Her Christmas Pleasure is a super short sexy novella that gives you enough plot and romance to whet your appetite. I love the friends to lovers plot. Damien has loved Celia for a long time but she was married to his best friend. And once his friend died in battle, Damien felt that he wasn't good enough to be with Celia. Celia finally notices Damien in a non-friend way and is more than willing to pursue the attraction that is brewing between them.
Her Christmas Pleasure is a sweet and sexy story about friends becoming lovers. I loved Damien's insecurity and it made his character very endearing. The novella is less than 70 pages and I felt that the story ended too soon but I enjoyed it a lot.
Her Christmas Pleasure is a sweet and sexy story about friends becoming lovers. I loved Damien's insecurity and it made his character very endearing. The novella is less than 70 pages and I felt that the story ended too soon but I enjoyed it a lot.
Hunter and Toni are complete opposites. He's a nature guy; loves the great outdoors. Toni is a city girl and being out in the woods gives her a panic attack. I started reading Wild Thing expecting a light-hearted romance about two totally different people falling in love. Hunter and Toni eventually do fall in love but it happens so fast that I couldn't fully get on board with it.
Hunter is practically in love with Toni from the first page. When he first meets her he is totally attracted to her and has pretty much made the decision to make her his. All this stems from a few phone calls between the two to set up the photo shoot. Call me unromantic but I found it unbelievable that Hunter could fall for Toni that fast. And maybe my disbelief is due to the fact that for me, Toni was really likable. Described as a goth girl, Toni is very insecure. I would think a girl who wore a collar would have loads of self-confidence and self-esteem because if you're dressing a certain way, you know people are going to look at your differently. Along with the insecurities, Toni also has trust issues. Like big time. To the point where I was like, you need to be alone cause you need help! So with all these issues and insecurities, imagine my surprise when Hunter continued to pursue her. I could not understand what he saw in her. Nothing. Even as the mutual attraction grew, Toni treated him like crap when they were intimate. I'm surprised she didn't leave a hundred dollar bill on the show more nightstand once they were done.
I enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Hunter's siblings. After getting over the outrageous names (Fisher, Trapper and Karma), I enjoyed them a lot --especially little sis, Karma. Their interference in Hunter's love life is what made the book somewhat enjoyable for me.
Wild Thing kind of just ends; I guess as a set up for the next book. I remember seeing "The End" and was like, huh? For Toni to be a cautious person and not fond of relationships, I felt that her rush to fall in love and marry Hunter was too much. I would have been happy if they ended with dating. The romance wasn't believable for me. I didn't like Toni. Hunter was okay but I wasn't wow'd by him.
Wild Thing is the first book I've read by Robin Kaye. I do want to read the next book in the series so I will give this author another try. Wild Thing just wasn't the book for me. show less
Hunter is practically in love with Toni from the first page. When he first meets her he is totally attracted to her and has pretty much made the decision to make her his. All this stems from a few phone calls between the two to set up the photo shoot. Call me unromantic but I found it unbelievable that Hunter could fall for Toni that fast. And maybe my disbelief is due to the fact that for me, Toni was really likable. Described as a goth girl, Toni is very insecure. I would think a girl who wore a collar would have loads of self-confidence and self-esteem because if you're dressing a certain way, you know people are going to look at your differently. Along with the insecurities, Toni also has trust issues. Like big time. To the point where I was like, you need to be alone cause you need help! So with all these issues and insecurities, imagine my surprise when Hunter continued to pursue her. I could not understand what he saw in her. Nothing. Even as the mutual attraction grew, Toni treated him like crap when they were intimate. I'm surprised she didn't leave a hundred dollar bill on the show more nightstand once they were done.
I enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Hunter's siblings. After getting over the outrageous names (Fisher, Trapper and Karma), I enjoyed them a lot --especially little sis, Karma. Their interference in Hunter's love life is what made the book somewhat enjoyable for me.
Wild Thing kind of just ends; I guess as a set up for the next book. I remember seeing "The End" and was like, huh? For Toni to be a cautious person and not fond of relationships, I felt that her rush to fall in love and marry Hunter was too much. I would have been happy if they ended with dating. The romance wasn't believable for me. I didn't like Toni. Hunter was okay but I wasn't wow'd by him.
Wild Thing is the first book I've read by Robin Kaye. I do want to read the next book in the series so I will give this author another try. Wild Thing just wasn't the book for me. show less
Lucy is another forgotten goddess but she still has her loyal followers. Lucy has set up a life for herself running a bar and surrounding herself with the lucani. She's also an avid hockey fan and has the hots for hockey player Brandon Stevenson. Lucy attends every game to watch her crush in action. Unbeknownst to her, Brandon has noticed Lucy noticing him and looks for her at every game. Brandon decides that he's tired of watching Lucy from the comfort of the rink and decides that it's time they meet face-to-face.
How To Worship a Goddess is the second book in this series and it does not disappoint with the romance and the sex. Brandon and Lucy do not waste time hitting the sheets. Lucy has been without male companionship for a long time and this is the first time a man, any man, has made her feel. Throughout the book Lucy struggles between doing what's right (hiding her true identity from Brandon because he's human) and doing something selfish (continue to see Brandon).
Brand is not your typical hero. He's rough around the edges and there's more to him than meets the eye. Brand is constantly worrying about being too rough and crass around Lucy. The chemistry between Brand and Lucy is explosive. There is a lot of sex in this book and at some points I felt like it was a bit too much. We find out something about Brand's background that changes the game towards the end and I felt that more time should have been spent exploring this and maybe a little less sexy time.
How To show more Worship a Goddess was a great addition to the series. I love the Estruscan mythology and can't wait to read more about this world. Even though this book is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone. show less
How To Worship a Goddess is the second book in this series and it does not disappoint with the romance and the sex. Brandon and Lucy do not waste time hitting the sheets. Lucy has been without male companionship for a long time and this is the first time a man, any man, has made her feel. Throughout the book Lucy struggles between doing what's right (hiding her true identity from Brandon because he's human) and doing something selfish (continue to see Brandon).
Brand is not your typical hero. He's rough around the edges and there's more to him than meets the eye. Brand is constantly worrying about being too rough and crass around Lucy. The chemistry between Brand and Lucy is explosive. There is a lot of sex in this book and at some points I felt like it was a bit too much. We find out something about Brand's background that changes the game towards the end and I felt that more time should have been spent exploring this and maybe a little less sexy time.
How To show more Worship a Goddess was a great addition to the series. I love the Estruscan mythology and can't wait to read more about this world. Even though this book is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone. show less
Lady Northam's Wicked Surrender packs a lot of angst, betrayal and forgiveness in a little over 50 pages. I enjoyed reading the novella. I felt that a lot of plot was packed into a small package. Mis-communication and circumstances beyond their control kept Rowena and Simon apart for 6 years. Simon is back and he is ready to claim Rowena as his own. Rowena is still hurting from Simon's rejection but her body still yearns for him.
Lady Northam's Wicked Surrender is a steamy romance. The chemistry between Rowena and Simon was sizzling. Even though this is a novella, the plot was well-developed and we were given enough history about Rowena and Simon that made their attraction and romance believable. As with most novellas, I wished the story was longer. This could have easily been a full-length novel with the plot starting 6 years ago with Simon initially courting Rowena.
I definitely recommend this novella if you need a quick, steamy read. Lady Northam's Wicked Surrender definitely delivers.
Lady Northam's Wicked Surrender is a steamy romance. The chemistry between Rowena and Simon was sizzling. Even though this is a novella, the plot was well-developed and we were given enough history about Rowena and Simon that made their attraction and romance believable. As with most novellas, I wished the story was longer. This could have easily been a full-length novel with the plot starting 6 years ago with Simon initially courting Rowena.
I definitely recommend this novella if you need a quick, steamy read. Lady Northam's Wicked Surrender definitely delivers.
I think the summary of Holding On To Heaven is a little misleading. Yes, two brothers are in love with the same woman but the love triangle isn't the main focus of the plot. Lauren moves to Minnesota to live with her aunt and uncle as stirrings of the Civil War rumble through the South. Lauren is trying to get acclimated to living on a ranch. And then she meets Creed and the lasting impression she is left with is not flattering. Whenever they are in each other's presence, they argue and goad each other. We are led to believe that they act this way because they both are attracted to each other but do not want to admit it. The transition from enemies to lovers was fast and wasn't too believable to me because it was so fast. I can understand going from anger to sex; but not to love. There was no romance between them, just passion and heat so I couldn't understand why Lauren or Creed felt that the other was in their hearts.
HOTH is divided into different parts to introduce the other plot -- Sage and Wanapaya. Again, another fast moving love story but I found this one more believable because Sage saved Wanapaya's life and helped heal him. She watched over him. I can see how that can turn into a romantic relationship. In Lauren's case, she marries Brand (Creed's brother) but we never see any interaction between the two as a married couple. Brand supposedly is in love with Lauren but we never really see the development of his feelings. I feel like we missed out on a lot and were show more expected to just believe it without really seeing it.
Even though HOTH is billed as a historical romance, I felt that the romance aspect of the story was lacking. I didn't feel any romance from any of these characters, especially Lauren and Creed. Due to the story taking place during the Civil War and a Sioux uprising, there was a lot of dead, blood and gore and that is so the opposite of romance.
Holding Onto Heaven sort of just ends, with no satisfying resolution to Lauren's storyline and an odd epilogue with a mystery man. So I'm thinking (and hoping) that there will be another book to continue on with the story. I felt like I was left hanging especially since as a lover of romance, every romance has to have a HEA. And I felt that was no true HEA at the end.
Despite the issues I had, I enjoyed reading Holding On To Heaven. I think this book would have been better as a full length novel due to the complexity of the plot. I wish more attention had been spent on developing the romances/relationships between the characters instead of the ugliness of the war and uprising. show less
HOTH is divided into different parts to introduce the other plot -- Sage and Wanapaya. Again, another fast moving love story but I found this one more believable because Sage saved Wanapaya's life and helped heal him. She watched over him. I can see how that can turn into a romantic relationship. In Lauren's case, she marries Brand (Creed's brother) but we never see any interaction between the two as a married couple. Brand supposedly is in love with Lauren but we never really see the development of his feelings. I feel like we missed out on a lot and were show more expected to just believe it without really seeing it.
Even though HOTH is billed as a historical romance, I felt that the romance aspect of the story was lacking. I didn't feel any romance from any of these characters, especially Lauren and Creed. Due to the story taking place during the Civil War and a Sioux uprising, there was a lot of dead, blood and gore and that is so the opposite of romance.
Holding Onto Heaven sort of just ends, with no satisfying resolution to Lauren's storyline and an odd epilogue with a mystery man. So I'm thinking (and hoping) that there will be another book to continue on with the story. I felt like I was left hanging especially since as a lover of romance, every romance has to have a HEA. And I felt that was no true HEA at the end.
Despite the issues I had, I enjoyed reading Holding On To Heaven. I think this book would have been better as a full length novel due to the complexity of the plot. I wish more attention had been spent on developing the romances/relationships between the characters instead of the ugliness of the war and uprising. show less
The Other Guy's Bride is the first book published by Montlake, an imprint of Amazon. Needless to say, I didn't know what to expect when I started reading this book. Let me say that I was pleasantly surprised. The Other Guy's Bride is a lovely, romantic book where the characters and emotions were not surface-level but fully fleshed out and well-developed.
