Kimberly’s review of Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione

TITLE: Lethal Rider
AUTHOR: Larissa Ione
PUBLICATION DATE:   05/22/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Thanatos, the most deadly Horseman of the Apocalypse, has endured thousands of years of celibacy to prevent the end of days. But just one night with the wickedly sexy Aegis Guardian, Regan Cooper, shatters centuries of resolve. Yet their passion comes with a price. And Thanatos must face a truth more terrifying than an apocalypse-he’s about to become a father.
Demon-slayer Regan Cooper never imagined herself the maternal type, but with the fate of the world hanging in the balance she had no choice but to seduce Thanatos and bear his child. Now, as the final battle draws closer and his rage at being betrayed is overshadowed by an undeniable passion for the mother of his child, Thanatos has a life-shattering realization: To save the world, he must sacrifice the only thing he’s ever wanted- a family.

REVIEW:
This is the third in the Lords of Deliverance series. This story wraps around Thanatos (Death) and Regan. The beginning of this book was actually in Immortal Rider (#2) when Regan seduced Than and took his five thousand year old virginity and now Regan is pregnant with Than’s child. When this book starts Than has been held captive and Regan is 8 months pregnant. Now Than has learned about their baby and will do anything to keep his son safe and Regan’s as well.

As with all Ione’s books this book proves yet again that she is the queen of paranormal romance. No one can write this genre like Ione can. It is amazing how she can make demons so human and humans act so monstrous. When we first met Regan her acts were just unbelievable and we actually felt angered on behalf of Than but with this book we read about her redemption. We get to know her past and why she was so easily swayed to do anything she had to do to get pregnant by Than. Regan really becomes someone we understand and have compassion for. Than is just so delightful. Yes he is the Horseman of Death and has a side to him that should be turned away from but his actions with Regan and the unborn child are so gentle and loving that it is hard not to fall for him.

This is the third in the L of D series but also continues from the Demonica series. I would suggest starting at the beginning of the Demonica series but at the minimum start with book one of the L of D series. This whole series is about the coming of the apocalypse and without reading the first and continuing from there the background of this story will not make as much sense. Ione is a great author and you will not regret reading this entire series if you enjoy paranormal romance.

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

4 Hearts

Kelly’s review of A Jaguar’s Kiss by Katie Reus

TITLE: A Jaguar’s Kiss
AUTHOR: Katie Reus
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/01/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Owen Wright, alpha of his wolf pack, hasn’t seen jaguar shifter Gabriela Segura in nearly ten years. She was his first love—until he did something to drive her away just as their relationship was heating up. Now Gabriela has returned to Montana, and his craving for her is stronger than ever….

But a recent string of brutal attacks on humans have the wolves suspicious of the jaguars, threatening the tenuous peace between the packs. Before he can claim Gabriela as his mate, they must join forces to prove her family’s innocence and track down the true predator.

REVIEW:
Returning home after too many years away Gabriela finds herself being kidnapped by one of the the local wolf pack and he is blabbering on about jaguar attacks on the locals.   All Gabriela wants to do is get home and find out if what the wolf is saying is true.  To check in with her family to make sure they are all okay. The last thing and the last person she wants to see Owen Wright, the love of her life, the man who broke her heart just walked through the door.

This was a really good novella.  I loved the mystery of who is behind the killings, although I would have loved to get a little more into the heads of the bad guys.  But Gabriela and Owen are great together.

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

4 Hearts

Ursula’s review of Bound Temptations by Shiloh Walker

TITLE: Bound Temptations
AUTHOR: Shiloh Walker
PUBLICATION DATE:   05/01/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
TEMPT ME
She’s a temptation he can’t resist…

Roxanne ‘Rocki’ Monroe’s life is full of secrets and hidden heartaches. Cole Stanton would love to heal her pain and chase away the ghosts of her past, but she’s just a complication he doesn’t have room for in his life.

Or so he thinks.

