September 5, 2016 by Tina Williams

ARC REVIEW ~ The Trickster’s Lover, by Samantha Macleod

#paranormal #romance #erotic

Adult/18+ read

A sizzling and intelligent take on Norse mythology

Book Blurb

Surviving Graduate School ~ Falling in Love ~ Preventing Ragnarök

Graduate student Caroline Capello has always been more comfortable with books than people. She’s just moved to the University of Chicago to become the world’s foremost authority on Norse mythology, making her the only member of her family to leave San Diego, and the family business.

But she’s wondering if she’s just made the biggest mistake of her life.

When Loki, the enigmatic and irresistibly sexy Norse trickster god, appears in her studio apartment, Caroline is forced to question everything she’s learned.

Do the gods exist? Are the legends about Ragnarök, the apocalyptic battle that destroys the gods and ends the Nine Realms, actually true?

Or is she losing her mind?

My Review ~ 5 stars

Sizzling Paranormal Romance

God meets mortal in this super sizzling romance from Samantha MacLeod. When the studious and bookish Caroline leaves home to attend university in Chicago, little does she know that she will attract the carnal attention of Loki, the Trickster god (serious hottie alert). Her dedication to and knowledge of Norse mythology will be truly tested as well as her safety and sanity. Does Loki really exist or are his visits manifestations of an inner malaise? As Loki’s visits increase, events indicate the approach of Ragnarok, heralding the apocalypse, threatening their fledgling relationship and the future of all. What is a girl to do?

I lapped up this read. The sex scenes are hot (Loki is certainly not lacking in the stamina department) and the plot is for the most part fast and furious, whilst at the same time drawing on the richness of Norse mythology throughout. It is evident that the author has a great deal of knowledge of and love for this subject. The initial portrayal of Loki as an enigmatic, fly-by-night, ladies man is well done as is the development of his character, as his unorthodox relationship with Caroline progresses. Caroline’s character is well drawn and I enjoyed how she grew as a person in the face of the many obstacles in her path.

I will not give any of the plot away but suffice to say that it has many unexpected twists and turns, as Caroline unravels the mystery of Loki and tries to uncover what is reality and what is myth. The destinies of the hero and heroine become more and more intertwined as the plotline develops and their love and very survival is tested.

A super sexy and entertaining paranormal read!

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

The book is due to be released on September 6th and is up for pre-order:

Amazon US Amazon UK

Connect with the Author

About Samantha

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012016893561

August 23, 2016 by Tina Williams

REVIEW ~ The Image of Her, by Lorna Peel

#romanticsuspense #romance

Book Blurb

Rachel Harris had been abandoned as a baby on the steps of a church-run children’s home in England, then later adopted. Who was her birth mother and what were the circumstances which led her to give up her baby?

Searching for someone who doesn’t want to be found seems a hopeless task, until Rachel meets Matthew Williams, a Church of England clergyman.

Then anonymous and increasingly frightening incidents begin and threaten to end their relationship. Are these actions connected to the mysterious events surrounding Rachel’s abandonment?

My Review

Beautifully Written – 5 stars!

The Image of Her is contemporary romantic suspense. It is the second book that I have read by Lorna Peel, the first being Into the Unknown (click title for review) and once again I enjoyed the author’s effortless writing style and captivating plot and character development.

I enjoyed the central romance between Rachel and Matt which I found to be realistic and believable. Rachel is an adopted child, who yearns to find out the identity of her birth mother and as relationships go, she is wary, having recently been duped by a married man; Matt is a clergyman who is recovering from a serious physical assault and being dumped by his long-time girlfriend. He jumps at the chance to become Rachel’s housemate when he makes her acquaintance and learns that she is looking for a lodger.

I enjoyed that Matt challenges Rachel’s preconceptions of what she expects a clergyman to be like – he is much younger than she expected, not to mention lot more attractive! Despite resolving not to become emotionally attached, the scene is set for a growing friendship and possible romance as it is clear that the pair are attracted to each other.

Rachel’s new job as a part-time archivist and Matt’s contacts in the church prompt her to embark on a renewed quest to locate her birth mother. Yet almost as soon as Matt moves in, the house and its occupants are targeted by a series of sinister attacks. The reader is left to wonder if these attacks are due to someone not being happy with their arrangement or others from Matt’s past? The ensuing events and revelations make for an suspenseful and diverting read which explores the themes of family secrets and relationships, forgiveness and retribution.

