Meet the Baumgartners by Selena Kitt

Grade: C+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Mild Kink
Genre: Contemporary, m/f, m/f/f, f/f
Series: The Baumgartners #0

Published: 9/12/10

Reviewed by Kate

85 pages

I'm not really sure where to even start with this one.  Carrie and Maureen are college roommates and lovers and Carrie's perfectly satisfied until she catches Steve "Doc" Baumgartner masterbating in the shower.  What follows is a sexfest involving the three of them, but especially Carrie and Doc.

To say that this one was steamy and hot would be the understatement of the year.    This is not a book that you read in the living room with the family all around.  They'll start asking questions about why you're blushing and sweating.  This is a book that requires privacy for reading.

Why I Love Geeks by T.A. Chase

Grade: C
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, m/m, police, nerd
Series: Why I Love... #1

Published: 3/6/11

Reviewed by Anne

140 ebook pages

I'm a sucker for nerd books, and the blurb for this one really sucked me in!  You've got Chuck, a homicide detective and technophobe who meets Herb, a talkative and super-smart scientist.  There's instant attraction but not much in common - that's a recipe for a good story as far as I'm concerned!  

Because I love the nerd trope so much, I'm willing to suspend a lot of disbelief.  Unfortunately, this story just pushed too far for me.  The set up was really awesome and I really enjoyed about the first half of the book.  Then it just got to be too much.  Little inconsistencies pulled me out of the story.  In one interaction Herb doesn't know what a prostate is, but in the next he's thinking about how much better that felt than what he'd read.  Another time he's not sure what the lab normally looks like, and a few pages later he's musing that the lab is kept compulsively clean.  Neither of those things is huge, but it was this kind of thing that kept pulling me out of the story - even though I didn't want it to!  So, while in the beginning I could roll my eyes and accept what was being worked on in the lab, by the end I was just frustrated by the concept.

Herb is funny, and his verbal diarrhea made me smile.  Chuck was a character I loved, too.  A tough guy with a sweet side.  Chuck's family was awesome!  I really wish I could have liked this one more.

Love, Hypothetically by Anne Tenino

Grade: C-

Hotness Level: Inferno

Kink Level: No Kink

Genre: Contemporary, m/m

Series: Theta Alpha Gamma #2

Published: 8/27/12

Reviewed by Anne

89 pages

Paul is a graduate student and tutor.  Trevor is a new coach at the same college, and he's got student athletes Paul will be working with.  Paul and Trevor have history.  And lots of baggage.  Horrible painful baggage. Trevor terribly wronged Paul nine years ago in high school, and he's hoping that now Paul will forgive him.  Paul's not sure he wants to forgive Trevor.  He might just want a little revenge.

This story was believable, but painful.  It doesn't have a lot of the humor I expect from Anne Tenino.  Or if it's there, I just don't remember it because of how sad the rest of it was.  I also think I had a hard time feeling like these two were going to be ok together.  Trevor was awful to Paul in the past.  Then Paul is awful to Trevor in the present.  That's a lot of awfulness to set aside.  In the same way that two wrongs don't make a right, two really emotionally painful experiences don't cancel each other out.

This story does get bonus points for a sex scene with a deflating erection.  It's not something you read of often in romance - every man seems to be some sort of super stud.  I appreciated that scene, and it was really well written.  Actually the whole story was well written, I just didn't enjoy it.

The Bottom Line by Sandy James

Grade: C
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Mild Kink
Genre: Contemporary

Published: 5/6/14

Reviewed by Kate

336 pages

Contractor Ben needs another project, fast.  When high school teacher Mallory asks him to finish all the projects her ex-husband left behind, he's drawn to more than the money the project will bring.

This one pulled at my emotions a bit.  Mallory has been through a terrible year of life and is trying to bounce back.  Ben is trying to provide a stable home life for his daughter Amber.  The two of them fit together.  Yet they don't rush into things, which I appreciated.  I didn't care for the drawn out suspense of what had happened in the last year for Mallory.  It frustrated me, more than drawing me into the story.  And there was some mild kink that just didn't work in this one for me.  Other than that, this was a solid read.

