was realistic, the dialogue throughout the story was perfectly believable, and I actually enjoyed getting to know these characters. LONESTAR SANCTUARY is a winner! ... Read more

Editorial Review

"Please God, if you're listening, keep Rachel safe." She couldn't turn her back on her family in their time of need. So when her sister was injured, financial expert Andrea Hampton traded the big city for Amish country to help turn her grandmother's house into an inn. But life with the Plain People took a treacherous turn when a string of accidents and pranks threatened her family. Someone didn't want the secrets the old house harbored to come to light. Trusting anyone—even the handsome carpenter who seemed so genuine—was a battle for Andrea, but her life depended on her ability to find the truth.

Reviews

Excellent start to the series
Andrea Hampton is used to the safety and security of her big city job. However, nothing will keep her from running back to her sister's side after Rachel is involved in a horrific accident. But helping Rachel and her grandmother open up a bed and breakfast? Ridiculous...and yet that is the position she finds herself in. Carpenter Cal Burke seems willing to help. Just what is going on with this rash of accidents plaguing the inn and its owners?

I read the first two books of The Three Sisters Inn series out of order, but the overall beauty of this series remains intact; HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT is the first book and an excellent start to the series.

Marta Perry creates such beautiful settings for her tales. HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT is set in the heart of Amish country. The peaceful setting provides a sharp contrast to the increasingly dangerous attacks on the Hampton family. In fact, the atmosphere accentuates the danger that lurks in this seemingly tranquil environment.

Marta Perry develops characters the reader wants to revisit over and over again. Andrea's transformation over the course of the book is a joy to behold. The issues of faith are sensitively addressed through the eyes of both Andrea and Cal. The importance of family and friends is especially notable in HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT.

HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT is yet another fantastic book from Marta Perry. I am quickly becoming a fan of both Marta Perry and the Love Inspired Suspense line as both evoke such strong emotions. Easily recommended!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Romance and Suspense. Good Read
Andrea Hampton is the successful sister; important job, important opinions, important woman. Sister Rachel stayed home with their grandmother and is determined to turn the family home into a bed and breakfast. Andrea doesn't approve. But when Rachel is injured in a hit and run accident, Andrea drops everything to hurry to her bedside. You take care of family.
Unfortunately, Andrea has to swerve to avoid an Amish buggy on a dark road and ends up in the ditch. Calvin Burke rescues her and takes her to the hospital to see Rachel. Andrea is grateful until she learns he is her grandmother's tenant. Not everyone in town wants another bed and breakfast, and things begin to happen, some of them very dangerous. Andrea, who is used to doing everything herself, has to learn who she can trust.
Hiding in Plain Sight is a suspenseful story of intrigue and romance, salted with a strong faith message. Things aren't always the way they seem and it's easy to trust the wrong people. Fans of Marta Perry will enjoy Hiding In Plain Sight. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This is Maddy Turner's lucky day. The civilized society girl just bid on sexy rogue Jake Wallace at a charity bachelor auction--and won! But Maddy knows Jake's dirty little secret. And it should keep her from trying out her new boy toy. Too bad she can't stop herself from indulging in raw, quite uncivilized sex all the same....

Jake Wallace is utterly bewitched by Maddy--and utterly bewildered. How can this tantalizing woman melt so rapturously under his ministrations one moment, then turn into a haughty queen the next? He's determined to get to the bottom of Maddy's agenda. One slow, delicious inch at a time...

Reviews

great, November 13, 2009
I'm not a huge romance reader but it was free for the kindle. It suprised me how much I like the story. I am excited to read the next one.

