< The Steadfast Heart (Faerie Tale Romance) > Colleen Shannon

Fast paced, funny, and entertaining, "Heaven's Hero" is jam packed with clever characters, historical faces, and snappy dialogue. Don't pass this one up!
This is the second book in Ms. Shannon's Heaven series. It takes place in our time shortly after Dom and Honor (the hero/heroine of Heaven's Rogue) are spirited back to Renaissance Italy. Time has progressed six years in there, to 1505. Dom and Honor are the parents of two lovely children, a young daughter who is very ill, and small son.

The present:

Former Police officer Nick Escavido (a major side character in Heaven's Rogue) no longer believes in heroes. He'd followed his conscience and it has cost him his wife, his job, and his faith in the system and in God. No, Nick doesn't believe in angels either, though his brother Ernie insists he's seen one. Their other roommate, Dom's descendant Rafe, could back Ernie up but he doesn't want to talk about it.

In spite of everything Nick has still has a good heart. He is his younger brother's self-appointed protector. Ernie is a scholar not a fighter and who because of his alternative lifestyle and slighter build is an easy victim. Nick is worried about Ernie delusions and is on the brink of getting professional help for him.

Ernie has been having troublesome dreams regarding Honor. She is pleading to him for help. Her daughter is gravely ill. Isabella, the chatelaine of Castello di Giovanni has attempted to heal the child with her herbal remedies, to no avail. Honor is depending on Ernie to find a way to deliver modern medicines to this day gone by.

Ernie has spent his entire inheritance on a "magic" mirror and Nick is deeply worried. His worry turns to shock and wonder as an angel appears and the mirror changes shape. His brother leaps in eagerly and Nick is not fast enough to prevent it. Nick is at a loss as to what to do, but the angel allows him to see what is about to occur. Ernie is in grave danger. Poor Ernie is about to be run to ground by a knight on horseback sporting a large lance. Without hesitation, Nick does what come naturally. He follows to defend his brother.

Renaissance Italy 1505:

Imagine Nicks surprise when he unseats the knight to find not a ferocious warrior but a stunning young woman. He is even more surprised at the instant chemistry between them. Isabella has enemies though, and is not inclined to trust him. Because of her friendship with Honor and Dom and her love for their sick daughter, she takes Nick and Ernie to see them. This makes a believer out of Nick but he still doesn't want to be a hero. Heaven, however, has a different plan. Ernie is in his element in this age of enlightenment.

Even after her friends vouch for the brothers, Isabella is not sure she wants to trust Nick. He is still a threat - to her independence!

Isabella Catherine Giovanni is a woman born ahead of her time. She is strong and independent. She alone has protected her lands and her younger brother from the threat of Luccio Landucci an ally of the hated de Medicis. Landucci is power hungry and evil. He will stop at nothing to acquire Giovanni lands and Isabella. Isabella has no wish to be a man's possession. She does not expect to ever wed, but if she did it would be to a man could view her as his equal. She does not believe such a man exists. Nick inspires altogether different feelings in her. He seems to respect her but his protective instincts could be an obstacle to a relationship. Nick knows he must soon return to his own time and begins to wonder if Isabella could be happy with him there. Before Isabella can give him her complete trust, another occurrence makes the decision for her. For the two to be truly happy Nick must learn to believe in heaven, heroes, and the power of love.

I enjoyed this story very much. It was a very complete story but left room for a third story about Dom's descendant Rafe who did not appear much in the story but showed a definite uneasiness about the mirror in Ernie's room, and he's also been restless of late. I hope Ms. Shannon will write a story for him. I love big tough, vulnerable heroes and Rafe has definite potential. Besides I think he need to be a hero again to feel good about himself. I have heard whispers of a possible futuristic tale for him, so keep you fingers crossed.
A great sequel to Heaven's Rogue! Colleen Shannon has a talent for bringing her characters to life and you feel like you know them personally.
At the turn of the century, anything can happen. . . . Once upon a time former cop Nick Escavido believed in heaven and heroes. Until he lost his job, his wife, and his self respect by doing the right thing with the wrong people. Then a magic mirror and a whirlwind journey through time lands him in a bygone age . . . at the feet of the most dangerously alluring female he=s ever met. Lady Isabella Catherine Giovanni dresses like a man, but he soon learns she acts every bit a woman. And as she holds his heart at sword point he discovers that at the dawn of a new age, miracles do happen. To those who believe. To those who dare to be heaven=s hero.
Rerations
< Heaven's Hero (Romance of the Millennium) > < Heaven's Rogue (Romance of the Millennium) > < Catspell > < The Trelayne Inheritance (Candleglow) > < The Wolf of Haskell Hall (Candleglow) > freaks

< Compulsion > Elaine Fox

< Trouble > Rachel Carrington

< The Perfect Temptation (The Perfect Trilogy) > Leslie LaFoy

I gave this book at B+ at All About Romance.
I'm tired of the petulant, sulky, angry heroine that is always focused on herself and won't deal with reality. I found myself completely bored with the heroine with in about 10 pages. It was as if the author had cut and paste the same dialog over and over again. It got old very quickly. There was no depth of character, no interest in the new environment or the other people in her world. She was too busy ranting and raving. How interesting is this? Please...I can't bring myself to finish this book. Give me character development like Elizabeth Thornton any day of the week! I'm a big fan of time travel...but I'd never buy a book by this author again. Period. I wasted my money on this book.
I was very pleasantly surprised. This is one of the view books that toughed my emotions. It contained humour, suspense, bravado and titillating romance. The characters Alanna and Kiervan had sparks flying. I couldn't put the book down. Thanks Ms. LaFoy for the wonderful read. I look forward to other books.
In a spellbinding tale that marks the debut of a born storyteller, a beautiful woman finds herself transported back in time. . . to a world of shimmering desire and heartrending danger. . . .

