11 Aug 2010 1 Comment
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Beneath The Neon Moon
by Theda Black
Sonja Triebel (Illustrator)
TKB Books
Length: 82 Pages
Characters: Zach and Mal
POV: Third person
Setting: College
Genre: Gay, Paranormal/Horror, Romance, Wolves
Book Cover Rating: 5
5 KISSES
Buy Here
Blurb:
Zach’s lived a rough life, but it taught him how to take care of himself. Until now, anyway. He’s alone, he’s lost his job and the rent’s coming due. He thinks he knows what bad luck is. He doesn’t. Mal’s the golden boy who had it all in high school. Then he threw it away. Now he’s back on track, working his way through college and looking toward the future – until he attracts the attention of the wrong group of people. They’ve never met. Then one summer night everything changes. Suddenly they’re in desperate trouble, trapped and bound together in darkness. And in less than forty-eight hours, one of them is going wolf.
Review:
Zach lost his drunken father in his early years at the young age of seventeen, and although he was never verbally or mentally abused by the man, he was very much neglected while his pop went on his endless drunken binges which were frequent leaving Zach to fend for himself. Zach raised himself and the details will show you his life was skid row, just making it to even live. The story does touch on Zach’s growing up with the thoughts back to the time in early years between him and his dad. The good, the bad and how he supported himself to pay the rent in order to have a roof over his head. That part was appalling.
Mal goes to college, he’s only maybe a year or two younger than Zach, but is paying his own way. Out one night with his friends he’s attached and bitten by a wolf, of course. The two men wake up in a basement together, shackled together with Zach knowing from the hands of his captors that he’s going to be Mal’s first meal the sacrificial lamb led to the slaughter when he turns and Mal only finding this out on the day he’s going to turn which is harsh. During those three days and short time they have together they conform a deep seated bond between them.
I don’t usually go into the specifics of a story like I’ve just done here, but I found the story somewhat disturbing. Zach is chosen to be Mal’s meal also known as the initiation into the pack because he’s alone in life and nobody is going to miss him or even look for him. He’s alone, period. To me Zach has had a hard enough life in short years without having this happen to him. Mal assures Zach that he won’t hurt him, but really will he? Zach is unsure as he awaits his pending doom.
Now this is where I’m going to be really cunning and refrain from saying anything further than you’ll have to read the story yourself to find out how it’s all going to end. :snickering:
In many aspects this story is saddening, touching and exceptionally well written. A mix of emotions that will throttle your mind will assail you. From each moment it’s unpredictable what will happen next. In this short story that is only 82 pages and I would have liked to have read more about both Mal and Zach’s backgrounds, getting to know or read more of it about them I could still connect with them both in that short of pages time. Both characters have character. First book I read of Theda’s and it won’t be the last. I definitely would like more and the author of this book drew me into the book which speaks for itself. Nicely done.
Reviewer: Sidney
>Mutton Hollow Road by AJ Hardcourt
11 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
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Mutton Hollow Road
by AJ Hardcourt
Demanding Romance
Length: 11 Pages
Characters: Jack and William
POV: Third person
Setting: Halloween night
Genre: M/M
Book Cover Rating: 1
3 KISSES
Buy Here
Blurb:
When Jack gets lost on the way to a Halloween party in the middle of nowhere, he throws himself on the mercy of the mysterious William. Literally. Dressed in leather and ready to play, Jack lets William manhandle him, the entire encounter far hotter than any Halloween bash he’s ever been to, but what does William really have in store for him; a trick or a treat?
Review:
Ok, so the story is just a sip, and sometimes that’s all we need to break up the longer books we tend to overwhelmed with at time. I was really getting into this short Halloween story with the very lightly added D/s aspect to it, but something went wonky with it for me. From the point that Jack submitted to William, he seemed to change into a trancelike state where he didn’t think for himself. The story then shifted and began to center mostly on William. I would have liked to have the equal reactions of both, but it still wasn’t bad.