I Loved This Book!, September 25, 2010
I just read this book on my Blackberry Kindle (getting a real Kindle in a few weeks) and this is one of the best romance novels I have ever read. I have been reading this while sitting behind my desk at work. I started this book at 4:15 p.m and finished at 11:02 p.m. I still cannot believe what a suspenseful page turner this was. I loved the attitude of Jake. Madeline was quite the character as well, thinking Jake was a gigolo. I had to remember I was at work to keep from laughing too loud because there were some funny points here. One of my favorite parts was picking Jake's sister up and she asking Madeline if her ex, Oliver, cheated on her with a man because his name sounded gay. I mean, I do not laugh at gay people, but that was too much, I could no longer contain the laughter. It is rare in these romance books to add such color and personality to the characters, but this author mastered that beautifully. I was still shocked that this book was free because I would have gladly paid $6.99 for that. I hope this author does not stop because this book was too good. If I could rate it more I would, but since we stop at 5, that is what this novel will get. Cannot wait to start a new book, as I am searching the Kindle store now, because I have 50 more minutes at work!

Slow Hands., May 30, 2010
To be honest, I didn't think I would enjoy this as much as I did. It's a Blaze novel and I've never read one before. However, this one was hot and sexy! I was really drawn into the story and how the characters interacted with one another. After finishing, I am definitely going to read more by this author--she's very good! I also liked, for erotic romance, Now Shes Gone and 99 Martinis Uncensored: Two Novels of Romantic Erotica.

Surprised..., July 8, 2009
I got this as a Kindle freebie. I usually don't read Silhouette or Harlequins, but thought I'd give the freebies a chance. This one was surprisingly better than I thought it would be (one of the better ones in the bunch). I don't tend to like "misunderstandings" and there was a fair share of cliches in the mix, but the author's writing overcame a lot of it. I ended up liking it enough to consider purchasing another one of her books to find out what happened with the other bachelor. :)

Pasionate, hot and steamy...and a quick read to boot, September 8, 2010
I am not one to read romance novels on a regular basis; however, this book really appealed to me. At times the plot did get convoluted, but as is the nature of romance novels, love is suppose to win out in the end. As for the steaminess of this novel, all I can say is that I may begin reading more romance novels for the passion depicted in this book was deliciously steamy.

This was indeed a good read.

Great Quick Sexy Read, August 29, 2010
I read this at the beach on an anniversary trip with my husband and it was just perfect. Very quick, sexy, funny and written well. The plot moved at a decent pace and the characters are sweet and believable. I simply thought it was great and rated it 5 stars and it was free to boot! Read it if you like books with hot sex!

Excellent Sensual Read-Slow Hands is Hot!, March 6, 2010
Loved this book....can't say enough about it. Downloaded it to my blackberry and took it everywhere with me...couldn't put it down. Has some extremely hot scenes that definitely got my emotions going. Highly recommend!!!

At least it was free..., October 2, 2010
*Warning, this review may contain spoilers* I really try not to be too critical of a free book, but how many stereotypes and worn-out cliches can one story have?

Let's start off with a heroine being a short, very curvaceous brunette who is portrayed to have more intelligence and integrity than those evil, tall, stick-figured blonds making Maddy an ambitious attempt at a "different" character, yet lacking any real depth. I've read far more of this type of heroine than I ever have a leggy blond. Every blond in this book was self-absorbed or otherwise unappealing in some way. It felt almost like reverse prejudice after a while, which is strange considering the author (as pictured) is blond herself. Imagine a book where every short brunette was stereotyped as a boring, plain-Jane or something of the sort, making them unappealing. I doubt that would go over well.

Then toss in a typical "big", impossibly handsome hero who apparently has women throwing themselves at him left and right (but of course has no interest in any of them) who nearly gets a hard-on within two minutes of seeing Maddy in the crowd and wants to do all sorts of sexiness to her because "there's just something about her" and she's not a stick like all the blonds in the room. I'm neither a stick nor am I built like Jessica Rabbit (or Catherine Zeta Jones as the author describes Maddy), but the constant pounding into our heads of how curvaceous Maddy was, even to the extent where Jake says that's how every woman "should be shaped", became very annoying to me.

The story becomes one big, overdone cliche after that point fueled by an annoying plot of miscommunication between less than one-dimensional characters. Perhaps I've read too many romance stories, but I was just left with the feeling that I'd read all of this before. And I'm unfortunately still a bit amazed how the same, tired character types find their way into new stories.

