Dawna’s Review of Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole
Paranormal Romance published by Pocket 20 May 08

Kresley Cole has done it again with her Immortals After Dark Series.  An absolute page turner, Dark Desires  After Dusk is the fifth installment in this series and a treasure all on its own.

They call him the king maker, but for centuries Cadeon Woede has been unable to help his brother reclaim their kingdom.  He has lived in misery and shame for nine hundred years.

Finally he has found the one woman who can make him whole.  He’s obsessed with her from the moment he set eyes on her, but he’s forbidden to take her as his own because she is human. He has vowed to secretly watch over and protect his female from afar.

Holly Ashwin suffers from a little thing called OCD.  She never suspected she was anything other than human, but when she is thrust into a world of lore and encounters a sexy demon willing to protect her, her normal world is tossed upside down.

When Cadeon finds out Holly is half Valkarie and the vessel he is searching for, he realizes two things: one, he can finally have her and, two, if he wants to get his brother’s crown back and save the people of his kingdom, he will have to give her up to an evil sorcerer who has forged the only sword that can kill Omort and free Rothkalina.  But first he will have to gain her trust.

I am an absolute fan of Kresley Cole, and this is now one of my favorite tales.  What can I say — I’m always a sucker for a tortured hero and tough heroine.  Ms. Cole does a superb job of engaging her reader.  I found myself sympathizing with the characters and holding my breath to find out what happens next.

You will have to read for yourself to find out if Cadeon is truly able to betray Holly’s trust and forsake her.  I recommend you pick this book up, along with the others in her series.  You won’t be disappointed.  Dark Desires After Dusk is definitely another keeper for me.

Grade: A+

Summary:

A ruthless demon mercenary. A lovely young halfling.
In the dark, he’ll find her.
A seductive beauty he can never have, yet can’t resist…

Cade of the rage demons will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past.
A tormented warrior she should fear, but can’t deny…

Raised as a human, Holly Ashwin never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon’s wicked touch.
Surrender to dark desires…

Yet just when he earns Holly’s trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs—and claim his heart?

Read an excerpt.

Other Books in this Series:

Sandy M’s review of Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady by Bronwyn Scott
Historical Romance released by Harlequin Historical 1 May 08

I gave Ms. Scott a hard time in my review of her latest book, The Viscount Claims His Bride, in that I wanted more action than I got. I was comparing that book to the previously related book, Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss, where there was plenty of action going on. I’m happy to say that Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady goes the way of LLPM with little action to be had, but this time around I loved the storyline and the characters immensely. The only thing I’m sorry about is that I waited so dang long to read this one.

I really loved the characters in this book. Though Julia usually does as her uncle and aunt ask, when they try to force her into a loveless marriage for their gain, she’s having none of it. That the proposed groom is one of those leering, disgustingly arrogant men only spurs her on toward a decision that will cost her much, but if the only consequence of that is to live her life in the country, so be it. Thus, she seeks out the most notorious rake in London to help her in her plan to ruin herself so that said groom will no longer want her.

Paine Ramsden is a third son, one who drove himself into the deserved reputation that has followed him for years. Even a stint in America hasn’t caused the ton to forget what he’s done in the past. So when the lovely Julia lays her plan and herself before him for the taking, he forges ahead with no qualms at all. It’s only during her ruination that foreign feelings emerge in Paine, urging him to keep Julia sated and safe. Realizing who is behind her forced marriage, Paine knows far better than anyone how dangerous the man can be. He calls on his honor, about the only thing left to him, and goes home to his brothers for the help he’ll need to reclaim respectability for both himself and Julia, hoping she’ll want to stay with him when all is said and done.

There’s really not a lot of action in this book, relying on its characters to pull you in and make you want to follow along in their story, and that’s done quite well. I found myself cheering for Julia and Paine every step of the way. For a woman of her time, and knowing what would happen to her if she truly followed through with her plan, Julia bucks the restrictions on women and does what she needs to for herself. And though the cliche a man needs the love of a good woman, it fits perfectly here for Paine. It’s his honor and love for Julia that pull him out of his rakish ways to see her safe and cared for. Going to his brothers for help was difficult for him, but it was all worth it for the homecoming he receives.

I really liked those brothers myself. I checked Ms. Scott’s site to see if, by chance, those brothers might get books of their own. My hopes haven’t been totally dashed, there’s nothing there at all for anything coming soon. So, Ms. Scott, hear my plea. Especially now that Paine is home and married, those Ramsden brothers would make great heroes. I know in your capable hands those stories would be just as wonderful as this one.

(Did I suck up too much?)

Grade: A

Summary:
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Determined not to enter into a forced marriage, Julia could see no way out–unless she were to become a ruined woman! Notorious rake Paine Ramsden was reputed to have no qualms about seducing innocents, so maybe he would help with her…predicament.
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Certainly, Paine deserved his rakish reputation, yet Julia was so achingly pure, one night with her might just ruin him! Awakening Julia’s sensuality aroused unfamiliar feelings in him–was it too late to make them both respectable?
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Read an excerpt.

Gwen’s review of Secrets of Surrender (The Rothwell Series, Book 3) by Madeline Hunter
Historical romance released by by Dell 20 May 08

Imagine my total surprise that while we have talked about this series on TGTBTU, we’ve yet to review any of the books!  Were I a late Regency/early Victorian young miss, I’d be having vapors right about now.  Someone pass the smelling salts and allow me to rectify this egregious oversight with a well-reasoned treatise on why this is a very satisfying read.  Plus, the next book in the series, The Sins of Lord Easterbrook, is out next week and now Sybil and I are both are squeeing about it… 

How was that for some pseudo-Victorian speak?  Not bad for a cowgirl from San Antonio, huh?  Well, minus the “squeeing”, of course.

I picked this book up because I love yellow and the cover caught my eye.  How’s that for a selection criteria?   Plus, I was pretty paranormaled out and was itching for a historical.  And, reading the blurb, this looked like just what I needed: well-born damsel in distress heroine, common man who makes good hero, some scandal, some redemption.  So I settled in for a nice long read.

Wrong.  Sucked this puppy down in 1.5 days.  Sob!  NOOO!  KAAAAHHHNNNN!!!!!!!!  Sorry.  Sorry.  Small break with reality there.  I’m back now.

So, I read this thing fast.  The story was engrossing and covered a LOT of ground.  Plus there were so many places the plot could have gone – so many side-stories that could have been pursued and the author would have had a perfectly good book.  There was the whole “run away with the brother” thing.  Then there was the “mine shaft collapse and rescue” thing.   The “rescue her from the rapist” thing.  It would have all been perfectly acceptable side-trips to take to bring about the conflict, climax, and denouement.  Instead, Hunter stays true to the main characters, keeps her focus, and lets the story be about the romance and not all the fluff and bother of all this other stuff.

Instead of a “road novel” or “social message” or “white knight” story, we get a story about a man and woman who are flawed, have made mistakes, have married according to their then-current social norms, and ‘find’ each other as well as themselves in the process.  They fall in love in the midst of a series of surprisingly torrid scandals (for the day – well, for today too), but still have some very big personal hurdles and lots of sacrifice on each other’s parts.

I loved the story of this hero and heroine, Kyle and Roselyn.  Were there small things about both characters that weren’t perfect in the book?  Sure, but I didn’t care.  I just loved the story.  At the start, Kyle is so proper and tightl-laced, the guy very nearly squeaked as he walked; and Roselyn is such a selfish idiot with some very boneheaded ideas that I wanted to slap her and say “wake up you ninny!”  But what’s wonderful is they both muddle their way through and, in the process, bring out the best in each other.  And isn’t that what a good marriage is about?

This is really a very lovely story of how to love someone.  How to let your partner be their own person, make mistakes and support them anyway.  How to be a friend before you’re a lover, but still be a lover when it counts.  It’s EXACTLY what I love to read in a romance novel – crisis, redemption, and resolution.  Overcoming what life throws at each of us every bloody day and still hanging in there, because if there’s one thing we all know, life is a bitch sometimes and having a supportive partner sure makes it easier.

You go a long way emotionally with these two characters.  Watching their process – well, reading about it – is worth the emotional investment.  Reading about all the fascinating secondary characters and trying to keep track of the rather large cast, is worth it.  Wondering if the author is going to take the easy way out and let the story devolve down one of the side trips is worth it.

I recommend this book to any fan of historical, or non-historical, romance.  It can be read as a standalone, but based on this entry, I’m going to have to find the other books in the series and absolutely get Lord Easterbrook’s entry next week.  Thanks, Madeline, for a terrific read – even if I did finish it in one night!

Grade: A

Read other information about this series by clicking on its tag.

Summary:

First he’ll learn her most intimate secrets. Then he’ll arouse her deepest passions. He’s the lover she’s been waiting for: the man who can rescue her from her wicked past-for a price-in Madeline Hunter’s tale of sin, seduction, and irresistible, impossible love.

He catches her eye across the dining room-a handsome stranger who stands out among the lewd noblemen and bawdy painted women. But their worlds are about to collide in a way Roselyn Longworth could never have imagined. For before the night is out, she will be auctioned off to the highest bidder…and Kyle Bradwell will lead her from one kind of hell to another. Yet from the moment he wins her, Kyle treats Rose with a gentleness she hasn’t known since a family scandal destroyed her reputation. And when she finally learns what is really driving Kyle, it’s too late. For Rose has fallen for the man who knows her most intimate secrets. Now he has stunned her with a proposal of marriage-the first step in a seduction that will demand nothing less than her complete surrender….

Read an excerpt.

Other books in the series:

Sandy M’s review of Gone with the Witch (Triplet Witch Trilogy, Book 2) by Annette Blair
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 6 May 08

I so enjoy Annette Blair’s books.  They’re just plain old fun.  They have some of the snappiest banter I’ve ever read.  And they’re as sexy as hell.  For those days you have no idea what you want to read, crack open one of Ms. Blair’s books and you’ll be smiling for days to come afterward.

And even start at the very beginning of Ms. Blair’s witch books.  This is her second trilogy and even though the first three books, her Accidental Witch Trilogy, The Kitchen Witch, My Favorite Witch, and The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe, are not that closely related to this second set, there are some overlapping characters, but you just don’t want to miss all the fun to start with.  When I finish one of these witch books, I always think there’s no way the author can top that in her next one.  And she always proves me wrong.  I actually like Gone with the Witch the best of the bunch so far.  The sexual playing and tension starts right off the bat between Aiden and Storm, along with a great mystery brought on by the fact that Storm hears a baby crying whenever she’s near Aiden.

He refuses to believe this baby has anything to do with him, especially because he’s a wanderer, crisscrosses the country in his motor coach when he’s contracted for jobs as an antiques restorer.  Storm, on the other hand, is sure to her bones that this child she hears is definitely his, and knowing that she won’t get any cooperation from Aiden, she devises a plan to abduct him in his own home on wheels so they can gallivant around the country to solve this mystery.  Of course, it’s the quick and snappy repartee between them and the unexpected trouble they find along the way that makes for the aforementioned fun in this book.

Aiden and Storm are both such likable characters, and with all that sexual playin’ around in the beginning, I wanted them to get on with the deed and quit teasing me.  But what fun would that be? It comes soon enough and it’s worth waiting the extra chapters for.  They each have their own reasons for being independent loners, wanting and looking for love but afraid to really find it.  But when everything is finally out in the open, when their lives take a decidedly huge left turn when they make discoveries they could never imagine, they find love, much more than they ever dreamed of.  Ms. Blair even had me in tears a few times near the end of the story at the results and reactions of these discoveries.

Don’t wait for a rainy day to read Annette Blair’s books.  Don’t even wait for those times when you need a distraction from life.  Take that distraction now and enjoy yourself like you haven’t in a very long time.  Give yourself over to the romance and the love you’ll find in the pages of her books.  You’ll be hooked in no time at all.

Grade:  A+

Read other reviews by following the Triplet Witch Trilogy tag.

