Wilder Brothers Series by Jill Shalvis and GIVEAWAY

Over the next couple of months Kensington Brava is re-releasing one of my favorite series by Jill Shalvis! The Wilder Brothers series is a trilogy about three rugged, adventure men, the Wilder Brothers. Cameron, TJ and Stone are wildly entertaining along with 100% sexy. Each book delves a bit deeper into the dynamics of these three men and the family ties that bind them closely together emotionally as well as professionally. Jill Shalvis delivers with witty writing, great stories and wonderful comedic timing! Contemporary romance at it’s finest, Shalvis is a go to author for me no matter what mood I’m in.

Check out this incredible series! I am going to give away one copy of each book to ONE winner. I will open this up to anyone that can have things shipped by The Book Depository (they do international free shipping to most countries). Open till 10/31/ 12 @ 11:59pm EST. Simply comment to enter and answer these questions:

Are you an indoor or outdoor person? Could you work for an adventure company?

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The first in a sensational new series, Jill Shalvis introduces Cameron, Stone, and T.J. Wilder—three bad-boy heroes who effortlessly mix breathtaking adventure and scorching sex appeal…

Get Wild…And Then Get Wilder…
Accountant Katie Kramer is a quintessential good girl—working hard, recycling diligently, all the while trying to ignore the feeling that she doesn’t fit in anywhere. That’s all she wants. Well, that—and amazing sex, and the kind of daredevil escapade she can look back on when she’s crunching numbers in a dusty cubicle. Which explains why she just took a job in Wishful, California, working for Wilder Adventures and Expeditions. Waking up to find a magnificently built stranger towering over her bed—that part defies explanation…

After wandering the planet for months following a life-changing accident, Cameron Wilder has come back to the only home he knows. Under other circumstances, he might be thrilled to find a gorgeous woman sleeping in his cabin, but now, while he’ll risk his body taking clients on adrenaline-drenched excursions, his heart is off limits. Still, Katie’s killer smile triggers something deep in his gut…among other places. Showing her how exhilarating it can be to stop balancing her life as if it was a checkbook is the biggest rush he’s ever felt—and an adventure Katie’s wishing would never end…

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The Doctor Is In Deep

Wishful, California, is 3000 miles from Dr. Emma Sinclair’s last job in a New York City ER. It may as well be another galaxy. Here, running her father’s clinic for a summer, Emma treats bee stings, stomach flu, and the occasional pet cat. Plus, she has to contend with patients like Stone Wilder: gorgeous, laid-back, and irritating beyond belief. The man laughs at her. A lot. And Emma loathes him. All except that tiny part of her that wants to throw him on her examining table and break every doctor-patient rule in the book. . .

When Stone tries to help Emma learn to loosen up a bit, he pictures white-water rafting or scenic mountain hikes. Not a mind-blowing affair that shakes them both to the core. Emma’s sure she has no place in a town like Wishful, but Stone knows different. Emma belongs here – in this town, in his life. And convincing this strong-minded, stubborn, sexy woman of that fact will be a challenge no Wilder man could resist. . .

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To Harley, the landscape around Wishful, California, is exhilarating, untamed, and more than a little dangerous. The same could be said for T.J. Wilder, who’s invited himself along on her trek to study a rare coyote. Harley’s career is riding on this trip, and she doesn’t need a stubborn, incredibly sexy distraction. But T.J. is a professional guide who knows when to stay back and when to provide invaluable expertise – just like he’s done since they were in high school. And Harley, as usual, is torn between throttling him and giving in to the raw attraction that’s been smoldering all these years. T.J. knows how proud and capable Harley is, but he’s damned sure not letting her put herself at risk when there are illegal hunters in the area. She needs him, with the same soul-stirring urgency that he’s always craved her. And here, in this beautiful place days from civilization, he’ll finally have a chance to prove it – over and over again…

*Thank you to Kensington for sending me copies of the book!! If the winner is US they will get those, international will come from The Book Depository* 

Howl For It – Anthology by Shelly Laurenston & Cynthia Eden

 

Available: Now Amazon/ B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Brava

My Copy: Sent

They hunger for your pleasure. They growl for your touch. And in these sizzling stories by New York Times bestselling author Shelly Laurenston and Cynthia Eden, these sexy wolf shapeshifters are lust at first bite. . .

