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The White Picket Fence by Karen Rose – a Review

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The White Picket Fence by Karen Rose – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo /  BAM

 

Description:
Tino Ciccotelli is a sketch artist who discovers his newest client, a victim of a vicious assault, is his former high school art teacher. He is devastated to see her injuries and determined to help the police catch her attacker, but he must also deal with the return of her niece, his first love who left him when their lives were just beginning.

Charlotte Walsh has always regretted leaving Tino, her fear of being stuck in marriage like her parents driving her away from Tino and his dreams of a house with a white picket fence. Her life did not play out as she’d expected and, after an assault by a stalker, has returned to Philadelphia, only to have her aunt targeted for violence.
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Now she and Tino must work together to find the man who left her aunt for dead, but soon realize the killer’s true target is much closer than they think.

 

Review:

The White Picket Fence by Karen Rose is a novella based on her romance suspense series (30.5). An old favorite returns, Tino Ciccotelli; who is a sketch artist, passionately dedicated to helping victims identify those who were assaulted.   Tino returns to Philadelphia, to help a former high school art teacher who was brutally beaten; together Tino and the teacher are able to draw what she remembers. Tino is also faced with seeing his former girlfriend, watching over her aunt; she was his first love, who left him 17 years ago.

Charlotte Walsh has never forgotten Tino, and always regretted leaving him; which was due to her family and wanting to be free.  Charlotte was very close to her aunt, and she is devasted by the assault by an unknown stalker.  Charlie was a food critic, and one day she gave a bad review, which led her to be assaulted; the attacker was sent to jail.   Her life was difficult, especially with her continued damage of her attack; now she worries about her aunt. 

Tino and Charlie slowly begin have feelings again, but they both try to keep it at a distant, since there is someone out there who is determined to find Charlie.  Tino will get his brother, Vito (a detective) to help find out who is behind the threat against Charlie.  They learn that the man who attacked Charlie a few years ago, was murdered in prison. This leads to another person who is killing those close to Charlie; some one from the past, who will stop at nothing to kidnap her. Tino was determined to protect Charlie at any cost, despite Vito trying to keep him from getting involved. Will Tino save Charlie? 

I really liked Tino and Charlie together, and hoped they would find a way to start again.  It was also very nice to see Vito and Sophie again, as they were wonderful together. As we get closer to the end, all hell breaks out, as both Tino and Charlie’s life is in danger, with a twisted killer on the loose.  The White Picket Fence was a terrific read, that had us holding our breath.   The White Picket Fence was so very well written by Karen Rose.   This was a fast paced and exciting thriller, which I suggest you read. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy purchased

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To Resist a Scandalous Rogue by Liana De La Rosa – a Review

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To Resist a Scandalous Rogue by Liana De La Rosa – a Review

 

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Description:
For Finlay Swinton, Viscount Firthwell and only son of a powerful earl, life has been a lark…until he discovers a terrible family secret that could ruin him. Determined to make a name for himself free of scandal’s shadow, he runs for Parliament. However, he encounters Charlotte, the mysterious woman who disappeared after their one night together, and he finds it impossible to stay away, despite her working class status and Jewish faith that threaten to destroy his chance for success.

Widowed, penniless, and desperate, Charlotte Taylor secures a teaching position at a foundling home and relaxes into a predictable existence. That is, until Finlay, the man she shared one romantic night with, reappears, a specter from her past. He ignites her passion, even while he threatens the precarious foundation on which she’s rebuilt her life. But when those from her past return to endanger her hard-earned security, she’ll have to reveal his secret or go to prison.

Each book in the Once Upon A Scandal series is STANDALONE:
* To Love a Scandalous Duke
* To Resist a Scandalous Rogue

 

 

 

Review:

How to Resist a Scandalous Rogue by Liana De La Rosa is a historical period romance. This story begins in London 1828.

Charlotte is recently widowed and penniless. Her husband died in India of cholera. His parents showed up in India and told her he had left her nothing. They took all his money and his possessions, and she was forced to gather what she could and managed to sell her wedding ring to book passage back to London.

Finlay is the Viscount of Firthwell and heir to the Earl of Rockhaven. His father is traveling the continent to avoid a scandal of his own making. While Finlay isn’t fond of his father, he has other problems. Rebuilding his father’s earldom and trying to build a better name for himself. He also has learned recently his mother had an affair and he’s not actually the Earl’s son, but no one else knows this. He found it in his mother’s diary after she died. His twin sister Alethea just married their childhood friend, Declan, Duke of Darington. He has also decided on a political career, if he can keep the scandal secret.

They meet one night by accident. She was offered a job by her cousin Eliza. Charlotte thought it was to be a maid, but the women were to be entertainment for the Earl of Belling’s party. She declined the job and was going to leave the house in the morning, but she wanted to just sit in the gardens for a little while. While she was there Finley, who was invited to the party, was escaping the activities and came into the garden. They struck up a conversation and talked for a long while, sharing a bit of whiskey from Finley’s flask. Enjoying herself and a bit in her cups, she stayed the night with Finley. However, happy and fulfilled as she was, she knew she couldn’t be a mistress, so she left without saying goodbye.

A year later, Finley learns Charlotte is working as a teacher at The Little Windmill House, a foundling home Lady Campbell and her brother founded. His sister had taught there until her marriage. Neither of them had managed to forget the other over the year. The attraction was strong.

That’s the basic setup. There is, of course, much more and interesting threads to the plot. But I will leave those for you to read for yourself. In all, this is a very interesting and romantic story. It’s cleverly plotted so things come together slowly with a lot of anticipation. If you are a fan of historical romances, this one has some interesting side threads about religious acceptance, the awakening of independent women, and the times. I enjoyed reading it, hope you do too.

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy provided by Publisher

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BAD SAINT (All The Pretty Things Trilogy #1) by Monica James-a review

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BAD SAINT (All The Pretty Things Trilogy #1) by Monica James-a review 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / iBooks

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 7, 2019

I was kidnapped on my honeymoon by three masked men.

Blindfolded.
Bound.
Destination unknown.

I was told to stay silent and abide by their rules. But they didn’t realize I wasn’t a victim…not anymore.

The open sea was my backdrop for nine torturous days. During that time, glimmers of my fate were revealed by a man with the mysterious chartreuse-colored eyes. He should have scared me, but he didn’t.

He intrigued me. And I intrigued him.

He punished me when I didn’t listen, which was every single day. But beneath his cruelty, I sensed he was guarding a grave secret.

I was sold.
And in a game of poker, no less.

My buyer? A Russian mobster who likes to collect pretty things. Now that I know the truth, I only have one choice.

Sink or swim.

And when one fateful night presents me the opportunity, I take it. I just never anticipated my actions would leave me shipwrecked with my kidnapper.

He needs me alive. I want him dead.

But as days turn into weeks, one thing becomes clear—I should hate him…but I don’t.

My name is Willow.
His name is Saint.

Ironic, isn’t it? He bears a name that denotes nothing but holiness yet delivers nothing but hell. However, if this is hell on earth…God, save my soul.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: BAD SAINT is the first instalment in Monica James’ contemporary, adult ALL THE PRETTY THINGS dark, romance trilogy focusing on Willow Shaw, and thirty-three year old, Saint Hennessy.

NOTE: Due to the story line content, there may be some trigger for more sensitive readers.

Told from first person perspective (Willow) BAD SAINT follows in the aftermath of Willow Shaw’s abduction while on her honeymoon in Greece. Unaware that her husband had gambled and lost, Willow is the ultimate payment for indebted sins. At the mercy of her kidnappers Willow’s life is threatened on numerous occasions but for not the actions of one of her abductors Willow’s life would be forfeited, her body no longer her own. What ensues is the acrimonious relationship between Willow and Saint, and the fall-out as a storm lands our couple on a deserted island where Willow discovers there is more to Saint then she could have ever imagined.

BAD SAINT is a story of secrets and lies; of sexual slavery, payment for a debt, intimidation, assault, recklessness and death. Frightened yet strong, willing to stand up to her captors Willow battles between her head and heart fearing life as she knows it is spiralling out of control.

Monica James’ pulls the readers into an intense, raw and gritty story of payback and vengeance; of power and control; of repercussions, suspense, danger and more. The premise is tragic, impassioned and fascinating; the characters are strong, resilient, animated and energetic. BAD SAINT ends on a cliffhanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Monica James spent her youth devouring the works of Anne Rice, William Shakespeare, and Emily Dickinson.

When she is not writing, Monica is busy running her own business, but she always finds a balance between the two. She enjoys writing honest, heartfelt, and turbulent stories, hoping to leave an imprint on her readers. She draws her inspiration from life.

She is a bestselling author in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, and the U.K.

Monica James resides in Melbourne, Australia, with her wonderful family, and menagerie of animals. She is slightly obsessed with cats, chucks, and lip gloss, and secretly wishes she was a ninja on the weekends.

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