Category: 3 Star

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Kelly reviews Beautiful Danger by Michele Hauf

Beautiful Danger

TITLE: Beautiful Danger
SERIES #: In the Company of Vampires #1
CHARACTERS: Domingos LaRoque & Lark (Lisa
AUTHOR: Michele Hauf
PUBLICATION DATE: July 1, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Could Her Sworn Enemy Lead Her Out of Darkness?As a member of an ancient order of hunters, Lark has found that eliminating dangerous vampires is about more than duty. It’s personal—a kill for every day her husband was held captive before his death. Staking her prey isn’t a challenge until she confronts Domingos LaRoque. Mad with vengeance and the blood of a powerful phoenix, Domingos tests her skills…and seduces her soul.

Once a talented musician, Domingos can’t escape the constant music in his head …or his need to destroy the werewolf pack that tortured him. Though trusting the hunter ordered to kill him could be his gravest mistake, the dark desires between them can’t be refused. Yet as he and Lark become allies to defeat a mutual threat, loving the enemy may be the ultimate sacrifice.

REVIEW:
This was an okay story for me. Normally I love the worlds that Michele Hauf creates. But for some reason I just didn’t connect with this story or the characters.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

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Ursula reviews Game Misconduct by Bianca Sommerland

TITLE: Game Misconduct
SERIES #: Dartmouth Cobras #1
CHARACTERS: Oriana Delgado, Max Perron
AUTHOR: Bianca Sommerland
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/09/2012
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The game has always cast a shadow over Oriana Delgado’s life. She should hate the game. But she doesn’t. The passion and the energy of the sport are part of her. But so is the urge to drop the role of the Dartmouth Cobra owner’s ‘good daughter’ and find a less…conventional one.

Playmaker Max Perron never expected a woman to accept him and his twisted desires. Oriana came close, but he wasn’t surprised when she walked away. A girl like her needs normal. Which he can’t give her. He’s too much of a team player, and not just on the ice.

But then Oriana’s father goes too far in trying to control her and she decides to use exposure as blackmail. Just the implication of her spending the night with the Cobras’ finest should get her father to back off.

Turns out a team player is exactly what she needs.

Warning:
This ebook contains material not suitable for readers under 18. It also contains scenes that some may find objectionable, including BDSM, ménage sex, bondage, anal sex, sex toys, double penetration, voyeurism, edge play, and hockey equipment being used inappropriately.

REVIEW:
I will start out by saying that this is not your usual menage book. There are several groupings throughout the book but in the end, Oriana ends up with just 3. I love a good menage book as much as the next girl but this one got quite a bit confusing at times. I kind of felt like I needed a diagram to help me keep up. Also most confusing was the fact that the author kept switching between the characters first names and last names so that sometimes I lost track of who I was reading about.

Other than that this was a good book. There was some hot love scenes and you get a heavy glimpse into the BDSM scene. Plenty of family drama to keep the reader interested and I am excited to get the chance to read about Oriana’s sister, Silver, in the next book. Bottom line, if you love hockey, then you will like this book.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kelly reviews Fire Inside by Kristen Ashley

Fire Inside

TITLE: Fire Inside
SERIES: Chaos #2
CHARACTERS: Hop Kincaid & Lanie Heron
AUTHOR: Kristen Ashley
PUBLICATION DATE: June 4, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Lanie Heron isn’t looking for love—no surprise, considering her last serious relationship nearly got her killed. So when Lanie propositions Hop Kincaid, all she wants is one wild night with the hot-as-hell biker who patrols with the Chaos Motorcycle Club…

For Hop, Lanie has always been untouchable. She’s too polished and too classy for his tastes. But when she gives Hop the once-over with her bedroom eyes and offers him a night in paradise, he can’t say no. And he doesn’t regret it when he finds that Lanie is the best thing that’s ever happened to him—in or out of bed. Now the trick will be to convince her of that.

REVIEW:
I am on the fence about this one. I like the characters well enough, but never really connected with them. I don’t know what it was. I am not sure if it was this biker world that was created or if I was not in the mood for it. I just didn’t really get into this book.

I do plan on picking up the next in this series and giving the Chaos world another ride.

But I am sure if you loved book 1 then you will love Fire Inside.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

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Kimberly reviews Sleeping With The Entity by Cat Devon

Sleeping With The Entity

TITLE: Sleeping With The Entity
SERIES #: Entity #1
CHARACTERS: Daniella & Nick
AUTHOR: Cat Devon
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/04/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
She has a sweet tooth and a dream.

Meet Daniella Delaney. She’s all ready to open her shop, Heavenly Cupcakes, in one of Chicago’s sleepier districts. But she’s having a hard time convincing the local business association—namely Nick St. George—that she’s a good addition to the neighborhood. Daniella hopes that her famous red velvet cupcakes will be enough to melt any man’s heart. But Nick is no ordinary man. He’s got fangs.

He has a constant craving…

As leader of the Vamptown clan, Nick has no intention of letting Daniella breathe new life into his old haunts. But something about her leaves Nick hungry…for more. He can’t control her mind like other humans, a trait that makes Daniella irresistible. Could it be that, for the first time in centuries, Nick has met his match? Love is always a force to be reckoned with. But can this vampire have his cake and eat it too?

REVIEW:
I am sorta on the fence with this book. It has a bunch of potential and I was interested and wanted to know what was going to happen because the story was very different but it was also really unimpressive in a way. The writing is very simplistic and the characters never seem to really have a connection. Nick is very brooding but not in a good way. He is almost rude in this actions to Daniella. And she is a bit irritating.

The thing that I didn’t like most about this story is how everything just happens to fall into place. I know that sounds weird but it gets old. They need something and it somehow is sitting right next to them. The author changes the “vampire rules” a lot in this story too. And the other irritating thing is she does too much name dropping. So many song/bands, authors, tv shows/movies, etc are listed to count. I do not know why but that also gets old quick. There is also the fact that there is very little of vampire acts in the story.. Honestly I do not think one neck was sucked at all.

Now that all being said it did hold my attention and the story is a bit different so it is something I wanted to finish to see what happened. If you enjoy cheesy vampire stories you will enjoy this one. It keeps your attention if you can get past all the other stuff.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kelly reviews Dragon Mine by Jamie Rush

TITLE: Dragon Mine
SERIES #: The Hidden (Novella #0.5)
CHARACTERS: Kirin & Elle
AUTHOR: Jamie Rush
PUBLICATION DATE: June 4, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
His Dragon, her magick, a dark mystery, and hot sparks!

Kirin is summoned home to Miami when his father goes missing–the man who ruined his life, and his relationship with Elle, by being a suspect in her mother’s disappearance. When he runs into Elle, sparks fly, especially when he discovers her father is missing, too. Suspecting that their disappearances are linked, they must combine his Dragon power and her magick to find the truth in the darkest shadows. But as their desires flare again, can their burning passion overcome their past—or the danger that the future holds?

REVIEW:
This novella was just okay for me. There was a lot of down time in the story for me. I like the characters, but never really got invested in them.

I do plan on picking up book 1 when it is released and giving this world another try.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

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Kimberly review Star Crossed by Kele Moon

TITLE: Star Crossed
SERIES #: Battered Hearts #2
CHARACTERS: Romeo & Juliet (yes really)
AUTHOR: Kele Moon
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/03/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Heavyweight MMA fighter, Romeo Wellings comes from the hard streets of New York where his family ties to the mafia cause him nothing but pain. His life takes a surprising detour when he crosses paths with the twin sister of his long time enemy. After a steamy one-night stand, he faces the fight of his life, but it’s not in the cage. The secret relationship that blooms between Romeo and his real life Juliet has him battling his family and a dark past rather than let her go.

The only lawyer in her hometown of Garnet, Jules Conner is also a volunteer Sheriff’s deputy and co-owner of a successful MMA training center. Strong and dependable, Jules is always there for those who need her. Until one forbidden night in Las Vegas with Romeo leaves her feeling so alive she can’t stop reaching out to the sexy, bad boy of MMA, even knowing the forbidden love affair could jeopardize everything.

As the tide rises against them and the people they love work at keeping them apart, Romeo and Jules hold onto a dream for a better life together and vow to go down fighting rather than accept a tragic ending.

REVIEW:
3.5 Stars We met both Jules and Romeo in the first book of the series “Defying The Odds” and it was pretty obvious from the first book that this would be the next story up and I enjoyed it. I did enjoy the first book a little better but this was really good as well.

I enjoyed Romeo and Jules together. I even enjoyed both sides of their brothers. I was a little over the whole mafia thing after a while but I guess that will be leading to a different story later on. There was a lot of sex in this book… I mean a LOT of sex. Much more than in the first story and while it is written very well I wondered if there would ever be a real story in the book. And finally there was. And the ending was really good.

This really is a good book. I look forward to reading the next story about Wyatt.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kimberly reviews Naked by Raine Miller

TITLE: Naked
SERIES #: The Blackstone Affair #1
CHARACTERS: Brynne & Ethan
AUTHOR: Raine Miller
PUBLICATION DATE: 8/25/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Brynne Bennett is living the good life. An American art student at the University of London and part-time photographic model, she’s putting her life back on track with school and lots of hard work. When ultra successful London businessman, Ethan Blackstone, buys her nude portrait, he isn’t taking ‘no’ for an answer. He wants Brynne in his bed and makes plans to keep her there no matter what. His dominant nature captivates and ensnares despite the demons she carries inside her. But there are secrets in this relationship. Huge ones. Can Ethan free Brynne from the past that has marked her? Will Brynne let him or will the specters tormenting her resurface to destroy them both…

REVIEW:
3.5 Stars This is a short erotic romance which is very well written. This is the first in what is so far a 3 part story. In all honesty we do not learn much about the characters background in this story just that they have both been dealt some bad hands. Ethan is a smart businessman but is almost childlike in his exuberance of Brynn which is sweet and strange all at the same time. Brynn is a lost soul who seems to finally find her place with Ethan. Yet as with every story there is some hurdles to overcome. Because this story is short I was able to read it while in between books but now I want to read the next in the series right away. Is it an incredible book? Not really but it is riveting and I didn’t want to put it down.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kelly reviews One Day In Apple Grove by CH Admirand

TITLE: One Day in Apple Grove
SERIES: Small Town USA #2
CHARACTERS: Jack Gannon & Caitlin Mulchahy
AUTHOR: C.H. Admirand
PUBLICATION DATE: June 4, 2013
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Caitlin Mulchahy doesn’t have much time for socializing now that her sisters’ handyman business is thriving. For Dr. Jack Gannon–former Marine medic–keeping the residents of Apple Grove healthy is a welcome distraction from the haunting memories of his time served in Iraq. Although the two have lived in the same small town their whole lives, Cait and Jack barely know each other. That is until a stray puppy leads them to the same place at the same time. But it will take more than one adorable canine to get these two together–it’ll take a whole town.

REVIEW:
This story was okay for me. I really liked the idea of the story. I liked the characters well enough. But I just didn’t connect with this story. By the end of the book I was happy with the story.

Will I read the next book in this series? I will be giving it a try.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

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Kimberly reviews The Night Is Watching by Heather Graham

TITLE: The Night Is Watching
SERIES #: Krewe Of Hunters #9
CHARACTERS: Jane & Sloane
AUTHOR: Heather Graham
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/28/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The dead of night. The Old West town of Lily, Arizona, is home to the Gilded Lily, a former theater…and bawdy house. These days, it offers theatrical productions geared to tourists, but the recent discovery of a skull, a real skull, among the props and costumes shakes everyone up.

So, who do you call? The Krewe of Hunters, a special FBI unit of paranormal investigators. In this case, it’s agent Jane Everett. Jane’s also a talented artist who creates images of the dead as they once were. But the Krewe always works with local law enforcement, and here that means Sloan Trent, former Houston cop and now sheriff. His great-great-grandmother was an actress at the Gilded Lily…and she’s not resting in peace.

Then more remains appear in the nearby desert. As they search for answers, using all the skills at their disposal, Jane and Sloan find themselves falling into danger—and into love.

REVIEW:
3.5 Stars While an interesting story this book just did not have the flare that Graham’s books usually have. I didn’t feel that Sloan and Jane had the connection that most of the characters have in her stories. And in all honestly all the characters seemed so snippy to each other that it was distracting. There were many moments of mean-spiritedness in this story. I am not sure why because that is not common in Graham’s books but every character seemed so pissed off at everyone else.

Now that being said as always Graham puts so much real life history into her books that even one of her worst books (which this most certainly is not) is a great read. The story of the town of Lily, Arizona is one that you don’t want to stop reading. Something is just missing from this story.

I am glad I read this book even if it was not one of my favorites. Graham’s books are always an interesting and educational read if not for any reason other than the background that she must painstakingly research.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kimberly review Hot and Bothered by Linda Cajio

TITLE: Hot and Bothered
CHARACTERS: Judith & Paul
AUTHOR: Linda Cajio
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/13/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon |B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Judith Collier is running away from her life. She needs peace and quiet to focus on a very difficult decision, and except for the distinct lack of any kind of modern amenities, the isolated cove in Baja seems just about perfect. Judith knows that her wealthy and demanding family will never think to look for her in such a secluded spot. But there’s one major distraction: The most gorgeous man she has ever encountered lives in this cove. And Judith can’t escape from the reality of her physical response to him.

Paul Murphy has no interest in babysitting Judith. He came to the remote Baja village to heal from tragedy. Leaving the LAPD after ten years on the job, ending his marriage, and losing contact with his young daughter has left him with a stone-cold heart. And yet, this beautiful stranger just may have the power to shake his foundation to its core—and remind him what it’s like to believe in love again.

REVIEW:
3.5 Stars This is a re-release of a book from 1995 and unlike a number of other of Cajio’s books I have read that have been re-released this one actually does stand the test of time. There is no real mention of long ago and long dead people, etc. There is a bit about Mexico and to be honest I would not know if any of the laws have changed in this 18 years.

I was unsure about the characters at first. Paul seemed so distant and unfriendly and Judith seemed so desperate but something about these characters clicked pretty quickly in the story. This is another Loveswept Classic re-release so it was meant to originally be a pocket book and it proves to be exactly what they wanted back then. A short story that is a quick read but takes you into the story right away.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kimberly reviews Forbidden Desires by Jodie Griffin

TITLE: Forbidden Desires
SERIES #: Bondage & Breakfast #2
CHARACTERS: Bella & Marcus
AUTHOR: Jodie Griffin
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/19/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When it comes to sex, Bella Massey wants a man who’ll get down on his knees and beg. And although she’s got the hots for firefighter Marcus Aiello, she can’t believe an alpha male like him could have a submissive bone in his body.

Marcus isn’t looking for a relationship, but Bella is not like any woman he’s ever met. When he discovers what the sexy librarian is really looking for in a man, he’s even more intrigued. But giving up control is difficult for Marcus—no matter how much he desires it.

Despite their intense attraction, Marcus and Bella’s budding relationship is at an impasse. Until a weekend at a unique B&B offering all manner of naughty nightly activities teaches them both just how good it can feel to lose control…

REVIEW:
So much could have happened with this story that I was disappointed it didn’t and parts of it just didn’t work for me. I believe the author was trying to buck the stereotype of what we are used to. By writing Bella as a slightly bigger woman we expect her to be an introvert and the Italian fireman Marcus should be a born Dom and while the story had potential it just didn’t work as well as the I hoped.

The characters just didn’t connect which was a shame. Is it weird to say that the story was good and the characters were good but they were just not meant to be in the same story together? That is how this book felt to me.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kimberly reviews Red Hot Holiday by Calhoun/Mitchell/Braemel

TITLE: Red Hot Holiday
AUTHOR: Calhoun/Mitchell/Braemel
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/03/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon |B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
I’ll be home for Christmas…to fulfill all your dreams.

This holiday, a Mountie is determined to get her man. A widow finds a fireman who ignites her passions again. And two men unsure of their commitment discover a happily ever after—and a blindfold—under their tree. No matter your desires, this collection of three shorts is bound to treat you to all the joys of the season.

Edited by Angela James, this anthology includes:
I Need You for Christmas by Leah Braemel
Breath on Embers by Annie Calhoun
Wish List by K.A. Mitchell

REVIEW:
3.5 Stars This is a three part anthology with some steamy holiday romance. Each story is well written and while the third is the best of the three all are worth reading. While the love is in the air the sex is steamy too. I liked how the characters were already set in motion and didn’t just fall for the holidays. If you enjoy a holiday read with a bit of romance thrown in then I think you will enjoy these stories. Be warned though the first story is m/m

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.