Friday, July 29, 2016

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BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – Twisted SERIES (& Book #) – Book 1 in the Twisted Series AUTHOR – Christa Simpson GENRE – New Adult Romance PUBLICATION DATE – February 27, 2013 LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 314 pages / 99,000 words PUBLISHER – Black Widow Publishing
Twisted - Book Cover

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Can a man and woman be “just friends?”
After graduating from law school with honours, Edwin Santora, Abigail’s occasional ex and handsome housemate, could get a job anywhere he wants. Of all the places to land, why does he take a position with her small firm? As if sharing a house with her irresistible ex isn’t bad enough, it quickly becomes the least of her concerns. When Edwin’s macho arrogance begins to seriously affect her dating life, Abigail starts to reconsider their friendship; not that Edwin believes a man and woman can be “just friends” anyway.
With Edwin’s swoon-worthy stunts and fierce persistence, Abigail finds herself catching feelings. When Edwin makes a friendly proposal, no-strings-attached, Abigail can’t resist.
After some sexy role playing, she finds herself dangerously in love and wrapped back up in Edwin’s powerful grip. When Abigail risks everything, revealing a treacherous little secret, will their friendship pass the test? Or will they give in to the mysterious forces trying to drive them apart?

BUY & TBR LINKS

Twisted - Teaser 2

EXCERPT

Edwin Santora’s eyes were on me the second our solid wood door clunked shut.  After kicking off my shoes and giving a silent wave to my brooding, shirtless roommate, I rushed directly upstairs taking two steps at a time. Within seconds, Edwin was flying up the stairs behind me, all brawn and pride.  He stalked me down the hall, his large agile physique a shadow of stealth. No matter how smooth Edwin thought he was, I could always sense when he was lurking around. I disappeared into the bathroom, ignoring his approach, heart still racing, cheeks flushed with a healthy glow.  It had been way too long and it was time for me to move on with my life.  The days of Edwin and I were over and I had finally faced that fact.  For that reason, I trusted my matchmaking to an eager co-worker.  What else could I do?  I didn’t seem to have any luck finding myself a man. Edwin filled the doorframe with his imposing shoulders.  "Where are you going all dolled up like that?" I should have slammed the door shut behind me while I had the chance.  The last thing I needed now was Edwin giving me a hard time.  It had been months since my last date and let’s just say that it’s not possible for this one to go any worse than that one had. After carefully touching up my mascara in the mirror, I twirled around to face him, my glossy, brown hair fanning out behind me.  "I got a date!"  I smiled from honest excitement, but I really didn’t have time to chat about it. "Who is he?" Edwin pried. "You don't know him." Edwin’s chest flexed under my warm gaze, his abs held tight, sculpted from stone.  Oh, I love watching him sweat.  He narrowed his aqua eyes in response to my devious smile.  Then, as if on cue, the doorbell rang. I made my way to the bathroom door, but Edwin boxed me out with his hip and took off ahead of me.  He hurried down the hall with swift, powerful strides, every muscle in his body twitching with adrenaline.  There was no point in trying to fight him for the front door.  He had me beat. “Do you think you could put on a shirt, Eddie?  Please?” Edwin shuffled down the stairs and ignored my request.  "I'll get it," he hollered.  He was all too eager to answer the door and his mischievous grin gave away his greedy intentions. "Edwin, be good!" I warned, stopping at the top of the open staircase. "What?  I'm always good."  He flashed me a sly smile and raised his dark arched eyebrows. I knew it meant trouble, as the butterflies danced nervously in my tummy.  Edwin had better not blow this one too.  He had a tendency of scaring away my dates.  It was getting old.  I clung to the wooden post, hoping the poor guy would pass the test. Edwin opened the front door ever so slightly and started in on his usual act, deliberately blocking my view.  Bastard.  Then he cracked the door open a little farther, teasing, his generous back still in the way. He folded his bulging arms over his impressive chest and stared down at my date with eyes dark and voice low.  "Can I help you?" he asked firmly, acting all macho. I nearly burst out laughing and had to hide the smile on my face to show that I was not amused.  Even if I was. "Is this the home of Abigail Jenkins?" the poor guy asked, hesitantly. "Yes," Edwin answered, but he didn’t invite him in. "Edwin!" I warned, scowling at his back.  I’d had enough.  As I started down the stairs to intervene, I struggled to interpret their mumbling.  It was time that I took things into my own hands.

