In 1759 Catherine Bradshaw leaves London to marry wealthy Jeremy Flint in the colony of New York in an arranged marriage. As soon as she steps off the ship, he weds her immediately. His behavior frightens her as they travel by coach to his Tarrytown estate. However, French Army Captain Rive St. Clair and his associate stop the coach. Rive abducts Catherine after informing Flint who he is and where he can collect his wife.

Sixteen years ago, Flint made his first killing when he stole pelts after arranging for a massacre at an Indian village. Rive has waited for the right moment to lure back this sleaze to that village as he knows the coward will follow as he cannot accept such an affront to his reputation. Flint behaves just as Rive expected, but Catherine is nothing like he anticipated. As they fall in love, the honorable and loyal Rive escorts her to Quebec City as the British army begins to take the last major North American French stronghold; she will soon know what it means to risk one's life for someone you cherish.

Moonlit Desire is an exciting late Colonial Romance starring an intrepid hero and a woman with plenty of mettle as she adjusts to a life far different than what she had in London or expected with Jeremy. Fast-paced from the moment of the kidnapping and never slowing down, sub-genre fans will appreciate this engaging tale though Flint proves an unworthy opponent with more than half the historical storyline left after his cowardly failed attempt at retrieval.

- Harriet Klausner - Genre Go Round Reviews

New York Colony, June 1759: The height of the French and Indian War. Recently wed Catherine Bradshaw and husband Jeremy Flint travel in a carriage on their way to their new home in Tarrytown. Rive St. Clair kidnaps Catherine and takes her to an Indian camp, where they stay in hiding until Flint tries to rescue her. Meanwhile we discover that Flint and St. Clair have a longstanding hatred relating to Flint’s prior involvement as a scout for the British militia involved in an Indian massacre. St. Clair finds Catherine ravishing, and she must fight her own passion for him in order to survive this ordeal. The characters travel to Quebec, where they endure the British attack on the city.

Moonlit Desire captures the reader from the moment of the initial kidnap and does not let up for a minute. Carolann Camillo provides tightly woven narration with just enough period detail to make the setting and circumstances come alive for the reader. She describes the forest surroundings of rural New York in a way reminiscent of James Fenimore Cooper. The dialogue is true to the time period, yet it has a freshness we can all relate to today. Very captivating.

- Historical Novel Society

Rive St. Clair, the hero in Carolann Camillo’s romantic adventure Moonlit Desire is a cross between the bold and brazen Rhett Butler and the charming and quick thinking Remington Steele.  This paradoxical character arouses romantic instincts in readers and evokes their sympathy and concern. Catherine Bradshaw, the heroine in the story also forges an attachment to readers, except it often comes in the form of wanting to shake her until she sees clearly to following the right path.  It’s Rive who steers her towards the path which will lead her to happiness, namely him.  The sparring that transpires between Catherine and Rive is witty and the narration incites readers to hang on every word.

It’s clear from the start that Catherine married the successful Jeremy Flint out of necessity.  He promised to provide for her parents who were in failing health.  Uprooting her from her home in England to settle in Colonial America, Catherine’s fate appears to be out of her control, but things take a turn for the better when Rive abducts her, forcing Flint, a man whose ego is superseded only by his greed, to chase after him. On a quest to fulfill a vendetta, and Rive draws Flint to the Indian village which Flint and his militia had massacred sixteen years prior.  Rive wants Flint to be held accountable for his crimes, allowing the Indians their day of justice. Colonial America is the backdrop for the tale taking readers from the rustic environs of Tarrytown, New York to the burgeoning metropolis of Quebec, Canada.  Moving the story are well-arced conflicts.  Will Flint be made to face his crimes?  Will Catherine be released from her marriage vows to Flint, and will Rive want her if she is freed?  These issues are the kindle that keeps the story’s embers inflamed.

The progression of the story, the vivid descriptions of the scenery all keep the reader engrossed in the character’s plight.  Camillo’s keen perception about human behavior, desires, and motivation show that she deserves to be on the pedestal alongside such classic romancers as Nora Roberts and Jude Deveraux.

