Book Review ~ Emily Dahill, CID Part 1 - Anthology

Title: Emily Dahill, CID Part 1 - Anthology
Author: Lindsay Downs
Publisher: Astraea Press
Genre:
Length: short, 37 pages
Heat: Sweet

Book and review request comes from the author.

100% from the proceeds of this book is donated to the Japanese tsunami victims


Blurbs:~
Final Mission-After being seriously wounded in a copter crash in Iraq Sgt. Emily Dahill meets her new partner as she embarks on her new Army career as a CID agent. Who could this new partner be?

A Body in the Snow- Emily and her partner, Dakota, cross bullets with their most determined foe. Who will survive?

Right Place, Wrong Day-On leave to hang with friends Emily gets the surprise of her life.

Dog on Fishing-When it comes to knowing how to fish, and catch the big ones, never underestimate your partner. He might surprise you.

Review: This anthology is unusual in as much all the stories are written by one author, in this case Lindsay Downs. And the next revelation comes in the guise of Emily’s partner, Dakota--a dog. A Collie to be precise. You may be forgiven for assuming that a member of the Army would choose a dog more often used by the Services, such as a German Shepherd or Spaniel, but Dakota is perfect. Collies are herders, so Dakota is ideal for the part of Emily’s significant ‘other’.

While this is not Ms. Downs first Dakota book, she allows us to share Emily’s first meeting with Dakota.

For those who may accuse Ms. Downs of humanising a dog by allowing a Collie to have its own point of view will have little to worry about in these stories, because Ms. Downs writing style will charm you.

That doesn’t mean you are in for a ‘soft’ read, you are not. The author keeps you on the edge of the seat as often as she will have you laughing. Her writing style is fluent and vivid.

She has the ability to persuade her readers to connect as strongly with her secondary character as they will with her protagonist and antagonists. Be they human, or fish!

The skilful scene-setting drops her readers right into the action. And in a short story offering a full-bodied scene is not always possible, and rarely easy. Ms. Downs makes it look like child’s play!

Buying this book will not only give you enjoyment and a desire to discover more about Emily and Dakota –more details on the author’s website- http://www.lindsaydowns.com/ but it will also help victims of the Japanese tsunami.

My only disappointment with this book was I wanted more! Much more!

Review of Spellbound

Review of Spellbound
Author:Samantha Combs
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Heat: Sweet
Publisher: Astraea Press




Writing in the 1st person can be restricting, but Ms Combs overcomes both this, and head-hopping, in Spellbound with her masterly use of giving various characters their own sections in the story. Not only does the reader see the events from multiple viewpoints, but each one segues neatly into the next without slowing the pace of the story.

There is a large cast of characters, but the author’s technique ensures the reader never loses track of her main players. I did find keeping track of what the different coven members specialised in a bit hard, but once again Ms Combs kept prompting me as the story progressed.

Logan and Serena’s meeting is the catalyst for change in their lives. For Logan, it is about discovering a whole new aspect of life and coming to terms with it when he discovers the girl he is falling in love with is a twitch – teenage witch – then his widowed mother reveals secrets which tilt his new and topsy-turvy life upside down. That he adjusts copes so well with each revelation and its consequences might have the author turning him into some sort of super-human, but no, under Ms Combs influence Logan grows and matures with a compassion and understanding that never becomes mawkish or unrealistic.

While Serena seems to have her future mapped out for her and her elder and younger sisters around for support, encouragement and sharing, it soon becomes clear that that any reader pre-conceptions soon go up in a puff of demonic smoke. Her new boyfriend is not the only one who finds his life tilting on its axis as revelations aplenty are thrown at her. Serena’s strength of character matches that of her boyfriend, Logan and together with the support of some fun and entertaining characters face their biggest challenge knowing the cost of losing would be death for at least one of them.

The secondary characters all play their parts in moving the story forward and come from different arenas and yet all come together at the end of this fluently written and fast-paced story in such a manner this reader was sad to part company with them at the end of their tale.

For those who enjoy YA, paranormal and romance all wrapped up together, then Ms Combs is an author to watch out for.

Buy link: http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=4435577
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Spellbound-ebook/dp/B0055T3D1E/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1309285775&sr=1-1

samanthacombswrites@gmail.com

http://www.samanthacombswrites.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/samanthacombs1

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Samantha-Combs-Fan-Page/205186202866933

Thank you Samantha for sharing these four days with us and best wishes with your debut novel.

Review of Believe ~ A book to read at any time of the year

This review is also available at The Romance Reviews

Authors: Kirsta Ames;Elizabeth Chalkley;
Marissa Dobson;Janet Eaves;Margaret Ethridge;
Tonya Kappes; Amy LeBlanc;Cat Shaffer

Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press

ISBN: 9781935817277

Book Genre: Contemporary Romance




Eight authors present their delightful Christmas stories in this anthology BELIEVE. You may think it odd to review a Christmas story after the holiday is over, but while these stories revolve around the Christmas theme, each is so packed with the ‘feel-good factor' they are a delight to read at any time of the year.

Several of the authors were new to me. In one fell swoop I am able to add them to my list of authors to follow.

Secondhand Horses by Amy LeBlanc
This story will appeal to animal lovers everywhere. Emily Morgan faces the entrenched preferences of the farming community when she joins her grandfather's veterinary practice until the evening Ben Avery walks into the clinic. Ms LeBlanc manages to pace the building attraction between Emily and Ben in a believable and enjoyable way. And the antics that Emily's granddad gets up to will having you laughing.

Mall Magic by Cat Shaffer
For some people Christmas is not a time of joy, and Cat Shaffer weaves her charming story around this theme beautifully. For Deeni Crowe, the holiday period is a time to be endured. Shopping becomes a military expedition to find the ‘right' gift. But accidents happen. Fate steps in and so does the mysterious Mac. An accidental collision in a bookshop starts a sequence of events that teach Deeni that when she opens herself up to the spirit of Christmas, her life will change beyond recognition.
This story is so different from the previous one and yet the second builds on the first and now you're ready to settle down and read the rest.

Another Quirky Christmas by Tonya Kappes
It's all to easy to get lost in the raz-ama-taz of the commercial side of the holiday, and Hallie's all for that. As manager of Gucci in one of America's busiest shopping districts, she's all for as many customers opening their wallets as can be enticed. But this year… she'd do almost anything to receive one special invitation. But Ms Kappes put all kinds of obstacles in her way and then systematically weaves her hero heroine together in a story that will warm your heart.

Concourse Christmas by Margaret Ethridge
A crowded airport, an instant attraction, throw in a snow blizzard that gives Ms Ethridge's characters time to get to know each other and you have the basis of a story. It's how the author creates the conflict, then allows both characters to resolve them that makes this another great Christmas story.

Love in an Elevator By Krista Ames
Combine office romance and the fantasy of being trapped in a lift with your heart's desire and you have the gist of this story. It's the clever way the author unveils the conflict that initially kept Melanie and Grant apart that makes you smile when you read the last line.

Fixing Christmas by Elizabeth Chalkley
Christmas is a time for magic, but not everyone recognizes it when they are faced with it. It soon becomes apparent that Jennifer, while not exactly happy with the status quo, is too afraid to risk rocking her boat. She is definitely not interested in the string of ‘he's just right for you' men her sister keeps parading in front of her. She'd messed up once, and once was enough for her. So when Billy Phillips re-entered her life, she let fear rule her heart. It is how the author creates the changes in Jennifer that makes this such an enchanting story.

Angel on Board By Janet Eaves
This heart warming paranormal story will enchant you. Jacob has come to a decision, but there are those who don't agree with it. Who has the power to change his mind and will he listen? Ms Eaves takes the desperation many feel over the holiday season and weaves an intricate and deeply emotional story together with hope for the future.

The Twelve Seductive Days of Christmas by Marissa Dobson
Christmas is all about family, and yet so many either don't have one or ignore the one they have. And up to now Jasmine Pierce's life had consisted of a bit of both. Now she faced the consequences of past actions by other people. Ms Dobson robs her heroine of the capacity to trust and then dumps one challenge after another in her lap. Including ‘tall-dark-and-handsome' called Logan. Add in a snowstorm and you have a recipe of growing awareness, and the ever-present dilemma, for Jennifer, of trust.

This collection of stories is beautifully balanced. Each story stands alone and yet together, they create a wonderful collection that begs to be read time and again, and not just at Christmas.

The Brat's first Review

Please visit Fire Pages to find out what Zee thought of
The Brat.

Book Review ~ Texas Promise by Celia Yeary

Texas Promise

Celia Yeary
Desert Breeze Publishing Inc.
Contemporary/History/Cowboy
Sensual.

