Simple Wishes by Lisa Dale

Simple Wishes by Lisa Dale

Adele Matin grew up with a mother that seemed to always smother her, take away things that she felt did not need to be in Adele’s possession, and forbid her to see her Aunt; among other things. At the age of 17 Adele left her mother Marge, in search of bigger and better things. She found herself in New York working as a manager in an Art Gallery, but truth be told she had hidden herself away… even so much as going to change her name to hide her past. When she ended up in bed with the wrong man and her perfect life came crashing down, she had no choice but to go back to Pennsylvania. The cottage was exactly what she believed her mother would have loved, but there was always this unspoken rage that Adele felt for her mother.

Knowing that this was a last resort, with some good neighbors, and a lifetime of hidden secrets, and not to mention the good looking artist Hermit Jay, it may be time for Adele to grow up and see what Notch Lane has to offer. Jay was a diamond in the rough, so much like Adele. She wanted no strings attached, like she had always had, but with Jay she became unraveled and started to feel for the first time in her life. With the good comes the bad, digging into a past that was better left buried, Adele has no idea what to do or how to handle the uncovered truth that Marge and her Aunt Christine tried to keep hidden. All she can do is take it day by day, learning how to love, trust, and mentor a young teenager; all-the-while trying to win the war raging within herself.

Simple Wishes by Lisa Dale is a Contemporary Romance novel that you can curl up with a mug of hot chocolate and get completely lost in. I loved the hardness and determination of Adele, and how she struggled with showing her emotions. Ms. Dale writes with a great emotion, and wondrous detail. 4.5 Hearts

Hachette Book Group
ISBN# 0446406899

Flames of Gold Anthology

Flames of Gold: Romance Anthology by Leanne Burroughs, Amy Blizzard, Patty Howell, Judith Leigh and Amber Dawn Bell

Flames of Gold, is an amazing, heart-warming romance anthology that should be stuffed in every woman’s stocking this year! It was perfect, kind of like the way hot chocolate feels when you come in from the cold. Every author brings something warm and inviting to the story you’re reading at the time. There may have been hardships in the character’s pasts, but with a little hope, love, and faith, anything can happen. Hearts that have been hardened against love, will blossom and accept true happiness.

A New Tradition by Leanne Burroughs is a historical Christmas tale, with a love at first sight romance. Abigail at one time loved Morgan, then was infuriated that he just left her in Saratoga Springs without so much as a goodbye, loved him again when he saved her life from a wayward carriage, hated him again when she thought he had a mistress…. And then she loved him again. Oh and don’t forget the peppermint pig! I loved Ms. Burroughs ideas of how life used to be; she paints the perfect picture of simple times and honest to goodness true love.

The Snowflake Ball by Amy Blizzard is a real tear jerker! This is the story of Chloe and Woody, an ER Doctor without any Christmas spirit and a Fireman that lives to celebrate and spread Christmas cheer. Chloe sees Christmas as the day of her brothers death, and does not really acknowledge the holiday. It is not until she meets Woody in the ER, turns him down for a date, then sees how wonderful of a man he is, that she realizes that the world does not have to stop, and she can still enjoy the magic of Christmas. Ms. Blizzard had me from the get-go with her lively characters and I enjoyed every moment!

Entertaining Angels by Patty Howell made me fall in love with her writing style, she writes with her emotions and I love that! Ms. Howell makes you cry, but in a good way. In this short story, Gwen finds out that the man she is currently seeing is in the witness protection program, but he does have a very handsome brother that comes to her rescue on that snowy winter night. Branson knew there was something special about Gwen from the moment she laid into him about why he was picking her up from work and not Danson. In the mix, they come across a child that is alone and much to young to be on the streets by herself, this little girl brings joy, love, and hope to Gwen and Branson. She is also taught there is a God, and if she believed with all her heart, good things would happen and her daddy would get well from the accident. While in Gwen and Branson’s care, the little girl Nicky, brings their feelings to light.

Chance for a Merry Christmas by Judith Leigh is a story about loss and love that hits close to home. I think Ms. Leigh has done an impeccable job with this story because with love sometimes comes the fear of the unknown. Sue had just lost her mother, and was not ready to lose someone else she loved so soon. Chance said that being out of the Air Force was not an option so now what could these two do to be together? Let me tell you, distance can make the heart grow fonder, and would it really be so bad to be a military wife? Sue has to make that jump, is her love for the man she has only known a short time, enough to make her throw caution to the wind? Ms. Leigh is just begging you gals to find a military man that is sensitive and caring with this one!

A Christmas Flame by Amber Dawn Bell is a story you’ll have to have a box of tissues nearby for. Angel blamed herself for the death of her husband and baby daughter 3 years ago because she had to be stubborn and leave the tree lights on, on Christmas Eve. Jacob was the fireman on duty that night, and he couldn’t save them. He lived with that guilt every day, and he had finally had enough, he had to deal with the pain. After running into Angel, there was no turning back. He had to tell her everything, how he felt, how badly he wished he could save her family, and he also had to get off his chest the horrors of his past. He should have been the one to die when he was 12 years old, not his sister and his family made sure he knew that. Time and a little girl, healed his wounds and now he was off to hopefully fill the void and pain within Angel. Ms. Bell pours passion into each and every word of this short story, it made a perfect ending to an amazing anthology!

5 Hearts Without a Doubt!!

Cave of Terror by Amber Dawn Bell

Cave of Terror by Amber Dawn Bell

Sixteen year old Cheyenne Wilde has just been thrown into a new life… of sorts. She thought the most exciting thing about being sweet 16 was getting her drivers license, little did she know that becoming a vampire would be just as exciting but maybe not as cool as she thought. She was a straight A student, a pretty good gymnast, and a creature of the night. Umm not exactly a creature of the night, she could still walk in the daylight, eat regular food, and fall in love. Doesn’t seem so bad does it? How about getting stalked and bitten by an evil vampire Prince? Ok, so you see Cheyenne is the first vampire-evil hunter, aka Vanator born in the last 500 years and the vampire Prince, Constantine, wants her for himself.

As a teenager that has never been kissed she thought it totally lucky that a totally hot guy was into her. But he also seemed into the schools preppy cheerleader. A girl that has never so much as had a crush has had her world upturned by the good-looking new kid at school, Ryan. There are instant sparks, but only time would tell the truth of what and who Ryan is. Cheyenne is the protector of her clica ( group of vampire/panther shifters) and has no idea how to access her powers, when she is forced to make a life altering decision, all becomes clear.

Cave of Terror by Amber Dawn Bell is the perfect Young Adult read for those girls that enjoy a little bit of chick-lit with a hint of paranormal romance. Ms. Bell weaves her words perfectly entwining real teen emotions, thoughts, and feelings; all-the-while keeping it clean and enjoyable. I would absolutely read another book penned by the talented Amber Dawn Bell. 5 Hearts

www.amberdawnbell.com

Border Moonlight by Amanda Scott

Border Moonlight by Amanda Scott

Lady Sibylla Cavers is about to meet the man she had scorned three years earlier by leaving him standing at the alter. He was not the first man she had turned down, you see Lady Sibylla was a very independent young lady and at the tender age of 15 she was not yet ready to wed. The promise her betrothed shouted that day rings fast in her mind when she is rescued three years later from the River Tweed by that same man. Sibylla had to save the drowning child, and she was after all a strong swimmer… thank goodness Simon Laird of Elishaw was there to save them both.

Simon Murray new right away who this lass was, and he knew exactly what to do to exact his revenge. A childish vow was made, and now he is quickly falling under Sibylla’s spell. The woman infuriates him to no end, doesn’t listen to a word, and makes his blood boil! But he can not keep from looking at her, or even joining in bantering. He knew she wanted to marry no man, and he didn’t want her either… at first.

Many things are about to happen, fate has a way of working things out. Neither wanted or looked for love, especially in each other… but you never know what the heart truly wants until you find yourself knee deep in love and lust.


Border Moonlight by Amanda Scott is bewitching, and in a way quite timid. The action was a little lighter in this novel than that of her others, but it was still a fascinating read. I have long been a fan of Scott’s historical romances and never pass up one of her ‘Borders’ books. This is the book after Border Wedding, so make sure to read and find out what happened to Amalie… I love sequels when I have the chance to follow them all! 4 Hearts

Hachette Book Group
ISBN# 0446541354

The Scarlet Spy by Andrea Pickens

The Scarlet Spy by Andrea Pickens

The Merlin’s are a group of orphans that were trained for years, by the best of the best to be stealth thieves, killers, and in a way the word Detective seems to fit. Sophia knows nothing of her family, save the locket she has bearing the portrait of a lady that shares some of the same features. She is most skilled in all the arts to be a trained assassin as well as those arts needed to be a lady to easily fit in with Polite Society. Sophia has no last name, and probably doesn’t remember the name she used to go by on the streets, all she knows is that she is a Merlin, and as a Merlin she will have to earn her wings by going undercover to solve the mystery of the key she holds in her possession. But the task will not be so simple, she must keep a hardened heart even though Lord Deverill Osborne is quite the flatterer and something she can see as a distraction… Dangerous.

Deverill Osborne had a reputation for knowing everyone in town as well as being quite the ladies’ man. When asked by a trusted friend to show the widow, Sophia, into Polite Society, he accepted the task he just had no idea how difficult it was going to be. He did not expect to be left with such a spitfire who had such a mysterious demeanor with immeasurable beauty. A man that has never professed love is now matched with a woman that tries all of his senses, as well as his heart. Once he finds out that Sophia is up to something and trying to hide things, not to mention fighting off a couple of men in the alleyway, and being his match, he can’t help falling under the Contessa’s spell. He must find out the hidden truths before it is too late, and Sophia meets her death for digging too deep.

The Scarlet Spy by Andrea Pickens is the third novel in the Merlin Spies series as I call it, having not read the first two novels I feel like I have missed a lot that I need to back track up on. Based on The Scarlet Spy alone, it was a well written historical romance with twists, turns, and flare. The beginning was a little slow for me to get into, but after the first few chapters the adventure quickly peaked holding my attention the rest of the way through. Pickens does an impeccable job in portraying her characters and the time period. 4 Hearts

Hachette Book Group
ISBN# 0446618012

The Ice Princess- For the Love of Pete

Dear Reader,


The secret is out! USA Today bestselling historical romance writer Elizabeth Hoyt also writes madcap contemporary romance under the name Julia Harper.

As a gift to her fans, Elizabeth is writing an all-new, never-before-published, FREE, short story called THE ICE PRINCESS (this story features Coral, a beloved secondary character from The Prince trilogy--The Raven Prince, The Leopard Prince, The Serpent Prince).

Fans can find the first chapter of THE ICE PRINCESS--along with a preview of the first chapter of Julia Harper’s FOR THE LOVE OF PETE (1/09) together in this Open Book widget.

Please click here to view: http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/publishing_forever.aspx


We hope you’ll enjoy the sneak peek at FOR THE LOVE OF PETE and THE ICE PRINCESS, and share the widget with your friends.

Here’s the code to add to your site:

src="http://datapipe.libredigital.com/eol?UtsWtc5nLqBaFFJNBFSQOU%2FmfxetzDFIGdciPdyGCGrl%2Fx9ewFnPC2L%2FBjY9Nbcm" width="215" height="275"
frameborder="0" scrolling="no">

Subsequent chapters of THE ICE PRINCESS short story will be available for FREE on the author’s websites: www.juliaharper.com and www.elizabethhoyt.com.

Happy Holidays!

NOMINATED!!!

My good friend Lady Vampire nominated little ol me for the Kreative Blogger Award!! Thank you so much lady v. I am beyond honored my friend! Now, here are my nomiations:

6 values in others that are important to me:Honesty
Loyalty
Kindness
Willingness to help others
Ability to truly listen
To be the better person in any situation

6 things that I do not support:Abuse- mental, physical, or emotional
Abortion
Public Anger
Rudeness to others
Thinking you are better than someone else
Drug Abuse

Now for my 6 friends to share this with:

Best Reader Review Blog:Anna’s Book Blog

Best Sexy Saturday Blog:WIP’s and Chains Heidi Betts

Best Vampire Blog:Bitten by Books

Best Paranormal Promo and Review Blog:Vampire Wire

Best Gothic & Supernatural Blog: Amberkatze’s Book Review Blog

Best Interviews and Excerpts Blog:Midnight Moon Café

The rules are:Mention the blog that gave it to you. Comment on her blog to let her know you have posted the award.Share 6 values that are important to you.Share 6 things you do not support.Share the love with six other wonderful blogging friends.

Insatiable Desire by Rita Heron

Insatiable Desire by Rita Herron

Born part demon, Vincent Valtrez was abused by his father Zion, a Dark Lord. As a child at the age of 10 he witnessed his father burn his mother alive in the Black Forest, that was also the night he killed his father, and awoke with no memory of what happened that night. Now 20 years later, his father is set to rise and take over as the new Lord of Hell, and he wants his son by his side. Vincent has grown up to be an FBI agent, to track down the killers in the world, he also holds an insatiable desire for sex… it is part of his curse. He knows that he can never love, let alone sleep with the same woman twice. The evil inside of him is brooding and getting stronger, how much longer can he fight it?

Clarissa King communes with the dead as her mother and grandmother before her had. In Eerie, Tennessee a string of murders has begun to happen and the spirits of the girls visit Clarissa in hopes of being able to cross over to the other side. The demon that has inhabited the body of a person well trusted, is using the girls’ phobias against them, deciding how each will be murdered. Pan, the God of fear is trying to get on Vincent’s fathers good side by soul collecting, and if he can get Vincent to give up his soul for Clarissa, that is sure to score some major points with the soon to be new ruler of Hell. Pan tortures Clarissa with the pleas and cries of the dead, can she fight through this or will she end up hanged as her mother did?

Vincent and Clarissa go way back, both outcasts as children. Each tried to protect the other, and even 20 years later that electricity between them sparks each time they touch. Vincent has no heart to give, and Clarissa has more than enough for the both of them… can he keep turning her away and fighting the lust that is burning him inside? Can this Demonborn know what love truly is, or will the darkness take over?

Insatiable Desire by Rita Heron is magical, electric, and enthralling, I was hooked from the Prologue. paranormal romance and mystery are perfectly woven together by Ms. Heron in a way that can either give you spine tingling chills or warm your heart with her tenderness. Hopefully this is the beginning of a series, a series that I will have a set of for sure! 5 Hearts

Hachette Book Group
ISBN# 0446199478

Blackness by Jade Eckert

Blackness by Jade Eckert

Truly engaging and spine tingling, Jade Eckert is a prime example of an up and coming horror author that is going to make it big if she keeps writing novels like Blackness. Eckert puts you in the mindset of a battered and abused woman, a psychotic husband hell-bent on superiority, and she also puts you into the minds of the victims. You know how each and every character is feeling, it’s almost as if you’re one of the ghosts, watching, hoping to help right all the wrongs.

Sarah was used to the abuse her husband Jesse inflicted upon her for every little thing. One day things would go too far, he would beat her so severely she would lose the baby she was carrying, landing her in the hospital. It may not seem like it, but Jesse opened up new doors for Sarah when he did that awful thing. Sarah met a man named Nick that saved her the night she lay bleeding in her home, he stayed with her in the hospital and both shared their stories of their not so pleasant pasts. Building a quick friendship and feelings toward one another, they never expected Jesse to show up in the diner… that is the day all hell broke loose.

Jesse was now a murderer, one was an accident of sorts but he still felt the need to cover up the little boy’s body that he ran over. He was a police officer so he knew to get rid of every trace of evidence. Worried mostly about Sarah telling anyone about his abuse, he got his rocks off making other people miserable and murdering someone else. Jesse was about to get everything he deserved, especially when the dead came back to make sure he paid for all he had done wrong. Little Jimmy was a huge help to Sarah, and she would do what was needed to help him… someone needed to dig up the floor in Jesse’s shed. Only then could little Jimmy rest in peace. One more thing, Jesse was an evil man, does he deserve to live, or will some otherworldly presence help bring an end to all of this?

5 Hearts

*My After-thought* Abuse is a serious thing, be it mental, emotional, or physical. There are places that will help, first and foremost call the police and remove yourself from the residence. I can’t stress this enough, TELL SOMEBODY!! GET HELP, GET OUT OF THERE, you never know, it could just save your life.

Contact Jade: www.myspace.com/jadeeckert

Addicted to Love by Lori Wilde

Valentine, Texas is the place you want to go to when you’re in the mood for love and romance. Well maybe not everyone comes to Valentine for love, Rachael Henderson came for revenge. Revenge on a local landmark, and a town that professed love at every turn. Rachael had just been left at the alter, again, and was on a mission to prove that love is not all sparkles, glitter and fairy tales. In the middle of her graffiti work, the local sheriff pulls up and is ready to take her in as his prisoner. Rachael remembers this man from her childhood, he was the first man to ever break her heart at the tender age of seven, and then his family moved away. That all too familiar tingly feeling shot right through her, but she was tired of these so called loves… she wanted the great love. And Brody didn’t give it to her back then, but things change right? Only he didn’t want to fall in love either.

Brody Carlton, was injured in Iraq, now an amputee with his new mechanical knee he found himself climbing 40 feet up in the air to drag down the grown-up Rachael Henderson. From the moment he laid eyes on her it was magic, but he was still torn up over his divorce over two years ago and has been pretty much celibate ever since. He knew what Rachael needed, he just didn’t think he could give her all she desired. But he could give her a good romp in the hay so to speak. It seemed that the moment Rachael rolled into town she brought out the worst in the people in Valentine, but she also started an origination called Romanceaholics Anonymous, helped in the politics and not to mention she was offered a pretty exciting job writing a column for a well known magazine. With the good comes the bad… but with Brody by her side and always in her thoughts she could make it through anything. No matter how badly she didn’t want to love this man, she couldn’t help it… they both needed a little intervention and the Judge would see to that.

Addicted to Love by Lori Wilde is candy coated, pink fuzzies, and all that other girly mushy love stuff. It was a phenomenal read with real characteristics, loveable characters and that touch of something special that every woman wants when she reads a romance novel. Lori Wilde has done a spectacular job with Addicted to Love, she shows that no matter how badly you’re hurt, that it is always possible to find that once in a lifetime great love. If you’re into Happily Ever After’s, then you’ll fall in love with this book. 5 Hearts

Hachette Book Group
Isbn# 0446502049

Demon's Hunger by Eve Silver

Dr. Vivien Cairn is an anthropologist currently on a sabbatical. Right now things are a little difficult for Vivien, she is losing time, blacking out for 12 hours with no recollection of what she did while in her trance. She did know though, that she was always so hungry; but not always for food. Vivien had major trust issues, everyone had always left her, her father when she was 2, her mother came to visit less than a handful of times during the year, her one and only love passed away in a car accident… all she had was her good friend Amy that she met in college. Until now, until Dain Hawkins shows up on her doorstep looking for answers.

Dain Hawkins is a sorcerer, one of the Compact of Sorcerers, a brotherhood that is used to keep demons and hybrids at bay. Dain had discovered something strange going on that involved little red velvet gris-gris bags with bits of human hair, skin, and bone inside. The hybrids were collecting these little bags, but for what? Dain had lost his wife and daughter to the demons many years ago, so now he is hell bent on getting revenge by killing every one of them. When he meets Vivien, it is instant attraction and sexual heat, something he has never felt since his wife’s death and this feeling could actually be stronger. As the days pass and she is in his care, he begins falling for her as well as finding out something is very wrong. The woman that his hardened heart is beginning to love could be something more sinister that he may have to destroy. Could he really destroy the creature that has stolen his heart? The worst part is… she doesn’t even know what she is.

Eve Silver has rocked it out with this novel, Demon’s Hunger. It took me until about chapter 4 to get really riveted, but once I was pulled in, I couldn’t put it down. It was explosive, heated, and had just the right amount of romance and sex added to become astounding! As a stand alone book it could make it, but I have this urge now to go and add the series to my wish list, you should do the same. 4 Hearts

Hachette Book Group

ISBN# 0446618934