If I Were You by Lisa Renee Jones (Inside Out Trilogy #1)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Erotic Romance

Publisher: Gallery Books

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Nikki 

When Sara McMillan finds a stack of journals in a storage unit, she’s shocked and enthralled by the erotic life the writer led. Unable to stop reading, she vicariously lives out dark fantasies through Rebecca, the writer—until the terrifying final entry. 

Certain something sinister has happened, Sara sets out to discover the facts, immersing herself in Rebecca’s life. Soon she’s working at the art gallery Rebecca worked at and meeting Rebecca’s friends. Finding herself drawn to two dangerously sexy men, the manager of the gallery and a famed artist, Sara realizes she’s going down the same path Rebecca took. But with the promise of her dark needs being met by a man with confident good looks and a desire for control, she’s not sure anything else matters. Just the burn for more.

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This book came to me when I was craving myself some angsty romance….a la Sylvia Day style…..You know, the Crossfire series? Reading the back cover copy of this sounded like something I needed to read….and oh my am I glad I did. If I Were You not only gave me the sexy, slam her up against a window of a high rise, times but it also gave me a story I could get into and a mystery to ponder.

Sara has just gotten stuck with an abandoned storage unit that her friend bought shortly before jet setting off to Europe with her mystery man. What Sara finds inside the unit stops her cold. Journals, erotic journals, of a faceless woman chronicling her descent into the Dom/submissive world. What would make someone pack up their life in a storage unit and then disappear? Not able to simply throw away this womans life, Sara sets out to track her down and in doing so ends up working at the same place she worked, a high end art gallery. Sara is trained in art but had been working as a school teacher and so the opportunity she is given seems tailor made for her and she jumps at the chance to live her dream, if only until the missing woman, Rebecca, comes back. Though Sara sees herself as a rather reserved quiet person she often has plenty of witty and snarky comments on hand when needed. I liked that about her and thought she progressed nicely from that quiet persona to somewhat of a wanton sex kitten who was going to get what she wanted by the end of the book.

She quickly becomes entangled with an artist, Chris, who sets her body aflame with needs she didn’t even know she possessed. He becomes a drug for her that she is desperate to have. These two have got some crazy smoldering chemistry that builds until there is nothing left to do but splinter into some of the best scenes I’ve read. They are completely wrong for each other. Both Sara and Chris harbor serious baggage and damaged psyches. Though Sara’s baggage is laid pretty clear from the get go (controlling father, stick up his ass fiance, dead mother) because the book is in her point of view, Chris is an enigma that we haven’t seen the full scope of even by the ending. He’s controlling, manipulative, hell bent on getting his way but his also shows true restraint and caring moments that are sigh worthy.

I really enjoyed the aspect of the missing woman, Rebecca. I’ve read a lot of erotic romance (snort, as if you guys didn’t know that) but I’ve never read one with a mystery twist thrown in quite as well as this one. I want to know what happened to this woman. I want to know who her Dom was and who he was sharing her with in the icy entry that spoke of possible blood play between the three. Which was, conveniently  her last entry. Sara’s (and technically at one point Rebecca’s) boss, Mark is an obvious candidate. He has this cold calculating demeanor and yet he manages to intrigue those around him as much as he terrifies them, Sara included. Readers do learn a few things about him throughout the book that I won’t go into that also point to him. But I wonder if Chris didn’t play a part as well. Chris and Mark have huge animosity between them that Sara is often in the middle of and it’s obvious that there is something more then meets the eye with them.

If I Were You is an excellent erotic romance that will leave readers begging for the next installment to come out. I am one of those readers…I need it, like yesterday. Lisa Renee Jones has a voice that puts the scene right into a readers head. Intense doesn’t even begin to describe what I thought about this book. It’s sexy, thoughtful, complex and you will speed read through it in an attempt to absorb it into your skin. Loved this book! LOVED!

I give If I Were You by Lisa Renee Jones 5 stars! 

Collide by Juliana Stone (The Barker Triplets #2)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Self Pub

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Nikki

A second chance never looked so good…

Bobbi-Jo Barker has been in love with the wrong man for years. A man who doesn’t fit into the perfect, controlled life she’s created.A man who not only broke her heart but nearly destroyed her. So the fact that he’s back in town shouldn’t matter because he’s all wrong for her, or so she thinks…

Shane Gallagher, prodigal son, ex-con, and all around hellion, has returned to the small town of New Waterford to mend fences and get his life back. What he doesn’t count on are the feelings he still has for the one woman who can break him—the one woman who is totally wrong for him. 

And yet, as Bobbi and Shane are thrown together and begin to navigate a life with each other in it, neither can deny the attraction they feel, or the emotions that come with it—the good and the bad. And so the question becomes… can these two damaged souls survive a second chance at love?

After a lifetime of wrong decisions Bobbi-Jo has been trying to live life the adult, responsible way. Giving up on passion life can have to settle down with a man so wrong for her, they haven’t even been intimate in a long time. But he offers security and Bobbi-Jo craves that above all else. On the day of her wedding her need for freedom wins out over her need for security and she high tails it out of there, leaving the jilted groom to pick up the pieces.

It may have been years ago, but the sight of Bobbi-Jo sitting at the bar still leaves Shane shaking with lust. It’s not smart, and Shane can’t be the man she deserves but his craving for her only grows as they are pushed together and soon they are sucked into a cyclone of need so strong, someone is bound to get hurt.

I loved this book. LOVED! Juliana Stone created characters that burned so bright it blinded me. The onslaught of emotional turmoil make this a read I can wholly recommend. Shane comes from a dark place, having been on the wrong path for such a long time. When he hit rock bottom years ago and ended up in jail at the hands of his own grandfather, he knew it was time for a change. With the passing of his grandfather and a huge inheritance Shane isn’t sure he’s ready or worthy of, he knows it’s time to make amends and start fresh. Dealing with his past with Bobbi is the last thing he wants to do. They may have lava hot attraction but everything else about them together is always horribly wrong.

Bobbi runs very hot and cold. She takes forever to decide what she wants and that got a bit grating for me. Poor Shane LOL. She is torn between wanting him and wanting to push him away. Plus her lack of job, her other sisters and her ailing father weigh heavily on her mind a lot. I enjoyed her sassy mouth and her tenacity to figure out her life…even if it wasn’t what she had planned for herself.

The one thing I wished was different about this book was the secret Bobbi held onto about a shocking night long ago. I wished she would have revealed things to Shane sooner because it felt very rushed to get to the end after she did.

Book three will be Betty’s book and I am really looking forward to it. Her hard attitude has to be hiding some deep emotional pain. Though everyone else sees her as a washed up model with an addiction problem, I think something really bad must have happened for her to react so viciously with those she loves. There is a definite wall around her and the man who is finally going to break it down will have to work twice as hard.

Juliana Stone delivers with the excellence of a seasoned author! Her contemporary romances are a home run hit and I am always eagerly awaiting her next release!

 

I give Collide by Juliana Stone 5 stars! 

Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley (Dream Man #4)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Erotic Romance

Publisher: Forever

My Copy: Borrowed

Reviewer: Michelle

Stuck in a colorless world, Tyra Masters decides to chuck her old life and starts searching for something. She doesn’t know what it is until she meets her dream man. The goateed, tattooed, muscled, gravelly voiced motorcycle man who plies her with tequila and gives her the best sex of her life. But she knows it isn’t the tequila and sex talking. He’s it. He’s who she’s been daydreaming about since she could remember.

Until he makes it clear she isn’t who he’s looking for.
Tyra slinks away from his bed, humiliated. The problem is, he’s her new boss. She just may or may not have forgotten to tell him that part.
Kane “Tack” Allen has a rule. He doesn’t employ someone he’s slept with. And he lets Tyra know that in his motorcycle man way. Tyra fights for her job and wins it using sass and a technicality. Tack challenges her that if she hits his bed one more time, she loses her job.
Tyra is determined to keep her job and keep away from Tack. But she makes a big mistake. During their head-to-heads, she lets it all hang out and shows Tack she is who he’s looking for. And Tack has had a good woman slip through his fingers, he’s not about to let that happen again.
Although Tack colors Tyra’s world with a vibrancy that’s blinding, being with him means she has to live in his Motorcycle Club world. Full on, no holds barred. And since Tack’s world, not to mention Tack, is a little scary, Tyra isn’t so sure.
It’s Tack’s job to convince her.

Tyra Masters makes a huge mistake. Before starting her job at Ride (home of motorcycle club Chaos), she becomes another in a long string of one night stands with Chaos leader Kane “Tack” Allen. Tyra falls instantly and she falls hard. She jumps at the chance to be with him, and with stars in her eyes, she basks in the moment and even starts envisioning a white picket fence future with him. Tack crashes into her dream world and sends her packing as soon as their sexy business is done, and he does it in a way there is no mistaking that she means nothing more than a roll in the hay to him. Tyra is crushed, embarrassed and pissed off. She shows up for her first day of work anyway. After being unemployed for two months and needing a new direction for her life, she is determined to take her new job while completely avoiding her new boss, a.k.a. the jerk she slept with. Unfortunately Tack is not someone you can avoid.

The chemistry between these two is off the charts. Off. The. Charts. They fight loud and love hard and nothing about them is simple. Tyra looks at Tack and sees her “dream man”, and yet he can be the biggest bastard on the planet. He is rude and crude and arrogant. He bosses her around, manhandles her and expects to get his way no matter how she feels. She wants nothing to with him, while at the same time wanting everything to do with him. For his part, Tack is furious. He doesn’t have sex with people who work for him, and he wants Tyra gone pronto. That lasts for all of five minutes. As soon as she opens her mouth and lets her sass start flying, he’s interested. She pushes his buttons big time.

Kristen Ashley’s heroes love a woman with some attitude, and Tyra had it in spades. She gave as good as she got, and when Tack pissed her off (which happened a lot), she let him know it. Unfortunately the way she let him know was usually to leave – either by attempting to quit her job or quit their relationship, or both. She knew in her heart of hearts that Tack was IT for her, but the way he acted and treated her and lived his life screamed that he’s NOT “it”. He might be hot and sexy and smart and even charming in his own way, but he is crass and insensitive and selfish and doesn’t fit into the mold of her dream man in any way, shape or form.

