A Ghost of A Clue by Debra Doggett

A Ghost of A Clue
By: Debra Doggett
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Published: October 1, 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Spicy
Reviewer: ReadingPatti
Date: November 12, 2015

 

Rory DuMont has had enough of hiding the fact that she sees ghosts. Lobster Cove is a new start and she's determined to shed the mistakes of the past. If that means she ends up alone then so be it. What she can't seem to shed is Travis Reed, Lobster Cove's resident skeptic and biology teacher. Sparks fly when the skeptic and the psychic find themselves alone together but the sparks turn into flames when a ghost takes a personal interest in them.

Rory DuMont has recently moved to Lobster Cove. She inherited her aunt’s cottage, Maison de la Mer. At a meeting of Lobster Cove Ghost Hunters Society, Rory meets Mr. Travis Reed, a local biology teacher. He is a skeptic when it comes to the paranormal. 

They both feel sparks from the first time they meet. Rory is not interested at first but as they continue to meet and become friends, they discover that they have more in common they think. 

When a ghost appears to them and some of Travis’s students, they work together to find out who the ghost is.  The want to know what happened to her and to hopefully help her move on to a more peaceful place.

I loved this book from the beginning. I could feel the sparks coming off the pages between the two of them.  I couldn't put the book down!  I had to continue to the end and find out what would happen to Rory and Travis and the ghost! 

I like the journey Travis embarks on and how he comes to believe in ghosts and yet can still be a scientist. Rory finds her love, Travis and he find her. 

I wish that this book was longer, I could have continued to read more of their romance and about their lives. I want to know about these two and what else happens to them.  A great marker for an exceptional book!

A Ghost of a Clue was totally worth the read.

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Stirring Up The Viscount by Marin McGinnes

Stirring Up The Viscount
By: Marin McGinnes
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Published: January 30, 2015
Genre: Historical, Romance
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Spicy
Reviewer: ReadingPatti
Date: October 20, 2015

 

Seeking to escape an abusive husband, Theodora Ravensdale answers an ad in The Times for a job as cook in a country home. A fortuitous house fire enables her to fake her own death and flee to northern England and live under an assumed name. But Theodora’s refuge is not all she would wish, when she stirs emotions in the heir to the estate, Jonathan Tenwick, and in herself.

Meanwhile, as the connection between Theodora and Jonathan grows, her husband learns she did not perish in the fire, and searches for her. Fearing he is close to finding her, Theodora must flee again to protect the family and the viscount for whom she cares deeply. In the final confrontation with her husband, Theodora learns she is stronger than she ever knew, and love is worth fighting for.

Theodora Ravensdale's time for freedom has come.  She finally has a chance to escape her abusive husband when their house catches fire. Running away, she finds work, in the country, as a cook at Jonathan Tenwick’s house. 

While working and living close together, the two of them discover that they have a spark of attraction for each other. As time goes on, it grows and blossoms into more. 

I loved this book. Theodora is a strong woman who took a chance to leave her abusive husband. To find some peace. Little did she know that she would find Jonathan, the love of her life. Jonathan was settled in his life with his family until Theodora comes into his life. 

Theodora never believed that a man could love her for herself and Jonathan never believed that he would find a love of his own. In spite of what they have both gone through they find a way to be together and find that love that they were both meant to have.

Neither Theodora or Jonathan believed that they would find a love that was meant to last a life time. I liked how they fought what they were feeling and didn't succumb right away.  But best of all in the end they would have their happy ever after. I would recommend this book.

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Defensive Heart by Dorothy F. Shaw

Defensive Heart: 
The Donnellys Book 2
By: Dorothy F. Shaw
Publisher: Samhain
Published: September 8, 2015
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Content: M/F, Oral Sex
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Scorching
Reviewer: Marchelle
Date: September 8, 2015

 

Uptown girl, tattooed bad boy. Think you know which one is wild? You’d be wrong.

Greenwich Village is home to successful artist Jimmy Donnelly, and the world is his playground. A broken heart in college left him with zero interest in being tied down. But when he meets a sexy, quick-witted Manhattan attorney, he reconsiders his bad boy ways.

Sonja Martin’s life is filled with work, an ex-husband who refuses to stay gone, and a teenage daughter who won’t follow the rules. Jimmy, with his myriad of tattoos and piercings, looks more like one of her clients than a potential lover. But when every argument between them feels more like foreplay, she can’t seem to stay out of his bed.

