Rachelle McCalla

I also reviewed this book on my blog:
The Real World According To Sam

Hmm....I'm a sucker for a good romance. Although, my typical romances typically follow along the lines of YA and manga. This was a nice change of pace.

After Patricia recommended it, I took my time getting started on it (I had a lot of other books I felt were more important). HOWEVER!!!! This last statement, I recently discovered, is totally false! This is one of the better books I've read.

A lot of my past experiences with show more "romantic" books had left me...rather like a shell. They had no substance and existed only for the purpose of labeling the novel, not because the romance was true.

Dead Reckoning was a very nice surprise. I was astonished at how real the story felt, and even more shocked at the relationship between Ben and Ginny. They both seemed extremely real!! I felt as if I was standing right next to them the entire time, instead of just staring at black dots on paper. I really don't know how to describe it in a way that would give the book the credit it is due.

I really enjoyed the plot. It wasn't totally unimaginable. This could be possible, and that's partly why I enjoyed it so much. I was also thrilled by the touch of aviation that Ms. McCalla included in the story. I love aircraft and this gave me a chance to get a deeper feel of what certain branches of aviation are like.

Ginny is a strong heroine, who is NOT IMMORTAL OR PERFECT IN ANYWAY!!!!! Nowadays, authors are always trying to create the perfect character. The one who is always strong and invulnerable....but I've always preferred characters I can relate to and who seem just like anyone else(and I can say that almost everyone I know has agreed or made this point). Ginny knows she is just an average woman, but that doesn't stop her from flying in the Dare Divas flying troupe. Sure, she's been shot at, her trailer's been burned and things just seem to get worse and worse----but still she manages to keep her head up and keep fighting when we all know she would rather crawl into her warm bed, cry and wish it all away.

Ben is the perfect guy for Ginny. He IS strong and he was a pilot in the Air Force. So for starters, they both know the joy that flight provides. But as much as he saves, protects and CARES for Ginny, the more he knows that he can't hold her back from what it is she wants to do.

This book left me smiling and really gave me a taste of what a REAL romance novel should be. I look forward to finding novels that follow along the TRUE romance line that Dead Reckoning has set for me. =) show less

A friend (MH) sent me this title in a box of books. I did not read book 1 in the subseries, so this can be read as a stand alone. (Another reviewer did mention that you might understand the relationships more if you read the subseries in order.)

The plot covers diamond smuggling, murder, investigations by the Coast Guard and FBI, undercover work, family legacies, and a few other subjects.

For me, Love Inspired Suspense romances work best when the two main characters have some sort of previous show more relationship to build on. I feel in the page limit of Love Inspired Suspense, it is hard to do justice to both developing a full fledged romance and doing the suspense aspect well. Heath and Tracie don't have a prior relationship and so to me, in the real world, I'd wonder if their love for each other would stand the test of time.

I do like that the author gave Tracie skills and allowed her to (at least partially) rescue herself instead of the plot being her waiting for Heath to show up and take down the bad guys. show less

When insurgents attack the royal motorcade carrying Princess Isabelle of Lydia and her family, her bodyguard (Levi Granaldo) must keep her safe. Levi and Isabelle escape through underground catacombs and dungeons beneath the buildings in the city. They eventually get to the airport and fly to New York City where Levi's friends/co-workers at Sanctuary International may be able to help the Princess. But danger still seems to be following them...

I liked heroine Isabelle. She listened to show more hero/bodyguard Levi's instructions, she was no TSTL heroine. She was gutsy and practical. She cared for her country and her family (who she was worried about since she was unsure if they survived the motorcade attack and could also be in hiding.) I also liked Levi. He did a pretty good job as a bodyguard. I liked the storyline...with the bad guys who were trying to take over the throne. Levi and Isabelle made a nice couple.

Enjoyable read with suspense, royalty, romance, and interesting locations. show less

A Royal Marriage by Rachelle McCalla
4/5 stars
Source: Netgalley

There is just nothing like a novel that opens with drama and doesn’t stop until the very last word. A Royal Marriage opens with King John of Lydia warily watching as a ship, flying the royal flags of the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, approaches his coast. Neither King John nor his advisors can think of a reason why the emperor or one of his envoys would be making an unplanned and unannounced stop in Lydia. What comes off the show more ship is surprise to all and sets in motion a series of events with the potential to cause two great nations, the Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire to wage vicious war against one another.

What comes off the ship is the lovey yet badly injured and on the verge of death, Princess Gisela who was, before her ship was attacked by Saracen pirates, on her way to meet her betrothed, an Illyrian prince. For King John this information is troubling on several levels: 1) his reputation for healing is well-known but Gisela’s injury is quite severe; 2) the herb needed to help Gisela is across the border and into enemy Illyrian territory and; 3) if Gisela dies both the Illyrians and Charlemagne are going to be very cranky. For King John, the peace his father’s life bought for Lydia and the protection of his citizens is paramount and the only possible way he can ensure the two is to save Gisela’s life. What John doesn’t count on is the strength and determination of Princess Gisela.

Gisela may be a princess from one of Europe’s most powerful courts but she is no shrinking violet. Despite her injury, Gisela is determined to minimize the risk to King John and his people. To this end, she rides with John to find the herb needed to heal her and discovers along the journey just how honorable and good the young king is. All seems to be going according to plan until John and Gisela inadvertently alert the Illyrians to their presence; from this point forward it is a race to avert war! During the flight back to the safety of Lydia’s castle, Gisela decides her place is by John’s side as he fights for the safety of his kingdom. Her ulterior motive? Gisela really, really has no interest in marrying an Illyrian prince especially as she begins to learn more about King John. As the plot unfolds many secrets and truths are revealed including why King John has refused to re-marry, how and why the Illyrians attacked and killed John’s father, who John’s head-strong younger sister is in love with, and how John and Gisela will navigate some incredibly tricky political waters in order to be together.

The bottom line: this loosely based on history novel is a fairly fast-paced read with a healthy dose of intrigue, romance, battle, and resolution. Gisela and John are both fine characters the reader can easily get behind and root for as Gisela is quick-thinking, capable, and determined and John is kind, intelligent, and compassionate. Gisela fits easily and comfortably into John’s world which allows her relationship with him to progress in a quick though believable way.
Throughout, John and Gisela are supported by a decent cast of minor characters who are sure to play a much larger role in future installments of this series. A Royal Marriage is a read which is quite easy to fall into and carries the reader smoothly through from beginning to end. There is plenty of action and intrigue mixed with romance which will keep lovers of all of the above interested , entertained, and turning pages quickly. show less