Gail Symmonds, Diary of the Heart

Title:  Diary of the Heart

Author:  Gail Symmonds 

Rating:  Four And A Half Siren Stones

Genre:  Historical Romance

Sub-Genre:  Time Travel Romance

Keywords:  English Tea Rose, Spicy, Scottish Highlands, 17^th Century

Page Count:  368       

ISBN E-Book:  161-2170307

Price:  $5.99

ISBN for Print:  978-1-61217-030

Price:  $14.99

Publisher:  The Wild Rose Press

Buy-Link:  http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=176_138&products_id=4809

Reviewer:  Nikki

Blurb/Summary:

Within the pages of a secret diary, modern-day bookworm Julia Brown discovers an intriguing tale of mystery and deceit. But, little does she realise just how much her existence is intertwined within the ancient journal...until she is thrust back in time to the Scottish Highlands 1681. Armed only with the passionate writings of a woman long gone, she will pursue the truth of her own past...and discover the man of her dreams. 

Review:

Prepare yourselves to be swept away, into another time.  Allow an enchantment of Diary of the Heart, as this book sweeps the reader into a story that is engaging, riveting, and enjoyable.

Ms. Symmonds cleverly combines the past and the present in this story as a young woman is taken to another time and learns things she never imagined possible.  The story follows Julia as she struggles to understand.  There's plenty of action, romance, suspense, and intrigue.  I love time travel novels and this is one that definitely didn't disappoint!

Kudos to the author on a job well done.  This is definitely a keeper. 

Mimi Barbour, Together Again

Title: Together Again

Author: Mimi Barbour

Rating: Five Siren Stones

Genre: Historical Romance

Sub-Genre: Time Travel

Keywords: England, Comedy, Spicy, Vintage Rose, 1968, 1978

Page Count: 268

ISBN E-Book: 1-60154-901-6

Price: $6.25

ISBN for Print: 978-1601549013

Price: $12.99

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Buy-Link: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=176_145&products_id=4493

Reviewer: Nikki

Blurb/Summary:

Traveling forward in time, Dani Howard’s spirit becomes magically united with that of reporter Troy Brennan. He’s everything a girl could want in a man, and she falls deeply in love. Though she must return to her own body and her own time, she gains his promise to come to her birthday party in seven days so they can meet as separate entities. Only too late does she realize she should have told him about the number of years those days will equal in her life.

Troy can’t believe he has fallen for a sixteen-year-old spirit invader. Yet he’s so infatuated that when beautiful and renowned author Ellie Ward comes on to him, as attractive—as familiar—as he finds her, he’s honor bound to stay true to his young love. Or is he?

Review:

What a magical, funny and touching story! Very unique and enjoyable. Together Again delivers a delightful tale of intrigue. The plot is original and keeps the reader totally in tune. I didn't want to turn away from this story for anything! With a hint of magic and time travel, I devoured the novel from start to finish. I had to know how Dani could travel and become a part of someone else's body and mind. There are scenes that made me laugh because of the situations, and there are some very touching moments throughout as well.

If you're looking for something very different, I don't hesitate to recommend this book. Together Again, to put it simply, should not be missed! It's got a bit of everything for romantics to fall in love with. Mimi Barbour, I give you much kudos for having such an imagination to write a story of this type. It's beautiful. I need more!

Louisa Trent, The Outlaw of Ironguard

Title: The Outlaw of Ironguard

Author: Louisa Trent

Rating: Five Siren Stones

Genre: BDSM

Sub-Genre: Historical Romance

Keywords: Graphic Language, BDSM Theme and Elements, Dubious Consent, Humiliation, Ménage, M/F/M

Length: Novel

ISBN E-Book: 978-1-61118-415-0

Price: $6.99

Publisher: Loose Id

Buy-Link: http://www.loose-id.com/The-Anarchy-Tales-2-Outlaw-of-Ironguard.aspx

Reviewer: Cia

Blurb/Summary:

Series: The Anarchy Tales

Previous Book: The Devil of Nettlewood

No apology, Ysenda loves cock. Upon occasion, she even loves the man attached. For a night, and not an eventide more. Not that she’s fickle or fussy. Nay! Just the opposite. Any lover will do her. Including Almaric, the thieving wizard who seduces then abandons her. And Talon, the murderous overlord who killed her sister, Mitri. See? Not fickle or fussy at all. At eight and ten, she had her way with a fine strapping farmer and never once looked back since. To satisfy a yen to mate, she’d pull a lad on and push him off when she was done, then send him on his merry way, uncaring what became of him. Easy cum, easy go -- that was just the way coupling went.

