Shadow's Claim by Kresley Cole

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-The Dacians #1
Reviewed by Kay

Trehan Daciano is the Prince of Shadows from the kingdom of Dacia. He is an assassin tracking Caspian, a demon that escaped from his secret realm. When he arrives to the kingdom of Abadin on Caspian's trail, he finds Bettina. Bettina is the princess and soon to be queen. His vampire heart starts beating and he realizes she blooded him. That means she is his mate. Bettina fights their attraction for all she worth. To win Bettina, Trehan has to enter of fighting contest which is a last man alive contest. The winner of the contest gets the princess and gets to be King.

I loved Trehan as a hero but Bettina drove me nuts! Constantly moaning over a guy who made it plain for all to see that he didn't want or love her. I thought Trehan deserved better. This was my first audio book and I think I liked listening to it better than if I would've read it. I had a great narrator. Over all I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one but probably only in audio format. I apologize for any and all misspellings as I didn't read the book, I listened to it.

This is Who I Am by Cherise Sinclair

Grade: B
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: High Kink
Genre: Contemporary, BDSM
Series: Masters of the Shadowlands #7

Reviewed by Kate

369 pages

After being kidnapped by a human trafficking association specializing in sex slaves, Linda is determined to lead a "normal" life.  Even if that means ignoring the part of herself that is attracted to the BDSM lifestyle.  Sam, a sadist, had a brief interaction with Linda as he helped the FBI infiltrate the slave auction where Linda was rescued.  He knows she is a masochist and hasn't been able to think of much else since he helped rescue her.  Unfortunately, her quest for normalcy leaves no room for Sam in her life.  But when Linda is threatened, Sam runs to the rescue.  Can he help her accept all the parts of herself, even the one that longs for a little pain?

 

So I know I have been gushing about Cherise Sinclair's Masters of the Shadowlands series for a while now.  But I can't help but continue to gush.  This book was soooooo good. The first thing you need to know is that this is an intense story as far as the BDSM goes.  (Nope, Kay, don't even think about this one.)  Linda needs and likes pain with her sex, and Master Sam is more than willing to deliver.  But I absolutely love Master Sam-in fact my first note in the book is "Ahhh.  I love Master Sam."  He is dealing with a nasty situation with his ex-wife that has left him unable to share his life and feelings with anyone.  But Linda definitely calls to him.  He wants to spend time with her, he can't stop thinking of her, even though he's just not sure how he can fit her in his life. 

 

Linda is an very strong woman.  She fights for every inch she has gained back in her life since her rescue.  She is sure of who she is, even if she wants to deny the masochistic part of herself.  The two of them together are just sigh-worthy.  This is a great conclusion to the Harvest Association plot that started back in book #5 (Make Me, Sir).  And I admit to giggling with glee a bit when the author brought up little things from past books, like the giant inflatable pool swan. Does anyone else remember the pool swan?

 

So all that gushing aside, I would recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed the other books in this series.  While it could be considered a stand alone, I think it is best to read at least books 5, 6, and 7 in order.  If you haven't yet read the first six books in this series, I highly recommend them.  Cherise Sinclair is one of my favorite voices in the BDSM genre.  I can't wait to see what she comes up with for the next installment. 

Fire & Frost (Sims, Crane & Brook)

Grade: B+
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Paranormal, Steampunk, Novellas

Series: see below
Reviewed by Anne

 

This is a set of three novellas.  To make things a bit easier on myself, I'm going to use the cover blurbs off of Goodreads

 

Speed Mating by Jessica Sims – Estrella may be going into heat, but she’s determined to remain in control. Just because she’s ovulating doesn’t mean she has to settle for just any man (or his beast). Her sexy alpha’s determined to find her a tiger to take care of her heat and father her child…but no one seems to look quite as good as the man in charge. Will giving in to her need for her alpha ruin her tenuous relationship with her clan or be a match made in heaven?

This was really cute and funny.  I enjoy Jessica Sims/Jill Myles' sense of humor.  This story takes place in her Midnight Liaisons world, but it stands alone just fine.  I smiled the whole time I was reading and only said "Would you just TALK to each other" only once!

Conjuring Max by Carolyn Crane – The witches of the world ridiculed and rejected nerdy Veronica for trying to use newfangled computers to enhance old world spellcasting. Well, it’s 1984 now, and she’s perfected her spellcasting computer program. Hey, who needs friends when you can conjure virtually anything…or anybody? So when Veronica makes powerful new enemies, she conjures Max, a pitbull of a cop, to deal with the pesky hitmen who keep coming around. Maybe Veronica can finally get some peace and quiet so she can work on her computer. But tough-guy Max is in no mood to play lapdog to a gorgeous witch.

 

This was intellectually interesting, but just an ok read for me.  Goodreads shows this as a prequel in her Code of Shadows world.

Wrecked by Meljean Brook – Elizabeth has spent the past five years running from her father; her father’s huntsman, Caius, has spent the past five years pursuing her. But when he finally catches up to her on an airship flying above Europe’s zombie-infested cities, Elizabeth discovers that Caius isn’t the only danger she has to fear—and now that he’s found her, Caius doesn’t intend to let her go.

This one just barely edged out Speed Mating as my favorite entry in the book.  It's listed as Iron Seas books 3.4.  I think I've read almost all of them, and loved every one, so it was no surprise that I enjoyed Elizabeth and Caius' story.  I think Meljean Brook does steampunk better than anyone else.  Reading a story by her is just delightful.  Elizabeth is a strong female character who has managed to outwit and out run Caius and other hunters for years.  The story is packed with adventure, too.  

I recommend this book.  Another quality anthology put out by Sims, Crane, and Brook.  Wild and Steamy was another set of novellas they released.  Also really good.)

Hope Breaks by Alice Bello

Grade: C
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Series: 1st book in a same couple trilogy
Reviewed by Kate

Hope is a professional photographer whose specialty is romance book covers. She needs an exciting and new cover or her job is toast. Unfortunately, the only model agency in town is fresh out of models. A trip to the local Wal-Mart produces two potential models (see Wal-Mart really does carry everything, cover models-aisle 23) as well as a broken down car. Luckily Jake, a mechanic in the Tire and Lube Express department is there to save the day. Jake and Hope go on a whirlwind dating adventure. Then Hope makes a mistake that makes Jake walk away.

I liked that Jake and Hope are such normal people, not über-rich. Jake, of the thick and luscious lips, is your everyday grease monkey (but sexy, of course). Hope has worked her way into a rut lately, just the same old, same old. Her main excitement comes from her dreams of Brad Pitt. Jake and Hope together are cute and sweet and they have that urgent excitement of a new relationship. I felt like I could know them in my daily life.

While I found the dialogue well written, at times the rest of the writing wasn't as smooth. There were also a few things that pulled me out of the story. At different points in the story, Hope is referred to as being both twenty six and thirty-seven. Hope has some relationship issues that are strongly hinted at, but never disclosed. On the other hand, Jake's history seems to be a blank slate. No issues or problems to speak of. The love scene, while very descriptive, went on way too long for me.

Hope Breaks, the first in a trilogy by new author Alice Bello, does not include an HEA. I would assume that will come in the last book. The characters and dialogue were the strong points of the story. In this debut novella, Ms. Bello shows promise. I look forward to finding out what happens to Jake and Hope next.

Falling For The Backup by Toni Aleo

Grade-A
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Assassins #3.5
Reviewed by Kay


This latest read from Toni Aleo's Assassins series is another great addition. It focuses on Jordan, who is the backup goalie. He has been on the bench since a very significant injury. While he was healing, his replacement became a star goalie and basically took his place on the team. Now that he's healed, he wants to play again and is talking with other teams. He also wants to settle down, get married and have kids, so he's looking for his future wife.

Aynslee is a elementary education teacher. A red haired Irish girl complete with a big family. She transferred down to Nashville after a breakup with her longtime boyfriend. These two meet on a plane ride back to Nashville. Instant sparks and here you go. I love these novels, I really do. This series is an auto-read for me. When she has a new book come out, I  clear my schedule so I can sit down and read it. If you haven't started reading her, you are sooo missing out on one of the best new authors there is out there. I can not wait for September when the next book comes out!

Caged Warrior by Lindsey Piper

Grade: A-
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Paranormal
Series: Dragon Kings #1

Reviewed by Anne

379 pages

 

I picked this book up at the RT Convention and packed it in a bag to take along to my sister's house.  I read the first 20 pages on the plane and I was hooked!

 

In the Dragon King world a dragon race lives among humans.  They look human in appearance, more or less, but they don't shift forms.   They DO possess dragon powers, which vary from person to person, or rather, dragon to dragon.  Their race has problems reproducing.  Audrey was banished from the dragons and led a life with humans, until she and her human husband had a baby.  Then dragons arrived.  They killed her husband, kidnapped Audrey and her son, and delivered them to the sadistic Dr. Aster's lab.  After a year of torture and experimentation, Audrey is separated from her son and sent to train to be a cage warrior.  (Think Gladiator type cage matches.)  She's been promised that if she can stay alive for a year, her son will be returned to her.

In the warrior complex, Leto is assigned to train Audrey.  Leto's success is tied to Audrey's by Old Man Aster (who runs the Cage), and they come to realize they have to find a way to work together even though they hate each other.

 

This book really worked for me.  I know, I know, I don't like angst, and this book is full of angst.  I also don't like children in danger, and Audrey's son, Jack is certainly in danger. That was all off page, though it's Audrey's constant focus, which made it tolerable for me.   But there's fighting!  And there's powers and brainwashing.  And it's complex, but written well enough that I didn't have problem tracking along with it.

 

Audrey is such a strong character! You get to see her gain self confidence and grow stronger. You get to see Leto come to admire her more and more as he gets to know her, though in the beginning he's just the latest in a line of abusers.  I was ok with Leto's asshole behavior because, from the beginning it was clear to me that it was all about the reality of training for cage fighting.  They had a short time to get her ready to fight, and Leto has a personal stake in her success.

 

The story line was really interesting with enough twists and turns to really keep me enthralled.  The best part was that they didn't seem to come out of nowhere.  Each twist was an "ahhh!" moment for me, where suddenly things fell into place.  I thought the world was interesting and well written.  I want to know more!  The villains (Old Man Aster and his son, Dr. Aster) are a bit two dimensional.  That was fine with me.

 

Overall I give the book a 4.5 out of 5 and look forward to reading more. It was dark and gritty.  Lindsey Piper's writing reminds me of Kresley Cole minus the screwball humor. I really enjoyed it and I'm putting it on my best of 2013 list.

