ARC Review: Lingerie Wars by Janet Elizabeth Henderson

Title: Lingerie Wars
Author: Janet Elizabeth Henderson
Publisher: Self-published
Publication Date: June 14, 2013

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

From Goodreads:

Englishman Lake Benson loaned his life savings to his dippy sister so that she could buy a shop. It was a big mistake. His sister has been steadily flushing his money down the drain – and now he wants it back. Years in the special forces taught Lake that if you want a job done, do it yourself. So he steps in to make the shop profitable, sell it and get his money back. The only problem is, the business is an underwear shop. And all Lake knows about underwear can be summed up in how fast he can unsnap a bra. To make matters worse, the tiny highland town already has a lingerie shop. A successful one, run by an ex-lingerie model. A very gorgeous ex-lingerie model, who’s distracting him from his mission more than he’d like to admit. If Lake wants to get his savings back, and get out of Scotland, he only has one option – wipe out the competition.

Kirsty Campbell has spent years rebuilding her life after she woke up in hospital in Spain to find her body scarred, and her ex-fiance had run off with all her money. The last thing she needs is a cocky, English soldier-boy trying to ruin all she has left. Her home town is only too happy to help her fight the latest English invasion, although Lake is beginning to sway them with his sex appeal and cut price knickers. With the help of her mother, and the retired ladies of Knit or Die, Kirsty sets about making sure that her shop is the last one standing in Invertary.

It’s Scotland versus England as you’ve never seen it before. It’s lingerie war.

My Thoughts:

What a great book! This one made me laugh, a lot, while also being sweet with just enough steam to keep things interesting.

In Lingerie Wars, we meet Lake, who has come to the small town of Invertary, Scotland to bail his sister out. Again. Rainne borrowed Lake's money to buy a lingerie shop. But wasn't doing that great a job in making money. Or running it. Or competing with the other lingerie shop in town, which Rainne had failed to tell Lake about. So Lake come's to his sister's rescue and runs into Kirsty, the owner of the other shop. Kirsty is struggling, in both business and life. She's recovering from injuries she sustained in a very bad car accident as well as her ex-fiance having run off with all her money. See, Kirsty had been a lingerie model before hte accident. But now, the scars, emotional and phsycial, are keeping her closed off. She still has family and friends of course, but she isn't putting herself out there like she used to.

But all that changes when the competition between Kirsty's store and Lake/Rainne/Betty's store, heats up. The "war" has everyone in town taking sides and in some cases, joining in to bring down the other with often crazy, hair-brained antics. The break in while Lake and Kirsty were having dinner had to be one of the best comedic scenes I've ever read in fact. It had me laughing until my stomach hurt. But in addition to the shenanigans as they tried to out-do the other, there was also tension between Kirsty and Lake. A good and sexy kind of tension that caused its own problems, and some times detentes, in the war. But even though the two recognized their feelings for each other, there were still secrets. Lake was in Invertary for a reason and he wasn't staying long, after all. He had other plans; other things to do. And once the war was done and he came out on top, would take his leave.

Too bad Kirsty and Rainne were left in the dark about that.

I don't want to go too deep in the weeds about what happens in this book because I don't want to give anything away. But I do want to address an important part that was touching, sweet and had a personal impact on me. And that was when Lake helped Kirsty deal with her scar issues. Having several scars myself from childhood surgeries, I know all about the self-consciousness they can cause. Mine are barely visible anymore, but they're still there, or at least, I know they are there. And it bugs me to no end. In the back of mind I'm always thinking someone will see, or comment on them, or just even think something about them. I'm better with them now than when I was younger but still, dealing with scars, emotional and/or physical can be tough. And even if people can't see them, that doesn't mean they don't effect the person who has them in significant ways. In Lingerie Wars I thought that the author dealt with Kirsty's issues in a very realistic and respectful manner. The way Lake saw past all that, and the way he handled Kirsty with such great care (at least regarding those issues!) was fantastic. And because of that and the way he took things slow, for her, was beautiful. Lake waited patiently while she came to terms with the fact that yes, a man like Lake liked her and didn't care one lick about the scars. The scars didn't define her and they didn't make her less of a person. It was almost like he didn't like her in spite of her scars, but instead he liked her because of them (or at least in part) and how they showed she was strong and a survivor.

I knew that there would be a "bad guy" and I was waiting awhile for him to show up. I think the way this part of the story was handled worked well. The suspense didn't overpower the story this way nor did the author get too far in the weeds about any grand conspiracies or massive crime rings. Instead the author kept the focus on Kirsty and Lake, their lingerie war, with just a dash of a "baddie" to deal with. But again, I want to stress that this book isn't just about a war between two lingerie shops. Lake's presence and undeniable attraction to Kirsty, as well as their "war", helped Kirsty move on from a traumatic past. It not only helped her in her business, but it also gave Kirsty the courage to put herself out there again and not let her stupid ex and what he did keep her down. Lake opened her up to a whole new world, and life, and it was a great journey to be a part of.

I'm excited for the next book in this series and hopefully we see more of the Invertary residents we were introduced to. Betty was a hoot and I laughed so hard in some of those scenes. And the cardboard cut-out of Lake?! I was laughing so hard at one point I couldn't even speak. Oh, and we can't forget the Knit or Die group. When they had the t-shirts made that said "SOD OFF", I could not stop the tears of laughter streaking down my cheeks. Caroline also made me smile; she was sweet and nice and I really hope she gets an HEA at some point in the series. I hated Lake's parents though. They were awful and mean and I wanted to run them over with their bus. And isn't that the mark of a good author, making me want to commit violence against fictional characters?! :D

I do need to mention the side story of Alistair and Rainne. Dear god, that part broke my heart. Just shattered it. I even dreamt about them when I went to bed and I woke up with all these feels and angst, and just, I can't even explain it without giving too much away! (Gah! If anyone has read this, or when you do, we need to exchange notes on that!!) . That's how much of an impact their story had on me. I wonder if we'll see them again. I hope so.

This is a fun, sweet, romantic, and humorous read that I would recommend to anyone likes to both laugh and swoon while reading. The writing was well done and I saw zero, yeah, I said -zero- editing issues. All in all, a solid read and one which I will likely re-read again and again. Now what are you waiting for? Start reading!

Here are the purchase/info links:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Goodreads

*I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Review: The Chief by Monica McCarty

Title: The Chief (Highland Guard Series, #1)
Author: Monica McCarty
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: March 23, 2010

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

[Note: I am re-posting this review from Goodreads. I hadn't planned on blogging this review but when I went to say a few words about it on GR, well it turned into a full fledged review so I figured I would share it here as well!]

This book...it made me cry. It made me grin like a fool. And it made me grip the covers in suspense. It rocked my world in ways I didn't think a highlander romance could. The writing is well done, the time is well researched and explained, and the plot is focused and has plenty of action.

Having said that, some may say, "Big surprise. Kat loves highlanders. She's biased." But this book was different. For me at least. Yes, I have a thing for highlanders. I love books about this time and I blame Karen Marie Moning for my obsession since her Highlander series is what seemed to start it all. My obsession that is. However, not all Highlander romances are for me. Some I like (Moning's, Banks', just to name two) but others, well others I end up DNFing. But this book?! No way. It had me up late, anxious to get to the end but also dreading it at the same time.

Why did I love this book as much as I did? Simple. The author clearly did research for this book (see, the Author's Note in the book) and weaved fiction and non fiction together to make a beautifu story that made me feel like I was right there, on the sidelines watching as it all went down. Her descriptions of the castles, the places, the Islands: they were clear but not overwhelming. I could see them all in my mind's eye. And I could also "see" the characters.

