Review: Feral by Sheri Whitefeather

Feral 
~Sheri Whitefeather 

Paperback: 240 pages 
Publisher: Berkley Trade 
Publish Date: December 6, 2011 
ISBN-10: 042524332X 
ISBN-13: 978-0425243329 
ASIN: B005ERITCU

From Goodreads:
Mexico, 1850. One fateful night Noah Diaz is ravished by a bold woman who transforms him into an immortal lion. Now he is a wealthy man who owns an underground sex club where supernatural beings can indulge in no-holds-barred sensual play. Though Noah has scores of willing victims, it is the thrill of the hunt he desires... 


Jenny Lincoln runs a big cat rescue operation that can't stay afloat-until a donor comes through with the condition that she goes to his club. Both Noah and the club at first frighten her but eventually thrill her. It's clear that she is Noah's prey, but once she gets a taste, it is Jenny who wants more...

Jenny Lincoln runs her grandfather's ranch as a big cat rescue, but funding has been slow and she's going to have to shut down...then she gets an anonymous donation with the promise of more money - enough to keep the rescue running.  The only catch is she has to go out with the donor - to his "animal shifter" themed sex club.

Noah Diaz was human, until a vicious attack by a shapeshifter changed his life forever.  A century later, he's running a sex club for shifters and shifter groupies.  He happens to stumble across Jenny's rescue, and his cat side wants to chase her.  Obscenely rich, he offers her the promise of enough money to save her ranch.  Will the straight-laced, innocent Jenny take the bait?

My thoughts:
I'm going to be blunt:  I could not get into this book.  It started off well - Noah wants to date Jenny, he's wanting the thrill of the chase.  She's innocent and not very experienced and Noah thinks she's going to fight her attraction the whole way.  So far, so good, right?  I love when the H/H fight their attraction.

Then things quickly turn around:  She goes to his sex club and sees what it's all about, and the next day she's telling him her sexual fantasies and having phone sex!  Now "the chase" is gone.  They embark on a sexual relationship, there's a "Beauty and the Beast" reenactment, some magic stones, and Noah is now denying his love for Jenny while she's insisting he does love her.

All in all, the characters read as very inconsistent, the plot was weak, and at one point there was a scene involving yogurt and a sex toy that caused me to get up and walk away.  I'm not sure why her cousin Matt was written into the story, he seemed to serve no purpose, and Coyote, Noah's accountant, seemed to have an interesting background but was only used to push the story in the direction the author was going.

My Rating:1 star 
Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Pam's Review: The Hunter by Theresa Meyers

The Hunter 
~Theresa Meyers 

Paperback: 352 pages 
Publisher: Zebra 
Publish Date: November 1, 2011 
ISBN-10: 1420121243 
ISBN-13: 978-1420121247 
ASIN: B005CRY85E 

From Goodreads:
They're the Chosen—Winchester, Remington and Colt—brothers trained to hunt down supernatural beings using the latest steam-powered gadgetry. It's a hard legacy to shoulder, and it's about to get a lot more dangerous. . . 

A Devil Of A Job
Colt Jackson has gotten his name on many a wanted poster with success in the family business: hunting supernaturals across the frontier. Lately, though, there's a sulfur stink in the wind and the Darkin population is exploding. A rift in the worlds is appearing. To close it, Colt will have to do the unthinkable and work with a demon to pass arcane boundaries no human alone can cross.

Except when he summons his demon, he doesn't get some horned monstrosity: he gets a curvy redheaded succubus named Lilly, who's willing to make a bargain to become human again. He also gets Lilly's secret expertise on the machinations on the dark side of the rift. And her charm and cleverness help to get them out of what his silver-loaded pistol and mechanical horse can't. Of course, when all hell breaks loose, he might have to sacrifice his soul. But what's adventure without a little risk?

Colt Jackson hunts the supernatural. In Colts world, all the supernatural beings are bad and should go back to hell where they belong. Colt’s friend Marley makes him some weapons to help accomplish that. Colt is on a mission to find the pieces of a special book that will help stop the supernaturals from entering their world. The first part of the book he is looking for is behind a door that only a supernatural being can open. Colt does what he has to do and summons a demon. The demon that comes to him ends up being a beautiful succubus named Lilly who has an agenda of her own. Will they be able to work together to accomplish Colt’s quest?


