Review: The Lion And The Lark by Doreen Owens Malek

Author - Doreen Owens Malek
Genre - Historical Romance
Series - N/A
Format - Ebook (205p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars

The Year is 44 B. C. Julius Caesar is dead. And as rebellion divides Italy and Britain, a Roman centurion and a Celtic princess forge a bond no woman or man can rend asunder…

To ensure peace between her tribe and their savage conquerors, the exquisite Bronwen has been promised in wedlock to a high-born Roman tribune. But the British beauty is also a secret spy ready to risk her life to free her people.

Dispatched to Britain by Mark Antony, Claudius is irresistibly drawn to the flaxen-haired, cobalt-eyed Bronwen. Yet he knows he dare not trust the woman who is bound to him by law—not love.

• Review •
I enjoyed this story a lot. The characters were excellently portrayed and I felt for each and every one of them. I was rooting for Bronwen and Claudius throughout the tale and was happy when it was clear they would achieve their HEA. I also liked the sub-romance between Brettix and Lucia and would have liked to read more about them. It works out good though. The ending was a bit lackluster and abrupt for me. I wanted more, I wasn't ready to say goodbye to any of these characters!

That said, I had some issues with the huge amount of typos and the inconsistent pacing. Neither were bad enough to pull me from the story, but they were annoying at times. Although, some of the typos did lend some comic relief to an otherwise serious tale, like the heroine taking her own lips in a passionate kiss or kissing her own eyelids… That's just a couple examples of the many errors and I'm quite surprised proofreaders/editors/someone didn't catch them. That's the reason for a lower mark from me. THE LION AND THE LARK is a great story though and I highly recommend it to romance readers that love early history as well.

Cover musings:

The cover is okay. The people don't look like how I imagined Bronwen and Claudius but close enough. The scenery is off as well considering most of the story is told in the middle of winter with a lot of snow…

Favorite moment:

When Claudius and Bronwen finally consummated their marriage after what seemed like forever and wondering if they would ever be able to overcome their differences… Very emotional and moving.

★★★★

Review: Too Darn Hot by Pamela Burford

Author - Pamela Burford
Genre - Contemporary
Series - N/A
Format - Ebook (144p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars
Read the excerpts

Rule Number One: Never mix business with pleasure. New York restaurant reviewer Lina Holland learned that lesson by watching her beloved mentor self-destruct, and she's not about to make a similar mistake, even if the chef and owner of the restaurant she’s secretly reviewing is the most sexalicious hunk who ever seared a T-bone. It's not enough to be scrupulously impartial, she must avoid even the merest whiff of favoritism. Date a restaurateur? She can't allow herself to even think about it. Okay, she thinks about it, but that's all. Really!

Chef Eric Reid is a widower struggling to raise twin boys and keep his fledgling Long Island restaurant afloat long enough for word of mouth to lift it out of the red. Little does he suspect that the intriguing new customer groaning in ecstasy over his bourbon pecan tart is none other than the legendary Lina Holland, the reviewer whose thumbs-up could spell the difference between colossal success and the extermination of his lifelong dream. No one in the industry knows what Lina looks like, but he's convinced she's a brash, zaftig shrew who applies her makeup with a putty knife. When he finds out how wrong he is, the fun really starts!

Throw in a buttinsky roommate, a lecherous ex-husband, bribery by chocolate, and the fishing excursion from hell, and the result is, well, too darn hot!

• Review •
TOO DARN HOT was a great read. I enjoyed almost every aspect of my time spent with it. There was great tension between the H/h, a quirky side character that made for decent comic relief, excellent pace. The story was believable even if a bit predictable and very dated. Although, I really wish I had gotten more of the romance between Eric and Lina. I liked these two and I was disappointed being left out of the joys of them falling in love.

