My Brave Highlander by Vonda Sinclair

My Brave Highlander by Vonda Sinclair

Highland Adventure Series, Book 3

Publisher: Vonda Sinclair (July 2012)

357 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $4.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

After being attacked by her betrothed's brother while her betrothed was away from his castle, Isobel escapes into the wintry night determined to be rid of the attachment only to be rescued by Dirk who is rushing to his father's deathbed at a neighboring clan after being absent for many years. There are so many things going on in this story that it definitely holds your attention. The characters were great and I genuinely cared about both Dirk and Isobel, as well as many of the supporting characters. There were lots of openings and unfinished business left at the end of this book. What of Nolan MacLeod, Haldane and McMurdo? I suppose they will come back to haunt future books in this series. And what about the contract with the Murrays and Seona? Hopefully, Seona will get to be with Keegan, then there is Torrin and Jessie, and Rebbie, though I would also be interested to read more about Isobel's brother, Cyrus, and perhaps even Aiden. So many wonderful possibilities! I look forward to reading more books in this series!

My Wild Highlander by Vonda Sinclair

My Wild Highlander by Vonda Sinclair

Highland Adventure Series, Book 2

Publisher: Vonda Sinclair (August 2011)

271 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $4.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Her trust and faith in men deeply hurt by her past, the last man Angelique wants to be intimately tied to is a womanizer like Lachlan, but she finds herself ordered by the King to marry Lachlan after a scandalous misunderstanding while at court. Though she is loath to admit it, it seems the marriage was a stroke of luck when her enemies surface and she realizes how much she needs Lachlan’s protection, if nothing else. I loved both these characters! Lachlan is unfailingly patient, compassionate, and perceptive toward his new wife, whose prickly ways do not seem to phase or fool him, all the while trying to wade through the unfamiliar territory of being responsible for and true to someone other than himself. Angelique, guarded and fearful, expects the worst of Lachlan, but finds herself increasingly hopeful about him, despite her past. Lachlan and Angelique had such great chemistry together. The next book in this series is My Brave Highlander about Lachlan’s friend, Dirk.

My Fierce Highlander by Vonda Sinclair

My Fierce Highlander by Vonda Sinclair

Highland Adventure Series, Book 1

Publisher: Vonda Sinclair (July 2011)

256 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $4.99)

Book Rating: 3 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Unable to turn away, widowed healer Gwyneth takes a risk and rescues the enemy’s chief from the battlefield and nurses him back to health. When she is found out by her own clan, she has no choice but to flee unto enemy lands with her son and hope that the man whose life she saved will be willing to return the favor. I felt the story started out well and I really liked Alasdair, but Gwyneth’s ever-changing illogical resistance became unnecessarily frustrating in the end, especially when she claimed to be doing everything as a sacrifice for her child, but with no apparent thought for Alasdair’s child and their future. Aside from my frustration with Gwyneth, I really liked this story and all of the other characters, though I thought the end was a bit painful, again largely due to Gwyneth’s irrational decisions. Nonetheless, I look forward to reading about Alasdair’s brother, Lachlan, in the next book in this series, My Wild Highlander.

The Badger City Gang by Reece Butler

The Badger City Gang by Reece Butler

Bride Train Series, Book 7

Publisher: Siren Publishing (August 2012)

233 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $7.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

After the death of her mother, Kate heads west on the Bride Train hoping to build a satisfying life for herself in the less restrictive society of the west and possibly find her birth father. Zach, along with his brother Gideon and their cousin Rusty, have decided they need a wife and determine to steal one off of the Bride Train, before it reaches the end of the line and all the good ones are taken. I wasn't sure at first that I would like this one. Kate, both in character and thinking, was so like Jessie (Compromised Cowgirl, Book 3) and Sarah (Beauty and the Beasts, Book 6), neither of which I liked because they tended to be gratingly independent and carelessly hedonistic, but as this story went along I felt Kate had a little softer edge to her and a little healthier respect and wish for commitment, and I could sympathize with her logic for her behavior more than Jessie's and Sarah's. I loved all of the guys and enjoyed the glimpses of previous characters from this series. I'm hoping the Southern Gents from the Sweetwater Ranch (Flying X Brand) will be next, possibly with a side story to offer Sophie a chance at happiness as well. Looking forward to the next one!

