reviews

Eclipse Lake by @MaeClair1 #RomSuspense #BookReview

Small towns hold the darkest secrets.

Fifteen years after leaving his criminal past and estranged brother behind, widower Dane Carlisle returns to his hometown on the banks of sleepy Eclipse Lake. Now, a successful businessman, he has kept his troubled past a secret from most everyone, including his seventeen-year-old son.

But memories in small towns are bitter and long.

Ellie Sullivan, a nature photographer for a national magazine, has a habit of ping-ponging across the map. Her latest assignment leads her to Eclipse Lake where she becomes caught up in the enmity between Dane, his brother Jonah, and a vengeful town sheriff. When freshly-discovered skeletal remains are linked to an unsolved murder and Dane’s past, Ellie is left questioning her growing attraction for a man who harbors long-buried secrets.

Biography

A member of the Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers, Mae Clair is also a founding member and contributor to the award-winning writing blog, Story Empire. She has achieved bestseller status on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble, with several of her novels chosen as book club selections.

Mae writes primarily in the mystery/suspense genre, flavoring her plots with elements of urban legend and folklore. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about cryptozoology, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail, and cats.

Discover more about Mae on her website and blog at MaeClair.com

My Review

Renewing family connections shouldn’t be this hard!

Dane Carlisle is returning home after a fifteen year absence. Many things have changed; he’s a widower, father, and a multi-millionaire entrepreneur- his life couldn’t be more different than when he was a troubled youth. Problem is, his older brother, Jonah, doesn’t want him there.

Jonah wants nothing to do with the selfish delinquent who’d landed himself in jail and disappeared years ago, leaving him to care for an aging alcoholic parent. Dane hadn’t even come home for her funeral, so why should he expect a warm welcome now?

When a skeleton is uncovered along the shores of Eclipse Lake it sends the two brothers on a road of self-discovery. Will long-buried secrets destroy any chance of reconciliation, or will it finally bring peace to Eclipse Lake?

This is my kind of story; family turmoil, mysterious events, romance- it was hard to put down!
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I give Eclipse Lake 5 lovely kisses- Mystery meets family saga in this page-turner!

Check out all of my book recommendations on BookBub

September 26, 2019September 26, 2019

Jacquie Biggar23 Comments

Hardwired by Andrea Bills #Suspense #BookReview

When Navy Seal Operative Luke Kiersey, who suffers from amnesia, is finally granted leave after five years, he finds himself driving to a house he doesn’t recognize in a town he’s never been to. The house is home to a beautiful woman and a little girl with big blue eyes. Day after day, he drives back only to hide in the shadows and wonder why he can’t seem to walk away from them.
His therapist says is PTSD.
His handler tells him he’s just not cut out to be part of the civilian world.
Luke can’t help but feel like it’s more.
The dog tags that once hung proudly around his neck, now feel like a collar; leashing him to a life that he fears he didn’t choose. After the terrible things he’s done in the name of freedom, could he possibly be worthy of something as precious as the woman and child he continues to watch?
When the two worlds collide, Luke needs his mind to be stronger than the implant the government placed in his back. They’ve told him he can’t survive without the implant they use to control him, but Luke’s wondering if he can survive without the little girl with big blue eyes and the gorgeous woman she calls mamma.

Biography

Andrea is a wife, mother and writer from small town West Virginia. She spends her time while she’s not dreaming up lovers and villains alike chasing after her two kids and husband.
Her overactive imagination and her husband’s wacky dreams attribute to her love of the written word. Guilty pleasures include reading all night and Reese Cups.

My Review

Luke Kiersey doesn’t remember much before a near-death encounter overseas five years ago. He woke with a computer implanted in his back that literally kept him alive, and a debt to his country he could never repay.

Trained to become one of the deadliest assassins in the United States Navy, Luke is more machine than man.

Until a chance encounter triggers memories of his past.

Jen Kiersey has a counter full of unpaid bills and a hole in her heart from the death of her husband when her daughter was an infant. It’s not easy juggling a five-year-old with a demanding job and sometimes the loneliness gets overwhelming.

Until a tall stranger saves them from an intruder. Her not-so-dead husband.

Furious at the lies he’s been told, Luke tries to walk away from a government with its own hidden agenda, but learns the hard way it won’t be easy.

This book had an interesting concept and some twists I didn’t see coming.

One of my favorite lines between Luke and his daughter:

“Sometimes when I lose my favorite stuffy, Mamma makes me go back to where I last remember having it to help me find it. Maybe that would help you. Do you remember us at all?”
“I think that’s a really good idea, Bella. Maybe I can try that.”
“Uh, Daddy?”
“Yes?” Luke responded, hoping he didn’t sound as uncomfortable as he felt at being called that.
“I have to go potty.”
Bills, Andrea. Hardwired (The Brotherhood Series) (p. 112). Kindle Edition.

And between Luke and Jen:

Luke covered her small hands with his, afraid she would disappear. “Sometimes I’m afraid you’re just an illusion. As if my PTSD has conjured this all up in my head.”
Bills, Andrea. Hardwired (The Brotherhood Series) (p. 137). Kindle Edition.

I give Hardwired 4 lovely kisses- an entertaining read!

May 31, 2019May 30, 2019

Jacquie Biggar9 Comments

Some bonds, once forged, cannot be broken. Unbreakable by Emma Scott #Romance #BookReview @EmmaS_Writes

This novel has been revamped, reformatted, re-edited, has a new cover and an extended epilogue with bonus content. 1/22/19
THIS BOOK CAN BE READ AS A STANDALONE
Alex Gardener has her life planned out, down to the smallest detail. She has a skyrocketing career as a litigation attorney, a close group of socialite friends, and is engaged to one of the most successful businessmen in Beverly Hills. Everything is just as she wants it: comfortable, predictable, secure…if lacking passion. Fire.

Cory Bishop is a struggling working man, trying to make ends meet while fighting to keep custody his young daughter. He knows that working hard is the only way to achieve his goals, but lately it seems everything he wants hangs just out of reach.

The bank robbery changes everything.

Alex and Cory spend three harrowing days as hostages locked in a bank with fifty frightened people and six criminals who grow more desperate–and dangerous–by the hour. Alex and Cory find comfort and safety with each other and reveal their deepest hopes and fears and secrets, unknowingly building a bond forged out of desperation and fear, one that they can’t break, even once outside the bank’s walls.

Their lives are turned upside down, irrevocably altered, and they seek to move on and put the robbery–and each other–behind them.

But some bonds, once forged, cannot be broken. Save a Life

Biography

Emma Scott is a bestselling author of emotional, character-driven romances in which art and love intertwine to heal, and in which love always wins. If you enjoy emotionally-charged stories that rip your heart out and put it back together again, with diverse characters and kind-hearted heroes, you will enjoy her novels.

RECENT RELEASES

Bring Down the Stars (Beautiful Hearts #1)

Long Live the Beautiful Hearts (Beautiful Hearts #2)

COMING SOON

A Five-Minute Life (standalone)

Someday, Someday (M/M standalone)

You can follow me at all the places…

Super-cute NON SPAMMY newsletter: http://bit.ly/2nTGLf6 

Author page: https://www.facebook.com/EmmaScottwrites/

Reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/906742879369651/

My Review

Emma Scott turns up the heat!

Lawyer, Alex Gardener, is getting married, but before that can happen a life-altering experience changes her life- possibly forever.

Cory Bishop is under no delusions about the crap life can dole out, so he’s not really surprised to find himself in the middle of a bank robbery. But he IS shocked by the instant attraction between him and fellow hostage, Alex Gardener.

Held for three days in an airless room with little food or water, Alex and Cory, along with the other captives, fight through their fear and pray to survive. Bonds are made, vows are broken, and the fallout might be worse than death.

I enjoyed this story, though not as much as some of her other books. The robbery takes up roughly a third of the story and was edge-of-the-seat thrilling, but after that it became a lot of back and forth about Alex and Cory’s forbidden attraction. I felt it carried on for too long, though there were some incredibly touching moments with Cory’s young daughter and his ailing father.