The entire idea that Maddy despises the "fact" that Jake is a gigolo, yet never brings the subject up in spite of all the talk about his big, loving family and her awareness that he lacks typical "international playboy" characteristics is just completely unbelievable. Maddy does ponder that perhaps he's acting a part, but a rich socialite with a brain, such as Maddy is described to be, should have picked up on the fact that he wasn't very cultured. Not saying a man who drives a truck can't be cultured, but I seriously can't imagine an "international gigolo" who services Chicagoan socialites driving a truck. And as perturbed as she was by his "profession" one would think she would have simply asked at one point: "So what does that big, loving family of yours think about what you do for a living?" At the very least Jake would have mentioned some aspect of his real job during one of their conversations. And no, not wanting to gross her out with gory medical talk is not an excuse to never mention anything about your job. He never even mentions coworkers. It's simply not realistic.

The sex was just average in my opinion, but, again, I've read a lot of romance books. For a person who is a new or casual reader of this genre, this book will probably be better for them than it was for me. I found the actual "romance" lacking. As typical of these books, the "love" felt more based on the physical and came rather quickly for my tastes. Sure, three weeks is a more believable time frame for a person to fall in love than three days (as I've seen other romance books depict) but when a person has deep-rooted issues regarding relationships and love, three weeks is still a little quick to want to spend the rest of your life with someone.

Overall, this book is okay for a freebie, and the story gained my interest a little better toward the end. That's why I gave it two stars instead of one. This book is one I would not pay for, but it does the job of killing time on a rainy afternoon. However, if overused stereotypes and trite, annoying miscommunication plot lines bother you, I would recommend skipping over this story.

super steamy but lacks substance, October 13, 2009
I've read several of the books that were offered for free, and was pleasantly surprised by how good they were. However, I was very disappointed with this one. First, I thought the initial introduction to Janice and Penny in the first chapter was excellent and I looked forward to further development of these characters. However, they never showed up again in the book! I will have to give the author credit in the massive vocabulary category because I've never read so many pages of intimate scenes with such a wide variety of words used to describe body parts, without actually stating the body part by its actual name. Her intimate scenes were steamy for certain and well-written. I just wish there had actually been some semblance of a plot in between them. The character development was extremely shallow which was a very big disappointment after the interesting first chapter, or perhaps I should say that the actual characters were incredibly shallow. Whether or not the heroine actually learned anything about true love through her family history and personal experience is debatable because her relationship with Jake was based purely on mutual passion, satisfying her selfish desires and not much else. Maddie was right to doubt whether or not she could have a lasting relationship with Jake, because there was no foundation to base a lasting relationship on. At first I thought that this book was probably written by a man, because what man wouldn't want a hot babe that jumped him every chance she got, but there has to be more than that to make a relationship last. Personally, I prefer reading about women who catch their men through friendship and commitment before hopping in the sack with them.

Great read, September 29, 2010
Loved the story line and loved how they talk about all the characters with no confusion, highly recommend esp for a free read. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Did you know that Mr. Darcy had an American cousin?!In this highly original Pride and Prejudice sequel by British author Monica Fairview, Caroline Bingley is our heroine. Caroline is sincerely broken-hearted when Mr. Darcy marries Lizzy Bennet— that is, until she meets his charming and sympathetic American cousin...Mr. Robert Darcy is as charming as Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy is proud, and he is stunned to find the beautiful Caroline weeping at his cousin's wedding. Such depth of love, he thinks, is rare and precious. For him, it's nearly love at first sight. But these British can be so haughty and off-putting. How can he let the young lady, who was understandably mortified to be discovered in such a vulnerable moment, know how much he feels for and sympathizes with her? ... Read more

Reviews

Caroline Bingley Transformed Before Out Very Eyes
Whatever became of Caroline Bingley? After her dreams of being Mistress of Pemberley were dashed, how did she recover? Did she rebound quickly after her disappointment of losing Mr. Darcy or was her heart deeply broken?

At the end of "Pride and Prejudice" the future looks a little bleak and uncertain for Caroline Bingley. She has just lost the man she spent years pursuing to an unsophisticated and unconnected country maiden, she has the unfashionable Bennet family as in-laws, and to top it all off, she is approaching an age where she will soon be labeled a "spinster." Does this arouse any sympathy or compassion in you for "bad girl" Caroline Bingley? If not, then reading Monica Fairfiew's new novel, "The Other Mr. Darcy," will surely do the trick!