My thoughts:
I didn’t end up finishing this book. I read almost half though, so I did give it a fair chance. Why didn’t I like it? I was bored and couldn’t get into the story at all. There was also no feeling to the words that were written. This story had definite potential; it could be a good story; unfortunately, it doesn’t have the pull of one. It doesn’t suck you in and make you want more. Instead, I found myself avoiding it, or only reading a few pages at a time. For example, there are some action scenes where Lilly and Colt have to fight other demons in a cave in search of the book. This should be scary, but honestly, I could not have cared less. There isn’t really anything else to say about The Hunter, and I think the fact that there isn’t much to say, says it all.


My Rating:Pam
Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Waiting on Wednesday: Fifty Shades Freed by E L James

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, 

that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating:

The book I've chosen today is a bit controversial.  It seems that people either love it or hate the two previous books in the series:  Fifty Shades of Grey and Fifty Shades Darker.  I am one of those firmly in the "love" category:  I read both books twice in a row - I just could not get enough of the sexy, fucked-up, possibly sadistic hero, Christian Grey!!

Fifty Shades of Grey and Fifty Shades Darker are two of my favorite reads of 2011, and I cannot wait for Fifty Shades Freed - I've got to read an HEA for these two! Are they even going to get an HEA? Is it January yet?!?!

Fifty Shades Freed
~E L James

Publishe Date: 19th January 2012
ISBN (paper): 978-1-61213-060-6
ISBN (ebook): 978-1-61213-061-3

Available from The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House.

From the author's website:
When unworldly student Ana Steele first encountered the driven, damaged young entrepreneur Christian Grey it sparked a sensual affair that changed both their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and ultimately repelled by Christian’s singular sexual tastes, Ana demanded a deeper commitment; determined to keep her, Christian agreed.

Now, together, they have more – love, passion, intimacy, and a world of infinite possibilities. But Ana always knew that loving her Fifty Shades would not be easy, and being together poses challenges neither of them ever anticipated. Ana must somehow learn to share Christian’s opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own integrity, identity or independence; Christian must somehow overcome his compulsion to control, and lay to rest the horrors that blighted his past and haunt his present.

Just when it seems that together their love can conquer any obstacle, misfortune, malice and fate combine to make Ana’s worst nightmares come true. Alone and desperate, she must face down the poisoned legacy of Christian’s past.

Seductive, shocking, sad and funny, Fifty Shades Freed is the compelling final volume in the Fifty Shades trilogy.

What are you waiting on?

Review: Dreaming of the Wolf by Terry Spear

Dreaming of the Wolf
~Terry Spear 

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages 
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (December 6, 2011) 
Language: English 
ISBN-10: 1402245556 
ISBN-13: 978-1402245558 
ASIN: B005UF0V7C 

From Goodreads:
Werewolf pack leader Jake Silver is an acclaimed photographer. He sees a beautiful woman at the art gallery where his photos are on display, and his intrigue turns into wolfish protectiveness. Alicia Greiston has never met anyone like Jake-he's sexy, alpha, and totally irresistible, and he calls to something primal in her soul.

Alicia Greiston is a bounty hunter.  She's working a big case, trying to bring in two hardened mob criminals.  This case is personal, they killed her mother and Alicia is determined to put them away.  They'll stop at nothing though, and after a threat to Jake, the gorgeous guy she's falling for, she's got to go into hiding to protect him.

Jake Silver is triplet-brother to the pack Alpha, Darien.  He's in town, dropping off his landscape photos at an art gallery.  When he comes across a young lady who seems to be in trouble, he pretends to be her boyfriend in order to scare off the guys threatening her.  He's intrigued by this woman, and wants to get to know her better, but he knows it's pointless since she's human.  But he can't get her out of his mind, and after a fabulous afternoon of amazing sex, she disappears...but then he starts dreaming about her - every night.  And when he gets a call that she might be back in town, he goes looking for her.  What he finds changes everything...

My thoughts:
Dreaming of the Wolf is the 8th book in Terry Spears' Heart of the Wolf series.  You can definitely read this book as a stand-alone, although Silver Town and it's inhabitants are featured in previous books.  It's actually nice to see how Darien and Lelandi are doing since their book, Destiny of the Wolf (book 2).

I must admit I had a hard time starting this book, Alicia was a bit annoying and the mob tie-in was a bit fantastical (But werewolves aren't?  I know, I know!), but as I read on I started to like Alicia more.  The other thing that put me off at first was that the romance happened a bit quickly - like the same day they met.  But, once they were separated and the story progressed, I fell into it and enjoyed their dream sharing.  Then, when they got together again it felt "right".  I should also mention here that the sex in Dreaming of the Wolf is pretty hot *winks*.

There were some plot twists I didn't see coming, which always makes me a happy reader.  I liked how Jake and his brothers helped Alicia with her problems - both being a new wolf and her legal issues that kept cropping up related to her bounty-hunting the mobsters.

