For ten years, Quinn kept his partner’s secret while Peter stayed firmly in the closet. In return,Blue Ribbon Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Original Review Link
For ten years, Quinn kept his partner’s secret while Peter stayed firmly in the closet. In return, he gets sucker punched by Peter when he informs Quinn that he not only cheated on him, but that he is leaving Quinn to marry the woman he got pregnant. Quinn, who has been a part of Peter’s family for a long time, is expected to put up a good front and keep Peter’s secret. Quinn dutifully does…until he’s asked to be the baby’s godfather. With the baptism only a day away, Quinn has had enough. He’s going to show up and make a statement – and what better statement can there be than showing up with the young, gorgeous, eyeliner-wearing guy he picks up at a club?
Eli is nothing like Peter, which doesn’t just mean good things for Quinn in bed. Eli’s quick, kinky and can put on a good show. He convinces Peter’s family that he and Quinn are madly in love. What neither man expects is for Eli’s lie to slowly turn to truth. But each man has baggage from their past that just might ruin their shot at a future.
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is a saying that holds true for both heroes in BAD BOYFRIEND. Author K.A. Mitchell puts both Quinn and Eli through the wringer, but manages to do so without ever dragging the buoyant BAD BOYFRIEND down. Quinn has a horrible ex that definitely deserves to be punched – repeatedly. Eli’s background is even harder. He’s been on his own since high school when his parents threw him out for being gay. He’s made his own way in the world, refusing to play by any rules but his own and – when he’s with Quinn – he is never anyone but his true self. I love all these things about Eli. Ms. Mitchell broke my heart and then made me smile with both Eli and Quinn. It was easy to become invested in BAD BOYFRIEND because I wanted these two to get the happily ever after they deserve with one another. The only thing that pulled me out of the story a bit was the emphasis on the age gap between Eli and Quinn. Quinn is thirty-five to Eli’s not-quite-twenty-three, but maturity-wise, they aren’t too far apart. Still, a number of people – including those that know Eli best – harped on their ages which drew me out of the story after a while. It didn’t lessen my interest in Eli and Quinn’s love story, however.
BAD BOYFRIEND shines when Ms. Mitchell focuses on her heroes, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t secondary characters worth smiling over. Kellan and Nate, the heroes of Ms. Mitchell’s first BAD IN BALTIMORE book, BAD COMPANY, are there for Eli when he needs them the most. You don’t have to read BAD COMPANY to enjoy BAD BOYFRIEND, but if you have, you’ll no doubt enjoy – as I did – revisiting Kellan and Nate.
BAD BOYFRIEND is a fast-paced, entertaining romance with red-hot love scenes and two heroes who are sure to win readers’ hearts. I adored this book, and I can’t wait to re-read Eli and Quinn’s story soon!
Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here courtesy of Romance Junkies.
For ten years, Quinn kept his partner’s secret while Peter stayed firmly in the closet. In return, he gets sucker punched by Peter when he informs Quinn that he not only cheated on him, but that he is leaving Quinn to marry the woman he got pregnant. Quinn, who has been a part of Peter’s family for a long time, is expected to put up a good front and keep Peter’s secret. Quinn dutifully does…until he’s asked to be the baby’s godfather. With the baptism only a day away, Quinn has had enough. He’s going to show up and make a statement – and what better statement can there be than showing up with the young, gorgeous, eyeliner-wearing guy he picks up at a club?
Eli is nothing like Peter, which doesn’t just mean good things for Quinn in bed. Eli’s quick, kinky and can put on a good show. He convinces Peter’s family that he and Quinn are madly in love. What neither man expects is for Eli’s lie to slowly turn to truth. But each man has baggage from their past that just might ruin their shot at a future.
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is a saying that holds true for both heroes in BAD BOYFRIEND. Author K.A. Mitchell puts both Quinn and Eli through the wringer, but manages to do so without ever dragging the buoyant BAD BOYFRIEND down. Quinn has a horrible ex that definitely deserves to be punched – repeatedly. Eli’s background is even harder. He’s been on his own since high school when his parents threw him out for being gay. He’s made his own way in the world, refusing to play by any rules but his own and – when he’s with Quinn – he is never anyone but his true self. I love all these things about Eli. Ms. Mitchell broke my heart and then made me smile with both Eli and Quinn. It was easy to become invested in BAD BOYFRIEND because I wanted these two to get the happily ever after they deserve with one another. The only thing that pulled me out of the story a bit was the emphasis on the age gap between Eli and Quinn. Quinn is thirty-five to Eli’s not-quite-twenty-three, but maturity-wise, they aren’t too far apart. Still, a number of people – including those that know Eli best – harped on their ages which drew me out of the story after a while. It didn’t lessen my interest in Eli and Quinn’s love story, however.
BAD BOYFRIEND shines when Ms. Mitchell focuses on her heroes, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t secondary characters worth smiling over. Kellan and Nate, the heroes of Ms. Mitchell’s first BAD IN BALTIMORE book, BAD COMPANY, are there for Eli when he needs them the most. You don’t have to read BAD COMPANY to enjoy BAD BOYFRIEND, but if you have, you’ll no doubt enjoy – as I did – revisiting Kellan and Nate.
BAD BOYFRIEND is a fast-paced, entertaining romance with red-hot love scenes and two heroes who are sure to win readers’ hearts. I adored this book, and I can’t wait to re-read Eli and Quinn’s story soon!
Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here courtesy of Romance Junkies....more
Witch Olivia Brew is getting worried she’d never find her familiar. Her powers have been waning and damned if she can get them back without finding thWitch Olivia Brew is getting worried she’d never find her familiar. Her powers have been waning and damned if she can get them back without finding that particular animal which is her magical helper. When she does find him, Olivia faces quite a shock – her familiar is a man.
Kane Oliver is no one’s pet. Not even if the “owner” in question is as sexy as Olivia. He has enough problems without adding in his desperate need for a crazy woman claiming to be a witch. But Kane’s about to find out that being Olivia’s familiar is the least of his problems. There’s something a hell of a lot more powerful than Olivia that wants to tear him from her side forever.
Zaniness meets sensuality with a healthy dose of magic thrown in the mix in Strange Familiar. I did like Olivia and Kane, which hooked me into the story from the first. However, while the quirkiness of Strange Familiar appealed to me, the over-the-top behavior of pretty much every character aside from Kane and Olivia was distracting. The romance was more sex than actual romance which actually wouldn’t have been a problem if I had actually understand why Kane and Olivia fell in love with each other. The farther into Strange Familiar I got the more I felt like I was on some kind of spinning teacup ride. I wanted to like Strange Familiar; I honestly did. But ultimately it just wasn’t the book for me, though I would like to give one of Cassidy Hunter’s other stories a try in the future.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
Merged review:
Witch Olivia Brew is getting worried she’d never find her familiar. Her powers have been waning and damned if she can get them back without finding that particular animal which is her magical helper. When she does find him, Olivia faces quite a shock – her familiar is a man.