Can there be another Mr. Darcy??? No, definitely not, but Fitzwilliam Darcy does have an American cousin who shares the same last name. However, beyond the same name and some attractive physical attributes, Robert Darcy shares little in common with his English cousin. In contrast with the reserved and proud Fitzwilliam Darcy, Robert is more open, charming, and amiable. He does not concern himself with social proprieties and gentlemanly etiquette. In addition, he is delightfully flirtatious and provoking!

On the day of the Darcy's and the Bingley's wedding, Robert unintentionally witnessed Caroline Bingley's humiliating and unladylike display of emotion. When Caroline discovers she was observed, she chastises him for invading her privacy and takes small comfort in the fact that she may never see him again. However, Robert Darcy appears in her life ten months later, informing the Bingleys that Elizabeth Darcy is unwell and entreating them to travel to Pemberley. Jane and Charles depart immediately for Pemberley, leaving Robert behind to convey Caroline and Louisa Hurst in a couple of days. Caroline soon finds herself in numerous complications and moments of perturbation because of this disagreeable and ungoverned man...

Ms. Fairview has brilliantly and plausibly transformed Caroline Bingley before our very eyes. It turns out that Caroline is not the detestable snob we thought she was. Ms. Fairview creatively provides an explanation for Caroline's behavior and character. Furthermore, she capably answers questions such as: Why did Caroline fawn and flatter Mr. Darcy? What was it about Mr. Darcy that attracted Caroline the most? Who instilled the importance of being a proper lady in her?

I simply loved how one of my favorite has antagonists has become a likable and admirable protagonist! I took great pleasure in delving deeper into Caroline's psyche and I loved witnessing her moments of introspection and realization. In addition, I enjoyed the sparks and tension created between Caroline and Robert, it seems the course of true love will never run smooth for the Darcy men!

In short, "The Other Mr. Darcy" by Monica Fairview was simply fantastic! Ms. Fairview wrote an endearing and beautiful tale that will banish your dislike of Caroline Bingley. I only hope that Ms. Fairview continues to write more stories in this vein and spotlight other minor characters as cleverly and gracefully as she did Caroline Bingley.

Austenesque Reviews

Elegant
Caroline Bingley is overwhelmed and heartbroken over the marriage of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett. But soon, at a very awkward moment, a mysterious gentleman enters her life--Mr. Darcy's cousin from America. Tension immediately develops between the two as Caroline shows contempt for her American acquaintance. Although, Robert Darcy falls in love with Caroline, their worlds are very different and far apart.

This book is so elegantly written, the reader will think they are reading Jane Austen. I knew from the very beginning this was going to be an excellent book. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down.

Characters straight from P&P
I'll keep this simple. I was given this book, I dived into it, neglected my family, and totally loved it! If you've seen the Colin Firth version of P&P, you'll see all of the characters in this book.

In this sequel Caroline Bingley is the main character as she develops a relationship with Mr. Darcy's American cousin from Boston, as they go through a typical Austen-like series of spats, mis-understandings, teasing and tears. But along with Caroline, the auther incorporates all of the other personages: the entire Bennet family (you can just hear Mrs Bennet!), Colonial Fitzwilliam, Jane and Charles Bingley, and even the now-widowed sister Louisa. And lest we forget, the evil Mr. Wickham plays a role, although a silent one. And all are completely 'in character'. The only difference I feel is that Caroline is better looking in this book, and not quite as haughty, but otherwise the author has transported them from one story to another.