I'm guessing this is the first book in a upcoming series.  I will read the second one when it comes out, because I'm predicting Beth's (Mallory's friend) Vegas vacation will turn out to have some unexpected consequences and I want to see if I'm right.

Wild Ride by Juliette Jones

Grade: C+

Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Mild Kink
Genre: Contemporary, menage
Published: 2/21/14

Reviewed by Kate

135 pages

After he steals most of her money and hits her, Lacey leaves her boyfriend (now an ex) with under $200 and a car that badly needs repairs.  When her car breaks down she catches a ride with Riley and Nate, hot cowboy types. 

So.  Yeah.  That's pretty much the plot.  And I'm okay with there not being a huge plot.  Especially when it's a menage story.  Lacey has decided to make some changes in her life and Nate and Riley come along at just the right time.  This one surprised me as it wasn't quite a one night thing, but not really a permanent menage either.  My one complaint would be that the ending seemed a bit too easy, a bit too perfect.

If you like your romances to include a threesome, give this one a try.  This one is a quick read, but spicy and hot.  Give it a try.

Mai Tai for Two by Delphine Dryden

Grade: C+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, COSMO Red Hot Reads

Published: 5/13/14

Reviewed by Anne

132 ebook pages

Julie and her "work husband" Alan both won a trip to Hawaii.  When the friend Julie brought with her starts flirting with Alan, Julie is jealous.  When Alan sees Julie talking with a local guy, he gets jealous.  They decide a vacation fling might be in order.  

This book was just ok for me.  It gets bonus points for some geek references and some funny jokes, but overall it was just ok.  Julie gets upset when Alan does something she asked him to do, and that's one of the mail conflicts in the book.  It made Julie seem immature to me.  Actually, the whole book just made me feel old.  So that's it, I'm throwing in the towel on COSMO Red Hot Reads.  I'm not the target audience.  And even when one of my favorite authors writes, it doesn't work for me.  (Well, ok, Lauren Dane worked just fine, but my odds are not good here.)

Kissing Drake by Jenna Dales

Grade: C-

Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Mild Kink
Genre: Contemporary

Series: Butterfly Girls #1
Published: 4/17/14

Reviewed by Kate

123 pages

Paige owns a small bookshop on an island.  She's happy and content with her life, has no desire for things to change...except for maybe adding a man to spice things up.  Enter Drake, dressed in a business suit and stranded by a storm.

Unfortunately I was never able to get to the point where I actually liked Paige.  From page one she comes across as a horny book store owner who is so hard up for sex that she will basically go after anything male.  Her calculation in her approach with Drake left me with an icky feeling.  It's definitely meant to be a one time only kind of deal, but we all know it very rarely works out that way (in romances anyway), but it still just felt a little gross for me.

In the second part of the book, Paige is a different person.  A completely different person.  One I found I could like much more, but it just felt like such a sudden change from horny and contented Paige to wistful and wanting-to-wander Paige.  One of the Paiges felt out of character, I'm just not sure which one.

Drake didn't impress me much, one way or the other.  I can't decide if I wanted him to be more upfront and honest with his supposed-to-be-a-one-night-stand or if I just wanted him to be more sure of himself in general.

This one is probably worth checking out if you like small town romance with people working on their issues (alone, not really together). It just didn't work for me.

Once Upon A Billionaire by Jessica Clare

Grade-C-
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Billionaire Boys Club #4
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
261 pages

I had such high hopes for this book when I first started it. I love Jessica Clare books. It had a billionaire, a down on her luck but strong heroine, great sexual tension and a decent, if not far fetched premise. These are great things in a romance story but at sixty percent in it all fell apart for me.

Griffin, the hero, is a billionaire who belongs to a secret society of friends and a Viscount in his native country. He has to go home to his homeland for a family wedding. A royal family wedding. He would rather do anything other than that but family is family. His assistant comes down with the chicken pox and can't go with him. One of his friends' wives, who he doesn't get along with, offers him her husband's assistant for the trip. He's desperate, so he agrees.

