Month: June 2015

Leather and Lace by Samantha Cole

Review - Submitted

 

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A romance author, Kristen Anders, is beginning anew. Freshly divorced and on her own, she continues to support herself through her romance writing, however, her successful romance career is about to take a turn.  Anders finds a character from her latest book steering her into the BDSM world.  Research leads her to an elite BDSM club, The Covenant, which former Navy SEAL Devon “Devil Dog” Sawyer and his brothers own.  They also own a private security and body guard business called Trident Security.

“Kristen turned back towards Master Mitch.  He hadn’t been what she expected either, which, she would be embarrassed to admit, was an older, brooding, vampire-like looking man, dressed head to toe in leather. … Despite his friendly demeanor, she could imagine him quickly transforming into  a commanding Dom with submissives dropping to  their  knees  to please him.”

Anders has led an uneventful sex and love life – frigid was the term used by her ex-husband.  She is soon to discover that she is NOT frigid.  Devon has led a semi-detached dating life, focusing on work and playing scenes at his club … that is until he meets Anders.  Then begins the slow dance of bringing Anders into his world of BDSM and he finds himself thrilled to discover that she’s not only interested but willing to try it out with him!  Everything Sawyer has known is changing and everything Anders has dreamed about is coming true!  Neither one of them counted on falling in love or becoming a target to a deadly and accurate assassin.

“Someone’s hunting SEALs.”   Devon hated to state what they were all thinking but it needed to be said.”

Samantha Cole does an excellent job of taking an often misunderstood lifestyle and presenting it in a romantic and exciting manner while also maintaining reality.  In other words, as Anders is being trained to be a sub, the reader is gaining an intuitive insight into the real lifestyle.

This is an excellent first in a quickly growing series.  I found it more entertaining and more realistic than 50 Shades of Grey.  I recommend this series and author for anyone who enjoys a good romantic book with a few twists and some well written erotica.  While her descriptions were vivid they were tastefully done. Cole develops her characters well and fully.  She never loses sight of the plot either.

WordsAPlenty rates this book with a 5 star review.

To purchase a copy of this book click here.

 

 

Leave a comment , , , , , , ,

Sacrifice (Absent Shadows Trilogy, Book 2)

Review - Submitted

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.  NOTE:  This author received a B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree for her first book.

A continuation of Sam and Lili’s relationship and their struggle to be together captures the reader’s attention immediately.  The two books flow seamlessly together.  S.M. Spencer executes an excellent description of the pain and struggles of young love separated by miles thus providing a clear and realistic connection between the characters and the reader.   Spencer proves to be insightful into young adult relationships and the struggles they face.

The plot twists are intriguing.  The saddest part of the book was not the lingering ghostly sister of Sam and her doomed existence of waiting for him to cross over potentially forever but rather the ability of Lili to easily step into the role of motherhood and the culture of vampire hunters.   She does redeem herself when her daughter is born but that in itself brings another set of problems.

I was hoping that Lili’s ex would make an appearance in Australia but I suspect that might be later.  We are given a more in depth view of his personality and it is a vile one!   We are given a clearer picture of Lili’s mom and their relationship. Spencer is widening the circle of characters providing a stronger connection to Lili and Sam.

Spencer has proven yet once again her talent at weaving a story and building strong connections drawing the reader deeply into the story.  While it is fast paced, it is not overly so.  As I was reading this I was surprised that I was nearing the end but could not wait to discover what Lili and Sam were going to do and what would happen with Ceylona.  This book is truly about sacrifices – Lili does it throughout the book to protect her husband, her children and her friends.

An excellent continuation of Destiny: Absent Shadows Trilogy. I highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a great read!

Another 5 star review from WordsAPlenty.  To purchase this book click here.

 

Leave a comment , , , , , , , , , ,

Hollow (Bunny Elder Adventures Book 1) by JB Hawker

Review - Submitted

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.  A B.R.A.G. MEDALLION HONOREE

 

Minister Eustace Elder didn’t believe in extravagant things like … life insurance.  Bunny Elder finds herself widowed and asked to move out of the rectory to make room for the new minister and his family.  Alone and living on a meager savings, Bunny has to reevaluate her new life.  Her family has other ideas … like dating!

“Don’t tell me you’ve got a hot date for lunch.  Jean, please remember that I am a recent widow.  I know you never liked Eustace, but try to remember that he was my husband.  I’m certainly not dating, so soon.”

Setting forth to find a job, she finds herself as an assistant to a newspaper editor … one that she has a prior history with: “He was incredulous.  He had not spoken with his first love since they had divorced almost thirty years ago.”

If that’s not enough, she finds herself tangling with a deranged killer.  The killer’s calling card – dead bodies littered about and some skillfully hidden in Halloween decorations!

Now the Killer is after Bunny.  “I’m an Avenging Angel … did you know that?”

Will Bunny survive the Avenging Angel?  Will she reunite with her first love?

J.B. Hawker does an excellent job of setting up the story and then following through on the plot in a skillful and entertaining manner.  An adventure and cozy mystery rolled into one.  True to the definition of a cozy mystery, Hawker cleverly reveals the mystery in a humorous fashion and in a small, very socially intimate community with some adventure.

Her writing is concise, rich in description and light reading.  Hawker captures her readers’ attention and holds it from beginning to end.   Her character development is solid and believable.  Her attention to detail is exceptional.  This is a must read if you enjoy cozy mysteries and adventures!

 

WordsAPlenty gives JB Hawker’s Hollow, a B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree, five stars.

 

To purchase this book:  http://www.amazon.com/Hollow-Bunny-Elder-Adventures-Book-ebook/dp/B0095K1NWK/

Leave a comment , , , , , , , , ,

A Greater World by Clare Flynn

Review - Submitted

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.  2015 B.R.A.G. MEDALLION HONOREE

 

Elizabeth Morton is a young woman used to living in comfort surrounded by her sister and nieces.  Her father is off in Australia seeking a fortune.  Elizabeth receives word that her father wishes her to move to Australia to marry and leaves the house to her sister’s vile husband.  The vile brother-in-law forces Elizabeth to make the move and leaves her a little something to remind her of him.

“Elizabeth curled her lip. ‘Excited? Excited at being treated like a piece of baggage that can be shipped across the world on a whim and handed over, sight unseen, to an old man who has to be raving bonkers himself to go along with it?’”

Struggling to forget the incident and making plans to refuse to marry whoever her father wants her to marry, she finds herself meeting a young man who is struggling to forget things as well.  Michael is running away too.  He needs to forget his role in his brother’s death and the grieving horror his parents are going through due to that loss.  He opens himself up to Elizabeth briefly.

Once in Australia, the two find themselves struggling through the obstacles that fate continues to throw in their way.  Each one is far worse than the other – both marry but not for love. Elizabeth struggles through loneliness and death, she watches her whole world collapsing around her as she continues to fulfill her promises to a man she had grown fond of but does not truly love.

“Jack Kidd may not be the man you dreamed of, but then the man you dreamed of wouldn’t be that for long either.  At least if you’ve no high expectations, you won’t ever be disappointed.”

As a woman, Elizabeth has few options left to her in a world where men rule.  She perseveres and finds that in the end, fate allows her some happiness.

Clare Flynn clearly communicates that women during the 1920’s were mere chattel in the eyes of men and the law.  Men saw the women of that time as weak and inferior mentally.  Flynn does an excellent job of proving that this is not true.  Elizabeth is a strong character; her morals and ethics are strong as well.  Michael is shown as strong but hurting as well.  He is struggles to overcome the tragedy of his brother’s death, losing Elizabeth, marrying for position. Michael seems to adapt easier to demands in Australia.  Elizabeth is faced with daily challenges that would leave most hiding under the blankets.

Flynn did an excellent job of making this novel a real and authentic story.  The dialect, descriptions, and seamless plot are excellent further identifying this as a book worth reading multiple times.  Her attention to details is thorough.  Characters are so vividly described one can see them.

This is an excellently written book, I enjoyed the characters and her rich vocabulary. Flynn is gifted at making the characters real and vivid.  The connections between reader and characters were true, leaving the reader to grieve, cry, laugh and gasp throughout.

This was one of those books that grab you from beginning to end!

WordsAPlenty gives Clare Flynn’s A Greater World, a 2015 B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree, five stars.

To purchase click here:   http://www.amazon.com/Greater-World-Clare-Flynn/dp/1500369306/

 

Leave a comment , , , , , , ,