Half Moon Hill by Toni Blake (Destiny #6)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Avon

My Copy: Edelweiss

Reviewer: Pam

Trying to escape her troubled past, Anna Romo has come home to Destiny determined to carve out a place for herself. When she buys the old Victorian house on the hill with the intent of furnishing it into a Bed and Breakfast, she’s thrilled by the possibilities.

Ex-biker-gang member Duke Dawson is as much a fish out of water in Destiny as Anna, but he’s handling it fine until an accident scars not only his body but his mind. When Anna stumbles across him in an old cabin in the woods near her newly acquired house, at first she’s terrified. But they work out a deal – she’s willing to keep his solitary living arrangement a secret if he’s willing to help her with some of the heavy lifting at the house. Working together on the renovations, romance brews between Duke and Anna. That is, until war hero Jeremy Sheridan returns home in a blaze of glory and sets his sights on Anna. Suddenly torn between the outgoing and charming Jeremy and the intriguing Duke, Anna’s heart is torn between two paths and left with only one solution.

Anna Romo is struggling with all things new to her, she recently came back home after hearing the death bed confession of a woman she always thought was her mother. She feels a little like an outsider in a town she should have grown up in, she had been kidnapped when she was five and lived with a woman until she died. It was quite a shock when she came back to Destiny for both her family and herself. She is trying to fit in however she tends to stay alone more that she seeks out the company of others, she is slowly getting to know her brother’s Mike and Lucky and their wives.

She bought an old run down house near Half Moon Hill to renovate and turn into a Bed and Breakfast and spent the winter working on the inside. Now that the weather is getting nice she is going to tackle the outside. While walking in the woods near her home she encounters a man who looks like the infamous wolf man, she does not realize at first he is someone she knows, Duke, her brother Lucky’s best friend. He looks like he has not cut his hair or shaved in a year. He also has a scar on his face that she knew came from an accident that changed his life. He was injured and a friend died, so he sold his bar and dropped out of site, not even letting Lucky know where he was.

When he finds out she is going to renovate the outside by herself, he offers to work for her. As he starts working, she gravitates toward town not trusting the feelings she is beginning to have about him, and ends up inadvertently getting to know her sisters-in-law and their friends and agrees to help at a book store.

As they spend more time together they give in to their sexual attraction; however she is unsure of the relationship and of him, worried about his withdrawal from the world. There are moments of heartfelt emotion as they each learn to come back to the living again and re-join a community that loves them.

What a wonderful romance, full of engaging characters, a small town atmosphere and interesting back stories. There is a lot going on with couples from the other books frequently on the pages as we continue to learn about their lives. I really like Duke and Anna, their chemistry is real and I love how they cannot keep their hands off each other, such sexual attraction. Duke is a wonderful character, full of a lifetime of hurt and you just feel for him as he stays away from people to reflect and live with survivor’s guilt. Anna is also believable as she deals with trust issues and living in a family she never knew about. She so wants to belong with the friends she starts to get to know yet she holds back. So to have the two of them find each other is perfect, as they wind up healing together.

The only thing I did not like is that there are several characters to keep up with; this small town life has many stories that continue on, yet the good thing is that there is still a lot of page time for the main characters. Also in the blurb there is talk about how she is torn about another man however this does not seem like a big issue and she is truly never tempted.

The story is moving and I had tears several times as they struggle with how they feel about each other. Anna redeems herself from the previous book when she came across as arrogant and standoffish, she is really very wary and scared about forming relationships and I like how she really tries to put herself out there in this book. She seems more brave and welcoming. This is a wonderfully moving story and I am excited to continue the series to find out more about the people that live in Destiny.

I give Half Moon Hill by Toni Blake 4.0 stars!

Moon by Laurann Dohner (New Species #10)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Michelle

Dr. Joyce Yards has never met anyone as irresistible as 466. Their therapy sessions are growing hotter, his raw sexual hunger becoming aggressive, and he refuses to discuss anything except the possibility of getting her naked. Joy understands the dire consequences if she indulges her passion. It will break her heart but she must walk away.

Moon has been drugged, his memory shattered, and he’s now little more than feral, a dangerous threat to everyone. In their need for help, the NSO doctors turn to the only female Moon ever cared about—the one who left him behind two years ago.

Moon isn’t the same male Joy once knew. There are no rules now. If sex tames the wild beast and triggers his fractured memories, allowing him moments of lucidity, then Joy will give him everything, body and soul. She’ll do whatever it takes to save him—even at the cost of her own life.

Just what I need – another new author to add to my already overwhelming pile of books to read! I’ve heard good things about the New Species series so I jumped on the opportunity to read Moon (even though it totally goes against my OCD tendencies to begin a series with book number ten!!). The author has created a unique world in which the New Species were created in a lab by combining human and animal DNA. They were rescued from that lab after being subjected to experiments and torture, and an alliance with humans was formed in order to help them adjust to life in the outside world.

