Friday, May 31, 2013

Fever by Maya Banks

Fever (Breathless, #2)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-High
Series-Breathless #2
Reviewed by Kay

This installment of Maya Banks' Breathless trilogy is my favorite so far. I really enjoyed it. Great heroine, pretty good hero. Good supporting cast also. I'll let you know what I liked and disliked in just a moment. Let me summarize first.

Jace Crestwell  sees Bethany Willis across the room at his sister's engagement party and something happens. The world shifts on it's axis and he is almost overcome with a sense of possessiveness. He's never had that kind of reaction to a woman before. And he's had plenty of women. Plenty. He knows he wants her but he usually has his best friend, Ash along for the ride(pun intended). Bethany is different. She's special and he can't understand how she can be since he has just seen her. Ash sees his interest and against Jace's wishes approaches her and propositions her.

Bethany is taken aback at first but due to the attraction she feels for both of them but Jace especially, she agrees. She does negotiate dinner in the deal though. The reason I bring that up is that Bethany is homeless and works odd jobs when she can find them. She's part of the wait staff at this engagement party. She feels a little at odds with her decision to go home with them but takes the chance. They spend the night together and she ditches them in the morning.

This encounter has changed everything for Jace, Bethany and Ash. Jace has met the woman for him, Bethany has possibly met someone who will have her back and Ash realizes that his best friend's priorities have changed. There is a lot of emotions in this book. Relationship evaluation too. What place you play in different people's lives.

What I did like: Jace's immediate realization that Bethany was his. His acceptance of this and of her and her past. Bethany as a character. I love the tortured heroine trope. Life was never kind to her but she always came out swinging. Ash's acceptance of how things should be.

What I didn't like: Jace's extreme BDSM stuff but that's more of a personal preference. His numerous doubts of trust with the people he was supposed to love. Jack pretty much was annoying and useless.

You got a small glimmer of life on the streets and a bad example of the foster care system. I know that not all examples of the foster care system are bad and that needs to be pointed out. This was a solid addition to the series and I eagerly wait Ash's book. I want it NOW!

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Rush by Maya Banks

Rush (Breathless, #1)
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-High Kink
Series-Breathless #1
Reviewed by Kay

Gabe Hamilton is a very wealthy business man who even conducts his love life like a business. With signed contracts and everything. He has lusted after his best friend's sister for a loooong time. She has always been forbidden fruit for a variety of different reasons, his best friend would kill him, she's 14 years his junior and his preferences in the bedroom.

Mia Crestwell is not as innocent as Gabe thinks she is. She was raised by her brother after their parents' deaths, so they have a very close relationship. She has wanted Gabe for as long as she can remember and she finally got her chance and ran with it.

Gabe asks Mia for a relationship that she has to sign a contract for. I understood why he thought that was necessary but ewww! How utterly unromantic. He may have fought his feelings for her but as the  reader, we can see he loves her. So to treat her the way he does in this book was ridiculous. I never warmed to him as the hero or them as a couple. She was a bit too timid for me and he was an ass. Totally without a chance for redemption for me. When he tries to let other men touch her...OMG!
Ass! I love Maya Banks books, all contemporaries and historicals. I liked parts of the book and will continue the series even though I have issues with this one.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Just One Kiss by Susan Mallery

Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold, #11)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Fool's Gold #11
Reviewed by Kay

I was so excited to get this book and start reading it. I was just about bouncing in my chair, as I am a huge Susan Mallery fan and have been for years. This chapter in the Fool's Gold saga is about Patience McGraw, a hometown girl who was in love with a neighbor boy back in high school. When said boy disappeared without a trace she was heartbroken as only a fourteen year old girl can be. She moved on with her life and ended up pregnant out of wedlock and then married to her baby daddy. That marriage soon fell apart and she she ended up raising her daughter alone after the father waived his parental rights. Then the unthinkable happens....Justice comes home.

Justice Garrett always regretted leaving the way he did. He missed Patience and thought about her for years. His decision to move back home after his career in the military was based on Patience and his need to reconnect with her. He is going to open a business with another hometown boy, Ford Hendrix and a man named Angel. Watching he and Patience rekindle their friendship was precious. These two characters really cared about each other.

This did drag a little in the middle for me which is shocking because I LOVE this series. I want to move there and never leave, except to maybe vacation in Lucky Harbor or Virgin River. Once this book got back on track for, it was full steam ahead. You need to read this latest installment and if you have never read this series, get started because it is fantastic. My only other complaint is that she has turned down the heat in the last two books. Not a fan of the heat getting turned down at all.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Lover Be Mine by Nicole Jordan

Lover Be Mine (Legendary Lovers, #2)
Grade-D-
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Legendary Lovers #2
Reviewed by Kay

Sophie Fortin is a pretty girl whose family lost their place in line for a title because of the Wilde family. She is facing a loveless marriage to a duke, who as far as we can tell will be good to her. She wants to marry for love but her loyalty to her family and their shot at redemption made her decision easy.

Jack Wilde is a rake and a rogue. He also knows about family loyalty and it's importance. He agrees to meet Sophie to shut up his cousin Skye. His female cousins have decided that they will all marry in a way that is reminiscent to legendary lovers. He thinks this is crazy but goes along with their plan just to show it's idiocy.

They meet at a party and share a very steamy moment. Jack then thinks maybe there is something to this legendary lovers stuff and decides he wants a chance to court Sophie. He knows that he will have to do it on the down low because of the family feud.