The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz

The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz

Publisher: Revell (August 2011)

408 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $8.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: White Heart

With nothing but heartache and sad remnants left for her in the East, Roxanna Rowan heads to the Kentucky wilderness where her father is stationed at Fort Endeavor under Colonel Cassius McLinn. But Roxanna arrives to find her father dead and with little other alternative, herself installed in his place as the Colonel’s new scrivener. While I liked both Roxie and Cass, I found their lack of communication and mutual stubbornness to be a bit annoying after a while. It is also worth noting that this is a Christian Romance and I found it to be a bit more preachy than Frantz’s first two books. The part I had most difficulty swallowing was the heavenly army though more likely French Pox induced delusions. Thankfully, the circumstances presented in that instance at least allowed for that possibility instead of just insisting unexplained divine intervention. I also questioned the authenticity of the storyline regarding Cass’s alcohol use. Would it really be so easy to just give up such extensive daily use with no withdrawal or other ill effects? It would be nice to think so, and it is undeniably romantic to think one could instantly resolve to do it for love so easily. Despite all this, I loved the troubled, brooding Colonel enough to overlook most of this and hope he would receive Roxie’s forgiveness for his sins and secrets. Cass was such an intriguing, endearing character! For those who have read Frantz’s other books, this story includes mention of Ezekial Click’s Fort Click from Frantz’s first book, The Frontiersman’s Daughter.

Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz

Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz

Publisher: Revell (July 2010)

363 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $8.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: White Heart

Morrow, heartsore from the massacre of her mother and baby sister as well as the capture of her older brother, by the Shawnee when she was a young child, she finds it difficult to forgive the Shawnee, and Red Shirt by association, as her father has done. Her father’s failing health hastens her need to marry, but Morrow finds her choice of suitors difficult and it comes just as so many other factors are intruding and she is struggling with her feelings toward the Shawnee. I found the tone of this story as contemplative and easy as the first book, the romance sneaking up on the characters by slow delicious degrees. I loved the character of Red Shirt, a strong, intuitive man of quiet intelligence and ease. This story includes a glimpse of famed frontiersman, Ezekial Click, and mention of his daughter, Lael, both from Frantz’s first book, The Frontiersman’s Daughter. I felt this book fulfilled my musings about what might have been if Lael had ended up with Captain Jack, and I am grateful for that satisfaction.

The Frontiersman’s Daughter by Laura Frantz

The Frontiersman’s Daughter by Laura Frantz

Publisher: Revell (August 2009)

416 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $8.99)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: White Heart

This is a coming of age story set in the Kentucky frontier. Lael, is the daughter of famed frontiersman, Ezekial Click, a mysterious, stoic man held captive in her youth by the Shawnee Indians. With strength and courage, Lael makes her way through the simplicity and harshness of frontier life, plagued by family secrets and trying to make sense of her feelings toward three different suitors. I liked how this story was not rushed or action-driven, but almost contemplative, even in its most tense moments. The characters and life itself are all shown to be extremely complicated, with no easy answers. This is a Christian Romance, so it does include religious undertones, themes and passages, but I did not find it overly preachy. I did not like the open-endedness of Captain Jack's fate in the end, and wished it had been sealed irrevocably in the epilogue with word of his death in battle or in sickness. The thought of him alive and knowing her fate lay elsewhere, feels like a betrayal to him, which I cannot accept. I prefer to think it was his spirit in the field that day and not him in body. I also would have liked to know what happened in future to Ransom. Did he ever find happiness of his own?

This is a Dark Ride by Melissa Harlow

This is a Dark Ride by Melissa Harlow

Publisher: Loose Id LLC (June 2012)

162 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $6.29)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Brody and Sam have enough problems of their own, both in their lives and in their relationship, without adding Angel’s problems as well, but they take her in anyway. All three have a sad past, and all three are struggling with the past, the present and the logistics of the relationships springing up between the three of them. I loved all three of characters. They were real people, each with their own imperfections, dealing with gritty reality, but together they hoped to help each other to put their pasts behind them and become something better. Highly recommended!

His Obsession, Her Submission by Maggie Chatterley

His Obsession, Her Submission by Maggie Chatterley

Publisher: Maggie Chatterley (July 2012)

37 pages, eBook (was available for Free on Amazon)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

Daniel has wanted Kristy since high school and when their high school reunion comes around, he sees it as the perfect opportunity to make his dream come true. Let me preface this by saying that I'm not much into BDSM, sexual encounters or relationships devoid of feeling/love, or degrading words or actions from a lover, but I do understand that these things may be appealing to others. With that said, this story included all of that and I found parts of this story disturbing. I like disturbing, as long as it doesn't cross a certain line, and this story for me did not cross that line. I also found Kristy's confusion about her own feelings, throughout much of the story, to be oddly fascinating, and I felt Daniel was a very compelling dominate character. Overall, I enjoyed the story.

Hammer it Home by Jayne Rylon

Hammer it Home by Jayne Rylon

Powertools, Book 6

Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (August 2012)

128 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $2.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Sensuality: Red Heart

I enjoyed this story so much more than the previous one in this series. There is depth and evolution in both the characters and the plot of this story on so many levels, even in the relationships between various crew members. Even through their toughest times, the crew pulls together like the strongest of families, making sure no one gets left behind and it is beautiful to watch. Awesome! I look forward to reading about Joe's cousin, Eli, and his crew in the upcoming Hot Rods series!