Books, According to Nicole

Temporary Hiatus

2011-03-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

Besides my husband, I honestly can’t think of one thing I love more than reading and sharing my love of books.

That being said, life sometimes creeps up and bites you in the behind when you least expect it, and for me, life has been chipping away at me for awhile. So, starting today I’m going to be putting Books, According to Nicole on a temporary hiatus. You’ll still be able to follow my reviews over at The Book Pushers and chat with me about books on Twitter and Goodreads.

Review - Hunting Human by Amanda Alvarez

2011-03-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 3/28/11
How I got this book: NetGalley

For two years, Beth Williams has run from the past, and the beast that dwells inside her. She is haunted by memories of being kidnapped and the savage attack that killed her best friend. Now Beth finally thinks she's ready to move on...with Braden Edwards, a charming, irresistibly sexy man who tempts Beth to embrace the present.

But the past lurks closer than Beth realizes. Markko Bolvek, one of the werewolves who kidnapped her, has tracked her to Portland, Oregon, his pursuit fueled by a hunger for vengeance. Only Braden, a werewolf himself, senses the danger shadowing her steps. The Edwards and Bolveks have been enemies for centuries—and despite the instant connection he feels with Beth, Braden isn't sure which side of the war she's on.

With suspicion at odds with their attraction, Beth and Braden must learn to trust one another to stop Markko for good. Can Beth accept the wolf within—and love a man who embodies everything she fears?
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Carina Press has been a little hot or miss for me, with many of their books being absolutely amazing and incredible, and some not so much, But I have to say, Hunting Human was one of the better stories I’ve read from them this year.

Beth has been on the run for some time now. She is settling in Oregon, wanting more than anything to make it her home. She has a job she loves, a home she likes, and a city that appeals to her human and forest that appeals to her wolf. When she starts becoming romantically involved with Braden, she wishes and hopes that she can find a way to make it her permanent home.

But she is still being chased, and Markko is not one to let bygones be bygones, and he wants blood. When he tracks Beth down, she finds herself in an even more precarious situation. Markko and Braden’s families have been at war forever, but suspicions run high in Braden’s family and they have their reservations about Beth’s loyalty. But once she proves just how horribly Markko ruined her life, they will do everything in their power to help her get out from under his threats.

I really enjoyed the world building of this one, and I hope that Alvarez continues to write in this world. I loved the way Alvarez was also able to weave such a well done suspense plot into it as well. I was constantly on my toes about what Markko’s next move would be, how Braden’s family would retaliate and so on. It was very well done.

The characters were great as well. I loved the way Beth was able to survive even after all the horrible and awful things that had happened to her. Her display of strength was incredible, and I loved that she didn’t back down on anything. Although I really enjoyed Braden at first, he kinda got on my nerves when he was so quick to jump to assumptions about Beth. I really wanted him to have a little more faith in her.

That being said, I was glad to see that Beth really made him work to make it up to her. It was refreshing to have a lead female character who was strong and yet no insecure in herself as well. The fact that she really stood up to Braden, forced him to prove how much he wanted her in his life, just made her all the more believable to me.

I thought the secondary characters were great as well. All of Braden’s family was so fun. The dynamic between them was full of love and craziness and fierce protection of one another. Braden’s sister was one of my favorites, and I really hope that if Alvarez continues writing in this world, that she gets a chance at her HEA.

I was happy with the resolution with the Markko saga. I loved the way that Alvarez compared him and Braden, showing how the insanity of being a shifter could really go one way or the other, but how destructive it can be to let the wolf take charge. It was a great contrast.

All in all, I give Hunting Human 4 out of 5 wolf stalkers!

JIll Myles new book deal

2011-03-26T13:11:00.001-07:00

A fabulous and talented author friend of mine, Jill Myles, announced on her blog yesterday that she signed a new book deal! You can find her post about it here.

To sum it up for you, Jill signed a two book deal to write for Berkley Heat under a pen name Jessica Clare. The first book in the series, When Sparks Fly is a contemporary romance set in a small Texas town called Bluebonnet. Jill sums up the first book:

Miranda Hill is the local librarian, with a naughty, unjustly deserved reputation for being the town slut. It’s left her with a few hangups, you see, and she can’t get past the moment that her reputation was destroyed. So when the man that destroyed it returns to town, she decides to get her revenge on him…but finds herself falling for him instead.

I can't wait to read these. Jill has such a fun voice, and her writing is always face paced and full of sexiness. The first book should be coming out summer of 2012.

Congratulations again and again Jill!!

Review - My One and Only by Kristan Higgins

2011-03-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Publisher: HQN
Publish Date: 3/29/11
How I got this book: NetGalley

Divorce attorney Harper James can't catch a break. Bad enough that she runs into her ex-hubby, Nick, at her sister's destination wedding, but now, by a cruel twist of fate, she's being forced to make a cross-country road trip with him. And her almost-fiancé back at home is not likely to be sympathetic. Harper can't help that Nick has come blazing back into her life in all of his frustratingly appealing, gorgeous architect glory. But in Nick's eyes, Harper's always been the one. If they can only get it right this time, forever might be waiting -- just around the bend.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Higgins and I have an ongoing love/hate relationship. Some of her books are absolutely incredible and I can’t stop thinking about them for days and days after I’ve finished it. Others made me want to scream and wish I could erase part of my brain. I’ve found it very hit or miss with her. I have to say though, My One and Only was an absolute HIT for me!!

Harper is a divorce attorney, jaded with relationships and stuck headed out to a wedding for her younger sister and her ex brother-in-law! Taking her boyfriend along for the ride doesn’t help, especially since she keeps running into her ex-husband Nick. After a disastrous weekend, her boyfriend heads home as no longer her boyfriend and Harper is stuck in a car, road tripping across the country with Nick. Being stuck in a car together runs havoc on their relationship, but will they be able to admit that maybe they were wrong going their separate ways all those years ago?

One of my biggest beefs with Higgins’ romance books are that many times it feels as if the romance is so rushed. Many times Higgins focuses on the character development of the heroine, and when there is finally a HEA, it feels forced and rushed. With My One and Only, Harper and Nick have lots and lots of screen time together, and I love the progression of their relationship from enemies to friends to lovers.

There were times in this book when Harper got on my nerves. She as always so pessimistic and down, although Nick was able to lighten her outlook, there were times I felt like she was just too much of a Debbie Downer. I wanted to poke her to get her to smile at times. I’ve always been a fan of Higgins’ heroes, and Nick was no exception. I loved that he knew what he wanted and wasn’t afraid to go after it. He was a good old boy, old fashioned respectful and yet just so male. Every time he came onto the page I was engrossed in everything about him. For me, Nick really made this story come to life.

Harper’s relationship with Dennis, the sexy firefighter and boyfriend was a little weird to me. As someone who dealt with divorce on an every day basis, why she even wanted to get married to anyone was beyond me. There are times I cringe at the situations that Higgins’ heroines get themselves into, and Harper and Dennis’ relationship just happen to be one of those things. I enjoyed Dennis as a side character, but saw his relationship with Harper as something that just didn’t completely add up.

One of the things I love about Higgins’s stories is her ability to realistically portray families, in all their craziness. Harper’s family had me laughing and cracking up, and falling in love with them every moment. Her stepmom and stepsister were so funny, providing a light comedic undertone. And Harper’s father was great as well, reminding me of my grandpa who struggled to show emotion, but you knew instinctually just how much he loved you.

All in all, I give My One and Only 3.5 out of 5 cross-country road trips!

Review - Already Home by Susan Mallery

2011-03-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Publisher: HQN
Publish Date: March 29, 2011
How I got this book: NetGalley

After nearly a decade as a sous-chef in a trendy eatery, Jenna is desperate for a change. She's supported her ex-husband's dreams for so long that she can't even remember her own. Until she sees a for-lease sign near her parents' home and envisions her very own cooking store.

Her crash course in business is aided by a streetwise store manager and Jenna's adoptive mother. But just as she's gaining a foothold in her new life, in walk her birth parents—aging hippies on a quest to reconnect with their firstborn.

Now Jenna must figure out how to reconcile the free-spirited Serenity and Tom with her traditional parents, deal with her feelings for a new love interest and decide what to do about her ex's latest outrageous request. In the end, Jenna will find that there is no perfect family, only the people we love….
*Blurb from Goodreads*

I’ve come to count on Susan Mallery as being one of my favorite romance authors, but when I ready the blurb for Already Home, I was both intrigued and scared. I can always count on Mallery to provide a fabulous read full of romance. This blurb read to me like it was going to be more Chick Lit, and while I was somewhat nervous to try it, knew that Mallery wouldn’t let me down. I have to say, I was pretty surprised.

Jenna is recently divorced and her self-confidence has taken a nose dive. She returns home and buys a retail space on a whim. Determined to open her own cooking supply store, Jenna throws herself into her business. She hires Violet, a wild child but savvy store manager to help with everything. Once getting settled into her new life, her birth parents show up at the front door, wanting to have a relationship.

Jenna is suddenly being pulled in every direction imaginable. Her birth parents, adoptive parents, new friends, two brothers and new boyfriend are all vying for her time. But as time wears on and things get more and more hectic, Jenna will learn that just because there are more people in her life, doesn’t mean she doesn’t have enough love for all of them.

For fans of chick lit and family fiction, this read is a MUST BUY for you! Jenna’s journey of growth and self discovery are so well done. Plus, I loved watching her struggle with building her business. Makes me want to open a cooking store. (and I hate cooking!) While I don’t usually love these kinds of reads, Mallery does such an amazing job of pulling the reader into her world and character’s lives, I felt like I was a part of their world. Along with Jenna, Violet also gets the chance to really grow as well, having to experience a hardship that kills her faith in men. But with an unexpected friendship in Jenna’s newly discovered brother Dragon, she is able to regain that confidence.

The appearance of Jenna’s birth parents was great as well. I loved how hippyish Serenity and Tom were, they brought some crazy antics to the story line. Having known a few people who were adopted, the ever changing relationship between Jenna and her birth parents and adoptive parents was so interesting and well done. Mallery did an amazing job of capturing everyone’s emotions as they changed and evolved on a daily basis.

The tragedy that struck towards the end of the book had me in tears, and wishing that I could change the ending to make it a fairy tale. But, I understand why it had to happen, and could appreciate the way it really tied up everything.

All in all, I give Already Home 3.5 out of 5 cooking supply stores!

Waiting on... The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

2011-03-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love Molly Harper. I have yet to read anything by her that I didn't immediately fall in love with, and the naked Werewolf Series is no exception. I feel in love with the folks from Alaska, and can't wait to see just how fun and crazy Maggie can really be. If you are a fan of Harper's Jane vampire books, you will definitely love these as well! The second book in the series, The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf releases March 29th. It's a definite MUST READ in my book!

Baring It All

Generations of werewolves have been secretly residing in a secluded valley a stone’s throw from Grundy, Alaska. So when a snooping Outsider comes to Grundy to investigate rumors of lycanthropic shenanigans in the area, the valley’s pack alpha, Maggie Graham, resolves to chase him away, even if doing so takes a quick bite on the butt. What a pity that researcher Nick Thatcher turns out to be so drool-worthy, and that his kisses make Maggie want to sit up and beg. Maggie just can’t seem to convince Nick to leave . . . and even worse, she can’t convince herself to stay away from him. Cross-species dating is problem enough for a harried alpha female, but on top of that, a rival group of werewolves is trying to move into the valley. With interpack war threatening, Maggie can’t afford to be distracted. Combining romance and a career can be tough for anyone; for a werewolf in love with a human, it may be disastrous. . . .
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Review - Friendly Fire by Megan Hart

2011-03-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 3/21/11
How I got this book: NetGalley

DEA Agent Kendall Frasier doesn't want to see the man who shot and killed her partner. Zane Vincent wants to forget about the bust gone bad and the man he killed. When both officers arrive at the same tropical island for a department-regulated vacation, more heats up than just the sand and sun. Will they let their past prejudices keep them from giving in to their mutual attraction, or will Zane and Kendall both succumb to a little Friendly Fire?
*Blurb from Goodreads*

This is only the second book I’ve read by Megan Hart, but I have to say I actually found myself enjoying this book despite a few initial reservations I had.

Kendall Frasier is a DEA agent dealing with the loss of her partner. She is having to work through her issues of guilt and anger and confusion, and was given the choice between going to an island on the department or dealing with her issues at home. Wanting the beach and sun, she chooses to head to the island. But unfortunately for her, Zane Vincent the man who killed her partner in a round of friendly fire is also there during that time.

While Kendall is instantly attracted to Zane, she honestly doesn’t want anything to do with him. The guilt and anger over her partner are eating her up inside, and a relationship with the man who caused all her grief is the last thing she wants. But as she deals with everything that happened, she realizes that Zane might be able to provide for her in ways she never imagined.

My initial impression of this story was a little weary. This short 53 page story doesn’t have any chapters, and that quite honestly threw me for a loop. But I was quickly pulled into Kendall and Zane’s story. The issues that Kendall had to deal with in regards to losing her partner were very real and Hart portrayed them in a way that was easy to relate to.

I know that Hart is known for her very sexy and steamy erotic novels, but a part of me felt as if Kendall and Zane jumped into something physical in order to escape the emotional turmoil within. While that isn’t something new, it was also somewhat hard for me to believe in their HEA. To me, something that starts off like that is rarely able to last on a significant level, and parts of me just couldn’t buy it.

That being said, I also thought that both Kendall and Zane were able to provide a lot for each other, and did a great job of really helping each other deal with their trauma. While an incident of losing someone is never easy, they were both able to really guide each other into acceptance, and that spoke to me.

The physical relationship between the two was very smoking, and although I’ve only read a few of Hart’s books, I know that I can count on her to provide a steamy hero and heroine who click on so many levels.

All in all, I give Friendly Fire 3 out of 5 island getaways!

Review - Management Skills by January Rowe

2011-03-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 3/7/11
How I got this book: NetGalley

When CEO Grant Edmonds meets with his new production manager, he immediately recognizes her as Silver, an exotic dancer who once mesmerized him at an exclusive fetish club. Though he was forbidden from pursuing her back then, there's nothing standing in his way now. He's not looking for an after-hours fling—he wants to own her. In every way.

As much as Allie Fairfax tries to deny her past, and the way her body responds to Grant, she soon finds herself having mind-blowing sex with the boss. Despite her own desire to surrender to Grant's sexual authority, she's not willing to risk her career. After all, she's been owned before, and it ended badly.

It's all or nothing for Grant. If Allie wants more of the fiercest orgasms she's ever experienced, she must consent to his rules...
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Management Skills is a short and quick novella that really didn’t do anything for me. Grant is CEO of his own company, and when he works on the lighting for a fetish club, he sees a woman who has more pull on him than he can remember. When he doesn’t get the chance to meet her, he thinks his chance is gone forever. Later, when meeting with his newest employee, he realizes that Allie is the woman he fantasized about.

Grant wants nothing more than to have Allie in every way possible. But she is weary of Grant and all that he wants from her. Although their bodies connect of a level she never thought possible, Allie isn’t looking to become involved as deeply as Grant wants. But as her body wins over more than her mind, will she allow herself to let go and let him take charge?

I’ve been known to read (and very much so enjoy) my far share of smutty books. But Rowe’s Management Skills really didn’t click for me. Allie and Grant share a night of passion early on in the story, but they soon dance away from each other, not really ready and willing to move forward. I thought that their relationship was forced, and awkward. I never really bought into the chemistry or the passion between the two.

Although this book is supposed to be about a D/s relationship, it took awhile to develop. After their first vanilla night together, Allie avoided Grant like the plague. When they did finally come together like that, it felt off and odd to me. It didn’t seem like there was any real fire or heat between the two.

All in all, I give Management Skills 1.5 out of 5 former strippers.

Over at The Book Pushers with a Giveaway!

2011-03-18T07:00:00.001-07:00

I'm over at The Book Pushers today with a giveaway and recap from Day Two at the Tucson Festival of Books. Day Two was pretty much ROMANCE day! See my post here to find out who all I schmoozed with! Here's a hint:

Waiting on... The Chase by Erin McCarthy

2011-03-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Most of you should know by know that I am slightly obsessed with Sports Romances. I love everything about them. And while I don't consider NASCAR a sport (sorry for the racing fans, I just don't get it...) I do happen to love the very sexy Fast Track Series by Erin McCarthy. Book four in the series, The Chase, releases April 5th and I for one can't wait to find out more about the super sexy Evan!

Kendall Holbrook is determined to make it to the top, even with the challenge of being a woman on the male-dominated racing circuit. She doesn't have time for romance-especially not with racing rival Evan Monroe, the man who nearly crushed her dream years ago. Tricked into meeting him, Kendall is experiencing all those old feelings again-and she can't deny that they still have enough chemistry to set fire to the track.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Tucson Festival of Books Recap - DAY ONE!

2011-03-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

I am so incredibly lucky to live in a city that takes books and reading very seriously. Our library system rocks really hard, and the Tucson Festival of Books has become the 4th largest book festival in the United States, in only 3 short years!

My bestest girlfriend T (AKA 3girlmum) decided to come out for the weekend from LA, and the two of us crammed in as much as we possibly could in the two short days. First off, we talked a forum friend of ours, Wycked, into coming down from Phoenix with us on Saturday. We spent what seemed like a half hour or so trying to park, but finally made our way over the University of Arizona mall area— the almost half a mile long strip of grass at the center of campus.

We walked around, touring all the hundreds of booths that were set up. Everything from the ereader experience, to the library foundation, to the CSPAN bus, to book retailers were set up in tents, giving away swag, bags, and anything else you can imagine. We met up with Gini Koch, my dear friend for her first signing of the day, then headed over to have lunch with her.

After lunch I was able to get my first book at the event signed, my copy of Jennifer Ashley’s Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage. Jennifer was super great, chatting and signing books with fans over at the Tucson chapter of RWA booth. I also got the chance to run into the great Diana Gabaldon, getting my picture with her as she was surprisingly NOT busy. I even admitted that I feel like I stalk her, since I go see her every time she is in town!!

One of the big things Wyched was looking forward to was the signing by Kim Harrison. We knew the line would be crazy long, so headed over early to stake out a place in line. Whie waiting, we talked briefly with husband and wife authors Weston Ochse and Yvonne Navarro. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting them both before, and actually got Yvonne to sign a book for me this go around. I’m looking forward to reading her new UF book, Highborn, first in the Dark Redemption Series.

While Wycked and 3girlmom waited in line for Kim (HOLY HUGE LINE!!), I branched off to meet up with Lorelei Brown before her first panel about epublishing. We found other epublished author Ginny Glass and got the chance to chat with her a few.

By then it was almost time for the only panel we went to on Saturday, talking about the Zombieacopolypse with Weston Ochse, Yvanne Navarro and Jeff Mariotte. Since I’ve met these three before, I knew we would be in for a great time, and they did not disappoint. I laughed so hard my side hurt by the end of the panel. It was great fun!

By the time the panel was over and we chatted a bit after, we were all starving. 3girlmom, Wycked, Gini and I all went out to dinner at the fabulous El Charro, a wonderful Mexican restaurant here in town. The food was great, the drinks were flowing, and the laughs wouldn’t stop. It was a fabulous, fabulous day!

But that was just Day One!! For a recap of Day Two, head over to The BookPushers later this week to find out which great historical romance authors I met, and enter for a chance to win my Tucson Festival of Books contest. It’ll include free signed books, bookmarks, swag, a Kim Harrison nametag and so much more!!

Review - Hidden Away by Maya Banks

2011-03-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: 3/1/11
How I got this book: Purchased

A man who shoots first and asks questions later…

Most people would take an all-expenses-paid trip to the beach in a heartbeat. Garrett Kelly only accepts to keep tabs on Sarah Daniels, who’s in hiding after witnessing a murder by Marcus Lattimer, her half-brother—and a personal enemy of KGI. This gig may be beneath a disciplined soldier like Garrett, but if he gets a shot at Lattimer, it will all be worth it…

…and the ultimate moving target.

But Garrett hadn’t counted on falling for Sarah. He’d considered seduction as a tactical maneuver, but when he glimpses Sarah’s dark past, he feels an urgent desire to keep her safe—even after she disappears on him. Garrett doesn’t know exactly who, or what, Sarah’s running from, but whatever it is, she’s running for her life…
*Blurb from author’s site*

Maya Banks is back with the third installment of the KGI Series, one of my favorite romantic suspense series of all time. Garrett, the somewhat quiet and surly Kelly brother is still recovering from his gun shot wound, but when the opportunity comes up to take out the man who ambushed and killed many of his men so long ago, he jumps at the chance, regardless of the mission. But it’s simple, all Garrett has to do is keep an eye on Larrimer’s sister Sarah.

After witnessing her brother commit murder, Sarah runs as fast as she can, trying to hide herself from the world. She ends up on a small island, and when her handsome neighbor starts making small talk, she learns to trust in another human once again. When someone finds her, Sarah runs again. Garrett tracks her down again, and forces her to accept his help, regardless of the little white lie between them.

When I first started reading the KGI series, I was instantly hooked by the Kelly brothers. They are all these total alpha heroes, with bad boy streaks a mile wide. I feel in love. The stories are all really fast paced, full of action and romance, and portray the Kelly family in such a great light (faults and all) that I find myself wishing I could be taken in as one of them as well.

Garrett has always been one of my favorites, and I found myself falling more and more in love with him throughout his story. I liked him as the strong and silent type, but seeing him come out of his shell and tease and flirt with Sarah was great. I enjoyed getting more in depth with him, and wish that we could have actually had a little bit more information about his history. There were times I did and didn’t like Sarah. In this series, it seems as if Banks always makes her female leads have some kind of traumatic past. I was disheartened with Sarah’s past trauma, but also glad with the way that Banks gave the character this incredible inner strength to be able to come out of her shell and really deal with it, regardless of her fears. There were times when Sarah seemed so strong, like she was really moving on, and then she would seem to take steps backward in her progress. It was realistically frustrating to read.

Again, the Kelly family just shines through with all their awesomeness. One of my favorite characters, Rusty goes through a really hard experience (read – traumatic event) and the way that Sean and the Kelly brothers stood up to protect her almost brought tears to my eyes. I just love the way families come together, and Banks has a way of showing us time and time again just how tightly knit this family is to one another. I LOVE that.

The plot in this book started out somewhat slow and lazy with Garrett heading to the island and getting the chance to get to know Sarah. About half way through it really picked up and began moving quickly and Banks started packing in the action left and right. We get a chance to see the other KGI employees come through for Garrett, and really take over parts of the story. I liked getting an insider look at Rio, and hope that his story will be coming up quickly. I did however think the conflict between Garrett and Sarah’s brother Marcus ended somewhat abruptly and in a way I wasn’t completely satisfied with, but that’s just me.

All in all, I give Hidden Away 4.5 out of 5 island getaways!

Review - Deadly Lies by Cynthia Eden

2011-03-11T05:30:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Hachette
Publish Date: 2/22/11
How I got this book: Pima County Library

She wants to hide the past…

FBI Special Agent Samantha Kennedy is haunted by memories of the serial killer who abducted her. To keep the darkness at bay, she pretends to be a different, more confident woman. This Samantha doesn’t fear every unknown face. So she throws caution to the wind and shares a night of unbridled passion with a handsome stranger.

He needs to uncover the truth…

One night isn’t enough for successful entrepreneur Max Ridgeway. He wants more of the sexy, smart, mysterious woman who slipped away before dawn. When they meet again, their attraction is undeniable—until his stepbrother goes missing, and Max realizes that Samantha isn’t who she seems. But they must trust each other to trap a ring of blood-thirsty kidnappers before the nightmares that terrorize Sam become irrevocably real.
*Blurb from author’s site*

Cynthia Eden has quickly cemented herself as one of my new favorite authors. I’ve recently gobbled up her paranormal series, Night Watch, and her Deadly suspense series within the past few months. In just a few books, she has become an auto buy for me, and a guaranteed great read.

The third book in the Deadly Series (and I HOPE not the last!) focuses on Agent Samantha Kennedy, one of my favorites from Deadly Fear. Samantha is still plagued with nightmares and fears from the killer who kidnapped and tortured her. Looking for any chance to hold onto life and the present she shares one very steamy night with Max, a sexy stranger she met in a bar.

But when Max and Samantha meet again, and let their passion spark yet another fire, Samantha’s work and private life catch up to one another. Max’s brother gets abducted by a serial kidnapper and murderer, the same one who has been alluding Sam’s elite FBI team. She worms her way into Max’s everyday life, pretending to be his girlfriend, so that she can remain close to the family, and have insider information that may finally crack open their case.

In the entire Deadly Series, Eden has created some of the creepiest and craziest villains I’ve ever read, and this story is no exception. I was completely stumped as to who the kidnapper could be up until the very end. Eden is very, very sneaky like that. And, in my opinion, it just makes for a better and stronger story. I was amazed at who it turned out to be, and have to say blown away by whole it changed so much of the story for me. Fabulous!

Samantha went through a horrific even in the first book, and I was glad to see that Eden didn’t have her instantly fixed. The struggle that Sam and Max went through to really face her fears, come to grips with the assault from Deadly Fear, it was a great journey. Both difficult and sweet to watch. When Sam was once again thrust back into the water, my heart almost stopped along with hers. Very emotional and well done.

I loved Max. It was easy to tell that he honestly cared for Samantha, regardless of her fears and flaws. He was this total caring and sensitive bad boy who could go from loving and sweet one moment to a savvy and dirty business man the next. I love that he wanted to be able to help and protect Sam with the investigation, especially once his brother went missing. I melted into a puddle of goo when he took care of Sam after the water incident, and took care of all her fears and needs. Their romance was quick to flame, and their love scenes were smokin’ hot. But at the same time they also had an awkward and beautiful courtship, dealing with so many things at once, and realizing they wanted to deal with it all by each other’s side.

All in all, I give Deadly Lies 5 out of 5 kidnapping psychos!

Review - River Marked by Patricia Briggs

2011-03-10T05:30:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Penguin
Publish Date: 3/1/11
How I got this book: Purchased

Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She’s never known any others of her kind. Until now.

An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River—one that her father’s people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help…
*Blurb from Goodreads*

The Mercy Thompson Series was my first introduction into the wonderful world of Urban Fantasy, and let me just say: Patricia Briggs, I heart you. Mercy and Adam will always have a special place in my heart, and to see the book in the series where they finally get a chance to really focus on their relationship is so amazing. I’ve been waiting a long time for this, and Briggs didn’t disappoint.

Mercy and Adam are getting ready to plan their wedding, but things just aren’t going the way Mercy expected. But a surprise wedding takes away all that stress, and leaves Mercy and Adam free to go on their honeymoon. The RV park Adam takes her to is only open to them, and a peaceful retreat.

But when mysterious things start stirring in the river, Mercy gets the chance to meet her past: face-to-face. Through meeting some of the local Native American’s in the area, Mercy finally meets her father, learns a little more about her walker heritage and once again saves the day.

When I heard this book was going to focus more on Mercy’s walker heritage and her relationship with Adam, I was ecstatic to say the least. The mystery and endless questions surrounding Mercy’s Native American half have been burning since day one, and for the chance to finally get an answer to our questions was amazing, and really threw me for a loop. I’m not really one for endless amounts of speculations, but this twist definitely took me by surprise. I never in a million years would have guessed who Mercy’s father turned out to be, and what exactly that all meant.

I’ve always been a fan of Mercy and Adam together, and to finally get an inside glimpse into what their life is like day in and day out seriously rocked. I love my heroes to be total alphas, and the one of the things that makes Adam stand out from the rest is his trust and faith in Mercy. I love that he wants nothing more than to protect and take care of her, but at the same time supports her every decision. Briggs is one of the few authors who I think can write an incredible and sustaining relationship that has the foundation and strength to last and be completely solid.

I have to admit, I will probably have nightmares about water snakes and serpents for the rest of my life though after reading this. Briggs is so incredibly descriptive in her writing, and the pictures that flashed through my mind of the River Monster will forever go down in history as one of the scariest things I’ve ever read or seen! (Right behind the movie Arachnophobia, I don’t do spiders OR snakes very well!) When Mercy finally delivered the killing blow, I have to say I did a little happy dance, not only because Mercy won, but because the thing finally stopped haunting my thoughts.

I’m interested to see where the series will go from here. According to Twitter and some friends, Briggs has rearranged her schedule to write only one book per year. And if I remember correctly, next up is an Alpha & Omega novel, so that puts the Mercy Series on the back burner until at least 2012, if not 2013. *CRY*

All in all, I give River Marked 4.5 out of 5 scary river snakes!!

Waiting on... The Darkest Secret

2011-03-09T05:58:00.000-08:00

I love Gena Showalter's The Lords of the Underworld Series, and the next installment is coming on March 29th!! While, like everyone else, I'm most excited to read about Paris, I've always been intrigued by Amun as well! Can't wait for this one!

Keeper of the demon of Secrets, Amun can manipulate the darkest thoughts of anyone nearby. But when new demons possess him, the immortal warrior must be chained and isolated to protect those he loves. Death is his only hope of release—until he meets Haidee, a fellow prisoner whose beauty and hidden vulnerability draw him into a reckless test of his loyalty…

Haidee is an infamous demon assassin, raised to despise Amun’s kind. Yet how can she hate the man whose touch sets her aflame? But to save him, she must give herself body and soul…and face the wrath of a powerful adversary sworn to destroy her.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Review- How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

2011-03-08T05:30:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Pocket
Publish Date: 2/22/11
How I got this book: Purchased

Northern Exposure

Even in Grundy, Alaska, it’s unusual to find a naked guy with a bear trap clamped to his ankle on your porch. But when said guy turns into a wolf, recent southern transplant Mo Wenstein has no difficulty identifying the problem. Her surly neighbor Cooper Graham—who has been openly critical of Mo’s ability to adapt to life in Alaska—has trouble of his own. Werewolf trouble.

For Cooper, an Alpha in self-imposed exile from his dysfunctional pack, it’s love at first sniff when it comes to Mo. But Cooper has an even more pressing concern on his mind. Several people around Grundy have been the victims of wolf attacks, and since Cooper has no memory of what he gets up to while in werewolf form, he’s worried that he might be the violent canine in question.

If a wolf cries wolf, it makes sense to listen, yet Mo is convinced that Cooper is not the culprit. Except if he’s not responsible, then who is? And when a werewolf falls head over haunches in love with you, what are you supposed to do anyway? The rules of dating just got a whole lot more complicated. . . .
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Harper is one of my favorite authors, always able to provide a bowl full of laughs along with a great story. The first in the Naked Werewolf Series is no exception. Mo moves to Alaska to get away from the stuffing and overbearing parents for the opportunity to make it on her own. She ends up in the quaint town of Grundy, Alaska. She gets a job working in a local diner, and starts making friends with the locals right away. Except for Cooper.

Cooper is the local grumpy old man, only he’s young and smokin’ hot. He’s trying to keep his werewolf status under wraps, but with a series of wolf attacks in the area are making that harder and harder. While trying to figure out if he is the cause behind the mayhem, he can’t seem to find a way to stay away from Mo. Will these two be able to figure out what is going on in town, and be able to make a budding new relationship work?

I have to start out by saying that I was somewhat disappointed we didn’t get to the naked bear trap until almost 100 pages in. Because of that, I found the first part of the story to be somewhat slow and seemed to be a lot of background information. (Maybe because most blurbs give a little history to what is happening at the beginning of the story?) That aside, I adored this story.

Harper constantly comes through with hilarious jokes and funny characters in each and every one of her books. I loved Mo, adored her somewhat hippy and anti-hippy ways. The jokes she made about her family and herself, she was just a super lovable character. I can’t imagine what he life was like growing up, but the stories were great. I didn’t like Cooper right off the bat like I did Mo, but he grew on me more and more as the story progressed. He was a completely surly, grumpy, angry guy in the beginning. Once we got more info on his back story though, I found myself liking him more and more, especially whenever he dealt with his sister. I really liked the core set of secondary characters as well. Harper does a great job of really bringing them to life throughout the story, and I really enjoyed each and every one of them.

The mystery subplot was done really well too. It took me awhile to catch onto what exactly was going on, who could possibly be behind the wolf attacks, and when Harper wrapped it all up, I thought it was done really well. The villain wasn’t too obvious, but at the same time was difficult to figure out. I love when authors can present a story that way. It makes for a fabulous read.

Fans of the Jane Jamison Series will definitely love the Naked Werewolf books. While each book will focus on a different couple, I’m anxiously awaiting to hear more about Cooper’s sister and the pack life in their tiny town.

All in all, I give How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf 4 out of 5 hippy communes.

Review - Badlands by Seleste deLaney

2011-03-03T05:30:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 2/28/11
How I got this book: NetGalley

After a brutal Civil War, America is a land divided. As commander of her nation's border guards, Ever is a warrior sworn to protect her country and her queen. When an airship attacks and kills the monarch, Ever must infiltrate enemy territory to bring home the heir to the throne, and the dirigible Dark Hawk is her fastest way to the Union.

Captain Spencer Pierce just wants to pay off the debt he owes on the Dark Hawk and make a life for himself trading across the border. When the queen's assassination puts the shipping routes at risk, he finds himself Ever's reluctant ally.

As they fly into danger, Ever and Spencer must battle not only the enemy but also their growing attraction. She refuses to place her heart before duty, and he has always put the needs of his ship and crew above his own desires. Once the princess is rescued, perhaps they can find love in the Badlands— if death doesn't find them first…
*Blurb from Goodreads*

DeLaney creates a new and completely different steampunk like world than anything I’ve read before. Ever is a warrior woman who protects the area known as the Badlands. She’s fierce and will do anything to protect her lands and queen. When an attack takes them by surprise and kills their queen, it is up to Ever to find the princess and bring her home to lead her people.

Captain Spencer is reluctant to take on Ever, but wants to help her in any way he can. The two set off to find the princess, and are thrown up against multiple attempts to stop then, regardless of the costs. But once they have the princess on board, will they make it to the Badlands in time to save the country?

I really enjoyed this story, it was different and unique in the world building, something I had never read before. It was fresh and enjoyable to dive into the story where the main character is from a country ruled by women, and protected by women. While I found Ever to be a refreshing strong female lead, she also rankled on my nerves a bit with her inability to recognize her own feelings towards Spencer. It almost felt like she was too much of a warrior to be a woman, if that makes any sense.

I enjoyed Spencer’s character. While he was a force to be reckoned with all on his own, he didn’t overshadow ever in any way. I enjoyed that he was focused enough on his own mission, that he didn’t try and overrun Ever’s. The way they came together and danced apart throughout the book was really well done and fun to watch (except I cringed with Ever’s little interlude with Zeke).

Although it’s fairly short (only 100 pages or so), deLaney does a good job of keeping things moving, interesting and fun. Steampunk fans out there will enjoy the fact that most of this book takes place on an airship, which I thought was totally awesome.

All in all, I give Badlands 4 out of 5 airship battles!

Waiting on... Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione

2011-03-02T05:30:00.000-08:00

I love, love all things Larissa Ione. I think that everything she touches turns to gold. When she announced her spin off series: Lords of Deliverance, I was so psyched. The first book in the series, Eternal Rider comes out on April 1st, 2011.

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.
*Blurb from author's site*

Review - Seducing the Governess by Margo Maguire

2011-03-01T05:30:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Avon
Publish Date: February 22, 2011
How I got this book: NetGalley

A Proper Governess Should Never. . .

Assist a handsome stranger, alone on an unfamiliar road . . . unless the rake happens to be her new employer.

Take a position in a crumbling manor . . . especially if the household staff has been replaced by unruly former soldiers.

Allow her young charge entree to her heart . . . for once done, it will be impossible to maintain proper distance.

Permit her charge's uncle a breathtaking kiss under a star-lit sky . . . henceforth she will most certainly lose composure whenever he is near.

And above all, she should never, ever fall completely, irreversibly in love with her employer . . . for nothing good can possibly come of it.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

I’m a big fan of Regency era Historical Romances, so the premise of this one sounded great to me, a woman struggling to survive after the death of her parents takes on the role of serving as governess to the new Earl’s young niece. Having never served as a governess before, Mercy is unsure of proper protocol, but is fairly sure that the Earl and his merry men of former soldiers are not doing things correctly.

The Earl, Nash, was horribly injured at Waterloo, and the burn disfiguration on his face has led him to be somewhat cynical. But the fire and passion in his new governess awakens feelings he didn’t know he could possess. With the failing state of his lands and home, the Earl has some hard decisions to make. Does he pursue the beautiful governess, or take a wife who can provide a large dowry and save him home?

I really wanted to like this book, but when I say that I’m just glad I was able to finish it, it’s disappointing. The beginning held promise. An old Duke is on his deathbed, looking for the grandchildren that he disowned years ago. We then cut to Mercy, daughter of a vicar and his wife who have just died. She is on her way to her new potential home, working as the governess to the young Emmy. I liked Mercy at first. She was just the right mix of strong will and innocence. But as the story progressed, she drove me more and more crazy. As the vicar’s daughter she had never been kissed, and only courted twice. But suddenly she is letting Nash steal kisses, flirt inappropriately, and even make love before even determining if he likes her. What happened to that strong will? She just fizzled out as a character for me.

Nash on the other hand started off poorly, and while his character was a little more agreeable for me, I still wasn’t completely sold on him. As a war vet, he was in many a battle, and was injured horrifically. His scars make him angry and bitter, and he lets that bleed over into his whole life. While he wants Mercy with something fierce, he also wants to make sure his home succeeds, and to do so would mean courting and marrying a rich neighbor’s daughter. I hated that Nash was still planning on courting the heiress, even as he was ruining Mercy’s future.

Even the romance between the two seemed off. I thought Mercy was going to remain strong in her values to be a good vicar’s daughter and marry properly. But she became more of a swooning impressionable heroine that was irrevocably changed into a wanton with only one kiss. I just couldn’t believe that. Likewise Nash wanted to pursue Mercy, to the point that he even mentioned wanting to be with her if his financial situation was different. However, at the same time seemed completely amicable with the thought of marrying another. It was hard for me to be on board with that.

The only thing I enjoyed about this book was the mystery surrounding the mysterious death of Nash’s two older brothers, and the ongoing investigation of the dying Duke’s granddaughters. Those two plot lines kept the story moving more than the romance between Nash and Mercy, and were (in my opinion) the only believable parts to the story.

All in all, I give Seducing the Governess 2 out of 5 fallen governesses!

Guest Review at Smexy Today!

2011-02-25T05:47:00.000-08:00

I am over at Smexybooks today with my guest review of A Lot Like Love by Julie James.

Mandi was so awesome and saw how excited I was for this new James book. She sent me an e-mail, asked if I wanted her ARC and to guest review at Smexy. Let me just tell you, if you don't already read Julie James.... YOU MUST!

Check out my review here!

Review - Dreams of a Dark Warrior by Kresley Cole

2011-02-24T05:30:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Pocket Books
Publish Date: February 15th
How I got this book: Purchased

It’s a gripping tale of a battle-maddened warrior driven by revenge and the Valkyrie temptress who haunts his dreams.

He vowed he’d come for her...
Murdered before he could wed Regin the Radiant, warlord Aidan the Fierce seeks his beloved through eternity, reborn again and again into new identities, yet with no memories of his past lives-only an endless yearning.

She awaits his return...
When Regin encounters Declan Chase, a brutal Celtic soldier, she recognizes her proud warlord reincarnated. But Declan takes her captive, intending retribution against all immortals, unaware that he belongs to their world.

To sate a desire more powerful than death...
Yet every reincarnation comes with a price, for Aidan is doomed to die when he remembers his past. To save herself from Declan’s torments, will Regin rekindle the memories of the passion they once shared-even if it means once again losing the only man she could ever love?
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark Series is one of my absolute favorite paranormal romance series, and she continues with the eleventh installment, featuring the Valkyrie Regin, one of my favorites, and her reincarnated love Aiden, aka Declan.

Regin the Radiant left the comfort of her home as a young girl and met the love of her life Aidan at a young age. The two knew that they were destined to be together and feel deeply in love. But before Aidan could complete his battles and become an immortal berserker, he was killed by a vampire in their bed. Reincarnated every ascension, Aidan always comes back for her.

Declan was tormented by demons as a child, and spent his entire life hunting down and killing creatures of the Lore. When he captures Regin, there is something about her that draws him in. But his burning desire for her doesn’t stop him from treating her like a prisoner. Unbeknownst to him, there is a past and passion between the two that has the potential to destroy him. But when he falls in love with Regin on his own, will he be able to overcome death to stay with her forever?

I have to start off with saying that this was not my absolute favorite Cole book. I’ve been anxiously awaiting Regin’s story, wondering exactly how Cole was going to pull this one off. While I was super happy with the way some things played out, there were others that bothered me.

The thing that grated on me the most was that I didn’t think Declan really proved himself to Regin. I don’t think he really showed her or proved to her that he was willing to forego everything from his past, put aside all that hatred, and move on. I hate to say he got off too easy, because his own internal torment was obviously painful, but he didn’t have to prove himself to anyone in the Lore. I’ll even admit to hoping that Aidan would somehow prevail and Declan would float to the wayside.

I was very happy though with the way that Cole played out the curse. The way that Declan was able to become immortal, live happily with Regin. I don’t want to give anything away, but I was really happy with how Declan and Aidan and his constant deaths were all sorted out.

The big things I really liked about the story is the addition of some new characters. I loved Natalya, the dark fey cell mate of Regin’s. I hope that we get to see more of her in the future. I also enjoyed meeting Brandr and Thad. I know Cole has talked about a YA series, and hope that we will see some of the youngsters like Thad in that. I liked seeing more of Nix and Lothaire. While I’m not on the Lothaire bandwagon yet, I’m holding out hope that he’ll wow me in his book.

All in all, I give Dreams of a Dark Warrior 3.5 out of 5 reincarnated berserkers!

Waiting on... Saddled and Spurred

2011-02-23T05:30:00.000-08:00

I blame Lorelei James for my lurve of all things sexy cowboys. Her Rough Riders Series swept me away with it's smokin hot love scenes, sexy guys in tight jeans, and romantic relationships. When she started the Blacktop Cowboy Series, I just had another reason to obsess over cowboys. On March 1st, the second book in the Blacktop Cowboys Series comes out, Saddled and Spurred. While I like her Rough Rider covers better, those abs are pretty amazing!

Cattleman Bran Turner is left shorthanded during busy calving season when a bull tramples his hired hand. Rural Wyoming isn’t exactly a hotbed of qualified candidates, and the only applicant for the position is the pampered town beauty, Harper Masterson. The curvy cowgirl gets under Bran’s skin at every turn, but with no other options, he reluctantly hires her.

When sexual sparks ignite, down-on-her-luck Harper enjoys convincing Bran that not only is she capable of pulling calves, feeding live-stock, and handling backbreaking ranch chores, but she doesn’t mind getting down and dirty, either. Harper also discovers the hotbodied cowboy isn’t all work and no horseplay…and he’s got more than a few tricks up his sleeve. Bran will learn quickly that Harper is no country mouse—and that she might just have what it takes to stick around for the long haul.
*Blurb from author's website*

Trailer Tuesday - Wicked Seduction

2011-02-22T05:30:00.000-08:00

I'm not usually a huge sucker for pirate books, but this one looks FABULOUS! Check out the trailer for Jade Lee's Wicked Seduction, out March 1st.

Review - Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis

2011-02-21T05:30:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: February 1st
How I got this book: Purchased

Co-owner of the town's only kennel, Lilah Young has lived in Sunshine, Idaho, all her life. Pilot-for-hire Brady Miller is just passing through. But he soon has Lilah abandoning her instincts and giving in to a primal desire.

It's Brady's nature to resist being tied down, but there's something about Lilah and her menagerie that keeps him coming back for more.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

This was only my second read by Shalvis, but I have to say, I really enjoy her writing! After only two reads, she has become one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. Animal Magnetism follows the crazy and hectic life of Lilah, the animal loving kennel owner in the small town of Sunshine. She lives her life catering to dogs, cats, ducks, and all the other animals in her area, giving literally everything she has to give them a chance at life.

When she literally runs into Brady Miller at the convenient store, she share a passionate kiss with the stranger, and comes to find out he is the missing friend of her buddies Dell and Adam. While Brady only wants to stay in town long enough to placate Dell and Adam, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to everything about Lilah.

I adored this cute and sweet romance. Lilah is the typical animal lover, giving absolutely everything she has to the animals. She is beyond dedicated to them, almost to the point where she cares more for them than she does herself. That tends to run through to her human relationships as well, always being the one to give, give, give and never take anything in return. Her giving nature is sweet and enduring to me, reminding me of the little puppy that always comes back for more. Having known people like Lilah in real life, her character really rang true to me, and I enjoyed that about her.