It doesn’t take Cole long to realize he’s more than willing to let temptation get the best of him, more than happy to deal with complications if that’s what it takes to get her.

What he has and what he needs are two different things…and what he needs is Rocki.

BEG ME
Beg me…there had been a time when those words made her burn with desire. But now, there was only fear.

Once, Tania Sinclair’s life was almost perfect…But a couple of tragedies later, she’s barely holding it together. A car accident took away her husband, and an attack from somebody she should have been able to trust has shaken not only her confidence, but it’s also stripped away her fantasies and even made it painful to look back on her memories of her husband without fear.

Two years after her attack, Tania is determined to take her life back and the first step is taking back herself…her fantasies, her dreams, her memories. There’s only one person she can trust to do it, too. One person she wants enough…Drake Bennett, her husband’s best friend.

Warning: This book involves light bondage play, rape fantasy & role-playing. The acts between the hero & heroine are consensual, but they may not be ideal for all readers…

REVIEW:
This is a print book that combines two of Shiloh Walker’s E-books.

In the first book, Tempt Me, we have a strong female character who is a joy to read! She has had heartache and loss yet she comes out all the stronger for it. There is a slight element of intrigue and suspense that keeps the pace moving briskly. I really wanted to slap the female protagonist! Ms. walker did a fantastic job of writing a person to hate. the only thing that bugged me about this story was the hero being engaged and then going right for Rocki. I know it is explained but it felt a little rushed for me. However, I got over it and was able to enjoy the rest of the story.

In the second one, Beg Me, we have a slightly controversial story.  The author clearly states that the subject might not be ideal for all readers. I gave it careful thought and decided that it would not bug me. It was very well written.  The subject of rape fantasy is a huge hot button topic for a lot of people. I, personally, enjoyed the story in the spirit it was written. And the hero and heroine’s interactions were hot.  It was a very thought provoking and heart wrenching story.  With the added elements of intrigue and suspense I was hooked.

Of the two, I enjoyed Beg Me the most, but both are wonderful stories and this book is definitely worth a look.

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

4 Hearts

Kelly’s review of Playing To Win by Jaci Burton

TITLE: Playing To Win
AUTHOR: Jaci Burton
PUBLICATION DATE:   09/04/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Someone’s going to have to let down their guard…

Football star Cole Riley is notorious for doing as he pleases—on the field and off. He parties hard and fights harder, but if he doesn’t clean up his act, his career is over—so Cole reluctantly agrees to work with image makeover consultant Savannah Brooks. He’s not used to being told what to do, especially by some (admittedly hot) Southern belle. As for Savannah, she’s not convinced she can transform this cocky (and aggressively sexy) force of nature. But she’s determined to give it her best shot.

When the sparks start to fly, Savannah lays down the ground rules: no personal complications. If she can turn off the tingle she feels every time Cole gives her a hot stare with his gorgeous baby blues, he can turn off his desire as well. But for two people determined to have it all, a hands-off policy can only last so long before one of them yields.

REVIEW:
Jaci, has done it yet again.  She delivers a very hot, yet sweet story of a big bad ass football player that gets his life uprooted by a very determined female.  A determined female that has been hired to whip this bad boy football player into shape.  But to both of their surprise this chance meeting will change everything for both of them.

Cole Riley is the bad boy of football, the ladies love him, the media loves to hate him and his team mates?  Well, they really couldn’t care less about Cole.  But Cole is a great football player, but the living in the limelight is playing havoc on his career and his future with his new team.

Savannah is a sweet southern girl with a heart of a lion and an iron fist.  She has been hired to whip Cole Riley into shape before the beginning of the season and that is exactly what she plans to do.  Only problem is Cole Riley is drop dead gorgeous and Savannah wants him.    But Savannah has never mixed business with pleasure.
Never…….
Well until now.

I loved Cole & Savannah.  Both are stubborn and determined to live life their way.  Both soon learn sometimes there is a better way to do things.  And together they learn how to make each others life so much better.

