Embrace (Gryphon Series) by Stacey Rourke

My review for: Embrace by Stacey Rourke
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Trudy Powders

 

I finished this book in one sitting. Wow is all I can say. Celeste and her family continue to fight evil, new "friends" are made but who are they really there for? Celeste finds romance with Caleb, only to be forced to fight for her life and those she loves. Her friend Alec has changed and is missing. Gabe has found love. Celeste risks all she loves and holds dear in battle. Changes are made and not all for good. The book ends with a cliffhanger. Well written and fast paced.

Stacey Rourke Amazon Page

My Highland Love by Tarah Scott

I've been asked what my inspiration was for My Highland Love. My first impulse was to write about a hero who knew what he wanted. The tortured hero has always been in fashion, but I wanted to see a man openly pursue the woman he wanted. From there, I had to figure out everything else. I began researching Scottish history and was shocked to learn of the Scottish Clearances, which took place in the early nineteenth century. There were a few real life heroes at that time, and I decided that a romantic hero who was decisive would also be heroic by nature. So the Highland Clearances became the current political backdrop that our hero dealt with.

I also learned that the MacGregor clan was a clan that was singled out for persecution during the clearances. In fact, the MacGregors really were the rebels of the Scottish clans, and had been singled out throughout much of Scottish history. So Marcus MacGregor was born with a tempestuous family history and a troubled modern history. Here's an early scene that I believe sums up Marcus' past, as well as his feelings about how he must lead his people.  

 

How does a woman tell her betrothed that she murdered her first husband?

 

Elise Kingston is a wanted woman. Nothing, not even Highlander Marcus MacGregor, will stop her from returning home to ensure that the man responsible for her daughter's death hangs.

Until she must choose between his life and her revenge.

 

 

Excerpt--

Through the busy courtyard, he answered greetings, but his thoughts remained on the image of Elise as she vanished from sight. She had a forthright, strong quality. Yet—he bent his head to breathe her lingering scent from his clothes—the lavender bouquet in her hair was decidedly feminine. It would be some time before he forgot the feel of her buttocks across his thighs. But then, perhaps he wouldn't have to. Marcus entered the great hall to find his father sitting alone in his chair at the head of the table.

Cameron brightened. "So, ye decided to come home?"

Relaxing warmth rippled through Marcus.

"Tired of wandering the land?" Cameron made a wide sweeping gesture.

"You knew I was on my way, but, aye." He stopped at the chair to his father's right and lowered himself onto the seat. "I am pleased to be home."

"How is my grandson? I see you did not bring him with you."

Marcus sighed. "Nay, Father. You knew I wouldn't."

Cameron snorted. "We would not want to offend the mighty Sassenach."

"Father," Marcus said in a low tone.

Cameron shook his head. "The clan never asked you to concede to the English, you know. I never asked for it. Did you ever wonder if the sacrifice is worth your son?"

"Aye," Marcus murmured. He'd wondered. Politics had ruled the MacGregor clan for centuries and that wasn't easily changed. He paused. "Have I been gone too long, or is something different about the great hall?"

"You have the right of it, lad." Eyes that mirrored his own looked back at him. "More than you can imagine."

Marcus looked about the room. "I can't quite place it. What's happened?"

Cameron took a long, exaggerated draught of ale.

"Cameron."

"Enough of your looks, lad. They do not work with me." He chuckled. "I taught them to you. Remember? It is no mystery, really. Look around. When did you last see the tapestries so bright, the floors so clean?" He motioned toward the wall that ran the length of the room, framed by stairs on either end. "When have you seen the weapons so polished?"

Marcus scanned the nearly two hundred gleaming weapons mounted across the wall. He rose and walked the wall's length, perusing the weapons. Each one glistened, some nearly as bright as newly forged steel. He glanced at the floor. The stone looked as if it had just been laid.

He looked at his father. "What happened?"

"The women came one day—or rather, one month—and swept out the cobwebs, cleaned the floors, the tapestries, weapons."

