BAY OF SIGHS (THE GUARDIANS TRILOGY #2)

The new Guardians Trilogy novel from the #1 New York Timesbestselling author of Stars of Fortune. 

To celebrate the rise of their new queen, three goddesses of the moon created three stars, one of fire, one of ice, one of water. But then they fell from the sky, putting the fate of all worlds in danger. And now three women and three men join forces to pick up the pieces…

Mermaid Annika is from the sea, and it is there she must return after her quest to find the stars. New to this world, her purity and beauty are nothing less than breathtaking, along with her graceful athleticism, as her five new friends discovered when they retrieved the fire star. 

Now, through space and time, traveler Sawyer King has brought the guardians to the island of Capri, where the water star is hidden. And as he watches Annika in her element, he finds himself drawn to her joyful spirit. But Sawyer knows that if he allows her into his heart, no compass could ever guide him back to solid ground...

And in the darkness, their enemy broods. She lost one star to the guardians, but there is still time for blood to be spilled—the mermaid’s in the water and the traveler’s on the land. For she has forged a dangerous new weapon. Something deadly and unpredictable. Something human.

Release Date: June 14, 2016

The Guardians #2

Berkley Romance

Paranormal Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

The Guardians series feels like I'm reading some of Nora Roberts' old school trilogies. I find myself being drawn in from the very first page as I read each book. I absolutely loved Sasha and Bran's story and couldn't wait to get Annika and Sawyer's story. Though I want Riley and Doyle's story most of all...which is always the way for me with a trilogy.

I love watching the 6 friends work hard to find the 3 stars. After Sasha and Bran discovered and protected the fire star, I was ready for the search for the next star. When I saw it would be Annika and Sawyer's story, I knew it would be the star of water, especially with Annika being a mermaid. 

I really liked Annika and Sawyer as a couple. Annika is such a trusting soul, yet she can also tell when someone is not to be trusted. I love that she has become Doyle and Bran's little sister and best friends with Sasha and Riley. Sawyer really did try and fight his attraction to Annika, and she did everything in her power to make him act on his attraction. I loved she talked to Riley and Sasha about all her questions about sex. Seriously had several laugh out loud moments as Sawyer and Annika talked about sex. Will say it was really needed as the battle for the star of water was very brutal.

I adored getting to know more about Sawyer's past and especially how his compass works and the history behind it. I wish we had learned more about Annika's past, but did love getting to see her swim more and more as a mermaid. I thought the chemistry between Sawyer and Annika grew stronger the more time they were together. Their sex scenes went from hot to sweet and even funny.  There was also one smoking hot mermaid sex scene. Yep, totally went there and while I knew it was coming, I totally didn't know what to expect, yet found it completely hot.

I'm loving seeing the 6 friends work so hard to not only retrieve the stars, but work together to protect them as well. The first 2 books in the Guardians' series have been super strong and I can't wait to finally get Riley and Doyle's story with Island of Glass. 

THE OBSESSION

Naomi Bowes lost her innocence the night she followed her father into the woods. In freeing the girl trapped in the root cellar, Naomi revealed the horrible extent of her father’s crimes and made him infamous.

Now a successful photographer living under the name Naomi Carson, she has found a place that calls to her, thousands of miles away from everything she’s ever known. Naomi wants to embrace the solitude, but the residents of Sunrise Cove keep forcing her to open up—especially the determined Xander Keaton.

Naomi can feel her defenses failing, and knows that the connection her new life offers is something she’s always secretly craved. But as she’s learned time and again, her past is never more than a nightmare away. 

Release Date: April 12, 2016

Berkley Penguin Group

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza’s Review:

I had gotten away from reading many of the single titles released by Nora Roberts in the last few years, but was excited to read The Obsession as soon as I read the blurb. I was absolutely hooked from the very first page.

Naomi is such a strong character. Not only did she discover what her father was doing to women when she was only 11 years old, she actually helped his last victim and reported everything to the police. I absolutely loved her from the very beginning and think getting to see her grow up in the first part of the book gave the reader a better understanding out how the past shaped her present. I absolutely love her uncles and her brother and also think their love was a big part of helping her get past so much of the ugly in her past.

While I thought it was a little out of character for Naomi to put down roots and buy a house that needs to be totally renovated, but I got it would speak to a photographer once I read the description of the area and the town. I loved meeting all the people in Sunrise Cove as well. I absolutely fell in love with Kevin and Jenny and have to say Xander was the perfect hero. Not only is he a successful business owner, but he loves to read, is friends with everyone in town, rides a motorcycle, and is in a rock band. Seriously over the top with him, but I loved him. I liked that Naomi and Xander were attracted to one another from the very beginning, but she was flat out honest about not doing relationships.  I liked watching their relationship move from friends to an honest to goodness relationship. They had amazing chemistry and they totally worked as a couple for me.

