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Sweet & Sassy Anthology: Castle Collection
Readers will be delighted with five sweet, romance novellas in Sweet & Sassy: Castle Collection. In this charming anthology, you will fall in love again and again.
Dangerous Truth by Cindy M. Hogan
All By My Selfie by Jo Noelle
A Savage Ghost by Donna K. Weaver
The Ghost of Dunlow Manor by Paige Timothy
Rose of Sherwood by Kaye P. Clark
DANGEROUS TRUTH
Olivia loves everything about Belgium. So far, her humanitarian trip has gone perfectly--that is, until she sees a picture of a man she thinks is her father in the newspaper. The father who abandoned her family nine years ago without a word.
She tries to forget she ever saw his photo. He's forgotten about her, after all. But soon it's apparent that she can't leave without knowing what happened.
Armed with years of hurt and the help of a gorgeous French photographer, she decides to confront him and his secrets once and for all.
Unfortunately, her father seems determined to keep those secrets hidden. . . and Olivia is one of them.
ALL BY MY SELFIE
While on vacation at McLeod Castle in Scotland, Gwen Mackenzie has nightly dreams of an ancient warrior bound by a curse. During the day, she sees Niall, nicknamed #ScottishBoyfriend. Oh, and can that man rock a kilt! As she gets to know him, she realizes that Niall is the warrior from her dreams, cursed to live as a ghost for the past five hundred years, to see life around him but never sense any of it—except Gwen.
A SAVAGE GHOST
Lia Savage reluctantly puts her dream of opening a dessert boutique on hold to help her dad remodel a castle he’s inherited in Washington State. Soon, a specter targets her younger sister.
Lia enlists the help of Coop Montgomery, the head gardener and her former crush. As they search together for a way to rid the castle of its ghost, the romance she used to dream about with him kindles. But Lia’s gentle giant means to stay in Washington while she’s determined to return to California. She must find the courage to face both the ghost and her future.
With Coop. Or without him.
THE GHOST OF DUNLOW MANOR
Bestselling author Alexis St. John needs an escape, and Nate, her personal assistant, thinks that a trip to a real castle in England will be just the thing. What neither of them planned on, though, was to encounter an actual ghost.
Lady Catherine Dunlow hates the idea of sharing her castle with tourists and does everything she can to chase them out, much to the amusement of her roguish suitor. But when her two newest guests stumble upon a mystery surrounding her death, she decides to let them stay.
With an eternal fate in the balance, Nate and Alexis must move quickly to bring the killer to light before Catherine is trapped forever.
ROSE OF SHERWOOD
Lady Rosamund, Baroness of Ravenswood Manor, is a destitute widow, imprisoned in Nottingham Castle. When the prince declares she must marry the ruthless man who had seized Ravenswood, she escapes with the help of a band of outlaws to Sherwood Forest. Her first love, a battle-worn knight, promises to help her find safety at a convent. Confused and afraid, her heart yearns for love. But are the risks too high?
Dangerous Truth by Cindy M. Hogan
All By My Selfie by Jo Noelle
A Savage Ghost by Donna K. Weaver
The Ghost of Dunlow Manor by Paige Timothy
Rose of Sherwood by Kaye P. Clark
DANGEROUS TRUTH
Olivia loves everything about Belgium. So far, her humanitarian trip has gone perfectly--that is, until she sees a picture of a man she thinks is her father in the newspaper. The father who abandoned her family nine years ago without a word.
She tries to forget she ever saw his photo. He's forgotten about her, after all. But soon it's apparent that she can't leave without knowing what happened.
Armed with years of hurt and the help of a gorgeous French photographer, she decides to confront him and his secrets once and for all.
Unfortunately, her father seems determined to keep those secrets hidden. . . and Olivia is one of them.
ALL BY MY SELFIE
While on vacation at McLeod Castle in Scotland, Gwen Mackenzie has nightly dreams of an ancient warrior bound by a curse. During the day, she sees Niall, nicknamed #ScottishBoyfriend. Oh, and can that man rock a kilt! As she gets to know him, she realizes that Niall is the warrior from her dreams, cursed to live as a ghost for the past five hundred years, to see life around him but never sense any of it—except Gwen.
A SAVAGE GHOST
Lia Savage reluctantly puts her dream of opening a dessert boutique on hold to help her dad remodel a castle he’s inherited in Washington State. Soon, a specter targets her younger sister.
Lia enlists the help of Coop Montgomery, the head gardener and her former crush. As they search together for a way to rid the castle of its ghost, the romance she used to dream about with him kindles. But Lia’s gentle giant means to stay in Washington while she’s determined to return to California. She must find the courage to face both the ghost and her future.
With Coop. Or without him.
THE GHOST OF DUNLOW MANOR
Bestselling author Alexis St. John needs an escape, and Nate, her personal assistant, thinks that a trip to a real castle in England will be just the thing. What neither of them planned on, though, was to encounter an actual ghost.
Lady Catherine Dunlow hates the idea of sharing her castle with tourists and does everything she can to chase them out, much to the amusement of her roguish suitor. But when her two newest guests stumble upon a mystery surrounding her death, she decides to let them stay.
With an eternal fate in the balance, Nate and Alexis must move quickly to bring the killer to light before Catherine is trapped forever.
ROSE OF SHERWOOD
Lady Rosamund, Baroness of Ravenswood Manor, is a destitute widow, imprisoned in Nottingham Castle. When the prince declares she must marry the ruthless man who had seized Ravenswood, she escapes with the help of a band of outlaws to Sherwood Forest. Her first love, a battle-worn knight, promises to help her find safety at a convent. Confused and afraid, her heart yearns for love. But are the risks too high?
- GenresAnthologies
ebook
First published September 6, 2015
7 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
About the author
Cindy M. Hogan
43 books297 followersUSA Today Bestselling author, Cindy M. Hogan is the author of edge of your seat, young adult suspense novels that always have a dash of romance, because every book should have hot guys and girls in them. Her first series, the Watched Series, skyrocketed her to number one bestselling author and she hasn’t let up since with over 20 novels to her name.
