Tuesday, August 31, 2021

#TellTaleTuesday #NoMorePoodleSkirts

 


Title: No More Poodle Skirts

Author: Genie Gabriel

Email: genene@genenevalleau.com

 

Genre: Romance/Fantasy/Paranormal/Humor

 

Buy at Amazon

 

BLURB: No More Poodle Skirts

 

After drifting for years in the innocent age of the 1950s, a woman struggles to join today's world by finding a career and a new love, with some help from her zany family.

 

 

EXCERPT: No More Poodle Skirts

 

 

Life seemed much simpler when all a girl had to worry about was keeping her bobby socks and the pompom on her poodle skirt a brilliant white.Daphne Madison wiggled and gyrated into panty hose that seemed determined to twist around her like a boa constrictor squeezing its prey.

A modern woman was expected to have it all--a husband, a family, a career--with never a wrinkle in her face or her confidence.

Daphne zipped up her dress and drew a shaky breath as she stared at herself in the mirror. The form-fitting pink dress wasn't as comfortable as her skirts, and the high heels shoved her feet down into the pointy toes. 

I can do this,Daphne reassured herself. She hadn't even been born in the fifties, but it seemed like such an innocent time. If she could pretend to live in that time, surely she could live in the current millennium.

Something doesn't seem just right,she thought, as she fastened a strand of pearls around her neck. However, she refused to wear the short skirts she had seen on television programs. The pencil thin skirt that ended just above her knees was as daring as she would go. 

She slid her arms into the pink jacket that matched her dress and considered herself once again. Something still seemed amiss. She settled a pink pillbox hat borrowed from her sister on top of her smooth blond hair. Better.

White gloves restored her confidence even more. 

With another deep breath, Daphne swept down the stairs to garner the reaction of her family. She knew her adult son, Ryan, would be of little help but to offer a gourmet breakfast gleaned from the latest cooking show on TV. A meal Daphne knew her jittery nerves wouldn't tolerate. 

Her sister wouldn't be stirring yet, but Linda would be organizing the house for the day. She was the mother of Daphne's daughter's husband. Did that make her and Daphne sisters-in-law? No, that wasn't quite right, and thinking about it made her brain hurt.

She gave her head a slight shake. It didn't really matter. Linda was quite practical and had motivated Daphne out of her fantasy life. She would know if Daphne was dressed appropriately for her job interview.

"So what do you think?" Daphne turned slowly as she entered the kitchen. 

Her son glanced up from the television long enough to mumble a good morning. Linda considered her thoughtfully. "Very elegant. Where's your interview?"

"The bank is hiring for a teller."

"Ah." Linda nodded. "Perhaps take off the hat and gloves…"

Panic niggled in Daphne's stomach. The two accessories that had restored at least a smidgen of her self-confidence.

Linda smiled when she noticed Daphne's obvious distress. "Well, maybe just take off the gloves to shake hands with the interview committee."

Daphne swallowed. Perhaps she could manage that.

"Are you going to eat breakfast before you go?" Linda asked.

"I-I really couldn't." Daphne laid a hand over her belly. "Already full of butterflies."

Linda's smile grew wider. "You're beautiful and smart, Daphne. I'm sure you'll knock 'em dead."

Horror mixed with the butterflies in Daphne's stomach at the thought of her interview committee keeling over dead when she stepped into the room.

"It's just an expression." Linda patted Daphne's hand. "Try to relax and let them see how much of an asset you would be to their bank."

With a shaky nod, Daphne faced the long, long journey down the hallway and through the front door, out into a world she really wasn't sure she wanted to live in.

 

 

Monday, August 30, 2021

#MysteryMonday #PleasingArie

 


Title: Pleasing Arie

            Bad Boys Book Six

Author: Christine Young

Genre: Historical Romance

Book Heat Level:

 

Buy at: AmazonBarnes and NobleAppleKoboGoogle Play

 

Read first chapter

 

TAGLINE

 

Alison Fletcher is stunned by the magnificently handsome Arie Demir who buys her and expects her to become his slave.

 

BLURB: Pleasing Arie

 

He's a bad bad boy...

 

Arie Demir has never been denied anything in his life. He takes what he wants. What he undeniably yearns for is the beautiful redheaded spitfire he sees in a restaurant in Glasgow. At every turn, she confuses him by disputing his power over her. Alison refuses to accept the fact he owns her. While Arie tries desperately with patience and tenderness to drive her wild with new sensations, his scorching kisses ignite the fires of her very soul to make her understand he is all she will ever want. 

 

...but is she pleasing him?

 

Alison Fletcher never expected to find herself kidnapped and sold to a whorehouse then bought by a Turkish sultan to become his slave. She vows to never surrender to the arrogant man who believes he owns her. She is stunned by the magnificently handsome man who awaits her compliance. Unexpectedly, she finds Arie the lesser of all the evils. The hidden depths of his mesmerizing dark brown eyes hold her into their power; his muscular embrace makes her weak with desire. She is his to do with as he wishes.

