Tag Archives: romance

Her Cracked Heart by P.A. Estelle (Penny Estelle) (Book Review)

Stephanie Warren is a wife, mother, and famous author with a life that others only dream about. An accident turns her world upside down, leaving her cold and emotionless, wanting only privacy and solitude.

Joe Sullivan, a single man who has custody of his six-year old niece, is almost frozen where he stands, when he meets the ice queen on an early morning jog. One thing leads to another and Stephanie finds her empty shell slowly being replaced with fun, laughter, and passion.

Will she take that leap of faith with a ready-made family or will the ghosts of her past keep her happiness at arm’s length.

 
 
 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 
Her Cracked Heart is definitely a quick read but the message throughout the pages couldn’t be much clearer. Losing a child, spouse, anyone is hard. There are some days you don’t think you can go on, the pain is so intense, but that’s exactly what you have to do. You are still here, alive, and need to find a way to move on. 
 
Penny is correct. The ones who have passed on would not like to see their loved ones emotionally dead. They’d want us to find love and happiness again. 
 
Stephanie finally did after a heart-filled talk with a young lady — Kelly, a very wise 6 year-old. 
 
 
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
 Score: ❤❤❤
 
 
 

Penny Estelle is a best-selling writer for all ages, from the early reader to adults. Her books range from pictures books for the little ones, to fantasy and time-travel adventures for ages 9 to 13. She also, under P. A. Estelle, has written adult stories including a family drama and contemporary, paranormal and historical westerns romances.
Penny was a school secretary for 21 years. She and her husband moved to their retirement home in Kingman, AZ, on very rural 54 acres, living on solar and wind only.
 
Penny and her books can be found in the following links:
www.pennystales.com
www.pennyestelle.blogspot.com
http://www.amazon.com/Penny-Estelle/e/B006S62XBY

https://twitter.com/Pennystales

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Risky Tide by CJ Matthew (Book Review)

 
 
 

Katie joins SBW’s exchange group still hiding a secret that could put the entire team at risk. After two exchange disasters, the team goes up against someone dumping toxic lab waste. Time has run out for Katie to conquer her demons.

Peal built his exchange team into a highly effective unit and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep it running smoothly. When Katie freezes up during a critical phase of the mission, she sets off a marine park alarm. She may be beautiful but if she keeps endangering the missions, he’ll be forced to send her back to SBW.

Author signed copies are available at Fiction Addiction, 1175 Woods Crossing Road Ste 5, Greenville, SC 29607 or available on Fiction Addiction’s website: HERE.

 
 
—–> REVIEW <—–

 (review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

A plot centered around toxic waste and an assassin might seem like a heavy, non-enjoyable read but CJ added enough humor and romance to keep things light. Her aquatic catchphrases such as “cod crap”, “squid shit” and “shark shit” kept me smiling. 
 
The emotional retelling of Katie’s encounter with a shark will have you connecting with her character, if you weren’t already. 
 
Speaking of connecting to characters: I didn’t feel any emotion towards Brian, Pete, or Charles. They were just BLAH roles BUT I did heart Peal big time. He was a sweet, strong, considerate man/dolphin who knew how to romance a lady/dolphin. 
 
Yup, he would make most ladies dream of being Katie. Well, not this chick. That’s because I dislike the taste of lobster and those two ate it entirely way too much. Now, if I could be a dolphin and eat tacos 24-7. Ha… yeah, I don’t that would go over well in the shifter community. Guess I’ll stay human. 🙂
 
 
Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5
(highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤
 
GET YOUR KINDLE OR PRINT COPY TODAY!! 
 
 
 

CJ Matthew is the author of paranormal romance suspense series Dolphin Shore Shifters. Her debut novel, Blood Tide, features a pod of dolphins posing as humans that work through their oceanic conservation corporation Save Blue Water, based in Santa Barbara, California, to protect the oceans at any cost.
CJ grew up in an Air Force family that travelled all over the U.S. and around the world. She spent her high school and university years living in California, which inspired her love of marine life and the Pacific Ocean.

A member of Georgia Romance Writers (GRW) Romance Writers of America, CJ lives and writes near a lake in the woods northeast of Atlanta. When she isn’t writing or reading romances, CJ likes to travel and to spend time with her two grown children, a brilliant grandson and a feisty cat named Max.

