THE SOLEMN LANTERN MAKER by Merlinda Bobis

Publisher Delta Trade
Date published October 2009
ISBN 978-0-385-34113-4
Holiday/Fiction
Trade Paperback
Obtained via: Publisher
Reviewed by Dawn



It’s Christmas in Manila and for one ten year-old boy, he will find a Christmas Miracle as he and his mother take care of a wounded tourist. Can the darkness of poverty, terror and more be driven by the light that is love?

THE SOLEMN LANTERN MAKER is a story of despair, miracles and friendship within its pages. This was a departure for me and a nice one at that. Ms. Bobis delivers a stirring story full of characters that will have you eager to know more and a fast paced storyline that will suck you in and not let go until the last page is read. If you enjoyed reading or watching “Slumdog Millionaire”, then you may enjoy THE SOLEMN LANTERN MAKER.

Meet Noland, a mute ten year-old who survives with his mother by making his version the stars in his exquisite lanterns made from bright paper. When he witnesses a crime against an American Tourist, he thinks angels descended and takes the wounded woman to the hut where he lives. With the help of his mother, they nurse the woman to health even as the world is transfixed on her disappearance. These are some wonderful characters to enjoy reading. I was transfixed even as I flipped the pages to see what would happen next. Pure magic is within the pages and this is truly an author who knows how to capture her readers’ heart.

THE SOLEMN LANTERN MAKER is a magical story full of multi-dimensional characters, a rich background and the magic of Christmas within its pages. If you enjoy a different story that will have you believing in miracles again, then grab THE SOLEMN LANTERN MAKER. It will surely light up your life as it did mine.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

TAMING THE FIRE *ACRO series book 4* by Sydney Croft

Publisher: Delta
Date published: April 2009
ISBN: 9780385342278
Paranormal Romance
Paperback
Reviewed by Susan


Special Agent Trance is on a mission to protect Ulricka “Rik” Jaeger. Rik has special powers that can be dangerous, thus the Agency for Covert Rare Operatives (ARCO) wants her on their side. Rik can shapeshift into a wolf. It is Trance’s job to accomplish this goal and he must use everything in his power to make it so.

TAMING THE FIRE is the fourth book in this series and I did not read any of the earlier books. This book focuses a lot on the BDSM scene which is not my cup of tea. Both Trance and Rik are dominants but in order to get closer to Rik, Trance has to act like a submissive which goes against everything in him. This relationship is definitely on the wild side and the action is plentiful. Trance’s dominant nature asserts itself and how they deal with it are explored in the book. Trance and Rik do make an interesting couple and the authors have fully developed their characters. Ultimately it is the vulnerability that is displayed by the lead characters that draws you into their story.

TAMING THE FIRE is definitely an “erotic romance” as the sexual action plays a major role in the story. As I stated earlier, the BDSM aspect took away some of my enjoyment of the story as I didn’t find it very erotic and I admit to skimming over those scenes. However for those who are into it, then this book will fit the bill nicely.

MARSHMALLOWS FOR BREAKFAST by Dorothy Koomson

Publisher: Delta
Date published: January 2009
ISBN: 978-0-385-34133-2
Interracial Romance
Paper
Reviewed by Pam


Kendra Tamale returns to England after falling in love with Will, an Australian, causes problems she doesn’t want to deal with. She rents a studio apartment sight unseen over the Internet, then finds herself drawn into the life of Kyle Gainsborough and his six-year-old-twins, Jaxon and Summer.

Kyle is struggling to keep working and to keep his wife from causing anymore problems. He mourns the fact his love for Ashlyn is slowly withering beneath the weight. Meanwhile, Kendra is also weighted down by her love for Will, and what had happened to her before she’d left England.

Kendra works for her long-time friend Gabriel, finding the right people for jobs, but dealing with the receptionist, Janene, makes her working life miserable. Her life begins to unravel even more after Kendra attends a conference and has to face up to yet another part of her past.

The broken girl—broken boy scenario trying to heal scenario, becomes very unbelievable as neither of them ever gets past talking. No normal woman receiving a letter from the love of her life, would leave it lying around unopened for months. As the heroine is also blind when it comes to Kyle the hero, with no real resolution after reading 468 pages it isn’t really worth reading about at all. The story has a disappointing ending, plus the part where Will visits seems to be missing. For a woman longing to have a family and love, then turns it down on every level, the plot and characters need a serious rewrite.

For this reviewer the way it kept switching from 1st person to 3rd, was also a trifle disconcerting at times. This is a tale of unrequited love that sadly never lived up to the readers expectations.

CARRY ME HOME by Sandra Kring

Publisher: Delta
Date issued: December 2004
ISBN: 978-0385338134
Contemporary
Trade Sized Paperback
Reviewed by Valerie



Earwig is a young brain-damaged boy who lives in Wisconsin with his family. Although he may not be able to learn how the make change in his mother’s shop, he may not understand everything everyone says, he has a big heart and a lot of emotional intelligence. He has one big supporter in his family, his brother, Jimmy. But Jimmy is shipped out to the Philippines, when he signed up whilst drunk for the National Guard. While Jimmy is away and his family wonder what will become of him, Earwig works hard, makes new friends and finds out a family secret. Jimmy comes home finally, after many years as a POW. He’s a different man and suffers from shell-shock. Earwig and his new friend, Eva Leigh help Jimmy to become the man he once was. And Earwig himself, learns to become an independent young man.

This is not a book I would normally pick up at the book shop, but I was sent this to review and so I started reading it. And the more I read, the more I couldn’t put it down. When I finished it, I thought how honored I felt to be able to read this marvelous book. It’s delightful, hear-warming and Sandra Kring has very cleverly written this book from the perspective of Earwig. The reader may be tempted to think of Forrest Gump while reading, I did, but only in that this story is just as excellent. Sandra Kring tells her readers quite intimately about the Vietnam War, the coming home of the veterans and the way the government left them hanging. It’s also about family values and true friendship. This book will make you smile, laugh and cry. I highly recommend you to read this great story.

SEDUCED BY THE STORM: Three of the ACRO series by Sydney Croft

Publisher Delta Fiction
Date published August 2008
ISBN 978-0-385-34082-3
Paranormal Romance
Trade Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn



They met one dark night and had the most astonishing night of passion, never expecting to find themselves facing each other years later. When their one night together leaves them unscathed, Wyatt Kennedy and Faith Black find that their life is about to get bumpy, especially as both embark on missions that have them crossing paths and finding soul stealing passion that steals their senses and secrets threaten to explode between them. Can these two operatives find a way to work together, to trust each other and harness the power of a storm that will consume them if they are not careful? Get ready to be SEDUCED BY THE STORM!

SEDUCED BY THE STORM is the third book in author Sydney Croft’s ACRO series. I read the second book, Unleashing the Storm, and fell in love with a series that showcases unusual characters with special gifts facing an evil that is determined to take over the world. This author is actually two of my favorite authors and they deliver some of the best paranormal romance to date. I really enjoy the dynamics the characters go through and the author really delves into the hearts of her characters to the point where we see their flaws, vulnerabilities and their souls as well. I was enthralled when reading Wyatt and Faith’s story and found that I could not put the book down to even sleep. I had to know what would happen next for them, especially as the scenes got hotter and the secrets between them threatened to explode. Ms.Croft definitely is on my “to be read” list and I am anxiously awaiting the next book, Taming the Fire, coming next year.

With captivating characters, tight writing and intriguing storylines, Ms. Croft definitely delivers an edge of the seat ride that leaves you breathless from the first page to the last. SEDUCED BY THE STORM is one of those keeper books that keep you highly entertained. I can not wait for the next book in the series and to see who is next to get snared in loves desire. I do highly recommend reading the first two in the series, Riding the Storm & Unleashing the Storm, to see how ACRO got formed and who the agents are for this covert operative. I highly recommend this series if you enjoy a new twist on paranormal romance with a shot of sinfully hot sex thrown in to keep things interesting.

SEDUCED BY THE STORM: Three of the ACRO series by Sydney Croft

Publisher Delta Fiction
Date published August 2008
ISBN 978-0-385-34082-3
Genre Paranormal Romance
Trade Paperback
Reviewed by Danny



When ACRO special agent Wyatt Kennedy meets Faith Black and has a one-night-stand with her, he never would have believed that she will play such an important role in his mission to destroy ITOR’s weather machine. Faith is also after the machine, because someone holds her sister in exchange for the machine. Will they find a way to get their feelings for each other and their missions under one hat?

SEDUCED BY THE STORM is the third installment of the very successful ACRO series. The author team Sydney Croft deliver another keeper with this book and it can be read as a stand-alone. Although I bet you will hurry to the next bookstore to get the other books, because the books are addictive and the ACRO fever grabs you very fast.. The book so captivated me that I wasn’t able to put the book down. The writing style of the author team is just perfect, because normally you see which scene is written by which author, but this isn’t so with Larissa Ione and Stephanie Tyler. I can promise you that you will immensely enjoy this book, but I warn you to keep a box of Kleenex near you, because you are going to need them. SEDUCED BY THE STORM is one of the rare books that moved me to tears.

Just a small warning that there are some homoerotic scenes in the book, that might not be something for everyone’s taste.

Neither Wyatt nor Faith are flawless and perfect, but that is what makes them so lovable and what makes them realistic. Both of them have to come a long way when it comes to trusting others, especially each other, but their progress is perfectly interwoven into the storyline. Faith is a real kickass heroine, who gives Wyatt a run for his money and doesn’t make his life easier, more like the opposite.

You really don’t want to miss this masterpiece of paranormal erotic romance, so hurry and get your copy today.