♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: Old Acquaintances by Ursula Gorman

Old Acquaintances
Ursula Gorman

Release Date: December 14th, 2010

Publisher: Tate

Page Count: 140

Source: Complimentary copy provided by author, via Romancing the Book, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you both)

Two years after her mom's death, Rissa is finally ready to get on with her life. But someone else has different plans for her...

Rissa Neil is confronted with an unknown enemy who turns her life into a living nightmare. She tries to convince herself that everything happening around her—feelings of being watched, strange phone calls when she's away—is just coincidence, but she can't fool herself for long. Finally, when two old acquaintances of hers are murdered, she turns to her best friend, Matt, for help. But who can she rely on when he suddenly jumps to the top of the suspect list?

With only a few leads to go on and nowhere to run, Rissa wants to use herself for bait, but the police want to put her in protective custody. While they butt heads, things heat up as the body count rises and the suspect list dwindles. Detective Stone, a respected detective who lives up to his name, is soon assigned the case, but will he be able to solve the murders of Rissa's old acquaintances before the killer decides its time to end the game and destroy Rissa for good?

What Stephanie Thinks: Mystery and suspense set your skin on fire in Gorman's debut, Old Acquaintances. The drama presented towards Rissa is frightening because of how far the criminal goes to ruin her life, and also because of how realistic the situation is.

Innocent citizens are brutally murdered, and the sequence seems random, until one link is discovered, that connects them all: Rissa. The victims are all somehow related to her, whether they be childhood friends, neighbors, or people in her daily life (such as her hairdresser); all old acquaintances.

Somehow, Rissa knows these slayings are happening because of her. Even worse, she knows this serial killer is targeting her specifically for a reason. But what reason could that be? She doesn't have any enemies that she knows of.

Old Acquaintances is thrillingly fast-paced and unexpectedly charming. The romance could have been left out, however. I mean, I enjoy a starry-eyed romance every now and then, but it's plain annoying when squeezed in with the suspense of the crime. It's also one of the impractical aspects of this short novel. Stone, the handsome detective, and Rissa fall in love during the case, where Stone is the active detective, and Rissa is the protected victim and witness; their relationship seems highly unprofessional and unlikely. Rissa also has the chaste "no sex until marriage", and claims to be in love with Stone as soon as the case is over. Like I said, I love romance, but even to me, that sort of "love" is a bit farfetched.

Gorman's style is effortless; the story moves quickly and the plot is laid out step by step, making it a little predictable. Regardless, I enjoyed this mystery novel; there were times I smiled at the cheesiness of Rissa and Stone's romance, and times I shivered at the creepiness of the murderer's path. For those of you who like a blend of clean romance and spine-tingling suspense, Old Acquaintances is the perfect read.

Stephanie Loves: "When [Stone] found [Rissa] on his bed and in his clothes, his heart flipped."

Radical Rating: 8 hearts: An engaging read; highly recommended. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: The House on Blackstone Moor by Carole Gill

The House on Blackstone Moor
Carole Gill

Release Date: December 17th, 2010 (Paperback release May 2011)

Publisher: VampLit 

Page Count: 251

Source: Complimentary copy provided by author, via NURTURE Virtual BOOK Tourz™, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!), as part as the Carole Gill blog tour

This is a tale of vampirism, madness, obsession, and devil worship as Rose Baines, only survivor of her family’s carnage, tells her story.

Fragile and damaged by the tragedy, fate sends her to a desolate house on the haunted moors where demons dwell.

The house and the moors have hideous secrets, yet there is love too; deep, abiding, eternal, but it comes with a price: her soul.

What Stephanie Thought: Unpredictability and sweeping romance excite in this emotional and action-packed Gothic horror novel. A fair warning: it's not for the weak at heart, as it includes the blood and guts of spine-tingling vampirism.

I am charmed by illusion of it all; English Rose, whose entire family is brutally murdered by her father's hand, is sent to an asylum (for her own safekeeping, the doctors tell her), where she for the first time, encounters insanity at its finest. Here is where she begins to ponder upon the blurry line between dementia and evil, and later, unfortunately discovers what and how thin that line is.

