The Goddess by Robyn Grady

Reviewed by Desere


I have always found ancient history simply fascinating, Egyptian , Greek, Italian no matter all of them have a certain mystery to it all and anyone and everyone finds themselves wanting to dig deeper to find more. And if it involves a love story it is even better!

Think Cleopatra and Mark Anthony or Romeo and Juliet, real or fiction their love stories are ones that have fascinated people from all over for centuries. But what if you could find your own love story whilst reliving the love story of a couple from hundreds of years ago?

In the new read from author Robyn Grady she not only gave me a amazing story of love and passion found she also gave me a mystery that all ties in with the romance between the main characters, and in the end brings it all together with such vivid and emotional reality it left me simply breathless!

The read is about Helene seeking adventure lands her on a gorgeous secluded island with drop dead gorgeous I ll-take-you-to-new-heights-of-pleasure Darius. But Darius is no ordinary man he is a Prince and once he returns to his palace he will also be King, he is also keeper of the legendary Goddess statue that has given hundreds of years of prosperity and guidance to his family, but when the Goddess 's wishes are defied she can also bring devastation and death.

Helene and Darius are drawn to each other and soon long nights of hot blazing passion ensues.  Darius takes Helene back with him to the palace, but Helene cannot help but wonder if Darius really wants her in his life or is it the magic of the Goddess in working to once again bring devastation to the country and it's King, for history seems to be repeating itself.

The character of Helene was very well written, she is strong and determined to find her way in life, yet at the same time when she comes face to face with Darius and all his red hot passion she falls and falls hard, leaving her plans buried as deep as  hidden treasure. I loved that the author used her as a reincarnation of a previous unknown Princess and that she lets her discover more and more about herself and the missing Princess through the history she uncovers, and that she is the one to change history through her strength. I also really loved the idea that the author lets the unknown Princess finally make her point hundreds of years later!

The character of Darius was terrific, he is strong and confident but also has his doubts about the past and future and wanting to be a good King. I felt sorry for him as he is almost like a lost child with the weight of so many responsibilities combined with his own feelings for Helene. I loved that he goes all out in wanting to try and make the right decisions when ever he can, but let's face it every great man has a strong woman standing behind him and in his case it is Helene, and the author did a remarkable job at letting her be the one to change him along with history.

The backdrop settings were exquisitely described in vivid detail by the author, I could hear the birds awakening, feel the sun shining down on me, touch the hidden treasures and smell the damp rising in the secret hidden tunnels.

The dialogue went from hot and sexy to emotional and revealing all in effortless flow.  The author also told the story of more than one set of secondary characters and their tales of love. I was kept on the edge of my seat at all times, desperately seeking for more about the history of the Goddess and the many star crossed lovers that have come to change the history of a country set on superstitions and old rules to always be followed.

At the end of the day I walked away with the romance of three couples from the past all linking in with two couples of the future and the remarkable power of the Goddess.

I highly recommend this read for all romance readers looking for something fresh, new and exciting. A story of love, lust, passion, a age old history and a legend ready to be brought to life.

This was the first book in this authors new Idols series and I am very much looking forward to more. The author is also known for writing for Mills and Boon books that involve characters with heartfelt romance and a sweet and steady story, which I have always enjoyed, but with this reads combination of adventure combined with romance and history, I am going to say "Robyn this is the way for you to go, excellent work keep them coming!"

5/5 star review
"He shatters her body but she will shatter his entire world"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reviewed by Nancy Crocker

The Goddess by Robyn Grady

Ever since she graduated from college, Helene Masters has been on one adventure after another. She has traveled across Europe, doing odd jobs and seeing the world. She is currently working on a small isolated island, getting it ready for the Prince who will be arriving in a few days. She also seems to be a bit accident prone, as proven when she first meets Prince Vasily.

Darius Vasily, Prince of Teirenias has arrived on the smaller island ahead of time. He is to spend seven days alone on the island before he is crown King. This is one smoking hot Prince from his good looks all the way down to his sexy voice. And it looks as if history is about to take a new page, because the Prince will not be staying alone after all. These two are instantly attracted to each other. And the love scenes are scorching. 

There is also A Goddess which is said to have mysterious powers. She is suppose to be able to mesmerize and seduce any mortal of her choosing and the powers are said to be the strongest there on the island. I loved how this was worked into the story!

I really enjoyed this story, the way it was written. And it had a nice little back history and some mystery to it as well. The characters were interesting, and while Darius might soon be the King. I really enjoyed how he was open to suggestions from Helene. Robyn Grady did a really good job of making me feel like I was on the Island of Teirenias, with her descriptions. Well done!