If you have not started Jaci’s Play by Play series you really need too.  Theses are great books!!  And yes each book can stand alone but I would suggest starting from the beginning so you can get to know all the characters better.

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

4 Hearts

Kimberly’s review of Ghostwriter by Lissa Bryan

TITLE: Ghostwriter
AUTHOR: Lissa Bryan
PUBLICATION DATE:   10/11/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
After being laid off from the newspaper where she worked as a journalist, and losing her boyfriend in rapid succession, Sara Howell is looking to downsize before her dwindling savings run out. Things are finally starting to look up when she lands a job ghostwriting the biography of a popular politician and rents an isolated island house which turns out to have once been the home of her favorite author, Seth Fortner, who mysteriously disappeared in 1925.

But when strange things start happening, as objects break, or go missing, and terrifying visions appear, Sara begins to wonder if Seth ever left, or if she is losing her mind.

What happened to Seth is a secret closely guarded by the family to this day, a family that seems to exist under a terrible curse. Through an old trunk of letters she discovers in the attic, Sara unravels the mystery and becomes caught up in a tale of greed, lost love and the horrors of WWI.

When Sara realizes she is not going crazy and that Seth Fortner’s spirit still haunts her new home on the isolated island, she begins to draw him out of his shell bit by bit. She will discover what happened to the idealistic young writer who went to the battlefields of France to save lives, and to his beautiful bride to destroy the love between them, and what led Seth to make a terrible choice which would have consequences that would echo for generations.

They gradually fall in love in their world of dreams, dreams which swiftly become more attractive than reality, as Sara learns from a ghost how to truly live. Will she be the one to break the “Fortner Curse” by helping Seth conquer his demons, and heal both of their hearts in the process?

REVIEW:
This is a beautiful story with a lovely concept but I had a really difficult time getting interested in it in the beginning. While written wonderfully it was very slow in the beginning. I kept waiting for something to happen and when it did I just didn’t find myself interested for some time. I thought the relationship between Sara and Seth was beautiful as far as the love of characters go but didn’t understand how they could “fall in love” I wish the book had brought in an actual character that Sara could have found herself drawn to instead. That being said it was a beautiful love story and any fan of ghost stories will enjoy it. The time spent getting to know Seth was very intriguing and the dream life of Sara and Seth is very sweet and endearing. I found Sara to be an almost sad yet caring person and found enjoyed her character. Stepping back into the time of WWII was also interesting since I do not know a lot about that time period.

This truly is a love story in every sense of the word and one that will stick with you for a while.

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

4 Hearts

Kimberly’s review of Kiss Of Death by Debbie Viguie

TITLE: Kiss Of Death
AUTHOR: Debbie Viguie
PUBLICATION DATE:   10/09/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In the wake of a failed attempt to defeat the vampire Richelieu, Susan and her friends are weakened and divided. Raphael must set aside his animosity and join with his enigmatic sire Gabriel to discover a powerful weapon before Richelieu claims it. Meanwhile, Susan and her cousin Wendy translate a 12th century diary belonging to their ancestor, Carissa, to learn the origin of their family’s connection with the vampires. As Carissa’s story of love and betrayal unfolds, they discover the secrets of the present will only be revealed by solving the mysteries of the past.

REVIEW:
This book is the second in the Kiss Trilogy and I have to say that I did not read the first one so I was a bit confused on why there was a vampire war and how the humans got involved in it. The book does give you a bit of background so that helped but it really did not answer all my questions.

The book has an interesting twist in that it is a christian vampire story. There is a number of references to God yet its about vampires… very interesting. The characters are appealing and the writing is really good. The book ends with a cliffhanger for the book coming out next year.

If you enjoy the vampire genre then you will most certainly love this book. It is captivating and any fan of the genre would not be able to put it down.

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

4 Hearts

Kelly’s ARC review of Blind Destiny by Shiloh Walker

TITLE: Blind Destiny
Grimm’s Circle #7
AUTHOR: Shiloh Walker
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/16/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

Heigh ho, heigh ho, it’s back to hell she goes…

Myrsina knows the stories. As one of the oldest of the Grimm, she had a hand in writing most of them, but only she knows the dark origin of the Seven Bloody Sisters. It springs from the place of her birth—and her death. A place of pain and misery to which she plans to never return. Unless forced.

When Luc appears on her doorstep, her heart twists with suppressed longing for the man who can never be hers. The only man who can make her do the impossible—go home.

Luc may be blind, but through their unique, bittersweet connection, even he can see that the task laid before them is ripping Sina’s soul apart. This time it isn’t as simple as fighting a demon that has escaped from the netherplains.

Sina must go back in time—to that cursed ground—and right a wrong that she unknowingly brought about. To write a new ending to a story that may give them both a chance at happily ever after. Assuming they survive.

REVIEW:
While Blind Destiny was not my favorite of all the Grimm Circle stories I still loved being back in the Grimm world.

Luc has lived in the past for way too long.  Now that the love of his life has moved on Luc has to rethink his purpose as a Grimm.  What does he have to offer?  Where does he belong?  And of course that is when Will shows up and send him on his newest mission.  But first he has to go get his new partner.  Sina

Sina has lived with the fact that she has been in love with Luc since the first moment she met him.  But she will never pay second to his wife (will ex-wife) so she has resolved to love him from afar.  But fate seems to have a way to change the things that we want even as we fight them.

Luc & Sina are really a good part.  Both are stubborn, determined and both complete pains in the butt.

Unlike Shiloh’s normal Grimm Circle books we don’t have to wait to the end to figure out who this fairy tale it about.  Which was kind of fun, but I do miss the who is this the whole time I am reading.

If you are a fan of the Grimm Circle books I believe you will enjoy Luc & Sina’s story.  And I am very much looking forward to the next installment in the Grimm’s world.  And I am really hoping one of these days we will get to see Will brought down a notch or two and find his lady love.

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

4 Hearts

Kimberly’s review of At Last by Jill Shalvis

TITLE: At Last
AUTHOR: Jill Shalvis
PUBLICATION DATE:   06/26/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
HER LOVE HAS COME ALONG . . .
Amy Michaels loves her new life in Lucky Harbor. A waitress in the local diner, she’s looking forward to her first weekend hike through the mountains. But when a wrong turn takes her off the trail, she finds herself up close and personal with forest ranger Matt Bowers. And even though she’s tempted to kiss that sexy smile right off his face, she won’t make the mistake of getting involved with the town heartthrob.

A former cop whose life went south, Matt doesn’t let anyone get too close. But something about the feisty beauty caught his eye the moment he first saw her in the diner. After a hot night under a starry sky, Matt can’t deny their attraction-or the fact that for the first time in a long time, he feels the stirrings of something more. Now it’s up to Matt to help Amy see that, no matter what is in their past, together they can build a future in Lucky Harbor.

REVIEW:
This is the 5th in the Lucky Harbor series. I have not read the other four books and had never read this author but I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The character of Matt had me actually smiling by page 20. He is an adorable character. Amy is written very well too. Amy is a tough girl who has lived on the streets as a teenager and has finally moved to Lucky Harbor and found where she belongs. I believe we may have met her in at least the last book “Lucky in Love” (#4) but as I said before I have not read this series before. However this book is certainly a stand alone book. While I could tell that there was background to some of these characters from previous books it was not written in a way where you feel lost by not knowing the characters.

This story is mostly about Matt and Amy. However, I love the “bro-mance” of Matt, Ty and Josh as well as the friendship of the “Chocoholics” Amy, Mallory and Grace. Amy is just a wounded bird who is learning to fly again and watching her take flight is amazing. Matt is a womans dream. He is funny, sweet and loving as well as strong enough to take care of his woman and anyone else who comes along.

