A Legacy of Lies by Stephenia H. McGee

Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 9781926930213 (e-book)
Pages: 264 pages/625KB
Date: March 13, 2012
Rating: 4 stars

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for review from Breathless Press and from the author. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Blurb:
Sarah Sanders was always the reasonable sort, until she kissed a cowboy against her better judgment. Feeling strangely drawn to this mysterious ranch hand with a dark past, she finds herself swept up in an adventure that will force her to question everything she believes.

Jim Anderson’s cowboy gig is going pretty well. Except for one thing – he thinks he’s going insane. Night terrors, hallucinations, and now a girl he has no business falling for. It’s better to keep his distance. But when Sarah is nearly killed, he will risk it all to save her.

When tragedy brings him back to the home he tried to escape, Jim will have to face the truth behind his strange circumstances and hope that Sarah will believe him. Digging up the answers to questions long buried, does he have the strength to face the dark family secrets that threaten to destroy them both?

Excerpt:
It was cold.
Too cold.
The eerie silence of a moonless, starless night engulfed him.
Jim shivered. It had been high noon only a few minutes ago. Had he fallen asleep? He didn’t remember being tired. He shook his head and tried to focus his groggy mind. He peered around cautiously. Where was his horse?
A rustling sound in the bushes startled him. His eyes darted to investigate.
Nothing.
No, wait. There it was again. Off to the left. His eyes strained, searching for the slightest movement or shape. Something. Anything.
Silence.
He felt like a kid afraid of the dark.
Get a hold of yourself, man.
Fingers of fear teased along the back of his neck. The hairs stood on end. He shivered.
Where was that horse?
“Ciervo!” His voice sounded weak even to his own ears. He tried again. Now he was completely hoarse.
Swallowing the panic rising from the pit of his stomach, he took a cautious step forward.
He heard stirring in the woods behind him. Squirrels? He listened intently.
The noise came again. No. Definitely not a squirrel. Something was pacing in the woods. Deliberate. Stalking. Jim’s mouth went dry.
Mountain lion.
His heart raced and he looked desperately around, scanning the darkness. Blackness blanketed the meadow. Jim hoped Ciervo hadn’t wandered too far. He started to walk. Slowly. Calculating. He couldn’t tell in what direction he moved.
His cell! He could use it as a light source. Jim’s hand brushed at his hip. It wasn’t there.
He frowned. It always stayed on his belt. He never left the ranch without it.
Jim’s eyes strained, but he could barely make out his surroundings. The farther he walked, the darker it got. His breathing came in quick, rapid intakes.
A shrill sound broke the silence. His heart leaped.
“Ciervo?”
Where was he? Was the mountain lion after him?
Hoof beats. Thank goodness.
They were pounding quicker than his rapidly drumming heart. A shadow appeared about thirty feet in front of him.
It wasn’t his beloved horse. It looked like something galloping up from Hell.
The horrid creature ran wildly toward him. The cold air caused the hot breath to billow from its nostrils like a smoking dragon.
The monster’s eyes looked like no earthly thing he had ever seen. The bulging orbs had a luminescent shine that came from deep behind the pupils. In the pitch black they glowed like a ghostly beacon.
The horse-shaped beast lowered his head. The creature was preparing to slam into him.
Jim threw himself out of its path and landed sharply on his hip. His right thigh slammed into a large, extruded boulder. Fire shot down his leg. Ignoring the pain, he jumped to his feet, eyes probing the darkness for the crazed brute. The ghostly version of Ciervo had vanished.
Despite the cold, he began to sweat. Jim felt eyes boring into him. Someone or something watched him. He was exposed. Unprepared. His heart hammered in his chest. His body refused to move.
Another sound. Different. It wasn’t rustling limbs or bushes, and it certainly wasn’t the horse’s wild hoof beats. It was quiet, like a soft whisper. Crying? No, calling out for something.
He strained to catch the garbled words. The voice grew louder. More urgent. Still he couldn’t make out the woeful tone. Then, as if his brain finished translating some cryptic code, the word became clear.
“James!”
Again. Louder this time. “James… James…” The voice rose and fell in the darkness. Its eerie sound slithered into his ears.
“Hello?” His voice echoed hoarsely. He held onto a feeble hope the voice came from someone nearby lost in the dark along with him. No one here knew him by that name. He stood holding his breath, listening.
Suddenly, a freight train of frigid air knocked him backward. Terrified, he dared not to move. The voice came again.
“You must help. Soon it will be too late–”
An insidious roar erupted around him. Hot, musty breath bathed Jim’s face. He struggled backward. He couldn’t quite make out the figure standing over him. The silhouette was enormous. Its shoulders spanned at least four feet. An odd-shaped head swayed from side-to side.
It growled.
Paralyzed with fear, Jim lay helpless. The creature rose to stand upright. Seven. Eight feet tall. Jim gasped for air. His feet tore into the soft ground, trying to gain footing. Desperately trying to get away.
The creature came crashing toward him.

