Thursday, April 30, 2015

Second Chance Hero by Winnie Griggs

Publisher & Release Date: Love Inspired Historical, May 1, 2015

Time and setting: 1897 Turnabout, Texas  

Genre: Historical Western Romance

Length: 281 pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweet Heart

Rating: 3.5 Gold Crowns

Winning the Widow's Heart 

To help his dying sister, Nate Cooper once broke the law—and he's regretted it ever since. Now the ex-con turned saddler hopes for a new beginning in Turnabout, Texas. So when Nate saves a young widow's daughter from imminent harm, he's shocked to be called a hero. 

Single mom Verity Leggett leads a safe life, avoiding danger and excitement at all costs. But her daughter's rescuer Mr. Cooper seems like a perfectly responsible—and handsome—man she can rely on. But when his secrets come to light, will Verity be able to get over his past and see Nate for the caring man he's become? 

Texas Grooms: In search of their brides…

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Vikki’s Musings

I have been a fan of Winnie Griggs for quite some time, so when I found Second Chance Hero on Net-Galley I immediately requested it. As I expect with one of Ms. Griggs books, she puts me in the moment of a small western town at the end of the 19th century. I love her ability to do that.

Verity Leggett is a young widow with a five-year-old daughter. When Joy disappears from her friend’s dress shop, she rushes outside only to see Joy chasing after a little dog. She screams the child’s name and her daughter freezes as a horse and wagon come barreling toward her.

Then the saddler next door to the dress shop shots past her as he dives for the child pushing her out of the way. Once she knows Joy has not been harmed, she realizes that Mr. Cooper did not come out of the near miss as well. Her medical training kicks in, and she checks Nate for injuries. When she discovers he has a deep gash on his arm and his ankle is swelling. She insists on getting him to her uncle’s clinic.

Once the doctor stitches his arm and determines that his ankle is not broken, but badly sprained, Dr. Pratt suggests that he remain in the clinic overnight for observation.  While Verity helps get him settled, Nate cannot help noticing how pretty and sweet smelling she is, but a man like him could never hope to gain the affections of a woman as upstanding as Verity. His past would always stand in the way, especially when he finds out how her husband died.  But the heart does not always agree with the mind.

Is it possible for a cautious widow and a man with a checked past to fall in love and find their ‘happily ever after, or will Verity’s fears keep the walls around her heart firmly in place?
Winnie Griggs has penned a sweet romance, and I fell in love with Nate’s character right away. While he may have had poor judgement years ago, he is now a man who deserves a second chance at life. His tender heart and his helpful attitude made him one of the most endearing heroes I have read of in a while.

Unfortunately, as the story progressed I found myself liking Verity’s character less and less. She comes across as too sanctimonious and too quick to jump to conclusions before getting all the facts for my taste. While I had empathy for her losses, it did not outweigh her judgmental attitude toward Nate. In fact, I do not understand how a nice man like Nate could fall in love with her. Yes, she does have some good points like her desire to help the children prepare for the upcoming festival, but those traits were just not enough for me to like her character.


Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable read. The story line drew me in, and the pacing is steady. I liked all the other characters in the book, especially the little girl, Joy. I also enjoyed the dog, Beans, a great deal. He added a bit of humor and liveliness to the story. If you enjoy western romances with a heart-warming hero, then you will enjoy Second Chance Hero. Happy reading!

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

The Last Long Night (Bregdan Chronicles#5)
by Ginny Dye

Published & Release Date: A Voice in the World Publishing, January 8, 2014

Time and setting: 1864-1865 Virginia

Genre: Historical Fiction Romance

Length: 534 pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweet Heart

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Description: The power of the Union army brings the South to its knees in surrender, but not until a year of intense pain and violence creates a chasm that may be impossible for the country to bridge. 

Carrie struggles to hold on to hope as the world caves in around her, hanging on to the promise she’s been given. She also finally gets to reveal the secret she has held so close. 

Moses is gravely wounded in battle. 

