I'm a stay-at-home mom of four school-aged boys and the proud wife of a veteran of the US Air Force. I live in a small Nebraska town where I am fortunate to spend my days creating new worlds with characters I fall in love with. I've written over thirty romances and have plans to write many more in the years to come.

Website: http://www.ruthannnordin.com
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Bonnie Mutchler
Latest book: Tales of the Shattered Crystal. Published on May 2, 2013.
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Craig Cassem
Latest book: The Adventures of Yellow Hawk: Book 1 - The Bog. Published on December 29, 2012.

Dan Fitzpatrick
Latest book: VisionII: The Black Skull. Published on March 5, 2010. (5.00 from 23 reviews)
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Dorothy Paula Freda
Latest book: Sapphire Blue in the Straw (Jenny's Story). Published on February 4, 2013. (5.00 from 1 review)
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G. M. Barlean
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Janet Nitsick
Latest book: The Silver Lining. Published on February 17, 2011. (4.57 from 7 reviews)
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Joleene Naylor
Latest book: Heart of the Raven: Mini Prologue Collection. Published on April 2, 2013.
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Lauralynn Elliott
Latest book: Soul of a Vampire. Published on October 15, 2012. (4.00 from 1 review)
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Michael Allen
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Randy Noble
Latest book: Surviving The Theseus. Published on August 9, 2010. (5.00 from 3 reviews)
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Robert M. Yelverton
Latest book: How I Quit Smoking - My Story. Published on November 9, 2011.
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Roey Harris
Latest book: Moving Day. Published on March 22, 2011.

Rose Gordon
Latest book: His Brother's Bride (Historical Regency Romance). Published on April 4, 2013.
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Stephannie Beman
Latest book: Keeping Mhairi (Descendants of Edyn). Published on May 15, 2013.
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• Pieces on Dec. 06, 2009
  
  From the description of the book and the prologue, I thought this book was going to begin after Angelique (Angie) McCourt's best friend died and she went on a mission to discover the missing pieces of the puzzle so she could identify the killer. But the story doesn't begin at that moment. It begins with Angie starting med school. Angie is perfect. She has a perfect memory and is gorgeous. In the beginning, she comes off as someone who thinks she's too good for everyone else. I figured that the story would show the evolution of Angie from someone who's "perfect" to becoming human--and I was right. The process of how that came to be was entertaining. It starts when she finally opens up to her roommate, Bernadette Scott, who is pretty much the opposite of Angie. It turns out they complement each other and become best friends. This was actually very interesting for me to read, but I felt sad when Bernadette died. It's hard for me to get attached to a character and watch them die. But this leads Angie on her quest to remember who the killer was, because she saw him murder her friend--it's just that the image is blurry in her mind. What I liked most about this book was the evolution of Angie. It was an interesting journey she took as she sunk into the mind of a serial killer bent on revenge. The process was slow and the more "pieces" of the puzzle she got, the deeper she sank into the dark part of her mind. Parts of it had me on the edge of my seat, so that is always a plus. And I didn't expect the ending. I'd say this book takes a look at the good and bad that all of us possess. It was very well done. Oh, and the writing was excellent. This was flawlessly edited.
  
• Vision: Evan's Book on Jan. 29, 2010
  
  For anyone who enjoys a suspense novel where a group of people are trying to track down a serial killer, this one meets all the requirements for keeping the reader guessing and sitting on the edge of the seat. Vision: Evan's Book begins with a vision Jade Walker experiences for the first time when he's 30. On what seems to be an ordinary night, Jade is driving home when he experiences his first vision. He witnesses a rape/murder by M. Sebastian Siman. During this vision, Siman tells him that he's coming for a woman named Laura. Seeing as how Jade doesn't know a Laura, he is puzzled until he meets her the next day. The connection between them is immediate and he falls in love with her. Knowing that Siman is coming for her makes him want to protect her. But can he? These visions, Jade soon learns, are the result of an experiment done to him when he was an infant. Two chemicals, used to increase his mental and physical strength, were inserted into his brain in order to make him a suitable opponent to Siman. The SKP needs someone who can match Siman in order to stop him from killing more people. While Jade improves his ability to mentally go from one place to another to save people who are ready to be harmed, he also experiences visions where he talks with his deceased mother and himself as a child. As the story progresses, he can disappear from one place and reappear at another and even travel back in time. Agent Evan Flynt, a member of the SKP, is Jade's mentor in helping him track down and kill Siman. This is as much Jade's story as it is Evan's. When Evan was nine, his father gave him a special book that couldn't be opened until the time was right. Later, we find out that this book contains details regarding the SKP's project on Simon and what to do to stop him. When Evan grows up, he finds himself on a personal mission to fulfill his father's legacy with the SKP and a wish for revenge against Siman who killed his family. The story reminds me of a puzzle. The author brought up the past of the characters, mainly Evan, at critical points in the book. The information added to the suspense and curiosity in where the story was headed. Just when I thought the book was going one way, it went in a completely different direction from what I expected. It's these twists and turns that kept me up at night to find out what would happen next. And this one does come with a sequel (Vision II: The Black Skull) that's even better than this one. As L. McShevitz said, you have to check out both of these books!
  
• Tori on March 07, 2010
  
  A good look at what some people will go through to do the right thing, even at a price. I enjoyed it.
  
• Hell on March 07, 2010
  
  These characters jumped off the page, and I admit, there were parts where I was cringing and thinking, "Oh please, don't make Paul do that!" I enjoyed it, esp. the ending. Also, it later dawned on me what the encounter with Earl meant in regards to Paul's past. At least, my interpretation lead me to some pretty cool conclusions.
  
• Saturday the Fourteenth on March 08, 2010
  
  I loved what he found in the paper! This was an entertaining short story.
  
• The Giver of Sorrows on March 08, 2010
  
  The theme was excellent.
  
• VisionII: The Black Skull on March 08, 2010
  
  The twists and turns that started in the first book, Vision: Evan's Book, only accelerate. Without trying to spoil the first book (in case someone reading this review hasn't read that yet), I'll sum up this book. Someone has taken a pregnant Lily hostage and orders Jade to help her or she'll kill Lily. Jade doesn't want to, but since he's unable to rescue Lily and his unborn child, he agrees. And so begins Jade's next adventure. This one pits him against the members of a large group called the Black Skulls whose aim is global domination. The problem with this group is that they will use any means to accomplish their goals, even if it means killing innocent people. Personally, I found Judge Martin's character to be intriguing. He really had no conscience at all. I thought he was the perfect bad guy. He was cool and calculated in everything he did. Naturally, a guy this evil shouldn't be allowed to get his hands on the legendary Black Skull, which is exactly where Jade comes in. He has to get the skull before Martin does. There were a couple of things I really enjoyed about this book. One, the unexpected turns it took. I actually played a guessing game to see if I could figure out what surprise would turn up next. I got one right. So that part was fun. Another thing I liked was seeing some of the same characters that I met in the first book. There were two that popped up that came as a complete surprise. I don't want to ruin it, but those were two great ones. The third thing I liked was the Black Skull itself. It was fun to see how the legend for the skull began and the kind of powers it had. So if you want a fun read that will keep you wondering what will happen next, I recommend this book. I also recommend that you read the first book before this one or else it won't be as fun.
  
• Shades of Gray on March 08, 2010
  
  This is one of those books that starts off with a bang and keeps going. I couldn't think of one dull moment. Even parts that could have dragged on kept my interest because they advanced the romantic sub-plot between Katelina and Jorick, which led to the question, "How far will someone go to protect someone they love?" The book starts when Katelina recalls finding Patrick (who is sort of a boyfriend but not really) dead in his apartment. Then she gets a phone call from someone telling her that he knows who killed Patrick. She debates on whether or not to go to an isolated spot to find out--and she finally decides to go. From there, her life drastically changes because all of the sudden she's thrown into a world filled with good and evil vampires, and some want to see her dead. I really enjoyed this book. I found the author's sense of humor wonderful, but even with humor, there are some serious moments. The key is to blend the two, and I thought the author succeeded very well with that. I would recommend this for readers who prefer more mature themes. For me, this was a definite plus. Sometimes I get bored of light reads and need something with more substance. It tackled just how evil some vampires could get, and that made me appreciate Jorick even more. Parts of it were spooky, like the house Jorick took Katelina to that had very odd people in it. That was my favorite part, especially when he warned her not to leave her bedroom until he came for her. Of course, I wanted to know why, and the author didn't disappoint me. The story did end with me wanting to read more, so I look forward to reading the next one in the series.
  
• Over The Bridge on March 29, 2010
  
  This was one of those stories where I had to stop reading at night so I could wait until it was daylight. LOL The beginning is set up with a guy on a cell phone who gets this mysterious phone call warning him that he needs to follow the caller's instructions or else he'll end up dead. I do agree with the other reviewer who said that unlike other stories where the main character does something stupid, this guy was smart. I can't say too much without giving the story away, but let's say that what was coming was indeed as freaky as one would expect. Now I want to read everything by this author. I hope he continues to write more!
  
• The Seduction of Gabriel Stewart on April 26, 2010
  
  This one is definitely a keeper, and I'd love to see what happens to this couple and if they ever got comfortable with the physical side of their relationship. If the author ever thinks of expanding the story, I'd be more than happy to read it. :-) This is one of the topics that I've found Christian couples (even today) struggle with. It's refreshing to see the truth of our bodies and how we can enjoy them with our spouse finally come to light in a book that is not afraid to blend the Christian faith with sex. (I, for one, am tired of the Christian romance market because it fails to shine light on the beauty of sex like this book does.) Very well done. I'm adding this author to my favorites!
  
