Wedding Stud
By Eve Vaughn
Naughty Nuptials
Ellora's Cave Publishing
ISBN: 9781419911200
Vampire/ Quickie
46 Pages
Available Now
Eve Vaughn was devastated when her cousin not only stole her boyfriend but became engaged to him as well. Now she is expected to show up at the wedding and her cousin is rubbing it in that she won't have a date. So Eve does the only thing that her pride will allow. She lies. Only problem is that now she has to hire an escort to pose as her boyfriend and not let the family find out about it. Easy. Right?
But Nicholas Carridine is not what he appears to be. The six foot five gorgeous man standing in her doorway is more than she could have hoped for. And the way he looks at her makes her eager for more. So what is it about this man that makes her feel like it's not a lie?
Wedding Stud is a delightful story that hopefully sets the stage for a brand new series. I love the idea behind Studs For Hire and relish all the potential for new stories that lies within. Dare I hope that Tana could get her immortal as well? Nicholas was everything a woman dreams of and more. It is often hard to hook the reader when you have a limited number of words like the quickie stories do, but Ms. Vaughn delivers a stellar book leaving this reader eager for more.
4.5 out of 5 Quills
(c) Reviewed by Debbie H.
September 9, 2007
Curses
By Cindy Spencer Pape
The Wild Rose Press
ISBN: 1-60154-151-1
Trade paperback and e-book
Paranormal/ Werewolf
189 Pages
October 2007
Melissa MacRae, Mel, is a witch and everyone in her small town home of Sanctity, Michigan knows it. She is a healer and an herbalist with a degree in biology to back it up. But it is her unique ability to heal that has some in awe of her and some in fear. Her life is anything but easy. She has a wild family history complete with a grandmother into alternatives and a mother who overdosed as a teen after getting pregnant by a married man. Mel's best friend is recently divorced and now living with her parents helping her dad to care for her mother who is dying of cancer. And Mel is there to help with the pain as well.
Mel owns a group of resort cabins known as Whispering Pines. The cabins are on the MacRae land, land which has been in her family for over a hundred years. But tensions ignite in town over her refusal to sell out to the Talcott's who want to expand their own Talcott Wilderness Resort. Mel feels a responsibility to her family and to the land to keep Whispering Pines and protect the nature around her.
Jonas Pierce is looking for a place to hide while he finishes up one book and starts on another one and Whispering Pines is the best place for more than one reason. First of all who would think to look for him in a small Michigan town? Second of all his accommodations came complete with access to a self proclaimed witch which just happens to be the topic of his next book. So he'll use her for research and maybe if he plays his cards right for a little extra recreational activity as well.
But they each have secrets and shadows that pull them together even as they struggle to stay apart, at least emotionally. Mel's family has lived with a curse for a long time. It is a curse that precludes a happily ever after for any of the women in her family. So Mel is ready for a no strings attached summer affair. And Jonas is dealing with his own family curse, one complete with fur. He doesn't do commitment period.
But fate has more in store for these two. Someone is determined to make sure that Mel sales Whispering Pines and soon. They'll do whatever it takes to drive away her business with little concern for who gets hurt. Vandalism soon escalates to so much more. While Jonas struggles to aid and protect Mel his own demons are brought to light as the tabloid reporter who has been stalking him shows up and makes a nuisance of himself.
Watching Curses unfold was a wonderful journey. Mel is an emotional heroine who you can't help but feel for. She has been through so much and if anyone deserves a happily ever after it is this woman. She is bright, intelligent and yet sensitive and giving to the extreme. Jonas is the perfect tortured soul who is trying to hide behind a veil of strength and distance. Yet they both feel the pull toward one another and neither can find the strength to completely walk away. A rich tapestry of background characters added additional flavor to this story each bringing to light a little piece of the bigger picture. Curses is a well crafted novel that kept this reader eagerly turning the page to see just what was around the next corner. Ms. Spencer Pape unravels a master tale that leaves the reader eager for more! 4.5 out of 5 Quills.
(c) Reviewed by Debbie H.
April 5, 2007
