Guest Review: Leontine reviews Bound by the Vampire Queen by Joey W. Hill

Bound by the Vampire Queen(Vampire Queen Series Book 8) 
~Joey W. Hill 

Paperback: 464 pages 
Publisher: Berkley Trade 
Publish Date: December 6, 2011 
ISBN-10: 0425243443 
ISBN-13: 978-0425243442

From the author's website:
Sworn to obedience, compelled by loyalty, and threatened with damnation for betrayal, Jacob entered Lady Lyssa’s servitude as a human servant. Now he is a vampire, but still bound to Lyssa, who has found herself struggling with the capricious powers that have come alive in her paternal Fae blood—and challenged by two enemies… 

While the Vampire Council threatens to take away Lyssa and Jacob’s newborn son, the Fae Queen has ordered Lyssa to appear before the Otherworld court to face inescapable charges. The Fae have nothing but contempt for vampires, but to serve her, protect her, nourish her, and pleasure her, Jacob will follow his lady into hell itself. No one—neither Fae nor vampire--will compel him to break the oath he made to serve a vampire queen forever.

Bound By The Vampire Queen is the third installment revolving around the relationship of Vampire Queen, Lyssa and servant, Jacob. Which is why I want to warn you all there will be a certain loss of reading pleasure if you haven’t read the previous installments in this relationship! I don’t know how Joey W Hill does it but again she managed to concoct a story where new characters affected me to the core and to my surprise I found a Fae world that enthralled me. I already felt connected to Lyssa and Jacob due to the previous two installments; The Vampire Queens Servant and The Mark Of The Vampire Queen. The trials and tribulations overcome in those two stories and the strengthening of their love and passion struck a chord with me. So I wondered what more Joey W Hill could dish out for them to deal with.

The beginning of Bound By The Vampire Queen signaled new troubles and together, Lyssa and Jacob had to travel to the Fae world. Not only did I get to meet a fearsome Unseelie queen, Rhoswen but also a wizened Seelie king, Tabor. There were danger filled quests for both Lyssa and Jacob to fulfill. The world Joey W Hill erected in my mind’s eye was one filled with magic, nature in all its majestic splendor and of course a range of otherworldly inhabitants. It was enthralling to be a spectator of this magical place with its own rituals and customs. While a lot is drawn from common myths and legends, Joey W Hill gave her own twists on it making it a unique part of the world in this series.

I was able to sink my teeth in this new setting where my love for fantasy was satiated. The quests contained high-risk elements which made me flip the pages rapidly. The essence of these Fae creatures held an air of dangerous power and they were fickle enough to keep me on edge. But what blew me away was the mystic night of Samhain. It was the epitome of Seelie and Unseelie magic coming together in such an emotion rife momentum. I just couldn’t keep it together and cried for at least two pages. This is a trait of Joey W Hill I will always cherish her for. Her ability to affect me, to make all the good and the bad matter in her stories.

Because Lyssa and Jacob had their share of challenges again it evolves their relationship even further. They really give off that vibe of all-consuming love with a capital L that makes me sigh on various occasions throughout the story. There is no repetition but new choices to make and it kept me so very invested in the outcome. All the things thrown at this couple made me wonder; will they or won’t they make it? Which was another reason for me to keep reading the chapters away. Of course, in true erotic form as only Joey W Hill can give it to me, they also shared enough blazing hot passion to singe the pages. I never grew tired of the sultry heat flaring between them and various other characters. It is a visceral response to the dangers they face, the love they feel and it stills a hunger for a certain relationship dynamic.

Even though in the beginning I had to read a few chapters to “get in to” the story told it was the political scheming by Lord Keldwyn which instantly flagged a warning signal. The intrigue surrounding him set me on edge in a good way and got me wondering what plot development lay ahead for me to discover. What added to the joy of meeting the familiar cast of characters again were the dialogues which brimmed with attitude and banter. Especially among Lyssa, Jacob, Mason, Gideon and Deagan. Also the interaction between Jacob and Lord Firewind, a water horse, was a fantastic battle of male pride and will power. It makes these characters distinctive and memorable leaving me with a want for more stories in this series.

Joey W Hill’s imaginative writing skills makes her Vampire Queen world come alive with atmospheric settings and unforgettable characters. Bound By The Vampire Queen is an installment in this series which just draws you in and with bated breath you follow the perils, adventures and romance development. Lyssa and Jacob have put their mark on this series, and righteously so!

Favorite Quotes:

Jacob:

“My lady,” he said again, and this time instead of an honorific, he was saying it as it was meant. My lady. His love, his heart. His temptress, his tormentor.

Jacob:

Meeting her gaze, a rueful smile on his lips, he hooked the hose, skinned them down his legs, took them off with his boots and put it all aside, bracing his feet to stand before her completely bare of everything except the cross brand, the lashes on his back, and that third servant mark. He knew it always did something to her, seeing him stripped of everything but those three things. Her servant. Her slave. Her lover, bound to her for eternity.

My Rating:

Leontine 

Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead

Shadow Heir
~Richelle Mead 

Paperback: 352 pages 
Publisher: Zebra; Original edition (December 27, 2011) 
Language: English 
ISBN-10: 1420111809 
ISBN-13: 978-1420111804 
ASIN: B005JSZOOK

From the author's website:
Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham strives to keep the mortal realm safe from trespassing entities. But as the Thorn Land's prophecy-haunted queen, there's no refuge for her and her soon-to-be-born-children when a mysterious blight begins to devastate the Otherworld...

The spell-driven source of the blight isn't the only challenge to Eugenie's instincts. Fairy king Dorian is sacrificing everything to help, but Eugenie can't trust the synergy drawing them back together. The uneasy truce between her and her shape shifter ex-lover Kiyo is endangered by secrets he can't--or won't--reveal. And as a formidable force rises to also threaten the human world, Eugenie must use her own cursed fate as a weapon--and risk the ultimate sacrifice...

*SPOILERS FOR BOOKS 1-3*

Shadow Heir picks up where Iron Crowned left off:  Half-human, half-fae, and Queen of two fairy lands, Eugenie Markham is pregnant with twins, the boy twin has been prophecied to lead the Otherworld to overthrow the human world.  Because of this, many of the Fae want her dead, others want her protected.  After an attack, Eugenie decides to continue her pregnancy in the human world in order to have access to medical care and keep her babies safe from her enemies.  She gets an urgent message that all is not well in the Otherworld, and knows she must go back and help find a solution before or her friends may not survive.

Dorian is still trying to make her his queen, and Kiyo is still trying to kill her, but the problems in the Otherworld are so bad that an uneasy truce has been drawn between them.

My thoughts:
A WTH? ending to a fabulous series.  I've loved this series from the first book and am sad to see it end.  Shadow Heir was, for the most part, an enjoyable read.  I didn't know how Ms. Mead was going to work the pregnancy into the storyline, but I shouldn't have worried... I thought the story flowed nicely through her pregnancy and after, and the storyline worked for me.  We met some new characters and got to say goodbye to some old friends, but the trio of Eugenie, Dorian and Kiyo were a strong focal point to the story.  I love reading about the Otherworld and it's inhabitants, so I definitely got my fairie fix.