Kane Oliver is no one’s pet. Not even if the “owner” in question is as sexy as Olivia. He has enough problems without adding in his desperate need for a crazy woman claiming to be a witch. But Kane’s about to find out that being Olivia’s familiar is the least of his problems. There’s something a hell of a lot more powerful than Olivia that wants to tear him from her side forever.
Zaniness meets sensuality with a healthy dose of magic thrown in the mix in Strange Familiar. I did like Olivia and Kane, which hooked me into the story from the first. However, while the quirkiness of Strange Familiar appealed to me, the over-the-top behavior of pretty much every character aside from Kane and Olivia was distracting. The romance was more sex than actual romance which actually wouldn’t have been a problem if I had actually understand why Kane and Olivia fell in love with each other. The farther into Strange Familiar I got the more I felt like I was on some kind of spinning teacup ride. I wanted to like Strange Familiar; I honestly did. But ultimately it just wasn’t the book for me, though I would like to give one of Cassidy Hunter’s other stories a try in the future.
Unlike his siblings, Hades, God of the Underworld, lives a solitary life. Or rather, he does so until a naked woman falls right into his lap.2.5 stars
Unlike his siblings, Hades, God of the Underworld, lives a solitary life. Or rather, he does so until a naked woman falls right into his lap. Hades doesn’t know Persephone from Hera, but he can tell she’s a powerful goddess. After years of protecting his realm from interlopers, that makes him suspicious of Persephone. Yet there’s no denying his attraction to the beautiful goddess and before long Hades believes her story that she didn’t mean to enter his realm. Since she can’t leave, Hades and Persephone are stuck in close quarters and it’s only a matter of time before they give into their desire for one another. But Persephone can’t stay in the Underworld forever. What will happen when she has to leave?
Alisha Rai gives the classic story of Persephone and Hades her own unique spin in Hot as Hades. This aptly-titled story is wickedly erotic, but Ms. Rai’s mix of mythology and modern day vocabulary constantly pulled me out of the story. I’ve read many books where Greek mythology is placed in a modern context, but in Hot as Hades, it just doesn’t work. I can’t put my finger on whether it was the characters, setting, or dialogue, but the rhythm of the entire story felt stilted. In addition, there was no real conflict. This wouldn’t necessarily be a problem, save for the fact that obstacles are presented and then immediately beat down with effortless grace by the protagonists. I give Ms. Rai high marks for heat and Hot as Hades did have its fun moments, but overall this retelling of a famous myth just didn’t hit the spot for me.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
Merged review:
2.5 stars
Unlike his siblings, Hades, God of the Underworld, lives a solitary life. Or rather, he does so until a naked woman falls right into his lap. Hades doesn’t know Persephone from Hera, but he can tell she’s a powerful goddess. After years of protecting his realm from interlopers, that makes him suspicious of Persephone. Yet there’s no denying his attraction to the beautiful goddess and before long Hades believes her story that she didn’t mean to enter his realm. Since she can’t leave, Hades and Persephone are stuck in close quarters and it’s only a matter of time before they give into their desire for one another. But Persephone can’t stay in the Underworld forever. What will happen when she has to leave?
Alisha Rai gives the classic story of Persephone and Hades her own unique spin in Hot as Hades. This aptly-titled story is wickedly erotic, but Ms. Rai’s mix of mythology and modern day vocabulary constantly pulled me out of the story. I’ve read many books where Greek mythology is placed in a modern context, but in Hot as Hades, it just doesn’t work. I can’t put my finger on whether it was the characters, setting, or dialogue, but the rhythm of the entire story felt stilted. In addition, there was no real conflict. This wouldn’t necessarily be a problem, save for the fact that obstacles are presented and then immediately beat down with effortless grace by the protagonists. I give Ms. Rai high marks for heat and Hot as Hades did have its fun moments, but overall this retelling of a famous myth just didn’t hit the spot for me.
After his friend, Roger Waverly, dies in a race, Lord Gabriel Sharpe becomes known as the Angel of Death. Weighed down with guilt, Gabe doesn’t try toAfter his friend, Roger Waverly, dies in a race, Lord Gabriel Sharpe becomes known as the Angel of Death. Weighed down with guilt, Gabe doesn’t try to fight the nickname and instead accepts any race challenge that comes his way. He just never expects Roger’s sister to challenge him.
Gabe doesn’t want to race Virginia Waverly – he wants to marry her. His grandmother has stated that if he and his siblings don’t all marry within a year, they’ll be disinherited. Gabe figures he can kill two birds with one stone: satisfy his grandmother and provide for Virginia and her family. But Virginia’s grandfather blames Gabe for Roger’s death and Virginia herself won’t marry any man who doesn’t truly see her. Can Gabe overcome her grandfather’s fierce objections and Virginia’s own stubbornness to prove that she’s the only woman who can tame his wild heart?
To Wed a Wild Lord may just be my favorite Hellions of Halstead Hall book yet! To Wed a Wild Lord sparks with passion, energy, and life and I couldn’t put it down. Like all the Sharpe siblings, when Gabe wants something, he goes after it. And what Gabe wants is Virginia. Though his determination originally springs from his attraction to Virginia and a need to assuage his guilt over her brother’s death, the real joy is watching his feelings for her grow. Gabe sees Virginia for who she really is. She’s both practical and a romantic, and Gabe treasures all of her. I too adored Virginia; she’s both intelligent and loyal. The dynamic between her and Gabriel was delightful to read and I avidly turned the pages of To Wed a Wild Lord, dying to see how Virginia and Gabe’s romance would turn out.
To Wed a Wild Lord is the fourth book in the Hellions of Halstead Hall series, but readers who have not yet read The Truth About Lord Stoneville, A Hellion in Her Bed, and How to Woo a Reluctant Lady will have no problem reading To Wed a Wild Lord as a standalone. There is an overarching mystery in the series concerning the deaths of the Sharpe siblings’ parents, and each book in the series has only made that plotline more interesting. I can’t wait to see how that storyline turns out, but most of all I’m on the edge of my seat to see what happens when Celia, the youngest Sharpe sibling, finally meets her match in A Lady Never Surrenders.
Recommended Read. Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
Merged review:
After his friend, Roger Waverly, dies in a race, Lord Gabriel Sharpe becomes known as the Angel of Death. Weighed down with guilt, Gabe doesn’t try to fight the nickname and instead accepts any race challenge that comes his way. He just never expects Roger’s sister to challenge him.
Gabe doesn’t want to race Virginia Waverly – he wants to marry her. His grandmother has stated that if he and his siblings don’t all marry within a year, they’ll be disinherited. Gabe figures he can kill two birds with one stone: satisfy his grandmother and provide for Virginia and her family. But Virginia’s grandfather blames Gabe for Roger’s death and Virginia herself won’t marry any man who doesn’t truly see her. Can Gabe overcome her grandfather’s fierce objections and Virginia’s own stubbornness to prove that she’s the only woman who can tame his wild heart?
