Montana Rose by Sherry Derr-Wille

Title: Montana Rose

Author: Sherry Derr-Wille

Publisher: Red Rose Publishing

Publication Date: 11/09

ISBN: 978-1-60435-424-9

Genre: Historical

Length: 322 pgs

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Rating: 2.75 Diamonds

Heat Level: Sweet

Reviewer: Sasha Evins

Date: 12/14/09

Rose McKinney has lived her entire life at the Purple Moon cathouse in St. Louis. When the man she has always considered her father dies and leaves her his ranch in Montana, the Rocking M, she leaves vowing to sell the property and return as soon as possible. Once on the ranch, she learns not only must she stay for one year before she can sell, but also that her father's murder is one mystery she needs to solve before more deaths occur on the Rocking M.

Cameron Blake has found refuge on the Rocking M, not only for him but also for his son. His first impression of Rose is that she's someone he wants nothing to do with. It's evident she's a whore and he certainly doesn't need that kind of influence around his thirteen year old son. It isn't until he becomes completely involved in solving the murder of his former boss, that he comes to see Rose in an entirely different light. 

I really enjoyed the setting and world building in this release. It was very real to me and I found myself daydreaming of what life was like in 19th century Montana. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the cattle rustling as well. The hero and heroine were realistic to me and I could see each growing emotionally as they left their pasts behind. This was a sweet romance, with a couple of chaste kisses, which I respect as this is what is expected with the 'Sweet' heat level. I was disappointed that I really felt no chemistry between the hero and heroine, and in the end almost felt they had fallen into a marriage of convenience  I couldn't see the spark of love growing between them. If you're looking for a good historical mystery with a romantic element this is a good read, and I would have rated it a 4 outside of a romance review site. I did enjoy the story very much, but not as a romance.

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Mistletoe Rules by Stacey Joy Netzel

Title: Mistletoe Rules
Author: Stacey Joy Netzel
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Publication Date: 2009
ISBN: 1-60154-655-6
Genre: Contemporary romance
Length: 300
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Heat Level: Spicy
Reviewer: Starla Kaye
Date: 12-14-09


This anthology of three stories involving the Riley siblings, a matchmaking Santa, and mistletoe is a real Christmas treat. It has everything.

The first story, Mistletoe Mischief, involves a love-at-first-sight romance that is impossible to resist. Two single parents, Eric Riley and Marissa Wilder, who have been burned in prior marriages, find soul mates one Christmas in July day, with the help of their daughters and a bit of mistletoe magic.

The second story, Mistletoe Magic, involves the budding romance of Major Mark Riley and Janelle Walsh. From the moment they met at a Christmas parade, the couple won me over. He was a special hero, an ex-military man determined to do something to help out the community. Unfortunately what he wanted to do upset the heroine’s life and made them enemies of a sort. But Christmas magic and mistletoe help to save the day…and their special love.

The third story, Mistletoe Match-Up, involves the romance of former high school rivals, Lisa Riley and Derek Walsh. They’d challenged each other on everything when younger, and still did even after meeting again at her brother’s wedding to Derek’s cousin all these years later. They’d also ignored a budding attraction when they were younger, but it wasn’t so easy to ignore now that they’d grown up. Especially when a sneaky “Santa” keeps testing their resistance with mistletoe and its magic.

Definitely a fun read to warm your heart at this special time of year.

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Season of Love by Susan Blexrud, Bill Haworth, Kate Hofman & Miriam Newman

Title: Season of Love

Author: Susan Blexrud, Bill Haworth, Kate Hofman, Miriam Newman

Publisher: DCL Publications, LLC

Publication Date: 2009

ISBN: 978-0-9842828-3-8

Genre: Paranormal Holiday

Length: 297

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Heat: sweet-explicit

Reviewer: Steph Beck

Date: Dec. 13, 2009

From vampires to outer space, Season of Love is a great anthology that explores love in the Christmas season.

Suspense in Mistletoe Fangs by Susan Blexrude is a great starting point when vampires celebrate. The Office Party by Bill Haywood slows down with a holiday office party turned bazaar by the building’s resident ghost. A Special Christmas Gift by Kate Hofman brings things to modern and not so fanciful times and finally in the end we head to a new world in Peace on New Earth by Miriam Newman where a new agreement for life must be made and despite their differences, two people find love.

I loved the first and last stories of the anthology immensely. I’d give them five diamonds a piece. Since it’s an anthology though, I’ll average the four stories and give the overall book four diamonds. It’s a great holiday read to get in the mood for the season and even the slower stories are well written and enjoyable. Anyone feeling the need for a little paranormal holiday boost will love Season of Love.

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Woman of Honor by Nicole Zoltack

Title: Woman of Honor
Author: Nicole Zoltack
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Publication Date: March 2009
ISBN: 1-936000-03-2 or 978-1-936000-03-6
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Length: novel
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Heat Level: sweet
Date: December 2009

Woman of Honor is the first in the Kingdom of Arnhem series and tells of a young girl’s desire to honor her brother’s memory by becoming a knight. The tale outlines the story of Aislinn’s adventures from a child of seven to adulthood in the twelfth century. There are glimpses of mythic creatures and such, but the book primarily focuses on Aislinn and her personal struggles as she strives to become worthy of the title Lady Knight.

Woman of Honor has all the best elements of an epic adventure – danger, self-discovery, unrequited love, true romance, and noble expectations. I found Ms. Zoltack’s world intriguing. The writing style and storyline flow nicely and the characters work well. Caelan, Geoffrey, Aislinn and many of the other knights-in-training demonstrate the attributes necessary for true honor. Although I occasionally struggled to suspend disbelief early in the novel - some tasks seemed impossible both physically and mentally for a child of seven or eight - the majority of Ms. Zoltack’s novel proved a delightful read. I left the story with a few unanswered questions about shadow warriors and Alce, but if I did not there would be no reason to read the next installment in the series. Woman of Honor provides a refreshing escape from the standard, making it a novel worth enjoying more than once.

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