I will most certainly be working my way through this series now that I have read this one. I loved the writing of Jill Shalvis and can’t wait to read the next story of Grace and Josh (Forever and a Day).

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

4 Hearts

Kimberly’s review of A Little Mischief by Amelia Grey

TITLE: A Little Mischief
AUTHOR: Amelia Grey
PUBLICATION DATE:   08/01/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Isabella Winslowe is finally gaining respectability when the unthinkable happens: she finds the Earl of Colebrooke’s sister in the back garden with a stone cupid in her hand and a dead man at her feet. The last thing Isabella wants to deal with is a formidable earl who is willing to go to great lengths to protect his sister’s reputation from a murder scandal. As Daniel Colebrooke begins following Isabella around the ton, desperate to keep her from spreading her story and making mischief, he can’t help but notice how captivating she is. And if he’s not careful, he could lose his heart along with his sister’s reputation.

REVIEW:
This is a re-release from 2003 and a delightful read. This historical has a little bit of suspense and a lot of romance. The characters of Isabella and Daniel are perfect together. The connection they have even from their first scene together jumps right off the page. I love that Isabella seems so strong, confident and loves a good mystery and yet she has decided she should just become a spinster and has never even been kissed. She helps “wallflowers” come into their own by teaching them they are worthy and how to act. Yet she is just as much of the innocent as they are. She is innocent and worldly wrapped in one package. Daniel is written very well too. He is of course handsome and rich but he is also protective of those he loves and has a heart of gold.

Honestly this book has the basis of so many other historicals but it is such a delightful read that it is a must read. It is the perfect beach book or sit around and relax book. It is a very quick read and you really don’t want to stop until you get to the end. If you love the historical romance genre then this should be near the top of your “TBR” list. You will not be disappointed.

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

4 Hearts

Kimberly’s review of Promise Me A Rainbow by Cheryl Reavis

TITLE: Promise Me A Rainbow
AUTHOR: Cheryl Reavis
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/07/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Deserted by her husband because she couldn’t have children, Catherine Holben has thrown herself into her job counseling pregnant teens. Catherine is still recovering from the pain of her divorce, but her life is changed forever when she makes a purchase in a quaint curio shop. She meets handsome, hardworking Joe D’Amaro, a widower and father of three, and his daughter, Fritz. But Joe needs help with Fritz, a seven-year-old dynamo. She’s a precocious but headstrong little girl who’s impossible to resist., and he is too proud to admit it.

Joe and Catherine are cautious about making a commitment to each other. They both know the joy and heartache of falling in love, but are they willing to risk being together despite their misgivings? Neither can ignore the love that quickly blossoms between them. Maybe they can have a wonderful life together . . . if only Joe’s still-grieving older daughter, Della, will accept a new woman in her father’s life.

True love versus reality. Can Catherine handle his ready-made family? Or is there more in store for her than she thinks?

REVIEW:
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would when I picked it. The writing eventually was good, but in the beginning it was not written the way a normal conversation takes place but that seemed to change as the book went on and the dialogue became more real. The interesting thing about this book is Joe is a single father of three who manages to get by by the skin of his teeth. He is not rich nor has some fancy job, he is a man trying to make life work out as best he can. He is not perfect and he messes up more than not but he loves with his whole heart. Catherine is a teacher of pregnant teens and not some model or something. Catherine is a broken woman trying to get on with her life after a divorce and finding out she can not have children. They are just normal people who most anyone can connect to. The background characters are interesting too. Fritz is adorable and written really well for the age she is portraying. Charlie does not have much of a part but is cute too. And Della could have used a little more of a background for us to understand her pain but she was written as a typical teen. This book has a lot to offer especially if you are at a point in your life wondering if you can have a second chance at love. I do wish the book had a epilogue since so much was left without us knowing. Also the book started with both characters being still in love with the people of their past and in the beginning that is hard to get past even though eventually you do. I think this book is very good and I think if you enjoy the genre you will enjoy this book.

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

4 Hearts

Kelly’s review of Lover’s Instinct by Katie Reus

TITLE: Lover’s Instinct – Moon Shifter #1.5
AUTHOR: Katie Reus
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/07/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Novella:
Lupine shifter Nikan Lawless has it bad for Esperanze Cordona, the sweet and curvy woman who only views him as a friend. But when Nikan is assigned to act as Esperanze’s bodyguard during a weekend education conference, he knows it’s the perfect opportunity to seduce her off her feet—away from the pack.

To put his plan into motion Nikan cancels one of their hotel rooms, giving them time to get to know one another in a whole different way. But when a man from Esperanze’s past shows up in need of help, Nikan must shield her from a group of dangerous rogue shifters, all while trying to prove that they’re destined to be mates.

REVIEW:
Lover’s Instinct was a great novella.  But like any good novella it was too short.  I really wanted more of Nikan & Esperanze.

Lover’s Instinct takes place between Alpha Instinct & Primal Possession, but can be read as a stand alone.  Although I would highly recommend reading Alpha Instinct first.

In Lover’s Instinct we meet Esperanze who is the cousin of the female Alpha.  After a string of murders leaves the pack reeling Esperanze decides she need a weekend away.  Just a weekend away to regroup.  While her Alpha’s are letting her go they are not letting her go alone.  They are sending Nikan long to protect her.  Nikan is new to the pack.  He is one of the Warriors that showed up with the new Alpha.  While Esperanze doesn’t mind Nikan at all she is not overly happy he is tagging along with her on her weekend away.

Little does Esperanze know that she is leaving one problem for another and having Nikan by her side will be a very helpful too.

I really can’t say much more than that, but I did really enjoy this novella.

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.

4 Hearts

Kimberly’s review of Summer Nights by Susan Mallery

TITLE: Summer Nights
AUTHOR: Susan Mallery
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/26/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Horse whisperer Shane Stryker is done with passion. This time around, he’s determined to meet someone who will be content with the quiet life of a rancher’s wife. And the fiery, pint-size redhead who dazzles him at the local bar definitely does not fit the bill.

Small-town librarian Annabelle Weiss has always seen herself as more of a sweetheart than a siren, so she can’t understand why Shane keeps pushing her away. Shane has formed the totally wrong impression of her but only he can help her with a special event for the next Fool’s Gold festival. And maybe while he’s at it, she can convince him to teach her a few things about kissing on hot summer nights, too-some lessons, a girl shouldn’t learn from reading a book!

REVIEW:
Being back in Fool’s Gold is like coming home… Home to a city you wish really existed. This is the eighth in the Fool’s Gold series and the second regarding a Stryker Brothers.

Annabelle is a librarian who we met a few books ago. She decides to raise money for a bookmobile and will be a part of a parade and do a dance on horseback. However she has no idea how to ride a horse. That is where Shane comes in. Shane has been hurt before and after seeing Annabelle dancing on a bar he decides she is exactly what he does not need.

I have loved this series from book one and this book is no different. Mallery brings you right into her world of Fool’s Gold and makes you not want to leave. Mallery does not write Annabelle as the stereotypical librarian. There are no buns in her hair or glasses. And she does not write Shane as a typical cowboy. Yes he rides and teaches others to ride but he is not the lone cowboy. He wants to be in love and have a family but he wants to find someone reserved (like a librarian should be) but that is not Annabelle… well not exactly.

I was happy to see that Mallery brought back so many characters from the series. In the last book we did not get much of a glance of the previous characters but this book seemed to bring everyone back at some point. I loved the guys night out and would love to see more of that.

As with all of this series you can read it as a stand alone but I have no idea why you would want to and reading this one will just make you want to read the others so you might as well start at book one and enjoy your stay in Fool’s Gold.

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

4 Hearts