Christina SkyeReseñas

A well crafted mystery

Four stars. At times the story moved slowly, and I was confounded that Maggie's hair changed colors, but overall the magic and passion carried me through. I will be reading another in the series.

Mystery writer Taylor has a hunky new neighbor (Jack) who saves her in an apparent convenience store robbery where she was following her friend's boyfriend to get dirt on him. Jack is actually a Navy Seal who is protecting her from nefarious enemies she knows nothing about. She is a key in the hunt for a missing scientist & her friend's boyfriend. An actually interesting story trying to find out why people are trying to kill her and the clashes between she & Jack which lead to hot sex and possibly a relationship.

This book bumped up pretty hard against my willing suspension of disbelief bone. Still it was fast moving and readable.

I don't think I can rate this, because I don't typically read romance but I am trying to read 5 books outside of my usual genres this year. The main character is a chef and all the female characters knit, so I figured at least there will be something to keep me interested? Anyway, as far as romances go this one was fine. I can certainly see the appeal of the genre.

1 Navy SEAL with Unexplained Oddly Enhanced Vision
1 Renaissance Art Restorer and Free-Climber/Parkour Expert
1 World-Renowned Art Thief Father
1 Sequel Bait Navy SEAL Data Handler

1 Stolen Sketch of the Mona Lisa with Overdrawing By Michelangelo

1 Bad News Crime Family with Ties to Terrorism Financing
2 Sneering Feds with Warrant Issues
1 Impenetrable Scottish Fortress
1 Unexpected Betrayal!

1 Impeccably Conscientious Butler
2 Abbey Ghosts (1 Cat Variety)
1 Brooding Abbey
1 Charming House in Provence

1 Camping Trip (Rescue Variety)
1 Camping Trip (Sexy Variety)

Enchantment is the prequel to Hour of the Rose. Short story of American art conservator,Kacey, and English Viscount Nicholas of Draycott Abbey. There is instant lust between these two and as it turns out, they are reincarnates of people who loved two hundred years ago. They are on fire for each other instantly, (because of their previous history), so we don't see a lot of development of their relationship. Very little detail of the story and its paranormal elements, but we do get a small peek of who Adrianthe ghost was. Then there is a big crisis and the ending. I'm glad I read Hour of the Rose first, because this one just okay(I rounded up!) .

Bride of the Mist is a (mostly)contemporary story with a smokin' hot Scottish laird, who is a security expert with an insane evil twin, and a beautiful American psychic, energy tracking, feng shui expert, magazine editor, with an ego-maniacal ex-boyfriend. The ghost laird and ghost cat at the abbey and castle from the previous books are present also. The book is interspersed with flashbacks from medieval times because the hero and heroine are reincarnates of a knight and a lady. I thought the flashbacks were the high points in the book.
In my opinion, BOTM suffers from a lack of reality, with the heroine being so over the top in her psychic ability and a series of events so completely engineered by the evil villain. There is also the push-pull back of the H/h's relationship, when one is receptive, the other pulls away and vice versa, a commonly used ploy to stretch out the middle of any romance plot.
Despite all the ridiculousness, the book was entertaining and well written, so I gave it 2.5/5 stars.

Story of Englishman Dominic and American Cathlin, who are reincarnates of Gabriel and Geneva, who died tragically two hundred years earlier. The sections of flashbacks or retelling, are enjoyable. There was not much about the modern heroine Cathlin that was likeable in the beginning, although Dominic seemed like good hero material. The dialogue between these two was annoying, and I started to skim in parts. I am normally not a skimmer! I would not continue this series except that I really enjoyed Hour of the Rose, so I will try one more.

DESCRIPTION, NOT REVIEW: When a beautiful hotel investigator teams up with an irresistible Navy SEAL, going undercover could take them over the top . . .

Two FBI agents are dead. A top-secret government lab animal has been stolen. Now Hawk MacKenzie just walked in on a naked woman in his hotel shower. She says she’s royalty and has the attitude to match. Whether this arousing female is a true blue-blood or not, the combat-trained Navy SEAL isn’t letting her out of his sight.