And speaking of the characters, I have to say, Christina broke my heart. She was such a romantic, waiting and wishing for her Lancelot to come and save her, and she so wanted to believe it was Tor. So did I! Over and over again she tried to break through. She tried to help. All to, what seemed to be, no avail. And that I think is part of the greatness in this book. We see and hear from Tor's POV at times, and we see his struggle, trying to put his clan first, before anything, even himself. And we, the reader, get glimpses of his walls beginning to crack, but never fully topple. When Christina lost hope, so did I. I sobbed, openly and avidly, though Christina seemed to have it together more than me. She seemed to become, after her and Tor's last fight, resigned to her fate. I would have liked to see her confront Tor before she left-to be a bit stronger perhaps. But I also understood why she didn't. Some might say she was stupid to do what she did and cause what some would call "trouble" for Tor, but I didn't see it that way at all. This was a young girl of about 21 who grew up with an awful, abusive father who put her through hell. All Christina wanted was someone to save her. She thought that man was Tor. And given the mixed messages he was sending, I understand her confusion about whether he did, or did not, care for her. So when the reality of her situation finally sank in, when his words about just why he married her and how her romantic dreams were basically a joke and would never be fulfilled, I think in her position I'd have done the same thing. The shame and humiliation of all she'd done and endured to find someone to save her -to love her-, it just went up in smoke.

So while I was crying at this point, I was also angry. I was angry at Tor for being an idiot. I was angry at him for continuing to confide and be close with Lady Jane, his former leman, who I really wanted to stab with a sharp object. I was pissed off that he sent his brother away (though I understood why he did it), and I really wanted him to bring his sons back to the keep so Christina could raise them, not his uncle. (The latter didn't seem to happen but I believe this was a normal occurrence at the time, so I'm not surprised by it.) But mostly I was mad that Tor didn't see the damage he'd inflicted on Christina with his words. Sometimes words are worse than fists. And he knew about Christina's father and how she was treated. He didn't have to treat her with kid gloves, but he could have had a care. But instead he mouthed off, stormed off, left Christina -AGAIN!- and then 2 days later expected everything to be fine. He'd talk to her and yeah, things would be A-OK.

Um, no Tor. Really. Get a clue.

And I get it. He's a warrior, a chief, a lord, and all that. He shouldn't have to answer to a woman. (stupid man!) But did he not remember the vow he made to Christina before their marriage? The condition she made? HELLO?! He cut her down with her words, after everything she did, after all she tried to do to bring warmth back to the castle, and expected her to be waiting for him after he told her, basically, he couldn't, wouldn't and didn't love her?! Again: STUPID MAN! (Aside: It seems men haven't made that many strides since the time of the highland warriors. They're still doing idiotic crap like this! Anyways, back to my rant.)

So thus begins the final conflict of the book, Tor's epiphany, and poor Christina suffering for Tor's stupidity and refusal to acknowledge his feelings and instead be an asshat. Thankfully her suffering was only mild compared to what the men who captured her had initially intended to do to her, and she found more of her backbone during this time too, refusing to give the interrogators their answers, suffering for it, and still finding her own way out of there.

And also, Tor and his secret army appeared to help. Okay, maybe they more than helped, but I'm still a bit annoyed at Tor. I mean, I liked him. A lot. And the sexy times, well...they were beyond hot. But seriously, he needs to be slapped!

This is the most I've written on a review in a long time. But I finished this yesterday and I still can't stop thinking about it. Maybe because I remember being younger and thinking, like Christina, that a Knight would ride up on his steed, take me away, and we'd live happily ever after. (Or in his Mustang, or on his Harley, or in his pick-up truck...you get the idea.) So when her dreams shattered it was like a personal blow to me, remembering when I too grew up and stopped believing in fairy tales, knights in shining armor and damsels in distress. That's how strong this writing is, in my opinion anyways. And because of this, I've bought the second and third books in this series and can't wait to read more about this time and these warriors. Monica McCarty will definitely be on my list of top authors from now on.

Here are some purchase links:

• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble

*This book was a self purchase. All opinions are my own.*


View all my reviews on Goodreads

ARC Review: The Companions by R.A. Salvatore

Title: The Companions (The Sundering, #1)
Author: R.A. Salvatore
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Publication Date: August 6, 2013

My Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

From Goodreads:

This latest installment in New York Times best-selling author R.A. Salvatore's beloved fantasy saga, The Companions moves Salvatore's signature hero Drizzt into a new era of the Forgotten Realms. As Drizzt's fate hangs in the balance, he reflects on the lives of the trusted allies who stood by his side throughout his early life--the friends now known as the Companions of the Hall. Meanwhile, the first stirrings of the Sundering begin.
My Thoughts:

Oh how I fell in love with this world!

First, let me say how I came upon this book. As a member of Netgalley, awhile back this book was available to me. I downloaded it and, because of my schedule, kept putting off reading it. I could kick myself for doing that because honest to god, this book was fantastic.  It was like a combination of so many of my fave SFF books/games. I started it this morning and I could not put it down. Seriously. Even during a wicked storm we were having I grabbed the flashlight and was trying to read when the power was out. It's that entertaining.

Now, I need to give some full disclosure here. I went into this book with low expectations. Not because I had little faith in the author or content, but because I just hadn't read fantasy in awhile. I'd given it up, disillusioned by the sameness that I saw out there and unsure where to find the "good" ones. Well, this book and the author turned things around for me and exceeded all of my expectations in a huge way. The writing is superb, the narrative flows at a nice pace, and there wasn't massive confusion for me, a first time reader to this series. Histories and back-stories were explained so I wasn't confused, but they weren't so detailed that I was overwhelmed with the dates, places, and people I needed to know. I loved every bit of it and already want to re-read it again. Oh! And the twist at the end, or should I say the "surprise" to the group of friends, and me, the reader? When I read that, I actually cheered. Loudly. Ask my cat, who went running for the hills when I did!

What was favorite part of the book, you may ask? Well, I have to admit that Cattie-brie is awesome and can kick some butt with her magic. I loved watching her come into her own and learn even more about herself and her magic. Even when things were heavy and it looked pointless to continue, Cattie-brie stayed on course, intent on surviving, for the chance to see Drizzt. And can we talk about Drizzt and Cattie-brie please? Good, because even though we don't get a lot of information about these two we are given enough to know that they shared an intense and beautiful love. I haven't read the earlier series and books about Drizzt so I'm not sure if we learn more about these two in those books, but what we're given here is enough to whet my appetite for more. From what I've seen so far and how the author has written Cattie-brie and her quest to find Drizzt (among other things), and then at the end...dear god I wanted to swoon right off the couch! Yes, I know. This isn't a romance novel so why am I going on and on about it? Because I loved that aspect of it and thought it made the story more realistic and more than just your run of the mill adventure novel. It made me feel and that, in any book, in any genre, is always a bonus.  The undercurrents of their relationship were written in such a way that I could feel the emotion Cattie-brie felt in her longing to reunite with Drizzt. And also gave me something else to cheer about!

Don't worry all of you who would shudder and shake at the thought of romance in your SFF (which by the way is a ridiculous thought and seriously, shame on you if you have that opinion...mixed genre in a work is a good thing since it adds, ya know, depth, realism and variety to the story...but god forbid that happens. *insert sarcastic snort here*), the romance doesn't overwhelm the book. It's just an added layer to the magic, fantasy and adventure that these characters are on. If anything it makes it well-rounded And besides, every fantasy adventure work needs a good old fashioned love story attached, right? I mean, there's nothing better than heroes and heroines fighting for goodness and love, right?! Exactly! And one the best parts of it, other than it not overwhelming the rest of the work, it that I wasn't expecting it at all. So when popped up on me, I was deliriously happy. (Okay, well maybe not deliriously, but still happy!)

One of the other aspects of this books I loved was the journey itself of the three friends, Bruenor, Regis and Cattie-brie, as they made their way to find (hopefully) Drizzt at Icewind Dale. In the beginning, when we see Cattie-brie reunite with her friends in Iruladoon, they are given a choice: go to their chosen Gods or be re-born so that they may re-join Drizzt in 21 years, when he will his Companions once again. There was much debate among them, whether to go or not, though it was never a question for Cattie-brie. She'd have the chance to see and be with Drizzt once again, to love him once again, and to fight along side him, once again. The others were conflicted though and had to consider their options. They had all lived long lives and now were ready to move on to the next plane. Did they want to go back, live another life, inside another body, with all their memories and knowledge of who they were before, biding their time until the planned meeting in Icewind Dale.