Alanna Chapman knows that no accountant worth her salt would leave town during tax season, but now she has no choice. To honor her aunt's final wishes, the Colorado CPA has come to the mist-shrouded shores of Ireland, intending to stay just long enough to accomplish her mission. But on the mysterious grounds of Carraig Cor, something extraordinary happens: Alanna finds herself catapulted back to the year 1803. Taken for a "seer" who can foretell Ireland's future, she becomes the prisoner of a ruthless privateer...a dangerously attractive sea captain who has no doubt that he can bend this modern temptress to his will, to use her magic powers for his own ends. But when Alanna crossed over to the nineteenth century, she didn't leave her independent spirit behind. Now she's looking for a way to escape the captain's irresistible embrace--and his enemy's notice--before this perilous adventure costs her her heart...and her life.

Rerations
< It Happened One Night > < Lady Reckless > < Daring the Devil > < The Rogue's Bride > < Her Scandalous Marriage > freaks

< Timewalker (Harlequin Intrigue, No 275) > Judith Mcwilliams

I won't spoil the ending for whoever might be bored enough to read this (as if it's possible to spoil something this bad. Reading it is like trying to drink milk that has turned) but Kynan will be faced with a choice: leave Earth to be with his people or stay with Jenna. By the last chapter I was ready to bankroll the mission myself. Get the hell off our planet you bastard, and stay off!
Blending ancient myths and her own cleverly crafted ideas of Atlantean society, Judith McWilliam's The Man From Atlantis was enthralling from cover to cover! The relationship between the main characters was well developed, the "bad guy" was allowed a round, human personality, and the scenes were vivid and imaginative. In the Man From Atlantis, McWilliams blends science fiction elements with romance and passion into a surprisingly realistic novel.
MAN, MYTH . . . LEGEND

He had inhabited a world destroyed ten thousand years ago -- Atlantis, a place now lost to him forever. Kept alive in a state of suspended animation, Kynan awoke to find a more primitive Earth and only one woman to help him fight those who would destroy him.

Archaeologist Jenna Farron had uncovered a man like no other, a man who sent her senses soaring and left her breathless with passion . . . and despair. Though she longed to surrender herself to Kynan's powerful embrace, she feared he would be forever torn from her once he found others like himself.

In a frantic search to find a lost civilization, they would face a most desperate choice: destiny or desire?
Rerations
< Timetwist: The Man from Atlantis > < Timetwist: By Love Possessed > < Somewhere in Time (Timetwist) > < Spirited Away > < Into Thin Air > freaks

< Brides of Durango: Tessa > Bobbi Smith

< Jewels of Time (Love Spell) > Victoria Chancellor

< Sword of the Highlands (Berkley Sensation) > Angie Ray

I tried to find out from Angie's website but the url in the book does not seem to be working. I would appreciate it if someone could send me her website address, I want to find out about all her other books. She is a marvelous writer and I for one will keep looking out for her books.
I enjoyed this book even though it was a bit slow at the start. It had humor and serious scenes that were evenly matched. This is the story of Francine a very geeky accountant in 1998 who is about to be married to a geeky accountant that she works for. She has a verry eccetric old neighbor who is always asking her to help her with some project or another. Well this latest project transports her back in time to England in the year 1214!. In order for her to return to her time she must "Civilize" the people here. But here is controlled by the Lord of the keep. Garrick. He's very brave but has a problem that keeps him from falling in love with any woman. Francine must get past his brutish ways to help these people and to get to the heart of Garrick's problem. Along the way she finds new friends and even starts to enjoy herself. She also finds herself more and more attracted to Garrick, who is also fighting his passion for her. Together they must compromise to bring Civilization and love to this brutal time. I enjoyed this book and was really suprised at the end. I hope to read other books by this author.
I had a hard time getting caught up in the story. The writing in of itself was fine, but the two main characters couldn't seem to capture my interest. They seemed two dementional to me. Now, I realize that not every writer is going to be for every person, so I give it three stars for writing, plot imagination and the twist at the end.
This is the first book by Angie Ray that I've read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope to read many more ! While one must always check facts at the door when reading time travel romance, this one was both romantic and altruistic. You *wanted* to believe that this was possible !

I enjoyed the main characters of Francine and Garrick very much. Their verbal sparring, their profound attraction towards one another and their day to day life in medieval times was great fun to read. I especially enjoyed the completely surprising twist at the end of this book. I was most certainly not expecting it !

That said, I was thoroughly confused by the characters of Anne and Raphael. I didn't really understand who or what they were. I also didn't understand the role they played in the time travel experience. This is the only reason I didn't give A KNIGHT TO CHERISH 5 stars.
Rerations
< A Knight to Cherish (Time Passages Romance Series) > < My Lady in Time (Time Passages Romance) > < Spirited Away > < Sixpence Bride (Timeswept) > < Touched By Time (Zebra Regency Romance) > freaks

< Everything in Its Time (Time Passages) > Sandra Landry

< A Dance Through Time (Time Passages Romance) > Cordia Byers