Aunt Abby faces danger as she gets more deeply involved with women’s rights, and spends time in Washington, D.C. 

Robert’s plantation takes a severe loss, but is saved from burning by an unlikely source. 

Rose continues to thrive in the Contraband Camp and finally has a dream come true. 

Volume # 5 of The Bregdan Chronicles continues the sweeping saga that now encompasses the final year of the American Civil War. 

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Vikki’s Musings

The saga continues in The Last Long Night of the Bregdan Chronicles Book 5. I am sure for the brave men who fought in the Civil War, the entire last year of the war must have felt like one continuous nightmare. What the Rebels endured that last year was beyond anything anyone could have imagined. They suffered one defeat after the other, near starvation, and a brutal winter.

Ms. Dye paints a vivid and graphic picture of the siege of Richmond, along with the fight for the Shenandoah Valley, where Robert’s plantation comes under threat of fire. At times the details are quite painful to read, but this episode is rich with astonishing historical detail. That is what I am enjoying most about this series.

This book opens with Richmond again under attack and Robert Borden in the midst of the fighting. While the south again wins the battle, it is at a heavy cost, one that it can ill afford. Lee sends Robert to the Shenandoah Valley to join Jubal Early. There, another rout occurs that has the Rebels running for their lives, leaving Sherman to burn and destroy one of the last food supplies to Lee’s army.

After the defeat, Robert is given leave to find out if his home is still standing. When he arrives on the hill above his plantation, he watches the Yankees get ready to torch his barns and home with his mother on the front porch. The only thing that saves his plantation is Matthew Justin. He tells the captain in charge that the man who owns the plantation saved his life and helped him escape Libby Prison. This book ends with the surrender at Appomattox and the death of Lincoln.    

While I was fascinated by all the history in this episode, I do feel that most of the characters have become a bit sanctimonious. None of them have any flaws. Carrie stands strong in the face of hardship. Her father has accepted her views toward slavery, and Robert is the perfect confederate officer. No one gets angry at their lot in life, it is not very realistic. While there are moments of high drama, the characters accept everything too easily. Some of the sub-plots were unnecessary in my estimation and did not move the story forward.

Nonetheless, I still enjoyed The Last Long Night and will continue reading the rest of the series for the history alone, and I do still like all the characters and must see how they make it through the reconstruction. Happy reading! 


Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Conquered in Cancun by KaLyn Cooper

Published & Release Date: Self-published, April 26, 2015

Time and setting: Present day, Cancun, Mexico  

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 129 pages

Heat Level: 2 Scorching Hot Flames

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

After a deployment romance that ended disastrously, Lieutenant Commander Caroline Hodges vows never trust another man. Joining her roommates for some fun in the Cancun sun, she runs into the lover who had dumped her in Navy flight school. A temporary, vacation fling may be perfect solution to her wounded heart. 

Luke Thorstad had been thrown into the limelight, and the arms of dozens of willing women, in flight school when he’d become an unintentional hero. His biggest regret, ever, was leaving Caroline Hodges in the shadows. Finding her in a Cancun night club was his chance at redemption, and maybe the future they’d been denied years ago. But he’ll have to break down the walls she’s built around her heart. 

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Vikki’s Musings

I couldn’t wait for this book to come out. I read the first novel in the series back in December and loved it! KaLyn Cooper has certainly met my expectations again with Conquered in Cancun. This is a novella to keep me and the rest of her fans patient for the next book in the In Cancun Series. I certainly hope the next book will be out soon because this one leaves me wanting more.

Caroline Hodges is a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy and flies fighter jets. She has just finished a nine month deployment and after being embroiled in a torrid love affair gone bad, she is ready to soak up the sun and relax. When she meets ‘Cool Hand’ Luke at a local night club, a man she had known intimately in flight school, she wonders if he might be what she needs to get her ex-lover off her radar.

