"Trust in Me" by Skye Warren

Title: Trust In Me
Author: Skye Warren
Publisher: self published
Sub-Genre: Erotic Suspense
Length: 125 pages
Heat Rating: Erotic
Rating: 4.5 Cups

Available at:
Amazon | B&N | All Romance eBooks

Blurb:
Mia longs for the daily torture to end, but one last task keeps her holding on. In a betrayal of the crime lord who pulled her from the gutter, she’ll free the shipment of human cargo, and if she’s lucky, die in the process. The alternative is unfathomable, even to a woman well-versed in erotic torture. But luck abandons her yet again when she meets the security expert in charge of the shipment and finds herself face to face with her childhood crush. The man she once begged for help. The man who failed her.

Tyler Martinez is an undercover FBI agent with one chance to right the wrongs of his past. Thrust deep into the seedy world of human trafficking, he must put aside his guilt over abandoning Mia all those years ago in order to save her now.

Someone’s pulling the strings in this sadistic play on trust, but Tyler and Mia may not live long enough to see the curtain fall. Trust in Me is a story of erotic pain and incipient romance, spiraling ever faster toward betrayal or redemption.

WARNING: This book contains explicit scenes of dubious consent, graphic violence and sex. It also depicts abuse and captivity situations. Not appropriate for anyone uncomfortable with these situations or anyone under the age of eighteen. This is a work of fiction.



Sam's Review:
Be warned, Trust in Me is not for the faint of heart.

Mia considers herself a whore. A woman who’s stumbled into the human trafficking and considers herself lucky to have a one man owner. Her master demands everything from her and passes her around whenever it suits him. She wants to break him and if she dies in the process she considers it a bonus until Tyler Martinez enters the scene. This is the first guy she had a crush on before her life was turned upside down.

I don’t want to spoil anymore of the plot but I will say once you start you’re going to struggle to put it down. Even when parts make you a little uncomfortable, you still have to keep reading to see what happens next. Skye Warren has created a roller coaster ride of emotions that leaves nothing to the imagination. This is a hard hitting story told through the eyes of Mia. At times it’s scary and makes you feel as if you’re with her during the story.

Certainly a well written piece and one that will stay with you.






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**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to Coffee Beans & Love Scenes (“CBLS”) Reviews free of charge by the author in exchange for an honest review of this title. No money has been exchanged for this review. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any other CBLS reviewer or this blog’s owner, editor or administrator.

Secret Love, by Fiona McGier

Title: Secret Love

Author: Fiona McGier

Sub-Genre(s): Contemporary, Erotic, Suspense

Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press

Publication Date: January 1, 2011

ISBN #: 9781603139724

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Toni

Rating: 4 Cups

Blurb:*

Sheena has spent the last twelve years working for a government agency so secret that she didn't even learn what it was called for a year. She enjoys the work, but is getting bored. She tries her usual cure: a new man. But something about this one is different...and she develops feelings. In her world, even having feelings is dangerous. Indulging them by falling in love can be deadly.

Review:
My rating for Secret Love is more of a 3.5 Cups.

Destiny has a way of bringing two people together. Sheena Nelsen and Hickory Woods couldn’t be from more different worlds. Hers is a world of darkness, lies and secrets. His is flashy, public and surrounded by paparazzi.

No one really knows Sheena. Most don’t even know her real name or face. She is a spy. Her agency is so secret, the government barely knows about it. On a bit of a break between assignments, Sheena is in Berlin. Settling down for a little R&R, she is looking for one thing; a man to entertain her during her break. In walks tall, dark and handsome. A challenge she is ready to tackle. She has been bored for a while and he is just the diversion that she needs.

Hickory’s life changed dramatically two years ago by the loss of his wife and child. He was living the high life full of women and fame when his pregnant wife was killed in an auto accident. An accident he very well could have saved her from. With his Native American good looks he has taken the world of Hollywood by storm. A highly sought after action movie star. The world is at his feet, but he is a lonely man. Now after two years, he is beginning to live life again and his body is telling him that he needs to get a lot closer to a certain redhead.

Secret Love is a universal romance. I don’t mean that in a bad way either. The underbelly of this book is that the heroine is a deadly international spy, but the mystery, suspense and action doesn’t play a factor in this book. It is 100% pure romance. There was a touch of action in the book, but it was pretty standard and I felt downplayed. Yes, there is a villain but you know who he is and what he has planned, no surprises. I was on the edge of my seat as to when and where he would strike though.