She never sits down to write, instead, she walks and talks into a recorder and lets her computer transcribe her words. Editing is her enemy, but she loves the final results, so she’ll always dig in.
Her one dream is to own and bake in a German style bakery with a cute to-go window for Gelato. In the meantime, she’ll continue to do the thousand other things she loves like teaching, all things outdoors, painting, and gardening—she’s never met a flower, tree, bush or vegetable she doesn’t like—except maybe okra and beets. As long as she’s got a book playing in her ear, she even enjoys weeding. She may be deranged.
She loves to create, but can’t seem to sit still for long, even to read a book. Instead, she listens to books so she can read and create at the same time. She’s a non-stop worker and enjoys every minute of it.
Her most loved creation is her two amazing daughters and wishes they were teens again. She loves to be home, but her husband is a traveler and drags her family around the world, where she finds an endless supply of story ideas, characters, settings, and more often than not, walks away with a suntan or ends up in a cool castle. She is also inspired by the unpredictable teens she teaches. If she is not creating things other than books, you’ll find her snuggled up with the love of her life watching a movie or planning their next party.
Most of all, she loves to laugh.
To stay up to date on all things Cindy M. Hogan, join her book group HERE.
http://www.subscribepage.com/sweptawa...
She never sits down to write, instead, she walks and talks into a recorder and lets her computer transcribe her words. Editing is her enemy, but she loves the final results, so she’ll always dig in.
Her one dream is to own and bake in a German style bakery with a cute to-go window for Gelato. In the meantime, she’ll continue to do the thousand other things she loves like teaching, all things outdoors, painting, and gardening—she’s never met a flower, tree, bush or vegetable she doesn’t like—except maybe okra and beets. As long as she’s got a book playing in her ear, she even enjoys weeding. She may be deranged.
She loves to create, but can’t seem to sit still for long, even to read a book. Instead, she listens to books so she can read and create at the same time. She’s a non-stop worker and enjoys every minute of it.
Her most loved creation is her two amazing daughters and wishes they were teens again. She loves to be home, but her husband is a traveler and drags her family around the world, where she finds an endless supply of story ideas, characters, settings, and more often than not, walks away with a suntan or ends up in a cool castle. She is also inspired by the unpredictable teens she teaches. If she is not creating things other than books, you’ll find her snuggled up with the love of her life watching a movie or planning their next party.
Most of all, she loves to laugh.
To stay up to date on all things Cindy M. Hogan, join her book group HERE.
http://www.subscribepage.com/sweptawa...
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 23, 2015
This time of year is perfect for ghost stories and since I'm not big on the gory, over-the-top scary stories, this one was perfect for me. Can I just say, who hasn't ever dreamed of living in, or at least, visiting a castle? I sure have and in fact, a few years ago, I had the chance to see one in Germany. As I stood along the wall and looked out in the distance, I could just imagine people watching for enemies and bustling around in every day life within the walls. These stories were all different, yet had that common castle theme running through them that really kept things interesting, especially as most of the stories had ghosts.
The collection starts out with DANGEROUS TRUTH, which is a suspenseful story of an American girl, Olivia, who is serving her way across Europe and encounters who she thinks might be her MIA dad. There are some intense and dangerous situations that arise and with the help of good-looking guy, Henri, she's determined to find some answers. I enjoyed the story, but thought it was a little choppy, as it was mostly from Olivia's point of view and then at the end, suddenly started switching, which threw me off. Olivia is brave, naive, and stubborn, which made for some crazy times.
ALL BY MY SELFIE is a fun story in a Scottish castle. Gwen discovers that she's the only one who can see a #ScottishBoyfriend ghost and that leads to chasing a mystery to set him free. The characters are great and the setting is very intriguing. I was very curious to see how it would all end up, as a little romance blossomed, and loved the way it all worked out.
A family with multiple sets of twins inherits a castle from Ireland, now set up in Washington state in A SAVAGE GHOST. Lia and her younger sister, Mellie, are more sensitive to the pranks and feelings that are meant to scare the family away, but her brothers are blamed for the mischief. Coop is a crush from the past and he and his family are the caretakers of the castle. I loved the blooming romance, as well as the culmination of events that lead to a satisfying ending in yet another ghost mystery.
THE GHOST OF DUNLOW MANOR is a fascinating story of a young ghost who doesn't want people in her house. When writer, Alexis, and her personal assistant come to stay, the ghost takes a liking to them, since they are determined to solve her murder and set her free. I really enjoyed the way the characters interacted with one another, as well as with the ghosts. There are actual two romance stories running parallel to each other and the relationships are gentle and sweet, yet romantic.
I found a few familiar characters in ROSE OF SHERWOOD, but with twists. Do any of these names sound familiar? Friar Tuck, King John, King Richard, Robin Hood, Maid Marian? This is a romantic twist on Robin Hood and is full of adventure and peril. I enjoyed the characters and the way the story line worked itself out in a pleasing way to the finish line.
All in all, a fun collection, especially for this time of year (October)!
Content: I think one or two stories had one or two mild curse words; there are moments of peril, murders, etc, but nothing is graphic at all; the last story had quite a bit of religious elements, but the others did not; all of the stories had mild, clean romance with nothing more than kissing and two instances of unmarried couples sharing a bed with nothing happening and no details.
*I received a copy from the tour host in exchange for an honest review*
The collection starts out with DANGEROUS TRUTH, which is a suspenseful story of an American girl, Olivia, who is serving her way across Europe and encounters who she thinks might be her MIA dad. There are some intense and dangerous situations that arise and with the help of good-looking guy, Henri, she's determined to find some answers. I enjoyed the story, but thought it was a little choppy, as it was mostly from Olivia's point of view and then at the end, suddenly started switching, which threw me off. Olivia is brave, naive, and stubborn, which made for some crazy times.
