I had the pleasure of reading, reviewing, (and loving) Sandra Cox's book Boji Stones before reading The Crystal, her first book. But now that I've read The Crystal, I must say I am very impressed that both the story and writing were not only just as good as her second book, but as wonderful as many a seasoned writers.
The Crystal Sandra Cox Cerridwen Press Available Now 249 pages Paranormal Romance
Gabriella Bell is a spunky policeman’s daughter and small-time reporter with dreams of being a serious journalist. But her life changes when she enters and antique shop and sees the face of a handsome man in the center of a gazing globe. She can’t resist purchasing a crystal ball, unaware that it had been stolen from the aunt of Christopher Saint, a handsome member of elite society, and the man whose face appears to her in the crystal ball.
Christopher Saint lives a dual life- one of a wealthy gentleman, and the other as an infamous cat burglar known only as The Tiger. He has little trouble tracking down his aunt’s stolen property, but when he meets the new owner of the crystal ball, he gets more than he bargained for. Because with the pull Gabby feels to the crystal ball- and to Christopher Saint- she refuses to give it up without a fight. But when a new enemy emerges and threatens not only the crystal but their lives as well, Gabby and Christopher must band together or risk losing much more than just a crystal ball.
The Crystal is the first published book by Sandra Cox, an author who never ceases to amaze me with her flawless infusion of paranormal and suspense elements with contemporary romance. The larger than life characters in this story create a lot of the story on their own, but there’s no lack of action and plot, that’s for sure! The mystery of the crystal ball, the suspense of unraveling the secrets of who is after it and why, and the explosive relationship between Christopher and Gabby are enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. Ms. Cox creates rich supporting characters, from Christopher’s eccentric fae aunt to Gabby’s overprotective father, they refuse to fade into the background. The Crystal’s twists, turns, and sarcastic banter between the two main characters make for an entertaining, lively read. I recommend Sandra Cox to anyone who likes a little fun (and a lot of heart!) with their romance.
-Mandy Briggs Rogues and Romance
Heat Rating: *2- Cupid’s Passion Arrow
Violence Rating: *3- Steel Arrow
Official Blurb: "Only the chosen ones or their mates will ever be able to see the magic contained in the Globe."
Caught in a downpour, Gabriella Bell enters a trendy little shop and discovers a crystal ball in which she sees the face of a hard-eyed stranger. Drawn by a force she doesn't understand she buys the crystal, unaware she is purchasing stolen property that belongs to the aunt of a premiere cat burglar known to polite society as Christopher Saint and to the underworld as The Tiger.
She soon discovers that not only does the handsome, hard-eyed stranger want the mysterious globe but so does a beautiful ruthless jewel thief who will stop at nothing, including murder, to possess Christopher and the crystal ball…and Gabriella is standing in her way. Gabriella discovers the road to true love isn't just rocky, it's downright dangerous.
It has been quite a while since I have read a historical romance, but Linda Ciletti'sDraegon's Lair reminded me what it is I love about them. A good historical romance not only pulls you into the story, but into another time period completely. This book definitely did that for me! Linda Ciletti has written an amazing story, and I think you'll agree. Oh, and be sure and stop by her MySpace page before and after reading Draegon's Lair- you will love her Alys and Draegon Meez. They look exactly how I pictured the characters!
Draegon's Lair Linda Ciletti Wings ePress ISBN: 978-1-59705-249-8 Available Now ebook and print 167 pages Historical Romance
Alys de Monceux is a victim of circumstance, and even worse, a victim at the hands of her betrothed, Bastion of Worthingshire. She knows she has to flee, to protect both herself and her secret. But when she wakes up in a strange bed with amnesia, she has to depend on her rescuer, the warrior lord by the name of Draegon who never shows his face, until her memory returns. Because there’s only two things she knows for certain: one, that she’s in grave danger, and two, she can’t get her mysterious hero out of her mind.
Draegon is a fierce warrior and lord of a small demense, Greystone. He is a man shrouded in mystery- literally. His face inspired fearful reactions even as a small boy- there were some who even called him a demon. At the urging of his late guardian, he has kept his face hidden for years, and his heart shielded even more. But when he rescues a wounded woman from a group of warriors hunting her, just looking at her causes a stirring in him that he thought impossible. He knows he’s bringing trouble upon his home by taking her with him, but he just can’t walk away from her. While Alys struggles to regain her memory, Draegon struggles to repress the foreign feelings she inspires in him. It’s only when her betrothed shows up at Greystone with his army does Draegon realize how much danger they are all really in. For Draegon knows Bastion of Worthingshire by another name, the malicious and deadly Knighthawk, and Draegon also knows there’s no way he will hand Alys over to that monster Bastion. But Bastion has no intention of letting Alys go, nor will he let her go unpunished for escaping him.
