Anne Ashby, Time to Bury the Past

Title: Time to Bury the Past

Author: Anne Ashby

Rating: Siren's Best Book Stone

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Keywords: Last Rose Of Summer Rose, Later Life, Sweet

Word Count: 90,000

ISBN E-Book: 1-60154-896-6

Price: $7.00

ISBN for Print: 978-1601548962

Price: $14.99

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Buy-Link: http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=175_140&products_id=4458

Reviewer: Cia

Blurb/Summary:

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder forces American Naval Officer Zane Erickson to re-evaluate his life. A posting to untroubled New Zealand, after years in Afghanistan, should allow him to bond with his motherless teenage son. Unfortunately Cody doesn’t share his father's enthusiasm for this new living arrangement.

Kelsey Hewitt is a single mother wrestling with her son’s drinking problem. She struggles to keep the truth about his abusive father from him and is determined to exclude men from her life.

As Kelsey and Zane are drawn together by the boys’ friendship, they each have compelling reasons to avoid any possible intimacy. Through dealing with their sons’ dilemmas, their attraction for each other deepens.

Can Kelsey risk allowing another control freak into her life?

Review:

Time to Bury the Past by Anne Ashby led me into the lives of Kelsey and Zane. I first want to touch on the emotional toll of this fantastic read. The pacing of this romance reeled me in and didn’t let me go. I remained hooked literally wondering what else the world would throw at these two single parents who needed a helping hand in completely different ways.

Kelsey’s past and how it shaped her gave incredible insight to why she refused to allow love in her life. I had to really think about the essence of her and what I found was at the tender age she left home she didn’t love herself much less know how to let anyone love her or to have been taught the way a man is supposed to love and respect his woman.

Zane sweet lord this man had an uphill battle with so much baggage I knew the only reason he kept going was out of love even if misguided. He hadn’t learned that his way of communication and the civilian way were to totally different animals and kept comparing himself to his father and coming to terms with what his career cost him.

What no one understood was the costs that he sacrificed to protect his son, his family and the country. The horrors he saw, the secret part of him never shared but weighed heavily on his shoulders. Add to that a government who wouldn’t let him go and he had his own quandary, how to be a good father and honor the commitment he signed up.

Add in two teens in need of a good friend, a cast of secondary characters who make the perfect external family and this story makes for a fantastic read, the only thing missing is wondering what happens and how they’re story ends. This is one book I’d love reading again just to see if there’s a layer or two I missed the first time around.

Karen Bostrom, Dangerous Sands

Title: Dangerous Sands

Author: Karen Bostrom

Rating: Three And A Half Siren Stones

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Keywords: Last Rose Of Summer Rose, Sensual, Later Life

Page Count: 340

ISBN E-Book: 1-60154-864-8

Price: $7.00

ISBN for Print: 978-1601548641

Price: $14.99

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Buy-Link: http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=175_140&products_id=4390

Reviewer: Nikki

Blurb/Summary:

Massage therapist Rita Madison is divorced and retreating to the sanctuary of her upscale Jersey Shoe hometown. At 39, she’s tired, broke, and has little trust in men. Her plan is to build her own business, spend time with her beloved aunt and walk on the beach – far from men, lies, and deception. But the idyllic locale she remembers from her childhood no longer exists. Her aging aunt is facing a bleak financial situation, and a series of incidents are plaguing her new business, threatening to derail her new life and livelihood.

To complicate matters further, two attractive men enter Rita’s life: a down-to-earth yet secretive carpenter who claims he is looking out for her aunt and a wealthy, smooth-talking businessman who offers her a trouble-free life every chance he gets. While Rita untangles the finances of her aunt, she must decide if she can learn to trust and love again. But is she putting her trust, and her heart, in the care of the right man?

Review:

Dangerous Sands is a contemporary romance that focuses on choices. The heroine at a time in her life where decisions must be made. But I honestly had a hard time relating to and liking Rita. She's cynical, closed off, and doesn't trust men, and sometimes she comes off as crass. Further into the story, the reader catches a glimpse of more emotion from her.

The story itself had plenty of things to keep me going. Pacing was great, and I absolutely adored Rita's Aunt.

I wondered throughout who Rita would end up with, the author kept the suspense up in that category fairly well. I enjoyed the story. If you like contemporary romances with an older heroine, then Dangerous Sands just be may what you are looking for.

Cindy Jacks, Leap

Title: Leap

Author: Cindy Jacks

Rating: Four And A Half Siren Stones

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Keywords: Later Life

Length: Quickie

ISBN E-Book: 978-1419930096

Price: $1.49

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-8822-leap.aspx

Reviewer: Stacey Krug

Blurb/Summary:

Just when Lila has resigned herself to the fact the most exciting chapters of her life are over, a blast from the past walks into her bakery. Six feet of gorgeousness named Gavin drops by as she’s closing up shop. They were once high-school sweethearts and it’s been more than twenty-five years since they’ve seen each other, but time hasn’t diminished the sweet heat between them. Soon enough the sparks—and the frosting—begin to fly.