Now, there were a few things that I didn't like:  I kind of felt like the babies were born and then disappeared from the storyline completely - it was such a huge plot point in previous books that I felt like they were just pushed aside without much fanfare.  The main issue for me, however, was the open ending.  Ms. Mead drops a HUGE plot twist on the readers and then just ....ends.  Without resolution.

So, I finished this series a little frustrated.  BUT, it was such a good series I would absolutely recommend it - the Dark Swan series is full of magic, action, and a red-hot love triangle; just... be prepared for the pseudo-cliffhanger ending.

My Rating:

This book was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Alien Proliferation by Gini Koch

Alien Proliferation 
~Gini Koch 

Paperback: 480 pages 
Publisher: DAW 
Publish Date: December 6, 2011 
ISBN-10: 0756406978 
ISBN-13: 978-0756406974 
ASIN: B005ERIKM4 

From the author's website:
A new set of conspiracies, old enemies, and a dangerous new drug being tested on unwilling subjects are more than enough to deal with, but new parents Jeff and Kitty Martini have an even bigger problem -- the bad guys want their newborn baby.

*SPOILERS for books 1-3*

As Alien Proliferation opens, Katherine "Kitty" Katt (now Martini) is nearing the end of her pregnancy, and she's miserable:  bed rest, inability to decide on even the smallest baby supplies, and discomfort all combine to make Kitty one cranky agent.

Then, a phone call comes in - Kitty's best friend from college is in trouble.  Jeff and Christopher rush out to save the day, but of course it's not that easy: more problems are uncovered than are solved, and then suddenly - there's a baby on the way!  Take a (half) alien baby, add the fact that dad had been force-fed untested alien drugs before conception, and you have a white-knuckle delivery on your hands.

From there, things just keep going crazy and Kitty and Jeff's new-parent bliss is clouded by disappearing agents and the realization there's a mole trying to take out the team.  What comes next is a lot of action, secret agent stealth, sci-fi conspiracy, and a ton of fun.

My thoughts:
I have been a huge fan of Gini Koch since the first book and Alien Proliferation has everything I've come to love about this series:  Smart, funny dialogue, diverse and interesting characters, and boatloads of action.

In addition to the sweet and sexy rapport between Kitty and Jeff, one thing I really liked about Alien Proliferation is that we get to see more of Kitty's relationships with her two BFFs:  Chuckie and Reader.  I have adored Chuckie since we met him (even before, kind of), and he gets one of the sweetest, most saddest lines I've ever read:

He got up, and I handed Jamie to him. He held her well. "She really looks like you. Beautiful baby."
"I still don't see it, but I'll take the compliment for both of us."
He held her for a few minutes, walked around the room with her. He finally handed her back to me. "Thank you."
"For what?"
Chuckie kissed the top of my head. "For letting me pretend."
~page 126, Alien Proiferation

Sooo sweet, right?  We (and Kitty) also learn a bit more about Chuckie through some of the other characters he works with.  I was very pleased with the amount of information/page time Chuckie had in this book.

The Kitty/Reader relationship is, as always, wow.   We were treated to more information about Kitty and Reader's relationship in the previous book, Alien in the Family, but Alien Proliferation gives us more insight from Kitty's POV, and it was moving.

And....Christopher gets a love interest in this book - I know, right?!?  He's such a great character and he's had a few hard knocks so I was especially pleased to see him happy.  I'm looking forward to seeing them together in future books, giving Jeff and Kitty a run for their money in the "happy and sex-crazed" department.

My issues with this book were really specific to me personally:  I had a hard time following some of the conspiracy plot, and Kitty referred to her boobs as "torpedoes" way too much; we get it - they're huge.  (and I may have been jealous of Kitty's post-birth recovery; you'll have to read to find out why, lol)

This series is often described as "over the top" which is exactly right - but it's so much fun!!  Gini Koch's Alien series holds a proud place on my "Keeper" shelf and Alien Diplomacy is already on my "Books I Can't Wait For" list.

My Rating:

This book was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Pam's Review: How to Seduce a Scoundrel by Vicky Dreiling

How to Seduce a Scoundrel
~Vicky Dreiling

Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Forever
Publish Date: July 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 0446565385
ISBN-13: 978-0446565387
ASIN: B0047Y17PC

From the author's website:
SCOUNDRELS, RAKES, AND ROGUES BEWARE . . .

Lady Julianne Gatewick is in a pickle. It started when her brother’s best friend—for whom she’s long nursed a secret tendre—agreed to act as her guardian for the Season, only to seduce her with a risqué waltz.

But when the music stopped and the expectant ton waited for the Earl of Hawkfield to claim her as his own, he made his disinterest clear. Rather than succumb to humiliation, Julianne does what any recently discarded, wickedly witty young miss would do. She secretly pens a lady’s guide to enticing unrepentant rakes . . . and it becomes the hottest scandal in London.

Every honorable rake knows that friends’ sisters are forbidden. But suddenly Julianne has a spark of mischief in her eyes that Hawk can’t resist. Try as he might to push her away, he spends his days listening for her laughter and his nights dreaming of her kisses. He’s always avoided innocents and their marriage-minded mothers, but has the man least likely to wed finally met his match?

ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR

This story takes place in England in the year 1817. Hawk is a carefree ladies man. He refuses to live at home with his family, has his own bachelor pad, and has quite the reputation as a rake. His best friend, Tristan, has asked him to watch over his sister for the season, and be her guardian. Hawk agrees though he hasn’t seen Julianne for some time, and when he does he is momentarily taken aback. This isn’t the girl that he teased growing up; this is a beautiful woman.

Julianne has loved Hawk for many years. She has always daydreamed about them having a ‘happily ever after.’ However, with growing up comes the understanding that fantasies are not always realistic. Julianne gets a wake up call when Hawk has a romantic moment dancing with her and after mentions that he thinks of her like a sister. She resolves that she is done letting the men take all the control in her relationships and decides to write an anonymous pamphlet on how to seduce the man you want to help all the other ladies in situations like herself. Will it help her seduce and win Hawk’s heart after all?

This book was a pleasant surprise; the story pulled me right in when Hawk was introduced; I felt as carefree as he was. It was like a breath of fresh air, and then I got lost in the story. You get to experience Hawk and Julianne struggle with their feelings and decisions and see them both grow.

The secondary characters are great. While Hawk is acting as Julianne’s guardian, Hawk’s aunt, Hester, is her sponsor. Aunt Hester speaks her mind about men very openly for that time, and she doesn’t care who it bothers. Julianne’s friends Amy and Georgette are always there for support, to offer their opinions, and even to get in trouble together. On one such escapade, the girls are at a party and hear some interesting noises behind a closed door…

The thumping turned into banging, and the man’s grunting grew louder. “Feel my mighty sword.”
“He has a sword?” Georgette asked.
The woman behind the door screamed.
Georgette gasped. “He killed her.”
How to Seduce a Scoundrel, page 51

How to Seduce a Scoundrel made me laugh, kept me up extra late, and kept me interested the whole time. I highly recommend this book.