Brady was somewhat of an enigma to me. He kept thinking and saying that he was an independent guy, never wanting to settle down, be tied to one place. But at the same time, he kept acting as if the only place he wanted to be was with Lilah, regardless of everything else. Although Brady was a very masculine alpha hero, he was also a total softie when it came to Lilah. I loved every time he picked her up and put her to bed when she fell asleep at her desk, when he let her cry on his shoulder as she placed her animals.

Shalvis has a great sense of humor in her writing style, and I love that the heroes in her books always find a dramatic way to redeem themselves. Brady’s grand gesture annoyed me a little, only because it seemed to take him way longer than necessary to realize she was it for him. But none the less, he came back stronger.

I hope that Shalvis continues in this world, telling the stories of Adam and Dell. They were great and funny secondary characters, and I could really tell that something was brewing between Dell and the receptionist at his vet clinic. I hope we get more of their story in books to come.

All in all, I give Animal Magnetism 4.5 out of 5 rescue animals!

Review - Turn it Up by Vivian Arend

2011-02-17T09:58:00.000-08:00

Published: February 8th, 2011
Publisher: Samhain
How I got this book: Purchased

She wants it. He’s got it…and a whole lot more.
Turner Twins, Book 2

Maxwell Turner considers his stubborn and resourceful attitude a plus. After all, it usually gets him what he wants—except for Natasha Bellingham. The long-time family friend may be ten years older than he, but so what? He’s plenty old enough to know they belong together. Now all he has to do is convince her.

Over the past few years Natasha’s love life has degenerated into a series of bad clichés. Her biological clock is ticking—loudly. As a proven architect with her own house-design company, she’s financially ready for a baby. Who says she needs a permanent man in her life for that? She just needs a “donation”.

When Max discovers Natasha’s future plans include artificial insemination, he’s outraged. She wants to get pregnant? No problem. He’s more than willing to volunteer—no turkey basters involved.

But there’s one non-negotiable clause: He wants forever. And he intends to do everything in his power—fair and unfair—to make it happen.

Warning: This title contains one younger man ready, aimed and hell bent on giving one woman everything she wants. Includes interludes against the wall, in a Jacuzzi, on a car hood and even—shockingly enough—on a bed or two. Oh, and about that porch swing? Yup…
*Blurb from Goodreads*

I’m not usually a big fan of baby stories, but I’ve come to learn that with Arend, what you see is not always what you get. We first met Max and Natasha in Turn It On, the first book in the Turner Twin Series. Although this one is a prequel, it was great to see Max and Natasha in a different light.

Natasha is starting to feel her biological clock ticking, and when she has one last night on the town, her drunken self accidently reveals her plan to Max. Since Max has always wanted to be with Natasha, he puts together a very impressive business plan to try and convince her to marry him and start that family with him. After much debating Natasha finally decides to give it a chance, and agrees to his proposal.
Although love wasn’t part of his original plan, Max does everything he can think of to woo Natasha, getting her to fall in love with him. But with the stress of his over bearing family, Natasha’s angry best friend, and hormones, will she be able to admit she feel in love?

I really enjoyed this one, despite a few things that really grated on me. I loved that Natasha was a cougar, although it was the one thing she really didn’t want to be. Her struggle with admitting her feelings for Max, and dealing with him being younger than her was a constant throughout. And while I normally agree that men mature at a much slower rate than woman, it was also painfully obvious to me that Max was not the “typical” guy. He was responsible and wanted nothing more than to be with Natasha day in and day out. Her inability to recognize that, or at least acknowledge that had me doubting her own intelligence.

I enjoyed getting an even better insight into the Turner family, and in this we get to see a lot more of the family dynamic. Every time Max’s family came into play, I remembered thinking… this is my family in a nut shell. LOL.

The big thing that really rankled on me was Max’s cousin and Natasha’s best friend Lila. The two girls are thick as thieves at the beginning of the story, and when Natasha tells Lila about her upcoming nuptials to Max, Lila freaks out. She berates Natasha, refuses to take her calls, won’t speak to her at family events and acts like an overall baby. Now, I speculate that there is something in Lila’s past that brought this about, but the fact that she doesn’t redeem herself and is a total bitch throughout the story really drives me nuts. She was given every chance to come clean with both Max and Natasha, but refused to be an adult and talk about it, instead acted like a two year old throwing a tantrum. I can only hope Arend will continue the series and give Lila a chance to redeem herself. (Yes, I’m talking to you Viv. Let Lila redeem herself… PLEASE?)

I thought the way that Max relentlessly pursued Natasha was great, the dates he set up for them, the way he helped her achieve her dream house, the way he took care of her once she got knocked up… Max really is a great hero, super in tune with his heroines needs. Loved that about them. This was a great addition to the Turner Twins Series, and like I said, I hope (pray) that Arend continues on with this series. She has really shown herself to be a star in not only the paranormal romance genre, but also contemporary romance.

All in all, I give Turn It Up 4 out of 5 pregnant cougars. RAWR!

Waiting on... Deadly Lies

2011-02-16T05:30:00.000-08:00

I recently discovered Cynthia Eden, and I have been gobbling her stuff up as fast as I can. I started both her suspense and paranormal series, and have absolutely fallen in love with her writing style, in-depth characters, and intense plot lines.

Her Deadly Series focuses on a special task force that targets serial criminals. The characters are amazing, the villains are creepy and the books are all fabulous. The third book, Deadly Lies, featuring Samantha the resident computer genius and one sexy stranger. It comes out March 1st, and I can't wait!

She wants to hide the past
FBI Special Agent Samantha Kennedy is haunted by memories of the serial killer who abducted her. To keep the darkness at bay, she pretends to be a different, more confident woman. This Samantha doesn't fear every unknown face. So she throws caution to the wind and shares a night of unbridled passion with a handsome stranger.

He needs to uncover the...moreShe wants to hide the past
FBI Special Agent Samantha Kennedy is haunted by memories of the serial killer who abducted her. To keep the darkness at bay, she pretends to be a different, more confident woman. This Samantha doesn't fear every unknown face. So she throws caution to the wind and shares a night of unbridled passion with a handsome stranger.

He needs to uncover the truth
One night isn't enough for successful entrepreneur Max Ridgeway. He wants more of the sexy, smart, mysterious woman who slipped away before dawn. When they meet again, their attraction is undeniable-until his stepbrother goes missing, and Max realizes that Samantha isn't who she seems. But they must trust each other to trap a ring of bloodthirsty kidnappers before the nightmares that terrorize Sam become irrevocably real.

As a merciless criminal spins a web of . . .
DEADLY LIES
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Trailer Tuesday - Secrets & Shadows

2011-02-15T05:01:00.000-08:00

I've heard a lot about the 13 to Life series, but have never read it. But as I was searching for new book trailers, this one caught my eye. And being that I love all things werewolves, I might have to try it out. What do you think of the new Secrets & Shadows trailer? Is the series worth picking up? Let me know!

Review - Death's Sweet Embrace by Tracey O'Hara

2011-02-14T05:30:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Harper Voyage
Publish Date: Out Now
How I got this book: NetGalley

After centuries of secret conflict, humans and parahumans have reached an uneasy truce. But unspeakable evil now threatens the tenuous peace.

Teenaged shapeshifters are being slaughtered by a sadistic serial killer who rips their still-beating hearts from their paralyzed bodies. A task force forms to halt the madness, including the vampiric Aeternus Antoinette Petrescu, as well as Kitt Jordan and Raven Matokwe, members of enemy Animalian tribes . . . and forbidden lovers.

A centuries-old blood feud has divided their shapeshifting peoples, and if their passion is discovered it will doom them both. But past hostilities must be put aside, for the killer they seek is but the first sign of the all-consuming nightmare of The Dark Brethren.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Kitt is back for the second installment for The Dark Brethren series. She is working at the academy as a teacher, finally getting the chance to meet her twin daughters. When the horrific murders start on campus, she gets pulled into the task force to track down the murder.

Kitt is reunited with the father of her children, Raven her one time lover and only love of her life. Although there is a price on Raven’s head, and Kitt has been ostracized from her family, the two will fight for the life and happiness of their daughters, as well as their own freedoms. But when the murder sets his sights on Kitt and and her daughters, will Raven and Kitt be able to save each other?

Death’s Sweet Embrace by Tracey O’Hara is finally out, and was one I was looking forward too. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, and was anxiously awaiting this one. I have to say though, I really wish that I had re-read Night’s Cold Kiss before reading this, because the whole first third of the book or so, I was completely lost.

So, although it took me awhile to get back into the story, once I got back into the flow of the world building, I got sucked completely into the story. It would have been very very helpful had O’Hara done some more world building explanation, even though this is the second book in the series. It’s always nice for a refresher, especially since there can be so much time between two books.

Kitt really captivated me, and the story surrounding her past with her husband, Raven, her children and family was so complicated and intertwined with the suspense of this book. I found myself really being able to relate to her, because Kitt just wanted to make everyone happy. She wanted her daughters, her father, Raven and everyone else in her life to be happy, and was willing to sacrifice so much.

There were times when I wanted to smack Raven, because he was driving me crazy. Although he was more than capable of taking care of himself, the fact that he didn’t seem to care about Kitt concern for his life annoyed me. He wanted her to do everything he said and asked, but at the same time, wasn’t willing to give her the same courtesy.

The suspense plot was very well done, and I was kept guessing until the last minute. And l loved it! It tied into Kitt’s history and present so well, and fit with the overall story so well, it was probably my favorite aspect of this story. The romance between Kitt and Raven was also well done, and although there were times I didn’t think they would make it (or even want to for that matter), they were finally able to find a way to both get past their pigheadedness and agree to make it work.

I’m excited that it seems as if Kitt and Raven’s twins will play a large role in the series as a whole. I am really liking the way that the series seems to be progressing, and look forward to the next, however I might have to do a refresher before.

All in all, I give Death’s Sweet Embrace 3 out of 5 shifting cat and wolf twins.

Review - The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton

2011-02-11T05:30:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: Out Now
How I got this book: Purchased

Football pro Mick Riley is an all-star, both on the field and in the bedroom. But a sexy, determinedly single mom just might be the one to throw him off his game…

For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meets and beds confident, beautiful event planner Tara Lincoln, he wants much more than the typical one-night stand. Too bad Tara’s not interested in getting to know football’s most notorious playboy any better.

As the single mother of a teenage son, the last thing Tara needs is the jet-set lifestyle of Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand was unforgettable. Tara’s life is complicated enough without being thrust into the spotlight as Mick’s latest girl du jour. Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn’t intend to put herself out there again, especially with a heartbreaker like Mick.

But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind.

Isn’t it just yummy?
*Blurb from Goodreads*

I am a huge fan of sports related romance books, so when Jaci Burton announced her Play by Play Series, I was anxiously awaiting for each and little bit of information she threw our way. Once the cover was released, I feel instantly in love. That man is HOT! Like, unbelievably HAWT! Needless to say, I pre-ordered this and downloaded it as soon as it became available.

Mick is the star quarterback with the reputation of an absolute playboy, but when he meets Tara one afternoon, he finds himself attracted to her beyond anything he’s felt before. Tara wants nothing more than to focus on her up and coming career as an event planner and to be the best possible mother to her teenage son. So when Mick comes sniffing around, wanting to something with her, Tara is hesitant to give him more than just one passionate night together.

But Mick won’t take no for answer, and he pursues Tara relentlessly. He meets and even mentors her son. She meets his loud and wild family. Things move from casual to serious before either of them can bat an eye. But will Tara be able to deal with Mick’s lifestyle, in a forever kind of way?

I had horrible mixed emotions about this one. I wanted more than anything to absolutely LOVE this book. Hot guy, sports romance, smokin' scenes that Burton writes best? It’s the formula for greatness, but somewhere along the line it just didn’t make the cut for me.

The biggest thing I loved about this book: Mick. He was the absolute perfect hero. He was strong, sexy, a real family man, and an upstanding kind of guy. His interactions between his family and Tara’s son had me weak in the knees, and there wasn’t one single minute that I didn’t absolutely love with him in it. But he wasn’t without his flaws either. He seemed to know that the only thing he really wanted was Tara. However there were times he didn’t really take her or their relationship into serious consideration. He took her to meet his family, admitted how huge that was, but then kept trying to tell himself it was just a fun fling only? That didn’t seem rational to me.

I really wanted to like Tara, and at times I really enjoyed her character. She picked herself up from nothing, made a career and life for herself and her son. She too was a strong character, but there were things about her that just felt off to me for some reason. For example, I don’t know that I believe her character would really be ready to jump into a purely sexual relationship with such a prominent name in the media, especially with a teenage son. It just didn’t seem to fit with who she was as a character. Then after months of being with him, finding herself emotionally and physically attached to Mick, suddenly his lifestyle is too much to deal with and she can’t be with him? It just didn’t seem to be in line with my expectations.

While Mick and Tara’s relationship started as a bedroom only kind of thing, I found the smex scenes to be totally smokin, but also somewhat extensive. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love Burton’s writing, and Mick and Tara really heated up the pages, but there were times when those scenes seemed to just drag on and on, without really moving the story further. I found myself skipping over some of them. *GASP!!*

The secondary characters, including Mick’s family and his agent, were fabulously done. I am anxiously awaiting the second book in the series as well, Changing the Game, featuring Mick’s brother Gavin and sports agent Liz. I’m hoping above all else, that Liz is able to redeem herself in this book, and reestablish her friendship with Mick.

So while I was hoping this would be a blow out, just like the cover, I have to say it didn’t live up to those hip bones. *drool*

All in all, I give The Perfect Play 3 out of 5 perfect quarterback heroes.

Review - A Brush of Darkness by Allison Pang

2011-02-10T05:30:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Pocket
Publish Date: Out Now
How I got this book: Simon & Schuster Galley Grab

The man of her dreams might be the cause of her nightmares.

Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn’t at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and sexy-as- sin incubus searching for his sister, convinced Abby has the key to the succubus’s whereabouts. Abby has enough problems without having this seductive shape-shifter literally invade her dreams to get information. But when her Faery boss and some of her friends vanish, as well, Abby and Brystion must form an uneasy alliance. As she is sucked deeper and deeper into this perilous world of faeries, angels, and daemons, Abby realizes her life is in as much danger as her heart—and there’s no one she can trust to save her.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

This book was recommended to me by so many of my fellow bloggers, so when I saw it available at the Simon & Schuster galley grab, I jumped at the chance to read it.

Abby has gone through some really difficult times in her life, and now that she is part of the magical underground, she is doing everything she can to leave her past exactly where it is, the past. But when her protector goes missing and she gets put on the path of trying to figure out what exactly is going on with her friends, she not only has to face some of her fears, but she has to face Brystion as well.

Brystion is an uber-sexy incubus, and when his sister was discovered missing after the deaths of many other succubi, he will do just about anything to get her back safe and sound. But after spending his days with Abby, will he be able to trade one loved one for another?

The world building in this Urban Fantasy was exceptionally complicated, and I frequently found myself scratching my head in confusion through the first half of this book. Now, I consider myself somewhat quick to jump on the world building bandwagon and sort through everything to understand all the subtle nuances of what exactly is going on, but Pang lost me pretty early on. There are so many different terms that all sound somewhat the same, but had very different meanings, people they referred to, etc. There were times when I felt as if I was coming in on a second book in the series, instead of a first. Call my crazy, but I could have used an info dump!

That being said, I really loved Abby and Brystion’s characters. Abby was completely flawed, and I felt like although she couldn’t really do or get anything right, at least her heart was always in the right spot. I liked that she was somewhat flawed and awkward for a UF heroine. It is so typical to have this total ass kicking, Buffy style heroine in Urban Fantasy, that it was refreshing to see Abby with her bumbling and fumbling along, making and screwing it all up as she went along.

Brystion was absolutely delicious, and the way he and Abby left things at the end of the book almost had me in tears. I want more Brystion back, and I want him heating up the pages with his incubus appeal. Although his motives were questionable, I enjoyed that he was able to recognize where he went wrong, and that he tried everything to go back and make it all right in the end. A great hero doesn’t always get it right the first time, but at least he tries until he does, and Brystion embodies that.

The magical unicorn living with Abby provided some great comedic relief in a fast moving and often dark story. The plot really does scoot quickly, and the book encompasses A LOT of stuff. Thankfully, Pang had great humor to break up the bleakness. The World of Warcraft references had me in absolute stitches (mainly because I’ve totally been there, done that!) and Pang has a great voice that easily bounces between serious and funny without loosing anything.

I will most likely pick up the second book in the series, but I think that I might need to make myself a reference guide before I jump into it, because I don’t want to be as lost the second time around!

All in all, I give A Brush of Darkness 3 out of 5 magical unicorn sidekicks!

Waiting on... Children of Scarabeus

2011-02-09T05:45:00.000-08:00

Last year when doing the Science Fiction Romance challenge, I read the first book in Sara Creasy's Scarabaeus series. While the world building was complicated, and the mix between romance and science fiction just enough to steal the hearts of both romance readers, and the hard sci-fi readers. The second installment of the Scarabaeus series comes out April 1st, and I have to say... I am exciting to see where Edie and Finn end up on their next adventure.

Edie Sha'nim believed she and her bodyguard lover, Finn, could find refuge from the tyranny of the Crib empire by fleeing to the Fringe worlds. But Edie's extraordinary cypherteck ability to manipulate the ecology of evolving planets makes her far too valuable to lose. Recaptured and forced to cooperate - or else she will watch Finn die - Edie is shocked to discover the Crib's new breed of cypherteck: children. She cannot stand by while the oppressors enslave the innocent, nor can she resist the lure of Scarabaeus, the first world she tried to save, when researchers discover what appears to be an evolving intelligence.

But escape - for Edie, for Finn, and for the exploited young - will require the ultimate sacrifice... and a shocking act of rebellion with universe-shattering consequences.
*Blurb from author's website*

Trailer Tuesday - This Side of the Grave

2011-02-08T05:45:00.000-08:00

Cat and Bones fans, do I have a treat for you! Jeaniene Frost released her newest trailer for This Side of the Grave just a few short days ago. Can you believe we only have a two more weeks to wait?! Check out the new trailer here, I love it!

Over at The Book Pushers - Virgin River Review

2011-02-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Today I'm over at The Book Pushers talking about an Oldie book, but a really goodie!! My aunts convinced me to read the first in the Virgin River Series, and I have to say... very impressed! Check out my review over at The Book Pushers!!

Cover Love... Never Enough

2011-02-04T05:30:00.000-08:00

Lauren Dane writes some smokin' hot stuff, and she is lucky enough to always get covers that smoke just as much! She revealed her cover for Never Enough, the 4th book in the Brown Siblings Series set to release in September of this year.

I have yet to pick this series yet, but the books are towards the top of my TBR pile, and I've heard nothing but great things, and love all the covers to date. Check out the cover and blurb!

ALL THE RIGHT NOTES…

Gillian Forrester spent most of her life running from who and what she came from. Until Miles came along. From the moment she held the tiny newborn her older sister didn’t want, Gillian stopped running and began to build a life for herself and her adopted son. Now, thirteen years later, as Gillian’s sister lay dying, she reveals the father’s identity and makes Gillian promise to find him.

Adrian Brown is the epitome of the successful rock star. He’s seen and done it all, with few regrets. It takes a lot to shock him—but the bombshell that he has a thirteen-year-old son rocks his world. And Adrian is even more surprised when the buttoned-up, elegant woman who’s raising Miles snags his erotic and romantic attention.

The last thing Gillian expected was to find herself getting hot and heavy with a person like Adrian. But as much as she wants to open up and give herself fully to this amazing man, she’s afraid the secrets of her past and Adrian’s problems with trusting people may keep them apart for good. If love isn’t enough can they find the trust they need?
*Blurb from author's site*

Review - Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden

2011-02-03T05:30:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publish Date: Out Now!
How I got this book: Pima County Public Library

TWO BRILLIANT AGENTS
FBI Special Agent Monica Davenport has made a career out of profiling serial killers. But getting inside the twisted minds of the cruel and the sadistic has taken its toll: She's walled herself off from the world. Yet Monica can't ignore fellow agent Luke Dante, the only man who ever broke through her defenses.

ONE DREAM TEAM
Luke has the unique ability to put victims at ease...professionally, he and Monica made a perfect team. Now they're reunited to catch a murderer who uses his victims' deepest, darkest fears for sport - but their investigative skills aren't enough. Luke and Monica will have to face the secrets from their past, the ones that terrify them the most, if they are to have a future together.

BUT CAN THEY CATCH A KILLER WHOSE WEAPON IS...

DEADLY FEAR
*Blurb from Goodreads*

This past year I've become more and more excited about romantic suspense books. I've read some of Eden's paranormal work, and really liked her writing style, so when I was browsing my library website and found her new suspense series, I reserved it right away. I was not disappointed.

Monica Davenport is an FBI agent with a knack for getting into a serial killer's mind, with a very dark secret. She serves on the FBI's newest elite team of agents who investigate serial killers, and has a steamy history with the newest member of their team, Luke Dante.

Luke's fantasy woman is none other than Monica, and after their one scorching night together long ago, he can't get her out of his mind. When they are assigned to a team together to chase down a killer who uses someone's fears as a way to kill them, their passion ignites, and the stakes get raised. But will they be able to catch a killer, who might just know each of their fears?

Again, Eden absolutely blew me away with the first installment of the Deadly Series. I haven't read a ton of suspense books, and the few I have read have mostly been about military men. So this was new to me, and I was absolutely amazed. Eden creates some amazing characters, including a hero and heroine who each have their flaws and strengths, and a villain that gave me the creeps.

The relationship between Monica and Luke was complicated, hot and filled with secrets. As we found out more and more about Monica and Luke's history both as individuals and as a couple. The way that each of them had overcome the many obstacles in their lives and come out on top. I loved the background stories about each of their fears, and how the killer turned out to be connected with both her past and her present.

I also really enjoyed the side characters within the FBI team. I know that this will be a great series, and I'm really excited for Deadly Heat and Deadly Lies, out February and March respectively. I'm really excited to read about Agent Samantha, who was a victim of a traumatic event, and how she deals with the fall out. I can only imagine how powerful that one is going to be!

For those of you who are faint of heart. Please think carefully before picking p this book. Eden does an amazing job of describing the setting and events of this book. There were a few scenes that were so incredibly powerful they gave me chills, goosebumps and a twinge of fear all out once. While this is a compliment to Eden's writing styles, for those of you with queasy stomach’s, you might be a little shaken at some parts.

But, that being said, this book was absolutely fabulous. I was so impressed with the intricacies of the plot, the back stories and the overall flow of the book. Deadly Fear is probably one of my favorite Romantic Suspense books of all time!

All in all, I give Deadly Fear 5 out of 5 super creepy serial killers!!

Waiting on... Hidden Away

2011-02-02T06:45:00.000-08:00

Maya Banks has absolutely sucked me in and gotten me addicted to the Romantic Suspense genre with her KGI Series. I received the first book, The Darkest Hour as an ARC from Ms. Banks through a website on her contest. I read it in one night and fell madly in love. When the second book, No Place to Run released back in December, I again found myself checking my nook every five or ten minutes to see if I could download and read a bit before going to bed.

The third book in the series, Hidden Away, is set to release March 1st and I can not wait. Garrett blew me away in the last book, and I can't wait to see what the Kelley brothers are going to come up against this time! Check out this sexy cover and blurb!

A man who shoots first and asks questions later…

Most people would take an all-expenses-paid trip to the beach in a heartbeat. Garrett Kelly only accepts to keep tabs on Sarah Daniels, who’s in hiding after witnessing a murder by Marcus Lattimer, her half-brother—and a personal enemy of KGI. This gig may be beneath adisciplined soldier like Garrett, but if he gets a shot at Lattimer, it will all be worth it…

…and the ultimate moving target.

But Garrett hadn’t counted on falling for Sarah. He’d considered seduction as a tactical maneuver, but when he glimpses Sarah’s dark past, he feels an urgent desire to keep her safe—even after she disappears on him. Garrett doesn’t know exactly who, or what, Sarah’s running from, but whatever it is, she’s running for her life…
*Blurb from author's website*

Review - Sweet as Sin by Inez Kelley

2011-01-31T06:50:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 1/31/11
How I got this book: NetGalley

John Murphy is tormented by nightmares. A bestselling young-adult author, he writes the ultimate fantasy: stories where good always triumphs. He knows better. His past has shown him the worst in people—and in himself. When he moves next door to the sexy, vibrant Livvy—a woman completely unlike his usual one-night stands—he's driven to explore every curve of her delicious body.

Pastry chef Livvy knows that giving in to the temptation that is John Murphy won't lead to anything permanent, but she deserves a passionate summer fling. John discovers she's as sweet as the confections she bakes while Livvy slowly unravels his secrets. But what will happen when she uncovers them all?
Blurb from Goodreads

John Murphy has just moved into a new home and come to find out his next door neighbor is a sexy little number that he would love nothing more than to seduce for a few nights. But Livvy isn't looking for some short term fling, she wants the white picket fence and a happily ever after. But the attraction between them won't stop burning her up, and she gives into his passion and short time terms.

But as the two spend their summer together, learning about themselves and each other, the realize that there is so much more between them between heat and a fling. But John is scared to reveal his true self, and as Livvy begins learning all of his secretes, he becomes more and more worried about where exactly their relationship will lead.

I was so amazed by this book. I've come to expect some smokin' hot erotica from Kelley, and while the fire between them burns extra hot, Kelley also provides so much more: romance, tears, depth and so much more. This is Kelley's longest and most developed book to date, and if she continues on this path, will quickly cement herself as one of my favorites in the contemporary romance genre.

There were times that John drove me a little crazy. The things he had to endure as a child were heartbreaking, and his journey to adulthood and maturity was captured beautifully. I loved that there was so much he had to do to grow up, to become an adult, but at the same time, he seemed to almost refuse to face anything that could help him move forward with his life, which at times he seemed desperate to do with Livvy.

John was scared to open up, lying to himself about his feelings and acted like a little bit of a jerk to Livvy at times. While I knew that she was it for him, there were times that I worried he pushed too hard and too far for Livvy to be able to forgive. She was a strong written character, filled with her own insecurities, difficulties in life but desire to have exactly what she wants in life. I was so happy with the way Kelley ended the story, staying true to both John and Livvy throughout.

The emotional turmoil that John relives throughout the story frequently had tears steaming down my face. Anyone who is overly sensitive to extremely emotional subplots might want to have an extra box of tissues or two out and ready. The one thing that I found really broke up the heavy emotions were the snippets from John's young adult novel. It was sweet to see the parallel of his history and his present, and how he used his writing to express emotions that he otherwise would be unable to do.

To the Kelley fans out there, beware that this is not her typical story. The plot is extremely in-depth, the emotions and romance between John and Livvy as the focal and the smexing not as frequent. While it is still blazing across the pages, there is more focus on the telling of their love, their emotions and not so much the communication between their bodies.

All in all, I give Sweet as Sin 4.5 out of 5 neighbors become lovers!

Waiting on... River Marked

2011-01-26T07:00:00.000-08:00

Patricia Briggs was one of the first Urban Fantasy authors I picked up, and she lured me into the genre like you couldn't believe. With the Mercy Thompson Series, I became hooked on strong female heroines, sexy alpha heroes, and all things supernatural. Mercy has always been, and will always be one of my favorite heroines of all time (*NERD ALERT* I named my level 80 Death Knight in World of Warcraft after her! *NERD ALERT*)

River Marked, the 6th installment of the Mercy Thompson Series releases on March 1st. Who else has already pre-ordered their own copy??

Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She’s never known any others of her kind. Until now.

An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River—one that her father’s people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help…
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Trailer Tuesday - Magic Slays??

2011-01-25T05:42:00.000-08:00

About a week ago, Ilona Andrews posted a hilarious parody of a book trailer for their summer release Magic Slays. Some authors think that book trailers can be somewhat of moot marketing point, but I love them all the same.

Check out this HYSTERICAL trailer that Ilona put together. TOO FUNNY.

Review - No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

2011-01-24T06:50:00.000-08:00

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publish Date: Out Now!
How I got this book: Pima County Public Library

Live fast, fight hard and, if you have to die, then take as many of your enemies with you as you can. That is the Amazon credo and it was one Samia lived and died by. Now in contemporary New Orleans, the immortal Amazon warrior is about to learn that there’s a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind than she’s ever faced before.

Shapeshifter Dev Peltier has stood guard at the front of Sanctuary for almost two hundred years and in that time, he’s seen it all. Or so he thought. Now their enemies have discovered a new source of power--one that makes a mockery of anything faced to date.

The war is on and Dev and Sam are guarding ground zero. But in order to win, they will have to break the most cardinal of all rules and pray it doesn’t unravel the universe as we know it.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

I’ve read all the Dark, Were and Dream-Hunter books by Kenyon, and while the books can sometimes be very predictable, they are still enjoyable.

Bear shifter Dev recently lost his parents in the fight of their lives, and the guilt of their loss and his past has been eating away at him. When Dark-Hunter Samia comes strolling into his bar, Sanctuary, one night, things seem to come back alive for him. The two are instantly attracted to each other, and although there are rules against their kind becoming involved, they can’t seem to help themselves.

Sam is tough, regardless of how life has beat her down. Now that she has been dispatched to New Orleans to help protect Nick, she finds herself in the middle of a war. When the daimons leader realizes what kind of power she has, he will try just about anything to get her under his command. But neither Sam nor Dev is willing to let that happen. But just how far are they each willing to go to save the other?

While this wasn’t my favorite book in the series to date, it was still very enjoyable. I fell in love with Del long ago, and had been anxiously awaiting to see what kind of woman could take on his crazy sense of humor, total devotion to his crazy family and risky job as Sanctuary bouncer. I have to say, I was impressed with Sam. I immediately liked her snarky attitude, her love of Del’s humor and her kick ass ways.

When her story was revealed of how she became a Dark-Hunter, my heart broke a little for her. There have been times when I didn’t really connect with the story behind why each of the Dark-Hunters chose their path, but with Sam it did, Kenyon did a great job on her back story in my opinion. I was so glad that she was finally able to move past the pain and suffering and admit that she needed someone in her life. Likewise, Del always came across to me as this fun-loving, non serious kinda guy. But once we got a closer look into his history as well, I really felt for him. The things he had to endure with his mother and sister, the pains he took from his family… It just made me love him all the more.

The struggle Sam had to go through with her gift, and the way that Del was able to somewhat offset her powers was really neat. I enjoyed the way that these two were able to keep each other sane and grounded. They fit together great as a couple, even while running away from each other. They two of them had some of the best dialogue, joking and teasing each other in ways that had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions.

I am excited to get the stories on some of the other Peltier clan boys. A lot more was revealed about the other brothers, and I have to say they all really hold a special place in my heart. Right up there with Savitar.

I didn’t feel as if Kenyon moved the overall story arc any further along though, and to me the Dark-Hunter series has begun to really drag it’s knuckles that way. It seems with each and every new book in the series, we don’t learn much more about what is really going on. That is one of my biggest pet peeves with long standing series like this. It seems to me as if things take FOREVER to get resolved. I wish that wasn’t the case, but what can you do? I can only hope that going forward, the series starts to pick up and answer some of the questions that have been left hanging.

All in all, I give No Mercy 3.5 out of 5 sexy bear shifting bouncers!

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas

2011-01-20T05:48:00.000-08:00

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publish Date: Out Now!
How I got this book: Pima County Library

ONE LITTLE GIRL NEEDS A FAMILY One rain-slicked night, six-year-old Holly lost the only parent she knew, her beloved mother, Victoria. And since that night, she has never again spoken a word.

ONE SINGLE MAN NEEDS A WIFE The last thing Mark Nolan needs is a six-year-old girl in his life. But he soon realizes that he will do everything he can to make her life whole again. His sister’s will gives him the instructions: There’s no other choice but you. Just start by loving her. The rest will follow.

SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LITTLE MAGIC . . .
Maggie Collins doesn’t dare believe in love again, after losing her husband of one year. But she does believe in the magic of imagination. As the owner of a toy shop, she lives what she loves. And when she meets Holly Nolan, she sees a little girl in desperate need of a little magic.

. . . TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE Three lonely people. Three lives at the crossroads. Three people who are about to discover that Christmas is the time of year when anything is possible, and when wishes have a way of finding the path home. . . .
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Kleypas is one of my favorite historical authors, and her only other contemporary series, The Travises was one I enjoyed. But for me, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor just wasn’t up to par with her normal stuff.

Mark Nolan is a certified bachelor, but when his sister dies in a car accident, he finds out that he is now the guardian of his six year old niece. He and Holly move in with his brother Sam, and the three of them struggle to move on.

Maggie moved to Friday Harbor to start over. When she and Holly click instantly, and Maggie helps her start talking again, Mark takes notice. Although the holidays are tough for all of them, someone the magic of the holidays brings them all together.

I really liked the premise of the story, but somehow the execution just fell short for me. This was definitely now what I’ve come to expect from Kleypas. First off, this short 200 page book was released in hardcover, and had I purchased it instead of checking it out from the library, I think I would be a little upset. I felt as if this was more of a Harlequin series book, missing the real substance we’ve come to expect from a Kleypas romance.

That being said, I did enjoy the story. Being able to watch Mark transition from this bona fide bachelor to loving father and want to be husband. I’ve always been a fan of romance stories where the man knows exactly what he wants, and isn’t afraid to go after it. Although it takes Mark most of the book to get there, he eventually does.

I also really enjoyed Maggie. Although she was a widow, she didn’t let that rule her whole life. She still believed in a little bit of magic, and loved showing it to other people. I really felt a connection with her, because she became such a real character to me in a very short time.

One of the things I struggled with while reading this is that although Mark had feelings for Maggie since the first moment he met her, he had another girlfriend throughout most of the book. Although he never acted like a jerk, it still just somewhat rubbed me the wrong way. I’ve never enjoyed books that have an element to cheating in them, and this started to toe that line a little too much for my comfort.

All in all, I give Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor 2.5 out of 5 Christmas miracles.

Waiting on... This Side of the Grave

2011-01-19T05:50:00.000-08:00

One of my all time favorite series would have to be The Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost, featuring the super fabulous broody hero Bones and the kick ass takes no prisoners heroine Cat. The fifth installment, This Side of the Grave releases on February 22nd, and I can not wait!

Having just really gotten into the paranormal romance genre within the past few years Cat & Bones were one of my first introductions into the genre that I am now slightly obsessed with. The cover is amazing, and I'm sure the book will be as well!

Danger waits on both sides of the grave.

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance . . .

With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally"—the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war . . . to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Trailer Tuesday - Enclave

2011-01-18T13:00:00.000-08:00

I have to say, when Ann Aguirre posted the link for the book trailer to her new YA novel, I immediately went to watch it. I love book trailers. I have to say though, I think that this might very well be the BEST I've ever seen.

I love the way she grabs her arm around her scars, I love the way they kiss, I love that she grabs his hand at the end and moves it further onto her shoulder. I'm not usually a fan of YA books, for some reason I can never really get into them, but this is probably one of my most anticipated books on 2011!

Deadlock by Moira Rogers

2011-01-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Samhain
Publish Date: Out Now!
How I got this book: eARC from author

Carmen Mendoza's shapeshifter father abandoned her. Raised by her psychic mother, Carmen ignored her paternal family's political machinations--until the day they decided to use her in their bid for power. Trapped between two worlds and snared by a vicious spell meant to wake her inner wolf, Carmen's only hope is to trust the one man strong enough to soothe her darkest instincts.

Born a pureblood wolf, Alec Jacobson lives as a rebel, the black sheep alpha who protects the supernatural residents of New Orleans from wolf politics. Too bad he can't protect himself from his need for Carmen. Staking a claim on his enemy's niece will turn his city into a battleground, unless he can find a way to stop breaking the rules--and start making them.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

The Moira Rogers duo strikes again with the third installment of the Southern Arcana Series, and my favorite story so far! Alec is the pureblood werewolf living in New Orleans that does his best to keep the peace, train new wolves, provide sanctuary to those who need it, and defy rules every chance he gets. When Carmen, the newest doctor in the supernatural hospital in the city gets kidnapped and roughed up, Alec takes it hard.

Carmen’s family has been one of the political heavy weights for some time now, and when she gets kidnapped and has her inner wolf ramped up, she has to turn to Alec for both protection and help getting under control. But things with Alec are passionate and hot, and the heat turns up in more ways than one. But when push comes to shove, are these two going to be able to protect each other, and the other supernatural’s in New Orleans?

I’ve been loving on Alec ever since he first walked onto the page, and he really shines in this one. I always knew that Alec the bad boy, constant rule breaker, and all around bad ass would be somewhat of a softy when push comes to shove. And I just loved that he proved me right. I love the fact that he was a complete sucker for Carmen, wanting to be a better man for her, I love that he wanted the best for all the supernatural’s in New Orleans, proving that although he gave up wolf politics long ago, he still has a knack for it.

I was really excited that Rogers gave us a better look into the social structure and political structure of the wolves in their world. While I can’t usually stand any and all talk about politics, I enjoyed how thorough, well thought out, and extensively they imagined their world to be. Plus, the way that Alec was able to come in and totally dominate the council… *swoon* So perfect!

Although Carmen and the Mendoza brothers are new characters, I really felt connected with them right off the bat. Carmen is an amazing character, and really is the perfect fit with Alec: the calm to his storm, the foundation to his plans. Likewise, her brothers Miguel and Julio really jumped off the page at me, capturing my attention and demanding we love them. I have to say, I can’t wait for these two to get their stories!!

I felt like this book really moved the series along as well. I can see where Rogers is taking the story, and am really liking the direction we are headed! Andrew and Kat get plenty of page time, and the foundation to their story (Cipher, releases Sep 2011) was laid out in a way that has me anxious for fall!

All in all, I give Deadlock 5 out of 5 werewolf council take overs!

Cover Love... Midnight

2011-01-14T05:32:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, although I really do love my covers, they don't always play a huge role in determining if I purchase a book or not. However, many times it does determine if I purchase the book in print or ebook. Sometimes the cover art is just to pretty to stare at on my black and white nook screen.

Ellen Connor, the writing duo also known as Ann Aguirre and Carrie Lofty, released the cover art for their 2nd Dark Age Dawning Novel Midnight. *whistles* IT. IS. AMAZING. Midnight isn't set to release until September of this year, but I am already anxiously awaiting it's release.

Their desire destroys her defenses.
Their love gives him a reason to live.

Three years of wandering the post-apocalyptic wasteland has stripped Dr. Chris Welsh of humanity and hope. He’s a dangerous man now, full of dark energy and yen for violence. A harrowing loss drove him from his home, and he hasn’t stopped moving since. Grim and sardonic, he never found anything worth sticking around for–until now.

Rosa Cortez runs Valle de Bravo, a haven of civilization amid the chaos of the Change. Soldiers take their orders directly from her–the iron hand within a velvet glove. The last thing she needs is a feral loner upsetting the town’s tentative balance. However, for the good of her people, she lets the sexy doctor stay. He evokes a delicious new longing, but she won’t submit to any man.

Tension rises as bloodthirsty raiders strike again and again, bent on possessing Valle and its resources. Together Chris and Rosa battle hellhounds and dust pirates while also fighting desperate attraction. To save them, love must overcome the pain of the past–and build a future in this brutal Dark Age…
*Blurb from author's website*

When I asked Ann, she informed me the cover artist is Gene Mollica. You should definitely check out his work here.

Hungry for You by Lynsay Sands

2011-01-13T05:34:00.000-08:00

Release Date: November 20, 2010
Publisher: Avon
How I got this book: Local Pima County Library

This vampire has been alone for far too long . . .

As one of the most ancient in the Argeneau clan, Cale Valens has given up on finding a life mate. His friends and family, however, have not. In fact, they believe they've finally found his perfect match. Getting them together, however, requires one little white lie . . .

Alexandra Willan is in a panic. Her restaurant is due to open in two weeks, but her chef just walked out. Then a highly recommended replacement arrives, an impossibly handsome culinary genius who sends electric tingles racing through her body . . .

Except he can't cook. In fact, Cale hasn't eaten real food in two thousand years. Yet he's determined to prove to Alex his prowess in the kitchen . . . and elsewhere. Because never has he hungered so for any mortal woman. And not just for a taste of her, but for the whole delicious feast!
*Blurb from Goodreads*

I’ve been a long time fan of the Argeneau Series by Lynsay Sands. Her writing is so wonderful: going from sweet romance, to smoking hot passion, to hysterical laughs all within the course of a few pages. The newest installment of the Argeneau Series is no exception.

Alex Willan’s two sisters have both become life mates to immortal men, and have been trying to pair her up with every single immortal they can come up with. After starting to get a complex that maybe she wont find anyone and the stress of opening her newest restaurant, Alex begins to refuse to meet anymore of their dates. When Cale shows up under the direction of Marguerite (the family matchmaker) and Alex refuses to make time for him, her sister tries to pass him off as a top rated chef, willing to help with her new restaurant.

The only problem with that is that Cale can’t cook, doesn’t even like food. But he soon discovers that Alex could be a potential life mate, and hilarity ensues. When he manages to convince Alex to let him take over the business end while she runs things in the kitchen, he realizes that the few problems she has been having with her restaurant might not be coincidences. With Cale’s business expertise and Alex’s amazing cooking, they two might just be able to pull the opening off, and find out who is trying to sabotage her.

Again, I absolutely adore Sands’ work and am always looking forward to the next book surrounding these immortals. With the other Willan’s sisters married off, I was just waiting for Alex to finally get her forever kinda guy. I thought Alex’s character was so fun. She was completely focused on her career, somewhat down in the dumps about all the guys her sisters have thrown at her who turned her down. Then walks in Cale and POW, everything changes for her. I thought the way she handled everything was perfectly in character with everything we’ve learned about her. I’ve loved all the Wilan sisters, and enjoyed Sam’s constant nagging of Alex to meet all her friends. The two of them had some great snarky and funny dialogue, I definitely think that is one of the things that Sands’ does best.

Most of the Argeneau heroes have been favorites of mine. I love when my alpha hero men fall hard and deeply in love. Cale is no exception. He comes out with the expectation of being let down, but a little excited at the same time, having lived long enough on his own. When he realizes that Alex could be his one, he jumps at the chance to learn everything he can about her, her loves in life, and what he can do to make her happy. When he tries to take over the cooking for her, even though he hates the smell of food alone, I just adore that.

One of my favorite aspects of Sands writing is the spin she puts on her relationships Each couple has the potential to be in a perfectly fated relationship, if they want it. It’s not that they are thrown together and HAVE to be with each other, they have the choice as to whether or not they think they could love each other for eternity. I also love that in most cases, the males are the immortals, and are somewhat oblivious to women. It makes for some fabulous comedy!

The mystery surrounding who is trying to sabotage Alex’s restaurant is well done as well. I like that Sands really kept the reader in the dark about who it could potentially be till the very end. It kept the suspense exciting for me.

All in all, I give Hungry for You 4 out of 5 horrible Immortal chefs.

Waiting on... The Perfect Play

2011-01-12T10:51:00.000-08:00

I've recently discovered the awesomeness that is Jaci Burton. She had a great little novella in the Carina Press Contemporary Christmas Anthology this year (review here), and I've since read a few other stories of her's that I just adore.

This year she is working on a new series called Play by Play, and it's based on sports stars! Now, as most of you should know, I absolutely adore anything having to do with sports (especially football). So when I heard about this new series I was totally stoked. Then I saw the cover... and I was sold!

The first in the series, The Perfect Play, releases February 1st. It's already on my To Purchase and Drool Over list!

Football pro Mick Riley is an all-star, both on the field and in the bedroom. But a sexy, determinedly single mom just might be the one to throw him off his game…

For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meets and beds confident, beautiful event planner Tara Lincoln, he wants much more than the typical one-night stand. Too bad Tara’s not interested in getting to know football’s most notorious playboy any better.

As the single mother of a teenage son, the last thing Tara needs is the jet-set lifestyle of Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand was unforgettable. Tara’s life is complicated enough without being thrust into the spotlight as Mick’s latest girl du jour. Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn’t intend to put herself out there again, especially with a heartbreaker like Mick.

But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Rachel Vincent Announcement

2011-01-11T05:52:00.000-08:00

Rachel Vincent, author of the adult Shifter Series and the YA Soul Screamers Series has been holding off on announcing the big news regarding her new adult series. Finally yesterday she released some information regarding the new books. You can find her blog post regarding it here. Vincent also is taking questions on her Facebook page here. Here is a quick summary:

1. The new series is called "Unbound" and the first book will be titled BLOOD BOUND and is set to release on September 1, 2011.

2. The series is going to be paranormal romance geared for adults. Vincent said that these books are "dark and gritty, violent, and tense, but with some humor."

3. She has some really interesting world building ideas, mainly center around a man's word being taken literally and to the absolute t, written word being absolute, and other really interesting concepts.

4. Vincent also gave us a run down on the characters: Olivia and Cam, but it is unclear as to if the characters will be followed throughout the series like Faythe and Marc were, or if the characters will change with each book like other romance series.

Wedding of the Season by Laura Lee Guhrke

2011-01-10T05:32:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Avon
Publish Date: 12/28/10
How I got this book: NetGalley

Abandoned at the altar…

Lady Beatrix Danbury has always known she would marry William Mallory. She’d loved him forever, and she’d never doubted he loved her, too. But when she made him choose between their life together and his lifelong dream, Will chose the latter, and left two weeks before their wedding.

Return of the duke…

Will has no illusions that Beatrix will welcome him back with open arms, but six years has not diminished his love or his desire for her. The only problem is that she’s about to marry someone else. Someone safe and predictable… the complete opposite of Will. But can he stop the wedding of the season and win Beatrix back, or is it just too late?
*Blurb form Goodreads*

I must say I was expecting this to be another fabulous Regency Romance, but was surprised to find that we were actually in the 20th century, as the opening scene has Beatrix driving a car, almost plowing over our reluctant hero. Although I had to shift my expectations, I found myself liking the book as we went on.

Beatrix has been in love with William her whole life, and just before their wedding, he decides that he needs to live his life the way he has always wanted: off exploring the tombs of Egypt. After Beatrix turns down his offer to go with, he leaves her behind. Fast forwarded and we are at a point where Beatrix has somewhat moved on, and has plans to remarry.

William is now back, hoping to find financial assistance for his expeditions. When he finagles an invite to an old friends home for a few weeks, he finds himself stuck with Beatrix, her new fiancé, and her two cousins. As Beatrix and William find themselves together throughout the weeks, will they be able to deny the passion that exists between them, or will they have a second chance at the altar?

Once I got over the fact that I was in a different era than expected, I really started to enjoy Beatrix. She was a total free spirit: not caring that she wore pants like a man, drove a car, smoked cigarettes, and got a little wild. I liked that about her. Although she did care what people thought of her at times, she was almost always true to herself, doing as she pleased when she pleased. She is the kind of strong heroine that I enjoy reading about.

William on the other hand drove me absolutely batty. For those of you who know my reading loves, I tend to enjoy my fictional heroes to be a little on the caveman side. William just doesn’t live up to that. He is somewhat nerdy, his first love being his archeological digs. He is also somewhat self absorbed, not thinking about what it was like for Beatrix when he left her standing at the altar. While he does somewhat redeem himself towards the end with what I thought to be his only selfless act in quite possibly his whole life, I just couldn’t really connect to his character at all.

With that in mind, I also had a hard time believing why Beatrix would fall in love with a man like William. At times the two seemed like polar opposites, and their romance while very sweet and endearing, didn’t always seem real to me. I loved the little challenges and dates that William planned for the two of them, but again it seemed as if he was doing them to prove his point, not win her love.

The real highlight of this book for me was Beatrix’s cousin Julia, another free spirit, anything goes kind of woman who provided many laughs for me though out. I am excited to see where her story takes us, especially since it seems as if she will end up with Beatrix’s jilted fiancé, Aiden.

All in all, I give Wedding of the Season 3 out of 5 new motor cars.

Cover Love... Just Like Heaven UK Style

2011-01-06T21:44:00.000-08:00

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not usually a big fan of UK covers. I don’t know why, but they always seem to be missing that certain something that really appeals to me.

Last night as I was looking around for a great cover to feature today, I ran across the UK cover for Julia Quinn’s next release Just Like Heaven. Now, Quinn is by far my favorite historical romance author, and I personally an sooo excited to read the Smythe-Smith Quartet books. I’ve loved reading about the Smythe-Smith girls since I picked up my first Quinn novel about a year ago. Since then, I’ve read every book she has written and crave her books like no other!

Anyway, check out this UK Cover:

I totally love it!! It’s simplistic in nature, yet still tells a story which I can only hope accurately represents this book. I love the long flowing pink dress, the violin in hand, and the woman’s presence on stage. Likewise, the gentleman in the back is great, with this look on his face that says he’s just a little bit weary and intrigued all at the same time. I can’t wait for the US version of this cover to be released. I for one have my fingers crossed for a pink dress!!

Like Clockwork by Bonnie Dee

2011-01-06T09:36:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 12/13/10
How I got this book: NetGalley

Victoria's work with automatons has gained her renown and changed the face of London. But her concern that the clockworks are taking too many jobs away from humans, creating social unrest, is ignored. Given the ugly mood of the underclass, she fears more outbreaks of violence similar to the murder spree of the notorious Southwark Slasher.

Dash, unemployed thanks to the clockworks, has pledged fealty to The Brotherhood, a group determined to bring about the downfall of the automatons by any means necessary. His plan to kidnap Victoria goes awry when the unorthodox scientist pledges her assistance to their cause.

Despite their opposite social classes, a bond grows between them, and Victoria begins to feel emotions she never expected for the passionate Dash. But when the Slasher strikes close to home, Dash and Victoria realize that the boundaries of polite society are far from the only threat to their happiness...
*Blurb from Goodreads*

I was super excited to get this book from NetGalley, as most Steampunk Romance I’ve read as of late has been super awesome, but this one just fell short for me. The story itself was only novella length, and those who do not like short stories should probably steer clear of this one.

For me, the story line itself was really interesting: robots or “automatons” have been developed to work for humans in high-risk settings (i.e. factories) but have become mainstream and started taking over jobs all across the city. Bartenders, nannies, butlers, etc have all been kicked to the curb for the new cheap labor of automatons. To me the concept of artificial intelligence and robots is so exciting, but the controversy that could arise is also something to think about.

From that aspect, I really enjoyed this story. The steampunk elements of advanced technology in the Victorian era is spot on, and I loved the way Dee hit some of the ways that social class structures can create chaos in that kind of situation. It was great seeing a female heroine struggle with the constraints of the time frame, but also be independent enough to have a profession.

However, the romance fan in me found the story somewhat lacking. I didn’t really find the romance between Dash and Victoria to be believable. While Victoria seemed to be completely devoted to a potential relationship, it seemed as if Dash was only half heartedly committed to her. It could have just been the way that Dee portrayed Dash’s feelings regarding their differences in social class, but I just had a hard time connecting to the two as a couple.

Although I didn’t relate to the two as a couple, I did enjoy both Victoria and Dash’s characters separately. I loved that Victoria was this amazingly strong and smart woman who found a way to make a name for herself in the field that she loved. I was also partial to the fact that although Victoria had some emotional struggles in her past, she was not hard emotionally. From a totally different end of the spectrum, I did like the way that Dash’s character was still somewhat honorable regardless of his upbringing. For a street kid, it was nice to see that he made a way for himself, and still wanted to fight for the lower class, even after the automatons took all of their jobs.

The mystery element surrounding the Southwark Slasher was great, and I was actually surprised with how it ended up playing out. I was glad to see it resolved the way it was. It gave the plot a “real” element to me, and proved that nothing as is it seems, even in this crazy alternate past.

All in all, I give Like Clockwork 2.5 out of 5 mysterious automatons.

Waiting on... A Lot Like Love

2011-01-05T05:34:00.000-08:00

I discovered Julie James last year when she did a interview at Nalini Singh's blog. Her book sounded awesome: Jason Bourne does romance, so I went out and bought it. The next day I bought her other two back list books. I absolutely love her writing style!

Her next book, A Lot Like Love, comes out March 1st, and I can not wait!! Check out the cover (she has some AWESOME covers!!) and blurb below.

THE FBI WANTS HER COOPERATION.

As the daughter of a billionaire and the owner of the city’s top wine store, Jordan Rhodes is invited to the most exclusive parties in Chicago. But there’s only one party the FBI wants to crash: the charity fundraiser of a famous restaurateur, who also happens to launder money for the mob. In exchange for her brother’s release from prison, Jordan is going to be there—with a date supplied by the Bureau.

AGENT McCALL JUST WANTS HER.

As the top undercover agent in Chicago, Nick McCall has one rule: never get personal. This “date” with Jordan Rhodes is merely an assignment—one they’re both determined to pull off even if they can’t be together for five minutes before the sarcasm and sparks begin to fly. But when Nick’s investigation is compromised, he and Jordan have no choice but to pretend they’re a couple, and what starts out as a simple assignment begins to feel a lot like something more. . .
*Blurb from author's website*

Taken by Desire by Lavina Kent

2011-01-04T16:40:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Avon
Publish Date: 12/1/10
How I got this book: NetGalley

Can a single kiss change a life?

Strong and Independent, Anna Steele has dreamed of him in secret.

Fierce, yet world-weary, Alexander Struthers has always desired her.

Neither has ever considered marriage an option.

But when a single kiss has unforeseen consequences, and wedding bells follow, they’ll both learn the power of passion.

Desire can change everything.
*Blurb from author’s website*

I’ve read Kent’s work before, and have always been happy with the stories; Taken by Desire is no exception! While the cover leaves much to be desired, Kent creates a wonderful book with two incredibly headstrong characters, a sweet and wonderful courtship, and a side plot that was well woven in.

Anna and Struthers are married very early in the story, against both their better judgments. I thought it was great that although the two married, they didn’t really behave like typical married couples do. Anna still stayed at her home, in her bed, managed her large fortune, and went wherever she pleased. Likewise, Struthers stayed in his home, took care of his fortune, and did whatever he pleased. It was comical to see how separate their lives really were.

I really felt bad for Anna though, because she really was independent for her time, and the thought of marriage really did scare her to death. She was so worried about her money and whether or not Sturthers would allow her the kind of indulgences that she was accustomed to. It’s hard enough for Anna to trust anyone, but when it comes to her money, she is even more hesitant.

I really enjoyed the side plot where Anna’s cousins from the US come to London in hopes of stealing her fortune. The way that she and Struthers are somewhat forced to trust in each other to get through the ordeal together is great, plus the way that Anna ends up solving the problem completely put a smile on my face.

I also really enjoyed the way Anna and Struthers found a way to come together. I loved that Anna tried to show him all the ways that women of that time period had it so difficult, especially when she took him to the “insane asylum”. It was great to see that Struthers really made an effort to understand exactly what she was scared of, and the different constraints Anna had against her because of being female. While the sexual tension and passion always was there between the two, it was fun to watch their minds and hearts follow.

Although this isn’t my favorite Kent book, I liked the way she tackled some of the harsh realities for women of the time frame. I thought she did an excellent job portraying what it must have been like for a woman in Anna’s situation. To me, that really stood out as a focal point in the book, even more so than the romance.

All in all, I give Taken by Desire 4 out of 5 wealthy regency heroines!

2010 Wrap Up

2011-01-02T15:46:00.000-08:00

In my opinion, 2010 was an AMAZING year!! I was able to accomplish so many things, discover so many new authors and bloggers, meet some fabulous people, and have a fun time while doing so.

In 2010, I decided to start this blog, and I have had so much fun doing so. I really love sharing with all of you my love of reading. As my friends and family can attest to, I would and could go on and on about things I love and didn’t love in each and every book I read. My poor husband probably tunes me out most days!!

This year I was also asked to join the fabulous girls over at The Book Pushers, and I have so enjoyed being a part of the review team there. Lou, Has, E, and Ying have been so welcoming with me. I can honestly say that doing joint reviews with those ladies is some of the most fun I’ve had this past year. These women are not only great reviewers, but I’m so happy to be able to call them all great friends!

In addition to those great ladies, I’ve also had the chance to get to know other bloggers on a more personal note. For those who follow me regularly, you know how obsessed I am with Twitter. Because of that, I’ve had the chance to get to know Mandi from Smexy Books, Sophia from Fiction Vixen, Pearl from Pearl’s World of Romance, and so many others on a more personal note. I love talking books with them, and would be lost most days without them to chat with. Twitter had also given me the chance to make friends with some of the authors I love to read, specifically the Moira Rogers duo Bree and Donna, Liz Fichera, Alisha Rai, and the always funny Keith Melton.

This past year I really broadened my reading horizons and read new authors, genres and stories I never would have thought to pick up. The Sci-Fi Romance Reading Challenge was so fun, and I discovered a new love for all things romance space operas (I absolutely fell in love with Linnea Sinclair!) I also picked up a lot more romantic suspense books this year than ever before, and I have Maya Banks to thank for that new obsession. Her new KGI books fueled my library rampage where I checked out about 5 different romantic suspense authors to test out.

In 2010, I had quite a few opportunities to meet some fabulous authors in person, and it was so incredible! Here’s a recap:

April – Went to the Tucson Festival of Books with my dear friend E from BookPushers. We got to meet some great authors that I loved before, and have since come to love so much more after meeting them. We met Rachel Gibson, Terry Brooks, JA Jance and Julia Quinn. We had such a great time, and I can’t wait to go to the festival in 2011!

In April I also got to meet up with Lorelie Brown. She is one of my favorite lunch buddies, and we've run into each other around town as well!

July – Met Diana Gabaldon when she did a reading/talk/signing for the Pima County Library. She is so nice, and I try and go hear her every time she is in Tucson.

September – I went to Phoenix for CopperCon, to finally my bestest girlfriend from the Ilona Andrews forum. We had the chance to meet up with fellow IA forum buddy SylviaSybil and meet some great Sci-Fi authors like Gini Koch, Lynn Crain, Marsheila Rockwell, Weston Ochse, Yavonne Navarro and Stephen Donaldson. I had such a great time, and really enjoyed hanging out with Gini and Lynn the whole weekend.

October – I attended the first ever gaming conference in Tucson, RinCon. They invited some great authors to that, and was able to spend some time talking with Jeff Mariotte, Sam Sykes and Michael Stackpole. It was fabulous!

November – Some BIG names were invited to TusCon this year, namely Jim Butcher and Shannon K Butcher, and I had a great time hearing them speak. They are both so nice and accommodating to their fans. I had a wonderful time meeting them.

December – The end of the year was a huge SQUEE month for me. I got to have lunch with Vivian Arend who was traveling through the state with her family. We had a great time chatting, and I loved being able to meet her. I also took a trip to the Portland area to visit my in-laws this Christmas. While I was there, I had the chance to meet a few of my all time favorite authors. First up was Ilona and Gordon Andrews. When they agreed to meet with me, I almost had a little panic attack! I have yet to read something they write that wasn’t pure gold for me. It was a total dream come true to sit and have coffee with the two of them. Next up was the amazing Meljean Brook. I have to say, I have a total girl crush on her. She was so fun to sit and chat with, and we got along so well. It was one of the best days of my whole year!

I would have to say that 2010 was probably one of the best years I’ve had in a REALLY long time. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that 2011 will be just as fabulous!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T14:56:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, or whatever Holiday it is you celebrate.

I hope you are able to spend your time with the ones you love.

Trailer Tuesday - Deaths Sweet Embrace

2010-12-21T05:49:00.000-08:00

Tracey O'Hara write the Dark Brethen Series, a great paranormal romance series. Her sophomore novel, Deaths Sweet Embrace, comes out February 2011, and I'm excited to get my hands on this one! Check out her trailer here!

Evie's Gift by PJ Schnyder

2010-12-17T05:52:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Publish Date: Out now!
How I got this book: eARC from author

Stubborn Evie is reluctant to play the roll of a proper lady by English standards, but she has little choice. Traveling to London for her first season, she faces the threat of an enemy submarine bent on destroying the airship carrying her across the ocean. Once she steps forward to help, her knowledge is questioned by the captain, placing her special gift in danger.

As a woman whose passion pushes her toward engineering and mechanical designs, her curious nature risks exposing her uncanny talents. Will this Christmas season allow her to keep her secrets? Or will her gift be revealed too soon?
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Evie and her brother Jeffrey are headed to London for Evie’s first season. The death of their parents has caused Jeffrey to inherit the family business, and Evie needs to marry. As the airship they are traveling on becomes suddenly under attack, Evie does what she can to ward off their enemy, but unfortunately causes multiple questions to be asked from their Captain Alex Corwin.

Upon arrival in London, the two travel to Lord and Lady Weatherly’s, close friends of their father. Lord Weatherly is also in the business of engineering, and takes great interest in the fact that Evie knows so much about his newest creation. But when that creation is tampered with, Evie must choose between trusting strangers with a secret that might be too sensitive to be revealed, or risking the lives of many.

This very short (approximately 50 pages) steampunk was a great little introduction into an exciting world. Schnyder does a great job of combining the classic London Regency period with incredible feats of engineering that encompass everything I love about the steampunk genre.

The biggest thing I love about steampunk is the glimpse into the different kinds of engineering trinkets that authors dream up. My favorite aspect of this story was by far Toby, a metal based, animated mechanical that turns from watch to squirrel to hair pin to assorted other things depending on the mood of Evie. I laughed out loud numerous times as Toby would display Evie’s emotions for her: hissing, blowing steam, or running scared. I love the idea of such an incredible invention, and would give just about anything to have one of my own!

The characters were great as well. Evie was a free spirit, non conforming woman who loved all things engineering, and wasn’t afraid to show it, even though it isn’t the norm for women to do so. I loved that she had no problems standing up to the men in her life, but was still soft and loving towards the Weatherly granddaughter, Angelica.

Evie’s ‘secret’ was totally new and something I’ve never seen before in the steampunk genre. I thought it was a great little twist to the story.

I was hoping for a little more romance (Schnyder does write some great romance) and was somewhat disappointed that the prospect of a budding relationship with Alec the airship Captain wasn’t explored further. The tension between the two was evident from page one. When a second potential suitor was introduced later in the story, I was thrown a little off guard. While nothing progressed with either, I was a little disappointed to say the least.

When I asked Schnyder if there would be additional stories set in this world she said that she would like to follow up with another story continuing Evie and Toby’s adventures. I can say that I for one would definitely read more set in this world. I would like to see Evie have a little romance in her life. I think she would be a great heroine who could really be a strong character.

Plus, I felt as if this story was almost a really long prequel. I chugged right along, happily reading, but when I reached the end was somewhat disappointed. I know that Schnyder can deliver a great story, and I felt like there should have been more.

All in all, I give Evie’s Gift 3 out of 5 mechanical Tobys!

Cover Love... Demon Marked

2010-12-15T19:39:00.000-08:00

The Guardian Series by Meljean Brook is incredibly fabulous, and the last few covers have seriously rocked my world. The newest cover is no exception. Check it out!!

Recently escaped from a mental hospital where she spent the past two years, Ash is searching for answers, trying to discover who she is…and what she’s become. Tattoos mark her skin – which is sometimes crimson. Her eyes glow when she’s angry. And icy fear is a constant companion, along with a desperation she doesn’t understand, and a torturous pain that she can barely remember. Fueled by vague memories and newspaper reports, she searches for Nicholas St. Croix – a man who, five years ago, was suspected to have murdered a human woman…who looks exactly like Ash.

Nicholas St. Croix doesn’t know if he can trust the demon wearing the face of the woman he once loved – but if he wants to find out, he’ll have to keep her alive. Because the past is catching up to Nicholas, in the form of a demon commanded by Lucifer himself to sacrifice Ash and open a gateway to Hell. Protecting her means that Nicholas will find himself irrevocably changed, body and soul – and unaware that if he saves Ash’s life, Nicholas might be eternally damning the only woman he’s loved…
*Blurb from author's website*

At the Book Pushers

2010-12-15T13:04:00.000-08:00

I'm over at The Book Pushers today with the fabulous Has. We are talking about what we loved in Alien Tango. Come chat with us!!

Waiting on... Archangel's Consort

2010-12-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

I love all things Nalini Singh. I think that everything she touches turns to gold. With her Guild Hunter Series, the 3rd book featuring Elena and Raphael is out in January!!! I can't wait for this one. And this cover... who wouldn't want to pick up this book?!?!

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux and her lover, the lethally beautiful archangel Raphael, have returned home to New York only to face an uncompromising new evil…

A vampire has attacked a girls’ school—the assault one of sheer, vicious madness—and it is only the first act. Rampant bloodlust takes vampire after vampire, threatening to make the streets run with blood. Then Raphael himself begins to show signs of an uncontrolled rage, as inexplicable storms darken the city skyline and the earth itself shudders.

The omens are suddenly terrifyingly clear.

An ancient and malevolent immortal is rising. The violent winds whisper her name: Caliane. She has returned to reclaim her son, Raphael. Only one thing stands in her way: Elena, the consort who must be destroyed…
*Blurb from author's website

Mistress by Midnight by Nicola Cornick

2010-12-14T05:43:00.000-08:00

Publisher: HQN
Publish Date: 11/30/10
How I got this book: NetGalley

Merryn Fenner is on a mission to ruin the Duke of Farne. A beautiful bluestocking with a penchant for justice, Merryn has waited ten years to satisfy her revenge against sensual, mysterious Garrick Northesk. Her family name had been tarnished at his hands, her life destroyed. And now she intends to return the favor—by finding the true heir to the duke's title and disinheriting Garrick.

Yet when a disaster traps Merryn and Garrick together, white-hot desire stirs between the two sworn enemies. Her reputation utterly compromised, Merryn is forced to do the one thing she cannot bear: accept the scandalous marriage proposal of the man she has vowed to ruin.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Lady Merryn was gently raised, but has a secret that no one knows. She has been working undercover as an inquiry agent, using her charms in the ballroom where her boss can't be. Her main goal is to take down the Duke of Farne, her older brother's former best friend, the man who allegedly shot him in a duel.

Garrick, the Duke of Farne has been living with an equally huge secret, and will do anything to make sure it never comes out. But when Merryn starts looking into the details surround the duel with her brother, he worries that she may soon discover the truth. He does everything he can to thwart her investigations.

When the two are caught in a very compromising position, Merryn must accept his marriage proposal. But will they be able to actually go through with the marriage, without the truth between them?

Having never read Cornick before, I really enjoyed her writing. I have to say that the mystery surrounding the details of the duel kept me on edge, and as someone who can usually guess the mystery correctly, it was good to be in the dark for so long. Once the secrets were revealed, it was a little bit of a shock, and I could see why Garrick wanted to keep it a secret, and why Merryn was upset with the details.

The relationship between Garrick and Merryn was fun as well. I always love stories when the hero and heroine start off with some kind of animosity between each other and can get past those to discover that they really are great together. All that sexual and romantic tension just makes the story so much better for me, and Garrick and Merryn were full of it.

I did wonder for awhile there though if Merryn and Garrick would be able to overcome all their obstacles. Garrick's hang-ups with his first wife's infidelity, Merryn's somewhat disillusioned view point of her brother, her all consuming hatred of what she assumed Garrick did, Merryn's work with the inquiry agent, the list goes on. The fact that they were able to overcome, despite being shoved together through a scandal, was a hard process. I found myself tearing up at times.

The supporting class of characters were amazing as well. I enjoyed Merryn's crazy sisters, and watching them go from seemingly ditzy women, to two warmhearted sisters who genuinely cared about what happened to their youngest sister. Garrick's butler provided some great comedic relief for me as well, constantly comparing poor Garrick to his over bearing father.

Although this is the third book in The Scandalous Women of the Ton Series, I didn't feel as if I was missing anything by having only read this book out of the series.

All in all, I give Mistress by Midnight 4 out of 5 mysterious duels.

No Place To Run by Maya Banks

2010-12-13T05:47:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Penguin
Publish Date: 12/7/10
How I got this book: Purchased

Sam Kelly was her first love.

The last person Sam Kelly expected to pull wounded from the lake was Sophie Lundgren. Once they shared a brief, intense affair while Sam was undercover and then she vanished. She's spent the last months on the run, knowing that any mistake would cost her life and that of her unborn child—Sam's child. Now she's resurfaced with a warning for Sam: this time, he's the one in danger.

Now he's her last chance.

Sam has too many questions to let her slip away again—like why she disappeared in the first place. This time he vows not to be seduced. But one look in her eyes, and the passion burns again, and Sam knows he’ll do anything to keep her and his child safe. However, Sophie’s dark past is more dangerous than he imagines, and the only way for either to survive it is to outrun it.
*Blurb from Author's Site*

Maya Banks KGI Series has hooked me on the Romantic Suspense genre. I haven't read a lot of romantic suspense books in the past, but after reading the first two KGI books, I'm now addicted for life!

Sam Kelly, the oldest of the Kelly brothers is undercover in Mexico, and spending more time in a romance with a local bar tender than he is on his mission. The two have gotten pretty hot and heavy, but when a lucky break comes through, he must leave her for good. But Sophie isn't just a local bar tender, she is actually the daughter of Sam's mark. She does what she has to in order to disappear, and goes AWOL.

Flash forward a few months, and Sam is having a peaceful afternoon with his brothers that is interrupted by pulling a woman out of the lake behind his house. When he realizes he just fished out a pregnant Sophie, all of his protective instincts come to the forefront, and Sam will demand some answers.

Sophie is reluctant to reveal exactly what happened five months ago, but more than anything she wants Sam to ensure the safety of their child. When Sophie's criminal family chases after her, Sam does everything he can to keep her safe. But when family tragedy strikes again and again, Sam may have to decide whose life he wants to save.

I can not say enough good things about this series. I fell in love with all the Kelly brothers in the first book, and they continued to run away with my heart. Sam proved himself to be not only a total Alpha hero, but also a loving family man, a devoted business man, and an all around fabulous guy. His devotion and loyalty to Sophie, even when he was unsure of her motives brought a smile to my face, especially all the times and ways he defended her to his brothers. When tragedy struck with his family, I could not stop crying, and felt as if Sam was able to relieve me along with the other characters.

My heart also broke for Sophie within the first few chapters of the book. Being raised by a psycho gun runner who could care less about his own flesh and blood, then being hunted by her uncle, forced to go on the run while pregnant and fight for her right to live. The strength that Sophie had to have amazed me, but I was glad to see that she was fragile as well.

I was really happy about the resolution to Sophie's problems, and although I literally cried through almost the entire last half of the book, I was so glad to see the twists and turns that Banks provided. I was surprised and amazed by the little surprise at the end, but so happy with the over all resolution.

The Kelly brothers and rest of the KGI team all have a special place in my heart. I adore Donovan and his field medical skills. I love Garrett and his over protective ways, even when he can be a jerk about them. I adore Rusty and her huge heart, even though she sometimes doesn't know how to show it. The Kelly parents also go through a huge ordeal in this story, and solidify themselves as my ordeal fictional parents.

I really just can't say enough wonderful and great things about this book, and series as a whole. No Place to Run has most definitely made the short of list of favorite reads in 2010, and Maya Banks has solidified herself as a new MUST read author for me!

All in all, I give No Place to Run 5 out of 5 pregnant runaways.

Believe by Lauren Dane

2010-12-10T08:35:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 12/6/10
How I got this book: NetGalley

Their First Christmas, Bound Together…

All Jude wants for Christmas is Rori, all to himself. It’s their first holiday season as a couple, and staying home, seeing friends and family, means they’ll be surrounded by the memory of Rori’s late husband. It’s time for Jude and Rori to create their own traditions. Time for them to fully explore their most intimate desires to dominate and submit.

Rori is thrilled when Jude whisks her away to a luxury resort in the mountains. Spending Christmas away, just the two of them, is the perfect time to show him she’s ready to give herself to him completely…
*Blurb from author’s site*

Jude and Rori are spending their first Christmas together as a couple, and with all the craziness with their friends and family, will be hard pressed to find time for just the two of them. With the memory of Rori’s late husband still somewhat hanging over their head’ Jude is looking for a way to start creating new memories.

He treats the two of them to a romantic getaway in the mountains, where the two of them can not only be alone, but can also spend their days and nights exploring their dominant and submissive relationship. Although Jude is ready to take their relationship to the next level, he worries that Rori might not be ready to make the big commitment.

But little does he know that Rori is ready, and is prepared to take their vacation as an opportunity to show him just how ready she is to not only submit, but commit.

I really enjoyed this story, and although it was one of the first few Dane books I’ve read, and I have to say I will be picking up more of her work from now on! I later learned that this is not the first time we have met Jude and Rori, but I was really glad that I wasn’t lost at all in their story, or confused by any information that was maybe explained before and left out this go around. So for those of you who haven’t picked up any previous books, you won’t be lost!

I really like Rori and Jude together, and although they had tons of history, I felt completely at ease hopping into their story and falling in love alongside them. The two of them just really seemed to fit well together and their relationship felt so real. I was glad that the issue of Rori’s dead husband wasn’t something that was ignored, and thought that both Rori and Jude handled the situation as best they could, which still staying true to their feelings. It felt as if it was something that a real couple would go through, say to each other and feel towards each other.

Dane is also amazing when it comes to the smut. The book was smokin’ and if all her other books are hawt as this one; you can guarantee Dane will be on my lookout list!

All in all, I give Believe 4 out of 5 Christmas getaways!

Waiting on... Call Me Irresistible

2010-12-08T06:02:00.000-08:00

One of my all time favorite contemporary romance authors is Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I am a huge fan of her Dallas Stars Series, and so many other books by her are golden. Her next release, Call Me Irresistible is out January 18th. CAN'T WAIT!! Susan even posted the first chapter on her website here.

R.S.V.P. to the most riotous wedding of the year . . .

Lucy Jorik is the daughter of a former president of the United States.

Meg Koranda is the offspring of legends.

One of them is about to marry Mr. Irresistible—Ted Beaudine—the favorite son of Wynette, Texas. The other is not happy about it and is determined to save her friend from a mess of heartache.

But even though Meg knows that breaking up her best friend's wedding is the right thing to do, no one else seems to agree. Faster than Lucy can say "I don't," Meg becomes the most hated woman in town—a town she's stuck in with a dead car, an empty wallet, and a very angry bridegroom. Broke, stranded, and without her famous parents at her back, Meg is sure she can survive on her own wits. What's the worst that can happen? Lose her heart to the one and only Mr. Irresistible? Not likely. Not likely at all.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

No Angel by Vivi Andrews

2010-12-07T05:51:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 12/6/10
How I got this book: Net Galley

When Sasha's boyfriend, Jay, is sucked through a fiery vortex to Hell, an angel reveals that Sasha's been chosen as the Champion of Virtue in the battle for his immortal soul. As a perennial offender on Santa's naughty list, Sasha can't believe she's anyone's idea of a girl fighting on the side of the angels. But if she doesn't save Jay, he'll be stuck in Hell forever!

Jay—aka Jevroth—isn't surprised to find himself back in Hell. His visa to visit the mortal plane expired three months ago, but to steal more time with Sasha he's been ignoring his mother's demands that he come home to spend time with his new stepfather: Lucifer.

Sasha has until dawn on the twenty-fifth of December to fight the Legions of Hell and rescue Jay, or be trapped there for eternity herself. But now she must decide if the lying son-of-a-demon is even worth saving...
Blurb from Goodreads

Sasha has been arguing with her boyfriend for weeks now about coming to her family's home for Christmas to meet her parents. When he hums and haws about it, delaying any sort of actual commitment, Sasha knows that things probably won’t last between them. Little does she know, Jay is keeping a big secret from her. He is part demon, and has been summoned back to hell to visit his mother and new step-dad, Lucifer himself.

When Jay gets sucked into a portal straight to hell, Sasha thinks that is most definitely the end of things between them. A visit from an angel changes everything though, and armed with two angel guns, she sets off for hell, determined to being the human Jay back to earth.

She journeys through hell, finding Jay and doing everything in his power to bring him back to her, regardless of his lies and parentage. But come Christmas morning, will Jay have enough good in him to be redeemed, and can Sasha’s love possibly save him?

Andrews creates an amazing hell dimension with this one, and had me actually liking Lucifer, laughing at Jay’s mom, and rooting for the half-demon! The journey that Sasha and Jay went on together in hell is hilarious, light hearted and just plain fun. I loved the different demons they ran into, the situations they found themselves in and the hilarity that ensued.

In the beginning I was worried that I wouldn’t like Sasha’s character, she did a lot of moaning and crying, but as they story progressed, she started kicking butt and taking names, and I found myself liking her more and more. Jay was fabulous, and I found myself liking him from the get-go. Half-demon or not, I found myself rooting for him, hoping he would be good enough to be redeemed.

There was one thing that continually confused me throughout the story however, and it caused me to sit back and scratch my head for a bit, wondering if I just misread something, or read too much into something. Sasha refers to her mother as the angel of Hollywood, and in her world, angels are known figures. Throughout the beginning of the story, I just assumed that her mother was an angel, imagine my surprise when I found out she wasn’t. *Scratches Head* Hum, yup, still a little confused about that one!

But, other than that little mind boggle, I really enjoyed this story. The action was packed, the characters were fun, the comedy was spot on and the plot well done. For everyone out there on the angel lovin’ bandwagon, this is a great little read!

This story can be found as a standalone novella, or can be purchased as part of the Carina Press Winter Wishes anthology with the other paranormal greats Vivian Arend and Moira Rogers.

All in all, I give No Angel 3 out of 5 trips to hell!

Holiday Sparks by Shannon Stacey

2010-12-06T06:07:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: December 6th
How I got this book: NatGalley

House-sitting for her parents seemed like a good idea, until the microwave blew up and the lights went out.

Now Chloe Burke thinks upgrading the electrical system of her childhood home while they are away would make the perfect Christmas gift. Fortunately, there’s an electrician in town who can get the job done by the holidays.

Scott Quinn has wanted to get his hands on the Burkes’ wiring for almost as long as he’s wanted to get his hands on their daughter. Chloe didn’t notice Scott back in high school, but she’s noticing him now, and soon they’re indulging in a little festive fun: no strings, no expectations. After all, Chloe plans to get out of this goldfish bowl of a town and back to her real life in Boston by New Year’s.

But Chloe and Scott discover they enjoy each other’s company just as much out of bed. Could their holiday fling turn out to be the real thing?
*Blurb from author’s website*

Chloe is house-sitting for her parents when she inadvertently blows a fuse she had never seen before. She calls the local electrician, and when more sparks begin to fly at her first glimpse of him, she decides to do a whole electrical re-wiring of her parents house as a Christmas gift.

Scott has had a huge crush on Chloe for as long as he can remember, and when the chance comes to spend almost every day with her, he jumps at the opportunity. But while Chloe is obviously attracted to him now, he can’t help but wonder what she’ll think when she realizes who he really.

As they spend more and more time together, the attraction that is heating up quickly morphs into something more, but it is something they are ready for?

I thought this story was so cute and sweet. Another amazing Shannon Stacey creation, she has quickly become one of my favorite contemporary romance authors.

I always enjoy stories about couples who either dated or knew each other previously, and find each other again. Although Scott and Chloe were never involved in high school, he seriously crushed on her, and she did notice him, despite what he thought. Being that I was a pretty big nerd in high school, I always love to see the underdog rise up and get the girl.

One of the things that I’ve come to count on with Stacey is that she always delivers great, well rounded characters. Chloe and Scott are no exception, and although the story is a short one, they just dragged me under and into their story, and left me wishing it could continue on and on.

Also, being a HUGE animal lover and advocate, I’m always excited when authors add in animals into their stories (as mine are a huge part of my life). I was so glad to see how large of a part the dog Kojack played. It’s just a simple little extra touch that leaves a smile on my face even now, days after I’ve finished the story.

This novella is a part of the Naughty and Nice anthology from Carina Press. It can be purchased in the anthology (featuring stories by Jaci Burton, Megan Hart, and Lauren Dane) or by itself.

All in all, I give Holiday Sparks 4 out of 5 smokin’ electricians!

All She Wants for Christmas by Jaci Burton

2010-12-03T05:59:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 12/6/10
How I got this book: NetGalley

Big Star, Small-town Christmas

Country singer Riley Jensen would never have returned to her small Missouri hometown if her publicist hadn’t come up with the scheme to tape a Christmas special there. So she never would have known that the man who broke her heart at eighteen—causing her to flee to Nashville—was now a widower with a seven-year-old daughter. Riley has ten years of angst-filled hit songs and Grammy awards to prove she doesn’t need Ethan Kent. But suddenly, she can’t help thinking of all she gave up by running away…

Ethan Kent knew Riley had the talent and the drive to make it as a singer. He also knew she wasn’t going anywhere if she stayed in their nowhere town for him. Then one night and one huge mistake sent her running on the road to fame. Which doesn’t mean he ever stopped loving her…

But with so much separating them, can Riley and Ethan find their way back together one magical country Christmas?
Blurb from Goodreads

Riley Jensen is a big name country music star, who was talked into doing a documentary in her childhood home town. Not really wanting to go back, she grudgingly agrees and within moments of arriving in town, finds herself face to face with the man who broke her heart and caused her to leave in the first place.

Ethan Kent loved Riley for as long as he could remember, and still dealt with the loss of her every day. But his daughter has kept him living in his hometown, trying to make the best life possible for her. One look at Riley threatens his control, and memories and desires from his past suddenly come back to the forefront.

But, will one magical Christmas celebration be enough to bring these two lost souls together?

I absolutely adored this story. It was sweet, romantic, heart breaking, and full of holiday cheer. Riley was such a strong and amazing, but incredibly lonely lead character. After having her heart broken in high school, finding her boyfriend and love in bed with her best friend, she runs as fast as she can to pursue a singing career. Within no time, she makes in big and never looks back, living her life in studios and on the road. Always alone. My heart bleed for her, but I was so glad to see that she was able to accept the past couldn't be changed, but instead tried to just life for the future.

While at first I wanted to hate Ethan on principal alone, he wormed his way under my skin and into my heart. Especially once the truth came out of his betrayal. The way that he was towards his daughter was so sweet and genuine, and I love when stories show the strength and bonds that fathers create with their daughters. Burton does an amazing job of showcasing that relationship.

The secondary characters were also a highlight in this book for me. Ethan's brothers and parents provided some great comedic and lighthearted relief during the stressful and emotional times between Riley and Ethan. It was the perfect mix of strong emotions, and fun lighthearted moments. When asked, Burton said that she would like to write the Kent brother's stories, but that there is nothing currently in the words. I can only hope that she finds the time to write those stories, I know that they would be amazing.

This novella can be purchased as a stand alone, or part of the Carina Press Naughty and Nice Anthology, featuring Shannon Stacey, Lauren Dane, and Megan Hart.

All in all, I give All She Wants for Christmas 4 out of 5 Christmas reunions.

Freeze Line by Moira Rogers

2010-12-02T05:52:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 12/7/10
How I got this book: NetGalley

She can’t survive in his world, he can’t stay sane in hers.

A twenty-first century ice age dulls the magic that emanates from the earth. Shane Sullivan is a lone wolf above the freeze line; He has no desire to join the packs that range closer to the border, where feral instincts can turn a man into a monster. Not until the winter solstice, when he stumbles across a dying witch who needs his help to get back to her people–and her magic–in the south.

Nadia is a powerful woman in her own world, but drained by her escape from captivity in a northern lab. She knows it’s foolhardy to trust a werewolf, but he’s her only chance to survive the vast white wilderness. The farther south they travel, the harder it is for Shane to keep the beast within under control, and as their mutual attraction intensifies, Nadia’s no longer sure she wants him to.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Those of you who follow my blog and Twitter feed know that I have a huge girl crush on the writing duo known as Moira Rogers. And this winter they have a new novella coming out from Carina Press, part of the Winter Wishes anthology (with greats Vivian Arend and Vivi Andrews) that can be purchased as part of the anthology, or a stand alone novella.

An ice age has hit the earth again, and Shane is living well above the freeze line. Because of his werewolf magic, he fears going to live closer to the border, because the tight control he has over his wolf slips the closer he gets to the warmth. He enjoys his solitary life in a small town, making ends meet any way he can.

Out on his snowmobile one afternoon has him running across Nadia, a witch left to die in the frozen wastelands. Nadia was kidnapped by a group of werewolves and tortured endlessly. But Shane is her only hope, and she puts her trust in him.

As the two journey closer to the border, Shane notices his wolf coming more to the forefront, while Nadia’s power grows as well. As the two learn to lean and count on each other, they struggle to find a way to be together although they can’t live in each other’s worlds.

The Rogers team does an amazing job with their world building and Freeze Line is no exception. I’ve always loved the different takes on what the world will be like post-apocalyptic, and the ice age is always a fun one!

I really liked Nadia and Shane together, both hesitant to trust and rely on each other, but both drawn to each other like a moth to a flame. And the way they are able to make a conscious decision to be together, and actually make it work, warms my heart.

If you’re looking for a short and sweet classic romance with a paranormal twist, you need to pick this one up! My only gripe: I really wish it would have been longer so that some of the questions left opened were answered.

All in all, I give Freeze Line 3.5 out of 5 post-apocalyptic ice ages!

Waiting on... Night Betrayed

2010-12-01T05:54:00.000-08:00

I recently discovered the Envy Chronicles by Joss Ware, and have already gobbled up the first three books in the series in the past week! For those who haven't read it, it's an amazing blend of post-apocalyptic mayhem, paranormal abilities, and some steamy loving! The 4th book in the series, Night Betrayed, comes out January 25th, and I can't wait!!

The Change that devastated the earth made Theo Waxnicki something more than human-eternally young and beautiful...but not immortal. When he dies on a mission against the Strangers, he is lost to the darkness...until a miraculous healer brings him back.

Born as the world fell to ruins, Selena has dedicated her life to easing others' pain. Her tender touch awakens new life in Theo-and new desire. But joined together in a world of terrors, the lovers' secret pasts make them vulnerable to danger. And love is the deadliest trap of all.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Tangled Tinsel by Vivian Arend

2010-11-29T05:52:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 12/6/10
How I got this book: NetGalley

Five miles of leather-clad leg is all it takes to lure Kyle Branegan out from his carefully hidden lifestyle as part of the Cougar Corp, a secret branch of the Shifter Enforcer League. He’s hoping for a night of fun and frolic, cat-style, no strings attached. With a sultry swing of her hips, Eloise Scott tangles him up in her ball of tricks, and just when he thinks he’s about to get lucky, she cuffs him—naked—to her bed.

An undercover cop in the human police force, El’s been given a top-secret mission to keep the big cat under her paw until he’s needed to testify in court in the New Year. Her decision to take him home for a quiet Christmas in her sleepy hometown turns out to be far more interesting than she expected. Her parents are suddenly rich, her old boyfriend is sniffing around and all six-feet-plus of sexy cougar male is sleeping in her bed.

And that’s before they announce their fake engagement…
*Blurb from author’s website*

Holy cow does Vivian Arend know how to write some smokin’ hot shifters. Her Granite Lake Wolves Series is a fav, and now she is coming out with one about cats. MEOW! *This novella can be found as part of the Winter Wishes Anthology by Carina Press, sold with stories from Moira Rogers and Vivi Andrews.*

Kyle is a part of the super secret Cougar Corp, investigating cat shifters who get a little wild and reveal their dangerous sides to the human race. But with one look at El has him panting and trailing after her. Although he is working, he decides to take some time off to see if El wants to come out and play.

Eloise is an undercover cop on the human police force, and has been tasked with keep Kyle underground while awaiting some big trail he is needed at. She uses her cat powers of seduction and captures him, literally chaining him to her bed. But, as that is the last place she wants to keep him, he agrees to attend her family Christmas celebration instead.

Between the hilarious family antics, jealous ex-boyfriend, fake engagement and potentially guilty uncle, Kyle and El realize that love really can come when you least expect it.

These cat shifters are ME-OW! Kyle and El smoke up the pages with their always roaring attraction. I loved the way El was able to capture Kyle in the beginning, and then the way Kyle was able to capture her heart at the end. The chemistry was off the charts, and although El tried so hard to resist, it was only a matter of time before she fell for his never ending charms.

I loved the crazy family of El’s and their holiday traditions. Watching Kyle, the somewhat reclusive loner, have to go through many different family bonding was hilarious. Although we don’t get exact answers to the case Kyle is investigating, I enjoyed watching him and El try to find out all the details possible.

This new world that Arend created was super interesting, and I hope that she continues to write within it. There were a few questions left open, and I can only pray that they gte wrapped up in a future book. I love the concept of shifters living out in the open amongst the humans. Plus, having Kyle working for a group that keeps the more nefarious ways of shifters hidden, it’s priceless. When asked, Arend said she didn’t know if she would make this a series, but I’ve got my fingers cross. (PLEASE VIV???? PLEASE!!)

All in all, I give Tangled Tinsel 4.5 out of 5 undercover cat cops!

Waiting on... Dreams of a Dark Warrior

2010-11-24T05:43:00.000-08:00

I love all things Kresley Cole, and her Immortals After Dark Series is one of my all time favorites. The 11th installment, Dreams of a Dark Warrior is out in February 15th and features Regin!!

He vowed he'd come for her. . .

Murdered before he could wed Regin the Radiant, warlord Aidan the Fierce seeks his beloved through eternity, reborn again and again into new identities, yet with no memory of his past lives—only an endless yearning.

She awaits his return. . .

When Regin encounters Declan Chase, a brutal Celtic soldier, she recognizes her proud warlord reincarnated. But Declan takes her captive, intending retribution against all immortals, unaware that he belongs to their world.

To sate a desire more powerful than death. . .

Yet every reincarnation comes with a price, for Aidan is doomed to die when he remembers his past. To save herself from Declan's torments, will Regin rekindle memories of the passion they once shared—even if it means once again losing the only man she could ever love?
*Blurb from author's website*

Trailer Tuesday - My Fair Succubi

2010-11-22T21:37:00.000-08:00

The always fabulous Jill Myles posted the trailer for her 3rd Succubus Diaries book the other day. Her equally fabulous husband is an amazing artist, and creates all her videos for her. Check it out.

First Gift Blog Hop

2010-11-18T19:31:00.000-08:00

When my husband and I first started dating, we were working at a department store and in college. One day while walking around campus, there was some kind of arts and crafts sale on the mall (the very central part of the University of Arizona campus, with long wide strips of grass that is a favorite place for students to hang out).

We were joking around that the had yet to buy me anything, and sorta trailed behind me and my best friend Beth as we hopped from table to table checking out all the wares. When we got to this silver vendor, I just about drooled all over the place. I’m obsessed with silver rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, you find a piece of silver jewelry and it’s a guarantee I’ll love it. After I ohhed, ahhed, cried, and cooed over this one ring in particular, I hinted to my man he should get it for me.

Well, let’s just say the man flat out laughed at me and told me the only ring he would ever get me would be from a crackerjack box. (Little liar has bought me three rings, SO HA! Joke’s on you hubby!!) Needless to say, I went on to class, thinking about that damn ring, counting down the hour until I could get out of class, head to the ATM, and go pick up the beautiful silver piece.

Once I got out of class, I called the hubby to tell him I would be late meeting him because I was going to go and get the ring myself. He offered to meet me on the mall again, and when I got there he was holding out a bag of crackerjacks. After I mentally swooned, I opened it to find that not only had he bought me the ring, but he had taken the time to peel open the crackerjack bag, replace the toy with the ring he got, and reseal the bag.

To this day, I still think my hubby is the most romantic man in the whole wide world! And although I don’t wear the ring anymore, (really slimy sales woman, silver plated is not the same as silver. Thanks for turning my finger green beotch!) I do still have the ring he got me. I really do have the best husband ever!!

Although you can’t see it very well, after the ring started losing its silver plate, I began wearing it on my necklace around my neck. You can’t see it very well, but there it is. It has little offset bubbles like the picture below, only it had purple and clear crystals offsetting. Love it, just wish it had lasted a little bit longer.

Hands On by Christina Crooks

2010-11-17T21:17:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Samhain
Publish Date: 11/16/10
How I got this book: Author requested review

Want to make Fate laugh? Try telling her who’s in charge.

Talented, down-on-her-luck puppeteer Ginnie Anderson’s life seems destined to fall down around her ears. Much like the rented bungalow that’s just collapsed in a heavy rainstorm, endangering her precious collection of marionettes.

Her livelihood in need of protection and repair, she can’t refuse her landlord’s offer of temporary shelter in his magnificent home. Under his roof, though, she finds her hard-won grasp on her independence slipping—and herself falling into his arms.

The hallmark of Harry Barrett’s business success: he never makes the same mistake twice, particularly when it comes to manipulative women. So why is Ginnie, who pulls strings for a living, like a siren’s song in his blood? It’s best to put temptation as far out of reach as possible.

Yet when Ginnie’s past threatens to destroy the life she’s built for herself, Harry must decide which is more important. Holding tight to his sense of self preservation, or letting go to capture Ginnie’s fragile heart—before it breaks into a thousand pieces.

Warning: Contains sizzling sex between a powerful hero who likes to be in control, and a heroine whose talented hands teach him the pleasure of giving up the reins.
*Blurb from Goodreads*.

Crooks creates a short romantic story featuring a hero scared to trust a woman, and a woman who wants nothing more than a commitment from the man who just can’t give it to her. The book starts with poor Ginnie, trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life, who rents a house that takes all of five minutes and a strong windstorm to collapse in on her. When a stranger shows up and pulls her out at the last minute, she finds herself taken under his wing.

Harry is a reclusive business man, upset by a recent betrayal by the woman he thought he loved. His business took a hit, as did his personal self esteem. When he realizes that one of his rental properties is a run down POS, he runs in and rescues the odd girl living in the home. Harry’s attraction to Ginnie is instantaneous, and although he wants absolutely nothing to do with her, he can’t seem to pull away from her.

As Ginnie’s world continues to crash around her, Harry is there to help pick up the pieces, but will he be able to put his own heart on the line to save hers?

While I had some trouble getting into the story at first, it did pick up as it went on. Ginnie seemed somewhat helpless at the beginning of the story. There was just something about the character that made me think of her as a helpless little kitten: absolutely adorable but somewhat needy. I did think though, that throughout the story, Ginnie did do a little growing up. She seemed more willing to stick up to herself after a little boost and help from Harry.

Harry also didn’t click with me as a character, at all. While I felt bad for him for what he had to deal with in regards to his ex-fiance, he never really became real to me. I didn’t like that although he was drawn to Ginnie, and seemed to do right by her half the time, the other half of the time he was being a jerk, thinking like a jerk, and just unsure of himself.

I was extremely impressed with the amount of knowledge Crooks gave us about the world of puppeteering. I can only imagine the amount of research was involved, and I loved that Ginnie had an interesting hobby/career choice. It was obvious to me that Crooks must either really love, or have a strong dedication to showing the wonderful world of puppets, because that shown through the pages to me.

Although the characters lacked at times, I loved that the main focus of the story was Harry and Ginnie’s relationship. The ending was great as well, and I did find myself liking Harry when he finally allowed himself to fall for Ginnie, and how he went about proving it to her.

All in all, I give Hands On 3 out of 5 marionettes.

Waiting on... My Fair Succubi

2010-11-17T04:59:00.000-08:00

Jill Myles writes the Succubus Diaries, and the 3rd book, My Fair Succubi comes out December 28th!! For those who haven't started this series yet, it follows the hilarious Jackie and BFF Remi through their adventures. I can't wait for the next installment! Check out the cover and blurb below.

It Sucks To Be Her…

Living as a succubus has a bit of a learning curve, but with sexy fallen angel Noah to scratch her sensual Itch, Jackie Brighton is finally starting to feel ahead of the game. She almost doesn’t miss her gorgeous vampire master Zane – or his sinful, teasing mouth. She’s trying to convince herself of that, anyway.

But Jackie’s past mistakes catch up with her, spinning her life out of control once more. Just as her friend Remy’s inner demon comes out to play, Noah and Jackie are arrested by the angelic Serim Council. When Jackie seizes the chance to escape, she falls right into Zane’s waiting arms. As she’s pulled into a game of cat and mouse between vampires and angels, she finds she must also finally choose between the two men in her life. Can she decide between Noah and Zane, or will she lose everything she’s ever wanted? Because there’s more at stake than just her heart…
*Blurb from author's website*

Poisoned Kisses by Stephanie Draven

2010-11-16T05:40:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Harlequin Nocture
Publish Date: 10/1/10
How I got this book: Requested from Publisher

Daughter of the war god Ares, Kyra had been born into darkness—a darkness she'd vowed to annihilate. Just as she'd destroy the notorious Greek arms dealer Marco Kaisiris for feeding the bloodlust she despised. She'd use her nymph's carnal powers to seduce him, then slay him. But Kyra wasn't prepared for Marco's secret weapon.

For millennia Kyra had avoided mortal men, but she couldn't resist Marco's magnetism, his raw sexuality. Time and again his sculpted body took her to heights to which only the gods soared. That he was a shape-shifting hydra she could forgive, but not his one fatal flaw—his poisoned blood could kill her. Kyra had fallen for the only being who could destroy her…. Yet how could she spend eternity without him?
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Draven creates a unique new story in which the ancient Greek gods and goddesses literally come alive on the page, and rock the story from start to finish. Kyra is the nymph daughter of Ares the war god, and doing everything in her power to NOT be like good old dad. She is on a mission to find the hydra Marco and destroy him, as fate says she is supposed to do. But when her plan to use her prowess of seduction backfires, she finds herself falling for Marco at every turn.

Marco is the arms dealer to the underdog, and while he has no problem providing guns to kids, he does have a problem with his abilities as a hydra. Knowing the danger his blood has to those around him, Marco is constantly on guard with everyone, and although Kyra keeps popping up, he keeps being drawn to her while trying to push her away at the same time. When Marco gets pulled closer to a war gods clutches, he and Kyra set off to try and bring peace to not only the Congo, but a small piece of each of their souls.

I really enjoyed this book! Draven starts off with a bang and never stops the whole way through. The different spin on the paranormal, having nymphs, hydras, and gods come to life was fresh, exciting, and a blast to read. The spin on the hydra myth, with Marco being able to change his “faces” was neat, and Kyra as a nymph being able to have sexual prowess, but also having the ability to fall deeply and tragically in love.

I thought both Kyra and Marco were great characters. While Kyra was somewhat sheltered and naive, she was also passionate, caring, and had a pure heart. The whole right versus wrong, good versus evil theme throughout, and Kyra’s dedication to stay on the “right” side of the line was a consistent and prevalent point in the story, and because of that, I really respected her character. While Marco had no problems toeing the line, while jumping across to one side then the other, I was amazed at the depth that Draven gave his character. With his history and past, he makes a phenomenal tortured alpha male hero.

The romance between Kyra and Marco was almost fairytale like. The obstacles in the way of forming their relationship were huge, but the desire to be together was just as big. I loved the feeling of the two of them needing to “slay the dragon” together in order to move forward. It was fun, flirty, and romantic all at the same time!

I was impressed with the way that Draven brought some world issues to the forefront, without being too preachy or political. With the history of Rwanda, and constant ongoing problems in Africa, I liked the spin she put on both sides of the issue. It was very, very well done.

While I personally wish the story would have been a little longer; it didn’t feel rushed, like it ended abruptly, or was leaving out any pertinent information to the story line. I can only hope that Draven continues to write stories set in this world in the future. Maybe featuring some of the other gods and their kids? Draven is an author that I will definitely have to add to my list of great paranormal authors!

All in all, I give Poisoned Kisses 4.5 out of 5 nymphs and hydras!

Cover Love... Wolfsbane

2010-11-12T05:44:00.000-08:00

Ok, I will admit that I have yet to read the Nightshade books by Andrea Creamer. But Oh My God, her covers are so beautiful! This past week she released the cover for the 2nd book in the series, Wolfsbane. It's just as amazing as the first. Take a look:

Kiss of Snow Blurb

2010-11-11T05:26:00.000-08:00

Nalini Singh posted on her website today the back cover blurb for the next Psy-Changeling book, Kiss of Snow, featuring the one and only Hawke. So, incredibly, unbelievably excited. I think this might be my #1 CAN NOT miss book of 2011 (Although that is a toss up with Magic Slays. Curran, need I say more?) Check out the blurb and cover (because that is one sexy set of abs) below:

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s exhilarating world of shapeshifters and psychics is “paranormal romance at its best” (Publishers Weekly). Now comes the story of an alpha wolf named Hawke used to getting exactly what he wants--and of the only woman who dares tangle with him.

Since the moment of her defection from the PsyNet and into the SnowDancer wolf pack, Sienna Lauren has had one weakness. Hawke. Alpha and dangerous, he compels her to madness.

Hawke is used to walking alone, having lost the woman who would’ve been his mate long ago. But Sienna fascinates the primal heart of him, even as he tells himself she is far too young to handle the wild fury of the wolf.

Then Sienna changes the rules and suddenly, there is no more distance, only the most intimate of battles between two people who were never meant to meet. Yet as they strip away each other’s secrets in a storm of raw emotion, they must also ready themselves for a far more vicious fight…

A deadly enemy is out to destroy SnowDancer, striking at everything they hold dear, but it is Sienna’s darkest secret that may yet savage the pack that is her home…and the alpha who is its heartbeat…
*Blurb from author's website

Waiting on... Alien Tango

2010-11-10T05:10:00.000-08:00

Ever since reading Touched by an Alien, I've been anxiously awaiting the next
installment in the Kitty & Martini saga. It doesn't help that Gini is a great friend of mine, and teases me almost ever time I see her with snippets and hints about books to come. So to countdown to Alien Tango is now at 27 days... Time? Please hurry up!

It's been five months since marketing manager Katherine "Kitty" Katt started working with the aliens from Alpha Centauri, and she and Jeff Martini are getting closer. But when an experimental spacecraft is mysteriously returned to the Kennedy Space Center, Kitty and the rest of her team are called in to investigate. Now the team must survive murderous attacks, remove a space entity from a group of astronauts, and avoid an unhinged woman with a serious crush on Kitty's high school boyfriend. And that's all before evil masterminds decide Kitty's extermination is vital.
*blurb from goodreads*

Song of Scarabaeus by Sara Creasy

2010-11-08T05:31:00.000-08:00

Publisher: EOS Books (Harper Collins)
Publish Date: 4/10/10
How I got this book: Local Library

Trained since childhood in advanced biocyph seed technology by the all-powerful Crib empire, Edie's mission is to terraform alien worlds while her masters bleed the outlawed Fringe populations dry. When renegade mercenaries kidnap Edie, she's not entirely sure it's a bad thing . . . until they leash her to a bodyguard, Finn—a former freedom fighter-turned-slave, beaten down but never broken. If Edie strays from Finn's side, he dies. If she doesn't cooperate, the pirates will kill them both.

But Edie's abilities far surpass anything her enemies imagine. And now, with Finn as her only ally as the merciless Crib closes in, she'll have to prove it or die on the site of her only failure . . . a world called Scarabaeus.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

This Sci Fi book first came to my attention through the Supernatural Underground Blog, and with my 2010 Sci Fi Romance challenge needing a few more reads, I immediately went to my local library to see if I could get my hands on it. (It was a Library Recommended Read for two months running, and the waiting list was INSANE!)

Song of Scarabaeus follows the story of Edie, a biocyph tech that is leagues above the others in her field. When she is kidnapped and somewhat forced to work for a team of mercenaries on terraformation, she sets off on an unexpected adventure.

She ends up leashed to a bodyguard, the reclusive and secretive Finn, through their minds. If he gets too far away from her, he dies. If she dies, he dies. Edie and Finn soon realize they have an ally in each other, and do everything they can to escape the mercenaries hold on them. When they are sent to the planet Scarabaeus, Edie’s first adventure in terraform, the two must do everything they can think of just to stay alive.

Like I said, I was super excited for this book, and for the most part, I really enjoyed it. I absolutely adored Edie. She started the book as a shy, reserved tech just doing what she has to do to survive. But throughout the story we watch as Edie grows and really comes into her own. She isn’t afraid to fight for what she believes in, she isn’t afraid to stand up to others for those beliefs, and she genuinely cares for those around her. I loved watching Edie evolve from a somewhat timid character, to a strong leading female.

Likewise, Finn was awesome. He was so reserved and secretive that at times I wanted to pry his secrets out of him. But like Edie, we really get to see his true colors come out. As a slave, Finn was used to being mistreated, but overtime Edie’s kindness breaks down his walls and he begins to really care about her, not just her life force keeping his alive. I definitely fell hard for Finn by about chapter four!

The imagination and imagery that comes with this one is amazing! I was completely drawn into Edie’s world, and the pictures of the planet Scarabaeus were like vivid pictures of some incredibly amazing stuff! The descriptions of what the planet was like, their ship, even what space looked like as they went to their destination was so unique.

While at times I had a little bit of difficulty keeping up with the technology, the science, and the amazing imagination of Creasy, it didn’t change the fact that I really enjoyed the story. The action seemed to be non-stop, the romance was sizzling, and the emotions gripped my heart. This book will definitely speak to those who like a lot more science in their Sci Fi romance, but is also engaging for those of you whose eyes gloss over at the hard stuff.

I am really looking forward to the sequel, Children of Scarabaeus, out in April 2011. While Creasy did a good job of not leaving any major cliff hangers, I can’t wait to find out where Edie and Finn will go next.

All in all, I give Song of Scarabaeus 4 out of 5 exotic beetles.

Cover Love... Magic Slays

2010-11-05T06:52:00.000-07:00

Ilona Andrews revealed their new cover for the 5th Kate Daniels book, Magic Slays this past week. In the comments, Gordon (half of the dynamic duo, for those who don't know) said that this rendition of Kate is actually closer to how he and Ilona view her. So while she has changed a bit through the series covers, I think she keeps looking better and better! Check out the cover (and new mega boobies!) below:

Undeniable Yours by Shannon Stacey

2010-11-04T08:29:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 11/1/10
How I got this book: NetGalley

One-night stand + two percent condom failure rate = happily ever after?
Bar owner Kevin Kowalski is used to women throwing their phone numbers at him, but lately he’s more interested in finding a woman to settle down with. A woman like Beth Hansen. If only their first meeting hadn’t gone so badly...
Beth’s tending bar at a wedding when she comes face-to-face with a tuxedo-clad man she never thought she’d see again. She tries to keep her distance from Kevin but, by last call, she can’t say no to his too-blue eyes or the invitation back to his room. Then she slips out before breakfast without leaving a note and, despite their precautions, pregnant.
Kevin quickly warms to the idea of being a dad and to seeing where things go with Beth. After all, he’s not the player she thinks he is. But she’s not ready for a relationship and, given his reputation, it’s going to take a lot to convince her to go on a second date with the father of her child...
*Blurb from Goodreads*

Shannon Stacey has become one of my favorite authors, and her Kowalski books from Carina Press are some of my favorites from 2010.

Kevin Kowalski is a sports bar owner, and has recently watched his brothers get the girl of their dreams. Granted, he isn't starved for female attention, but none of those females are ones that he would want to spend his life with. When he meets Beth, he knows right away that she is different, and when he finally gets her into bed, he wakes up the next morning all alone, with no way to contact her.

When Beth realizes that she is pregnant, she knows that she has to let Kevin know about the baby. Amazed to be one of the few that use protection and still get stuck in an awkward situation, she worries how Kevin will react to the news. To her surprise, after a few moments of shock, Kevin was stoked at the idea of becoming a father, and getting to find Beth again. These two will have to decide if they want to be just neighbors raising a baby, or a real family.

Loved, loved, loved this book. It was so great. I'm not usually a huge fan of stories that are based on an unexpected pregnancy, but I enjoyed the fact that Stacey changed it up a bit, and had Beth so adamantly against getting married or even dating just for the sake of the baby. To me, that is the smartest thing a couple can do when stuck in a situation like that, and I enjoyed that Stacey didn't romanticize the situation.

I absolutely fell for Kevin when we first met him in Exclusively Yours, and he just became so much more loveable as the story unfolded. I always love stories about men who are ready to settle down, start a family, and “grow up” who have trouble convincing the women they love to settle down. Kevin was such a great guy in my mind, he was supportive of Beth, while trying not to be too demanding. He wanted to care for her, provide for her, and love her. Much to her dismay.

I loved how he tried so hard to woo Beth into being with him. He so obviously wanted to be with her, and tried so hard to not only show her, but tell her as well. At the same time, I was glad to see when Kevin finally threw in the glove and told Beth he wouldn't wait around for her forever. It was a perfect combination of pride and a willingness to throw it all down the drain for Beth.

I felt so sad for Beth at times. She has such a hard time getting involved in the lives of those around her. Her fear of settling down caused her to live a crazy nomadic life. Because of that history, I can understand why she was so scared to really make a home and life with Kevin. I was glad to see her really break out of her shell though and come to the understanding of how wonderful life can be when you share it when someone you love.

I also really enjoyed the sub-plot surrounding Kevin's bartender and manager Paulie. I so enjoyed everything about Paulie and her history with Sam. It was a great little story weaved through. Likewise, the Kowalski family is back again in full force! I loved getting another glimpse into their fun family. Keri and Joe's wedding, another annual camping trip, and some fun holiday traditions. I know we've run out of single Kowalski brothers, but I can only hope that Stacey will bring these characters back for another story in the future.

All in all, I give Undeniably Yours 5 out of 5 accidental pregnancies!

Waiting on... Shadowfever

2010-11-03T06:43:00.001-07:00

The queen of cliffhangers, Karen Marie Moning, will be releasing her 5th and final book in the Fever Series on January 18, 2011. This series is amazing, full of twisted plot lines, an amazing heroine, and a hero who may or may not be the bad guy. This series has some of the worst cliffhangers, and anyone who hasn't read it yet will luck out, being able to read them all in one shot. And let me tell you, this series is a MUST read for all your Urban Fantasy fans out there.

"Evil is a completely different creature, Mac.
Evil is bad that believes it's good."

MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever.

Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister's murderer. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals that have lived concealed among us for thousands of years.

What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief, while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh--a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King that contains the power to create and destroy worlds.

In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac, and begins mowing a deadly path through those she loves.

Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman that haunts her dreams? More importantly, who is Mac and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card?

From the luxury of the Lord Master's penthouse, to the sordid depths of an Unseelie nightclub, from the erotic bed of her lover, to the terrifying bed of the Unseelie King, Mac's journey will force her to face the truth of her exile, and make a choice that will either save the world...or destroy it.
*Blurb from author's website*

Passions of a Wicked Earl by Lorraine Heath

2010-11-01T06:31:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Avon

Publish Date: 11/1/10

How I got this book: NetGalley

Known throughout London for his prowess in the bedroom, Morgan Lyons, the 8th Earl of Westcliffe, cannot forgive an unpardonable affront to his honor. Discovering his young bride in the arms of his brother was a staggering blow–so he banished the beautiful deceiver to the country and devoted himself to the pursuit of carnal pleasure.

Claire Lyons was an innocent, frightened girl on her wedding day, seeking chaste comfort from a childhood friend. Now, years later, she has blossomed magnificently and has returned to London with one goal in mind: the seduction of her notorious husband. Unskilled in the sensual arts, she burns nonetheless for the kisses too long denied her. And she has but one Season to win back the heart of the rogue she betrayed.

*Blurb from Goodreads*

I am on such a historical romance high, and Lorraine Heath kept me on Cloud 9 with this one! The first in her London’s Greatest Lovers Series, Passions of a Wicked Earl tells the story of Westcliffe, and his poor wounded ego. When Westcliffe decided to marry, and took a young wife in his neighbor Claire, things went downhill quick.

Claire was petrified at the thought of her wedding night, and asked that Westcliffe’s younger brother and her best friend help her. When Westcliffe caught her in bed in the arms of his brother, he was furious and banished her to the country while he went to London. Now, Claire is back, trying to provide a season for her younger sister Beth. While trying to find Beth a suitable husband, she will try everything to get her own back as well.

I really enjoyed this one. Westcliffe with his huge ego occasionally got on my nerves. There were times I just wanted to shake him to get him to see what he had in front of him. He was also incredible selfish when it came to Lady Anne, his mistress. It was good to see his opinions of Anne and their relationship as the book progressed, and as he got to know Claire better.

I really loved Claire’s character. She was fun, free spirited, and an all around great character. I liked that she wasn’t afraid to show her temper in front of Westcliffe, and that she wasn’t afraid to fight for her right to be his wife, regardless of their past. I enjoyed her interactions with Beth. It reminded me of a loving sister relationship, kinda like the one I have with my younger sisters. The amount of scrutiny and ridicule she endured from the Ton, while doing what was best for her sister, had me wishing I had an older sister like that of my own.

Unlike Claire and Beth, the interactions between Westcliffe and his two brothers, Ainsley and Stephen were at times heart breaking. While it seemed as if they did truly wish to be a family, none of them could take the steps to actually become said family. I wished for Westcliffe’s sake throughout the book that they would be able to put aside the past and focus on being brothers to each other in the future.

This is one of my favorite historical that I’ve read of late, and Heath tells a great story. Between the love story with Westcliffe and Claire, the heartache between brothers, and the suspense of what will happen with Westcliffe and Anne, this book will forever be on my keeper shelf!

All in all, I give Passions of a Wicked Earl 4 out of 5 estranged marriages!

Vivian Arend Winner

2010-10-30T08:47:00.000-07:00

According to Random.org, the winner of an ebook copy of Vivian Arend's Wolf Signs is....

*drum roll*

KULSUMA!

Congratulations Kulsuma! I will get your information over to Vivian today! Thanks for entering.

Cover Love... Kiss of Snow

2010-10-29T06:56:00.000-07:00

One of my all time favorite series is the Psy-Changeling Series by Nalini Singh. Her characters are amazing, her plots are think and always leave me guessing, and the smexing is HOT HOT HOT!

The 10th book in the series, Kiss of Snow, wont release until July of next year, but it is probably THE MOST anticipated of the series, and features everyone's favorite wolf Hawke. And with a body like that, who wouldn't fall him?

Everyone give a big thanks to the cover folks at Berkley for this one! *fans self*

Waiting on... Cowgirls Don't Cry

2010-10-28T06:52:00.000-07:00

The 10th book in the Rough Riders Series by Lorelei James releases November 9th, and I can't wait. Those McKay/West cowboys are some of my favorite, and Lorelei James always delivers. If you love some hot smokin' cowboy loving... this series is a must read!

Jessie McKay has accepted her marriage to Luke McKay wasn’t perfect. After two years of widowhood, she’s ready to kick up her bootheels—until Luke’s younger brother shows up to spoil her fun. But if Brandt thinks she’ll ever take orders from another McKay male, he’s got manure for brains.

Brandt McKay has avoided his sweet, sexy sister-in-law ever since the night he confessed his feelings for her weren’t the brotherly type. Unexpectedly faced with proof of Luke’s infidelity, Brandt is forced to ask for Jessie’s help in taking care of Luke’s young son. Jessie agrees on one condition—she wants Brandt’s boots exclusively under her bed for the duration.

The sexual heat that’s always simmered between them ignites. Brandt is determined to make the temporary situation permanent, proving to Jessie he’s a one-woman man. And Jessie is shaken by feelings she’s sworn never to have again for any man…especially not a McKay.

Warning: Contains branding-iron-hot sex , the one McKay on earth who wants to be tamed, and a woman who’s decided tame is for nice girls who finish last.
*Blurb from author's website*

Sins of the Flesh by Eve Silver

2010-10-27T06:58:00.000-07:00

Publisher: HQN
Publish Date: 10/1/10
How I got this book: NetGalley

Torn between lust and loyalty...

The blood of the Underworld lord of evil runs through soul reaper Malthus Krayl’s veins.
Raised to fight for survival and to kill for victory, he can destroy anyone who poses a threat. As he searches for the one responsible for his brother’s murder, he refuses to succumb to any distraction…until his sworn enemy crosses his path and tempts him beyond all reason.

Calliope Kane, a Daughter of Aset, has a personal hatred for soul reapers. Their savage attack against her family still haunts her. But only Malthus can help her find the traitors of her kind, and only she can help him hunt the source of betrayal amongst the reapers. As they unite, the danger grows closer…and the passion between them ignites.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

The 3rd installment of the Otherkin Series is finally upon us!! There were so many questions left unanswered in the last book, and I sent up a little prayer to the book gods that Silver wouldn’t leave me with a total cliff hanger at the end of this one too! Especially since the next book isn’t out until next year.

Calliope is back from the first book, and I love her ever more now! I thought she was awesome before, but she just skyrocketed up in my book. She is working diligently for the Daughter’s of Aset, trying to kidnap someone who should have vital information about the death of Lokan Krayl.

Like Callie, Mal is also hot on this suspect’s tail, and when the two paths collide, they explode. A kick ass sword fight ensues, as well as some heated stolen kisses, a battle with fire genies, and some smokin’ hot shared dreams! As these two get closer and closer to finding out who really killed Loken, Mal might have to make the decision of a lifetime. His brother? Or his newfound love?

I really enjoyed this one. I’ve loved Calliope from the beginning, and was happy to see her end up with Mal. I really enjoyed that we got a closer look into the Daughters of Aset, and how each member fits into the organization. I was upset for Calliope with the way she was treated by her fellow Daughters, and was glad to see how things ended up working for her in the long run.

After the last book, I was worried that we would continually be left with tons and tons of questions. Thankfully, Silver answered MOST of them for us. Yes, we do find out who killed Lokan and how it was done. Yes, we do find out who all the major players were in the assassination. Yes, we will get to see more of Lokan’s revenge (at least I can only hope with the way it was foreshadowed!) However, more questions have now arisen. Thankfully, there will be additional books in the series.

In the last book, I felt as if the romance was a little rushed, but with Calliope and Mal, it felt more genuine. I enjoyed their little courtship song and dance. I know I can always count on Silver to have strong female characters who aren’t willing to just jump into bed with anyone, and actually take the idea of a relationship seriously. I enjoyed watching Calliope struggle with the thoughts and ideas of being emotionally intimate, and loved when she finally gave everything she had to give to Mal.

I’ve really enjoyed the Otherkin series so far, and can’t wait to see how things progress with Lokan!

All in all, I give Sins of the Flesh 3.5 out of 5 murders solved!

Undertow by Moira Rogers

2010-10-20T06:38:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Samhain
Publish Date: 10/5/10
How I got this book: Contest Win

Victor left behind a life of crime to focus on a new vision--helping his alpha build an island sanctuary for werewolves. Harsh experiences prepared him for the hardships involved, except when it comes to dealing with the young female refugees of the brutal Boston pack--especially Simone, who rouses his inner wolf like no other. A woman he must resist, or risk becoming just the latest man to make demands on her.

Born to wealth and privilege, Simone lost everything when she fell for the seductive whispers of the textile heir who turned her. Once adrift, now she is fired by a new sense of purpose--the chance to broker peace between werewolves and European wizards. Yet even as Europe beckons, her instincts--the same ones that led to trouble before--keep drawing her back to Victor.

During a sailing trip to the mainland for supplies, Victor finds it impossible to hold himself aloof from the warm, engaging Simone. And when a winter storm traps them together during a full moon, she breaks through his walls so easily and completely, the question is no longer how he'll stay away, but how he'll let her go.
Blurb from author's website

The dynamic writing duo Moira Rogers continues to amaze me with their newest release, Undertow, the 2nd book in the Building Sanctuary Series.

Simone was raised by a prim and proper family, who although were loaded with money, took issues with the way Simone led her life. When she gets mixed up with a bad lover, she is turned into a werewolf, and forced to watch as he continues to take advantage of young women over and over. Now, she is living on an isolated island, trying to build trust among her new pack.

Victor is a strong alpha, who worked to help build this new sanctuary for the Boston pack that was taken advantage of. While he desires nothing more than to take Simone as his mate, he worries that her trust and faith in him stems from the safe environment he is now able to provide.

When the two take a much needed trip to the mainland, they get waylaid on a deserted island when their boat gets crushed in the storm. The two must learn to survive together. With their isolation, the two will rely on each other, fall for each other, but can their new found love survive being rescued?

I really enjoyed this story. I've gotten accustomed to Moira Rogers constantly having some kind of crazy, evil antagonist in each of their stories. While I love the constant good vs evil battle, I also like that this story is a bit more lighthearted. There is no forced oppression, no evil henchman in the background waiting to take over the world. It's just a story about a man and a woman (wolf and wolfette?), trying to find a way to love each other.

I enjoyed both Simone and Victor’s characters immensely. While Simone is not a strong alpha wolf, she is a strong woman, and a strong character. I love that she knew her place as the “mommy bear” providing comfort to everyone around her. Likewise, I enjoyed that Victor was like a “papa bear,” staring down the other males on the island, trying to provide comfort to the refugees the only way he knew how, with space and the chance to feel safe again.

I was glad to see that although Victor didn’t really have to fight for Simone’s love and affection, he was willing to. He was ready to take on any and everyone who potentially wanted to take her away from him, and was ready to fight for his chance to love her.

This was a super fun, light-hearted read, an all around sweet story. I hope to see more like this from Moira Rogers in the future. I like the chance to see their characters take a break from the good fight and just get the chance to sit back and live life.

All in all, I give Undertow 4 out of 5 deserted islands!

Trailer Tuesday - HIS DARKEST EMBRACE

2010-10-19T06:32:00.000-07:00

I have heard nothing but fabulous things about Juliana Stone, and her first book in this series is at the top of my to be read stack. His Darkest Embrace is out on October 26th, be sure you go and pick up your copy!

Giveaway - Wolf Signs

2010-10-18T06:45:00.000-07:00

Have you headed over to enter into the Fall Frenzy contest yet? If you haven't, you absolutely need to! The fabulous Moira Rogers and amazing Vivian Arend are joining forces and giving away TONS of books. Just to show how awesome they are, they are letting me do a giveaway as well!

Here goes: Want to win a digital copy of Wolf Signs (book 1 in the Granite Lake Wolves Series) by Vivian Arend?

Talk about getting your signals crossed… Granite Lake Wolves, Book 1 Robyn Maxwell doesn’t care that her brother has to cancel out on their backcountry ski trip. She can do it alone. The fact she’s deaf doesn’t make her survival skills any weaker. The chance to get away from it all and relax in the Yukon wilderness is just what she’s been craving.

Meeting wilderness guide Keil at the cabin starts cravings of another kind. Keil’s one hot hunk of ripped, tasty male. Now she has to deal with raging hormones as well as strange questions about wolves and mates and challenges to the death. Keil was trying for a nice reflective retreat before challenging for the Alpha position of his Alaskan pack. He wasn’t planning on meeting the woman destined to be his mate, or finding out she’s not aware she has the genes of a wolf.

Between dealing with his accident-prone younger brother, a deaf mate with an attitude and an impending duel to the death, his week—and his bed—is suddenly full. Far from the relaxing getaway any of them had in mind…

Warning: Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “talking with your hands”. Includes dangerous use of sarcasm and hot nookie in a remote wilderness sauna.

All you have to do is leave a comment below with you name and e-mail!

+5 follow my blog
+2 follow me on Twitter (@MinnChica)
+2 follow Vivian on Twitter (@VivianArend)

Good luck! The contest will end on October 29th, and a winner will be announced on the blog.

The Kiss Test by Shannon McKelden

2010-10-15T06:39:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 10/11/10
How I got this book: NetGalley

Margo Gentry's life is perfect. She loves her job as a DJ for Manhattan's only country music station, and she has a great boyfriend who accepts her need to avoid marriage and tolerates her Elvis obsession-even the velvet Elvis painting in their bedroom.

But then it all falls apart. The radio station changes formats and fires all the DJs. Margo's boyfriend decides he wants kids and a house in the suburbs and kicks her to the curb. And to top it all off, her Mom is getting married-for the 11th time! -and expects Margo to be there as maid of honor.

With no job and no place to live, Margo has to bunk on the couch of her best friend, Chris, whose revolving bedroom door has played host to half the women in New York-at least, the ones who pass his "kiss test." Worse, he's insisting she attend her mother's wedding, and he's personally driving her cross-country to ensure she shows up.

Forget about surviving the road trip-can their friendship survive The Kiss Test?
*blurb from Goodreads*

So I picked up this book because the blurb sounded amazing, and I am a super sucker for stories of friends who realize they are in love and meant to be together. I really wish that The Kiss Test would have measured up for me, unfortunately, it was not what I was expecting.

Margo is an Elvis-obsessed morning radio DJ who life seems perfect, but quickly falls apart. She loses her job, her boyfriend, her apartment, and her sanity all within a few days. To make up for the crap fest, she sets out on an Elvis extravaganza trip, starting in NY and ending in LA where she will be forced to attend the newest nuptials ceremony of her mother (11th, Yikes!). When an unfortunate accident occurs, her best friend Chris takes it upon himself to make sure she has the trip of her life.

They travel across the country, visiting every single Elvis shrine on the way, and their friendship becomes so much more along the way. But amongst all the insanity, will Margo realize that Chris is meant to be more than her best friends, before it’s too late?

I was definitely expecting a lot more romance than this book had to offer. It felt to me that the romance just wasn’t there, at least not until the very end. All the great feel good in my heart type feelings didn’t set in until the last ten to fifteen pages or so, and I wish there would have been more throughout.

Margo, while a constantly quirky character, she was also somewhat annoying to me. She seemed to have a very “woe is me” attitude towards a lot of things, and absolutely refused to deal with many of the issues that seemed to hold her back from truly living her life. She was constantly running from everything, almost to the point of ridiculousness. I wanted to shake some sense into her, more times than not.

Chris, while a little more likable, had some major issues that were hard for me to reason through. For someone who claimed to have been in love with his best friend forever, he sure had a weird way of showing it, sleeping and kissing around constantly. In my mind, that just isn’t normal behavior. He does however redeem himself by providing chuckles throughout the book, constantly poking fun at Elvis and Margo’s obsession.

Speaking of an Elvis obsession, it was a bit much for me. If I don’t read, hear, or listen to anything Elvis for awhile, I will totally be a-ok with that! The constant Elvis trivia, and homage, and everything else was just a bit overdone for my tastes. Now all you die-hard Elvis fans out there, this is a worthy read!

Thankfully, the end did somewhat redeem itself. The story did have a nice little HEA, and the emotions at the end of the story were beautifully done. Like I said, I just wish it would have been done throughout the entire story, instead of just crammed together in the last chapter.

All in all, I give The Kiss Test 2 out of 5 cross country road trips!

Trailer Tuesday - The Reckless Bride

2010-10-12T06:36:00.000-07:00

Today's trailer features The Reckless Bride, the 4th and final novel in the Black Cobra Series by Stephanie Laurens. Laurens is one of my favorite historical romance writers, and she just keeps getting better and better with each book. Check out the trailer from Avon below:

Gambit by Kim Knox

2010-10-11T07:13:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Carina Press
Publish Date: 9/20/10
How I got this book: NetGalley

Captain Chae Beyon is a hustler, a mercenary pilot, a wounded woman who prefers her men to be easily thrown aside.

Daned Traern is a first-caste Ladaian bound by tradition and DNA to protect his race. He's willing to align himself with the hot space captain if she'll transport him home in time to ensure the right candidate is crowned-and thus prevent a bloody war.

Disguised as Chae's sex toy, Daned is erotically bound to her through living gold, alien tech designed to increase pleasure. When he frees himself, their passion only increases...but succumbing to temptation will bind them together-permanently.

But there's more at stake than their needs. As Chae is dragged into a world of insane princes and sentient stones, hired killers hound them across the quadrant.

And then, as only her lousy luck would have it, Chae must choose between the good of the galaxy and her own heart...
*Blurb from Goodreads*

This past year I have discovered some absolutely incredible Science Fiction Romance authors: Linnea Sinclair, Gini Koch, and KS Augustine to name a few. With that, I got super excited about the genre. However, I’ve also found myself somewhat disappointed with the genre as well. Knox’s new release from Carina Press was one of those that just didn’t really do the best job of drawing me in and keeping me engaged in the story.

Chae is a pilot, floating through life doing odd and end type jobs to survive. When she is bribed into taking Daned to the Ladaian planets, he must pose as her flesh toy in order for stay hidden to those who want to ruin their plans.

On their journey, the two must overcome multiple obstacles, the loss of Chae’s ship and the junker they get stuck with, a plot to stop them at whatever the costs, and a burning desire to bind themselves to each other on a permanent basis.

When Chae and Daned finally reach Ladaia, their plans quickly take a turn for the unexpected, and Chae finds herself in a position that she did not want to be in. She and Daned must decide if their love can prevail over their responsibilities to their world.

There were times when I really just didn’t like Chae very much. She seemed to me to be a little on the whiney side. There were times when she really just didn’t want to accept whatever was happening, when she would cry and moan about what was going on, instead of doing everything in her power to change the circumstances.

When a couple is fated or perfect for one another, I have a hard time dealing with it if they are also perfectly happy giving up on each other. There were too many times with Daned didn’t seem like he cared enough to fight for his chance with Chae, and that didn’t settle right with me.

I was glad to see that Chae and Daned were able to work things out in the end. Knox had me worried for a minute there that things just really were helpless. I’m glad that Chae and Daned were able to find a way to be together, and yet still be able to rule together as well.

I do have to say that this book was steamy!! Chae and Daned had some amazing chemistry together, and Knox heats up the pages with them. It was a definite hot rollercoaster ride.

All in all, I give Gambit 2.5 out of 5 talking chairs!

Cover Love... Deadlock

2010-10-08T06:50:00.000-07:00

The ever so fabulous writing team known as Moira Rogers released their new cover for the 3rd book in the Southern Arcana series this week. This series totally rocks, it's one of my favorite paranormal romance series, and Bree & Donna write some absolutely fabulous werewolves. Check out the cover and blurb below:

Abandoned by her wolf shifter father and raised by her human psychic mother, Carmen Mendoza can't deny she's different. She craves things most women shy away from--and she has a trail of shapeshifting ex-boyfriends to prove it.

Working at a clinic for supernatural creatures, she's escaped the notice of her father's legacy-obsessed family. Until they need a pawn in their bid for power. Snared by a vicious spell designed to wake her inner wolf, Carmen's only hope is to trust the one man strong enough to soothe her darkest instincts.

Alec Jacobson was once the heir apparent to the wolves' ruling elite, until he walked away to marry the woman he loved. She paid with her life. He lives as a rebel, a black-sheep alpha who protects the supernatural residents of New Orleans from the wolves' barbaric class system. Too bad he can't protect himself from his need for Carmen.

Yet staking his claim on his enemy's niece will turn his city into a battleground. Unless he can find a way to stop breaking the rules--and start making them.

Warning: This book contains a renegade alpha wolf, a smart empathic doctor, very dirty sex with psychic safe-words, the occasional dominance game in and out of the bedroom, and a group of supernatural citizens ready to take on the corrupt leaders of their world.
*blurb from author's website

Waiting on... Wolf Tracks

2010-10-06T06:47:00.000-07:00

I love all things shifters, and Vivian Arend's Granite Lake Wolves Series is one of my favorites. On October 26th, the 4th book in the series Wolf Tracks comes out. This one features the ever clumsy and adorable TJ. Can't wait!

Score one for the under dog…er…wolf.

TJ Lynus is a legend in Granite Lake, both for his easygoing demeanor—and his clumsiness. His carefree acceptance of his lot vanishes, though, when his position as best man brings him face to face with someone he didn’t expect. His mate. His very human mate. Suddenly, one thing is crystal clear: if he intends to claim her, his usual laid-back attitude isn’t going to cut it.

After fulfilling her maid-of-honor duties, Pam Quinn has just enough time for a Yukon wilderness trip before returning south. The instant attraction between her and TJ tempts her to indulge in some Northern Delight, but when he drops the F-bomb—“forever”—she has second thoughts. In her world, true love is a fairytale that seldom, if ever, comes true.

Okay, so maybe staging a kidnapping wasn’t TJ’s best idea, but at least Pam has the good humour to agree to his deal. He’ll give her all the northern exposure she can stand—and she won’t break his kneecaps.

Now to convince her that fairytales can remake her world—and that forever is worth fighting for.

By popular demand: Clumsy sidekick wolf grows up, sarcasm reigns, and the wilderness gets wilder. Includes hot nookie in places you expect—like a remote cabin—and places you don’t.
*blurb from author's website*

Cover Love... Alien in the Family

2010-09-30T06:51:00.000-07:00

Gini Koch, author of the Alien Series is so lucky to have Dan Dos Santos as her cover artist! Yesterday, she released her cover of the 3rd Alien book, Alien in the Family. I was given a sneak peak at this cover at CopperCon, and let me tell you... it is AMAZING. Take a look:

Trailer Tuesday - AFTERLIFE

2010-09-28T06:31:00.000-07:00

Afterlife by Merrie Destefano releases today, and this book looks so incredibly awesome! Check out this awesome trailer!

The Power of Social Networking

2010-09-24T06:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Limecello from The Good, The Bad, and The Unread put together a small campaign for Social Good Day on her blog. She said if she got 10 comments, she would donate $10 to (RED) an amazing organization that donates their funds to AIDS relief in Africa.

Well, shortly there after fellow bloggers, writers, and friends stepped up to the plate and pitched in as well. Shiloh Walker challenged her fans to 50 comments for a $50 donation. Ali from Simply Ali said she would pitch in $50. And by the end of the night last night, Courtney Milan, Moira Rogers (both Bree & Donna), Vivian Arend, Stacy from Trelaina, Tigris Eden, Carly Phillips, HelenKay Dimon, Liza, Lauren Dane, Jennifer Haymore, and multiple commenters (myself included) all jumped into help the cause.

By the end of the night last night, Limecello and all these fabulous people listed above (and those who donated anonymously) raised over $1,150 for an incredible cause! To see her wonderful post, and the final number of comments, go here.

Never underestimate the power of bloggers. And thank you for everyone who went out and commented yesterday. Because of you, we were able to donate a huge amount to a great cause, just by commenting and caring.

Over at The Book Pushers

2010-09-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

I am over at The Book Pushers today giving my reivew of Dark Life, probably THE BEST YA book I've read in a LONG time. It is a definite MUST READ (4.5 out of 5 jellyfish houses!). Go check out my review here