Luckily, she is saved from having to live in the appalling lunatic ward, by the generosity of a doctor who offers her a job at an obscure club, owned by an eerily beautiful couple, the Dartons. What this club is for, and how it functions, Rose does not know. But she does know that the Dartons have two peculiarly smart, beautiful children—her job is to be their governess—and live in a house near the creepy and deserted dock that contains a black stone: Blackstone Moor. The stone is rumored to have attained its color from blood stains; the children explain that it is an ancient sacrificial stone. Rose does not believe them. How foolish she is.

Rose, nineteen and fresh-faced, is lovable and rather smart for her degree of innocence. Her whole life before her father's madness had been pure and plain, or at least we are led to believe. Her observant eye allows her to follow along quickly to the dangers and frights that approach her, but that doesn't mean she copes with them well. Hysteria blooms from an unforeseen part of her, in reaction to the unimaginably gruesome secrets that are revealed at the Blackstone House. Soon, this hysteria is diagnosed as none other, than the paranormal absurdity she's experienced with the Dartons all along.

Usually, I find sub-plotted love stories within horror or crime novels (white virgin falls in love with handsome brooding hero) annoying, but Gill concocts such an unconventional, yet surprisingly enchanting, attraction between Rose and an unavailable party, that I can't help but swoon over their relationship. 

Rose's story is an adversity of sorts, because in the end, her fall of innocence leads to her emotional death. She does however, get an eternal happy ending, at least alongside her lover, which sparks the smallest of hope within me. That, and the fact that she speaks in the past tense throughout the story, gives me a sense of security, knowing Rose will end up okay. It means Rose has a story to tell. It means she survived to let her story be told.

Stephanie Loves: "'Yes, dread and fear are different. Dread is beyond fear, I think. Dread knows fear was correct in the first place. Dread just intends to sit and wait for the worst to happen, which will happen, because dread, if nothing else, is sure of itself.'" A beautiful anaphora and personification!

Radical Rating: 8 hearts: An engaging read; highly recommended. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: The Girl She Used to Be by David Cristofano

The Girl She Used to Be
David Cristofano

Release Date: March 19th, 2009

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (Hachette)

Page Count: 241

Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher, via My Chaotic Ramblings, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!)

When Melody Grace McCartney was six years old, she and her parents witnessed a brutal act of violence—and then were lured into the Witness Protection Program. And so Melody lost her identity, her home, her family, and ultimately her innocence. She's been May Adams, Karen Smith, and countless others. But the one person she has always longed to be is Melody Grace McCartney.

Now, twenty years later and still on the run, she's stunned when a man calls her by her real name. Jonathan Bovaro, the mafioso sent to find her, knows her, the real her. It's a thrill Melody can't resist, and she goes with him willingly, defying the feds. To the Justice Department, she's just a pawn in their war against the Bovaro family. But as dangerous as Jonathan is, he gives Melody the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to embrace her past and present, and choose a future of her own.

What Stephanie Thinks: This is my first review for My Chaotic Ramblings, a fabulous blog I am grateful to be a part of, alongside the lovely Melissa! Click here to read my review. You know you want to! I mean 10 hearts? How often does that happen? Go read my review and let me know your thoughts. Needless to say, The Girl She Used to Be is a book to be cherished and forever remembered.

Stephanie Loves: "'Why? What's wrong with Carla? I'm sure she's buff.'
He looks at me and smiles. 'She is, but... she wants to be with me for the wrong reasons—because of my family's influence and money. It's like being a rock star, sort of.' He turns back to the road. 'With a greater certainty of being murdered or doing time in prison.'"

Radical Rating: 10 hearts: I'm speechless; this book is an extraordinarily amazingly wonderfully fantastically marvelous masterpiece. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: Deadly Silence by Lindsay McKenna

Deadly Silence
Lindsay McKenna

Release Date: June 21st, 2011

Publisher: HQN (Harlequin)

Page Count: 378

Source: Complimentary ARC provided by Carolyn at Romance Novel News in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank yoU!)

A FIERY PASSION ABOUT TO IGNITE...

Lieutenant Matt Sinclaire has always loved fighting fires—until the fateful day when the flames came for his family. Arson took his wife and has left him alone with an eight-year-old daughter too traumatized to speak—and the ruins of his life are proving difficult to rebuild.

