Idea behind Lightning Round is to do some quickie reviews (ebooks and print). Not sure if this works or not. And for some reason I can’t get it down to just a paragraph… I am beginning to think I ramble. Let me know if this works for you or not *g*.

The Switch by Emma Wildes
Whiskey Creek Press Torrid Romance (purchased from fictionwise)

This book was nothing like I was expecting. I read the summary a month or so ago and kept going back to it. I couldn’t find anything about it on the blogs. And hadn’t heard of the author. So again and again I looked at the summary until it just drove me nuts and I bought it (well and fictionwise had a sale).

I liked all of the characters but most of all the brother. I can’t say I understand why Adam felt the need to ask his Alex to help him, why Alex agrees or why the heroine behaves as she does when the dust settles. I have to admit her reaction bought my grade down a point. But it made sense while reading it, at least in a twisted sort of way *g*. The Switch is not the best you will ever read but the best I have read by Emma Wildes. Oh come now, you know you will at least go look at the summary won’t you *g*. Grade C+

It is easy to see why this is number one at Samhain right now. The author has some great books out and the threesome plot seems to fly off the shelves (be it e or not). I have enjoyed other work by Mackenzie McKade but this one didn’t work for me.

The work Christmas party set up and going home with her boss isn’t hard to see and can work for me (and Harlequin *g*). But once they make it inside it all sort of fell apart for me. The third person just seems added on in order to check off the threesome box. But hey it is number one so it is working for some. I still look forward to reading her book. Grade D

Understood by Maya Banks
Samhain

Maya Banks is another author I have read and really enjoyed, only I liked this one too. Warning it does deal with past spouse abuse so it isn’t all eggnog and holiday cheer. And I don’t think novella format was the best way to go for this story.

There is a very yummy alpha hero and a great trying to rebuild her life and learn to stand on her own two feet heroine. If the book had ended before the ex showed up this would have been a solid B for me but he did show up. And it went downhill from there. The explanation was a touch to pat and his character a lot too cardboard. But before his arrival was great. Grade C

I could wrong but I am pretty sure this is Emma Sinclair’s first published story. I was very impressed. It flows well, was fun and most importantly had character that felt very true to life. You could know most of these people and even like them. This is something I find I really like in contemporary romances.

The setup is at a strip club (shush jane). Shannon and Nick first meet while Shannon is embracing her her wild side on amateur night. She is one of my favorite contemporary heroines, one that has figured out what is wrong with her life and is in the process of fixing it. Her actions fit where her character is perfectly. Only drawback is Shannon is super smart so she should have known picking a stripclub anywhere NEAR the school she was subbing at was a really, really bad idea. Still it is entertaining… check it out. Grade C+

S’Mores by Jalena Burke
Phaze (new to me author and publisher) purchased from fictionwise

This is a marriage in trouble story, sort of. I don’t get a true sense it is on the edge of a break as much it is an issue that needs to be addressed. Hubby isn’t standing up to mommy, who is trying to roll over the wife.

He doesn’t listen so the wife does the one things she thinks she can. Alyssa takes her vacation without him. I was all good for her and I loved how he reacted. But there was just something missing to give it that extra wow. Of course it is also a really short story. So there you go. Grade C

This takes two very played elements werewolves and threesomes, twist them around to make them just a little bit different. Done well I love both of those types of stories. Lately I have found less and less I think are good. New Years Kiss would be one of them.

I don’t think I have read many New Year Eve stories but this has a common RL set up. What do you do when you have a party you really want to go to and a boyfriend you hate? Well duh… you wait until after the first to dump him. Only bad boyfriend screws up and dumps her first. After she bitches about it to her two new friends (they met six months ago), they agree to take her. Well one of them will. They plan to met at the hotel and things go from there. Grade B+

***Speaking of fictionwise they have micro rebates on Price of Ice and Delicious by Susan Mallery right now. And check this out if you haven’t***