Jim and Ginny do not rush into romance. They bicker, butt heads and overall annoy each other. But as they traverse across the desert, they continue to bicker, but the undercurrent of attraction starts to simmer. They both are hiding who they really are. Jim is running from his past and Ginny is trying to prove her worth as an archaeologist by posing as an engaged woman on her way to meet her fiancee. But despite their secrets, this doesn't stop Jim and Ginny from discovering what lies beneath. Despite his frustration with Ginny, Jim starts to love the spirited woman. He will do anything to protect and even though it pains him to do so, he will do anything to make sure she is delivered safely to her fiancee.
Ginny has worked up in her mind that Jim is an outlaw cowboy and he does his best to prove her right. The Other Guy's Bride is a well-paced, romantic adventure. It reminded me of one of my favorite movies, The Mummy. The locations were described so well that I felt that I was there. The best part of the book was when Jim and Ginny would bicker. There were a lot of funny moments when Ginny would go toe-to-toe with not show more only Jim but anyone who would dare stand in her way.
Jim and Ginny's journey to love was so romantic. This has to be the most romantic romance book I've read in a long time. The declaration of love and their feelings for each other was so poetic without being too sappy. For Jim to be such an "outlaw", he has such a way with words. He may not get it right the first, second or fifth time. But when he finally does, I sighed and swooned and held my hand to my heart.
The Other Guy's Bride is a great romantic read. Jim and Ginny are great characters that I absolutely fell in love with. The pacing of the plot was done well although there were times where I was ready for the mistaken identity issue to be resolved. The use of Arabic terms slowed up my reading a little. I wish there was a diction at the beginning of the book for reference. I tried using the dictionary on my Kindle and even Kindle couldn't come up with any definitions for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am so mad that it took me so long to read it! I kept letting life get in the way. But once I sat down and fully committed to finishing it, I was hooked! The Other Guy's Bride is book 2 of a series. Book 1 is about Ginny's parents. I need to buy that book now! I am definitely planning on reading more works written by Connie Brockway. Oh! And the best thing about The Other Guy's Bride, there's an epilogue! I am a sucker for epilogues. It perfectly wraps up the story while giving us confirmation that the H/H truly have their HEA. show less
Jim and Ginny do not rush into romance. They bicker, butt heads and overall annoy each other. But as they traverse across the desert, they continue to bicker, but the undercurrent of attraction starts to simmer. They both are hiding who they really are. Jim is running from his past and Ginny is trying to prove her worth as an archaeologist by posing as an engaged woman on her way to meet her fiancee. But despite their secrets, this doesn't stop Jim and Ginny from discovering what lies beneath. Despite his frustration with Ginny, Jim starts to love the spirited woman. He will do anything to protect and even though it pains him to do so, he will do anything to make sure she is delivered safely to her fiancee.
Ginny has worked up in her mind that Jim is an outlaw cowboy and he does his best to prove her right. The Other Guy's Bride is a well-paced, romantic adventure. It reminded me of one of my favorite movies, The Mummy. The locations were described so well that I felt that I was there. The best part of the book was when Jim and Ginny would bicker. There were a lot of funny moments when Ginny would go toe-to-toe with not show more only Jim but anyone who would dare stand in her way.
Jim and Ginny's journey to love was so romantic. This has to be the most romantic romance book I've read in a long time. The declaration of love and their feelings for each other was so poetic without being too sappy. For Jim to be such an "outlaw", he has such a way with words. He may not get it right the first, second or fifth time. But when he finally does, I sighed and swooned and held my hand to my heart.
The Other Guy's Bride is a great romantic read. Jim and Ginny are great characters that I absolutely fell in love with. The pacing of the plot was done well although there were times where I was ready for the mistaken identity issue to be resolved. The use of Arabic terms slowed up my reading a little. I wish there was a diction at the beginning of the book for reference. I tried using the dictionary on my Kindle and even Kindle couldn't come up with any definitions for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am so mad that it took me so long to read it! I kept letting life get in the way. But once I sat down and fully committed to finishing it, I was hooked! The Other Guy's Bride is book 2 of a series. Book 1 is about Ginny's parents. I need to buy that book now! I am definitely planning on reading more works written by Connie Brockway. Oh! And the best thing about The Other Guy's Bride, there's an epilogue! I am a sucker for epilogues. It perfectly wraps up the story while giving us confirmation that the H/H truly have their HEA. show less
I had so much hope for Tate. I wanted to like her so bad but she just kept opening her mouth and sounding like a judgmental bitch. More Than Meets the Ink starts off with Tate and her mom attempting to break in to her neighbor's condo, I was thinking that Tate would be an over-worked woman, who's visiting her crazy mother at the retirement home and indulging her in her crazy schemes and whims. Yeah, that lasted for about 2 minutes and then the real Tate showed her true colors.
Tate doesn't trust anyone with tattoos, especially guys, because she has had such a bad experience with tattooed men. Oh wait, no she hasn't. That would be her sister, Elle, who has had all the bad experience with tattooed guys. Tate has it cemented in her brain that any guy with a tattoo is an automatic bad boy. And you can not tell her that she is wrong. When she meets her mom's neighbor's son, James, she immediately has him pegged as a good for nothing bad boy. And she proceeds to insult his intelligence, integrity and morals. Yeah, this Tate, she's a winner. And for some crazy reason, James is attracted to her and indulges her when she clearly insults him.
Tate just experienced a huge loss and is still coming to grips with it. You would think that this would make her a sympathetic character....nope. Tate is bitchy, judgmental and at times, downright rude. There were times, during her inner dialog, that she would admit to being a bitch, but for some reason, that didn't stop her. Despite my show more dislike for Tate, I enjoyed reading More Than Meets The Ink. James is a very sexy and likable character and he goes above and beyond to prove to Tate that he is not "that guy" that she has him pegged to be. The sex scenes between James and Tate are very hot and had me fanning myself quite frequently.
More Than Meets the Ink was a good read. The plot kept me engaged and what kept me reading was the hot sex and the hope that Tate would stop being so bitchy. There was one thing that bothered me throughout the book and it was Tate's use of "your kind" when referring to James as a bad boy. I felt that this phrase was over-used and could have been worded differently. When I think of "your kind", for me, it has negative, racist connotations. To me, it's just as bad as saying "you people". That was my personal hangup because when I hear "your kind" my thoughts automatically go to a hurtful and negative place. Why use "your kind?" He's not a different species! He's a guy with tats.
As an erotic novella with smoking hot sex scenes, I liked More Than Meets the Ink a lot. As a romance, not so much. Only because I could not get on board with James and Tate being together. I loved James. He is sexy and likes to talk dirty. He's also sweet despite having 3 whole tattoos! Imagine that. He has to be the nicest guy on the planet to put up with the crap that Tate was dishing out. Or maybe he was extremely desperate. I'm still trying to wrap my head around that. An enjoyable read despite my issues with the heroine. James and the old people at the retirement village more than made up for Tate's nasty prejudice and closed mind.
Oh - the scene with James, his dad and James' boner on the golf course - hilarious! show less
Tate doesn't trust anyone with tattoos, especially guys, because she has had such a bad experience with tattooed men. Oh wait, no she hasn't. That would be her sister, Elle, who has had all the bad experience with tattooed guys. Tate has it cemented in her brain that any guy with a tattoo is an automatic bad boy. And you can not tell her that she is wrong. When she meets her mom's neighbor's son, James, she immediately has him pegged as a good for nothing bad boy. And she proceeds to insult his intelligence, integrity and morals. Yeah, this Tate, she's a winner. And for some crazy reason, James is attracted to her and indulges her when she clearly insults him.
Tate just experienced a huge loss and is still coming to grips with it. You would think that this would make her a sympathetic character....nope. Tate is bitchy, judgmental and at times, downright rude. There were times, during her inner dialog, that she would admit to being a bitch, but for some reason, that didn't stop her. Despite my show more dislike for Tate, I enjoyed reading More Than Meets The Ink. James is a very sexy and likable character and he goes above and beyond to prove to Tate that he is not "that guy" that she has him pegged to be. The sex scenes between James and Tate are very hot and had me fanning myself quite frequently.
More Than Meets the Ink was a good read. The plot kept me engaged and what kept me reading was the hot sex and the hope that Tate would stop being so bitchy. There was one thing that bothered me throughout the book and it was Tate's use of "your kind" when referring to James as a bad boy. I felt that this phrase was over-used and could have been worded differently. When I think of "your kind", for me, it has negative, racist connotations. To me, it's just as bad as saying "you people". That was my personal hangup because when I hear "your kind" my thoughts automatically go to a hurtful and negative place. Why use "your kind?" He's not a different species! He's a guy with tats.
As an erotic novella with smoking hot sex scenes, I liked More Than Meets the Ink a lot. As a romance, not so much. Only because I could not get on board with James and Tate being together. I loved James. He is sexy and likes to talk dirty. He's also sweet despite having 3 whole tattoos! Imagine that. He has to be the nicest guy on the planet to put up with the crap that Tate was dishing out. Or maybe he was extremely desperate. I'm still trying to wrap my head around that. An enjoyable read despite my issues with the heroine. James and the old people at the retirement village more than made up for Tate's nasty prejudice and closed mind.
Oh - the scene with James, his dad and James' boner on the golf course - hilarious! show less
Local girl, Maggie Larkin, isn't impressed by reality-star Rafe DeLuca's advances. She expresses her distaste by punching him in the face. With that one action, Maggie unleashes a firestorm of paparazzi and reports on her front lawn. Being a reformed wild child, Maggie has worked hard to put her past behind her. But her impulsive act has put her in the spotlight and possibly made her a target of a serial killer.
Cal Drummond doesn't come from a traditional family. Growing up in a foster homes, his mother was more concerned about meeting the next great husband instead of being a mother to her kids. When Cal's half-sister Julie is murdered, it becomes Cal's duty to find her killer. Cal ends up in Barringer's Pass, protecting a feisty a feisty red-head from the man he is determined to bring down.
Silver Sparks gets off to a great start. I immediately liked Maggie. She is impulsive and spunky and she doesn't take anyone's shit. She has worked to live down her wild child reputation and all of her hard work has been ruined thanks to Rafe DeLuca. Cal comes to Maggie's rescue and tries to keep her out of harms way. But Maggie isn't having it. She has worked hard to have a successful business and respectful reputation and she is not going to cater to Rafe DeLuca. Maggie has a lot of spark and her personality is in constant conflict with what Cal wants her to do.
The romance build-up between Cal and Maggie was slow and steady. They didn't immediately fall into bed. I don't even show more think they liked each other at first. They constantly butted heads; Cal being controlling and Maggie being impulsive. There were times where both Maggie's impulsiveness and Cal's need to control everything worked my nerves. It took awhile for them to compromise and meet each other halfway.
Cal is on leave while he is pursuing Rafe so his business in B-Pass is not in official capacity. That being said, it seemed like he was telling everyone he encountered that he suspected Rafe of murder. I'm like, what a way to stay on the down low. I am thinking that if you are pursuing a rich, high-profile murder suspect who has money and lawyers at his disposal, you wouldn't want to let on that you suspect him of committing a crime. Cal and Maggie and whoever else involved would constantly talk about their suspicions and plans out in the open! What happened to being stealth?
I enjoyed Silver Sparks until the halfway point. The story moved at a fast pace. There was some light, funny moments and I enjoyed the budding friendship/romance between Cal and Maggie. But soon the murder aspect of the book started to wear thin and I started to get frustrated with the characters and their actions, one in particular - Rafe's sister Amber. The appearance of Cal's half-sister, Amber, didn't help matters. Yes, Amber's character is 16, with no one to turn to and she's angry. And because of this, why would you tell a 16 year old girl who's in mourning that you know who killed her sister?!?!? That I really, really didn't understand. So the rest of the book is spent chasing after Amber as she goes off half-cocked, trying to trap Rafe. We are supposed to believe that Cal is a good, by the book cop but I questioned his actions throughout most of the book.
