Laura C’s review of Breakaway by Dierdre Martin
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 07 Feb 12

I am a Dierdre Martin fan in general, so I’m always pleased to see a new book from her. Her “New York Blades” hockey romances are a treat even for people who aren’t fans. There’s enough explanation of what’s going on for people to follow, but not so much it’s dull. But this book departs from the ice—and New York—following its hero, Rory Brady, back to his hometown of Ballycraig, Ireland, where he left the woman he’d once promised to marry. Rory wants Erin back, but Erin, and the rest of the town’s citizens, aren’t eager to forgive him.

People who know me know one of my pet peeves is romance wherein the heroine, a big city girl, finds love and happiness in a small town. Not to say it can’t be done well, but all too often I end up wondering how the same person who was happy in one life can possibly be happy in the other because the change isn’t adequately explained. That’s not the case in Breakaway at all. Instead, Erin has always wanted out of Ballycraig and her resentment of Rory’s betrayal of their love is compounded by the fact that they were supposed to leave together.

“Erin, I was your ticket out of here,” Rory said slightly smug.

“Oh, saving the life of your country girlfriend, were you?” Erin snarled. “Assuming that without you, I’d have never left. You didn’t think twice about dumping me, though, did you? So much for saving me. And PS—I didn’t need you to be my ticket out of here, you bloody jackass. Once you broke things off, I realized I didn’t need you to make my dreams come true. I actually should thank you for cutting me loose, because, in the end, it’s been a gift. Now, I do what I want to do for myself, without worrying about how to please or accommodate anyone else.”

“Except your mother.”

“I’m working on that, I told you. Some of us aren’t hardhearted: we don’t just pull the plug on those we love and walk away.”

Rory winced. “Touché.”

Rory knows what he wants when he comes back to town—to take Erin away with him.  He’s also pretty sure she’ll agree to it. I must say, I had some trouble figuring out what she saw in him in the beginning. He seemed like a complete jerk. And, to be honest, he’ll never be one of my favorite of Martin’s heroes. But he did grow on me as the story went along and he figured out just how badly he’d screwed up and began to try more seriously to make amends.

This is a very sweet story when it comes right down to it without nearly as much angst as many of the books I’ve been reading of late, which is actually a relief. And it has the added bonus of being set in Ireland, which I love. Martin is never heavy-handed with dialect, but she has a great ear for it and everything rings completely true.

Grade: A

Summary:

Rory Brady was Ballycraig’s golden boy, the local lad who moved to America and became a professional hockey player. But he broke his promise to Erin O’Brien-and never went back for her. Now Erin has moved on, and Rory must race the clock to prove to her that the man she fell in love with is still there. But can happy-go-lucky Erin risk it all and give another chance to the man who broke her heart?

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of An Unexpected Gentleman by Alissa Johnson
Historical Romance published by Berkley 6 Dec 11

The elements of this book come together quite nicely to give readers what they’ve come to expect from Alissa Johnson. Revenge against a brother, an attraction that begins from afar, jealousy that leads to false accusations, and a love that grows despite everything working against such emotion.

Adelaide is expecting a proposal from Baron Maxwell, but she’s dragging her feet to face him this night. As much as her family needs his money, this is certainly not a love match. But it is up to her to make the sacrifice – her sister needs a Season, her brother’s debts need to paid, and her young nephew needs a stable home life. But before she makes her way to the house party, she is waylaid by a handsome gentleman and then trapped in his company as they wait for the coast to clear so they’re not caught in improper circumstances. Connor Brice is a charming rogue and has a way of seemingly reading her mind about her reluctance to actually make it inside for the party.

Revenge has been on Connor’s mind for years. He and Baron Maxwell have a very contentious history, with luck not being on Connor’s side throughout. Discovering the baron’s interest in Adelaide, his plans now include her. He slowly seduces her, but Adelaide surprises him. She has a good head on her shoulders and looks at all sides of a situation. So he takes matters into his hands to make sure she’s tied to him. But even compromising the lady doesn’t work as neatly as he figured.

With two men’s proposals waiting for an answer from her, Adelaide is determined to make the right choice, though after all the revealing things she learned about the baron tonight, her choice really is clear. But she’s cautious and intelligent and makes doubly sure the men know she’s in charge, especially because they don’t see her as a person or a woman but more of something to fight over. She accepts Connor’s proposal with her eyes wide open. Too bad her heart doesn’t follow suit.

While Connor keeps his eyes on his revenge plans, Adelaide begins to see him in a new light in this new life they share. The sweet way he makes love to her, the way he cares for her nephew, the revelation of his feelings for her before he even knew she was involved with the baron. Even the way he listens to her when she stands up for herself in their marriage.

But when love enters the equation, Adelaide wants more from Connor. His life has and is consumed with revenge, but if they’re going to have a life, a family together, he needs to step back and see what’s more important to him. And Connor does listen to her, but he’s running on a one-track mind. He decision is made swiftly, however, and to me it’s a little too fast. Seems like to me after fifteen years of nothing in his life but his revenge that it should have taken just a bit longer to whittle it down the way he does. Does he give it all up? Well, that’s the question, isn’t it?

I enjoyed these characters immensely. Connor is the one who must truly change, even though Adelaide is taken with his unexpected gentlemanliness as she gets to know him. There’s more to him than meets the eye, and it all comes out through his growing love for her. I like that Adelaide is not a beguiling beauty, but just your everyday girl next door and she doesn’t leave that behind despite what happens in her life. The baron is one piece of work, and I thoroughly reveled in his downfall.

Alissa Johnson always gives readers a lovely romance featuring charming characters, wicked and handsome heroes, along with intelligent and independent heroines. I enjoy her storytelling and look forward to the next book by the time I’ve finished reading the one currently in hand.

Grade: A-

Summary:

Her heart was a target…

Adelaide Ward has but one goal—to obtain an offer of marriage from the respectable, if less-than-appealing Baron Maxwell before her family is ruined. But it’s the devilishly handsome Connor Brice who captures her imagination—and a kiss in broad daylight—in front of a dozen members of the ton.  Now Adelaide must decide if the charming scoundrel who stole away her reputation might still be trusted with her heart.

His aim must be true…

Connor Brice seeks a long overdue revenge on the baron. And what better way to launch his campaign than to steal the lovely Miss Ward for his own? A quick “compromising” and an even quicker wedding ought to do. But if Connor wants to establish any sort of domestic tranquility, he’ll have to regain Adelaide’s trust and choose what means more to him—his thirst for vengeance, or his need for Adelaide.

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of Whispers in the Dark (KGI, Book 4) by Maya Banks
Romantic Suspense published by Berkley 3 Jan 12

Hi, my name is Sandy. And I’m addicted. To Maya Banks’ Kelly boys. Hooboy. I was a goner with the first book, and now with the fourth? Needless to say, I’m not coming up for air anytime soon.

This time it’s Nathan, one of the two youngest Kellys, twin to Joe, who goes through hell to find love. As we learned in the previous book, the twins were finally leaving their military service to come home and join their brothers at KGI. Before that could happen, they are both severely injured, Nathan taken hostage in Afghanistan. He’s beaten and tortured, forced to watch his brothers-in-arms also being tortured, even ultimately killed to try to force him to talk. It’s during a rare moment of solitude that an angel comes to his aid. She soothes his soul, takes his pain away, boosts his spirits – all in his mind, of course. Which can’t be. Has he finally gone around the bend?

Shea is telepathic and has been on the run for a year now. Separated from her sister by necessity of protection – information concerning each other that they don’t have can’t be shared – from those who want them both for their powerful abilities. But when she hears a man in pain, needing comfort, she can’t leave him to suffer alone. Stealing into his mind, she bolsters him enough to give him that extra spark he needs to keep going, enough hope that he’ll make it out alive. Shea stays with Nathan until he’s able to escape his captors and his brothers arrive to take him home. Then she’s gone. Totally. No matter how he calls for her, Shea doesn’t answer.

Bereft at the loss of his angel, Nathan is back home, healing. At least physically. It’s his spirit and mental capacity that he doubts. Was she real? Or just his imagination, a way his brain needed for him to survive his ordeal? And though it was thoughts of his family that kept him going while in captivity, now that he’s with them, he seeks solitude more and more, confusing and worrying his loved ones even further. Then everything changes when Shea reappears, her lovely voice echoing through his mind. But just as quickly her pain and fear overwhelm him, and Nathan knows he has to get to her soon. Wanting to include his brothers but knowing that will take too long, he commandeers a KGI jet, but even that seems to take forever to find Shea.

Once Nathan has Shea in his arms, he knows she’s the one for him. They share a bond like no others. They’ve seen and felt each other’s pain and fear and hopelessness, given each other the will to go on. Shea feels the same, she trusts Nathan and it’s heaven to trust someone again. She’s been on her own for far too long. Now her only concern is to find Grace, her sister. But Grace has gone silent after one last, very cryptic telepathic communication, and now Nathan and Shea are on the hunt to bring her to safety.

Maya Banks is another author for me who makes me feel everything her characters go through. Nathan’s pain and anguish in the beginning are palpable. Shea’s connection with him screams of hope. The love between them when they finally meet in the flesh is electric and soul deep. Then there’s all the intermediate emotions of the Kellys when Nathan’s fate is unknown, Shea’s fear for her sister, and then her own terror when all their plans are thrown into the wind by someone they thought they could trust. There isn’t a page in this book that doesn’t radiate with some type of feeling, even laughter, which is always a must when the Kelly family is together.

While the emotion in these books is what draws me back to them – well, besides the alpha, sexy heroes anyway – the heart-pounding action of ambushes and rescues and the like is also habit-forming. The scenes at Shea’s family home with the panic room never slow down until you’re about to jump out of your skin. There’s a few scenes like that, in fact. The helicopter scene later in the book is the same. It’s shorter but packs the same punch. I also enjoy Nathan and Shea’s telepathic communication with each other, especially in a car full of his brothers and other team members. There’s plenty of surprises throughout this story, fun and otherwise.

We’re now down to two Kelly brothers, Donovan and Joe, and this series will be over. Withdrawal will then be imminent for me. I’m not sure what I’ll do after that. I know I will be lost for a time. Maybe the Kellys have some cousins or other relatives – long-lost brothers? – who will save me. Yes, reaching for straws is a bad sign. I know I don’t want this addiction to come to an end.

Grade: A+

Summary:

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?

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

C2’s review of Slow Ride (Fast Track, Book 5) by Erin McCarthy
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 4 Oct 11

In Erin McCarthy’s latest NASCAR book, Tuesday Jones (aka racing blogger Tuesday Talledega) gets her chance in the spotlight.

Tuesday Jones meets a handsome stranger as she is leaving her father’s graveside service – and has a breakdown on his sympathetic shoulder. Only later does she realize her good Samaritan is retired NASCAR driver Daniel “Diesel” Lange.  Diesel retired from racing after a horrible crash left him with career-ending injuries.  He has built a business restoring old cars and has very little to do with the racing world.

Tuesday and Diesel have chemistry and neither is interested in anything serious, so they start casually seeing each other.  Of course, casual never lasts long, does it, faithful reader?  Soon enough, both realize they are spending way too much time thinking about the other person and anticipating their time together more than a “casual” relationship would explain.

To honor her father’s career (he was a writer and covered racing extensively) and raise money for cancer research – and help her deal with his loss – Tuesday decides to have a charity event and auction and Diesel offers one of his restored cars for the auction.  But Tuesday continues to struggle and often finds solace in a wine bottle.

I am sure we, as readers, are supposed to feel sympathetic toward Tuesday, but she is so self-involved and such an obnoxious drunk it is hard to be anything other than annoyed.  And the fact that her friends and family are not particularly concerned is baffling to me. Maybe their behavior is supposed to mimic real life?  I hope people don’t really do that.

Diesel, on the other hand, would probably be a very nice, not-so-talkative, normal guy in real life – and no one would give it any thought.  However, as the hero of a romance novel, he seems lacking. At least he is concerned about Tuesday’s drinking.

I struggled with this book.  Tuesday is unbelievable and self-centered with obvious issues and in serious need of therapy.  Diesel is really just a normal, boring guy who gets sucked into Tuesday’s crazy world.  In real life, couples like this make me scratch my head and wonder how short the relationship will be.  That we are asked to believe these characters will live happily ever after (without serious therapy) is surprising.  Yes, toward the end, Ms. McCarthy tries to show emotional growth or self-realization or something, but it seems like too little too late.

For a series that started out so well, the last two books of the Fast Track series have been very disappointing (except the covers – they are consistently fab).  I am still willing to check out the next book because Elec and Evan’s sister is the heroine and that could be fun…and maybe even get the series back on track? However, my expectations are low.

In the meantime, does this book stand alone? Mostly.  It would probably make more sense if you read The Chase – Tuesday’s best friend Kendall’s book.  Do I recommend reading The Chase? No.  Nor do I recommend this book, unless you are a hardcore fan of the series and have enjoyed all the previous books.

Grade: D

Summary:
As a tribute to her late journalist father, Tuesday Jones is planning a career benefit, auctioning off racing memorabilia and meet-and-greets with drivers. Ex-racing star Diesel Lange has had his own brush with death, and is determined not to waste another minute of his life- especially when he meets Tuesday. He wants nothing more than to shift their romance into high gear, but he knows she’s still grieving. Can Diesel do the one thing he could never do on the track and take it slow?

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series:

Sandy M’s review of Animal Attraction (Animal Magnetism, Book 2) by Jill Shalvis
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 4 Oct 11

Jill Shalvis is simply magic. Her characters are always so charming and endearing, and I’ve been loving all the characters in this Animal Magnetism series. The addition of the animals in the storylines just makes reading them that much more fun, as is evidenced by the opening scene in this book. I knew right then this would be another winner to read. Amid the fun, however, there’s sensual sparks flying all over the place, but there is the underlying frustration and melancholy when two people made for each other just can’t see the forest for the trees.