My Rating:

Pam
This book was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I think I'm in love...Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

Dragon Bound
~Thea Harrison
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: May 3, 2011
ISBN-10: 0425241505
ISBN-13: 978-0425241509
ASIN: B004Q7DQLS

From the author's website:
Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their Dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful–and passionate—of the Elder Races.

As the most feared and respected of the wyrkind, Dragos Cuelebre cannot believe someone had the audacity to steal from him, much less succeed. And when he catches the thief, Dragos spares her life, claiming her as his own to further explore the desire they’ve ignited in one another.

Quickie Review:
Pia Giovanni is in trouble and she knows it.  Under duress, she's just stolen from the most powerful dragon on the planet, and he's going to come searching from her.  She knows her life is pretty much over, it's just a matter of when and how.

Dragos Cuelebre is outraged - he cannot believe someone found his treasure, let alone was able to steal from it!  He's got a few clues, and he plans to find this thief - not only because he wants to know how she did it, but because he can't get her scent out of his thoughts.

My Quick Thoughts:
OMG - this was such a fun, sexy read!!  Dragos is such a fabulous Alpha male - very "You're mine, I must protect you", and Pia is an independent woman - very "Don't tell me what to do, I can take care of myself".  Together they make sparks fly.

Dragon Bound is about more than sexy dragon time though - we learn that the people behind Pia's initial foray into Dragos' treasure lair are quite unsavory and will do anything to cripple Dragos and his empire, and aren't afraid to use Pia and her special talents to achieve their goals. Pia also has a secret that she's been hiding her whole life, and when she finally shares her secret with Drago - Oh, it was a pretty sweet secret :)

In addition to a fabulous hero and heroine, Ms. Harrison's secondary characters were interesting and I want to read more about them.  I'm super-excited about the next book - Storm's Heart - which will center around Dragos' vivacious head of PR, Tricks, and one of his bodyguards, Tiago.

My Rating:

Review: Alien in the Family by Gini Koch

Alien in the Family
~Gini Koch

Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: DAW
Publish Date: April 5, 2011
ISBN-10: 0756406684
ISBN-13: 978-0756406684
ASIN: B004IYIUIS

From Goodreads:
Super-Being Exterminator Kitty Katt and the Alpha Centaurian she loves, Jeff Martini, should be finalizing their wedding plans. But that was before she discovers Jeff is in line to become Emperor back on his home world. Kitty knows she is everything a royal family wouldn't approve of, and is bracing herself for the worst. As it turns out, the royal family is just the beginning. Especially when extraterrestrial Amazonian terrorists are determined to start and end Kitty and Jeff's nuptial festivities with a bang.

Agent Kitty Katt and Alien Jeff Martini are supposed to be planning their wedding. Instead, they're being attacked by man-hating Amazons, Kitty's being tested to see if she's "suitable" to marry Jeff, and attacks by shapeshifter assassins are taking up all their time. Then, when Kitty and Jeff's families both "coincidentally" show up in Las Vegas at the same time they're there, Kitty knows something's up...

My thoughts: I'm holding Gini Koch responsible for my sleepless nights - I stayed up way too late turning pages and then dreamed about this book!!! All my favorite characters are back and she's introduced some new ones too. (The old Star Trek episode with the Tribbles is one of my favorites so of course I was all over the Poofs. I want one!!!)

As always, the action was fast-paced and exciting, but what I really like about Gini's books is the depth of her characters, and Alien in the Family I feel like we got our best look yet. We got to see a softer, less sure side of Kitty and a funnier side of Martini.

I love Kitty and Jeff - they are one of my favorite fictional couples, but Kitty and Reader are my favorite fictional "noncouple". They had me "awwww"-ing and holding my hand over my heart, especially during the hospital scene. Reader was fabulous throughout the book, I want a BFF like Reader! Is it horrible that I loved how cute Martini and Gower were when they were jealous of Kitty and Reader's relationship? (Too bad, I loved it!)

I have been a fan of Chuckie since book 1 when we hadn't even met him yet. I continue to be a Chuckie fan - he's obviously still in love with Kitty but is supportive of her decision to marry Jeff (while letting her know he's available if things should fall through, lol). I do wonder why the female AC's aren't all over Chuckie - he's brilliant!

One tiny niggle: I did have a bit of an issue with the football players; it seemed to me that things could have gone another way for Kitty, and I'm apparently not as forgiving as she is - in my mind there's never an excuse to treat a woman that way.

Ms. Koch packs fast-paced action, over-the-top fun, super-sexy romancing and a fabulous ending into another amazing installment of her Alien series; it's going to be a long wait until December for Alien Proliferation!!!

My Rating:

This book was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: My One and Only by Kristan Higgins

My One and Only
~Kristan Higgins

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: HQN Books
Publish Date: March 29, 2011
ISBN-10: 0373775571
ISBN-13: 978-0373775576

From Goodreads:
Divorce attorney Harper James can't catch a break. Bad enough that she runs into her ex-hubby, Nick, at her sister's destination wedding, but now, by a cruel twist of fate, she's being forced to make a cross-country road trip with him. And her almost-fiance back at home is not likely to be sympathetic. Harper can't help that Nick has come blazing back into her life in all of his frustratingly appealing, gorgeous architect glory. But in Nick's eyes, Harper's always been the one. If they can only get it right this time, forever might be waiting -- just around the bend.

Harper James is a 30-something divorce attorney on Martha's Vineyard. She's very good at what she does and half the divorcees in Martha's Vineyard hate her (that would be the half whose exes hired her, lol). She's got a realistic view of love and marriage (she thinks) and has been dating Dennis for 2 1/2 years; she's tired of waiting and is going to propose. Her plan is to present the facts and convince him it's time. Romantic, she's not. Right in the middle of her proposal, her sister Willa calls to tell her she's getting married...for the third time...to a man she's only known a few weeks...and also happens to be Harper's ex-husband's brother.

Nick Lowe married the love of his life 12 years ago, and lost her less than a year later. He's never forgotten Harper, and never gotten over her. He's moved on, but he knows she was his One Great Love.

Harper is the Maid of Honor and Nick is the Best Man at their siblings' wedding. They get through the wedding festivities and Harper thinks she's home free and can get away from Nick (and her memories)...but her flight gets canceled. Nick offers to drive her to the next big airport to get her a flight back home. During the drive, they talk a little, reminisce a little, and fight a little. And Harper realizes she's never gotten over Nick either. But neither can get over the past enough to look towards the future.