Do youself a favour; if you love Austen....read this sequel. It's the best! ... Read more

Editorial Review

“You will be turning pages well into the night.” —Sandy Blair, author of A Highlander For Christmas“A fast-paced, sexy read with lots of twists and turns! A fascinating paranormal world with a hot hero, a smart heroine and dark villains.” —Nicole North, author of Devil in a Kilt Their forbidden love may get them both killed.Bella is a red werewolf, sole survivor of the fire that killed her entire pack. Devlyn is a beta male werewolf in a pack of grays. Forced to flee her adopted gray pack when the alpha male becomes a vicious threat, she struggles to live as a lone wolf, until Devlyn, the gray male who rescued her as a pup, comes to bring her home.When a local red werewolf goes on a killing spree, Bella and Devlyn must flee the murderer, the police and their vengeful pack leader. With the full moon rising, and her heat upon her, Bella can’t resist the pull to her destined mate, even if means Devlyn will have to face the wicked alpha male in a fight to the death...A sizzling paranormal romance based on extensive research on how wolves live and behave in the wild, creating a fascinating world of nature and fantasy.“Warm and sexy; Terry Spear is a great new voice in the paranormal romance genre.” —Cathy Clamp, USA Today bestselling author ... Read more

Reviews

Good story, but...
I loved the storyline of Heart of the Wolf. I loved the characters.

I didn't love how it was written. The same phrases are repeated constantly, and the fight scenes are short and have a severe lack of description.

I only read all the way through because I wanted to see how things between Bella and Devlyn turned out, but I can honestly say this book has literally put me to sleep more than once.

Scorching Paranormal Romance
Heart of the Wolf does not disappoint. The interaction between Bella and Devlyn singes the page and you will find yourself pulling for these two! The story is addictive so if you're looking for an engaging, sexy read with a hot alpha male - this is the book for you!

Hot shapeshifter romance!!
Heart of the Wolf is a sexy werewolf romance with lots of action to keep you on the edge of your seat and riveted throughout the night. I fell in love with the multi-dimensional characters, especially the yummy-hot alpha hero. The complex plot kept me guessing about what would happen next. I've never been to Oregon where the story is set, and I enjoyed seeing Portland and the surrounding area through the author's beautiful descriptions. I highly recommend this book!!!
... Read more

Editorial Review

When a modern woman goes back to Jane Austen's time, she needs to know…

Everything! Eleanor agrees to travel back in time to prevent a deadly duel, but she doesn't know how to behave, what to say, and most importantly…

How to tell a villain from a rake

The captivating, infuriating, and mysterious Lord Shermont is a renowned rake and womanizer—but is he also a dangerous cutthroat and spy? Eleanor has to get up close and personal to find out…

Otherwise, she could fall into a most shocking scandal…

Thankfully, Miss Jane Austen herself arrives on the scene, with sage guidance and a twinkle in her eye, to help Eleanor navigate countryhouse society and the dangerous terrain of her own heart…

From the author of Hundreds of Years to Reform a Rake, a newtime travel romance featuring a modern day career woman swept back in time toRegency England, where she thwarts a Napoleonic spy, chats with Jane Austen,and falls in love with a notorious rake.

PRAISE FOR LAURIE BROWN:

"Highly original. If you're in the market for a differentkind of historical romance, or you enjoy stories filled with period detail,Hundreds of Years to Reform a Rake is a solid bet."
wordcandybooks.blogspot.com

"Brown's ending was clever and I never suspected Josie wouldchoose the path she takes. I would recommend Hundreds of Years to Reform a Raketo anyone who enjoys paranormals, and even Regency fans who don't usually readthem. Brown did an excellent job of combining the two genres."
aladysdiversions.blogspot.com

"A very enjoyable read with Josie a feisty and independentcharacter, and Deverell the ghost and Deverell the man both also veryappealing."
curledup.com

"Humor, mystery, ghosts, history, and… pure fun."
blogcritics.org

"A fresh tale that is as charming as it is hot!"
zeekspage.blogspot.com

"You'll be transported to another time and won't want to return until the very last page is digested."
fantasybookspot.com

Reviews

Excellent !
This is a historical romance with a twist , since the reader and the main character are from modern times. Eleanor Pottinger is in England to do a seminar on Regency fashion when 2 ghosts (Mina and Deirdre Cracklebury) ask her to go back in past and stop a duel. Eleanor goes to bed thinking that she is just jet-legged but in reality she is back in the past. Once she is in the past she imbraces the era and who find yourself in a house party trying to keep Mina and Deirdre Cracklebury from being seduced by Lord Shermont. It was funny and smart and over all a great read!!!

