The Care and Feeding Of An Alpha Male by Jessica Clare (Bluebonnet #2)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Berkley

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Pam

Beth Ann needed a hero… Beth Ann Williamson has finally had it with her on-and-off fiancé of nine years. The problem? No one in town seems to believe her when she says it’s really over. Now Beth Ann is determined to show the small town of Bluebonnet, Texas, that she can take care of herself. That means opening her own salon and not taking the help that her ex-fiancé seems determined to offer. Of course, even the best laid plans go awry when she’s stranded in the woods in the middle of a downpour. Some independent woman she is. She can’t even find her way out of the woods without the help of a handsome, but scowling, Marine.

She got more than she bargained for… A die-hard survivalist, Colt Waggoner’s none too pleased when he’s sent to find the town’s pampered princess. He’s even more annoyed when Beth Ann isn’t grateful for the rescue. Fine, then. He’ll just have to teach the sexy blonde a lesson–a weekend of roughing it out in the wild. Just the two of them, alone, in muddy, wet clothing that needs to come off… But Beth Ann isn’t the spoiled princess he thought. And when she propositions him for a one night stand, he knows he should turn it down. Because this alpha male might need more than just one night in her bed to satisfy him…

An engaging small town romance with a fun, enemies to lovers trope.

Beth Ann is beauty salon owner who is from a very wealthy family, her father is a senator who is up for reelection soon so Beth Ann is desperate to escape the confines of home and spends most nights at her salon sleeping on a mattress.

Allen is her ex-boyfriend who she has dated on and off since high school and for a year it has been off, yet everyone in town loves him and believe she will come to her senses and will soon marry him. What the town does not know are the reasons why she has broken up with him several times and will never end up with him. A year ago she finally had enough of him cheating and lying to her and although she has been nice and kept this little secret to herself she is tired of people assuming she is the problem.

She has a geeky seventeen year old sister, Lucy who is attending a festival her parents don’t want her at so they send Beth Ann to find her. Unfortunately the weather turns nasty and the local police break up the party making sure everyone leaves the area, however they do not know Beth Ann is there.

Colt grew up in the same town and was from the wrong side of the tracks and lived with his father and brothers in a rundown trailer. He left after high school and joined the marines and now nine years later has returned to help run a survival school with his friend. He is helping with the police and when he realizes Beth Ann is still out there he stays back to find her.

Colt and Beth Ann have disliked each other since high school as he felt she always was looking down at him and that she was too prim and proper and since his return she has not changed his mind. So he decides he wants to teach her a lesson and tells her the rivers are too dangerous to cross and they must stay out here. Beth Ann always thought Colt was the a surly, arrogant man, however as they spend the night in a tree and another in a cabin, they get to know each other and find things are not always what they seem and the attraction that was always under the surface makes for an interesting two nights.

While Beth Ann and Colt face old prejudices while trying to explore their attraction several things happen to make life more difficult, her business starts to fail as a new salon opens up and Colt’s family all the sudden make an appearance in his life, a family he does not want to be around. Their tenuous relationship takes a hit when she finds out who is sabotaging her plans and lies are revealed along with old secrets that change the way both Colt and Beth Ann see each other.

This is a really enjoyable and fun romance that has super sexy sex! I thought Beth Ann and Colt were perfect for each other and the chemistry between the two just sizzle and they take advantage if this in many interesting places. The story is a fast paced enemies to lovers romance and centers around the prejudices of small town life and how Beth Ann’s ex-boyfriend seems to want to cause trouble for her in order to get what he wants.

I liked how Beth Ann and Colt had their own opinions about each other from high school and never seemed to want to make the move to get to know each other, and yet during two nights in the wilderness they both realize how wrong they have been. The only issues I have was that I wanted Beth Ann to believe in Colt, and not let her past experiences with Allen make her judge that all men are the same. Allen is the good boy that everyone in town loves however I like it when secrets are revealed and surprises come to light that changes the minds of most in town. I did not read the first book in this series yet did not have any trouble following along with the story. The secondary characters are fun and I really enjoyed Beth Ann’s best friend, Miranda and look forward to seeing Brenna’s story. All in all a wonderful small town romance with lots of heat, laugh out loud moments and angst that make this a worthwhile read.

I give The Care and Feeding of an Alpha Male by Jessica Clare 3.75 stars!

Bare It All by Lori Foster (Love Undercover #3)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Harlequin 

My Copy: NetGalley

Reviewer: Nikki

A cop’s craving to know more about the woman next door could prove fatal in the steamy new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster 

As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it…until the sexy cop next door comes knocking. 

Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice’s secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire-and into the line of fire…

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Picking up Bare It All gave me mixed emotions. I have long since been a champion of Foster’s work but I’ve felt something was really lacking in the last book and so I wasn’t sure I would even continue with this series.

You may remember the heroine, Alice, in a Trace Of Fever from the “Men Who Walk The Edge Of Honor” series. Or you may not because she wasn’t a huge part and that book feels like forever ago. When we first met her she was much meeker but that backbone of steel was still evident even then. Since then she’s definitely grown into her own. She’s more confident and she’s managed to get her life mostly back in order.

Though she keeps mostly to herself her hunky neighbor and his dog have wormed themselves right into her heart. When he needs somewhere to stay after his apartment becomes a crime scene she jumps at the chance to offer him her place to crash. Reese has tried for weeks to get Alice to open up to him and she’s finally starting to let him in. No way is he turning down her offer. He’s going to need all his detective skills in order to crack Alice because she tightly guards her secrets. She’s also a magnet for trouble and it seems like no sooner does he have one case wrapped up does it find her.

I really liked Alice as a heroine. She was capable but realistic and I liked that distinction. She wasn’t fearless but she held herself together incredibly well in moments of high stress. With Reese in her corner she finally was able to feel safe. I mean who wouldn’t feel safe with that man in their corner? *fans self* Reese was tall, protective and loves animals…it doesn’t get any better then that. Reese was really patient with Alice’s need to keep secrets and only pushed when he felt he needed to know.  I found myself chuckling over the banter between characters. Rowdy mostly but also the two other women living in their building who were trying desperately to get in Reeses’ pants. They were just so deliciously stupid and every woman knows someone like them. Alice’s reaction to them and her need to mark Reese as her own was priceless.

On the downside I thought that for a romantic suspense it lacked…suspense. What there was felt very easy and when it came time to wrap things up everything happened very fast. I kind of wished that there would have been danger to Alice so that I could bask in Reeses’ protectiveness over her. There were hot men all over the woman wanting to keep her safe and there wasn’t a whole lot to keep her safe from. The villain wasn’t very fleshed out and we got basically nothing from his point of view.

Rowdy gets a nice set up in Bare It All that will continue into the next book where he comes front and center. I liked Rowdy in this book much better then the last because he skirts the line between right and wrong really well. He dominates every scene he’s in and I completely look forward to him falling hard for his woman.

Overall I liked this one much more then the last book and I will definitely be back for Rowdy’s book!

I give Bare It All by Lori Foster 3.75 stars!

Seal Of Destiny by Traci Douglass (Seven Seals #1)

Available: Now Amazon/ B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Crimson Romance

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Pam

Love conquers all . . . but can it stop the Apocalypse?

Mira Herald is having the worst life ever. Not only is she plagued by horrific nightmares starring the Devil himself, she’s now the target of a power-hungry, rogue minion, freshly sprung from Hell and bent on her destruction. To complicate matters further, she’s acquired a stalker. One who insists he’s a divine warrior sent for her protection because she houses an ancient relic with the power to unleash Armageddon. Last time Mira checked, she wasn’t insane. Still, all this celestial mayhem is enough to drive a girl crazy.

Kagan is a member of the Scion, an elite team of immortal warriors selected by Divinity to aid mankind and save the world. After a century alone, Kagan is summoned for a new mission. He’s eager to begin. Eager until he’s informed his mission consists of protecting a woman with no clue to the power she wields. Plus, his briefing fails to prepare him for his new target’s cosmic-sized attitude problem. As Divinity’s sworn servant, he’s required to fulfill his duty. His oath, however, does not require him to be enthusiastic about his new assignment or warm-and-fuzzy toward his new compatriot. He plans a wham-bam rescue and a quick return to solitude.

Mira Herald has had a rough life and the nightmares she has had for years are not only invading her nights, they also invade her waking hours and little does she know, but soon she will be living them. Mira and her best friend Zoe were brought up in the foster care program and each had a terrible experience. Mira has taken years of self defense training to ensure that no one will ever take advantage of her again.

Kagan is a Scion warrior who has lived for centuries, recently in the secluded countryside of Italy. He has a close brotherhood with other warriors and will soon be working with them as he has received a new assignment from Divinity, The One. There are seven Seals that are being hosted in human bodies around the world and the first one is in danger of breaking, he must protect the Seal and the host. Each time a Seal is broken a new disaster will be unleashed until the final Apocalypse. Mira is the host of the first Seal and the one Kagan needs to protect.

Tolbert is the leader of a group of half breed’s or nephilim, they are also centuries old and the Scion warriors thought they had eradicated them years ago; unfortunately they just went underground and became more powerful. Argus is a demon working for this mysterious group of people and needs to get to Mira, so he takes over the body of a man that knows both Mira and Zoe; he was their case worker and their worst nightmare as he abused those in the system including Mira and Zoe. As Mira and Zoe are being held at Tolbert’s place in Colorado, the Scion warriors are on their way to rescue and destroy. They reach their destination and all hell breaks loose as they fight their way in to find Mira and Zoe. They must battle those that are about to start the end of the world, however also must protect the humans as even Lucifer has come to the party for the Seal.

This book had a lot going on, the introduction of many characters as well as world building as we discover who is who, we also learn what purpose each character has in the story, there are even those that we do not learn about until late. I had to read very carefully as there was so much information and several of the characters had side stories.

I liked all the Scion warriors; they were all very alpha men with a sexiness about them. They all had their little quirks; I loved how Wyrk was always hungry and thinking about his next meal while still being the computer genius he is. Kagan was a great hero who wanted to protect Mira even though he also wanted her, yet Xander would continually remind him about Rule #1 “do not f*ck the target”. The story premise was interesting, as the warriors are preventing the Apocalypse and they must protect those that Divinity has selected as human hosts, and I definitely see the series coming together with other Seal hosts needing protection.

I liked Mira; she was a woman that learned the hard way to not let anyone get the upper hand. She has learned to defend and protect herself from those that wish her harm. She was a great heroine however I wanted to shake her a few times as she was this strong and defiant woman at one time and then the next time she would just go along with Kagan like she wanted to be protected. The relationship between Divinity and Lucifer was interesting and the conversation they had where she reminds him of their “agreement” seems to be important and could be an interesting turn in future books.

I did notice that there were several times in the story when someone was missing, either one of the warriors or Mira or Zoe, they acted very worried yet did not go right out to look for them – they would go to get something to eat first or sit around and discuss what they needed to do. I wanted to say “go out and look for them, there are evil people trying to kill them.” But that aside, the story was exciting and I was eager to finish.

All in all a great start to a series that I would continue to read as I liked the secondary characters and I am interested in their stories enough to want to know who the other Seal hosts are and which Scion will protect them. I also liked Zoe and would like to see the relationship with Xander develop and what secrets will be revealed as they both are hiding things.

I give Seal of Destiny by Traci Douglass 3.75 stars!

Stranded With A Billionaire by Jessica Clare (The Billionaire Boys Club #1)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Penguin

My Copy: NetGalley

Reviewer: Pam

The Billionaire Boys Club is a secret society of six men who have vowed success – at any cost. Not all of them are old money, but all of them are incredibly wealthy. They’re just not always as successful when it comes to love… Billionaire Logan Hawkings needs a vacation. He’s had a rough time after the death of his father and the betrayal of his fiancée. But with a visit to a recent business acquisition—a private island resort in the Bahamas—he has a chance to mend his broken heart. When a hurricane blows in, a misplaced passport and a stalled elevator bring Logan together with an unusual woman named Bronte. She’s unlike anyone he’s ever met—down to earth, incredibly sensual, and even quotes Plato. She also has no clue that he’s rich…

Bronte Dawson, a waitress from the Midwest, is stranded with the hotel’s domineering yet sexy manager Logan. What’s the harm in a little fling when it’s just the two of them, alone in paradise? But after several steamy island nights in Logan’s arms, Bronte’s ready to give her heart—and her body—to the man in charge. But she soon discovers there’s more to Logan than he’s told her…a billion times more. Now, Bronte’s caught in a whirlwind affair with one of the world’s most powerful men. But can their love endure their differences or will it all just blow over?

Logan Hawkings is a very arrogant man who buys failing businesses and turns them around to make a profit, he may be arrogant but he is also very wary as he has been burned by those that only want him for his money.

Logan and his college friends are all billionaires and have helped each other succeed in business since they got out of school. They formed this club consisting of the six friends and get together once a month to share ideas and bounce things around, while playing poker. Hunter, one of the club members tells Logan about an island retreat for sale that needs a lot of work, something right up his alley.

Bronte Dawson just wanted to have a fun vacation, she won a trip from a radio station and so far she has a lousy roommate and it has been raining. Some vacation! And now she finds out they are evacuating because of a hurricane. As she gets ready to board the bus, her roommate asks for a favor and so Bronte heads back to their room to look for a passport. She is on the way down when the power goes out, the elevator stops and she is stranded, with a gorgeous man of course.

Logan and Bronte are stuck for several hours while the storm batters the run-down resort; they finally realize they will have to help themselves, when they are out; they see the mess the hurricane has made and also realize everyone got off the island but them. They find food, shelter and some clothes and spend a few days getting to know each other, in many ways as they wait for the storm to end before they can be rescued.