To Wed a Wild Lord may just be my favorite Hellions of Halstead Hall book yet! To Wed a Wild Lord sparks with passion, energy, and life and I couldn’t put it down. Like all the Sharpe siblings, when Gabe wants something, he goes after it. And what Gabe wants is Virginia. Though his determination originally springs from his attraction to Virginia and a need to assuage his guilt over her brother’s death, the real joy is watching his feelings for her grow. Gabe sees Virginia for who she really is. She’s both practical and a romantic, and Gabe treasures all of her. I too adored Virginia; she’s both intelligent and loyal. The dynamic between her and Gabriel was delightful to read and I avidly turned the pages of To Wed a Wild Lord, dying to see how Virginia and Gabe’s romance would turn out.
To Wed a Wild Lord is the fourth book in the Hellions of Halstead Hall series, but readers who have not yet read The Truth About Lord Stoneville, A Hellion in Her Bed, and How to Woo a Reluctant Lady will have no problem reading To Wed a Wild Lord as a standalone. There is an overarching mystery in the series concerning the deaths of the Sharpe siblings’ parents, and each book in the series has only made that plotline more interesting. I can’t wait to see how that storyline turns out, but most of all I’m on the edge of my seat to see what happens when Celia, the youngest Sharpe sibling, finally meets her match in A Lady Never Surrenders.
Recommended Read. Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed....more
Simply Irresistible Maddie Moore is at a crossroads in her life. She’s lost her job, ditched her jerk of aMy reviews cross-posted from Wit and Sin.
Simply Irresistible Maddie Moore is at a crossroads in her life. She’s lost her job, ditched her jerk of a boyfriend, and isn’t in the best financial condition. With nothing left for her in L.A., Maddie heads to the small town of Lucky Harbor, Washington, to check out an inheritance left to her and her two half-sisters by their mother. What she finds is a run-down inn and two siblings who are nearly strangers to her. Maddie, the middle sister, has always been known as “the Mouse.” But Maddie wants to make a go of restoring and running the inn, which means she has to find her voice and convince her sisters to at least consider a trial period. It also means that the inn needs some serious work done on it. Maddie gets more than she bargains for when she hires contractor Jax Cullen. Jax turns Maddie on like no other man has, but with her life in chaos and her decision to stay in Lucky Harbor in peril, is Maddie really ready to take a chance on falling in love with Jax?
There are some stories that make you smile and give you a warm, cozy feeling reading them. Simply Irresistible is that kind of book. Jill Shalvis has delivered one of the most delightful books I’ve read in a long time. I loved everything about the aptly-titled Simply Irresistible.
Maddie, Tara, and Chloe are three half-sisters who seem to have nothing in common except one free-spirited, now-deceased mother. They’re virtual strangers at the beginning of Simply Irresistible, and part of the charm of the story is watching them start to become a family. I adored Maddie’s kindness and humor, Tara’s surliness and veiled caring, and Chloe’s zest for life and outrageous comments. In Simply Irresistible, Maddie also finds herself and her personal journey could have made the book fantastic on its own. However, what sends Simply Irresistible over the top into favorite book material is the romance. I loved Jax and Maddie together. Jax is the kind of guy I curse Ms. Shalvis for creating because I want one of him to show up on my doorstep (tool belt optional). Maddie and Jax hit it off from the start – almost literally since Maddie nearly runs Jax over – and the two of them make Simply Irresistible sparkle.
Simply Irresistible is one of the most entertaining books I’ve read this year and it’s got an honored spot on my keeper shelf. I finished Simply Irresistible one happy reader and I dove right into the second Lucky Harbor novel, The Sweetest Thing.
****
The Sweetest Thing On the surface, Tara Daniels may have it all together, but being back in Lucky Harbor – the place where she made one hell of a mistake as a teenager – keeps her frequently on edge. As does sexy sailor Ford Walker. All Tara wants to do is get the inn she co-owns with her sisters up and running while she puts her life back together. She doesn’t have time for Ford or the feelings he evokes within her. Too bad her body and heart have no interest in following Tara’s plan. To make matters even more complicated, Tara’s sexy ex-husband shows up in Lucky Harbor, determined to win her back. The past is catching up with Tara and with two gorgeous men also in pursuit, life in the small town of Lucky Harbor is about to get very, very interesting.
Love lost and found is the name of the game in The Sweetest Thing. The second installment in Jill Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor alternately sizzles with sexual tension and tugs on your heartstrings. Tara and Ford have each been through things in life that have marked them forever. Though I won’t spoil what those events were, there are times that The Sweetest Thing brought tears to my eyes – tears of both joy and sadness. Tara and Ford both show only parts of themselves to the world and as I read The Sweetest Thing, I delighted in uncovering the layers of their personalities. Ms. Shalvis had me rooting for these two to get together, but she didn’t make the journey easy on Tara and Ford. Their road to happily ever after was filled with bumps, but the obstacles that had to be overcome made the end result that much sweeter.
A brilliant supporting cast of characters rounds out The Sweetest Thing, further bringing Ms. Shalvis’s world of Lucky Harbor, Washington to life. I can’t express how much I adored everyone in The Sweetest Thing, but the fact that I began reading the third Lucky Harbor novel, Head Over Heels, as soon as I finished Ford and Tara’s book should indicate how much I love this series.
Christmas in Lucky Harbor is an omnibus containing the first two Lucky Harbor books. While both books can be read as standalone stories, the Lucky Harbor series is simply too good for readers to miss out on a single novel. I practically devoured Christmas in Lucky Harbor and I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy contemporary romance.
Now, when can I move to Lucky Harbor?
****
Kissing Santa Claus I’ll admit right off the bat that I’m in love with Jill Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor series. So when I saw that Logan Perrish – who failed to win his ex-wife’s heart back in The Sweetest Thing – was getting a story of his own, I had to read it.
“Kissing Santa Claus” is a wonderful holiday treat. Logan fell hard and fast for Sandy without even knowing it. It’s only after spending five months away from her that he realizes he can’t live without her, so he returns to Lucky Harbor, intent on proving his love to Sandy. Who can resist a sexy man willing to pull out all the stops for the woman he loves? Not me. I do wish that “Kissing Santa Claus” were a bit longer, especially since I’d have liked to read about Sandy and Logan’s initial fling. Nevertheless, “Kissing Santa Claus” is an entertaining story with a dash of Christmas cheer and a healthy dose of sensuality that will likely please Lucky Harbor fans.
****
Under the Mistletoe Mia’s plan for a bright and joyful Christmas comes screeching to a halt when her boyfriend, Nick, refuses to come to Lucky Harbor and meet her family. Heartbroken, Mia travels to Lucky Harbor to lick her wounds and celebrate her aunt’s wedding. What she doesn’t expect is Nick to follow hot on her heels, begging for forgiveness.
