Wednesday, October 28, 2015
BooksChatter: ☀☄ Lady Overton's Perilous Journey: Honorable Rogu...
BooksChatter: ☀☄ Lady Overton's Perilous Journey: Honorable Rogu...: Thank you for joining us on the Virtual Book Tour for Lady Overton's Perilous Journey , an Historical Romantic Suspense ...
Book Review: The Rake's Redemption by Diane Dario
The Rake’s Redemption by Diane Dario
Publisher & Release Date: Nazzaro/Price Publishing, September 1, 2015
Time and setting: 1816, Derbyshire, England
Genre: Historical Regency Romance
Length: 79 pages
Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flame
Rating: 3.5 Gold Crowns
Book Description:
Rake’s Redemption is a story of love interrupted by a young man’s call to duty…
Pierce, a younger son, realizes that the life of a military officer is far beneath what the woman he loves deserves. Despite her reassurances, he makes a decision to leave her behind, which will haunt him even after he returns from the war.
Caroline, socially ruined by a failed elopement, yearns for a husband and children of her own. Finally deciding to accept the attentions of eligible bachelors, her world is turned upside down once again when her brother in law returns from fighting Napoleon on the peninsula.
When Pierce returns to his childhood home, he and Caroline soon realize they share a sizzling physical attraction. But will the lingering pain of rejection she carries, and his dark memories of battle stand in the way of love?
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Vikki’s Musings
When I found The Rake’s Redemption, I was looking for a short regency romance to read. I discovered this book, and since it was only 79 pages, and the book description attracted me, along with the gorgeous cover, I decided to download it via KU. The book is set in a period of history I love to read, so I looked forward to losing myself in the wonderful regency world.
Pierce Mortimer returns after years of fighting. Five years before, he deserted the woman he loved because he felt unworthy. Lady Caroline Thorpe is a daughter of a duke, and she deserves more than a penniless second son.
Lady Caroline Thorpe has been shunned by society after the aborted elopement with Pierce. When she faces him again upon his return, she tries to deny her love for him, but to no avail. Can she remain aloof when her heart yearns for the only man she has ever loved?
When Pierce sees Caroline again, all the old feelings resurface. Dare he rekindle the love they had five years before, or should he leave her alone?
I liked both characters and was glad to see them find their happy ending. The writing is smooth, and I didn’t find many typos. I did find a few missing words and words out of order, but not enough to take away from my reading experience.
I do feel that there needed to be more introspection by both characters, especially Pierce. His backstory was intriguing, but I needed more disclosure to deepen my involvement with his character. I also would think Caroline, would have had more hesitation in giving into Pierce before she accepted his proposal, especially after what had happened five years ago. The emotional level of the writing remained on the surface. However, I did take into account it was a novella.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read and the pacing is good. If you’re looking for a pleasant story that can be easily read in one sitting, then you will enjoy The Rake’s Redemption. Happy reading!
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Book Review: The Challenge by Kim Iverson Headlee
The Challenge by Kim Iverson Headlee
Publisher & Release Date: Pendragon Cove Press, July 11, 2015
Time and setting: Arthurian Legend
Genre: Historical Fantasy Romance
Length: 22 pages
Heat Level: 1 Sweet Heart
Rating: 4 Gold Crowns
Book Description:
The gauntlet is thrown. One must die. Refusal is not an option.
Arthur, the High King of Breatein has fallen captive of a longtime enemy, the Saxon warrior-princess Camilla, who lusts to avenge the death of her betrothed at Gyan’s hands and will stop at nothing, even the black arts, to achieve her goal. Because Gyan and Arthur have grown estranged, she fears that Arthur may side with Camilla and make her his new queen.
Now Gyan must face all her demons—public as well as private.
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http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZGROCUQ?keywords=kim iverson&qid=1445797296&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
Excerpt:
The guard drew a long breath. “Your Majesty, it is time.”
Time to face all my demons, private as well as public.
At her nod, he returned to his post outside—a mite reluctantly, she observed.
“Any last advice?” she asked Merlin at the tent’s entrance. She barked a mirthless laugh. “How does one fight a demon?”
“You must not forget your shield.”
She felt her eyebrows rise. “You know I am no novice warrior.”
“I am not talking of wood and metal, Your Majesty.”
Vikki’s Musings
Recently I read Kim Iverson Headlee’s, Liberty, a book set in ancient Rome and Britain and thoroughly enjoyed it. When I was offered a chance to read and review The Challenge, I eagerly agreed to participate in the tour. This book is very short but packs a lot of riveting action from start to finish.
Gyan, queen to the high king, Arthur of Breatein, must fight the evil Saxon warrior queen, Camilla, to the death or forfeit her kingdom, her husband, and her twin daughters. She is placed in a heart-wrenching situation. Does she walk away from all she holds dear, or does she accept the challenge and fight?
Of course she accepts, but when her opponent arrives, she finds out that if she kills Camilla, Arthur decrees that she will still lose her life, which will she choose, to fight or give their kingdom to the sorceress, Camilla?
