Ash’s review of The Bodyguard by Cherry Adair, Gena Showalter, and Lorie O’Clare
Romantic Suspense released by St. Martin’s Paperbacks 29 Jun 10

It’s great to read an anthology and like every story in it. Sadly, that didn’t happen to me with this one, but I did like and love two out of the three.

Cherry Adair’s contribution is Temptation on Ice. I felt like I was reading a James Bond story, not that I have ever seen a James Bond movie, but this is how I feel they should be. Sebastian saved the girl, together they fought the bad guys, all while on a Russian submarine base. They already have a past together, so there was no awkwardness between them. I did get annoyed that Sebastian thought the worst of Michaela, but I hate when that happens in any book so it’s my own personal issue. It didn’t keep me from enjoying the story.

Grade C+

“Temptation on Ice”

When paranormal operative Sebastian Tremayne heads to the Arctic Circle to keep an eye on red-hot physicist Michaela Giese, the polar ice cap isn’t the only thing in danger of melting. This beautiful brainy woman could spark a nuclear disaster he cannot stop—even with magic—and ignite a fiery passion he cannot resist…

Gena Showalter’s story, Temptation in Shadows, is the longest of the three stories and my favorite. The hero, Sean, is darker than your average hero and I loved it. Gabrielle was a perfect heroine for her, she has her own darkness to her but together they work, without dragging each other down. It never felt like I was reading a short story. Gena Showalter made 147 pages feel like a full length novel. I would love to be able to read about these two again.

Grade A

Temptation in Shadows

Tall, lean and muscular — and definitely rough around the edges — Sean Walker is not your typical nightclub bodyguard.  He’s a controller of shadows, able to wield darkness at will.  But when a mysterious woman at the club turns out to have powers greater than his own, he has no choice but seduction…

Lorie O’Clare’s story, Hunting Temptation, was my least favorite story and I couldn’t bring myself to finish it. It just felt off, and I could never quite figure out why. The heroine is a werewolf and I was thrown off by her calling her house a den and her brother her litter mate. Yes they are wolves, but it just didn’t work. I couldn’t see her as anything other than annoying, and the same goes for her brother.  The chemistry between her and the hero was lacking and it wasn’t long before I just didn’t care anymore.

Grade: DNF

“Hunting Temptation”

A manhunter by trade, Seth is on the trail of his most dangerous prey yet: a living, breathing, maneating werewolf. But the last thing he expects to catch in his trap is a beautiful, beguiling woman—with some wild animal urges of her own…

All in all I really liked The Bodyguard, even if it was disappointing in the end. The Gena Showalter story alone is worth buying this book for, and Cherry Adair has given me another reason to pick up her other books.

Grade: B-

No excerpt found.

Sandy M’s review of Vision Captured (Leopard Series, Book 5) by Lorie O’Clare
Paranormal Romance published by Ellora’s Cave 1 Jun 09

I’ve a read a few of Lorie O’Clare’s books before, mostly her wolf stories. This is my first of her Leopard series, and I think I’ve been missing some really good stuff. I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy this series more than her wolves.

I liked everything about this book. The plot of a megalomaniac leopard rounding up those of his kind who have visions of the future to eventually utilize for his own purposes; the heroine a lone leopard living away from any pride, independent and kick-ass; the hero, who is to die for, is a hunter of rogue leopards when need be but a problem solver/peacemaker most of the time, finds a mate when he least expects it; and secondary characters both good and evil who add depth to an already great story.

Chantelle is a female on her own and she likes it that way. She’s carved out a good life for herself, even though it’s not with her pride. She’s just learned via the internet that a man everyone believes doesn’t exist is rounding up other leopards who are like her — they have visions of the future that most always come to fruition. Chan is determined not to be rounded up like a wild animal at the behest of a ghost.

But when hunter Josh Bard crashes into her life, purportedly to turn her over to a mad man, it’s either go along on her terms or his. She’d rather have control. However, she finds very quickly she has no control where Josh is concerned. The man is a force to be reckoned with in all areas of life, and she just can’t resist his sexy ass. As the truth about her and others like her comes out, they find themselves on the run, and Chan begins to trust the man who has vowed to protect her at all costs.

Never thinking he’d find his match in any female out there, Josh is totally taken with Chan, his instinct to protect her just as a mate would, something he’s not looking for but would gladly welcome into his life as long as it’s Chan. Josh is one of those totally sexy and yummy heroes that you just have to sigh over. Even without being a leopard, he’d be a man who would have to protect what’s his just because of who he is.

I also like the owl shifters in this book, something you don’t see when it comes to shapeshifters. Ms. O’Clare does a terrific job of portraying characteristics of each animal species in their respective characters and she does that with the owls especially well. There is plenty of action and plenty of lovin’ goin’ on. The characters are strong, and Josh and Chan complement each other very well.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable book with a little bit of everything to satisfy whatever you’re craving to read. I’m looking forward to reading the other books in the series. Leopards are fast gaining on the wolves as my favorite shifters.

Grade: A

Summary:

A male leopard shifter runs alone,  wild and untamed, until a female decides he’s worth her time to train. Which is why Chantelle Drap sees no reason to settle down. She likes her males nasty and dirty, rough and wild…the rougher the better.

When rumors fly of an urban legend—gathering all leopards with visions, wanting to collar them, so he can create a stronger race, Chan’s world turns upside down. She doesn’t know who to trust, or when she will be attacked.

No matter where she turns though, Josh Bard is right there. His job is to bring Chan in. But Josh has his own agenda, is determined to keep her by his side, in his bed. She is his match in every way. Her scent thrills him, her aggressiveness spikes his wild side. Josh informs her that in truth it is the male who trains the female to submit and not the other way around. While Josh and Chan fight for control of seduction, they also find themselves fighting for their way of life.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

This just in…

Ellora’s Cave is announcing the release of their first hardcover book, Forbidden Fantasies, an anthology, to be released October 18, 2008. “Featuring eight taboo tales from the hottest stars of erotic romance, this book is a big, beautiful anthology published by Simon & Schuster Pocket Books,” Susan Edwards, EC’s Vice President of Media, said.

~ The authors featured in the anthology will be Jaid Black, Cheyenne McCray, Sherri L. King, Sahara Kelly, Jory Strong, Ann Jacobs, Jaci Burton, and Lorie O’Clare.

~ If you’re in the Las Vegas area, there will be a celebration book signing at Barnes & Noble, 8915 W. Charleston, Las Vegas, NV 89117, October 18, 2008, 1:00-2:30 p.m.

~ With the purchase of the new hardcover, you will receive a free Forbidden Fantasies t-shirt at the book signing.

~ A drawing to win a mini laptop computer and receive 25% off all purchases direct from Ellora’s Cave is being held through December 31, 2008. But you must purchase the book between October 14 and 18 to be eligible to win the grand prize.

~ The 25% discount will be good at all four EC sites: Ellora’s Cave, Cerridwen Press, The Lotus Circle, and Jasmine-Jade.

Consider yourself flashed.

Holly’s review of Sure Thing by Lorie O’Clare
Contemporary romance ebook published 23 Nov 07 by Ellora’s Cave

Blurb:

Joanie Showalter didn’t plan on spending her anniversary cruise alone, but when her husband files for divorce, the last thing Joanie is going to do is let him and his new girlfriend have the tickets. Joanie also didn’t plan on being stranded in Seward, Alaska, mid-cruise. Her situation grows worse when an old Inuit woman accuses her of using a sex charm to seduce her grandson.

Corbin Silver was raised to treat women with respect. He would never make passes at a lady simply because she’s distractingly beautiful. But it’s not every day a gorgeous woman believes a necklace will make him lust after her. This is too good of an opportunity to pass up. After all, the entire town is just waiting for them to have sex.

After a few days together he knows that magic or not, he doesn’t want Joanie to leave. Joanie is struggling with the same attraction. Maybe magic brought them together, but if it’s true love, there is nothing stronger to keep them from falling apart.

Read an excerpt.

Once on the ship, Joanie Showalter decides to make the best of her new life. She shops a bit, buying a pretty necklace, and is truly surprised (and pleased) that most of the men on the ship seem to find her irresistible.  But when they stop in Seward, Alaska, her plans are once again thrown off when she wanders away and misses her ship as it departs for the next leg of its cruise.

Enter Corbin Silver. His grandmother has sold Joanie a fable about how her necklace was a sex charm, chagrining Corbin and making him feel responsible for Joanie.  Deciding the best course of action is to have Joanie stay with him for the week she has to wait for the ship to come back, he moves her into his house.

The premise behind this book is a good one. I expected there to be some humor and to really enjoy it, but for some reason, I just couldn’t get into it. To be fair to the book, I’m thinking it might have just been something in me. Kristie(j) calls this the “It’s not you, it’s me syndrome,” and I’m thinking that’s what happened here.

Ssomething about the way Joanie kept doubting her appeal started to bug me.  Corbin also bugged me. His need to push Joanie away to show her the charm had no effect on him started getting tiresome.  And while I think Ms O’Clare meant for the town’s inhabitants to provide comic relief as they vowed to help break the curse on Joanie and Corbin, I found them more irritating than anything.  But again, it might have just been me.

I have to give this a DNF grade, because though I finished it, I skipped a good five to seven chapters in the middle. Which could quite possibly be the reason I didn’t enjoy this as much as I expected.

I truly hope y’all will give this a try, though. While it didn’t work for me, I think others will enjoy it.

Grade: DNF

When I sent out the email asking author’s about all things three. Lorie O’Clare informed me that she was currently writing a threesome novel and posting to her blog.

If you fall into the never read one column, are a fan of O’Clare’s or just want to go read some free fiction, this post is for you (well if you are over 18 and all that jazz… do I even need to say not work safe).

PARADISE ISLAND Part 1, Part 2 and the just posted Part 3

Since some of the first threesome stories I recall reading were Lorie’s were’s, I asked her to tell us a little about them.

As for werewolves doing threesomes…well they have done them .

In Pack Law (Ellora’s Cave Presents), Sophie had THREE werewolves. In In Her Soul we have group sex, and the ladies even get a bit friendly, but in all truth, those alpha males aren’t too keen on sharing their bitches. At least that is what they would howl to the world .

Check out the CARIBOO LUNEWULF series…we have brothers, Marc, Gabe and Stone. Gabe and Stone have fought and run pretty close to each other most of their lives. There is a bond between the two of them that make them unique, and a bit of a challenge to any bitch sniffing after them. Of course, Pam and Ali take on these two males, and learn and accept what they must do to have their mates.

In PURSUIT and CHALLENGE (now out in paperback with both stories in one book!!!!) Gabe and Stone share their bitches with each other. It is a bonding, a statement of trust. Both males are saying to the other that they would bleed and kill for the other. And as a symbol of their unending loyalty to the other, when they take their mate, they allow the other to fuck her, too.

It might sound all kinky to you. But trust me, its the real deal. Just go read them and find out!

**Lorie O’Clare has the book 4 in her Malta Werewolves coming out on March 23 as an ebook. It is called Forbidden Attraction. Click on the covers above for some of her were’s in print.**