If you enjoy this genre I would also suggest; Hundreds of Years to Reform a Rake, Spirited Away, The Wedding Ghost (Zebra Regency Romance) and a classic The Mirror

whimsical time travel romance
Recently dumped by her cheating fiance, Eleanor Pottinger is an expert on Regency aristocratic fashion. She is currently working as a designer for a Jane Austen festival during Regency Week. However, she is bit taken aback to find her room at the old inn is preoccupied.

Nonplussed Eleanor meets the ghosts of sisters Mina and Deirdre Cracklebury. The trio negotiates a deal in which Eleanor will go back to 1814 to prevent a deadly duel between their brother Teddy and Lord Shermont in exchange to them introducing her to Jane Austen. As she and Shermont flirt outrageously with one another, Eleanor must decide between sense and sensibility; she needs to choose either the active sex of a lifetime or a passive meeting with a writer even as she considers WHAT WOULD JANE AUSTEN DO?.

Though Jane is a minor player, Eleanor and Shermont are wonderful leads and the ghostly sisters great support as Laurie Brown provides a whimsical time travel romance. The story line is fast-paced and filled with twists. This is Eleanor's tale as she tries to make the right choices considers her mantra: WHAT WOULD JANE AUSTEN DO? In this situation.

Harriet Klausner

Enchanting Review: What Would Jane Austen Do?
WHAT WOULD JANE AUSTEN DO?
LAURIE BROWN
Historical Romance
Sourcebooks Casablanca

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

When Eleanor Pottinger goes to England for a regency convention, hopeful on getting a start on her costume making business she could never imagine that the hotel losing her reservation would start her on an unforgettable journey back through time. But when she wakes up to find the ghosts of two dead sisters who want to send her back to Jane Austen's time to save themselves Eleanor thinks it's all a joke, or better yet a dream, until she finds herself surrounded by either the best regency actors or she's really traveled through time.

WHAT WOULD JANE AUSTEN DO? is an entertaining and light historical read. I loved the two sisters, Deirdre and Mina, both in ghost form and physical form in the 1800s. With Eleanor banishing the ghost forms almost the moment she awakes, it's solely up to her to figure out just what it will take to send her back to her own time. There was so much I liked about this book. Eleanor is a great character, and watching her struggle with fitting in without the guidance or assistance of the ghosts is truly enjoyable. The banter between the characters was especially well done and I loved the mystery of not only who Shermont truly was, a man who was found by the side of the road with a bump on his head, but just how Eleanor was going to get back to her own time, if that was even possible.

One of my absolute favorite scenes in the book takes place about a third of the way through, when Eleanor awakes in the middle of the night. Unused to the absolute silence of the estate, she goes in search of a servant and possibly some warm milk to help her fall back asleep, but instead finds herself alone in the library with the mysterious Shermont. I loved the chemistry between the two in the scene and how they ended up sharing a sandwich. My only real issue with WHAT WOULD JANE AUSTEN DO was the ending did seem a little rushed to me, but it didn't detract from a great story.

Laurie Brown teaches writing classes at the college level, has presented seminars at conferences all over the country, and has three published romance novels. She has been a Golden Heart finalist twice and has received the Service Award from the Chicago-North Chapter of RWA. She resides in Illinois.

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
January 2009

... Read more

Editorial Review

What if…The last man in the world she could be prevailed upon to marry…is her husband?In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet tells the proud Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy that she wouldn’t marry him if he were the last man in the world.But what if she never said the words? What if circumstances conspired to make her accept Darcy the first time he proposes?In this installment of Abigail Reynolds’s acclaimed Pride and Prejudice Variations, Elizabeth agrees to marry Darcy against her better judgment, setting off a chain of events that nearly brings disaster to them both…What readers are saying“A highly original story, immensely satisfying.”“Anyone who loves the story of Darcy and Elizabeth will love this variation.”“I was hooked from page one.”“A refreshing new look at what might have happened if…”“Another good book to curl up with… I never wanted to put it down.” ... Read more

Reviews

What if Lizzy Didn't Reject Darcy's First Proposal?
"Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy," originally published as "The Last Man in the World: A Pride & Prejudice Variation" in 2007, is an engaging and clever variation of "Pride and Prejudice." If you have not yet had the pleasure of encountering this series, "The Pemberley Variations," by Abigail Reynolds, it is collection of "Pride and Prejudice" re-tellings that asks the question "what if?" In these variations we see how one small change in the plot can alter the course of "Pride and Prejudice." This is one of my favorite variations by Abigail Reynolds, I love how heartbreaking and emotional the story is.

