Dinca’s review of Flashpoint by Jill Shalvis
Contemporary Romance published by Harlequin Blaze 1 Jul 08

Jill Shalvis defiantly lights a fire with this one. The sparks are flying from page one. I can’t believe the hammock the hero is lazing in doesn’t go up in flames when the heroine’s gaze lusted upon him. Talk about hot stuff.

The story is about Brooke O’Brian, who takes a temp job as an EMT with the Santa Rey Fire Department where Zack Thomas also works as a firefighter. The camaraderie and friendship are strong. The place runs like a winning team with all the players functioning at their best during an emergency call. But around the firehouse it’s more like an elementary school yard. They even give Brooke a nickname and refuse to call her anything else except ‘New Hire’.

Brooke has inherited a house from her grandmother she had never met.  Her six-week temp job allows her the time to pack it all up before putting it on the market and moving on. During the packing up she runs across some old diaries of her grandmother that has her wishing she had known her. Since she’s never lived long in one place compliments of her wanderlust mother,  she wonders what that would be like, to fit in and belong somewhere. More than the house and the diaries are making her feel that way. Zack is taking hold on her as well.

Zack Thomas does not do commitment. He doesn’t even know what it is when it comes to personal relationships.  He’s committed to his job and his coworkers/friends. That’s all he knows. His parents died in a fire when he was young and his brother raised him until he turned eighteen, and then he moved to L.A. Since then he’s been on his own with no family ties.  No commitments. He knows he wants a taste of Brooke, but will one taste be enough?

Zack suspects arson in several of the fires throughout the book. He thinks it’s a coverup and starts investigating on his own. The fire inspector, who Zach feels knows his job, keeps telling him to butt out. His boss also tells him the same — or his job is on the line. In every chapter I’m thinking it’s a different person, so I will let you wonder as I did. I was truly surprised at the ‘who done it’ in the end.

Ms. Shalvis has written a wonderful tale and I am glad I had the opportunity to read her work. This is my first of her books, but I can assure you I will look for the opportunity to read her work again.

Grade: A

See Sandy M’s review and Holly’s review.

Summary:

Zach Thomas risks his life battling flames every day. But since sexy EMT Brooke O’Brian joined the crew, he can’t resist playing with fire. Brooke is feisty, a little uptight…and sexy as hell. And as Zach soon discovers, she’s definitely hot stuff between the sheets. Still, every firefighter knows that the hotter the blaze, the faster the action’s over….

After the whirlwind ride Zach’s been taking her on, Brooke is ready to do anything for this man in and out of bed! But she knows footloose and fancy-free Zach doesn’t do commitment. So she plans to build up a five-alarm fire between them. The kind he won’t ever want to put out…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Limecello’s review of The Mistress Diaries by Julianne MacLean
Historical romance released by Avon 29 Jul 08

My finding and reading this book was very random, but I’m so glad I did. While I got the book on a whim, I liked everything about it. (Except for the title. I know “mistress” stories are supposed to be titillating and all that, but they never seem to work well.) Also, fear not – the book blurb makes it seem the book is written in first person, but it’s not. The Mistress Diaries had so much of what I liked in historicals – in fact, after I read this story I immediately read another one of Ms. MacLean’s books.

Cassandra Montrose, Lady Colchester, is a very interesting character. I also think her story is rather realistic. She indulges once – just once and does something naughty, and is forced the pay the consequences. (I can sympathize because I think the same thing would happen to me.) Nevertheless, she takes control of her own life.

I felt like the title was somewhat misleading, because the obvious conclusion would be that Cassandra is forced to become a mistress, and she falls in love! Not so. While Cassandra is cast out by her family, she ekes out a living working in a hat shop, and only goes for support when she believes she’s dying. All this show that she has a lot of inner strength, and is a very admirable heroine. Cassandra is realistic, funny, smart, direct, but still human. She makes mistakes, and realizes that- but she cares about people, and is quite likable.

Lord Vincent Sinclair is a very interesting hero. He’s bitter and after a rather tragic event in his past, decided against love. Vincent, however, is being forced to marry by his insane father. Vincent is a dynamic character in every sense. (He’s the opposite of a static character, and is dynamic in general.) Vincent is incredibly attractive, a philanderer, a flirt, and generally a jerk. He knows it, accepts it, and basically wallows in it. But deep inside, he’s a good person, and his family knows it.

Vincent is also so matter of fact about his flaws that… he is likable, because he’s honest. He doesn’t try to trick people or take advantage of them. Throughout, he is very direct and rather understates his best qualities. That, and Vincent is incredibly charming, handsome, charismatic, and the son of a duke.

There’s so much going on in this story – and in a way it starts where many stories would end. The Mistress Diaries begins with Cassandra and Vincent sneaking away from a ball, and spending the night together. They part ways definitively, until Cassandra is forced to seek out Vincent’s family. The result of their one night was a child, and Cassandra is ill. She actually does not trust him, or believe he will take responsibility for his actions.

Cassandra does not like Vincent, and is very wary of him. She doesn’t trust him to keep his word, or to be steadfast. Cassandra thinks Vincent is entertained, seeking a diversion, will bore quickly, and be done with it. Then again, she also thought she would die so she’d never have to interact with Vincent again.

The secondary characters and subplots were all very enjoyable, and added a lot to the story. First, Vincent has a fiancee almost throughout the novel. Not when he and Cassandra first meet, but when she reappears in his life. (His fiancee is evil, and rather one dimensional, but, she plays her part.)

Then, Vincent’s father is insane. A crazy duke is always entertaining, because with the social standing, he still gets what he wants. Scary thought. There are servants, family members… Vincent holds a grudge on his older brother for good reason… All of that is on Vincent’s side, however, and I think it helps to develop both characters.

First, that Vincent while seemingly careless and only concerned about money, really he’s family centered and has strong bonds with [most of] his family. Cassandra, on the other hand, is totally alone, aside from her daughter. Nevertheless Vincent and Cassandra share similarities in their upbringing, and both are from the same social class.

Cassandra is also strong enough to stand up to Vincent, and handle his issues. She allows herself to love him because he needs it, asking nothing in return. For once, I was ok with that, because I knew that Vincent felt the same, and neither party was ceding or inferior to the other. (Too often it seems like the heroine rolls over and dies, or is generally useless. Not so here. I got the sense that, although Cassandra would be crushed if her relationship with Vincent ended, she would still survive, and be fine – and able to provide for her daughter.)

The focus between Cassandra and Vincent’s relationship is the foundation of this book, and that’s what makes it so great. In a way, they’re courting, despite the fact that they already have a daughter together, and it seems that there is no future for them. There are a number of obstacles in their way, and potential for great misunderstanding. In fact, a number of “oops” moments happen – but they work out nicely, and the characters are rational, reasonable, and don’t fly into ridiculous bouts of emotion.

Anyway, my point is that Ms. MacLean’s story was different from a number of other historical romances, in the best way – there were no forehead smacking moments, or parts that made me think or say “Are you kidding me?” I was with the characters all the way.

While I’m not enamored with the title, the “diaries” part fits, because the beginning of each chapter starts with an entry from Cassandra’s diary. They’re very insightful, and really work as an introduction to the chapter. Also, the mistress part does come in, and the fact that Cassandra has to deal with that, and move from point A to B, really shows a lot about her, and the relationship that she’s formed with Vincent. The secondary characters help too, because they give more insight as to why Vincent acts as he does, and has become who he is.

If you’re a fan of historical romances, I definitely recommend this one. Or, if you’ve been wanting to give the genre a try. While Ms. MacLean is a new to me author, I like The Mistress Diaries the best so far. I like the characters, their personality, their history, the plot, everything. It works- it’s rational, believable, yet so romantic throughout. There’s also closure on so many levels, and I love that.

Grade: A-

Summary:

He told me he would treat my heart with great care. He was lying of course, for it was all a very clever, skillful seduction…

The night I met Lord Vincent Sinclair, son of the Duke of Pembroke, was the night I lost control. I never imagined that I, Cassandra Montrose, could engage in such wicked, wanton behavior with a man I hardly knew. But in that fateful moment, alone in his coach, the passion I felt for him was undeniable, even though I knew that after my surrender I was unlikely to ever see my lover again.

Until a fateful secret brought me to his door…

I always believed my pride would prevent me from becoming any man’s mistress – especially a rogue like Vincent, who cares for nothing but his inheritance. Yet I have very good reason to remain in his life. If only he did not tempt me so…

Read an excerpt here.

Shannon C.’s review of Say Goodbye by Lisa Gardner
Suspense/thriller hardcover released by Bantam 15 Jul 08, paperback release 19 May 09

I came to read this book because Wendy the Super Librarian and super awesome Harlequin reviewer herself blogged about it. Since Sybil so kindly provided me with the e-copy that I read, I thought I’d break my newly self-imposed rule to only write reviews for romances on my personal blog and talk about it here. This book is an intense read, and I definitely shared Wendy’s feeling of being utterly creeped out by it, even as I couldn’t stop reading.

Our story centers around pregnant FBI agent Kimberly, who is drawn to a prostitute when said prostitute begs for Kimberly’s personal help in catching a serial killer who has preyed on prostitutes and other people whom no one would miss. The case begins to take over Kimberly’s life, and her marriage, which seemed quite stable to her, begins to fall apart at the seams. Meanwhile, the serial killer is way more creepy than even Kimberly suspects.

I got a very series-ish vibe from this book. It feels like Kimberly and her family have been featured in books before. Certainly her family’s been touched by crime in the past, and it definitely shapes the way she and her father deal with the world. I really liked that, and I liked the struggles that Kimberly went through to balance her need to do the FBI job she’s involved with and her need to protect her baby. Those parts were terribly heartbreaking, and I empathized with Kimberly’s struggles to balance those responsibilities.

The suspense plot is excellently done, and, as I said, creepy. This was one of the few books I’ve read in this genre where I appreciated having the killer’s POV. The killer is such a fascinating character, and while the reader won’t sympathize with his actions, his childhood, which is explored, will definitely bring a tear to the eye.

I really enjoyed how everything came together. the mystery was well-paced, and the surprise twist at the end was one I didn’t see coming. I also liked the epilogue, in which it is revealed that people like the book’s killer do effect the lives of those they touch in significant ways for years to come.

I’ve never read any other books by Ms. Gardner, but I definitely intend to, because this one was well-written and engrossing, and I’m so glad Wendy brought it to my attention.

Grade: B+

Summary:
.
Come into my parlor…
.
For Kimberly Quincy, FBI Special Agent, it all starts with a pregnant hooker. The story Delilah Rose tells Kimberly about her johns is too horrifying to be true—but prostitutes are disappearing, one by one, with no explanation, and no one but Kimberly seems to care.
.
Said the spider to the fly…
.
As a member of the Evidence Response Team, dead hookers aren’t exactly Kimberly’s specialty. The young agent is five months pregnant—she has other things to worry about than an alleged lunatic who uses spiders to do his dirty work. But Kimberly’s own mother and sister were victims of a serial killer. And now, without any bodies and with precious few clues, it’s all too clear that a serial killer has found the key to the perfect murder…or Kimberly is chasing a crime that never happened.
.
Kimberly’s caught in a web more lethal than any spider’s, and the more she fights for answers, the more tightly she’s trapped. What she doesn’t know is that she’s close—too close—to a psychopath who makes women’s nightmares come alive, and if he has his twisted way, it won’t be long before it’s time for Kimberly to…Say Goodbye.
.
Read an excerpt here.

Sandy M’s review of Unmasked by Nicola Cornick
Historical Romance released by HQN Books 1 Jul 08

Nicola Cornick is another new author for me. And after this book, I’m going to definitely be reading more of her books. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Loved the characters, the story, the emotion, everything about it.

Nick Falconer is sent by his superiors to put a stop to the Glory Girls, a gang of highwaywomen, a la Robin Hood, near North Yorkshire, not only because the women are robbing members of the nobility, but it also seems they have a connection to the recent murder of the Earl of Rashleigh, who just happens to be Nick’s cousin and a man whose death no one is crying over. So, really, his assignment is two-fold. While unmasking the Glory Girls, he’s to also solve his own kinsman’s murder. He’s quite gung-ho in his duty, he’s one who believes in upholding the law no matter what, and begins his investigation immediately upon arrival in the country.

What he finds is a very demure Mari Osborne, whom he suspects of being involved with the gang and to whom he is quite attracted. The more he investigates her, the more he finds her story about herself to be false. She is not truly a widow of a former military man; she didn’t even exist more than five years ago. Mari knows the game she’s played these past five years may be up, the more she gets to know Major Falconer. He is a man who will stop at nothing to get at the truth. Her truth is something she’s hidden for so long, now she’s unsure whether to keep running or finally just tell all, especially because she is just as attracted to Nick as he is to her.

But Mari hails from Russia where she was a serf and eventually sold to the former Earl of Rashleigh who educated her, tried to make an English lady out of her. Her life turns tragic, however, when Robert, the earl’s son, inherits upon his father’s death. Robert treats the new English lady as the slave she is, abuses her trust and her body until she escapes him and starts fresh where no one knows her. She’s made friends in North Yorkshire and she’s the brains behind the Glory Girls, making sure the citizens in their part of the English countryside are given their due when treated poorly by the nobility. Wanting to lighten her load and confess all to Nick would be simple if he weren’t the earl’s heir. He now technically owns her as surely as Robert did.

So much happens in this book, the action never stops. The characters are charismatic and complex, as is the plot and mystery throughout the book.  The writing is just wonderful, rich and lush, placing you right in the thick of things in the middle of England. The emotion when Mari finally tells her story is deep and heart-felt. And the romance between Nick and Mari is the kind you wish you could get in every romance novel you read.

If you love reading historicals, I highly recommend this book to you.

Grade: A

Summary:
.
Over the wild hills and valleys of North Yorkshire the notorious gang of highwaywomen the Glory Girls ride, to right the injustices of society. When Major Nick Falconer is sent to unmask Glory he finds instead the very proper widow Marina Osborne.
.
Nick never expected that Mari would be so intoxicatingly beautiful or so disturbingly luscious. Determined to have her—body, soul and secrets—at any cost, Nick sets out to seduce her with a passion that inflames them both.
.
But Mari holds much deeper, darker truths than Nick could ever imagine. Despite her fierce resistance, she can’t stop her body from yearning for his touch. Can she hide her sinister past from him much longer? Or will trusting the one man she so desperately wants lead her straight to the hangman’s noose?
.
Read an excerpt.

Other related books:

Sandy M’s review of Menagerie by Lara Santiago
Erotic Sci-Fi Romance released by Siren 23 Jul 08

My biggest beef [Ed.: heh] with erotic romance most of the time is the gratuitous sex and no storyline to be found (I do have my moments when I don’t mind reading über-horniness), and there’s a lot of those out there. This book comes close to that, and while the story itself is not thought-provoking, it is full of imagination, at least giving the reader an okay “reason” for all that sex.  And for good measure it’s sci-fi, in essence, asking you to suspend disbelief for a while longer, just enough to get in that much more going on between the sheets.

