Many people have heard of Rahab. She is a woman listed in the genealogy of Jesus who was not born an Israelite but adopted their ways. Not much is known about her, but Joan Wolf tries to give a unique picture of this mysterious woman in The Scarlet Cord.

What do we know from the Bible about Rahab? She lived in Jericho. She was called a harlot. She took in Israelite spies and protected them. She helped the spies escape. She hung a scarlet cord outside her window. Her family lived through the destruction of Jericho. She married Salmon. She was an ancestor of Jesus. Anything beyond that is material for a fiction writer.

This is a wonderful story, but if you are walking into it knowing the biblical story, you will be slightly disappointed. Wolf has Rahab and Salmon, or Sala as she has him called, knowing each other and in love before the attack on Jericho by the Israelite army. She also has Rahab pure and innocent but mistakenly called a harlot by Joshua. There is also no time of purification for Rahab and her family. Compared to the biblical account, this story is even more fiction than you imagine.

The writing is excellent. The story telling is wonderful. Coming into the story knowing the biblical story of Rahab, I was very disappointed. Wolf did an excellent job with historical context, but seemed to be more true to outside sources than the Bible where Rahab is mentioned and even honored.

I do recommend this for you to read as it has a section for questions in the back that would be great for book clubs. This might actually help conversation within any group.

Note: This book was provided by the publisher without expectation of a positive review.

This is a side-story/prequel to No Remorse by Marylynn Bast. If you are interested in reading No Remorse, you'll be glad you read Ms. Bast's Escaping Dominance.

In No Remorse the reader gets a crash landing in the brutality of the male dominated werewolf culture. You are also given a brief introduction to a woman on the run just as Amber is. Escaping Dominance is the story of that woman, Trina, and her little boy, Toby.

The men that are brutal won't hesitate to abuse and kill the women who cross them, but many fight that tradition by helping the victims escape and take them to rescue houses. Trina decides enough is enough as she has suffered for years under the brutal hand of the man who once claimed he loved her. For the safety of her son, she leaves and finds herself running for her very life.

Though this is a companion story to Ms. Bast's werewolf series, I found it to be much more. This is a story of a woman standing up for her life and that of her son. She is taught confidence to stand up to the abuse and finds a way for happiness to enter her life. This is a story of inspiration. Werewolf or not, this woman was once beaten down in spirit but the reader watches as she finds it again.

As I said, this was a wonderful story that I loved the best. Even if you are not a big paranormal fan, this story of survival will be enjoyable. Of a

Note: This book was given as part of a book tour with no expectation of a positive review.

Did you read No Remorse? Whether you did or not, you'll be able to enjoy this novella which explains a segment of Amber's life. A Justified Kill takes the reader to the first human kill of Amber. Marylynn Bast gives you a deeper look into Amber's past.

Though Amber is a werewolf, she does not want to kill innocent humans. She is years behind on her change, and worries if she will hurt someone. Surprisingly, the person she targets for her first kill more than has it coming.

You don't have to have read No Remorse before reading this one, but you appreciate the story better when you do. Ms. Bast took two sections out of the first book of the series and gave the reader this short prequel to expand more on Amber's life.

There is language in this book with a few F-bombs dropped. There is death and violence. This story gives the reader a little insight into Amber's past and her initial change into a werewolf.

A must read if you are interested in No Remorse. If you are uncertain about reading No Remorse, then check this book out and get an idea of what the stories are about.

Note: I was furnished this book for a book tour with no expectation of a positive review.

A good story can have a little bit of romance, a little bit of adventure, and a little bit of mystery all rolled up into one. Ms. McClintock’s Gallagher’s Hope delivers all that and more.

A young woman finds herself alone in the world with just her little brother. Raised in a home with money, she now finds herself penniless. In order to start a new life, she takes a teaching job in Montana. There she finds a home, love, and more adventure than she had ever bargained for.

This story moves at a very steady pace. It could have gone faster without the narrative on the past and emotions but then the story would not have been so good. The reader will not find it hard to keep reading and finishing the book.

There is not just one story in this book. That is what I like about it. The author brings together several storylines and weaves them together in a masterful manner that leaves the end of book promising the reader even more.

Ms. McClintock’s writing is engaging and keeps the reader focused on the story. Her style is simplistic and entertaining.

I loved the way the author tactfully and expertly allows intimate scenes without having the need to describe them in detail. Just a few words tells the reader of a bedroom scene. The author focuses on the emotions and relationships being built.

This is a book I highly recommend for those that enjoy western romances without too much focus on the romantic side of things. This story comes with action and adventure.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of The Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely of my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides

You never know if a sequel will follow through with the story and do as good of a job or better. I recently read Lola James’ Bound to Remember and enjoyed the read. I quickly turned to book number two, Unbound, and found the story threw me completely for a pleasant loop.

Toni finds herself discovering that she never was herself. The woman she thought she was turned out to be a lie. Instead, she becomes embroiled in a mess of events that revolve her and the Greek gods. The vampires and witches are still there to make this one of the most unusual paranormal stories.

No one can complain that Ms. James’ writing is slow and lethargic. The pace is steady throughout the story and keeps the reader pushing on to the next chapter because you just have to know what is going on. It is an intricate plot with surprises around every turn. Some I could see coming while others came out of nowhere.

You won’t find Ms. James’ writing highbrow. It is simple and engaging letting the reader enjoy the story instead of following words that are rarely used and a story so deep that it would take years of discussions to figure it out. It is something to read and enjoy.

As I warned my readers in book one, there are vampires and witches. In this book, I want to add an extra warning of descriptive intimate scenes. These are not eluded here. They are described very well. They can be skipped without losing much of the story.

What I like about Ms. James’ works is that they are a pleasure to read and a completely new twist on some old stories. I like to see that. It shows true creativity in the ability to take the old and produce something new and original.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of The Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely of my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides

  There are so many vampire stories out there. At first they began to blend all together. Now, I’m pleasantly surprised to see many authors taking different twists on the old stories and giving readers something new and entertaining. Lola James has done just that with her Bound to Remember book.

A young doctor finds herself strangely attracted to a new nurse. Immediately, strange things start happening as Toni feels herself unexplainably drawn to Ben. The more she learns, the more confused everything becomes. Suddenly, witches and the Greek gods become part of the unbelievable tale. Soon she’ll wonder what the truth really is.

This book does not give the reader time to get bored. Strange things start happening immediately. The story then progresses very fast and definitely not in a state that we would call ‘normal’. Then again this is a story of vampires and Greek gods and witches. How normal should it be?

Ms. James’ writing is light and at times funny. Her characters are likeable. You won’t find stiff writing here. She writes in a style that is extremely casual and easy to read while not being elementary.

This is a paranormal romance. Vampires, blood, gods, and witches are all part of it. There is no foul language and intimate scenes are more hinted at and thought about then portrayed.

What I loved about this book the most is the ending. I have to read the second book now. In fact, I’ll start it in a few minutes. This is one that will have you wondering what is going on and have you demanding to know.

Note: This book was given to me by the author with no expectation of a positive review.

Romance. Historical romance. A man pursuing the woman he wants. Sounds like my kind of book. Sophia Jordan delivered just that with her book Lessons from a Scandalous Bride.

A young woman has watched her mother at the hands of her stepfather. The drunken man kept her mother pregnant and watched with uncaring eyes as many of the children died at birth or soon after. When she has to find a husband, she chooses a man who can’t perform his husbandly duties. She has it all planned out until she meets one man that causes her heart and body to explode.

This is not a fast paced story. It’s not a thriller. It’s a romance. The pace is easy going and not too slow. The story is not a complicated plotline. I don’t see how it is meant to be. The author has done an excellent job in keeping the reader going without being too slow, too boring, or anything having the reader put the book down before they finish.

What I love about Ms. Jordan’s writing is the fact she explores the feelings and thoughts of the main characters. The characters are not flat. They are real and complicated. Ms. Jordan’s use of slight humor and bantering between the characters keeps the story moving and is something I love in a story.

There are a few intimate scenes in this book. They are not extremely graphic and can be skipped over but you could easily miss important happenings.

This book was a great read. Perfect for a vacation, a beach read, or a lazy afternoon on the couch. I’ll have to put it on my enjoyable read list.

Note: This book was provided by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review.

Yes, historically women have taken the back seat, but they were not always the passive and submissive ones we think of. There were many strong women who stepped up to take a man’s role. Lisa Shea gives you a strong woman in Badge of Honor.

A woman has been raised to use the sword in a time it was not common. Catherine was declared dead a few years before in an attempt to discover buried secrets. Now she is back with the order to get married. The only problem is that she is love with someone else and her husband wants her as the docile woman of the manor who obeys her husband. Secrets and mysterious deaths bring everyone to the point of decisions that will change their lives and reveal long buried alliances and acts. Even secret identities are assumed only to be revealed shockingly.

This story takes you back in time and gives you an exciting world of horses, swords, capes, bandits, lords, and fighting. Then there is the love, loyalty, romance, and sacrifice. All of this makes such a good story you want to finish reading once you start.

