Category: Flying Frog Fairy’s Review

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Flying Frog Fairy’s Review of Leather & Lace by Melody Snow Monroe

TITLE: Leather and Lace
AUTHOR: Melody Snow Monroe
PUBLICATION DATE:   Available Now
ORDER LINKS:   Siren Bookstrand

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

Wade and Heath Watson, two ranchers in Intrigue, Wyoming, have yearned to make Samantha Callen their own for years. When they find her bleeding to death by the side of the road after rustlers shoot her, they make a pledge to take care of her. Getting the feisty woman to let them help, however, is no small feat. Only when more cattle are stolen and her barn is set on fire does she turn to them for aid.
As their passions flare, they tell her she needs to get comfortable with her feminine side or chance losing them. She fears if she acts too sexy, she’ll lose the respect of her ranch hands and maybe even her ranch. How can she find a way to keep the men she loves and still be a successful rancher in an industry dominated by men?




REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Flying Frog Fairy           NUMBER OF STARS: 5 Stars

REVIEW:

This book is the first book in Ms. Snow Monroe’s new series: The Callens. In this first book we are introduced to Samantha Callen. The author does a good job of setting up the series with some backstory about the Callen family. However, this story focuses on the eldest daughter Samantha. The book starts off with a bang, literally. The main conflict is revealed immediately when Sam is shot by rustlers. I like that the author included a little intrigue in this story. Personally, I prefer my stories with a little mystery mixed into the romance, and Ms. Snow Monroe delivers. I figured out the mystery pretty quickly, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

When Sam is shot she is rescued by her neighbors, Wade and Heath. They see this as the perfect chance to convince her that she is meant for them, but Sam is stubborn. The character of Sam is that of a woman who is trying to succeed in a male dominated profession, and failing. With the added complication of the rustlers she begins to realize that ranching may not be for her. The book does a good job of detailing the problem and resolution of how she can maintain the ranch that she loves and still be a woman. This book is a fun and satisfying read that i recommend. I can’t wait to read more about the Callen family in the next book: Truth and Seduction.

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Flying Frog Fairy’s review of Immersed in Pleasure by Tiffany Reisz

TITLE: Immersed in Pleasure
AUTHOR: Tiffany Reisz
PUBLICATION DATE:   2/28/12
ORDER LINKS:  BN | Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS: The Manhattan Mermaids: Believed to be the most beautiful women in the city, they entertain wealthy, powerful men in an exclusive club called Fathoms….and are all virgins. Derek Prince doesn’t believe they really exist, until he meets the stunningly sensual Xenia. She drives him wild with desire, but giving in to temptation means losing her position at Fathoms. Derek is incredibly turned on by the thought of being Xenia’s first…but will he be willing to wait for her?

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Flying Frog Fairy        
NUMBER OF STARS: 3


This story is a Spice Brief so of course it is short. However, the author managed to pack a lot into the story. It had some hot sex and a sweet love story.  The fact that the hero was willing to stick around just for the chance to get to know his mermaid while knowing he wasn’t going to get sex, tugged at the heart strings.  The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the fact that the story jumped around quite a bit because most of it was being related by the hero to his friends after the fact. So they spent a lot of the story interrupting him.  But I liked the premise of mermaid virgins and loved the HEA the H/H got.

If you are looking for a short and sweet read with a little sex and a HEA then this is the one for you.

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Flying Frog Fairy’s review of The Royal Talisman by Tracey Cooper-Posey

TITLE: The Royal Talisman
AUTHOR: Tracey Cooper-Posey
PUBLICATION DATE:   01/01/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N


BOOK SYNOPSIS:

It is 1884 and France is at war with China. Stuart Sutherland-Bruce returns to England after a posting in China as a member of the English diplomatic corps. He meets the astonishingly beautiful Bian, an exotic woman who turns his life upside down with the power of his desire for her. As she continues to astonish him at every turn with the unexpectedness of her life and her responses to him, he falls deeply in love with her.
But Bian did not wander into Stuart’s life accidentally. She has orders to become intimate with him and prove he has been giving English secrets to the Chinese. Yet as she works her spell on Stuart, she learns he does not seem to be the traitor her British superiors assure her he is.
Bian is caught in a trap: If she reveals to Stuart her real — and shocking — identity, she will lose the man she loves. If she honours Stuart’s highest values and does her duty, then Stuart will be tried for espionage and hanged.




REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Flying Frog Fairy            
NUMBER OF STARS: 3 Stars

REVIEW:

I have to say, when I first started this book, I wasn’t sure I would like it. The character of Stuart seemed a little to wimpy for my tastes. I was hoping he would have a little more backbone. Instead he seemed to fall under the spell of Bian immediately.  And not in a cute way, but in almost an obsessive way.  But that is just me so I continued on.  All in all this book was interesting.  I was a little disappointed because I hoped the author would go into more historical detail.  However, this was really more of a novella and so there wasn’t really room for details.  Then there was the whole is he a spy or not.  It got a little convoluted and confusing and that took away some of the enjoyment.  Confusion aside, the relationship between Bian and Stuart was passionate and I found myself rooting for them. Once the story was concentrating on them, I could get into it. And there was some definitely steamy scenes.  Then we were back to the spy question.  I predicted early on how it would end and I was right. So I guess you could say the story had a satisfying, if predictable conclusion.
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Flying Frog Fairy’s review of Second Chance by Debbie Gould

TITLE: Second Chance
AUTHOR: Debbie Gould
PUBLICATION DATE:   01/23/12
ORDER LINKS:  BN | Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colin Beckett, US Air Force special ops, lost his wife in childbirth while off on a mission. Two years later, he’s still trying to come to grips with the guilt that tortures him. And to complicate matters, he finds himself undeniably attracted to his wife’s sister, Emily. Struggling with his desire, he tells himself he doesn’t deserve a second chance with such an amazing woman.

Emily wants Colin in her life and her bed. Enlisting the help of Colin’s teammates and Madame Eve’s 1Night Stand dating service, she plans to prove to Colin he can have everything he lost once again.

Will their one night lead to the happy ending she longs for or the loneliness he thinks he deserves?



REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Flying Frog Fairy            
NUMBER OF STARS: 4

REVIEW:
I love the premise for the 1Night Stand series from Decadent Publishing.  Each is a short story about a 1Night Stand through a company of the same name. So following this formula, Ms. Gould has crafted a sweet story about a second chance for love with an alpha Special Ops man and the sister in law who is raising his child. Of course they also have the chance to have a really hot love scene. They have to overcome odds most people would not be able to get past. She really drew me into the story and I found myself rooting for the H/H and loving the lengths a friend would go to help them find happiness. Even in such a short story the emotion conveyed made it a wonderful read. The conflict and resolution did not seem hurried and I was pleased with the HEA ending. I definitely recommend this book.

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Flying Frog Fairy’s review of Jealous & Freakin by Eve Langais

TITLE: Jelaous & Freakin
AUTHOR: Eve Langlais
PUBLICATION DATE:   11/18/2011
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:

What will it take for him to stop thinking of her as a freakn’ sister?
Francine’s loved Mitchell, a wolf like herself, since she first set eyes on him back when they were just kids. However, Mitchell’s never seen her as more than another annoying sister. Determined to make him realize she’s all grown up, she enlists the aide of Alejandro, a gorgeous cat shifter. She never counted on wanting them both.
Alejandro knows Francine is special from the first moment he meets the fiery plump wolf, which is why he suggests she use him to make Mitchell jealous. A great plan, especially if it means he gets to kiss those luscious lips. One taste, though, and he’s addicted, but how does he make her see past the man she loves to realize she’s also meant to be his mate?
For a long time now, Mitchell’s been avoiding Francine, his bratty sister’s friend. However, the little girl he remembers is all grown up, and when he sees her in the arms of another, a need to claim her overrides all his common sense. But, he’s waited too long and fate has decided that he’s going to have to share. Can he bend enough to accept Francine with her other man, or will his freakn’ jealousy send him running?
Warning: Excessive amounts of heat may be generated when reading this story. Do not sit or stand near flammable objects unless they happen to be your partner. Please note, that while the heroes sustained injuries during the course of the story, Francine did eventually kiss them all better, naked of course. This is a ménage romance, with heavy emphasis on the romance. It does contain multi partner, sexual situations that some people may find titillating. Reader discretion is advised.



REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Flying Frog Fairy            

REVIEW:
Jealous and Freakn’ is the sequel to Delicate Freakn’ Flower and book Two in the Freakn’ Shifters series.  I was excited at the chance to review this book because I enjoyed book One so much and was curious to see if my interest could be held for another book. Eve definitely succeeded.
In this book we get the chance to revisit Naomi’s family as the book focuses on her brother Mitchell and her best friend Francine. Francine has loved Mitchell as long as she can remember but can’t seem to convince him that they are meant to be mated.  Enter Alejandro, who is Javier’s brother.  The sparks fly immediately but Francine is determined that Mitchell see her for a woman once and for all. Alejandro convinces her that they should pretend to be a couple to make him jealous.  The joke is on them. Alejandro is also Francine’s mate and this opens up a whole new scenario that none of them considered.

I love the ever popular “using another guy to make the one you love jealous” trope.  It makes for some good comedy and interesting reading.  Add in a jealous ex-girlfriend and an overzealous hunter and you get enough action to make this book a rollicking ride.  Meanwhile we get to catch up with our favorite characters from the first book and in the very end we get a sneak peak into who the third book will feature.  Of course it will be about another one of Naomi’s brothers.

I really enjoyed this book! It has equal parts comedy, romance, action and of course the hot and heavy sex we have come to love and expect from Eve Langlais. Each of these books is a stand alone, but more enjoyable if you read them as a series.  I look forward to the next book in this series!

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Flying Frog Fairy’s Review of Kidnapped by the Greek Billionaire by Rachel Lyndhusrt

Kidnapped by the Greek Billionaire
By Rachel Lyndhurst
Amazon | B&N

Kidnapped!

Or that’s what it feels like to Kizzy Dean when a business disagreement with arrogant Greek lawyer Andreas Lazarides leaves her no choice but to accompany him to the Greek Isle of Rhodes. It doesn’t help matters this sexy brooding stranger, who is unaccustomed to the word No and the very idea of commitment, shows her what it feels like to be truly desired.

Amidst the ancient myths and alleyways, tensions run high as Kizzy feels an immediate attraction for the man she wants to both ravage and strangle.

Accustomed to gold-digging women, Andreas is mesmerized by Kizzy’s feisty nature and Gypsy beauty. Guilt and sorrow have been his only bedfellows since his sister’s death, but Kizzy stirs up a desire he’s unwilling to succumb to… until she makes him an offer he simply can’t refuse.

Review by Flying Frog Fairy:   2 Stars

Ok, let me start by saying that this book is from a new line by Entangled Publishing, called Lori Wilde’s Indulgence.  It is described like this:

“Lori Wilde’s Indulgence offers readers quick paced, exciting contemporary category romances. Whether funny, sexy, mysterious, edgy, or emotional, they showcase what it’s really like to fall in love in the twenty-first century. The 45,000-60,000 word category romances are written by fresh and hip voices in the industry. Hallmarks of the line will be rapid-fire dialogue, fast moving plot lines, sizzling sex, and realistic characters.  Above all, the heartfelt emotions that speak to the way young people live, love, and work will be at the center of every story. Lori Wilde’s Indulgence will launch February 14th and will be priced at $2.99 per title.”

I have to admit, I didn’t know what to expect from this when I began Kidnapped by the Greek Billionaire. The hero really turned me off in the beginning. He was thoughtless, arrogant and a plain old jerk.  Later on, we learn that there are issues in the past that lead him to behave this way, and we do get to see a better side of him but, by then it is almost too late. And while we, the reader, get to see that better side of him, the heroine…not so much. So, why is he so surprised when she doesn’t behave the way he thinks she should?  I was just so frustrated reading this book. I wanted to yell at the hero to pull his head out of his ass and start behaving like a human being.

The heroine was not much better.  I was dumbstruck that minutes after meeting him, she allows the hero to “kidnap” her away to Greece. It is not really a kidnapping, more of a threat that she caves into. He is testing her, sure she is a golddigger while she…I am not really sure she has a motive. It was like she didn’t have anything better to do, so she went along with it.  Yes there were the initial sparks and she was attracted to the big, hunk of man, but once he showed his true colors, I would have been running the other way.  She just comes off as spineless and not being able to make her own decisions.

