Entries Tagged 'Wartime' ↓
March 3rd, 2010 — 4.5 Stars, ARC, Africa, Contemporary, D-F, Executive, Headaches, Heiress, Marriage of Convenience, Medical, Memory Loss, Scarred Hero, Soldier, Travel, United States of America, Wartime
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Mary Margret Daughtridge comes out with another fantastic SEAL story. It’s got everything! A smart savvy heiress heroine to a car empire in desperate need of a name-only husband and a hero with partial amnesia, headaches, scarring, charisma, good looks, and skilled in bed! Yum. Yum. Yum. See, I told you it had everything. Wow!
Davy Graziano is a Navy Seal corpsman. The quote at the beginning of the novel gives real insight to Davy as a hero. He figures he will die in service for the Teams and when he doesn’t he’s adrift. It doesn’t help that his mother passed away shortly after visiting him in the hospital. The situation makes him feel that his mother traded her life for his with God and he doesn’t know what to do with his second chance at life. He wants to continue being a Navy Seal but a head wound resulted in brain trauma. He’s forgetful of things he knows he knows and it’s frustrating to no end.
One thing he forgets is JJ Caruthers. Twice. Poor schmuck. Jane Jessup however is very relieved. The more she learns about Navy Seals and Davy in particular the more she sees them and him as the perfect solution to her husbandless problem. JJ contracts Davy into being her husband in an effort to get one over her grandfather who is trying to manipulate her to his liking. Davy won’t take her original offer and renegotiates the terms to his liking but as the marriage unfolds Davy just wants his life back! What’s JJ to do? I’ll tell you… she’s going to save her hero.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Buy: SEALed with a Ring
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February 21st, 2010 — 3.5 Stars, 4 Stars, Big Misunderstanding, Book Review, Farming, G-I, Gentry, Historic America, Inspirational, Kidnapping, Marriage of Convenience, Religious, Survival, United States of America, Virgin Heroine, Wartime
Tobacco brides were sent by The Virginia Company of London to the Virginia colony where men could buy the brides with 150 pounds of tobacco leaves. In the beginning, the brides were spinsters, widows, and orphans, but few women were willing to risk all to come to America. In 1643, more likely the brides were criminals and felons who had to choose between the new colony and prison. All except one, Lady Constance Caroline Morrow was kidnapped!
The daughter of an earl, Constance (Connie/CC/Sissy) escaped from her companion to visit her uncle onboard a ship headed for the Virginia colony before it set sail. He was to do his time as an indentured servant in the new world. She was detected and captured under the captain’s orders and locked with the other women below the hold.
Constance is bought by Drew O’Connor along with her friend Mary. Under the governor’s and council’s orders Drew must marry one of them, he chooses Constance. It is to be a marriage in name only, because Constance wants to go home to England and is certain her father will come for her. For his part, Drew wants to never love and lose again so the deal while not ideal is fine with him.
It’s a cute story. I don’t like it as well as Bride in the Bargain. There’s an equal amount of research. As the heroine is fond of mathematical equations there are a lot of strange little riddles littered throughout. You’ll be tempted to solve them, but it’s best to leave that to the heroine and hero.
The 1644 massacre, which starts the second Anglo-Powhatan War, sneaks up unexpectedly. It is the second massacre Drew has gone through. The reconciliation between Drew and Constance is wrapped up in it. Characters are lost in it. The ending is relatively happy despite the sadness of the events surrounding it.
Like Bride in the Bargain, it too is an inspirational Christian romance, but not as subtle. There’s more agenda to this novel than in Bride in the Bargain, so that’s something to consider. The presentation of it was still lovely, light, and sweet. It didn’t bother me, but it might some readers.
Rating: 3.5-4 Stars
Buy: A Bride Most Begrudging
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January 10th, 2010 — 4.5 Stars, 5 Stars, Book Review, Convict, Cooking, Foster/Orphan, Historic America, Marriage of Convenience, Pregnant, S-U, Soldier, Survival, Travel, United States of America, Wartime, Widow or Widower
Morning Glory is easily one of the top five romances LaVyrle Spencer wrote. It spans two years from 1941-1943. Small town America is still recovering from the Great Depression. America is holding neutrality while helping the Allies in the Second World War by supplying them material aid. It’s about five or six months before Pearl Harbor is attacked officially drawing America into the war.
Will Parker is an ex-convict drifter. He’s skinny, starving, and down on his luck. When he is fired unfairly from a job at Whitney, Georgia’s local sawmill, Will obtains a local paper and sees in the classified ads a woman advertising for a husband. (This is quite the reverse of most romances, because it is usually the man who advertises for a wife.) On a whim he decides to answer it.
When he meets Crazy Elly Dinsmore, will is not sure what to expect. She’s several months pregnant, has two young children, and looks tired and haggard. Her place is falling apart around her ears and she looks like she could do the same. It is obvious that she is desperate, but then so is he, and both are looking for a change in their fortunes.
They both agree to a trial period where they will see how they get along. Will is determined to prove his worth. Elly is hoping to prove she’s not crazy, though a woman taking on an ex-convict who was in prison for killing a woman (whore or not) is more than a bit crazy not to ask for more information than, “did you have a good reason?”
Three side characters are wonderfully written and created with just a few scenes and phrases. First there is Miss Beasley, the spinster librarian, who reads to be between her forties and fifties. She’s brilliant but fussy. Lula Peak, the town slut, is itching all the time for a man. Anyone will do so long as he can supply her with some of the finer things in life. Will Parker is her wet dream, but he’ll have none of her. Harley Overmire, the superintendent at the local sawmill, is a vain and cowardly man. When the draft starts, he is the first to run his trigger finger through the saw.
Spencer really gets you inside the heads of the characters. The low self esteem of both Will and Elly keep them from each other when they desperately desire to be closer. War is hard on them and changes Will so much. His trauma is handled well, but before the two can become solid lovers and partners again the sheriff rolls up and arrests Will for the murder of Lula Peak. Is a HEA possible for two people who never seem to catch a break?
Rating: 4.5-5 Stars
Buy: Morning Glory
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December 7th, 2009 — Colonel, Guest Blogger, Historic America, J-L, United States of America, Wartime
by Jessica James, guest blogger and author of Shades of Gray.
Thank you for letting me be part of your blog today to tell readers about my award-winning historical fiction novel Shades of Gray. As some of you may know, Shades is a Civil War love story that has climbed to #1 on Amazon’s best-seller list in the romance/historical/U.S. category, which moved it (briefly) ahead of Gone With the Wind
.
So, you may ask, what does the main character in Shades of Gray
have in common with Rhett Butler that could push this debut novel past a beloved classic?
The first thing that comes to mind is that Colonel Alexander Hunter, like Rhett, is a bit of a rogue. Though neither of these leading men holds regular military positions (Rhett is a blockade runner and Hunter commands an independent regiment of Confederate ruffians), both men exemplify audacity, intrigue and intrepid courage. Hunter, like Rhett, is known for both his courage and his elusiveness, two qualities that tend to disarm opponents – and members of the opposite sex.
But I think the main thing that separates Colonel Hunter and Rhett Butler from other main characters is their mystique. In both Shades of Gray and Gone with the Wind, the reader is never quite sure what the man is thinking, and is never really certain what he will do. Throughout both books we are continually left guessing: Will he turn his back and walk away? Or will he stay and fight for the woman he loves? Wait a minute, does he even love her? He hasn’t really said so.
In Shades of Gray, it is obvious that Hunter is the type of man who will unselfishly sacrifice all for his country, but what will he do when faced with the fact that the woman he has promised his dying brother he will protect is the same person he has vowed to his men to destroy?
This mystery, this vagueness and secrecy, I think, keeps us hooked. Though both Rhett and Hunter have their flaws, we keep hoping they will redeem themselves, proving through their actions, if not their words, how romantic they are at heart. It is when they do finally express themselves that our hearts melt, because we know how hard it was for them to expose their souls.
There are main characters with every kind of personality trait imaginable, but I find myself drawn to those like Rhett, which is why I created Hunter. The strong, silent type will hook me every time. What kind of hero do you enjoy most?
Buy: Shades of Gray: A Novel of the Civil War in Virginia
This post is part of Jessica James’ Holiday Blog Tour and Civil War Basket Giveaway. For the full schedule and ways to qualify for the giveaway, visit www.jessicajamesbooks.com.
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December 4th, 2009 — 3 Stars, Blind, Book Review, D-F, Erotica, Friends, Gentry, Historic America, Scarred Hero, Soldier, United States of America, Virgin Heroine, Wartime
I recently finished the audio book version of the Land of Falling Stars. This Civil War erotica loosely brings to mind Gone with the Wind
with Rhett, Ashley, and Scarlett… only this time played out by Gavin, Jesse, and Sophia. Gavin and Ricochet were my two favorite characters. So scrumptious! (Gavin not the dog.) My least favorite was probably Sophia from the good guy team; she was so hot and cold and acted very childish on several occasions, which made it hard to like her. The story did include one of my favorite character flaws: blindness. Several yummy sex scenes occur throughout the blindness of Sophia.
Gavin returns to Arbor Rose with terrible, soul-wrenching news. He must deliver this news to his childhood love Sophia and he doesn’t know how he can do it. Haunted by what he’s done in the war, Gavin knows he faces censure at home not only because he chose to fight for the Yanks but also because he is Jesse’s murderer. It doesn’t matter if it was in the middle of battle and he didn’t know who he was aiming at – the outcome was the same. Jesse, Sophia’s fiancé, was dead by his hand.
Mistaking Gavin for another cruel heartless Yank, Sophia shoots him on sight only to learn it’s her childhood friend and protector come back from war. Horrified by what she’s done, Sophia races to his side and nurses him back to health. It’s been months and months since she’s heard from Jesse, and all the while she’s with Gavin she can’t help forgetting the perfect man her father found her for the scarred and imperfect flesh and blood man before her. Terribly confused by her attraction for Gavin, Sophia wavers and falls, then returns to teetering and vacillating and questioning with several relapses while trying to sort out her feelings for the man she was supposed to love and marry, and the man she can’t live without.
Rating: 3.0 Stars
Get the audio version here.
Originally posted 2009-03-21 05:33:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 16th, 2009 — 4 Stars, 4.5 Stars, A-C, Blind, Book Review, Enemies, France, Gentry, Georgian, Great Britain, Historical Romance, Kidnapping, Regency, Secret Agent, Survival, Virgin Heroine, Wartime
Joanna Bourne takes the old plot of wartime enemy spies turned lovers and sticks it on its head. This novel is a seriously fantastic tale that you would be fool not to pick up and read. It contains a wonderful plot twist that should be as surprising as it is satisfyingly delicious. The male is a strong, powerful, but very plain lead. The female is cunning, resourceful, and beautiful. The cover depicts a young handsome man, the type of man that Robert Grey would eat twice a week for breakfast. It is pretty and attention grabbing however, which is what the publishers are after.
Annique Villiers is a French spy in the middle of the Napoleonic Wars (adjacent to the Georgian period in England.) She was captured and thrown into the bad guy's household prison alongside two British spies, Grey and Adrian. Annique uses her cunning and limited resources to get the three of them out of trouble. Unfortunately for Annique, Grey (and Adrain) knows of her and captures her just when she thinks she's free. Angry and determined to escape, Annique puts up one hell of a fight. She has kindness in her you would not expect of a spy. As a matter of fact, all of the agents except the bad guys, show a remarkable kindness.
The safety of two nation's people rest in Annique's hands. She must decide what to do and whether her choice will keep her loyal to her homeland or turn her traitor, she does not yet know. Annique will have to war between her head and her heart all the while danger, intrigue, and madness follow behind her nipping at her heels.
Rating: 4.5 Stars to midpoint, 4 Stars overall.
Originally posted 2009-03-07 05:35:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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October 1st, 2009 — 4.5 Stars, Book Review, Children, Farming, Historical Romance, Regency, S-U, Teacher, United States of America, Virgin Heroine, Wartime, Widow or Widower
I recently was able to reacquaint myself with an old friend... Years by LaVyrle Spencer. I find Spencer's writing to be so thoroughly engrossing that even after finishing a novel, the story of the leads cling to you. In this particular novel, set near the end of WWI in the middle of American farmland, the cast of characters are motley but endearing.
The hero is a young man of 33 years of age. He has been a farmer and has been content to be a farmer since the age of a young boy. When he was merely 17 or 18 he met and married a young girl of similar age passing through the Midwest on a political campaign. The girl was bipolar and not at all suited to life without constant stimulation. After the birth of their child her despondent mood increased until she up and vanished to the west coast. After the passing of several years, Theodore heard of her passing, but even had he wanted to remarry ninety percent of the women where he lived were related to him.
His son is 17 years old and is anxious to see part of the world and yet perversely content to be a farmer. Kristian's restlessness is not released until after the new schoolmarm arrives to Alamo, North Dakota. His grandmother, Nissa, lives with Kristian and Theodore in their farmhouse and his Uncle John comes by for every meal. John is slow, but not stupid. He's singularly incurious and doesn't feel the need to question things. John by the way is just one of many uncles.
The heroine, Linnea, is a young vivacious woman of just 18 years. She's earned her teacher's certificate and has set her heart on being a teacher (on her own and away from her family.) Little did she know that she was hired because the school board thought she was a man. Theodore is most surprised at finding a girl still wet behind the ears at the train station. His house has always been offered to the teachers because of its close location to the school. Immediately he rebels at the thought of hosting a female in his home - he's had enough heartache and feminine wiles to last him a lifetime. For being a grown man - he still caters to his ma so when Nissa declared Linnea was staying he had no choice but to let her.
To his dismay, Teddy is drawn to Linnea's freshness, spirit, and innocence. His old soul is given new life around her, but he knows his attraction is wrong. He may not be able to read, and he may not know half the words Linnea throws at him when they argue, but he can count... at nearly twice her age, he's old enough to be considered her father. On top of that his son is just a year younger than the pretty schoolmarm, wouldn't it be more accepted to see them pair off? Teddy throws in the path to love as many obstacles as possible because Linnea has an uncanny ability to see to the heart of a matter.
Can love bridge the age gap? This question is met and answered in a timeless story that entwines joys and sorrows.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Buy: Years
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Originally posted 2009-02-03 15:00:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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September 10th, 2009 — D-F, Guest Blogger, Wartime
Blurb: The Captain's Lady by Lorhainne Eckhart:
Captain Eric Hamilton is a powerful force in the U.S. Navy, having earned himself a reputation of being a hard-nosed chauvinist. He’s commander of the USS Larsen, a destroyer, currently deployed in the Persian Gulf during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Abby Carlton has just escaped from the man who held her captive for a year. Abducted while traveling in Paris, she was given to an Arab man as a gift, until one night she makes her desperate escape.
While on patrol one morning Captain Eric Hamilton discovers a dinghy floating aimlessly. Abby is found, battered and in an advanced state of pregnancy, lying in the bottom of the dinghy. From the moment she lay on the deck of his ship her innocence finds a way to penetrate his hardened heart. But time is running out. Eric is falsely accused of sexual assault and the CIA wants Abby and the baby for bait to flush out her captor.
Keira: What a premise! Why did you chose to human trafficking and the war in Iraq as the background for your novel. What do you hope readers will get out of the story?
Lorhainne Eckhart: My novel The Captain’s Lady came to me in a dream. It was the scene where Abby is rescued lying on the deck of the ship. I chose the war in Iraq as the background for the novel, as the controversial events of the war were so prominent when I wrote the novel. Even today the Iraq War still sparks a heated debate when you speak to people about it.
When I write a novel, I lean towards what is controversial, then jump in with both feet. The research that was involved was extensive, as I gathered background details. Not something done in a few months, but research and checking accuracy of facts continued throughout the completion of my novel.
During my research for The Captain’s Lady, I came across an article on human trafficking in Europe. What I didn’t expect was to discover how prominent a problem this is. Below is an excerpt from my novel based on the research I uncovered.
“The French police report that every year several thousand girls are reported missing from Paris. The police believe these girls are abducted for use in prostitution in Arab countries. What is really sick is that even Intel has information on these auctions in Africa, where these abducted white women are sold to Arab customers. Blonde women like Abby are most sought after.” He continued as Eric’s nostrils flared, “These women are never seen again. For what it’s worth, Abby is one of the lucky ones.” He thumped the manila file folder with a knuckle. “I believe this Hossein is responsible for more than one disappearance.”
To read the information that several thousand girls are abducted each year from Paris, gave me the background I was looking for Abby. The atrocities that these women endure, to be taken and disappear. I felt it was an area that needed to be brought to light, to be discussed. Women in this modern day to be viewed as commodities and not as a human being with equal rights, is not okay. It’s power and control, which still exists, with not enough focus or resources placed on protecting, locating and rescuing these forgotten women.
Just this past weekend, I rented the 2008 movie Taken
, which depicted human trafficking, as the daughter of the main character is abducted while visiting Paris. It was refreshing to see this dangerous issue portrayed, exposing the seriousness of this issue.
Buy: The Captain's Lady
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August 29th, 2009 — 2.5 Stars, 3 Stars, ARC, Cross-Dressing Female, Dukes and Earls, Estranged, Friends, Gentry, Great Britain, Heiress, Ireland, J-L, Runaway, Scarred Hero, Soldier, Stuart, Survival, Virgin Heroine, Warrior, Wartime
Jamie Sinclair is a chameleon hero. He switches loyalties, sides, and professions to suit his needs. He once worked for Charles II. Now he works for his brother James II. Jamie is not enamored with his mercenary life. He does what he does to earn the monies needed to keep his impoverish and indebted estates and their people going.
So when he comes from a raiding party back to the camp and finds the men out to torture the young lad he faced momentarily on the battlefield, Jamie is reluctant to let them do it. When it turns out that the lad is a she, he’s determined to ensure her safety. The men are angry at the loss of their plaything and won’t easily let Jamie take her. The only way salvage the situation is to marry her.
Catherine Drummond is a quasi female laird. She should be in charge of her people, but her cousin rules the roost. Wounded from battle, she does not recognize what the priest is doing on the field. Her only thoughts are of escape or to take out as many of them as possible before her death.
I was really enjoying this Stuart period romance until about page three hundred. There was so much going on that it's hard to summarize. Friendship is a very important part for the hero and heroine's road to love and happiness. I began to loose interest with all the running around, side switching, and back and forth going on between the hero and heroine. The novel takes place over the course of two (and more) years with a lot of down time between meetings. In the end it was too much for me when all I really wanted was for both of them to act on their mutual love and lust for each other. I'm sorry to say that I ended up skimming the rest of the novel to find out what happened.
Rating: 2.5-3 Stars
Buy: Highland Rebel
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August 3rd, 2009 — A-C, G-I, Guest Blogger, Historic America, M-O, P-R, Time Travel, V-Z, Wartime
by Susan Macatee, guest blogger
Thanks Keira and Love Romance Passion for having me (and the rest of the Victorians) here today! Why did I join this anthology? I guess you could say, since I already write Civil War romance and love the period, I couldn't resist an invite to be part of a Civil War anthology with my Victorian writer friends. 
Reenactment plays a big part in your time travel story.
What inspired that?
Susan Macatee: My love of the Civil War period was inspired by my ten + years spent as a Civil War reenactor for the 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment based in Philadelphia. I use a lot that I learned about history as a reenactor to craft all my stories.
But Angel of My Dreams, in particular, grew from my actual experiences at reenactments. Since I reenact as a civilian, I had to pick my husband’s brain for most of the military reenactor’s details, but I also learned a lot from just watching the men on the field and in camp and listening to their stories.
For instance, I had scene where my reenactor hero steps into a hole in the field and twists his ankle. Well, the idea for this came from when my husband was warning my son that if a man ahead of you yells, “Hole,” watch where you step. It’s a warning that a literal hole in the ground is coming up. An unaware man could not only twist his ankle, but break it. Of course, my hero is a bit distracted and doesn’t heed the warning in time.
Other details in this story came from my actual experiences at reenactments; the atmosphere, dealing with spectators, and other little things that outsiders wouldn’t know.
In truth, Angel of My Dreams, was one of the easiest stories I’ve ever written. I felt like I’d been given a gift. And surprisingly, it required no revision and minimal editing, unlike my other stories. LOL.
The writer’s advice to ‘write what you know’ surely did apply with this story.
Excerpt from Angel of My Dreams:
“Where am I?”
“Shh.” She placed a finger on his lips. The scent of lavender invaded his senses.
He frowned when he realized he was lying on a cot wearing his reenactor clothing. Had he dreamed he’d come home?
“The doctor says you’ll be fine. He dug out the bullet and stitched up your leg.”
“My leg?” Kyle reached down. His pant’s leg had been cut apart at the seam. Heavy bandages wrapped around his thigh.
“This doesn’t make any sense. I twisted my ankle. It’s fine now.”
She took his hand and stroked his forehead. Her touch sent warmth and desire through his body.
“I have to know...” He swallowed. “...your name.”
She smiled. “You haven’t forgotten me already?”
“I...you never told me.”
“Of course I did.”
She leaned away.
He held tightly to her hand, fearing she’d leave again.
“Don’t go.” Her hand dissolved. He couldn’t hold her.
Buy: Northern Roses and Southern Belles
Susan Macatee’s fascination with the Civil War period began when her husband decided to become a reenactor and pulled the whole family into the hobby. We became members of the 28th Pennsylvania Regiment, based in Philadelphia. She’s been writing ever since she can remember and started writing for publication after her youngest started kindergarten. You can find her at: www.susanmacatee.com
Caroline Clemmons: There are many reenactment groups in our area. In Hillsboro, TX the college has an outstanding Civil War Museum as part of the library. In Fort Worth, there is also a Civil War Museum. One funny thing is that when my daughter taught a fourth grader whose father was a reenactor, the kid thought the South won the Civil War because his dad took part in one of the battles the South did win.
Mary Ann Webber: Susan Macatee is our resident reenactor. She and her husband have done this for years. Some of their sons occasionally join them. Susan is a fount of knowledge for the rest of us. She sews her costumes, including corsets and underpinnings. Her complaints about the uncomfortable – even tortuous attire - have opened our eyes to what life for women was really like.
And, of course, her experiences give her own writing real depth.
Jennifer Ross I have a question, Susan Macatee. Here in Canada, we were going to have a reenactment of the battle of the Plains of Abraham (the English vs. French thing) but the very idea caused such controversy it was eventually scrapped. The French (they knew they lost that battle, that wasn’t the problem) were concerned it would either be a love-in, where our forefathers shot and killed each other, in between clasping hands and singing songs together, or it would be an “English version” where the only ‘good guys’ were the English. They distrusted the organizers of the event in telling the whole story, in other words. So my question is, how do you guys get around that problem?
Isabel Roman: I’ve been to Gettysburg a few times, and marvel at the accuracy of the reenactors! They really get into it. Makes me wonder how the Civil War caught the imagination of so many. I mean you never hear about those crazy Spanish-American War reenactors. Or the crazy folks from the Barbary Wars or Mexican War, or um…the War of 1812 even!
Jeanmarie Hamilton: I've never heard of a reenactment group in New Mexico, but I imagine reenacting the Civil War Battle of Glorieta Pass near Santa Fe, New Mexico, would be amazing.
Susan will give away to 1 lucky commenter: A reproduction Victorian brooch, a scented hand fan and lavender bath bead. Remember, everyone who leaves a comment on the day of the post for each of the six days will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of Northern Roses and Southern Belles signed by all six authors.
Calendar:
Buy: Northern Roses and Southern Belles
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