Jade ran from family and friends after a traumatic experience in Chicago while at work at the family medical facility. She dead ended in Sunshine, Idaho, at Belle Haven Veterinary Clinic, taking over as bookkeeper/receptionist/office manager – you name it, she did it. Obviously, she’s very overqualified for the position. But Del and his brothers needed the help, so she was hired. Belle is a perfectionist, she likes everything nice and tidy, and she loves spreadsheets. Everything goes on a spreadsheet, personal as well as professional items.

Dell has commitment issues. Doesn’t most every hero when we first meet them? But Dell’s issues come from abandonment, his parents’ most of all. So he leaves any and all women before they can leave him. No fuss, no muss, and no hurt. He and Belle have been dancing around one another for nearly a year and a half. Just when things begin to change between them, it’s going to be time for her to head back to Chicago. But they keep dancing. And Dell feels like Jade will be abandoning him too.

With her failure on her mind the closer the time to go home gets, the more she hesitates and thinks maybe she should stay put. She’s found a home with Dell and his brothers. And Lilah, the heroine from Animal Magneism, has become her best friend. A nosy friend but a good one. Leaving Dell is also something she doesn’t want to do, their relationship so new. So intimate. So right. But she’s promised everyone in Chicago she will return, go back to the family business just like nothing happened there before.

These two together are so much fun to read. Dell figures out enough of what’s bothering Jade, so he offers to teach her some self-defense moves to boost her confidence, to help her know she won’t be so helpless if something so frightening ever happens to her again. Jade is so in control of her own life, you’d think she would want to control everything and everyone else, but not so. She knows her boundaries and keeps them, only moving into Dell’s space when given the go-ahead. He can’t keep an organized office to save his life, and it drives her crazy, but she keeps her distance until Dell is ready. Allowing Jade to accompany him to see and help his mother and her friends is also a nice touch, especially when we find that Adam doesn’t feel the same way as Dell concerning their mom. I like that Dell and Jade get to know one another like this, the big things and the little things in life, which also instills more and more trust between them.

As usual, Jill Shalvis has given readers another perfect romance. And this is a romance through and through. Just a small mystery in the beginning about what happened to Jade, but outside of that it’s smooth sailing to love, with some four-legged creatures to help things along. We get caught up with Brady and Lilah, and it’s nice to see how they’re doing. Adam is now the odd man out, but his days are definitely numbered, of course. And I’m definitely look forward to his book to see what Ms. Shalvis has in store for him and her readers.

Grade: A+

Summary:

She’s tempting his basic instincts…

Sunshine, Idaho, is a quiet ranching town, a perfect place to give injured animals a refuge…or to find one. And veterinarian Dell Connelly suspects there’s a reason his clinic’s uber-efficient receptionist has taken shelter here.

Jade Bennett couldn’t be happier to escape her well-meaning but smothering family and their expectations, not to mention the big-city jungle. There’s nothing like working with injured animals, having a forlorn, grumpy stray kitten make its home under her desk…or enjoying the gorgeous views of her ruggedly sexy boss.

Jade is used to planning everything in her life, but Dell’s understanding has sparked an uncontrollable desire. And though Dell has never had time for love, Jade’s strength and sass is the kind of call no red-blooded male can resist…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

C2’s review of Hearts and Swords (Celta’s HeartMates, Book 11) by Robin D. Owens
Fantasy/Paranormal Romance released by Berkley 6 Dec 11

What do cryogenics, matchmakers, scandalous divorcees and talking animals have in common?  You might be surprised.  Robin D. Owens’ latest release is a collection of four novellas all set in her Celta universe.

For those new to the series, Celta is a planet where Earthlings with psychic powers found refuge after fleeing persecution.  Similar but different, something about Celta soon stopped Earth machinery from working.  However, psychic abilities continue to increase in strength and variety.  This time around a couple of the original colonists and supporting characters from previous books all get their happy endings.

Heart and Swords

In Hearts and Swords, original colonist Kelse Bountry is unexpectedly awakened from cryogenic sleep after the murder of the captain of the spaceship he is traveling in.  Kelse and others with psi talents are fleeing persecution on Earth, looking for an Earth-like planet to establish their own civilization on.

Kelse and his wife Fern were not supposed to be awakened until a planet had been found and the ship was about to land – they expected to be in stasis for about 75 years.  However, after the captain’s murder, the executive officer wakes Kelse and tells him he must take over.  And instead of sleeping for 75 years it has been nearly 250!  There are mutineers aboard – people who have grown up on the ship – who have no interest in finding a new planet.  They either want to go back to Earth or just keep traveling.

Kelse wants to take care of the problem and get the ship to a planet. He talked Fern into the whole space travel thing and he knows she would be very uncomfortable, so Kelse wants her to stay asleep until they are on the ground somewhere safe.  The ship (if you’re interested in the Ship, Nuada’s Sword, check out Heart Thief) has other ideas and soon Fern is awake and embroiled with the mutineers too.

I enjoyed this glimpse into the events that brought the colonists to Celta.  There have been bits of the story scattered through the series, but, like most history, the interesting personal bits are forgotten or glossed over or completely changed.  We see the beginnings of the Heart Mate/Heart Bond too.

Grade: A

Heart Story

Blush Willow was kept from her Heart Mate by her mean-spirited, scheming mother – a renowned matchmaker, of all things. Now, years later, her mother has passed away and her Heart Mate, Dri Paris, has returned from the distant city he fled to after Blush’s mother threatened his family.

Both Blush and Dri are bitter about what her mother did.  And each blame the other for not being strong enough to stand up to her – even though they were teenagers and she held a powerful position in society.  Can two adults get past their anger and distrust to find the love they know is waiting for them?

This story is the weakest. The plot is thin and the characters are not so interesting. I don’t remember being interested in Blush when I read the book this story is connected to, so…

Grade: C-

Heart and Soul

Then we move to Heart and Soul and change locations from Druida to Gael City, which is much less familiar to longtime readers of the series.

Genista Furze shocked the upper echelons of Druida City by divorcing her husband…that just isn’t done in the First Families.  Genista realized that it would be better for everyone if they were no longer together, though, and freed him to be with his Heart Mate (if you wanna know more about that, check out Heart Fate).

Now she has moved to another city and is living a much quieter life under a different name.  She has a house and a job and an attentive (and handsome) next door neighbor.  But there is more to him than meets the eye.  Her ex-husband’s family hired him to watch over her and keep her safe.

Apparently, her secret identity isn’t as much of a secret as she thought.  When a burglary ring targets her house, many truths are revealed.

It’s nice to see the other side of Genista. In Heart Fate and previous Holly-centric books, she was pretty one-dimensional, if I recall correctly. Mostly she was an obstacle and shallow party girl. Here she has made a new start and is focusing on the things that make her happy, instead of worrying so much about what others think.

Grade: B

Noble Heart

Finally, we have Noble Heart.  Walker Clover is happy with his life – he is one of the many Clover boys, lives in Clover Compound with his family, and has a job he loves.  Walker is tutor to one of the Druida FirstFamilies – the Ashes.  When young Nuin Ash enters his first Passage – a feverish dream state that releases the person’s Flair (psi ability – it varies from person to person and can be anything from art to healing to weaponry) – Walker’s Passage is triggered, as well.  But Walker is an adult who has always thought he had only the basic amount of Flair required to operate Celtan machinery.  By adulthood, highly Flaired Celtans have endured three Passages and Walker has never experienced Passage at all – and suddenly he experiences all three Passages at one time.  Most unpleasant.  And dangerous – not everyone survives Passage.

After Walker wakes up and is told what happened to him (at first it’s thought he’s sick), he is tested to see what his new Flair talent is.  He is surprised to learn his talent may lead him to a very important political position.  Walker is not pleased with the direction his life is taking, but he recognizes that his new Flair will help his family move upward in Celtan society – there are four main classes: Commoners, Grace Houses, Grand Houses and First Families.  Walker’s new flair catapults his family from Commoner status to Grand House status.

Walker and his allies recognize that he will need assistance to navigate his new position in society.  He also must pass a test to assume his new position.  He chooses Sedwy Grove to help him learn how to deal with his new situation.  Sedwy’s mother formerly held the position Walker may eventually attain.  Plus, she’s pretty and smells nice.

Will Walker be able to adjust to his new power and potential?  And will Sedwy be able to move past the scandal in her past and take her rightful place next to him?

This is my favorite of the bunch. The Clovers are a fun family and I really like Walker. It is a nice change to see a hero who isn’t uber ambitious and power hungry.

Grade: A

I must say, I very much like this novella format.  There are several series I would LOVE to see something similar from (I’m looking at you, Nalini Singh and Meljean Brook).

Do the stories stand alone? Maybe – the first story, especially. The others tie in with previous books, so a new reader might feel like they are missing something, although Ms. Owens does a good job of summarizing previous events. Certainly by reading these stories, a newbie would have a good feel for the world she has created.

If you’ve never tried the Celta series, I urge you to try it. The world Ms. Owens has created continues to expand and evolve.  (Also, unrelated to anything, it’s nice to see the art department is returning to form on the cover format.  The cover for Heart Journey was unfortunate.) It is such a consistantly excellent series and seems to get very little buzz – it makes me sad. Check it out, faithful reader. If you hate it, come back and tell me why. If you love it, tell a friend.

Overall grade: B

Summary:

Heart and Sword
Captain Kelse Bountry leads a colony fleet in search of a habitable planet. His Ship is far off course and his crew is on the verge of mutiny, circumstances that threaten both the success of Kelse’s mission and his marriage. But Fern Bountry is not about to give up on either…

Heart and Soul
Genista Furze, scandalous ex-wife of Tinne Holly, has created a new life for herself working for a clockmaker in small Gael City. Content with simplicity, and learning to value herself, Genista is in no hurry to risk her heart on another man – no matter how attractive her neighbor is…

Noble Heart
Walker Clover is experiencing Passage – the dreamquest to free his psi power – and learns that he possesses a flair for magic. When his parents learn of his abilities they reveal that his real mother was a noblewoman. Now, Celta’s FirstFamilies scheme to forge an alliance with Walker through offers of marriage – a prospect he finds abhorrent until he meets the mysterious Sedwy Grove…

Heart Story
A year has passed since Blush Willow’s domineering and murderous mother died, and Blush has drawn her hidden HeartMate, Dri Paris, to her. All should be well. But when they finally meet, unresolved anger at the past – and each other – flares between them. Yet they must work together to find a treasure and save Dri’s family.

No excerpt available.

Other books in the series:

Sandy M’s review of Kissing Comfort by Jo Goodman
Historical Romance published by Berkley 6 Sep 11

This is only my second book by Jo Goodman. After reading my first, Never Love a Lawman, and loving it so much, as I always do, I vowed to read more of her. Unfortunately, life never works the way you want it to. I haven’t been able to read another until now. And I must say, my reaction to Kissing Comfort is very different from my reaction to NLaL.

While Ms. Goodman does a terrific job of introducing us to her characters, showing us their lives, their strengths and weaknesses, their vulnerabilities and the like, the first part of this book is quite slow. Which actually surprises me after reading the prologue, which did have me hooked, wondering what would become of that young child Newt and Tuck found ensconced in rocks. But once we find out how she’s fared, how her life is currently getting along, the book’s pace creeps along. For me, there’s just too much pussyfooting around with Bram. Yes, he’s an integral part of the story, but come to find out, we don’t need nearly as much of him in the beginning as we get. At least I don’t.

Bram is the younger DeLong brother. The charming one. The playboy, so to speak. He has no responsibility to anyone other than himself, and that’s not saying much. He’s known Comfort Kennedy for years, has known she’s in love with him. At his brother’s birthday party, at which his brother is so far a no-show, Bram makes a surprise announcement – he and Comfort are engaged! Amid the good wishes and congratulations and new revelry at an otherwise dull get-together – the reason for the announcement – Comfort is just as surprised as everyone else. Taking the matter up with Bram, she talks him down from a six-month waiting period to six weeks before calling the fraudulent engagement off. Then we get a lot of chapters with these two dancing around each other about the engagement, the way Bram went about it, etc. etc. Just not all that interesting to me after a while.

Cooling her anger before heading back inside, Comfort comes face to face with the birthday boy – er, man himself. Sporting cuts, bruises, and very sore bones and joints as a result of an attack, Bode finally shows up for his party and finds Comfort with Bram in the garden. Hearing their good news doesn’t sit well with him, but he keeps quiet until the right time to make his intentions known. Which is after Comfort is kidnapped, and with Bram laid up with a broken leg, it’s up to Bode to use his resources to find her and bring her home. To him. And this is when the book picks up in action and mystery and romance and just…everything. Before this, though there are some good scenes from one family home to the other and then to the bank owned by Tuck and Newt, the in-between scenes just don’t work for me all that much.

Bode is the DeLong left to make ends meet after his father squandered the family fortune, nearly bankrupting their shipping company. He has to keep his brother and mother on a tight financial leash, because he refuses to give up on the company he loves. He’s always carried a torch for Comfort, but somehow he always scared the girl and they’ve never spent that much time in each other’s company. He’s about to change all that, declaring his intent to Bram on his way to find out what’s happened to her.

Comfort goes through a horrendous ordeal awaiting her fate in a saloon full of men who have bought lottery tickets to see which one will get first crack at her. You can feel her fear and panic as that time draws ever closer. Just when you think Bode’s plan to rescue her is going to work, all hell breaks loose again and it’s the man himself who whisks her off to safety. And the ensuing scenes on one of his ships are my favorites in the book. They’re in one cabin together, of course, on a ship full of men. They’re married there. They love on that boat. They learn more about one another during their trip. They plan to find out what the hell is going on that would trigger Comfort’s kidnapping.

I like Comfort and her “uncles” a lot. They have a terrific relationship for not being blood family. Of the DeLong family, it’s only Bode who finally breaks the ice for me and who’s worth anything. Bram is definitely spoiled and selfish, even if he never meant anyone any true harm. Newt and Tuck, along with Bode, do what it takes to keep Comfort safe once she’s home, and Bram could learn a few lessons from them in that regard. He really chaps my hide.

I’m glad the second half of this book picked up the pace. I’d been a little worried before that. Ms. Goodman pens a wonderful story anyway, even those slow parts are well written and still draw you in. So, all in all, a good read with some captivating characters, a wonderful romance, and a mystery that piques interest from the beginning.

Grade: B-

Summary:

Bode DeLong knows that his playboy brother Bram isn’t really in love with Miss Comfort Kennedy, even though it’s clear that she’s enamored with him. With Bram’s motives for the engagement suspect, Bode figures the safest place for Comfort to be is in his arms. Now, Bode just needs to convince Comfort that the childhood fancy she has for his brother is no match for the incredible desire that sparks between them every time they touch.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

C2’s review of Serendipity (Serendipity Series, Book 1) by Carly Phillips
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 6 Sep 11

I seem to be on a good run with contemporaries lately.  Carly Phillips is an author I hadn’t read in ages – too many books, too little time – until Serendipity turned up in my mailbox.  Since I was in a contemporary mood, I decided to try it and see what I had been missing out on.  I really enjoyed this story.

Faith Harrington has just returned to her hometown to start a new life. Her father is in jail after swindling lots of people – including many residents of Serendipity – and her (now) ex-husband, who had used her father’s influence to further his career but managed to remain unscathed, was cheating on her.  Now all Faith wants is to take back her life, be herself and make it on her own.  The last thing she expects is to bump into her high-school-bad-boy secret crush.

Ethan Barron has also returned home to make some changes in his life. Ethan feels responsible for the death of his parents – and the result of his younger brothers ending up in foster care.  His parents were on their way to deal with some consequences of his youthful bad choices when they were killed in a car accident.  Years later, Ethan still blames himself…and so do his brothers (ah yes, faithful reader, the sweet, sweet smell of sequel bait).  Now Ethan can work wherever and has returned to Serendipity to try to mend things with his brothers.  The last thing he expects is to suddenly be responsible for a sister he never knew he had.

Apparently, his dad, who traveled a lot for work, had a long-term girlfriend in another town and they had a child together just before his father was killed.  Now the girlfriend is dead and the half-sister cannot deal with their mutual half-sister any longer.  His little sister, Tess, has already been in and out of trouble at school and with the police and needs more adult supervision than her half-sister can provide.  Kelly (the out-of-her-depth sister) tells Ethan that Tess is his for the summer.  Ethan decides he isn’t going to abandon another sibling who needs him – besides, he recognizes some of his youthful rebellion in Tess.  And maybe he and his brothers can work together to help her get back on track before it’s too late.

But what about Faith?  After meeting her again, Ethan realizes the old spark of attraction is still there – maybe more now than when they were young.  He wants to see where things will go and needs a way to keep her from avoiding him.  Conveniently, he moves into the fancy house she grew up in (it had to be sold after her dad’s legal problems) and it needs some serious redecorating.  Faith’s new business in town is interior design.  Perfect!  He will be her first (only – the townspeople aren’t exactly excited to see her) client and will help her get the new business off the ground.  Faith is reluctant.  She just got out of a bad relationship and is still reeling from her father’s situation.  Still, beggars can’t be choosers and she needs the business.

Faith and Ethan both are trying to find their way and fighting the shadows of their former selves. The townspeople can’t see past the idea of Faith being the spoiled daughter of the man who stole their money. Ethan’s brothers can’t get past their anger and still blame him for ruining their lives. Will they manage? Well, this is the first book in a series so, yeah. But, since it is a series there are plot points left dangling. Ethan’s relationships with his brothers is still unsettled and Faith’s relationship with her mother is not completely comfortable.

All in all, I enjoyed Serendipity. The characters and storyline weren’t the most unique, but Ms. Phillips stays out of cookie cutter territory and I remained engaged enough to be interested in where the next book will take things.

Grade: C+

Summary:

Faith Harrington was the classic girl of privilege–until her father was convicted of running a Ponzi scheme and then her marriage crashed and burned.

Now Faith is back in her hometown, hoping for a fresh start. But her father’s betrayal has rocked Serendipity – and not everyone is ready to welcome her with open arms. Then she runs into her teenage crush — the dark, brooding Ethan Barron. Ethan, no stranger to scandal himself, never imagined he’d own the mansion on the hill, much less ever again come face to face with Faith–the princess he once kissed senseless. The chance meeting reignites the electric charge between them.

Still, when Ethan hires her to redecorate what was once her childhood home, Faith is sure that getting involved with the town’s notorious bad boy will only lead to trouble. But her heart has other ideas. And so do the townspeople of Serendipity …

Read an excerpt. (click link)

C2’s review of Heart of Steel (Iron Seas, Book 4) by Meljean Brook
Steampunk Romance published by Berkley 1 Nov 11

In the mood for a book with an unapologetically kick-ass heroine? One who doesn’t even pretend she needs a big, strong man to take care of her? What if her hero totally digs that about her and doesn’t want to change her? Intrigued??

In Meljean Brook’s latest installment in her Iron Seas series, Lady Corsair (aka Yasmeen) steps onto the main stage. She had a prominent supporting role in The Iron Duke and events that occur in that book play a very important role in Heart of Steel.

The last time Lady Corsair saw Archimedes Fox, she dropped him into the seas around Venice – and zombies were closing in! I mean, what’s a captain to do when a passenger tries to take control of her air ship? So imagine her surprise when he pops back into her life several months later? Well, kidnaps her off the street several months later…

Archimedes Fox is an adventurer – think about a Regency rake version of Indiana Jones.  In fact, his adventures are chronicled in very popular stories written by his sister.  Archimedes wants Yasmeen – he wants to seduce her, he wants to fall in love, and he wants to experience heartbreak – and he figures she is just the lady for the job to help him experience all those feelings.  She doesn’t trust men and usually uses them briefly, if she’s interested, and tosses them aside before they get close enough to betray her.  He isn’t willing to have a quick fling and be tossed aside, though. He wants to know her and is willing to earn her trust – as much as she is able to give.

Before the seduction can really begin, Yasmeen and Archimedes are swept up in a treasure hunt that is entwined with political intrigue.  And it brings up a lot of things from both of their pasts that continue to affect them.

That’s the thing about these characters – they are adults and behave as such.  They both are aware of the issues, good and bad, that have shaped their lives and know having any sort of real relationship won’t be easy. Sometimes, though, you can’t help yourself.  And once they decide to trust each other (no small thing for these two), they trust each other.  And stand together against all sorts of enemies.

If you want a story filled with adventure and intrigue and treasure hunts, with murder and mayhem and machinery, with ZOMBIES! – this is the book for you. The world Ms. Brook has built is fascinating and rich and filled with interesting characters. If you like steampunk and haven’t already started reading this series – go to the bookstore of your choice immediately. If you’ve never tried steampunk but love a good story, see above. You should try this series.

Does this book stand alone? No. Events in The Iron Duke set up this story – and besides that, it is a fabulous book. My number one read for last year! And the novella that started the series was my number two read for last year! That should tell you something, faithful reader. Sometimes the hype is true.

Grade: A+

Summary:

As the mercenary captain of the Lady Corsair, Yasmeen has learned to keep her heart as cold as steel, her only loyalty bound to her ship and her crew. So when a man who once tried to seize her airship returns from the dead, Yasmeen will be damned if she gives him another opportunity to take control.

Treasure-hunter Archimedes Fox isn’t interested in the Lady Corsair — he wants her coldhearted captain and the valuable da Vinci sketch she stole from him. To reclaim it, Archimedes is determined to seduce the stubborn woman who once tossed him to a ravenous pack of zombies, but she’s no easy conquest.

When da Vinci’s sketch attracts a dangerous amount of attention, Yasmeen and Archimedes journey to Horde-occupied Morocco — and straight into their enemy’s hands. But as they fight to save themselves and a city on the brink of rebellion, the greatest peril Yasmeen faces is from the man who seeks to melt her icy heart…

Read an excerpt. (scroll down)

Other books in the series:

This just in…

eBook readers are in for a very special treat from Berkely/NAL…especially if you love Nora Roberts and their out-of-print Signet Regency line.

~ In January 2012, Penguin Group (USA)’s Berkley/NAL division will launch InterMix, a new e-initial eBook imprint.

~ InterMix will introduce original works from new authors as well as publish favorite titles from beloved authors such as Nora Roberts that are available as eBooks for the first time.  InterMix will be focused on eBooks, though some titles might also eventually be published as physical books.

~ With the January 2012 launch, eleven classic books from Nora Roberts titles that have never before been available as eBooks will be released, including such popular series as Cordina’s Royal Family and The Donovan Legacy and several novels featuring fan favorites the O’Hurleys.  Additional Nora Roberts eBooks will be published throughout 2012, with the second group including seven of Roberts’s beloved novels about the MacGregor family available in April.

~ The eBooks published by InterMix will encompass a wide range of genres, including women’s fiction, romance, mystery and thriller, and science fiction/fantasy.  Every InterMix title, whether brand new or previously available in print, will receive fresh cover art, newly designed interiors, and creative marketing, publicity, and advertising campaigns.

~ In February, InterMix will revive the renowned Signet Regency line with the release of six popular romance titles that have never before been published as eBooks. Three additional Regency-set romances will be released each following month throughout 2012.  And later in the year, InterMix will bring back four novels in the classic Guinevere Jones series from bestselling writer Jayne Ann Krentz, writing as Jayne Castle, that have long been out of print and have never been available as eBooks.

~ InterMix titles will be available wherever eBooks are sold, in a variety of formats compatible with all major eReaders.

Consider yourself flashed.

Dinca’s review of Sage Creek by Jill Gregory
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 4 Oct 11

I enjoyed this story. It is so worth the trip to Sage Creek. Jill Gregory usually gets all A’s from me.  She is a good storyteller with a vivid imagination.

Sophie McPhee comes home from San Francisco after her painful divorce. With her business sold and a new life to start, she opens a bakery in her hometown of Lonesome Way, Montana. She desperately tries to avoid her matchmaking grandmother and her friends while continually running into her childhood crush Rafe Tanner, the older brother of her best friend, Lissie. While meeting her other girlfriend Mia to plan Lissie’s baby shower, Rafe comes to her rescue and saves her from being knocked down by a drunken cowboy.  After that they are constantly thrown together and their relationship grows.

Rafe Tanner has one priority. . . his eleven-year-old daughter. He doesn’t have any time or interest in cultivating a long term-relationship. Still, he finds his thoughts filled with his sister’s best friend who just moved back to town. She was way too young for him way back then, but he could not help noticing how good she looks all grown up. The suspicion that someone is out to get her gives him reason to stay close. Really close.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story line. The chain of events with the twist and turns are exciting to follow. Sophie’s grandmother and her friends are a kick and will have you laughing out loud.

There are only a couple of things that kept the story from getting an A in my book. I feel the author gets a little carried away with her thesaurus. I had to stop and reread a couple of times to follow certain parts of the story. The other thing that gets me is the polo shirts. I am an old-school country girl from Texas and I have visited a lot in Montana – to this day I have yet to see a cowboy get caught dead or alive in a polo shirt!

Grade: B+

Summary:

After her marriage falls apart, Sophie McPhee returns to her hometown of Lonesome Way, Montana, planning to steer clear of men and focus on her new bakery, A Bun in the Oven. Who she doesn’t expect to see is Rafe Tanner, her first crush who now runs his family’s ranch-and who spent most of their childhood ignoring her. But is Rafe a changed man?

While Rafe is stunned to discover that Sophie’s grown into an irresistibly beautiful woman, he’s been hurt too. They both have their guards up, but melt in each other’s company. Can they admit that home is truly where the heart is?

Read an excerpt.

C2’s review of Serpent’s Kiss (Elder Races, Book 3) by Thea Harrison
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 4 Oct 11

In Serpent’s Kiss we get another different view of the Elder Races (in Book 1, we got an overview; in Book 2, a micro-view of the politics). This is a much more intimate book – it concentrates almost entirely on Rune, a gryphon Wyr, and Carling, queen of the Vampyres.  It must focus on them because they are racing to find a cure for Carling’s condition before she dies.

First, faithful reader, I must tell you that I love Rune!  He has replaced Dragos as my favorite Wyr.  Rune is such an interesting mix of
laid-back calm and kick-ass defender.  He can be lazy and affectionate one minute and in full attack mode the next.  Maybe that’s the feline in him?  <3  And once he decides to go after something?  Stand back!

Carling, who hasn’t been able to feed on blood for a very long time, is a succubus.  She feeds off the emotions of creatures around her – which makes it nice to have Rune around, since he is filled with all sorts of tasty strong emotions.

Carling knows she is dying.  She has been studying what happens to Vampyres as they reach great ages since she first lost the ability to feed off blood.  Carling has recently been having “episodes” where she is suddenly…absent.  She loses track of time and is unresponsive to those around her.  Unless she finds a cure, Carling will not live much longer.  Rune refuses to let that happen.  For all that he only came to her because he promised her a favor of her choice – a very big deal among the Elder Races – if she saved Tiago (in Book 2, Storm’s Heart), he finds himself increasingly intrigued by and attracted to Carling.

Carling, on the other hand, although she wants to find a cure, seems more resigned to her fate.  Her emotions are so much more distant than Rune’s (his emotions aren’t distant at all), even though they are both ancient creatures.  They aren’t the only people interested in Carling’s condition, however.  When the King of Vampyres finds out Carling has left her voluntary seclusion and that her episodes are affecting the world around her, he sends people to kill her.  Carling and Rune manage to escape and go on the run, in hopes that they find the information they need to save Carling before they are caught and before Carling has another episode and is lost forever.

