Static by L.A. Witt

Grade: A-

Hotness Level: Blaze

Kink Level: No Kink

Genre: Sci-Fi, Gender Bending

Published: 1/20/14 (first pubbed 6/17/11)

Reviewed by Anne

208 pages

Imagine a world where some people can shift into the opposite gender. And just like the werewolf shifter romances I've read, these shifters consider each of their forms/genders a part of them. It's a setup I couldn't refuse! Then you add in a society only starting to accept shifters, and you've really got an interesting world.

Damon has been dating his girlfriend Alex for two years. Her relationship with her parents is very strained. When he doesn't hear from her after a visit home, he goes looking for her and discovers that she's a shifter, and due to some surgery her parents forced on her, she's now stuck in her male form. 

I didn't want to put this book down! It made me think about gender and sexuality and it was a sweet romance to boot!   The world building was easy to understand, and the shifting was no harder to accept than any kind of animal shifter.  The re-developing romance was realistic and easy to read.  The process by which Damon fell in love with Alex again was slow, not immediate, and that read very true to me.  It also involved Alex accepting that someone could love him in whichever form he was in.  That made for a slow paced romance, but it was realistic.  There were times they were on the verge of having a conversation that got put off.  When they finally got around to it I could see that it was a good thing they had waited - they'd each grown over the course of the story to the point that they could discuss it without hurting each other as much.  That's some good writing!

I highly recommend this book - it's going on my best of the year list and it was one of my most interesting reads as well!  In the past year I've really enjoyed some other reads that have made me think about gender and what it means.  I recommend Butterfly Tattoo by Deidre Knight and Wallflower by Heidi Belleau.   I also found the blog  Raising My Rainbow  about a family raising their gender non-conformist son.  The blog and books have all made me think, and I hope they've made me a more accepting person.  How about you?  Any stories about gender bending sexuality and stereotypes you would recommend?

Educating Caroline by Patricia Cabot

Grade: B

Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: HistorcalPublished: 10/30/01

Reviewed by Kate

439 pages

This one read like a soap opera-in the best way possible.  I feel like a who's who might be the best way to start.

Cast of Characters:
Braden Granville-our hero, aka the Lothario of London
Lady Caroline Linford-our heroine, prim, proper, and, of course, virginal
Lady Jacquelyn Seldon-Braden's fiance
Marquis of Winchilsea-Caroline's fiance

Do you have it all straight now?  All right.  Here we go!

We start off with Lady Caroline walking in on the Marquis of Winchilsea (her finance, remember) in the arms (well technically, in the legs) of Lady Jacquelyn (Braden's fiance).  She's ready to call off the engagement, but her mother tells her there's no way she can end it without causing a reputation ending scandal.  Instead, she should use her womanly wiles to make her fiance fall for her.  Which wouldn't be a bad idea, except Caroline's not really sure if she has any wiles. 

Braden knows that Lady Jacquelyn has not been faithful to him.  But he can't call of their engagement without losing a lot of money.  Unless he can prove it, with a name or a witness.  Caroline decides Braden is the perfect person to teach her how to make the Marquis fall in love with her-all hands off of course. In exchange for teaching her, she'll be his witness against Lady Jacquelyn.

And from that point forward we have the story of Braden and Caroline coming to love one another.  My reading experience was filled with happy smiles, chuckles, gasps of shock and outrage, outright laughs, and contented sighs.  With just enough intrique thrown in, this one kept me turning pages from start to finish.

Thanks to Anne for the recommendation.

True Love West by Claire Charlins

Grade: D+
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Historical
Series: Mail Order Romance #5

Published: 11/14/13

Reviewed by Kate

147 pages

Sarah feels lonely and ignored at home, all the attention is turned toward her older sister.  Add that to the fact that there's a shortage of men in the area and Sarah sees a bleak future stretching out before her.  When her sister suggests becoming a mail order bride, Sarah hesitantly agrees to look at some of the adds.  And then she reads Charlie's letter and knows that he's the one.  He feels lonely and invisible as well.  Sarah boards a train, anxious to meet Charlie.  When she arrives she discovers that Charlie has kept a secret-he has an infant daughter.  How can she marry a man who has lied to her?