I'll be honest, I didn't finish this novel. I was bored to tears, never could connect with the two main characters and had to force myself to read as far as I did. It makes me sad because I LOVE Nicole Jordan's previous series and the novel The Lover. I don't feel that this series is a proper showcase of her talent. If you want a good example, read her Courtship Wars series. It was fantastic.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Married by Midnight by Julianne MacLean

Married By Midnight (Pembroke Palace, #4)



Grade: C-
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Historical
Series: Pembroke Palace #4
Reviewed by Kate
186 pages
Lord Garrett Sinclair's father is going crazy and had his will changed. Unless all four of his sons marry by midnight on Christmas Eve, his entire fortune will go to the London Horticulture Society. Garrett has been out of country (read: avoiding his father) for the past 7 years. He agrees to return and marry (in name only), if his brothers find the bride for him. Lady Anne Douglas has been compromised and disowned by her parents. When Garrett's brothers offer her income and independence in exchange for marrying Garrett (who will leave the country after the wedding) she accepts.

This story had almost everything I've come to love about a marriage of convenience.  A hero and heroine dealing with their pasts.  A plausible reason for the union.  But it was missing my favorite piece of the plot - the struggle to get to know each other.  That awkward part where both the hero and the heroine make mistakes as they try to figure out how to live together.  Instead Garrett and Anne were immediately comfortable with each other.  It was just too perfect, too quickly. 

How about you?  Do you prefer the getting to know you clash or the instant perfection?

Sunday, May 26, 2013

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn

When He Was Wicked (Bridgertons, #6)
Grade: B-
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Historical
Series: Bridgerton #6
Reviewed by Kate


Michael has been in love with Francesca since the first time he saw her... at a party celebrating her upcoming wedding to Michael's cousin John. Michael settles for becoming a close friend of Francesca. When John dies suddenly, Michael flees to India to escape his feelings for Francesca. Four years later he returns to London and discovers Francesca is in town looking for a husband.

Of course, like all things Bridgerton, I enjoyed this book. Fast paced, humorous, lovable characters. I am not typically a fan of the widow-falls-for-dead-husband's-brother/best friend story line, but Julia Quinn handled it very well. But because of the plot, it's probably my least favorite of the series.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Late breaking news


I finally made a decision and am the owner of an Ipad 2. This decision, as simple as it truly is, has caused quite the ruckus around my home this week. I think I drove my very calm and easy going spouse crazy with my indecision. I wavered back and forth over what to get. I then decided to get an Ipad mini, went up to get one and they were out of them. I was devastated! My ever patient and wonderful husband said" Please get her the next step up". I stood there wringing my hands the whole time he paid for it. These things are expensive and this is a big deal for me. I handled all of my own IT issues, again without the help of Anne, who is abandoning me soon to go hang out with Kate. They will probably plot terrible things to try to get me to read. I'm so jealous! I want to hang out with Kate! Nevertheless, I will persevere here reading on my new Ipad 2. Thank the Lord that fiasco is over and God bless you for your patience!

Kay

The Chieftain by Margaret Mallory


Grade-B+
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Return of the Highlanders #4
Reviewed by Kay

Conner MacDonald is a highland chieftain and trying to live up to that. He's also trying to live down his father's past. He strives very hard to be a good leader and man. He heads to another castle to set up his home for him and his future wife, as it is time for an alliance to be made. And what better way to do this than through a marriage? He leaves his cousins behind to guard the other castle but he lets Ilysa, his best friend's sister come with him. She has been running his keep for years anyway and he could use the friendly face as he settles in. Lately though, he has been looking at Ilysa in a different light.

Ilysa, no last name given, is a healer and even a seer. She hasn't yet really grown in to her powers but they are there. She is a nineteen year old widow and Conner's best friend's sister. And she has loved Conner from afar for many years. She always wanted him to see her as a woman but due to her station that just never happened. Needless to say, she is excited to go to Conner's new home with him. She takes over the running of the keep and Conner realizes just exactly what goes in to doing so. One thing leads to another and...they become involved.

I loved this book and this series. The characters were so well written that you felt like you knew them. The scenery so well described you felt you were there. Watching the struggles that these two went through as they fell in love was worth every second you spent in the highlands. Who wouldn't want to spend the weekend in the highlands of Scotland?

Friday, May 24, 2013

The Men With the Golden Cuffs by Lexi Blake

The Men With The Golden Cuffs (Masters and Mercenaries, #2)
Grade: B
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: High Kink
Genre: Contemporary, Menage, BDSM

Series: Masters and Mercenaries #2
Reviewed by Kate

 
Serena writes erotic romances under a pen name.  When she starts receiving threatening messages, her editor hooks her up with a security firm.  Adam and Jake have been best friends since boot camp.  Being assigned to Serena's case isn't a hardship at all.  They've been looking for a submissive to share and Serena writes BDSM menage stories.  Maybe they can provide her with some hands-on experiences.
 
Some of the conflict in this story comes from the stalker, the rest comes from Serena, Jake, and Adam.  Each has been let down by love in the past and are scared to trust again.  I don't know that I've ever run across a trio of more stubborn characters.  I felt the middle part lagged a bit because they were all refusing to talk to each other.  Despite that, I really enjoyed the book. 

Thursday, May 23, 2013

The Rebound Girl by Tamara Morgan

The Rebound Girl (Getting Physical, #1)
Grade: A-
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Getting Physical #1

Reviewed by Anne
265 pages

I first read Tamara Morgan last year and thought then that she was one of the funniest romance writers I've read!  I read Love is a Battlefield and The World is a Stage and enjoyed them.  When I saw Rebound Girl was available I jumped at the chance to read it.  It has great characters who aren't like every other character you've read.  And it's so funny!   I laughed out loud so many times reading this! Not just smiled, but laughed. I woke my husband up laughing as I read far too late into the night to finish this story.  And because I enjoyed the style of writing so much, I give you a review with lots of quotes:

Whitney is a very self confident plastic surgeon.  She's no Barbie, though.

"...the thirty extra pounds she carried mostly in her hips didn’t make her a victim of low self-esteem or discounted standards. She liked that weight right where it sat—and she would have been the first to advocate going under the knife if she felt otherwise."  p.9
 
She and her friends have moved to the burbs, taken out a big loan and are opening the Surgery Center/Spa they've always dreamed of.  Whitney has always been a big city girl, but she has no doubts she'll be fine in the small town she's moved to.  This is her dream!  Finally coming true.
 
On one of their first nights in town, Whitney and her friends head out to the local bar hoping to hook up with willing partners, or at least have a good time .  Matt's brother has just talked him into going out for the first time since he split from his ex-wife.  Brother Lincoln is hitting on Whitney's friend, and Matt approaches Whitney.
 
"Now that she was seeing the man head-on, she could tell she was going to have to take it a little easy on him. He wasn’t bad looking—in fact, the hesitant smile and tousled sandy hair signaled nerd chic at its best, and there was a slight depression in his cheek that she thought might transform into a full-blown dimple if he tried. But the guy wore a corduroy jacket with elbow patches and drank something pink with little bits of fruit floating on the top.
He was obviously clueless."  p.8
 
The thing is, Matt's an old fashioned kind of guy.  A kindergarten teacher.  And he's not really looking to hook up with anyone.  He just wants to start moving on.  And Whitney isn't really interested in hooking up with Matt either, but when his brother and her friend leave the bar, Matt and Whitney agree that pancakes and bacon would be great and they make their way to a diner.
 
"Matt could hardly believe his good luck.
It was officially eight months since he and Laura signed the divorce papers, and most of that time had been spent hiding in his apartment, avoiding women and Lincoln’s single-minded insistence that Matt needed to put himself out there again.
He’d finally caved, and the first woman he’d gathered up the nerve to approach turned out to be this one. Easy to talk to, funny, pretty in a straightforward, no-nonsense way he wasn’t used to. And best of all, she’d already made it abundantly clear she had no intention—or expectation—of sleeping with him. She was like training wheels.
Awesome, bacon-loving training wheels." p. 19
 
After spending a little time with Matt, Whitney changes her mind about not having sex with him.  And because she's Whitney, she lets him know, no doubts about it.
 
'The space between them, infinitesimal as it was, felt thick with promise. “What you need more than anything right now is a rebound girl.”
“I do?” Then, “What’s a rebound girl?”
She smiled brightly. “I am. Here’s how it works. I don’t want you to buy me a ring. I don’t want to bear your children. I don’t even want to be your girlfriend. All I want is you and me and as much sex as we can possibly squeeze into the four hours before dawn.”
Matt’s mouth went dry. “That’s a real thing?”
“Oh, Matt. Poor, sweet Matt. You have no idea.'  p.24
 
So, that's the set up, and the book takes off from there.  Whitney is brash and independent and out of her element in the small town she's moved to.  Matt finds her refreshing and wants more than just a rebound with her.  Throw in some great secondary characters and annoying small town politics and you've got an interesting story.
 
I really enjoyed what a strong character Whitney was.  She's almost unlikable, except that you see where she's coming from and you like her all the more for speaking up.  I've always thought it's nice to have that one really outspoken friend who will say the things you really want to but wouldn't dream of.  That's Whitney.  And her mouth and her decisions get her into trouble.  But she takes responsibility and tries to set things right.  She was a refreshing change from the too good and too sweet heroines I read a lot of.
 
Matt is a beta hero, and a wonderful one.  That's another change from the tried and tried alpha-asshole hero!  But while he is beta, he does know what he wants.  He's not perfect either, but watching Matt and Whitney work out their issues and their relationship was really fun!
 
The author did such a good job painting Jared, Whitney's cheating ex, through Whitney's eyes that I really had a hard time being ok with him when he showed up. I see that there's a second book coming in this series and it's about him. Part of me doesn't want to read it because I still hate him for Whitney's sake! But the majority part of me wants to see how the author handles him and what his future brings.

Hooray for a strong female character! Hooray for a humorous and sweet romance! This one goes on my Best of 2013 list!

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

I Need an Intervention...

I think everyone has at least one plot that they can't pass up. For me, it's a marriage of convenience with a particular soft spot for mail order brides. I love that part where the couple grapples with not marrying for love, but finding it anyway. Two of my all time favorite books, ones that I have re-read too many times to count, are marriage of convenience stories. Sunset Embrace by Sandra Brown and Susan Carroll's The Bride Finder. I highly recommend both if you love the marriage of convenience story line, too.

However, I fear I may have over-read my favorite plot. Each one I read is starting to feel the same. Even when they're well written, they're getting old. The reasons behind the marriages seem to be getting more and more far fetched. Do two millionaires really need to marry due to an unplanned pregnancy in this day and age? Can a crazy old man really change his will so his son must marry in order to inherit?

So I'm taking a marriage of convenience break. Going into rehab, if you will. Anyone know of a twelve-step program? No more until 2014. And, if I have a relapse, Anne and Kay get to pick out a book for me to read. *shudder* But if I'm giving up the marriage of convenience, I'll need something else to distract me. What's your poison of choice? The one story line you can't resist?

Laiden's Daughter by Suzan Tisdale

Laiden's Daughter
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Ember
Kink Level-None
Series-Clan MacDougall #1
Reviewed by Kay

Duncan McEwan is a warrior, training to become a future Chieftain. He was never looking for love and never suspected he would find it in the hopeless and abused woman he and his friends find face down in a stream. Aishlinn, no last name, has never experienced kindness from a male. Not her stepfather, stepbrothers, or pretty much anyone else that should have cared for her. She escapes after years of repeated and horrific abuse only to end up face down in that creek.

Her rescue at Duncan's hands is the start to a love story that will touch your heart. Not just the love but the scars each of them carry from their pasts both physically and emotionally. This novel started out so good but drug in the middle pretty badly for me. There are some plot twists and they leave the reader pretty satisfied with them I would say. What didn't work for me honestly was the heat level. It was barely there and I am a big fan of heat. Sadly, her good writing and storytelling was penalized for me because of it. Enough that I won't read any of the others. It makes me sad because anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE Scottish Highlander romance!

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

The Theory of Attraction by Delphine Dryden

The Theory of Attraction (Science of Temptation, #1)
Grade: B-
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Moderate Kink (BDSM)
Genre: Contemporary
Series: The Science of Temptation #1
Reviewed by Kate

121 pages

On Anne's recommendation, I read the Seduction Hypothesis. (See Anne's review here.)When I finished I had to go back and read Ivan and Cami's story. I wasn't too far into The Theory of Attraction before I realized I had read it before (evidently my poor memory could benefit from some sort of "books read" system as this is no where near the first time this has happened to me.) As I continued to read, I remembered how much I had enjoyed reading it the first time around.

Ivan is a man of routine and predictability. In the time Camilla has been his neighbor, she has learned his routines and fallen for him a little bit, even though they are just computer game playing, sci-fi watching friends. When Ivan needs to charm some bigwigs at an upcoming party he turns to Cami. Perhaps she can help him get past his awkward social presence. Cami jumps at the chance to help him (and spend more time with him) but gets more than she bargained for when she realizes there's one thing about predictable Ivan she didn't know -- he's a Dom.

I really like that this wasn't a book about changing Ivan. Cami helps him understand the situations he'll encounter at the party, but he doesn't undergo a nerd-to-jock transformation. He remains himself. He continues his experiment on growing tomatoes, despite his his dislike for tomatoes. He still has a hangup about shower hanky panky (my favorite scene in the book.) And on the path to helping Ivan, Cami learns about herself too.

A strong start to a great series.  Delphine Dryden has done for nerdiness what butter did for toast -- made it yummy and scrumptious.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Toy Box by Delphine Dryden

Toy Box
Grade: B
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Moderate Kink (BDSM, D/s)
Genre: Contemporary

Reviewed by Kate

Toy Box by Delphine Dryden
48 pages

I really enjoyed Dryden's recent nerd romance stories, so I thought I'd try some of her backlist.

Rafe and Lauren started their relationship as Dom/sub, but everything turned vanilla when their first child arrived. Now the kids are spending the weekend with the grandparents and Rafe decides it's time to step into his Dom role once more.

Ahhhh. I love a good husband and wife reuniting story and I really liked that there wasn't any real conflict in this short (such as overcoming infidelity). It was all about them connecting with their Dom/sub relationship again. I highly recommend this quick read.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

The last 24 hours worth of fun.


Guess who had their Kindle die last night? Me. Guess who had to download the Kindle PC app to their computer until they can order another one? Me. Who did this without asking Anne about it? Me. I can't believe it either and someone please revive Anne from her collapse from shock. I had a melt down over my Kindle. A meltdown complete with crying. My spouse and son looked at me like I was crazy but they are non-readers, so they don't get it. I spoke with Amazon, who told me there was nothing they could do. I have to order another one. They wanted me to place the order right then and I asked if I get another one will the same thing happen in 3 years? They said probably not. I said, your product is expensive and I can't afford to buy one every three years. They told me when new products come out the old ones become obsolete, to which I asked, why are trying to sell me it then?

We (Amazon and I) had a very calm but frank discussion at 12:30 a.m. I am probably well over a week away from getting another Kindle, as this hit after bill paying of course. I am not complaining about Amazon's customer service because they have always been great, I'm just frustrated at some of the comments made, like the above obsolete one or sometimes electronics don't last as long as we'd like. I told him that all of my electronics were older than three years, so maybe it is just their products don't last longer then three years. So, I will wait impatiently for my next Kindle to arrive. Thanks for letting me vent.

Kay

Chasing Mrs. Right by Katee Robert

Chasing Mrs. Right (Come Undone, #2)
Grade-C+
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Come Undone #2
Reviewed by Kay

Let me start by saying that I did not read the first book in the series, so I don't know if that would have made any difference. I felt that the book was okay as a stand alone novel.

Ian Wasler is a soldier recently discharged from the Army. He had seen a lot of very unpleasant things in his tours and wants to get back to normal. The problem is he can't figure out how to do that. He can't sleep well or relate to his family. His PTSD is stifling to him. His sister throws him a welcome home party and he can't take the crowd so he runs out the side door and plows into a beautiful brunette.

Roxanne Stokes is said beautiful brunette and was going to attend her best friend's brother's welcome home party. Instead she's on top of some guy who came barreling out the door she was going to enter. As a party planner she has to deal with a great many different types of people and she can see this guy has issues. These two people have an instant attraction and there you have it. She fights the attraction for various reasons, the least of which is that she figures out who he is after their tryst.

I liked this read a lot. The characters were good people with really crappy pasts. Each had family issues that were difficult and caused problems for them both. The push and pull between these two was fun and exciting to read about. It was a little slow in the middle, maybe, but still enjoyable. Let's not forget the love scenes, they were nice as well.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Lover Undercover by Samanthe Beck

Lover Undercover
Grade-C-
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Love Undercover #1
Reviewed by Kay

Kylie Roberts is a great twin sister. She's such a great twin sister that she takes her sister, Stacy's place as a stripper. Stacy broke her leg and can't dance. Without Stacy's income they can't make their bills. Kylie manages to find a way to take off her clothes in front of strangers but still has an innocence to her.

Trevor McCade is a detective with the LAPD. He's looking for a killer who is beating his victim's to death around the strip club where Kylie is filling in for Stacy. He sees Kylie dancing and is instantly attracted to her. He thinks there's a connection to Stacy. It's her clients that are ending up dead.

Honestly, I love romantic suspense. Love, love , love it. I would actually say it's probably my favorite romance genre to read. Love story and mystery together? Color me giddy as hell. This story had a lot of romantic suspense requirements: Good main couple, good secondary couple, decent mystery, secret identity and an HEA. But the love scenes, UGH! They started off almost off page and I thought, Um Hello! The author had me up until then. She has a good voice but after the fizzled love scenes, I just wanted to finish the book and be done.

Friday, May 17, 2013

With This Collar by Sierra Cartwright

With This Collar (Mastered, #1)
Grade: B+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: High Kink
Genre: Contemporary, BDSM

Series: Mastered #1

Reviewed by Kate
174 pages

When Julia attends her friend Lana's wedding at a private residence, she is shocked to discover that the vows are quickly followed by a collaring ceremony. Lana is not just becoming a wife, but her husband's slave as well. Julia and Lana have been friends since their girl-power college days and Julia can't believe Lana would willingly submit to a man.

As Julia's about to protest, fellow wedding attendee Marcus, a Dom, stops her. They talk after the ceremony and Marcus challenges Julia to submit to him for the night. Julia accepts his challenge as a way to understand her friend a bit better, and because she just can't say "no" to Marcus. But one night is all she wants, her last boyfriend was a domineering jerk and Julia's determined to stick to the nice guys from now on. Marcus has been in a 24/7 master/slave relationship that was too draining for him. He's not looking for anything more than one night either.

One night turns into an every weekend relationship. When Marcus pushes for more, Julia runs. But can any of the nice guys measure up after Marcus?

Marcus came across as a bit arrogant in the beginning. But I suppose every good Dom must be a little arrogant and confident. I appreciated that he was the one looking for a more permanent relationship.

Julia is very strong and independent. She struggles with combining her independence and her new found enjoyment of submission. Her responses to Marcus made me laugh throughout the book. She may be submissive, but never a doormat.

The only negative I had happened right away at the beginning. Lana invited Julia to her wedding and simply warned her that it would be "a bit untraditional." It seemed far-fetched to invite your vanilla friend to a collaring ceremony without more of a heads-up. Anything to get a newbie to the dungeon, I guess. Makes me wonder though-what other ways have you seen authors use to get a newbie into a dungeon?

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Hold Me Down Hard by Cathryn Fox

Hold Me Down Hard
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay

Eden Carver is a farm girl from Iowa who moved to New York to become an actress. Jay Bennett is a police officer for the NYPD. They are best friends who live across the hall from each other. Oh, and they secretly lust after each other, Neither will make a move because they think their desires are too dark for the other and they don't want to ruin their friendship.

This was a very short read and its HOT! Not a lot of story but it wasn't really long enough to tell one. Eden tricks Jay into kissing her and more. I'm certainly glad he fell for it. It's a entertaining and erotic short story.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Stranded with a Billionaire by Jessica Clare

Stranded with a Billionaire (Billionaire Boys Club, #1)
Grade: B
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Billionaire Boys Club #1
Reviewed by Anne

So, there's this billionaire (Logan) who doesn't really do relationships.  He's in a secret billionaires' club. (The club is the secret, not their billionaire status.)  He buys a hotel and goes to visit it.  While he's there a hurricane blows in.  He ends up stranded in a hotel elevator with a woman (Bronte) who giggles when scared (and the hurricane is scary!) Also, Bronte thinks he's the hotel's manager, not the owner. Logan's never met a woman who didn't know who he was.  And every woman who has known who he was has wanted him for his money.  So it's very refreshing to him to spend time with someone who thinks he's a regular guy and still likes him.
 
Logan falls for Bronte pretty quickly.  She's falling for him as well, but is thrown for a loop when he reveals his billionaire status.  While she's still reeling from that reveal, he also shows her he's an ass.  And while he's reveling in being an asshat, patting himself on the back for how lucky she must feel now that she knows he's loaded...  Bronte takes action.  And her action really, really surprises Logan.  And the story takes off from there.  Logan is stumbling over all the problems having money has brought to his life.  Bronte is struggling with not being overwhelmed by Logan and all his bags of money.  It's a romance, so it's a given that these two will work things out, but *how* they work them out was delightful to read.  My favorite line sums it all up:
"I'm serious, Logan. I want to date like normal people. Not like a billionaire and the waitress he just bought."
There were some weaknesses.  Honestly, I didn't really get the significance of the super-secret billionaire's club.  I'm not sure what exactly they did, and if what they did was legal or illegal.  There were times where Logan was downright stupid about their relationship. I wasn't always happy with how Bronte handled things either.  But while I was reading it was very believable, and even looking back, it strikes me that this is pretty much what it would be like if *I* were dating a billionaire.  Seriously, I gave it some thought, and I hope I would handle things as well as Bronte!  So, despite some weaknesses, this was overall a very good book for me.  
 
Also, besides Logan and Bronte, there is plenty of sequel bait in Logan's secret billionaire club.  The set up between the very scarred Hunter and Bronte's writer friend have me itching to read the next book in this series.  I'm not a big billionaire book fan, but I really enjoyed this one!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Eyes Wide Open by Raine Miller

Eyes Wide Open  (The Blackstone Affair, #3)
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Mild
Series-The Blackstone Affair #3
Reviewed by Kay

This novel continues the saga of Ethan Blackstone, a security mogul and Brynne Bennett, a model and art student. They have a very passionate love affair going on. This installment picks up right where the last one left off. There's still her stalker that's on the loose and creeping closer and closer. After a near attack, they flee the city and try to figure out the best course of action to deal with him. When they are gone they gain knowledge of something else that could change their relationship.

I really don't want to say too much since this novel is very much anticipated by many people. I will say that there's a lot of gratuitous sex. The story itself seems to be the filler which I don't really care for. The sex is descriptive and hot, but too much, even for me. I had kind of hoped she'd stop with this book but I saw on another review site that there's a part four at least.

I didn't hate but I sure didn't love it either. It is worth reading if you're fully vested in the series though.

Monday, May 13, 2013

A Prior Engagement by Karina Bliss

A Prior Engagement
Grade: B+
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Special Forces #4
Reviewed by Anne


I have decided that Karina Bliss is an author I do not read enough of.  I need to read more of her books.  I started this one during the RT Convention and stayed up waaaaay too late reading it.  In that wonderful way that really good books have, it just pulled me in and I didn't want to put it down!
 
Lee, an SAS (Australian Special Forces) soldier who was thought to be killed in battle has been found alive.  His return home is more challenging than he expected.  Everyone has moved on with their lives, except his ex-girlfriend.  Even though she turned down his proposal on the eve of his deployment, she now appears to be one of his family.  They think she was his fiancee.  He wonders what is going on and why she would deceive his friends and loved ones.  
 
Jules knows that Lee will be furious with her for lying to his SAS buddies and family who have now become *her* friends and family.  She figures they may hate her, too, once they hear what she did.  And all of this is made even more complicated because Lee appears to have amnesia and claims he can't remember what happened between them before he deployed.
 
This isn't a set up that would normally pull me in, but I'm SO glad I read this book.  I don't like big misunderstandings or lies between the main characters, but this really worked for me.  Jules is pressured by medical and psychiatric experts to take it easy on Lee.  She is determined to tell him the truth and explain her motives behind the lies, even though she doesn't expect him to forgive her.  She just wants him to find his footing in his life before her revelations do further damage.  
 
Concentrating on getting even with Jules gives Lee something to focus on in a world that seems so different to him.  Interestingly, because he wants Jules to pay for lying to his friends and family, he's willing to let her take care of him.  He thinks he's unworthy of her and he thinks if they really loved each other he'd hit the road rather than have her seem him struggle to recover from his captivity.  But because he's upset with her deception, he's willing to impose on her in ways he wouldn't if they were being honest.  That is very interesting!
 
I think the PTSD and recovery from Lee's captivity is very realistically portrayed.  We're in Lee's head a lot, so we see how mixed up he feels, but we also see his actions, which could be confusing to outsiders.  Jules and the rest of Lee's friends work very hard to anticipate Lee's needs, and this drives Lee crazy when he realizes what's going on.  
 
In the middle of this very real feeling personal conflict, Karina Bliss writes some believable humor and friendships.   The guys especially are funny together.  
"Ross took a casual swig of his tea, then dug in his jacket and produced a protein bar, which he held out. 'You haven't eaten in what... five hours?'
'What are you, my babysitter?' Hemmed between his friends, he felt like he was being observed, watched.  Notwithstanding their benevolent motives, Lee had to keep reminding himself they were on his side.  His nerves only recognized that they were elite soldiers.
Ross waved the bar in front of his nose. 'Take it.'
'You're being anal.' Reluctantly Lee accepted. 'How the hell did you get a free spirit like Viv to say yes anyway?'
'I'm loose in bed.' " (A Prior Engagement, p 164-5)
 
The whole book is really well done.  A little slow moving at times, but that doesn't bother me.  This is the fourth in this series of books.  I read the first one and enjoyed it (despite it's over the top ending) but I haven't read the second or third.  This fourth one stood alone pretty well.  There is a large circle of friends, along with both names and nicknames that got confusing at times, but I kept up pretty easily.  I do want to read the two books I missed now, though!  If you're looking for realistic drama with a dose of humor, Karina Bliss is the way to go!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

One Night Of Misbehavior by Shelley Munro

One Night of Misbehavior
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Mild Kink
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay

Two people meet at a masquerade ball and engage in a night of unforgettable sex. Ash, the hero, is a business mogul and keeps his heart to himself. Charlotte, is an orphaned girl raised by her hateful stepmother. This should've been a terrible mismatch but instead it was a fantastic love story with a fairytale twist.

After their night of sex neither of the two main characters can forget the other. Too bad they don't know who the other is. Charlotte goes to an interview for a job at Ash's company and they recognize each other because of the rose she left at the scene. Charlotte gets the job and she pays for it when she gets home. Her stepmother and stepsisters make her life a living hell. She has no place to go and is basically their slave. Her only bright spot is her step grandmother, who she adores and the feeling is mutual. Charlotte has to decline the job because of her grandma's Lupus but Ash won't let her go.  Ash knows she's the real deal and lets his heart open up. Ash has been burned before both literally and figuratively. He even has the scars to prove it.

This was a great read and spin on a mix of Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella. I loved every second of it. My one and only complaint was, in the middle, it drug for about 10%. It picked up from there and it was back to being wonderful. It is going on my best of 2013 list.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Empty Net by Toni Aleo

Empty Net (Assassins, #3)
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Assassins #3
Reviewed by Kay

I got this book right before I went to the Romantic Times book convention in Kansas City, so it took me a while to finish it. Those fifteen hour days didn't leave much time for reading or I would have finished it very quickly.

Audrey Parker is the heroine for this story. If you've read the second book in the series, and you need to read them all in order, you'll remember she is the sister of Fallon Brooks. Audrey works for the family wine business and hates it. She has deplorable taste in men also. She's a full figured gal but not to the point I considered her heavy. She has had to make tough decisions and even made some bad decisions. After hooking up with her brother-in-law's best friend at her sister's wedding, she runs out not bothering to wake him the next morning. In her defense, she didn't fully connect who he was until after they had slept together.

Tate Odder is the new goalie for the Nashville Assassins. He has learned to speak English and fully embraces his new country. He lost his family to an auto accident and struggles to deal with anxiety that is caused by their deaths. He takes one look at the woman at his best friend's wedding and thinks she is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. He feels that they really connected(no pun intended) when they spent the night together and he's very hurt that she snuck out while he was sleeping.

These two characters were both kind of broken due to the terrible losses that they suffered. Audrey fought her attraction to Tate for a long time. She was still sort of hung up on her horrific ex. Tate was very sweet and patient with her. He was all-in and let her know it. Let me tell you how sexy I think that is! The only problems I had with Tate were that he kept the reason for his sadness to himself even while wanting Audrey to open up. Also, he betrayed her trust regarding a secret that wasn't his to tell. I don't want to give anything else away so I'll stop there. You just have to read this book, this series.

I had the pleasure of meeting Toni Aleo at the conference I just attended. She was very nice and kind. I enjoyed our brief conversation and am looking forward to any and all of her books. They are filled with wonderful characters you get to revisit and emotional scenes that will leave you in tears. If you haven't read Toni Aleo yet, you really should.

Friday, May 10, 2013

On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

On Dublin Street (On Dublin Street, #1)
Grade-A+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-On Dublin Street #1
Reviewed by Kay

This is the love story of Jocelyn "Joss" Butler and Braden Carmichael. Joss is an aspiring writer with a very tragic past. Her parents and her sister were killed in a car crash when she was a teenager. They were only family and after the accident, she went into foster care. She also lost best friend to a drowning accident shortly after her family's death. She moved to Scotland and started her entire life over, never letting anyone get close to her.

Braden is a wealthy businessman with his hands in a lot of different ventures. He has a close relationship with his family members, especially his sister. He's very alpha with the protectiveness stuff. He's a workaholic and a serial dater. His first wife's infidelity has shaped him into the lover he is.

These two bump into each in pursuit a taxi. From then on it was non-stop falling in love and in bed.
I really enjoyed everything about this book. The characters, the story and oh yes, the love scenes, which were on fire. There was quite a bit of emotion in this novel also. I can't wait to read more in this series. This set on my Kindle for a long time due to the length of my to be read list and it was well worth the wait.



Thursday, May 9, 2013

Trilogies and My Loathing of Them

Let's talk books.  Specifically let's talk romance written in a three (or more) book installment.  I'm sure it's been around forever, but Twilight and 50 Shades of Grey's success seem to have made it the format everyone wants to write in.  This makes me stabby!

I know there's a lot of people who love this format.  Obviously.  They're selling like crazycakes.  But I like a happy ending!  (pun totally intended)  So you can imagine how I feel about a cliff hanger...  cliffhangers make me feel bad.  That floaty happy feeling I get at the end of a good book?  Well the direct opposite of that is how I feel when an author leaves the characters hanging.

I do make an exception for the urban fantasy genre and my acceptance of the multi book relationship arc there.  I'm a huge fan of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.  I can handle the unresolved relationship in those books, probably because the focus is on a different story.  I also really enjoy the In Death series by J.D. Robb.  It's always about Eve and Roarke, but they are always happy at the end of each book.  And again, the focus is more on the mystery than their (or Peabody and MacNabb's) relationship, so I can handle a little bit of relationship suspense.  When the focus of the book IS the relationship, as it is in the romance genre, that's when I have a hard time!

I'm not saying I'll never, ever, ever read a one-relationship-focused-trilogy.  But you can be assured that if I do, I won't read it until all three books are available and I can read them back to back!  And speaking of that, I wish there was some sort of identifier in a book blurb that gave me a heads up that the book I'm looking at is part of that kind of trilogy.  Because there are a lot of trilogies with a different couple featured in each book and a HEA at the end of each one.  That's my kind of trilogy.  But how can I tell them from the trilogy of cliffhanger?  Right now my best bet is to search on Goodreads and read the back cover blurb for both book one and book two, as well as checking the tags people have labeled the book with.  To be honest, that's more work than I like to do when looking for a book to read.

So, what do you think?  Do you love the three book relationship story?  Or do you hate it like me?  If you love it, I'm curious as to what appeals to you.  If you hate it, do you have a way to avoid it?  Please share!

A Taste Of You by Sorcha Grace

 A Taste of You (The Epicurean, #1)
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-The Epicurean Series #1
Reviewed by Kay

The hero in this book is William Lambourne, a wealthy, single, business man in Chicago. The heroine is Catherine Kelly/ Catherine Ryder, a photographer. They meet outside a restaurant where they literally run into each other. There is instant attraction and it never lets up. They each have had a devastating loss in their lives and those losses have changed who they are as people. We, as the readers, watch them stumble through trying to build their relationship. It was a little frustrating for me at times.

This is a decent book but it never thrilled me. I never warmed to William at all but I did like Catherine. I felt for her because of her loss. It broke my heart when she developed the old roll of film. I think that before this series is over there will be  redemption for William and forgiveness of one's self for Catherine. At least I hope there is.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Lady Vivian Defies a Duke by Samantha Grace

Lady Vivian Defies a Duke (Beau Monde #4)
Grade: B
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Historical

Series: Beau Monde Bachelor #4
Reviewed by Kate


Before he died, Luke's father entered into secret marriage negotiations with Vivian's brother. Wait. That came across a bit more risque than I intended. The negotiations were to betroth Luke and Vivian. For Vivian, the marriage would provide an escape from her lonely life. Due to a scandal, her only other option would be the convent. Luke wants no part of his new role as a duke and marrying would just add more responsibilities. He plans on releasing her from the contract. Once he meets Vivian, he decides he can't send such a vibrant person to waste away in a convent. Still not willing to marry her, the only noble thing left to do is facilitate a marriage between Vivian and another suitable gentleman. But Vivian has set her sights on Luke and Luke is finding it impossible to picture her with anyone else.

The book seemed to naturally divide into two parts for me The first half centers around Luke and Vivian accepting that they want each other. The second half covers all the obstacles that stand in their way. Vivian's quasi-scandal. A blackguard out for revenge. A cousin enamored with Luke.

Vivian was an entertaining heroine who marched to her own beat whenever she thought no one was looking. Luke, a rare soul who saw the inner beauty of Vivian, was strong and caring and well...heroic. Despite the weaker second half, I liked the story a lot. It could have used a bit more sex, but what book couldn't? I find myself hoping to hear more about Luke's cousin Johanna in a future book.



Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Anne's Highlights of RT 2013

This was my first RT and I learned a lot.  One of the biggest things I learned?  I was way too tired to do a daily blog post.  I really hope I get to go to RT next year, and if I do I'll either have to employ better time management or just plan ahead on doing a highlights post like this one.  So... what was most memorable about RT for me?
  • Meeting all the authors who were favorites of mine.  
 
I met Delphine Dryden, Cara McKenna, and Ruthie Knox - all sitting at the SAME TABLE!  It was almost too much for me.  I talked with each of them and grinned from ear to ear.  I walked away happy and then realized I'd forgotten to take a picture with them.  So I walked back and they were nice enough to stand with me for a picture.  
Lauren Dane writes some of my all time favorites, the Brown Siblings Series and the Delicious series.  And now that I've seen her in person?  I want to dress like her!  She's my new fashion icon.
Here's Kay and I with Jill Shalvis.  She and Helen Kay Dimon were a hoot!
 I didn't get a picture of me with Jaci Burton, but here she is with Lauren Dane.  I like Jaci's books, but I didn't know how funny she was in person.  She took the time to appear on a lot of panels that were very entertaining!
 and then there was the author I was most looking forward to meeting and taking a picture with - Shannon Stacey!  I was so excited to meet her that I saw her 3 times (the Blogger pre-con, the Carina Press blogger/librarian lunch, and at the book fair) and spoke to her each time and never took a picture.  So, at the book fair I turned back around, bringing a friend and took this picture.  Finally!
  • Meeting new-to-me authors who were so funny I now want to read them just to see if it carries over.  Damon Suede, Jade Lee, Helen Kay Dimon I'm thinking of you.  I also have a whole stack of cards and book marks by authors I now want to read!
    Did I take pictures of Jade Lee or Damon Suede?  No.  I was too busy laughing.  I was laughing at Helen Kay Dimon, too, but I remembered to take this picture!
  • The BDSM reader panel.  Shayla Black, Lexi Blake, Kasi Alexander and Reggie Alexander (the last two write together as Cassidy Browning) held a panel to explain some basics of BDSM.  Tools and toys were explained and demonstrated.  
This is Reggie demonstrating a crop.
 
 
Here he demonstrates a scratching tool on Kasi Alexander.
  
  • The m/m panel called "Man, Oh Man: Why Women Love M/M"  I believe they said it was the very first official m/m panel ever held at RT.  This was a really interesting and entertaining conversation.  The authors on the panel were Z.A. Maxfield, Tara Lain, Amy Lane, Belinda McBride, and Damon Suede.  I haven't read any of them so far, but I'm really looking forward to it now!

  • The Spoons & Candy event hosted by Entangled was probably the most fun I had at an event at RT.  I like games, and it takes me a while to get to know people, so playing spoons with the same group of people for an hour was right up my alley.  And besides spoons and conversation?  Candy.  Tons of candy to eat and a takeout box to carry some back to your hotel room.  So you'd think I'd take some pictures at this awesome event, right?  Well, I DID!  I took one picture.  Of a deck of cards.  *sigh*  I mean it was exciting that Kay won this deck of cards, but I think a group photo of our table would have been a little more exciting.  Alas, I didn't take one of those.  So please enjoy this picture of Kay's deck of cards.  
    Well, you can see the top card on the deck, anyway.
 
  • The weird sex panel and the research stories the authors shared!  When Sex Gets Weird: A Paranormal Love Scene Primer featured Jaci Burton, Alexandra Ivy, Shannon K. Butcher and Jade Lee.  These ladies were funny and interesting and that hour went by too fast!

  • The other readers.  The woman who let me user her charger to charge my phone.  The lady who sold the shirts, who asked me personal questions that just made me laugh!  The woman who we stood next to in line many times whose name is NOT Coleen, though that's what I called her.  I wish I could remember names or had taken pictures.  The many, many friendly readers and authors at RT really make the convention the wonderful event it is.

  • All the give always.  The swag and the books we all got, but also the bigger prizes of bags and baskets of books, the eReaders and iPads and iPad minis.
This was my favorite pieces of swag.  It's a stack of post it notes.
 
 
 
I got a lot of free books, this is a stack of my favorites!
  • The wait staff was really friendly.  I can't imagine the logistics of feeding 100s of people at the same time.  There were also events where people were mingling and getting books and things were just plain crowded.  The wait staff at the Sheraton were always polite and down right nice.  They helped make RT a great place to be.

  • The disco party is a favorite in my memory, just because it was the first day and I didn't realize how all out they would go.  It was awesome!  
    The Ellora's Cave Bad Girls of Romance Disco Inferno.  All the other parties were good, too, but this one sticks out for me.  Mini lava lamps, disco caps and calendars for everyone to take home.  It was also the first time we got to experience the heaven that was the chocolate fountain!
Here's Kay rocking her Disco hat, beenie, whatever.  It's covered in sequins!
  • Staying up til 2am reading on Saturday night because I knew I could sleep in, and I just couldn't put the book down. (A Prior Engagement by Karina Bliss)
If I went next year I would...
  • Dress up for dances (and panels)
  • Give myself time to sit and read or rest when I was tired. I didn't want to miss a second of this one and I was REALLY tired by Saturday
  • Take more pictures
  • Bring friends!  This was so much fun!!!!

So, how about you?  If you went to RT, what is a favorite memory of yours?  If you didn't go, what is the thing that most makes you want to go next year?