As they rediscover each other’s bodies, it’s clear Gavin’s no longer a boy as he shows Lila the man and skillful lover he’s become. Though Lila knows this whirlwind romp could be an act of insanity, his touch unleashes the sensual woman she’s forgotten she could be. And she thinks—maybe—she has one more leap in her.

Review:

Leap is a wonderful story about second chances. Lila and Gavin set the pages on fire with their love scenes and imaginative love play. It was interesting to see that neither character had too many self-conscious moments about what they used to look like twenty-five years ago. They both just lived in this moment and for each other now.

This quick romantic story will have you glued to the pages as you learn more about Lila and Gavin. We find out what happed between them and a little about what their lives have been like since they last saw each other.

The end comes all too soon, but leaves the reader happy and hopeful for the couple and what life might bring.

Based on this story, I would seek out other creations by Cindy Jacks.

Clare Austin, Hot Flash

Title: Hot Flash

Author: Clare Austin

Rating: Five Siren Stones

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Keywords: Spicy, Last Rose Of Summer Rose, Later Life

Page Count: 342

ISBN E-Book: 1-60154-725-0

Price: $7.00

ISBN For Print: 978-1601547255

Price: $14.99

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Buy-Link: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/hot-flash-p-4130.html

Reviewer: Stacey Krug

Blurb/Summary:

Kate Aiello has spent her entire life trying to please others—her three brothers, her Italian mamma and her husband of twenty-five years. It isn’t insult enough she is turning fifty, and left at the side of life’s road by her philandering husband. Now she has to contend with her body’s betrayal…hot flashes!

The plain truth hits her with each thermostatic aberration—she has never been first in anyone’s life, including her own.

Brandon Sullivan has been on a downward spiral since the death of his beloved wife. Now he is a man desperate to save himself from impending financial ruin, loss of his farm and his life’s dream. He needs to get into the winner’s circle by spring or he’ll be just another poor, landless Irishmen downing his pints and bragging about the good ol’ days.

Sparks fly when Italian attitude meets Irish temper. Add two big crazy families, a barn full of horses and one woman’s menopausal hot flashes and the probability for combustion increases exponentially. What will Kate and Brandon risk for a second chance at love?

Review:

The action and emotion is nonstop and the characters will have you laughing and in tears. Clare Austin did a fabulous job of making you feel like you were right there in the moment. The issues of trust and intimacy after loss and betrayal were realistic and added even more dimension to the tale.

Kate is the oldest of a large family and very used to responsibility. On top of that she’s a people pleaser. Her life takes an unexpected turn and Kate is left trying to find herself again.

Brandon has suffered his own loss, but his family has kept him going. He never thought he would find happiness again, and then Kate crashes into his life.

Clare Austin portrayed the Italian and Irish families and languages beautifully in Hot Flash. As a reader, you felt like you were peeking in on real families. Kate, Brandon, and their zany families, along with the crazy situations brought on by lies just escalate the plot line and keep the pages turning.

Brandon and Kate’s romance and pain had me balling my eyes out. Hot Flash is filled with so much emotion that you had better have a kleenex box handy. Their love scenes were incredibly beautiful, well written, and will stir your heart.

Brandon and Kate’s love story wraps up nicely, but Clare Austin leaves room to come back and visit these families. I would welcome the chance!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Clare Austin’s Hot Flash is a must read!

Sharon Noble, Autumn Desire

Title: Autumn Desire

Author: Sharon Noble

Rating: Five Siren Stones

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Keywords: Last Rose of Summer, Spicy, Later Life

Page Count: 230

ISBN E-Book: d4160

Price: $6.00

ISBN For Print: 978-1601547606

Price: $11.99

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Buy-Link: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/autumn-desire-p-4076.html

Reviewer: Yvette Lowe

Blurb/Summary:

A widow is torn between loyalty to her dead husband and passion for his hated rival. After a fairy-tale marriage, Paula Wincott has lost her husband, Sam, noted researcher and chemistry professor at the University of Colorado to a sudden heart attack. She attributes his death to his bitterness and despair after being displaced in the department by a younger rival, Boyd Mackenzie.

Although they have never met, Paula holds Boyd in contempt, blaming him for her widowhood. Lonely and rudderless, she signs up for a chemistry class, but when she finds herself in Boyd's class, her well-ordered world shatters as passion flares between them, overwhelming her senses and threatening her loyalty to a dead man.

Review:

Paula has lost her husband and she has set in motion some things she is changing in her life. When Paula decides to finish her degree she signs up for a chemistry class, when the teacher turns out to be her husband’s enemy Boyd Mackenzie she with a clear heart cannot continue to take his class.

But, when Paula is forced to interact with Boyd can she handle the feelings that arise whenever he is around?

Boyd can't believe he could have ever done anything wrong to make Paula dislike him so. But, when they are asked to work together on her late husband’s research can he make her see that what they have is worth fighting for?

Sharon Noble did and amazing job with the struggle that Paula faces as a widow determined to protect her husband’s name and the reality of moving on with her new life and maybe even love. This story was such an emotion filled story, and made you feel all the emotions between Boyd and Paula.

You will love this sweet heart felt and truly wonderful story, it is a must read.