Actually a hotel investigator in disguise, Jess Mulcahey can’t believe she’s being held against her will by this gorgeous commando who’s about to blow her cover. Lucky for her, she’s good at narrow escapes. But just when she hits the road, dodging bullets and outwitting cold-blooded pursuers, her luck bottoms out . . . and Hawk is her only hope of protection. A few stolen hours in a stalled elevator show Jess a different, more sensual side to the hard-edged SEAL. Now the two are closing in on their missing government secrets and trying hard to ignore their memories. . . . But they’re about to discover that the most dangerous revelations come from an unguarded heart. . . .

My Review

I chose this rating because I personally did not like the hero's dithering on seducing the heroine. Passionately, smoldering heat.

A well crafted mystery

Four stars. At times the story moved slowly, and I was confounded that Maggie's hair changed colors, but overall the magic and passion carried me through. I will be reading another in the series.

action½

Ex-Sighting by Pamela Morsi
Current day

Second chances. Jake and Regi had been high school and college sweethearts. But on the day they were to be married, Regi took one look down the aisle and realized that it wasn't what she wanted. She left him standing there in order to pursue her dreams of travel and international business. Ten years later, she's in Las Vegas and has been for two months, with her dreams taking a different path. She's sitting in the bar at the Excelsior Hotel, realizing that her nomadic lifestyle has actually left her pretty lonely. Then she looks up to see Jake and a woman walk into the bar.

Jake can't believe his eyes. Regi is the last person he ever expected to run into. He's never forgotten her, and seeing her again brings it all back. But to protect himself a little, he doesn't correct her when she thinks he's married to the woman with him.

I loved seeing Regi and Jake sitting there, catching up on each other's lives. With ten years of maturity, both realize that though they'd been in love, they had never actually talked about their future together. I liked the way that they both realized that they had made mistakes. Then Jake kisses her and they get lost in it, before Regi realizes she kissing (she thinks) a married man. I loved seeing Jake chase her down to explain. The scene in the elevator was great. I also love the tag about the historic first for the hotel that resulted from it.

The Promise by Linda J. Parisi
1962

Mac and Sarah are in Las Vegas to get married. He is an Air Force helicopter pilot who is being shipped out to Vietnam in a couple days. I loved seeing the two of them as they crammed as much as they could into those two days. Their love for each other is strong and will have to carry them through the next year while he is gone.

It was really sweet to see how sensitive Mac was to Sarah's nervousness. He was so full of fun that he was able to hold off most of her worry. I loved the scene in the casino as his "honeymoon chips" brought him good luck. I also loved the next day, as they made friends with Gil and Lenore. They were a very interesting couple and I loved seeing the fun they all had together. When it was time for them to leave, Sarah made Mac promise that they would spend their first anniversary back at the Excelsior. Mac didn't want to promise because he knew how many things could go wrong, but he did.

A year later, Sarah is back there, along with Gil and Lenore. They had maintained their friendship while Mac was gone, and they were there to support her. Mac had been reported missing four months earlier, but she was determined to keep the promise. I ached for her as she relived their honeymoon memories. I loved the surprise that the desk clerk had for her, and the effect it had on her.

Same Time, Next Year by Jeff DePew
1971/2001

The story begins with a couple in the hotel room. They've just made love and are talking. He wants to know when she's finally going to leave her husband so that they can be together. She's wary, afraid of her husband. He has said that he will never let her go. There's a pounding at the door, and when the man opens it the man on the other side starts shooting. The lady is shot and the scene fades to darkness.

Thirty years later a new desk clerk is faced with an unexpected problem. A woman has arrived, claiming she has a reservation for room 732. But that room is blocked and there is no key code for it. The clerk is rescued by the manager, who knows the deal with the room, finds the regular key, and checks the lady in. He explains the history of the room to the clerk.

Next we see the woman as she prepares to enter the room. She thinks back to the year after the shooting and everything she'd been through, her first visit to the room since the shooting, and what she found there. Thirty years later and she visits that room every year, with a love that never dies.

Interesting story with an ending I did not expect.

What the Hell Happened in Vegas! By Lori Avocato
Current day

Good little mystery story that reminded me a little of Stephanie Plum books. Pauline and Jagger are in Vegas to investigate a case of medical insurance fraud. Jagger is tall, hot, and always in control. He dresses in black. Pauline is more at home in comfortable clothes, has a huge crush on Jagger, and tends to lose focus when she's around him.

They are assigned to act the part of a high roller and his girlfriend and investigate a chiropractor who works out of the casino. Jagger, of course, needs no help. A drag queen associate arrives to prep Pauline for her part, and the description of that process is pretty amusing. Pauline's new look doesn't appear to get much of a reaction from Jagger, but she's certainly noticed when they arrive in the casino.

After a pretty successful evening of gambling, Jagger and Pauline are escorted to the doctor's office for his appointment. Pauline isn't too thrilled that the bombshell doctor is going to have her hands all over Jagger, but once they're out of sight she gets to work. I loved seeing her work and her coolness when Jagger and the doctor returned to the waiting room. The best part was her surprise when they got back to their room and Jagger did not do what she expected.

Kiss Me and Kill Me with Love by Connie Concoran Wilson
May 1960

Phyllis and her sisters are entertainers at the Excelsior. She is the youngest and a bit on the wild side. She likes the guys and is quite a flirt. She is also in a relationship of sorts with Sam, a known mobster, who is very possessive. At the same time she is more than flirting with an up and coming entertainer at another hotel, even though she knows that Sam wouldn't like it.

We also see Sam in negotiations with the CIA, who want him to assassinate Fidel Castro. Sam is willing, but he wants them to bug Phyllis's dressing room so he can check up on her. They agree, but one of the agents starts to have second thoughts. He goes to the oldest sister, Dorothy, and tells her what is going on. Dorothy, being the protective sister that she is, decides to go to Sam on her sister's behalf. The conversation is interesting, but the result isn't what I expected.

Not my favorite of the stories, as I prefer the romances.

There Will Always Be Vegas by Mathew Kaufman
Current day

Arthur is an older gentleman, CEO of a pharmaceutical business. He is also gay, but has had very bad luck with relationships. He is awkward around other people and has given up trying to find someone to love. He visits the Excelsior several times a year as it holds pleasant memories for him. This time, he meets a bellhop who he is very drawn to.

Hunter started working at the Excelsior just a few months earlier. His life hasn't been so good. His father died when he was young, leaving his mother to raise Hunter and his brother. When he was sixteen, she had a stroke and was unable to work. He tried to earn enough to support them, but it wasn't easy. Then he was attacked one night and then forced into prostitution for a couple years. Some of it he didn't mind, but others he did. When his pimp was imprisoned, Hunter was able to escape that life.

Even though this sort of story isn't what I usually read, I liked seeing the relationship develop between Arthur and Hunter. For Arthur it was love at first sight. He is still awkward in his advances, and was afraid that he had scared Hunter off. Hunter couldn't believe that Arthur was interested in him, and felt that he wouldn't be once he knew more about him. I thought Arthur's dinner invitation was sweet and liked seeing the way they connected.

I really liked the ending, with the surprises that were in store for Hunter and his family. It was great to see Arthur finally find someone to make him happy.

Love at the Las Vegas Bake-Off by C.H. Admirand
Current day

One of my favorite stories in the book. Peggy is in Las Vegas to participate in a bake-off. Ben, his brother and two cousins are there to provide security for her, as she has been receiving threats. Peggy doesn't believe the threats are real and isn't at all happy about their presence. She's especially angry at Ben, as she had previously made him one of her special pies and he hadn't even acknowledged it.

It's obvious there are sparks between Ben and Peggy right from the beginning. He is really interested in her, but his relationship skills are really terrible. I loved his determination to protect her, even though she insisted she didn't need it. Peggy is just as attracted to him, but is hurt and angry over the lack of response from him. She also seems to have some self image issues, believing that she's too tall to appeal to him. I loved their interactions as he tries to concentrate on protection while wanting to pursue her, and she stands up against him in spite of the way she feels about him.

I liked how Ben was so certain that the threats were real. I could easily feel his frustration with her refusal to believe. As he and his partners worked through the information they had, the origins of the threats became more obvious. The final confrontation at the bake-off was really intense with a bit of a surprise twist. When it was all over, there was a great scene at the hospital and right after, as Ben finally makes his feelings known. Peggy doesn't make it easy, and Ben's brother Matt adds his own two cents to the process.

Finding a Hero by Christina Skye
Current day

Maddie is in Vegas as part of a secret government agency on a security mission for a senator. She returns to her room and discovers an unknown man in it. She overhears him in the bathroom, where he is speaking Russian. Even though she hides while she figures out what she's going to do, he discovers her and knocks her out. She recovers quickly and holds him off with her own weapon while waiting for her backup.

Gabe is also in Vegas for the same reason, part of the same agency. Someone messed with the hotel reservations which is why he was in the same room. He's taken surprise by Maddie, and intrigued by her at the same time.

The story takes place over just a few hours. I loved the initial meeting between the two. Maddie is tough and doesn't hold back, Gabe is puzzled but determined. Once they discover that they are on the same side, the attitude changes a little. Maddie is an amazing computer genius and uses her skills to find out who is behind the current threats. Gabe is good also, but in different ways, and watches over her as she works.

Both are attracted, but try to resist. Maddie has had man issues and is avoiding them, Gabe feels that she is way too young for him. When the confrontation with the bad guy comes, Gabe rescues her. There's a brief interlude with a kiss before they are separated. As she and her boss leave Vegas, she's bummed that she hasn't heard from him again. Then her boss delivers something from Gabe, with a note about the future. We're left hanging a bit, so I'd like to know what happens.

There's also a touch of paranormal, dealing with a blue light that makes her hands glow. There isn't really any explanation of it. I'd like to know more.

The heroine, the daughter of a convicted art thief, is suddenly thrown into the mess of having to deal with FBI agents and the hero who believe her to be involved in the theft of a Da Vinci. But she has nothing to do with it. She just an art restorer and advent mountain climber. She meets the hero on the mountain while saving a group of stranded college kids. Their attraction was light but there none the same. When they parted ways after the adventure was over, the heroine didn't think of the sexy navy soldier again until walking home one night she's attacked and shot at. The hero pops out of nowhere and saves her from a kidnapping but he reveals himself to be a spy of sorts, and he must take her into custody in a bid to save her life and the life of her father. Their story takes them from San Francisco to the Draycott castle present in the other books. There the heroine teaches the hero parkcore in order to break into a castle to get the stolen painting. I didn't like this book because it had not true voice. In the romance department it was severely lacking. In fact most of the story is spent having the hero and heroine being in different countries and when they are together, sure there's some romance but it's far from the main part of the story. In the suspense department, it was so far from suspenseful. There so many plot lines and different characters and facts thrown at the reader that the story became muddled. As far as the hero and heroine went, I didn't hate them but I didn't love them. They had no spark or interesting personality. The whole book was written in monotone. I'd skip this book unless you like to be bored to tears.

La última vez que Annie vio a Sam, yacían el uno en brazos del otro bajo un dosel de estrellas. Ahora Annie camina impaciente por un solitario aeropuerto, a medianoche, aguardando la llegada de un helicóptero sin marcas de la Armada. Su misión: conseguir que le agente que trae a bordo recupere la forma para regresar a la acción y mantener su identidad en secreto. Pero ¿quién la protegerá del hombre que la mira como si fuera una desconocida y no recuerda la noche que ella jamás olvidará?

Good read

Disjointed, Disappointment, Truley Awful!

This is the second title that I have read by Christina Skye. The first title I read was Code Name: Baby. I enjoyed the character Miki but I'd classify this title as a 'beach book'...an easy summer read without much substance. Unfortunately, I have so many books on my 'wish list' to read, I don't need to read more 'beach books'. :) I also found some errors that copy editors should have easily discovered and that's distracting and disappointing.

3 1/2 stars.
This book was odd. But I liked the odd.

grace your female lead
Noah your hero.
add some family then friends
you find home :)

I did feel like this book had A LOT going. it started off in DC then went oregon. I hated you didnt really get a lot of connection time with Noah and grace. but I did like the added friends and all.

I didnt like all the errors in the book. sentence fragments. grammar errors. I didnt like how on the back of the book it was Noah Mckay but in the book it was mcleod or w/e but I got over that.

basically not a 4 stars because I did not like how busy the book was. but I do def wanna try knitting :)

3 1/2 stars.
This book was odd. But I liked the odd.

grace your female lead
Noah your hero.
add some family then friends
you find home :)

I did feel like this book had A LOT going. it started off in DC then went oregon. I hated you didnt really get a lot of connection time with Noah and grace. but I did like the added friends and all.

