Romance Book Review: Sara Walter Ellwood's Heartstrings

Author: Sara Walter Ellwood

ISBN: 9781616504557

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Lyrical Press

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Common themed story about a successful country music star who comes home to get to know his daughter that he's never met. The novel takes its own twists and turns telling the story of Country Music star Seth who returns home to his father's funeral and confronts his ex-best friend and the woman who had his baby. It has been 15 years since he left town believing the woman he loved, Abby, never really loved him. After finding out that she's married his best friend he stays away until now.

Seth isn't totally innocent in this matter. He knew that Abby was having his baby and knew his best friend was raising her, but now that he's back he wants to make a mends and spend some time with his daughter no matter how dead set against it her mother and the man his daughter calls "Daddy" is against it.

The last person Abby wanted to see was Seth. He'd abandoned her and her daughter years ago. She wanted him to go off and have his career but he said he would come back and never returned. Now she's divorced from her husband and raising her daughter. She's still friends with the man who raised her daughter and grateful that he stood by her side when she needed him, she's also happy he's married to someone who truly loves him. 

There are secrets from the past though that someone doesn't want to be told and he's willing to cause a scandal for Seth if Abby reveals the truth, not to mention she'll have to fess up to her daughter after all these years.

Well written love story, which gets points for good characters and a well placed bad guy in the mix.  

Description:

He’s determined to set things right, no matter the cost.

The last person Abby Crawford wants to face down is country music superstar Seth Kendall. Last time she did, she flat-out lied so he’d go to Nashville without her. She’s never understood why their mutual best friend proposed, but she went with it so her baby wouldn’t be fatherless. Now she’s a divorced mother of a teenager, and secretly Seth’s biggest fan.

Seth is home in McAllister, Texas for his father’s funeral…and a chance to meet the daughter he’s never known. He’s willing to face the music of his own making and admit he’s known about his little girl all along. For fifteen years he’s kept his distance because Abby told him to follow his dreams without her, insisting she didn’t’ love him. But now he won’t leave until he knows his daughter and she knows him, even if it means facing the woman who broke his heart for good.

Confessing she’s lied about her daughter’s paternity all these years won’t be easy for Abby, especially with her ex blackmailing her to keep the secret. And Seth doesn’t know the hardest truth of all: Every love song he plays on his guitar still plucks her heartstrings.

WARNING: Spicy sex.

Romance Book Review: LA Witt's Covet Thy Neighbor

Author: LA Witt

Series Connection: A Tucker Springs Novel

ISBN: 978-1-62649-000-0

Genre: Contemporary Gay Romance

Publisher: Riptide

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Seth has a lot of emotional scares where his past, his family and religion are concerned. When he meets his new neighbor he is immediately attracted to the other gay man, but once he learns he's a minister, Seth is extremely conflicted about their relationship.

Darren has moved to Tucker Springs for a new start and to work at a local youth center. When he meets Seth he sees someone he can be himself with, however the morning afters with Seth are getting to awkward and he confronts Seth on it. 

Can Seth overcome his demons before he lets something good pass him by?

Written from Seth's perspective this story develops around his deep seeded conflicts and desires. I think the author does a great job at expresses Seth fears and a wonderful story emerges as the couple works together exploring the possibilites. I fell immediately in love with Darren, who could have easily turned out to be too passive in the story, but turned out just right.

About the Series:

Welcome to Tucker Springs, population 75,000 + you! This collaborative story world is brought to you by three award-winning LGBTQ authors: Heidi Cullinan, Marie Sexton, and L.A. Witt.

The fictional town of Tucker Springs is located on the western slope of Colorado, in between Grand Junction and Silverton. One of the themes of Tucker Springs is that what you see is not what you get. Take, for example, the “springs.” Although many neighboring towns have actual hot springs, the spring here is more of a bubbling mud puddle. Locals like to trick newbies by sending them in search of it.

The Tucker Springs stories are a series of loosely-connected, standalone novels. Most of them will take place in the Light District, a.k.a. Hacktown, a district known for its theaters, galleries, intimate nightspots, and music. The first title, Where Nerves End by L.A. Witt, is available at Amber Allure. The remainder of the series will be published here.

Description:

Opposites attract, but heaven help these two.

Tattoo artist Seth Wheeler thinks he’s struck gold when Darren Romero rents the apartment across the hall. The new guy is gorgeous, witty, and single, plus he’s just the right blend of bold and flirtatious. Perfect.

