Review: Negligee Behavior by Shelli Stevens

When lingerie heiress Brandy Summer gets cold feet and runs out on her Vegas wedding, she has nowhere to turn—so she hijacks a hunky biker waiting for a red light and begs him for help. What she doesn’ t know is that her instincts are right: the groom has a hidden agenda. He needs her money to pay off his gambling debts and she’ s his ticket to the good life.
Marco Vargas isn’ t sure what he’ s getting himself into when he rescues Brandy, but figures he’ ll do the chivalrous thing. He offers her a job in his bar and the chance to sort out her feelings. But it seems that keeping Brandy hidden is easier than keeping his hands off her—and what will happen when Brandy discovers that Marco has secrets of his own?


Note: I received a copy for review from Netgalley
Buy link: Negligee Behavior

Negligee Behavior was a disappointing read for me. There were awesome supporting characters so I know the author is capable of writing nonirritating players. Unfortunately, I found the lead pair to be very cliched and very often aggravating. However, when they (especially the heroine) were not being ridiculous, the story was an entertaining one.

Our heroine, Brandy, is such a goody girl that it drove me kinda crazy at times, especially since she made a lot of judgments about others. As the story progress, though, and she was in the company of a wider range of personalities, she began to relax and become more enjoyable.

The hero, Marco, was sexy and hot, but his "dark secret" was a bit lame. He was a very nice character most of the time, but occasionally he would make absolutely ridiculous assumptions that had me rolling my eyes. I really did enjoy watching Brandy push his buttons, though. It was one of the most entertaining parts of the book.

The sexual tension was combustible and the love scenes were steamy and the ending was satisfying. Overall, I have to say my favorite characters were Sebastian and Val and not the lead pair. Brandy's parents were pretty cool, too. I wish my mom was that fun and supportive. Ha!

Final Grade: C-

Review: The Rake and The Recluse by Jenn LeBlanc

Francine Larrabee woke up on the wrong side of the century. She was fairly certain she went to sleep in her own comfy bed, but she doesn’t quite seem to be there now. Only adding to her problems is that she has no voice, is constantly being glowered at by a large, stunning man who is obsessed with propriety, and she is apparently betrothed to another horrid little man, determined to ruin her, and any other girls that get in his way.
How does she find herself in the past, when she couldn’t even find herself in her present? How does a self sufficient businesswoman survive in a time when women were still considered property for the whole of their lives and what is she going to do with this man who draws her to him so fiercely.

Note: I received a copy from the author for review.

Buy links:
Available as Nookbook from Barnes and Noble
The Rake and the Recluse
The Rake and the Recluse

Author's Website
Author's twitter

The Rake and the Recluse was a bit of a different experience for me because I've never read an illustrated romance before. I found that because of Ms. LeBlanc's skill at photography that I actually really enjoyed it.

The story itself is a time travel: modern woman lands in the 1800s plot. So, it's a contemporary woman stuck in a historical romance. I do have to give the author credit for coming up with a more unique way to explain how the heroine, Francine, ends up in the past, but it also led to other inevitable questions and concerns that were better off shoved to the back of my mind, otherwise I wasn't going to enjoy the story.

I will say that I was a bit surprised by the length of the book. It's a good solid story with lovely pictures, but I admit that it felt as if it could have still been a good story and been a bit shorter. For me, a romance really needs a reason to be that long.

As far as the characters go, I really vacillated in my feelings for Francine. I get that she had damage from being an orphan and obviously waking up in an entirely different time would freak anyone out, but she's supposed to be this modern woman and she seemed to only have two gears, meek and mild and clingy for fear of being tossed on her rump or a shrieking and inappropriately unreasonable hoyden in the name of being an independent female. It grated a bit. And quite honestly, the only reason she won any measure of independence was because her doting husband and his equally doting brother allowed her to be eccentric. This is not feminism, it's lucking out with not having complete assholes as family. However, I did enjoy her interaction with the characters around her and when she wasn't being ridiculous, she was actually quite enjoyable.

Now our hero, Gideon, was delightful. He started off so starched and stuffy and damaged and reserved, but once he gave over to love, he held nothing back. He seemed to love as fearlessly as any warrior fights a battle. His interactions with his little brother were just fabulous to read. I loved them both. They may bicker and not see eye to eye but they are always a united front against the world and they always have each other's best interests at heart. It was so much fun to watch Gideon be felled as well as healed and strengthened by love. He really came alive right before my eyes. His brother's story is supposed to be next and it looks very intriguing. It would be so much fun to watch that silver tongued devil succumb to the power of love and fidelity. Nothing like a reformed rake...

Overall this was an entertaining read filled with vibrant characters and a sweet romance. The photos are lovely and suit the story very well. I could tell that a lot of thought and work went into the making of this finished product.

This book is available as an e-book or as a physical book. Buy links for both are provided at the beginning of the post.

Final Grade: C+

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Genre: Paranormal YA
Pub Date: 4/19/11
I received a copy for review from Netgalley

EVERY GIRL who has taken the test has DIED.

Now it's KATE'S TURN.

It’s always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate’s going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won’t live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he’ll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he’s crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she’ll become Henry’s future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails...

I have always loved Hades and any new takes on the Hades and Persephone story. Unfortunately this book did not add anything good to it.

The Good:
I rooted for Kate. I wanted Kate to pass the tests and I wanted her to find happiness and peace. I rooted for Kate and Henry as individuals and also as a couple. I wanted them to trust each other and what they felt for each other. I wanted it to work and that's what made me stick with this story even when I had a raging headache and wanted to give up. I liked Henry and I liked Kate. I did like other characters in the story, but by the end it feels like it's all been lies so I'm not sure anymore how I feel about any of the side characters. I'm on the fence, as it were.

The Bad:
This was a horribly contrived story. Almost every aspect of it was forced and pushed and I ended up feeling like I would have had some serious words for people if I was Kate. There was so much deception and omission and vagueness that it did not add an air of mystery but was just annoying. Furthermore, if I was supposed to be surprised by who the bad guy was or even the big reveal about Kate's mother, then I'm sad to say, I wasn't. For all the vagueness and mystery surrounding the tests and Henry's feelings and what's going on, it was way too easy to pick out the villain and know what was going on with Kate's mom.