When they are finally rescued and are back in civilization Logan suddenly turns cold and dismissive and she finds that he lied about himself the whole time they were stranded. She is pissed and calls a taxi. He is amazed that she ran, however eventually finds her and tries several different high handed ways to get her back. Both of them must learn to give and take if they want to make this relationship work.

This is a fun, sweet and entertaining beginning of a series, although fairly predictable. About six billionaires that became friends in college and now get together once a month, they help each other obtain their dreams. I like the idea of a boys club, however what fun it would be if there was a woman billionaire invited to join? They keep it very secret and I found it humorous when Logan brings Bronte to visit, to show he trusts her with everything and the others actually rough him up a bit, because Logan may trust her but the others do not know her yet.

The story flows well and I had no problems reading straight through to the end as Logan and Bronte deal with trust issues, respect issues and even a little control issues. Logan was a jerk to her when they got back to the real world but was a kind soul while they were stranded. I did want to hit him but I believe Bronte was able to handle him quite well. I liked Bronte; she was a quirky woman that loved to quote the classics and was not about to take any crap from anyone. I also liked the secondary characters, the two women who help Bronte while she is in New York, his assistant Audrey and her sister Gretchen are fun and engaging, I also liked the others in the club and look forward to their stories, especially Hunter; I am a sucker for the scarred and tortured hero.

I give Stranded with a Billionaire by Jessica Clare 3.75 stars!

The Chosen by Theresa Meyers (The Legend Chronicles #3)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance/Steampunk

Publisher: Kensington

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Nikki

The Chosen: a prophecy older than dirt and more dangerous than death. Even as they perfected steam-powered gadgetry and rounded up varmints from Hell, the Jackson brothers didn’t believe in it. But when the chips are down, three brothers named for weapons aren’t going out without a fight…

A Walk On The Wild Side

Attorney by day, demon-hunter by night, Remington Jackson is used to being on the sunny side of the law, even in the Wild West. But it’s showdown time, and Remy and his brothers are getting desperate. They don’t have the relic they need to slam the door shut on evil—so Remy is going to have to find and steal part of it.

Enter China McGee, shapeshifter, thief, beauty, and current prisoner. When Remy offers her freedom in exchange for a little light-fingered help, she’s pretty sure she’s going to end the association with a good old-fashioned seductive double cross. But there’s something about fighting through a jungle full of Mayan ruins that makes you want to settle down together. China could change. Remy might be special. But none of that matters if the devil takes them all…

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Theresa Meyers is unlike any other author I’ve read recently. She seamlessly takes a paranormal romance with Indiana Jones tendencies and adds all kinds of steampunkness that I normally wouldn’t enjoy. In her stories it just works and I find myself taking the journey with the characters before I even realize that I am. Each of books in this series happen simultaneously, which is another oddity that works for Meyers. There are repetitive scenes as each of the three brothers come together, told in a different point of view in each book.

Shapeshifter China would rather do pretty much anything other then help a hunter do anything. Remington leaves her no choice when she learns he is after the same item she has been after for quite a long time. Remy thinks he knows everything there is to know about paranormal creatures aka Darkin. They’re all evil. China blows all his theories out of the water with her sultry looks, her wide range of emotions, and her ability to save his ass on occasion….and when she has nothing to gain from it to boot.

The Chosen sets an early tempo of fast paced adventure that takes China and Remy all over the world and eventually meeting up with his brothers and a crazy inventor in order to find and wield a very important book against a demon who is also China’s estranged father.

I liked this book, I did, but somewhere in the middle it got wordy and I found myself having a hard time staying focused. Things picked back up again about the time when all the brothers come back together and I came back on board with their journey. This third book is more paranormal then steampunk but it worked and the characters all played well off each other.

This is most definitely a trilogy you have to commit to and read in order. You simply will not get the subtle tie-ins if you don’t.  Each book is a lead up to The Chosen. I did think that because this was the finale that Remy and China got cheated out of a longer story like his two brothers…but it is what it is. Meyers is an author I would love to read again!

I give The Chosen by Theresa Meyers 3.75 stars!

Surrender by Sue Lyndon (Alien Warrior #1)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Sci Fi Erotic Romance

Publisher: Etopia Press

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Nikki

Love with the enemy can be the ultimate surrender…

Fiona Lockhart struggles to survive after Earth is conquered by powerful aliens. She knows it’s only a matter of time before her schizophrenic mother acts out at the wrong time and place and brings down the wrath of their captors. So when turncoats offer Fiona a way to keep her mother safe, she can’t refuse—even though it means marrying a Kall warrior and posing as the First Daughter, Betsy Carson.

Kall warrior Merokk has mixed feelings about marrying a human woman, but it’s his duty and he can’t refuse. He enjoys taming the headstrong Betsy, and a good spanking now and then makes the passion burn. The sex is sizzling, and as the months pass, Merokk discovers the feelings for his little wife run deep. But when he learns of her deceit after the real Betsy Carson surfaces, Merokk’s new world shatters. Can he learn to forgive Fiona, or will he spend the rest of their lives punishing her for a crime she never wanted to commit?

Forced to pose as the First Daughter in order to save her mother, Fiona vows to never fall in love with the alien warrior she has been betrothed to. What she doesn’t expect is how quickly her body betrays her and warms instantly to the enemy. Merrok’s body fits perfectly with her own and his taste for bdsm makes her continually crave his touch. But will Merrok still love her when he finds out who she really is?

Sue Lyndon excels at the smut fest and now she can add sci fi to her repertoire. I enjoyed this for what it was, a short, erotic read based 95% on sexy times and 5% on story. Because there isn’t much of a story with this one. Aliens have come to earth and won in a brutal war. As peace is being restored an elite number of Kall warriors are being married to human women of importance. When the First Daughter who is intended for Merrok goes missing, shadowy gov’t agents convince Fiona to pose as Betsy in exchange for the safe keeping of her schizophrenic mother.  She marries the warrior and quickly goes against everything she thought she knew and falls head over heels with the alien who touches her in all the right places.

Merrok is highly fond of punishment for the discretions of Betsy/Fiona and there is quite a bit of spanking going on throughout the book. The sex was hot but not inventive. I enjoy how these alien erotic romances make the male aliens basically like us though with subtle differences. The act of her lying to him comes out with absolutely no warning or explanation…it just is and readers are expected to go with it.   I’m not fond of being told to simply go with it because I’m an analytical reader who needs explanations which don’t always get given in short novels.

Surrender is hot. It’s erotic. It’s full of alien goodness. I will continue to read more by Sue Lyndon as she grows into her own in the erotic romance community. I look forward to more world building in future books as we learn more about this race of aliens humans are now expected to work alongside.

I give Surrender by Sue Lyndon 3.75 stars! 

The Better To See You by Kate Serine (Transplanted Tales #2)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: EKensington

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Nikki

Once upon a time, a spell went awry and Make Believe characters were cast into the ordinary world. And the results aren’t always happily ever after…

Everyone thinks fairy godmothers can do no wrong. But if not for a certain spell mis-cast by Lavender Seelie, Cinderella’s former fairy godmother, the Tales would not be stuck in the Here and Now. Fortunately for Lavender, she’s about to get a second chance at a happy ending…

The Refuge, a sanctuary for wayward Tales, seems like the perfect place for Lavender to start a new life—especially when she discovers an unexpected ally in Seth, the brooding werewolf who’s been typecast as a villain ever since his run in with Little Red Riding Hood. But when humans from nearby towns start turning up dead, their bodies mutilated with archaic Tale symbols, Lavender wonders if Seth’s deep sensuality has blinded her to the truth. And that distraction could put innocent lives in danger. Including her own…

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I’m going to tell you a secret. Shhhhhhh. I love fairy tales! I love these new fairy tales with twists in them even more. The Better To See You caught me at the PERFECT time. I’ve just started watching Once Upon A Time on Netflix and can’t get enough of these favorite stories of mine having an adult twist.

The “Tales” had no choice to come to the real world. Ripped from their homes by a spell gone wrong the Tales have had to acclimate to the human realm. The fairy god mother whose arrogance resulted in their transportation is Lavender and she’s been dealing with the aftermath for far to long. After she burns down Cinderella’s mansion, she flees to a Tales town known to help those who have had trouble in their past.

Attacked by a hellhound upon arriving and falling unconscious into the arms of the Big Bad Wolf isn’t how she wanted to start her new life. Seth isn’t what she expected based on his reputation and she knows from the start he isn’t being entirely truthful about anything going on in The Refuge.

Cursed for centuries to live as a werewolf, Seth has lived a solitary life. Now he has an ousted fairy invading his home and his life and his long dormant emotions are starting to stir. Faced with human bodies piling up on his doorstep, elusive hellhound hunters and Tales from every walk of life as suspects, Seth and Lavender will have to quickly find out who is behind the mayhem unless they want to become part of it.

The Better To See You offers readers their favorite characters in a completely different setting. I have not read book one, Red, so I can tell you you’ll have no issues reading and understanding this one if you haven’t either. Characters from that book are also in this one and Serine does an excellent job of filling the reader in on past events without it feeling like she’s constantly throwing information at you.

I really enjoyed Lavender and Seth together and thought they made a good couple and team. Poor Lavender had been living with the results of her magic gone wrong for a long time and her magic had been wonky ever since her self doubt had started to creep in. Watching her re-awaken her magic was good reading, especially when faced with trying to protect Seth and her growing attachment to him. I liked them together but I thought the transition was much too fast for them. One minute Seth is denying his feelings for Lavender and the next they are announcing their love. It was much to quick, even for a fairy tale.  Seth has such a scarred past in the relationship department that it made it hard to believe he could transition so quickly.

There is some definite funny moments in this one and the characters were often cracking me up with their commentary. A few of my favorites:

“Do you know how hard it is to get laid when women think you’re this side of puberty? Took me months to convince Brie to sit on my face”

“What big teeth you have.” He chuckled. “Come back to the kitchen with me,” he drawled, his voice going dark with promise, “and I’ll show you what else is big….”

There is a ton of action and mystery going on in The Refuge and right up until the end I wasn’t sure what the hell was going on. Everyone was a suspect, even Lavender’s own mayor brother, and so working through the mystery with her and Seth made this a total winner.  The journey was filled with obstacles, obstinate Tales, secret, lies and murders.

I will definitely by reading more from Kate Serine. The writing will pull you in, the story line will make you stay and the characters will melt your heart!

I give The Better To See You by Kate Serine 3.75 stars! 

Finding Jordie by H.J. Harley

Available: February 11, 2013 Amazon/B&N

Type: Contemporary Romance/Suspense

Publisher: Crimson Romance

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Nikki

Jordie is a survivor, tough, and independent. She’s had to be, since her husband was killed in Iraq. For the last eight years, raising her daughter and owning a popular New York City bar has kept Jordie plenty busy, leaving her no time for much of anything else. Aside from her sassy yet squirrely best friend Rachel, Jordie’s social life is bare bones and her love life nonexistent. Truth be told she wouldn’t change a thing; she’s never been happier. 

Then she meets Nathan, and he changes everything with one crooked smile, triggering a chain of life altering events for the two of them, filled with romance, chaos and deadly peril. Neither of them could ever imagine their relationship would resurrect an unknown darkness from Jordie’s past, lurking in the shadows, just waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Jordie has never needed to be stronger for all of them to make it out alive.

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H.J. Harley’s debut novel was one I enjoyed from beginning to end. Jordie, though fierce, is a complex character who has dealt with her life by being an extraordinary mother, business owner and friend.

Single mother, Jordie, has had to grow up fast and take care of the things that are the most important to her. Taking a huge back burner is her love life until she meets Nathan, who happens to be a movie star. Not that Jordie knows this because she doesn’t have a smart phone and she hardly ever watches tv. Being thrust into the limelight brings challenges that her and her daughter have never experienced. It also brings a deadly stalker right to her doorstep and threatens everything she holds dear. 

As a first novel from any author, there are things that I both loved and things I felt needed some work. I was impressed with the writing of Ms. Harley and thought she executed the novel fairly well. Jordie and Nathan work well together. Nathan finds Jordie a breath of fresh air because she had no idea who he was and so she certainly wasn’t out for his money. He takes such awesome care of her and her daughter that you just had to love him. Nathan goes out of his way to insure the protection of Jordie, but more importantly, her daughter. Though it was a bit odd that Jordie could afford the prestedious school her daughter already attended, once informed of danger lurking, from paparazzi and later, a stalker, Nathan doesn’t hesitate to close ranks and offer them both all the security at his disposal.  

I enjoyed Jordie’s character and felt her emotions were real to those of any average everyday woman. She was nervous of Nathan’s involvement in her life and fought hard to maintain she was independent even in ties when she needed to step back. Having come from an abusive relationship and closing herself off for years she was naturally reluctant to let him in. Watching her blossom was simply good reading. Jordie spends a lot of time thinking about her pitter-pattering heart and that part did get a bit repetitious. I was like…ok, I get it…do it! But you know me, I like to get to the sexing.  

My biggest gripe comes from the very last section of the book. I don’t want to give anything away so sorry for my vagueness. Sometimes an author thinks there needs to be a shock value. Sometimes authors go a bit overboard in trying to create that shock value. The climax of the book in which the stalker is shown is really really great. Except that’s not the end. There is an entire section after that just kinda ticked me off. It felt out of place. Thrown in to perhaps keep the book going and reach a word count. Then everything is all tidy and hunky dory with the snap of my fingers. It just felt out of place and I wished the author would have just stopped after the stalker and tied things up there. 

Overall, I really liked this book! H.J. Harley has a strong voice that integrates humor and emotion seamlessly. This is definitely one reader who will be on the lookout for more!

I give Finding Jordie by H.J. Harley 4 stars! 

Rush by Maya Banks (Breathless #1)

Available: February 5, 2013 Amazon/B&N

Type: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Berkley

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Nikki

Gabe, Jace, and Ash: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Gabe, it’s making one particular fantasy come true with a woman who was forbidden fruit. Now she’s ripe for the picking…

When Gabe Hamilton saw Mia Crestwell walk into the ballroom for his hotel’s grand opening, he knew he was going to hell for what he had planned. After all, Mia is his best friend’s little sister. Except she’s not so little anymore. And Gabe has waited a long time to act on his desires.

Gabe has starred in Mia’s fantasies more than once, ever since she was a teenager with a huge crush on her brother’s best friend. So what if Gabe’s fourteen years older? Mia knows he’s way out of her league, but her attraction has only grown stronger with time. She’s an adult now, and there’s no reason not to act on her most secret desires.

As Gabe pulls her into his provocative world, she realizes there’s a lot she doesn’t know about him or how exacting his demands can be. Their relationship is intense and obsessive, but as they cross the line from secret sexual odyssey to something deeper, their affair runs the risk of being exposed—and vulnerable to a betrayal far more intimate than either expected.

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Mia is taken by surprise when the object of many lustful dreams, her brothers best friend, suddenly offers are a job as his personal assistant….with benefits. Benefits that Mia never thought she’d have with Gabe. Not only is he offering her a chance to bulk up her resume but he wants her in every way, shape and form…in his bed, on his desk and wherever else his heart desires.

Though Gabe has carried a torch for Mia for quite some time, now he feels is the time to strike to get what he wants. Her. Offering her a contract outlining his sexual desires in the starkest of contexts and a job in his office.

I wanted to dislike this book on principal. It’s obvious from the start that Banks is trying to recreate the 50 Shades frenzy. Extremely rich guy offers woman who is slightly naive a sexual contract that will set her sheets on fire. Then extremely rich guy falls hard for naive woman who has grown into her own sexual desires and guy panics, not prepared for the rush of genuine emotion naive woman brings out in him.

Sure this book had variations. Mia is working directly with Gabe, in his office as his personal assistant. She is not working on another floor in a sub-company of the hero. There are two more heros waiting in the wings for their stories and so the trilogy will offer different characters instead of following the same couple. Mia even has a female room mate who both loves and hates her new relationship. At the heart, this felt like 50 Shades with different people. Gabe, though not suffering from such debilitating sexual desires, had the same personality. Aloof. Un-approachable. Different. Carnally sexual.

In fact, I started out hating this book. Then somewhere inbetween the office desk sex and the fireplace floor sex, I started to like it. It completely turned me around there at the end. Mia and Gabe set the pages of Rush on fire with their heat. Sure Gabe was a complete and total asshat of the highest order at times. There is one scene that enraged me to the point of actually setting the book down. I really just didn’t like him for the majority of the book. I thought he walked all over Mia and Mia, in allowing it, made me dislike her as well at times. What kind of woman allows a man to treat her so badly, and then blindly goes back to him?

Mia spends most of the book desperately afraid of their elicit affair being exposed to her brother Jace who is Gabe’s business partner along with their other best friend, Ash. The three men are loyal to a fault and their relationship sparked my interest. These men are closer then brothers and how each will deal with finding the other half of their soul should be worthwhile reading.

I think they both Gabe and Mia did some growing in Rush and the enlightenment allowed them to see what mistakes they had made as a couple enough to be able to forge a real relationship in the end. I enjoyed the journey even though it evoked some hatred from me in parts. The ability of Banks to make me feels such a range of emotions while reading is something most authors can’t do. She writes such raw and emotional scenes that are able to wrench emotions from me I normally don’t have. If I start out disliking a book there is usually no going back. I DNF and move on. I fell headfirst into this book and gasped for air throughout the entirety. I enjoyed the nice setups into book 2 and 3 as well and will definitely be picking those up as they release this year.

Rush is a potent and erotic read that will challenge a reader at every turn. Even though I didn’t always like it, Banks deserves a damn medal for being able to turn me around!

I give Rush by Maya Banks 3.75 stars! 

Double Review: Hunk For The Holidays by Katie Lane & Last Chance Christmas by Hope Ramsay

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Forever

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Nikki

Always putting business before pleasure, Cassie McPherson works hard for her family’s construction business. That might explain why she doesn’t have a date for the company Christmas party. But it doesn’t quite explain why she’s crazy enough to hire an escort for the event or – crazier still – why she’s dying to unwrap him like a present . . .
With whiskey-colored eyes and a killer smile, James is one gorgeous hunk who really knows how to fill out a tuxedo. He charms everyone, including Cassie. And when the night ends, the party doesn’t stop. As Cassie falls, literally, into his bed, James falls head over heels in love. Now he has to figure out a way to tell her the truth: he’s not an escort. He’s her family’s fiercest business rival. But all he wants for Christmas is her . . .

 

I have always enjoyed Katie Lane’s writing. She often writes quirky southern characters who are full of charm but may not know how to go about achieving happiness. Hunk For The Holidays is a solid read about a stubborn career driven woman and a classic case of mistaken identity. Cassie is over worked and desperate to not look it. Wanting to impress her father while he is on medical leave she attempts to take over the larger aspects of their construction business while still doing her own medial paperwork job. Intent on proving herself and perhaps getting him to see that she would be more useful in other areas, like planning and architecture. Having so much work though means no personal life, a fact that she has resigned herself to for quite some time. When she needs a date she just calls an escort service, something she has done for the upcoming company Christmas party. When a man shows up right on time she assumes he’s the date even though he looks nothing like the barely out of teenage years escorts the company has sent before. This is a mature, extremely sexy man who seems to know exactly how to act in any situation.

James is no male escort, he’s actually the owner of the one corporation that has been taking business away from Cassie’s family. The instant attraction he feels to this uptight woman war with his need to tell her the truth about his identity. Of course, one too many glasses of wine later they are falling into bed together and he certainly can’t tell her then right? I liked James. He made several valiant efforts to tell Cassie the truth but her stubbornness always lead to more mistaken ideas. Having been raised alongside brothers, Cassie had to fight for everything she was given and that has continued into her adulthood. She craves a more hands on job but has been unable to voice her authority to her aging father and instead has wasted her talent sitting in the office where he put her. James, though she knows not who he is, gives her the opportunity to believe in herself. I thought they worked well together and even when faced with the truth Cassie makes strides in her self and her belief in James.

The one thing I didn’t like was also the thing I liked the most. Amy, Cassie’s best friend has a side story in this with Cassie’s brother. I really liked Amy and wished she had her own story because as it was, it felt incredibly rushed. She was relegated to a few paragraphs here and there and it just wasn’t enough to do her justice.

This was a cute holiday romance. Katie Lane writes believable characters who are both smart and snarky. I enjoy the down home feel each book she writes has and appreciate the attention to detail that comes with her seasoned writing. While not earth shattering in any means, A Hunk For The Holidays will get you in good spirits!

I give A Hunk For The Holidays by Katie Lane 3.75 stars! 

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Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Forever

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Nikki

Dear Reader,
I’ve been wishing for a miracle for my oldest boy, Stone, and this Christmas my prayers might just be answered! 

Her name is Lark, and she’s here in Last Chance, looking into her father’s past-and stirring up a whole mess of trouble without meaning to. As the chief of police, Stone sure has his hands full trying to keep up with her. Ever since his wife died, Stone’s put everything into raising his daughters and dodging the Christ Church Ladies’ Auxiliary matchmakers. And it’s clear Lark has been through some trouble and could use a place to finally call home. I only hope Stone can let go of the past soon enough to keep her . . .

Goodness, I need to stop talking and finish up Jane’s highlights so we can make the town tree-lighting. You come back by because the Cut ‘n’ Curl’s got hot rollers, free coffee, fresh-baked Christmas cookies-and the best gossip in town.

See you real soon, 
Ruby Rhodes

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Last Chance Christmas was a decent story but it left me feeling unfulfilled. I have no doubt that Hope Ramsay is an excellent story teller, however, this book was a bit too churchy for the likes of this reader. I enjoyed both main characters of Lark and Stone and thought they were well wrote. I didn’t even mind the angel scenario the story had, but to be honest I was unsurprised  by the outcome of the “imaginary angel’ that Stone’s youngest daughter Haley was seeing. It was the constant Christianity theme that had me blanching. Sure it’s a Christmas book, shoot I even celebrate Christmas, but as someone that doesn’t go organized religion much, I have a hard time reading the God themed books. I’m just not a gospel or inspirational type reader. Even the mini golf course in the book was religion themed!

While there was some heat to this story, there wasn’t enough for me and it left me constantly wanting more from the characters. Having said that, the lone scene that I loved with Lark and Stone happened up against a tree…which was….pretty hot for a toned down book. I also enjoyed the mystery theme of the book connecting Lark to this tiny little town through her deceased father and his last wishes, but I wanted more in the suspense department. The climax of the book felt too rushed and it really felt opportunistic, like the author wasn’t sure where to go with the ending and just threw it in there.

While I enjoyed the book as a whole, I felt it was lacking in my personal preferences and because of that I probably won’t read this author again. Ramsay is a solid writer and her characters are well rounded and original, just not for me. For those readers looking for a holiday romance, light on the heat, this one is for you!

I give Last Chance Christmas by Hope Ramsay 3 stars!