Author Bio:
Stephenia McGee is a woman of many projects. Besides being a wife, mother of two very active little boys, writer, author, book reviewer for InD’Tales Magazine and Fiction with Flair Christian Book Reviews, a literary agent’s assistant and artist, she is also the chairman of Spirit Horse Ministries (a youth ministry dedicated to helping foster and underprivileged children). Stephenia has always loved books and her stories can best be described as Christian fiction with flair.

BUY LINKS:
Desert Breeze Publishing ~ http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/a-legacy-of-lies-epub/

Amazon ~ http://www.amazon.com/A-Legacy-of-Lies-ebook/dp/B007K1LS58/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1365539979&sr=1-1&keywords=a+legacy+of+lies

B&N ~ http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-legacy-of-lies-stephenia-mcgee/1107713261?ean=2940014338950

Christianbook ~ http://www.christianbook.com/a-legacy-of-lies-ebook/stephenia-mcgee/9781612521497/pd/28979EB?product_redirect=1&Ntt=28979EB&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/StepheniaHMcGee

Website: http://www.StepheniaMcGee.com

Email: StepheniaMcGee@yahoo.com

My Thoughts:
Sarah Sanders has me jealous right from the beginning. She’s out filling her lungs with fresh air staring at some mountains. I can just imagine the peaks with a little bit of snow. But then Stephenia has me going “what?” I find that Sarah is a student, which I find interesting since I work in an academic setting.

Jim Anderson is a cowboy who has a problem with nightmares. But he seems to be a man who has a way with horses. I love the thought of horses but I’m afraid of heights – I would still love to give it a try though. It seems like an interesting job and one not everyone is cut out for.

There are other characters in Stephenia’s book. There’s Clark Wilson who knows Sarah and they go to visit his parents. There’s Elizabeth and her story and that of Jonathan Connor’s seems to confuse me. But this is one thing that makes it a page-turner for me. It’s a mystery and I can’t stop reading until the puzzle is solved. As you start to get to the three quarter mark, all the pieces will start to come together.

Eventually Sarah and Jim’s paths cross. There are some scenes that will have you chuckling. This is a good story that has no sex involved. There are scenes where you know it’s implied but the actual act is not necessary. There comes a time where religion is “introduced” but our author does not get preachy or try to convert you. It is something that is used to show the character’s personality.

I also found that this story was very visual. The descriptions that Stephenia uses have me able to picture the scenes as if I was watching the book on television. There were times that I felt it was as if I was watching an evening soap opera. These characters would give “Dallas” a run for their money.

I would be very interested to see what Stephenia has in store for her readers next. Will she continue with this type of story? Will she try something shorter? Will she try something longer? You can find Stephenia at http://www.stepheniamcgee.com/index.html. But if you like this book, then you will want to follow her so that you can have these questions answered.

Foreplay by Tammy Valentine

Book 1, The Zodiac Club
Publisher: Breathless Press
ISBN: 9781926930213 (e-book)
Word Count: 5259
Date: January 31, 2011
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Reviewed by Lynn Reynolds
Categories: Anthology, Book Review

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for review from Breathless Press and from the author. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Excerpt
As she lay in the tub that evening, relishing the golden candlelight and warm vanilla scent from the bubbles, Izzy turned over the newfound information in her mind. She was fascinated by the notion that she could enjoy a man so much more by knowing which buttons to push—predetermined buttons based on his star sign. She had never had much luck with men, but equipped with Jessica’s astrological handbook for seduction, might she not learn to discover the real pleasures of romance?

Closing her eyes, she let her hand drift lazily through the water to her mound and teased the wet, dark hair gently with her fingers. She felt the familiar tingle in her skin as she woke the sleeping creature deep inside, and she arched her back involuntarily as the first wave of pleasure lurched through her. Opening her legs a little wider, she then slipped a finger into the crevice, moist with bubble bath and anticipation, and began to play.

Behind her closed eyes she watched a parade of male models, each one naked but for a fig leaf covering his modesty, engraved with his star sign. Starting with Aries, she made the men line up in front of her in her head, then gazed appreciatively as one by one they shed their leaves to reveal the astrological promise beneath. She got as far as Cancer, the fourth sign, before she came, her clitoris convulsing deliciously under the pressure of her finger.

Could it be genuine? she wondered as she allowed the warmth of the water to bring her round from her daydream. Was there anything more than sheer hokum to the concept of compatibility based on astrology? And if there was, what did it mean for her in her continuing search for the perfect partner, who had so far proved dramatically elusive?

My Thoughts:
This is a short story that will start off what I think will be a great series. I found that this was a great teaser for the books that follow. It seemed that the title was very apropos. The best way to read the series would be to follow the series for the whole year.

Tammy has written a unique concept of a way to find your sexual partner. We have four friends that get together over coffee and Izzy Morgan is listening to her friend Jessica reveal that she has an interesting way of identifying men. Each subsequent story is short enough that if you only have a limited amount of time, you should be able to get it read in just a couple of hours. In the meantime, make sure to start the adventure with this great first book.

If you want to know how to follow this series, without checking the zodiac, stop over to Tammy’s website. http://www.tammyvalentine.com/the-full-collection.html

His Secret Dancer by Faberge Nostromo

Author: Faberge Nostromo
Genre: Adonis
Heat Rating: 4
Publisher: Breathless Press
ISBN: 9781771019866 (e-book)
Pages: 107 pages/362 KB
Date: March 13, 2013
Formats Available In: All eBook formats
Word Count: 34,000
Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for review from Breathless Press and from the author. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Blurb:
Dan’s drab life is a world away from his secret life as Danielle, the burlesque star of Tomasz’s transvestite nightclub, Trans-Action.

Having found ‘her’ inner T girl as a student, Danielle has discovered the power of her femininity and her talent to entice and excite—but she realizes that Dan’s life is losing the passion it once had.

As Danielle’s relationship with Tomasz takes her deeper into both her lover and his world, encountering passions neither thought they dare explore, demure Francine is too often left to her own devices and desires. Her only release is in the fantasies inspired by the customers who pass through her life and her patisserie.

Does she want a man in her life or a woman? Or both…

Seeing her man exploring her wardrobe she decides to embrace the power of her own sexuality. Then a sizzling encounter with Tomasz unlocks the vixen in her and sets their two worlds on a collision course.

Can Dan bring Dan’s world and Danielle’s together—especially when he discovers Danielle’s secret lover secretly loving Francine?

Or will Tomasz come between them both?

Book Links:
Breathless Press
All Romance Books
Amazon
Bookstrand

Check out the YouTube Trailer:

Excerpt:
Tomasz gazed at her, barely able to breathe, let alone speak. Her half closed eyes burned into him. He gazed deep into them for a moment, falling into them, then his attention fell to her hand, still resting on the damp silk mound of her pussy.Her breathing was labored and heavy, her lips, soft and red, parted. His hand cupped the bulge in his perfectly pressed trousers, slowly stroking along the length of its hardness but he couldn’t stop.

Her eyes locked onto the movement of his hand. A smile that was halfway between an angel and a slut spread over her face. She looked up and her eyes met his again, hers burning with a fire that held his gaze, and she slipped her fingers inside the dampness of her panties, gently sliding a single fingertip over her still pulsing clit. A soft moan escaped her parted lips like a whispered invitation.

He stepped forward and cupped her face in his hands, gazing even deeper into the post orgasmic haze of the infinite depths of her green eyes. She looked up at him, inviting his kiss, wordlessly, and with her other hand reached for his hand, the hand that was slowly, rhythmically, rubbing up and down the aching need of his rigid cock. She flattened her palm on his and moved with him.

They kissed, no words needed, his mouth on hers, but hers the more powerful, needing to own and control his mouth, her tongue seeking out his. Her hand pressed against his, taking control of his movement now, slowing it so that she could feel how long and hard he was. And he was, so very hard, and long. She wanted that, she needed that, in her, fucking her. She pulled his hand up over his confined erection, slowly, so that they both felt the total extent of his arousal, and then pushed it more forcefully down and out of the way. He complied totally with her direction .He was hers now, hers to play with, to use. The kiss intensified, and her fingers unzipped him, reaching in, finding and grasping him. She felt the wet silky tip of his cock under her fingers as she undid his belt with her other hand, unbuttoning and freeing it so that she could wrap her fingers around the full length of him.