Of course, Naomi's past never is far behind and murders start happening in Sunrise Cove. While I hated the reason, I loved that Naomi's brother Mason, who is an FBI agent, came to town I have serious love for Mason and would love to see him get his own book. I did figure out who was behind the murders pretty quickly. I honestly didn't get why there was an obsession with Naomi really. Honestly that was my only problem with the book and the reason it was a 4 star read. I guess you never really know what will set a serial killer on their path, but it really didn't see it with the killer.  

I enjoyed reading The Obsession. I want to share there are rape and torture in this story and if it is a trigger for anyone, you need to consider before reading. I felt like Ms. Roberts did a very tasteful job in handling both the rapes and the tortures, but it could be an issue for others. I'm glad I gave The Obsession a chance and look forward to reading future single title books from Nora Roberts.

Savor the Moment

Savor the Moment is the third book in Nora Roberts’ popular Bride Quartet series. From the cover flap.~

Laurel McBane has always relied on her friends for support, especially when her dream of attending culinary school is almost ruined by her parents’ financial problems. Now Laurel is repaying the kindness of her friends by creating extravagantly luscious tiers of cakes and other confectionary delights that add the perfect touch to their clients’ weddings.

As for romance, Laurel believes in it-in theory. But she’s too low-key to appreciate all the luxuries that other women seem to long for. What she does appreciate is a strong, intelligent man, a man like Parker’s older brother, Delaney Brown, on whom Laurel has had a mega crush since childhood.

But some infatuations last longer than others, and Laurel is convinced that the Ivy League lawyer is still out of her reach. Plus, Del is too protective of Laurel to ever cross the line with her, or so she thinks. When Laurel’s quick-silver moods get the better of her-leading to an angry, hot, altogether mind-blowing kiss with Del-she’ll have to quiet the doubts in her mind to turn a moment of passion into forever…

Once again, Nora Roberts gives her readers another winner. I loved the first 2 books in this series, and Savor the Moment was just a wonderful. Laurel has pretty much had a crush on Del her entire life. Once she kisses him, their relationship begins to change. After the way Del freaked out when Emma and Jack got together, I had to laugh a bit when Del realized he was interested in Laurel. Laurel and Del are so great together. As always, Laurel has her friends’ support of her dating Del. Even Parker, Del’s sister, wants Laurel to be open with every aspect of her relationship with Del.

We see the strength and love in the friendship of Parker, Laurel, Mac, and Emma again in Savor the Moment. The friendship of these four women makes me think of the friendship I have with my own friends. We are always there to support one another and love each other like we are really sisters. I love reading about strong women, and Nora Roberts really delivers with this series. The final book in the series, Happy Ever After is scheduled for release on 11/02/10. It will be Parker’s books and I can’t wait to see her fall in love and lose control a bit.

Bed of Roses

Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts is the second book in The Bride Quartet series. From the inside cover flap.~

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts cordially invites you to meet childhood friends Parker, Emma, Laurel, and Mac-the founders of Vows, one Connecticut’s premier wedding planning companies.

Since she was a little girl, Emma Grant has always loved romance. So it’s really no surprise that she has found her calling as a wedding florist. She gets to play with flowers every day and work with her three best friends in the process. She couldn’t ask for a better job.

And on the surface, Emma’s love life seems to be thriving. Slim and sultry, she brings color into every room she enters, just like the arrangements she creates. Men swarm around her, yet she still hasn’t found Mr. Right. And the last place she’s looking is right under her nose.

But that’s just where Jack Cooke is. He’s been best friends with Parker’s brother for years, which makes him practically family. The architect has begun to admit to himself that his feelings for Emma have developed into much more than friendship. And when Emma returns his passion-kiss for blistering kiss-thing start to get complicated at Vows.

Jack has never been big on commitment. Emma yearns for a lifelong love affair. If the two are to find common ground, they must trust in their history-and in their hearts…

I’ve been a fan of Nora Roberts since I read one of her first books when I was 12 or 13. I like her stand alone books, but I love her books in a series best. I love getting to see favorite characters over the course of the series. I loved meeting the quartet in Visions in White. It is so great to read a book about four strong women who happen to be best friends and support each other unconditionally.

Emma and Jack had been friends for years and recently they both have noticed a new attraction to one another. Jack had been attracted to Emma for a while, and almost acts on it when he finds her stranded on the side of the road when her car dies. From that point on, it was fun to watch Emma and Jack explore their attraction for one another. Of course, Parker, Mack and Laurel all are in Emma’s corner and support her and Jack as they explore their relationship. However, Jack makes a big mistake in holding off telling Del, Parker’s brother and his best friend, and Del finds out and is royally pissed off at Jack. Del has always been the protector of the quartet and he and Jack come to blows when he finds out that Jack and Emma have been dating. After a few punches and a beer both men are much better. Emma figures out early on she is in love with Jack, but doesn’t want to tell him for fear she will influence his feelings. Emma is all about romance and wants it all with Jack.

At the heart of these books is the strong love and friendship of the women who have been friends their entire lives. I’ve now read the first three books in the series and loved them all. Nora Roberts once again delivers a beautiful romance filled with strong characters.