-Susan Frances - Romantic Historical Lovers

Catherine Bradshaw entered a cold marriage to Jeremy Flint based on a business venture. Not long after the ceremony, she finds herself being kidnapped and wonders if it is for the better or the worse? Rive St. Clair is a man of honor and does not lack elegance. He is definitely informed and a leader with every intention of correcting the terrible past he was dealt.            

 Rive is out for blood from years past because of a massacre caused by Flint. He wants to make sure Flint knows the pain that he caused. After attacking the coach carrying Flint and Catherine, Rive takes Catherine captive. She needs to escape. Her family depends on it, and she cannot allow her father to go to prison. If Jeremy does come searching for her, her family will become destitute. Now she is in the confines of a man, not knowing what lies in store for her. The more time they spend together, it seems they are two people that should never separate. When, and if, Jeremy does come for her, will she go with him or stay with the man who has truly captured her heart?           

 Moonlit Desire is a poignant story that carried this reader from the beginning to the end not wanting to stop. I love the strong and robust characters that undeniably stand out. The dialogue is truly impeccable. Catherine and Rive have a chemistry that is astonishing. I love all the expressions they emit toward the other. Jeremy comes off as the perfect guy that the reader wants to throw punches at and never stop. Ms. Camillo pens a wonderfully inspired story of love, devotion and honor. This is positively a heart-warming gem with all the makings of a great book. Indeed a journey worth traveling in every page. 

- Cherokee - Reviewer For Coffee Time Romance And More

The Very Thought of You by Carolann Camillo

Rating: 5/5

Release Date: November 2012

Publisher: Crimson Romance

Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Very-Thought-Yo...


Sometimes, it just doesn’t pay to offer an honest opinion. So when Molly Hewitt does, she lands in all kinds of trouble with up-and-coming San Francisco builder, Nick Mancini. He’s offered the tenants in his small, newly acquired apartment house – the one sitting smack in the middle of his latest condo project – twenty-five grand to vacate the premises. But thanks to Molly, who runs a not-for-profit medical clinic down the street, they’re holding out for a hundred.

Molly Hewitt is the thinking woman’s chick. She’s smart and sassy in her ‘three inch wedge sandals’ but she’s also caring, strong and street-wise. She cares not only about fashion (her hand bag is a fake but it’s a Kate Spade fake) and landing the right man but she also cares passionately about her work running a not for profit medical clinic and about the tenants who live in the run down area around the clinic – the ones who are being offered a paltry twenty-five thousand to vacate by property developer Nick Mancini.

This is where the trouble starts because Nick is high on Molly’s totally buff list, with eyes that drill into hers ‘like a bit swiveling through a redwood plank’.

Molly might not like Nick but she’s certainly in lust with him – and maybe something more. Add that to the fact that Nick finds Molly almost irresistible:


"She was a sun ripened peach ready for the plucking"

And you would be forgiven for expecting a fairly standard chick lit romance. But this is where Camillo differs. Both her central characters (and the book is written from both their perspectives making it easy to follow their motivations and individual frustrations) are layers deep with personality flaws, baggage to deal with and extremely stubborn natures. They both fight the idea of falling in love whoever challenging that might be:


"She tried to kick Nick out of her mind but he’d charged right in and taken up residence there"

Molly’s determination to look after the vulnerable tenants she believes Nick is happy to rip off stands in the way of romance time and again. She is torn in two directions and made miserable by it, feeling guilty for giving the tenants ideas to help them thwart Nick and still more guilty for kissing the man who is supposed to be the enemy. Molly’s confusion and disappointment is real yet the tone of the writing manages to remain snappy and humorous.

Their passion grows but Molly still believes Nick is strictly catch and release. Camillo’s writing is clever enough to leave you guessing where they will finish up right until the end.

This is a great read, all the components of the perfect chick lit novel but elevated to a new level, great writing, great story line. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't recommend it highly enough!

 - Belinda Fidler - Chick Lit Reviews