The Thornless Rose by Morgan O'Neill

Title: The Thornless Rose

An Elizabethan Time Travel Novel

Author: Morgan O’Neill

Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC

Publication Date: December 29, 2014

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 454

Blurb:

No one ever knew what really happened to Dr. Jonathan Brandon back in 1945. He simply disappeared from a London pub, leaving behind an unsolved mystery and his fiancée—Anne Howard’s grandmother. Seventy years later, Anne herself is haunted by the strange tale, along with inexplicable hallucinations straight out of Elizabethan England. Including a scarred, handsome man whose deep blue eyes seem to touch her very soul...

Anne wonders if there isn’t something more to the story. Is it even possible that Jonathan disappeared into England’s dark past? And why does Anne keep hearing him whisper her name? Because now she too feels the inexorable pull of the past, not to mention an undeniable attraction for a man she doesn’t even know.

It’s just a matter of time before Anne will step back into history, and face a destiny―and a love―beyond imagining...

My review:

Dr. Jonathan Brandon disappeared one day in 1945... vanished, never to be see again, leaving his fiancee Catherine behind. Years later, her granddaughter, Anne Howard starts experiencing mysterious tugs from the past. Though unbelieving at first, she begins to understand what might have happened to Jonathan Brandon and how he was forced to abandon all he knew... because Anne is afraid that same thing is happening to her.

Morgan O'Neill has redefined the genre of time travel with this fantastical adventure into the Elizabethan past, with all the ceremony of the time period, costuming brought to life... as well as the unsavory of the time. I very much enjoyed this tale! I can't wait for more from the writing duo of Deborah O'Neill Cordes and Cary Morgan Frates who become Morgan O'Neill. Highly recommend this book to all lovers of Historical Romance or anyone who is looking for a grand adventure wrapped up in the pages of a book. Excellent.

A chance meeting at a writers’ conference brought Cary Morgan Frates and Deborah O’Neill Cordes together, two award-winning authors who connected because of a mutual love of time travel fiction. Collaboration ensued, the search for a pen name the first step in their working relationship. Their maiden names provided the solution - and “Morgan O’Neill” was born. 

Cary and Deborah’s backgrounds are uniquely suited to writing stories steeped in atmosphere and history: Deborah has a Master’s Degree in history and is a dedicated genealogist; Cary is a talented linguist in French and is currently a student of Latin. They’ve traveled to Europe’s ancient and medieval sites many times, with Cary living on the Continent for five years. 

The Morgan O’Neill time travel novels have received a number of literary awards, including two finalist wins in the Booksellers’ Best Awards, two semifinalist wins in the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition, first, second, and third place wins for the Mainstream Novel with Strong Romantic Elements category of the Golden Rose Contest, a top ten finalist award in the Pacific Northwest Writers' Conference Zola Awards Literary Contest, and a top ten finalist win in the Orange Rose Contest.

Author Links:

Website - www.morganoneill.com

Newsletter - https://madmimi.com/signups/125219/join

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23723313-the-thornless-rose?from_search=true

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/morgan.oneill.books.12

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AuthorMONeill

Buy Links:

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Thornless-Rose-Entangled-Select-Historical-ebook/dp/B00QRW3OH6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418852004&sr=8-1&keywords=the+thornless+rose

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/thornless-rose-entangled-select/id949899897?mt=11

Kobo - http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-thornless-rose-entangled-select-historical

B&N - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-thornless-rose-morgan-oneill/1120872044?ean=9781633751767

Gemini Rising by Louann Carroll

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Pages: 348

 

From the Cover:

Over 5,000 years ago, Sumerian cuneiform tablets warned future civilizations of the planet Nibiru. Every six thousand years the tenth planet crosses Earth's solar system spreading death and destruction. During its latest crossing Kate and Ryan Kelly learn to survive a post-apocalyptic Earth.

Sent to help sustain Earth, Noah, a member of the intergalactic counsel, joins with Kate, the chosen recorder of the end of days. One woman, and one offworlder collide with the ambiguous Light becoming humanities salvation. Out of tragedy is born a love that forever changes mankind.

What would you do when faced with a global apocalypse? Kate, Ryan and Jason begin a journey together, and as the world as they know it comes to a close, will any of them survive?

Kate is forced to move from her beloved San Francisco by the demands of her husband's career. The desert becomes her home with its unbreathably arid environment, where even cactus struggle for existence. How are people meant to survive? Her son Ryan doesn't share her disillusionment, but he struggles in his own way for acceptance. Jason appears unfeeling to his family's unbalanced needs, he continues with his life, angered, but unable to figure out why.

When a catastrophic event occurs, their family is pulled apart by need, refusal to believe and predestined design. It becomes a question of survival, acceptance and desire. Only time will tell who has the will to endure. Noah, an unaging alien, provides what Earthlings and humanity needs to make living possible, but barely. He becomes entrapped by Kate, but is it her destiny to bring new life to a planet that has ceased to be a welcoming home?

Gemini Rising by Louann Carroll tell the story of entwining lives, all is not as it seems and the benevolent creatures may not be as forgiving and caring as they claim to be. It is a a fantastical journey full of mysticism, science fiction and fact. This is the first book in a lasting trek through time, space and reality. Five out of five fairy kisses for this fantasy lover.

