REVIEW: HOUR OF THE ROSE (Draycott Abbey Series #1) by CHRISTINA SKYE

I love Christine Skye’s Draycott Abbey Series and have read all the books. There is something so magical about Draycott Abbey, so unforgettable. Home to the Draycott family for hundreds of years, it has been watched over by the ghost of Adrian, one of the Draycott ancestors and Gideon, his companion who just happens to be a fabulous, clever ghostly cat. They will do anything to protect the abbey and the people they love and have loved – I love the interaction between the two….it’s really amazing...morI love Christine Skye’s Draycott Abbey Series and have read all the books. There is something so magical about Draycott Abbey, so unforgettable. Home to the Draycott family for hundreds of years, it has been watched over by the ghost of Adrian, one of the Draycott ancestors and Gideon, his companion who just happens to be a fabulous, clever ghostly cat. They will do anything to protect the abbey and the people they love and have loved – I love the interaction between the two….it’s really amazing. This is the first book in this series (although there are 2 novellas written previously about Draycott Abbey…more about those later). Michael Burke, a dark, handsome and passionate ex-Royal Marine has come to Draycott Abbey to expose a conspiracy and there he meets Kelly Hamilton, a beautiful archeologist, who has been gifted with second sight and who is searching for an urn of historical and priceless value. Both feel an incredible attraction, which they try to deny at first but soon they begin to realize that they cannot stop the strong and deep feelings they have. It’s as if they both knew each other before. From the moment she arrives at Draycott Abbey, Kelly is consumed by flashes of a past she feels she is part of and begins thinking that she may be losing her sanity. Danger, deceit and betrayal, evil men who will do anything to destroy Kelly and Michael as they did centuries ago with Aslin and Lyon – there are two stories which tie in with each other. Two soul mates who had lost each other centuries ago finally being together again. Such powerful writing…..immerses you totally in the story that one is unable to stop reading. I have read the entire series dozens of times and each time I take a trip to Draycott Abbey and let the magic take over. Christina Skye – you rock!!!!!!

REVIEW: ONCE A FERRARA WIFE by SARAH MORGAN

Sarah Morgan is one of my favorite Mills and Boon’s authors and I enjoy most of her books.

I loved the story of Once a Ferrara Wife and would have given it a 5 star review except for one thing that really irritated me (more about this later on).

This is a very intense, compelling and emotional story about Cristiano and Laurel Ferrara and I was captivated from the moment I started page 1 and I was so engrossed in the story that before I realized I had finished the book in one reading.

You are totally drawn into the lives of Cristiano & Laurel Ferrara from page 1 until the Epilogue which is by the way, their second HEA (what a luck having a chance again after their disastrous first and very short HEA, two years previously).

This is such an intense, compelling and emotional story and the author and at times I could feel their pain and anguish. The author has an incredible way of writing dialogue and building up her characters – the interaction between the two is truly amazing. It’s as if you know them personally and you are actually feeling their emotions.

I am irrevocably in love with Cristiano. A beautiful, rich as sin, sexy, gorgeous, strong alpha male, with a hot hot body – an Italian ….no a Sicilian one….that is not afraid to show his heart and emotions….not often seen in these type of men….I was knocked out by the depth of his love for Laurel and how hard he tried to understand her even when he was being rejected …..in such a horrible manner by her.

And the reason I did not give the higher rating is because I found Laurel to be so horrible to Cristiano…okay in the end she discovers that he is not the man who she believed had let her down and that she still loved him. I was irritated by her constant moaning about being let down, how she could take care of herself, how she didn’t need anyone to do anything for her, what a horrible childhood she had – okay she did…but that doesn’t mean that one has to allow that to control your life.  Even when she is told by his sister and brother how much Cristiano loves her and how heartbroken he was when she left him, she still continues to give the poor guy a hard time. At times such childish behavior, feeling sorry for myself… and throughout all this drama, Cristiano continues to be caring, loving and understanding never giving up on her.