Summary:

In his presence she hears a baby crying. Abducting him is the only way to follow the sound and find the child. Her scheme includes his luxury motor coach, seduction…and four pairs of fuzzy purple handcuffs.

The unexpected triplet, and a rebel because of it, Storm Cartwright is a Goth with attitude, who has a powerful psychic gift. She can sense the present. Every time she’s near Aiden McCloud, she hears the sound of a baby crying, sure the baby is his and in need, that only Aiden can lead her to the child.

He’s dazzled by Storm, yet the sassy, sexy triplet won’t stop talking about a crying baby and a trip to find the child. He refuses to go with her and tries to leave in his RV without her.

To follow the sound and find the child, which she can only do with Aiden beside her, Storm uses a seductive trap and drives the luxury motor coach, herself, because Aiden is shackled to his bed by four pairs of fuzzy purple handcuffs.

While Storm follows the sound of the crying baby, something magical happens between her and Aiden. Will she be able to keep the magic alive once she finds what she’s looking for? If she finds it… Whatever happens, this journey will change them forever.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of With Every Breath (The MacLeods, Book 11) by Lynn Kurland
Historical Time Travel Romance released by Jove 27 May 08

Once I pick up a time travel, the bug hits me all over again and I want another as quickly as I can put my hands on one.  Time travels are my favorite paranormals to read, and one of the best at them is Lynn Kurland.  I’ve not read all of her books yet.  I save them and savor them.  I don’t want to run out of her books and have to wait a year or more for the next to be released.  So, suffice it to say, I had a wonderful time reading this latest in her MacLeod series.

One of the things I really like about this series is that everyone in the MacLeod family knows there’s time travel portals all over their property.  Jamie has even mapped the portals out and hands out a copy to everyone living there.  That includes Sunshine Phillips, whose sister did her fair share of time traveling and ended up married to Jamie’s brother, Patrick.  Sunny has decided to stay in Scotland at Jamie’s request.  She loves the rain and tending her garden.  She also longs for a man of her own, a man just like Jamie and Patrick, but knowing medieval men are hard to find in this day and age, she keeps dreaming while staying away from those portals.

Until one night there’s a knock on her door from someone asking for help.  She agrees to accompany this handsome man who thinks she’s the MacLeod Witch.  Well, in a way she is.  He takes her to the Cameron keep where she finds a man dying and unfortunately she’s unable to save him.  Eventually she figures out she’s no longer in modern day Scotland, but there in a time when dying in such a way is all too common.  Robert Cameron is the laird who has a tenuous hold on his clan, and when she finds the portal near her home is not willing to allow her to return home, she has no choice but to stay with Cam and hope he can protect her from those who would do her harm.

Having lost his brothers in this latest battle, Cam now has no one at his back whenever his cousin decides to take Cam out of the picture and make himself laird.  He’s tired of all the fighting, especially now that Sunshine is in his life.  When things don’t quite work out the way he planned, he tosses his duty aside and goes to the future with Sunny.  But those plans don’t work out just right either.  Cam ends up in a time not his own, but there’s an eight-year time span between him and his love, a love he now can’t remember.  And as much as Sunny wants him to remember once she finds him again, as much as she tries to help him remember, nothing works.  Again, duty keeps him from her, so she decides to go back to the states where she won’t have to see him, long for him, knowing she can never have him.

Cam has other ideas, however, once he spends some time in Sunny’s company.  He doesn’t know why, but she’s so familiar to him and he begins to fall for her.  Even having to deal with those MacLeods is fine by him if he can be by her side.  Asking Sunny to trust him, he goes about cleaning up the mess of his life, but even as careful as he is, Sunny gets caught up in the craziness.  There’s a couple of interesting turns the plot takes, so if you think you have it all figured out, you’re going to be wrong.

I enjoyed reading about Jamie and Patrick and their families again.  In fact, Jamie has always been my favorite Kurland character for a while now, but Cam is definitely giving him a good run for his money.  Though he’s a medieval warrior, I love his sensitivity.  The scene where Sunny and others pledge fealty to him is just wonderful.  He holds his own with those MacLeod boys.  Sunny goes through the ups and downs a woman does when faced with losing the man she’s waited so long for, but she always picks herself up and keeps going, making a decision when necessary and doing what she feels is right.  As with all of Ms. Kurland’s books, I’m thoroughly taken with this one.

Grade: A+

Summary:

Sunshine Phillips’ heart lies in Scotland, a land of rain, legend, and dangerously handsome Highland lords. She longs to call the magical place home, but after a day which includes such delights as blackening the eye of her lecherous boss and changing a flat tire in a chilly spring deluge, she’ll settle for an evening spent curled up in front of a fire with a cup of tea. But what Sunny wants is not what Sunny gets…

When Robert Cameron pounds on Sunny’s door, he isn’t paying a social call. With one brother killed in battle and another fighting for his life, the medieval laird has braved a trip onto enemy soil to fetch the MacLeod witch, a crone rumored to have healing powers. But the woman who opens her door to him is enchanting and young—and not from his century.

Now, it seems that they’ve both found just what they need—if only time will let them keep it.

No excerpt available.

Other books in this series (in suggested reading order):

Sandy M’s review of Highland Rogue by Tess Mallory
Historical Time Travel Romance published by Berkley 6 May 08

I always enjoy a good time travel, and Highland Rogue is a good one.  It starts a little slow before getting down to the nitty gritty, but once there we get some great action, an involved storyline, and the characters are interesting and true to themselves throughout the book.

In the beginning a little too much time is taken, for me, in getting to the traveling part of the story.  We learn about Maggie and her sisters, how they lost their parents and how she had to leave her dreams behind to raise the twins, and now that they’re grown she can’t seem to let go and finally start living her life.  The twins and Rachel, Maggie’s best friend, surprise her on her birthday with a trip to Scotland because she loves everything Scottish.  We even spend time in present day Scotland on an archeological dig where Maggie has to fend off the guy in charge while she’s trying to have some fun for a bit.  It all could have been condensed down to get to the meat of the story so much faster.

Once in the past things get much more interesting.  Quinn and his best friend Ian have turned to highway robbery against the man who killed Quinn’s parents while he also paid for Quinn’s schooling as a piper.  They’re ready to up the game and begin hitting the Duke of Montrose in his personal pockets, and this is when Maggie is thrown into their time.  As Ian is making his getaway from their most recent heist, she appears right in the middle of the melee causing Ian’s horse to shy as Quinn attempts to rescue her.  Ian is subsequently taken prisoner, and it is up to Quinn to free him from the Duke’s dungeons because Rob Roy MacGregor, Ian’s kin, won’t chance the repercussions to the rest of his family.

Needing some type of help, Quinn guilts Maggie into helping him by garnering employment in the Duke’s home to see what she can uncover of Ian’s fate.  We meet all sorts of characters there while also seeing how life was for people not born into the nobility.  By this time Quinn has feelings for Maggie and his duty ends up cleaving him in two to decide between friendship and love.  I really enjoyed Quinn’s character, even if he is a highwayman.  He’s exacting his own kind of vengeance, and it’s hard to believe the Duke didn’t make the connection between the thieves and their pipe playing after each successful robbery. There are a couple of twists and turns at the end that kept the storyline interesting.

Any time an author gives me a lot of traveling in my favorite type of paranormal, I’m usually pretty happy.  Ms. Mallory does a great job of that and does it in a little bit different way than I’ve seen before, not the usual picture or passing out and finding a body in another time or things like that.  This one is pretty believable and could happen to anyone who comes along at just the right time.  I like all things Scottish just like Maggie.  Wonder if I’d be as lucky traipsing through the Highlands?

Grade: B

Summary:

1711. They call him the Piper. A masked bandit seeking vengeance for his people, and Rob Roy MacGregor’s clan, Quinn MacIntyre leaves his victims with empty pockets, and a haunting tune played on the pipes that once gave him great joy. But when a flame-haired minx stumbles across his path, she awakens a new song in his heart. Now the outlaw faces a challenge more daunting than the Duke’s patrols: Let go of the past and embrace the future…

Present day. On her dream vacation in the Scottish Highlands, aspiring archaeologist Maggie Graham discovers a tri-spiral carving in the floor of an ancient cairn, and unwittingly sets its dormant magic in motion. Sent tumbling back in time 300 years, Maggie uncovers the most amazing find of all-a Scottish hero straight out of her wildest fantasies. There are just two tiny problems with this grand adventure: She’s trapped in 18th century Scotland, and the man she’s fallen for is an outlaw, a thief, a daring…Highland Rogue.

Read an excerpt.

Limecello’s review of Dangerous Boys and Their Toys by Shayla Black
Erotic romance released by Ellora’s Cave on 28 May 08

I got this book because of the blurb, and because I wanted to read something written by Shayla Black. I’m not entirely sure that this was indicative of all of Ms. Black’s writing, but I’m definitely intrigued. The story wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but generally enjoyable all the same.

Brenna Sheridan is a character a number of readers will enjoy because they can easily put themselves in her place, which is a good one – at the pinnacle of a working love triangle. Based on the premise of the story, one might believe that she is the star witness – but not so. Ms. Black twists the plot, putting a character that would otherwise be in the periphery of the story into center stage. I found Brenna to be a rather static, but she did have a spine, which is nice. Brenna’s emotional and has a kind heart, and it’s easy to root for her and hope she gets her happy ending.

R.A. Thorn and Cameron Martinez really steal the show in Dangerous Boys and Their Toys. Cameron and Thorn know each other, but aren’t exactly friends. While they’ve worked together, what cements the relationship is Brenna.

Thorn is the crusty erstwhile lover who lives by the practice of hitting it, then quitting it. He’s a one time deal, and all the women he interacts with know that. He’s quickly enthralled with Brenna, and while the emotional ties are a bit shaky, Thorn pulls through. He’s probably my favorite character in the book, and seems to outshine the others. There’s just something about him that is extremely appealing. He’s intimidating and nearly scary at times, but also awkward and unsure emotionally. It’s touching.

Cameron is the empathetic, invested male, but also strong and alpha in his own right. Basically he’s the perfect guy – capable, a provider, hot, extremely male and virile, but responsive and someone who is not only willing to be active in, but also initiates discussions about feelings. Unfortunately, aside from all that I felt that there was something missing from Cameron to give him that ever elusive, well rounded depth.

I didn’t like how the book started out, and felt that the voyeuristic scenes were somewhat gratuitous. As well as the first encounter between Brenna and Cameron. I think it prevented me from immediately accepting their interaction and agreement. The actual plot and story were a bit lacking. There wasn’t a lot of detail and the way things played out weren’t all they could have been – the plot seemed a bit bland.

However, the story is marketed as an erotic romance, and in that, Ms. Black more than delivers. In fact, the heat and sex in Dangerous Boys are what saves the book. I was very impressed with Ms. Black’s writing for these scenes. The interplay between Brenna, Thorn and Cameron is natural, once they agree to work with each other. They do have a strong connection and are incredibly attuned physically. Rather than it seeming like a lot of unnecessary sex scenes strung together, the intercourse between the characters individually and collectively are what hold everything together. Ms. Black also includes a very hot male/male scene that is beautifully written and natural. And hot.

Overall I enjoyed Dangerous Boys and Their Toys but didn’t think it was incredibly memorable as a story. Certain scenes, however, did stand out and were quite enjoyable to read. It was there that emotions emerged and the characters showed personality. I definitely plan on reading more of Ms. Black’s writing. I’m intrigued, and have heard great things about her other books, which I hope to read soon.

Grade: C-

Trading orgasms for information isn’t their usual way of doing business, but when a missing criminal-turned-star-witness and fifty grand are on the line, bounty hunter R. A. Thorn and Detective Cameron Martinez are prepared to put their bodies to the task and give gorgeous Brenna Sheridan everything she needs.

