Tag: romance

Chivalrous, by Dina L. Sleiman

(I do not own this image. Image courtesy of Bethany House Publishers.)
(I do not own this image. Image courtesy of Bethany House Publishers.)

Dina L. Sleiman is a resident of Virginia Beach where she spends a lot of her time outdoors, when she isn’t writing or editing. She is a graduate of Regent University, and she writes inspirational fiction. Her new novel, Chivalrous, is the second book in the Valiant Hearts series.

Gwendolyn Barnes wishes she were a man. Then she could become a knight and compete in tournaments: her secret dream. Instead, Gwendolyn is at the mercy of her domineering, brutal father and her submissive mother. Her father intends only to see her married to a man just as controlling as he is so she will further the family’s fortunes. So Gwendolyn keeps her knightly training a secret, not wishing to raise the ire of her father.

In disguise, she competes in a tournament, where she meets the handsome Allen of Ellsworth. Allen is determined to prove his worth as a knight, but he sacrifices his chance to win the tourney to save a child. His sacrifice results in Allen’s whirlwind rise through the ranks, and soon he’s living a live he never imagined. Gwendolyn could see herself by his side, but fate conspires to keep them apart as murder, mayhem, and marriage stand in their way.

Chivalrous is a tale of days gone by, a story straight from the world of Arthur. There is action a plenty: knights, battles, courtly intrigue, and betrayal. Gwendolyn must learn her own worth, and how God values her, while Allen must place his faith wholly in God, instead of man. Chivalrous is an entrancing read that will keep readers glued to every page.

(Galley Provided by Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley.)

Recent Reads

I’ve been doing quite a few book reviews, since I usually get a bit behind with those during the semester. I’ve also started going through the plethora of e-books I got for free at some point. There are so many of those hanging out on my Kindle that it gets discouraging when I think about it.  Sure, some free e-books are worth about what I paid for them, but some of them are truly worthwhile finds.  The last two I’ve read have actually been really enjoyable.

Lulu’s Cafe, by T.I. Lowe:  Honestly, I enjoyed this book so much!  The main character, Leah, has been through a horrific, abusive relationship that she is desperate to escape from when she ends up in the small town of Rivertown.  She’s taken in by Lulu, who recognizes a woman in need of healing, but Southern gentleman Crowley is not so easily convinced. Leah’s journey is wrenching, but life in Rivertown is so enchanting that I wanted to move there!

Embers, by Karen Ann Hopkins:  I do read a lot of YA paranormal, but this one was different, and I enjoyed it so much.  I had a few personal issues with the mythos here, but I liked the characters a lot.  The setting was a totally different choice for a paranormal, too, and that made it really refreshing.

Hickville Confessions, by Mary Karlik

(I do not own this image. Image belongs to GPK Publication LLC.)
(I do not own this image. Image belongs to GPK Publication LLC.)

Mary Karlik is a native Texan with an MFA. Though she lives in New Mexico now, her heart still belongs to Texas. Her book Hickville Confessions is the second book in the Hickville High series.

Ryan Quinn is new to small town life. She wants a fresh start, far from the darkness of her past, and will do anything to get it. Including joining the conservative Purity Club, a far cry from her “old” self. However, when the members of the Purity Club discover her secret, their vicious attack leaves Ryan helpless.

Good thing Justin is there to rescue her. But Justin is everything Ryan thinks she needs to avoid, harboring secrets of his own. Justin is the only one who understands Ryan, and she needs that, as the secrets of her past threaten to surface. Justin’s own secrets terrorize him, and he’s not sure he can trust Ryan with them. Will the two of them be able to overcome the shame of their past to heal for the future?

Hickville Confessions is filled with difficult issues, but the characters face them with courage and strength, becoming an example to others. The book is not light reading, but the relationships between all of the characters make it a worthwhile experience. The setting captures all the good—as well as the bad—things about living in a small town.

Awake, by Natasha Preston

(I do not own this image. Image courtesy of Sourcebooks Fire.)
(I do not own this image. Image courtesy of Sourcebooks Fire.)

Natasha Preston is the English author of Silence and The Cellar. Her newest book, Awake, hits shelves today.

Scarlett has a normal life: parents, brother, school, friends. But she doesn’t remember anything before the age of five. Her parents have told her of the fire that took her memory and almost took her life, and she accepts their tales of her childhood. Until a car accident causes unexplainable memories to re-surface, and Scarlett starts asking questions her parents won’t answer.

Noah, her new boyfriend, supports Scarlett in everything. He’s polite, respectful, and everything that other boys her age are not. He’s also determined to shelter Scarlett from the horrors of her past, because Noah knows the truth of what happened. And he’s been sent to bring Scarlett home.

Awake is a young adult novel with an intriguing premise: a girl, raised in a cult, who has no memory of her early life amidst fanatics. Everyone around her has lied to Scarlet for years, and when she starts sensing that, her confusion is merited. The relationship between Noah and Scarlett isn’t a typical teenage romance. These two characters are too different for that, but their loyalty and love will be tested to the limits.

(Galley courtesy of Sourcebooks Fire via NetGalley.)

Dragon Fall, by Katie MacAlister

(I do not own this image. Image property of Hodder & Stoughton).
(I do not own this image. Image property of Hodder & Stoughton).

Katie MacAlister has over thirty books to her credit, mostly romances, but paranormals and young adult books as well (as Katie Maxwell). Her newest release, Dragon Fall, is the first book in the steamy Dragon Falls series. It hits shelves today.

Aoife Dakar thinks an outdoor fair will be a fun change of pace. Little does she know that meeting a cute stranger, witnessing a supernatural murder, and having everyone think she’s crazy are really on the agenda. After recovering from her “mental breakdown,” Aoife returns to the scene of the murder looking for proof that she’s not crazy. Instead, she finds a smart-mouthed dog who’s really a demon, and a hot, naked man with an attitude.

Kostya is very attracted to Aoife, but he doesn’t have time for romance. He has bigger fish to fry, namely the curse that has put the dragon clans at war and is slowly killing them off. Breaking the curse is his only concern…until he realizes there may be more to her than meets the eye,

Dragon Fall is a light-hearted story about a woman who discovers that sanity is relative and that the world is a far different place then she ever imagined. The relationship that grows between Aoife and Kostya is charged with tension and marked by sparks of attraction that everyone around them can see, even if they themselves refuse to admit it. The demon-dog will have the reader laughing, even as his antics get on the nerves of Aoife and Kostya.

(Galley provided by Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley.)

Rebel Mechanics, by Shanna Swendson

(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Farrar, Straus and Giroux.)
(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Farrar, Straus and Giroux.)

Shanna Swendson has been making up stories for years; first as a little girl playing with her Barbie dolls, now as the author of the Enchanted, Inc. series and The Fairy Tale series. Her newest book, Rebel Mechanics: All is Fair in Love and Revolution, hits stores today.

In Verity Newton’s world, the British upper class possessed magic, so the American Revolution never happened. These magisters have always ruled the colonies, and magic runs most things. But an underground society wants to change all that, inventing machines that run on steam and water instead of magic.

When Verity arrives in New York and lands a job as a governess with one of the most influential families in town, she has no idea what’s in store for her. The guardian uncle isn’t what she expected at all: he seems sympathetic to the rebels, he often comes home bloody and bruised, and he’s much younger than a guardian uncle should be, close to Verity’s own age. Soon Verity finds herself involved with the rebellion, with her job giving her a unique position to spy for a handsome young inventor who fights for the rebellion. Verity wants to help the cause, but to do so, she’ll have to reveal her own dangerous secret, and put the family she cares for at risk.

Rebel Mechanics is an intriguing look at a historical what-if: what if there had never been an American Revolution because Britain possessed magic the colonies couldn’t fight? Verity is smart but scared, wanting more from her new life than she’d ever dared dream of, but her secret could be enough to end her life. Rebel Mechanics is fast-paced and filled with adventure, along with romance, intrigue, and fun.

(Galley provided by Farrar, Straus and Giroux via NetGalley.)

San Antonio, by Sara Orwig

(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Diversion Books.)
(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Diversion Books.)

Sara Orwig is a best-selling and award-winning author who has written over 75 books during her career. Many of her best-sellers are western romances, appealing to readers who love both. Her new release, San Antonio, is part of the Southwestern Saga.

When Luke Dabney was a teenager, his world was shattered when outlaws attacked the wagon train he and his mother were part of. Injured and left for dead, Luke watched his mother taken away by the outlaw leader, Domingo Pietra. Rescued by an outcast, Luke vowed revenge, no matter what it takes.

Years later, Luke is heading to San Antonio on his search for Domingo, when he comes across a fiery young woman who berates him for spying on her and the boy she loves. Luke is intrigued by Catalina, but his feelings for her are frustrated when he realizes she is the daughter of the man he searches for. How can he care for the daughter of the man who ruined his life? Catalina knows nothing of her father’s criminal activities. She just knows how he treats her and controls her life. When her father has the boy she loves killed, Catalina starts to realize how evil her father really is. Can Luke reveal the truth about Domingo Pietra without hurting Catalina?

San Antonio is an entertaining read set amidst the history of San Antonio’s origins. The characters are both driven and troubled, and there are several unexpected twists that will keep the reader guessing.

(Galley provided by Diversion books via NetGalley.)

The Corridor, by A.N. Willis

(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Alloy Entertainment and the author.)
(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Alloy Entertainment and the author.)

A.N. Willis writes young adult fiction, preferably with a science fiction bent. This is probably a result of her obsession with sci-fi TV shows when she was growing up. Her first novel, The Corridor, just hit shelves.

The Corridor appeared out of nowhere 17 years ago, a link to a parallel world, Second Earth. The Mods—genetically modified human from Second Earth who built the Corridor—frighten First Earthers. Mods are more: more brains, more strength, and powers that can’t be predicted, so they are tagged and detained in research labs.

The Corridor has been a part of Stel Alaster’s life as long as she can remember. Everyone knows what it did. Everyone knows that the Mods, with their scary powers, caused its creation and the disasters that ensued. But Stel is the only one who knows that she has a power, too: she can open a portal to Second Earth, or any of the parallel worlds she soon discovers. If anyone finds out, she’ll be imprisoned just like the Mods.

Then the Corridor starts emitting terrifying bursts of energy, and Stel realizes she’ll have to act if she’s to save her family and the world she loves. With the help of an escaped Mod, and a boy she met in a third universe, she sets out to discover how to stabilize the Corridor before it’s too late.

The Corridor is a fast-paced, riveting read filled with adventure, mystery, and a little bit of romance. First Earth is a world like our own, yet changed by the Corridor. Twists and turns will keep the reader eager to find out what happens to characters that are realistic and relatable. The Corridor is a fantastic read for anyone desiring adventure mixed with mystery in an exciting new world.

(Galley provided by Alloy Entertainment via NetGalley.)

Between Now and Never, by Laura Johnston

(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Kensington Books and Lyrical Press.)
(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Kensington Books and Lyrical Press.)

Laura Johnston loves music, reading, and running. She also loves to write stories with heart. Her newest book, Between Now and Never, is a contemporary young adult novel with shades of mystery and romance.

Cody Rush is the “good” kid: basketball star, stays out of trouble, has a loving family. Julianna Schultz is his complete opposite: she loves art, her brother has a troubled past, her home life is falling apart. Cody’s dad is an FBI agent. Julianna’s mom is in prison. To make things worse, Cody’s dad is the man who put her there. Cody has only spoken to Julianna once, but he knows that their parents’ history will always make them enemies. And Cody agrees.

Until he wakes up in the hospital, with no memory of the night before, and finds pictures of himself and Julianna. Laughing. Having fun. Kissing. What happened that night? Why can’t he remember anything? And what is going on between him and Julianna? As Cody searches for answers to the mystery, he and Julianna grow closer. But the secret hidden in Cody’s memory may drive them apart forever.

Between Now and Never is a contemporary romance with hints of old-fashioned sweetness. Cody and Julianna are perfect foils for one another, and their relationship grows throughout the trials they face while the two learn to judge things—and people—for themselves, despite their past and what other people say. Between Now and Never is a great read that will have the reader intrigued by the mystery of Cody’s memories while rooting for him and Julianna to work out the issues that stand between them.

(Galley provided by Kensington Books and Lyrical Press via NetGalley.)

Wicked Charms, by Janet Evanovich

(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Bantam.)
(I do not own this image. Image belongs to Bantam.)

Janet Evanovich is the best-selling author of the Stephanie Plum series, as well as several other series, including the Lizzy and Diesel series. Her newest book is Wicked Charms, the third book in the Lizzy and Diesel series. It hits shelves today.

Lizzy Tucker just wants to enjoy her nice, normal life: make cupcakes at the bakery, hang out with Glo, and make sure Cat has everything he needs. What Lizzy gets is something else entirely. A behind-the-scenes tour of the pirate museum leads to the discovery that the fake dead pirate in a cage on display at the museum isn’t really a fake at all, but the remains of “Peg Leg” Dazzle, a notorious pirate, and one with a link to one of the missing SALIGIA stones that Lizzy has the ability to sense. Soon Lizzy and her mysterious partner, Diesel, are on the trail of the missing stone.

But Lizzy and Diesel aren’t the only ones looking for the stone. Billionaire Martin Ammon is also after the stone, and for reasons far creepier: he believes he is the god Mammon, and needs the stone to complete his transformation. With the help of Glo, Broom, Carl, and Glo’s Buccaneer American boyfriend, Lizzy sets out to find the stone before the billionaire can. And Wulf, Diesel’s enigmatic cousin is after it as well. Lizzy will have to come up with some magic of her own if she wants to win this race.

Wicked Charms delivers what Evanovich’s readers have come to expect: laughs, oddball situations, quirky supporting characters, and a dash or two of romance. The developing emotions between Lizzy and Diesel grow even hotter in this installment, with a bit of competition from Wulf thrown in for good measure. The supporting characters truly make this novel sing, and the Buccaneer American is one of Evanovich’s best creations.

(Galley provided by Bantam via NetGalley.)