 

 

EXCERPT: Pleasing Arie

 

Arie stared at the doorknob for a few seconds before he slowly opened the door. Alison was still standing at the window, dressed in the see-through lavender harem pants and bolero jacket he gave her a few days past. Without a second thought, he grinned, appreciating the view, the finely sculpted curves. From the back she was just as beautiful as he imagined, her vibrant red hair spilling to below her waist, curling around her, tested all his senses.

“Alison?”

“Go away.”

“Afraid I can’t do that.” He stepped inside the room, closing the door behind him. The outside lock turned as he walked toward her. “We need to speak, to understand each other. I need you to comprehend why you are here rather than the brothel.”

“Who are you?” Her voice quivered when she spoke. 

Her shoulders were stiff. Still she didn’t turn around. He didn’t need to see her face. Her visage was etched in his memory.

Arie understood this would not be easy between them. Now, he wasn’t sure if she was terrified or angry, perhaps both. He hoped it was anger causing her body to shake. Anger he could deal with much easier than fear. He prayed she didn’t cry. There would be no tears. Despite the lecture from Chelsea, Alison wasn’t going anywhere. She was his for as long as he wanted her.

In any case, Ali had nowhere to go. Donovan sold her house after selling her to the whorehouse. She had nothing save what he would give her.

“My name is Arie.” 

He stood beside her, looking out the window, his body barely touching her shoulder. A crescent moon stood out in a cloudless sky while brilliant stars emerged as the city lights dimmed even more with the hour.

“Then, Arie, what am I doing here?” she asked, her voice tense. “You have no right to keep me prisoner.”

“Do you want me to be brutally frank?” 

He smiled, wondering exactly how she would react when he gave her the truth of her existence now.

“Brutal?” she queried, her eyes wide as she turned to look at him, her hands fisted at her sides. “Everything that has happened to me in the last couple of days has been brutal. I’m a free woman. You’ve no right to hold me in this house.”

“You didn’t answer my question. I find I cannot continue on without an honest answer from you.” He smiled, realizing this woman was not afraid of him; defiant yes, angry yes, but not afraid.

She turned away from him, her hands on the windowsill seeming to support all her slight weight. He was afraid when she learned the truth she would no longer be able to stand on her own.

“Why would you be anything less than honest?” Her voice quivered while her shoulders trembled.

“Perhaps you should sit down first.” He turned to the pillows and bedding gracing the floor behind them. “Have something to eat, a sip or two of the fine wine I’ve procured for us. You should relax.”

“I’m not hungry or thirsty. I don’t want to relax.” She moved to look at the pillows then him. “I’ll stand, thank you.”

 

 

KEYWORDS: Historical, Romance, Scottish, Highlands, Bad Boys, Regency

 

 

Website: http://christineyoungromancewriter.com

 

Blogspot: http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/achristay

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/

 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/achristay/

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1087334.Christine_Young

 

Triber: https://triberr.com/pages/new-posts.php?action=redirect

 

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe

 

 

LINKS

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QDTHW5B

 

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pleasing-arie-chirstine-young/1138457315;jsessionid=8FDDB714881D2057916FFE4FCBAEA4E4.prodny_store01-atgap06?ean=2940162968436

 

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/pleasing-arie/id1544553948?itsct=books_toolbox&itscg=30200&ct=books_pleasing_arie&ls=1

 

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/pleasing-arie

 

Google Play: https://books.google.com/books/about?id=cnAOEAAAQBAJ&hl=en

 

SHORT BLURB: 

 

He's a bad bad boy... Alison Fletcher never expected to find herself kidnapped and sold to a whorehouse then bought by a Turkish sultan to become his slave. She vows to never surrender to the arrogant man. Unexpectedly, she finds Arie the lesser of all the evils. Arie Demir has never been denied anything in his life...but is she pleasing him?

Sunday, August 29, 2021

#RomanceSunday #PleasingArie

 


Title: Pleasing Arie

            Bad Boys Book Six

Author: Christine Young

Genre: Historical Romance

Book Heat Level:

 

Buy at: AmazonBarnes and NobleAppleKoboGoogle Play

 

Read first chapter

 

TAGLINE

 

Alison Fletcher is stunned by the magnificently handsome Arie Demir who buys her and expects her to become his slave.

 

BLURB: Pleasing Arie

 

He's a bad bad boy...

 

Arie Demir has never been denied anything in his life. He takes what he wants. What he undeniably yearns for is the beautiful redheaded spitfire he sees in a restaurant in Glasgow. At every turn, she confuses him by disputing his power over her. Alison refuses to accept the fact he owns her. While Arie tries desperately with patience and tenderness to drive her wild with new sensations, his scorching kisses ignite the fires of her very soul to make her understand he is all she will ever want. 

 

...but is she pleasing him?

 

Alison Fletcher never expected to find herself kidnapped and sold to a whorehouse then bought by a Turkish sultan to become his slave. She vows to never surrender to the arrogant man who believes he owns her. She is stunned by the magnificently handsome man who awaits her compliance. Unexpectedly, she finds Arie the lesser of all the evils. The hidden depths of his mesmerizing dark brown eyes hold her into their power; his muscular embrace makes her weak with desire. She is his to do with as he wishes.

