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: Luck of the Dragon by Susannah Scott

Title: Luck of the Dragon
Author: Susannah Scott
Publisher: Entangled Covet
Publication Date: June 24, 2013

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

From Goodreads:

Luciana de Luca has a PhD in sass and gemology—and a problem. Her twin brother’s gambling debts have gotten out of hand, and a mob enforcer is blackmailing her to rob the latest, greatest mega-casino on the Strip. Although Lucy has worked her whole life to get away from her family’s grifter past, to save her brother, she dons three-inch heels and a sluts-r-us dress and struts into Alec’s Gerald’s casino, determined to put her long-forgotten thieving ways to the test again.

Alec Gerald, a shape-shifting dragon, has built the Crown Jewel casino to provide sanctuary for his people amongst the flash and awe of Las Vegas. Unfortunately, the sexy little thief trying to steal his largest diamond exhibit turns out to be his mate, and he must woo her before he loses his dragon form forever. But before he can handcuff her to his bed and explain the details of a mating ceremony, an enemy attacks and threatens to destroy his casino, his people, and his newfound mate.

My Thoughts:

Let me start out by saying that this is the first book I think I've ever read with a dragon shifter. And after reading this, I want to read more of them. So after the last shifter book I read and reviewed (Lions, Tigers and Sexy Bears Oh My!) I not only want more bear shifters to read about, but more dragon ones too. *shakes head* I know, I have issues.

Moving on.

The world that the author built here and presents to the reader is intriguing. It revolves around the lore of the dragons and how they came to be, in this book, living in Las Vegas. The backstory and information we're given is well put together and interesting. I wasn't jarred out of the story by info dumps either. It was just enough to give the reader the information that was needed to understand the plot while also leaving me with a feeling that I want to know more, learn more, about this world. (So yeah, you can guess I am hoping for more in this series, maybe about the rest of the dragons we were introduced to, because there was some awesome story potential there!)

The characters themselves, well, let's talk about them. Alec was awesome. He was the leader of the dragons and knows, shortly after meeting Lucy, that she is his mate. Alec wants her and he wants her to come to grips with the fact that he is a dragon.

Well, easier said than done. I mean, come on. What modern girl is just going to be all "oh yeah, you're a dragon? That's cool. Let's mate and have dragon shifter babies or whatever they would be called."  Of course she needs time. That's understandable and so I totally agree with her hesitation, to a point.

What wasn't understandable for me was Lucy's continued actions after she finds out about Alec and the depth of his feelings for her. In her blind need to protect her idiot brother (and yes, I said idiot. I'm not being harsh enough in fact because he was that much of an arse) she betrayed Alec. Even if she couldn't be okay with the dragon thing, which give a girl a break not many would be able to handle that, she still should not have done what she did.

And what ticked me off the most was that Alec forgave her. Well wait, that's not accurate. I'm fine that he forgave her because I wanted them to have an HEA. But it was the way it came out, the execution of it, that bothered me. One  minute Alec was royally pissed off, and the next he seemed fine and able to trust her again. It all happened so quickly it left me kind of shocked. I had to actually go back and re-read that part to see if there were pages missing. I mean, really?! Lucy did that and he, in a matter of hours, is all, "oh that's okay honey, I trust you with my secret dragon secrets and we can be mates now. You're totally trustworthy." Um, hello?! Excuse me?! Are you serious? Do you, Alec, not remember what she did?!

I mean, seriously. After reading all that and closing in on the resolution, Alec's sudden turn around just did not seem to jive with who Alec had been made out to be throughout the story. I wanted to see Lucy work for his trust, do something to earn it and redeem herself for what she did. I also wanted to see her finally tell her brother (the stupid, jerk who got her into the mess to begin with) to take a hike but instead she was all cool with what had happened. Or seemed to be. This was another moment where my eyes almost bugged out of my head. The whole resolution just made the story fall a bit flat, sadly. And this sucked, cause I was liking it, a lot, up to that point.

Honestly, I think this book would have benefited from being longer in order to accomplish a resolution that worked better and fit with the character development. Yet, and even in spite of my issues with the book, I didn't dislike it. As I said, I like it, it just left me a bit unsatisfied in the end. And it won't stop me from hoping for more books about the dragons or reading future books by this author.

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

What about you? Have you read any dragon shifter books I should add to my TBR? Did you read Luck of the Dragon? What did you think? Sound off in the comments below!

*I received this ARC from the publisher, Entangled Covet, 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*

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*

Book Review: Breaking Point (I-Team #5) by Pamela Clare

Breaking Point by Pamela Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gee-zus! Just when I thought that there could be no hero to top the awesome Marc Hunter or Gabe Rossiter, I buy Breaking Point and am blown the freak away by Zach McBride. Holy heck that man is the alpha to top all alphas in the I-Team series thus far and has flown to the #1 spot of book boyfriends.

I know, it's a bit gushy, but this man was so strong, so protective of Natalie, and had such a big heart I was blown away by him. But it wasn't just the man's alpha tendencies and need to protect Natalie. It was how he believed in Natalie and knew she could handle the things he asked her to do. He was gentle with her but firm, helping her to find an inner strength inside her she barely knew existed and by cultivating that strength they were able to get out of the hell they'd both been in (and I'm talking literally, as in being kidnapped and tortured as well as emotionally with their past and PTSD issues), together.

On to some other things that blew me away about this book:
At one point I thought the author was going to kill one of the prior heroes. I couldn't breathe the whole time as I read as fast as I could to find out what happened. Talk about nearly having an anxiety attack.
I cried at the Marc and Julian scene. I love those two and their banter cracks me up and I love their relationship.
The portrayal of both main characters and their issues with PTSD was solid and wasn't glossed over. The readers were given glimpses of how both characters handled (and mishandled) their issue, and by coming together during Natalie's kidnapping, began to heal. I also was happy to see that the issues didn't just go away. Zach still had nightmares, they just weren't as bad.
The scene at the cemetery-balled like a baby. I also did this when Zach spoke to the picture of Beau when they were in the penthouse. (Before all hell broke loose)
The torture scenes (of Zach) scared the hell out of me. And the author didn't portray Zach as someone who could get out of every situation like MacGyver. He suffered, and that suffering was palpable in the descriptions and actions of the characters.
I love catching up with the I-Team gang. I'm sad that I've read all the novels that are out there and will now have to patiently wait for Striking Distance in November 2013. Did I say patiently? Yeah, I don't know about that...

I've read some of the reviews and was surprised at how, when this book came out, people were upset by what Natalie decided to do once all hell stopped breaking loose around her. Deciding to leave her job and stay at home I think was a good decision for her. I'm not saying that I think all women should stay home and wait on their husbands. And in no way did I read the author as promoting this. For this character, after the hell she'd been through in Hurricane Katrina and then everything that happened when she was kidnapped in Mexico, it makes total sense that she just wants to be there 100% for her man and eventually for her kids. I thought the explanation and her reasoning was more than sufficient and anyone who gets pissed about it or says that the character is somehow giving her hubby control, or it's anti-feminism, and the like, is just wrong. If a woman decides the best choice FOR HER is to stay home and focus on her family, then more power to her. And no one should look down on a woman that chooses this, but women especially shouldn't. The sisterhood needs to stick together after all. Sure, personally I can't say that what Natalie decided would be my cup of tea (though if I had Zach coming home to me every night, I might! LOL) BUT I would want the freedom to be able to make that choice (if I chose to) taken away. Ever. And I wouldn't want to be criticized for it either. Women need to support each other's life choices, even if we don't agree with them. We aren't all cookie cutter versions of each other after all; we have different wants, needs and dreams. So being offended because a woman (and in this case a fictional woman) made a choice to stay home, is baffling to me. Okay, getting off my soapbox now.

If you haven't picked up this series, I highly recommend doing so. It has action, sexy times, suspense, interesting story lines and compelling characters that make the time spent with these characters worthwhile.

*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*


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ARC Review: Fire Inside (Chaos #2) by Kristen Ashley

Fire Inside by Kristen Ashley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure going into this book how KA was going to accomplish everything she had to make this book amazing. How was she going to answer the questions people had about Hop from Motorcycle Man? How would Lanie be made into a KA heroine that her readers could relate to? Could she pull it off and make her readers fall for this hero and heroine, as they had for so many of her fictional couples before them?

I don't know why I had these questions. I should have just trusted the woman. I mean seriously, someone smack me on the side of the head next time I even think of doubting KA's awesomeness and her ability to redeem characters.

First, let's start with Lanie. I did not like her in Motorcycle Man. I thought she was a materialistic, stuck up snob. And I didn't think she could ever do anything to deserve a Chaos hunk. But I was so wrong. After going into FI with trepidation about her character, I quickly saw the layers that went into Lanie and how she might SEEM materialistic and stuck up, but she was using that as a shield. She didn't have a great home life and did a lot of what she did to protect herself, to shield herself from getting hurt the way her father hurt her mother.

Now, let's talk about Hop. Hop in MM did something that many in the KA support addicts group deemed unforgivable. It seemed like, from the events in MM, that he cheated on his wife. During the wait for FI's release, I was one who tried to put my faith in KA and wait and see what the explanation was. After all, in MM we only get a glimpse of the events AND we only get in Tyra's POV. As a Writing instructor I know how important POV is. What one person sees or thinks can be no where near the truth of what is actually happening. Yes, he did have sex with BeeBee in MM. But so did Tack. So that in and of itself didn't make him a bad guy-just a guy with bad taste for the moment. And Tack tells Tyra in MM that she doesn't know the whole story, to leave it alone and that things are what they seem. This was confirmed in Own the Wind (Chaos #1) when Shy and Tabby talk about Hop. But again, in OtW, we don't get all the details and are still in the dark.

In FI, I am happy to say that what happened with Hop and his status during the MM motorcycle incident are realistically explained. KA did not change history or back story. I know some people think that, but she did not. I am adamant about this because the "history" we have in MM and OtW aren't the actual facts. They are perceptions built on assumptions and for Tyra, false assumptions. Tack tried to tell Tyra in MM to let it go.

Sadly she did not. She is what caused the drama (or some of it) for Lanie and Hop. This disappointed me about Tyra and I blame her hanging out with Elvira and Gwen for becoming more of a gossip. She rattles on about Hop to Lanie and Elvira and all hell breaks loose. Lanie runs, flips out on Hop and THEN we get the truth. We find out the most heartbreaking story, something that not only affected him but also his kids, and I was so mad at Tyra for her blabber mouth and Lanie for her idiocy that I wanted to reach into the book and smack them both. Hard. I know it had to happen-we needed the "big misunderstanding" for the truth to come out. But I do wish we saw Tack get pissed at Tyra for doing what she did and not being a good old lady-he told her she had to keep her mouth shut in MM and not to assume. She not only did neither of those things, but she blabbed club business to people she shouldn't have (namely, Elvira).  This was not good MC behavior.

But anyway, it served its purpose and we got the details about Tack and I can happily say he did not cheat. But what happened (i.e. what caused the incident itself and the subsequent mess that not only crushed Hop but could have devastating effects on his kids when they find out the truth; especially for his son) made me cry. And it made me hate his bitch of an ex-wife. Some may call it cliche-having the crazy or horrid ex-wife, but honestly, it's romance. There is always going to be some kind of trope like this used-a stalker, an ex, a crazy step-brother, etc, etc. There needs to be something in the characters' backgrounds that make them act the way they do, and in this case, it hurt to see how badly Hop was betrayed by his wife. And Lanie should have talked to him, not made an assumption and ran, believing Tyra's ridiculous and inaccurate gossip. The subsequent scenes were heart-wrenching and I was a bit worried that our MCs wouldn't get an HEA, or not one that they deserved. But again, my doubts were washed away with an amazing resolution and I loved the epilogue.

One thing I will say about this series is I love how the "action" is being built up. This book runs parallel to Own the Wind so we see the same (and additional) events regarding Benito, but from a different POV.  I'm assuming that things will ratchet up as the series progresses with it ultimately coming to a head in the final book of the series which will focus on Rush. I think there are two more between FI and Rush's book so things I am sure will continue to get interesting.

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



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Book Review: Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks

Title: Highlander Most Wanted (Montgomerys and Armstrongs #2)
Author: Maya Banks
Publisher:Random House Publishing Group
Publication Date: March 19, 2013

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

From Goodreads

In Highlander Most Wanted, a reclusive woman content to live in the shadows shows a Highland warrior the true meaning of love.

Genevieve McInnes is locked behind the fortified walls of McHugh Keep, captive of a cruel laird who takes great pleasure in ruining her for any other man. Yet when Bowen Montgomery storms the gates on a mission of clan warfare, Genevieve finds that her spirit is bent but not broken. Still, her path toward freedom remains uncertain. Unable to bear the shame of returning to a family that believes her dead or to abandon others at the keep to an imposing new laird, Genevieve opts for the peaceful life of an abbess. But Bowen’s rugged sensuality stirs something deep inside her that longs to be awakened by his patient, gentle caress—something warm, wicked, and tempting.

Bowen seizes his enemy’s keep, unprepared for the brooding and reclusive woman who captures his heart. He’s enchanted by her fierce determination, her unusual beauty, and her quiet, unfailing strength. But wooing her will take more than a seasoned seducer’s skill. For loving Genevieve, he discovers, means giving her back the freedom that was stolen from her—even if it means losing her forever.

My Thoughts:

This story was heartbreaking. What Genevieve went through was absolute hell and the ridicule and torment she endured even from those who also feared Ian was just as horrifying as what he did to her. Not only did no one ever stand up for her, but they blamed her. I wanted to shout, scream, and defend Genevieve against those who would do her harm. I wanted to rail against the injustice of it all. And I wanted her deceased captor and torturer to be killed all over again, only this time, slowly. When an author can bring out that kind of emotion you know she is doing something right.

Bowen's protection of Genevieve was beautiful. He promised to be there for her and he was. He listened to her when she needed to talk and he stood up for her to his brothers. When they separated I thought my heart would truly break. I was as miserable as Bowen was. What he was willing to sacrifice for her well-being was  touching and I loved how it contrasted with the protective, alpha Highlander that he was. He wanted her, he loved her, but he also wanted her to heal.

And the ending...I just need to ask how is it that Ms. Banks always makes me cry in these Highlander romances?! I'm never like this when I read a contemporary (at least not that I can remember) but somehow she is able to bring forth such raw emotion in her highlanders! It's freakin awesome though I had to tell my inquiring nephew that "no, I wasn't crying at your little league game. I had something in my eye." (Just a little white lie to save face in front of his baseball team...)

This series is really well written and I love exploring both families in this series. I am really hoping that this explores all the Brothers' Montgomery and Armstrong because I would love to see them all find happiness. I hope we see more of Talie and Brodie especially! The next book I think is out in September of 2013 according to the author's website though GR has 2014 as a release date. I am really, really hoping for September of 2013 though! This is definitely a series that, for me, is on my "re-reads" shelf of my Nook.

*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 Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare

Title: A Night to Surrender (Spindle Cove #1)
Author: Tessa Dare
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: August 30, 2011

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

From Goodreads

A peaceful resort by the sea, Spindle Cove is a retreat for Regency ladies—offering intelligent, often unconventional women a temporary escape from men and their madness. Unfortunately for Miss Susanna Finch, the seaside safe haven she has so painstakingly nurtured is no longer quite so safe. The Cove’s been invaded—not by Napoleon’s forces, but by battle-weary, barely civilized, dangerously handsome men.

Victor Bramwell, the new Earl of Rycliff, knows he doesn’t belong in Spindle Cove. So far as he can tell, there’s nothing in this godforsaken place but spinsters… and sheep. But he’s stuck here—with orders to gather a local militia. It’s a simple mission, made complicated by the spirited, exquisite Susanna. Not only has she driven all red-blooded men from the place with her "modern" notions, but her lively wit and tempting beauty are distractions Bram doesn’t need.

Bram fears he may have met his match, for Susanna won’t easily surrender.

The scene is set for an epic battle ... but who can be named the winner, when both have so much to lose?

My Thoughts:

This series, along with Maya Banks' Highlander series, has brought me back to loving (and seriously glomming on) historical and highlander books. I'd been in a bit of a book funk of late and everything I read was all the same. The contemporaries  the PNRs, it was all just melding into one glob of sameness and nothing was holding my interest. I realized I needed variety in my reading genres. And I also realized I needed to space things out. Reading and reviewing contemporary after contemporary was wearing me out on hte genre. So I looked back, searching for historicals and highlanders, that caught my interest to give me a bit of distance. One of the authors I kept seeing come up was Tessa Dare so I grabbed the first in her Spindle Cove series and I fell in love with it, and the genre, all over again.

Bram and Susanna. Oh how I loved these two. Their story was so beautiful, funny, steamy, sexy and had me even tearing up in a few places. Susanna's independence and her reasons behind it both tugged at my heart strings and made me cheer for her. She was doing what she could to help others like her while at the same time resigned to her fate as a spinster. Or so she thought. When Bram and his friends blast into her life (literally) this sets of a chain of events that slowly allows Susanna to see she can be more than just a spinster. She can love and be loved, and still be independent. In fact, I think that's why Bram and Susanna fit so well together. As much as he (Bram) seemed to get exasperated by her need to do things on her own, he seemed to also respect her for it. But I gotta say, watching Bram break down her walls, slowly but surely, until they finally came together...*sighs* I admit, I might have swooned a bit.

The writing and plot were tight. The characters were well developed and had real issues they were dealing with. The end wasn't rushed and it came to a reasonable (and believable) conclusion. But what I think is most notable of this book is the world that Ms. Dare created. She has a whole slew of secondary characters in this community that she managed to make interesting and this is what made me want to read the next book, and the next, and then wait anxiously for the release of the third novel in the series. (Note: there are 2 novellas in this series as well. See the series page on Goodreads for the order).Not many others can make a whole town seem like a place I not only would want to visit, but a place I'd like to spend a considerable amount of time in, getting to know the residents and join in the often humorous situations the residents find themselves in. (I'm thinking of the tea shop incident here but I won't say more than that. It was both horrifying -for Susanna and the ladies- and humorous at the same time!)

I've read the other two novels in this series and will be reviewing those on the blog soon. But seriously, if you're looking to get into historicals with some seriously sexy, strong heroes and feisty, independent women (and the sexy times -and tension- that come along with all that) get thee to Amazon or Barnes & Noble, or wherever it is you purchase your books. Make haste people. Make haste!

*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: Star Crossed by Kele Moon (Battered Hearts #2)

Title: Star Crossed (Battered Hearts #2)

Author: Kele Moon

Publisher: Loose Id LLC

Publication Date: July 3, 2012

My Rating: 5 out 5 Smoking Hot Stars!

This is the second book in the Battered Hearts series, focusing on MMA fighters (current and retired) and the women who love them. I liked the first in this series, Defying the Odds a lot but this second book, Star Crossed, is a huge 5 star read that I could not get enough of.

From Goodreads:

Heavyweight MMA fighter, Romeo Wellings comes from the hard streets of New York where his family ties to the mafia cause him nothing but pain. His life takes a surprising detour when he crosses paths with the twin sister of his long time enemy. After a steamy one-night stand, he faces the fight of his life, but it’s not in the cage. The secret relationship that blooms between Romeo and his real life Juliet has him battling his family and a dark past rather than let her go. 



The only lawyer in her hometown of Garnet, Jules Conner is also a volunteer Sheriff’s deputy and co-owner of a successful MMA training center. Strong and dependable, Jules is always there for those who need her. Until one forbidden night in Las Vegas with Romeo leaves her feeling so alive she can’t stop reaching out to the sexy, bad boy of MMA, even knowing the forbidden love affair could jeopardize everything.



As the tide rises against them and the people they love work at keeping them apart, Romeo and Jules hold onto a dream for a better life together and vow to go down fighting rather than accept a tragic ending.

My Thoughts:

I cannot begin to tell you how much I loved this book. I mean, I'm going to tell you, of course I am. This is a book review after all. But it's hard to find the words to describe how freaking amazing this book is. Let me try to explain what I mean. Those who know me (or have looked at my Goodreads "read" shelf) will notice that I read a lot. I also re-read a lot. I have a ton of books on my Kindle app and my Nook that I still have not read. And don't get me started on the paperback books I have or the ones I get from the library. But despite all these there are times, like the last two weeks, where I have trouble finding a book that really grabs my attention. I have done a lot of re-reads of faves lately because everything I picked up was just "blah".  Either it was too much sexy and not enough plot, or too much inner dialogue and not enough action/communication.  I just couldn't find books that grabbed me.

But this changed when I realized I had yet to read Star Crossed by Kele Moon. As I mentioned earlier, I had read the first in this series and liked it a lot.  I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads. I figured this would be around the same in it's awesomeness but Romeo and Juliet surpassed all my expectations.

I loved Juliet. At first I thought, "Okay, a book with the MCs named Romeo and Juliet; please let this not be hokey." And I am happy to say it was not in any way cheesy. It's freaking perfect. I loved Romeo with his shady past and his love for his Juliet and I loved even more how much Juliet wanted to give Romeo happiness and love because he deserved it and had to struggle so much in his life. Their relationship was not ordinary by any means. The book picks up after the end of Defying the Odds and we see just how Romeo Wellings and Juliet Connors met, went to dinner and well, progressed from there. The two weren't able to be together as much as they'd like, at least in the beginning. But seeing how they made this work and began to fall in love even across the miles was the sweetest thing I ever read.  

What about the all important hotness and sex factor? Well in a word, or a few, that was super, smokin, hot. The phone sex, the video chat, the actually being together. Holy freaking smokes people! Have some ice water nearby. Or your guy. Because Kele Moon knows how to write a sex scene that not only oozes sex but has emotional depth as well. This is not easy to do so I give her serious props for that.

I mentioned that the plot was tight, right? I think I did. And it was. I loved the back story of both Romeo and Juliet, and the relationship Romeo had with his brothers, and Juliet had with Wyatt (her twin), was one of love and complications. These complications didn't make it easy for Romeo to be with his Juliet, and at one point I really thought things were going to go south for them.  The fight they had? And what Wyatt did? Ohmigod, I was freaking out! I needed to know what was going to happen and then when it all came to a head?! Frakin A, Ms. Moon, next time just punch in me face, because seriously I was getting all teary eyed and wondering what the hell had happened!

The next book in this series is about Wyatt and Tabitha. I am anxiously awaiting this one cause Wyatt needs some serious lovin' and an HEA.  And just, fyi, after reading this, Kele Moon is going to be getting her own shelf on my Nook Color. And I'm also going to glom her backlist. Like seriously glom people because I have a new fave author!  ♥  This book, and the first one too, will also be going on my Nook's "re-reads" shelf. (See! I am serious guys. I don't re-read all my books. Only a small portion, so the fact that this gets included is a big deal. Well, okay not really, but it's a big deal for me. :D )   

So the bottom line is if you love MMA, or just hot guys in general, strong women, solid story lines  and a tightly written (and well edited) book, you might want to check out this author. I would suggest reading the stories in order so you know the players and what happened at the end of the first book which bleeds into the second.  Also, for those wondering, neither book has a cliffhanger in regards to the main couple. (And thank goodness cause cliffhangers... *shudders*).

Here are the purchase links:  Amazon / Barnes and Noble

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

Book Review: Own the Wind by Kristen Ashley (Chaos #1)

Title: Own The Wind (Chaos, #1)
Author: Kristen Ashley
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: April 2, 2013

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

From Goodreads:

Tabitha Allen has a not-so-secret crush on Parker "Shy" Cage. Shy thinks he knows the path Tabby's on and it isn't a good one. So he decides to teach her a lesson to lead her to the right path.

Unfortunately, he was wrong and his actions wound Tabby, breaking her heart. It's Tabby who then teaches Shy a lesson about casting judgment and Shy Cage learns what it feels like to be invisible. But when tragedy strikes and Tabby's heart is broken again, Shy does what he can in the background to help. Trying to forget her heartbreak, Tabby finds herself in danger. To keep it secret from her biker family, the Chaos Motorcycle Club, she calls Shy to rescue her. But when she lets him back in, she gets much more than she bargained for.

Proceed with caution. This review includes spoilers.

Loved loved loved. Beyond freaking loved. I read this over a week ago when I got the ARC and people let me tell you I never was so excited in my life! Now, I know. You're all probably out there rolling your eyes all "Of course she loved it. She fan girls over KA the same way she does over Mal and Firefly." But seriously. I have to admit with this book I was worried. First Tabby is young, about 22 or 23 in the book. I was worried if KA could reel in Tabby's younger voice, and maturiry in some ways, realistically given most of her heroines are late twenties plus. And I also worried that, since this was her debut with a traditional publisher, an editor would take away her amazing  detailed, descriptive voice. So weith trepidation I loaded it on my Nook and dove in head first.

Why did I doubt KA? She nailed it. Tabby was young, she was wild and Shy messed up big time trying to get her to straigthen her life out. Both Shy and Tabby suffered for this mistake. But they also both grew up, grew apart and then were brought back together in a friends to lovers that had me tearing up at several points. And I think that part, the section where Kristen Ashley writes Shy and Tabby re-connection  Shy helping her, being there for her as her friend, was amazing  Shy held himself back for Tabby. He let Tabby work through her emotions, the tragedy she had to go through, and waited.

But Tabby was almost too late. And that part nearly killed me. The confrontation between Shy and Tabby, ohmigod. My heart stopped. I couldn't breathe. And then he left! And then, she was leaving. And I was all, oh no she didn't! But she did! But then Shy got word and thank god stopped all that nonsense. I was so freaking relieved.

Seriously. Kristen Ashley can make your heart thump, your eyes burn with tears and your gut hurt from laughing all in the same book. This is not an easy feat. and this is why she is my hero, biotgh as a reader and a writer. As a reader I want to read stories like this-feel good, sweet, sexy, romances with a happily ever after that leaves me grinning like an idiot for days. And as a writer I want to know how to make my readers feel like that. (Well, when I get some. I'm not published. Yet. lol)

One other aspect of the book I liked was the way Kristen Ashley did the time jumps. Sometimes as a reader it is hard for me to grasp the ides of insta-love in about 2 weeks and the characters are already planning for weddings and babies. Now, in some books and with some characters I can deal with this and even is some Krsiten Ashley books it's believable. But with Tabby and the loss she experienced I was so glad to see MS. Ashley take a slow, measured progression of the two, taking Shy and Tabby from barely speaking to friends, to lovers. It didn't feel rushed and it made the story that much sweeter for me. We see the growth of both main characters, as well as the good times and the bad that they experience.  There are times jumps here and there (sometimes only a week, or a day,. sometimes 2 months, sometimes longer) but the time doesn't effect the story or the characters other than to show just how well Shy and Tabby fit together.


Shy's back story was tragic, heartbreaking and brought tears to my eyes, but he was so controlled and mature about it. Sure he freaked at one point and I was worried he was going to go all SOA on the guy, but he pulled it together, for Tabby, for his brother  and for himself. I like seeing that maturity in a character and not someone who goes off all half cocked and has to beg for forgiveness all the time.

Okay, so now I need to talk about Tack and Tyra. Many of you know that I love the book Motorcycle Man. Tack is my favorite book boyfriend. He is in so many ways the ideal alpha male. I didn't think my love for him could ever, ever, wane. But oh Tack. He fraked up in this book.  In fact, I was so angry at Tack and Tyra I had to put my Nook down and do some meditative breathing exercises. I was pissed at Rush too. Those judgmental ba%&$#*@! It took me a lot longer to forgive them, Not calling her girl back? What was that about? And then the confrontation at the Clubhouse? Oh no Tack, do not even go there. Tabby has a seriously big heart because I think I would have held that grudge a lot longer if that happened to me and my guy. I was really disappointed in their reaction, but eventually, redemption was made and well, I am back to loving Tack. Sort of. *glares at the Motorcycle Man cover on my Nook*

There is an overarching mystery, which I knew would have something to do with Natalie the moment she was seen on the page, is interesting and has me waiting impatiently for Fire Inside, which is now releasing a whole month early (June, 2013 *squeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*) .  Benito seems like one serious bad ass given what he is a part of, and the last bit, from Tack's point of view, freaked me out a little. He seems to know that this could go bad. Really bad. And Tack thinking that, well hell. I think this means we're all in for a rough ride.

Lastly, let's talk about the hotness factor. The steamy scenes? Well they are scorching. I'm always impressed with Kristen Ashley and how well she can convey emotions during these scenes, but with Shy and Tabby, well holy hell, those two have some serious stamina. But it wasn't just about the sex. These two characters brought forth the intensity of their emotions for each other and I liked that just as much as the steam factor.  I did think they were a tad tamer than some of her other books but I'm not sure if this was a conscious decision or editorial.

And now, as I wind down this review, I need to talk about my man, Hopper. So many folks on the GR boards was freaking out that Hop was a cheater, how could Kristen even think of making him a hero and well, blah blah blah. I was a staunch defender of Hop and vowed not to judge him until I heard his side of the story. And not to say I told you so, but well, I did.  I knew, I just knew that KA would not have made Hop a cheater.  Kristen Ashley made perfectly clear that, like I surmised, he was technically not with his wife when he slept with that whore from Motorcycle Man. *Cue Ross on Friends. "We were on a breakkkkkkkkk!*

Oh and I can't leave without mentioning the cameos. There are a lot of freakin Denver cameoes that had me squealing all over the place. I won't say who but let me just tell you I nearly fainted at the mention of the first Denver bad ass, and then, the scene towards the end, I was Kermit-flailing all over the place. I know, getting all these guys working together is going to be so much hotness and awesome my Nook might burn up by the end of this series.

I wonder who book three will be about. (We know the last book in the series will be Rush)  It could be Joker, or maybe one of the older Chaos boys. Or Lan maybe? Not sure. But seriously, Joker has me intrigued. There is something about him that. Oh and the reference to SAMCRO had me giggling since I love that show to pieces.

All in all this was a great story and well worth the wait. I can't wait to explore more of the Chaos world and June can't come fast enough!  I am giving props to KA for a great publisher choice and to her publisher for letting Kristen Ashley be who she is and let her awesome light shine through.

Here are the purchase links:  Amazon / 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.*

Book Review: Alexandra's Legacy by N.J. Walters (Legacy, #1)

Title: Alexandra's Legacy (Legacy, #1)
Author: N.J. Walters
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publication Date: Oct. 13, 2009

4 out of 5 stars

Wowza. This is the first in a shifter series that has a lot of potential. The story was strong and except for a few issues here and there, I really liked the world that the author has introduced.

From Goodreads:

The truth will set her free...or get her killed.

Alexandra Riley's day starts out like any other in her normal, predictable world. Then a tall, dark stranger bursts into her father's garage and shatters the illusion. In one shocking moment, she discovers why she's been feeling hot, restless--she's the half-breed daughter of a legendary werewolf and is a much-sought-after prize.

Joshua Striker, enforcer in charge of protecting the alphas of the Wolf Creek pack, has come to take Alex home. Nothing more, nothing less. From the first moment he sees her, she becomes the one thing he can't afford--a distraction from his duty. A weakness he doesn't want--but can't resist needing.

If only keeping her safe was as simple as fending off males on the hunt for a mate. Through city streets to the mountains of North Carolina, Alex and Joshua have to evade those who don't want their pure bloodlines tainted with human DNA, as well as bounty hunters who think the only good werewolf is a dead one.

What Joshua and Alex can't outrun is the passion that flares between them--or the choice Alex must eventually face. Whether to claim her inner wolf, or forfeit her chance to claim Joshua as her own.

My Thoughts:

Be prepared: this story involves insta-lust between the couple. And in this case I didn't mind it one bit. It fit the story. It made sense, it was written well, and the world the author created supported this. Also, just because they wanted each other almost on sight, that doesn't mean it happened. The author instead provides the reader with a hero who is willing to sacrifice his happiness for his mate, giving her a chance to choose someone other than him. Is there anything more swoonworthy than that? I think not.

Also, in Alexandra's Legacy, the attraction between Alex and Joshua worked. Often in shifter stories the H and h end up finding their mate and want to claim the person quickly. I expected this and therefore was not surprised when the finding each other definitely happens here. What I did appreciate was that, instead of acting on (or at least instead of acting fully on it), Joshua held back claiming Alex so she could make her choice. He didn't want her to choose him because he was the only wolf around. even though he desperately wanted to have her. He did the honorable thing, or tried to, and waited until they got to Wolf Creek so she could, if she wanted, choose someone other than him.

What a nice and honorable werewolf, right?! I really liked Joshua. He was strong, protective, hot, sexy and really cared for Alex. He struggled with the attraction he had for her, the love he felt and the knowledge that she was his, but fought all that in order to give her the choice. This kind of sacrifice isn't seen often seen in PNR heroes and I really liked it.

The author did a great job introducing the 'world' in which the shifters lived, and the background stories of Alex's dad. (I want him to get an HEA! Please, please please!!!!!)  He also made huge sacrifices, endangering himself and in some ways his kind, in order to ensure Alex was safe. And that alone makes him a hero I want to read more about. The next story in the series is Isaiah's though (Joshua's brother) and it is already set up and ready to go on my Nook.  

I didn't run into any glaring editing errors which is not surprising since this is a Samhain title and they are usually pretty good on that front. However, I do have an issue with the formatting. First, the font is really small. I thought I might end up blind as I tried to read. This is not the author's fault and I didn't take this into account while rating it. But it is something that, for the edition I read, I wish I had known about before hand. Also, there was an issue sporadically with page numbers. Pages were out of order or skipped several pages here and there. I had to constantly manually put in the page number.  In my rating I am not counting this as a negative (although in a sense it *is* a negative) but more as a notice to readers to check out the sample pages first. I've had my edition for awhile so it could just be mine. Whatever the case, the eye strain I think might have been worth it anyways. :D

Here are the purchase links for: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

*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: One Night With A Cowboy by Cat Johnson (Oklahoma Nights, #1)

Title: One Night With A Cowboy (Oklahoma Nights, #1)
Author: Cat Johnson
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication Date: February 26, 2013

My rating:  5 out of 5

Who knew that cowboys could be as heart stopping and sexy as military men and cops?! Why did I not know this sooner?!  I clearly need to rectify this situation now that author Cat Johnson has introduced me to the super sexy bull-riding, army man Tucker Jenkins.

From Goodreads:

One Sweet Ride…

Oh yeah. A single look at the leggy blonde in the stands and Tucker Jenkins is ready to buck all night long. It’s time to forget all about his cheating ex and his usual hands off policy.