• The Blue Stone on April 26, 2010
  
  Read this awhile back and figured it's time to review it. I admit, I downloaded HELL because it was free and liked it enough to find out what he has up. I'm another big fan and really enjoy his work. This particular story had that sci-fi creepy feeling in the beginning because of the weird creature in this guy's backyard. And, of course, the house was dark because it was in the middle of the night. The author left enough suspense at wondering what in the world the creature wanted, and I loved how the main character managed to get through the ordeal. Very clever!
  
• Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold on May 05, 2010
  
  My initial thought about this book is "Wow!" This was a rare find for me, and I'm so glad I found it. The book hooked me in from the very beginning and made me lose sleep just to keep on reading it. I even went back over some places to reread them because they were so good. This book begins with Anne sleeping in Cord's barn. She's on the run from her father who is going to force her to marry a disgusting older man. Cord finds her and brings her into his house so he can give her breakfast, and they start planning how she can get out of town for good. That's when her father and about ten other men track her down and accuse Cord of raping her. She denies it, but the men force them to marry, beat both of them up (thinking to leave Cord for dead), and then run off. It's up to Anne to heal Cord from his wounds, and this is where she begins the journey to self-reliance. The rest of this story is about their developing relationship as it evolves from friendship to love, and the romance was beautiful and touching. Cord had a hard time believing Anne would stay with him for the rest of their lives, so when her father and brother do something horrible (don't want to ruin the surprise), I wondered what Cord would think of it. On his side of the family, they assume that Cord is abusive and that Anne stays with him out of fear, so they make attempts to talk her into escaping what they think is a horrible situation. The love story is tender and gentle with sex scenes that enhanced the romance, rather than just being thrown in there for no reason. The characters evolved too. Anne became who she was instead of what her family expected her to be, and Cord, who rarely said anything, slowly came out of his shell as well. The story was beautifully written, and I felt as if I was right there in the 1800s on the ranch with them. The Kindle format is also excellent. If I could, I'd give this book 6 stars. I definitely recommend this for anyone who likes tender romances with some spice.
  
• 101 Tips for Traveling with a Vampire on May 05, 2010
  
  I really enjoyed this book. The tips are so funny and told from the point of view from the human main character in her other book Shades of Gray, which I thought was a neat twist. In fact, the character made sure to give a "truth vs. myth" prologue on vampires. It turns out Hollywood is wrong. *chuckle* Anyway, I'll just share a couple of my favorite tips to give you an idea of the humor you can find here: "Motels will not give you a discount because your friend is 'dead' so don't ask." and "Bottled water isn't only good to drink, it's handy for cleaning up messes; everything from left over carnage to those melted junior mints you accidentally sat on." In addition to the these tips were bonus tips on how to deal with your vampire. One example of that is this: "It's not that your vampire doesn't want to change into a bat in front of you, it's that they can't, so quit bugging them about it." I thought this book was original and refreshing. The pictures came out good and the verion had good formatting. It's a quick read which was fun and light-hearted. Sometimes it's good to sit back and laugh, and this book provided a very nice escape for me.
  
• Kept (Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy: Blood Lust, novella 1) on May 18, 2010
  
  I read this series out of order. I read Claimed first because of the unique plot idea, and I liked that book so much I had to go back and read this one. I just finished it and admit I had a hard time putting it down. Since other reviewers summed up the book, I won't bother with that. Instead, I'll mention what I liked about it. Since I read Claimed first, I enjoyed seeing Anthony and Charlee before they got together. I loved the fact that Greta had to hide with a man (a sorcerer) who had a grave mistrust of her kind due to being tricked in the past. I thought that issue of "could he trust Greta?" to be an excellent plot point. It was fun to see Greta in heat. I read romance books with varying levels of sexual detail, and unlike some reviewers who thought Zoe could have done more in the description, I actually thought for this book with the focus where it was that a lot of detail with the sex would have diluted the plot. (That's just an opinion of course.) Personally, I thought it was done just right. I thought everything Greta did to protect herself made sense. If I were in her shoes, I would have done the same things. So I wasn't yelling "you stupid woman!" at her like I've done while reading some books. Dayne was a real sweetheart who had a quiet, sexy way about him. I just loved how he helped her while she was in heat. *wink* And though I neglected to mention it in my review of Claimed, I love the humor Zoe carefully inserts into her stories. I'll give an example. Dylan told Greta that she was on the altar like one of those women in a cheesy B movie. I think we've all seen one of those movies and can relate. I'll definitely be looking out for her next book!
  