It's hard for me to rate this book because there were some aspects that I enjoyed. The serial killer plot line wasn't that difficult to figure out. At times I felt that it took away from the romance since this book is categorized as romance. Silver Sparks is the first book in the Larkin Sister's trilogy and I am looking forward to reading the next book, featuring Zoe. It makes me wonder if the next two books will have a crime subplot or will it be strictly romance.
All in all, Silver Sparks was an okay read for me. I had some issues with it but the issues won't deter me from reading the next book in the series show less
Cal Drummond doesn't come from a traditional family. Growing up in a foster homes, his mother was more concerned about meeting the next great husband instead of being a mother to her kids. When Cal's half-sister Julie is murdered, it becomes Cal's duty to find her killer. Cal ends up in Barringer's Pass, protecting a feisty a feisty red-head from the man he is determined to bring down.
Silver Sparks gets off to a great start. I immediately liked Maggie. She is impulsive and spunky and she doesn't take anyone's shit. She has worked to live down her wild child reputation and all of her hard work has been ruined thanks to Rafe DeLuca. Cal comes to Maggie's rescue and tries to keep her out of harms way. But Maggie isn't having it. She has worked hard to have a successful business and respectful reputation and she is not going to cater to Rafe DeLuca. Maggie has a lot of spark and her personality is in constant conflict with what Cal wants her to do.
The romance build-up between Cal and Maggie was slow and steady. They didn't immediately fall into bed. I don't even show more think they liked each other at first. They constantly butted heads; Cal being controlling and Maggie being impulsive. There were times where both Maggie's impulsiveness and Cal's need to control everything worked my nerves. It took awhile for them to compromise and meet each other halfway.
Cal is on leave while he is pursuing Rafe so his business in B-Pass is not in official capacity. That being said, it seemed like he was telling everyone he encountered that he suspected Rafe of murder. I'm like, what a way to stay on the down low. I am thinking that if you are pursuing a rich, high-profile murder suspect who has money and lawyers at his disposal, you wouldn't want to let on that you suspect him of committing a crime. Cal and Maggie and whoever else involved would constantly talk about their suspicions and plans out in the open! What happened to being stealth?
I enjoyed Silver Sparks until the halfway point. The story moved at a fast pace. There was some light, funny moments and I enjoyed the budding friendship/romance between Cal and Maggie. But soon the murder aspect of the book started to wear thin and I started to get frustrated with the characters and their actions, one in particular - Rafe's sister Amber. The appearance of Cal's half-sister, Amber, didn't help matters. Yes, Amber's character is 16, with no one to turn to and she's angry. And because of this, why would you tell a 16 year old girl who's in mourning that you know who killed her sister?!?!? That I really, really didn't understand. So the rest of the book is spent chasing after Amber as she goes off half-cocked, trying to trap Rafe. We are supposed to believe that Cal is a good, by the book cop but I questioned his actions throughout most of the book.
It's hard for me to rate this book because there were some aspects that I enjoyed. The serial killer plot line wasn't that difficult to figure out. At times I felt that it took away from the romance since this book is categorized as romance. Silver Sparks is the first book in the Larkin Sister's trilogy and I am looking forward to reading the next book, featuring Zoe. It makes me wonder if the next two books will have a crime subplot or will it be strictly romance.
All in all, Silver Sparks was an okay read for me. I had some issues with it but the issues won't deter me from reading the next book in the series show less
Ten years ago Reid Jamison and Brynn LeBreck fell in love while working on Reid’s Uncle’s senatorial campaign. With Brynn Reid can be himself both in and out of the bedroom but those around them know they come from different worlds and want the two to break up. Fast forward ten years and Reid and Brynn are working together and neither one has forgotten the past and the hurt they both caused one another. When Brynn’s sister goes missing the only person she can turn to is Reid and together they go to The Ranch, a BDSM retreat, where Brynn’s sister is. Connecting the way they did in the past bring up old feelings and memories but it also just might be the key to getting them back together.
Crash Into You is the debut novel by author Roni Loren and it did not disappoint. First, I love that each chapter was labeled "Then" and "Now". The "Then" chapters take place 10 years prior, when Brynn and Reid start dating. I loved the idea of each chapter going back in time and showing us how Reid and Brynn's romance developed. I liked this method; it's so much better than having a huge info dump at the beginning of the book to provide the background information. I found myself looking forward to each "Then" chapter and learning more about Reid and Brynn's past.
Both Reid and Brynn are dealing with issues from what their parents did. Brynn's mother is a prostitute and Brynn is working hard to shed the label of being the daughter of a whore. Reid's father is a convicted rapist. show more Reid's sexual likes is to be dominate with his partners but he is afraid of letting that side out because what if he is his father's son and goes to far and ends up seriously hurting someone. When he is with Brynn, Reid is encouraged by her to let that side of him out. She's not afraid of the dominant side and she proves to be the perfect submissive. Their summer fling turns into something more but tragedy prevents their romance from going further.
I enjoyed reading Crash Into You especially the "Then" chapters. Reid and Brynn are both trying to not repeat their parents' mistakes and in the process find love and solace in each other. While they are at The Ranch, Brynn has to let her guard down and trust Reid. Brynn is also using her stint at The Ranch to overcome a traumatic incident when she was dating Reid. I'm not sure if going to a BDSM club is the perfect way to do it but I can see why she thinks that method would be successful.
Along with finding Brynn's sister at The Ranch, there is also a little bit of suspense and a murder plot. The amount of time spent on this aspect turned me off a little. Some parts were a little out there and the reasons behind the perps' motives was just too out there. I will admit, when it all came to a head, I did roll my eyes. I was hoping for more sex since they are at a BDSM resort. There was sex but some of it was very tame and I wasn't expecting that. It did get a little spicy involving a threesome but I wish it had gone further.
I really enjoyed reading Crash Into You. The plot and characters kept me engaged and once I got into the book, I could not put it down. Book Two features Jace, Reid's best friend, and I can not wait. We meet him in Crash Into You and my interest was definitely piqued. Despite the few issues I had, I highly recommend this book. show less
Crash Into You is the debut novel by author Roni Loren and it did not disappoint. First, I love that each chapter was labeled "Then" and "Now". The "Then" chapters take place 10 years prior, when Brynn and Reid start dating. I loved the idea of each chapter going back in time and showing us how Reid and Brynn's romance developed. I liked this method; it's so much better than having a huge info dump at the beginning of the book to provide the background information. I found myself looking forward to each "Then" chapter and learning more about Reid and Brynn's past.
Both Reid and Brynn are dealing with issues from what their parents did. Brynn's mother is a prostitute and Brynn is working hard to shed the label of being the daughter of a whore. Reid's father is a convicted rapist. show more Reid's sexual likes is to be dominate with his partners but he is afraid of letting that side out because what if he is his father's son and goes to far and ends up seriously hurting someone. When he is with Brynn, Reid is encouraged by her to let that side of him out. She's not afraid of the dominant side and she proves to be the perfect submissive. Their summer fling turns into something more but tragedy prevents their romance from going further.
I enjoyed reading Crash Into You especially the "Then" chapters. Reid and Brynn are both trying to not repeat their parents' mistakes and in the process find love and solace in each other. While they are at The Ranch, Brynn has to let her guard down and trust Reid. Brynn is also using her stint at The Ranch to overcome a traumatic incident when she was dating Reid. I'm not sure if going to a BDSM club is the perfect way to do it but I can see why she thinks that method would be successful.
Along with finding Brynn's sister at The Ranch, there is also a little bit of suspense and a murder plot. The amount of time spent on this aspect turned me off a little. Some parts were a little out there and the reasons behind the perps' motives was just too out there. I will admit, when it all came to a head, I did roll my eyes. I was hoping for more sex since they are at a BDSM resort. There was sex but some of it was very tame and I wasn't expecting that. It did get a little spicy involving a threesome but I wish it had gone further.
I really enjoyed reading Crash Into You. The plot and characters kept me engaged and once I got into the book, I could not put it down. Book Two features Jace, Reid's best friend, and I can not wait. We meet him in Crash Into You and my interest was definitely piqued. Despite the few issues I had, I highly recommend this book. show less
Ready, Set, Jett by Lori Foster
This novella is a prequel to a new series, The Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor. I wasn't aware of this at the time and wondered why Natalie's sister's disappearance was such a big deal. Jett and Natalie were luke-warm characters for me. I didn't feel any attraction between them even though we are supposed to believe that they have this amazing sexual chemistry. The story begins with them already deep in a sex only affair so we weren't privy to the build of attraction that led to said affair. I found Natalie annoying at times and her skittishness was too over the top. I liked Jett's character and hope we see more of him in the upcoming series.
Rating: 2.5/5
Gail Gone Wild by Susan Donovan
A great story about a single mom trying to get her groove back. While in Key West on Spring Break with her daughter, Holly and friend Hannah, Gail decides to step outside her comfort zone and have some fun for herself. It helps that the person who's going to help her do this is her sexy neighbor, Jesse. I loved Gail's character. She is not a seductress, doesn't know the rules of the dating ritual. She is truly a newbie and fumbles her way through her rendezvous with Jesse. This story had humor and romance and sex. I loved both characters. I thought the relationship between Jesse and Gail was believable and genuine.
Rating: 3.5/5
Just One Taste by Victoria Dahl
I am a huge fan of Dahl's contemporary romances so I was surprised to be a little disappointed with show more her novella. Eric and Beth's story is the set-up for a new series, The Donovan Brothers Brewery. I did not know this going in. So I was a little startled when the story ends with no resolution. This really didn't take away from the story too much. They meet each other, each one wearing a facade. Both are staid, responsible people who pretend to be someone they are not. There are some super hot sexy times between Eric and Beth one involving some under the table action. I really wanted to know more about Beth and why she has certain hang-ups. I guess we'll find out more when the series is released. All in all, an good read with interesting side characters (Eric's brother, Jaime and sister Tessa). I look forward to reading the series.
Rating: 3/5 show less
This novella is a prequel to a new series, The Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor. I wasn't aware of this at the time and wondered why Natalie's sister's disappearance was such a big deal. Jett and Natalie were luke-warm characters for me. I didn't feel any attraction between them even though we are supposed to believe that they have this amazing sexual chemistry. The story begins with them already deep in a sex only affair so we weren't privy to the build of attraction that led to said affair. I found Natalie annoying at times and her skittishness was too over the top. I liked Jett's character and hope we see more of him in the upcoming series.
Rating: 2.5/5
Gail Gone Wild by Susan Donovan
A great story about a single mom trying to get her groove back. While in Key West on Spring Break with her daughter, Holly and friend Hannah, Gail decides to step outside her comfort zone and have some fun for herself. It helps that the person who's going to help her do this is her sexy neighbor, Jesse. I loved Gail's character. She is not a seductress, doesn't know the rules of the dating ritual. She is truly a newbie and fumbles her way through her rendezvous with Jesse. This story had humor and romance and sex. I loved both characters. I thought the relationship between Jesse and Gail was believable and genuine.
Rating: 3.5/5
Just One Taste by Victoria Dahl
I am a huge fan of Dahl's contemporary romances so I was surprised to be a little disappointed with show more her novella. Eric and Beth's story is the set-up for a new series, The Donovan Brothers Brewery. I did not know this going in. So I was a little startled when the story ends with no resolution. This really didn't take away from the story too much. They meet each other, each one wearing a facade. Both are staid, responsible people who pretend to be someone they are not. There are some super hot sexy times between Eric and Beth one involving some under the table action. I really wanted to know more about Beth and why she has certain hang-ups. I guess we'll find out more when the series is released. All in all, an good read with interesting side characters (Eric's brother, Jaime and sister Tessa). I look forward to reading the series.
Rating: 3/5 show less
Sweet as Sin is the first book I've read by Inez Kelley. There was a lot of buzz on twitter and rave reviews that had my interest piqued.
John Murphy is a writer. There are demons from his past that he can not shake. Livvy owns a bakery shop. Her little sister is getting married and Livvy's clock is steadily ticking away. When Livvy meets her new neighbor, John, the attraction is instant. Livvy decides, on the advice of her sister, to have a fling with her handsome neighbor. John is more than willing to oblige; he's the fling expert. He doesn't do relationships. But the more John and Livvy are in each other's company, the idea of just a fling melts away.
Sweet as Sin is an intense read. John is a very dark and wounded man. What happened to him as a child has forever marked him; literally and figuratively. He tries to keep the darkness at bay but the more he's around Livvy and his feelings for her change, he lashes out. There are times where John is so cruel to Livvy that I cringed while reading the scene. He can be a truly unlikable character. But John is also a caring person. We see glimpses of that when he's with his nephews and his sister. He's loving and protective. He is open to their love. John never expected to fall in love with Livvy. He didn't want love and doesn't think he is deserving of love. He feels like his love is poisonous. Usually, when declaration of love is made, things get better. Not for John and Livvy. The demons that John tries to hide rise to the show more surface. Livvy wants to be there to help him and support him but John pushes her away with cruel words and actions.
Livvy is a wonderful, strong female character. I loved how she wouldn't let John go without a fight. She was willing to stick by his side and fight with him. When John was mean and cruel, instead of tucking tail and running away, Livvy pushed back and fought for him and their relationship. There were times where John went way over the line. When this happened, Livvy still maintained her dignity and strength.
Sweet as Sin is an emotionally charged and powerful story. There are sexy and sensual moments throughout the book but the majority of the plot is dark and gritty. Not everything is sunshine and rainbows for John and Livvy. Their journey is not pretty and it's not easy. They have to get past some huge emotional hurdles before they are both truly healed.
Have a box of tissues nearby. You're going to need them! show less
John Murphy is a writer. There are demons from his past that he can not shake. Livvy owns a bakery shop. Her little sister is getting married and Livvy's clock is steadily ticking away. When Livvy meets her new neighbor, John, the attraction is instant. Livvy decides, on the advice of her sister, to have a fling with her handsome neighbor. John is more than willing to oblige; he's the fling expert. He doesn't do relationships. But the more John and Livvy are in each other's company, the idea of just a fling melts away.
Sweet as Sin is an intense read. John is a very dark and wounded man. What happened to him as a child has forever marked him; literally and figuratively. He tries to keep the darkness at bay but the more he's around Livvy and his feelings for her change, he lashes out. There are times where John is so cruel to Livvy that I cringed while reading the scene. He can be a truly unlikable character. But John is also a caring person. We see glimpses of that when he's with his nephews and his sister. He's loving and protective. He is open to their love. John never expected to fall in love with Livvy. He didn't want love and doesn't think he is deserving of love. He feels like his love is poisonous. Usually, when declaration of love is made, things get better. Not for John and Livvy. The demons that John tries to hide rise to the show more surface. Livvy wants to be there to help him and support him but John pushes her away with cruel words and actions.
Livvy is a wonderful, strong female character. I loved how she wouldn't let John go without a fight. She was willing to stick by his side and fight with him. When John was mean and cruel, instead of tucking tail and running away, Livvy pushed back and fought for him and their relationship. There were times where John went way over the line. When this happened, Livvy still maintained her dignity and strength.
Sweet as Sin is an emotionally charged and powerful story. There are sexy and sensual moments throughout the book but the majority of the plot is dark and gritty. Not everything is sunshine and rainbows for John and Livvy. Their journey is not pretty and it's not easy. They have to get past some huge emotional hurdles before they are both truly healed.
Have a box of tissues nearby. You're going to need them! show less
I love Lisa McMann's Wake Trilogy so when I heard she written a new YA Paranormal, Cryer's Cross, I knew I had to get my hands on it!
I don't know what to think about Cryer's Cross. The story started off great with the disappearance of Tracy and then Nico (no spoiler. His disappearance is mentioned in the book summary). Kendall is trying to deal with her grief and OCD while trying to figure out what happened to Nico. She is suspicious of the new kid in town, Jacian. Jacian and his family moved to Cryer's Cross when Tiffany disappeared. The first thing that bothered me was Kendall's obsession with believing that Jacian had something to do with the disappearances. He'd given her no reason to believe that he was dangerous or violent. He had major attitude but other than that, I couldn't understand why she was so set on believing he was guilty even though the sheriff told her that Jacian was innocent. Once Kendall got over her preconceived notions of Jacian, Kendall and Jacian slowly became friends. They bonded over the love of soccer and Jacian was the only kid who noticed Kendall's secret, her OCD. Instead of pushing her away or making her feel ostracized, he was understanding. As their friendship grew, it started turning into something more.
Cryer's Cross is only 240 pages and the majority of those pages were dedicated to Kendall and her budding relationship with Jacian. This book is described as a Paranormal but the PNR aspects were greatly missing. What kept me reading show more was I wanted to find out what happened to these kids. When we finally got to what was causing the disappearances (where only 2 kids disappeared. I thought there'd be more) the big reveal was laughable and had scratching my head in confusion. Cryer's Cross would have been better if the paranormal aspect of the book had more build-up. I almost forgot that there was a mystery that needed to be solved. The ending was too neat and quick. Everything was wrapped up in the last 30 pages or so. I had such high expectations for this book but was sorely disappointed. show less
I don't know what to think about Cryer's Cross. The story started off great with the disappearance of Tracy and then Nico (no spoiler. His disappearance is mentioned in the book summary). Kendall is trying to deal with her grief and OCD while trying to figure out what happened to Nico. She is suspicious of the new kid in town, Jacian. Jacian and his family moved to Cryer's Cross when Tiffany disappeared. The first thing that bothered me was Kendall's obsession with believing that Jacian had something to do with the disappearances. He'd given her no reason to believe that he was dangerous or violent. He had major attitude but other than that, I couldn't understand why she was so set on believing he was guilty even though the sheriff told her that Jacian was innocent. Once Kendall got over her preconceived notions of Jacian, Kendall and Jacian slowly became friends. They bonded over the love of soccer and Jacian was the only kid who noticed Kendall's secret, her OCD. Instead of pushing her away or making her feel ostracized, he was understanding. As their friendship grew, it started turning into something more.
Cryer's Cross is only 240 pages and the majority of those pages were dedicated to Kendall and her budding relationship with Jacian. This book is described as a Paranormal but the PNR aspects were greatly missing. What kept me reading show more was I wanted to find out what happened to these kids. When we finally got to what was causing the disappearances (where only 2 kids disappeared. I thought there'd be more) the big reveal was laughable and had scratching my head in confusion. Cryer's Cross would have been better if the paranormal aspect of the book had more build-up. I almost forgot that there was a mystery that needed to be solved. The ending was too neat and quick. Everything was wrapped up in the last 30 pages or so. I had such high expectations for this book but was sorely disappointed. show less
We met Martha in Eve of Samhain. She came across as the freaky, anti-social weirdo roommate. Not much has changed since except that Martha now has two new roommates and she's a little less on the anti-social side. Martha is a witch and she likes kicking butt and taking names. She fights the bad guys - vampires, demons. She has a grudge and a chip on her shoulder that won't go away until every blood-sucking vamp is toast!
I was super curious about Martha when I read Eve of Samhain and was super excited when I found out that she was going to have her own book. Martha's voice in Pleasures Untold took getting used to. I felt that her snarkiness and self-deprecating humor came off as a little forced and a bit much. Martha is very introverted and is used to living her life in the shadows. She uses the snarkiness to keep people at a distance. But I would hope that she would be a little more open with her roommates. As it happens, she does finally open and let herself be vulnerable. We find out secrets from Martha's past that are shocking and gives insight into the person she has become.
The one thing Martha does not anticipate is falling for sexy, latin, bartender Xan. Rawr! Martha isn't your typical boy crazy 21 year old college student. But there's something about Xan that makes her quiver. Her attraction to him is instantaneous. When she discovers that he's a vamp, one of the creatures that she vows to kill, the attraction doesn't fade. Xan isn't like most vamps and it has show more Martha questioning everything that she knows.
Pleasures Untold started off slow for me but has the plot developed and the pace picked up, I was engrossed in the story. It took me awhile to get used to Martha's voice. The snarkiness and self-deprecation was a little off-putting. I wanted to shake Martha. She is so strong and confident when she's fighting but when it comes to personal stuff, like her appearance and her "lack" of attractiveness, she is so down on herself and with no self-esteem. I had to continually remind myself that Martha is not all fluff and light. This was Martha's personality so I went with it. She has issues that she needs to work through. As Martha opens up more to her roommates and Xan, we see a more softer, gentler Martha who can still kick ass! Martha had plenty of great one-liners throughout the book that reminded me Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Pleasures Untold definitely had more heat than Eve of Samhain. There were plenty of plot twists and surprises that kept the story interesting. I loved the building relationship between Martha and Xan. And also her relationship with her roommates. Pleasures Untold ended with some things left unsettled which hopefully will be resolved in the next book. I can't wait! show less
I was super curious about Martha when I read Eve of Samhain and was super excited when I found out that she was going to have her own book. Martha's voice in Pleasures Untold took getting used to. I felt that her snarkiness and self-deprecating humor came off as a little forced and a bit much. Martha is very introverted and is used to living her life in the shadows. She uses the snarkiness to keep people at a distance. But I would hope that she would be a little more open with her roommates. As it happens, she does finally open and let herself be vulnerable. We find out secrets from Martha's past that are shocking and gives insight into the person she has become.
The one thing Martha does not anticipate is falling for sexy, latin, bartender Xan. Rawr! Martha isn't your typical boy crazy 21 year old college student. But there's something about Xan that makes her quiver. Her attraction to him is instantaneous. When she discovers that he's a vamp, one of the creatures that she vows to kill, the attraction doesn't fade. Xan isn't like most vamps and it has show more Martha questioning everything that she knows.
Pleasures Untold started off slow for me but has the plot developed and the pace picked up, I was engrossed in the story. It took me awhile to get used to Martha's voice. The snarkiness and self-deprecation was a little off-putting. I wanted to shake Martha. She is so strong and confident when she's fighting but when it comes to personal stuff, like her appearance and her "lack" of attractiveness, she is so down on herself and with no self-esteem. I had to continually remind myself that Martha is not all fluff and light. This was Martha's personality so I went with it. She has issues that she needs to work through. As Martha opens up more to her roommates and Xan, we see a more softer, gentler Martha who can still kick ass! Martha had plenty of great one-liners throughout the book that reminded me Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Pleasures Untold definitely had more heat than Eve of Samhain. There were plenty of plot twists and surprises that kept the story interesting. I loved the building relationship between Martha and Xan. And also her relationship with her roommates. Pleasures Untold ended with some things left unsettled which hopefully will be resolved in the next book. I can't wait! show less
I am definitely not familiar with the BDSM lifestyle and can't begin to comprehend being in that lifestyle. Reading His Elle definitely took me out of my comfort zone. Elle meets a doctor during a visit to Urgent Care. We never find out the doctor's name. Information about him is very minimal. Two years later after that visit, we find out that he is her Master and we discover what traumatic event landed her in Urgent Care. I would think after experiencing what she did, the last thing Elle would want to do was to be submissive to a man. But Master has gained her trust through training and patience. We see that he cares for her, a lot, and despite being the Dom, he wouldn't do anything to push her beyond her limits.
His Elle was a dark read for me. Even though Master cares for Elle deeply, I couldn't help but wonder why love her this way? Especially knowing what she has been through. The author expertly portrays the deep feelings and conflicts that Elle and her Master experiences. I finished the story wondering where does it go from here? If you're familiar with the BDSM world, then this book is for you
His Elle was a dark read for me. Even though Master cares for Elle deeply, I couldn't help but wonder why love her this way? Especially knowing what she has been through. The author expertly portrays the deep feelings and conflicts that Elle and her Master experiences. I finished the story wondering where does it go from here? If you're familiar with the BDSM world, then this book is for you
Ever wonder what happened to the geeky guy that you rejected because you were a superficial teenager who didn't want to be seen with the geeky guy? Alana MacGregor finds out when her past shows up at a sex club called, Kink, and proceeds to rock her world. Carter "Nicky" Nicholas shows up at Kink searching for a story when he runs into Alana. Nicky has always had the hots for Alana and those feelings resurface when he sees her again.
Alana is a care-free, live for the moment kind of girl. She's admittedly selfish and puts her needs first. It was difficult to like Alana in the beginning because she is so unapologetically selfish. She drags her friend, Kelly, to Kink and then promptly leaves her so that she can get her freak on with Nicky. What kind of friend is that? But we soon learn that Alana isn't as heartless as we thought and the motivation behind her actions.
Nicky knows that there's more to Alana than meets the eye. He has always wanted her, flaws and all. Nicky is sweet and sexy. When he and Alana hook up, the sex is off the charts. Nicky is definitely swoon worthy. And the cover? Wow! I love a man with a strong back. LOL!
Reveal Me is a novella that provides a great, detailed story. It's a sexy, quick read with great plot and character development. I hated to see it end because I wanted to read more about Nicky and Alana.
The lesson in this book is to look beneath the surface; don't dismiss the geeky boys. They may just rock your world!
Alana is a care-free, live for the moment kind of girl. She's admittedly selfish and puts her needs first. It was difficult to like Alana in the beginning because she is so unapologetically selfish. She drags her friend, Kelly, to Kink and then promptly leaves her so that she can get her freak on with Nicky. What kind of friend is that? But we soon learn that Alana isn't as heartless as we thought and the motivation behind her actions.
Nicky knows that there's more to Alana than meets the eye. He has always wanted her, flaws and all. Nicky is sweet and sexy. When he and Alana hook up, the sex is off the charts. Nicky is definitely swoon worthy. And the cover? Wow! I love a man with a strong back. LOL!
Reveal Me is a novella that provides a great, detailed story. It's a sexy, quick read with great plot and character development. I hated to see it end because I wanted to read more about Nicky and Alana.
The lesson in this book is to look beneath the surface; don't dismiss the geeky boys. They may just rock your world!
I enjoyed Notorious Pleasures from start to finish. The manner in which Lady Hero and Lord Reading meet is hilarious. I knew from the moment Lady Hero threw her earbob at Lord Reading's naked bum, this book was going to be a winner!
Lady Hero and Lord Reading are true opposites. She disapproves of his lifestyle and he disapproves of her rigidness. This leads them to giving each other nicknames: Lady Perfect and Lord Shameless. They call each other this throughout the book. I found it cute. As they continue to find themselves in each other's company, the bantering continues with a heated sexual undertone. Lady Hero is a stickler for social norms and behaviors but she finds herself breaking those norms whenever she's around Griffin (Lord Reading). Suddenly, marrying Griffin's dull as dirt brother, Thomas, doesn't seem like such a great idea.
Notorious Pleasures is part of the Maiden Lane series but can be read as a stand alone. The plot is pretty predictable but enjoyable nonetheless. The story is humorous and sexy; beyond sexy it was downright steamy!! I enjoyed Hero and Griffin. They are great characters that kept the story interesting. A definite read if you're a fan of Elizabeth Hoyt and historical romance. I haven't read Wicked Intentions (Book 1 of the series) but will definitely be reading it in the future!
Lady Hero and Lord Reading are true opposites. She disapproves of his lifestyle and he disapproves of her rigidness. This leads them to giving each other nicknames: Lady Perfect and Lord Shameless. They call each other this throughout the book. I found it cute. As they continue to find themselves in each other's company, the bantering continues with a heated sexual undertone. Lady Hero is a stickler for social norms and behaviors but she finds herself breaking those norms whenever she's around Griffin (Lord Reading). Suddenly, marrying Griffin's dull as dirt brother, Thomas, doesn't seem like such a great idea.
Notorious Pleasures is part of the Maiden Lane series but can be read as a stand alone. The plot is pretty predictable but enjoyable nonetheless. The story is humorous and sexy; beyond sexy it was downright steamy!! I enjoyed Hero and Griffin. They are great characters that kept the story interesting. A definite read if you're a fan of Elizabeth Hoyt and historical romance. I haven't read Wicked Intentions (Book 1 of the series) but will definitely be reading it in the future!
I love Larissa Ione's Demonica series so I was excited that she wrote a novella as part of the series. Ever since reading Sin Undone, the final book in the series, I've been jonesing for more of the characters from UGH (Underworld General Hospital). And she delivered. This novella centers around Kaden and Andrea, who both are Guardians working for The Aegis. Kaden is captured and turned into a vampire. Andrea comes to his rescue but it's too late. She is conflicted; she loves him but it is her job to hunt and kill demons of all kind. Will she able able to kill Kaden?
Even though Eternity Embraced is a novella, it packs a lot of punch. The plot moves swiftly and you don't miss out on anything. I love the underlying conflict between Andrea and Kaden. We've seen this conflict in the Demonica series, with Tayla and Doc E. Can you love someone that you are trained to kill?
Eternity Embraced delivers everything that you would get in a novel. This will definitely tide me over until the release of book 1 of Ione's LOTU series, Eternal Rider.
Even though Eternity Embraced is a novella, it packs a lot of punch. The plot moves swiftly and you don't miss out on anything. I love the underlying conflict between Andrea and Kaden. We've seen this conflict in the Demonica series, with Tayla and Doc E. Can you love someone that you are trained to kill?
Eternity Embraced delivers everything that you would get in a novel. This will definitely tide me over until the release of book 1 of Ione's LOTU series, Eternal Rider.
3.5
Archangel's Consort is the eagerly anticipated third book of The Guild Hunter Series. Raphael and Elena are back in New York after defeating Archangel Lijuan and her legion of reborn (zombies). Elena is realizing that her life has changed. She hasn't had a chance to settle down into her new life when she is called to her half-sister's school to investigate a murder committed by a possible bloodlust vampire. And to make things even more chaotic, there have been rumblings, literally, around the world that hints that Raphael's mother, Caliane, is waking from her Sleep. In previous books, Elena was dealing with her daddy issues. This time the shoe is on the foot and Raphael is dealing with the atrocities of his mother.
Raphael and Elena's relationship has faced adversity from the beginning. When they're not dealing with outside forces that are against them, they are trying to make their relationship work. Raphael is an Archangel and is used to being obeyed. Elena is fiercely independent and strong in her own right and doesn't take kindly to Raphael ordering her around like she's one of his Seven. Elena is getting stronger physically and is exerting her independence more. Besides the external happenings around them, the main conflict in Archangel's Consort is Elena's freedom versus Raphael's protection. The Archangel is not used to anyone defying him but realizes that he may push Elena away by trying to change her. She is a warrior. He made a warrior his consort. As they show more continually butt heads, they slowly concede and compromise. This leads to very hot and very steamy sex. Archangel's Consort is the steamiest of the Guild Hunter Series.
Archangel's Consort is a great addition to the series. I love the progression of Raphael and Elena's relationship. Two fiercely powerful and independent people are trying to find equal footing in their relationship. Some light is shed more on Elena's family, especially her father. Elena's relationship with Illium (Bluebell) makes me smile. Illium is a great character and I hope he gets his own book. I'd love to know his story regarding his mother, Hummingbird, and his haunting past.
When I started reading Consort, it took me a long time to get into it. I felt the pace was slow until the middle of the book when it started to pick up more. Singh's writing is descriptive beyond belief and it draws you in. She touches every detail with her words. Archangel's Consort may not be my favorite of the series, but I still enjoyed reading it. I'm looking forward to reading Dmitri's book in September. I'd love to see how much of a role Raphael and Elena play in the plot. show less
Archangel's Consort is the eagerly anticipated third book of The Guild Hunter Series. Raphael and Elena are back in New York after defeating Archangel Lijuan and her legion of reborn (zombies). Elena is realizing that her life has changed. She hasn't had a chance to settle down into her new life when she is called to her half-sister's school to investigate a murder committed by a possible bloodlust vampire. And to make things even more chaotic, there have been rumblings, literally, around the world that hints that Raphael's mother, Caliane, is waking from her Sleep. In previous books, Elena was dealing with her daddy issues. This time the shoe is on the foot and Raphael is dealing with the atrocities of his mother.
Raphael and Elena's relationship has faced adversity from the beginning. When they're not dealing with outside forces that are against them, they are trying to make their relationship work. Raphael is an Archangel and is used to being obeyed. Elena is fiercely independent and strong in her own right and doesn't take kindly to Raphael ordering her around like she's one of his Seven. Elena is getting stronger physically and is exerting her independence more. Besides the external happenings around them, the main conflict in Archangel's Consort is Elena's freedom versus Raphael's protection. The Archangel is not used to anyone defying him but realizes that he may push Elena away by trying to change her. She is a warrior. He made a warrior his consort. As they show more continually butt heads, they slowly concede and compromise. This leads to very hot and very steamy sex. Archangel's Consort is the steamiest of the Guild Hunter Series.
Archangel's Consort is a great addition to the series. I love the progression of Raphael and Elena's relationship. Two fiercely powerful and independent people are trying to find equal footing in their relationship. Some light is shed more on Elena's family, especially her father. Elena's relationship with Illium (Bluebell) makes me smile. Illium is a great character and I hope he gets his own book. I'd love to know his story regarding his mother, Hummingbird, and his haunting past.
When I started reading Consort, it took me a long time to get into it. I felt the pace was slow until the middle of the book when it started to pick up more. Singh's writing is descriptive beyond belief and it draws you in. She touches every detail with her words. Archangel's Consort may not be my favorite of the series, but I still enjoyed reading it. I'm looking forward to reading Dmitri's book in September. I'd love to see how much of a role Raphael and Elena play in the plot. show less
Let me get this out of the way first. Squeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! This review will be spoiler free. It will be vague with a lot of gushing. Don't say I didn't warn you.
This is what we Fever fans have all been waiting for. We anxiously counted down the days to the release of the 5th and final book of the Fever series, Shadowfever. I pre-ordered Shadowfever for my Kindle and woke up at 3am on Tuesday morning to start reading it. O.M.G.! I finished Shadowfever that same day. Karen Moning delivered everything and more!
Dreamfever ended with a hell of a cliffhanger. We were left wondering who Mac had killed. Shadowfever picks up right where Dreamfever left off. We get the answer to the Dreamfever cliffhanger at the very beginning and that reveal is a punch in the gut. Moning grabs you from the very first page and does not let you go until the end. There were lots of OMG and WTF moments while reading Shadowfever. There were so many twists and turns that I couldn't keep everything straight in my head. I used my Kindle's highlighting feature so much that I had a cramp in my thumb by the time I was done. Shadowfever was everything I wanted and more. I worried that with the book being over 600 pages, that it would not live it to the hype. For me, it did. There were parts that were drawn out and long. How could it not be? It has to be difficult to write a book of this magnitude and not have the plot slow down or stall a little. I suspected this would be the case before I started reading, show more so I wasn't too bothered by it. The endless paragraphs of Mac asking questions got annoying at times but I just skimmed over them. And maybe some things were wrapped up too neatly or exposed too late in the book. But I didn't care. None of these issues ruined the book for me.