One Hot Night…

Becca Hart is an East Coast professor. Not a buckle bunny. But no degree can prepare her for the moves of the sexy bull rider she hooks up with at her first rodeo … Or the shock of finding him at her first Oklahoma State University staff meeting.

One Happy Ending…

Tuck knows it’s all about holding on, no matter how wild the ride. Now he just has to convince Becca that a rough start out of the chute doesn’t mean they aren’t a smokin’ combination …

My Thoughts:


First, let's look at the cover again. Isn't that pretty? Well I don't know if pretty is the right word but it's something, yeah? *sighs and gets lost in that belt buckle*

Alright, now wipe the drool from your mouth and let's get on with the review. I won't go over the plot itself other than to say that the blurb is exactly right. Becca takes a new job after her life in New York falls apart but before she does that she visits the place she will eventually take a job. There for her interview she meets a hot cowboy, Tucker Jenkins. At her sister's urging, and needing to put the past behind her, Becca and Tucker spent one hot night together. It was amazing. But the next day, she had her interview and she left.

Of course, this is romanclandia (a place I do not mind visiting, often) so the two eventually run into each other when she takes the job at OSU and finds that he teaches in the ROTC program and coach of the college's rodeo team. Drama and lots of fun between the sheets ensues. But that drama puts a kink in things. And this kink is not the fun kind of kink. It comes in the form of a non-fraternization policy. When Tucker finds out that Becca needs the job because of her debt (from being laid off and having a douche of an ex) he puts distance between them. Except in his case it's literal distance. He goes to Afghanistan to save her job.

I have to say, when he left I was all "Tucker you dumbass!" because I mean hello! Just tell Becca! Don't go to a war zone to save her position! But did he listen? Of course not. He goes anyways. There is fighting and attacks and he and Becca have little communication. And then, and then, the drama ratchets up and gosh darn you Cat Johnson I nearly cried! I mean, the tears were right there. It was stressful and I had to get up and make a frozen pizza and have a glass of wine to drown my considerable sorrows.  But Ms. Johnson came through for me and I thank her for that.

And the end had my toes curling and my breath hitching a little bit because that was one of the sweetest endings I have ever read.

The writing itself was well done and I found no glaring editing errors.  I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future and I really, really, really cannot wait to go back to Oklahoma when the second book in this series comes out! So if you want to read a hot romance with a well thought out plot and lots of sexy times (and creative ones too! I will never ever look at honey the same again), then you might want to check this one out. Now, I'm off to find me a bull-riding cowboy. See y'all in a few days...

Here are the purchase links for the book: Amazon / 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.*

Book Review: Raid by Kristen Ashley

Title: Raid (Unfinished Hereos, #3)
Author: Kristen Ashley
Publisher: self-published
Publication Date: February 26, 2013

My Rating: 4.25 out of 5

From Goodreads:

Hanna Boudreaux has lived in the small town of Willow, Colorado all her life. The great-granddaughter of the town matriarch, she's sweet, cute and quiet.

Too quiet.

Hanna has a moment of epiphany when she realizes her crush for forever, Raiden Ulysses Miller, is not ever going to be hers. She sees her life as narrow and decides to do something about it.

Raiden Miller is the town of Willow's local hero. An ex-marine with the medal to prove his hero status, he comes home, shrouded in mystery. It takes a while but, eventually, Hanna catches his eye.

But after all these years of Raid and Hanna living in the same town, the question is, why? Is Raid interested in Hanna because she's sweet and cute? Or does Raid have something else going on?

This has some BDSM.

My Thoughts:

Okay, a couple things. First, everyone knows I love Kristen Ashley's books. But even though I await each release with breathless anticipation  I try to stay objective when I review books, even hers, cause I know not everyone is a huge fan like me. So, that being said, let's get into the book. (And beware, possible spoilers ahead).

I love Hanna. She is quiet, shy, a book worm, and just the sweetest heroine ever. Some see her as weak, but not me. I think because I am quiet, shy and a bookworm I really related to her. I don't think I'm the sweetest anything though since I have a mouth on me. Anyways, Hanna was strong for the people she needed to be strong for-her friends, her family and of course, Raid. She had an unusual profession but this too I loved. It fit her well. Hanna was not someone who would fit in an office and she certainly wasn't a social butterfly. So her crocheting business was perfect. (Though I would have loved to see KA dive more into this aspect of Hanna's life. And did I mention my heart did a total flip-flop when she gave Raid one and he slept underneath it.)

Raid was amazing. He was hot, alpha, sexy and he liked to play as in play.  And he did this with Hanna. And when things didn't go right (i.e. she did something she didn't really want to do), like a good dom Raid sensed it and stopped it. He then reminded Hanna she had to speak up, that she had the power and he wanted her to have it to say no. This was awesome. KC, Hanna's bff, had a similar conversation, though it was centered around alphas in general and not sex. This was good. Hanna was naive when it came to knowing how to handle a hot alpha. So the talk with Raid and KC made a world of difference.

Some have mentioned the fact that Raid called Hanna a bitch during a fight and did some other things that this behavior was abusive. No. This was not abuse. Did he act like an ass? Sure. But that is not dv. (If it is, then I've abused one of my exes when I called him a name during a fight. It was a stupid thing to do and I regretted it almost immediately. But I never saw it as abuse since we weren't, well abusing each other, emotionally or otherwise. We said what we said in the heat of the moment and then got over it after apologizing, which is what happened in Raid.)  In addition to that, in the case of Raid, the whole fight started when Hanna brought up a topic he did not want to talk about. (His buddies who were killed in the war and his issues with PTSD resulting from that).  Did he handle it well? Nope. Did he deserve her walking out when he acted like a dick? Yup.  Was she weak for forgiving him? Nope. Not in my opinion. She loved him. He loved her. She wasn't going to give up on him because he called her a name. If he hadn't apologized (and if he doesn't eventually deal with his PTSD) my opinion would be otherwise. But he not only said sorry (which I gotta say is a hella lot more than Tate ever did in Sweet Dreams) but he also started dealing with his condition. Was it handled perfect? Did we see him going to counseling and all that? No. We're told he talked to a friend which helped. Would it have been cool to see how all this played you? Sure, but it wouldn't necessarily be practical or what I wanted. I wanted to read about Hanna and Raid, their romance. So yeah, Raid was an unmitigated ass but most of KA's heroes mess up at some point in her books and all work on redemption. Raid for me was redeemed at the end. (And let's not forget the fight between Ty and Lexi in Lady Luck. Or rather Ty's screaming rampage at Lexi, since she didn't get a word in edgewise. And what about what Chase said to Faith in the beginning of Breathe? Another asshole comment. I could go on, but I won't. I think my point has been made! :D )

So why wasn't this a 5 star read? It was shorter than most, but then I knew that going in since the Unfinished Heroes series is always shorter than her other books. So this wasn't so much a factor. I would have liked to see more of Hanna and her friend KC, and more of Hanna and Raid's sister and mom. Also, one of things I love most about Kristen Ashley's book is the descriptive writing (though I know some people don't like this) and I did feel Raid was missing this.  Lastly, I would have liked to see what happened at and after the hospital from Raid's point of view. But, these were in no way deal breakers for me nor anything that would drop this rating below the 4.25 I gave it.

I can't wait to see more of these characters in Deacon's story.  There is some D/s in the book but it is not anywhere near Knight levels. (And for me, Knight wasn't even that kinky.) The steamy scenes are just that and KA once again hits them out of the park. One thing I really appreciated was how the issue between Knight, Nair and Nick has weaved throughout these stories. I love going back and re-reading to see what clues Kristen has left for us and trying to speculate about what might happen.  (I love me a mystery!)

So check out Raid, and if you haven't met Knight and Creed, I suggest reading those first since Raid gives us a glimpse into their lives as well. (Creed! Yay!!!!)

Here are the purchase links:  Amazon / Barnes and Noble

*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: The Look Of Love by Bella Andre (The Sullivans, #1)

Title: The Look of Love
Author: Bella Andre
Publisher: self-published
Publication Date: Sept. 1, 2011

4 out of 5 Stars

Bella Andre's Sullivan series was on sale recently and these were books I had wanted to read for awhile now. I grabbed the first five books in the series and dove into first, The Look of Love, with a vengeance.

From Goodreads:

Chloe Peterson is having a bad night. A really bad night. The large bruise on her cheek can attest to that. And when her car skids off the side of a wet country road straight into a ditch, she’s convinced even the gorgeous guy who rescues her in the middle of the rain storm must be too good to be true. Or is he?

As a successful photographer who frequently travels around the world, Chase Sullivan has his pick of beautiful women, and whenever he’s home in San Francisco, one of his seven siblings is usually up for causing a little fun trouble. Chase thinks his life is great just as it is—until the night he finds Chloe and her totaled car on the side of the road in Napa Valley. Not only has he never met anyone so lovely, both inside and out, but he quickly realizes she has much bigger problems than her damaged car. Soon, he is willing to move mountains to love—and protect—her, but will she let him?

Chloe vows never to make the mistake of trusting a man again. Only, with every loving look Chase gives her—and every sinfully sweet caress—as the attraction between them sparks and sizzles, she can’t help but wonder if she’s met the only exception. And although Chase didn’t realize his life was going to change forever in an instant, amazingly, he isn’t the least bit interested in fighting that change. Instead, he’s gearing up for a different fight altogether…for Chloe’s heart.

My Thoughts:

Let's get the fun stuff out of the way. Or perhaps better described, the sexy times. YOWZA!  First of all, I loved the characters and the heat between Chloe and Chase was off the charts. And then, to top that, the author throws in that scene in the beginning when she is in the tub? I was like, oh no she didn't! But she did. She seriously did! And then I was all fanning myself because that even made me blush a little bit and that is saying something. (Not to mention when the two re-create the scene later. Ohmigod!)

I know some may grumble about what they call "insta-lust" or "insta-love". I can see how a reader could be frustrated by this. But as a writer, I understand that it's near impossible to write a story where things happen as slowly as they do in the real world. Not to mention that, when I read fiction, I can suspend my beliefs in this regard. I want to see that instant connection, that spark between the two. If I didn't want that, I wouldn't like this genre. But I do, so I don't complain about that. Or I try not to. As long as I can feel the connection, it usually isn't an issue. And I definitely felt a connection in this book.

The writing was tight as was the plot. I didn't run into any glaring editing errors that took me out of the story. But what I really loved about this story was the pace. It was like drinking a glass of wine. You don't chug it back like a shot of my favorite vodka. You sip it. You relish in the words and the images the writer is creating. I know that this might sound odd, especially considering many of my book reviews revolve around the steam factor (ahem, see above). But what can I say? It's the truth about the way this book spoke to me. So yeah, it was hot, steamy and I loved the tension, and the release of that tension, between Chloe and Chase. But it was also more than that. To me, this was what a romance level should be: a great story and character combined with the steam and love we have all come to expect. And if the rest of the series is like this first one, I seriously cannot wait to read about the rest of the Sullivan siblings.

I haven't mainlined this series because when I do that I tend to get burned out really fast on the author. Before I started doing a lot of book reviews, I would often read the first in a series and then plow through the rest until I was done. I did this sort of thing and totally binged on Kristen Ashley's books. I found that eventually the books run out and I am left with a serious craving for more. So, unlike the old me, I will take a break before I start the second book. I'm in no rush after all and I can already tell that this is a series I want to savor.

You can find The Look of Love at Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and likely other fine retailers out there. If you pick it up, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and if you've read, let me know what you think!

*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*