While the story was fun and sweet, I kept hoping Ms. McGier would step out of her comfort zone and delve into the gripping world of intrigue. She can write a great love story, but I kept waiting for her to mix it up a bit. This series does have great promise. I am not a lover of the suspense/mystery genre per se, but I can see with Ms. McGier’s skill as a romance author and the prospect of a superlative secret spy agency, she could really spice things up and have an exceptional series. With her aptitude for sultry love scenes and character interaction she is a must read for me. I’m looking forward to her next novel in the series, Undercover Lover.

Available at:
Amazon (Kindle Edition)

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*Blurb Courtesy of Goodreads

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to C&R Romance eBook Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other C&R reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.

Her Heart's Desire (Highcroft Saga #1), by Lauren Wilder

Title: Her Heart's Desire (Highcroft Saga 1)

Author: Lauren Wilder

Sub-Genre(s): Contemporary, Erotic, Suspense

Publisher: Siren Publishing

Publication Date: July 19, 2010

ISBN #: 9781610343992

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Babs

Rating: 5 Cups

Blurb:*

When Marisa applies for a PA job to an English aristocrat, she expects a stuffy, older gentleman, but James St John is anything but. He is an extremely good-looking thirtysomething English charmer. Sparks fly, and the attraction is intense.

Marisa, recently heartbroken, fights her desire, cautious about becoming involved with her boss. But James St John is unable to resist the sexual allure between them, and he will not rest until she is in his bed. Marisa soon discovers that the Highcroft house hides a hotbed of sin and dark longings. Will its secrets destroy her happiness when love starts to bloom?

Review:
Marisa’s day is going great and she is all excited to see her boyfriend Mike as it is his birthday. Little does she know she is about to have a bad day. She walks in on her best friend and Mike in bed together. Marisa goes back to her sisters place and stays there to try and mend her broken heart.

Marisa’s sisters comes home one afternoon with a newspaper article about a new PA job that has opened. Marisa applies and feels good about it. She starts getting her life together and moves on. Marisa is called for an interview and is shocked by what she sees. The English man is not old and stuffy like she thought. He is in fact in his mid thirties and very handsome.

Marisa takes the job and moves to England, but she really likes her boss James St John can she work with him and keep her feelings in check?

I adored this story. The writing style was so well you actually thought you were in England with Marisa. When she is walking in the gardens on the estate you can picture the roses and maze she was walking through. The characters in the story were great I took a liking to the villain of the story as the character was really conniving. There are some heated scenes that will make you pretty hot, but add to the story well. This is one book I can re-read again.

Available at:
Amazon (Kindle Edition)
Barnes & Noble (Nook Book)

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*Blurb Courtesy of Goodreads.

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to CBLS Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other CBLS reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.

Love and Protect, by Naima Simone

Title: Love and Protect

Author: Naima Simone

Sub-Genre(s): Contemporary, Erotic, Interracial/African American, Suspense

Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing

Publication Date: April 13, 2011

ISBN #: 9781419930058

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Toni

Rating: 4 Cups

Blurb:*

Ex-DEA agent Erin Montgomery is reluctantly back on the job, posing as the sex-kitten groupie girlfriend of rock star Sean Ledger. She'll be joining his band's tour to try to catch an obsessed, dangerous fan. Tormented by nightmares of her failed last assignment, Erin's not exactly eager to be drawn back into the fray. But once she meets Sean, all rocker, all man and dripping with raw sex appeal, she knows she's right where she belongs.

Sean is reluctant to have someone investigating his crew, but when he meets Erin, his objections fly out the window. The beautiful, hard-bitten agent turns him on like no other woman ever has. Sean's caught glimpses of the fiery passion lurking under Erin's cool front and he's determined to break through her hard exterior and make her his.

But Sean's stalker is still at large and she's made it clear she's willing to stop at nothing-even murder-to get him.

Review:
Love and Protect is all romance. This book was not what I expected. When I read the blurb I read; a bodyguard, a rock star and a killer stalker, I assumed action, action, action and oh yeah, suspense. This book has very little actual suspense and action, unless you count the bedroom scenes and then it is VERY action packed. Whew - steamy!!

