ASK ME WHY by Jodi Thomas, Marie Force, Virginia Kantra & Shirley Jump

Berkley Jove

July 7^th, 2015

978-0-515-15538-9

Contemporary Romance

Mass Market Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Publisher

4 Hearts


Four brand new novellas to fall in love with from some of your favorite authors.

Midnight Bet by Jodi Thomas (Harmony Book 8.5) - For Rick & Lizzie Matheson, coming back to Harmony, Texas is a step neither anticipated making. But when they end up in a shooting incident, well things just go from bad to worse. Can these two find a way to risk their hearts to the one person who they find they can not be without?

As much as I enjoy Ms. Thomas’s Harmony, Texas series, there was just too much going on in this story and I felt it would have been better served as a full length novel rather than a novella. We got two storylines going on, Rick and Lizzie’s and though I enjoy the mystery of how and why the Matheson’s were targeted, the author doesn’t get into the meat of the story about these two characters. The storyline felt incomplete to me, in my opinion and the characters felt one dimensional. There were hints over t he pasts of some of the characters but alas, the author never does more than just mention them then goes on a different path, leaving the reader scratching their head in confusion. Overall, this was just an okay story that has potential to being a great one but doesn’t quite make the mark.

You’ll be Mine by Marie Force (Green Mountain Book 4.5) - You are invited to Will Abbott and Cameron Murphy’s wedding. Get ready to laugh, cry and tell a love struck moose that Cam is off limits in this latest chapter in the Green Mountain Series.

I got to admit this was one story I have been waiting for since the first book in the Green Mountain Series, All You Need is Love, thrust its claws in me and since then I have been on pins and needles waiting for each book in the series to come out. The readers will laugh, cry and laugh some more as we take in the antics of the Abbott family and friends as well as a certain love-struck moose, who crashes the reception. Ms. Force does a marvelous job in keeping the romance alive in her novella, You’ll Be Mine and I literally was on pins and needles as I flipped the page hoping these two very special characters got their happy ever after. What really left me in tears was Cameron’s way of making her late mother a part of her wedding and I know readers will just bawl their eyes out over those scenes just like I did. Overall, this was truly one of the best in the anthology and I am eager to see where the next book in the series goes from here.

Carolina Heart by Virginia Kantra (Dare Island Book 4.5) - Cynthia Lodge is determined to start over with her daughters, one that doesn’t include the complications of a man or a relationship. She just never anticipated that Max Lewis is determined to show her that loving someone won’t always lead to heartbreak.

I enjoyed the first book in the Dare Island series and though I haven’t kept up on it like I want to, Carolina Heart is a great addition to the series. It’s filled with two main characters that steal your heart right from the beginning. I loved watching Cynthia come into her own and learn to trust her heart again. Max and Cynthia are two characters you just can’t help but fall in love with. With a romance that will make you melt to characters that you are dying to meet in real life, Ms. Kantra delivers a sparkling addition to her Dare Island series that will make you run to get the other books in the series. I am looking forward to rediscovering this gem of a series in the future.

Wrapped Around Your Finger by Shirley Jump (Southern Bell Book Club Book 0.5) - Maggie McBride is determined to make it in the man’s world of construction. But when she asks Nick Patterson to a wedding, well these two find that some walls can be broken down, kiss after kiss.

This is a new author for me so I was a little hesitant when I started reading this story. But man does the author deliver a set of main characters that are quite enjoyable and a little bit heart meltingly delightful. WRAPPED AROUND YOUR FINGER is a sweet romance that just sparkles in the light. It contains a set of main characters that the reader can get behind on and root for as well as deal with things like fear, insecurities, etc that could doom a relationship. Ms. Jump delivers a sweet romance that you can’t help but enjoy till the very last page.

