Alpha’s Christmas Flame (Bear Shifter Billionaire: Book 4) by A.J. Tipton

Alpha’s Christmas Flame: A BBW Paranormal Romance (Bear Shifter Billionaire Book 4) by [Tipton, AJ]

4 Stars

Publisher: Savvy Storytelling LLC

Date of publication: December 14th, 2015

Genre: Paranormal, Romance, Erotica

Series: Bear Shifter Billionaire

Alpha’s Heir – Book 1 (review here)

Alpha’s Mates – Book 2 (review here)

Alpha’s Domain – Book 3 (review here)

Alpha’s Christmas Flame – Book 4

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Book synopsis:

A sexy fireman broken from his last rescue. A beautiful bear shifter hiding from her family’s fame. When magical secrets are discovered, will their love stand strong after the smoke clears?

Dean Michaelson loved being a firefighter until he was injured on duty. When his new job as a fire inspector takes him to the ice hotel where Donna works, he fears he’s stumbled upon a nuclear deathtrap. Suspecting the lusciously curvy manager, Donna, is hiding the truth, Dean has no choice but to investigate on his own, unaware he is entering an underworld of danger and magic. Will the attraction building between Dean and Donna be extinguished before it has a chance to spark?

The brilliant bear shifter Donna Mechka is a billionaire in hiding, working the desk at a magical ice hotel. She wants to throw aside the reputation of her wealthy family and find somebody who loves her for her mind, not her money. When a human ex-firefighter, Dean, walks into her hotel on Christmas Eve, it seems she might have found the man of her dreams. But when Dean’s investigations bring him closer to discovering the hotel’s magical secrets, Donna must decide which is more important: protecting the hotel, or her budding love.

Alpha’s Christmas Flame is a holiday, paranormal romance novella in the “Bear Shifter Billionaire” series, a set of stand-alone stories that sizzle and satisfy. If you like brave pixies, smoldering strip poker, and holiday heat, then you’ll love this breathtaking book.

My review:

Dean Michaelson hates Christmas. He was injured fighting a fire last Christmas, and his injury has landed him on a desk job. Not where he wants to be. He wants to be out there, fighting fires and not going to upscale hotels, doing annual inspections of their fire and emergency precautions. And not dealing with receptionists who are either ignoring him or buttering him up for something.

Donna Mechka is working at the front desk at the Wondernasium Hotel when this hot firefighter walks in and tells her that he needs to do an annual inspection. She tries to put him off, explaining that they are short-staffed due to the flu and a bellhop who decided to join a motorcycle club. He checks into the hotel and, when Donna is distracted, he decides to go check things out by himself.

Which ends up to be not such a smart thing. In Dean’s snooping, he opens a door called the electrical room and finds an enormous ball of light. And what does he think? He thinks that the hotel is harboring a nuclear bomb and calls his former Chief in for back up.

As he is doing that, Donna is sitting at the bar with Lola, having a drink, discussing Dean, and wondering why their regular inspector sent a human. As Lola explains that Ben has a fail-safe in place for events such as this, Dean shows up. Donna agrees to show him around, not knowing that he has snooped, and he has seen the enormous ball of light in the basement.

As he is telling her all of that, a fire alarm goes off. They get to the burning room, and Donna says that she can recruit a guest to help with the fire. She orders Dean to get everyone out, but before he could do that, they hear a woman screaming for help.

In the room, there are two people, a woman and a man. The man is hindered with the woman trying with all of her might to help him. Donna decides to get a hydra to help suck out the oxygen in the air. Dean, of course, is confused. It was at this point that the man passes out, and Dean makes the startling realization that Moe is very heavy. Heavy enough that he can’t lift him.

Donna reveals that Moe is a yeti and that the hotel is not what he thinks it should be. The crane he saw in the doorway of the hotel room ends up being an 8-foot tall lizard with 50 heads. That he saw witches pushing cauldrons in the hallway and that the woman with Moe was a pixie. He also realized that the nuclear weapon he thought he saw was magic.

But it was when Donna shifted into a bear that his mind was blown. After Moe came too and walked away with his pixie girlfriend, Donna and Dean were alone in her office. After she gets dressed, Dean demands answers. Donna counters with a game of Five Card Stud. As they play, and she answers his questions, it turns into strip Five Card Stud, and that gets interrupted by his ex-chief.

