Book Review: Taming a Lady Wolfe by Tammy Andersen

Taming a Lady Wolfe by Tammy Andersen

Publisher & Release Date: Kindle Worlds, September 4, 2016  

Time and setting: 1795, Northern England

Genre: Historical Romance/Georgian

Length: 79 pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description:

Lady Delia de Wolfe absolutely cannot marry the handsome rake, Roderick Maddox, fourth Duke of Manchester, despite her brother’s insistence she do just that. Though he has long reformed his ways, he steals her breath away every time their eyes meet and she simply doesn’t deserve that kind of happiness. Not after the death of her brother, Reginald. She must pay penance, because, if not for her, he would still be alive.

Roderick Maddox, has known for years he would marry Delia. Before Reginald’s death, he made a promise to his friend, not only would he care for Reginald’s sister, but he would reform himself into the type of man Delia deserved. He never expected Delia to ignite such passion or to be so resistant to him. Nor did he realize he held the secret about Reginald’s death that could crush their budding feelings forever. 

Buy Links:

https://smile.amazon.com/World-Wolfe-Pack-Taming-Novella-ebook/dp/B01LMHICDG

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31843421-world-of-de-wolfe-pack

Vikki’s Musings

Tammy Andersen is a new-to-me author, and I enjoyed her writing style. I received a request to read Taming a Lady Wolfe from the Ms. Andersen, and the book description intrigued me, so I decided to accept this novella for review.

I must say the prologue dropped me right into the middle of an action scene and set up the rest of the novella nicely. Ms. Andersen writes a fast-paced story with engaging characters. The editing was excellent. For a novella, the characters are surprisingly well developed.

Lady Delia de Wolfe is an attractive heroine, not only beautiful but kind-hearted as well. She loves her family and is staunchly loyal. She also gains great fulfillment from cooking and baking, which for a gentle woman living in 1795 is extraordinary. I could feel her pain and guilt over her brother’s death and could understand her reasoning when you take into account her tender age when he fell to his death trying to save her.

Roderick, 4^th Duke of Winthrop is drool-worthy, handsome, determined and a protector, my favorite kind of hero. I’ve always loved a rake who sees the error of his ways when he finds his lady love. When he saves Delia from death, she saves him from a life of debauchery. He made the decision that fateful day to live in a way that would be deserving of Delia’s admiration and affection.

When they meet again, once Delia is of an age to marry, the chemistry and sexual tension is extremely strong and had me rooting for them to find their happy ending. Roderick’s manner of wooing her stole my heart.

If you enjoy an emotionally-charged romance with a great cast of characters and a believable plot, then you will enjoy Roderick and Delia’s love story as much as I did. I highly recommend you give this a read. Happy reading!

Three Sweet Regency Christmas Stories

Lord Bartholomew’s Christmas Bride by Maggi Andersen

Happy holiday! Here are three regency Christmas romance sure to get you in the spirit of the season. I am confident you will find them as delightful as I did. Happy reading from Vikki's Musings!

Publisher & Release Date: Self-published, November 8,2015

Time and setting: 1814, London

Genre: Historical Romance/Regency

Length:  30 pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweet Heart

FREE!

Buy Link:

http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Bartholomews-Christmas-Bride-Regency-ebook/dp/B017S2RHJE/

I truly enjoyed Lord Bartholomew’s Christmas Bride. Even though, it is a very short story, surprising enough, I found it a well developed and believable book. It is true to the regency period, giving the opportunity to fall back in a time gone by.

Lord Bartholomew is getting ready to go to India to take up a new living as Vicar. He needs a wife to go with him. Of course he needed someone who would be a good help meet for him and his parish. He decided to attend ton parties in the hopes of finding the perfect woman.

There is one problem. Bartholomew has met Emily Asherwood, an unacceptable young lady although very alluring. As he moves around in society, he sees Emily at most of the functions and each one only makes her more attractive and the other young ladies less appealing.

Should Bartholomew throw caution to the wind and take Emily to wife, thus having the woman of his heart, or choose the staid miss who on the surface is the better choice?