Review:

There are good books, and then there are good books. The ones I’m talking about are the ones that when you reach the last page you feel as though you are losing contact with dear friends. That is how I felt when I finished Celia Yeary’s first book in her Cameron Sisters series, Texas Promise.

In the first two short paragraphs we’ve met and learned about Jo King, the heroine.

She’s a woman who overcome some hard personal knocks and grown strong. She’s caring and warm, and when she loves she gives her all. That’s a lot to learn in a few short words. And the author takes this skill and weaves it into every word she’s written in this story.

Even the secondary character, some we never meet, leap from the pages in their three dimensional form. Her sister True never plays a large part in this story and yet her influence on her older sister is immense. So when Jo’s past walks into her home True is there for her.

We meet the hero, Dalton King, when he is recovering from severe injuries. Ms Yeary reveals his past and the events responsible for his injuries in a series of flash backs, and if I have any nit with this book it is the information revealed, then forgotten, by Dalton while in recovery. By the time Dalton King returns home he’s a changed man, fuelled by betrayal.

What makes this story is the author’s ability to place her reader right beside her characters. You feel their pain, whether physical or emotional, you can smell the dirt tracks, as easily as you can smell sewing machine oil.

The evil slinks though the book like a rattler slithering across the desert sand (Oh my, maybe I got that wrong, not once was a snake mentioned although I did expect them to be, and was vastly relieved when they weren’t.) But what I did get strong and clear and true was the atmosphere of the country Jo and Dalton travelled through. The journey, their emotions and the responses of the people they met along the way were so vividly portrayed.

I liked that her heroine, Jo, had weaknesses that made her absolutely believable when she learned about ‘the Judge’. To say more would give away too much. The way the author dealt with Jo’s resistance was awesome.

Before I read the book fully I’d come across excerpts online so knew I’d fall in love with Ms Yeary’s writing style all over again, and I did.

By the time I turned the final page, Jo and Dalton had wormed their way into my heart and I felt a great sense of personal loss when their story ended.

You don’t need to be a lover of history to enjoy this book. You don’t need to know anything about Texas –I’m in the U.K.- to enjoy this book. But by the time you come to the end of this story, you’ll realise you’ve been gifted both.

This is a book I’d describe as a ‘keeper’. It will certainly stay on my e-shelf to be read again in the not too distant future. I will also be keeping my eye out for the sequel.

If you have not read Celia Yeary’s books I highly recommend you start now.

Reviewed by Sherry Gloag. 20-09-10

Book Review of Sandra Cox's book Flower Power.

“The world of publishing is changing,” they said. “If you want to sell your book these days, you have to ‘get out there’ and get yourself noticed!”

“Geese! I like my seclusion, what do you mean I have to ‘get out there’?”

“You need to visit author blogs and websites and leave comments for one.” They went on to list several other essentials for the debut author , but after belly-aching for a couple of months I finally got off my butt and began my foray out of my comfort zone and low and behold almost immediately I won a contest for leaving a comment.

My Prize? A personalised pdf copy of Sandra Cox’s Flower Power.

And what a prize!

This book is a veritable wealth of knowledge backed up by stunning black and white photographs with the colour versions available for download at her site.

“I’ll just take a peak",” I told myself before getting ready for an appointment I couldn’t get out of. I almost missed it. When I returned home I promised myself I’d get those pesky household chores caught up before I went near the PC.

Oooops, “Whaddayamean they’re still not done?”

Did I mention the wealth of information in this book? I did? Well, O.K. but really, it’s crammed full.

Sandra Cox provides links for further information and where you can find the plants included in her book.

And if a pdf version isn’t enough, you can also obtain the print version. Now you have no excuse not to discover what that unidentified plant is that’s flourishing in your garden and you keep forgetting to ask about when you visit your garden centre.

Sandra describes her visit to a daylily farm and her enthusiasm carries you along beside her. You want to ‘be there’ too.

Now I LOVE azaleas, the range of colours they display is awesome, and yet, did you know they are categorized as a danger to health? I didn’t.

And one of my all-time favourites… Lily-of-the-Valley is dangerous for animals? Wow!

Ms Cox takes you through a list of Carnivorous Plants and then follows this up with a section about plants that are edible.

Now, I could go on. I really could! But if you want to know what else she talks about I suggest you put your hand in your pocket and buy this dynamic and charming book. You won’t be disappointed.

Visit Jupiter Gardens for more information aboout Flower Power.

And to buy the book visit Jupiter Press