An exchange they never anticipated becomes an experience none can forget—or walk away from. Sexual hunger sizzles the threesome, but the stakes and danger rise as a mafia bad-ass stalks Brenna.

Soon, their “deal” is no longer about information—or sex. Emotions bind Brenna, Cam and Thorn together more tightly than they ever imagined as the men protect—and serve—the beloved woman neither can live without.

Read an excerpt here.

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).

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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.

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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’.

Liviania’s review of Hotter After Midnight (The Others, Book 1) by Cynthia Eden
Contemporary Paranormal romance released by Brava 1 May 08

I do not believe I’ve mentioned this on TGTBTU before, but I do an Internet radio show once a month.  The first time I did the show was a bit of a fiasco at the end, partially due to the presence of two Cynthias.  It ended fairly well because I heard Cynthia Eden read an excerpt from Hotter After Midnight.  I enjoyed the excerpt and jumped at the chance to actually read the novel.  It lived up to my expectations, thankfully. 

Emily Drake suffered in her youth because of her ability to see the Other and hear their thoughts.  Luckily, she received training and now works as the “Monster Doctor” – a psychologist to vampires, charmers, and various beings that go bump in the night.  Unluckily, one of those creatures is killing humans and the police seek Emily’s help.  That’s when she meets Detective Colin Gyth, who is hiding his Other status from his coworkers.

It took me a little while to figure out why Colin was hiding his nature when Emily wasn’t.  I eventually realized that the Other community is not out to the human community.  Emily is only out to the Other community, thus she does not think about hiding her nature when she’s in the presence of a vampire in the beginning of the novel.  (I’m did not figure out how Colin knew her as the Monster Doctor when he seems cut off from any non-humans, but that’s a minor quibble.  I’d have forgotten about it except it’s that statement that led me to the aforementioned confusion.)

Colin is a predatory Shifter, widely regarded as one of the most dangerous types of Other.  Between that and growing up apart from those of his kind, Colin knows almost nothing about the Other community.  Emily helps him learn more about his world more than she helps him solve the case. Of course, the case almost seems incidental in setting up the world and the relationship.  Not that I mind – the case is present when it needs to be and neither character acts needlessly stupid about trying to catch a murderer.

There are also some interesting side characters, particularly the demon Niol.  He’s a bad guy, but protective of his people, and I would absolutely read more about him.  His onscreen appearances were enigmatic without being ridiculously obtuse.  I also liked the poor human pathologist who is confused by the bodies that appear to have been killed by a werewolf.  Oh, and Todd Brooks, the human partner who knows he’s being kept out of the loop.

Eden impressed me with this sexy paranormal romance.  She integrated her world-building well and kept in consistent.  Emily lacks the overwhelming arrogance that’s popular in many paranormal heroines and instead possesses competence.  Colin approached too alpha to me at times, but managed to remain a compelling hero.  I look forward to reading more of Eden’s work, especially Hotter After Midnight’s sequel, Midnight Sins, even if I do have to wait until November 25th.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Emily Drake’s patients tend to be a little unusual. Instead of the typical therapist’s caseload of midlife crises and mother fixations, Emily treats vampires with blood phobias and sex demons looking for meaningful relationships. But her gift for recognizing and healing the Other–those creatures of the night that most humans don’t even know exist–requires a few house rules. First: Never trust a shifter. Especially not one like Detective Colin Gyth, whose gold-flecked eyes and predatory air make Emily realize how much she’s been longing to lose control…

Colin can’t believe the doctor he’s been assigned to work with on the Night Butcher murder investigation is the one person who could expose his true identity as a wolf shifter. Smart, sexy, and stubborn as hell, Emily brings out the alpha male in Colin, unleashing a wild, heady desire that takes them both over the edge.

But in the shadows, the Night Butcher waits…eager to spill Emily’s blood and taste her terror. And he’ll use any means to destroy her, including the one person she has grown to trust…

Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Laura J’s review of Long, Slow Ride by Mardi Ballou
Contemporary Erotic Romance eBook short story released by Ellora’s Cave 14 May 08

For awhile, there were several books out by different publishers that were focusing on the older woman/younger man storyline. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read any of them or not, but this one was written by an author whose books I’ve really come to like and thought, why not, I’ll give it a shot. Since it was a short story I wouldn’t be out of a lot time spent reading it if I didn’t like it.

Alone at her co-worker’s wedding, Lori is asked to dance by Jeff, the couple’s chauffeur for the wedding. Lori, hesitant because of the obviously younger, but very sexy Jeff finally agrees. He asks her to wait for him so that he can complete his chauffeur duties and then will take her on a ride in the limo wanting to get to know her better. Lori, agrees believing the fling with the Jeff can’t hurt anything. Jeff falls for Lori quickly and has to convince her that their age difference doesn’t matter.

I really like Ms. Ballou’s writing voice and I like the characters she created for this story. The sex scenes between Jeff and Lori were hot. The chemistry between the characters showed not only during the sex scenes but also when they were just talking and getting to know one another. This biggest disappointment in this story was when I finished reading it. I wished it would have longer, maybe novella length.

Now that I’ve read some of Ms. Ballou’s paranormal stories and a contemporary short story, I’m going to have to check out some more of her books since she’s becoming a must read author for me.

Grade: C+

Summary:

The wedding reception is boring and depressing for Lori Nelson — until she gets asked to dance by the chauffeur. The twenty-something, very hot chauffeur. Lori figures Jeff’s just being polite. But that’s before he takes her in his arms and sets her libido on overdrive…

The moment Jeff meets gorgeous, classy Lori, he falls hard. But much as Lori seems to dig him, she’s hung up on their eleven-year age difference and her own personal baggage.

While Lori convinces herself that she can handle a one-night stand, Jeff is firing up his limo, prepared to take Lori for the ride of her life.

Read an excerpt here.

Holly‘s review of Master: An Erotic Novel of the Count of Monte Cristo by Colette Gale
Erotic Romance published by NAL Trade 6 May 08

I’m a huge fan of The Count of Monte Cristo. I believe I first read the novel by Alexandre Dumas when I was a freshman in high school and it really resonated with me. Since then, I’ve re-read it at least once a year. So when I heard (almost a year ago) that Colette Gail was going to write an erotic accounting of the novel, well, I just had to read it, didn’t I?

I’m sure all of you are familiar with the tale by now: Edmond Dantes was falsely imprisoned on charges of treason on suspicion of plotting to help Napoleon escape from exile. He spent 14 hellish years in a French prison, dreaming of none other than his one true love Mercedes. He escapes prison to find she’s married to her cousin – one of the men responsible for his imprisonment. He becomes convinced he’s an avenging angel and sets out to exact revenge on all of those who betrayed him.

This version isn’t much different in plot from the original, but it’s written a lot dirtier. Fernand, Mercedes’ husband, is gay and needs certain perversions in order to get off. He becomes violent when he’s unable to perform, and Mercedes has spent years being abused by him – both physically and sexually. I think there’s a little something for everyone in this novel: bondage, voyeurism, menage.

Mercedes and Edmond are still as attracted to each other as they were 20 years before and the sexual chemistry between them was well done and believable. I didn’t feel like the author threw in sex scenes just for the sake of having them, either. All the scenes were believable and served to move the plot forward.

Overall a well written, emotionally charged erotic novel that very closely resembled the original in plot and tone. Highly recommend.

Grade: A

From the author of Unmasqued comes a bold and erotic retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo.

Dantes spent years imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Now he’s returned to Paris in the guise of the Count of Monte Cristo, seeking vengeance on those who sent him to jail. But his plan also includes a different kind of revenge—on the woman he has never forgotten, the lover he has made it his mission to possess. So unfolds an erotic battle of wills in the most electrifying game of love ever played between man and woman, master and slave.

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of Wicked Pleasure (Bound Hearts, Book 9) by Lora Leigh
Contemporary Erotic Romance released by St. Martin’s Griffin 13 May 08

I always have the time of my life when I’m reading a Lora Leigh book.  I keep saying I love alpha heroes and heroes can’t get any more alpha than the way Ms. Leigh writes them.  And the hero of this book, Cameron Falladay, is also as tortured as they come, trying to keep his secrets from those he loves so they won’t be hurt too or won’t look at him differently, love him differently, and then leave him to founder around on his own, lost to them and to himself.  As a bonus, I got two tortured men in this book, Cam has a twin brother.  Need I say I couldn’t put this book down until every last word was read?  You betcha.  I’m a Lora Leigh fangirl to the core.

Cam and his brother Chase have known Jaci since childhood.  Cole always protected her from the bullies around their small hometown, the men who wouldn’t leave the pretty little girl alone.  Even when she was a child, she loved Cam and that love grew just as Jaci did.  But the pivotal moment between them was when she was 13 and she finds Cam parked in the north forty of her father’s ranch downing whiskey to drown the pain she knows he’s feeling.  She begs him to wait for her, and it’s not until so many years later that they both realize how important that moment is.

Even though Cam goes into the Special Forces and is gone a lot, he still watches out for her when he’s home and Chase picks up the duty in between time.  It’s when Jaci is finally old enough that Cam gives in to his need and his desire, takes her home with him, but things aren’t to be when she finds out the rumors are true.  Cam and his brother share their women.  That’s not something she bargained for, and having her walk out leaving him in sexual torment is not what Cam bargained for.   Jaci is the only woman for him, so he waits.

Jaci also waits.  It’s seven years before they meet up again and now the woman in Jaci is ready for the sensual delights she left behind before.  She’s still hesitant about Chase being involved, but although her heart belongs to Cam, her body still hums with pleasure when both men love her for all they’re worth.  In between all this, Jaci is still trying to rebuild her reputation after a run-in with a government official and his wife.  The whole sordid affair took Jaci by surprise and all she wants is peace after five years of lies and defamation.

Cam has his secrets as well and no matter how she tries, she can’t get him to open up, viewing his secret different than her own when he accuses of her holding out on him.  And Jaci is right. Cam’s secrets have ruled his life, how he lives, how he reacts to people, even his brother.  It’s also the reason he can’t make love to her without sharing her with Chase.  His control is tenuous at best and he needs the buffer.  He realizes he needs to make changes to keep Jaci by his side — he’s not about to let her go again after finding her after so many years –  but his scars run too deep for the kind of changes Jaci needs.

Of course, besides all the alphaness on the pages in this book is the sex.  Mylordgoodnessgraciousohmyheavens!  I realize a lot of the loves scenes may be over the top for some folks, but I get lost in them.  They’re sexy, sensual, lusty, dominant, and possessive and if it weren’t for the story in between, I’d be skipping ahead just to get to the next one.  Cam is one of Ms. Leigh’s best heroes in the loving/control/possessive department.  Chase is not far behind.

And that brings me to the one disappointment I had in the book, but I’m hoping it might be taken care of in the next book, Only Pleasure, which I hope is Chase’s story.  A check of her website doesn’t give any info on the book right now, so I’m left with a lot of hoping.  But when Chase finally discovers Cam’s secret of what happened when they were teenagers, he, of course, blames himself because he didn’t protect his baby brother and his anger ignites big time because Cam didn’t trust him enough to share his agony with him, and they come to blows.  Which I realize is what men to do.  But after that I wanted a little more.  These men are brothers, and although the words are never said between them, you know they love each other, they’re the only family they have left.  I felt more emotion should have happened between them, especially after everything they’d been through and everything the reader had been through with them.  So with Chase we’re sort of left hanging and that’s why I’m hopeful Only Pleasure will feature him and his story next.

But that isn’t nearly enough to stifle the pleasure I got from this book.  I wish that I’ve read more in this series, only one other so far, “Surrender” in the Ties That Bind anthology with Jaid Black, the first book in the series, which was just an okay story for me.  I reviewed it here a few months ago.  There’s been just a few years between the books and it shows how Ms. Leigh has grown as a storyteller.  She’s become one of my all-time favorites and I anxiously anticipate every book of hers that comes along.

