Tara Chevrestt's Blog, page 108

Weight of the Crown (Princess Kandake, #2) by Stephanie Jefferson

I am both pleased with this book and ticked off! I'm pleased because it was a darn good story about a strong heroine. I'm ticked off because I just read the last page, which says I have to wait a full year for book three. *has hissy fit.*


That bit aside, Kandake is back. This time...I'm not certain her age at this point, but I'm thinking teenager. In book one she was named her father's successor. In book two, she must take the crown before she's ready and what an adventure it is!

I loved getting a look at Nubia's customs and traditions. As Kandake accepts suitors, readers learn so much about their ways. What is acceptable, what is not. I love how the women there had a SAY. Kandake has to realize, however, that other kingdoms do not respect women in the same manner and must come to terms with that as an overly...aggressive prince decides she is to be his wife and declares himself dominate.

Kandake then forms a plan to prove to him she is not a weak woman and that women can be warriors.

Like book one, book two has surprise bits of humor. There's a small amount of romance as Kandake's girlish crush becomes the admiration of a young woman for a warrior. There's the irritating sister Tabiry. I could do without her. LOL

There is fighting, fear, adventure, intrigue, and surprises. At the end, there is a fascinating marriage ceremony. 

I really like this series. Well written, strong females, unique plots.

Favorite bit:

"Why do these kingdoms prefer to think of women as weak?" Kandake asked, contempt coating her words. "We are not weak."

"It is the way some men prefer to think." Aunt Alodia shook her head. "For these men, it is what they use to make themselves feel strong."

Five stars. This author understands the meaning of girl power. I received this from the author in exchange for an honest review.

HerStory Book Trailer

Thanks to the wonderful publisher at Pagan Writers Press, HerStory now has a book trailer!
Thoughts?

Strong is Sexy Heroine of the Week (Promo Opp For Authors): Now Booking May

Have a strong heroine in your book? This is for you!
Book Babe has 274 blogger followers, 71 networked blog followers, and last month alone had over 5k hits. It gets over 100 hits a day from Google, FB, and Goodreads.

Every week, I feature a strong, sexy heroine from a different book. If you would like to feature your book and heroine, email the following to tchevrestt (at) yahoo (dot) com

What you need to send me: A blog post/paragraph or two telling me who the heroine is, what book she is in, and what makes her both strong and sexy. It can be "she's strong because she did this... she survived that..." It can be anything you want, as long as she's strong in some way.

What is sexy about her? Let's make it about more than just nice legs, big breasts, etc. Sexiness is more than physical. It can be her ability to take care of herself, of business, her persistence, something she does for others. Examples from the book of the heroine in her strong moment are welcome.
I also find blurb, cover art, and buy link to post with it.
Strong is Sexy Heroine of the Week is on a first come, first serve basis. No pre-sheduling. Thank you.

Accidental Romance by Jessica E. Subject

We need more books like this in the world, books of women tackling serious physical issues and finding love in spite of it.


This is a novelette about a woman who plans to take over her dad's farm. She does her job just as good as, if not better than a man. She's not a girly girl. She's out there getting dirty...and then she has a horrible accident. And this stuff really happens. This story is very realistic.

The best part of this story, for me, is watching the heroine come to terms with the loss of her hand. It made me appreciate those every day things I just do and take for granted: clasping my bra, tying my shoe laces, opening jars.

Leanne must relearn everything. She wants to just give up. Imagine relearning everything at the age of twenty-two, how to eat, care for yourself. It's daunting.

But this chick doesn't give up and she even finds love while at it. Enter the perfect hero. (I hate those alpha males. This is my kind of man.) He works beside her, tells her she can do it, loves her at her worst.

The only thing that bothered me about this tale is...well, why wasn't she interested in him before the accident? Why did it take losing her hand to become interested in a man she worked beside and joked with for years? Though the heroine herself thinks this at one point, the question is never answered.