Twisted - Teaser

AUTHOR BIO

Christa Simpson is a small town Canadian girl who enjoys beaches, dancing and dirt track car races. She lives in Tilbury, Ontario, with her husband and two beautiful daughters. On an ideal day you’ll find her relaxing on the beach, reading by the poolside or getting into trouble with her girls. You’re more likely to find her procrastinating with her bestie, working her butt off or chauffeuring her active family around.
Christa delivers in modern day fantasies with the most captivating alpha men and her breezy, entertaining writing style. She’s an all or nothing kind of girl whose mission in life is to prove that women do it better. Her romance novels are loaded with passion, suspense and sarcasm, much like her life. Pick up the first books in her Twisted and Destiny Series for free—no strings attached!

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

Twisted - Teaser 3

GIVEAWAY PRIZES

Twisted Swag Pack (Bookmark, keychain, magnet & more!) 1 e-copy of The Twisted Trilogy (3 books direct to kindle) 3 e-copies of Twisted Desire (direct to kindle)

Enter The Authors Amazing Giveaway - Click Here

Book & Audio Review: No Man's Mistress

No Man’s Mistress by Mary Balogh



Publisher & Release: Dell, December 10, 2008

Time and setting: Regency period, Engand

Genre:  Historical Romance/Regency

Length:  353 Pages

Heat Level: 2 Flames

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

The dark, devastating stranger rode into the village fair and wagered twenty pounds at the throwing booth — for a chance to win the daisies in Viola Thornhill’s hair. The Gypsy fortune teller had warned: “Beware of a tall, dark, handsome stranger. He can destroy you — if you do not first snare his heart.”

Recklessly Viola flirted, then danced with him around the Maypole. And then came his delicate, delicious kiss. Viola did not regret that she had let down her guard — until the next morning, when he appeared at her door to claim her beloved Pinewood Manor.

Lord Ferdinand Dudley won her home in a game of cards!

Viola hated him for trying to take everything, including her soul. She was mistress of Pinewood Manor. Yet Dudley refused to leave, even as his conscience rebelled at compromising this beautiful innocent whose only proof of ownership was a dead earl’s promise. Dudley held the deed, but at what cost?

Each day under the same roof brought its share of temptation, intimacy, and guilt. But Viola knew it was a battle she could not afford to lose. Marriage was out of the question, and she would be no man’s mistress. Even as Dudley’s unnerving presence, his knowing smile, threatened to melt her resolve.

Against his better judgment, Lord Ferdinand Dudley was beguiled. This maddening beauty had stirred him as no woman had before. And he was bound and determined to make her his own.

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Vikki’s Musings

It is always such a pleasure to revisit an old friend! No Man’s Mistress definitely fits that description. It is one of my favorite books written by the supremely talented Mary Balogh. Her ability to bring the regency period to life never ceases to amaze me.

Since there is such an amazing book description, I am not going to include mine. No Man’s Mistress pulled me in from the first page and kept me in its thrall all the way to the end. I love Ms. Balogh’s writing style. It is so smooth and flowing, making this book a joy to read.

Viola Thornhill is such a deliciously complex character. Her unique mixture of innocence and seductress is amazing and makes for an enthralling reading experience. She is truly an endearing character, and I fell in love with her loyalty to family, a family she so fiercely protected, she went to work for a vile man.

Lord Ferdinand Dudley’s character is a wonderful mix of worldly man and boyish charm. His true nature came as a huge surprise. Again, I’m being vague, so you will have to read No Man’s Mistress to discover what I mean.

I listened to the audio version performed by the mazing Rosalyn Lander. I know I am always in for a treat when she is the narrator. Her rich, mellow voice is perfectly suited for novels set in the Regency period.


While I adore Ms. Balogh’s new releases, her older books are always a joy. They are books that will forever remain on my keeper shelf. No Man’s Mistress is at the top of my list, and it is a long list indeed. If you have not read her wonderful romances, I highly recommend them, and No Man’s Mistress is definitely a great one to read first, along with More Than a Mistress, the first book in this trilogy. Happy reading!

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

This week is all about Susanne Matthews

All for Love by Susanne Matthews


Publisher & Release Date: Anaiah Press, May 26, 2015

Time and setting: Present Day, Vermont, USA  

Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Romantic Suspense

Length: 257 pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweet Heart

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

To overcome your fear, you must first face it. 

Someone is out to destroy Greg Simmons and everyone he has ever loved. After an accident leaves his teenage daughter depressed and distraught, Greg will do anything to make her happy again, including hiring a bodyguard to protect her. 