Grade: A

Summary:

Jaci Wright has been running from the Falladay twins, Chase and Cam, for seven years now. Fears of the desires they arouse in her, and the knowledge of the relationship they wanted with her, spurred her to run, to find a life that kept her traveling the globe and out of their reach.

But now life has come full circle. A new job has placed Jaci in the Sinclair mansion with Chase and Cam. And they’re tired of waiting. It’s hard enough to face accepting a relationship with two men rather than just one, but gossip and the tattered tales of juicy secrets fill the society she now moves within. Can Jaci face the world knowing she’s a lover to both men, or will her hesitancy and her fears destroy her chance of happiness forever?

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of Sword of the Highlands by Veronica Wolff
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 27 May 08

While I enjoyed the characters and the time travel aspect of this book, even learning something new about Scotland’s history, I didn’t like the fact that the hero and heroine spent so much time apart.  I know the battles the hero faced and won for the Royalist cause at that time in history is important, but I felt bogged down, sometimes bored, with so much of it and then irritated with it because that’s what kept the main characters separated.

Yes, this is an historical time travel romance novel.  I usually thoroughly enjoy reading about another country’s history, especially Scotland.  I just had the hardest time with the length of time James was out fighting for his country, as did Magda at one point in the book.  I realize at this point in Scots history battles such as depicted in this book were basically the way of life.  But I’m reading a romance novel and I want more romance than I want fighting, battles, even talk of war.  For me, the only author who gets away with so much epic description is Diana Gabaldon.  In a book the third of the size of one of Gabaldon’s books I should be getting more conflict between my hero and heroine, not the hero and his enemies.

Okay, you know how I feel about that part of the story.  The other parts of the book I did enjoy.  I really did like James, a man of honor and duty, responsibility, which he takes all very seriously.  He’s even forward thinking enough to not be too wigged out when he learns Magda is from the future.  I did question his actions, however, when he kept charging into battle full speed ahead and at the same time waving Magda’s information of his death away, being cocky enough to tell her it won’t happen, that he’ll return to her no matter what.  Of course, we know that’s not going to happen and it’s up to Magda to save the day.  I felt it a little short sided of James to be as flippant as he was about it all while telling Magda he loves her and will return.

Magda is a modern day woman intrigued with history and works at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she encounters a portrait of James and is thrown back to his time when she touches it.  She thinks it’s all a dream at first, but little by little she realizes she truly has traveled back in time.  She slowly begins to fall in love with James and knows she has to stay with him instead of returning home.

When James first goes into battle after Magda arrives in his time, she goes with him.  I know later he sends her to safety when the fighting escalates, but when I expected more of their time together after he comes home, all he does is pack up and take off again, much to Magda’s, and this reader’s, dismay.  Especially when she knows his death is imminent.  It was during these scenes of battle that I found myself skipping ahead.  They just carried on too long, keeping James and Magda separated way too much.

I think this is one reason why story ideas that originate from true facts in history don’t appeal to me.  Although some license is taken by authors during the length of their book, there’s only so much license they can take with certain parts of history.  I know Ms. Wolff did change things around a bit as needed for her story, but it just wasn’t enough for me to really enjoy the book more.  I’m definitely happy with ending I got and the author did devise an interesting way to extricate James from his enemies’ hands before it was too late.

But at the end for me, this was just an okay read because I just won’t remember all of those battles and the too little romance that I was given.

Grade: C

Summary:

SHE HAD TO GO BACK IN TIME TO FIND THE MAN OF HER DREAMS…

One minute, she’s New York heiress and art curator Magda Deacon, enraptured by the sexy Scotsman captured in an old portrait. The next, she’s falling through time to 17th century Scotland—and embarking on the most erotic journey of her life…

Infamous playboy James Graham, First Marquis of Montrose, doesn’t know what to make of the strange woman who’s stumbled into his life. Her accent may be foreign, but Magda plays golf and rides like a red-blooded Scotsman—not that James could ever mistake her succulent lips and curves for anything but deliciously female…

But war rages in the Highlands, the land for which James and his men will lay down their lives. And when Magda faces a terrifying enemy and a daunting choice, only her Scottish hero will be able to set things right…

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of The One I Want by Nancy Warren
Contemporary Romance published by Brava 1 May 08

Okay, taking a spoiled rich Brit whose parents have washed their hands of her, plopping her down in Austin, Texas where she’ll open a business to do the dirty work of breaking up relationships for people?  I really didn’t think it could be done.  Especially when I first met Chloe.  Dumb blonde was the first thing that flitted through my mind, on top of being so richly spoiled.  But props to Ms. Warren. She pulled it all off beautifully.

Chloe is a woman who’s broken three engagements.  She has no idea what to do with her life.  She’s started and stopped several careers, nothing holds her interest.  Her friends are also of the upper crust, but they seem to have a hold on life.  So when Chloe’s parents finally put their foot down on her recklessly spending their money, a brainstorming session with her friends sends her off to the colonies, the Lone Star to be exact, where she opens The Breakup Artist.

The one thing Chloe is good at is knowing who’s good for each other for a lasting relationship.  Well, she’s good at it with everyone else except herself.  Having found something she can succeed at gives her confidence and she starts cutting a swath across Austin advertising her new adventure.  It’s her new clientele that add so much to this book.

But first there’s Matt, her landlord.  And her very sexy next door neighbor.  Matt is an ex-cop, sidelined when he was shot in the line of duty and couldn’t abide doing the desk thing, so he flips houses now.  He also has a girlfriend when Chloe meets him, so it’s hands off when she feels a spark of attraction, which is very difficult for her because she knows Matt and Brittany do not belong together.  But they haven’t asked for her services, so she keeps Matt in the dark about her occupation, especially when he comes snooping around thinking she’s into something illegal.  They’re, of course, thrown together in different situations that makes their attraction grow, and I so enjoyed Matt’s antics to avoid Brittany at times or Brittany’s efforts to give Matt’s home “color.”

Stephanie and Rafe get caught up in Chloe’s business while they’re caught up with each other.  What a great couple they are.  It’s instant attraction between them at first sight and with the reader.  Too bad they won’t have their own book.   Deborah and Jordan are the couple we meet to give us a true taste of what Chloe does as the Breakup Artist when Jordan hires her.  The ensuing antics are fun, but there’s also some heartbreak in store for everyone.

This was a fun book.  I really enjoyed it.  Even as spoiled as Chloe is, you like her.  She has a great outlook on life, even when things don’t go right, either for her, her friends, or anyone else.  You just can’t help but like her.  It helps that she does change just a tad when she comes into her own with her new business.  Matt is her antithesis, being responsible and steadfast, even in a bad relationship.  And he’s just a really sexy cowboy!

Ms. Warren did a great job of ridding me of my skepticism at the beginning of the book and she gave me a fun and sexy read.  This is my first book by her and I look forward to reading others.

Grade: A

Summary:

Lucky for Chloe Flynt, everyone knows it’s harder to get out of a bad relationship than it is to get in one. But when it comes to hot, steamy, long-lasting passion, even Chloe is at a loss—until this British playgirl comes face to face with a true-blue Texas cowboy who tempts her to toss away her commitment phobic habits one and for all for a walk down the aisle…

Falling in love is much harder than breaking up…

With three broken engagements under her oh, so fashionable belt, it’s high time London party girl Chloe Flynt gets a job. Unfortunately, Chloe isn’t exactly qualified for anything, except dumping a Mr. Wrong or two (or three!) with a little dignity. Realizing she needs a new beginning, she lands in Austin, Texas and opens a company breaking up bad relationships.

Too bad Chloe’s tall, tough-talking and take-charge landlord, Matthew Tanner, isn’t interested in her expertise. Because anyone can see that his girlfriend is clearly all wrong for him. Not that Chloe cares. She and Matthew have nothing in common—other than mind-blowing attraction, that is. But when his girlfriend requests Chloe’s services, all hell breaks loose. If there’s one thing Chloe knows for sure, it’s that just because she’s good at breaking up bad relationships doesn’t mean she has a talent for putting together good ones. Maybe it’s finally time she gives it a try…

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase
Historical Romance released by Avon 27 May 08

I was a little hesitant to begin reading this book. The only other Loretta Chase I’ve read is Lord of Scoundrels. If you’re a fan of hers, I don’t have to tell you what most folks think about Lord of Scoundrels. I’m not one of them. At least not to the extent all those folks are. It’s a good book, but it’s not one I sigh over or tell other people about. After I began reading Your Scandalous Ways, I had the thought that this is going to be another one that just isn’t my cup of tea. It started a little slow for me, but I’m glad I hung in there.

My favorite part of the book is James. He’s a spy who’s been at it a long time. He’s tired of the espionage game and wants to leave it behind, relax at home, take in the sights and sounds of the city if he so pleases. However, he ends up on one last mission. His assignment this time is to retrieve some letters from a woman. How difficult can that be, especially for a seasoned spy like James? Once he meets Francesca he finds out how truly difficult things are to become for him. Although she is a high-priced whore, he and his body still react to her. He tries to keep it all professional, but every time they’re together sparks fly, in more ways than one.

Francesca chose to become a whore after her husband divorced her and ruined her name and reputation with accusations that a woman can never live down, so her logic was to do the very thing she’d been accused of and be very well compensated for it. She loves her freedom, loves not having a man control her life. She was a fool once over a man and look what that did for her. She’s about to become a fool again over another man, but what fun the reader has on that particular journey.

The banter between these two characters is just wonderful. Francesca holds her own and then some in the battle of words with James. Even when they both succumb to their passions for each other — and those are some lovely, intense scenes — their relationship is not cemented until later in the book when they work together to bring down a traitor and their wordplay is constant and sure-fire all the while. It even transitions into their relationship, it just takes on a different tone.

When I first started the book, I didn’t know if I was going to like having a whore as the heroine. Of course, I jumped to that conclusion way too soon. Finding out what Francesca went through during the latter years of her marriage and then her divorce brings everything into perspective and you cheer her on for the woman she’s become despite everything. I loved how James always lost his perspective when in Francesca’s company. Even the most solid, by-the-book, duty-bound man couldn’t hold his resolve in check when face to face with the woman made for him. I also enjoyed the backdrop of Venice, the gondolas and gondoliers, the perfect Italian flavor for the story.

I love the way Ms. Chase completely turned me around while reading this book. I started out doubtful and became a true believer. And I know a lot of you won’t agree, but I enjoyed this book so much more than Lord of Scoundrels. This time around the spy won my heart instead of the usual tormented hero I normally like to read about.

Grade: A-

Click on the Your Scandalous Ways tag for more reviews.

Summary:

James Cordier is all blue blood and entirely dangerous. He’s a master of disguise, a brilliant thief, a first-class lover—all for King and Country—and, by gad, he’s so weary of it. His last mission is to “acquire” a packet of incriminating letters from one notorious woman. Then he can return to London and meet sweet-natured heiresses—not adventuresses and fallen women.

Francesca Bonnard has weathered heartbreak, scorn, and scandal. She’s independent, happy, and definitely fallen; and she’s learned that “gentlemen” are more trouble than they’re worth. She can also see that her wildly attractive new neighbor is bad news.

But as bad as James is, there are others far worse also searching for Francesca’s letters. And suddenly nothing is simple—especially the nearly incendiary chemistry between the two most jaded, sinful souls in Europe. And just as suddenly, risking everything may be worth the prize.

Read an excerpt.

Devon’s review of Compromised by Nathalie Gray
Futuristic erotic romance eBook released by Red Sage 1 May 08

When will I ever learn to pay more attention to detail? I enjoy a good futuristic/Sci-Fi romance now and then, and Nathalie Gray’s books looked like they would fit the bill. I was intrigued by the descriptions of kick ass heroines, and harsh futuristic settings. So when Compromised came up for review, I jumped on it. When I opened it up to read, I was dismayed to see that it was a novella. Novellas tend not to work for me, especially erotic romance ones. But it sounded good, and I like reunited lovers stories, so I pressed on.