Until she ambushes Almaric the Wizard on the moors and then schemes her way into Lord Talon’s solar at his keep. Whilst the magician’s desertion breaks her heart and the overlord’s dominance pains her other places, she falls in love with the thieving and murderous bastards despite herself. A quandary. No matter. Revenge is sweet and ‘tis hers for the taking --

All she needs do is betray one Outlaw of Ironguard and assassinate the other.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, strong BDSM theme and elements, dubious consent, humiliation, ménage (m/f/m).

Review:

The Outlaw of Ironguard by Louisa Trent was a delightful read. Ysenda captured my attention from the get go and Almaric/Lord Talon had me wanting to find out why he was masquerading in the first place. I thoroughly enjoyed the lay of the land and the setting of this story. Ysenda a strong woman clearly had an agenda of her own. I loved her duplicity in attempting to gain justice by her own means, showed bravery and a strong constitution.

Lord Talon was great. I loved the emasculated side of him versus the alter ego side that had no issues in the bedchambers. It was great to see the two separate parts of him emerge into one and to see the sparks fly between he and Ysenda. I thought it clever that she didn’t see through the ruse at all. Adding in his bailiff was great and I enjoyed all the aspects of submission and domination. This story was filled with humour, intrigue, suspense and white hot sensuality.

Debra Glass, Slave to Fashion

Title: Slave to Fashion

Author: Debra Glass

Rating: Five Siren Stones

Genre: Historical Romance

Sub-Genre: BDSM

Length: Short Novel

ISBN E-Book: 978-1419934582

Price: $5.20

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9309-slave-to-fashion.aspx

Reviewer: Cia

Blurb/Summary:

A taste of the forbidden…

Georgiana Talbot intends to remain a spinster in order to ensure her younger sisters debut and find husbands. But when she encounters a devilish Scot who ignites a searing fire within her, Georgiana realizes just how much she has denied herself regarding the pleasures of the flesh. Determined to learn more, she concocts a daring scheme.

A touch of the taboo…

Seducing the haute ton’s premier modiste into buying linen from his mills is foremost on Blane MacLaren’s mind. Until his need to bend the brash beauty to his will drives him to enter into a scandalous agreement—Georgiana will purchase his linens if he will tutor her in an array of dark delights and forbidden pleasures. Yet nothing could have prepared him for the effect his very willing student will have on him—or how far a harmless lesson in lust can go.

Review:

Slave to Fashion by Debra Glass led me on a delightful journey to the 1700’s. I’ve always wanted to be a part of the haute ton and found myself living vicariously through the heroine Georgiana Talbot. What a strong woman with a will of her own. I found it commendable that she took care of her family, taking over after the loss of a parent. Her wilfulness enchanted me. And Blane MacLaren is enough to make any woman of any time period simply melt. I found his manipulative ways genius and the grand strategy of chess begin to play out between Georgiana and Blane. I wondered whose will would prevail! Add in the secondary characters with tunnel vision, accusations, beautiful Scotland and sex so blatantly unabashed and the story makes for a must read more than once or twice.

I’ll be dreaming of highlander men with swarthy good looks and the decadent brogue that accompanies it. I can’t wait to travel back through time with another story by Debra Glass.

Elaine Lowe, Mask of Ice

Title: Mask of Ice

Author: Elaine Lowe

Rating: Five Siren Stones

Genre: Historical Romance

Keywords: Paranormal Elements

Length: Novel

ISBN E-Book: 978-1419933363

Price: $5.95

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9117-mask-of-ice.aspx

Reviewer: Cia

Blurb/Summary:

Professor Sheila Connelly remembers Professor Sam Sumners. His dark eyes, his talented tongue, the way he always makes it clear he wants her. She should remember him—he’s still her husband, after all. When she “liberates” a powerful Inuit artifact from a ruthless dealer and needs help to find it a home, there’s no one else she trusts more than Sam. During the resulting adventures through the perilous arctic, she can’t remember how she managed without him.