ASK ME WHY is a lovely anthology that has something for everyone. If you are enjoying the authors for the first time, this will give you a glimpse into the series the stories in this anthology is centered in and might make you a fan after you read these wonderful novellas. With a touch of the computer keys, all the authors in the series capture the romance as well as the happy ever after the characters longed for. ASK ME WHY is full of small town charm and stories you will fall in love with. I highly recommend you grab this anthology and settle in over a long afternoon for some entertaining and heart melting reading that will make you smile.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

CAROLINA MAN by Virginia Kantra

A Dare Island Novel
Berkley Sensation
March 4^th, 2014
978-0-425-26887-2
Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Publisher

3 Hearts



For Marine Luke Fletcher, doing his duty first to his country then to his daughter was something that came natural to him. But when he comes back to Dare Island, life has a plan for his future that even Luke isn’t anticipating. For Kate Dolan, falling for Luke wasn’t in the cards. She knows all about how a marine can be a lousy father but Luke grows on her and as he tries to chow first Kate then his daughter that being a marine is more than war, rules and more but also a chance to prove that there is more to Luke that just being a marine.

I haven’t read the Dare Island series before by this author but got to admit this third book is a delightful afternoon read that captivated me right from the beginning.  Virginia Kantra has a way of writing real stories with real people in them that steal your heart. Since I didn’t read the first two books, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to figure out the back-story of the Fletcher family but the author does a good job in bringing you up to date on the Luke’s sibling’s stories and I didn’t feel lost with mentions of previous events. The writing was tight, story flowed smoothly and kept my attention but it was trhe characters that, in my opinion, made the story so enjoyable. I loved the whole ‘you have a child you were never told about’ storyline for Luke and his struggle to figure out the curveball life has thrown at him in the form of ten year old Taylor and the complication of lawyer Kate brings to his well ordered life.

Meet Luke Fletcher. A marine who was determined to do his twenty then retire from the military, he is unprepared for the curve life throws at him  in the form of pint sized Taylor, a daughter he never knew he had. Now back on Dare Island, h e struggles to connect with Taylor even as he is drawn to Kate, a woman with emotional scars from her own experiences as a child with a marine father. I loved the dynamics between Luke and everyone around him. From his family to his newfound daughter to Kate; each person gave the story depth and kept Luke going in a way he didn’t foresee. I loved how Luke stood up, took responsibility for Taylor and tried to find his place in a world he thought he already knew. The characters are well written and totally engaging. This in my opinion is this author’s strong suit. The characters feel like real people you would meet everyday and that right there made me fall in love with them even more in CAROLINA MAN.

The one thing I had a problem with is how fast the resolution was for Luke, Kate and Taylor. It felt like, at times, the author was checking points off the to-do sheet for the story and that made my rating be a bit lower than I wanted. I would have liked to have seen Luke struggle a bit and work a bit harder maybe for Taylor, Kate and how his life changed in an instant. Overall, CAROLINA MAN is a satisfying read that will surely make you want to run out and grab books one and two as well. I look forward to reading those books as well as any future installments in the Dare Island Series.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

 

FORGOTTEN SEA by Virginia Kantra

The Children of the Sea novels
Publisher: Berkley
Published: June 2011
ISBN: 978 042524183 7
Mass Market Paperback
Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by Pam
Obtained via Publisher


Lara Rho is a fallen angel who has become a Seeker, meaning she tries to rescue others who have become lost. Drawn to Justin Miller who has become a sailor with a lost pass, she soon finds he’s no angel. What Justin is takes Lara on a new pathway, one hard to discern.

Justin is a drifter, a child of the sea and remembers nothing of his past, since waking, tied to a mast in a stormy sea. Now he’s on the run with Lara, helping her break out of Rockhaven—a place almost like a prison but also a sanctuary for the fallen. Pursued by her former friends, they discover Justin has powers too which may become useful if they are attacked.

This is an interesting tale with many twists and turns, as Lara and Justin flee their pursuers. The characters are varied and as the tale proceeds, some became a little hard to imagine for me. The hero was interesting and I felt I could relate to him, as he was naive in some scenes but knew what he wanted. The heroine was a little dithery and had, what I found very funny was a sex scene which didn’t go too well.

There are many changes of scenery, demons attacking, seekers after Lara and a bridge over a river burning, while others similar to them are met along the way. The story is fascinating, emotional in many ways and has conflict, magic and passion on many levels. Some parts seem tongue in cheek, but there is a great sense of humor and sexual tension. The book is good entertainment and different on many levels, making it stand out from the many paranormal tales offered recently.

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

BURNING UP by Angela Knight, Nalini Singh, Virginia Kantra, Meljean Brook

Publisher: Berkley
Date published: August 2010
ISBN: 978-0425235959
Paranormal Romance Anthology
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Danny
Obtained via: Publisher


Four of the best paranormal authors team up to deliver their fans a fantastic paranormal anthology that keeps you glued to the pages.

Whisper of Sin by Nalini Singh

In this story the reader learns how Emmet and Ria met, he is part of the Dark River pack and works on protecting the people of San Francisco from a vicious gang. He and Dorian foil an attack on Ria and that’s the way he meets her for the first time.

I just love Ms. Singh’s Psy Changeling series and this short story was my personal favorite in this book. It was great to finally get to know how they met.

Blood and Roses by Angela Knight

The vampire warrior Raniero is sent by his King to check on the loyalty of the wizard Korban, who isn’t really faithful so he blackmails Amaris into seducing Raniero, so that he has time to complete his treason.

As always Ms. Knight delivers with Blood and Roses another terrific story. It’s always a pleasure to read one of her stories and I am always sad to see it end,

Shifting Sea by Virginia Kantra

The wounded war hero Major John Harris inherits a property in Scotland, once he arrives there he meets Morwenna, a woman like no other he has ever met, but he doesn’t know the truth about her.

This short story, set in the Regency era, is a prequel of Ms. Kantra spellbinding Children of the Sea series set.

Here There Be Monsters by Meljean Brook

Ivy Blacksmith is desperate to leave London, she would do anything to secure a passage on the ship of pirate captain Mad Marchen, she even offers him her virginity.

This is the prequel of Ms. Brook’s upcoming new series Iron Seas and presents the reader with an interesting new genre historical scifi. I will definitely keep an eye on this series. The world building is very fascinating.

This anthology offers not only fans of the different author/series a lot of enjoyment, but also a good way for readers who want to try out new authors and their work. This book is definitely a keeper.

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

IMMORTAL SEA by Virginia Kantra

Children of the Sea book 4
Publisher: Berkely
Date published: September, 2010
ISBN: 9780425237472
Paranormal romance
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Valerie
Obtained by publisher


One night Morgan of the fin-folk saves a young woman from a couple of thugs on the streets of Copenhagen. Elizabeth is on a break in Europe. She is ready for an adventure. This chance encounter results in a child. Sixteen years later, Morgan accidently meets Elizabeth on the island of World’s End. She is the only doctor and she hopes that her son Zack will reconnect with her. Now, Morgan, Elizabeth and Zack have to come to terms with who they all are. The desire between Morgan and Elizabeth re-ignites, but Elizabeth wants more than a fling. Morgan is a creature of the sea, who comes and goes as he pleases. He wants to take Zack and train him. But, danger is lurking and waiting to take away what Morgan loves.

I seem to have discovered this series a bit late as I haven’t read the previous books. This did not hinder the enjoyment of this book at all, although I suspect that some of the characters that appeared in this book, have already had their stories told. But now, we have the enigmatic Morgan and the logical Elizabeth trying to reconcile and come to terms with their strange situation. This story held me captive and I didn’t put it down until I had read the last word. It is a great story. Tight writing, multi-dimensional characters and an exciting plot that will keep you on the edge of the seat, not to mention some steamy love scenes will keep you turning those pages. I thought the legends and people of the sea fascinating and I will certainly be catching up with this series. Can’t wait!

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

SEA WITCH by Virginia Kantra - Children of the Sea book 1

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Date published: July 2008
ISBN: 978-0-425-22199-0
Paranormal Romantic Suspense/Changeling
Paperback
Reviewed by Shaiha



Ever since her mate died, Margred has been without the touch of another. But now her hormones are being demanding and the human Caleb Hunter will do just fine in a pinch.

Caleb just wants a quiet life after the horrors of the war. That is why he accepts the position as Police Chief in his hometown of World’s End, Maine. Breaking up a party on the beach, he comes across a beautiful woman that haunts him. But what secrets does she hide and why is murder suddenly visiting his quiet town?

I was drawn by the premise of SEA WITCH by Ms Kanter. Two wounded souls who find comfort and possibly love with each other and spiced with murder and intrigue to season the plot. What more could a reader want?