Like Mia, Nick was given up for adoption at birth. Unlike Mia, he wasn’t adopted by loving parents and never connected with equally loving birth parents. Family, acceptance, and love are foreign to him, but he learns they’re things he wants. Now he just has to convince Mia to give him a second chance. Because for this Christmas and every holiday after, her heart, her love, is the only gift he’ll ever need.
Everyone deserves a second chance, and Nick gets his in this sweet, romantic Lucky Harbor story. Mia and Nick are young, smart, likeable protagonists who fit each other like lock and key. The similar issues they have because of their pasts might have been what initially drew them together, but Jill Shalvis clearly shows it’s not the sole reason they make such a powerful couple. Whenever Nick and Mia share a scene the chemistry between them is easy to see. I loved them together, and because I did I practically devoured Under the Mistletoe.
Under the Mistletoe can be read as a standalone, but for maximum enjoyment I recommend reading the first three Lucky Harbor books. Mia’s birth parents, aunts, and uncles are the heroines and heroes of Simply Irresistible, The Sweetest Thing, and Head Over Heels and they all play strong supporting roles in Under the Mistletoe. In addition, fans of The Sweetest Thing will recognize Carlos, Mia’s first love, as a supporting character and Ms. Shalvis gives a brief update on his love life that made me smile and want to know a bit more about the woman who captured his heart.
The only niggle I had when reading Under the Mistletoe was Mia’s wish to be “picked.” I understood her desire to be picked by someone instead of her always doing the chasing and choosing, but given that this need stems from her being given up for adoption, it bothered me a bit that she never addressed the fact that she was picked, by her adoptive parents, who clearly love her. Given that Under the Mistletoe is a Lucky Harbor story, I understand the focus on Mia’s birth family. I just wish there had been a bit more acknowledgment for Mia’s adoptive parents.
Overall, Under the Mistletoe was a delightful read that made me smile and fall in love with some of my favorite Lucky Harbor characters all over again. Under the Mistletoe is the perfect story to curl up with this winter, for Mia and Nick’s romance is simply lovely....more
“Hot Whisper” by LuAnn McLane – 0 stars: Bad writing, terrible dialogue, characters who acted like over-sexed five-year-olds (don’t stop and think abo“Hot Whisper” by LuAnn McLane – 0 stars: Bad writing, terrible dialogue, characters who acted like over-sexed five-year-olds (don’t stop and think about that one, I beg you), and a hero who laughs uproariously at things that aren’t even funny.
“Hot for the Holidays” by Susanna Carr – 1 star: Decent premise but the story fast dissolves into ridiculousness. The heroine could be really annoying and her "theories" (which I won't spoil) that she hid behind were too stupid for words.
“Hot Arctic Nights” by Janice Maynard – 1.5 stars: I liked the premise but the story was kind of boring. It started to pick up and then - in the last four pages - it had a few eye-roll moments that just killed it for me.
Wicked Wonderland just wasn’t the anthology for me. I’ll be sending it off to the used bookstore – perhaps someone else will like it better than I did....more
For three long years Maddie Wilson has waited for her boss, Owen Bishop, to see her as more than hBlue Ribbon Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Original Review Link
For three long years Maddie Wilson has waited for her boss, Owen Bishop, to see her as more than his tomboy best friend. With a little help from some new friends, Maddie gets a makeover that knocks Owen off his feet.
Whether she’s dressed up, dressed down or not dressed at all, Maddie leaves Owen breathless. But having grown up with a father who constantly cheated on his mother, Owen’s paranoid that he’s inherited the tendency to stray. There’s no way he’d ever hurt Maddie like that, so he tries to keep his distance…and fails. Maddie believes he’s the one for her, but Owen has to learn to trust himself before he can embark on any kind of relationship with the woman he’s crazy about.
Return to author Elle Kennedy’s delightful town of Paradise in TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT. Maddie is a heroine who is so incredibly likeable, she’s sure to charm any readers’ socks off. Owen, in turn, is a good man who is so convinced he’ll hurt Maddie that he manages to do just that by trying to avoid hurting her. Ms. Kennedy makes it hard to stay mad at Owen, though the man definitely needed a few kicks in the behind. And he gets those from Maddie. She may be blindly in love with him, but she’s no doormat. Even when Owen inadvertently damages her self esteem, Maddie picks herself back up and – in a way that sure as heck surprised me – regains and even strengthens her confidence. Though I won’t spoil what she does, Ms. Kennedy definitely had me saying “Go Maddie!”
TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT is the second story in Ms. Kennedy’s WELCOME TO PARADISE series, but it can be read as a standalone. Nate and Charlotte, the hero and heroine from the first book, WELCOME TO PARADISE, do play supporting roles, but it’s two other supporting characters that threaten to steal the show from Maddie and Owen. The ongoing series subplot involving Nate and Charlotte’s friend Lexie and Maddie’s friend Cooper have me ready to beg Ms. Kennedy for their story. Cooper actually manages to out-sexy Owen in TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT, and it’s not an easy feat to be more drool-worthy than a book’s hero.
TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT is Ms. Kennedy’s fresh take on the classic friends-to-lovers storyline. I enjoyed Maddie and Owen’s story, and I absolutely cannot wait for more WELCOME TO PARADISE stories!
Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here courtesy of Romance Junkies...more
“Kissing Santa Claus” by Jill Shalvis I’ll admit right off the bat that I’m in love with Jill Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor series. So when I saw that Logan Perrish – who failed to win his ex-wife’s heart back in The Sweetest Thing – was getting a story of his own, I had to read it.
“Kissing Santa Claus” is a wonderful holiday treat. Logan fell hard and fast for Sandy without even knowing it. It’s only after spending five months away from her that he realizes he can’t live without her, so he returns to Lucky Harbor, intent on proving his love to Sandy. Who can resist a sexy man willing to pull out all the stops for the woman he loves? Not me. I do wish that “Kissing Santa Claus” were a bit longer, especially since I’d have liked to read about Sandy and Logan’s initial fling. Nevertheless, “Kissing Santa Claus” is an entertaining story with a dash of Christmas cheer and a healthy dose of sensuality that will likely please Lucky Harbor fans.
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” by Hope Ramsay A handsome military man rescuing a stray cat? That’s pretty much all you need to capture my interest. Hope Ramsay’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” starts of sweet and has some incredibly touching moments throughout the tale, but it falls short as a romance. There’s chemistry between Matt and Annie, but Ms. Ramsay never capitalizes on it. In fact, just when I thought that something might happen between them, the story ends, leaving me an unsatisfied reader. This is the first story I’ve read by Ms. Ramsay and I liked her writing style enough that I’d read a different book by her even though “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” didn’t do much for me.
“O Little Town of Bramble” by Katie Lane Friends become almost-lovers just in time for Christmas in “O Little Town of Bramble.” There was something just a bit “off” about Katie Lane’s story. It’s a contemporary romance, but the people and the town of Bramble feel like they fell out a sixties television show – in other words, the dialogue and incidents came across as staged. This made it hard to connect to the characters, even Ethan and Sam who were just a little too perfect to feel real. Ethan’s a small town farmer who never got to live out his dreams and Sam’s the little sister he never had who comes back to town all grown up and transformed into the woman he desires above all else. I liked both Ethan and Sam – in fact, I liked everyone in Bramble – but I wasn’t able to connect with them. There are some truly cute moments in “O Little Town of Bramble” but on the whole the story just wasn’t for me.
Small Town Christmas has a touch of spice and a whole lot of sweet, making it a charming anthology overall. Not all the stories were to my taste, but Jill Shalvis’s “Kissing Santa Claus” was a delight and readers who are looking for more Christmas than romance in their reading might enjoy “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and “O Little Town of Bramble” more than I did....more
The stock car racing world knows her as the sassy Tuesday Talladega, but journalist Tuesday Jones isn’t feeling like her spunky self. She recently losThe stock car racing world knows her as the sassy Tuesday Talladega, but journalist Tuesday Jones isn’t feeling like her spunky self. She recently lost her father to cancer and the grief is almost too much for her to bear. At a party to celebrate her best friend’s recent wedding, Tuesday is determined to put on a good front. And surprisingly enough, she meets a man who makes her feel alive and happy once more.
Daniel “Diesel” Lange knows what it is to lose someone he cares about. The former racing star has not only lost family members, he’s lost his passion now that his career is over due to a terrible accident on the track that shattered his knee. But in Tuesday, Diesel finds passion once more. The brazen beauty is everything Diesel wants – but is she more than he can handle?
Don’t be fooled by the title – in Slow Ride Tuesday and Diesel fall in love faster than a stock car driver takes the final lap of a race. There aren’t many obstacles in Tuesday and Diesel’s path and the ones that are there are created by Tuesday herself, so a good author like Erin McCarthy can make this kind of lightning fast love story work.
It’s easy to see why Tuesday falls for Diesel – the man’s damn near perfect without being a cardboard character. Diesel is sexy, patient, and generous with his time, money, and heart. I fell head over heels for him and he might just be my favorite hero of Ms. McCarthy’s to date. The only thing that confused me about Diesel is why he fell in love with Tuesday. The fact that they’re total opposites wasn’t the problem. I just couldn’t see what it was Diesel loved about her. I actually liked Tuesday in the beginning of Slow Ride. She’d just lost her father to cancer and my heart broke for her. I even understood her unwise decision to self-medicate with alcohol…until it turned into self-destruction. Tuesday spends a good portion of Slow Ride drunk and that’s where I lost my patience with her. It’s not Ms. McCarthy showing Tuesday’s downward spiral that irritated me, but rather the fact that Tuesday is the most obnoxious drunk I’ve ever had the displeasure to read about. She simply gets more and more selfish and annoying and it isn’t until thirteen pages from the end of the book that she figures out she has an actual alcohol problem and needs help (to cope with loss and her alcohol abuse, not for her selfishness). To make matters worse, Diesel and Kendall (Tuesday’s best friend) make excuses and enable Tuesday’s bad behavior. Just like in her last Fast Track book, The Chase, Ms. McCarthy doesn’t leave enough room at the end of the book to satisfactorily resolve a major issue. Banter, sex, and fighting between hero and heroine are all well and good, but if there’s a major problem or plot twist in the story, it’s just not plausible to have that wrapped up in ten pages or less.
Speaking of The Chase, for the readers who were dissatisfied with the baby plot twist in that story, Ms. McCarthy addresses it in Slow Ride. I was one of the many readers who hated that particular plotline in The Chase and while I don’t pretend to know what Ms. McCarthy was thinking, it felt like she was attempting to backtrack with how she “resolved” the storyline. I won’t spoil how she solved Evan’s baby dilemma, but I will say that the outcome rang false.
Slow Ride is the fifth book in Ms. McCarthy’s Fast Track series, but it can be read as a standalone. Those who’ve read the previous books will likely be pleased to revisit their favorite couples in Slow Ride. Having loved Flat-Out Sexy, Hard and Fast, and Hot Finish, revisiting these pairs was a real treat for me. One scene with Ryder and Suzanne (of Hot Finish) actually stole the whole book for me.
Slow Ride is a bit of an uneven book. It starts out strong and then fizzles out, so it’s not my favorite book of Ms. McCarthy’s. Still, I loved Diesel and revisiting some of her other Fast Track characters reminded me why I fell in love with this series. I haven’t given up on Ms. McCarthy yet, and here’s hoping that the Fast Track series gets back on track with the next book, Jacked Up.
On the surface, Tara Daniels may have it all together, but being back in Lucky Harbor – the place where she made one hell of a mistake as a teenager – keeps her frequently on edge. As does sexy sailor Ford Walker. All Tara wants to do is get the inn she co-owns with her sisters up and running while she puts her life back together. She doesn’t have time for Ford or the feelings he evokes within her. Too bad her body and heart have no interest in following Tara’s plan. To make matters even more complicated, Tara’s sexy ex-husband shows up in Lucky Harbor, determined to win her back. The past is catching up with Tara and with two gorgeous men also in pursuit, life in the small town of Lucky Harbor is about to get very, very interesting.
Love lost and found is the name of the game in The Sweetest Thing. The second installment in Jill Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor alternately sizzles with sexual tension and tugs on your heartstrings. Tara and Ford have each been through things in life that have marked them forever. Though I won’t spoil what those events were, there are times that The Sweetest Thing brought tears to my eyes – tears of both joy and sadness. Tara and Ford both show only parts of themselves to the world and as I read The Sweetest Thing, I delighted in uncovering the layers of their personalities. Ms. Shalvis had me rooting for these two to get together, but she didn’t make the journey easy on Tara and Ford. Their road to happily ever after was filled with bumps, but the obstacles that had to be overcome made the end result that much sweeter.
A brilliant supporting cast of characters rounds out The Sweetest Thing, further bringing Ms. Shalvis’s world of Lucky Harbor, Washington to life. I can’t express how much I adored everyone in The Sweetest Thing, but the fact that I began reading the third Lucky Harbor novel, Head Over Heels, as soon as I finished Ford and Tara’s book should indicate how much I love this series....more
Of the three Traeger sisters, Chloe has always been known as the “wild child.” Trouble just seems to follow Chloe wherever she goes, but now that she lives in Lucky Harbor, every little mistake she makes lands her in the path of Sheriff Sawyer Thompson. Sawyer should be far too straight-laced to appeal to Chloe, but everything about the oh-so-sexy sheriff makes her want to wind up cuffed — to his bed, anyway. Has the wild child finally met her match?
Opposites attract in the energetic, charming Head Over Heels. Jill Shalvis set the bar high with her first two Lucky Harbor books, Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing, but Chloe’s story is every bit as good as her sisters’ books. I absolutely loved the free-spirited Chloe. She grew up constantly on the move and has a somewhat different take on life, love, and what it means to live than her sisters do. Almost nothing can slow her down (except for her asthma), but people tend to take Chloe at face value and not look any deeper, which made my heart break for her. It was a joy to watch Chloe come into her own in Head Over Heels — it was almost as fun as watching her fall for Sawyer. The sparks that fly between these two are red-hot and entertaining to boot. How could they not be, with as sexy a hero as Sawyer? The man may seem serious on the surface, but boy, oh boy, do still waters run deep. Sawyer is caring, considerate, and he truly sees Chloe. He’s almost too good to be true, but Ms. Shalvis never lets him enter into what I call “cardboard hero territory.” Sawyer’s got real flaws and has made plenty of mistakes, but his virtues outshine all that. He and Chloe fit like lock and key, which is one of the things I love about Head Over Heels. In fact, pretty much everything about Head Over Heels is delightful. It’s (at the risk of borrowing a different book’s title) simply irresistible.
Head Over Heels is the third book in Ms. Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor series, but it can be read as a standalone. However, I dare readers who haven’t read Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing to read Head Over Heels and not rush to read the first two books. In the Lucky Harbor series, the world Ms. Shalvis has created is so bright, so full of joy, laughter, and zaniness that it’s impossible to resist. I’m head over heels in love with the Lucky Harbor series and I can’t wait for the next book!...more
CRIME WAVE IN A CORSET by Stacy Gail Cornelia Peabody is the consummate thief. But after stealing a FBlue Ribbon Rating: 3 out of 5 Original Review Link
CRIME WAVE IN A CORSET by Stacy Gail Cornelia Peabody is the consummate thief. But after stealing a Fabergé egg from Roderick Coddington’s house, Cornelia finds herself in a world of trouble. She has seven days to retrieve the egg or she’ll die. The threat of death doesn’t rattle the professional thief, but the fact that Roderick may steal her heart most definitely does.
Author Stacy Gail brings a dark edge to the Christmas holiday in CRIME WAVE IN A CORSET. Roderick may toe the line close to villain territory at the beginning of the story – threatening the instantly likeable Cornelia with death isn’t the most endearing of introductions for a hero – but Ms. Gail slowly brought me around as I learned more about the clever professor. Cornelia and her inventions do tend to steal the show though, which is perhaps appropriate with a thief for a heroine. A healthy dose of sensuality rounds out the enemies-turned-lovers plot, making CRIME WAVE IN A CORSET a sexy seasonal story.
THIS WINTER HEART by PG Forte Eight years ago, Ophelia’s husband Dario sent her back to her father after discovering that she wasn’t entirely human. Now that her father has died, Ophelia has no choice but to turn to Dario for aid. Dario’s anger at her return intensifies when he learns that Ophelia has a seven-year-old son she never told him about – one he doesn’t believe can be his. Ophelia knows that Dario once loved her…before he found out about her mechanical parts and started viewing her as a machine incapable of returning his love rather than a woman. Can she convince him that she’s far more human than he believes?
Estranged spouses and secret babies may be tried-and-true romance plots, but author PG Forte gives them her own dazzling, unique twist in THIS WINTER HEART. Ophelia wound her way around my heart almost immediately; and I found myself emotionally invested in her story, wanting Ophelia to find happiness. Dario, in turn, is a bit harder to like since he thinks of – or tries to think of – Ophelia as a thing, rather than a person, but Ms. Forte was able to make me follow his logic, even if I didn’t agree with it. I enjoyed watching Dario become the man worthy of Ophelia’s love, and ultimately I found THIS WINTER HEART to be a satisfying, original tale.
WANTED: ONE SCOUNDREL by Jenny Schwartz Australian heiress and suffragette Esme Smith needs a man. And not just any man, but a respectable scoundrel she can hire to represent her political party, the Women’s Advancement League. American inventor Jedediah Reeve seems to fit the bill perfectly. But as the political intrigue that Esme and Jed are involved in heats up, so does their connection. Will Esme fall for her scoundrel who may or may not be all that he seems?
WANTED: ONE SCOUNDREL is light on both steam and steampunk devices, but it’s an interesting tale. Esme is a smart woman with a spine of steel, ready to go after what she wants. She doesn’t seem to want to depend on anyone, but thankfully, she’s not the type of heroine who turns away help just to make a point. Esme and Jed fit each other well on a number of levels, and the dynamic between them keeps WANTED: ONE SCOUNDREL afloat when the plot slows down in a couple of places. I enjoyed the Australian setting; it was a nice change of pace since almost all of the steampunk stories I’ve read have taken place in England or America. All in all, WANTED: ONE SCOUNDREL was an entertaining story.
FAR FROM BROKEN by JK Coi Colonel Jasper Carlisle fell fast and hard for prima ballerina Callie and courted her until she agreed to be his wife. Their happiness comes crashing to a halt when Jasper’s enemies kidnap and torture Callie. By the time Jasper is able to find her, only a number of experimental surgeries can save her. But the surgeries leave Callie with a mechanical eye, hand and legs, making her feel like a stranger in her own body. Her anger at Jasper and his guilt at leaving her unprotected threaten to tear them apart. However, Jasper’s not about to give up on Callie or their marriage. He’ll prove to his wife that his love hasn’t changed, and he’ll regain her trust. But Jasper has to move quickly – his old enemies are back, and they’re determined to finish what they once started.
FAR FROM BROKEN is a heartbreaking story about two people finding each other once again. Callie has been through an unbelievable trauma that has left her physically and emotionally injured. Both Jasper and Callie’s true strength shows in how they come to connect with each other and the world around them. Though author JK Coi almost made me cry while reading FAR FROM BROKEN, I absolutely loved the story. The romance, character building, danger and steampunk elements all worked together flawlessly to create one fabulous story. I could go on, but suffice it to say that readers looking for a different kind of romance – one rich in both joy and tragedy – should read FAR FROM BROKEN.
A CLOCKWORK CHRISTMAS contains a quartet of unique steampunk romances. Each story is very different from the others, and I liked not knowing what to expect from one story to the next. The Christmas holiday isn’t really a big element in any of the stories in A CLOCKWORK CHRISTMAS, so readers are sure to enjoy this anthology all year long. Stacy Gail, PG Forte, Jenny Schwartz and JK Coi are all talented authors, and I look forward to reading more of their work.
Note 1: All the stories in A CLOCKWORK CHRISTMAS are also for sale as individual ebooks.
Note 2: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here courtesy of Romance Junkies....more
In high school, Rob broke Michael’s heart when he fled after an erotic encounter between the two of them. Ten years later, Rob has both figured out anIn high school, Rob broke Michael’s heart when he fled after an erotic encounter between the two of them. Ten years later, Rob has both figured out and come to terms with his sexuality; he’s gay and he’s a Dom. At twenty-seven, Rob has everything he could ever want…except Michael. When he attends a wax play workshop at the exclusive club Velvet Ice, Rob finds himself face-to-face with Michael. Michael works at the club as a submissive, but he has no interest in submitting to Rob. Or so he claims. It’s going to take every play in this Dom’s handbook to convince Michael he is the perfect submissive for Rob.
Some wounds need more than just time to heal, and that’s the case for Rob and Michael in Velvet Memories. Rob made a mistake back in high school, one that lost him Michael’s friendship and trust. While he did screw up, it’s completely understandable why he did so; just as it’s logical that Michael’s still afraid to trust him ten years later. There’s a lot of pain of the non-pleasurable variety in Velvet Memories, but Violet Summers had me cheering for Rob to break down Michael’s barriers. And break them down he does – in the sexiest of ways. Wax play adds an erotic edge to Velvet Memories, spicing up the D/s scenes and adding to Michael and Rob’s romance. If there’s one thing I’d wish for, it would be for Velvet Memories to be a bit longer. Because there is ten years of trust issues at play for most of the story, it would have been nice to see these two as a couple once they actually agreed to go for a relationship.
Velvet Memories is the fourth Club Velvet Ice story, but like its predecessors (Sinful Treats, Velvet Valentines, and Velvet Submission) Velvet Memories can easily be read as a standalone. Fans of Violet Summers’ Velvet Ice world will delight in seeing characters from the previous stories appear in Michael and Rob’s story, though. All in all, Velvet Memories was a sexy, satisfying read.
Toby’s Drone clan may have won the last battle against the Pure Born Vampire Regulation Force, but the Drones’ victory has just upped the sta2.5 stars
Toby’s Drone clan may have won the last battle against the Pure Born Vampire Regulation Force, but the Drones’ victory has just upped the stakes in their ongoing war against the VRF. With Drone clans being attacked by the VRF, it’s no time to leave home. But that’s exactly what Toby and his warlock mate Blaine have to do. There’s a dark warlock named Tarick who wants Blaine and he won’t rest until Toby’s dead and Blaine is in his clutches. Blaine and Toby won’t go down without a fight, but with only two other warlocks to aid them, can they really defeat Tarick?
A powerful warlock makes one hell of an ex…particularly when they’re evil and “owned” you. The overarching plot of the Drone Vampire Chronicles takes a back seat to freeing Blaine from the threat of the dark warlock Tarick in Vengeance Paid with Blood. I admit, it’d been a while since I’d read the last Drone Vampire Chronicles tale so it took me a few minutes to remember who Toby and Blaine were. I normally have no problem remembering characters, but the big downside of this series is that – with rare exceptions – the characters all sound like they fell out of one of two molds. That being said, once we got into the actual road trip with Toby, Blaine, Kale, and Ian, Vengeance Paid with Blood was entertaining. Stephani Hecht seemed to be building up Ian more in this book than focusing on Toby and Blaine, who are already settled into a relationship.
In Vengeance Paid with Blood, Ms. Hecht explains away the anticlimactic death of a series “big bad” that happened in the previous book, Tears of Blood, but this was actually a drawback for me. When combined with yet another blink-and-you’ll-miss-it killing of a “terrifying evil” in Vengeance Paid with Blood, I’ve lost faith in Ms. Hecht’s villains. It’s hard to be invested in the Drones’ war against the VRF when each powerful villain is seemingly dispatched with few problems. Why should I worry about the Drones when there’s always a vampire or warlock with some heretofore unknown superpower waiting in the wings to defeat whatever evil comes their way? This has me concerned for the series as a whole.
Vengeance Paid with Blood is the thirteenth installment in the Drone Vampire Chronicles and Ms. Hecht provides enough information for new readers to follow along (it actually might be less confusing if you haven’t read the previous books). There’s some crossover with Ms. Hecht’s Archangel series, as Ms. Hecht brings the succubus Lilith into the Drones’ fold. I didn’t exactly buy the way Ms. Hecht brought Lilith into Vengeance Paid with Blood, but the show-stealing succubus continues to charm the hell out of me so I didn’t actually care why she was there; her presence alone could have made Vengeance Paid with Blood entertaining.
The Drone Vampire Chronicles tends to be a bit of an uneven series for me, but it’s saying something that I’m still reading the books. Vengeance Paid with Blood didn’t really add anything to the series, but taken on its own it’s a fun paranormal tale.
MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME by Ava March Four years ago at Christmastime, Thomas broke Alexander’s heart Blue Ribbon Rating: 4 out of 5 Original Review Link
MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME by Ava March Four years ago at Christmastime, Thomas broke Alexander’s heart when he fled what was supposed to be their first night together and never returned. Now Thomas has come back to London, determined to win back his beloved. But Alexander is not the happy young man Thomas once knew. Will he be able to thaw the wall of ice Alexander has constructed around his heart?
MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME is a heartbreaking and heartwarming historical romance. Author Ava March shows Alexander and Thomas in love at nineteen and makes it understandable why Thomas ran away and why Alexander is bitter about it. Both men captured my heart, and I could not stop reading their story because I felt like these two deserved to be happy. The only thing I could wish for to make MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME the perfect story was a bit more information at the end. Given the historical setting, I did want to know how Alexander and Thomas would manage to make a life together work. Still, I loved this romance.
WINTER KNIGHTS by Harper Fox Gavin is thrilled at the prospect of a holiday trip to Northumberland. He’ll be able to collect evidence that proves the fabled Arthur and Lancelot of Camelot are real. Even better than his research, though, is that this trip will be his first romantic vacation with his boyfriend, Piers. But when the devoutly Catholic Piers calls, saying that he can’t come to Northumberland and he can’t come out to his family, Gavin is devastated. Heartbroken, Gavin puts his energy into his work and goes out at night to find Hallowed Hill. A fall during a snowstorm sends two handsome rescue men Gavin’s way. The mysterious Art and Lance not only save Gavin, they’re prepared to introduce him to erotic delights that Gavin can teach Piers…if his boyfriend will give him a second chance.
Author Harper Fox adds a dash of the paranormal to the very sexy WINTER KNIGHTS. The twists and turns WINTER KNIGHTS takes are clever and sometimes, perhaps, a bit tongue-in-cheek. I enjoyed getting to know Gavin; he isn’t as blameless as he thinks he is when it comes to why he and Piers have broken up. Gavin has a lot to learn about love and patience, and his sexy rescuers teach him that…and so much more. A touch of sadness brings depth to WINTER KNIGHTS, making it a well-rounded story. Ms. Fox always delivers a well-written tale, and WINTER KNIGHTS is no exception.
LONE STAR by Josh Lanyon Mitchell Evans always wanted to leave his home in Texas behind and become a famous ballet dancer. He’s achieved his goal, but a bad breakup and losing a coveted role sends Mitch back home to deal with his father’s estate that he’s been ignoring for six months. Driving into his home town, Mitch swerves to avoid a reindeer in the road. He’s rescued by the man who crushed Mitch’s heart twelve years ago. Texas Ranger Web Eisley is as handsome as ever, and the attraction between them still burns bright and hot. But it’ll take a Christmas miracle for Mitch and Web to get a second chance at a relationship.
LONE STAR features many of the romance tropes I enjoy and, as always, I can count on author Josh Lanyon to give the tried and true plot points of reunion romances his own spin. Mitch and Web are both likeable heroes who are clearly meant to be with one another. That being said, it surprised me that LONE STAR lacked the charm that Mr. Lanyon can usually be counted on to infuse his stories with. LONE STAR is by no means a bad story, but it wasn’t quite what I’ve come to expect from Mr. Lanyon. There was also an added element concerning a reindeer only Mitch saw. I’m not sure if it was a paranormal element, a hallucination or simply a tie-in to a Christmas gift from Web later in the story. Still, LONE STAR is a satisfying read overall.
THE CHRISTMAS PROPOSITION by K.A. Mitchell Mel doesn’t HATE Christmas, but after six years of running his family’s Christmas tree farm, he doesn’t exactly love the holiday either. Mel works constantly and sometimes, he has to wonder what life would be like if he’d run off with Bryce when the man had asked. When Bryce returns to town for business and a wedding, the holiday season heats up. The pair can’t keep their hands off of one another, but Mel knows their reunion won’t last long. Strange things start to happen, though, and it almost seems like Bryce is trying to win Mel over. Is Bryce looking for more than a simple holiday fling?
Author K.A. Mitchell steams up the pages in THE CHRISTMAS PROPOSITION. Misunderstandings and perhaps even a lack of maturity kept Mel and Bryce apart in the past. I enjoyed watching Mel and Bryce stumble as they learned to be a couple outside of the bedroom. Their flaws made them more real to me than their virtues. THE CHRISTMAS PROPOSITION is a sexy, enjoyable tale and is the most Christmassy of all the stories in the MEN UNDER THE MISTLETOE anthology.
MEN UNDER THE MISTLETOE is a wonderful collection of reunion romances that will charm readers all year long. Ava March, Harper Fox, Josh Lanyon and K.A. Mitchell are all incredibly talented authors whose stories I always look forward to reading, so it’s no surprise that I snapped up MEN UNDER THE MISTLETOE. I’m also a sucker for reunion romances, which, perhaps, makes me an easy sell. If you’re looking for Christmas stories, it’s worth noting that that the holiday is more in the background than it would be in most Christmas-themed anthologies. Also worth mentioning is the fact that Carina Press is selling each story found in MEN UNDER THE MISTLETOE separately as well as in an anthology.
Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here courtesy of Romance Junkies....more
Having finally returned to his home planet, Keern didn’t expect to find a naked woman swimming in Blue Ribbon Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Original Review Link
Having finally returned to his home planet, Keern didn’t expect to find a naked woman swimming in a pond on his land as a homecoming. Shena was almost too perfect to be real, and Keern found himself falling in love with her from the start.
And then she betrayed him.
Now Shena is being sold as a sex slave, and Keern has the perfect opportunity for revenge. He’ll buy her, use her and rid himself of his desire for her. But from the moment he sees her again, nothing goes according to plan. Keern finds that he can’t harm Shena, no matter what she’s done. Yet how can he trust the woman whose lies wrecked his family? Perhaps there’s more to Shena’s story than Keern knows…
Lust, betrayal, heartbreak and second chances are at the forefront of the erotic adventure, SLAVES OF LOVE. Shena and Keern are two people who are clearly made for each other, but the treachery of others threatens to ruin them both. While SLAVES OF LOVE is clearly a romance, author Opal Carew definitely had me guessing as to how things would work out for Keern and Shena.
In SLAVES OF LOVE, Ms. Carew isn’t afraid to go dark – something I appreciated given the gravity of Shena’s situation. Shena’s been victimized her entire life, but it never breaks her spirit and in showing part of what she has to deal with, Ms. Carew only increases my respect for Shena. Keern, in turn, could have easily entered villain territory. Yet, at his core he’s a good person, and I was able to trust that his character and his love for Shena would pull him away from the darkness.
Ms. Carew’s signature sensuality heats up SLAVES OF LOVE, which should make the story a delight for fans of erotic romance. Aside from one scene which seemed out of place, I enjoyed the sizzling encounters in SLAVES OF LOVE. But most of all, what drew me to SLAVES OF LOVE were Shena and Keern. I adored these two together, and their love story made SLAVES OF LOVE a genuinely satisfying read.
Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here courtesy of Romance Junkies....more
Attorney Samantha Rawlings knows that winning her current case will be the thing that gets her the cBlue Ribbon Rating: 3 out of 5 Original Review Link
Attorney Samantha Rawlings knows that winning her current case will be the thing that gets her the coveted promotion to partner. But when her boss asks that she bring hotshot young lawyer Victor Marin in on the case, Sam is thrown for a loop. Vic is distracting…in more ways than one. His sex appeal sends Sam reeling, and his almost single-minded focus on their current case makes Sam question his motives. It looks like Vic has a personal vendetta against the defendant. What will happen when Sam finds out that – when it comes to this case – appearances aren’t deceiving?
A sensual, career-minded lawyer meets her match in her sexy, vengeance-driven co-worker in the aptly-titled LUST ON THE ROCKS. Author Dianne Venetta wasn’t afraid to let her hero and heroine butt heads – on more than one front – and the sparks that flew as a result brought life to LUST ON THE ROCKS. I enjoyed watching Sam and Vic argue and compromise, push and defend, give and take. They’re so similar and yet so different in character that I felt I got to know them as they worked out their differences. I liked that Ms. Venetta really let me get to know Sam and Vic, both their strengths and their flaws; that stayed with me even more than the spicy love scenes of LUST ON THE ROCKS.
Though Sam, Vic and their current case is at the center of LUST ON THE ROCKS, there is a significant subplot involving Sam’s pregnant college-aged sister. Again, I appreciated the fact that Ms. Venetta had her characters examine all sides of a problem, but in the pro-choice, pro-life debate contained in LUST ON THE ROCKS, the pro-life language used got a bit heavy-handed for my personal comfort. Given that this is a sensitive subject for many readers, I felt like this needed to be mentioned.
LUST ON THE ROCKS has all the sultriness of its Florida setting. Readers looking for a sensual read with strong-willed, three-dimensional characters will undoubtedly enjoy LUST ON THE ROCKS.
Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here courtesy of Romance Junkies....more