Just One Wish...Holiday Stories from The Roses of Prose

By: Brenda Whitehead, Brenda Edwards,  Jena Galifany,  Laura Breck,
      Jannine Gallant,  Alison Henderson, Christine DePetrillo,  Vonnie Davis and
      Margo Hoornstra
Published By: The Rose of Prose
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:

"Just One Wish" by The Roses of Prose authors was a wonderful reads from nine different authors giving us nine holiday short novellas that will truly leave you wanting more.  All are very short reads that will leave you thinking of the read long after you finish your read.

From the read we start with....

1.  A Tropical Holiday where you will find Yuma Camry wanting
     "Peace."  Will she get it?
2.  A Very Special Holiday where Annabelle Wilson just wanted to spend the
     day Alone.  Will she be able to get her wish?
3.  A Visit From Santa ...would Jayme get a visit from Santa?
4.  Christmas in Vegas...What did Roxanne get besides snow in her new place?
5.  Going Home...would Lacey Chandler arrive safely from this aircraft
     ride to Denver?
6.  If Wishes Were Fishes...Marlee wanted Ben Home for Christmas...will
     he appear?
7.  Mistletoe Wish...Why did  Katherine Graves want to be fast forward
     through this 'damn holiday.'
8.  The Penguin Killer...Did Vanessa Baker really want her next door neighbor to
      to drop dead? This one was my favorite reads and it's so funny!
9.  Wishes Granted, Wishes Denied...a holiday that Hanny had been denied
     until now...

I enjoyed the entire read from all of the prose writers. You will find in each short story there could be a wish that will make this person happy.   These nine short reads were really neat especially with the holiday coming upon us, however, they are good reads anytime.  Would I recommend this reads especially for the holiday?....YES!  They are lovely reads  and some  will even put a smile on your face.  

The Sanctuary

By: Paulette Harper-Johnson
Published By: Exalt (Pulse)
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Series: The Trinity Lakes Series
Review:

"The Sanctuary" by Paulette Harper-Johnson was a different ride in the life's of Bishop Cedric and Pastor Lacey. When you think of a Bishop and Pastor that are married you generally think here is a pair of outstanding people so in tuned to God's will, however,this was not the case for this couple...for we found much drama from abuse that entered into psychical, verbal as well as emotional. What? As you will see from this read just because you are a minister .... doesn't necessarily make you perfect. We find from the read be prepared to find many trials, 'incorrect thoughts of the minds, meddling mother in law, let's not leave out co-worker(friend) who thought she knew what Pastor Lacy should do with your marriage and less not leave out the involved leaders of the church.' This author did a wonderful job in bringing it all out to the reader and you could tell that she knew first hand about many of the subjects that were presented. This novel is a quick read that will keep you on the edge of your seat only turning the pages until the very end and wanting more from part II. In the end was this a perfect marriage? Well, I will leave that to you to pick up "The Sanctuary" to see for yourself how Pastor Lacy tried to save her marriage and from this 'proverbial fork' in the road...a ending that will truly surprise you. Well done to the author on a well written novel!

Seducing Cat [Meghan's Playhouse Book 1]

By:  Adriana Kraft
Published By: Whiskey Creek Press
Age Recommended:  Adult (Erotica)
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:

"Seducing Cat" by Adriana Kraft was a interesting read of how these three people comes 'together in a 'ménage.'  Now this is a erotic read so if this isn't your genre you need to close this book...right now.  Now, for the others that like this genre keep on reading...where we find that Meghan had plans of wanting to 'escape and explore' outside the town that she had only lived in.  So when she took it upon herself to 'seduce' a certain professor'(Caitlin) and to carry out a plan to bring together her 'brawny carpenter(Kurt)who was a childhood friend and the  professor together would truly be a work of art for her.  Why couldn't she do it...she was a actor? What did she have up her sleeve?   Why would she want to leave her sexual delights with Cat and Kurt?  Would Caitlin and Kurt have a go at it with Meghan gone?   First we find Meghan seducing Caitlin who was very new to this situation.  Why would Caitlin a 34 year old, a professor who runs a local playhouse and is also having Kurt help her in restoring her home be interested in this twenty year old? Why would Caitlin even consider herself old at thirty four?  Even with that why would Caitlin be interested in Kurt?   We find that Ms. Kraft and her husband who are  team writers  gives us a interesting read that was enjoyed and also gives us  something to think about. Now, to get the just to all the novel you will have to pick up "Seducing Cat" to see what all goes on  in the walls of this this  written script of
Seducing Cat."  There maybe still some questions that still  need to be answered but hopefully we may get them as the series continues. 