Maylee is from Arkansas and the first person in her family to go to college and get a degree. She sends part of her paychecks back home to her family to give them a somewhat better life. She lives in an unsecured building in a hovel of an apartment. She doesn't have much but she's content with her life. When she gets the chance not only to earn doubletime but to travel, she's so very excited.

When these two meet, Griffin is a total asshat. He insults her at every turn even knowing that he desperately needs her help. To make matters even worse, he becomes attracted to her and still continues to belittle her. This happens through most of the book. At about sixty percent, I'd made my mind up that there would be no redemption for him in my eyes. Not even Jessica Clare's writing could make him likeable. Maylee was a precious heroine and I cried for her several times while reading this book. She was the one bright spot in this story. If you can stand a constantly cruel hero, give it a try.

Hidden Ecstasy by Setta Jay

            

           

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Guardians of the Realms #0.5
Genre-Paranormal
Reviewed by Kay
35 pages

What do you get when you take a son of the goddess Athena and a Guardian of the Realm? It could be a new paranormal series for me to read.

Vane, the son of Athena is a Demi-god trying to stay hidden in the human world. You see, the Gods were put to sleep for their sins in the immortal realm. He and his siblings fight for humans, to keep them safe and hide out. He's been enjoying a very sexual relationship with Brianne, who is a Guardian for centuries. Neither view the other as their mate but definitely enjoy each other's company. Their protection of the humans is in the form of fighting human trafficking. This is a purpose very near and dear to his sister's heart.

In this short snippet of a story, Vane and his siblings are trying to rescue a young girl who was kidnapped because of her father's wrong doings. They track her down and rescue her and I think this will set the scene for the other books in the series. I enjoyed this story. It was easy to follow, a little exciting and a whole lotta steamy. Vane is an alpha male who's just hot as can be. There's not a whole lot of story regarding Brianne but I'm hoping for more as the series goes on. I'd love to really get into another paranormal series and I'm kind of excited this might be one.

Smokin' Hot by Lynn LaFleur

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

Smokin' Hot is the latest book by Lynn LaFleur. It has three short stories about volunteer fireman in a small town in Texas. The stories blend together due to the men all being friends.

Singe

Julia Woods has had enough of adventure seeking men to last her a lifetime. She moved away from the last one to a small town in Texas. She enjoys the lifestyle here a lot. While staying with her mom's best friend, she meets Stephen, a volunteer fireman who does roofing as his full time job. He gives her landlord an estimate on hail damage all the while checking out Julia's curves. They start a pretty hot little fling but when she finds out that Stephen is kind of an adrenaline junkie, she bows out of their relationship. Can Stephen get her to take a chance on him despite his adventurous spirit?

Smolder

Marcus Holt still loves his wife. Even after she left and divorced him four years ago. He carries a lot of anger where she is concerned. How could she leave him when he needed her the most? Rayna Holt has never gotten over her anger toward her ex husband. She moved away, got a great job and never looked back. When her grandmother's health brings her back home, she runs into Marcus. After spending some time together,they start talking about all they lost and the emotions that come along with that.

Spark

Talia King has it bad for Dylan. Dylan has it bad for Talia. She's asked him out twice only to be rejected. Dylan wants to give Talia everything she deserves but not him. He can never be assured that he won't hurt her physically. His father looms in his memory big time. Can Talia break through before Dylan ruins their chance at happiness?


This book was okay for me. I really enjoyed the second story the best. It was sweet and a little heart wrenching. The first one was good but I never connected with the two leads totally. The third book I found boring. I know about Dylan's past but he frustrated to no end. All in all, it was just okay. Hot firemen and scorching sex scenes made it more easy to read.

                       

Joint Review: Bite Me by Shelly Laurenston

       
Grade-C+(Kay) B(Anne)
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Pride #9
Genre-Paranormal
Reviewed by Kay & Anne
384 pages

From Kay:I got approved to read this book from NetGalley and was so excited. I'm a huge fan of Shelly Laurenston's Pride series and have enjoyed most of them. I love the humor she brings into every story. Yes, sometimes it's over the top and ridiculous but that just seems to endear it to me even more. This installment is about Vic, a tiger/bear mix and Livy, a honey badger. I know what those of you that haven't read a Laurenston novel are thinking. Wtf?

