The Hunter by Monica McCarty

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Highland Guard #7
Genre-Historical
Reviewed by Kay
380 pages

Ewen "Hunter" Lamont is a minor chieftain and part of Robert Bruce's Highland Guard. He is also an expert tracker. He has been given the task of bringing Janet of Mar back to Bruce, which will bring an end to Janet's being a spy. The two shared a pretty steamy kiss awhile back and neither of them have forgotten it.

Janet of Mar is head strong, loyal and very pretty. She's also a very good spy. She has considered taking her vows as a nun so she won't lose her freedom. She views marriage as serfdom. Ewen is a typical male of the times with his views on where a woman's place is. He can't stand that Janet is in danger all the time.

This is not Monica McCarty's best work. I hope the next book in this series is back up to her usual standards. Very few people can write Scottish Highlander romance well. She is usually one of them but this one fell short.

The Story Guy by Mary Ann Rivers

Every once in a while we read a book that we love so much that we decide we need to put up a review of it immediately, even though the review calendar is full.  This is one of those books.  Kay and Anne highly recommend you read The Story Guy.


Grade-A
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink level-No Kink
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
131 pages

This is the most beautiful book I've ever read. So much more than a romance. Powerful, moving, sweet, loving and sometimes even funny. It starts with the placement of personal ad and takes you on the journey of two people that so desperately needed each other. The desire to love and be loved is never more profound.

Brian places an ad for one day a week, to meet with someone for nothing more than kissing. No relationship, no extensive touching and no sex. Just kissing. He doesn't have the time for anything more. He lives with his sister and works as an attorney.

Carrie is a librarian who answers his ad because of how it's worded. She had no idea what she would be getting. Her confusion over the situation is understandable and frustrating. But growing to love someone is never easy. I really can't tell you much more because I don't want to give anything away.

I ended up open mouthed sobbing because the emotional pull of this story is huge.

                     

Mine To Take by Cynthia Eden

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Genre-Contemporary/Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
151 pages

Trace and Skye were foster children at the same home in their teenage years. Skye's parents died and Trace's just didn't care to raise him. After Trace saves Skye from an attempted rape by their foster brother, they became friends and then lovers. Trace broke up with Skye and joined the Army. Skye became a ballerina and pined for Trace. After an auto accident and the feeling she was being watched, she moved back to Chicago. She tried to hire Trace's security firm but he offered to help her find her stalker for free. Trace wants Skye back in no uncertain terms.

It was good suspense but I think it's hard to build great suspense in a novella. The romance was rushed and the lone love scene was hot. I wanted to like it more than I ended up liking it. It was just an okay read for me but I would definitely read more from this author again. Cynthia Eden writes good paranormal books with blistering love scenes that I missed here. Are you a romantic suspense fan?

Two of a Kind by Susan Mallery

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Fool's Gold #11
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
384 pages

Gideon Boylan was a sniper in the armed forces and a P.O.W., which has left him scarred. He has settled in the town of Fool's Gold to try and find some peace. He bought the town's radio station and even does the nighttime DJ job. He likes his privacy and doesn't want to get too involved with anything. The he learns his one night stand from the past is here in his new hometown.

Felicia Swift is smart, scary smart. She was a logistics master with the Special Forces. She still works with four of them and is helping their new business in the town of Fool's Gold  get off the ground. She has never had a family but wants one desperately. But to get that, you have to out your heart on the line and rejection is scary.

I wanted this to be so much better than it was. It was okay and I didn't hate it but I certainly didn't love it either. I mean it had everything I would normally love: a scarred hero and heroine, a secret baby and this town I love to read about. It never came together for me. Besides, the town has already had a secret baby story and I thought that was cheap. I'll continue because of my love for this series but this was not as good as it usually is.

Cowboy Seeks Bride by Carolyn Brown

Grade-B-
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Spikes & Spurs #7
Genre-Contemporary
384 pages
Reviewed by Kate

Haley McKay (whose professional name is HB McKay) thinks her dad is playing a practical joke on her when he sends her to meet Dewar O'Donnell and his buddies at the start of a cattle drive. She's supposed to ride with the cowboys on the month-long round up as research for a reality show the family tv company is considering, but Haley is sure that when she gets there it will all be a joke.

Dewar is expecting HB McKay to be a middle-aged business man, not the feisty red-head that shows up. He's been actively looking for a wife, but knows there's no way Haley's busy life as a career woman would mix with his life on the ranch. But despite the logic, the sparks between Haley and Dewar fly.

Carolyn Brown is one of my favorite authors of the modern cowboy, In Cowboy Seeks Bride she delivers a solid, low conflict romance. Haley's city-girl ways clash with Dewar's country life, but the attraction is instant. I enjoyed watching Dewar and Haley sneaking around and hiding their relationship from the other cowboys on the drive. The ending seemed a bit too easy, a little too perfect, but still believable. I can forgive the ending since I enjoyed the book as much as I did.

Are you a fan of the modern-day cowboy romance? If so, who are some of your favorite authors?

Ravenous by Eden Summers

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
56 pages

Back in high school, Jesse and Erin were a couple. They were in love as only teenagers can be. After school, Jesse left their hometown and Erin for the big city and bright lights of Sydney. He became a chef and a success. Erin became a caterer and nursed a broken heart. She gets a visit from Jesse, who is home for a visit with his folks. He asks her to cater his mother's birthday party. Erin is shocked to see him and discovers she's still in love with him. Jesse has never forgotten Erin either.

This is a cute, short read about the power of a love that never dies, even after years of separation. The premise is one of my personal favorites but the story never fully hooked me. It wasn't bad but it left me wanting more.

Own the Wind by Kristen Ashley

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

Tabitha Allen is a biker club princess and when she was younger, a train wreck. She made unwise choices and she and the people she loved paid the price. As an adult, she tried to live what she thought was the dream only to have her world implode. She has always had a crush on Parker "Shy" Cage who is a member of the MC(motorcycle club) her dad is the president of.

Shy Cage has always noticed Tabby but never acted on it because of her age and the MC. He's quite the ladies man and is very outspoken with his opinions. He makes a judgement call with Tabby when she's younger and for a long time it defines their relationship.

I'm a big fan of Kristen Ashley. I have to say Knight is still my favorite but I really liked this book and Motorcycle Man. It would help if you have read Motorcycle Man first but you don't have to. If you have, you'll see that Tabby fell for a guy a lot like her dad, Tack. This story was very emotional and hard to read at times because of the pain these characters were in. The losses they had were staggering and changed who they were as people at a young age. I highly recommend this book for readers of Kristen Ashley's books or anyone who wants a great story by a great author.

ETA: It turns out this book is on sale for 99c today (8/4/13)
Amazon
BN
ARe (it's $3.99 here)