A Highlander's Christmas Kiss (The MacGregors: Highland Heirs #5)

A Highlander's Christmas Kiss (The MacGregors: Highland Heirs #5)
By Paula Quinn

SUMMARY

A STRANGER'S SMILE

Christmas may be coming to Linavar, but Temperance Menzie is far from joyful. Grief-stricken over the death of her father at the hands of the Black Riders, she almost didn't see the wounded stranger in the woods. And now she's determined to give this braw, brooding Highlander the help she couldn't give her father. But there's a secret lurking in the depths of his blue-gray eyes. And Temperance won't rest until she uncovers it . . .

A LOVER'S KISS

A killer for hire. It's the last thing Cailean Grant ever thought he'd become, but being part of the Black Riders was his only way to survive. Now, his guilt grows day by day, along with his desire for the beautiful, brave lass nursing him back to health. As Christmas, the season of miracles, draws near and the truth of his identity threatens to come out, Cailean must risk the only thing he has left to lose-his heart. 

REVIEW
Another great book from Paula Quinn. She does write her Highlanders with deep conflict and flaws, but with the courage to rise above and become better.


Cailean Grant is no exception to the rule. He has frozen himself from the world. He is flawed and has made poor choices. He rises above it all after his poor choices catch up with him and his frozen walls are taken away. I loved his introspection and how he changed and came through a stronger man.

Temperance was a strong female character. She too grew and changed during the story to see how vengeance can ruin your thoughts and morality. I loved her self reliance and I also loved how she needed her man too!

Another great story!  You can read this as a stand alone.  You do not have to read the other books.

Received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley. (less)

Walking Through Fire

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Summary: Walking Through Fire

Simon MacKay, the last Earl of Cleitmuir, was murdered two hundred years ago because of his family’s dangerous legacy. Alone and cursed he haunts his home in order to protect the lost treasure. A pastime that leaves him angry and embittered until he meets a feisty American Tourist. Not only is Laurel sexy and beautiful, she can also see him in his ghostly form.

Antiquities expert, Laurel Saville, leaves Chicago to visit her best friend in the romantic Scottish Highlands. She is saved from a tragic fall by the ghostly Simon. Once she realizes she is not crazy, she pledges to help him find his family’s missing artifact. A pledge hindered by treasure hunter Alex Mackenzie, a descendant of the clan that murdered Simon.

Laurel risks everything, including her life, to help Simon resolve the issues keeping him earth bound. But will she lose him forever or is there a way Laurel can keep him with her on this earthly plane?

Review:

This book is a DNF.  I didn’t even get off the first page.  The first page has three paragraphs on it and in the first paragraph, he is on WET GRANITE, and then in the third he’s trapped to LIMESTONE.  These two rocks are so totally different. I couldn’t go on.  This is poor editing at its finest; I might have overlooked  this if it had been a few pages apart, but to find this kind of error on the very first page just turned my stomach.

Conclusion:

Would you recommend this book to others? NO

Would you read other book written by this Author? Unsure

Is this book a Novel or Novella? Novel

Is this book priced correctly?  No it’s over priced on the e-book and paperback.  I say this because I and everyone I know lives on a budget and won’t spend this kind of money on an author who is top rated or a name everyone recognizes.

A World Apart

Summary:  A World Apart

Lieutenant Cassandra Toma, trauma surgeon in the Romanian National Army starts her deployment at a joint-unit air base on a wrong foot, clashing on her first day with her new commander, Major David Hunt. Her rebellious nature and sassiness rival her excellent performance in the operating room—the only reason why she's not reprimanded, or maybe not the only reason.

They meet. They clash. A forbidden passion consumes them with the intensity of an erupting volcano, leaving her heartbroken and him with tarnished honor and pride as an officer. The only way out for David is disappearing into the dangerous warzone in Iraq. Their flame was supposed to be over when destiny brings them back under the same roof, this time with a common goal—to find Cassandra's brother, Maj. Robert Toma, kidnapped by insurgents while on patrol.

To rescue Robert, Cassandra and David put aside their resentments, uniting forces against a common enemy. Trying to forget the painful past, Cassandra opens up to give David—and their love—another chance. What she doesn’t realize is that her anguish is the result of David’s impetuous action—one reckless choice he made for which she may never forgive him.

His mistake, his secret, could cost them both the love they've finally found.

Review:

This book is a DNF. I’ll explain. Why.  As a Veteran whom holds respect to all persons whom serve in the Military in all Nations, I couldn’t finish this book because so many of the things are so not how the Military does things. I will admit the writing and editing of the half of the book I read was well done.  Most Nations when someone enters into the Military service as a doctor, they enter as a Caption. I also would have liked to have seen the ranks of the Romanian Military done in the correct format and a glossary of terms done at the end of the book, it would have made it more real.

Conclusion:

Would you recommend this book to others? NO

Would you read other books written by this Author? Maybe

Is this book a Novel or Novella? Novel

Is this book priced correctly? YES The prices seem to be fare.

The Vow

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Summary:  The Vow

Finals are over, and twenty-year old Claire Matthews can hardly wait to begin summer break until… she arrives home to an army of police swarming her parents’ front lawn. Detective Reynolds delivers the dreadful news that the man and woman inside the home are dead, and Claire is forced to identify their mummified bloodless bodies.  Her world comes to a grinding halt when she learns that it is her mother and father who are the deceased, and her younger brother, JJ, is nowhere to be found. The predator accused…a vampire.

