~Book Review~ Rising

Rising 
by Holly Kelly 
Genre: Fantasy romance

4.6 of 5 pearls 

WARNING: Very mild language but otherwise a totally clean read. 

A Dagonian warrior (don't even THINK of calling him mer!) is sent on a mission by his king and encounters a woman who, according to Dagonian law, should die. Unfortunately for him, he likes her. He really, really likes her. 

Oh my, oh my, oh my!! I started reading this book before bed one night, finally set it aside at 1am, picked it up again when I woke up at 6 and didn't set it down again until I was done. Seriously! I loved this book. ♥L.O.V.E♥ Fun and exciting! But that's just my opinion, so let's get down to brass tacks.

• Hero: Very nicely done. Sexy, alpha male, ruthless yet merciful, not exactly what I consider a bad boy, but he definitely has a few bad boy qualities. 
• Heroine: Sweet, but strong, very believable. I think Ms. Kelly did a fantastic job with the inner turmoil of the heroine.
• Storyline: Not too involved despite the "fantasy" element. Involved enough to be completely fascinating, however. There's some grit (which I appreciate), some heat, and a lot of heart. 
• Cons: Hmm. As far as the story goes, none that I recall. However, for this being a small-press published book (Clean Teen Publishing) rather than self, there were a lot more typos than I expected. Not quite enough that it ruined my joy in the story, but enough to make me notice. 
• Other points: My daughter took one look at the cover and asked if she could read the book. She's ten so my automatic reply was that I needed to read it first. After reading it, I informed her that she has to wait until she's at least 13. She's counting down the days now. ☺ 

In conclusion, would I read this again? Definitely. Will I buy the sequel and any other in the series from here on out? Um...YEAH! And guess what? You can grab a copy of this book for FREE by clicking on the cover photo above. That's right, the kindle edition of this book is free. Enjoy!!

Disclaimer: This review is for the first release of this book. I was not paid in any way for this review. The statements made here are my honest opinions. I acquired this e-book for free from Amazon at no urging from anyone. Except the cover. The cover made me download this book. Oh yes. LOVE the cover. Oh, last but not least, the link in the image above contains an Amazon affiliate ID. Any purchase made through the link will result in a small commission for me. If you don't want that to happen, simply strip the ID from the link and refresh the page. I think I covered everything. ☺

~Author Interview~ Rachel Rossano: Historical Fantasy at Its Best!

Rachel Rossano has been my favorite historical fantasy author every since I first met her on Goodreads years ago. She's one of my favorite authors, hands-down! 

But what, you may wonder, is historical fantasy? 

The majority of Rachel's books take place in completely made up places but they have a very strong historical feel to them. There is never magic or strange creatures. 

Rachel is joining us today to answer a few questions, some of which may seem strange to some of you. For Rachel and I, this is a normal, everyday conversation. Enjoy! 

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I'm so excited to have you here with us, Rachel, to answer a few of the questions I've been dying to ask! And I am so appreciative of the fascinating guest posts you've recently done for this blog. (For those of you who may have missed them, you can find them HERE and HERE.) Let's not keep our readers waiting any longer!

Jaimey/Laura: Let's start by talking about your books. Which of your books is your favorite?

Rachel Rossano: Oh, that is like asking which of my children is my favorite child. Each of them is different and I love them each for different reasons. I am most enthralled with Duty at the moment, which is to be expected since that one is the newest, the shiniest, and my best work so far. But Wren comes in close second, with many others, including my current project (Diaspora), moving up the ranks.

J/L: I'm sure many of our readers can relate to that, especially as so many of them are writers too. Are the names of your characters important?

RR: Some of them are important. Like choosing my heroine’s name when writing Duty became a long and difficult process. She wouldn’t reveal herself to me until she had a name that fit her personality. Brielle means “God is my might.” Her family name, Solarius, is more of a nod to her hair color. The name means “of the sun.” Red hair runs in the family, though I don’t really mention that in the novel. Strong, fiery, wise, and red-headed, Brielle’s name grew to fit her better with each chapter.