I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Haunting Lia by Shannon Eckrich

Publisher: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing
Pages: 259

(Release Date: 10/11/13)

From the Cover:

Death is her destiny. But she has other things in mind.

Lia Starr’s life isn’t a fairytale. It’s a reality overflowing with scary monsters, death, and betrayal—a past she left behind when she entered her new foster home. Now, with a loving family, a sister she’s always craved, and relief from the gruesome corpses that tormented her as a child, she’s finally content. Until a freak accident changes everything.

The monsters are back, and their mission is simple: drag Lia straight to their murky hell. When Aiden, an apparition, appears to Lia, she has hope once again. Because Aiden can cross the veil between the spirit world and the earthly dimension, physically fighting off the monsters and sending them back. With Aiden’s determination to keep her safe and his absorbing blue eyes, Lia can’t help falling in love with him. But who is he, and what does he really want? As Lia and Aiden’s relationship deepens, so does the mystery surrounding him. 

Once Lia finds out Aiden has traded his soul to save her, she enters the darker dimension, a dimension where nightmares are reality, ready to kick some serious butt. But surrounded by twenty-eight mutilated monsters and a deranged cult leader intent on bringing his dark world to the surface, isn’t what Lia expects. And even worse, she must face her traumatic past in order to destroy them. If she fails, not only will she lose the guy she loves and face certain death, but she will also risk the one thing she can’t afford to lose: her eternal soul.

Lia is one of the kids who doesn't quite fit in, and she has a secret that not even her foster-sister, Chelsea, knows. Lia can see monsters and the shadows of darkness. Chelsea talks Lia into a visit to the haunted house, Frightland, but rain shortens their terrifying trip. One rainy evening plus a flat tire leads to a horrific accident, separating the sisters, ripping one from the other.

Aiden appears to be this ghostly apparition only Lia can see. The strange skater boy tanned and toned, fresh from Frightland or maybe he's part of it. But, can he be something more? And, if he's alive like he claims to be, where's his body and how can Lia get his spirit to re-attach itself?

Enter into the equation, demented Bianca, driven to the point of insanity by the darkness, filling her head with negative thoughts and the idea that Lia killed her father. She makes it her mission to make Lia pay, the price is Lia's life.

With monsters, shadows darker than night, and a boy who claims to only want to help her, can Lia survive?

Haunting Lia by Shannon Eckrich is the story of an outcast, a girl who has lost her family, subplanting it with her foster family. Until Chelsea is ripped out of her life, and Lia knows, it was all her fault. And, AJ Prescott is just as much to blame. After the accident, Aiden appears, scaring the monsters away, chasing the shadows back to where they belong. But, can Lia trust this strange boy she doesn't even know? Should she?

Haunting Lia is a wonderful blend of paranormal, horror, suspense, and at times, heart tugging warmth. Ms. Eckrich paints vivid pictures of life beyond the realm of normal, of an afterworld I'm not sure I'd like to visit with it's threatening corpses, but it's all in good fun. Haunting Lia is an excellent read, I managed to read it in one sitting. The reader is pulled away into Lia's world, which can be frightening at times, and at other times, the world of an insecure girl, trying to fit in. What she discovers is that not everyone needs to fit into a round hole. I highly recommend this quick little read, at 259 it shouldn't be quick, but the pages flew through my fingers. Paranormal romance lovers, horror fanatics, and lovers of suspense will all want to give this book a try, there's something for everyone.

Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader. 

I received my copy from the author for an honest review. All opinion expressed are my own.

Westbound Awakening by Hildie McQueen

Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Pages:

(Release Date: October 2013)

From the Cover:

Captain John McClain finds himself on the wrong end of a shotgun when attempting to find his child. Heading west to find the mother of his son and the outlaw who shot him, John is forced to escort an enticing woman whose lifestyle goes against every one of his moral standards, yet she calls to every part of him. 

Heading west to meet the dying father she never knew, and possibly starting a new life, Mae Hawkins didn’t expect the added complication of traveling with the one man she always loved. 

When they’re joined along the road by a minister and his wife, things get beyond complicated for John and Mae who awaken to the lesson that sometimes differences are more imagined than real in this unforgettable journey. 

Mae Hawkins has always found herself attracted to the man, Captain John McClain, but she can't abide the disdain in his eyes for her chosen profession. She is the madame for the local brothel, one she inherited from her mother. What he doesn't know is the requirements her mother and Miss Lady put on her.

Captain John McClain can't see himself with someone who's sold her body for a few dollars, even if his own body screams for her. It isn't until he's alone with Mae for an extended period over the travel to Texas and after he losses more than he wanted to, for the realization of how silly his morals turn out to be. Now if he can only get Mae to accept him. 

Westbound Awakening by Hildie McQueen is another western romance that I fell in love with, though at first, I was afraid I wouldn't. Captain John McClain had my nose pushed out of place, judging someone who deserved his consideration, not condemnation. But, I soon discovered what was driving this character, burned by love, shot by an outlaw, his child taken away. Mae Hawkins is a special kind of madame. She really cares for those she employs, and Miss Lady makes sure she takes care of herself as well. She's a misunderstood character that immediately captured my attention.