It’s 1955, and it’s a man’s world. Through the magic of the artifact, Sam finds out just how hard it is to be a woman. And Sheila discovers that no matter what happens, she needs Sam with a passion hot enough to melt all the ice around her heart, and his.

All they have to do now is survive.

Review:

Mask of Ice by Elaine Lowe is a great read. Both educationally and for unadulterated enjoyment. Sheila and Sam have a great history together and one that never had closure. I’d never been so glad for non-closure as I was when reading their action filled, molten hot passion, not just in the sheets but elsewhere. The history put in this story and the “do the right thing by returning the artefact” made me clap.

I loved the flashbacks of the couple unable to have their gentle love together due to rival tribes. The evil was so strong in certain areas it was palpable. Sam is the perfect hero, stopping his personal obligations to protect his one and only love made me grin stupidly. Even through assassination attempts he kept his cool and gave her the shouldering strength she needed. I loved the ending of their story and will read it again.

Roberta Gellis, Alinor

Title: Alinor

Author: Roberta Gellis

Rating: Four Siren Stones

Genre: Historical Romance

Keywords: Medieval, Blush

Length: Super Plus-Size Novel

ISBN E-Book: 978-1419931642

Price: $7.99

ISBN for Print:

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9085-alinor.aspx

Reviewer: Rhonda J Callum-King

Blurb/Summary:

Roselynde Chronicles, Book Two

Now alone, despite her exquisite beauty, Lady Alinor is physically and emotionally deprived of love—until her amorous desires are stirred by the dark, sensuous Lord Ian de Vipont. Trapped in a maze of treacherous power plays and volatile liaisons, she is irresistibly swept into an intoxicating passion for a man whose forbidden love promises only pain and peril. A strong-willed woman desperate in her quest for love,Alinor will not heed even the most torturous obstacles in her path.

From the brutal battlegrounds of France to the rich pageantry of English courts, Alinor’s turbulent adventures and romantic passions weave a breathtaking tale of danger and desire.

Publisher’s Note: Previously published elsewhere.

Review:

Alinor by Roberta Gellis is a unique view of the courts and life in England during the rule of the infamous King John, Lackland. While this book is promoted as a passionate romance, I believe it should be seen more as an historical novel with some romance woven into it. This in no way detracts from the tale of the Lady Alinor and Sir Ian. However, Alinor is more the story of the English courts and politics during the rule of King John, Lackland.

In Roberta Gellis’ novel, the premise is taken that King John was actually a very astute and intelligent ruler. In the many versions of Robin Hood, Prince John is often seen as a usurper who only wants tax monies. Here, in Alinor, he is portrayed as a king who was left a bankrupt kingdom and while still rather lecherous, was certainly not the worst that England had to offer at the time.

The romantic scenes between Alinor and Ian are few and far between. What fills the pages of Alinor is the pageantry, deceitfulness and corruption of the English courts during the rules of Kings Richard and John. This is a story of knights, bandits in the woods and licentious court followers. Roberta Gellis has created a love story of the ilk of Robin Hood, set just a few years later, under the rule of the loathsome King John. Read Alinor if you are looking for a story along the lines of the Sherwood Forest tales and you will be pleased.

Rie McGaha, Written In Stone

Title: Written In Stone

Author: Rie McGaha

Rating: Four Siren Stones

Genre: Historical Romance

Sub-Genre: Paranormal Romance

Keywords: Vampires

Word Count: 41,990

ISBN E-Book: 978-1-920468-53-8

Price: $5.99

Publisher: Silver Publishing

Buy-Link: http://silverpublishing.info/product_book_info/male-female-historical-c-82_52_64/written-in-stone-p-106

Reviewer: Mona

Blurb/Summary:

Gavin Stone is a wealthy man and never has a problem finding women to accompany him on the dance floor or the bedroom, but there's something different about Gavin. His eyes are too bright, his skin is too fair and he keeps strange hours. Angela Elliott is young and beautiful but an accident that killed her husband and unborn child also left her in a wheel chair. Angie believes she'll never love or be loved again. At a dance that Angie's caretaker forced her to attend, Angie remains in the back ground but Gavin Stone notices the beautiful young woman anyway and asks her to dance. When Angie refuses him he takes his leave but can’t get her out of his mind. When the two meet again, Angie is in a very precarious position and Gavin comes to the rescue. He then learns of her disability but continues to hide the truth about himself. That is until circumstances come together and Angie finds Gavin in the arms of another woman.