Part of that help comes in the form of therapy, where Joy meets Moon. She is a human psychologist hired to work with and counsel members of the New Species after their rescue. Moon is known as 466 to her then, strictly a subject needing her expertise but refusing to talk. Going against protocol, she arranges for all of his sessions to be strictly one on one with her, with no guard in the room. This helps him to begin to lower his guard with Joy. Since they spend so much time alone, it also allows him to blatantly pursue her sexually. He is raw, primitive and uninhibited and makes no excuses for wanting her. Joy finds herself growing closer to 466 emotionally and has difficulty fighting her sexual attraction to him. Knowing it would be unethical for her to act on that as his therapist, she feels her only option is to leave.

Fast forward two years when Joy is once again brought in to help the New Species. She has moved on professionally, taking a job at a hospital hours away from where she worked with 466. She never forgot the incredible male she fell for, though, and when she realizes that he is the one in trouble, she vows to do whatever it takes to help him. Moon has been drugged, making him lose touch with reality and even attack his fellow Species. When Joy comes face to face with him, she finds herself staring at a primal male in the throes of something no one knows how to handle. He is full of rage and aggression, but remarkably he responds to Joy.

What follows is a long, slow journey to get Moon back, healthy and sane. While the heads of the New Species work around the clock trying to determine what drugs Moon was given as well as finding the people responsible, Joy literally puts her life in Moon’s hands by locking herself in the basement cell where he is being held. She is determined to break through and heal him, willing to use whatever means necessary. On some deeper level, Moon recognizes Joy and responds to her. The fact that they once shared a bond helps to break through the barriers the unknown drugs are putting up in Moon’s mind.

When he loses control over and over, Joy reaches out to him using their physical connection, unashamedly acting on their sexual attraction as a way to bring him back. She aches for him and second-guesses leaving him two years ago, but she couldn’t see a way back then for their relationship to be anything but doomed. Now that he is back in her life and no longer her patient, not only is she willing to do whatever it takes to get Moon back to normal, she swears she will never leave him again.

I enjoyed delving into this new-to-me world of the New Species. Moon was an excellent hero (although he harped a little too much on Joy leaving him). He was sexy, aggressive and surprisingly sentimental. I loved that he recognized Joy on a deeper level, even when he was out of his mind. Joy was a good match for him. She almost came across as a stronger character, but I believe she needed to be in order to help him out of the dark place the drugs put him in. I don’t feel I missed much by starting this series in the middle, but I would definitely enjoy reading some of the previous New Species books.

I give Moon by Laurann Dohner 4 stars!

Lucky Like Us by Jennifer Ryan (The Hunted #2)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Avon Impulse

My Copy: Edelweiss

Reviewed by: Pam

Bakery owner Elizabeth Hamilton’s quiet life is filled with sweet treats, good friends, and a loving family. But all of that is about to turn sour when an odd sound draws her outside. There’s a man lying unconscious in the street, a car speeding toward him. Without hesitation, she gets the man out of harm’s way before they’re run down. Unwittingly, Elizabeth has put herself in the path of a serial murderer, and as the only one who can identify the FBI’s Silver Fox Killer, she’s ended up in the hospital with a target on her back.

All that stands between her and death is Special Agent Sam Turner. Against his better judgment, Sam gets emotionally involved, determined to take down the double threat against Elizabeth—an ex desperate to get her back, despite a restraining order, and a psychopath bent on silencing her before she can identify him.They set a trap to catch the killer—putting Elizabeth in his hands, with Sam desperate to save her. If he’s lucky, he’ll get his man … and the girl.

Elizabeth Hamilton lives in a warehouse loft and bakes wonderful goodies for a living. She comes from a well known, wealthy family but loves to give back to others to make them feel better. She was in the middle of mixing up a batch of cookies while talking to her best friend on the phone when she hears some popping sounds and looks out the window to see a man lying in the street.

Sam is an FBI agent and former special ops who is working on an assignment to find the Silver Fox, a serial killer who is terrorizing the area. Sam and his partner Tyler, are meeting an informant in a bar when things so very wrong. Sam is ambushed and drugged, taken from the bar and thrown into a vehicle. He somehow gets out of the car and starts to run when the suspect shoots him in the back. As the he is about to be run over, a woman comes running, grabs Sam and rolls him under her SUV. The suspect tries to finish them both off with his car but fortunately the police come and he runs, but not before leaving Sam very injured and Elizabeth in critical condition.

As Sam and Elizabeth struggle to get better the investigation goes into high gear to find out who did this. Both families use all their influences to get the best medical help for the two and to gain information on the killer. Danger comes close several times for Elizabeth as the Silver Fox tries to kill her, and throughout it all Sam is there for her, getting to know her and realizing that their attraction can grow in small calm moments.

This is a very quiet romantic suspense, after the initial adrenaline rush in the beginning as Elizabeth is trying to save Sam and then herself, the story goes into a more investigational mode. The tone changes as they are taken to the hospital where the staff tries to save Elizabeth. I love how the family bonds as Elizabeth fights for her life, she and Sam slowly form a relationship despite several emotional battles he must get through as his job has taken a toll on him; however Elizabeth makes him want to live life again. I like how they quietly get to know each other through holding each other and keeping each other company during some long nights. In lighter moments Sam even becomes Elizabeth’s fake fiancé and they tease each other to help fend off the weird guy she dated once who seems to not want to go away.

Even though this romantic suspense is more relationship and investigative orientated that does not mean there is no action, they do have a stalker to thwart and the serial killer to find and arrest before he kills Elizabeth. Also Tyler has an interesting relationship going on with a psychic ghost who helps him with a few investigations. I enjoyed seeing all of Sam’s family again, Sam’s twin Jack with his wife Jenna who we met in the first book and his sister Summer all come to help. And Elizabeth’s family was a hoot, as we watch her brothers and father being very protective of her. All in all the characters Ms. Ryan creates are all very interesting from those we met before to new ones, both good and evil.

The plot progression is well done and I really enjoyed how the story unfolded going from a rapid pace in the beginning to slower in the middle and then it raced to the end as the danger revved up toward a conclusion. A very enjoyable second addition to the series that I will continue to read.

I give Lucky Like Us by Jennifer Ryan 4 stars!

The Marrying Season by Candace Camp (Legend Of St Dwynwen #3)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Pocket Books

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Pam

Genevieve Stafford, the younger sister of the Earl of Rawdon (A Summer Seduction), is an icy but beautiful aristocrat. Determined to make the sort of marital alliance expected of a woman of her station, she becomes engaged to the scion of another noble family. However, when Genevieve finds herself entangled in scandal, her fiancé breaks things off. Shamed, she has no recourse but to retreat to the family estate…until her brother’s friend, Sir Myles Thorwood, offers to marry Genevieve and salvage her reputation. Genevieve expects to have a loveless marriage of convenience, but the handsome, charming Myles has other things in mind. As the two of them work to discover who engineered the scandal that could have ruined Genevieve’s life, Myles shows Genevieve just what it means to be man and wife. Genevieve finds it difficult to resist the passion Myles evokes in her, but can she risk losing her heart to a man she thinks sees their union as only a duty?

Genevieve Stafford is considered the ice princess; she is a very reserved and quiet woman. Her brother is getting married and now her grandmother is ready for her to make a perfect marriage match without any scandals. So seven months later she does just that, she is engaged to the perfect and boring Lord Dursbury. However the scandal sheets seem to have her in their sites, saying that it is just a matter of time before he calls the wedding off.

Sir Myles Thorwood is a friend of Genevieve’s brother, Alec and had always been around her family, they were close enough that when together that rarely talked without arguing or disagreeing over something, one of the only times you would see them enjoying each other’s company was when they were dancing, as she thought he was one of the best dancers around.

At a party, Genevieve is passed a note from Myles asking her to meet in the Library, however when she gets there, he is not there, instead she finds an intoxicated Foster Langdon who has often bothered Genevieve, he tries to kiss her and as she is struggling, Myles enters the library, followed closely by Lord Dursbury and his step mother. Through no fault of her own, she is ruined.

Immediately Lord Dursbury calls off the wedding bringing truth to what the scandal sheets were predicting. Myles, being the gentleman that he is, offers to marry Genevieve, however at first she turns him down. She eventually says yes after talking to her grandmother, brother and friends and realizing there is no other way out of the scandal.

The marriage takes place right away and they leave for his country home, but before they get there he wants to stay in a small cottage on his estate to help her adjust to her new life. Everything is going well until distrust and misunderstandings surface about that night in the library.

This was a very enjoyable romance of childhood friends who grow up, have to deal with scandals and then find love. Genevieve and Myles have known each other forever as he is good friends with her brother Alex, and although they do not see each other much and may snip and argue but they genuinely like each other. When they marry, they even get along for the most part, however distrust and miscommunication tear at their thin bond.

I really liked Myles, he is such a wonderful gentleman who is willing to do what is needed to help a friend and he was always trying to find the right words when Genevieve is being so stubborn, trying to make her feel better. And stubborn is truly what Genevieve is, throughout the whole book. She is portrayed as this ice queen however most of her attitude is because she is awkward at socializing and is nervous, but she does not help her cause when she has trouble trusting that someone would help her just because, she was very frustrating for me as I was waiting for her to believe in Myles.

