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.

Rock the Heart by Michelle A. Valentine

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Black Falcon #1
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
330 pages

If you thought you couldn't have both, which of the following would you choose?

1.) Stay with your struggling musician first love?

or

2.)Go on to college and get a degree to provide financial stability?

Lanie Vance chose the second. It broke her boyfriend's heart and her in the process. Now four years later she's a marketing intern being given her first big chance and her past just slapped her in the face.
Her assignment is to secure her firm to do the marketing for the rock band, Black Falcon's favorite charity. Noel Falcon, the band's front man, is the man whose heart she broke.

Noel can't believe it when he looks down into the crowd at one of his concerts and sees Lanie. He's never stopped loving her but tried to move on by excessive drinking and man-whoring. But none of that could erase Lanie from his memory. He doesn't handle seeing her very well. He dedicates the song Ball Busting Bitch to her on stage and later, when she comes to see him about the charity, he has two topless blondes on his lap.

Noel is a really good guy. Almost too good for my tastes but he loves himself some Lanie. To have the chance to reconnect with her is like a second lease at life for him. Lanie has always worried about her place in Noel's world. As secrets and insecurities threaten to tear them apart again, you see two people who never stopped loving each other get their much deserved second chance.

This book has been sitting on my Kindle TBR list for a long time. I'd see it and think, Yeah I need to read that and then promptly forget about it. Now I could kick myself because I waited so long. This is a good book with second chance love and steamy sex. It reads easily and captures your heart.

Favorite quote of the book:

"The only mistake when it comes to love, is not going for it."

Mine by Katy Evans

 

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Real #2
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
336 pages

Mine. The title really does say it all. All the feelings that these two characters have for each other. You get the beautiful continuation of Brooke and Remy's love story that's never an easy road. It starts a little while after the first book, Real, ended, when Brooke comes back to Remy.

Remy is training for his rematch with the man who hurt the people he cares about. I love Remy exactly the way he his: dedicated, loving, so very alpha (complete with growling), sexy and flawed. I love Brooke for her capacity of love and her own imperfections.

"We're the object of each other's hurt and each other's solace."- Brooke

Finding a way to forgive each other and themselves for not being what they felt the other needed them to be was a big issue here. You know they love one another, that's evident throughout the whole story.

"You are going to love me until I die. I'm going to make you love me even if it hurts, and when it hurts, I'm going to make it better, Brooke."- Remy

"I want to live in you."-Remy

Remy is such a passionate creature. He feels everything as if it's magnified and given his condition, maybe it is.

"I've been through hell, and I'm back in heaven and suddenly I know that's the way my life will be. After the dark, I will always, always find my light- which is him."- Brooke

When I reviewed the first book in the series, I said it wasn't a conventional romance. I think that when a person is in love with someone who is bipolar there's no way their love can be conventional. The man in this book copes with his illness as best he can and the woman in this story, his woman, loves him because of his illness not just in spite of it. Katy Evans, what a wonderful love story you gave us!

The Day He Kissed Her by Juliana Stone

Grade-A
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Bad Boys of Crystal Lake #3
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
384 pages

In the town of Crystal Lake, there were four young boys. This is Mackenzie Draper's story, oone of those Bad Boys of Crystal Lake.

He came home for the funeral of one of his best friends. He came back because his reamining friends decided to make their homes here. He thought he'd left his hometown behind, along with his past and his pain. He'd done okay for himself. He has a well paying job, luxuries and a constant parade of women in his bed. One evening he has a one night stand with a beautiful girl with a Boston accent. She's gone in the morning and he's left bewildered.

Lily St. Claire is an heiress of sorts. Her family is wealthy and well known, kinda of like the Hiltons. She's moved to Crystal Lake to be near her best friend, Jake. She's enjoying her new life and the town suits her. It's different but in a good way. Her only regeret is her ill-timed one night stand with her best friend's best friend. She hasn't forgotten him but knows it was a huge mistake.

They see each other at a family get together and Mac pursues her almost relentlessly. They agree to a exclusive but no strings attached relationship. Clear as mud? They both have their demons and baggage to deal with concerning their upbringings. Neglect and abuse are nothing new to them.