Westbound Awakening is a fun read of discovery... founding out what's really important in life and what isn't. I loved the tension between these real life feeling characters, and it takes the interest of another for Captain John McClain to see what he's really missing. Westbound Awakening is a sweet romance, a fun little historical that I can highly recommend to those who find themselves wishing for a western romance, this one is good!

Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader.

I received my copy for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

If You Want Me by Tara Mills

Publisher: Crimson Frost Books
Pages: 62 (estimate)

(Release Date: September 19, 2013)

From the Cover:

An irresistible woman.  An undeniable proposal.

Even the unthinkable can sound reasonable when you mix alcohol, sexual frustration, and a bachelorette party—especially a bold proposition. Now in the light of day, Naomi’s hung over, horrified, and anxious about facing this complicated man again and the unexplored feelings their encounter brought with it.

She called, he came, but Ryan didn't exactly conquer. Is it too much to hope that Naomi will give him a do-over? She can’t avoid him, not when he’s walking her down the aisle. But who ever heard of a bridesmaid getting cold feet? 

Naomi has been longing for love since her boyfriend, Sam, moved out...six long months ago. Not that she's counting or anything. A bridesmaid to her friend, Melissa, she spies Ryan, Sam's ex-best friend. He captures her attention.

Ryan is captured by the lovely picture made by Naomi, he's wanted her for so long. When the guys and girls split to go to their respective parties, he feels the loss of her smile, her voice, the visual feast for his eyes. When she calls, he can't get to her fast enough.

If You Want Me by Tara Mills is a hot romance, finding love that wasn't lost as much as it was misplaced. Ryan was made for Naomi, she just doesn't know it yet. Tara Mills gives us a well-rounded quick little read that I enjoyed very much. She paints a vivid picture of these characters in a short amount of pages. If you love sizzling romance, this is the read for you, it singes the pages. I highly recommend this quick bite of contemporary romance. It's a quick, fun, flirty little read that shouldn't be missed and leaves you begging for more.

Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader.

I received my copy for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Coming Soon.... If You Want Me by Tara Mills

Publisher: Crimson Frost Books
Pages: 62 (estimate)

(Release Date: September 19, 2013)

From the Cover:

An irresistible woman. An undeniable proposal.

Even the unthinkable can sound reasonable when you mix alcohol, sexual frustration, and a bachelorette party—especially a bold proposition. Now in the light of day, Naomi’s hung over, horrified, and anxious about facing this complicated man again and the unexplored feelings their encounter brought with it.

She called, he came, but Ryan didn't exactly conquer. Is it too much to hope that Naomi will give him a do-over? She can’t avoid him, not when he’s walking her down the aisle. But who ever heard of a bridesmaid getting cold feet? 


Review to come soon... sounds so good!

Stolen Moments by Tara Mills

Publisher: Crimson Frost Books
Pages: 30 (estimate)

(Release Date: August 18, 2013)

From the Cover:

Ella knew what Neil wanted when he called, what they both wanted. Did she dare? Was an hour of passion worth the lies, broken commitments, and the risk of getting caught? Yes.

Ella is filled with guilt, she isn't where she's supposed to be and even has to fib to a friend to beg off of the carpool. It's her turn to pick up the kids. Only for him would she put herself in the tenuous situation.

Neil knows he shouldn't, but he's never bit able to control himself in her presence, she drives him wild, and he's sacrificed to be with her. He'll do anything to have her, lie, cheat, even steal her moments away. He must have her.

Stolen Moments by Tara Mills is a stolen bit of romance with a twist. I can only say that the romance between Ella and Neil is sizzling hot, bring a fan! I highly recommend this little slice of romance to all contemporary romance lovers, and those who love stolen bits of romance. It's fun, fun, fun! (and leaves me with a smile!)

Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader!

I received my copy for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Lady Broke by Rachel Donnelly

Publisher: Crimson Romance
Pages: 318

(Released: July 7, 2013)

From the Cover:

East meets west when a high-principled Boston socialite teams up with a revenge driven bounty hunter to catch a gang of outlaws in the wilds of Nevada.

It’s tough being a witness when the last one turned up dead. But Christie Wallace is determined to bring the Everett gang to justice. Unfortunately, the law can’t protect her from pistol-toting outlaws or the intoxicating lure of a dangerous man. But, after escaping the suffocating prospects of an arranged marriage, she has no intention of allowing her heart to rule her head, even when temptation comes in the form of an incorrigible lawman named Nat Randall.

Dead or alive - it made no difference to Nat Randall. He’s tried to bring the Everett gang to trial once before, but the law let him down. It seems frontier justice is all he has left. But he didn’t count on protecting a bewitching Easterner whose courageous spirit challenges him as much as her beauty distracts. It’s not long before he’s torn between pursuing her or the outlaws.

A timeless, rollicking adventure of unlikely lovers, set in the Wild West.

Sensuality Level: Sensual

Christie Wallace is a Boston socialite ready for an adventure. When her father sends her to help in her uncle's store out in the wild west, it's supposed to be a punishment for arguing against an arranged marriage, but it turns into an adventure of a lifetime.

Nat Randall also comes from a controlling family, so much so that he takes his mother's maiden name to make a place for himself in the West, because he can't or won't live under his father's rigid rules. But when East meets West, fireworks explode.

