Foolish Notions
By Aris Whittier
Five Star
Contemporary Romance
Hardcover
255 pages
$26.95

Foolish Notions by Aris Whittier is a fast-paced, emotionally charged novel that is not only entertaining but heartwarming as well. When James Taylor's mother receives a cancer diagnosis, they know the road to recovery will be long, debilitating and difficult. James interviews nurse after nurse, looking for the perfect person to tend to Marie while she's so ill. No one proves to be exactly what they're looking for in a caregiver, and Marie insists James phone his ex-girlfriend, Samantha, and ask her to come and be her nurse. Initially James balks, but when his mother won't relent he makes the call. And Samantha, to his surprise, accepts Marie's proposal.

Together Samantha and James become Marie's support team and the trio makes its way down the path toward, they hope, renewed health. Along the way romance is rekindled, misunderstandings reevaluated and passion flares. By tending to Marie, Samantha and James may find a way to revive their relationship as well.

Foolish Notions is a thoughtful, well-written book that I heartily endorse. It is compassionate without being melodramatic and romantic while keeping true to the central theme of the story: recovering that which is, even temporarily, lost.

Rating: 4 out of 5
© April 2007 by Amy D.

flower series by paaseiland

In Trysts
By Melody Knight
Romantic Suspense
Linden Bay
paperback, e-book
206 pages
$5.99

In Trysts by Melody Knight is a delightful read. Intelligent, funny, romantic and well-written, this is one book that definitely doesn't disappoint. Camellia Perigord Mackintosh is a woman intent on bringing justice to her clients, righting wrongs of the past and paving the way for bright futures for the women she works for. Peri, as she's called, will do whatever it takes to accomplish her job - even if it includes disinterring the dead, winching limestone angels and crawling about in the dark, dusty passageways. When she meets Jake Hastings, her already intriguing job takes on a new twist. The handsome man wreaks havoc on her non-existent love life, sending her home to the paws of her pampered cat, Ernest Hemingway, for comfort.

Ms. Knight has written a super novel, one that is sure to entertain anyone with a hankering for some subterfuge mixed in with their romance. I loved it!

Rating: 5 out of 5
© April 2007 by Amy D.

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Amy's Review
Index

Page 1

Foolish Notions
By Aris Whittier
Five Star

In Trysts
By Melody Knight
Linden Bay

I'll Be Hunting You
By Shiloh Walker
Ellora's Cave

Everglades Wildfire
By Isabelle Drake
Ellora's Cave

Good Girls Don't
By Shiloh Walker
Ellora's Cave

Miss October
Madison Hayes
Ellora's Cave

Page 2
Carter's Cuffs
By Lacey Alexander
Ellora's Cave

History Lessons
By Jennifer Mueller
Linden Bay Romance

I'll Be Hunting You
By Shiloh Walker
Ellora's Cave
vampire, werewolf
e-book
65 pages
$4.45

When Declan O'Reilly leaves their bed one morning, Tori feels a definite uneasiness. Something is wrong, she can feel it, but she doesn't know just what it is. Later, she learns that there has been a fire at the home where Declan had been. Although Tori is a Huntress, a vampire of the highest caliber, she feels some distinctly human emotions, like love and loss and the unbearable pain that comes with death of those loved.

I'll Be Hunting You by Shiloh Walker is intensely emotional and highly erotic. A well-written story, it brings into light some of the more human attributes of the paranormal world.

Rating: 41/2 out of 5
©April 2007 by Amy D

Everglades Wildfire
By Isabelle Drake
Contemporary Romance
Ellora's Cave
e-book
114 pages
$5.20

When Amber Hill returns to Florida to see handsome Rick Belleair, she's engaged to another man. Christopher isn't Rick, and she isn't in love with him, but he offers her the kind of security that Rick never did. Amber thinks she'll grow to love Christopher in time. or at least that is what she hopes will happen. But the instant she and the man who raises alligators for a living lock eyes, Amber knows that the feelings he arouses in her have nothing to do with alligators. Rick introduces Amber to his family and divulges secrets he didn't share when they were together the last time. Realizing it may be the only way to save his family's plantation, amber agrees to marry Rick. But can a marriage of convenience satisfy their hearts' desires?

Everglades Wildfire by Isabelle Drake is a fast, interesting read. Filled with family secrets and hidden desires, it is a book that is as gripping as it is entertaining.

Rating: 4 out of 5
April 2007 by Amy D.

Good Girls Don't
by Shiloh Walker
Ellora's Cave
Contemporary
Ebook
92 pages
$4.45

Lori knows things with her fiancée aren't as good as they could be but she figures they're good enough. Although she's asked him several times for more than missionary-style sex, Dirk's response is that she won't like it, so they settle into a ho-hum sex life. Lori is willing to accept that, until she arrives home early from a conference and finds Dirk with another woman. The other woman is handcuffed and they're doing things that Lori's begged him to do to her. Furious that she's been such a fool, Lori throws Dirk out.