The sex scene is mild, the romance blooms at a decent pace considering it's a short story. I recommend it.

Four stars. I got this through Sizzling PR.

The Julius Romeros Extravaganza Part 1: The Bearded Girl by Hayley Lawson-Smith

A story both tragic and hilarious. This is going to be tough to explain...


Abigail is born with whiskers. She is treated horribly in the household. They shave her beard. Naturally, it brings "shame" to the family's' good name. The beard grows back. Her mother disappears, checking herself into a spa or something, leaving Abigail being raised by an evil housekeeper, the housekeeper's husband, and a nanny.

They hide her from society as long as they can. And when it begins to be difficult, they make the girl wear a veil. There's a fraudulent doctor and his leeches. There's a fat priest and a birdbath baptismal. There's a gypsy with a stinky concoction.

It's very sad, really, but the way this story is told...even the scathing things the housekeeper or her husband say at times...is utterly hilarious. This is something one will just have to read to see for themselves what I mean... BUT there's also some touching parts and parts that make one think.

Little Abigail grows up not seeing the rest of the world, so she doesn't know what is "normal." She believes she is. She puts beards on her dolls, ties ribbons in her whiskers. We only consider normal "normal" because people tell us what's normal. But really, who has the problem? The bearded girl or the way others look at her?
Real Bearded Lady Annie Jones
In the eyes of the beholder....hm?

When she's taken to a circus and handed over, we meet the snake charmer, the fat man, the twisted woman (both body and soul), the elephants, an albino elephant, Julius, a "mermaid", and enter the world of the traveling carnival. It's a family that takes care of each other and together, they make their own world. It's so much easier to survive with each other than face the hate of the world on their own. With the exception of twisted lady, everyone does their bit and then some. It's more touching scenes.

More food for thought.

The "ugliest" people can have the most beautiful of souls.

LOVED this book. I do have one quibble though and thus, I give a four-star rating instead of the five. Where the heck was the dad? When Abigail is born, he's away at war, lost in action. What war? What time period was this? I could not figure it out. At first I thought WWII, but then there was never any mentions of war on the homefront and this is, I believe, England. There is no rationing, no talk of the outside world at all in the novel. The father is gone...forever. When the girl is four, he's found and coming home, but then she's "sold". They say, "Oh, he'll never know she existed." When the man comes home, surely, even this evil housekeeper cannot expect that he won't hear one peep about the little girl his own sister met, about the daughter of his that attended school however briefly. In all of Abigail's life, her father never finds out she existed when she lived in house and hosted a family party in his own home?

Didn't buy that bit at all and some trouble with it. After she's been in public--even with a veil on--after she's fought with his own nephew, someone is bound to ask the man, "Where is Abigail?"

But...before I end this review, I leave you with a charming piece of humor from the book, so you can see just a touch of the humor found within its pages... And this line comes in a bit about the carnival packing to move to the next town. Seems the clowns can't stop juggling items long enough to pack them... What do you think the solution is? 

"And so it was, with more than just a small amount of smugness and great pleasure, that Old Barty put the marauding clowns onto manure-shovelling duty."

Four stars. I downloaded this free from Amazon.

Tip from Tara: A BLOND or BLONDE Moment?

So some digital publisher declared that BLOND was male and BLONDE was female. They are right...but...every time I have an editor or a proofer or something...I have to constantly change or explain or just resign myself to accepting the wrong word when blonde/blond is used.

So let me try to explain this.

A man is a blond.
A woman is a blonde.

Did you notice the A in there?

When used to describe a person, you follow the above rule.

The blond ordered a cup of coffee. *That sentence just informed me a man with blond hair bought a cup of coffee.*

The blonde ordered a cup of coffee. *That one just told me a woman with blond hair bought a cup of coffee.*

BUT, when used as an adjective, blond hair has no sex. Look how I used it above when explaining sentence number 2. (woman with blond hair...)

She brushed her light blond hair.