Lady Broke by Rachel Donnelly is the story of what happens when an almost stuffy young woman with propriety on her mind, runs into what could be the adventure of a lifetime or her worst nightmare come to life. It all depends on her trust of a man with, she assumes, less than sterling moral standards, and a bounty hunter, no less. What's hidden below the surface of Christie's pristine front is a firecracker that's ready to ignite, and Nat Randall just might be the match to ignite her fuse.

Lady Broke is another western romance, proving once again, that I really don't know what I like to read, because this was a great read! It's also a historical romance set in the wild west with robbers who are really bad guys, and a hero burned by marriage and the death of his wife, who's not so sure he wants the experience again. That's until he meets Christie... And there's more brewing below the surface, great ending for this book (it truly made it feel like a historical romance for me)! Western romance lovers, modern historical romance lovers, and readers who love strong heroes and feisty heroines will love this books!!

Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader.

I received this book for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Discovery by Lisa White

Publisher: Crimson Romance
Pages: 249

From the Cover:

Grace Mackay thought she was normal, a little shy maybe, but no less normal than any other struggling young waitress. But she did not know about the secretive Powers world. She did not know she was the last person on earth with the DNA needed for the Powers’ survival. And she certainly did not know her newest boyfriend, Gregory, was an Anti-Powers prince who intended to break her heart and her bones in no particular order.

But when she discovers that Ben, her best friend and unrequited former crush, is actually her secret Guardian with superhuman powers, Grace’s normal turns a little wacky. And when she learns that she has The Gift, the rare power to heal the injured and resurrect life with her touch, it is official - Grace is a weirdo even in the Powers world.

But what freaks Grace out more than all that is the fact she has feelings for Ben again - and he has feelings for her - which makes Grace’s new normal a lot more complicated.

Sensuality Level: Behind Closed Doors

Grace is your average 20-ish woman, she controls her own destiny. Though she was orphaned early in life, that fact doesn't effect her life in a big way. She has the security of friends for family, and everyone seems to love her. Unfortunately, things aren't always the way they appear.

Ben is Grace's best friend, but he harboring secrets that could get thrown right off the friends list, and rebuffing her love while hiding his own feelings in one of them. But, there's more going on than whether or not he can allow himself to love Grace, and it all has to be with the Power, controlling his destiny and hers.

When the Anti-Powers enter Grace's life, as her protector, Ben does the only thing he can... he secrets her away...

Discovery by Lisa White introduces us to a new world where, once upon a time, Powers really existed. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman... they all have their beginnings somewhere, right? But, when people come to resent those with the Powers, they go into hiding. Until a faction splinters off, and the Anti-Powers were born. It's Ben's job to protect Grace from the Anti-Powers, she has the ability to save both the Powers and the human race, it's all about her DNA, if the Powers are in time.... if they can overcome the Anti-Powers out to annihilate both.

Discovery is a lite fantasy read that brings to light how the Powers could have possibly come into being. It was a fun, fast read that I enjoyed immensely! And when I found out the backstory of how Ms. White brought Super Heroes into the picture, it brought me back to the hours upon hours I spent as a child delving into those very worlds, comic books and I have a long history! If you LOVE comic books, you will enjoy this story. If you've ever spent time wondering about how all those worlds came to be, this is the book for you! I highly recommend this book to lite fantasy readers, lite sweet paranormal romance lovers, and enjoyers of the comic book tradition. As well as those readers who love the new genre of New Adult, this is a must read.

Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader.

I received this book for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Viking Fire by Andrea R. Cooper

Publisher: Crimson Romance
Pages: 192 (estimate)

(Release Date: July 29, 2013)

From the Cover:
856 CE, Ireland is a land of myth, magic, and blood. Viking raiders have fought the Irish for over half a century. Rival Irish clans promise only betrayal and carnage.

Kaireen, daughter of Laird Liannon, is suddenly forced into an arranged marriage with her sworn enemy, a Viking. She refuses to submit. With no mention of love, only land and the protection of her clan, she endeavors to get her betrothed banished from her country. Will love find its way around her stubborn heart?

Bram, the Viking, finds himself without future or inheritance as a younger son in his family. A marriage to the Laird's daughter would grant him land if he swears fidelity and if his men will fight along with the Liannons against any foe—Irish or Viking. However, the Laird's feisty daughter only holds animosity for him and his kind. Is marriage worth the battle scares of such a relentless opponent?

With the blame for a rival laird's death treacherously set against the Liannons, Kaireen and Bram must find a way to lay aside their differences as an unforeseen darkness sends death snapping at their heels.

Kaireen Liannon, third daughter to Laird Liannon and the feistiest one at that, is being forced into marriage with a stranger, and may the Gods help her, a Viking! She'll have nothing to do with those kind, pillagers, and not so long away, their enemies. But, time changes, things aren't the way they used to be, and the striking Viking grows on her, from his audacity to the way he works under her skin.

Bram, a Viking by birth and soon to be an Irishman by marriage, has seen the young Kaireen, and even from a distance, he knew that one day, should Valhalla be willing, she would be his wife. Little does he knows that enemies abound and are hatching vile plots to steal what is his, and an attempt to take his life is in the making. Can he be saved? Will Kaireen?

It's not until Bram is nearly lost that Kaireen discovers her mistaken ways.

Viking Fire by Andrea R. Cooper is a sweet romance filled with action, adventure, and a stronghead lass against the will of an unrelenting Viking that makes the reader wish you could spend a little more time with the characters. And the Viking, Bram, is super sexy (just like a Viking should be!). Their marriage is going to be wild and cantankerous to say the least. There were several laugh out loud moments and moments when you wondered if Kaireen was ever going to admit her attraction to the maddening Bram (by the way, I love his name!). It was easy reading, you could almost heard the brogue.

Viking Fire will lit up your summer reading list. It's a fun, fast read, and I enjoyed it immensely! I found myself smiling as the book came to an end. For those who love lite historicals, this is a must read as well as for those who love sweet romance. I felt fortunate to be able to read an early copy of the forthcoming book. Thanks go out to Ms. Cooper!

Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader.

I received this book from the author for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Unattainable by Leslie Garcia

Publisher: Crimson Romance
Pages: 243

 (Release Date: March 18, 2013)

From the Cover:

Unreachable. Dell Rosales gained her nickname, “inalcansable,” or “unreachable,’” the old-fashioned way, earning it with every new rip in her heart.

Unwanted. Dell returns home to salvage her father’s ranch by opening the place to a group of girls with problems and pain not unlike her own. With her outlook on love soured - perhaps beyond salvation - she clings to Becky, the tiny little girl whose own mother preferred a life of drugs and men to motherhood.

Unwinnable. Former DEA agent Jovani Treviño has seen that the war isn’t winnable: people keep dying. Drugs keep killing them. But pleas for help from the DEA make him agree to one last battle for the good cause - checking out heiress Dell Rosales, whose ranch on the Rio Grande provides a perfect spot for traffickers to cross if she allows them to.

Unattainable. Suspicions, passion, and their respective pasts draw Dell and Jovi into a tumultuous relationship that both must to avoid. Love seems distant, foolish to seek - unattainable. When an epic flood threatens not only Dell’s ranch but the surrounding area, will anything survive?

Sensuality Level: Behind Closed Doors

Dell Rosales wants to believe she unattainable, unreachable, she doesn't need a man to make her happy or to prove her worth. She's a businesswomen, respected for her ability, not her family name. Her grandfather is the powerful force, a De Cordova, but she choose to ignore her heritage, choosing to be a Rosales. Her mother abandoned their small family, her father's love is all she's ever known. Then, Jovi Treviño walks into her life.

Jovi Treviño comes to the Rosales ranch, answering an ad for an experienced foreman. But, he has ulterior motives. His brothers at the DEA have asked him to investigate the Rosales ranch and Dell herself for involvement in drug trafficking activity. When he meets Dell, he understands why 'unattainable' has been attached to her name, but is she really? Almost upon their first encounter, sparks fly, and if Jovi isn't careful, he'll jeopardize the investigation and his fellow DEA agents because as wrong as he knows it is, his mind is occupied with nothing but thoughts of the unattainable woman.

Unattainable by Leslie Garcia is a riveting tale of love, suspicion, and trust. Jovi comes to Dell in the form of a lie, but after he meets her, he wants nothing more than to carry her off to his bed. But, he can't, if he sleeps with her under the guise of the foreman, he knows she'll never forgive him. But, if he tells her the truth, she may never trust him again. Dell has her own problems, she's opened her home to troubled girls, and they've turned into a handful. But, Jovi has gotten under her skin like no man has gotten before, not even Jeremy, her troubled one time fiancee. She's been burned a few too many times to take love at it's face value. Can she love Jovi? Should she? Unattainable is a sweet romance, with just even of a police investigation to keep it interesting and the reader on their toes. I very much enjoyed this quick little read and recommend it to those who love a sweet contemporary romance with enough fun and action to keep the pages turning, I read it in one sitting. Five out of fairy kisses!

I received my copy of the ebook for review. Thanks Leslie for an excellent read! All opinions expressed are my own.

Vigilante Nights by Erin Richards

Publisher: Merit Press
Pages: 304

 (Release Date: June 18, 2013)

From the Cover:

A \good boy\" will do anything for vengeance when a gang rite kills his twin sister. Will Lucas win, or follow his sister Silver into the darkness?

After a hideous car wreck, Lucas wakes from a coma to find that his world is gutted. Not only is his beloved twin sister, Silver, gone forever, but Lucas is broken in body and spirit. He will never be a college athlete, and is robbed of what he now realizes was the most important bond of his life. Although they weren't identical twins, Lucas and Silver shared a bond so fierce it defied reason, and was nearly supernatural.

After her death, that bond seems to endure when Lucas sees Silver everywhere he turns. Either he's crazy, or Silver is trying to tell him something about the California gang initiation they stumbled into that cost Silver her life. Lucas is bent on revenge, turning on Raymond, Silver's former boyfriend; the one Lucas never wanted her to date. He forms a posse of vigilantes to take out the gangsters responsible for Silver's death, but he risks not only his own life, but the love of the new girl on his block, who knows more about Lucas and Silver than can be accounted for by mere chance.

