Review: Rekindled Moments (Moments in Time #2) by Dori Lavelle

Rekindled Moments (Moments in Time #2) by Dori Lavelle

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Amazon

Synopsis:

The truth will always find a way out.

Carlene Adams' new life has been an illusion, her newfound joy just for rent. The life she craves can't really belong to a girl who is responsible for someone's death.

Her greatest fear has been realized. Nick Johnson, her second chance at love, has discovered her true identity and disappeared from her life.

She will need to find a way to move on without Nick. But the memories of their time together haunt her relentlessly. As Serendipity's Businessman of the Year, his face is everywhere—in magazines, on the television screen, and behind her eyelids. Soon, rumors about her past cause her life to spin out of control, and she finds herself even further from her dreams.

But Carlene is good at hiding from the past. She's done it once before. She can do it again. She can leave her hometown and begin again somewhere new. But she can't move on without telling Nick the truth about the life he thinks she took, and everything that came before.

Review:

I was reluctant to read Entangled Moments (the first book) because was it a little bit out of my usual genres. But when I did, I enjoyed it a lot and then I read Rekindled Moments and the author simply blew me away.

This second installment had been written so beautifully and sometimes poetically. I could feel the heartbreak and emotion of the characters with each word and sentence. I could feel how painful life was for them and how much strength they had to pick themselves up after going through so much loss, and torment. The storyline was unique and held so much depth, that I couldn't put the novella down.

I'm terribly surprised with myself. I never thought I would enjoy the genre, but Dori Lavelle has gotten me hooked. Hats off to her and her wonderful writing style and for being the first author to write something in a genre I'm starting to love more and more with each read. I can't wait to read more from her.

5 out 5 date trees

Review: The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey

The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey
Genre: General Fiction, Mystery, Romance
Format: Paperback
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

Synopsis:

When her widower father drowns at sea, Gemma Hardy is taken from her native Iceland to Scotland to live with her kind uncle and his family. But the death of her doting guardian leaves Gemma under the care of her resentful aunt, and it soon becomes clear that she is nothing more than an unwelcome guest at Yew House. When she receives a scholarship to a private school, ten-year-old Gemma believes she's found the perfect solution and eagerly sets out again to a new home. However, at Claypoole she finds herself treated as an unpaid servant.

To Gemma's delight, the school goes bankrupt, and she takes a job as an au pair on the Orkney Islands. The remote Blackbird Hall belongs to Mr. Sinclair, a London businessman; his eight-year-old niece is Gemma's charge. Even before their first meeting, Gemma is, like everyone on the island, intrigued by Mr. Sinclair. Rich (by Gemma's standards), single, flying in from London when he pleases, Hugh Sinclair fills the house with life. An unlikely couple, the two are drawn to each other, but Gemma's biggest trial is about to begin: a journey of passion and betrayal, redemption and discovery, that will lead her to a life of which she's never dreamed.

Set in Scotland and Iceland in the 1950s and '60s, The Flight of Gemma Hardy--a captivating homage to Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre--is a sweeping saga that resurrects the timeless themes of the original but is destined to become a classic all its own

Review:

Jane Eyre is my all-time favorite book. I fell in love with it when I was 11 and I’m still in love with it now. I love the book so much that I actually bought a hand full of Jane Eyre retellings so I can read a fraction of the original Jane Eyre in different perspectives and themes. But a majority of the retellings I’ve read were just plain awful. But The Flight of Gemma Hardy was actually a refreshing best in all the retellings I’ve read of Jane Eyre.

I think one of the mistakes that authors have made when they wrote a Jane Eyre retelling, was skipping Jane’s childhood. Thus, lacking heavily in character development. The Flight of Gemma Hardy, on the other hand, started in childhood and spent a considerable amount of time elaborating on Gemma Hardy’s early years, her struggles, and how and why she is the person she is now.

What makes this book really unique was the authors original touches to the book. For example, the book was set in the early 40’s and 50’s, the dialogue and occurrences were all different. Jane in this book actually had another boy in interest and it wasn’t always about Mr. Rochester.

Though I adored this book. The details and plot were confusing and really didn’t catch my interest. The books plot is a lot different than the original Jane Eyre book – so I spent the majority of the book waiting for the ex-wife to pop up only to figure out that there wasn’t one. So things, got really confusing and I just couldn’t catch on the last few chapters of the book. The book was very unpredictable at times. I don’t know if I should welcome that or not.