I love, love, love a mail order bride romance.  From my first, Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke, right through my more recent reads like the erotic Bride Train series by Reece Butler. I just can't seem to get enough.  That being said...

This one was filled with tons and tons of emotional drama for Sarah.  Seriously.  She spent days agonizing over whether or not she could marry Charlie after he had lied to her, while we, the reader, could tell the decision had already been made.

What I typically like in a mail order read is watching as the hero and heroine become acquainted and figure out how they'll fit into each other's lives.  Sadly, there was none of that in this book.  Charlie was practically a saint, other than his one lie.  There seemed to be no adjustment at all for either of them.  It was all about Sarah having to make her decision.

The sex in this book barely warrants mentioning.  If Lauara Ingalls Wilder had written an erotic romance, I think the sex scenes would have read similar to this one. In fact, the writing style, in general, reminded me of the Little House books.

If you're like me, and enjoy mail order bride stories, you may like this one.  Just prepare yourself for lots of drama and rather dull sex.  

Lumberjack in Love by Penny Watson

Note: the top cover is the latest cover for this book.  I feel like I should get bonus points for bravery for reading it when it had the original hand drawn cover!

Grade: B
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Lumberjack in Love #1

Published: 9/7/12

Reviewed by Anne

114 pages

Ami is a city girl through and through.  She's visiting her sister in the boonies of Vermont while nursing a broken heart.  She was just dumped by her boyfriend, who she not realizes was a total loser.  Her sister sends her on an errand to deliver something (papers, I think) to Marcus, a very lumberjack looking man who is building a custom treehouse for Ami's niece.  They're each attracted to the other, but also very aware of how unsuited they are.  And very aware of how attracted to each other they are.  So a little fling couldn't hurt, right?

This was a quick and funny read.  It's full of lines like this one: "Was there a Mrs. Mountain Man in the picture, maybe sewing the checkerboard curtains and keeping his axe well oiled?"  I love this kind of humor, so the story flew by with me chuckling a lot.

The ending had me rolling my eyes a bit.  It annoys me when otherwise rational characters choose not to communicate and the main reason seems to be to set up conflict.  That was the case here.  Also, while I appreciated a discussion of birth control, neither character seemed concerned about STDs, which didn't seem responsible.

Still, it was cute and I enjoyed it and would try another story by this author.  I recommend it if jokes about wood still crack you up - I know they do for me!

Abducted By A Prince by Olivia Drake

Grade: B
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Historical

Series: Cinderella Sisterhood #3

Published: 4/29/14

Reviewed by Kate

352 pages

Raised by a guardian who died shortly after he started at Eton, Damien's one clue to his parentage, a key, was stolen by Walt.  Now as an adult, Damien is desperate to find out who his parents were.  So he hatches a plan.  He will kidnap Walt's sister and hold her hostage until Walt delivers the key.  What could possible go wrong with that plan?  Except he accidentally kidnaps Walt's unwanted cousin instead.

Once I got past the fact that such a level headed man could come up with such a foolish scheme, this book worked for me on so many levels. A hint of fairy tale without being an outright retelling.  Deep characters.  An intriguing plot.  I couldn't stop turning pages. I'll be reading the first two books in this series soon.  If you like fairy tales and historical romances, give this one a try. 

This historical was has put me in the mood for more historical romance.  Do you have any recommendations?

Her Best Laid Plans by Cara McKenna

Grade: B
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, Cosmo Red Hot Read
Published: 4/15/14

Reviewed by Anne

88 pages

Jamie is a 20-something American house-sitting for two weeks in Ireland.  Connor is a bartender she meets there and has instant chemistry with.  She's up for a vacation fling, and he is, too.   But what will happen if they want more and neither has time or room in their life for more?

This was a well written short story and I enjoyed it.  There were some funny moments, and I liked how things worked out in the end.  Unfortunately it suffers from me expecting to be blown away by every word Cara McKenna writes.  So when she writes a nice short story that's just pretty good, I find myself a little disappointed.  

I'm also beginning to think that maybe Cosmo Red Hot Reads just isn't meant for me.  It's been very hit or miss.  I've got another one lined up to read.  I'll see what I think after that.

The Cowboy's E-Mail Order Bride by Cora Seton

Grade: B+

Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, Mail Order Bride

Series: The Cowboys of Chance Creek #1
Published: 4/30/13

Reviewed by Kate

228 pages

After a series of bad events in his life, Ethan is drunk and goes on a rant about what the perfect ranch wife would need to be.  Unknown to him, his friends video tape the rant, edit it, and post it to YouTube as a "looking for a wife" add.  Autumn works for a hoity-toity magazine in the city.  Due to upcoming cutbacks, her job is on the line.  She responds to the YouTube add and plans on writing a story about her adventure.

Mail order brides are some of my absolute favorite romances to read.  Although this is the first modern day one I've read.  I was a little nervous about it, to be honest.  Just how would an e-mail order bride story in today's world really work?  What kind of situations could the hero and heroine be in that would make this the solution?

By page 15, I was pretty sure that I hated Autumn.  Ethan's friends had gotten him into this mess, but Autumn jumped in with eyes wide open-planning on using Ethan.  By page 20, I was starting to like Autumn a little more. She's battling her own inner demons and I began to see where she was coming from a bit.  Of course it helped that Ethan didn't come clean with her right away.  It wasn't a book where one person was lying and the other was a saint.  It became a story of secrets, which I typically despise.  Not so with this book.  Watching these two work through all the secrets was an enjoyable journey.

If you like mail order bride stories give this one a chance.  Cora Seton has created a pair that I rooted for in Ethan and Autumn and she's introduced us to a cast of secondary characters that leaves me wanting more.  I've added the rest of the Cowboys of Chance Creek series to my TBR pile.

Have you read any modern day mail order bride romances?  Do you have any I should add to my TBR pile?

Taken With You by Shannon Stacey

Grade: A
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Kowalski Family #8

Published: 3/25/14

Reviewed by Anne

209 ebook pages

Hailey, the town librarian is happy with her life, but lately, watching all the Kowalski's couple up and get married has got her wondering when she'll find her own Prince Charming.  She's pretty sure he isn't in Whitford, because she's looked!  And when her new neighbor, Matt, moves in, she's sure it's not him either.  She met him a few weeks before on an ill advised adventure weekend when she got lost in the woods.   He may have been able to guide her to safety, but he looked like he hadn't seen a shower or washing machine in weeks!  And he might look a whole lot better in his forest ranger uniform, but she's seen the real Matt and he's not her Prince Charming.  That's all just fine with Matt, who was burned once before by a girl friend who didn't embrace his love of the outdoors.  So they'll be good neighbors.  Maybe they'll be very good neighbors... but both of them know they could never have a relationship.

Shannon Stacey's humor and story telling is great in this book.  Hailey and Matt are both so sure they are just too different to make things work.  It's a delight to watch them come together.  The small town of Whitford is all over the two of them, with everyone knowing they'll be a couple before the two of them even get a whiff of it.  So fun and funny!

When I meet people who haven't read romance lately and I want to recommend a book to them, Exclusively Yours, the first book in this series, is my go to recommendation.  It's one of my all time favorite reads, right along side Yours to Keep, the third Kowalski book.  Even though the other books weren't as good as those two, I've still enjoyed them as I've read through the series, but this one is a return to the best!  It's not about a Kowalski, but there are plenty of Kowalskis in the story.  There's not anything OF DOOM, but there's still plenty of humor.  There's some ATV fun and gossip at the diner and the grocery store.

This is a long running series, but you could easily jump in and read this book without having read the others - and I recommend you do!  It's going on my favorite books of the year list!  Do you read the Kowalskis?  If so, what's your favorite of the series?  And if you don't, do you have a series to recommend?

Her Kind of Trouble by Sarah Mayberry

Grade: A
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: ContemporaryPublished: 4/1/14 

Reviewed by Anne

210 pages

What if the two right people met, but it was the wrong time?  Vivian and Seth meet at their siblings' wedding.  The attraction is instant.  Neither is looking for commitment, and that works out just fine for them.  A quickie in a limo at the wedding turns into a happy memory for both of them as Seth keeps trying to make it big with his rock band and Vivian moves to the US to work on her career as a designer.

Ten years later Vivian moves back to Australia and suddenly she and Seth are seeing each other all the time.  The attraction is still there, and the timing is still awful.  Seth has grown up a lot.  He gave up on the rock star dream and settled down and bought a bar.  But he still managed to knock up his twenty-something girlfriend before they split up. So now he's looking at fatherhood with a girl who seems more interested in shopping than the baby due in weeks.   Vivian, who is known in her family as the flighty one, has also grown up and settled down.  She's co-owner of a new photography/stylist business.  But they keep getting thrown together.  And even though the timing couldn't be worse and their families don't really approve, they're starting to find they don't just have horny pants for each other, but they actually like each other, too!

This book is going on my best of the year list!  I think Vivian is one of my all time favorite heroines.  She knows who she is and she's fine with herself, flaws and all.  She likes sex and she's not ashamed that she does.  But she's mature enough that her life is not all one night stands and she understands that there are repercussions when you decide to sleep with someone.  She will not put up with slut shaming and doesn't hesitate to call Seth out on it when he starts down that path.

Vivian's acceptance of herself and her imperfections helps her appreciate the same in Seth.  And if Seth is a little late to see all that is wonderful about Vivian, we'll give him a pass because his life is a pretty big mess during most of the story.  It's an awful time to start a relationship.  It's messy and probably not smart, but it's their story, and that's how Mayberry writes it.  So awesome!

There were a couple small things about the book that bothered me.  I would have been happier with a HFN ending instead of the all out HEA.   It's also not as hot as some of the books I enjoy, but with the strong plot and characters, I didn't miss the extra couple sex scenes at all.  And the scenes that were in the book were great!

I'll just say it right here.  I think Sarah Mayberry is one of the most under appreciated romance authors out there right now.  In my book she's right up there with Jill Shalvis, Jaci Burton, Shannon Stacey, Ruthie Knox, and Cara Mckenna.  I'd even say she writes stronger storylines than any of these authors.  If you haven't tried her yet, go pick up one of her stories and try her now!

Naughty Bits Part 1: The Lingerie Shop by Joey W. Hill

Grade-A-

Hotness Level-Blaze

Kink Level-Mild Kink

Series-Naughty Bits #1

Genre-Contemporary

Reviewed by Kate

110 pages

 

Madison has inherited her sister's lingerie shop, Naughty Bits. But Naughty Bits is a bit more than just a lingerie shop. Madison has always needed to be in control, yet she recognizes that she's drawn to being a submissive. She recognizes it, but has been running from it for a while now. When she meets Logan, who runs the hardware store next to Naughty Bits, and discovers that he's a Dom, she's not sure how long she'll be able to keep running.

 

The relationship that is starting to form between Logan and Madison promises to be so hot, so steamy, so emotional, so....just so much. Madison is so conflicted and Logan is so confident. It seems like the perfect pairing for a great series. I've read some of Joey W. Hill's BDSM romances before and I can't wait to see what she does with Logan and Madison.

 

I couldn't stop turning pages with this one and Joey W. Hill has me tapping my toes, not-so-patiently awaiting the release of part two.