 

 

EXCERPT: Pleasing Arie

 

Arie stared at the doorknob for a few seconds before he slowly opened the door. Alison was still standing at the window, dressed in the see-through lavender harem pants and bolero jacket he gave her a few days past. Without a second thought, he grinned, appreciating the view, the finely sculpted curves. From the back she was just as beautiful as he imagined, her vibrant red hair spilling to below her waist, curling around her, tested all his senses.

“Alison?”

“Go away.”

“Afraid I can’t do that.” He stepped inside the room, closing the door behind him. The outside lock turned as he walked toward her. “We need to speak, to understand each other. I need you to comprehend why you are here rather than the brothel.”

“Who are you?” Her voice quivered when she spoke. 

Her shoulders were stiff. Still she didn’t turn around. He didn’t need to see her face. Her visage was etched in his memory.

Arie understood this would not be easy between them. Now, he wasn’t sure if she was terrified or angry, perhaps both. He hoped it was anger causing her body to shake. Anger he could deal with much easier than fear. He prayed she didn’t cry. There would be no tears. Despite the lecture from Chelsea, Alison wasn’t going anywhere. She was his for as long as he wanted her.

In any case, Ali had nowhere to go. Donovan sold her house after selling her to the whorehouse. She had nothing save what he would give her.

“My name is Arie.” 

He stood beside her, looking out the window, his body barely touching her shoulder. A crescent moon stood out in a cloudless sky while brilliant stars emerged as the city lights dimmed even more with the hour.

“Then, Arie, what am I doing here?” she asked, her voice tense. “You have no right to keep me prisoner.”

“Do you want me to be brutally frank?” 

He smiled, wondering exactly how she would react when he gave her the truth of her existence now.

“Brutal?” she queried, her eyes wide as she turned to look at him, her hands fisted at her sides. “Everything that has happened to me in the last couple of days has been brutal. I’m a free woman. You’ve no right to hold me in this house.”

“You didn’t answer my question. I find I cannot continue on without an honest answer from you.” He smiled, realizing this woman was not afraid of him; defiant yes, angry yes, but not afraid.

She turned away from him, her hands on the windowsill seeming to support all her slight weight. He was afraid when she learned the truth she would no longer be able to stand on her own.

“Why would you be anything less than honest?” Her voice quivered while her shoulders trembled.

“Perhaps you should sit down first.” He turned to the pillows and bedding gracing the floor behind them. “Have something to eat, a sip or two of the fine wine I’ve procured for us. You should relax.”

“I’m not hungry or thirsty. I don’t want to relax.” She moved to look at the pillows then him. “I’ll stand, thank you.”

 

 

KEYWORDS: Historical, Romance, Scottish, Highlands, Bad Boys, Regency

 

 

Website: http://christineyoungromancewriter.com

 

Blogspot: http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/achristay

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Christine-Young-350132315013316/

 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/chrisy/

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/achristay/

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1087334.Christine_Young

 

Triber: https://triberr.com/pages/new-posts.php?action=redirect

 

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christine-young-5a991c21-1f11-47a0-ada5-6c2e6b689cbe

 

 

LINKS

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QDTHW5B

 

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pleasing-arie-chirstine-young/1138457315;jsessionid=8FDDB714881D2057916FFE4FCBAEA4E4.prodny_store01-atgap06?ean=2940162968436

 

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/pleasing-arie/id1544553948?itsct=books_toolbox&itscg=30200&ct=books_pleasing_arie&ls=1

 

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/pleasing-arie

 

Google Play: https://books.google.com/books/about?id=cnAOEAAAQBAJ&hl=en

 

SHORT BLURB: 

 

He's a bad bad boy... Alison Fletcher never expected to find herself kidnapped and sold to a whorehouse then bought by a Turkish sultan to become his slave. She vows to never surrender to the arrogant man. Unexpectedly, she finds Arie the lesser of all the evils. Arie Demir has never been denied anything in his life...but is she pleasing him?

Saturday, August 28, 2021

#Sci/FiSaturday #StraightToHeaven #Paranormal/HistoricalRoamnce

 


Title: Straight to Heaven

Author: Christine Young

Email: achristay@aol.com

 

Genre: Paranormal/Historical Romance

Book Heat Level: 4

 

Buy at:

Amazon

 

 

BLURB: Straight to Heaven

 

Running from demons, Alexandra McMurdie stumbles into Forbidden Ground where up is down and elements of nature are contested.Though a strong independent woman in the twenty-first century' she is unprepared for life in the 1800s. Her first sight of the formidable James Lawrence makes her heart skip a beat, giving her cause to reconsider her desperate need to find a way home.

 

Born with a silver spoon, James’ life was torn apart during the War Between the States. Moving west he vows to put the life he once knew in the past. When he discovers a half-frozen woman near Gold Hill, his heart begins to thaw. His love for Alexandra and his need to keep her from a man who has pursued her through time might cost him his life as well as hers.

 

REVIEW: Straight To Heaven

 

5/5 Stars 

 

 

Are you ready for adventure, love, time travel and more? This novel has it all and will NOT let you down. Christine Young's "Straight to Heaven" is about Alexandra McMurdie, a girl from our modern 21st Century, who stumbles into a time-traveling vortex as she's running for her life. It is there, in the 1800s, where Alexandra doesn't expect to find someone like James Lawrence. 

 

All I can really and truthfully say about this novel was that I loved it. Every minute of it; every raced heartbeat as Alexandra and James connected, discovered, fought for themselves - for love. I'm a huge fan of time-traveling with a pinch of love and adventure, and Ms. Young delivers. I enjoyed the dialogue between Alex and James throughout the novel SO much. James Lawrence was probably by far, one of my favorite characters in the entire novel of "Straight to Heaven." Ms. Young offers a developed world, well-rounded and developed characters - with an exciting and fantastically romantic plot.  

 

This story grabbed my attention from the moment I started to read the novel, and held my attention to the very last page (and even so, left me wanting only to read more about James and Alex.) I was so sad to have the novel end, leaving behind such fantastically creative characters. 

 

"Straight to Heaven"offers a new look to the Western States after the Civil War with the twist of time. 

 

If this novel doesn't send you "Straight to Heaven"- I'm not sure what will. 

 

HIGHLYrecommend this wonderfully romantic novel to anyone who enjoys danger, adventure, and of course - a bit of Time Travel ;) 

 

Well done, Ms. Young! 

 

REVIEW

 

https://lizgavin.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/straight-to-heaven-blog-tour-review/

 

 

 

 

EXCERPT: Straight to Heaven

 

Jacksonville, Oregon 1868

Midnight...the witching hour, a time to ease one's conscience and look to the next world for answers. Wild tales of a vortex told by the Native Americans where up was down and large was small, intrigued the valley settlers. One had only to expect the unexpected and it would occur. A ball could roll up hill but not down. No one ventured through the vortex unchanged, simply because the site defied the human mind. Here there were no limits set and no boundaries defined.

Mysterious tales ran rampant among the Native Americans. Fantastical stories portrayed visitors from other ages, other worlds, and even other dimensions passing through time and stopping here for a moment of rest before continuing their journey. Difficult to comprehend, impossible to believe unless one met his fate head on at the appropriate hour. Midnight. When spirits roamed the earth, anything could occur and anyone could vanish.

Midnight...an hour to be wary of, to remain at home and hopeit passed by without illusions floating on the stairway, of distinctive flickering in the candlelight, or a hesitant knock on the door from some invisible apparition. No one would wander out at this hour or challenge another, unless faced with no other choice.

Captain James Lawrence had sworn to uphold the law. Tonight, he might have to venture into the unknown; meet any challenge. He might stumble upon an innocent unsuspecting traveler, perhaps encounter a miracle and find a path straight to heaven.

The deserted countryside lay as a freshly painted picture bathed in the moonlight, and the crystal ice that coated the laurel trees shimmered, sending prisms of light toward the heavens. Even February's freezing rains paused as if paying homage to the hour.

Midnight.

James watched the moisture hover in a mindless drizzle of mist; low lying clouds floated and swirled in gossamer veils near the earth, entwining themselves in the manzanita and laurel, around the blackberry bushes, and the fields of grasses and weeds that dotted the hillside.

"Not tonight. Not again..." He pounded his fist against the railing, hoping he heard wrong.

From the west, James Lawrence could hear the low baying of hounds and the steady beat of horses as he stood on the porch of his home surveying his land. Charles Majors would bring his hounds, six of them, merciless in their intent, and trained to hunt man. They did not give up and he'd never known them to fail.

"Son of a bitch!" he said fiercely, "not tonight!" His fist landed squarely on the wooden beam holding up the roof. He stared into the night, cursing the situation. Duty and honor in the forefront of his mind, he knew he would join the posse.

Soon the men would stand at his porch expecting him to mount and ride with them. They were law-abiding men from town. A couple of them owned stores, some panned for gold. One was the saloon owner and another owned the town newspaper. He owed the community, knew he couldn't avoid this responsibility. If they would only come without the dogs, the nightmares might stop.

He rubbed his temples and wished the hammering within would vanish, but the pounding hooves grew louder, the hammering worse. His muscles flexed and as a brittle tension radiated through him, he held his breath, purposely waiting.

Staring into the cold night, he reflected on another time. A time during the war when the dogs had hunted him and they had come so perilously close to his heels. Now, on this moonlit night, even his home offered him no protection, no safe retreat. They came to him for his help—for his expertise. James shivered, yet the sensation wasn't caused by the cold.

He had hoped they wouldn't call on him again, but now it seemed as if the trail lay fresh and in his direction. He hated the look in a man's eye when cornered with nowhere to go; loathed the utter despair that accompanied it.

And the fear.

"Poor wretched soul," he said. "He'll know what hell feels like before the morning sun rises."

 

 

 

REVIEW:LibriAmoriMiei

 

My Review:

 

It 's a wonderful romance with an incredible time travel, a romantic love story, two charming characters, lots of suspense and a little adventure.

To escape an assault Alexandra falls into a strange vortex and finds herself living in 1868. She is a strong and independent woman of the XXI century and it is not easy for her to adapt to the mentality and to the limited means of 1800. While trying to survive, she meets James and she falls in love. But their love story is full of difficulties, James  has many open wounds suffered during the civil war.