Draegon’s Lair is a wonderful historical full of romance, passion, and mystery. Linda Ciletti does a phenomenal job of developing the characters, from the abuse and anguish Alys has suffered at the hands of Bastion, to the pain and loneliness Draegon has felt his whole life. The ease at which the reader can identify with these characters really makes a difference in the realism of the story. Ms. Ciletti has created an intense and palpable attraction between Alys and Draegon- which is even more impressive when you consider the tension is at its peak before Alys even sees his face. This story has plenty of secrets to keep you guessing, all of which are revealed and nicely tied up by the end, making for one satisfying read. Draegon’s Lair is one of those stories where both the plot and characters really grab you, and it gets harder and harder to put down. Linda Ciletti has definitely made me a fan with this story, and once you read Draegon’s Lair, you will be too.
-Mandy Briggs Rogues and Romance
Heat Rating: *2- Cupid’s Passion Arrow
Violence Rating: *3- Steel Arrow
Official Blurb:
Alys de Monceux runs from her betrothed, the cruel and abusive Bastion of Worthingshire. She had run from him before and was flogged in her efforts. This time she cannot fail. This time there is more at stake than her own life. Death would be preferable than returning to the man she fears.
Draegon of Greystone lives a reclusive life. Beneath hood and helm, he hides a face he is sure others will fear. Only his good friend, Diminimis, has seen him without cover. Draegon is content in his world of shadows, or so he believes, until he rescues a wounded Alys from a band of pursuers. Soon he realizes the truth of living in hell--his hell--as he watches others from afar, never interacting. Suddenly he yearns for a love he is unworthy of. He knows this, but how can he convince her of his unworthiness? This spirited and persistent woman who believes him to be more than what he is.
Bastion of Worthingshire wants Alys back.at any cost and he will kill anyone who gets in his way. When he tracks her to Greystone, however, he discovers more than his runaway betrothed--and the myth that has long hung over him finally comes to light. A light he must extinguish.
One of the really fantastic things about being a reviewer is getting to read books by talented new authors that you would not have neccesarily been aware of. Talia Kelley is one such author, though I doubt it will be long before plenty of readers know who she is. Just Ducky is her third published story, and her own personal style of writing really shines through. I loved that she had the creative courage to center the story around something as innocuous as a toy duck, and that quirkyness is only part of what makes her story so much fun to read.
Just Ducky Talia Kelley Forbidden Publications Available Now 28 pages Erotic Paranormal Romance
Amy considers herself lucky. Thanks to a sizeable inheritance, she is able to travel the world, browsing shops while pursuing her love of collecting books and other antiques that catch her eye. But there’s a loneliness she feels that she can’t deny. So when she begins hearing a voice speak to her, and having erotic visions of a handsome lover, she thinks her loneliness is driving her mad. What doesn’t occur to her just yet is that this all started after stumbling upon a strange shop in which the eccentric shopkeeper gifts her with an antique bath toy: a beautiful duck with the most lifelike eyes…
Just Ducky is a paranormal short story by writer Talia Kelley. This story is as whimsical as it is sensual, and Ms. Kelley puts a fun and new spin on the hero-magically-bound-to-an-object story. I was especially won over by the author’s ability to give just the right amount of back-story in order to entice the reader to feel invested in the characters, even with the small amount of pages. Erotic romance lovers will definitely be enthralled by Amy and her mysterious lover, Drake. These two are a potent combination, and their story definitely gets you fired up in no time. Just Ducky is a story I’ll definitely read again, and there’s no doubt I’ll be seeing plenty more of the talented Talia Kelley.
-Mandy Rogues and Romance
Heat Rating: *4- Cupid’s Aphrodisiac Arrow
Violence Rating: *1- Suction Cup Arrow
Official Blurb:
Amy loves curious and unique items, and thanks to an extensive inheritance, she’s free to buy any treasures she desires. Day after day, she travels and purchases old books and curiosities. It’s a life for which many would give a selected body part, but still fairly humdrum for shy Amy, for whom shopkeepers and hotel staff members are the only social contacts.