I thought that this was a great book to wrap up the Bear Shifter Billionaire Series. What better than with a hunky firefighter and a bear shifter?

Dean did bother me a bit. Usually, I like it when my hero is a bit grumpy, but he had a massive chip on his shoulder, and he was sneaky.

I did like Donna. She was dealing with an awful situation and took charge like a boss.

I had to laugh when Dean found the magic snowflake in the basement and thought it was a nuclear bomb. But, considering at that point, he did not know anything magical, I would have assumed the same thing.

I thought Dean and Donna were a cute couple and loved them when they played strip Five Card Stud. I never thought of Five Card Stud as a game for stripping, but thinking about it, it could be.

The end of the book was adorable.

I would give Alpha’s Christmas Flame an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Alpha’s Christmas Flame. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Her Winged Viking, Her Rock Hard Viking and Her Christmas Viking (Her Elemental Vikings Books 3-5)by A.J. Tipton

Her Winged Viking: A Paranormal Romance (Her Viking's Desire Book 3) by [Tipton, AJ]

Her Rock Hard Viking: A Paranormal Romance (Her Viking's Desire Book 4) by [Tipton, AJ]

Her Christmas Viking (Her Elemental Viking #5)

Publisher:

Date of Publication:

Her Winged Viking – October 26th, 2014

Her Rock Hard Viking – December 18th, 2014

Her Christmas Viking – November 8th, 2015

Genre: Romance

Her Winged Viking – 81 pages

Series: Her Elemental Viking

Her Fiery Viking – Book 1 (review)

Her Steamy Viking – Book 2 (review)

Her Winged Viking – Book 3

Her Rock Hard Viking – Book 4

Her Christmas Viking – Book 5

Where you can find these books:

Her Winged Viking – Amazon

Her Rock Hard Viking – Amazon

Her Christmas Viking – Amazon

Book synopsis:

Her Winged Viking:

He’s no angel. Erik is a two-thousand-year-old Viking cursed with broken wings; he works as a carnival mascot to cover his shame. Con artist, playboy, and liar, Erik only cares about one thing in the world apart from himself: his best friend, Siobhan.

She’s no demon. Siobhan is an intense seven hundred-year-old leprechaun whose horns she must hide from the world to blend in at her job as the carnival’s CFO. Sarcastic, efficient, and beautiful, Siobhan would rather be forced to grant a hundred wishes than risk losing her oldest friend, Erik.

But when scandal endangers these two and their carnival, will Siobhan and Erik be able to admit their feelings before they both go down for this crime?

This mature romance involves horny immortals, a matchmaking supernatural bartender, the creative use of carnival rides, and a love powerful enough to soar.

My review:

I am doing this review a bit different from reviews in the past. The 3 books that I reviewed are part of a series of novellas and are under 100 pages each. To save myself time and patience (which I am running out of today…another post and a long story), I decided to consolidate them into one review. So, this might seem to be the world’s longest review but it isn’t. It’s just me being lazy.

So, having said that, here is my review of Her Winged Viking.

Loved, loved, loved that Siobhan was a leprechaun and loved the different direction that the author took with it. Instead of a pot of gold, she is fascinated with numbers and she grants wishes. Which is pretty awesome and actually makes me want to go find a leprechaun….lol.

Erik did come off as somewhat of a playboy at the beginning of the book. I mean, his wish really wasn’t fair to Siobhan (not that I think she complained and she totally gave back). But, in the course of the book, I did love seeing how his character changed and, in a way, matured.

The sex scenes, of course, were hot, hot, hot and also very funny at the same time (can it be that???). I will never look at pinball games, whack a mole or those funhouse mirrors the same. There was some non-traditional sex involving feathers and horns that were totally different from what I have read. Still very hot!!

I loved the ending and how everyone got what they deserved/wanted!!

How many stars will I give Her Winged Viking: 4

I would give Her Winged Viking an Adult rating. There are sexual situations. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Her Winged Viking. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Book Synopsis:

Her Rock Hard Viking

Rock hard was never so literal. Carr, once a proud Viking warrior, was cursed to be the very island he invaded. But when a gorgeous woman parachutes into his life, everything changes. Will her sexual healing finally bring him release? Or will he give up his last chance at humanity to save her?

Becca never thought to pack sexy lingerie for this trip. She’s a botanist on the hunt for a miracle cure to save her family. What’s a woman to do when she discovers her remote island is actually an extremely passionate Viking? Go with it.

This steamy tale for mature readers contains sexy vine and waterfall action, an omniscient bartender, and a love passionate enough to make the earth move.

My review:

I was very excited to read Carr’s story and I wasn’t disappointed!!!

Becca is a botanist on a desperate mission. She is trying to locate a rare flower that will help cure her nephew an incurable disease that he was dying of. This flower is located on an island in the middle of nowhere, and unbeknownst to her, is alive.

Carr is the last of the Viking brothers cursed by a witch. He is cursed to stay on the island….to be the island until the curse is broken. Which he thought would never happen until Becca parachutes onto his island.

I have never read a book that used plants for sexual uses but because Carr was the island, it made sense and was totally hot. And when he became human, the sex was even better.

I also thought the whole sub-story of her nephew and his illness for heartbreaking and I loved that storyline was brought to a very nice end too.

How many stars will I give Her Rock Hard Viking: 4

I would give Her Rock Hard Viking an Adult rating. There are sexual situations. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Her Rock Hard Viking. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Book synopsis:

Her Christmas Viking:

Christmas is hotter than ever: the Elemental Viking brothers are back!

Over a thousand years ago, four Viking brothers led by their tyrannical father invaded lands under the protection of a powerful witch. Cursed for their crimes, the brothers suffered for their wrongdoing for over a thousand years. With the help of the women they loved, they became worthy of redemption and broke their curses.

Now it’s Christmas, and–with the help of a little magic–the entire family is reunited to celebrate. But when the yuletide spell bringing them together also summons their bloodthirsty father back from the veil, the boys and their lovers must band together to save the holidays.

This festive novella for adults features holiday spell work, naughty gifts, and a winter wonderland you’ll never see coming.

This STANDALONE novella is part of the “Her Elemental Viking” series and features characters from throughout the series. There are no cliffhangers and each short ends as it should: happily ever after.

My review:

This had to have been my favorite book of all the Elemental Viking books put together. Why? Simple. It brought all of the brothers together and we got to see what happened to them after their stories ended.

Bram did a spell without Audrey knowing and somehow summoned all of his brothers and their girlfriends/wives to the bar that they run. I got to see again:

Mikkel/Jo

Erik/Siobhan

Carr/Becca

But, unfortunately, it also summoned their father, Havarr, who was cursed along with them. To be PC about it, he is a big, huge jerk. When he found out that Audrey was a witch, he tried to run her through with his sword. In her haste to protect herself and Bram (who stepped in front of the sword), she magics everyone out of the room. Erik and Siobhan end up falling down the chimney, Mikkel and Jo end up in the freezer and Carr/Becca end up wrapped in Carr’s Christmas present to Becca. Audrey and Bram end up in the back storage room.

Each couple has to work to get out of their predicament and hot sex is used once. Not going to say which couple got busy but I will say that the other ones were jealous that they had it so easy….lol.

Of course, Havarr got what was coming to him and oh boy, did I laugh. Do I see a story coming with him or is he going to remain what he was turned into forever….lol?

The end of the book was very sweet and perfect for the series.

How many stars will I give Her Christmas Viking: 4

I would give Her Christmas Viking an Adult rating. There are sexual situations. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Her Christmas Viking. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Welcome Home for Christmas (Hero’s Welcome: Book 4) by Annie Rains

Welcome Home for Christmas: A Hero's Welcome Novel by [Rains, Annie]

4 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of Publication: November 8th, 2016

Genre: Romance

Series: Hero’s Welcome

Welcome to Forever – Book 1

Welcome to Forever-Starting Today – Book 1.5

Welcome Home, Cowboy – Book 2

Welcoming the Bad Boy – Book 3 (review here)

Welcome Home for Christmas – Book 4

Where you can find this book: Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis:

Three-hundred-and-sixty-four days a year, Allison Carmichael doesn’t mind being single. It sure beats dating another loser, and it keeps her heart safe. Then there’s that three-hundred-and-sixty-fifth day: Christmas Eve, the traditional time her entire family gathers together—and gangs up on her, demanding to know when she’s going to get married. This year, she swears, is going be different. And that’s why, at a charity auction she’s throwing on-base, she buys herself a man.

Sergeant Troy Matthews insists that he’s not for sale. His time is, though, and he’s happy to donate it. Happier still when he learns the identity of the winning bidder: the redhead with the killer good looks and smart mouth who runs the veteran’s center. Allison needs Troy’s help to fool her family into believing they’re an item, and he’s all too happy to indulge her. But by the time Christmas Eve rolls around, their little charade is working a little too well . . . because Troy’s falling head over heels.

My review:

Allison was perfectly happy being single until it hits Christmas time. Then she gets all sorts of stressed out. Why does she get stressed out? Because normally, she doesn’t have a date for her family’s Christmas party. And if she does have a date, her mother, a psychiatrist, analyzes him and then tells Allison what she thinks of him. Which normally isn’t a lot and she has predicted Allison’s breakups. So, yeah, that would stress anyone out.

Troy is an MP on base who is a love them and leave them type of guy and Christmas is not his favorite holiday. This year, instead of celebrating Christmas, he was planning on spending it alone. The reason why he was planning on spending it alone? He was still smarting over a fight that he got into with his brother over 2 years ago over Troy being in the Marines instead of running a business. Which to be honest, it struck me as a stupid reason to be mad at someone. But I have seen relationships with families ruined over less so this did strike me as totally believable.

Allison and Troy meet, unknown to both of them when Allison is picking up wine for a charity event at the Veterans Center that she runs. Troy, who happened to be behind her, warned her about partying too hard and Allison gave him this funny, flip answer before leaving. The next time they meet was when Allison buys Troy at the charity auction she was running. Her reason for buying him? She needs him to pretend to be her boyfriend at her family’s Christmas party and she was willing to spend extra money for the extra hours (ie dates) for them to get to know each other.

The book gets pretty standard from that point on with Allison and Troy. They both fall into having sex with each other. That kinda annoyed me because Allison made a huge deal about not jumping into bed with him and then bam, two chapters later, she did. Not that I minded the sex scenes, they were pretty hot and there was one with pretty inventive use of a 6″ purple, sparkly vibrator. Speaking of that, I was cracking up laughing when she realized that she left it out when she thought she was getting robbed and Troy noticed. I literally couldn’t breathe, I was laughing so hard.

The three subplots (one being Allison’s issues with her mother, the other being the robber and the 3rd being Troy’s issues with his brother) that was wrapped up pretty quickly. But the storyline with the children’s home wasn’t wrapped up until the epilogue and I LOVED how it was wrapped up. I had a huge permagrin on my face.

Speaking of the ending, I loved it and it totally fits with the book!!!

I would give Welcome Home for Christmas an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Welcome Home for Christmas. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Pilots Hockey: Book 4) by Sophia Henry

Unsportsmanlike Conduct: A Pilots Hockey Novel by [Henry, Sophia]

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: October 18th, 2016

Genre: Romance

Series: Pilots Hockey

Delayed Penalty – Book 1

Power Play – Book 2

Interference – Book 3

Unsportsmanlike Conduct – Book 4

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

The author of Delayed Penalty returns with the story of a free spirit who believes she’s found forever with a playboy on a singles cruise. Discover why Kelly Jamieson calls the Pilots Hockey series “fun and flirty, warm and sweet.”

Kristen Katsaros wants a life full of adventure and laughter. After a difficult childhood, her motto is to live each day like it’s her last—because it just might be. So when Kristen’s parents send her on a post-grad singles cruise in the Caribbean to meet a Greek husband, she promptly hooks up with the hottest guy she’s ever met. Pasha’s decidedly not Greek, but Kristen gives him a pass because he’s got fun written all over his rock-hard abs.

Pavel Gribov, the cocky playboy of the Detroit Pilots hockey team, can score any girl he wants. But when a teammate drags him on a singles cruise, he can’t resist the chance to help out a drop-dead gorgeous damsel in distress by pretending to be her boyfriend. Before long, the fake fling turns intimate, fueled by something much deeper than lust.

Kristen and Pasha both agree to walk away once the cruise is over, but reality hits like a slap shot when Kristen finds out Pasha lied about everything. Just when she’s ready to start living again, the two stubborn survivors must decide if they can bear to lose the best thing that ever happened to either of them

My review:

Do not judge this book by the blurb or the cover. Please don’t because they are misleading (even though the guy is uber hot on the cover).

I went into this book, thinking that it was going to be about a cruise ship romance that continued after the cruise. And it does but (and stress but) the story is so much more. There is an actual story in this book. It isn’t all about sex after Kristin and Pasha do the dirty, and that is what I loved about this book.

I am not one to give spoilers, at all, but to provide an honest review, I am going to have to let one slip here. So, stop reading here and skip to the end if you don’t want spoilers.

I loved Kristin’s attitude towards life and in general. She was the most upbeat, positive person that I have ever read in a book. She has Cystic Fibrosis. Her outlook on Cystic Fibrosis is positive. While she will die from it, she manages it through medications, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle. She also believes that she will not find a man who will stick by her after her HS boyfriend dumped her and told her that.

The only reason she was on that cruise was to please her parents. It was a singles cruise, and the man who her parents want her to marry went on it too, which didn’t please Kristin too much. To get him off her back, she starts flirting with the first guy she crashes into which happens to be Pavel Gribov.

Oh my, let’s talk about Pavel (aka Pasha) for a minute. He is a hot mess. I mean, someone who tries to screw up his best friend’s relationship has issues, which he has. He blames himself for the deaths of his mother and abusive father. He drinks too much, has casual sex with too many ladies (manwhore alert!!) and throws himself into hockey. He was only on the ship to accompany his friend, not to meet anyone. But he meets Kristin, and his world (and hers) gets turned upside down.

He isn’t honest with her at all, which is a pretty sucky way to start any relationship. She knows this but is still surprised when she finds out WHO he is and WHAT he does for a living. Remember the best friend, well, his best friend is getting married to Kristin’s best friend. So, yeah, I can see why he wouldn’t mention it to Kristin. And when she finds out, she is beyond upset.

The sex was hot, but as I said above, the focus of this book was more on the relationship between Pasha and Kristin. While it started as instalust, it evolved into love (and not within the week…over 3-4 or so months). It was sweet, it was sad, and it was perfect.

The ending was what I thought it would be, and the epilogue made me happy for both of them. I might have to buy the next book to see if there is any mention of them.

How many stars will I give Unsportsmanlike? 4

Why? It was more than a boy meets girl/has sex/falls in love/finds her outside of the cruise. So much more and I loved it!!!

Will I reread? Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Sex and language

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Unlucky in Love (Whisper Creek: Book 4) by Maggie McGinnis

Unlucky in Love: A Whisper Creek Novel by [McGinnis, Maggie]

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: October 11th, 2016

Series: Whisper Creek

Accidental Cowgirl – Book 1

A Cowboy’s Christmas Promise – Book 2

Once Upon A Cowboy – Book 3

Unlucky in Love – Book 4

Meant to Be – Book 5 (Expected publication date: January 10th, 2017)

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

From the author of Once Upon a Cowboy (“Sexy, charming, and perfectly heartwarming.”—Lauren Layne) comes another sweet novel of the Whisper Creek Ranch, where sizzling Montana men melt the most stubborn hearts.

After Alexis Maguire’s wedding day comes and goes without a groom, she decides that it’s time for a change. Tired of being the dependable, steady—and apparently boring—one, Alexis hopes that a cross-country road trip will help her loosen up and find her inner sparkle. Her first stop is the Whisper Creek Ranch, where the hot wranglers are sure to bring out her inner party girl. The trouble is, she can’t stand pretending to be someone she’s not—especially around the cowboy who tempts her to stay put.

Gunnar Peterson has spent six months working at Whisper Creek, and he’s never been happier. Having grown up an army brat, he’s ready to put down roots, and the only thing missing is a woman to share his life with. When Alexis blows into town, Gunnar thinks he may have met his match, despite the wild-child facade he sees right through. But Alexis swears she won’t settle down anytime soon—so it’s up to Gunnar to convince her that what she’s looking for . . . is right here.

My review:

I know I begin a lot of my book reviews this way, but I loved this book. For me to say this about a book that is the 4th book in a series, AND I haven’t read the other three before it, it’s enormous. Like super huge because I am very picky about books in series. I am that person that has to read a series from the beginning, so I know about the other people in the book first. Usually, if I read the books out of whack, then I get out of whack. So I was happy that I could read this as a standalone.

The romance between Alexis and Gunnar was so sweet. It started as a friendship of sorts. The romance grew from there.

Alexis was a sweetheart in my eyes. She was a dependable person who was somewhat afraid to step out of her comfort zone. Her summer job at the Whisper Creek Ranch is supposed to let her explore her adventurous side. With her sister’s help, she makes up a list of what to do. That goes out the window when she meets Gunnar.

Gunnar was a cowboy with a past. Not an awful past. Up until he was 16, he traveled the country with his mother, who was following his father and his wife. Yeah, that’s screwed up. So he craves stability, which is no shocker. He is also Mr. July in the Whisper Creek Ranch calendar and website. He is also working with rescued horses and is very, very talented with that. Finding his love was the last thing on his mind, but when he saw Alexis, it was over.

For some reason, I related to Alexis. I could see us being great friends. Heck, she even had a dysfunctional family (waves hand over here, I do too).

The ending and the epilogue got me right in the feels. Let’s just say that Gunnar is incredible and is perfect for Alexis.

How many stars will I give Unlucky in Love? 5

Why? A great clean (aka no sex) romance that makes you laugh and cry at various points in the book. Put it this way, I want a Gunnar in my life!!!

Will I reread? Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes

Age Range: Teen

Why: The cleanest romance that isn’t a Christian romance that I have read in a while. No sex, a couple of kissing scenes and that’s it. Some language, a drunken night at karaoke bar complete with bad singing and some poor lobsters getting cooked….lol.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

My Seductive Highlander (Highland Hearts: Book 4) by Maeve Greyson

My Seductive Highlander: A Highland Hearts Novel by [Greyson, Maeve]

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: October 11th, 2016

Series: Highland Hearts

My Highland Lover – Book 1

My Highland Bride – Book 2

My Tempting Highlander – Book 3

My Seductive Highlander – Book 4

Genre: Romance

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

In this scintillating novel from the author of My Tempting Highlander (“Another exciting and heartwarming time-travel romance.”—Vonnie Davis), the ladies’ man of Loch Ness meets a hot-tempered lass who sets his heart aflame.

Though part of a legacy of time-traveling sisters, Lilia Sinclair is planted firmly in twenty-first-century Edinburgh. Her granny’s matchmaking with thirteenth-century Highlanders isn’t about to lure her into the past, especially as ancient Scotland enters troubled times. After all, Lilia is blessed—or cursed—with dire prophetic visions. To protect herself, she’s put up an icy emotional wall no man could cross—until a pair of gorgeous, rippling arms breaks right through.

Graham MacTavish is pure trouble. Once the dragon bound to Loch Ness, he’s transformed into a philanderer of the first order. In fact, because of his dalliances with other men’s wives, a rival clan wants his head on a pike. Before he provokes an all-out war, Graham is banished to the twenty-first century, where he must win Lilia’s hand—or return to die. But after meeting a lass as fierce as any Highland warrior, Graham knows one thing: life with Lilia, in any century, is a fate to embrace.

Praise for Maeve Greyson’s Highland Hearts novels

“Maeve Greyson surprises and enchants. The imaginative storytelling is hard to resist in this time-traveling tale of love, betrayal, and sacrifice.”—Victoria Roberts, bestselling author of My Highland Spy, on My Highland Lover

“What a roller coaster of emotions throughout! I love, love, love the Sinclair sisters and can’t wait to read more about the twins.”—Cassidy Cayman, author of the Lost Highlander series, on My Highland Bride

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

My review:

From the first sentence, I knew I would like this book. It goes:

“Dammint, man! Did ye no’ think to learn her name afore ye decided to bed her?”

Right from that sentence, I knew this was going to be a fun book and oh boy, was it. I got so involved in reading this book that I finished it in one night.

But on a serious note, I loved that the author chose to address depression. This had to of been the most realistic portrayal of depression that I have read to date. It was refreshing to read this. Most books that I have read that portrayed a person with depression described them as emo or loony. I loved that her support system could see when she was falling into a depressive state and be there for her.

Lilia is an empath, can read auras and has a prophetic vision, which contributed to her depression. And also the fact that she was almost screwed over by her business partner. So it’s not any surprise that Vivienne and Alberti are so protective of her. She is fragile.

It didn’t surprise me that they went into overdrive when Graham and Angus showed up.

Oh Graham, such a bad boy. He got caught having relations with a rival clan chieftain’s wife and mistress in a stable. According to him, he was making up for lost time. He spent 300 years as a dragon protecting Loch Ness due to an evil witch’s curse. He was, well for lack of a better term, screwing everyone that had a skirt because he got none as a dragon. His punishment was to be put into the 21st century, find Lilia, make her fall in love with him and bond. So he isn’t teleported back. He only has a month to do this, or he goes back and gets killed by the rival chieftain. Angus had to go along because, well, he was guilty by association and Granny Sinclair had a vision, and he was in it. Poor Angus.

When Angus and Graham hit the 21st century, it there was culture shock. From the toilets to riding in the cars to going in an elevator, it was hilarious. I had tears streaming down my face during those scenes.

The relationship between Lilia and Graham was a little fast. But considering that he only had a month to bond with her, it wasn’t. He was under a deadline. And the sex was out of this world. The scene with the toy (not saying which one) was out of this world.

The end was what I expected, but the epilogue broke my heart. It was a great way to end the series, but still sad. I would love to know if there is going to be books with the kids? Because I enjoyed this book this much

How many stars will I give My Seductive Highlander? 4

Why? A fun filled romance that takes you on a wild ride between the 13th century and modern day.

Will I reread? Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Sex, mild violence, and language

**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**

The Regrets of Cyrus Dodd (Wyattsville: Book 4) by Bette Lee Crosby

The Regrets of Cyrus Dodd: Family Saga (A Wyattsville Novel Book 4) by [Crosby, Bette Lee]

Publisher: Bent Pine Publishing

Date of Publication: June 15th, 2016

Genre: Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary

Series: Wyattsville

Spare Change—Book 1

Jubilee’s Journey—Book 2

A Home in Hopeful—Book 2.5

Passing through Perfect—Book 3

The Regrets of Cyrus Dodd—Book 4

Beyond the Carousel—Book 5

Goodreads Synopsis:

“Regret is what stands in the way of happiness,” she said then turned and walked away…

From award-winning USA TODAY Bestselling Author BETTE LEE CROSBY, comes an early twentieth century family saga of two Southern men who come up against one another. Both are prideful, iron-willed and stubborn. One will lose his farm, the other will lose his family. In a tale that delves into the heart of a small town West Virginia community two men discover that being right is not the same as being happy.

Believing he has lost everything, Cyrus Dodd has no choice but to start over. He and wife Ruth leave their farm and travel to Wyattsville. As they settle down to a life far different than what he’d planned, Cyrus is forced to deal with one challenge after another, and the regrets trail behind him like a row of ducklings.

He told Ruth they were leaving trouble behind and swore this time it would be better; but now he’s wondering if that’s a promise he can keep.

Readers View says, “An engrossing story of ordinary people…a tale richly told.”

Indie Book Awards, Historical Fiction Finalist

This book is great about what happens after you’re hit with blow after blow in life, and you don’t give up. It had a positive message woven throughout it. It shows what happens when you have everything but lose the most important thing: family.

This was an easy read and would be perfect for the beach or pool. You can put it down and not lose your page or your way with the plot. After a tense couple of first chapters, the book evens out and is smooth sailing.

I didn’t like the chapters that started Cyrus’s musing, Ruth’s, or even Bethany’s. It struck me as odd, and didn’t need to be there. I got enough from the actual story to read that. That took away from the story.

This is book 4 in a series, but it can be read as a standalone book. No reference to previous books at all. If this didn’t have a #4 after it, I wouldn’t have known it was part of the series.

I would recommend The Regrets of Cyrus Dodd to anyone over 21. There is marital rape, spousal abuse, child abuse, and murder.

If you enjoyed reading The Regrets of Cyrus Dodd, you will enjoy reading these books:

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