My Thoughts: Kristan Higgins writes the kind of books I love to read, and My One and Only is no exception. When the story opened, I found Harper to be a bit abrasive; BUT, as the story moved and we see more of her history with Nick and learn how her mother left her on her 13th birthday, I started to really like her. Nick was a sightly tortured hero, he had his own issues to deal with, and I loved him. He was patient and sweet, and he was there when Harper needed him. My only complaint was that to me he seemed a bit insensitive and expected Harper to change her life/location to be with him, in the past and the present. They tried to hide their rekindled attraction to each other and it was quite comical to see them put up a front:

"I don't think Bob's up for running," I said.
"Then you'll take my horse."
"What about you?"
"I'll stay here and whittle a sword and kill the bear or, if that doesn't work, I'll just be eaten alive, happily sacrificing my life for yours." He gave me a look. "Or I'll just stay on the horse and you can sit behind me. Satan can hold two, I'm sure."
"Oh, so you're a cowboy now? I wasn't aware that architects were also masters of horseflesh. You and Satan BFF's now? Practiced your stunt-riding this morning?"
"My dad gave me a few lessons."
"When? When you were six?"
"Well, you know, Harper, maybe we should just stay here and bicker until the bear can't stand it anymore and kills us both. Would that make you happy?"
~My One and Only, pg. 114

My One and Only made me laugh - from Harper's boyfriend Dennis, the hunky firefighter who still wears a rat-tail *yikes!*, to her step-mother BeverLee, a caricature of the big-boobed, bouffant haired Southerner (who I ended up loving as well), and it made me cry - Harper's memories about her mother and memories of her own broken marriage to Nick broke the surface and she was able to view her past from an adult point of view. The writing was fabulous and I fell right into the story - first with Harper and Dennis, then I couldn't wait to see where things were going with Nick, both on the road and in her heart. Throughout it all, I loved seeing Harper learn to let herself love and be loved in return.

My Rating:

This book was received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

M/M Guest Review: Larissa reviews Josh Lanyon's Holmes and Moriarty series

Please help me welcome Larissa, from Larissa's Bookish Life! Larissa runs a fun and fabulous blog that I'm sure many of you are familiar with:

She's always got something going on over there!! Larissa graciously agreed to stop by today an review one of my favorite M/M authors: Josh Lanyon's Somebody Killed His Editor. Take it away, Larissa:

Somebody Killed His Editor
All She Wrote
~Josh Lanyon

* Publisher: Samhain Publishing
* Release Date of Book #1: June 16th, 2009
* Release Date of Book #2: December 28th, 2010
* My Copy: eBooks/Bought.
* Series: Holmes & Moriarity Series
* Genre: M/M Romantic Mystery
* Author's Website

* Buy The Books:
Somebody Killed His Editor
All She Wrote: Holmes & Moriarity, Book 2

From Goodreads:
Thanks to an elderly spinster sleuth and her ingenious cat, Christopher Holmes has enjoyed a celebrated career as a bestselling mystery writer. Until now. Sales are down and his new editor is allergic to geriatric gumshoes.

On the advice of his agent, he reinvents his fortyish, frumpy, recently dumped self into the sleek, sexy image of a literary lion, and heads for a Northern California writers conference to try and resurrect his career. A career nearly as dead as the body he stumbles over in the woods.

In a weirdly déjà vu replay of one of his own novels, he finds himself stranded in an isolated lodge full of frightened women—and not a lawman in sight. Except for J.X. Moriarity, former cop and bestselling novelist. The man with whom he shared a one-night stand—okay, maybe three—long ago. The man who wants to arrest him for murder.A ruthless, stalking killer, or a hot, handsome ex-lover. Which poses the greater danger? It’s elementary, my dear Holmes!

*SPOILER FREE

Thanks so much to Patti for having me here today! I grasped with both hands this chance of talking about one of my favorite genres ever! M/M Romance Rocks and it needs to be said, loud and clear! =)

I am a HUGE Josh Lanyon fan, so I am constantly checking out his website and trying to find books of his that I haven’t read yet. On one of my most recent visits, I found the Homes & Moriarity books and I can’t believe I had not read them before!

Holmes is a former NYT Best-Seller, Cozy-mystery writer that has seen better days. His publisher is dropping him, he can’t seem to write anything anymore and his love life sucks, not in a good way. During a writer’s retreat that his manager strong armed him to attend, a murder occurs and following a series of mishaps, Homes is one of the prime suspects.

In enter Moriarity, a very successful Thriller writer and former flame of Holmes’, whose previous experience as law enforcement puts in the position of being the best man to take lead on the murder investigations, specially since him, Holmes and everyone else is stranded in the hotel where that retreat is taking place.

Holmes & Moriarity have amazing chemistry, but their past brief relationship keeps getting in the way and Josh does an awesome job in telling their story. Not only the romance part of either books is very satisfying, but the mystery in either novel is very very well constructed and gave me Agatha Christie’s flashbacks in a very good way.

Josh Lanyon is an extraordinary author and the Homes & Moriarity books are nothing if not the perfect example of his talent! I can’t wait for more from this series!

M/M Month Review: She's Got Balls by Mia Watts

She's Got Balls
~Mia Watts

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 95 KB
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing, LLC
Publish Date: November 24, 2009
ASIN: B002YQ2JA2

From the author's website:
What do you do with a "wife" who is more man than you can handle?

The FBI and local law enforcement are attempting a mutually beneficial crime stopping partnership. Rookie Agent Chris Tarpington and Detective Vin Pilk team up to prototype the new alliance. How better to bust a ring of drug dealing suburban house wives than to go undercover — way undercover, as a married couple.

Though Chris reluctantly gets in touch with his feminine side, he quickly finds ways of making his sexy partner squirm. And Vin is definitely squirming, but will he run toward or away from his faux wife? As the investigation heats up, inter-agency cooperation takes on a whole new meaning.

I first heard of She’s Got Balls a few months ago and couldn’t stop laughing at the title. When I decided to do M/M month, this book was at the top of my “buy” list. I haven’t read anything by Mia Watts before She’s Got Balls, but I will certainly be reading much more by this author:

Chris Tarpington is a rookie cop on his first undercover operation; problem is, he’s got to act like the female half of a married couple. He decides he’s going to make the other cop play the role of the wife, until he meets him – Dective Vincent Pilk is super-tall, super-buff, and super-gorgeous.

Chris is gay but not out to the Force, so when they’re on assignment and Pilk kisses him as part of the role they’re playing…it takes his breath away. Of course, it’s a bit uncomfortable when you’re aroused and your “junk” is stuffed into a pair ofpantyhose! He doesn’t want Pilk to know he has feelings for him, until one evening when they have to practice being “natural” in front of their targets….

I don’t usually read short stories, and She’s Got Balls is a perfect example of why – I wanted more!!! She’s Got Balls was funny and sexy and I enjoyed every minute of it. Chris was so funny and chatty and completely head-over-heels for Pilk, and Pilk was silent and broody and sexy as hell. This was one book I did not want to put down!

My Rating:

Review: Inside Out by Lauren Dane

From the author's website:
WORTH THE WAIT
Ella Tipton is a survivor. In the wake of an attack that left her nearly dead, she’s spent each day putting her life back together. Once vibrant and outgoing, she’s needed to reclaim the best parts of who she was while retaining the hard won lessons. There hasn’t been room for any romantic entanglements, even if she were ready. Still, it didn’t mean she had to stop sneaking looks at Mister Tall, Dark and Tattooed himself.

Security professional Andrew Copeland isn’t quite sure when his jones for the lovely and decidedly skittish Ella developed. He’s known her for years, has watched her triumph over the pain she’d been dealt. Cope is no stranger to women, but he knows the nervous flush he gets every time he talks to her is different than any attraction he’s had in the past. Determined to get Ella to let him in, Andy does the one thing he can think of to get close: he offers her hands-on training in self-defense.