I really liked the style of this author, she knows how to capture the reader's attention, once you start it, it's really hard to put it down. Her stories are full of magic and she is able  to create atmospheres full of suspense.

This was a truly engaging and delightful read. The story had a good pace, the plot was clever and the dialogue was witty.

  I highly recommend this book!

 

 

 

 

REVIEW:

 

Straight To Heaven by Christine Young

Publisher: Rogue Phoenix Press

Genre: Historical, Time Travel

Length: Full (389 pgs)

Heat: Spicy

Rated: 4 stars

Review by Poppy

 

A solid entry into the time travel genre.

James, an honorable man who was left damaged by the Civil war makes a wonderful hero. His honor is indisputable, as shown the by the way he devotedly takes care of his young, orphaned niece, Jessie.

Alexandra is a sweet woman who is pursued through time by a villain who wants her for his own. She unexpectedly falls into a vortex when running from him in 2015 and finds herself in the past, just following the end of the war between the states.

The villain, Sean Cassidy, is truly reprehensible. And single minded. All he wants is Alexandra, and he doesn’t care what he has to do to get her.

I enjoyed watching Alex trying to find her way around the past. It’s remarkable how many little slang sayings make no sense out of context, like when she wants to keep James from the treehouse where she and Jessie are talking, and gives as her reason that “it’s Grand Central Station” up there. Of course, the way women behave now and how they were expected to behave in the late 1800s was also an issue. Ms. Young does a good job painting the past through Alex’s eyes.

The romance between James and Alex is bittersweet, since Alex intends on returning to her own time. But neither can help falling for the other and it’s sweet and heartbreaking and helps both James and Jessie to heal from their emotional wounds.

The only “complaint” I had with the story is that James is so good and Sean Cassidy is sobad. I wish James had been more flawed and that the villain had a few redeemable qualities. Oh, and the other thing that made me a bit crazy is how the author seldom referred to him as simply “Sean” and mostly called him by his full name, Sean Cassidy. Not only did it feel a bit odd, but every time it happened I ended up picturing him as the teen idol from my youth.

Overall, though, Straight To Heavenwas a well-written, interesting book that should appeal the time travel romance fans. And it should certainly touch your heart. It did mine.

 

San Francisco Review of Books

Book Review: 'Straight To Heaven' by Christine Young

 

A solid entry into the time travel genre.

James, an honorable man who was left damaged by the Civil war makes a wonderful hero. His honor is indisputable, as shown the by the way he devotedly takes care of his young, orphaned niece, Jessie.

Alexandra is a sweet woman who is pursued through time by a villain who wants her for his own. She unexpectedly falls into a vortex when running from him in 2015 and finds herself in the past, just following the end of the war between the states.

The villain, Sean Cassidy, is truly reprehensible. And single minded. All he wants is Alexandra, and he doesn’t care what he has to do to get her.

I enjoyed watching Alex trying to find her way around the past. It’s remarkable how many little slang sayings make no sense out of context, like when she wants to keep James from the treehouse where she and Jessie are talking, and gives as her reason that “it’s Grand Central Station” up there. Of course, the way women behave now and how they were expected to behave in the late 1800s was also an issue. Ms. Young does a good job painting the past through Alex’s eyes.

The romance between James and Alex is bittersweet, since Alex intends on returning to her own time. But neither can help falling for the other and it’s sweet and heartbreaking and helps both James and Jessie to heal from their emotional wounds.

The only “complaint” I had with the story is that James is so good and Sean Cassidy is so bad. I wish James had been more flawed and that the villain had a few redeemable qualities. Oh, and the other thing that made me a bit crazy is how the author seldom referred to him as simply “Sean” and mostly called him by his full name, Sean Cassidy. Not only did it feel a bit odd, but every time it happened I ended up picturing him as the teen idol from my youth.

Overall, though, Straight To Heaven was a well-written, interesting book that should appeal the time travel romance fans. And it should certainly touch your heart. It did mine.

 

 

4 **** – Sweetly romantic time-travel

** I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review **

I’m a huge fan of time-travel and an avid reader of historical romances so my expectations were quite high before I read this book. I think that might have been a negative factor in my enjoyment of the book. It took a while for me to connect with the story and the characters. However, once I did I had a good time with the book.

The author does a very good job with both the main and the supporting characters. The plot is well-written and the suspense builds up to the climax in the end. My reason for not rating it with five stars is that I like my heroes a bit on the flawed side and James Lawrence is too sweet for that. Also, the love scenes were good but felt a bit rushed. As an author of erotic romances I was a bit disappointed in them.

All things considered, though, this is a very good book that I recommend for those who enjoy time-traveling and sweet romance.

AMAZON (I’ve posted the review on Amazon but it hasn’t gone live yet. I’ll include link here as soon as it becomes available).

 

Friday, August 27, 2021

#ShadowDancer #YA #ParanormalRomance


 

Shadow Dancer Series Boxed Set

Courtney Rene

ISBN: 978-1-62420-281-0

EMail: ctnyrene@aol.com

 

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy

Excerpt Heat Level: 1

Book Heat Level: 2

 

Buy at: Amazon

 

Shadow Dancer

 

Sunny has a gift that she has no idea how to use, until she meets Leif, a boy from the kingdom of Acadia, on the other side of the shadows.  