When the big reveal comes and we find out who the council is and what the tests are, none of it made any sense. I mean, they were winging half the tests and even testing her at the meeting where they're supposed to tell her if she passed or not. It was just so forced and the whole premise made no sense. Why did Henry truly need Kate if his heir could have stepped in and helped him out? How much help is she really going to be if she's only there six months out of the year? Are we supposed to believe that she can be his Queen for six months out of the year and then go live a "normal" life the other six months? Cause I don't buy that for a second.
If the gods and goddesses all have such important jobs, why do they have nothing better to do than to spy on and deceive a girl for six months?
Honestly, the more I think about this book, the more things don't make sense.

Finally, the ending was completely unsatisfying. I understand that it's a set up for the next book, but still, it just felt so sudden and incomplete.

Overall, this was a very frustrating read for me. I honestly don't know if I'll try the next book. I want to hope that now that the tests are done that the heavy handedness and use of contrivance will not be so prevalent in the next book, but I don't know if I want to find out. Possibly. I really do enjoy Greek mythology and I want to see what happens between Kate and Henry and I want to see if the reader gets to see more of the Underworld and what Kate will be doing there. So, maybe I'll try the next one.

Final grade: C-

The Goddess Test (Harlequin Teen)

The Goddess Test at the book depository

Author's Website

Early Review: The Vampire Voss by Colleen Gleason

Voss, also known as Viscount Dewhurst, relishes the sensual pleasures immortality affords. A member of the Dracule—a cabal of powerful, secretive noblemen marked with a talisman that reveals their bartered souls—the mercenary Voss has remained carefully neutral…until Angelica.

Angelica Woodmore possesses the Sight, an ability invaluable to both sides of a looming war among the Dracule. Her very scent envelops Voss in a scarlet fog of hunger—for her body and her blood. But he is utterly unprepared for the new desire that overcomes him—to protect her.

Now Voss must battle his very nature to be with Angelica…but this vampire never backs down from a fight.

I received a copy from Netgalley for review.

Note: Mild spoilers

Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance
Pub Date: 3/29/11 according to Netgalley and 3/22 according to author's website
Format: Paperback and e-book

I've never read Ms. Gleason, but I've always heard good things about her books, so I didn't know what to expect. I did hope for a good solid and entertaining read. The Vampire Voss started out strong, but quickly went a way that left me less than enthralled with the story.

Voss himself is a rather fascinating character. He's an opportunistic mercenary that revels in his existence as a vampire. He loves feeding, loves debauching women and he loves procuring and selling information about his fellow Dracule. He's not overly tall or physically impressive, but is instead almost pretty, very into the latest fashions and lives by his wits as well as the edge his vampiric powers give him. I appreciated that Ms. Gleason showed how much of a vampire he really is. How much he enjoyed being one, but after a time it began to feel a bit much. More on that later.

Angelica started out as a great character. She has the ability to see a specific event in the future, people's deaths, and she knows about and accepts her gift for what it is. She even has a little side gig going on where she sells the information to interested parties in the ton. She's very forthright and open. Not a withering belle, this one. I really appreciated this about her. However, as the story progresses and events unfold, I couldn't help but be disappointed in her singular ability to be oblivious to the obvious. They are attacked by Vampires. She comes to terms with the fact that vamps exist, but when it becomes painfully obvious that Voss is, indeed, a vampire, she just doesn't see and is therefore absolutely shocked and betrayed when the truth comes out. This was irksome to me.

As for the romance between Voss and Angelica, again, I loved how it started. Voss is so very hedonistic and Angelica is brazen and wiser than many, but still very much an innocent. Voss wants nothing to do with the attraction he feels for her, he's a look out for number one kinda guy and he only wants the information he can get from her, but he cannot fight the pull between them. Their first kiss and the dialogue surrounding it was unbelievably heated. The way he always asked her to use his name and not his title, the way he couldn't fight the protective feelings she brought out in him, this all made me hope for a passionate romance, but that seemed to go flat about halfway through the book. I won't go into details, and again, I appreciate the realism of Voss being a vampire and needing blood and desiring sex to survive, however, I find it less than romantic when the hero does every available body but the heroine for most of the book. Aside from romantic and character issues that I had with the story, the ending was, in my opinion, a complete cop out. I was not left satisfied.

In the end, there were great moments, but it just wasn't enough to make me happy. And aside from my issues with the main characters, I really didn't like many of the other characters in The Vampire Voss, either.

Final Grade: C-

This book is the beginning of a trilogy. The next book features the annoying and unreasonable older sister of Angelica and the dour Dimitri. While the third, by my guess, features the bitchy (although I sympathize with her) female vamp, Narcise, and Angelica's and Maia's vampire hunter brother. I'm hoping the characters are better in their own books.

The Vampire Voss

The Queen B's hubby reviews A Devil in the Details by K. A. Stewart

When it comes to demons, always read the find print. Jesse James Dawson was an ordinary guy (well, an ordinary guy with a black belt in karate) until one day he learned his brother had made a bargain with a demon, Jesse discovered there was only one way to save his brother: put up his own soul as collateral, and fight the demon to the death. Jesse lived to free his brother-and became part of a loose organization of Champions who put their own souls on the line to help those who get in over their heads with demons. But now experienced Champions are losing battles at a much higher rate than usual. Someone has changed the game. And if Jesse can't figure out the new rules, his next battle may be his last...

Note: I received this book to review from the publisher.

My darling hubby, aka Mr T, agreed to read and review this book for me. I tried to read this one and I just couldn't get into it so my man threw himself on that grenade for me and put together his very first review! So, show him some love! Plus he's cute. What? I know we're all shallow like that...

