Reluctant for Romance

Title:  Reluctant for Romance

Author:  Pamela Judge

Publisher:  Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL:  https://www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN:  9781619223301

Genre:  {M/F} Retro Romance, Contemporary

Rating:  3.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amethyst Nymph

Carly Ray is overwhelmed and not quite sure where to start.  She wants to focus her attention on her mother, but pending unemployment and lazy siblings keep getting in Carly’s way.  Her anger boiled over when the arrogant man who ran her mother over shows miniscule remorse.  She intended to give him a piece of her mind but winds up giving him a piece of her heart.

Declan O’Halloran tried to explain, but the feisty woman never let him get a word in.  It was just easier to agree to her demands.  Convincing Carly to accept his help and his attention was not an easy task.  Carly made it clear that their time together was only temporary but Declan wanted more.  He knew they made a great match, even though Carly didn’t think so.

Carly never wanted to be like her mother, who was a domestic dynamo.  Catering to someone hand and foot was not the life for Carly.  Nothing was more important to her than a career.  After getting to know Declan, Carly was confused.  She knew she loved him, but Carly also thought she could never be the kind of woman he needed.  Declan was a family man, who wanted a simple family life.  And he refused to settle for the no strings hook up Carly was offering him.  It was all or nothing.  Carly nearly lost her shot at happiness because she didn’t realize that Declan wasn’t trying to change her or trap her.  Carly’s mother had gone to the extreme caring for her grown sons so I understood how this could make Carly want to avoid a similar situation.  I wouldn’t want to be a maid for three grown men either.  I found myself getting angry at how they expected Carly to do everything for them.  I wasn’t able to get over my anger at the mother for crippling all of her children though.  Actually I had to give Carly’s brothers credit for changing their tune by the end of the story.  At first I just assumed they were lost causes.  

Reluctant for Romance shows the struggle that many women have today, the balance between a career and a family.  There is nothing wrong with having your cake and eating it too, and I was relieved that Carly finally realized that.  Sometimes you don’t truly know what you want until you get it and that was true of Carly.  She overcame her fear and realized Declan didn’t want to change her, he just wanted to love her as she was.  Read their story and I bet you won’t be able to resist a man like him.

Time Weaver

Title:  Time Weaver

Author:  Kate Donovan

Publisher:  Samhain Publishing

Publisher URL:  http://www.samhainpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-61921-005-9

Genre:  {M/F} Retro Romance, Time Travel

Rating:  3.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amethyst Nymph

For months Alexander BlackKnife’s search for a missing woman had lead him to nothing but dead ends.  As an attorney, Alexander would investigate every avenue, even if it might implicate his people, the Susquehannock tribe.  Alexander decides to follow up with the missing blonde’s cousin as a last resort and his entire world changes in the blink of an eye.

Cassandra Stone is a creative beauty who refuses to accept the notion that her cousin could be dead.  Even though the world might think her cousin had lost touch with reality, Cassie thought anything was possible.  If her cousin had traveled to the past, Cassie was determined to find out what happened to her.  Alexander’s disbelief wasn’t going to stop Cassie from following her cousin into the past to make sure she was okay. 

After waking up in the seventeenth century, Cassie is overjoyed to meet her cousin.  Her joy quickly turns to fear when she realizes that Alexander followed her and is in serious trouble.  In the present day, Cassie and Alexander didn’t get a chance to explore their attraction, because of Alexander.  Being in the past together gave them the perfect opportunity to be together, if they could survive long enough to return home. 

Alexander’s fate brings him face to face with his idol.  He gets to spend time with his mentor, learning the old ways and also share his modern knowledge.  Before coming to the past, Alexander questioned his ability to change things for the tribe and if he was the right man for the job.  He’d even convinced himself why a relationship with Cassie was off limits. 

Cassie comes to the conclusion that fate didn’t want her to be with Alexander.   At first she thought the trip to the past was about her.  However, after seeing all the positive changes Alexander makes, Cassie changes her mind.  As much as it hurt, Cassie puts aside her feelings and leaves Alexander, which almost turns out to be a fatal disaster.  Alexander intervenes just in time and the couple gets the ending they deserve. 

Dream Weaver unites a couple who mean a lot to the lives of those around them.  Alexander has obligations to his people, and he’s not certain if he’s strong enough to endure everything.  What he does know is that he wants Cassie and she wants him.  Alexander had doubts, but I never doubted for a minute.  I always saw the strength in him and so did everyone around him.   I like Cassie’s character because she is so quirky.  She certainly knows how to improvise and that quality saved her numerous times.  The story has a lot going on, but I know readers will enjoy the twist and turns the author makes.  Every character left me with a lasting impression and readers will agree.