REVIEW: The Legend of the Werestag by Tessa Dare

C2’s review of The Legend of the Werestag by Tessa Dare
Historical Paranormal Romance novella published by Samhain 12 May 09

What happens when you combine a house party, unrequited love, and a mythical creature? Why, you get Tessa Dare’s new novella, The Legend of the Werestag, of course. I had been hearing (reading?) raves about this story all over the interwebs so I knew I had to read it. And I wasn’t disappointed - it totally lived up to the hype. Read more

Tags: 2009, C2, Grade A, Historical Romance, Paranormal Romance, Review, Samhain, Tessa Dare, The Legend of the Werestag

DDS REVIEWS: The Bridesmaid Chronicles by Kendall, Adams, and Kenner

Sandy M's review of The Bridesmaid Chronicles by Karen Kendall, Kylie Adams, and Julie Kenner
Contemporary Romances released by Signet Jun-Sep 2005

I've had this series for a while, thinking I'd get to it soon, but, of course, never doing so. My 16-year-old niece visited me last month, the niece who, unfortunately, doesn't want anything to do with reading, the niece I've been trying to get interested in reading a number of times during those sixteen years. The niece who actually picked up a book while in my home during her visit, actually read it, liked it, and shocked the heck out of me. Then she wanted to read this series. So I told her if she'd hang on, I'll get the series read and reviewed, and then it's hers for the taking. The series actually started out well and I thought my niece would also enjoy it. But my enjoyment didn't last long. I'm hoping hers lasts longer. Read more

Tags: 2009, August 2005, Bridesmaid Chronicles, Contemporary Romance, Duckies Do Series, First Dance, First Date, First Kiss, First Love, Grade A, Grade B, Grade D, Julie Kenner, July 2005, June 2005, Karen Kendall, Kylie Adams, Review, Reviews, Sandy M, September 2005, Signet

REVIEW: Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward

Sandy M's review of Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 7) by J.R. Ward
Paranormal Romance published by NAL 28 Apr 09

Well, I have a feeling I'm going to be in the minority once again when it comes to these Black Dagger Brotherhood books. Which is just fine. 'Cuz I'm loving the series still. I really loved this book in particular, mostly because all of the previous characters were involved in the story more than in the last couple of books and the romance didn't suffer at all. Ward is so good at doing that, I hope she continues to so from here on out. It is a brotherhood, I want them all involved all the time in just more than a few pages each. Read more

Tags: 2009, Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Grade A, J.R. Ward, Lover Avenged, NAL, Paranormal Romance, Review, Sandy M

REVIEW: Seduce the Darkness by Gena Showalter

Gwen's review of Seduce the Darkness (Alien Huntress, Book 4) by Gena Showalter
Futuristic paranormal romance released by Pocket Star 30 Jun 09

I've read lots of Gena Showalter and enjoy her writing quite a bit - she's edgy, passionate, and not afraid to go to dark places.  I hadn't read any of this series until this book.  Even then, I read the blurb and, frankly, I was underwhelmed - it just didn't grab me.  But I read reviews of the series, from people I respect, so I took a chance.  I even soldiered on in spite of early misgivings in the first few chapters. I mean, the hero is a total p___y hound and the heroine is a complete cipher.  I remained perfectly prepared not to like it.  Read on to see if I changed my mind...  Read more

Tags: 2009, Alien Huntress series, Futuristic Romance, Gena Showalter, Grade A, Gwen, July 2009, Paranormal Romance, Pocket Star, Review, Seduce the Darkness

REVIEW: The Greek’s Convenient Mistress by Annie West

Lynne Connolly's review of The Greek's Convenient Mistress by Annie West
Contemporary Romance released by Harlequin Presents 1 Jun 09

Annie West is one of my favourite HMB authors because she is all about the emotion. The Big Misunderstandings, Secret Babies and other tropes that are often used to prolong the plot in other Modern/Presents books play little part in hers, or if she uses them, she makes them work. She never forgets that what brings the hero and heroine together in her books is the emotion.
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Tags: 2009, Annie West, Contemporary Romance, Grade A, Harlequin Presents, Lynne Connolly, Review, The Greek's Convenient Mistress

REVIEW: Surrender to the Playboy Sheikh by Kate Hardy

Lynne Connolly's review of Surrender to the Playboy Sheikh by Kate Hardy
Contemporary romance released by Harlequin Presents 1 Jul 09

If anyone thinks that HMB books are churned out with next to no effort from the writer - this is one of the best examples against this argument that I've read, and certainly the best this year.  Kate Hardy wrote the award winning Breakfast At Giovanni's which by the time it left the UK Modern line and moved to the US Present line became In Bed With Her Italian Boss. So I ask you, which title do you prefer? I can definitely recommend this one as well.  Read more

Tags: 2009, Contemporary Romance, Grade A, Harlequin Presents, July 2009, Kate Hardy, Lynne Connolly, Review, Surrender to the Playboy Sheikh

REVIEW: A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore

Sandy M's review of A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore
Historical Romance published by Forever 1 Jun 09

After hearing so much about this book, I did hope that it would live up to the hype going around the internet.  It definitely did that and so much more. Ms. Haymore does a beautiful job of interweaving the lives of three characters you can't help but like and sympathize with when fate takes an ugly and tragic turn, turning their lives into a living nightmare where before nothing but love had been between them.

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Tags: 2009, A Hint of Wicked, Forever, Grade A, Historical Romance, Jennifer Haymore, Review, Sandy M

REVIEW: Faeries Gone Wild by Davidson, Greiman, Hauf, and Logan

Gwen's review of Faeries Gone Wild by MaryJanice Davidson, Lois Greiman, Michele Hauf, and Leandra Logan (no author site)
Contemporary paranormal romance anthology released by St. Martin's 2 Jun 09

This was a cute anthology and you'll see me use the word "cute" a lot in this review.  All stories are placed in the modern world, have romances, and faeries are the protagonists.  A couple of them have some suspense elements, but the stories are really quite lighthearted in nature.  Read on to see which of these romps was rompier than the others... Read more

Tags: 2009, anthology, Contemporary Romance, Faeries Gone Wild, Grade A, Grade B, Grade C, Gwen, June 2009, Leandra Logan, Lois Greiman, Mary Janice Davidson, Michele Hauf, Paranormal Romance, Review, St. Martin's

REVIEW: The Betrayal by Pati Nagle

Gwen's review of The Betrayal (The Ælven, Book 1) by Pati Nagle
Romantic fantasy released by Del Rey 24 Mar 09

I don't get much chance to read fantasy, though it is one of my first literary loves.  I cut my reader's teeth on J.R.R. Tolkien, Roger Zelazny, and Terry Brooks.  To this day, I hear music that I listened to while reading and I still get a nostalgic whiff of what it was like to first experience those books.  It's like being touched by the ghost of a wonderful old friend - a bit of a shiver and peaceful feeling all at the same time.  I got that same feeling, and a touch of romance, with this book and it was a very nice homecoming.  Read more

Tags: 2009, Del Rey, Grade A, Gwen, March 2009, Pati Nagle, Review, Romantic Fantasy, The Aelven series, The Betrayal

REVIEW: Wickedly Ever After by Michelle Marcos

Sandy M's review of Wickedly Ever After (Pleasure Emporium, Book 3) by Michelle Marcos
Historical Romance published by St. Martin's 30 Jun 09

I've read and reviewed all of this authors' books so far. While I enjoyed the first two, When a Lady Misbehaves and Gentlemen Behaving Badly, (see my reviews here and here) for the most part, there were things about them that didn't quite make them keepers for me. WEA won't be a keeper either, but I liked it a lot better than the first two books. I can see definite growth in Ms. Marcos' writing and her character development, the sign of a really good author in the making.

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Tags: 2009, Grade A, Historical Romance, Marcos, Michelle, Pleasure Emporium series, Review, Sandy M, St. Martin's

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