Valerie is sucked up into an alien spaceship by mistake, a side effect of its inhabitants passing so close to earth when accessing a wormhole to take them home. Earthmen cannot survive in their world without sex at least every thirty days. The more the better for the men. So because the ratio is five to one in favor of men, each earthwoman must service five men to help keep them alive during the three years it takes for the ship to return near enough to Earth to return everyone within seconds of where and what they doing when they were abducted.

So before she enters the mob of men looking for a woman for his “team,” she meets Hauser and he gives her the lowdown on how the choosing will work.  They agree she’ll pick him, assuring her she’ll like the other four men she’ll soon meet. Johnny, Fraiser, Mark, and Dominick each have their own merits, of course, their own way of making love.

Valerie begins the time of her life until it’s Dominick’s turn.  He’s a huge biker-type guy and he scares her, but he’s also the one that makes her feel the most in bed and out of it. There are strict rules the aliens have laid down, but both Valerie and Nick are rule-breakers.  The number one rule is not to play favorites among the men, but her feelings begin to grow for Nick, much to her surprise, and she wants to spend her free time with him and only him, while still servicing the others, whom she also loves but just in a different way.

While this book is by no means a keeper, it amused me enough on the premise alone that I kept reading.  I have to admit that I did like the relationship between Dominick and Valerie from the beginning.  I was disappointed here and there in the dialogue and there were a few little inconsistencies in Valerie’s past, and her feelings and actions in what she’s doing in the present. I was curious how the author was going to end it all due to a certain theme that ran throughout the book, but she pulled it off it credibly enough.  In fact, I rather enjoyed that ending when they were all back on Earth after their adventurous journey.

I almost wish she’d gone with a romantic suspense with Dominick and Valerie as the hero and heroine.  They definitely could have pulled it off.

Grade: C-

Summary:

What’s a girl to do with five hot guys who need her for their sexual survival? Create a weekly schedule.

Accidentally transported to an alien spaceship, Valerie Thornhill inadvertently volunteers to be a virtual sex slave for five men.

A shortage of females and her blatant curiosity aboard the alien vessel conspire and set fate in motion. The fact that the five are sexy and attractive is helpful when she learns the term of service is three years.

Forbidden to show favoritism within her unusual household for the duration of the long trip, Valerie still can’t help falling in love with the most intriguing one of her male harem. The fact that she is apprehensive about his demeanor and overall size only heightens her desire for him.

When the aliens discover Valerie’s indiscretion, the ultimate price for her desire may jeopardize the return trip to Earth for all of them.

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of Her One Desire by Kimberly Killion
Historical Romance released by Zebra 1 Jul 08

I enjoyed this book.  The main characters are both have their crosses to bear, they do what they think should be done, right or wrong, and fall in love along the way.  I liked the storyline enough to keep reading.  There’s just something holding this book out of the keeper range for me, however.

Lizbeth Ives has finally made the decision to run away from her life as the high executioner‘s daughter.  She has written proof that Lord Hollister, an evil bastard if I’ve ever read one, is in on a conspiracy to poison King Edward IV.  Her plan is to get the letter to the Duke of Gloucester so he can save his brother.  In her rush to escape she tries to see her father one last time, but he’s in the midst of doing his job on two Scottish spies, one already dead and the other at the end of his whip.

She saves Broderick Maxwell from her father’s hands and in return she wants his protection until she reaches York and the Duke.  Though Broc is taken with the young woman, learning about her letter interests him more since he’s in England to take proof back to James III to have Scotland forge an alliance with France against England.  But on their journey feelings between them rise, and when Lizzy finds that Broc knows what he’s talking about concerning Englishmen and their politics, she agrees to go with him to Scotland, a place where she can perhaps start a new life, where people won’t fear her because of who her father is.

Lizzy is the more interesting of the two characters.  She has more baggage to carry along with her because of her father’s profession. She’s shunned by all who’ve known her her entire life, but she’s kept hope in her heart that things will one day be better. I didn’t care as much for Broc’s character because he seemed to covet what his older brother always had — the future lairdship and a beautiful betrothed.  Of course, with his brother dead, all will be his now.  It’s Lizbeth who has thrown a wrench into part of his plans.  The more he gets to know her, the more he wants her, but he has to honor his clan’s agreement to wed for strength and protection.  He vacillates too much between telling himself he won’t touch Lizzy but he does, he won’t marry her but he wants her.  He does in the end do what’s right, but it was an irritating way to get there.

The dangers they face on their journey were the best parts of the book, along with the villains this time around.  Those bastards keep throwing twists and curves that you thought the bad guys might win one time, so I had to give the author props for that. Broc’s mother is a fascinating character too, along with others in his family. I do have to say the love scenes are hot and spicy, one last plus for the book.

I vacillated myself on the grade for this book, changing it down, then up, back down and up again. This happened several times. Thank goodness I finally made up my mind. There’s no going back now.

Grade: B-

Summary:

Astride a stolen horse, encircled by the shackled arms of Broderick Maxwell, a Scottish spy escaping certain death in the Tower of London, Lizbeth Ives rides to the north, hidden by the merciful darkness. By stealth and by cunning, the daughter of the Lord High Executioner has undone her father’s cruel work, compelled to save the innocent man with her. There is no turning back—they are bound as one in his iron chains. Consumed by mortal fear, driven by passion, they disappear into the night…

A single raven follows them. Is it an omen? Or only the first of those who would capture them? They must ride on. If captured, they will face death together. But if they reach Scotland, he will claim her for his own…forever.

Read an excerpt.

Shannon C.’s review of Shades of Dark (Dock 5 Series, Book 2) by Linnea Sinclair
Science fiction romance released 29 Jul 08 by Bantam

I think I’ve just about resigned myself to the fact that I’ll never be happy as a reader. I want strong heroines. I got one in this book. I want complex plots that go in interesting directions. I got that in this book. I like when characters make difficult choices. They do in this book. But I did not love it.

Shades of Dark picks up right where Gabriel’s Ghost left off, so if you’re thinking about reading the series, this would not be a good place to start. We reconnect with Sully, space mercenary and handsome bastard as well as super-powerful telepath, and Chaz, capable and competent ship captain and former pride of the Sixth Fleet, on board their ship as they continue to stop a diabolical scheme we found out about in the first book. A monkey wrench gets thrown into their plans when it turns out that Chaz’s brother Thad has been captured.

Thad knows about Sully’s gifts, and it’s likely he will be made to talk. But much as Chaz wants to go rescue her brother, that seems just as likely to be playing into the hands of their enemies, so they agree to meet a contact they need, who brings his own brand of trouble to the crew, and Sully must deal with the fact that his powers are growing exponentially and have a definite dark side.

I didn’t like this book nearly as much as I liked Gabriel’s Ghost. While it was nice to check back in with Chaz and Sully, I never really felt the danger as well as I was meant to. I also felt a certain distance from Chaz as the book progressed, which is not a good thing in a first-person narrator, and since I wasn’t really involved in her character to any emotional degree, I ended up feeling that the first three quarters of the book dragged. I also still think the world-building is a shade derivative. Chaz in my head sounded quite a bit like Janeway from “Star Trek Voyager”, and I found myself bothered by a few minor little details, the revelation of which constitute spoilers.

That being said, after slogging through a huge part of the book, things do pick up. I really loved the introduction of Dell, who was the most fascinating character in the book. His motives were complicated, and I wish what had happened to him in the end hadn’t, because he would have been great as a redeemed hero in a future book.

The story also ends at a definite happy for now type ending, after Ms. Sinclair put her characters through the ringer. I liked that things weren’t resolved too neatly, and I found the end of the book gripping.

I do have an ARC of Hope’s Folly which, as of this writing, I intend to dive into. I know Ms. Sinclair is a writer with a lot of potential to write something I will find brilliant, and I’m hoping the POV shift from Chaz to a third person narrator will mean better things as far as my enjoyment goes. If you’re a fan of this series, definitely don’t miss this one. But for me, it wasn’t as good as I’d hoped.

Grade: C+

Summary:
Can love alone save the day? Award-winning author Linnea Sinclair returns with a vibrant interstellar thriller of romance and adventure in which two lovers are tested in the crucible of deep space, where there are only…

Before her court-martial, Captain Chasidah “Chaz” Bergren was the pride of the Sixth Fleet. Now she’s a fugitive from the “justice” of a corrupt Empire. Along with her lover, the former monk, mercenary, and telepath Gabriel Ross Sullivan, Chaz hoped to leave the past light-years behind—until the news of her brother Thad’s arrest and upcoming execution for treason. It’s a ploy by Sully’s cousin Hayden Burke to force them out of hiding, and it works.

With a killer targeting human females and a renegade gen lab breeding jukor war machines, Chaz and Sully already had their hands full of treachery, betrayal—not to mention each other. Throw in Chaz’s Imperial ex-husband, Admiral Philip Guthrie, and a Kyi-Ragkiril mentor out to seduce Sully, and not just loyalties but lives are at stake. For when Sully makes a fateful choice, changing their relationship forever, Chaz must also choose—between what duty demands and what her heart tells her she must do.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series:

Liviania’s review of Dragon Wytch (Sisters of the Moon, Book 4) by Yasmine Galenorn
Paranormal romance released by Berkley 1 Jul 08

I know a bunch of people who like Yasmine Galenorn’s Sisters of the Moon series, so I gave Witchling a try.  It didn’t really impress me as it threw together mythologies in a hodge-podge fashion but most mythology wasn’t true.  It felt like it might be easier for Galenorn to simply make up new creatures wholesale.  I found Dragon Wytch (the second in the series through Camille’s POV) more compelling.

Camille is a half-human, half-Fae witch working for the Otherworld Investigation Agency and running her own bookstore.  Her and her sisters’ halfling nature causes their powers to backfire often, and Earth was supposed to be an out of the way place to put them.  Instead, the evil Shadow Wing plots to escape his prison and take over everything – and will, unless the sisters collect the spirit seals first.

In Dragon Wytch, Camille learns of a powerful weapon she could wield and furthers her relationships with Smoky, Morio, and Trillian.  I admire the way Galenorn handles the polyamory.  Camille doesn’t waste her time angsting about liking three guys at once because she was raised in a non-monogamous society.  Smoky and Morio definitely develop their own limits with each other to make things run smoother.  Yes, they’re Camille’s relationships but the other people involved get a say.  I like it.

The only time Galenorn truly disappoints me is with her handling of a character with a mental illness.  His family put him in a posh home that will keep his condition secret.  Yes, it’s terrible that they don’t visit and feel ashamed of his condition.  But it’s good of them to find a place that obviously cares about how he’s doing, encourages family visits, and allows him to walk outside.  Camille speaks as if the Otherworld’s system is much better – madmen are allowed to wander, unless they’re a danger to others, at which point they’re put down.  Yeah, that would make her informant dead instead of in a care facility.

Galenorn came across to me as moralistic.  I also felt like she’d never been involved in the sudden mental illness of a family member, one that goes beyond what can be cared for at home.  It’s a rough situation and it’s tough to know what’s best.  Since Camille knows nothing about his family, she can shut up about how horrible they were to him.

The quest to collect all the MacGuffins seems like it could get old, but I like that Galenorn is weaving it against a larger plot.  In Dragon Wytch, Morgana seeks to unseat Titania and raise the Earthside fae court.  Trillian leaves on a spying mission to find the D’Artigo sisters’ father.  Camille, Delilah, and Menolly’s troubles are merely part of what’s going on in their world.  It’s nice to see how the girls fit into the larger picture.

This series is growing on me.  So much so, I’ve already read the next book – and it’s my favorite so far.  It’s not my favorite paranormal romance series, but the books deliver a nice dose of romance and action without getting heavy.

Grade: B-

Summary:

We’re the D’Artigo sisters: savvy–and sexy–operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. But being half-human, half-Fae short-circuits our talents at all the wrong times. My sister Delilah shapeshifts into a tabby cat whenever she’s stressed. Menolly’s a vampire who’s still getting the hang of being undead. And me? I’m Camille, a wicked-good witch, trying to juggle faulty magic, gorgeous men, and the demonic war in which we’re embroiled. Sometimes, it’s hard to know just who we can trust…

“The Equinox is coming, and mayhem rules. A crown-prince unicorn offers us a legendary gift, but it vanishes. Goblins and trolls swarm the streets of Seattle. And now Smoky, the sexiest dragon alive, decides to stake his claim–on me. Overshadowing it all, the third spirit seal surfaces and Shadow Wing’s after it. But I’ve discovered a secret that could change everything. A new power is rising–a dangerous force from the past–one that intends to restore balance to the worlds…whether we like it or not…”

No excerpt found on author’s or publisher’s site.

Other books in the series:

Sandy M’s review of Scandalous By Night (Carlisle Family, Book 4) by Barbara Pierce
Historical Romance published by St. Martin’s 29 July 08

If you’re looking for an excellent historical author, you need to read Barbara Pierce.  I have to admit the first thing that drew me to her books were the titles.  Browsing at the bookstore, the first book in the series, Wicked Under the Covers, jumped out at me from the shelf. Right next to it sat Sinful Between the Sheets. I couldn’t resist, especially after I’d also glanced at the covers. But what made me a huge fan of Ms. Pierce’s is, of course, her writing, her characters, her storylines.  All terrific and all worth the time if you’ve not yet read her.

And this book is her best work yet.  The three previous books in this series all have their own mystery to be solved, issues to resolve, and love to be conquered, but Everod, the hero, has a dark side to him that we don’t see in Soletia or Ramscar, his lifelong friends.  We find out early on that something terrible happened when Everod was a teenager and his father remarried a young, lusty woman.  When all hell breaks loose, Everod is recovering from a near-fatal dagger wound and is banished from his home and family.

Twelve years later after no contact whatsoever with any of those involved, including young Maura, niece to the new duchess, his family has invaded London, his city, his domain.  Chancing upon the now-grown-up Maura in town, his plan of revenge becomes clear to him and his seduction of the woman who helped ruin his life has begun.

Seeing Everod again after so many years brings home to Maura how she’d been used by her aunt in her duplicity against the young heir, but she loves her aunt and the past can’t be changed.  A chance meeting with the man in London only spurs him on to interfere in her life, sending her gifts that deepens her guilt, seducing her with a charm and wit that is not so much a part of Everod’s life anymore.

She finds no matter how much she protests or tries to run, she’s not immune to Everod, especially his dark side, his adventurous side, and she gets caught up in his sensual whirlwind.  All the while she must deal with her aunt who wants a marriage between Maura and Everod’s younger brother, something Maura can’t fathom now that she’s tasted what Everod as to offer.  As things heat up in the battle of wills between her aunt and her lover, Maura is caught in the middle and then her heart is broken when the man she’s come to love reveals his revenge in a most public way.

The times we’ve met Everod in the previous books, he is a rake and a cad, but he’s also fun-loving.  This new Everod is dark and exciting, and as the reasons for that darkness is slowly revealed, we begin to understand why he vacillates between revenge and desire.  You feel for him and then you curse him for his actions. You also feel for Maura once the whole truth is revealed, along with her aunt’s duplicity, the extent of which takes a devil of a turn. I enjoyed having the entire family of characters from the first three books so involved in this one, nice to catch up and see where they are in their lives.

The writing by Ms. Pierce is as rich as ever, and I’m glad to see this slight evil side of her.  That added a whole new depth to Everod and Maura’s story and made them the star of the Carlisle series.  The only thing I wanted more of was a little extra time with Everod and Maura at the end of the book.  There was such tension and distrust between them, even despite the wonderful love scenes, that I wanted to see a little more tenderness and love, more than a page or two, once everything came together for them.  Of course, it’s not totally necessary once happily ever after comes along, but that’s just a personal thing of mine.

Pick these books up at the first opportunity if you’re an historical fan.  You will not be disappointed at all. You will fall in love with each character Ms. Pierce introduces you to and you will remember their stories for some time to come.

Grade: A+

Summary:

A SINFUL SCHEME…

Even among that band of rakes known as les sauvages nobles, Lord Everod’s reputation is truly wicked. Countless willing partners have enjoyed his sensual prowess, but now one lovely innocent has his undivided attention. The alluring Miss Maura Keighly once lost Everod his family’s regard, and almost cost him his life. And no vengeance could be sweeter than the delicious seduction he has planned…

BECOMES A SCANDALOUS PURSUIT

Maura is on the verge of marrying another. Yet no sooner has she set foot among the ton than Everod makes himself known, tempting and taunting her by word and deed, filling her days and nights with illicit longing. His wanton invitation is plain, yet Maura’s passionate response blindsides them both. For the first time, Everod feels something more potent than lust. Simple surrender will never be enough; Everod must possess Maura completely. But the past cannot be so easily forgotten—and some desires are even more dangerous than revenge…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of Into the Lair (Falcon Mercenary Group, Book 2) by Maya Banks
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by Samhain 1 Jul 08

I am so loving this series. Shifters are my favorite to read and I enjoy so much the different way Ms. Banks has given us these shifters.  And the fact that they’re all alpha to the core doesn’t hurt one iota.

Ian and Braden Thomas are brothers and part of the Falcon Mercenary Group which formed at the end of the first book in the series, Into the Mist, which I also reviewed.  They, along with other members of their team, have been forced into their shifting lives when they were sprayed with a chemical compound on a prior mission.  Ian is a jaguar and Braden is a tiger, and they do everything possible to keep from shifting, including injecting themselves with a sedative when a shift is imminent.  Their current mission is to track down the sister of a deceased comrade before the man who caused their plight finds her.  From the moment they make contact with Kate Buchanan, she always seems to have the upper hand and they can’t figure out how a slip of woman can give them such trouble.  Especially when they’re only trying to help.

But Katie trusts no one.  Her brother Gabe taught her that and taught her how to survive.  She’s been on the run for a while now, trying to stay a step ahead of the brother of the man she killed.  Thinking the two men who are now after her this time work for that slim, she runs and throws at them every trick her brother ever showed her.  Even when they finally catch up with her and they explain who they are and what they want, Katie finds it too hard to trust, especially when she learns the truth about their hidden animals.  However, being back in her enemy’s hands makes her realize that Ian and Braden are the lesser of two evils.  It’s not until they both love her that the barriers come down and she finds what she’s always been looking for.

Of course, my favorite part of this books is those brothers.  Sexy as all get-out and as dominant as their inner beasts, they still have that slight sensitive side and you know they love one another.  That shows each time one of them shifts.  They want to make sure they’re far enough away from each other so they can do no harm to the other when in their animal form, and that eventually includes Katie when their feelings for her begin to change.  The love scenes are sizzling, demanding, and tender all at once, and that’s my second favorite thing in this books.

The third would be all the action, and there is loads of it.  We also get to meet the rest of the Falcon team again, including Eli and Tyana from Into the Mist. Their story isn’t totally over and there’s some lovely scenes between them here.  I’m really looking forward to Damiano’s book, Ty’s brother.  He’s the worst affected by their forced shifting, the worst tortured so far, so his book should be full of emotion, which is something Ms. Banks is excellent at.

Two down and hopefully a lot more to come.  This is one series I don’t want to miss a thing on!

Grade: A

Summary:

It was supposed to be an easy mission. But nobody told her that.

Ian and Braden Thomas return to the U.S. to extract Katie Buchanan, the sister of the teammate who betrayed them. She could very well be the key to taking down the man responsible for turning Ian and Braden into unstable cat shifters. Unfortunately, they’re not the only ones after Katie.

Katie has no intention of going quietly or of offering her trust on a silver platter. She’s got troubles of her own that don’t include two pain-in-the-ass men who claim her dead brother sent them. She’s too busy trying to stay one step ahead of Ricardo de la Cruz, the brother of a man she killed.

As the bodies pile up, Ian and Braden are only sure of one thing: Katie makes them crazy. Something about her calls to their inner predator. They both want her, but she’s made a practice of making bad decisions and trusting the wrong men. And by the time she realizes that she can trust these two warriors, it might just be too late.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of A Portrait in Time by Barbara Donlon Bradley
Time Travel Romance published by Hard Shell Word Factory 1 Jul 08

Oh, my.  What a time I had with this book.  And I’m sorry to say that I don’t mean that in the usual way when you hear that sentiment. This is another of those books I pulled out of the nearest drawer when my eReader needed some juice the other night.  I didn’t get nearly as lucky this time as I did with the prior surprise I pulled out of that drawer.  And not for the reason you might think.

I have this book, to begin with, only because it’s a time travel.  I fell in love with time travels after reading Linda Howard’s Son of the Morning years ago.  After that I scoured the internet looking for any and every one I could find.  I knew not every one I would find would be as good as the Howard.  I was willing to take that chance, though, and this book is one that didn’t pan out quite that well.

The biggest problem with the book is the errors in it.  Loads and loads of ‘em.  Sigh.  I was distracted three-quarters of the time when reading it.  I know mistakes happen, but these errors are the result of either the manuscript not being properly and thoroughly proofread or the proofreader(s) didn’t have a grasp of the English language and punctuation.  Horrible job.  Okay, I got that out of the way first thing.  Let’s talk about the story.

That part of the book is actually not bad.  Alexandra is called home to New Orleans by her grandmother, but the news is not as dire as she’d expected.  But it gives her a chance to relax and catch up, all the while grandma has other things else in mind  At a neighboring plantation something life-changing awaits Alex.

After going through their family history, Grams feels it’s time for a tour of the plantation.  When they come across a portrait, Alex is stunned to see her likeness in it.  Grandma tricks her into touching it and the next thing Alex knows is she’s not in Kansas anymore, Toto.  She’s been thrown more then 100 years in the past and has come face to face with handsome Trey Dalton.

It takes some doing, however, to get used to the man and his time.  She’s an independent 21st Century woman and living with all the constraints of a bygone era is difficult for her.  As she falls in love with Trey, though, all those things seem to diminish and life becomes easier. At least for a time.

Trey’s life is pretty simple before a beautiful, stubborn, and very odd woman invades his life.  She claims to be from the future, but even after all the things she tells him to convince him of those claims, he just can’t bring himself to believe.  He still protects her, however, and when his Aunt Rose comes up with the idea of Alexandra being his fiance because she’s an unmarried woman living in his home, he doesn’t refute the lie.

Along with Alexandra has also come more and more dangerous and threatening happenings around his property, which he blames on a former friend, who just happens to be Alexandra’s great-great-great grandfather.  That danger is stepped up a notch when Alexandra is kidnapped and his enemy’s plans are finally revealed.

While I liked the characters, the storyline ends up being run-of-the-mill that we’ve read before.  The time travel aspect works fine and both Trey and Alex do okay at their disbelief of the phenomenon, but their emotion concerning that issue and others, including the love scenes, just fell short.  I never felt totally invested in their feelings throughout the book.  I’d say that was due to a combination of the writing and all the errors that pulled me out of the story so many times.

There’s too many other variables that can happen with a book to make readers not care for certain aspects that authors and these smaller publishers just need to do a better job with things like grammar and punctuation that are more controllable.  Such oversights don’t do the reader or the author any darned good.

Grade: C-

Summary:

Trey Dalton is having a very bad day. Someone is trying to destroy his plantation, his meddlesome aunt has come to visit, and some strange woman has appeared on his doorstep spouting some nonsense about coming from the future. Alexandra Tibideaux’s day isn’t any better. After racing from California to New Orleans because of an urgent message from her grandmother, Alex learns that all Grams wanted was to tour an old plantation, where Alex finds an exact likeness of herself. When curiosity causes her to touch the portrait, she finds herself trapped in the past with a man who is far too cute and too pig-headed for her taste.

Read an excerpt. (click link on left-hand side)

Liviania’s review of Deja Demon (Confessions of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom, Book 4) by Julie Kenner
Paranormal romance released by Berkley 1 Jul 08

The third book in this series, Demons are Forever, felt a little stale to me.  Julie Kenner just reassured me that the series is not losing momentum.  Deja Demon moves full speed ahead.  As the end approached I doubted there were enough pages to wrap up the main plot, but Kenner did it.  There are still plenty of questions left to be explored in book five, Demon Ex Machina, but there’s fortunately no cliffhanger.

If you haven’t read the previous books in this series, there are some spoilers in this review.  I do my best to avoid them but I’d feel silly discussing the book without revealing a few of the earlier surprises.  Once more a demon is after Kate.  This time the demons don’t want her to wield the Sword of Caelum, with which it has been prophesied she’ll be able to kill a certain demon and his cohorts.  I spent a portion of the book wondering why the demons were going after Kate when they’d be a lot safer if they stayed away.  Luckily, the characters wondered the same thing themselves and the story eventually revealed a satisfactory reason.

Level five Demon Hunter Kate has a lot on her plate.  Her fifteen-year-old daughter wants to go patrolling for demons and her father seems inclined to indulge her.  The same father who Kate brought back to life, which she believes might have tainted both their souls.  The father her husband doesn’t know about, but he does suspect something.  Stuart has finally clued in that there’s something wrong with his marriage.  On top of everything else, Kate is in charge of the neighborhood Easter party and has a bucket full of zombie parts in the back of her van.

The pace is frantic and the subject matter dark.  Allie’s starting to understand the consequences of her parents’ occupation. Bad things happen to good people multiple times. For all that, I finished the book relaxed.  Kenner’s wit is dead-on and she intersperses encroaching evil with mundane domesticity to keep matters on an even keel.  Plus, the book seemed to be reacting to my inner criticism.  As I said in the second paragraph, I was wondering about the demons’ brains when the characters did the same.  Later I wondered when Cutter, a favorite character of mine, would show just before Kate reminded Allie he was away at a martial arts competition.

In addition to the plot being very satisfying, so was the relationship drama.  Eric/David knows Kate loves Stuart but is not willing to give her up.  But though she still loves him Kate won’t be unfaithful to her husband and suspects something is wrong.  Allie wants to spend more time with her father but doesn’t want to hurt her stepfather.  Stuart’s spending less time campaigning and more time connecting with his family.    He’s a great guy and it’s satisfying to see him finally working out that the problems in his marriage may not be his fault.

Demons Are Forever felt like a stumble, but Deja Demon is a complete recovery.  It’s funny and scary, romantic and sad, and ends on a very strong note.  We’ve learned more about Kate’s past and her future looks like it’s going to be very interesting.  I’m ready to see where Julie Kenner is going to take this series next.

Grade: A-

Summary:

Between attending gala fundraisers for her husband’s political campaign, training her teenage daughter to wield a crossbow and a stiletto, pottytraining a toddler, and her increasingly complicated personal life, Kate Connor hardly has time to prepare for the impending chaos of a neighborhood Easter party that has her enslaved to dying hundreds of hard-boiled eggs.

Keeping the local kiddos in line will take all of Kate’s skills as a mother and demon hunter, just when she’ll need them the most. The High Demon Goramesh has returned to San Diablo-this time with a full-blown army of the undead and a powerful demonic ally. Once again, it’s up to Kate to save the world. Good thing she can multi-task…

Other books in the series:

Connie’s Quick Quack review of Nightwalker (Dark Days, Book 1) by Jocelynn Drake
Urban fantasy released by Eos 29 Jul 08

Mira has been a vampire a long time. She is a bit of a rebel but enforces the rules in her little part of the world. She is different than other vampires as she has an elemental mastery over fire. Then a vampire hunter comes to town and he and Mira must make an uneasy pact to try to stop the naturi from breaking a seal and taking over. 

Mira must contact her old mentor and her maker to help defeat the naturi. No one is sure who to trust and no one is exactly what they seem.

You will find a few interesting characters but not necessarily one you will feel compelled to follow. I was compelled to finish the book after dragging along but would gladly follow the characters I liked by word of mouth.

Grade: D+

Summary:

For centuries Mira has been a nightwalker–an unstoppable enforcer for a mysterious organization that manipulates earth-shaking events from the darkest shadows. But elemental mastery over fire sets her apart from others of her night-prowling breed…and may be all that prevents her doom.The foe she now faces is human: the vampire hunter called Danaus, who has already destroyed so many undead. For Mira, the time has come to hunt…or be hunted.

But in a dimension just beyond the world’s boundaries, a banished race stirs dangerously, hungry for power, for domination, for vengeance. Already a protective seal has been breached: already blood flows like a river through the world’s great cities.

And only the collaboration of two sworn enemies can save humankind…and its feral brethren.

Read an excerpt.

Liviania’s review of Red Seas Under Red Skies (Gentleman Bastards, Book 2) by Scott Lynch
Fantasy released by Bantam Spectra 29 July 08

I picked up The Lies of Locke Lamora on a whim, shortly before I left for college last year. It had an alliterative title, shiny pink cover, and the back promised thieves. (Note: No wonder my book shopping habits are bad for my wallet. That’s not strenuous criteria.) The story within was fast-paced, intelligent, and funny, so I eagerly picked up the sequel once it was available in paperback. I only decided to write a review once I saw Shannon C. had reviewed the first.

Locke makes a fabulous main character. He’s got a smart mouth, arrogance, audacity, and a brain that allows him to somehow survive. He’s also got Jean Tannen, a fellow thief and fierce fighter to guard his back. Both were members of the Gentlemen Bastards in Camorr, but now they’re in Tal Verrar and planning a heist at Requin’s Sinspire (think mob-controlled Vegas, in medieval times – yes, it is that awesome.) Unfortunately, one of Requin’s political rivals, the Archon, the military leader, interferes. He wants Locke and Jean to help gain the upper hand on the Priori (like the Senate) by causing a war.  This is where the pirates come in.

This book contains the same wit as the first, though you might not want to repeat some of the lines that are making you laugh to curious onlookers.  Lynch is rather fond of “fuck” and the forms thereof.  On the other hand, Red Seas Under Red Skies showcases Locke and Jean in a very different situation from The Lies of Locke Lamora.  This time they aren’t two steps ahead of all the other plotters; in fact, they’re often two steps behind.  They’re coming up with solutions on the fly to keep their lives and make the score.  I enjoyed getting to see this side of the characters.

There’s also a touch of romance in this one.  I don’t want to say too much about her, but Jean enters a relationship about halfway (or two-thirds of the way) through the book.  The characters have great chemistry and it’s balanced well with Jean’s relationship with Locke. There’s also some great humor with the poor unfortunates who have to room next to the lovebirds.  In other news on the romance front, the end promises that Sabetha will finally appear in the third book.  We’ve been tantalized with hints about Locke’s former comrade and only love for two books, so I cannot wait to see her.

Of course, that’s not my only reason to say I’ll return for the third book.  So far the Gentlemen Bastards is a fast-paced, well-plotted, humorous fantasy.  The books have contained satisfying capers within and intriguing overarching plots involving the Bondsmagi and Sabetha.  The only downside is I have to wait for the third.  How it’s going to top the awesome pirate crew, I don’t know.

Grade: A-

Read more reviews of the Gentlemen Bastards series by following its tag.

Summary:

Locke Lamora, the erstwhile Thorn of Camorr, and Jean Tannen have fled their home city and the wreckage of their lives. But they can’t run forever, and after escaping Camorr they decide to head for the richest and most difficult target on the horizon– the city-state of Tal Verrar. And the Sinspire.

The Sinspire is the ultimate gambling house . . . exclusive, luxurious, and fiendishly guarded. No thief has ever survived an attempt to rob it. Naturally, Locke plans to take it for a fortune, in his biggest gamble yet.

But this perfect crime may have to wait.

Someone else in Tal Verrar wants the Gentlemen Bastards’ expertise, and they’re not gentle in compelling Locke and Jean to devote their talents to an even more unlikely and suicidal proposition– masquerading as pirates on the high seas. Fine work for a pair of landlubbing thieves barely able to tell one end of a ship from the other!

Locke and Jean find their abiding friendship tested to its very limits in this strange new world of lurching wooden decks, brutal ship-to-ship action, and feuding pirate captains. But not even their sojourn as buccaneers can keep the Gentlemen Bastards from their much-desired reckoning with all the powers that have conspired to interrupt their lives, including the last people in the world any sane person would want to offend… the Bondsmagi of Karthain.

Read an excerpt (click on the widget and keep paging down – you eventually make it to the excerpt).

Shannon C.’s review of A Desperate Journey by Debra Parmley
Historical western romance eBook released by Samhain Publishing 22 Jul 08

The premise of this book is fascinating. A woman goes on a journey to recover her son, who has been kidnapped, and meets a dark, mysterious man who may or may not have her best interests at heart. Together they weather storms, both literal and figurative, and find happiness. Unfortunately, in A Desperate Journey, the premise did not hold up very well and I was left with a mediocre romance featuring a heroine I began to actively dislike. 

The premise goes like this. Sally married a man on a wagon train for… God only knows what reason. And like all ex-husbands that are not the hero, he turned out to suck. One day, Sally returns to her farm in Kansas (woot, home state represent!) and finds that Luke has taken off with her seven-year-old son. She enlists the help of the leader of the wagon train she used to head west before she married Luke, and, along with her three-year-old daughter, she takes off after him. Along the way, she meets Rob Truman, a man who strikes her as terribly dangerous. Rob is looking for Luke for his own reasons, and due to several extenuating circumstances, he finds himself joining Sally and the two immediately fight an attraction to each other.

Most of my issues with the book came from Sally herself. I really hate the ex is a villain trope in romance novels, because, as was the case here, the ex isn’t given enough depth for us to understand how come a perfectly sensible woman would fall for such an obvious loser. I wanted some examples of Luke’s charm, so that I could point to them and say, ‘Yeah, that’s why she was into him.’ But none were provided and I was left feeling that Sally really wasn’t very bright. This was not helped by the fact that she did really stupid things in order to advance the plot. Taking a three-year-old on a mad dash like the one she took seemed a bit silly, and the thing that eventually brings Rob to travel with Sally came about because of something she did. I would have liked to have had Sally fight down her panic for a little bit of forethought before she went tearing off.

Rob is your typical mopey hero. Revenge has eaten up his life, and he wants to get back at Luke. He also doesn’t trust women, but he can’t help but admire Sally’s spirit even while he wants to pat her on the head and chastize her for getting her fool self into trouble. In a word, he is a lot like a lot of heroes out there, so I found him mostly boring.

The secondary characters all line up neatly into their roles from central casting. The most interesting character in the whole book, sadly for me, is one who ends up dead at the climax of the story, and everyone else either bored or annoyed me. Of particular annoyance was Carolyn, Sally’s daughter, who is supposed to be three, but is way too cheerful and cutesy and precocious. She is a Stepford child if ever there was one.

I really wanted to like this book. I love the idea of tortured heroines in general, and this story in particular had a lot of potential. It was just so boring, and featured characters I disliked, that I’m afraid I can’t recommend it.

Grade: D

Summary:

Sometimes a journey of the heart is the most dangerous journey of all.

Sally Wheeler learned the hard way that men aren’t always what they seem. Now she will stop at nothing to track down the bigamist husband who stole her child and abandoned her on their failing Kansas farm. Even if it means traveling with a handsome maverick who could change her mind about men.

Free after spending seven years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, Rob Truman aims to balance the scales of justice on the man who sent him there—Luke Wheeler. His quest doesn’t include falling for the one woman who will lead him to his quarry, but Sally’s courage in the face of her fear touches his soul.

Through dangerous days and nights on the trail, neither Sally nor Rob can ignore their growing feelings for each other. Yet both are haunted by the poor judgment that, in the past, led them down the wrong road. Love—and trust—are luxuries neither of them can afford.

But as the bullets start flying, love may be all that saves them—and Sally’s son.

Warning:This title contains ornery mules and ornery men. Get ready to see how the West was really won – one relationship at a time!

Read an excerpt.

Lynne Connolly’s reviews of the Throne of Judar Trilogy by Olivia Gates and The Billionaires’ Brides Series by Sandra Marton
Contemporary romances released by Silhouette Desire & Harlequin Presents

I’ve been in bed for a week with the flu for the past week, and all I could do was read. So, being woolly-headed, I went for Harlequin, my comfort reads of choice.

Apart from my fave Sara Cravens, I discovered Olivia Gates’ Throne of Judar trilogy, and Sandra Marton’s The Billionaires’ Brides series. Totally preposterous plots, but if you go with them, you find interesting characters and situations that the authors work hard for you to believe in. 

Throne of Judar Trilogy by Olivia Gates

The Gates trilogy — Throne of Judar, consisting of The Desert Lord’s Baby, The Desert Lord’s Bride, and The Desert King — is delicious, all three, but with plots I’d usually avoid like the plague.

I’m not fond of children in my romance books, but the baby in the first book was necessary to the plot, acted its age and didn’t take up too much page time. It was also a Secret Baby, but in this book, it worked.

The writing is lush and romantic, the hot scenes tended towards the purple, but worked in the context and I found that, for me, the books improved as the series went on, mainly because of the quality of the writing. As a writer myself, I love reading writers who “come on” in their writing, and I believe Ms Gates really does.

For the Throne of Judar, B-, mainly for the purple in the sex scenes, and the fact that I couldn’t always work out what exactly was going on in them.

Overall Grade: B-

	The Desert Lord’s Baby by Olivia Gates Contemporary romance released by Silhouette Desire 13 May 08 Summary: There was nowhere Carmen could hide from this prince of Judar. No stone he wouldn’t turn to find her, no wall he couldn’t tear down. Nothing would stop Farooq Aal Masood from claiming the mother of his baby. She had betrayed him. And she would pay. In his bed. As his wife…until he tired of her. And though Carmen professed to love him, that it was all a misunderstanding, well…Farooq would never fall for her lies again! Read an excerpt.
	The Desert Lord’s Bride by Olivia Gates Contemporary romance released by Silhouette Desire 8 Jul 08 Summary: The future of Judar rests with Farah Beaumont, a foreigner who wants nothing to do with her heritage. And to secure his country’s peace, prince Shehab Aal Masood must make her his bride-by any means necessary. Hiding his identity and sweeping Farah off her feet is a start. But the joyful, seemingly innocent Farah is nothing like he expects. And Shehab’s calculated seduction soon becomes an affair too powerful to control…. Read an excerpt (scroll down).
	The Desert King by Olivia Gates Contemporary romance released by Silhouette Desire 9 Sep 08 Summary: Their farce of a marriage will save his kingdom. And in return for an heir, Kamal Aal Masood will give his new wife Aliyah anything-except the trust and intimacy she desperately wants. When Kamal abruptly ended their blistering affair years ago, he vowed Aliyah would never ensnare him again. Only a fool allowed his actions to be ruled by his heart. And only a woman like Aliyah would dare to challenge a king in a passionate battle of wills…. Read an excerpt (scroll down).

—

The Billionaires’ Brides Series by Sandra Marton

Sandra Marton’s Billionaires’ Brides series is about three European princes finding their American princesses, and consists of The Italian Prince’s Pregnant Bride, The Greek Prince’s Chosen Wife, and The Spanish Prince’s Virgin Bride. (I cringe at the titles, why do they do that?)

Again, there is that pattern to the stories, but I found that interesting, to see what a good writer can do with a restrictive format. Each book conformed, but the characters in the books treated their situations differently.

Sandra Marton is an experienced Harlequin writer, and her books are really easy to read. That kind of skill isn’t in itself easy to acquire, and I found myself admiring it while I was reading. Scenes and situations flow naturally, and it’s only when you stop reading, you start to realise how daft the whole set-up really is. But it doesn’t matter, because Marton takes you into her world and lets you play there. Beautifully written and constructed, with the characters making the difference between believability and preposterous over-the-topness, they were all great reads.

	The Italian Prince’s Pregnant Bride by Sandra Marton Contemporary romance released by Harlequin Presents 1 Aug 07 Summary: It was payday for Prince Nicolo Barbieri. The Italian aristocrat’s negotiations to take over Manhattan’s SCB bank were about to bear fruit. But he wasn’t expecting Aimee Black, granddaughter of the bank’s current owner– who was pregnant with Nicolo’s baby! Nicolo felt duty bound to marry Aimee and give his child his name. But Aimee had other ideas about surrendering herself to this arrogant foreigner, who surely didn’t love her! No excerpt available.
	The Greek Prince’s Chosen Wife by Sandra Marton Contemporary romance released by Harlequin Presents 1 Sep 07 Summary: Ivy Madison claims she’s pregnant with Prince Damian Aristedes’ baby, but he’s never even met her! Is she just another gold digger, exploiting his wish for a son and heir? But Ivy is expecting Damian’s child — as a surrogate mother! The arrogant Greek is furious, but he’s not about to let Ivy go. After all, he missed the pleasure of bedding her to conceive his baby… No excerpt available.
	The Spanish Prince’s Virgin Bride by Sandra Marton Contemporary romance released by Harlequin Presents 1 Oct 07 Summary: Prince Lucas Reyes is angry. His grandfather is forcing him into marriage with penniless Alyssa McDonough who’s pretending she’s untouched by any man. But the intense sexual chemistry between them tells him otherwise.—Lucas’s fiery royal blood is roused! He’ll force Lyssa to go to Spain with him, where he can get their marriage annulled. Because he’d swear that she’s pure, uninhibited mistress material, and never a virgin bride! Read an excerpt.

—

Although one series (the Gates) was a Desire, and the other a Presents/Modern (Modern in the UK, Presents in the States), I didn’t actually find a lot of difference in the heat level. Although the Martons had one less sex scene per book, it was more explicit than the Gates ones.

These books are really hard to write, and very easy to read, which is why many women find them perfect in certain situations. On long journeys, ill in bed, or just looking for a read to accompany a break and a cup of coffee, they’re excellent.

I’ve tried a number of times to write for Harlequin, and so I know how hard it is. Taking a restrictive set of requirements (not a formula, because you can do what you want within those requirements) and writing a believable, enjoyable story within them is so much harder than writing whatever you want and letting your imagination dictate the story completely.

Actually, I have a couple of submissions in right now. Just sayin’.

Gwen’s review of Rescue Me by Cherry Adair, Lora Leigh, and Cindy Gerard
Contemporary action romantic suspense anthology released by St. Martin’s 1 Jul 08

This was a cute anthology of three damsels in distress and the alpha heroes who saved them.  I’ll keep the reviews short – this was a good book and definitely one to get if you want to test any of these authors out.  Not the best work by a couple of them, but not bad all things considered. 

Tropical Heat by Cherry Adair
(Very cool author site – too easy to get lost browsing it and looking at all the hot men, reading the bios.)

This is part of the loosely related world Adair created for all her wonderful heroes.  Some of the books are paranormal, some aren’t.  This story contained a cliché or two (or three).  There was believable love and lust between the H & H, but the story was uninspiring.  And I normally love Cherry Adair.

Grade: C+

Summary:

When Dr. Elizabeth Goodall is kidnapped and held captive in the African jungle, her only hope for rescue is counterterrorist operative Sam Pelton. But to escape from a brutal warlord, they must confront a powerful attraction that could prove more treacherous than the wilds of the jungle…

Read an excerpt. (Click on “Missions” (books), click on “Rescue Me”, click on “Read Excerpt”.)

Atlanta Heat by Lora Leigh

This is the story of Macey’s HEA – Durango Team’s communications expert from Leigh’s SEALs books.  The beginning couple of chapters were emotionally confusing – I didn’t feel like the hero was giving the heroine what she needed to feel safe.  Nevertheless, that worked out, and the story had a lovely ending.  As with nearly all of Leigh’s books, it had some nice action and very hot sensual scenes (no buttsecks).  This was a good SEALs story.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Em Delaney has wanted bad-boy Macey March for as long as she can remember. But as a Navy SEAL under the command of her overprotective godfather, Macey is off-limits to Em…until a kidnapping attempt forces them to share tantalizingly close quarters-and a forbidden desire.

Read an excerpt.

Desert Heat by Cindy Gerard

This was the best of the lot.  I felt like both H and H were very nicely developed and had good chemistry.  I came away with an “awww” feeling and felt it was a very cute story, with good action (even if the villains were a little too hapless), and a good ending.  It was a nice romance and isn’t that why we’re here?

Grade: B+

Summary:

Assistant D.A. Elena Martinez never wanted to fall for police detective Seth King. When they are teamed up on a charity hike in the Grand Canyon, however, their chemistry sizzles under the desert sun. But a vengeful drug lord is determined not to let them survive the canyon with their lives-and love-intact…

No excerpt available.

This book was a nice palate cleanser from all the paranormal I’ve been reading lately.  A nice change of pace and the stories went quickly.  There was some steam, some love, and nary a shapeshifter or psychic in sight.  I recommend this anthology for anyone needing quick action romance reads with some steamy scenes.  Not the best examples of each author’s work, but good nevertheless.

Overall Grade: B

Lawson’s review of My Lord and Spymaster (The Spymaster Series, Book 2) by Joanna Bourne
Historical romance released by Berkley Sensation 1 Jul 08

With many words of praise for The Spymaster’s Lady, Bourne’s second book this year, My Lord and Spymaster, matches Lady in terms of characterization, style and use of dialogue. What’s different is the setting and issues the spies need to deal with. There are some appearances by some characters from Lady as well, in Doyle and Adrian, which leads me attempt to say the time of this book sometime after 1808, as there’s mention of Doyle’s daughter causing trouble in Spain for Napoleon.

Ok, so after some surfing around the author’s blog I found that it’s set in 1811. Some other surfing lead to finding pictures of people (famous and not so) that look like the characters. Adrian’s looks a bit like David Tennant to me. . . but I think that’s a pondering for another day.

The story opens with Jess Whitby and Doyle hiding in an alley waiting for Sebastian Kennett so that Jess can pick his pockets and find out if he is the traitor called Cinq. She’s hoping to incriminate someone else, as her father is currently being held as a suspected Cinq by British Intelligence on Meeks Street. Jess hopes the scheme will work, as Sebastian comes down the street drunk. Instead a gang comes out of the woodwork and tries to kidnap Jess, and though rather inebriated, Sebastian is able to fend them off and takes Jess back to his ship.

Though incoherent due to a head injury, Sebastian falls quick and hard for Jess, until Adrian, who had been with Sebastian during the attack, lets Jess’ last name out. Sebastian had been the one to turn over the majority of the evidence against her father. Since people are after Jess, most likely hired by Cinq (as Jess and Adrian both believe her father is innocent) she is ensconced in Sebastian’s house for protection.

As Jess tries to clear her father’s name, she starts to fall for Sebastian one day at a time as he wears down her resolve with a well planned seduction. Jess stumbles her way through London gathering all sorts of evidence and doing her best to avoid being caught, all while using her tricks of the trade (picking pockets, locks, burgling and jumping off roofs) she learned as a young poor urchin in East London.

The characterizations of Jess, Sebastian, Adrian and even Cinq’s motivations are so well layered, it took my breath away. I spent as much time thinking about these characters, their motivations and their actions I think I could probably write a dissertation on everything that came out of it. Well, maybe not that long, but tackling some analysis may make this review a bit long, so dear reader, you have been warned.

Sebastian is first, because he’s a bit less complex than Jess. Sebastian had not the best childhood, as he’s the bastard son of an earl, who made enough money in shipping to buy his father’s house from him. He was saved at the age of eight by his aunt Eunice, who lives with him, and given the chance to make something of himself. Though he’s a master trader, over time he’s become an agent for British Intelligence. Though Sebastian does tend to see the world in black and white, with Jess he easily accepts the shades of grey and pursues her even though he’s trying to put away her father for treason. As Adrian slowly convinces him of Josiah Whitby’s innocence, he falls harder for Jess and takes her foibles in stride to make her his woman.

Jess is far more complex. Though she’s 21, she’s experienced the world’s harsh realities, she is still a bit of an idealist and seems to walk through life with blinders on. She’d had to sell herself to the leader of London’s underworld at the age of eight, she’d killed a few men, had her sweetheart taken from her and redesigned her father’s company accounting system by the age of sixteen. Talented in the ways of the underworld, but raised by her father to try to be some semblance of a lady.

What Jess is though, is a woman with a child’s heart. She doesn’t see the world through rose colored glasses but she has a very defined view of what is black and white, which is different from Sebastian’s. How she behaves in trying to clear her father’s name and getting evidence shows she really doesn’t think, or that she’s afraid to think. Though she is brilliant, with the accounting system, fluency in multiple languages and the running of her father’s shipping business, she has a huge lack of common sense and perception of her personal safety. There are instances of her risking herself because she just does things without thinking of the possible consequences.

Though this is well founded as a character trait of hers from when she was a child, one would think that she had learned to take greater care with her well being. The realization is though, she’s always really had to fend for herself. She’s loyal to a great fault, as evidenced in the things she’ll do to try to clear her father’s name, but really no one has been there to care for her. They always seem to leave, her father (when she’s a child and later in conducting his shipping business before she’s involved), Adrian (he was with Jess and her father in Russia for a few years), her mother’s death, her sweetheart and probably countless other important or not important people in her life.

She inspires loyalty in caring in others though, which leads to Sebastian’s infatuation with her, Adrian’s fear of the loss of her good opinion, and her protection by Lazarus, king of the underworld, even though she has a reckless abandon with her own life in trying to fulfill her goals to complete her ends. I understood Jess, but I can’t particularly say that I liked or really respected her. Bourne’s characterization of Jess though, slowly filling in the backstory and peeling away the layers of her bravado and showing the vulnerability underneath everything is what made the story extraordinary.

So Jess I understood, Sebastian I loved and Adrian I adore to no end and I can’t wait for his story. I’d like to see what happens to Lazarus in the end, for he’s got something in store for him as well, but Adrian was wonderful and he will make a spectacular hero when his time comes. Though, if Adrian and the Intelligence Service are trying to convict or acquit Jess’ father, with the amazing amount of sources that Jess is able to help gather, some questions are never asked. If Josiah is Cinq, is he in England when those packets of information go missing? Who is his connection in those higher circles that could give him access to that sensitive information? Two things that are never brought up, unless they have already been asked and answered off the pages of the book.

The nuances of plot and story that takes these characters to the end of this story show Bourne’s writing is going to greater heights, and though I didn’t enjoy some parts, I can’t give this book any lower grade than I have due to the exceptional writing style, characterization, and historical feeling. I love a book that really makes me think and use those analytical skills in many different ways.

Grade: A-

Read more at the Spymasters series tag.

A daring beauty, she was infamous for taking chances. . .

Raised as a poor but cunning pickpocket, Jess Whitby may have grown into a wealthy young woman, but now she must once aga rely on her guile. Her father’s been wrongly accused of selling secrets to Napoleon, and he’s going to hang-unless Jess finds the real traitor in the London underworld. She never dreamed her search would begin by waking up naked in a rude captain’s bed. Or how little she’d mind. . .

Now she’ll risk everything for love.

When Captain Sebastian Kennett prevents a kidnapping on the London docks, he takes the headstrong would-be victim home. He’s infatuated with her courageous spirit. Shes enthralled by his commanding strength and the sexy spark in his eyes. Then she discovers something else about the spellbinding seaman: he could be the traitor she’s hunting, the man whose next move could determine her father’s fate-and her future as well.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox
Contemporary Paranormal Romance released by Love Spell 29 Jul 08

This is a cute book. It has its moments.  Yeah, there’s a but.  I tried to let that “but” go, not pay any attention to it whenever possible.  Sigh.  Not even that helped.

Lizzie Brown is turning 30 and her world gets turned upside down.  She’s about to meet the maternal grandmother she’s never known, something she’s always wanted.  However, Grandma Gertie isn’t quite what Lizzie expected.  She wears leather and rides a hog.  And she’s a witch.  To top it off, Gertie tells Lizzie she’s a demon slayer and that’s when all hell breaks loose. Demons are invading her home and she’s tossing around magic like she’s done it all her life.

Running for their lives, Lizzie and grandma, along with Lizzie’s dog Pirate, who she can now communicate with, end up with Gertie’s witch friends where Lizzie finds more trouble than she can handle.  And this is where the “buts” come in for me.  But this is a different “but”! — let’s talk about the hero first.

Dimitri is the typical hero, tall, dark, broad shouldered, honorable, and the most handsome man Lizzie’s ever seen.  He’s also a griffin.  And her protector.  Grandma and her cronies, however, advise Lizzie not to trust him.  Thank god she doesn’t listen to the old biddies.  Though he is keeping a little something from her during their time together, he’s a sensitive man and his heart is in the right place.  And I didn’t like any of the old biddies.  This is definitely where the “but” comes into play.

Lizzie is a preschool teacher, a good person.  She’s honest and wants honesty in a relationship.  From the moment she meets her grandmother and her friends, they do nothing but stonewall her, lie to her, and treat her pretty shitty.  When reading those scenes, and there’s a lot of them, all I got was negativity vibes the whole time.  Oh, there’s times when one of the cronies will smile or do something to help Lizzie out very grudgingly, but those were few and far between.

I can deal with grudging respect and a surly attitude from a character or two, but nearly every character in this book acts this way.  And I got tired of it.  Even Lizzie’s mother makes and appearance an she’s no better than the rest of them when it comes to Lizzie.  I don’t care how much they say they love her. Show her!  And then act like it!  The only one who ever did was Dimitri, and then when his secret comes out, Lizzie walks away from him faster than anything. But she sticks with her grandmother and those crazy friends.  Sorry, it should have been the other way around.

And it’s all too bad because the writing is good, the humor is great, the idea is terrific, and the hero and heroine go well together and I liked them.   I also liked one or two secondary characters.  There’s a couple of werewolves who were stand-up folks and it’s too bad we didn’t get more of them.  Even Pirate, Lizzie’s dog, is a hell of a lot better than Lizzie’s family or her new so-called friends.  He’s always glad to see her if she’s been gone for a while and he lets her know it.

So my “but” is there’s too much negativity.  Even with a dire situation there can be some levity, there can be more honest characters than one or two, affection can be expressed in better ways.  Grandma and the biddies can learn a lot from Pirate.  At least he’s genuine.

Grade: C

Summary:

Straight-laced preschool teacher, Lizzie Brown, never lies, never cusses, and doesn’t really care much for surprises. When her long lost Grandma Gertie shows up on her doorstep on a neon pink Harley Davidson wearing a “Kiss My Asphalt” t-shirt and hauling a carpet bag full of Smuckers jars filled with road kill magic, Lizzie doesn’t think her life could get any stranger. That is, until her hyper-active terrier starts talking and an ancient demon decides to kill her from his perch on the back of her toilet.

Lizzie learns she’s a demon slayer, fated to square off with the devil’s top minion in, oh about two weeks. Sadly, she’s untrained, unfit and under attack. Grandma’s gang of seventy-something biker witches promises to whip Lizzie into shape in no time, as long as she joins them out on the road. But Lizzie wants nothing to do with all this craziness. She simply wants her normal life back. When she accidentally botches the spell meant to protect her, she only has one choice – trust the utterly delicious but secretive man who claims to be her protector.

Dimitri Kallinikos has had enough. Cursed by a demon centuries ago, his formerly prominent clan has dwindled down to himself and his younger twin sisters, both of whom are now in the coma that precedes certain death. To break the curse, he must kill the demon behind it. Dimitri needs a slayer. At long last, he’s found Lizzie. But how do you talk a girl you’ve never met into going straight to Hell? Lie (and hope she forgives you). Dimitri decides to pass himself off as Lizzie’s fated protector in order to gain her trust and guide her towards this crucial mission. But will his choice to deceive her cost them their lives, or simply their hearts?

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of Seducing Mr. Darcy by Gwyn Cready
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by Pocket 29 Jul 08

I like the idea of this book. I mean, think about it. What would you do if you were thrown into your favorite book, suddenly face to face with that hero you’ve drooled over and dreamt about for quite sometime now? I know I’d probably be doing what the heroine of this book did. Several times, in fact. But, of course, things don’t go all that smoothly for her after the deed is done and that’s where the book hits a bump in the road even amidst all the fun goings-on.

Flip Allison is truly an every-girl. She’s divorced from a selfish jerk of a husband, has girlfriends she has fun with, has a job she loves and wants to advance in, is attracted to the new English professor at the university where she works and bumbles her first encounter with him, is just one of those regular gals just like you and me.

Things change for her when she goes for a massage and meets Madam K. When told she can imagine herself in her favorite book during the massage, Flip takes a sharp left and ends up with a starring role in the pages of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice when she was supposed to be cavorting with a Venetian. She meets all the major characters except one, the one that matters to the hero of the book, which is probably just as well since she and Darcy end up doing the nasty for all to see. And several do see.

But it’s not until Flip awakens from her massage nap and gets a glimpse of the book first at her book club and then of a first edition that the ramifications of her actions hit her between the eyes. The only person she knows of who can help her is the man she’d like to make a connection with, but she bungled even that.

Magnus Knightly knows anything and everything about Pride and Prejudice, so when he discovers his second edition has scenes that appear out of the blue, he’s out to get his hands around Flip’s neck until she rights this incredulous wrong. But to his amazement the story she tells him is true because the next thing he knows he’s playing pool with Darcy and finds himself and Flip in the middle of tragedy in this beautiful Austen book.

I really liked Magnus. He’s actually the best part of the book for me. I especially enjoyed the scene when he runs Flip’s ex in circles and ends it all by kissing Flip, along with a searing touch, that scorches them both. He comes to Flip’s rescue several times throughout the story and each time I fell harder and harder for him.

The only thing I have a bone to pick with is Flip’s ex and his flavor of the moment. There’s just too much of them. I know why they’re there to begin with, but I could have done with a little less of them, especially when they end up running around the same pages of the same book as Flip and Magnus, with the ending of that journey being way too abrupt, making it seem like maybe they shouldn’t have been there in the first place. But overall I enjoyed the storyline and the characters, especially Flip’s girlfriends.

You don’t have to have read Pride and Prejudice to enjoy this book, to know what’s happening at any given time. I’ve never even picked up the book to look at it and still had fun with this unusual and fun jaunt through its pages.

Grade: B

Summary:

Mr. Darcy just isn’t Flip Allison’s style. She prefers novels that include hot sex on the bathroom sink to the mannerly high-tension longing of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. That is, until she pays a visit to Madame K, who promises a therapeutic massage with an opportunity to “Imagine Yourself in Your Favorite Book.” Somehow on the way to a sizzling sink top session with a Venetian Adonis, Flip lands right in the middle of Regency England–and dangerously close to handsome Mr. Darcy. So close, in fact, that she discovers you can’t always judge a book by its cover.

Read an excerpt.

Shannon C.’s review of Accidentally Undead (Accidental Friends, Book 2) by Dakota Cassidy
Paranormal romance released by Berkley Trade 1 Jul 08

I have sentimental warm fuzzies toward Dakota Cassidy. When she was writing ebooks, she was the first author I found and the one that sold me on the idea of ebooks in the first place. So I’m glad she’s finally doing stuff with Berkley. While romantic comedies aren’t generally my thing, Ms. Cassidy’s characters act like normal people and even talk like normal people, which I really liked. While this second book in her Accidental series is flawed, I still recommend it, especially to those of you who like funnier fare. (I’m looking at you, Laura J.)

Nina Blackman, former Bobbie-Sue cosmetics consultant, now dental hygienist, was working on a patient one day when he reacted badly to the anesthesia she administered. He bit her hand, drawing blood, and now Nina’s a vampire. The man responsible is Gregori Statleon, and Nina is determined that she’s going to make him fix her.

I liked Nina as a character even if she grated on my nerves. She’s mouthy and funny, and she reacts to her status as newbie vampire with the kind of outraged horror I think most of us would be feeling if it were us. It takes her a long time to trust Gregori, and we get a glimpse into her childhood that justifies this. However, after a while, I felt her turnaround was dragged out a bit, and it takes a bit of an over-the-top scenario to truly throw Greg and Nina together.

Greg is less developed as a character. He was a nice guy, though he didn’t put up with Nina’s crap. I thought he went above and beyond the call of duty for her a time or two, but otherwise I’m not sure he’s the sort of hero I would remember. That said, I did enjoy his encounters with Nina, and I thought they did have enough chemistry to convince me of an HEA.

I loved Nina’s conversations with her friends, Marty and Wanda, and I think that Wanda’s book will be fun to read. I especially liked the fact that Wanda was a romance novel reader who threw around words like HEA in everyday conversation, much to Nina’s disgust.

The actual plot is mostly about Nina’s coming to terms with being a vampire and growing to realize how much she needs the people in her life. I thought the parts where that didn’t happen dragged out a bit sometimes. That being said, the writing in this second book was tighter than in the first book.

While this book isn’t perfect, I did enjoy it, and there have been enough teasing glimpses of Wanda that I really want her story.

Grade: B-

Summary:
Nina always loved the nightlife.

It’s a lousy first day on the job for dental assistant Nina Blackman when a patient, loopy from the anesthesia, bites her. At least he was cute. But for real drama she can’t beat the next morning. Nina wakes up with a set of razor sharp fangs, bionic vision, super sonic hearing, and a taste for blood. There must be a good explanation. There is. It’s her patient, Greg Statleon.

She just never expected to be the nightlife.

A visit to his Long Island castle hardly results in a cure. Greg claims there isn’t one. Unfortunately, Nina isn’t wild about her lifestyle change ­or the danger that goes along with it. She’s determined to prove this infuriating vampire wrong. It’s a shame he’s so irresistible. It’s a bigger shame that he’s dead. On the other hand, they’re perfect for each other ­if Nina’s willing to commit to one man for eternity.

Read an excerpt here

Sandy M’s review of Gentlemen Behaving Badly (Pleasure Emporium, Book 2) by Michelle Marcos
Historical Romance released by St. Martin’s 1 Jul 08

On the whole I liked this book. However, there were a couple of places that I got a little irritated with the hero, and I always hate being irritated with the hero. He takes responsibility for the worst of the lot, and though he redeems himself eventually, once irritation sets in it’s hard to get of it.

Now, I realize that Salter in the beginning didn’t have any feelings yet for Mina, though he thought her unusual and interesting, but I still felt his treatment of her during the beginning stages of his investigation was uncalled for, indelicate, unfeeling, whatever. He even had a minor transgression after his feelings began to grow for Mina though he hadn’t totally admitted it. All that irritated me because despite it all, I actually liked Salter. He’s a man of honor and duty, a man of his word, he’s loyal, and all those other things a hero should be.

Salter is a constable investigating the murder of a man who had the ear of a government official in power second only to the king. Clues at the scene lead him to a local elite brothel and a young woman who is a walking contradiction. She has information that leads him closer and closer to the answers he needs to solve his case, even when his personal life interferes. He keeps his investigation on track though and ends up suspecting the one person no one would think had any reason to commit murder.

Having lost her father to a penal colony in Australia on trumped-up charges, Mina has had to make do the best way she can, which is writing letters to lords of the ton enticing them to spend their time and their money at the Pleasure Emporium where beautiful ladies give expert pleasure for a price. She’s trying to find the man who framed her father, but when one of them she contacts ends up dead, she finds herself going from one bad situation to another, none of them of her making. She’s got spunk and gumption, I’ll give her that. She’s determined to see her father exonerated and not even local law enforcement is going to delay or stop her, as she shows Salter a couple of times when she gets the drop on him. He learns very quickly not to underestimate her.

I liked Mina too. She doesn’t take any guff from anyone, except the madam of the Emporium and that’s only because she needs her job to survive. She’s confident to a point, but doesn’t believe she’s beautiful or that she’d be worth anything to a man. She’s loyal to her friends at the Emporium, even daring the Madam’s wrath a time or two to protect them. She’s thrown for a loop, however, as is the reader, when Salter’s last and worst, as well as unexpected, transgression surfaces. I wanted to clobber the man at this point when he sees Mina’s hurt and takes forever to make it up to her.

All in all, this is a good read. I got past my irritations as best I could, mostly because I knew Salter would make things right. I just wished he had handled things early on a little differently. I also enjoyed the side story of Mina’s best friend and Salter’s junior officer finding each other. We even get a quick story of redemption for one of the other working girls at the Emporium.

Grade: B-

Summary:

She Wanted Revenge
Destitute and alone, Mina Halliday ventured into a notorious bordello and offered the only talents at her disposal—her writing skill and her scandalous imagination. Mina’s erotic letters have enticed London’s wealthiest noblemen to the Pleasure Emporium, but her real goal is to find the person responsible for her father’s ruin. Even if that means defying the orders of Chief Constable Salter Lambrick, a man who makes her feel like a wanton seductress instead of a plain-faced wallflower.

He Offered Temptation
The only clue Salter has to a government official’s murder is the naughty invitation found in the victim’s pocket, leading him to the most intriguing woman he has ever met. Mina may be an innocent in a den of lust, but Salter detects the sensuality beneath her surface. And uncovering the truth about the woman who stirs his deepest desires will be his most dangerous adventure yet…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Holly‘s review of Flashpoint (American Heroes: The Firefighters, Book1) by Jill Shalvis
Contemporary erotic romance published by Harlequin Blaze 1 Jul 08

I have to be honest and admit the only reason I wanted to read this book is because of the cover. It’s hot. Seriously hot. After I read the back blurb I was a little bit leery, because it’s about a firefighter and an EMT. Although limited, my past experience with firefighters and EMTs hasn’t been favorable. I think too often authors aren’t able to find a good balance between the technical aspects of firefighting and the personal relationships they have. In this case, however, my past experience meant nothing. Jill Shalvis did a credible job of writing wonderfully flawed characters without bogging the story down with the technical aspects.

Both Brook O’Brian and Zach Thomas are no-strings type of people. Brook grew up in a million different place as she was drug around by her bohemian mother. She wasn’t given much opportunity to create lasting relationships. Zach’s parents were killed when he was a child and as a result he doesn’t like to let people get close. Although both characters had past baggage, I wasn’t turned off by either of them. Their issues were real and believable and worked well within the context of the story.

Zach was very much the laid back surfer boy, content to stroll through life. I think he was a good contrast to Brook, who was more uptight. The sexual tension between the two fairly sizzled off the pages and when they finally got around to doing the deed it was smokin’ hot. But beyond that, the emotional connection they had was very much in evidence. I really felt there was a good amount of intimacy between them, besides just the sexual.

There’s an underlying plot about some fires being investigated as arson, and I thought that was well done also. The direction in which the story arc moved was interesting without overwhelming the love story and really worked for me. It turned out to be much more emotional than I expected.

Overall the story was well paced with excellent sexual tension, wonderfully drawn characters and an interesting plot.

Grade: A

Click on the Flashpoint tag below to see more reviews and information about this book.

Summary:

Zach Thomas risks his life battling flames every day. But since sexy EMT Brooke O’Brian joined the crew, he can’t resist playing with fire. Brooke is feisty, a little uptight…and sexy as hell. And as Zach soon discovers, she’s definitely hot stuff between the sheets. Still, every firefighter knows that the hotter the blaze, the faster the action’s over….After the whirlwind ride Zach’s been taking her on, Brooke is ready to do anything for this man-in and out of bed! But she knows footloose and fancy-free Zach doesn’t do commitment. So she plans to build up a five-alarm fire between them. The kind he won’t ever want to put out…

Read an excerpt here

Limecello’s review of Some Like It Wicked by Teresa Medeiros
Historical romance published by Avon on 29 Jul 08

I’m never one to limit myself to or from certain genres or subgenres (contrary to certain opinion), but I will say that I was initially curious, and somewhat iffy about this book. I really enjoy Teresa Medeiros’s writing, but Highlander romances aren’t my favorite. However, as a curious person, I couldn’t let it go, and got my hands on a copy of the book. Even though the excerpt didn’t grip me, I went for it anyway. Long story short, I’m so very glad I did.

Catriona Kincaid is a plucky heroine. There’s really no other way to describe her. A complete romantic, smart, strong, but not always sensible, you can’t help but like her. She’s the typical abused poor relation, but Catriona doesn’t make herself out to be a victim. (And thank goodness, because how unbearable would that be.) When circumstances begin to spiral out of control, Catriona wrests command of her life back, traveling to Newgate and proposing marriage to a man who she believes is a hero, and is to be executed. She’s a master strategist. Hang, or marry me and get a fortune. What a choice – and obviously she gets her way. Although she’s emotional, ultimately Catriona’s a practical young lady with a firm grip on reality.

Simon Wescott is a rogue, and rather self-deprecating. In a way, he keeps opinions and expectations of himself low, in order to not disappoint others. Much like many other romance novel heroes, he had a difficult life. In keeping with historical romances, he’s the second son, relegated to abuse by his brother, and father. Unfortunately, his brother passed away, and his relationship with his father never improved. Simon was also abandoned by his mother, which resulted in his unwillingness to form connections and fight for a “higher cause.” I enjoyed following Simon’s journey from an unfeeling flake, to someone worth having, and gallant.

The characters truly make the story in Some Like It Wicked. They’re incredibly well written, human, and enjoyable. Catriona and Simon are not only people you’d want to be friends with, you support them one hundred percent. There were only a few minor instances where I felt incidents or events were suspect or skeptical. Accordingly, they hardly caused a blip on my radar, and I was easily able to get over it. (One being Catriona’s evil cousin, who treats her abominably, and is shallow, shrill and all things “bad step-sister” like.)

The next book in this set is Some Like It Wild, which tells the story of Conner Kincaid (Catriona’s brother). I’m excited to read it, though curious and somewhat hesitant. Conner is mentioned throughout Some Like It Wicked but never makes an appearance. I do hope, however that Some Like It Wild begins after his life has “settled down” – or at the onset of his new life. While I’m sure Ms. Medeiros will do an excellent job writing his story, I’m more interested in a focus on Conner, rather than a sequel where he has to split the spotlight Catriona and Simon. Of course, that’s simply my personal, and current thought.

Some Like It Wicked offers s a wide range of emotion, and a well written story, and it doesn’t get too dark or maudlin. The plot and characters are real and believable. I appreciated that there was no unnecessary angst or unnecessary serial killer thrown in to “keep things interesting.” This a great romance read, overall lighthearted and eminently satisfying. I can’t wait to read Some Like It Wild. I definitely recommend this book to any reader who enjoys Ms. Medeiros’s books, as well as historical romances.

Grade: B+

Some like it dangerous…
When Highland beauty Catriona Kincaid storms Newgate Prison to seek the help of disgraced nobleman and notorious rogue Simon Wescott, she is prepared to offer him both wealth and freedom. She never dreams the wicked rake will be bold enough to demand a far more sensual prize.

Some like it seductive…
Simon is shocked to discover the tomboy he met long ago has blossomed into a headstrong temptress. Although he’s sworn off being a hero, he can’t resist striking a devil’s bargain that may very well end up costing him his heart.

Some like it wicked…
Catriona comes looking for a hero. What she finds is a man…

Read an excerpt here.

Limecello’s reviews of The Secret Circle Trilogy by L.J. Smith
Contemporary Young Adult romance released by Harper Teen Sep – Nov 92, re-released Jul and Dec 08

I own the original trilogy, and decided to review them for a number of reasons. First, I recently re-read them. Next (and more importantly?) Sybil has been pushing the Young Adult angle. Lastly, these books are being republished – the first volume is already out, and the second is coming out in December. Perfect timing, no? Getting to the point – I loved this series. I believe I originally read them shortly after they were published, and I was hooked. Written before the whole paranormal wave, these books toe the line between a contemporary and paranormal YA book. I’m almost surprised I like these books so much, because I generally can’t stand series that don’t have definite ending with each novel. These books, however, are just that good.

The Initiation (The Secret Circle Volume I)
Originally released 15 Sep 92, re-released 22 Jul 08 (with Part I, Vol. II)
[Ed.: Float your cursor over the book cover image to see the original 1992 cover.]

Cassie Blake is an unlikely heroine. She’s quiet, shy, and dreamy. She’s also in well over her head. Her mother picked them up and moved from California, to New Salem, Massachusetts. As if that’s not enough, Cassie has to start at a new school halfway through high school, where things are different, and seem a little wrong. She finds out the kids who live on Crowhaven road (where she also lives) – are witches. (Cassie actually accepts this very easily, having been on the receiving end of certain coven member’s powers.)

After the initial hazing Cassie experiences, the coven leader Diana steps in and becomes Cassie’s surrogate big sister, and best friend. Little does Cassie know, her summer crush is Adam, Diana’s boyfriend. (He’s absent for the majority of the first book.) The first books ends with Cassie just finding her footing, and finally being accepted albeit tentatively into the group.

Grade: B+

The Circle’s Power Has Lured Her Home…

Alone, Cassie must confront a shattering challenge: an ordeal that could cost her live or gain her more than she’s ever imagined…

Seduced by the Secret Circle, she’s initiated into the mysterious “in crowd,” a coven of young witches whose power has controlled New Salem for three hundred years.

Hopelessly in love with the coven leader’s boyfriend, Cassie risks falling prey to dark powers in order to have him. But if she does, her endless love could destroy the coven, New Salem, and her!

… And she will emerge the leader or perish!

The Captive (The Secret Circle, Volume II), Parts I and II
Originally released 15 Oct 92, Part I re-released 22 Jul 08 (with Vol. I) and Part II re-released 23 Dec 08 (with Vol. III)
[Ed.: Float your cursor over the book cover image to see the original 1992 cover.]

It’s now fall, and Cassie is truly embroiled in the politics of the coven, and school. Faye, Diana and Cassie’s nemesis spied Cassie and Adam saying goodbye, and is blackmailing Cassie. Even though Cassie is becoming more comfortable in her skin and with the group (have I mentioned that all the coven members are ridiculously attractive?), she still can’t quite believe her friendship with the popular kids.

However, Cassie has more important things to worry about – she has to find dates to the school dances, hide her attraction to Adam from everyone else, as well as the fact that Faye is blackmailing her, and discover the source of the black magic that is killing people in town. (First the girl who was supposed to be initiated rather than Cassie, the school principal, and a basketball star.) Everyone is getting nervous, and the “normal” humans are beginning to blame the coven members. Add to that all the coven business and ceremonies/celebrations, making Cassie one busy girl.

The final pages of The Captive culminate in both an end, and a beginning. The leadership vote is taken, and power shifts from good to evil, with Diana losing the coven leader status to Faye. Cassie is convinced she’s evil, and it seems her secret love of Adam is about to be revealed. It’s quite dramatic, and ensures you’ll read the last book.

Grade: A-

Can The Secret Circle Survive…

Lured into the most popular in-crowd imaginable, Cassie is intoxicated by her newfound strength, a power as addictive as it is perilous.

Caught between Faye and Diana’s consuming desires to use the coven’s mysterious force, Cassie turns to Diana’s boyfriend, Adam – and falls prisoner to her own dangerous love.

Bewitched by the promise of love through magic, Cassie captures Adam’s heart and upsets the delicate balance of power, unleashing a storm of fury no one anticipates.

… Or will the dark struggle of good, evil, and a tormented love consume them all?

The Power (The Secret Circle Volume III)
Originally released 15 Nov 92, re-released 23 Dec 08 (with Part II, Vol. II)
[Ed.: Float your cursor over the book cover image to see the original 1992 cover.]

I can’t decide if The Power or The Captive is my favorite in the series. In The Power, Cassie has become strong enough to stand on her own, and up to Faye. She also has a boyfriend – Nick – who might be my favorite character in the trilogy. (He may also be the least visible character in the series, sadly.) The coven finally has a tangible target – Black John has come back to life, and is determined to take over.

Cassie also has control of her supernatural powers. She can handle the elements, cast spells, and is able to communicate with Adam, and other powerful witches mentally. It’s nice to see most of the coven come together, and fascinating to see how Ms. Smith revives a witch hunt of sorts at the high school.

The ending is extremely well written and satisfying. I only wish there was some sort of epilogue describing what happened with the characters – who paired off, and how they’re doing. Parts of it were a bit cheesy, but there really are no lulls in the plot, which is impressive.

Grade: A-

In So Deadly A Battle…

United at last with Diana, mistress of her coven, Cassie must sacrifice her love for Adam to save the Secret Circle and the town of New Salem from the evil powers of the witch Faye.

Threatened by the possibility of her destruction in a final battle between good and evil, Cassie must hope that her supernatural gifts are strong enough to obliterate the powers of evil.

If victorious Cassie will win more than she ever dreamed. But if she and Diana fail, the Power will go to those who seek only to destroy…

… Can anyone triumph?

I think this series would really appeal to young adult readers – likely girls, but boys might enjoy it as well. There’s the heroine who is unsure, but comes into her own. It is Cassie’s journey from outsider to leader of the group, as it were. The Secret Circle is a typical coming of age story with a twist. The unpopular shy girl becomes the envy of her school. All the guys want her, and all the girls like her – and most importantly, falls in love. Throw in an evil father, power struggles, spells and crystals, and you’ve got yourself a winner. I’m glad these books are being republished, and I hope a lot of people enjoy them.

Overall Grade: A-

The books are being republished in two volumes – with The Captive split up between the two.

Aren’t the new covers quite clever?

Liviania’s review of Never Romance a Rake (Neville Family Trilogy, Book 3) by Liz Carlyle
Historical romance release by Pocket Star 22 July 08

I doubt anyone who read the other entries in the Neville Family Series can resist Baron Rothwell’s story. But even those unfamiliar with the other two can enjoy this novel.  The plot relies on several cliches, but Liz Carlyle uses them well.  This book uses the gambling set up, when the slimy Comte de Valigny offers his daughter for a wager.  Kieran doesn’t have much of a conscience, but he knows he’s her best option between the two men at the table.  Camille’s willing to take any option if it means marriage and a child.  What really makes this trope work is Carlyle examining why Camille would choose to gambled away.  She’s a survivor, caught between the legacy of her neglectful and selfish parents ever and a better life – if she marries and bears a child soon.  She has no desire to fall for a rake like Kieran, but she finds herself doing so anyways as she manages to observe pieces of his better side.  She’s determined and fierce and the perfect match for the self-destructive Kieran.

Carlyle makes Kieran’s character work by not holding back.  Like any real person, he’s not all bad.  He obviously cares for his remaining family and his servants.  They, in return, see his better side and wish he would stop his destructive behavior.  However, he is not simply misunderstood.  He gladly drinks, gambles, and whores about because he believes he deserves to be punished.  His abusive childhood and damaging first love guaranteed his terrible self-image.

Never Romance a Rake retains Kieran’s black humor.  While all three of the books involve dark subjects, this concluding volume contains the most darkness.  (As such, it contains the least Kemble, as he would be out of place.  He still shows up enough to make Camille and I happy.)  He’s terribly prickly and unwilling to let Camille into his heart since his lifestyle is finally destroying his health.

In Never Romance a Rake, I wondered often while reading how Carlyle could possibly deliver a happily ever after, when Rothwell’s destiny seemed to be the grave.  She did make him suffer for it, although events do conspire to grant Kieran and Camille an extremely happy ending.  Some parts seem almost too lucky, but it’s hard to begrudge the character’s their good fortune when they survived some of the world’s worst parenting.  It’s a pleasure to watch these two damaged, self-reliant characters learn to trust and love each other.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Baron Rothewell lives a dark, shuttered existence by day, and a life of reckless abandon by night. Scarred by a childhood filled with torment and deprivation, Rothewell cares very little anyone or anything. His life on the edge of ruin suits him—until he meets a man who just might be his nemesis. The Comte de Valigny likes to play deeply and dangerously, but Rothewell’s recklessness is undeterred. Until one night when de Valigny wagers something just a little more valuable than gold.

Mademoiselle Marchand is a desperate woman in a strange land, and her pleading eyes seem to swallow Lord Rothewell body and soul—assuming he still has one. Now the baron must play his hand with the utmost care, for at last something meaningful is at stake . . .

Read an excerpt here.

LauraD’s review of Cry Wolf (Alpha and Omega, Book 1) by Patricia Briggs
Urban fantasy/Contemporary paranormal romance released by Ace 29 Jul 08

I had been hearing the buzz about Patricia Briggs’ new novel, so I was thrilled to win a copy from Avidbookreader. I am one of the few readers who hasn’t yet read one of the Mercy Thompson books, so I went into my first Patricia Briggs experience with a completely open mind.

Anna Latham is a werewolf; as the book begins she is in the process of leaving her pack in Chicago where she has been the object of sexual abuse on a regular basis. The pack leader is dead, killed by Anna’s new mate Charles. Charles is an alpha by nature, but instead of leading a pack he works as an enforcer for his father who leads all werewolves as the Marrok. The Marrok had sent Charles to Chicago to solve problems within the Chicago pack; while there Charles recognized Anna as a rare Omega wolf, with the power to calm other wolves. He also claimed her as his mate and she is moving to Montana to be part of the Marrok’s pack.

The first couple of chapters of Cry Wolf are quite confusing if, like me, you didn’t know that these characters were previously introduced in a short story from an anthology called On the Prowl. If you don’t read it first, you will be doing some guesswork and making some assumptions, as this book starts immediately after that short story ends. It’s possible that more of Anna’s backstory was told there, but the very abrupt beginning to Cry Wolf made me put it down for several days.

Fortunately, I picked it back up again. Patricia Briggs does a nice job of building her werewolf society without dumping a lot of information on the reader at one time. Characters are introduced when it’s appropriate and when they have a purpose. Unlike most series, no one exists just to scream “sequel bait”. I especially hope to see more of Asil as the series continues, I found his character fascinating.

Anna and Charles are just lovely. She has been badly abused, and Charles understands that it’s not something that Anna is going to get over quickly or easily. He makes many small, caretaking gestures that show her he can be trusted; and at one point when he is badly injured he changes from wolf to human because Anna needs him to be human – even though it will slow his healing significantly. Forced to be judge, jury, and sometimes executioner for his father, Charles battles internal demons but keeps his morals and ethics intact.

On her part, Anna is brave and open minded; while she occasionally wants to obey her flight instinct she isn’t stupid. She understands the changes in her life are inevitable, and she approaches them head on.

Of course, there is a suspense plot. A rogue werewolf is in the Montana forests, and a human has seen it. Charles has to find the werewolf, and take care of the problem one way or another. Anna convinces him to take her with him into the woods, and they battle both the elements and genuine evil.

Cry Wolf is a great start to what is probably going to be a wonderful series. I wish the book itself had a better start; for me the abrupt beginning was what kept it from being an “A” read. I’m just hoping there’s not an anthology published between this Alpha and Omega book and the next one; I don’t want to start off behind again!

Grade: B+

Read other reviews by following the Cry Wolf tag.

Summary:

Anna never knew werewolves existed until the night she survived a violent attack…and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she’d learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. But Anna is that rarest kind of werewolf: an Omega. And one of the most powerful werewolves in the country will recognize her value as a pack member-and as his mate.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

LauraD’s review of Spanked: Red-Cheeked Erotica by 20 Authors, edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel
Erotica Anthology released by Cleis Press 28 Jul 08

I’d ask y’all to guess what this collection of erotic short stories is about, but somehow I think you’d get it on the first try! Rachel Kramer Bussel has gathered 20 authors’ work about one of my favorite erotic subjects, so I marched on down to the Big Box store and nabbed a copy of Spanking and a latté.   [Ed.: Very pretty cover - wish my ass looked like that.]

There is a little bit of everything in this anthology: both women and men get spanked by both men and women. Hands, hairbrushes, paddles, crops and other implements and toys are used. Some stories are playful, some are thoughtful. While I enjoyed some more than others, they were all well written. Rather than try and do one line reviews of 20 stories, I’ll just mention a few favorites.

Perfect Bound by Shanna Germain

This is the story of a bookstore owner and the young men she collects. The tale of a tightly wound woman who happens to have some special uses for typewriter ribbon is really seductively written. The quiet surrender of Stephan to her special bondage was lovely.

Tied Down by Andy Ohio

This story is actually more of a BDSM story than a spanking story, but it worked for me because “Andy” is struggling with his feelings as he switches from bottoming to topping-and being a hard top at that. Helena wants to be dominated, it turns Andy on, but he feels a little guilty-and he kind of wants to have a relationship, not just sex.

Daddy’s Girl by Teresa Noelle Roberts

This story involves not just the physical part of roleplay, but the psychological aspects of roleplay; and a very controversial pairing. “Daddy” and “Cherise” are actually Mike and Kaitlyn, and “Daddy’s Girl” explores the use of roleplay to allow oneself to try new things or to escape everyday pressures. Mike and Kaitlyn find that they’ve used the roleplay long enough, and they can accept the formerly taboo spanking play into their sex life without fictional characters. (I realize that even the idea of adults roleplaying daddy/daughter might squick some readers out, it’s a very short part of one story in the book.)

If you’re already a fan of spanking erotica, or if you are curious about it, this is definitely a book for your bedside library! Rachel Kramer Bussel encourages women to embrace their sexuality, complete with the taboos and fetishes. Twenty good strokes, er, stories, well delivered.

Overall Grade: A

Summary:

Erotic spanking – whether giving or receiving – is one of the most exciting, arousing, and sensual experiences to enjoy. In this enticing collection, spanking enthusiast Rachel Kramer Bussel has assembled 22 tales of red-cheeked arousal. Whether being disciplined for naughtiness or simply because they crave the sting of a hand against flesh, the men and women in these stories revel in being bent over, paddled, punished, and possessed by their spankers. Those delivering the blows find extreme pleasure in pushing their bottoms’ buttons, making them – and the reader – tremble and quiver in anticipation as they await the next smack.

Featuring stories by Alison Tyler, Sage Vivaint, Lillian Ann Slugocki, Stan Kent, Elizabeth Coldwell, Thomas Roche, and others, this sizzling collection offers tales so breathtakingly vivid that readers might find their own cheeks sore just from reading it.

Read an excerpt.

Bound To Please by Hope Tarr is the first historical published by Harlequin Blaze. Read Wendy the Super Librarian’s review, then click on the cut for an excerpt.

He’s not going to take this treatment lying down. At least, not for long…

Fifteenth-century Scotland is a tough place to be a woman in charge. Brianna MacLeod, new laird of her clan, needs a child to establish her position. And the best way to do that is to demand the sexual services of her sworn—and very sexy—enemy!

Ewan Fraser never foresaw being kidnapped, tied up and expected to perform stud service. Yet being bound for the delicious Brianna’s pleasure isn’t all bad. In fact, the more time he spends in her bed, the more he’s determined she’ll be the one who ends up enslaved….

**Excerpt**
1460 ~ St. Andrews, County Fife, Scotland
“Because of your brother my husband and babe both lay in the kirk yard. Your brother, Callum owes me a life, Ewan Fraser, two lives to be exact, and I mean to collect payment on the debt through you.”

“My brother had no hand in your lord’s death. I swear it upon mine honor.”

In the midst of vouchsafing Callum’s innocence, the significance of her statement struck him like yet another fist to the gut. God’s blood, she meant to murder him! Until now he’d assumed she would hold him prisoner and then ransom him back to his brother but not so it seemed. Panic slammed into him, the force exceeding any physical blow he’d so far received.

Scenes from his past twenty-two years skittered through his thoughts. He found himself regretting no deed in particular but rather the many deeds he’d now never have the chance to do. Travel to Edinburgh. Teach his future son to fish. Give Brianna MacLeod a proper kiss. After the clumsy embrace they’d shared as children, he’d spent years hoping for the opportunity to do better by her. Who knew how long he had before she sent him off to meet his Maker, but for certain traveling and procreating would never happen for him now. Looking up into her cool gaze and composed face, it occurred to him that one final wish might yet be fulfilled.

“Your honor, indeed,” she scoffed. “Fraser honor holds no worth in this hall, sir.”

“In that case, lady, I commit myself to your tender mercy. I only ask that you grant me a warrior’s death and have the big one over there—” he gestured to the graybeard towering behind her “—strike my head from my shoulders with a claymore or a sword as befits my station.” After all he’d suffered, subjecting him to disemboweling or burning at the stake hardly seemed sporting.

“Strike off your head!” Her green eyes popped and the luscious lips he contemplated kissing fell open as though making way for his tongue.

Ignoring the hammering inside his skull—he’d be past all fleshly feeling soon enough—he nodded. “Aye, but before you see the deed done, I crave a boon. One kiss from milady’s honeyed lips and then I’ll greet St. Peter with a hearty hey ho.”

The corners of her full mouth twitched, the closest she’d so far come to a smile. “You’re a knave, Ewan Fraser, and like as not you deserve to be drawn and quartered in payment for all the maidenly hearts you’ve broken.”

Drawn and quartered, dear God what a bloodthirsty wench she was. He’d best make the kiss a good one, lingering and deep, whilst he still had the full complement of his manly parts. “First let us have that kiss, milady.”

He started up from his knees to claim it. Head swimming, he struggled to find his footing on the stone flagging. Before he could, the chamber dipped and swayed, the floor falling in beneath him. Stars poked through the encroaching blackness, performing a dizzy dance before his burning eyes.

Watching her prisoner fall over onto his side, Brianna could scarcely credit the proof of her eyes. Ewan Fraser, bold warrior and tanist to his clan, had fainted. Dark hair plastered his damp forehead and his handsome face looked flushed whether from fever or temper or both she couldn’t say. One powerful arm locked about his torso. The protective posture stretched the soiled saffron shirt across his broad shoulders and back, revealing the whip marks bleeding through the torn cloth. Whip marks!

Fury lanced through her. She swung about to Duncan, who’d followed her to the edge of the steps.

Aware of the petitioners watching goggle-eyed from the benches as though a passion play was in progress, she dropped her voice and hissed, “I told you he was not to be harmed.”

She might have had him abducted to serve a greater good, but she was no torturer. Once her end was achieved, she meant to return him to his kinsman hale and whole. Hurting him had never been a part of her plan. Still, badly beaten though he was, at least they wouldn’t have to call in the bonesetter. Bruises and scrapes and torn flesh would heal with time but more often than not a broken bone meant lifelong laming.

Duncan bowed his grizzled head. “I have failed you, milady, and yet I canna say how I could have brought him to you any other way. Fraser or not, a bolder, braver warrior I have never before faced.”

She swiveled to Duncan’s son, Hugh. The young warrior had been charged with guarding Ewan and keeping him out of sight until the court was dismissed. Bruises rimmed his one eye and his stance was markedly hunched.

Voice still lowered, she said, “And you were to have kept him away from the court.”

“And so I would have, milady, only he…”

The smooth-shaven face flushed, and Brianna prompted, “He what?”

“He kneed me in the uh…ballocks.” Darting a look in Duncan’s direction, he added, “My father speaks true, milady. The Fraser’s own stubbornness causes him to come to you thus. He fought like Satan’s own. Earlier today it took the three of us to subdue him and even then he wouldn’t leave off his fashing.”

Three warriors had been charged with abducting him, and Ewan had come close to besting them all. Brianna felt her chest tightening with ill-placed pride and some other emotion she had yet to name. Face flushing, she returned her gaze to the fallen man. It was too late to undo the clumsy capture, but from there on she meant to see Ewan made as comfortable and treated as civilly as circumstances would allow even if it meant tending him with her own hands. The latter thought sent a starburst like thrill shooting through her.

As if sensing her nearness, his closed eyelids fluttered. He blinked, and then opened. His right eye was swollen shut but his left appeared unharmed. The moonstone pale orb pierced hers, stealing her breath and muddling her thoughts.

“Sweet Brie, whatever befell the braw, bonny lassie who was to have been my bride?” His voice trailed off, his eyes rolling back in his head and his body slackening.

So he remembered their betrothal pact. An invisible knot cinched Brianna’s throat. Tender emotions she thought to have locked away with his flute flooded her. Their fair day meeting must have meant something to him, too.

She started toward him, but Duncan’s hand found her elbow. “He speaks in riddles, milady. With your permission, I will see him removed to the dungeon until he is well enough to be brought to you.”

Brianna shrugged free of his hold. “You will do no such thing. Lord Ewan is not a common criminal but a noble hostage. He doesna belong in a dungeon cell but in a chamber befitting his rank and station. Have him carried to the laird’s chamber, my chamber, and mind this time your men do my bidding with a gentle hand.

***

An hour later, Brianna strode down the rush lit corridor to the laird’s chamber, a chalice in one hand and a taper in the other. Looped over her wrist was the basket filled with Milread’s special salve. After dismissing the court, she’d sent her old nursemaid to minister to Ewan’s needs, including bathing. Mention of willow twigs, rose petals, or true love was strictly forbidden.

Her steps slowed as she approached the bedchamber. For the past ten years she’d carried about the memory of Ewan Fraser as a lanky boy with crystal clear eyes and a good-natured grin. The eyes hadn’t changed a whit but everything else about him had altered mightily. The Ewan Fraser waiting for her within was very much a man and a braw beautiful man at that. A braw beautiful man she would bed assuming the thrashing they’d dealt him hadn’t rendered him incapable.

A guard stood outside her door. She recognized him as Seamus, the “broken man.” The young warrior was without kith or kin though Duncan swore he was one of his most trustworthy guards and able fighters. Still, his long pointed chin, narrow darting gaze, and scar puckered cheek reminded her of a rat.

Seamus bowed. “Good eve, milady. Lord Duncan bade me stand watch over the prisoner and…you.”

Ewan’s barging into her great hall while her court was in session had wrought havoc with her intention to keep him quietly confined until her plan bore…fruit. By now the whole castle must know that he’d been brought to her private rooms.

Glad of the early evening shadows to mask the heat that must be branding her cheeks, she nodded. “So I see.”

“Sleep well, milady.” He held the door for her, his gaze brushed over her, his mouth twisted into a smirk.

Telling herself guilt must be making her imagine things, she stepped inside and drew the door closed behind her. Shadows engulfed her, relieved only by the flickering of the fire set in the grate and a brace of candles mounted in wall brackets. Her gaze swung to the bed—and the dark form lying chained in the center. Ah, Ewan…

Iron manacles banded his wrists, his powerful arms drawn high over his head, the carved bolsters serving as anchors for the heavy chains. Seeing him thus, her heart lurched, her regret as piercing as any physical pain. If only they’d been free to fulfill their fair day covenant, they might have come together as man and wife with open arms and free wills and joyous hearts instead of this travesty of a union forged of regret and revenge.

She walked up to the chest at the foot of the bed and paused. Shadowed though it was, she fancied she felt Ewan tracking her movements with his eyes. She’d ordered him stripped and bathed for the practical purpose of needing to care for his wounds. Until now she hadn’t given much thought to how she would feel about putting her own less than perfect body on display. Tall, full-breasted and full-hipped, she wasn’t the plump, pretty child who once had fit so neatly against Ewan’s lean, boyish form.

But they weren’t children anymore or lovers or even friends. A wave of sadness struck her. Steeling herself to ignore it, she set the candle down atop the desk along with the basket and chalice. Reaching up, she removed her veiled headdress. Beneath it, her hair was gathered into a single long braid. She had the fleeting thought she ought to comb her fingers through the waves and leave it loose as she had on her wedding night, but decided against doing so. Drawing any parallel to that ill-fated night would seem like a portent of doom.

Instead she unpinned her plaid. She unwound the length of wool and laid it aside along with the broach that bore her clan crest, a bull’s horns and the motto “Hold Fast” in Latin. She cast another glance upwards to the bed. He hadn’t stirred. Mayhap he truly was asleep. Fingers clumsy, she unfastened her sleeves and then unlaced the front of her gown; the latter she pulled over her head. Modesty had her stopping at her shift. The fine linen whispered just above her ankles. She took off the chain with the seal ring, too, and put it in the drawer. Making a mental note to remember to put it back on later, she folded her clothes and set them in a neat stack on the chair seat. By the time she finished, her hands were clammy cold and shaking.

She retrieved the chalice and basket and rounded to the side of the bed. Leaning over, she whispered, “Ewan, do you sleep?”

His eyes were closed. Long lashes shadowed his high cheekbones. Either the brutal handling had worn him out or he was pretending, for he didn’t as much as blink. Skin heating, she skimmed her gaze over his body, naked except for a swathe of linen thrown over his thighs. Even blanketed by cuts and bruises and angry red welts, he was impossibly beautiful. Broad of shoulder and lean of waist and hip, pale skin stretched taut over sinewy muscle and long bones, he brought to mind a statue carved in marble or alabaster, only Ewan was no cold tomb statue but a living breathing man.

She drew back, a foreign throbbing settling between her thighs. At least one order of hers had been obeyed. He was clean. His damp skin smelled of Milread’s rosemary mint soap as well as some other scent that was his alone; the latter had her thinking of the smell of air just after a cleansing springtime shower. The old woman had washed his hair as well. The pillow beneath his head was damp and the dark tresses shone like polished ebony. One damp lock fell over his forehead and over his swollen shut eye. Overcome by a sudden tenderness, Brianna reached down to brush it back.

Ewan snapped open his good eye and glared up at her. “Come to gloat, milady?”

She jumped back, dripping tallow onto the bedcovers. “You startled me.”

“Really?” The black brow framing his good eye arched upward. “You’ll pardon me if I find that a wee bit difficult to fathom.”

In the thrall of his moonstone gaze, Brianna felt the breath lock inside her lungs. Even masked in bruises, his lean face was a masterpiece of male beauty. She ran her gaze over his high bow, molded aquiline nose, and firm, full mouth—the very same mouth that had gifted her with her first real kiss all those many years ago—and felt a spurt of sticky warmth trickle down her leg.

Embarrassed by her body’s response, she set the basket down and held out the cup. “I’ve brought you something.” She hesitated and then settled next to him, her hip brushing his side.

He pressed his lips together and cut a wary glance to the cup. “What is it?”

“Caudle.” Reading the question in his eyes, she elaborated, “Mulled wine with bits of brown bread, sugar, eggs and spices to render it flavorful. It is an English recipe. My old nurse taught me to make it. It will ease and nourish you.”

“Poison me, more like.” He clamped together his swollen lips, beautiful all the same, and shook his dark head. “I’ll no drink so much as one drop. If you mean to murder me, then do the deed out in the open as a laird would. Poison is the weapon of cowards—and women.” His disdainful expression conveyed he considered the two to be cut from the same cloth.

Leaning over him, Brianna found herself fighting the urge to laugh. She slid her arm beneath his neck and shoulders to raise him and pressed the rim of the cup to his swollen lips. “If I wanted you dead, Ewan Fraser, you’d be dead ere now, so drink.”

In the end hunger and thirst took precedence over pride. He drank, gingerly at first but then with great greedy gulps. Brianna felt a stab of guilt but tamped it down by reminding herself that fair day memories aside, Ewan Fraser was still her enemy. His brother’s crime made him so and they not shared the same blood but as twins had bided together in their mother’s womb. Beyond the necessities of shelter and sustenance, he didn’t deserve her consideration.

She eased his head down on the pillow, and then set the empty cup aside and reached for the basket. Though his upper body was immobile, his gaze followed her every move. She brought out the jar of Milread’s special salve.

Twisting off the top, she warned, “This might sting a wee bit but mostly it should soothe.”

“What is it?”

“It’s no poison if that’s what you’re worried for.” She dipped two fingers inside and then held up cream-coated fingers to show him. “There’s yarrow, red clover, and yellow wood sorrel and other ingredients that aid in flesh mending.”

He sniffed, one dark brow lifting again. “Don’t tell me you’re a healer, too?”

She shook her head. Keeping her touch light, she started on his shoulders. “What little I know of herbs and such my old nurse taught me. Her remedies include everything from amulets to remove evil eye curses to love potions…for silly young maids,” she added, not wanting him to think she’d ever sought out such nonsense.

“Love potions, aye?” He eyed the basket with open skepticism. “Are there any in that wee basket?”

Heat hit Brianna’s cheeks. She shook her head. “Nay, I wouldna wish the curse of being in love on my worst enemy.”

He shrugged and then winced as though the movement caused him pain. “What would you wish on me then?” Not giving her opportunity to answer, he added, “If its ransom that you seek, you should know my brother would just as soon see my head on a pike as part with his coin.”

Gathering her thoughts, she capped the jar, dropped it back inside the basket, and set the latter aside. Lifting her gaze, she said, “It’s not ransom I seek but peace—and a baby. A child with both our bloods will heal the hatred between our clans more so than any treaty. That, Ewan Fraser, is why I’ve brought you here.”

BOUND TO PLEASE BY HOPE TARR

Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of What I Did On My Summer Vacation by Thea Devine, Debbi Rawlins and Samantha Hunter
Contemporary Romance released by Harlequin Blaze 1 Jul 08

My reading has been spotty at best this year, and during these trying times I’m glad that publishers are still churning out anthologies. While a lot of readers find anthologies to be uneven affairs, I consistently turn to them when my reading mojo is waning. I’m just now pulling out of a reading slump, and in large part I have Harlequin Blaze to thank. Quick and sexy reads seem to be doing the trick these days, and their latest anthology kept me engaged and turning the pages.

The Guy Diet by Thea Devine

Lo Cavallero is a food columnist who has become disenchanted with her “grab and go” dating lifestyle. Tired of men running for the door after s-e-x, she’s putting herself on a “Guy Diet.” No guys. No flirting. No kissing. And definitely, positively, no sex. She’s ready to settle down and she’s smart enough to know that she won’t find Mr. Right if she’s wasting her time on Mr. Right Nows. But just as she settles in on the Guy Diet, who should appear on the scene to tempt her? Her sexy, handsome boss Jed Costigan.

The writing style here is very snappy, chick-lit first person. It’s also fairly stream of conscious, with Lo having a tendency to ramble a bit. I see some readers having a real problem with it, but anyone who is used to Devine’s colorful writing style will find this considerably reined in from her lusty historical writing days. I could have done without Lo’s roommate serving as conflict, but Jed picks up the slack. No doubt about it, this hero is sex on a stick. Please ma’am, may I have some more?

Grade: C+

Summary:

Disillusioned food columnist Lo Cavallero only wants her men “lite.” But what will happen when dishy newsman Jed Costigan tries to convince her that he’s more than just a scrumptious morsel?

Read an excerpt.

Light My Fire by Debbi Rawlins

Jordan Samms is an advertising executive who is burnt out on her job. Her boss has insisted she take a vacation, and when her best friend dumps their plans at the last minute (code for she’s met a new man), Jordan tries to wriggle out of her vacation. No can do says Mr. Boss, and he books her on an extreme camping trip with Zach Wilde serving as her very sexy guide.

This was a quick, fast read and putting the two characters out in the middle of nowhere created plenty of tension. However, the story stumbles a bit when Jordan finds out Zach’s “big secret.” Frankly, I just didn’t see why it was such a big deal, but hey, that’s me.

Grade: B-

Summary:

Jordan Samms has a mountain to climb-led by supersexy wilderness guide Zach Wilde. Before long, they’re lighting each other’s fire every night. But will the flames stay smokin’ hot or blaze out of control!

No Reservations by Samantha Hunter

Edie Stevens has driven all the way from Cleveland to Cape Cod to have a nice relaxing beach vacation. Instead she’s in for a surprise when she arrives at her rented cottage to find the owner, Joel Roberts, still in residence. Before you can say mix-up with the realtor, the two agree to share the spacious cabin for two weeks. What could happen?

I liked this story a lot, but it really needed to be longer than fifty pages! While the story does end happily, given Joel’s being on the rebound from his divorce, and them going from “sex only” to “I think this might be love” in the span of fifty pages is a bit hard to swallow. Still, it’s a pleasant read, and the hottest story in the bunch.

Grade: B-

Summary:

Edie Stevens is shocked when überhottie property owner Joel Roberts appears at her vacation cottage because of a mix-up with the dates. Seems they’ll steer clear of one another…yeah, but how will they handle the sizzling chemistry?

Read an excerpt.

Readers should never expect a ton of depth in anthology stories, and What I Did On My Summer Vacation is certainly no different on that score. But it’s the perfect summertime beach read featuring quick, sexy stories ideal for soaking up the remainder of the hot summer days… and nights.

Overall Grade: B-