A Holiday to Remember

By:  Claire Ashgrove   Laura Breck   Vonnie Davis   Christine DePetrillo
       Barbara Edwards Jannine Gallant  Alison Henderson   Jerri Hines
       Amber Leigh Williams   Brenda Whiteside
Published By:  The Roses of Prose
Age Recommended: New Adult - Adult
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:

"A Christmas to Remember" by ten authors was quite a interesting holiday read that I thoroughly enjoyed.  I will say these authors really did wonderful job with this holiday read.

I really liked how they were able to keep this story together  starting from Chapter one: 'You Want Me to Pump What'...2: The Winding Road...3:What Do You Do With a Princess...4:Candy Heats Up...5: A Hard Liquor Kind of Situation...6: Oh No!...7: The Morning After...8: A Cup of Hot Chocolate and a Dose of Hot Mitch...9: The Odds Were a Million to One...10: Boxer or Briefs...11: The Temperature is Hot and Rising...12:  Trouble in Paradise...13: Rich Jerks...14: Scrambled Eggs and Sympathy...15:  Who the Heck is Marie...
16:  Past Remembered...17: Knight in Denim Overalls...18: Revelations...19: The Moment of Truth...20:  It's Cold Outside...21:  No Strings Attached...22: A Lonely Future...23: Goodbye to What Might Have Been...24: Men...Who Needs Them...25: One Call Changes Everything...26: Memory of an Angel...27: Prepare to Grovel...28: Forgiveness...29: It's Always Been You...30: Georgia On My Mind......going till The End of a wonderful well written story.  Only leaving me to say   Wow!

We see from this short story Candy Wright now has it all ...a great job, The Wright Way, a advertising agency she owned, a great place to live in Manhattan, but was she truly happy. With plan to visit a college roommate during this Christmas Holiday...who knew Candy would end up in one of the worst Georgia storms and would meet up with a man who had been her ....well this is the part where I will stop and say you must get this read "A Christmas to Remember" to see what all Candy will go through to finally get the happiness she had wanted from childhood.  I found the characters in this short read very well developed,  colorful and so likable  only to make this read very charming to read. I know it is somewhat different in that you have so many authors writing it, how they all came together to share their thoughts and how it flows so smoothly from one chapter to the next  and in the end will giving  you a well written script that I thought was a amazing read.  All I am left to say is that you must pick this one up and see for yourself how good a read the story really is.  This only leaves me to say that 'Yes' I would recommend this read. 

Cameron 4 By: Jade Jones

By: Jade Jones
Published By: Jaded Publications
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Series: Cameron 1-2 & 3
Review:

"Cameron 4" by Jade Jones was the fourth in a series of the Cameron series and it was indeed up there with all of the others...great writing by this author. This series had me on the edge of my seat only turning the pages all the way till the very end...and then I see we are left hanging. Go job Ms. Jones!

In this series you will find yourself on a 'emotional roller coaster ride' that doesn't let up ... even to be found in the very end of this read for these two characters Cameron and Jude. This read is told by a great story teller that knows how to keep her readers attention that will only leave you wanting more. Be ready for a fast moving episode that will keep you awake and only wanting more as some of the characters from the other series that do come back into play along with a few new ones.

Definitely from the ending we learn...well, I will let you read Cameron 4 for yourself to see when will this drama end for Cameron and Jude? When will these two 'catch a break and be truly happy?' Will Cameron see she has a wonderful husband and truly grow up? Well, I guess we will have to see what happens next the sequel Cameron 5. Ms. Jones we leave it in your hands...for another good read. I will be waiting!

When The Sun Goes Down

By: Gwynne Forester
Published By: Dafina
Age Recommended:  Adult
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: 4
Review:

"When the Sun Goes Down" by Gwynne Forester was a wonderful written novel about the Leon Farrell family.  It was the death of Leon Farrell when it all came out about a family that looked good on the outside but when you are able to get inside this picture...my, my, my what will we find...a father whose life changed for his family in their treatment after his loss his 'beloved wife.'  There were three children, Edgar, the oldest, next their was Gunther and then the baby sister Shirley.  We find Edgar was the 'rebel' who lived his life by is own terms  only leaving Gunther and Shirley more or less on their own due to the treatment of their father. What was so very important about this read is that from the opening of the story till the very end that there wasn't any love lost between the father and the children.  Why was this?

Edgar was a guitarist, Gunther an entrepreneur software designer and Shirley was a PR specialist for a cruise line.  The two younger Farrell children had worked their way through college and into successful careers while Edgar, well you will see from the read how he managed. Now,  to really understand what all is going on with the Ferrell's you area going to have to pick up this amazing read to see what happens after their father dies and no one can find the will.
Who will be really concerned with this... the inheritance?  Will they find this well hidden will?  Be ready for some mystery, with deep secrets and lies with will be revealed in this drama of many twist and turns.  Will the oldest sibling, Edgar finally grow up and stop depending on his brother and sister to help him out of his messed up life? One thing I will note about this novel is that their was love showed toward the brother, Edgar by his siblings. They truly had tried to help him out many, many times.  "When The Sun Goes Down" will be a long novel but I feel the author did a good job at presenting it all to her readers the way she did and it was a easy smooth read.

The characters well developed and interesting maybe some I didn't like but that did not take away from the awesome story that was presented. I thought that the 'family dynamics' were very true to life in what could happen when someone loses a 'influential' family member especially when money is involved. 

If you are looking for a good family story with a little bit of it all you have come to the right place for "When The Sun Goes Down" will give you some of it all.
From death, secrets, lies, love, rape, deceit  to romance....it's well covered between the book cover. Would I recommend?  YES!

Heaven's Cry

 

By: Charmaine Galloway
Published By: Charming Gal Publications
Age Recommended: YA-New Adult-Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 4
Review:

"Heaven's Cry" by Charmaine Galloway was a good short read of a 'teenager' who had it all...clothes, good school, good godly parents that wanted what was best for her, but were these parents willing to listen to their daughter to see what was really going on with her before it was too late? This author was able to write this short story that all maybe able to relate to in one way or another. This poor teenager just needed someone to make her feel special(she had many questions and no answers) and it seemed that all her parents wanted to do was beat her down with their thoughts on what was right in the site of 'God.' But really wasn't this about them, only what the parents wanted? What was this teenager crying out for? Then when the word homosexuality came up...well in picking up "Heaven's Cry" you can see what happens to this poor child is left to feel that their is no one to turn to. You would have thought by her being from such religious parents she would know of 'God's Love' but it seems like in this home that was definitely not being shown. I believe as parents we have to listen to your children. Now, it may not be the right way but still you have to listen to what they have to say, above all let them know they aren't alone....get them some professional help...someone to talk to if you can't, and most of all let them know they are truly loved no matter what road they may take. Truly this teenager felt no love from her parents or brother in that home. Ms. Galloway you did a wonderful job with this short story and being the voice for some many young people. I am looking forward to your next series. Would I recommend this short novella? YES!

Looking For LA LA

By:  Ellie Campbell
Published By:  Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Age Recommended:  Adult
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating:  4
Book Blog For:  NOR
Review:

"Looking For LA LA" by Ellie Campbell  was a good chick lit romantic read. It took me a moment to understand this 'British Humor' but soon it came together for me and I found myself laughing out loud.  Who ever would have thought that a postcard would present such a problem for Cathy and her husband Declan. This is one novel that  was a well written read with some very 'serious parts.'   There seems to be lots of secrets and when I thought I may have had it figured out...I didn't!  The characters were well developed and very captivating...only to keep you reading to see what was going to happen next.  This stay a home mom was definitely funny, had many issues and lord could she make up things....wow and Cathy's friends were  very interesting.  What I found most interesting was the mystery it had in the story  and the surprise at the end.  Be ready for quite a juggle of things that will happen.    If you are looking for a good entertainment novel you have come to the right place for "Looking For LA LA" will give it to you.  Would I recommend? YES!