Bite Me by PJ Schnyder

Grade: B+

Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Paranormal (shifter, zombie), Novella
Series: London Undead #1

Reviewed by Anne

90 pages

Zombies have invaded the world, but seem especially drawn to London.  Werewolves have always existed in secret, and they are immune to the zombie virus.  The zombie outbreak presented them with an opportunity to come out to the world.  Seth is Alpha of a werewolf pack in London.  He and his pack are working to protect the humans, even though many humans are still pretty scared of werewolves.  Maisie is a young woman who was orphaned and maimed in a zombie attack.  She's on her own now, and despite needing crutches to walk for any distance, she is a fierce hunter and defender of those she cares about.  One night she comes across some tourists under zombie attack.  Yes, in this London there are still tourists.  Now they come to see or hunt the zombies!  Just as Maisie's assistance is looking to be not quite enough, Seth comes to their aid.  He's fascinated by this small but feisty human.  She admires his strength and skill and remarkably isn't afraid of his bad werewolf self.  

 

I really liked this story! The author accomplished a lot in a novella format, leaving me with both a satisfying story and some unanswered questions about the world she built. Maisie and Seth were fun characters, though a little simple, probably due to the novella format. The post-zombie attack London - complete with the Zombie Hunter tourist crowd was well done! There were interesting questions about the zombies. What had started them? What might stop them? Why were they so drawn to London?  There's plenty to work with in future installments.

I loved that Maisie is really tough, even though she's a human. Seth, as alpha of his pack was a pretty stereotypical alpha with the heart of gold. I'm pretty fond of that stereotype, though, so it wasn't a problem for me.

I did have one issue with the story, though. I thought the ending was too much, too abrupt, and too soon.  It was both that I wanted more time with Seth and Maisie and that the final sex scene seemed poorly timed. Maybe a few days later would have been more believable.

It says a lot of good about the book that my complaint has to do with the sex in it. Generally I complain because a book has too little sex. In this case I was so engrossed in the story, the sex pulled me out (ha!) of it. So it's a good thing.

I recommend this book for readers who enjoy a good shifter story and those who enjoy a strong female lead. I really enjoyed it and will be looking for the next one!

I will say I'm not a huge fan of the cover.  I'm fine with a romance that has zombies in it. Not so much zombies on the cover. Or maybe that's supposed to be Maisie?  It's definitely not my favorite cover.  What do you think?

Burning Up by Anne Marsh

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Smoke Jumpers #1
Reviewed by Kay

Let me start by saying that I LOVE firefighters and books about them. I really, really do. I loved Jo Davis' series and  Bella Andre's series both and have missed them since they concluded. If there's a book about firefighters, I'm usually bouncing in my chair until their release date. This book in no way disappointed me. It was fun, exciting, suspenseful and sexy. What more could you ask for?

Jack Donovan is a smoke jumper, meaning that he literally jumps from a plane into fires to fight them. He, his brothers and his friends from the military all created a business doing smoke jumping. He gets a call from his foster mom, Nonna and he finally goes home to find out about a string of fires that threaten the town he grew up in. Needless to his brothers and teammates follow him. He knows his run in with the girl he left behind will be stressful to say the least because he has never gotten over her.

Lily Cortez is a woman on the run from a past she can't seem to escape. She ran away to the big city to avoid all things that reminded her of the bad boy from school she always wanted but never had. In the city, she built a life for herself only to have it fall apart at the hands of an unknown threat. She moves back to her hometown and things are good for awhile but then fires start to pop up there too.
She knows her stalker has found her again and he can hide in plain sight.

I enjoyed this book on every level. It did kind of drag a little toward the end but did finish well. If you love romantic suspense, this is a mild one in my opinion. The bad guy is a sicko no doubt, but he was also chilling in his pursuit. The two main characters had great chemistry and the love scenes were sexy. I can't wait for the next book which is on my computer and for me, a book away.

SEAL of Honor by Tonya Burrows

Grade-A+
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-HORNET #1
Reviewed by Kay

Where to start? I have read a lot of romantic suspense. I have read a lot of military romantic suspense. I have loved a lot of both of these things. This book.....I LOVED the hell out of it! I haven't read a great romantic suspense in a loooong time. Too long as a matter of fact.

Gabe Bristow was a SEAL but after an auto accident he is a SEAL no more. Neither is his best friend, Quinn. He decided to take a desk job at the Pentagon that his father, the Admiral arranged for him. Quinn comes to him with the idea about working in the private sector, kind of like a mercenary. He would be with other ex-military or federal agency people. He rejects the offer but after some manipulating by his brother, he accepts. Their first case is to rescue a business man that has been kidnapped in Colombia.

Audrey Van Amee is a struggling artist with a very wealthy brother. While being on the phone with her brother, she sees and hears his kidnapping via a skype like thing. She meets the team sent to rescue him totally by accident. She ends up sticking with them as a translator kind of.

This was a great read and start to a new series. I can't wait for the rest of the team to have their books! She reminds me a little of Suzanne Brockmann and Cindy Gerard. There is lots of suspense and plot twists here. I am a HUGE romantic suspense fan and this totally clicked for me. The romance was sweet and fast building. This was a win for this author in my opinion. The only thing I can say that would've made it better, was if her love scenes were a little more like Lora Leigh's Tempting SEALs series.

Into The Fire by Amanda Usen

Grade-A
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-A Hot Night #1
Reviewed by Kay

Jackson Calabrese is from a famous restaurant family in New York. His father still runs the family business since his older brother decided music was his life not cooking. Jackson, the night before the big competition at culinary school, finally gets some time with Lila Grant. They have a night filled with hot sex and then something is said (I can't say what) that leads to a huge misunderstanding by both of them. To say they part as enemies is an understatement. Then the story fast forwards six months, right before Jack's restaurant opens and he runs into Lila again.

I won't say anything more about the storyline except that you have to read it. This book is fantastic and it was a pleasant surprise. I've read Amanda Usen before but this is my favorite by her. I loved everything about this novel. And I'm a huge fan of food in my love stories. Huge. I loved the characters, both primary and secondary. I can't wait for the next book!

Taken By Him by Red Garnier

 

Grade-A
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-The Billionaire's Club #2
Reviewed by Kay

This second installment in the Billionaire's Club features the man-whore, Luke Alexander Preston and executive Peyton Lane. They both are on a hiatus from their regular lives. Luke, from sleeping with everything that moves and rehabbing from a gunshot wound. Peyton wanted a vacation so she could do something she has never done, have a fling with a man she's not likely to run into in the circles she keeps.

She meets Luke after he runs into her literally. From there they are hyper aware of one another. A fling starts that will end in two or three days time with no strings attached. This story worked for me so much. It was funny, a little sad and a whole lot sexy. Very descriptive love scenes, a favorite of mine. This was a short read and there could've been more story but with this for some reason I didn't care about that. I will definatley be reading the other books in this series and may go through the author's backlist. This is on my best of 2013 list.

Highlander Taken by Juliette Miller

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Moderate Kink
Series-Clan Mackenzie #2
Reviewed by Kay

Let me explain the hotness level thing first for this book. Inferno is our hottest rating and for good reason but you generally don't find it in historical romance. At least, not in the historicals I read. I have very specific guidelines for historical romance and erotica has no place there for me. There were multiple sexual situations in this book but no penetrating sex until the end of the book but scenes of non-penetrating sex were explicit as well as some bondage and spanking with a leather strap. That's where the inferno rating comes from.

Kade Mackenzie has to wed for an alliance to strengthen his clan's army and holdings. He is a third son. His oldest brother is widowed and not ready to remarry yet. His second brother was all but betrothed and then met his meant to be bride, so his betrothal to a Morrison daughter had to be broken. In come Kade and Stella Morrison to fill the vacancy spot the broken engagement left. Kade has desired Stella even before he met her because she had a feisty reputation. When he sees her, he falls for her beauty. He accepts the fact they have to get married and looks forward to his marriage bed.

Stella Morrison has been abused by her father or his men physically for years. She looks like her dead mother and her father for some reason takes his grief out on Stella. She doesn't want the marriage but wants to protect her clan. She has heard her husband is a beast, so she is apprehensive to say the least.

I liked this book but not as much as I wanted to. I wanted to love it. It drug a little in the middle for me. Good story telling otherwise. My big problems with it were no full blown sex until the end of the book and in one sex scene he used a leather strap on her. The later is not my cup of tea. Personal preference but I rate based on what I like and I did not like that part. Good voice of the author and she'll probably get better as she goes on.

Short Rides by Lorelei James

Grade-B+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Moderate
Series-Rough Riders #14.5
Reviewed by Kay

Let me start by saying that this will be a joint review between Kate and I. We have each done a review with Anne but not one together. I'm super excited about it! We'll each give our reviews, a list of our faves of the series and our not so much faves. I hope you enjoy the review as much as we enjoyed the book and writing it.

This novel has three separate parts-

The King Of Hearts is about Cam McKay who is the deputy of this hometown since his discharge from the armed services. He was badly wounded and ended up with part of one leg and hand amputated. On Valentine's Day there is a murder suicide committed and he is on the scene. It was very disturbing because of the nature and brutality of the crime. It also talked about PTSD and getting treatment for it. It was okay for me but a little preachy about gun control. I did enjoy his scenes with the kiddos.

Rough Road was about Trevor, Edgard and Chassie Glazner. They are a committed triad. If you are unfamiliar with that, it means they are all lovers in a committed relationship. They all have children together and raise them together. This story deals with prejudice against their lifestyle involving their son. He's bullied by a child at school and he questions his parents about what the "F" words means.
I do want to point out that the parents of the bully were worst case opinion people. Not every one who disagrees with someone's lifestyle is a jerk about it. I loved the support they got from their extended family and the lovely vacation they got to take.

All Knocked Up is about Jack and Keely Donohue who are awaiting the arrival of baby number one. Between work schedules and pregnancy hormones it's a wild ride. The bonus to this story is that we get multiple babies!

I enjoyed all three stories and can't wait for the next installment in this wonderful series.

My personal favorites in order are (I didn't rate the novellas):
Raising Kane
All Jacked Up
Cowgirls Don't Cry
Chasin' Eight
Rough, Raw and Ready
Kissin' Tell
Branded As Trouble
Cowgirl Up And Ride
Tied Up, Tied Down
Long Hard Ride
Shoulda Been A Cowboy
Rode Hard, Put Up Wet
Cowboy Casanova
Gone Country

Don't get me wrong, I liked them all but some more than others. Now, on to Kate.

What does a series that already has 14 full length books (#15 is slated to be released on 6/18) and 2 novellas need? *waiving hand in the air* OOH, ooh, pick me. I know. An anthology containing a short story and two novellas!

King of Hearts featuring  Cam and Domini left me feeling a bit flat. It gives a glimpse of their home life, but it was lacking the heat that I've come to expect from a Rough Riders book.   D, blaze

Rough Roads revisits Chassie, Trevor and Edgard as they celebrate their anniversary and deal with issues their oldest son is having at school. I loved this one.  B+, inferno

All Knocked Up follows Jack and Keely through the end of her first pregnancy. This one made me laugh out loud. B, inferno.

For those of us waiting for the next installment in the Rough Riders series these stories will help fill the void and pass the time. I'm curious to find out how many of you are riding the Rough Riders train? What was your favorite book so far?

Kate's favorites in order:

I've not listed them before and it was funny because some of them I actually felt my lip curl just reading the title. And Kissin' Tell would have been a few spots lower on the list except for Lorelei James' masterful use of a trampoline :) Makes me smile every time I think about it. I'm curious to know what your favorites are.

1. Rough, Raw and Ready
2. Raising Kane
3. Tied Up, Tied Down
4. Branded As Trouble
5. Cowgirl Up and Ride
6. Strong, Silent Type
7. Cowboy Casanova
8. Kissin' Tell
9. Should Been A Cowboy
10. Cowgirls Don't Cry
11. Gone Country
12. All Jacked Up
13. Long Hard Ride
14. Rode Hard, Put Up Wet
15. Chasin' Eight

Bare It All by Lori Foster

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Love Undercover #2
Reviewed by Kay

Alice Appleton has fallen in love. With Cash. Cash is a dog she dog sits for. She has real feelings for his owner and undercover cop, Reese Bareden. Reese stays with Alice at her apartment after his is a crime scene at the end of the first book in the series. Alice has a secret and it's a pretty big one. Reese finds himself not only wanting to know the secret but wanting to get to know Alice better. Combine his and her feelings with the suspense of the human trafficking angle and what more could you want?

Well, a better story that didn't drag near as much. At least, that's what I wanted. It started off so good and stream rolled right up until about 65% of the way through and then it was like it hit a brick wall for me. It seemed to drag on and on. I wanted to scream out loud with frustration. This really upsets me because I like to read Lori Foster and I liked the characters in this novel. It was just too long and got lost in the middle. This novel is not indicative Lori Foster's usual work. I have been a fan of hers for years and will continue to be. This one just didn't do it for me though.

Close to You by Kate Perry

Grade: B-
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Laurel Heights #2

Reviewed by Kate

267 pages

Margaret has owned her tea shop in the ritzy town of Laurel Heights for years but finances are starting to get tight. She knows who's to blame too-Eve, the owner of the new coffee shop across the street. So Margaret sends her son Treat (yes, that's really his name) into Eve's shop to scope out the competition. As Treat walks into Eve's shop, he's glad this is a one time only spy mission because he completely falls for Eve. And the feeling's mutual. When it becomes apparent someone is sabotaging Eve's business, both Eve and Treat suspect Margaret is to blame. But is it too late for Treat to tell the truth about who his mother is?

Treat and Eve are great characters and I enjoyed reading about them.  But surprisingly, I really liked Margaret, the third wheel (and villain) in their relationship.  The author does a superb job of making you care not only for the hero and heroine, but the villain as well.  I would really like to see Margaret get her own HEA. 

How about you?  Romance villains.  Love 'em, Hate 'em, or Love to Hate 'em?

Dirty Laundry by Heidi Cullinan

Grade: A-
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Moderate Kink (D/s, spanking, restraints)
Genre: Contemporary, m/m
Series: Tucker Springs #3

Reviewed by Anne

265 pages

 

Adam is a college grad student with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Anxiety issues that severely shape his day to day life.  He's at the laundromat doing some laundry when a group of drunk college guys start harassing him.  Denver, a tank of a man, comes to his rescue and scares the drunks away.  Adam is thankful, but also very attracted to Denver.  They hook up right there in the laundromat.   Adam is amazed at how calm and centered he feels with Denver, and how attracted he is to the kink of having Denver be physically in charge of him.  Denver is surprised that Adam stays on his mind.  He has a lot of one night stands, but he just keeps thinking about Adam.

This is a really sweet and very dirty story.  Amazingly, that balances really well.  Adam's issues are huge.  It's a struggle for him to function every day.

 

"... I have no idea how I'm supposed to make out with someone when I know the soup cans aren't alphabetized by type and the shoelaces are all sloppy in the closet.  If they're even in the closet at all."

 

 

Denver is a muscle bound bouncer at a local gay bar.  He's interested in Adam, and doesn't think much of working around Adam's issues, even before he really understands what they are. This is so very, very sweet!

 

My only issue was in the use of D/s as a therapy type tool.  This was somewhat balanced out by the fact that Adam also saw a therapist who was helping him figure out coping skills. The story was about much more than that, though.  Denver has his own suitcase of issues and it's unbelievable to him that Adam would be willing to accept him if he knew.  Watching these two work their way together was just so wonderful.

 

This book is third in the Tucker Springs series, but it was the first one I read and it stood alone very well.  Note that the books in this series are written by different authors.  Another note:  I LOVE this cover.  This is exactly how I pictured these two!

 

This book brings me to about a dozen m/m books read now and I'm officially declaring my love for the m/m subgenre.  How about you?  Do you read m/m?  I've read and enjoyed Heidi Cullinan, Marie Sexton, Daisy Harris, Sean Kennedy, and Josh Lanyon.  Any other m/m authors you'd recommend?  And standout books I MUST read?

A Dirty Girl Chat With Author HelenKay Dimon

I had the pleasure recently of interviewing best selling author, HelenKay Dimon. I had read her in the past and enjoyed her writing quite a bit. She just had a book come out on June 10th and it was reviewed today on the blog. Here are some of the things we got to talk to her about.

Welcome to Dirty Girls Good Books, HelenKay! Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions regarding your latest book, Just What He Wanted, which features an older heroine paired with a younger man. I read it and I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading the rest of the series.


Dirty Girl Kay:  You've written about the age pairing before in Hard As Nails. Is this a favorite of yours?

HelenKay: Actually, I usually go for older hero/younger heroine or books where they are close in age. But the hero in Just What He Wanted, Travis, just needed an older woman. He had a tough life and is a self-made, down-to-Earth guy. He's pretty smart about women and I just couldn't see him with a younger twenty-something. I thought he needed someone who would totally shake up his world and take him from "I got this" to "what's happening here?" and Andie does that.

DGKay: Andie is curvy or full figured. Was this an effort to show that women can and should be confident in any body shape?

HelenKay: Absolutely! Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. As someone who has struggled with weight issues and who has lost weight, looked in the mirror and still seen the larger body size, I wanted to introduce a heroine who is smart but has that nagging voice in her head that tells her the extra weight matters. Andie has the same insecurities a lot of us have, and Travis doesn't get it because he thinks she is this beautiful zaftig woman, so letting them figure each other out was so much fun. It's actually why I picked the title Just What He Wanted. I thought it was perfect.

DGKay: This is the fourth book in the series. Are you planning to write more?

HelenKay: I don't think so. Originally I envisioned this as a three-book series. Then Travis stepped on the page in book #2, Lean On Me, and I kind of loved him. Happily, readers liked him, too, and asked for his story.

DGKay: What else can we look forward to from you in the future?

HelenKay; I write romantic suspense for Harlequin Intrigue and start a new miniseries this summer with two brothers in Fearless (July) and Ruthless (August). By the way, in my head the oldest brother looks like Tom Hardy. I also have the second book in another contemporary romance series-the Hanover Brothers, about the sons of a notorious con man-coming out in July, A Simple Twist Of Fate. And in a bit of really exciting news, I'm one of the launch authors for the new Cosmo Red Hot Red Line from Harlequin. My book, Everything You Need To Know, comes out in October. Take a somewhat serious businessman, a smart woman with a secret and a white-hot attraction and you get Everything You Need To Know.


DGKay: Congratulations on the Harlequin launch! Do you write about any personal experiences in your books?

HelenKay: All the time. I should clarify that by saying I borrow bits and pieces from people, my life, things I see, things I read in the newspaper all the time. I'll read or look at something and think, "now what if X happened" and a book idea is born.

DGKay: Are there any writers you read or look up to for inspiration?

HelenKay: I am an avid reader. I love Gillian Flynn and Rosamund Lupton in suspense and read across all romance genres. Some of my current romance favorites are Alison Kent, Jill Shalvis, Anne Calhoun, Lauren Dane and Maya Banks. As far as inspiration goes, I am constantly inspired by the authors in the romance genre. Watching their careers inspires me to do better and work harder.

DGKay: Is there a specific book that ranks as your favorite or as one of your favorites?

HelenKay: It's so hard to pick! I would say I do have three sentimental favorites in romance- The Bride by Julie Garwood, Daniel's Bride by Linda Lael Miller and Perfect Partners by Jayne Anne Krentz. They were the first romances I ever read. I was thirtyish and reading those books literally changed my life. I read them, fell in love with the genre and eventually started writing one. Romance made the change from full-time lawyer to full-time writer possible. It's been an amazing journey so far.

DGKay:  We again appreciate you taking time out of your schedule to talk about the book and what's coming next for you. This was great fun and I hope to do it again with you in the future. Thank you so much. We also want to thank Morgan at Romantic Times magazine who approached us with this opportunity and was so very helpful in planning this interview.

Here are some links for you to buy Just What He Wanted:

All Romance eBooks

Amazon

BN

Just What He Wanted by HelenKay Dimon

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Holloway #4
Reviewed by Kay

This story is a novella for the Holloway series. The main characters are Travis Yardley and Andrea "Andie" Patterson. Travis works with his semi adopted family in their nursery business. He goes through his life thinking he has everything he could need for now, great family and friends, a job he enjoys and female companionship when he wants it. Then he is asked a favor by a friend and when he sees Andie , he is floored by her.

Andie is self described as chubby but I thought of her as full figured not fat. She came to Holloway after her break up with a total jack ass, who tried to make her feel bad about herself. She enjoys her job and her new town, even if the town is small and in her business quite a bit. She's here to start her life over and not with the hot young thing she just met.

I liked all of the aspects of this book: the full figured heroine, the younger man, the close knit family, the problem Andie had with the age difference and Travis' total disregard of that difference. He was firm that she was beautiful in his eyes and did not like her putting herself down at all. He really was the perfect hero in my eyes. He know what he wanted and that was all there was to it. And when Andie realized it she was all in too. It took her a while but she came around.  This was a sweet, cute, short and funny read. It has been a long time since I've read a book by HelenKay Dimon and I've missed her writing. I will end with my favorite line of the book: He was six feet of hello-there-handsome. It still makes me giggle.

College Boys by Daisy Harris

Grade: A
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, m/m
Series: Men of Holsum College #1

Reviewed by Anne

113 pages

 

Chris is a soccer playing college jock.  After his mom's death he needs a little more personal space and ends up moving from his dorm full of jocks into a dorm with a private room.  As it turns out, he's moved right next door to Peter, an openly gay student.  Also, did I mention, the walls are paper thin and provide provide vision privacy only?  Chris and Peter had met once before, and they end up becoming friends through the wall.  The thing is, Peter is very attracted to Chris, though he'd never act on his attaction because of Chris' hetero-jock status.  Chris has always thought of himself as heterosexual, and his attraction to Peter takes him by surprise.  Where they take it from there is just awesome!

This is an incredible read!  I gobbled it up in one day and was enjoying it so much I didn't stop to leave myself notes.  That's a sign of a really good book for me!  The scenes in this book where Peter and Christ talk through the wall are so sweet.  The moments where Christ starts being honest with himself about his feelings for Peter, and the doubts he has were heart-wrenching.  The writing was just exquisite!

Yes, the ending was over the top happy with unicorns pooping rainbows and all that, but it's ok.  They both seem a little young and the relationship a little new for the ending, but that's an issue for me for any book with young characters.

I've not been a fan of college aged (would this be considered New Adult?) books, but this one really worked for me. I'll be looking for more by Daisy Harris!

Rule of Three by Kelly Jamieson

Grade: A
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Mild Kink
Genre: Contemporary, ménage
Reviewed by Kate

206 pages

Kassidy is finally reaping the rewards of always following the rules. She has a job she loves and is in a fulfilling relationship with her boyfriend Chris. In fact, after a year of dating, they've just moved in together and it's looking like marriage is on the horizon. Then Chris's best friend Dag comes to town for a visit.

Dag has secretly been in love with Chris since they first met. But it was obvious Chris would never consider a relationship so Dag never admitted his feelings. He left town years ago, trying to outrun his feelings, but is back to see if there's any chance of being with Chris now.

Kassidy and Dag are shocked by (and Chris is oblivious to) the immediate sparks that fly between them. To their credit, neither Dag nor Kassidy act on their attraction. Instead they spend a few days becoming good friends. When it comes out that Dag and Chris have participated in threesomes together before, Kassidy decides to step out of her good girl box and give a threeway a try. But when everyone's true feelings are uncovered, will any of them be left without a broken heart?

I had just finished a Harlequin Special Edition and may have been complaining to Anne a bit because, while I love me a good Harlequin Special Edition, it just didn't have the heat level I was looking for. So later Anne emails me about Rule of Three. Something like, "Saw this menage story. Thought of you." Aren't big sisters the greatest?

Kelly Jamieson has a new fan. Because holy hotness, Batman! This one was scorching. The kind where you just have to take periodic cool-down breaks, you know? But the best part was it wasn't sex written for sex's sake. These characters were deep and complex and-oh crap, I'm getting a tad gushy, aren't I?

My only complaint was that the HEA ended too soon.  I would have liked to see an epilogue with this one.  Of course, without an epilogue, I get to make my own up.  How about you?  Epilogue or no?  Which do you prefer?

Tempted by Two by Portia Da Costa

Grade: B
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Mild Kink (light bondage and spanking)
Genre: Contemporary, Ménage 

Reviewed by Anne

90 pages

 

"So are you two a pair of tag team bluebeards who regularly use that painting to seduce unwary women into your... um... combined clutches?"

Marcus laughed too, and Owen just grinned.

"Busted."  p. 12

 

Katie is on vacation and she's checking out some paintings by her favorite artist, Marcus Dane.  She's alone, admiring a particularly explicit painting of a trio of lovers when she's approached by Marcus.  Happily caught off guard and star struck by the attractive artist, she accompanies him back to his place and meets his partner, Owen.  They invite her to join them for a ménage like the one pictured in the painting she was admiring.  Though initially hesitant, Katie agrees and the story takes off from there.

 

This novella weighed in at 90 pages on my reader. A HEA ménage seemed like a lot to take on in that situation - especially given that Katie was a stranger to Owen and Marcus. So, I went into this thinking it might just be an encounter or have a HFN ending. Happily, it was a true HEA. However, it had sort of a fantasy feel to it for me, because I think a HEA triad is a complicated thing to pull off. It happened in 90 pages here because things were simplified. I was happy to suspend disbelief for this one, though.

Da Costa writes great sex scenes, and I enjoyed them here. Marcus and Owen were open with each other and with Katie, which was refreshing.

There wasn't much discussion of relationships. There was some talk about how they loved each other, but it seemed to me that more discussion was warranted: between Owen and Marcus - How will our relationship change? Do we both want to add a third permanently? and between the guys and Katie - What will it be like to live as a triad? Who pays the bills? Are we out in the open or not? 

What will our families and friends think? None of those conversations happen in this novella.

The same applies to the BDSM scenes in the story. They come out of nowhere and we don't see much discussion about them. Was this something Katie had done before? Who wanted it?  Honestly, it was a little jarring and almost out of place.  They were still well written and hot, though.

I think my biggest problem was that I wanted more. I wanted it to be longer. (ha!) and I wanted it to go more in depth. That's probably asking too much from a novella. I'm wavering between a 3 and 4 star grade. I know I went on a bit about the things I missed, but the stuff that was there (mainly sex) was really good. So I'm going with a 3.5 star grade.

*Note - I nearly had to knock this down a grade for use of the term "love-eye" (no, really, it's in the book! p. 47) but I don't want to hold my language issues (and my laughter) against the story, so I'll leave the grade as is. 

So, how about you?  Do you enjoy ménage?  Does the term "love-eye" work for you?

Flirting With Disaster by Ruthie Knox

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Camelot #3
Reviewed by Kay

A security specialist computer geek, a recently divorced hometown girl, an aging in the closet rock star, an ex-military overprotective brother, and a precocious toddler. These are just some of the endearing characters you get in this novel. Sean is a former geek turned security specialist who has come back to his hometown to settle his estranged mother's estate. Katie is a divorcee whose ex husband took their life savings and abandoned her. Judah is a rock star that's gay but hasn't come out yet and who has a stalker.

This is a great little read about the things we can and can't change about ourselves and the choices we make because of that. It's also about two different love stories, each that will touch your heart.  Sean and Katie have known each other since high school and have crushed on each other that long also. When they face what they feel, there a some pretty good fireworks. And when Judah finally confronts his orientation, you feel it too. Sean was so embarrassed by his stuttering and Katie's not really noticing was precious.

I had a hard time when I started reading this but I'm glad I finished it. My lack of focus had nothing to do with the book not being good though. Everyone should read this book. In closing, I'll leave you with my favorite thought in the book. It comes from Sean: He picked her up. Picked her up and carried her, as if she were Scarlett O'Hara and he were Rhett Butler, if Rhett had been the kind of guy to go down on Scarlett in a doorway. Which, let's be honest, he probably was.

Thrown by a Curve by Jaci Burton

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Play-by-Play #5
Reviewed by Kay

First, let me tell you a little bit about this book and then I'll let you know what I thought of it.

Alicia Riley is a sports medicine therapist who gets assigned to Garrett Scott's rehab case after his failed improvement after a possible career ending injury. Being a Riley gives her some insight because she has a pro football playing brother and cousin. She also has a baseball playing cousin and her female cousin is married to a pro hockey player. To say she has grown-up around sports is an understatement.

Garrett Scott is the star starting pitcher for the St. Louis Rivers who has been rehabbing after his injury. He decides he wants Alicia in on his rehab after she basically calls him out on his not trying hard enough. He likes her spunk and forthrightness.

This novel totally redeemed the series for after the last book which I did not enjoy very much. I was shocked by that because I LOVE Jaci Burton books. I get giddy when she has a new book coming out. I liked both of these characters even though Alicia was a bit boring here and there. I did like her attitude and approach to Garrett. Garrett's thoughts regarding family were a bit over the top for me. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one.

Offsides by Juliana Stone

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-The Barker Triplets #1
Reviewed by Kay

Billie-Jo Barker was a pro hockey player in Europe who has come home after a career ending injury. She lives with her sister Bobbi-Jo, who's rude and hateful. Also with her father suffering from dementia and her grandfather who has his hands full dealing with all of them. She joins the town hockey league as their first female player. Most of the men in the league and the town are opposed except for the man who broke her heart years ago.

Logan Forest is a mechanic of some sorts in his home town. He is shocked to see Billie-Jo at home. He has always known of her but not really paid much attention to her because he only saw her sister, Betty-Jo. He thinks it will be great to watch Billie-Jo play hockey because of her talent. Not to mention his attraction to her.

• These two characters are really into each other in a big way. Billie-Jo has loved Logan forever and has a secret to go along with that. Logan has these crazy feelings for Billie-Jo that leave him at a little loss for words. There was some conflict in this novel but not what I would call high level. I enjoyed it and may continue on with the series. 

A Taste of Sin by Connie Mason

Grade: C-
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: HistoricalSeries: Sin Trilogy #1
Reviewed by Kate

After the battle of Culloden the king declares that the daughters of Scottish chiefs shall marry English lords. And so, 7 year old Christy Macdonald finds herself married to 14 year old St. John (Sinjin) Thornton, a marquis. Flash forward 15 years and Sinjin has become known as Lord Sin, a notorious rake who has never returned to his wife to consummate their wedding. Christy is now the laird of her clan in the highlands. She is under a lot of pressure to have her marriage annulled so she can marry a man from the highlands. Christy travels to London to seek out Sinjin. Her clan thinks she is going to get the annulment, but she has other plans. She's going to seduce her husband.

I loved the premise of this book and it started off strong. I soon came to dislike Christy. She quickly developed a pattern of lying to Sinjin, then running away. Then Sinjin would take his own sweet time chasing after her and the cycle would begin again. I found this book overly dramatic. Romance does not have to equal drama. The whole thing could have been resolved by locking the two of them in a room until they talked (of course the same could be said for a lot of romances). However, if you like your highlander romances to read like a soap opera, give this one a try.