Suzanne Jenkins

Pam Of Babylon

 

 

   Jack Smith had a very full life.  His work and family kept him busy, or so it seemed.  But upon his death, revelation after revelation seem to be coming out.  The people who were the closest to him might not have known him very well at all.   Jack had many secrets. Faced with one life altering discovery after another, Jack's wife, Pam,  is really trying to keep it all together by being strong for her kids, her husbands family and her own mother and sisters.  But she feels life slipping out of control with all this new information that has been brought to light since Jack's death, she is not sure how much more she can be expected to take.

 

 

Review:   This turned out to be a very good novel.  I will be honest and say that at first I was not sure that it could be a good read. There are a lot of characters to this story and at first it seemed a bit confusing as to all of their rolls but as the author progressed with the story it really brought it all together nicely.  They are intriguing characters individually but as their lives collide the effect is a really good read.  When you are ready to read it,  kick back and enjoy, I sure did :)

 

Theresa F.

 

5 of 5 stars

Stephany Simmons

Voodoo Dues

All is fair in black magic and revenge.

Figg is a hot-headed girl with a criminal past and a big heart. Dr. Cairn is an attractive anthropologist who is running away from a past that is closing in on him fast. Rene, the town witch, life is in danger from past wrongdoings. Carl, a cross dressing psychic, is being hunted by his master who wants to possess his abilities. What happens when these characters lives cross? Well; zombies, magic, werewolves, vampires and cults, of course.

The story starts with a sneaky suspicion of a budding sexual tension between Figg and Dr. Cairn. Figg being the aggressor and Dr. Cairn afraid of being broken hearted, again. However, Figg becomes his caretaker, and he becomes her protector. Together they battle death, omens, and witchcraft. Soon the two are hired unknowingly to protect Rene from a past acquaintance that is willing to raise the dead to kill her. And if that isn't a large enough job, they also have to keep Carl who travels with a gay ghost, safe from a master who will kill both Figg and Dr. Cairn to get to him. Whew!

This book started right away and took me on a wild roller coaster. The romance between the two love interests made me turn page after page with excitement. The twist and turns with adventure and danger keeps you interested in what's next. This book was a nice opener for the series of "Voodoo" books from Stephany Simmons. If you like all things mystical with a twist of love, fate, and excitement then choose this book, and beware.

 Akisha Clark

Lila Shaw interview part #2

Here is the second part of the interview with Lila Shaw. Contest is still going come on and post and follow to win! Will announce the winner Saturday everyone good luck!


Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Be humble and accepting of the cold cruel reality that you're not as good as you think you are. But take comfort in the idea that you have an infinite capacity to improve the more open-minded, hard-working and persistent you are.



Of your published books out,  is there a  favorite? Favorite scene? Favorite Character?
Would you want to meet that character in real life?

Oooh, that's sort of like choosing amongst your children. My books are very different from each other so what I say today could be totally different tomorrow. That said, I'd crown Soul of the Succubus as my favorite. I do love all my succubus tales and have a lot more planned. Scene-wise, I like all the dream sequences in All's Fair--they still make me laugh--and this one scene from Soul of the Succubus where the hero tricks the heroine into a bit of foolish behavior.  As to favorite characters, Yve from Soul of the Succubus is a favorite for her droll outlook. I love Ta from the same story for his nearly opposite demeanor. Cory from Prometheus Unstitched is my favorite curmudgeon. Chrissy, the succubus from Naughty and Nice (Stockings and Suspenders Christmas anthology) is a goofy one whose upbeat attitude always made me smile. I wouldn't mind meeting Ta from Soul or Joe from Last Call for Love, my Halloween anthology story. Told you I'd have a hard time choosing!



While you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the characters? Anything in your books that is based on real life?

I also write as Claire Gillian. My debut novel under that pen name, a romantic mystery called The P.U.R.E., featured a newly hired CPA named Gayle Lindley. Maybe it was the first person perspective of the story, but Gayle has always "felt" a lot like me. She's a composite of many of my own life experiences or those of people I knew when I first started my career as a CPA. Shelby from All's Fair is also drawn from my work experiences, though she's a lot prettier and sexier than I could ever hope to be. LOL 



What would that character say to your readers?

Gayle would say, "I'm a lot cuter, thinner and smarter in real life!"


Do you have any new books coming out? Any interesting tid bits we  can expect, sex, violence, romance, mayhem….