While Ella’s sure he’s just being nice, the prospect of being able to touch him and gain the tools to push away the last vestiges of her fear is more than she can resist. Soon enough, Cope shows Ella his feelings are far more than friendly and re-ignites something deep inside her. Before long desire and love turn them both inside out.

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I'm a huge fan of this series. Laid Bare is probably my all-time favorite erotic novel. I went into Inside Out thinking it was going to be an erotic read, but for me, it wasn't. It was a love story. It was a story about family and making choices. I loved it!

Ella Tipton is the manager of the coffee shop/cafe owned by Erin Brown in Laid Bare. She was in an abusive relationship and was almost killed by her ex. She's slowly recovering and learning how to live a full life on her own terms again, but she has lifelong scars - both mental and physical. In addition to managing the cafe, she's also finishing up her Master's degree in Social Work and working a job related to that.

Andrew "Cope" Copeland is a "bad boy" who's got a playboy reputation when it comes to the ladies. He's had a crush on Ella for a long time, but first she was in a relationship, then she was attacked and needed to recover, so the time never seemed right for him to make a move. Until now.

Ella and Cope's story sizzled. The heat was there, just below the surface, slowly boiling toward a super hot eruption. I loved that they were already friends and turned it into something so much more - more special, more sexy, more emotionally raw. They both had issues - besides Ella's issues related to her attack by her ex-boyfriend, Cope brought some baggage into the relationship as well - as the second son, he spent most of his life trying to live up to his father's image of his older brother Ben. Cope and Ben's father is having a hard time coming to terms with Ben's relationship (a threesome), and Cope has been trying to patch things up between his father and Ben, but it's not working.

I have only two small complaints: I got tired about reading about Erin's pregnancy. I understand everyone was worried about her and it was a huge part of the storyline, but it was frustrating as a reader to read what felt like the same thing over and over. Also, the heroines of the three books in this series to date all have names that start with E - Erin, Elise, and Ella. I've mentioned before that I get confused when the names are similar. All three heroines have intertwining storylines in the book; I was able to keep everyone straight but sometimes had to re-read a line or paragraph and double-check to make sure I had was picturing the right people in my head.

Inside Out is emotionally exhausting - but in a good way. I was so vested in the characters lives that I took their triumphs and tragedies to heart myself. It was a wonderful read and I'm so glad that in addition to Ella and Cope we also got to see how all the other siblings and friends are doing.

I'm now anxiously awaiting Adrian's book - Never Enough - coming in September 2011. (I'm so glad his love interest isn't Raven!)

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley Heat
Release Date: November 2, 2010
ISBN-10: 0425236889
ISBN-13: 978-0425236888

My Rating:

Review: The Love Goddess' Cooking School by Melissa Senate

From Amazon.com:
Camilla’s Cucinotta: Italian Cooking Classes. Fresh take-home pastas & sauces daily. Benvenuti! (Welcome!)

Holly Maguire’s grandmother Camilla was the Love Goddess of Blue Crab Island, Maine—a Milanese fortune-teller who could predict the right man for you, and whose Italian cooking was rumored to save marriages. Holly has been waiting years for her unlikely fortune: her true love will like sa cordula, an unappetizing old-world delicacy. But Holly can’t make a decent marinara sauce, let alone sa cordula. Maybe that’s why the man she hopes to marry breaks her heart. So when Holly inherits Camilla’s Cucinotta, she’s determined to forget about fortunes and love and become an Italian cooking teacher worthy of her grandmother’s legacy.

But Holly’s four students are seeking much more than how to make Camilla’s chicken alla Milanese. Simon, a single father, hopes to cook his way back into his daughter’s heart. Juliet, Holly’s childhood friend, hides a painful secret. Tamara, a serial dater, can’t find the love she longs for. And twelve-year-old Mia thinks learning to cook will stop her dad, Liam, from marrying his phony lasagna-queen girlfriend. As the class gathers each week, adding Camilla’s essential ingredients of wishes and memories in every pot and pan, unexpected friendships and romances are formed—and tested. Especially when Holly falls hard for Liam . . . and learns a thing or two about finding her own recipe for happiness.

____________________

At the beginning of The Love Goddess' Cooking School, Holly Maguire gets dumped by her boyfriend (manfriend?) of two years. She sees it coming, so she gives it one last shot. She feeds him the special (gross) Italian meal her grandmother assures her will be enjoyed by her true love. When he tells her it's disgusting, she knows deep down it's over, even if she doesn't want it to be. Heartbroken, she goes to visit her grandmother on Blue Crab Island to mend her heart and take stock of her life.

A few short weeks after her arrival, her grandmother dies, leaving her Camilla's Cucinotta, her grandmother's home/kitchen where she sells authentic Italian cooking and tells fortunes. Holly isn't much of a cook and definitely does not have the gift of fortune telling, but she decides she feels like she's home and wants to make a go of the Cucinotta, starting by taking over the cooking classes that start in a month.

This book was absolutely wonderful. I completely lost myself in reading the story - I imagined myself there on the tiny island, stopping in the store looking for delicious Italian take-out, sitting on the dock looking over the water, visiting the picturesque hotel. The characters were inviting -I hate cooking but I wanted to be a part of Holly's cooking class! There was more than one storyline, but Ms. Senate did a fabulous job of not letting the others overshadow Holly's story - it was more of a blend, and it worked. The wishes and dreams of the Holly's friends that are revealed over the backdrop of cooking were sometimes happy, sometimes sad, but somehow made me feel like part of the group.

Here are some of the things that surprised me:
~I don't normally like kids in books - but Mia was adorable. Not obnoxious and I actually liked her and wanted good things for her.

~I don't normally like "flashbacks", but I found myself wanting more of Holly's grandmother's diary entries - how she came over from Italy and the local women didn't like her, how she became the local "witch", how she knew her daughter would never be happy on Blue Crab Island but even before Holly was born she knew her granddaughter would call it home.

~I don't normally read "chick lit", but the cover blurb caught my attention and the writing kept my attention. This book made me want to do something I absolutely never do - I wanted to skip ahead and read the back page to find out if she trusted in her Grandmother's memory enough to overcome her fear and feed Liam the sa cordula.

After gorging myself on paranormal and urban fantasy over the last few weeks, this book was a breath of fresh air. Don't get me wrong, it was not all sunshine and happiness; because as we all know, you have to go through the hard times to appreciate the good times. I enjoyed taking this journey with Holly. The ending was a bit abrubt but that's my only complaint.

If you like to cook, there are 5 recipes included in the book, and they all include the "special ingredient" (don't even go there - you know who you are!) that is a theme throughout the book.


Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Gallery
Release Date: October 26, 2010
ISBN-10: 1439107238
ISBN-13: 978-1439107232

My Rating:

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Corralled by Lorelei James

From the author's website:
Sports therapist Lainie Capshaw has been rehabilitating injured cowboys long enough to know that a charming western drawl combined with a fine physical form doesn't mean you fall for the man.

So no one is more surprised than Lainie when she finds herself involved with not one, but two different men: Hank Lawson, a bullfighter, and Kyle Gilchrist, a bull rider. Lainie feels guilty about her two-timing, but it doesn't keep her from doubling her fun-that is until Hank catches her with Kyle.