Then he lifted her, his hands on her hips, up onto the tabletop, and pulled himself closer to her. She responded, wrapping her legs around his waist as her fingers eased aside the wet silk of her panties. She guided the moist head of his cock to rub against her clit, still tingling and pulsing, before she slid it lower to rest, achingly, against her pussy lips. She denied him entry, her hot, wet labia brushing, teasing him. Her hand wrapped around him stopped him from thrusting into her, despite his burning desire now to just fuck her hard and fast and unload his tight balls deep inside her. She kept him there, for just a few seconds that seemed like hours to him. She let him enjoy the wet kiss of her pussy lips on the moist tip of his cock, savoring the moment before she let his thickness disappear into her, before she let him become enclosed in the hot, wet embrace of her cunt. She was going to ride him to heaven and he was going to love every second of it.

About The Author:
Faberge Nostromo grew up in the East End of London before escaping to East Anglia. He has been a civil servant, a tea boy, sound engineer, a librarian and an IT consultant but always knew that he was a writer. He now lives deep in the heart of Suffolk with his wife, son and too many guitars.

My Thoughts:
The Prologue starts off in a way that I never expected – I had to actually go back and read it again because I wasn’t sure that I had read it correctly. Dan is relaxing at the bar after having a great time with some buddies. He gets a really hot kiss from a stranger. What a really hot way to start a book off.

Tomasz Burmeister owns a business called Trans-Action. He’s seen flirting with a customer named Danielle Danilova. Danni seems a little nervous but Tomasz knows what he wants. Even though they’ve just met there seems to be a real chemistry between the two of them.

Francine owns her own pastry shop. Then he walks in and orders a latte. He also asks for something special for a special someone. For Francine, he’s very dream worthy. Faberge makes Francine very human by having her fantasizing about a stranger she just met. How many of us do the same thing? She also seems to have an issue with her significant other – he never seems to be around hardly at all. His work seems to take up a lot of his time.

Tomasz and Danni are very sexual – make sure to have your fan handy because the scenes are really hot. If you need some dream material, this book will have you set for weeks if not months. This is not a book that you want anyone to read over your shoulder.

There is one song that seems to be a favorite. If you grew up in the sixties, you will know who Peggy Lee is. If you would like to see how she sings the song “Fever” you can check it out on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5Uw1lJ2C9U (this was done when she was on the Andy Williams show).

This book taught me something that I never knew before – what a Tgirl is. Besides having a lot of great sex, Fabrege gives us a great story that plays like a movie in your mind. It also has a very interesting ending. It makes me want to go and catch a show at Trans-Action. Then I got a surprise when I read the Biography. I never realized how prejudiced I was about who writes the better erotica. Fabrege has changed my mind. I look forward to reading more of his work.

Kissing the Maid of Honor by Robin Bielman

Book 1, A Secret Wishes Novel
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC (Bliss)
ISBN: 9781622660889
Publication Date: May 13, 2013
Pages: 280 KB/173 pages (e-book)
Rating: 4 ½ stars

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for review from the publisher and the author. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”.

A bit about Kissing the Maid of Honor:
Kissing her best friend’s brother never felt so right…

Sela Sullivan is resolved to be the best maid of honor ever, even if it means tolerating the best man. Insufferable, too-handsome Luke Watters is not only the guy who humiliated her at a kissing booth in high school, but he also happens to be her best friend’s older brother. Positive he’s the same arrogant jock, Sela vows to focus on her duties and steer clear of the frustrating—and frustratingly tempting—Luke.
As a world-renowned extreme-sports photographer, Luke is used to undertaking life-risking adventures. But risking his heart for the beautiful Sela Sullivan, who clearly still hates him for his rejection all those years ago? He didn’t see that coming. Sela inspires a passion he’s never known, and the more time they spend together, the more he craves her. But can he prove to the maid of honor he’s become a man of honor?

EXCERPT 1

Luke didn’t see the point of learning choreographed dance steps, but it made his sister happy, her smile and laugh contagious, and he found himself enjoying even his missteps.
His partner didn’t hurt matters, either. Paired with the beautiful maid of honor, he gave silent thanks for his new role as best man. If he’d had to watch Sela dance with someone else, he might have gone insane.
A disconcerting thought he decided not to examine too closely.
“Remember, the basic step is one of the most beautiful of the rumba. So if nothing else, stick to it, and the dance floor will be yours,” the instructor said.
Luke peeked at Sela out of the corner of his eye. The slight imperfections in her profile made it the most fascinating he’d seen. With his photographer’s eye he imagined shooting her face from different angles and in different lighting and had a feeling every single one would spark beauty to a thousand different beholders. She might be a girl from his hometown, but there was something about her that was worldly.
She turned her head, catching him in the act of staring. He darted his attention away.
“Now let’s step into the closed position once again and begin,” the teacher said.
At first they moved rigidly, fighting the natural rhythm of their bodies like they still needed to battle to keep things normal. But as the music continued, their moves melted into a fluid sway of hips and torsos and Luke couldn’t think of anywhere else he’d rather be.
“Close your eyes and feel the movement. Let the music guide you,” the teacher said softly as she wove around the dance floor.
Luke waited for Sela to shut her eyes. Christ, she was pretty. The woman made scrubs look sexy. But it was what she had on the inside that suddenly made his mouth drier than the Sahara Desert.
Her eyes fluttered open. “You can wipe that smug look off your face. You’re not that good of a dancer.”
“No?” Without missing a beat, he spun them around, their steps in perfect tandem. An invisible string kept them in harmony. The flush of Sela’s cheeks kept energy humming through his veins.
Her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed, and Luke imagined she’d much rather have a sword in her hand so they could fence instead of move with each other.
“You know what they say about show-offs, don’t you?” she said.
“Tell me.” He twirled them away from the others, his fingertips increasing the pressure on her shoulder blade.
“They’re compensating for something else. Usually something small.” Her gaze dipped below his waist as they both stepped back.
He laughed, a little more carefully than he had in the kitchen. For the second time in the last hour she’d done what few women could—raise his hackles in the most engaging way.
“Sweetheart, there’s nothing small about me,” he whispered when they came together. “And if you need proof, I’d be happy to show you.”

A bit about Robin:
Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her high school sweetheart husband, two sons, and crazy-cute mini Labradoodle, Harry Dresden. When not attached to her laptop, she can almost always be found with her nose in a book. She also loves to run, hike, and dip her toes in the ocean. Writing is a dream come true, and she still pinches herself to be sure it’s real.
She is also the author of Worth the Risk and Yours At Midnight from Entangled’s Ever After line. She loves to connect with readers.
 
Visit her online:
Website: http://www.robinbielman.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RobinBielmanWriter
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/#!/RobinBielman
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/robinbielman

Buy Links:
Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Kissing-Honor-Secret-Wishes-ebook/dp/B00CK52XB2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367954715&sr=1-1&keywords=kissing+the+maid+of+honor
Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kissing-the-maid-of-honor-robin-bielman/1115213931?ean=9781622660889
ITunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/kissing-the-maid-of-honor/id642292859?mt=11

My Thoughts:
With summer and wedding season just around the corner, what better way to celebrate than by reading Robin’s book. It’s one that you can get read in either one or two days – depending on how much time you have. It’s one that will have you reminiscing about a wedding you have participated in or gone to.

The setting is Cascade, Oregon. I couldn’t find a town of Cascade per se but I did find a town called Cascade Locks, Oregon. It sounds like a lovely place to visit – one I will have to add to my bucket list.

This story takes you through the weeks leading up to Sela’s friend, Vanessa’s, wedding. One interesting point in the story is the bachelor/bachelorette party which included a cake – this was a point in which I would have loved a picture. This is where your imagination will have to come into play.

It’s a sexy story without having the actual sex act. I can imagine this being turned into a Hallmark channel movie. They do a lot of the romance movies without having sex but you don’t always need to see it to know how much the couple enjoys each others company. Sometimes movies give the viewers too much – when they don’t, your own creativity comes into play where you can fill in the blanks yourself.

This is one book that I would read again – especially once the series is over. You can go back and read all the books one right after the other. One hope I have is that Robin will go back and tell us Vanessa’s story. I want to know how she came to make her wish at the famous Cascade wishing well.

This book would also make a great gift. Maybe you are getting ready for your own wedding. Not sure what to give your bride’s maids? Your own maid of honor? If they love reading romances, why not give them the gift of this book. Maybe get some cake ideas. How can you go wrong?

I was happy to see that this is a part of a series. I tried to find out what book two will be about but I’m sorry to say that I couldn’t find out anything. For now we’ll just have to be patient.