Day: October 9, 2010

Guest Review: Warlord’s Destiny by Delilah Devlin

Posted October 9, 2010 by Book Binge Guest Blogger in Reviews | 0 Comments

Judith‘s review of Warlord’s Destiny by Delilah Devlin

Mora has no illusions that she is anything other than the sacrificial lamb to insure peace between her peace-loving planet and the warlike world that demands a royal union with one of their own. However, when she meets the rugged warlord who will be her husband, Mora decides in that moment to win his heart–nothing else will do.

When Lord Tetrik suspects that his wife harbors tender feelings, he wonders if he can be the husband she desires. After all, love for a woman is a frivolous thing–not a warlord’s destiny.

Once again Delilah Devlin has pulled out the stops and given us a story that is well-written, easy to read, interesting through and through, and oh so romantic.

Princess Mora was the sister that was considered plain, way too chunky, and probably destined to be a royal spinster. Her sister was the belle of every ball, slender, graceful, and had every male in sight chomping at the bit to be her spouse. But the royal family of Mora’s country had an agreement–a royal promise–that their daughter would be given in marriage to Lord Tetrik’s country for the period of one year, unless she conceived. If she remained barren she could either decide to remain with her husband or return to her family. Everyone expected Mora’s sister to be the princess sent to Lord Tetrik. Mora was convinced that her parents thought little of her as a royal alliance builder-she was way too plain. But since they had made this alliance under duress, it was decided that Mora would be the sister to travel through time and space and fulfill this promise.

Lord Tetrik was truly a warlord in the ancient style of the Vikings. He was the man, the one who determined the life or death of all his vassals, chief of whom was his wife. He claimed Mora because he was obligated to do so. Wedding and bedding her was one of those things that was expected. He would retain her in his bed until she was with child. Even if he and she formed a bond, he would never love her–love was not a familiar emotion for a warrior. He would give her children to love and a home to run and thus fill her life. Beyond that he had no obligation other than to insure her safety.

But something strange happens between these two. First, Mora simply accepts her fate and seeks to cooperate as much as she can. Tetrik also decides that he has gotten the right sister–one look at Mora’s sister and he knows that she would be HIGH MAINTENANCE. Second, Mora seems to genuinely like him. That actually throws Tetrik off balance and was seriously unexpected. The discussions and negotiations over the wedding night are rather humorous. Third, his second in command and his warriors seem to really like her. Rather than thinking her plain and fat, he sees that she is beautiful in her own way and her lush curves are far more prized in Tetrik’s land than in Mora’s.

This is one of those stories that keeps the reader spell bound because of the way their relationship develops. Tetrik and Mora are discovering things about themselves as well about the other. Each finds a connection with the other that brings them closer than expected. Each becomes reluctant to think about the other not being a part of their life long-term. It is a story about the ancient tradition of political alliances and arranged marriages which actually works out right. It is charming to watch Tetrik’s tentative attempts to please Mora and let her know of his growing regard. It is a love story that is filled with colorful characters, humor, and warm fuzzies.

So I recommend this novella as a read that will satisfy the pulls and tugs of the romantic’s heart. It will be a fun read because it is so well done. But more than that, it will be a way of entering into an ancient time when the loving was hot and the hugs were warm, and when two people were surprised by the love that they discovered together.

I give this story a rating of 4 out of 5.

You can read more from Judith at Dr. J’s Book Place.

This book is available from Ellora’s Cave. You can buy it here in e-format.


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Guest Review: Waiting for Wednesday by Mari Carr

Posted October 9, 2010 by Book Binge Guest Blogger in Reviews | 0 Comments

Tracy’s review of Waiting for Wednesday (Wild Irish #3) by Mari Carr

Tristan Collins knows Lane Bryce is strictly hands-off. She’s smart, funny, kind…and married. But he still looks forward to her once-a-week visits to the family pub where he tends bar. When she fails to arrive one Wednesday, Tris is concerned. When he learns she’s in the hospital, brutally beaten after attempting to leave her unhappy marriage, he’s enraged. Tris vows to protect her, but doesn’t get the chance—Lane checks out of the hospital and disappears without a trace.

A year later, newly divorced Lane is back, and enjoying her independence too much to embark on a relationship. Tris intends to prove she can have freedom and love, and he’s not above using seduction to do it. The more she resists, the more he sets her body ablaze with pleasure the likes of which she’s never known.

After a lifetime of disappointment, trust doesn’t come easily for Lane. But when her ex-husband reenters her life, threatening her independence, her happiness, she could discover too late that Tristan is the one man worthy of not only her trust, but also her love.

As much as Tristan likes Lane he knows that they can only be friends. Lane is married and Tris won’t cross that line. Tristan and Lane do become the best of friends though. They met when Lane started coming into Tristan’s family pub every Wednesday night and sitting and talking for hours. Lane once told Tris that she looked forward to Wednesday nights like someone looks forward to a birthday – she loved spending time with him, especially since she was so unhappy in her marriage.

Lane’s husband is a verbal abuser. He criticizes everything that Lane does or wears or cooks, or anything about her body or hair. The man cannot be in her presence without making her feel like she’s 2 feet tall. When Lane decides she’s had enough he catches her in the act of leaving and beats her bloody. Lane is hospitalized but calls Tristan as she knows he’ll be worried about her since it’s a Wednesday. Tris vows to Lane that he’ll take care of her and she won’t have to worry about her husband any longer. When Tris shows up at the hospital the next morning Lane is gone and Tris can’t find her.

Skip forward a year. Tris has finally come to terms that Lane is gone and won’t be coming back. But the night he figures this out, she walks in the door healthy and happy. She’s come done some growing and learning and she’s ready to make it in life as an independent woman and that means with no man involved. But that’s not what Tris wants. Oh, he doesn’t want to take her independence away but he wants into her life, he wants to stay there forever and he makes showing her that fact his life’s goal.

This was a very sweet but at times difficult book to read. Tris and Lane together were very sweet. Tristan showing Lane how much he cared and loved her in so many different ways was quite touching – especially after what she had gone through with her husband. I did think at times that Tristan was pushing Lane a bit too hard but it seemed to work in the end.

The difficult part involved an almost rape scene that had me cringing. Let me qualify that – the rape scene is not between Lane and Tris. Tris does push Lane emotionally but never does he push her physically into doing anything that she doesn’t agree to.

On the whole it was a good book with lots of family involvement on Tristan’s side and lots of sex and of course love. If you’re looking for a contemporary read that might push a few of your buttons than this would be a great read for you.

Rating: 4 out of 5

You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place

This book is available from Ellora’s Cave. You can buy it here in e-format.


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Review: Maui Rekindled by Ari Thatcher.

Posted October 9, 2010 by Rowena in Reviews | 0 Comments


Rowena’s review of Maui Rekindled (Maui stories, Book 2) by Ari Thatcher.

Hero: Gabe
Heroine: Maggie

“I’ll call you.” That’s the last thing Gabe said fifteen years ago as Maggie prepared to fly home from a summer in paradise. When he didn’t call, she packed away the memories of their sexual romp and relegated him to vacation fling status.
Now, as the ink on her divorce papers dries, Maggie returns to that Maui resort hoping to find the carefree woman she once was. When Gabe walks out of the waves on her first afternoon at the beach, she isn’t sure whether to laugh or run away. Hot, crazy vacation sex with no strings attached would be the perfect remedy for her bloody divorce.

Gabe thinks of Maggie as the one that got away, and he’s not about to let it happen again. The passion between them is as fiery as ever, but is it hot enough to rekindle the romance he knows they could share? He’s got one week to prove to her it is.


This is the book that follows Maui Heat by Ari Thatcher. In Maui Heat, Gabe and Maggie work together at a hotel resort over the summer. They become close, best friend close and feelings develop but nothing comes of the flirtation until the last night of summer, before Maggie returns home. Maggie makes her move and Gabe gives her the night of her life with a promise to call and make their island romance official…only he never calls and then fifteen years later, Maggie returns to the same island from that summer and runs into none other than Gabe.

So Gabe and Maggie’s story continues fifteen years later and they’re both grown adults. Maggie just got out of a bad marriage and Gabe is now living in Hawaii. Maggie is back on the island for a little vacation and is surprised as shit to find Gabe again after all these years. You could tell that Gabe is one happy humper at the sight of Maggie again. He’s missed her all these years and the only reason he didn’t call was because he lost her phone number and multiple tries to get her phone numbers came to nothing so he finally had to admit defeat and move on.

When they’re reunited, Maggie is under the impression that Gabe never wanted to see her again so she’s very casual. After he finds out that she’s single, he sets about planting himself in every activity Maggie has planned for her vacation and while Maggie is okay with it, I thought it was kind of creepy.

I say creepy because he keeps showing up all over town to be with Maggie and when she’s all for a happy hook up, he rejects her, telling her that they’re going to do this right this time?

Huh?

But as they get to know each other all over again, their romance blossoms back up and they fall for each other again and the only thing that kept popping up in my head is, cheese. This story is super short so it won’t take you any time at all to read it and while it’s entertaining enough, the story is totally cheesy and when they’re getting it on and Gabe just keeps thinking his thoughts and talking like there’s no tomorrow, I wanted to tell him to shut up and just bang.

I didn’t know that I like my men to be quiet during sex until I read this book. While it’s not the worst book that I’ve ever read, it’s not the best either. If you’re looking for something quick and steamy then give this story a whirl, you won’t need to read the first story either. I didn’t and I got the jist just fine.

Grade: 3 out of 5

This book is available from Ellora’s Cave. You can buy it here in e-format.


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