If I Only Had a Duke by Lenora Bell

August 31, 2016 By Leave a Comment

DUKE
If I Only Had a Duke by Lenora Bell
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (285 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

After four failed seasons and a disastrous jilting, Lady Dorothea Beaumont has had more than enough of her family’s scheming. She won’t domesticate a duke, entangle an earl, or vie for a viscount. She will quietly exit to her aunt’s Irish estate for a life of blissful freedom. Until an arrogant, sinfully handsome duke singles her out for a waltz, making Thea the most popular belle of the season.

The duke ruined her plans and he’ll just have to fix them.

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Sometimes the burden of being proper, perfect and demure is a grueling chore. Compound that pressure with a harping and judgmental mother and grandmother who are determined to choose her life and make her decisions for her that it’s not a wonder that the heroine, Thea, snaps and lashes out in the only way she can; she runs. What happens afterwards is pure entertainment for readers.

I’d read How the Duke Was Won,the first book in The Disgraceful Dukes series and thought that one to be clever and unique so I was really looking forward to If I Only Had a Duke in hopes I’d be equally engaged and amused. I was, completely. This is a 100% standalone read so a new fan can read this one first and not feel left out. This novel is strictly about Thea and Dalton. Charlene, Thea’s half-sister shows up later, but as a secondary character to the events and a sweet touch since they are family.

There are quite a few plot conflicts running simultaneously yet Ms. Bell juggled them with aplomb. I grew to have great respect for Thea and her goals to be free of the yoke of perfection. I admired Dalton’s quest for vengeance and retribution and I liked how Con, Dalton’s friend and co-conspirator, always had the hero’s back, except when it came to Thea. With the heroine, Con acted more like a gruff Cupid combined with a devilish Loki, with an Irish brogue – truly delightful. I giggled quite frequently with the dialogue, both internal and between Thea and Dalton. One of my favorite lines what when she labeled him “The Great Wall of Duke”. I snickered as I typed that. You’ll have to read it to understand why it’s so funny – it’s a cumulative effect.

One of my favorite parts, and there are quite a few, is when Thea stood up to the main harridan; the results are miraculous! Another shocker is the revelation of what truly happened to Dalton’s little brother. I’ve read enough romance stories to guess the real answer but not the whole picture or what happens after that knowledge is gained. I really wanted to hug Dalton at that point. Poor guy – he’s gone through so much already and he’s being hunted on top of it! That underlying bit of suspense always seemed to lurk and pop up when I least expected it. It made for great reading.

The happy ever after is just overwhelmingly wonderful. It’s like Thea’s personality – her refusal to give up, to break or be cowed – just inspired everyone around her to dream bigger, fight harder and not take the first answer as gospel. No one gave up or gave in, well, the good guys at least. The dark characters get their just desserts although the author as a bit light in the details – not that I mind, I found it rather amusing. It was just how Ms. Bell did it.

Yes, If I Only Had a Duke is a whopper of a good tale told with a crisp and engaging style that brings Thea and Dalton to life for readers to enjoy. The sexy shenanigans are saucy, seductive and well-written but I was more entertained with the dialogue, Thea’s opinions and Dalton’s reactions to them. There’s just enough drama and fisticuffs to keep the pages turning, and amusing and silly antics to inspire a reader to grin. I fervently hope that Alice, the secondary character with the most amusingly toxic TMI or waxing poetic about the most obscure scientific gobbledygook, gets her happy ever after too. She wasn’t quite as strong a presence in this story, but Ms. Bell included her just at the right time to remind me how much I thought her amusing. Yes, she’d be an interesting character to match with a duke. I wonder who it will be? I can’t wait until the next book!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Kingpin by Lili St. German

August 2, 2016 By Leave a Comment

KINGPIN
Kingpin by Lili St. German
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
Genre: Contemporary, Action/Adventure
Length: Full Length (307 pgs)
Other: M/F, Multiple Partners
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

They say love conquers all.

It’s a lie.

Five days a week, I dressed in smart business clothes. I painted my face, and went to work as an accountant. But nothing about my life was normal.

For eight years I had been the property of the Gypsy Brothers Motorcycle Club. I laundered their money so well they’d never let me leave. My only glimmer of light was the man I loved. The man who had saved me.

Dornan.

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Dornan had been my salvation, but he was also my undoing.

Would he pull me down into the darkness until he destroyed me? Could I save him?

Did I even want to?

He’s a bad, bad boy.

I’ve read plenty of books with plenty of sweet, nice heroes. That’s not Dornan. Sweet isn’t in his vocabulary. I was intrigued, irritated and needed to read more.

I started off liking this book. Ms. St Germain has a way with words. I even liked the characters–despite Dornan being…hard to take.

The longer I read, the more my liking wore off. The writing started off well. Like I said, I was intrigued. But I had a very hard time warming up to Mariana. I get that she’s edgy and has been with a motorcycle club for a long, long time, but instead of getting the strong vibe I expected from her, I kept thinking this woman was so broken. Maybe that was the point. Maybe I supposed to see her as messed up and in need of salvation. If that was the case, then it worked.

While this might not have been the best book for me… it was different. There was plenty of action and adventure. The mistrust and code of conduct going on was very intoxicating. I can see where these characters might be fantastic and sexy.

This book might not have been the one highest on my list, this is a hot read. There’s tension, sweaty hot bodies and plenty of dominance. Give it a try. You might find your next sexy read between it’s pages.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Wanted by Shelley Shepard Gray

July 25, 2016 By Leave a Comment

WANTED
Wanted by Shelley Shepard Gray
Sisters of the Heart, Book Two
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Contemporary, Inspirational
Length: Full Length (166 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

For a split second, Katie feels certain she’s about to receive everything she’s ever wanted. . .
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Twenty-year-old Katie Brenneman has always quietly fancied Jonathan Lundy. So when the brokenhearted widower asks her to help him take care of his two young girls, Katie knows it will be a trying time—yet she cannot pass up a golden opportunity to get to know this man better.

Just as she’s settling into her new life, a message arrives from Katie’s past, threatening to expose her darkest secrets. During her Rumspringa, her running-around years, she experimented with activities forbidden in the Amish way of life. Frightened by how far she’d strayed from her values, Katie ran back home, vowing to cut all ties with the outside world. Now her transgressions are coming back to haunt her, just as Jonathan seems willing to welcome her into his heart.

Will the past destroy Katie’s chances for love? Or will Katie allow herself to accept God’s love, forgive her past, and receive everything she’s ever wanted?

Sometimes, a book just speaks to you. You read it at the right time in your life and it holds a deeper meaning than it probably was written to do, yet, that’s what Wanted did for me. Katie, the heroine, made mistakes and like her friend Anna, in Hidden, the past must be dealt with. The doing of it, facing and reconciling with the past in order to have a better, brighter future is a hard thing to do. It’s the main conflict in this book and I think it will resonate with many readers. The best thing though is the message; forgiveness is healing and freeing. A person just has to take those brave, courageous and difficult first steps to get the ball rolling. It’s that kind of journey that Katie takes which makes this book worth reading.

What made this story so special to me were the inspirational words and prayers written within. It’s not preachy or trite. They’re heartfelt and earnest and key to the spiritual nature that is integral to the Amish community that’s being written about. And yet, as divergent as I am, being an Englisher and all, some of the passages in this book eerily echoed the message in my own pastor’s recent homily. To be able to stare at the words, and see how Ms. Gray incorporated them into living life, in a seamlessly believable and honest way, spoke volumes to my heart. This is a romance story, pure and simple and it’s a good one. But it’s also filled with a simple joy, a humble view on life without all the discord and confusion that the pursuit of materialism can bring. Ms. Gray boils it down to respect of a man for a woman and a woman’s pride in doing her best to show how she cares for those she loves. It’s not the words; it’s her actions, her grace and her willingness to do these things without expectation of reward. Doing the right thing does not always end up being its own reward, but sometimes, it is and does.

The external conflict comes from a past that Katie must face. It is actually sad and poignant and full of emotion. It’s an aspect that gave this novel depth and significance. How the author made it come full circle was well done Ms. Gray wrapped it up with a warm and satisfying happy ever after to come. I say ‘to come’ because every step of a romance in Katie’s Amish community seems cherished and respected and never rushed. It’s a given that Katie and Jonathan have found their way to each other and the courtship will be done according to the Amish way, but by doing so did not leave me unsatisfied. If anything, it gave me a gentle pleasure, a warm smile and confidence that all is as it should be. I found Wanted to be an emotionally fulfilling read with characters, both main and secondary that touched my heart. It’s a solid romance.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Even Vampires Get the Blues by Sandra Hill

September 23, 2015 By Leave a Comment

BLUES
Even Vampires Get the Blues by Sandra Hill
Publisher: Avon, Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (241 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

New York Times bestselling author Sandra Hill delivers a sizzling new entry in her Deadly Angels series, as a Viking vangel’s otherworldly mission teams him with a Navy SEAL who’s more than his match— she’s his predestined mate . . .

The fact that vampire angel Harek Sigurdsson was a Norseman in his mortal life doesn’t make thawing out after exile in Siberia any easier. But things heat up when his search for evil Lucipires connects him with Camille Dumaine, a human who thrums with sensual energy that can mean only one thing: she’s the mate Harek’s been seeking for centuries . . .

The SEALs call her “Camo” for her ability to blend into a crowd—yet Harek’s intense blue gaze singles Camille out like a white-hot spotlight. The security wiz was hired to help bring down a ruthless band of international kidnappers, but Camille senses an unspoken agenda—besides Harek’s bold declaration that she’s his “destiny.” Just Camille’s luck that the sexiest man she’s ever met may also be . . . a vampire!

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Something tells me that the author spent quality time doing serious research in preparation for writing this novel. The one thing that I give her credit for is her ability to wield this knowledge with the gravity and seriousness it deserves without letting the subject overtake, overwhelm or subjugate the story with the darkness of the conflict. The romance is front and center with the focus strongly aimed at Harek and Camille. They made for an interesting couple.

Ms. Hill continues her tradition of clever Viking quips, funny puns and sexual innuendo. This author loves to play with the written word and some of the dialogue, both inner and verbal, was hilarious and truly inspired. All her characters practice a certain form of wit that can be endearing, annoying, (to the other protagonist, with giggle-worthy results) and sometimes insightful. It’s the repartee between the main characters and secondary characters that oftentimes provides the most interesting clues about the hero and heroine’s personalities.

There were some important secondary characters and some that were on stage only to illustrate a point or move the story along. Each and every person in the story had a reason for being there, even if it’s only to have a door slammed in their face. I liked that part.

I can only think of three areas where I think the story fell a bit flat and that was the island and the decision about the undiscovered item, and then the scene when the binding slipped. I’m wondering if the editor really thought that whole interaction through, because I found it inappropriate. Granted, Herek had some clever lines during the process but all I kept thinking about was who was involved. It was explained, true, but still, its handling didn’t sit right with me.

I enjoyed reading about all the sensual hijinks that Harek and Camille explored while they were falling in love. Ms. Hill always has her heroes and heroines have fun during sex and Even Vampires Get the Blues delivers the smiles. Each scene has a bit of dialogue, laughter and the requisite Viking S Spot. I wish I knew how to find it; frankly I’m envious of the heroines.

Even Vampires Get the Blues is an action-filled quick read that was greatly entertaining. I liked Camille’s personality and Harek’s preoccupation with her. If I had to choose one of them as being the most interesting and well-rounded, I’d pick Camille. Her conflict, both familial and personal, was easy to connect with. There’s a lot to like about this novel but my sincerest wish is that somehow, fact would follow fiction, and a certain group would get their comeuppance as only a Vangel could deliver. Wouldn’t that be awesome? Vangels rock!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

August 12, 2015 By 1 Comment

WATCHMAN
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Recent Historical, Fiction
Length: Full Length (278 pages)
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

From Harper Lee comes a landmark new novel set two decades after her beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Maycomb, Alabama. Twenty-six-year-old Jean Louise Finch–“Scout”–returns home from New York City to visit her aging father, Atticus. Set against the backdrop of the civil rights tensions and political turmoil that were transforming the South, Jean Louise’s homecoming turns bittersweet when she learns disturbing truths about her close-knit family, the town and the people dearest to her. Memories from her childhood flood back, and her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt. Featuring many of the iconic characters from To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set a Watchman perfectly captures a young woman, and a world, in a painful yet necessary transition out of the illusions of the past–a journey that can be guided only by one’s conscience.

Written in the mid-1950s, Go Set a Watchman imparts a fuller, richer understanding and appreciation of Harper Lee. Here is an unforgettable novel of wisdom, humanity, passion, humor and effortless precision–a profoundly affecting work of art that is both wonderfully evocative of another era and relevant to our own times. It not only confirms the enduring brilliance of To Kill a Mockingbird, but also serves as its essential companion, adding depth, context and new meaning to an American classic.

It’s a whole new world and it’s a scary place, but please don’t ignore it.

Confused by that statement? Go Set a Watchman is set twenty years after To Kill a Mockingbird and presents the world as a bit of scary, confusing place. But don’t let the perceived fear of the unknown keep you from reading this book.

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I loved Atticus, Scout and Jem from To Kill a Mockingbird. This was a book that shaped my teenage years and the movie is part of my growing up. Atticus was the father figure I always wanted. I was afraid I’d dislike the book because I’d heard some pre-release buzz.

This is my take. Read the book. Read the book all the way to the end. Don’t give up part way through. Got that?

I’m serious. The payoff is worth it.

Scout is, but isn’t, the same little girl from the first book. She’s the same girl, but her views and opinions have changed because she’s lived in New York for a while. There she can be the bohemian of sorts woman, not tied down in marriage and not really caring what others think. Her free-spiritedness is refreshing.