Favorite Lines:

Hello, gorgeous. The face bent close to mine was ruggedly handsome with a strong jaw, chiseled chin, broad mouth with full lips, and—most surprisingly for a man with lighter hair—rich brown eyes, which were sharply intelligent and soft at the same time. I smelled his crisp scent—aftershave and something like freshly chopped wood—and it seemed that scent settled into my chest and remained there, warm and clean.
Unbreakable- Emma Scott

He shook his head. “Why did he do that? Sell our name like that?” “He did it for you,” I said quietly.
“For me,” Walter said. “What have I got left? I’m fading away like a picture in the sun. He should’ve let me die.”
Unbreakable- Emma Scott

I started to speak, but my mother flapped her hands, her eyes filled with angry tears. “It was going to be such a beautiful wedding.”
“I don’t want a beautiful wedding, Mom,” I said gently. “I want a beautiful marriage.”
Unbreakable- Emma Scott

I give Unbreakable 4 lovely kisses- Worth the read!

May 10, 2019May 9, 2019

Jacquie Biggar7 Comments

The #Blogging World is Alive and Well #Reading

Blogging is alive and well.

I’m surprised by how many writers feel they’re wasting time by building connections within the writing community. Where do they think book reviewers hang out?

As a reader, I’ve found many fantastic new reads thanks to the reviews I’ve read on blogging sites.

As an author, I follow blogs like Writers in the Storm and Story Empire to learn my craft. I’ve also learned the blogging community is open and friendly- always happy to welcome newcomers into their midst.

It’s a good way to build SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for your website, too! By commenting on other blogs, you’ll soon find your own stats will grow, along with your connections, so… win-win 🙂

A good way to do this is to make use of the WordPress Reader- you can find this on the top left of your website.

You can choose the posts you follow or do a search for those you’re interested in. I even follow the local news stations from there!

One of the best benefits to blogging are the friends you can make from all over the world. I’ve met people from South Africa, Sicily, England, France, the U.S and Canada. And the amazing thing is- we all love books!

One such friend recently read my new release, Skating on Thin Ice, and posted an amazing review. Here it is- in part from Staci Troilo’s awesome blog:

When a romantic suspense (one of my favorite genres) set in the hockey world (one of my favorite past times) was released by one of my favorite authors (Jacquie Biggar), I had to bump it in the queue. And like Letang’s slapshot through a goalie’s five-hole, I blazed through it. Here are my thoughts:

★★★★★ She Shoots and Scores!

Jacquie Biggar has done it again. I have yet another new book boyfriend—Mac Wanowski, captain of the Victoria WarHawks hockey team.

Mac is the perfect guy—a body that won’t quit, a quick wit to match, intelligent, chivalrous, and just damaged enough to tug your heartstrings without wanting to bash him over the head for his stupidity. (Well, not too often, anyway.)

Sam is his perfect match—strong, smart, quick-tempered, sassy, big-hearted. And she has a past with true heartache and a present with secrets that make her just a little mysterious.

If they gave a Stanley Cup to authors, Biggar would deserve one for this story.

Blurb:

Sam Walters has made a deal with the devil.

In order to win a much-needed contract as physical therapist to one of the NHL’s leading hockey teams, Sam must delay the recovery of their sniper, Mac Wanowski. The trouble is, the more she gets to know the taciturn hockey player, the more she aches to help him.

Mac ‘The Hammer’ Wanowski chased the Stanley Cup dream for too many years. Last time he was close it had cost him his wife. As injuries continue to plague the team, Mac works to catch a killer and keep the woman he’s come to love from the hands of a madman.

Hockey can be a dangerous sport, especially when millions of dollars are at stake.

Amazon Purchase Link

As you can see, the blogging community is a valuable resource. One you, as a writer, cannot afford to ignore!

You can also read Skating on Thin Ice in an upcoming anthology published by authors from The Authors’ Billboard- A Night She’ll Remember

Available March 31st!

Lives change as passions flare when nine USA Today Bestselling Authors share tales of intrigue, hints of suspense and new romance guaranteed to keep you reading.

Second chances, broken engagements, accidents, misled information and opposites attract are just some of what you’ll find within the passion-filled pages of A Night She’ll Remember.

Be sure to check out our Authors’ Billboard Monthly Contests for free ebooks, gift cards, and paperbacks.

February 27, 2019

Jacquie Biggar32 Comments

A cold-blooded killer resurfaces from the past… The Dark Bones by Loreth Anne White #Suspense #BookReview @Loreth

She’s come back to solve the mystery of her father’s death and confront her own dark past.

When Detective Rebecca North left her rural hometown, she vowed never to return. Her father’s apparent suicide has changed that. The official report is that retired cop Noah North shot himself, knocked over a lantern, and set his isolated cabin ablaze. But Rebecca cannot believe he killed himself.

To prove it, she needs the help of Ash Haugen, the man she left behind. But Rebecca and Ash share more than broken hearts. Something darker lies between them, and the investigation is stirring it back to life. Clues lead them to the home of Olivia West and her deeply troubled twelve-year-old daughter, Tori. The child knows more about the murder than anyone can imagine, but she’s too terrified to say a word.

And as a cold-blooded killer resurfaces from the past, Rebecca and Ash begin to fear that their own secrets may be even harder to survive.

Biography

Loreth Anne White is an internationally bestselling author of thrillers, mysteries, and romantic suspense. A three-time RITA finalist, she is also the Overall 2017 Daphne du Maurier Award winner, and she has won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the Romantic Crown for Best Romantic Suspense and Best Book Overall, in addition to being a Booksellers’ Best finalist, and a multiple CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award winner.

A recovering journalist who has worked in both South Africa and Canada, she now resides in the haunting mountains of the Pacific Northwest with her family … where she tries to avoid the bears, albeit unsuccessfully! When she’s not writing, you will find her skiing, biking, or hiking the trails with her dog (aka the Black Beast). Or open water swimming. She calls this work, because that’s when the best ideas come.

You find her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Loreth.Anne.White
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/Loreth
Or connect with her via her website at:
http://www.lorethannewhite.com

My Review

A desperate phone call from Becca North’s drunk father fills her with a sadness that changes to horror when she receives the news he’s committed suicide. A trip home to arrange his funeral uncovers a string of inconsistencies that soon has the RCMP officer embroiled in a past she never wanted to revisit.

Ash Haugen can’t believe Rebecca- his Becca- suspects him in the growing case proving her father was murdered for the secrets he’d uncovered. Ash had a few of those himself; ones that could ruin any chance he might have of winning her trust.

As the investigation heats up, Rebecca is forced to rethink her beliefs while fighting a growing attraction to her teenage love- Ash Haugen- her chief suspect.

Loreth does it again in this spine-tingling thriller!

We get a little reminiscing with characters from the first in the series, A Dark Lure, a whole lot of broody settings, and a cast of characters that will leave you wondering in the way of classic mystery-suspense page-turners, who-done-it?

I give The Dark Bones 5+ lovely kisses- A chilling suspense!

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the opportunity.

February 22, 2019February 21, 2019

Jacquie Biggar8 Comments

The Sheriff Meets His Match is #Free #Romance #Reading

The Sheriff Meets his Match

When a jaded sheriff is drawn to an exasperating woman in trouble, anything can happen

Jack Garrett has been stung by love in the past, but he can’t deny his attraction to the new receptionist, Laurel Thomas.

When trouble comes to Tidal Falls, Jack worries that Laurel Thomas is in over her head.

Laurel loves her dysfunctional family, but dreams of a place to call home. Just as she settles into a new life, her old one catches up to her and delivers chaos to the town.

Can these two strong personalities find a way to trust in each other enough to give love a second chance?

Review:

Ya just gotta love Jack…. Jack is the sexy sheriff in the town of Tidal Falls who has dedicated his life to his job and raising his daughter. You see, Jack’s ex-wife took off and left him not only a broken man but a single man with a child to raise on his own. Needless to say Jack has closed off his heart to longterm relationships.

But when a sassy, totally disorganized yet gorgeous women, Laurel, comes to town and is given a temp job at the Sheriff’s office, it test’s Jack’s ability to not only resist her but to stay sane. Needless to say these two push all the wrong buttons while trying to fight an attraction neither wants to admit, especially when her uncle comes to town. (Laurel’s uncle is a professional con-man and often running from the law). And once again, he brings trouble to Laurel’s door.

This is a funny, lighthearted romance that will keep you laughing at this crazy bunch while guessing what in the world is going to happen next.

I Huge WTG to Ms. Biggar for this delightful tale in the Lonely Hearts series.

By Barbara Barber

Sheriff Jack Garrett, the hero of Jacquie Biggar’s The Sheriff Meets His Match (Wavefront Publishing 2015), Book 4 of the Wounded Hearts series, has no time for love. He is barely over a nasty divorce, trying to raise a challenging teenage daughter, and then there are his regular duties as Sheriff of Tidal Falls. Well, maybe he’s not over his divorce. He’s still hurt, angry, and struggling to get back to where he was before it all happened. It helps that he’s a hunk and has any number of women ready to assist him on any given day. Or night. But no one interests him until Laurel shows up, the temporary receptionist while Angie–the regular–is away. Laurel is sassy, energetic, and gorgeous. Oh–she’s also a con artist. She wants to retire but her Uncle–the man who introduced her to the con artist life–keeps dragging her back into it. Now, Uncle Max needs Laurel’s help with the final swindle, the last one and then he can quit. Laurel tries to turn him down but he reveals that this con will free his daughter from the clutches of a money hungry, nasty husband. The problem is, it’s in Sheriff Garrett’s backyard and while he may be a hunk, he’s also pretty sharp.

This is a fast-moving sexy story that might or might not end well for Laurel and the Sheriff but it sure will tantalize their spirits. This is highly recommended for those who love romance stories. Be warned: This is a novella so be prepared for nonstop fast-as-lightning action that ends in about 146 pages.

Jacqui Murray

Excerpt

“Are you just going to watch us, Daddy, or are you going to help?” Tina stood grinning quizzically at him, her hands on her narrow jean clad hips.

Jack’s mouth quirked. No one did attitude like his girl. “I was waiting on you two hens to quit clucking so we could get down to work,” he teased.

“Sure, you were. Did you know daydreaming is an early sign of the onset of dementia?” She threw him a string of lights and he grimaced at the knotted mess.

“I thought I taught you to respect your elders?” he said, and grinned at Laurel’s sputtered laughter. “See, Miss Thomas agrees.”

She shook her head and the hat slid south. A quick catch righted its position. She handed the glass ornaments over to Tina and picked up a second one from the supplies. “Leave me out of this, you two. I’m just an impartial observer.”

She turned and carefully hung a shiny red bell on one of the nearby branches, giving it a little flick with her fingertip that resounded through his core. A snow globe of a festive village followed, then she lifted a blue velvet Santa from the box and stood for a moment contemplating the best location. Jack was about to suggest a bare spot on a lower branch when she stretched up on a death defying pair of candy apple red heels and damn near stopped his breath. Her modest, knee-length skirt slid inch-by-tantalizing-inch up her thighs, revealing shapely legs and a taut heart-shaped derriere. Her furry white sweater lifted to play peek-a-boo with a cherry blossom branch tattooed onto the small of her back. Jack’s fingers itched to touch the engraved symbol of feminine strength. His mouth watered with the urge to nuzzle her neck below her raised chin. To turn her into his arms and pick up where they’d left off. To…

“Dad, you’re making it worse.”

Tina’s voice jarred him awake. What was he doing fantasizing with his daughter right there in the room? And over someone who probably wouldn’t even stick around until spring either. He glanced down and saw the jangled mess he’d made of the lights and swore under his breath.

http://amzn.com/B0150T696Y

International:

https://books2read.com/u/bP1JWJ

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26241585-the-sheriff-meets-his-match

https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-sheriff-meets-his-match-a-wounded-hearts-novella-by-jacquie-biggar

February 16, 2019February 16, 2019

Jacquie Biggar12 Comments

In Shadows by Sharon Sala #Suspense #BookReview

To protect her, he must remain a ghost…

Jack McCann has been in love with Shelly since they were teens. They married just out of college and right before he went to work as an undercover agent for the FBI. When he can, he slips away from his assignments to see her.

Jack has been undercover on his latest case for months, investigating a weapons-smuggling business. But just as the FBI is set to make the bust, Jack’s cover is blown. The last thing he feels as he crashes through a warehouse window and into the open water is a bullet piercing his back. The last thing he hears is Adam Wu promising to destroy everyone Jack loves.

Shelley’s worst nightmares come true when the FBI arrive at her doorstep to bring her the news. But she doesn’t know the truth: Jack survived the shooting and will do anything to keep his beloved wife safe—even if it means hiding in shadows…

Biography

Sharon Sala is a long-time member of RWA, as well as a member of OKRWA. She has 100 plus books in print under her name and her pen name, Dinah McCall. She is published in five different genres – Romance, Young Adult, Western, Fiction, and Women’s Fiction. First published in 1991, she’s an eight-time RITA finalist, winner of the Janet Dailey Award, four-time Career Achievement winner from RT Magazine, five time winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award, and five time winner of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence, winner of the Heart of Excellence Award, as well as winner of the Booksellers Best Award. In 2011 she was named RWA’s recipient of the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. Her books are New York Times , USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly best-sellers. Writing changed her life, her world, and her fate.

My Review

This book was a mixed bag for me.

It starts out with undercover FBI agent, Jack McCann sneaking home in the middle of an operation for a quickie with his wife, who obligingly opens her legs and says,

“Oh my God, oh my God.” Seconds later she was in her husband’s arms, returning kiss for kiss, pulling off his jacket as he removed his shoulder holster, unbuckling his belt so he could push the jeans down his legs.

Sala, Sharon. In Shadows . MIRA Books. Kindle Edition.

This is seconds after her house alarm sounds a warning that someone shut it off and a big, dark shadow of a man appears in the doorway. Now, I don’t know about you, but I would have freaked out and thrown a lamp at his head, at the very least.

The suspense amped up somewhat after this and there were a few page-flipping moments, but for me this book fell flat.

I give In Shadows three lovely kisses- Not her best.

February 4, 2019February 3, 2019

Jacquie Biggar10 Comments

Robyn: A Christmas Bride by @Jacqui_Nelson #WesternRomance #BookReview

Who’s the perfect match for a flame-haired Welsh tomboy who loves driving wagons?

Raised by three free-spirited older brothers, Robyn Llewellyn has learned to fight for what she wants—and now she wants to transform her boss and best friend, Max Peregrine, into a lifelong partner. Determined to become the image of what a marriage-minded man wants, Robyn trades her trousers for a dress and heads to Max’s hometown of Noelle, Colorado. But changing who she is with the help of the now happily married Brides of Noelle puts her friendship with Max at risk.

Who’s the perfect match for a work-addicted Denver business owner who loves his independence?

Defying his brother and grandpa’s wishes for him to stay with them in Noelle, Max Peregrine has created his dream job—leading a highly successful branch of Peregrines’ Post and Freight while working beside Robyn, the only person who makes him smile every day. But when she leaves without a word, Max follows her to Noelle where the choices they both must face could make it impossible for them to stay together beyond Christmas day.

Inspired by My Fair Lady, The Gift of the Magi, and the spirit of gift giving, Robyn: A Christmas Bride is a classic Western historical love story set in a small town high in the mountains during Christmas 1877.

Biography

Fall in love with a new Old West… where the men are steadfast & the women are adventurous. You’ll find Wild West scouts, spies, cardsharps, wilderness guides, and trick-riding superstars in my stories. Those are my heroines. Wait till you meet my heroes! My love for historical romance adventures with grit and passion came from watching Western movies while growing up on a cattle farm in northern Canada. I’ve been nominated for over 20 awards and won the RWA® Golden Heart® & the Laramie® — but my best reward is hearing from readers who have enjoyed my stories.

Follow me on Amazon to be the first to hear about new releases.

Visit my website ~ http://www.JacquiNelson.com ~ and subscribe to my newsletter to receive a FREE STORY and be the first to hear about exclusive bonus content.

DO YOU LOVE HISTORICAL WESTERN ROMANCES?
Then why not join historical western romance authors and readers on the Pioneer Hearts Facebook group and share your favorite stories, photos, and all things Old West? http://www.facebook.com/groups/pioneerhearts

My Review

Robyn Llewellyn is determined to show her boss and best friend, Max Peregrine, that she would make him the perfect wife. Desperate for results, she heads to Max’s hometown of Noelle, Colorado to seek help from the happily married Brides of Noelle. Will the changes she makes ruin her chances to get Max to see her as more than just a friend?

Max Peregrine enjoys his Denver job at Peregrines’ Post and Freight and can’t understand why his best friend, Robyn, has run away to his hometown just when he needs her most. He follows her to Noelle-and his past-where the stubborn woman leads him on a merry dance. Will Max find a way to let Robyn know he loves her just the way she is?

This is a sweet holiday romance filled with many of the characters we’ve come to love in the small town of Noelle and an important life lesson on the value of loving ourselves as we are.

I give Robyn: A Christmas Bride 5 lovely kisses- an enjoyable tale!

January 7, 2019January 6, 2019

Jacquie Biggar12 Comments

Possession by @TM_Frazier #Suspense #BookReview

Hell Hath No Fury…

The story of Grim and Emma Jean continues.

War is on the horizon.
We’ve come so far.
We’ll have to fight for what we have.
Or die trying.

Possession is book two of The Perversion Trilogy
Permission is book three
Perversion is book one

What Readers are Saying

“…incredible. It’s dark, angsty, dangerous and delicious.” – Two Bookish Brits

“It has the authors authentic touch of darkness, but just the right amount of romance to take it downright swoony. T.M. Frazier writes the BEST anti-heroes and I seem to fall in love with each one as they come into my world!” – Elle’s Book Blog

Biography

T.M. Frazier never imagined that a single person would ever read a word she wrote when she published her first book in 2013. Now, she is a USA Today bestselling author. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and published all around the world.

T.M. enjoys writing what she calls ‘wrong side of the tracks romance’ with morally corrupt antiheroes and ballsy heroines.

Her books have been described as raw, dark and gritty. Basically, what that means, is while some authors are great at describing a flower as it blooms, T.M. is better at describing it in the final stages of decay.

She loves meeting her readers, but if you see her at an event please don’t pinch her because she’s not ready to wake up from this amazing dream.

Join T.M. in Frazierland! http://www.facebook.com/groups/tmfrazierland

My Review

This book knocked my socks off!

Grim and Tricks are back in the gritty, shocking, sensual continuation of the Perversion Trilogy.

When two rival gangs turn up the heat, Tricks (Emma Jean) is caught in the middle and becomes a captive of the Los Meurtos. Their leader, Marco, learns she is a spy and decides to teach her and the Bedlam gang a lesson. But, he’s not working alone.

I won’t give it away, but there’s a surprise twist here I did not see coming!

Grim is going crazy with worry about his girl, Tricks, and his new responsibilities as leader of the Bedlam. When a load of heroin and a murdered body from the Irish mob shows up on his doorstep, he realizes theres an intricate plan afoot to destroy all that he loves.

Then he learns of Tricks’s capture and subsequent torture and the war is on!

Favorite lines:

The broken don’t need to be put back together, they need to be loved for all their pieces.”

“I’ll give you time, Tricks, but this isn’t over. We aren’t the kind of thing that can just be over. You and me Tricks. We. Don’t. End.”

I’m only equipped for death and destruction.” He smiles and I know he’s wrong because I see nothing but life in his eyes.

Make no mistake, this book is raw, unfiltered, pain. But, it’s also promise, hope, and love.

I want to give it 5 lovely kisses, but there are some serious editing issues that pulled it down to a 4 for me. Still, a must-read!

November 24, 2018November 21, 2018

Jacquie Biggar12 Comments

The Next Best Thing by @Kristan_Higgins #Romance #BookReview

Lucy Lang isn’t looking for fireworks…

She’s looking for a nice, decent man. Someone who’ll mow the lawn, flip chicken on the barbecue, teach their future children to play soccer. But most important: someone who won’t inspire the slightest stirring in her heart…or anywhere else. A young widow, Lucy can’t risk that kind of loss again. But sharing her life with a cat named Fat Mikey and the Black Widows at the family bakery isn’t enough either. So it’s goodbye to Ethan, her hot but entirely inappropriate “friend with privileges,” and hello to a man she can marry.

Too bad Ethan Mirabelli isn’t going anywhere. As far as he’s concerned, what she needs might be right under her nose. But can he convince her that the next best thing can really be forever?

Biography

Kristan Higgins is the New York Times, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of 18 novels, which have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. Her books have received dozens of awards and accolades, including starred reviews from Kirkus, The New York Journal of Books, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and Booklist. She is a five-time nominee for The Kirkus Prize for Best Work of Fiction, and her books regularly appear on the lists for best novels of the year of many prestigious journals and review sites. If you want to keep up with Kristan’s new releases and get a free short story, sign up for her mailing list at http://www.kristanhiggins.com.

The proud descendant of a butcher and a laundress, Kristan lives in Connecticut with her heroic firefighter husband, two long-lashed children, a couple of frisky rescue dogs and an occasionally friendly cat.

bay blur boat boats — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

My Review

A second chance romance like no other!

Five years after the death of her husband, Lucy Lang is ready to date again; if only she can stop comparing every guy to her husband- and forget the illicit affair she’s been having with his brother.

Ethan Mirabelli has loved his best friend, Lucy, for years, but his older, attractive brother captured her heart. His death placed Ethan in the job of support and comfort. Now, he has a second chance- if he can convince her not to run the other way.

This story is filled with heart-wrenching moments, and yet, it’s also funny, poignant and romantic enough to make this reader’s heart flutter.

I can’t even imagine what I’d do without DH. I’d like to think I’d get signs from above like the dimes that show up for Lucy.

I give The Next Best Thing 5 lovely Kisses- This story hits all the right buttons!

How do you feel about second chance romances? Have you read any Kristan Higgins books? Which one is your favorite?

November 3, 2018November 2, 2018

Jacquie Biggar5 Comments

Academic Curveball by James J. Cudney #Mystery #BookReview @jamescudney4

When Kellan Ayrwick returns home for his father’s retirement from Braxton College, he finds a dead body in Diamond Hall’s stairwell.

Unfortunately, Kellan has a connection to the victim, and so do several members of his family. Could one of them be guilty of murder? Soon after, the college’s athletic program receives mysterious donations, a nasty blog denounces his father and someone attempts to change students’ grades.

Someone is playing games on campus, but none of the facts add up. With the help of his eccentric and trouble-making nana, Kellan tries to stay out of the sheriff’s way. And if that wasn’t enough already, his own past comes spiraling back to change his life forever.

In the debut novel in the Braxton Campus Mysteries Series, you’ll discover a cozy, secluded Pennsylvania village full of quirky, sarcastic and nosy residents.