When my wife approached me to see if I would be interested in reading an urban fantasy about a demon hunter featuring a male lead, I was fairly excited. I am told by the Queen that the UF market is saturated by a deluge of hard ass female protagonists. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but my sex isn't equally represented. I have read a lot of UF's with female leads, most of which I've enjoyed immensely, but that got me thinking that my resplendent wife is correct in her assessment. There simply isn't a large number of gentlemen kicking ass as the main character. My wife should know because she is far more prolific than I in the book department. So upon learning of this book, "A Devil In The Details", I was looking forward to it, with high expectations for my gender. I was hoping that this book would be a trailblazer for the guys, leading the charge for an influx of hard ass male protagonists. Is that what I got? Well... Not so much.
The story of bartering for souls is engaging but honestly this book could have been much better. The protagonist, Jesse, is generally likable with a good sense of humor and self worth. It's too bad that he reads pretty much like a female in a male's body. I swear that I tried not to be biased or judgmental of the character, but despite all my effort he still came across like a woman. I am not saying that men are better than women or any of that male chauvinistic bullshit, but if I'm reading a male character I want it to read like a male character. Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne is a fantastic example of how to write a male character. It's hard to describe but almost all of Jesse's internal dialogue is decidedly female. From the things he notices, to his reactions to certain events, it all has a feminine quality with a few good exceptions. In short, this book is not the most stellar paradigm of a male lead. Now there is one more major issue that knocked this book off my must buy list; it was too mundane. It was an interesting angle that Jesse is a family man, and he has to deal with family shit like the rest of us. All the cooking and cleaning along with the work schedules and play time were fun and relatable for the first 40 or so pages, but when you're 200 pages in and you're still dealing with all the banal errands..... Let me tell you that I was not relating anymore. Of course it is peppered with interesting events here and there, but for the most part this book kinda slogs through the daily grind. The purpose of reading is to be transported away from your grind, not reminded of it every other page. The action scenes however, are worth reading, but those only occur at the opening and the close of the book. Perhaps the inevitable sequel will be more action oriented, but even if it is I'm not sure I'm willing to witness it. Also Jesse's family is so perfect and sweet it's enough to cause a damn cavity. Seriously, if I was a woman this book would piss me off because I will never be as perfect as this dude's wife. That's why I'm giving this book a solid C rating. There is a decent story lurking beneath a pile of mundane crap. Some will have the patience to dig for it and others won't.

I want to thank my handsome hubby for reading and reviewing this one for us. Thanks baby!! ::waves and blows kisses::

My girl, Wendy, also reviewed A Devil in the Details and you can read what she had to say here.

Review: Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Forgive My Fins is a very light and fairly fast paced read. Lily, the protag, seems practical and down to earth in a lot of ways and even mature when she talks about her need to protect her people by keeping their existence a secret and when she thinks about one day becoming the ruler of the sea and all the responsibility that will entail, but for the most part she was a very immature and oblivious character. Most of the characters were except for Quince and a few of the merfolk that we meet.

Quince is a great character. He was by far my favorite. He was strong mentally and physically, knew what he wanted and went for it. He had a great sense of humor and was very protective of Lily. Some strange things happen to him in this book and he always took them well and rolled with the punches, adapting quickly to his circumstances. He did feel like he was somehow older and more mature than every other teenager in the story, though.

The mermaid angle was neat and I enjoyed seeing the undersea kingdom. If one was to think too much while reading this story, one might find questions and possible holes and what not so I tried not to over think the story.

The ending was slightly irritating to me because it seemed to make all the mermaid drama meaningless and for someone who is so very loyal and loving to friends and family, Lily seems to be able to drop them easily and follow whatever it is that she wants with single minded purpose.

Overall, I felt like Forgive My Fins read like a younger YA even though the characters were getting ready to graduate high school. It was a light and entertaining read that I don't think holds up to a great amount of scrutiny, so I recommend that one pick up this book without major expectations.

My final grade is a C+

Forgive My Fins

Review: Red Hot Fury by Kasey Mackenzie

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Hell hath nothing worse than a Fury scorned...

As a Fury, Marissa Holloway belongs to an Arcane race that has avenged wrongdoing since time immemorial. As Boston’s Chief Magical Investigator for the past five years, she’s doing what she was born to: solving supernatural crimes.

It’s far from business as usual when the body of one of Riss’s sister Furies washes up in Boston harbor. Riss discovers that the corpse’s identity has been magically altered, but as soon as she reports her findings, she’s immediately—and inexplicably—suspended from the her job. Then a human assassin makes an attempt on her life, and Riss starts to realize that someone may be trying to stir up strife between mortals and Arcanes.

When a Fury gets mad, she gets even, and Riss is determined to untangle this case. Without the support of the mortal PD, Riss turns to the one man she can trust to watch her back—shapeshifting Warhound Scott Murphy. But since Scott is also Riss’s ex, she’ll have to keep a tight leash on more than just the supernatural rage that feeds her power as they try to solve a murder—and stop a war…

Ok, let me start off by saying that I really liked that Ms. Mackenzie went for something different here. We have Furies, we have harpies, we have warhounds, we have sidhe and we have genetic tampering that leads to mixed breeds and all sorts of mayhem. The fact that there were harpies at all made me happy because let's face it, you don't see them used much in UF. Ms. Mackenzie also had a unique take on the relationship between furies and harpies and again, I appreciated the originality of it.

While I'm listing the positives, let me throw out that a lot of people are going to like that there's a semi steamy love interest in the protag's ex, Scott, who's a warhound. There's a lot of action and there's the question of who's behind all the mayhem going on. This will be enough for some people, and that's fine. Now, I'll tell you why it just didn't work for me.

Unfortunately, the writing was not the book's strong point. There was a lot of info dumping and the characters often acted like they'd been created yesterday. They have lived in this world their whole lives and several of them are supposed to be badasses that have been around the block a few times and yet, they're clueless most of the time. And it was so very dramatic. All the time. It was kind of exhausting, really.