Except then Darren reveals that he moved to Tucker Springs to take a job as the youth pastor at the New Light Church. Seth is not only an atheist, but was thrown out by his ultra-religious family when he came out. He tends to avoid believers, not out of judgment but out of self-preservation.

But Darren doesn’t give up easily, and he steadily chips away at Seth’s defenses. Darren is everything Seth wants in a man . . . except for that one massive detail he just can’t overlook. Is Darren’s religion the real problem, or is it just a convenient smokescreen to keep him from facing deeper fears? It’s either see the light, or risk pushing Darren away forever.

Romance Book Review: Amy Lee Burgess' About Face

Author: Amy Lee Burgess

Series Connection: The Wolf Within

ISBN: 9781616504502

Genre: Paranormal/ Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Lyrical Press

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In book 5 of The Wolf Within series, Amy Lee Burgess continues her story with Stanzie and her job as advisor to the Great Council. Her job with her old pack finished and her father exiled from her birth pack, it is time for Stanzie to deal with her relationship with Liam. She misses him and it is time she finds out exactly why her bond mate left her suddenly four months before. 

It just so happens the councilor that she works for on the Great Council wants her to go check out what Liam is doing in Dublin that is making people take notice in the investigations in his first bond mate's murder. That will give her a good reason for going to see him. 

When she gets to Dublin Stanzie becomes involved in Liam's plan to protect their Alpha and learns much more about the reasons for her assignments that the Council has been sending her on. Now she's even more confused than ever about what is happening. 

As tragedy strikes around them, Stanzie must works to figure out who is responsible for recent events. Liam is dealing with family and her relationship with him is running on even thinner ice as she deals with her own insecurities. 

This series continues to keep readers entertained and working to figure out who are the good and the bad guys. If I had to have a complaint it would be that Liam needs to "catch a clue" in the relationship department. After all the two have been through, for him to say he didn't know that Stanzie loved him...all I have to say is "Really?". On the other hand that's part of what makes this a book a good read. There is a need for conflict in a relationship.

Description:

Being herself is more dangerous than ever.

Stanzie’s job as Advisor to the Great Council is discovering other people’s secrets. When those secrets are being kept by the ones she loves most, can she find the courage to expose them?

Under orders from a Councilor, Stanzie journeys to Dublin and the MacTire pack. Her mission: warn her estranged bond mate, Liam Murphy, to abandon his overzealous search for the man responsible for the death of his first bond mate. Not only is he endangering himself, but also disrupting the delicate balance between opposing factions in the conspiracy threatening to tear the Great Pack apart.

Liam needs Stanzie’s help to protect their Alpha, who has entangled himself in the conspiracy’s deadly web. But he also desperately needs her back. In a race against time, Stanzie and Liam discover enemies often wear the faces of friends.

CONTENT WARNING: Vulgar language, sexual situations, some violence

Romance Book Review: Shelly Laurenston's Wolf With Benefits

Author: Shelly Laurenston

Series Connection: Pride Series

ISBN: 978-0758265227

Genre: Paranormal/ Shifter

Publisher: Brava

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Coming back to her current day shifter series about the New York Smith Pack, Shelly Laurenston tells the story about the members of the Smith pack and brings back an characters from one of her short stories which takes place in the past. 

When the Van Holtz family was first introduced, in Miss Congeniality, Irene Conridge's roommate was Jackie, Jackal shifter and her boyfriend Paul. Now, all these years later, Jackie and Paul are back with their eleven children. Of the eleven, ten are like Jackie geniuses in their own fields. One is just average, however, there is nothing simple about Toni and her life. 

While getting an autograph of one of her brother's favorite shifter hockey players, Toni meets Ricky Lee, one of the infamous Reed brothers. 

Ricky Lee wasn't one to settle down and he liked it that way. That is until he started spending time with Toni.

The the romance in this story is slow to start, although I think in the end it brings about a strong relationship between Ricky Lee and Toni. Throughout the rest of the pages of the tells the story of  Toni's crazy family and Toni working on building her independence from a family that is very dependent on her for their own sanity. My only complaint is I would have loved to get some more information about the Reed boys, but I have a feeling we would be seeing more of them in the future stories of the Pride series. 

We'll written as usual for Shelly Laurenston's work with a mix of humorous scenes and wayward violence. Definitely not a book for the faint of heart.  