Erin Montgomery is battling to move on with her life after a traumatic incident during her job. She has been on leave from her DEA job for a year and is still plagued by gut wrenching nightmares. She has no desire to return to work. Her ex-partner calls her regarding a mission only she can help him with and she cannot refuse him. A sense of responsibility and duty draws her back into undercover work. Erin must protect the man that as a boy, laid down his life for her.

Hard rocker Sean Ledger has a major problem. He has a stalker that is getting more and more dangerous. After trying to ignore the situation for the last year, he turns to his adoptive brother to help him with his problem. He has always been a love them and leave them kind of guy. He believes that is what got him into this predicament in the first place. He is ready to give up his hedonistic ways, only if his body would listen to him. In walks trouble in skin tight leather and revealing top. Sean is instantly attracted to Erin; problem is he has a policy of not “dipping where he works”.

These two characters have a past together. Erin knows who Sean is, but he doesn’t remember her. She has changed a lot over the years, becoming a strong independent woman with a new name and identity. She is completely opposite from the child he once protected. Sean is confused over his protective feelings for Erin. He is drawn to her in a way he has only experienced once in his life. To a frightened little girl who had no one but him to defend her.

Love and Protect is a hot romantic tale of two people in love. I can’t really say falling in love, because they have loved each other since the moment they met so many years ago, they just didn’t know it. This is a sweet discovery of soul mates. Meant to be together from the start, their bittersweet separation and the enchanting discovery of love found again.

Pick up a copy of Love and Protect for a different take on romance. This is a sizzling book of a couple struggling to heal from their pasts and to find love in the world of rock and roll; where they play hard, but love even harder.

Available at:
Amazon (Kindle Edition)
Barnes & Noble (Nook Book)

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*Blurb Courtesy of Goodreads.

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to CBLS Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other CBLS reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.

Blind Love (Tilling Passions, Book 1), by Nina Pierce

Title: Blind Love (Tilling Passions, Book 1)

Author: Nina Pierce

Sub-Genre(s): Contemporary, Erotic, Suspense

Publisher: Self

Publication Date: April 11, 2011

ISBN #: Unknown

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Vanessa

Rating: 4 Cups

Blurb:*

Uptight CPA, Julie Tilling is tired of doing the right thing. When her friend from high school dies and Julie is the only one who believes he didn’t commit suicide, she takes it upon herself to explore the circumstances surrounding his death. When the investigation takes her into a world of sexy nightclubs and a one night stand that has her heart melting, Julie finds a naughty side of herself she didn’t know existed.

Damon Corey didn’t come to Maine to become a shock jock. But when his dream of becoming a concert pianist seems unobtainable, the radio station’s offer is too good to pass up. Unfortunately, the one night stands and empty relationships are getting old—that is until a mysterious brunette falls into his arms and wraps around his heart making him believe in love.

With their passion overheating and their sexual encounters exploding, Damon and Julie work to see beyond the masks that have protected them from the world. But will Damon’s enigmatic shock jock persona become Julie’s sexual undoing and reveal Damon as the missing piece that solves the puzzling questions surrounding her friend’s death?

Review:
What can I say about Julie Tilling? The middle child in a family of all girls, she is held responsible for everything. Being a sounding board for her sisters, a doormat for them to walk all over, the backbone of her family. This is who she is…at least that is what everyone sees. When her best friend, Jason, commits suicide she can’t believe it and is determined to find out the truth…no matter the cost. In a dank nightclub, she discovers more about herself than I think she ever could have imagined.

Damon, or Demon as he is known in the night scene, is your typical bad boy. Insulting, chauvinistic, and sexy as hell. This is his life…and he hates it. With dreams bigger than his small time radio and DJ gig, he longs for simple comforts in a job where he doesn’t have to leave himself at the door to step into the personality that the world loves to hate.

I loved Julie’s innocence and the fact that she grew so much in a short period of time. Completely coming out of her comfort zone with a few Long Island Iced Teas, a mystery needing to be solved, and a gorgeous man that she just can’t seem to resist was just the boost she needed to shed her doormat lifestyle and come into her own. She is the perfect example of what can happen when you just put yourself out there and let life take you over. She and Damon are a terrific match. Each able to teach each other about what they are missing in their lives.

This sweet story was a quick read. I loved it! The relationship between Julie and Damon was a perfect mix of heartwarming and steamy. Both had something new to offer the other. The fact that Damon had his secrets and still wanted to aid in helping Julie find out the truth of Jason’s death, even though he knew those secrets could come out…awesome. It says a lot about the type of man he really was. Oh…and did I mention steamy? Not your every day steamy either. A hot man who wants to do whatever to please you…all tied up and helpless? Oh yes.

I will definitely be looking for more from Nina Pierce in the future. Good things to come from her for sure!

Available at:
Amazon (Kindle Edition)
Barnes & Noble (Nook Book)

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*Blurb Courtesy of Goodreads.

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to CBLS Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other CBLS reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.

Jaclyn's Ghost, by Dorlana Vann

Title: Jaclyn's Ghost

Author: Dorlana Vann

Sub-Genre(s): Comedy, Paranormal, Suspense

Publisher: Pixie Punk Press

Publication Date: January 20, 2011

ISBN #: Unknown

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Sherri

Rating: 5 Cups

Blurb:*

Ghosts, Mystery, and Fashion. Can this diva solve her own murder, or will she be stuck in limbo forever?

After recovering from the shock of seeing her own dead body, (still dressed to kill from last night's party) fashion model, Jaclyn Jade, discovers she's a ghost with a choice. She can either immediately go back to Hell, do nothing and stay in limbo, or find the reason she fell short of grace and advance to Heaven.

Because she was murdered, Jaclyn hopes that finding her killer will unravel this mystery. With the help of a timid closet-psychic who can speak to the dead, and a handsome, yet arrogant, ghost of a man from the roaring 20s, her search for answers initiates a quirky journey of self-discovery. Personalities, eras, and worlds collide as this mismatched trio race against time to solve the mystery of Jaclyn's Ghost.

Review:
Have you ever sat a wondered what happens to you after you die? I can guarantee that the thought never crossed Jaclyn’s mind. Spoiled and self centered, Jaclyn’s world revolved around...well Jaclyn, of course, and she gave special consideration to her hot clothing designer boyfriend.

So waking up dead after she had just left a fabulous party was just not in this supermodel’s plans. Even more disturbing was the fact that a large and very beautiful man who was also dead, and evidently living in her apartment, was her sole source of information. How long had he been there and OMG what had he seen? And seriously, Earth is really Hell? It’s too bad that Logan seriously needed to work on his people skills. She really could use a friend right about now!

Jaclyn has 48 hours to figure out why she wasn’t elevated to Heaven in order to get into Heaven or its back to Hell for her, literally. But since Earth is Hell, is that really a bad thing?

Vann takes you on Jaclyn’s growth with the help of some delightful ghosts, breathers, and as well as some other beings that kept it interesting. This story had me laughing out loud through out most of it with just a hint of romance, mystery, and despair thrown into the mix. It had a great pace and the ending really throws you. It was totally unpredictable! I really enjoyed this book!

Available at:
Amazon (Kindle Edition)
Barnes & Noble (Nook Book)

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*Blurb Courtesy of Goodreads.

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to CBLS Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other CBLS reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.

Love's Bounty (Tilling Passions, Book 2), by Nina Pierce

Title: Love's Bounty (Tilling Passions, Book 2)

Author: Nina Pierce

Sub-Genre(s): Contemporary, Erotic, Suspense

Publisher: Self

Publication Date: June 23, 2011

ISBN #: Unknown

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Dawne

Rating: 4 Cups

Blurb:*

A woman determined to protect her heart. An agent hell bent on proving himself. One night neither one of them can forget...

Landscaping in Delmont, Maine hasn’t been DEIRDRE TILLING’s only passion. Up until two months ago, it had included a live-in lover. Jilted for the third time in as many years, Deirdre’s decided to give up on love. With her feet firmly planted on the path of one night stands, she finds herself heating up the sheets with a dark haired stranger she met at her new employer’s party. But one night with the man who is both sexy as hell and compassionate, may not be enough.

DEA agent, AYDEN SCOTT, has a lot to prove after a disastrous drug bust in Miami three years earlier that left a member of his team dead. Working undercover as lead investigator, he’s determined to bring down an elusive drug cartel smuggling heroin into central Maine. He’ll use any means necessary to complete his objective, including sleeping with the suspected drug Lord’s landscaper, Deirdre. He just hadn’t expected the feisty redhead to be so much more than long legs and dangerous curves.