Other characters, like my hero Lord Irvaine, burst forth almost completely developed and clear, title and first name included. His title is based on the area he oversees, but I chose his first name, Tomas, because of the sound. Also, it is traditional with a twist of unusualness to fit his world and his character. Although Tomas can give the appearance of all the attributes expected of a nobleman. Upon closer inspection, you discover he is very different than the blue-bloods around him.

J/L: Interesting. I've had the same things happen. A character can sort of burst in, already named and fully formed, and then others are very private, only willing to share once they're sure you're able to portray them accurately. I love that about writing! Continuing on the subject of characters, have you ever replied to a character out loud while you were in a crowded room?

RR: In a crowded room, not usually. Out loud, occasionally. In my head, all the time. Am I nuts, most likely a bit, but aren’t we all?

J/L: I can certainly relate to that and even our non-writer readers can too, I'm sure. ;O) Moving on to a slightly different, though still related, subject, Duty's cover is so beautiful! Who designed it?

RR: I did. Book cover design has become a bit of a third or fourth hobby for me. My frustrated artist side revels in exploring and trying out new things to create a visual taste of the story beneath the cover.

J/L: You are very good! If I didn't do cover design myself I would hire you! Heck, I still might. ;O) In regard to the "darker" side of being a published author, how do you react to a bad review of one of your books?

RR: I look at the source, analyze the reasons the reader gives for not liking it, and then evaluate whether or not I need to change anything I am doing. Sometimes I do. More often I don’t. Then I try to move on because I can’t please everyone.

J/L: I believe that's the hardest lesson an author has to learn, that we can't please everyone. It becomes a bit of a chant, a daily reminder. It still hurts when someone dislikes one of our babies but the reminder does help. On that note, what is the most demeaning thing a reader has said about your work?

RR: A reviewer once accused one of my books of lacking depth, using too many distracting -ly words, and said she just didn’t get it. It took me a few days to shake free of that one. Probably because she was partially right, about the -ly words.

J/L: Ooo, ouch! It hurts so much more when we realize they might have a point. OK, let's drop this serious subject and get to the really important questions. Who is your favorite super hero?

RR: At the moment, Captain America is my favorite, but it is only at the moment. I watch a lot of superhero movies. Mr. Fantastic, Batman, the Phantom, and a couple others come to mind as well.

J/L: I lean more toward the anti-heroes, lol. Wolverine is my all-time favorite and has been since I was a kid. Now, if you had a pet snail that could magically grant wishes, what would you name it?

RR: I would name it Gertrude, just because.

J/L: That is the BEST answer, ever. Thank you so much for joining us today and letting us have a glimpse into the quirky mind that creates such wonderful, romantic stories. It has been great fun!

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About the book:

Brielle Solarius struggles to keep her village from starvation. The men rode off to war and never returned. The remaining women and children face a winter of starvation if they do not find a solution soon.

Tomas Dyrease, the newly made Earl of Irvaine and the village of Wisenvale, owes his good fortune to his king. When that same king demands Tomas marry the impoverished daughter of the late Lord Wisten, he obeys. However, no one warned him that she wasn’t a typical noblewoman.

Duty: a novel of Rhynan follows their journey from strangers to friends as they face complications from their pasts and the shaky politics of a changing regime. Then Brielle is implicated in her cousin’s treasonous activities. Can a marriage of duty survive treason?

Get Duty from Amazon HERE or from Smashwords HERE.

About the author:

Author of a growing stack of novels, novellas, and short stories, Rachel Rossano balances her time between the chaos of raising and homeschooling her three children and the world of drama and high adventure in her head. With her faithful husband and chief consulting editor by her side, she dreams of many more adventures to come in both of her double lives.

Rachel's online presence:

Blog ~ http://rachel-rossano.blogspot.com/

Website ~ http://anavrea.webs.com/

Twitter ~ http://twitter.com/RachelRossano

Facebook ~ http://www.facebook.com/RachelRossanoRambles

YouTube ~ http://www.youtube.com/anavrea

*B/W image clipped from Chivalry by Léon Gautier (1891), p. 195. Google eBook HERE.

