Review for Heart of a Soldier by Tamara Hoffa

Title: Heart of a Soldier
Author: Tamara Hoffa

Description: Soldier Jameson Hunter faces the battle of his life: winning the heart of Charlotte Mackenzie, widowed mother of a young recruit.

My Thoughts: First let me say Boroughs Publishing Group has started a new line of books called Lunchbox Romances. Which basically means that they are short enough to get through and enjoy on your lunch time be it work or school. Even nap time for the mommies.

Charlotte Mackenzie also known as Charlie is widowed and raising a teenage son who has stated he is interested in entering the Army after he graduates. Charlie having lost her husband fears she may lose her son. Though she doesn't want to clip his wings because of her fears, so she agrees to meet with Jameson Hunter to talk through her issues. When she sees smexy Jameson her body comes alive. Jameson wants to ease Charlie's fears, but he is instantly attracted to her as well and wants to ease her fears over dinner.

For a short and a new author I think Tamara Hoffa did a really good job drawing in the readers. I enjoyed this short. I did read it in one day although, not all at once as things kept interrupting me. However, in one day for sure. Hoffa,  brought you a sweet , realistic contemporary romance with a bit of heat for an added punch at the end. These characters are mature in age and it's always nice to root for them. Charlie was relatable and likable. In a way she made me look through my mom's eyes just a wee bit since we lost my older sister and she is always fears when I go out. Plus, Charlie is sweet, but at times can be very fiery . Jameson is sweet, swoon worthy and so sexy. He can woo me anytime. I can't complain about the shortness because I myself enjoyed it. The only complaint if I can call it that, is I would have like to see more of Jameson's thoughts stated from his point of view. Though even without it I think that this was a good read wrapped up in a nice bow.

If your looking for a quick enjoyable read then you may want to check out "Heart of a Soldier". I look forward to seeing more of Hoffa's work in the future. I also want to say great job, for this being a good break out book. I for one certainly would like to capture the  "Heart of a Soldier". 

 

4 out of 5 Stars

 

You can purchase it here: Amazon  / B&N

 

You can find Tamara here : Facebook  / Twitter 

Winner of Caridad Pineiro's Guest Post and Giveaway

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Big congrats to Crystal McNeely Guidroz for winning a paperback of THE CLAIMED along with some SWAG. If you see this before I do go ahead and send a email to Lindseyhutchison605 (at) gmail (dot) com. I just need your snail mail forward on. 

 If you didn't win this time no worries more prizes to come and more winners to be announced.

Winner of Delphine Dryden Book Spotlight and Giveaway

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  Big congrats to Beth DeRenzis for winning a $10.00 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card. I will be emailing you shortly. If you see this before I do go ahead and send a email to Lindseyhutchison605 (at) gmail (dot) com. I just need to confirm to know what card you would like and what email to forward on. 

 If you didn't win this time no worries more prizes to come and more winners to be announced.

Winner of JB Lynn's Guest Post and Giveaway

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Big congrats to Cheryl M. for winning an eBook of either First or Second Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman . I will be emailing you shortly. If you see this before I do go ahead and send a email to Lindseyhutchison605 (at) gmail (dot) com. I just need to confirm your email to forward on and which eBook you would like. 

 If you didn't win this time no worries more prizes to come and more winners to be announced.

Review for Immortal Surrender by Claire Ashgrove

Title: Immortal Surrender (The Curse of the Templars # 2)
Author: Claire Ashgrove

Description: Farran de Clare, loyal member of the cursed Knights Templar, wants nothing to do with predestined mates. Even the Almighty won’t turn him into a fool again—he’d rather sacrifice his soul. Yet in the scientist Noelle Keane, a devout atheist, Farran meets the seraph designed for him.

Ordered by the archangel Gabriel to protect Noelle, the possessor of a sacred relic that could give Azazel incredible power, Farran swears to do his duty—but in name only. Fighting an attraction that grows with each day, he’s determined that he’ll never pledge himself to her.

As they war over her future, their mutual passion ignites a conflict far more damning. But before Noelle will agree to eternity with him, she demands the ultimate sacrifice – his heart

My Thoughts: Noelle Keane a Non-Believer of all things God ,was given a very important task to carbon date a sacred relic that her long time friend Gabriel brought her. As she produces the information to verify it is the real deal then she must return it to it's rightful place. Just not before the meddling Gabriel gives her a gift of the Seraph Torc. Of course she doesn't know that. She just knows she can't get the blasted thing off and that Gabriel is making her have bodyguards . One of them being the oh so smexy yet eternally grumpy Farran.  Farran who is about to find out that she is one of the prophesied Seraphs. Unknown to him, she also bears his mark, and therefore she is his. Farran doesn't want a seraph he had already been burned by a woman and already accepted the inevitable, which is dying fighting against the Azazel .Yet, he agrees to take the oath. Just not pledge his loyalty. Noelle first off thinks he is crazy, and won't take a vow she doesn't mean with her full heart.

Let me start with this; it is my first trip into the Templars but will not be the last. I plan on going back and reading book one. Although, you can read this book as a stand alone and will have no trouble following it. I will say you get to see more of the characters from book one which will make it a case of you don't need to read book one but will want to go back to see what you missed.I really enjoyed my visit into this world.

Farran you are one sexy Templar, but you had me wanting to pull my hair out and yell at you myself in person. In a case of once burned, twice shy you took it to a level beyond that. You had me gnawing at the bit to gripe at you in certain instances and then you do a complete turn and I see swoon moments . While I really enjoyed Noelle; she was a strong character who you really enjoyed after you got over her self doubt about her looks but let's face it... That made her more real. Because as I see it, we all doubt our looks especially if we hadn't impressed guys in the past and here before us is a super smexy smoldering brute with a chip on his shoulder that we think wouldn't look twice at us. As Ashgroves writing progressed and both characters grew I fell in love with all in the story. Noelle held her own and got even stronger as the book went on . The slow build up to the passion between Farran and Noelle had me anxious for the big moment. You still enjoy all the background characters and try to think who you would like to see next get their story told. I also enjoyed the action and villains that Asgrove gave us. I had a hard time breaking away from the book to get cleaning and errands done myself, but I love a book that can hold me like that and Ashgrove delivered it. Now, I will anxiously read book one and am looking forward to book three. Please don't make us wait too long before we can journey back into this world of the fierce Templars and their amazing Seraphs.

 

4 out of 5 Stars

 

You can purchase it here: Amazon  / B&N

Virtual Blog Tour for Angel by Laura Lee

Title: Angel

Author: Laura Lee

 

Description: Since the loss of his lively, charming wife to cancer six years ago, minister Paul Tobit has been operating on autopilot, performing his religious duties by rote. Everything changes the day he enters the church lobby and encounters a radiant, luminous being lit from behind, breathtakingly beautiful and glowing with life. An angel. For a moment Paul is so moved by his vision that he is tempted to fall on his knees and pray.

Even after he regains his focus and realizes he simply met a flesh-and-blood young man, Paul cannot shake his sense of awe and wonder. He feels an instant and overwhelming attraction for the young man, which puzzles him even as it fills his thoughts and fires his feelings. Paul has no doubt that God has spoken to him through this vision, and Paul must determine what God is calling him to do.

Thus begins a journey that will inspire Paul’s ministry but put him at odds with his church as he is forced to examine his deeply held beliefs and assumptions about himself, his community, and the nature of love.

 

My Thoughts:

Paul lost his wife six years ago to cancer and since then he finds himself just going through the motions of the day. Nothing makes him feel as alive as he did when she was alive. Then one day upon visiting her grave he asked, for a sign. Anything to give him some direction in his life. Upon returning to the church to carry on with his ministerial duties he gazes upon what he thinks is a beautiful Angel. Only to realize this Angel is a male with beautiful angelic features. After that one sighting Paul finds himself drawn to this Angel known as Ian a young man who was there for AA hoping to get his drinking problem under control. Paul finds himself constantly thinking, hoping, and having a few fantasies about Ian. Soon Paul winds up helping Ian out. After a while they both give in to their attraction, the fantasy and become a couple.

 

Everybody has those certain books they dread reading. It can be because they are scared it won't live up to what they hope or maybe it's not their genre . Some will look at the blurb of this book and just pass it by because it may make them uncomfortable. Heck, I'm very open minded about M/M books . I find some hot but even this one made me feel a twinge of uneasiness to read it. Why, because it mixed in another controversial issue and that is religion. I have to give it up to Lee for taking a risk with two very controversial issues and writing a well written book. I went in to it even though I was a bit hesitant at first, with an open mind and found myself really enjoying  how the characters each progressed and felt out their feelings. Though, she teases the readers with hooking up she doesn't go into full blown descriptions. It will makes you think about your own opinions,thoughts as well as beliefs. I know it did for me. I also think I progressed in my thoughts after reading this book. One of the joys about being a reviewer is you read books you normally wouldn't and you find there are some you may really enjoy. Angel is definitely worth the read and I wouldn't pass it up just because the blurb may make you hesitate. I believe there was this book is meant to show us lessons to be learned. Lee has created a provocative and sure to be controversial read. I enjoyed having my hesitation turned around into a reading enjoyment. 

