Bess McBride, Across the Winds of Time

Title:  Across the Winds of Time

Author:  Bess McBride

Rating:  Four And A Half Siren Stones

Genre:  Fantasy 

Sub-Genre:  Time Travel Romance

Keywords:  Faery Rose, Sweet

Page Count:  308     

ISBN E-Book:  1-60154-970-9

Price:  $6.75

ISBN for Print:  978-1601549709

Price: $14.99

Publisher:  The Wild Rose Press

Buy-Link:  http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=177_139&products_id=4621

Reviewer:  Nikki

Blurb/Summary:

While on a genealogical research journey through the Midwest, Molly Hamilton impulsively buys a 100-year-old Victorian house in the middle of a cornfield, and falls in love with the house’s owner...the original owner, that is. Can he be a ghost? The handsome, intriguing attorney certainly feels solid—and somehow her soul knows she has always loved him.

Darius Ferguson has no idea how he has come to present-day Iowa. The last thing he knew, the year was 1880, and he had just buried his fiancée, who happens to look exactly like Molly. He cannot separate the two women in his heart—to him, they are one.

In spite of being drawn to him, Molly thinks Darius is unhinged. Darius wonders if he has joined his fiancée in purgatory. If time travel is possible, will love be enough to build a future together?

Review:

Across the Winds of Time is one of those stunning time travel stories that makes the reader believe in magic.  The laws of reality have been challenged, as Molly and Darius find their paths to love.

Intriguing and fast paced, I enjoyed this book greatly.  I didn't want to do anything else.  My mind came racing back to this book, needing to know what would happen next.  Bess McBride created such lively characters and a plot that is full of twists and turns.  The book is in first person, featuring the heroine, Molly.  With a cast of characters that are unforgettable, this book stole my heart, left me with a smile on my face.

If you're a fan of time travel romances, then I'd suggest getting a copy of Across the Winds of Time.  I want to know what else Ms. McBride has to offer.  I'm a new fan! 

Lillian Duncan, Pursued

Title:  Pursued

Author:  Lillian Duncan

Rating:  Four And A Half Siren Stones

Genre:  Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Keywords:  Sweet, Lawyer, Farmer 

Page Count:  270     

ISBN E-Book:  978-1-61116-093-2

Price:  $5.99

ISBN for Print:  978-1-61116-092-5

Price:  $13.99

Publisher:  White Rose Publishing

Buy-Link:  http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/pursued

Reviewer:  Nikki 

Blurb/Summary:

Reggie’s a big city lawyer and Dylan’s a country farmer. In the normal course of events, their lives would never intersect but some accidents just aren't meant to be avoided. When Reggie crashes into Dylan, it makes a bad day even worse or so she thinks. Dylan, on the other hand, is intrigued by the feisty lady lawyer and wrangles a way to spend a bit more time with her by offering to drive her home after the accident. And so the journey that will change both their lives begins…

Review:

One could say Reggie is having a bad day.  How was she to know things were only going to get worse from there?  On a good note, Dylan, the man she's collided with in an accident, is kind enough to stay by her side.

From there the two are taken on the ride of their lives.  Someone is after Reggie, and they seem to stop at nothing to mark her for death.

Wrapped up in plenty of suspense, Pursued delivers a whirlwind of action in a chaotic chain of events.  I felt for Reggie and Dylan.  Dylan's character is unbelievably amazing, for him to stick around for someone he's barely met, let alone the person who caused the accident.

I enjoyed this thrilling story very much.  Lillian Duncan delivers a wild ride that grips you by the heart and leaves you breathless as you anticipate the next move. Don't miss this great novel! 

Suzanne Rock, Unholy Pursuits

Title:  Unholy Pursuits

Author:  Suzanne Rock

Rating:  Three And A Half Siren Stones

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Keywords:  FBI Agent

Length:  Novel     

ISBN E-Book:  978-1419936746

Price:  $5.95

Publisher:  Ellora’s Cave

Buy-Link:  http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9638-unholy-pursuits.aspx

Reviewer:  Kristin Boyd

Blurb/Summary:

Darien let his guard down once, and Arianne stole the demon stone from under his nose. Now he has to get it back, no matter what the cost. It doesn’t matter that the feisty redhead calms the voices in his head, or that her body tempts him beyond reason. Only the stone will ensure his survival. He decides to appeal to her feminine side and use gentle seduction to get it back. As he begins, something inside him changes and the voices in his head compel him to use pain to heighten desire.

As Darien’s touch turns dark, Arianne’s lust escalates and a connection forms between them. Yet despite her need, she can’t let the sexy FBI agent have what he wants. If placed in the wrong hands, the stone would release an unholy force intent on destroying everything she loves—including Darien.

If only he wasn’t so persuasive…

Review:

Arianne wants nothing more than to prove herself to her sister and her people. The survival of her species depends on her stopping the deahmon Lord, Bathin, from once again converging upon Celestial Wood and killing the Iatros.  The Iatros are protectors of the portal from Hell to Earth, thus keeping earth and her home, Celestial Wood, safe from Demonic rule.  She would do anything to protect the Iatros and the portal, even if it means mating with somebody who rejects the idea of bonding with her.  If she succeeds, she will be able to establish herself as a figure of strength and worth and validate her decision to turn her back to a life of royal comfort in favor of the life as a guard and warrior.  If she fails, death is imminent.  Her death, the death of her beloved mate, and the death of her people. In the beginning of the story, Arianne is written as strong, skilled, quick thinking fighter.  As the book progresses, her strengths are not built on and she seems to lose some of her character.

Darien is a charismatic but hardened FBI agent.  Great at his job, he is loyal to his purpose as well as his team.  His strong will keeps him from heeding Arianne's advice not to cross the portal into Hell where he is tortured by Bathin for months. While in Hell, his inner deahmon is awakened and strengthened because he touches the stone.  The one thing that keeps him from giving up is Arianne. Throughout the story, his connection to her is established and reinforced.  While he is in Hell, it is her image that keeps him fighting for his life, once he returns it is her touch that allows him to control the demon within.  Like Arianne, he has the drive to prove himself.  Their goal of destroying the stone, and ultimately Bathin, is the same.  Their ideas of accomplishing this task are very different.  He must learn to compromise and give himself over to Arianne mind, body, and soul.

The existence of a race and the security of Earth are on the line as these two individuals join forces to battle the evil that is Bathin and the deahmon race.  The chemistry between Arianne and Darien is unmistakable and the passion they share both sexually and in the pursuit of realizing their goals keeps the reader engaged.  Although I enjoy the tension the author builds and the descriptive scenarios of bondage and love making, I found myself flipping through pages in order to get back to the plot of the book.  The scales were tipped in favor of impassioned love making scenes where plot could have been thickened and character development could have taken place.  There just didn't seem to be balance.  A great book for the reader who enjoys erotic fantasy, a decent book for the reader who prefers action and adventure with amativeness woven in.

Tricia Jones, Bull at the Gate

Title: Bull at the Gate

Author: Tricia Jones

Rating: Three And A Half Siren Stones

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Keywords: Champagne Rose, Sensual

Page Count: 250

ISBN E-Book: 1-60154-975-X

Price: $6.00

ISBN for Print: 978-1601549754

Price: $12.99

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Buy-Link: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=175_133&products_id=4648

Reviewer: Nikki

Blurb/Summary:

Alexander “Bull” McKinley’s reputation as a hard-nosed businessman is tested when an old Fairy Gate and local superstition stand in the way of a lucrative development contract. Alex has his hands full trying to convince the villagers to play ball, without the unexpected—and definitely unwanted—attraction to the feisty redhead leading the revolt.

Dee Ashman detests those who put profit before people, and she’s damned if an arrogant, insensitive and, okay, wildly attractive capitalist is going to destroy the symbolic heart of the village and break her beloved grandmother’s heart.

But they cannot deny the desire that burns between them nor the unleashed passion neither can resist.

Review:

Dee is a woman who is standing up for what she believes in. Currently, that is trying to get developers to leave a legendary Fairy Gate where it is. The gate is important to the people in her village, including her grandmother.

Alexander is the one trying to convince the villagers. They're not budging. They want to leave the Fairy Gate. I'm not fond of Alex for most of the book. He's one of those money hungry people that doesn't care about what others feel about landmarks. He just acts businesslike.

Dee's best friend is pushing her towards dating Alex. I don't find that very realistic, because why would a friend push her towards a man who is going against what she believes? I don't understand that thinking at all.

Other than that, the story is enjoyable. The tension is definitely there, as the pair stands on opposing sides of thinking. How are they going to resolve the biggest issue that could keep them apart? Bull at the Gate is a good contemporary story. If you enjoy contemporaries with plenty of conflict and tension, then don't miss out on Bull at the Gate.