Each of them made their choice and from there we see the consequences of those choices. We also see that, even though they each have the memories of their other life and the intent to find Drizzt (hopefully) in 21 years, they do have lives to lead. And each make decisions during that time that will likely have effects on them individually and as a group, should their planned meeting take place. Regis wants to be more than what he had been the first time, pushing himself and making choices that, for me, seem questionable at best, and also dangerous. (At least one of those decisions, anyways!).  Bruenor wants to do things differently but quickly learns that certain things can't be undone and that he is living again for a more important reason. Cattie-brie's decisions revolve around her wanting to learn as much as she can about her gifts, even more than she had learned in her previous life, so that she can be prepared for whatever might come their way. But she too makes certain choices that endanger herself and others, even though she doesn't mean too. All of them make mistakes, learn, and grow on their journey back to each other and being along for the ride was a blast.

And now I can't wait to read more. I want to read more of the this series and then I want to go back and glom the earlier series about these adventurers. Have you read this or any books in this series (or the series' before it?) Are you a fan of SFF? Any suggestions for other books with a similar tone and excellent writing like this has? Let me know in the comments!

Here are the purchase/info links to the book:

• Amazon 
• Barnes and Noble
• Goodreads

*I received and ARC of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

ARC Review: The Demon's Desire by Kendra Leigh Castle

Title: The Demon's Desire (Hearts of the Fallen, #2)
Author: Kendra Leigh Castle
Publisher: Entangled Covet
Publication Date: August 26, 2013

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

From Goodreads:

He’s as dark and dangerous as the storms he once commanded…and she can’t get him out of her heart. Dru has spent two thousand years fighting to keep the people of Terra Noctem safe. In all that time, she's only opened her heart to one man, with disastrous results. But when her city takes in a group of renegade Fallen, she finds herself drawn to the brooding and tormented Meresin, despite the fact that he seems to be the least redeemable of them all. When his instability hits a breaking point, Meresin’s only chance at survival is a perilous journey into a place from which few ever return. What he never expected was that confronting his demons would mean risking not only his future, but Dru's as well...and that one stubborn vampire might give him back not just hope…but his heart.

My Thoughts:

Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. As you can see by my rating I really liked this book. Yep. Hence the 4 stars. I had reviewed on Goodreads Demon's Song, the first in this series and I was impressed. And I was definitely excited to get the second book in the series and see what other kind of mischief this band of Fallen Angels, humans, vampires and other supernaturals could get into.

In the first book we get a glimpse of hard nosed, angry, electrifying Meresin and the woman who seemed to annoy him to no end, Dru. Well, you know what they say when a guy pushes away a girl or acts mean, right? Of course he was doing it because the woman drove him crazy, making him feel things he hadn't felt in a long, long, long, time. And Dru couldn't deny the draw she felt to Meresin. Something was wrong. She knew it. She felt it. Hell, she and the rest of the inhabitants of their secret city were witnessing his downward spiral. And it was then that Uriel and Levi stepped in, giving Meresin am ultimatum: deal with his "condition" and confront his "maker", or die. Neither options was one Meresin wanted. After all, both could kill him and likely would. But he agreed anyways. As much as one could agree when given such a choice.

But what Meresin didn't count on was Dru. And what he never expected was her sacrifice for him. What she did for him changed everything. It jumpstarted his mission and in a sense, his heart. The journey we see these two take, while also taking a trip through Purgatory, was as sweet as can be when they have snarling, angry demons and the devil himself, Lucifer, after them. But their love for each other grew, even in a place where nothing grew. And it was this contrast that I found so fascinating. In a land where nothing was really alive, where there was no sun, moon, stars, or ocean; where the world was gray and lacked even basic atmospheric qualities like weather, Dru and Meresin finally found each other. And after thousands of years of struggle, torture, heartache and loneliness (among other things) Meresin had his breakthrough.

And I admit, when the climax was happening, with Lucifer and the rest of his demon horde bearing down on them, I was a bit nervous as to how it was all going to work out. The suspense was done well and the author was able to draw out the fear of Dru, a vampire who had fought for thousands of years and still survived, but still felt the edges of death closing in when she faced down the King of Hell himself. (Though how awesome was it that she totally was willing to go down in a fight, grabbing daggers and ready to go up against Lucifer. Righteous! \o/ ) But more important, the author conveyed the fear of Meresin, a warrior angel who'd been through Hell, literally, and back, and yet in that moment feared he could lose everything he ever needed; everything he ever wanted. I also found that this book definitely packed more of an emotional punch for me than the first in this series. And oh! I almost forgot, the sexy times? There aren't a lot, really only one in fact. But it was worth it. It was sweet, hot, tender and I was so happy for Meresin! I won't spoil the surprise but let's just say that I hadn't seen that twist coming, but given who Meresin is and his tragic story, it totally made sense.

The author presents an intriguing world, marrying the various supernatural creatures we've come to expect in PNR and then adding in the fight between dark and light, good and evil, heaven and hell. It's this, and the love between the main characters, that makes me want to continue to read stories set in this world. The world building and mythos of the Fallen and the fight between Heaven and Hell is just phenomenally written. And each book has left me with more questions and I love that! Don't worry. I'm not talking about the kind of questions that involve a cliffhanger. There isn't one of those. (I despise those myself!)  But instead the questions surround the other Fallen and the world they're living in. Will the Fallen all find redemption? Will they each find love and given a soul? And what of the vow between the vampire king, Justin, and the Fallen. Will they be able to keep the peace and find a home, and happiness, in the secret, underground city? I certainly hope so!

Here are the purchase/info links:

• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble
• Goodreads

So have you picked up this series yet or this book? What did you think? Do you like the idea of Angels as heroes and/or heroines? Sound off in the comments!

*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

ARC Review-The Awakening: Liam by Abby Niles

Title-The Awakening: Liam
Author: Abby Niles
Publisher: Entangled Covet
Publication Date: August 26, 2013

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

From Goodreads:

Shifter, Liam Doyle knows Hell. At least he believed he did. The night he feels his mate die, he learns how very wrong he was. Nothing he’d struggled with since Ava’s rejection compares to the emptiness that fills his soul by her death. Lost in his grief, he’s taken by surprise and drugged. When he wakes, everything changes. Nothing is what it seems, and someone is dead set on making him pay.

When Ava Michaels is taken captive, she’s thrust into a dark and terrifying world along with the man she was forced to leave behind. While being near Liam again is heartbreaking, the motive behind her kidnapping is gradually revealed. The more she learns, the more she worries Liam isn’t the man she believed him to be. He has enemies willing to do anything to extract their revenge. Can their love survive a crazy man’s vengeance?

My Thoughts:

Oh Liam. Not only do you have one of my favorite names, but you're emotional baggage, broken heart, and love for your mate despite her rejection had me swooning throughout your story. I wanted to just hold him and tell him over and over that it would be all better. And I'm not being dramatic. I'm being serious.

We learned about Liam and Ava, and their totally messed up relationship in The Awakening: Aidan. (You can find my Goodreads review of the first in this series HERE.)  I knew going in this was going to be an emotional roller-coaster and I was very anxious to find out just what the heck was going on with Ava. Why did she dsert Liam? What made her push him away and throw him into the awful emotional state he had been in the first book, a state that was so bad Aidan had to find a shifter therapist to get him out of it, or at the very least, get him through it?

Well, we find out all in this book. Strike that. We find out all about Liam and Ava in this book. We don't find out the answers to all my questions (like what is up with Britton and Val?! I am so intrigued by those two!) but Liam and Ava, and their story, comes to a head, and then a resolution that I was supremely happy about. There were also some seriously hot moments that not only kept the tension going between the hero and heroine, but also increased the tension with the conflict. I, like Ava, never knew if the big baddie was watching or not and that suspense added to the likeability of the book, for me.

What about the downsides? Well, there was one big one that had me slightly frustrated. The prolonged miscommunication on Ava's part and her refusal to ask Liam for help or tell him what was going on, really grated on my nerves. Lack of communication is not one of my fave romance novel tropes. Or at least, not when it's dragged on for a fair bit of the book. I understand that there had to be a reason for Ava to have rejected Liam but I just feel like it went on for a bit too long. I was also disappointed to see Emma leave Ava's house. I was hoping that Liam and she would have a scene, where he saw she had grown up and was doing better, as opposed to when he and Ava had been together before and Emma had been rebelling like it was an Olympic sport.

One of the plus sides of this book is the introduction of additional secondary characters to this world. Like I mentioned earlier Britton has me intrigued and I'd love to learn more about his story and why he is suffering a 20 year sentence. (I think it was hinted it, or mentioned in passing. So I know why, I just don't know everything that happened. Britton had to have a reason right?!)  Anyways, the end of this book left me feeling satisfied about the state of Liam and Ava for the most part, and I did enjoy seeing Aidan and Jaylin again. He intrigues me. Hopefully we see more of the secondary characters in the future though I'm not entirely certain if this series will be continuing or not. *fingers crossed that it does*

All in all this was an enjoyable paranormal romance by an author with a strong voice and strong writing skills. This is the second in the series and the second of her books that I've read and so far, her storytelling and style have been consistent. Scratch that. Sorta. Because I actually think her storytelling in this book was improved from the first in the series.

So what about you? Have you read this series yet? What did you think?  Do you like books with shifters as main characters? What are your favorites? Let me know in the comments!

Here are the purchase/info links:

• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble
• Goodreads

*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

ARC Review: Dead Sexy Dragon by Lolita Lopez

Title: Dead Sexy Dragon
Author: Lolita Lopez
Publisher: Forever Yours 
Publication Date: August 6, 2013

My Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars

From Goodreads:

The last thing dragon shifter Stig Wyvern needs is his dead friend’s kid sister showing up on his doorstep. He’s just minutes away from entering a mating phase. Sharing his isolated house with the young woman he’s desperately lusted after for quite some time is a recipe for disaster.

But Cora Cardenas has nowhere else to go. She’s in deep trouble with some really nasty people and Stig is the only one who can protect her. That he’s deliciously sexy and makes her tingle with the simplest of smiles is just a bonus.

Cora quickly realizes Stig is hiding something from her. To make matters worse, she’s plagued with breathtakingly naughty dreams starring a shadowed lover who bears a startling resemblance to her host. And just what the hell is going on down in the basement at night?

Stig needs to get Cora out of his house but his inner beast has other ideas. He’s found his mate and she’s not going anywhere...

My Thoughts:

I know I've said this before, but put simply, I love dragon shifters. I don't know why, but something about combining the mythos of the dragons-fierce, strong, creatures-and shifters -who are just awesome in general- just makes me incredibly happy.

This is a short work, a novella, that took me a couple hours to read. There isn't much back-story about the main characters, however, there is enough to learn that Cora and Stig have a history and are connected via Cora's deceased brother. Cora runs to Stig when she's having issues with her bakery. Most of the action takes place at Stig's home (and lair, heeheehee) and the surrounding area. We learn about Stig, his history, just how old he is, and the Order that he fights for. There isn't much interaction between people, or dragons, other than Stif and Cora, which is good since, for a novella it works. The story centers on the main couple, their conflicts (emotional and otherwise) and their connection.   We do get a quick glimpse of other dragons towards the end, learn a bit more about the creatures and their history, and just enough information to give us an HEA.

I will note that, the story about Cora being entangled into criminal activity and the later "twist" with regard to that (and the connection to Stig and the dragons) seemed to not mesh very well. It kind of came out of the blue and by the time of the twist I had actually forgotten why Cora had gone to Stig in the first place. (I blame the sexy times. They were distracting, in a totally delicious way.) However, this issue for me wasn't enough to detract from the fact that we had a dragon shifter people who finally found his mate!! And it wouldn't be right if I didn't mention the sexy times between Cora and Stig. Really there isn't much to say other than this author can right one hella hot sex scene. And the "dream" sequences?! *fans self* But it went beyond the physical between these two. And I loved how alpha Stig was while at the same time seeing to Cora and making sure she was alright. I mean, finding out the man you've been in love with for 6 years could throw any girl for a loop.

As I said, this is a novella so it's short and unlike many, the story the author presents fits into this format. Although I think the story would have benefited even more from a longer format, this works nonetheless. And again, who cares about how long it is when the hero is a freaking dragon?! The second book in this series, Red Hot Dragon, is due to be released October 1, 2013 and I am looking forward to reading more about Griffin. (The blurb sounds amazing!) And it also, at least according to Goodreads, seems to be about 30 pages longer or so. I love novellas, but the more story the better, right?!

Have you read this novella? What did you think? What are your thoughts on hot former marines who happen to also be dragons? Yummy, no?! Let me know in the comments!

Purchase/Info Links:

• Amazon 
• Goodreads
• Barnes and Noble

*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

ARC Review: Deceiving the Witch Next Door by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez

Title: Deceiving the Witch Next Door
Author: Melissa Bourbon Ramirez
Publisher: Entangled Covet
Publication Date: July 20, 2012

My Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

From Goodreads:

Down-on-her-luck witch Storie Bell never thought the biggest threat to her future would be Reid Malone, the very man she’d run from years before. After striking it rich in Texas shale, he’s back in town, and he seems hell-bent on getting in the way of her bookstore’s grand opening. A witch trying to blend in in a small southern town is hard enough, but now he’s seriously testing her strict No Kissing Mortal Men policy. But even witches don’t have a spell for that.

Reid knows there’s much more to Storie than meets the eye. But right now he has only one mission: to infiltrate her shop so he can snatch the elusive secret ingredient to his father’s million-dollar moonshine recipe. Once he does, he can go back to the city and get out of his small hometown, a place in which he has no future.

But as the days go by, he can’t help falling for Storie in every way…and every encounter brings him closer to finding out what happens when you try to deceive a witch.

My Thoughts:

The main character's name is what hooked me with this book. Both of them actually. Storie Rae Bell and Reid Malone. If I ever have kids I might have to name the girl Storie. I love it that freaking much.

Anyways, back to the review. Our heroine, Storie, returns to the small town she had lived with her dad to open up a book store/cafe. She had left some years ago and the town folks had some suspicions about her being a witch. They didn't shun her, exactly, but they definitely were suspicious. And curious. Reid however, the man who ran the bar next door with his dad, wasn't suspicious. No, he just had the strong desire to get into her pants. Something he hadn't done during their last encounter years ago. But Reid has ulterior motives and though these are explained via a bit of back-story, I wish there had been "more" to it. We only got a few glimpses of Reid's dad (who for some reason I pictured like the really old guy on Moonshiners!) and I would have loved to see his interactions with Storie. Especially since it was alluded to that Jigg and Storie's dad had been friends. Or at least, spent lots of time together when her dad went to the bar.

The steam factor in the book was moderate and tastefully done. Reid and Storie had some serious sexual tension going on and I liked how the author was able to capitalize on that as the the book moved forward. The author also explored the tension that Reid felt, being attracted to Storie and yet, at the same time, trying to do "right" by hi father. The only downside I saw with this was that I would have liked to have seen a bit more of Jigg and his father-their interactions, dialogue, even his father's reaction to Storie and the eventual hooking up of her and his son.

Oh, something else that I thought was awesome? I didn't figure out what the "secret ingredient" was (the one Reid was looking for) and was pleasantly surprised by that. Sometimes I'm able to figure out the mystery too soon and it ruins the book for me. Of course, looking back I'm all "I sooooo should have seen that!". Not much catches me off guard anymore and I kinda like that feeling. :) I did however know who the woman in the beginning of the book was right off the bat. I don't think that was supposed to be a surprise though.

I was going to give this book three stars, meaning I liked it and will definitely be seeking out more from this author and series. But the final few twists in this book made me up the rating by half. The author does a great job setting up what I hope will be future books in this series. I already think I know who the couples will be, but obviously this is just my Nancy Drew like senses going all tingly. Or is that Spiderman? Whatever. Anyways, I think I have an idea and hope I am right!

Here are the purchase links:

Deceiving the Witch Next Door (Entangled Covet) at Amazon
Deceiving the Witch Next Door at BN
Deceiving the Witch Next Door at Goodreads


*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

ARC Review: Elite (Eagle Elite, #1) by Rachel Van Dyken

Title: Elite (Eagle Elite, #1)
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Publisher: Forever 
Publication Date: July 9, 2013

My Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars

From Goodreads:

For Tracey Rooks, life with her grandparents on a Wyoming farm has always been simple. But after her grandmother's death, Tracey is all her grandfather has. So when Eagle Elite University announces its annual scholarship lottery, Tracey jumps at the opportunity to secure their future and enters. She isn't expecting much-but then she wins. And life as she knows it will never be same . . .

The students at Eagle Elite are unlike any she's ever met . . . and they refuse to make things easy for her. There's Nixon, gorgeous, irresistible, and leader of a group that everyone fears: The Elect. Their rules are simple. 1. Do not touch The Elect. 2. Do not look at The Elect. 3. Do not speak to The Elect. No matter how hard she tries to stay away, The Elect are always around her and it isn't long until she finds out the reason why they keep their friends close and their enemies even closer. She just didn't realize she was the enemy -- until it was too late.

My Thoughts:

Alright, first things first. This is a series. Instead of an HEA and based on the preview chapter, this ends with a HFN.  I really hope this doesn't get drawn out. As most of you know, I hate cliffhangers. Especially relationship cliffhangers. And though this doesn't end with a cliffy, it does end with that feeling of, "uh oh, things look like they could go very, very wrong."

Now, all that being said, you'd think I disliked the book, right? Well, you'd be wrong. I liked it. It had this great Romeo and Juliet feel to it that I loved (without the suicide of course) and reminded me a lot of the Vampire Academy books which I absolutely freaking loved.

Let's chat about our main characters, shall we?  Tracey Rooks get into this all exclusive college by, allegedly, writing a stellar essay. It's made clear that Tracey is the school's charity case. Oh yeah, she is not liked. One thing that drove me up a wall was when Tracey actually believed Nixon was a jerk, when he had freaking just talked to her and explained what he was going to have to do. She got all pissed and depressed and I literally wanted to smack her in the face. I mean, "hello?! The guy just told you what he was going to do and now you're ready to give up?! Get a clue!" And yes, I was talking to my Nook. But I couldn't help it, it was frustrating. Don't judge me!

Nixon. He might be the youngest alphahole I've ever read. He was such a jerk. Such a major, freaking jerk! At first I couldn't believe he was the hero, but then, as the story unfolded, it all came together. There was a method to his alphahole-ness (definitely not a word, but you get the idea!) He was, in his own way, doing what he had to do to protect his woman. What neither he nor Tracey realized until a pivotal point in the book is that they share a history. Nixon was a perfect blend of protective, broken, hot hero and I love him. Almost as much as I love Dimitri from the Vampire Academy series and so that's a lot!

Moving on to...Chase. *sighs* What can I say about him? He's the one thrown into the middle and based on the preview for the second book, is going to cause Nixon and Tracey trouble. I want to like him, cause he's hot and well, he;s Chase. But just knowing what his role is in the book and the "part" he will play, I can't. In fact, I loathe him. (I dislike drawn out love triangles just about as much as I dislike cliffhangers.)

The rest of the secondary characters were interesting and I look forward to reading more about them. Phoenix, though, seriously, someone, i.e. Nixon, should have shot him. What a lying, assaulting, jack ass. I hate him, like loads. And lastly, once or twice I felt the narrative was disjointed or didn't quite fit. I was confused about Tracey's grandfather and it just didn't seem right he was lying to her the whole time. And also, the hate between him and Nixon over their shared family history just didn't ring true. I would have preferred to see them as a united front for Tracey's sake. He also just happened to show up out of the blue which was, in a word, odd. But none of that was enough to distract me from the book or stop me from wanting to read more.

Elect, the second in the Eagle Elite  series is scheduled to debut December 10, 2013. That's seems like a long time from now but I can be patient. I think. I really am looking forward to it and hope we get some final resolution between Nixon and Tracey. They're meant to be!

Here are the links for info and/or to purchase:

• Elite (Eagle Elite) at Goodreads
• Elite (Eagle Elite) via Amazon
• Elite (Eagle Elite) via Barnes and Noble 

*I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

ARC August: Setting Goals to Tackle My Pile of ARCs

ARC August is a challenge for all of us reviwers out there who may have gotten a little bit behind in reading ARCs. Or, perhaps a lot behind. Don't worry. I won't judge. As Ocativa says on the ARC August post, "type up a post just saying you’re participating then add your link in the linky below! The post can be as detailed (how many ARC’s you have, etc.) or as simple as you want just make sure your mention this post so other people can join!"

And what does one get at the end of ARC August? Well, for one, the knowledge that your ARC to-be-read pile is smaller. And for two, the chance to win a $20 dollar gift card via Read, Sleep, Repeat.

So I'm joining up and this is my goal for the month:

Read and prepare reviews for 11 books and schedule for posting in either August or September, depending on release date.  

This goal, or set of goals rather, should ensure that I stay up to date with the ARCs I have to read and review and also that I not only read, but actually prepare the posts. The latter is the hardest part for me. It shouldn't be, since I make notes and highlights and all that while reading, but it is. My hope is that the ARC August Challenge will help me get on top of that! (Note: not all of these are ARCs. Some are earlier books in a series that I have the current book in ARC format for. By reading the ARC and preparing the review,, VOILA! My ARC pile decreases!)

Here is a sampling, but not all, of the books and ARCs I will be reading this month with the reviews *hopefully" going up in the months of August and September (again, depends on the release dates):





So, are you participating in ARC August? What are your goals for the months. Or do you want to join in? Click HERE to go to the post that explains the rules and don't forget to include the link to your goal post on that page!

Book Review: Red (Transplanted Tales, #1) by Kate Serine

Title: Red (Transplanted Tales, #1)
Author: Katie SeRine
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Publication Date: August 2, 2012

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

From Goodreads:

“My name is Tess Little. But everyone calls me Red.”

Once upon a time, a spell went awry, stranding Make Believe characters in the ordinary world. Since then, Tess “Red” Little—a/k/a Little Red Riding Hood—has worked as an Enforcer for the Chicago branch of the Fairytale Management Authority. But, consider yourself warned—she’s not just some waif with a basket of goodies. All grown up and with nothing to lose, a gun and combat boots is more her style. And Red’s new assignment threatens to be short on happily ever afters…

Someone is murdering transplanted Tales in gruesome fashion. The list of fictional characters capable of such grisly acts is short and includes more than one of Red’s old flames. And if that wasn’t bad enough, there’s another complication, in the form of sexy, enigmatic Nate Grimm, the FMA’s lead detective and part-time Reaper. Used to following her own rules and living life on the edge, Red has managed to avoid taking on a partner until now. But Nate’s dark side makes him perfect for a case like this. That is, if she can trust him. Because if there’s one thing Red knows for sure, it’s that believing in the wrong person can have big, bad consequences…


My Thoughts:

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I freaking loved this book. I'd heard this book was more UF than PNR and that the romance aspect was "lite". So I kept putting it off. Well, after reading, I just have to say that I'm clearly an idiot.

The main characters weren't all about ripping off each other's clothes (though you knew they both wanted to!) but holy moly this author can build sexual tension like nobody's business. And the story itself-the Tales being tranplanted to the Here and Now and what happened to all our favorite fairy tale and literary characters was superb. I nearly choked when I found out what Snow does in the Here and Now. And Nicky?! Loved that turn but I will say, what happened in Red, I balled my eyes out. That was absolutely heart-breaking. And Juliet (though, I wonder what happened to Romeo!?!). And we can;t forget about the Big Bad Wolf, Cinderella and her Prince Charming (Oh, what a jerk!) and the fairy godmother.