In this book you get love, suspense and as I mentioned before, hilarious humor. I belly laughed quite a bit as I always do. Livy's fight to be accepted for who she is and the career she wants was very fun to read about. I mean, she's from a crime syndicate family and could probably lead that family but no, she wants to be an artist.

Vic has a law enforcement past and is an all around nice guy. His reactions to Livy are very sweet. He's very much the calm to her storm.  He dives right into helping her with no prodding. I loved the behavior description of Vic in the story. He's laid back, like a bear, until he can't be anymore. He has feline moments where he's kind of a hot mess.  Now, Livy is a hot mess all the time.

There were a couple of creep factor moments for me in the story though. They both had to do with during or after their lovemaking and his tail would pet her. Eww, I don't like mid-shift love scenes. That was my big complaint with this novel. If I had to pick the main reason for my lower than normal review rating for a Laurenston book, I just didn't warm to the characters as much as I have to other ones in this series.

I don't want to give too much away because this author can really tell a story and fans of this series want to savor every word from her. I am so very sad that she is going to take a break from this series for a while. What will I do without an update on my favorite characters from her other books? Mace, Dez, Smitty, Sissy Mae, Ronnie Lee, those Reed boys, Gwen, Cella, Irene, the Van Holtz family, Blayne, Toni and her siblings? Or my very favorites, the Shaw brothers, DeeAnn Smith and Bo Novikov? I'm already in mourning.

Side note- Anne, I will not get over my mourning by reading this author's Dragon Kin series, so don't even suggest it yet. I'll get there eventually.  (Note from Anne: you read my mind!  But I'll keep my mouth shut!)

In close, I'll leave you with some of my favorite quotes from this series.

"You just carry around piles of condoms?"-Vic"In case I feel like taking on the hockey team one night. You know, when I'm bored."-Livy

"I can see it in your big, dumb cat eyes.""Well, that was unnecessarily mean."

"I don't ask the hyenas to do it.""No. But you associate with the Smith Pack, Demon dogs of the Underworld."

From Anne:I was also really looking forward to reading this book.  Shelly Laurenston is one of my favorite authors, in my top ten for sure.  This was certainly not the best book in the Pride series, but I really liked it.  Usually Kay and I text Laurenston quotes back and forth to each other as we read.  It's taught me to be very careful about texting.  It's a little awkward when you text your 20 year old son a line from a Laurenston book.  So, yeah, my Laurenston reading time is generally punctuated by careful texting.  That didn't happen so much in this story.  It was really funny, but not so many of the one liners we text to each other.

For me the weakest part of the story was the romance between Vic and Livy.  The sex was hot, but their romance wasn't really memorable.  I did have the same issues with Vic's tail as Kay did.  I don't have have half-shifter issues, but a tail with it's own mind... yeah, that didn't work for me.

I did really enjoy Bo having a decent role in this book.  And the panda shifter, Shen was the best new character introduced to the series since Bo.  Well, Livy, too.  Best new character since Livy.  His panda ways really kept me laughing!

Even though we didn't text about it, we did share some emails, so here's our conversation:

Anne: I thought Bite Me read more like a Sci Fi book with a romance sub plot.  I mean, their relationship is clearly the focus of the book, I guess it just wan't really romantic for me.  What did you think, Kay?

Kay: I felt something was missing from the book. I was left wanting more. The humor was there but not in the over the top way it usually is. I have commented before about her heat level declining from earlier books in the series but now the humor is too. I read somewhere that she was taking a break from this series and maybe that's a good thing. Get some fresh ideas. Write about the Reed boys but include the Smith pack. Write about Marisa's Shaw or Mace's sister. Or Irene's kids. 

This is still worth reading but for the level of excitement I had, I couldn't help feeling let down.

Anne: Was there anything you really liked?  For me it was the relationship between Bo and Vic.  It just cracked me up!  I also really liked how she was always hiding in the cupboards.   

Anything you didn't like?  For me it was Vic's tail.  The thought that it had a mind of it's own, even jokingly, pretty much squicked me out!

Kay: 

I did like the relationship between Bo and Vic. Also the cabinet hiding was great and I totally agree about the tail. Ewwww. I liked Toni's part a lot, she made me laugh. The Panda was hilarious too.

In closing, we both enjoyed the story and would recommend you read it.  If what Kay heard about Laurenston taking a break is true, I'm sad!  But I've always got G.A. Aiken books to read, so I'll survive!

Blind Her With Bliss by Nina Pierce

Grade-C

Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
92 pages

Damon is a shock jock trying to forget that persona and find himself. Be happy and comfortable with who he is. Julie is a CPA who came home to help run a family business. She puts others wants and needs above her own. When she sees Damon at a night club the two are drawn to each other. Damon is working there and Julie is trying to find out what really happened after her best friend's apparent suicide. The two share a hot tryst at the club and neither is prepared for their reactions to one another.

This one was okay. It was pretty short and hot. It was predictable but still fun. It took me longer than it should've to read but I think I had some reader's block going on. I would probably read more from her

Through The Smoke by Brenda Novak

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Historical
Reviewed by Kay
303 pages

This one surprised me quite a bit. This is way more than a romance.

The Earl in this story is trying to clear his name over his wife's death. They were estranged and he headed home to confront her about her pregnancy that wasn't his. There was a fire at his estate and he was the only survivor. He was pulled out of the fire by his cousin, With. He follows up on leads that send him in the direction of a book seller. Her father worked at the earl's coal mine and is a suspect in the fire.

Rachel is the coal miner's daughter. The earl is sure she has information that can help him in clearing up the mystery and his name. They share an almost instant attraction and to make a long story long, they end up lovers. This decision ruins Rachel and makes her neighbors mistrust her. She truly loses almost everything she has.

There was a great mystery in this book. The plot was very well done. Good character development and scene description. My problem was there was little to no heat. Also, I like my historical to take place in Scotland or England. I want the Ton and ball gowns. I got none of that here. It was a good story but I was left wanting more.

Be Were by Eliza Gayle

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Southern Shifters #5
Genre-Paranormal
Reviewed by Kay
175 pages

What was supposed to be a one night stand so they wouldn't have to be alone on Christmas turned into a mating for life. Dean sees Niki in his bar and she's about to punch a human who is drunk and trying to hook up with her. Dean steps in and stops Niki from hurting the human and they go back to his place. They have a hot night and Dean senses she's his mate. During their interlude, he bites her. Afterward he calls her mate and she runs out.

Dean finds out that his mate was kidnapped and he goes to get her. Oh, and she's pregnant. And she's a rare hybrid. A white cougar. It's a miracle Niki got pregnant since they were supposed to be infertile. That's what Niki thought anyway. She was led to believe that by her captors in the laboratory she was raised in and experimented on in. The real focus of the story is who masterminded the kidnapping of Niki.

This was a decent read. It flowed easily along. I liked the characters and the premise well enough. The sex was fantastic. I wanted to like it more but wasn't terribly disappointed. I've read another book in the series and enjoyed it as well. Very good humor too.

Staking His Claim by Tessa Bailey

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Mild Kink
Series-Line of Duty #5
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay

Matt Donovan is a sniper with the ESU (police department). He's a very solitary soul despite his friends constantly luring him to be more social. He keeps to himself because he feels if his friends find out what really goes on in his kind, they would think he's a freak. He gets roped into transporting his best friend, Brent's little sister and her friend to New York for a visit. He does it to be a nice guy beacuse Brent is busy with wedding plans.

Lily Mason is a little bit of a free spirit. Or atleast she used to be. She's a college graduate with several job offers. Job offers she plans to put to good use to help her brother out financially. Her best friend decides to spend the weekend with her boyfriend instead of accompanying Lucy to New York. When she sees Matt Donovan she's overwhelmed by him and extremely attracted. Matt has never seen a picture of her and she knows he would never make a play on his best friend's little sister, so she introduces herself by her friend's name.

