Last Chance for love by Sandi Hampton

The Wild Rose Press/Siren Publishing

ISBN 1601542968

Western Romance

Sweet

203 pages

 
When gunfighter Wade Forbes agrees to help Lean MacKenzie get her herd to market, he plans to do his good deed and not get involved with the lovely Leah, but as they make the dangerous journey, their attraction to each other grows.  Can Wade walk away from his last chance for love? 

Sandi Hampton
www.sandihampton.com
www.myspace.com/sandihampton
Last Chance for Love - available -e book 8/13/08 print 9/26/08 - The Wild Rose Press

STARQUEST by Hywela Lyn
Romantic Futuristic (full length)
Published by The Wild Rose Press
Ebook - 29th August 2008
Paperback: 27th February 2009
ISBN: 1-60154-355-7

BLURB:  When Jestine Darnell is rescued from her sabotaged starship by the crew of the Destiny her only objective is to complete her mission and keep her promise to save a world from slavery.  Love is the last thing on her mind.  However, she has not counted on losing her heart to Kerry Marchant  the ship’s second in command, who makes his distrust of her painfully obvious, despite the chemistry between them.   The completion of her mission has consequences that neither of them could have foreseen.

Enter Dahll Tarron, who becomes involved in a long and dangerous quest to find the Destiny.  Fates become intertwined, perils shared, culminating in the realization that sometimes love may be so close that there is a danger it will not be recognized until it is too late…

DANCING WITH FATE by Hywela Lyn
Romantic Fantasy (Novella) Sixth in the 'Song Of the Muses' series
Published by the Wild Rose Press
Ebook release 1 August 2008 Print as part of Book II of the three book paperback anthology to be released in October

Buy Link:

BLURB:  When Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance, is assigned to revisit the land of Wales, her task seems simple enough.  She is unaware there is a hidden agenda.  Before she can return to Olympus her path crosses that of the mysterious Myrddin, and her heart is lost.

Myrddin is promised to another.  His mind is set on the dangerous task that lies before him, and the woman he has sworn to save.  Nevertheless, he cannot deny the growing attraction between him and the beautiful stranger he meets along the way.  
Terpsichore and Myrddin face a deadly force that threatens to part them forever.  Is she destined to lose the only man she has ever truly loved?  Is there nothing she can do to save him?  Finally, when all seems lost, in desperation she finds herself DANCING WITH FATE.

FIRST PLACE:

I BID ONE AMERICAN, a Regency romantic mystery by Amy Corwin

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

An American heiress nobody wants; a duke every woman desires; and a murder no one expects.

When Nathaniel, Duke of Peckham, meets Charlotte, he’s suspicious of her indifference.  Too many women have sought—and failed—to catch him.  Happily, Charlotte is more interested in dead pharaohs than English dukes and laughs at both him and his suspicions.

Her resistance crumbles, however, when a debutante seeking to entrap Nathaniel gets murdered.  All too soon, his reputation as a misogynist makes him a suspect, and Charlotte impulsively comes to his aide.

Unfortunately, both are unaware that a highwayman interested in rich heiresses is following Charlotte.  And that another debutante lies dead in Nathaniel’s carriage.

http://www.amycorwin.com

SECOND PLACE:

Retribution! The Champion Chronicles: Book One by M. Flagg

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Dreams often reflect hidden desires . . . even if they are terrifying. Michael Malone, a unique creature of the night, has taken down three evil sorcerers. He’s not entirely successful. Faced with eternal suffering, a compassionate soul helps this Champion create an intricate fantasy until he can be rescued by the Georgian Circle. His tale of passion and suspense is tinged with many truths. Eternal devotion to a Guardian of Souls and a troubled teenager forces this mystically enhanced vampire to dream of survival. He yearns to be in Alana’s arms. He vows to protect Lukas, his mortal son. As he confronts his guilty, undead life his imagination runs wild. But Michael begins to lose hope, believing that there is no such thing as redemption. Why did the commanding Champion jeopardize his own immortality? Michael Malone has two very good reasons. One is revenge and the other is love.

www.Mflagg-author.com

THIRD PLACE:

ALL MY HOPES AND DREAMS, a Cactus Rose, by Celia Yeary

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

To escape an arranged marriage, beautiful, proper Cynthia Harrington from East Texas impulsively marries Ricardo Romero, a striking, sensual Spaniard who ranches on the far western edge of the Texas frontier. Innocently, she steps into a hotbed of anger, rivalry, and strong wills. As she struggles to gain a foothold in the hostile household and foreign ranch community, she finds that her biggest challenge is to make her husband love her.

