Romance Book Review: Demon's Fall

Author: Karalynn Lee
eISBN: 9781426890680
Genre: Paranormal/ Angels & Demons/ Fantasy
Publisher: Carina Press

Purchase from Amazon

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

When angel, Jahel, goes looking for a lost soul she was set to protect, she is captured by demons and sold for her soul. Now stuck at Hell's Gate Jahel has to convince the demon who purchased her to help the lost soul and let her go.

Kenan is a demon and like any other demon he collects souls, but something is different about Jahel. He can't quite get around to taking her soul.

Before Kenan and Jahel realize it they are mixed up in a war between Heaven and Hell.

Interesting plot, but a little slow at times even for a short novel.

Description:
She was an angel at the gates of Hell.

When Kenan, an incubus, finds a caged angel for sale in the Hellsgate marketplace, he sees her as a challenge. Certain that his skills in seduction will work as well on a heavenly creature as they do on mortal women, he buys Jahel, intent on having her soul as a novelty in his collection.

Knowing he must gain Jahel's trust if she is to come to his bed willingly, Kenan treats her more as his guest than as his slave. When she reveals what brought her to the mouth of Hell in the first place—retrieving the soul of a young girl she was guarding—he even offers to help her complete her mission.

Though he has promised Jahel freedom, Kenan soon realizes she has captured his heart instead. And as their passion for one another grows, they find themselves caught in a struggle between Heaven and Hell, one that will lead them to the very edge of the apocalypse...

Romance Book Review: Styx's Storm

Author: Lora Leigh
Series Connection: Breeds
ISBN: 978-0425237397
Genre: Paranormal/ Sci-Fi/ Erotic Romance
Publisher: Berkley

Purchase through Amazon

♥ ♥ ♥

Let me just say that I love Lora Leigh and have read every one of the Breed novels and novellas, but this one has some issues that I just found disturbing. First of all if you read the below description on this book from Lora's website disregard it all. I feel like I didn't even read the same book or I missed something big. Since I read this in e-book form, I'm not sure what the back of the book says, but... here is my version of what happened in the book.

We've heard the name Styx and met his character in several previous books in the series. Styx has been tracking Storme, the daughter of one of the council scientist, for 2 years. The Breeds think she has something important from her father that they don't want the council to get their hands on. The Breeds have actually be shadowing Storme for 10 years. When Breed Director, Jonas Wyatt finds that what Storme has might be important to finding out what the council did to his adopted daughter he send Styx to finally stop watching and to pick her up.

Storme has been careful to stay out of the clutches of both the breeds and the council for 10 years. Upon his death at the hands of the Breeds he created, her father gave her a microchip with instructions to wait for a man to tell her that her father sent her for the chip. Now the Breeds have captured her and they want her to turn it over to them. To complicate matters, Styx is positive that Storme is his mate, but the mating heat hasn't taken hold like normal (is there really a normal way?). Because of that he finds it hard to protect her from Jonas' charging Breed Law against Storme.

If I just spent the whole book from Storme's point of view I would give this book 5-Hearts. Storme is the best part of the book. Lora's shows her true ability to write strong, powerful characters with Storme. I felt for her and at times even felt tears along with her. Her character stands true throughout the book. Just like the Breeds, she was programed by the council throughout her life, only from a different perspective. To make matters worse she witnessees a Breed rip her brother and father's throat out. She hears their screams of death. To top it off the Breed that killed her father is one he trusted and betrayed him. She was only 14 years old at the time. Her father last wish is for her to do one thing and she means to keep his wish. Having trust issues and not trusting the very creatures who killed her father is very much in character for her.

As for the rest of the of the cast, I was very disappointed. I developed a love/hate relationship with Styx. He, and others, telling Storme to grow up was really getting on my nerves. Styx said he understood, but really didn't. He had the right idea as to what to do to reach Storme, but he wasn't following through.

The only character that I felt remained in character was Jonas. He was his normal playing games self, even while he was desperate to get the chip from Storme.

Those fans who, like me, have kept up with series will want to read this book. It is another piece of the puzzle. It looks like Lora Leigh will have a several new installments to the series over the next year or so, as well. I'm not in agreement with others that say this series has met the end. I'm ready to read more and find out where the stories goes. All the books can't be winners.