Biography

James is my given name; most call me Jay. I grew up on Long Island and currently live in New York City, but I’ve traveled all across the US (and various parts of the world). After college, I spent 15 years working in technology and business operations in the sports, entertainment and media industries. Although I enjoyed my job, I left in 2016 to focus on my passion: telling stories and connecting people through words. My debut novel is ‘Watching Glass Shatter,’ a contemporary fiction family drama with elements of mystery, suspense, humor and romance. To see samples or receive news from my current and upcoming books, please subscribe with your email address at my website: https://jamesjcudney.com

What do I do outside of writing: I’m an avid genealogist (discovered 2K family members going back about 250 years) and cook (I find it so hard to follow a recipe). I love to read; between Goodreads and my blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, I have over 500 book reviews which will give you a full flavor for my voice and style. On my blog, I started the 365 Daily Challenge, where I post a word each day that has some meaning to me, then converse with everyone about life. There is humor, tears, love, friendship, advice and bloopers. Lots of bloopers where I poke fun at myself all the time. Even my dog has a weekly segment called “Ryder’s Rants” where he complains about me. All these things make up who I am; none of them are very fancy or magnanimous, but they are real and show how I live every day.

A bit of humor: Everything doubles as something else when you live in NYC. For me, it’s the dining room, my favorite space in the apartment, where more than just my cooking is on display! As I look out the windows onto a 12th floor terrace, various parts of nature (trees, bushes, flowers, bugs & animals) inspire me to write. Ryder, my 10-year old shiba inu, usually lays on my feet, growling when I shift positions too many times or when I forget to share my food! Although he’s only 20 pounds, he’s quite strong and pushy. But how else can you pen the best story possible without these things by your side?

man and woman in brown leather coat standing on brown soil — Photo by Vera Arsic on Pexels.com

My Review

Things are not what they seem in this debut of the Braxton Campus mystery series!

Kellan Ayrwick is going home for his father’s retirement ceremony from the college he’s run for the past twenty years. Kellan’s boss takes the opportunity to have him meet a woman with information for a true crime show they’re working on, but before he can find her there’s a murder on campus.

Kellan’s dad, Wesley, becomes a prime suspect and Kellan must weave his way through a tangled web of lies and deceit if he wants to find the true killer.

There’s plenty of stress in the Ayrwick home as accusations against Wesley’s management of funds is questioned and rumors abound. My favorite character was Nana D, whose sarcasm and sage advice give humor to a tense situation.

Favorite lines:

Nana D: Is that a dirty wet mop on your head? You’re dressed like a hooligan. Put on a coat, it’s cold out.

Me: Thanks, Captain Obvious. I fell on the walkway. You think I’m normally this much of a disaster?

Nana D: And you’re supposed to be the brilliant one? Have you given up on life, or did it give up on you?

Me: Keep it up, and I won’t visit this weekend. You’re supposed to be a sweet and loving grandma.

Nana D: If that’s what you want, go down to the old folks’ home and rent yourself a little biddy. Maybe you two can share some smashed peas, green Jell-O, and a tasty glass of Ovaltine. I’ll even pay.

Cudney, James J.. Academic Curveball (Braxton Campus Mysteries Book 1) (Kindle Locations 138-140). Creativia. Kindle Edition.

I give Academic Curveball 5 lovely kisses: A great new-to-me author!

October 27, 2018October 26, 2018

Jacquie Biggar18 Comments

Eye of the Beholder by @JackieWeger #BookReview #Romance #eNovAaw

Twenty-four year old Phoebe Hawley is on a quest to find her family a home. On the road with two siblings, twelve year-old Maydean and five year-old Willie-Boy, Phoebe is out of money, out of gas and out of patience. Now the only things she owns in abundance are Hawley backbone and Hawley pride–neither of which she can trade for food or gas.

A collision with Gage Morgan puts Phoebe’s mission in even worse jeopardy–until Phoebe discovers Gage Morgan owns the perfect place for the Hawley clan. But! Gage Morgan has a bruised ego, a tight fist on his land and an iron fist on his heart and is the unlikeliest man in the universe to succumb to her schemes. Phoebe wields all of the pride, backbone and country smarts she owns to claim his home, plow his land and pilfer his heart. Nothing works. With time running against her family, she plies one last inducement—her scarce feminine wiles…Will it be enough?

Biography

Jackie Weger has been writing romance novels off and on for thirty years. When she’s writing, she’s anchored in a tiny room with a desk, a chair and an annoying cat. When not writing, blogging or chatting with fans or just being flat-out lazy, she’s hanging out on a fishing pier soaking up sunshine and reading a good book. For many a year she traveled our good earth by foot, boat, bus, train, plane or pickup, and sometimes a mule–but today she only gets as far as Walmart.

Visit Jackie: http://jackieweger.com/blog where you can sign up to follow her blog or snag her newsletter.

To enter on-going Giveaways of Amazon Gift Cards and some entertaining books visit: http://www.greatbooksgreatdeals.com/AccentOnRomance

For aspiring and indie authors~visit eNovel Authors at Work ~ A resource for Indie Authors where you will find tips and ehow to help you avoid missteps and master indie authorship: http://enovelauthors.com/

Meanwhile: Enjoy life. Hold close the people you love and don’t forget to read a romance novel now and again.

affection blur close up couple — Photo by Rosie Ann on Pexels.com

My Review

These characters will grab your heart!

Set in southern USA, the author does a wonderful job of immersing the reader in Phoebe Hawley’s fight to do right by her family. Tasked with finding a home for her parents and handicapped sister, Phoebe drives to the next county with her younger brother and sister, with next to no money and an aging pickup.

A fender bender with a disgruntled, handsome junkyard owner gives Phoebe the opportunity to earn some money to pay him back while setting some aside for her family back home. When she falls for the gruff man she’s been taking advantage of by insinuating her small family into his home, Phoebe comes up with a plan to make him marry her so that her parents can move in, too.

When Gage figures out he’s been tricked, the betrayal runs deep. Will he forgive her and give their love a chance to mend his damaged heart?

Though some of the terminology is dated, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Many parts left me smiling and the happy ending left this romance lover contented.

I give Eye of the Beholder 4 lovely kisses

October 21, 2018October 20, 2018

Jacquie Biggar4 Comments

From the creator of the bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood, get ready for a new band of brothers. And a firestorm. Consumed by @JRWard1 #Suspense #BookReview

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the popular Black Dagger Brotherhood series comes a brand-new novel about arson investigator, Ann Ashburn, who is consumed by her troubled past, her family’s scorched legacy, and her current case: chasing a deadly killer.

Anne Ashburn is a woman consumed…

By her bitter family legacy, by her scorched career as a firefighter, by her obsession with department bad-boy Danny McGuire, and by a new case that pits her against a fiery killer.

Strong-willed Anne was fearless and loved the thrill of fighting fires, pushing herself to be the best. But when one risky decision at a warehouse fire changes her life forever, Anne must reinvent not only her job, but her whole self.

Shattered and demoralized, Anne finds her new career as an arson investigator a pale substitute for the adrenaline-fueled life she left behind. She doesn’t believe she will ever feel that same all-consuming passion for her job again–until she encounters a string of suspicious fires setting her beloved city ablaze.

Danny McGuire is a premiere fireman, best in the county, but in the midst of a personal meltdown. Danny is taking risks like never before and seems to have a death wish until he teams up with Anne to find the fire starter. But Danny may be more than a distraction, and as Anne narrows in on her target, the arsonist begins to target her.

From the creator of the bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood, get ready for a new band of brothers. And a firestorm.

Biography

J.R. Ward is the number one New York Times bestselling author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series of vampire books. She is a winner of the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA award for Best Paranormal Romance and is a multiple RITA nominee. A graduate of Smith College, she was a double major in History and Art History with a medieval concentration in both and she still longs at times for a return to those days sitting in dark lecture halls, looking at slides of old triptychs and reliquaries. Prior to becoming a full time writer, she was a corporate attorney, serving for many years as the Chief of Staff of one of Harvard Medical Schools premier teaching sites. Her idea of absolute heaven is a day filled with nothing but her computer, her dog and her coffee pot and the Brothers, of course.

closed eyed man holding his face using both of his hands — Photo by Ric Rodrigues on Pexels.com

My Review

So much more than a love story!

Anne Ashburn fought for recognition most of her life. Her father was a decorated fireman, her brother is Chief Tom Ashburn, and her mother… not who she dreams of emulating.

