Book Reviews

Northern Exposure: Compass Brothers, Book 1

admin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:53:14 +0000

All roads lead home when thatâ��s where youâ��ve left your heart. Compass Brothers, Book 1Silas Compton always had his eye on Lucy, the veterinarianâ��s daughter. He was even content to wait for the girl of his dreams to grow up before getting anywhere near her with his familyâ��s double-edged legacy. Waiting around led to fooling around with his best friendâ��and an impulsive eruption of desire that Lucyâ��s innocent eyes werenâ��t meant to see. Figuring Compton Pass wasnâ��t big enough for either the three of them or the pain heâ��d caused, Silas let loose his tightly reined wanderlust and headed for Alaska. Ten years later, when an oil rig accident sends him home, he braces himself for the reopening of old wounds. Instead he finds himself in the careâ��and welcoming armsâ��of Lucy and Colby, whose marriage has plenty of room for the man they both still love. And forgive with all their hearts. As things start to unravel at Compass Ranch, Silas must dig deep for the strength to assume his rightful place in the Compton familyâ�¦and lay the foundation for a future with his lovers. If he can forgive himself. Warning: This book is overflowing with sexy cowboys who like to saddle up and ride each other as well as the woman of their dreams. The likelihood of becoming addicted to their ranch family is high. With three more stories yet to come, beware. You wonâ��t be able to read just one!

High Heels Mysteries Boxed Set (Books 1-5)

admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:53:14 +0000

Boxed set of five award winning High Heels Mystery novels featuring fashion designer turned amateur sleuth, Maddie Springer, including:SPYING IN HIGH HEELSL.A. shoe designer, Maddie Springer, lives her life by three rules: Fashion. Fashion. Fashion. But when she stumbles upon the work of a brutal killer, her life takes an unexpected turn from Manolos to murder. KILLER IN HIGH HEELSMaddie straps on her stilettos and, along with her trigger-happy best friend, makes tracks for Sin City in search of her MIA dad.Maddie finds not only her dad, but also a handful of aging drag queens, an organized crime ring smuggling fake Prada pumps, and one relentless killer. Plus, it seems the LAPD's sexiest cop is doing a little Vegas moonlighting of his own. In a town where odds are everything, Maddie bets it all on her ability to out-step a vicious murderer. UNDERCOVER IN HIGH HEELSSecret affairs, hunky gardeners, and housewives desperate enough to bare it all... welcome to Magnolia Lane, TV's hottest new prime time show... where a rising young starlet is found dead on the show's set. Now it's up to Maddie to sift through a leading lady with a secret, an actor on the verge of a nervous breakdown, a sexy cyber scandal, and one tabloid reporter who'll stop at nothing to get the story of the century. Not to mention Maddie's hot-cold relationship with the case's familiar lead detective, Jack Ramirez. In a world where secrets, lies, and deception can earn you an Oscar, Maddie plays the role of a lifetime to catch Hollywood's hottest killer. But if she doesn't watch her step, Maddie's fifteen minutes of fame just may be her last.ALIBI IN HIGH HEELSBaguettes, bodies, and haute couture galore! Shoe designer turned amateur sleuth, Maddie Springer, is at it again, this time in fabulously fashionable Paris. When Europe's designer de jour, Jean Luc LeCroix, invites Maddie to show her creations at Paris Fashion Week, Maddie's sure she's died and gone to heaven. That is until Jean Luc's top model is found dead on the runway, stabbed with a familiar stiletto heel. Sure someone is trying to frame her, Maddie enlists the help of her friends, including the sexy Detective Jack Ramirez, to uncover a daring jewel heist, a devious blackmailer, and even a few skeletons lurking in the closets of those closest to her. But as the evidence mounts, Maddie becomes the prime suspect and Ramirez is stuck between a badge and a cute blonde with a tendency for trouble. Will he stand by her as she attempts to track down an international killer, or will this be the case that finally comes between them? One thing's for sure, if Maddie doesn't uncover the real killer soon, she may be saying her final adieu.MAYHEM IN HIGH HEELSMaddie Springer is finally walking down the aisle with the man of her dreams. And she's got the perfect wedding planner to pull it all off in style. Well, perfect, that is, until the woman winds up dead - murdered in buttercream icing. With the help of her fellow fashionista friends, Maddie vows to unveil the cold-blooded killer, but as the wedding day grows closer, tempers flare, old flames return, and Maddie's race to the altar turns into a race against time.REVIEWS:"A saucy combination of romance and suspense that is simply irresistible." - Chicago Tribune"Stylish... nonstop action...guaranteed to keep chick lit and mystery fans happy!" - Publishersâ�� Weekly, starred review"Maddie Springer is like a cross between Paris Hilton and Stephanie Plum, only better. The dialogue is snappy and the suspense beautifully interwoven with Ms. Hallidayâ��s unique humor. This is one HIGH HEEL youâ��ll want to try on again and again " - Romance Junkies "It's rare to find a romantic mystery that's so funny, but this is certainly one of them. Maddie Springer (is) a â��Versaceâ�� Nancy Drew everyone can appreciate." - Press & Sun Bulletin