The main character, Riss. We're told she's a badass. We're told that a lot. We don't actually SEE a lot of badassery coming from her. We see a lot of bitchiness and jumping to conclusions and convenient cluelessness, but no, we don't see a lot of badassness. I know that I was SUPPOSED to sympathize with Riss, but I didn't. She could be nice, at times, but mostly she was an immature brat that had little care for anyone that wasn't her, or wasn't a fury. Cuz no one can understand the weight of the EPIC BADASSNESS she carries but a sister fury.

I wanted to love this book. I really did. The author is a lovely woman who has been very generous in sending me an ARC to review and when told that I probably would be giving it a lower grade, she said there were no strings attached when she sent me the ARC and she would never ask me not to post a review. I respect that. I respect her for it and I respect that she had a fresh take on the UF genre, in my opinion.

I had a lot of issues with this book, but that doesn't mean that other people aren't going to enjoy this one. My girl, Wendy, reviewed Red Hot Fury and loved it. Link to review here. So, as you can see, I am not the only opinion out there.

Final grade: C-. The writing was really a D, but the fact that the author had some good concepts and cool ideas really brought the grade up.

Red Hot Fury releases June 29.

There will be a sequel coming out. I believe the title is Green Eyed Envy. So, if you enjoy this one, there will be more to come.....

ARC Review: Assassin's Honor by Monica Burns

Description from Goodreads:
A woman with visions of the past...

Archeologist Emma Zale sees the past when she touches ancient relics. It’s how she uncovered evidence of an ancient order of assassins—the Sicari. When a sinfully dark stranger shows up on her Chicago doorstep demanding an ancient artifact she doesn’t have, he drags her into a world where telekinesis and empaths are the norm. Now someone wants her dead, and her only hope of survival is an assassin who’s every bit as dangerous to her body as he is to her heart.

Bonded to an honorable assassin...

Ares De Luca comes from an ancient Roman bloodline of telekinetic assassins. A Sicari, he’s honor bound to kill only in the name of justice. But when the woman he loved was murdered, Ares broke the Sicari code and used his sword for revenge. Love cost him dearly once before, and he’s not willing to pay the price again. At least not until hot, sweet, delectable Emma walked into his life. Not only does she hold the key to a valuable Sicari relic, she might just hold the key to his heart.

Their dangerous passion will redeem an assassin's honor.

This book had a lot of potential. The archeology with ruins and ancient artifacts of ancient orders was a premise that could have been so cool. The writing was fairly well done, which is a major thing for me. Nothing can kill a book for me like poor writing. Even if it has a great concept.

Unfortunately it was ruined a bit by the rather annoying heroine and the overly self castigating hero.

The heroine was frustrating for me because at times she could seem so reasonable, at least in her mental narration, but as soon as she opened her mouth she reminded me of a rabid puppy. She consistently jumped to wrong conclusions for most of the book and basically conducted herself like a bull in a china shop. I also was annoyed because she had good instincts and yet she consistently chose to ignore them. Why must heroines do this? Does it make them cute and feisty to be loud, biting and ignore common sense? Not for me. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a heroine that can give as good as she gets and isn't all fluff and even ones with a sharp tongue, but foaming at the mouth with misplaced righteous indignation does nothing for me. Furthermore, her overly guilt ridden attitude and fear of her abilities when she did something justifiable out of self defense got really old for me. You don't have to be a flower child to be an acceptable heroine in my book. And with as sharp a tongue as she had, she was no flower child to begin with.

The hero was better and generally more likable, but his constant need to be the biggest martyr ever was very tiresome for me. I wanted to tell him to climb down off the cross and join the rest of the world. His devotion to his order was admirable, but I found little that I liked about the order so it also seemed irritating at times. Many times it seemed to be just another tool he used to flog himself over his lost honor. Considering the flaws in his order I don't see how he, as one of the most honorable and noble in the order, had ever really lost his honor to begin with. Again, that is just my view, I understand that other people will perceive that differently.

The romance was nice and often times refreshing in the way that although they had many spats and misunderstandings (often because of Emma's love of jumping to wrong conclusions) they really did seem to get over them quickly when they would stop long enough to discuss it rationally. Sadly the romance was bogged down by Ares constantly beating himself up about the relationship and Emma also beating him up about the relationship. I know that sounds harsh, but it honestly felt like that a lot of times. In her head, Emma would try to see it from Ares' perspective and be reasonable, but as soon as she would open her mouth bitterness and assumptions would pour forth.

Overall, the book was entertaining, but for me, fairly forgettable. I was frustrated because I saw flashes of good writing and great potential in this story, but the characters were never able to deliver on that promise.

My final grade is a C+

I know that many fans of paranormal romance are going to enjoy this one, it just didn't stand out from the crowd for me.

What I Read When I'm Sick & Need Comfort

So, as some of you may know I haz the plague. I am working on bronchitis. I have a lovely sinus infection that gave me a lovely set of laser red eyes (conjunctivitis in both eyes) which fortunately makes my blue eyes really stand out. I also have meds now. The lovely dr gave me four prescriptions, so I am sick and drugged and in need of a couple comfort reads. So, here are my last two reads and what I have to say about them.

1) Blackwolf's Redemption by Sandra Marlton

Jesse Blackwolf—uncompromising, determined and an undeniable success. He has no desire to deal with the outspoken bundle of femininity he's found trespassing on his land!When Sienna Cummings awakes to find herself pressed against a muscled chest, she's shocked and stunned! Where is she? Who is this man who holds her so possessively with passion glinting in his eyes? It's more than confusion that makes Sienna's heart beat faster—she suspects his untamed wildness hides something that maybe only she can set free…. 

 So, when I'm stressed, tired, sick, don't wanna have to think too much or am just in the mood for a guilty pleasure, I reach for a Harlequin. Depending on my fancy, it could be a Presents, a Desire, or a Blaze. These are just so much literary junk food, and that's not necessarily bad. There are definitely good ones that are both entertaining and emotionally engaging and the writing is good, but even those are like a Chocolate Death Cake. Chocolate cake, luscious dark chocolate mouse filling, chocolate cream cheese icing and giant chocolate buttercream flowers all drizzled with chocolate liquor and raspberry sauce, I mean oh my god, that's ridiculous! And possibly will kill you! But it's so worth it. That's a good Harlequin. Then there are the bad ones, that are so bad that they're funny or so bad that it's like an all night bender of jagerbombs, only to wake up the next day swearing that you're gonna die and if please god you should survive, you will never touch the stuff again. And next weekend you're back for more.

Well, I could have gone to any number of my stash (yes I have a stash, so what?) of HQs to satisfy my need for a short and easy read, but I had recently picked up a new one that I hadn't read yet and I decided to be adventurous and try that one out. I mean, how could I go wrong? An amnesiac heroine, a hot brooding Native American landholder hero, and possessive passion? Cha ching! I'm on that like stank on a monkey. 

Sadly, I have mixed feelings about this one. It's a time travel story which are really not my cup a tea to begin with, although I have read a couple (ok, ONE) that worked for me, so it already had that to work against with me and then.....well....then there was the time we travel to.....the '70s. Yep, you heard me, the 70's. 1970's. Because apparently we don't make men like we used to in the 70's, although after I said that all sarcastic like, I was forced to concede that we really don't make them like that anymore. Hmmm.....food for thought. Anyhoo, the time travel thing wasn't that bad but honestly it felt more like a device so the author could try to write an 80's romance a la Jayne Ann Krentz (writing as Stephanie James!) and let me tell you, that didn't work for me. I only put up with shit from JAK, because she can do no wrong, amen and amen. 

The heroine starts off in 2010 all "I'm a modern woman with a college edumacation, kiss my ass you cavemen assholes, hear me rawr!" And the moment she goes back in time and sees the hero she transforms into a raging idiot heroine that was perhaps de rigueur circa 1970's and 80's, but it just made me roll my eyes and rant on twitter. But it was late night and no one was listening. *sad sigh*

All my bitching and issues aside, the hero, Jesse was a hottie with disappointments in his past and he was definitely a good guy that any girl would love. He really wasn't much of a true dominating, chest beating male of the 70's (or as the author says they were). He seemed pretty standard hero material though much less of an asshole than most HQ Presents heroes tend to be. The heroine......and I can't be bothered to look up her name right now, was ok. She was annoying in a lot of ways but as we got past the fluttering and stupidness and the "I'm a modern woman and one day you'll have to treat women like people instead of.....(not sure what they were treated like back then)" antics, she had her good qualities. You can tell that these two are star crossed lovers that find comfort and home in each other. There was plenty of obviousness in this one, but it wasn't marred by the usual 'asshole hero stomps all over virgin heroine who then forgives him too easily because either pregnancy killed her brain cells or he said the magical words "I love you" which we all know makes EVERYTHING better' trope which was refreshing. The end was sweet, but left me thinking too much. Like, how could they explain that to the authorities? And, how would they adjust to this?

In conclusion, it wasn't the worst, but it certainly wasn't the best HQ I've ever read and it wasn't all that memorable (see lack of heroine's name in review).

Next up is Silent Blade by Ilona Andrews. I know I talked about this one briefly before as a good example of a short story, but I didn't really give it a review and it's definitely one I read when I want a lil comfort and a guaranteed short, good read.

Description:

Old hatreds die hard. Old love dies harder.

On Meli Galdes' home planet, the struggle for power is a bloody, full-contact sport-in business and on the battlefield. For years her lethal skills have been a valuable asset in advancing her family's interests. She's more than earned her right to retire, but her kinsmen have one last favor to ask.

Kill the man who ruined her life.

Celino Carvanna's razor-sharp business acumen-and skills with a blade-won him the freedom to do as he pleases. There's only one thing he can't seem to control-his reaction to the mysterious woman who tantalizes his senses. Her eyes alone set his blood simmering, stirring ridiculous adolescent fantasies about breasts and honey. With a few words she dissects his soul. Who is she? And how does she slide so easily under his well-guarded skin?

It's almost too easy to draw Celino within the kill zone. Meli plans to revel in him. Drink him in. Wring every drop of pleasure out of every moment.

And when she's sure he belongs to her, she will finally repay a decade's worth of pain-in a single, brutal dose of reality.

Warning: Contains a heroine who excels in moving targets, a hero who can't get into her pants fast enough, and implant-enhanced sex (no, not that kind of implant-).

I love this story. Ilona herself described this one as kind of a Harlequin Presents, mafia families, futuristic sci-fi romance (I'm paraphrasing), and it totally works. There's the dramatic plot of the alpha asshole (only way hotter than most asshole alpha heroes, Ilona's great at that) hero and the wronged heroine who's out to make him pay. Except she doesn't half ass it and give up merely because he says, "Sorry, and oh yeah, I love you." Plus you get the futuristic sci-fi aspects with technology that flows seemlessly into this lush world of good food and fine wine (seriously, I wanted a cookbook of what she made in this story), beautiful flowers and passionate people on a new planet that has been colonized and made into a thriving society that feels like a mix of old and new. 

Meli is a great character. She's tough, but you can totally tell that she feels deeply and passionately, she knows it and owns it, she just doesn't let it get in her way. She's earthy and smart. She's both an enigma and yet very real and honest. You believe her lies because they're layered with the truth. She's as much or more dangerous than our hero, Celino and by the end, everyone knows it.

Celino, the hero, is no one to sneeze at. He's rich and powerful and he's also dangerous and deadly in his own right. He's intelligent, ruthless and arrogant. He's very hot, but honestly, I don't think anyone but Meli could handle him. She's definitely his equal. 

Their history and present circumstances are believably constructed and their passionate relationship is wonderful to read.

All this is handled in the context of a short story. The amazing thing is, even though I could easily have read a full novel filled with these characters and set in this world, I never felt like I was shortchanged or cheated out of anything in this story. The plot is there, the romance is there, the character development is there and it's all done in a way that feels effortless. 

My final grade for Blackwolf's Redemption would be a C+

Final grade for Silent Blade would be an A

Well, thanks for playing along with my sick induced ramblings, and happy reading!

 

Review: Promise Me Tonight by Sara Lindsey

Isabella is determined to marry James...

Isabella Weston has loved James Sheffield for as long as she can remember. Her come-out ball seems the perfect chance to make him see her in a new light.

James is determined never to marry...

James is stunned to find that the impish girl he once knew has blossomed into a sensual goddess. And if he remember his lessons correctly, goddesses always spell trouble for mortal men.

A compromise is clearly necessary...

When Izzie kisses James, her artless ardor turns to a masterful seduction that drives him mad with desire. But, no stranger to heartbreak, James is determined never to love, and thus never to lose. Can Isabella convince him that a life without love might be the biggest loss of all?

Promise Me Tonight is a pretty formulaic read. That's not necessarily a bad thing. There are times that I seek out those types of stories as almost a comfort thing. The problem I had with this though, was that the main couple just didn't really work for me. There were moments that I could see their past as kids together merge with their adult feelings for each other and those were lovely moments where they worked as a couple, however there weren't enough of those.

Izzie's single minded obsession with James is a bit off putting for me. She has loved this guy since she was six years old and while that could be cute, it was a little annoying for me in some ways.

James' whole, "I had a rough childhood (not as rough as some regency heroes) so I will never ever love anyone" issues were also over done a bit I think. He treats her horribly because of them and then when he shows up all sorry and wanting to make it work, she's just supposed to forgive and forget and move on. I really wanted to see him crawl a bit more, but that's just me.

Where the characters really shine for me are in their relationships with family and friends. James relationship with the Weston family is really great and his discussions with his friends feel more interesting and real than his relationship with Isabella. Izzie's relationships with her mom, Aunt and siblings are super fun to watch. Her Aunt Kate was a crack up and her mom and sister were fun characters as well. I also loved her dad and her older brother, Hal. This family is a very tight knit and loving family with a great sense of humor and they have each other's backs when it comes down to it, which made them a great family to read about.

Overall, I felt that the story was a bit too predictable, the lead couple did grow and work on their issues but they weren't a very enjoyable couple for me. The strongest point in the story for me was the Weston family and the lead characters' friends. They made the hero and heroine more interesting and likable and they themselves were fun and interesting.

My final grade for this is a C+. This is going to be a series revolving around the Weston family and I think there's a lot to work with there. Ms. Lindsey has potential and as she tells the stories of more of the family, I hope that the series will improve with each book.

Review: To Tempt A Saint by Kate Moore

No romance lover can resist the novels of Kate Moore...

First in the Sons of Sin trilogy Introducing the three sons of an infamous London courtesan-and the strong-willed women who love them...

Despite being knighted for saving the Prince Regent's life, Sir Alexander Jones will never truly be accepted by the nobility. But if he's to find his long lost brother, Xander must win the first willing heiress he can find.

Only by marrying can Cleo Spencer access her funds. Making a bargain with Xander is her chance to provide for her younger brother. But when her uncle accuses them of fraud, they discover that love is the best part of their bargain.

I picked up this book because the premise sounded sexy and fun and I was in the mood for a historical romance that would fit that bill.

I fell in love with Xander in the prologue. He was such a mature and capable man. You could tell he could handle himself in a fight but you also saw his softer side as he pretty much acted like Brother of the Year with his youngest brother Kit. He's also smart and forward thinking. I loved all of that about him.

I liked Cleo from the first time we meet her. She's in a bad spot in life but she has grit and a devilish sense of humor. She's feisty but not in a stupid way and you just want to see her situation in life improve and you want to conk the men who have neglected her and her brother over the head with a blunt object.

The issue I had with this story was the perceived obstacles that kept Xander and Cleo from truly committing to each other and kept Xander from wanting to consummate their marriage. They were so flimsy to me that it was rather irritating.

Another problem for me was a seeming lack of description in the book. So often I find that romance books especially are so over descriptive that I start rolling my eyes at "his aquiline nose, broody brow, stormy blue eyes, severe yet sensual mouth and aggressive cheekbones.....etc., etc." but in this one I felt like very little time was given to describe the characters and surroundings very well which left me sometimes a bit disconnected from them.

This is a fast and easy read that is entertaining, but not overly exciting or memorable. The characters are likable but at times their actions are a little ridiculous or annoying, i.e., when Cleo tries to force Xander to bed her by constantly threatening him with a knife. I rolled my eyes at that.

My grade for To Tempt A Saint is a C+. Fans of historical romance will most likely enjoy this book but it's not anything new or surprising.

Review: Rampant by Saskia Walker

Note: I received this to review from netGalley.

Title: Rampant
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Spice
Pub Date: 04/01/2010
ISBN: 9780373605422
Category: Erotica

The moment she arrives at her rented vacation cottage nestled in northern Scotland, Zoë Daniels feels it—an arousal so powerful she’s compelled to surrender to the unusually forceful carnal desires…with nearly anyone who crosses her path.

Zoë knows she’s not quite in control of herself and begins to wonder if there’s any truth to the legend of Annabel McGraw, a powerful, promiscuous 18th century witch who once owned the cottage, and whose spirit is rumored to affect anyone who stays there. Zoë doesn’t believe in anything that even hints at the occult, but now strange visions are turning frightening… and only one man’s touch can bring her back to earth.

First off let me say that I love this cover. You know how I'm a cover whore, yes, yes, I know. I just loved the earthiness and the beauty of it. It strikes me as both sexual and pure and yes folks, I believe you can be both ;)

The setting for this story is a small coastal village in Scotland and I do love those kinds of settings. The fact that the plot involved a rather heavy portion of magic did help to add to the ambience of the story.

I liked Zoe, our heroine, she's a city girl hailing from London who's come for a vacation and to unwind from her hectic job in the city. The minute she enters the village, odd sensations and things begin to happen. What I liked about Zoe is that she's practical. She's a skeptic and doesn't give into flights of fantasy, but as the evidence stacks up that something magical and supernatural is going on she doesn't freak out and go running into the hills. What irritated me a little about her was that it did take quite a lot of freaky stuff to happen for her to fully admit that ghosts are real and even after she became convinced she was somehow communing with a dead woman she had the devil of a time accepting that magic is real. However, she didn't dither too badly and she had a good sense of humor which were definite points in her favor.

Grayson, our hero, was handsome, powerful and intelligent. I had a little bit of a hard time with him in the respect the he seemed clinical and detached, even during intense sexual or emotional encounters. Now, don't get me wrong, I lurve me some cold and emotionally unavailable types (don't get me started on my massive crush on Mr. Spock) but I just didn't always feel that he was having sex with or interacting with her as much because he wanted her or that he wanted answers. Plus the fact that the spirit of a long dead promiscuous woman was influencing everyone made it hard sometimes to suss out his real feelings and motives, at least for me.

The story itself is a little heavy on magic and mostly on negative magic, though there are a few nicer practitioners, it felt like it was hard to tell if a lot of the people were supposed to be good or bad. I wasn't always sure if I was supposed to root for them or against them, like them or hate them or pity them at times. It made it hard for me to get a firm bead on an emotional response to the story.

Also, I have an issue with the fact that every woman who owned her sexuality either was a witch and/or prostitute or was under the influence of a witch and/or prostitute. I would like to see us move beyond the need for justification in erotica and romance for a strong heroine to just own her sexuality without being a bitch, ho, or possessed by one. Just saying. Zoe did come to grips with the fact that she's always had a sexually vibrant nature that was hidden under the surface and brought out by Annabelle but it then came with the proviso that it ultimately would only have come out because of her one twu wuv, Grayson. Ladies, hear me on this: YOU DO NOT NEED A MAN'S PERMISSION TO OWN YOUR SEXUALITY. I'm waiting for Romancelandia to catch on to this. I do give Zoe credit, she noticed that she was aroused a lot more than usual and doing things she wouldn't normally do, but at no point did she freak out to the point where she started losing her self-worth and thinking that she'd been somehow soiled by her experiences. I respected that, a lot.

Ultimately, the romance between Grayson and Zoe was nice, but there was always magic somehow involved and it felt at times like it was either pushing them together or pulling them apart. For a lot of the book, even Zoe wondered if she and Grayson had anything real.

The side story of Annabel and what had happened to her was fascinating. I didn't always know if Annabel was someone I should really root for, she wasn't always a nice person and she kind of invited the problems that came her way, but I found her so vibrant and mischievous that I couldn't help but fall under her spell and like her a lot by the end.

At times the book felt longer than it needed to be, but overall it was enjoyable and an interesting story of the beauty and ugliness of passion and love.

My final grade is a C+

You can purchase this book here

Or here

Review: Her Vampire Husband by Michele Hauf

I received this title for review from NetGalley.com.

I haven't found the "official blurb" but I took this off the author's website so here's what it says:

An arranged marriage between a werewolf and a vampire.

There will be blood.

She may resist his bite, but she can't resist his charms...

Werewolf princess Blu Masterson won't allow her seductive vampire husband to consummate their marriage with his bite, marking her forever. Alone in a secluded estate with her sworn enemy, Blu curses the marriage arranged to bring their rival nations together, especially since Creed Saint-Pierre calls out to her most feral desires.

When Blu uncovers her pack's secret plot to destroy the vampire nation—and Creed—she is forced to confront her growing feelings for her sexy undead husband. Will she choose the only life she's ever known or accept his vampire bite?

There's a quote on the author's site by MaryJanice Davidson that calls this story a paranormal Romeo and Juliet, and I have to say that that's a pretty good description.

Blu and Creed are forced by their respective groups, the Weres and the Vamps, to marry in the hopes that their union will bring peace to these long warring nations. Unfortunately things aren't what they seem and as Blu and Creed begin to care for each other and to learn from one another, everyone from parents, and tribes and even the Devil himself will conspire to keep them apart and their union to end in tragedy.

I have to say that I really liked Blu and Creed. Blu especially was such a vibrant character. She wears brightly colored wigs, red lipstick and sexy clothes. She gives off attitude and is completely irreverent. She's also wounded and charming and full of life and love.

Creed was a sweet hero. In the beginning it seems he's going to go the way of the alpha man, but he quickly morphs into a rather sweet and noble hero that wants nothing more than to save his wife from all that would hurt her, even himself and his own people.

The book seemed long in some ways. There were times that I felt it dragged a bit. The sex was hot and wild and their growing intimacy was sweet to watch. The plot of the warring nations and how everyone and their freakin father wanted to keep them apart and make trouble was kinda blah for me. In the beginning, Creed is set up to be a powerful and fearsome being, but it felt like so much time was spent making him soft and sweet that he quickly lost his ability to be a believable supernatural leader.

There were a few things in the book that didn't make sense or were slightly annoying to me, but what really saved this story and made it enjoyable were the main characters. They were so full of life and the irrepressible hope that they could change themselves and change their people and somehow make a miracle of peace happen that you couldn't help but root for them. You wanted to see them win against all the odds.

Overall, the book was enjoyable. It wasn't my favorite paranormal romance but it was sweet and sexy and Blu and Creed were fun to get to know.

My final grade for this story is a C+. What kept this book from getting a higher grade from me was that it seemed to lack a certain amount of edge that I like in a paranormal. The hero and heroine seemed like they were neutered a bit to make them more likable. Also, there were a few plot things that irritated me a bit.

The publication date for this book is April 1, 2010.

review: Spellbent by Lucy A. Snyder

Ok, let's start off with the blurb shall we?

In the heart of Ohio, Jessie Shimmer is caught up in hot, magic-drenched passion with her roguish lover, Cooper Marron, who is teaching her how to tap her supernatural powers. When they try to break a drought by calling down a rainstorm, a hellish portal opens and Cooper is ripped from this world, leaving Jessie fighting for her life against a vicious demon that's been unleashed.

In the aftermath, Jessie, who knows so little about her own true nature, is branded an outlaw. She must survive by her wits and with the help of her familiar, a ferret named Palimpsest. Stalked by malevolent enemies, Jessie is determined to find out what happened to Cooper. But when she moves heaven and earth to find her man, she'll be shocked by what she discovers—and by what she must ultimately do to save them all.

The best way I can describe this book is: gritty. Not just, oh a few people die kind of gritty, I mean losing limbs, poss human sacrifice, abuse, blood guts and gore and most of all: jizz kids. That kind of gritty.

One of the things that I didn't like about the main character was that she tended to get preachy and morally superior. If you had money, you were bad. Considering what her beef was and the fact that she was basically a willfully ignorant person who skated through life right up until the shit hit the fan and that approach wasn't going to work anymore, I found the social commentary a bit ironic.

Now what I did like about Jessie was that she dug deep and cowgirled up. She got the holy hell beat out of her in this book and she didn't let it break her. She got a lil bitchy at times, but honestly so would I, but she didn't curl into a ball and go to her happy place never to emerge again. I dug that about her. She sometimes started to veer into TSTL land, but her familiar, Pal, would talk her down and she would listen. I appreciated that too. Too often we get a tough female lead and she doesn't believe in common sense or taking advise from people who know, cuz she's tough female hear her roar. So, someone who was open to guidance was a nice change of pace.

Speaking of Pal, her ferret familiar, he stole the show. Honestly there would be no adventure without him. Like I mentioned before, Jessie was ignorant of her heritage, of a lot of basic magic and of the ruling body of the magic society so if it wasn't for her being blessed with a familiar that was smart, had been around the block a few times and was willing to break rules for her, she would have been up the creek without a paddle. Or even a boat. He was funny and smart and had a very rigid sense of personal honor that made him a great character. They don't know each other long before everything goes down, so their bond is pretty fast in the making, but it felt solid and I enjoyed their interaction.

The story itself is dark and a bit heavy on social commentary that I felt was a bit forced, but otherwise it had almost a Harry Potter on crack feel to it. There were things I didn't like and the book felt longer than it was, but on the plus side there was lots of action and the focus on magic was very fascinating.

As a warning, let me just say that there were things in this book that grossed me out and disturbed me a bit and I've been around the paranormal and UF block a few times. So if you don't like dark and gritty stories, you probably won't like this, but if you do enjoy lots of action, magic and a more raw sort of story, this should be right up your alley.

My final grade is a C+. This is a debut book, so I'm hoping that the more Ms. Snyder writes the more she'll have smoothed out some of the rough patches in her stories.

You can order this book here

Review: Hunting Julian by Jacquelyn Frank

Ok, I have to warn that this review may sound a bit snarky at times. I just finished this book and there are a few things that are bugging me a bit.

First off, here's the blurb:

Jacquelyn Frank, New York Times bestselling author of the Shadowdwellers series, invites readers into a dazzling new world of unstoppable desire and danger..

As an Advocate for his colony, Julian Sawyer travels to Earth to bring back the Chosen—women who possess energy potent enough to help revitalize his people. The stunning, silver-clad beauty who strides into his club one night radiates a sensual magnetism unlike any he's encountered, and Julian realizes that Asia Callahan is not just Chosen, she is his kindra: his one true mate.

For months, Asia has tracked the beautiful and mysterious Julian across the country, convinced that he's behind the disappearance of her sister and a dozen other women. She's prepared to believe he's a ruthless killer, but when she presents herself as bait, she discovers that the truth is far more shocking. Taken to a strange, hazardous realm she never knew existed, Asia will face the ultimate choice—between abandoning the life she's always known, and forsaking a passion as dangerous as it is powerful.

Ok, so basically, Julian's race has the shittiest luck, like ever. They've encountered plague after plague that has decimated their female population, naturally. They are a people that feed on energy, although they do eat regular food, but that's not really touched on much in the book. So apparently, don't laugh, a woman's big O is like the bestest energy eveh. So, they send Julian to harvest it and send it back to feed their starving people and occasionally he finds a speshul girl that can really crank out the wattage so he brings her home to fornicate and frollick, thus feeding the starving children. Shit. You. Not.

So, women and their joy juice are in short supply on this plane and highly prized so even if a woman is say, a murdering bitch, she gets sent to a colony where she is sold off as basically a sex slave so she's punished but the people don't lose a precious resource. Now, that sounds bad. That sounds really bad, but in a way, I could understand it. The peeps be starving and you're a bad person so one way or another you're going to be a productive member of their society. Like it or not. Now, I'm a bitch, so I'm kinda ok with that, except that their society is kinda messed up and innocent and mentally disturbed people get sent there too and you know what? Tough shit. I kinda wasn't down with that. Plus, it didn't make sense. Julian hasn't had sex in years because it takes too much energy for him to get his jollies and he's a big ol' noble one so he won't steal from the mouths of babes to get his rocks off. So then, why the sex slave thing? It's not like the guy planning a night of fun with the woman was only gonna get her off. Didn't make sense. The thing is, a lot of it didn't make sense. I think Ms. Frank had a bit too much going on and she didn't always stay true to the rules of the world. Which confused and at times irritated me.

Also, if you're familiar with her Nightwalker series, you'll recognize a favored trope she has of the powerful female figure going all mad jealous and evol and doing horrible things that ultimately hurt her own people just cuz she can't stand the heroine or some shit. I was kinda over that in the last series, but that's just me.

Anyway, Julian was hot and sweet and mad in lurve with Asia and Asia was well....not so much. To be honest, I understood Asia's beef with the situation. Hell, I woulda fought it, too, but she bordered on pissy bitch just a bit too much for me. The romance felt a bit one sided and at times Julian expected too much too fast.

I know we were supposed to feel invested with these people and their plight and want to read more of the sexy dudes that go out and gather energy (some in baaaaad ways) and want to revisit the world, but to be honest, I don't really want to go back. There wasn't much there that gave me the warm tinglies and I'm kinda done with it now.

In the end, it's not a bad book, but it was awkward with the idea of "quick, let's have sex to feed the starving children!" I was kinda like, should I feel turned on in this scene? I don't know if that's right or wrong anymore.

I give this book a C. It was readable and entertaining and maybe one of the other in this sure to be a series will get me involved but I'm not holding my breath.