Leif teaches Sunny about Shadow Walkers and how to use her new found gifts. As they grow closer and their gifts grow stronger, a threat arrives.  The Shadow Guard has been sent to bring Sunny back to Acadia, to determine if she is a threat to the king as the rightful ruler of Acadia. 

As Leif and Sunny prepare to defend themselves, Sunny finds that Leif has also been sent to bring Sunny back to the kingdom but for very different reasons.  As a battle for possession of Sunny wages, she is struggling to come to turns with her feelings of inadequacy regarding controlling her gifts as well as the hurt regarding the lies and deceit of everyone around her.

 

 

Shadow Warrior

 

Sunny finally makes her first jump to the Kingdom of Acadia that is on the other side of the shadows, for what she hopes is a vacation. Only her vacation turns into quite an unwanted adventure. Aside from new and unexpected issues regarding her relationship with Leif, Sunny meets the rebel group, makes new friends, fights with controlling her powers, and finds herself neck deep within a county that is torn apart by two sides, each fighting for power. Acadia is not quite what she imagined. How is she, one young girl, supposed to unite the Kingdom as well as unseat a King to take her place as ruler of Acadia.

 

 

Shadow's End

 

The adventure and the struggle continues for Sunny, as the fight for control of Acadia is near. Battle lines have been drawn, not just by King Gideon, but also by the rebels that were once Sunny’s allies. Due to unexpected trips to the ice realm and the fire realm, new allies are found to help build the Army of the Sun. There are new worlds explored. New friends and new enemies made. Ready or not, Sunny must prepare for what is coming as well as decide where she belongs within it all. But…what about prom? What about Leif? What about home? How can she, just a seventeen year old girl, rule a whole world? She’s not even sure if she can get through finals.

 

 

Shadow Fire

 

No one really knows who Leif is. They know the man he portrays and the things he has done, both good and bad. He was a boy that came from nothing and grew into a man full of rage that almost killed the one person he set out to save. He roams the realms waiting for death. Waiting for an absolution that doesn’t come. Then a rumor surfaces. A threat has been made against Sunny. Leif sets out to try to right the wrongs of his past. He sets out to do what he was meant to do from the beginning, save the queen. Can he do it alone or will he have to do the one thing that is hardest for him, which is:  Ask for help.

 

 

EXCERPTS: Shadow Dancer Boxed Set

 

SHADOW FIRE

 

"I have been looking for you." 

I opened my eyes, turned my head, and stared up, way up into a pair of big brown eyes fringed in long lashes. Eyes so dark they looked almost black. 

"You're a hard person to find." 

That was the point. I didn't want to be found. I liked my hermit existence. I didn't have to see anyone or talk to anyone if I didn't want. I liked to roam the realms and see what I could find. There were so many things we didn't know about the four realms. It wasn't so much as fun, as it was time consuming. That was what I wanted, though. The sooner time passed, the better off I would be. 

"You look like crap, Leif," she said when I didn't respond. 

Her voice, although lowered in disdain, was soft and feminine. If I weren't waiting for death, maybe I would have cared more. I tried not to notice her creamy, pink tinged skin. I tried not to notice her high cheekbones, and lush lips. I tried not to, but I did anyway. How could I not? She was beautiful. Not that I cared. 

"Man, and you stink. God, when was the last time you shaved…" 

I lifted a hand up to my face and felt the length of coarse hair that covered the bottom part of my face. How long had it been? 

"…or taken a bath for that matter." 

A bit longer than I had realized apparently. "What do you want, Cinder?" 

She was silent for a moment. Was it my voice? It was gravelly with disuse, but the tone was indifferent, not aggressive. 

Finally she said, "I came to bring you this." This, being a sunshine yellow envelope with my name written in bold calligraphy on the front. She held it down to where I lay on the rocky red ground. 

I hesitated a moment before I took the proffered envelope. I didn't open it. I could only stare at the writing. I knew the writing and, therefore, who it was from without even having to open it. What did she want? What did it say? 

"Why are you here? Why are you laying down there on the ground like that?" Cinder asked. 

I used her questions as an excuse to put off the inevitable and said, "I like it down here." I lay sprawled out on the rocky red dirt that made up the Fire Realm. The air was hot, the sun even hotter. If I lay there long enough, maybe I would just evaporate and be gone. No more Leif. No more running. No more hiding. Just gone. Finally. 

"Yeah, but why?" 

I didn't answer, instead my attention returned to the yellow envelope. I lifted the unsealed flap, and slid out the thick ivory card with silver writing. 

…cordially invited….. 

…..Sunshine…..

….Lucas….

….Wedding.

I slipped the card back within the envelope and dropped it down next to where I lay. One grain of the red clay had found its way on top. My eyes fell to that red dot. 

"So?"

"So, what?" I said still focused on the grain of clay. 

"So, are you going to come?" 

"No."

"No?"

"No."

"Why not?" 