Luke Thorstad remembers he had enjoyed the more than friends relationship he’d had with Caroline in flight school. Unfortunately, he had pushed her to the side when he had inadvertently become a hero back then. He’d had gorgeous women throwing themselves at him left and right and had let them go to his head. After seeing Caroline again, he deeply regrets letting her go. He owes her big time for treating their friendship so callously. The attraction he feels now is even stronger as it had been six years before. He had been an idiot!

Can he rekindle the fire and passion they had back then and turn it into a forever kind of love, or will Caroline stick to her plan of having a hot vacation fling?

Conquered in Cancun is a very fast-paced read and an enjoyable one. For such a short book the story is fully developed and very believable. One thing I always enjoy in KaLyn Cooper’s books—her sexual scenes are more than hot. In fact the ones in this romance had me fanning my face repeatedly.

Caroline’s character shows a vulnerable side, which considering her career is surprising, yet fits her character perfectly. While she is definitely a gutsy woman, she also has a softer side, which she shows when dealing with the adorable little girl, Addison from Christmas in Cancun. Their interaction added a bit of humor and several heart-warming moments rarely found in such an erotic novella.

I also loved Luke’s character. He has suffered a great many losses and yet, he doesn’t let them color his personality dark. He has picked himself up by his bootstraps, turned his lemons into lemonade and forged a new promising career after receiving a medical discharge from the Navy. He has a tender side which he shows over and over again. Again, I’m amazed at the depth of character development in this story, depth rarely found in a novella.


My only complaint, and it did not take away from my reading pleasure, is that I felt the ending was a bit rushed. Other than that, the romance is perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed Caroline and Luke’s love story and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a very sensual tale with a deeply emotional journey along the way. Happy reading!

Author Bio:


KaLyn Cooper's romances blend fact and fiction with blazing heat and heart-pounding suspense. Twenty-two years as a military wife has shown KaLyn the world, and thirty years in PR taught her that fact can be stranger than fiction. She leaves it up to the reader to separate truth from imagination. She, her husband, and bird dog live in Tennessee on a micro-plantation filled with gardens, cattle, and quail. When she's not writing, she's at the shooting range or on the river.


Monday, April 27, 2015

Dark Chaos by Ginny Dye

Published & Release Date: A Voice in the World Publishing, July 8, 2010

Time and setting: 1863-1864 Virginia

Genre: Historical Fiction Romance

Length: 662 pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweet Heart

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description:
Dark clouds and chaos descend lower upon America as the war rages around them; threatening all they hold dear. 

Carrie and Robert are once more pulled apart, and Carrie finds herself the target of a hostile group of men determined to stop her from providing medical care of black residents of Richmond. How long can she continue to save other people's lives at the risk of her own? 

Aunt Abby is sucked into a violent riot in the North, while Matthew faces the greatest challenge of his life. 

Rose welcomes new life, while Moses risks everything as a Northern spy. 

The ultimate test comes as the people of a once-promising nation must hold on to their faith and dreams as everything around them crumbles. 

The fourth book of The Bregdan Chronicles historical fiction series will pull you in and never let you go. You'll experience the Civil War era (and all the years to come) through the eyes of both White and Black, free & slave, Southern & Northern - and you'll fall in love with every character. 

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Vikki’s Musings

And this amazing story continues with the fourth book of The Bregdan Chronicles. Dark Chaos is filled with turmoil of the times as the north continues to wage war against the south. I must mention that even though these books are quite long, the pacing is so good that they read as a much shorter story.

This edition of this saga starts out on a happy note with Carrie at long last marrying Robert Borden. Unfortunately that does not last long. General Lee needs him to lead his men in the defense of, yet again, another assault on Richmond. The day after their wedding, Carrie has to kiss him goodbye and live in fear that he will not make it through the upcoming battle.

Dark Chaos covers the period from the spring of 1863 to the following spring.  Up to this point the south has come out the victor in most of the battles, but the tide turns when Grant takes over the Army of the West with Joseph Hooker as the Commander of the Army of the Potomac.