Description:

Ricky Lee has no plans of getting serious about anyone, but he will protect Toni Jean-Louis Parker. Not just because he's been hired to do so, but because it's the right thing to do. And if that means travelling around the country with one complicated She-jackal, dealing with chocolate-eating wild dogs, instigating trouble between his brothers, and having the most amazing sex he's ever had...well, who said his job didn't have perks? 

Toni doesn't know how she keeps getting herself into these situations. But even she has to admit there's something about Ricky Lee Reed that she finds kind of interesting...and downright sexy. Now they just have to survive long enough to figure out if what they have is worth fighting for...

Romance Book Review: Calisa Rhose's Risk Factors

Author: Calisa Rhose

ISBN: 9781616504496

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Lyrical Press

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Sweet emotionally charred love story featuring Veterinarian Viv and EMT Conner. Viv meets Conner in a small Missouri town after taking over her uncle's Veterinarian hospital and he brings his daughter's pet skunk in to be checked out. 

The couple are immediately attracted to each other, but as a single father who has been hurt more than once in his life, Conner isn't sure he wants to get involved with anyone right now. But his attraction to Viv is strong and he can't let her go without wanting to see her again. 

Viv is happy with her new life. As usual not satisfying her parents, she has decided she can only make herself happy. When she meets Conner, she is at a time when she wants to settle down with a man she can love. She isn't looking for a one night stand and she's worried that is all Conner is really looking for. As the couple fight their own demons they grow closer, but can Viv break through Conner's tough barriers to get her happy ever after?

I like both characters and felt that although Viv had lots of reasons to step away from Conner, she kept in character being strong till the end. Those who like sweet, (translated very limited sex scenes), and hard working love stories will enjoy this book. 

Description:

Love, like life, is not without risk.

Veterinarian Vivian Dane has purchased her uncle’s practice in the tiny town of Wales, Missouri, where most residents still doubt her ability to treat their pets. But Viv is used to being considered less-worthy than her predecessors. After all, her parents are world-renowned wildlife vets, and most everyone is unimpressed she’s chosen to not follow directly in their footsteps. Now Connor, a patient’s owner, is hot for Viv, but clearly doesn’t think she’s dating material because he has a daughter…who he believes no woman is good enough for.

Being a perfect dad is EMT paramedic Connor’s life focus. He can’t seem to stay away from sexy Doctor Viv, but attraction is as far as he’ll ever let it go. His mother abandoned him, leaving him to be raised in the foster system, and then his wife abandoned both him and their daughter. He absolutely will not risk bringing another woman into his little girl’s life and having her feel the hurt of being left…again.

Forfeiting is easier than attempting and failing. So why does Viv feel compelled to prove she’s a sure bet for Connor and his daughter? Can Connor trust Viv–and himself–enough to play the possibilities?

WARNING: Happy-ever-after mixed with four-legged friends.

Romance Book Review: Nora Roberts' The Perfect Hope

Author: Nora Roberts
Series Connection: Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy, Book #3

Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Paranormal/ Ghosts

Publisher: Putnam Trade Paperback

Purchase a signed copy from Turn the Page Bookstore

The Perfect Hopes brings the Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy to an end with the featured story about the third Montgomery brother Ryder and the Inn BoonsBoro's innkeeper Hope. When Hope first came to town and took the job as innkeeper, Ryder didn't take to her right away. She was too beautiful and everyone made the decision to hire her too quickly. Time has gone by and his feelings toward Hope didn't seem to change much. 

Yes she was beautiful and who wouldn't look at her, but he liked his life. His brothers were both attached to their women, but that wasn't going to be Ryder. 

Hope left D.C. with a broken heart and wanting a change and a new job. When she's offered the innkeeper job at Inn BoonBoro she takes it. It has been a long dry spell of a year since she started her new life. She loves her town and just maybe Ryder would be someone who she can share a sexual relationship with. She's not asking for anything more right now, because frankly she doesn't think Ryder is all the interested in something more. But just sexual relationships have a way of catching up with you and turning into a little bit more. 

In the meantime, Ryder's brother Owen and Hope are continuing to research the details of the life of the woman whose ghost haunts the Inn. Lizzy first made herself known to Beckett in the first book to the trilogy, Next Always. The group is hoping they can find out why Lizzy's spirit is still haunting the Inn. They know that she once had a love named Billy and if they can find the answer to the mystery of what happened to him, who knows, maybe Lizzy can be happy and cross over. 