Thankfully Tack had more staying power than Tyra, and he refused to let her walk away. He was like a machine bulldozing his way into her life, her thoughts, her heart. He claimed her and that was that – done deal for him. Tack lives large in every way. He works hard to keep Chaos and Ride on the (sort of) straight and narrow. He parties even harder – he’s a beer-drinking, dirty-talking, sex-loving biker dude who wants everything on his terms. Compromise is not in his vocabulary at all, but once someone is in his fold, he takes care of them above all else.

Tack was such a hard hero for me to like. I loved everything about him that Tyra did – he was strong and sexy and protective and could be very, very (surprisingly) sweet. He was also the biggest alpha jerk on the planet and his “my way or the highway” attitude rankled me. I get that it’s the way he lives his life, but I feel that Tyra made a lot more concessions to live in his world than he did to let her in. I understand why that was, though I didn’t like it. Tyra realized that before Tack entered her world, she was simply existing in black and white. Tack brought color to her life and even though there was a lot of anger, pain and frustration to go with the highs of romance with Tack, she had never felt more alive.

That pretty much sums up how I felt about this book. After reading in black and white, Motorcycle Man is a huge splash of color. It is loud and vibrant and full of attitude. It’s full of crude language (Tack’s dirty talk – oh my Lord!) and tender moments, violence and humor. Tyra and Tack finally found what they needed in each other, and some of the most touching & romantic moments I’ve ever read happened in this book. If I could give it ten stars I would.

I give Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley 5 stars!

Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley (Dream Man #1)

Available: Now Amazon/ B&N

Type: Contemporary Romance/Erotic Romance

Publisher: Hachette

My Copy: Borrowed

Reviewer: Michelle

While drinking cosmopolitans, Gwendolyn Kidd meets the man of her dreams. Then she takes him home. Then she wakes up alone. But her fear that she lost her dream man turns into a relationship with a mystery man when, night after night in the dead of night, he comes back for more. Hoping it will blossom into something real, she lets him.

But she doesn’t even know his name.
Gwen’s struggling with the decision to end their crazy non-relationship when her sister-from-hell, Ginger’s best friend pays a visit and warns Gwen that if she and her sister don’t get smart, they’ll both get d-e-a-d, dead. Gwen has no clue what’s going on but she’s used to Ginger’s antics and decides to lay the problem on her sister’s biker boyfriend’s doorstep. Bad choice. She hits the Denver Underground radar with a big, loud ping.

This means Gwen’s Mystery Man, Cabe “Hawk” Delgado has to step in to keep her safe. But when Hawk gets a dose of Gwen in the daylight, he makes the decision that he finally wants real with Gwen. However when Gwen gets a dose of badass, bossy, straight-talker Hawk in the daylight, she decides she’s done.

Thus begins the head-to-head of the Commando vs. Cosmo Girl as Hawk woos Gwen in his own unique way, Gwen survives firebombs, drive-bys, kidnappings, hot pursuits by biker hotties and gorgeous police detectives and discovers the heartbreaking reason why Hawk kept her at arm’s length.

And as all this happens, Gwen finds that her sister’s troubles are serious trouble and she must decide who to keep alive: her sister-from-hell or the man of her dreams.

 

If Kristen Ashley had visited my subconscious one night while I slept and taken every wishful thought/dream I’d had about men, she couldn’t have gotten a hero’s character any more right. Everything that I love and lust after in a romance hero was packed into Cabe “Hawk” Delgado.

Hawk was such a complex character. He was Gwen’s “Mystery Man”…. a guy she picked up one night, promptly took home to have wild sex with, and continued the sexy hook-ups with for a year and a half without even learning his name. He would show up in the night, make crazy love to her, then leave before dawn. The only things she knew about him were how fantastic a kisser he was and how terrific he was in bed. Once the mask drops after Gwen’s shit hits the fan, so to speak (thanks to her sister’s problems), you see more of Cabe Delgado and not just “Hawk”. He is alpha to the core: HOT, successful, powerful, protective, arrogant, strong, sexy and even sometimes sweet. He is also very, very emotionally wounded. Despite that, he’s determined to give Gwen everything she wants just because he likes the look on her face when he surprises her. Throughout the book you are treated to little glimpses into the real Hawk and by the time he fully lets go with Gwen, my heart was a total marshmallow right along with hers.

Gwen was very easy to like. She was fun and funny, fussy and a little crazy and more sensitive and vulnerable than she’d like anyone to know. She fiercely loves her family (even her estranged sister on whom the blame for all of her recent troubles can be blamed) and her friends. She loves high heels and drinks cosmos and has a weakness for men who take control of her life. She was complete mush when it came to Hawk, despite everything. He was a total mystery to her for a year and a half, and yet she never once turned him away. Her best friends warned her away from him over & over and she ignored them. Once he became more than her midnight sex buddy, it was a done deal for her because she was already so deeply into him there was no getting out.

Their relationship was very messy. They fought. A lot. He didn’t like a lot of the things she did. She didn’t like a lot of things he did. They hurt each other, more than once. They each had a profound weakness for the other, though, and were powerless against that. When Gwen’s sister Ginger becomes targeted by some very bad people, and the fallout hit’s Gwen, Hawk the commando takes over. He does everything in his power to protect her and keep her safe, while also working to get Ginger out of her mess.

This book wasn’t pretty. It was really long. Or maybe it just seems that way because I re-read so many parts because I couldn’t get enough. It was often violent, and the language was foul. The relationships were very, very complicated. Gwen was fun and feisty and just a little bit ditzy sometimes (or maybe naive?). Hawk was arrogant and extremely bossy and almost cold, especially in the beginning. On the flip side, this book was full of smartass women, badass commandos and biker dudes who really appreciate smartass women. It had romantic scenes, sexy scenes, rescue scenes and scenes that tugged the heartstrings. I laughed out loud more times than I can count (mostly at Gwen), cried out loud too, and became SO invested in these two and their happy ever after.

I give Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley 5 stars!

Shades Of Gray by Maya Banks (KGI #6)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Berkley

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Nikki 

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super-elite, top secret, family-run business. Qualifications: High intelligence, rock-hard body, military background. Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the U.S. government can’t…

P.J. and Cole were sharpshooting rivals on the same KGI team and enjoyed a spirited, uncomplicated camaraderie. Until the night they gave in to their desires and suddenly took their relationship one step further. In the aftermath of their one-night stand, they’re called out on a mission that goes terribly wrong, and P.J. walks away from KGI, resolved not to drag her teammates into the murky shadows she’s poised to delve into.

Six months later, Cole hasn’t given up his search for P.J., and he’s determined to bring her back home where she belongs. Bent on vengeance, P.J. has plunged into a serpentine game of payback that will make her question everything she’s ever believed in. But Cole—and the rest of their team—refuse to let her go it alone. Even if it means sacrificing their loyalty to KGI, and their lives…

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Where do I begin without giving everything away? I certainly don’t want to do that but I found this book so amazing that it may be hard for me to keep a lid on it.

After a simple mission goes very wrong, PJ is left trying to pick up the pieces. Alone. Not wanting to drag her team down with her she sets out on a journey of vengeance with her sights set on a deadly foe.

Intent on not letting PJ suffer alone, Cole never gives up the search for her. Crossing paths months later, Cole vows to help her end her tormentors. Along with the entire team, they will face her demons. Together.

I’ve wanted PJ and Cole’s book for so long so when I heard it was finally coming I sat on the edge of my seat until I got it in my hands. I made the mistake of trying to read it at work because 60 pages in I found myself sobbing uncontrollably. PJ gets put in such a horrible situation, every woman’s nightmare, even one as strong and remarkable as herself she grapples with the emotional aftermath. Banks sets the pace early and puts her characters through the darkest most gut wrenching journey I’ve seen from her yet. PJ is such a strong woman, capable of taking care of herself and in many ways, better at her sniper job then her male counterparts. Extremely closed off, PJ is a loner, Burned by her last team she’s skiddish and standoffish with her personal life and she allows no one to get close.

A few drinks and one lonely night her and Cole hook up and what follows is explosive and neither one is prepared for it. When her mission goes severely wrong Cole tries to reach her but her sense of pride causes her to run from her team. When they finally catch up to the broken woman they find her in over her head and join with her to finish her very personal mission. PJ takes a very emotional roller coaster ride through this book, one that had me crying with her and wanting to kill a few people myself.

Banks takes a huge risk with this one. After readers (not me) had trouble with the appearance of paranormal aspects in the middle of a suspense series, I’m surprised she’d take a risk this soon after. Some readers are going to have a lot of trouble with the deep emotional turmoil this one involves. I think Banks did a remarkable job with the touchy subject matter and does herself justice with Shades Of Gray. I really enjoyed PJ and Cole’s slowly evolving relationship and thought PJ’s own personal evolving was real and spot on. There isn’t a lot of sex in this one…but don’t worry, there is a reason and it doesn’t affect how I feel about them as a couple at all. Cole has got to be the best hero I’ve read in a long time. Completely understanding, gentle and fierce. I’d want any of these guys to have my back!

Shades of Gray provides non stop action that will keep readers engrossed from beginning to end. No one writes romantic suspense quite like Maya Banks and I look forward to each and every release. This is now one of my favorite 2012 reads. I want a KGI book for every single character! I’m in love with these guys and don’t want to say goodbye for a very long time!

I give Shades of Gray by Maya Banks 5 stars! 

Forever A Lord by Delilah Marvelle (The Rumor #3)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Harlequin

My Copy: NetGalley

Reviewer: Pam

He’s a fighter, not a lover. But that’s about to change… Lady Imogene Norwood lives a sheltered life of quiet respectability and routine…until she debuts at her first Season. There among London’s elite she meets the wild and broken Lord Atwood. And the very shy English rose suddenly realizes that a little chaos might just be what her heart desires.

Lord Nathaniel James Atwood doesn’t believe true love exists. Since scandal tore him away from his family at an early age, he has spent his life fighting for what he wants. That attitude has made him a rising star in bare-knuckle boxing, and now leads him back to London to reclaim the life that was stolen from him. But upon meeting the innocent Imogene, his beliefs are trounced…as guarding his heart against her proves to be the fight of his life.

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This is a heartrending and wonderful story that finishes a dark historical trilogy. I loved this story and was an emotional wreck while reading as it took me through a roller coaster ride of emotions.

Edward Coleman has had a rough life, filled with gambling, drinking and boxing. He has lived in eleven different parts of New York City avoiding creditors, his wife and his mother-in-law. However his mother-in-law eventually finds him to give him the grim news that his wife has died. Jane was someone Coleman had tried to save once; however he could never get her to stop drinking, which was what eventually killed her. His mother-in-law also brought information that Jane had been in contact with some gentlemen about an advertisement in the newspaper which stated: Information wanted: A British boy by the name of Nathaniel James Atwood who disappeared in the year

1800 under suspicious circumstances is being sought out by his family. Coleman is stunned that after all these years someone is finally looking for him.

Coleman’s best friend Matthew was confused as he had known Coleman for eight years and never knew he was married or an aristo. Coleman never gave up much about himself and kept many secrets. Over the years Coleman and Matthew always tried to help others living in the Five Points area as much as possible, they created the Forty Thieves to help those less fortunate; however Coleman now realizes he must deal with his past and future in order to move on. He believes that if he answers the advertisement he can put to rest the boy known as Nathaniel.

Coleman goes to the Hotel to meet up with the Duke of Wentworth and Lord Yardley, he plans to tell them that Nathaniel died years ago, get the reward and be done, however as soon as they tell him that his beloved sister (Augustine/Auggie) was dead he succumbs to grief, and they realize that he is Nathaniel. He learns that Auggie devoted her entire life to trying to find him and kept a diary about everything she was thinking. He also finds out that both his mother and father are still alive, however no one ever informed his parents that they have been looking because his sister always believed their father was responsible for the disappearance. It takes him several months to get things straightened out enough to finally take a trip with Matthew to England.

Imogene Norwood is a sheltered young woman, her brother Henry has tried to keep her safe after she suffered at the hands of a governess when she was young. Yet she is always worrying about her brother, as she believes the reason for the problems he faces are because of her. He married a woman he hates because he needed money and is miserable and wants out of the marriage. He spends most of his time watching the fights and believes if only he had some extra money to sponsor a fighter they could win the Championship of England. Imogene finds out about Henry’s wish and decides that with a small inheritance she will help him get his freedom as well as her independence.

Henry spots Coleman while he is teaching other young men to fight, noticing right away that he is the man that could win the championship. Coleman and Henry talk and eventually they make their way to Henry’s home where Coleman meets Imogene and they both create a lasting impression for each other. After a few days of negotiations Imogene decides that the only way to keep Coleman from ducking out of his obligations (which he is known to do) is to make a marriage bargain with him which can be dissolved after the big fight. Word spreads that the missing heir and Lady Imogene are married and that he is training to fight for the Championship of England. The town is buzzing as the citizens try to find out more information about the pair.

Coleman knows that the real reason he is in England is that he must face his past, he visits his father who does not acknowledge that he is Nathaniel. Coleman tells him that although he has forgiven his abductor (Casacalenda), he will never forgive him for what he did.

Coleman is a man that is hurting and has never trusted anyone enough to tell his story to; he believes those that know him will look at him differently. However as he and Imogene spend time together he finally trusts her enough to tell his tale as it is a painful story of broken hearts, abandonment and secrets, enough secrets to destroy a family. As the big fight looms, Coleman and Imogene grow closer and realize they can withstand anything as long as they are together.

I loved this story; actually the whole series was wonderful. The compelling heartbreaking story started with the novella and the characters are all interwoven together throughout the series. You could probably read individually however all the books together give you the total picture as there is an overall story arc and the timelines overlap. You can see that the characters, Imogene and Coleman belonged together, that the chemistry works, you felt the hurt that Coleman has been feeling all these years. And as he cries while telling his story to Imogene, I was crying also.

 

I give Forever a Lord by Delilah Marvelle 5 stars!

Angel In Chains by Cynthia Eden (The Fallen #3)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Kensington

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Nikki

As a fallen Angel of Death, Azrael is cursed to walk the earth alone in search of redemption. One night, as he wanders the streets of New Orleans, he discovers a woman surrounded by panther shifters. No longer able to contain the anger simmering within, Az summons his dark powers and attacks, determined to protect this innocent human from certain death.

Only Jade Pierce is no delicate flower. She’s spent years learning to survive and fight the evil forces sent by her ex-lover who refuses to let her go. But after seeing Az in action, she figures she could use a little supernatural help. And so she plans a course of seduction guaranteed to arouse his interest and his angelic passions…

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I LOVE THIS BOOK! After reading the first two books in this series I was eager for Az to get a book because his outlook was so flawed that he just needed to get shown the way. After being an angel for so long, Az has seen just about everything. With a huge chip on his shoulder he has passed judgement on just about everything never realizing that his own time was coming. Now cast out of heaven all he wants is to get back in. Rescuing a damsel in distress is just what he needs to turn the tides back in his favor.

Jade has been on the run from her destructive ex for years. He has been a constant fear and she’s grown tired of running. Az provides her the opportunity to finally be able to be rid of him for good. Though she has no intention of allowing herself to grow attached to Az she finds that his magnetic draw and alpha personality make her wish she could indulge in him, just for a while.

I enjoyed Az immensely. In the beginning he is unwilling to admit his growing attraction to Jade because admitting to feelings at all proves he’s been on earth to long. Emotions are strictly forbidden to angels and to gain access back to heaven Az must prove he is worthy. He doesn’t understand that his showing of emotions started long ago with his rage towards fellow angels and that he was supposed to fall from grace all along. His ineptitude in processing emotions in his physical attraction was, dare I say, cute. There is just something about the alpha male being shown how to love that gets me every time.

I felt bad for Jade but understood her inability to let Az in when they first meet. With a gruesome background like hers I got why she was scared for Az, though he is certainly way sturdier then any of the past men who gotten killed because of her. Yes, her skittishness was understandable and she fought it for a commendable amount of time. I loved her tenacity to protect him even in light of the knowledge  of what he was and how hard it is to injure him. I always enjoy reading heroines who fight not only their attraction but also fight for what they believe in.

Cynthia Eden never fails to entertain with her incredible world building and even better characters! Her heroines are smart, capable and always have a flaw that makes them vulnerable to those who manage to get close. Strong, incredibly gorgeous heros with abs of unbreakable steel round out her equation for greatness and each time I find myself engrossed and eager to turn page after page. Each book provides the readers with a world worthy of escaping to. I would recommend reading this series in order so you can see the full progression of Az and further understand where he came from and the hangups he has in Angel In Chains. Edens Fallen series is a definite favorite of mine and I hope we get more from these deliciously flawed angels!

I give Angel In Chains by Cynthia Eden 5 stars! 

A Dangerous Liaison With Detective Lewis by Jillian Stone (The Gentlemen Of Scotland Yard #2)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Pocket Books

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Pam

The fates had been perversely mischievous of late—case in point, Raphael Lewis. . . .

When Fanny Greyville-Nugent’s father suffers a gruesome death in the clutches of his own machine, mourning his loss is not the beautiful heiress’s only heartbreak. Scotland Yard is convinced he was targeted in a plot to halt the rise of industry, and Fanny’s former fiancé, dashing and dubious detective Raphael “Rafe” Lewis has been assigned to the case.

For the estranged ex-lovers, bringing the notorious assassins to justice proves as tumultuous as quelling pent-up desires. Fighting peril and passion at every turn of a dangerous journey from Edinburgh to London, they are pursued by an anarchist group hell-bent on destroying her father’s mysterious entry into the London Industrial Exposition.

When an astonishing discovery about the couple’s failed engagement surfaces, the sleuthing duo realize they can trust no one. Rafe confesses new details about his infidelity and Fanny risks all to avenge her father’s murder. But will Rafe and Fanny triumph over the pain of their past?

London 1887

I so enjoyed this story, a fascinating book from start to finish. Ms. Stone has a wonderful voice and so far I have loved all her books.

Raphael Lewis St. Aldwyn or Rafe as most know him is a detective with Scotland Yard and is working a stakeout with fellow detective Flynn when they hear of the death of a wealthy industrialist. Zeno, the number two Yardman who works with Flynn and Rafe, explain that there may be another murder in the mix as there is a mysterious death up in Edinburgh, they are worried the two may be related. As Flynn is on his way to find the torso of the dead gentleman in London, Zeno is sending Rafe to Scotland to investigate and provide protection for the daughter, Francine. Rafe tries to explain that there is history between the daughter and him; however Zeno says it is too late since he already sent the other inspectors away, plus Zeno knows it is where Rafe is from.

Ambrose Greyville-Nugent died in a thrasher accident; however there are reasons to believe it was not an accident after all. His daughter Francine is expected to take over the running of the business and since Scotland Yard is worried the two deaths are related, Rafe is being sent to not only investigate the death but to also protect Fanny as they think she could be the next target.

The property of Greyville-Nugent borders Rafe’s family’s land in Edinburgh and Rafe and Fanny were childhood friends and later set to marry, that is until the evening of the announcement when he had to tell Ambrose he could not marry his daughter. Fanny never knew why and has not spoken to Rafe since that night; the only relative that he has kept in touch is his aunt Vertiline.

Rafe goes to Ambrose’ funeral and the whispers begin to fly as people notice him, his mother is angry and will not speak to him and Fanny is furious he is there for the funeral of her father but in five years never tried to contact her. He explains that Scotland Yard is suspicious of the death and is investigating; he will be questioning anyone that may have been a witness. He also drops the bomb that he is there to protect her. She is furious and demands to know what happened five years ago with their engagement, however when she finds out that he could not marry her because he was already married she is heartbroken.