Compromised is the story of Jojo DaSilva, a soldier whose latest mission is to rescue an undercover operative from the clutches of some very nasty aliens. The operation goes horribly awry, and Jojo is faced with a tough decision: abort the mission and leave the prisoner behind, or go against orders and get him out. When she finds out that the prisoner is her ex-lover Mathias Horsen, the decision is made for her.

Compromised was okay. My issues with it were the same issues I always have with erotic romance, particularly of the paranormal/futuristic kind. There’s just not enough length to get a strong feel for the world, the characters, and the romance, and I’m left feeling unsatisfied. Unlike the hero and heroine, who barely wait to make their escape to get to some heavy duty sexin’. The sex scenes were pretty hot and well-written, but I had to stifle a giggle when Mat pops a boner even though he’s strapped in a torture chamber. One would think it might take a moment to recover, but I guess he was real happy to see his ex.

Of the two, Jojo was the more interesting character. I think I got to know her character better, because more time was spent on her at the beginning. Mat was more of a cipher. His overriding characteristics seemed to be his Scandinavian hotness, his sexual prowess, and the fact that he’s really into Jojo. The futuristic setting was interesting at first, but then merely served as a backdrop for the sex scenes. The ending was a bit abrupt as well.

Nathalie Gray’s writing style is good. The story flowed well, and I liked her heroine. I would definitely try her again, but in a longer format, where there could be more plot and character development. If you’re looking for something short and hot, this definitely fits the bill, but if you’re interested in a stronger sci-fi element, this will probably disappoint.

Grade: C

The Summary:

Jojo Da Silva always gets her man.

She’s been an elite extraction team member long enough to know second-guessing can kill you. Get in, secure the target, then get out. Anything in the way is to be shot, blasted or destroyed. Especially those vicious Elfs, Exoskeletal Humanoid Life Forms with a mean streak that seems to grow wider in torture chambers during interrogations. No human has ever survived an Elf interrogation. Never.

Jojo knows this time she has to get her man before the Elfs discover his true identity and interrogate him. He’s been undercover on their trading station, so deep undercover that even she doesn’t know his identity. All she knows is the yellow dot on her wristband monitor that shows his location.

But when her target turns out to be her tough, daring, disappearing ex, a man as handsome as he was shrewd, one gifted with amazingly skilled hands and an even more wicked mouth, Jojo can’t seem to follow orders as usual. Abandon the compromised mission? No way! She has two hours, and Jojo won’t let Mathias die. He disappeared from her life, and she’s missed his loving ever since. She won’t let him slip away again.

Because Jojo always gets her man, and this time, it’s personal.

Read an excerpt here (scroll down)

Limecello’s review of Mistress For a Month by Ann Major
Contemporary romance published by Silhouette on 1 May 08

Ann Major is an author I’m unsure about, but tend to like. Thus far, her books are hit or miss for me, but when she hits, they’re spot on. This was one such book. It’s typical of any other Silhouette Desire in some ways, yet completely different, and very well written.

Amelia Weatherbee starts off as a stereotypical character, one who just got tragic news and has decided to change her life. And she begins to take those steps, but there’s something different about Amy. She’s true to herself, and her emotions, but plays her cards close to herself. She’s also self aware, which I appreciated.

Remy de Fournier is a bit of a boilerplate category hero. He’s wealthy, titled even, smart, successful, tortured, a playboy, doesn’t want commitment, and more importantly, thinks he’s incapable of commitment or a serious relationship. What’s nice, however, is that he begins to change throughout the book, in a gradual believable way, and opens up with the heroine.

What I really enjoyed about this book was how realistic it was. Too often I read a book and think ‘no sane woman would ever do that.’ But I accept it, because, well, that’s how many romances are. There was very little of that here. The characters are reasonable, believable, rational and irrational at the right places, and there’s the terrific happy ending.

I found the title and back blurb were rather mediocre, as well as the beginning, but once the body of the book began, with Amelia in London, everything read well. Remy has been tarnished by the press – and hounded by the paparazzi. I think a reason this book really resonated with me is how it regards the press and paparazzi, alongside my deep and abiding dislike of both. The way Remy is hounded, you just have to feel bad for him, regardless of his past.

Amy and Remy are very realistic and pragmatic about their relationship, or lack thereof. Very quickly, however, both want more. Another aspect I loved was the fact that Amy kept it together, and didn’t try to push Remy for more. In fact, it was he who tried to change the rules, and got upset when Amy held fast to their initial agreement. (Very squee.) Still, a culmination of events separates them immediately after both admit their feelings. It was poignant, the way they reacted, and how they dealt with what life threw at them.

Of course, there was the happy ending, and after I finished, I was left wanting more. (I really did flip through the subsequent pages hoping for an epilogue or something.) This was a fun little read that was light, and short- and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a quick entertaining, well written read.

Grade: B

Amelia Weatherbee had inherited his family’s chateau, and Remy de Fournier vowed he’d buy it back…at any cost.
But Amelia’s price was high. She wanted the man from the tabloids-the privileged comte, the celebrity lover-to teach her the art of seduction…for one month. And Remy was only too happy to oblige. But Amelia’s sweetness and her innocence struck something deep inside him. When their thirty days of passion ended, would he get more than he ever bargained for?

Read an excerpt here.

Devon’s Review of Playing with Fire (Silver Dragons, Book 1) by Katie MacAlister
Paranormal Romance released by Signet 6 May 2008

Katie MacAlister’s books are a mixed bag for me. I haven’t enjoyed her contemporaries, but I quite liked several of her paranormals. I enjoy her sense of humor, but after awhile the books in the ongoing series start to suffer from a certain sameness and forced hijinks. Holy Smokes, the fourth book in the Aisling Grey series (see my review, and please excuse the formatting issues), definitely felt like an ending. There were a number of loose ends and so, despite my disenchantment with the series, I was sufficiently intrigued to pick up Playing with Fire. This book features Gabriel Tauhou, the wyvern of the silver dragons and an appealing character in the Aisling Grey books.

A big problem I have with MacAlister’s books are the heroines. The author writes in the first person voice, and after awhile, they all seem to sound the same. And I do enjoy some hero POV, so I miss that. More troubling is the stupidity that some of the heroines display (Aisling, I’m looking at you). They like to do insanely stupid things, without thought or preparation, just to show they won’t be told what to do.

Thankfully, May Northcott comes off quite differently. She’s more skilled, thoughtful and serious, and seems to have a lot more on the ball. Although she does succumb to the “No dragons gonna boss me around” syndrome, she’s seems better equipped to handle the situation she gets into. May’s a doppelganger, and that’s got to be one of the weirder paranormal creatures I’ve seen around. But she was a very likeable heroine.

Gabriel was an interesting character in the Aisling Grey books, and he’s likeable here as well. But he was also inconsistent. I liked that he was different than the over-the-top Alpha Drake Vireo. He’s a healer, and seems a bit more gentle. Don’t be scared, he seems strong and intelligent, just…quieter. Then there were times that he did the chesting beating thing and it just didn’t ring true. I wonder if the fact that that we always see him from May’s POV adds to the problem. I hope the more we see of him, the more consistently developed he’ll become. And he’s pretty hot.

Gabriel and May had good chemistry, despite the fact that the romance seems rushed. Gabriel has been cursed to never have a mate born to him. But May was made, not born. There are times May wonders if he just wants her because he’s so thrilled to have an available mate, and I shared her doubts. But by the end, I was definitely enjoying them as a couple.

The change in direction has definitely rejuvenated the series. I really liked being back in the world of the dragon septs, and it was good to see Aisling, Drake and Jim again, in small doses. Bits of May’s storyline were confusing, but everything came together by the end. I was entertained, interested and amused, and I look forward to Up in Smoke (October 2008), which will continue May and Gabriel’s story. I hope the storyline doesn’t get dragged out too much, but in the world MacAlister’s created, there’s lots of directions to go.

Grade: B-

The Summary:

Gabriel Tauhou, the leader of the silver dragons, can’t take his eyes off May Northcott. Not even when May, who has the unique talent of being able to hide in the shadows, has slipped from everyone else’s sight.

May, however, has little time for Gabriel – not when she’s hiding from the Otherworld law, hunting down a blackmailer, and trying to avoid a demon lord’s demands. But her ability to withstand Gabriel’s fire marks her as his mate, and he has no intention of letting her disappear into the darkness she seems to prefer.

Then May is ordered to steal one of Gabriel’s treasures – an immensely important relic of all dragonkin – and he must decide which to protect: his love or his dragons…

Read an excerpt here

Limecello’s review of Hot Nights, Dark Desires by Eden Bradley, Sydney Croft, and Stephanie Tyler
Contemporary anthology published by Bantam on 20 May 08

This anthology is hot, sexy, and has an edge, which meshes with its setting – New Orleans. The characters are all interesting and layered, and I enjoyed my introduction to two of the authors.

The Art of Desire by Eden Bradley

Sophie and Tristan have an instant connection, which makes sense because Sophie has a tattoo fetish, and Tristan is a tattoo artist. The two of them embark on a casual affair that quickly spins out of control. However, Sophie and Tristan each have a lot of baggage, which prevents them from truly committing to a relationship. While I enjoyed the writing and the characters, and their stories, it wasn’t my favorite in the anthology. A part of it, I think is that I’m rather indifferent to tattoos, and the story revolves around them. I understand how it made Tristan hot to be “branding” his “woman” – but otherwise, no big deal. Also, Sophie and Tristan both have a lot of guilt, which makes reading this novella something of a downer. Added unto the fact that Sophie feels that most of what she does is a “sin” and has an excess abundance of Catholic guilt, it made for an occasionally difficult read.

Grade: C+

In “The Art of Desire” a sheltered young woman turned on by the idea of getting tattooed dares to make her fantasy a reality. But as her arousing sessions with a dangerously handsome tattoo artist move from the tattoo parlor to the bedroom, they make an impression that’s more than skin deep….

Read an excerpt here.

Shadow Play by Sydney Croft

This novella is part of the ARCO series. Hex can see ghosts, and is a medium – but the catch is that he is only able to see them through the lens of a camera. One lucky thing is that he’s able to capture them on film. Brenna is a super model, who is being haunted by a jealous ghost who has begun blurring her image in all photographs. Again, a match made in heaven. An issue I had, however, was the characters themselves, specifically Brenna. She’s selfish and thoughtless. There are some reasons – she had a difficult past, but I simply didn’t really care for her as a person, which made enjoying her story a little bit more difficult than I would have otherwise.
However, the story is well written, the characters interesting, and I loved the secondary characters. Once Brenna realized what a jerk she was (and sometimes her self deprecating humor helped), I enjoyed the story a lot. The tension, drama, and events all charged and enjoyable.

Grade: B-

In “Shadow Play” an ex-supermodel desperate to revive her career seeks the help of a gorgeous, reclusive photographer with a special gift-and offers him anything he wants in return. The result is a series of erotic positions captured on film-along with a mind-blowing physical connection neither expected….

Read an excerpt here.

Night Vision by Stephanie Tyler

This was my favorite novella in the anthology. Catie has inherited a bar, with a rough and rowdy crowd, which leads her to hire Bat for his services as a cooler. The two are instantly attracted to each other, but they’re running from their past. Both Bat and Catie have roots in the area, and have avoided it for a long time. However, they begin to realize they’re ready to settle down.
Bat and Cat have explosive chemistry, and slowly work through their issues in a very believable, way. In the meantime, they have extremely hot sex, and find out who they are as individuals and what they were looking for. A well written story that I enjoyed reading.

Grade: B+

In “Night Vision” when artist Catie Lanford hires professional cooler Bat Kelly to whip the failing bar she’s recently inherited into shape, she’s not looking for a lover-until she lays eyes on the sexy wild man. Soon they’ve agreed to mix business with pleasure, and Catie discovers that Bat is just what she needs to set her artist’s imagination-and her body-on fire.

