Is Love a Battlefield where you can win?

Kristy's life has been turned upside down. Her fiance, Mark, left her at the alter, she went on what should have been her honeymoon alone and now she returned to find that her job has already been filled by someone else. Ace Kennedy is her replacement. He has a particular reason for hiring on at the park but is keeping it a secret. When vandals spray paint some of the monuments Kristy and Ace are thrown together on a few stake-outs where they begin to learn about each other. Kristy finds herself drawn to Ace but refuses to risk her heart again. Ace knows that Kristy doesn't believe in true love. But can he change her mind? Will Kristy ever learn to trust with her whole heart no matter what.

I really enjoyed the story. Kristy was a believable heroine. I would feel like she did had I been through what she had. She was full of life and lots of fun. Ace was a sweet and gentle hero. Just plain a nice guy. The two went together good.

If your looking for and easy and fun read, you won't be disappointed.

An Excellent Medieval Tale...

The feud between Merclif and Cardel has gone on for years. King Henry is tired of it and demands that Alaric, Baron Merclif, be wedded to Cardel's daughter Helena. Alaric doesn't see how he can bring an enemies daughter into his house but he really doesn't have a choice. Then Helena over hears her father discussing how they plan to overtake Merclif on their wedding night. Kill Alraric and herself. Force Alaric's mother (Margaret) to marry him and take over Merclif. Helena knows she must tell Alaric but doesn't know if she can trust him. If he is able to stop the plan will he dissolve the marriage and send her back to Cardel? Will Helena ever overcome her fear and shame that her father inflicted on her? How can any man see past her hideous scars and truly love her for her?

This was a beautiful tale told with a great deal of depth. Alaric was a wonderfully flawed hero. One who was strong both in body and character. He served his people well and they loved him with their full devotion. His biggest flaw was that he relied on his own strength and not the Lords. He had a need to control everything around him. Helena was a wonderful heroine. She was of a quiet spirit but had a strong inner strength. She was abused by her father and brothers. In fact her father cut her face which left a terrible scar. She knew that if her heavenly father was like her earthly father then surely He didn't love her.

I loved the tale of these two main characters although the secondary characters were wonderful too. Alaric's mother, Margaret, was a very wise woman. One of great spiritual strength. Lord Robert Wyham, emissary for the King is also a very wise man who knows the Lord. He is immediately drawn to Margaret. There is also Damien Langston who used to work for Cardel and because of his love for Helena has protected her when he could. The romantic tension is wonderful. There was a lot of spiritual truths wrapped up in a story that you cannot put down.

I highly recommend this book. If you like Julie Lessman or DeAnna Julie Dodson you will love this story. I believe this is the authors first novel but I hope it will not be her last.

What happens when you wish upon a star?..

Paige Brookhart has suffered years of abuse at her husband Justin's hands. But when she sees that he really means to kill her she flees with her two daughters. Finding herself on a lonely road in Denver with car problems she's not sure what to do. Enter Lance Parrish, a rancher who has some deep hurts of his own. When he sees her black and blue marks he offers to help Paige but time has taught her the fear of men. She finally agrees to let Lance bring her and the girls back to his ranch. There she meets Maggie (Lance's housekeeper/second mother) and the other ranch hands. They are all very kind to her and she feels drawn to stay. But even after Lance offers her a job (so Maggie can take an extended vacation) she turns him down and asks to go to a woman's shelter. There she meets Carolanne who helps her through a lot of her feelings and emotions. After several weeks of not finding work she decides to give the ranch job a try. She starts to settle in and feel like she belongs. Her girls are finally beginning to bloom from the freedom they're experiencing. Lance and Paige are beginning to have feelings for one another. Can Lance get past his loss and return those feelings? Meanwhile Paige's husband is killing mad and will stop at nothing to find her and make her pay for her disobedience. Will he be able to fine her? Will Paige find the strength to fight the man who has inflicted so much terror in her life and the life of her girls? Will she learn what real love is?

This was good story. The characters were very well drawn. You felt Paige's fear and apprehension. Justin was the consummate evil villain. He was a scary guy. Lance was a great hero. Strong and tender. The ranch hands were great too. I loved the secondary character of Maggie. Her personality shined brightly off the pages. This was a new author to me but her writing reminded somewhat of Dee Henderson.