To save innocent, young Storme Montague from the claws of Breed slave traders, Wolf Breed Styx is forced to claim her himself-on the condition that Storme will no longer be a virgin by night's end. And though Storme's defenses are up, Styx will free her-in ways she never expects.

Romance Book Review: Bound By Blood

Author: Elizabeth Darvill
ISBN: 978-1-61650-200-3
Genre: Romance/ Paranormal/ Vampire/ Werewolf
Publisher: Lyrical Press

Purchase here

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Action pack short novel with an end of the human world thrill theme. Mila is a former vampire hunter, "made" vampire. She wants to get her sister away from a bad vampire set out to get rid of all the werewolves.

When she meets the werewolf pack leader under bad circumstances there isn't time to decide if she can trust him, all she can do is ask for his help and hope he doesn't kill her.

Now it is one fight after another to try to save the humans, werewolves and her sister before it is too late. And of course she has to stay alive to accomplish all of it.

Written in the first person action/adventure paranormal fans will like this book. Those who want a lot more romance in their story might not be as impressed. I like the story line, but would have liked to have seen more develop between the two main characters.

Description:
In war, the greatest battle is love.

Vampire Mila Deluca is as powerful in magic as her trigger-finger is quick.

Pack leader Bryce D’Angelo is as sexy a warrior as he is deadly.

Two equally powerful species, the vampires and lycans are natural enemies. Yet when Mila and Bryce’s lives collide in the midst of a world filled with chaos an uneasy alliance is formed. Together, they must right wrongs and impart justice in the face of a dangerous evil…even as they fight against the connection between them that turns to something far deeper than mere lust.

Mila and Bryce must become bound by blood before they face a final show down that will decide the fate of the world

Content warning: strong language, hot sex and plenty of biting

Vote for the new romance fiction star

Mills & Boon is running an exciting new competition to find a new star of romantic fiction! New Voices is online now at www.romanceisnotdead.com, and fiction fans can vote – along with the celebrity judges – for their favorite new novelist. The winner will be published by Mills & Boon. Get voting now and comment online on the finalists!

Also for romantic fiction fans, download 11 free eBooks from www.everyonesreading.com  – a new website, packed with free eBooks – from ‘Twilight’ style paranormal, to chick lit and historical sagas.
There’s also the chance to win a Sony eBook Reader!

Love Inspired of the Month: His Holiday Bride

Author: Jillian Hart
Series Connection: Granger Family Ranch
ISBN: 978-0373876259
Genre: Inspirational/ Christian Romance/ Contemporary/ Western
Publisher: Steeple Hill

Purchase through Amazon 

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

In book #3 of the Granger Family Ranch, Jillian Hart tells oldest Granger daughter, Autumn's story.

Autumn has been burned before so when the new town sheriff comes on a little too strong she does everything in her power to try not to succumb to his charms. After all it was one of the previous Sheriff's of their small town that broker her heart the first time. Who knew if the big city, cowboy want-a-be was even going to be sticking around?

Ford had always enjoyed westerns and spending summers with on his Grandfather's ranch. He wasn't living his life the way he wanted as a Chicago Vice Cop so he sets out to find a small town that would allow him to live the dream he had always had. When he is offered the job in Wyoming he knows he has found it. Meeting a beautiful cowgirl like Autumn is just adding to the dream. While chasing cattle rustlers and getting to know her Ford sets out to make his dream a reality.

Nicely written sweet romance. Yes the story as has been done a million times before, but Jillian Hart has an easy to read, witty style that keeps the reader entertained to the end.

Description:
Bity-city sheriffs don't belong in tiny Wild Horse, Wyoming. At least that's what rancher Autumn Granger thinks when handsome Ford Sherman sweeps into town and sets his sights on her. A country cowgirl, she can't possibly be his match. Like most newcomers, he'll eventually get restless with small-town life and leave it--and her--behind. But when rustlers attack her family's ranch, Ford helps her protect Granger territory. She finds herself hoping that he really is in Wild Horse to stay. Could her holiday wish of a happily ever after with this handsome lawman come true?

