October 21, 2014 by Caroline Barker

Review Tim O’Rourke’s Moonshine (The Moon Trilogy, #3)

A Paranormal Horror Adventure Filled with Action, Adventure, Surprises and Heart-warming Moments! A great trilogy for Halloween!!

Weak and still not yet a true vampire, Winnie McCall heads north toward Scotland in the company of the last of the werewolves, Thaddeus Blake. Hunted relentlessly by two police officers, Thaddeus and Winnie must find the Moonshine, a prism that when matched with the Moonbeam, will destroy the vampires.

When two ancient enemies go head to head, the body count soon starts to rise, but who is it leaving a trail of dead bodies along the path that Thaddeus and Winnie are taking? And what is the terrible secret from Winnie’s past that is preventing her friend Ruby Little from staying dead?

With terrifying consequences, Winnie discovers how far she and the man she loves, Thaddeus Blake, will go to survive and remain the last of their species.

A shock ending that will leave you stunned, ‘Moonshine’ is the final book in ‘The Moon Trilogy’ by bestselling author, Tim O’Rourke.

REVIEW

Another action-packed adventure of paranormal horror and drama from Tim O’Rourke, with many twists and turns, especially as the ending nears. You will be blown away with this ending and the many surprises that the author reveals. Two questions many of you will be asking are, ‘Can there ever be a truce between vampires and werewolves?’ and ‘Will Thad and Winnie’s love be enough to hold everything together?’

Winnie is slowly turning into a vampire, whilst Thad is the last of the werewolves. Being hunted down by his last love’s vampire father, Thad has to keep going to prevent the end for all werewolves. After Winnie has been bitten by a vampire, and turning into one herself, these two are very unlikely characters to unite and work together. Yet Winnie’s love for Thad keeps her doing just that! For the very first time in Winnie’s life she feels the love and the freedom she thought she would never have. Thad has given her so much, despite his early intentions. The bond they have is strong and the reader feels that anything is possible as long as these characters are together.

Not only do they share their love for each other, but they both need each other to survive. During full moons, Thad needs Winnie to ensure he doesn’t harm anyone in his wolf form. He needs to be caged somewhere and watched until he returns to his more human state. Meanwhile, as Winnie is becoming more vampire-like, she also has the need and thirst for blood. She needs Thad to help her through her thirsts. They need to ensure their safety from each other as well as the safety for humans to prevent either of them being harmed and to prevent the truth from coming out.

“She would have to look after him as much as he would have to take care of her. They needed each other. Thaddeus, therefore, knew in his heart that he couldn’t leave Winnie behind, even if he wanted to – because without her at his side, he risked dying as much as she. Whether she held him back or not, they were now forever linked – held together that shrouded the world he lived in.”

The plan for Thaddeus is to travel to Scotland where he can threaten to destroy all vampires if he connects the Moonbeam with the Moonshine. As a result of this connection, all vampires will cease to exist. With Winnie turning, Thaddeus is hoping that the vampires are willing to see reason and once they are aware of the true love that exists between Thad and Winnie then perhaps a truce can be made. To make matters worse, there is a trail of dead bodies that are following Thad and Winnie and the local police are following them. The police are not all they seem to be as readers may be aware from Moonbeam (The Moon Trilogy, #2), and with vampires hunting them down Thad and Winnie do not have a great chance.

As well as the action, the chase, the attacks and the sheer desperation that Thad has, another element of Moonshine is the more spooky and eerie side, where the reader is given a much more detailed account of Ruby Little. Ruby Little was Winnie’s best friend from when they were younger and then living on the streets together. After Ruby’s death, Winnie began hearing her voice and seeing her. She has provided Winnie with advice and warnings. Still looking out for her friend from the other side. Some of these scenes are spooky and become more gory and horrific, especially as the trilogy has come on and the reader can envisage a Little Red Riding Hood character, back from the dead, but with maggots where her face should be. It is sad, especially for Winnie, and it is also horrifying and scary.

Moonshine is broken down into three sections: Thad and Winnie; Winnie and Ruby; and Winnie. Although I loved all three sections, I thought the flashbacks of Winnie’s history with her friend, Ruby Little, really stood out. This is partly due to the tragedy of Ruby’s life, the horrors that she endured. The whole atmosphere of this section is both dark and light as the reader begins to understand exactly what Ruby has gone through and her strength to cope with it and yet she also forms a special bond with Winnie that perhaps would never have been created if it wasn’t for the dark occurences. I feel that this type of scene is a new avenue for Tim O’Rourke and he has captured the hearts and minds of the reader magically. It is also extremely heart-warming when we discover how Ruby is protective of Winnie and she goes to great lengths, without really explaining an awful lot to Winnie to begin with. This is a friendship like no other and even after death, Ruby still looks out for her friend.

During the last chapters the tempo builds up again as the ending comes to a close. The rollercoaster of the series is set to turbo boost as the reader is thrown from one possible ending to another. The reader feels as desperate as Thad and Winnie as the heartbeat quickens from fight scenes to chases, from the uncertainty and the horror. This finale will leave the readers a little gobsmacked and torn between what has happened and maybe what they thought would happen. I love it when an author can completely baffle the reader and that’s what Tim O’Rourke has done.

The Moon Trilogy would be fantastic to read one book after the other, as one complete novel, as the reader is left on tenterhooks with the first two books. The pace is also very fast and full of action that you simply don’t want to stop reading. I would certainly love to see this series in a box set, but for now all three books are available for very affordable prices. (Currently Moonlight, The Moon Trilogy #1, is available for £0.77 at Amazon UK and $1.24 Amazon US. Please note that prices are subject to change.)

A copy of Moonshine (The Moon Trilogy #3) was provided by the author for the purpose of an honest and fair review.

You can purchase Moonshine (The Moon Trilogy #3) at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Review for Moonlight (The Moon Trilogy #1)

Review for Moonbeam (The Moon Trilogy #2)

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

October 20, 2014 by Tina Williams

Zombie Takeover to celebrate ~ Love At The End of Days by Tera Shanley (includes super giveaway)

It’s week number 4 of The special Zombie Takeover to celebrate Tera Shanley’s Love at the End of Days! This week the focus is very much on VAMPIRES and some super prizes are up for grabs in the Rafflecopter! Tina 🙂

Week Four: Va-va-va-vampires: Win Books by Amber Belldene and Jennifer DeLucy

HISS! It’s Week Four of our month long Halloween takeover to celebrate Love At The End of Days by Tera Shanley, and this week we have sinfully good books to win, featuring everybody’s favorite monster, vampires! Check out the Rafflecopter and enter to win!

Do you like the old-school blood suckers, the new, angsty vamps with a soul, or both?

Love At The End of Days is LIVE! One Click it over on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Love-Days-Dead-Rapture-Book-ebook/dp/B00OGUXAL6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413480453&sr=8-1&keywords=love+at+the+end+of+days

and check back next week when the zombies take over! We are going to have tons of swag and books to win!

New Rafflecopter Giveaway:

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October 20, 2014 by Tina Williams

Halloween Zombie Takeover* ~ Guest post by Author Tera Shanley

As part of author Tera Shanley’s awesome Zombie Takeover to celebrate the release of book #2 in the Dead Rapture series, Love at the End of Days, Tera has once again dared to pay us a visit to share one of her most important survival tips – how to ensure that you have enough of the right food squirreled away. After all the last thing you want is to be tempted to leave the safety of your hideaway and venture out amongst the Deads and inadvertently succumb to their own flesh eating diet! You can also check out the link to Tera’s new release and enter a super giveaway where books by Amber Belldene, Jennifer DeLucy and Tera herself are up for grabs. We extend a warm welcome to Tera and wish her a safe return. ❤

Survival Foods of the Zombie Apocalypse

A good many factors are going to become important if we ever were unfortunate enough to find ourselves in a zombie apocalypse. In addition to weapons and shelter, eventually, food is going to be an issue. When the Walmarts and Piggly Wigglys of the world are picked clean or filled with a shuffling horde of human chompers, what then?

Well, my friends, preparation is going to be key, and in a world where it’s survival of the fittest, we’re going to have to learn to collect and store food like a pack of winter-scared squirrels. Food won’t keep forever though, so here are a few ideas for snacks with long shelf lives.

Dry Pasta and Flour – Shelf life: 2-8 years

White Rice – Shelf life: 10 years

Canned Meats, vegetables and Fruits – Shelf life: 2-5 years

Coffee & Tea – Shelf life: 2-5 years

Dried Milk, Herbs & Spices – Shelf life: 2-5 years

Ramen Noodles – Shelf life: 2-5 years

Beans – Shelf life: 8-10 years

Soft Grains – Shelf life: 8 years

Hard Grains – Shelf life: 10-12 years

Alcohol (whiskey and vodka) – Shelf life: 10 years

Cornmeal – Shelf life: 8 months – 2 years

Salt – Shelf life: lifetime

Peanut Butter – Shelf life: 2-5 years

Sugar – Shelf life: lifetime

Wheat – Shelf life: lifetime

Baking Soda – Shelf life: lifetime

Dried Corn – Shelf life: lifetime

So, sexy survivalists, if you find yourself grocery shopping in the middle of a z-poc, mosey on past those perishables and load up on the foods that’ll keep you and your team of elite zombie fighters fed for years to come.

Amazon link: Love at the End of Days

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October 19, 2014 by Tina Williams

REVIEW ~ Sick Day, by Morgan Parker

Soul Searching Contemporary Romance

Book Blurb

Hope and Cameron made a five-year promise before college. Years pass and they never see each other again. But then one month before his planned wedding to Riley, Cameron looks outside and sees Hope in the pouring rain, watching him.

Now, three years later, Cam has one day – a sick day on this last Friday of summer – to convince the one woman whose very existence breaths life into his lungs, that sometimes love like theirs actually does exist, and it’s that kind of love that lives forever, no matter how hard you fight to forget about it and move on.

From the author of non friction and Hope, Sick Day follows one man’s day-long attempt to persuade the love of his life that sometimes it’s okay to break promises if it means keeping the ones that count.

My Review

Sick Day by Morgan Parker is an intense and sometimes raw examination of how true love does not always play by the rules. Although the main focus of the novel is the ‘sick day’ Cameron takes to persuade Hope to be his, the novel has a complex series of shifting timeframes where we become party to the couple’s longstanding relationship. Their romance had me tearing up on many occasions due to the wasted opportunities and lost years. There are nevertheless some romantic and passionate scenes between the couple and some humorous moments to balance the angst.

It was clear to me that the couple were destined to be together and care deeply for one another but I was left in tender hooks, not knowing whether Cameron would succeed in his carefully choreographed sick day seduction, the poignancy, drama and heartfelt emotions expressed making the book a real page turner for me. He is prepared to give and lose his all in his attempt to make things right after so many wasted years. Yet is he too late to persuade Hope to be his and can she forgive and forget the past? Hope in particular wants to know why Cameron did not contact her after they made a promise to each other.

Although both hero and heroine are cheating on their other halves – Cameron has a fiancée who later becomes his wife and Hope has a long term partner, I still found them sympathetic characters. We do not get to know their other halves in great depth (the character of Hope’s partner is a bit of a mystery although that of Riley, first as Cameron’s fiancée and then as his wife is a little more defined) but I did feel for them also as they were very much victims of circumstance.

I just HAD to keep reading as I really wanted this situation between Hope and Cameron to come to a conclusion and did feel that they belonged together. I recommend this novel to those who like to read realistic contemporary romances that get to the very heart and soul of relationships.

I received a copy of this novel in return for a fair and honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21495380-sick-day

Purchase Links

Amazon US Amazon UK

Connect with the Author

Facebook Website

October 17, 2014 by Caroline Barker

REVIEW Captured (True Alpha #4) by Alisa Woods

Strong, dark, scary and intense!

Blurb: Shifters live in the shadows of Seattle, just under the skin of the alpha male, dot-com entrepreneurs who are building a new Silicon Valley in the Emerald City.

Lucas and Mia’s story continues as she tries to free Jupiter from the Red pack and he tries to save them both.

Captured (True Alpha 4) is 70 pages or 17,000 words. It’s the fourth of six episodes in the True Alpha serial.

Adult content. Ages 18+.

Review

This series keeps on growing stronger and stronger. You can see from the recommended reading age, 18ys+, that this episode, Captured, is going to be darker than the previous, scarier than the previous and so intense! Mia really is in trouble now as she is being held by the Red pack and it doesn’t seem like there is much she or Lucas can do to save both herself and her friend, Jupiter.

With every passing moment the reader fears for her safety just as much as Lucas does. Not only has she been captured and held against her will, but an alpha from the Red pack, Mace, is quite keen to do more to her than simply hold her hostage. He wants Mia for himself, wants her submission – but just how far will he take his threat?

Lucas, meanwhile, is no fool. He is aware of the tendencies that members of the Red pack will have for Mia. Especially Mace’s! Lucas’ rage really comes to the fore, especially when he is willing to fight with his own pack members for Mia. He knows he can’t rush in and do anything stupid, putting Mia’s safety at greater risk (if that’s possible). But he wants his father’s and pack’s support and be able to go in strong to rescue her.

Another battle they both have in their minds is that they both blame themselves for what has happened. Lucas should never have gave in to his feelings and brought them to the fore, just to shut her out immediately after. And if Mia is truly what his inner self/wolf wants then maybe he should have given himself whole heartedly without messing her around. On the other hand, was Mia being too childish when she drove away in his car and left him naked in the woods?!

Alisa Woods has created brilliant suspense throughout and Captured really tops it for me. I simply can’t wait to read the final two episodes, Sacrificed and Claimed. Paranormal and shifter fans will love this series. The heat is turned up a little higher as each one is read. Now for Sacrificed……

Captured (True Alpha #4) was provided by the author, Alisa Woods, in return for an honest and fair review.

Check out my previous reviews for Desired (True Alpha #1), Guarded (True Alpha #2) and Hunted (True Alpha #3)!

Captured (True Alpha #4) is available on Amazon UK and Amazon US. (Currently books 1-5 can all be bought from Amazon for a small price. Book 6, Claimed, will be released on Tuesday 21st October 2014. However, if you would like all books together in one set – this will be released on Tuesday 28th October, again for a small price. Book 6 and the boxset are available to pre-order in the time being.)

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

October 17, 2014 by Tina Williams

BLOG TOUR ~ Dimitri (Immortals of New Orleans #6), by Kym Grosso ~ includes excerpt

Welcome to the blog tour for Kym Grosso’s new release Dimitri, an erotic paranormal romance. To check out the blurb and the super 18+ excerpt read on! You can also enter the rafflecoper giveaway for a chance of winning a $25 Amazon Gift Card. Tina ❤

Dmitri Banner

Dimitri
by Kym Grosso
Immortals of New Orleans #6
Publication Date: September 30, 2014
Genres: Erotica, Paranormal, Romance

Tour: Dimitri by Kym Grosso

Synopsis

An erotic paranormal romance…

Dimitri LeBlanc, sexy and charismatic beta of Acadian Wolves, survives a brutal attack after his wolf succumbs to a dark force, threatening his very existence. Waking up, tied to a bed, his amusement transforms into lust as a beautiful stranger heals his beast. Intrigued by his mysterious savior, the tables quickly turn, when in the heat of a dark desert night, he rescues her from a barbaric Alpha. Dimitri is inexplicably drawn to the alluring woman, and the discovery that she’s his mate rouses his hunger to claim her as his own.

Gillian Michel, a New York City photographer, conceals a secret hybrid past and mystical abilities. An entire lifetime, she’s deliberately avoided wolves, but a seductive encounter with an irresistible beta leaves her craving his touch, his lips on hers. Passion ignites her desire, leaving her yearning to submit to the powerful wolf who tests her sexual limits.

Deep in the heart of New Orleans, Dimitri and Gillian seek a cure to the parasite maligning his mighty beast. Still on the run from a malevolent force, they lure their enemy into the bayou. Will Gillian sacrifice her gifts to save the man she loves, destroying her own immortality? And will Dimitri eradicate the evil that has invaded his soul while protecting his mate from an adversary who threatens to kill them both?

Warning: This book contains several erotic love scenes and is intended for adult readers only.

Excerpt

Dimitri yanked on the restraints, his wrists firmly secured at his sides. The sweet scent of a woman danced through his mind and he swore he felt the warmth of a smooth hand on his thigh. A moan alerted him to the fact that he wasn’t alone, and his cock hardened in response. If it weren’t for the caustic pain tearing through his muscles, he’d have thought he was having a wet dream. But as he attempted to open his eyes, memories of his last thoughts slammed into him.

Teeth. Claws. Blood. Submission. As his chest heaved for breath, his hands curled into the bed and saliva dripped from his mouth as he recalled being attacked on the beach. A pack of feral wolves had torn into him. Helplessly, he’d fought them, unable to shift. At some point the slashing agony of the attack had ceased; the smooth sound of a woman’s voice curled around him in comfort as he surrendered to unconsciousness.

“Shh…you’re okay. Stay still.”

Not his Alpha’s command, yet Dimitri’s mind quieted. His dried, cracked lips parted. But before he had a chance to utter a word, the seal between where her skin met his began to heat. His eyes flew open and rolled back into his head as tendrils of healing seeped into his skin. Instinctively, he thrashed against the bindings. His hands fisted the leather, and he shook the bed’s metal frame until it rattled uncontrollably. As the tingling spread throughout his body, overwhelming relief from the pain swept through him and he gasped. By the time it was over, tears ran down his face. Not only had the crushing misery disappeared; for the first time in weeks, his wolf howled in celebration.

“My wolf,” he cried. “You healed me? How? What are you?”

“You should be okay once you shift…for a few days, anyway,” the female responded breathlessly, her lips accidentally brushing his chest. “Can’t promise you any longer. You need to see a witch. A shaman may be able to help.”

“But how did you know? My wolf…” Dimitri’s words trailed off as his vision slowly came into focus. He glanced down to the silky raven hair that brushed over his abdomen.

“Your wolf…he recovers.”

“Jesus Christ, the pack. They tried to kill me. How did I get here?”

“You’ve got an awful lot of questions for an almost dead man,” she responded.

“What can I say? Near death does that to a guy. Last thing I remember, those dogs were takin’ a bite outta my neck. As much as I wish I had nine lives, I ain’t no cat, if you noticed.”

“Oh I noticed.” She laughed, concealing her face. “Seems to me, you should be doing a little more thanking and a little less asking.”

“Now don’t take it the wrong way, cher. It’s not that I don’t appreciate ya healin’ me with whatever voodoo you do, but you’ve gotta see this from my perspective.” He gave a small chuckle as his wrists tugged the straps taut. He glanced at his makeshift handcuffs, noticing she’d used belts to restrain him. “So ya want to tell me why I’m tied to the bed? Believe me, I’m down with the kink as much as the next wolf. But call me crazy, this doesn’t really seem on the up and up.”

“Sorry, lover boy, but I did it for my own safety. You were a bit wild when I brought you here. You know what they say when a dog gets hit by a car…it can bite out of fear and pain.”

“Hey now, no need for name calling. There’s no dog here. You got yourself a wolf, darlin’.”

“I know what you are. Doesn’t matter. I take my life pretty seriously. I admit I’m not in the business of tying up men, but I can assure you that I trussed you up for self-preservation purposes only.”

Dimitri felt the lilt of her smile curl against his skin and silently cursed as his dick twitched in response. He laughed inwardly at his predicament, as he jerked at his bindings. Sure, he was tied up good. On the up side, he’d survived the attack and had woken up with a beautiful woman next to him. Not the optimal situation, but it could be worse. He was alive and damn, if it didn’t turn him on to feel the top of her thigh brush against his own. ‘Bondage anytime anywhere’ just might become his new motto. He knew it was wrong to be thinking about sex, given the seriousness of the situation, but hey, when in Rome…

About Kym Grosso

Kym Grosso is the award-winning author of the bestselling erotic paranormal romance series, The Immortals of New Orleans. The series currently includes Kade’s Dark Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 1), Luca’s Magic Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 2), Tristan’s Lyceum Wolves (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 3) , Logan’s Acadian Wolves (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 4), Léopold’s Wicked Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 5) and Dimitri (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 6).

In addition to romance, Kym has written and published several articles about autism, and is passionate about autism advocacy. She writes autism articles on PsychologyToday.com and AutismInRealLife.com. She also is a contributing essay author in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Raising Kids on the Spectrum.

Kym lives with her husband, two children, dog and cat. Her hobbies include autism advocacy, reading, tennis, zumba, traveling and spending time with her husband and children. New Orleans, with its rich culture, history and unique cuisine, is one of her favorite places to visit. Also, she loves traveling just about anywhere that has a beach or snow-covered mountains. On any given night, when not writing her own books, Kym can be found reading her Kindle, which is filled with hundreds of romances.

Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

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October 15, 2014 by Caroline Barker

For November: A Crime Thriller or an Emotional Adventurous Romance Novel?

Hi readers, we are already thinking ahead into November, and once we have all been zombied out, witched out and spooked out over Halloween we are thinking maybe you would like to relax a little with either a crime thriller or an adventurous and emotional romantic journey!

We have two reviews scheduled for next month that just may be what you are looking for. Two great reads from Wattle Publishing: crime thriller, Entropy, by Robert Raker and contemporary romance, The Love of Marisol by Christos Toulouras! Please scroll down for blurbs and author bios.

Happy reading!

Caroline & Tina 🙂

Book title: Entropy
Author: Robert Raker

RRP: PB: £8.99 | Kindle & eBook: £5.99

Synopsis:

When a series of child abductions and murders disrupt the life of an economically blighted community, the consequences have far-reaching implications. The brutal crimes take a different toll on a disparate group of individuals; the scuba diver who retrieves the children’s bodies; the disfigured cellist who thinks he knows who’s responsible; the undercover federal agent; and the mother of one of the victim’s.
United in a situation not of their choosing, they are forced to take a deep, introspective look into their intersected, yet isolated lives.

Author biography:
Robert Raker graduated with a degree in Journalism from the University of Pittsburgh. He currently resides in Philadelphia where he enjoys art, music, literature and live theater. He is currently working on his next novel.

Link to retailers: http://wattlepublishing.com/catalogue/entropy/

Twitter: @RobertRaker1
Facebook: Entropy by Robert Raker

Book title: The Love of Marisol
Author: Christos Toulouras

RRP: PB: £6.99 | Kindle & eBook: £5.99

Synopsis:

When Leo’s marriage ends, he falls into the depths of depression. He decides to escape the loss and the heartbreak with a trip to the other side of the world – Lima, Peru. In some ways, his journey becomes an unexpected salvation as his passions are reignited by the local food and people, the climate and the beautiful and alluring Marisol. The Love of Marisol is a poignant and passionate journey of heartbreak, loss but most of all self-discovery… it reminds us that at the end of one love story, there is always the possibility of a new one…

Author bio:
Christos Toulouras was born in Cyprus. He has lived in South Africa and Cyprus. He studied Tourist administration in Thessaloniki. He continued his studies in the UK at Leicester University where he received his MBA. He currently lives in Cyprus.

Link to retailers: http://wattlepublishing.com/catalogue/love-marisol/

Twitter: @wattlepub
Facebook: Wattle Publishing

October 14, 2014 by Caroline Barker

In Praise of Romance Reviewers by Helena Fairfax, author of The Silk Romance

Hello readers, today we are absolutely over the moon with this fantastic author post from romance author, Helena Fairfax. Tina and myself began blogging about romance books in the beginning, whether they were contemporary, historical or paranormal. And we have always appreciated the time and effort that such authors put into writing, editing and promoting their work. We wanted to help spread the word and maybe introduce readers to more and more suspenseful and thrilling reads, at the same time as helping authors to promote their work.

One author who stood out from early on was Helena Fairfax with her debut contemporary romance, The Silk Romance. Tina reviewed this story first and I always loved her review. Along with the review and the fantastic cover (Charlotte Volnek) and synopsis I had to have a read too! And, as stated in my review, it is an absolutely unforgettable romance. Helena has recently released The Silk Romance in paperback format and we are thrilled to add that we are mentioned in the book and are quoted on the front cover! Thank you, Helena!

Helena Fairfax – In praise of romance reviewers

When Tina and Caroline invited me to write an article for their review site, I knew straightaway that I wanted to say how much I appreciate all the hard work book bloggers put in, and how particularly thankful I am that romance review sites like A Reader’s Review exist.