The story is romantic and sweet without much drama until the end as they try to find out who wants to damage Genevieve’s reputation even after she is married. The chemistry works well and they are a great couple, especially when they first get married and were by themselves at the cottage, without distractions they were able to get to know each other. Unfortunately reality gets in the way and distrust settles in. I enjoyed the banter back and forth during the times they were getting along; they seemed to be great friends. This is the third in this trilogy however each book can be read independently, you do see the other characters from the first two books but it is very easy to know who they are and their stories.

Overall a wonderful story that will appeal to all historical romance fans.

I give The Marrying Season by Candace Camp 4.0 stars!

Hunter by Jacquelyn Frank

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: eKensington

My Copy: NetGalley

Reviewer: Pam

This can’t be happening to her. A random break down…an isolated mountain road, a seemingly chance meeting with a hotter-than-hot stranger. Tatyana is a modern gal who can handle any crisis, but before she knows what’s hit her, she’s sensing a hideous threat, not to her but to this man who draws her like a moth to flame. Hunter.

“I know things…I saw it.” When the attack comes, she is his protection from a diabolical enemy, even as he initiates her into a startling world of magic, sorcery and sensuality. For in a moment of terrifying danger a spark has been struck, and neither can escape the erotic fire to come…

On a dark and stormy night Tatyana’s car breaks down and wouldn’t you know it, no cell service. She feels like she is in a horror movie as she decides what to do about getting help. She is on her way to her brother Dimitre’s house and now wishes she had told him she was coming as he would be looking for her. Tatyana and her brother are very close and ever since he met his new love Annali, she has not seen him as much; she understands that he is in love but she feels this need to see him again. As she walks, jumps and dances to keep warm she hopes she finds his place before she freezes to death.

Dimitre is a new witch at Willow Coven and as soon as he met Annali, he fell in love. He believes he has found a family at the Coven and has stayed away from his true family until he learns more about being a witch in the human world. He also is keeping a few secrets from Tatyana, something he has never done before.

Hunter has recently returned to the coven at the request of Ryce, the leader who is a very powerful witch, he has asked Hunter to return after ten years because they have had an attack against the coven that left the current sentential Gracie, injured. Hunter was the sentential for years however a tragedy sent him into exile by his own choosing to make some decisions. Coming back feels right and he is glad Ryce called him.

Tatyana literally falls through the front door which Hunter and Ryce open as they were leaving, and they quickly get her warm. She tells them through her shivers that she is looking for her brother and they immediately realize who she is and that she is a dormant witch. However before much else can happen, they are attacked and between Tatyana’s latent abilities and Hunter jump starting her powers they are able to beat back Braen, a powerful warlock that seems to be wrecking havoc on the coven. The dark warlock Braen is Hunter’s true brother, but one that Hunter wants nothing to do with. Hunter has six generations of evil to live down as he is the first white witch in centuries. Hunter’s help to turn Tatyana’s powers from dormant to full on brings a bond between them that will never go away, a guardian angel type of relationship, yet there bond is something more.

As the group deals with training new witches Dimitre and Tatyana, and making plans to destroy Braen’s coven there are dangers that even they cannot predict. They must deal with evil from both within as well as outside their coven.

I truly enjoy a paranormal book that involves kick-ass immortals, witches and bad guys that want to promote evil, this book has it all. I also love when there is a group that either live together or fight together, they have a bond that no one can break and they are brothers and sisters in every sense of the word. This group of men and women are good witches and they live together within the human world without their knowledge. They protect themselves against the evil witches and warlocks that want to kill and destroy anything good. Ryce is the leader and is a wonderful character as one of the most powerful white witches around. He keeps the group together and is happiest when they are all in the mansion living peacefully; he has even built a state of the art nursery for the future witches of the coven, which I think is very sweet for this large alpha male.

I thought that Hunter and Tatyana were great together, the chemistry was electric and even though their senses may have been heightened after they were bonded; there was an attraction there as soon as they met. There was not one member of the team that I did not like as they all had their separate personalities and I hope each get their own book as the series progresses.

I liked the premise of the book, a group of witches that are “good” and each witch has their own school of talent. No one is alike and each would contribute to the safety of the coven using their own skills. The pace of the story was fast and worked as it was action packed with something always going on until the conclusion. A couple of things I did not care for is that the ending fight between good and evil happened so fast, one time they were in the planning stages and then poof it was over. I think it needed something more in the end as there was a general lack of drama. Also, I was not sure about Tatyana’s family, and how she was going to explain away her absence from her job and the close knit family she talks about, it was just not well addressed. None the less, this is a great paranormal romance full of action and romance and I hope to see more from this series in the future.

I give Hunter by Jacquelyn Frank 4.0 stars!

Summer In Napa by Marina Adair (St. Helena Vineyard #2)

Available: May 14, 2013 Amazon/B&N

Type: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Montlake

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Nikki

Six months ago, New York restaurant owner Alexis “Lexi” Moreau walked in on her husband, Jeff, and their sous chef mixing business with pleasure. Now, Lexi is back in her hometown of St. Helena, California, rebuilding her life and hoping to turn her grandmother’s patisserie into the bistro of her dreams. All she needs is luck, lots of hard work, and a way to avoid the thirty blind dates her matchmaking grandmother arranged. Enter Marco DeLuca — Jeff’s handsome, commitment-phobe best friend who has always had his sights set on Lexi. In high school, Marco convinced himself that Lexi was off-limits. And she still is, especially since Marco’s family’s wine business all depends on a deal with Jeff. But a fake summer romance is the perfect way for Lexi to distract the would-be suitors her grandmother has set up for her. A perfect way for Marco to realize she’s the only one that ever mattered. And a perfect way to fall deliciously in love.

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After the ending of her ill-fated marriage to Jeff, Lexi leaves everything behind and comes home in an attempt to move on with her life. Going into business with her grandmother has always been a dream of hers and now it seems to be becoming a reality. Sure it may not be the five star restaurant she’s leaving behind but that was always more of her husbands dream anyway. Faced with having to swallow her pride in front of the entire town Lexi arrives with her head held high…and her ass sticking out of a window she was trying to crawl through when she forgets her keys.

Marco is between a rock and a hard place when it come to the subject of Lexi. Her ex is his best friend but that doesn’t diminish the feelings he’s harbored for her for years. Now she’s back in town and Jeff wants to keep tabs on her. Tabs that are starting to sound more like business then concern. Marco doesn’t have time for a romance in the midst of the towns historical vineyard competition which could monumentally skyrocket his hometown hotel business. It’s a make it or break it event and with the towns reputation on the line he can’t afford to lose. But he’s in over his head and Lexi may be the only one able to soothe his frazzled nerves. If he can get over the fact that he’d be breaking man code #1: Never fall in love with your best friends girl.

New to me author, Marina Adair hit this one out of the ballpark! Summer In Napa was a lovely read from start to finish with engaging characters, a homegrown setting and wonderful writing. I absolutely adored Lexi. She was so incredibly real and her quirkiness was a great addition to her character. The very first scene had her sticking out a window with her rear end on display for the whole town to see. I find that if within the first chapter I’m chuckling to myself, that’s a good omen. I enjoyed how she overcame her obstacles to start fresh in a town she had always wanted to come back to eventually, just on better terms. She held her own against the town busybodies and she didn’t let some of their snarky behavior stop her for going for her dreams.

I wish I would have read book one (Kissing Under The Mistletoe) first because I’m really loving the DeLuca boys. I will make a point to go back and find me a copy of that soon. Marco is such a strong male lead who is floundering in his attempt to revitalize the vineyard competition. His family seems to not have much faith in his abilities based on his reckless youth. I liked that he was turning into a reformed playboy just as Lexi shows back up in town. Though it becomes apparent that his best friend was less then forthcoming about the situation between himself and Lexi, Marco still has a hard time with his idea of poaching on his friends “territory”.  Even though years ago his friend basically stole her out of under him to begin with. Seemed to me Jeff was never a very good friend to begin with so it was commendable that Marco held onto that thin thread as long as he did. Jeff was an epic douchebag. I would have liked to see more of a confrontation between Marco and Jeff. Adair glosses over that pretty quickly and it kind of upset me. I wanted to see Marco really stand up to him and let him have it. Sadly, I didn;t get any of that. Marco does stick it to him in a way but I wanted more from that end. I felt a bit cheated in that respect.

Summer In Napa is an excellent read! So excellent in fact that I made it my May 2013 book of the month. For good reason too! It’s wrote with a small town feel that the author conveys perfectly. The characters are well fleshed out and the story is quirky and cute. I loved Marco and Lexi together and hope they pop up in the next book as well. If you enjoy Jill Shalvis you’ll love Marina Adair! This is a contemporary romance you’ll love!

I give Summer In Napa by Marina Adair 4.50 stars! 

Hard Mated & Lone Wolf by Jennifer Ashley (Shifters Unbound #3.5 & #4.6)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Penguin

My Copy: Bought

Reviewer: Nikki

A short novel of the Shifters Unbound series. Spike, a wildcat Shifter and the champion fighter of Shiftertown, is stunned when Myka, the best friend of a dying human woman, announces that Spike has fathered a cub. What’s more, the mother is giving the boy to Spike to protect and raise. 

Myka, who’d been raised by an abusive stepfather, is not sure that a wild fighter named Spike is the best man to bring up the cute little jaguar cub. She goes to Shiftertown to check out Spike, and finds that the man behind the name is a lonely Shifter who’s lost most of his family and is a fierce caretaker to those he has left. 

Spike is torn between the cub and his duties as tracker to the Shiftertown leader, and begs Myka, the only person who understands, to help him. He starts to like the sassy Myka, a horse trainer who’s not afraid of working with animals, even if they’re wildcats who turn into humans. 

When Spike’s job puts his cub and Myka in danger, Spike is forced to choose between those to whom he’s pledged his loyalty and his need to protect the woman and cub he’s come to love.

The Shifters Unbound books are one of my favorite shifter series to date. Jennifer Ashley definitely knows how to write an engaging story that includes everything I want in shifter romances. In this short novel readers get to know more about Spike, the shifter who is always present but is scarily silent, preferring a threatening presence over threats.

When Spike finds out he has a son and the mother is dying he quickly swoops in to become a father. He takes to being a father fairly easily and wins over the trust of his cub quickly. Not so trusting is Myka, the best friend of the mother who passed. The tattoo’d badass shifter in front of her can’t possibly be a good father and she vows to keep en eye on him out of a promise she made to her friend to watch out for her son.

While these are shortened in length I never feel like I get cheated out of a good story with Jennifer Ashley. She somehow manages to make even the short ones feel longer and complete. Each novella offers readers a chance to reconnect with past characters and introduces more. I love reading about the hierarchy within the shiftertown and welcome any chance to read more, especially the original Austin shiftertown.

Spike and Myka together (love the names BTW) worked well and Ashley even treats readers to an action packed ending that really ties together books 3 and 4. The shifters in her books actually shift too which is nice. It bugs me when I’m reading paranormal romance with no actual paranormal. Though reluctant at first, Myka finally realizes that not only does she not have to worry about her friends son, but that she didn’t know all that much about shifters to begin with. I loved Spike and his larger then life attitude that had no trouble being humbled.

Hard Mated is an awesome addition to a series I’ve come to expect greatness from!

I give Hard Mated by Jennifer Ashley 4 stars! 

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Penguin

My Copy: NetGalley

Reviewer: Nikki 

Ellison Rowe, a Lupine Shifter, makes it his goal to protect Maria, once held captive by ferals, from male Shifters looking for mates. He likes Maria’s resilience and fire, but she’s been broken, and Ellison wants more than anything to heal her. When a new danger threatens Shiftertown’s cubs, Maria partners with Ellison to stop a cold-blooded criminal.

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Ellison has been in several Shifter Unbound books and he’s finally getting his story told. He’s the goofy wolf shifter who is always quick with the witty comebacks. He’s become a staple in this series and he’s set his sights on Maria. A lovely beauty who is skittish from an abusive past at the hands of feral shifters. Ellison knows he has to go slow with her but other unmated shifters in shiftertown are making that next to impossible. Torn between wanting to go slow and his unbridled need to feel her beneath him Ellison vows to protect her against everything and everyone, even if that means putting a mate claim on her.

Maria was a great heroine because she made such huge strides in such a short time. She’s justifiably nervous around shifters but knows that Ellison especially would never hurt her.  Even knowing that she is still apprehensive of him but she can’t deny the pull she feels from him.

The way Ellison and Maria flirt was just so honest and sweet. There wasn’t anything hot and heavy going on and instead there was a warm pull that had them joined before they even knew what hit them. Ellison utilizes such restraint with Maria and is was nice to see Maria finally step up and take some action of her own towards the end.

When faced with the attempted abduction of town cubs Maria and Ellison join forces against a faceless enemy in order to protect what’s theirs. An awesome thing about shiftertown is that they pull together in times of need. The children might not be physically be theirs but that doesn’t mean they don’t feel the threat to them just as intensely.

I simply cannot wait for Tiger Magic which is out soon! Over the course of the last few books we’ve gotten a chance to know him a bit but I’m interested to see where Ashley takes the experiment that resulted in such a fearless, amazing man.

I give Lone Wolf by Jennifer Ashley 3.50 stars! 

Kentucky Home by Sarah Title

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: eKensington

My Copy: NetGalley

Reviewer: Pam

In this warm and witty new series, author Sarah Title introduces readers to the down home Kentucky hospitality of the Carson family and their Wild Rose Farm and Stables. It’s a place where love is always possible–and sweeter than ever the second time around. . . Mallory Thompson and Keith Carson are far from impressed with each other when she arrives at his family’s horse farm, fleeing an abusive marriage. Mallory sees nothing but a gruff man who’s as patronizing as her soon-to-be ex-husband, and Keith has no time for a city girl who’s afraid of dogs. But the struggling Wild Rose is too small to allow anyone to keep their distance. . .

As one by one, Mallory wins the hearts of his family, from his cranky father to his headstrong younger sister and three-legged dog, Keith finds himself more than a little attracted to her stubborn charm. And the longer Mallory stays, the more she realizes Keith is nothing like the overbearing bully she married–and the more she fantasizes about being in his strong, loving arms. Maybe some folks get a second chance to make a first impression after all. . .

It is wonderful to have good friends to turn to when you need them, too bad they are sometimes a little unpredictable. Mallory Thompson is a good friend of Luke Carson and when she needs help, he was the one person she can turn to. She is married to Michael, a doctor who is not only controlling but also emotionally and recently physically abusive and she is ready to get out.