Ricardo creates his own problems by marrying an outsider, angering his mother, father, and his jealous ex-lady friend. Then, the Texas Rangers arrive looking for a killer, and Cynthia saves Ricardo’s mother in a confrontation with the wanted man. Ricardo realizes that his delicate bride has more grit and spunk than he thought, and his greatest trial becomes a race to pursue his own wife and persuade her to stay with him.

www.celiayeary.com

Title: Risky Tactics   

Author: Giulietta Jones   

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Line: Contemporary Sweetheart    Rosette   

Length: 13    Pages    Sweet  

Release Date    08/13/08

Blurb:

Mitch Reeves broke her heart when he put duty before pleasure, but XT Melton is a big girl now.  As long as she keeps her distance, XT is confident she can handle Mitch.  Can she stay out of the handsome policeman's arms?  He's come back to town with a determined look on his face, and the distance between them is closing fast.

Review:

Risky Tactics is a very enjoyable love story and well worth reading. I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Out for revenge, XT Melton is going to the local pub to meet Barry, the man she knows is two-timing her. She isn't in love with him: she just thinks it's time he is taught a lesson on behaviour and she is going to give it to him.

The tall, handsome Mitch Reeves is the man XT really loves but, unfortunately, circumstances had come between them and they had separated a long time ago. Fate, however, is watching and decides to take a hand ...

This story is very well written, the characters and places described so well, you can see them. I laughed at the way XT gets her own back on the slimy Barry and was delighted when Mitch arrives on the scene  ... but I'm not going to spoil it for you.

Reviewed by Mawgana

WRDF Review

Title: Reason To Believe

Author: Leslie Ann Dennis

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Line: Contemporary Champagne Rose

Length: 176 pages Hot

Release 8/1/2008

1-60154-277-1

Blurb:

Lane Douglas is a die-hard realist, so when her superstitious grandfather tells her he will die if the tree planted long ago in his honor in Scotland is chopped down, she doesn't buy it for a second.  But when her grandfather's health starts a downward slide, Lane hops on a plane and flies across the ocean to convince the landowner to spare the old, diseased oak. To her surprise the landowner is a devilishly handsome man named Conlan MacGregor. Practical Lane came prepared for a fight to save a silly tree, but she soon finds herself fighting to save her heart from falling under the magical charms of the hunky laird of Wolfscrag castle.

REVIEW:

Magic and superstition clash with twenty-first century concerns in Leslie Ann Dennis’s romantic tale of love in the Scottish Highlands

Lane Douglas’s grandfather is dying.  He believes his fate is tied to that of an oak tree, planted by his father when he was born in far-away Scotland.  An oak tree that is now diseased and dying.  Lane leaves her home in Dallas and crosses the Atlantic to plead with the landowner to try and save the tree, more to please her grandfather than anything.  She has no time for such mumbo-jumbo, but finds herself swept away by Conlan McGregor, the sexy young laird of Wolfscrag Castle.  With his belief in mysticism and strict adherence to tradition, his ways at first clash with those of practical Lane, but the pair find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other as they battle to save her grandfather’s tree.

Conlan is an engaging character, with enough complexities and contradictions to him to keep the reader intrigued.  Lane, unfortunately, is less convincing.  It’s hard to believe a practical modern businesswoman would be so willingly buffeted by the whims of fate and destiny.  And some of the minor characters, such as the staff at Wolfscrag, are so thinly drawn they’re almost caricatures.  But the story belongs to Lane and Conlon, and their mutual attraction sparkles off the page, leading via some cunning plot twists to a happy-ever-after ending with plenty of “aaah” factor.

“Reason to Believe” is a light, easy read that will leave you with a deliciously warm glow.

Reviewed by Joanne Hall

WRDF Review

Title: Last Chance for Love

Author: Sandi Hampton

Genre: Historical Western

Length: Novella/195 pages

Publisher: The Wild

Heat: Sweet

ISBN: 1-60154-296-8

Blurb:

Leah McKenzie wasn't about to run away again.  Over the last few years, she had run and run.  But no more.  And when notorious gunfighter Wade Forbes agreed to help get her herd to market, she was sure she could save her ranch.  But who would save her from her dangerous attraction to the handsome gunfighter?

When Wade Forbes agreed to help Leah and her father, he decided he'd do his good deed, then move on.  But he'd not reckoned on falling for the lovely Leah.  Knowing he wasn't right for the young woman, Wade knew he had to leave.  But could he ride away and miss his last chance for love?

Review:

Reagardless of what genre you enjoy reading, Last Chance for Love is one not to be missed. I‘m not the typical western romance reader. In fact, up to a couple years ago I just didn’t read them. In recent years, I have come to appreciate and enjoy them and this book has gone to the top of my list of favorites.

Ms. Hampton crafted wonderful characters in this tale. I didn’t rush through the book and I’m glad I didn’t. It allowed me the time to really get to know these characters and savor their uniqueness. They won’t be soon forgotten. McKenzie’s feisty western temperment was perfectly enacted but not overdone. She is still very much soft and female. Wade Forbes is definitely a hero to fall in love with. He has his Alpha tendencies as a hardened gunfighter should, but he has a quiet strength about him as well. He doesn’t always say whats on his mind—not until he needs to.

Secondaries can pose problems for authors whether they are just mundane and tedious or so interesting they steal the show. The other characters in this book added just what was necessary to the story without being over the top. From the loyal cowhands to the sultry Consuela and on to the baddie of the story, these secondary characters satisfied their roles and added the necessary flavor to make this a complete and fullfilling tale.

Last Chance for Love is an endearing story worth reading more than once. It is well-plotted and written in interesting language. I loved that it is listed as a sweet romance, yet there is enough sexual tension to keep you turning the pages to see how these two get together in the end. It’s a story of learning to trust and learning to love. I applaud Ms. Hampton and look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Review by Cindy K. Green

WRDF Review

Title: NovelTea Next Door   

Author: Cindy K. Green   

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Line: Mystery/suspense Crimson    Mini   

Length: 107    Pages    Sweet   

Release Date    07/30/08

Blurb:

Second in the NovelTea Series:

Government agent Grant Gerard knows he's cocky. It's the reason he can do this job day after day. He's always kept his life simple and uncomplicated…until destiny took a turn when he met bookstore/tea shop owner Juliet Truesdale.

Armed with a new lead pertaining to known criminal spook, Alexis Guthrie, Grant enlists Juliet to aid the investigation which ends up at the door of her neighbour, Adam Trudeau. This investment banker neighbour of hers seems harmless enough despite his annoying interest in Juliet. Will this turn of events only usher in more dangerous or even deadly situations for the duo? Can Grant allow Juliet into his heart and keep her safe from the danger looming in the distance?

Review:

Although part of a series this book can stand alone. Ms Green leaves the ending open for the next book, however she does wrap it up enough for the reader to find satisfactory closure.

She creates a great ‘gum shoe’ atmosphere without rendering the story dated, creating a modern hero with a twist. Juliet and Grant are fascinating in their interaction with each other and complement each other beautifully. A very human character, with a slight rough edge to him Grant is a great hero with a deep attraction to Juliet- slightly naive with a hint of prudishness. I was drawn into their relationship which develops alongside the mystery. This isn’t a roller coaster ride of suspense, it has a slower, steadier pace, yet remains engaging throughout. The romantic elements of the plot are tightly drawn with a faster pace than the mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it and wanted to rush out and buy the previous book in the series.

The book is written in the first person from Grant’s POV. This may put some readers off but I didn’t struggle with it at all. I think Ms Green pulls it off successfully and it enhances the reader’s involvement rather than detracting from the story.  I can’t wait for the next one in the series.

Overall, a very successful ‘sweet mini’ and definitely worth a read.

Reviewed by Vasiliki Scurfield

WRDF Review

Title: Cardinal Sin

Author: Margaret Tanner

Genre: Contemporary

Page Length: 198 pages

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

196 pages Sensual

Release 8/15/2008

ISBN 1-60154-288-7

Blurb:

One bloody night Bryce Harrington thought savagely, and this happens. He had committed the cardinal sin of getting his secretary pregnant, and now he had to pay the price—offer marriage. Caroline Dennison had committed the cardinal sin of falling in love with her boss. While her brother risks his life in the jungles of Vietnam, and her friend, a draft dodger, is on the run from the authorities and needs her help, Caroline has another desperate battle on her hands.  How to win Bryce's love.

Review:

Caroline Dennison has the dream job in a way, yet it is pure torture.  She has it bad for her boss, and only her roommate, Kerry knows what she has been going through.  When Bryce Harrington’s secretary goes out sick, then quits, it leaves Caroline in a position she has coveted ever since she started working for Harrington and Son Construction.  Her overblown nerves are not enough to allow her to back out of the arrangement, even though her unrequited love for her boss keeps her on edge. Oh yeah, he is a real piece of work, is her Mr. Bryce A. Harrington.  Cranky on the best of days, he always played the playboy with one woman or another demanding his time during work.  At times Caroline feels as though she would love to scratch their eyes out, she knows it is not her place.  She is desperately in love with him, her brother Andy knows, her best friend Kerry knows and disapproves, as does her boyfriend Trevor, but Bryce doesn’t know she is alive.  Not even in her new position as his personal secretary seems to change that until the fateful night of the company Christmas party….

There is a lot going on around Bryce, and the pique he feels at his personal secretary’s illness is not making his day any better.  Finding and training a replacement is going to be a pain, but it should be only temporary.  He knows what faces him in the typing pool, yet that will have to do for now.  The girl released to him is a quiet mouse, shy, plain, but he soon finds out she is quite good and very efficient.  Her quiet manner, dulcet tones and pleasant attitude in spite of her nervousness have him looking twice at the gem he found.  When he finds out that his former secretary has quit, he soon promotes Caroline to the spot without hesitation.  Bryce has more than just business problems on his mind.  His father is having heart trouble, he has had several setbacks with project deadlines, workers striking on sites, and one project in particular that is way behind.  If that is not enough, his snobbish mother keeps pushing him to marry and shoving any number of what she considers to be “eligible females” in his path.  He guesses it might not be too bad if any of them had a brain, could carry on an intelligent conversation, and not looking only at the size of his pocket book.

Margaret Tanner has written a very memorable book in Cardinal Sin.  Set in Australian in the days of the Viet Nam war, and around the political unrest of the very unpopular conscription of young Australians to fight, it brings back memories of that day and age in the mid 1960’s.  The demonstrations around the draft echoed and were occurring in both Australia and the US.  Faced with her beloved brother’s graduation from the Military Academy and possible assignment to a warzone, Caroline is fit to be tied.  Along with her roommate Kerry’s anti-war bent and her boyfriend being a conscientious objector to the war, AND Caroline’s budding relationship with her boss, the fears she harbours for the safety of all involved add unwanted stress to an already overstressed life.  She knows Andy is headed for war, and feels helpless in the face of what he considers his duty.  Kerry and Trevor’s vehement disavowal of the war is also giving her anxiety.  The stressors around her are only increased by her feelings for Bryce.  Neither she nor Bryce are ready for the events occurring after the company Christmas Barbeque, nor the resulting problems.  Cardinal Sin is a poignant and memorable look back, and also a delicious story written about and around strong characters you won’t soon forget.  This is definitely a book you will go back to again, a keeper you shouldn’t miss.

Yours in good reading,

Reviewed by Rose!~

WRDF Review

Title: Accepting Charity   
Author: Kara Lynn Russell   
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Inspirational White Mini rose   
Length: 105    Pages    Sweet   
Release Date    08/20/08

Blurb:

Orchard Hill Residents – lock up your hearts!

Pansy Parker and Misty Green are rivals in romance.  Each believes she is the town's best matchmaker.  Now they're going to settle the question for once and for all.  They're keeping track to see who can make the most matches in a year's time.  Both Misty and Pansy are determined to be the winner.  No heart is safe in Orchard Hill – not even their own.

Review:

David Daniels is at his wit's end trying to adjust to being guardian for his three year old niece, Charity.  He fears that her disability may be more than he can handle.  Then he meets speech therapist Sarah Rogers.  She offers to help David cope until school starts and Charity is enrolled in the early childhood program.  Soon, Sarah realizes she wants more than to be David's advisor and Charity's teacher.  Will she find the courage to ask before Labor Day comes around and school starts again?

Sarah Rogers notices two things about David Daniels.  He is new in town and he is uncomfortable with the three year old by his side.  Recognizing Charity, Sarah introduces herself to David and learns he is Charity’s uncle and new guardian.  Sarah’s training as a speech therapist is David’s salvation.  Being single and somewhat estranged from the girl, David knows nothing about caring for his special needs niece.  This is pointed out in the custody battle with Charity’s aunt.  Desperate to honor his deceased sister’s wishes, David asks Sarah to go beyond the bounds of her training, never anticipating how far that would be.

ACCEPTING CHARITY is a sweet, in-your-corner story that has you snarling at the villain.  I was a little confused with the beginning.  The reader is introduced to several characters in a short period of time that didn’t seem to be part of the story.  I believe this is a series that begins and ends each book with matchmakers as they continue a contest for the most matches.  I wasn’t aware of this when I started reading and it was a little puzzling.  Once I figured out what was going on, I can see what the author has planned.

The main story with Charity will pull at your heartstrings.  The girl is endearing and brings the two main characters into the story with ease.  Ms Russell has a good flow to her writing that is comfortable and not jarring. The characters were clearly drawn and engaging.  As for the antagonist, I don’t know if this was intentional but every time this character came on the page, I expected her to have a curious interest in puppies, especially spotted ones.  Woof!  She was deliciously bad.

I absolutely loved the way Ms Russell tied everything together.  The ending was more than satisfying.

Reviewed by Carol A. Spradling

WRDF Review