He ran a hand through his blond locks.

The wig was blond.

It's really very simple. Unless you're having a blond moment... ;)

(Note. That's a joke. I do not in any way or form believe the blond people theory.)

Talking About Strong Women With Christie A.C. Gucker

Please welcome Christie...
My novel The Purple Heart focuses on a woman who was previously an army nurse turned psychologist who helps acclimate soldiers returning from war back to every day civilian life. I originally thought of writing her in her wartime role, but at the time I wrote the story, women were not allowed in combat positions. I am thrilled to know that they are now being offered the same opportunity as their male counterparts.
Women are strong. Women are brave. Yes, we are not backed by the same testosterone-filled-body that men are, but some of the strongest, toughest people I know are women.
Why is this? Maybe it’s because we have to fight for our place in this world to compete with men. Maybe it’s because we are mothers, and go through pregnancy and labor and childbirth. I’m not actually sure why, but I have to give props to the girls and women of our time and what they have to deal with to be seen as equals.
There are so many stereotypes thrown on us. Men can cheat and are seen as studs while women are branded whores if they are caught. Take poor Kristen Stewart, for instance. She has been shredded to pieces, bashed and bullied by tabloid magazines, for months now, for her alleged indiscretion, while her male counterpart; not a word about him. Yet through all of the lies and trashing of her character, she has remained a strong woman, holding her head up high, not letting the stories that disparage her, tear her down.
I strive to be that kind of woman. I thank my grandmother and mother for that. I watched them both as I grew up; they molded me into who I have become. I don’t back down, I never give up. I fight for what I believe in. I speak my mind. I demand respect. I urge all girls and women to live this way.
I am raising my daughters to be independent women, who can survive the toughest of times, remain strong, yet still be compassionate loving women.
Adele was recently told to lose weight. Why? She is beautiful as she is. No one needs to be what the media dictate. You are beautiful. You have to accept and love everything about yourself. Because you deserve it and no one has a right to tell you anything different.
It’s so amazing to me how a woman can one minute be an emotional, gentle being and in the blink of an eye, stand on her own two feet and fight harder than any man I know. Yes…you have that in you. You do. I promise you that.
So what is my point here? I want to empower you. I want to support you, my fellow sisters. Sometimes we need to band together to feel the strengths we contain within. Sometimes we need each other to draw that out. You have it inside you. I know you do, because I do. And the wonderful females I have around me have it. I can see it. Feel it.
We should do everything we can to mentor young girls and let them know that they are amazing and beautiful no matter what their body or face looks like.
I am so proud of every one of you. Be everything or anything you want to be. Stand up for yourself and other women around you.  Now get out there and show them what you’re made of!"
Christie's latest book is The Purple Heart:
When does hiding the truth become an outright lie?

As an Army psychologist, Sydney Porter has heard her share of horror stories. The battle-scarred, down-trodden, and guilt-ridden have come to her office, seeking her help. When a highly decorated soldier is referred to her, she feels confident she can help heal his wounds. The chemistry between herself and Sergeant Aiden Thane is instantaneous. Sparks ignite and against her friend’s advice, she opens both her home and her heart.

Torn between a voice of reason and her undeniable feelings, Sydney begins to question just what is hiding behind her lover’s decorated uniform. What secrets are hidden behind his Purple Heart?

And does she really want to know?

