Come Home for Christmas by Susanne Matthews

Publisher & Release Date: MHSLM Publishing, December 9, 2015

Time and setting: Present Day, Appleton, Canada

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Holiday

Length:  70 pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweet Heart

Buy Link:

                       

http://www.amazon.com/Come-Home-Christmas-Susanne-Matthews-ebook/dp/B01976J9UO/

Ever since I discovered Susanne Matthews I have been hooked. She is such a versatile author. Everything from romantic suspense to inspirational, to now a Christmas tale. I know when I open one of her books. I will not want to put it down until I have finished it.

Krista is coming home for the first time in ten years. Her uncle kicked her out once she finished school, but now for some reason, he has left her a share in the family farm as long as she spends Christmas there.

When Ethan finds out his father double-crossed step-cousin, Krista, he sets out to right this terrible injustice. Once Krista finds out about her uncle’s deceit, will she want to accept Ethan back into her life, or has his father destroyed their chance at happiness.

I fell in love with Krista Jacobs character from the start. She had a very raw deal from her NHL ex-husband, but she does not let it turn her bitter. The way she accepted Ethan’s adopted daughter melted my heart.

Ethan Terrance is everything I love about a hero. His determination to right his father’s wrong showed what an honorable man he is. On top of that, his willingness to accept responsibility for his god-daughter when her parents were killed touched my heart.

Come Home for Christmas is a heart-warming and sweet story, perfect for this time of year. If you enjoy clean, holiday tales, then you will love this book. Happy reading!

4 Gold Crowns

A Baby for Christmas Dilys J. Carnie

Publisher & Release Date: Self-published, October 7, 2014

Time and setting: Present Day, Snowdonia Mountains, Wales

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Holiday

Length:  85 pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Buy Link:

http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Christmas-Season-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B00O9VKG96/

This is not the first book I have read by Dilys Carnie, so when I stumbled across this Christmas story, I immediately downloaded it. I always enjoy books with babies, so I looked forward to reading A Baby for Christmas with great anticipation.

After a brief encounter at her friend’s house in the states, Belle discovers she is going to have a baby. Determined to manage on her own, the last thing she wants is the father of her baby showing up on her doorstep.

Ethan has never been able to forget Belle, especially when he knows he irresponsible he had been six months ago. He has to make sure there were no consequences from his out of control behavior.

When Ethan learns Belle is expecting, he has his work cut out. How does he convince her he would want her even if there was not a baby on the way?

A Baby for Christmas is an enjoyable read that is perfect for a lazy afternoon. The characters are both likable and the story is touching. I truly loved Ethan’s character a great deal. His determination to win Belle over is touching. I recommend you give this book to anyone who enjoys second chance love stories. Happy reading!

4 Gold Crowns

A Christmas Spark by Ciara Knight

Publisher & Release Date: Defy the Dark Publishing, November 5, 2015

Time and setting: Present Day,  

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Holiday

Length:  106 pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweet Heart

Buy Link:

http://www.amazon.com/A-Christmas-Spark-Ciara-Knight-ebook/dp/B017OESWQS/

I discovered Ciara Knight’s Sweetwater County series and fell in love. When I saw this was available on Facebook, I immediately downloaded it. As always, A Christmas Spark is another sweet and heart-warming story, perfect for the holidays.

Sara Foster has been plagued by terrible memories since she was five years old when an accident took her father’s life. Believing he had left her and her baby sister on Christmas Eve, it has made her wary of men, giving her abandonment issues. After going through a bad marriage, she is definitely not looking for another man.

When her sister sets her up on a blind date, she runs to the cabin from her childhood only to discover the blind date wanted to avoid her as much as she wanted to avoid him. He has also come to the cabin to do work for her brother-in-law.

Is it possible for Sara to discover the truth of what happened on that fateful Christmas, allowing her to open her heart to Dalton and find a true and abiding love?

I thoroughly enjoyed this emotionally-charged story of finding love after unbearable heartache for both the hero and heroine. Normally, I am skeptical of short stories where instant love happens, but this one is so well written, I found it believable. Ms. Knight ties A Christmas Spark up with a lovely bow in the epilogue. I highly recommend this wonderful book. Happy reading!

4.5 Gold Crowns

Seduced by His Desire by Dilys J. Carnie

(The Lost Sisters Trilogy)

Publisher & Release Date: Beachwalk Press Inc., May 15, 2015

Time and setting: Present Day, Manchester, England

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 178 pages

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flames

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description:

Saving her is going to be one of the toughest jobs of his life, because instead of his mind ruling his heart, his heart is ruling his mind. 

Security expert and ex-Navy Seal Kent Lloyd steps onto British soil wishing he was anywhere else. But when Jasmine Owen refuses to visit her sisters in Washington, giving them one lame excuse after another, even Kent knows something is seriously wrong. 

The last person Jasmine expects or wants to see at her door is the super sexy man who walked away from her bed after one wild night. But when her sisters suspect something is wrong, they send Kent to check on her. Jasmine hasn't told her family about the stalker who's making her life a living hell and has her in a constant state of fear, but it looks like she might not be able to keep the truth from them any longer. 

Both Kent and Jasmine agree on one thing—they want him to leave England and return to the US as soon as possible. However, he refuses to leave until she's safe, which means he has to track down her stalker first, and Jasmine has no clue who it is or why the person is obsessed with her. 

As Kent struggles to solve the mystery, he also struggles to keep Jasmine at a distance, which is proving to be difficult. The woman stirs his toughened soul, and if he has to spend too much time around her she just may squeeze her way into his heart. 

Buy Link:

http://smile.amazon.com/Seduced-Desire-Lost-Sisters-Book-ebook/dp/B00XQ0YAMU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435549432&sr=8-1&keywords=seduced+by+his+desire&pebp=1435549422259&perid=0134ZMARGB7T0GXZG2M4

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25550559-seduced-by-his-desire?ac=1

Vikki’s Musings

I received Seduced by his Desire from the author for an honest review. I read the first two books in the Lost Sisters trilogy and enjoyed them immensely. Each book is about one of the triplets who were adopted shortly after their birth. This story was about Jasmine, the sister raised in England. Jasmine only made very brief cameos in the first books, so I knew the least about her.

Jasmine Owen is a successful business woman, owner of Panty-Luscious, a Lingerie boutique in Chester, England. When she starts getting anonymous phone calls and mysterious texts threatening the lives of her sisters and their families, so isolates herself, refusing all invitations, even the recent one to attend her latest niece’s birth.

When Kent Lloyd is asked to fly to England to check on Jasmine, he is reluctant to go. He’d had a one night stand with the woman at his partner’s wedding to her sister, Rose. His behavior had been less than gentlemanly, sneaking out on her as she slept after their passionate encounter, but he can hardly refuse without giving all away.

Sparks fly when he sees the fiery red-head again. Can he keep her safe from the stalker, while keeping his heart protected from the green-eyed temptress, or will he succumb to her allure?   

Seduced by His Desire is jam-packed with plenty of action and suspense from start to finish. It also has a lovely romance between Kent and Jasmine. Both characters have loved and lost in the past, so neither of them is anxious to enter into a romantic relationship. The sexual tension between the pair sizzles on every page, and the love scenes are hot, hot, hot, to say the least.

Again, Ms. Carnie has penned another plot-driven story with a surprising villain and a great many twists to the plot, which kept me glued to my Kindle. The story is very fast paced and can easily be read in one sitting. Her suspenseful scenes are very well-written and kept me on the edge of my seat.

I would have liked to see just a bit more character development in this book. I never felt as if I got into either character’s minds as much I would have liked to, especially Jasmine. I would have enjoyed learning more about her relationship with her ex-husband. There were definitely clues, but there just wasn’t enough information given to truly understand why that relationship fell apart.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Seduced by His Desire. Ms. Carnie truly writes exciting tales filled with emotion and intrigue. I highly recommend this book and the other two in the series. Anyone who loves romantic suspense will relish the Lost Sisters Trilogy. Happy reading!

Rejecting his Desire by Dilys J. Carnie

(The Lost Sisters Trilogy)

Publisher & Release Date: Beachwalk Press Inc., September 11, 2014

Time and setting: Present Day, Wilmington, North Carolina

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 174 pages

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flame

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

When Rose's past catches up with her will she survive? Jack will stop at nothing to make sure she does. 

Rose Eagleton has never let anyone penetrate her tough exterior. She won't allow herself to be hurt again, nor will she let anyone uncover the secrets of her past, which she has successfully hidden for years. But when she meets Jack Calloway he refuses to let her hide behind her shell. She's confused about her feelings for this man who takes every opportunity to be close to her, to touch her, to make her feel. But she knows one thing for sure—she can't let him become important to her. 

Jack's motto had always been 'to protect'. An ex-Navy Seal who is now part owner of a security firm, he takes his work seriously. When he installs a security system in Rose's club as a favor to her sister, he finds himself intrigued by the beautiful young woman who fights so hard to keep him at a distance. As he discovers the secrets she's trying so desperately to hide, it becomes clear that her life is in danger. Can he break through her shell and provide her with the protection she needs but refuses to accept? 

Buy Link:

http://smile.amazon.com/Rejecting-Desire-Lost-Sisters-Book-ebook/dp/B00NJ02IBM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1434898782&sr=8-1&keywords=rejecting+his+desire

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24682158-rejecting-his-desire

Vikki’s Musings

I received Rejecting his Desire from the author for an honest review. I read Undone by his Desire, the first book in the Lost Sisters trilogy, the three stories of a set of triplets adopted shortly after their birth, so I was anxious to read the next book in the series. I met Rose, Daisy’s elder sister by two minutes, briefly in the first book, and wanted to find out what had happened to her. The small tidbits of information given in the first book intrigued me. This is a nice addition to the series, and Rose’s story is definitely original and unique to say the least.

Rose Eagleton has one companion, her dog Harley. Fear rules her life and robs her of ever attempting to have a meaningful relationship with anyone, let alone a man. When Jack Calloway arrives to install a new security system for her bar, she realizes she is attracted to him in a way that has never happened before.

After Rose rescues a young innocent girl from the clutches of a kidnapper, Jack is determined to protect her from the repercussions, but can he do it and still walk away—once she is safe—with his heart intact? Will he even want to?

I immediately liked Rose’s character. She’s the typical red-head with green eyes. Jack finds this out at their first meeting. Her fiery temper comes through loud and clear. It’s no wonder Rose is so secretive; she has horrific things in her past which would cause anyone to be wary of people. The only creature, she has allowed in her life is her trusty dog, Harley.

Jack’s character has quite a bit of baggage as well, and I fully understood his motives from the start. What I liked most about his character is his loyalty to his friends, and his desire to keep them safe. While he doesn’t know Rose’s secrets in the beginning, he senses her fear, and immediately wants to protect her. He’s the typical former Navy SEAL, tough on the outside, a fierce leader and warrior, while on the inside, he is tender and caring.

Rose and Jack are both terrific as a couple. The chemistry is combustible from the beginning and only grows stronger as the story progresses. Ms. Carnie can definitely build sexual tension, keeping it going through much of the book. I couldn’t wait for Jack and Rose to finally come together, and it was truly worth the wait.

I did struggle with the story line a bit. There are a couple things about the story that didn’t work for me. I had a hard time seeing the villains in this piece doing what they did. I know I’m vague on this, but to say more would give too much away. My other issue is that so much time has passed since the events that led to the present danger; it had me asking why now. Again, I am purposely being evasive because I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone.

Let me just add, even with those issues, I did enjoy this book. I truly wanted Rose and Jack to find their “happily ever after.” They both deserved to find love after all they had gone through. If you enjoy a tale with plenty of mystery and intrigue with a wonderful love story mixed in, you will like Rejecting his Desire. Happy reading!

Undone by his Desire by Dilys J. Carnie

Publisher & Release Date: Beachwalk Press Inc., April 18, 2014

Time and setting: Present Day, Ocracoke Island, North Carolina

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 155 pages

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flame

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

A lone woman…a mysterious stranger…and a secret. 

When Daisy Wallace meets Micah, a man of mystery, she is bowled over by an instant attraction. A passionate encounter follows, but he's holding back and Daisy doesn't understand why. 

Micah King has been retained by a client to locate the triplet daughters that she gave up for adoption, and he's pretty sure Daisy is the youngest of the girls. He wants to tell Daisy the truth, but before he can he needs to verify that she is indeed the woman he's looking for. He never meant to get involved with her, but she's just so tempting. 

When Daisy finds out the truth will she be able to forgive Micah's lie by omission? After all, he's deceived her from the first moment she laid eyes on him, and she's had her fill of deceitful men. And can she forgive the woman who gave her up thirty years ago? 

Content Warning: contains adult language and explicit sex 

Buy Link:

http://smile.amazon.com/Undone-Desire-Lost-Sisters-Book-ebook/dp/B00JSS7I8M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1434636104&sr=1-1&keywords=undone+by+his+desire&pebp=1434636099184&perid=1F6SZP0B980TD118ZRXQ

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21807993-undone-by-his-desire

Vikki’s Musings

I received a request from the author to read and review Undone by his Desire. I had not read anything by Ms. Carnie before, but the premise sounded interesting, so I decided to take a chance. I am so glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful book.

When Daisy Wallace, owner of a B & B on Ocracoke Island, opens her door to a stranger, one that she’d sent a cancellation notice to, she isn’t sure what to make of the mysterious, yet very alluring man, Micah King. With the island in the midst of a strong, she does not turn him away, even though she is sleep deprived from taking care of her friend’s infant daughter.

Micah King owns King Group Investigative Service. He agrees to search for a set of triplets his client gave up for adoption thirty years ago. When he meets Daisy, sparks fly for the green-eyed, petite, red-head. As he goes about proving she is the youngest of the long ago adopted girls, he fast becomes enchanted by the gentle Daisy.

When Daisy learns why Micah showed up at her B & B, will she look past his initial deceit, or will she turn her back on what could be an everlasting love?

Undone by his Desire is a well-written romance with an intriguing and unique story-line. Daisy is a fantastic character with her independent spirit, yet at the same time, she’s a vulnerable young woman who has been hurt and betrayed by her late husband. Her loyalty to her friend, who left her nine month old daughter on her doorsteps, is touching. I quickly became vested in her character, and wanted her to have her chance at love.

I loved Micah from the first page. What’s not to like? He’s a gorgeous ex-Navy SEAL. Any man who is more concerned about his partner’s needs than his own is a winner in my book. His integrity comes through when he denies his own desires while fulfilling Daisy’s until he can tell her why he came into her life.

The chemistry between Daisy and Micah is evident from their first meeting, and the sexual tension builds as they come to terms with each other’s secrets. Because of the comment about adult language and explicit sex, I expected this story to be extremely erotic with only a minimal plot. It is far from that. While the love scenes are detailed, the emotions lying under the sex is what wins the scenes for me.  

This is a fast-paced, emotionally-charged read with plenty of twists that kept me flipping the pages on my Kindle as fast as possible. If you enjoy a tale of love with a bit of mystery and intrigue mixed in, then you will love this engaging romance. This is the first book in The Lost Sisters trilogy, and I can’t wait to read the other two books. I’m sure I will enjoy them as much as I did Undone by his Desire. Happy reading!