The Month in Review
More Romance Please
We have begun a new segment at MRP. On the last Saturday of each month we will re-post 4-5 heart reviews given during the month, plus review that have not yet posted.
We hope you enjoy!
Our Five Heart Reviews
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Through His Eyes: Holy
Freakin’ Moly, Batman! I just finished Through His Eyes and I’m scrambling – scrambling!
to get onto Amazon to buy the sequel. Wake up, computer, wake up!!! I am
stunned. The hairs on the back of my neck are at attention. I’m breathing hard.
What? No sequel yet?? I’m floored.
Deborah
Camp writes a compelling story with vividly drawn and compelling characters. Psychics
Levi and Trudy, are working together to bring in a serial killer who’s hunting in
Key West. One of them can contact the dead. The other can’t help but connect
with the killer as he kills. This story is dark, very dark, at times, but it’s
done for a purpose, not for sensationalism. Parts of the story are light and
funny, too, which provides a nice balance.
Early
on, I was fairly certain I had things figured out. I wondered why, if the
answer is that obvious to me, wasn’t it that obvious to the psychics? Never mind,
the story and the writing are good and kept me involved. However, in spite of
my ‘certainties’ about where the story would end up, it turned out I was only
partially right, and the part I got wrong left my eyes wide with shock and my
mouth, literally, hanging open.
But
for the ending I was prepared to give the book a solid 4-4+ rating, but I’m
still breathing hard, so it’s a no-holds-barred 5Hearts now. Fasten your seat
belts and enjoy!
Very well done.
In Love and War: I might be called stingy in doling out five stars, but
that is because I believe a story needs to knock my socks off to get all five,
and it needs to earn them on all levels. The story itself needs to make me sit
up and take notice; the author needs to have the ability to deliver clear,
concise and compelling material, and there can’t be any shortcuts (no deus ex
machina) in delivering any of it.
Well, OMG, then one comes along that demands six stars…or
maybe seven, and In Love and War is one such. Tara Mills has outdone herself.
She had me in tears at times, laughing my head off at times, and just plain not
wanting the story to end, ever, all the time. There is darkness in here, and
grit, but such, unfortunately, are the stuff of life. However, while delivering
‘real life’ Ms. Mills is careful to bring us back, to recall those beautiful
moments that make the dark parts bearable for all of us. Not only do I give
this book and it’s author five (6? 7?), well-deserved stars, I’m also cheering
her on, because she is an excellent author. Very well done!
Mostly Magic: Donna June Cooper has
done it again. More than Magic
captured my heart and my imagination when I reviewed a few months ago, and now
the second in the Books of the Kindling series, Mostly Magic, meets the very high bar this author sets for herself.
O, how I would love to find this very special mountain and spend time with the
folks who know it best.
This story picks up with
sibling #2, Dr. Daniel Woodruff, only months after the close of MtM. We find
ourselves in Italy, which is never a bad thing, but terrifying visions are
unrelenting, and Daniel must risk his reputation, and perhaps his life, in
order to ensure the safety of those around him.
Mel Noblett is an
environmental reporter who senses there is more to Daniel’s bizarre behavior
than a personality quirk, and together they must find out why he is having
these visions, and what, if anything, they can do to alter their outcome.
Once again, the story
captivates with lyric beauty, humor, tension, mystery and love – of family, of
friendship, of life, and of the environment. And may I say ~ Long Live the
Bees! Very well done.
More than Magic: I was thoroughly delighted by this book and recommend it for
anyone who likes mystery, drama, humor, a great love story, and yes, magic. The
opening, scene-setting chapter for physician Grace is both captivating and
mysterious, and her very ill patient, young ‘Tink,’ absolutely charming. But
what becomes of either of them? We are left to wonder.
With the opening chapter for Nick, we are introduced to a
man who seems nice, affable, and certainly has friends who care about his
well-being, but this intro is equally mysterious. What is he all about, what is
he being sent to find out, and what is the underlying health issue alluded to?