Another area the book was lacking was the obvious tension between Gemma (Jane) and Mr. Sinclair (Rochester). Instead of the romance gradually growing with tension and friendship. The entire romance felt forced and that disappointed me a little.

In short, The flight of Gemma Hardy was a wonderfully written book. It was a great retelling of Jane Eyre and it still had its originalities that makes the book unpredictable and different. Despite it’s flaws, the book was a breath of fresh air.

3/5 Stars

Review: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Warm Bodies

by Isaac Marion
Genre: Horror, Romance
Format: Audiobook

Buy: Barnes & Noble / Amazon / Book Depository

Synopsis:

'R' is a zombie. He has no name, no memories and no pulse, but he has dreams. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.

Amongst the ruins of an abandoned city, R meets a girl. Her name is Julie and she is the opposite of everything he knows - warm and bright and very much alive, she is a blast of colour in a dreary grey landscape. For reasons he can't understand, R chooses to save Julie instead of eating her, and a tense yet strangely tender relationship begins.

This has never happened before. It breaks the rules and defies logic, but R is no longer content with life in the grave. He wants to breathe again, he wants to live, and Julie wants to help him. But their grim, rotting world won't be changed without a fight...

Review:

This book has recently turned into a movie and here I am writing a review about the book six months later. I took the liberty in getting the audiobook instead since I don't have much time to actually pick up a book anymore.

The movie portrayed the R and Julie as teenagers. But in the books, it seemed like R was a little bit over his twenties and as for Julie, I'm not sure. The audiobook was very strange and choppy. I've listened to many audiobooks this year and this is the first time a book was actually choppy and confusing. There are many times throughout the entire book that I felt that I was missing a piece or R was M and M is Julia. The voices weren't very distinct and the whole thing was just a jumbled mess of thoughts and words and instances.

The thing about the book was that the storyline actually worked and could even be realistic. It wasn't just about the romance, it was more than that. The Zombies are coming back to life and the Bonies (Skeleton versions of Zombies) are trying to find a way to stop the corpses from coming back to life and well stay dead and brain-hungry.

The book was a lot more graphic, realistic and held scenes and characters that really added in the spice to the entire thing. Aside from the changes here and there, the movie actually stayed true to the book.

Overall, as much as I wanted to really love the book, I only ended up just enjoying it with an "it was okay" in my head. I didn't feel much of for the characters nor the storyline. For me, I felt that it lacked a little something. I guess, after reading Feed by Mira Grant. I can't bring myself to love any other zombie book but Feed.

3.5/5 Stars

Quick Review: Touch Me and Tango (Dance 'n' Love #2) by Alicia and Roy Street

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Title: Touch Me and Tango (Dance 'n' Love #2)
Author: Alicia and Roy Street
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: eBook for Review

Parker Richardson grew up early. At seventeen he took care of his mother and younger sisters and began running his late father’s gardening business. Strong and down-to-earth, nothing knocked him off his feet until he met Tanya Gentilliano. The spoiled, selfish and outrageously beautiful young dancer took him for a spin that left him dizzy for years to come.

Over a decade has passed, and Tanya, a rising star in the world of ballroom dance, has traveled internationally, winning over audiences with her clean technique, dazzling smile and showgirl legs. But after an SOS phone call from her weird-and-wild mom, she rushes home to the quiet coastal village on Long Island’s East End and runs smack into Parker Richardson.

Seeing each other again ignites the same fiery attraction and frustration between them. Plus a secret danger that will change both of their lives forever.

I actually read the this book before the first book. I was actually surprised when I figured out that you don't really have to read the first one to read the second.

Touch Me and Tango is the sequel to Kiss Me, Dancer, which was a lot better than this one. This one is about Parker's (Casey's older brother) and his old girlfriend reuniting and sparks start flying again despite how much hurt they both feel after 10 years of no correspondence what so ever. Tanya (his old girlfriend) is now, a big international dance star and Parker earns his living by running fathers gardening business.

The storyline is a little bit more fast-paced than the first book. And I found Tanya and Parker's I still love you but I don't think you love me anymore cycle. It was annoying but I can't help but get over it because the book was so damn romantic.