The heat burns through whatever defenses Sonja thought she had. And Jimmy finds his every fantasy fulfilled—and exceeded—by a woman whose fire burns as bright as her fiercely guarded vulnerability.

But his case for breaking her out of her self-imposed mold might just be dismissed. And he’ll lose the best thing he’s ever found.

Ok so after reading the first book in this series, I was seriously hooked on Jimmy and hoping the second book would be his story. Lucky for me, Miss Shaw did not disappoint. This book totally exceeded my expectations (and they were pretty high to begin with).

Jimmy is tattoed, pierced and an artist. He is pretty much the trifecta of a hot, bad boy. The thing is, he’s not really a bad boy. He’s sweet and just plain adorable, but only with Sonja. He enjoys getting her worked up in all the best physical ways, but isn’t afraid to push her emotional buttons as well. She’s cold to him, without really wanting to be. It just makes him work that much harder to crack her ice.

Sonja is a criminal lawyer who works too much. She wants to let Jimmy in but continues to find ways to convince herself it won’t work - he’s too young, he’s too demanding, she’s not looking for a relationship, etc. Her teenage daughter is a handful. Her rebellious nature creates problems between Sonja and her ex-husband, who incidentally is a real piece of work. All of these things, in Sonja’s mind, are reasons she cannot allow Jimmy to be anything more than a bed buddy.

There are so many amazing parts to this story. I love that Jimmy never really gives up on her. No matter how much she pushes him away, he keeps coming back with a new way to break through her wall. He is determined to be a part of her life. I love how he relates to her daughter and quickly becomes someone she feels comfortable and safe with. What woman doesn’t want a guy as sexy as Jimmy who treats her daughter like something precious to be cared for and protected? Major swoon-worthy! Every time Sonja pushed him away, I found myself wanting to yell in frustration.

This book grabbed me and sucked me right in. I stayed up most of the night reading and reluctantly put it down to go to work. Still, I found every chance I could to continue reading it while I was there. While this book stands on its own, if you haven’t read the first book in the series, you should. Ryan’s story was great and there are several glimpses of Jimmy that made me crave more of him. There is no hint in this book of which Donnelly we’ll meet next, but I have no doubt it will be amazing. Until then I will read Jimmy’s story again and try to be patient.

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Unchained Memories by Maria Imbalzano

Unchained Memories
By: Maria Imbalzano
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
Published: September 22, 2013
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Spicy
Reviewer: ReadingPatti
Date: September 8, 2015

 

As a rising medical malpractice attorney, Charlotte Taylor believes in standing up for the injured, giving them a voice, and advocating for their rights. She couldn’t do it for her mother, so she does it for others, even if it means losing the love of her life.

Dr. Clayton Montgomery believes in working hard and playing even harder, until he reconnects with Charlotte. Barely noticing her crush when he tutored her ten years ago, Clay has a chance to make up for lost time when the beautiful lawyer comes back into town…until he discovers her chosen career path.

Now, philosophical differences soon become a reality and Charlotte is faced with the choice of representing a client against the hospital and against Clay. Will Charlotte give up her career and her tribute to her mother for a second chance with the man who got away?

Charlotte Taylor and Dr. Clay Montgomery knew each from when Charlotte was a senior in high school. Now Clay is an ER doctor and Charlotte is a lawyer that specializes in mal-practice suits.  One major obstacle that may come between them. 

In spite of their differences, Charlotte and Clay begin seeing each other.  The strain of her job begins to come between them. The final conflict is when Clay is named in a suit.  Clay feels betrayed by Charlotte and ends the relationship.

Charlotte is overwhelmed.  First she looses Clay, then she feels betrayed by her boss Brad, a very driven lawyer who is out to make all the money he can for the firm, regardless of the consequences. Also Charlotte’s sister Renee needs her.  She is a widow with two kids. Charlotte decides that she can’t keep going on this way and decides to go back to California.

Once Clay finally realizes that he truly loves Charlotte, will it be too late to win her back and have a love that can carried them though anything that comes their way?

I was hooked on this book from the very beginning. Charlotte and Clay overcame many difficulties and obstacles to find what they had, in spite of it all. Charlotte finds her family again in her sister, Renee, her friend Annie and finally Clay. They found their love for each other and they found that they could have that and a life together. I would recommend this book to my friends. I loved it.