Keep in mind that this is a story of a strong woman that would not have been quite so real during the time but not impossible. History has shown the exceptional woman who rose up to do a man’s job and do it exceedingly well. Ms. Shea puts such women in her stories as inspiration for others.

There are numerous fight scenes and even death described though Ms. Shea does it all with grace and decorum without trying to gross out the reader. Even her intimate scenes are done well where the reader knows exactly what has happened but no one would be embarrassed reading it.

I appreciate the glossary at the end of the book in regard to period words and phrases. There is also a brief history of the life in medieval times to read and expand one’s knowledge.

Ms. Shea has written several other medieval romances about strong woman. All proceeds benefit women’s shelters. This is not something you find very often from authors.

This is another book to add to your summer reading list. It is adventurous, romantic, and inspiring. Plus it helps other women find those same attributes in life.

Note: This book was provided by the author with no expectation of a positive review.

For many, romances are perfect summer reads whether it is on the beach or on the porch. Historical romances can be extremely enjoyable. If those type of books interest you, you might want to check into Gayle Callen’s Return of the Viscount.

A young woman finds herself needing her inheritance but knows she’ll never get it. Her guardian controls it unless she gets married. The men courting her want to marry her for her fortune and to be the brother-in-law of an earl. She decides to marry a man who served under her deceased father’s command. What she doesn’t anticipate is her proxy married husband appearing on her doorstep or how gorgeous he turns out to be. Suddenly, accidents begin to happen to threaten her life. Can her new husband safe from harm as she battles the feelings she has for him?

This was a delightful story of romance, mystery, and secrets. The story moves along steadily between the various characters giving insight into both main characters’ thoughts and feelings. Nothing is as it appears with anyone which keeps the reader on her toes.

Ms. Callen writes in a manner that is entertaining and keeps the reader captivated. The characters are interesting and not one dimensional which makes you want to read to the very end. I loved how the story was not easily figured out though I did pinpoint the who half way through. The why slowly revealed itself as the author explained it all. Other than that I can’t say anything without spoiling it for you all.

There are several intimate scenes that are described in detail between the two main characters. There are no language issues.

The author does a great job putting the reader into a world of earls and countesses mixed with mystery and love. I couldn’t put it down and enjoyed it completely. Gayle Callen’s Return of the Viscount is a delightful read perfect for this summer’s reading bag.

Note: This book was provided by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review.

Wonderfully Delightful

Trying to classify Laura Clark’s Dancing Naked in Dixie has proved rather difficult. It is a romance while being a general fiction book with mystery and history all thrown in. I was drawn to this book because it was set in the South where I was born and raised. Ms. Clark did not disappoint me as she explored lower Alabama were I spent fifteen years of my life.

Julia Sullivan is a travel writer. She enjoys life and her job until she gets a new boss and a reprimand on the decline of quality of work she has been submitting. She has one chance and one chance only to save her job. She has to go to Eufaula, Alabama and write an article on a special event highlighting the town’s history. Getting there, she encounters many … unique characteristics of the South such as “darling” and “sugar” as well as fire ants, sweet tea, and ante-bellum homes. She discovers more than she bargained for as she gets sucked into a fight to save the town’s historical homes and learns more about herself than she thought possible.

The story moves along at just the right speed. It is not too fast or too slow. Ms. Clark does a fabulous job in creating a story that takes the reader from fast-paced New York City to the Deep South where things move at a slower pace. The storyline is believable while using scenes that one would not expect to find in real life but would enjoy doing so.

Ms. Clark’s writing style is casual and personal as she tells the story from Julia’s point of view and draws the reader into the feelings and thoughts of the woman. I found myself laughing at various scenes because I could see it happening and have with my own Northern in-laws. The introduction of Northerners to the South can be quite the experience. Julia’s first reaction to sweet tea does happen in real life. Seen it myself.

There are a few editing issues but nothing that would distract you from the story. I was disappointed that there was no mention of the statue dedicated to the boll weevil or about boiled peanuts both which confuse those from the North.

Ms. Clark writes in a very descriptive manner allowing the reader to see herself actually there and experiencing what Julia does. There is a lot of history about the Eufaula area described in the book making this more than just a story about a woman from New York. The book comes with a book club section with many questions to get the reader thinking about what they read as well as a recipe that I can’t wait to try.

Laura Clark is a former news anchor on television and has written another book on the Deep South called Stay Tuned. In February 2013, she will be releasing another novel titled, The Pie Lab.

I do recommend this book. It was a joy to read and brought back vivid memories of my youth. If you’re looking for a great summer read or a book to read while traveling, you have to check out Laura Clark’s Dancing Naked in Dixie.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of The Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. All opinions expressed here are entirely of my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides