His Forbidden Diamond by Susan Stephens

Reviewed by Desere


Forbidden love is such a powerful emotion, because it cannot be controlled or ignored, yet it is done all over the world and sadly it causes heartache and despair leaving in it's wake people who are simply drifting along in life taking what ever comes around , and silently holding on to the hope that someday they will find love again and that this time will be allowed and not forbidden.

Lucky for us romantic at heart we know there is always a way forward, one just needs to see it in order to make it happen.

In the new read from the super talented Susan Stephens we get to meet sexier than sin former soldier and diamond dynasty heir Tyr Skavanga. He has returned to the icy depth of the cold north but he is haunted by the terrors of war and has cut himself off from the world and hardened his heart to the very same level of ice as his homeland. But he soon discovers there is one person who is not afraid to defy his defenses and with a shock her realizes it's the last person he expected.

Princess Jasmina of Kareshi is more beautiful than any woman Tyr has ever seen, but she is also strictly off limit. Like Tyr she has a reputation to protect but the electrifying connection between them could be the toughest challenge either one has ever had to face. And soon the hands of fate play out a different set of rules, the only question left is if they can obey the new rules or simply give up and walk away from what they have found in each others' arms.

This was book three is The Skavanga Diamonds series and I could not have been more overjoyed when I received it, because from the start go of this incredible series I was in love with the world of Skavanga and the amazing characters the author crafted.

My heart broke for Tyr, the poor man had become so lost in a world of his own , that I wanted to drag him up from the ground and tell him to fight back against the demons of war. Too often I read and meet the men of war and I can see the pain they have to go through. Trying to bring their lives back to the top, or at least something that resembles the life they knew , is no easy task and sadly so many of them don't make it back to the other side but simply fade away from the world and live in despair. I was absolutely thrilled when the author let Princess Jasmina ( Jazz) be this feisty " I don't take no nonsense" heroine that gave it as good as she got, to tame the very lost Tyr and bring him back to life.

And when Jazz fights back with fire, the conflict was so excellent it had me shouting " Yes that's it Jazz !!" the one minute and the next I found myself on the edge of my seat begging Tyr to surrender and then next it had me laughing out loud , giggling away like a school girl. Absolute amazing, stunning chemistry that set the pages alight and revved up the passion to new heights of hot.

From the character of Jasmina I learned that when you're cornered and there is no other way out just go with it and make the best of the situation, it's in your best interest to at least show you didn't go down without a fight. And from Tyr I learned that a normal life is probably the only thing a warrior of war wants, but if they opens their hearts to love they will find so much more that just a normal life, happiness lies within the power to let love inside.

The read was filled with passion that is hotter than the desert sun, emotion so strong and memorable it hit every single note and sent my emotions souring into the heavens, and an amazing story of dark reality being overcome by love it poured new life into my soul.

I highly recommend this read for all fans of Susan Stephens books, the author has once again shown why she is not only one of the best authors of our time , but one who's stories and characters will stay with you and always be in the back of your mind reminding you that there is always a happy ending even to the most forbidden things in life.

5/5 star review
" In order to survive they have to fight, only fighting each other seems impossible when they're  in desperate need of each other's love" 

The Purest of Diamonds by Susan Stephens

Reviewed by Desere

Everyone and anyone that is female and has sisters, will know you always feel as if all or one of your sisters is better and prettier than you. Some go with the flow and don't worry about it and others will try almost anything to improve themselves. New hair, new dress and a trying to be every bit as beautiful as my sisters are attitude.

It of course never really helps, because we all know that beauty comes from within, and is of course found in the arms of the right man.

In the new read from Susan Stephens she tells of Leila, she is the youngest of the Skavanga sisters and unfortunately for her also the one that is not popular or drop dead beautiful. But for the most she is known as the untouchable one. The ice princess that will never crack.

She decides to break the ice herself and the man to help her do it is Raffa. And yes ladies I also got a chill running down my spine when I read the name Raffa, there is something extremely bone melting sexy about the name and believe me he lives up to it all in this read.

But even though Raffa is all for melting through the layers of ice and let's face it touching all there is to touch of the untouchable one is a major bonus in any man's book,  he soon discovers that his fire meeting the ice of Leila not only leads to unexpected consequences but to a fear to run faster than he has ever wanted to before.

I adored this book, it was everything that I love about romance. The author took me deep into the hearts and mind of two truly incredible characters.

Raffa was cold, distant, arrogant and at one stage I did want to smack the man silly and see if that would knock some sense into him. He does however show an extremely sensitive, kind and caring side when he deals with Leila. Through this character the author showed that even though we can try to remain cold and distant to protect ourselves there is always something or someone that will bring out the better side in us.

The character of Leila was all kinds of sweet. I felt a little sorry for her thinking that she is not every bit as beautiful in her own way as her sisters are. Her sweetness and kindness made me love her to bits. And when she stands up for her believes I actually jumped up out of my chair and let out a " You go girl!"

And the most important thing is through this character the author showed that everyone is beautiful in their own way. You don't need the stunning glamorous look on the outside to be seen as beautiful. It is what lies inside your heart and your courage to go after what you need. But if you don't see what others see you will always remain at a loss as to who you really are.

This truly was a remarkable and stunning story of love being found in the eye of the beholder, others see something we don't. And when we take the time to look through their eyes and see what they see, we will find we are every bit as amazing as the ones in our lives we think are better than us.

I highly recommend this read for all romance fans. It was heartfelt, passionate, romantic in each and very way we need a romance read to be, emotional and simply GORGEOUS!

5/5 star review
"She's the perfect diamond to his crown" 

The Flaw in His Diamond by Susan Stephens ~~Book Two :The Skavanga Diamonds Series

Reviewed by Desere

Somewhere along the line all woman have come across the type of men that think they are God's gift to woman, every single delicious inch a badboy.

They strut around thinking they own the world, and of course all they need to do is look at any female they want and she will immediately see how quick she can strip and jump in bed with him.

The hero, Roman Quisvada , from the new Susan Stephens read is exactly like this, however as we all know it takes the love of the right woman to tame a badboy. The woman to seduce his mind and claim his soul is hell cat and all spitting fire Eva Skavanga.

On a mission to prove a point and safe her town's number one source of income she sets out to take him on face to face, after all he has been avoiding her calls for months so she does not have any other option left.

But arriving on his island and stepping into a head to head battle with the one man that makes her body burn hotter than the desert sun , is not as easy as she thought. For once in her life she wants to be the wanted, desired, treasured woman she has always craved but never dared, because to beat the men you need to be one of them, but to beat this man she needs to let her mask drop and that will never do.

The character of Eva was a truly phenomenal character. She had so much fire and guts I just wanted to hug her and congratulate her on being one heck of an amazing woman! She stood up for what she believed in, she fought when you would expect other woman to not fight. And she gave as good as she got each and every time Roman takes her on. Yes, she does have a few hangup's but which woman doesn't ! Through this character the author showed that when you are truly passionate about something there is nothing that will stand in your way.

The character of in-my-arms-you-will-find-pleasure-but-only-when-you-are-ready Roman was of course all kinds of tempting deliciousness, but as mentioned so sure of himself when it comes to bedding Eva that yes most woman would think him a true bastard and rather walk away. However as I read on I discovered the reason for his 'what I see I get' attitude. Through this character the author showed just how influential our background and earlier years in life can be, and just how much you can discover when chipping away at someone's defenses.

The backdrop settings and dialogue was pure sexy! From the very romantic city of Rome to the words of fire and ice, it all blended to perfection. I am taking away a message of we all hide our secrets for fear of being walked over and left to try and survive. But whilst hiding behind our masks of insecurities, hurt, anger and pain we miss out on the true person we are meant to be, never hide always be just you for no matter what someone out there is going to want you for you and not for who you pretend to be.

I highly recommend this read for all Susan Stephens fans! The author always delivers fun, feisty, out there sexy romances reads and this time was no different. I am eagerly awaiting book three from this series to read just how hot and sexy Leila and Raffa 's journey will be!

5/5 Star Review
" Even diamonds are as cold as ice, until their beauty is unleashed "

Christmas Nights with the Polo Player by

Reviewed by Desere


Resisting a bad boy is never easy, there is always something so exhilarating and sinfully sexy about them that yes the only applicable saying would be
 " Resistance is futile!"

Unfortunately bad-boys are the kind to see how many hearts they can break and how many velvet robes will part with just the right smile.

In this read from the always very super talented Susan Stephens she brings one seriously delicious bad-boy to life and the woman that brings him to his knees or is that gets him to bring her the Christmas sweets?

The character Lucy falls head over heals for bad-boy Gabe but from the start knows she will live to regret every moment, except the phenomenal sex. Other than that there is no point in the whole affair Gabe will never change and she will never be the one to walk away with everything she wants.

That is until Gabe reveals the true him and her world falls in to perfect alignment with every 'physic' power she has!

I really liked the main characters in this read. Gabe was simply so sinfully sexy,  he is one of those hero's that just makes you go "Come sit on my lap and tell me what you want for Christmas"! I truly adored the manner in which the author dug into Gabe's mind, it let me feel completely in touch with his POV, which is something I do not always manage to find a romance read.

Lucy at first felt a little too immature to deal with the sex only relationship, which as I mentioned she thinks this is, but the author very nicely turned her around for me and I very much enjoyed how Lucy blossoms into seeing things from Gabe's POV instead of just her own.

The backdrop settings were really very Christmassy and felt very calm and loving. I loved the dialogue in this read, one minute it was hot and heavy the next sweet and sexy then so emotionally revealing it left me with a glimmer of tears.

I am taking away a message of when making assumptions of others you are bound to find yourself at a loss for words when that person is revealed in whole other light.

I recommend this read for anyone looking for a really great love story with that special touch of Christmas magic.

4.5 star review
" He takes her to new heights of love" 
________________________________________________________

Review by TashNz

Time is short in the period leading up to Christmas!  I found Christmas Nights With the Polo Player by the awesome Susan Stephens the perfect length novella!  I was able to finish it in one lunchtime sitting (well dont tell the boss but maybe a lil... just a lil... extra time was spent at my desk, I couldnt put it down)

The best thing about Novella’s when they are done well is they quickly get to the point, no mucking about and in 10 chapters we got to revisit the delicious Acosta’s, meet Lucy (Holly Acosta’s best friend) who is working for Gabe Ortoya, one of the Acosta’s cousins, and who also happens to be the current captain of the Brazilian polo team.  

Gabe also owns the nightclub Holly is working at to supplement her income while making her way thru vet school.  Attraction is at an all time high and Gabe isn’t used to the ladies backing away so he pursues Holly when fate (well actually matchmaking Holly) places them both as guests at the Acosta’s Christmas Party.

I love this novella for the chance to revisit the Acosta’s; for the fast paced read which I enjoyably raced thru, for the yummiest characters and because  It packs a punch in the emotional stakes.  Lucy is cute as a button, feisty as  and naturally gorgeous.  Gabe is just the yummiest man in Polo world (bar the Acosta’s).  He knows what he wants and goes after it with a passion that left me breathless.

Christmas Nights with the Polo Player is ummissable if you've been keeping up with the Acosta’s or if you’re looking for a fantastic Christmas themed love story sure to crank the heat up for those celebrating Christmas in the currently chilly Northern Hemisphere…

4 Stars :D

Royal Baby Collection by Various Authors ~~ Overview

                                                             Series Overview                      
                                                    The Royal Baby Collection 
                                              The Celebration of Royal Babies From 
                                                              All Over The World

Overview by Desere

Babies, babies and more babies! The series is all about how the royal's from around the world find themselves suddenly thrown together by the power of a new life.

From the the very far corners of the world six talented authors bring us the short stories of six couples who all have each have one incredible night that leads to a lifetime of happiness, but only after all obstacles have been cleared, and there are many, tradition, laws, arranged marriages, no talk of love, past hurt and anger it's all there!

In Sheikh's Baby Bombshell by Melanie Milburne we meet Abby, out on the prowl for one night of incredible hot sex with a stranger to ward of old memories and pain, what she finds is Talib. He turns her life upside down in and out of bed. But Abby is not up for settling for marriage without love.

In His Pregnant Mistress by Maisey Yates we see how Princess Alys who one night gathers all her courage and goes after the man she loves, only her bodyguard Liam is not interested in her heart he is only there for her body, and this princess will have to offer up everything to prove a point.

In Scorsolini Baby Scandal by Lucy Monroe Kiki and Mich each hide their royal titles in order to be loved for who they really are, but when the truth is revealed it might destroy or cement their relationship , only their love for each other will show the way forward.

In The Queen's Nine Month Scandal by Abby Green the pure pressure of being ruler of a country since the age of nine and always being guarded and never truly alone leads Queen Analia to run for one night straight into the arms of Daniel. The no names mask remains on game of incredible sex turns to a very real problem instead of a memory when the Daniel opens the newspaper to find a headline : Virgin Queen Pregnant.

In The Accidental Heir by Susan Stephens we meet Princess Astrid, she went from barely getting by every month to luxuary beyond her wildest dreams. But with her new found magical life comes responsibility to bare a heir, the royal council does not care how or with who , she just needs to get it over with. So when Prince Karl comes along she can hardly resist but will he think she trapped him just because she had no choice or does the Princess truly care?

In His Royal Love Child by Lynn Raye Harris tells the story of young lovers being reunited. But Charlotte is not her mother and being mistress to Prince Luca, she simply will not share the man she loves with another woman, only when she is carrying a part of Luca how can she not take him anyway she can have him. Love is  the strongest emotion.

The books can be read as stand alone's in any order and do not link into each other. In some of the reads I found the author used secondary characters from previous books. Each book contains between five to nine chapters, very short chapters and therefore does not take longer than twenty to thirty minutes to read.

Very entertaining, passionate, sensual and sexy reads, each one great for a afternoon pick me up read!


                                    


                                             

The Accidental Heir by Susan Stephens -Royal Baby Collection

Reviewed by Desere


Imagine going from living in one bedroom home with only a kettle to living in a palace as Princess and ruler of your own country! What could be better for a struggling woman. Suddenly you have servants, more clothes than you will need in lifetime and you don't need a kettle to get a warm cup of tea no you only need to snap your tiny fingers.

But if along with that came a royal council telling you, you need to give them a heir legitimate or illegitimate does not mater just make sure you get pregnant, I reckon any woman would think twice about sticking around as the country's personal incubator for the next royal heir!

Yet this is what happens to Astrid, she is the only heir to the throne after the king passes on, distant relative or not she is it. She finds her courage and takes the leap , promising to not let her country down. She even goes as far as making sure she knows everything there is to know about the country in order to be the best possible ruler.

But to know it all she needs help and a tutor is just what the council ordered, only if the tutor is a arrogant, sex on legs, definite stud Prince that does not care what he says or does, she is not so sure she wants to learn all there is to know, until she gets real up close and personal with the overbearing brute of man and resisting him is the furthest thing from her suddenly frozen on sex mode brain! But will he think the pregnancy bombshell is just because she is doing her duty and chose him as the sperm donor or does she feel more for him that she is letting on ?

The character of Princess Astrid was really unique, she is strong and determined like most princesses from royal reads are yet she is also just one of the people. She thinks about her people as family and not just as a duty. I loved this idea from the author as it showed the princess as in touch with others feelings and not being a selfish 'I always get my way because I am the princess now" character. Even when giving a order she feels out of her depth as it just does not seem necessary, yet she does so in order to keep the royal house happy, she stays with her roots as a once ordinary woman.

The character of Karl was a bit of a shocker for this read. Not because he is a brute or arrogant or so full of himself and being the ultimate in everything that is involved in surviving but because of his bedroom manners. Mills and Boon Royal reads do not in my experience usually give us a Prince that puts as much force into his love making as he does everything else. It is yes always a mind-blowing experience for the woman who gets him into bed, but the with somewhat more finesse giving way to the fact that we are dealing with a royal hero. Not the 'I am doing you now hard and fast, over and over". As a royal hero he felt a bit out of place for me in this read.

With both characters being so unique in the sense that we have a Princess being down to earth instead of all royal and stuck up, and taking what she wants as woman and not as Princess, and a Prince being more of the erotic playboy type, the read was certainly not uninteresting and I found it quite entertaining. But yes a little out of play for the Royal Baby Collection.

The backdrop settings were also somewhat unconventional, it is not everyday that I get to read about a prince and princess getting down and dirty in tent in the middle of nowhere , does not seem very royal does it?

The dialogue for this read was fun and exciting in the start as it offered up some great moments of conflict however again a line such as " You have to be gentle with me because you are so damn big" felt out of place.

Overall a entertaining read, coming in at nine chapters. But I feel that it would fit better into a more hot short reads line than the Royal Baby Collection.

I am taking away a message of , there is strength in numbers and beneath the ice there is always greener grass. I recommend this read for lovers of short royal reads with a twist.

3.5 star review
" Accidental or not, they are bound for life"