The other thing I liked about Dreaming of the Wolf is that the secondary characters are not just wooden cut-outs.  They're interesting and bring depth and humor to the story; there were several characters I wouldn't mind seeing get their own book.

Dreaming of the Wolf is a nice installment to the Heart of the Wolf series.  I'm hoping we'll see more of Silver Town and it's residents soon.



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

Review: Wild Thing by Robin Kaye

Wild Thing
~Robin Kaye

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages 
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca 
Publish Date: December 6, 2011 
ISBN-10: 1402257279 
ISBN-13: 978-1402257278 
ASIN: B005UEXEHW

From the author's website:
Whitewater-rafting guide Hunter Kincaid lands his dream job–guiding sportswear models through Idaho's rugged wilderness for a week-long photo shoot. When he meets Toni Russo, the goth New York manager of Action Models, there are enough sparks to set the forest ablaze.

When Hunter finds Toni's book on how to marry the man of your choice, he studies it as a joke. Before long Hunter realizes he's never cared enough for a woman to bother working this hard to get her. But the last man in the world this city girl wants is a Survivor Man wannabe...

Toni Russo is a city girl, through and through.  Hunter Kincaid lives and works in the wilderness.  When Action Models sets up a photo shoot with Hunter's company, taking their models rafting and hiking, Toni ends up having to accompany the models at the last minute.   Toni would rather do just about anything else; she has a phobia about being in the wilderness.  But Hunter makes it his personal mission to be sure Toni loses her fears and has a good time...

My thoughts:
We first met Hunter and his brothers, Trapper and Fisher, briefly in Ms. Kaye's previous book, Yours for the Taking.  I am happy to report that we get more of not only Hunter, but his brothers as well - I love these brothers!!  I found Toni a bit rough around the edges, and not as easy to like as Hunter, but by the end of the story I was rooting for their HEA.

Toni is a goth-wearing, city-dwelling woman with an aversion to anything that even remotely resembles the great outdoors.  We learn later in the story why she has this phobia, and watch as Hunter struggles to make the trip not only bearable but enjoyable for her.  Toni is used to being surrounded by gorgeous models and not being noticed, so Hunter really throws her for a loop.

Hunter is not used to having the feelings Toni brings out in him - protective, posessive, and head-over-heels for Toni.  He wants a real relationship with Toni, but she doesn't have enough self-confidence to believe it and thwarts his attempts at commitment at every turn by telling herself it's only temporary until she gets back to the city.  (This was actually one of the issues I had with the book was that he fell so quickly - I would have liked their relationship to take a little more time)

There's quite a bit of humor throughout the book, so many times I chuckled out loud:

Toni watched Hunter run across the street and put her boots in the truck.  She'd probably drop the things in the incinerator when she got home, but then, if she kept seeing Hunter, he'd expect her to wear them again.  God, her closet was too small for ugly shoes.~page 233, Wild Thing

There was also a side story of a charitable organization Hunter is trying to expand, and a quite funny storyline about a relationship-help book Toni brings on the trip...

Wild Thing is a cute, funny, contemporary romance by an author who's writing style I really enjoy.  Fans of contemporary romance and the opposites-attract storyline will have a great time reading this book.

My Rating:

This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Devilishly Hot by Kathy Love

Devilishly Hot 
~Kathy Love 

Paperback: 320 pages 
Publisher: Brava 
Publish Date: November 1, 2011 
ISBN-10: 0758265875 
ISBN-13: 978-0758265876 
ASIN: B005CRY7XM 

From Goodreads:
And you thought your job was hell. . . 
Annie Lou Riddle had a plan: Move to New York City. Break into the fashion industry. Work her way to the top. Nowhere in that scenario did she expect to accidentally sell her soul in exchange for a job at Hot! Magazine. Oops. 

Demons, it seems, aren't big on letting mortals off the hook. Now Annie is stuck working as assistant/personal slave to Finola White—diva extraordinaire, and glamorous she-devil. Whatever Finola wants, she gets, and she wants Annie to match her up with Nick Rossi, the gorgeous detective investigating shady doings at Hot! 

Frankly, Annie sees the appeal. Nick is effortlessly sexy, rugged, charming—and the one man Annie should definitely not be flirting with, or kissing, or. . . Oops. But some loves are too devilishly hot to resist. . .

Annie Lou Riddle is living in the New York and has just decided to pack it in and go back to Mississippi when she gets a phone call that changes her life: HOT! magazine has just called to offer her her dream job.