When I finished Shadowfever, I was exhausted and happy. And then I started discussing Shadowfever with some of my friends and wanted to read it all over again. And I still do. I am suffering from PSSS (Post Shadowfever Stress Syndrome). I can't stop thinking about it!
Shadowfever was the perfect finish to an awesomely great series. It was the icing on the cake. It was everything I expected and more. Questions were answered but just as many new questions were brought to the forefront. One door closes and another one opens, leaving the possibility of a Fever spin-off series. So this is the end....for now. show less
This is what we Fever fans have all been waiting for. We anxiously counted down the days to the release of the 5th and final book of the Fever series, Shadowfever. I pre-ordered Shadowfever for my Kindle and woke up at 3am on Tuesday morning to start reading it. O.M.G.! I finished Shadowfever that same day. Karen Moning delivered everything and more!
Dreamfever ended with a hell of a cliffhanger. We were left wondering who Mac had killed. Shadowfever picks up right where Dreamfever left off. We get the answer to the Dreamfever cliffhanger at the very beginning and that reveal is a punch in the gut. Moning grabs you from the very first page and does not let you go until the end. There were lots of OMG and WTF moments while reading Shadowfever. There were so many twists and turns that I couldn't keep everything straight in my head. I used my Kindle's highlighting feature so much that I had a cramp in my thumb by the time I was done. Shadowfever was everything I wanted and more. I worried that with the book being over 600 pages, that it would not live it to the hype. For me, it did. There were parts that were drawn out and long. How could it not be? It has to be difficult to write a book of this magnitude and not have the plot slow down or stall a little. I suspected this would be the case before I started reading, show more so I wasn't too bothered by it. The endless paragraphs of Mac asking questions got annoying at times but I just skimmed over them. And maybe some things were wrapped up too neatly or exposed too late in the book. But I didn't care. None of these issues ruined the book for me.
When I finished Shadowfever, I was exhausted and happy. And then I started discussing Shadowfever with some of my friends and wanted to read it all over again. And I still do. I am suffering from PSSS (Post Shadowfever Stress Syndrome). I can't stop thinking about it!
Shadowfever was the perfect finish to an awesomely great series. It was the icing on the cake. It was everything I expected and more. Questions were answered but just as many new questions were brought to the forefront. One door closes and another one opens, leaving the possibility of a Fever spin-off series. So this is the end....for now. show less
Ok so the Goodreads summary pretty much tells the whole damn story! LOL! I'm going to keep this short and sweet. I've heard so many great things about the Immortals After Dark series. It has been on my "to buy and read" radar since last year. But who has time to start a new series? Not I! So when Jen of That's What I'm Talking About came up with the IAD Reading Challenge and immediately jumped on board!
I loved reading a The Warlord Wants Forever even though it took me a long time to warm up to Myst. There were several times where I was like, get over yourself already. But that's the way of the Valkyrie as you will soon find out, so you can't expect anything different from them. Other than my difficulty warming up to Myst, I enjoyed reading this novella and thought that it was great. It packs a lot of heat and you don't feel slighted where the plot is concerned because this is a short story.
You can read the IAD series without reading the novella (that's what I did - not on purpose) but I think The Warlord Wants Forever does provide a lot of background information that's beneficial when reading the next book in the series, A Hunger Like No Other.
I loved reading a The Warlord Wants Forever even though it took me a long time to warm up to Myst. There were several times where I was like, get over yourself already. But that's the way of the Valkyrie as you will soon find out, so you can't expect anything different from them. Other than my difficulty warming up to Myst, I enjoyed reading this novella and thought that it was great. It packs a lot of heat and you don't feel slighted where the plot is concerned because this is a short story.
You can read the IAD series without reading the novella (that's what I did - not on purpose) but I think The Warlord Wants Forever does provide a lot of background information that's beneficial when reading the next book in the series, A Hunger Like No Other.
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough is a story about three generation of women living under the same roof trying to cope with each other and with life. Joanie, Ivy and Caroline are each going through changes in their life that they are finding difficult to handle. Joanie is a soon to be 50 divorcee. Her husband is living with a woman half his age and just announced that they are having a baby. Ivy is a widow whose savings has quickly dwindled thanks to the bad economy. She can no longer afford to live on her own and moves in with her daughter Joanie. Caroline is a typical teenager, dealing with her parents divorce, living with her grandmother and being a pea in the very big pond known as High School. What all 3 of these women have in common is that they are trying to find their place in the world and with each other.
I enjoyed reading Women on the Verge. The tone is light, funny and sometimes snarky. The story is told from 3 POVs - Joanie, Ivy and Caroline - so that you get a bird's eye view of what each character is thinking. The character I could relate to the most is Caroline. She doesn't connect with her mother and grandmother. She only has one friend. And she tries to avoid her father completely. I could understand why Joanie's relationship with Ivy was tenuous. Ivy undermines Joanie constantly. She insults her in an infuriating passive-aggressive manner. There was a scene where Joanie finally gave into her anger with her mother and I was happy that she did. show more Although, I felt sympathy for Joanie, I felt that she was so consumed by her own misery that she couldn't or wouldn't see her daughter's misery. And in typical teenage fashion, Caroline started acting out.
I felt that the "breakthrough" for these women was a little anti-climatic. Towards the end, they do come together and start to see each other in a different light. I felt that the ending was just the beginning for Joanie, Ivy and Caroline. I would have loved to have read more about these women working through their issues with themselves and each other.
Note: I love the cover. Very original and cute show less
I enjoyed reading Women on the Verge. The tone is light, funny and sometimes snarky. The story is told from 3 POVs - Joanie, Ivy and Caroline - so that you get a bird's eye view of what each character is thinking. The character I could relate to the most is Caroline. She doesn't connect with her mother and grandmother. She only has one friend. And she tries to avoid her father completely. I could understand why Joanie's relationship with Ivy was tenuous. Ivy undermines Joanie constantly. She insults her in an infuriating passive-aggressive manner. There was a scene where Joanie finally gave into her anger with her mother and I was happy that she did. show more Although, I felt sympathy for Joanie, I felt that she was so consumed by her own misery that she couldn't or wouldn't see her daughter's misery. And in typical teenage fashion, Caroline started acting out.
I felt that the "breakthrough" for these women was a little anti-climatic. Towards the end, they do come together and start to see each other in a different light. I felt that the ending was just the beginning for Joanie, Ivy and Caroline. I would have loved to have read more about these women working through their issues with themselves and each other.
Note: I love the cover. Very original and cute show less
Tess has trust issues. So why would she date a Navy SEAL who leaves at a drop of a hat and she has no idea when he will return? As a SEAL, Drew is very protective of Tess. She doesn't live in the best neighborhood and has certain rules for her when he's out of town. When he returns unexpectedly and catches Tess breaking one of his rules, he decides that she needs to be punished a la a good spanking. Tess doesn't understand what the big deal is and doesn't believe that Drew will follow through. But the spanking is more about sex and punishment. It's about Tess finally opening herself up to someone.
In such a short read, we learn about Tess and Drew's relationship and Tess's trust issues. Under His Hand is a nice quick read. The sex is hot but not super steamy like in Liberating Lacey.
In such a short read, we learn about Tess and Drew's relationship and Tess's trust issues. Under His Hand is a nice quick read. The sex is hot but not super steamy like in Liberating Lacey.
Venice Vampyr is Raphael's brother - Dante - story. Viola is a woman with limited time. Diagnosed with a brain tumor and only 3 months to live, she wants to live her last days to the fullest. She leaves her family and goes about fulfilling her last wishes. Viola doesn't want to die a virgin so she visits an establishment where she can find a man to have sex with, with no questions asked. That is when Dante comes into the picture and rescues Viola - against her wishes - from a man who likes to beat women for pleasure. Now that Dante has messed up her plans for losing her virginity, Dante offers his services.
I've read the first book, Venice Vampyr, at the end of 2010 and the novella was smoking hot! In the first novella, Dante comes off as a bit of a jackass. In Final Affair, Dante is not the big jackass that he was. He's immediately gentle and kind with Viola. I thought the personality change was a little odd. I guess it takes the right woman to bring the best out of a man. Although I enjoyed the romance between Dante and Viola, I felt that this novella lacked some of the heat that was in Raphael's book. It's a good quick read. Can be read as a stand alone but I suggest reading the first novella, Venice Vampyr, before reading this one
I've read the first book, Venice Vampyr, at the end of 2010 and the novella was smoking hot! In the first novella, Dante comes off as a bit of a jackass. In Final Affair, Dante is not the big jackass that he was. He's immediately gentle and kind with Viola. I thought the personality change was a little odd. I guess it takes the right woman to bring the best out of a man. Although I enjoyed the romance between Dante and Viola, I felt that this novella lacked some of the heat that was in Raphael's book. It's a good quick read. Can be read as a stand alone but I suggest reading the first novella, Venice Vampyr, before reading this one
Visions of Magic is the first book in a new series about witches. Shea has been on the run ever since her aunt was burned at the stake. Shea doesn't stay in one location for long because she fears that she will be accused of being a witch. Shea is living her life as a 6th grade teacher when she accidentally sets a man on fire. Shea has had visions of fire. She's in denial about herself and her powers. Enters Torin who rescues Shea from a mob of witch haters and the Magic Police. He claims to be her Eternal; her mate. The Eternal's power compliments the witch's power. He was watched over Shea through each incarnation of her life, waiting for her powers to awaken. Now that he's found her, he's horny and ready to mate.
It was difficult to like Shea in the beginning. I understand that finding out that you're a witch is a shock, especially when witches (innocents who are accused witches and actual witches) are being hunted, imprisoned and persecuted. I couldn't believe how much she was in denial when she's had inklings that she may be a witch. She has spent her life on the run, not staying in one location for more than a couple of years, so that she could live her life in anonymity. She had to suspect that there was a possibility that she's a witch. Shea did have some TSTL (too stupid to live) moments that ended up getting her caught and jailed by the Magic Police. Luckily, that incident seemed to finally knock some sense into her. She's ready to embrace being a witch and ready show more to do whatever it takes to prevent history from repeating itself.
Visions of Magic is also a very sexy read. In order for Shea's powers to Awaken, she must have sex with her Eternal. That means lots and lots of sex. Through the mating ritual, Torin and Shea both develop a tattoo that grows until the mating is complete. The more you mate with your Eternal, the more you want it. If that's the case, how are you supposed to save the world if you're sexing it up all the time? At one point, the mating did become redundant and seem to take over the plot.
We are introduced to another Eternal, Rune, which I think is supposed to set up the second book. Rune was kinda meh in Visions of Magic. Hopefully, he'll have more spice and personality in his own book. The story wraps up neatly but does not answer all the questions. The biggest question I have is what's up with The President of the United States? She's the first female President and her agenda is to stop the persecution of witches. But I think there is more to her story and look forward to reading about it in future books.
Visions of Magic is a great start to a new series. I love how the story takes place in a modern day Salem Witch trial. The world-building is fantastic. The first half of the book kept me engrossed and I could not put it down. The second half kind of lagged and the plot stalls. But all in all, it was a great read and I am looking forward to reading Book 2. show less
It was difficult to like Shea in the beginning. I understand that finding out that you're a witch is a shock, especially when witches (innocents who are accused witches and actual witches) are being hunted, imprisoned and persecuted. I couldn't believe how much she was in denial when she's had inklings that she may be a witch. She has spent her life on the run, not staying in one location for more than a couple of years, so that she could live her life in anonymity. She had to suspect that there was a possibility that she's a witch. Shea did have some TSTL (too stupid to live) moments that ended up getting her caught and jailed by the Magic Police. Luckily, that incident seemed to finally knock some sense into her. She's ready to embrace being a witch and ready show more to do whatever it takes to prevent history from repeating itself.
Visions of Magic is also a very sexy read. In order for Shea's powers to Awaken, she must have sex with her Eternal. That means lots and lots of sex. Through the mating ritual, Torin and Shea both develop a tattoo that grows until the mating is complete. The more you mate with your Eternal, the more you want it. If that's the case, how are you supposed to save the world if you're sexing it up all the time? At one point, the mating did become redundant and seem to take over the plot.
We are introduced to another Eternal, Rune, which I think is supposed to set up the second book. Rune was kinda meh in Visions of Magic. Hopefully, he'll have more spice and personality in his own book. The story wraps up neatly but does not answer all the questions. The biggest question I have is what's up with The President of the United States? She's the first female President and her agenda is to stop the persecution of witches. But I think there is more to her story and look forward to reading about it in future books.
Visions of Magic is a great start to a new series. I love how the story takes place in a modern day Salem Witch trial. The world-building is fantastic. The first half of the book kept me engrossed and I could not put it down. The second half kind of lagged and the plot stalls. But all in all, it was a great read and I am looking forward to reading Book 2. show less
I love Charlotte Featherstone's erotic, historical romances. Sinful was one of my favorite reads in 2010. When I saw that she was starting a new series that's a mixture of historical and erotic romance mixed in with the paranormal, I was so excited!
Lust starts off with the history of the Fae. The Unseelie King falls in love with the Seelie Queen and kidnaps her and holds her against her will. She becomes pregnant with twin boys (Crom and Niall). The Unseelie King is obsessed with his sons. The Seelie Queen uses his newfound distraction as a means of escaping. She takes one of the twins (the one that looks most like her) with her as she returns home. She hates the Unseelie King so much for what he has done to her that she issues a curse on the Unseelie Court. The princes of the Unseelie Court are cursed with the 7 Deady Sins. The only way to break the curse is to have one of the 7 Virtues fall in love with them and come to the Unseelie Court - willingly.
I enjoyed the premise of this book. A lot of background information was provided to set up the plot. The story gets off to a good start. We are introduced to Chastity, one of the virtues and the counterpart to Thane's sin. Thane's sin is Lust and he needs Chastity to break the curse so begins his quest to seduce her. The seduction of Chastity is long and drawn out. His element is fog and mist and uses it to surround her and bring out her darkest desire. Chastity resists at first but slowly gives in. In the process of show more trying to seduce Chastity, Thane also must worry about Crom, the Unseelie Prince and Niall's twin brother. Crom wants Chastity for himself. Both Thane and Crom are racing to see who can seduce Chastity first.
I found the seduction of Chastity to be long and arduous at times. There were some parts that I skimmed because I felt that it slowed down the pace of the story. Charlotte Featherstone knows how to write some hot and steamy sex scenes. And they were plentiful in Lust, maybe too much. So much so that I started skimming the sexual parts (gasp!). Even though this is an erotic story, I was hoping that there would be some semblance of a romance between Thane and Chastity. I didn't feel any romance or connection between them at all. Maybe their story is not about romance but basic lust between two people. I know that Thane's sin is Lust but I wanted more of an emotional bond between the two and I didn't feel it.
Although I didn't thoroughly enjoy Lust, I plan on reading the next book of the series. I think the series has potential to be great and look forward to reading more. show less
Lust starts off with the history of the Fae. The Unseelie King falls in love with the Seelie Queen and kidnaps her and holds her against her will. She becomes pregnant with twin boys (Crom and Niall). The Unseelie King is obsessed with his sons. The Seelie Queen uses his newfound distraction as a means of escaping. She takes one of the twins (the one that looks most like her) with her as she returns home. She hates the Unseelie King so much for what he has done to her that she issues a curse on the Unseelie Court. The princes of the Unseelie Court are cursed with the 7 Deady Sins. The only way to break the curse is to have one of the 7 Virtues fall in love with them and come to the Unseelie Court - willingly.
I enjoyed the premise of this book. A lot of background information was provided to set up the plot. The story gets off to a good start. We are introduced to Chastity, one of the virtues and the counterpart to Thane's sin. Thane's sin is Lust and he needs Chastity to break the curse so begins his quest to seduce her. The seduction of Chastity is long and drawn out. His element is fog and mist and uses it to surround her and bring out her darkest desire. Chastity resists at first but slowly gives in. In the process of show more trying to seduce Chastity, Thane also must worry about Crom, the Unseelie Prince and Niall's twin brother. Crom wants Chastity for himself. Both Thane and Crom are racing to see who can seduce Chastity first.
I found the seduction of Chastity to be long and arduous at times. There were some parts that I skimmed because I felt that it slowed down the pace of the story. Charlotte Featherstone knows how to write some hot and steamy sex scenes. And they were plentiful in Lust, maybe too much. So much so that I started skimming the sexual parts (gasp!). Even though this is an erotic story, I was hoping that there would be some semblance of a romance between Thane and Chastity. I didn't feel any romance or connection between them at all. Maybe their story is not about romance but basic lust between two people. I know that Thane's sin is Lust but I wanted more of an emotional bond between the two and I didn't feel it.
Although I didn't thoroughly enjoy Lust, I plan on reading the next book of the series. I think the series has potential to be great and look forward to reading more. show less
Wowza! Full Disclosure is one hot read. Alex is a man who knows what he wants and doesn't hesitate to go after it. I normally don't read stories about May/December romances but Cari Quinn delivers with this one. Alex and Holly burn up the pages with their hot sex scenes. Alex is one sexy mofo and I love how the age difference isn't an issue for him. Alex is sexy, mature and he wants Holly. It's Holly that has reservations about their relationship. She's not looking for a relationship. She's looking for a one-night stand and some fun.
Full Disclosure is a quick and sexy read that has you wanting more.
Full Disclosure is a quick and sexy read that has you wanting more.
OMG! I could not put this book down. Not only does my favorite wizard, Jackson, play an integral role in the plot but the sexual tension between Alec and Carmen is off the charts!
In the previous two books in the series, Crux and Crossroads, Alec comes across as controlling, angry, and ornery. Everyone is scared of him because of his past shenanigans, everyone thinks he's a crazy old alpha bastard. Alec is crazy all right - like a fox! I never thought of Alec as sexy in the other books but my opinion quickly changed when I started reading Deadlock.
When Alec and Carmen first meet, Alec pulls the normal "I'm in control. I'm handling this" alpha routine. Carmen knows just how to handle him. She doesn't back down but gives just enough to make Alec feel like he's in control. When Carmen's life is in danger, Alec immediately comes to her rescue. He sees it as his responsibility to protect her even though he's leery of getting too close to her due to an incident in his past that he hasn't yet to come to terms with.
What I liked best about Deadlock was the sexual tension and verbal foreplay between Alec and Carmen. This is the first time I wanted the smex to hold off for as long as possible! The dirty talk was that damn good. Alec can't keep his distance or hands off Carmen. The attraction is palpable even though at times he questions if it is real.
Like with the other books in the series, the majority of the plot centers around the wolf politics; the old guard vs the new guard. show more Things get downright dirty and dangerous and it's up to Alec, Andrew and Carmen's brothers, Julio and Miguel, to step in. As usual, the wolf politics aspect of the plot doesn't interest me as much. I'm all about the relationship.
There are enough characters where this series could continue for a long while and I hope it does. The next book, Cipher, is Andrew and Kat's story. I may be in the minority but I kinda want Andrew to end up with someone else. But who's to stay that he ends up with Kat? I hope that Carmen's brothers, Julio and Miguel, continue to be a presence in the series.
Deadlock is a great read and a great addition to the Southern Arcana series. I think I may like it a smidgen more than Crux. I love Jackson. He's still my man. But Alec and the dirty talk...rawr! And he has a beard. I love a man with facial hair. He can lock me up in a cage anytime! show less
In the previous two books in the series, Crux and Crossroads, Alec comes across as controlling, angry, and ornery. Everyone is scared of him because of his past shenanigans, everyone thinks he's a crazy old alpha bastard. Alec is crazy all right - like a fox! I never thought of Alec as sexy in the other books but my opinion quickly changed when I started reading Deadlock.
When Alec and Carmen first meet, Alec pulls the normal "I'm in control. I'm handling this" alpha routine. Carmen knows just how to handle him. She doesn't back down but gives just enough to make Alec feel like he's in control. When Carmen's life is in danger, Alec immediately comes to her rescue. He sees it as his responsibility to protect her even though he's leery of getting too close to her due to an incident in his past that he hasn't yet to come to terms with.
What I liked best about Deadlock was the sexual tension and verbal foreplay between Alec and Carmen. This is the first time I wanted the smex to hold off for as long as possible! The dirty talk was that damn good. Alec can't keep his distance or hands off Carmen. The attraction is palpable even though at times he questions if it is real.
Like with the other books in the series, the majority of the plot centers around the wolf politics; the old guard vs the new guard. show more Things get downright dirty and dangerous and it's up to Alec, Andrew and Carmen's brothers, Julio and Miguel, to step in. As usual, the wolf politics aspect of the plot doesn't interest me as much. I'm all about the relationship.
There are enough characters where this series could continue for a long while and I hope it does. The next book, Cipher, is Andrew and Kat's story. I may be in the minority but I kinda want Andrew to end up with someone else. But who's to stay that he ends up with Kat? I hope that Carmen's brothers, Julio and Miguel, continue to be a presence in the series.
Deadlock is a great read and a great addition to the Southern Arcana series. I think I may like it a smidgen more than Crux. I love Jackson. He's still my man. But Alec and the dirty talk...rawr! And he has a beard. I love a man with facial hair. He can lock me up in a cage anytime! show less
I knew the advice in Cosmopolitan magazine was crap! (LOL!) And now Jenny Talbot knows too. She had to find out the hard way. Ty and Jenny’s sex life is on life-support. So in order to spice things up, Jenny follows the sage ‘advice” from Cosmo on how to revive her sex life. She dyes her hair, gets colored contacts (violet no less!) and starts talking and acting like a porn star in the bedroom. You’d think most guys would love this; it’s a guy’s dream to have their woman get down and dirty. Nope. The new Jenny doesn’t work for Ty and it has made their sex life even worse.
Ex Appeal is a fun, sexy, romp about two people who love each other and want to be together but thanks to miscommunication on both sides, can’t quite get it together. I love that even though Jenny is the one who left Ty, she wasn’t ready to give up on their relationship. It took seeing his application for Hunk DuJour to make her come to her senses. And the same goes for Ty. He didn’t really want to have a random hook-up but felt it was something he needed to do to move forward. And who can blame him?
Ex Appeal is the first book I’ve read by Cari Quinn and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt for both Jenny and Ty. They both wanted the same thing but couldn’t quite find the words or actions to express themselves. Jenny’s dilemma is something that many women face and is completely relatable. We assume what the man wants instead of asking him what he wants. I love that Ty didn’t want show more a porn star in bed. He loves Jenny for Jenny and even though he messed things up, he made sure to let her know that she did not need to change. When Ty and Jenny get back together, there is much sexing, not much talking. But the important words are said and that’s what matters. This story is all about what assuming what the other person wants and not communicating your needs can lead to.
I look forward to reading more from Cari Quinn. Ex Appeal is Book 2 of the Hunk DuJour series but can be read as a stand alone. I need to get Book 1, Full Disclosure, to find out what the heck went on with Alex. show less
Ex Appeal is a fun, sexy, romp about two people who love each other and want to be together but thanks to miscommunication on both sides, can’t quite get it together. I love that even though Jenny is the one who left Ty, she wasn’t ready to give up on their relationship. It took seeing his application for Hunk DuJour to make her come to her senses. And the same goes for Ty. He didn’t really want to have a random hook-up but felt it was something he needed to do to move forward. And who can blame him?
Ex Appeal is the first book I’ve read by Cari Quinn and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt for both Jenny and Ty. They both wanted the same thing but couldn’t quite find the words or actions to express themselves. Jenny’s dilemma is something that many women face and is completely relatable. We assume what the man wants instead of asking him what he wants. I love that Ty didn’t want show more a porn star in bed. He loves Jenny for Jenny and even though he messed things up, he made sure to let her know that she did not need to change. When Ty and Jenny get back together, there is much sexing, not much talking. But the important words are said and that’s what matters. This story is all about what assuming what the other person wants and not communicating your needs can lead to.
I look forward to reading more from Cari Quinn. Ex Appeal is Book 2 of the Hunk DuJour series but can be read as a stand alone. I need to get Book 1, Full Disclosure, to find out what the heck went on with Alex. show less
Deeper Than Midnight is the 9th book in the Midnight Breed series. Fans of the series have been waiting for Hunter’s book ever since he escaped Dragos’ clutches and joined the Order.
Deeper than Midnight takes place exactly where “Brocks book” ended. A few weeks have passed since the rescue of the Breedmates. The Breedmates have been returned home to their families except for Corinne. She wants Brock, who was her bodyguard when she lived at her family’s Darkhaven before she was kidnapped, to accompany her back home to Detroit. Unfortunately, Brock and Jenna are stranded in Alaska and cannot get back to Corinne in time. Hunter is given the task of making sure Corinne arrives home safely. In the meantime, Hunter and Chase run into some trouble with Agent Murdock of the Enforcement Agency at a local vamp hangout. Chase’s behavior and attitude is quickly getting worse and his violence and anger reared its ugly head when Chase and Hunter were attacked. Angry and bloodied, Chase’s thirst can no longer be quenched. He is a man on the edge. He knows once he crosses that line, there is no going back.
After reading Darker than Midnight, I couldn’t wait for the release of Hunter’s book. Hunter is a character who’s been through a lot and is still figuring things out as a member of the Order. He doesn’t say much; he does what he is told. It seems like the only person who can reach him is Mira, the little girl. So I knew that the woman who would be Hunter’s show more romantic interest and Breedmate had to be someone really special. Unfortunately, I don’t think there was anything that special about Corinne. We were briefly introduced to Corinne at the end of the previous book. In Deeper than Midnight, we find out what Corinne was subjected to while she was imprisoned by Dragos. It wasn’t pretty. Corinne suffered abuse, both sexual and physical. Because of the torment that Corinne suffered at Dragos’s hand, I found it a little shocking that she was so quick to become physical with Hunter. I would think that someone who suffered so horribly would be gun-shy about any kind of physical contact.
As for Hunter, we learn a little about his time as one of Dragos’s hunters and what he endured. Again, not too much light is shed on this to get a clear and full picture of what Hunter went through. The one thing that fascinated me about Hunter in the romantic aspect is that he has no experience with intimacy. No kissing, no holding hands, nothing. So when Hunter and Corinne finally become physical whether it is kissing or more, Hunter was really skilled. I found this odd considering he was raised and trained to be a killer, with no contact or emotions. So how did he become this gentle and skilled lover without any experience?
Even though Deeper than Midnight is Hunter’s story, Chase made the book for me. For every two or three chapters dedicated to Hunter or the Order, 1 or 2 chapters featured Chase and Chase alone. At one point, I thought to myself, “I thought this was Hunter’s book. Why is Chase’s storyline so prominent?” At first it bothered me, but as the book progressed, I started looking forward to Chase because the romance between Hunter and Corinne fell flat for me.
Deeper than Midnight didn’t wow me like I thought it would. Maybe my expectations were too high but I expected a lot more from Hunter and his storyline. I felt like the romance was rushed because so much of the book was focused on Chase and the other characters. I felt the ending was abrupt like in the previous book. When Deeper than Midnight ended, I kept hitting the next button because it didn’t feel like the story should be over.
I still love the Midnight Breed series and will continue reading the series. With the way the book ended, I am anxious to find out Chase’s fate. Deeper than Midnight would have been a better book for me if more of the story was focused on Hunter and Corinne, and not everyone else.
Favorite quote:
“You are the finest thing I’ve ever touched. I want to be careful with you. I worry that you’ll break under my rough hands” show less
Deeper than Midnight takes place exactly where “Brocks book” ended. A few weeks have passed since the rescue of the Breedmates. The Breedmates have been returned home to their families except for Corinne. She wants Brock, who was her bodyguard when she lived at her family’s Darkhaven before she was kidnapped, to accompany her back home to Detroit. Unfortunately, Brock and Jenna are stranded in Alaska and cannot get back to Corinne in time. Hunter is given the task of making sure Corinne arrives home safely. In the meantime, Hunter and Chase run into some trouble with Agent Murdock of the Enforcement Agency at a local vamp hangout. Chase’s behavior and attitude is quickly getting worse and his violence and anger reared its ugly head when Chase and Hunter were attacked. Angry and bloodied, Chase’s thirst can no longer be quenched. He is a man on the edge. He knows once he crosses that line, there is no going back.
After reading Darker than Midnight, I couldn’t wait for the release of Hunter’s book. Hunter is a character who’s been through a lot and is still figuring things out as a member of the Order. He doesn’t say much; he does what he is told. It seems like the only person who can reach him is Mira, the little girl. So I knew that the woman who would be Hunter’s show more romantic interest and Breedmate had to be someone really special. Unfortunately, I don’t think there was anything that special about Corinne. We were briefly introduced to Corinne at the end of the previous book. In Deeper than Midnight, we find out what Corinne was subjected to while she was imprisoned by Dragos. It wasn’t pretty. Corinne suffered abuse, both sexual and physical. Because of the torment that Corinne suffered at Dragos’s hand, I found it a little shocking that she was so quick to become physical with Hunter. I would think that someone who suffered so horribly would be gun-shy about any kind of physical contact.
As for Hunter, we learn a little about his time as one of Dragos’s hunters and what he endured. Again, not too much light is shed on this to get a clear and full picture of what Hunter went through. The one thing that fascinated me about Hunter in the romantic aspect is that he has no experience with intimacy. No kissing, no holding hands, nothing. So when Hunter and Corinne finally become physical whether it is kissing or more, Hunter was really skilled. I found this odd considering he was raised and trained to be a killer, with no contact or emotions. So how did he become this gentle and skilled lover without any experience?
Even though Deeper than Midnight is Hunter’s story, Chase made the book for me. For every two or three chapters dedicated to Hunter or the Order, 1 or 2 chapters featured Chase and Chase alone. At one point, I thought to myself, “I thought this was Hunter’s book. Why is Chase’s storyline so prominent?” At first it bothered me, but as the book progressed, I started looking forward to Chase because the romance between Hunter and Corinne fell flat for me.
Deeper than Midnight didn’t wow me like I thought it would. Maybe my expectations were too high but I expected a lot more from Hunter and his storyline. I felt like the romance was rushed because so much of the book was focused on Chase and the other characters. I felt the ending was abrupt like in the previous book. When Deeper than Midnight ended, I kept hitting the next button because it didn’t feel like the story should be over.
I still love the Midnight Breed series and will continue reading the series. With the way the book ended, I am anxious to find out Chase’s fate. Deeper than Midnight would have been a better book for me if more of the story was focused on Hunter and Corinne, and not everyone else.
Favorite quote:
“You are the finest thing I’ve ever touched. I want to be careful with you. I worry that you’ll break under my rough hands” show less
OMG! I could not put this book down. Not only does my favorite wizard, Jackson, play an integral role in the plot but the sexual tension between Alec and Carmen is off the charts!
In the previous two books in the series, Crux and Crossroads, Alec comes across as controlling, angry, and ornery. Everyone is scared of him because of his past shenanigans, everyone thinks he's a crazy old alpha bastard. Alec is crazy all right - like a fox! I never thought of Alec as sexy in the other books but my opinion quickly changed when I started reading Deadlock.
When Alec and Carmen first meet, Alec pulls the normal "I'm in control. I'm handling this" alpha routine. Carmen knows just how to handle him. She doesn't back down but gives just enough to make Alec feel like he's in control. When Carmen's life is in danger, Alec immediately comes to her rescue. He sees it as his responsibility to protect her even though he's leery of getting too close to her due to an incident in his past that he hasn't yet to come to terms with.
What I liked best about Deadlock was the sexual tension and verbal foreplay between Alec and Carmen. This is the first time I wanted the smex to hold off for as long as possible! The dirty talk was that damn good. Alec can't keep his distance or hands off Carmen. The attraction is palpable even though at times he questions if it is real.
Like with the other books in the series, the majority of the plot centers around the wolf politics; the old guard vs the new guard. show more Things get downright dirty and dangerous and it's up to Alec, Andrew and Carmen's brothers, Julio and Miguel, to step in. As usual, the wolf politics aspect of the plot doesn't interest me as much. I'm all about the relationship.
There are enough characters where this series could continue for a long while and I hope it does. The next book, Cipher, is Andrew and Kat's story. I may be in the minority but I kinda want Andrew to end up with someone else. But who's to stay that he ends up with Kat? I hope that Carmen's brothers, Julio and Miguel, continue to be a presence in the series.
Deadlock is a great read and a great addition to the Southern Arcana series. I think I may like it a smidgen more than Crux. I love Jackson. He's still my man. But Alec and the dirty talk...rawr! And he has a beard. I love a man with facial hair. He can lock me up in a cage anytime! show less
In the previous two books in the series, Crux and Crossroads, Alec comes across as controlling, angry, and ornery. Everyone is scared of him because of his past shenanigans, everyone thinks he's a crazy old alpha bastard. Alec is crazy all right - like a fox! I never thought of Alec as sexy in the other books but my opinion quickly changed when I started reading Deadlock.
When Alec and Carmen first meet, Alec pulls the normal "I'm in control. I'm handling this" alpha routine. Carmen knows just how to handle him. She doesn't back down but gives just enough to make Alec feel like he's in control. When Carmen's life is in danger, Alec immediately comes to her rescue. He sees it as his responsibility to protect her even though he's leery of getting too close to her due to an incident in his past that he hasn't yet to come to terms with.
What I liked best about Deadlock was the sexual tension and verbal foreplay between Alec and Carmen. This is the first time I wanted the smex to hold off for as long as possible! The dirty talk was that damn good. Alec can't keep his distance or hands off Carmen. The attraction is palpable even though at times he questions if it is real.
Like with the other books in the series, the majority of the plot centers around the wolf politics; the old guard vs the new guard. show more Things get downright dirty and dangerous and it's up to Alec, Andrew and Carmen's brothers, Julio and Miguel, to step in. As usual, the wolf politics aspect of the plot doesn't interest me as much. I'm all about the relationship.
There are enough characters where this series could continue for a long while and I hope it does. The next book, Cipher, is Andrew and Kat's story. I may be in the minority but I kinda want Andrew to end up with someone else. But who's to stay that he ends up with Kat? I hope that Carmen's brothers, Julio and Miguel, continue to be a presence in the series.
Deadlock is a great read and a great addition to the Southern Arcana series. I think I may like it a smidgen more than Crux. I love Jackson. He's still my man. But Alec and the dirty talk...rawr! And he has a beard. I love a man with facial hair. He can lock me up in a cage anytime! show less