ALL BY MY SELFIE is a fun story in a Scottish castle. Gwen discovers that she's the only one who can see a #ScottishBoyfriend ghost and that leads to chasing a mystery to set him free. The characters are great and the setting is very intriguing. I was very curious to see how it would all end up, as a little romance blossomed, and loved the way it all worked out.
A family with multiple sets of twins inherits a castle from Ireland, now set up in Washington state in A SAVAGE GHOST. Lia and her younger sister, Mellie, are more sensitive to the pranks and feelings that are meant to scare the family away, but her brothers are blamed for the mischief. Coop is a crush from the past and he and his family are the caretakers of the castle. I loved the blooming romance, as well as the culmination of events that lead to a satisfying ending in yet another ghost mystery.
THE GHOST OF DUNLOW MANOR is a fascinating story of a young ghost who doesn't want people in her house. When writer, Alexis, and her personal assistant come to stay, the ghost takes a liking to them, since they are determined to solve her murder and set her free. I really enjoyed the way the characters interacted with one another, as well as with the ghosts. There are actual two romance stories running parallel to each other and the relationships are gentle and sweet, yet romantic.
I found a few familiar characters in ROSE OF SHERWOOD, but with twists. Do any of these names sound familiar? Friar Tuck, King John, King Richard, Robin Hood, Maid Marian? This is a romantic twist on Robin Hood and is full of adventure and peril. I enjoyed the characters and the way the story line worked itself out in a pleasing way to the finish line.
All in all, a fun collection, especially for this time of year (October)!
Content: I think one or two stories had one or two mild curse words; there are moments of peril, murders, etc, but nothing is graphic at all; the last story had quite a bit of religious elements, but the others did not; all of the stories had mild, clean romance with nothing more than kissing and two instances of unmarried couples sharing a bed with nothing happening and no details.
*I received a copy from the tour host in exchange for an honest review*
September 5, 2015
I absolutely enjoyed reading the tale, A SAVAGE GHOST by Donna K. Weaver. This clean, adventurous and suspenseful romance pulled me in from page one and didn't let me go till the end. "A Savage Ghost" has great characters, a whimsical setting and beautiful storytelling. I highly recommend this engaging book!
October 19, 2015
I do love anthologies – they are lots of short stories compiled into one great read.
Each of these stories has the theme of a castle in them – most of them haunted! Whether present day settings or taken back in time this anthology set is a great choice. Each has very different magical stories to tell but all as interesting as the last.
I liked aspects of them all but my favourite one was All By My Selfie.
Dangerous Truth by Cindy M. Hogan
Olivia’s father abandoned her and her family nine years ago and the loss still affects her. While on a humanitarian trip in Belgium – her fathers place of birth – with some friends she gets quite a shock looking at a newspaper article. It shows a picture of politician whose main strategy point for election is family values – her father. At first all she wants to do is forget about it as she can’t be sure it is him as he is going by another name but with a bit of encouragement from Henri, a helpful stranger she meets on a boat trip, she soon embarks on discovering the truth. Only problem is that her father wants that truth staying buried.
Have to say that even though the main characters Olivia and Henri were great and I loved how they got to know one another with the journey they go on. The story for me really came alive when they went to see Jacques in his castle. His character/characters were just great and really made those chapters come alive and really fun to read.
All By My Selfie by Jo Noelle
Gwen has inherited a property in Scotland from her Grandmother and decides to get away from her job, which she is having doubts about, and take a trip to see it. Instead of staying at the property itself though she is pulled towards staying at McLeod Castle. Once there she decides to take in the scenery, which just happens to include a very sexy Scotsman. Throughout her first day there she sees him and tries to be as sly as possible with getting him in her many pictures she sends back to her friend in the States with the nickname #ScottishBoyfriend. Only problem is that her friend, or anyone else for that matter, can’t seem to see whom she is talking about. #ScottishBoyfriend turns out to be a five hundred year old ghost trapped in a kind of stases. Niall has waited a long time for someone to come along and break the curse on him and thinks Gwen might just be the person to do it. Only problem is that it comes with a risk of danger and he starts to wonder whether the risks of her being hurt are worth the possibility of being set free.
I loved this one from the start. I found Gwen such a fun, strong character that was going to do whatever it took to help Niall. She might just have found her reason to stay in Scotland for good.
A Savage Ghost by Donna K. Weaver
Lia’s hopes of setting up a small dessert boutique are being set on hold as she follows her family in suit to a castle that her father has inherited. She has recently lost her job so – with the help of her twin brothers advice – sees this as one last summer with her family before her life really begins. Only once there her priorities however start to change into something different. Seeing Coop Montgomery again, her summer crush from the year before has a big part in that. That’s not the only thing that’s making her to pause for thought – there’s the little matter of a ghost that seems to be determined to do everything in his power to make them leave, mainly by targeting her younger sister.
Now all she has to do is figure out what the ghost wants, help her parents get the castle ready for customers, see if what she feels for Coop could go somewhere and decide what she wants to do next in her career, all in the space of one summer – simple right?
The Ghost of Dunlow Manor by Paige Timothy
Author Alexis needs to get away from all the press that has been surrounding her lately and with the help of her personal assistant Nate ends up in a castle for a few weeks. Well they plan to be there for a few weeks but after a few strange occurrences the day after arriving – Alexis pen flying across the room and her work being deleted – they have a few questions for the person they hired the castle from. When they learn of the ghost stories that surround the castle and the story behind the person the ghost could be Alexis and Nate decide to help solve the mystery before its too late for her. While focusing on solving the mystery Alexis starts to wonder whether telling Nate to keep his feelings for her to himself is what she really wants.
Lady Catherine Dunlow does not like to share her castle. The fact that she is dead is beside the point; she just wants to be left alone. This changes though when she finds she can no longer travel as far as she used to around her land. With the help of her ghostly suitor Ian she tries to find a reason for this. Only when listening in on Alexis and Nate talking does Catherine find out how she really died. She was murdered and as the legend goes unless she figures out who her killer is her eternal soul might be trapped in the castle forever.