If you are looking for a sweet romance set in the lovely season of Christmas, one with delightful characters and an interesting story line, then you will enjoy Lord Bartholomew’s Christmas Bride. Happy reading!

4.5 Gold Crowns

A Memorable Christmas by Sheila Rabe

Publisher & Release Date: Self-published, December 12, 2013

Time and setting: Regency, England, Christmas

Genre: Historical Romance/Regency

Length:  54 pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweet Heart

99 CENTS

Buy Link:

http://www.amazon.com/Memorable-Christmas-Regency-Belle-ebook/dp/B00HAQMV6S/

A Memorable Christmas is a lovely sweet regency romance with delightful characters and an interesting story. This is the first time I have read a book by Sheila Rabe, but will not be the last. For such a short novella, the characters are surprisingly well-developed, especially Diana.

Diana, the Countess of Chesterfield has learned her husband has taken a mistress. She is furious of course and not willing to turn a blind eye as most wives of a peer does. Maxim sends her on ahead to their country estate, telling her he will follow in a couple of days.

She fumes the entire way to the estate and is determined to confront him when he arrives. She half-heartedly helps her mother-in-law decorate for the holidays. Maxim arrives and it all she can do to be civil with him. He confronts her and they argue. Diana slips and takes a fall hitting her hand.

Dare she pretend she’d lost her memory and take her husband a much needed lesson? If she does will it earn her his wayward heart?

I loved Diana’s character. I liked her spunk and determination to change the accepted mores of society. I loved how she goes about getting back at her husband for his deplorable behavior.

I did not like Maxim. He let inheriting his title go to his head and doesn’t show proper remorse when he realizes he has hurt Diana deeply by his unfaithful behavior. I don’t believe he redeemed himself. I do not think I would have been as forgiving.

Nonetheless, this story is very entertaining and has several wonderful secondary characters. If you’re looking for a story to get you in the holiday spirit, then I suggest you give A Memorable Christmas a try. Happy reading!

4 Gold Crowns

A Winter’s Knight by Elizabeth Cole

Publisher & Release Date: Skypark Books, November 21, 2012

Time and setting: Regency, England, Christmas

Genre: Historical Romance/Regency

Length:  54 pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweet Heart

FREE

Buy Link:

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AA46Y06

A Winter’s Knight was an unexpected find. I thought by the title it would be a medieval romance, instead it is set in 1815 the Christmas after the Battle of Waterloo. This is a sweet regency and a great story.

Phoebe Hartridge gets thrown from her horse and a gentleman comes to her rescue and she dubs him her “knight in shinning armor.” She is immediately attracted to him. Could Captain Sterling bring her joy and love at long last?

Captain Anthony Sterling is visiting Norton because a solicitor has contacted him. He has inherited an estate. He lost his leg during the Battle of Waterloo and is not sure what direction he wants to take his life.

When Anthony meets Phoebe, she has him wondering: Should he keep Banstoke Hall and take a risk on love, or should sell it and keep his battered heart intact?

For such a short novella, A Winter’s Knight is surprisingly well-developed. The characters are engaging and the plot is enchanting. The pacing is excellent and this story can easily be read in less than an hour, perfect when one is looking for a heart-warming love story.

If you are looking for a traditional regency, then A Winter’s Knight is exactly what you are looking for. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I highly recommend this delightful tale of a sweet romance. Happy reading!

5 Gold Crowns

Publisher & Release Date: Holly Bush Books, July 8, 2015

Time and setting: 1893, Boston

Genre: Historical Romance

Length: 78 pages

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flame

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description:

1893 . . . Alice Porterman is released from her duties as a maid and travels home to help her mother care for her sickly brother. But her mother and brother are not in their family home when Alice arrives and she learns the landlord, Albert Donahue, has evicted them into the harsh Boston winter. Alice goes in search of him and is surprised at what she finds. 

Albert Donahue, an up-and-coming member of Boston’s elite, made his fortune through hard work and shrewd business deals. But his dreams of a family to share it with have not come true, perhaps until an impertinent young woman enters his home and won’t leave until she speaks to him.

Buy Link:

http://smile.amazon.com/Maids-Quarters-Novella-Prairie-Crawford-ebook/dp/B010CJZUPI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1438540060&sr=1-1&keywords=the+maid%27s+quarters

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25799023-the-maid-s-quarters?ac=1

Vikki’s Musings

I have read several of Ms. Bush’s novels, so when I agreed to participate in her Excerpt tour at the last minute, I was happy about it. When I found out that The Maid’s Quarter is a shorter novella, I decided to purchase it, since I found the book description interesting. This is a lovely tale of a young woman, determined to survive and rise above her beginnings.

Alice Porterman arrives home from Washington to find her mother and brother evicted because a small portion of the rent was not paid. Alice immediately goes to the man of affairs for Albert Donahue, the landlord. The rent agent turns her away without giving her any satisfaction. Not willing to fade back into the background, she finds out Mr. Donahue’s address and goes to his home to confront him.

When Albert Donahue meets Alice, he is immediately smitten and is determined to get to the bottom of what has led to her family’s eviction. He quickly learns of his employee’s fraud and sets about righting the wrong. After several enchanting encounters with Alice, he realizes he has fallen in love with the beautiful auburn-haired woman. When Alice suddenly refuses to see him again, Albert is left wondering what he could have done to offend her.

Will the secret Alice keeps tucked deep inside prove too big for Albert to accept if she tells him about her past, or will his love overcome any secret she holds?

This is a sweet little gem of a story. Ms. Bush has devised a well-thought out plot with delightful characters. The Maid’s Quarters is very fast-paced and easily read in one sitting, and one you will not want to put down.

My only problem with the story is that I would have liked a bit more character development. Of course, it is a novella and there was not much time to show a full character arch for the heroine or the hero. This book would have made a fantastic full length novel.

Nonetheless, it is a very entertaining story, and I am so glad I decided to read it. If you enjoy sweet romances with a very satisfying ending, then you will like The Maid’s Quarters. Happy reading! 

Excerpt:

Boston 1893

Chapter One

Alice Porterman looked at Mrs. McKinnell. “What do you mean Ma and Jimmy aren’t living here anymore? It is our house!”

“They’re living in two rooms at the back of the church, Alice. I would have taken them in here, but I have no room, none at all,” Alice’s mother’s closest neighbor said to her. “You better get them, girl. Jimmy wasn’t doing well the last time I stopped by. Your mam can hardly leave him to get victuals or go to work. I’ve been shopping for her when I can.”

“Thank you, Mrs. McKinnell. I’ll go right away.” Alice turned and looked at the narrow two-story home where she’d grown up. “I’ll just put my bags in the house,” she said, and started down the walk that separated the Porterman and McKinnell homes as she had just arrived from the train station coming from Washington.

“Nay, you can’t, girl. They’ve changed the locks. Your mam couldn’t even get back in to get your brother’s medicine. Leave your cases on my porch. I’ll have one of the boys carry them in and we’ll keep them here until you’re settled somewhere.”

“Thank you, Mrs. McKinnell,” Alice said, red-faced. “I will get them as soon as I get this straightened out.”

“Don’t worry, Alice. Just get your mother and brother back home where they belong.”

Alice nodded and kissed the plump, red-headed woman’s cheek. “Thank the Lord you were here to help Ma.”

“It’s nothing. Neighbors do for neighbors. Your mam would do the same for me, she would. So, your mother had Jimmy read me the letter she got from you that those rich nobs are paying you without you even working for them. La-de-dah! And look at them skirts of yours! That is fine wool, is it not, with them lacy petticoats sticking out? And a pretty little hat to boot!”

Author Bio:

Holly Bush writes historical romance set on the American Prairie, in Victorian England, and recently released her first Women’s Fiction title. Her books are described as emotional, with heartfelt, sexy romance. She makes her home with her husband in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. 

www.hollybushbooks.com

Twitter - @hollybushbooks

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Holly-Bush/247399131941435

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D381HR6/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Holly-Bush/e/B006ZDTQ1A/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

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Christmas in July! 