I didnt like all the errors in the book. sentence fragments. grammar errors. I didnt like how on the back of the book it was Noah Mckay but in the book it was mcleod or w/e but I got over that.

basically not a 4 stars because I did not like how busy the book was. but I do def wanna try knitting :)

A Highlander for Christmas by Christina Skye is a Steel Magnolia Press publication. For those looking for this book on Goodreads, you might want to search for "The Perfect Gift" , which was the original title.

Maggie Kincaid's life has been a rollercoaster ride for the last seven months. Her father, Daniel, died in a plane crash amid rumors he was a jewel thief. Maggie got left with his debts and with the media hounding her every move.
Jared MacNeill was adjusting to life after having gone through an experience that not many people would have survived. He was also "gifted" as a psychic. The bad thing was he had foreseen his own death.
Now he is working for Nicholas Draycott, and his assignment is Maggie Kincaid. Is Maggie like her father, a jewel thief? Jared is to keep an eye on her and keep the media off her trail as well.
Maggie was so excited to be chosen to work on the Draycott jewel exhibit. London would be the perfect thing to keep her mind from her sorrow. She didn't count on the situation at the Abbey, the vivid dreams, and her intense attraction to Jared.

"Newsflash, MacNeill: there are no princes. There are only princesses with bad eyesight and frogs who are excellent at concealing the extent of their imperfections."

Maggie doesn't get to work on her jewelry designs as much as she would like. Rumors begin to circulate that her father may not be dead after all and someone is trying to scare Maggie, or worse, trying to kill her.
She and Jared both have a feeling they are being followed and watched.
"Fear was meant to grow, feeding on itself, until Jared and Maggie watched for shadows of their own invention."
As Jared, fearing his own death is approaching, finds it harder to resist the very persistent Maggie, they also find a haunting presence guiding them along.
Will the Abbey's magic and the spirit of Christmas help Maggie and Jared find their happy ever after?

This was a actually a fairy complex romance novel. There was action, intrigue, comedy, suspense, mystery, hot romance, and paranormal activities all rolled up into one novel, not to mention a slight Christmas atmosphere.
Draycott Abbey is still as mysterious and charming as always. This one is an A.

This was a nice sweet romance between two old friends, one the town bad boy and the other the town's golden girl. Unfortunately, it wasn't for me. It was the third book in a series that revolves around four women who grew up together and now opened a yarn store with a care attached. I'm not a knitted and I think that's what this are geared towards cause once it started talking about yarns and patterns I kinda skipped ahead. The little side mystery about Olivia's father was wrapped up way too neatly in a few paragraphs, but it didn't really explain where his money went or what's in the safe security box. I really don't want to wait til the next book to have this story finished up. On a side note, my mom loved this book.

3 STARS

This is a okay romance. I have only read one of the books before this and really don't remember a lot of it. So to me it read like someone thought it was too long and chopped parts of it off here and there. Maybe if you read all four books it wont feel like that.

I like the characters and their friendships together. Would have like to have more of them.

Olive gets fired and moves back home and on her way a mud slide happened in front of her. She could either hit a schoolbus or serve into another car. Which was a cop car. She is in a lot of pain. Olive recognizes Rafe.
He was her good friend from when she was little to the night of her prom when he stood her up and left town. Now
he is back home.

Olive's father had died and left things in a mess. His money and hers as disappeared. Olive needs that money now that she does not have a job. Olive and friends have a goal to open and restore a old house and go into business together.

Olive hears noises in her attic and Rafe does not want her to be alone.
Rafe was the town's bad boy. When he turned 18 he joined the military and now he has come back home. He does not plan to pick up with Olive again. His first day home and working for the Sheriff he runs into Olive. He has secrets.

Recommend you read other books first. I hope the next book answers the questions I still have.
Does have love scenes that I skipped over. Would have liked a bigger book that answered more of the questions.

I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley and Harlequin.
publication: September 24th 2013 by Harlequin HQN 336 pages ISBN:037377785X

Finished the book on a three hour ride back to my house. I miss the book. Been rereading this for quite a lot of time.

Finished the book on a three hour ride back to my house. I miss the book. Been rereading this for quite a lot of time.