Website Link
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Amazon author page
Goodreads author page

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Programmed For Power: The Tau Cetus Chronicles, Book 3 by Jenna Ives (Book Review)

As the powerful premier of war-torn Tau Cetus, Theus presides over an uneasy post-apocalyptic peace. Many plot against him, including a traitor on his own High Council as well as one rogue woman who dared to steal a precious keepsake from his past. Capturing Leora Smith offers Theus a chance at personal revenge, but she awakens emotions in him he thought long dead. Even so, it takes an assassination attempt to spur Theus to reassess a future with either this prisoner who makes his blood run hot or the Beautiful Doll robotic lover who’s the perfect match for his lifeless existence.

 

Kindle Purchase Link (US)

Kindle Purchase Link (UK)

 

 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 
 
Once again, Jenna was able to deliver undeniable heat between the two main stars while also orchestrating a well thought-out plot….. Who’s the traitor targeting Theus?
 
As for the sex aspect of the science fiction tale, there were multiple occasions when Theus still sought out a bot to get sexual release. With Keira performing fellatio at 19mph, Theus has grown accustomed to “quickies”. Maybe that’s why he enjoyed the slow burn of a real woman (Leora) performing oral on him. 
 
Real versus plastic? 
Real wins again! 
 
Now back to the plot, don’t expect Theus to go down via gunshot or stab wound. The traitor had other plans for him but, as you expected, the hero comes out victorious again. 
 
HEA
 
 Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 

 

 
 
Award-winning author Jenna Ives writes for several different publishers under a variety of names, but mostly the reason is to keep her poor sainted mother (who used to read sweet Harlequin novels) from having a heart attack over how sexy modern romances have become! And Jenna certainly DOES write sexy… You can visit her at www.jennaives.com
Twitter Link
Facebook Link
 
 

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Punk Charming by Laura Quinn (Book Review)

Editor – Kim Richards Gilchrist
Cover Artist – Dawné Dominique

 

1986 – Shoulder pads are big, hair is bigger, and American college student Kate Spenser is set to embark on the biggest adventure of her life. Having been accepted to a summer study-abroad program in Oxford, England, Kate travels to Europe for the first time.
 
The eighteen-year-old is psyched about a summer of exploring countries on her own, experiencing new cultures, and perhaps meeting a charming young man along the way. Armed with a French-English dictionary and her Walkman loaded with Duran Duran, Kate is ready to start her adventure in France. Little does she know what awaits her when she arrives, and how she must use her wits to escape peril in Paris. Fortune favors Kate when she meets her Punk Charming, and it’s love at first sight. Now, if she could only find him again!
 
James Barrington meets his soul mate while on the run from Paris. Mis-cues and sabotage prevent him from reuniting with Kate, but he can never forget her. If only he had told her the truth before it was too late. Or is it?
 
Can true love conquer all?

 

 (review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

Let me first start off this review stating that the 80’s totally rocked!! Music, movies, tv shows…..best decade ever!! Well, almost the best. I don’t miss the choking cloud of Aqua Net hairspray. 🙂 
 
In this tale, Laura showed her love of this decade which made the conversations between Kate and James highly entertaining. However, when they parted ways, this is when the story seemed to grow stale. They met in 1986 and reunited in 2004 so most of the story was about their near misses and David’s conniving scheme to keep them apart.
 
For me, the story resembled watching  a car race. You get a burst of adrenaline watching the cars take off, but after a few laps, you grow bored…. same thing over and over. It’s not until the final few laps that the adrenaline and excitement kicks back in. 
 
The “final laps” in Punk Charming were when Claire and Kate took to matchmaking and also turning the tables on the wanker, David. That man needed to be taken down a notch. He was a douche with a capital D. 
 
Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤
 
 
 
 
 

Laura Quinn is passionate about writing and traveling, and is happiest when combining the two. She is well-trained, and often outsmarted, by her beloved dog and cats. A former user of pay phones, paper maps and VHS players, she now embraces technology…and is a Pinterest addict with over 26,000 pins. Laura is a forever fan of Duran Duran (30+ years and counting!), from Walkman to iPod. She holds a Master of Liberal Arts degree from the University of Chicago and teaches creative writing at local colleges. Laura welcomes visitors to her website at LauraQuinnBooks.com or email at LauraQuinnBooks@yahoo.com.