Matt likes what he sees in Brent's sister's friend. A lot. She also sending the vibes he wants to explore with her. He's hesitant because of his darker needs (his thoughts not mine). They have a scorching hot few hours together on their way to New York. But lies always come to the surface and Lucy's blows up in her face. This leaves her wondering if they have a chance at being more than a fling.

To say I was disappointed to find out Matt had Dom tendencies would be an understatement. I've been waiting for his book. I didn't hate the book but I didn't love it. Let me say that it was easy to read which I have come to expect from Tessa Bailey. I'm not sorry I bought or read this book, it just wasn't my favorite being that any BDSM storyline leaves me a little bit skeeved out. Still good characters, great humor, tremendous foul mouthed dialogue and scorching sex scenes. I can't wait to see what she gives us next but please Tessa no more Dom related stuff.

Tempting Trouble by Savannah Stuart

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

This book had two short stories in it. The first one is the longer of the two.

First story: Tempting the Witness

Madison Dubois is a witness to an attempted murder and after going to the police, she goes to the house of her brother's best friend, Rafe Jackson. Rafe is a police officer and the object of her desires.

Finding madison hiding at his house is unnerving for him but he's really just grateful she's safe. He arranges for her to stay with him until the case was solved.

This was a cute and hot little story. It had all the elements: attraction, suspense, hot sex and love.


Second story: Better Late Than Never

Randall Phillips is an architect in his father's firm and he's been waiting anfd wanting for Lindsay Taylor. Lindsay is a secretary at the same firm. She was recently injured and finally back at work.

Whe she got hurt, he took her to the hospital and waited for someone to come for her. During that wait, they share a hot kiss, a kiss Randall can't forget. Neither can Lidsay but she knows it was a mistake because they work together. Randall gives her a ride home on her first day back because he wants more. More kisses surely but more everything also.

This story was super short but okay. The sex was hot but due to the story length it was hard to get invested in the characters. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I really liked the author's voice. I would definately read more by her. This book was classified as erotica but it was more erotic romance to me.

Her Valentine Fantasy by Nancy Warren

Grade-C+

Hotness Level-Blaze

Kink Level-No Kink

Genre-Contemporary

Reviewed by Kay

91 pages

 

Jessica is on a first date at one of the city's ritziest restaraunts with a total douche, who leaves her holding the bill at the end. Flustered and shocked, she accidentally leaves her hotel room keycard in the bill folder instead of her credit card, and then leaves. Sam, the owner of the restaraunt, was filling in for a waiter that evening and had flirted a bit with Jessica. Now, don't go thinking that Sam is a jerk for flirting with her while she was on a date, because he didn't start flirting until after he noticed the nose-dive the date was taking, and even then, the douche had left the table. When he finds the keycard, he decides to take it back to her at the hotel (a convenient few blocks away). What else would a non-douche-y guy do?

I struggled a bit with the ending. The main conflict in the story came from the fact that both Sam and Jessica were hiding something. Sam was hiding the fact that he was the owner of the restaraunt, and not just a waiter. Jessica lied and told Sam that she was from out of town. When the ending came around, the lies hadn't been dealt with...at all. I would have liked to see the ending handled a bit differently, but that might have been expecting too much in such a short book.

All in all, this was a fun, flirty read. Just right for Valentine's Day. I would recommend it for anyone who has a soft spot for Valentine's Day or who likes their romances to be low-conflict. I'll definitely be looking into more books by Nancy Warren.

Each year I try to read at least one Christmas romance, but this is the first Valentine's romance I've read. Are you a fan of holiday romances? What recommendations do you have?

After The Storm by Maya Banks

Other editions

Enlar

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-KGI, #8
Genre-Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
392 pages

Donovan Kelly is one of the Kelly's of KGI. He's the computer geek that looks like anything but a geek. He's as devilishly handsome as his other brothers. He can lead in the war room or in the field. Donovan sees his brothers one by one falling in love and having babies and knows he wants this too but hasn't found the right woman yet. He's on the look out for her but not devoting himself to the search, much to his mother's dismay.

Eve is in her mid twenties and in big trouble. She basically kidnapped her two younger half siblings from the father, her step-father. She knows he killed her mother and made advances on her. Because of her rebuffing him, he has had her declared unstable and alerted the law to her taking of the children. The three so them are on the run from him. They wind up in the Kelly's hometown and on their radar. When Eve realizes this, she knows they have to run because she can't afford to trust anyone.

I read a lot of reviews of this book and most of them very unfavorable. I thought the book was okay. It wasn't the best in the series but it wasn't the worst either. That honor still belongs to Nathan and Shay's book. My complaint was that his internal conversations were so damn repetitive that I thought I would scream. I've waited for Donovan's book for awhile, so it not being wonderful was a disappointment but not a total loss either. I'll still read this series because it's solid and I did get a catch up on all the other Kellys.

Broken Hart by Ella Fox

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Mild Kink
Series-The Hart Family #1
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
209 pages

This book was very fun to read because the hero had a filthy mouth. I love a man with a filthy mouth.

Dante Hart is the oldest Hart sibling. He has a brother named Damien, twin sisters named Delilah and Dominique and his best friend, Spencer, who was basically raised with them. They are a very tight nit group. When Sabrina becomes his personal assisitant, the two become very good friends and start spending time with the rest of his family. Even Sabrina's sister, Brooke is included.

Sabrina has crushed on Dante for a long time but knew she wasn't his type, so she kept her feelings to herself. One night everything changes and they share a night of hot sex. Both are blown away by it. Sabrina knows to guard her heart because Dante is not a man to commit. They agree to have a sexual relationship only.

Feelings get too intense and Sabrina wants more. Dante says he can't give any more. She agrees to be a friend only then, all the while she knows she will have to quit her job because she can't watch him be with other people. We find out what happened in Dante's past to make him think he is uncapable of committment.

I don't know if I bought his reason but I was okay with it. This was a solid start to a series that I'll probably read more of. I liked all of the characters and am interested to read their stories. My only complaint was there were copious amounts of sex that kind of over shadowed the story. Oh, and butt plugs. Shudder. I'll leave you with some of my favorite lines from the book.

I'd never been with someone who talked or fucked like he did, and I didn't just like it, I loved it.

I fucking love everything you do to me Sabrina. Every. Goddamn. Thing.

The man could fuck, and I loved it.

Lord of Wicked Intentions by Lorraine Heath

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-The Lost Lords of Pembrook #3
Genre-Regency Historical
Reviewed by Kay
370 pages

Rafe Easton is one of the Lost Lords of Pembrooke. They were hunted to be killed as boys so they didn't inherit the title that was theirs. The boys split up at very young ages with the promise to come back when they were older, to reclaim all they had to give up. Rafe was the youngest brother and went to work in the workhouses. His existence was horrific at best. Beaten regularly. As he got older he became of debt collector for a very dangerous man. He then became the owner of all that this man had. His life only cost him his soul and his heart.

Evelyn Chambers was the illegitimate daughter of an earl. After her mother's death she came to live with her father and her half brother. Her life was sheltered and pampered but never public. After her father's death, she is offered up to a group a gentlemen. She would go to the highest bidder. At the time, she thought her brother was trying to get her a husband.

Rafe sees Evelyn and knows he can't let her to to one of those men in attendance at the get together. He offers for with the intent of her becoming his mistress. Evelyn is horrified at her circumstances but she possess no skills to speak of. She knows what this means. She has to become a mistress to man that doesn't even seem to like her.

I loved the premise of this book and was pleased with the outcome. What I didn't like was that I found parts of it very slow and boring. The parts that were good were very good but the others were tedious. I was looking forward to this read because historicals are always palate cleansers for me. There were emotional scenes but Rafe just left me cold. All in all, I enjoyed this series and look forward to Lorraine Heath's next series.