I stayed silent. Everyone knew why not. 

"She's not mad at you. In fact, she misses you. She talks about you all the time," Cinder said. 

She did? Did she talk about how I tried to kill her? What about how I used her? 

"She really is hoping you will come. That's why I'm hand delivering your invite. She wanted to make sure you got it. Saw it." 

Did she really want me there? Was it all just a joke to get me back for all I had done?

"Will you at least think about it?"

 

SHADOW DANCER:

 

“My Lady? I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what else...I think we need to call for help.”

 

“Where is she? I can’t see her.”

 

“She’s fine, my Lady. She’s sleeping, right over there. Can you see her?” 

 

“Bring her to me. I want to hold her.”

 

“My Lady, you have lost too much blood. We need to get you to a hospital or something. Please.”

 

“Star, it’s already too late. You know it. We can’t call for help. We have to keep her safe. She’s all that’s left. She is worth that and so much more. God, I am so tired. Please bring her to me.”

 

“My Lady...“

 

“Even now Star, after all these years, can’t you just be my friend?”

 

“I will always be your friend, my Lady, but you will always be my Queen. Even now, even later, that will never change. Here she is. Do you have her?”

 

“I’ve got her. Please don’t hover over me, Star. I’m alright. Look how beautiful she is. Can you believe Malcolm and I made something so beautiful?”

 

“Yes, I can. She looks like you. She has your hair, all golden and soft. She has your mouth too. Don’t you think?”

 

“Yes. Oh God, I want to hold on to her forever. I never want to let her go. Star, you have to promise me that you will keep her safe. Whatever you have to do, you have to keep her safe. Promise me.”

 

“No, my Lady, we will keep her safe. You and I together.”

 

“No, Star, this burden will fall to you. You already see the truth of it, right here in front of your eyes. I’m just so tired. Here, you’d better take her. Bye, my baby girl. I love you so. 

 

Star, promise me. You’ve done all you can here. All that is left is her. Malcolm is gone, and I…”

 

“Stop it! You can’t just give up! Don’t laugh! Can’t you see that it’s tearing me apart? I can’t do this without you.” 

 

“Star, I’m not laughing. I promise you. There just isn’t anything I can do to stop it. You can do this. I believe in you. Star?”

 

“Yes. My Lady?”

 

“Promise.”

 

“All right. I promise I will do everything I can to keep her safe.”

 

“Do you think you will ever return?”

 

“I don’t know. Everything is changed now. Our whole world has changed.”

 

“Star?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Stay safe. You have always been my very best friend. I don’t know what I would have done without you. Thank you, so much, for everything.”

 

“My Lady...“

 

“Keep her safe...“

 

 

Shadow Dancer is a fun, light read with some action, some romance and some kick-butt abilities.  
LunaMoth for Far from Reality Reviews

 

SHADOW WARRIOR:

 

“My Lady? I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what else...I think we need to call for help.”

 

“Where is she? I can’t see her.”

 

“She’s fine, my Lady. She’s sleeping, right over there. Can you see her?” 

 

“Bring her to me. I want to hold her.”

 

“My Lady, you have lost too much blood. We need to get you to a hospital or something. Please.”

 

“Star, it’s already too late. You know it. We can’t call for help. We have to keep her safe. She’s all that’s left. She is worth that and so much more. God, I am so tired. Please bring her to me.”

 

“My Lady...“

 

“Even now Star, after all these years, can’t you just be my friend?”

 

“I will always be your friend, my Lady, but you will always be my Queen. Even now, even later, that will never change. Here she is. Do you have her?”

 

“I’ve got her. Please don’t hover over me, Star. I’m alright. Look how beautiful she is. Can you believe Malcolm and I made something so beautiful?”

 

“Yes, I can. She looks like you. She has your hair, all golden and soft. She has your mouth too. Don’t you think?”

 

“Yes. Oh God, I want to hold on to her forever. I never want to let her go. Star, you have to promise me that you will keep her safe. Whatever you have to do, you have to keep her safe. Promise me.”

 

“No, my Lady, we will keep her safe. You and I together.”

 

“No, Star, this burden will fall to you. You already see the truth of it, right here in front of your eyes. I’m just so tired. Here, you’d better take her. Bye, my baby girl. I love you so. 

 

Star, promise me. You’ve done all you can here. All that is left is her. Malcolm is gone, and I…”

 

“Stop it! You can’t just give up! Don’t laugh! Can’t you see that it’s tearing me apart? I can’t do this without you.” 

 

“Star, I’m not laughing. I promise you. There just isn’t anything I can do to stop it. You can do this. I believe in you. Star?”

 

“Yes. My Lady?”

 

“Promise.”

 

“All right. I promise I will do everything I can to keep her safe.”

 

“Do you think you will ever return?”

 

“I don’t know. Everything is changed now. Our whole world has changed.”

 

“Star?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Stay safe. You have always been my very best friend. I don’t know what I would have done without you. Thank you, so much, for everything.”