After a decisive victory over Hooker at Chancellorsville, Lee marches his army north, while Robert is sent on a diplomatic mission to England. While he is disappointed when Carrie decides to stay in Richmond instead of joining him, he accepts her decision, knowing his strong-willed wife will not change her mind.
Robert is safe in England when Lee suffers a huge defeat at Gettysburg and Grant is victorious in his campaign to take Vicksburg, gaining control of the Mississippi, cutting the south in half. Unfortunately Carrie and Robert’s friend from Philadelphia, Matthew Justin, is not and ends up back in Libby prison.

While Dark Chaos has many dark moments, the love between the various couples grows stronger. We see Moses as a leader of the black soldiers, Matthew making a daring escape with Carrie and Robert’s help, Robert barely making it through the perilous crossing from England back to his wife’s waiting arms and Rose continuing in her effort to educate the children in the Contraband Camp.

What I love about these books is the chance to see a different perspective on the Civil War. One that shows the turmoil and chaos surrounding the issue of slavery, a story that shows how black and white fought for the freedom of slaves. Even though many in the north do not treat the blacks any better than the south does, men like Moses stay strong in their belief that at the end of this terrible war will be a new day.

At the close of this addition in this epic tale, Carrie is again facing the possibility of losing Robert forever, as once again Richmond is in danger. This is another story rich with history and filled with deep emotion. Now, I shall continue on with the next story in this outstanding series. Happy reading!


Friday, April 24, 2015

What a Devilish Duke Desires by Vicky Dreiling

Published & Release Date: Hachette Book Group, February 24, 2015

Time and setting: 1822 London, England  

Genre: Historical Regency Romance

Length: 417 pages

Heat Level: 1.5 Scorching Hot Flames

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

WILL A FEW FLIRTATIOUS STEPS

Harry Norcliffe never wanted to inherit his beloved uncle's title. The rigidity of the ton, the incessant reminders from his marriage-minded mama that he must settle down with a highborn lady and produce an heir and a spare: it's all such a dreadful bore. So when his mother asks him to take part in a dancing competition, he patently refuses. The last thing he needs is another chore . . . until a beautiful, brilliant, delightfully tempting maid makes him rethink his position.

LEAD TO A SCANDALOUS SEDUCTION?

Most women would be over the moon to be pursued by a wickedly handsome-not to mention wealthy-duke like Norcliffe. But Lucy will not be any man's trophy. She could use a friend, though, and what begins innocently soon ignites into desire. As Lucy tries to resist Harry's scorching kisses, he makes an utterly irresistible offer. Enter the dance contest with him, and win a prize that could change her life forever . . . if falling in love doesn't change it first.

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Vikki’s Musings

I have been a fan of Vicky Dreiling since I read her debut novel. Her books always have a unique twist to the plot. This one is a takeoff on Dancing with the Stars, a TV show that has become hugely popular in recent years. One thing I can count on with Ms. Dreiling’s books is that they are always witty and emotionally-charged. What a Devilish Duke Desires is definitely both.

Harry Norcliffe, the Duke of Grandfield is mourning the loss of his beloved uncle and lamenting the title he has inherited. His mother insists on introducing him to all the young misses on the marriage mart, pointing out to him that it is now his duty to marry well and produce an heir or two. When his mother concocts a scheme to hold a dancing competition at Almack’s, Harry flatly refuses.

Lucy Longmore works two jobs to keep a roof over her grandmother’s head. She is a seamstress most of the day and an assistant dance instructor to Mr. Buckley each afternoon for two hours. When the owner of the dress shop dismisses Lucy because she is no longer willing to allow her the time off to teach her dance classes, Lucy is heartsick, but at least Madame gives her a letter of character, something she lacked when she arrived in London six months before.

On his way home from dinner at his club, Harry hears a woman’s scream and sees a thief trying to steal her basket. He rushes forward while yelling for the thief to stop. The thief takes one look at Harry and dashes away. The woman is Lucy and this starts the wonderful love story between her and the charming Harry.

Lucy’s sweet character stole my heart from the first. Her willingness to take care of her blind grandmother, pulled at my heartstrings. I loved her determination to achieve her goal of owning a dance studio someday. While she is an innocent, she is a sensible young lady with a no nonsense personality. At times she is so sensible that it stands in her way, especially with Harry.

What I loved most about Harry’s character is, while he is very self-possessed with the dignity that befits a duke, he is still a kind-hearted man. His honor shines forth from the first page. I particularly liked the way he did not give in to his mother’s machinations. She tries repeatedly to catch Harry in her net, but he evades her every time, and lets her know that he sees past her ploys.

I found the romance between the couple very moving. The love they have for each other leaps off the page. Ms. Dreiling is a master at building sexual tension. Harry and Lucy do not make love until well into the story, but their kisses are so erotic, I did not even miss it. In fact, I think her timing of the love scene is impeccable.

I want to mention the narrative. I thoroughly enjoyed Elizabeth Jasicki’s narration. She has a very proper English voice that suits the characters in this story perfectly. She also does an excellent job with the dialect of several of the characters who lack refinement. She is a gifted storyteller, and I will look forward to listening to other books she narrates.

While at times, the plot became a bit unbelievable, what carries this story for me is the emotion that Ms. Dreiling is able to give her characters. There were times where tears filled my eyes. I became totally enmeshed with the characters, and I always love it when that happens.

If you enjoy a story that will have you rooting for the hero to win his fair lady, then What a Devilish Duke Desires will delight your fancy. The pacing is excellent and even though it is over four hundred pages, it is a very fast read. This is a story that will have you sighing for the hero and put a smile on your face when you read the last line. The ending is perfect. Happy reading!

Author Bio:


Vicky Dreiling is a confirmed historical romance junkie and Anglophile. Frequent business trips to the UK allowed her to indulge her passion for all things Regency England. Bath, Stonehenge, and Spencer House are among her favorite places. She is, however, truly sorry for accidentally setting off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. That unfortunate incident led her British colleagues to nickname her "Trouble."

When she's not writing, Vicky enjoys reading, films, concerts, and most of all, long lunches with friends. She holds degrees in English literature and marketing. A native Texan, she shares her home with her daughter and a spoiled mini-lop rabbit that lives in a slightly gnawed cardboard cottage.

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Thursday, April 23, 2015

A Bit of Heaven on Earth by Lauren Linwood

Published & Release Date: Soul Mate Publishing, December 2, 2014

Time and setting: 1347 - 1359, Medieval England

Genre: Historical Romance

Length: 188 pages

Heat Level: 2 Scorching Flames

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

When Gavin of Ashgrove and his closest friend are captured in a fierce battle during the Hundred Years’ War, their captors demand a hefty ransom from their fathers for their return. Robert is quickly set free, but Gavin’s father refuses to pay for his son’s release, leaving him to rot in a squalid French prison. Aided by a sympathetic priest, he escapes and returns home to England, only to find he has been proclaimed a bastard and disinherited. 

With nowhere to turn Gavin journeys to Kentwood, where he fostered as a boy, hoping Lord Aldred will take him on as a knight in his guard. The old warrior is close to death, but he soon realizes Gavin is his son. Aldred plots to have Gavin inherit Kentwood and marry his much younger wife, Elizabeth, a famed and opinionated beauty who remains a virgin after a decade of marriage. 

Will the king recognize Lord Aldred’s first request of a marriage between Elizabeth and Robert, uniting Robert’s estate with Kentwood—or will the temperamental Edward reward Aldred’s years of service and honor a dying man’s final request?

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Vikki’s Musings

I received an e-copy of A Bit of Heaven on Earth from the author for an honest review. I have previously read books by Lauren Linwood and thoroughly enjoyed them. I looked forward to reading this one with great anticipation. I always enjoy a good medieval novel, and I was not disappointed. This is an emotional read and pulled me in from the prologue and kept me entertained until the end.