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A Cowboy’s Fate by Gini Rifkin

A Cowboy’s Fate
By: Gini Rifkin
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc
Published: May 28, 2014
Genre: Historical, Romance
Length: Novella
Heat Level: Spicy
Reviewer: ReadingPatti
Date: August 28, 2015

 

Kicked out of England for offending the Royal Family, Britania Rule heads for Leadville, in the Colorado backcountry. Passing herself off as a highborn lady, she pursues her dream of opening a parlor of spiritual enlightenment.

Cody James, her guide, thinks he must be half-crazy to hire-out to a female. But his luck at the gaming tables has run dry, and she’s his meal-ticket out of town. Betrayed by the only woman he ever loved, and shot and left for dead by a man he once called friend, Cody declares himself a loner.

Traveling side by side, they deny their desire for one another, but the Tarot cards say otherwise. Their hot night of passion confirms the prediction. Will love be waiting at the end of the trail? Or could Cody’s past destroy their future?

Forced to leave England, Britania Rule chose to come to The Colonies. She was looking for someone to take her to Leadville. Cody James was wanting to get a fresh start in Leadville, so he answered Britania’s ad. He thought she was very fancy. She thought he was infuriating. They start out, Britania is definitely not used to camping out in the on frontier. They share food, fire and sleep near each other. They get closer as they get closer to Leadville.

Britiana discovers that Cody is the man that will take care of her. They learn to respect each other and realized they that really do care about each other.  Along the way, they have several adventures that bring them even closer together. In spite of their differences and trials they had getting to Leadville, Cody and Britania found their love through their travels.

I really liked this book from the start. I love the characters. Britania Rule is not a woman afraid to take on a challenge. Cody James is a man for hire and does not really have a home or a family. It is not until he meets Britiania that he finds that maybe he can have that and more. Cody never expected to fall for a woman like Britania. In spite of their differences they found their love. I believe that they will have a very happy life together. I would recommend this book.

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The Duplicitous Debutante by Becky Lower

The Duplicitous Debutante
By: Becky Lower
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Published: September 1, 2014
Genre: Historical, Romance
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Spicy
Reviewer: Laura
Date: August 21, 2015

 

In 1859, ladies of New York society are expected to do three things well: find a husband, organize a household, and have children. But despite her mother’s best intentions, making her debut is the last thing on Rosemary Fitzpatrick’s mind.

Writing the popular Harry Hawk dime novels as F.P. Elliott, she’s too busy hiding her female identity from her new publisher, Henry Cooper. To protect her clandestine career, she ends up posing as the enigmatic author's secretary.

Henry is not the typical Boston Brahmin, nor the typical publisher, and Rosemary entrances him from the moment they meet. As they work together and grow closer, he wonders how his traditional-minded father will react when he brings her into the family, because Henry firmly intends to marry the working-class woman.

But when her deception begins to unravel at the cotillion ball, will Henry be able to forgive her or has deceit cost her the man she loves?

The Duplicitous Debutante by Becky Lower is the sixth installment in the Cotillion Ball series. 

This particular installment features Rosemary Fitzpatrick, author of the Harry Hawk dime novels and the new owner of her publishing company, Henry Cooper. Being 1859, Rosemary writes under the pen name of F. P. Elliott, and it is generally assumed she is actually he. 

Henry starts the conflict off by letting his current stable of authors know he expects to meet them in person prior to renewing their contracts. I honestly believe the contracts referenced here are more akin to the author contracts of today than the three styles available in the 1850's, but I readily admit I could be wrong. And with this one action, the Big Lie starts with Rosemary trying to conceal her true identity while still getting that contract renewed. 

I have to be honest here. I had a hard time finishing this novel because Rosemary is not likable at all. Not to me, at least – and I fully understand that I might be in the minority here. It isn't just that she tries so hard to keep her identity secret – that could be brushed aside considering the background of 1859 New York City, but something deeper that just really irked me. 

As an aspiring author myself, I desperately tried to relate to Rosemary, to find even a smidgen of redemption worthy behavior in her. I could not. I also feel like the author could have done better research when it comes to several terms used, although it appears she did some research into the world of Dime Novels. I will add that I am one of those annoying people who has a thing for etymology and word usage. 

Let me state that the sparks between these two was good – believable, even. It was, in fact, a redeeming feature of this read. I think this could be a lighthearted read for many, many other people. Just not me.

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