Revealing Us by Lisa Renee Jones

September 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

US
Revealing Us by Lisa Renee Jones
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (320 pgs)
Other: M/F, BDSM
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Gardenia

You’ve discovered Rebecca’s secrets. You’ve discovered Sara’s secrets. Now Sara will discover “his” deepest, darkest secrets…but will those secrets bind them together–or tear them apart?

This amazing third full novel in this series left me wanting more information about the other characters but satisfied that Chris and Sara’s story had reached a great end.

Would you follow the man you love no matter where he went in order to discover his secrets? Our hero Sara says YES! I love that our heroine has survived and grown regardless of all the tragedies in this series. She has become an independent woman willing to take risks for a chance at happiness. I enjoy reading stories about characters that grow, mature and become stronger.

There is no doubt now that Chris is in love with Sara. He is such a tortured soul. It is obvious he is seeking redemption and just has not found the right person to give it to him. I love how the author depicts his reactions. It shows a soul in turmoil and confusion, which serves the story well.

Their search for insight into each other takes them back to Paris, France. This part of the story is very interesting because it provides insight into the type of life Chris has lived in order to survive his guilt. Pain and liquor have been his temporary reprieves. The characters introduced in this part of the story are well developed and further the story, elucidating the depths of pain Chris has subjected himself in order to survive.

The mystery and suspense in this story continue as to the fate of Rebecca and Ella. The issues introduced here ensure we will see more compelling installments to this series. As a “who-done-it” mystery, this series has been gripping and nail biting.

In summary, if you have been following this series, you will not be disappointed. We have been given enough information to continue hoping Rebecca may still be alive, while hoping Ella will be found. Chris and Sara’s love evolves to an all-encompassing level. I would read this book over and over again. There is so much going on; I am still hoping to discover additional clues as to the fate of these characters.

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

What the Duke Desires by Sabrina Jeffries

June 4, 2013 By 1 Comment

DUKE
What the Duke Desires by Sabrina Jeffries
Publisher: Pocket Books/ Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (384 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Maximilian Cale, the Duke of Lyons, long ago buried his grief for his missing elder brother, Peter, who was presumed dead after being kidnapped. When a mysterious note arrives from Tristan Bonnaud asserting that the Duke’s brother is alive, it leads Max straight to the winsome Lisette Bonnaud, illegitimate daughter of a viscount and Tristan’s sister. Soon he and Lisette are traveling to Paris posing as husband and wife, in search of Tristan, who has disappeared. And the longer he spends with Lisette, the easier it is for Max to see that the line between dukedom and desire is easier to cross than heimagined . . .

If a book can be chosen to be read on only the strength of the prologue, then I’d vote for What the Duke Desires. The premise of the external conflict that taunts and flavors most of the book is found right there. The familial ties and the reasons they are so strong are present in bold clarity. The actions that occur in that short chapter drive the main protagonists into the lives they eventually live. And despite the horror of the beginning, triumph, happiness and justice eventually prevail. The question was, ‘how?’. The story that followed was nothing short of spectacular and all my questions were answered.

Ms. Jeffries knows how to create a villain. I didn’t like him one whit. The author also knows how to create a mystery whose solving ends up introducing surprises, twists and an unexpected boon. Sometimes I knew things the characters didn’t and sometimes they knew things that the author only revealed to me when she wanted to. I never guessed who was who and who he ended up being was still pretty darned cool. Am I being ambiguous? If I had to read through the whole thing to find out the truth, so will a reader have to. It’s worth it.

Plots that go awry make me smile. Lisette’s great idea ended up not so wonderful in actual practice, but it sure started in motion a unique and fascinating romance. It took me on a grand journey filled with adventures and revelations. Each step of the way showcased the strengths and weaknesses of both Max, the hero, and Lisette, the irrepressible heroine.

The internal dialogue of both Lisette and Max was oftentimes enlightening but many times humorous. I had fun watching the heroine fall under the charms of the hero. Neither one set out to seduce or be seduced but that’s what happens. It was great entertainment.

A secondary character played an integral part of moving the conflict and the romance along. It was amazing to see the spurt of jealousy that tore through Max. Equally amusing was when he actually met the guy. I really liked the fact that this character is based on an actual historical figure. It leant a certain firmness and believability to the tale.