Romance Book Review: Edge of Humanity

Author: Carol Hone
ISBN: 978-1-61650-201-0
Genre: Sci-fi/ Romance/ Fantasy
Publisher: Loose-id
Publication Date: Oct. 18, 2010

Purchase through Amazon

 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Kara narrowly escapes her slaver captors by jumping from their airship and landing in a lake. She is desperate to get to her family after nine years a captivity. Along the way she meets a guide, Hassrian, who is sent to help her make her journey. Along the way she falls in love with Hassrian, and he with her. Kara's slavers are so willing to let her go and send out trackers to take her back.

Quick, well written story with a surprise ending. 

Description:
When someone you love leaves you to die, finding out why can be worse than death.

From the moment Kara plunged from the airship to escape nine years of slavery, she'd been locked in battle with her own mind. Something inside of her doesn't seem right. Confronted with too many unanswered questions, she wonders if her captors have damaged her in some unseen way. 

Seeking answers, Kara begins the journey of reuniting with the family she hasn’t seen since she was a child. Thankfully she isn’t alone on her quest…

Hassrian, a young apprentice to a biomechanical magician, helps guide her down her path. Although Hassrian is reluctant to aid her at first, danger draws the two together.

Only one thing can bring Kara’s hunt for the truth to an end – and it isn’t the looming presence of the airship, Husk.

Romance Book Review: Building Magic

Author: Lilly Cain
ISBN: 978-1-60310-549-1
Genre: Fantasy/ Shapeshifter/ Dragon
Publisher: Red Sage

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Ironworker and architect student Tina is facinated when she comes upon a man stripping his striping his clothes in an office building across from the building worksite she is working on. So facinated that without paying attention she falls off the iron post she is working on and right into the arms of dragon shifter Devin.

When Devin hears Tina's screams for help as she falls off the building he uses his magic to catch her before she hits the ground and lands into a black hole that times the two of them back to his world.

When they get there they Devin realizes that there is no way to get Tina back to her world. To make matters worse he realizes she's a virgin and pretty soon there will be a swarm of dragon shifters after her.

As Devin takes Tina to safety he realizes that by saving Tina he has not accomplished the goal that sent him to earth to begin with. Now the fate of his world rests on his shoulders. Can Tina help with Devin's burdens?

Quick read fantasy novella with hot and wild sex scenes and lots of action.
   
Description:
When architecture student and summertime welder Tina Moreland develops a reputation as a peeping Tom, it isn’t the first time she’s been teased for being different. Catching a glimpse of the man of her dreams is worth the aggravation. But when she witnesses him doing something stranger than stripping in his hightower office, it’s enough to make her forget that when working unharnessed on the fifth floor, the first step is a long way down.

Working in the human world leaves Devin Ken’Draga frustrated and exhausted. Things aren’t going well. Devin is the Kenta – prime dragon - in a world not far from earth, only a magical breath of flame away. It is a world that is having problems, and he is expected to solve them. The question is how. Civil war has shattered his land and destroyed his home. He can’t come up with an Answer, and the Elders can only tell him he will find what he needs on Earth.

Devin doesn’t have time to rescue a damsel in distress. But since she is literally falling at his feet, he can’t help but to save Tina. Bringing her home wasn’t part of the plan, but once they fall through the magical portal together, there is no going back. It is only when he spreads his wings in his true dragon form that Devin realizes something he hadn’t anticipated – the woman is a virgin, a temptation no dragon can resist.

Together Devin and Tina create a sensual bond, gladly sacrificing her virginity to protect her from the dragon males who might think that hurting her would be a good way to hurt Devin. Her virginity is a gift – with it’s loss comes a release of power that Devin collects into a gemstone. It isn’t enough to stop the war, and Devin is worried. There is no way for him or Tina to ever return to Earth – the magic that rules the land only allows that trip once. He’s lost his chance to bring back a way to find peace for his people. The entire Southern Dragon race is at risk, so many have dies from the war. He turns to Tina for distraction and comfort.

Tina knows Devin is worried and does what she can to soothe him. But she is all that he brought back from Earth – what more can she do to save his people? The questions haunt her. When inspiration strikes, she develops a plan to save them, not realizing how it will hurt Devin. Devin will do anything to save his people, but he must deal with his inner demons, along with those who oppose him physically. Together they must find a way to stand together.