But this story is a story of the times. In the 1950’s, there were pervasive problems with racism and sexism. What needs to be kept in mind while reading is that this book is truly a product of its era, but it’s also a learning curve and growth for Scout. Haven’t we all had a person in our lives whom we looked up to, then found out the person is human after all?

No spoilers, but this is Scout’s story. A lot of loose ends are tied up and sorted out. Scout comes into her own.

Yes, there are things in this book that might make some readers upset. Atticus turns out to not be the man on the pedestal like he was in Mockingbird, but as I’ve said before, read to the end. Everything will be explained and has a reason.

If you’re a little interested in or wondering about the book, pick it up. If nothing else, it may make you think. I sure did. I recommend Go Set a Watchman

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Love Untamed by Pamela Palmer

January 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment

UNTAMED

A Love Untamed by Pamela Palmer
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (191 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

They are called Feral Warriors—an elite band of immortals who can change shape at will. Sworn to rid the world of evil, consumed by sorcery and seduction, their wild natures are primed for release . . .

The newest member of the elite Feral Warriors brotherhood, Fox is eager to prove himself on the frontlines of battle against the Daemons. When paired with the legendary Ilina warrior Melisande, he expects the fierce beauty to quickly fall under the spell of his quite considerable charm. Instead, he finds himself spellbound by a woman who’s his match in every way.

Beneath Melisande’s brittle exterior lies centuries of pain and a violent hatred of all shape-shifters—a hatred that slowly crumbles after she and Fox are caught in a deadly and cunning Mage trap and she glimpses a surprising depth in her far-too-seductive partner. Their survival demands unconditional trust—and their salvation surrender to a wild, untamed love.

Kieran’s dream comes true and he becomes Fox, a man with the drive of a superhero, sexy, smart, and landed with an almost impossible task of fighting true evil. The kicker comes from the fact that all is not as it appears. For this story to have the most impact, a reader would have read a couple of the previous books in the series that dealt with the demise of the previous men known as Fox. Only by having a bit of background will the total impact of the author’s deviousness be completely revealed and understood. It’s a jaw dropper.

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What Fox has to go through to win the trust and love of the very resistant heroine is nothing short of heroism. The process includes tons of action with tight and vivid writing that made me short of breath from heightened adrenaline. Surprises and shocks, twists and turns, lows so dark they were a torment to read and highs so lofty they made me dizzy, all pepper the novel making it a true page flipper.

Melisande is a tortured heroine both figuratively and literally. At points it was hard to read about her journey. It culminated in a stunning reveal that blew me away. Ms. Palmer managed to put my feelings through the wringer as the heroine reeled from the ramifications of the truths of what really happened to her. I never saw it coming and it was a great and effective emotional conflict. I liked her courage, her feistiness, her passion once she let go, and I was impressed with her gut-wrenching choice to apologize. That scene was beautifully written and powerful. In previous books, she wasn’t a very nice person. In A Love Untamed a reader finds out why and I guarantee she is a heroine worth caring about. I ended up liking her a lot.

There are old favorites helping Fox save the day but there are new characters that complicate the plot and conflict. The saddest is what happens to Fox’s friend. I hope somehow he can be saved.

Ms. Palmer also threw in a very interesting hook for another feral warrior’s story that may or may not have closure anytime soon. He may, but only the author knows. What I found so interesting was how the author left it – can he be saved? Did the person he sought really do what I thought, and did it end the way it did as written or is there a new curve in the fight against evil that is just tantalizingly out of reach? Even after reading the book I’m still asking myself these questions. Can you say “auto-buy”??

It’s not all frantic searching and fighting action. There are moments of humor, of clever writing that truly entertains and of course, searing, page steaming passion between Fox and Melisande that made this reader sigh in pleasure. Fox really does know his way around a woman’s body. ::swoon::

A Love Untamed is a sure pleaser for fans of this fantastic and exciting series. The characters have their issues and inner emotional conflicts. Their trials provide the impetus for meeting challenges head on, making this novel intense, entertaining and amazing as they rise above the chaos and deliver justice, swift and true. The best part is the culmination of everything they survived to enjoy their happy ever after. Fox and Melisande’s love was tested in fire in this story and I have every confidence that it will be enduring and strong mostly due to this romance being so well written. It’s a keeper.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Dark Nights by Christine Feehan

October 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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Dark Nights by Christine Feehan
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (312 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

She’s known him since she was fifteen. Every night, he is with her: his face, his voice. Tonight, Sara Marten will meet the man who is both angel and demon, salvation and temptation: Falcon—the Carpathian, the banished hero. Tonight, Sara will meet the dark-eyed destroyer destined to be her mate.

