Page Turners

June

Help! I’m Falling for the Vampire Next Door!
by Celine Chatillon (Cindy Appel)
Reviewed by Kim Price writing as Kimberly Killion

Ready for a new life and a new existence, Melynda Kerpanik wants to prove she can make it on her own in the interior decorating business. Saying goodbye to finger-painting kindergartners, Kansas and an ex-husband has never been easier. Searching for independence, the feisty “Mel” takes on the task of renovating an old warehouse in the heart of St. Louis. Though the devastatingly handsome man living in the dark secluded basement adds flavor in the taste of desire to the new life she seeks. It also adds a mystery that sets her skin to prickle.

Valentine Drakul is a lonely vampire who has waited half a century to find love. The night-owl photographer may have found his perfect subject. Torn between his immortal existence and his sexy new neighbor, Val can’t deny the instant attraction between them. But he hasn’t fed on human blood in so long, and the overwhelming urge to sink his canines into her sweet creamy neck and make her his mate for all eternity becomes nearly too difficult to fight.

These two opposites join to fight against a wicked adversary of the Kindred, and the fearless Mel finds herself in the mental clutches of a merciless villain. The cast of characters comes alive on the pages of this steamy romance from the first sentence.  The author doesn’t dally as the story keeps moving with each scene—which is why I engulfed this book in one sitting. The comedy of Celine Chatillon is fantastic and is sprinkled throughout every scene in richly compelling dialogue. 

Available at www.liquidsilverbooks.com

Seven Ways to Seduce a Martian
by Cynthianna Appel
Reviewed by Kris Anderson writing as Dee S. Knight

Most everyone knows by now that men come from Mars and women come from Venus. Jodi Baker and six Venusian co-workers toil at Hollidays International Travel Online US (HIT-ON-US) for low pay and little appreciation. Then, excitement strikes. There’s a new employee. A Martian employee, Brent Davison.

The women are all over themselves trying to capture poor Brent’s attention. One bakes muffins, one invites him to play basketball, one flirts outrageously—they all have their ploys. All except Jodi. She’s loved and lost before and has no interest in subjecting herself to another man’s possible perfidy. None of the women know that all of their efforts are for naught. Brent likes the only woman who has basically left him alone: Jodi.

During a regular girls’ evening out someone suggests a contest to see who can get Brent to ask for a date. Jodi opts out. When Brent does ask one of his coworkers on an innocent date, the girls concoct a new contest. It’s to see who can seduce a Martian of her choice into a relationship.

Jodi and Brent, while keeping their relationship secret, are already on the fast-track. Just as Jodi suffered heartache in the past—she was left at the altar—so has Brent. Years before, his fiancé snuck behind his back and flew to the west coast for a job interview, then died in a plane crash. Despite his hold on the past, Brent is drawn to Jodi, and in time comes to view his fiancé’s actions through a more realistic lens. 

The joy in this book is in watching the women interact. By the end, they all find their places, although not all seductions end as we might expect. Cynthianna masterfully handles eight main characters, keeping them separate and unique entities so the reader has the chance to feel comfortable with them all. Another thing I really enjoyed are the emails from Jodi to her best friend and Brent to one of his frat brothers, a great vehicle to fill in events she didn’t want to show us in real time and for back story. 

I would definitely recommend this book, and in fact, already have. 

Editor’s Note:  Seven Ways to Seduce a Martian is published by Triskelion Publishing and is available through Amazon.com and other print outlets.

Blackmailed
By Annmarie McKenna (aka Melinda Hoenig)
Reviewed by Regan Loyd

When Cole Masters receives a stud contract from Andrew Wyatt to impregnate his recluse daughter, Brianna, Cole assumes impending blackmail. After all, what’s a little blackmail between St. Louis millionaires—especially considering the decadent lifestyle Cole and his head of security, Tyler Cannon, lead.

Wyatt, a misogynist and perfectionist, threatens to send Brianna’s younger blind brother, who she single-handedly raised, to an institution unless she gives her father the perfect male heir—to be fathered by Cole—regardless of her will. But Cole kicks Wyatt out of his house, keeping Brianna and telling her that he’ll return her and the signed contract to her father at the end of the week.

Brianna must find a way to save her brother but can’t help submitting to the immediate passion she feels for the two dominant, insatiable men who share very well. But when murder attempts interfere in their week of pleasure, Cole and Tyler must protect Brianna, while getting to the bottom of the blackmail.

Blackmailed is a fiery and dynamic story of blackmail, power, dominance, submission, love, and the true nature of family. This tale of two heroes and their heroine lit up the screen with sizzling love scenes between likeable and believable characters.  

Available at www.samhainpublishing.com