 

4 out of 5 Stars 

 

You can buy it here : 

 Amazon 

Barnes and Noble

 

 I am the author of more than a dozen books, the novel Angel, and numerous non-fiction titles including The Pocket Encyclopedia of Aggravation (Black Dog and Leventhal), now in its third printing and published in France under the title Le Dictionaire des Contrairites; Arlo, Alice and Anglicans (Berkshire House/W.W. Norton), which tells the story of the church made famous in Arlo Guthrie’s song and movie Alice’s Restaurant; The Name’s Familiar: Mr. Leotard, Barbie and Chef Boyardee (Pelican Publishing), a Book-of-the-Month Club alternate selection and its sequel The Name’s Familiar II; the 100 Most Dangerous Things in Life (Broadway Books/Random House), which was featured on Good Morning America and CNN’s American Morning; Blame it on the Rain (HarperCollins), The Elvis Impersonation Kit and A Child’s Introduction to Ballet (both Black Dog and Leventhal), Schadenfreude, Baby! (Lyons Press), and Broke is Beautiful (Running Press).

The San Francisco Chronicle has said of my work, "Lee's dry, humorous tone makes her a charming companion… She has a penchant for wordplay that is irresistible.

Review for Claiming Magique by Tina Donahue

Title: Claiming Magique: 1 (Appointment with Pleasure)
Author: Tina Donahue

Description: Book one in the Appointment with Pleasure series.
A man at the center of power. A woman who won’t be ruled. They call her Magique…

Sought out by the District’s elite, she’s no ordinary call girl, deciding who will pleasure her for the evening. Her preference is for several men at once. Games of bondage and submission heighten her desire to be taken by a strong male.

Hunter is only looking for a good time, not a woman who unleashes a hunger so deep it changes his world. He won’t stop until Magique is his alone. He’s a prisoner of his lust, powerless against his growing need for her body and heart.

With this man, resistance isn’t allowed. For this woman, he’ll create a world of sensual delight and yearning like none she’s ever known.

Reader Advisory: Magique’s journey includes brief ménage and BDSM elements.

My Thoughts: Hunter and his friends get a night with Magique! She isn't your average call girl. As a matter of fact she only does it with two to three people. Once hunter sees her he knows he must have her for his own and not just because of the hot sex but he felt an instant connection. However, she is not a one on one girl.. Magique feels it too, but fights it because of her past and not wanting to feel the way she had back then. She knows that at least now she can control her pleasure and feelings. Now, only if the persistent Hunter would get the clue before he starts breaking down all the walls she has so carefully built up.

Ohhhh, Donahue you did indeed give me my smut factor. New to your books I will say I am definitely going to check out others by you. We get about ten pages in when the steaminess of this book kicks in. Magique sizes up the guys and knows what she wants.  Heck, she even made me want to be tied to the bedpost with three willing guys to give me pleasure. I found that even though there was hot sex, there was also a storyline you could vibe with. Hunter just sounded like the oh so sexy alpha leading male character who knows how to give pleasure. He knows how to love them and leave them.  Okay, maybe not that harsh, after all him and the ladies did have an understanding, but Magique brings him to his knees from the start and he always gets what he wants. Magique is a woman who knows what she wants in pleasure and isn't afraid to get it. Hurt her whole life she likes to have control and when Hunter starts breaking her walls down from the start she vows never to see him again.  Surely, if there was ever a guy to make her fall he would be it. Magique is very sexual sure but she is also a strong willed, smart and underneath it all a vulnerable woman who has finally met her match. The passion between them is so hot it sizzles. You wind up rooting for the best outcome in the end. Donahue gives us a story with leading characters to enjoy, and some hot sex. I giggled in a few instances and loved watching love grow. I really enjoyed this book and find it a good edition to Elora Caves published works.

4 out of 5 Stars

You can purchase it here: Amazon  / Ellora's Cave 

 

You can find Tina here: Facebook Author Page  / Twitter