I'm working pretty diligently to build a backlist and since April (between my two pen names), I've published two novels, two novellas, two short stories and two anthologies. My most recent acceptance is a second succubus short story for Evernight's Romance on the Go line. My evil plan is to release a series of these short stories, all about succubi, all part of my Succubus Chronicles. Most are already written but will need to be expanded somewhat to reach the minimum length. Evernight will eventually compile them into a single print book. They don't know this yet, of course, and I'll have to sell enough books to make it happen, but that's the short-term master plan. As would be expected of any story about a succubus, they will definitely be on the steamy side!

Well you already have one person who will be buying that book!

Do you have anything specific you would like to tell or share with your future readers and followers?

As a new author I love to hear from readers, even if it's just to say, "hey there, read your book." Word of mouth and referral is the greatest gift you can give an author whose works you enjoyed. This is a tough and highly competitive business, and authors constantly face smackdowns and disappointments.  As I wrote in my very first published book's dedication, "Encouragement from any source is like a drop of rain upon a parched desert. Thanks to all the many who rained on me when I needed it, and even when I foolishly thought I didn't."





Where can everyone find your books? What social media sites are you on besides Julie’ Book Review?

Bookseller sites:

Evernight 

Amazon 

All Romance ebooks
Bookstrand

Social Media:
 Website  Twitter  Facebook  Goodreads Email

Lets do something fun!


E-reader or paperback

E-reader

Chocolate or strawberry

Chocolate (though I'm a crazy fool for fresh strawberries)

Pizza or Hamburger

Pizza


Reading fiction or non fiction

Fiction, hands down.

Favorite book of all time

Argh...The Cliff Notes Guide to the Most Dog-eared Scenes from the Greatest Books of All Time? Just kidding....sort of.

Favorite author of all time

Double argh...It's always changing, to be honest. I've gone gaga in the past over Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew), Margaret Mitchell, Diana Gabaldon, Jane Austen, Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, Loretta Chase, Charlaine Harris, Michael Crichton, John Grisham, Erma Bombeck, etc, etc, etc.

Dogs  or cats

Cats

Lila Shaw is giving away a copy of her latest release, a superhero romance novella, Prometheus Unstitched. To win please check out the rafflecopter to the right of the page, don't forget to put your e-mail in the post.   Good luck!


Thanks Lila and it has been a pleasure talking with you! We hope you have great success in the future.

Thank you, Julie and thank you to all your readers!

Julie Ramsey

Eva Langlais

Croc and the Fox (Furry United Coalition or FUC)

This book can be read separate from the series, but readers will get many more jokes if they read the first 2 in the series first (Bunny and the Bear & Swan and the Bear). each book in the series covers a different aspect of a certain case, ad this book starts with the FUC agents finally freeing one of our main characters...Project/Renee. She's been captive so long that's the only name she knows. As the book proceeds we meet more of the cast of characters and the laughs follow as they should when any good friends get together. Renee learns about herself, Viktor learns to loosen up a little but, and in the process...learns that Renee is more than even she sxpected. Apparently there were some lingering side effects  of  "the incident" in the lab.

The series as a whole is fast reading funny read with very adult sex scenes that make the pages melt. Good will triumph over evil, but it's never easy. there are always creative twists and turns, and yes..the women is allowed to save the day too! (OK, the guys are not lame, they save the day a lot in the series).  How good is the series, now that I've read this book for this review. I'm going to re-read all of them in one sitting to get the full enjoyment for myself.

Jamie K

Lila Shaw review 1

All's Fair in Love and War

Shelby is a CPA. She has been working with Colin. Sexy, tall, smart and a jerk. She just got her evaluation form a job they worked on together and she is not happy. She knows she does good work and he makes her sound like she has so major work issues. As she puts her romance novel away , she remembers the dream she has the night before. Colin and her are on much more friendly terms. Her brother has always been a womanizer, so when he says he is getting married, she is surprised. When she meets Megan, she knows she is a good girl but has reservations on her brother. She loves him but is insure of his commitment. Colin has a sister named Megan. He is furious with her, she is getting married after only 3 wks of knowing some guy, who he knows is not good enough for her. As tensions rise at work and neither Shelby or Colin want to admit anything toward each other. A family dinner becomes very awkward. Everyone around them all see the attraction but Shelby and Colin. Misunderstanding after misunderstanding keeps them apart.

I laughed a lot I the book. The tension of Shelby and Colin is huge. You just want them to just get it over with and jump into bed. But as the misunderstanding keep getting in the way, and tensions build, will they ever fall for each other as you know they can. Shelby's brother and Megan, help along the way. I really enjoyed this book. It was frustrating because you see the attraction and their misunderstandings keep them apart. I will have to say my favorite part of the book is how Ms Shaw ends it. It was unexpected but an awe moment! Worth the read and contains adult sexual situations! Thanks for the awesome read!


Check out the rafflecopter to the right and try to win with adding some entries into the drawing for Lila Shaw's new book! Awesome story! Fun Read! 

Lila Shaw Interview on Chew the Fiction Fat! Part ONE

 Please Welcome Lila Shaw to Julie’s Book Review. A review of her book All's Fair in Love and Wa and a few other reviews will be posted  on the site.  Lila is giving away a copy of her latest book, Prometheus Unstitched to one lucky winner. Check out the entry rafflecopter on the right hand side of the page to put in many entries! Come and lets meet Lila Shaw!


Hello Lila,  How are you doing?

I'm doing great, Julie, thanks.

Welcome to Julie’s Book Review. We are thrilled to have you on the site.

Thank you so much for having me today! I'm thrilled to be here.



As I am a avid reader and I all ways wonder how did they come up with that story? Did you have any special inspiration for your books?

I started writing flash fiction very early on, mostly for writing practice. One of my writing boards conducts a flash fiction exercise every Sunday night. The rules are to write a complete short story in ninety minutes based on a prompt revealed at the beginning of the time period--so ninety minutes from concept to final edit and posting at the site. I faithfully participated in the challenge for about two years and got pretty good at spinning yarns about almost any word or word combos they threw at me. Many of those flash fiction stories of a thousand words, give or take, I later expanded into longer tales. For those challenges, I typically did a quick word association in my head and usually within ten minutes I was off writing a story based on only the vaguest of notions of what it was going to be about. My fingers sort of did the rest. I'm a natural write by the seat of pants person, a pantser. I'd say I probably tap into my own experiences, fantasies, nightmares, those of others, televisions shows and movies, books--anything stored in my noggin is fair game for a little genetic manipulation and mutation.

That is a cool idea. It would defiantly help writers strengthen mental muscles.

Do you/ Will you only be writing contemporary romance type books? What about other genres?

I am an eclectic writer because I love the challenge of a new genre / sub-genre and I love diversity both in what I read and what I write. Thus far, I've written contemporary, paranormal, historical, steampunk, horror, post-apocalyptic, mystery, suspense, young adult--you name it, I've tried it.  I have no plans to settle down with a single genre any time soon.

I just read two other of your novelles and they were very good. I liked them as much as All's Fair!

As a writer do you have any authors you look up to or even any that have helped you along? Who do you follow and read when not writing books?

Absolutely! So many authors have helped me, it would almost be impossible to list them. I joined Absolute Write when I first started and wow, did I learn a lot my first two years there. Everyone was so knowledgeable and I was so...well, green and naive. I do read a lot and definitely have my favorite authors who inspire me to try harder. A few that come to mind are Charlaine Harris, Loretta Chase, Julia Quinn, Charlotte Stein, Jayne Fresina, and the author I'm reading now who's blown me away is Ruthie Knox. I follow many new authors I discover reading Six Sentence Sundays like Ruthie who I stalk and Sandra Bunino who's my cyber-BFF. Then there are the lovely ladies of The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pens, a group of women I've been critiquing and beta reading with for years now. Wonderful and talented the lot of them.

I have read Charlaine Harris, who doesn't know "Sookie Stackhouse" from True Blood. She is on my sight. The others I will have to look up. I am all ways looking for good books.

           Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?


Ok that is all for today folks!  The second 1/2 of the interview is to come. More reviews! Check out the rafflecopter on the right side of the page to win Lila's Prize!

Katie MacAlister

A Tale of Two Vampires: A Dark Ones Novel


Iolanthe has had some issues. After being sexual harassed at work and then fired for reporting it, she has a new career to start. Iolanthe or IO, as she likes to be called, has all ways liked photography. So when she visits her cousin Gretal for the summer, she thinks the local scenery may be perfect to start her new career. When she meets some of Gretal's friends, she thinks they are weird.  When one of them thinks he is a vampire or Dark One, IO knows someone is not working on all cylinders. Imogene and Ben, brother and sister, talk of there father, Nicola. Imogene says he has died, Ben says he is in Brazil sleeping with lots of women.  As IO talks with the two, she knows there is something off with them. They keep asking  IO, what she is? It just makes IO more and more confused.  Imogene agrees to let IO take pictures of her but not near one area of the forest. IO's curiosity is peaked. When she goes to the area by herself, and finds a swirling mist and wonders what it is. She goes to put her arm through it and take pictures of it and ZAP! Waking up 300 years in the past is just the start of her problems.

Katie MacAlister does it again. I vote her as Queen of situational humor! I laugh in every one of her books! IO, is very funny and even when she really does not know what the heck is going on, is confident and sticks to her principles. Nicola, although stuffy and uptight at first, really grows on you. He really almost has to learn how to love again. They two, you know are meant for one another but they of course fight it all the way. They use the excuse of lust rather than love. As the story unfolds, IO is reluctant to say the words even though you know she feels it in her heart. Will IO be able to make the Ultimate sacrifice? You will have to read A Tale of Two Vampires!! AWESOME dark ones tale. If you want to laugh and read a good story this is one for you. Has adult situations, so 18 and up. Also lots of  misunderstandings and LOL comedy!

On Monday 9/10/12

Starting on Monday Lila Shaw Interview and Contest! Be watching! Two part interview and several reviews PLUS a Giveaway! Awesome week to come!!

Julie

Liliana Hart

Dane   (Book 1,  The Mackenzie Brothers series)

Dane Mackenzie left Surrender, Montana 10 years ago and hasn't been back since.  Now he is coming home to face his demons.  To face his past. The first person he sees in town is Charlotte.  His Charlotte.   The girl he walked away from because he hadn't had the courage to stay. He has never gotten over his love for her.  Well, he is back now and so is she and he plans to win her back.

Review:   I will start by saying that I really enjoyed this book.  Dane and Charlotte's story shows that first love never totally dies.  It was sexy.   It was an easy read that made the book seem shorter than it is.  The writer was able to not only pull me into this story but to give me enough of a glimpse of the other brothers to make me want to read their stories too.  So, I did. 

This book is an erotic romance meant for adults

Theresa F.

Author Debra Jayne East Interviews me & Labor Day Hop

I was on Facebook and came across Author Debra Jayne East. I liked her FB author page and I was her 700 like. She wanted to interview me. So I did. Here is what it said! check out the link.

http://yearoftheangel.blogspot.com/2012/09/welcome-julies-book-reviews.html


Had lots of fun doing the interview and it was interesting being on the other end of the table.

I am also on a Labor day Hop. Here is the link to check it out...all kinds of prizes!! http://yearoftheangel.blogspot.com/2012/09/welcome-julies-book-reviews.html

Julie Ramsey

Wendy Lindstrom

Shades of Honor

 

Going back to where you came from is sometimes the hardest thing to do.  Radford Grayson does just that in this story of returning to your roots and facing your past.  He brings with him his four year old motherless, fearful daughter Rebecca.  Radford comes home to Fredonia, New York in 1870 after years of staying away- 1st during the war and then trying to fight his post war memories.  He comes back home to his three brothers Kyle, Boyd and Duke to help run the family sawmill.  Kyle harbours strong feelings against Radford walking back in to the family business and instead convinces Radford to help run the town livery owned by Evelyn Tucker( Kyles fiancee) and her ailing father. From there it's an emotional story about Radford fighting for inner peace, embracing love, forgiveness and accepting his past while moving forth with his life.  Throughout the story Radford attempts to remain loyal to his family and protect and shelter his emotionally scarred daughter.  The story showcases the emotional battle that all the main characters must overcome while bringing a divided family back together.

 

Review- I enjoyed the well written story.  I appreciate that the author focused on many characters in the book and their many states of emotion and turmoil.  It was an easy read for an adult based audience with very mild intimate personal scenes.  The book ended well and although the ending was predictable, enjoyable none the less.

 

Christine

Julianne Maclean

The Rebel


In 1715 Scotland was fighting against the English. Alexander a Scottish highlander has just finished fighting a battle, when he is confronted by a young English lad. He is about to kill him when he see how young and scared he is and tells him to run and get out of there. Instead of running he uses his bayonet to cut Alexanders leg. Now Alexander is pissed and he hits the young lad on the head, to knock him out. As soon as he does, he sees he has just hit a woman in disguise. He is mortified he has hit a woman. When Elizabeth wakes in a thatched roofed house she doesn't recognize, she knows she has to run. But every part of her body hurts. Elizabeth has lost her entire family. Her mother years before, her father and brother to the war. Now she wants revenge. Alexander quickly sees her for what she is, grieving her family and lost on what to do. He vows to take her to her last remaining relative, her uncle, to keep her safe. So he must protect her. Elizabeth puts her trust in the man she just tried to kill. He could have left her there to die or gave her to one of his country men to torcher, it is a war and instead he protects. On there journey they get to know each other and there is an attraction that neither want to talk about but neither can they deny.

The Rebel is a short prequel to the authors series on Highlanders. If her full length books are as good as the prequel, I would love to read them! The sexual tension is there. But no real scenes. But the attraction you feel between the 2 is awesome. I like this book because they talk of true events with fictional characters. Very good. I hope Julianne Maclean contacts me and would like more reviews. Would love to have more of these of the site! Adult situations but fine for 16 and up (this one anyway).

Jennifer Ashley

Hard Mated

In a world were shifters are real. They have been placed in shifter communities and feared by normals. The shifters are treated like second class citizens. Not as many rights, quick to jail and punish. There are people who follow the shifters to bars as almost groupies. Jillian was someone drawn to the shifters. Several years ago she had a one night stand with a shifter named Spike. Spike is an enforcer of the Austin, TX shifter town. He does what his Alpha says, a tracker and a fighter. He is one of the best if not the best fighter in shifter town. Myka has to get Spike to the hospital. Jillian's dying wish is to get her son, who is the result  of a one night stand, to his father. Spike not only finds out that Jillian has had a son by him but she is about to die. Myka is fearful of the shifter because of her own past. Spike, now with a young son, who has just lost his mother and has the energy of a young shifter is causing all kinds of havoc. Spike loves his son already but knows he needs help. Myka is drawn to Spike in a way she never thought possible. Spike wants Myka to stick around and not just to help with his son.

This is a novella, so short and quick. It is part of a series. In the shifters unbound series you learn of Spike but you don't really get to know him until this book. I love Spike! Sexy, strong, and who doesn't love a man who loves his little boy. Scenes with his son are very comical because he knows how to protect but you get the feeling he really has no clue on how to handle a child. Myka, with baggage of her own, had a preconceived  idea of how shifters were. But not until she is immersed into their world does she truly believe Jillian's son is in the right place and with the right people. The attraction is one Myka fights at first but gives up the fight quickly. You are really rooting for the two characters, threw out the story. LOVED IT!! Jennifer Ashley's shifter series are some of my favorite stories out. I look forward to each one. Keep them coming Jennifer. Adults only, but if you want a good romance/action book this one you can read alone but I will tell you the entire series if GREAT!!

Cynthia Wicklund

   In The Garden Of Temptation

 

 

   Lady Catherine Bourgeault has been stuck in a loveless marriage for the past 7 years and has often felt lonely.  Her husband has always been odd but lately his behavior has been growing increasingly worrisome.  He invites men to their house for visits and demands that she is to wear dresses that he has selected, dresses that leave no room for modesty.  She is constantly humiliated.  Then Baron Bourgeault brings Adam Stanford, Earl of Ashworth, to their home under the guise of selling his pride pair of  matching greys.  Soon the Earl is wondering at what the Baron is really after, since it seems apparent that he is not about selling the horses.  The man seems to be flaunting his wife under the Earls nose at every chance.  Soon Lady Catherine and the Earl are having an affair.  Does her husband know,  did he place Catherine in the Earls way so often on purpose,  does he have motive for the way he has treated his wife by making her dress as a trollop in front of the men he would invite to their house?  What could he possibly be up to???

 

 

   Review:  This book is a historical romance with a lot of twists and turns that kept me interested throughout.  I feel like the story flowed well without a bunch of back story or unnecessary information that isn't pertinent to the story.  Once I started reading,  I didn't want to put it down.  And even though there is plenty of passion between the two main characters, there is only a small amount of sexual display.  I really enjoyed this book and easily recommend it to everyone who likes romance novels.

 

Theresa F.

 

5 of 5 stars

Eva Marquez contest winners!

Great week ..getting better each one. Had double the entries and over 1000 hits on the site in 5 days! AWESOME!  Here are the winners! They will be notified by me and then By Eva Marquez to get addresses to send the books to!

Madee Wyrick

and

Martha S

Congratulations! I hope everyone enjoyed the interview.

Coming Sept. 11 Lila Shaw! Awesome author! Lila has some awesome books that I have reviewed. Lots of cool stuff to read and of course more great reviews from review team! Thank you to my new followers and lets keep them coming!  Go read a good book!

Julie Ramsey
juliesbookreview.blogspot.com