The challenge is very fast-paced and is over almost before it has started. I enjoyed the battle a great deal. The fight scene is executed with precision and pulled me in. I was rooting for Gyan, even though she will face her husband’s wrath if she wins.
Kim Iverson Headlee has penned an expertly executed short story. Her writing style is smooth and her editing is meticulous. Her ability to set the scene is incredible. I found The Challenge a highly entertaining read.
My only complaint is that the book is so short, 22 pages, it was over before I had a chance to fully understand why the fight was necessary. However, if you are looking for a riveting very short read, then you will enjoy The Challenge. This book would be interesting to men as well as women. Happy reading!
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Kim Headlee lives on a farm in southwestern Virginia with her family, cats, goats, Great Pyrenees goat guards, and assorted wildlife. People and creatures come and go, but the cave and the 250-year-old house ruins—the latter having been occupied as recently as the mid-twentieth century—seem to be sticking around for a while yet.
Kim is a Seattle native and a direct descendent of twentieth-century Russian nobility. Her grandmother was a childhood friend of the doomed Grand Duchess Anastasia, and the romantic yet tragic story of how Babushka escaped Communist Russia with the aid of her American husband will most certainly one day fuel one of Kim’s novels. Another novel in the queue will involve her husband’s ancestor, the seventh-century proto-Viking king of the Swedish colony in Russia.
For the time being, however, Kim has plenty of work to do in creating her projected 8-book Arthurian series, The Dragon’s Dove Chronicles, and other novels clamoring for attention. She has been a published novelist since 1999, beginning with the original editions of Dawnflight (Sonnet Books, Simon & Schuster) and Liberty (writing as Kimberly Iverson, HQN Books, Harlequin).
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE – http://www.amazon.com/Kim-Headlee/e/B001KE2LK2
This book will be offered FREE on Kindle Oct 27-28
Monday, October 26, 2015
Straight from the Library: Straight Browsing from the Library: Lady Overton's...
Straight from the Library: Straight Browsing from the Library: Lady Overton's...: This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions . Vikki will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly...
Book Review: Little Bits of Karma by Laura Simmons
Little Bits of Karma by Laura Simmons
Publisher & Release Date: Outskirts Press, June 30, 2015
Time and setting: Present Day, Washington D.C./Northern Virginia
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Romantic Elements
Length: 334 pages
Heat Level: Minimal Sexual Content
Rating: 3.5 Gold Crowns
Book Description:
A captivating story of reincarnation, redemption, and forgiveness.
Even though Holly O’Rourke is having problems with her longtime significant other, James, she has never entertained thoughts of infidelity…that is, until the day she has a chance encounter with Charlie, a handsome coworker. James promises he will change and work on their relationship, but Holly’s feelings for Charlie just won’t go away. Distressed by her mixed emotions, Holly schedules an appointment for a reading with a psychic medium, where she discovers her adulterous past lives and their tragic consequences.
Holly learns to do her own past life regression through self-hypnosis and uncovers not only lives that she shared with James and Charlie, but how the other people in her present life have been with her in the past—the threads of their lives interwoven for centuries. Holly is stunned by recurring themes and the issues of karmic justice that need to be addressed. Where will her karmic path ultimately lead? Find out in Little Bits of Karma, an entertaining new book about spiritual cause and effect.
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Vikki’s Musings
I was gifted an e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. When I read the book description I was intrigued and decided to accept this book for review. I have never read a book by Laure Simmons, and I didn’t know what to expect. The story if fascinating, and did enjoy Little Bits of Karma.
The immediate difference in this book is the age of characters. Most of them are middle-aged, but that did not detract from my reading pleasure. In fact, it made the book unique. I can honestly say it is the most unusual book I have ever read.
Holly O’Rourke is forty-five years old and has been through two bad marriages, and her current relationship is stagnant. James Macklin and Holly have been together for eleven years. The first nine were mutually fulfilling, but during the last two, they have grown apart. James is keeping secrets, and Holly can’t put her finger on what is wrong.
After running into Charlie Thomas, a co-worker, she starts to question her relationship with James even more that she had been. When she seeks out a psychic who may be able to give her some insight into her past lives and information regarding her future relationships. This starts Holly on a path of discovery. Through her dreams, she learns about her relationships with the men in her life, men who have followed from one life to the next.
Will her past give her the answers she is seeking, or only leave her with more questions. Is she supposed to be with James, or does her karma lead her to Charlie?
While I did find Little Bits of Karma intriguing, I did have a difficult time with some aspects of the story. First and foremost is the constant head hopping. While interest to have so many introspections from the main character, it kept me from truly becoming invested if Holly and James. That may have been a good thing because Holly’s relationship with James is very convoluted.
Another problem I had was when Holly regressed back to other lives as far back as Atlantis. I felt as if I was still reading a contemporary story because the language and attitudes were way too modern for the historical times of her regressions.
Nonetheless, I am glad I read Little Bits of Karma, and if you are looking for a story that will titillate your imagination and get you wondering whether reincarnation exists, then you will be fascinated by this unique book. Happy reading!
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