When U.S. Forest Ranger Casey Cantrell is assigned to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the last thing she expects to find is a wounded firefighter and his damaged daughter. But after a chance encounter in the woods, she finds herself becoming almost a mother to the girl.

Now, two years after the fire, Matt feels on the verge of finally getting his little girl back, and even of finding love again. But can he protect them from the evil that stripped him of his life once before?

What Stephanie Thinks: For a romantic suspense novel, I don't think Deadly Silence is highly romantic nor highly suspenseful. In fact, I'd rather classify it as women's fiction or friendship fiction (as Casey and Matt turn out to be great friends and eventually lovers, but there's hardly any sex or romance).

McKenna's writing style is fast-paced, but not very exciting. I expected this story to be one of those edge-of-my-seat thrillers, but it isn't at all. The mystery of who's haunting Matt and putting his crush, Casey, in danger, is predictable since the culprit is revealed within the first few chapters. The "romance" aspect of it isn't highly sensual or heated, either. There seem to be no sparks between Matt and Casey, aside from their sporadic thoughts of "How handsome he looks!" or "Her hair is very flattering to her face shape". They also fall for each other too quickly—almost to the point that their love seems phony. I'm not saying I didn't get the feeling they don't care for one another, because their relationship is very deep. The characters are well-developed and troubled, which makes them seem realistic. The actual romance and (nonexistent) chemistry the author tries to develop however, is rather difficult to buy.

More on predictability: the protagonists are going to fall in love, and the reader knows it from the start (as so in most Harlequin romances). I feel the main conflict of this novel is Matt's eight-year-old daughter, Megan's, shock and how she gets over it, rather than his romance with Casey. Having dealt with great trauma two years ago (watching her mother die and house burn to the ground), she's gone mute, and is depressed. This is where the characters opened up to me, how intimately I got to know them. Casey, too, has a weight on her shoulders that keeps her from living life to the fullest. These imperfections in otherwise pure characters are both heartwarming and exceptionally emotional. That being said, it's the loudness of McKenna's message about human anguish and how one's world can fall apart in such a short period of time, that makes this novel powerful, NOT the romance. I definitely think this could have been a better book without the romance, personally. There's no love scene until the last few pages, and most of the time, there's no sexual tension either.

In the end, I felt my eyes water and throat tighten at the stirring personal dilemmas throughout the book, and rejoiced when I discovered things would work out okay. In terms of writing style, McKenna is very descriptive, but repetitive as well. Her writing doesn't haunt me or keep me holding tight—I don't want to call it bland, but it isn't anything special either. But what she is amazing at, is fostering characters that are so relatable, that I want to love them like my own friends, my own acquaintances, my own children, and having me nearly in tears during the long, laboring journey of finding true acceptance and trust.

Stephanie Loves: "'And here we are—both with major loss and trauma in our lives. We're both crippled. It's just to what extent, how we wrestle with it on a daily basis and how we try to get well even if we don't feel like we'll ever make it there.'" 

Radical Rating: 7 hearts: Not without flaws, but overall enjoyable. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

a story about my love

I'm not saying I have a poor taste in men, but it seems I always enter relationships either unable to completely commit, or highly dissatisfied to begin with.

To date, I can count on one hand, the number of serious boyfriends I've had (not including casual dates, people I've gone out with, people I've "been seeing", hookups, crushes, and so on) and reflecting back on all of them, I'm able to definitely pinpoint my (or their) mistakes and say "that's where we went wrong".

My personality is, to sum up in one word, energetic. I don't like calling myself bubbly because it's equivalent to calling myself marvelous (which is true anyway), but to explain it to you fully, I'm that girl in a circle of friends who's constantly bouncing off the walls. You know the kind.

Before getting involved with my current boyfriend, Seth (read the backstory and all the drama I rambled on about back in January here), I had a "type". And that type was the typical bad boy type: obscure, brooding, rebellious. Very unlikely that I'd get along with people so dark, but the three boyfriends I've had before Seth were ALL that way. My friends tell me I'm compatible with such personalities because I myself am the exact opposite, and you know what they say: opposites attract. I served as relief for all those guys. Light to complement dark, night to complement day. And I used to love being the light. I loved being the fun, lively one.

But alas, all three of those relationships ended dismally. I'm a flawed person, and by loving flawed people, I've gotten hurt too many times. Why did I let myself fall for the dangerous types, knowing I'd only come out getting hurt? Why'd I do it three times?

To put it simply: I'm stupid. Foolish. I don't know why I fell hard and fast for guys who were destined to do nothing but break my heart. But one thing I know, is that with Seth, my kismet did a complete 180. With Seth, I swear I struck gold.

On our first date, Seth drove me to Chicago (CHICAGO... just the drive was nine hours. Nine fucking hours!) Along the way, we camped out at the creepiest motels we could find, pranked clerks at gas stations, sampled exotic/sketchy independently-owned restaurants we passed by (at least two dozen -- in one weekend). Yes, he's that kind of guy. The kind that will always outshine, outwit, and outstand me. The kind that is the light, rather than night, to my day.

I'm not going to delve too deeply in the past, though. I could go on forever telling you all the fun things we've done (paintfights! cross-country skiing! wakeboarding!) and places we've traveled (pretty much everywhere in the east by car), but that's not today's story. Today's story involves today -- what we did today and more specifically, what he did today, to make me fall in love with him. All over again.

To say Seth is bold would be an understatement. There isn't a thing he wouldn't do, and more impressively, a thing he hasn't done. Who else has spent a week on the streets of Rome for a graduation project -- literally on the streets, with no bed, no shower, no technology, save his camcorder -- to document the lives of Italian beggars? Who else has caught eels with his bare hands, then taken sashimi classes to make his girlfriend and family dinner? Who else is so fearless, and so incredible?

This guy is twenty-two. He's only a kid, like me, not some old expert of a man. But he has enough experience, as well as the judgment, to be one, and that's what I find remarkable.

Today, for the first time, I didn't have to work, or go to class, so we decided to dedicate the entire day to ourselves. Seth's only here for the summer since he goes to school at Johns Hopkins (about three and a half hours from here), but he graduated from Penn State, and his family is from this town, which is how we first met in the first place. For now, he's home.

We started the day off with groceries. To you, this may not seem like the most romantic of date ideas, but with Seth, it's a bustling adventure. He's like a little kid; he has to grab every bizarre and unheard of item off the shelves, and to my horror, into the cart ("Aw, come on. Pickled eggs! Why not?") and say hello to all the grocers we approach ("The green of your uniform really matches your eyes,"). Simple things like running groceries with Seth tend to be fearless, unabashed fun. They make me the serious one for once, and they make me proud. The feeling of pushing a grocery cart with the guy I'm completely in love with makes me so proud, I'm telling you. It's like I get to stroll around and make eye contact with random girls and mentally smirk, "He's mine, girls. MINE. Lucky bitch, I know." I'm evil.

The main point of this shopping trip was to prepare for a stupefying dinner he promised to cook for me tonight. Beyond all the pickled eggs and baby bok chois ("that's just the FUNNIEST name!!!"), there indeed was an intent to our clamor. We passed the meat display to see whether tonight's menu would consist of steak, salmon, or lobster. We were examining the tenderloins, when a young woman and, whom I assume to be her elderly father, approached the display we were standing in front of. The father exclaimed "Look at that!" He was referring to the price of the prime tenderloin; a whopping $58.99 per pound. The woman leaned in and her eyes widened. "Oh my gosh!" she breathed. "That's just ridiculous!"

And this is when Seth cut in.

"You want to get that tonight?" he asked playfully, turning toward her.

She laughed nervously (also sort of like "Why are you talking to me, handsome stranger...?").

"C'mon, it's Fourth of July weekend! You gotta get it!"

I rolled my eyes apologetically to her. But we all know I was semi-delighted.

"Is it really worth the price?" she asked, mainly to the butcher who was beginning to tune in.

"We actually tried it once, you know," Seth said, looking straight at me. Oh, I knew. Have you ever had prime tenderloin and Antinori Tignanello beneath the stars? "It was pretty good -- I really liked it".

Not once did he take his smoldering eyes off mine. I just about melted.

"Was it worth it?" the woman asked, snapping me back into reality.

"Every cent," Seth said quietly, dropping his gaze.

And that's when I knew why I love him so fiercely.

The woman and her father proceeded to talk more about beef with Seth; eventually, the conversation morphed into the topic of braised lamb and Seth's special recipe. I mostly just stood there, awed at how my boyfriend was talking about lamb chops and steak with a couple of strangers, like it was the most natural thing in the world. He seemed so comfortable, so happy, and that made my heart soar. When they left (I noticed they bought some sirloin instead; still pretty hefty in the wallet), Seth chatted up the butchers behind the counter, and his charm must have worked on them too, because by the time we had bought our lobster (my personal favorite), they were all cackling with laughter.

I couldn't help but stare at him the entire time, wondering how I had gotten so lucky. This boy works wonders, I tell you.

Then, in the parking lot, before we even got to the car, he ripped open a can of sunflower seeds and began chewing on a few. He offered me some while we were approaching his car. I pushed his hand away and pecked him gently on the cheek instead.

"What was that for?" he grinned.

"I don't think I tell you enough how much I love you," I confessed. "You are the best thing that's ever happened to me."

With a sudden ardor, he slammed me against the side of his car and pressed his lips to mine.

That kiss.

The rest of the day happened like this, in this exact order: tennis at dusk (yes, I suck; no, you may not gloat about it), shower, play with bubbles (yes!) and a hose outside, spontaneous dip in my Jacuzzi, another shower, dinner at midnight.

Today truly was the perfect day. (Use your imagination to guess what we had for dessert ;) ....that's right, Opera Torte with a garnish of raspberry!)

I know I wrote about Seth earlier because of the problems we were having (most of time, when I talk about relationships in general, it's because of him or something that's happened with him), which mostly consisted of me feeling ill about our entire "thing" or whatever it was he had at the time, because of the three and a half hour gap. I know the distance put us on the rocks, but now that he's back, I've discovered it's only made us stronger than before.

Now it's my turn to leave. Halfway across the world. Do I have faith in us? Yes. Does that guarantee we'll stay together forever and ever? Not at all.

I've considered breaking it off with him -- just for a year -- because I hate locking him down like that. But we all know (or at least I do, from experience) how breaks end: in breakups.

The last thing I want is for us to fall apart during my year abroad, though. The last thing I want is to have a relationship end over a long-distance phone call, or even worse, over Skype.

If we do end up calling it quits, I don't think I'll ever stop missing him. I know you'd expect most lovestruck girls like me to say that during a relationship, but I'm speaking in absolute terms. Seth is a hard person to forget, and I suppose I never will. I'll miss his knowing eyes and his boyish smile. I'll miss the strength of his hands, and the way he'll whisper soft pleasures in my ear when I'm underneath him. I'll miss his lure (I dare any girl who meets him not to fall head over heels) and I'll miss the sound of my name on his lips. Know what I'll miss most of all? Us, and how for a devastatingly short period of time, we were a whole, how we were one.

Happy Fourth of July, everyone.

love, Stephanie

❤author: Grace Elliot Interview and Giveaway!

❤ I'm thrilled to welcome author, Grace Elliot to the blog today. Grace, will you please share a short bio with us?

Hello Stephanie, and thank you for making me feel so welcome!

My name is Grace; by day, I am a veterinarian and by night I write historical romance. I work near London and have a wonderful husband and two teenage sons. I’m addicted to cats, I’m housekeeping staff to five moggies, and love nothing better than to read (or write) historical romance. It’s my firm belief that intelligent people need to read romance, as an antidote to the pressures of the modern world.

❤ Sounds absolutely splendid! I like how you think about romance; it indeed is a fantasy we all thrive upon. Tell us about your book, A Dead Man's Debt, and where it can be purchased.

I’m thrilled to say A Dead Man’s Debt has received many 5 star reviews, and was described by The Romance Reviews as, ‘historical romance at its best.’ (Merry jig round the room!)

Set in Regency England, A Dead Man’s Debt is a story of blackmail, duty, and unexpected love. It is currently available as an eBook from the following stores:

Amazon | Fictionwise | Smashwords

It will also be available in paperback (via Amazon) in the next few weeks.

❤ As a lover of historical fiction, I must say it sounds fabulous! I'll be purchasing it upon it's paperback release! When and why did you begin writing?

Since I was a small child writing has been in my blood, but ‘real life’ got in the way for a while. It was at a 20 year school reunion that I had a ‘eureka’ moment. Old friends who I hadn’t seen for decades eagerly asked if I still wrote (my stories used to be read to an enthralled class) and suddenly I remembered the satisfaction of creating my own world – I went home and started writing again.

That reunion was five years ago and now barely a day goes by without me writing something. In rediscovering my creative side I also found a way of relaxing after a tough day at work and it’s done my mental health no end of good. I hope my passion for writing comes across in my work.

❤ It's wonderful how you get to do something you love so much, isn't it? What inspired you to write A Dead Man's Debt and then how did you get published? Tell us your call story.

Bizarrely the idea for A Dead Man’s Debt popped into my mind during a coffee break at work! I’d seen a portrait of a young Emma Hart (she went on to marry Lord Hamilton and become Admiral Nelson’s mistress) and couldn’t get the picture of this brown, eyed beauty out of my mind. It triggered a mental game of consequences, the end result of which became, A Dead Man’s Debt.

Thanks to the wonders of the internet I submitted the manuscript to various publishers, and it was such a thrilling moment when I got that dreamed-for reply: “Yes, we want your book and think it has a lot of promise.” My family was thrilled for me, and as my youngest son succinctly put it, “Mum, you can officially feel smug!”

❤ Indeed you can! Getting published is a very big deal. How much of your actual life gets written into your fictional stories?

In truth very little of my actual life gets into my stories. Part of my reason for writing is as an escape and so I positively avoid writing about everyday life – hence my love for historical romance. Pretty much the only cross over example I can think of is when Ranulf and Celeste first meet: Ranulf is assisting a calving cow. OK, my veterinary knowledge crept in at this point, but on the other hand I haven’t attended any carvings dressed in a regency gown and bonnet!

❤ That's an excellent way to put it. When I write, everything in my life tends to creep into little things, such as types of houses, colors of bedspreads, favorite ice cream flavors. It's an odd thing. I guess they're right when they say you write about what you know! ......even though that isn't exactly what they say. Back to the interview. What are your biggest motivations for writing?

This can be answered with one word – ESCAPISM.

My job as a veterinarian has little scope for flights of imagination, plus it can be emotionally draining. It’s not unusual that I have to break bad news to owners, several times a day, and dealing with their distress and grief is a roller coaster ride in itself. Being a vet requires a blend of skills including being a counselor and psychologist, in addition to being a clinician, and so that’s where my writing comes in.

I used to brood about work when I got home, but now as I settle down at the keyboard the stress and strain dissolve away as I immerse myself in the regency. It’s a huge escape and I love plotting the intricacies of a page turning romance.

❤ All the more reason to keep on writing romance! Can you honestly say being an author is your ideal job? Do you ever sometimes wish you hadn't begun a writing career or had gone down a different path?

I’m a prolific writer (I’ve written five novels in five years, but A Dead Man’s Debt is the first to be sent to a publisher) but write in my spare time. Therefore I’m in the fortunate position to say that I have not one, but two, dreams jobs. Just how lucky am I?

❤ Just lovely! It saddens me when some authors say they wish they had started writing later, or had some other career to depend upon, because it takes all the fun out of the writing process. Luckily, you still find enjoyment in it and maintain it as both a hobby AND a job. How would you describe your writing style/tone?

Tough question!

I’ve never analyzed my writing style but I’d like to think it’s exciting and touched with humour. I have a photographic memory and when I write I ‘see’ the scene in my head first and then transfer it to the page. Above all I aim to write a gripping story that has the reader unable to put the book down.

❤ What’s the most interesting comment you have ever received about your books?

I’ve found reviewers can be very perceptive. Some of the most useful constructive comments have come from reviewers. My favorite comment came from Yvonne, at Fiction Books, who compared my work to that of Georgette Heyer. Now, Ms Heyer is a heroine of mine and I’m humbled to be mentioned in the same sentence, so as you can imagine I was pretty chuffed.

“This is set to be a rollicking good, period romantic saga; although the hints are there that some darker forces and undertones are just waiting in the wings. First impressions are, that this is very like a Georgette Heyer book, which can’t be bad for budding new British author Grace Elliot.”

❤ Kudos for that praise! What's next for you?

I’m nearly finished the final draft of another regency romance, Eulogy’s Secret. This is the first in a trilogy about the three Huntley brothers and is set to be released towards the end of this year.

❤ Where can you be found on the web?

Website | Blog -- reflects my love of romance, history, and cats! | Twitter -- I'm a big fan | Facebook | Goodreads

❤ Before we conclude this interview, is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?

It’s been lovely to chat today, and I’d love to know what your readers do as a ‘de-stress’ at the end of a busy day. Please leave a comment and one lucky person will be chosen at random to win a $10 Amazon gift voucher!

❤ Thank you for being here today, Grace! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your writing better :)

❤ You heard Grace, guys! Comment on the interview with an answer to her question for a chance to win. Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you're the winner! 

Giveaway ends July 16th, 2011 at 11.59 PM EST, and is open internationally!
No need to follow my blog to enter, though it is appreciated :)

Good luck!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: Easter's Lilly by Judy Serrano

Easter's Lilly
Judy Serrano

Release Date: December 16th, 2010

Publisher: Black Rose Writing

Page Count: 293

Source: Complimentary copy provided by author, via Virtual Book Tours by Tristi Pinkston, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you both!!)

It was Easter Sunday; the day Lilly's life went from safe and comfortable to dangerously unfamiliar. Her transformation takes her from a small town girl having an affair with a low ranked gangster in the Montiago crime syndicate, to a woman of grace and fortitude married to the head of the organization.

Easter's Lilly is an inspired journey from the idyllic to the darker side of self-discovery. Read as the over-privileged brothers embark on their journey that twists and turns down the road of unbridled passion in this first book of the series.

The world is unimaginably terrifying to innocent and absurdly naïve Lilly. Danger, paired with her insatiable rebellion, allures her to the obscure and illicit drug market. She soon finds herself in the hands of the handsome, but abusive Diego Montiago: powerful drug lord and shameful scoundrel. The largest of problems arises from his three brothers, however: Hector can't seem to keep his hands off her, Max just might be falling in love with her, and Jorge wants her dead.

Serrano creates an ambitious drama-filled suspense and love story in Easter's Lilly. A lot of the plot seems very farfetched to me; all the actions taken and words spoken would likely only be found in a soap opera. The realistic factor is therefore not very high, but that doesn't mean the book is any less intriguing. Why do people watch soaps anyway? For the high tension and cutthroat theatrical, of course. Easter's Lilly is similar to high-strung daytime soap operas because of its near fantasy scenario. It's an escape from the lows of actuality, which keeps each of us holding on.

I, at first, based off Lilly's character, thought the author was painfully foolish. Lilly is a bit of an idiot; she just can't seem to make up her mind and doesn't seem very confident about her beliefs and decisions. However, Serrano makes up for it by making the other characters wise and knowledgable. Even though Lilly acts immaturely for her age, she's a lively, lovable character, and though while reading, I just wanted to smack her upside into reality, I also often felt the pain of her dilemmas.

There's continuous action throughout this novel, which makes it hard to put down. That being said, one thing that surprised me is how nonchalantly all the characters react to all the racket. Each of the Montiago brothers end up in the ER (more than once each, I should add), but they mostly shrug it off like "Oh, it happens all the time." Also, when Lilly realizes she's in love with her husband's brother, her husband just lets it slide. I won't say any more for now, as I don't want to spoil it for you, but that's just something that irks me.

The ending is gripping—an unexpected and abrupt conclusion to a drawn-out tale. It obviously isn't an ending of course, as there is a sequel in the making, and I can assuredly say I will be picking it up upon its release.

Stephanie Loves: "'You are my reason for drawing breath every morning.'" 

Radical Rating: 8 hearts: An engaging read; highly recommended. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