Sex on the Beach – Jack Hammer Sex Series: Book I

admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:53:14 +0000

Jack Hammer is a successful, self-made man and has all the female attention he wants at work and everywhere else he turns. Despite the extra attention from his secretary, he needs something to take his mind off of the long hours he puts in at his desk job. Searching for a change of pace, Jack jumps on a flight to the tropics seeking adventure and something different. Will the sensuous flight attendant be able to take his mind off the daily grind? Can the clerk in the surfboard shop with the long, tanned legs distract him from the mundane, dreary city life? A short story. Approx. 3100 words. Adults only. Excerpt: After a twenty minute commute home, Jack pulled the black Boxster into the garage under his condo and paused for a minute as he considered taking the powerful motorcycle out for a spin. No, he needed a deeper release that even a fast ride wouldnâ��t deliver. Jack threw some clothes into duffel bag and grabbed an extra wad of cash out of the safe behind the large painting in his home office. He knew having a wall safe seemed clichÃ© when he had it installed but it really was one of the last places anyone would look for a safe. Several hours later, he leaned back into his first class seat and stared out the window at the sun drenched Pacific Ocean nearly six miles beneath the plane. A sultry voice interrupted his reverie asking â��Is there anything at all I can get for you Mr. Hammer?â�� The flight attendantâ��s obvious emphasis on the word anything made Jack wonder what that sexy voice would sound like after a few hours of being fucked. Probably a bit ragged and even sexier, he decided. â��No, thank you,â�� Jack smiled broadly and wondered if she would slip him her phone number before the flight was over. ***The next morning, Jack woke up as the sun was rising and walked out to the oceanfront deck. His foot brushed a black, silky thong and he was glad Samantha had booked him a secluded villa because he was sure the shrieks of Robin â��The Flight Attendant,â�� would have kept any neighbors awake. As he suspected, she couldnâ��t wait until the end of the flight to lean over his seat and drop a note into his shirt pocket while pursing her lips seductively at him.

Mile 81: Includes bonus story ‘The Dune’

admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:53:14 +0000

Mile 81 is Stand by Me meets Christineâ��the story of an insatiable car and a heroic kid.At Mile 81 on the Maine Turnpike is a boarded-up rest stop, a place where high school kids drink and get into the kind of trouble high school kids have always gotten into. Itâ��s the place where Pete Simmons, armed only with the magnifying glass he got for his tenth birthday, finds a discarded bottle of vodka in the boarded up burger shack and drinks enough to pass out. Not much later, a mud-covered station wagon (which is strange because there hadnâ��t been any rain in New England for over a week) veers into the Mile 81 rest area, ignoring the sign that says â��closed, no services.â�� The driverâ��s door opens but nobody gets out. Â Â Â Â By the time Pete Simmons wakes up from his vodka nap, there are half a dozen cars at the Mile 81 rest stop. But two kids and a horse are the only living things left...unless you maybe count the wagon. With the heart of Stand By Me and the genius horror of Christine, Mile 81 is Stephen King unleashing his imagination as he drives past one of those road signs.Â Â Â Â In the bonus story â��The Dune,â�� originally published in Grantaâ��s October 2011 horror issue, retired Florida Supreme Court Judge Harvey Beecher tells his lawyer about a mysterious sand dune on an unnamed island a short distance off the Gulf coastline of his familyâ��s property. Harvey first visited the island at the age of ten in 1932, after his grandfather, a scoundrel and land speculator whoâ��d created the family fortune, told him Blackbeardâ��s treasure might be buried there. Traveling to the island became a daily addiction for Harveyâ�¦and now his lawyer is about to discover the shocking reason why.

The Fisherman’s Daughter

admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:53:14 +0000

Psychology professor Vanessa Paris receives word that her father has disappeared from his fishing boat in Puget Sound and rushes to her childhood home in the San Juan Islands to try to help find him. Tragedy has been no stranger to Vanessa--years ago her mother died and more recently, her brother. The possibility of losing her father now is almost too much to bear. But when Vanessa arrives at the family owned tourist lodge, she meets Lowell Maxwell, who offers to help her search for her father. Back in high school, Vanessa harbored a secret, unrequited crush on Lowell. Now, he's a tough, jaded cop on leave from L.A., working for her father as a carpenter on a temporary basis, and even more dangerously appealing. Vanessa and Lowell are like sunshine and darkness. Despite her losses, she focuses on positive action and the good in people. Lowell, however, chases down the bad guys, flirts with danger, sometimes even death--and he's determined he'll soon return to the force in L.A. Is there still a chance of finding Vanessa's father alive and well? Can she take a chance on loving Lowell, risking the possibility of his dying too? And what is the dark secret that has driven him back home, a secret that has convinced him there's no longer any room in his heart for love? REVIEW"Sydell Voeller has a magic touch with description. I could almost feel the sea spray misting my face as Vanessa Paris sailed across Puget Sound and hear the splash of water as the crab pots were hauled in and the day's catch tallied. Oh, yes, and the rustic mailboxes with wild blackberries growing nearby. What a lovely place to live. And I got to visit there for a while." - Kathy Ishcomer, Under the Covers Book Reviews "A romantic suspense that does a good job keeping the reader guessing who did it. Fisherman's Daughter has opened my eyes to a whole new avenue of fresh romance stories. I know I'll try another and I highly recommend all readers do too." - WCRG on AOL Reviewer Board "Ms. Voeller has chosen a great setting for her book, and takes the reader there with her knack for subtle details. I could easily picture the wild and rugged Tawanya Island and the eclectic assortment of people who inhabit it." - Rhapsody Magazine "The mystery surrounding Vanessa's father's disappearance was nicely done. Author Voeller set up why and whodunits very neatly. Suspense, tension, and then resolution followed each other right on cue." - Teri Dohmen, Crescent Blues Book Reviews "I read The Fisherman's Daughter in one sitting. It was a page turner for sure. The unexpected mix of heated romance and heart-wrenching intrigue made for an unforgettable e-book that I would recommend to any romance aficionado. Reunited friends Vanessa Paris and Lowell Maxwell have the perfect amount of tension between them that is only augmented by the disappearance of Vanessa's father. Set in Puget Sound, the beautiful description of this seaside town will have you longing for salty air and sunset sailing. This is definitely a must read." - Trinch Books "Sydell Voeller has created a sweet romance full of passion and mystery. Ms. Voeller is a talented author and I look forward to reading her future works." - Sadonna Grandstaff, Word Museum

The Bride Wore Blue (Brides of Bath, Book 1)

admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:53:14 +0000

Cheryl Bolen's writing draws you into her fast-paced story. 4 Stars â�� Romantic TimesCheryl Bolen returns to the Regency England she knows so well. . .If you love a steamy Regency with a fast pace, be sure to pick up The Bride Wore Blue. â�� Happily Ever After***For six long years Thomas Moreland has dreamed of the beautiful young noblewoman who rescued him from death. While amassing his fortune in India, not a day passed he did not recall Felicity's fair loveliness, did not recall the silken tones of her sweet voice, did not desire to possess her. Now a widow, Felicity Harrison does not recognize the handsome nabob as the young man left for dead by highwayman years earlier. Though she wants nothing more than to snub the arrogant man who promises to rescue her family from financial ruin in exchange for presenting his sister to Society, she cannot snub him. She must force herself to bear his company. But the longer she is with him, the more she has to force herself to remain true to her dead husband's memory. Why is it the humbly born Thomas Moreland possesses more nobility that any man of her class? And why is it she finds it harder and harder to mourn a dead man when Thomas's virility awakens her deepest desires?

Goodnight Moon Big Book

admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:53:14 +0000

"In the great green room / There was a telephone / And a red balloon / And a picture of-- / The cow jumping over the moon." Maybe you and your favorite baby have heard this soothing, rhythmic beginning to Margaret Wise Brown and illustrator Clement Hurd's classic Goodnight Moon once or a thousand times. But has your child ever heard it while sporting Goodnight Moon bunny slippers? This compact, clear-plastic tote carries the sturdy board-book edition of Goodnight Moon and one pair of baby-sized slippers, ready to take along for bedtime, naptime, or storytime. These 4-inch-long slippers, equipped with rubber-dotted soles, are made of a thin, soft, blue-and-white-striped fabric with felt-like bands of orange cloth around the elasticized ankles. Best of all perhaps is the sweet bunny head on the top of each slipper, and the white bunny tails on the heels. (The slippers are sized for babies 6 months to one year old)

10 Fun Stories for 4-8 Year Olds (Perfect for Bedtime & Young Readers) Imagination Series Book #1 (Yellow Series)

admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:49:27 +0000

If your child loves books by Mo Willems, Laura Numeroff, Dr. Seuss, Felicia Bond, P.D. Eastman, and Sandra Boynton, your child will fall in love with this children's story collection. This book is filled with wonderfully illustrated color pictures.REFORMATTED to work correctly on ALL devicesThe 10 Fun Stories in this book are:Dizzy the Amazing Spinning Dinosaur - Find out how Dizzy uses his amazing spinning tail to defeat the big bad hungry T-Rex.The Magical Mouse - Mouse meets a frog that gives him magical powers. Find out how Mouse helps the other animals and gets an amazing surprise when he reaches the Far Away Land.Simon and the Evil Serpent - Simon, a genius clown fish, comes up with a plan to defeat the evil serpent when he discovers the witch's secret.How the Owl Became Wise - Owl refuses to wait his turn. Find out how he learns a good lesson about patience and gets a surprise at the end of the story...The Cat That Was Afraid of A Mouse - Otto is a scaredy cat that hides whenever he sees a mouse. One day Tilly, a clever little mouse, finds Otto's hiding spot and uses him to teach the other evil cats a lesson...Dinosaurs Are Not Terrible Lizards - Will Darby be able to show the other animals that his family is really nice so they can go to the big town party?How Coyote and Bluebird Got Their Color - Coyote is jealous of Bluebird's beautiful blue feathers, so he decides to bath in the magical blue river. Coyote loves his new blue fur so much that he doesn't pay attention and then...BOOM!The Early Bird Didn't Always Catch the Worm - Tommy comes up with a clever plan to save his friend Wormy from being eaten by the birds.How the Butterfly Got Its Color - Find out how the butterflies get their colors from the sun, moon, sky, and flowers...The Best Rainy Day - What happens when an ordinary rainy day turns into an exciting pirate adventure... *****5 Star Reviews for this Series:"As a retired teacher, I try to find books that are at their level but challenging. This is perfect. The stories are fun and encourage them to read.""Lots of cute stories to choose from"Â "It's very entertaining and the illustrations are awesome."

Prelude to a Wedding (The Wedding Series Book 1)

admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:53:14 +0000

"Another lovely story well up to Patricia McLinn's high standards" - 5-Star review Charming Paul Monroe has the Peter Pan thing down pat. As an antique toy appraiser, even his work involves play. Which is fine, unless your job is to keep his Chicago business running smoothly . . . and all that charm -- and sexiness -- is aimed at you.Â Organization and reliability are Bette Wharton's hallmarks. She handles the toughest clients with aplomb, until Paul provides a challenge that goes way beyond the office. She has a plan and a timetable. How can she let herself fall for Mr. Live-for-the-Moment when all he offers is Love-for-the-Moment?~ ~ ~The Wedding SeriesYou are cordially invited ... to join the celebration as college friends embark on the greatest education of all -- falling in love.Book 1 - Prelude to a WeddingBook 2 - Wedding PartyBook 3 - Grady's Wedding

Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management

admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:49:27 +0000

â��Mrs. Beetonâ��s Book of Household Managementâ�� is many things, but it is first and foremost a guide to managing a household. In addition to offering advice on a wide range of domestic topics, the book contains hundreds of recipes. A compendium of practical information about everything from animal husbandry to seasonal produce, this Victorian classic is both fascinating and useful.