Overall Grade: B-

Pleasure comes in threes…

Inspired by the sultry heat and sensual ambiance of New Orleans , this steamy collection delves into the erotic underground of the Big Easy. Here is a tantalizing trio of stories by three rising stars that will tease your imagination-and seduce your senses.

Lush, haunting, and provocative, New Orleans has something to satisfy every desire-as three very lucky women are about to discover.

Abandon your inhibitions and excite your spirit with a gathering of tales that’s as sexy and spicy as the city of New Orleans itself.

Sandy M’s review of Soul of a Highlander (Daughters of the Glen, Book 3) by Melissa Mayhue
Historical Paranormal Romance published by Pocket 20 May 08

Scottish historical time travel with a little modern day thrown in. Toss in some magic with a few evil Fae running around causing havoc and handsome immortal heroes to kick some butt and fall in love with a sassy heroine. Just my kinda book!

We first met Ramos in Highland Guardian when he believes he is doing good by following the dictates of his father in eliminating anyone standing in the way of Nuadian Fae coming into their own after being nearly destroyed. Finding out his father had deceived him and maniuplated him, which caused innocent deaths, and realizing his father never cared for him, Ramos accepts the offer to train as a Guardian to perhaps atone for his role in his parent’s schemes.

He has trained for only several months when he is chosen for his first assignment. He is to watch over the sister of Connor, the hero of Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband, Mairi, who has traveled to the past to save a family member in the 13th century. When she doesn’t return as expected, knowing she is now in trouble, someone must follow to bring her home. That someone is Ramos, much to his consternation. He doesn’t believe he’s had enough training for such an assignment, but he does as asked and finds himself in 1295 Scotland, faced with events he could never have imagined.

Mairi we met in Thirty Nights when she was plucked out of her century by her brother, along with some magic, to save her from certain death at the hands of the usual barbaric husband of that time. Having lived nine years in the 21st century, she’s done some research on her family and found that her cousin had been murdered and she wants to right that wrong for the sake of her aunt, who was like a mother to her growing up.

Taking destiny in her hands, she confronts Pol, her Fae ancestor, demanding she be given the same rights and power as her maternal counterparts. Pol realizes his error when in his ancient blessing he overlooked the daughters of fathers in his bloodline and he grants Mairi her wish. She then makes her long journey into the past to save her family from further harm. Little does she know how things that seem so simple in the planning stage don’t turn out quite as they should in reality.

With each book Ms. Mayhue’s heroes only get better. Ramos has to deal with the fact he used his powers to help his father grow stronger by murdering beings and stealing their magical essence, and he has to live with the fact his father has never loved him. He was only a means to an end for his parent. Thus, with all the guilt he’s carrying around he doesn’t feel worthy of Mairi’s love.

Mairi herself believes there is no true love out there for her since she’s a woman out of time, destined to die in her own century and not belonging to her current one. She’s the one in the story who does the confronting in difficult situations, only to come out a better and stronger person for it. I was relieved when she changes her tune about he-men, neanderthals, and cavemen early in the book and it’s not dragged out ad nauseum as some authors are wont to do. She may not like being told what to do by domineering men, but she also realizes a good thing when it’s staring her in the face.

We get to meet up with some previous characters in the series, find out what they’re up to and how their lives have progressed. A couple of curves are thrown in to keep the pacing alive. Sallie, the young cousin Mairi is anxious to save, is a delight, a teenager, though considered a woman in her time, who knows what she wants and goes after it and never gives in to the evil that finally erupts around all of them. I still enjoy this series a lot. The characters are well developed and the storyline now involving the Guardians is interesting and keeps the future wide open for more new characters.

Grade: A

Summary:

Nine years ago, Faerie Magic saved Mairi MacKiernan at the cost of her dreams of happiness, snatching her from her life in 1272, and depositing her in the twenty-first century. Now, she must save the last Daughter of the MacKiernan family…who was murdered in 1295. Transported back in time at her request, Mairi finds herself captured by the same evil men as before! Is this the price the Faerie Magic requires of her this time?

Ramos Servans has dedicated his dreams to service as a Guardian, but when he discovers the evil unleashed on the Mortal Plain by his father and their people, he swears he will atone by ridding the world of Nuadian deceit. Part of his mission involves rescuing a lovely Highland lassie, and in the passion that grows between them, Ramos and Mairi find a new dream.

But falling in love can be dangerous when Faerie Magic is involved. Dreams may not be the only cost….

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Limecello’s review of Dante’s Stolen Wife by Day Leclaire
Contemporary romance released by Silhouette Desire 13 May 08

This is the second book in the Dante Legacy miniseries, and while I love the stories, I’m still not sold on the idea of “Dante’s Inferno.” Still, the book is well written, and I found myself vacillating throughout the book. Ms. Leclaire writes a different type of Desire than what I’m used to – and I find it quite interesting.

Marco Dante and Caitlyn Vaughn have an old, yet different type of story. First of all, she mistakes him for his twin, and he tricks her into marriage. Next, although most of the book shows Caitlyn and Marco coming to terms of their marriage, I don’t feel that they have much of a relationship until the end.

Caitlyn and Marco completely different people. Caitlyn bases her life on logic. She’s analytical, and is allergic to risk. Marco, however, is more your fly by the seat of his pants type of guy, and gives greater weight to emotion. Caitlyn also has been groomed to fear “charmers” and men who will make big promises. Her grandmothers and her mother have led her to believe that the only way to survive is to be self sufficient. I felt that this made Caitlyn cold, at times.

For his part, Marco was very likable, but could have used a bit more substance. He was incredibly sweet, almost unreal, but he didn’t seem to take Caitlyn’s legitimate concerns seriously. I think it’s the length of the book, but I never felt that he had much of a foundation. Regardless, I truly enjoyed reading Caitlyn and Marco’s interactions. They’re both intelligent characters, with great conversations, though sometimes it wandered strangely.

Caitlyn is smart, and stands up for herself. I think what led to my mixed feelings, is based on the actions Caitlyn takes. She realizes she’s in love, and that the family has a big problem on their hands, and decides to take of matters herself. First of all, I hated what she did, and was only slightly mollified by the way everything ended up. Next, Caitlyn was “forced” to make all the decisions on her own because none of the brothers were at work. I find this very unbelievable, because numerous times each brother answers his cell phone. The gap in the book, and Caitlyn’s subsequent actions actually angered me, and detracted significantly from my enjoyment of the book.

The fact that I’m not sure how to treat “The Inferno” and I think that’s keeping me from loving the series. I have an incredibly hard time believing it – but the characters are so matter of fact about it. Another aspect, is how quickly the characters change their minds. First, the Dante’s are 100% for or against something. But then, a certain plot device leads to them reevaluating and changing position in the course of a few pages. Although my mind isn’t entirely made up as to Ms. Leclaire’s books, marketing has once again made its mark, and I plan on buying all the books in the series. I enjoyed reading this book (except for this one part!) and look forward to reading the others.

Grade: C

They called it The Inferno—the all-consuming desire that scorched a man just once in a lifetime. Millionaire Marco Dante felt its flames the moment he set eyes on Caitlyn Vaughn. Nothing could keep him from having her—not even her engagement to his twin brother! So he posed as her true fiancé, stealing her away for a rushed wedding and a breathtaking honeymoon. But then he had to face his new bride when she discovered his masquerade—and somehow find a way to turn her blazing fury back into white-hot passion.…

Liviania’s review of Weddings from Hell by Maggie Shayne, Jeaniene Frost, Terri Garey, and Kathryn Smith
Paranormal romance anthology released by Harper 27 May 08

I enjoy anthologies because they are a good way to get a feel for an author’s work. This made me more excited to read Weddings from Hell because of the four contributors, I had only read Terri Garey’s work previously. I knew nothing about Maggie Shayne, but I have wanted to try both Jeaniene Frost and Kathryn Smith. Together the four created a fairly solid anthology with an even tone.

‘Til Death by Maggie Shayne

When she was seven years old, Kira MacLellan witnessed the strange death of her mother. Now her great aunt Iris has died, leaving her a fortune – if she marries Ian Stewart within the week. Doing so could mean Kira’s death due to the family curse.

‘Til Death works very well as a ghost story. There’s a dark atmosphere, some creepy occurrences, and a conclusion that could be more coherent but still makes sense. As a romance, I didn’t quite buy it. I’m not big on love at first sight, which is pretty much the basis of Kira and Ian’s relationship. They have no time to get to know each other before they are married and breaking curses. I liked both characters and felt they had chemistry, but I didn’t feel their relationship had a solid foundation.

Grade: B-

Happily Never After by Jeaniene Frost

I know enough about Frost’s work to know that this novella connects to her main series through the character of Bones. Greta calls upon her former companion Bones to rescue her grandson Frazier and to help her granddaughter Isabella escape her engagement to Robert “Robbery” Bertino, a small-time mob boss. Pretty soon Isabella has fallen in love with Chance, whom Bones sent to take care of the problem.

I’m a sucker for mob stories. Throw in a basically amoral vampire hero and you’ve got me hooked. Isa’s a tough woman who can think on her feet and Chance likes to put down his opponents with extreme prejuidice. They’re likeable characters and the plot is solid and moves quickly. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Isa get out of her predicament with Chance’s help. This story has the most violence of the four, but it is more of an urban fantasy than a paranormal romance.

Grade: B+

Ghouls Night Out by Terri Garey

This novella features Nikki Styx, the heroine of Garey’s main series. Nikki agrees to be a bridesmaid in her cousin Debbie’s wedding, not knowing she’s replacing another girl. However, Michelle is still around – or at least her ghost is. Nikki must set Michelle’s spirit to rest before Michelle will leave her alone.

I was not that fond of Garey’s novel Dead Girls are Easy, and I think her entry was the weakest. It’s supposed to be a bit more light-hearted and comedic, but most of it feels mean-spirited. Nikki makes cruel comments about her family, even though she learns some of her impressions were wrong. The story picks up once Michelle’s revenge is in full swing, but until that point I just felt disgusted by the heroine.

Grade: C-

The Wedding Night by Kathryn Smith

Vampire Payen returns to England to discover his lover Violet is getting married to another man, one who belongs to the Order of the Silver Palm. As the Order opposes both vampires and Templars, it gives Payen a reason to stop the wedding besides his jealousy. Unfortunately, his actions may put Violet in danger.

This story, unlike the others, is a historical. People who know a great deal about the Templar knights might want to avoid it, but I don’t know enough to be bothered by any historical inaccuracies. It’s a fairly simple tale, and I would like it more if I understood what was so desirable about Violet. There is one good scene where she tells off her ex-fiance, but it feels uncharacteristic of a woman of the time. (Of course, Violet is unlike her female peers even physically.) The story worked fairly well, but the characters fell flat.

Grade: C+

Overall grade: B-

Some marriages are made in heaven . . . Some are not.

What happens when “the happiest day of your life” turns into a nightmare? Forget the drunken best man or the bridesmaid dresses from the ’80s . . . none of these wedding day disasters can compare to a cursed bride determined to make it down the aisle, or a vampire who is about to disrupt your wedding.

Join New York Times bestselling authors Maggie Shayne and Jeaniene Frost, USA Today bestseller Kathryn Smith, as well as Terri Garey in four unforgettable tales of unholy matrimony . . . where the grooms are dark, dangerous, and mostly dead, and to love and cherish till death takes on a whole new meaning.

Sandy M’s review of Subtle Destiny (Subtle Lovers, Book 4) by Beth Kery
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by Ellora’s Cave 14 May 08

Ahhhhhhhhhhh! A thoroughly satisfied feeling after reading the latest Beth Kery book. Even though this is the fourth book in the Subtle Lovers series, I didn’t feel lost not having read the previous books, the writing is, as always, engrossing, and the characters are larger than life. Exactly what I’ve come to expect from Ms. Kery.

Skylar Ammadon is guilt ridden since the death of her husband two years before. She seeks punishment for her guilt mostly to keep herself sane and alive to take care of her half-Watcher son, Nix. When the new owner of the company where her punishment is meted out arrives to service her, she’s inexplicably drawn to him. She continues to deny the one man who is truly her mate, even when she discovers his duplicity regarding her punishment. Skylar is a strong woman, her power is predicting the future and healing, and she refuses to give in to the desires she feels for her husband’s brother, even though that refusal is slowly killing her. She’s not practiced her gifts for two years, but her world is about to change and she’ll be forced to face her fears and protect those she loves with everything in her.

Living in hell for eons without his mate has made Jax Ammadon one of the strongest Watchers ever, thus his upcoming coronation as king when his older brother steps down. His decision to force Skylar to acknowledge him as her mate will either break them both or doom them forever, but he cannot go on without her any longer. Trying to locate the danger to the Ammadons Skylar has predicted keeps her near him, but he desires more from her. He needs more from her. Jax at times comes off as too domineering, but when he professes his love for Skylar, when he shows her how profound his love is, that’s when you see his desperation, his willingness to do anything to make Skylar accept him as her mate.

So much happens in this book and at times scenes are so deep in talking about the astral plane, subtle bodies, and truest forms that I think you do need to read the other books first just to be more comfortable with exactly what’s happening. I understood most of it, but I know there’s some nuances that flew right by me here and there. That never, however, took away from the romance, the desire, the need these two characters have for one another. Ms. Kery has created a paranormal world with so many levels that is very intriguing to read. As usual, her characters draw you into their lives very quickly, causing you to share every emotion that whisps through them.

I’ve had ups and downs with Ms. Kery’s books, but there’s more superior than there is mediocre and she keeps surprising me and intriguing me time and again.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Grief and guilt-ridden Skylar Ammadon sometimes wonders if she has the strength to go on living. Her life mate Duse has been murdered for over two years and she still finds each day an unbearable trial. She lives and functions in the physical world only, denying her supernatural gifts or any subtle realities, existing only to ensure her precious son’s health and happiness and living far, far away from the shattering memories of Dunleavy Castle.

But as much as she tries to forget, as much as she strives to deny, as much as she tries to punish herself, her immense desire for one man will not be purged from her mind or body.

Jax Ammadon’s suffering has made him stronger than any Watcher alive. For hundreds of years he’s burned alive for the one woman that fate has designated could never be his. He watches helplessly as Skylar’s denial of the truth of what they are to one another slowly kills her. Her grieving period must come to an end.

It’s time for the new king of the Watchers to claim what’s his.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Gwen’s review of Baddest Bad Boys by Shannon McKenna, E.C. Sheedy, and Cate Noble
Contemporary erotic romance anthology released by Kensington Brava 1 May 08

All three stories in this anthology has alpha males, damsels in distress, emotional tension, some drama. Oh, and hot hot sex. What more could you want from a summer read? And, bonus! They also happen to be written by some of our favorite people!

Anytime, Anywhere by Shannon McKenna

I like McKenna’s writing. The characters aren’t always sympathetic and the erotic scenes are seriously steamy and this story is no exception. I loved the heroine. She decides the burden of her virginity would be removed from her by the man she’s loved forever – the best friend of one of her brothers. the heroine has an irrepressible quality that just makes you like her. Here are a couple of sentences where she’s planning The Seduction:

She gave her body a critical once-over… Had the taut tummy and the boobs happening, thank God. They weren’t excessive, but they were perky and cheerful, and they did their divinely ordained boobly duty of filling out her bra and dragging mens’ eyes away from her face… Put those boobs to work. About time they stopped bouncing aimlessly around on her chest and started earning their keep.

And that right there is one of the biggest reasons this story was so fun to read – the heroine was just fun. The hero was hot, troubled, and very, very alpha. The villain was downright creepy, too.

A really good story.

Grade: A-

Summary:

For years, Robin MacNamara has been secretly in love with her big brother’s friend Jon Amendola, but the sexy cop has never seen her as anything but a kid. Until Robin follows him to an isolated cabin to prove she’s all grown up. Unfortunately, Jon’s last case isn’t quite closed-and someone wants payback…

Read an excerpt.

After the Lovin’ by E.C. Sheedy

This is a really cute story. As you could tell from my reaction to the first story, I love an ‘ugly duckling’ story. In this one, the hero was the duckling and he had always had a crush on the heroine. A crush that shamed him, making him behave abysmally to the heroine. Our story starts years later, though, and the duckling is now a hunk. A hunk who still wants to treat the heroine like shit but can’t.

These two characters manage to come together, defeating a very nasty villain at the same time. This would have made a nice book, I think.

Grade: B+

Summary:

In need of a place to hide, Tommi Smith finds herself on the doorstep of a high school classmate’s remote fishing lodge. Though Mac Fleming never trusted this knockout’s reputation for breaking hearts, nothing’s going to stop him from seducing her into his bed now. Until Tommi’s past comes back to haunt them…

No excerpt available.

Deal With the Devil by Cate Noble

This was my least favorite story of the three stories. It was readable, but I didn’t feel like the characters were sympathetic. The drama and tension were sporadic, and the villains were not very clearly drawn. Plus, the heroine was a bit wimpy.

Grade: C

Summary:

All Ellie McMann DeLuca wants is one night with the only man she’s ever truly loved-Max DeLuca, dubbed the Devil by the Italian paparazzi. Max agrees on one condition: they extend it to seven nights of sensual pleasure on a private island. But after a whole week of fulfilling each other’s deepest desires, how will they go back to the way things were?

Read an excerpt. You have to highlight the text to read it on the black background.

Overall Grade: B

Shannon C.’s review of Law of Averages by Wylie Kinson
Contemporary romance ebook released by Ellora’s Cave 17 May 08

Ms. Kinson specifically requested that we review one of her books, and unfortunately, she got stuck with me. My track record for Ellora’s Cave books has been something less than inspiring, unless you’re Samantha Kane, which most authors are not. In fact, in my more megalomaniacal moments, I like to think that Ms. Kinson keeps coming back to the site every day, with bated breath, hoping I do not hate her book. Well, for her, at least, the wait is over. Read on for my thoughts.

Megan Frost is the assistant manager of a very successful restaurant in Toronto. When her boss insists she needs a holiday, she is glad to be going to sunny Bermuda so she can enjoy the sights, work on her tan, and maybe have some vacation sex. She is not expecting Gabriel Law, the Dark Angel of rock, to also be spending the week in Bermuda and, thanks to a misunderstanding, they soon find themselves sharing a house, and their beds. But can an average girl and a rock god find lasting happiness?

Well, I’ll just go right ahead and say it. I liked this short novel. Both Megan and Gabriel were nice, normal people who had perfectly understandable neuroses. There was no tortured past for either of them, and they both had chemistry in spades. Plus, I am a sucker for musician heroes, even though Gabriel’s style of music probably isn’t my cuppa, either. The sexual tension between the two is palpable practically from the moment they meet, and when they finally get into bed, the sex scenes are toe-curlingly good.

I really liked Ms. Kinson’s writing style. She is funny without having her heroine do silly things just for cheap laughs. Her descriptions of Bermuda made me wish I were going there, and I really empathized with the characters, and could hear their very distinct voices in my head. Plus, this isn’t a terribly complex story, with no extraneous suspense subplot, and only incidental mentions of other characters, so we really do get to see the development of the relationship between Gabriel and Megan.

I have a few quibbles that keep this out of the A grade range. First of all, there was a paranormal element inserted in the story that not only felt unnecessary, but was also way too schmaltzy for my taste. Second of all, no mention was ever made of Gabriel and Megan using any form of protection. If I were Megan, even if I were sleeping with a rock star, I would be worried at the very least about disease.

All in all though, I really enjoyed this story and am pleased to find an EC title that I can recommend.
Grade: B

Summary:

Megan Frost, an up-and-coming restaurateur, knows everything there is to know about the culinary arts, but when it comes to pop culture, she’s been living under a rock. During a vacation to the sunny island of Bermuda, the yummiest dish she’s ever laid eyes on rolls that rock right off her.

British musician Gabriel Law, the famous Dark Angel of Rock, regrets putting his songwriting on the back burner. Tired and creatively simmered out, he retreats to the peace and solitude of Bermuda in order to cook up some original sounds for his new album. But when he finds a naked girl in his holiday cottage, he happily exchanges solitude for a sizzling duet.

The ingredients for a sexy, scorching relationship are in place, but the mix isn’t complete without a romantic legend, a mysterious taxi driver and a surprise symbol of destiny from the aquamarine sea…

Read an excerpt here

Liviania‘s review of The Touch of Twilight (Sign of the Zodiac Book 3) by Vicki Pettersson
Urban fantasy released by EOS 27 May 08

I first encountered Vicki Pettersson in the anthology Holidays are Hell which included her intriguing short story “Harvest.” I liked the protagonist and mythology presented and began to the Signs of the Zodiac series. In the third novel, The Touch of Twilight, a doppelganger is ripping apart the fabric of reality – and Joanna Archer may only be able to stop it with the help of her father.

The problem is her father is the leader of the Shadows. The third sign of the Zodiac predicts that her Shadow side will rise, but Joanna doesn’t believe she would switch sides. For one, the Tulpa’s top priority is still finding and killing her mother. Joanna is distracted from her fate and that of Las Vegas by her complicated love life. The Shadow Cancer Regan pursues her old boyfriend Ben. Hunter pursues Joanna, and works as an escort on the side.

Ben faces some character assassination. I never preferred him to Hunter, so it didn’t bother me to much, but I would have liked some foreshadowing in the previous novels. Hunter and Joanna still have chemistry. Their scenes together range from playful to bittersweet, and I hope they manage to work things out because they’re fun to read together.

The Touch of Twilight is not welcoming to newcomers. Pettersson bases her mythology on comic books and astrology, an uncommon choice in urban fantasy. The world building is tight, but the complexity and terminology might not be easily picked up without reading the first or second novels before the third. In this one, I was looking for growth in Joanna’s character. The first was her introduction to the world of the Zodiac as well as the readers’. The second allowed her to make mistakes and realize the consequences of her actions. The third focuses more on the relationships and less on the action.

The action present satisfies. There are some excellent horror-style segments involving message-by-minion. Once again things build to a large confrontation between the Light and Shadow troops. Joanna works with Chandra and shows a capability for strategy, both things that reveal the growth I wanted to see. She still makes a number of mistakes, but she is learning from them. Her stumbles do not frustrate me like those of most heroines because she did suddenly gain her powers and the other Zodiac warriors spent their lives preparing for the fight.

Pettersson creates a number of questions to be (hopefully) answered in the fourth book. The plight of the changelings, human children who aid the Zodiac warriors, comes up often in The Touch of Twilight but is not resolved. I like how important imagination is to the powers of either side, and the kids who believe in the warriors are easy to emphasize with. The book ends with Joanna knowing one character might be in danger. Zoe Archer, Joanna’s mother, might return. The Scent of Shadows was an impressive beginning and the novels become ever more interesting as Joanna overcomes her past and faces the present.

Grade: B+

The summary:
On the surface she’s a sexy, sophisticated socialite, at home among the beautiful people of the Las Vegas upper crust. But Joanna Archer inhabits another world: a place ordinary humans cannot see . . . a dangerous dimension where an eternal battle rages between the agents of Light and Shadow. And Joanna is both.

Stalked by an enigmatic doppelganger from a preternatural realm, Joanna can feel the Light failing—which is propelling her toward a terrifying confrontation with the ultimate master of evil, the dark lord of Shadow: her father.

Vegas is all about winning big . . . or losing everything. To save her friends, her future, her worlds, Joanna Archer must gamble it all by fully embracing the darkness inside her.
Read an excerpt here.