That said, as I read on, the characters kind of grew on me.  I was really rooting for Andreas to finally stop living on the past and see what was right in front of him. For all her shortcomings, Kizzy really did fall in love with the dumb galoot.  When the inevitable happens, instead of that ending the story and having HEA, it is just a catalyst for more angst and drama.  During the last 1/4 of the book, I really, FINALLY, felt for the characters.

Then I realized, I had actually felt for them all along. Yeah, I thought Andreas was a dumb ass, and Kizzy was a spineless ninny, but the story actually elicited strong reactions from me. So I am not going to say I loved the book.  But I didn’t hate it either.  In the end Andreas and Kizzy finally redeemed themselves

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Flying Frog Fairy’s Review of Kiss and Make Up by Faye Roberts

Kiss & Make up
By Faye Robertson
Genre: Category romance
Heat: Spicy
Length: 150 pages
Release Date: 2/14/2012
Amazon | B&N 

The Opportunity of a Lifetime…
Makeup artist Tabby Rogers is thrilled to land a job on a New Zealand movie set with lots of perks, including getting her hands on sexy Kiwi stunt man, Eli Black.

The sexual electricity zapping between them can’t be denied, but neither of them is in a position to handle happily-ever-after. Eli’s jetting off to Hollywood, Tabby’s next assignment is in the UK. But there’s nothing wrong with a short-term fling, right?

Except as the sparks burn hotter and responsibilities pull at them from opposite ends of the globe, it quickly becomes clear that something’s gotta give. Must Tabby sacrifice her hard-won career for love? Or will Eli forever be the one that got away?

Review by Flying Frog Fairy:

It starts out as a very lighthearted and fun book. Tabby and Eli are both driven twenty-something’s focused on their careers and avoiding any relationships.  Meeting for the first time on the set of a movie, there are immediate sparks that neither deny.  There is a lot of flirting and the way the characters interact with each other is real and down to earth.  I mean, they are on a movie set but there is no star struck, hero worship going on. It’s about real people, doing their jobs in an interesting field. And the secondary characters are just as interesting. And let us not forget about the steamy sex scenes.

Of course, it is not all sunshine and roses.  What starts out as a mutually agreed upon short term fling is jeopardized when they develop deeper feelings for one another.   While neither is willing to sacrifice their future plans, each asks the other to give them up.  This creates a dilemma that causes many problems. Eli is trying to honor a dying wish and Tabby has been burned before.  I was rooting for them to get on the same page and work it out. I love them as a couple and was desperately hoping for a HEA ending.  Thank goodness Ms. Robertson delivered. I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and easy to read. And yes, it did make me cry just a little.

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Flying Frog Fairy’s Review of Steam Powered Passion by Corinne Davies

Steam Powered Passion
Steampunk Lust 1:
By Corinne Davies
Amazon | B&N
Tori is dealt a terrible blow when she is given to a couple of pirates as insurance on a ship. But finding herself lifted up into an airship is only the first of many surprises. The second?
Malcolm and Sean attacked her ship in order to get their hands on her. Malcolm and Sean both realize they need a woman in their relationship. Tori seems to be the perfect solution. But can she see past their physical differences to the men beneath and accept them as they are?
But Tori is more then she appears. She’s been passing secrets to the old-world rebels for years. When she is seen leaking information to the new-world military, will her men believe she wasn’t trying to betray them?
Can each of them see past their personal expectations and accept a relationship steam-built for three?
Review by Flying Frog Fairy:
Tori is keeping some serious secrets, but no one in this book is as they seem. So many characters have hidden agendas or double lives that you will be guessing who is good and who is bad throughout the whole story. And the story was engrossing. Equal parts passion and intrigue, it kept my interest from page one.  The characters were rich and I felt like I could immerse myself in the story as though I were really there.  The sex scenes were hot but what really got my attention was the plot.  It is an exciting story full of mystery and action.  There are several scenes where you feel like you are part of the battle. Just when you think you have it all figured out, something happens to throw it off course.  I do so love a story that isn’t too predictable.  Of course the main characters get their HEA. And there are also many other characters introduced that make it clear there will be more books in this series.
This was my very first Steampunk book. I was blown away! The details were rich and imaginative. I love how they mix a Victorian era with all sorts of new technology and off the wall inventions.  Writing a story like this takes some serious world building and Corinne Davies did not disappoint.  I was very impressed with the attention to detail and the effort Ms. Davies put into making this a rich exotic adventure for the reader. I am ready to start book 2: Steam Up Memories in which we get to know more about Tori’s sister Yzabeau. I highly recommend this book!
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Flying Frog Fairy’s Review of Steam Up Memories by Corinne Davies