I loved that there were two love stories within this one and how they both interlinked with each other. Loved also how Catherine showed Alexis and Nate what to do, where to look and when, by slamming doors. Interesting means of conversation, well you have to make your presence known somehow.
Rose of Sherwood by Kaye P. Clark
Back to medieval times with Lady Rosamund being held in a prison of supposed safety at Nottingham Castle. She has been held there since her husbands’ nephew Sir Baldwin seized her home of Ravenswood. She went to seek refuge and to call upon the king to help get her home back as no message seemed to be able to get to her husband for help – not that she really wants him to return from war as he is not a nice man. While at dinner one evening she notices a pilgrim and asks that he speak to her, only when she does she realizes it’s her first love Will. He tells her that her husband is dead and that she is to be put under the ward of the king again and in his absence the prince has declared that she marry Sir Baldwin. Her only hope of survival is to escape along with her young cousin Marian. So with the help of Will and some Sherwood Forest friends they find along the way she embarks on a journey to take her to the safety of a convent. Only the more time she spends with Will the more her heart is pulled in two different directions. She longs for love and protection but doesn’t know how to have both and wonders whether the risk of trying is worth the gain she might have.
The inner struggle that Rosamund goes through with her feelings for Will are nicely placed throughout the journey they go on. Liked that this could also be the starting point for how Marian first met Robin Hood – both very stubborn, strong wiled, wild hearted characters.
I received this ARC for my honest review.
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...
Each of these stories has the theme of a castle in them – most of them haunted! Whether present day settings or taken back in time this anthology set is a great choice. Each has very different magical stories to tell but all as interesting as the last.
I liked aspects of them all but my favourite one was All By My Selfie.
Dangerous Truth by Cindy M. Hogan
Olivia’s father abandoned her and her family nine years ago and the loss still affects her. While on a humanitarian trip in Belgium – her fathers place of birth – with some friends she gets quite a shock looking at a newspaper article. It shows a picture of politician whose main strategy point for election is family values – her father. At first all she wants to do is forget about it as she can’t be sure it is him as he is going by another name but with a bit of encouragement from Henri, a helpful stranger she meets on a boat trip, she soon embarks on discovering the truth. Only problem is that her father wants that truth staying buried.
Have to say that even though the main characters Olivia and Henri were great and I loved how they got to know one another with the journey they go on. The story for me really came alive when they went to see Jacques in his castle. His character/characters were just great and really made those chapters come alive and really fun to read.
All By My Selfie by Jo Noelle
Gwen has inherited a property in Scotland from her Grandmother and decides to get away from her job, which she is having doubts about, and take a trip to see it. Instead of staying at the property itself though she is pulled towards staying at McLeod Castle. Once there she decides to take in the scenery, which just happens to include a very sexy Scotsman. Throughout her first day there she sees him and tries to be as sly as possible with getting him in her many pictures she sends back to her friend in the States with the nickname #ScottishBoyfriend. Only problem is that her friend, or anyone else for that matter, can’t seem to see whom she is talking about. #ScottishBoyfriend turns out to be a five hundred year old ghost trapped in a kind of stases. Niall has waited a long time for someone to come along and break the curse on him and thinks Gwen might just be the person to do it. Only problem is that it comes with a risk of danger and he starts to wonder whether the risks of her being hurt are worth the possibility of being set free.
I loved this one from the start. I found Gwen such a fun, strong character that was going to do whatever it took to help Niall. She might just have found her reason to stay in Scotland for good.
A Savage Ghost by Donna K. Weaver
Lia’s hopes of setting up a small dessert boutique are being set on hold as she follows her family in suit to a castle that her father has inherited. She has recently lost her job so – with the help of her twin brothers advice – sees this as one last summer with her family before her life really begins. Only once there her priorities however start to change into something different. Seeing Coop Montgomery again, her summer crush from the year before has a big part in that. That’s not the only thing that’s making her to pause for thought – there’s the little matter of a ghost that seems to be determined to do everything in his power to make them leave, mainly by targeting her younger sister.
Now all she has to do is figure out what the ghost wants, help her parents get the castle ready for customers, see if what she feels for Coop could go somewhere and decide what she wants to do next in her career, all in the space of one summer – simple right?
The Ghost of Dunlow Manor by Paige Timothy
Author Alexis needs to get away from all the press that has been surrounding her lately and with the help of her personal assistant Nate ends up in a castle for a few weeks. Well they plan to be there for a few weeks but after a few strange occurrences the day after arriving – Alexis pen flying across the room and her work being deleted – they have a few questions for the person they hired the castle from. When they learn of the ghost stories that surround the castle and the story behind the person the ghost could be Alexis and Nate decide to help solve the mystery before its too late for her. While focusing on solving the mystery Alexis starts to wonder whether telling Nate to keep his feelings for her to himself is what she really wants.
Lady Catherine Dunlow does not like to share her castle. The fact that she is dead is beside the point; she just wants to be left alone. This changes though when she finds she can no longer travel as far as she used to around her land. With the help of her ghostly suitor Ian she tries to find a reason for this. Only when listening in on Alexis and Nate talking does Catherine find out how she really died. She was murdered and as the legend goes unless she figures out who her killer is her eternal soul might be trapped in the castle forever.
I loved that there were two love stories within this one and how they both interlinked with each other. Loved also how Catherine showed Alexis and Nate what to do, where to look and when, by slamming doors. Interesting means of conversation, well you have to make your presence known somehow.
Rose of Sherwood by Kaye P. Clark
Back to medieval times with Lady Rosamund being held in a prison of supposed safety at Nottingham Castle. She has been held there since her husbands’ nephew Sir Baldwin seized her home of Ravenswood. She went to seek refuge and to call upon the king to help get her home back as no message seemed to be able to get to her husband for help – not that she really wants him to return from war as he is not a nice man. While at dinner one evening she notices a pilgrim and asks that he speak to her, only when she does she realizes it’s her first love Will. He tells her that her husband is dead and that she is to be put under the ward of the king again and in his absence the prince has declared that she marry Sir Baldwin. Her only hope of survival is to escape along with her young cousin Marian. So with the help of Will and some Sherwood Forest friends they find along the way she embarks on a journey to take her to the safety of a convent. Only the more time she spends with Will the more her heart is pulled in two different directions. She longs for love and protection but doesn’t know how to have both and wonders whether the risk of trying is worth the gain she might have.
The inner struggle that Rosamund goes through with her feelings for Will are nicely placed throughout the journey they go on. Liked that this could also be the starting point for how Marian first met Robin Hood – both very stubborn, strong wiled, wild hearted characters.
I received this ARC for my honest review.
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...
October 16, 2015
I enjoyed reading each and everyone of these cute stories! I loved that each of them, no matter what country they were set in, included a castle as part of the setting somewhere. These are all novellas, so they are short and easy to read in one sitting. And...they are written by some of my very favorite authors.
Cindy Hogan's Dangerous Truth was a cute book, proving that Cindy can write way more than just YA books. I loved her character of Olivia, and this book had an original plot and enough kissing and adventure to make anyone happy!
Jo Noelle's All By My Selfie, isn't that just the cutest title ever! I loved Gwen in this book. She has just found out that she inherited her Grandma's house and goes to Scotland to see if she can have a bed and breakfast there, but on the way she stays in a castle. What's interesting about this one, is the way that she takes selfies everywhere, including the hot guy in a kilt in each one. It quickly become's obvious that her friend can't see the hot guy in her selfies and Gwen realizes that he is a ghost. I loved the way that Gwen's childhood is kind of woven into this book by referencing things that she saw and did as a child. Don't miss this cute love story!
Donna K Weavers A Savage Ghost was awesome! This one really sparked my imagination. Lia is just getting ready to realize her dream of opening a dessert bakery when her family receives a castle as an inheritance, making it so they have to move. Lia goes to help the family get settled in the castle, grudgingly. Only to find when they get there that the castle is haunted. And the groundskeeper is none other than the young man she fell for the previous summer, Coop. This one had some really fun and crazy ghost moments. I loved the whole idea of the family moving into the castle and finding a ghost that seems to want them gone more than anything. And I loved that this one included a second ghost. You'll have to read it to believe it!
Paige Timothy's The Ghost of Dunlow Manner was great too! It was kind of fun in this one that you see things through Alexis, Nate and the ghost, Catherine's eyes. Alexis is an author, needing a getaway and some time to work on her book. Nate is her trusted assistant who is not so secretly in love with her. Catherine is the ghost who sees all the tourists who stay in her castle as interlopers. Mix them together and you're bound to get some fireworks. This one was also fun because there's also a bit of a ghostly love story.
Kaye P Clark's Rose of Sherwood is a re-imagined version of Robin Hood. It was a fun love story. I liked that none of the characters were quite what or who my pre-conceived notions thought they should be. I quite liked Rose's character, as well as Will's. But the character I really thought stole the show is the young Maid Marion.
There really isn't a bad story in this collection! Make sure you grab your own copy!
Cindy Hogan's Dangerous Truth was a cute book, proving that Cindy can write way more than just YA books. I loved her character of Olivia, and this book had an original plot and enough kissing and adventure to make anyone happy!
Jo Noelle's All By My Selfie, isn't that just the cutest title ever! I loved Gwen in this book. She has just found out that she inherited her Grandma's house and goes to Scotland to see if she can have a bed and breakfast there, but on the way she stays in a castle. What's interesting about this one, is the way that she takes selfies everywhere, including the hot guy in a kilt in each one. It quickly become's obvious that her friend can't see the hot guy in her selfies and Gwen realizes that he is a ghost. I loved the way that Gwen's childhood is kind of woven into this book by referencing things that she saw and did as a child. Don't miss this cute love story!
Donna K Weavers A Savage Ghost was awesome! This one really sparked my imagination. Lia is just getting ready to realize her dream of opening a dessert bakery when her family receives a castle as an inheritance, making it so they have to move. Lia goes to help the family get settled in the castle, grudgingly. Only to find when they get there that the castle is haunted. And the groundskeeper is none other than the young man she fell for the previous summer, Coop. This one had some really fun and crazy ghost moments. I loved the whole idea of the family moving into the castle and finding a ghost that seems to want them gone more than anything. And I loved that this one included a second ghost. You'll have to read it to believe it!
Paige Timothy's The Ghost of Dunlow Manner was great too! It was kind of fun in this one that you see things through Alexis, Nate and the ghost, Catherine's eyes. Alexis is an author, needing a getaway and some time to work on her book. Nate is her trusted assistant who is not so secretly in love with her. Catherine is the ghost who sees all the tourists who stay in her castle as interlopers. Mix them together and you're bound to get some fireworks. This one was also fun because there's also a bit of a ghostly love story.
Kaye P Clark's Rose of Sherwood is a re-imagined version of Robin Hood. It was a fun love story. I liked that none of the characters were quite what or who my pre-conceived notions thought they should be. I quite liked Rose's character, as well as Will's. But the character I really thought stole the show is the young Maid Marion.
There really isn't a bad story in this collection! Make sure you grab your own copy!
October 19, 2015
I absolutely loved all these stories in this Sweet & Sassy Collection. Everyone one of these stories were fun and exciting to read.
Dangerous Truth:
This story was so good, Olivia went to Belgium on a humanitarian Trip and then sees a picture of someone that looks exactly like her dad. Her dad had left her when she was a young girl and she is certain this person is him. This was a great story with mystery and suspense. Loved it and it kept my interest all the way through the story.
All By My Selfie:
I got a kick out of this story, Gwen was visiting Scotland and she sees this hot guy in a kilt!! She took pictures of him and sent them to her friends’ hashtag ScottishBoyfriend but her friend didn’t see him. Only Gwen could see this ghost, except at first she didn’t realize he was a ghost. She came to know him and understand how he was cursed and she was determined to change the curse. Fun and imaginative story.
A Savage Ghost:
Lia’s father inherits a castle and her parents and siblings go to help remodel the castle. Lia finds it interesting that her last summer crush is the caretaker’s son. Which is awesome, but Lia wants to move back to her home town after they remodel the castle, she has dreams of opening a dessert shop. Well also along with this castle is a ghost and doesn’t want anyone to be there. This ghost targets Lia’s younger 7 year old sister. Well she enlists Coop, the caretaker’s son to help rid the ghost. Lia’s twin brother at first doesn’t believe there is a ghost and Lia’s younger brothers can’t wait to help. This is a fun story to read.
THE GHOST OF DUNLOW MANOR
Bestselling author Alexis St. John needs a break and her personal assistant Nate thinks a trip to England to stay in a castle will be just the thing she needs. They love the castle when they get there, and are told not to go to the third floor. They also notice things happening in the castle that leads them to believe that there is a ghost. The Ghost Lady Catherine Dunlow is stuck in the castle, she doesn’t know why and is not happy. It seems Alexis and Nate decide to solve why she is still there and they do their own research on the castle to find out what happen to Lady Catherine Dunlow and why the Castle is owned by the bank. Very good story.
ROSE OF SHERWOOD
I love historical romances and this one is about Lady Rosamund, she is the Baroness of Ravenswood. She is stuck at Nottingham Castle. When she hears of the death of her husband through a pilgrim, who she recognizes as a friend from when she was young. The prince decides she must marry a horrible man who she doesn’t want to marry and will do anything she can to not marry him. I loved this adventurous story and the story of Lady Rosamund and Will.
I want to thank the authors for these awesome stories and for the ARC. I loved reading them and am giving you my own opinion of each story.
Dangerous Truth:
This story was so good, Olivia went to Belgium on a humanitarian Trip and then sees a picture of someone that looks exactly like her dad. Her dad had left her when she was a young girl and she is certain this person is him. This was a great story with mystery and suspense. Loved it and it kept my interest all the way through the story.
All By My Selfie:
I got a kick out of this story, Gwen was visiting Scotland and she sees this hot guy in a kilt!! She took pictures of him and sent them to her friends’ hashtag ScottishBoyfriend but her friend didn’t see him. Only Gwen could see this ghost, except at first she didn’t realize he was a ghost. She came to know him and understand how he was cursed and she was determined to change the curse. Fun and imaginative story.
A Savage Ghost:
Lia’s father inherits a castle and her parents and siblings go to help remodel the castle. Lia finds it interesting that her last summer crush is the caretaker’s son. Which is awesome, but Lia wants to move back to her home town after they remodel the castle, she has dreams of opening a dessert shop. Well also along with this castle is a ghost and doesn’t want anyone to be there. This ghost targets Lia’s younger 7 year old sister. Well she enlists Coop, the caretaker’s son to help rid the ghost. Lia’s twin brother at first doesn’t believe there is a ghost and Lia’s younger brothers can’t wait to help. This is a fun story to read.
THE GHOST OF DUNLOW MANOR
Bestselling author Alexis St. John needs a break and her personal assistant Nate thinks a trip to England to stay in a castle will be just the thing she needs. They love the castle when they get there, and are told not to go to the third floor. They also notice things happening in the castle that leads them to believe that there is a ghost. The Ghost Lady Catherine Dunlow is stuck in the castle, she doesn’t know why and is not happy. It seems Alexis and Nate decide to solve why she is still there and they do their own research on the castle to find out what happen to Lady Catherine Dunlow and why the Castle is owned by the bank. Very good story.
ROSE OF SHERWOOD
I love historical romances and this one is about Lady Rosamund, she is the Baroness of Ravenswood. She is stuck at Nottingham Castle. When she hears of the death of her husband through a pilgrim, who she recognizes as a friend from when she was young. The prince decides she must marry a horrible man who she doesn’t want to marry and will do anything she can to not marry him. I loved this adventurous story and the story of Lady Rosamund and Will.
I want to thank the authors for these awesome stories and for the ARC. I loved reading them and am giving you my own opinion of each story.
September 13, 2015
4.5
Admittedly, I only read "A Savage Ghost" and not the rest, but I loved that one. It had a cute tale with well developed characters who had personalities and hobbies and all. The setting was unique, a castle set on the border of Washington and Canada, which was cool. We even went on a midnight picnic to see the Aurora Borealis at one point in the story. It felt muggy and calm.
And yet, ghosts! This idea was not too weird and totally believable. Plot elements worked together well, from the draw of the big city to starting a business to planting gardens.
All everything in it had family at the center, from the twins to a death, from young romance to parental love, to sibling rivalry and orneriness to neighborly kindness, from grandfather miserliness to familial trust. It was a great hash of a family (and its extensions) all working together and enjoying themselves. I mean, there was still tension and conflict, but at least the family obviously loved each other.
Oh, and one of the characters was homeschooled, ha!
Admittedly, I only read "A Savage Ghost" and not the rest, but I loved that one. It had a cute tale with well developed characters who had personalities and hobbies and all. The setting was unique, a castle set on the border of Washington and Canada, which was cool. We even went on a midnight picnic to see the Aurora Borealis at one point in the story. It felt muggy and calm.
And yet, ghosts! This idea was not too weird and totally believable. Plot elements worked together well, from the draw of the big city to starting a business to planting gardens.
All everything in it had family at the center, from the twins to a death, from young romance to parental love, to sibling rivalry and orneriness to neighborly kindness, from grandfather miserliness to familial trust. It was a great hash of a family (and its extensions) all working together and enjoying themselves. I mean, there was still tension and conflict, but at least the family obviously loved each other.
Oh, and one of the characters was homeschooled, ha!
October 22, 2015
The second Sweet and Sassy anthology book is filled with wonderful ghost stories, just in time for Halloween. In this novella compilation of five ghost stories, authors Cindy M. Hogan, Jo Noelle, Donna K. Weaver, Paige Timothy, and Kaye P. Clark come together, creating a thrilling ride for readers that enjoy a combination of contemporary fiction and ghost stories. Each other’s stories brings another twist and thrill into this fun series. I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy stories filled with charming characters, entertaining and delightfully, thrilling stories, as well as ghosts of course!
Series: Sweet and Sassy Anthology
Genre: ghost stories; anthologies; contemporary; romance; novella
Publisher: Emerald Arch Publishing
Publication date: September 15, 2015
Number of pages: 490, e-book only
Other books in the series:
1-Sweet & Sassy Anthology: Hidden Identities
Content Rating: PG
Book Rating: 5 star
A review copy of this book was provided by I am a Reader.
Series: Sweet and Sassy Anthology
Genre: ghost stories; anthologies; contemporary; romance; novella
Publisher: Emerald Arch Publishing
Publication date: September 15, 2015
Number of pages: 490, e-book only
Other books in the series:
1-Sweet & Sassy Anthology: Hidden Identities
Content Rating: PG
Book Rating: 5 star
A review copy of this book was provided by I am a Reader.
October 25, 2015
Full disclosure here. I'm the author of one of these, so I won't comment on that. I so enjoyed the other stories in this Castle Collection.
There's the edge-of-your-seat suspense from Cindy Hogan's DANGEROUS TRUTH (set in Belgium--I love that Cindy's book always take me places I'd love to visit). And there's a little more romance!
Then there's Jo Noelle's wonderfully funny/exciting/scary ALL BY MY SELFIE. Those two ladies always find a way to make me smile even while I'm nervous about what will happen next. And the #hotscotsman totally made it.
I loved the way the characters in THE GHOST OF DUNLOW MANOR handled the situation. This tale actually had a couple of romances running through it. Very fun!
ROSE OF SHERWOOD is the only one that's not contemporary. The play on the Robinhood time period is a fun addition to the collection.
There's the edge-of-your-seat suspense from Cindy Hogan's DANGEROUS TRUTH (set in Belgium--I love that Cindy's book always take me places I'd love to visit). And there's a little more romance!
Then there's Jo Noelle's wonderfully funny/exciting/scary ALL BY MY SELFIE. Those two ladies always find a way to make me smile even while I'm nervous about what will happen next. And the #hotscotsman totally made it.
I loved the way the characters in THE GHOST OF DUNLOW MANOR handled the situation. This tale actually had a couple of romances running through it. Very fun!
ROSE OF SHERWOOD is the only one that's not contemporary. The play on the Robinhood time period is a fun addition to the collection.
September 18, 2015
I'm on a kick reading anthologies and loving it!! These short stories are great!
October 23, 2015
This anthology, 5 novellas, has some wonderful stories. Each one takes place in some kind of a castle. Many of them had ghosts that they encountered within the castles. Of course there was also some type of romance to be found in each story, even with the ghosts.
I loved each story, but the love story in "All By My Selfie" just got to me because of how much each character was willing to sacrifice for each other. This is truly interesting, considering one of those people is in "stasis", not really living and not really dead. This story was so intriguing!
I also liked how there was a sense of mystery to all of the stories. The action in "Dangerous Truth" was intense, which author Cindy Hogan is know for in other stories she's written.
These stories are well written. You could tell there were levels of research done by these authors which made the stories interesting and felt realistic, even with the ghosts wandering around the castles and doing spooky things in the novellas "A Savage Ghost"(One very scary ghost and one that made my heart sigh), and "The Ghost of Dunlow Manor" (The ghosts were not only scary at times, but very humorous! I especially loved Sir Ian.) I also loved, "The Rose of Sherwood" which takes you back to Sherwood forest and the fun during the time of Robin Hood.
What a great time of the year to be reading stories of castles and ghosts. You will enjoy reading this new anthology as you get lost in the splendor and mystery that awaits you in the Castle Collection.
I loved each story, but the love story in "All By My Selfie" just got to me because of how much each character was willing to sacrifice for each other. This is truly interesting, considering one of those people is in "stasis", not really living and not really dead. This story was so intriguing!
I also liked how there was a sense of mystery to all of the stories. The action in "Dangerous Truth" was intense, which author Cindy Hogan is know for in other stories she's written.
These stories are well written. You could tell there were levels of research done by these authors which made the stories interesting and felt realistic, even with the ghosts wandering around the castles and doing spooky things in the novellas "A Savage Ghost"(One very scary ghost and one that made my heart sigh), and "The Ghost of Dunlow Manor" (The ghosts were not only scary at times, but very humorous! I especially loved Sir Ian.) I also loved, "The Rose of Sherwood" which takes you back to Sherwood forest and the fun during the time of Robin Hood.
What a great time of the year to be reading stories of castles and ghosts. You will enjoy reading this new anthology as you get lost in the splendor and mystery that awaits you in the Castle Collection.
October 23, 2015
http://www.njkinnysblog.com/2015/10/b...
This anthology is a collection of 5 novellas and all stories have a sweet romance and often a ghost in it too! I loved the cover of the book and the intriguing title that promised me old castles with their own mysteries had me jumping to read it. All the stories are a quick read and so engaging that once I started on one story I could not leave it until the end.
I love meeting new authors and through this book, I got to know of five very talented authors whose other books I would be checking out now. The only slight glitch I caught was in one of the stories THE GHOST OF DUNLOW MANOR in which Catherine Dunlow became Caroline Dunlow midway in the story. I think this is a name confusion by the author but otherwise the story is just lovely and had me sighing and feeling intrigued right till the end. All in all, I absolutely enjoyed this book and strongly recommend it to all lovers of mysterious castles with memorable ghosts and heartwarming romances.
4 out of 5 to it. Go grab your copy and enjoy!
I received the book from the tour organizers and the authors and I am very thankful to them. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced. - See more at: http://www.njkinnysblog.com/2015/10/b...
This anthology is a collection of 5 novellas and all stories have a sweet romance and often a ghost in it too! I loved the cover of the book and the intriguing title that promised me old castles with their own mysteries had me jumping to read it. All the stories are a quick read and so engaging that once I started on one story I could not leave it until the end.
I love meeting new authors and through this book, I got to know of five very talented authors whose other books I would be checking out now. The only slight glitch I caught was in one of the stories THE GHOST OF DUNLOW MANOR in which Catherine Dunlow became Caroline Dunlow midway in the story. I think this is a name confusion by the author but otherwise the story is just lovely and had me sighing and feeling intrigued right till the end. All in all, I absolutely enjoyed this book and strongly recommend it to all lovers of mysterious castles with memorable ghosts and heartwarming romances.
4 out of 5 to it. Go grab your copy and enjoy!
I received the book from the tour organizers and the authors and I am very thankful to them. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced. - See more at: http://www.njkinnysblog.com/2015/10/b...
October 23, 2015
I just love novella collections. Especially ones revolving around a certain theme- like this one. This collection is perfect for the month of October. Here you get five different stories from five different authors but each one revolves around castles and/or ghosts. It's the perfect Halloween treat! Read them one after another without stopping or breathing (Ha, just kidding. You must breathe.) Or, read them one per sitting, whenever you have time. That is the joy of anthologies.
This time around I slipped one in at a time. It was better for me with the whole ghost theme. I'm not really a fan of ghost stories, even the tame and sweeter kind, so for me one at a time was perfect. Not every story has a ghost, but every one has a sweet romance. That's the part that I really love. Each story is unique and different. So much fun!
Content: Clean- some kissing
This time around I slipped one in at a time. It was better for me with the whole ghost theme. I'm not really a fan of ghost stories, even the tame and sweeter kind, so for me one at a time was perfect. Not every story has a ghost, but every one has a sweet romance. That's the part that I really love. Each story is unique and different. So much fun!
Content: Clean- some kissing
November 1, 2015
I love books with a collection of stories that are all related to the same topic. In this case, it is castles! This story really stuck out to me: The Ghost of Dunlow Manor.
This story is a short and to the point ghost/love story. I love the setting of an English castle. And what castle doesn’t have a ghost or two right? Well, finally, a couple of Lady Dunlow’s unwanted guests have chosen to find the answers to the haunting rather than take off running. The characters are nicely developed in the short story and the plot is one that will keep you reading. You’ll definitely enjoy this one!
These stories are worth your while! And you definitely can't beat the price at 99 cents! Buy this one today!
This story is a short and to the point ghost/love story. I love the setting of an English castle. And what castle doesn’t have a ghost or two right? Well, finally, a couple of Lady Dunlow’s unwanted guests have chosen to find the answers to the haunting rather than take off running. The characters are nicely developed in the short story and the plot is one that will keep you reading. You’ll definitely enjoy this one!
These stories are worth your while! And you definitely can't beat the price at 99 cents! Buy this one today!
September 21, 2015
“A Savage Ghost” is a great read with realistic characters. I loved the main character, Lia, and all her siblings, especially her younger twin brothers. They are hilarious trouble makers. Lia has both an internal conflict (her goals vs her family’s goals) and an external one (the ghost). The ghost also has an interesting story, which was in depth and believable. The plot was fast paced, and I adored the romance with Coop. The near kiss was my favorite part. :)
October 17, 2015
Review for All By Myselfie, a Scottish tale from the anthology in contemporary times with a ghost from the past. The storyline itself was intriguing and fun with interesting characters and beautiful, almost poetic landscape description. I found the first page confusing, without being grounded enough in the setting to fully know what was going on. Getting past some initial re-reading, I got into the story. However, the Scottish brogue took extra focus, slowing my reading and enjoyment. Jo Noelle did a good job of getting me to buy into a romance with a ghost by having Gwen see him first as a man, which eased me into an idea. If you love ghostly romances, you'll enjoy this story from the anthology.
May 13, 2016
I read "All By My Selfie" by Jo Noelle. I will read the others as well, but I LOVED this story. I love Scotland, and I love Niall!!!! I really enjoyed the characters...Gwen, Niall, and Mrs. Fowler. The story line was great--I just wish it was longer (I heard there might be a longer version coming out--yay!)...I was left wanting more because I loved the characters and story. Gwen had a nightmare when she was young that she never forgot. Years later as an adult she travels to Scotland to see a property she inherited. She stays at the McLeod Castle, and starts seeing things that no one else sees. She soon realizes that her nightmare as a child, and her current visions and dreams, are her destiny that may lead her to love. It ended all too soon.
June 27, 2024
Dangerous Truth by Cindy M. Hogan: Ok story on terms of plot. Learned almost nothing about the humanitarian project they were on. Never really warmed up to either lead characters. Lots of lies/deception going on to each other and to their friends. 2.5 stars.
All By My Selfie by Jo Noelle: Didn't keep my interest. Very wordy. DNF/skimmed
All By My Selfie by Jo Noelle: Didn't keep my interest. Very wordy. DNF/skimmed
July 12, 2022
A fun collection of five short stories, all of which have something to do with a castle. All but one of the stories were contemporary (the other was a Robin Hood era story), and several of them involved a ghost of some sort. I liked some better than others, but overall, a great collection!
Read
January 9, 2016Review to come.
Want to read
April 9, 2016I only have Dangerous Truth by Cindy M. Hogan
November 15, 2015
Delightful!
So much fun! I enjoyed so much getting lost in the stories that I could hardly put the book down. I loved that the writers included ghosts, fantasy and legends.
So much fun! I enjoyed so much getting lost in the stories that I could hardly put the book down. I loved that the writers included ghosts, fantasy and legends.
September 28, 2016
I enjoyed reading this collection of stories by different authors although some were a bit repetitive.
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