Lucas and Silver are twins, two halves of the same whole. When tragedy strikes in the form of a horrific accident, ripping Silver from life, Lucas is left clinging to life and with Silver's lingering presence. Could she have really left him? Why? How could she leave him when he needs her the most? It nearly tears his family apart to lose Silver, his mother and father can't deal, and Lucas really doesn't want to live without her. As he's forced to come back to life, Silver's presence surrounds him, keeping him sane at times, but a constant reminder of what's he's lost. He needs her, but what he really needs is Silver, back in the living. But, no matter how bad life is, it does go on, regardless if you want it to or not.

New neighbors move in, and Tara steps into Lucas's life, helping to relieve the empty hole left by his sister's loss. Tara is everything Lucas didn't know he wanted, she's life after football, life after the accident. His one time friends ignore him now that he's off the football team and no longer part of their crowd. His true friends are the ones that matter, Kevin, Chris, Mikey D., and his new friend, Denny, Tara's brother. But, there's one thing no one but Silver knew, and that's who caused the accident. Lucas forms Silver Ghost, his vigilante group that investigates gang happenings, alerts the police, and ultimately, to have retribution for his sister's loss. But, retribution isn't what he thought it would be, or as costly, to himself and those around him, those he loves.

Vigilante Nights by Erin Richards is both poignant and endearing, a tale of struggling through life after a loss. Lucas starts out as a brother, looking out for his sister and ends with having to grow up faster than he wants or needs to, but with that growth, he becomes a stronger person. He learns to see beyond his own needs and that of his lost sister, Silver. If you enjoy YA reads that deal with the complexities of life, I would definitely recommend this one, it grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go. Excellent read, five fairy kisses for this reader.

I received this ebook for review from the author. Thanks Erin Richards, an excellent read. All opinions expressed are my own.

Stealing Breath by Joanne Brothwell

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Pages: 258

(Released: March 1, 2012)

From the Cover:

Deep in the backwoods of North Dakota, twenty-one year old Sarah Ross is searching for a missing child when she is attacked by a glowing-eyed, transparent... creature. Sarah survives, destroying the monster by using mysterious abilities she didn't even know she had. 

Bloody and bruised, Sarah flees the scene and runs directly into Evan Valente, a handsome, charismatic stranger who helps her back to safety. But what is Evan doing out in the forest at five in the morning? 

Turning to a healer, Sarah is shocked to learn her eyes bear the mark of the Indigo Child-an evolved human with the ability to feel the emotions of others. But her indigo aura also makes her an easy target for those who wish to consume her powerful essence.

Soon, Sarah is falling deeply in love with Evan and wants nothing more than to follow her heart and trust that he is the man he says he is. But she can't ignore the lingering feeling that Evan is hiding a terrible secret. The deeper she digs, the more danger she faces, leading her on a course that will force her to face the darkest, innermost parts of her soul.

Sarah Ross doesn't know what's happening in her life, are these new found abilities real? And what about the thing that tried to attack her? Did she kill that thing? Or was it even there? These are all the questions pouring through her thoughts are she makes her way back to the campgrounds.

And the guy who finds her and helps her stumble her way back to the campgrounds. Who was he and why was he there?

Stealing Breath by Joanne Brothwell is a different sort of fantasy novel, and in my opinion falls into the category of New Adult, easily. It tells the story of Sarah, a girl with empathic and psychic abilities, she can read people, but there in lays the problem. It makes her attractive to the skinwalkers (those who's souls can leave their bodies), she's like candy, drawing them to her, but she's also one of the few who can repel them as well. Then Evan Valente walks into her life, he's gorgeous, wealthy, and... she discovers, he's from family of high priestess and priest of the Malandanti, evil magic practitioners whose lore begins in the old world families of Italy. There are good magic practitioners, the Benandanti, who worked to stop the Malandanti, unfortunately, Evan's roots betray him. But, Evan claims, he doesn't want to be Malandanti, he's never taken a soul, he's never eaten the life force of another. Can Sarah believe him? Can she trust him to not sift into her body, draining her dry? And what about his brother? Stephano's determined to have Sarah's soul. Will Evan turn against him?

Stealing Breath was an awesome read! I fell in love with the tortured Evan, determined to try to keep Sarah with him. And she's drawn, not only by his good looks, but by the need to save him, if only from himself. Stephano, Evan's brother, is determined to eat her soul, and so powerful her soul's meal would be. She's an Indigo Child, her soul holds great power that he could claim for his own. Can she heal Evan's soul, can she keep him from bowing down to his brother, and becoming what he doesn't want to be? Joanne Brothwell provides an excellent read into the world of Native American mysticism blended with the old world mysticism of the magic practitioners, where everything isn't has it appears to be. I highly recommend this book! If you're looking for something new to read in the fantasy genre, this is the book for you. If you love a book that draws you in, filled with mysticism, this is the book for you. If you're looking for something different in the paranormal genre, give this book a try, you won't be sorry.

Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader.

I received my copy of the ebook for review from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Shadow of Time by Louann Carroll

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Pages: 282

 

From the Cover:

Kellyn O'Brien strives to create the perfect family. Then, disaster strikes. Her husband is dead. Three weeks later, she discovers her son is heir to Shadow Ley, a nineteenth century estate nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

Reeling from Michael's death, Kellyn moves to Shadow Ley. Soon, the ordinary becomes the extraordinary: broken drinking glasses repair themselves, stair rails that were once old are now new, and suddenly the estate of Shadow Ley is not what it seems.