Olivia Marshall lost both her fiancé and her cousin in a deadly avalanche. She has vowed never to set foot on a ski hill again. But now, working as a bodyguard with Anderson Security, Olivia must face her greatest fears to save Greg and his daughter. 

Something about Olivia’s determination strikes a chord in Greg, but will she be the salvation he needs, or will he be her destruction? 

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Vikki’s Musings

I am a huge fan of Susanne Matthews. Once I read Echoes of the Past, I was hooked, and searched for her entire back list and read all of them. All For Love is a bit of a departure from her usual writing style. Normally she writes sensual romantic suspense. This book is still a romantic suspense, but it has overtones of an inspirational story. While this is not my favorite book of hers, I did enjoy it.

Andrew Gregory Robertson is an author of hugely successful spy thrillers. When his daughter is almost killed in a car explosion that does kill her mother, a movie star and his ex-girlfriend, he turns to his cousin to protect Sheena. When Olivia Cummings is assigned as his daughter’s bodyguard, because she was once an Olympian skier and his daughter wants to try out for the team, he is immediately attracted to her. He will not find it hard to become her husband in name only to provide cover for his daughter. His problem will be keeping it in name only.

Olivia hasn’t skied in five years, ever since the avalanche that claimed the life of her fiancée and cousin, leaving Olivia alive. Her guilt over not perishing with them is almost more than she can bear.

Will Olivia be able to maintain her distance from her new husband and protect her charge from the maniac who is determined to end her young life, or will she give into her feelings for the man she has fantasized over for years?

While the overtones of an inspirational are definitely in the book, it is not overdone at all. It is refreshing to read a romantic suspense that does not have a sexually driven romance. The romance between Greg and Olivia focuses on their growing love and plays done anything sexual, but the romance is very fulfilling, and I enjoyed it a great deal.

Olivia is a great character. She is fearless in her desire to protect Sheena. She has strong ties to her family and it’s obvious that her loved ones are central to her life. Although she never planned to sky again, to protect her charge, she faces her fear.

While Greg has never had a close relationship with his daughter, his love for her come through loud and clear. He will do whatever is needed to ensure Sheena’s safety, even if it means putting his own life in danger. It’s refreshing to have a male character in tune with his spirituality for a change, a man whose honor is part of his very being.


 I am glad I have the opportunity to read All for Love. If you enjoy a tale with a sweet romance and a touch of faith intermingled in, yet with plenty of action and suspense, then you will enjoy this great book. Happy reading!

Monday, July 25, 2016

Retro Book Review: The White Lily by Susanne Matthews

The White Lily by Susanne Matthews


Publisher & Release Date: Crimson Romance, October 12, 2015

Time and setting: Present Day, NYC

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense/Thriller

Length:  315 pages

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flame

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description:

The Harvester is out there...watching, waiting, biding his time.

FBI cult specialist Lilith Munroe lives in dread that one day the man who tortured her when a case went bad will find her again. So leaving her sanctuary in Quantico to join the Harvester Task Force in Boston is her version of hell. But the Harvester is kidnapping babies, and Lilith's profiling skills may mean the difference between life and death for the most innocent in society.

Australian millionaire and former member of the New Horizon commune Jacob Andrews returns to the United States searching for his sister. Instead of the happy reunion he expects, he discovers she is dead and his twin brother may be responsible. He agrees to lend his law enforcement skills to help find his former cult leader before the man can implement his plan to kill millions.

Now, uneasy partners, Jacob and Lilith must learn to trust each other even as they fight their growing attraction. But when Lilith's greatest fears materialize, will Jacob be able to set aside his anger and save the woman he loves?

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Vikki’s Musings

I am a huge fan of Susanne Matthews. I first discovered her books when I read Echoes of the Past, and I have been hooked ever since. I believe I have now read almost every book she has written. Her writing style is incredible. Even when the story may not completely resonate with me, her writing does.

Lilith Munroe works as an FBI Cult profiler. When the Harvester strikes again, she goes to Boston to help find the man who is stealing babies and leaving behind dead bodies. A survivor herself from a Cult she had infiltrated five years before, she is determined to bring the cult’s reign of terror to an end and find the babies.

Jacob Andrews, an Australian citizen, arrives in Boston to learn his missing sister is a victim of the cult he escaped as a seventeen-year-old. He also learns his mild-mannered brother, James, is dead, and he brutally murdered several women after impregnating them for their evil uncle’s flock.

When Lilith and Jacob become partners as they attempt to end his uncle’s terrorism, they fight a growing attraction. Can Jacob find a way to capture Lilith’s heart and save her and the babies in time?