“Like A Wolf With A Bone” by Shelly Laurenston
Quiet little Darla Lewis couldn’t be happier when the most-feared member of the South’s rowdiest pack kidnaps her. A girl gets real tired of being overprotected by her own shifter family, and there’s nothing like an oh-so-big bad wolf to start a pack feud, unleash her instincts–and have her surrender however and whenever she wants. . .

“Wed Or Dead” by Cynthia Eden
Gage Ryder knew his human bride had a wild side. But spending their honeymoon night on the run from hunters out to finish him and his pack is sure not the kind of fun he was looking forward to. No problem–Gage will do whatever it takes to lay bare Kayla’s secrets and find the truth. If he can keep from being captured by his own seductive game. . .

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Like A Wolf With A Bone – Awesome novella addition to Laurenston’s Pack series! I didn’t realize going into this one that it was a prequel of sorts. It actually takes place in the 70′s and is essentially the start of the series with the first couple we’d only seen in passing, Darla and Eggie. First off, love the name Eggie and how Laurenston took me from snorting at the absurdity of the name to finding it endearing quite quickly. Eggie is a big, bad, feared addition to the pack and her prefers to stay on his own…until he rescues Darla from some murdering humans and whisks her away to safety at his house. I enjoyed the look back into this family and coming to understand the dynamics that the two play even in the present. As always a whole slue of secondary characters familiar with the series make appearances that light up the pages with shenanigans unique to this series! Hysterical interactions ensue making this one a captivating and entertaining read!

Laurenston writes southern charm and wit like no one else I have ever read. Her books never cease to make me laugh at the antics of the characters and their egos that know no bounds. Great novella!

Wed or Dead – If you know me at all, you already know that Cynthia Eden is one of my favorite authors. For me to not like her book would take…..well, I don’t really know because it’s never happened. So yeah, I enjoyed this stand alone novella. But really, you should have known that the moment you saw Cynthia Eden’s name on the book.

Kayla is a trained hunter meant to take down the leader of a local pack of wolves named Gage under any circumstances. Even if those circumstances involve marrying him. Which she totally does, but for more reasons then to finish him off after their honeymoon bliss. Gage has grown on her and despite orders and her many secrets she can’t reveal to him, she sides with him. What follows is a whirlwind novella that kept me glued to the pages. In a short amount of time an entire story is told, way more then what you would normally get with this length of book.

Wed or Dead, while being a story line we should all be familiar with at this point (hunter and animal), was a solid read that I enjoyed from beginning to end. It was an easy read full of smoking hot alpha males and a pretty smart (overall) heroine that could hold her own in any situation. Eden writes incredible sex scenes and for that alone I must say..WOW.

Great anthology!

I give Howl For It by Shelly Laurenston and Cynthia Eden 4 stars! 

 

Master Of Sin by Maggie Robinson (Courtesan Court #4)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Brava

My Copy: Sent

Andrew Rossiter has used his gorgeous body and angelic face for all they’re worth—shocking the proper, seducing the willing, and pleasuring the wealthy. But with a young son depending on him for rescue, suddenly discretion is far more important than desire. He’ll have to quench his desires—fast. And he’ll have to find somewhere his scandalous reputation hasn’t yet reached… 

Miss Gemma Peartree seems like a plain, virginal governess—or so she hopes. No matter how many sparks fly between them, she has too much to hide to catch Andrew’s eye. But with a stormy Scottish winter driving them together, it will be hard to keep her secrets. Especially when Andrew feels he has found the woman who can restore his soul—one kiss at a time…

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Well, I hate to say it, but this is a DNF for me. I have looked forward to this book since first seeing Andrew grace the page and when I found out he was getting his own book I literally squealed. Yes…literally. I wanted to love this book so very much and yet….I just didn’t. I only made it maybe 1/3 of the way in and the book was dragging so much that I just had to put it down. I did skim ahead a bit to see if things improved and I didn’t see anything that would make me want to go ahead.

I think I just have a rocky relationship with this series. I loved book 1. Book 2 was “meh”. Book 3 was really very enjoyable and now a dnf for book 4. There just wasn’t enough happening in this one to keep me interested. I wanted more by the time they actually had sex. Both Gemma and Andrew were harboring their own secrets but when they finally both came clean, nada…nothing…zilch. I didn’t feel connected to the story line at all. As much of a buildup as Andrew was portrayed I didn’t find the sex scene as appealing as I wanted either. In the end I wanted…..more.

I have faith in Maggie Robinson so this won’t stop me from reading more from her as well as her other books under the name Margaret Rowe. Have you read Tempting Eden  (Excuse the formatting issues with that review)? One of my favorite books of all time. For reals.

I give a DNF rating to Master Of Sin by Maggie Robinson 

Bear Meets Girl by Shelly Laurenston (Pride #7)

 

Available: March 27, 2012 Amazon/B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Brava

My Copy: Sent

He’s big, burly, and way smarter than your average shapeshifting bear. He’s also about to get trapped by own his game. . .

Lou Crushek is a reasonable, mellow, easygoing kind of guy. But once someone starts killing the scumbags he works so hard to bust, that really gets under his fur. Especially when that someone is a curvy she-tiger with a skill set that’s turning Crush’s lone-bear world upside down–and bringing his passion out of hibernation. . .

As a member of an elite feline protection unit, Marcella Malone has no problem body-dropping anyone who hunts her kind. But Crush is proving one major pain in her gorgeous tail. The only reason she’s joined forces with him is to track down the wealthy human who’s got her entire species in his ruthless sights. It sure isn’t because Crush’s stubborn and contrary attitude is rubbing Cella in all the right ways. . .

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Waking up with a beautiful female draped across his chest, Crush can’t remember what happened the night before. Being a cop usually means he stay in complete control at all times. Those jello shots certainly did him in. The female, a Siberian Tiger named Cella turns out to be the most annoying female he’s ever met. And now he can’t get rid of her.  She’s not only in his house but she’s also the enforcer for his favorite hockey team.

Cella is used to doing everything on her own. Sure, she has tons of family but she has even more pride. Why let someone else do it if you can do it yourself. The polar bear is just what she’s looking for to have a bit of fun. He is uptight and way to quiet. When they end up working together on a case will it make opposites attract? Or is it all fun and games?

 

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Shelly Laurenston is quickly climbing my author hall of fame ladder! Bear Meets Girl is the 7th book in her Pride series. I instantly loved Crush. He ‘s totally by the book and him being a cop really worked for the story line in this one. I also thought the vast differences between Crush and Novikov (a fellow polar, though hybrid from Beast Behaving Badly) were magnificently done. It seems in a lot of shifter books you often fall into the trap of characters behaving like their species. I like that to a point, but I also like differences in personality.

Cella was another win with me. She is over the top in every way possible. Snarky, completely independent and way to honest. That woman had no qualms telling anyone, anything. She’d beat your ass then mock you over it. I loved her! Anyone that can call their friend a whore and then ask when they are going to dinner next is a winner in my book. I spent much of the book snorting over the incredibly witty banter between not only Cella and Crush but Cella and everyone else. She was a really strong character being a hockey enforcer AND a hired part-time assassin.

Of course readers also get treated to seeing most of the past characters as well. I think my favorite is Blayne (Beast Behaving Badly). She is a caffeine addicted whirlwind of a woman. She’s whiney and cute and just always bouncing around everywhere. She. Is. Hilarious.

The story arc that continues into Bear Meets Girl seems to be getting a bit darker as the books continue to come out. In previous books we’ve known someone was forcing hybrid shifters to fight much like a dog fight. Bear Meets Girl takes it to a new level. Now someone is abducting shifters to use for game hunts..then stuffing the bodies to use as trophies. A bit more morbid than what Laurenston has come up with in the past.

There was only one thing that really irked me. Bear Meets Girl is about shifters…and yet, no shifting. Not one main character was in animal mode for anything. There are a few partial shifts..a claw here, a paw there. There is a short bit about one of the abducted shifters being hunted, but otherwise that’s it. Nada. Nothing. I thought it strange for a shifter book not to have shifting. Especially since past books have included it at least in some part. The heat level in this one was decent but don’t go into it expecting a whole lot of sex. You’ll be sorely disappointed. The connection between Cella and Crush was definitely there though so I didn’t miss the abundance of sex. Much. *smirk*

Bear Meets Girl is an excellent addition to a strong series that I find myself looking forward to again and again! Laurenston is going strong with the Pride series. Each book delves a bit deeper without being extremely dark. The characters are well rounded, lush and seem as real as you and I….well except for the turning into animals thing Laurenston will certainly bring a smile to your face with her brilliant writing skills and wonderful conversations between characters!

I give Bear Meets Girl by Shelly Laurenston 4 stars! 

 

Fever by Joan Swan (The Phoenix Rising #1)

Available: February 28, 2012 Amazon/B&N

Type: Paranormal Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Brava

My Copy: Sent

When Dr. Alyssa Foster is taken hostage by a prison inmate, she knows she’s in deep trouble. Not just because Teague Creek is desperate for freedom. But because the moment his fingers brush against her skin, Alyssa feels a razor-sharp pang of need…A man with a life sentence has nothing to lose. At least Teague doesn’t, until his escape plan develops a fatal flaw: Alyssa. On the run from both the law and deadly undercover operatives, he can only give her lies, but every heated kiss tells him the fire between them could be just as devastating as the flames that changed him forever.

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Teague Creek has been in jail for a crime he didn’t commit and now it’s time to get some justice. Kidnapping the girlfriend of someone he thinks holds all the cards seems like a easy way to get what he wants. Leverage. He never expected to kidnap the wrong woman. Especially one that looks as tempting as Alyssa and who can get his blood boiling every time the feisty woman opens her mouth. Getting his blood boiling though is another secret Teague harbors. His unique ability may be just what he needs to keep this woman safe and get what he’s sought all along. Justice.

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Fever is the first novel by Joan Swan. Each year I try to promote a few debut authors and I think with Joan I have struck a gold mine! How this is her first book is beyond me because she writes like a seasoned professional. Fever is a romantic suspense peppered with paranormal-ish abilities that blend together to form a solid, eye-catching book that is sure to entertain fans of both subgenres.

From the first page I really liked Teague. I felt horribly for him for everything he had been through. A wife who committed suicide, a girlfriend murdered, a fire that split his fellow fire fighters apart, a jail sentence for a crime he didn’t commit and finally a custody battle. That is enough angst to cripple even the strongest of men. Yet Teague remains steadfast in his need for justice. To achieve it he forms a plan for a daring jailbreak that hinges on grabbing a doctor, the girlfriend of the man who has Teague’s daughter, to use as leverage.

Except the woman he grabs isn’t the woman he thought she was. Instead he grabs Alyssa, the workaholic just trying to secure a prominent position at the hospital. She is strong, loud and incredibly mouthy which instantly grates on Teague’s jailbreak accomplice. I instantly warmed even more toward Teague when he was protecting Alyssa (though he didn’t know he had the wrong woman at that point) from various guys because of her mouth. I couldn’t get over how much she said. It was a BIT unbelievable that someone would say as much as she did to guys that she was sure were going to kill her. Having said that I appreciated her strong will and thought she paired well with Teague who had an even stronger will.

Alyssa and Teague had a steady warming relationship. Teague spends a good portion of the book lying to her about nearly everything not sure he could trust her. Even after she makes the decision to stay with him,  he finds that he can’t seem to tell her everything for fear that she will betray him like he perceives everyone else has. Playing devils advocate to his strong will is his emotional fragility. I thought his showing emotion several times in the form of tears was a breath of fresh air to the normal “I will not cry mentality”. Normally I shun crying men. I hate it in fact. Swan did it in a way where I still felt how strong this man was and so the tears were just another layer to the puzzle that was Teague.

Since this is the beginning of a series, there are many more questions than answers. How did Teague get his ability of being able to raise his body heat and soothe pain at will? Who are the shadowed group that did their best to frame him and put him away and out of mind forever? Why? Joan Swans next book, Blaze, comes out this fall and I hope readers will get more information at that time. I think all my questions brought the book down a bit for me. I wanted at least a few more answers than what I was given. Coupled with the fact that the book dragged a bit for me at several spots. There were parts where as a suspense book, I wanted a bit more action. A bit more threat. Some readers will take issue with the paranormal aspect in a suspense, as this seems to be a rising trend in the genre.

I give Fever by Joan Swan 4 stars!

Winner: Cynthia Eden Angel Of Darkness Giveaway

The winner for the copy of Angel of Darkness is:

Ferishia!

*winner picked by random.org*

*winner has 48 hrs to respond to email I will be sending shortly or a new winner will be picked*

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Angel Of Darkness by Cynthia Eden (The Fallen #1)

Available: Nov 29 2011 Amazon/B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Brava

My Copy: Sent

As an angel of death, Keenan’s job is to collect the souls on his list. He’s carried out his duty for two thousand years and never faltered once. Until he meets Nicole St. James. When the moment of death comes, Keenan hesitates, and instead of taking Nicole, Keenan touches the vampire who’s attacking her.

Cast out of heaven for disobedience, Keenan plummets to earth. Six months later, he finally manages to track Nicole to a bar in Mexico. He’s stunned to discover that the woman he remembers has undergone a dramatic change—she’s become a vampire. And when he realizes that she’s the target of all manner of enemies—other vampires, demons, even shifters—he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her, even if all hell breaks loose…

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He never expected the pain when he fell. Keenan has been an angel of death for centuries. Moving through life with no emotion just calm directability. Never second guessing the souls he was to ferry to the afterlife. Until he laid eyes on Nicole St James. The raven haired beauty made him falter when it was her turn to be taken. Instead of killing her with his touch, he killed her vampire attacker in a moment of vulnerability. Paying the ultimate price, he fell from grace to save her life. One problem, she died that night anyway and what came back was a confident, over sexed, royally pissed off woman who has it out for anyone that had a hand in her death.

Nicole St James never asked for this, never wanted what she has become. The things she did before she got control of herself are heinous and she swears she’ll never succumb to the  blood lust again. Peoples lives depend on it. Things are swiftly getting out of control though. The hunter is becoming the hunted and she needs Keenan nearby whether she wants to admit it or not. It’s a good thing the angel is easy on the eyes as well as useful.

When heaven and hell collide who will still be standing when the dust settles? Can Nicole risk the one thing she values more than her life? Her heart?

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Angel Of Darkness is book one in Cynthia’s new series she has entitled, The Fallen. I always bounce around with excitment when I hear she has started a new series because I simply adore her work. There has never been a Cynthia Eden book that I didn’t love and Angel Of Darkness did not start that either. This series is loosely tied to some of her other books and there are a few characters that turn up or are talked about that you may recognize.

I have an unhealthy obsession with angels. Some readers claim they are played out because the book market is saturated with a ton of stories, especially romance, filled with angels of every kind. Even a few demons that could pass for an angel of some sort. Problem is, I can’t get enough. I love each authors take on angels. What makes them good, what keeps them in line, are there angels for both sides or just for the good? There is just something about a character meeting an angel for the first time. Realizing that they are real so there must be life after death and it totally helps they are smoking hot. I always think of the tv show Supernatural that has used angels in its theme for the past few seasons. They aren’t always good looking, lol, but the idea that they made them corrupt had me intrigued. If humans are flawed, then angels should be too.

In Angel Of Darkness Keenan is a flawed angel. After centuries of not feeling anything he finally felt a spark…and that spark was lust. Nicole made him pause in his duty. He made a decision to save her life which went against everything that he has ever known. I loved the idea that he could finally feel and what he did with this new feeling was immediately defy his superiors. Who says whose name is on the list? Who makes the list? Why can’t it be changed? All questions that seem very human, asked often.

Nicole starts out the book simply wanting revenge for the vamp and his “buddy” that turned her and atonement for her sins as a new vampire. I found that funny since they are exact opposites and even though she was no longer human she sure still thought like one. Her slow warming up to Keenan was to be expected and I enjoyed the process for them. Nicole wasn’t nearly as new to everything as Keenan was and it was nice to see the table turned and the male be new to everything.

I loved Sam (aka Samuel) and his pessimistic and completely underhanded way to get Keenan to see his returning powers. He was manipulative and sometimes downright mean. I loved him because even though he is both of those he was there when he needed to be. His brief glimpses of tightly controlled emotion made the book for me. Can’t wait for his book, which I *think* is next!

Azreal…or Az, was thought provoking and I loved how Cynthia made him drunk with power. Being the head honcho of the angels of death had to be a horrible job. Even though they weren’t supposed to feel emotion I thought Az’s ability to feel power and contempt was a great addition and made him into a huge hypocrite. I would love to see what happened after the ending of this one and hope he shows up again at some point. The man, err angel, needs to learn about humans a bit more.

Angel of Darkness is a gritty thrill ride sprinkled with enough human emotion to make even the hardest of angels melt. Sure to be a page turner for you and something that will make you think about all those stories you may have heard as a kid. Who is watching over us? Who is really in charge? And is it so bad here on earth, or are we actually the lucky ones?

I give Angel of Darkness by Cynthia Eden 4.50 stars!

Claimed by Rebecca Zanetti (Dark Protectors #2)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Brava

My Copy: Sent

A Daring Rescue

Emma Paulsen is a geneticist driven by science. But she’s also a psychic, so when a dark, good-hearted vampire frees her from the clutches of the evil Kurjans, she realizes he must be the man who’s been haunting her dreams. But with a virus threatening vampires’ mates, Emma may discover a whole new meaning of “lovesick”. . .

A Deadly Decision

As King of the Realm, Dage Kayrs has learned to practice diplomacy. Still, it’s taken three hundred years to find his mate, so he’ll stop at nothing to protect her—even if it means turning his back on his own kind. . .

Dage, as king of the Realm, has the incredibly important job of keeping his race and other paranormals safe from the Kurjans. Those intent of kidnapping human with special abilities, so they can breed with them. One such woman is Emma, a brilliant scientist who may hold the key to unraveling a devastating illness affecting other mates and breeding women.

Faced with startling revelations that she is Dages impending Queen and the even more startling, she wants him…Emma can’t decide what to do. Does she go with her heart and become a breeding mate, even if Dage does set her body on fire by merely glancing at her? Does she go with her mind and focus on solving the genetic mystery surrounding everyone she loves? Or can she do both without losing herself in the process?

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I don’t know about anyone else, but I waited for this book with bated breath! When it showed up everything else in my TBR pile suddenly disappeared and this one became my sole focus. I was not let down! I loved Claimed nearly as much as I loved the first book, Fated. Rebecca Zanetti seems to be able to catch my attention and hold me enraptured throughout the process. Never a dull moment. Always sexy.

Dage was scary hot. He often referred to Emma as “mate’ which I found incredibly sexy. There is just something about a big, scary hulk of a man calling his woman “mate” in such a sexy domineering way. Yes, it’s over the top, yes its extremely dominate but I love it. I think it works because of the females. They may waver at the beginning, try to run from the emotional connection they are fighting within, but in the end they give themselves over to what I can only describe as magical.

I enjoyed Emma a lot. I loved her protective streak and thought her willingness to try to shield Cara was endearing. Her ability as a geneticist was a perfect addition and of course worked well with the story line of a blood disease and DNA issues. Having said all that she got on my nerves with her wavering on becoming a mate to Dage. She had to have known the day was coming since she’d been seeing this man in her dreams for years. Yet when they finally come together she tells him constantly she is leaving. I knew she’d never leave her sister there with Talen and so I thought her posturing was a bit over the top…she was going to stay.

Claimed furthers the secondary story lines with all the other Kayrs brothers (and some others) and it only sealed my excitement for the next one! I can’t wait to learn more about the individual brothers and the cat sifters. The Kurjans are a formidable foe and their methods are scary. I shudder to think of when their young prodigy grows up what will happen to Cara’s (and Emmas niece) extremely powerful daughter Janie. I love her innocent, yet wise beyond her years, additions to the book. She provides much needed information when the brothers don’t know where else to go. I look forward to watching her progression through out the series since the brothers are so protective of her.

Emma and Dage burn through each and every page! His push and her pull creating an incredible friction that lights the page on fire! Rebecca Zanetti combines excellent story telling and incredible world building to give readers a sexy thrill ride wrought with action they won’t forget!

I give Claimed by Rebecca Zanetti 5 stars!

Unwrapped Anthology

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Christmas Romance Anthology

Publisher: Brava

My Copy: Sent

From the streets of Chicago to the back roads of Kentucky to the wild dunes of a Scottish isle, mistletoe and mischief are this season’s hottest gifts…

Blue Christmas

New York Times bestselling author Erin Mccarthy

While a blizzard blankets the world outside, Blue Farrow burrows into the arms of her highway hunk at the No Tell Motel. The road might be closed for dangerous conditions, but the couple navigates their own Kentucky Christmas curves. Nice and oh-so-naughty, Blue and her man open up to each other as they keep the Yule log burning.

Santa in a Kilt

USA Today bestselling author Donna Kauffman

The wind-whipped December sands of the isle of Kinloch invigorate Kira McLeod as she sets out to tame rugged Shay Callaghan, a Scottish bachelor as wary of a wedding ring as a snowman is of the hot sun. It’ll take all the wiles of the canny islanders to weave a perfect Celtic Christmas for all….

Snow Angel

National bestselling author Kate Angell

Snowed under in Chicago, free spirit Allie is trapped in Dutton’s department store on Christmas Eve when the lights go off and the holiday romance heats up. Our snow angel finds herself face to face with the dashing Aiden, the heir to the retail riches and her host for a night of winter wonder…

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Blue Christmas by Erin McCarthy- Loved this one!  Erin McCarthy is one of those authors who can take a novella and make me feel like I am experiencing a full length novel. I loved Blues funky personality and her ability to make Christian care for her so quickly. She was spunky and real and I felt like she was wrote with a completeness not often found in short works. Her mothers selfish Christmas traditions had left Blue feeling disconnected with the holiday spirit. Christian took it upon himself to give his stranded motel companion something to make her memories of Christmas a bit better…something to warm her up.

One night together (which was filled with oh my lord hotness) and Blue was hooked on Christians fun loving personality….as was I. Together they were just, more. Christian was just an overall awesome guy. Big kid, daddy material, smokin hot AND funny? This is a awesome holiday novella you need to read!

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Santa In A Kilt by Donna Kaufmann – While I enjoyed the scenery and descriptive writing style of Donna Kaufmann I couldn’t get into this story and ultimately didn’t finish it. I think the accents of the characters (Scottish) got in the way as I was often thinking it sounded very historical. Now, never having been to Scotland or even being around someone from Scotland I couldn’t say either way whether this was true or not…but for me, it was a distraction that I could not get past.

Shay is a typical, not ready for commitment, man. He uses his job as a divorce attorney as the reason behind his feelings but deep down he knows it’s just him. His internal struggle got to be to much for me and I didn’t find him to be gravitational enough for my interest to be piqued. I wanted Kira to stop being so understanding. She was a incredibly sweet girl and I thought she shouldn’t have put up with so much from him. It felt at times like he was toying with her feelings just to appease his own carnal wants. This novella was a DNF.

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Snow Angel by Kate Angell- This was my very first Kate Angell book and I enjoyed this one a lot! Allie and Aiden together worked really well and loved the idea of a accidental re-meeting of lovers years later. After the first initial encountered at a ski lodge Allie and run from Aiden without even giving him her last name. Having nothing to go on he created a fragrance in her image, a sun kissed, fresh, snow bunny. Years later Allie happens to get stuck in his store during a monumental snowstorm and they reconnect. Allie has no idea that the upscale fragrance was made in her honor, or that Aiden is actually heir to the store she has been stranded in.

Snow Angel was well thought out, wonderfully written and a great addition to this compilation of authors! I loved Aidens easy going nature and found his way at soothing Allies fears commendable. Allie was skittish from watching her mothers parade of men while growing up and Aiden knew laying everything on the line early would only send her running again. I felt for Allie and her views on men and was so glad she took a chance with Aiden to learn to love.

I give the Unwrapped anthology 3.50 stars!

Deal With This by Lucy Monroe (Goddard Project #7)

Available: Amazon/B&N

Type: Romance

Publisher: Brava

My Copy: Sent from author

Alan Hyatt could do his job in his sleep, and when the Goddard Project sends him to investigate a case of high-tech espionage in the Vancouver film industry, he finds a perfect reason to work in bed. But sizzling actress Jillian Carlyle also happens to be his landlady, and she’s got a hard-and-fast (so to speak) rule that keeps her from dating her renters. While Alan’s cover as a reporter gets him close to all the suspects on the set of Jillian’s sci-fi show, playing a background actor at her suggestion to get his story? Well, that’s something else–but he’s not about to turn down a red-hot redhead, even if she keeps throwing him curves…

Jillian just can’t understand it. Sure, Alan is six-feet-something of chiseled ruggedness with gray eyes and an irresistible growl in his voice. But hello? She doesn’t do relationships–even of the casual kind–with men who impact more than her senses. No one is getting a chance at her heart. Especially not one of her renters. Still, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying Alan from afar–but not too far, or she wouldn’t be able to fully appreciate his rock-hard abs when he’s working out in the home gym. If only he didn’t make her feel safe and oh so right when they touched…

 

What’s funny about this book is that I liked the secondary characters more than the main ones. I just never connected with Jillian and Alan. Alan is smart, looks like a God and is great at his job sure…but I just didn’t see him and Jillian together. Perhaps it was because Jillian spends the majority of the book swearing her and Alan aren’t going to hook up because he is a boarder (undercover) at her house and her main rule is no sex with the room mates. I mean, how many times can one girl say that to herself before something has to give? About a million apparently. I desperately wanted something to happen…anything to happen between them past the looks they gave each other. There just seemed to be way to much downtime between important plot points. I often had the urge to skip ahead to find out when/if something was going to happen.

Now Gavin? Yeah I liked him. He is completely spunky and fabulous in that way only a gay best friend can be. He says what he wants, hits on who he wants and doesn’t give a damn what anyone else thinks. He is a fashion ICON..well maybe in his own mind anyway. I loved him. I was rooting for him and Perry throughout the entire book. I loved his sense of humor!

The writing in this particular book just seemed a bit off from what I’ve read in the past by Lucy. There seemed to be a disconnect from the readers. The plot was good and unique but I felt like I was being told everything second-hand instead of feeling it first hand.

I wanted to like this book…but it fell short for me. I think this easily could have been a novella instead of a full length novel. Overall I found it to be  decent read, one that wasn’t my favorite but still, I didn’t put it down and I did finish it…so Im giving Deal With This by Lucy Monroe 2.75 stars!