Luke lives in DC and works as a bartender and although he is a good friend he is never satisfied to stay in one place and was always thinking of his next move or his next project. He grew up on a Kentucky horse ranch and although his family still lives there and works the ranch, when he visits he can only stay for a short time.

Luke’s brother Keith works the family ranch called the Wild Rose along with their sister and dad, trying to keep it from going bankrupt. Keith was married three years ago however she died tragically and he has had a hard time moving on. He is a veterinarian but stopped working with the local vet when his wife died; the vet has been hounding him to come back so he can retire.

Luke takes Mal to his family while she decides what to do about the rest of her life and her soon to be ex-husband. Luke makes up a fake engagement telling her it will help his family embrace her. She hates lying but will do it for Luke because he is helping her but after being there only one day Luke takes off for places unknown, leaving only a note, and here she is, a little embarrassed, stunned and now has to face the family while lying, oh she is in trouble.

His family is very welcoming and they see nothing wrong with what Luke did, they just explain that Luke is like that, he never stays in one spot for too long. Keith on the other hand is reliable and stable, although a little hard to get to know as he is a very gruff and at times she thinks he may be a little like her soon to be ex, however she quickly realizes he is nothing like Michael and that he is hurting too much to give himself completely.

A touching debut romance that makes me look forward to more from this author. Mal was a wonderful character, I loved her humor and the way she handled herself for most of the time, at least until she talked to her husband, then it took a while for her to come out of her shell, she said he just took the words away from her when he spoke to her. Yet I loved how she grew at the ranch surrounded by the family that embraced her from the start. Even after they found out that she and Luke lied, they were OK with the explanation. Luke was a little frustrating and I will be interested in seeing if he gets his own story someday, I would like to see the woman that gets him to settle down, or maybe they will just go off together. He was a wonderful friend however not much as boyfriend material.

Keith was also a great character, gruff in the beginning as he did not want to like Mal, however such a deep emotional man as he dealt with his grief, trying to let love back into his life, they make a great couple. Libby was wonderful as the glue that held the family together as she fussed and made sure everyone had what they needed. She was hilarious when she slipped the condoms in the picnic basket for Keith and Mal when they go off together one afternoon. The ending was a little surprising as I did not see the danger coming and I am not sure it needed to be there, however it all ended well, come on – it is a romance. All in all a wonderful story about second chances in life and love that comes unexpectantly.

I give Kentucky Home by Sarah Title 4.0 stars!

Thrill Ride by Julie Ann Walker (Black Knights Inc #4)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Sourcebooks

My Copy: NetGalley

Reviewer: Nikki

He’s Gone Rogue

Ex-Navy SEAL Rock Babineaux’s job is to get information, and he’s one of the best in the business. Until something goes horribly wrong and he’s being hunted by his own government. Even his best friends at the covert special-ops organization Black Knights Inc. aren’t sure they can trust him. He thinks he can outrun them all, but his former partner—a curvy bombshell who knows just how to drive him wild—refuses to cut him loose.

She Won’t Back Down

Vanessa Cordova hasn’t been the team’s communication specialist
very long, but she knows how to read people—no way is Rock guilty of murder. And she’ll go to hell and back to help him prove it. Sure, the sexy Cajun has his secrets, but there’s no one in the world she’d rather have by her side in a tight spot. Which is good, because they’re about to get very tight…

.

Rock is on the run from his own government after an elite assignment gone horribly wrong. Known to his friends as one of the best operatives around they aren’t willing to believe the allegations that are surfacing about his true intentions. They know the man he is and they know there has to be more to the story. They quickly gather themselves and set off after him but after months of searching come up empty handed.

Vanessa simply won’t back down and on a hunch ends up directly in Rock’s path in a jungle in the middle of no where. She’s intent on proving his innocence even though he claims he’s not an innocent man. Vanessa knows better and as they race against time, with their emotions on edge something curious starts to happen, everything fades away and they are left with each other, and another opportunity to have something more.

I’ve always been on the fence with the BKI books and Julie Ann Walker as an author. I’ve never quite connected with the story lines or the characters and have been left wanting something more at the ends of the previous books. However, Thrill Ride lived up to it’s name and what I found in between the pages was a fast paced adventure romance that set my pulse pounding until the last sentence.

It’s no secret I am a total accent whore and Rock has this magnificent Cajun accent that came off smooth as butter. He would alternate between French and English during high emotional moments and I found it all incredibly sexy. I just love a Cajun accent. It probably has something to do with me watching a lot of X-Men cartoons when I was little and my favorite character was always Gambit…but I digress.

I enjoyed Vanessa and Rock together even if they never could seem to get it right throughout the book. How many times can things heat up only to cool off just as quickly? I mean these two got interrupted by everything, including themselves, so many times I wanted to scream. Good lord, just have sex already! Rock was bound and determined not to get Vanessa on her back…but hey, it’s totally okay to give her a manual orgasm leaning against your motorcycle. She’ll be cool with just that. What? No? Yeah, exactly.  Rock is so emotionally shut off that he can’t even vocalize anything to her until literally the last page of the book. I wanted to smack him and tell him to get his head out of his ass and stop trying to protect everyone becuse all it does is either drive people away, or in Rock’s case, make them all even more determined to help.

The camaraderie between all the Black Knights really stood out in Thrill Ride and I found myself eagerly engaged to their hi-jinx as well as their serious moments. These people are most definitely a family and it really showed this time around. Each member was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to clear Rock’s name. There are laughable moments peppered throughout and each characters personality shows quite well. All starkly different but alike too.

I enjoyed this book and will definitely be back for the next one!

I give Thrill Ride by Julie Ann Walker 4 stars!

Sweet Madness by Heather Snow (Veiled Seduction #3)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Signet

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Pam

Ever since her husband’s sudden and tragic death, Lady Penelope Bridgeman has committed herself to studying the maladies of the mind, particularly treating traumatized soldiers of the Napoleonic Wars. It is this expertise that brings the Marquess of Bromwich’s family to her door.

Gabriel Devereaux’s unexpected and unpredictable episodes are unlike any Penelope has studied. The once proud soldier has been left shaken and withdrawn, but she manages to build a fragile trust between them. Strangely, Gabriel seems completely lucid when not in the grips of his mania, and in the calm between bouts, she is surprised by how much she is drawn to him. Despite his own growing feelings, Gabriel knows that he is fit for no one, and is determined to keep Penelope away from his descent into madness. But even though she knows firsthand the folly of loving a broken man, Penelope cannot stop herself from trying to save him, no matter the cost.

Two years ago, Penelope Bridgeman was happily marrying Michael only to become a widow six months later when Michael suffers a tragic end. Currently Penelope is still wearing black, unable to move on from the blame she feels, and has come to visit Gabriel Devereaux, Michael’s cousin in a home for those that suffer mental distress. She has come at the request of his mother who believes this is Gabriel’s last chance before they consider him “compos” which will strip him of everything.

Gabriel was in the war over four years ago and suffers from battle fatigue which has manifested in him feeling overwhelmed and claustrophobic in small and crowded places; however in the past nine months he has also suffered severe manic episodes that have left him scared, unable to remember anything and hard to control, which is what has landed him at Vickering Place.

Penelope has become very interested in helping those that suffer from battle fatigue, she was wallowing in self despair after Michael died when her cousin Liliana and had her come visit their hospital and help those that come for treatment, she has learned quite a lot about the disorder that has plagued those that have fought in war. Michael suffered from the very highs and very lows of his personality and eventually could not take the lows anymore, Penelope could not help him and she blames herself for his death, thus the reason she is still wearing black, she does not feel she deserves to wear colors yet.

When Gabriel finds out about Michael he is even more worried that he has the same madness, however Penelope lived with Michael and she is convinced that Gabriel does not have the same symptoms, now she just has to convince him and find out what is truly making him have his episodes. However before she can help, the head of Vickering Place is about to bar her from visiting Gabriel again and she must make some drastic decisions that will help him, yet might land them in trouble with his family and the law.

I have always loved the heroine characters that Ms. Snow creates. They are intelligent, witty and enjoy the lives they are living, until of course a hero comes along to disrupt it. Penelope is no exception to the previous heroines, she has had a terrible couple of years doubting herself however still manages to help others. She is such a fighter and I like how after her cousin kicks her in the rear she wants help the soldiers with battle fatigue, the PTSD of today. I like how Ms. Snow tells us a bit of history in each story she writes about, in this one she talks about the beginnings of the study of mental health, about art therapy and healing with association. I thought the suspense of the story was intriguing and the “who” of the mystery was a surprise to me but I liked the twist at the end. The only thing I did not like was I wanted more support from Gabriel’s family; they sent for Penelope to help him however seemed quick to believe he could not be cured.

The story takes hold of you and does not let go until the surprise ending. I loved the chemistry of Penelope and Gabriel as they struggle through the mystery of mental illness. It was hilarious when she is asking him questions about his symptoms and he says “I do have other problems that started during or just after the war, “and Penelope says “Oh good!”, such fun and witty banter between the two. Gabriel is a strong hero that worries about how he will react and wants to protect Penelope and others, he has been in love with Penelope long before she married his cousin and we watch how he comes to terms with his unrequited love in the beginning and then we see how Penelope grows into her love for him. I liked that Liliana and Geoffrey have a great part in the story, as I liked them both from Sweet Enemy, and we see that their hospital that specializes in helping soldiers is growing and doing well.

I give Sweet Madness by Heather Snow 4 stars!