The Image of Her is a real page-turner, which will appeal to romance readers who like a suspenseful read.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note a copy of the novel was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon.UK Amazon.com

Connect with the Author

http://lornapeel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/LornaPeelAuthor

https://twitter.com/PeelLorna

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6485347.Lorna_Peel

August 21, 2016 by Tina Williams

REVIEW ~ The Virgin of the Wind Rose, by Glen Craney (A Christopher Columbus Mystery-Thriller)

Mystery-Thriller

Book Blurb

While investigating the murder of an American missionary in Ethiopia, rookie State Department lawyer Jaqueline Quartermane becomes obsessed with a magical word square found inside an underground church guarding the tomb of the biblical Adam.

Drawn into a web of esoteric intrigue, she and a roguish antiquities thief named Elymas must race an elusive and taunting mastermind to find the one relic needed to resurrect Solomon’s Temple. A trail of cabalistic clues leads them to the catacombs of Rome, the crypt below Chartres Cathedral, a Masonic shaft in Nova Scotia, a Portuguese shipwreck off Sumatra, and the caverns under the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Intertwined with this modern mystery-thriller, a parallel duel is waged:

The year is 1452. One of the most secretive societies in history, Portugal’s Order of Christ, is led by a reclusive visionary, Prince Henry the Navigator. He and his medieval version of NASA merged with the CIA scheme to foil their archenemies, the Inquisitor Torquemada and Queen Isabella of Castile, who plan to bring back Christ for the Last Judgment by ridding the world of Jews, heretics, and unbelievers.

Separated by half a millennium, two conspiracies to usher in the Tribulations promised by the Book of Revelation dovetail in this fast-paced thriller to expose the world’s most explosive secret: The true identity of Christopher Columbus and the explorer’s connection to those now trying to spark the End of Days.

My Review

Mesmerising! ~ Five stars

Glen Craney’s novel The Virgin of the Wind Rose is a read to both savour and ponder. Its fast-paced and engaging plot, coupled with complex and sympathetic characters, immerses the reader in a modern day quest for ancient relics, involving secret societies and conspiracy theories. It also brings alive the world of ancient mariners and throws light on the identity of Christopher Columbus.

I enjoyed how it combines a contemporary narrative with key personalities and events from Fifteenth century Portugal and beyond. The search for an important relic comes to dominate the minds of the novel’s main contemporary characters, as those who would thwart their efforts will stop at nothing to prevent them reaching their goals. Indeed, they desire the relic to bolster purposes which can only be described as sinister.

Jaqueline Quartermane, supported by the mysterious Elymas, an antiquities thief with a conscience, become obsessed with solving the mystery of a word square, to comprehend its hidden meaning. Their quest leads them to sites throughout the world. As they grow ever closer together, they discover that a rival is also out to break the code and acquire ancient relics. This unknown and sinister mastermind desires to use the relics for their own ends, inflicting potential devastating effects on humanity and the world order. I enjoyed how Jaqueline worked alone and with Elymas, and what begins as friendship soon blossoms into romance. Yet will the couple survive the powerful forces that are out to thwart them?

In the book’s parallel narrative, in Fifteenth Century Portugal, we follow a group of young men, including Columbus, whose lives become dedicated to working for the Order of Christ, which works to protect ancient secrets. Their dedication puts them at odds with those who wish to usher in the Inquisition and the End of Days. Both the contemporary and Fifteenth century narratives are intense, full of action, mystery and suspense and a great deal of self sacrifice. Its broad canvass references islamic terrorism, religious oppression, the pursuit of power and individual aggrandisement.

It was evident that the author has done a great deal of detailed research to give a true flavour of historical authenticity to the plot. I knew little of Henry the Navigator or Queen Isabella before reading this book and although it is fiction, I feel that it has shed much light onto a fascinating period of world history. I enjoyed how it linked societies such as the Knights Templar and the Masons and explored ancient mysteries. The references to shipbuilding, navigation and naval exploration were also fascinating.

To conclude, The Virgin of the Wind Rose, recounted by a master storyteller, is a thoroughly thought-provoking read, highlighting lessons and messages from the past which resonate in today’s fractured world. Recommended for lovers of thrillers, especially those that draw on ancient and esoteric mysteries.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note that a copy of this novel was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon US Amazon UK

Connect with the Author

http://glencraney.com/

http://historyintofiction.com/

https://www.facebook.com/GlenCraneyAuthor

August 17, 2016 by Tina Williams

REVIEW – How to Capture A Duke (Matchmaking for Wallflowers Book 1), by Bianca Blythe

Regency Historical Romance

Book Blurb

One reclusive bluestocking…

Fiona Amberly is more intrigued by the Roman ruins near her manor house than she is by balls. When her dying Grandmother worries about Fiona’s future, Fiona stammers that she’s secretly engaged. Soon she finds herself promising that she will introduce her husband-to-be by Christmas.

One dutiful duke…

Percival Carmichael, new Duke of Alfriston, is in a hurry. He’s off to propose to London’s most eligible debutante. After nearly dying at Waterloo, he’s vowed to spend the rest of his life living up to the ton’s expectations.

One fallen tree…

When Fiona tries to warn a passing coach about a tree in the road, the driver mistakes her for a highwaywoman. Evidently he’s not used to seeing women attired in clothes only suitable for archaeology waving knives. After the driver flees, Fiona decides she may as well borrow the handsome passenger…

My Review

Delightful Regency Romp – 5 Stars

This is a superb read by Bianca Blythe. Book #1 in the author’s Matchmaking for Wallflowers series, it contains a feisty and unconventional heroine and a war veteran who, after a brush with death, is committed to conforming to society’s expectations. This fast-paced romance is both amusing and heartfelt.

To comfort her beloved grandmother and avoid any matchmaking attempts, Fiona invents a fiancée. Not just any fiancée, but a gentleman who has valiantly fought in the war, a convenient ruse, as it conveniently explains her husband-to-be’s continuing absence…

However, circumstances conspire so that Fiona is compelled to conjure up said fiancée. Fate plays into her hands when her impulsive nature prompts her to warn a passing coach, which is thundering through the countryside, about a fallen tree. On account of her unconventional behaviour and dress (Fiona has been busy on an archaeological dig) and the fact that she is carrying knives, both the coachman and its occupant are convinced that she is a highwaywoman. Events rapidly spiral out of control and she takes the opportunity to ‘kidnap’ the occupant of the coach, who is conveniently a returning war veteran, and present him to her grandmother as her fiancée.

It is not long before Percival Carmichael, the Duke of Alfrison, decides to entertain himself and play along with his captor’s charade for a few days. So what if he pushes his family responsibilities to the side for a short time, what harm can it do? He is drawn to Fiona’s unconventional behaviour and passion for archaeology, not to mention her beauty and madcap family.

The book is extremely well-paced and highly amusing throughout. I loved the characters of both the hero and the heroine who are extremely well matched. Percival is a reformed rake – reformed on account of the war, which has affected him physically and mentally. He has unexpectedly become a duke, with all of the attendant responsibilities, which he is honour bound to meet. The tension between what Percival desires and how he grapples with what is expected of him is extremely well done by the author. As to Fiona, I loved her feisty and unpredictable nature and how her confidence grew in strength despite the repercussions of her behaviour. I was glued to the pages willing a HEA for the couple as the truth of their situation begins to unravel and misunderstandings abound!

A top read for fans of Regency Romance.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note that a copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon US Amazon UK

Connect with the Author

http://www.biancablythe.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14777090.Bianca_Blythe

https://www.facebook.com/biancablythebooks/

August 16, 2016 by Tina Williams

REVIEW ~ Mean Girls, by Lucy Felthouse

#erotic #romance #rubenesque

Adult/18+ Read

Book Blurb

Adele Blackthorne is a big girl. She knows it, and she’s been picked on all her life because of it. But she’s gotten to the stage where she doesn’t care. She may be Rubenesque, but she’s healthy, too. Much healthier than the mean girls at the leisure center that point and stare and say spiteful things about her. Adele rises above it all, and enjoys her secretive glances at the center’s hunky lifeguard, Oliver.

As the bullying of Adele becomes worse, Oliver finds it increasingly difficult not to intervene. He doesn’t want to get into trouble with work, but equally he can’t stand to see Adele treated in such a horrible way. Especially since he doesn’t agree that she’s fat and unattractive. He thinks she’s a seriously sexy woman, and would like to get to know her better.

My Review

Sweet and Sexy Rubenesque Romance ~5 Stars

I loved this sexy erotic short by Lucy Felthouse. This rubenesque romance ticks all the boxes when it comes to a sizzling yet sweet read. In it the heroine Adele rises above the mean and petty comments of a group of skinny girls at her local leisure centre and at the same time attracts the attention of its hunky lifeguard Oliver.

Both Oliver and Adele have been eyeing each other up for month and circumstances conspire to draw them together and the fun begins! Oliver adores Adele’s confident personality and just loves the fact that there is plenty of her to feast on! He much prefers her to the self-absorbed bullies who strive to make Adele’s visits to the leisure centre a misery.

Their romance is both hot and sweet as they start to find out about each other and their hang-ups. It contains some very entertaining scenes as the couple explore each other and leave the mean girls in their wake.

Recommended for lovers of erotic romance.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Buy links

Amazon UK Amazon US

Connect with the Author

http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk

Facebook

Twitter

August 13, 2016 by Tina Williams

REVIEW – Caught, by Lolita London

Historical Erotic Romance/Erotica

Adult/18+ Read

Blurb

A Lonely Doctor

His treatment for female hysteria calms his patients, and heats Dr. Thomas Winterbourne’s blood like nothing else. Unwed, and desperately lonely, he’s rejected the idea of marriage due to his singular desires.

A Thief

Jenny Marks feels no pity for the wealthy doctor who has more comfort than she has ever found in her nineteen years. She takes a job as his maid, intending on taking anything of value from him and any other upper class people that she can.

Caught

When Dr. Winterbourne finds her pilfering his mother’s jewels, he decides upon punishing her in the most scandalous of manners, unknowingly tying their fate together.

My Review ~ Deliciously Naughty! 4 stars ****

This is another very naughty historical romance from Lolita London and is a quick and satisfying read. Please be advised that this read contains scenes of voyeurism, medical play, role play, bondage and spanking.

The hero Thomas, a Doctor, is researching female hysteria in a most ‘hands-on’ way. His renown for curing the condition has spread amongst high society and he is very much in demand. However, our gallant doctor is very much ashamed as his carefully designed medical interventions have the unfortunate result of causing him a certain amount of discomfort as they *ahem* arouse him sexually, a state that he views as perverse. To relief his unwelcome lust he visits the local whore house, despairing that he will ever find a woman who will understand his predilections…

The heroine Jenny, an orphan who has nothing but disdain for the wealthy, enters his household, in the guise of a maid, intent on stealing from him. Reporting back to her handler and mentor who has rescued her from the streets. Yet what Jenny thinks will be a quick ‘in and out’ job is anything but. Mutual and forbidden attraction flares between master and servant. Neither acts on it, until matters come to a head when Jenny is caught in the act of a theft. Social etiquette is cast aside, and to save herself Jenny offers herself up to her master to punish her… Thus master takes servant to task in a manner befitting his own special skills in a number of steamy and erotic scenes. I enjoyed how the author portrayed the sexual awakening of the heroine as she blossomed into womanhood. The romance is also sweet one.

Recommended for lovers of historical erotic romance.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, a copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

Amazon UK Amazon US

Connect with the Author

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14163708.Lolita_London

August 8, 2016 by Caroline Barker

REVIEW All That We Are (Trust series, book 1) by Holly J. Gill

We’re thrilled to introduce a brand new series TRUST written by Holly J. Gill, with her first in the series, All That We Are. An exciting contemporary adult romance that will certainly keep you hooked!

Title: All That We Are (Trust #1)

Author: Holly J. Gill

Genre: Contemporary adult romance, erotic romance

Released on: June 1st 2016

Length: 256 pages

BUY LINKS: Amazon UK and Amazon US

ONLY £0.99 on Amazon UK for a limited time!

BLURB: Holly knows that sitting behind her computer isn’t going to bring one of her romance heroes to life. And despite her matchmaking friend’s attempts, she’s still lonely, looking for her Mr. Perfect. Fairytales happen, right?

As a bestselling author, Ashton Noir doesn’t need anyone or anything in his life other than his imagination. That is until he comes across Holly’s Promotional Services’ website. Further exposure for his books can’t hurt.

Communicating through the Internet and then phone calls, professional interests turn personal. Realising they lack trust and confidence in different ways, can they have a future as a couple? Or are their dreams forever going to be their safe haven?

REVIEW 5***** (5* rating)

All That We Are is a story that kept me clinging on every sentence. Trying to occupy the kids during the school holidays was even more of a task as I found I couldn’t leave this book alone; grabbing at my Kindle in-between busy periods just to read another page or two wherever I could! Needless to say, I LOVED this contemporary, erotic romance.

Told in third person, we follow the lives of two very lonely people who lack confidence in different ways. Although Holly has a day job, friends and runs her own book blog helping to promote authors and their work, her past is a little haunted with bullying she experienced at school. This is something that held Holly back for many years. Meanwhile, Ashton is a hugely successful erotic romance author, hiding behind a pen name while leading an extremely lonely life as he shuts himself from the world in his huge home.

The fun begins when Ashton comes across Holly’s book blog and decides a little further promotion wouldn’t hurt. This opens the door to plenty of e-mail exchanges, professional at first, and it ultimately leads to intense phone conversations as the two characters begin to discover more and more about each other. It becomes so that Holly can’t get Ashton out of her mind, even when her best friend tries to set her up on a blind date!

The reader is just as in suspense as Holly is as each phone call becomes a little more personal, sexier, and even kinky! And, after reading his books, Holly wonders if the eroticism in them is something that Ashton would like himself. Does he long to be a Dom? Her Dom? She doesn’t seem to mind submitting to him in her thoughts. The conversations are playful and fun.

Although there are some mild twists, and a ‘will they, or won’t they’ eventually meet at a book signing event they both hope to attend, I felt that the story grew more and more intense with the idea that they really could face each other. The build-up to the final chapters was tremendously powerful and, as a first insight into Holly J. Gill‘s writing, I certainly want to read more.

It has a great contemporary feel and written in an area that Holly J. Gill knows only too well as she details the communication with authors and bloggers, the writing, promoting, author events, as well as using e-mails and texts within the story. The book also has a welcoming use of the main characters talking on the phone at length and, as they haven’t met, details the hearing of the other’s voice, their pauses, the tones, sighs, etc. The reader almost hears the receiving end of the phone through the author’s writing. The use of the phone also allows Holly and Ashton to sense how truthful the other is being, growing a trust between them.

Another area that All That We Are ‘wowed’ me on is the bullying aspect. Holly clearly still feels the after-effects of being bullied at school. Thus, the lack of confidence she has in herself. Whereas, Ashton has always been popular with the girls, but on an over-whelming scale, and lived isolated from many people partly because of this. It’s superbly written how these two characters build up their trust in each other, their feelings for each other, and ultimately their confidence in themselves and their future.

Despite Holly never wanting to see her school bully again, I would have loved it if they had crossed paths at a time when Ashton would be on her arm, and to see the face of disbelief and jealousy, and Holly walk pass with her head held high – or is that me being too cruel?

Either way, I think you may sense just how All That You Are has touched me emotionally. A very exciting read, and I can’t wait for book 2!

A copy of All That We Are was provided by the author in return for a fair and honest review.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

August 1, 2016 by Caroline Barker

REVIEW The Scottish Diamond (novella) by Helena Fairfax

The Scottish Diamond is a contemporary, romantic suspense novella by Helena Fairfax, which follows on from Palace of Deception. However, both books can be read as stand-alones. With a little more darkness and mystery in The Scottish Diamond, we find Elizabeth and Léon in Edinburgh as Elizabeth’s life returns to the norm, after having to impersonate to be the royal Princess Charlotte in Montverrier (Palace of Deception), albeit with her bodyguard in tow!

Title: The Scottish Diamond

Author: Helena Fairfax

Genre: Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, Mystery

Release date: March 12, 2016

Length: 104 pages

Blurb: A powerful, intense and dramatic Scottish romance novella – one that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page…

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair…” When Lizzie Smith starts rehearsing Macbeth with her theatre group in Edinburgh, she’s convinced the witches’ spells are the cause of a run of terrible luck. Lizzie’s boyfriend, Léon – a former bodyguard – is mysteriously turned down for every job he applies for, until he’s finally offered the job of guarding “The Scottish Diamond,” a fabulous jewel from the country of Montverrier.

But the diamond’s previous guard has disappeared in mysterious circumstances. The people of Montverrier are known for double-dealing and skulduggery, and the Scottish Diamond has a history of intrigue and bloody murder. Lizzie is plagued by nightmares in which Macbeth’s witches are warning her of danger.

Then Lizzie discovers she’s being followed through the streets of Edinburgh, and it seems her worst fears are about to be realised!!!!

The Scottish Diamond is a standalone story. Lizzie and Léon first met in the romantic suspense novella Palace of Deception, which is set in the Mediterranean country of Montverrier.

BUY LINKS: Amazon UK & Amazon US

Review ***** (5* rating)

Although a romantic suspense, Helena Fairfax takes us on a darker mystery than we are used to with The Scottish Diamond novella. Now back in Edinburgh with Léon, her former bodyguard, Lizzie’s life has to return to her normal routine with working with her theatre production company, rehearsing and preparing for term time when the schools open up after their summer break. And, what a huge difference it is being back after spending the summer impersonating and covering for the Royal Princess Charlotte of Montverrier, with the beautiful scenery and a suspenseful meeting of her bodyguard in Palace of Deception!

Lizzie notices Léon’s faraway looks as he stares from her bedroom window, not to mention the intensity he radiates. Wild thoughts go through her mind about whether he will enjoy being in Edinburgh, or whether he even loves her enough to stay. To make matters worse, the play she is to rehearse for is the dreaded MacBeth. Isn’t it just a whole load of bad luck, especially to those performing it?

The superstitions worsen as Lizzie overhears suited men speak in the language of Montverrier, possibly mentioning Léon’s name. Is she being paranoid? Meanwhile, Léon is struggling to find work and failing at interviews. Everything seems bleak and solemn. The mood of The Scottish Diamond is in complete contrast to Palace of Deception in terms of the setting, the emotional closeness of Lizzie and Léon, and where Palace of Deception focussed on uniting the two main characters and their success, in The Scottish Diamond there seems to be something between them. The reader fears that they will be pushed apart, and feels the negativity that is swamping Lizzie.

“… the truth is I was frightened of discovering the truth – that he bitterly regretted coming to Edinbugh and he didn’t love me enough to want to stay. During the day there was a thin sheet of glass between us, keeping us apart. At night, though, it was different. Our barriers melted – but even then, there was an intensity to Léon’s love-making that was new, as though each time were going to be our last.”

For a brief moment, this feeling lifts when Léon finds work. Strangely, after having a conversation with some fellow Montverrians he is given the chance to protect The Scottish Diamond. With the diamond about to be exhibited, the previous guard gone missing, and Montverrians that appear to be following Léon, what will become of the diamond? And, what will become of Lizzie and Léon as they get tangled up in the whole fiasco?

Regardless of the fears and mystery that the story holds, one of the enjoyable aspects is knowing that it’s very handy (and HOT), having a bodyguard in Léon around. And, I love his protectiveness of Lizzie; his masculinity ready and waiting for any threat. At the same time, he also allows Lizzie to be independent with her work and doesn’t suffocate her.

Told in first person from Lizzie’s point of view, the reader shares exactly the same worries as Lizzie; the main hope throughout is that they both come out alive, and together! However, there are twists and ordeals to get through which will keep you turning the pages, desperate to find the outcome.

Suspenseful from the beginning, and increasingly as the story unfolds, you’ll love this short adventure that can be read as a stand-alone, or following on from Palace of Deception. It is a story to be read until the very end to be appreciated fully.

A copy of The Scottish Diamond was provided by the author in return for a fair and honest review.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

You can check out our review of Palace of Deception (which also includes an interview with the author), along with reviews of Helena’s previous books below:-

PALACE OF DECEPTION – review and author interview

The Silk Romance – Tina’s review

The Silk Romance – Caroline’s review

The Antique Love

A Way From Heart to Heart

July 27, 2016 by Caroline Barker

REVIEW Beneath Broken (Imperfect Heroes #2) by C.J. Pinard

C.J. Pinard has provided us with a new beautiful, military romance with Beneath Broken. The characters and storyline will reach any romance fan in a very natural way, being written with a perfect balance of tragedy, romance and suspense. Beneath Broken is certainly my favourite of the series so far!

Title: Beneath Broken (Imperfect Heroes #2)

Author: C.J. Pinard

Genre: Contemporary, Military Romance, Chick-lit

Date released: July 5th, 2016

Length: 322 pages

Blurb: He’s a clean-cut cop who loves a good challenge.
She’s a smart executive with no interest in falling in love.
It won’t take long for the flames of desire to scorch them both, forcing them to either douse the blaze, or succumb to the fire.

MASON
I don’t give up easily. My personality and training taught me that failure is not an option, and getting the attention of the beautiful executive president Harper Mathis is going to be my biggest challenge yet. But first I’ve got to find out why she’s so withdrawn. A woman that stunning must have secrets and I’m going to find out what’s hiding behind those baby blue eyes of hers. She’ll quickly see how much I love a good game of chase.

HARPER
I’ve gone through hell and am not ashamed to admit that I’m broken. Damaged goods. Used up and empty. I want nothing to do with men or love, especially not a cop and a veteran – one who puts his life in danger every day. I’ve been there, done that, and my heart has no interest in someone like Detective Mason Oliver. Even if he’s the hottest thing I’ve laid eyes on in a very long time. I get the feeling Mason always gets what he wants, though. Well, he hasn’t seen my stubborn side.

Beneath Broken is book 2 in the IMPERFECT HEROES series and is for readers 18+.

REVIEW ***** (5* rating)

The second book of the Imperfect Heroes series, Beneath Broken, brings us two new love interests to follow in Mason and Harper. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and feel that it is even stronger than the first of the series, Above Protection. Mason and Harper are perfect for each other, and despite their fears and doubts, the story is written extremely well whereby the characters are so compatible in a very realistic way.

For the best part of 18 months or more Harper Mathis has been spending her evenings watching bad tv and eating ice cream since the death of her military husband, Keith. It takes all the energy she has to go to work, but her private life has hit rock bottom. If it wasn’t for her best friend, Adria, dragging her to the gym some evenings she really wouldn’t be doing anything with her personal time, apart from wallowing. Adria is the one person she can truly depend upon.

“… Adria, she was still here when everyone else had left and things were dark and ugly, when all the other friends had disappeared. She was a true friend, and had proved it.”

Her job, working at the company that Keith and herself had set up, helping veterans ‘find jobs, get counselling, and reintegrate back into society’ was the one area of her life she gave her all to; partly in remembrance for her husband, and partly to help these courageous guys at a very sensitive point in their life. And, when her non-profit organization is targeted by a thief it is Detectives Oliver and Jenkins that arrive to investigate the situation.

The story is told from both Harper and Mason’s point of view. I am a fan of this style as the reader can understand the thoughts and actions of the main characters in this way. While Harper is still grieving and extremely low, Detective Mason Oliver, ex military himself, has his own demons to deal with. One of which was his last love. He has a way of dealing with his anger issues with his detective partner at the gym when they spar (sometimes quite aggressively).

However, both Harper and Mason find something else to keep their minds occupied after their first meet… each other. A little unsure at first just how the other sees them, it isn’t too long before they begin to spend more and more time together. Mason is aware that Harper is holding back. Meanwhile, Harper begins to go on an emotional rollercoaster; feeling a sense of happiness when with Mason, and yet with this comes guilt. Mason handles the situation well, in my opinion, by giving her the space she needs even though he isn’t aware of her situation to begin with. Although being urged to almost throw himself at her by his partner, Jenkins, Mason treats her with respect and patience, whilst still being attentive. The balance is perfect.

One of my favourite aspects of Beneath Broken is how the author has written Harper’s feelings towards her deceased husband, Keith. Even as the story progresses and Harper appears to be moving on from the death of him at times, there is still a connection that she has with her memories of him as well as good contact with his family. This , above all other areas of the story, really stands out and struck a nerve with me as being extremely real. It reads quite natural as one would expect a friend of theirs to deal with a situation like this in exactly the same way. We read about the guilt, the awkwardness and the doubt that Harper feels when she thinks of being with Mason. Is she betraying Keith? His family?

Beneath Broken is ultimately a story of strength and love. The strength of a woman to deal with the death of a loved one. To be able to love again. And also, to support a friend who has always been supportive of her through thick and thin. I cannot wait to read the next in the series as we follow Harper’s best friend, Adria, who was a strong character in this story and provided Harper with the rock she really needed to lean on. I’d certainly recommend this read for any romance fan.

A copy of Beneath Broken was provided by the author in return for a fair and honest review.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON US

AMAZON UK

You can also check out my reviews for previous releases of the Imperfect Heroes series:

Antihero (Imperfect Heroes prequel) (please note that Antihero is now sold only alone, and not part of the advertised limited edition box set)

Above Protection (Imperfect Heroes #1)

July 17, 2016 by Tina Williams

ARC REVIEW ~ November Rain (Bad Bloods #1), Shannon A Thompson

Young Adult

#dystopian, #urbanfantasy #scifi #paranormal

Book Blurb

Seventeen-year-old Serena isn’t human. She is a bad blood, and in the city of Vendona, bad bloods are executed. In the last moments before she faces imminent death, a prison guard aids her escape and sparks a revolt. Back on the streets determined to destroy her kind, Serena is spared by a fellow bad blood named Daniel. His past tragedies are as equally mysterious as her connection to them.

Unbeknownst to the two, this connection is the key to winning the election for bad bloods’ rights to be seen as human again. But Serena is the only one who can secure Vendona’s vote. Now, Daniel must unite with her before all hope is lost and bad bloods are eradicated, even if it means exposing secrets worse than death itself. United or not, a city will fight, rain will fall, and all will be threatened by star-crossed love and political corruption.

My Review ~ 5 stars

Dark and Insightful Dystopian read

November Rain is the first instalment in the Bad Bloods series, available for pre-order, alongside November Snow the next book in the series. It is a real treat to read –fast-paced, character driven and eerily prescient. Originally conceived by author Shannon A Thompson over a decade ago, it has now been re-released by Clean Teen Publishing.

The story is set in a world where the divisions between those in power and those who are reviled by the status quo are chilling and stark. This future dystopia echoes current world events where we are witnessing many societies becoming more and more fearful and intolerant of those who are different and where there is talk of walls, both physical and metaphorical being put up to keep people apart. The story is told through the eyes of young adults and children and I feel that the issues raised are all the more poignant for it.

Serena the heroine, a bad blood, condemned to death by the authorities, escapes her fate after being unexpectedly freed by a prison guard. Exhausted and injured she is on the run and is saved and healed by Daniel, a fellow bad blood who is leader of a rival ‘flock’ (a group of bad bloods who join together for survival). As the plot unfolds we learn that Serena and Daniel are linked in some way and that Serena has a pivotal role to play in ensuring that the result of the impending election is favourable to her kind, giving them a place in human society, rather than them being exterminated.

There is no love lost between Robert, the leader of Serena’s flock and Daniel. The two have a history, although neither the reader nor Serena is privy to the details. Both Serena and Daniel know that pursuing their friendship will undoubtedly lead to a confrontation, but nevertheless they are drawn to one another. Daniel and others know that Serena and her powers are special in some way. What is her role in safeguarding the future of the bad bloods at this crucial time of an impending election which pits those who would protect her kind against those who hanker after their destruction? Is she up to the challenge? Who will survive the approaching storm? Not all of these questions will be answered. Indeed, there is plenty of suspense and the scene is set for more revelations and plot twists in book #2 which I am impatient to read!

I am familiar with the work of Shannon A Thompson and she is an immensely talented writer. She does a fantastic job of painting the picture of the dystopian society which her characters inhabit. It is a world where the bad bloods, those who possess unpredictable and special abilities, are feared and persecuted. It is chilling in parts, often hinting at horrors, rather than describing them in detail. It is a reminder of how societies can sometimes turn against others, perceiving them as a threat purely on the basis of them being different. I was reminded of events from history such as the witch trails and the Holocaust, not to mention contemporary events surrounding the modern day diaspora of those from war torn countries which has resulted in the pressure of immigration on other nations, which some are fearful of.

A top read for readers of Young Adult fiction and/or for those who are seeking a thought provoking read.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note, an ARC of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.