Shannon C.’s review of The Queen’s Bastard (Inheritor’s Cycle, Book 1) by C.E. Murphy
Historic fantasy released by Del Rey 29 Apr 08

C.E. Murphy, whose urban fantasy is, I’m told, very good, certainly has a gift for storytelling. Her narrative voice is smooth, and the prose is lovely without extending that extra notch into purple, and I found the book engaging. Unfortunately, I feel as if I’ve read this story before.

Belinda Primrose is the bastard daughter of Queen Lorraine Walter of Aulun. Raised by her father, Lord Robert Drake, the queen’s spymaster, she is molded into a secret tool used by her mother for the good of the crown, acting mostly as an assassin. However, her latest assignment is to venture to the city of Lutetia, the capital of neighboring Gallin, where, under the guise of Lady Beatrice Irvine, she is to insinuate herself into Queen Sandalia’s court. Sandalia is heir to three kingdoms, and holds much animosity toward Lorraine, whose country has adopted religious reformation. If Belinda, disguised as Beatrice, can ferret out Sandalia’s plots, that’s all to the good. But she never counts on discovering the Witchbreed power she has inherited.

As I said above, I really liked the storytelling here. Murphy really knows how to pace herself, and while I can’t say I couldn’t put this book down, I did enjoy it while I was reading it. I generally like political intrigue, and it really is nice to read about a heroine occasionally who isn’t a trembling virgin. In fact, Belinda revels in her bisexuality, which I still find amazingly refreshing.

Despite all that, though, I didn’t like Belinda. She never particularly resonated with me, and I was bothered by the fact that everything she sets out to do she manages with great aplomb. I kept waiting for an ax to fall, and when it finally did and she got the bitch-slap she so richly deserved, I didn’t really think she’d suffered enough.

Speaking of suffering, I was intrigued by Belinda’s romantic interest, Sandalia’s son Javier. He seems like a pretty nice guy who nonetheless has had an extremely privileged life. His three best friends, a merchant’s son, a young nobleman, and a girl from the streets, all look to him as leader, and his relationships with them shift in subtle ways thanks to Belinda’s machinations. I felt horrible because by the end of the book it’s Javier who has lost a great deal. I’d like to see more of his PoV in the next book in the series, and I’m hoping his story arc is not as destined to end tragically as it sort of looks like it might.

The secondary characters are fairly compelling, particularly the ones we didn’t see much of in this book. Lorraine seems like an especially interesting woman, and Eliza, Javier’s friend from the streets, is definitely a tragically drawn character who I hope gets much more screen time. Most compelling of all is Robert Drake, Belinda’s father, who may have secrets of his own, although from what I pieced together from memories Belinda read from him, I suspect that there’s no way he can reveal his secrets without them being very much on the cheesy side.

I did see the similarities in style between this book and Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel trilogy, of which I’ve read the first two books. In fact, I felt at times that Murphy was trying too hard to emulate an idol, and falling just short of the mark. Also, the book draws heavily on Tudor-era Europe, and at times I found that distracting. I didn’t really get a sense of the uniqueness of this world, or how it differed from ours except in very small, inconsequential ways.

I feel this review may be a tad too nitpicky considering the fact that I enjoyed the book for the most part. I definitely do intend to read the next books in the series, and I would recommend it with reservations to someone who likes their fantasy a bit more on the realistic side. This book has certainly made me eager to start some of Ms. Murphy’s other books which I have languishing on the TBR.

Grade: C+

Summary:
In a world where religion has ripped apart the old order, Belinda Primrose is the queen’s secret weapon. The unacknowledged daughter of Lorraine, the first queen to sit on the Aulunian throne, Belinda has been trained as a spy since the age of twelve by her father, Lorraine’s lover and spymaster.

Cunning and alluring, fluent in languages and able to take on any persona, Belinda can infiltrate the glittering courts of Echon where her mother’s enemies conspire. She can seduce at will and kill if she must. But Belinda’s spying takes a new twist when her witchlight appears.

Now Belinda’s powers are unlike anything Lorraine could have imagined. They can turn an obedient daughter into a rival who understands that anything can be hers, including the wickedly sensual Javier, whose throne Lorraine both covets and fears. But Javier is also witchbreed, a man whose ability rivals Belinda’s own . . . and can be just as dangerous.

Amid court intrigue and magic, loyalty and love can lead to more daring passions, as Belinda discovers that power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.

You can read an excerpt here.

Limecello’s review of Photo Opportunity by Jess Dee
Contemporary romance published by Samhain 2 May 08.

I believe this is the first book I’ve read by Jess Dee, and I’m definitely intrigued. I really enjoy the “friends to lovers” story line. Not only that, but after I’d read a few excerpts for it I knew I wanted to read the story.

The opening of the Photo Opportunity is extremely well written. The scene is hot, and incredibly sexy, yet it’s emotional and warm. There’s a definite connection between the hero and heroine. I knew, reading it, however, that what I was reading wasn’t “reality” – and I was right. It was a dream sequence. Unfortunately, the rest of the book did not read like a dream.

I really wanted to like Daniel and Amy, the hero and heroine, but at times they made it extremely difficult. I appreciated the fact that Daniel knew he loved Amy, and made the decision to go after her. I love when a hero does that- and Daniel goes about it in a very creative and complex way, setting up faux admirers, and recruiting his sister’s help. However, some of the scenes weren’t very believable, and all put together, at times the plot didn’t flow.

Amy, as a romance heroine, fell into a lot of clichés. She’d been hurt before, and completely walled off her emotions to prevent future heartbreak. I was even ok with that, but Amy’s reactions and logic (or perhaps lack thereof) irritated me. She convinced herself her numerous emotionally (and sexually) charged situations with Adam were all in her head. While I understand this can be possible when a person is running away from a difficult truth, even in that situation, Amy’s response in Photo Opportunity was borderline ludicrous.

I also felt that the author didn’t really stand by what she wrote. Many of those situations I found so hard to believe, were later “explained” away, as being machinations Daniel created in his pursuit of Amy. However, I didn’t find the explanations plausible. What saves the book are the extremely sexy scenes, and great emotional connection Amy and Daniel have when they aren’t being stupid. Too many questions and conflicts could have been resolved with a simple conversation, that would have occurred but for the sake of prolonging the story. Still, some of the scenes were extremely well written, and the emotions were there, and strong.

I think that Jess Dee’s writing shows promise, and I look forward to reading more of her books. The story was fun and creative, the characteristics of Daniel and Amy admirable, but put together, all the aspects of this story didn’t really work for me. Still, some of the scenes read extremely well, and I hope to see more like them.

Grade: D+

Can friends become lovers…can lovers remain friends?

A prequel to Ask Adam.

Daniel Tanner’s through with being loved like the proverbial brother. He intends to make his best friend, Amy Morgan, blaze with the same desire he feels for her. The plan? Initiate a series of escapades that will have Amy falling into his arms—and into his bed.

When her trusted buddy suddenly turns up the heat, Amy finds it impossible to resist his sexy advances. But as his best friend, she knows a thing or two about Daniel. While he may be charming and gorgeous, he’s also commitment phobic.

If she trusts her heart to him, she’s sure he’ll leave it—and their friendship—shattered in a million pieces.

Read an excerpt here.

Devon’s review of The Bond That Heals Us by Christine D’Abo
Futuristic Romance released by Ellora’s Cave 7 May 08

Every once in awhile, when I’m feeling a bit sick of the same old, same old, I like to sink my teeth into a SciFi/futuristic romance. Futuristic romances present a similar challenge to paranormal: that of creating a coherent, consistent alternate universe in addition to a believable love story. Authors have to avoid the dreaded info dump, while weaving the details of their world, so that it’s not all meaningless jargon and faux technological mumbo-jumbo. On the other hand, you don’t want to give too little detail, because then the reader has too many questions, and can’t get involved in the story.

Well, this reader anyway. A quick look at Christine D’Abo’s website shows that she released a book in 2007 called The Bond That Ties Us. I’m guessing that you really, really need to read that book to get the most out of this one. Otherwise, you’re a bit lost. For example, the heroine, Sara, a doctor on the Eurus colony made up of humans and the Briel. What are the Briel? Space aliens, I guess. We know they are tall, and can communicate telepathically with their mates, but that’s all. For that matter, what’s the purpose of the colony? Why/how does it exist? There’s a large mine on the colony, which figures strongly into part of the story. But we don’t know why the mine is there or what they’re mining. Knowing these sorts of details makes the story hang together better.

Davin Jagt, a Raqulian pilot, crash lands on Eurus and needs assistance to get his ship going. In the meantime, he and Sara find they’ve got some explosive chemistry. Davin and Sara were likeable (though I liked Davin better), and I thought that their numerous sex scenes moved the relationship along. Davin is hiding a secret regarding some abilities that he has. I would have liked it to be revealed a bit more quickly, because my interest started flagging. Since this is an EC, Davin’s powers are somehow tied up with sexual arousal, which led to one truly eye-rolling scene where Davin’s trying to save a man’s life while saying “Tell me what you’re doing” to Sara, who is getting herself off. A time and a place, folks.

While one doesn’t want to be bogged down in exposition when looking for some light reading, some detail is necessary to make us care about the world, the people and the plot. Otherwise, space is just a backdrop for sex. If you enjoy futuristics, and are interested in The Bond That Heals Us, I’d suggest you read The Bond that Ties Us first. I would imagine it would shed greater light onto some of the places, species and events mentioned here.

Grade: C

The Summary:
Sara has been so busy saving the lives of others, her own life has passed her by. But when a mysterious alien captain crash lands his ship on the Eurus colony, Sara feels an unexplained attraction to him and decides to throw herself into an unexpected love affair.

The last thing Davin wants is to walk into a relationship with anyone, let alone a feisty human doctor. But when he is forced to stay on the colony, Davin can’t help but be drawn to Sara’s strength and spirit. As long as he can hide the true nature of his healing abilities from her, everything will be fine.

They tumble headlong into a fiery sexual relationship, drawing closer until events threaten to push them apart permanently. When a group of miners on the planet begins to exhibit unusual behavior, Davin must put his fears aside and work with Sara to save their lives. If he can’t open up to her, all may be lost.
Read an excerpt here

Laura J’s review of A Perfect Match by Shelley Bradley
Contemporary Romance ebook released by Samhain Publishing 13 May 08

Shelley Bradley is a new to me author and with that I really had no idea if I would like this book or not. I had never heard of her before, but reading the blurb I thought it sounded pretty good and I might like it. So I started reading it, hoping to get about 50 pages done at a time but then as I was reading I lost track of time. Suddenly 50 pages turned into 150 pages and I was still didn’t want to put the book down.

Juliette Lowell owns a matchmaking business helping other’s to find their “perfect match”. Mitch MacKinnon is a sports writer who is coerced into writing a fluff piece on Juliette’s business. When the story runs, Juliette is upset to find that although Mitch promised to be unbiased, the article still places possible doubt in readers minds. Mitch agrees to write a retraction, after using Juliette’s services, provided she agrees to use them as well and if things don’t work out then she will admit that Mitch’s original article was accurate.

When Juliette’s system matches her with Mitch, neither are quite sure what to do, but decide that each will plan a part of their date. The dates show both that there may be something to Juliette’s system, but Juliette wants stability and Mitch is looking for adventure.

Ms. Bradley has created wonderful, likable characters. I love her writing voice and the pace of the story flowed effortlessly. The romance between Juliette and Mitch seemed real and unrushed and their banter made me smile in several places during the story. This was a very good story and I was left feeling like what I read was worth the time I spent reading. I’m looking forward to reading more by Ms. Bradley.

Grade: B

Summary:

Journalist Mitch MacKinnon is giving his all to make the big time and he’s found his ticket in…but first he has to write an exposé on a local dating service and its owner, Juliette Lowell. Her unorthodox methods seem laughable…until they pair him with the sexy-as-hell Juliette. As they begin a series of dates to determine their compatibility, will Mitch have to eat his words and the story that will take him to the top in order to admit that Juliette is his perfect match?

Read an excerpt here.