• Claimed (Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy: Blood Lust, Novella 2) on May 18, 2010
  
  I admit this is not what I typically read, but the plot sounded intriguing so I bought it. I'm glad I did! Anthony, the vampire, loses control with some drugs pumping in his system, so he attacks Charlee (a mortal) and almost kills her. To save face, he tells her to forget. Except, she forgets much more than the attack. She forgets who she is! I really liked that twist. From there, it's a matter of getting her memories back and forgiving him for what he did to her. This book is very well-written. Zoe has mastered the art of world building. She paints a vivid picture of the world that is carefully concealed from the one we know; it's a world of vampires, shapeshifters and other creatures. The characters were developed too. Anthony was my favorite because he had a sexy quality about him. He might have lost control, but he's got a conscience and battles his love for Charlee. Charlee is a strong female lead, but she's not so hard and cold that she doesn't have a heart. The pacing was good. Nothing dragged, and the sequence of events happened smoothly. This isn't one of those stories where the misunderstandings and hard feelings drag needlessly on. And the ending was great. I love how Charlee admitted her love for him! Definitely a great read!
  
• Mated (Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy: Blood Lust, Novella 3) on May 28, 2010
  
  This time I got smart. I waited until I had plenty of daylight left in the day to start this book. I learned early on that I can't read Zoe Winters' stuff right before bed because her books keep me up. I enjoyed this one a lot. (I still love Anthony and Charlee in Claimed the most.) I love seeing the same characters pop up in Zoe Winters' books. It's like seeing old friends again, and for those who loved the first two books, you'll be delighted to see those main characters appear in this story. Anyway, onto this book... I can't remember a time when any paranormal book mentioned vampires as being cold. (Okay, maybe that's because I rarely ever read them.) But this is one example of how her world makes sense. Of course, vampires would be cold. They're "dead". Everything in this world makes perfect sense. It all interconnects, and there are no contradictions. You really feel as if you're there. I adored Cole and loved seeing Jane again. She was far more than the vampire groopie she was suspected of being in Claimed, and I was glad to see her own story since I did like her. Cole offers his protection, and soon he realizes that she's supposed to be his mate. There's something I really enjoy about all of the characters Zoe Winters creates. The men never force themselves on the women, and yet, they're strong types. The women, likewise, are also strong, but they have that tenderness and desire to be loved and protected. And the ending was one of the best I've ever read. You have to read it to know what I'm talking about, but there was the question of whether or not waiting for her "okay" to mark her as his mate was going to make Cole do something he shouldn't do. Sorry, but I can't be anymore specific than that. Oh, someone in the pack does want to hurt Jane, and I love who turned out to be the bad guy. Awesome job!
  
• Rapid Recipes for Writers . . . And Other Busy People on Dec. 23, 2010
  
  Thank you for the recipe book. I hate cooking so this is perfect.
  
• My Lord Hades (Children of Khaos Series) on Dec. 26, 2010
  
  I've always been intrigued by the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone. However, as a warning to prospective readers, this is not an exact retelling of the classic myth. In this book, Hades fights the Titans to help Zeus become the chief god in exchange for the Sea, but Zeus dupes him and gives him the Underworld instead. In the middle of this, Hades stumbles upon the gardens where Demeter has been hiding her daughter, Persephone, for many years. It's love at first sight, and even as he tries to fight his growing attraction for her, he senses that she is the one who will complete him. I liked the secret admirer part of the book and how they first met, especially in light of the fact that she's never seen a man. Persephone, however, is only naiive and young on the surface. The truth is, she has secrets hidden in her past--secrets she doesn't remember due to Demeter supressing them. As the story unfolds, we are given pieces to the puzzle until the end, which is a lot of fun as I played the guessing game. Hades' reason for abducting Persephone is a good and solid one, so he's not the monster in abducting her that he's often portrayed as being in the classic myth. Even so, Persephone was taken against her will and is grasping with her new identity and has to learn who she once was, so she has her personal issues to deal with before she can embrace Hades completely. PS There are no vampires in the book. What I liked most about this book is that beneath Hades' hard exterior, he was tender in his love for Persephone, and for those of you who like virgin heroes, he qualifies. He can't kiss a woman without his passion nearly killing her which is why he's never had sex before. This is not a problem with Persephone who is the one meant for him, and when they do make love, it's steamy. So I classify this as a sexy read. And yes, Persephone is a virgin too, and as soon as he brings her to the Underworld, they are husband and wife as is the custom of that time. Oh, and Persephone is not the weakling that is often portrayed in the classic myth either, in case anyone wonders.
  
• It Waits on Jan. 09, 2011
  
  This is edited from my earlier review. The author has since expanded the story. The thing that compelled me to read it was the cover, so excellent job on that. The short story is about a creature that lurks in hiding to feed on something that will satisfy its appetite. There are definitely some wonderful horror elements in here that I especially enjoyed. And the ending was awesome. I enjoyed it and will check out more work from this author in the future.
  
• Dragons Fire and The Brave Little Prince on Jan. 13, 2011
  
  As a mother of four young boys, this was a great book to read to them. They loved the dragon, and without spoiling it, I just want to say the way the royal family resolved the issue with the dragon was wonderful. These are the kind of messages kids should be receiving, in my opinion. There are some good moral lessons such as taking time to listen to the other side and compromising so everyone can be happy. This is a true fairy tale told in such a way that children enjoy. I look forward to more books by this author.
  
• Surviving The Theseus on Feb. 01, 2011
  
  Regina, a SOAD officer, is on what's supposed to be a vacation when she wakes up and realizes everyone on the space cruise ship is gone. All that's left of them are their clothes. Since she's used to danger and fighting, she arms herself and prepares to fight whatever enemy is responsible for this. She runs into two people who may or may not have the answers as to what is going on, and I really enjoyed snippets of the conversation where Regina overheard the man telling the woman they needed to tell Regina but the woman refusing to go along with the idea. Meanwhile, there's a group of people who are given the task of finding the space ship Regina is on, and when they get on board Regina's ship, some of the dots start connecting up because Regina's two companions (and I use that term loosely) are finally beginning to talk. I won't give away anymore because it would spoil it, but this is a great thriller. Wondering what in the world was going on kept me going back to my Kindle to find out what would happen next. The invisible enemy tracking them down and the strange orange light that would periodically show up were definite pluses. This book is action packed so there's never a dull moment. The reason all those people disappeared was actually an unexpected twist which I enjoyed a lot. As for character development, Regina had significant changes to her personality. It was intriguing to watch her gain feeling and softness. I can't say more without spoiling the end of the book, but I was satisfied with the ending and how she ended up because it revealed so much about how she got to be how she was in the first place--and some people would label that as 'cold'. My final thought on this book is that it's for adults only. Mature themes, sexual and violent, are in here, and I would give it an 'R' if this was a movie.
  
• The Human Web on Feb. 04, 2011
  
  I really liked this book. What got me to buy it was the idea of doing life after death experiments. I enjoy that kind of thing. I had hoped it would be Biblically sound, and I was very pleased to find out it was. I'd say the primarily audience are Christians; however, I wouldn't limit it to that group but be aware that there are Christian overtones (just as the author labeled it in the genre selection). I see some books given poor reviews because the reader didn't know it was Christian fiction, which is the only reason I bring it up. If the Christian message upsets you, you won't enjoy reading this. Now onto the book. The plot is solid and original. Stanley and Valerie Cooper are running experiments to see if there is life after death. The point comes when Stanley experiments on himself--telling his wife to make him clinically dead and then bring him back in a half hour. It is along this venture that he steps out of this world and into the next where angels and demons come for him. What grabbed me was the unique twist the author took in the spiritual realm. The demons are building a human web. They are taking souls of the lost people and connecting them all over the world. When this web is complete, angels will no longer be allowed to intervene on humans' behalf and the demons will fnally get to run amok doing whatever they want to on the Earth. It's up to Stanley to stop them. But the question is how? "Big Brother" is watching everything he does, so the task will not prove easy. For those who love futurist stories where our every move is being monitored by the government, this will be a thrill. But the story also alternates between the past(2020s) to the future (2060s) so you get the cause and effect scenario. It was neat to see how one person, Calvin, made a few decisions back in the 2020s that affected the entire world in the 2060s. This is definitely worth a read, and I look forward to reading more of this author's work in the future.
  
• Adam (Vampire Morsels) on Feb. 11, 2011
  
  This story is exactly why I don't go following strange noises down a dark alley. In my opinion, this is a refreshing change from the teen lovelorn vampire story I typically run across when browsing through books. I really enjoyed this peak into Joleene Naylor's world of vampires and look forward to reading more about the characters featured in the Amaranthine world.
  
• The Day Long Since Seen on Feb. 14, 2011
  
  I liked the twist at the end.
  
• The Silver Lining on Feb. 17, 2011
  
  Warning: bring a tissue with you when you read this story. It's about an old woman who opens her small box to look at a paper heart. As she looks at it, she remembers the day her special needs child made it. I won't give away more and spoil it, but you definitely need to have a tissue on hand when reading it because it'll bring tears to your eyes. It's definitely bittersweet.
  
• Simply Put: Self-Publishing Basics on March 11, 2011
  
  This is a great book for someone to begin in the world of self-publishing. It discusses different places you can self-publish for free or cheap (which is important because I wasted $10,000 on vanity presses over six years and wish a book like this came to my attention when I started out in 2002 on my journey). The author gave great tips on formatting the interior file for both paperbacks and ebooks. She also gave tips on making book covers. All I can add to what she did is to say places like www.dreamstime.com and www.shutterstock.com have royalty-free pictures ranging from $5 to $10 you can safely use on your cover. I didn't realize you couldn't use Microsoft Word's clip art on a cover, and thankfully, I haven't, though I almost did one time. So that was a very useful tip. She also discusses ISBNs, links to useful sites, and good reasons to self-publish. She also gave a couple of marketing tips, and I have to echo her in not wanting to come off being obnoxious about having your book out there by mentioning it all the time. I like her marketing approach and think other authors can benefit from it as well. This is a great guide for someone new at self-publishing, and the easy to understand language is a huge plus. So yes, this is worth the read, and even if you're not so new, you might learn something new.
  
• Liberty for Paul (Regency Historical Romance) on March 18, 2011
  
  This book was so much fun to read! The thing that stands out the most is the author's sense of humor. Even in the worst of circumstances for the characters, the author was able to word things in such a way that had me laughing. Like when Liberty's being forced to marry Paul, and before the wedding, her sister and mother instruct her on her wedding night but are too afraid to name the male privates but just tell Liberty that Paul will 'touch her with it'. In light of the fact that Liberty is horrified enough to be marrying Paul, her reaction to her mother and sister's well meaning spiel was just too funny. The humor was what kept me up most of the night reading the book, but what compelled me to buy this book was the plot. Paul and Liberty meet, and Liberty thinks Paul is a huge bore so she doesn't like him. From there, they become enemies, and Liberty is determined to get her revenge on Paul so she sneaks into his room while he's bathing and takes all of his clothes. (The fact that she can't keep her eyes off his private area while she's trying to get him to promise to cut all ties with her father was funny too.) Her parents and the butler catch her, and the butler ends up creating a scandal about the whole thing, saying she was trying to seduce Paul. The next thing Paul and Liberty know, they're being forced to marry. I love the arch enemies forced into married plot. I also love the virgin hero characteristic. I should add here that the fact that he is a virgin becomes very important in the book later on, but I won't spoil it. So Liberty who values propriety above all else marries Paul who wants to see the real Liberty. The evolving of their relationship from hate to love was done gently and tenderly. For example, he gave her a journal to start recording whenever she smiled and told her that she becomes beautiful whenever she smiles. Liberty had a hard time believing it due to her plain appearance, but that was one of the most touching scenes I've read in a long time. The book was actually full of such tender moments, and I couldn't help but love both of these characters. Mix humor with tenderness and you end up with a definite keeper for your bookshelf. Definitely worth 5+ stars! I highly recommend this book.
  
• eBook Magic: An Overall Approach to Writing and Selling E-books on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Everywhere Else on April 13, 2011
  
  There is a lot of great advice in here. I won't go over them all, but being passionate about what you're writing, keep on writing and publishing when sales drop, and why top profiled books prevail are right on from what I've experienced. He uses his personal experience to back up what he's saying, which I also liked. Some other things that I think are useful are his tips on making a writing schedule, and I liked seeing his and how the numbers can add up fast for writing and publishing books. So if you're struggling with finishing books, I think you'll find his tips helpful. Other topics covered in this book include why finding a niche is important, limiting your marketing time so you have more time to write, and the importance of shelf space. Anyway, from my experience what he says in this book is accurate, so I do suggest taking the time to read it.
  
• Alexander (Vampire Morsels) on April 15, 2011
  
  I really enjoyed this one. Alexander and his family were among my favorite characters in Shades of Gray, so it was fun to get a deeper look into their lives. He longs for a normal childhood, but sadly, he'll never have one. I won't spoil it, but the ending was a powerful one. Definitely one that will stick with you!
  
• Intentions of the Earl (Regency Historical Romance) on April 19, 2011
  
  I read the second book, Liberty for Paul, first, and it was hard to decide which book I enjoyed more. I finally decided this one is my favorite, so far, in the books Rose Gordon has written. I have yet to read book 3, so we'll see if my opinion changes. Anyway, this was a fun read. Andrew Black is not one of those rakes I often read about in regency romances, and that was a huge selling point for me. Instead, Andrew is coerced into agreeing to ruin the reputation of one of the daughters in the Banks family to get them to run back to America. What endeared me to Andrew right away was his reluctance to do it. This is a hero with a conscience who feels torn between doing what is right and doing what he knows is wrong. I really liked this hero. Rose Gordon's heroes are men I'd fall in love with in real life, so it's no wonder Brooke Banks fell in love with Andrew. He shows up at the residence where Brooke and her family are staying, and when the two first meet, the chemistry is immediate. She fools him into believing she decorated a gaudy room, which was hilarious. From there, the two get to know each other, and they share a few kisses. I will say the kisses are some of the best scenes I've read. Rose Gordon has a way of making the chemistry between these two jump off the page. Andrew does succeed in ruining Brooke's reputation (and if anyone wonders, they didn't go all the way but the scene was pretty hot), and yes, they were discovered. I won't spoil the rest of the book except to say the end of this book had the most romantic ending I've ever read. All I can say is any woman would be thrilled to be married to a man like Andrew! So if you like to laugh, love tender and sensual scenes, and want to read about heroes who are sweethearts, this book will fit perfectly.
  
• Arowenia (Vampire Morsels) on April 24, 2011
  
  I read Shades of Gray and was interested in her kidnapping, and this story leads up to that from her point of view. It gives a better look at her life, something I often wondered about. I agree that this is a book where looks are deceiving because it appears she has a wonderful life, but when you take a deeper look, you find that things aren't so perfect after all. As a side note, the fountain was chilling!
  
• To Win His Wayward Wife (Regency Historical Romance) on July 08, 2011
  
  I really enjoyed the first two books, and to be honest, I can't remember the last time I had so much fun reading romances. There's something about Rose Gordon's style and humor that pulls you in and makes you care so much about the characters that you wait in expectation for that magic moment where they confess their love to each other. I've enjoyed all of the characters in these books, but what made this one my favorite of the three was the hero and his great love for Madison. The hero in this book (intentionally left out of the description for the shock value in chapter 2) has secretly loved Madison for years. She had no idea he loved her, and that was what eventually made this book my favorite one. The pining hero is very romantic. I didn't suspect the hero was who he turned out to be, and yes, I was shocked. He was the last person I expected, and I honestly wondered how the author would pull it off since I didn't like him at all after reading Intentions of the Earl. But she did pull it off. His tenderness toward Madison was wonderful. The wedding night blunder did look bad from Madison's point of view, but I understood what he was really telling her and as bad as it was, the real meaning was actually endearing because he held her in such high esteem that he could never think of her the way her horrible ex-suitor did. The ex-suitor, by the way, wants her back, and he had some surprising characteristics that were the mark of a good villain. The romance that developed between the hero and Madison felt natural and pulled me into loving these two, and I felt fully immersed in the time period. I look forward to reading more of Rose Gordon's books in the future. Oh, and if anyone wonders, this book is wonderfully sensual. It was spicier than the first two, in my opinion, and I did enjoy that. Madison and the hero's first time was one of the best sex scenes I've ever read because of the emotional build-up to it and how satisfactory it was for her. If you read the book, you'll know why it was so important she enjoy sex with the hero.
  
• Rashnar on July 10, 2011
  
  This was a fun book. I enjoy lighter fantasies that have a basis in our ordinary world here on Earth. Jack, Phillip, and Tracy are from Earth, and they don't know each other. We are given a look into their lives to see the ups and downs they faced. This is the kind of thing I enjoy because I liked the background information. Their lives on Earth (and how well or bad it was) did affect how they adjusted to being pulled into another realm. While they are going about their lives, each one slips into Rashnar where each is given a special weapon they will use to fight the dark threat coming to Rashnar and its people. And if the teens don't stop this threat, it'll eventually take over the realm we live in, too. I enjoyed this book. Like I said, it was a light read. The teens who didn't know each other developed a good friendship. They had a couple of good adventures where they learned something about the realm and each other. What I enjoyed the most was what this being from another realm who wanted to take over Rashnar wanted to do with the people on Rashnar. The threat was indeed a profound one. The book does end on a huge cliff hanger, as the author says.
  
• Krae (Book 2 of the Kantura World series) on July 10, 2011
  
  This story opens where the other left off, in the middle of the battle where it looked bad for Tracy. In case someone reads the review of this before reading the first book, I won't say whether Tracy lived or died. But the threat coming to the realm was still on its way, and Dashan is leading the way for the power behind him to take over the realm. This threat has been going to different realms to take over, and anyone who refuses to be a servant will die. So the stakes are high, and if this threat isn't stopped, our realm will be up on the chopping block, so to speak. What I liked best about this book is the twist that came in the final battle where the good guy (Roshan) who is helping the teens has to confront the bad guy (Dashan). This is where the reader learns a very neat tidbit about the two. That was my favorite part. This does complete the story started in book 1 (Rashnar). The author mentioned wanting feedback on whether we'd be interested in reading more tales from this world, and I would like to vote yes.
  
• Five Little Caskets on Aug. 12, 2011
  
  Aside from the aliens, this is a rather grim but realistic view of a possible future for America. I've often wondered what it might look like if America fell completely apart, and the author did a great job connecting up the dots. Also, there was a significant part of the story that surprised me at the end, and I'm actually glad for the twist or else I might have spent the rest of the evening depressed. I don't want to spoil it, but it has to do with the title. It's a compelling story that's worth reading. I enjoyed it a lot. The only thing I can think of that would have made it better is if there was a follow-up scene to see what the hero's life was like after he put the five little caskets into the ground.
  
• A Firefly Dream on Aug. 12, 2011
  
  I read this to my kids who are in grade school, and they really enjoyed it. Their favorite part was the ending when the firefly's dream came true. (My favorite part was when the firefly was born, but that's not surprising since I'm a mom.) It's a great story about pursuing a goal that's important to us, even if others don't think it can be done.
  