The slight change that sends "Pride and Prejudice" on its ear in this variation is Mr. Darcy kissing Elizabeth before she can refuse his offer of marriage and that kiss being observed by Colonel Fitzwilliam and Rosing Park gamekeepers. Now Elizabeth finds herself in a difficult situation as Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam are under the impression that she has accepted Darcy's addresses and if she were to correct their assumption it would jeopardize not only her reputation, but also the reputations of her sisters. Even though Elizabeth never gets to proclaim to Darcy that he is "the last man in the world whom she could ever be prevailed on to marry," she strongly despises him for what he's done and her outlook for her a happy future is very bleak.

In "Pride and Prejudice" the flaws of "pride" and "prejudice" are played upon. In "Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy" these flaws are still represented but added to them are "selfishness" and "deception." Mr. Darcy selfishly believes that Elizabeth's answer to his proposal could only be yes, and Elizabeth decides it best to deceive her husband into believing her happily married instead of being truthful about her feelings for him. One of the reasons I love Elizabeth and Darcy is because they are flawed and they make mistakes. No one is perfect and in the literary world sometimes we tend to idolize our heroes and heroines. It is a nice change to see them feel insecure, embarrassed, or misunderstood. I believe even Elizabeth Bennet has times when she lacks confidence or jumps to the wrong conclusion.

Abigail Reynolds is a very talented and gifted author that clearly loves Jane Austen and "Pride and Prejudice" with a passion! I am delighted to own both this book and her self-published version of it "The Last Man in the World." After reading "Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy" and scanning through my copy of "The Last Man in the World," I did not find many changes in the plot, and I would venture to say that the only changes were grammatical. So if you already own "The Last Man in the World" you might not want to buy this book, however, if you are like me, you wouldn't mind having this lovely book grace your shelves twice! In addition, I would like to warn readers who don't enjoy intimate and romantic scenes between these characters that there are a few included in this book. However, the romantic scenes are very infrequent and are not overly explicit.

I highly recommend this novel for people who are interested in seeing "Pride and Prejudice" travel a different course!

Austenesque Reviews

Compromised into Marriage
What happens if it is not until after marriage that Fitzwilliam Darcy learns that Elizabeth Bennett does NOT think that he is all that? And what if it is only after marriage that Elizabeth discovers that Darcy has some good qualities besides being an affectionate brother? And that perhaps George Wickham is not to be trusted?

In this variant on Pride and Prejudice, the overconfident Mr. Darcy follows his first proposal to Elizabeth Bennett with a kiss. Before she has a chance to express her disdain for him, this embrace is witnessed and she has the difficult choice between marrying a man she doesn't love or ruining her reputation and the marriage chances of her sisters as well as her own. It's a decision she must make in an instant, and she chooses Darcy but not without regret.

The author Abigail Reynolds uses this variation to explore the difficulties in a situation that many women of Elizabeth's time and class must have faced. Elizabeth has avoided the trap of marrying Mr. Collins, whom she cannot respect, or falling under the sensual spell of George Wickham who is clearly on the make. Darcy, of course, is an excellent match from society's point of view, but what happens in a marriage when the man chooses a wife from passion, and the woman, unable to reciprocate, tries to make the best of it? I really liked how the author shows Elizabeth and Darcy trying to make each other happy and failing until each acquires real knowledge of the other. Fortunately, neither Darcy nor Elizabeth are ordinary people and after much misunderstanding they achieve the happy ending the reader is waiting for. I think this may be my favorite of the Pemberley variations. I will be reading it again and again.