Basically, all the reader is shown is them meeting, sniffing around each other for a few weeks and then having sex. Jump ahead several months (4 iirc) and they're madly in love and quickly approaching the 'Big Misunderstanding' and subsequent resolution/HEA. I didn't see that love play out and grow, so I find it hard to believe at the end. For that reason, despite giving a decent grade, I won't be adding this book to my keeper shelf for future rereads. I look for romance in my romances and don't feel TOO DARN HOT delivered on that front.

Cover musings:

Hate it. But it's been my experience that Pamela's hideous covers contain really good reads.

Favorite moment:

- When Eric brought Lina breakfast… Silly and fun and cute.

★★★★

Review: The Dating Game by Jessica Morse

Author - Jessica Morse
Genre - Contemporary Erotic Romance
Series -N/A
Format - Ebook (77p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars
Read an excerpt

Protecting your heart is the hardest part of the game.

Camille and Ethan are kindred spirits: busy professionals with no time for the demands of typical relationships. They devise an arrangement that suits her busy schedule and satisfies their lust for each other. When real feelings develop between them, can either one move past the rules of the game to take a chance on something just as exciting and even more risky?

• Review •
THE DATING GAME wasn't a bad book despite some of the complaints I had. In fact, I really liked it a lot. I didn't think I would though because the first 5 chapters were pretty average. Nothing "wow"ed me and I thought it might turn out to be a 2 or 3 star read. But chapter 6 and on was great and I'm glad I stuck with it. One thing is for certain, a strong suspension of disbelief is required. Almost everything that happens in this story is just way too convenient.

Characters were pretty good, pacing and story is great and was nice to see other aspects to it besides just sex and everyone thinking about sex. I felt the balance between the erotic storyline and the contemporary romance was perfect. For that reason, I'm interested in trying more books from this author. A couple of the complaints I had were a lack of Ethan's POV. It's written in 3rd person but from Camille's side for the whole novella. I would have loved to know what Ethan was thinking and feeling and am quite disappointed. To a lesser extent, I also had problems with the lack of a HEA (only a HFN) and the plethora of spelling errors such as…

"You damn game started it a cab, Ethan—" (p.70)

Spelling mistakes such as this one just left me with a dumbfounded look on my face most of the time. Whoever the author hired to read her books before they go "live" needs to be fired. This is an example of just one of the many, many, many mistakes too. O_o All that aside, I truly enjoyed this novella and would happily read it again.

Cover musings:

Meh. It's pretty bland. At least the people are how I imagine the characters to look, sort of, which is always nice.

★★★★

Review: Ghost A La Mode by Sue Ann Jaffarian

Author - Sue Ann Jaffarian
Genre - Cozy Mystery
Series - A Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery #1
Format - Ebook (216p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars
Read an excerpt

Granny was famous for her award-winning apple pies-and notorious for murdering her husband Jacob at their homestead in Julian, California. The only trouble is, Granny was framed, then murdered. For more than one hundred years, Granny's spirit has been searching for someone to help her see that justice is served-and she hits pay dirt when she pops in to a séance attended by her great-great-great-granddaughter, modern-day divorced mom Emma Whitecastle. Together, Emma and Granny Apples solve mysteries of the past-starting with Granny's own unjust murder rap in the final days of the California Gold Rush.

Along with a sprinkling of history, this spirited new mystery series features the amateur sleuth team of Emma Whitecastle and the spirit of her pie-baking great-great-great-grandmother, Granny Apples.

• Review •
Despite some spelling/grammar errors, GHOST A LA MODE was a pretty good book. I loved the humorous elements and wished there had been more. And I especially loved the romance element between Phil and Emma! Again, I wanted more! The mystery part of this cozy did take a bit too long to get started (20-25% into the book) in my opinion, but once it did it was great.

There was some issues with pacing in the beginning and a little during the middle, but the end was edge-of-my-seat exciting. I couldn't put the book down! It was one of those moments too where I wished I could read faster because I kept holding my breath during the climactic scenes. •_•

My only issues with this book were the time inconsistencies, mainly in the span of about 12 hours Emma had at least 15 (exaggerated a little for dramatic effect, more like 5 or 6… but still) "dinners" with 3 hours between each meal! And the first was at 3pm! My aggravation was really getting tweaked and I developed a tic in my right eye every time Emma wanted food.

Anyway, there were a few times in the middle where I was getting bored with GHOST A LA MODE due to the iffy pacing leading to a wandering mind, but I am soooo glad I stuck with it! The end was great and more than made up for the earlier pacing problems. I'm definitely looking forward to getting my hands on the next book in the series.

Cover musings:

I like it! Especially how the pie "aroma" forms Granny, I thought that was a nice touch. Authors' name could use a bolder font though. Not bigger, just bolder. I know some authors like their name to be the most prominent element on a cover (smh), but I feel this is the perfect size, just hard to see on an ereader.

Favorite moment:

- Emma and Granny's gift to Elizabeth at the end… I was a blubbering mess!

★★★★

Review: Playing Love's Odds by Alison Kent

Author - Alison Kent
Genre - Romantic Suspense
Series - N/A
Format - Ebook (189p. on Nook)
Rating - 4/5 stars
Read an excerpt

It was not the sort of investigation Logan Burke usually handled. Nowadays he was hired by your average Joe - not sleek, polished corporate players in plush Houston office suites. But it was a straightforward case of industrial espionage with one advantage - a hefty check from ViOPet Chemical Company. All Logan had to do was watch Hannah Evans, a ViOPet employee, and figure out how she was leaking valuable research secrets.

In the six weeks that he spent watching her, Logan began to feel a special bond with Hannah. For the first time in years, he actually considered dumping the case and pursuing the mark. It was not enough to view Hannah across a crowded restaurant or through the lens of a camera. He wanted to breathe her scent. He wanted to hear her voice. He wanted to find the innocence he'd given up on finding in his life again.

Hannah knew someone was following her. She didn't know who he was or why he was there, but his presence was unnerving. It was time to take action, time to let a professional call the shots. She would pay a visit to a private investigator who had come highly recommended - a Mr. Logan Burke.

• Review •
So I apparently lost my review notes which means I'll probably forget something important. Grr! Anyway, PLAYING LOVE'S ODDS was a great book. I loved Logan and Hannah! There is some really awesome tension between those two and when apart they are just as great. From the get-go I was rooting for them, and that desire for their HEA only grew as the story and their past was revealed. The suspense was kind of weak up against the romance in this book, but it is still a solid contender. I didn't feel cheated on that front at all.

My issues were few and rather insignificant but still valid. First the writing seemed odd. I have a hard time describing it. Like overly metaphorical and flowery. But in the same breath, the writing is what pulled me in and made the story a gripping and intense read. Amazingly enough, the pacing was great and there's only a smidge of repetition at the end. My other issue involved the climax scene at the end involving an unmanned runaway airplane with the H/h on board, a fuel truck in the distance, and an unrealistic time limit. The whole scene just rubbed me wrong and no amount of suspension of disbelief made it work for me.

Anyway, this was a great book! Gritty, intense, captivating, sexy and seductive. There were no lulls in the pacing, definitely a page-turner. I'm very satisfied with it and happy to add it to my keeper "shelf".

Favorite moment:

- The love scene in the corvette… Funny, sexy, and playful.

★★★★

Review: Niko's Stolen Bride by Lindy Corbin

Author - Lindy Corbin
Genre - Contemporary
Series - N/A
Format - eBook (146p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars

Faced with the fiasco of her cancelled wedding, Kara wants to hide from the world while her heart heals. A day trip aboard the yacht leased for the honeymoon cruise sounds like the perfect escape. If only the captain hadn’t turned out to be the man she’d practically begged to kiss her after her failed bachelorette party. A rebound relationship with the handsome Greek should be the furthest thing from her mind, shouldn’t it?

Niko Maragos has spent more time in meetings than on the decks of his family’s ships in recent years, but after he dances with Kara, he’s eager to captain the yacht to Key West. To ensure that she can’t return to her ex-fiancé, he steals her away. His plan to get Kara in his bed seems fail-proof, until pirates attack…

• Review •
I enjoyed Niko's Stolen Bride a lot. Aside from a few spelling errors, it was a well told story that pulled me in and got under my skin. There was a nice humorous tone, it was understated and sweet, one that worked very well in this book. Lindy Corbin is an author I look forward to reading more of in the future. Niko and Kara were decent characters too, if a bit immature. Niko could be overbearing at times, but there were moments where he was incredibly sweet and tender, especially at the end that ultimately won me over. Kara was a character I could empathize with for the most part, but there was a scene at the end I found to be rather degrading and pathetic though.

"Please, Niko, give us a chance. I'll move to Greece to be near you. We can learn to be friends, date, move in together. I'll do whatever you want, whenever you're ready." -Kara (p.143 on Nook)

Overall, this was a great book. (It even drew some misty-eyed moments out of me at the end!) I loved the descriptiveness of the Bahamas and the yachts. I could picture everything so clearly! Made the book feel like an escape to one of my islands that I hold so dear. Like going home. I'd say 55% of my grade is based on nostalgia. But Niko's Stolen Bride is a great read that is perfect to enjoy in a lazy afternoon… quick, easy and satisfying. I recommend this book to those looking for a quick escape read that takes you to tropical lands, and a romance that focuses less on sex and more on falling in love. ♥

★★★★

Review: Needing Nita by Norah Wilson

Author - Norah Wilson
Genre - Contemporary
Series - Serve and Protect #3.5
Format - Ebook (130p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars

Attorney Nita Reynolds is hot for Det. Craig Walker, but he's given up asking her out. She doesn't date cops… until a doctor's call makes her re-examine her priorities. Believing she has a brain tumor like the one that killed her father, she vows to make love to Craig Walker while she still has her full faculties. By the time the doctor realizes he's mixed up the scans, she's in way too deep.

~ What I Liked: The great characters! Even though there wasn't much back story on them, they were fleshed out very well. I got to know and like them based strictly on their personalities. I was rooting for them and so happy when they got their HEA!

I also loved the subtle humor. It felt so natural. Along with the romance, that despite happening fast, was so believable. The writing was choppy at first, but quickly evened out and became enjoyable. Honestly, this is more of a "what didn't I like?!" So, let's get to that.

~ What I Didn't Like: My biggest issue was the intimacy between the H/h was too soon. Granted, it wasn't first thing to start the story, but was close enough. It seemed like they weren't ready, and since I didn't know them well enough yet, I wasn't either. It was very lukewarm. It would have been—and was—a ton better had they bonded/chatted over drinks or a meal first. As it is, it came off very forced and contrived. Not sexy at all.

~ Final Analysis: A really great story. I thought it was a quick, sweet and sexy treat. The rocky start is greatly eclipsed by a wonderful middle and finish. I'm satisfied with it and will gladly send it to my "keeper" shelf.

★★★★

Review: The French Maid by Sabrina Jeffries

Author - Sabrina Jeffries
Genre - Historical
Series - N/A
Format - eBook (30p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars

Lady Eleanor Langston has a problem: her husband Henry, prime-minister-in-the-making, is too caught up in his work to notice her. Despite her involvement in his various public appearances, she feels shut out of his life, especially with their one-year anniversary looming. When Henry hires a highly recommended French lady’s maid without consulting her, Eleanor’s anger can’t be contained—until she meets her. With Babette’s help, Eleanor arms herself with the one weapon that will make Henry notice her as a woman—her inner siren.

• Review •
THE FRENCH MAID is a very short (20 pgs on my Nook for PC) story. Despite it's length, I thought it was very sweet and endearing. This was my first foray into historical romance and I enjoyed it. I was shocked, although I'm sure they're not all like this book.

I'm certainly more open to reading this genre. The writing was done really well. I was worried that there would be a lot of 'thee' and 'twas' and 'thou' but there was none of that. The behaviorism's were the only thing that gave away the genre and the pet names of course. Overall I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this story and look forward to trying other books similar to it. Not on a regular basis, but certainly as an alternative.

★★★★

Review: Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Author - Jennifer Crusie
Genre - Contemporary
Series - N/A
Format - Paperback (391p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars
Read an excerpt

Minerva Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man who asked her to dinner to win a bet. Even if he is gorgeous and successful Calvin Morrisey. Cal knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs. Even if she does wear great shoes, and keep him on his toes. When they say good-bye at the end of their evening, they cut their losses and agree never to see each other again.

But Fate has other plans, and it's not long before Min and Cal meet again. Soon, they're dealing with a jealous ex-boyfriend, Krispy Kreme donuts, a determined psychologist, chaos theory, a freakishly intelligent cat, Chicken Marsala, and more risky propositions than either of them ever dreamed of. Including the biggest gamble of all-true love.

• Review •
First off, BET ME is insanely hilarious. So many laugh out loud moments. And 'grinning doofus face' moments when I wasn't laughing. I love Jennifer Crusie's writing too. I had no problems visualizing the crazy scenes, especially the wedding mayhem.

The characters, while starting out great, began to get on my nerves at the end. The dialog was written in a way that was overly exaggerated. Which made them all seem like insane drama-queens. Yes, even the men. Plus, I never really liked Cal. He was okay but very shallow in my opinion.

Overall though, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Toward the end it did start to get a bit repetitive which dragged the pacing down. Personally, I could have done without several scenes that didn't really add anything to the story, in turn shortening the book about 100 pages or so. I'd re-read it again though in a few years. The humor is what carries this book no doubt. It is the only reason I had so much fun reading BET ME.

★★★★

Review: Wallbanger by Sable Jordan

Author - Sable Jordan
Genre - Erotica Thriller
Series - Kizzy Baldwin Series #2
Format - eBook (187p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars

A relic from the Cold War that shouldn’t even exist….

After being Shaken and Stirred, secret agent Kizzie Baldwin is again thrust into a world she knows nothing about, and learning on the fly from a teacher she can’t trust. The objective is the same: secure Intel on Formula 3-19. But to do that, she has to give the nefarious Dom, Xander Duquesne, exactly what he wants first.

He’s still not her Master. But she will call him ‘Sir’!

• Review •
Love, love, love Wallbanger! It's intense and gritty and edgy. Kizzy and Xander are, by far, my most favorite non-couple of the year. I had a blast reading this story. The plot was so believable, Ms. Jordans writing voice is perfect, the places were described in vivid detail without being overly wordy. Loved. It.

The characters for the most part are the same cast from Shaken & Stirred. With some new faces added. Characterization is great! But, there were a lot of characters, and we were in the heads of almost every one of them at least once. It made for some busy reading that kind of had me loosing interest when not dealing with the main characters. I was tempted to do some skimming, but was worried I'd miss some vital piece of information. Thankfully those parts didn't last very long though so I just stuck with it. And I'm glad I did.

Even though the plot was busy, and there was a lot of character "mind-hopping", it was easy to follow. I knew who I was with and what was happening and where I was within the main story. I never suffered moments of confusion. It did create some sluggishness in the middle, but the action picked up again at the end.

Overall, Wallbanger is a great book. The only reason I'm not giving it 5+ stars is because I would have preferred less side characters and more Kizzy and Xander! Maybe Phil too with his own little chickadee! Anyway, like I said in my review of Shaken & Stirred, even though this is labeled an erotic thriller… there really is a story here, and it is turning out to be my favorite series of the year.

If you haven't read the first book in the series yet, I highly recommend that you do so before reading this one as it is not a stand-alone. And I emphatically recommend reading Wallbanger to fans of thrillers, erotica, BDSM, and exciting edge-of-your-seat reads!

★★★★

• Favorite Quote •

"Listen, slick. Im guessing you dont speak Russian or Japanese, so we're down to English, French and snark." [Kizzy]

≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈

He didnt need this right now. He had a stiff cock, an insubordinate sub, and a pain in the ass for a best friend—And a stiff cock. [Xander]

≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈

The image of Phil in hooker heels was a bright spot in an otherwise emotionally dreary evening, and she laughed. [Kizzy]

Review: Cry Uncle by Judith Arnold

Author - Judith Arnold
Genre - Contemporary
Series - N/A
Format - eBook (187p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars

After witnessing a professional hit, Seattle architect Pamela Hayes has testified in court against the hit man. Unfortunately, a mistrial is declared and the hit man is released on bail while awaiting a new trial. He intends to silence the sole witness to murder—Pam—before that new trial begins. She needs to hide, and she runs as far as she can: to steamy Key West., Florida.

Jonas Brenner, a Key West bar owner and easy-going slacker, is about to lose custody of his orphaned five-year-old niece—unless he can convince the courts that he’s a responsible father. What he needs is a prim and proper wife who will create the illusion that Lizard, as his niece likes to be called, is being raised in a stable environment.

What Pam needs is a new identity. Joe offers her a deal: if she marries him and takes his name, no Pacific Northwest hit man is going to find her. In return, she can pose as Joe’s respectable wife, dutifully caring for the rambunctious, feather-wearing Lizard.

Of course, this will be a marriage in name only. No sex. No emotions. No love. Which, once Pam and Joe move in together and the sparks begin to fly, is easier said than done.

• Review •
Cry Uncle was a great story. It was sexy, sweet, intriguing, and just an all-around relaxing escape. There was some humorous moments that while not laugh out loud funny, did earn a couple chuckles. The dialog was believable. As was the plot.

I liked most of the characters. Lizard was a brat though, and I wish she had been either older than 5 or younger… like infant younger. Halfway through the book I started referring to her as the spawn of Satan. I've known some bad kids in my life, but Lizard takes the cake. Anyway, I really liked Pam. This is a woman I would enjoy having a cup of coffee with, and just generally hanging out.

Joe is different compared to the usual hero. He's one of those hybrid, gamma-male types. For the most part I liked him, but it tended to go back and forth. Joe is definitely a study in contradictions. But he is very sincere in his love for Lizard and eventually Pam. The chemistry between him and Pam is palpable, and I found myself rooting for them to be together. I could see the friendship building between them when they were together (which wasn't often enough for me). It was certainly refreshing to read about two people that don't need to be naked to enjoy each others company.

Some things that bothered me outside of the story was first the font. It's written in courier font, which gave me a headache if I read for longer than an hour at a time. So this story took me a week to get through because of that. Secondly, I thought too much time was spent inside the "Bad Guy"s POV. I felt it detracted from the time between Joe and Pam. The same message could have been conveyed without all the bs.

I also had some minor issues with some word choices. I know Cry Uncle was written in 1995, but it could have been updated a touch. And even in 1995, I never referred to a bra as a brassiere… If I see that word ever again I may hurt someone. The pacing wasn't all that great. I was reminded of the Little Engine That Could… Cry Uncle just kept chugging along. It wasn't too slow, but wasn't lighting fast either. About average I guess, but I prefer slightly faster.

Anyway! Overall, I was happy with Cry Uncle. I enjoyed Pam and Joe immensely and while some things bothered me, I didn't feel they ruined the story at all. Even though it was a free ebook, I would have still payed. It's a keeper. I recommend it to anyone looking for a decent escape read, full of tender, sweet, and cutesy funny moments.

★★★★

Review: Shaken & Stirred by Sable Jordan

Author - Sable Jordan
Genre - Erotic Thriller
Series - Kizzy Baldwin series Book #1
Format - eBook (51p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars

Secret agent Kizzie Baldwin has a mission with a simple objective: Steal a formula while attending the festivities on the villainous Xander Duquesne's luxury yacht. There's just one problem—she has no idea it's a BDSM party.

Dom and criminal mastermind Xander is a man who likes to be prepared. But the unexpected run-in with Kizzie throws him for a loop. Will he give her what she came for, or a little something extra?

• Review •
I was completely blown away by Shaken and Stirred. It wasn't what I was expecting at all. It's a well written, fast-paced, edgy read. The plot is believable, the characters to die for, the dialog off the hook. I'm seriously trying not to squee at the moment.

I love Kizzy! She is smart, quick, sarcastic. I think I may have a girl-crush here. Xander is intriguing and mysterious, and insanely hot. I even liked the side characters! Only thing is, it would have been nice to get to know them all a little bit more. But I understand being a short story some things need to be cut.

I had just one major problem with Shaken and Stirred; the cliffhanger. And it was no subtle cliffhanger which is somewhat tolerable. This one was an in-your-face kind which means the next book, due out in October, will either be epic or highly disappointing. I'm eagerly awaiting an epic continuation.

Anyway, Shaken and Stirred is not a typical erotic read. There's an actual story here that is highly compelling, one that sucked me in from the very start, and didn't let go until the last word. I was hooked.

★★★★

Review: Thrill of the Hunt by Nathalie Gray

Author - Nathalie Gray
Genre - Erotica
Series - Naughty Nooners
Format - eBook (25p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars

She wakes in a cell, darkness her only garment. Spec-ops soldier Clara Steel knows the price of capture behind enemy lines. And she is not alone. There is a man with her, one who fires her senses. His voice is velvet. His wicked words an electric current on her skin. They thrill and stir, stimulate and shock. Each decadent threat fills her mind’s eye with images of raw abandon. He is a professional, he assures her, sent to break her. And when he begins, Clara’s world becomes a feverish voyage into surrender and ecstasy.

• Review •
Loved it! The only thing that could have made it better was making it longer. This is an extremely short story, but for some reason, I felt connected to Clara and Kane. They were so believable. I want to know more!

As for Ms. Gray… wow! Why have I not heard of this author before?! Her writing is off the hook. She seems to like using metaphors a lot, but it worked in Thrill of the Hunt. Even though this is an erotic story, it is relatively tame. It'd be a nice intro for someone thinking about dipping their toes in this genre.

The reason for the lower grade is simply due to the length. There is so much potential here. But overall I'm very happy… and I have a new author to look into! I highly recommend this short to fans of erotic romances or those looking to try the genre out. At only about 30 pages and free, what do you have to lose?

★★★★

Review: Her Last Chance by Michele Albert

Author - Michele Albert
Genre - Romantic Suspense
Series - Avalon Book #2
Format - Paperback (384p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars
Read an excerpt

A WOMAN WHO'S AS TOUGH AS IT GETS
Compelled to leave the Dallas police force after killing a convicted rapist in a dark alley, tough and sexy Claudia Cruz becomes an operative with Avalon, a clandestine organization of mercenaries who recover stolen art. But her new career choice pits her against the darkly intense FBI agent Vincent DeLuca, who is determined that this time, Avalon is not going to beat out the Feds.

A MAN WHO'S HER MATCH AND MORE
While Claudia seethes about this irritating man who gives as good as he gets, Vincent is discovering there's a fine line between love and hate. And though Claudia is willing to use their crazy-hot attraction to achieve her goals, she never intended they'd end up in bed together. She's always lived on the edge and flirted with danger…but this time the worst danger may be to her heart.

• Liked •
Oh wow! Almost everything. There was intrigue, suspense, passion, action. Claudia is awesome. She's ballsy and doesn't take anyone's shit and she makes no apologies for who she is. Vincent is great in his own right too, but I was definitely girl-crushing on Claudia. Both of them are strong, loyal people that have integrity in spades.

Let's just say, character development is top notch. I never question why they do what they do, I felt like I'd known them for years, their actions and reactions are believable. These are characters that you'd want to hang out with if they were real. Even the "bad guy/s" are portrayed in ways that I found were sometimes endearing. Also, the pacing was on point. Perfect.

• Didn't Like •
The ending left the series open, like there's to be another book added later. But so far there has been no mention of any new books from Albert. Which saddens me because she is one of my top 5 favorite authors. The ending also seemed abrupt with Claudia and Vincent. I thought the epilogue would bring closure to their story but, it just had the series cliffhanger. Nothing about Claudia or Vincent. I kind of feel cheated out of a HEA…

• Final Thoughts •
It's no secret that I love Michele Albert and this book is just another reason why. Reading one of her books is like Christmas morning, birthdays and a surprise party all rolled into 350 some pages of awesome-sauce! Yet, as much as I loved this book, I still struggled in rating it. On the storyline of this book alone, and not factoring the series aspect, I'd wholeheartedly give it 5 stars.

But, the loose strings of the series aspect were put in and just left to dangle in the breeze. It's like the proverbial giant, pink polka-dotted elephant in the middle of the living room. Knowing there probably won't be an end to the series, and ending a book on a cliffhanger for said series with unfinished business is not okay for me. It's more like a giant 'fuck you' in blinking neon letters to the fanbase. So I will give it 4 stars and cross my fingers that someday there will be a final book in the series.

★★★★

• Favorite quotes •

The only positive spin he could put on his whole shitty day was that Claudia was in Texas by now, probably busy terrifying a bunch of priests.
The thought made him smile a little.

≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈ ♥ ≈

Belatedly, Claudia remembered that she had indeed called Vincent an asshole—and a whole lot worse.
"Well, it so happens he's my asshole, so nobody else can call him that. Got it?"

Review: Slow Hands by Leslie Kelly

Author - Leslie Kelly
Genre - Contemporary
Series - N/A
Format - eBook (210p.)
Rating - 4/5 stars
Read an excerpt

This is Maddy Turner's lucky day. The civilized society girl just bid on sexy rogue Jake Wallace at a charity bachelor auction—and won! But Maddy knows Jake's dirty little secret. And it should keep her from trying out her new boy toy. Too bad she can't stop herself from indulging in raw, quite uncivilized sex all the same…

Jake Wallace is utterly bewitched by Maddy--and utterly bewildered. How can this tantalizing woman melt so rapturously under his ministrations one moment, then turn into a haughty queen the next? He's determined to get to the bottom of Maddy's agenda. One slow, delicious inch at a time…

• Liked •
Loved all the snappy one-liners! And the truly laugh out loud moments. The love scenes are hot enough to singe your eyelashes off without being vulgar. The majority of the book was a fast-paced read. I almost finished the whole thing in one sitting.

I enjoyed the characters of Jake and Maddy. They seemed believable, and I was rooting for them the whole time. Their chemistry in everything they did practically jumped off the pages. The perfect match, which is rare for me to see in the books I read.

• Didn't Like •
I didn’t get the point of the prologue at all. The Big Mistake™ could have been implemented without it. Penny and Janice never made an appearance past the prologue even! So, yeah, pointless. Another thing that bugged me was the constant use of the word “Earthy” in regards to Maddy. I got it the first dozen times, thanks. And finally, the ending slowed down to a snails pace. Almost like it was finished, but then Kelly realized she was short of her word count and had to extend it a chapter or two. It didn't ruin the book,just made the end seem sluggish.

• Final thoughts •
Overall, this was a great read. A fast-paced, witty, and fun romp. I was so excited that Maddy and Jake got their happy-ending! Emotions abounded, from tears to laugh-out-loud moments that garnered quite a few stares. As for the cover, it's a typical Blaze cover. I'm not keen on the coloring or the couple that look nothing like how I imagined Jake and Maddy. Oh well, I still highly recommend this book.

★★★★

• Favorite quote •

Considering she’d dreamed about him for the past two nights—hot, Grey’s Anatomy inspired dreams of her being the filling in a triple decker McSteamy, McDreamy and McGigolo sandwich—she should be feeling McPanicked and McCornered.