This book is so Nora Roberts. I was delighted to see that she kept Ryder in character from Book 1 until the series end. Hope is not at all the woman he thought she was at the start and that is good. I really like the character she evolved into. All and all a nice end to a fairly good series. I'm still thinking that My Last Boyfriend is my favorite of the bunch, but this one is neck and neck with it. 

Description:

Ryder is the hardest Montgomery brother to figure out—with a tough-as-nails outside and possibly nothing too soft underneath. He’s surly and unsociable, but when he straps on a tool belt, no woman can resist his sexy swagger. Except apparently Hope Beaumont, the innkeeper of his own Inn BoonsBoro…

As the former manager of a D.C. hotel, Hope is used to excitement and glamour, but that doesn’t mean she can’t appreciate the joys of small-town living. She’s where she wants to be—except for in her love life. Her only interaction with the opposite sex has been sparring with the infuriating Ryder, who always seems to get under her skin. Still, no one can deny the electricity that crackles between them…a spark that ignited with a New Year’s Eve kiss.

While the Inn is running smoothly, thanks to Hope’s experience and unerring instincts, her big-city past is about to make an unwelcome—and embarrassing—appearance. Seeing Hope vulnerable stirs up Ryder’s emotions and makes him realize that while Hope may not be perfect, she just might be perfect for him…
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Romance Byte: Kelly Gendron's Fatal Promise

By: Kelly Gendron 

ISBN: n/a

Genre: Erotic Romance/ BDSM/ Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Siren-BookStrand, Inc.

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Description:

When Rainey Ann McKenna's dying husband asked her always to be there for his brother, Tex McCoy, she had no idea that five years later her promise would bring a murderer into her home. According to the conditions of his release, for the next three months Tex will be on house arrest. Obligated by a promise, Rainey Ann takes the gorgeous but dangerous felon in.

Tex McCoy may have gone to jail for murder, but after a decade of being incarcerated, he too is dead inside. Resurrecting any of Tex's feelings—including the ones he once had for Rainey Ann McKenna—could be fatal. In jail, he fantasized about Rainey Ann. Behind steel bars it was acceptable to think of her in such a way, but in the real world, it's dangerous.

Yet as desire awakens, Rainey Ann’s threat heightens. After years of being locked up, Tex is ready to reclaim some control, and his fantasy woman is only a touch away.

A Siren Erotic Romance

Romance Byte: Terry Spear's A Howl for a Highlander

Author: Terry Spear

Series Connection: Heart of the Wolf

ISBN: 9781402258930

Genre: Paranormal/Shapeshifter

Publisher: Sourcebooks

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Description: 

A Highland Wolf on a Mission...

Duncan MacNeill is hell-bent on catching the thief who's stolen the clan's fortune and run off to Grand Cayman Island. Duncan has rarely left his homeland and he couldn't care less about an island paradise. He never expected to find a beautiful distraction who will show him just how appealing paradise can be...

Meets a Dangerous Distraction...

Lone wolf and botanist Shelley Campbell headed to the island to study the old growth forests. She didn't count on meeting a handsome Highlander who can't keep his paws off her.

Next book out in May:

Title: A Highland Werewolf Wedding

ISBN: 978-1402266836

Genre: Paranormal/Shapeshifter

Publisher: Sourcebook

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Description:

Elaine Hawthorn is a gray American werewolf, currently out of work, and on a mission to share in a family treasure. When she arrives in Scotland, she nearly has a head-on collision with one hot, kilt-garbed Highlander, and runs him off the road.

Werewolf laird Cearnach MacNeill isn't happy Elaine ruined his car, but he quickly becomes her protector after a misunderstanding lands her right in the middle of two feuding clans. Now he's out to ensure that this sexy female wolf gets her fair share of her clan's treasure. He knows he should leave well enough alone, but it's too late to leave his heart out of it.

Romance Book Review: Pepper Goodrich's Afternoon Delight

Author: Pepper Goodrich

ISBN: not assigned

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Publisher: Whisper Publishing

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Recently divorced Nadia meets a younger man who sends a spark through her system. After an afternoon of sexual fun at a home the two are working investigating a property boundary issue. 

Since the two work together, both know that a relationship really isn't an option, but a few sessions of "Afternoon Delight" can't hurt, until someone finds out their little secret.

