Ten Reasons To Stay by Sabrina Jeffries

Grade-A
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Schools For Heiresses
Reviewed by Kay

This novella was previously published by Sabrina Jeffries. It will be re released on May 6, 2013.
This is the story of one of the heiresses from the school, Eliza Crenshawe. She was picked up from the school by her uncle under false pretenses. He takes her home and says he is going to marry her off to his friend.

Colin Hunt, an earl, has just arrived at his newly inherited estate. He sees a boy sneaking into his stables. This worries him because he has a lot of impressive horseflesh. He confronts the boy only to find out it's a girl. The girl is trying to make it back to her school to escape a forced marriage.

Colin and Eliza are precious together. Eliza as she fights for her dignity, virtue and survival, all by herself. And Colin as he fights for acceptance because he's a foreigner and he fights the demons of his past.

This is a great, short read. I loved every second of it. I'm a big fan of Sabrina Jeffries, so this just solidified that for me. It was moving, tender and hot. Three things I just adore. And when he counts the ten reasons she should stay....sigh.

Perfect For You by Kate Perry

Grade: B+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Laurel Heights #1
Reviewed by Kate

Graphic designer Freya is working on a website design for an adult toy store but her creativity is gone. If she can't come up with something soon she could lose her job. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Freya posts a personal ad hoping that improving her sex life will get her creative juices flowing again. She gets responses but unfortunately the only person who gets her motor running is her upstairs neighbor and arch enemy Greg. Greg, a lawyer, has wanted Freya since the first time he saw get but he can't figure out why she hates him. But if he can restore her creativity will she want something more?

This is an enjoyable villain-free contemporary romance. A strong start to the series. I highly recommend it to low-suspense romance fans. (I'm thinking of you Anne.)

Hot on Her Trail by Sable Hunter

Grade: B-
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, Cowboy
Series: Hell Yeah! #2
Reviewed by Kate

Jessie had been hired by the McCays to be their surrogate and egg donor. But a mix-up at the sperm bank leaves her pregnant with Jacob McCoy's baby. When she refuses an abortion the McCays kick her out. Jobless, Jessie uses the last of her money to travel to the Tebow Ranch so she can tell Jacob about the baby. She doesn't expect him to support her or the baby, but feels Jacob deserves to know about the baby.

Jacob has been dreaming of settling down for a while now. He sees Jessie and knows she is the one, even before he knows who she is. When he finds out about the baby, it's just icing on the cake. Although Jacob is sure of his feelings for Jessie, some of his brothers remain skeptical.

This one picks up right where book one left us. Although you can read it as a stand alone, I think it is better read in order. Following in the path set by the first book, the love is instant and intense. The characters are likable. The dirty talk is a bit pornish. In addition to the conflict created by a brand new, super fast relationship, there is also the added intrigue of Mr. McCay, who is determined to find Jessie. Despite the similarities with the first book, I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Cowboy Heat by Sable Hunter

Grade: B+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary,  Cowboy
Series: Hell Yeah! #1
Reviewed by Kate

Libby has been battling leukemia since she was a teenager. When it finally goes into remission, her doctor encourages her to spend time doing all the things she has missed out on. Living on a ranch, riding a horse, and sex are at the top of her list. An opportunity to fill in for the housekeeper at the Tebow Ranch opens up ad Libby jumps at it. After all, the Tebow Ranch is run by the sexy McCoy brothers. Maybe one of them will help her wth her pesky virginity problem.

Aron survived a short marriage that nearly tore his family apart at the seams. He has no wish to visit the altar again, but four years without sex is a long time. When he sees Libby for the first time the attraction is instant. The fact that she agrees to a temporary relationship is great, the sex even better.

I liked the strength and weaknesses of both Aron and Libby. I liked the closeness of Aron's family. I liked the storylines that ran through the book. My only complaint was that the dirty talk sounded a bit pornish. When I finished this one I immediately started the next book in the series. Could there be a better recommendation?

Dirty Girls at RT

So...  Kay and I are going to our first RT Convention.  I started getting ready months ago, but the serious prep work started over the weekend.  There was the toenail painting.

Is there a more appropriate color for RT?
And here is the wardrobe planning.  I'm a bit of an organizer.

And, yes, I'm going to paint the wall behind my bed green.  Probably the shade in the lower right corner of the samples, if you're wondering.  Yes I know that's going to take a lot of coats to cover.  Whatever.

Our RT started Tuesday with the Blogger Conference run by Smart Bitch Sarah and Dear Author's Jane.  We learned a LOT and have some great ideas for things to come.  Here's me (Anne) before the Blogger Con started:

No, really, that's my super excited face.  The whole hotel is covered in huge posters.  I wanted one to text to my husband, so I picked one without mantitty.

As part of the blogger conference we were lucky enough to chat with a few authors who came in for a cocktail party.  You guys!  I met Shannon Stacey!  I tried really hard not to stalk her around the room all night, but I might have been just a little creepy.  I also got to meet Jaci Burton and Vivian Arrend.  All are authors I enjoy, and all were very nice.  And I really wanted to take pictures, but I was trying to play it cool.  You know, it was a cocktail party.  Now I SO regret not asking them to take pictures with me.

We were lucky enough to be around Tuesday night for the early registration for the official RT convention.  Here is the line we waited in:

Thankfully, the line moved SUPER fast and check in was very simple.  It looked like it was not as easy today.

Wednesday morning started with an RT Virgins panel for first timers like us, followed by a welcome breakfast.  Then we got into the sessions.  I Pimped My Badge and won a bag full of swag from some awesome authors.  Z.A. Maxfield, Trixie Stilletto, and Beth Kery are now on my must try list. 

Then it was on to Erotic Romance Mad Libs, which was hilarious fun!  Participants teamed up to do a Mad Libs version of back cover blurbs.  Lexxie Couper was so funny in person that I really want to try something she's written.  Actually, the whole group of authors looked like they'd be really fun to hang around with.  We won awesome swag and laughed a LOT.  Best moment?  When a line from an author's actual blurb was mistaken for a mad lib.  Of course, Lexxie Couper acting out the mad libs ranks right up there, too. 

Finally, Kay and I attended a session together.  It was a session geared toward aspiring or current erotica authors, but we attended because we simple wanted to be in the same room with Jaci Burton, Lauren Dane, and Sylvia Day.  Eden Bradley, who we haven't read was also on the panel, but we both agreed we really want to try a book by her now!

After the erotica session I was able to find some Kallypso Masters swag.  Kate couldn't come to RT, but I asked her for a list of who she might want swag from.  So I picked up this really cool fan, along with a pen and button and bookmarks.  I was walking away grinning from ear to ear when someone asked "Would you like me to sign that?" OMG!  It was Kallypso Masters!  And she is AWESOME.  I told her about Kate.  I mentioned the blog.  She told us to get more swag and we're going to try to get together with her later in the week to get some books to giveaway here.  What a cool lady.  Here's me and Kallypso. 

 

There was some really entertaining swag and author displays to check out! 

Read a Book, Ride a Cowboy!  I think Beth Williams is someone I could like!

This one make me think of Kate.

We got some free books, but also saw signs like this one letting us know about free ebooks available.  (Playing Doctor by Julie Rowe is free on Amazon this week!)

One of the funny moments of the day.  Kay says, "Janyne Rylon's giving me a breath mint.  I don't really know what of make of that."

Our final session of the day was Romance Reader Apples to Apples, where we won books and came up with adjective/noun combos like "furry mons" and "sticky kiss."  It was very fun and funny!

There were two evening parties, Rosie Gulch's Saloon and The Ellora's Cave Bad Girls of Romance Disco Inferno. The saloon event gave us a chance to get acquainted with some historical authors, but my favorite part was the shot glass desserts the were incredibly yummy!  I also had a great conversation with the aspiring author who sat next to me.  Wouldn't it be great if I could give you her name?  Well, I'd have to did her card out of my bag and I'm way too tired for that.  But she was awesome, she's got a great book idea, and she's got a kiddo with some of the same issues as one of mine, which made for some GREAT conversation!

The Disco Event was everything I imagined and more.  We walked in to find mini lava lamps as take home swag!  There were also calendars featuring Ellora's Cavemen and Disco Ball Key chains.  My tweenager needs a calendar.  While this one would surely entertain her, it would also have her exclaiming "That's inappropriate!"  So, alas, she won't be getting any passed down swag from mom.

This is a wide shot of how big the disco set up was!  You can see some of the mini lava lamps on the tables, too.  Each attendee also got this awesome black sequined hat that Kay is sporting here:

We called it a night after the author introductions and the Ellora's cavmen (and woman) danced to some Disco tunes for our enjoyment.  (And I totally called their impending shirt removal, but was wrong about the pants, which did stay on.) 

Bags of swag.

I'll try to do a better job of taking pictures tomorrow.  It was an incredible day. I have a HUGE amount of swag and free books.  I can't wait to dive into it all.  It almost makes me want to skip tomorrow so I can just sit and read.   Except that tomorrow I get to meet some favorite authors in the RT Cafe (Anne Calhoun, Delphine Dryden, Ruthie Knox, Cara McKenna, and Heidi Cullinan I'm coming to see you!)  I'm also excited about the Erotica Author Chat (Maya Banks, Jaci Burton, Lauren Dane, and Sylvia Day!), the All Tied Up: BDSM Romance panel, and the Romance Pride: Over the Rainbow Party.

So, are you at RT?  What has been your favorite part?  If you aren't at RT, what's the one thing you'd want to do most if you were here?

Midnight Secrets by Ella Grace

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Wildfire #1
Reviewed by Kay

This is the first book in a series for Ella Grace. Ella Grace is a pen name for Christy Reece. The story starts 18 years ago with the double homicide of Beckett and Maggie Wilde.  It's made to appear as a murder-suicide by Beckett Wilde. The couple's identical triplet daughters, Savannah, Samantha and Sabrina are away at summer camp at the time of their parents deaths.

From there the story skips ahead 8 years to their senior year of high school. Prom night to be exact. Savannah's date is drinking and obnoxious, so she goes outside in the parking lot to look for her sister, Samantha. What she finds is four would-be rapists.

Meanwhile, on his way home from work is Zach Tanner, local bad boy and son of the town slut. He sees the scene in the prom parking lot and steps in to rescue her. He drives her home and this begins a fragile friendship that quickly turns into first love. Both of them know Zach is going into the Army in two months. The night before he leaves for basic training he gives Savannah a promise ring and she gives him her virginity. He tells her that he'll come by in the morning to say goodbye. He never shows up and her heart is broken.

Ten years later, Savannah is a Nashville assistant district attorney and is back in her hometown of Midnight to clear out her grandfather's possessions after his death. Zach is now the police chief in Midnight. Savannah is soon deep into investigating her parents' deaths after finding some letters of her grandfather's.

It's a good start to a new series. Good mix of romance and suspense. Good mystery also. It did drag a little bit in the middle for me though. A sweet story of first love lasting for years with doses of murder and mayhem sprinkled in.

Dark Wolf by Kate Douglas

Grade: B+

Hotness Level: Inferno

Kink Level: Low Kink

Genre: Shifter, menage

Series: Spirit Wild #1

Reviewed by Anne

 

Lily is a successful leader in her community of Chanku (shifters).  They are known in the human world and she's sort of an unofficial princess and official representative of her people.  Sebastian is the son of the Chanku's most outspoken opponent.  Lily's Chanku heritage allows her to shift into a wolf, and she has magic as well.  Sebastian uses magic alone to shift into wolf form. Sebastian grew up separated from his father, only discovering his existence when his mother was dying.  Despite her objections, Sebastian sought out his father and is now regretting his actions. 

Recently a serial rapist and killer has been attacking human women.  The women are raped and then savaged by wolves, which points to a Chanku killer.  However, Sebastian also has weird things going on in his life that make him wonder if he or his father are somehow involved.

 

This book really worked for me!  Though it's listed as first in a series on Goodreads, I could tell as I read that there had been books before it.  A little research shows that this Spirit Wild series is a spin off or next generation series from the Wolf Tales (and other books) the author has written.  Still, I read Dark Wolf with no problems keeping up with the many characters.  I also thought the world building was done well.  It came in little pieces as I read, and again, I had no problems keeping up. 

The book reminded me of Lora Leigh's Breeds series and Kit Rocha's O'Kane books.  Lora Leigh because of the animalistic, even in human form, characters as well as their highly sexual nature.  The Kit Rocha comparison comes because of the multi partner accepting and sexually open society the Chanku have.  Initially that caught me off guard, but I liked the community the author created.  I was a bit surprised at how accepting Sebastian was of this when he learned of it.  That was a bit unrealistic for me.  I did like their society/pack and enjoyed reading about it.

 

Another small weakness to me was in the secondary storyline between Annie and Alex.  Annie pops on the scene with no mention her beforehand around page 100.  She's been out of the country and mostly out of touch for years, but suddenly she and Lily are best friends.  I also thought the Annie and Alex story arc felt a bit rushed, but that was just a minor quibble for me.

The sex scenes were very well done and hot.  I enjoyed them!  Lily and Sebastian were great characters and I could really understand where they were coming from.  I liked the world the book took place in a lot.  I've already mentioned the sexually accepting society, but I also liked the pack and mate telepathy as well as the mate bonding.  The women were strong and essential parts of their pack, which I appreciated. Lily even came across as stronger and more sure of herself than Sebastian, and it's rare to see something like that in a romance, and especially to have it work so well!  

Sometimes the things going on seemed a little over the top, but I liked it overall enough to set aside those moments.  I'm putting this book on my Best of 2013 list and I really look forward to reading another book in this series!