Savage Winter (Seasons of Paleo, #1)

Savage Winter (Seasons of Paleo, #1)

by Rachel Van Dyken

If they take you, you don't come back. You either die...or wish you had. The Western Empire was ruthless. The only reason I survived was because he gave his life for me--a life that might as well have been mine, for when they stole his last heartbeats, they silenced my own. They call me princess, an answer to the prophecy, but I'm nothing more than a prisoner...awaiting my lifelong punishment. Marriage. To the Prince of the East. But it's the Royal Protector who reminds me of what I lost. He threatens something I never thought I'd have again...my heart.

 

This book cover is beautiful. I felt that Kyle's heart was being played with a little. It was still a sweet story and I want to read the rest of the books in this series. I give it *4 star*

The Gangster's Daughter

The Gangster's Daughter

by Kendall Evans

Jack Malone has one mission in Chicago—apprehend notorious gangster, Antonio Donnatelli. It shouldn't matter that Donnatelli is using his daughter, Maria, to get close to Jack, to find out his weakness. Jack knows the man's ways, and he can ignore the beautiful Italian lady with her mysterious brown eyes and soft voice. Until the gunfire starts. Then his need to protect her overcomes his duty.
 
It was very brief, did not give a lot of details about the characters and I didn't feel like I knew them. I liked the setting, gangster's daughter falls for the cop, very nice. I give it *3 stars*

The Peculiar Princess

 

The Peculiar Princess

byChristina Graham Parker

Lexy Newberry knows she's adopted, but someone forgot to mention her birth parents are sixteenth-century monarchs who sent her to the future to escape certain slaughter. Now Lexy is back in the past, charged with reclaiming her homeland. She's not the normal storybook princess, but Lord Lukas Reynard, the nobleman enlisted to help her, isn't a charming prince either.

As her feelings for Lukas grow, she becomes torn between the place she knows in the future and the place she was born to rule in the past. If she leaves the sixteenth century, she may lose a love she only dreamed of. If she stays, she may lose her life. For Lukas has a secret so shocking, it could topple the hopes of Dresdonia and shatter her heart.

 

I enjoyed seeing how Lexy and Lukas relationship grew. I really believed that they loved each other. I was reading this book all night wondering what would happen next like will Cara ever find out what happened to Lexy? I give it 4* stars.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Imperfect Beauty

A visit to the Highland games goes awry for Alasdair Buchanan when his cousin abandons him in the crowd. His guide dog is terrible at describing the sights, but he does a great job of finding the river. Too bad Alasdair has no clue where that river is in relation to his cousin's apartment.

When Trisha Wright stops to speak with him in her angelic voice, Alasdair is certain his cousin did him a favor by abandoning him. Trisha loves the Scot's flirtatious ways and basks in his compliments, but she can't shake the fear that he'll hate her when he learns the truth about her—a truth everyone can see but him.
 
 
This book caused me to want to visit Scotland and go to a highland game. I really liked Alasdair and I could understand the different emotions Trisha went threw. It was a cute story that was finished to soon. I wish that there was more details about Alasdair and Trisha's relationship it was kind of to fast.I give it 4* stars.

Trusting the law

 
Chicago
November 1922

The last person Grace needs to fall in love with is a police officer, especially since she breaks the law every day. Running a speakeasy wasn't her first choice, but making money is. With the price of hooch at an all-time premium, the money is more than enough to pay for her uncle's expensive medication and the bills. She doubts Officer Paul Gordon will see things the same way.

Paul is enchanted with the chestnut-haired woman he runs into on a cold, Chicago street, and that enchantment quickly turns to more. If someone were to tell him she was a criminal, he'd never believe it. Then he sees it for himself. When Grace is arrested, he must make a decision—protect her or his badge.

 

I don't come across stories that are taken place in the 20's but I loved it. The characters were well put together. I will be honest I was a little upset on how short it was, but it was a nice story to read in between reading novels. I am interested in reading more of Kendall Evans's books. I give it 4*stars.

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Book review request

The Mine byJohn A. Heldt
In 2000, Joel Smith is a cocky, adventurous young man who sees the world as his playground. But when the college senior, days from graduation, enters an abandoned Montana mine, he discovers the price of reckless curiosity. He emerges in May 1941 with a cell phone he can't use, money he can't spend, and little but his wits to guide his way. Stuck in the age of Whirlaway, swing dancing, and a peacetime draft, Joel begins a new life as the nation drifts toward war. With the help of his 21-year-old trailblazing grandmother and her friends, he finds his place in a world he knew only from movies and books. But when an opportunity comes to return to the present, Joel must decide whether to leave his new love in the past or choose a course that will alter their lives forever. THE MINE follows a humbled man through a critical time in history as he adjusts to new surroundings and wrestles with the knowledge of things to come
 
One of my favorite movies is Back to the Future, so I was happy to read the Mine. I loved the time period, the 40's and the 50's are so interesting to me. I think it was neat that Joel was able to see his grandmother. This book had me on the edge of my seat. It was a great read. I didn't like all of the bad language but everything else was good. I give it *4 stars.
 

Reviews

The Seduction of Sebastian St. James (House of Renwick #2)byRachel Van Dyken
When the angelic Duke of Tempest, Sebastian St. James, appeared unexpectedly at his boyhood friend's home, he had but one goal: Find a suitable wife as soon as possible. However, his impeccable reputation made him a prime target for ambitious mothers of debutante daughters. He needed a plan.

Help came in the form of an unlikely alliance with Miss Emma Gates, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy viscount, who has deemed herself on the shelf, and only wants to marry in order to appease her parents. Together they could sort through the mire of would-be mates to find their perfect matches. That is, if they could keep their hands off each other long enough to pursue likely candidates.

When a man from Emma's past makes a play for her hand, the truth about her life threatens to destroy Sebastian's reputation, a reputation he has carefully guarded since his youth. In the end, the Angel Duke has to make a choice that will end up changing his reputation forever.(
 
This is another book cover that got my attention. I didn't understand why Sebastian kept pushing Emma way? I don't really think that this would be considered a clean read, I would rate it pg-13. I give it *3 stars
 
 
The Redemption of Lord Rawlings (House of Renwick #3)

byRachel Van Dyken

Phillip Crawford, the eighth Earl of Rawlings and notorious rake of the ton, has come to the end of his rope. Out of money, out of favor, and out of luck, he wanders the streets of London in the rain, hoping to be hit by inspiration...or a runaway carriage. Something has to give. It is his father's final cruel trick to hold his inheritance just out of reach, requiring him to marry by his next birthday in order to claim his full rights as earl. His step-mother refuses to offer him any more support. With no money, no prospects and no other place to turn, he has only two options.

Marriage or debtor's prison.

Book Three of the House of Renwick Series:

The better choice seems clear enough, but with his name and reputation being attacked daily in the society papers, there's not a proper lady in all of London desperate enough to accept him. It isn't going to be easy, even if the reports of his exploits and rakish lifestyle are greatly exaggerated.

On the other hand, debtor's prison does start to look much more appealing when the only friends he has left decide to help him in his search for the perfect bride. Matters become much more complicated when the only woman who shows an interest in him just happens to be the young sister-in-law of the Duke of Tempest; the same man who, just months ago, had been tempted to kill him.

One thing is for certain, as the Season draws to an end, Lord Rawlings will have to decide once and for all, if his wicked ways are enough to bring him contentment in life, or if a leopard really can change his spots. Or in Phillip's case—can a devil truly be redeemed?

 

Out of all three House of Renwick books, I liked this on the most. The plot was good. I don't think that this one is a clean read either. I gives it *3 stars.

 

 

A Lot Like A Lady

by Kay Springsteen , Kim Bowman

Ladies' maid, Juliet Baines has gotten herself into a pickle by agreeing to go to London and taking the place of her mistress and best friend, Annabella Price, stepsister to the Duke of Wyndham. After all, what does a servant know about being a lady? But Juliet soon finds that pretending to be a lady isn't nearly as hard as guarding her heart against the folly of wanting a man who's completely out of reach.

Graeme "Grey" Roland Dominick Markwythe, Sixth Duke of Wyndham, approaches his duties as a nobleman with great dedication and meticulous care. And he's a man who is not easily fooled...except when he tries to convince himself he's not utterly and madly in love with the beautiful imposter who has turned his life upside down. Will society and his responsibilities to his noble status keep him from opening his heart to the woman he loves?

 

LOVED IT! I loved everything about it. I found a new favorite. *4 1/2 stars.   The Sentencen byElaine Cantrell How could he do it! How could her father bring the guy who burned the church into their home for six months? Yeah, it was an accident and her dad's a minister, but if he wanted to save this man's soul why didn't he go to the prison to do it? Spoiled and slightly judgmental, Rachel has almost as much to learn as their unwilling guest.   At first I didn't like the male lead but then he started to grow on me. In the end I really didn't like Rachel. This book is very religous. I liked the way it ended. I give it *2 1/2 stars.