I DREAM OF DRAGONS: Boston Dragons book 1 by Ashlyn Chase

THE HEAT IS ON

When Rory Arish and his two fiery dragon siblings are run out of their ancestral Irish home, it seems their luck has run out—until they arrive in Boston and find a paranormal-friendly apartment building. Finally, Rory has a place to call home. There’s only one problem: Rory’s new lair has simultaneously been rented to an infuriating woman who is as stubborn as she is beautiful and will not leave ‘her’ apartment matter how steamed he may be…

AND SPARKS FLY

Amber McNally is a down-on-her-luck flight attendant. She needs this apartment, and not even a fire-breathing dragon with his Irish charm and scorching good looks is going to scare her away. Holing up in their respective corners, a battle of wills ensues. Who will be the first to blink…or give in to their off-the-charts chemistry and decide to make this unorthodox living arrangement a little more permanent?

About Ashlyn Chase:

A multi-published eBook author, Ashlyn Chase specializes in characters who reinvent themselves, having reinvented herself numerous times. She has worked as a psychiatric nurse, and for the Red Cross, and has a degree in behavioral sciences. She lives with her true-life hero husband in beautiful New Hampshire.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1U8Yrh2

B&N: http://bit.ly/1U8YzNy

iBooks: http://apple.co/1U8YCZS

IndieBound: http://bit.ly/1U8YNED

Google: http://bit.ly/1U8YXLY

BAM: http://bit.ly/1U8Z36t

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1U8Zb61

Rafflecopter Giveaway:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54ca7af7323/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="54ca7af7323" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_anhahpwu">a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: HOLD ME IF YOU CAN by Stephanie Rowe

SoulFire #3

Paranormal

Sourcebooks Casablanca

After spending more than a century held prisoner in the Den of Womanly Pursuits, Nigel Aquarian has found a sense of peace by sketching, but now it seems to be the one most dangerous pursuit he could follow. Whomever he draws is being pulled back into the Den. There is only one person who can help him, the delectable chocolatier, Natalie. 

 

After surviving a deadly deedub bite, Natalie Fleming has a new lease on life. But that doesn't mean she's going crazy and living it up. She refuses to lose control ever again, because the last time she lost control she nearly died. As she is readying her shop Scrumptious, for the reviewers of Michelin-O, the premier judges of fine foods, she realizes that she has lost her mojo. Her sensuous magic is not working AT ALL. Then she discovers that she is the newest attraction on the deedub tour as the only Sweet to have ever survived there bite, oh and to just top everything off, she finds out that she is being used as a vessel to receive the residual smut from Mari's dark magic, making Natalie turn into the one demon she most despises, a deedub.

Can Nigel convince Natalie that what she really needs to do is to let loose of a little of that control, to find release, and reopen her magic for herself and to help him rescue his fellow warriors from the Mari and the Den. 

 

*****

Stephanie Rowe takes us back to her slap-stick SoulFire world with her latest addition to the series, HOLD ME IF YOU CAN. I really enjoyed the humorous roller-coaster of a story she penned. There was enough action and adventure thrown in with the silly to keep the story moving. Not to mention the delicious sexual tension between Nigel and Natalie. I loved that while they really wanted to indulge, they held back. I know that most of it was because of Natalie's fears of losing control, but I think it helped to keep the story moving, to show that not everything can be answered by a romp in the sack...though it sure didn't hurt anything.

I look forward to visiting the SoulFire series again in the future, just to see how these guys are going t o continue to heal...and to see what else the Den of Womanly pursuits may hold. 

Rating: 3.5

Review: THE NORSE KING'S DAUGHTER by Sandra Hill

Viking I #10
Historical (Viking)
Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins

Sidroc Guntersson almost wooed Princess Drifa into marrying him 5 years ago. When Drifa learned his motive to court her, she let her temper get a hold of her and (accidentally) nearly killed him. Sidroc never forgave her for her actions. 
When they meet again in Byzantium, Drifa finds herself in danger, yet when she sees her guard, she knows that she is not exactly safe, for what will Sidroc demand in return for his protection.

*****

THE NORSE KING'S DAUGHTER was one of my favorite Sandra Hill books. She successfully weaved comedy and drama without missing a beat or making the story stumble.

Sidroc and Drifa both had good reason to be upset with one another, and Ms. Hill made me root for both of them. Having knowledge of Sidroc's background with his despicable father made it easy for me to understand him and his motives. He had good reason (or so he thought) to hate Drifa. Yet he couldn't deny the passion and chemistry that sparked between them.

Drifa tried to explain and apologize, for her actions (which I didn't feel to be at all out of line--she didn't mean to almost kill him. o.O) but of course, it's never that easy. I was pleased that their angst didn't go to the extent that the turn around from hating each other to loving each other wasn't so far out of the realm of believability. And I especially loved how the story played out in the end because it was such an “awww that's so sweet” moment.

Ms. Hill is one of my favorite authors to read and reread, and I will be rereading THE NORSE KING'S DAUGHTER. If you are looking for a laugh, along with some somber moments to get to the happily ever after, this is not to be missed.

Rating: 5

HEARTSTRINGS AND DIAMOND RINGS by Jane Graves

Contemporary

Grand Central

448 pages

After a string of crappy relationships, Alison Carter still isn't ready to give up trying to find Mister Right, she just figures that it's time to let someone else do the looking. Seeing how her past choices have all tanked, she decides to hire a matchmaker to find her perfect someone.

Brandon Scott has inherited his grandmother's extremely successful matchmaking enterprise. He thinks that it's the perfect set up for him to make some quick money. How hard could it be getting paid to match up a few lonely people?

While Alison wants Brandon to be successful, she can't help but be skeptical. They find themselves drawn closer together as she helps him build his business, yet the closer they get, the more Brandon fears she will learn his secret, knowing it will drive her away.

 

*****

Jane Graves knows how to write a fun, witty story without making it too fluffy. While HEARTSTRINGS AND DIAMOND RINGS was primarily a light amusing read, Brandon's deception kept the focus from getting silly, also Alison's friends and father kept more range of emotions than just love, lust and happiness. There were some great laughs in this book, especially with the first dates that Brandon set Alison up on. She had the worst luck with men, which lead to some great smiles and laughter as I read this.

The romance between Brandon and Alison was slow moving, as the focus wasn't on them as a couple at first, but on Brandon finding someone special for Alison. I liked how it moved, as it gave them a chance to really get to know each other, and not just a bam-bam kind of love. It seemed more realistic and I felt that it was more believable, as it gave them time to get to know the good and the bad about each other, and if they wanted to learn to live with it. There was some bad that didn't come out until towards the end, with Brandon's secret finally coming to light, but there was enough history to help Alison see the sincerity in his apology.

Rating: 4.5

Author's Website 

Review: BLACK TIES AND LULLABIES by Jane Graves

a

Contemporary  (humor)

Forever, an imprint of Hachett Book Group

432 pages 

Bernadette Hogan can't believe what she has gotten herself into, of all the crazy situations she could imagine getting pregnant by her infuriating boss was not even a blip on her radar. This is so not like her, she already has her plate full. 

Jeremy is willing to try to make things work, even though he is still reeling from the shock of that he let things get so out of hand. But how can an independent woman and a self-made millionaire learn to compromise without chewing each other to pieces?

****

In BLACK TIES AND LULLABIES, Jane Graves had penned a delightfully entertaining tale with a fascinating cast of characters, keeping me laughing and smiling all throughout the book. I loved following Bernie and Jeremy on their journey to love and happiness.

Bernie was a great heroine! This is the first book I've read where the woman has been the muscle. Jeremy was no slouch, but Bernie definitely could handle her own in a fight. I loved that she was independent and more than capable of taking care of herself, no matter what the situation, but I also like watching her learn that it's okay to lean on someone elses shoulder.

Jeremy was an irritatingly arrogant guy, but you could sense the loneliness he kept so well hidden. I loved watching him grow emotionally, learning how to love and be loved. Bernie and Jeremy are definitely a couple I can picture living Happily Ever After, forever.

I can't wait for Ms. Graves' next book! Her characters and stories are always very humorous and well plotted.

Rating: 5

Author's Website 

Review: THE BLUE VIKING by Sandra Hill

2011 cover

Viking I,  #5

Historical (Viking)

Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins

349Pages

Five years ago, Rurik left Maire without any thought or consideration, heck the jerk outright laughed at her when she asked him to take her with. But Maire had the last laugh, when she cursed him with a bold blue bolt streaking down his face. 

 

Rurik has searched for the elusive witch since then, finally stumbling upon her. Having her right were he wanted, he was determined to make Maire remove the bolt, no matter how long it took him to convince her. As a matter of fact, he figured he could enjoy the benefits of having her in his seductive hands again.

*****

One thing I can always count on when reading any of Sandra Hill's books is a good laugh. Ms. Hill's hero's are characteristically arrogant, Alpha males and Rurik was no exception. While Maire was portrayed as a strong independent woman in the beginning of the story, her wants were quickly diminished under Rurik's will, which weakened her as a character. I could find the humor of her being the worst witch ever, with her spells continuously going awry, but her mistakes were so over-the-top, which after a while made her appear silly. It upset me that she was demeaned so. I was also a little put off by everyone's sexual freedom in this book, I'm not an expert on historical morals and I'm no prude, but it seemed odd to me, and it took me out of the story. 
 
While this wasn't my favorite Sandra Hill tale, it still was a decent read, and I will continue to read and reread her books. She is my go to author when I'm looking for a funny historical...and I love her Vikings. I wish there were more Viking tales being published.

Original cover

Rating: 3.5/ 5

Author's Website