How To Survive Your Sisters

By:  Ellie Campbell
Published By:  CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Age Recommended:  Adult
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: 4
Book Blog For: NOR
Review:

"How To Survive Your Sisters" by Ellie Campbell was of four sisters and one was getting marriage and  wanting the 'perfect wedding' in this chick-lit read.
I will say that the characters seemed to be in a world of their own being well portrayed and so colorful with each sister having their own story. This author did a good job at blending the various stories together with its suspense and even the realism of what all was going on in this story. Indeed these sisters did interact just like sisters. We find the MacLeod's sister...the  oldest sister Avril was a 'Hollywood a Agent,' Milly was married and a  mother of three, Natalie was the 'Bride to be' and last there was the baby sister Hazel.  Some of the sisters were likable more than others.  I will let you decide which ones you will like.  Now, that they would be coming together due to the wedding...having to be closer than they had been in years. Will there be family squabbles and hidden secrets that could probably 'break the bonds of this sisterhood' even further  than it already is for these sisters? This author did a wonderful job at keeping the story around the sisters and the wedding.    To get the answers to this and more you will have to pick up this wonderful story with many twist and turns  that this author has given to the reader to see how this will come out.  "How To Survive Your Sisters" is written in third person making it easy to follow and will  keep you so engrossed and turning the pages until the end.  I also liked how this novel seemed very real throughout the read that could be real.   Oh, I almost forgot be ready for some humor that will have you laughing out loud.  If you are in for a good read about  a family who loves each other however, do will have many 'trials and tribulations'... you have come to the right read for "How To Survive Your Sisters" would be recommended to you.

Burning Embers

By:  Hannah Fielding
Published By: Omnific Publishing
Age Recommended:  Adult
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating:  4
Review:

"Burning Embers" by Hannah Fielding good contemporary, historical romance read that was set in Africa in the 1970's.   I did like how the author was able to bring the area of Kenya to life with all of the descriptions...making it seem as though you were actually there.  This was a good adventure of Coral and Rafe in Kenya with these characters being so well developed and even colorful. Be ready for many twist and turns that will only keep you turning the pages till the end giving you a good undercurrent of a  mystery along with a good romance. This is the part that I say you must pick up "Burning Embers" to see how this hero's past will be revealed and also seeing the heroine maturing somewhat.  Be ready for a predictable read that is somewhat slow but still in the end a good read of 'love, loss, jealous, heartbreak and angst.'    This read is for anyone who loves to read historical romantic novels especially in this area setting in Africa.  Would I recommend?  YES!

Christmas At The Beach

By:  Wendy Wax
Published By:  InterMix
Age Recommended:  Adult
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: 4
Book Blog For: NOR
Review:

"Christmas At The Beach" by Wendy Wax was a good 'short holiday' novella that
was the last Christmas at Bella Flora homestead. We find that this family will gather back at the first house they 'did over'...from the 'reality TV show' for their 'last goodbye.'

If you are in for a lots of family drama, "Christmas At The Beach" will take you there...with also a 'touch of suspense.'  Be ready for seeing that they survived, thrived and their will be even more new challenges  ahead as they start another reality show 'Do Over.'   

Just a little from the read...

"Kyra, Madeline’s daughter, returns to the newly sold Bella Flora for one last Christmas, she’s hoping to get a brief respite from the paparazzi that constantly hounds her and the son she had with famous actor Daniel Deranian. But when a string of bad news threatens to disrupt her happy holidays, Bella Flora’s sanctuary may be threatened for all of the women who call it home..."

Now to find the end of this short story you must pick up "Christmas At The Beach" to find out how this will come out in this series.  You will find that in  the end  you will be left wanting more of what will only  happen on the next reality show series. 

This is a good women-fiction  read and I would definitely recommend this series as a good read.