There is a club nearby, one Lori has asked Dirk to take her to on many occasions. He's always refused, but now that she's single Lori goes solo. The club is a sex club and although Lori is curious she's not inclined to get close to anyone-until she meets her handsome neighbor, Mike, at the club. The couple feel an attraction that can't be denied and with Mike, Lori discovers the pleasures of her wildest fantasies. The problem is that sex sometimes leads to deeper emotions and Mike isn't certain that's what he wants.

Good Girls Don't by Shiloh Walker is well-written. The interaction between Lori and Mike is emotionally charged and erotic, the sex is hot and the ending is exactly what the story deserves. This is a book that is a pleasure to read!

Rating: 4 out of 5
© April 2007 by Amy D.

Miss October
By Madison Hayes
Contemporary
Ellora's Cave
99 pages
$4.45

When Octavia October, romance writer, passes a beat-up broken-down vehicle by the side of the road she wonders what sort of loser would drive such a piece of junk. Then she passes the owner, a huge hulking man wearing clothes as beat-up looking as the abandoned vehicle. Although the desert sun makes the asphalt shimmer, Tavia doesn't pick up the stranded motorist, but drives on by. Ironic, since a few minutes later she's the one stranded by a flat tire and when the man reaches her she realizes he's her only hope of getting the lug nuts off her flat tire. They strike a bargain. He'll change her tire and she'll take him to Albuquerque the following day. She's got a date that night and the earliest she'll be able to take him to his destination is the next morning. Until then, he may stay at her home.

This book is filled with incredibly sexy scenes. At dinner, Bolt, the hitcher, sufficiently intimidates Tavia's date, leaving the newly-acquainted couple alone in her expensive home. Worth five million dollars, the writer has been looking for someone to value her for more than her net worth and when her date leaves she and Bolt begin a torrid night of passion. It includes costly shoes nailed to the floor and a no-holds-barred getting-to-know-you period.

Although this story was interesting, I felt there were a number of things about it that were just too unbelievable for it to be truly enjoyable. Tavia seems like a smart woman, yet she agrees to have unprotected sex with a man she's known for barely 24 hours just because he refuses to wear a condom. And she lets him chase off the boyfriend so easily I wonder if there was ever any emotional attachment between the two. Also, the ending seemed far-fetched, although I won't give it away. Miss October is fast and filled with sex among near-strangers. If that's your cup of tea, this book is for you. Madison Hayes' writing style is so good that I think I'll check out another of her offerings. I'm sure I can find something else she's written that will better suit my preferences.

Rating 3 out of 5
©April 2007 by Amy D.

Game Over
By Sahara Kelly
Ellora's Cave

Locked high in The Tower of Chaos, Princess Zara waits for Sir Lincoln of Green, her hero in tight green tights, to come to her rescue. They are the main characters of the most challenging game - The Mythical Quest for the Illusion of Zara, and Sir Lincoln cannot free Zara from her celibacy until he travels through all levels of the computer game land they inhabit.

While Zara and her magically sealed sex wait - heated and impatient - for the brave hero to arrive, all manner of computer entities visit her chamber. They each have hopes of satisfying her desires, of appeasing her hunger for love's gentle touch, until Sir Lincoln arrives. But blue wizards, handsome fighting duos and sensitive vampires can't take care of her needs. Princess Zara's destiny is to wait for her hero to come for her. So wait she does.

Game Over is a witty, fast-paced tale that is both hysterical and sexy. I laughed out loud at some of the dialogue. The repartee between characters moves the story along quickly. I felt as if I was journeying from level to level beside Sir Lincoln and an assortment of fairies and other magical game-created creatures. Sahara Kelly has done a wonderful job with this book, giving her readers a full glimpse into the inner workings of computer worlds hitherto only imagined - but never seen.

Rating: 4 out of 5
March 28, 2007

Unforgettable
By Shelley Munro
Ellora's Cave
Historical Romance
Format-ebook
49 pages
$2.99

Shelly Munro's Unforgettable is both historically accurate and apropos for the current times, as well. It is a timeless story of love, war and choices made amidst turbulent times. In Britain in 1941, a couple finds a second chance for love. At a wartime dance, Margo meets Johnnie, the man she let slip through her fingers once before. Now she's engaged to Peter, but a few dances can't hurt anything--or anyone. Can they? When the couple leaves the dance hall, bombs begin to rain down on the city and they seek shelter in a garden shed. They lose themselves to passion, but in the morning their old issues will still haunt them. Won't they?

Unforgettable is an absolutely beautiful story, despite the horrors of war which are so vividly portrayed. I could see everything clearly, the flashes of light outside the dark shed, the devestation wrought by the bombing. I could feel, too, the passion between Margo and Johnnie. Also, her uncertainty is shown so well it is almost tangible to the reader. This is one short story that is truly unforgettable.

Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5
(c) Amy D. August 2007