REVIEW: Enchantment & Bridge of Dreams (Draycott Abbey Series #1 & #4) by Christina Skye

 I am sure I have mentioned before that I absolutely adore Christina Skye’s Dracott Abbey Series. I have read all the books over and over again and fall more and more in love with the characters.

These books have everything I love reading about – romance, paranormal, fantasy, suspense and a bit of historical (of which I am not normally mad about…but here it fits in with the contemporary story).

There are two stories in this book – Enchantment is the first in the series where Kacey Mallory has come to assess a valuable painting at the Abbey and is mistaken for a prostitute by Nicholas Dracott, the twelfth Draycott Viscount who has just come back home after being tortured and imprisoned in a Thailand jail.

After clearing up the misunderstandings, both are drawn to each other by a powerful and unexplainable attraction.

It’s a really sweet and romantic tale with two very likable characters who find true love together.

And the fabulous ghost of Adrian Draycott, one of Nicholas’s ancestors who together with the most amazing cat called Gideon, who guard the abbey and the people they love. Love the description of these two. Stunning. A grey cat with black paws!!!!!!

The second story, Bridge of Dreams, which is the 4^th book in the series, tells the story of how true love never dies.

Gabriel Montserrat, had been entombed and left to die in the Abbey’s wine cellar by an evil opponent after been falsely accused of murdering his true love, Geneva Russell. With his last strength he wrote out his last will.

Almost 400 years later, his bones are discovered in unknown secret cellar in the Abbey, together with his will and a case of rare Sauternes wine.

His will, which Nicholas Draycott has been entrusted to follow the instructions therein, states that the wines, which are priceless and rare, are to be given to his and Geneva Russell’s descents provided they spend 7 nights together as man and wife otherwise the wine is to be poured into the moat.

Dominic Montserrat the present Lord Ashton and Gabriel’s descendant is now living in France where he is trying to build up a wine estate that he purchased after retiring from his job with some secret government group after experienced a very traumatic event. Whilst the money that he could make by selling these rare wines is an attraction much needed to help his vineyards, he is not that keen to spend time with some woman he has never met and is probably some loud American with no taste and class.

He couldn’t be further from the truth!!!

From the time he sees Caitlin O’Neill, a wine appraiser at a wine auction, he is unable to get her out of his mind. She is not interested in the will and will in no way ever return to Draycott Abbey, where she had been when her mother had fallen to her death from the abbey’s roof. And she is totally anti any man with links to security or government companies – her father, now dead, had been some kind of spy and she does not have good memories of her time with him.

I love the way the author gets you hooked into the story….you just want to know what happens next. And the way the story flashes between the 1700’s and present is done really well. You can feel the lost love, anguish, betrayal and how nothing can kill the true love two people feel for each other. Such beauty in the love felt. Haunting. Unforgettable. Fighting all obstacles in their way to truly finding each other….you just know that Dominic and Caitlin were always meant to be together…..it had to happen. Love spanning over centuries and winning.

And yes, Adrian and Gideon are still at the abbey…..protecting it and its people…even if it means a bit of interference on their part…after all humans need some push, some help to finally finding true love

I am hooked and as I am now on a phase of re-reading Christina Skye’s books, I will now continue with the next installment.

REVIEW: Claimed by the Rogue Billionaire by Trish Wylie

I was so excited when I discovered the “new” book by Trish Wylie, who just happens to be one of my favorite Mills & Boon’s authors that I didn’t even look at the title. Imagine my surprise when I began reading the first page that this was a reprint of the 2008 “Claimed by the Rogue Billionaire” which I had read before. I am not sure why Mills & Boon have come out with this book only in 2011!!!!! Odd but I can't find the cover of mills & boon edition anywhere!!!!

Anyway, I read it again and enjoyed it such as much as I did the first time.

It’s kind of a follow up to His Mistress: His Terms (the story of Ashling’s brother, Alex and Merrow – which I absolutely adored!!!).

Who is unable to resist a man like Gabe!!!! He’s devastatingly sexy, arrogant…yes of course like all those alpha males…..

Ashling is the spirited wild child of the Fitzgerald family (Gabe’s mother had worked as a housekeeper for the family) that had fled to France after causing a minor scandal and is now back home, wanting desperately for people to see how she has changed and no longer the person she had been before.

After eight years, Gabe and Ashling meet up again at a party being held at the Fitzgerald’s fabulous home. But this time, Gabe is no longer just the housekeeper’s son. He has worked himself up to becoming a billionaire….a playboy one at that!!!! Though both believe that they hate each other – he thinks she’s a spoilt and selfish person and she thinks he’s just as arrogant as she remembers. But they are unable to disguise the mutual attraction they feel for each other.

There is a lot of angst, secrets, misunderstandings, painful memories to overcome and most of all – the saying that “you should think before you say the words….you can never erase them afterwards” is so true in the story.

Gabe is unable to forget Ashling’s cruel words and actions towards him when they were younger – being judged by his position and how status in the upper rich set,  and he is determined to get her into his bed – not for anything else but revenge.

The chemistry between the two is sizzling hot even when they try to hide their feelings for each other.

Eventually they work through it all and discover true happiness together. Both coming home together!!!

 i mean I could I not love Gabe....this is the guy Trish Wylie used as an inspiration. Wow!!! Hot Hot Hot!!!!!

and this was her inspiration for Ashling....just as I pictured her!!!!!!

I love Trish Wylie’s writing. Her characters are so believable and so incredibly interesting.

Now, when is her new book coming out????? It’s been too long without her stories???????

REVIEW: TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS by Megan Hart & Lauren Dane

I just could not get into this book....I gave up halfway through the first time and after reading all the reviews, decided to give it another go!!! 
I couldn't connect with the characters. I skimmed over the pages and own up that I read the last chapter hoping that it would make me go back and read the entire book...but it did not make me want to start again. 

I have put this book back on my To Be Read Later Bookcase. 

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