5 Star Read for P& P lovers
Fun, light, entertaining, and well written. Abigail Reynolds can write Fan-Fiction! Once you read one of her stories you will want to get the others!

Love it!
This one caught my attention from page one and held it. The plot was well developed and the characters were very believable. Abigail Reynolds is one of my all time favorites. Unlike the majority of these published fan fics, she is more like a real writer and knows how to tell a story. One thing that bothers me about most Austen spin off is that they just didn't get the original story. Ms. Reynolds gets it and you should get this book.

Personalities Match Original Austen Characters Perfectly
I love Abigail Reynold's and her P&P variations. This one was surprising and a welcome change. Most variations have William and Elizabeth reconcile and fall in love prior to marrying. This one doesn't. The author comes at the story from the angle of them marrying with the initial proposal. The characterization is perfectly matched to the original book. I love the way the author describes the reactions of the characters in the internal monologues. The steamy parts are pretty good too (wink wink). I was impressed throughout the entire read. This is one P&P sequel that I will keep on my shelf and read again and again.

Highly recommended read
Really very good. I read it straight through and I never do that with books I like (as I enjoy savouring them) but this was unputdownable. Highly recommended read and possibly the best P&P fan fiction I have read thus far. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Couldn't put it down!!!!
This certainly isn't a traditional sappy love story that Sparks usually writes. Sure it has the love story and it's set in North Carolina, but he puts in an element of danger. I have read all of his books and I love them all, however I am definitely tired of the "I love you" on the first date that practically occurs in all of his novels. The rest of this novel makes up for that quick love. It truly is impossible to put down. I made the mistake of starting it before bed, figuring I would read a few chapters and go to sleep - Well, I stayed up all night and finished it. They way it's written is strategic and effective in keeping the reader wanting more (which is why I had to finish it in one night). Sparks has said that this is the next movie adaptation and I'm sure it will work well. There is something for everyone: love story, family life, internal conflicts, danger, and a twist at the end. Well worth the money (the physical book is more $ than the Kindle version - so I don't know what everyone is complaining about; he's a best-seller, it came out yesterday - of course it's not going to be $5!) Overall, I loved it and I don't regret my purchase at all. I'm just sad I finished it already! Can't wait for the next one!

Awesome Ending, Perfect Title
I loved this book, really, I couldn't put it down. The characters were so real and the discriptive writing is so vivid I could feel the heat discribed in the scenes. As a survivor myself of domestic violence both mental and physical it took me back to a time I could not escape. Thankfully my life has changed now but I know others are still in this type of life. Thank you for writing such a beautful story of love, survival, and hope. I don't want to give the ending away...but I loved the ending part, worth the read...don't skip to the end of the book.. ... Read more

Editorial Review

An offer he couldn't refuse... One week of mind-blowing sex on a beautiful Caribbean island. Of all the business proposals financial tycoon Dominic Saxon has heard, Taylor Steele's is definitely the most tempting. All Taylor wants in return is for Dominic to father her baby. No strings, no commitments…just a mutually satisfying arrangement. Make that very satisfying. For a man with no intention of marrying again, it sounds ideal.

Taylor wants a baby, not a relationship. And sexy, intelligent Dominic seems like a man with perfect genes. Turns out, Dominic has perfect everything. Their “procreation vacation” is a whirlwind of sensual ecstasy. But when it's over, will either of them be able to say goodbye?

Reviews

An astoundingly bad book
Even as a freebie the book's too expensive. Those are hours you'll never get back people.

The plotting is stupid, the writing is excruciating, the dialogue ridiculous. There wasn't a single good part to the book, well, except maybe the part when I realized that I didn't have to finish it about half way thru. There was no gun at my head. I could just put it down and remove it from my Kindle. That part? That part was awesome.

HOT!!!
Downloaded the free version for the kindle,Tylor wanted a baby, but not a husband. Dominic wanted a baby but not a wife. When Taylor suggested to Dominic that they have a baby that they would share. They go to on a romantic week to a island and have none stop sex. This book has a lot of sex scene's in the living room, bathroom, bedroom and on a boat. they just could not keep away from each other.
... Read more