• The Beast in the Mirror on Feb. 19, 2012
  
  This is a short story. It's perfect if you're looking for something sweet and light that you can read in under half an hour. With that disclaimer aside, the story ia about Christopher who dated a witch who (upon being dumped) cursed him with a beastly face. Horrified, he ran and hid in some ruins. The story begins when he's been there for a couple of years, always reminded of his hideous appearance whenever he looks into a mirror that he can't break. Rose, the heroine, is an artist who takes an interest in the ruins. From the moment he sees her, he falls in love with her but knows she'll never love someone as ugly as him. Unable to resist her, he talks to her from another room but refuses to let her see him. I won't say any more because I don't want to spoil it, but I enjoyed how being alone for years forced Christopher to understand why being a playboy wasn't a good way to live. I also enjoyed the sweet tone to the story and the moral that real beauty is on the inside, not the outside. There is a twist at the end which was neat, too. It's something I can't recall being done in any versions of the Beauty and the Beast type of stories I've read. So I recommend it for people who want something short, light and sweet.
  
• Tap Root on Feb. 22, 2012
  
  This short story starts with Elliot Stevens who is at the scene of a house fire. The damage has been done, the fire is now out, but Elliot is haunted by the events that led up to the fire. Elliot tells a police officer the strange behavior of his friend and fellow scientist and what happened when Elliot investigated further into what was going on. This story was a good escape. I was intrigued to find out why Elliot's friend's hair had turned white and why the house was a complete mess. The suspense was built up very well, and I loved the ending. In stories like this, I hope for a twist, and it was nice to see the author followed through.
  
• The Gnome on April 29, 2012
  
  I really enjoy this horror novel. It starts out with Tara Reed inheriting her grandmother's house, and on the first day she moves in, the sheriff, Jake Tyler, warns her that even though her grandmother was reported as dying from a heart attack, she had made a call to 911 saying "something" was after her. This sets the stage for what happens in the rest of the book. At first, Tara notices small things, like strange noises and the lawm gnome shifting positions. She assumes it's a prank by some local kids having fun, but she's soon to find out it's far more sinister than that. When her friends come for a visit, they find themselves in a horrifying struggle for survival. I won't spoil the book, but I will say I enjoyed not being able to tell what would happen next. I'd think the story was going to go in one direction, but it would veer off in another. I really liked the twist at the end on how the human sacrifice was resolved. It wasn't what I expected, and I thought it was a clever way to resolve things. Plus, it had a very sweet romantic subplot, so if you like some horror and mystery with a dose of romance, you might enjoy this book.
  
• Feed the Bear (a flash fiction horror story) on Dec. 13, 2012
  
  Very cool twist. I can't say what happens without spoiling it, but it's definitely worth the read if you like thriller or horror. In case anyone wonders if a short story can intrigue someone enough to buy a full-length novel, I'm on my way to buy The Mengele Effect by this author.
  
• Sapphire Blue in the Straw (Jenny's Story) on Feb. 24, 2013
  
  I loved the set up for this romance--a hero who needs a cane to walk because of an accident early in life. The heroine (Jenny) doesn't notice the hero (Ron) until he saves her life. After that, she tries to become friends with him, but for some reason, he won't let her close to him. She ends up giving up. Years later after college, their paths cross once more, and when Ron's father has a heart attack, they are thrown together by a couple of meddling (but sweet) mothers who hope to make a love match. I really like romances that feature a crippled hero who has to learn that he's worthy of love, and this novella didn't disappoint. It's a sweet romance. The characters are likable, and I love how that the economic differences between Jenny's family and Ron's family didn't prevent them from getting along. It's people (not money) that is ultimately important. That was a wonderful lesson that was presented in the book, in addition to the love that looks beyond someone's outward appearance to seeing the value within.
  
• Lilac in the Spring on March 09, 2013
  
  Wow! This was such a beautiful Christian romance. It's my new favorite of all the author's books. I love the plot: a wallflower type of teenage heroine who falls in love with a gorgeous upperclassman and holds onto the memory of that one special evening she spent with him only to end up working with him when they're adults. Helen is awkward and plainer than her fellow classmates in high school, and she's sitting alone at a dance when she falls down. Kurt, the popular guy who has his choice of girls, rushes to help her up and dances with her to ease her from embarrassment. From there, they exchange a few hellos in the hallway but soon he graduates and moves on. A few years later, she's working at a publishing company, and the new editor hired to train her is Kurt. Is this the chance she's been waiting for to be with him at long last? This story was just so beautiful. You were never quite sure if Kurt returned Helen's feelings or not. There were moments where it seemed that he might, but then the moment would go away and you were left wondering. In everything he did, he was respectful toward her. This is the kind of hero you can fall in love with again and again.