Shattered Vows by Linda LaRoque

Shattered Vows
By: Linda LaRoque
Publisher: Prayers and Promises Publications.com
Published: November 10, 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Inspirational, Romance
Length: Novel
Heat Level: Spicy
Reviewer: ReadingPatti
Date: February 10, 2016

 

Annie and Stuart Rayburn have loved each other since high school. Their life is idyllic until their baby dies of SIDS, and Annie falls into a deep depression. Months of therapy help her recover, and they look forward to another child sometime in their future. Despite his own grief Stuart tries to comfort Annie, yet when he reaches for her in the night, his advances are rebuffed. In a moment of weakness, he turns to another woman. Stu learns his night of infidelity produced a baby girl. The mother died in a car crash, and her will gives Stu custody. Stu can't deny the child is his, and he's determined to raise her. He begs Annie's forgiveness. Hurt and angry, Annie must face her demons, decide if she can forgive Stu, and love the innocent child, or divorce him and move on without the only man she's likely to love.

Annie and Stu are a regular couple who have gone through a tragic loss then they face another issue that causes them to separate. Can they find the way back to each other? That is the question.

I was hooked on this book from the first page. Stu moves out and Annie comes home to find her way. Does Annie love Stu enough to make their marriage work? Annie questions everything about their relationship, but Stu still loves her and Annie finally realizes that she loves Stu too. They work at reconnecting their relationship and stay together. With the love they have, can Annie and Stu find that they do belong together? Not just for themselves, but for their whole family.

I loved this book. This was so real that this story could happen to any couple today in real life. I loved how Annie and Stu worked though their issues to realize that they really do love each other and can come together. That their love was strong enough to go through these issues and become even stronger than before. I think we should all read this book. It shows how no matter what comes up in your relationship, if you remember that you love each other your relationship can survive and grow even stronger.

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Yuletide Enchantment by Cindy Spencer Pape

Yuletide Enchantment: 1 (Holiday Hearts)
By: Cindy Spencer Pape
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Published: December 9, 2009
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Erotic Romance, Fantasy, Holiday, Inspirational, Mystery
Content: M/F, Oral Sex, Toys
Length: Short Story
Heat Level: Scorching
Reviewer: Suki
Date: June 20, 2015

 

The company Christmas party goes awry in an erotic way when quiet accountant Shelby Carter is magically whisked into a miniature Victorian village with the boss's gorgeous son, Noel Holiday.

Noel has always honored the policy against fraternization, but when he's trapped for several days with sweet, sexy Shelby, he decides it's time to start breaking the rules. While exploring the enchanted surroundings, they delve into their deepest fantasies, even acting out scenes from a collection of erotic Victorian postcards. After all, what's Christmas without a little magic and a whole lot of sexy fun?

Though Shelby's crazy about Noel, she's sure he'll forget all about her once their interlude is over. But Noel has fallen head over snow boots in love with Shelby. Now he just has to convince her that holiday wishes can come true, and his devotion will last beyond their Yuletide Enchantment.

Yes I am reading a Christmas book in June.  Perhaps I am hoping for some of that snow we got this winter to cool things off a bit. This book is not going to cool anything off. In fact I think it rose the temperature a degree or two. 

Noel Holiday (HERO) works for the family greeting card company as a designer and is asked to check out the new Christmas display to see what is missing from it. When he gets there what he finds is Shelby Carter from accounting who is intent on the village. When they touch hands and the village at the same time they find themselves transported to the Victorian village or at least the house.  Complete with Victorian clothing and condoms. 

Once they discover there is no real way to escape they decide to make the best of it and let their attraction for each other takeover. But will it last when they are returned to reality?

I really enjoyed this book. And when you read any Ellora’s Cave book you know you are going to get sex scenes that are hot and detailed. I personally would have liked more about when they got back to reality, it seemed rushed. A couple more pages might have done the trick. But the book was very well written and edited and I fell in love with the Characters.

If you are looking for something to heat things up, this will do it.

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Gold, Frankincense, and Murder by Barbara Early

Title: Gold, Frankincense, and Murder

Author: Barbara Early

Publisher: White Rose Publishing

Publication Date: 12-01-2011

ISBN: 978-1-61116-123-6

Genre: Christian Romance, Mystery, Holiday

Length: 93 pages

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Heat Level: Sweet

Reviewer: TJ

Date: January 15, 2012

High school geometry teacher, Donna Russell likes her life well-ordered and logical, even if it is a tad solitary at times. But when a charming co-worker at the local food bank disappears just before Christmas, Donna is left with more questions than solutions.

After the missing man’s neighbor, muscle-bound EMT Sam Holton, volunteers as Donna's crime-fighting sidekick, sparks fly between them. Donna wonders if Sam can be trusted, or if he's trying to throw an unknown into her calculations—and her life.

And when police recover a body from the icy Niagara River, Donna is faced with the most frustrating equation of all: can murder plus mayhem ever equal romance?

Gold, Frankincense, and Murder is a sweet, short, sleuthy story. While I would have preferred a little romance to go with this holiday treat, I enjoyed the tone and pace of this story. Donna is not your typical romance heroine and it was rather refreshing to see the world through her eyes.

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Wanted: Boyfriend for Christmas by Kimberlee R. Mendoza

Title: Wanted: Boyfriend for Christmas

Author: Kimberlee R Mendoza

Publisher: White Rose Publishing

Publication Date: Nov 2008

ISBN: B002TG4M70

Genre: inspirational holiday romance

Length: novel

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Heat Level: Sweet

Other: n/a

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: January 13, 2012

Heather and Daniel have been friends for college, but nothing more. Heather decides to take her dating life in hand and submits a personal ad, hoping to find Mr. Right, or at least Mr. Take Home to Mom’s. Daniel thinks he’s in love, but when he proposes to his girlfriend, he is shot down, shattering his dreams. He agrees to help Heather with her family, but as ‘pretending’ hits a little close to truth, both will have to decide if they’re ready to look for something more than friendship.

Wanted: A Boyfriend for Christmas, I love the title and the personal ad element had some cute and telling moments for Heather. I felt like I’ve read this storyline a few times. I adore stories where love was there the whole time, but it was spoon-fed in this one. Still, a very sweet read with a light Christian aspect. A nice, feel-good story for the holidays. 

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Murder In Hum Harbour: A Seaglass Mystery by Jayne E. Self

Title: Murder In Hum Harbour: A Seaglass Mystery

Author: Jayne E. Self

Publisher: Harbourlight Books

Publication Date: 9-30-2011

ISBN: 978-1-61116-100-7

Genre: Christian Mystery

Length: 264 pages

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Heat Level: Sweet

Reviewer: TJ

Date: October 13, 2011

There's a sleuth on the loose.

Part-time medical receptionist, part-time jewelry crafter, Gailynn MacDonald thinks she knows everything about everyone in Hum Harbour, Nova Scotia. That's the way she likes it. But when her former employer Doc Campbell turns up dead aboard his beached yacht, and her sister-in-law becomes the prime suspect, quirky, over-excitable Gailynn vows to unmask the killer. With Geoff Grant, Doc's handsome replacement, by her side Gailynn uncovers secrets and confronts childhood fears. And in the process she discovers that catching a killer is a lot like crafting her seaglass jewelry… it’s all in the details.

Murder In Hum Harbour introduces readers to a fabulous heroine and I cannot wait to read her next adventure. Gai is so endearing and she is such a bumbling detective that I’m surprised the culprit came to light at the end of the story. Geoff is a wonderful man with hidden depths and a kind disposition. Sweet cozies are a rare treat and this one offers laughs, secrets and intriguing human behavior. Having lived in a very small town myself I know how interesting the residents can be. The quirky individuals we meet might seem over the top if they weren’t so darn realistic. The location comes to life with amazing clarity and I can almost smell the fresh ocean air and feel the brisk winds in my face. The characters and setting are what made this book such a winner for me. If you are looking for a mystery with some maritime charm then you have to pick this one up.

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Just The Way You Are by K.M. Daughters

Title: Just The Way You Are

Author: KM Daughters

Publisher: White Rose Publishing

Publication Date: 2011

Genre: inspirational Christian romance

Length: 90

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Heat Level: sweet

Other: n/a

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: August 18, 2011

 Noelle’s life changed when she stepped into a burning room to save her neighbor. Scarred and knowing she’s missing true joy in her life, she goes on a pilgrimage to Valselo, hoping to seek help from the Blessed Virgin and the ones she has spoke through in the past. She’s not asking for the scarring on her face to miraculously go away, she’s begging for the tools and acceptance she needs to have inner peace. Shane’s skills as a surgeon let him change people’s lives. In Noelle he sees someone who is truly worthy of his skill, someone completely beautiful on the inside who he wants to help. He goes to great lengths to arrange to operate on her face to help the outside match the inside, but in his zeal to fix Noelle, he misses enough to cost him a life time of happiness with Noelle.

The Christian slant on this is very Catholic, so an understanding of the Catholic faith helps. Noelle was fantastic, very well built and interesting. A fiction story just about her journey would have worked well. The romance element was weak and Shane and his faith never fully fleshed out. The descriptions of the location and the magic Noelle feels make Just the Way You Are a feel-good short read.

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Snow Blind by Kara Lynn Russell

Title:   Snow Blind

Author:   Kara Lynn Russell

Publisher:   White Rose Publishing

Publication Date:   2010

ISBN:    978-1-61116-067-3

Genre:   Inspirational Romance

Length:   96 pages

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Heat Level:   Sweet

Reviewer:  Suki

Date:   January 26^th 2010

“A woman scarred by the past...

Spurred by obligation, Robin Spencer drives through blizzard conditions to find the one person she never wanted to see again: Shale Anderson. When her trip turns deadly, Robin's only hope is to trust this man who broke her heart. But can she, when he's more like the dark, reclusive hero in the graphic novels he creates than the caring Shale she once knew?

A man in need of forgiveness...

Shale Andersen is poison. When the only woman he's ever loved shows upon his doorstep, he'll do anything to send her away. If he doesn't, he will end up ruining her life, or worse, killing her-just like every other woman who's ever gotten close to him.

A danger so complete, it threatens to consume them both...

Robin's only chance at happiness lies in acceptance. Shale's only chance at freedom lies in forgiveness. Can they weather the storm and begin their lives anew, or will someone with a thirst for revenge destroy their future?”

In Kara Lynn Russell Latest SNOW BLIND, we have all the makings of a great read. The dark brooding Hero, the innocent and strong willed heroine, and a cast around them that you know isn’t exactly what then seem. This book had me wanting to know exactly what was going to happen next. I couldn’t imagine what had happened in that car to change a man life so drastically. As the lies and the mystery unravel, the story grows deeper and deeper.  

My big complaint is that we spend so much time building to a climax and so little dealing with the aftermath. I would have enjoyed having more in-depth and seeing some of the reveal for the great villain.

But, ultimately this is a book about faith and forgiveness and knowing that deep down inside we are all worthy of forgiveness. Ms Russell’s characters have depth and truly come to life, as any good characters do.

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