Marcus rose and crossed the room to the kitchen door where the women worked. The housekeeper sat at the kitchen table. Ancient blue eyes, still shining with the bloom of youth, smiled back at him. Winnie had been present at his birth. Marcus knew she loved him like the son she'd never had. He, in turn, regarded her with as much affection as he had his own mother.

She turned her attention to the raw chicken she carved. "So, you've returned at last."

"Aye, milady."

A corner of her mouth twitched with amusement.

"I am looking forward to the company of some fine lasses tonight," he said. "'Tis a long and lonely trip I've had. Perhaps next time I shall take you with me." He gave her a roguish wink before striding back to his seat in the hall.

Marcus lowered himself into the chair he had occupied earlier. "Must have taken an army just to shine the weapons alone. Not to mention the walls and floors."

"It did. You will see the same throughout the castle. Not a room went untouched."

"Whatever possessed them to do it?"

"It was the hand of a sweet lass," Cameron replied.

"Which one? Not Winnie—"

"Nay. The lass Shannon and Josh found washed ashore on the coast. They brought her when they returned from the south."

"Washed ashore?"

"An American woman. Her ship perished in a fire."

"American?"

Cameron scowled. "Are you deaf? Shannon is the one who discovered her at Solway Firth."

"What in God's name was she doing there?"

Cameron gave his chin a speculative scratch. "Damned if I know. They were headed for London."

"London? Sailing through Solway Firth requires sailing around the north of Ireland. That would add a week or more to the journey."

His father's mouth twisted into a wry grin. "You know the English, probably got lost."

"I thought you said she was American."

"English, American, 'tis all the same." Cameron's expression sobered. "But dinna' mistake me, she is a fine lass. She came to us just after you left for Ashlund four months ago. You should have seen her when they brought her here. Proud little thing."

"Proud, indeed," Marcus repeated.

"'Tis what I said." Cameron eyed him. "Are you sure something isn't ailing you?"

Marcus shook his head.

"At first, she didn't say much," Cameron went on. "But I could see a storm brewed in her head. Then one day, she informed me Brahan Seer was in dire need of something." He sighed deeply. "She was more right than she knew."

Marcus understood his father's meaning. His mother's death five years ago had affected Cameron dramatically. Only last year had his father finally sought female comfort. The gaping hole created by her absence left them both thirsting for a firm, feminine hand.

"It's a miracle she survived the fire," Cameron said. "'Course, if you knew her, you would not be surprised."

"I believe I do," Marcus remarked.

"What? You only just arrived."

"I picked up passengers on the way home—Tavis, little Bonnie, and an American woman." Marcus related the tale. "I recognized her accent," he ended. "Got accustomed to it while on campaign in America."

Cameron smiled. "Elise is forever chasing after those children."

"Why?"

His father's expression darkened. "Shamus was murdered."

Marcus straightened. "Murdered?"

"Aye."

"By God, how—Lauren, what of her?"

Sadness softened the hard lines around his father's mouth. "She is fine, in body, but… her mind has no' been the same since Shamus died. We tried consoling her, but she will have none of it."

A tingling sensation crept up Marcus's back. "What happened?"

"We found him just over the border in Montal Cove with his skull bashed in."

"Any idea who did it?"

"Aye," Cameron said. "Campbells."

Marcus surged to his feet. He strode to the wall, where hung the claymore belonging to his ancestor Ryan MacGregor, the man who saved their clan from annihilation. Marcus ran a finger along the blade, the cold, hard steel heating his blood as nothing else could. Except… Campbells.

Had two centuries of bloodshed not been enough?

Fifty years ago, King George finally proclaimed the MacGregors no longer outlaws and restored their Highland name. General John Murray, Marcus's great uncle, was named clan chief. Only recently, the MacGregors were given a place of honor in the escort, which carried the "Honors of Scotland" before the sovereign. Marcus had been there, marching alongside his clansmen.

Too many dark years had passed under this cloud. Would the hunted feeling Ryan MacGregor experienced ever fade from the clan? Perhaps it would have been better if Helena hadn't saved Ryan that fateful day so long ago. But Ryan had lived, and his clan thrived, not by the sword, but by the timeless power of gold. Aye, the Ashlund name Helena gave Ryan saved them. Yet, Ryan MacGregor's soul demanded recompense.