Hard to go wrong with a book of back-to-back stories of hunky, hot Carpathian men as they battle to win the hearts of their women and fight for their lives against those evil, gross looking vampires with bad breath. Not to mention all the other creepy crawlies that sent shivers up my spine but, unlike the heroines, I didn’t have my own Falcon or Traian to save me. Although Joie and Sara had all the fun, there was a high price to pay, which in turn, meant a book full of drama, suspense and action for me.

The first book is Dark Decent and it’s about a female body guard with an unusual talent. As is typical for Ms. Feehan, the heroine is capable, has a strong personality and although successful in her career, experiences feelings of not quite belonging, even, as in Joie’s case, when she’s surrounded by a loving and extremely supportive and exceptional family. She has a healthy sense of humor and a yen for adventure and it’s explored a tiny bit as to why that is. There is a lot of mentioning of her parents and by the time the story came to its conclusion and happy ever after, I was so intrigued by the possibility of Traian actually meeting her parents that I was a little let down that there was no mention of that even happening in a future book. Truth to tell, I would greatly enjoy that. I realize that Ms. Feehan’s stories commonly have dark themes because it’s about the war between good and evil. Just once, I’d love to see a tale with a more lighthearted and comedic bent, and having Traian meeting Mr. & Mrs. Sanders would do it. I mean, Joie mentions it quite a few times throughout the story and I think it’s a great idea. I hope other readers will feel the same way after reading Dark Descent and perhaps mention it. I guarantee it would be an auto-buy for me, because it’s a great hook.

Traian is your typical Carpathian male that fans of the series adore and clamor for. He’s arrogant, logical, commanding and aggressive. That’s easy to be all those things when you have no emotions and don’t have to deal with the fallout of messy hurt feelings. He’s not had them in so long, he can’t relate. That is until Joie sort of pops into his cave and blasts his eyes with color. Along with the good comes lots and lots of bad and the hero is up to the task of defending his woman, after a quick nibble or two. I liked Traian because he had a sense of humor too. It was a bit rusty, sure, but it worked. I enjoyed how the author described him and was greatly entertained as the hero navigated dealing with a woman who was at heart as fierce a warrior as he was.

Secondary characters were Joie’s brother, Jubal, and her sister, Gabrielle. They were an interesting addition to the story because they both presented teases as to what makes Joie and her whole kin more than the average American family. I also liked how they all worked together to get out of a nasty situation and how tight they were as a familial unit. They weren’t military, but they could have been.

The villains, as always, are the vampires who want power and will corrupt and kill anything and anyone to get it. Things were exceptionally gruesome in the cave and it seems the author must have a particular dislike of icky bugs and maggots because they were used to good effect. Squeamish readers might want to skim the scenes with the little beasties but rest assured Traian saves the day. Or, in his case, saves the night.

Dark Descent was an intense read with tons of suspense, drama and action to keep a reader wide-eyed. The romance was as powerful as the conflict; both giving fans what they expect when they pick up a book about those mysterious Carpathain men and the women who make them whole.

Dark Dream is a more intense romance with a lot of feeling and as close to mushy as a book about an alpha Carpathian male can get. Falcon is an ancient and he’s nearing his end game. That is until he meets a woman who has a connection to him forged in his personal long ago history. It’s a blessing and a curse and with all good stories, the curse is going to be broken, eventually. In this case, the evil that follows isn’t a spell or concept but an equally ancient evil that I suspect was drawn to the book the same as the heroine was, but for different reasons.

Sara is a tortured heroine. So much of her life has been lived in despair, with fear, and is beaten down with feelings of failure. Her inner strength is what carries her through as well as her ability to connect with Falcon’s past. He was her inspiration but nothing could have prepared the heroine for when the man of her dreams appeared on her porch. Her waffling emotions matched the situation. At times, I think she waffled too much but ultimately, the strength of the overall writing allowed me to overlook it. Her initial wonder and bemusement quickly dissipated as reality reared its fanged head and she came face to face with her pursuer. This time, however, Sara isn’t alone. It takes her some getting used to having someone that isn’t afraid of the bad guy and in fact looks forward to the battle. She’s so accustomed to being on her own; it was interesting watching her having to come to grips with Falcon. He wasn’t going to abandon her, nor was he going to allow her to be in harm’s way, nor would he let her hide behind misconceptions. In his revealing all, it reached Sara on her most sensitive levels. She loved the man her imagination and talent introduced her to, but loving the man before her, with all his fangs, baggage and save-the-world agenda was a whole other kettle of fish. I enjoyed her journey of discovery, even at its bumpiest.

