Review: TALK OF THE TOWN by Beth Andrews

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Donna Zapf

Neil Pettit feels out of place in his own hometown of Shady Grove, Pennsylvania where everyone knows everything about everyone else and the past can never be lived down. Neil may be a big time hockey player for the NHL now but when he returns home to Shady Grove all his insecurities rise up to haunt him, especially his feelings for Maddie Montesano and their eleven year old daughter.

Maddie is not about to let Neil forget what he did eleven years ago nor will she never forgive him for leaving her alone and pregnant. She is raising their daughter Bree by herself and trying to protect them both from Neil as he makes one of his infrequent trips to Shady Grove, expecting to connect with Bree before blowing town again. But this time is different, Neil is truly trying to be a good father and his efforts touch Maddie’s heart.

Award winning author Beth Andrews begins a new heartwarming series, In Shady Grove, set in a small Pennsylvania town. This passionately charged second chance romance, TALK OF THE TOWN, has realistic characters with an age old problem. Neil and Maddie fell in love when they were teenagers and their love resulted in a pregnancy. Maddie thought she wanted a baby and a home in Shady Grove while Neil didn’t know what he wanted other than to get away from Shady Grove. TALK OF THE TOWN is their story and how their child helps to give them both a second chance. Talented Beth Andrews motivates her readers to emotionally invest in the characters through her distinct dialog and poignant plot. TALK OF THE TOWN is a gratifying read that must not be missed.

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Review: A GAME WITH ONE WINNER by Lynn Raye Harris

Posted on April 27, 2013 by Donna Zapf

Five years ago Caroline Sullivan gave up her true love in order to save the family business, the Sullivan Department store empire. She was forced to marry the son of an important investor and though she became close friends with her late husband she could never forget her first love Roman Kazarov or the secret she hides from him.

Roman did not forget Caroline either, he thought she loved him but her father fired him and sent him back to Russia where he was unemployed and unable to provide quality care for his invalid mother. Roman turned out to be a good businessman and became rich and powerful. He eventually returns to New York where he plans to wreak his revenge on Caroline by destroying the Sullivan heritage. When Caroline and Roman finally meet again there is no denying that something primal and illusive simmers beneath their control. Is it love, lust or rage waiting to break free and who will be left standing?

USA Today bestselling author Lynn Raye Harris takes her readers from the boardrooms of New York City to an exotic Caribbean island, revealing the passionate story of lovely Caroline and ruthless Roman. As their troubled tale unfolds, a bounty of emotions are evoked from heartache and hate to passion and love as only brilliantly talented Lynn Raye Harris can create. A GAME WITH ONE WINNER is the perfect escape to romance.

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Review: YOU ARE INVITED… by Holly Jacobs

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Donna Zapf

Mathilda Keith has always had the wanderlust, looking for the next place to explore and earning her the nick name, Waltzing Matilda. But when her best friend Bridget needed her, Mattie returned to Valley Ridge to be with her when she lost her battle with cancer. Bridget asked Mattie to be her children’s guardian and Mattie is determined to honor her request. Doctor Finn Wallace has other plans for his nieces and nephew. He believes he can better provide for the children in Buffalo and is suing Mattie for custody.

As Mattie and Finn go head to head over the custody issue, they are very cognizant of the children’s needs. Finn is guilt ridden for not being more available when his sister was dying and wants to make it up to her children. Mattie is raising the kids based on “what would Bridget do”. Both Mattie and Finn discover there is no set recipe to raising children but together they find the main ingredient, unconditional love.

Grab your hankies ladies, you will soon be smiling through your tears as you read talented Holly Jacobs’s YOU ARE INVITED…. Jacobs has created a small town setting filled with interesting characters and real world problems that tug at the heartstrings. Readers can not go wrong with a Holly Jacobs book. She is able to capture our attention with her inspired down-to-earth writing, even her scenes about cleaning the house are so well written that the reader can visualize the action. YOU ARE INVITED… is the first book in the Valley Ridge trilogy, meaning there are more great reads ahead for us to anticipate.

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Review: Project: Runaway Heiress by Heidi Betts

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Debby

Lily Zaccaro is determined to find the thief who is stealing her designs. She has just the perfect plan. She applies for a job at the rival company and is hired as the personal assistant to the very sexy Nigel Stratham, the CEO of the rival label. Working closely through many a long night proves tempting. She wants Nigel to be innocent as their relationship is anything but. As the lies and deceit come unraveled, the seams of their romance do too.

Heidi Betts starts a new series with Project: Runaway Heiress. If the first one is any indication, then this series promises to be fun and exciting. Lily was certainly daring as she went undercover to uncover the thief. Nigel, her sexy Brit boss, became so much more than a boss. Unfortunately, no one likes to be deceived and Lily’s undercover operation comes apart, breaking them apart as well. Is there any hope? You will need to read this delightful tale by Heidi Betts, Project: Runaway Heiress. Savor it now as the next one is not due until January 2014.

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Review: Special Forces Rendezvous by Elle Kennedy

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Amelia

Elle Kennedy states in her note to readers that she wishes the hero of SPECIAL FORCES RENDEZVOUS could actually be real, and I wholeheartedly agree with her after reading the story. A more ideal man could not have been written for the extremely feisty heroine, as this couple fights to keep others safe while their own feelings unexpectedly change with each passing day.

When Sebastian Stone arrives at the remote clinic in San Marquez where Dr. Julia Davenport works, he hopes to get some much needed answers. He was once a sergeant in a U.S. Special Forces unit, but a mission not only went wrong in this country but also continued to affect his life once back in the states. Now he and two other team members are hiding out until they can uncover who wants them dead. They think their problems are connected to a virus that was given to local residents in San Marquez, and Sebastian is in search of new facts before they can make any decisive choices.

At first, it appears Julia does not have any information that will help Sebastian. However, when her life becomes involved in a nearby medical crisis, he also becomes caught up in the harrowing situation. Now they are both hunted by someone who does not want what they know ever revealed. Sebastian and Julia try to unearth more data about the virus, as they fear additional innocent people may die. On a secret mission to obtain these answers, danger is constantly present along with their growing need for the other.

There is so much to love about SPECIAL FORCES RENDEZVOUS, as it flawlessly balances the suspense and romance. Elle Kennedy carries out the imaginative plot in The Hunted miniseries with chilling accuracy, as power and greed could possibly make the threat from this type of biological weapon become a reality in our time. The jeopardy to Sebastian and Julia because of circumstances related to this unthinkable scheme is frighteningly believable, and it definitely takes plenty of shrewd thinking on their part to stay one step ahead of those who do not want their secret exposed. At the beginning of the book, an event causes Julia much anguish. I was astonished by how well she kept herself together and did not fall apart. She continues to show this strong side of her nature in every situation, regardless of how hopeless things seem, and my respect for her only continued to go up with each new incident. While Julia and Sebastian are both upfront with the other when it comes to their opinions, his outlook on life is much darker than hers. When the reasons behind his behavior become known, I just wanted to hug this emotionally wounded man. Although these two could have had some arguments over what action they would take, they managed to work out any differences in rational ways and I liked them all the more for this trait. The sex between Sebastian and Julia is always passionately steamy, and either one will gladly relinquish control when it means they will receive an abundance of heated touches and overwhelming kisses. There are quite a few heart-pounding moments in the book as they seek the truth, and while several details are eventually learned, there is still more to discover when The Hunted miniseries continues with Nick’s story. SPECIAL FORCES RENDEZVOUS is a notably written Harlequin Romantic Suspense story because scenes are constantly gripping with danger yet often emotionally moving at the same time.

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