Fast forward three years and Annie is miserable; her boss is evil - no really, she's a demon.  Annie sold her soul for 10 years of being Finola White's assistant.  While the perks are great - fabulous apartment and great clothes, the downside is that if she can't please Finola and breaks her contract, Satan gets her soul.

Detective Nick Rossi is investigating the disappearance of 21 people over a period of a few years.  The only thing they all have in common?  They all worked at HOT! Magazine.  Nick is instantly attracted to Finola's beautiful assistant, but Finola is attracted to Nick.  He knows something's not quite right, but can't figure out what it is, and can't get proof the magazine is responsible for the missing people.

Now Annie's fighting her attraction to Nick and working like crazy to get Finola through Fashion Week without losing her soul in the process.

My thoughts:
Devilishly Hot reminded me of a paranormal Devil Wears Prada:  Finola and Annie were definitely Miranda and Andy.  However, where Andy would've just been fired, Annie would have lost her immortal soul by displeasing her boss.

While Devilishly Hot was cute, it couldn't hold my attention.  I couldn't reconcile good, kind Annie selling her soul for a job, no matter how fabulous.  I just couldn't make that leap, and it prohibited me from enjoying the story because I kept waiting for an explanation of what could have possibly made her sell her soul, and it never really came.

Nick was a good hero - masculine, possessive, kind and loving.  I liked him with Annie and their HEA was a nice note to end on.

While Finola and Satan were a bit caricature-ish, Finola's subordinate demon, Tristian, was a nice touch - I actually liked his character more than Fiona.  To be honest, aside from Tristian the demons were a bit silly.

All told, Devilishly Hot was a cute, light read, if a bit silly at times.



My Rating:
Book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Pam's Review: The Inn at Little Bend by Bobbi Groover

The Inn at Little Bend 
~Bobbie Groover 

Paperback: 294 pages 
Publisher: Melange Books, LLC 
Publish Date: September 7, 2011 
ISBN-10: 1612350550 
ISBN-13: 978-1612350554 
ASIN: B005W32JW2

From Goodreads:
In antebellum America, life for an abandoned woman was difficult at best. But when young Grayson escapes her sadistic guardian, she finds freedom just as hostile. Grayson Ridge struggles to survive her fated trials and conceal the secrets that plague her.

And so begins a turbulent journey that spans two decades and chronicles the exploits of the lonesome, starving wanderer. Her adventures collide with the life of Drake Somerset, a sullen and uncommunicative drifter who wants nothing to do with her. While at first using him for her own safety, his dark, mysterious magnetism draws her and binds her to him—in a clearing, in a heartbeat and in love.

Grayson Ridge was named after the orphanage where she was found as an infant. Since then, Grayson has had a very strong survival instinct. She was adopted by a couple when she was a teenager, but instead of being treated like their daughter she was treated more like a servant or a slave. One day Grayson was defending herself against her adopted father’s advances, when she thought she had killed him in the process. She knew that she would possibly hang for this so she ran away and disguised herself as a boy named River. River came into some trouble soon after and was saved by a man, Drake Somerset. Drake decided that River would be his companion and work for him until his debt for saving him was paid off.

Drake Somerset was being haunted by his memories when he came across River. But since meeting the boy, he has someone that he can talk to openly and unashamed. Though it started off as a work relationship, it quickly turns to friendship even if they do annoy the heck out of each other. But what Drake doesn’t know is that River is really a young woman, a woman who is starting to have feelings for him.

My Thoughts:
There is so much more to this story. Looking back, I don’t know how Ms. Groover fit the entire plot into 289 pages. It felt so much longer then that because every part of the story was well told; so it felt longer in a good way. There were a few times when I didn’t feel the characters emotions, I felt like I was just reading words. But then the emotions came back and I got sucked back into the story again.

You have to admire Grayson, she is the type of girl who doesn’t complain, just does. Part of that, though, is because she doesn’t have the luxury to complain. But I love how she just does what needs to be done.

Drake Somerset is older and definitely has some past grievances to deal with. He is known for the way he plays the piano, as if he is trying to pour out whatever is haunting him. Wherever he plays, people remember.

There are so many problems and conflicts to be solved in this book! Like, how is Grayson supposed to get Drake to notice her in a romantic way when he knows her as River? (Drake is heterosexual.) What if someone finds her and takes her back home to face trial for the murder of her adopted father? What is it that haunts Drake and makes him wander the country and play the memorable music? That’s not even all of the problems; but they made the book that much better.

This book has it all, adventure, romance, suspense, and mystery, what’s not to love? Like Drake’s music, I’ll remember The Inn at Little Bend for a long, long time.


My Rating:Pam
Book provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.