Review:

I feel that Written in Stone was a superbly written book. Editing was well done, but the cover confused me at first. It was not until the end that I realized who the lower couple was. Other than that I could picture Angie and Gavin as the cover models. I believe that it fit perfectly into both its genre and sub genre.

The romantic dance between the two was very believable. It unfolded at just the perfect pace to combine all levels of the story. I enjoyed that the heroine was not perfect in the traditional sense. It was wonderful to watch them work out the issues that arose! A very emotive story, one that will have me looking for more from this author!

Louisa Trent, Veronica

Title: Veronica

Author: Louisa Trent

Rating: Four And A Half Siren Stones

Genre: Historical Romance

Sub-Genre: BDSM

Keywords: D/s, Spanking, Exhibitionism, Voyeurism

Length: Novel

ISBN E-Book: 978-1-60737-856-3

Price: $5.99

Publisher: Loose Id, LLC

Buy-Link: http://www.loose-id.com/Veronica.aspx

Reviewer: Cia

Blurb/Summary:

Public scandal and private tragedy force sexually curious Veronica Cooper into an unwanted marriage with Talbot Bowdoin, an urbane and isolated gentleman about whom she knows nothing.
Talbot insists that it’s kept that way. Though the eccentric publisher fell in love with the “free-love” author at first word and would give her the world gladly, fearing societal repercussions, he withholds the truth about himself. A voyeur of the first water, a bisexual by experience and a romantic by nature, he is more comfortable with his steam-powered automatons than he is with people, and so he keeps anyone with a beating heart at arm’s length.

Not Veronica. Her heart pounds...with lust...and she refuses to tolerate her standoffish husband’s conjugal neglect.

To satisfy his beautiful...and assertive...bride, Talbot touches another human being for the first time in years and allows her the sexual freedom she craves, including dressing in male attire as well as exposing her to steam-powered toys...and the gazes of other men.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, BDSM theme and elements (domination/submission, spanking) dubious consent, exhibitionism, voyeurism.

Review:

I love reading about brave women who walk their own destiny. How fantastic was it that Veronica proved to be a great erotica author and found the man to dominate her and come to care for her.

I worried at the beginning finding love might prove too much for Talbot when he was used to loving objects and inventions instead of hot blooded flesh. The two fit together perfectly and told a great story of finding balance in the lifestyle.

Debra Glass, Badcock

Title: Badcock

Author: Debra Glass

Rating: Five Siren Stones

Genre: Historical Romance

Keywords: BDSM

Length: Short Novel

ISBN E-Book: 978-1419928598

Price: $5.20

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-8457-badcock.aspx

Reviewer: Cia

Blurb/Summary:

When her fiancé trades her for an heirloom ring to a dashing highwayman who holds up their coach on a desolate country road, Sophia Astley is hurt and shocked. However, it soon becomes strikingly apparent to Sophia that she is the true gem Bad Jack sought. Intrigued, she willingly submits to every tantalizing taboo he metes out to her.

Dressed as a masked highwayman, Jack Badcock, Earl of Stafford, thinks he is acting out the fantasies of a woman he knows only through lurid letters. As Jack tames her with blindfolds, sensual spankings and an array of torrid toys, she plays her role as the abducted, submissive virgin convincingly—too convincingly. By the time Jack uncovers his fantasy lover’s true identity, it’s far, far too late.

Review:

Badcock had me in stitches laughing when I wasn't salivating over the sexy dominant in the regent period. As the title implies the sexy hero Jack is one bad man with a cock many women would give their soul for.

I didn't find myself sorry for Sophia's plight or the loss of her virginity. In fact I thought it a better life for her than to be stuck with such a pig as her previous intended.

I found myself proud of her for daring to take on a lifestyle she knew nothing about without giving in to the protocol of her time.

The read was totally delightful and decadently naughty and I'll be reading it soon again. I've read other works by Debra Glass and am never left wanting.