Another wonderful romance from Alicia and Roy Street!

Review: Kiss Me, Dancer (Dance 'n' Love #1) by Alicia & Roy Street

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Title: Kiss Me, Dancer (Dance 'n' Love #1)
Author: Alicia and Roy Street
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: eBook for Review

A roller coaster of a romance between a divorced dad and a dance teacher.

Dance instructor Casey Richardson takes an immediate dislike to the brash, arrogant Drew Byrne when he pulls his nine-year-old son out of her “silly” dance class. Still, she cannot help noticing his smoking hot body and bedroom eyes.

A working class girl raised in the small fishing and farming community on Long Island’s rural North Fork, Casey knows all too well how easily a girl can get hurt by the notorious womanizing hunks that flourish on the South Fork in the Hamptons. Men like Drew Byrne.

The last thing she needs is for him to be the only one who can save her from losing her dance academy, the dream she has worked so hard to turn into a reality.

Remarrying is definitely off Drew’s list of things to do. As head of his Fortune 500 trucking company, he enjoys his wealth and has no problem keeping it a game with some of the world’s most beautiful women. So why should his son’s challenging, straight talking dance teacher get under his skin in a way no other female has?

Sure, Casey Richardson has luminous brown eyes and a lean, taut body that drives him nuts, but he’s seen plenty in his day with the supermodels he is used to dating. He tells himself it is because Casey is the only one who was able to bring his shy, uncommunicative son out of his shell. But even that isn’t it.

Bewildered, Drew decides he just might make use of those ridiculous psychic readings he won at North Cove’s Annual Fourth Of July Bazaar raffle. Little does he know the local psychic who donated the readings has taken off last minute for some trekking in Tibet —and Casey was swayed into substituting for her with phone readings to the anonymous winner.

Adult contemporary romance is like a maze. A maze built out of so many books that it is so difficult to find anything good in the genre... until I found this one. I'm so glad I got an email with this eBook waiting for me to munch on!

Casey Richardson has a dream. A dream that she made a reality: she teaches dance at her very own dance school. But it seems too good to be true. Her dance school is threatened and she has less than two-three months before she closes it completely. On the day she received the bad news, she meets a very dashing, rich and harsh womanizer that makes her insides melt and her groin ache. No way is she going to let herself fall in love with him, she's been down that road before and she is not going to repeat her mistakes. Especially when she can avoid it now.

Kiss Me, Dancer is a contemporary romance that had so much depth, emotion, passion and love. At first glance at the cover, I expected to read one of those sweet, fluffy and funny novels that really didn't have much depth and had more of the straight to the point love that is too easy. This book slapped that cover away and gave you reality that was written by a great duo of authors writing from both a male and female side. The outcome of the perfect tag team is simply AH-MEH-ZING.

Casey is a humble, sweet and sexy (in her own way) character. She is incredibly likable and any reader would love her and treat her like their very own book best friend. Drew on the other hand, is an incredibly realistic male lead. I've read a lot of books written by women and they almost got the male character right, ALMOST. But this one is spot on realistic. Secondary characters fit in so well and I'm pretty sure the story will be nothing without them. The storyline was in depth, detailed, wonderfully constructed and simply perfect.

Hats off to the Streets for their beautifully written romantic story of real life troubles, and heart ache's. A brilliant script for a chick flick we girls would love to cry and swoon about!

Review: French Lessons by Ellen Sussman

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Title: French Lessons
Author: Ellen Sussman
Publisher: Canvas
Genre: Romance, Contemporary Romance
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

A single day in Paris changes the lives of three Americans as they each set off to explore the city with a French tutor, learning about language, love, and loss as their lives intersect in surprising ways.

Josie, Riley, and Jeremy have come to the City of Light for different reasons: Josie, a young high school teacher, arrives in hopes of healing a broken heart. Riley, a spirited but lonely expat housewife, struggles to feel connected to her husband and her new country. And Jeremy, the reserved husband of a renowned actress, is accompanying his wife on a film shoot, yet he feels distant from her world.

As they meet with their tutors—Josie with Nico, a sensitive poet; Riley with Phillippe, a shameless flirt; and Jeremy with the consummately beautiful Chantal—each succumbs to unexpected passion and unpredictable adventures. Yet as they traverse Paris’s grand boulevards and intimate, winding streets, they uncover surprising secrets about one another—and come to understand long-buried truths about themselves.

I used to love France and all it's beautiful glory as the city of love and passion but somehow this book ruined it for me. Now, I see France as a beautiful city of disloyalty, cheaters and two timers. When I first read the synopsis of the book, I expected exactly that. LOVE. New found love ignited by French tutors unto their American Students who are lonely, neglected and enraged with the problems of their life.

But I did not get what I expected. What I got was a tragedy that annoyed me, writing that wasn't creative and lacked substance and overall, a load of cheating. Cheating between friends, cheating between a male tutor and someone else's wife, cheating between a female teacher and someones husband, and more cheating. All the cheating and disloyalty can be reality. But honestly, how can this book be about pure love when there's a lot of random cheating going around.

Okay, fine. The book was an okay read. I just don't appreciate the writing style much nor the outlook of love the book is giving out. The book could be something a lot better but instead, I feel like I'm reading the first few drafts of the book. This might be my own fault. I expected too much and got not even a little bit of what I expected, hence the bad rating and a whole lot of bad impressions.

Review: Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades of Grey #1) by E. L. James

NOT FOR YOUNGER READERS

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Title: Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades of Grey #1)
Author: E. L. James
Genre: Erotica, Fiction: Romance
Format: Paperback

Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.

This book is intended for mature audiences.

Irritating but not as bad as I expected

I only read it because half the people were all "OMG, IT SUCKS" and the other half are all "OMG, IT ROCKS". In a situation like this there is only one solution. And that is to make up my own mind about this book. So I got it and read it.

At first I was really annoyed at the fact that the writing and dialogue was so British and the characters were based in Seattle, USA. I get it James wanted to be "mainstream" but seriously! It was so bad and overwhelmingly irritating. If you're going to write about people living in the States and they're 100% American, try and do some research on how they talk and the words they use. I had to fade out their actual location and their nationality so the dialogue wouldn't be so annoying. ARGH!

After I got over the dialogue, I got irritated by Ana's use of words... like Jeez, Oh my, Inner Goddess, Holy Moses... Seriously woman. You're like on the verge to commit yourself as a "Submissive" and you don't have the decency to actually learn how to swear. She even says f*** and sh**. I don't see why she can't do it instead of Oh my, holy moses and all that crap. Tsk.

Yea, sure... the book had a lot of sex, BDSM and bad dialogue. But when you skip all the BDSM, and read further... James actually lessens the bad dialogue and simply focuses on something else. This book is more about a girl trying to breach and set a man free from his demons. Isn't that what most romance books are all about?

The book actually had character development... yes... with a bad annoying character like Ana. But you get used to her. Well, I did. But every time she says Oh my, I get annoyed still and makes me hate her some more. There is a lot of romance, even if the guy is a little cold. Towards the end, Ana actually comes to her senses and Christian is beginning to change and his wall begins to crumble.

I knew what to expect when I began to read it and I expected to hate the book but I still kept an open mind about it and at the moment, I say it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I think it might be because I skipped all the BDSM and stuck to whatever angst and romance James has lurking in this book.

2.5/5 Stars 

Neutral

Review: Short Stories - Inkspell Publishing

Hey all! I'm trying to catch up with my reading challenge on Goodreads! I was 12 books behind but thanks to these reads wonderful reads and novellas I've made it to 8! Woohoooo!

Synopsis: Life is complicated when you are pregnant at 17. But when the father doesn’t know and he is marrying another right in front of you, it is bound to break your heart. What does Ellie do? Cry on her daughter’s shoulders? (Goodreads)

Review: This is such a sweet novella! Naya Nikki is really talented. I can't wait to read her full-length books, she writes like Nora Roberts and thats saying something big!

Synopsis: Amelia loves Aaron, her fiancé. She also loves Damon. Can one be in love with two men at the same time? How do you define infidelity? Or fidelity (Goodreads)

Review: Though short, I loved this a lot more than Shilpa's earlier novella. This could be a start of a very promising full length romance!

Synopsis: The one person Celina fought so hard to get over five years ago is back, and has kidnapped her. He says he wants a second chance to prove his love. Will she allow him to glide back into her life and heart? (Goodreads)

Review: How in the world does Cece do it?! She writes such great romances in just a few pages. This was even better than Truly. Madly. Deeply. You. I loved the plot, Abe and his hotness. She needs to take this story and make it a full length novel of awesomeness! Wonderful short story written by a very talented writer!

Synopsis: Aynia doesn’t remember anything, save her name. Can Aeden help her remember who she is, the love they shared, and the importance of the quest for which she risked her life? Or will the power of an evil warlock shatter all they hold dear?

Review: Short stories don't usually go a long way with me. I tend to crave for more at the end of each one. I craved for more at the end of this book.
The plot was present even if the whole eBook was just 24 pages. It actually surprised me. There's not much you can do with 24 pages and yet, Peterson did a lot!

The story was set in Ireland and was about a woman losing her memory and going missing in the human world. If I read right, she's actually from the Fae world. Warlocks were also a factor in the story. Its hard to portray witches in books without them sounding so lame. In this case, the warlock was pretty badass (he's the bad guy).

3 out 5 stars for plot, characters and overall fun!

Synopsis: Nothing can shield him from the horrible dream. Nothing can protect her from a danger she can't see. (Goodreads)

Review: Another taste of WANT in a different perspective. The perspective of the predator. This short read made me pity Isaac. He's a coward but he's been fighting the feeling for so long and I never really realized it until I read this. Poor dude. I guess he just really couldn't help himself and even worse, he doesn't know how to face his problems. Tsk. 

Just a little note to all: It's better if you read this AFTER you read WANT, you'll understand it better.

Synopsis: Charlotte could never forget the first kiss from her Carny but she had a lot going on before she met him again in Astoria. Charlotte's wedding bares it all. (Goodreads)

Review: I can't get enough of Inkspell's Short stories! After my 5th one, I'm getting addicted. I wonder if there are anymore!

Charlotte's Wedding is a short story and could be a prequel to Brooke's full length novel The Carny that I'm absolutely thrilled that I have! Now, I can't wait to pick it up. This short story gives you a clear image about why and what Charlotte has been going through. It's sad really, and I can't wait to read her happing ending in The Carny.

Phew! I'm on a roll! 

Review: Once Burned (Night Prince #1) by Jeaniene Frost

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Title: Once Burned (Night Prince #1)
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble

She's a mortal with dark powers...

After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: terrifying powers that let her channel electricity and learn a person's darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude...until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world's most infamous vampire...

He's the Prince of Night...

Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all—but whatever you do, don't call him Dracula. Vlad's ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him—a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites between them, threatening to consume them both. It will take everything that they are to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.

A Jeaniene Frost book that will make you lust for more.

If I had to summarize the whole book in one word it would be "AH-MAZ-ING". Not because it is based on Dracula but because it had all the best things the urban fantasy and paranormal romance genre's can offer. Action, romance, brilliantly constructed plot, characters, and setting. 

Leila is our narrator, she's a carny with electric abilities that can literally zap you to death with one touch. And because of this ability, she is left scarred, alone, and never-been kissed. At least, she's got her 4-feet-something friend, Marty to help her through the rough times and routines at the circus and in life in general. 

Eventually, word got out about her abilities (she's psychic too), and a high-end dangerous vampire hires other vampires to kidnap and use her to find a certain Romanian Prince, Vladislav Basarab Dracul, or otherwise known as Vlad (or Dracula, but he doesn't like being called that). He can read-minds and start fires from nothing. Sounds pretty awesome to me. 

Things get really page-turning once Vlad came into the story and I, literally, could not put the book down. I've been anticipating the release of this book for almost a year. When I found out that Vlad from the Night Huntress Series was getting his own series. I couldn't help but rejoice. 

After finishing the book, I am confident enough to say, that it did not disappoint me at all. The pace of the entire book was perfect. It was not rushed, and the information to a new reader to Jeaniene Frost's books won't be overwhelming at all. It is rather, refreshing and fluid unlike other books that seem overwhelm their readers to the point of confusion. This is not the case for Once Burned. 

Instantly you will feel drawn to the characters. Leila, Vlad and even the side characters were promising in their own ways. The dialogue was fluid, snarky and sometimes hilarious (depending on the character). 

Like Frost's previous works, her plots can be a little repetitive but her characters make up for it, they're the type that you would want to always be around, despite almost getting killed once or twice. Let's just say, you can't help but connect with the characters and love them as they appear in following books. 

Overall, this long anticipated release met all my expectations with action, romance, the characters even the plot. It simply left no room for disappointment or time to put it down. It is an extremely unputdownable book. I need the next book soon!

Review: Decadent Seconds by W. Lynn Chantale

This is a day late! But at least its out! :D 

Title: Decadent Seconds
Author: W. Lynn Chantale
Publisher: Whispers Publishing
Genre: Romance, Adult
Format: eBook
Buy:  Whispers / Amazon

As a caterer, Darling gets to witness some of life’s happiest moments, but yearns for a marriage proposal of her own. After years of waiting on her beloved to pop the question, she gives up ever having a happy ending of her own and severs the relationship. When she learns she’s pregnant, she has no choice but to face her child’s father on a daily basis as well as the love and attraction she has for him.

Darryl Manning always believed Darling would be his forever. After all he didn’t need a piece of paper to show her how much he loved her, but when she leaves him to pursue her dream of owning a catering company and raising his son, he may have to rethink his views marriage. That is if he wants a second chance at family.

Decadent Seconds, an interesting name for a beautiful heart warming book. As much as I'd like to complain about it's shortness. I just can't help but feel like, its enough. 

Short books, have a knack for feeling rushed and incomplete but Chantale always, ALWAYS, writers her short books as if its the most natural thing in the world. As if, its more than 200 pages rolled into 60 and you don't even realize it until you finish it 30 minutes later. 

The author's characters were vigorous, the plot was simple and so was everything else. But it still made me tear up and my heart clench. Nothing is better than a short and heart wrenching book with steamy scenes that will probably keep you up at night (hahaha). 

I enjoyed the book and I'm hoping in the future, Chantale writes a full-length book! 

Read the excerpt below for your pleasure! :D 

About the Author:


W. Lynn Chantale resides in southeastern Michigan. Married to her high school sweetheart, they’ve been together for the last twenty years, and have three children. She has a mad affinity for milk chocolate, preferably Dove chocolate truffles or the caramel-filled squares (Godiva is acceptable), and plays the bass guitar when the Muse begs for a bit of distraction.

She’s also a member of Romance Writers of America as well Greater Detroit Romance Writers of America, Passionate Ink and Kiss of Death groups. She has one release, Seducing His Wife and a short story, Decadent Seconds under contract with Whispers Publishing. Also look for Breaking Delia’s Rules, from Breathless Press.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

... Just once she’d like to not react when she saw him. Despite the warmth knocking at the wall of her heart, Darling followed his movements to a group of similarly clad women. When they clustered around him, he raised his Nikon to his rugged face.
She loved his face, all angles and planes, and all that sharpness melted away when he smiled. Sadness and longing wiggled through a crack in her wall and squeezed her heart. They weren’t meant to be. Still she stared after him, envying the way he leaned close to one woman and lowered his camera. He gave a nod before moving away. When he passed beneath a wall sconce, the warm glow gave his smooth brown skin the fine sheen of melted chocolate. He should’ve been out of place in his black polo shirt and khaki slacks as he moved among the tuxedoes and long dresses, but his sexy smirk and camera made things easy.
The discordant clash of a body colliding with cymbals and snare drum drew Darling’s attention toward the dais next to the dance floor. A glassy-eyed young man in a tux tried to untangle his limbs from the instrument without spilling his drink. Succeeding, he then lurched onto the crowded dance floor and crashed into a couple of dancers. She shook her head when he sprawled on the floor, still trying to drink from the glass in his hand.
Not her problem. Darling regarded the decimated buffet, the food reduced to crumbs and half-dried globs of gravy—this was her problem. Swiping sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, she lifted her gaze again, this time scanning the room for the tall, sexy photographer. He was now taking pictures of the drunk on the floor. Good, she didn’t want to run into him or his camera again. Turning, she hefted the silver chafer by the handles and placed it on the rolling cart behind her.
She reached for the next chafer, moving the serving spoon aside when strong hands seized her shoulders. The spoon slipped from her grasp, splattering white sauce on her black slacks, before settling on the floor. A sensuous chuckle tickled her ear, sending warmth scurrying through her veins, and puckering her nipples. Yanking free, she spun around to glare into dark chocolate eyes. She shoved the owner of those eyes and straightened her clothes. He laughed softly, his gaze drifting leisurely over her white chef’s coat and work pants.
Darryl Manning, the sexy photographer, grabbed her hand and gently tapped the thick bandage wrapped around her index finger. “What did you do to your finger?” She tugged her hand from his grasp, wincing when she smacked the digit on the chafer. “I cut it.” She bent to retrieve the spoon from the floor, straightened, and placed the utensil in a gray plastic tub.
Darling wiped her hands on a towel. Darryl folded well-toned arms across his broad chest, the black knit shirt he wore strained to accommodate the expansion of muscle. She stifled a groan and the urge to run her fingers along the bulging biceps and perfect pecs. Why did her body pick today to rebel? “I don’t have time for this now,” she snapped, “What do you have time for?” His rich baritone conjured nights of hot, steamy sex and decadent morning afters. He lifted his camera, with a sexy smirk. “Maybe a photo or two?”
She resisted the seductive note in his voice and placed her hand on the lens. “I’m working.”
“And I’m not, just finished.” He stepped closer, the heat of his body instantly warming hers. Darling tilted her head back to maintain eye contact.
She studied his face, waiting for the familiar ache and longing to subside. It didn’t. Being this close to him, surrounded by his scent, a little soap and a whole lot of male, made her yearn to be in his arms, to feel his full lips against hers. What was she doing? She couldn’t think about him, about them. She moved away. Not today.
Darling turned as the click-click-click of his camera captured her. Huffing, she stalked toward the kitchen. She caught the attention of Pete, one of her chefs for the evening. “Could you finish breaking down the buffet table while I take care of this?” She jerked a thumb to the hunk at her heels. Light flashed in her face, momentarily blinding her, and she held a hand to her eyes, blinking to clear her vision. “Don’t do that!”
Moving through the kitchen to a narrow staircase, she heaved a sigh as the pulsing rock music faded to a dull roar. Darling entered her office and smiled at the young man seated in a chair. “Thanks, Denny,” she said. He was another employee, and she waited until he closed the door.
Darling knelt next to a car seat and dropped a kiss on the sleeping infant’s cheek. White light zigzagged before her eyes. “Stop it!” she said.
“But you’re so beautiful,” Darryl said.
Her stomach did a slow somersault at the compliment, but he would need more than pretty words and his handsome face to woo her. Straightening, she shoved a diaper bag in his general direction. “I have two more weddings, a funeral, and an awards banquet. You trying to flirt is not on today’s calendar!”
Darryl offered her a smile and her knees turned to jelly. The man would be the death of her. The only reason she still spoke to him was the sleeping toddler. If not for the baby, she’d have kept walking and never looked back.
She brushed a stray curl from her face and planted her hand on her hip when Darryl didn’t move. “I know you may not have anything to do, but I really need to get back downstairs,” she reminded him.
He stepped closer, reaching a hand to tug on the lock of hair she had just swept away. She sucked in a breath, his clean masculine scent beguiling her. Her gaze dropped to the open collar of his shirt. If she pressed her mouth to his warm skin, would he moan? Darling lifted her head, and he met her lips with a kiss. Too stunned to protest, she sank into his kiss, savoring the spicy taste of him and the firmness of his lips. He skimmed the curve of her spine with his hands before resting them at her hips. Drawing her closer, he brought her against the hard line of his arousal. Desire exploded, and she wiggled her hips in hopes of easing the sudden tension at the apex of her thighs. As if sensing her need, he cupped her butt, shifting her slightly until he was wedged between her legs.
Lightning arced through her veins as he settled more firmly against her core. She gasped, and he deepened the kiss, tongues dueling in a fevered dance. Tightening her arms around his neck, Darling relished the sensations vibrating through her system, and decided to enjoy them.
Lifting his head, Darryl stared into her face. For once she didn’t care if he knew how much she wanted him, her fingers stroked the nape of his neck. She regarded him a moment before he brushed his lips across hers one last time before stepping away.
“I like flirting with you.” He trailed his fingers down her arm. ...