She turns to the local historian and learns of Sha' na ho bet, the angry fire god, bound forever to Earth. Native Americans tell her about Coyote, the Trickster who creates chaos out of order. Then the dreams begin with windows into past lives, hints of multidimensionality, and the promise of life beyond death.

Legends abound and so Shadow Ley, the home Kellyn had hoped would bring peace to herself and her children, becomes mired first in doubt, then in terror, and finally in love eternal.

Kellyn is torn between keeping her growing family safe, fed, and living in a home; and leaving the only place she's known as home. Without Michael, it's going to be hard, and it's already breaking her heart. All she's ever really wanted was a home and a family.

Shadow Ley looms in her future, but can she live there, so far from home? She decides, yes, if it will mean she doesn't have to worry about her children. But, there's something strange going on inside the house, and all the legends say Shadow Ley is hiding a secret.

Then, into her life strolls Dr. John Aldrich, and the dreams start... sometimes with Michael and sometimes with another, and sometimes with the reincarnated image of John... and she discovers more than life extending beyond the mortal existence, but planes of existence that she can't even begin to imagine.

The question becomes.... even though Shadow Ley holds her past and her present, can she, her children, and her new love, John, survive the entity existing within its walls? Will it contain her future? Or bring her death?

A Shadow of Time by Louann Carroll is aptly named, it is but a shadow of time shown through the multidimensional layers of existence. Are these layers, planes, existing all at the same time? Are the shadows of the past? Visions from another time? Kellyn is both disturbed and intrigued, the legends surrounding her new home are mystifying. And the old caretaker, he seems to appear from nowhere and disappears just as quickly. Then, the anxiety attacks start again, making her question even her ability as a mother. Can she do this? Bring a new baby into her life when, already, she's struggling to keep Scotty and herself together. She has to make the best of it, Shadow Ley and the fortune attached to it, is her only hope. When the enigmatic doctor walks into her life, she drawn, and not only by the man he is now, but the one who visits her dreams, can they be one in the same? As terrified as she is, she comes to realize that her only hope for peace is to discover the answers and the destiny of Shadow Ley.

A Shadow of Time is a mesmerizing read. It captured my attention and held on to the very last page, and I have to say, I love the cover, the timepiece fits the story perfectly. I found myself relating to the main character, Kellyn, both disturbed and intrigued. The being living within Shadow Ley has been trapped and denied for so long, and now it's hungry, in fact, it's starving. It craves human interaction, it craves the souls of those living within its walls, it craves what it can't have and demands. It promises Kellyn peace and happiness, and only brings chaos. John doesn't want Kellyn living in the old monstrosity, but he's almost as drawn to the place as she is. It wants to capture him as well, revealing truths from the past, but will it be their future or swallow them whole? Will it trap them, use them, or will they break free, slay the monster, and live happily ever after?

A Shadow of Time tells a twisting story, multidimensional, much like the planes existing in the story. It's also a bit of a ghost story, a bit of a horror story, and a bit of a love story. It's a tale of twisted realities, past and present interposed on each other. If you love a tale that makes you question reality, you'll love A Shadow of Time. I certainly did. Ghost story lovers need to pick this one you, you'll be surprised at the depth of the story that lingers after the pages are finished. Paranormal Romance lovers will also love this story of love and redemption. You'll want to give it a try.

Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader.

I received this book for review, and enjoyed every minute of it. All opinions expressed are my own.

Inhale, Just Breathe Book One by Kendall Grey

Publisher: Kendall Grey/Howling Mad Press
Pages: 463

(Released: April 20, 2012)

From the Cover:

Strangers in reality, inseparable in dreams…

After years of suffocating under her boss’s scrutiny, whale biologist Zoe Morgan finally lands a job as director of a tagging project in Hervey Bay, Australia. Success Down Under all but guarantees her the promotion of a lifetime, and Zoe won’t let anything—or anyone—stand in her way. Not the whale voices she suddenly hears in her head, not the ex who won’t take no for an answer, and especially not the gorgeous figment of her imagination who keeps saving her from the fiery hell of her dreams.

Gavin Cassidy hasn’t been called to help a human Wyldling in over a year, which is fine by him. Still blaming himself for the death of his partner, he keeps the guilt at bay by indulging in every excess his rock star persona affords. That is, until he’s summoned to protect Zoe from hungry Fyre Elementals and learns his new charge is the key to restoring order in the dying Dreaming. He never expects to fall for the feisty Dr. Morgan…nor does he realize he may have to sacrifice the woman he loves to save an entire country.

*This book contains graphic language, sex, and some violence. Not suitable for readers under the age of 18.

**The author will donate all profits from the sale of the JUST BREATHE trilogy to programs that educate people about whales and the challenges they face.

Zoe Morgan is following her dream as a whale biologist and finally out from under the thumb of her one time lover and boss, she finds the freedom she needs. It's never been hard for Zoe to bring the whales to her, making her tagging job a little easier to complete. Sometimes, it almost seems as if Zoe can "talk" to the whales and they can talk back. Her problem is that to do her job, she's shut herself off from the rest of her life, can she continue to live this way?