 

One minor note: there is no sexual interaction between Logan and Madison in this book. I can only imagine that the anticipation will make it all the better when it finally happens. Because if it can be steamy without the sex, I can only imagine...

 

How about you? What series are you anxiously waiting for the next book to be released?

Improper Proposals by Juliana Ross

Grade: A
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Historical
Series: Improper #3

Published: 3/24/14

Reviewed by Anne

122 pages

"Instead of instructing young wives on how to roast a chicken or darn a sock or ease colic in an infant, I want you to write a guide that will tell them, plainly and directly, what they might expect from marital relations with their husbands.  It will tell them that it could and should be a pleasant experience, and not a shameful necessity to which they are bound to submit."  -p.24

When her husband of eleven years dies, Caroline is distraught and alone, with no other family to turn to.  As time passes, she throws herself into the project of writing an instruction manual for young wives.   Once it's done, she seeks out a friend of her husband's who is a publisher.  She's disappointed when he says there's no market for her book, but he contacts her again, impressed with her writing and proposes she write the same sort of book, but this time have it focused on "marital relations."

Juliana Ross really shines in this story!  I devoured it in one sitting and wanted to turn around and re-read it immediately!  Since Caroline lives in the country, and her publisher, Tom, lives in London, they send letters and manuscripts through the mail, then meet in person about once per month to discuss things. I loved the contrast between the formal way they talk and write letters to each other and how very dirty they are in the bedroom.  It was great read and an incredibly hot one!  The author also manages to sell me on a second love of a lifetime without bashing the first - something I really appreciate!  

My biggest complaint was how Caroline handled the obstacle they faced near the end of the story.  It seemed out of character, especially when the solution seemed so easy to me.  However, the way Tom reacted really redeemed things.  He was so confident in her love for him and his for her that he was able to handle things well.

I also want to note that Tom is a dirty talker in the bedroom, and Caroline finds that she really enjoys it.  The sex scenes are very well written!  I highly recommend this book - it's going on my best of the year list!

Love In Straight Sets by Rebecca Crowley

          

           

Grade-A-
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kate
159 pages

Regan is the resident diva of the tennis world.  She's gone through coaches faster than Augustus Gloop ate his way through the Wonka factory.  She's planning on retiring soon, but wants one last win.  A big one.  At the Baron's Open.  Enter Ben, a one-hit wonder who won the Baron's Open years ago and then disappeared from the tennis courts.  He's agreed to coach Regan and she's agreed not to fire him.  Both Regan and Ben are drawn to each other, but his job hinges on his ability to keep his hands off Regan, and his sister's safety depends on him keeping his job.

The world of sports romance is dominated by MMA, football, baseball, and hockey men.  And while I enjoy a good sports romance every once in a while, I'm kind of tired of the same-old, same-old.  How many big, buff guys running around the football field or sparring in the ring can you really read about?  The fact that this one is about a tennis playing female was such a refreshing change of pace.

These are characters that I quickly fell in love with.  Regan wasn't just an outright bitch.  You get to see what's under the surface that makes her a character you root for. I loved that Ben saw right through Regan's diva act.  He didn't put up with her crap at all and saw through to the vulnerability underneath.  They both have their moments of stupidity that made me just want to yell at them, especially Ben.  But if those moments hadn't been there I would probably be complaining that they were too perfect.

My only complaint...I would have appreciated more sex in this one.  There's no sex until 84% into the story and then we only get one scene.  Honestly though, the story was so engaging that I didn't realize that I was already that far into the story.

I absolutely loved this one.  It's the first book that I've read by Rebecca Crowley, but I've already added some of her back list to my TBR pile.  This one is definitely worth reading.

Up In Flames by Lori Foster

            

Grade-B+
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kate
368 pages

The book is split into 2 novellas.  Up in Flames is about the first third of the book, with Caught in the Act taking up the rest.

Up in Flames-Melanie and Adam went to high school together.  She was a rich girl, he was poorer than dirt.  Although they both were attracted to each other during school, neither made a move.  Now, years later, they find themselves on the same party boat.  When they go overboard during a storm and end up stranded on an island, things really start to heat up.  I will be honest and say that I love the whole stranded together on a deserted island plot line.  That's pretty much a sure fire way to get me to read a book.  And this one did not fail to dissapoint.

Caught in the Act-Mick, a police officer, has fallen for a lady he's never met.  He's seen her jogging before and just knows he needs to meet her so he follows her into a jewelry store.  When the store is robbed, he protects Delilah and takes a bullet.  Delilah offers to let him recover at her place.  And while he does need time to recover, he's also beginning to suspect that someone is after Delilah.  So he moves in with her to keep her safe.  Caught in the Act had just the right amount of suspense for me. Delilah is such a unique character and Mick accepts her for what she is.  There was a lot of secret keeping, especially on Mick's side, that I didn't appreciate, but otherwise I enjoyed this one a lot.

This is the first book I've read by Lori Foster but I'm looking forward to checking out her back list. I especially want to see if there are stories for the secondary characters (Mick's friends) from Caught in the Act.

The combination of these 2 novellas made for a quick and enjoyable read.  Fast paced and engaging, I did not want to put this one down.  At one point I found myself mad at my 7 year old who interrupted reading to ask when supper would be.  Then I looked at the clock and discovered that it was already 7:30pm.

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."

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!

Thrown for a Curve by Sugar Jamison

Grade: B
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Perfect Fit #2

Published: 2/25/14

Reviewed by Anne

335 ebook pages

Cherri is a very tall, curvy, blond young woman.  She's been taking care of her aging grandmother for a long time.  In some ways she's wise beyond her college aged years.  In others she's still really innocent - she's never even been on a date.

Colin is quite a bit older than Cherri - he knows her because of his best friends' relationship with Cherri's boss.  That best friend (Mike) warns Colin off of Cherri, but they keep finding themselves together and realize they really like each other.

This is a hard book to review because part of reading it is going through the journey with the characters, and there's a couple of blind curves that I really didn't see coming.  I don't want to spoil that!  I can say this, though:  I really enjoyed the writing and the characterizations in this story.  The characters have a great sense of humor, but it's not just thrown in there.  During tough times they talk differently to each other than they do when things are going well.  And the things they joke about are true to their character, not just funny things the author thought of.  

In particular, I enjoyed Cherri's Baba.  Sometimes she was a bit too over the top, but most of the time it was hilarious.  My favorite was the opening scene of the book where Baba gave Cherri a make over for her birthday party.  It made me grin from ear to ear and hooked me on the book.

I was pretty annoyed with how the relationship between Colin and his dad was handled.  I just didn't think it was very realistic at all.  Everything from how Cherri dealt with things to how everything ended up bothered me.  Also, Colin and Cherri's issues are almost all caused by a lack of communication between the two of them.  That also really annoys me, and it went on longer in this story than I liked.

I did enjoy the slow pace of Cheri and Colin's relationship.  I thought it was totally believable that they'd have the issues they did and resolve them in the way they did.  

Overall it was an enjoyable book and I look forward to more by this author.  Sugar Jamison's books run right up on the ANGST-LINE for me.  Just a little more angst and I'd have to pass, but as they are it's the just right amount of angst to make me cringe just a bit with the characters and then sigh with relief when they work things off.

How about you?  Do you like a lot of angst in your books, none at all, or somewhere in between?  (I'm pretty close to the none end of the spectrum!)

It's All Geek to Me by JL Merrow

Grade: B
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, novellaPublished: 2/10/14

Reviewed by Anne

55 pages

This is a short story about Jez, who falls for Rhys when he meets him at the comic book store.  Jez wants to impress Rhys even though Jez isn't really into comics and is only in the store on an errand for a friend.

It's really well written and funny.  While Jez isn't a comic book geek, he's got a lot of geek cred in other areas.  There are TARDIS references, Star Wars references, so many, many more.  On top of that, the book is set in London and it doesn't seem to be Americanized, so there's lots of England-slang to enjoy.

It's a cute, sweet story I really enjoyed and I'll be watching for more by JL Merrow!

The Party Girl by Tamara Morgan

Grade: B-
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Getting Physical #3

Published:2/3/14 

Reviewed by Anne

250 ebook pages

Kendra is successful, happy, and self confident.  A one night stand with Lincoln left him wanting more, but instead they've become friends without benefits, and it's through Lincoln that Kendra meets Noah.  Noah and Kendra couldn't be more opposite of each other.  Kendra enjoys luxury and material comforts.  Noah lives off the grid.  No power.  No phone.  No car.  Really, the only thing they have in common is their friendship with Lincoln and his need for their help.  Well, they've got that and a tremendous case of horny pants that Noah says they can't act on because Lincoln called dibs on Kendra.  

Tamara Morgan is awesome at writing strong heroines, and she does a great job with Kendra.  A lot of times when I read a story I like the heroine because I identify with her in some way.  I didn't feel like I had much in common with Kendra, but I really, really liked her.  She's a woman very happy with her body and her looks.  She's had plastic surgery (breast augmentation) and she's proud of it.  I can't imagine ever getting a boob job, but if I did, I hope I would own it like Kendra.  She meets life with a "This is who I am" attitude that's admirable.

On the other hand, not only is Noah different from Kendra in outward appearance and lifestyle, he's an emotional mess inside.  This could be a recipe for disaster, with strong stable Kendra being a martyr for Noah, but it doesn't turn out that way, which is a very good thing.

Unfortunately the first half of this book really dragged for me.  I probably would have stopped reading if I hadn't enjoyed books by the author before.  I'm really glad I stuck with it, though.  The second half of the book was much stronger.  My main issue with the first half of the book was that the main conflict between Kendra and Noah, the thing keeping them from pursuing a relationship they both wanted, was that Lincoln had this crush on Kendra that he was sure would evolve into the great love of his life.  Despite the fact that Kendra told both Lincoln and Noah that she was never going to be romantically involved with Lincoln, it was this bro code that kept Kendra and Noah apart.  This left a bad taste in my mouth, because I felt like they were treating Kendra like an object.  It didn't matter what she wanted, Lincoln's hopes for her determined Noah's actions.  It was like she was a toy and it was still Lincoln's turn to play with her.  That was really frustrating for me.

On top of all that, Lincoln came across as very unstable, and it seemed unrealistic to me that Kendra and Noah would enable him.  Seriously.  The book starts with Lincoln at Kendra's house in the middle of the night with a stab wound.  He won't go to the hospital for it because he's in trouble with the police department *where he works*.  This whole premise is a mess.

On part of the book I really loved is one I predict others may have a problem with.  There is no slut shaming in this book.  The opening pages have Kendra at home with a younger man getting ready to have sex.  They are not in a committed relationship, but are both consenting adults.  They are interrupted by Lincoln, who is a former one night stand.  Kendra is also ok with her college aged younger sister having one night stands.  These are things some readers might not like - this kind of behavior seems reserved for only the men in romance.  I thought it was refreshing in this book to read about women so comfortable with themselves and their sexuality.

While I complained about the first half of the book was really enjoyable, and not just because Noah and Kendra were finally having sex.  It was full of relationship stuff that I love.  They're so different, so how can they work things out?  Their path to happiness isn't smooth, but it's real and I loved it.

This is the third in the series, but I think it stands alone.  I remembered Lincoln and Kendra from previous books, but not very well.  I don't know if they weren't very developed in the first two books or if it was a memory lapse on my part, but I think it would stand on it's own.  This wasn't my favorite Tamara Morgan book, but it was a good one and I enjoyed it.  She's on my short list of must-read authors.  

How about you?  Who is on your must-read list?

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.