 

“My Lady...“

 

“Keep her safe...“

 

 

Shadow Dancer is a fun, light read with some action, some romance and some kick-butt abilities.  
LunaMoth for Far from Reality Reviews

 

 

SHADOW'S END:

Leif turned his attention briefly to Lucas, who had stayed silent up to that point. “I see you have moved on. Rather quick don’t you think?” he said.

 

I refused to answer his taunt. Instead, I said to Lucas, “You about ready?”

 

A red flush of color appeared across Leif’s normally pale cheeks. I didn’t care. I was not going to be baited or made to feel bad for being out with Lucas. Was it a date? It hadn’t been specifically declared that, but it was something more than just an outing too. Maybe I was moving on, but that was my business. Not Leif’s. 

 

“Yep. I’m ready,” Lucas said, then shoved the last bite of burger into his mouth and stood to clear the table. 

 

I did the same, and gathered up my trash and belongings. 

 

Leif suddenly and inexplicably became enraged. Either he was more upset about Lucas than I had realized or he really was going a bit on the loopy side. He grabbed my arm painfully and said, “We aren’t through here.”

 

“Stop it! You’re hurting me,” I said through gritted teeth. I didn’t want to cause a scene in the middle of the mall. People were already staring.

 

That was all the action Lucas needed to get involved. He slammed one big hand down on Leif’s shoulder and said as calm as could be, “I think you should release her.”

 

Leif did let go, which should have made me wary as he wasn’t the give up easy type, but I was too busy rubbing circulation back into my arm to think about it. 

 

Leif spun around to face Lucas. “You can mind your own business. This is between her and me.”

 

“You made it my business when you laid a hand on her,” Lucas said, not backing down an inch. 

 

Side by side the two were colored very alike, but that was where the similarities ended. Leif had ice blue eyes and Lucas had warm blue, inviting eyes. Leif was tall, thin, but wiry strong. Lucas was tall and bulky with evident muscles and strength. 

 

“You don’t know what you are dealing with here,” Leif said and took a step closer to Lucas. It was like he was daring him to engage. 

 

Lucas though, appeared calm and easy, no hint of aggression. “Yes. Actually I do.”

 

I began to realize that Leif didn’t recognize Lucas. He really didn’t know who he was. Leif didn’t have any special gifts other than begin a shadow walker tracker. Why then was he being so aggressive?

 

A wave of confusion crossed over Leif’s features for a moment. He stepped back and regarded Lucas. “You a walker?”

 

“Among other things. What’s it to you?”

 

Leif again grabbed my arm, not quite as hard that time, but hard enough to make me wince, and pulled me forward to stand almost next to him. “Then you know what she is,” he said.

 

I was getting a bit annoyed at being talked about like I wasn’t standing there. I was also getting angry at being manhandled by Leif. Incidentally, the anger is what caused me to pull in a bit of the energy from around us. I only grabbed a small ball of it, but it was enough to concern me. Whether in small or large amounts, energy was just as hard to control. 

 

“Yes, I do,” Lucas said.

 

Leif leaned toward Lucas until he was just a few inches away from his face, glared hard with half squinted eyes, and said, “They you also know she’s mine. I found her. You don’t get to have her.”

 

That was it. I didn’t care about the pain it was going to cause me. I purposefully and intentionally, pushed out a zap of energy at Leif, where he held my arm. Not enough to really hurt him, but it was enough to have him jerk his hand off me in surprise and a bit of pain. Rage clouded his eyes for a moment as he directed his gaze on me. 

 

I rounded on him with the full force of my own rage and completely ignored his. “You!” I said and poked a finger into his chest. “Don’t get to own me! No one gets to own me.” 

 

He took a step back. I stepped forward and poked him again. “I get to decide who I want to be with and who gets to be with me.” Again he took a step back, and me a step forward, and I poked him hard in the chest, hard enough to make my finger twinge in pain at the abuse, but I ignored it. “I get to decide. Do you hear me, Leif?”

 

“Sunny,” Lucas said from behind me. “You have an audience.”

 

Without taking my eyes from Leif, I swung an arm behind me with my hand up at him, hoping that I conveyed with that one action, to shut up. 

 

I did lower my voice at least. “You had your chance with me, but you chose to lie, to cheat, to keep me in the dark and at your mercy. You don’t get to decide anything about me anymore.”

 

I turned away from him and stepped back to my table, where I again began to gather up the debris from lunch. “Go home, Leif. There’s nothing here for you anymore.”

 

“Yes, there is,” he said softly from directly behind me. I hadn’t heard him come up next to me. Then even softer he said, “This isn’t over between us, Sunny. I’m not giving up.”

 

I glanced over my shoulder at him. The man before me was the Leif I knew. The Leif I had fallen in love with. The ice was missing from his face and his eyes and my heart felt the pain of losing him all over again. Why did it still hurt to see him, to be next to him? “Leif,” I whispered. “Go home. Please.”

 

Without regard to the people around us, he phased into the shadows and was gone.

 

“Sunny?”

 

“Yeah, Lucas,” I said as I stared at the place that Leif had vanished. I was suddenly so tired. 

 

“You okay?”

 

“Yeah. I’ll live.” 

 

“Um…do you know that you have a slight glow of white around you?”

 

No. I didn’t know that. I closed my eyes and sighed. “Great.”