I love this series. I really, really do. You think you're getting a series like Jill Shavis' Lucky Harbor or a Susan Mallery's Fool's Gold or even a Toni Blake's Destiny series but it's more than that. Don't get me wrong, I love those other series too but there's more emotion in this one. It tugs at your heart strings. I haven't read one yet that hasn't brought tears to my eyes. Juliana Stone is a master at her craft and I am a devoted fan and reader.

One Night With An Earl by Jennifer Haymore

Grade-A
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-House of Trent #2.5
Genre-Historical
Reviewed by Kay
120 pages

This is a short and very sweet novella. It's about an Earl, who never thought he'd be one and a widow who thought she had lost her chance at love before she ever married.

Andrew Sinclair, the Earl of Weston reluctantly agrees to attend a masquerade party held by a member of the Ton. What he finds there is the chance to be with the only woman he has ever loved, Lady Fenwicke. He never thought he'd be the Earl of Weston because the heir before him was sure to have children. Then that heir died but when he tried to claim the woman he loved, she was betrothed to another.

Lady Beatrice Fenwicke, before her marriage, was an innocent seventeen year old girl. During her marriage, she was a victim of domestic abuse. When she was widowed, she became a pariah. Someone to be given the direct cut, ostracized and she became a recluse. She agrees to accompany her best friend to the masquerade ball knowing what her heinous parents would think. She sees the perfect man there. Can she let go one night in her miserable existence? Can she have one night with an Earl?

I'll be honest, I'm not a fan of the House of Trent series. But this novella? I'm a huge fan of it! It was precious, well paced and steamy. It had a couple of things that are my favorite tropes. Second chance love, a heroine who becomes strong and a loveable hero. Jennifer Haymore was a favorite author of mine with her first series but I kind of got lost after that but now I may have to re-evaluate. Oh, who am I kidding? You had me at masquerade ball.

Favorite lines:

"You have the sweetest laugh I've ever heard."- Andrew

"i'm going to work to earn your trust. I know that's difficult for you. But if one day you trust me completely, Beatrice, then that will be my greatest reward."

Three Weeks With A Bull Rider by Cat Johnson

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Mild Kink
Series-Oklahoma Nights #3
Genre-Contemporary Western
Reviewed by Kay
320 pages

I love cowboy romances whether they're contemporary or historical. I love the rodeo cowboy storyline and find it very interesting since I don't know the first thing about it. The risks they take with their bodies, their relationships and their families. That being said, I was super excited to read this book.

Jace Mills is a veteran rodeo cowboy on a somewhat of a winning streak. He's fairly successful because of his winnings and his normal job of landscaping. He has been in an on-again off-again relationship with his ex-girlfriend for eight years. She was a former rodeo queen who we find out is bipolar. To say their relationship was tumultuous is an understatement. He wants his best friend, Tuck to go on the circuit with him but Tuck declines because of his newlywed status. So after yet another fight with his ex, Jacqueline, he decides to go alone and ends their relationship, again. He runs into Tuck's little sister, Tara after her recently purchased POS car dies.

Tara is in the last semester of college for sports medicine but has to do an internship with the rodeo. She's nursing a broken heart after her long time crush gets married to someone else. She sees her car breaking down as yet another setback in her life. When Jace offers to travel with her to save on expenses, she reluctantly accepts. They've always had a hate/hate relationship but you gotta do what you gotta do.

As times goes on she gets to see Jace in a different light and gets the medical experience she needs. She then comes up with the idea that she and Jace can have a traveling partners with benefits relationship. After it's over, they can go their seperate ways. She can get the sexual experience she feels she needs so she doesn't lose another man and he gets strings free sex. Jace is at first horrifed. There are lines that just aren't crossed and your best friend's sisters are definately that line. His body's reaction to Tara makes the decision for him ultimately. Seducing and being seduced by your best friend's virginal sister takes it's toll on his conscience. Can these two very unlikely people find happiness for three weeks while trying to move on from their heartbreaks?

Cat Johnson does a great job of writing these two characters. You feel Jace's pain over the failure of his relationship with Jacqueline, the first woman he ever loved. His sense of guilt over the decision to become Tara's lover is felt through the pages. Jace is a good guy. Tara tries to prove she's grown up despite the loss of her childhood crush. This story takes two people, broken in their own way, who find in each other what they need to heal. The author did an excellent job with the balancing of story, humor, sex and love.

My favorite line from the book:

Jace's sex life had been in such a slump, he wouldn't be able to identify a pussy in a line up.

Mine to Crave by Cynthia Eden

                     

Grade-B

Hotness Level-Inferno

Kink Level-No Kink

Series-Mine #4

Genre-Romantic Suspense

Reviewed by Kay

280 pages

 

Romantic Suspense is one of those sub genres in romance literature that can be very, very good or very, very bad. This is an example of very, very good.

You have a former military man who now owns and runs multiple casinos with a tortured past. He has everything that money can buy but happiness. To have happiness you have to trust and Drake Archer trusts a very select few people but never a woman. He learned that lesson the hard way a long time ago.

Jasmine Bennett is a thief, or is she? She's on the run from a so called bounty hunter while she's in pursuit of Drake for information about his business dealings. She herself trusts very few people. She's always had to pretty much rely on herself, even from a young age. Her own past is interwoven with Drake that leaves her vulnerable and in turmoil.

From the moment she crooks her finger at Drake the first time to the second time she does it, it's non-stop action. I couldn't hardly put it down. I even stayed up late to read it. Cynthia Eden, I just want to kiss you and hug you so tight. You had my heart racing with the suspense, fanning myself during the love scenes and my eyes misting at the emotional parts. That's not just good romantic suspense but that's a good novel.

In closing, a couple of my favorite lines:

The memory of being in Drake's bed was too strong. I could still feel him on my skin.

She tasted just like he remembered. Like every dream he'd ever had. Like everything he ever wanted but didn't deserve.

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!

Savage Secrets by Cristin Harber

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Titan #4
Genre-Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
298 pages

Cristin Harber, you crafty author you. I've read all of your books and enjoyed them but this one is my favorite so far. Everything clicked for me with this story. I loved all the characters, old and new alike. Loved the story and the pacing of it. I was never bored or felt like I had to force myself to read. Action packed from beginning to end.

Caterina is a woman with a terrible past. Her family was murdered in front of her at her birthday party by an up and coming mobsterish type. She's dedicated her whole life to vengeance. She doesn't have a home or close ties because she's always on the move, tracking the Dog killer. I know it's kind of an odd name but when you read the story it all makes sense. She finally has a great lead but then the lead dies. She quickly comes up with a plan B. This is where Titan comes in.

In the previous book, Rocco Savage was injured by stabbing. Since then, Titan found out that the knife used to stab him with was laced with a high powered hallucinogenic. Rocco has had spells since then that leave him pretty incapacitated. He's kept this a secret from his teammates in fear for his job. He sees an angel that helps him to his room one night during one of his spells. This angel was Caterina. She asks for Titan's help with this case and picks Rocco as the one to pose as a couple with her.

From that point on, buckle your seat belts, because this is a roller coaster of a story. High suspense, questionable content for some, hot sex, a creepy bad guy with minions, and a very deserved HEA. If you haven't read this series yet, you really, really should. Lovers of military romantic suspense will be singing it's praises for the roof tops.

Desperate Housewives of Olympus by Saranna DeWylde

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Contemporary Set Paranormal
Reviewed by Kay
314 pages

Man, I enjoyed reading this book and had waited along time to do so. Oh, it was so worth it.

I've always loved Mythology although I'm no expert on it. I think my love of Mythology is because it's a soap opera and I've always loved soap operas. What's not to love? Love, sex,suspense, backstabbing and of course, it's very own over the topness. I don't know if topness is a word but you know what I mean. This novel is about several people. Hades, Persephone, Demeter, Eros, Zeus, Hera, Thanatos, Abstinence, Nyx (who I'd never heard of before) and Apollo(who I loved even after the book Styxx ruined him for me).

It's kind of like the T.V. show, Wife Swap a little bit. The couples you think you know are together aren't and you root for the new couples this very talented author created. You get so sucked in and invested in these couples' stories so quickly. These couples find out that:

1.) Sometimes you get a second chance to get it right.

2.) Loving someone with the heart of your youth doesn't mean forever but it's still an important love.

3.) Age doesn't really matter when it comes to love.

4.) Sometimes you get what you really need even if you never thought you wanted it.

5.) Trust and respect are the most important things in a marriage.

6.) Everyone answers to someone.

What a great read! This author is fantastic and I will absolutely read more by her. Try it if you love Mythology, hot sex, high emotion and finding love in unexpected places. I'll leave you with my favorite quotes from the book.

"Nyx's mother had been none to pleased and she was the scary bitch kitty deluxe in her family."

"I love you like the sun loves the sky-content to burn in its arms for eternity. My love is more constant than the stars and when they shudder into oblivion, it will still be there-strong in my heart as the day it was born. When the mortal world is nothing but dust and ash and all that makes us sentinent has slipped away in the granules of sand through the great hourglass-yes even then. No matter if you never feel your hurt beat again inside of your chest, no matter if you never feel anything but lust for me, I will love you."

"This is enough for me. I don't need anything else but what's in this space of breath between us. Can you feel it? Can you taste it?"

"I'm embarrassed to tell you." "Persephone, after a god has been ears deep in your nether bits,as you've described them, and you've ridden his face like a pony, nothing should ever be a taboo discussion between you."

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

Playing To Win by Shelley Munro

        

Grade-D
Hotness Level-Blaze?
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
228 pages

This was not at all what I expected from Shelley Munro.

A rugby player finds out he has a son he didn't know about and sets out to confront the boy's mother. When he meets her, he finds out that the mom isn't his biological mother but his aunt. His son' s mother died years earlier and his aunt adopted him. Lane, the hero and Kate, the heroine try to figure out sure paternity and who leaked the story to the tabloids. They are also try to figure out the dynamic of this new family and who is stalking Kate and why.

I really did not care for this book. I found it tedious and boring. Do not even get me started on the love scenes. They were pretty much sleep inducing. It wouldn't recommend this to someone who likes graphic love scenes but maybe to those who like a simple romance.

Throwback Thursday-The Gift by Julie Garwood

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Crown's Spies #3
Genre-Historical
Reviewed by Kay
373 pages

This book was been on my to read list and then off again over and over. I saw it was at the library in Kindle format and thought, what the heck.

It starts when the hero was fourteen and the heroine was four. The King forced these two children into marriage because he was crazy and was sick of the two families fighting. Kind of like a milder Hatfields and McCoys type of feud. Nathan, the hero, is a Scot and the heroine, Sarah, is English. Her father signed the marriage contract for her since at her age she obviously couldn't sign for herself. These two live seperately for years. Like fourteen years.

Nathan has made himself into a shipping magnate. He was an outlaw pirate for a while also but no more. He's ready to get his wife into his life and pregnant with his heir. Over the years he's never even looked in on her. Has no clue what she looks like. To him it doesn't matter, she's a means to an end. Knock her up and he gets the rest of the gift from the King from their marriage contract.

Sarah has always fancied herself in love with Nathan. At least her idea of him. She has grown up in an abusive household full of human vipers. She's polite but semi reserved. When her aunt becomes a victim of family abuse, she becomes a bit more vocal. She breaks her aunt out of house imprisonment and the two try to flee London. When the man who orders her to let him help, she is skeptical to say the least. She totally flips out when she realizes he's her husband.

This book was very cute. Very funny but I felt like they talked in all caps because they shouted at each other all the time.Truly shouted. The setting of the story mostly takes place on his boat and that is not my favorite thing but I pushed through. I liked the characters and the conclusion to the plot. The love scenes were frequent but not swoon worthy. I know the book was originally published in 1991 so I will give the bland love scenes a pass because of that. I enjoyed it but was expecting something more and better from what some call the legendary Julie Garwood. Undecided if I'd read more from her yet.

Withstanding Me by Crystal Spears

       

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series- Breakneck #2
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
264 pages

I had to read some other reviews to see if people felt the same way I did about this book. I found out several people did feel the same way I did. There's plenty of chaos here, violence, steamy sex scenes and filthy mouths.

ZZ aka Zig Zag aka Mason is another member of the Breakneck MC. He lives that lifestyle to the fullest. He takes care of his family despite his daughter's attempts to constantly test his patience and sanity. He balances this well enough but his focus is distracted because of Storm. Storm is a former sex slave that the MC rescued. She works for the Prez's wife and is enrolled in school for a business degree.

ZZ wants to take her to bed so bad but she rejects him at every turn. You see, she wants more. More than he is willing to offer her right now. She tells him he's gonna fall in love one day and it's gonna be with her. He insists that he has no desire to be a one woman man. She tries to date and he blows a gasket. He even runs her date off. You have all the elements of a Crystal Spears' book but it felt kind of scaled down. It wasn't as emotionally engaging as Seize me. It was emotional but not as much. It wrapped up some ends and opened more story arcs for this continuing series. I'm very invested in what goes on from here on out but I want the same intensity as Seize Me.

I hope that in the next book there is some of that but am scared because of Shadow being a sadist. That is one of my very least favorite story lines but I'm gonna trust her not to disappoint. Spears writes really badass heroines so Tatiana is going to be fun to read about and I await a release date.

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.

How To Handle A Highlander by Mary Wine

       

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-The Sutherlands #3
Genre-Historical
Reviewed by Kay
352 pages

This is the continuing saga of the Sutherlands. They are an overlord family of Scottish Highlanders. This story Is about Gahan and Moira. Gahan is the illegitimate son of the Sutherland chieftain. He was acknowledged by his father so he could be a semi titled man. After his father recovered from the attempt made on his life by the Frasers, they have been obsessed over safety and watching the Frazers closely. Due to this watching, Gahan notices that Bari Frazer is going to marry off his half sister to the Matheson family. This marriage will bring an army with the Frazers against Gahan's family.

Gahan is instantly drawn to Moira, the bride. Moira's husband is impotent at his advanced age and therefore their marriage is never consummated. The two start an affair and it causes quite the situation. The story is about duty to your clan, family loyalty and revenge.

I'm a big fan of Mary Wine and I get giddy when she releases one of her Highlander books. My problem with this one has to due with the infidelity throughout the story. I know that they thought back then that a marriage wasn't a marriage without consummation but the marriage in this book took place in a Church. This left me uneasy. I absolutely do not like adultery in my historical romances. Despite the fact that the story and love scenes were good, my rating was less because of this. I hope this won't be a continued theme in her following books.

Six Brothers by Lili St. Germaine

          

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno?
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Gypsy Brothers #2
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
100 pages

Oh, man! Why did I devour this so quickly?

Book two starts with the funeral of the eldest son, Chad. Dornan is miserable and devastated over the death of his son. He's ready to go to war with whoever supplied Chad with the drugs that killed him. As Juliette/Sammi consoles him during his grief, she smiles on the inside. She's giddy with happiness. It's still very difficult to put my finger on what draws me to this series. I'm a romance reader and this isn't really as romance. I mean I see one continue to develop between her and Jase but how screwed up will they both be by the end of all this?

My heart breaks with the flashbacks of first loves, horrific loss and this woman's emotional and physical descent into the bowels of Hell. Seeing Dornan become more and more poised on the edge of lunacy is so extremely frightening. This book does some explaining as to the why of his obsession with Juliette/Sammi which was very helpful. As she sets her sights on Maxi, the next son in line she's gonna kill, your heart pounds and your pulse races. Can she pull it off? And what will she have to sacrifice of herself to do it? How far in the quest of revenge will she go?

I was reading a great historical book when I found out this was available and I immediately put the other book on hold and started this one. I figured that since historical romances are a balm to my soul, I'd probably need it after this book. I finished this book with a heavy heart and a small sense of satisfaction for her character. I can't wait for March 10th!

Two down, five to go.

Reaper's Legacy by Joanna Wylde

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Reaper's MC #2
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
368 pages

When she dug her fingers into his shoulders on the side of the road as she gave birth to his nephew, their connection was set in stone.

Ruger(MC name)is a Reaper. Patched in and dedicated. Sophie is a single mother and broke. Ruger's step-brother is her baby daddy and a total deadbeat. Oh, and an abuser. Ruger has tried to be a part of his nephew's life and a semi positive role model to him. But his treatment of Sophie leaves a lot to be desired. He seems to look right through her.

Sophie loves her son, Noah more than anything. Sacrifices everything for him. Her parents disowned her after she refused to abort him, so she's all alone. After a near tragic occurence, she moves into Ruger's basement. The sparks between them crackle but their differences are huge. He's all club and she doesn't want anything to do with the club lifestyle.

When these two finally act on their attraction, fireworks happen. I loved watching these two come together figuratively and literally. Joanna Wylde has done it again. Totally engrossing storyline. I devoured it quickly. I love reading about this MC and it's members. Good characters and smokin' hot sex. Ready for the next one.