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Nightshade
Morgana de Winter
Bronwyn is an orphan with some land
who has been given into marriage by the King to Lord Smythson, and
that was start of her abusive nightmare. Bronwyn had discovered
that she is nothing to him but a way to earn land and some wealth
and now that he has his sights somewhere else, she is only a
problem. Lord Smythson has concocted a way to get rid of an
extremely sick Bronwyn and not be accused of any misdeeds, but
Nightshade hears and answers her calls for help. Nightshade has
been a guardian gargoyle at the keep for as long as anyone can
remember. After saving Bronwyn, he asks for a night with her as a
reward. Bronwyn and Nightshade discover that one night might just
have more results than either expected.
Nighshade
is a historical with a paranormal bent, which tells of two people
finding a love they never expected. Bronwyn believes that she must
follow the commands of the King without question. Nightshade has
been cursed to guard over a keep that he once knew better than any.
Together they discover that fate sometimes has a much better plan
than even a reigning King when it comes to romance. I found Ms. De
Winter’s characters engaging and their journey from pain into love
kept my attention with each page. I’m not usually an historical
reader, but Nightshade was a story I’m happy to have
read.
Deception’s Calling
by Marie Harte
Officer Summer Michaels and Lt.
Drake Nichols are both members of the Specter Squad. A police force
where each member has special powers and in most cases they have
even more than the other members know. Summer has felt the a
sensual pull towards her boss, whom they call Lt. Hotbod, ever since
she join the Specter Squad, but has resisted it for that very
reason. One day after a bust in which they go together, Summer
learns that she is even more special than even she knew from her
partner. Drake Nichols is the lieutenant over his squad and has
made it a policy to never sleep with any of his officers. However
ever since Summer has come into the Squad, Drake has been fighting
against his need for Summer. While tracking down a drug
distributor, a misunderstanding changes their lives forever. Now
Summer must deal with the current situation and Drake needs to
figure out what he is missing all while keeping them safe.
Deception’s Calling
describes a world where people with paranormal lives are normal in
everyday life and things that we see as myth exist. Summer is proud
of her job with the squad until she is faced with a situation she
never even knew she might have. Drake knows that something has
happened with is life but can’t seem to get a grasp on it with the
exception that he knows Summer is part of it. I could not read this
story fast enough as it grabbed me from the start and I ran through
it needing to know what would happen with Summer and Drake. I have
to say that the ending did not disappoint me. This is my first
story by Ms. Harte but I will be searching for others by her.
Arrested Desires
by Michelle M. Pillow
Julianna Harrison is having a
really bad day and to top it off her soon to be ex-husband has
arranged for her to be kicked out of her house with not a credit to
her name and no where to go. She is stunned and trying to gather
her wits and things in the short amount of time allowed by the
court. Officer Maverick Perkins is uncomfortable with having to
follow through with the court order evicting Julianna from her
home. Upon learning of her plight, Maverick invites her to stay in
his extra room until she can have her court date. Julianna is
attracted to Maverick in a way she hasn’t experienced in many
years. Maverick is trying to give Julianna the time he thinks she
needs all the while fighting his need for her. As their passions
change their lives, Maverick learns that Julianna is much more than
a pretty face something her ex-husband has forgotten.
Arrested Desires
is a futuristic story telling an old story of a wife putting her
husband through school and then being dropped for a younger, trophy
wife. Julianna is stunned by the viciousness of her ex-husband but
she is no dummy about the law. Maverick is a cop that has to follow
the letter of the law, but he knows that sometimes the law doesn’t
know the entire truth to begin with. Julianna and Maverick find a
strong and vibrant love at a time when Julianna is struggling to put
her life back together. I have always found Ms. Pillow’s stories
engaging and this is no exception. I was drawn into Maverick and
Julianna’s world quickly and by the end I was cheering for how
Julianna’s ex-husband was dealt with. Another great story from Ms.
Pillow.
The Wolf of Cnoc Meadha
by Sherrill Quinn
Connor is the son of Queen Una of
the Daoine Sidhe known as the Faolchu’ Cnoc Meadha (the Wolf of Cnoc
Meadha). Connor was cursed during one of his trips to the human
realm and because of that he is a threat to his own people. His
mother has plans to help him and sends him to search for a person
she has had to exiled to the human realm. MacKenzie McCallum has
faced many things during her time in the human realm and she
believes that no one in Fae even remembers her. She soon learns
that not only does the Queen remember her, but that she has sent her
son to locate her. MacKenzie remembers Connor during her time in
his house, but she knows that he won’t remember her because she is
quite different from the last time he saw her. MacKenzie and Connor
are a bit surprised by the instant attraction that leaps instantly
between them. The coming of Connor’s cruse is upon them quickly
which makes MacKenzie determined to help Connor overcome it any way
she can. Connor is not sure that anyone can break the curse not
even MacKenzie and their love.
The Wolf of Cnoc Meadha
shows that even the Fae are not always given a charmed wonderful
life. Connor is cursed because he will not be forced into something
not of his choosing which MacKenzie is forever changed as a side
effect of an argument between the King and Queen of the Daoine Sidhe.
She is then exiled from her home in to the human realm for
centuries. I loved how Ms. Quinn showed that even in the fantasy
realm many times the mothers still knows what is best for their
children. Connor and MacKenzie’s trials through life only made them
realize just how strong their love for each other was and to fight
for it. The Wolf of Cnoc Meadha is a lighthearted
read that I found to be a wonderful addition to this book.
Morpheus
by Alicia Sparks
Anna writes for a music magazine
called Metal Alloy. She has been assigned to get an interview with
a popular band Morpheus and most especially with its lead singer,
Grey. Anna arrives at a concert sight with the hopes of
interviewing Grey but a case of mistaken identity turns the night
into something else. Anna leaves without her interview and hoping
not to deal with Grey again. Like all musical performers, Grey
needs the rise that the fans give him but unlike most he needs
something even more from them. He has made arrangements for his
needs, but tonight a mistake is made and he finds much more than he
was looking for. Anna begins to dream of Grey but she can’t
understand what it means. Grey needs Anna to remember a past and
help him regain what he has lost. Can Anna trust Grey to step into
the dream?
Morpheus
intertwines the gods with modern day. Anna has an attraction to
Grey but cannot understand what the dreams are telling her. Grey
has finally discovered all that he has been searching for but first
he has to make Anna accept what he has to say. Morpheus
has a bit of a darker side to it, but I found that it helped with
the plot and the ending twist. A twist that I never expected but
made the story richer for it. The perfect ending to a book full of
paranormal stories.
Phoenix Rising I
is a book full of paranormal and fantasy stories. There was not one
story in this book that I found wanting or not equal to the rest. I
was pulled from one story to the next fully engrossed as they
bounced from fantasy to paranormal and back again. The individual
authors were at their best with their stories. I recommend
Phoenix Rising I to anyone who enjoys either paranormal or
fantasy stories.
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