Anne is the sole female firefighter with the 499 squad and as such feels even more pressure to stand out from the crowd.

When a warehouse fire steals her hand and almost takes her life, Anne has to choose whether to conquer her fears or let them burn her to the ground. She goes into rehab and slowly gets her life back- all except for a not-wise attraction to fellow firefighter Danny-boy McGuire.

Danny fell in love with Anne almost from the first moment he laid eyes on her. He admired her strength and tenacity in a male-dominated world and couldn’t deny the chemistry between them. But, Anne’s career goals and a non-fraternization rule stopped their hotter-than-sin affair. The hardest thing he ever did was cutting her hand off after she was trapped in a warehouse fire that damn near killed them.

Anne knows Danny is fighting his guilt over the loss of her limb, but she has bigger issues to contend with. As a rookie arson inspector, she comes upon a trail of suspicious fires and her investigation is making some powerful people worried.

Will Anne survive to bring an arsonist to justice, or will she become the latest victim?

This is the beginning of a fabulous new brotherhood from J.R. Ward. She has the incredible knack of creating characters readers fall in love with. Danny is the ultimate macho man, wide shoulders, muscular physique, but it’s his inner strength that drew me to him. He’s not perfect, and that only adds to the attraction.

This is one of my favorite lines from the fire:

“You need to go,” she ordered him. “Now.”

Danny stopped talking, his face going still behind his clear shield. And then he removed his oxygen supply. “We die together, then.”

He was every bit as resolved as she was, an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object.

Ward, J.R.. Consumed (Firefighters series Book 1) (Kindle Locations 259-261). Gallery Books. Kindle Edition.

But Anne’s story is just as powerful, maybe more-so. She has to overcome a debilitating injury not only physically, but mentally. The author does a superb job of putting us in her shoes.

Good God, she looked like an anime version of herself, assuming her character had gone through a coal mine shaft while being chased by a demon throwing compression bombs at her. Her blue eyes were too wide, and there was soot and ash still in her matted hair and all over her face and neck. The hospital johnny she had on was a mismatch to the fire’s temporary tattooing job, the cheerful pink bouquets on their white background making her seem like a trespasser in some grandmother’s wardrobe.

The initial burst of I-can-triumph-over-this collapsed, a house of cards hit by the cold, hard gust of her reflection.

Ward, J.R.. Consumed (Firefighters series Book 1) (Kindle Locations 657-661). Gallery Books. Kindle Edition.

This book deserves a 10 kiss salute!

October 12, 2018October 11, 2018

Jacquie Biggar9 Comments

A Boy Named Rabbit by @MarciaMeara #BookReview #Suspense

In Book 2 of the Wake-Robin Ridge series, Marcia Meara, author of Swamp Ghosts and Finding Hunter, returns to the rugged beauty of the North Carolina mountains, introducing a little boy whose remarkable gift will change the world for everyone he meets.

“Evil’s comin’, boy…comin’ fast. Look for the man with eyes like winter skies, and hair like a crow’s wing. He’s the one you gotta find.”

The remote mountain wilderness of North Carolina swallowed up the ten-year-old boy as he made his way down from the primitive camp where his grandparents had kept him hidden all his life. His dying grandmother, gifted with the Sight, set him on a quest to find the Good People, and though he is filled with fear and wary of civilization, Rabbit is determined to keep his promise to her. When he crosses paths with Sarah and MacKenzie Cole, neither their lives nor his, are ever the same again.

The extraordinary little boy called Rabbit has the power light up the darkness, and the resourcefulness to save himself from the one person his grandparents had hoped would never find him. His dangerous and bittersweet journey will touch you in unexpected ways, and once you’ve let Rabbit into your heart, you’ll never forget him.

Biography

Marcia Meara is a native Floridian, and lives in Sanford, just north of Orlando, with her husband of 30+ years, four large cats, and two small dachshunds. When not working on her books and blogs, she spends her time gardening, and enjoying the surprising amount of wildlife that manages to make a home in her suburban yard.

At the age of five, Marcia declared she wanted to be an author, and is ecstatic that a mere 64 years later, she finally wrote “Wake-Robin Ridge,” her first novel. Making up for lost time, she has published five more novels and a spinoff novella over the last four years:

A Boy Named Rabbit: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 2
Harbinger: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 3

Swamp Ghosts: Riverbend Book 1
Finding Hunter: Riverbend Book 2
That Darkest Place: Riverbend Book 3

The Emissary: A Riverbend Spinoff Novella

Marcia has also published a small chapbook of poetry, Summer Magic: Poems of Life and Love, and her work has been included in six Silver Birch Press Anthologies.

Her philosophy? It’s never too late to follow your dream. Just take that first step, and never look back. At age 73, when many people are slowing down, Marcia’s new career is just taking off. She plans to keep on writing until she falls face down on the keyboard, and would, in fact, consider that a pretty good way to go.

You can reach Marcia through her blogs and other social media:

The Write Stuff: http://marciamearawrites.com/
Bookin’ It: http://marciameara.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcia.meara.writer
Twitter: @marciameara
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marciameara/

My Review

This book is a gem!

Ten year old Rabbit has only known one way of life raised in the North Carolina mountains by elderly grandparents. His grandpa disappears and his grandmother dies leaving him with the stern warning, “Evil’s comin’, boy…comin’ fast. Look for the man with eyes like winter skies, and hair like a crow’s wing. He’s the one you gotta find.”

Scared, but determined to abide by her last wishes, Rabbit packs his meagre belongings and heads across the mountains until he stumbles upon Sarah and Mac.

Sarah can’t believe her eyes when she spots a boy hiding in the woods on their property. It takes time and patience, but she finally manages to convince the boy (Rabbit) to come to her house and meet her husband, Mac.

Mac lost his own son years ago and wants nothing to do with the child Sarah has foisted onto them. He works to find Rabbit’s family so that he can get his safe, quiet home back, but he can’t help coming to care for the boy.

They’re amazed and charmed by the delight Rabbit takes in things they’ve always taken for granted; music, electricity, a fridge, even a bed.

“I been sleepin’ under the stars my whole life, an’ when I woke up here, I didn’t know where I was, an’ I couldn’t even figger who I was, neither. I lost me…you know that part what makes us each just us an’ no one else?

Meara, Marcia. A Boy Named Rabbit: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 2 (p. 88). UNKNOWN. Kindle Edition.

But trouble is coming to Angel House, as Rabbit calls it, and it will take the love and support of Rabbit’s newfound friends to give him the family he’s always wanted.

The author does an amazing job of bring the Blue Ridge Mountains to life in this tale of triumph over adversity. Rabbit’s sweet honesty creates a hero you can’t help but love.

I give A Boy Named Rabbit 5 well-deserved lovely kisses!

September 29, 2018September 28, 2018

Jacquie Biggar27 Comments

Fooling Nazi espionage may cost Lenny the trust of the girl who captured his heart… Dancing with Air by @UviPoznansky #BookReview #Drama

Fooling Nazi espionage may cost Lenny the trust of the girl who captured his heart. Will Natasha discover his secret reports, disguised as love letters to another woman?

In these letters, Lenny gives the enemy misleading information about allied plans for D-Day. Once Natasha arrives in London, he takes her for a ride on his Harley throughout England, from the White Cliffs of Dover to a village near an underground ammunition depot in Staffordshire. When he is wounded in a horrific explosion, she brings him back to safety, only to discover the other woman’s letter to him. Will love survive the test of war?

In the past Natasha wrote, with girlish infatuation, “He will be running his fingers down, all the way down to the small of my back, touching his lips to my ear, breathing his name, breathing mine. Here I am, dancing with air.” In years to come, she will begin to lose her memory, which will make Lenny see her as fragile. “I gather her gently into my arms, holding her like a breath.” But right now, she is at her peak. She is ready to take charge of the course of their story.

Dancing with Air is a standalone WWII romance, as well as the 4th volume of the family saga series Still Life with Memories, one of family sagas best sellers of all time. If you like family saga romance, wounded warrior romance, military romance or romantic suspense, you will find that this love story, twisting and turning through its marital issues, is a unique melding of them all.

Biography

Uvi Poznansky is a bestselling, award-winning author, poet and artist. “I paint with my pen,” she says, “and write with my paintbrush.” Her romance boxed set, A Touch of Passion, is the 2016 WINNER of The Romance Reviews Readers’ Choice Awards.

Education and work:
Uvi earned her B. A. in Architecture and Town Planning from the Technion in Haifa, Israel and practiced with an innovative Architectural firm, taking a major part in the large-scale project, called Home for the Soldier.

Having moved to Troy, N.Y. with her husband and two children, Uvi received a Fellowship grant and a Teaching Assistantship from the Architecture department at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. There, she guided teams in a variety of design projects and earned her M.A. in Architecture. Then, taking a sharp turn in her education, she earned her M.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of Michigan.

She worked first as an architect, and later as a software engineer, software team leader, software manager and a software consultant (with an emphasis on user interface for medical instruments devices.) All the while, she wrote and painted constantly, and exhibited in Israel and California. In addition, she taught art appreciation classes. Her versatile body of work includes bronze and ceramic sculptures, oil and watercolor paintings, charcoal, pen and pencil drawings, and mixed media.

Books and Genres:
Her two series won great acclaim. Still Life with Memories is a family saga series with touches of romance. It’s latest volume is a WWII spy thriller. The series includes Apart From Love, My Own Voice, The White Piano, The Music of Us, Dancing with Air, and Marriage before Death. The David Chronicles is a historical fiction series. It includes Rise to Power, A Peek at Bathsheba, and The Edge of Revolt.

Her poetry book, Home, is in tribute to her father. Her collection of dark tales, Twisted, and her Historical Fiction book, A Favorite Son, are both new age, biblically inspired books. In addition, Uvi wrote and illustrated two children books, Jess and Wiggle and Now I Am Paper. For each one of these books, she created an animation video (find them on YouTube and on her Goodreads page.)

abstract black and white blur book — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

My Review

This is a beautifully written love story!

Dancing with Air opens years after Lenny and Natasha’s tumultuous relationship takes place. They are married and he is losing her once again– not because of the war, instead a dreaded disease is taking her mind to a place he cannot follow.

I wasn’t sure how I’d feel reading this book as my grandmother passed away after years of dementia, but that’s only a small part of the story and is treated with grace and kindness.

Instead, we are treated to a love story that is at times both poignant and humorous. Lenny falls for a young pianist he sees shortly after injury in a training exercise. This line stood out for me:

I was enamored with Natasha even before laying eyes on her.

Poznansky, Uvi. The Music of Us (Still Life with Memories Book 3) (p. 22). Uvi Poznansky. Kindle Edition.

She played a beautiful rendition of God Bless America and had every soldier in the theatre eating out of her sixteen year old hand, Lenny included.

Knowing how besotted Lenny was, his friend wrote her a letter just before he left on his tour to Hawaii (and the subsequent bombing of Pearl Harbor).

Natasha writes Lenny back, thinking he’d sent the first letter, and so their relationship begins.

There are many undercurrents running through this book, from the death of Lenny’s friend, then later his father, to Natasha’s mother who thinks no man is good enough for her daughter. And under everything, is the threat of war.

Lenny and Natasha are separated time and again by their respective careers, but nothing will stop their growing love for one another.

This is romance in its truest form, I loved it!

I give Dancing with Air 5 lovely kisses

September 15, 2018

Jacquie Biggar4 Comments

Lt. Eve Dallas must separate rumors from reality… Secrets in Death by J.D. Robb #Mystery #BookReview

A new novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series: Lt. Eve Dallas must separate rumors from reality when a woman who traffics in other people’s secrets is silenced.

The chic Manhattan nightspot Du Vin is not the kind of place Eve Dallas would usually patronize, and it’s not the kind of bar where a lot of blood gets spilled. But that’s exactly what happens one cold February evening.

The mortally wounded woman is Larinda Mars, a self-described “social information reporter,” or as most people would call it, a professional gossip. As it turns out, she was keeping the most shocking stories quiet, for profitable use in her side business as a blackmailer. Setting her sights on rich, prominent marks, she’d find out what they most wanted to keep hidden and then bleed them dry. Now someone’s done the same to her, literally—with a knife to the brachial artery.

Eve didn’t like Larinda Mars. But she likes murder even less. To find justice for this victim, she’ll have to plunge into the dirty little secrets of all the people Larinda Mars victimized herself. But along the way, she may be exposed to some information she really didn’t want to know…

Biography

J.D. Robb is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling In Death series and the pseudonym for #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts. The futuristic suspense series stars Eve Dallas, a New York City police lieutenant with a dark past. Initially conceived as a trilogy, readers clamored for more of Eve and the mysterious Roarke. Leverage in Death, on sale Septenber 2018, is the 47th entry in the series.

selective focus photography of man and woman sitting on chair inside restaurant during nighttime — Photo by Huy Phan on Pexels.com

My Review

What happens when the woman everyone loves to hate dies in front of you?

See that justice is served.

When society reporter Larinda Mars dies just steps away from Eve Dallas in a busy New York restaurant (coincidentally owned by her husband) she locks down the doors and begins an investigation that will lead her into the dirty little secrets of some of the city’s most prominent members.

Larinda Mars held a profitable sideline blackmailing people to keep their secrets. The deeper Dallas searches, the more suspects turn up.

I love the connection between Dallas and Roarke. Their relationship is the quiet in the storm that is Eve’s job. The little things Roarke does for her, such as making sure she eats healthy and has comfortable shoes warms my heart. As he puts it;

He brought the hand he held to his lips. “My cop spends a good portion of her day on her feet, walking these streets and chasing bad guys. I have a fondness for those feet, and consider good boots as essential in your daily pursuits as your weapon.”

Robb, J. D.. Secrets in Death: An Eve Dallas Novel (In Death, Book 45) (p. 35). St. Martin’s Press. Kindle Edition.

I give Secrets in Death 5 lovely kisses

September 6, 2018

Jacquie Biggar10 Comments

Sir Chocolate and the Sugar Crystal Caves Story and Cookbook #BookReview #Childrensread #mgtab @bakeandwrite

Sir Chocolate and Lady Sweet get sugar water from the Sugar Crystal Caves to make delicious goodies for their shop. Unfortunately something is making the crystals melt. What can Sir Chocolate do? Includes four lovely new recipes.

Robbie Cheadle was born in London in the United Kingdom. Her father died when she was three months old and her mother immigrated to South Africa with her tiny baby girl. Robbie has lived in Johannesburg, George and Cape Town in South Africa and attended fourteen different schools. This gave her lots of opportunities to meet new people and learn lots of social skills as she was frequently “the new girl”.

Robbie is a qualified Chartered Accountant and specialises in corporate finance with a specific interest in listed entities and stock markets. Robbie has written a number of publications on listing equities and debt instruments in Africa and foreign direct investment into Africa.

Robbie is married to Terence Cheadle and they have two lovely boys, Gregory and Michael. Michael (aged 11) is the co-author of the Sir Chocolate series of books and attends school in Johannesburg. Gregory (aged 14) is an avid reader and assists Robbie and Michael with filming and editing their YouTube videos and editing their books.

baking pastry dough bakery — Photo by Life Of Pix on Pexels.com

My Review

This book is a culinary delight!

Sir Chocolate and Lady Sweet use water from the Sugar Crystal Caves to make delicious treats, but this trip they encounter something very worrisome- the crystals are melting!

In order to save their precious cave they must help a dragon in need of a friend.

This story was sweet (pun intended :)) and teaches us all the value of kindness. The pictures are a fantastic accompaniment to the creative prose, and there is a bonus of some family-friendly recipes at the end.

I give Sir Chocolate and the Sugar Caves Story and Cookbook 5 well-deserved kisses!

September 2, 2018

Jacquie Biggar8 Comments

Murdered by Superstition by @DianneDHarmon #Mystery #BookReview

Over 450,000 books have been sold by this two-time USA Today Bestselling Author. This is the ninth book in the Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery series. Free with Kindle Unlimited.

It was just a doll, wasn’t it?
It didn’t have powers, did it?
Powers that could kill?

New Orleans is famous for its pralines, beignets, jazz, Bourbon Street, and the French Quarter. But there’s a darker side to the Big Easy, one that involves voodoo and gris-gris.

Nicole was from New Orleans. When she found voodoo dolls in her gym locker, work desk, and on her front porch, she was scared. She knew what they meant. She was right. A few days later, she was murdered. A voodoo doll was next to her body.

Can voodoo dolls kill? Liz, an amateur sleuth, is determined to find out and catch the killer. On a trip to New Orleans to attend a Cajun-Creole cooking school she meets with a gris-gris doctor who specializes in voodoo, hexes, spells, and superstitions.

Join Liz and her dog Winston as they search for the killer.

As always, plenty of mouth-watering recipes!

Biography

To get your free books from Dianne, just cut and paste: http://ow.ly/wgVG304NU9N Enjoy!

USA TODAY bestselling author and seven time Amazon All Star Author, Dianne Harman, draws her stories and characters from a diverse business and personal background. She owned a national antique and art appraisal business for many years, left that industry, and opened two yoga centers where she taught and certified yoga instructors. She’s traveled extensively throughout the world and loves nothing more than cooking, playing backgammon with her husband, Tom, and throwing the ball for their dog, Kelly.

Being a dog lover and having attended numerous cooking schools, she couldn’t resist writing about food and dogs. Dianne is the author of several cozy mystery series: Cedar Bay, Liz Lucas, High Desert, Midwest, Jack Trout, and the Northwest. Each of these books contains recipes from her travels. Alexis, the first book in the Midlife Journey Series was also recently published. She’s the author of the award-winning suspenseful Coyote Series.

Murder in the Pearl District was chosen by Amazon to be one of their Mystery books in their October, 2016 homage of great writing by independent authors and several of her books have been chosen by them as PRIME books!

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My Review

This book freaked me out!

I guess if you’re from the New Orlean’s area voodoo might not make the hair stand straight up on your arms, but I’m a northwestern girl and this is scary sh*t!

When Liz’s friend mentions receiving dolls with pins sticking out of their bodies, Liz is intrigued. But when her friend turns up dead- strangled the same as the last doll she received- things get serious.

Liz takes a trip to New Orleans and learns about black magic from a gris-gris master. The danger circles closer to home and Liz must pull together all her sleuthing skills to solve the crime before anyone else gets hurt.

An entertaining who-done-it with a surprise ending!

I give Murdered by Superstition 4 lovely kisses

August 18, 2018August 16, 2018

Jacquie BiggarLeave a comment

Let the games begin… Exhume by Danielle Gerard #BookReview #Mystery #Thriller

Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman has finally found a place to belong. As the medical examiner for the San Francisco Police Department, working alongside homicide detective Hal Harris, she uncovers the tales the dead can’t tell about their final moments. It is a job that gives her purpose—and a safe haven from her former life at the hands of an abusive husband. Although it’s been seven years since she escaped that ordeal, she still checks over her shoulder to make sure no one is behind her.

Schwartzman’s latest case is deeply troubling: the victim bears an eerie resemblance to herself. What’s more, a shocking piece of evidence suggests that the killer’s business is far from over—and that Schwartzman may be in danger. In this pulse-pounding thriller from award-winning writer Danielle Girard, a woman must face her worst nightmare to catch a killer.

Biography

Danielle Girard is the author of ten previous novels, including Exhume, book 1 in the Dr. Schwartzman Series, and Chasing Darkness, as well as The Rookie Club series. Her books have won the Barry Award and the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, and two of her titles have been optioned for movies.

A graduate of Cornell University, Danielle received her MFA at Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina. She, her husband, and their two children split their time between San Francisco and the Northern Rockies.

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My Review

This book gave me chills!

Medical examiner Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman is called upon to investigate a woman’s murder and is shocked by similarities to her own past that she can’t ignore. Is her psychotic ex-husband behind the crime?

Seven years ago, she managed the impossible and escaped the controlling man she’d married too late to save her unborn child, something she’d have to live with forever.

Now he was back.

Let the games begin.

This story is an intense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The tension amps up continually and had me gasping more than once!

I questioned Annabelle’s original weakness, for want of a better term, in staying with a man who obviously had no respect for her, but this was later explained with insight into her self-absorbed mother.

I give Exhume 5 lovely kisses- A great start to a crime series!

August 12, 2018August 11, 2018

Jacquie Biggar2 Comments

Is he really repeating the past…or finally getting a chance to do things right? Stay by Karina Bliss #Bookish #BookReview #Romance @BlissKarina

The last thing Joe Fraser needs is an opinionated young teacher telling him he needs to get his act together with his ten-year-old daughter. It’s hard enough working all hours to meet his estranged father’s medical bills. Who the hell does Philippa Browne think she is? Unfortunately he’s desperate enough to take her advice. But when he attends a four-day school camp as parent helper his clashes with Miss Browne take an unexpected direction…
Pip hasn’t resisted the advances of charming, easy-going Californians to fall for this taciturn tough guy so close to returning to New Zealand. But does any woman walk away from the temptation of a dangerous attraction? And they both have a safety net – she’s leaving the States soon. Her unexpected pregnancy changes everything.

Pip’s not ready for motherhood and while Joe’s suggesting marriage, his heart’s not in it. Unfortunately hers is.
As for Joe, he’s been down this road before. But is he really repeating the past…or finally getting a chance to do things right?

“Bliss demonstrates a skill for snappy dialogue and clever plotting that will captivate readers.”~ RT Book Reviews

Biography

New Zealander Karina Bliss has written a biography for a rock star, swapped identities with her twin, raised three orphaned children with her ex husband, worn a cow costume to a Bachelor and Spinster ball, considered marriage for the sake of a baby, and been mayor of a small town.

Oh wait, that’s her characters.

Outside her imagination, she’s always been a professional writer, first as a travel journalist and then as a romance author. Her deeply held convictions include: love conquers all; yoga pants are daywear; and what a woman really wants is a man who cleans. Unfortunately, she does not live with one, (nor indeed has raised one). Please buy her books so she can pay for one.

She has also swum with sharks. They were very small. Babies, really. But still count.

Find out more at http://www.karinabliss.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarinaBlissAuthor
Twitter @BlissKarina
Newsletter & Email: karina@karinabliss.com

My Review

I love stories about divorced fathers trying to remain involved in their children’s lives.

Karina has written a gem here!

Joe Fraser has his hands full with his estranged father’s medical bills after a serious stroke, business dealings not panning out the way he needs them to, and a growing distance between him and his daughter. He doesn’t need advice from her nosy teacher.

When ten year old Kaitlin gets in trouble at school, Joe realizes he needs to make time in his busy schedule to go on a four day field trip in order to reconnect with his girl.

A rocky start makes him wonder if he made the right decision, not to mention a growing attraction to Kaitlin’s teacher. He manages to win over the girls he’s in charge of, but an emergency has him leaving camp early, creating misunderstandings that lead to an explosive confrontation and a kiss that gets out of hand.

Philippa Browne is drawn to the dour father of her favorite pupil, even as she sympathizes with his ex-wife. He seems to be more interested in his career than he is in his daughter and she can’t stand that.

She advises him he needs to step up before Kaitlin pays the price for his neglect. She’s surprised by the smart, funny, kind man she gets to know at camp and when she learns of the real reason for his absentminded parenting, she falls for him.

The problem is, she doesn’t want to fall in love.

I give Stay 4 lovely kisses- A sweet and spicy read!