Will they find a cure? What if Rune and Carling have found each other only as one is about to slip away? Oh, you know you want to find out for yourself, faithful reader. I am so enjoying the Elder Races series. Their world gets richer and deeper and more interesting with each book. And each story just leaves me wanting more. And did I mention that I love Rune? Love!

Grade: A

Summary:

In the latest Novel of the Elder Races, a Queen on the brink of sanity has no one to rely on except the Wyr warrior whose conviction is every bit as strong as his passion…

In order to save his friend’s life, Wyr sentinel Rune Ainissesthai made a bargain with Vampyre Queen Carling—without knowing what she would ask from him in return. But when Rune attempts to make good on his debt, he finds a woman on the edge.

Recently, Carling’s Power has become erratic, forcing her followers to flee in fear. Despite the danger, Rune is drawn to the ailing Queen and decides to help her find a cure for the serpent’s kiss—the vampyric disease that’s killing her.

With their desire for each other escalating just as quickly as Carling’s instability spirals out of control, the sentinel and the Queen will have to rely on each other if they have any hope of surviving the serpent’s kiss…

Read an excerpt! Or another! Or a third!

Other books in this series:

C2’s review of Animal Attraction (Animal Magnetism, Book 2) by Jill Shalvis
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 4 Oct 11

What happens when a control freak temp and a commitment-phobe of a vet collide?  It can’t be good, right?  Especially when the temp’s time is almost up and she will be moving hundreds of miles away.  Not to worry, faithful reader, if Jill Shalvis is in charge of things, you know you’re in good hands.

Jade Bennett has worked at the Belle Haven Animal Clinic for eighteen months but is finally getting ready to end her “temporary” job.  She had planned to leave after a year but wasn’t quite ready to – and maybe she still isn’t, but she promised her family she would return to Chicago and take up the obligations there she dropped so quickly.  Jade was working late at her family’s offices and there was a break-in.  It affected her more than she thought and Jade just couldn’t make herself go back to her office.  Instead, she just started driving and eventually found herself at Belle Haven – and they were in dire need of someone to run the office side of things.

Dell Connelly never intended to keep Jade around as office manager – she was only supposed to fill in until someone more qualified was found. Little did he know that Jade would soon make herself indispensable.  Now Dell can’t help but feel like she is abandoning him – and the clinic, of course.  He can talk almost any creature into doing what he wants, but he can’t talk his way around Jade.  She’s had his number from day one. Jade and Dell have danced around each other ever since she arrived at Belle Haven.  Neither one will acknowledge the attraction, but it’s there.  Finally, just before it’s time for Jade to go back home, they can’t fight it anymore.  Isn’t that always the way it goes?

I like the way Jade works through some of her issues from the break-in with self-defense training.  And I think it’s insightful of Dell to know she needs something like that (especially since it’s based on very little information – very private, Ms. Jade is).  And when Dell finally turns Jade loose in his office to clean and organize it?  Best unspoken “I love you” ever.  :-) Letting her go with him to his mom’s is too, but the office thing?  So sweet!

Is it really suspenseful, as far as the whole “will Jade return to her old life and never look back”?  Not so much.  But this is a romance, people!  Are Dell’s issues with his mom completely explained and resolved?  No – although more information might come to light in Adam’s book.  But this isn’t a psychology treatise, either, is it, faithful reader?

I enjoyed Animal Attraction.  Even control freaks and commitment-phobes can find love.  Jade and Dell are a fun couple and manage to find hidden depths in each other – he lightens her up and she finds his more serious side.  I’m looking forward to Adam’s book. If you want a good, solid contemporary romance with characters that are fun but not silly, Jill Shalvis never disappoints.

Grade: B

Summary:

She’s tempting his basic instincts…

Sunshine, Idaho, is a quiet ranching town, a perfect place to give injured animals a refuge…or to find one. And veterinarian Dell Connelly suspects there’s a reason his clinic’s uber-efficient receptionist has taken shelter here.

Jade Bennett couldn’t be happier to escape her well-meaning but smothering family and their expectations, not to mention the big-city jungle. There’s nothing like working with injured animals, having a forlorn, grumpy stray kitten make its home under her desk…or enjoying the gorgeous views of her ruggedly sexy boss.

Jade is used to planning everything in her life, but Dell’s understanding has sparked an uncontrollable desire. And though Dell has never had time for love, Jade’s strength and sass is the kind of call no red-blooded male can resist…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series:

C2’s review of The Chase (Fast Track, Book 4) by Erin McCarthy
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 5 Apr 11

With The Chase, Erin McCarthy zooms back into the world of NASCAR. This go-around longtime supporting character Evan Monroe is racing for his happily ever after, but will he cross the finish line or end up in the pits?

Evan Monroe is struggling in the current racing season – he isn’t finishing well, his sponsors are unhappy and putting pressure on him to do better – and suddenly he’s seeing a face that brings back a lot of unhappy memories.

Kendall Holbrook is one of the few female NASCAR drivers and she is having a very good season.  Her sponsors are happy, her team manager is happy, and things are looking up for her racing career.  As exciting as things are in her professional life, Kendall’s personal life is beyond dull.  She hasn’t been on a date in ages and hasn’t had a steady boyfriend for even longer.  Concentrating on her career has taken precedence over everything else.  Plus, she’s gun-shy…she still hasn’t gotten over a teenage heartbreak.

When Kendall’s best friend, Tuesday, finds out (after inviting him to meet her for a drink) Evan and Kendall dated during their late teens, she is surprised Kendall never mentioned it before. But when Tuesday tries to find out more about the relationship, Kendall gets flustered and won’t give details.  So Tuesday asks Evan and is surprised to hear that he considered the relationship a serious one until Kendall just stopped returning his calls without ever saying why.

Tuesday arranges (with a bit of threatening) for Kendall and Evan to get together to talk about what happened.  Kendall finally admits she took exception to a comment Evan made about her wanting to race and assumed he wouldn’t support her dreams.  So she dumped him.  Umm…seriously? Without any discussion at all?

I am not fond of Kendall.  She strikes me as very immature – which is excusable, sort of, at 18 but not at 28.  And I’m not sure she ever completely apologized for the breakup.  She must have because they hooked up again pretty quickly (even if it was just for “closure,” supposedly).  I get that she felt a lot of pressure and got a lot of criticism when she picked a traditionally male career.  I’m sure it’s very difficult and continued to be difficult to wrestle with people’s preconceived notions.  Using that as an excuse to push away someone who cares about you?  Nope.

Still, it doesn’t seem to stop Evan and Kendall from rekindling their relationship – the chemistry is still there and both are older and wiser, more or less.  But their lives are very entwined and yet moving in different directions.  Evan’s racing season isn’t going well – even though he does get a new sponsor – and Kendall is doing extremely well. Evan is thinking it may be time for him to stop racing and try something else and Kendall’s racing career is on the upswing.  Their managers aren’t in favor of them having a public relationship, their team owner doesn’t like the idea of them dating.  But Evan and Kendall are happier together than they ever were apart, so they decide to try.

I admit I never paid much attention to Evan in Ms. McCarthy’s previous books.  I just thought of him as the happy-go-lucky, not-too-bright smart ass brother/pal.  As it turns out, he has much more depth than I ever imagined.  Being dumped by Kendall at 19 really hurt him – he had planned to propose even – and he never really got over it.  Evan turns out to be sweeter and more self-aware than I would have ever thought.

The plot twist near the end (no spoilers here, faithful reader) is not needed and, to me, it muddies the plot.  Maybe Ms. McCarthy thought there isn’t enough conflict, but why can’t we just watch characters learn from each other and grow without craziness to spur them along?  All the steps forward the characters have managed over the course of the book are
suddenly wiped out.  I understand that it maybe helps Kendall gain some insight into her life and character, but I still find it annoying. Surely Kendall could have figured things out without that sort of jolt.

Usually this type of storyline is right up my alley.  I am left slightly disappointed with The Chase because of the characterization of Kendall and the twist near the end.  So does this book stand alone? More or less…when characters from the previous books arrive on scene, enough info is given that a new reader would probably feel comfortable. For readers of the previous book, there are nice updates for all the previous couples.  And next up for her happy ending is Kendall’s friend Tuesday.  She is an intriguing character, so I’m looking forward to her story.

Grade: C-

Summary:

When racing for the checkered flag…

Kendall Holbrook is determined to make it to the top, even with the challenge of being a woman on the male-dominated racing circuit.  She doesn’t have time for romance – especially not with racing rival Evan Monroe, the man who nearly crushed her dream years ago.  Forced into meeting up with him, Kendall is experiencing all those old feelings again – and she can’t deny that they still have more than enough chemistry to set fire to the track.

…expect a few speed bumps.

After getting dropped by his biggest sponsor, Evan is watching his racing season go up in flames.  Now, the only replacement available is completely humiliating: a co-sponsorship for his-and-her deodorant with Kendall Holbrook – the girl who once broke his heart.  Acting like Kendall doesn’t still get him all hot and bothered is bad enough, but the biggest challenge awaits him on the track – where Evan has to decide if a second chance at love is more important than making it to the finish line…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series:

Sandy M’s review of Vampire Dragon (Works Like Magick, Book 3) by Annette Blair
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 5 Apr 11

Well, this is a first. And one that puzzles the hell out of me. This is the first time an Annette Blair book hasn’t blown me away, hasn’t made me laugh as much, hasn’t drawn me in as completely as all of her previous books. Very disconcerting when this happens with one of your all-time favorite authors.

I kept thinking while reading the first half that we read a lot of the same in the first Dragonelli book, Naked Dragon, particularly the way Bastien had to learn being human again. Those are very funny scenes in that book, especially concerning his “man lance” and other endearing oddities he comes up with in his relearning. But after an entire story with all of those new-found things, I guess I was expecting something a tad different with Darkwyn once he makes the transition from dragon to man. Vampire Dragon seems to mirror Naked Dragon in those little details, with only characters and place different than before. I realize the idea for this part of the series is to bring all of the dragon brothers out of their captured state to find their heart mates, but it’s a little much with each experiencing much of the same the previous dragon does. Darkwyn does buck the system, so to speak, by leaving his “classes” early to be with Bronte, thus causing some cute semantics confusion, but that also happened with Bastien before his education as well as after.

It’s not until more than halfway through the book that it picks up and goes an interesting direction. Bronte and her nephew Zachary have been hiding in plain site from their deceased mother’s husband, a mob head honcho who wants them back in the fold because they know too much. Bronte runs a vampire club of sorts, with fairgrounds and other entertainment, for real and fake vamps, and this is where Darkwyn falls at her feet after his transformation – he’s got great aim when it comes to his heart mate – and where he eventually finds employment. Later when Bronte is nearly fatally injured by a mob spy, Darkwyn’s dragon emerges, scoops her and Zachary up to fly to safety where he can begin to heal Bronte. I did enjoy these scenes quite a bit, especially Darkwyn’s shifting and healing abilities, along with his emotional upheaval in his perceived allowing Bronte to be injured.

Now that she and Zachary have been found, Bronte decides to confront the issue head on by returning to Canada where the family estate is and to locate the evidence Zachary has hidden there – there’s a whole part of the story concerning this thirteen-year-old that’s pretty intriguing and interwoven into it quite nicely. Of course, once there with evidence in hand, they’re discovered and taken to Bronte’s stepfather where a confusing and inept fight goes on between the two factions, good versus bad, and at one point I had reread the part where Darkwyn and company lose control of the situation. It would seem that for a huge, though injured, dragon, a little more effort by the bad guys should have been had before their ultimate defeat when Darkwyn rallies and it all comes to an end.

Through the entire book, Bronte wears a mask. First it’s due to her business, all employees wear masks to make it easier for her and Zachary to hide out in the open. Then Darkwyn has his own ideas why she wears it and tries to get her to remove it for him, but he agrees to take her as she is. For the time being anyway. After all the time of Bronte wearing this mask, I’d thought we’d get a little more fanfare when it comes off, but it’s the last few pages where that happens, and I feel a tad let down by that – and the fact there’s nothing special going on when she does de-mask. Just seems there should have been something more, since it’s such a big deal for so long.

All this being said, Ms. Blair’s characters are still endearing and charming, especially the Dragonellis. I did enjoy seeing Bastien again, and Jaydun and Vivica make an interesting couple. The confrontations with Killian of Chaos are nail-biters, and having their Goddess Andra thwart her at every turn is fun. With the vampire theme throughout this book, though, Ms. Blair’s humor doesn’t come through as well as it has in previous books, which is a shame, because she’s one of the best when it comes to laughs. I still had fun, however, with the story and I’m still looking forward to the rest of the series.

Grade: B-

Summary:

Welcome to Drak’s, A Place for Vampires, where nobody is who–or what–they say they are, good and evil, alike.  Learn to tell the vamps from the role players and the tourists from the mob.  Meet Darkwyn Dragonelli, man and dragon, and Bronte McBride, the Vampiress who steals his heart.

Say hello to Puck, the sarcastic Macaw; flying cats Lila and Scorch; and a twelve-year old boy with a century’s worth of memories.  Ride in a casket at the amusement park, and drink some blood at “Bite Me” but don’t forget to try blood soup, blood pudding, and blood sausage, too. Yum.

In the final, deadly, confrontation: It’s a magickal shape shifting dragon in all his furious glory and the Vampiress he loves…against the mob boss from hell and Killian the evil sorceress.

Read an excerpt.

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Sandy M’s review of The Many Sins of Lord Cameron (Highland Pleasures, Book 3) by Jennifer Ashley
Historical Romance published by Berkley 2 Aug 11

Dear heavens, these Mackenzie boys deserve to find a little happiness after the lives they’ve had. While Cameron didn’t suffer at the hands of his father like his brothers did, fate had more in store for him later in life. His suffering came at the hands of his ex-wife – usually while protecting his newborn son from her, though she would have a go at him whenever she found him vulnerable to attack. Talk about an evil bitch.

And I truly don’t care that it may have been post-partum depression she was suffering from. Going after a man who only wants his son safe is a huge no-no. I’m very happy to say she gets what’s coming to her after all the pain, both physical and mental, she inflicts. Then Cam finds Ainsley, but he has to wait a few years for her.

Ainsley is the queen’s favorite and being the queen’s favorite isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The latest “mission” her majesty has given Ainsley is to locate and retrieve some highly sensitive letters written by Victoria and stolen by a disgruntled ex-favorite, who is also now Cameron’s current mistress. So she hides the letters in the one place no one would think to look. Except Ainsley. Which leads her to a place she’s been before in nearly the exact circumstances – searching Cam’s bedchamber for items stolen from a friend. And Cameron catches her red-handed both times.

Cam is known, of course, as a womanizer, as all of the Mackenzie, save Ian, are and he loves only his horses. So when he caught her the first time, and though Ainsley nearly succumbs to his lovemaking, she’s amazed when he lets her walk away because she desires not to hurt her husband, who has been kind and generous to her. That was four years ago and she’s never been far from his mind that whole time. Therefore, finding her once again just where he wants her gives Cameron the chance to finish what was started so long ago. This time Ainsley doesn’t stand a chance.

At first she does try to resist the man. The letters are more important than her pleasure. But Cam knows just how to wear her down. Between his sexuality. his gentleness, and his protectiveness, Ainsley is beginning to know him better than anyone ever has. The more she learns, the more she comes to fall for this Mackenzie brother who has hidden his real self from everyone. When she finally discovers why he won’t take a woman to his bed – he’ll make love to her anywhere but there – it broke my heart just like it does Ainsley’s.

Eventually Ainsley must make a decision – stay with the queen or take a chance and leave with Cameron on the trip of a lifetime. Yes, needless to say, she chooses wisely and follows her heart. They have a whirlwind journey, Cam showing her things she’s only dreamt of. Eventually home calls, however, and as they’re settling in as husband and wife, a summons from the queen has Cam retreating to that place inside himself, thinking he’s lost Ainsley once again.

This story hits hard, and Ainsley is just what Cam needs to help him fight his demons of the past. She’s strong when he needs her to be and she’s always loving, which is a balm to his heart. I enjoy the relationship between the Mackenzie brothers, all of whom we see once again to find out what they’ve been up to. Ian and Mac are as happy as ever, and we get a good look at Hart and the uphill battle he’ll have when it’s his turn at love. I like that it’s Hart who stood by Cam, no questions asked, when his wife did her worst trying to destroy him. I also really enjoy the father-son relationship between Cam and Daniel. Cam is determined not to be the hard-hearted, brutal type of father his was, so Daniel has run free most of his life, but the brothers have done a fine job of raising him. Daniel looks after Cam nearly as much as Cam looks after him. Their last scene together near the end of the book is so heart warming.

I love this Mackenzie family. Each book is like coming home after being gone for a while, only to find hurt and trouble on the horizon. But love and family take care of everything and make life worth living. I’m looking forward to Hart’s book and am happy to see on Ms. Ashley’s website that the series is still alive with several more books in the offing. After the unveiling of Cameron’s life, it’s going to be interesting to see what she comes up with next.

Grade: A+

Summary:

Lord Cameron Mackenzie is intrigued when he finds the pretty widow, Ainsley Douglas, hiding in the window seat of his bedchamber. Cam remembers Ainsley Douglas all right—six years ago, he’d caught her in this very bedchamber, during a house party in the Mackenzies’ Scottish manor. Enchanted by her ingenuous excuses, he decided to seduce her, but stopped shy when she’d made a rather touching appeal about her “good husband who didn’t deserve to be heartbroken.”

Later, Cameron learned that her visit to his bedchamber was part of some female intrigue against him, the kind his late wife used to practice. Ainsley protested her innocence, but Cameron’s anger made him never want to see her again. Now she’s back, at another houseparty—and Cameron finds the gray-eyed minx in his bedchamber, again. Her excuses are just as ingenuous, but this time Cameron is determined to teach her a lesson.

They have unfinished business, Cameron tells her. He asks her how many of her many buttons she’ll let him unclasp, promising that before the houseparty is over, she’ll be asking him to undo them all.

Ainsley’s dismay is real. She’s on a mission to prevent embarrassment to Queen Victoria, and time is running out. Though the needs he’d stirred long ago during her unhappy marriage rise again, she knows it would be foolish to fall for love-them-and-leave-them Cameron Mackenzie.
But he asks her a question that challenges her beliefs about love and happiness, and she finds herself risking all to be with the black sheep of the Mackenzie family.

No excerpt available.

Other books in this series:

Gen’s Review of Heartbreak Creek (Runaway Brides, Book 1) by Kaki Warner
Historical Western Romance published by Berkley Trade 5 Jul 11

I absolutely love Kaki Warner’s Heartbreak Creek, the first book in her Runaway Brides series. But as all romance readers know, you’re supposed to show, not tell.  So let me show you how much I love Heartbreak Creek instead: Once I finished, I went and bought Kaki Warner’s Blood Rose trilogy.  And preordered Colorado Dawn, the next Runaway Brides title.  Kaki Warner is now an auto buy for me.

After the ruin of the Civil War, Edwina knows there’s nothing left for her in Louisiana.  When the bank takes her family home, she heads out to the wilds of Colorado to be a mail order bride to one Declan Brodie, dragging her half-sister, Pru, along.  Declan doesn’t want love or even companionship in this marriage.  All he wants is a strong farm wife who’ll cook his meals, clean his house, and keep his kids in line.

The problem is, Ed’s a Southern belle who doesn’t know the first thing about housekeeping.  All she knows is how to flirt and sew.  And sarcasm.  She definitely knows sarcasm.  To make matters worse, the Arapaho responsible for the death of Declan’s first wife is now threatening his entire family.

At its heart this a story about relationships, specifically Ed’s developing relationship with Declan, and her evolving relationship with Pru.  And I have to say how much I adore Pru, the result of a relationship between Ed’s father and one of his slaves.  Writing about race needs to straddle that fine line between being authentic to the period, while also making your characters sympathetic, and Ms. Warner does an exceptional job here.  Ed’s and Pru’s characters and relationship ring so true to me, yet they are also firmly rooted in their time and place.  (Pru’s last name is a perfect example of this.)  I do wish there were some scenes from Pru’s point of view, but I’m guessing (and fervently hoping) that we’ll have Pru’s book as well.  Watching Ed grow into her role as a wife, mother, and frontierswoman is a treat, and her painful but necessary disaffection with Pru saddened me as well.

Declan is a great hero for Ed, a strong, silent type who’s secretly a teddy bear underneath it all.  His struggle to do right by his family, both of his wives, and pretty much everyone in the book really touched me.  I also love the twin themes of his phobia and the villian’s phobia.  The objects of their fears are such simple things, but in the end prove to be serious Achilles’ heels for both.

But perhaps the best parts of the book are the humor and the sincere love of the West and the frontier that are threaded thorough out the story.  I like that the ravages that mining could inflict on a place and the necessity of the railroad for the survival of small towns in the West are touched on but not belabored. Ms. Warner’s unique voice really shines through, and I enjoyed every page.  I’m looking forward to the  rest of the Runaway Brides.  Especially Pru!

Grade: A+

See Sandy M’s review here.

Summary:

Honest, hard-working widower, age thirty-
three, seeks sturdy English-speaking
woman to help with mountain ranch and
four children.  Drinkers, whores, and
gamblers need not apply.

Not very romantic, but after one disastrous marriage, widowed Edwina Ladoux isn’t looking for romance.  What she wants is safety for herself and her
half-sister, and a way out of the war torn South, even if she has to offer herself up as a mail order bride to a stranger a thousand miles away in the Colorado Rockies.  But she hadn’t reckoned on Declan Brodie.

Declan’s first wife ran off with a gambler and was later killed by Indians.  He has no desire to saddle himself with another—and her mulatto “traveling companion”.  But his children need a mother, and he needs help to keep his mountain ranch running, and the proxy papers are already signed.  But there’s something odd about those two.  A connection he doesn’t quite understand.  But at least the companion can cook.

What starts as a marriage of convenience between a southern princess and an overworked rancher-sometimes-sheriff, soon becomes a battle of wills, then a grudging respect, and finally a side-by-side struggle to rebuild the ranch after a vicious Indian attack.  But just as things are starting to looking up again, and Declan and Ed begin to explore their feelings for each other, Declan’s first wife returns and an old enemy out for revenge threatens to destroy the family.  It all comes to a head high atop an abandoned mine platform, where Edwina fights as she never has before, and Declan faces his greatest fear in order to save his
daughter and the woman he has grown to love.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

C2’s review of Storm’s Heart (Elder Races, Book 2) by Thea Harrison
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 2 Aug 11

In our introduction to Thea Harrison’s Elder Races (the most excellent Dragon Bound), we met some of the major players (Dragos! <3) and got an overview of the world. In Storm’s Heart we get a close-up view of the inner workings of the world – the politics and various relationships between the races – and meet more of the world’s inhabitants (including Vampyres).

When we first met Tricks (aka Thistle Periwinkle), she was the head of PR for Dragos’ Cuelebre Enterprises. Little did most people realize she was actually the heir to the Dark Fae throne. Tricks was in the palace the night her family was killed but managed to escape and eventually took refuge among the Wyr. Finally, though, it was time to come out of hiding and reclaim the throne. And what happens when she meets with the Dark Fae delegation? They try to kill her! So she goes into hiding – she needs a chance to regroup and plan.

Dragos and her Wyr friends are not happy with the turn of events and even less happy that Tricks (now using her real name Niniane Lorelle) didn’t contact them for help. Dragos decides she will get help, whether she wants it or not, and sends one of his Sentinels to Chicago to find Tricks and help straighten out the mess.

Tiago is a thunderbird – the only thunderbird, actually. When he is angry, storms happen. Thunder! Lightning!! Tiago is the one Dragos sends in to fight battles and win wars. He is not the diplomatic type – he gets things done. Tiago never spent all that much with Tricks (yeah, yeah…Niniane…I know…but she’ll always be Tricks to me!), but the idea of someone trying to kill her unsettles him.

Niniane is less than pleased to see Tiago. Mostly. He is hot and sexy and bad-ass, but she isn’t interested. Or maybe she is. But she shouldn’t be. But she can’t help it. I love Tricks Niniane! Eventually she sees the wisdom in letting Tiago act as bodyguard – at least until she figures out who she can trust and makes some alliances within the Dark Fae – because someone still wants her dead. Besides, Tiago isn’t leaving her unprotected no matter what she says she wants. He will keep her safe or die trying (and he is hard to kill).

In Storm’s Heart, Ms. Harrison expands the fascinating world she established in Dragon Bound. We learn more about the workings of the world and see the relationships between the Elder Races, and it makes the world deeper and richer and even more interesting. We get glimpses of the Demonkind and the Nightkind and we meet the Vampyre queen (intriguingly creepy!). There are lots of political shenanigans happening surrounding Niniane’s claim to the Dark Fae throne, yet the book never felt bogged down by all the maneuvering. There’s a lot going on but it never is confusing.

The best thing about the book is the relationship between Niniane and Tiago. Once they decide they are together, they’re together. Maybe because they have such long lives, they don’t get caught up in high-school-ish drama. They trust each other and have each other’s backs. I think that’s awesome! And so refreshing.

Of course, there are those among the Dark Fae that do not like the idea of a Wyr being mated to their queen. And there is still the question of who wants Niniane dead and why. Are you intrigued, faithful reader? You should be.

So, does this book stand alone? Yes, mostly, but you know you wanna read Dragon Bound. Right?? Right! I admit I like Dragos a bit more than Tiago (that dragonish charm, don’t you know), but I like Niniane better than Pia, so it all balances out. This is the best new paranormal series in ages. Honest!

Grade: A-

Summary:

He’s a wyr warrior, a god of storms. She’s the heir to the Dark Fae throne. But desire will bring both to their knees in this all-new Novel of the Elder Races.

During the rule of her murderous Dark Fae uncle, Thistle “Tricks” Periwinkle found sanctuary among the wyr in New York. Her ethereal beauty and sparkling personality won the hearts of the public, but after her uncle’s death, there are those who don’t want to see her ascend to the throne…

Able to wield thunder and lightning, wyr sentinel Tiago Black Eagle has ruled the skies for centuries. His massive build and thunderous power make him one of the wyr’s best weapons. And he’s sent to protect Tricks when she’s almost assassinated in Chicago.

Soon, both Tiago and Tricks will fall prey to the stormy hunger that engulfs them—a passion that will shake the very foundation of all the worlds…

Read an excerpt and another and another.

Other books in the series:

Ash’s review of Nightfall (Dark Age Dawning, Book 1) by Ellen Connor
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 07 Jun 11

It’s a first for me, a book where I can completely dislike the romance but love everything else. If you took out Jenna and Mason as a couple, I am not sure I would have minded. The rest of the book is just that good to me.

Hmm, where to start? I guess I will start with what I did not like about this book. That would be Jenna. I’ve read parts of other reviews where people didn’t like her, and when I started the book all I could wonder was why? She’s a strong character without any TSTL moments, she’s caring toward others, and I didn’t find her annoying. She was (yes, was) a pretty good heroine. Then she becomes “special,” and, honestly, I wouldn’t have minded if the demon dogs got her. I hate the person she turned into. She is selfish, uncaring, weirdly attached to Mason, and just overall unlikable. Even Mason sees it, but other than acknowledging it to himself, he doesn’t seem to care. Her adjustment period to what happens to her is remarkably short, and I think I would prefer to see her having to actually learn how to adapt. It’s sad when the old Jenna goes away, and I stopped caring about what happens to her.

My other complaint is the writing felt choppy to me.  I am not sure if it is because I read an ARC or what, but it isn’t smooth. There are more than a few times I feel parts of the book are completely missing because the characters just randomly say things. I had to re-read the page to make sure I didn’t skip anything. It also feels this way with the romance between Jenna and Mason. I can’t understand why they want each other when they do. There really isn’t any build up or sexual tension between them. It’s almost as if it’s supposed to happen, so it did. I want more from them, and after the ‘change’ that Jenna goes through, the relationship just goes to a weirder place. The book seems to change into a different type of paranormal romance, but other authors have handled that ‘type’ much better. It seems like everything that is about Jenna, or Mason, doesn’t work in the book. I never get a clear picture of them as individuals or as a couple, especially Jenna since she essentially turns into a completely different person.

With that said, I love the world that Ellen Connor has created. Nightfall captures the feeling of basically being trapped and hunted. It’s like I’m in there with them, and even with the inconsistent writing, I’m always in the moment. The world building is enough to make me a fan. Being such a huge romance lover, it’s rare that I can overlook a bad romance as much as I did with Nightfall, but the rest of the story makes it worth reading.

I am a little worried about getting my hopes up for the next two books. They are set years after this one, the third book being twelve years after Nightfall. It’s not something I am used to. Of course, in Nightfall we don’t really ever find out what is going on, so maybe in the time between books the characters get some answers for us. I am just hoping the romance will equal the strength of the rest of the book.

Grade: B-

Summary:

Their instincts will save them.

Their passion will transform them.

Growing up with an unstable, often absent father who preached about the end of the world, Jenna never thought, in her wildest nightmares, that his predictions would come true. Or that he would have a plan in place to save her-one that includes the strong, stoic man who kidnaps and takes her to a remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest.

The mysterious ex-Marine named Mason owes a life-debt to Jenna’s father. Skilled and steadfast, he’s ready for the Change, but Jenna proves tough to convince. Until the power grid collapses and the mutant dogs attack-vicious things that reek of nature gone wrong.

When five strangers appear, desperate to escape the bloodthirsty packs, Jenna defies her protector and rescues them. As technology fails and the old world falls away, Jenna changes too, forever altered by supernatural forces. To fight for their future, she and Mason must learn to trust their instinctive passion-a flame that will see them through the bitter winter, the endless nights, and the violence of a new Dark Age.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of Kiss of Snow (Psy-Changeling Series, Book Book 10) by Nalini Singh
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 31 May 11

Hope y’all haven’t had your fill of reviews about Hawke and Sienna! This is one series I aim to never get behind on, so one more review for you. Needless to say, I love everything about this book, from the lengths Hawke goes to to protect his pack to the ever-growing sizzle between him and Sienna to getting caught up with past characters.

I won’t go through a synopsis-type review, since that’s been done. I’ll just go through some of the highlights that I especially like, because we’d be here forever if I went though all that I just like!

Of course, the main bit of this book is the romance. Hawke is still resisting the pull of Sienna – she’s too young, he can’t give her what she deserves because he lost his one and only mate years ago. The wolf in him, however, doesn’t care. Take, ravish, love. Elemental, Hawke, you should listen to your inner animal. Sienna, though young, does want Hawke, won’t give him much leeway when they butt heads but does follow orders as she’s been trained and for the good of the pack. When Hawke finally does give in, it’s Sienna who’s not quite ready to take their relationship all the way, both physical – considering her X-designation – and emotional issues getting in the way. And Hawke’s restraint to give her time is monumental, especially when the alphaness and the wolf in him want it now. I like Hawke’s tenderness with Sienna when they’re surrounded by such violence at the hands of the Psy.

And those Psy are coming at SnowDancer full force. I know in one of my last reviews on this series, I said something about how the council is changing, moving away from one another, so we had to know that big changes are coming. That still goes forward in this book on a larger scale. Nikita, Anthony, and Kaleb are against the machinations of the other councilors and are helping the changelings as much as possible to prevent war between the factions. For each Psy attack on the wolf pack, SnowDancer fights back to let all know they are underestimating and dealing with an enemy protecting their own. Hawke refuses to allow his pack to be decimated as they were years before, coming back from the brink of near extinction. Each scene dealing with the Psy is intense, and it makes you wonder why the Psy show up again and again. Their logic in this area is almost arrogant, which, we all know, isn’t in them.

Another long-awaited event is the birth of Lucas’ and Sascha’s baby, and I love every minute of it, from the moment her water breaks to the Sentinels wanting to hold the newborn to Lucas’ amazement and love for his child to Sascha’s understanding to what extent a mother would do anything for her child, creating a new understanding concerning her own mother. Makes me wonder what huge plans Ms. Singh has for Nikita in the future. All very enlightening moments. I have to admit, as much as I love the wolves of SnowDancer, it’s the cats of DarkRiver who have my heart. Maybe because I’m a cat person anyway. I love the scene when Sienna goes to talk to Sascha about her situation with Hawke and Lucas is perched in a tree high above them, swishing his tail about, chuffing now and again at their conversation. One terrific scene. The way both cat and wolf idiosyncrasies are used when these characters are in human form are absolutely wonderful. Ms. Singh has the market covered there.

Then there’s Sienna’s Cardinal X designation and all that entails, her years and efforts to control the conflagration that she knows is coming and can’t do anything about, though Judd is still looking for answers. Which brings in a new twist in the form of a cryonic Alice Eldridge, who researched X-designations years before, and everyone has their hopes up that the answer lies with her. When the war with the Psy heats up, I was spellbound at the crescendo of Sienna’s abilities. And I feel for her when it’s all over with, the fear she couldn’t contain when she thinks all is lost.

I like that we still see all of the past heroes and heroines from previous books, even if it’s just a scene or two. There also a side romance between Walker Lauren and Lara, the pack’s healer, who is also terrific in those scenes where she takes care of the wounded after conflicts with the Psy.  Walker is just as scared and tortured as Judd was for his book, so beginning a relationship with Lara is not something he feels he can do, despite how much Lara wants that and let’s him know she’s interested. Though his realizations come slowly, I’m happy Walker pays attention in all the right places.

This is a very short, random, and ragtag list, of course, of what that goes on in this book; these are just a few of my favorites. I did feel the frustration at the scene changes when Hawke and Sienna are together, but for me it’s a good frustration, no different than when that type of thing happens in any other romance book, prolonging the sensual coming together of the characters. It just made my anticipation higher for the next time, wondering how it will eventually come to pass. And when it does happen, all that frustrated anticipation is worth it.

I’m now in that happy holding pattern until the next book, anxiously waiting and wondering what’s coming up, knowing that Ms. Singh will give me everything she’s got and I’ll love every second of it.

Grade: A+

Read other reviews and information on this series here.

Summary:

Since the moment of her defection from the PsyNet and into the SnowDancer wolf pack, Sienna Lauren has had one weakness. Hawke. Alpha and dangerous, he compels her to madness.

Hawke is used to walking alone, having lost the woman who would’ve been his mate long ago. But Sienna fascinates the primal heart of him, even as he tells himself she is far too young to handle the wild fury of the wolf.

Then Sienna changes the rules and suddenly, there is no more distance, only the most intimate of battles between two people who were never meant to meet. Yet as they strip away each other’s secrets in a storm of raw emotion, they must also ready themselves for a far more vicious fight…

A deadly enemy is out to destroy SnowDancer, striking at everything they hold dear, but it is Sienna’s darkest secret that may yet savage the pack that is her home…and the alpha who is its heartbeat…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of Hunter’s Fall (The Hunters, Book 13) by Shiloh Walker
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 7 Jun 11

Of all the series to not have started reading yet, this shouldn’t be one of them. But for me it is, and after reading this book, I am very unhappy with myself for leaving the series till later. Of course, I started collecting these books before I actually read any Shiloh Walker, and now that I’ve become a fan of her work, I should have known better before even beginning Hunter’s Fall. Should have known I would love getting to know Nessa and Dom, learning about all they’ve been through to find each other again, living through their heartache and vacillating emotions. I should have known Ms. Walker would suck me into a story that I likely will remember for a very long time to come.

As with any of my reviews of her books, it’s the emotional depth of the characters as they go through a hell only the strongest would survive that gets to me every time. It’s taken Nessa, the strongest witch the Hunter Council has ever known, five hundred years to finally let go of her grief over losing the love of her life and waiting for him to find her again. Especially when she also recently loses another she loves with all her heart. Her answer to a life of loneliness is to just give up, let life pass her by, stay away from those few friends she may inadvertently hurt after barely surviving a battle against a dark witch that leaves Nessa with a thirst she’s never before experienced.

Dominic is a young vampire, only ten years turned, and is on his way to becoming a Master if he so desires. He’s always dreamed of a woman he’s never met. She seems very real, but he’s not sure she’s really out there, though there’s something in his soul that tells him he has to find her. When the voices in his head become too much, he’s sent back to Excelsior, the Hunter school, to try to find a solution to this craziness. It’s there he finds the first clue that his dream woman really does exist, and now nothing will stop him from finding her. Well, only after Malachi, the most infamous of vampires, satisfies himself Dom means his oldest friend no harm.

As fate would have it, as Dominic is regaining his memories of his long-ago life with Nessa, she’s just battled a blood-thirsty witch and is left with no memories of her past. Dom now must fight Nessa herself for the future that’s been so long in coming. I thought at first I might be a tad miffed that Dom and Nessa are only aware of each only in their dreams, they don’t come face to face until late in the book, but Ms. Walker makes those dreams as real for the reader as she does for the characters themselves. It also makes their lovemaking much sweeter when it happens in real time.

What I really like is how Dom and Nessa can feel each other’s pain when they’re together. We also, of course, get to see their individual pain as they remember their shared past, and even more so from Dom’s POV when he’s not sure why he’s looking for his dream woman. He keeps rubbing the heel of his palm over his heart, and I felt for him every time. I also like how the Hunters are there for one another, taking no bullshit from each other when one needs help.

I enjoyed meeting those other Hunters throughout this book. I look forward to eventually reading about how each couple met and their conflict they had to overcome to finally be together. I know each book will keep me captivated until the very last word. I’ve come to expect nothing less of Shiloh Walker.

Grade: A+

Summary:

UNKNOWN PAST

Something strange is happening to Nessa. Ever since she survived a near-death experience she’s not exactly who she used to be—and enjoying every minute of it. Then she’s called upon to go to battle against darkness. If only she could remember why.

UNEXPECTED LOVER

Dominic is having his own problems with memory, sanity, and hallucinations. Sent to Excelsior, the covert Hunter training facility, he senses a female presence that seems so hauntingly familiar. That’s because he and Nessa share a forgotten past.

UNSEEN EVIL

As Nessa and Dominic regain their memories, their strange mission against evil becomes clearer. And all the more dangerous because whether they should trust each other is the still the greatest unknown of all.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of Nearly a Lady by Alissa Johnson
Historical Romance published by Berkley 7 June 11

Alissa Johnson has it all as an author. Her writing is perfect for the Regency period; word choice, tone, inflection are flawless the way she strings her sentences together. Humor is something a lot of authors have difficulty with, but Ms. Johnson peppers her stories with just the right amount to make her characters fun and charming. The range of emotion those characters go through is wide and varied, and the heroine in this book, Winnefred, is pushed to her limit by Gideon. As much I love that man, just like Freddie, I cheer her on – and I’d love to join her – when she wants to whomp him up the side of the head for his stubbornness. That’s pulling your reader into your characters’ lives, and Ms. Johnson does it all very well.

We learn first thing that Gideon’s father was supposed to have been guardian to a young girl when her father unexpectedly died and asked the closest gentleman to watch over his “Freddie.” Decidedly unhappy when he learns he’s now responsible for a girl, he pushes the youngster off on his wife, who, years later, is found to have to embezzled money left and right from any and every place she can, including Winnefred and her companion, Lilly, when they were tucked away in Scotland to be kept out of the way. The current Marquess of Engsly, Gideon’s brother, is adamant about making his stepmother’s egregiousness right, thus sending Gideon as his representative to Winnefred. What Gideon finds there delights and fascinates him, especially when he realizes he’s been bested by a couple of women.

For at least a decade Winnefred and Lilly have scrimped and saved just to survive on the paltry annual income received from the Haverston family. While a lesser woman would have succumbed to the required labor and doing without, Freddie has flourished and become someone who can take care of herself and a farm. Both ladies are stunned at the news Gideon imparts, but their days of worrying are over with the back pay they will receive. Wanting more for her friend, Lilly asks for a Season in London for Winnefred, which Gideon is more than happy to oblige but Winnefred can do without. She’s happy at Murdoch House. But she also wants Lilly to be happy. Therefore, she agrees to the lessons to turn her into a lady so she won’t embarrass Lilly or Gideon with her blunt, country ways.

I really enjoyed the interactions between Gideon and Winnefred during the weeks of society lessons and travel preparations, though they are few because Gideon has vowed to keep his distance from this lovely woman. His emotionally devastating experience in the war has left him with a skewed way of looking at responsibility. But he has retained his sense of humor, and his bantering and teasing with Winnefred is so much fun. Winnefred is even amazed at herself at how comfortable she feels with Gideon during this time, and as their journey to London draws closer, she’s looking forward to the time they’ll spend together.

But things don’t go as planned for either of them. Oh, they still spend time together, allowing attraction to grow more and more; they have a wonderful time shopping and at the balls; they enjoy a kiss or a caress here and there, feel the sparks between them, but when all is said and done, when Winnefred grabs the edges of her courage and reels it in to give herself to Gideon and then to talk to him about their future, she’s in for a shock. Refusing what Gideon offers, she’d rather be back in Scotland taking care of her animals and garden, so that’s exactly what she does. Now it’s Gideon who’s in shock. Winnefred’s anger is a force to be reckoned with. But then, so is her love.

I also enjoyed the side romance with the Marquess and his long-lost Rose. After so many years apart, at no fault of their own, she still makes him work to win her, and he goes at it full bore. I actually would have liked a little more time with them, but what we get is nice.

Ms. Johnson always carries me away when reading her books. I lose track of time I’m so lost in the story. I enjoy myself immensely, laughing and sighing and ranting when needed. I love the tender hand that guides me through the lives of characters who I come to care for immediately. And I savor the feeling I’m left with when read the last page – warm, happy, satisfied, and already imagining what might be coming in the next book.

Grade: A

Summary:

The woman makes the man…

Winnefred Blythe learned at a young age to make do with very little.  After the death of her father, she taught herself to live on a pauper’s allowance—until a charming visitor promises her the funds that had been stolen from her through the years.  But Freddie isn’t comfortable with the trappings of money—or the attentions of a stranger from London…

But can a man make a lady?

After the war, Lord Gideon Haverston resolved to never again burden himself with the troubles of others.  Still, he was expecting to be greeted as a hero by the tough young woman his stepmother cheated out of house and home, not suspected as a conspirator.  Indeed, the situation is more complicated than Gideon had expected—and the task of taming Winnefred Blythe, much more alluring…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

An Unexpected Gentleman – December 2011

C2’s review of Vampire in Atlantis (Warriors of Poseidon, Book 7) by Alyssa Day
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 6 June 11

Daniel is an ancient, powerful vampire – the Primator of the Primus (the vampire’s third house of Congress) even.  His grip on sanity isn’t quite as good as it should be and nothing seems worth hanging around for, anyway, so,  after existing for so long, Daniel has decided it is time to walk into the sunlight.  Imagine his surprise when, a few seconds after he sees the sun for the first time in millennia – and collapses amidst the heat and pain – he opens his eyes and sees a face he never thought to see again in this lifetime.  The face of his first and only love, Serai, Princess of Atlantis.

Serai is one of a handful of Atlantean maidens that have been held in stasis for thousands of years.  They were intended to be brides for future kings of Atlantis.  However, somewhere along the way the people in charge of taking care of them lost the knowledge that would let the maidens out of stasis.  And recently there have been fluctuations in the power to the stasis pods.  The power comes from one of the gems missing from Poseidon’s (yup, that Poseidon) trident.  Unless the Emperor (all the gems have names) – a large amethyst – is found, all the maidens could be lost forever.

When Serai unexpectedly returns to consciousness inside her stasis pod, she can feel the fluctuations in the Emperor’s power and knows that she and the other maidens are in danger. Somehow, she manages to break free. Now, as you might imagine, Serai is not all that happy with Atlanteans in general – being put on ice to marry whoever picks you is kind of icky and they weren’t supposed to be in stasis for so long…have they been forgotten or is it just that no one cares about them any more? – so when guards start rushing toward her, she uses her magic to knock them unconscious and runs away. And almost trips over a vampire. Imagine her surprise when it turns out that this vampire not only knows her, he is her long-lost love, Daniel. Holy star-crossed lovers, faithful reader! Each one thought the other was lost to them forever and then they are thrust together to save the world. So fun!

Daniel and Sarai trace the Emperor to Arizona and run into some familiar faces – Quinn and her band of rebels. The rebels have traced some anti-human funding to a local banker but have no proof that he is working with vampires…so far. What are the odds that Daniel and Sarai’s quest for the Emperor is connected to Quinn’s and the rebels’ search for the proof of the banker’s crimes? Very, very good.

Yes, the set-up is elaborate, but a series has to expand or it will smother, and this book puts some new characters into play. Will they be good or bad? Only time will tell. In the meantime, we get more insight into some characters that will soon have their stories told (hello Quinn and Alaric! WOOT!) and hints at some others I hope we will see more of soon (Jack!).

The secondary characters don’t overtake the main couple, though. Daniel and Serai have to battle evil vampires, precocious spirits and more to find the Emperor and there is no guarantee that anyone will be able to control it once it’s found. Also, there is the problem of blood exchanges between a vampire and an Atlantean – there can be serious repercussions.

There isn’t an easy way to summarize everything that happens (obviously), so I will give my impressions. At first I was afraid I wouldn’t like Serai, but she thawed out (heh) pretty quickly – she is not the kind of princess that sits around waiting for someone to rescue her. And I’ve always been intrigued by Daniel of the many names – who knew he would turn out to be so sweet and have such a steadfast heart?

Does this book stand alone? No (I’ll admit I had totally forgotten about the maidens in stasis). You really need to read Conlan and Riley’s book and Justice and Keely’s book, at the very least. It is such a good series – filled with kick-ass warriors and women who totally hold their own – why not read it all?

Grade: B-

Summary:
The most unexpected of all allies to Poseidon’s warriors has proven to be the fiercest—Daniel, a vampire and Night Guild mage. But even the strongest alliance can be destroyed when an 11,000 year-old desire is reborn…
A vampire’s oath, a maiden’s quest…
Daniel, vampire and ally of the Warriors of Poseidon, has fought on the side of humanity—even against his fellow creatures of the night—for more than 11,000 years.  But the crushing weight of futility and the reality of always being starkly, utterly alone has forced him to finally give into despair. He took the first step into the sunlight that would destroy him—and instead walked into Atlantis.
And the blackest of magic that could consume them both…
Eleven thousand years ago, Serai was one of a group who agreed to be placed into magical stasis to ensure the future of the Atlantean race. When a dark sorceress steals the gemstone that protects her sleeping sisters, she awakens to a vastly changed world—and the one man she could never, ever forget. And with an ancient evil tracking their every step, the long-lost lovers must battle both the darkest of magic and the treacheries of their own hearts.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series:

Heart of Atlantis – February 2012

C2’s review of Dragon Bound (Elder Races, Book 1) by Thea Harrison
Paranormal Romance released by Berkley 3 May 11

Oh, faithful reader, is there a better feeling in the world than finding a new-to-you author with an awesome series starter? I say NO! And that is exactly what I found in Thea Harrison’s Dragon Bound.

In the world Ms. Harrison introduces us to in Dragon Bound, we find that humans live side by side with, and are aware of, the Elder Races – shape-shifters of all sorts (the Wyr), the Fae (light and dark courts, of course), elves and countless others. There are those who insist that such creatures don’t exist, but every world has its crazies.

Pia Giovanni is a half-Wyr. She has done her best to live under the radar of other wyrkind and just wants to live her life and be left alone. And she has mostly managed to do just that until her ex-boyfriend blackmails her into stealing something…something from one of the most dangerous creatures in existence.

Dragos Ceulebre is the leader of the Wyr. He is a fearsome, powerful creature – whether in human form or in his other form. Dragos, as you might have guessed, is a dragon. And dragons are very, very protective of their hoards, so when he learns that someone has managed not only to find his stash but has actually stolen from him? He. Is. Not. Happy.

Still, when he learns what was taken from him and reads the note left by the thief, Dragos is intrigued and determined to find the thief – both to see how his hoard was found and why that particular object was stolen. Dragos manages to connect with Pia via a dream and tracks her down after he “sees” where she is.

And we’re off, faithful reader! Through battles and imprisonment, rescues and escapes – the world Ms. Harrison is building gets more and more interesting. We meet various members of the Elder Races and get to know a bit about the politics and relationships involved.

And all along the way we have a fabulous romance between Pia – who does her best to not be completely bowled over by this amazing creature she’s with – and Dragos – who does his best to keep his alpha tendencies (because, honestly, what could be more alpha than a dragon?!) under control as he learns how to be in a relationship with a modern woman.

I know I haven’t given much of a summary of the happenings (this isn’t a book report, people!). All I can say is Dragon Bound was one big smile from beginning to end. If you only try one new series this year, try this one. You won’t be sorry!

Grade: A

Summary:
Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their Dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful–and passionate—of the Elder Races.

As the most feared and respected of the wyrkind, Dragos Cuelebre cannot believe someone had the audacity to steal from him, much less succeed. And when he catches the thief, Dragos spares her life, claiming her as his own to further explore the desire they’ve ignited in one another.

Read an excerpt or two or three.

Other books in the series (COMING SOON):

Gwen’s review of Kiss of Snow (Psy-Changeling Series, Book 10) by Nalini Singh
Paranormal Romance hardcover published by Berkley 31 May 11

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Nalini Singh.  I love to read her books.  The complexity of the worlds Singh creates transports me there every time I read them. Sure, the romances are satisfying, the heroes and heroines complicated and compelling. But the world!  The world is why I read.  It’s immediate, believable, and populated with enough good and bad to be really interesting. So it’s with a heavy heart that I say that I didn’t really love Kiss of Snow.

This tenth book in the Psy-Changeling series is the long-awaited union of the SnowDancer alpha, Hawke, and the young psy, Sienna.  In several earlier novels, you could see this pairing a mile away, and see how much it tormented both characters, so it’s nice to finally see these two together.  I’m not going to recap the characters or the plot – if you’re not reading this series, you do NOT want to start with this novel; you’ll be so far at sea with all the interwoven stories and established details, you may never know what’s going on.  Instead, I’ll just tell you what worked for me and what was not quite what I would have liked.

One of the characteristics of Singh’s writing that usually makes it so evocative is how she weaves several storylines into an overall arc, making for a really rich story.  Peppered throughout the romance are story threads from the bad guys’ perspective, from other good guys’ perspective, from the narrator’s perspective.  All of these bits mesh and normally push the story arc forward.

However, in Kiss of Snow, the weaving is choppy and sometimes difficult to follow.  It seemed to lack the smooth storytelling of Singh’s earlier novels.  While reading, I felt like I was being pulled in too many directions.  There’s the primary romance, a secondary romance, and many of the earlier romances in this book.  There’s the uber bad guys, the other bad guys, another two or three factions of good guys. We have a birth, several severe wounds, and some deaths.   Battles, fights, and more battles. Plotting, scheming, spies, traitors – all in one book. Normally this makes for a rocking good time in a novel.  Unfortunately, in this novel, it made for a bit of a mess.  All these elements seem like they’re just tossed in and shaken.  We jerk from one thing to the next with little to no transition and sometimes very few details to help us understand what we’re reading.

I had the most difficulty with the primary romance between Hawke and Sienna.  Their personal scenes were the most confusing for me – just as it felt like they were starting to know each other, something would happen, or the author would cut to another thread.  As a result, I had a frustrating time getting into this couple’s romance.  For example, at the end of the book for several paragraphs Singh makes what feels like an unnecessary mystery about Hawke’s name.  And then she never really reveals it – we’re left guessing and it’s a little frustrating.

The upshot of my review is that I’m disappointed, but I still read it.  Kiss of Snow is still a “B” book for me, but I expect a lot from Singh – particularly with the Psy-Changeling series.  This book, while good, didn’t quite meet my expectations and former experience with this author.

Grade: B-

Read other reviews and information on this series here.

Summary:

Since the moment of her defection from the PsyNet and into the SnowDancer wolf pack, Sienna Lauren has had one weakness. Hawke. Alpha and dangerous, he compels her to madness.

Hawke is used to walking alone, having lost the woman who would’ve been his mate long ago. But Sienna fascinates the primal heart of him, even as he tells himself she is far too young to handle the wild fury of the wolf.

Then Sienna changes the rules and suddenly, there is no more distance, only the most intimate of battles between two people who were never meant to meet. Yet as they strip away each other’s secrets in a storm of raw emotion, they must also ready themselves for a far more vicious fight…

A deadly enemy is out to destroy SnowDancer, striking at everything they hold dear, but it is Sienna’s darkest secret that may yet savage the pack that is her home…and the alpha who is its heartbeat…

Read an excerpt here (scroll down).

Other books in this series (in strict chronological order):

			“The Cannibal Princess” - free short story
	“A Gift for Kit” - free short story

C2’s review of Kiss of Snow (Psy/Changeling Series, Book 10) by Nalini Singh
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 31 May 11

Faithful reader, you know how sometimes in long series there’s that one couple you want to get together – the one that so obviously must be together and you wait and wait…and then, when they finally do get their story, it’s a let-down?  That SO did not happen here!  Yay!!

Hawke is the alpha of the SnowDancer wolves.  He has been in charge since he was a teenager and the traumatic circumstances that put him there have shaped his personality.  He is intense and focused and his wolf is very near the surface at all times.  Hawke’s wolf recognized his mate when he was a child, however she died very young.  Since wolves only mate once, Hawke grew up with the knowledge that there would always be a piece of his heart missing.

From the moment they met, Sienna Lauren has disturbed Hawke on every level.  She is too young and not only isn’t she Pack, she is Psy.  The Psy were responsible for the death of Hawke’s father and the horrible events that led him to becoming alpha.  Still, there is something about her that draws him, even though he knows he will never share the mate-bond with anyone – and the connection isn’t one-sided.  Recently, Hawke’s wolf has decided that Sienna is an adult and fair prey.  And Hawke is having a hard time convincing his wolf and himself that isn’t a good idea.

Sienna and her family came to live with the SnowDancer wolves after they defected from the PsyNet.  As far as most Psy know, they are all dead. Sienna, especially, knows she must stay hidden.  She is an X Psy – a mysterious and deadly Psy designation.  She was taken from her family at a very young age and trained as an assassin/spy.

Ever since Sienna has been with SnowDancer, she has been drawn to Hawke but she senses the distance he tries to maintain between them.  Still, he has allowed her to train with the other novice soldiers – as long as she doesn’t use her Psy abilities against anyone in the Pack.  Since she isn’t a wolf, she is less aware of his Alpha-ness and is more defiant than the other young soldiers – and neither man nor wolf appreciate that.

Lately, Sienna Psy abilities have been less stable.  Theory says X Psy are less stable to start with – most die young.  Whether this is because of the dangerous nature of the X designation, the dangerous situations they often are placed in or just because that much power burns quick and fast is still part of the mystery surrounding the X.  Hawke and her uncle, Judd (have you read Judd’s book? because you should), are both concerned about whether Sienna will be able to maintain her control over her abilities or if those abilities will get away from her and cause untold damage.  But when a Psy plot is uncovered that endangers all of SnowDancer and DarkRiver, every soldier is needed and Sienna’s special abilities could prove invaluable in the fight.

Oh faithful reader, I don’t want to delve too much deeper into the plot. You just need to read the book and savor it.  With each new addition to the series, the Psy/Changling world gets richer and deeper and more complex.  We catch up with lots of old friends and get hints of new characters (I am very intrigued by the falcons) and also get glimpses of a time before the PsyNet became the vast, frightening entity it is. And watching Hawke and Sienna dance around each other – unable to stay away while knowing things will probably go horribly wrong – is delicious and sweet and smart and hot.

“She tried to prepare herself for the next kiss…but of course, there was no way to prepare for Hawke.”  Kiss of Snow, page 360

Does this book stand alone?  It probably could but, really, you should read the whole series – all the cool kids are doing it.  Don’t you want to be one of the cool kids?  Is it worth the hardcover price? I say yes! What are you waiting for?  Go read and enjoy!

Grade: A+

Summary:

Since the moment of her defection from the PsyNet and into the SnowDancer wolf pack, Sienna Lauren has had one weakness. Hawke. Alpha and dangerous, he compels her to madness.
Hawke is used to walking alone, having lost the woman who would’ve been his mate long ago. But Sienna fascinates the primal heart of him, even as he tells himself she is far too young to handle the wild fury of the wolf.
Then Sienna changes the rules and suddenly, there is no more distance, only the most intimate of battles between two people who were never meant to meet. Yet as they strip away each other’s secrets in a storm of raw emotion, they must also ready themselves for a far more vicious fight…
A deadly enemy is out to destroy SnowDancer, striking at everything they hold dear, but it is Sienna’s darkest secret that may yet savage the pack that is her home…and the alpha who is its heartbeat…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series:

Sandy M’s review of Chains by Shiloh Walker
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 5 May 09

As some of you know, I’m a huge, huge Shiloh Walker fan, as my review of one of her latest, A Forever Kind of Love, earlier this week attests. I’ve vowed I’m going to read her backlist when I can, and this time I chose Chains. I love everything about this book, of course. I had one teeny tiny issue, but in the end it really didn’t mean all that much, because the story Ms. Walker gives readers hits hard, hits low, and the way these heroines survive the blows is beyond incredible.

These three heroines are brought together by violence in one tragic night, and it’s amazing to see how they triumph over it all. They come from very different areas of life, so while in high school, where their lives take a turn no one could have ever imagined, they don’t interact or run in the same circles. But they all end up at the same party, all for different reasons, and then end up uniting together when things get out of control and one of them is in dire trouble. I like that the other two come to her aid because it’s the right thing to do, as well as they do with what happens afterward. But it’s more that they help because only another woman can understand this type of violence.

Renee is the girl most of us hated in high school. Perfect everything, but not is all as it seems. Lacey is the athlete, everyone loved her and knew she was going places. Sherra is the wrong-side-of-the-tracks girl.

It’s the party girl Sherra who attends a rowdy blowout given by the mayor’s son and it’s her reputation that instigates harassment by some guys, one of whom won’t take no for an answer. Renee and Lacey come to her rescue, even though the culprit is a guy who her parents approve of and who Renee came to the party with. But things get even worse when a gun comes into play during this horrible night. The ensuing nightmares for all three girls send them fleeing, never to return until fifteen years later.

Each of the women has prospered in the intervening years, though still haunted by that one awful night. They get their own new story with their heroes, who eventually bring them peace as well as love, and there’s a lot of sizzling hot sex, which shouldn’t surprise anyone if they’ve read Ms. Walker before this. There’s still danger out there amidst their reunion, and the suspense and mystery of this stalker only gives the book another layer which weaves everything together into one immensely satisfying read.

My one tiny issue? I was a little off balance with the way the book ended. I even asked Sybil to try to get me another e-copy, just in case mine had inadvertently lost a couple of pages. But it hadn’t and I moved on. It really didn’t change anything for me at all and I laughed at myself afterward, asking why I’d been so nitpicky in and among such awesome writing. No idea. Maybe I just wanted the book to go on and on. That, I wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow at.

Grade: A

Summary:

They weren’t friends. They weren’t enemies. The only thing the three girls had in common was the high school they went to in Madison, Ohio—until one tragic night. Now, fifteen years later, they’re returning home where passion—and danger—await…

Renee Lincoln was the homecoming queen—with the perfect boyfriend and the perfect life. After that horrible night, she rebelled the only way she knew how: by submitting to her wildest fantasies…

Tall, blonde, and athletic, Lacey Talbot was a golden girl with a bright future. She’s found success as a photographer, but no man has ever been able to satisfy her. No man but the bad boy she left behind…

Sherra Salinger has always looked like a princess out of some fairy tale. The books she writes, though, stem from the nightmare of that one night. And she shrinks from any man’s attention—especially the one stalking her…

They’re coming back to Madison—and it won’t be happy reunion. There are three men, all dangerous in a different way. And when each of them surrender their bodies to the heat, when they succumb to desire, they’ll find the safety they desperately need…

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of Chasing the Sun (Blood Rose Trilogy, Book 2) by Kaki Warner
Historical Western Romance published by Berkley 4 Jan 11

I hate it when time gets away from and I don’t get to those books I wanted to months ago. Chasing the Sun is one of those, after I read and reviewed Open Country in Kaki Warner’s Blood Rose trilogy. She gave readers a unique look into life back when our wild west was at its best, especially when it comes to women of the time.  Those women are the backbone of who we are today, and Ms. Warner weaves their stories with an exquisite touch.

Though this series is basically about the Wilkins brothers and their want and need to keep their ranch, to make it profitable and a home for their families, it’s the women behind them who have a strength men may not totally understand, but they sure admire it. Chasing the Sun is Jack’s story, the youngest of the brothers. When he left the ranch three years ago, Jack had hopes of a bright future with the woman he loved, but when she finds a different calling, he moves on to seeing the world and all the adventures it holds. Coming home at last, he finds both the woman who left him and another whom he barely recalls from his drunken days and nights of gambling before taking off to Australia and other parts unknown to try to heal his broken heart.

Daisy’s dream is to be a singer on a real stage some day. All she’s been able to find so far is singing for drunks and cardsharps in a San Francisco saloon, which pays her just enough for her and her daughter to live on. But when life throws Daisy into a dangerous situation and gives her the opportunity for her lifelong dream at the same time, her only option is to make the trip to RosaRoja and Jack’s family for help. She never expects to see Jack again and is quite surprised and frightened when she discovers he’s home.

Jack has always been the charmer of the family, women falling at his feet whenever he feels the need for company. So you can imagine his bafflement when Daisy is the one who refuses him at every turn. I had to chuckle at times when these Wilkins brothers just don’t get women, especially their wives. But I guess that’s how most heroes are in romance until they understand it’s love that pushes them. Jack is typical male. He doesn’t understand why Daisy would rather be on her than married to him when he can’t tell her he loves her, that he’d rather be with her than anyone else, and all those usual things women need to hear from their men.

In the meantime, Jack knows something more is going on with Daisy and he’s on a mission to win her, her trust, and her love. Their picnic scenes as a family are some of the best in the book, even when one ends in near disaster. And that leads to more great scenes when the brothers search for Jack and his ladies during a violent storm. There’s a lot of emotion for all involved during suspense-filled days. I like seeing the brothers show their emotions, though they stop short of showing those feelings to others. I had hoped maybe this time we would see more between them, but the boys stayed boys, and I love them anyway.

I still have yet to read the first book in the series, but I hope to remedy that soon. So far I have enjoyed Open Country just a tad more than Chasing the Sun, only because of the circumstances Molly and Hank meet and the danger they must survive. But Jack has that way of worming into your heart just as he does into Daisy’s, especially when playing with his daughter. His siblings need to wake up a little sooner when looking at their little brother. He’s become a man they’d be very proud of.

Grade: A

Summary:

Daisy Etheridge always dreamed of singing on a real stage, rather than in a smoky San Francisco saloon.  But along the way she fell in love, had her heart broken, and bore a child to a man who loved another.  Now she has a second chance to develop her singing talent. With no other way to get the money she needs to support herself and her child during her training, she and her daughter travel to New Mexico Territory to seek help from the wealthy family of the man who abandoned her.

Jack Wilkins, a carefree adventurer, has always wanted to travel the world, rather than stay home to work the family ranch with his brothers. He thought he’d escaped three years ago when he followed his childhood love to San Francisco, only to find that his devotion wasn’t enough to keep her. Now, he’s back, trying one last time to win her – when out of the blue a woman from his past shows up with a baby who has eyes like his.

Caught between his feelings for his old flame, his attraction to Daisy, and his new role as a father, Jack does the honorable thing and offers marriage. But Daisy refuses. Although she has never stopped loving Jack, she’s unwilling to risk her dream for a man who might still love another, or who would rather chase the sun west than settle down with her.

But Jack won’t give up. As spring drifts into summer, tensions build, and the Wilkins family is strained to the breaking point when old enemies and financial ruin threaten the ranch. Then a violent storm brings everything to a head, forcing Daisy and Jack to make hard choices about which dreams are worth fighting for, and what they want out of their lives-and out of each other.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of Breaking Point (I-Team, Book 5) by Pamela Clare
Romantic Suspense published by Berkley 3 May 11

When I open a Pamela Clare book, I know I’m going to be in for a very emotional, very sensual, and very wild and dangerous ride. I know I will laugh. I will cry. I will become enamored of her characters. I will revel in the intensity, tenderness, and romance of their love making. I will sit on the edge of my seat, praying those characters will get through their hell as quickly and unscathed as possible.

So far I’ve only read the last two books of this series, and they are as gripping and full of emotion as can be. The way the heroes and heroines meet are unique and intense, and I’m now so curious to find out if the previous books are the same.

Zach is ex-military and now a U.S. Marshall in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, investigating Los Zetas and its leader, who is suspected of abducting, torturing, and then murdering young women for his bloodthirsty rituals. Having gone through days of torture at their hands, Zach is surprised to hear the bastards toss a woman into the cell next to him. He knows her fate and tries to calm her fears as her reality sets in.

But Natalie is much stronger than he could imagine. She’s the one, despite their odds, who manages to free herself from her restraints and then help Zach so they can make their escape.

Grade: A+

Summary:

While investigating border violence in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, Denver journalist Natalie Benoit is caught in a bloody ambush and taken captive. Alone in the hands of ruthless killers, she will need every ounce of courage she possesses to survive.

Betrayed by another operative, Deputy U.S. Marshal Zach McBride has endured a week of torture and interrogation at the hands of a bloodthirsty Mexican drug cartel. Ready to give his life if he must, he remains unbroken—until he hears the cries of an American woman.

Although Natalie is only a voice in the darkness of their shared prison, her plight brings renewed strength to Zach’s battered body. With her help, he overpowers their captors, and they flee through the desert toward the border, the attraction between them flaring hotter than the Sonoran sun.

But past loss and tragedy leave both of them reluctant to follow their hearts, even when the passion between them reaches its breaking point. Faced with feelings neither expected, they fight to stay ahead of the danger that hunts them as forces more powerful than they can imagine conspire to destroy them both…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Ash’s review of Firewalker (Stormwalker, Book 2) by Allyson James
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 02 Nov 10

So, I went back to read my review of Stormwalker (I read too many books to remember what I thought of them), and I was surprised to see I didn’t love it, because I was only able to put Firewalker down to sleep. I was totally immersed in this book.

With this book, Allyson James has seemed to be able to do many things that I find a lot of authors can’t. At least according to my personal opinion. Janet now has massive power, more power than some of the scariest beings she knows. It’s a struggle for her to overcome the darkness within her. I never felt she’s being annoying, whiny, or untrue to herself. Janet stays Janet while still learning and growing. She doesn’t do stupid things, she is able to ask for help, and she’s basically the perfect urban fantasy (still don’t consider this romance) heroine to me.

There is also more Mick, her sexy dragon lover. Mick and Janet are great together, and their relationship grows as well. A big conflict in their relationship seems to have been resolved, and I am happy for that.  They still have a strong spark and lots of tension between them that keeps the romance feeling fresh after two books. Since it is labeled as romance, my only complaint is that I want more scenes with them together.

This book is pretty much non-stop action, and even when it’s not, it’s still exciting. Allyson James handles the multiple story lines perfectly. I wasn’t left with unanswered questions, except the ones I am supposed to be left with, and everything got its fair share of page space (except maybe Nash, I definitely want more of him). The pacing of Firewalker is just what it should be, and I wish it hadn’t taken me so long to read it.

I also just want to mention that I love that the rest of the characters are important, to Janet and to the story. They aren’t just background decorations and they each stand out. I enjoy every one of them.

Grade: A

Summary:

Janet Begay’s Crossroads Hotel has attracted the supernatural ever since it opened. But a new, dark power is rising, this time inside Janet herself. Her boyfriend Mick, a sexy dragon shapeshifter the Navajo call a Firewalker, know what terrifying magic is threatening to overwhelm Janet and her Stormwalker powers. He watches over her, ready to fight for her, to do anything to keep her safe.

But then a mysterious corpse is found near the Crossroads Hotel-and Janet becomes the main suspect. Now Janet and Mick must uncover what really happened, and their investigation leads to the most perilous decision of their lives…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: