Taking over the world, one book at a time
TITLE: Bound
SERIES #: The Mastered Series #1
CHARACTERS: Ronin Black & Amery Hardwick
AUTHOR: Lorelei James
PUBLICATION DATE: February 4, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N | Books-A-Million | iBooks
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
FIRST IN A NEW SERIES
In the new Mastered series by New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James, a woman’s desire to shatter her inhibitions leaves her unprepared for where that erotic journey will take her .
Former small-town girl Amery Hardwick is living her dream as a graphic designer in Denver, Colorado. She’s focused on building her business, which leaves little time for dating—not that she needs a romantic entanglement to fulfill her. When her friend signs up for a self-defense class as part of her recovery after an attack, Amery joins her for support. That’s where she meets him.
Ronin Black, owner of the dojo, is so drawn to Amery that he takes over her training—in public and in private. The enigmatic Ronin pushes Amery’s boundaries from the start, and with each new tryst, Amery becomes addicted to the pleasure and to him. But when Amery senses Ronin is hiding something, she questions her total trust in him, despite the undeniable thrill of his possession .
REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts I have to start by saying that this was my first Lorelei James book. I know, I know. As soon as I post this I will get tons of book suggestions. Thanks in advance. Next the formatting of this book was bad. I realize it was an advance copy but it was a little hard to read. Okay on to the story.
I liked this story. I was not in love with it. Ronin is a bit of an asshat an extremely hot, brooding, tough as nails guys but still an asshat. I liked him and hated him all at the same time. Which means he must need lots and lots of love. I guess I will just have to hope that Amery will be able to do that. Speaking of Amery, I do like her. It was fun to watch her come out of her shy little shell. But I would have like to see her stand up for herself just a little bit earlier in the book. But then again if she did that the book might have ended.
As it is I will have to wait for book 2 Unbound to find out if Ronin can get things back on track or if he screwed things up to much.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
Lorelei James is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of the Blacktop Cowboys and Rough Riders series as well as the steamy new Mastered series. She lives in the Black Hills of western South Dakota with her family. Visit her online at www.loreleijames.com, www.facebook.com/lorelei-james
TITLE: His Untamed Desire
SERIES #: Moon Shifter #3.5 (a novella)
CHARACTERS: Hector & Daphne
AUTHOR: Katie Reus
PUBLICATION DATE: January 7, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the author of Mating Instinct comes a sexy and thrilling novella about primal desires.
Lupine shifter Daphne’s recent move back home gives her a chance at the fierce and sexy male she’s always wanted: jaguar shifter Hector. Daphne plans to show him she’s all grown up, and more than enough woman for him. Unfortunately, a certain vampire has been harassing her and won’t take no for an answer.
Hector knows Daphne can take care of herself, but he immediately steps in to protect her. He’s lusted after the sweet and sensual woman for years. With circumstances forcing them to share a roof, Hector’s not hiding his attraction toward her any longer.
But Daphne’s not the only shifter with vampire problems: tensions between the two groups are rising all over New Orleans. Pregnant shifters are being kidnapped and Hector’s sister could be the next victim. When Daphne underestimates her stalker’s persistence, it might be too late for Hector to keep both of the women he loves safe.
His Untamed Desire includes a preview from the next Moon Shifter novel, Avenger’s Heat.
REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Hot dog!!! So the hardest thing about reviewing a novella is to not give away what happens. So I will keep this short and sweet just like this book. Daphne and Hector are hawt together. I just love these two. I am so glad that Katie wrote their story. I would suggest reading His Untamed Desire before Avengers Heat only because it helps set up the book. But it is not a requirement.
So that is all you get. Moon Shifter fans will love this novella. Although I would like more of Hector & Daphne in the future.
Disclaimer:
This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
TITLE: Bared
SERIES #: Club Sin #2
CHARACTERS: Aidan Knight & Cora Adams
AUTHOR: Stacey Kennedy
PUBLICATION DATE:
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
At Las Vegas’s exclusive Club Sin, Aidan Knight is the Master, unleashing the erotic yearnings of his submissive lovers. But his dominant façade conceals a devastating loss—something he instantly recognizes in his personally trained submissive Cora Adams. Sworn to unearth her secrets, Aidan uses his seductive skills to ignite her wildest desires until Cora yields to the pleasure she can find only with him.
Cora came to the BDSM club to act out her sub-and-dom fantasies without ever revealing the heartbreak that haunts her. But Aidan’s masterful touch is bringing her closer to the edge . . . and deeper into a world of control and surrender. He refuses to allow her to submit to any other man—nor does she want to. It’s a dangerous game they’re playing. For as they give in to passion, they must lay bare their souls for a love that could heal—and free—them both.
Bared is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences
KELLY’S REVIEW:
4 Hearts What a way to start a book. Chapter one was a bit intense and something you would find in the middle of any other book. But Stacey throw us into the deep in of the pool in this story.
I really did enjoy Aidan & Cora’s story. But these two tried my nerves. Both love and care for the other but the last two years has been a personal kind of hell for both of them. Cora is afraid to tell Aidan about her feelings fearing that he will run from her. Aidan just tries to not feel anything at all. So when Aidan sees that Cora is hurting he wants to know why. Just that one small questions could wreck everything that they have had the last two years.
Really love the way that Stacey writes a story. It tugs at your heart strings, makes you want to slap the characters and jump for joy when they finally figure it all out. If you love book one of the Club Sin series you will love Bared.
KIMBERLY’S REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts So I am a big fan of Stacey Kennedy’s but something was just off with this book. That is not to say I didn’t like it because I did. I enjoyed it very much just not as much as I usually do. The character of Cora seemed to change from book one to this book. This book seemed a little dark. The sex was steamy but the connection just didn’t seem to be there.
Cora is in love with Aidan and has been but he doesn’t know it. She seems like a schoolgirl with a crush and Aidan seems almost naive for lack of a better word. They are both dealing with his past in different ways. I am just not sure it is worth it myself. And the ending seemed to be like Aidan had a lightbulb moment and changes his whole life. It is a bit weird.
Now again I enjoyed the book. I am not sure I could ever say I didn’t enjoy a book by Kennedy because her writing is great and her sex scenes are done great too. But I just hope the next in the series isn’t so unrequited.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
TITLE: Scream For Me: A Novel of the Night Hunter
SERIES #: Montlake Suspense #3
CHARACTERS: Kyle McKenzie & Cadence Hollow
AUTHOR: Cynthia Eden
PUBLICATION DATE: February 4, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Nothing is deeper than the desire they can’t fight—or deadlier than the evil they can’t escape.
They were only supposed to have a professional relationship, but FBI agent Kyle McKenzie has been fantasizing about his sexy partner, Cadence Hollow, from the moment they first moment. It takes the darkest case of their careers to finally bring their hidden desire bubbling to the surface. Once they’re in each other’s arms, though, they swear that nothing short of death will part them. The Night Hunter—a cunning stalker whose four-state, fifteen-year abduction spree began in Paradox, Alabama, with Kyle’s sister—may be only too happy to oblige.
In the small town, Kyle must confront the painful past he’s been hiding from Cadence. Kyle vows to put the Hunter behind bars…or in the ground. But the one thing that obsesses Kyle more than his sister’s grim fate—his furious love for Cadence—is the weapon the Hunter will use to lure his pursuers into the mouth of a murderous trap.
REVIEW:
In Scream for Me, we catch up with Kyle McKenzie & Cadence Hollow who are called in to help track a killer, but this case is a little too close to home. Another young woman has vanished in the dead of the night. In the same town and the same way that Kyle’s little sister vanished 15 years ago. As the agents get closer the killer gets more bold. But the question is how many are still alive and is Maria, Kyle’s sister, one of them?
I am honestly not sure what is more scary the mind of a killer or the mind of a suspense author. Both are very very scary places to be. This book had me guessing who the killer was the whole time. I thought it was one person and then realized no it can’t be it has to be this other person. In the end…… Well I won’t tell you that. You need to pick up your own copy of Scream for Me and find out for yourself.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Montlake Romance in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
TITLE: Take a Chance on Me
SERIES #: Something New #1
CHARACTERS: Mitch Riley & Maddie Donovan
AUTHOR: Jennifer Dawson
PUBLICATION DATE: February 4, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Gorgeous runaway brides. . .
When Maddie Donovan runs out on her high school sweetheart moments before walking down the aisle, she ends up at a bar in the small town of Revival, Illinois, with only the wedding dress on her back, fifty dollars to her name, and her “good girl” reputation in tatters. Not ready to return to Chicago and face the music, she accepts hot bartender Mitch Riley’s offer to stay at his place. But sharing such close quarters is driving Maddie insane with desire.
Always drink for free. . .
Mitch thinks he’s seen it all—until Maddie strides into his bar in full wedding attire and downs three shots of whiskey. Though the gorgeous knockout seems tough as nails, he also senses her vulnerability. With a troubled past of his own, Mitch has no interest in ties of any kind—yet he can’t help falling for Maddie. Now he’s got to find a way to convince her to give love a second chance.
REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts I really enjoyed this book. I loved the beginning, nothing sets a scene like a runaway bride, who has sore feet, a dirty ripped up dress and needing a drink badly walking into a bar. I really enjoyed Maddie, except the references about how much she was sinning. At that point she had not done anything wrong. Mitch is just yummy. I love that he keeps Maddie on her toes, that he knows when to push her and when to pull back (well most of the time).
These two are just so cute together. They both would have never thought that the thing they need to help them heal would come in the form of a broken down care and a determined runaway bride who wants a drink.
I can’t wait to see where this series goes. Maddie has 3 brothers that I think will need some very amazing women to wrangle them in.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & Kensington Books (Zebra) in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
TITLE: Rule Breaker
SERIES #: Breed #29
CHARACTERS: Rule Breaker &
AUTHOR: Lora Leigh
PUBLICATION DATE: February 4, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Lion Breed, Rule Breaker had just a few rules he didn’t break. Not for anything. Not for anyone.
#1. Never have sex with a woman outside his own subspecies, especially a human woman.
#2. Never, at any time, accept a mission concerning a female when Jonas Wyatt stinks of a lie.
#3. Run don’t walk, skip or stumble. Run, hell for leather away from any female, human or breed, when his desire for her appears, in any way, to have so much as a single sign of Mating Heat.
Now, the woman believes he’s mated, is too helpless, to fun loving and too full of life to ever be able to protect herself, let alone aide him in protecting her.
If the damned animal inside him insisted on a mate, then why pick the woman it did? One that could be struck out at, at any time?
But, what he suspected was a mating, may not be. No swollen glands? No heat? Just his animal instincts rioting, pacing, irritated whenever he’s away from her.
Okay, he could handle that.
What ensues is a fiery affair that breaks all the rules of mating heat and will eventually endanger his mate with the very rules designed to protect the breeds when Jonas learns she’s possibly been working against them.
REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts WOW!!!!! 29 books in this series so far? And I think I read on Ms. Feehan that this series is going to be drawing to a close, but I would have to double check that. But I think that it might be time. While this was an okay book it really didn’t feel like the story went any where. And this was a long book around 450 pages. And it seems like a lot of those pages were just filled with random words. I honestly never felt a connection to Gypsy & Rule. I tried really hard to like them as a couple but it just didn’t work for me. I am not really sure of the why’s about this. Maybe it is just Gypsy’s personality. Maybe it is how Rule tries to denies what she means to him. Maybe it was a lot of things. Maybe it is because it has been so long since I read this series? And there is not enough time in the day to do a 28 book re-read.
Needless to say I am on the fence as to whether I will read the need book(s) in this series. I liked Gideon and would like to know more about him. But on the same hand I don’t want to be let down with a just okay story for him.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
Meet Lora here: Website | Facebook | Goodreads
TITLE: Somebody To Love
SERIES #: Cupid, Texas #3
CHARACTERS: Jericho Chance, Zoey McCleary
AUTHOR: Lori Wilde
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/31/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS: Sexy cowboy-scholar Jericho Chance always knows exactly what he wants and how to get it. And after sauntering back home to Cupid, he’s shocked to discover that he wants Zoey McCleary. After years from home, he takes one new look at his bubbly best friend, with her lightning smarts and luscious body, and it hits him like a bolt: she’s his somebody to love and he’s not leaving town again without her.
Settling down always seemed like a time waster to Zoey, a man magnet with a trail of broken hearts behind her. She’s not meant to marry–but how can she resist someone as persuasive as Jericho? There’s no way they can ignore the explosive chemistry seething between them…even if it means risking their friendship….
REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts I’ve always loved Lori Wilde’s books and Somebody to Love is no exception. Zoey and Jericho have been best friends since childhood but each have been wanting their friendship to turn into something more. When Jericho comes back to Cupid for an opportunity of getting him dream job in Archaeology at the local college, it looks as though they finally have a chance to take things to the next level. The only problem is that Jericho will lose his dream job if he gets caught in relations with a student and Zoey just happens to be a student on his archaeological dig. They make a pact to keep their hands off each other until the end of the program, but being in close quarters is making it difficult to not give in to temptation.
I thought this was a great book and Zoey was an adorable character to me. She was such a free-spirit wild child that everyone believed had no direction in her life. When she finally committed to her archaeological studies, she finally felt that she found what she had been looking for and it would bring her closer to Jericho.
They had been best friends for ages and when Jericho arrived back in Cupid, he was surprised at how seeing Zoey would affect him romantically. He was always attracted to her, but never really knew how she truly felt even when she kissed him on her 21st birthday. Now, there was no denying the sexual chemistry between them but he had to stay away from her or he would lose his job. Easier said than done when they kept ending up situations that tempted them to break that pact.
Somebody to Love was a heart-warming friends to lovers romance that was hard to put down. I love every book in the Cupid, Texas series and Somebody to Love is a delightful addition to an already fabulous series. I can’t wait to read more from Lori Wilde and the residents of Cupid in her next book, Love With a Perfect Cowboy.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
TITLE: Master Of The Opera Act 3: Phantom Serenade
SERIES #: Master Of The Opera #3
CHARACTERS: Christy & Master
AUTHOR: Jeffe Kennedy
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/06/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In the third enticing installment of Jeffe Kennedy’s enthralling “Master of the Opera,” a woman finds herself torn between two powerful lovers-and one reckless passion that leaves her aching for more…After a harrowing night trapped in the tunnels beneath the Sante Fe Opera House, intern Christy Davis finds comfort in the arms of Roman Sanclaro, the opera’s wealthy and gorgeous benefactor. But even as Roman tries to impress her with his lavish lifestyle-and seduce her with his charms-Christy cannot stop obsessing over her other, clandestine lover. Hidden in the labrynths below, a mysterious masked man has become the master of her desires: a sensual but commanding partner who pushes Christy to the very brink of erotic pleasure…and beyond. No other man can compare. But somewhere, watching from the shadows, a fiercely jealous rival threatens to destroy the erotic secret they share.
Haunted by doubts, deception, and danger, Christy must choose between the warnings in her mind, the feelings in her heart…and the wild, forbidden yearnings that set her body on fire.
REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This is the third installment by Jeffe Kennedy’s new book. It is a very short story that is being told in 6 installments. In the first installment we met the characters, in the second we saw Christy and Master come together. In this installment the Master introduces Christy to his world of sexual control.
It is obviously based on Phantom of the Opera with a few differences of course. There is a bit of suspense as well but that is not the true story.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Avenger’s Heat
SERIES #: Moon Shifter #4
CHARACTERS: Noah Campbell & Erin Flynn
AUTHOR: Katie Reus
PUBLICATION DATE: February 4, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
To truly have her, he must free her from her dark secret…
Enforcer Erin Flynn has dedicated her life to protecting her kind. But keeping her heart safe from Noah Campbell, the smoking-hot shifter who saved her life last year, is more difficult. The deadly beauty would love to sink into his arms and become his mate, but she knows she can’t—he must never know about her dark past.
When Erin is sent to investigate the disappearances of pregnant shifters in New Orleans, Erin and Noah find themselves involved in a mystery more sinister than anyone expected. And as Erin delves further into the crimes, chilling information about her own past is revealed. The people who wanted her dead in the first place are trying to finish the job, and Noah wants nothing more than to shield her from harm. But can Erin truly trust Noah and let him see the wounded beast she’s hidden for so long?
REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Erin is on her first solo mission, not completely solo Noah has been set with her, to find out why pregnant shifters are disappearing. Erin’s first step is to meet with the Alpha of the area, who just happens to be Noah’s father. This mission has lots of twists and turns and will become very difficult for Erin. Having Noah by her side will both help and hinder her at the same time.
Another great story in the Moon Shifter series. Loved reading about Noah & Erin. I loved how patient Noah is with Erin. It was heart breaking to learn more about Erin’s past. But these two make an awesome team and I can’t wait to see glimpse of them in future books.
I would have like to jump into parts of Noah’s past a little more. But maybe this will come out in a future book. I am sure that Noah & Erin’s story is far from over. I did enjoy reading about Brianna and Angelo and hope that we get to see more of them in the future too.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