Gavin Cassidy is a rock star, real life. He's been shying away from his life in the Dreaming, wanting to refuse his destiny... but until he finds Zoe's escape into the Dreaming. Can this Wylding be exactly what he needs? From the first time together, he realizes she could be something more. Then, when she lets herself go in what is her dreamland, and his reality, she turns out to be the lover he can't live without, she can put out the fire that burns within his soul. But, what will happen if she finds out that her dreams was really reality?

Inhale by Kendall Grey tells the story of the Elementals, earth, fire, water, air, and how it's all interconnected with life. What Zoe doesn't know is she is going to play a bigger part in this Dreaming that just as an imaginary dream lover whom she finds harder and harder to live without. How can she become so dependent of her dream life? And when she discovers her dream lover is real, and not only real, but a rock star, she's blown away. How can all this be possible?

Inhale starts out as a story about Zoe's need to save the whales, to protect them from the hunters, it's the driving force in her life. Then, she meets Gavin, her dream lover, and her life changes. Her drive to save the whales is just as strong, maybe stronger, but so is the need for her dream lover. Inhale starts out as a hellacious ride into the unknown and end up being a burning hot romance between a rock star and a whale biologist that only gets better the further you get into the storyline. If you like a rocking hard romance, Elementals in all their various shapes and forms, then pick up Inhale, you won't be sorry.

Five out five fairy kisses for this reader.

I picked up Inhale after meeting Kendell Grey at RT2012, she was awesome and I enjoy supporting her efforts to help our extra-large cousins. All proceeds go whale programs, what a great cause. All opinions expressed are my own.

Not Your Average Fairy Tale by Chantele Sedgwick

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Pages: 224

(Released: August 1, 2012)

From the Cover:

Ash Summerland has it all-good looks, popularity, and the best grades at The Academy of Magical Beings.

Ready to complete his last assignment in order to graduate, Ash is confident he will get the apprenticeship he wants. but when he opens the letter from the Council, he is shocked to discover he has been assigned to apprentice Lady Shenelle, Keeper of Happy Endings - aka the head fairy godmother.

Ash is forced to grant three wishes to a troubled human girl named Kendall, and ultimately give her a "happy ever after". But Kendall turns out to be more than he bargained for. Still grieving over her father's death, she doesn't want anything to do with Ash. And worst of all, she doesn't believe in happy endings.

Ash Summerland thinks he's going to have it all, graduating at the top of his class, his dream job as a Sandman... until it all crashes down, and he can't believe his luck. When he rushes to see his mentor, the head Sandman, he's told it's all for his own good. But, how can being a fairy godmother be a good thing? And what's worse are the gossamer wings that suddenly want to sprout from his back. Now, he's forced into becoming... a fairy... with wings, a wand, and everything, and not only is he a fairy, but a fairy godmother (or whatever you want to call the only guy fairy godmother... what would that be? A guy fairy wish granter?) Lady Shenelle forces him into facing a challenge he doesn't want, granting wishes, giving a happy ending. It can't get any worse. He'll just hurry through this final hurdle AND then all his dreams will be realized. But, he isn't counting on Kendall.

Kendall wants to hide from the world, it's all her fault that her father died. And she survived, she doesn't believe in happy endings, having wishes come true.... not since she lost her father. Now, she had to deal with her mother's depression, her sister's forced cheerfulness, and everyone in the school knows what happened, and she has the scar to prove it. She can't believe in fairytales anymore, not even when some gorgeous guy pretends to be a genie or whatever, a fairy godmother, her fairy godmother, and determined to grant her three wishes. If he would just go away and let her be.... but Ash has other plans, and one of them is getting Kendall to believe him and what he is, and now. He somehow starts to change her life...even if she doesn't want it to. Kendall wasn't counting on Ash either or his wish granting or maybe even what her heart feels.

Not Your Average Fairy Tale by Chantele Sedgwick is just as the name implies, it isn't your average fairytale... Ash Summerland isn't counting on how becoming a fairy godmother and everything that goes along with it. This one crazy assignment has ruined his chances of stepping into a Sandman apprenticeship, and his worst enemy, Dax, has his dream job, at least temporarily. Kendall Corrigan has closed herself off, she doesn't hang out with friends, she isn't on the drill team anymore, and she's self-conscious of the scar that trails down her cheek to her neck, another reminder of the accident that took her father's life. Mostly, she hides in her bedroom, hoping it all goes away and hiding. Then, Ash walks (or flies) into her life, trying to change everything. Kendall isn't what Ash is expecting either, he recognizes the pain in her eyes, and he wants to protect her, as well as get her to speak her three wishes... the soon the assignment is over the better.... or is it?

Chantelle Sedgwick tells an engaging story, a top notch tale of what might be and what is. I could not put her book down! Ash can't believe he's being forced into being a fairy godmother, and Kendall can't believe there's really anything like a fairy godmother, but she sees it with her own eyes. I love the twist of fate that Ms. Sedgwick brings to her story, a guy fairy godmother who's mad about his whole situation and a girl who's slightly fractured, but maybe she can be 'fixed' with a little help from her new friend. If you're looking for a Not Your Average Fairy Tale story, you might want to pick this one up, it's anything but average. Five out of five fairy kisses for this reader.

I received my copy of Ms. Sedgwick's ebook, Not Your Average Fairy Tale, for review. All opinions expressed are my own.