We're have way through the year, and I thought I would bring some holiday cheer your way. Whether it's the holidays or not, A Christmas Miracle for Veronica is sure to put a little joy in your heart. To celebrate, I am giving away 2 e-copies of my book to spread the holiday spirit around. All you need to do is comment below telling me one of your traditions to be entered!

Publisher & Release Date: Self-Published, November 24, 2013  

Time and setting: Present day, Virginia Beach, VA

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Inspirational/Holidays

Length: 53 pages

Heat Level: 1 Sweet Heart

Book Description:

It’s a matter of days before Christmas and Jefferson Ramsey has a dilemma on his hands. He’s just found out he’s the father of five-year-old, Sarah. Her mother has died, and there’s no family to raise her. Determined to do the right thing, Jefferson turns to Veronica Harrison, the one woman he believes would be willing to help him. 

Recently divorced and lonely, Veronica is definitely not in the holiday mood—until she gets a call from the man in her life, Jefferson. He wants to discuss something important with her, and even though it’s close to Christmas, Veronica eagerly agrees. The last thing she expects—is a marriage proposal and a child to go along with it. Will their sudden alliance be enough to create a family not only for Sarah, but for them as well? 

Buy Link:

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Miracle-Veronica-Vikki-McCombie-ebook/dp/B00FRWVYVK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1437226703&sr=1-1&keywords=a+christmas+miracle+for+veronica

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18867632-a-christmas-miracle-for-veronica?ac=1

Excerpt:

Jefferson reached for the phone. He couldn’t wait to share the news with Veronica Harrison. They’d discussed the case on their last date. Before he could pick up the receiver, the phone rang. “Yes, Helen, what is it?”

“There’s a call for you on line one, sir,” his secretary informed him.

“Who is it?”

“It’s a female, Mr. Ramsey. She says her name is Susan Kincaid. She stated that it’s urgent, sir. Do you want to take the call?”

Stunned to hear that name after six years, Jefferson hesitated before answering Helen. Why would she call him? The old bitterness rolled over him. He’d put that time of his life behind him, and he certainly didn’t want to rekindle the flames of their torrid love affair after all these years. He toyed with the idea of refusing the call, however, curiosity got the best of him. He had to know why she was calling.

“I’ll take it.” Helen forwarded the call, and he took a deep breath to calm the rolling tide of bad memories rushing through him before picking up the receiver. “Jefferson Ramsey here. Susan, it’s been a long time. What can I do for you?”

“Hello, Jefferson.” A voice so weak he barely recognized it came over the line. “Jeff…I’m sorry I’m calling you like this. At this point, I have no choice. There’s no easy way to say this—I’m dying. I’ve put off this call far too long. I’m not expected to live out the week.”

Lord, he hated to hear this. Even though their break up had been ugly, he’d cared deeply for her at one time. How does one respond to this type of news? He wanted to say something to comfort her. He just had no clue what would be appropriate. And, it still baffled him that she’d called him. “Susan…I’m so sorry to hear that. Are your parents with you during this difficult time?”

“My parents died in a car crash three years ago. I’m…all alone, except for my friend Mary Donovan, of course. You remember her don’t you? She’s crippled from rheumatoid arthritis, so she’s not able to help me very much. I need you to come down here, Jeff. I should have told you this years ago.” Susan paused and he heard her ragged breathing. A heavy sensation lodged in the pit of his stomach as he waited for her to continue. He had a bad feeling he wasn’t going to like what she had to tell him. “Jeff, you’re…you’re a father.”

“What did you say?” 

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. 

Buy Link:

http://smile.amazon.com/Conquered-Cancun-Novella-1-5-ebook/dp/B00WQDUK2M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1430232760&sr=1-1&keywords=conquered+in+cancun

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25435967-conquered-in-cancun?ac=1

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.