UNSPOKEN PROMISES by Bonnie Hamre

UNSPOKEN PROMISES

BONNIE HAMRE
Romance – Paranormal/Time Travel
Cerridwen Press
Sensuality Rating: Sexy
ISBN# 9781419909757
278 pages
$7.99
eBook - Available July 2007

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Ford Hunter is following the 1847 California Trail across the Nevada desert. A recent widower, he’s trying to cope with a toddler and a baby while keeping his oxen alive and wagon whole. The last thing he needs is some crazy lady showing up, claiming she’s from the future while wearing clothes not fit for a decent woman to be seen in.

Mollie Andersen has just buried her husband and daughter and is driving back cross-country to her roots in California. At a rest stop, she has a black out caused by a strong wind and wakes up in the middle nowhere. She stumbles across what she thinks is a troop of reenactment enthusiasts and tries to get them to help her back to the interstate. When they refuse to break characters, she is at first annoyed but then grows wary as they seem to resent her mysterious arrival and clothes.

The two main characters are drawn to each other immediately and forced to marry when caught in the compromising position of kissing passionately. Molly eventually realizes that she has somehow stepped back in time and Ford accepts that she is from the future when he sees her flashlight and color photographs. Although extremely attracted to each other, their strong personalities clash, making it hard for the two of them to trust each other and form the alliance necessary to stay alive on the trail. Molly and Ford have to battle lack of water and food, violent Native Americans, and also suspicious and superstitious pioneers.

I loved both of these characters. They are well developed and the sexual tension between them more sizzling than the bacon Mollie learns to fry on Ford’s cast iron skillet. Ms. Hamre’s research is remarkable and I learned more about the pioneer’s trail than any history book has told me. I laughed and cried as this love story developed and ultimately ended with both characters finding the truth about their love within themselves. Reading the book was a fantastic journey and I thank Ms. Hamre for making it so enjoyable and educational.

Ms. Hamre is a multi-published fiction and travel author. To find out more about her, visit http://www.bonniehamre.com/.


Åsa Maria Bradley
EnchantingReviews
February 2008

BRIDES OF SERENDIPITY by Sarah Richmond

BRIDES OF SERENDIPITY
SARAH RICHMOND
Historical/Western/Romance
Cerridwen Press
Sensuality Rating - S-ensuous
ISBN# 9781419914171
223 pages
$6.99
eBook - Available Now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

1. COURTIN’ DORY: This is a delightful romance and courtship between Harley Jacobs, a resident of Rag town, and Dory, a pioneer heading west. It is a sweet story with the old west and its culture, beautifully illustrated.

2. BARRETTS LAW: The widda Nicolena Carlson was lonely, the widow Henry Barrett never anticipated remarrying. The two of them ran into each other, and after the dust settled and the sparks stopped flying, they realized they were perfect for each other. This is a lovely, sweet story, and a wonderful read for the romantic at heart.

3. ROSEY: Rosamund Sherry, also known as Rosey, is widowed. Her husband
Sheriff Jake Sherry was murdered by an outlaw called the Kid. Matthew Kincaid is the new sheriff, and he likes Rosey. After a period of time, Rosey realizes she is pregnant with Jake’s baby, and she needs a husband. Mathew loves her, and is ready to be her man.

This book was very good; all three stories were sweet, gentle romance, with the Wild West woven in so delightfully. I enjoyed this book, the softness and the romance. Very nice work, Ms. Richmond, I totally enjoyed it.

Ms. Richmond has lived and traveled all over the world. She calls Pasadena, California, home. She is the winner of the Reviewer’s Choice award for favorite historical author at simegen.com. Sarah welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.cerridwenpress.com.


Desiree de Cleves
Enchanting Reviews
May 2008

BLACK DRAGON by December Quinn

BLACK DRAGON
DECEMBER QUINN
Historical Romance
Cerridwen Press
Sensuality Rating - S-ensuous
ISBN# 9781419913099
203 pages
$6.99
eBook - Available Now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Gruffydd ap Hywel, also known as the Black Dragon, is a good-looking man who is haunted by his past. He is a man who never allowed himself the pleasure of happiness.

Lady Isabelle is betrothed to Gruffydd in an arranged marriage. She does not want to go with him, but does so out of obedience and duty to her father. Will she ever find love?

This is a historical romance taking place in the thirteenth century. It is filled with murder and mystery. The man and woman do get together after much intrigue, and it ends with a beautiful Happy Ever After.

I wish sometimes I could give a book a higher rating, 5 is as high as we go, but this story was fabulous. Ms. Quinn beautifully wove romance, heartbreak, pain, happiness, and intrigue into a beautiful tapestry of a phenomenal story. I totally loved this story. I was glued from the beginning to the end, and I loved the epilogue! This is a must read, and I will read it again.

Ms. Quinn is married with children. She has been writing for years, and is the author of several acclaimed books. She is intent on writing - especially writing romance. There's something about writing these stories - creating these people and the world they live in, finding out how they fit together, and the knowledge that you're making people happy - that she loves. You can reach her at www.myspace.com/decemberquinn.


Desiree de Cleves
Enchanting Reviews
May 2008

A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT by SaraLee Etter

A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT
SARALEE ETTER
Regency Romance
Cerridwen Press
ISBN# 9781419911590
$5.95
eBook/Available now

Rating: 4 Enchantments

Palms sweaty, nerves jittery, butterflies in her stomach - it was opening night at the Elysium Theater. Miranda was making her acting debut as Hermia in “A Midsummer Nights Dream”, at her brother-in-law Edward’s theater. If she succeeded, it would mean that she could have a career, a chance to be independent.

Justin, Lord Devereux, needed money, and he needed money fast. He wasn’t due to come into his inheritance until his 35th birthday, a long way off. There was a prime piece of property that he wanted to buy, which he knew would not be on the market long. Justin decided to approach his uncle, Lord Meresford, for an early advancement of his funds. The answer is no, he is too young. But were Justin to become engaged to a respectable young lady, he may be persuaded into dissolving the trust early, so long as his wife, Lady Meresford, also approved of the match.

While Miranda and her sister, Mary, are scrambling to find a way to raise money to release Edward from prison, Justin is confronted by his aunt, Lady Meresford, and her new “charge” Lettice Tenley. To escape Lettice’s scheming, Justin quickly made up an imaginary fiancée. He hires Miranda to act as his fiancée until he could convince his uncle to dissolve his trust. He also wanting to avoid marriage with Lettice. Miranda jumped at the opportunity to earn enough money to bail her brother-in-law out of prison.

This was not a bad book, but it’s not one I will be reading again. While I found Miranda to be a warm and loving character, Justin came off as cold and stand-offish. I’m really not sure when they fell in love. My favorite character was Miranda’s nephew, Anthony; too bad nobody would listen to him!

I give credit to Ms. Etter for keeping me interested, I really did want to see what Miss Lettice Tenley held over Justin’s aunt, Lady Meresford, but I found the writing a little over-dramatic for my tastes, it was like reading a spoof of a romance - very cliché. I think the kicker for me was the “Scooby-Doo” ending “Everything would have worked perfectly if it hadn’t been for that abominable brat.” I did crack me up - I do love the Scooby gang, but I’m not sure that was the author’s intention. To find out more about this author and the books she has written, you can visit her on the web at http://www.saraleeetter.com/.


Aemelia
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
November 2007

SHADOW OF A DOUBT by Karen McCullough

SHADOW OF A DOUBT
KAREN MCCULLOUGH
Romantic Suspense
Cerridwen Press
Sensuality Rating: Sexy
ISBN# 1-4199-0684-4
eBook - Available now

Rating: 3 Enchantments

Detective Liz Ramsey is one focused police professional, until she meets Greg Conyers, an artist with a troubled soul and more. Torn between solving a slew of mounting murders and her ever growing desire to be Greg’s savior from himself, she almost succumbs to an end that could destroy them both. Only in the end does she find and battle the dark lurking monster within Greg, saving both the job and the man she loves.

Ms. McCullough masterfully brings to light the darkness and passion that is deep within us all. In SHADOW OF A DOUBT, she has created a true page turner that challenges the reader to look beyond the obvious until the bitter end. Balancing fiction with fact, she has created a truly unique romance-detective story.


Rowan
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
October 2007

ABADDON by Elizabeth Donald

ABADDON
ELIZABETH DONALD
Horror
Cerridwen Press
ISBN# 9781419911224
$5.95
eBook - Released October 2007

Rating: 4 Enchantments

There are several heroines in this story and they are nothing alike. One is a vampire and one is a cop. They are friends and will be working together, though separate, to bring down an ancient enemy.

The hero of this story, or again one of them, is Ryan. A vampire tormented by the thought of what was and what could have been, if it had not been for an evil that had not been felt in a hundred years.

This story is not a romance by any means. But it is a story of loss and revenge. A story of love and a hate that has lasted for a hundred years and that will not be denied. It is a story of fire. The fire of the human and the vampire hearts. A story of a hate that must be stopped or the vampire and human friendships that are barely holding on will be shattered because vampire consorts are being killed and someone wants the vampires to take the blame.

I liked this story even though it is not a romance, at least not to me, and I don’t think the author wanted it to be thought as one. This story has quite a few main characters in it and they all had their own story to be told and I am sure we will find out more about them in the future. I had a talk with this author after reading a few excerpts of one of her books and I told her she had a story telling ability to rival that of Stephen King. After finishing the book, I still believe that.


Melanie
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
October 2007

ONE CRAZY SUMMER by Jenyfer Matthews

ONE CRAZY SUMMER
JENYFER MATTHEWS
Contemporary
Cerridwen Press
Sensuality Rating: S-ensual
ISBN# 9781419910371
$6.49
eBook - Available now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Summer Donahue is a carefree soul who only wants to create jewelry. Or at least that is what Ben Martinez thought the first time he saw her. However, Summer has real problems and a real business behind her everyday wares. She also has a very real problem - her ex-husband and business partner Malcolm has left her in a lurch.

Summer does not know how bad it really is until Ben lets her know that she has money missing and not a few dollars either. Summer hired Ben to do her taxes and to keep her out of trouble with the IRS. What she didn’t count on was Ben offering to help bail her out of trouble, or to go with her on her search for Malcolm in Mexico.

Now can Ben and Summer find Malcolm and get him to give up his share in the business, all without killing each other or falling even farther in bed?

This story is a real modern day story of a knight in shining armor. The exotic location of Mexico heats up the tale, but the cold winter of Chicago is what sets everyone ablaze. Give this book a try; you'd be crazy not to.


BrandyWine
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
October 2007

MAGICAL MAN LIST by Christie Walker Bos

MAGICAL MAN LIST
CHRISTIE WALKER BOS
Romantic Comedy
Cerridwen Press
ISBN# 9781419910845
$5.45
eBook - Available now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Who knew that softball could be so dangerous? Well, Samantha Stewart didn't. And now, after a spending some time playing the field, she got the home run of her life. Too bad it put her in a coma. Now Sam has to face the very real fact that she is very mortal and can wink out at any time. So Sam and her best friend Marta have decided to create a list, a Man List. In it, Sam puts everything she wants and needs from her dream guy and makes it so impossible that no one can fit the bill.

Bryan Williamson, pain extraordinaire - or that’s how Sam sees him - just might. He knows all the right things, fits most of her list and the shocker is that he says the one thing that Sam cannot deny, her secret line. Now Sam has to decide if the man who has caused her so much physical pain as her therapist is worth the emotional pain as well. But Bryan has a surprise of his own.

MAGICAL MAN LIST is told in first person perspective like you wouldn't believe. You not only read what she says but feel it as well. This story is for those who have given up hope, and begin to rely on a note on a Frig to get what they want. But if you want to know Sam's wish list, then you will have to read it. And it is so worth the time, and even worth rereading again and again. This is a knockout!


BrandyWine
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
October 2007

BEST LAID PLANS by Bronwyn Green

BEST LAID PLANS
BRONWYN GREEN
Erotic Contemporary
Sensuality Rating: S-ensual
Cerridwen Press
175 pages
ISBN# 9781419910401
$4.45
eBook - Available August 2007

Rating: 5 Enchantments

Tessa Maycroft is a librarian, and a part-time worker at a domestic violence shelter. Tessa’s life changed when she was assaulted and raped while attending college as a young woman. It destroyed her self-esteem, her ability to trust, and has shaped the rest of her life. She has mostly worked her way past that terrible time, but she has a compulsion to try to stay in control as much as possible. She dates guys who are bland and vanilla; even though her neighbor really sets her heart racing, she instinctively knows she cannot control him, and that scares her.

Zander York is the ‘hot’ college psychology professor whom every girl on campus has a crush on. He is very charming, with a wicked sense of humor (even if he is a bit delusional about why so many female students visit him during office hours - that just adds to his appeal), and a deeply ingrained sense of responsibility. His heart was broken, and his life altered forever when his sister-in-law was stalked and murdered, and he vows he will not be that vulnerable to heartache again. He’s always looking for a no-commitment good time because his emotions are withdrawn and unavailable. He stays away from dating the ‘good’ girls like his neighbor, Tessa, even if he is attracted to her.

Campus politics ensure that Zander cannot get his tenure unless he appears to be in a stable committed relationship. He turns to his friend and neighbor for help. Would she have a pretend relationship with him, just until he gets his tenure? As a good friend, she can’t refuse. She has fantasized about him and this might be her only chance to assuage her curiosity on how his kisses would feel. Instead of light and casual, her ‘fake’ relationship is starting to feel way too real and much too complicated. To make matters worse, she starts getting unsettling and creepy notes. Will she be able to open up and trust Zander, not only with the past rape and current stalking, but also with her heart?

I felt compassion for both characters. Knowing Zander’s past and his need to protect, I especially felt for him. But I couldn’t blame Tessa with her thoughts and actions of blocking Zander out either; with her past, it was very realistic. This makes the budding relationship between the two all the more gratifying. Zander’s and Tessa’s friends know they are right for each other before either can admit their feelings, and keep pushing them together. They are the kind of friends everyone wishes they had. Everything about this book was great and I recommend you pick it up today!

Ms. Green does it again, but better than ever! BEST LAID PLANS is a stirring, appealing, comedic, sensual read. I loved it! I finished it in one sitting, and then went back to re-read some of my favorite parts a few days later. Ms. Green was able to take two highly sensitive subjects that will push your emotions through the wringer and still have you squirming in your seat with arousal. That is great story-telling at work!

If you want to know more about this author, we have an interview from August 2007 posted on the website or you can stop by her website at www.bronwyngreen.com.

dawn
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
September 2007

BEST LAID PLANS by Bronwyn Green

BEST LAID PLANS
BRONWYN GREEN
Contemporary Romance
Sensuality Rating: S-ensual
Cerridwen Press
ISBN# 9781419910401
175 pages
$4.45
eBook - released August 2007

Rating: 4 Enchantments

They say that time heals all wounds. And Tessa Maycroft she is still healing after an assaulted that occurred in college. Working as a librarian and part time at a women’s shelter, Tessa plunges into her work, having a need for control since the assault. She dates occasionally but only the type of man that she knows she can handle no matter what. This has been working for her until she realizes just how attracted to her new neighbor she is. It frightens her because he is not the type you control.

Zander York is the new professor on campus, teaching Psychology and having every female literally begging for more assignments. Under his calm and cool demeanor, with just the right sense of humor, lurks a man with a painful past. His sister in law was stalked and murdered, devastating him in a way he never thought possible.

To keep his new job, Zander must be in a serious commitment relationship. Not being in one, he looks for the next best idea; he asks his attractive neighbor Tessa if she would be willing to pretend that they are a couple. Tessa agrees and decides to get some of her own questions answered about him. Their acting becomes a real relationship, causing Zander to worry about being hurt again, while Tessa has problems of her own - being stalked and having creepy messages sent to her. Tessa has to make the difficult decision of trusting Zander with her past and heart or keeping in control and risk losing him.

This was the first book I have read by Ms. Green and she succeeded in grabbing my attention and keeping it. Ms. Green has created a tale that leaves you on the edge of your seat with the tension between Tessa and Zander. BEST LAID PLANS is not a quick feel-good fun-read; instead you get so much more. It is a serious romance with just the right amount of excitement and mystery. It will leave you wanting more and unable to put the book down until it is done.

Contessica
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
September 2007

REMODELED ROMANCE by Jeannie James

REMODELED ROMANCE
JEANNIE JAMES
Contemporary Romance
Cerridwen Press
Sensuality Rating: Sweet
ISBN# 9781419909573
$5.95
eBook - Available now

Rating: 3.5 Enchantments

Finally, Leisa’s plan for life is coming to fulfillment. She has found a fixer-upper to remodel into what she has visualized as her perfect home. A quite neutrally colored home with no clutter, no noise and, more specifically, no children.

Leisa believes that she has found the perfect habitat, and soon meets Jared, a man she believes she can spend the rest of her life with, a person who will love her and only her, someone that she will never have to share with anyone else.

Jared believes he has found the perfect woman. Leisa seems warm, loving and fun. Someone he can imagine spending the rest of his life and raising a family with.

Enter Robbie, Jared’s nephew, who has come to live with him for an uncertain amount of time. When Leisa meets Robbie, and learns that he may be moving in with Jared permanently, she halts her and Jared’s budding relationship. She is unwilling to only have a small amount of Jared’s love. She wants it all, a child will just take Jared’s time and affection away from her.

This is the first book I have read by Ms. James. She defiantly kept my attention and curiosity. I couldn’t wait to find our how Leisa and Jared would come together. Though I did find Leisa to be selfish, whiny and annoying, with her ‘poor pitiful me, nobody loves me just me’ attitude, I was still interested in how she could and would be changed by the end of the story. The scene where Leisa goes back to her mother’s was heartwarming, finally giving her an understanding of why her mother raised her in such a busy home. I found the part of the story when Jared was sick to be cheesy. All things considered, the story was a fair read.

Aemelia
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
September 2007