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When Hearts Dare #2
Alanna
"Gripped me from the opening page. . .kept me reading long into the night." --Jodi Thomas
Wolf caught the faint scent of cinnabar and roses.
The girl turned her head and stared boldly at him, her cool demeanor at odds with the fire in her look. And then her lips parted, as if she needed more air. A punch of lust hit Wolf's groin.
There was pure sin in his startling blue eyes.
The moment hung suspended between them, and then expanded as his feral gaze held hers. Stranger? Not to Alanna. He went by the name of Wolf, and he was a legend in these parts, known from San Francisco to Boston as a relentless tracker of lost persons. His quest to find his mother's killer would lead him to Alanna. . .and his destiny.
In his arms, she would never be lost again. . .
"The sexual tension barrels ahead right to the end." –Leigh Greenwood, USA Today bestselling author
"Ms. Bittner Roth weaves a tale of mystery, seduction and love. A must read!" --Ashlyn MacNamara, award winning author
Wolf caught the faint scent of cinnabar and roses.
The girl turned her head and stared boldly at him, her cool demeanor at odds with the fire in her look. And then her lips parted, as if she needed more air. A punch of lust hit Wolf's groin.
There was pure sin in his startling blue eyes.
The moment hung suspended between them, and then expanded as his feral gaze held hers. Stranger? Not to Alanna. He went by the name of Wolf, and he was a legend in these parts, known from San Francisco to Boston as a relentless tracker of lost persons. His quest to find his mother's killer would lead him to Alanna. . .and his destiny.
In his arms, she would never be lost again. . .
"The sexual tension barrels ahead right to the end." –Leigh Greenwood, USA Today bestselling author
"Ms. Bittner Roth weaves a tale of mystery, seduction and love. A must read!" --Ashlyn MacNamara, award winning author
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2014
31 people are currently reading
513 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Bittner Roth
10 books191 followersKathleen Bittner Roth creates passionate stories featuring characters faced with difficult choices, and who are forced to draw on their strength of spirit to overcome adversity and find unending love. Her own fairy tale wedding in a Scottish castle led her to her current residence in Budapest, Hungary, considered one of Europe’s most romantic cities. However, she still keeps one boot firmly in Texas and the other in her home state of Minnesota. A PAN member of Romance Writers of America®, she was a 2012 Golden Heart® finalist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 27, 2014
Lots of twists and turns in this Historical Romance murder mystery. Set in the mid 1800s, from San Francisco to the Scottish Highlands, Alanna Is a unique, intriguing, sexy story with great leading and supporting characters.
Though this is the second in the series it can easily be read out of order.
More In depth review to come closer to release day.
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
September 28, 2015
This long book would have benefited from HEAVY editing. The character development didn't happen until around 60% and by that time I already either disliked the characters or disbelieved them.
I would have preferred to have at least some point of view from Alana, especially as she was such an unusual woman, but all we had was the hero's.
Many things bothered me about this book, but mostly it was long, boring and unbelievable. The Asian bodyguard of Alana was called Old China rather than being dignified by a name, and he was wise, extremely accomplished in martial arts, an acupuncture expert, kind, understood people, and coincidentally had knowledge about the hero. Alana was unusually beautiful, uninterested in the Boston high society social scene, an accomplished martial arts student, able to climb the masts of a ship, extremely self possessed, and completely unaffected by the uncertainties that most people experience.
I would have preferred to have at least some point of view from Alana, especially as she was such an unusual woman, but all we had was the hero's.
Many things bothered me about this book, but mostly it was long, boring and unbelievable. The Asian bodyguard of Alana was called Old China rather than being dignified by a name, and he was wise, extremely accomplished in martial arts, an acupuncture expert, kind, understood people, and coincidentally had knowledge about the hero. Alana was unusually beautiful, uninterested in the Boston high society social scene, an accomplished martial arts student, able to climb the masts of a ship, extremely self possessed, and completely unaffected by the uncertainties that most people experience.
November 21, 2017
Touching Story
At first, I found the book dry and not as interesting as I had hoped. I wondered why others had given it such great reviews. Eventually however, I became fond of the characters as they were fleshed out. And the plot proved to be really enjoyable. I look forward to reading more of this author's books.
At first, I found the book dry and not as interesting as I had hoped. I wondered why others had given it such great reviews. Eventually however, I became fond of the characters as they were fleshed out. And the plot proved to be really enjoyable. I look forward to reading more of this author's books.
November 17, 2014
Alanna by Kathleen Bittner Roth is a first read win and I'm giving my honest opinion. Alanna Morgan is a stepping stone towards her parents plan to rise in Boston society. She is drawn towards Wolf, a man she met in San Francisco. He was on the same ship returning to Boston as a friend of the ships' Capetian Thompson. There is a deep passion running between Wolf and Alanna. Alanna is under the auspicious eyes of the Old Chinaman. He taught her martial arts for protection, he is her mentor. Wolf returns to Boston searching for the murderer of his mother. She was murdered when he was 6. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan do not like Wolf. They believe he is below their social level and class. Alanna's parent have her betrothed to another foppish man. Leaving a holiday ball, Wolf is attacked. The Chinaman and his students save Wolf's life but he is badly injured. He is taken to Thompson's home to recuperate. Meanwhile, Wolf's private detective finds evidence that Mr. Morgan and Alanna's fiance visit brotherly they jointly own in Washington DC. On top of that they are involved in the slave trade and opium distribution. How will Wolf find his mother's murderer and rescue Alanna?
July 6, 2015
Amazing Story!
This is the first time I read a book by this author and I'm so glad I did. What an incredible story, I'm still fanning myself. It is one of those book that has everything you can think of; romance, intrigue, danger, hidden secrets, and hot burning passion. It captures your attention from the very beginning and keeps you glued to the pages until the very end, trying to get you to second guess the hidden secrets. This is definitely a must read along with book one of the series. I guess Kathleen Bittner Roth will be one of my favorite authors from now on. Enjoy!
This is the first time I read a book by this author and I'm so glad I did. What an incredible story, I'm still fanning myself. It is one of those book that has everything you can think of; romance, intrigue, danger, hidden secrets, and hot burning passion. It captures your attention from the very beginning and keeps you glued to the pages until the very end, trying to get you to second guess the hidden secrets. This is definitely a must read along with book one of the series. I guess Kathleen Bittner Roth will be one of my favorite authors from now on. Enjoy!
September 23, 2014
Alanna by Kathleen Bittner Roth (When Hearts Dare Series)
Overview by Amazon:
Wolf caught the faint scent of cinnabar and roses.
The girl turned her head and stared boldly at him, her cool demeanor at odds with the fire in her look. And then her lips parted, as if she needed more air. A punch of lust hit Wolf's groin.
There was pure sin in his startling blue eyes.
The moment hung suspended between them, and then expanded as his feral gaze held hers. Stranger? Not to Alanna. He went by the name of Wolf, and he was a legend in these parts, known from San Francisco to Boston as a relentless tracker of lost persons. His quest to find his mother's killer would lead him to Alanna...and his destiny.
In his arms, she would never be lost again. . .
So this book is part of the When Hearts Dare Series by Kathleen Bittner Roth. I recently read and reviewed Celine, so I was very familiar with the characters and the back story. I think this is one book that is best read in order of the series. To truly understand Wolf and his anguish it helps to know about the life he was leading before this book began, because it is an entirely different existence.
There is a lot of plot in this book and a lot of settings. From San Francisco to Boston to Scotland and back, the characters journey to uncover the past. It’s a tangled web the author has woven full of intrigue, interesting cultural elements and the road to self-discovery.
Wolf is an orphan who vividly remembers the murder of his mother when he was a child. The rest of his formative years were a blur. He longs to find the man who killed his mother and destroyed his family. He wears her garnet earring as a remembrance to his mission in life and his goal. He has spent the past being a tracker in the mid-west of America. But now it is time for him to learn who he really is and use his skills as a hunter to find and deliver retribution to the man who took his life away.
He boards a ship bound for Boston as that is where he was when his mother was murdered. Once aboard the ship he runs into the beautiful Alanna Malone whom he had a brief encounter with at the hotel in San Fran. She is the kind of woman to make a man lose his mind. Lush, sensual, mysterious are all perfect adjectives for the raven haired beauty. They dance and flirt around one another over the voyage, but they are heavily monitored by her overbearing and rude parents. They have been fighting and clawing their way into the upper echelon of Boston society and have made a match for her with a prominent son. The ship’s captain, Thomson is very familiar with Wolf and the family and shares tidbits of who Alanna really is and the fire beneath the cool exterior. He almost encourages Wolf to seek her out as he despairs almost as deeply as Alanna about the upcoming nuptials.
Alanna despises the way she is treated as a commodity by her parents. She holds them in contempt and makes no bones about how she feels about her future. She sees Wolf as the future. It’s one of those character traits where she seemed to know she is destined to be with him.
Once they land in Boston, Wolf loses three weeks on a fruitless journey to find his past. He is dismayed to discover the truth has been covered up and his digging is making some enemies. He has some contact with Alanna and her bodyguard ‘The Old Chinese’. Alanna has arranged the meeting so the Old Chinese can help him recover his memories and get to the truth.
This is where the book became really interesting. The Old Chinese is not just a bodyguard. He has essentially raised Alanna. They take Wolf to ‘the farm’ which is in reality his dojo. The Old Chinese is a martial arts master, as well as schooled in the art of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. He begins to train Wolf, as he has done with Alanna and countless others. Wolf is incredulous that the closely guarded and highly prized Alanna possesses a black belt and lives in this ultimate universe. I could hardly believe it as well! But the point of this plot was to use it as a tool to help Wolf learn to open his heart and to trust he could love, since all he has known is abandonment.
Wolf’s enemies find him after a soiree he attends and waltzes with Alanna. Her fiancé is a horrible, snivelling little man and sends goons after Wolf. He barely survives the attack and is hidden away by the Captain and Alanna. He takes a long time to heal, sending others to do the investigative work of his past while he recovers. He learns that he must go to Scotland to find another piece of the puzzle.
Before he goes, the electric passion that exists between them is ignited. They finally consummate their carnal relationship from just touches and kisses. Alanna knows in her gut that he is the one for her. Wolf doesn’t just see her as another woman to share passion with. He may not admit love, but he feels her being to his core. The sex scenes are hot and intense. The Old Chinese has left them a lover’s guide and Alanna has been an apt pupil. Although she is a virgin, she is eager to be in her lover’s arms and embrace his touch and taste. They part after this with the promise that they will be reunited once Wolf has faced his past once and for all.
Wolf travels to Scotland where he learns the truth about his ancestory and the evil that lurks in Boston, so treacherously close to his beloved Alanna. He has to make peace with the past and claim his heritage before he can go and get her; although not a day passes he doesn’t ache for her and the promise of a future.
Alanna, the Old Chinese and their entourage are not willing to wait and make the journey to Scotland. Alanna is pregnant with Wolf’s child. He is overjoyed to see her and they quickly make up for lost time in the bedroom – yay more steamy scenes! However she knows a piece of his past that she knows will break his heart and possibly their relationship. When she reveals what she knows, he casts her off. This seems unbearably harsh, but Wolf’s character has been revealed, his whole being has been about avenging the demise of his family. Danger follows Alanna and the Old Chinese to Scotland and they are set upon in Wolf’s castle. Old Chinese is grievously injured and Alanna is kidnapped.
This is where the book got a little wonky for me. This should be the moment that Wolf becomes the hero and races after her and his unborn child. But he doesn’t. He stays in Scotland and drinks. He communicates through letters to Alanna, but makes no attempts to get her back. It is only when his friend Turner (from the previous book) kicks his butt into action that he goes to claim his woman, who is being treated horribly by her fiancé and parents.
They reunite in Boston and the whole mystery of Wolf’s past is open. There are no more secrets and no more dark shadows. They are able to move on with their lives and start again in the place that Wolf should have always been.
There are a ton of secondary characters to the story. Most add a deeper element to the plot points and make the story richer. I despised the Malone’s and Alanna’s fiancé, so the author did a great job at making them evil and unworthy of redemption. The twists and turns of the past resurfaced piece by piece and it was easy to follow as the story unfolded.
This was a great book. I really enjoyed reading it, but I am still smarting at Wolf’s rejection of Alanna in Scotland. It shows how strong of a character she was to endure all she did, not only for their love, but for their child. I forgave Wolf when he went and made things right, but I wanted to take away his Scottish whiskey and make him walk the fires of hell for being a straight up jerk. His sojourn in Scotland made the story lose some steam as months passed and very important parts in the characters’ lives. But I can live with this lapse as overall the book was a well told tale that had me rooting for Alanna and Wolf, cheering and crying in all the right parts.
Reviewed by www.kiltsandswords.com
Overview by Amazon:
Wolf caught the faint scent of cinnabar and roses.
The girl turned her head and stared boldly at him, her cool demeanor at odds with the fire in her look. And then her lips parted, as if she needed more air. A punch of lust hit Wolf's groin.
There was pure sin in his startling blue eyes.
The moment hung suspended between them, and then expanded as his feral gaze held hers. Stranger? Not to Alanna. He went by the name of Wolf, and he was a legend in these parts, known from San Francisco to Boston as a relentless tracker of lost persons. His quest to find his mother's killer would lead him to Alanna...and his destiny.
In his arms, she would never be lost again. . .
So this book is part of the When Hearts Dare Series by Kathleen Bittner Roth. I recently read and reviewed Celine, so I was very familiar with the characters and the back story. I think this is one book that is best read in order of the series. To truly understand Wolf and his anguish it helps to know about the life he was leading before this book began, because it is an entirely different existence.
There is a lot of plot in this book and a lot of settings. From San Francisco to Boston to Scotland and back, the characters journey to uncover the past. It’s a tangled web the author has woven full of intrigue, interesting cultural elements and the road to self-discovery.
Wolf is an orphan who vividly remembers the murder of his mother when he was a child. The rest of his formative years were a blur. He longs to find the man who killed his mother and destroyed his family. He wears her garnet earring as a remembrance to his mission in life and his goal. He has spent the past being a tracker in the mid-west of America. But now it is time for him to learn who he really is and use his skills as a hunter to find and deliver retribution to the man who took his life away.
He boards a ship bound for Boston as that is where he was when his mother was murdered. Once aboard the ship he runs into the beautiful Alanna Malone whom he had a brief encounter with at the hotel in San Fran. She is the kind of woman to make a man lose his mind. Lush, sensual, mysterious are all perfect adjectives for the raven haired beauty. They dance and flirt around one another over the voyage, but they are heavily monitored by her overbearing and rude parents. They have been fighting and clawing their way into the upper echelon of Boston society and have made a match for her with a prominent son. The ship’s captain, Thomson is very familiar with Wolf and the family and shares tidbits of who Alanna really is and the fire beneath the cool exterior. He almost encourages Wolf to seek her out as he despairs almost as deeply as Alanna about the upcoming nuptials.
Alanna despises the way she is treated as a commodity by her parents. She holds them in contempt and makes no bones about how she feels about her future. She sees Wolf as the future. It’s one of those character traits where she seemed to know she is destined to be with him.
Once they land in Boston, Wolf loses three weeks on a fruitless journey to find his past. He is dismayed to discover the truth has been covered up and his digging is making some enemies. He has some contact with Alanna and her bodyguard ‘The Old Chinese’. Alanna has arranged the meeting so the Old Chinese can help him recover his memories and get to the truth.
This is where the book became really interesting. The Old Chinese is not just a bodyguard. He has essentially raised Alanna. They take Wolf to ‘the farm’ which is in reality his dojo. The Old Chinese is a martial arts master, as well as schooled in the art of acupuncture and Chinese medicine. He begins to train Wolf, as he has done with Alanna and countless others. Wolf is incredulous that the closely guarded and highly prized Alanna possesses a black belt and lives in this ultimate universe. I could hardly believe it as well! But the point of this plot was to use it as a tool to help Wolf learn to open his heart and to trust he could love, since all he has known is abandonment.
Wolf’s enemies find him after a soiree he attends and waltzes with Alanna. Her fiancé is a horrible, snivelling little man and sends goons after Wolf. He barely survives the attack and is hidden away by the Captain and Alanna. He takes a long time to heal, sending others to do the investigative work of his past while he recovers. He learns that he must go to Scotland to find another piece of the puzzle.
Before he goes, the electric passion that exists between them is ignited. They finally consummate their carnal relationship from just touches and kisses. Alanna knows in her gut that he is the one for her. Wolf doesn’t just see her as another woman to share passion with. He may not admit love, but he feels her being to his core. The sex scenes are hot and intense. The Old Chinese has left them a lover’s guide and Alanna has been an apt pupil. Although she is a virgin, she is eager to be in her lover’s arms and embrace his touch and taste. They part after this with the promise that they will be reunited once Wolf has faced his past once and for all.
Wolf travels to Scotland where he learns the truth about his ancestory and the evil that lurks in Boston, so treacherously close to his beloved Alanna. He has to make peace with the past and claim his heritage before he can go and get her; although not a day passes he doesn’t ache for her and the promise of a future.
Alanna, the Old Chinese and their entourage are not willing to wait and make the journey to Scotland. Alanna is pregnant with Wolf’s child. He is overjoyed to see her and they quickly make up for lost time in the bedroom – yay more steamy scenes! However she knows a piece of his past that she knows will break his heart and possibly their relationship. When she reveals what she knows, he casts her off. This seems unbearably harsh, but Wolf’s character has been revealed, his whole being has been about avenging the demise of his family. Danger follows Alanna and the Old Chinese to Scotland and they are set upon in Wolf’s castle. Old Chinese is grievously injured and Alanna is kidnapped.
This is where the book got a little wonky for me. This should be the moment that Wolf becomes the hero and races after her and his unborn child. But he doesn’t. He stays in Scotland and drinks. He communicates through letters to Alanna, but makes no attempts to get her back. It is only when his friend Turner (from the previous book) kicks his butt into action that he goes to claim his woman, who is being treated horribly by her fiancé and parents.
They reunite in Boston and the whole mystery of Wolf’s past is open. There are no more secrets and no more dark shadows. They are able to move on with their lives and start again in the place that Wolf should have always been.
There are a ton of secondary characters to the story. Most add a deeper element to the plot points and make the story richer. I despised the Malone’s and Alanna’s fiancé, so the author did a great job at making them evil and unworthy of redemption. The twists and turns of the past resurfaced piece by piece and it was easy to follow as the story unfolded.
This was a great book. I really enjoyed reading it, but I am still smarting at Wolf’s rejection of Alanna in Scotland. It shows how strong of a character she was to endure all she did, not only for their love, but for their child. I forgave Wolf when he went and made things right, but I wanted to take away his Scottish whiskey and make him walk the fires of hell for being a straight up jerk. His sojourn in Scotland made the story lose some steam as months passed and very important parts in the characters’ lives. But I can live with this lapse as overall the book was a well told tale that had me rooting for Alanna and Wolf, cheering and crying in all the right parts.
Reviewed by www.kiltsandswords.com
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2014
When I found out that Wolf (the hot, bad boy from Book 1, Celine) was the hero in Alanna, I could hardly wait to get my hands on this book. Wow, I wasn’t disappointed. From the gripping prologue, when six-year-old Wolf watches his mother being murdered, to the final, tender words of the epilogue, I was hooked. I could not put this book down. It’s obvious that Bittner Roth does her research. The first part of the story takes place aboard a nineteenth century clipper ship. With all the rich detail Bittner Roth wove into the story, I felt like I was right on board with saucy Alanna and that enigmatic Wolf. I really detested Alanna’s overbearing parents and her nasty fiancé. I loved Old Chinese (what a great background Alanna had being raised by him), and I adored the ship’s captain and his family.
This is the fourth book I’ve read from this author. If you’re looking for a light beach read, this is NOT the book for you. Bittner Roth creates a complex story filled with complex characters, and as what seems to be part of all her stories, lots of twists and turns. Toss in a hot and steamy romance and you'll likely be kept up all night reading.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of Alanna in exchange for an honest review.
This is the fourth book I’ve read from this author. If you’re looking for a light beach read, this is NOT the book for you. Bittner Roth creates a complex story filled with complex characters, and as what seems to be part of all her stories, lots of twists and turns. Toss in a hot and steamy romance and you'll likely be kept up all night reading.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of Alanna in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2014
Wolf has been a loner for a long time. He watched his mother murdered when he was really young. He never saw his Father after her death. He has decided to get revenge for her murder so he can get on with his life.
Alanna is engaged to a man that she despises. She must go through with it because her parents want the social standing.
When the two lock eyes across a restaurant in San Francisco there is an instant connection. They don't act on the emotion and figure they will never see each other again. Little did they know they will sail on the same ship to Boston. She is going home with her parents and he is going home for answers and closure. They will cross paths many times and discover that sometimes what you are searching for has been right beside you all along.
I really enjoyed this book. It covers several places and stories. It reminded me of stories that I have read that started in the US then finished up overseas. Kathleen Bittner Roth has wrote another can't miss story!
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
Alanna is engaged to a man that she despises. She must go through with it because her parents want the social standing.
When the two lock eyes across a restaurant in San Francisco there is an instant connection. They don't act on the emotion and figure they will never see each other again. Little did they know they will sail on the same ship to Boston. She is going home with her parents and he is going home for answers and closure. They will cross paths many times and discover that sometimes what you are searching for has been right beside you all along.
I really enjoyed this book. It covers several places and stories. It reminded me of stories that I have read that started in the US then finished up overseas. Kathleen Bittner Roth has wrote another can't miss story!
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
July 23, 2015
Anyone who has not given this book 5 stars, is crazy. This book was quite a journey! I am still reeling from all the twists and turns of this book. It's got everything that you need for an amazing book. If you love history, this is one you need to read as well. I love a good romance but throw some good history in and I'm there! I can't say enough positive things!!
November 12, 2014
4.5 historical romance stars
I adore this book...I love the heroine and I'm completely swooning over the hero - Wolf is...good gravy, Wolf, just Wolf
Here's my complete Scandalicious Book Review:
http://www.scandaliciousbookreviews.c...
I adore this book...I love the heroine and I'm completely swooning over the hero - Wolf is...good gravy, Wolf, just Wolf
Here's my complete Scandalicious Book Review:
http://www.scandaliciousbookreviews.c...
March 24, 2017
This story literally had me from the first page. The more I read on the harder it was for me to put it down. Very good story......
October 11, 2016
Plotline a little more creative than the usual. Well pretty different from the norm. Unexpected.
October 31, 2014
A romance of pain & anguish, tormented souls, UNEXPECTED paths & 2 hearts beating as 1, but so WORTH the rollercoaster ride!
His name is Wolf & his past defined his future. At 6, his mom hide him under her bed & as he watched thru a mirror, a man squeezed the life out of her with his hands. He only has 2 things that can tie himself to his mom, a garnet & diamond earring, that dropped from her dead body & the tormented memory of her murder. Throughout his childhood, he was shifted from one place to another, no family & unwanted, as his loss turned to hate to rage & then savage revenge! Now Wolf is a loner & tracker of lost people across the US, but he proudly wears his mom's earring & awaits the day he can squeeze the last breath from his mom's killer!
Miss Alanna Malone is the unwanted daughter of her social climbing parents, but she was lucky enough to be raised by an uncommon & unlikely guardian by the name of Old Chinese. She has spunk, is feisty, speaks her mind & knows just how far she push back, but she craves true love just for herself. Now at marriageable age, she is useful for her parents & has been sold to her Pillsbury doughboy fiancé, not of her choosing, but she will find a way to out if it kills her.
Wolf & Alanna crosses paths in Missouri & then again in a San Francisco hotel, he sees the pure hungry in her eyes & she feels him pass thru her heart & soul. They never speak just eye one another across the dining room knowing they will never see one another again. They are both in for one heck of a shock, as they are aboard the same ship from San Francisco to Boston, her traveling with her family & he going to find his mom's killer. Now the captain of this ship was just 1 of the Fairy Goddudes of this tale, his name is Thompson & he becomes Wolf's pseudo father, as well as his bunkmate. During the sea voyage, the Malones show Wolf that he is beneath them, he uses his polished manners, twists their words back at them & makes them seem like the Aholes & that my peeps takes skill! Alanna & Wolf play of game of push & pull, but only 1 hand under her dress is all poor Wolf gets. He also learns that they lived not 1 block away from where his mom was killed, Alanna was born 1 day before her murder & other useful unknown facts. When they part ways at Boston, that is the end or so they think.
After 3 long, useless & even lonely weeks, Wolf has found only more questions than answers, but Alanna pops back in with the most import Fairy Goddude of all, Old Chinese, & Wolf is taken into her pseudo family with a lot of encouragement from both Thompson & Old Chinese. Now we get a lot of ruckus & troublemaking with Wolf looking for answers, her hostile fashion challenged mom, drunk social climbing dad, her Pillsbury doughboy fiancé, a pack of thugs & Old Chinese's Dojo Clan of Ninja warriors to bring things to a head & a battered, stabbed & healing Wolf is transported to the country to Old Chinese's Dojo to learn the ways of Orient. With Alanna & him in the same spot, some Oriental PIXIE DUST & A Book of Erotica, Alanna takes her man in a claw foot tub, on the Dojo floor & welcomes him into her body, heart & soul. Wolf looses himself in her tight sheath, slowly peels back his scars & exposes his heart, soul & world to his Alanna. They journey so far has been easy compared to the HELL STORM that is about to be unleashed in their safe world. Secrets, lies, deceit, jealous, unforgivable loss, 2 mysterious past, betrayal, shattered souls, more than 1 death & true innocence is lost. Who killed his mom? How will the answer destroy thier worlds? Can Wolf look past his revenge or will he lose her to it? Will Alanna be able to heal Wolf's broken soul? When will Alanna demand the love she deserves from Wolf? Can Wolf see that he did not collected clients by true friends? How much Oriental PIXIE DUST does Old Chinese have left?
This is the 2nd book of Ms. Roth's Where Hearts Dare series & she takes you on a twisted & UNEXPECTED roads with speed bump galore, heart wrenching & heart healing quest that is not for the faint of heart. This love story is so powerful that has to span across more 1 ocean, from San Francisco, Boston, England & even KILT wearing Scotland! Ms. Roth thrilled me with a whole clan of KILT wearing Scots, so I give her PROPS & THANK YOU so very much for my Scottish fix for the night! Alanna is 1 of the toughest heroine I have had the pleasure to get to know, with her spunk, fierce independence, street smarts, did everything with 110% of herself & she worn a one of a kind raincoat that she let all the slimy, nasty crap slide down, but repelled it from touching her soul. Wolf had a lonely tortured essence filled with bitter rage & revenge, but he EARNED every friend by his willness to give 100% of himself, but I don't think he realized that he gave that much of himself to others. He may of been a tough, kill you with a flick of his wrist, sense trouble with his instincts & track a woman across the mountains, but he was always that little boy was still huddled under his mom's bed. Only Old Chinese & Alanna could pull him out from under that bed, but he had to WANT to reach for their hands. Ms. Roth wrote a serious tale of wounded souls, but she did throw in some hilariousness that just worked & I had tears running down my face because of it. Old Chinese was an odd Fairy Goddude, but this story couldn't be written without his presence because he held both of Alanna & Wolf's past & futures in the palm of his hand. Thompson was the 1st father figure Wolf ever had & he earned that man's respect so much, that Thompson endangered himself & his family to help Wolf. Trevor Andrews (hero from book #1) was the a$$ kicker of this tale & Wolf needed his a$$ repeatedly. Now it's a romance, so let chat about the sparks & this book had Alanna's dipping girlie parts had screaming satisfaction from Wolf, but to me it was more about their hearts & souls reaching out & enticing together. This romance was so powerful & painful to read that I felt like duct tape was slowly being pulled off my heart, reapplied & repeated, but so worthy the anguish & agony, just to be a part of it. Ms. Roth has WOWED me & earned my AWE once again & each of her romances take a different path, has different flavors to them, but dang this woman can write from her heart! This romance create such extreme emotions within me, made me scream at stupid a$$ folks, want to learn the Oriental ways of Ki, made me give Old Chinese a fist pump & took me down creepy & scary paths that I truly don't want to go down, but I can always see her dim flicker of light of pure love on matter how dark it gets! Ms. Roth EARNS my top score of 5 fingers up & 10 toes wants again & I await her next tale & PRAY it has Cameron's story!
NetGalley ARC given for my honest review.
His name is Wolf & his past defined his future. At 6, his mom hide him under her bed & as he watched thru a mirror, a man squeezed the life out of her with his hands. He only has 2 things that can tie himself to his mom, a garnet & diamond earring, that dropped from her dead body & the tormented memory of her murder. Throughout his childhood, he was shifted from one place to another, no family & unwanted, as his loss turned to hate to rage & then savage revenge! Now Wolf is a loner & tracker of lost people across the US, but he proudly wears his mom's earring & awaits the day he can squeeze the last breath from his mom's killer!
Miss Alanna Malone is the unwanted daughter of her social climbing parents, but she was lucky enough to be raised by an uncommon & unlikely guardian by the name of Old Chinese. She has spunk, is feisty, speaks her mind & knows just how far she push back, but she craves true love just for herself. Now at marriageable age, she is useful for her parents & has been sold to her Pillsbury doughboy fiancé, not of her choosing, but she will find a way to out if it kills her.
Wolf & Alanna crosses paths in Missouri & then again in a San Francisco hotel, he sees the pure hungry in her eyes & she feels him pass thru her heart & soul. They never speak just eye one another across the dining room knowing they will never see one another again. They are both in for one heck of a shock, as they are aboard the same ship from San Francisco to Boston, her traveling with her family & he going to find his mom's killer. Now the captain of this ship was just 1 of the Fairy Goddudes of this tale, his name is Thompson & he becomes Wolf's pseudo father, as well as his bunkmate. During the sea voyage, the Malones show Wolf that he is beneath them, he uses his polished manners, twists their words back at them & makes them seem like the Aholes & that my peeps takes skill! Alanna & Wolf play of game of push & pull, but only 1 hand under her dress is all poor Wolf gets. He also learns that they lived not 1 block away from where his mom was killed, Alanna was born 1 day before her murder & other useful unknown facts. When they part ways at Boston, that is the end or so they think.
After 3 long, useless & even lonely weeks, Wolf has found only more questions than answers, but Alanna pops back in with the most import Fairy Goddude of all, Old Chinese, & Wolf is taken into her pseudo family with a lot of encouragement from both Thompson & Old Chinese. Now we get a lot of ruckus & troublemaking with Wolf looking for answers, her hostile fashion challenged mom, drunk social climbing dad, her Pillsbury doughboy fiancé, a pack of thugs & Old Chinese's Dojo Clan of Ninja warriors to bring things to a head & a battered, stabbed & healing Wolf is transported to the country to Old Chinese's Dojo to learn the ways of Orient. With Alanna & him in the same spot, some Oriental PIXIE DUST & A Book of Erotica, Alanna takes her man in a claw foot tub, on the Dojo floor & welcomes him into her body, heart & soul. Wolf looses himself in her tight sheath, slowly peels back his scars & exposes his heart, soul & world to his Alanna. They journey so far has been easy compared to the HELL STORM that is about to be unleashed in their safe world. Secrets, lies, deceit, jealous, unforgivable loss, 2 mysterious past, betrayal, shattered souls, more than 1 death & true innocence is lost. Who killed his mom? How will the answer destroy thier worlds? Can Wolf look past his revenge or will he lose her to it? Will Alanna be able to heal Wolf's broken soul? When will Alanna demand the love she deserves from Wolf? Can Wolf see that he did not collected clients by true friends? How much Oriental PIXIE DUST does Old Chinese have left?
This is the 2nd book of Ms. Roth's Where Hearts Dare series & she takes you on a twisted & UNEXPECTED roads with speed bump galore, heart wrenching & heart healing quest that is not for the faint of heart. This love story is so powerful that has to span across more 1 ocean, from San Francisco, Boston, England & even KILT wearing Scotland! Ms. Roth thrilled me with a whole clan of KILT wearing Scots, so I give her PROPS & THANK YOU so very much for my Scottish fix for the night! Alanna is 1 of the toughest heroine I have had the pleasure to get to know, with her spunk, fierce independence, street smarts, did everything with 110% of herself & she worn a one of a kind raincoat that she let all the slimy, nasty crap slide down, but repelled it from touching her soul. Wolf had a lonely tortured essence filled with bitter rage & revenge, but he EARNED every friend by his willness to give 100% of himself, but I don't think he realized that he gave that much of himself to others. He may of been a tough, kill you with a flick of his wrist, sense trouble with his instincts & track a woman across the mountains, but he was always that little boy was still huddled under his mom's bed. Only Old Chinese & Alanna could pull him out from under that bed, but he had to WANT to reach for their hands. Ms. Roth wrote a serious tale of wounded souls, but she did throw in some hilariousness that just worked & I had tears running down my face because of it. Old Chinese was an odd Fairy Goddude, but this story couldn't be written without his presence because he held both of Alanna & Wolf's past & futures in the palm of his hand. Thompson was the 1st father figure Wolf ever had & he earned that man's respect so much, that Thompson endangered himself & his family to help Wolf. Trevor Andrews (hero from book #1) was the a$$ kicker of this tale & Wolf needed his a$$ repeatedly. Now it's a romance, so let chat about the sparks & this book had Alanna's dipping girlie parts had screaming satisfaction from Wolf, but to me it was more about their hearts & souls reaching out & enticing together. This romance was so powerful & painful to read that I felt like duct tape was slowly being pulled off my heart, reapplied & repeated, but so worthy the anguish & agony, just to be a part of it. Ms. Roth has WOWED me & earned my AWE once again & each of her romances take a different path, has different flavors to them, but dang this woman can write from her heart! This romance create such extreme emotions within me, made me scream at stupid a$$ folks, want to learn the Oriental ways of Ki, made me give Old Chinese a fist pump & took me down creepy & scary paths that I truly don't want to go down, but I can always see her dim flicker of light of pure love on matter how dark it gets! Ms. Roth EARNS my top score of 5 fingers up & 10 toes wants again & I await her next tale & PRAY it has Cameron's story!
NetGalley ARC given for my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2019
The "Old Chinese" storyline seemed a little far-fetched to me. If it was indeed historically accurate, I would have liked that stated more explicitely. Didn't think it was realistic that he would have felt like a father to Wolf.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2021
A wonderful way to spend a rainy day... Alanna is a book hard to put aside... make sure your week is clear this, as all of Kathleen Bittner Roth’s books, Alanna is hard to put down...
and oh wow, Wolf !! So tenderly loving 🥰
and oh wow, Wolf !! So tenderly loving 🥰
May 23, 2021
A fun summer read. I was hooked from the start.
I love the twist and turns and a few things I didn’t see coming! I would recommend for a getaway.
I love the twist and turns and a few things I didn’t see coming! I would recommend for a getaway.
November 3, 2014
Alanna
This it the story of Wolf and Alanna. Wolf grew up an orphan and loner. He witnessed his mother's murder at a early age and made it his mission in life to finding her murderer. Alanna is the opposite. She grew up in a beautiful home and wanted for nothing. In the book, we watch as the attraction between the two grows aboard a ship to Boston. The more Alanna's parents try to keep them apart, the closer they get. The story continues in Boston as Wolf continues his investigation into his mothers murder. The answers are in Scotland.
I loved the beginning of the book - Wolf, a small boy, scared ask his mom if he can sleep with her. His mother hides him under the bed after hearing broken glass. Wolf watches his mother being attacked and killed. I was hooked! I enjoyed the way the author wrote. The characters and story was very interesting. I also loved the interactions between Wolf, Alanna, and her parents on the ship.
I like my books to be believable and some parts just seemed out of the ordinary. One that Alanna had a China man that was her bodyguard and trainer. Two, Alanna and Wolf being left alone for days by the China man. Also Alanna taking him to one of her family homes when Wolf is suppose to be hiding.. Her getting pregnant... and so on...
I did want to know what happened so i did continue reading. I was interested in Wolfs story and finding out who murdered his mom. There were parts in the story that i didn't want to put the book down. After i learned the China mans involvement and who and why Wolfs mother was killed, i was very disappointed. Alanna keeping it from Wolf made no sense nor her being kidnapped/wanting to leave. I didnt care for author telling me how Wolf felt and explaining every little thing. I didnt believe Wolf thought of the China man as a father or they had any kind of connection. Also when Wolf came to realize he did want his daughter. It didnt seem sincere. The ending when he gets Alanna and her daughter and lets her mother come along, i really didnt like.
Overall this is a ok read. I did not read the first book in the series before reading this one. I loved the beginning but found about halfway through, the book started becoming hard to believe. I enjoy reading about Wolf solving his mothers murder more than his relationship with Alanna. I was disappointed when he did figure it all out. It was not much of a story. I didnt care for how the story played out and ended either. I think the story could have been so much more.
This it the story of Wolf and Alanna. Wolf grew up an orphan and loner. He witnessed his mother's murder at a early age and made it his mission in life to finding her murderer. Alanna is the opposite. She grew up in a beautiful home and wanted for nothing. In the book, we watch as the attraction between the two grows aboard a ship to Boston. The more Alanna's parents try to keep them apart, the closer they get. The story continues in Boston as Wolf continues his investigation into his mothers murder. The answers are in Scotland.
I loved the beginning of the book - Wolf, a small boy, scared ask his mom if he can sleep with her. His mother hides him under the bed after hearing broken glass. Wolf watches his mother being attacked and killed. I was hooked! I enjoyed the way the author wrote. The characters and story was very interesting. I also loved the interactions between Wolf, Alanna, and her parents on the ship.
I like my books to be believable and some parts just seemed out of the ordinary. One that Alanna had a China man that was her bodyguard and trainer. Two, Alanna and Wolf being left alone for days by the China man. Also Alanna taking him to one of her family homes when Wolf is suppose to be hiding.. Her getting pregnant... and so on...
I did want to know what happened so i did continue reading. I was interested in Wolfs story and finding out who murdered his mom. There were parts in the story that i didn't want to put the book down. After i learned the China mans involvement and who and why Wolfs mother was killed, i was very disappointed. Alanna keeping it from Wolf made no sense nor her being kidnapped/wanting to leave. I didnt care for author telling me how Wolf felt and explaining every little thing. I didnt believe Wolf thought of the China man as a father or they had any kind of connection. Also when Wolf came to realize he did want his daughter. It didnt seem sincere. The ending when he gets Alanna and her daughter and lets her mother come along, i really didnt like.
Overall this is a ok read. I did not read the first book in the series before reading this one. I loved the beginning but found about halfway through, the book started becoming hard to believe. I enjoy reading about Wolf solving his mothers murder more than his relationship with Alanna. I was disappointed when he did figure it all out. It was not much of a story. I didnt care for how the story played out and ended either. I think the story could have been so much more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2015
Originally reviewed for Buried Under Romance www.buriedunderromance.com
Alanna, the second book in the When Hearts Dare series by Kathleen Bittner Roth, reintroduces us to Wolf, a secondary hero from the first book, Celine. A buckskin clad, untamed loner, Wolf was a man on a mission as he roamed the world to track down missing persons. More importantly, however, he roamed the world to track down the man that murdered his mother when he was a child.
Tall, raven-haired Alanna Malone was the daughter of wealthy but emotionally distant parents who left it up to Old Chinese, a strong believer in ancient Chinese and Japanese philosophy, to raise and protect her. Even though she was engaged to be married, the first time that her intense blue eyes met Wolf’s, there was an undeniable attraction that they had plenty of time to explore when they surprisingly found themselves fellow passengers on a lengthy sea voyage from San Francisco, through the rough storms of Cape Hope, and on to Boston. Besides his blossoming love for Alanna, the long trip gave Wolf time to begin to explore something else: Was it possible that Alanna’s family was involved in illegal activities? It wasn’t long before Wolf began to suspect that someone connected to Alanna might have been involved in his mother’s death. His questions will lead them far beyond Boston to the Scottish Highlands where answers, as well as many surprises, wait for them.
I loved the mystery in this novel. It was cleverly crafted and well written, The first half of the book, though well researched and important to the story, seemed slow as the ancient philosophy and it’s history was explained in depth. The pace picked up significantly in the second half as the story really began to play out, and by the end, it was a compelling page-turner!
I loved the strength of the characters of Alanna and Wolf. They were honest and remained true to themselves throughout the novel. Many very interesting secondary characters populated the background, including several from the previous book, Celine. I do believe that the plot and characters of this book are strong enough to stand alone but I am glad that I had read Celine first. There are many references to people and happenings that I was able to understand because I had read it, but I don’t think it would have made a significant difference in my enjoyment of Alanna overall if I hadn’t read Celine.
I’m giving Alanna four stars, and I am definitely looking forward to the next book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Alanna, the second book in the When Hearts Dare series by Kathleen Bittner Roth, reintroduces us to Wolf, a secondary hero from the first book, Celine. A buckskin clad, untamed loner, Wolf was a man on a mission as he roamed the world to track down missing persons. More importantly, however, he roamed the world to track down the man that murdered his mother when he was a child.
Tall, raven-haired Alanna Malone was the daughter of wealthy but emotionally distant parents who left it up to Old Chinese, a strong believer in ancient Chinese and Japanese philosophy, to raise and protect her. Even though she was engaged to be married, the first time that her intense blue eyes met Wolf’s, there was an undeniable attraction that they had plenty of time to explore when they surprisingly found themselves fellow passengers on a lengthy sea voyage from San Francisco, through the rough storms of Cape Hope, and on to Boston. Besides his blossoming love for Alanna, the long trip gave Wolf time to begin to explore something else: Was it possible that Alanna’s family was involved in illegal activities? It wasn’t long before Wolf began to suspect that someone connected to Alanna might have been involved in his mother’s death. His questions will lead them far beyond Boston to the Scottish Highlands where answers, as well as many surprises, wait for them.
I loved the mystery in this novel. It was cleverly crafted and well written, The first half of the book, though well researched and important to the story, seemed slow as the ancient philosophy and it’s history was explained in depth. The pace picked up significantly in the second half as the story really began to play out, and by the end, it was a compelling page-turner!
I loved the strength of the characters of Alanna and Wolf. They were honest and remained true to themselves throughout the novel. Many very interesting secondary characters populated the background, including several from the previous book, Celine. I do believe that the plot and characters of this book are strong enough to stand alone but I am glad that I had read Celine first. There are many references to people and happenings that I was able to understand because I had read it, but I don’t think it would have made a significant difference in my enjoyment of Alanna overall if I hadn’t read Celine.
I’m giving Alanna four stars, and I am definitely looking forward to the next book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 12, 2014
I first chose this ARC off NetGalley because of the cover; I am definitely a girl who will choose a book by its cover any day. And it reminded me of the early book covers of Diana Palmer's single title series. As I started reading from page 1, I was completely disappointed by the fact that the characters were on a ship. I have no idea what the deal is with sea based stories, but for the life of me I cannot get into these books; well not since Johanna Lindsey. Anyway, I put this book aside for more scrumptious reads but it was killing me that I was not going to write yet another review for Netgalley when they graciously let us borrow so many books to read.
So I made myself turn the page. And OMG. I couldn’t put it down.
I just love it when a book starts out horrible and then gets better and better. (And I just say it started out horrible since I hate sea based romances).
And what truly hooked me into book #2 in the When Hearts Dare series by Kathleen Roth were the lack of games. The hero (Wolf) and the heroine (Alanna) were completely honest with each other about their feelings from the day their eyes met. They knew they were totally in love with one another, they admitted it. (Well, a man will drag the inevitable out but everyone knew that Wolf loved Alanna). But Alanna would not give into Wolf until he admitted that he couldn’t live without her. Although they didn’t have sex for a long while, the sexual tension was really all that was needed to keep anyone reading.
So, the story is that Wolf witnessed his mother’s murder when he was a boy, he never saw the killer so he is on a quest to find out who murdered his mother. It just so happens that the family that Alanna is marrying into is connected to the killing in a roundabout way.
The one thing I found odd about the story was that the father never tried to find him after the mother was killed, the reason being he didn’t want the killers to track him. But even so, wouldn’t a parent search heaven and earth for their son no matter the consequences? Just seemed a bit odd.
But overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Alanna and it’s made me want to read book 1 in the series as well.
So I made myself turn the page. And OMG. I couldn’t put it down.
I just love it when a book starts out horrible and then gets better and better. (And I just say it started out horrible since I hate sea based romances).
And what truly hooked me into book #2 in the When Hearts Dare series by Kathleen Roth were the lack of games. The hero (Wolf) and the heroine (Alanna) were completely honest with each other about their feelings from the day their eyes met. They knew they were totally in love with one another, they admitted it. (Well, a man will drag the inevitable out but everyone knew that Wolf loved Alanna). But Alanna would not give into Wolf until he admitted that he couldn’t live without her. Although they didn’t have sex for a long while, the sexual tension was really all that was needed to keep anyone reading.
So, the story is that Wolf witnessed his mother’s murder when he was a boy, he never saw the killer so he is on a quest to find out who murdered his mother. It just so happens that the family that Alanna is marrying into is connected to the killing in a roundabout way.
The one thing I found odd about the story was that the father never tried to find him after the mother was killed, the reason being he didn’t want the killers to track him. But even so, wouldn’t a parent search heaven and earth for their son no matter the consequences? Just seemed a bit odd.
But overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Alanna and it’s made me want to read book 1 in the series as well.
June 14, 2015
*ARC from netgalley*
Writing the second book of a series is always a challenge. You want it to be as good as the first one, if not better, and you hope to bring something new to it. Once again, Roth did a marvelous job in creating Alanna, the second book to When Hearts Dare series.
Alanna is the story of Wolf, a tracker who is introduced in the first story. He is set to finding the mystery of his childhood and the murderer of his mother. Along the way, he meets Alanna and discovers that he is capable of caring after all.
Funny that this book is titled "Alanna" when I find that it focuses more on Wolf's journey more than Alanna herself. Nevertheless, this book, in my opinion, is infinitesimally better than Celine. The story is well drawn out. Roth sure took her time developing the characters and it served well for the story had more depth. Alanna is a wonderful heroine. She is smart, full of wisdom and very capable. Wolf is just as amazing. He is head strong and reliable.
The elements I like from the first book are present here as well: action and adventure, informative writing, detailed descriptions and explosive chemistry between the H/h. Because the author took her time to develop the chemistry between Wolf and Alanna, their love came out more passionate and touching. So many times they stopped their urges that it truly became a 'sizzling' encounter every time they are together. Job well done on that aspect.
This book also offers a lot of new things not present in the first book like lessons in ancient Asian culture. Although the pattern of the story is somehow identical to Celine in the sense that a lead character meets a 'wise Asian' in his/her adventure, it still worked for me.
Suffice to say, this book is fantastic and I sure would like to reread it one day.
Thank you Kensington Books for approving my request for ARC! :)
Writing the second book of a series is always a challenge. You want it to be as good as the first one, if not better, and you hope to bring something new to it. Once again, Roth did a marvelous job in creating Alanna, the second book to When Hearts Dare series.
Alanna is the story of Wolf, a tracker who is introduced in the first story. He is set to finding the mystery of his childhood and the murderer of his mother. Along the way, he meets Alanna and discovers that he is capable of caring after all.
Funny that this book is titled "Alanna" when I find that it focuses more on Wolf's journey more than Alanna herself. Nevertheless, this book, in my opinion, is infinitesimally better than Celine. The story is well drawn out. Roth sure took her time developing the characters and it served well for the story had more depth. Alanna is a wonderful heroine. She is smart, full of wisdom and very capable. Wolf is just as amazing. He is head strong and reliable.
The elements I like from the first book are present here as well: action and adventure, informative writing, detailed descriptions and explosive chemistry between the H/h. Because the author took her time to develop the chemistry between Wolf and Alanna, their love came out more passionate and touching. So many times they stopped their urges that it truly became a 'sizzling' encounter every time they are together. Job well done on that aspect.
This book also offers a lot of new things not present in the first book like lessons in ancient Asian culture. Although the pattern of the story is somehow identical to Celine in the sense that a lead character meets a 'wise Asian' in his/her adventure, it still worked for me.
Suffice to say, this book is fantastic and I sure would like to reread it one day.
Thank you Kensington Books for approving my request for ARC! :)
November 7, 2014
Posted on What I'm Reading
Holy Moly the twist in Alanna! Oh my goodness, I didn't know the adventure I was going on when I started this book. Well, Alanna is the second book When Hearts Dare series, and I have to say this story is better than Celine. Granted I did like Celine, but it didn't grab my attention like Alanna.
In Celine we met a guy name Wolf. He basically just went by Wolf, and he's a mysterious guy. Well, Alanna get to know Wolf and his background a little more. Actually, his life hasn't been all that easy, to be honest it was pretty down right crappy. However, he has manage to make something of himself. Now he's going to figure out who killed his mother, so he has to head back to Boston. By the way is just the beginning of uncovering the truth.
I have to say that Alanna is an interesting character, but you don't see that until later on in the story. At first you see her as a dutiful daughter always listen to what her parents say, but underneath it all she has no desire to do their bidding. At first I thought her parents were upstarts, but the deeper the story goes you realize that they are horrible people. Upstarts would heck of lot better than the monsters they are really are. I know crazy.
Alanna is fantastic, because underneath the whole story Alanna and Wolf's lives are intertwine to one another, and it slowly manifest itself throughout the story. Absolutely brilliant how Kathleen was able to intwine these two characters together. Plot twist galore, and they are magnificently brought together. After reading Alanna I can't wait what else this series holds.
Copy provided by Kensington via NetGalley.
Holy Moly the twist in Alanna! Oh my goodness, I didn't know the adventure I was going on when I started this book. Well, Alanna is the second book When Hearts Dare series, and I have to say this story is better than Celine. Granted I did like Celine, but it didn't grab my attention like Alanna.
In Celine we met a guy name Wolf. He basically just went by Wolf, and he's a mysterious guy. Well, Alanna get to know Wolf and his background a little more. Actually, his life hasn't been all that easy, to be honest it was pretty down right crappy. However, he has manage to make something of himself. Now he's going to figure out who killed his mother, so he has to head back to Boston. By the way is just the beginning of uncovering the truth.
I have to say that Alanna is an interesting character, but you don't see that until later on in the story. At first you see her as a dutiful daughter always listen to what her parents say, but underneath it all she has no desire to do their bidding. At first I thought her parents were upstarts, but the deeper the story goes you realize that they are horrible people. Upstarts would heck of lot better than the monsters they are really are. I know crazy.
Alanna is fantastic, because underneath the whole story Alanna and Wolf's lives are intertwine to one another, and it slowly manifest itself throughout the story. Absolutely brilliant how Kathleen was able to intwine these two characters together. Plot twist galore, and they are magnificently brought together. After reading Alanna I can't wait what else this series holds.
Copy provided by Kensington via NetGalley.
November 8, 2014
The second in Bittner-Roth’s American Historical romance series was for me, far better than the first. Mixing in some mystery elements, and taking more time developing both characters and connection, this story moved forward nicely and didn’t leave me feeling as if something was missing.
Alanna is a wholly honest and straightforward woman, unlike Celine of the first book, there is no gamesmanship here. That was refreshing as many of the major plot-points were very similar: secrets, questions, attraction and a mysterious Asian element added to inform and add to the story. Fortunately, Alanna is also a more capable and intelligent character, determined to not give in too soon, the attraction between she and Wolf is palpable and builds nicely.
Wolf witnessed his mother’s murder as a child, and has spent much of his life gaining skills at tracking people: so much so that he is well-known and sought out for his talents. He encounters Alanna on her journey to her own marriage, and her new ‘family’ is connected to the murder of his mother.
There is plenty of time for everything to develop, and in a slow and roundabout way with several different elements playing to sight and sense, these two do manage to finally act on their attraction and love: these two broken and damaged people are able to find a way to love.
An interesting twist on an historical romance set in America, with well-described scenery and characters that develop and grow as the story progresses, this is a story sure to please those who want a little mystery in their historical romance.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Alanna is a wholly honest and straightforward woman, unlike Celine of the first book, there is no gamesmanship here. That was refreshing as many of the major plot-points were very similar: secrets, questions, attraction and a mysterious Asian element added to inform and add to the story. Fortunately, Alanna is also a more capable and intelligent character, determined to not give in too soon, the attraction between she and Wolf is palpable and builds nicely.
Wolf witnessed his mother’s murder as a child, and has spent much of his life gaining skills at tracking people: so much so that he is well-known and sought out for his talents. He encounters Alanna on her journey to her own marriage, and her new ‘family’ is connected to the murder of his mother.
There is plenty of time for everything to develop, and in a slow and roundabout way with several different elements playing to sight and sense, these two do manage to finally act on their attraction and love: these two broken and damaged people are able to find a way to love.
An interesting twist on an historical romance set in America, with well-described scenery and characters that develop and grow as the story progresses, this is a story sure to please those who want a little mystery in their historical romance.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
December 13, 2014
This is book 2 in the When Hearts Dare series.
Alanna Morgan was drawn to Wolf the first time she saw him in San Francisco. When he turns up on the the ship she and her family are traveling to Boston on, she actually gets to know the man. Alanna's parents have arranged a marriage for her, but she will do anything to get out of it including stealing from her father.
Wolf doesn't have time for a woman in his life and when reaching Boston, he spends weeks trying to find information about his mother's killer without any luck. It's not until he runs into Alanna and her bodyguard, Old Chinese, that he gets any information.
Can Wolf let go of the past long enough to find the love of a lifetime?
I really loved this story. We meet Wolf in Roth's Celine, the first story in the When Hearts Dare series. He intrigued me then and I couldn't wait to read his story.
Roth did not disappoint! There are so many elements to this story that keep you reading to the very end. Wolf needs to find his mother's killer and in the process finds out his true heritage which leads to more uncertainties. His travels take us from San Francisco to Boston to Scotland.
Alanna's bodyguard, Old Chinese, basically raised her. We see why she isn't anything like her scheming parents. We also see a woman that is not like others of the time period. She has learned many things from Old Chinese including a form of martial arts.
This is definitely one of my favorite books that I have read recently and can't wait to see what Roth comes up with next!
Thanks go to Kensington Books via NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.
Alanna Morgan was drawn to Wolf the first time she saw him in San Francisco. When he turns up on the the ship she and her family are traveling to Boston on, she actually gets to know the man. Alanna's parents have arranged a marriage for her, but she will do anything to get out of it including stealing from her father.
Wolf doesn't have time for a woman in his life and when reaching Boston, he spends weeks trying to find information about his mother's killer without any luck. It's not until he runs into Alanna and her bodyguard, Old Chinese, that he gets any information.
Can Wolf let go of the past long enough to find the love of a lifetime?
I really loved this story. We meet Wolf in Roth's Celine, the first story in the When Hearts Dare series. He intrigued me then and I couldn't wait to read his story.
Roth did not disappoint! There are so many elements to this story that keep you reading to the very end. Wolf needs to find his mother's killer and in the process finds out his true heritage which leads to more uncertainties. His travels take us from San Francisco to Boston to Scotland.
Alanna's bodyguard, Old Chinese, basically raised her. We see why she isn't anything like her scheming parents. We also see a woman that is not like others of the time period. She has learned many things from Old Chinese including a form of martial arts.
This is definitely one of my favorite books that I have read recently and can't wait to see what Roth comes up with next!
Thanks go to Kensington Books via NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.
November 7, 2014
I love historical romance with an element of mystery woven throughout the love story. As such, I loved ALANNA. The story is a page-turning historical romance that weaves in the mystery of a long-ago murder with a forbidden love between two strong, complex characters. The hero, an enigmatic tracker named Wolf, searches for the man who murdered his mother many years earlier. While on his quest, he encounters Alanna, an intriguing beauty who challenges him even while she stirs his deepest emotions. The love between Wolf and Alanna is forbidden, but the pull between them is undeniable. As Wolf draws closer to solving the mystery of his mother’s death, danger surrounds them, threatening their love and their future. ALANNA is the kind of book that keeps you turning pages, a powerful love-story with an engrossing blend of passion, mystery, and danger. This book is definitely going on my keeper shelf.
November 4, 2014
I thought this would be a nice easy book to read. Most books whose title is just one name usually are. Boy was I wrong. This was a deep, down story that pulled me in and didn't let go until the last page. Kathleen did a great job developing her people and story line. She must have worked hard and it really shows. I would recommend this book to any romance and historians out there looking for a good book. Wolf was a loose soul since his mother died when he was 6 (spoiler). 24 years later he meets Alanna as he decides to find his mother's murderer. There are so many spoilers-large and small that I can't give them away. You really have to read sight unseen to get the full impact of this story. Please don't overlook this book. Enjoy it! I have this book for an honest review for NetGalley.
November 7, 2014
I could not put this book down. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me want to smack a few people around. Wolf is so deep and has way too many layers of pain and hurt to weed through. With the help from Alanna he is able to. Alanna is not your everyday woman of the 1800's. Despite her parents holding her down she is strong willed and a fighter. I love them both together. One of my favorite couples to have read. Ever.
My only complaint is I wish there was time spent with Wolf's highland clan. But the twists and turns and the way the book brought it all together....beautiful. I loved this book.
I received this ARC from Netgalley for my fair and honest review.
My only complaint is I wish there was time spent with Wolf's highland clan. But the twists and turns and the way the book brought it all together....beautiful. I loved this book.
I received this ARC from Netgalley for my fair and honest review.
August 30, 2015
I thought the first book in the series, Celine, was amazing, but this book blew that one out of the water! Oh my, this book takes you on such an amazing and romantic adventure from across the sea, and San Francisco to Boston, to Scotland. This thrilling story will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will take you through three different cultures, at least. This story is full of mystery and so many secrets it will keep you guessing till the very end. This book was impossible to put down, and if you like a story that is more than an amazing love story you will love this one.
December 17, 2014
I received this book from the Goodreads-first-reads-free giveaway. I loved this book. It is not your typical simpering girl who waits for a man to save her but a murder mystery with tons of plots, twists and romance. I enjoyed both the characters of Wolf and Alanna and was so intrigued with Old Chinese who gave the story depth and gave it an aura of mystery. I don't want to give the ending away but I thought it was really well written and now I want to read Celine. If you're into the romance genre, this book is a great read.
December 12, 2014
I liked this story enough to read a chapter or 2 before work instead of watching the morning news. Great main characters.
December 10, 2014
pretty good, first book read by this author
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