I adored Cristiano’s sister – who believes in love and fairytales and tries to get Laurel back together with Cristiano. Even his brother, Santo becomes involved – I wonder if there is going to be a book about him? I think he would make a great hero for some lucky heroine out there!!!!!

Settings are stunning – a resort and spa for the rich and famous, you feel the magical, enchanting and mythical atmosphere of Taormina with its winding streets and tiny passages….oh what a man….buying the woman he has always and will always love a medieval castle!!!!!

I was elated that the true love for each other overcame all the misunderstandings and obstacles and found happiness together…and with their growing family.

Second thoughts after writing this review…..i am giving 5 stars because I think it deserves it. It’s a fabulous fabulous book and I can guarantee that anyone who reads it will love it as much as me.

REVIEW: SECRETS OF BELLA TERRA by CHRISTINA DODD

The first book I read written by this author was Scent of Darkness which I really enjoyed. 
So when I saw Secrets of Bella Terra at my local bookshop, I bought it without even reading the blurb on the back cover. 

I realized afterwards that this book is the first of the Scarlet Deception Series so I was happy I was going to read the series from the beginning and also I absolutely love reading family sagas. 

By chapter 3 I wasn’t sure if I liked the book…..slow start but I was soon engrossed in the plot and characters and the gorgeous settings. 
Rafe di Luca, sexy, gorgeous and bad body is the brother who broke from the family tradition of continuing the di Luca dynasty in the California vineyards and Brooke Petersson, who has been close to the family since her schooldays.
The two had been friends and then lovers but Rafe had broken her heart when he disappeared after she had refused to follow him on his world travels. 
Sarah, Rafe’s grandmother is attacked in her home and he returns to Bella Valley to be with her and to solve the mystery of her attack. 
Brooke is at first not too happy about his return even though she has never stopped loving him despite the shabby way he had treated her before. 
Rafe is unable to keep away from her and he realizes he still has deep feelings for her and fights his desire to stay in Bella Valley with Brooke. 

I love the di Luca’s family dynamism…the relationship between the 3 brothers– Rafe, Noah and Eli is really fabulous….love the interaction and dialogue between them. Also the love they have for their grandmother. I also adored Rafe’s mother….Francesca the ultimate Italian movie goddess, multiple marriages…..her scenes are so funny and touching….Rafe’s love for her shows in the way he handles her. 
The big mystery is about a very special, rare and valuable bottle of wine which had been given to the di Luca family over 50 years ago and which the rival winemaker Bianchi family feel should belong to them and are determined by whatever ways and means to get the bottle, which has been hidden and no one has any idea where. 

I must admit I was a bit disappointed when the mystery of the murders and attacks and vandalism was revealed. I couldn’t quite believe that person was capable of being behind such an organized plot…..having said that I enjoyed the scene when the whole plot is discovered by Brooke!!! 
But the love scenes between Rafe and Brooke quickly made up for this. Wow….talk about a hot, sexy, hot, gorgeous man who knows how to get his woman turned on!!!!! 
Emotional, sensual, sexy, hot, steamy…..the scene in the shower!!!!! Whewwwww…..I stopped breathing for a while. 

Finally what else can I add????? I will definitely read the next book in the trilogy and more of this author’s books. I like her easy and fresh writing style

REVIEW: GUARDING JEANNIE by BEVERLY BARTON

Guarding Jeannie is the second book of the Protectors Series written by Beverly Barton.

I enjoyed it more than Defending His Own, which I struggled  to finish.

Sam Dundee is gorgeous, strong alpha male who does not do emotion and love. His life had been saved six years ago by Jeannie Alverson, an empath (who takes the pain away from others into her body!!!) and who has never forgotten him.

When her life is being threatened by a crazy leader of a cult, she contacts Sam asking for his help. Of course he comes to her rescue!!!! How can he not when she had saved his life!!!!

There are a lot of twists and turns in the story and loads of characters….at times some of the things seem really not plausible…but hey this is a romance novel after all!!!!

What I liked as well is how the author wrote about the heroine being handicapped….it’s really well written. You never feel sorry for her….Jeannie is a warm, loving, caring and strong and she’s prepared to face the obstacles in her life with such an amazing attitude.