If you’re a lover of all things romance, as I am, and read lots of books, then how do you choose which romance novel to read next? In the olden days before book bloggers (or ‘back in the day,’ as my son always used to tease me with!) I used to find it hard to choose which romance novel, amongst all the many in the bookshop, I could be certain I was going to enjoy reading. All I could go on was the blurb and the cover – and I made many an expensive mistake buying romance novels I ended up putting down after the first couple of chapters, either because the writing wasn’t good or it just wasn’t my type of book.

It frustrated me that I could read reviews and book recommendations for plenty of other genres in newspapers – sci-fi, horror, even graphic novels – but no newspaper critic ever reviewed a romance novel. So how could I find the best authors? I couldn’t rely on word of mouth recommendations, either, as no one I knew shared my obsession with romance! In the end, in order not to waste money on a book that might not turn out any good, I used to either go to my local library (God bless our library service!) or visit my local market and pick up cheap, battered second-hand copies. If I found an author I loved this way, I would be ecstatic, and would buy up all her books new.

Nowadays the internet is full of romance review sites, and I can’t tell you what a difference this has made to my reading. I follow a handful of sites whose reviews I know I’m going to enjoy reading, and A Reader’s Review is one of the few sites I follow.

There are literally thousands of sites to choose from, and we each have our own preferences. This is how I choose whether or not to follow a review site.

I like it when a reviewer:

tells us what the book’s about (but without giving too much away. Definitely no spoilers!)
summarises the characters and themes, and also gives their own opinion
tries to back up their opinion with examples from the text
is reliable (ie not blogging every day for a week, then writing nothing for months)
never gives bad reviews – particularly snidey reviews. (This is my own personal preference. I know some readers don’t mind reading bad reviews, but I prefer to read enthusiastic reviews that will point me in the direction of an author I haven’t heard of. If a book is bad, I prefer it if it just gets left unmentioned!)

And of course I love it when a reviewer introduces me to an author I’ve never heard of, who I grow to love.

Reviewing novels is hard work, as I know from the few times I’ve written reviews on my own blog. As an author myself, of course I’m even more grateful for the exposure romance reviewers provide, in a book market where romance authors are often overlooked and looked down on.

To give you an example of how poorly romance is regarded, I once took a box of leaflets detailing all the finalists for the RNA’s annual Romance Awards to my local bookshop, and asked them if they could display the leaflets on their counter. I was told they ‘didn’t sell that type of book in their shop!’ These were a selection of best-selling, professional authors, with publishers such as Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins. But apparently romance is too lowly a genre to figure in many establishments!

Well, thank heavens for romance reviewers, that’s all I can say! So when my first novel, The Silk Romance, came out in print, I was delighted to be able to use a quote from Caroline’s review on the front cover, and to credit A Reader’s Review in my acknowledgements.

Thanks for all that romance reviewers do, and here’s to lots more happy reading!

Helena Fairfax – Author post & bio (May 2013)

You can find out more about Helena on her blog at www.helenafairfax.com, or on Twitter @helenafairfax.

THE SILK ROMANCE

An unforgettable, powerfully intense and beautifully written contemporary romance!

I downloaded The Silk Romance after hearing how great it was from Tina. And so, as I came across it again a couple of weeks ago I just had to have a read. It is an amazing read that I am sure many will find difficult to put down. Yes, The Silk Romance will be forever in your memory as a great, sweet contemporary romance. (Caroline)

Blurb: Sophie Challoner is sensible and hard-working, and a devoted carer of her father. One night her grandmother throws a ball for her in Paris…and Sophie does something reckless that she can never forget.

Jean-Luc Olivier is not a man to treat lightly. And so when fate takes a hand years after the ball, and reunites him with Sophie in Lyon, he is determined not to let her go a second time.

But it seems the fates are conspiring against their happiness. Jean-Luc has secrets of his own. And when disaster strikes at home in London, Sophie is faced with a choice—stay in this glamorous world with the man she loves, or return to her family to keep a sacred promise she made her mother.

Caroline’s review of The Silk Romance

Tina’s review of The Silk Romance

The Silk Romance is now available in paperback format and mobi (Kindle) format on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Thank you once again to Helena! It is always a pleasure to work with you.

Caroline & Tina 🙂

A Reader’s Review Blog

October 14, 2014 by Tina Williams

RELEASE DAY BLITZ ~ Love At The End of Days, by Tera Shanley

Love At The End of Days

The Apocalypse is coming… are you ready?

Romance and zombies collide in the riveting sequel to Love in the Time of the Dead.

Book Blurb

Year four into the Dead outbreak that ended the world and Vanessa Summers has been so burned by love, she swears she will never trust a man again. But Sean Daniels, guard leader of Dead Run River, isn’t just any man. When past lovers return to the colony, things get complicated. Desperate to rid herself of the heartache, Vanessa signs up for a supply run that will test her mettle as a guard in training. Sean volunteers to lead her team, and his hungry looks say it’s more personal than professional.

Danger comes from all sides as they scavenge Dead infested cities, and as her attraction for Sean deepens, Vanessa finds her head and heart at war with each other. He clouds her judgment, and any misstep could spell disaster outside of the safety of colony gates.

A race back to Dead Run River could save a team mate’s life, but trouble has been brewing back home. Laney Landry, the woman who broke Sean’s heart, is in trouble, and Vanessa must decide whether to take back the Denver colony beside the man she’s falling in love with, or bow out of an attraction that terrifies her.

Weathering Dead hybrids, betrayals, battles, jealousy, and soul consuming love, Vanessa must find her place in the team she’s found. And if she can, she might just master survival at the end of days.

Buy Links:

Goodreads Link:https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/107005-love-at-the-end-of-days

Author Website: http://terashanley.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @TeraShanley

Author Bio:

Tera Shanley writes in sub-genres that stretch from Paranormal Romance, to Historic Western Romance, to Apocalyptic (zombie) Romance. The common theme? She loves love. A self-proclaimed bookworm, she was raised in small town Texas and could often be found decorating a table at the local library. She currently lives in Dallas with her husband and two young children and when she isn’t busy running around after her family, she’s writing a new story or devouring a good book. Any spare time is dedicated to chocolate licking, rifle slinging, zombie slaying, friend hugging, and the great outdoors. For more information about Tera and her work, visit http://www.terashanley.com.

October 14, 2014 by Caroline Barker

REVIEW By the Sea (novelette) by Katherine McIntyre

By the Sea

A short, light and refreshing romance with fantasy and paranormal elements!

Most kids had imaginary friends, but most weren’t like Megan’s friend Niall. There were rules: only at night and only by the sea. She could’ve sworn he was real, but when someone vanishes without a trace, what else can you believe?

All that was seven years ago, buried in the past until Niall shows up in town with his tight swimmer’s body and easy smile. For Megan, just the sight of him is enough to tear open a scar that never fully healed. However, their reunion only elicits more questions. Niall’s keeping secrets, unbelievable ones, and as Megan delves into the supernatural depths of who he really is, she’s sure he’ll vanish again.

Megan’s not stupid—she knows how bad it’ll hurt if she gets involved. The first time Niall disappeared, she never thought she’d recover. But the moment they lock eyes, it’s too late—because Megan will go to any length to see that boy smile.

REVIEW

By the Sea is a great novelette that reads as a short, fun, contemporary romance from the onset. However, as it opens up and the reader begins to settle into the story, the fantasy paranormal elements emerge.

Megan had been through so much to be rid of the delusions of her imaginary friend, Niall. And yet here is the new boy in town, Mason, with so many likenesses to her long gone friend. Megan wants to lead a normal life and decides not to let Mason in too much. She cannot go down that path and be left hurt and confused again. And yet despite this, her feelings of the past have not disappeared and have re-ignited with Mason.

As well as the romance current running gently throughout the story, later we realise that Niall is also on a mission to seek something that has been taken from him. Not only that but it could also bring a little paranormal trouble to Megan. These scenes I found exciting and left wanting more.

Being a short story doesn’t always allow much build up to prepare the reader, and I found this to be the case, only ever so slightly, with the supernatural element of the story. Once I had accepted the idea of what Niall was I was able to delve further and empathise with Megan’s character – the confusion and re-surfacing of her past feelings.

By the Sea is a nice story with something to offer the contemporary romance reader and the fantasy paranormal fans. I would recommend that it is suitable for Young Adults and over, and there is a coming-of-age feel in regards to the young characters of the book.

A copy of By the Sea was provided by the author in return for an honest and fair review.

By the Sea by Katherine McIntyre is available at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker