One Love: A Multicultural Romance Boxed Set by  Roxie Rivera, Farrah Rochon, Liliana Lee, Jill Sorenson, Genevieve Turner and Audra North
Released: January 14, 2015
Self Published

Reviewed by Helyce

I’m not much for anthologies, but the title intrigued me and as I’d had a lot of luck recently reading new authors an anthology is a great way to sample someone new. I am also a huge fan of Jill Sorenson and I’d just read a book by Audra North and looked forward to seeing something else written by her.  I chose three to read:

Her Cowboy Protector by Roxie Rivera

Rancher Niall Campbell isn’t thrilled with the prospect of babysitting his best friend’s sister, especially when he learns she’s marked for death by an infamous drug cartel assassin, but he’ll defend Cruz and her unborn baby with his life.

Cruz is nearly 8 months pregnant when she’s forced to run in an effort to keep her safe.  Her brother, Carlos, who is deep undercover within a drug cartel, hears that El Alacràn, the man who had raped and tortured Cruz is once again after her.  He asks his best friend Niall to get Cruz out and keep her safe. There are many twists and turns as Cruz and Niall begin to unravel a mystery that is bigger than anyone knew.  Deceit and death surround them and as the threats get closer and closer, Niall finds that he will do anything to keep Cruz and her baby safe.

Cruz’s backstory is a horrific one and she never thought that she’d ever feel desire for a man after what had happened to her. Niall too hasn’t really been looking for love.  He’d had a bad experience with a woman and finds it hard to trust his feelings anymore.  But as they spend time together, their attraction to each other surfaces.  As this is a romance, I knew at some point these two would get together and I was okay with it happening fast.  We have two people thrust into a life or death situation and emotions are running high.  I had a teensy weensy issue with Cruz being so into sex with Niall being 8 months pregnant and especially with her being a rape victim.  The author does show that Cruz struggles with intimacy initially, but it’s quick and in my opinion unrealistic.  And I know all women are different, but pounding sex at 8 months of pregnancy…I’m not sure about that.

That tidbit aside, I found this story very enjoyable.  I loved the twist and turns and I enjoyed the conflict resolution a lot.  Ms. Rivera is a new to me author, though I expect I’ll be seeking out her work in the future.  This story reminded me how much I love romantic suspense and how much I’ve missed it.

Grade: B+

Wild for Him by Jill Sorenson

After a major earthquake in downtown San Diego, tattoo artist Gwen Tagaloa finds comfort in the brawny arms of Mitch Stone–her best friend’s estranged boyfriend.

Mitch Stone and his girlfriend Helena have been trying to make a long distance relationship work. Mitch is worried as he’s getting the feeling that their separation may not have been a good idea as he’s really feeling the miles between them. When an earthquake hits and the epicenter is nearly on top of the zoo where Helena works, Mitch jumps in his truck and drives straight through to San Diego to make sure she’s ok.  But when he arrives, the damage is so much more than he’d anticipated and he is unable to get to Helena.  He parks his truck as close as he can, and then continues on foot. Unable to get in touch with Helena by phone, he attempts contact with her friend Gwen.

Gwen was asleep when the earthquake hit and after checking on her neighbors she heads to an evacuation center to volunteer.  Trained in first aid, she knows she can be of help there.  When Mitch shows up and begins to help out, Gwen sees a side of him she’s never seen before.  Gone is the cold, unfeeling man that she’d seen before.  As she gets to know this side of him, she begins to see him in a different light.  Of course, he’s off limits…

As a big Jill Sorenson fan, I jumped straight in and read this story first.  I liked the idea of the romance among the ruins of an earthquake, but I was worried about the fact that Mitch had a girlfriend.  I liked Mitch, and I got the feeling that even though he and Helena hadn’t officially “broken up” their relationship was failing before he’d made the move out of state.  It didn’t appear that either of them were pining for each other, but Mitch did not hesitate to head to San Diego to make sure Helena was okay and I liked that about him.

As Helena’s best friend, Gwen has a pretty good idea of where Helena is at where Mitch is concerned, but it’s really not her place to say anything.  She also had a very narrow view of Mitch, which she quickly learns is false when he reveals a side of himself she’d not seen before.

Sorenson gives us a different look into a relationship with a man who was once with your best friend.  I want to note that when Mitch and Gwen get together, Mitch has already had a conversation with Helena about their relationship so by my reader-rules there is no cheating. I think what I liked most about Mitch and Gwen getting together is how Mitch was different around Gwen; that she brought out his emotional side.  Helena seemed a bit cold and standoffish and Mitch seemed to be cold right along with her.  But Gwen’s personality was big and bold and she was a much more touchy-feely person.  I liked that Mitch was different around her.

Grade: B

Cabin Fever by Audra North

Rico Cardenas hasn’t seen Becca Neubaum in five years, but when they unexpectedly end up as cabin mates for the holidays, he finds he doesn’t want to let another day go by without her in his life.

Rico and Becca pretty much grew up together.  Rico being the best friend of Becca’s brother Josh, he’s spent a lot of time at their home and cabin and she’d crushed on him hard over her teenaged years.  Rico noticed Becca too, but never acted on his feelings.  Their easy friendship was ruined one night after a terrible misunderstanding and some harshly spoken words.  A few years later when Becca learns that Rico has suffered a tragic accident, she reaches out to him, but when he did not respond to her she gave up hope that their relationship could ever be repaired.

I had just read a book by Audra North, so I looked forward to reading this and experiencing more of her writing.  I adore a second chance love story and I really loved the setting in this one.  When Becca loses her job unexpectedly, she is in no mood to deal with her family so she tells a little white lie and heads to her family’s cabin in the mountains.  Unbeknownst to her, her brother Josh has promised the cabin to Rico because he too needed some time away from his family’s over-protectiveness following his accident.  When Rico arrives, he doesn’t expect Becca to be there, but they chose to make the best of the situation.  The impromptu vacation together gives them a reason to hash out the old misunderstandings and it’s not long before these two are making up for lost time.

Though things move really fast for these two, it worked for me in the context of this story.  Becca and Rico were not strangers who happened to end up at the same remote cabin unexpectedly.  They knew each other and for all intents and purposes had a strong bond of friendship.  Though it may have been a bit of puppy love on their parts, those feelings were always there and were just reignited with this meeting.

Grade: B

These are the other three stories.  Mini-blurb courtesy of Goodreads.

All You Can Handle by Farrah Rochon

Love was the last thing they were looking for, but a chance meeting kick-starts a high-octane rush of desire that gives Ian Landry and Madison “Sonny” White all they can handle.

The Obsession by Liliana Lee

Princess Shanyin has a harem of male concubines to serve her, but from the moment she sees the handsome Chu Yuan, she has to have him.

Summer Chaparral by Genevieve Turner

Born in deceit, Jace and Catarina’s marriage can either bloom into true love or become the newest casualty of an old family vendetta…

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