Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #2)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Historical Romance

Publisher: Ballantine Books

My Copy: Edelweiss

Reviewed by: Pam

Genevieve McInnes is locked behind the fortified walls of McHugh Keep, captive of a cruel laird who takes great pleasure in ruining her for any other man. Yet when Bowen Montgomery storms the gates on a mission of clan warfare, Genevieve finds that her spirit is bent but not broken. Still, her path toward freedom remains uncertain. Unable to bear the shame of returning to a family that believes her dead or to abandon others at the keep to an imposing new laird, Genevieve opts for the peaceful life of an abbess. But Bowen’s rugged sensuality stirs something deep inside her that longs to be awakened by his patient, gentle caress—something warm, wicked, and tempting.

Bowen seizes his enemy’s keep, unprepared for the brooding and reclusive woman who captures his heart. He’s enchanted by her fierce determination, her unusual beauty, and her quiet, unfailing strength. But wooing her will take more than a seasoned seducer’s skill. For loving Genevieve, he discovers, means giving her back the freedom that was stolen from her—even if it means losing her forever.

A year ago Genevieve McInnis was on her way to her wedding when the group was attacked and all were killed but her, she was the obsession of Ian McHugh and he wanted no man to have her but him. He brought her back to the McHugh keep where she has been held prisoner as well as being abused and tormented.

Ian was an obsessive man and once he considered someone his no one else could have them. It was the same with Eveline Montgomery, she had also not wanted his advances and he abducted her, however she had a champion in Graeme Montgomery and he came for her with an army killing Ian in front of all the McHugh clan. The clan knew that the Montgomery’s would seek revenge, however Patrick McHugh escaped with many men before the warriors came, leaving mostly women

and children and few provisions. Genevieve stayed behind as she did not have anywhere to go, her family thought she was dead. All she could hope for was that the Montgomery’s would be merciful and maybe send her to an Abby to live a peaceful life.

Bowen is acting in Graeme’s place as he rides to McHugh’s keep and takes over as Laird. As he meets Genevieve he finds she is a puzzle to him, the clan calls her a whore yet she does not seem like one, until she propositions him for her freedom. But before he can make any decisions about Genevieve, the McHugh keep is attacked by Patrick and his warriors.

Bowen is the one that is a puzzle for me; he is the Laird in charge and wants to do the right thing for the clan yet can’t seem to make a decision about those that live there. He also goes back and forth between what he thinks of Genevieve, believing what the clan says and then waiting to talk to her to get her side. They spend a small amount of time together and she tells her story which he eventually believes and then he is immediately in love, really?

Genevieve takes care of Bowen when he is injured after the fight with Patrick and earns the respect of the Montgomery’s and Armstrong’s men, they also know that she fought several men to protect Bowen. I like that they are beginning to feel she is a good person in a bad situation that she had to take some drastic actions to stay alive. She is a strong and courageous woman.

I enjoyed seeing the past characters, the brothers are great together and I really enjoyed seeing Bowen’s sister Rorie again as she is a kick and I have liked her personality in the past. Eveline also makes an appearance and immediately likes Genevieve and they become fast friends. I also liked that Genevieve’s family does not think poorly of her for her experience and they welcome her back with loving arms.

I did not get the feeling she loved Bowen, I think she liked him and respected him but I felt she was more upset leaving Rorie and Eveline than Bowen. I think she started to feel something while she was away from him but I did not feel the emotion from her at all. He was head over heels for her and was quite depressed when she left yet she was happy with her family for awhile.

I enjoyed the book, just not as much as the others. I liked that the book moved forward in the trilogy and we met new characters, I will continue to read Ms. Bank’s Highlanders as the others have been engaging and they are always a fun and thrilling as they take you back to a time of danger and intrigue.

I give Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks 3.5 stars!

Fever by Maya Banks (Breathless #2)

Available: April 2, 2013 Amazon/B&N

Type: Erotic Romance

Publisher: Berkley

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Nikki

Jace, Ash, and Gabe: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Jace, it’s a woman whose allure takes him completely by surprise…

Jace Crestwell, Ash McIntyre, and Gabe Hamilton have been best friends and successful business partners for years. They’re powerful, they’re imposing, they’re irresistibly sexy, and Jace and Ash share everything—including their women.

When they meet Bethany, Jace begins to feel things he’s never experienced before: jealousy, and a powerful obsession that threatens him, overwhelms him—and excites him beyond control.

Jace isn’t sharing Bethany—with anyone. He’s determined to be the only man in her life, and it’s jeopardizing a lifelong friendship with Ash. Bethany will be his and his alone. Even if it means turning his back on his best friend.

Maya Banks returns to her newest erotic trilogy with Fever, book two in her Breathless series! After book one affected me so much I wasn’t sure what would happen when I cracked this one open. There has been buzz about this series throughout the internet and book one brought much criticism and praise alike from reviewers.

Fever brings readers Jace and Bethany, a couple who are worlds apart in everything. Jace is powerful, rich and incredibly gorgeous. Though his kink has always been bdsm and threesomes involving his best friend Ash, when he sees Bethany across the room at his sisters engagement party he feels something completely out of his realm of expertise. Curiosity and a powerful draw unlike anything he has felt before. One night of passion with the three of them and Bethany disappears from his life leaving him stunned and more then a little angry.

When he finally catches up to her and learns her heart wrenching story he is at a loss on how to proceed. Bethany is homeless, a recovered drug addict and being dragged down by a failing best friend. Her self worth is shot and Jace tries everything in his power to gain her trust. He messes up quite often though and ends up failing her time and time again. Jace knows he needs to proceed slowly so not to scare her off but his all-consuming need for her often wins out.

I found Bethany to be a completely unique heroine. Her homelessness was something I wasn’t expecting and I thought it added to her appeal as a character who had plenty of room to grow. Her being an addict was unexpected as well and it presented an ongoing conflict that kept the book interesting as she is tested again and again. She is so beaten down emotionally that I was rooting for Jace to build her up and not break her heart. I would get so mad as the book went on because he would fail her. Not believing in her, playing on her emotions, accusing her of using again. I wanted to beat him to a pulp for the way he treated her, unintentional or not. He was so all consumed by her and his temper often way to quick, but in the end, they worked well off each other and Jace was exactly what Bethany needed. Fever is very much a “Pretty Woman” rags to riches type story. I hope other readers connect to Bethany and her horrible self esteem like I did. I understood her personality on a deeper level. Her fear of hope, of believing things can be better and that she was worth the effort of trying.

Gabe and Mia (from book one, Rush) as well as Ash all play integral roles in Fever. Jace counts on them to level him out and even though Mia is his true sister, Gabe and Ash are no less his brothers. Ash will get the last book and I look forward to understanding the darkness that swirls so obviously inside him. I can’t wait to see what rules Banks breaks with his heroine!

Maya Banks is simply phenomenal with her ability to make a reader feel….everything. Anger, contempt, happiness or dangerously erotic twitches. Her words weave a trail through your mind that won’t let go even after you close the book. Days later her words will still invade your thoughts.  She can make you mad and yet you still end up enjoying the books. I don’t know how she does it other then it has to be magical.

I give Fever by Maya Banks 4.50 stars!

Rush by Maya Banks (Breathless #1)

Available: February 5, 2013 Amazon/B&N

Type: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Berkley

My Copy: Sent

Reviewer: Nikki

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I give Rush by Maya Banks 3.75 stars! 

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! 

Echoes At Dawn by Maya Banks (KGI #5)

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Berkley

My Copy: Sent

Grace Peterson is desperate, in hiding, and on the run after escaping a shadowy group determined to exploit her extraordinary ability to heal others. Her only lifeline – an unerring telepathic ability she shares with her sister – has been severed, leaving her alone and vulnerable. And time is fast running out…

Enlisted to bring Grace home is Rio, relentless member of the KGI. He’s unprepared for his reaction to this wounded, damaged woman, and he’s fiercely determined to protect her from those who nearly destroyed her. In Rio, she finds a safe haven, and for the first time…hope. But the mission is far from over. The danger Grace has eluded is fast closing in. And now it’s pitching two lovers toward an unfamiliar horizon, with no place left to hide.

