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RomanceHistorical Romance

Like an arrow to the heart

Review by Carrie Sessarego

A Sword for His Lady is just as unabashedly silly, sensual and fun as its cover suggests. It has no pretensions of being deeply intellectual or literary—it's simply a sexy, entertaining romance unfolding in the exotic setting of early 12th-century England. The first in Wine's Courtly Love series, it’s perfectly suited for a summer vacation read.

The hero, Ramon de Segrave, fought in the Crusades for many years before returning to England with Richard the Lionheart. Richard orders Ramon to marry the widow Isabel, who has been managing her estate alone since the death of her husband. The estate is on inhospitable swampland, but Isabel supports the estate by raising geese and selling their feathers. (They are a necessity in archery, and because the country is at war, this is big business). If Ramon marries Isabel, then he can protect her estate from brigands, and Richard will have stable access to an important resource.

Initially, Ramon isn’t keen on marrying, but he quickly comes to admire Isabel's appearance, business acumen and ethics. Isabel, who was married at a young age to an abusive husband and does not want to lose her autonomy, is adamant that she will never marry again. Most of the plot consists of Ramon attempting to convince Isabel to marry him. At its best, this book is a playful and provocative battle of wills between two intelligent, resourceful people.

The book suffers from an unnecessary subplot featuring a one-dimensional villain and his Persian lover, who is described in unfortunately stereotypical terms. The villain appears to exist entirely so that readers can enjoy some battle scenes. Historical accuracy takes a backseat to romance, allowing for a comfortable and at times lavishly fabulous setting. This book is pure fantasy, not in the sense of containing magic, but in the sense of forgoing any mundane context and diving into a world of enjoyment. A Sword for His Lady is light and fluffy in the best "beach read" way, and although the narrative emphasis is on sex, the characters have some deeply satisfying groundwork of mutual trust, respect and emotional intimacy. 

 

A Sword for His Lady is just as unabashedly silly, sensual and fun as its cover suggests. It has no pretensions of being deeply intellectual or literary—it's simply a sexy, entertaining romance unfolding in the exotic setting of early 12th-century England. The first in Wine's Courtly Love series, it’s perfectly suited for a summer vacation read.
RomanceParanormal Romance

Breaking through

Review by Lois Dyer

Prolific New York Times best-selling author Nalini Singh returns to the paranormal world of the Psy-Changelings in Shards of Hope, the 14th novel in the series following Shield of Winter.

After Arrow Squad leader Aden Kai and Commander Zaira Neve are viciously attacked, they regain consciousness only to find themselves trapped in a dark cell. Their psychic abilities have been blocked, and Zaira is seriously wounded. Their captors, however, are unprepared for the nearly superhuman abilities of Arrow warriors. Escape is the first priority, but once achieved, they find themselves far from civilization. There only hope for survival lies with a pack of changelings who are extremely wary of outsiders.

Aden and Zaira are determined to survive and unravel the dark conspiracy that threatens the Arrow Squad, and the plot against them proves to have multiple, tangled strands. Even as they follow each lead deeper into danger, they continue to move forward with plans to create a brighter, warmer future for the Squad’s deadly warriors. Aden wants to bring his battle-weary people in from the cold and offer them a life with the possibility of love, family and friendship. He wants Zaira at his side as his lover and his mate, and although she is fiercely committed to Aden, she refuses to claim him. She is convinced the torture she suffered as a child at the hands of her sadistic parents and the Psy Council prohibits her from ever truly being his.

Even as they struggle to find a way to forge a future together, the evil force threatening to destroy the Arrows draws inexorably nearer. Aden has fought too hard to save Zaira and his Squad; he’ll do anything to keep them safe, even if it means sacrificing himself.

Singh’s reputation as a world-class storyteller is certain to grow with her latest novel. The intricacy of the plot, the complex details of the very intriguing world of the Psy-Changelings, and the depth of emotional connection between Aden and Zaira result in a breathtaking story that’s impossible to put down.

Lois Dyer writes from Washington State

Prolific New York Times best-selling author Nalini Singh returns to the paranormal world of the Psy-Changelings in Shards of Hope, the 14th novel in the series following Shield of Winter.

RomanceParanormal Romance

Dark magic

Review by Carrie Sessarego

In the Air Tonight is the first book in the Sisters of the Craft series, a trilogy about triplets descended from witches. The orphaned triplets, each with a special power, were all adopted by different families and, as of the first book, they don't know about each other.

This book focuses on one of the triplets, Raye Larsen, who is telekinetic and has the power to communicate with ghosts. She’s managed to build a relatively normal life as a kindergarten teacher in a small Midwestern town. But the serenity of the town is shattered when the body of a murdered woman is discovered, and her ghost wants Raye’s help.

Detective Bobby Doucet is in charge of the investigation—and it looks like the killer is after Raye next. As Bobby tries to protect Raye, she begins to unravel the mystery of why she's a target. Bobby and Raye fall in love, but will Bobby continue to love Raye when he realizes who she is and what she can do?

This book is a light, fun read with engaging characters and an ending that neatly wraps up the book while leading to its sequel. It is refreshing to read a book in which the author displays a sound understanding of the Wiccan religion, and the paranormal elements work well to add mystery and menace. It's also refreshing to read a multicultural romance in which a hero of color is appreciated without being fetishized. Bobby, who is Creole and Haitian, and the adopted Raye, who has black hair in a town full of local-born blondes, connect partly because they both stand out in the Wisconsin town.

The town feels authentic without being twee, and the local police work with Bobby without hostility over turf. Despite a plot that involves danger and violence, the book feels comfortable without being dull—it's about nice people who act like grown-ups (with real problems) in a nice place (with an unusual number of corpses). Raye and Bobby have great chemistry and a believable barrier in establishing trust. 

This book was a satisfying stand-alone in the sense that the romance element is resolved, as is any immediate threat to Raye. Of course, it also leaves the reader wanting more in that it suggests that Raye will get to meet her sisters and that each sister will have her own compelling mystery and romance to resolve.

 

In the Air Tonight is the first book in the Sisters of the Craft series, a trilogy about triplets descended from witches. The orphaned triplets, each with a special power, were all adopted by different families and, as of the first book, they don't know about each other. In the Air Tonight focuses on Raye Larsen, who is telekinetic and has the power to communicate with ghosts. She’s managed to build a relatively normal life as a kindergarten teacher in a small Midwestern town. But the serenity of the town is shattered when the body of a murdered woman is discovered, and her ghost wants Raye’s help.
RomanceHistorical Romance

Taking love’s hand

Review by Amy Garvey

Elizabeth Hoyt is one of the hottest authors in romance today, and the eighth book in her Maiden Lane series captures every tender, charming reason for her popularity. Dearest Rogue is a sexy, sweet and emotionally satisfying historical read. 

Lady Phoebe Batten is exactly like other young society women, excepting one small difference—she’s blind. In her opinion, a lack of sight shouldn’t preclude an active social life, or even a romance, although she knows the latter is not very likely. Her brother, however, does not believe she can lead a normal life, and he worries about her physical safety. As a duke’s sister, and a wealthy one at that, she is a vulnerable target for all kinds of criminals. That’s precisely why her protective sibling has hired an armed escort to accompany her everywhere. And unfortunately for freedom-loving Phoebe, her bodyguard follows her brother’s strict orders to the letter. 

Once a respected officer with the King’s dragoons, Captain James Trevillion is far from the average bodyguard. But when a serious injury left lasting damage to his leg, Trevillion wasn’t fit for a soldier’s duties any longer. Protecting one young woman from danger is hardly the kind of challenge he once faced in service to the king, but Trevillion finds himself facing another kind of challenge with Phoebe—caring for her in ways that are not simply professional. 

There is a gently contentious dynamic between the two: Phoebe chafes at what she believes is Trevillion’s stodgy adherence to duty, and Trevillion, although enchanted with Phoebe’s spirit, is also uncomfortably aware of the difference in their stations. But everything changes when Phoebe is nearly kidnapped. Trevillion may not be the soldier he once was, but as he gallops away from the attackers with his charge nestled in front of him, he vows that Phoebe will come to no harm on his watch. And for Phoebe, held close in his strong arms, her escort suddenly becomes more than a stubborn obstacle to her freedom. 

