Review: Renegade Vampireby Monica La Porta 5 of 5 stars

Renegade Vampire by Monica La Porta
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stella is a real-life Princess but she certainly doesn't live life like one. Her parents tragically died in an accident, she was then raised by an Aunt who has now also died of old age, and she is now all alone in the world with no money, little income from the many jobs she does, and a large bill to pay to save her ancestral home. With impending homelessness and desperate for a solution she contemplates becoming a Blood Courtesan in a business transaction with a wealthy Vampire - after all, it's all business so there is no danger of love getting in the way. Ancient vampire Fabian Laurentis is a world-famous actor and playboy. However, he is also the only reason Stella is still alive and when he realises she is about to make the worst mistake of her life he is determined that no one else will have her - no matter the cost. Little does he realise how difficult that may become - can he keep them both safe?

This was a lovely story and I really enjoyed the softer side of a Vampire being shown. I enjoyed Stella's determination to protect the people and things that she loved and how she took the difficult decision to do whatever it took to save her home. It was well written and it was easy to understand and experience all of the emotions and events happening to all of the characters. I felt so sorry for her as her troubles mounted up and definitely hoping someone could help her.

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Review: Caitlin's Song by John A. Heldt 5 of 5 stars

Caitlin's Song by John A. Heldt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Carson Children make an unplanned stop into 1962 and are based in Boulder, Colorado where Cody and Caitlin get to go to college. Their parents Tim and Caroline Carson are making a planned stop in 1972 but it becomes a nightmare when they read about their children's lives and discover that one has crossed paths with a killer. So broken hearted they race back to the past to reroute history. Will they manage and will the family ever meet up?

This is definitely full of lots of drama and excitement as we look at both the events in 1962 for the Carson children and those in 1972 for their parents. Woven into the story are events from those times in American history which are either big ones in general history or big ones in the history of the growing Carson family. I really enjoyed the events of a dream of Caitlin's as well as the events of the concert near the end of the story. Well written and very enjoyable I can't wait to find out what is going to happen to this time travelling family next and where they are going to go. Is this the time when they all meet or will then need another jump in time?

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Review: Swede by Dale Mayer 4 of 5 stars

Swede by Dale Mayer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Swede had watched his brothers in arms fall for their perfect women and just hoped one day he would be as lucky. He then pushed those thoughts away as he was on a mission in Mexico watching a rebel camp only to stumble upon a group of civilians - including the one woman he thought was wrong for him. Eva had a long time love of animals and so when a friend asked her to come help move some suffering horses from Mexico to new homes she felt she couldn't refuse. However, she finds herself in trouble until she sees Swede who is determined to keep her safe and extract her from the danger no matter the personal cost. Can she protect her heart and can they beat the rebel's plan which will not be a happy ending for either of them?

This was a powerful story which included lots of danger and drama as they fought to save the animals, each other and found something perfect at the same time. I loved the way it wasn't a simple matter of boy and girl meet in a dangerous scenario and after a miraculous escape, they lived happily ever after. Instead, it was more difficult as Eva needed a lot of persuasions to go with her hidden feelings and they needed compromise, in the end, to find a way forward. Well written I liked the exploration of their emotions and feelings.

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Review: Evidence in the Echinacea by Dale Mayer 5 of 5 stars

Evidence in the Echinacea by Dale Mayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Divorcee Doreen and her animals (Mugs, the basset hound; Goliath, the Maine coon cat, and Thaddeus, the far-too-talkative African grey parrot) just want to be left alone for a while so she can concentrate on getting the valuable antiques in the house to the auction house, her developing friendships with Corporal Mack Moreau and Penny (her first female friend in the area). However, she finds herself unable to ignore an accusation about Penny’s late husband George’s death she decides it won't hurt to just look into it. Suddenly Doreen seems to be juggling a cold case, a closed case, and a possible mercy killing. Mack should be used to Doreen’s antics by now when she dives into yet another of his cases but it’s becoming increasingly hard to take.

Wow - Doreen sure likes to complicate her life. I don't know how she manages to do the gardening, the house clearance, the investigation of murders and keep her sanity - if it was me I think I would have been overloaded with work to do and things to learn. This superwoman does appear to have her priorities slightly wrong and really needs to now work on finding the important paperwork as well as resolve her own sleeping arrangements which seem bizarrely uncomfortable (for goodness sake woman buy a bed!). This book as once again educated me about some plants as well as a few gardening techniques. Well written and highly addictive I really enjoyed this book which had Doreen in the thick of the action again.

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Review: Raphael by Monica La Porta 5 of 5 stars

Raphael by Monica La Porta
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shifter Raphael has a dreadful past life which has left him scarred and now is on his own it no one to care for him. He lives rough in the catacombs beneath Rome and does everything he can to evade the Controler who just wants to send him back to a life of torment in the Renegade Youth Shelter. His life takes a rapid turn the day he meets werewolf Luisa who is his one true soulmate. However, they only meet for a very short time as he has to continue to flee the Controller. With a broken heart and an absolutely bereft wolf, he will sacrifice everything he has (even if it is his freedom) when he discovers he has been captured by a ruthless street gang. Will he be able to rescue her so they can be happy together forever?

This book was a rollercoaster ride through a broken care system, a street-gang and the underbelly of Rome. He'll have to do all sorts of things that are not in his nature in order to be near to her and try to get her away from such a dire situation. The end was explosive and full of drama and danger as Raphael battled to save them both from the brutality of the street gang. If I had one regret, it is that the conclusion was a little abrupt although I did like the final solution. An enjoyable story and at times an addictive read.

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Review: Cruel Magic by Eva Chase 5 of 5 stars

Cruel Magic by Eva Chase
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

College student Rory Franco's life completely changes when mages barge into the family home, murder her parents and then take her to a university known as Villain Academy. It appears her real name is Persephone Bloodstone a missing heir to one of the five dark magic families and her place is to be a scion to stand next to 4 arrogant (but very hot) men who rule the school. However, Rory has double trouble - she can't locate her wicked skills as she doesn't want to feed on other people's pain and she then locks horns with the scions when she sees their behaviour. Can she withstand the vicious other students and the 4 scions who are determined to crush anyone who is not prepared to behave in a way that they find acceptable? Can Rory survive their brutality and get a chance to avenge her parents' deaths?

Wow - this is going to be one hell of a series of books - hot sexy men, a determined heroine and pressure from all sides. I just hope Rory can get her magic working before it is too late as they seem to be more than a bit brutal. I'm already addicted so how am I going to wait for the rest of the series? Well written, a great plot and lots of detail in how Rory seels and the thoughts and emotions she is feeling I loved reading this. Definitely a recommended read.

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Review: Always Gray in Winter by Mark J. Engels 3 of 5 stars

Always Gray in Winter by Mark J. Engels
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pawlina Katczynski is a Werecat and having resurfaced after a much-needed disappearance she finds herself thrust into a feud between her own family and another Werecat family where she has to fight as part of the battle to make sure an innovative item of technology is on her own side of the fence. Is blood thicker than water?

There were aspects of this story that I really enjoyed - there was a lot of skilled descriptions of items, thoughts and emotions, However, there were also sections that I found difficult - there were characters that I struggled to understand who they were and why they were in the story and the shifts between the past and the present were a little abrupt at times. So, in summary, I did enjoy this book but it was a little complicated at times which detracted from my enjoyment.

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