Claire is no stranger to vampires; in fact, these days’ vamps are a dime a dozen. One-hundred- thirty years ago a vow was made, combining the two worlds.  A vampire’s survival no longer required a human sacrifice. Vampire Centers were created, offering human blood through transfusion; yet, why were her parents bled dry? What changed? Could a rogue vampire be responsible? Was it possible vampires, Nate and Parker, JJ’s best friends, suddenly hungered for human blood?

Review:

This book catches you from the very first page; you’re intrigued to find out who the killer is, in this thrilling murder mystery.   I loved the new take on vampires, whom live in harmony with humans all because of a vow that was made over a century ago.  

When I read a book, I expect the editing to be done properly and thoroughly. As someone who dreams of being a writer, I look for the grammatical errors, which tell me if the publisher truly cares about the quality of books they are putting out on the market place. This book has many grammatical errors, which take away from the flow of the over-all book as well as the enjoyment level.

The over-all development of the plot and characters is well done.  You feel each of the emotions as well as being able to connect with the characters.

Conclusion:

Would you recommend this book to others? Maybe

Would you read other books written by this Author? Maybe

Is this book a Novel or Novella?  Novel

Is this book priced correctly? The e-book is right in line where I’d like to buy books, but the paperback is at the top end and if you’re a budget buyer it might be a little high.

Kiss of The Silver Wolf

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Summary:

After Charlene Johnson's parents are killed in a car accident, she becomes guardian to her disabled brother. With no income coming in, she is forced to move to Eden, Kentucky, the one place her mother told her to stay away from. Once there, she's certain her mother would also warn her to keep away from the dark and sexy Zack Abingdon. A man of mystery who claims Charlene is his mate.

Zack has waited for what seems a lifetime for the other half of his soul. He wants a family of his own, but the woman he has his eye on has no idea he is a werewolf. However, he knows he is the only one who can keep her safe from the evil that stalks Eden. While he tries to convince her he is the wolf of her heart, she is playing hard to get, and Zack is fearful he will lose her before he can mark her as his own.

While Zack and Charlene are finding their way into love, an evil jinni who has wreaked havoc on the town of Eden for decades decides he wants Charlene for his own. When she learns the truth of her heritage, Zack hopes he can convince her he is the other half of her soul before it's too late.

Review:

DNF!  I couldn’t connect with this story line. I read half the book and just couldn’t find a connection to the plot.

Conclusion:

Would you recommend this book to others? NO

Would you read other books by this Author? NO, after trying two books I find this author one that I can’t connect with her plot lines or characters, so I will not try a third book.

Is this book a Novel or Novella? Novella

Is this book priced correctly? It’s at the highest end I’d pay for an e-book.

Kiss Of The Virgin Queen

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Summary:

Homeland Security Special Agent Eliana Solomon is on a mission to prevent terrorist attacks. Hard enough to do when the threats are human, almost impossible when it's an evil, shape shifting jinni. Eliana needs help so she calls the sexy and beguiling psychiatrist, Arta Shahani. However, no matter how good he is at his job, the man is on her blacklist. On their last case together, the guy left her for dead.

Arta is stunned when he receives Eliana’s call. Forced to abandon the woman he loves, he now fears she won’t accept his shape-shifting skills as a Persian Lion. Eliana, in the meantime discovers she is a direct descendant of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba with special powers of her own. But will her skill and Arta's be enough to defeat the jinni, or will they lose the love history decreed for them as well as their lives in this battle of good versus evil?

Review:

DNF!!  This one I picked by the title alone and didn’t read the summary if I had I won’t have picked this book to read and review.  As a strong Christian, who reads and studies the Bible daily I found I couldn’t finish this book. I read a lot of fantasy books and love books about shifters and have even played around writing my own stories as someone who dreams of being a writer.  One thing I can not do and find it repulsive mixing fantasy and Christian believes together.

Conclusion:

Would I recommend this book to others? NO

Would I read other books by this Author? Maybe

Is this book a novel or novella? Novel

Is this book priced correctly? The e-book price is a price I would pay if I was looking for a book, but the paperback price is way over the price I’d pay for a paperback, as I never pay more than eleven dollars for a paperback book.

  

Rise of the Chosen

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley exchange for an honest review

Summary: Rice of the Chosen

In Sam's world there are two rules. Rule #1: Nobody dies. Protect the living at all costs. Rule #2: Everybody dies. At least once.

The Waking was a global event in which a force called the Lifeblood invaded all humans who died. The few strong enough to control it came back as powerful immortals. The rest let the bloodlust take over and awoke with one goal - to kill.

Newly appointed Watch Guard Samantha Shields has a legacy to uphold. Her father died a hero defending their city and now she wants to follow in his footsteps. Except for the dying part, of course. Unfortunately, fate has other plans as she discovers deep dark secrets that make her choose between her loyalties and the lives of everyone in her city. Both rules are in play as Sam is forced to make hard decisions that could cost her everything – including the person she cares about most.

Review:

This book was very interesting in it’s take on the Zombie/Walking Dead. I would have never considered this route; I bow down to the mind of this author.  From the very first page I was intrigued and couldn’t put the book down.  The characters are well developed, you feel the emotions, the story and the dialogue is very real.

Conclusion:

Would I recommend this book to others? YES

Would I read other books by this Author? YES

Is this book a Novel or Novella? Novel

Is this book priced correctly? NO, As a person who lives on a fixed income, I look for the bargain books.  Even though I got hooked on the story line, unless I have the opportunity to pre-read the rest of the series, this is one series I’ll be missing out on, because of the price.