Kimberley's Satin Sheets Romance Review of Eternity by Tmonique Stephens

Kimberley's Satin Sheets Romance Review of Eternity by Tmonique Stephens

Title: Eternity            
Author: Tmonique Stephens
Author's Website: http://TmoniqueStephens.com
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing (August 29, 2012)
Genre: Paranormal romance, romantic suspense,
Length: 332pages (1140 KB)
Buy Link: Amazon:: http://www.amazon.com/Eternity-ebook/dp/B00943FVG2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349209186&sr=8-1&keywords=tmonique+stephens

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eternity-tmonique-stephens/1112725622?ean=9781619351752

BLURB :

ROMAN NICOLIS

Cursed for 2,000 years, he has tracked his lover's soul through each reincarnation only to lose her horribly every time. Reclaiming their love is their only salvation. He's been her friend, her father, her neighbor, but never again her lover ... until now.

STELLA WALKER

A late night walk home throws her into the path of a killer. The last thing she remembers are the deep blue eyes of the man trying to kill her-and the first things she sees after a seven-day coma are the same blue eyes in the handsome face of the man hired to protect her. Is he truly the owner of a security firm assigned to protect her, or the man who wants to finish her off? Is it fear she feels when Roman touches her, or the memory of something sweeter?

Past secrets haunt them. An angry demon stalks them.

Roman will do anything to recover what they had. Though Stella's ruined childhood has made her close her heart and body to any man, he must get past the walls around her to gain her love and trust, for it will take their union to defeat an unexpected enemy sent from the Egyptian Gods. A man Romans respects, and Stella trusts. TWO HEARTS, ONE SOUL, FOR ALL Eternity.

Kimberley's Review....
If you’re ideal reading must have any of these mythology, romance, and mystery, sexy, funny and erotic then Eternity by Tmonique Stephens is going to your new addiction. Roman and Stella are the new it couple! Ms. Stephens has blown me away with this first book. You feel like you are in the story and it doesn’t let you go, you feel every raw emotion, every smile and every tear. A true love story for the times, and one that just wasn’t a hi, hi ok I love you … she not only pulls you in, she wraps you in a warm blanket and makes you believe in romance once again.  I personally am looking forward to the next book in July. And learning more about the Nicolis Brother’s and I know I am going to love them all. So do yourself a favor find this book, buy it up and clear your calendar. B/c this is a wonderful, exciting, don’t want to put it down, I will eat when I am done kind of book.  Great job Ms. Stephens, I am so excited to put you on my favorite author’s list and will look forward to all your future books. 

Excerpt:

Damn, he woke her. After only a few hours of sleep, she was sitting up, her head tilted back to catch the whiffs of air generated from the ceiling fan. She pulled the collar of the robe from her damp neck.

He closed his laptop, retrieved a bottle of water from the kitchen and handed it to her. Perched on the edge of her coffee table, he waited while she rubbed the bottle across her sweaty brow and gave a throaty sigh before twisting the cap. Completely unaware of the sensual picture she presented, Stella tossed her head back, tipped the bottle to her lips and gulped until she drained it.

“How long have I been asleep?” She licked the moisture from her lips.

He ignored the lengthening poke of his cock. “A few hours. We need to talk.” Elbows on his knees, he leaned closer to her.

She paused, her eyes shifted around the room. “If not the most dreaded sentence in the world, it must be in the top five.” She took a deep fortifying breath and squared her shoulders. “Go ahead.”

She thinks I’m leaving her. He studied her until she squirmed uncomfortably under the glare. It galled to be lumped together with everyone else that hurt, left, and disappointed her.

“I believe you’re correct about the killings.”

Her eyebrows shot into her hairline. “You do?”

He nearly laughed. “Surprising, huh? Well you made a convincing argument and I’d be foolish to ignore the possibility.”

“So, you’re leaving now,” she stated flatly.

Every muscle rigid, he sat back. “Do you have a death wish? “Cause if there’s someone targeting me, they’re using you to do it.”

Stella nodded solemnly while her fingers twisted in her robe. She chewed the corner of her mouth before she mumbled, “When do you leave?”

His thumb swept across her full bottom lip. When her cheek turned into his palm, his heart caved.

“I’m not leaving, Stella. I will never leave you. I said I would protect you. And I will.” He leaned closer. “With my last breath.”

Her unflinching stare met his. “I want to protect myself. Will you show me how?”

A simple request. “Yes,” he nodded. “I’ll teach you.”

She leaned in. “Thank you.”

Temptation ate at him, but he stood and walked to the other side of the room.

“Go back to sleep, Stella.” He turned off the lights, yanked his shirt over his head and stretched out on the creaking floor.

“Why are you on the floor?” Her voice wavered.

Graced with superior eyesight, he watched her struggling with the robe twisted around her body. “My back wouldn’t appreciate sleeping in that chair and its cooler down here.”

“I can’t see you.” Fear etched her voice.

The mattress squeaked and he heard the soft slap of her feet on the wooden floor.

“I’m right here.” He touched her smooth foot and circled her ankle.

She didn’t pull away, but waited until he removed his hand to climb back onto the futon.  She punched her pillow and settled into a comfortable spot.

“Roman, isn’t the floor hard?”

She sounded like a child asking a question when she already knew the answer.

“I’ve slept on worse and in worse,” he muttered.

“Umm … the bed is big enough for both of us.”

Did she know she offered him exactly what he wanted and where he wanted to be? “You’re asking me to sleep with you?”

“I’m offering to share the futon with you,” she corrected.

Standing next to the futon, he whispered, “Why?”

She jumped, her hand stretched out in front of her, searching for him. “Damn, how can you move that fast? I didn’t hear you.”

“Answer the question. Why?”

“I … can’t let you sleep on the floor.” She scooted over and waited for him.

He should resist. The many reasons why ticked by, but the futon creaked as he lay beside her and stilled. Everything he wanted rested inches away.

“Can you see me?”

“No,” he lied, watching her bite her lip. Slowly, she relaxed, believing the darkness covered her. He sucked in a sharp breath when her hand brushed his bare chest.

“Sorry,” but a smile tweaked her lips.

Stella’s words darted through his brain. “No boyfriends,” she told McCabe. It was too ridiculous to be true. But … could she be a virgin?

“Roman,” she breathed his name and lust raced down his spine, igniting every nerve ending and wiping his brain clean of every thought, but one. He caught the belt of her robe and followed it up to the knot. A finger slipped in and loosened it.

“Yes.” His breath fanned her face. She tilted her chin up at the perfect angle for his lips to cover hers.

“I’ve never had a man in my home before.”

His finger stopped, and withdrew. What the hell am I doing? She drugged him with her words, frailty and covered body. He had to get out of her bed, her apartment, maybe the city, let one of his men protect her.

She touched him again, ran her palm over his stubbled jaw, then traced a finger over his eyebrows and down the bridge of his nose. She played with the shell of his ear until his chest rumbled with suppressed laughter. Then her fingers found his lips and the laughter stopped.

Anna's Review of "Crisis of Identity" by Denise Moncrief

Anna’s Satin Sheets Romance Review of Crisis of Identity by Denise Moncrief

  

Title: Crisis of Identity
Author: Denise Moncrief
Author's Website: http://www.denisemoncrief.blogspot.com
Publisher:  5 Prince Publishing 
Genre: Romance, Romantic Suspense
Length: 189 pages
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Crisis-of-Identity-ebook/dp/B00B5L0I7S

Tess Copeland is an operator. Her motto? Necessity is the mother of a good a con. When Hurricane Irving slams into the Texas Gulf coast, Tess seizes the opportunity to escape her past by hijacking a dead woman’s life, but Shelby Coleman’s was the wrong identity to steal. And the cop that trails her? He’s a U.S. Marshall with the Fugitive Task Force for the northern district of Illinois. Tess left Chicago because the criminal justice system gave her no choice. Now she’s on the run from ghosts of misdeeds past—both hers and Shelby’s.

Enter Trevor Smith, a pseudo-cowboy from Houston, Texas, with good looks, a quick tongue, and testosterone poisoning. Will Tess succumb to his questionable charms and become his damsel in distress? She doesn’t have to faint at his feet—she’s capable of handling just about anything. But will she choose to let Trevor be the man? When Tess kidnaps her niece, her life changes. She must make some hard decisions. Does she trust the lawman that promises her redemption, or does she trust the cowboy that promises her nothing but himself?


Anna’s Review

I loved the concept for this romantic suspense story.  The idea of somebody stealing someone’s identity to escape your problems only to find yourself caught up in that person’s problems was incredibly intriguing to me.   Crisis of Identity started off with a bang and kept me turning pages.  Unfortunately, that didn't last.

The author failed to take the time to develop the main characters.  Tess, Trevor and Jake are very one dimensional people.  I found it very frustrating that I virtually knew nothing about any of them.  The author was very slow to reveal information about Tess and her background.  It wasn't until halfway through the book that we start to get an inkling of Tess’ background, and then it seemed like a cardboard cut-out of a hard life.

The plot that had so much promise became nothing but a series of attempts on Tess’ life and the books resolution left far too many questions unanswered.  A second sub-plot was carelessly swept aside with little explanation.

The romance in this book was practically non-existent.  The author never built a credible relationship between the Tess and Trevor.  After their first kiss he declares he loves her.  Really? Why? Just when the couple  finally begin to communicate Trevor disappears and doesn't reappear to the end of the book.

The book was filled with grammatical errors and unrealistic dialogue.  The strongest curse Tess uses in the book is “jeesh.”  This from a woman whose boyfriend was a drug dealer, her mother was an alcoholic and her father was abusive?

Crisis of Identity was a good concept that failed.

Satin Sheets Romance Chats with Author Donna Fasano

What attracted you to writing in the first place?
I came to writing from my love of reading. While growing up, I lost myself in books in order to escape an unhappy childhood.

How has your upbringing influenced your writing?
I think authors who face a lot of pain and anguish seem to write stories with great depth, with honesty and compassion. It could be that dealing with trauma brings out the best (or worst) in people. I believe that losing my mother at such a young age had a huge impact on me not just as a writer but as a human being. I became, I don't know, more maternal towards my family, my friends, heck, towards everyone I meet... more giving of myself. I'm not sure. But I know that the loss could have made me bitter and angry. I'm just so grateful that the exact opposite seems to describe me.

Where do you get your inspiration and ideas from?
My mind is always on the alert. I take ideas from everything I see, hear, read, experience. I have been known to take a snippet of conversation overheard in an elevator and turn it into a book (Return of the Runaway Bride), or from a location (His Wife for a While), or from a person I met (Taking Love in Stride). So be careful! If you interact with me, you might end up in one of my novels. 

What was your favorite part of this book to write? Which part was the hardest?
I really enjoyed writing the love scenes. In my sweet romances, all the 'spice' takes place behind closed doors. So this was very fun. And which part was hardest? The "kitchen love scene" (naughty pun intended!).

If you could live inside the world of a book, which book would you choose?
Pride and Prejudice. Love that Mr. Darcy!

Give your fans three fun facts that they may not already know about you.
I love to cook! (I often post recipes on my blog.)
My reading tastes are crazy-eclectic. I read anything and everything.
I'm a little on the chubby side. 

Chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry?
Depends. If we're talking ice cream, then vanilla… and I love mine topped with sliced banana and warm caramel sauce. If we're talking cake, then chocolate, and don't forget the fudge frosting. If we're talking milkshakes, then strawberry. Wow, now I'm hungry.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
I put my heart and soul into this Reclaim My Heart, and I think it shows… in the characters and in the story.

So what’s next for you as an author? Any last words?
I'm thinking of writing a book that revolves around three friends in different stages of marriage, but I'm not sure yet. I've worked very hard on Reclaim My Heart and I'm going to take a few days off. Then I'll get back to work!

Sixteen years ago, Tyne Whitlock cut all ties to her past and left town under the shameful shadow of a teenage pregnancy. Now her fifteen-year-old son is in trouble with the law and she is desperate for help. But reaching out to high-powered attorney Lucas Silver Hawk will tear open the heart-wrenching past in ways Tyne never imagined. 

Forced to return to the Delaware Indian community where Lucas was raised, Tyne and Lucas are tempted by the heated passion that consumed them as teens. Tyne rediscovers all the reasons she found this man irresistible, but there are scandalous secrets waiting to be revealed, disgraceful choices made in the past that cannot be denied. Love is a powerful force that could heal them both—if the truth doesn't rip them apart.

Purchase Now:  Kindle  §  Nook  §  Kobo

Here's a peek at Reclaim My Heart...

"Oh, wait. There's someone here to see you."

He frowned. "I don't have time today."

"I know, I know." Martha looked apologetic. "I tried to explain that your schedule is packed, but she insisted on waiting—"

"She?"

Martha glanced down at a pad on her desktop. "A Ms. Whitlock. Tyne Whitlock."

Lucas stared. Blinked. Then he reached up and tugged at his tie, wondering who the hell shut off the room's air supply.

"She's waiting in your office. I tried to tell her your schedule was full, but…" Concern sharpened Martha's tone. "Are you all right? She said she knew you. That you were old friends. That she'd only take a minute of your time. Should I not have let her in?"

Martha droned on and he watched her lips move, but he didn't hear a word of what she said. A blind-sided punch wouldn't have stunned him more than hearing that name. He lifted his hand and nodded at Martha to let her know everything was okay even though he had no idea if it was or not, then he turned and headed down the corridor.

"Don't forget Larry and Nate. They're waiting!"

Martha's warning sounded like a distant echo.

Tyne. Here. In this building. In his office.

What had it been? Twelve, thirteen… no. Sixteen years. He scrubbed his fingers across his jaw.

He turned the corner and came to an abrupt halt. At the end of the corridor, the door of his office stood ajar. He saw Tyne's perfect profile as she sat in a straight-backed chair staring at something out of his line of view.

In an instant, Lucas was catapulted into the past.

Darkness surrounded them like a cloak. Tyne's soft sobs tore at his heart. Of all the girls he'd dated—and there had been more than a few—only she brought out in him a fierce compulsion to protect.

He swiped away her tears, the dark color of his thumb a stark contrast against her creamy white skin. 

"I don't understand them, Lucas. I never will."

"Don't worry," he crooned. "It's going to be all right. Trust me, babe. They can't keep us apart. You'll be eighteen soon too. We can do what we want then. Go wherever we want."

He cradled her, his back supported by the massive pin oak. And when she stopped crying, she pulled away from him and gazed into his eyes. Her sweet face wrenched his heart and caused heat to spark his desire. Never had he wanted a girl the way he wanted Tyne. Raw need coursed through him.

She cradled his face between her palms and drew him to her. Her lips were hot against his. The kiss grew hungry, their breathing labored.

"Our love will last forever," she whispered against his mouth.

He heard the question in her quavery tone, responded to her need for reassurance.

"Forever," he groaned, tugging her down onto the mossy ground.

Lucas tilted his head to stare at the carpet in front of his shoes and gulped in the artificially-cooled air as he dragged his way out of the past. The grip he had on his attaché case made his hand throb almost as much as the memory had caused his groin to go all achy and needful.

Of course, their love hadn't lasted forever.  

He was within steps of the door when Tyne glanced in his direction. Nuances of various emotions passed across her face. And it was a striking face, Lucas couldn't deny it. The years had refined her features--

She stood, smoothing her palms across the fabric of her skirt.

—and ripened her body. Her eyes were the same vivid blue he remembered, and her white-blond hair was still long and straight. He could easily recall the silky feel of it brushing against his bare chest. As teens, he'd thought of them as the perfect juxtaposition: she, all sunshine and light, he, dark like the night.

He forced his gaze back onto her face.

"Tyne." He entered his office, puzzled by the strain in his voice. What really confused him was the fact that he couldn't seem to get his tongue to form anything more.

"Hi, Lucas. It's been a long time." Her lush mouth pressed into a nervous smile, and his gut tensed.

He wanted to smile back. He truly did. With every fiber of his being. To let her know that he'd survived the sprawling interim since they'd parted just as well as she obviously had. But he couldn't smile. Couldn't speak. Couldn't think.

---

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Donna Fasano is a three time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, and a Golden Heart finalist. Her books have sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide and have been published in nearly two dozen languages. Her books have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #17.

What others are saying about Donna's books:

"...complex, funny, and realistic..." ~Wilmington News Journal

"Excellent!" ~Bookreview.com

"Could not help myself from reading excerpts to my husband and friends. This book is well written, the characters are real, everyday folks. It is very easy to identify with them. Donna Fasano is a talented author." ~Elizabeth M. Caldwell on Amazon

"...a fast paced riotous look at family life today. Donna Fasano is right on target!" ~Donna Zapf, SingleTitles.com

Follow Donna Fasano at  Website  §  Facebook   §  @DonnaFaz  §  GoodReads  §  Pinterest

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Doug's Satin Sheets Romance Review of Eternal Lovers - Sekhmet's Guardians - Book One

Title: Eternal Lovers - Sekhmet's Guardians #1
Author: V.S. Nelson
Author's Website: V.S. Nelson.com
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Genre: Paranormal Romance with a Bit of Action/Suspence
Length: 446 pgs
Buy Link: Eternal Lovers - Sekhmet's Guardians #1

Summary:

When two hidden worlds collide near modern day Lake Michigan, Jennifer, a young Native American is confronted with the reality, not
everything is as it seems and things do go bump in the night. The questions she has long since asked are answered in this epic tale of self
discovery when she meets Gabriel, the director of Guardians Inc.

Born in New Tuat, Netchkhet, now known as Gabriel came to Earth some 5,000 years ago to protect the human race. Disillusioned because of an
unfulfilled prophecy, he has become cold and distant - even from those of his kind. Secretly, he waits for his enemy to take his head so he may leave
this world for good.

Can a tiny Jen melt his hardened heart and restore his faith in a power far greater than himself? When history repeats itself, can he save her from
death's embrace or will they be robbed of a future again?

Doug's Review:

When I received this book I took one look and thought “Another indie vampire romance” …. I am SO glad to say it became one of the better PNR books I have read this year.

The story of Gabriel and Jennifer will lead you into places you have not visited much in Paranormal Romance, starting with the fact that Jen starts this book already married to someone else and no he is not beating her or anything like that, you will probably enjoy the twist (and nobody cheats and nobody dies, LOL).

Gabriel has suffered in grief for centuries due to the loss of his only love in an attack far back in ancient Egypt. He has really just existed and lived only for revenge on the follower’s of Set who took her life and since it seems the war that humanity is not even aware of is winding down, so is his reason for living.

Along comes Jen who he cannot keep his eyes off from the first moment they meet (yes the old MINE attraction) and while the romance takes longer than you might think based on that, you have to remember she is married and Gabriel is honorable if nothing else.

This novel hits the right balance of sex, romance, action and drama for me and I enjoyed it immensely but I have to point out a couple of things that hit a sour note for me.

It seems I have read about 4 books this year where the writer used “your’ and “ you're” as interchangeable words and that always breaks my concentration since to me (and I seldom mention editing) but I found these particularly glaring.

This book is around 450 pages which I loved but what it did was allow the author to get carried away a time or two in her descriptions and wanderings but it again was a minor thing but I only mention it because she overwrote the last chapter or two which became a bit of a drag to finish up the book. Sometimes less is more it would seem.

Bottom Line: This was an excellent story and the writing was good and not too overdone with verbiage, any complaints I have are minor and I already grabbed the next book in the series which will pair up one of the secondary characters with a “entity” from this book (yes you will love this idea also). The author does not seem to suffer from a lack of imagination so I give it 4 Stars and would have been more with a small bit of editing which would include some more concise writing but make no mistake; this is an awesome story I cannot wait to get back to reading in book #2.









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