Steamed Up Memories
Steampunk Lust 2
By Corinne Davies
Amazon | B&N
In a misguided attempt to atone for her mistaken loyalty to her father, Yzabeau Gifrator branches out on her own to find the truth and ends up in more danger than she ever faced before.
Liam McKenna never forgot the girl he failed to protect from being taken from their village, and now his days are filled with missions to locate women sold in the slave pits.
Tristan has loved Liam ever since the day he heard stories of a thirteen-year-old boy trying to fight an entire New World garrison in an attempt to protect someone he cared about. But their relationship has been built on the present without any true thoughts to a future.
Together, will the three of them find a love strong enough to face the bitter memories that shaped them, or will their pasts blow them out of the sky?
Review by Flying Frog Fairy:
Slave traders, spies and a forgotten past.  This book has them all, along with a healthy dose of steamy sex. Corinne Davies has done it again!  I was eager to read her follow up to Steamed Powered Passion and I was very pleased when I did.  This book grabbed my interest and never let it go. I read the entire book in one sitting.  Once again, there is rich detail in the fantastic world building.  More off the wall inventions and unbelievable technology. Even more secret lives and people who aren’t who they seem. Did I mention I love this book?  The fast pace and intrigue make for a very satisfying read.
There was also plenty of heart wrenching emotions.  I waited in agony for Yzabeau to finally realize that Liam was the boy from her childhood. And I wanted to hold Liam and tell him it wasn’t his fault. I waited with bated breath for Yzabeau’s memory to finally come back. And my heart hurt for Tristan as he desperately tried to keep them all together. It is a story of lust and love, triumph and treason, and ultimately good wins out over evil.
For now.
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Review of The Shoppe of Spells by Shanon Grey

The Shoppe of Spells
Book 1 in the Gatekeeper Series
Shanon Grey
When is a whole more than the sum of its parts?
When it has ties to the quaint little town of Ruthorford, GA, as Morgan Briscoe discovers when a cryptic message threatens to change her life forever.
Morgan’s relatively normal life is turned on its ear when she learns not only that she is adopted, but her birth parents are dead and she now holds half-interest in a business with their ward, Dorian Drake. Dorian is running The Shoppe of Spells and despite his riveting good looks, he can barely conceal his hostility toward his new partner.
Morgan discovers that she is more than she seems and together she and Dorian have the ability to control a portal to another dimension.
Unable to control their growing attraction, Morgan and Dorian dance around their desires and her burgeoning abilities, until danger forces them to face their destiny.
Review by Flying Frog Fairy :
This story leaves you with more questions than answers. Mostly in a good way. It starts of slowly, introducing you to Morgan and the quiet life she leads.  Then with the arrival of one letter her whole life and everything she thinks she knows about it is changed. Suddenly she has an inheritance from parents she never knew she had.  We find out she was adopted and that her parents should have told her by the time she turned 25. The author never really gives a satisfactory explanation as to why 25 was the important year. That is just one of the many details that the author brings up but then never really explains.  But there is a lot going on and the details are small so most of them can be forgiven.
One thing that tweaked me a little was the introduction of the character Jasmine.  She is made out to be a protagonist with no redeeming qualities and then the author does a complete 180 and makes her a victim.  I had a hard time reconciling this. And the explanation that is given for her actions was not supported by previous descriptions of her, or her prior actions.
There is a lot going on what with the alternate dimensions, the historical details and the perfect mate scenarios.  There are a lot of characters to keep track of and this is obviously because the author is making this a series.  As I mentioned before, there are a lot of unanswered questions and unexplained details left at the end.  It may sound like I didn’t like this book but I did. Somehow it all works and keeps you intrigued enough to want to read the next book in the series to see if you find some answers.
So I do recommend this book.  The second book in the series is due out this year and the heroine is Jasmine. I am curious to see if the author will be able to redeem her character enough, at least in my eyes, to make her heroine worthy.