THRILL OF THE CHASE by Christina Crooks

Publisher: Five Star Expressions
Date published: November 2007
ISBN 978-1594146701
Contemporary Romance
Hardcover
Obtained via: Publisher
Reviewed by Lil


In Big Red's Auto Performance Shop, Sarah Matell isn't just the owner's tomboy daughter who isn't afraid to get her hands dirty; she is the very capable head technician who considers the shop to be practically hers. Her true love, however, is racing. She also has had a long running crush on local drag race hero Craig Keller. He may be mentor and general pal but his focus is firmly on the track sluts that fling themselves his way.

Sarah's dad Red hires in Gordon Devine as the new supervisor for the shop since he feels the need to bring in someone with business acumen to run things for when he retires. Having grown up in poverty, Gordon has steadily worked toward wealth and security. He knows this job is an important opportunity and a big step closer to his goals.

When buttoned down businessman meets the grubby grease monkey he considers to have had all she ever wanted handed to her on a plate, sparks of temper and dislike fly. They get to know each other with a growing respect, each learning that there is more to the other than they first thought.

Sarah is intent on catching Craig's eye, even considering dipping her toe in feminine norms while continuing with her passion in racing. But it isn't only Craig's attention which is caught.

This is a well-developed and unusual romance story. Each character seems so authentic that you could imagine going down to the shop and actually meeting them. The background of cars and racing is written with detail and enthusiasm so that one begins to feel bitten by the bug, too. This is quite the feat considering that yours truly is severely technically challenged and has no penchant for speed.

Our heroine is extremely personable and it was with pleasure to read of such a strong female. Sarah is not about to imitate those women who are the other kind of fast just to catch her guy though she may allow for a few changes to distinguish her from the guys. It is fun to watch as she strives for balance in this regard. She demands to be esteemed as an equal. Her stubborn quality may lead her astray, but Sarah is not someone who can be kept down.

Racing buddy, Craig Keller, may be a bit of a playboy but he isn't as shallow and selfish as could be dismissed. He is a handsome, highly competitive guy, who once hurt is unwilling to be in a vulnerable position again.

Gordon matches the boss's daughter for stubborn and he is determined to succeed in his future plans. He is also smart, honorable, as compassionate as he is stern, and has a sense of humor.

To find out if Sarah gets her guy or whether the guy she gets isn't the one she was originally longing for you will have to read the book. Let me tell you now that the fun is in the THRILL OF THE CHASE.

THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW.

THE DROWNING RIVER by Kim Byrne

Publisher: Five Star
Date published: June 2009
ISBN: 978-1-59414-769-2
Mystery Suspense
Hardback
Reviewed by Shaiha


The last words that college student Elise Moloney expects to hear is that someone thought that she was dead. Upon doing some investigating, Elise discovers that she is a dead ringer for another student Hannah McPhee that died the previous year. Why do they look so much alike and did Hannah kill herself as some people seem to think? And most important of all, who can Elise trust, who is out to derail her investigation and just how far will they go to stop her?

THE DROWNING RIVER by Kim Byrne is a very enjoyable read with characters that stick with you. Elise is an easy character to understand and relate to. She is a college student who has always taken the path of least resistance. Even attending college at Wickman was the path of least resistance as she knew that she would be able to shine without the hard work that Harvard would have required. Hannah’s death and the events following force Elise to break that bad habit. During the investigation, she has to face some hard truths about herself and grows up quite a bit. The secondary characters are well fleshed out and some help and some hinder with the investigation but all assist Elise in her journey of self discovery.

So if you are looking for an easy book to slip into with so many twists and turns that the ending is a complete surprise, then look no further than THE DROWNING RIVER. I recommend it to lovers of both mysteries and suspense. It will satisfy both desires. Be sure to pick up your copy today!

HIDDEN STEEL by Doranna Durgin

Publisher Five Star Expressions
Date published July 2008
ISBN 1-59414-681-0
Genre Romantic Suspense
Hardcover
Reviewed by Tammy




Doranna Durgin’s HIDDEN STEEL is unpredictable, mysterious, adventurous and a real adrenaline rush.

When “Mickey” wakes up to find herself a captive with no memory, escape is her only thought. As she listens to her captives and learns they are keeping her alive because they mistakenly think she has information that the drugs they have given her have erased, she questions who she is and how she ended up in this position. When she manages to escape with skills she didn’t know she possessed, she ends up in the gym of owner Steve Spaneas. As they come to trust each other and Steve tries to help Mickey, things turn dangerous and complicated as the truth of her past unfolds.

Doranna Durgin’s HIDDEN STEEL twists and turns and surprises from the very first page. The panic Mickey encounters when she finds she is being hunted and has no memory beyond waking up a captive in a frightening torture chamber sets the tone and the story picks up speed with every discovery she makes. Steve also has his secrets and is a mysterious mix of strength and wariness that works really well with Mickey’s hard edges and confusion. Add in a CIA connection and some foreign goons and you have one unpredictable and intriguing romantic suspense that readers will find hard to put down before all the mysteries are solved.

The only real negative that this reader found with this book was that it is only available in hardcover. This reader tends to purchase hardcover books only when she has waited on the edge of her seat for a particular book to hit the bookshelves as they tend to be expensive and take up a lot of shelf space. Had this book been released in paperback, this reader feels certain it would fly off the shelves. As a hardcover, it is anyone’s guess. In any case, Doranna Durgin has become an author of interest for this reader with her very romantic and suspenseful HIDDEN STEEL.

NOX DORMIENDA by Kelli Stanley

Publisher Five Star
Date published July 2008
ISBN
Genre
Hardcover
Reviewed by Penny



The year is 83 A.D. Arcturus, a doctor who is half-native and half-Roman finds himself in the middle of a murder mystery that can have explosive and far reaching consequences depending on who gets convicted for it and who the actual culprit is. The Emperor Domitian has sent a message to the governor of Britannia, Agricola; a written message that could be devastating, but has disappeared upon the death of its bearer. Can Arcturus discover what the message is and who killed the spy/messenger before all hell breaks loose between the natives and the Romans?

Upon reading the blurb on the back of my advanced reading copy of NOX DORMIENDA, I seriously didn’t think I would enjoy this book as much as I did. Kelli Stanley has given this reviewer a delightful surprise! The story grips the reader from the very first, once you are able to get the cast of characters straight in your mind. This, I must admit, was a formidable task! Perhaps hindered by the strange, yet most probably authentic names said characters.

Our hero has been penned with his faults, but yet he is perfect; a caring man who wants to see justice done with out any undue consequences to the innocent…and not so innocent alike.

What sets this book a step above many others is that it keeps the reader guessing and is fast paced enough to never incite boredom. Ms Stanley must have done a great deal of research in order to make this book so believable and realistic, at least to my untrained and non-historic savvy eye. Written in the first person, readers will follow Arcturus, as he journeys into some unsavoury and scary places in his quest.

Don’t miss out on this one! It promises to be a hit and come as a surprise to you as well as it did to me.

NOX DORMIENDA by Kelli Stanley

Publisher Five Star
Date published July 2008
ISBN 9781594146664
Historical Mystery
Hardcover
Reviewed by Penny



The year is 83 A.D. Arcturus, a doctor who is half-native and half-Roman finds himself in the middle of a murder mystery that can have explosive and far reaching consequences depending on who gets convicted for it and who the actual culprit is. The Emperor Domitian has sent a message to the governor of Britannia, Agricola; a written message that could be devastating, but has disappeared upon the death of its bearer. Can Arcturus discover what the message is and who killed the spy/messenger before all hell breaks loose between the natives and the Romans?

Upon reading the blurb on the back of my advanced reading copy of NOX DORMIENDA, I seriously didn’t think I would enjoy this book as much as I did. Kelli Stanley has given this reviewer a delightful surprise! The story grips the reader from the very first, once you are able to get the cast of characters straight in your mind. This, I must admit, was a formidable task! Perhaps hindered by the strange, yet most probably authentic names said characters.

Our hero has been penned with his faults, but yet he is perfect; a caring man who wants to see justice done with out any undue consequences to the innocent…and not so innocent alike.

What sets this book a step above many others is that it keeps the reader guessing and is fast paced enough to never incite boredom. Ms Stanley must have done a great deal of research in order to make this book so believable and realistic, at least to my untrained and non-historic savvy eye. Written in the first person, readers will follow Arcturus, as he journeys into some unsavoury and scary places in his quest.

Don’t miss out on this one! It promises to be a hit and come as a surprise to you as well as it did to me.

FINDING FIONA by Mary Fremont Schoenecker

Publisher Five Star
Date published July 2008
ISBN 9781594146947
Romantic suspense
Hardcover
Reviewed by Penny



Maddy Fontaine, a teacher in her home-town in New England has a crush on the brother of one of her students. But Patrick Donovan has family obligations that plague him…and a missing sister.

A natural disaster strikes and Maddy is taken back in time. Her trip gives her clues on Patrick’s sister Fiona’s disappearance. Will the mystery prove to separate them forever, or will Maddy and Patrick be able to hold on to their love?

I found the beginning of FINDING FIONA confusing and hard to read. Truthfully, had this not been a book for review but a book to be read for pleasure, I would have put it down to have been forgotten. Sadly, I would have missed a good storyline and some intriguing characters. Maddy’s aunt Margaret is quite a hoot! The premise for FINDING FIONA is terrific. It just didn’t follow through.

This reviewer has not read any other work by this author, Ms. Schoenecker. She put just enough French and Irish flavour into FINDING FIONA that kept things intriguing and interesting. The time Maddy spent in the past gave the storyline a jump start just when it needed it most.

FINDING FIONA has many good points, but this reviewer just had a tough time keeping her head in the book. It jumped too quickly away from some scenes; scenes that could have been explored a little more thoroughly and could have added some much needed information and entertainment value.

However, there is much in FINDING FIONA that other readers with differing tastes would most probably enjoy. Unfortunately, it just was not this reviewer’s cup of tea.

ISLAND LIFE by Michael W Sherer

Publisher Five Star
Date published March 2008
ISBN 9781594146336
Mystery
Hardcover
Reviewed by Penny







Jack and his wife Mary have been together for 20 years. Lately things have not been good between them. When Jack comes home to find her gone, he is not too worried at first. He figures her job as a flight attendant has taken her away. But as the days go by he realizes something is wrong and reports her missing.

Now the police think he has killed Mary and arrest him. Child protective services and Mary’s mother are trying to take his kids away from him. Jack is now in the fight for his freedom and to keep his family together. And what is this strange CD he finds among his wife’s belongings? Why would she have a CD containing child pornography?! Suddenly Jack finds he is also fighting for his life.

This has got to be the best mystery that I have read in very long time. Author Michael Sherer gives readers a lot to think and chew on as they delve into this heart-stopping and gripping novel. How easy is it to be in the wrong place at the wrong time? So many things can spin completely out of our control.

The one problem this reader had with this book is the quickness that Jack finds a new love interest. His wife is not even cold in her grave, his future and that of his children is still up in the air… his wife is not even cold in her grave…you get the picture. He finds love much too soon for this tender hearted female reader, I don’t care how rocky their marriage was. Dang man, let your children grieve and show some respect in the eyes of friends and family for Mary. There, I feel better now that I got that off my chest!

But that being said, the plot of this book is amazing and will keep the reader guessing as to what will happen next…so many things have already been thrown at Jack, how could he possibly handle anymore!

ISLAND LIFE is well written and is highly recommended for mystery lovers out there. ENJOY!

BATTLE DRAGON by Edo van Belkom

Publisher Five Star
Date published March 2008
ISBN 1-59414-671-3
Historical Fantasy
Hardcover
Reviewed by Dawn





One hundred years before, a dragon menaced the village of Dervon. With the help of a wizard, Lavena tries to destroy the dragon except something goes wrong and with her in its clutches. Now it’s 1940 and a world has gone mad. War rages and the Battle of Britain rages in the skies, with each side determined to tip the balance to them. Soon planes are falling and both sides think the other has a super weapon, one that will wipe out humanity as they know it. Can RAF Lt. Sheridan Ballard find out what it is and stop it before it’s too late? Add in a wizard, a young woman from another time and a RAF Lieutenant to find the dragon and convince it that this isn’t the time to destroy mankind.

BATTLE DRAGON is a historical fantasy come to life amid the pages from Edo van Belkom. This reviewer was intrigued by the premise of this story and this author doesn’t disappoint in this fast paced story full of intriguing characters and some really good action sequences that light up the story like a firefight in the sky.

This reviewer has never read something like this before and this author manages to keep your interest from the first page to the last with his imaginative storytelling and captivating characters. This author delivers a historical detailed story that will thrill you from the get go. If you like Historical Fantasy stories that captivate you, characters that intrigue you and a story that will explode in your hands, then grab BATTLE DRAGON and get ready for one wild ride!

EMERALD SILK: COIN FOREST, BOOK 2 by Janet Lane

Publisher Five Star
Date published April 2008
ISBN 978-1-59414-682-4
Historical Romance
Hardcover
Reviewed by Lil






A mixed blood Gypsy woman finally finds her place when a shocking accusation is leveled at the one man who has accepted her. Kadriya’s loyalty is steadfast for her fiancé, Teraf the Gypsy King. Claims of a valuable chalice stolen from an abbey seem outrageous. His denials and her pleas fall on deaf ears as monastic knights led by John Wynter discharge their duty in capturing and attempting to bring the alleged thief to justice.

In the tumult of high emotion, the young woman finds herself the unlikely leader in an assault to free the condemned man. The unwise attempt leaves her betrothed still in the hands of the knights, but with Sir John as her captive.

The events which follow challenge this knight in his views of Gypsies and Kadriya in her choice of alliances. As each works to their own purpose to solve the mystery of the theft, they grow to see past their differences. The question remains, will this honorable man be able to shake off ingrained prejudice to embrace the love that has burgeoned between them?

Set in 1448 England, EMERALD SILK takes us on an unusual journey of the heart. Prejudice is an unattractive trait, but we are gently shown a hero who clearly looks down upon these foreigners and yet is also an admirable, worthy man in other respects. His bigotry is not immediately relieved but is melted away slowly by Kadriya and his experiences throughout the story, making the feel of it relatively believable.

For her part, the heroine has challenges to face, as well. An identity as Gypsy and as English has not allowed her to blend well in either society. One can understand the gratitude and blind devotion she feels for those who have welcomed her into their midst even if one does not agree with it. Be that as it may, readers will enjoy Kadriya’s strength of character, intelligence and honesty with others and with herself.

One wishes that there could have been further scenes in the story showing this romanticized and maligned people in a more sympathetic light. It would have added weight against the scenes where we saw misbehavior. Happily, the author did give balance in demonstrating transgressions among the superior feeling English.

The relationship between John and Kadriya is a beautiful one with enough adventure and mystery to give readers an exciting framework to delve into even as we wallow in the setting and the romance. EMERALD SILK is a lovely and smooth read.