Strong is Sexy Heroine of the Week: Megan Harris

Book: American Goddesses
Author: Gary Henry
Heroine: Megan Harris


Megan, slim brunette 40-year-old editor of scholarly books, is a veritable goddess now, courtesy of an experimental medical protocol that accidentally induced unlimited telekinetic power throughout every cell of her body. She is now beyond harm and beyond coercion.
She can fly. She can bend steel with a thought, and make men kneel with a word.
None of this is what makes her strong.
On the contrary – power like this would make most people weak, since everything becomes effortless. She could have lost her power to persuade, since her whims have the force of natural law.
Megan could have lost her power to inspire love, since she can so easily compel worship.The power could have transformed her from slightly bossy wife into feared, unstoppable tyrant.
What makes Megan strong is her capacity to love and accept love. From this well she draws the fortitude needed to withstand the temptations and corruptions of unlimited power.
It wasn’t easy or automatic. The first chapters of AMERICAN GODDESSES detail her struggle with the power, and that of her friend and fellow goddess Trish. Megan comes close to losing John, her husband. But she finds that love and forgiveness are far more powerful than the punishment and possessiveness she could so easily enforce.
What makes her sexy: Megan is “a slim, dark-haired, brown-eyed woman with a patrician nose and proud, arched eyebrows.” She’s attractive, favoring outfits like the “long-sleeved yellow blouse, khaki pencil skirt and brown pumps” she wears in the opening chapter of AMERICAN GODDESSES.
But the same thing that makes her strong also makes her sexy. Megan’s capacity for love, coupled with the gentle and tender use of what could be a crushingly brutal power, makes her irresistible – to her husband at least.
That insight doesn’t come automatically or easily either. At first, the casual use of her power to enforce her will drives John to another woman. But Megan realizes at the 11th hour that it’s love and tenderness that binds John to her more tightly than any telekinetic power.
Though when “kiss comes to love,” so to speak, Megan and John discover telekinetic power in the hands of a gentle, loving woman can also be sexy.

Buy here

Repossessed by Sandy Parks

I can list a ton of reasons why I liked this book, starting with woman pilot. :D Second, woman mechanic. Whoo hoo. Though she has a very small role...well, not a small role--she's very necessary--just not a lot of her in the book until the end. It also takes place in Brazil, an exotic location.


Jet has to steal a plane...to repo it. Unfortunately, the plan is in the possession of a very bad man...a kingpin of sorts, only he deals with emeralds instead of drugs. I was surprised by that. But he's running out of money and has a cruel streak wider than the runway necessary for his private jet.

This is one of those books in where the less I say, the better. It's action packed, there's betrayal, mind games, guessing games, hidden runways, scaling castle walls, drugs, potential rape, broken arms, fake emeralds...

Parts of it had eyebrows going up. I was like, "really?" It did come off a preposterous at times, but it is a fiction and what's the point of reading if you don't have some fun, experience the improbable. I certainly won't be doing any aircraft repos.

It was a fun, action packed ride. It ended the story, but left me dying of enough curiosity that I'll no doubt pick up the next. I bought this on Amazon. 

Four stars.

Announcement: 99 Cent Sale & New Naughty Release

In honor of the release of the second book (Grapes of Lust) in my Napa Valley Naughties, Ladies Uncorked (Book 1) is on sale for a limited time at the price of 99 cents.


 You can buy it on

AmazonAll RomanceSecret Cravings
Blurb:Girls just wanna have fun and what better way to do that than a weekend wine tour? Rozella needs a break from caring for her mother and her friend, Nicole, is newly single and in need of a respite from her own troubles.

Their eagerness turns to mild dismay, however, when they discover they got a great deal on a fancy hotel room only because they’re apparently sharing a bed...a bed big enough for three. Will they make use of it? They may have a willing bedmate in the form of a sexy tour guide. But first, they must uncork their inhibitions.


If you like it, you can nab Grapes of Lust for 2.99, and you get two books for 4 bucks. Not a bad deal.
It’s a dark and stormy night, and two lonely souls are drinking alone at Vespera’s Vineyard. Circumstances force them to share a table, and they can either drown in their sorrows or breathe in the instant attraction.

Celia thinks she should continue to grieve, but Nicholas and his injury touch a part of her soul.

Can they move on and embrace life again? Can lust replace wrath and sadness? Will what happens at Vespera’s continue outside the vineyard?

AmazonAll RomanceSecret Cravings
So grab your Kindle, pour a glass of wine, and get your naughty on!