 

My websites are: PunkCharming.net and LauraQuinnBooks.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/PunkCharming80s
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/punkcharmingbook
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/80sfun/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-0Y2GU0pMfGvd6et0ve_wQ

 

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Grandma Must Die by Maureen L. Bonatch (Book Review)

Author: Maureen L. Bonatch
Series: A Touch of Magic Series, Book 1
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy

 
 
Carman has worn out more towns and last names than impractical shoes protecting the secret of her magic blood. But when a friend goes missing, and another is infected with a deadly spell, Carman must choose. Expose her magic blood by curing the spell—or stop the infection from spreading by killing the source…the grandmother.

Magic bounty hunter Dylan has scoured libraries of banned magic paraphernalia seeking a method to distinguish genuine witches from impersonators. He suspects unorthodox librarian Carman might hold this information tighter than the hair he’s dying to unleash from her bun. With a past as hidden as his sleeve of tattoos, Dylan discovers he’s been used to gain Carman’s trust and their passion risks more than mixing mortals and magic.

 
 

 

…once she’d started Carman couldn’t stop,

the book beckoned. Pressing its spine against her palm, begging her to search within the pages to find the answers she’d unconsciously sought her entire life. As she lifted the book, her scalp tingled and her hair elevated like a halo.

“Whoa.” Dylan shielded himself with his hands. “Put it back, slowly, because this is reminding me too much of the incident with the chest. Having my apartment blown up from magic isn’t covered in my rent.”

The plastic evaporated in a puff of smoke in Carman’s hands and the book unsealed with a sigh. She smiled, the welcoming warmth emanating from within its pages against her palms. Why had Mother kept her from this? This is what she’d been waiting for.

As curiosity overtook his common sense, she detected Dylan’s cautious approach. He stood close enough to peer over her shoulder into her book, but far enough away to avoid touching her.

After the shockwave the last time their skin met, he probably worried he’d ruin another pair of pants. Carman closed her eyes, absorbing the power from the book. The delicious feeling evoked a sensation like melting chocolate, sweet and satisfying.

“I remember hearing about her, Esmeralda Wrath. I wonder if this was her book?” Dylan’s warm breath caressed her shoulder.

Carman opened her eyes and examined the page. To stare right at a photo of the most powerful witch of all time…her grandmother.

 
 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 
I want to start off this review discussing the basement under the library. The area, which housed magical artifacts, reminded me of two great shows — Warehouse 13 and The Librarians. The basement was truly a wonderland for the magically gifted humans. Heck, it’s pretty impressive for the “normal” folks, too. 
 
Speaking of normal folks, I was glad Maureen finally enlightened me what the heck an m ‘n’ m was on page 165 (in paperback). I knew she wasn’t referring to the sweet treat and was pleased to learn it stood for magic mimiker. With that bit of knowledge tucked away, the previous passages made more sense and proved to be more enjoyable. 
 
All in all, this story was cute. I wasn’t blown away by it, but I also wasn’t bored out of my mind either. 
 
Would I recommend it to others? Sure. I definitely think many readers will find this witchy tale most entertaining. 
 
Now with that said, I’m off to watch The Librarians. 
 
(Update: It was pointed out to me by Sophia Kimble (visitor – see comments below) that Maureen actually stated what an m ‘n’ m was on page 68. I want readers to have accurate information, so I felt this revelation needed to be shared. Sorry for any confusion I might’ve caused.)
 
 
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤
 
DON’T WAIT, GET YOUR PAPERBACK OR KINDLE COPY TODAY!! 
 

 

 

I write books about heroines who can laugh at themselves while dealing with magic, mayhem and love. The quirky friends and family who insist on coming along for the ride are just a bonus.
I’m so glad you stopped by. Let me turn down the music and get you a drink while you pull up a chair to settle in and escape with some bookcandy. Something to make you smile while you enjoy all the sweet, satisfaction with none of the calories.

You deserve it…you’re extraordinary. 

 

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