Sight is a powerful metaphor in this romance; Trevillion is amazed by how deeply Phoebe can see into him, even blind, and Phoebe is amazed to find that there is more to her bodyguard than his job, and that true passion is hidden behind the solemn mask of duty. The real triumph here is independence, however, as both Phoebe and Trevillion find the courage to fight for their desires and map their future on their own terms. The fact that being together gives them the strength to find their individual voices is simply the icing on a very delightful cake. 

Dearest Rogue is everything the reader of a Regency historical wants; it’s funny, fast-paced and has plenty of historical flavor and a romance that develops as naturally as a flower opening in the sun. Fans of the Maiden Lane series will cheer for this couple.  

 

Amy Garvey is a freelance editor and the author of several romances and two novels for young adults. 

Elizabeth Hoyt is one of romance’s hottest authors right now, and the eighth book in her Maiden Lane series captures every tender, charming reason for her popularity. Dearest Rogue is a sexy, sweet and emotionally satisfying historical read.
RomanceContemporary Romance

Denim daydreams

Review by Susan Andersen

Jenna Sutton’s All the Right Places is the first in her new contemporary series about siblings determined to keep Riley O’Brien & Co—their iconic, 170 year-old denim company—viable in a changing industry. This kickoff book features Quinn O’Brien, who has become an all-work-no-play kind of guy upon taking over the business from his ailing father. His stoicism hits a serious hiccup, however, the day he follows a curvy redhead up the escalator and discovers she’s the new accessories designer his sister hired to breathe life into the nearly nonexistent women’s division.

Amelia Winger was born and raised in a small Texas town by a ne’er-do-well mother, and her hardscrabble background makes being named the company’s accessories designer a particularly delicious dream come true. The last thing she needs is an immediate, overpowering sexual attraction to the strapping CEO. No one’s going to say she slept her way to the top—she will be taken seriously as a professional.

Quinn struggles with a similar problem. It’s bad enough that the first thing he said to Amelia was “Nice ass.” Make a move on her, and she’ll likely hit him with a deserved sexual harassment suit. As hard as the two try to stay away from each other, however, their chemistry proves impossible to ignore. In addition, Quinn soon learns how talented, hardworking and sweet Amelia is, while she is blown away by, well, just about everything about him. She’s never met a man as aggressively sexual yet so kind and decent. Plus, they’re two consenting adults, right? So maybe it won’t matter that they’re burning up the sheets every chance they get. But then there’s the fact that Amelia is keeping a huge secret from him. And Quinn is sure to have a large problem with it.

Peopled with complex, believable characters and set in an interesting business, Sutton’s debut novel is a sexy, sassy and hot hit.

Jenna Sutton’s All The Right Places is the first in her new contemporary series about siblings determined to keep Riley O’Brien & Co—their iconic, 170 year-old denim company—viable in a changing industry.
RomanceContemporary Romance

Friday night love

Review by Amanda Diehl

New York Times best-selling author Shannon Stacey starts a sweet and satisfying series with Under the Lights. A former high school football star returns to his charming hometown in order to help out the man who changed his life—his old coach. What he doesn’t expect is his attraction to the now-grown coach’s daughter, a woman who may still be off limits after all these years.

Chase Sanders is not exactly having the best year. His girlfriend has just left him, and his business partner cleaned out his accounts. Returning to Stewart Mills, New Hampshire—where he used to be the big man on campus—at his lowest point would just be the cherry on top. But when Kelly McDonnell, his former coach’s daughter, calls him asking for his help in saving the hometown’s high school football team, he can’t seem to say no to returning home. With budget cuts wreaking havoc, Kelly puts together a two-week fundraising extravaganza to save her father’s passion, and Chase can’t leave his coach hanging out to dry.

Chase and Kelly weren’t necessarily on friendly terms when they attended high school together. Since Kelly was two years behind him, she wasn’t even on Chase’s radar. Plus, showing any interest in the coach’s daughter meant trouble. Seeing Chase and Kelly relive their high school experiences had me longing for Friday night lights, fresh popcorn at the concession stand and swathes of team colors in the stands.

Kelly, a local police officer, is a headstrong heroine motivated by such earnest feelings of love toward her father and her hometown that it’s difficult not to get misty-eyed at her dedication. However, she does have a stubborn streak when it comes to Chase. Neither wants to admit to their attraction; Kelly wants to save face and Chase fears driving a wedge in his relationship with his mentor. Watching them try to reconcile the things holding them back while being forced into close contact is a slow, torturous burn, but it makes Chase and Kelly’s chemistry that much sweeter.

Stacey also does an impeccable job of introducing the town’s characters and Chase’s former teammates. Chase’s jokes with his old friends and Kelly’s interactions with the high school’s current football players are practically guaranteed to produce smiles, and readers will look forward to seeing these two, as well as their friends, again in future books.

With yet another great start to a series under her belt, Shannon Stacey clearly knows her way around building the perfect contemporary romance. Under the Lights is a nice reminder that people can change and grow, and that sometimes, forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest.

 

New York Times best-selling author Shannon Stacey starts a new sweet and satisfying series with Under the Lights. A former high school football star returns to his charming hometown in order to help out the man who changed his life—his old coach. What he doesn’t expect is his attraction to the now-grown coach’s daughter, a woman who may still be off limits after all these years.
RomanceInspirational FictionHistorical Romance

Betting on love

Review by Lily McLemore

Tamera Alexander continues her inspirational Belle Meade Plantation series with a tale of high-stakes romance, To Win Her Favor. Set in Nashville during the devastating fallout of the Civil War, the novel follows Maggie Linden, a brilliant horsewoman determined to make it in the lucrative world of horse racing, and the strong-willed Irishman who is roped into her plans.

Though determined to save her family’s home, Maggie is running out of options. Although she is an accomplished rider and trainer, her gender has kept her out of the horse races she knows she can win—races with prize money that she and her ailing father desperately need in order to keep their farm. Unable to race herself, Maggie has placed all of her hopes on the talented young jockey she’s trained and her beloved mare, Bourbon Belle. But her hopes are shattered when her jockey is forced to flee Nashville in the face of escalating attacks against freed slaves. However, her father has one last plan to save the farm—if only he can get Maggie to go along with it. 

Leaving behind a painful past, Irishman Cullen McGrath immigrated to America with the dream of living a quiet life on his own piece of farmland. However, the famed Southern hospitality does not seem to extend to people of Cullen's lineage. Farms that are advertised as for sale mysteriously become unavailable as soon as Cullen opens his mouth—Nashvillians clearly have no interest in selling to an Irishman. The Linden’s farm is his last hope, and Mr. Linden has no qualms with selling to an Irishman. There is one stipulation though—Cullen must marry his daughter. 

 Could Cullen and Maggie’s marriage gradually become one filled with true love?

Maggie is far from pleased with her father’s scheme, but her desire to hold onto her family’s farm trumps her misgivings about the arranged marriage. They are hastily wed, and Maggie and Cullen struggle to get to know each other under these unusual circumstances. Although innately kind, Maggie has prejudices that she must work through, and she is used to getting what she wants. However, with patience and understanding, Cullen and Maggie’s affection for each other grows. Although their marriage came about through desperate circumstances, could Cullen and Maggie’s marriage gradually become one filled with true love?

Alexander does not glaze over the historical facts of the time—post-Civil War Nashville was not a pleasant place—nor does she breeze past the struggles that Cullen and Maggie face as married strangers. To Win Her Favor is a thoughtfully rendered love story filled with convincing historical details. It’s rewarding to watch Cullen and Maggie grow as people and find faith in love, God and each other, even when it feels like there’s no hope left. 

 

Tamera Alexander continues her inspirational Belle Meade Plantation series with a tale of high-stakes romance, To Win Her Favor. Set in Nashville during the devastating fallout of the Civil War, the novel follows Maggie Linden, a brilliant horsewoman determined to make it in the lucrative world of horse-racing and the strong-willed Irishman who is roped into her plans.
RomanceContemporary Romance

The high stakes of love

Review by Amanda Diehl

In Christina Lee’s adult contemporary romance debut, Two of Hearts, former sweethearts are brought together under tragic circumstances. However, they are soon able discover the beauty of getting a second chance with the one that got away.

Because they grew up on a Native American reservation together, Dakota and Shane share the same culture—a culture that Lee does a respectful and thorough job of representing. But after college, Dakota remains on the reservation while Shane leaves in order to become a U.S. Marshal, a decision both of them can’t seem to forget. Though years have passed since they last saw each other, Shane immediately returns to the reservation upon hearing about the murder of Dakota’s father, a man who was cherished in the community. With the excuse of checking out the questionable circumstances of his death, Shane finds a reason to stay on the reservation with Dakota a little while longer.

Left in charge of her father’s casino, Dakota, along with her Dutch mother, must fend off those that either wish to demolish the casino completely or turn the business over to someone with full Native American blood. Independent and headstrong, Dakota becomes the foundation for her family, though it’s Shane who is there as her safety net. Soon, the temptation of the love they once shared proves to be too great to resist.

As the local council gets closer to voting on whether or not Dakota and her family get to keep ownership of the casino, threats against Dakota become physical. And when Shane discovers evidence that the death of Dakota’s father wasn’t just a wrong-place-wrong-time scenario, the threat of losing the love he’s only just rekindled becomes very real.

Two of Hearts is a tale of love and loss—and how the former can help to soften the latter. Not many people get a second chance with their first love, and Lee expertly blends Dakota and Shane’s earnest longing with the hesitation of something seeming too good to be true. Dakota, self-sufficient and determined, isn’t used to feeling vulnerable, but Shane provides the perfect complement by giving her the space she needs, as well as affection when she’s too scared to ask for it.  Lee shows readers that a great love may never really end, and that sometimes, the second time is the charm. 

 

In Christina Lee’s adult contemporary romance debut, Two of Hearts, former sweethearts are brought together under tragic circumstances. However, they are soon discover the beauty of getting a second chance with the one that got away.
RomanceRomantic SuspenseHistorical Romance

Growing a mystery

Review by Lois Dyer

Amanda Quick, a pen name of prolific writer Jayne Ann Krentz, takes readers to Victorian-era London in her latest romantic mystery, Garden of Lies. The story follows independent businesswoman Ursula Kern, owner of the Kern Secretarial Agency, who is stunned when one of her employees seemingly takes her own life. Ursula, however, knows the woman too well to believe she would commit suicide. Instead, Ursula is convinced that her friend has been murdered. 

Archaeologist and adventurer Slater Roxton is surprised when Ursula tells him she must abruptly resign from her position as his stenographer. He’s even more stunned when she confesses that she plans to investigate what she believes is the murder of her employee. Unable to convince her to abandon the dangerous plan, he announces that he will join her. As an archaeologist, he’s proven skillful at finding lost artifacts, which should easily translate into detective work. Ursula gladly accepts his aid. While she finds Mr. Roxton extremely attractive, she is unaware that his main interest in joining her investigation is to keep her safe.

As Slater and Ursula join forces to unravel the tangled skein of criminal activity that surrounds the truth about her friend’s fate, it quickly becomes apparent that they are now on the mysterious killer’s hit list. They narrowly survive his attacks, and it’s anyone’s guess whether they will unmask the villain before he terminates them both.

Garden of Lies is simply delightful in so many ways. The details of the story’s setting in Victorian London are impeccable, and the hero and heroine are honorable, daring and sharply intelligent. The secondary characters aren’t just flimsy foils, either; they add charm and humor to the tale, and the mystery plot is cleverly detailed, forming a most satisfactory labyrinth of clues. And to top it all off, the dialogue between Slater and Ursula is witty and their romance eminently rewarding. Readers of historical romance and mystery are going to love this latest book from Quick.

Lois Dyer writes from her home in Washington State

Amanda Quick, a pen name of prolific writer Jayne Ann Krentz, takes readers to Victorian-era London in her latest mystery romance, Garden of Lies. The story follows independent businesswoman Ursula Kern, owner of the Kern Secretarial Agency, who is stunned when one of her employees seemingly takes her own life. Ursula, however, knows the woman too well to believe she would commit suicide. Instead, Ursula is convinced that her friend has been murdered.
RomanceYA FictionYA

Tempting the fates

Review by Kevin Delecki

Love and Death are inexorably intertwined. Love seeks to fulfill life; Death seeks to end it. In The Game of Love and Death, Love and Death take an active role in this eternal struggle, each selecting a player at birth and then competing to see if the players fall in love or if they die. It is a hard-fought game filled with subterfuge, manipulation and deep passion, and in the centuries that they have played, Love has never won.

Flora Saudade and Henry Bishop are about as different as two people can be. And in Seattle in 1937, they should have no reason to meet, let alone spend time together. But Henry, the white adopted son of a wealthy newspaper magnate, and Flora, a black airplane mechanic and owner of a jazz club, not only meet but fall in love. Against all odds, it looks as if Love might win the game for the first time. However, Death is not so easily defeated.

The Game of Love and Death is a unique and deeply moving novel. Beautiful language, original characters and a haunting story draw the reader into a relationship that is forbidden both by the era and by the master of the game. It’s heartbreaking to the end.

 

This article was originally published in the May 2015 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Love and Death are inexorably intertwined. Love seeks to fulfill life; Death seeks to end it. In The Game of Love and Death, Love and Death take an active role in this eternal struggle, each selecting a player at birth and then competing to see if the players fall in love or if they die. It is a hard-fought game filled with subterfuge, manipulation and deep passion, and in the centuries that they have played, Love has never won.
RomanceRomantic Suspense

Life and love on the line

Review by Amanda Diehl

Jennifer L. Armentrout returns to her popular Wait for You series with a suspenseful and sexy New Adult romance about taking second chances and learning to heal. 

Bartender and burgeoning artist Roxy has loved Reece for years. She was there for him when they grew up, when he came back from serving in the Marines and after a particularly harrowing event while he was on duty as a police officer. But the implications of a one-night stand together put an awkward strain on their once strong friendship. With the tension increasing between them as the elephant in the room goes ignored, a painful reminder from Roxy’s past returns, and a killer begins terrorizing women in the area.

The way Reece and Roxy dance around each other will have readers biting their nails in anticipation.

Both Roxy and Reece have their own demons to address, and it’s a great juxtaposition to see how they handle various situations with their very different attitudes. Reece is protective, honest and oh-so-earnest in everything he does. Meanwhile, Roxy is the definition of quirky and fun, and it’s hard not to smile every time she’s talking.

However, Roxy’s carefree demeanor hides a deep loss. Her best friend was the victim of a hate crime that left him in the care of a facility, unable to speak or do anything on his own. Henry, the man responsible, has just been released from prison, bringing Officer Reece back into Roxy’s life after nearly a year of avoiding one another. Add in a man targeting and attacking women in town, and discussing the repercussions of their night together isn’t a priority for Reece and Roxy, despite the fact that their attraction is becoming increasingly hard to ignore.

Though Fall with Me is the fourth book in the Wait for You series, Armentrout does a flawless job of introducing previous characters and setting the scene without that pesky feeling of being left out. The way Reece and Roxy dance around each other—flirting and toeing that line of no-going-back—will have readers biting their nails in anticipation as both characters strive to peel back each other's layers of guilt and grief. There’s no shortage of page-turning action, either. As Henry tries to make amends with Roxy for the pain he’s caused, the very serious threat of a murderer is making headlines in the news. Whether readers are new to Armentrout or longtime fans, this passionate, heartfelt romance is sure to satisfy .

New York Times best-selling author Jennifer L. Armentrout returns to her Wait for You series with another suspenseful installment. Fall with Me is a New Adult romance about risking second chances, overcoming misunderstandings and learning how to heal.
RomanceParanormal Romance

Crowing over love

Review by Carrie Sessarego

The Unleashing is the first novel in Shelly Laurenston’s new supernatural series, The Call of Crows. It’s filled with crass yet clever banter, tons of action and romance, and a pit bull with wings—what's not to like?

After two tours in Afghanistan, Kera, a Marine, takes a job at a coffee shop to find some peace and quiet. However, her hopes for solace are soon shattered. While attempting to save a woman from being beaten in the alley behind her shop, she is stabbed.

Fortunately for Kera, a very unusual customer finds her. Vig is a member of the Ravens Viking clan and has a connection to the goddess Skuld, so he calls in a supernatural favor. Thanks to Vig, Kera has a shot at a second life, with one caveat: she must agree to fight as a member of the Crows, a Viking clan of women sworn to kill at Skuld's command. Most of Kera’s fellow Crows are on their second life, and they have no interest in manners, convention or boundaries. Common questions amongst them are "What are you?" and "How did you die?” They bicker and sometimes come to blows, but in a pinch, the Crows are completely loyal to each other.

Vig is devoted to Kera as well, and although Kera has a hard time settling into her new life, he provides Kera with a calm, steady foundation during a chaotic time. Crows and Ravens never get along, but Vig and Kera seem to be the exception to that rule. While he is terrifying in battle, Vig is gentle when away from the field. The Raven is no deep thinker, but he has his own kind of intelligence, and he understands Kera like no one else does.

The Unleashing is fast-paced, funny and profane—and it's surprisingly sweet given the considerable amount of violence in the story. The romance between Kera and Vig is both tender and sexy, but the real treasure of the book is Kera's character and her struggles to coexist with her delightfully dysfunctional Crow sisters. Kera's dog, a rescued pit bull, is a fantastic character in his own right and leads to some truly hilarious moments. The book is high on graphic, bloody violence and profane language, so be warned—it's not for the faint of heart. 

The Unleashing is the first novel in Shelly Laurenston’s new supernatural series, The Call of Crows. It’s filled with crass yet clever banter, tons of action and romance, and a pit bull with wings—what's not to like?
Women's FictionContemporary Romance

Baking up a new life

Review by Susan Andersen

Little Beach Street Bakery, the latest book by international best-selling author Jenny Colgan, begins during protagonist Polly Waterford’s darkest hour. She and her live-in boyfriend have just declared bankruptcy, and they’ve lost everything they built over the past seven years. And to top it off, the stress of it all has soured their relationship. Now Polly’s out of work and unable to afford a decent flat in her hometown of Plymouth, England. Over the protests of her best friend, she decides to rent the upper floor of a decrepit building in Cornwall’s tiny village of Mount Polbearne. The Mount, as the locals call it, is cut off from the rest of the world twice daily when high tides flood the causeway connecting it to the mainland, turning it into a temporary island.  

Polly’s new home is barely inhabitable, and although far from magically transformed after she puts some elbow grease into cleaning it up, her hard work does reveal a magical view. Hearing the rhythms of the sea and looking out upon its often-tumultuous waters make her feel calmer than she’s felt in months. Another bonus is the old-fashioned oven that provides her the opportunity to bake bread, a passion she’s ignored for far too long.

As Polly begins baking and making friends, she rediscovers the confident woman she’d forgotten she could be—and the two men who show interest in her help boost that confidence as well. The romantic element in this story feels a bit like an afterthought, and the relationship conflict could be resolved with one good conversation. But Colgan will make you laugh, and she peoples her mythical town—a fascinating, deftly built character in its own right—with an entertaining cast of quirky personalities that will have you rooting for a happy ending. Writing with warmth and empathy, Colgan’s crafted a story that will make readers whip through the pages in their sprint toward the makes-you-sigh-with-satisfaction conclusion.

Susan Andersen is a New York Times bestselling author of twenty-plus romance and romantic suspense novels.

International best-selling author Jenny Colgan’s latest book, Little Beach Street Bakery, begins during protagonist Polly Waterford’s darkest hour. She and her live-in boyfriend have just declared bankruptcy, and they’ve lost everything they built over the past seven years. And to top it off, the stress of it all has soured their relationship as well. Now Polly’s out of work and unable to afford a decent flat in her hometown of Plymouth, England. Over the protests of her best friend, she decides to rent the upper floor of a decrepit building in Cornwall’s tiny village of Mount Polbearne. The Mount, as the locals call it, is cut off from the rest of the world twice daily when high tides flood the causeway connecting it to the mainland, turning it into a temporary island.

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