And it is rocky. The heroine wants to help kids but evil doesn’t care for the welfare of the innocent. The runaway camper was the most intense scene but it also heralded a lot of great cameos. For fans of the series, Dark Dream gives readers a look at how things are going with old friends. It was great to see them in action again and kicking vampire butt.

Falcon is delish, but I’ve yet to ‘meet’ a Carpathian hunter that wasn’t. I liked how tender he was towards Sara and how he pampered her. His open communication was very seductive and his entreaty to her about his needs was powerful. He came across as a most sensual and sentimental man who put his woman first before all things. All of the heroes in the series have, but Falcon’s declarations were much more potent and Sara’s response was very uplifting. There are obstacles to fulfilling the hero’s needs but eventually, Sara, with the help of some friends, pulls through and everyone gets their happily ever after.

As with the first story, there are bugs and rats and other things that made me go “EW!” Good thing there are guys who save the day. It was deadly, hectic and full of drama and suspense, but that is what Ms. Feehan excels at and this story was equally entertaining as the first.

Dark Dream is another bite-your-nails-to-the-quick tale that sucks you in with the romance and keeps you reading while the suspense and action plays out.

Both stories in Dark Nights showcase why Ms. Feehan’s work is a keeper.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Hot and Haunted by Megan Hart, Lauren Hawkeye, Saranna DeWylde

October 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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Hot and Haunted by Megan Hart, Lauren Hawkeye, Saranna DeWylde
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (166 pages)
Other: M/F, Forced Seduction
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Thistledown

True Halloween pleasures don’t come from sweets . . .

Indulge yourself with some tasty tricks and treats from three popular erotica authors as they serve up tales of chilling, thrilling passion.

Megan Hart’s Nothing Else Matters

After surviving the zombie apocalypse, Lira wants nothing more than the sense of life that only lust can bring. Suddenly torn between two irresistible lovers, Lira must choose: the one who brings her carnal fantasies to life? Or the one who sets her ablaze again and again?

Lauren Hawkeye’s Pick Me Up

Sure, hitchhiking is dangerous, but Holly just had to get away. Now soaking wet and stuck in a downpour with her roadside savior, she’s ready for a little window-steaming and some role-play. It’s all fun and games until Holly realizes she’s met her match . . .

Saranna DeWylde’s Little Red’s Big Bad

Hunting werewolves and being snowbound in a remote cabin with a sexy FBI agent are all in a day’s work for U.S. Marshal Miranda Garrick. But when business mixes with pleasure, can she stay in control? Or will she be tempted by unrestrained passion . . . and tantalizing danger?

Give me a group of stories with a premise on the supernatural and you have made me a happy woman. Make it a little dark with some erotic fun and you have me on the edge of my seat.

This Hot and Haunted anthology had me going just from the cover. Let me first say that it sounded very Halloween-esque and I wanted it immediately. The masked mystery woman had me aching to discover what was inside the pages.

The first story, Nothing Else Matters by Megan Hart was a zombie apocalypse of the sexy kind. What do you do when you are faced with death at every turn? Celebrate life and the erotic moments that can be fleeting but oh so sexy. This story was by far my favorite of the collection. Zombies, survival, some really hunky heroes to fall into bed with, and a heroine that takes no crap from anyone, especially zombies. The plot was edgy, the sex scenes melted me in my seat and I loved every second of it. If you are a fan of Walking Dead or Zombieland, you will love this. I have a couple of books from this author on my e-reader and now I have got to read more!

Pick Me Up by Lauren Hawkeye was a gunshot of a story. Would you pick up a stranger on the side of the road that looked like they were in distress? What if they were very intent on seducing you? This story will have you second guessing every second of it and feeling the heat of the steamy car windows as you live the tension and suspense. As I read, I kept waiting for something to pop out at me but as you will discover at the last possible moment, suspense is better served cold. Great sex scenes, heart stopping murderous edge of your seat action…this one will have you wondering the whole time.

Little Red’s Big Bad by Saranna DeWylde was a fun and sinister twist on the Red Riding Hood fairy tale. Enter a serial killer with some serious lycanthropic issues, a sexy hero FBI agent and a criminal profiler who knows how to get her man. It just so happens that as she is both the hunter and the prey in this fast paced read. Get ready to check out some skills with a cell phone that will show you a thing or two about apps that can make your night. Snow bound and steamy, this will put some marshmallows on your hot chocolate and some spice in your cider. Yum. Read it under a full moon for an extra bit of frightful allure.

These stories were a great collection of supernatural adventure, suspense and erotica. The smooth writing from Megan Hart made hers my ultimate favorite, followed by Saranna DeWylde’s werewolf story and last the hitchhiker scare from Lauren Hawkeye. The cover art was lovely, but had nothing at all to do with the stories inside. When I first looked at it, I envisioned Halloween stories and masked balls. Nope. Not a one.