The story begins in 1347. Elizabeth of Aldwyn is anything but a typical young girl in medieval times. She rides hard, wears breeches under her kirtle and loves to hunt. Her father is beyond impatient with her, since she runs off any eligible suitor he brings to the keep. Taking matters into his own hands, he betroths her to a much older man, one he is sure will be able to tame her. This is one betrothal she is unable to extricate herself from and is soon married to Aldred of Kentwood, a legend throughout England for his warrior’s skills and cunning.

On her wedding night, she is greatly relieved to find out that Aldred is impotent. After he offers to have the marriage annulled, Elizabeth tells him that she does not mind that he is unable to consummate their marriage, and that she would not want him humiliated in such a way. Of course he protests until she convinces him he would be doing her a favor, as long as he does not mean to break her spirit. He assures her he likes her spirited ways and promises to teach her all that she wants to learn.

Gavin of Ashgrove has been captured in battle and a ransom has been sent to his father, but he refuses to pay. Gavin languishes in prison for two years until a priest helps him escape. When he arrives at Ashgrove, he finds his beloved mother dead, his father remarried, is told he is a bastard and has been disowned. Gavin turns to the man who fostered him, Lord Aldred.

When Gavin arrives at Kentwood, Aldred welcomes him with open arms and after hearing his tale, appoints him Captain of the guard. Aldred recognizes Gavin as his son from the brief affair he had with his mother, but does not tell him. Aldred sends a letter to the king asking that he allow him to marry Elizabeth when he dies.

This is the set up for the story. Of course, Elizabeth and Gavin are attracted to each other, but neither wants to hurt Lord Aldred and they fight temptation. A troupe quite predictable, but well told for the most part. They do share a brief, highly sensual kiss before Aldred dies, but both vow to never repeat it. I enjoyed the romance between Elizabeth and Gavin a great deal, even though at first I was cautious. I do not like stories with adultery. Thank goodness, Ms. Linwood does not take the romance there.  

There are several great plot twists that make this tale an interesting read. A Bit of Heaven on Earth has unrequited love, a love triangle and even a bit of danger. The story moves along quickly and is engaging. There is depth in the characters, and I liked both of them very much. I particularly liked Gavin and ached for the torment and anguish he felt when he was imprisoned and when he finds out he is a bastard.

While the author does not have the couple engaged in amorous situations, other than the kiss, prior to Aldred’s death, the sexual tension is excellent. The chemistry between the hero and heroine is incredible, and that is very hard to do since she did not have them become physically intimate until well into the story.

At one point in the book, Gavin has decided to go back to France to fight and the grief they both feel at their parting tore at my heart. Some of the dialogue between the pair is so moving it brought tears to my eyes. Here is one example of one such moment. When they think all is lost, Gavin says this to Elizabeth.

“As the sun rises every day, know that my love for you rises within me till the end of all time.”

If you enjoy a well-written story filled with poignant scenes of deep emotion, then you will love A Bit of Heaven on Earth. I look forward to reading other books by this incredibly talented author. Happy reading!

Author Bio: 


As a child, Lauren Linwood gathered her neighborhood friends together and made up stories for them to act out, her first venture into creating memorable characters. Following her passion for history and love of learning, she became a teacher who began writing on the side to maintain her sanity in a sea of teenage hormones.

Lauren’s historical novels focus on two of her favorite eras—medieval times and the American Old West. History is the backdrop that places her characters in extraordinary circumstances, where their intense desire and yearning for one another grows into the treasured gift of love. She also writes romantic suspense, where modern heroes and heroines unite to defeat a strong antagonist and discover a deep, abiding love during their journey.

Lauren, a native Texan, lives in a Dallas suburb with her family. An avid reader, moviegoer, and sports fan, she manages stress by alternating yoga with five mile walks. She is thinking about starting a support group for House Hunters addicts—as soon as she finishes her next piece of dark chocolate.
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