When Grace and Nick finally meet, way back in a Southern
mountain holler, the story unwinds with charismatic characters, fun writing,
and rich scene-setting. However, this is not a RomCom – far from it. There is
something dark, perhaps even evil going on, and Grace and Nick, along with beautifully
precocious child, Jamie, must work together to uncover what that is, in order
to ‘cure’ the mountain of its disease.
The writing is captivating, and one sign of a true
storyteller is when I find myself so ‘inside’ the story I come out surprised I
don’t actually know any of the characters personally, or have never visited the
region portrayed. More than Magic is
one of those, and I applaud Donna June Cooper on her first book. I look forward
to many more. Very well done.
Wilde Riders: This story is a charmer, and funny, and chock full of hunky males. It is also well worth the read. Not only is small town charm lost on Wall Street up-and-comer Riley Smith, it represents the epitome of all that is dull and backward in the world. She can’t believe her bad luck when she has to venture into the backwoods of New Jersey to investigate a possible case of insurance fraud. Another Wall Street mover, Cooper Wilde, couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately, and despite his efforts to hide the fact, this particular small town is his home town. When they run into each other, the attraction is immediate, but too little truth and too much snobbery risk to derail their future.
I enjoyed this story right from the start, and it just got better and better, and more and more fun.
Very well done.
Lady Broke: This story had me hooked from the beginning. I worried I would find endless clichés and Wild West ‘jargon,’ but I needn’t have worried.
When the very proper East Coast socialite, Christie Wallace is able to identify a notorious criminal seen in a dusty Nevada backwater, her unbending principles won’t allow her not to bear witness – even though other witnesses have come to untimely ends before convictions could be had. Much to the consternation of bounty hunter, Nat Randall, the beautiful and very annoying miss Christie just keeps getting in his way. Doesn’t she understand the danger she’s put herself, and everyone else in, or does she refuse understand?
There are ups and downs, grit and sorrow, and plenty of tension…of all sorts. I had a great time reading this story. Very well done.
The Road to Comfort: Oh, am I ever happy I
read this book. It is sweet, funny, poignant, and very, very worth picking up –
and then not putting down again until you’ve turned the last page.
On a whim, college Prof
Juliette St. James takes off on a cross-country trek after her only child
leaves the nest for good. When she becomes stranded, just as violent storms
threatens, farmer Cy, her handsome knight in chaps and Stetson shows up,
literally on horseback, and carries her off to safety. Grand as all that
sounds, and as you might imagine, there are bumpy roads and battered hearts
ahead.
The rest of the world
faded away as I passed some lovely hours in Comfort, NB. I must say, I’ve
driven through NB several times, usually spend the night in Kearney, and have
found the people and landscape to be every bit as beautiful and ‘real’ as they
are portrayed in this story – pity I didn’t find a cowboy like Cy while there,
or I would’ve stayed, too.
It was my delight and
pleasure to ride along with Cy and Juliette, and discover just how they go
about falling in love and making a future together, out of two very different
lives. Very well done.
SEALed with a Kiss: This anthology made me want to hug a SEAL out of pure patriotic joy, and then hug him again – for more personal reasons. Each story made me glad for rainy days, which are perfect for tea, yummy guys, and great reading. Buy it. Love it. Keep it under your pillow and make a wish a SEAL might come your way.
Very well done.
Sidekick: Pure Delight! Socialite-Without-A-Care Bremy St. James
doesn’t clutter up her life with anything more trying than assessing the latest fashion or nightclub
trends, until reality smacks her upside the head and she must leave that life
behind – which is where the reader comes in. After a month on her own, she’s
forced to admit her survival skills suck, and fate is allied against her. Then
her life goes from harsh, to out-and-out bizarre. By turns funny, sweet,
diabolical, and eye-popping, with a fare dose of evil sprinkled over all, the
ride Auralee Wallace takes us on reads like a superhero storybook that
straddles the line between fantasy and (sort of) reality. Happily, it will have
you cheering and laughing all along the way. I can hardly wait for the sequel.
Wait, there will be one….right? Fingers crossed.
Very well done.
Our Four Heart Reviews
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Like Honey: Hot! Would you like to
take a wild ride to Scotland? Silly question. This particular hot and wild ride
revolves around a pair of ex-pat Americans, so the reader doesn’t have to put
up with Scots-speak writing, which can make for stop-and-go reading at best.
Auch-aye!
Happily, Liz Everly
still gives the reader a rich sense of the rugged beauty that is Scotland, as
her heroine, Jennifer D’Amico, tries to save the honey business build by her
late husband’s family. But there is something odd going on, and when bee expert
and undercover Homeland Security agent, Grayson McGhilly
shows up and offers to help her out, she is forced to trust a man she knows
nothing about. Mystery, murder and danger lurk around every corner, and the
story will keep you pinned to your reading perch until the final page is
turned. Well done.
White Collar Cowboy: Hot!… and a good story, too!
Lauren is a high-powered NYC business exec who just saw her job disappear
without warning. All these years, and all she leaves her office with is one
cardboard box? Stunned hardly captures her mood when her secret heartthrob and London
counterpart, Gavin, suddenly appears and offers his condolences. His advice? She
should take some time for herself to sort things out. She should take the key
to his empty seaside Texas vacation home for a few days, just to get her head
together. Oddly, and against her normal judgment, she takes him up on his offer
and heads south. And that is where the fun, the heat, and her future begin.
I enjoyed this book very
much.
Well
done.
Penelope's Ghost: This story is delightful…and
mysterious…and a wonderful Australian vacation in book form. I learned so many
Aussy-isms! When Lisa loses her husband to another man, she is forced to
regroup, reassess, and rebuild her life. Money is short and good jobs seem to
be non-existent, so she takes a temporary job as a live-in nanny. She finds
herself in the middle of a sad and dysfunctional family, and, being sensitive
to ghosts, she can’t help but wonder who is haunting handsome Mr. Prescott’s ancient
manor home. Well, wouldn’t you wonder, too? Lives are changed, both past and
present, and in the end, the changes are all good, very good.
Well
done.
The Darkness of Glengowyn: Different. Intriguing.
Imaginative. A world of Elves, war, powerful magic, love that spans the ages
and will not be denied. The writing is as rich and strong as the scene setting.
Beautiful and romantic by turns, it also has moments of terror, suspense, and
dread. I enjoyed this story and look forward to the series continuing.
Well
done.
Intimate Strangers: This novella has
surprises around every corner. And then some! Young and in love, Kate and Mac
head out for a beautiful day of deep sea fishing. Okay, so maybe the boat’s
captain is HOT, but hey, so is Mac. Who could possibly predict that such a
pleasant adventure would turn everyone’s lives upside down? While it is well
written, I was taken very much by surprise at one point (no spoilers here - you’ll
know where) and found myself having to regroup a bit before moving on. With all
that happens, it is perhaps better suited for a longer story (would have loved
to spend more time with this!), nevertheless, it is a good read and leaves a
positive lasting impression.
Well
done.
Well written, this story
flows easily, heats nicely, and delights often. It is well worth the read, and
will put a smile on your face as it warms your heart.
Well done.
Essence: Essence
is a delightful read, and delightfully steamy read from beginning to end. The
lovely and lonely widow, Haven Jameson, has worked hard to create a spa without
rival, but her world is turned upside down when the land owner of the adjacent
property suddenly turns vindictive, and the buyer of that property, Pace
Daniels, threatens both her heart, and the financial stability of her spa.
The
writing is good, the scene-setting luscious, the characters well-drawn and
vividly portrayed (and hot!!). There
is more inner thought on subjects oft repeated than I would like, and more tell
vs. show for my taste, but this is not critical enough to lessen the star
count. PS. I want to move to Florida and take yoga…
Well
done.
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