If you love a great mix of paranormal suspense and dark and steamy erotica, get out your ereader cause you are going to want to read this and put it on your keeper shelf.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Nine Lives of an Urban Panther by Amanda Arista

September 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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Nine Lives of an Urban Panther by Amanda Arista
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (252 pgs)
Heat: Spicy
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Violet Jordan thought the fairy tales her mother wove were just a way to get Violet to sleep, not a way to prepare her for the apocalypse she is the key to preventing. When she becomes a midnight snack for werepanther Spencer Haverty, his infectious bite invokes the first element of her destiny. When Violet’s budding instincts allow her to save a boy’s life, she realizes this new gig may come with perks: a slimmer figure, the attention of a handsome Guardian, and insights into her future embedded in her mother’s stories. But as push comes to claws, can Violet make the fatal strike against the men threatening her new family, her new home and her first boyfriend in ages?

Violet’s back in a whole new adventure that is as thrilling a ride as the previous two books in the series. There is something for everyone; thrills, chills, chases, ghouls and giant beasties, not to mention more of Vi’s and Chaz’s turbulent romance as it weathers more bumps and bruises, bites and scratches, not all of them the bad kind.

Once again Ms. Arista takes us on a first person journey with the heroine, Violet, as she battles and juggles her new responsibilities as Prima of Dallas, her growing love for Chaz and her bittersweet, and eventually shocking, reunion with her cousin. My favorite parts about the heroine are when she cracks puns that make a reader giggle and snort. Even when things are dire, Violet manages to throw in a clever quip or observation that breaks up the tension just a bit. And there is a lot of tension and suspense sprinkled throughout this tale that made it very hard to stop reading, even when I should have. Every chapter revealed something of interest whether it was a reason to gasp, tear up, sigh in wonder or stare at the words in wide-eyed wonder. I did that ‘great googly moogly!’ thing quite a few times because the author managed to surprise me when I least expected it. I couldn’t have dreamed up the scenarios and peccadillos that she managed to throw Violet into. That bad guy kept her on her toes.

Spencer is the re-occurring bad seed. Just when I thought he was restricted by where he was, I found out something important. You are what you eat. Ms. Arista took that saying to new and depraved heights that only a villain could love. Spencer was a very convincing villain and when the actual showdown finally happened, it didn’t go according to anyone’s plan. Well, maybe the person who smelled like honeysuckle sort of had a clue. That scene had me thinking so hard, my brain hurt. The Jordan genetic line is much more than anyone realized and I had a wild time learning all about it. Well, as much as the author let us know during this story. It definitely had me wanting to learn more about Violet and her family.

Chaz is still sticking to Violet like a burr on a sock. I’m so happy to see that. In fact, the hero has to make some very life changing choices in this story and the process was painful. What makes his character so interesting and mysterious is the fact that I never get into his head. This truly is a first person point of view novel and I only learn about him as Violet does. So, when he does things like, disappear, or come back exhausted from who knows where from doing who knows what, it’s as frustrating for me as it is for Violet. And yet, she trusts him, loves him and makes mistakes with him – he’s a great asset to her character and the series. In fact, by the end of Nine Lives of an Urban Panther, Chaz has a whole new level of learning to do and ties into my previous comment about Ms. Arista’s ability to surprise a reader. Color me gleefully astounded.

The gang’s all here as far as Violet’s new pack is concerned. But there are some new ‘kids’ on the block that pose some interesting contributions to this book as well as possible future plots and conflicts. They certainly made an impact and I’m confident I’ll be seeing more of yummy Valiance and fascinating Willowbourne as well as the very interesting Wayne and Lexie. I enjoyed the camaraderie and feeling of family that the author is building. Future books will be less a couple of people after this go-round. I was saddened but I understood. The author’s descriptions of one of the characters lead me to believe that it was coming, but at no time did I expect it to happen as it did. It was all the more effective and was where I sniffled and grabbed a tissue. It was powerful writing.

Nine Lives of an Urban Panther is stunning in its scope, brilliant in delivery, grabs a reader’s emotions with heartfelt writing and doesn’t let go. I enjoyed how the author built up the suspense, orchestrating her characters to best effect, and, even though the hero and heroine fought darkness and evil, Ms. Arista still found time to make her characters laugh, joke and be like real people. This series is turning out to be like a necklace studded with jewels – each book is unique, special and has so many facets to explore, it’s not a wonder this one is going on my keeper shelf. I can’t wait to find out how long the earthquake derailed a certain something. I certainly hope it’s not for long, because I really want Jessa’s hard work and enthusiasm to find fruition. This is one cliffhanger I’m delighted to wait for. The next book in the series can’t come fast enough for me.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Lady is a Vamp by Lynsay Sands

July 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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The Lady is a Vamp by Lynsay Sands
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (210 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

One late night leads to . . .

Kidnapped! When Jeanne Louise Argeneau left work, she never thought she’d end up tied down by a good-looking mortal. More attracted than annoyed, she quickly realizes there is more to her abductor than meets the eye.

One desperate act leads to . . .

Love? Paul Jones has need of a vampire, and only Jeanne Louise will do. He just has to convince this beauty of a Vamp to help him . . . never imagining that he would fall in love. But with the immortal world’s answer to law enforcement hunting them, their time together is running out . . . and Paul and Jeanne Louise will need to risk everything to spend an eternity together.

It’s not too often that an Argeneau gets kidnapped. Usually it’s done by bad guys and the result is never good. This time around it’s for a higher purpose and the lines between good and bad are blurred. Two wrongs usually don’t make a right but in this case they did; it also made for a great read and a fascinating story.

The conflict is powerful in this latest romance from Ms. Sands. It’s about making a choice and living with the consequences. The author did a masterful job of navigating all the emotional ups and downs between Paul, the hero and Jeanne Louise, the heroine. What started off hopeful and promising turned tragic on a dime and the fallout is what propelled the plot for a good chunk of the novel.

Paul was a desperate man. He was basically a good person, smart, sexy and highly intelligent. He was faced with an untenable situation and was doing everything he could to avoid it, to no avail. His last attempt before time ran out reaped unexpected benefits as well as unforeseen complications. He tried his best and he mostly kept his sense of humor but one realization too many left him with an uncertain and lonely future. I really felt for him. All the hero wanted to do was save someone’s life and it ended up costing him his happiness. I liked that he tried to brave it out because he knew if he didn’t, he’d lose everything. He was tender, understanding, loving and supportive to Jeanne Louise, but it wasn’t enough. Paul was a very easy character to have sympathy and empathy for. I liked his protective streak, his ability for commitment and the way he expressed his love to the heroine. He was a great guy.

Jeanne Louise fell in love twice in this story. It would have been the perfect fairy tale had everything that she planned and counted on worked out. Such was not too be. Watching her deal with her pain was a sad thing but I respected the heroine because not only did she deal with her pain, she tried to mitigate someone else’s. That takes a lot of heart and deep emotional strength to be willing to put oneself in that position.

Because the blurb didn’t mention the other main character, I’m not going to either. I made the discovery the same time as Jeanne Louise did and it made an indelible impact on me. I had no idea that this kind of conflict was going to carry the story and it alternates between sadness, happiness, awe and delight. This person is strong enough to bring two people together or rip them apart, so it was a very effective addition to the book. The love emanating from the pages whenever this character was on scene is unmistakable. It made the plot believable and added a layer of emotional depth that was hard to resist. It also created most of the light drama and suspense, unless Lucien Argeneau was on scene. That man brings instant paranoia and tension wherever he goes.

Speaking of Lucien, he’s not the only Argeneau family member to show up. Whenever they are around a reader can expect the unexpected as well as fun, laughter, great dialogue and interesting character interaction. It’s not all fun because the Enforcers have to play their role and in this book, one of them messed up. That being said, I am giving serious thought that one might, just might, have met his future life mate in this story. If so, that will be so awesome!

This wouldn’t be a complete story without some scenes of that shared loving that is intrinsic to new life mates and Ms. Sands didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed how the author managed to put humor into such passionate scenes because when she does that, it makes her heroes and heroines easier to relate to. Regular people experience learning curves when they have sex with a new partner, but it’s extra special between Immortal lovers.

Although I mentioned that previous Argeneau characters are in this novel, this book is a standalone read. It’s no hardship to follow the plot thread because it’s strictly focused on Paul and Jeanne Louise. However, readers of the series will understand the extent of the worry that Lucien’s very presence always inspires. Imagine Darth Vader with a fluffy marshmallow center. That would be Lucien. It’s very rare to see the fluffy side of Lucien Argeneau. Readers almost get to see it in this story. Watch for it.

The Lady is a Vamp is as touching and sentimental a story as it is sexy and exciting. Like real life, there is a smorgasbord of situations that draw forth a variety of feelings from a reader. Not the least of which is the sense of satisfaction that comes from a well written and complete happy ever after.

Ms. Sands has the reputation for writing wonderful and entertaining stories with characters that draw a reader in. The Lady is a Vamp continues the trend and is a keeper.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,
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