Very erotic romance with lots of sexual exploration. Cut couple with a few confidence issues.

Description:

When Nadia Reynolds and Jax Madison meet to sort out a real estate boundary issue, instant fireworks spark and business turns into a private showing. A serious relationship is not an option for her, especially since she was thrown over for a younger woman.

Jax is on the fast track to partnership in his law firm and doesn't need the distraction of a sexy entanglement. Nevertheless, he's intrigued by more than her real estate experience, and they have several more "consultations".

When a co-worker threatens to expose their risky business encounters, will their afternoon delights end or can their song become all night long?

Romance Book Review: Sidda lee Tate's Hijacked

Author: Sidda Lee Tate

Series Connection: The Night Series

ISBN: 9781937325596
Genre(s): Erotic Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Beachwalk Press
Publication Date: March 18, 2013

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This book isn't anything but what it professes to be, a quick fun romp between a hot and wild barmaid and a sexy rancher ready to explore life after his divorce with a little love and romance mixed in.

Sharon Blake is working her night job so she can make some extra cash and visit the beach for the first time. She takes on a job at Nights as a waitress. She's young and single so why not have some fun with her job. She sees a handsome Kyle checking her out, so on her break she slips him an invite for some fun in the supply room. 

As the two get to know each other, Sharon realizes that what she's feeling for Kyle is not something she's ever felt before and she's like to do a whole lot more exploring. Unfortunately someone has other plans for Kyle. Will that leave Sharon out in the cold. 

Sometime when I read these short novellas I really wish there was more to them, like in this case it would have been nice to see a little more of the conflict issues, but it is what it is a shore erotic romance and that is good too.

Description:

Will an unexpected encounter leave Sharon's heart hijacked?

When Sharon Blake meets Kyle Phillips her first instinct is to simply seek the pleasure she's certain he can give her. But surprisingly, she feels a strong connection with him, something she's never experienced before, and that conflicts with everything she's always believed—sex is sex and nothing more.

The last woman Kyle trusted with his heart betrayed him, and he has no interest in getting involved with anyone. There's only one problem—now that he's met Sharon, he craves her touch, her laughter, the look in her eyes when he pulls her near.

Kyle and Sharon soon realize that being apart isn't an option. Someone else, though, has different plans for Kyle, and Sharon is left questioning everything he's told her. Kyle tries to explain, to make things right again, but Sharon doesn't know if she can trust him, and her instinct is to walk away now before her heart is bruised even further.

Content Warning: strong language and graphic sex

Romance Book Review: Serenity Woods' Mr. Insatiable

Author: Serenity Woods

ISBN: 9781616504359

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Lyrical Press

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Definitely a hot and steamy sweet love story featuring two friends who work their way to lovers.

Enya is feeling blue at her brother's wedding over the break up with her current boyfriend. When her longtime friend Kit asks what's wrong, he's determined to make her forget all about her selfish ex and find out what it is really like to have someone who you can trust make love to you. 

They were only going to do it as friends, for just one night, but one night alone was never going to do after Kit got his first taste of Enya. When the two set off on a four day trip to China, he knows he's going to seduce her, but when seduction turns into love can the two be together after Kit hears the secret Enya has been keeping?

Description: 

Gossip says he is hot between the sheets. Has Mr. Insatiable finally met his match?

Enya’s been curious about Kit’s bedroom exploits ever since his ex-girlfriend spilled the beans about his…skill. But he’s not for her. Enya can’t provide what he wants from life, especially not between the sheets.

After Enya admits she’s not good at sex, Kit persuades her to trust in him. Together, they can create fireworks in the bedroom. A few drinks followed by a discussion about kinky sex, and Enya succumbs to his charm.

Thrilled he’s been proven correct, Kit can’t keep his hands off Enya, and she’s unable, and unwilling, to resist him. But is it just great sex…or something more?

CONTENT WARNING:

Sexy, sizzling hot romance. Please read with air conditioning on.

Romance Book Review: Angie Fox's Immortally Embraced

Author: Angie Fox

Series Connection: MASH

ISBN: 978-0312546670

Genre: Paranormal/ Shapeshifter/ Gods and Demons/ Dragon Shifters

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Kudos go out to Angie Fox and her world building skills in the second in the MASH series. Immorally Embraced tells the story of Dr. Petra Robichaud, a supernatural doctor with a penchant for communicating with ghosts. 

In the first book in the series, Petra learns she is part of a prophecy that predicts the how the war between the Gods will turn out. The predictions never tell the whole story, and it is up to Petra and the current man in her life to figure out the answers. 

In book two, Petra is reunited with her first love, whom she thinks has been dead for over 10 years. She mourned his death for all those years, just finally meeting a man and losing him recently. When she hears the latest prophecy, she realizes right away it is about her, but doesn't understand what it means. Enter Marc. 

Marc went off to war and decided that unlike the regular army, the gods never let anyone go. He thought Petra was better off without him and fakes his death. When he enters her life again he tells her he needs her help to speak to a ghost. The only problem is Marc's on the enemies side and so is the ghost and Petra needs to go AWOL to help.

Petra soon realizes that Marc isn't the same man she remembers. He's cold and living for the moment. She reaches with her heart and she can't go through what she did before fearing the situation is hopeless for the two of them. The couple soon learns that the fate of the humans are in their hands and they need to do whatever they can to help. Can Petra do that and spend time with Marc without losing her heart to him again?

This is the first Angie Fox book I've read. I like her strong female lead character. She's not perfect, she got a smartass mouth and she's a bit impulsive. The sexy Marc has a few flaws of his own, but there is no doubt of his feelings for the heroine. 

For me a romance is a true romance when a character stays true to her partner, and although I didn't get to read the first book in the series, I was a little disappointed when Galen just disappears in the first chapter to leave room for the new man in Petra's life. The whole scene with Medusa is pretty fun and perhaps the only really funny part in the book.

Description:

IN THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES…
Even during a truce, Dr. Petra Robichaud has her hands full as the M*A*S*H surgeon to an army of warring gods—especially when Medusa herself turns up pregnant. Petra has no idea what to expect when a gorgon’s expecting, but she won’t let it turn her to stone. As the healer-hero of an ancient prophesy, it’s Petra’s job to keep the peace. But as the lover to a warrior demi-god, she knows how impossible some jobs can be…

IT’S EVERY GOD FOR HIMSELF.
Commander Galen is sexy, strong, and sworn to lead his team to hell and back. But when he announces to Petra that he can no longer risk her life for his love, the doctor is on her own…Until a mysterious new entity—in the form of a hot-blooded male—enters the picture. Can he be trusted? Can he be resisted? Meanwhile, an oracle delivers another prophesy that places Petra back on the frontlines with the man she may be bound to for eternity—in love, or in war…

Romance Book Review: Judy Mariott's Cruising the South China Sea

Author: Judy Mariott

Series Connection: Paranormal Sightings

Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Crime

Publisher: Whisper Publishing

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When an older human man's body is found on a cruise ship in the middle of a werewolf shift, Gerry Slavinsky from the Centre of Paranormal Services is called in to investigate. What he finds is a ship that is serviced by a large group of werewolves and a whole list of suspects who might have gone rogue. 

Beth has won a trip on a cruise ship. A vacation is just what she needs as she continues to deal with the fact that a year ago she was bitten by a werewolf and now she is compelled to shift whenever the moon grows full. She has been too worried to ask anyone for help, until she realizes that the attractive man she's met on the ship is also a werewolf and she follows him to see if she can ask him some questions. 

Gerry has been hurt in the past, but can he take the chance and fall in love again, while trying to find the mystery rogue?

While this is part of series, it does not have to be read together. The only connection between the books is that the male characters all work for the same organization searching the world for rogue wolves. 

Description:

Beth, a curvaceous red head from London, England, thinks her love life is over when she is attacked by a rogue werewolf. Full of self-disgust over her new form and not really understanding what has happened, she withdraws into herself, until through her work as an artist, she wins a two week luxury cruise in the South China Sea. Despite huge reservations over managing ‘shape shifting’ at sea, she accepts.

As soon as she boards in Hong Kong, she meets Gerry Slavinsky; an CPSW investigator from Boston USA, appointed to discover how a passenger died in his cabin under peculiar circumstances. The attraction for both of them is explosive; but both know that any sexual union is out of the question. Sensing her arousal, Bjorg Adamsen, both the cruise hotel director, and the powerful, ship pack leader, pursues her. Despite his obvious good looks, intuitively she perceives evil. When the murders continue, Beth knows that, to survive, she must ally herself to one or the other.