How could Ryan rest while his people still perished?

Marcus removed his hand from the sword and faced his father. "It's time the MacGregors brought down the Campbell dogs."

 

My Highland Love is the first book in the Highland Lords series and is now available at http://www.spsilverpublishing.com/ and your favorite distributors.

If you would like to learn more about me and my books, stop by my website or visit me at Facebook.

Tarah

 

Award winning author Tarah Scott cut her teeth on authors such as Georgette Heyer, Zane Grey, and Amanda Quick. Her favorite book is a Tale of Two Cities, with Gone With the Wind as a close second. She writes modern classical romance, and paranormal and romantic suspense. Tarah grew up in Texas and currently resides in Westchester County, New York with her daughter.

Website:

www.tarahscott.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/TarahScottsRomanceNovels

Twitter:

http://wefollow.com/TarahScott

Blog:

http://tarahscott.tarahscott.com/

Email:

tscott@tarahscott.com

The Nightmare Stone by Finian Black

My review for: The Nightmare Stone by Finian Black
Anne Nelson

 

Author Finian Black has a terrific story with “The Nightmare Stone”, his debut novel. Which to me is a shock in a way, I say shock because with the level of imaginative and clever writing seen in this novel you would assume that he was a seasoned author with a multitude of books under his belt already.. But nope, this is in fact his “debut”.

Over the years I have grown to love ghost stories, where before I would say that looks good and would read it hopefully one of these days.

In The Nightmare Stone the beautiful, effortless meshing of a age old much loved fairytale along with mythology was amazing!!! (no I won‘t tell you which fairytale)

I absolutely loved the different time eras that were encompassed throughout the story. Placing yourself exactly as if you were at the scene was so easy for me.

There were so many different twists and turns woven into past and present memories, summarized for us as the story began, (I loved the way it was done) yet I was intrigued to realized it didn’t give everything away half through or in the begin as some do.

I found that right after I had finished The Nightmare Stone, within a short time I was watching the movie, and then I promptly pulled out my book of classic fairytales to read it, as I had as a child.

A haunting, creepy and suspenseful twist of a piece of our childhood, a beloved fairytale that we all remember.

I recommend this novel to teens and up.. You will thoroughly enjoy it, and be surprised at what you do find out.

Well done Author Finian Black, on this phenomenal take on a piece of our childhood memories. I look forward to what is to come as more of your words flow across the pages or screen once more.

 

Recommend: Teen and up

Rating: 4.5/5 angel stars
Angel Anne Reviews

Finian Black Amazon Page

Hot & Forbidden (De La Cruz Saga) by P.T. Macias

Interview ~ P.T. Macias author of De La Cruz Saga

 

When your characters offer you writing advice. Do you take it?  

When I’m writing, my characters are alive directing their story. The scene, emotions and tone are transmitted to me as I write. I feel their anger, fear, happiness, dreams, goals and sorrow. I see the scene, their corporeal positions and their facial expressions. So the answer to this question would be yes, lol.                                                                                   

Is there a particular moment in time when you realized the “author life” must happen for you?

Honestly, no. I woke up after dreaming my saga for a couple of months and realized that I needed to write their story. I always dreamed when I was a young girl that I would love to write some romance novels. I never made the effort to write. I’m lying; I did get a notebook and attempted to write. I didn’t get far. I would write and throw the page away (Lee-Ann, remember there weren’t any laptops, pc’s in that time. I didn’t even own a typewriter.) I grew up, married and had my children. Life demands and family life was my priority. So any thoughts on writing were pushed back in my mind.  

Do you have a character who, upon creation, you loved to hate?

OMG, this is not a fair question. In this saga, I love every character, yes including the cartel, El Mextli. Every single character is special and, as a writer, you can relate to this. They become your babies.

Your blending of cultures in the De La Cruz series lends a very unique style to your story (personally, I appreciate when an author adds authenticity to her work.) How did the idea of adding “Spanglish” into your novel arise and what steps did you take to overcome any language barriers for your readers?

