ReviewsByRita

WYNDRAIDER
By Charlotte Boyett-Compo
Ellora's Cave
ISBN 9781419912184Edited by Mary Moran
Cover art by Syneca
Electronic book Publication September 2007

Grayham Connors, human king of Ceomhar has a problem, his Queen Lillian had been taken by The Dealachan Laird, General Meilich Caisil-Chrò. This especially frightened the King as the Dealachan were a breed of vampire know for draining and eating the flesh of their prisoners. He was desperate to have his wife returned. Desperate enough to call on Duke Saxxon Kell, the Cuideag warlord of another breed of vampire who were in a blood feud with the Dealachan, Duke Kell agreed to go after the woman for a price.

As the story proceeds the two vampiric leaders and Queen Lillian all are drawn out for us, along with many minor characters. The vampires are both strong leaders and development of each is well balanced. With Lillian as a beautiful woman attached to both men complications are bound to ensue in a most interesting manner. As the story developed, I was torn as to which man she should choose. By the time the story twists and the men are forced to work together you will be in love with both of them.
Though the story is about vampires, Charlotte avoided all the horror vampire cliches and presents a very believable story of two strong men that surpasses their race. I found it a gripping adventure, with a lot of steamy romance. Definitely 5 bites out 5.

c Reviewed by Rita M., gottawritenetwork.com reviewer
December 19, 2007

RACING FOR THE SHORE
Published by Linden Bay Romance, 2007
Linden Bay Romance, LLC, U.S.
ISBN Trade paperback: 978-1-60202-083-2
ISBN MS Reader (LIT): 978-1-60202-082-5
Other available formats (no ISBNs are assigned):
PDF, PRC & HTML
Copyright © MELANIE ANDERSON, 2007
Cover art by Beverly Maxwell

Jill Conner had a laid back beach lifestyle. She managed a souvenir shop for her parents. Brian Donovan was a hard, fast man. A crew chief in the Stock Car Racing League, or SCRL He had been working with well known race driver Jack Kelly, until he had just retired. Brian was between drivers , on vacation at the beach where Jill had her shop, but he was unable to adjust to the slower lifestyle of a vacation. This unlikely couple came together as neighbors and began to develop a relationship though they had very little in common.

As the story proceeds, the author turns to the fast-paced world of sports car racing further increasing the difficulty in establishing a relationship between the two. I would have loved more emphasis on this part of the background in this story. After the tension of the build up the couple's relationship finally becomes steamy and the book races to a satisfying conclusion. Ms. Conner's family is a delight. This book has all the ingredients of a fascinating read and almost achieves it toward the end. I kept wanting more, more of the racing, more of her family and background. Brian is better developed than Jill but I kept wanting to learn more about both of them.

After a slow start, I would say this book finished in the top five. I would give it 4 checkered flags out of 5.

c Reviewed by Rita M., gottawritenetwork.com book reviewer
Dec. 22, 2007

KISS OF A DRUID BARD
By Jean Hart Stewart
ISBN 9781419911699
Copyright © 2007 Jean Hart Stewart
Edited by Helen Woodall
Cover art by Philip Fuller
Electronic book Publication December 2007
Cerridwen Press is an imprint of Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.®

Brittany, May, 1920. Women were allowed to work as nurses, shop clerks, or factory workers but were not to get too ambitious and hold a professional male occupation. Not a man's job. Yet Mairey Bronwyn, like her father Taliesin and her brother Philip, held a doctorate in anthropology, and wrote for renowned journals. The well-known Bronwyn family. Archeologists of renown. And the M. Bronwyn, PhD, in the credit lines of their erudite articles stood for Mairey. A young and beautiful Mairey who must have concentrated almost unnaturally on her education to have come so far, so fast. She also wore pants and cared for her niece Bethan.

Dr. Stephen Lovernios, physician and surgeon, had left his practice and aided by his musical abilities set out to travel as a bard, in search of his druidic heritage wandering through historically Druidical territory. Something that impressed Mairey as irresponsible and suspicious. Yet when Bethan was struck by a car Stephen stepped forward to assist. He found the Bronwyn family interesting and stayed long enough to get acquainted. He found Mairey to be extremely attractive to him, but he was still recovering from the loss of a previous love, who had wed another. Then he had a sudden vision of Mairey's Aura. like a swirling pink cloud around her head and a premonition that Mairey was in trouble. He went to her to discover the ladder she had used to climb down a small dig had been sabotaged, Mairey suffered a slight injury.

Stephen continued his journey traveling as a bard and singing in taverns for his supper and tips. He continued to Merlin's Forrest. He found himself blessed by his visit to the forest. His druidic powers were deploring apace. Including a vision of the child, Bethan, in danger. Stephen returned to the Brittany area and the Bronwyns. Once there he foiled the attempt of Bethan's pediophilac step father, Walter, to abduct Bethan.

Further complications ensued at the dig when an artifact they had uncovered was found missing and they called in Riva Broussard, deputy assistant in charge of antiquities in Brittany, another intelligent and attractive woman working beyond the boundaries of her gender. Philip Bronwyn, Mairey's brother developed a fondness for Riva.

There are a great many further developments, while we learn and like Stephen, Mairey, Philip, and Riva. A team of smugglers may be attempting to steal artifacts from the dig, and Walter still lurks nearby seeing the child. The characters must work together to attempt to handle these problems. This is a book with a rich and interesting background and a romantic and erotic love story. Ms. Stewart, our author, guides us through this complex story and these interesting characters expertly. It is extremely enjoyable. I would give it five artifacts out of five.
cReviewed by Rita M, gottawritenetwork.com
Dec. 26, 2007

I, SPY?
By Kate Johnson
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
electronic publication: March 2007
ISBN: 1-59998-434-2
Cover by Scott Carpenter
296 pages
Mystery/Suspense

"My alarm clock went off and I knew I had to get a new job." This was the daily mantra of Sophie Green. She was a customer service agent on the Ace Airlines staff.

One day on a routine security matter, a passenger was too late for his plane and, because no bag may fly without its passenger, his bag had to be removed from the flight. An incident occured and she discovered her co-worker Luca had an extra pass that listed him as Luke Sharpe, and his position was Special Agent.

This was the start of a whole new life for Sophie. Without any training, Luca recruited her into the spy agency. Suddenly she was a spy working to unravel a mystery that deepens as the book continues.

There is plenty of suspense as Sophie develops from a service agent for the airline into a secret agent. There is comedy and romance, or is it seduction as well? Who can she trust and who is a villain? Luca/Luke is not the only hot man along the way. Our author handles the comedy with a light touch.

A delightful Mystery/Suspense book with a sure touch of comedy. This book is listed as a Sophie Green mystery and I am eager to read the next book in her series. I found it an enchanting page turner. I hated to put it down. I give I, Spy? 5 bullets out of 5.

Reviewed by Rita M, gottawritenetwork.comDec. 31, 2007

WHY SHOULD THE FIRE DIE
By Philippa Grey-Gerou and Emery Sanborne
Published by Linden Bay Romance, 2007
Linden Bay Romance, LLC, U.S.
ISBN Trade paperback: 978-1-60202-075-7
ISBN MS Reader (LIT): 978-1-60202-074-0
Other available formats (no ISBNs are assigned):
PDF, PRC & HTML
Copyright © PHILIPPA GREY-GEROU AND EMERY
SANBORNE, 2007
Cover art by Beverly Maxwell and Philippa Grey-Gerou

In 1983 four young college students tried to summon a daemon. Something went terribly wrong and one of them died.

Twenty-five years later, Doctor Morgan Gregory now teaches at Harvard. He is a tenured professor in the anthropology department. His academic specialty is the rare religious practices of ancient civilizations. Currently Morgan is researching an ancient religion to publish a new book. But he has one problem--there are three lines in a code he cannot translate. He needs a rare decoder to finish his research.

Alerted by his secretary Morgan visits an antique shop whose owner is reputed to be quite an expert at locating hard to find items. Morgan is shocked when he found the owner, Alma Spencer, is actually Rachel Alexander, Morgan's old lover.

During the last 25 years since their experiment in magic the two had gone their separate ways. Morgan went into teaching. Rachel had been a freelance sorcerer until a few years ago when she had lost her magic. Since then she had been the owner of the antique shop.

Rachael finds the decoder Morgan was seeking. When he translates the three lines, he discovers it is a clue to finding the power of the religion Morgan has been researching. It also could lead to a way to restore Rachael's magic. The two of them set out on a journey to find these secrets, all the while fighting the violent sexual attraction they has been dormant for the years of separation.

A whirlwind of magic and sex, this story sweeps you along for a wild ride. The characters are fully developed and the background is complete. In spite of the occult and magical background it presents a believable story. I would give it five spells out of five.

c Reviewed by Rita M., gottawritenetwork.com reviewer
January 2, 2008

SECRETS OF A PROPER LADY
By Victoria Alexander
Avon
Historical Romance
384 pages
$7.99

Daniel Sinclair was in a tontine. One of the two remaining members. The last man married would win four shillings and a bottle of Cognac. The pride of the matter not the prize was important. But Daniel had a surprise coming.
About that time the Earl of Marshame summoned his daughter Lady Cordelia Bannister to inform her that she was to marry Daniel Sinclair. He had arranged the match with Daniels father, Harold Sinclair. A marriage that would not only join their families but bind the two men into business together. Both need the resources of the other to save their business and their fortunes.

Cordelia was not interested in being traded off like so much goods, and especially to an American. Daniel was equally reluctant. Yet duty compels them to marry for the sake of their families.

Cordelia takes matters into her own hands. Posing as Sara Palmer, her companion, Cordelia set out to meet Daniel's secretary, Warren Lewis" in an effort to know more of the man she is compelled to marry.

The man Cordelia meets however, is not Warren Lewis, but Daniel himself. He is intrigued by "Sara" and does not correct her impression that he is Waren. The couple continues to see each other and he follows the family to Brighton keeping up the pretense.

Cordelia finds herself drawn to "Warren" and he to her. He asks permission to call on her when she returns to London. On trying to call on her there, he discovers her deception, but stubbornly decides to continue the deception until she reveals herself to him.

Meanwhile, Cordelia find herself falling in love with "Warren" this comedy of errors continues, when she calls on Warren at Daniel's residence only to find out that she is being deceived. After a very passionate encounter she professes her love for Warren, to punish Daniel for his deception.

This mutual problem must be resolved soon, though, because the families are beginning to circle wanting the two to marry. They are to meet at a family dinner soon to discuss the marriage. How they resolve the dilemma and settle the matter is fitting of this comedy of errors.

A delightful story of two people both too stubborn for there own good. An enjoyable read. Inimitable to Regency romance fans. I would give it five kisses out of five.

Reviewed by Rita M, gottawritenetwork.com
Jan. 6, 2008