Emotions were very much present in this novel. The lead characters had theirs trampled, lifted, dashed and healed. Every time something momentous happened, I felt right along with them. That is high praise and due to the effective writing skills of Ms. Jeffries. The dialogue was great and the romance was perfect. Well, perfect that it ended with a happy ever after. The journey was far from perfect while the hero and heroine learned about each other. The ramifications of the truths they discovered had them saying hurtful things. That’s only human and the best part is the making up. I liked that. But there is more to a happy ever after then just the romance portion. Something else happened to Max, and it made it a bittersweet kind of happy. It was healing and hopeful. I was very pleased.

What the Duke Desires is a passion-filled adventure that has humor, action, and devious storytelling. This is a busy book with a lot of intrigue and surprises to keep the pages flipping. I enjoyed the moments of wit and fun intermixed with the more serious aspects of solving the mystery. I’m most especially happy for Max because he’s finally finding peace with his role as duke. And it’s all thanks to a crazy plot from an unusual heroine, Lisette. I wonder if Tristan’s story is going to be next. If so, it’s going to be another auto-buy because in this story, he seemed synonymous with the word, trouble. How can I resist a potential hero like that?

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

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

May 14, 2013 By 3 Comments

Best Book 2013 copySTORYTELLER

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (462 pgs)
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Thistledown

Some stories live forever . . .

Sage Singer is a baker. She works through the night, preparing the day’s breads and pastries, trying to escape a reality of loneliness, bad memories, and the shadow of her mother’s death. When Josef Weber, an elderly man in Sage’s grief support group, begins stopping by the bakery, they strike up an unlikely friendship. Despite their differences, they see in each other the hidden scars that others can’t, and they become companions.

Everything changes on the day that Josef confesses a long-buried and shameful secret—one that nobody else in town would ever suspect—and asks Sage for an extraordinary favor. If she says yes, she faces not only moral repercussions, but potentially legal ones as well. With her own identity suddenly challenged, and the integrity of the closest friend she’s ever had clouded, Sage begins to question the assumptions and expectations she’s made about her life and her family. When does a moral choice become a moral imperative? And where does one draw the line between punishment and justice, forgiveness and mercy?

Some books stay with you long after you turn the last page. The Storyteller is one of those books.

An epic read that spans both the present and the past, The Storyteller is a myriad tapestry of forgiveness, betrayal, family, murder and the power of love. Sage, the central character is a wounded soul who works in a bakery to hide herself from the harsh eyes of the world. Her face is scarred by an automobile accident that claimed the life of her mother. She feels the weight of it every time she looks in the mirror, and uses it to make some rather questionable decisions. Through her job, she meets an elderly man Josef, who frequents the bakery, with his little dog Eva. They both attend a group for people dealing with grief and it is through their unlikely friendship that a request will be made that will change both of their lives forever.

Josef is a man with a past, but on the outside, looks like any other older man in the twilight of his life. When conversations reveal her Jewish heritage, Josef makes a request that Sage kill him because of sins he committed in the past. Thus begins a journey of guilt, redemption, The Holocaust and the true meaning of forgiveness; or not.

It is also a story of love and baking and I can totally identify with that. Love for me has always been linked with food. In this tale, it is the tempting aroma of baking bread and all the generations of bakers in Sage and Minka’s family that bring the story to life in a very tangible way. Baking bread is an art and a science. What most people don’t know is that it can also be a love letter or a gift that can kill.

As The Storyteller moves along, we meet each of the characters involved as they each tell their stories. Sage, the young baker with scars across her face and soul, Josef the possible Nazi war criminal, Minka Sage’s grandmother and Holocaust survivor, Leo the Department of Justice investigator into war crimes and finally Ania, the character in a story that was written by Minka. All of these points of view weave together to craft an unforgettable tale that literally had me running to my work breaks and staying up late into the night, crying at the depths of emotion this book brought out in me. The events of the Holocaust were so evil and so reprehensible I felt literally sick at some points. In others, I felt the supreme love and majesty of a people so bonded in family and love that it gave me faith in humanity once again. Ms. Picoult tells a story like no other and I believe this is her finest work to date. At the conclusion of the book, she lists reference resources for those who are curious about the book and where she got her information.

Some central themes that rampage through the book are family, morality, mercy, the power of fear, people’s willingness to believe anything if it helps them and ultimately what the true power of forgiveness is about. What if someone asked you to kill them for their sins? Would you even consider it? If you did, how awful would those sins have to be? As Sage learns more about Josef and who he really was and how it all weaves together with her grandmother’s time at Auschwitz I got chills. These are people you grow to love like your own family. Just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does and with each affront to humanity, your heart breaks for those that lost their lives to the gas chambers and bullets in a time of unnecessary violence.

The chapters done with each different perspective really worked. I got to see all aspects of the story and wasn’t limited by, say, Sage’s point of view. It was an effective way to show all sides, even the reasoning for Josef’s actions as makes a conscious decision to become a monster. Everything can be justified, given the right circumstances. This is a ribbon of thought that runs through the book and honestly, it really made me think. What if it was you? What if you lived in this time and had to encounter either side of the coin? Holocaust victim or perpetrator? What if you had to become a monster just to survive, like the character in Minka’s tale? This book reverberated deep down and made me think about events in my own life that required forgiveness and how hate can indeed bloom out of one’s heart like a thorny branch and quickly take over if you don’t give it up to someplace higher, no matter what your religious convictions. It has been three days since I finished reading The Storyteller, but the voices of Sage, Minka, Josef, Ania and Leo still echo in my head. Now if you will excuse me, I think I need to see about a loaf of bread I just put in the oven.

Any time I want to read something that stirs the soul, I will be going back to The Storyteller. It is an epic journey of healing, destruction and the mysteries of the heart.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

If I Were You by Lisa Renee Jones

April 18, 2013 By 2 Comments

YOU
If I Were You by Lisa Renee Jones
Publisher: Simon and Schuster (Gallery Books)
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (340 pgs)
Other: M/F, Light BDSM
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

He is rich and famous, and dark in ways I shouldn’t find intriguing but I do. I so do. I don’t understand why his dark side appeals to me, but the attraction between us is rich with velvety promises of satisfaction. . . .

In the bestselling style of Fifty Shades of Grey, Lisa Renee Jones delivers sexy thrills and heart-pounding sensuality with a tantalizing page-turner in which the eyes of a high school English teacher are opened to a world she never knew existed, and she finds a passionate craving within that she never knew she possessed.

The journal comes to Sara McMillan by chance, when she inherits the key to an abandoned storage locker belonging to a woman named Rebecca. Sara can’t resist peeking at the entries in the journal . . . and she finds a scintillating account of Rebecca’s affair with an unnamed lover, a relationship drenched in ecstasy and wrapped in dark secrets.

Obsessed with discovering Rebecca’s destiny after the entries come to an abrupt end, Sara does more than observe the players in the woman’s life; she immerses herself in the high-stakes art gallery world Rebecca inhabited—and is magnetically drawn to two men. Which one seduced Rebecca with his masterful and commanding touch and brought her fantasies to exquisite life? On a daringly erotic escapade, Sara follows Rebecca’s path to fulfill her own hidden longings. But after she tastes the forbidden pleasures Rebecca savored, will Sara be helpless to escape the same submissive fate?

A storage unit with more secrets than it can handle.

Intrigued? I was. I love the work of Lisa Renee Jones and nabbed this book the moment I saw it on the review list. If I Were You sparkles and shines with snappy writing and an easy style that snagged me from page one. As much as there are breezy parts to the story, there are also some really intense scenes. This mixes up the book nicely and kept me needing to read to find out what would happen next.

Sara is a school teacher who happens upon a diary in a storage locker. I won’t get into the details but the diary is scorching. It intrigues Sara and makes her want to find this man who made Rebecca feel so good and whatever happened to the enigmatic Rebecca. She meets a lot of people along the way, but the one who makes the biggest impact is Chris.

I liked following Sara on her journey and thought about this book long after I closed it. There were times when I wanted to conk someone on the head and times when I couldn’t believe things happened the way they did.

Chris is an interesting character. He could be compared to the hero of a certain other book in the same genre, but it’s not that simple. Yes, he’s damaged. Yes, he’s very protective, but Ms. Jones makes him feel real. I could completely understand why he reacted the way he did and rooted for him to get the girl.

If you want a book that’s hot, sexy and filled with suspense, then this might be the book for you!

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

Lothaire by Kresley Cole

July 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Lothaire by Kresley Cole
Publisher: Gallery Books, A division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (468 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

ALL FEAR THE ENEMY OF OLD

Driven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore’s most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde’s crown by offering up the soul of his lovely new captive, Elizabeth Peirce. Yet the young human soon tempts him beyond reason.

A DEADLY FORCE DWELLS WITHIN HER

Ellie Peirce’s life was a living hell—even before an evil immortal abducted her. Though he plans to sacrifice her, the vampire seems to ache for her touch, showering her with sexual pleasure. In a bid to save her soul, she surrenders her body, while vowing to protect her heart.

CENTURIES OF COLD INDIFFERENCE SHATTERED

In one month, Lothaire must choose between a millennia-old blood vendetta and his irresistible prisoner. Will he succumb to the miseries of his past . . . or risk everything for a future with her?

This book should be called “How to Fall in Love with the Bad Guy Everyone Loves to Hate” because that is what this amazing and nail biting romance story is all about. As much of a loathsome, power hungry, arrogant and cruel man Lothaire has been in all the previous books in the series, this time the love story is epic because it ends up redeeming a character that was thought to be irredeemable. The almost insane vampire falls head over fangs for a woman possessed. Doesn’t that sound awesome? Believe me, it is.

One thing that surprised me the most was how romantic and sweet Lothaire ended up being, which is saying a lot because all the other tales in the series were all romantic to one degree or another. However, I found them to be dark and sort of mired in violence so reading them hasn’t been a comfortable experience, especially the last few. That’s why, when I picked up Lothaire I was a bit wary because I had gotten to know how vicious and deprived of a moral compass his character had been and I was sure that there’d be even more violence and darkness in the book. Ms. Cole could have knocked me over with a feather. Despite the blood thirsty nature of Lothaire and the initial villain, Soroya, the book wasn’t nearly as dark and depressing as it could have been. In fact, it was full of warped humor, funny dialogue between Lothaire and Elizabeth and amazing loving, once they got to that point.

The story is told in Lothaire’s point of view and Elizabeth’s. My favorite is the hero’s because finally I got to understand what formed him, drove him, warped him and tortured him. In a few cases the torture was literal. Poor guy, he really was misunderstood. The thing of it is, he preferred that, fostered it and made everybody around him miserable because it was a form of power and protection. You can’t be hurt if you had no heart or sentiments to injure. And that’s why I loved Elizabeth. She eventually got through his shields and the hero had his world turned upside down. He tried to remain as he was but the heroine, just be being herself, twisted him up in knots. It was the absolute best reading experience because she frustrated him, fascinated him and turned him into a mass of raging hormones. It was fun!

Lothaire might not be the enemy in this book but he has plenty of threats to deal with. Soroya was a scary and demented character. When she got her comeuppance from a very unexpected source, it was a freaky scene. The bargaining chip worries me. If that person is truly as evil as depicted, the Lore has a new worry and I’m almost afraid to contemplate what that will mean to the characters I’ve come to know and love throughout the series. I wish I could talk about this openly with other readers because the possibilities are mind boggling. Then again, it might be Ms. Cole being clever and introducing a new story thread to breathe new life into the series. If so, she succeeded. The one major hint that excited me was Lothaire’s decision to help Phenix. The author has mentioned the subject quite a few times in past books but this is the first time that it sounds like a decision has been made. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

The relationship between Lothaire and Elizabeth is contentious. She likes to talk, he doesn’t. She wants to understand, he doesn’t feel the need to explain himself. He commands, she butts heads. He expects her to turn her back on her past, and she fights to keep it and grab for more. There is so much internal angst and yet the author handled it so well, it was entertaining and fascinating. I especially got a kick out of the scenes with the sword, the head, the heart and the finger and the ornery dog. How they make this story great has to be read to be understood. It was awesome. I was equally horrified and snorting with shocked humor. Ms. Cole’s characters sure know how to make a statement. Oh, I forgot the Mothman. I’m still giggling over that line.