Ms Kanter does a really great job with her characters. Caleb is the perfect tortured hero of our times, damaged by the war both physically and emotionally. His struggles are ones that will touch readers everywhere especially as his plight isn’t uncommon. Margred was much harder for me to empathize with as her concerns are not ones that plague us humans. Add in the rest of the inhabitants of World’s End and you have a great cast.

My issues with SEA WITCH were the pacing and the lack of tension or plot twists to the story. It starts off slowly and never really picks up from there. While the characterizations are great they just don’t make up for the slow story and I had problems even finishing the story.



Shaiha@Loveromancesandmore.com

Children of the Sea Book 2: SEA FEVER by Virginia Kantra

Publisher: Berkley
Date published August 2008
ISBN 978-0-425-22297-3
Paranormal Romance
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Danny




When the last eligible bachelor on her island marries, single mom, Regina sees her chance to marry disappear. Now she is also the caterer for Caleb’s wedding. Could fate be more evil to her? She grabs a bottle of wine and goes to the beach to console herself, where she suddenly meets Caleb’s long lost brother, Dylan Hunter.
Dylan is a mysterious man, he is half human, half selkie. Due to several occurrences he resents everything human and prefers a life in the sea, but his prince sent him to the island to investigate the sudden Demon interest in the island. Although once he discovers Regina he is interested in something other than his mission. They spend the night with each other, but both of them forget about birth control and suddenly it could be that they are part of a prophecy, although Dylan just wanted one night without commitment. What will the future bring for them?

SEA FEVER has with the Selkies legend, a not so typical element of the paranormal romance world and sets itself apart from the rest, which I really like. Ms. Kantra tells her readers not only the interesting development of the love story of Regina and Dylan, but you get also more information on the Hunter family history. Therefore I recommend that you read SEA WITCH before starting with SEA FEVER, I made the mistake of not doing that and I couldn’t get a copy of SEA WITCH fast enough, so learn from my mistake.
Ms. Kantra delivers with SEA FEVER a very entertaining story, with unusual characters. Regina as well as Dylan are complex characters and the reader will soon get enthralled by Ms. Kantra’s story telling. Personally I had a hard time to put this book down and I can hardly wait to read the next book, SEA LORD, which will be released May 2009.

SHIFTER by Angela Knight, Lora Leigh, Alyssa Day, Virginia Kantra

Publisher Berkley Sensation
Date published March 2008
ISBN 978-0-425-22035-1
Erotic paranormal romance
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Valerie






Mad Dog Love by Angela Knight – Rance Conlan has been captured and harnessed by slave traders. They control him, he cannot escape. That is, he cannot escape until a woman buys him and his services. Now he has the chance, but does he want to?

A wonderful story, full of adventure, love and lust. Angela Knight writes a gritty, hard story and doesn’t fail to leave out pure emotions and a sensual, sizzling romance. This was my first story by this talented writer and I am already collecting her backlist!

A Jaguar’s Kiss by Lora Leigh – Saban Broussard of the Breed has come to pick up Natalie Ricci and bring her to to teach Breed children. But when they meet, Saban knows he is lost and when he kisses her, they are both lost as the mating heat threatens to consume them.

This is a hot, sizzling, scorching story full of passion and love. These characters are bigger than life but believable and endearing. The warring emotions that Natalie has to cope with are almost her undoing. This is definitely an author you will want more of!

Shifter’s Lady by Alyssa Day – Someone is killing panthers. When Marie leaves Atlantis to visit Prince Conlan on the land, she meets the alpha of the panther pack, Ethan. Ethan has problems with someone who wants him gone, she helps him and soon doesn’t really want to go back.

This anthology has the cream de la creme when it comes to shifter authors. This is another exciting, hot story that I really enjoyed. I love the Atlantis theme and have already picked up some of Alyssa Day’s stories. After reading this one, I am looking forward to them.

Sea Crossing by Virginia Kantra – Emma March is on a ship bound for the New World. After being deceived by the director of the school where she taught, she just wants a new start in her life. After a shipwreck and being saved by a seal, she awakes to a life that is so new, she can hardly believe it.

This is a haunting story that I enjoyed very much. Emma and Griffith start their relationship on shaky ground as he cannot tell her too much at first. Their romance though is not shaky at all, but very sizzling and hot! This is an anthology that will stay on my shelf and I will certainly be reading it again.