I can't wait to read the next installment of this series and find out about Lavender and Seth. My heart broke for both of them in the first book and I was seriously conflicted about who Seth should end up with. But Nate, well Nate was loyal, true and just awesome. Even if he is a Reaper. I loved their connection and when I found out the "true" story of Red and how she was cast out of her village I was really hoping that her savior was who he turned out to be. I think I even heaved a great big, satisfied sigh when it was confirmed.

Thank you to the author, Kate SeRine, for restoring my faith in Urban Fantasy and proving that UF can rock your world with a kick butt heroine who isn't afraid to be vulnerable AND have a smoking hot romance (and romantic tension) between the main characters.

To purchase this book or for more information, check out the links at:

or: Barnes & Noble / Goodreads 

*This book was a self-purchase. All opinions are my own*

ARC Review: The Silver Chain (The Unbreakable Trilogy, #1) by Primula Bond

Title: The Silver Chain
Author: Primula Bond
Publication: Mischief
Publication Date: July 4, 2013

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

From Goodreads:

Bound by passion, she was powerless to resist.

One dark evening in London, photographer Serena Folkes is indulging her impulsive side with a night-time shoot. But someone is watching her – mysterious entrepreneur Gustav Levi. Serena doesn’t know it yet, but this handsome stranger will change her life forever…

Serena is fascinated by Gustav, the enigmatic owner of the Levi Gallery, and she soon feels an irresistible pull of attraction. The interest is mutual, and Gustav promises to launch Serena’s photographic career at his gallery, but only if Serena agrees to become his exclusive companion.

To mark their agreement, Gustav gives Serena a bracelet to wear at all times. Attached to it is a silver chain of which he is the keeper. With the chain Gustav controls Serena physically and symbolically – a sign that she is under his power.

As their passionate relationship intensifies, Gustav’s hold on the silver chain grows stronger. But will Gustav’s dark past tear them apart?

A seductive and beautifully written novel for erotic romance fans. The Silver Chain is the first in the sexy, passionate and addictive Unbreakable Trilogy by Primula Bond.

My Thoughts:  

Oh, where do I start with this book. I was really conflicted the entire time I read it-going from loving it to having to put it aside for a breather over several days. Usually I can main line a book in a day. With this one, no way. My brain might have exploded.

So first, let me begin with the good.

I loved the characters; I loved the set-up, and loved the symbolism of the silver chain. The silver chain and how the two characters used it, and eventually relied on it in a way, to show their connection was beautiful. As was the simple way Gustav would hook it to Serena's bracelet.  I also was impressed by the prose. The author really does have a way with words and from the first page I can see that this author is a real talent.

What about the main character, Gustav. Holy heck that man was swoon-worthy from the first time he steps onto the scene! I also enjoyed the British slang. For some it might be a bit difficult to cut through, but for me, who loves all things British (especially the accents!) I loved hearing the authenticity it brought to the heroine's voice. I felt the heroine was great too. She was enthralled, obsessed, attracted to, and intimidated by the hero but yet she still had her own personality and you could see it throughout the book.

So, what didn't I like?

There was too much of the main character inside her head. Like I mentioned, I loved the prose. This author's writing is something that I don't see very often so that in and of itself is impressive. I loved the intensity and realism she brought to the descriptions of the setting, clothing, scenery, people, etc. However at times (and sadly there were a bit too many of them throughout this book) I felt like I was drowning in the words, and not in a good way. And the constant internal dialogue, the heroine's constant inner thoughts and struggles, distracted from the story itself. It came to a point where the narrative seemed to be lost and because of this I ended up skimming large chunks of pages. This internal dialogue of the main character could have, and should have, been cut down to allow for more interaction and dialogue between Serena and the other characters.

And last, there is a cliffhanger. I really do not like cliffhangers. This one however was not all that bad so I can't say that I disliked the ending completely. In fact, it really didn't bother or leave me with a feeling "son of a *itch now I have to wait a gazillion months for the next in the series!"  I am so incredibly thankful for that. Also, the big reveal wasn't much of a big reveal for me. I figured out almost immediately (and very early on) what the twist was and instead of guessing I just kept waiting for that particular shoe to drop.  This ending felt more like the end of a TV episode. This is much better than an ending where the reader is left wondering about the state of the relationship. Sure, there are likely to be some angsty times ahead-it's a trilogy after all. But it seems to be angst that I will be able to live with. I'm not sure when the second book comes out but I will be reading it to see how things turn out between Gustav and Serena.

Here are the purchase links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

*I received this ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*

ARC Review: Lions, Tigers and Sexy Bears Oh My! by Candace Havens

Title: Lions, Tigers, and Sexy Bears Oh My!
Author: Candace Havens
Publisher: Entangled Covet
Publication Date: July 22, 2013

My Rating:  4 out of 5 Stars

From Goodreads:

A Montana town where no one is who they seem....  Everything about runaway heiress Ainsley McLeon screamed trouble—from her luscious midnight locks to her Louboutin-clad toes.  Yet sexy, stoic bar owner Luc couldn’t deny the instant connection he felt to the tempting stranger…or the long-dead feelings she evoked.  She could work in his pub until her truck was fixed but after that she had to leave town for good.  Ainsley traveled with her own emotional baggage and there was no way she'd fall for the bear-tempered Luc...no matter how many passionate nights she spent in his bed or how safe she felt in his muscular arms. Can these two opposites find love in the middle of a blizzard, or will Luc's darker side and Ainsley's past catch up with them?

My Thoughts:

After reading this book I'm left with the overwhelming urge to read more books about hot, alpha bear shifters. Actually, hot, alpha bear shifters who are not only hot, but are also strong, protective, growly and, oh yeah, hot. Is that too much to ask? If it is then I guess this book will be getting a lot of re-reads because at this point I just can't get enough of Luc.

Before I get into the meat of this review let me first say that Shifter books tend to be hit or miss for me. Either the author hits it out of the park or it ends up feeling like a romance with people who can shift. I'm happy to say that with this book the author nailed it and though it might not be a home run, it's at least a triple!

We first meet Ainsley as she's driving through a blizzard. She crashes her vehicle when she spots a tiger, yes a tiger, and she's pretty certain she's going to freeze to death or be tiger food. Thankfully for purposes of the story, this doesn't happen. Instead, this encounter puts her in the path of Luc, the sexy, brooding, grumpy, alpha who's a bear shifter. Yes, I said a bear.

And despite there only being only 164 pages to this story Ms. Havens packs the book with both emotion and sexy times that burn up the pages. Though it did get a bit annoying that Ainsley was pretty perfect in every way and in everything she did (or seemed to be for a good portion of the book), I still liked her. (Except for one portion which I will refer you to later in the review.)  The plot was good for a book of this length and even though the romance happened quickly, this is almost always the case when it comes to shifter books so I didn't mind a bit.

Besides, how could you not fall head over heels with one look at a tall, dark, handsome, grumpy bear of a man?! *wink*

The book also had it's humorous moments. When Ainsley gave the troublemakers at the bar a talking to (and a bit more!) for being obnoxious, she cracked me up. As did Luc's reaction. Here was Ainsley, a woman who was born and bred in Beverly Hills, working in a dive bar and telling a bunch of shifters to behave. It wasn't cheesy or out of place either. With Ainsley's character and who she was, it totally fit.

Most of the suspense part of the story takes place off screen. We hear about it but we don't get much with guns a-blazing. This is good since it's not an overly long book and so the focus is on Ainsley and Luc instead. The biggest problem I did have with the story was when Luc and Ainsley made things a bit overly complicated. Or rather, Ainsley did.  As is often the case in these kinds of books, miscommunication occurs and the happy couple is not so happy for a time. I was not happy at all with how Ainsley handled things. Sure Luc freaked out. This is normal. Hell, anyone would have that kind of reaction but with what Luc went through how he reacted was totally acceptable.  And he tried to apologize. Repeatedly. But instead of understanding this Ainsley played games and one point seemed to be testing Luc. When this happened, I was seriously pissed off at her. I think given the field I work in I am especially sensitive to this situation  (and I know I'm being vague about what happened between the main characters but I don't want to give it away!) so maybe this is why I had the negative reaction I did. Maybe others won't be bothered it. But it just is not a trope I'm found of.  So I was eternally grateful that it didn't last that long and was resolved without too much delay.

The only issue in terms of editing/narration I had were that, at one point I thought the setting was in Montana. But then they mention going to Upstate New York and then back home in a day. I re-read those parts a few times, thinking I got it wrong, and I'm still not sure. Maybe my eyes were tired at the time or I totally read it wrong. Whatever the case, it doesn't really matter in the end and it didn't distract too much from the overall story. It was the events that took place during this time -not the specific location- that was important.

Oh, and there is an epilogue. I loved it. I'm not sure if this book will be part of a series or not but I am kind of hoping it is. I really liked the world the author built and of course Ian needs to find his mate!

And now, after reading this book, I'm on a shifter kick. I need to find some more PNR-shifter books like this-a well written, tight plot. careful world building and interesting, fun and sexy characters.  Have any suggestions? Let me know in the comments!

*I received this ARC from the publisher, Entangled Covet, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Review: Causing Havoc (SBC Fighters, #1) by Lori Foster

Title: Causing Havoc (SBC Fighters, #1)
Author: Lori Foster
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: February 6, 2007

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

From Goodreads:

Orphaned and torn from his sisters as a boy, sexy extreme wrestler Dean "Havoc" Conor gets a letter revealing how much his siblings want him back in Harmony, Kentucky. To stop his sister from marrying a sleazeball, Dean finds himself teaming up with her pretty-but-smart-mouthed friend Eve-who's heard of Havoc's reputation and doesn't need some hunk trampling on her heart. Now all Dean has to do is protect his sisters, win Eve over, and expose a devious criminal. And he thought winning the heavyweight belt was hard.

My Thoughts:

This book absolutely blew me away. I know. I tend to gush and gush and gush about my favorite books. And this one is certainly added to that list.

It had been on one of my TBR lists for awhile now. But I wasn't sure if I'd like it so I kept hesitating. Then I found a copy at the local library and thought "Hey! I can read the first in the series and see if I like it first!". Brilliant thought. I know. LOL

So that's what I did and I am so glad.

The story is about Dean "Havoc" Conor and reconnecting with his sisters. The back story regarding Dean and his family is heartbreaking. The fact these siblings were separated was a tragedy and what they each went through and how they dealt with their reunion seemed as realistic as a fiction novel could get. Dean fought his brotherly feelings, his anger sometimes clouding his judgement as he struggled with his new emotions. He also had to protect himself. Or so he thought.

One of the best parts of the books though was Gregor. Although he was a fellow fighter and wanted a match with Dean, he was also his friend. And he was also funny, strong, protective and fell hard for a certain woman in the book. Their courtship was cute, as was Dean's reaction to it. I'm not going to reveal who Gregor's love interest is, you'll have to read it to find out. But it was nicely done and didn't feel out of place with the rest of the story.

Okay, now on to the main characters-Dean and Eve. These two met and there was a definite spark between them. They didn't even know who the other was (Eve was Cam -one of Dean's sister's- best friend) but they knew they wanted each other. And wanted each other badly. When the connection is made, although there is a bit of hesitation from Eve, Dean is very convincing and the two explore their relationship. So many romances have the main characters waffling back and forth, pushing and pulling at each other. This wasn't the case in Causing Havoc and this was refreshing.  And the intimate scenes between Eve and Dean? Well, let's just say that Lori Foster can write a sex scene that can burn up the pages with it's intensity.

The plot itself, involving some mysterious things that start to happen when Dean arrives in town and reunites with his sister, isn't something that was difficult to figure out. By the time I was at the half way mark I was able to narrow the baddie down to two people. I will say that I was leaning towards the wrong person by the end, but I didn't mind this. I liked the surprise. The only real issue I had with this book was with Cam's wanna be fiance. He really annoyed me and of all the characters, I felt he was very cartoon-like. Whenever he had dialogue all I could think about was the guy from Popeye who was always trying to get his girl. Ya know who I'm talking about-that Bluto guy. Because of this, I was very surprised by the ending and how things worked out with Cam and Roger.(Again, I won't say what that ending was so as to not spoil it. You'll just have to read it to find out!)

Here are some of the purchase/informational links for the book: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

So, have you read CAUSING HAVOC? What did you think? Is this a book you think pick up? Are there any other books out there with "fighter" Heroes I should check out? Let me know in the comments! 

*This book was a self-purchase and I was not in any way compensated for, or even asked, to review this book. All opinions are my own*

The Sunday Post [2]

 

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. 

~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~

It's a chance to share News. 

A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog. 

This is your news post, so personalize it! Include as much as you want or as little. Be creative, it can be a vlog or just a showcase of your goodies. 

This week was crazy, no?! The crazy started on Monday and I swear it didn't stop all week. It didn't help I've been run down from this cold and have been trying to get the house ready for the Uninvited who are coming on Tuesday. I call them the Uninvited because, well, they are. I'm trying not to be mean but they never called to ask me about staying at the house. I mean, I just live here. Why would that be important? Instead they went through my Mom and Aunt who said yes and THEN told me they were coming. Yeah, I know it sounds wacky. It's more than a bit complicated but the bottom line is, they're coming here. Tuesday. For 10 days. Please someone send the wine and hard liquor. And hey, is someone builds me a panic room in 24 hours so I can hide, I might even share the booze.

But despite the stress of it all, I did get a lot of reading, writing and even some reviewing done. Here's this past week, in review:

Books Read/Reviewed Last Week

A Week To Be Wicked (Spindle Cove #2) by Tessa Dare: I read this awhile ago but somehow this was still in the draft folder.  I wonder where my brain is sometimes. *sighs* Anyways, this is a red hot, 5 star historical romance. I really love this series.

Behind Closed Doors (McCloud & Friends, #1) by Shannon McKenna: Holy hell this book had me so conflicted I didn't know whether to keep reading half the time or hide under the covers. It was good but I did have a few issues here and there. Thankfully none of those issues are enough to stop me from adding the next in this series to the TBR list!

I also read Causing Havoc by Lori Foster this week. I just finished last night and let me tell you, this book was un-put-down-able. Yes, I'm going to somehow make that a word. I took it to my niece's softball game last night because I had to finish it. Look for this review on the blog soon!

What I'm Reading

At the moment I don't have a book that I'm currently in the middle of which is definitely out of the ordinary for me! But tonight I am going to start tackling one of the ARCs I received this week. Or maybe I'll start that tomorrow and instead grab one of Kristen Ashley's or Maya Banks' Highlander book to re-read. I'm feeling a comfort read coming on! 

Stacking The Shelves

I have a vitural back ache from the book haul I took in this week. Between netgalley invites, Read Now options and ARCs direct from publishers, I have enough to review to last quite awhile. The good thing is that based on the release dates of the books I'm able to spread out the reading and the reviewing over the next 6 weeks or so. For the titles I bought, borrowed or was asked to review, check out my post HERE.

ROW80 Update

Write/Revise 5 hours per week: I've been writing like crazy to catch up on my Camp NaNo deficit. Thankfully, I'm just about there. I need to write just over 1K words a day to make my 30K word goal for Camp.
Blog a minimum of one book review per week, here and/or on Goodreads: I reviewed two books on the blog this week; see the links above!
Blog once per week on something that isn't a book review or ROW80 update: Done! It seems that, so far, this ends up being Saturday's Stacking the Shelves post, which is fine with me because I've met some great folks through this meme! :D
Post my Sunday ROW80 Update: Done!
Organize my WiP Plan via Excel: Errrr, ummmmm, well, let's just skip this task for now, shall we? *grins sheepishly* I'm stuck on this mainly because I can't quite figure out how to do a tracking thingy (yeah I know, I said thingy) for the WiPs within the spreadsheet. I need to do more research on this and hopefully next week I will have a more productive update.

Next week I plan on keeping the same goals but I'm going to add 2 hours to my writing schedule. I want to get in about 1 hour of writing every day so I can get back into the habit of daily writing.

Not exactly exciting, I know, but I'm pretty happy with my Camp NaNo progress. I, sadly, don't have any awesome llama gifs to share this week, but I'll work on something just as awesome for next week. Until then, have a great week and if you're doing ROW80 and/or Camp NaNo, good luck! 

Review: Behind Closed Doors (McCloud & Friends, #1) by Shannon McKenna

Title: Behind Closed Doors (McCloud & Friends, #1)
Author: Shannon McKenna
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication Date: October 1, 2003

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

From Goodreads:

Someone's watching...

Surveillance expert Seth Mackey knows everything about the women his millionaire boss, Victor Lazar, toys with—and tosses aside. But Lazar's latest plaything, Raine Cameron, is different. Beautiful. Vulnerable. And innocent. Just looking at her triggers a white-hot passion Seth can barely control as night after night, he watches her on a dozen different video screens. Raine is pure temptation, but Seth can't slip up: he's convinced Lazar had his half-brother murdered. His secret investigation—and his life—are on the line. But then he finds out that Raine may be Lazar's next victim...

Raine knows she's being watched—but no one can see the secrets in her heart. She has reasons of her own to seek revenge on Victor Lazar, and she will, despite her fear—and the distracting presence of Seth Mackey. His fiercely masculine good looks and animal sensuality stir her fantasies when she's alone...and lead her to a bold plan. Offering her body to him, surrendering totally to his ruthless desire, might well push her beyond all emotional limits—and beyond fear itself.

My Thoughts:

Wowza. I've read a lot of books. Like, seriously, a lot. And usually I know how a book is going to go. After all, I generally read books with happily ever afters so, ya know, I have certain expectations.

Well, this one certainly threw me for one helluva loop.

Don't get me wrong, there's still a satisfying ending. More than satisfying. I loved to see how the hero grew emotionally and how the heroine got stronger (also emotionally).  But the way the author gets you there, well, fasten your seat belts people, cause you'll be in for a ride with this one.

As you can tell from the blurb above, our hero, Seth, is more than a little obsessed with the heroine, Raine. Raine has secrets; Seth has secrets; Victor has secrets; Alix and Ed have secrets. Hell, let me just put this way:  everyone has secrets! And untangling those secrets is where the intrigue and suspense comes in. Half the time I didn't know whether I was coming or going, and like Seth, was suspicious of everyone's motive. I think that when it comes to romantic suspense, having the reader connect like that is the mark of a great storyteller. And even though as the book progressed and I knew who the players were -the good, the bad and the ugly- I was still being surprised, again in a good way most of the time, by the actions and responses of the characters.

Now, let's talk about Seth's obsession. Many readers have issues with Seth and think he's a crazy, psycho, perverted stalker. And in the first 50 pages I have to say, I was on their side. But it must be said that he doesn't start out obsessing over Raine. At first, what we learn from his back story, is that Seth is obsessing over the death of his brother and trying to avenge him. Raine just happens to get in the way and Seth, seeing something good for the first time in, well, ever really, latches on.  I admit, at first it's not healthy. but the good thing is that his voyeurism only lasts a short while. He sees Raine, watches her and then, putting his plan in motion, decides he wants her.  So it's not like he's lurking in bushes and windows for most of the book, which is what I was expecting based on what others have said. Seth is suspicious, doesn't trust anyone, and certainly doesn't love anyone, but seeing Raine makes something click inside of him and things start to change rather quickly.

And I have to also add that, what was a pleasant surprise about this book is that the hero and heroine actually talked through things, including the surveillance. After all, Seth's equipment was at the house before Raine moved there as he worked on his revenge plan so it's not like he set out to watch her. She happened upon his operation with the McCloud brothers, and well, you'll have to read the rest to find out the intricacies of where the plot goes from there.

So, sure Seth acted rash and like a paranoid freak a few times, but Raine was always there, forcing him to talk, to confront his feelings about the two of them and his brother, and pushing him away from the shadows that had dogged him all his life. And we can't forget that Raine herself isn't perfect. Raine has her own motives, her own secrets to drive her to get tangled in the stupidest, most asinine revenge plan (if you can even call it that) she could possibly think up. There were times, especially in the early part of the book, that I wanted to slap Raine in the head, and hard, because of her dumb ass-ery.  (Yes, I'm making that a word).  She had such a major TSTL moments at one point I was hoping the bad guy got her but Seth -the protective, paranoid alpha- was there to save her behind. Again.

I will say this though. Something happened around 80% into the book. Raine found some backbone and strength and went balls to the wall (theoretically of course since she doesn't exactly have balls) to save herself and Seth (or well, that was the plan anyways). This was when my feelings for her started to change and I didn't want the bad guys to get her anymore. Whether they did or not...well, you'll have to read the book to find out.

You may be wondering how I could possibly fall for a possibly crazy hero like Seth Mackey. Well, that's an easy inquiry to respond to. First, he wasn't just crazy and obsessive. He was also protective, strong, and sometimes even sweet. But it was also the hot, no holds barred, seriously panty-melting sex. Ms. McKenna knows how to make the pages, and my Nook, melt with her prose, let me tell you.

The author also does a great job writing the technological side of things, explaining all Seth and the McCloud boys' technology that they use in their investigation. She also writes a kick ass fight scene that had me a bit worried for our hero.

So all in all this book didn't scare me as much as I thought it would. Or rather, Seth didn't.  I will definitely be reading the second in this series and look forward to other work by this author.

Here are the purchase and Goodreads links:  Amazon /  Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

*This book was a self-purchase and I was not in any way compensated for, or even asked, to review this book. All opinions are my own*

Book Review: A Week To Be Wicked (Spindle Cove, #2) by Tessa Dare

Title: A Week To Be Wicked (Spindle Cove #2)
Author: Tessa Dare
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: March 27, 2012

My Rating: 5 out of 5 amazing, shining, stupendous stars!

From Goodreads:

Minerva Highwood, one of Spindle Cove’s confirmed spinsters, needs to be in Scotland. Colin Sandhurst, Lord Payne, a rake of the first order, needs to be…anywhere but Spindle Cove.

These unlikely partners have one week to

• fake an elopement
• convince family and friends they’re in “love”
• outrun armed robbers
• survive their worst nightmares
• travel four hundred miles without killing each other
All while sharing a very small carriage by day and an even smaller bed by night.

What they don’t have time for is their growing attraction. Much less wild passion. And heaven forbid they spend precious hours baring their hearts and souls.

Suddenly one week seems like exactly enough time to find a world of trouble. And maybe . . . just maybe . . . love.

My Thoughts:

How is it that I find a book that is even better than the first in the series?! I mean, I didn't actually think this could be better than the first but it seriously, freaking was! Minerva...Minerva is in my top five of heroines. I want, and hope, to see her in more books about Spindle Cove. Her insecurities, the way her mother is just awful in the things she says to her, and her belief that all she has to offer the world, or anyone, is her mind made me connect with her in so many ways. She hides behind her brain, and is unable to acknowledge (mostly because of how she was raised and the "rules" of society) that she could ever attract a man, let alone a man like Colin.

As for Colin...well he was a rake, a dog and a skirt chaser. But when he got a glimpse of Min and who she really was, when she let her guard down for just a moment, he was hooked. And I loved how he was with her: gentle, kind (for the most part), and patient (again, for the most part). There were times, yeah, that he wasn't so much!) I fell for him hard, as did Minerva, and their journey together was beautiful.

It was the ending though that really struck a chord for me. I was unprepared for it and had certain expectations for this book. As do most who read historical romances. There was what I see as a twist in this story, and I absolutely loved it. I won't give it away but I was happy to that both Colin and Minerva knew that they had to face reality and do things the right away.

I loved this book and the series itself just keeps getting better and better. It also is going onto my re-read shelf!

*This book was a self-purchase and I was not in any way compensated for, or even asked, to review this book. All opinions are my own*