Deirdre and Ayden both thought one sexually explosive romp in the sack would be the end of their relationship. But Deirdre’s arrest for heroin possession and her father’s near-fatal heart attack prompts Ayden to confess his true identity. When Deirdre is kidnapped by the drug cartel and used as a pawn, Ayden is forced to choose between his heart and his mission. The question is…who will survive his decision?

Review:
Poor Deidre Tilling is cradling and nurturing her broken heart after her girlfriend, Bri, left a couple of months earlier. When I first started reading this erotic romance short, I thought Deidre was going add a new girlfriend. That is until DEA Agent Ayden Scott entered the quaint Maine town where Deidre was living. Ayden is sent to the town to investigate a possible drug ring and Deidre is hanging out with the prime suspect. The tale that Pierce weaves is presumptuous and well written. The dialogue is convincing and lets the reader like both hero and heroine.

While this is mainly a romance novel, Pierce adds just enough suspense in the plot to keep it interesting. The novel was fast-paced, it held my interest and Pierce's writing style is incredible. Pierce kept the story line of drug dealing and importing believable yet it didn't smother the romance between the hero and heroine. The romance and relationship between Ayden and Deidre is right on the mark to make the plot credible and I highly recommend Love's Bounty to all romance readers.

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*Blurb Courtesy of Goodreads

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to C&R Romance eBook Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other C&R reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.

Awaken the Highland Warrior (Connor Clan #1), by Anita Clenney

Title: Awaken the Highland Warrior (Connor Clan #1)

Author: Anita Clenney

Sub-Genre(s): Action/Adventure, Historical, Paranormal, Scottish/Highlander, Suspense

Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.

Publication Date: May 1, 2011

ISBN #: Unknown

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Vanessa

Rating: 5 Cups

Blurb:*

A man from another time...

Faelan is from an ancient clan of Scottish Highland warriors, charged with shielding humanity from demonic forces. Betrayed and locked in a time vault, he has been sleeping for nearly two centuries when spunky historian Bree Kirkland inadvertently wakes him. She's more fearsome than the demon trying to kill him, and if he's not careful, she'll uncover the secrets his clan has bled and died to protect.

Could be the treasure she's been seeking all her life...

When Bree inherits an old treasure map, she discovers a warrior buried in her backyard. But the warrior isn't dead. Bree shocks Faelan with her modern dress and her boldness, and he infuriates Bree every time he tries to protect her.

With demons suddenly on the move, Bree discovers that Faelan's duty as protector is in his blood, and that her part in this fight was destined before she was born. But nothing is ever what it seems.

Review:
Oh where do I begin? I can absolutely NOT pass up the chance to read a Highland book. There is something about these large, sweet, tough, and somewhat naïve men that I just can not get enough of! This book was no exception.

Bree is my hero! She is exactly what I love to see in a book. Strong, capable, modern, and independent. Definitely not your average damsel in distress. When she begins digging in her backyard, she thinks she has hit the jackpot in the form of a long, lost treasure…boy did she ever! Who would have thunk that there would have been a Highland Warrior buried in her yard? I would have dug him up sooner.

Faelan is hell-bent on catching the demon that captured him 150 years ago, but also realizes that the woman that saved him from his crypt is the one. He needs her but she is not from his time and he really has no idea what to do with her, especially since she is not the “follow whatever the man says” kind of girl. So…road trip!! Off they go to slay the demon. I love it!!

I loved every second I spent reading this book and was actually sad to see it end. It had all that you could ever want…great characters, hot male roles, Scottish accents, action, adventure, and enough attraction to make you need a cool shower. There is nothing sexier than a Scottish clan trying to kill the evil…except one that will lay his life down for the fiery love of his life. Sigh.

Debut novels are always hard but Anita blew this one out of the water!! I can not wait until the next in the series comes out. I want to find out more about this world and the clan involved in it. This is definitely a series to watch out for.

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*Blurb Courtesy of Goodreads

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to C&R Romance eBook Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other C&R reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.

Lynne's Love Triangle (Twisted Sex Games, Book 1), by Missy Lyons

Title: Lynne's Love Triangle (Twisted Sex Games, Book 1)

Author: Missy Lyons

Sub-Genre(s): BDSM, Contemporary, Erotic, M/M/F, May-December, Suspense

Publisher: Siren Publishing

Publication Date: November 2, 2010

ISBN #: 1606018442

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Susan

Rating: 4 Cups

Blurb:*

Lynne had to videotape the supernova, hot sex the night she landed two men in her bed because she knew it would never happen again. Kurt is sweet and sexy. Troy is dominating and masterful. Both of her new lovers fulfill her better than her deepest fantasy man. How could she pick just one? Will it make a difference that they are both over twenty years younger than her? Will the flames of their desire burn out after this single night of passion is over?

And more importantly, can her new lovers pull together when it really counts and protect her from a crazy stalker trying to kill her? Only time will tell.

Review:
Falling for your younger male best friend is one thing, falling for a complete stranger at an Elvis impersonation concert is another. Yet Lynne does both, but doesn’t quite manage to share her feelings for the men in a timely fashion due to hang-ups about her age. This unlikely trio has an amazingly hot love life which becomes blazing after negative reactions to an older woman dating not one, but two, younger hot guys.

Ms. Lyons and Ms. Denis write an erotic romance that makes the reader want to be sandwiched between their two young studly heroes. While part of Lynne’s personality are a little hard to imagine for a forty year old, her character is full of vibrancy, emotion, and real life situations. The romance will have you cheering while the erotic elements will have you wishing. Super fun read for anyone wondering if they could handle two lovers who are so different.

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*Blurb Courtesy of Bookstrand

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to C&R Romance eBook Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other C&R reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.

Heartsight, by Kay Springsteen

Title: Heartsight

Author: Kay Springsteen

Sub-Genre(s): Contemporary, Suspense

Publisher: Astraea Press, LLC

Publication Date: February 27, 2011

ISBN #: 9781936852109

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Dawne

Rating: 5 Cups

Blurb:*

On a secluded beach in North Carolina, three lonely people find hope in each other.

Trish Evers is an artist and single mother, who has inherited her grandmother's Bed and Breakfast in a North Carolina coastal town. Though she must sell the house, she decides to bring her daughter to the beach for one last summer vacation in her childhood town.

Bella is a six-year-old girl who has Down syndrome. Rejected by her father, Trish, is the only parent she's ever known. Bella likes to explore the beach and has a tendency to wander off. One day, Bella goes exploring on her own, and Trish finds her in the company of an intriguing stranger.

Dan Conway is a U.S. Marine, who had been born into a family of Marines. Now blind as a result of combat injuries and unable to "suit up," he feels he no longer has a purpose in life. He's come home to the beach, where he spends his days in solitude. Dan must learn to believe in himself and to love life again, which he begins to do through his interactions with Bella and Trish. When a hurricane strikes, and Bella wanders off again, her only hope for rescue is Dan.

Working within the confines of his blindness, he must overcome his fear of failure and recall his training in order to search for the little girl and bring her to safety.

Review:
Single mom Trish Evers has a lot on her plate, from cleaning out her grandmother's B&B to dealing with her ex-husband and his custody issues to the mysterious ex-Marine neighbor and add in her mentally challenged daughter, Isabella. Her summer on the North Carolina beach will be life turning point in her life, physically and emotionally. With the help of mysterious neighbor, Dan Conway, Trush learns of true, unconditional love.

Over the weeks, Trish and Dan develop the sweetest romance ever witnessed. His caring and understanding of Bella's condition proves he has great compassion. Trish and Dan's relationship evolves from friendship to admiration to respect and love. Both want what's best for Bella and her development and stability.

When her ex-husband, who's fighting her for custody of their daughter, shows up unannounced, Trish has to stand firm for Bella's well-being. In preparations of leaving the beach side residence with a pending hurricane coming, Bella disappears. During the ordeal, Trish relies on Dan, who is blind due to an IED explosion overseas (happened during a scene involving Trish's ex's company) to find Bella. Dan, who is still dealing with some issues from his blindness and Marine life, must set aside his emotions and troubles to find Bella.

Springsteen creates three of the most memorable characters in this novel. From Dan and Isabella's connection to Dan and Trish's budding romance, Springsteen produces passion in her dialogue, laughter in the moments shared between Dan and Trish and unconditional love for all three.

I highly recommend this novel to everyone. The sweet romance was addictive and once I started reading, I could NOT stop. Springsteen has a glowing future in the publishing world of romance.

Available at:
Amazon (Kindle Edition)
Barnes & Noble (Nook Book)
Smashwords

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*Blurb Courtesy of Goodreads.

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to CBLS Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other CBLS reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.