5/5 stars
_________________________________________________
Review by TashNz

5/5 Stars

While reading The Goddess by the mega-talented Robyn Grady, I was swept away on an exciting adventure which was packed with love, adventure, mystery, humor, far away lands, lone islands, traditions and mythical legends; all the elements of a perfect story.

Who wouldn’t be upset about being trapped in a cave on a lone Greek Island with nil inhabitants, your only companion a half naked Greek Prince.  It’s a tough life and somebody has to do it.  That somebody is Helene who lands in Prince Darius’s life with a splash!   Helene is travelling the world, she’s a lovable character who sees the best in everyone and the brightest side to everything.  She’s also an accident waiting to happen.  Fate lands her at the feet of Prince Darius.

Prince Darius is about to be crowned king of his country but tradition dictates he must spend alone-time on an isolated island.  Annoyed his security crew missed Helene on their security sweep he’s ready to radio ahead to send her back to the mainland but Helene’s sunny outlook on life and charming personality makes him decide to keep her around. One mishap introduces us to after another an invitation to spend more time with him is extended. 

I love Robyn Grady’s ability to pack so much fantabulousness into a story and yet still keep it light and humorous.  Full of vivid descriptions I felt like I was right there with Helene and Darius.  Their characters were constructed with many layers making them believable and real.  Robyn Grady’s wonderful descriptive ability breathes life into Helene, she’s just lovable.  Helene and Darius complemented each other well, Helene with her bright and sunny outlook on life crossed with Darius who’s shoulders heavy with the weight of responsibility for his people and ancient traditions to observe and follow they were a sure fire match.

I loved the realistic descriptions of various actions and events.  For example my curiosity was piqued when Helene was making Prince Darius Karidopitda.  It sounded simply divine and uncomplicated to make so thanks to Google I’ve found a recipe and I’m going to make it.  I was also introduced to a Cretan lyra and many other ethnic words and items.

The secondary story of Leandros and Acacia added to the overall story and helped provide the twist at the end.

The Goddess is a delightful book overflowing with fantasticness from the talented Robyn Grady, the first in her Idol Series from Entangled Publishing

Wife In Name Only by Hayson Manning

Review by Nas

WIFE IN NAME ONLY by author Hayson Manning is an Indulgence release by Entangled Publishing for April 2013.

After walking out on her husband and marriage, Zoe now needs him for publicity purpose. But why did Rory agree to Zoe’s plans?

Does he want revenge on Zoe for walking out on their marriage or does he want Zoe herself? Would Zoe give in to the explosive chemistry between them?

Zoe had made her home on a Tongan island, would Rory leave his jet-setting high profile life in LA and settle on the island? Or would Zoe leave her island paradise to go and live with him in LA? After all Zoe had secrets she hadn’t told him.

WIFE IN NAME ONLY is a sizzling romance set in an island paradise. It is fast-paced and feel-good story that sparkles with red-hot sensuality, mesmerizing emotion and intense passion. Hayson Manning, a new to me author, brings this story filled with intrigue, danger and thrill as well.

Highly recommended and well worth reading!

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Return to Romance Book Haven

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reviewed by Desere

Every woman knows most successful men are married to their job and that usually leaves you with spending most of your time on your own. Your realize your husband loves you but just not as much as his job.

When and if you find the courage to walk away from it I personally think must be one of the hardest things to do. In this read from Hayson Manning the author shows the courage of one woman that does exactly that and also shows how she rebuilds her life up to the point where she needs her husband to step in and help to secure what has fought so hard to build.

The characters of Rory and Zoe were well written and both showed strong qualities of fighting for what they want and not giving up when it comes to work however when it came to their marriage neither one really put any effort into it and as said Zoe up's and leaves, but I could understand the reasoning behind it all.

I liked that the author showed that it takes real courage to walk away from a marriage when there really is no marriage, and that a woman can make it on her own. And yes I know what your thinking, but she cannot make it on her own because she needs her husband again at some point, but here is where the author showed that yes you can make it on your own however, there comes a point in time where standing alone is just no longer an option because you need the strength of a person stronger than you.

Rory was a complete idiot in the start with a real "all I want from my soon to be ex wife is sex because she blows my mind" attitude. But later the author shows him going from total jerk to real hero material as he saves Zoe in more ways than one, which tied in perfectly with the element of Zoe needing his strength.

The backdrop setting of the honeymoon island was perfect for these characters as it was if the author really showed me as reader that the characters are being thrown back into the first days of their marriage and a fresh start.

The dialogue was great except for all the swearing going on, I really felt annoyed that it was almost as if Rory could not say one sentence without getting crude. Yes, I could understand that certain situations in the book called for a swear word or two but other times I think a simple sentence would have done the trick and still delivered the message the author was trying to bring across.

I recommend this read for lovers of romance reads with a twist and believe me there is a twist and that is the thing that gets you going, then you will like this read and all I will say on the subject is think stalker! But yes if you think swearing breaks the romantic element as I did then this read is not for you.

4/5 star review
" A island getaway that will clear the way to a romantic future" 

____________________________________________________

Review by TashNz

Read in one sitting which to me means Wife in Name Only was a fast paced, catchy and riveting read.

My hero Zoe, owner of honeymoon resort in Tonga calls her ex husband in sheer desperation to keep up appearances to the outside world she's the other half of a successful and happy marriage with a world wide well known businessman Rory. Zoe is quite convinced her marriage is over, after all she did walk out of it with by her own choice and took off to the other side of the world. Rory however has different ideas, his marriage is not over and when Zoe calls out of the blue he takes the opportunity in both hands to go and bring her home, thus beginning a rollicking read full of humor, adventure, mystery and second chances.

Why is Zoe my hero? She left her marriage because she was brave enough to leave what seemed to be a loveless marriage and face life on her own. She didn't stay just for the sake of not being along. Zoe was almost in what we refer to as the First Wives Club. The ones that stand by their man when they grow from nothing to something then the husbands move on. Rory did grow from nothing to something and Zoe's reflection of those times is heart-melting. 

As a lover of second chance stories I was fully invested in Rory wanting to go back and save his marriage. Poor guy had a hard time with this because he is a bit of an ass to Zoe in both attitude and his outlook on life. He cant understand why Zoe would want to stay on a godforsaken island in the middle of nowhere and so far removed from his central NY hub it couldn't be more different. The rest of us would think Zoe's actually in paradise.

I loved how Hayson Manning's descriptive writing placed me on that island, in the middle of the drama Zoe and Rory faced together. There were moments of total Laugh out Loudness and moments of heart-thumping terror and moments of shock, all rounded up into a fun read.

I googled Hayson Manning because she was a new author to me and I like to find out a bit of background. I was delighted to see she originally hails from my neck of the woods NZ! Congratulations on your first release Hayson.

The Reluctant Wife by Bronwen Evans

Reviewed by Desere:


Hot, hot, hot read ladies! This was a wonderful contemporary romance from a brilliant author. The book had me entranced and completely mesmerized from start to finish.

The characters of Abby and Dante were both wonderful to read about. Abby the young woman that will risk it all to save the life of her grandmother, she will do what ever it takes, which in this book made her the go getter.

Dante the strong, charming and relentless but oh my so sexy man that will rather blackmail his wife back into his bed then ask her to come back to him.

Yes, I know it does sound a little like most modern contemporary romance books from today only this one  had something that some modern romances miss, it had heat, intrigue, passion and a deep powerful underlining message. Some modern romances have just some of those elements but not always it all or even combined together so beautifully.

I loved how the author used the blackmail element combined with the loyalty to family into play to bring forth a story that will truly stay with me for a very long time.

The dialogue was passionate, emotional and powerful. The character of Dante was the perfect one in the sense that he was the kind that every woman loves to hate,yes ladies as much charm as the has he also has the arrogance of treating Abby no better than he would a servant. And Abby certainly is only there to preform a "service" in order to get what she wants.

I felt bad for poor Abby at times but at others I was also delighted for her in the subtle little hints the author drops to let me as reader know there is so much more the Dante and what lies beneath his wall of resistance to love.

The backdrop of Italy was perfect for this lovers reunited romance, not just because Italy is one of the definite cities of romance but because it just has all the perfect elements for the making of a excellent romance book, which believe me this certainly was.

And most of all it reminded me as reader that communication no matter how little is always important.

Brilliant work Bronwen, bring us more!
5/5 star review

"Returning to the man you love in spectacular style"
_____________________________________________________________________

Review by TashNz For me this is the perfect story. Second Chance stories are in my top three genre's, but they have to be well written, powerfully emotive and as a reader I have to want the characters to have their second chance and to me The Reluctant wife ticked off everything on my list - plus more!

The Reluctant Wife introduces us to Abby when she's pulling up to the gate of her Husband's home, the home she left three years prior, needing his help.  Seeing an opportunity that will suit all parties Dante promises to assist her, under some conditions of her own.  Knowing she has no choice Abby moves back home.

That's when the spellbinding magic starts flowing and I disappeared into Dante's and Abby's world, completely forgetting I was curled up in a comfy couch at my local coffee shop reading The Reluctant Wife.  As the reader I followed Dante and Abby down the rocky road of second chances, I shared their personal demons with them and I hoped and hoped they would get their second chance together, even when things looked dim and impossible.

I love that Abby was strong, stood up for herself and also wore her heart on her sleeve.  My heart broke for her for what she was going thru in terms of her own personal situation.  I loved that Dante clearly loved Abby, he was quite the alpha hero.  He had his own personal situation too which was just as worrying and as important as Abby's.

And ah yes! The heat was scorching the pages as hot as the Australian sun I experienced last week!

How delighted I was to discover at the end Bronwen is a Kiwi, I love love love to see Kiwi's do so well in the big wide world, all the best with success for this story. I'll be googling you in Amazon for more :)

Baby It's Cold Outside ~Various Authors

Reviewed by Desere



It what is surely the anthology of the year I was swept away to two delicious Christmas nights and two very sinful New Year's night.

The book contains four short stories by Kate Hardy,Heidi Rice,Amy Andrews and Aimee Carson.  It took me through the journey of self discovery,new found love, a little holiday pick me up and unexpected locations.

In the first story 'Tis the Season to Kiss Santa by Kate Hardy we meet two very different people, one who loves Christmas and one who never celebrates the holiday because of a rough childhood.  The author brings the two together and one Christmas eve and sparks fly !  With the emotion the author packed into this one I could not help but cry and the true meaning of Christmas and new hope was brought home beautifully .~ Trapped with Ebenezer Scrooge and bringing the Christmas spirit out in him !

The second book 'Tis the Season to Love Shopping by Heidi Rice we see two people come together in the most unexpected on locations and more than just mere sparks fly as Mrs Rice has always been able to burn up the pages !  The author not only brings the two together in spectacular fashion but also brings home the message of do not judge those whom you do not really know, take a good look at what you see inside instead of what the world is telling you.  And that fear can be controlled if with the right person by your side.The passion laced into this one was scorching !  Trapped with a sexy as sin photographer and learning that there is more behind his looks !

The next one 'Tis the Season to be Kissed by Amy Andrews I was taken on the journey of two people one freshly home from the warzone and in need of a woman and one who has sworn of men and incorporated the rule of ten dates before sex in a effort to find the one.  The author let's the two play all kinds of word games that made for some really fun and laughable moments that I really liked.  I loved the ten various and very creative dates , and the message of no age difference and other circumstances can keep true love apart was stunning. Long John's and Scrabble have never been sexier !

The last one 'Tis the Season to be Tempted by Aimee Carson was a very fun and delightful read.  I met two very different people with the only thing in common being that they cannot keep their hands of each other. They are worlds apart personality and emotionally wise but the author certainly used that to her advantage and what follows was a message of those whom we think will never match are the ones that are truly meant to be.  The straight and narrow guys are sometimes the hottest of them all !

This is was the perfect book to get you in the mood for Christmas and New Year ~ a powerful and passionate holiday read !

5/5 star review

Holiday Affair by Annie Seaton

 

Reviewed by Maria

Ever  wished you could just get away from it all, let your hair down and lose yourself in a wild fling with a gorgeous man and never have to worry about annoying things like repercussions?  So did Lissy.  Sorry, I meant Dr. Melissa McIntyre.  When this sedate assistant university professor threw caution to the wind and indulged in a holiday fling, she got more than she'd bargained for.  Never see the bloke again?  Think again!  What if he's waiting in your office on Monday morning, your senior colleague with whom you'll be working on a special assignment for the next couple of months and yes, your promotion is on the line?  Even better, what if he's your new next door neighbour too?  Not to mention very closely related to the nice, stable man whose marriage proposal you're seriously considering?  It really doesn't get any worse than this now, does it?  As the Americans say, go figure!  Go girl, let's see you get out of this one!

Apart from the very intriguing premise, I was completely captivated by the vividly descriptive writing of Annie Seaton. I've never been to the South Seas, but I feel as if I've been there and back after reading this.  I could taste the salt in the sea air and feel the sunshine on my skin.  It's an exhilarating read, to say the least.  An unshamedly romantic piece of women's fiction which deserves to be the holiday read of the year. I particularly enjoyed reading about the girls' night out.  It reminded me of my single days.  Just the kind of book you'd love to discuss with your friends.

Verdict?  Loved it!

You can grab your copy here.  Or if you are in the UK, here!