Disclaimer:

Due to FTC regulations, any book reviewed on this site was sent for free by the author/publisher to The Pagan & The Pen Book Reviews. We are not paid to give reviews by Author or Publisher. Once review has been made, said books are deleted.

Oct 15, 2010

Santa's Coming by Cat Lovington


THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title:  Santa’s Coming
Author:  Cat Lovington 
Buy Link
Publisher: Carnal Passions
Genre: Contemporary/Holiday
Length: 25 pgs.
Reviewed by: Gabrielle

RATINGS FOR:
Cover: 3
Presentation: 4
Editing: 4
Story: 4
Writing Ability: 4

Overall Card Rating
                                                       


About The Book: Amy McBride's life has been anything but exciting until she dons a slinky, red dress, a lacy thong, and a pair of spiked heels to take a walk on the wild side at her glamorous cousin's co-op Christmas Party.  The glow of the full moon and too many glasses of wine awaken the bad girl hidden inside of every woman. 

The Review:
This short read was a cute story about finding love in the most amazing places when you are not even looking. Amy finds herself indulging in some hot fun at her cousin's Christmas party. When Amy sits on Santa’s lap the fun begins.
I enjoyed watching Amy let her hair down and enjoy herself. She may be a shy woman but once she lets her guard down she is a wild and willing girl. Hopefully, by taking this chance and stepping out of her good girl persona, she has found the love she is longing for.
This author does a good job of pulling the reader in and keeping them interested. Well developed characters and a good storyline make this book one that you will want to check out.

Pagan Elements: N/A
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Disclaimer: Due to FTC regulations, any book reviewed on this site was sent for free by the author to The Pagan & The Pen. We are not paid to give reviews by Author or Publisher. Once review has been made, said books are deleted.

The Pirate’s Secret by Laine Morgan


THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title:  The Pirate’s Secret
Author: Laine Morgan
Author Site: unavailable
Buy Link
Publisher:  Carnal Passions
Genre: Fantasy/Erotic Romance
Length: 62 pgs.
Reviewed by: Violet Harper

RATINGS FOR:
Cover: 5
Presentation: 5
Editing: 5
Story: 3
Writing Ability: 4

Overall Card Rating
                                               


About The Book: From the first moment Shannon spied the dark pirate, Patrick Flannigan, she wanted to experience the thrill of excitement and adventure only he could offer. She hadn't expected to fall in love the rogue, but she refused to be left behind, stealing away on his ship when he sailed away from their homeland.


Patrick hadn't taken a mortal lover in centuries, and he certainly hadn't expected to fall in love with one. There was no future in it-none, for he couldn't bring himself to make her into what he was.

The Review:
This quick read was a fun story.  The writing was wonderfully descriptive.  Ms. Morgan paints a scene so well I can picture it vividly in my imagination.  This is the story of a vampire who falls in love with a beautiful woman with which he has no future.  He cannot expose her to the risk of being with him.  When they end up shipwrecked on an enchanted isle, they are forced to perform heroic acts—but it is enough to save them and forge a future together? 
          The characters were likeable unless they weren’t meant to be.  I found the idea of a mermaid who was both beautiful and evil to be a refreshing change from the usual portrayal.
          Overall, I recommend this to anyone who likes descriptive stories featuring pirates and mermaids.
Pagan Elements: N/A

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Disclaimer: Due to FTC regulations, any book reviewed on this site was sent for free by the author to The Pagan & The Pen. We are not paid to give reviews by Author or Publisher. Once review has been made, said books are deleted.

Triage by Cherie De Sues



THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: Triage
Author:  Cherie De Sues
Buy Link: www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=171
Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing
Genre: Action/Thriller/Romance
Length: 76 pgs.
Reviewed by: Strega

RATINGS FOR:
Cover: 5
Presentation: 4
Editing: 4-a couple of errors found
Story: 4.5
Writing Ability: 4.5


Overall Card Rating

                                                         

About The Book: Colonel Jake McCrea's mission is to get Dr. Jessie Stevens and her bioterrorism team in the air. The clock is ticking down to a thermal meltdown at the DEEP lab in Mexico. A terrorist group has attacked the facility and only Jessie knows the combination to the GP2 virus and vaccine.

Jessie wanted the deadly level four virus to burn in the lab until she learned that GP2 may have been secretly cultivated in Florida. As tension flares into attraction with Jake, Jessie won't fall for another man in uniform, even if Jake is the bravest man she's ever met. Still, she's having a tough time concentrating on a killer virus, instead of Jake's killer smile.
Jake doesn't want to take Jessie into a firefight, but she's the only survivor of the DEEP lab scientists with immunity to GP2. He knows Jessie is stubborn and tough as nails, but can she pull the pin on a thermal device to destroy the virus? With his feelings getting in the way of his mission, could he allow Jessie to put her life in danger?

The Review: Triage is a great read. The lead character, Jessie, is female and she's tough as nails. I love women who are portrayed as tough, yet feminine; one who can kick ass and take names, and still bake a cake without missing a stride. The action in this book is non-stop and well written. I enjoyed the story of Jessie and her job as much as I enjoyed the romance between Jessie and Jake. Ms. De Sues has obviously done a lot of research and tells a credible tale of disaster in the making, terrorism and what it takes to be a woman in a man's world. This one is not to be missed.
Pagan Elements: N/A

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Disclaimer: Due to FTC regulations, any book reviewed on this site was sent for free by the author to The Pagan & The Pen. We are not paid to give reviews by Author or Publisher. Once review has been made, said books are deleted.

Oct 9, 2010

Lacy: A Bad Girl's Romance by Cherie De Sues


THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: Lacy: A Bad Girl's Romance
Author:  Cherie De Sues
Buy Link: www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=171
Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing
Genre: Action/Thriller/Romance
Length: 100 pgs.
Reviewed by: Strega

RATINGS FOR:
Cover: 3.5
Presentation: 4
Editing: 4
Story: 5
Writing Ability: 5

Overall Card Rating
                                                      


About The Book: Lacy Hennessey is the enforcer for the Boston Irish mob after the boss for the Italian mafia kills her father. After so many years of an informal truce between the two families, why has the Italian boss declared war on the Irish? She'll have the time to dwell on the future while on vacation with a new lover in Hawaii. Lacy is hopeful she'll find love for the first time in her life. Dr. Josh Davenport has fallen for the beautiful, leggy blonde who isn't wired emotionally like other women he's known. As the clues to Lacy's occupation unfold, Josh struggles with his feelings of self-preservation when he learns he could be in the middle of a mob war. Josh is no saint and his past could get him killed if Lacy's boss gets wind of his shady associates. Back in Boston, Lacy's world begins to crumble around her as secrets reveal a startling truth that could cost her everything she holds dear. In a bold move, Lacy will risk her life, love and legacy to bring about a new era for the Boston Irish mob.

The Review: Pitting the Irish Mob against the Italian mob is an awesome concept and author Cherie De Sues has done just that in Lacy: A Bad Girl's Romance. I laughed through the opening paragraphs at Lacy thinking back on how she killed someone—she's a woman after my own heart!
This book has everything, sex on the beach (and I don't mean the drink!), warm sand, tropical breezes, sexy men and women, lots of violence and all the other things I like in a good action/adventure. To top it off, a woman who packs and knows how to use both guns and knives with equal efficiency. As the family enforcer, Lacy has to know all about self-defense and killing without fuss or muss. However, she also doubts her ability to actually fall in love and have a "normal" life with the man she presumably loves, Josh.
Josh seems to fall easily for feminine charms but that's the only side of Lacy he knows. But Josh isn't completely clueless, and as a doctor he's seen some pretty crazy stuff and he's pulled a bullet or two out of a few wise guys. After all, he is Italian. That might seem a little stereotypical, but this is a book about two opposing mob factions and it's written with enough humor that it doesn't get bogged down by what's right or wrong.
If you like a good adventure with a nice sensual touch, you'll love bad girl Lacy!
Pagan Elements: N/A

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Disclaimer: Due to FTC regulations, any book reviewed on this site was sent for free by the author to The Pagan & The Pen. We are not paid to give reviews by Author or Publisher. Once review has been made, said books are deleted.

Oct 4, 2010

The Viper Prince (Desert Princes of Jikkar, #1) by Rebecca Goings


THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: The Viper Prince (Desert Princes of Jikkar, #1)
Author: Rebecca Goings   
Publisher: Carnal Passions
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Erotica
Length: 52,000 words
Reviewed by: yadkny

RATINGS FOR:
Cover: 5
Presentation: 5
Editing: 5
Story: 5
Writing Ability: 5

Overall Card Rating:



About the book: A successful romance author, Sabine Santiago's latest book is about hot desert sands and a sexy caravan prince. She's dreamt of him every night since buying a coiling viper armband at her local flea market. Little does she know the trinket is about to transport her to another world.

Tariq Sayed is the Viper Prince of Jikkar. For a millennia, the six princes of the Golden Desert have ruled their caravans, providing water for their people and protection from the hot desert sun. Punishment for stealing water is death, so what is Tariq to do when the woman he’s been dreaming of is caught drinking from his oasis?

When their worlds collide, Sabine is dropped right into the plot of one of her books. One look at the sexy Viper, and it's clear that the line between fiction and reality is slim to none. But Tariq has been promised to wed the niece of the Jackal Prince, which will form a strong alliance for his people.

Now, the Viper must choose between his duty and the woman who burns his very soul.
The Review: Two totally separate worlds in the cosmos clash because of an enchanted armband. Completely unaware, Sabine and Tariq are thrust together through a series of events that no one would think possible.  Sabine an author from Earth where water is abundant and Tariq the Viper Prince from Jikkar where water is so scarce the death penalty may be enforced if laws are broken against it.
Rebecca Goings literally crash-lands the reader in an exotic and sensual world of princes and hot desert nights. The imagery and writing is fantastic and I wouldn’t change anything about it. I honestly didn’t think very much from reading the synopsis alone on this book, but decided to give it a try anyway. I’m so glad that I did! It is unlike any other story that I’ve read where a romance author is taken out of her own existence and thrown into one of her very own books. The ‘dreams’ Sabine used as the plotline of her book are actual meetings in another existence with Tariq. The rest of the cast played their roles quite nicely to add depth and elements to the story outside of the two main characters. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a more well rounded read other than to say that I wish it was longer so as to give a glimpse of what happens now in the life of Sabine and Tariq. After meeting a few of the other princes featured in this story, the rest of the series looks very promising as well. This story is sexy, romantic, suspenseful, magical, and above all absolutely brilliant! I’m proud to say this book is going in my re-read pile.
Recommended reading for those seeking a highly sensual magic carpet ride and horse ride through the desert with one very sexy Viper Prince.
Pagan Elements: None.

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Disclaimer: Due to FTC regulations, any book reviewed on this site was sent for free by the author to The Pagan & The Pen. We are not paid to give reviews by Author or Publisher. Once review has been made, said books are deleted.

Perfect Partners.com by Kate Richards

                                               
   THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: Perfect Partners.com
Author: Kate Richards
Buy Link
Publisher: Breathless Press
Genre: Contemporary/Romance/Erotic
Length: 31 pgs.
Reviewed by: Strega

RATINGS FOR:
Cover: 4
Presentation: 4
Editing: 4
Story: 4
Writing Ability: 5

Overall Card Rating:


About The Book: Scarred from dating hell, Rachel didn't believe in Mr. Right, until one dating website changed her views on finding the perfect partner.


The Review: This is a quick read but I enjoyed it a lot. The story moves along quickly and although short, it doesn't leave anything out. The author shows wit and humor in a story that is semi-biographical since she also met her husband on line. I remember when Internet dating was new and even now, people who meet on line are often ridiculed. I saw a commercial that says a third of all relationships begin on line these days. I don't know if that number is true or not but I do know a lot of people utilize dating sites these days and I think more and more people will continue to use the sites in the future. It's nice to read a story about this subject, especially since it hasn't been a big target for authors yet. I enjoyed the fresh idea and the author's style of writing.
Pagan Elements: N/A
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Disclaimer: Due to FTC regulations, any book reviewed on this site was sent for free by the author to The Pagan & The Pen. We are not paid to give reviews by Author or Publisher. Once review has been made, said books are deleted.

Delectable Interview by Molly Diamond


THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title: Delectable Interview
Author: Molly Diamond
Buy Link 
Publisher: Breathless Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 15 pgs.
Reviewed by: Strega

RATINGS FOR:
Cover: 3
Presentation: 4
Editing: 4
Story: 4
Writing Ability: 4

 Overall Card Rating


About The Book: Tara is getting ready to go on a job interview while her friend Sally looks on. With Sally's approval at her appearance, Tara is ready for Sally to give her a ride to the job site but Sally says her car is in the garage and she's arranged for Tara's ex, Tony to do the driving. Tara doesn't mind that Tony is going to drive her since they've remained friends, however, Tara can never turn down Tony when he wants sex because she wants him back. Today's ride is going to wind up much the same but Tony has a little surprise for her.


The Review: This is a quick little read and although it says fifteen pages, the actual reading is only about seven pages long. That aside, I liked this story. There is just something very romantic about two people who have split up but remained friends, espcially when both want to be a couple again, though they are afraid to tell the other. Ms. Diamond has penned a romantic, sexy, hot little story in Delectable Interview that I enjoyed. If you are looking for something to read while you eat lunch, this one is a no calorie, no fat dessert just for you!
Pagan Elements: None
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Disclaimer: Due to FTC regulations, any book reviewed on this site was sent for free by the author to The Pagan & The Pen. We are not paid to give reviews by Author or Publisher. Once review has been made, said books are deleted.

A Taste of Summer Magic by Christine McKay


THE PAGAN & THE PEN BOOK REVIEWS

Title:  A Taste of Summer Magic
Author: Christine McKay
Publisher: Carnal Passions
Genre: Contemporary/Menage/Romance/M-M-F
Length: 78 pgs.
Reviewed by: Karmyn Klein

RATINGS FOR:
Cover: 5
Presentation: 5
Editing: 4
Story: 4
Writing Ability: 4

Overall Card Rating

About The Book: Can nice girls enjoy sex with two good-looking men? Morgan is about to find out.


Partners Jason Scholl and Perry Holloway own and manage the upscale restaurant, No Patio. Not only do they share passions in the kitchen but also in bed. After a run-in with a nine-inch stainless steel dildo and a dominatrix, it's Jason's turn to try to find someone both men can enjoy. Nice girls don't enjoy sex with two men, do they?

When her über-rich husband, Thomas divorces her, practicing witch Morgan T'Naile scrapes together the remnants of her pride and flees. Camped out at a local park, she stumbles over her best friend's little brother, Jason Scholl. Jason's not the wide-eyed boy she remembers but a full-grown sexy man with his own partner, Perry. She has no idea she was once the star of Jason's adolescent fantasies. But Jason hasn't forgotten and he intends to turn imagination into reality.



The Review:
Morgan T’Naile has hit rock bottom but her divorce and homelessness has not crushed her spirit. Looking to the future, she meets a man from her past who very much wants to be part of her future.
Jason and his life partner, Perry are looking for a woman who will complete their family. Morgan seems to fit the bill. Now all they have to do is convince her to take the plunge with them.
Just when things are going great for Morgan, Jason, and Perry, Morgan’s past comes back to bite her on the ass…and not in a good way. The three will have to trust each other in order to stay together.
The author does a good job of making the characters likable and interesting so that the reader cares about what happens to them. I found myself sincerely hoping that the three would be able to resolve their problems and stay together. I recommend this read and look forward to reading more of Christine McKay’s books.

Pagan Elements: Yes, Morgan is a practicing witch.
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Disclaimer: Due to FTC regulations, any book reviewed on this site was sent for free by the author to The Pagan & The Pen. We are not paid to give reviews by Author or Publisher. Once review has been made, said books are deleted.