Most surprising was Elizabeth’s family. What a wonderful addition to the cast of characters and their role is integral in solidifying the hero and heroine’s relationship into one that will endure, much to Lothaire’s consternation. In fact, the epilogue filled me with glee. Ms. Cole injected very human demands and expectations into the royal mix and created an optimistic, delightful and extremely satisfying happy ever after that even now has me grinning ear to ear.

Lothaire is the best of The Immortals After Dark series. This is a book I can brag to all my friends about with utter confidence that I’m recommending a story that will keep them on the edge of their seat. There is so much going on and each chapter reveals new hooks that simply astound and amaze. Whether it be the twisted nature of the villain, the revelations of Lothaire’s young life or the convoluted path of true love for Elizabeth and the hero, the author succeeded in surprising me at every turn and made me want to read more, more, more! I’m exceedingly happy that I read this novel and any fan of this series has something to look forward to when they pick up their own copy. I firmly believe that this can be considered a standalone read, but reading about the characters that came before and Lothaire’s role in them would greatly enhance the sheer pleasure of seeing the villain turned hero as he did in this book. I’m a happy reader.

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Lie For Me by Karen Young

August 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Lie For Me by Karen Young
Publisher: Howard Books – Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary, Inspirational
Length: Full Length (349 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 books
Reviewed by Camellia

Lauren Holloway’s ex-fiance, Tucker Kane, is without an alibi when his ex-wife is murdered. Tucker claims to have been alone at a job site at the time, but he needs Lauren to lie for him so that he won’t become a suspect in the murder. She refuses; now as a prime suspect, Tucker disappears without a trace. Years later, she sees him at an antique fair, and worried that Lauren will reveal his carefully constructed life, he forces his into her hotel room and tells her that he’s trying to find evidence to clear his name. As Lauren tries to help Tucker, she questions her ability to judge character as she uncovers a labyrinth of deceit, putting her very life in danger.

Bad things happening to good people just doesn’t seem right. How much faith does it take to overcome unjust adversity and come out stronger and a better person?

Mature, with successful careers, and so-very-much in love, Lauren Holloway and Tucker Kane are soon to be wed and the plans are drawn for their dream home to be started as soon as they marry, but the world seems to cave in on them. Bad things begin to happen and just keep getting worse until Tucker disappears without saying goodbye in an effort to keep Lauren and his toddler daughter Kristy safe.

Devastated because Tucker didn’t trust her enough to tell her his plan, Lauren calls off the wedding as her life comes unraveled. Badgered and watched by the despicable Detective Sherman, discriminated against by the powers-that-be in the school where she is principal, She finds herself questioning her own self-worth and her values. Even though she feels cast adrift, she continues to be a part of Kristy’s life and also stays friends with Evelyn and Martin, Kristy’s maternal grandmother and grandfather. The hatred Evelyn has for Tucker and Martin’s secretive connection with Tucker have her in a quandary until Kristy is abducted then Lauren meets all adversaries head on with determination.

Dark threads woven into the story are secondary characters like Juliana, Kristy’s godmother and her politically ambitious D. A. husband; Jordan Raines, Juliana’s ambitious journalist nephew; as well as the Armstrongs who are associated with Lauren’s school trauma. All of them are major players in Tucker and Lauren’s heartbreaking situation. Even Margot, Tucker’s dead ex-wife, continues to wreck havoc on Tucker’s life. Conversely, bright, shining threads are characters like Eric Grantham and Sheriff Benton Fox (WOW!).

Karen Young weaves a plot that slowly unfolds with some surprising revelations. She builds in emotions that cause the characters to question their faith and their values. How she finally resolves the troubling issues they wrestle with makes compelling reading and also causes the reader to think about his or her own strengths and weakness both spiritual and emotional. Ms. Young’s descriptions of the Texas Hill Country make the setting seem real and her subtle foreshadowing of major events entices the reader to keep turning pages.

Tucker and Lauren’s love story is full of “unfair” doings of mean-spirited people who send both Tucker and Lauren to the depths of misery before they can unravel deceits and come to realize their love and faith withstood a fiery test and came through refined, strong, and true. Their happy-ever-after had a high price, but shines with so much promise for the future. Good reading!

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

Tempt Me With Darkness

October 27, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Tempt Me With Darkness by Shayla Black

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books

Genre: Contemporary, Action/Adventure, Paranormal

Length: Full Length

Other: M/F

Rating: 4 Cherries

Review by Cholla

He’s an immortal knight hungering for satisfaction. . . .

As soon as Marrok sees Olivia Gray, he’s sure they met in eons past. He’s felt her soft, gentle curves writhing in pleasure beneath his own powerful body. . . Morganna! For centuries, towering Marrok, once the mightiest of King Arthur’s warriors, has endured a terrible curse the witch cast upon him when he spurned the witch.

She’s a modern woman about to discover ancient magic. . . .

Olivia shares a mystical—and irresistible—connection with brooding Marrok. Soon after the sexy warrior appears in her erotic dreams, he abducts her, demanding she uncurse him. Their intense passion is more powerful—and intimate—than either of them has ever known. Olivia may be the key to unlocking the diary that will break Morganna’s hold on his life. But in the wrong hands, the book also holds the power to destroy magickind. As they search for answers, a ruthless wizard returned from exile is building an army of evil. When he discovers Marrok and Olivia have the diary, only their love—with the help of a powerful group of magical Brethren—can save them.

Despite their horribly rocky introduction to one another, Marrok and Olivia dance around their obvious attraction – and strong desire – for one another until they can’t deny the pull any longer. Sparks fly – both in passion and anger – once they give in to their passions. Will Marrok ever forgive Morgana enough to love Olivia? Will Oliva learn to move beyond her past enough to trust Marrok to love her?

While racing against time, Marrok and Olivia try to find the secret to opening the Doomsday Diary and thus freeing Marrok from Morgana’s curse of immortality. They are also forced to exchange energy – through sex – in order for Olivia, an untransitioned mated witch – to remain strong and healthy. At times there was a bit too much sex and not quite enough action for my tastes. However, with a strong story and likable characters – as well as those you love to hate and even one you’re not so sure about – you almost don’t even notice the bumps in the road along the way to the exciting conclusion. A definite must-read for any fan of the Arthurian legends and Morgan Le Fay.

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In Her Wildest Dreams

October 21, 2008 By 2 Comments

In Her Wildest Dreams by Kimberly Dean
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length
Other: M/F
Rating: 5 Cherries
Review by Viscaria

Sleep is seductive, but hot sex is even better.

Whenever petite blond research scientist Shea Caldwell walks into the office of security specialist Derek Oneiros, his chiseled muscles tense with need and his mind goes wild with fantasies about the silky curves under her business suits. By day their relationship is strictly professional, but at night Shea fulfills her desire for Derek in her dreams. Lately she’s doing dangerous things in her sleep, though, and Derek is the only one who can help her.

A mischievous Somnambulist is the source of Shea’s sleepwalking, but when her groundbreaking research notes are stolen and she discovers candles burning all over her home, it’s clear she has a stalker of another kind, too. As she and Derek fight the unseen forces that prey upon her while she sleeps, they also start indulging the sizzling erotic fantasies that keep them both up at night….

This is the second book by Kimberly Dean that I have had the chance to review, and I loved it even more than the first! What a great series that Ms. Dean has started!

Shea is a brilliant but troubled scientist. Her sleep “issues” have bothered her since she was a child making her the person she thinks she is today. For a scientist I found her surprisingly open-minded about all things supernatural, which was a pleasant change from other tales where one of the protagonists was a science-minded individual. Shea’s strength and determination that her life would not be controlled by her problems endeared her to me, no cringing girl to sit in the corner here. Her refusal to hide from her very real fear that she wouldn’t be able to fix her issues had me rooting for her. Overlying all of her problems is the fact that she is a woman with needs, and those needs seem to be centered on one very sexy man.

Derek is enigmatic, and straight-laced… except where his attraction to Shea comes in. Even then, he has restrained himself where she is concerned. A man who always follows the rules and can even be considered rigid by some standards, he is also incredibly sensual; A trait that all Dream Wreakers seem to share. I love to see a big strong man brought to his knees and confused as all get out by one small woman, and Derek didn’t disappoint. His protectiveness is something I just love in a hero, and his confusion when the woman he is trying to protect stands up to him is great to witness. Bossy or not, Derek can invade my dreams any time he likes.

Right away, from the first page, the suspense and mystery started, pulling me into this world. Kimberly Dean had me wondering at each turn of the page what surprise she had in store. Her amazing world-building was even more in-depth than the first book and gives me high hopes for future Dream Wreaker books.

The chemistry between Shea and Derek was downright explosive and had me hot and bothered on more than one occasion… What more could you ask for from an Erotic Romance? Well: plot, which was there with all the twists and turns one can dream of in a suspenseful tale; tension which this book had in spades; and fun characters, I adored the characters in this world. Getting quick glimpses of “friends” made in the previous book was the icing on the cake. I love when I get to see that those people I liked in previous tales are doing well.

Once I started this book I didn’t want to put it down until I had finished it. The Dream Wreaker series is definitely a must read, and Kimberly Dean goes on my auto-buy list with her in-depth characterizations, realistic motivations and hot love scenes. I said it already, but I’ll say it again: I loved this book even more than the first book and can’t wait to see what else is in store for the Dream Wreakers. This is a definite must read.

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Review: What She Wants At Midnight

April 18, 2008 By Leave a Comment

What She Wants At Midnight
by Kimberly Dean

The man of Devon Bradshaw’s dreams is exactly that – in her dreams.

For the past month, he has watched her with dark, haunting eyes while she sleeps. Though she yearns to caress those powerful muscles and feel the intense heat radiating from his body, she can’t even see his face.

Cael Oneiros is a Dream Wreaker, descended from Greek gods, and ever since his first night at Devon’s bedside, he’s wanted to fill the luscious redhead’s sweet dreams with steamy satisfaction. It tortures him not to touch her, not to stay by her side until dawn – but without his help, none of his other mortal charges can sleep.

Desperate to touch her dream man, Devon casts a love spell… and is stunned when it works. With a little mandrake, some mugwort, and a few rose petals, she finally has her legs wrapped around Cael’s muscular body – and the sex is a mind-blowing pleasure ride she could never have dreamed up. But her magic didn’t come with a warning label, and while she’s burning up the sheets every night with her sexy sandman, her love spell has consequences she didn’t expect…

Wow! I loved, loved, loved this book! From start to finish it kept me guessing and held my interest. I didn’t want to put it down, even when I had to and when it was over I was ready to start all over again.

Devon Bradshaw was an interesting woman, one who was driven and successful. As I got to know her I realized that she was someone I would love to have as a friend. Loyal, and funny I found myself relating to her on more than one occasion. She seemed to have everything, but she wasn’t happy with her love life… or lack thereof. How many of us can relate or have at one time been able to relate? When she keeps having a recurring dream of an intensely sexy man standing over her, she decides she needs to do something about his look-but-don’t-touch attitude. She never realizes that her actions, while making it possible for her to actually interact with her dream man, will have far-reaching consequences of a disastrous kind.

Cael Oneiros was amazing as well. He was loyal, family oriented (he has a HUGE family!), and committed to fulfilling his duties. Not to mention the fact that he was completely sigh-worthy. He’d been fulfilling his duties for months, watching over Devon and lusting from afar… well, from her bedside, but he wasn’t supposed to be able to touch. Imagine his surprise when she suddenly sits up in bed and reaches out to touch him. I loved how he tried so valiantly to resist the woman of his dreams, but ultimately gave in. Can you really blame him, though? Here’s a woman that he has been trying to find a way to meet in the real world and she suddenly is within his grasp. So, I wasn’t really surprised when he groaned and gave in! Really, how hot is it that he couldn’t resist her?

Now, I will admit to being a bit skeptical when I first read the premise behind this book. At first it seemed to be one I’ve heard of before. But, while the Greek mythology behind the Oneroi is familiar, Kimberly Dean has a refreshing and original take that brings it into this modern day and age. Once I started reading, I was caught up in this story of love and lust and dreams.

Kimberly Dean has created an engaging and lovable cast of characters. In meeting Cael we meet his brothers, or at least a few of them. One wonders how fair it is to have so many yummy men in one family, right after she wonders whose story will be next! Throw in the subplot that gives us Tasha’s story, Devon’s best friend, and this is a well-rounded story that made my heart pound, my blood heat and brought a smile to my face as I turned the last page. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an erotic romance to enjoy, and in the words of Kimberly herself: “Sweet Dreams”!

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Review by Viscaria

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