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Grace has been running for years, she’s a pro but finally caught and escaped, she’s at the end of her rope. Lost in a forest at night she curls into a ball and hopes the end is near. She never expects a dark angel in black fatigues to come for her, or that he is one of the good guys.

An angel Rio is not, but he’s willing to be her dark knight. The dark beauty has awakened something in him that he simply can’t comprehend. His past is filled with the exact people who are hunting her so if anyone can outsmart them, he certainly can. Confident in his abilities he doesn;t see the biggest threat to Grace is Grace herself. Her selflessness may be her downfall.

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Love this series…love this series so much!!! What else can I say? I think Maya Banks could write a tap dancing elephant right into the middle of this book and while I might be confused, I’d still love it! So ok, Banks started the series as a romantic suspense and somewhere along the way it’s gotten paranormal and I know some people are scratching their heads about it. Complete with cognitive thought sharing and extra abilities. Sure, I find that a bit strange too, to start as one type genre and become another genre type….but somewhere along the way I evolved with the series and it really just doesn’t bother me. Since I am an avid paranormal romance lover too, I can get behind the weird aspects.

Take Echoes At Dawn, which is Rio’s (holy hotness) story. Give me an eerily silent man who carries a huge gun willing to mow people over to save me…I’d be putty in his…on his…..hands. Rio is just so calm all the time that he isn’t sure how to handle his rapidly changing emotions where Grace is concerned. Seeing her on a video at the end of the last book, he instantly felt a tingle of awareness, a connection that defied all common sense. He volunteers to bring her home to her sister Shea. If that means 1 day or 100 days he vows to bring her home. His sense of duty is unrivaled but his passion is also unbridled, Grace was meant to be his and his alone.

Not to say Shea was a vulnerable female.  Even at her lowest point the womans steel backbone just won’t break. She may want to die in the darkest part of the night but she won’t go down without a fight. She even manages to save Rio a time or two. Grace may have her faults, like not wanting to believe she deserves happiness. Or that Rio is only after her for her ability to take disease from someone else as her own. The torture she has endured was merciless and she has a good reason not to trust but somehow Rio’s steadfast goodness breaks through. Through their connection she learns that she can be something other than a possession to someone. She can have a family. She can be….more.

Lots of action, lots of sexy yumminess in the form of Rio and his troup of sexually smoking hot army men. Who of course, have hearts of gold. The Kelly men make appearances and the next book is PJ and Cole’s story – now there is a bad ass woman! Banks can do no wrong in my eyes. I will follow this series all the way to the end!

I give Echoes At Dawn by Maya Banks 5 stars! 

Whispers In The Dark by Maya Banks (KGI #4)

 

Available: Now Amazon/B&N

Type: Romantic Suspense (paranormal elements)

Publisher: Berkley

My Copy: Sent

She came to him when he needed her the most

She came to him at his lowest point. The voice of an angel, a whisper in the dark. She’s the only thing that gets Nathan Kelly through his captivity, the endless days of torture and the fear that he’ll never return to his family. With her help, he’s able to escape. But he isn’t truly free, because now she’s disappeared and he’s left with an all-consuming emptiness as he struggles to pick up the pieces of his life. Did he imagine his angel? Or is she out there, needing his help as he’d once needed hers?

Now he rushes to save her before it’s too late

Shea has been on the run from people who will stop at nothing to exploit her unique abilities. She never wanted to drag Nathan, who’d already suffered so much, into danger, but she doesn’t have a choice so she reaches out to him for help. Finally face-to-face after having already formed a soul-deep bond in hell, their emotional connection is even more powerful than their telepathic one. Nathan refuses to consider ever letting her go again, but she worries they can never have a life free of the dangers that dog her every step. He’ll protect her with his every breath, but can he convince her that they are meant to face these threats together?

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Alone in hell, Nathan is ready to die. The soldier in him wants to give up. His body can’t take much more torture at the hands of the enemy. In his darkest hour he calls out, pleads for help. He never expected someone to answer him. Let alone that someone be in his head. But he can hear her, he can almost feel her and she is adamant about helping him.

Shea can’t leave the soldier to die. Miles apart she helps him, even at great risk to herself. Nathan needs her and no matter what it does to her body, she is willing to take his pain. help him escape. Her enemies are closing in on her fast and she knows she has to hurry before she is caught. Keeping her sister safe is her first priority.

Healing from his injuries months later, Nathan is surprised to hear the call of Shea in his mind once more. This time it is she asking him for help. Together they can heal, and be safe within each other arms. Sometimes all you have to do is find your other half to be truly happy.

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Once again, I have fallen in love with this series! I will admit that the last book, Hidden Away, wasn’t my favorite and I had doubts about the series. Garret was my favorite character and Hidden Away was his book. I just didn’t like it. When going into Whispers In The Dark, I was conflicted. Hoping that I loved it and at the same time telling myself it was okay if I didn’t. Well Whispers In the Dark was having none of that, and it succeeded in giving me a one of a kind experience that I felt to my core. I loved this book!

Whispers In The Dark opens with Nathan being a prisoner of war. He is disheartened, battered, bruised and on the verge of giving up. He’s had horrible torture inflicted on his body and has witnessed atrocities that no human should ever have to see. In a sense, he wants to die. At his lowest point his very soul calls out and to his astonishment, someone answers. His vulnerability was heart wrenching.

The person is Shea, his version of an angel. She might even be since Nathan isn’t sure from the beginning if she is real or only a figment of his battered mind. Only a coping mechanism of the pain that ravishes his body.

She is real and she is in her own danger. Hunted her entire life for her and her sister’s abilities. She is closed off but she can’t seem to ignore the pleas of the soldier in her mind. Even though it drains her completely to help Nathan she knows she must give her all to see him freed.

The connection between Nathan and Shea was just so incredibly intense. How much closer can two people get then sharing thoughts? I wasn’t surprised that when they finally met face to face that the connection was still there. The intense heat was so hot I think I may have scorched my hands. Heh. I think my biggest love was for Nathan. The Kelly brothers are known for their military training, their upbringing and their ability to handle any and all situations. Nathan seemed more emotional then the brothers we have met before. He was just more intense which was a total shocker for me because we really hadn’t seen much of him in the past books. I was instantly drawn to him and his willingness to help Shea in his own way when she called out to him after his rescue.

I liked Shea too because she was constantly looking out for everyone. She has this huge heart and she can’t bare to see those around her hurt, even if its at the risk of her own safety. She would jump in to help anyone and that made me love her. Even at her lowest point, she was so connected to Nathan that she could sense him. That right there is true love ladies and gentlmen.

Staying true to form, the entire Kelly clan makes appearances as well as the extended family and some new faces. The amount of book aspects in this series is staggering and I am so glad Rio is getting the next book since it ties directly to this one. Past Rio though I think the stand out character in Whispers In The Dark is Swanny, Nathans friend who was also captured and held prisoner. For what he had been through, he was incredibly well rounded, gentle and sweet. I really hope he gets a book because after his ordeal he deserves some happiness and he needs to work through his issues with his injuries and the deaths of the rest of their unit. Joe, Nathans twin brother also added a bit of family turmoil. Not being able to help his twin through his worst days annoys Joe to know end and he lashes out. he can’t understand why Nathan won’t respond to him. They are essentially the same person in his eyes. I loved the interaction between Nathan and Joe the most. The push and pull to right the family, to help Nathan, to be whole…all the while Nathan resisting everyone but Shea.

Now I know people are going to point out that this is a romantic suspense and the book contains strong paranormal aspects in the form of telepathy as well as healing abilities. I say to them, miracles can happen. In your darkest point, you may be granted help, someone that can reach you to your very core. That’s what I took away from this book. Yes, it’s out of the ordinary but sometimes life can surprise you. Sometimes things happen you can’t explain. Sometimes miracles can….and do everyday…happen. I loved this book, paranormal romantic suspense or not….

 

I give Whispers In the Dark  by Maya Banks 5 stars!

 

Hidden Away by Maya Banks (KGI #3)

Available Now: Amazon/B&N/Borders

Type: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Berkley

My Copy: Bought With Own Money

Most people would take an all-expense=paid trip to the beach in a heartbeat. Garrett Kelly only accepts to keep tabs on Sarah Daniels, who’s in hiding after witnessing a murder committed by her half brother-a personal enemy of KGI. But Garrett hadn’t planned on falling for Sarah. When he glimpses her dark past, he feels an urgent desire to keep her safe-even as she disappears, running for her life.

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This book gave me mixed feelings. There were parts of it I loved and parts of it I didn’t. I think my main problem was that I loved the past two books so much and I built this one up in my head for so long before I got a chance to read it. Usually in any given romance series that involves men there is one guy that is the meanest, most scarred that I look forward to reading. I want to see the transformation from the guy that has a heart of gold but is a jerk, to the guy that professes his love to the lucky girl. Garrett is that guy in the KGI series. He was cynical, wounded and mean. Although gentle when dealing with the women in the past two books. I couldn’t wait for this book.

Right after starting it I knew I was going to feel this way. He wasn’t quite like the past two books, or at least he wasn’t from my perception. Sarah, like the rest of the KGI females to date, had some huge issues to work past. She had been raped by her now ex boss and then her half brother murdered him. You know….the normal. Now the ex boss’s brother is out to get her and her half brother is tying to find her. Enter Garrett who is working undercover trying to locate the half brother and bring him to justice for crimes that date back several years.

I didn’t quite think the two story lines were executed enough because when they merge at the end its pretty anti-climactic. I wanted more action. At one point Sarah runs out of her beach house and down to Garrett’s because she heard a noise…but Garrett didn’t find any evidence of someone being there.

Sarah herself was likeable. I can’t say how someone who had been raped would act so I can’t comment on that. I did think she had tremendous courage to stand up for Garrett when the chips were down. I admired her for that. Especially knowing what it might potentially cost her. So in doing that, she pretty much won me over.

The ending of course is a good one but the last paragraph kind of confused me a bit. The past two novels have been dated a few months apart..but the end of this one make it seem like the next book might be several years in the future. I’m hoping that’s not the case but it won’t stop me from reading if it was.

I did like the book overall even if I had a few issues with it. I still count this series as one of my favorites and I am counting the days till the next release. Which is sadly not until Feb 2012.

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I give Hidden Away by Maya Banks 3.50 stars!

I Need These Now!!….Please?? #2

As I’m sitting here NOT reading, like I should be, I started thinking about some books that I can’t wait to get my hands on. I’m also watching some Bones re-runs, which I simply can’t pass up….ever.

Available: NOW

Publisher: Berkley

Buy: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Borders

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

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

As the single mother of a teenage son, the last thing Tara needs is the jet-set lifestyle of Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand was unforgettable. Tara’s life is complicated enough without being thrust into the spotlight as Mick’s latest girl du jour. Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn’t intend to put herself out there again, especially with a heartbreaker like Mick. But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available: March 1, 2011

Publisher: Berkley

Pre-order: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Borders

A man who shoots first and asks questions later…

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

…and the ultimate moving target.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available: June 28, 2011

Publisher: Kensington

Pre-order: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Borders

RUNNING WITH A DANGEROUS CROWD
Lucas Simone is not the kind of guy you mess with. He’s big, he’s strong, and his eyes hint at a wilder side most women can’t handle. Of course, that’s because his predatory instincts are no metaphor–he’s a genuine Grade-A top-quality werewolf, tough enough to fight his way to dominance over the scariest pack on the West Coast. There’s only one chink in his armor. Unlike most alpha dogs, Lucas has a reputation for protecting the weak and innocent.

Sarah King is counting on that protective impulse–it’s the only thing standing between her and certain death. There are only two problems: one, she’s not quite as innocent as she’d like Lucas to believe. And two, if he doesn’t stop stoking Sarah’s animal lust, it’s only a matter of time before her own wild side gets unleashed…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available: May 21, 2011

Publisher: Brava

Preorder here: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Borders

He roams the moonlit wilderness, his every sense and instinct on high alert. Changeling wolf Connor Macleod and his Pack have never feared anything—until the night human Zoey Tyler barely escapes a rogue werewolf’s vicious attack.

As the full moon approaches, Zoey has no idea of the changes that are coming, and only Connor can show her what she is, and help her master the wildness inside. With her initiation into the Pack just days away and a terrifying predator on the loose, the tentative bonds of trust and tenderness are their only weapons against a force red in tooth, claw. . .and ultimate evil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available: April 26, 2011

Publisher: Pocket Star

Pre-order: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Borders (no one but Amazon had up the pre-order)

Black Magic: There’s a razor thin line between love and hate, light and dark, and for wizards, interior designer Sara Temple and geologist and Aequitas warrior Jackson Slater, the past and the present collide. Called into service by the Wizard Council to investigate a strange and deadly disease infecting wizards and stealing their powers, Jack and Sara find that both the answer and the problem may lie along the same magical leyline.

Dangerous Magic: Determined to destroy the powerful Omnivatic wizard responsible for the murder of his brother, Zackary Stark travels to Italy. To destroy his enemy, Zach must penetrate the deepest recesses of the Crystal Divinity. To achieve his ultimate goal, he must gain the trust of the wizard’s cold and beautiful step daughter. But River MacKay has her own deadly agenda, and the cat and mouse game they play will prove deadly for one, or both, of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available: April 26, 2011

Publisher: Brava

Pre-order: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Borders

Seeing is deceiving. And Ric Van Holtz, the wolfishly sexy hero of Shelly Laurenston’s sizzling, wildly entertaining new tale, is nothing you expect—and everything you want. . .

When it comes to following her instincts, former Marine Dee-Ann Smith never holds back. And this deadly member of a shifter protection group will do anything to prove one of her own kind is having hybrids captured for dogfights. Trouble is, her too-cute rich-boy boss Ric Van Holtz insists on helping out. And his crazy-like-a-fox smarts and charming persistence are making it real hard for Dee to keep her heart safe. . ..

Ric can’t believe his luck. He’s wanted this fiercely independent she-wolf from day one, but he never expected teamwork as explosive as this. And now is his last chance to show Dee what she needs isn’t some in-your-face Alpha male—but a wily, resourceful wolf who’ll always have her back in a fight. . .and between the sheets.

coming, and only Connor can show her what she is, and help her master
the wildness inside.  With her initiation into the Pack just days away and a
terrifying predator on the loose, the tentative bonds of trust and
tenderness are their only weapons against a force red in tooth, claw …
and ultimate evil.

Put these on your calender to buy! Or better yet, pre-order them now because Amazon and Barnes & Noble are both offering discounts to order them now!

If the book fairy would be so kind as to help me get some of these that would be great LOL. I’ve been a good girl this year….so far anyway

No Place To Run by Maya Banks

Available: NOW

Type: Novel

Publisher: Berkley

My copy: Bought with own money

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

Sophia was supposed to be a one night stand, but Sam kept coming back for more. He knew he couldn’t tell her the truth about who he was and what he did, but he could have these stolen moments and then walk away. Go back to his real life in the states and not give her another thought. After several nights in her arms he knows his plan is shot to hell. She is unlike any woman he has ever known. She is what he wants. Needs. When his job is done he goes back to find her gone. All traces of the passion they shared gone with her.

It’s been five months since Sophie ran. After double-crossing her family and secretly helping Sam she took off fearing for her life. Leaving Sam was difficult but necessary to keep him safe. Their last night together left a lasting impression though in the form of the baby growing inside her. She can’t keep outrunning her family in her condition and so she goes to the only man she thinks might be able to keep her safe.

When Sophie turns up beaten and pregnant Sam isn’t sure what to think, except that he knows without a doubt he must keep her and his child safe at all costs. She isn’t being completely truthful and he knows there is more to her seemingly innocent story. Trust doesn’t come easy to either of them and finding a way to open themselves up becomes a priority when Sam’s family is threatened. No one messes with the Kelly family. You can’t have love without trust.

 

Just like the first installment, The Longest Hour, I absolutely loved this book! I went into this book expecting to be wowed again and Maya Banks completely delivered. I found the relationship between Sam and Sophia to be totally believable and heartfelt. Sam’s total alpha attitude in regards to the woman he was falling for and the life of his unborn child was so heartfelt, so real, I didn’t want to put the book down. Seriously, I was up until 2:15am finishing it. I loved the action scenes and the fact that Sophie never backed down when her back was against the wall. That she was willing to sacrifice herself on the belief that Sam would come for her, would believe in her enough to trust her in the end. To know she wasn’t capable of what it looked like on the surface.

There were several times throughout this book that found me in tears. Tears over the love that Sam and Sophie felt. Tears for the life Sophie had to endure at the hands of her sadistic father. And tears for the entire Kelly family when they were faced with a horrible situation and how they prevail. How do you choose between family members? Between the past and the future. Who is more important?

Once again we get to see the extended Kelly family. I am in love with Garrett and since his story, Hidden Away, comes out March 1st, I don’t have to wait to long. He is everything I love in a man. Tall, broad, kinda scary and definitely character flawed…*le sigh*. But underneath all his faults, is a completely in charge, heart of gold man who just needs a woman who is as strong as he is. The Longest Hour and No Place To Run are total lead ups to his story..and I. CAN’T. WAIT. I enjoy the Kelly clan, including their little add-on, Rusty. Rusty’s character is slowly starting to open up and I’m intrigued as to the direction she is going. I still think someday we will get her story. Maybe she will end up with the cop, Sean, since she seems to hate him now. Or a younger Kelly brother…someday….

 

Unsurprisingly I give No Place To Run by Maya Banks 5 stars!

The Darkest Hour by Maya Banks

Available: Now

Publisher: Berkley

My copy: Bought with own money

Type: Novel

A year has passed since Ethan’s wife, Rachel was announced dead in a plane crash in South America. A year that Ethan has been in a downward spiral of despair that Rachel died thinking he hated her, that he wanted out of their three-year marriage. He is a shell of himself. A grieving shadow of the Navy Seal he once was. No one can reach him. Not his well-meaning band of military brothers or his overly mothering mother.

On the one year anniversary of her death Ethan gets a package that will change his life. His wife is alive and has been held for the entire year in a drug camp. Rachel has been used as a pawn in a much larger scale crime ring. Ethan enlists his brothers and they attack with guns blazing to get Rachel back.

Rachel didn’t ever think she’d get salvation, nor did she think it would come from the angel in her mind, Ethan. The drugs in her system are plentiful and detoxing off them is the worst she has ever felt. She can barely remember her own name, let alone all these people that keep saying they are her family. Except for Ethan, she remembers him. Though in her deepest nightmares she is also getting snippets of a different Ethan. One that said he didn’t love her anymore, one who said he wanted to leave.

Reconciling what is real is difficult and coming to grips with the truth is worse. Ethan might just lose the only woman he’s ever loved after he just got her back.

Rachel wasn’t meant to live. Now someone wants to make sure that they rectify their mistake and take care of the job at hand.

 

 

This book was FANTASTIC. I loved it so very much. The emotions throughout the book are so heart wrenching, so complete, that I spent a good chunk of it in tears. Maya writes with complete conviction, not only the main characters but all the secondary ones as well. I was blown away by the depth.

Ethan and Rachel are completely and totally in love but Ethan lives in fear. Fear for when Rachel remembers the past. The way he treated her before she was taken from him and his eyes got opened to the miracle he had thrown away. His ability to be the kindest and most gentlest man I’d ever seen was astounding. He was just a huge teddy bear with a heart of gold that needed to repent for his past.

Rachel is a broken woman. Having to deal with so much not only in the past year but in learning to live again amongst family and without drugs pumping through her veins. Her strength to endure was beautifully written and it left me feeling like I got a glimpse into an actual person and not just a character on a page.

The secondary characters of all the brothers…wow do I hope they all get their own stories. These men and total alpha with a side of AWWWWWWW. I love me a man who can kick ass and hold me in the dark later. The character of Rusty ( a runaway that Ethan’s mom takes in) was also extremely interesting. I detected a bit of something between her and one of the younger Kelly brothers. Perhaps when she’s older……

I loved this book…I will sing it from the rooftops and tell everyone to try Maya Banks writing! I already have the next KGI novel on my shelf. Sam’s story. As soon as I am done with a few shorter books sent to me for review..I’m all over No Place To Run.

I give The Darkest Hour by Maya Banks 5 stars!