She's shocked that Hank isn't mad. But she's more shocked to learn Hank and Kyle are hometown buddies. But when the men offer to share her-in every way-she knows that she's going to have to choose the one man who can give her the ride of her life.

_________________________

Confession: I've been on kind of a "cowboy kick". I'd heard good things about Corralled and thought I'd check it out.

Two words: Yea Haw!!

This was a super sexy read with a great storyline to boot (<---cowboy humor, tee hee) I liked Lainey, she was a smart heroine who was at a crossroads in her life, although she didn't know it at first. She's a rodeo med tech, working two different circuits, and she's dating someone on each circuit, Hank and Kyle. What she doesn't realize, and they don't know (because of some confusion with nicknames) is that they're best friends.

I gotta tell you, as soon as the three of them figured out what was going on, all I had to say was, "please, please let them decide to share"....and oh my lawd they sure did! When Lainie was put on "involuntary vacation" by her boss, she decided to go for it and decided to tag along with both men on the rodeo circuit. I loved the back-and-forth between Kyle and Hank as they bickered for Lainie's affections. The way the relationship played out worked for me - in addition to it being super hot, it was interesting to read about the cowboys and rodeo life.

The secondary characters? Two thumbs up - I liked them. Lainie's friend Tanna, a barrell racer, and Hank's sister Celia were both fun chicks I wouldn't mind hanging out with. Lainie's relationship with her mother added another layer to a great storyline. I wouldn't mind seeing a story for either Tanna or Celia, and I could see a story hinted at for Hank's brother Abe.

This is a series I will definitely be keeping up with!

My Rating:

Review: Crimson Moon by J.A. Saare

From the author's website:
Trueblood vampires. Those set apart from commons by right of blood. Graced with extraordinary abilities such as telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition - they are the most powerful and feared among their kind. The secret lies within, a legacy evolving from the truest form of magic, and their living bloodlines are the key.

An average routine morning is exactly what twenty-year old Emma Johnson hopes to avoid when she visits Joe’s Café for a steaming cup of coffee and freshly made donuts. She’s jaded by her small town, the community that has ostracized her, and the empty house that symbolizes what her life has become; a hollow shell. Yet things are not entirely as they appear, and Emma is about to discover she isn’t the normal girl she once believed.

After she is rescued from a horde of demonic bloodthirsty creatures by Caleb, the most captivating and enigmatic person she has ever met, she struggles to accept the unimaginable truth he imparts. That he has been dispatched by the Father she has never known, a powerful vampire from the house of DeViard, to see her safely home. For Caleb is also unique, a werewolf procured to protect the invaluable royal bloodlines from harm.

Soon, the undeniable connection Emma and Caleb share evolves beyond mere attraction into something more substantial. But their time together is short lived, forced to an end when she is sent to the trueblood vampires that claim her as one of their own.

________________________________

I recently read Dead, Undead, or Somewhere In Between by J.A. Saare and thought it was pretty good (even if I was less than enthusiastic about the ending - my review is here). Right after I finished, I won a copy of Crimson Moon (which I believe is Ms. Saare's first published book?) from Fiction Vixen.

I loved this book!!! I couldn't put it down - I stayed up until midnight reading, read through lunch at work and started reading as soon as I got home again!

Emma is an easily likeable character - curious and not afraid to ask questions but not annoying at all. She is not strong or kick-ass, especially not compared to the creatures she suddenly finds herself surrounded by, but she's smart and adapts quickly to her new situation.

Caleb is absolutely delish! He's just the kind of male character I like - strong, sexy and posessive, but not obnoxiously so - he's got a sweet and sensitive side too. He did make one decision that I didn't agree with, but he did rectify the issue so I can't stay mad at him :)

The secondary characters in this book were also enjoyable - Caleb's friends Derek and Sarah were a fun couple (maybe they'll get their own book? *hinting @J.A. Saare). And on the vampire side Trent was great - at first I didn't want to like him but he slowly won me over with his persistence and attitude.

Crimson Moon is almost like two books in one - the first half is Emma's escape from the zombie-type kidnappers and her blossoming relationship with Caleb, the second half is her journey to meet her father and the events that unfold while she's there. The end of this book was very, very satisfying. My frustration with a certain character was wiped away by the Epilogue.

I give Crimson Moon by J.A. Saare




Many, many thanks to Fiction Vixen and Ms. Saare for giving away this book!!

Review: Sanctuary Unbound by Moira Rogers

From the author's website:
New England is ideal for vampire Adam Dubois. His cozy home in the Great North Woods reminds him of a happier time when werewolves and witches were stuff of legends, and he was a simple lumberjack.

Hiding from past failures has worked for over eighty years, but a life debt owed to the Red Rock alpha has forced him to leave his retreat--and come face to face with a woman who challenges and tempts him on every level.

Hiding secrets is a lonely business, and Cindy Shepherd is lonely with a capital L. Red Rock isn't exactly crawling with available men, but her interest in the mystery-shrouded new vampire in town seems mutual. After all, it's only sex--there's no danger he'll dig deep enough to unleash the demons of her past.

Casual flirtation turns deadly serious when Adam discovers that the vampire plaguing Red Rock is using his mistakes as a road map. When it comes to his life, he knows Cindy has his back. But in order to secure the future, they both must trust each other with more--even if it means sacrificing themselves to save everything they hold dear.




I just finished reading this book, and wow, just, wow! I've read the previous three books in this series and enjoyed them very much; Sanctuary Unbound, Book 4 in the Red Rock Pass series is my new favorite.

As the book opens, Cindy Shepherd is taking care of the pack Alpha, Gavin, who's just had his 3rd heart attack. Gavin knows he's sick, and he's waiting for Keith to come back from Bedagi Creek, where he's wrapped up events from book three and is on his way home to Red Rock - and he's bringing a vampire. Cindy is the Pack doctor. We met her in the previous books but don't know much about her except that she was Dylan's ex-girlfriend in Sanctuary's Price.

Adam Dubois is the infamous flannel-wearing lumberjack vampire I've been hearing so much about. We met him in Sanctuary's Price, where he helped Dylan and Joe overcome a sadistic vampire who almost killed that local pack. He's come to Red Rock to help his old friend Gavin protect his pack from another threat.

Events from book 3 have led to an eventual showdown with another vampire who's stealing werewolf magic to try to take over Red Rock. With the help of Sasha, their resident witch (and heroine from book 3), Adam is going to try to save Red Rock.

I loved this book! From the opening scene, things were all action: There are some shifts in the pack heiarchy, and changes are coming in future books that I think will break my heart. Our heroes/heroines from the previous books are all present and very busy - Gavin and Sam are dealing with their own issues as well as trying to keep the pack safe. Keith has recovered, and he and Abby, along with Dylan and Sasha, are busy helping prepare for the attack. Joe and Brynn are still dealing with Brynn's wolfy issues.

Cindy and Adam have a chemistry that is undeniable. As soon as Adam pulls into town and sees Cindy, he knows he's in trouble. There's instant attraction on both sides, but they both fight it; they each have difficult histories but become closer as they decide to trust each other and talk out their issues. At first they agreed to get together because they were both lonely and attracted to each other but gradually realized they had so much more than just lust in common. They talked and shared and grew into so much more than bedmates. There was a scene at the end of the fight scene that had me holding my breath - Adam's love for Cindy is almost overwhelming.

The fight scene - oh, the fight scene! Moira Rogers wrote the hell out of the fight scene - I could visualize the whole thing in my mind's eye from start to finish. Cindy is definitely not a shrinking violet, and this flannel-wearing vampire was both glorious and terrifying in action. The two of them together are going to be a force to be reckoned with.

I give Sanctuary Unbound 4 1/2 stars!

Sanctuary Unbound is avialable for purchase June 1, 2010.

This book was provided to me by the author free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Master and the Muses by Amanda McIntyre

I'd heard good things about Amanda McIntyre's work, but hadn't read any of her books, so when this came up at NetGalley, I jumped on it. Oh, I'm so glad I did!

The Master and The Muses is the story of Thomas Rodin, a 19th century painter, who is part of a band of artists who are fighting for recognition of their avant guarde works by The Royal Academy. This story is told in three parts.

Book 1: Helen
Helen is a young woman working in a hat shop, when she is approached by a handsome young man, William. William wants her to come model for his brother, Thomas Rodin. Helen rejects his offer but William is persistent and she starts to like him. She finally agrees to model for Thomas, and, feeling a bit reckless and bold, stops fighting her attraction and has sex with William. Afterwards, William tells her Thomas must never know about their feelings for each other, as she is Thomas' muse. Helen is heartbroken but agrees to pose for Thomas. William becomes more and more distant as Helen and Thomas become closer. However, the course of events that Helen wishes for her future is not what she imagined.

My thoughts: Oh, this story ripped my heart out, stomped around on it, and handed it back strung together with twine and duct tape. Ms. McIntyre's writing instantly transported me to another time and place, watching the story of someone else's life unfold. Helen's hopes and dreams, her joy and sadness, and finally, her understanding of herself. Absolutely beautiful.

Book 2: Sara
This book begins a few weeks before ending of Helen's story. Sara is an orphan, living with her uncle and his family on their family farm. She is innocent, but understands the ways of the world and has figured out that sex can be used to get what she wants. What Sara wants is not a husband and family, but an education and travel. When she meets an artist at the theatre (which she snuck away from the farm to attend), he offers her a job as his model. When her uncle's family finds her employment as a nanny/housekeeper, she knows she must get out and sees Thomas as her way to do that. She moves into the studio apartment, and eventually she and Thomas become lovers - until he leaves her in the care of a new painter, Edward, while Thomas goes to go to Rome.

My thoughts: This story wasn't heartbreaking like Helen's story, but there were definitely highs and lows. Sara knows what she wants for herself and doesn't want to settle for less. She has doubts, especially when her cousin contacts her with news from home, but she remains steadfast in her desires for her future. One thing I liked about this portion of the story was that as soon as I thought we were done with Thomas' part of the story, he comes back in, front and center, and shakes things up a bit.

Book 3: Grace
Grace is a prostitute, and she appears in brief but significant spots in both of the previous stories so I kind of figured Grace would be the third story. I didn't like her much - until I got into her story. When she meets Thomas, his offer to model seems to be a way for her to end her current profession. She eventually becomes intimately involved with Thomas, but ends their friendship after a huge fight. Fast forward one year and Thomas is married to Helen. Grace and Thomas rekindle their friendship, and they work together a bit as well. When Thomas finds Sara, Grace watches their story unfold. Through her association wilth the other members of the Brotherhood, stays in touch with Thomas intermittently, dropping in to assist during difficult times, sometimes against her better judgement.

My thoughts: As I went into Grace's story, I didn't like her very much. I wasn't thrilled that the third book would be about Grace, but Ms. McIntyre brought me around, to see the other side of the previous stories through Grace's eyes. We got to see the turning points of the other stories with a new twist; Grace's story brought the book full circle. Her POV is, I think, the best view of Thomas' psyche - his methods, his needs, his raison d'etre. By the end of the story I felt bad for Thomas, although I didn't really like him very much; however, that doesn't change the fact that his story was fascinating.

The Master and the Muses was an emotional roller coaster and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Ms. McIntyre's writing is so vivid I could see every scene I give it 4.5/5 stars!

This book is available for purchase June 1, 2010.

This book was provided to my be NetGalley free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Romeo, Romeo by Robin Kaye

This book falls into my New Author Reading Challenge.

I had seen a few reviews around for Ms. Kaye's latest book, Breakfast in Bed, and I thought it looked pretty good. Of course, if you know me at all, you know I couldn't just jump in and read that one, I had to start with the beginning of the series! Romeo, Romeo is the first book and Ms. Kaye's debut novel. I loved it!

Rosalie Ronaldi is a young executive who works for a turnaround company. She's got a boyfriend whom she's not serious about - it's more that she dates him to keep her mother off her back about why she doesn't have any marriage prospects. Then he proposes to her - and it's one of the most insulting (and comical) proposals I've ever read. Needless to say she drops him like a hot potato.

Nick Romeo is super sexy....and super rich. But when Rosalie meets him she thinks he's a mechanic, not the owner of several car dealerships. She ends up agreeing to date him after he tows her car, and the chase is on. Nick isn't looking for love, just a good time.

Rosalie tells him up front she wants no commitment and will never, ever get married. Nick is sort of taken aback because he's usually giving this line, not receiving it! They start dating and things are going well, they're both busy professionals and therefore only see each other occasionally, which keeps things from getting predictable and boring. Then, when Rosalie doesn't show for a date, Nick goes to check on her and ends up taking her to the ER - she's got pneumonia. Then he brings her home and takes care of her....and while he's there he gradually makes himself at home. (I liked how it was gradual so neither of them didn't really recognize what was going on!)

The thing is, he never told Rosalie who he really is, or that he's been trying to buy the auto dealership she's currently working on turning around. AND, he's got another secret from his past so he's afraid to meet her family. When her brother calls to tell her he's coming to visit, Nick knows it's now or never...but fate and circumstances have other plans.

This book was great! Ms. Kaye writes believeable characters who I'd love to hang out with in real life. I liked Rosalie and Nick and wanted them to be together. I probably need a dental check up for all the times I ground my teeth together in frustration with Nick for not coming clean with the truth. The secondary characters were well-written and showcased the fears of the h/h in an entertaining way.

Here's my one complaint: The characters were of Italian descent, and there were a couple of words and phrases in Italian that I didn't know what they meant. I blogged about this earlier - couldn't they put an index at the back of the book? I mean, I got the general idea, but I wanted to know. And I was reading this book in the waiting rooom at the hospital so I couldn't run off and look it up.

Aside from that one criticism, I thought this book was great. I can't wait to run out and get the 2nd book in this series, Too Hot to Handle, in which Rosalie's sister Annabelle is the heroine.

I give Romeo, Romeo 4 1/2 stars!

Review: Cheating Chance by James Buchanan

This book falls into my M/M Reading Challenge.

I bought this book at Chris' recommendation - Thanks Chris, you were right; I loved it!

Cheating Chance is about Nick, a young goth computer geek. He works for the Nevada State Gaming Comission checking the computer code in slot machines to make sure they're all legal. He's recently broken up with his boyfriend, Jake, who really did a job on Nick's psyche.