Bid for a Bride, by Ruth Ann Nordin

Title: Bid for a Bride

Author: by Ruth Ann Nordin

Sub-Genre(s): Cowboy/Western, Historical, Suspense

Publisher: Smashwords

Publication Date: February 15, 2011

Format: eBook from Author

Reviewer: Liz

Rating: 5 Cups

Blurb:*

A western historical romance where a blind man agrees to marry a woman whose marriage is annulled after her bigamist husband auctions her off to the highest bidder.

Review:
I'm a sucker for a hero who is not your typical "perfect" romance hero specimen. There's something sexy about them and Brian Evans is one such man. Twenty-year old Brian was born blind. His adoptive parents, Eliza and John Evans, found him when he was just a small boy of eight wandering the borders of their land, his alcoholic father having abandoned him to the elements shortly after his mother's death. Heartsick and scared out of his wits at first, Brian soon flourishes under the love and guidance of his new mother and father to grow into a fine, handsome, hardworking young man.

Young Lucy finds herself abandoned in Brian's sleepy little South Dakota town after her bigamist husband of one week tries to auction her off to the highest bidder. After he's chased off by the town's preacher, Lucy is temporarily taken in by Addy and Frank until the marshal and preacher have determined her fate.

Brian happens to be in town that day with his mother and hears of Lucy's predicament. The gentle young man instantly feels compassion for Lucy, having known first hand the fear and pain of abandonment.

The long and short of it is that Lucy gets an annulment and no jail time since she obviously had no clue that her ex was already married. Brian has an immediate soft spot for Lucy and decides to offer her a marriage of convenience. Fearful that she may be carrying the unwanted child of her bigamist ex, she readily accepts knowing that she needs a husband and no other such offer may be forthcoming.

They’re married in small ceremony right away and begin their new life together in Brian’s home surrounded by the love of his parents and the tender love that begins to steadily grow between the young couple.

I downloaded the free sample of this book from Smashwords on Thursday and started reading it Friday night. I reached the end of it (or middle rather) at 11:30 that night and ran downstairs in my underwear to buy it so I could finish the rest of it. LOL That is how much I loved this book! It was excellent, my favorite of all of Nordins books that I’ve read so far. In fact, I even went back and read certain favorite parts over again after finishing it Saturday morning; something that I haven’t done in ages.

I fell in love with Brian. Head over heels, just like Lucy. Even though there are times when he fleetingly wishes he did have his sight (like the times when he wishes he could see his wife’s beautiful face), he doesn’t let it get the best of him. After all, he’s been blind from birth so he can’t really miss what he never had in the first place, right? His other senses are so attuned that he “sees” much more than the average sighted person ever could, both on the surface and underneath. He’s handsome and sweet, with a quiet strength. He never lets his lack of sight get him down.

I also liked Lucy very much. A strong woman in her own right, she knows what she must do to survive. Desperate to leave her home (*bit of a spoiler alert here* - there’s an “evil twin” situation going on, too), she marries this idiot who’s already married with children and finds herself dumped in some strange place. Obviously, she’s scared and distraught at first. Who wouldn’t be? So, she really has no choice but to suck it up and make the best out of her situation. Bottom line, I didn’t want to reach through my Kindle screen and choke her to death, which is saying something. She knows and appreciates that while the way she ended up where she was not exactly ideal, she wouldn’t have met the love of her life if it hadn’t happened the way it did. It goes back to everything happens for a reason.

While I’m a sucker for a good romance, what also kept me turning the pages was the suspense that Nordin sprinkled through the pages. As I mentioned before, Lucy has an evil twin and I was more than happen to see her get what was coming to her. Bitch. As for the love scenes, while tamer than what I usually indulge in, they were still very touching and, if possible, made me fall even deeper in love with Brian. What he lacked at first in experience, he more than made up for in enthusiasm once he got he swing of things.

In closing, Ruth Ann Nordin spins a heartwarming tale of two young people brought together out of necessity, but soon find that the love that grows between them helps them dispel the lingering shadows and secrets of their past.

Available at:
Amazon (Kindle Edition)
Barnes & Noble (Nook Book)

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*Blurb Courtesy of Goodreads.

**Disclaimer: This book has been provided to CBLS Reviews free of charge by the author. No money has been exchanged for the review of this eBook. This review reflects the opinion of the individual reviewer and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the other CBLS reviewers or this blog’s administrator/editor.