Rafe eventually explains that he was depressed five years ago when Fanny was away on vacation and Nigel (a so called friend) took him out for some drinks where he met and spent the evening with a woman who got pregnant, Rafe did the right thing and married her. Ceilia was very sick and died after giving birth six months after he had broken the betrothal, yet Rafe still did not contact Fanny. Rafe had many reasons for not contacting her, some because he did not know what to say and some because he found out that his family was quite broke and he believed they only wanted him to marry her for her money, which he would not do.

As Rafe and Fanny investigate the death of her father they realize they are being followed and at one point the villains grab Fanny and Rafe is in a panic to find her. After being reunited they race across the countryside trying to get to Glasgow before the killers get to them. They encounter many friends and foe along the way however they have a hard time telling them apart. The flight continues after Glasgow as they fight their way back to London, where more surprises await Fanny.

Can you say adventure? This book does not let up and you are thrown onto the ride and feel the sensations from the start. The two are struggling with their feelings, Rafe wants nothing more than a second chance with Fanny yet she is scared to death and not sure she is ready to forgive. The emotional ups and downs are heartbreaking and feel true. I love the relationship between these two. They really care for each other however mistakes and misunderstandings continue to get in the way of happiness. I enjoyed meeting new characters and revisiting the Yardmen from the past and look forward to more.

I give A Dangerous Liaison with Detective Lewis by Jillian Stone 5 stars! 

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King Of The Damned by Juliana Stone (League Of Guardians #2)

Available: November 27, 2012 Amazon/B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Avon

My Copy: Edelweiss

Reviewer: Nikki

For millennia the struggle between light and dark, between the upper and lower realms, has been policed by a secret group of warriors culled from every fabric of existence. They are both otherworld and human, male and female. They are light and dark themselves and known to each other as the League of Guardians. Their pledge, to protect the line between dominions and make sure neither side grows too powerful. If they fall, so shall the earth, the heavens and hell. And there will be no more.

With darkness all around him, The League of Guardians is his only means of redemption…

Azaiel, the fallen, has been given a second chance to atone for the sins of his past. With demons gathering and threatening the league, he must find out if their circle has been breached. What he doesn’t foresee is a woman—a fierce warrior—who will turn his world upside down and awaken his tortured soul.

Rowan James is a powerful witch out to avenge the death of her beloved grandmother, but she needs an ally. Will she be able to trust a man with secrets as dark as the sorrow in his eyes? Loving Rowan means risking salvation and yet Azaiel cannot ignore the hunger burning hot between them—his one last chance at happiness. With danger all around them, will these two desperate souls finally find love in each other? Or be forever damned…

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Rowan has been running for years. Running from her past and her family legacy. Excelling at her job and finally in a “safe” relationship she heads home to Salem for a much needed visit with her grandmother only to be confronted with her death. Salem is slowly being infiltrated by demons intent on making her family suffer in their search for her. Long ago she was given to a high level demon. She’s thwarted his attempts to find her by shutting down her mark burned into her skin in the past. Now faced with the only solution of taking him down, Rowan must tap back into her power along with her new found friends and family in a fight to the death.

Centuries ago Azaiel let lust be his downfall and he vows to never fall victim to a woman again. It cost him his position with his brothers and banished him from his home making his less then them but still more then human. He knows he can never allow Rowan to be taken by the demons because the power she harnesses could be the destruction of them all but he soon realizes that killing her isn’t an option. The witch is slowly breaking the mile high walls of steel he has built around himself.

King Of The Damned by Juliana Stone simply put is freaking awesome! I loved this book and the series is really starting to heat up! What I loved most was how capable Rowan was. She’s a heroine who has unimaginable power (think witch on steroids) on her own and she really doesn’t need help. She doesn’t shy away from confrontation and she lets the men tag along with her. I love a woman who doesn’t NEED help. A woman who can take care of herself. What made it even better was how Azaiel knew this and let her grow into her powers on her own while he stayed vigilant in the background watching her back for her. Azaiel….oh man, that was one hot hero! I fell just a little bit in love with the self loathing man. He was so hard on himself because of his past and his fall from his brothers. I enjoyed watching him wriggle with all the new emotions that Rowan evoked in him and his inner turmoil of letting her in. I do love to see the characters suffer before they get together and Juliana Stone wrung every drop of emotion from their stubborn bodies.

I have no idea how book one and book two are going to tie together but I think I’m going to like it. This is an ambitious story arc that includes a lot of different players…ok, mostly otherworld players. From shifters, angels and fae to witches and gargoyles  this one has got something for just about everyone. Though Stone doesn’t go into it to much in this book it’s obvious there is a breach in security with the guardians that will eventually catch up to them. Packed with action scenes to get your blood pressure up and smoking sex scenes to get your heart pounding. There’s this one public sex scene that seriously sent me over the edge. Probably one of the hottest scenes I’ve read this year. I may have read it twice….ok three times. *wink wink*

Rowans resentment of her mother fuels her need to break the curse that marked her as a demon lords property. Her weak willed mother holds the key to finding the spell capable of taking him down but she sold it to fulfill her addictions. Rowan holds such animosity towards her mother for her inability to overcome her own destructive personality. In addition to a strained relationship with her own twin brother and half her extended family, just about everyone is both standing in her way and trying to help her out. Stone goes out of her way to set future story lines for Rowans brother who hasn’t come into any powers yet. Their lineage is revealed and his own legacy is mentioned shrouded in mystery. Though he currently holds no power, I have a feeling he’ll be quite fearsome when he finally starts to change.

King Of The Damned is a book about redemption, sacrifice,  faith and forgiveness. In order to survive both Rowan and Azaiel will have to move on from the past to have any future. Full of surprising secondary characters who all need their stories told including a mischievousness charmed donkey (ok, maybe not his story but he is flipping hilarious). I have it on good authority that Priest and Nico will both get books in the future.

I really enjoyed this one and look forward to continuing this series in the future. I recommend you read these in order for the best understanding but it can also be read on it’s own fairly easily . Juliana Stone makes her world jump right off the page and putting this book down just isn’t an option!

I give King Of The Damned by Juliana Stone 5 stars!

Reflected In You by Sylvia Day (Crossfire #2)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Berkley

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Nikki

Gideon Cross. As beautiful and flawless on the outside as he was damaged and tormented on the inside. He was a bright, scorching flame that singed me with the darkest of pleasures. I couldn’t stay away. I didn’t want to. He was my addiction… my every desire… mine.

My past was as violent as his, and I was just as broken. We’d never work. It was too hard, too painful… except when it was perfect. Those moments when the driving hunger and desperate love were the most exquisite insanity. We were bound by our need. And our passion would take us beyond our limits to the sweetest, sharpest edge of obsession…

I read reviews after reading this book which I never ever do. Ok I really didn’t so much as “read” reviews as read the first sentence of a bunch of reviews on Goodreads. Overall this book is getting high marks but there are some who don’t connect with the characters and have written the series off. That’s okay and I get it. Normally the tables are turned and if a book is a sensation and all my friends loved it I will inevitably end up hating it. Maybe because of the pressure to love it at that point or maybe because I’m a strange reader.

In book one, Bared To You, we were introduced to the filthy rich Gideon Cross and the complex Eva Trammell. Both were scarred from  hideous pasts that had shaped them into who they are today. Gideon is 100% alpha male whose obsession with Eva skirts the line of psychotic and extremely troubling. Though she challenges him at every turn, I was often torn between emotions. There were times I wanted her to tell him exactly what she thought of his high-handed ways and other times I cussed her out for acting like such a selfish child.

By the time I got my hands on book two it had been months and months since I had read Bared To You. *Shaking fists to heaven* But it afforded me the ability to take a step back and breathe through the emotionally damaged roller coaster that is these two people’s relationship. It’s a fast ride too because by the end of book one they’d only been dating for a few weeks and yet they are in couples therapy. *Snort* Seeing as though they each have a entire airports worth of baggage, probably a good idea but really? Can you see any flesh and blood man agreeing to go to therapy after a few weeks of dating? Yeah. Me either.

Reflected In You wrung me out. I was exhausted by the end of it. The push of Gideon’s will against the stands Eva takes on her privacy were a constant source of friction. Gideon harbors secrets that he refuses to tell Eva and of course creates animosity and resentment in her. I was amazed at myself while reading. Normally Gideon’s behavior would appall me.  He is controlling, smothering and his word is law. Sylvia Day has written a character I should hate but his depth, his expressive nature and ok…the sex…the dirty dirty sex…had me and Eva both coming back for the punishment of his nature.  Gideon is seriously flawed and Eva’s presence in his life is basically the only thing keeping him from going on a downward hate spiral. Healthy? Nope but seriously romantic. I’m so twisted. I want to be the only source of comfort in someone’s life, lol. Without me they just can’t go on. They’d do ANYTHING to keep me. *Sigh*. Yeah.

Eva is just as damaged as Gideon. Her self loathing, fear of betrayal and complete lack of trust in Gideon (even though I can say things stack up against him quickly and look really bad) make a hard relationship even harder. She behaves like most women in crazy relationships and for that I can’t fault her. Most women want, at one time or another, to make their man just a bit jealous. There is a line though and she does cross it. Again I felt torn with her character. Her behavior can come across childish and selfish but at least her heart was in the right place and when push comes to shove she stands up for Gideon against everyone who has done him wrong. I had to cheer her on for that.

I did see a few things coming regarding the ending of Reflected In You. I wish I could say I was surprised, but I really wasn’t. I can say that what did surprise me was the complexity of the ending. It was very Ocean’s Eleven. The believability from the detectives was a bit over the top because they would never act the way they did, but having said that, it was well wrote. I spent a good chunk of the book thinking Gideon was a complete tool, sexy as all hell but still a tool. By the end I understood and I may have swooned just a little.

Reflected In You is an amazing sequel to Bared To You! I adored it! It broke me out of a book slump I had been suffering with for weeks and for that I am grateful.

Dark and compelling, I give Reflected In You by Sylvia Day 5 stars!