This is such a sweet, warm story….even though this is a reissue of the book which was originally written in 1995, it hasn’t dated that much.

Book Blurb:

For six years, Jeannie Alverson had thought about Sam Dundee's haunting blue eyes, his warm touch. His was the face she saw in her dreams. He was the man she never expected to see again. But now he had returned…to protect her.

Sam couldn't turn his back on Jeannie. Once she had saved his life, and now she needed him. He vowed to guard her against all danger, but who would protect him from the innocence and love shining in her eyes?

REVIEW: IN A STORM OF SCANDAL by KIM LAWRENCE

I have read and enjoyed all of Kim Lawrence’s books but I have to say that this was one not one of my favorites.

What idiotic woman will remain a virgin for 7 years because she has never met any other man like the twit who dropped her to marry some rich woman to save his family’s fortunes!!!! Please…..I can’t see this happening in this day and age…and if it does, what kind of people are these!!!!!!

Okay, so the guy is rich and gorgeous….but I just could not get why the heroine found him unforgettable….a man who mopes around blaming himself for his wife’s death (who he never loved …) and his unborn child.

The plot was just over the top…..the hero braves a huge storm in a little boat and survives and finds himself at the castle…the exact place he wanted to be!!!!! Just too much stuff that did not ring credible to me.

I wanted to give up reading this book half away through but I thought…maybe it will get better…but no it did not!!!!

I hope this author’s next book will excite me as her previous one have.

REVIEW: DEFENDING HIS OWN by BEVERLY BARTON

I can’t make up my mind if I like this author’s books. The first book of hers I read was Killing Her Softly which I enjoyed. I then started reading Dead by Morning which I am struggling to finish….more about that when I get to the last page and then I will do a full review. Decided to switch to The Protectors which I thought was a full length novel. Imagine my surprise to discover it’s a Mills & Boon special (I wasn’t ever aware she had been a Silhouette writer!!!! – not that I have some favorite authors who have written for them!!!!), that includes 2 stories – this time I did not give up, thought it did take a bit of time for me to get to the end. 

What I like and didn’t like about the 1st story – Defending His Own. 

1 This book was first released in 1995 by Silhouette and at times it found some things a bit outdated….like the hero using his “cellular” fone 
2 Sweet story of a plain teenager, Deborah Vaughn who has a crush on the local bad boy, Ashe McLaughlin. She loses her virginity to him, he is chased out of town by her rich father, she is left pregnant, she doesn’t tell him……the usual secret baby story 
3 After 10 years Ashe is asked by her mother to protect Deborah who is a witness to a murder and is being threatened with her life 
4 Misunderstandings, secrets abound…..he believes that Deborah betrayed him when he was forced to leave his hometown and family. She hates him because he told her he didn’t love her and did not want to tell him that he had a son (which by the way is passed off as her brother…..talk about complications!!!) because of her father’s decision of either her giving up the baby for adoption or passing it off has her mother’s son…… boy that scenario would never work these days!!!!!!! 
5 I liked the son, Allen…..what a sassy and charming character….my favorite….also Deborah’s mom…in fact there are quite a few interesting characters in the story….Ashe’s grandmother, his cousin….too many characters to include here 
6 Some of the dialogue was a bit “old” and how many times did Ashe have to use the word ‘honey”!!!! 
7 A few twists in the story but they never really grabbed me 
8 I liked Deborah….she’s an interesting heroine….strong, loyal, loving and an amazing sense of responsibility to her entire family….really, she owns a company that keeps not only her mother and son but her awful, lazy, wastrel cousin Whitney 
9 Apart from the constant “honey, honey” I grew to like Ashe 
10 Of course there is a HEA and enjoyed the epilogue….knowing that the whole family finds love and happiness together 

PS…I could not find the cover of the edition I have…..I wonder why????? 

Would I read another book by this author???? Yes, they remind me a bit of the older Mills & Boon novels I read in the past. 
I am now determined to read more of her books in the different series that she has written.