~Guest Post~ The Makings of a Strong Heroine

What does it take to make a strong heroine? Guest blogger Rachel Rossano has a list of characteristics she feels are necessary. Take a look and let us know what you think. 

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When writing my latest novel, Duty, I asked the question, what makes a quality heroine? After a bit of brainstorming, I came up with a list. Here are a few of the attributes that jumped out at me.

Strength - By strength, I do not refer to her ability to talk tough, kick someone’s teeth in, or do stupid things to prove she is one of the boys. A woman who recognizes her strengths and weaknesses and acts within them is a strong woman. I would prefer following the story of a heroine who faces moral and physical challenges with perseverance and a willingness to work toward a solution. Choosing to make a stand takes more strength than seeking out trouble.

Wisdom - Just because she is the fairer sex does not mean she should be foolish. I have read so many books where the plot depends on the heroine (or another character) making an obvious mistake. A heroine should demonstrate wisdom, the ability to see things objectively and to act on more than just her emotions. Common sense would be a nice addition as well.

Tenacity - She refuses to give up. Circumstances back her into a corner. The villain holds her in his control. The hero is nowhere to be seen. Does she weep and wait for rescue? No, she looks for a solution on her own. No matter how dire the situation, she holds onto hope and continues to fight. A bit of tenacity in a heroine is a must.

Maturity in handling emotions - Hysterics never accomplished anything except, perhaps, annoying the hero. I am not saying she must be a stoic or a robot. She is an emotional being and her reactions to her environment, other characters, and, especially, the hero drives the story. Letting her grow angry, grieve, and love without losing her common sense will make the story all the more real to the reader.

Brielle Solarius, the heroine of Duty, finds herself in trouble. Not just her, but her whole village, face a long winter and few supplies. She tries to make the best of the situation, but knows that her half measures are not going to save them. A band of warriors rides into their midst. She wonders what they hope to gain raiding a starving village. Then one of them claims to be her husband.

What would the heroine I described above do?

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About the book:

Brielle Solarius struggles to keep her village from starvation. The men rode off to war and never returned. The remaining women and children face a winter of starvation if they do not find a solution soon.

Tomas Dyrease, the newly made Earl of Irvaine and the village of Wisenvale, owes his good fortune to his king. When that same king demands Tomas marry the impoverished daughter of the late Lord Wisten, he obeys. However, no one warned him that she wasn’t a typical noblewoman.

Duty: a novel of Rhynan follows their journey from strangers to friends as they face complications from their pasts and the shaky politics of a changing regime. Then Brielle is implicated in her cousin’s treasonous activities. Can a marriage of duty survive treason?

Get Duty from Amazon HERE or from Smashwords HERE.


About the author:
Author of a growing stack of novels, novellas, and short stories, Rachel Rossano balances her time between the chaos of raising and homeschooling her three children and the world of drama and high adventure in her head. With her faithful husband and chief consulting editor by her side, she dreams of many more adventures to come in both of her double lives.

Rachel's online presence:
Blog ~ http://rachel-rossano.blogspot.com/
Website ~ http://anavrea.webs.com/
Twitter ~ http://twitter.com/RachelRossano
Facebook ~ http://www.facebook.com/RachelRossanoRambles
YouTube ~ http://www.youtube.com/anavrea

*Top image taken from Chivalry by Léon Gautier (1891), p. 374. Google eBook HERE.

~Guest Post~ Heroic Attributes

What characteristics do you consider essential for the perfect hero? Please welcome guest blogger Rachel Rossano as she discusses the heroic attributes she feels are the most important. 

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Fictional heroes come in many shapes, sizes, and personalities. Some are easy to love while others we love to hate. While writing Duty, I spent some time mulling over some of the characteristics I find attractive about my favorite heroes in fiction. Here are a few of them. 

Strength - Not the rippling muscle kind of strength, though that is nice in a hero, I am referring to strength of character. A good hero is a man of morals and steadfastness. Before you start protesting that these attributes might make him a bit boring, consider what he would be without them. A character who doesn’t value ethics and a code of right and wrong cannot be relied upon to be faithful. 

Confidence - Decisiveness and a sense of self-reliance are two great characteristics in a hero. Following the story of a man who has confidence in his own abilities usually converts into a fast paced plot. Such men are not typically prone to waiting for someone else to save them. They also tend to actively participate in the course of their own story. They take control. They act. Whether a cerebral professor or a well-trained man of action, the hero needs to be confident in his ability to make decisions. 

Conscience - To balance the decisive nature of our hero, he needs to have a strong conscience. He considers the repercussions of his actions, both to himself and others. He should be willing to admit he made a mistake when something doesn’t go as he expects. When someone gets hurt, he tries to help. 

Selflessness - In this world of self-centered people, those who live for others stand apart. Genuine caring toward someone other than himself can be a good sign that he will be a good husband for the heroine. Without at least some measure of selflessness, the hero will expect the heroine to cater to his every whim without accounting for her needs. Hardly a happily ever after we dream of for her. 

Tomas Dyrease, the hero of Duty, stands at a turning point. His whole life has been devoted to obedience and loyalty to one man, first his liege lord and now his king. This same man now demands something Tomas is not certain he can give. Torn between his marriage vows and his loyalty oath, Tomas must choose which to honor. 

What would you consider the most important attribute of a hero?

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About the book:

Brielle Solarius struggles to keep her village from starvation. The men rode off to war and never returned. The remaining women and children face a winter of starvation if they do not find a solution soon.

Tomas Dyrease, the newly made Earl of Irvaine and the village of Wisenvale, owes his good fortune to his king. When that same king demands Tomas marry the impoverished daughter of the late Lord Wisten, he obeys. However, no one warned him that she wasn’t a typical noblewoman.

Duty: a novel of Rhynan follows their journey from strangers to friends as they face complications from their pasts and the shaky politics of a changing regime. Then Brielle is implicated in her cousin’s treasonous activities. Can a marriage of duty survive treason?

Get Duty from Amazon HERE or from Smashwords HERE.


About the author:
Author of a growing stack of novels, novellas, and short stories, Rachel Rossano balances her time between the chaos of raising and homeschooling her three children and the world of drama and high adventure in her head. With her faithful husband and chief consulting editor by her side, she dreams of many more adventures to come in both of her double lives.

Rachel's online presence:
Blog ~ http://rachel-rossano.blogspot.com/
Website ~ http://anavrea.webs.com/
Twitter ~ http://twitter.com/RachelRossano
Facebook ~ http://www.facebook.com/RachelRossanoRambles
YouTube ~ http://www.youtube.com/anavrea

*Top image "The Knight" clipped from Chivalry by Léon Gautier, 1891. Google eBook HERE. 

~Book Review~ A Kiss to Die For

A Kiss to Die For 

by Claudia Dain 

4.8 of 5 pearls 

WARNING: This book contains graphic love scenes. 

A bounty hunter chasing a serial killer lands on the doorstep of a sheltered young woman who likes to watch trains. 

I first read this book years ago, in paperback (the one with the BEAUTIFUL train artwork—see below), and I loved it then. A solid 5-pearl read then and a solid 5-pearl read now. It's not often you find a book that's just as good the first time as it is the second... or the fourth. I read it in less than 24 hours. 

• Hero: LOVE him, just plain love him. He's everything I love in a romance hero. Strong, misunderstood, unafraid of getting his hands dirty, or working hard. 
• Heroine: Quiet and unassuming, always does what is expected of her, doesn't speak up for herself until the hero urges her to. I love her quirk of watching the trains and even more so when her reason for doing so is revealed. Her gradual strengthening of spirit was real, believable. 
• Storyline: There were twists that surprise me every time. I cried more than once, happy tears and sad. Such an emotional ride in this story. That's hard to beat. 
• Cons: The one downside of this book is that if you're a scene skipper, like me, the one set of love scenes in this story aren't the easiest to just skip. There's some info contained within those scenes that's fairly important to the characterization and the story. Still, the story is one of the best I've ever read. 

This time I read the eBook and the cover art is adequate, nothing spectacular. I'm a wee bit biased about cover art, though, so all I'll say is the paperback art was so much better and so much more apropos, one of my all-time favorite book covers, to be honest. Claudia Dain has been a favorite author of mine for some time and she remains in that category.

*Disclaimer: I was not paid in any way for this review. I purchased the book (more than once). I do not know the author—although, if I'm totally honest, I sent her an email once and she was very, very nice. The views expressed here are my own. The cover at the top of this post is linked to Amazon, where you can grab an e-copy for yourself for only $0.99. The link does contain my affiliate code, which would result in a tiny commission for me, should you choose to make a purchase through said link. 

Did I cover everything? 

~Bargain Books~ Kindle Freebies for Dec 19

Here are a couple FREE clean romance books from Amazon's Kindle Store. Enjoy! ♥ 

Prices and ratings are accurate as of the time of this post. Double check the price before hitting the 1-click button if you're worried about the cost. 

The Unveiling (Age of Faith) by Tamara Leigh 

eBook $0.00 (4.9/5 stars)

12th century England: Two men vie for the throne: King Stephen the usurper and young Duke Henry the rightful heir. Amid civil and private wars, alliances are forged, loyalties are betrayed, families are divided, and marriages are made. 

For four years, Lady Annyn Bretanne has trained at arms with one end in mind—to avenge her brother’s murder as God has not deemed it worthy to do. Disguised as a squire, she sets off to exact revenge on a man known only by his surname, Wulfrith. But when she holds his fate in her hands, her will wavers and her heart whispers that her enemy may not be an enemy after all. 

Baron Wulfrith, renowned trainer of knights, allows no women within his walls for the distraction they breed. What he never expects is that the impetuous young man sent to train under him is a woman who seeks his death—nor that her unveiling will test his faith and distract the warrior from his purpose.

Heartless by Jaimey Grant (Regency romance)
eBook $0.00 (3.8/5 stars)

A dark stranger....
Finding herself abandoned after the death of her father, Leandra Harcourt takes the greatest risk of her life. She accepts the marriage proposal of a complete stranger, the Duke of Derringer—a man the world calls Lord Heartless.

A heartless proposal....
A desperate girl with no prospects seems the perfect solution to Derringer's most recent problem: marry before his 30th birthday to gain his rightful inheritance, though marriage is the last thing he needs. The need to find his missing cousin takes priority over any silly marriage and he quickly abandons his new bride in the wreck of his family estate.

A perfect love....
Two people were never more suited for each other than the duke and his wife, but will they discover it before it's too late? With an assassin dogging his heels and a suitor wooing his wife, love will not have the luxury of time.

Anyone else have a clean romantic freebie out there? Please comment with your link and the dates it's free.

Happy reading!! ♥

~Book Bargains~ Bargain Priced Fantasy Romance

Below is a list of clean fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, time travel, and futuristic romance that I think falls under the category of fantasy. These are all $3 or less. Book descriptions are taken from the linked e-Retailer page. Prices and ratings quoted are accurate at the time of this post, but subject to change.

The Mercenary's Marriage by Rachel Rossano (Non-magic fantasy) 

Amazon eBook $2.99 (4.1/5 stars) 

Trained as a mercenary soldier, Darius was a man of decisive action. He was also a man of compassion. Seeing a young slave woman about to become the spoils of war, he claimed her for his own. Marrying her before God and king, he made her a free and respectable soldier's wife.

Brice was born a slave. Abused and beaten, she learned quickly to avoid being noticed and to stay away from men. When her master's walls fell to enemy forces, she ran, but not fast enough. In Darius' offer she found deliverance, but experience had taught her to fear power such as his. Could she trust in his protection, or had she traded one form of slavery for another?

The Crown of Anavrea (The Theodoric Saga #1) by Rachel Rossano (Non-magic fantasy)

Amazon eBook $2.99 (4.9/5 stars)

In a time when castles were the strongest...in a place where combat was face to face...Labren was on the run. He hid his true name and he admitted it freely. 

In a time when slavery was legal...in a place where kings were all-powerful...Eve, a slave, appeared in the right place at the right time. 

Eve saved his life. In return, he offered her the opportunity of freedom. She did not know what would happen to her if she chose to accept his proposal, but she did know the consequences of rejecting it.

Exchange by Rachel Rossano (Sci-fi short story)
Amazon eBook $0.99 (4.4/5 stars)

Isolated on a distant planet, she is incarcerated for a crime she doesn't recall. She has no name, no idea where she came from, or why she is injected with drugs daily to hold these vital facts from her grasp. Despite small rebellions, she wastes away, worn and losing hope of ever being whole again.

Then he arrives. Claiming to hold the answers burned daily from her brain, he offers her a way out. But at what cost?



Time for a Duke by Ruth J. Hartman (Time travel Regency)
Amazon eBook $0.99 (3.2/5 stars)

Izzy Hodgkin just wants an adventure. Who knew that involved being locked in a closet in 2012, then being transported to 1812 when the door is opened later?

Charles Hamilton Douglas Wade, Duke of Bramblewood Green, thinks he will never find the right woman. When he opens his closet door one day, imagine his surprise to find a woman in there. And she’s from the future!

Will Izzy stick with her plan to return to 2012 America to achieve her goal of financial independence? Or will she and Charles find happiness in 1812?

Dreamspell by Tamara Leigh (Time travel Medieval)
Amazon eBook $2.99 (4.8/5 stars)

A time to live. A time to die. A time to dream.

Sleep disorders specialist Kennedy Plain has been diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor. When her research subject dies after trying to convince her he has achieved dream-induced time travel and her study is shelved, she enlists herself as a subject to complete her research. But when she dreams herself into 14th-century England and falls into the hands of Fulke Wynland, a man history has condemned as a murderer, she must not only stay alive long enough to find a way to return to her own time, but prevent Fulke from murdering his young nephews. And yet, the more time she spends with the medieval warrior, the more difficult it is to believe he is capable of committing the heinous crime for which he has been reviled for 600 years.

Baron Fulke Wynland has been granted guardianship of his brother’s heirs despite suspicions that he seeks to steal their inheritance. When the king sends a mysterious woman to care for the boys, Fulke is surprised by the lady's hostility toward him--and more surprised to learn she is to be his wife. But when his nephews are abducted, the two must overcome their mutual dislike to discover the boys' fate. What Fulke never expects is to feel for this woman whose peculiar speech, behavior, and talk of dream travel could see her burned as a witch.

Kiss Me, I'm Irish (Tennessee Waltz #1) by Bella Street (Time travel Contemporary)
Amazon eBook $2.99 (4.4/5 stars)

Book One in the Tennessee Waltz Series.

Emily Musgrave is heading a direction she never wanted to go in Regency England--namely a convent to turn her from her waywardness. But it's more loneliness than rebellion that motivates her to escape her certain fate.

Liam Jackson is going nowhere fast in modern-day Tennessee. Playing his Dobro in seedy bars and backward dives along with his fiddling sister, Tinker, is doing nothing for his music career--and even less for the dark places in his soul.

Pixie mischief can not only change time-lines, it can change hearts. Because sometimes a girl just needs a little magic in her life.

Mistletoe Everywhere (Christmas) by Linda Banche (Regency with fantasy elements)
Amazon eBook $2.99 (4.0/5 stars - two reviews)

A man who sees mistletoe everywhere is mad--or in love.

Charles sees mistletoe. Not surprising, since he's spending Christmas at Mistletoe Manor. But why does no one else see it? And why does it always appear above Penelope, the despised lady who jilted him after their last meeting?

Penelope wants nothing to do with the faithless Charles, the man who cried off after she accepted his marriage proposal. But he still stirs her heart--and he stares at her all the time. Or rather, he stares at the empty ceiling over her head…What does he see? 

According to folklore, mistletoe is the plant of peace. Can Penelope and Charles, so full of hurt and anger, heed the mistletoe's message and make peace?

I'll list more $3 or less clean fantasy romance as I find them. Happy reading!!

*Most of the links posted here contain my affiliate ID, which means I earn a tiny commission on every sale placed through one of my links. If you are uncomfortable with that, feel free to strip my ID from the link, refresh the book page, and then make your purchase. Thank you!

☺