This is a very interesting question because it’s truly a unique style. Well, I don’t think too unique; I mean I don’t believe that I’m the first to write like this. I did win a poetry contest in high school back in 1981. My poem won first place and was written in Spanglish. That said, maybe I have always thought of writing in Spanglish.

You also have to remember Santa and Jose Feliciano also had some hit songs back in the day that were in Spanglish. In the Hispanic media, there have always been articles, magazines and television shows that have a lot of Spanglish. It’s very common in areas that the Mexican-American, or should I say Latin-Spanish speaking cultures that have blended. The modes of conversations are often in Spanglish. The sentences are usually 50/50. We are thinking in both languages, so when you speak, you use the word in Spanish or in English, whichever word comes first in your mind. Of course, I’m referring to the persons that do know both languages. 

I also thought of the readers that don’t speak Spanish. I did put a glossary in the back of the book. I also hope that this is an enjoyable method of learning very basic Spanish words. I also attempted to use the same Spanish words in the story.

Why did I write my novels in Spanglish? I wrote the De La Cruz Saga in Spanglish because they are a Mexican-American familia who live in California. This familia has blended Mexican and American culture into their life. This is a norm in the Mexican-American community. The Spanglish also gives the story the authenticity and also the flavor of our culture. I also wanted to transmit some of the Mexican-American culture and traditions in my story.

How did the De La Cruz saga come to be?

I dreamed the De la Cruz Saga for a couple of months. The characters wouldn’t let me be. I kept dreaming about them, thinking about them, until I understood. I finally realized one morning that I needed to write these stories, this saga. I bought a laptop and started to write.

While I waited for the laptop to arrive, I did some rough story plots and used a calendar for a timeline. I created the characters and the book titles. I also thought about the book covers.

Hot & Forbidden is heartbreaking, tantalizing and exciting.  Nicolas De La Cruz and Daniella De La Cruz fall in love. Their love rocks their world flinging them into pain, despair, and ecstasy.  

Nicolas is hot, sensitive, and captivating. Nick’s amor for Daniella is intense and passionate. Daniella De La Cruz is hot, sexy and sweet. Nick and Daniella recognize that they are alma gemelas (soul mates).

Nicolas De La Cruz leaves la familia to work in Washington. The close knit familia has no clue to the cause of the emotional rollercoaster that rocks Nicolas’ world. La familia is mystified and disturbed with his departure.

Daniella De La Cruz is expecting a bebe. She refuses to tell la familia who is the padre (father) of her bebe. Daniella dreams of the day she is reunited with her bebe’s father, her alma gemela.

Their love rocks their world. The forbidden is enticing and painful. Can they overcome the obstacles that threaten their amor? The familia’s secret is the key to unlock their love and set it free.

 

Excerpt ~

        “Amor, don’t cry,” whispers Nick, hating to see her cry.  “I hate this.” He takes her mano and strides over to the other side of the department store toward the baño.  Hmm, this is a familia baño, he thinks as he walks into the baño with her and locks the door.

        “Nick, I’m such a crybaby lately, and I love you.  I want to shout to the entire world that you’re todo mio,” whispers Danni, pulling him down for a hungry beso. “I need you.” she says, undoing his pants and pulling him out.

        Oh, mi amor is killing me, thinks Nick, pulling up her skirt and pulling off her panties. Yeah, she’s so ready, he thinks. Nick sinks his aching shaft into her tight hot heart, kissing her with todo his amor.

        “Baby, si, I need more,” says Danni, devouring his mouth. “I love making love with you.”

        “Danni, you drive me loco, I’m burning up,” says Nick as they reached their release together, bonding their alma as one. Hmmm, si, Danni is so delicious and sexy.  Making love in the baño is hot.

        “We can get caught, amor, but I want some more,” moans Nick, going down to her sweet heart, rubbing his cara into her hot flesh. Oh yeah, mi favorite and I’m going to have some. She looks so sexy on the counter, tasting her, holding on to her hips, pulling her up. Hmmm, si, so sweet, I love tasting all of her sweet soaked flesh.

        “Baby, that feels good,” whimpers Danni. “I want some, Nick, now.”