Things change for Amy when she accepts a strange little bath toy from a grateful shopkeeper. Suddenly, she finds herself in a world of erotic dreams and strange occurrences, with a dream lover who seems uncannily real. Will Amy succumb to the deep desires this phantom brings to the surface?
We are so excited to have Nina Pierce here with us today for an interview. Nina Pierce sent in a review request to Mandy and I here at R&R for The Healer's Garden, and from there, we now have a wonderful interview! I hope that this gives you, the reader some insight on what a fabulous author and person Nina Pierce is!
R and R: Every author has a certain writing style, how they develop their characters, stories, and where they start. What’s your “writing style?”
Nina Pierce: First I start with the “what if”. What if a virus killed most of the male population? (The Healer’s Garden) What if drugs were running up the Maine coast? (Love’s Bounty) What if someone believed their best friend was murdered? (Blind Love) Then I work out from there. How would the species continue? What would life look like 100 years down the road? How would women cope with the shrinking population? How would the government intervene? (The Healer’s Garden) Once I have a basic idea of the story from these questions I sit down to write. No outline other than what’s in my head. And I type. And type some more. The characters begin to flesh themselves out. More questions pop up. Why can’t they just inseminate women? How would the government work to control men? And I write some more. Usually the villain shows up and their personality starts to emerge. Why do they act the way they do? Did something in their past cause this behavior? Now, my character’s motivations emerge. And all the while I write. And the story begins to take shape. Since I write suspense, sometimes a really good idea comes to me in later chapters and I have to go back and layer in red herrings or other details. But usually I have the whole convoluted plot in my head and write the scenes to flesh out the details so when I finally reveal the twist it’s surprising but not unbelievable. I say I don’t plot, but the reality is… it’s in my head. I just don’t write it down. It’s what works for me. The whole process of letting the characters tell the story.
R and R: On your website, you have two titles listed: Tilling Passions and The Healer’s Garden. It seems that most authors would stick to similar themes in their stories, but Tilling Passions is about three sisters and their individual steamy love stories. Whereas, The Healer’s Garden is more futuristic set in a lesbian society. Why did you take what seems to be two very different routes?
Nina: Umm… because. No, just kidding. In actuality I wrote two books under my real name, Kara Dunn. One is a straight romance that I’m still reworking and the other is a romantic suspense involving the FBI and a stalker. The market for those is really tough. So instead of spinning my wheels just marketing, I did some research and found erotica was a booming market. I’ve always loved heat in my romances so turning it up a notch in my stories seemed like a reasonable progression of my writing. I’d always fantasized about having men at my disposal (what woman doesn’t) and started out creating The Healer’s Garden. It’s set in the future because the story, the way it is written, couldn’t happen today. There is a real suspense to this story with the villainess, Gabriella Bresilee. The woman is just a little “off” throughout the novel. But the reader doesn’t find out until the very end what she is up to. The Tilling Passions series is more how I write. Contemporary romantic suspense. I love the mystery part. Making the reader wonder what is up, taking them down the wrong path and then throwing in a twist at the end. This series is about three sisters who own and operate a floral shop and landscaping business. Each story stands on its own, but there is the common thread of their sick father throughout the books. In the last story the whole mystery of his illness is resolved. Though The Healer’s Garden and Tilling Passions series don’t seem related, all my books have a twist at the end that I hope the reader doesn’t see coming.
R and R: Onto The Healer’s Garden, specially! What was the most difficult part for you while writing The Healer’s Garden, and for that matter, what was the most exciting?
Nina: The most difficult thing by far was the world building. I had to keep reminding myself it was the year 2172. Not too far in the future, but far enough that some advances would have been made. Mostly I focused on the toll to the human population and their need to survive. The most exciting? The whole process of writing a novel is exciting for me. I love to keep finding new ways to twist the story. Again, I’d like to think I do the unexpected and surprise readers with revelations. Sometimes I make jokes and hope the reader sees the humor. At one point in The Healer’s Garden, the hero, Brenimyn, is reading reverently from “The Book of Ancients”. The scene is very deep. Later when the reader finds out what book he’s actually reading… I hope they giggle. And no, I’m not going to tell you. Like I said, I like to surprise my readers.
R and R: What gave you the idea to create a female dominated society in The Healer’s Garden? What about Jahara’s character made her break away from that?
Nina: Actually, it wasn’t the society that came first it was the initial “What if” about the men dying off. From there it seemed natural that women would seek each other out. Humans are not solitary beings. They have the need to be in groups and procreate. So the female dominated society was just a natural progression of a dying civilization. And our history shows that when there is a minority, in this case, males, we tend to suppress them. This is what the government did. They castrated the unacceptable breeders and enslaved the males chosen for breeding. This creates an interesting class system. What made Jahara break from this? The government’s insistence that she take up residence at the procreation facility, the Garden of Serenity. It is here that she forms her first relationship with a man. Jahara loves her partner, Merenith. But she acknowledges there is something missing in their relationship. She wants to be happy with this woman and plans on marrying her, but after she meets Brenimyn she realizes not all women were meant to be partnered with another woman. There is a fulfillment she experiences with Bren that she didn’t have with Merenith. This opens the door for Jahara’s change of heart. Her relationship with Merenith is more like sisters than lovers, but never having met a man prior to Bren, Jahara didn’t know this. As it turns out, there are many woman who also find happiness and lasting relationships with men.
R and R: Lastly, when you’re not reading, writing, or doing laundry (from your website, what do you enjoy?
Nina: There’s life outside writing? My husband thinks my fingers are permanently attached to my keyboard! LOL! No, actually I do enjoy time with my family and being outside. We have a lot of snow in northern Maine. I enjoy going out on snowmobiles with my husband. The trail system where I live is like a highway through the woods. It’s just beautiful. In the summer I spend a lot of time traveling to visit with family. Other than that… I sleep!
Blind Love: Book one of the Tilling Passions Series, coming soon to Liquid Silver Books.
Again, Thanks so much for being at Rogues and Romance today Nina Pierce. For all of our readers out there, be sure to check out my review for The Healers Garden!
Resplendence Publishing has a knack for publishing great authors and Lyn Armstrong is no exception! The Last Celtic Witch is a fantastic way to get to know Lyn Armstrong as an author. Although it is a bit more lengthy than a novella, you'll find yourself reading The Last Celtic Witch all at once. :-)
The Last Celtic Witch Lyn Armstrong Resplendence Publishing, LLC. EBook October 2007 115 pages Historical romance
When Adela MacAye was but 12 years old, she had a vision of her mother being burnt at the stake, for “communicating with the devil.” Adela’s vision came true that day, and now, all these years later, they are still coming true. She’s been running away ever since she saw her mother go up in flames. Now, however, Adela is having visions that will lead to her own death. Soon, Adela fears she will be thrown into the dungeons, and thus, sentenced to death by burning at the stake…
However, before Adela is sentenced to death, she has to carry on the MacAye blood. They have a sacred blood, and it must be passed down to Adela’s child. She casts a spell, which will lead her to her child’s father, and then she meets Sir Phillip Roberts. Will their encounter leave Adela with child, or are there much darker forces working against Adela’s plan to give birth before her destiny is carried out?
Lyn Armstrong has done a fabulous job of infusing both history and paranormal aspects into The Last Celtic Witch, while all the while giving the reader a fantastic romantic twist. Adela is a strong woman, as is Sir Phillip a strong man, and their strengths makes them impeccable characters to fit hand in hand. Lyn Armstrong will pull you into her world with The Last Celtic Witch, and she will leave you wanting more.
*Denise Kivett* Rogues and Romance
*Heat Rating:3- Cupid’s Ardor Arrow
Violence Rating: *3- Steel Arrow
Official Blurb: A painful death… a prophecy foretold.
Pursued by evil forces for her powers, recluse Adela MacAye foresees her own agonizing death. She must seek the chosen one to produce an heir and pass on her Celtic powers. To fail would be the end of good magick, plunging the world into darkness.
Conjuring a fertility spell she is led to a sensual chieftain who is betrothed to the sorceress that hunts her. Time is running out as fate and the future pursue her.
Plagued by enemies and undermined by sabotage, handsome Laird Phillip Roberts must save his clan from bloody feud by making an alliance through marriage... a marriage he does not want. After a night of white-hot sensual delights with the alluring witch, his heart commands he break the pledge of peace. With treachery around every corner, will he be too late to save... The Last Celtic Witch?
Here is Part 2 of D. Renee Bagby's Guest Blog! I hope everyone has enjoyed having her here, as I know Mandy and I have! Thanks so much for guest blogging with us D. Renee Bagby!
Little Known Facts about Adrienne
These facts fall into three categories—the way it was, deleted scenes and stuff I couldn’t mention in the book but wanted known.
The Way It Was Anyone who’s read any of my past interviews knows that it took me about five years to get to the version of Adrienne that’s out now. I had a few unfinished WIPs (works-in-progress) and finished first draft written but didn’t like how they turned out and reworked the story idea. I didn’t like the rework, which was just an expanded outline, so I scraped that and restarted from the beginning. Here’s what got scraped:
- Adrienne’s name used to be Arlean (pronounced Arlene) Winster, Malik was Malcolm, Chandra used to be Charyl, Hollace was Halor, Oringo was Oryal—and he was Halor’s second-in-command, not his son—and Travers was Traton. Did I do good changing those names or what? Man it’s embarrassing to admit, though. The only character who never went through a name change was Feyr. That was his name from the beginning and I never had the inclination to change it.
- Adrienne was originally a high school senior. Yup. I had her as the loner/outcast type that kept to herself but made superb grades. Her grades made her a teacher favorite thus her outcast status.
- Josh—the antagonist at the beginning of the book, in case you’ve forgotten him—was also a senior. But he was grunge instead of prep. Still a rich kid but Adrienne caught him dealing in the bathrooms instead of plagiarizing. Like the book, Josh was expelled for possession and decided to take his anger out on Adrienne during her lunch period, which means Malik’s intervention—the original intervention—took place around noon on the middle of a high school campus full of kids. Yeah, that got scraped quick, fast and in a hurry.
- Originally, before I conceived of my Multiverse, all people who hopped from Earth to Bron were automatically powerful mages. It came from being from Earth. That got scraped when I decided to string my stories together through the Multiverse. But, I had to conceive of a reason for Adrienne to be kidnapped. Well… that gets mentioned later in the book—thus I won’t give it away in case someone hasn’t read it yet—and explained fully in a story I have planned for later down the road.
- Hollace was the original antagonist. In the first, first version, Malik (Malcolm) brought Adrienne across the dimensional threshold but the portal went screwy and she landed in Hollace’s forest. He found her and took her home without knowing who she was. In the second rework, he captured Adrienne and was going to marry her to Oringo so Malik couldn’t have her, but Malik pulled a switch and married her disguised as Oringo.
- Malik was supposed to be evil. I kid you not. I wanted him to be evil, but he wasn’t going for it. So, I let him be spoiled instead—the way he wanted. To make up for it, I made an evil hero that will show up in my dragon books.
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Our Awards
We currently have two awards: the Must-Read and the Erotic Must Read. The Must-Read is for books with outstanding writing, story, and characters. The Erotic Must-Read has nothing to do with the book genre- it was created to acknowledge those books whose sex scenes really sizzle! These are the books that have those certain scenes that we revisit when we're feeling a little steamy!
Our Rating System
Because we do have some sensitive readers out there, we have ratings for both the sensuality and the violent content in each book. They are on a 1-5 scale, and the higher the number, the more graphic the element is. You can find a detailed explanation of the ratings further down in the sidebar.
Rogues and Romance does not rate books based on how "good" the reviewer thinks they are. We do not believe it's fair to rate book based on one opinion. However, there are some books that deserve special recognition- ones that really stand out in story, characters, and writing. We will reward these books with a special "Rogues and Romance Must-Read" award.
To keep things simple, we do not rate or award must-reads to reviews we do for other sites. There are a few we would love to, but it would not be right (and would be confusing) to employ our rating system on a book we reviewed elsewhere.
What are your top two favorite eye colors for your hero to have?
1- Suction Cup Arrow- Violence without Weapons; No Blood, Severe Injuries, or Death
2- Blunt-tipped Arrow- Minor or Severe Injuries, Weapons, Mild Scenes with Blood- No Death
3- Steel Arrow- Severe Injuries or Death, But No Explicit Descriptions
4- Fire Arrow- Death, Maiming, Blood, Gore- Moderately Graphic
5- Poison Arrow- Very Detailed, Longer Violent Scenes: Graphic Death or Maiming, Graphic Bloody and Gory Scenes, Explicit Language- What Might be Shocking to Most Readers
Does it bother you when there are scenes in which the hero is sleeping with another woman before he meets the heroine?