As the story opens, Nick is feeling sort of sorry for his situation when he meets Brandon at a Goth convention. There is instant attraction and they go back to Brandon's room. They intend to just have a fling, but their chemistry is strong and they exchange numbers and e-mail.

Brandon is a cop who lives in California, and is definitely NOT out. When Nick and Brandon get together for a fun weekend, Nick's feelings are hurt when Brandon starts flirting with women. Brandon exlains it's habit and promises to work on it because he wants the relationship to work. Of course, they stumble a few times and have some issues to work out, and Brandon has a few surprises for Nick.

The relationship storyline is nicely tied in to a mystery involving casino slot machines and a murder. There were a few scenes where I had to go back and read the technical stuff twice, but I pretty much understood what was going on and why Nick got involved; I got the "who" but was curious until almost the very end about the "why" of the mystery.

I loved the scenes between Nick and Brandon - the sex was hot and the emotional scenes drew me in. I was rooting for these two through the whole book. The scene where they talked about having sex with women had me in stitches - Nick is so freakin' cute! I got why it was difficult for Brandon to show his feelings for Nick outside the bedroom, and it made the ending that much more emotional. I'm definitely going to grab the next book about these two, Inland Empire.

I give Cheating Chance 4 1/2 out of 5 stars! Thanks Chris!!!

Review: Can't Stand the Heat by Louisa Edwards

This book falls into my New Author Reading Challenge.

The cover of this book caught my eye - I don't know why but I think it's really sexy. I think it's the bare feet and long jeans (sorry, Hannah, I know how you are about feet!). Maybe it's that the model looks tall - you know how I am about tall men.

Miranda Wake is a food critic. She's apparently very good at what she does, and has a reputation as a tough cookie. Adam Temple is a chef who's finally opened his own restaurant. At the press soire a few nights before the grand opening, Miranda has a few too many drinks and starts to insult Adam, who replies with a challenge to come into his kitchen to see what it's like from the other side of the table. He doesn't expect her to accept, but she does. The PR people for both Miranda and Adam love it - all the free publicity - and the challenge turns into Miranda spending a month in Adam's kitchen. Miranda plans on writing a tell-all book about her experiences in the kitchen, using the proceeds from the book to finance her younger brother Jess's college tuition.

After a very prickly start, Adam and Miranda realize they're attracted to each other. The scene where he takes her to his home to teach her to cook was soooo sexy! I really liked Adam's character and didn't want Miranda to publish her book. Every time she started having second thoughts, I thought to myself "Don't do it! Don't do it!".

This book had an unexpected secondary romance that I absolutely loved - Miranda's younger brother Jess. He's 19 (I think) and comes home from college due to an unexplained difficulty. As it is revealed that Jess is gay, the romance that blooms between Jess and Frankie, Adam's very good friend/manager, was a delight to read. Miranda's reaction to the relationship was realistic and the events that followed had me rivited. I think I liked the Jess/Frankie storyline as much as I liked Miranda/Adam's!

I thought the very end of the book was a *teensy* bit over the top in a spectacular way, but other than that I really, really enjoyed this book - I give Can't Stand the Heat 4 1/2 stars.

Her next book, On the Steamy Side, just released and I plan to read it very soon.

Review: Faith and Fidelity by Tere Michaels

This book falls into my M/M Reading Challenge.

I had seen several reviews of this book around the blogosphere and my curiosity was piqued. I really, really liked this book...with one reservation; which I'll address at the end of my review.

Evan Cerelli is a NY City cop. His wife died one year previous to the events in this story, leaving him alone to raise 4 children - 2 teenage girls and a set of younger twins. He'd basically been going through the motions of living since his wife died, living his life in a fog. While at a retirement party for a fellow cop, he meets Matt Height, a former Detective who'd left the force a few years earlier after turning in a dishonest fellow cop.

Evan and Matt each see something familiar, I think, in the other, and they start meeting for beer and to talk about their losses - for Evan, his wife and for Matt, the job that he'd loved. Their meetings grew into a friendship, then something more. Matt started having dreams about Evan which confused and excited him; dreams about being with Evan. He fought the thoughts going through his head because he didn't want to ruin this friendship, one of the only friendships that he'd had in a long time.

One thing leads to another and Evan and Matt confront the feelings that have been developing between them. Both are concerned about their jobs, Evan's kids, and other people's reactions. They start the relationship and it grows deeper, until Evan starts having second thoughts.

I really liked this story. The scenes between Evan and Matt were so tender and sensual and emotionally charged. The wants and fears and desires were well-written and my heart ached for both men when things got rocky.

Ms. Michaels' secondary characters were engaging and a nice foil for Evan and Matt's relationship. I liked Evan's boss Vic, and his partner Helena - they were both open and accepting of this surprising relationship between Evan and Matt. Their concern for Evan was heartwarming and sincere. Evan's kids were realistic and enchanting, not obnoxious at all, and added another layer to this already intriguing story.

Here's my reservation: It was hard for me to believe that two previously heterosexual men would suddenly (or gradually, as the case may be) fall in love. I just don't see it happening; probably because of my belief that you're either born gay or you're not, you don't actually get to choose. BUT, the story was so well-written and engaging it was easy to fall right into it and take an interest in their lives.

I give Faith & Fidelity 4 1/2 out of 5 stars - I really enjoyed reading it!

Review: Power Play by Deirdre Martin (Last Hockey review, I promise!)

(I hate the cover. Eric is supposed to be blonde, his twin Jason is brunette.)

Okay, okay...I know you're tired of my raving about the hockey books. This is my last one, I promise! It's just that I really liked it. Of all Ms. Martin's NY Blades books I've read, this one and the first one, Body Check, are my favorites.

Monica Geary is a soap opera star at the top of her game. She's on the number one rated soap opera and her character tops the polls month after month. When the producer brings in a chesty young thing who tries to take Monica's spotlight, Monica knows she's got to do something...

Eric Mitchell is the NY Blades' newest player. He is the twin brother of Jason (the hero in Chasing Stanley). When I read Chasing Stanley, I though Eric was kind of a selfish jerk with moments of goodness. Eric was traded fora beloved member of the team, so the fans (and other players) are a bit standoffish. Eric knows he has to do something to impress them...

In the Blades series, the team loves to watch soaps, and Monica's show is their favorite. Eric ends up with a 4-line scene in the soap, and he hits on Monica, who is replused by his cheesy lines. Then, her PR person suggests to Monica that she should consider pretending to date Eric to "get her image back out there". The suggestion is mutually beneficial, as the team is thrilled to meet Monica. Of course, things progress and perhaps things aren't "just for show" anymore. Their twisty road to happiness was fun to read, and the ending was sooo sweet!

This book was great - I loved Eric and Monica. The way their relationship progressed from fake to real, the fears that Eric had about falling in love, Monica's lack of confidence in her acting choices; there were a lot of storylines going on and Ms. Martin kept my attention and made me smile. Eric turned out to be a great hero. As a bonus, I especially loved Monica's friend, Gloria. Her one-line recollections of her life in showbiz made me laugh out loud.

I'm giving this one 4 1/2 of 5 stars.