        “Si, amor,” says Nick, shoving his throbbing shaft into her tight heart, fast and hard, loving every moment of her tight hold. Nick moans out his pleasure, quickly kissing Danni. Oh yeah, this is heaven, and I love making love to mi amor.

Where to find this amazing author

P.T. Macias Links

www.ptmacias.com

www.ptmacias.blogspot.com

www.delacruzsaga.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/PT-Macias/319871778087970

https://www.facebook.com/ptmacias.DeLaCruzSaga

http://www.networkedblogs.com/user/100003063676611

http://pinterest.com/ptmacias/

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/patriciamacias

http://www.tumblr.com/blog/ptmacias

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6035548.P_T_Macias

http://tiny.cc/a08ykw 

http://bookblogs.ning.com/profile/PatriciaMacias

http://www.shelfari.com/o1515059902

http://www.authors.com/profile/PatriciaTMacias

http://klout.com/#/auth_PTMacias/influencers/2

http://www.networkedblogs.com/user/100003063676611

http://www.myspace.com/580777542

http://bloggers.com/account/home

http://youtu.be/n5p8k_pZ36A

https://twitter.com/pt_macias 

http://romancefantasymagic.blogspot.com

http://crystalpixiedust.blogspot.com

 

 

Redemption by R.K Ryals

My review for:  Redemption by R.K Ryals
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Shanna Roberson

I won the entire trilogy from the wonderful girls at Young Adult and Teen Readers on Facebook. I can’t tell you how frigging glad I am that I won them! If you haven’t read them yet, go get them now.

Sisters, Dayton and Amber Blaineys’ world comes crashing down around them when they lose both of their parents in a tragic car accident.

Still deep in grief, they are forced to live with their mother’s sister, an unaffectionate woman who lives in a creepy old Abbey, run by an equally creepy religious Order who thrives on secrecy and moral high ground.

If growing up in this cold and detached place wasn’t bad enough, Dayton had to deal with being the outcast amongst the group because of her rebellious attitude, potty mouth and her unwillingness to conform into someone that she is not.

Her older sister, Amber quickly accepts the lifestyle and was embraced by the Order while Dayton becomes increasingly suspicious of them.

And as her 17^th birthday approaches, her aunt and followers start acting really strange, enough for her to worry about her safety in her own home.

With her two best friends, Conner and Monroe agreeing that she needs to leave the Abbey, Dayton is tore from being worried about her own wellbeing and getting the answers she so desperately needs.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t given the chance to choose before she is thrust into a bond with an ancient being that neither wants it or the responsibility of protecting them both.

With her whole life becoming one big lie, she and her friends must find a way out of this bond before all hell breaks loose.

R.K. Ryals is a master storyteller with an uncanny talent of completely drawing her readers in and never letting go. I devoured this book and I enjoyed every minute of it! With swoon-worthy demons and snarky heroines, what’s not to love? Ms. Ryals takes a very popular genre and makes it her own. Redemption is unlike anything I have ever read and I am officially a fan for life!

Now go away…I am reading Ransom : )

The Space Between Us by Megan Hart

My review for: The Space Between Us by Megan Hart
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Trudy Powders

Once again Megan Hart delivers a roller coaster of a read. The story follows Tesla and her relationships, her stories .From her relationship with her boss and co-workers to family and friends, lovers. Tesla's life gets more complicated as she seeks to find what she truly wants. From love and passion to pain and heartbreak. I read this story in one day; I couldn’t put this book down. To me Tesla is a complicated person. I found myself rooting for her to find happiness. This book is an adult read.

 

Megan Hart Amazon Page

Chain Reaction by T.C. Archer

My review for:  Chain Reaction by T.C. Archer
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Trudy Powders

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. This is the first T.C. Archer book I have ever read. At first I was confused as to who the good guys were and who were the bad, this book follows Jordan Pierce as he tries to hide his secret, while working as a security guard and be involved with "spy" activities. This book has one of the best "transformation" scenes I have ever read. Yes there is a love interest. This book is about spies, Nazis, double cross. It was a fun read .I enjoyed Jordan and his battle not to become a "full" monster .I give this book 4/5 It is a safe read for YA to adult.

 

T.C. Archer Amazon Page