The White Lily is a riveting story from the first page to the last, keeping me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next murder to occur. And, there are a lot of heinous murders of defenseless adoptive parents. Her gruesome descriptions of the victims froze my soul and almost turned my stomach. The White Lily is not for the faint of heart!

Lilith’s character is a kick-ass heroine who is hell-bent on stopping the Harvester once and for all. While she is extremely hardened by what she experienced at the hands of the cult, she has a vulnerability that is very appealing. Ms. Matthew’s ability to bring her readers into the heart and soul of her character kept me totally engaged.

I fell in love with Jacob’s tormented character from the very start. When Ms. Matthews describes what he experienced at the hands of his uncle’s lackey was heart-wrenching. His fierce desire to protect the prickly Lilith put him high in my esteem.

This is an action-packed story and it takes the reader on a thrilling ride. This is one of the best thrillers I have ever read. I do admit I do not normally read them, but I am glad I had the opportunity to read and review this one.

Now, for the one thing that keeps me from giving this 5 Gold Crowns. The White Lily is not a true romance, even though it does have a strong romantic element in it. It needs to be categorized as a suspenseful thriller with strong romantic elements. I am not saying there is not a romance with an HEA, but that the romance is not the central focus of the book.

If you are looking for a nail-biting thriller that will have your heart pounding and your pulse racing, and you can handle graphic descriptions of violent scenes, then you will absolutely love The White Lily. I do recommend this book. Happy reading!



Friday, July 22, 2016

Retro Book Review: The White Carnation by Susanne Matthews

The White Carnation by Susanne Matthews


Publisher & Release Date: Crimson Press, April 20, 2015

Time and setting: Present Day, Boston area, USA  

Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Romantic Suspense

Length: 270 pages

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flames

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

The last person disgraced reporter Faye Lewis wants back in her life is Detective Rob Halliday, the man she blames for ruining her career and breaking her heart. But when she finds an old friend murdered, he's the one she calls.
For the past year, Rob and his team have been hunting the Harvester, a serial killer who ritualistically murders new mothers and vanishes with their infants. What Rob doesn't need is another case, especially one involving his ex-fiancée.
Then Faye is assaulted, and Rob realizes the cases are connected. She may hold the answers he needs to find the elusive killer. But the more they investigate, the more complex the situation becomes. Can they set the past aside and work together, or will the Harvester and his followers reap another prize?

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Vikki’s Musings

This is not the first book I have read by Susanne Matthews, and it will not be the last! Once I read Echoes of the Past, I was hooked, and searched for her entire back list and read all of them. I love her writing style, and The White Carnation is another fantastic read by this amazing author. This is the first book in the Harvester series, and I can’t wait to read the next one, and I am not normally a huge fan of romantic suspense, especially one with thriller elements.

Faye Lewis isn’t happy attending garden parties and dog shows, but when she is demoted for writing a story that later proofs false, she is relegated to mundane stories, instead of investigative ones. When she receives a message from her BFF’s mother, she goes to her apartment only to find the woman with her throat slit.

In a knee-jerk reaction, she calls her ex-fiancée, Rob Halliday, a detective with Boston PD. He quickly takes over the investigation, even though he is tied up with the search for a serial killer, the Harvester. When Faye is attacked, but not killed, he rushes her to safety until they can find the Harvester.

Faye studies the evidence and tells Rob she thinks the Harvester is part of a cult. This starts them on a chase that leads to danger. When Faye is kidnapped, Rob is determined to find the only woman for him. Will he find her in time, or lose her forever?

Wow, just wow! This is a page turner from the first page to the last. Ms. Matthews has penned one exciting, suspenseful story. The plot kept me guessing to the end and I couldn’t stop reading. I love when that happens. This fast-paced tale intrigued me, pulling me deeper into the story, riveted to what would happen next.

 The plot has it all, mystery, thriller, romance, all in one phenomenal read. The White Carnation is filled with twists and turns, a truly compelling story. This is definitely a plot driven stories. The romantic element is a second chance romance, and there is great chemistry between the hero and heroine.

For such a plot-driven tale, the characters are well-developed. I particularly liked Rob’s character; he’s a great hero, loyal, protective without being over-bearing, and determined. Faye’s character has a tough exterior, and she’s fearless and doesn’t give up when faced with a horrific experience.


If you want a story that will keep you riveted throughout the entire book, then The White Carnation is for you. This is a great start on a promising series. Happy reading!