Reviewer: Sidney
>Extreme Meet by AJ Hardcourt
11 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
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Extreme Meet
by AJ Hardcourt
Demanding Romance
Length: 16 pages
Characters: Chris and Kevin
Setting: modern day, Salt Lake City
POV: Third Person
Book Cover Rating: 4
4.5 KISSES
Blurb:
Heavy snow is falling and Chris is stuck in Salt Lake City. The airport hotels are booked with stranded travelers. Extreme skier, Kevin Angel, is a local boy who has just won gold. He can get anything he wants—and he wants Chris. Scoring with Chris could be more thrilling than when he scored the gold.
Review:
Chris is a human resources manager from Los Angeles. He’s returning home after an assignment in Utah, and is waiting to catch his plane at the Salt Lake City airport. He strikes up a conversation with a local celebrity, recognizing him as Kevin Angel, gold medalist extreme skier. When the two discover that all flights have been cancelled due to bad weather, Kevin invites Chris back to his hotel room. Things heat up, and Chris soon finds himself living one of his wildest fantasies.
Sixteen pages doesn’t seem enough for this hot, erotic gem. AJ Hardcourt delivers one hell of a punch with this steamy slice of literary porn. Particularly enticing is the public sex scene which occurs on the shuttle while the couple is in transit to the hotel. That, however, is merely the appetizer. The main course is out-and-out mouthwatering.
Although I’m generally not a huge fan of erotica which depicts sexual versatility, I completely bought it in this story. Both partners equally enjoyed the Top and bottom positions, and the descriptions were sizzling. I’m afraid that after reading this story I’m gonna be fantasizing about a hot stud wearing nothing but medal…for sometime to come.
Review by Jeff
>Pumping Iron by AJ Hardcourt
09 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
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Pumping Iron
by A.J. Hardcourt
Demanding Romance
Length: 14 Pages
Characters: Ren Vale, Geoff Cage
POV: Third person
Setting: Gym/Sauna
Genre: Short story/erotica
Book Cover Rating: 4
5 KISSES
Blurb:
Ren Vale has a thing for bodybuilders. Thick thighs, tight asses, corded abs and tapered torsos. Men with broad shoulders have total sex appeal. So when an afternoon in the gym becomes an erotic encounter in the steam room between Ren and the object of his obsession, Ren discovers Geoff Cage is more than a buff body…But is Geoff’s determination for muscle mass risking too much.
Review:
Pumping Iron is a very short, highly erotic story that celebrates the diverse physiques of two men who have fine tuned their athletic bodies, each in different ways.
Ren Vale is a triathlete whose lean build reflects the hours he spends running, biking and swimming; while Geoff Cage is a body builder, whose perfectly chiseled and powerfully built physique, Ren has been admiring for some time.
The two men finally meet in the steam room at the gym, providing for plenty of the heat in the story, but Ren also learns a lesson in the danger of jumping to conclusions.
Perfectly paced from start to finish, A.J. Hardcourt delivers a very seductive read.
Reviewer: Lisa
>Cyber Lies by AJ Hardcourt
09 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
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Cyber Lies
by AJ Hardcourt
Demanding Romance
Length: 8 pages
Characters: Syd & Tom
POV: First person
Setting: On the computer in their home.
Genre: M/M
Book Cover Rating: 3.5
4 KISSES
Blurb:
I can be anyone on the Internet. I can lie to get what I want—get who I want. I want Tom, my roommate. As long as he never discovers I’m the one on the other side of the chat, my secrets are safe.
Review:
What! Oh my fawking god, that was scorching hot, but why, why, why did it have to end like it did? This short wasn’t long enough. I totally love the aspect of it, the situation, but the gist of it is do you really know who you’re speaking to online? In this scenario it’ll surprise you, but how often does this happen in real life where you meet and you hook up? Is the chemistry from meeting online still there in real life? I’ve always wondered about that. From personal experience I’d have to say Not. Really good short teaser this one.
Reviewer: Sidney
>Beg for More by AJ Hardcourt
09 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
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Beg for More
by A.J. Hardcourt
Demanding Romance
Length: 18 Pages
Characters: Ash Kellen, Levi Selvin
POV: Third person
Setting: Selvin Construction
Genre: Short story/erotic romance
Book Cover Rating: 5
5 KISSES
Blurb:
It’s late, he’s hungry, but Ash Kellen has more on his mind than food. His name is Levi Selvin. After hours, alone in the office, Ash realizes there is more than lust for work simmering between them. Once Levi gives him a taste, Ash wants more—even if he has to beg for it.
Review:
Beg for More may be one of the shortest short stories I’ve ever read and is one that accomplishes more than many others I’ve read that have taken far longer to finish.
A.J. Hardcourt sets the tone of the story from the first page, drawing a picture for the reader of a man, Ash Kellen, who is deeply involved in his contract work for a construction company owned by Levi Selvin. In a late night work marathon aimed at completing their current project ahead of schedule to reap the benefits of a bonus that Levi needs for personal reasons, the men discover both a common bond and a common passion that ignites in a most erotic fashion.
Well written and not lacking in descriptive detail, Beg for More is the story of two very magnetic characters and is one I very much enjoyed.
Reviewer: Lisa
>AJ Hardcourt
08 Aug 2010 2 Comments
in AJ Hardcourt
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Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, AJ. We are very excited and can’t wait to learn more about you. Thank you for the invitation.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background? There’s not much to tell. I have a background in business. Work the day job grind Monday through Friday. I enjoy spending the weekends outdoors. I like to hit the farmer’s market, check out local artists, listen to live music and I suck down gallons of coffee. I wouldn’t be surprised if dark roast flowed in my veins.
What was your first book and how long did it take to get it published? I wrote then sold two short stories to Torquere Press a few years ago. I enjoyed the experience but the “real world” encroached and I stepped away from writing for publication until recently. For now, I’ll publish all of my short stories exclusively through Demanding Romance.
How many books have you written thus far? This is a question with two answers. I’ve written more stories than I can count, but most are personal and will never be for public consumption. Published works, I have 6 stories available and Broken is coming out on Aug 27th.
When did you start writing gay romance? For publication in 2007, but I’ve always written about men. I like to write in just about every subgenre from chance encounters to dark BDSM.
What about this genre interested you the most?
What can I say, I like men. And my weakness is muscular men with bedroom eyes. So that’s what I write. I strip them out of their ass-hugging jeans or leather and tight T-shirts. I write them with strong broad shoulders, grooved abs and thick thighs. I want to titillate and much as entertain. But I don’t want the stories to be just about sex. Sexual attraction sparks the interest and plot and characters, hopefully, give the story substance.
Do you write full time? Not yet, but one day I’d like to leave the day job and write every day. Writing full time, for me, would never be like a full time job. It’s for pleasure first and that I can publish what I write just makes the experience sweeter.
Looking back was there something in particular that helped you to decide to become a writer? Yeah, lol, that voice (and it wasn’t my own) telling me to write instead of talking about writing.
Did you choose it or did the profession choose you? Writing chose me. I don’t find it hard or tedious. I love it. It’s an escape from the mundane. I want to slip into places that my head and heart lead me but places and situation I’m not sure I’d want to go myself.
On a typical writing day, how would you spend your time? I’m an early riser. Coffee is set to brew and be ready when I get up. Monday through Friday, it’s breakfast, work, coffee, lunch, work, coffee, dinner and then home. Usually I have a few hours to write then it’s back to bed.
When it comes to plotting, do you write freely or plan everything in advance? I know the story before I write it. Not everything is plotted out on paper, but I won’t begin to write unless I can see the story from beginning to end in my head.
What kind of research do you do before and during a new book? Major plot points I will Google and Yahoo search for details before I get started. But it seems as if there are always little details that need to be looked up. As for the sex scenes, that research isn’t entirely up to me.
How much of yourself and the people you know manifest into your characters? I’d like to think not much. My stories are, typically, my fantasies. But I’d say some traits and experiences of people in my real life have become fodder for my fantasies.
How do you approach development of your characters? For me, I either have the story and need to figure out who is in the book, or I think up a character and then have to come up with a story for them. Regardless of what came first plot or characters, when I’m working out the details, it all just seems to come together and then I write the story. I know there are going to be two or more men, a physical reaction, lust and risk.
Where do you draw the line? I haven’t backed away from any subject or character that I’ve wanted to write. There may not be a market for a particular story, but I’ll still write it. I like edgy characters and taboo subjects, but I also love a sweet romance. Sweet in sentiment, my work is always erotically graphic.
How long does it take for you to complete a book you would allow someone to read? A short story could be as little as a few hours. I depend on my critique partner to help me see the flaws.
If you weren’t sitting there right this very moment answering our book of questions, what else would you be doing? I’d rather be in bed. Tonight I’m beat. I’m in a much better mood when I wake up in the morning than I am at the end of the day.
Do you write straight through, or do you revise as you go along? I revise as I go and then overhaul after it’s finished. I always have to go back in and add detail and descriptions.
Writers often go on about writer’s block. Do you ever suffer from it, and what measures do you take to get past it? I don’t have, and hopefully will never have writer’s block because honestly, I don’t put that kind of pressure on myself. Life is hectic most of the time and I find that I have “life block” and writing helps me to relieve a bit of stress and refocus.
When someone reads one of your books for the first time, what do you hope they gain, feel, or experience? I hope they’re entertained and not bored. I want them to feel the same sensations—whether lust, love, remorse, pain or betrayal—that the characters are going through. I write gay erotic romance and gay erotica. Whether a man or a woman is reading one of my stories, I hope they are aroused.
Does the title of a book you’re writing come to you as you’re writing it, or does it come before you even begin the first sentence? Both and sometimes the story comes about because of an image I’ve come across.
How would you describe your sense of humor? Most of the time…Raunchy.
Who and what makes you laugh? I love to laugh. Witty comebacks, dirty jokes, bantering with friends.
What is the most frequently asked AJ question? Regarding my writing — Which of your stories is your favorite? My answer: Cyber Lies for personal reasons. Regarding my personal life — Are you single? My answer: I’m not.
What are you working on now? Currently the story is untitled. Contemporary romance. Jude Park is returning home, degree in hand, to see if there is more to the friendly flirtation between himself and Rob Aspen. The only problem—Rob is older…and his mother’s best friend.
What was the best piece of advice you’ve received with respect to the art of writing? Write because you enjoy it.
How did you implement it into your work? I listened to the advice and writing has become more than the hobby it started out as. I can now make a bit of money and if someone else is entertained by one of my stories, well, there is no better validation. But even if I didn’t publish I would still write for me.
When it comes to promotion, what lengths have you gone to in order to increase reader-awareness of your work? Primarily I play on Facebook. You can find me at www.Facebook.com/ajhardcourt
Writing is obviously not just how you make your living, but your life-style as well. What do you do to keep the creative “spark” alive – both in your work and out of it? I try not to take myself too seriously. Serious about writing, yes, but when it comes to reviews, sales, criticism etc, I remember that not everyone will enjoy what I write. I’ll continue to hone my craft, pen new and interesting stories and hope that the outlet of writing continues to balance my “real world” with the one I imagine.
What pros and cons surround the e-publishing industry, and how do you envision the future of e-publishing? I think, like digital music, ebooks are going to become the industry standard. I think everyone can agree piracy of ebooks is a huge problem, and one as the ebook industry grows will have to be addressed. But the positive is that the industry is growing. And for those who still want print edition of books, price point on POD has become affordable and is now a workable solution.
What kind of books do you like to read? I have eclectic tastes. I love horror to sci-fi and most everything in between.
What is your favorite TV show? News. I don’t watch much primetime, but I still love Seinfeld reruns.
What is your favorite fast food restaurant? Just thought we’d throw that in for fun…Five Guys Burgers!
Without getting up, can you tell us what’s under your bed? (yep, another sneaky question.) Nothing but carpet. My bed sits on the floor.
If you weren’t a writer what would you be? Stressed and slightly neurotic.
Lemons or Limes? Limes in Tanqueray and tonic over ice.
When it comes to the covers of your books, what do you like or dislike about them? No complaints on my covers. I’ve designed most of them and I contributed on the ones I didn’t.
New writers are always trying to glean advice from those with more experience. What suggestions do you have for new writers? If you feel the story when you’re writing, chances are your readers will too. So don’t force your story. Your readers will feel that as well.
Can you please tell us where we can find you and your books on the Internet?www.Facebook.com/ajhardcourt Demanding Romance books are sold at several online retailers. A list is available at http://www.demandingromance.com/ and you can read excerpts at http://demandingromance.blogspot.com/
Hot Pink, Yellow, Blue, or Green and why? Colors? Sorry, it’s earth tones all the way for me. Dark greens, muted blues, rustic browns and oranges. Colors belong in the rainbow, baby.
>Dark Submission by AJ Hardcourt
08 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
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Dark Submission
by AJ Hardcourt
Demanding Romance
Length: under 30pages
POV: Third Person
Setting: Modern Day in a house in a bedroom.
Genre: M/M BDSM Romance
Book Cover Rating: 5+
5 KISSES
Blurb:
Kyler’s fantasy is to be bound, gagged and forced to submit…a dark submission.In the middle of the night, two men, Masters, enter his home, his room…and his bed. And they are about to make his fantasy reality. Only he doesn’t know who they are. Behind the slave hood, it doesn’t matter that in his mind and heart he would never cheat on his partner, Brian. His responses reveal just how much he aches for the pain and pleasure of BDSM. But in surrendering he’ll betray his lover because Brian could never be his Master, would never understand his submissive needs. Or does Brian have secrets of his own?
Review:
Dark Submission is a story where fantasy clashes with reality.
I think at some point everyone has a dark fantasy they think about. Something they want to do, or have done but that desire remains hidden in fear of being found out. Or perhaps a fantasy is to remain just that. A fantasy.
Kyler Paxton lives with his lover Brian and for the most part they’re happy with one another. However, there’s something missing in Kyler’s life and he seeks that need of fulfillment on an online BDSM chat room. He had a deep desire to be a sub, to feel his Master’s hand, or whip, or whatever. However, he had one small dilemma—the love of his life and partner, Brian wasn’t into the life style.
One night, while at home alone in bed Kyler is paid a visit by two strangers who call him by his online persona. Pleaser. Kyler’s fantasy comes to life. Imagine being confined and powerless to stop something from happening to you. Being blindfolded, arms tied, legs secured, and naked and exposed to two strange men who had every intention of taking what they wanted, or rather what Kyler said he wanted in an online chat room. It is as they say: Be careful what you wish for. Imagine your body alive with forbidden sensations being caused by two skilled Masters and not being able to do a damn thing about it. Mentally he screamed no, physically he begged for more.
He begged to be, over stimulated. H wanted to be in total and complete submission and the two strange men made quick work of it. Kyler needed what these mysterious men were doing to him. He’d take punishment before submitting to them in his home.
At less than thirty pages this story packs a huge punch to BDSM lovers. It will grab you from page 5 where it starts and it will bring you flying over the pages and not giving up until the very last word. The only complaint I have is so typical of shorts…I want MORE. It’s just possible we’ll be visiting the men from Dark Submission some time soon. The ending gave me hope. I have nothing but applause to give to AJ Hardcourt.
Reviewer: Michele
>Broken by AJ Hardcourt
08 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
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Broken
by AJ Hardcourt
Demanding Romance
Length: 13 pages
Characters : Officer Steve Pax & Finn
POV: Third person
Setting: From the hospital to an all night diner
Genre: M/M
Book Cover Rating: 2
4 KISSES
Release Date: August 27, 2010
Blurb:
A fatal car accident leaves one young man dead…and another suffering.
Officer Steve Pax learns the family of the deceased refuses to give information to the man waiting for word on their son’s condition—shut out because they are unwilling to accept Mario was gay.
Finn won’t leave the hospital until he knows if Mario will survive. Steve is torn between duty and his personal feelings. But Finn deserves to know his friend and former lover is dead.
Steve discovers there is more to Finn than a hot rocker exterior. He carries guilt over Mario’s substance abuse and his role in Mario’s death. Steve wants to help. But he’s crushing on the kid and is considering acting on his sexual attraction. Moreover, he’s the last person who should be offering comfort. Can Steve show Finn he wasn’t responsible or will he leave Finn broken?
Review:
Steve turns out to being the first officer on the scene of an accident causing death with the vic in question having been under the influence of drugs and alcohol and it’s his duty to break it to the family at the hospital. It’s at the hospital in which Steve comes across Finn who is the ex to the perished victim of said accident. Steve takes Finn to a diner to get a bite to it, but it’s done to get Finn out of the hospital and away from the homophobic family who never approved of the victim being gay. Right from the onset both men feel the lust, need and chemistry that’s building between them and in they end the leave the diner to pursue it. I clearly sense that there’s more than just a budding relationship that was building with these two characters and I wished I could read more on them. I liked the way they interacted with each other and this story has more than enough great potential to being more than just a sip.
Reviewer: Sidney
>Keys to Love by S.J. Frost
08 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
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Keys to Love
by S.J. Frost
MLR Press
278 Pages
Characters: Julian Forrester, Morgan Chandler
POV: Third Person
Scene Setting: Chicago, Various cities across the US
Sub Genre: M/M Romance
Book Cover Rating: 4 kisses
5 KISSES
Blurb:
For two years, Julian Forrester’s been playing keyboards and piano for Conquest. Having left behind a classical career, he’s reached a level of fame like he’s never dreamed. But fame and fortune can’t bring him the one thing he wants most; love.
Morgan Chandler spent years teaching students to love music until budget cuts forced him out of a job. With family debts rising, Morgan accepts a job as a roadie for Conquest. He thinks he’ll hate it with one exception — he’ll be close to Julian. Can the two find the right music together that will lead them to the Keys to Love?
Review:
Keys to Love is the third installment in the Conquest series that has followed the meteoric rise of a rock and roll band through the challenges of living a private life in the public eye.
After the first two books, Conquest and No Fear, led their readers on a journey through the romance of Jesse Alexander and Evan Arden that saw this couple to their happily-ever-after, Keys to Love introduces the band keyboardist and pianist, Julian Forrester, as its protagonist. As a faithful devotee of this series, I confess to being a little worried that I would miss Jesse and Evan leading the story, but all my issues were quickly proven unfounded as I was immediately drawn into the sympathetic portrayal of Julian, a man who has spent far too much time alone on the road, living a life that makes it difficult to develop lasting connections and inhibits the ability to build the level of trust it takes to build any relationship. Being exposed each day to the love that Jesse and Evan share and the life they’ve built together, leads Julian to feel even more bereft and leaves him longing for someone to share his life with. Jesse and Evan play just the right role in this book; while still very present, they don’t overshadow the driving force of the book, allowing Julian to shine.
Morgan Chandler is a man who has suffered a series of setbacks in life – losing his teaching position due to financial cutbacks, losing his father, and dealing with the very real possibility of losing his father’s failing music store – which have all lead him to apply for a position as a roadie on the current Conquest tour. As the man in charge of ensuring Julian’s equipment is set up and functioning properly before each show, Julian and Morgan quickly become acquainted. While their attraction to one another is instantaneous, their pursuit of one another is a little slower in developing, as neither man knows quite how to take the first step toward a relationship. As their romantic intentions evolve, complications arise as they struggle with the need to keep their relationship a secret in order to protect Morgan’s interests.
Keys to Love presents themes that transcend the boundaries of our own unique relationships. The book explores the universal complications presented when a couple isn’t free to express their love for one another openly; it explores the complications that can arise when there is an inequality in the finances of both partners in a relationship, which can lead to damaged pride; it also explores the joys of sharing new experiences with someone you love, helping them to finally see the forest for the trees.
While there is a mystery that presents a threat to Julian and Morgan, this book, and the series as a whole, is a celebration of love. It is impossible for me to read them and not feel a sense of enchantment. They are fairytales with happily-ever-after endings that leave me feeling incredibly sentimental and content that I’ve just experienced something wonderful. For those readers with a penchant for angst and conflict, Keys to Love may not hold interest. As a reader who enjoys a heartfelt love story, I found the book entirely charming. The story flows along beautifully from start to finish and both the writing and character development are well presented. I sincerely hope there will be another book or two in the series.
Reviewer: Lisa