When the time comes, Tina proves her worth to Devin and all the dragons. Devin fights to protect her and his people, and using the magic from their first lovemaking he gifts her with it, mating with her for life and giving his people hope along with a new queen.

Romance Book Review: The Icing on the Cake

Author: Alison Kent
ISBN: 978-0757315350
Genre: Contemporary Romance/ True Story Romance
Publisher: Health Communications, Inc.

Purchase this book on Amazon

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

When I first picked up Alison Kent's new book The Icing on the Cake I was definitely intrigued by the cover and I'm not just talking about the two models used to highlight the romance. I'm talking about the line above the title: "The First Reality-Based Romance".

Now-a-days reality based television is a hot ticket. The shows that seem to intrigue audiences the most are the everyday lives of rich bachelors trying to find the perfect woman and everyday overweight people trying to slim down. So why not a reality-based romance? At first I have to admit I thought about it hard before I picked up the book and started reading. I mean isn't the reason why I read romance books in the first place to get away from reality.

Who wants to read a book about falling in love and the reality that 50 percent of all those who do fall in love will end up in divorce court. And anyway, I've been married for 22 years, I know what it is like for ordinary people, like myself, to fall in love with that special someone and commit to marriage with them.

No, the reason for reading romance for me is to get away from the "realities" of everyday life and jump into a world where it is okay if the hero turns hairy and gets all alpha. Where the handsome man sweeps the woman off her feet and she doesn't have to work a day in her life because he has a great job that will pay for everything.

Then I thought again and said to myself "This is Alison Kent...the Blaze (Harlequin) author...the one who brought up No Limits, Deep Breath and With Extreme Pleasure." So in the end I decided to open the book and read on.

The Icing on the Cake is a little different from what one might be used to in reading the steaming, sizzling pages of other Alison Kent books, but reality doesn't mean she left the steam at the door.

The idea of Reality-Based Romance is to pick a real life couple and follow their romance from start to finish. In The Icing on the Cake, Alison Kent tells the story of Michelle Snow and Todd Bracken. The two first meet through Match.com, an Internet dating service. The book depicts their life from the day Michelle decides to take the plunge through her friends' coaxing to try online dating, following through to Todd answering her first e-mail requesting they get to know each other, through their months of courtship and finally their wedding day.

Just like in regular fiction romance novels the two have hopes and dreams and live through real life situations, just not the larger the life scenarios one might read in a fiction novel. This is the real thing. Proof that love at first sight happens and can be real. Alison Kent has made their story interesting and brought the characters to life.

In the beginning I thought I wouldn't be interested in reading any more of this series, but by the time I hit the last page of The Icing on the Cake I was interested in taking a peek on what the rest of the books in the HCI series "True Vows" has to offer.

Description:
Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match . . . dot com!  An on-line dating service is not Michelle Snow’s idea of how to find love but when the Big 3-0 hits, Michelle decides she has nothing to lose since she hasn’t brought a date home in ten years, she’s professionally burned out, and her climb up the corporate ladder has come at the expense of abandoning her sweet dream: to own a boutique cupcakery.

Todd Bracken, early 30s and a successful technology consultant, isn’t exactly a player after being off the market for ten years, and pours himself into his dual passions of martial arts and home-sweet-home renovations. Only there’s no one to come home to so he decides to give Match.com a try. Todd isn’t so sure the Internet dating scene is his thing—until a message pops up in the wee hours on a weekend night: “I like your smile.” Todd likes—a lot—the whole package that glides into a French bistro in Washington, D.C.

It’s serious mojo-at-first-sight but there’s a glitch: Todd and Michelle live in different cities. Will love find its way in the digital age with a You’ve Got Mail courtship when video cam kisses just aren’t enough? And when Todd challenges Michelle to not only go for her dream but let him share it, will they be able to make it happen together despite obstacles more plentiful than a shower of rainbow sprinkles?

Romance Book Review: Runes

Author: Em Petrova
ISBN: 9781603105545
Genre: Paranormal/ Ménage à trois/ Erotic
Publisher: Red Sage

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Erotic romance featuring an abused young women, Evangeline, who decides to end her life, right at the time that her sister's boyfriend, Will, finds her. Seeing her dead, Will decides to help her by using his powers to make her immortal.

Thinking he will never see her again, Will doesn't realize that he has found his mate. When he hears her "calling" him, he isn't ready to go to her thinking she is just a screw up that he would rather not get to know.

Over time he realizes he can't keep away and sets out to seduce her into coming to him.

Evangeline has finally got her head on straight. She is no longer on drugs and she is ready for a fresh start. She even decides to get serious with the man she's been seeing over the past few months. She moves in with Sean and falls in love. The only problem is she can't stop thinking about her sister's ex-boyfriend.

When a crazy immortal kidnaps Evangeline it is up to both Sean and Will to get her away safely.

Very erotic romance that offers M-F, M-F-M and M-M scene.

Description:
When immortals Will Cochran and Evangeline Mayer are thrown together by a phenomenon known as The Calling, they breech the barriers of a conventional relationship.  By sharing their blood and bodies, their minds and souls are also entwined.  But Evangeline has been yanked from the arms of her mortal love, Sean Livingston, and the echo of his touch never leaves her.

When she’s kidnapped by a sadistic immortal seeking revenge for the loss of his own mate, Sean is summoned as a means to torture her.  Their reunion both titillates and torments her new mate, Will.  He and Sean make a pact to share the woman they both love, and find new desires arising in the arms of each other.

About the author:
Since a young age Em Petrova has been focused on the world of romance and paranormal. She penned her first novel at the age of twelve, and after gaining an arts degree has returned to her literary roots. Currently she is inspired by the twisted happenings in the world in which she lives with her sexy husband and small children in rural Pennsylvania. She loves to dig deep into the souls of her unique characters and uncover their secret desires when she doesn't have her nose in a great new read.

Romance Book Review: A Matter of Some Scandal

Author: Daisy Banks
ISBN: 978-1-61650-202-7
Genre: Historical
Publisher: Lyrical Press

Purchase through Amazon

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Cute quick read.

Prudence loved Argyle when she was 18 years old. When he left to make his fortune and promised to return she waited as long as she could, but her father insisted she marry someone else. After Argyle swore he would make her pay. Now some years later Argyle come back for his revenge.

When he pushes to convince Prudence to marry him, Argyle's folly ends him up in jail facing a hanging. Will Prudence help Argyle before it is too late?

Description:
Sometimes scandal is worth more than its weight in gold.

Love was folly, in Prudence Wellbourne’s innocence. Now well-coined, sophisticated and wiser, she can easily live without it. But the one man who holds the key to her stubborn heart calls that belief into question..

Fifteen years has done nothing to cool Argyle Clairmonte’s desire for Prudence. His reckless attempt to regain her love lands him in Newgate prison and the Bailey court. Only Prudence’s public admission of the truth, despite the scandal it will bring, can save him from the bitter consequences of his foiled plans.

Is hindsight the cure for love’s recklessness? Prudence must find an eloquent answer, or watch Argyle swing from The Tyburn Tree.

Content warning; Sensual historical romance with sensual sex scenes.

Romance Book Review: Do Over

Author: Mari Carr
ISBN: 9781426890635 
Genre:  Erotic/ Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Carina Press

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥


For those who believe in Happy Ever After, Mari Carr brings a short story of love to last years. Faith and Troy have been married for 25 years. The high school sweethearts raised two children who are now off at college.

Faith is feeling a little lonely with the children gone, so Troy works to remind her of the life they shared before the children were born. In celebrations of their 25th wedding anniversary, Troy arranges a special weekend back in their home town.

Each stop the couple makes is a memory of how they fell in love. They start at their former high school where they had their first kiss after the prom until the spend the night at the hotel they spent their honeymoon night in. Along the way they rediscover the passion in their love life.

Very well written erotic romance featuring WOW bedroom scenes and a great romance. After the readers are done reading this one, you'll wish you were married to Troy. 

Description:
Sometimes once is not enough...

After twenty-five years of marriage, Faith Wainwright wonders what she'll do next. Her kids have moved out and sometimes she feels so distant from her husband, Troy.

Right before their anniversary, Troy gives Faith an unexpected gift: a journey through their hometown to reenact all their "firsts." Their first date. Their first kiss. And especially the first time they made love-only better.

Each stop on their tour becomes an opportunity for Faith and Troy to rediscover how explosive their passion can be. Now Faith knows exactly what she's going to do-Troy, over and over again...

Romance Book Review: A Time To Love

Author: Barbara Cameron
ISBN: 9781426707636
Genre: Inspirational/ Amish Romance
Publisher: Abingdon Press

Purchase through Amazon

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Amish romance has become very popular over the past year. For many these stories are like opening a door in a new world that people have heard of but don't quite understand. Barbara Cameron sets the scene of the Amish Country in Lancaster County as if the reader were roaming the hills and roads. Scene after scene she offers her readers a close up and personal look at the lives of the Amish viewing it from the point of view of an Englisch woman and an Amish man.

When Jenny needs to heal after surviving a car bomb explosion, she goes to her grandmother for help. Living in an Amish community is all that Jenny's grandmother knows, but Jenny's father moved away from the Amish long before Jenny was born. Jenny remembers summers when she was a teenager visiting her grandmother and the Amish country she fell in love with.

While she heals Jenny reunites with her childhood crush, Matthew, an Amish man who has lost his wife and is raising his three small children.

Matthew loved Jenny when they were teenagers, but their worlds conflicted. He felt the call of the land and his belief in God. He married someone else and loved his wife until she died several years earlier. Now that Jenny is back and he can't forget how he felt about her before and how he still feels about her.

This is a wonderful story of challenge and love as two worlds come together.

Description:
War correspondent Jenny King thinks she’s just a temporary guest in her grandmother’s Amish community while she recuperates from the devastating injuries sustained in a car bomb attack that changed her world. But when she meets Matthew Bontrager, the man she had a crush on as a teenager, she wonders if God has a new plan for her.

Jenny has emotional and physical scars and though she feels she has come home to this man and this place, she's not sure she can bridge the difference between their worlds.

Jayne Ann Krentz has a special reissue of All Night Long

Jayne Ann Krentz has a special reissue of All Night Long.
Penguin Group (USA) is unveiling Read Pink™ in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month and Jayne Ann Krentz is taking a part in the program.

Penguin is offering an assortment of 8 of their bestselling mass market titles, including All Night Long. Other participating authors include Catherine Anderson, Catherine Coulter, Christina Dodd, Madeline Hunter, Nora Roberts, Bertrice Small, and Jodi Thomas. These special editions feature Read Pink™ logos on the cover.

"Many of my readers list All Night Long as one of their favorite Jayne Ann Krentz titles. If you haven't read it, I hope you will enjoy it now as part of the Read Pink™ program," Jayne Ann Krentz said in an e-mail to her readers.

Penguin will make a $25,000 donation to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in New York. The donation will be made on October 1st which is around the same time that you will begin to see the special edition Read Pink books instores across the country — they will be hard to miss as each book will boast a Read Pink logo on the front cover.

For a complete list of Read Pink™ titles, please visit the Penguin Group (USA) Read Pink™ website The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is working to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer during our lifetime.

Romance Book Review: Desperate Choices

Author: Kathy Ivan
ISBN: 9781426890611
Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Carina Press

Purchase through Amazon

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

As a first book, Kathy Ivan's Desperate Choices shows a lot of promise. It is well written filled with strong characters and a well defined plot.

Theresa isn't really comfortable with her psychic abilities. They started at a tragic time in her life and she hasn't spent much time cultivating them. They are also a bone of contention between Theresa and her ex-boyfriend and love of her life, Max.

Max doesn't really believe in psychics. He isn't all that crazy about asking for Theresa for help either, but his godson has gone missing and he has no leads to help find the boy. His brother Remy convinces him to go and talk to Theresa. Remy is Theresa's best friend.

Once Theresa and Max are together again, they both remember why they started seeing each other to begin with. The attraction they felt for each other before hasn't stopped, but the two have a lot of obstacles to get over before they can say they want forever.

Kathy Ivan takes the readers into the mind of not only there hero and the heroine, but also give the readers a chance to hear from both the kidnapper and the boy who was kidnapped. (As well as others). Giving this angle gives the readers a chance to build the suspense of the story. It also gives readers a chance to understand why the kidnapper takes the boy to begin with. A crime of opportunity not well thought out, which changes the lives of many.

I would have liked the story to have been a little longer. Perhaps playing a little more on Theresa's psychic ability to understand the kidnapper's motives a bit more. Otherwise I think romantic suspense readers will enjoy this book.

Description:
When psychic Theresa Crawford’s former beau walks into her New Orleans New Age shop, she senses trouble. Big trouble. Max Lamoreaux hasn’t come to discuss their relationship—the private investigator is on a case, and he needs Theresa’s help.

Max’s godson is missing. The police have declared Tommy a runaway, but Max’s gut tells him otherwise. While he’s highly skeptical of Theresa’s abilities, her visions provide the only clue as to who’s taken Tommy. The longer Max works with Theresa, the harder it is to resist his desire for the sexy woman.

As they inch closer to finding Tommy, Max and Theresa also discover that time hasn't diminished their powerful attraction. But Theresa harbors her own dark secrets from her past. Secrets that broke them up before--and could drive them apart again, unless Theresa can learn to trust Max with everything . . .

Great Holiday Reads: Santa In Montana

Author: Janet Dailey
Series Connection: Calder
ISBN-13: 978-1420114744
Publisher: Zebra; 1 edition
 
Purchase from Amazon
Purchase from Barnes and Noble
 
Description:
“Can Santa bring you a husband?”
Montana winters are harsh, but bad weather won’t get in the way of the Calders’ Christmas reunion. Patriarch Chase Calder is determined to make this holiday the happiest yet—especially for his daughter, Cat. And Chase knows the best gifts aren’t always done up in paper and ribbon…
It’s high time for widowed Cat to have a man in her life again, whether she’ll admit it or not. Chase has been thinking long and hard, and he’s got a plan—one he’s far too wise to reveal to his stubborn little darlin’. And as the magical season begins with a glorious snowfall, the Calders share a host of surprises—including a mystery solved, a special visitor, and the greatest gift of all: love, the forever kind…

Great Romance Reads: The Naughty List

Authors: Donna Kauffman, Cynthia Eden, Susan Fox
ISBN-13: 978-0758253101
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: BRAVA; Original edition

Description:
Deck the halls with white-hot passion!

Donna Kauffman—Naughty But Nice
Businessman Griffin’s never believed in luck…until sassy-sweet small-town baker Melody turns his world around. Except there’s a catch: There’s no way he’ll be able to build his empire and hold on to her. His new “lucky charm” could destroy all his dreams…or make this Christmas better than he ever imagined possible…

Cynthia Eden—All I Want for Christmas
Good girl toy inventor Christie takes a walk on the naughty side when she sparks a no-strings fling with Santa—actually, sexy cop Jonas in a Santa suit. She loves her new “bad girl” persona, except as the holidays approach, she starts falling, and hard, for this known’ “love ’em and leave ’em” ladies man...

Susan Fox—Tattoos and Mistletoe
Charlie returns to her hometown to fix up her aunt’s B&B, but she doesn’t count on LJ handling the renovations. Nerdy LJ pined for her in school, but now he’s grown into the town’s hottest bachelor. Charlie’s been burned before and won’t let him get close. But LJ’s determined to break down her walls and make her dearest Christmas wish come true.

Great Holiday Reads: I'll Be Home For Christmas

Author: Fern Michaels
ISBN-13: 978-1420121421
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Zebra 

Purchase from Amazon
  
Description: 
Four classic holiday tales from beloved, "New York Times"-bestselling author Michaels are gathered together for this unforgettable collection. Includes Comfort and Joy, The Christmas Stocking, A Bright Red Ribbon, and Merry, Merry.

Great Holiday Reads: Christmas With The Duchess

Author: Tamara Lejeune
ISBN-13: 978-1420108736
Genre: Historical
Publisher: Zebra

Purchase from Amazon
Purchase from Barnes and Noble  

Discription:
Nicholas St. Austell's Christmas Wish List
An invitation to a holiday house party

A shiny gold pocket watch

An introduction to Emma, the Duchess of Warwick

Roasted chestnuts

A dance with Emma

A new pair of Hessians

A kiss from Emma under the mistletoe

Christmas with the Duchess...

Great Holiday Reads: A Season of Seduction

Author: Jennifer Haymore
ISBN-13: 978-0446540285
Genre: Historical
Publisher: Forever; Original edition 

Purchase from Amazon





Description:
Although the widowed Lady Rebecca has sworn off marriage, men are another matter. London's cold winter nights have her dreaming of warmer pursuits-like finding a lover to satisfy her hungry heart. Someone handsome, discreet, and most importantly as uninterested in marriage as she is. Someone like Jack Fulton.

A known adventurer and playboy, Jack seems like the perfect choice. There's just one problem: Jack isn't interested in an affair. He needs the beautiful, mysterious Lady Rebecca to be his wife. And he doesn't have much time to persuade her. A secret from Jack's past is about to surface, and by Christmas Day he'll be either married to Rebecca or dead.
     
About the Author from her Website:
Jennifer Haymore grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii, where she surfed, learned how to fly airplanes, raced bicycles, and developed a love for sailing. She was an avid reader and completely destroyed her eyesight by sneaking a flashlight under her covers and reading far into the nights — making her mother wonder why on earth she couldn’t get up for school in the mornings…

Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree in Education from UCLA. Before she became a full-time writer she held various jobs from bookselling to teaching inner-city children to playing bit roles in soap operas.

You can find Jennifer in Southern California trying to talk her husband into yet another trip to England, helping her three children with homework while brainstorming a new five-minute dinner menu, or crouched in a corner of the local bookstore writing her next novel.

Great Holiday Reads: Scandal of The Season

Author: Christie Kelley
ISBN-13: 978-1420108774
Genre: Historical
Publisher: Zebra 

Purchase from Amazon
Purchase from Barnes and Noble

Description:
A Daring Charade…
For ten years, Anthony Westfield, Viscount Somerton, hasn’t been able to forget the woman with whom he spent one scandalous night. When their paths cross again, he’s shocked to discover Victoria Seaton is an accomplished pickpocket. But Somerton leads a double life of his own. Working on an undercover assignment, he makes Victoria a proposition: pretend to be his mistress or risk ruin. Yet soon he’s tempted to turn their charade into reality—and surrender to an explosive passion…

A Holiday To Remember…
Victoria can’t believe the man who almost destroyed her life a decade ago is now threatening to unravel her secrets. But posing as his mistress at a holiday country party is a game she can play well. For just one look into Somerton’s eyes still weakens her with lust. And with Christmas fast approaching, every kiss they share under the mistletoe only makes Victoria fall more deeply in love…

About the author from her Website:
Christie Kelley was born and raised in upstate New York. As a child, she always had a vivid imagination and the bad dreams that go along with it, or perhaps the dreams were caused by the five brothers and three sisters she lived with. After seventeen years working for financial institutions in software development, she took a leap of faith and started her first book. Seven years later, her first book EVERY NIGHT I’M YOURS was bought by Zebra books.

She now lives in Maryland with her husband and two future romance heroes.

Great Holiday Reads: The Christmas Knight

Author: Michele Sinclair
ISBN-13: 978-1420108552
Genre: Historical

Publisher: Zebra Books
 
Purchase from Amazon
 
Description:
Her Only Hope For The Season
With their father gone this Christmastide, Bronwyn de Breton and her two younger sisters are utterly vulnerable at unprotected Hunswick Castle. And their troubles are compounded when a fearsome knight arrives on the king’s orders to take Hunswick as his own—and the youngest de Breton daughter as his wife.

Is A Man She’s Never Met
Bronwyn would never let her little sister be forced to marry a man as rough and wild as the new lord is whispered to be. Yet someone must form an alliance with him, or all of Hunswick will be at risk. So she steps forward, pretending to be her own sister.

And A Love She Never Expected
But the new lord is not so easily fooled. He knows Bronwyn is not the woman he has promised to marry. And yet, no matter how duty-bound he may be, there is no resisting the golden-haired beauty who so fearlessly gives herself to him…and awakens a passion unlike any he’s ever known…