Reviewed by Helyce

Favorite Quote: “Aye, I want you. I want to sink so deep inside you I forget all reason. I want to hear you cry my name as you come, so loudly every man within this temple hears. Make no mistake about it, damsel, this want of you plagues me so I despise myself.”

Immortal Hope is the first in a new series revolving around the Knights Templar. I was completely taken in by the blurb on this book. Having attended a private Catholic high school, I had to write a report on the Crusades my sophomore year. I remember trying to teach myself calligraphy so that I could create a project cover that would blow my teacher away (it didn’t-my religion teacher was kind of a dud. He was male; what was I thinking?). This was a long and tedious (read boring) project. And while that was oh so many years ago, I was amazed at the little things I remembered in regards to the Knights Templar. Of course, Ms. Ashgrove has put a fabulous paranormal spin on this by making her Knights immortal.

Merrick du Loire is the last of the original Knights Templar who rode out with Hughes de Payens in the year 1119. Due to a curse, he has been fighting Azazel and his demons through the centuries. Unfortunately, with each kill Merrick and his fellow Knights absorb just a little bit more of the darkness into their souls and in time, the darkness will overwhelm them and they will become soldiers for Azazel. Their only hope is an ancient prophecy that states that their souls can be healed by the seraphs, female descendants of the Nephilim. But it’s been centuries and the seraphs have not shown themselves. Azazel’s might is growing stronger and of the six Templars that stand above the rest, Merrick is at the edge. He knows that he’s only a few kills away from the darkness consuming him.

Anne McPherson is a teacher working on her PhD. Her subject matter relates to the Knights Templar, but she’s hit a snag. She’s researched as much as she can but she is missing that last, vital piece of information to prove her thesis. Anne also has the gift of sight. Upon touching an object or person, she can sense its history, see others who have touched it and scenes will unfold in her mind telling her the story behind any item or show her memories of that person. When her friend Gabe gives her an old armband in the shape of a serpent, she takes it home to see what it can tell her. The visions that she receives are unmistakable. She sees a Knight, in full chain mail, wearing a white surcoat with a crimson red cross across his chest. Not just any Knight, a Templar Knight.

Unbeknownst to Anne, the home that she’s recently moved into has long been a sanctuary for the Immortal Knights that fight Azazel’s demons. All she knows of the house is that the woman who lived there and recently died was rumored to be a witch. So, she is totally unprepared for the hulking man who waltzes into her home late that night and the fight with a demon that she witnesses. When the man sees the serpent armband, he seems to recognize it. He tells Anne that she must come with him so that they can sort everything out. Anne is scared and confused, but she’s sure that the vision she received when she first touched the armband was of this man. He doesn’t give her a chance to say no, he picks her up and carts her off to the waiting truck.

When they arrive at their destination, Anne meets Mikhail who informs her in no uncertain terms that the serpent armband has identified her as a seraph. If that wasn’t enough, she learns that she alone holds the key to healing one knight that she is destined to be with. She will know him by the matching markings on their bodies. It could be in the form of a scar, a tattoo or even a birthmark. Mikhail tasks Merrick to be her guardian until such time that her mate is discovered.

Merrick is tired, hungry and hurting from battle and the last thing he wants is to be burdened with Anne. Yet, he cannot deny that there is something about her that calls to him. Anne, too, isn’t really buying everything that she’s been told about this prophecy and just how she fits into it. It’s just too hard to believe, but she cannot refute the fact that these men are clearly from another time. She also cannot believe her luck. This is the proof she needs about what really happened to the Knights Templar. She figures that she’ll play the game, go through the motions of looking for her mate while collecting information for her thesis.

However, the next morning Merrick decides that he may as well eliminate himself by showing Anne his tattoo. When he removes his shirt and reveals it, Anne cannot believe her eyes. It is identical to the tattoo she has around her ankle. She hides her surprise, though and tells Merrick that she’s never seen anything like it before. So, Merrick begins the task of locating the man meant to be Anne’s mate.

As the first book in a new series, there is a lot of information given herein. We meet the main six Knights Templar and learn a bit of their history. They are completely and without question loyal to each other and their cause. We learn that many of them are struggling with the darkness and they all hope that Anne is meant for them and will deliver them into the light. And when they learn, one by one, that she is not, they take comfort in the fact that one of their brothers will be redeemed. They know that she is just the first, and they hope that she is not the last. I loved that the author chose to use the archangels as counterparts to the Knights. We meet Mikhail, Gabriel, Raphael and the beautiful Uriel.

It is obvious to the reader that Merrick and Anne are meant to be together. Their attraction to each other grows the more time they spend together. Anne may be keeping the secret of her tattoo from Merrick but it doesn’t stop them from exploring their attraction to each other. Merrick fights this for as long as he can, thinking that he is taking a woman who is meant for one of his Templar brothers. Even, then, he cannot stop himself from being with Anne.

I thought the author did an awesome job of combining the old world of the middle ages with present time. The Knights speak in a kind of Old English, yet they wear jeans, boots, use cell phones and drive SUVs.

I did find myself frustrated with Anne once she and Merrick get together. Initially, she does not reveal her mark because she thinks she’ll be able to get the info for her thesis and be one her way. Then she gets a vision, makes an incorrect assumption of it and thinks that she can stop Merrick from dying by not revealing her tattoo. Yet, the more time she spends with Merrick the more attached she is to him and she cannot imagine ever leaving his side. Of course, the revelation that Anne bears the matching mark to Merrick has everything to do with the final conflict of this story and frustrating as it was to the reader, the author hit the mark by leaving it till the end.

I really liked this story and look forward to the next one.

Rating: B+

Recent Reviews:
My Bookish Ways – 4/5
Dear Author – D
All About Romance – D
Urban Girl Reader – 4.5/5
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Reviewed by May

Favorite Quote: “I hope to sleep with you soon. In my experience sex is an excellent prelude to an association.”

Gideon, Duke of Wynfield, is on his way to sign an agreement with a new mistress. First though, he stops at a party held by a dear friend where events lead him to be not only without a mistress, but in possession of a diary written by a woman he barely knows – but apparently has been busy penning erotic adventures between them in her diary.

Charlotte Boscastle is mortified. Her diary is missing and her daydreams and wicked thoughts about the Duke she’s only just properly spoken to this very night could be in the hands of someone wishing her damage. As the headmistress of a finishing school for young ladies, and a member of a powerful (but scandalous) family, she simply cannot allow this. Little does she know she’s about to wind up in the arms of the Duke, caught, and pushed into a speedy courtship and marriage.

“I embellished the truth in a few places. I wanted to write my life as a fairy tale. I never intended for anyone else to read it. It’s not all fabricated.”

“Fabricated? Embellished? My angel of mischief, not even the names were changed to protect the guilty. But I have to admit I’m curious – how long have we been engaged in this affair?”

“A year,” she whispered, sighing over the top of her fan.

His eyebrows shot up. “All that time and you never told me? Where exactly did it start?”

“At a circulating library,” she confessed with a smile.

He smiled back and pried the empty glass from her hand. “I wish I’d known. At the very least I would have sent you flowers to commemorate our anniversary.”

The problem is, someone has taken the diary from the Duke and now not only are they caught alone (and must marry) but also figure out who has the book, why, and how can they get it back without it going public?

There is so much to love about this book. The witty dialogue and the fantastically paced writing, the characters who sparkle and come to life on every page and the fantastic tension between our leading lady and her hero.

“I didn’t mean to forget my manners. Let me go about this the proper way.”

“She stared at him in suspicion. “The proper way?”

“Excuse me while I untie your robe,” he said tugging the sash apart.

She went still. “You demon, I don’t believe your audacity.”

“And pardon me for loosening the drawstrings of your night rail.” Which he did with ease.

She gasped and the sound drew his attention to her mouth. “you are utterly-“

“And do forgive me while I gaze upon your hidden charms in the firelight.”

This book was a romance tale at its finest. It had me from page one, line one:

It was the best of balls; it was the worst of balls.

Oh yes, we were off and running with a ball and a meeting that started out as obligation to be kind to a friend’s cousin and ended in matrimony. I was so impressed with this book that by 50% through the book I ran and downloaded three of the author’s backlist so that when I finished I’d have more to read.

It was not a perfect read for me, but I can’t explain fully without spoilers so I will just say that everything in the plot came together and fit into nice neat little squares. Everything just kind of lines up and works out without any effort on our character’s part. As a reader this takes some of the fun out of a book for me, I truly wish she’d given us a bit more drama or angst or some kind of contrast to the super gentle everything works out ending. They were so worked up over this diary and the school and her place – not to mention the mystery of who had the diary – that it really let me down how everything was resolved.

This was my first book by Jillian Hunter, but most certainly not my last. It was a delightful read full of dialogue that was a true treat, characters I enjoyed and rooted for, and details I won’t soon forget.

Grade: B+

Recent Reviews
Book Binge – 3.25/5
Hanging With Bells – 4/5
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Time Out by Jill Shalvis
Contemporary Romance
February 21, 2012
Harlequin

Reviewed by Mandi

In high school, Rainey had a crush on Mark who was a few years older than she was. So much of a crush that one night she decided to go to his place for a surprise strip tease. But to her surprise, when she walked in, Mark was busy with another woman. Embarrassed, Rainey fled and they each went their separate ways. Now, Mark is the head coach of NHL team The Mammoths, while Rainey spends her days working at the sports rec center. This rec center is located in the part of California devastated by recent forest fires, and many of the youth come from poorer families. The rec center is in need of some cash to keep the program going, something Rainey is much invested in.

Mark’s NHL team just lost the Stanley Cup, and while letting off some steam, a few of his players got in a bad bar fight, which then got posted all over the media and YouTube. Mark is looking to teach his players a lesson in a more positive role, so when he learns the rec center (which his brother owns) needs some help coaching their baseball teams, he brings the two hot-headed hockey players to Rainey’s center to help out for the summer. Mark and Rainey haven’t seen each other for a while, but now they are in a point in their lives where they might make that move toward romance.

I really enjoy books by Jill Shalvis but have never read any of her Harlequin Blazes, so I was happy to try this one out. She gives us a very alpha, protective male in Mark. He is wealthy, powerful, always in control, and gorgeous. He is also very popular in the sports world, appears on many television programs and dates lots of supermodels. And when Rainey sees him again for the first time in a long time, she immediately feels like her old teenage self with a massive crush. No matter how much she tries to tell herself that Mark isn’t good for her, her body doesn’t listen. Plus, she doesn’t stand much of a chance when this unfolds in the first chapter:

He went still at the contact, then instead of trying to pull free, merely folded her into his arms, trapping her against him. And damn if her body didn’t burst to life, as if all this time it’d been just waiting for him to come back.

"Yeah, you’re different," he murmured, doing as she had, pressing his mouth to her ear, giving her a shiver. "The little kitten grew up and got claws."

When she choked out a laugh, he closed his teeth over her earlobe.

The chemistry jumps off the pages quickly in this one. I really enjoyed Rainey. She is a down-to-earth sort of heroine. Works hard, likes to laugh and it is fun to watch her try to resist the very charming Mark.

Mark is very over the top in his alpha status. It almost feels as though he claims Rainey a little too quickly. He becomes extremely protective of her and even makes some decisions for her that sometimes made me frown. At least twice, Rainey starts a date, and Mark comes along and makes the other guy go home. He just may have been a tiny bit too pushy for me. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his suave, charming moments. I like how their romance plays out. I just wanted him to take it a step down at some points.

Time Out is a quick read and has that fantasy of the rich, no excuses, gorgeous, overprotective male who knows all the right moves. It’s a sexy, fun book.

Rating: B-

Recent Reviews:
Love to Read for Fun – B+
Dear Author – B-
Hanging With Bells – 4.5/5
Wit and Sin
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Note: This review first appeared at USA Today’s Happy Ever After.

Emily Rutherford is having a very bad day.

Of course, having the man you’ve loved forever announce his engagement to your (now very former) best friend will do that.

Emily is sure nothing good could possibly come out of this horrid situation. But she lets her sisters convince her that a season in London will be just the thing.
Now Emily has a choice: sulk in a corner while her sisters enjoy the glitter of the ton…or become the belle of the ball, dazzling everyone on an earls arm. But as Francis helps Emily get back on her feet, she quickly realizes that a childhood crush is nothing compared to the power of true love

Book Trailer:

Find out more by visiting Sophie Barnes’s Website or Facebook Page.

How Miss Rutherford Got Her Groove Back is being released in mass market paperback today and Sophie Barnes is celebrating by hosting a giveaway of a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

To enter, just leave a comment. Open to US/Canada through February 23.

Celebrity in Death by J.D. Robb (In Death #34)

Our Roarke stalker expert, Claire is back with another “In Death” review. Take it away, Claire!

Lieutenant Eve Dallas is no party girl, but she’s managing to have a reasonably good time at the celebrity-packed bash celebrating The Icove Agenda, a film based on one of her famous cases. It’s a little spooky seeing the actress playing her, who looks almost like her long-lost twin. Not as unsettling though, as seeing the actress who plays Peabody—drowned in the lap pool on the roof of the director’s luxury building. Talented but rude, and widely disliked, K. T. Harris had made an embarrassing scene during dinner. Now she’s at the center of a crime scene—and Eve is more than ready to get out of her high heels and strap on her holster, to step into the role she was born to play: cop.

**Summary taken from Goodreads**

A very big thank you and kisses of the giant variety to Mandi for once again giving me the Roarke hook-up and having me over to Smexy Books to review.

Turning that first page to an ‘In Death’ book is like coming home. You look forward to it, it’s warm and comforting and for right then and there you don’t want to be anywhere else. That’s how I feel when I have a new J.D. Robb book. I have a mountain of a “to read” list, really, it’s mountain sized, but all other books pale in comparison for me when I know Roarke is near. And Celebrity in Death was no exception. I tend to love the grittier tales best, when there is conflict between Eve and Roarke, or the murder case is gruesome and makes Eve push through all her baggage to triumph once more. This story was a little tamer, no bad words between our hero and heroine and the action wasn’t fast paced until the very end BUT it has all the elements you want and expect from ‘In Death’

If you remember ‘Origin in Death’ The Icove case Eve worked on, then you’ll enjoy the unfolding tale of this book. Eve spinning her cop magic amongst a bunch of snobbish pretentious actors all working on the movie based on the Icove book Reporter Nadine Furst wrote, when Peabody’s double is killed. Lots, and I mean lots of suspects for Eve to trawl through with the help of her trusted team. Who would want to kill someone who is playing the sweetheart Detective Peabody? K.T Harris, uber biatch extraordinaire, truly the girl was horrible, the first victim I didn’t feel bad for, I even suspected ME for killing her at one point! (laugh)

With a slower pace to this book, (and I think that was needed after the turmoil and heartache from the last book), and lots of sweet romantic tender moments between Roarke and Eve (squeak!) we see the aftermath to all that happened in Dallas. I adore any moments Eve has with Doctor Mira, such sweet scenes, she effortlessly steers our favorite cop back on the right path of thinking when her thoughts take a darker twist with self blame for all that has passed. I love that, and kinda want Mira to be my mum too.

And because I have to, HAVE TO say it, my Irish book boyfriend was delicious as always! (ahhhswoonsighswoon)

My favorite quote:

“I’m a man, and I’m sitting here having cookies and coffee while two beautiful women snarl at each other. Being a man I’m required to wonder –perhaps imagine– there will soon be physical contact. Clothing may be ripped away. Why wouldn’t i smile?”

 

“Not perfect” Eve muttered. “Shut up for five seconds,” she ordered Nadine, “before we’re in his head naked, oiled up, and rolling around on the floor”

 

“And my smile grows wider”

AHHHH i just heart him so hard. C’mon, Roarke is perfect. PERFECT! As always i look forward to the next In Death book with the ferocity of a hungry wolf. For all In Death fans this is truly a wonderful installment further cementing the greatness that is J.D. Robb and everything ‘In Death.’ Its originality still staggers me book after book. And for those new to the series i would urge you (with a cattle prod) to go and begin with “Naked in Death” it’s a lot of books to catch up on, but you will never ever EVER regret it.

For the warm and fuzzies home coming. I give Celebrity in Death 4 sparkles out of 5! #HeartsRoarke (Had to say it one more time!)

Rating: B

Recent Reviews:
Heroes and Heartbreakers
Errant Dreams – 5/5
All About Romance – B+
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Reviewed by Mandi

There was something about the blurb that really appealed to me in this review request.

*A lonesome fairy with no clue how to wield her powerful magic.

*A ruggedly handsome warlock torn between his past and his present.

*A five hundred year old, sinfully sexy vampire who’s obsessed with solving the mystery of a particularly interesting bartender.

Karli Lane is the only fairy left on the planet. Vampires had driven her race to near extinction, causing the others to return to their homeland over twenty years ago. Orphaned at a young age, she was forced to hide her identity in a world full of exposed supernaturals.

Facing her upcoming immortality, her life has become a complicated mess. A new employer and a gruesome murder bring two incredibly complex men into her life, making matters worse. She finds herself riding a non-stop emotional roller coaster while trying to figure out who she is, how to control her powers, and most importantly, how to stay alive.

And as I started to read, I did enjoy our Fairy heroine, Karli Lane. Over time, vampires have driven the fairies to near extinction due to the fairies intoxicating blood. Before her parents could hide Karli in the realm of Faerie, they died. Now with a spell to hide her fairy ears, she is the only known fairy on Earth.  More stressful, her twenty-fifth birthday is looming, and that is when her full immortality will hit. Her magical powers will become stronger and harder to hide.

But Karli is not without friends. She has a best friend Erica, who is the snarky, somewhat crude (but funny!) BFF. Erica sets the tone of the book right away with this statement:

We just need to find a man who will pound all those negative thoughts right out of your brain with his big, fat cock!

Well okay then. Karli (and Erica) are very over the top, snarky females and there are many silly, funny things that come out of their mouths. Karli is a bartender for Pixie Dust, a bar on the Vegas Strip. And yes she sees the irony in this:

A fairy hiding out in a place called Pixie Dust? C’mon, we’re all walking around looking like slutty Tinker Bells. It’s freaking priceless. Only in Vegas baby.

The new owner of Pixie Dust is a vampire named Leo Markos. Gorgeous and sexy, he definitely is on Karli’s radar. When Karli discovers the brutally terrorized body of a Pixie Dust employee in the bar’s walk-in refrigerator a couple of things happen. First, she meets detective Vance Alexander as he comes to investigate the murder. Next, they realize a very strong demon could only cause harm like this, and the hunt is on for this killer. Karli also has very lusty feelings towards Vance…two men. What will she do?

I really liked the set-up of Pixie Dust and for at least the first third, maybe the first half, even though it is more on the silly light-hearted side, I enjoyed the tone of the book. It was amusing and very entertaining.

My main issues come into play with the love triangle. Karli starts to get pulled in two directions. The very mysterious vampire Leo starts to seduce her, as does the hottie cop Vance. And it starts to unfold like a tennis match. First Karli is with Leo and she is all swoony. Then Vance (Leo and Vance have a past relationship and left it on very bad terms) gets upset she is exposed to a vampire and Karli comes running to him. Then back to Leo. Then back to Vance. Get my drift? She would fly off the handle in anger at Vance and run to Leo, just to turn around and do the same to Leo. It became really old, fast. She went from funny, snarky heroine, to whiny, immature heroine. She did things that made me question her smarts – she lets Leo taste her blood then realizes he might now know she is a Fairy. She “accidentally” throws Fairy dust at Vance – and then he knows what she is. How did she survive all these years without being discovered? I really don’t believe she could have.

As this is a series, the end is a little more ambiguous, as I guess we will continue Karli’s adventures in subsequent books. If the love triangle is played down a little, and Karli acts a little more mature, I think this series might be a cute one.But I was a little disappointed in this one.

Rating: C

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Lucky Penny by Catherine Anderson
Reviewed by May

The heroine is a single ‘mom’ (she cares for her orphaned niece), and apparently she would be unable to find work unless she pretends she is married and her husband out searching for gold in Colorado. I would have to think orphaned children were more common back then, and I just can’t figure out how taking care of your niece would be such a social issue that nobody would hire you. Anyhow – she pretends to be married and makes up a man.

Turns out, there is such a man by that name and one day he gets her 6 years worth of letters. Letters that apparently her employer forced her to write to her husband, then letters her daughter began writing when she could telling of their hardships, begging him to send money or come back, etc.

David is sheriff of the small town of “No Name”, and touched by the letters he sends money as well as goes out to meet this woman and figure out if he sired her child on some random drunken night, or if there is another David Paxton who he should find for her.

After 50 pages, and many audible groans, I have to call DNF on this book. I did skim it, to see if it would lighten up on the western clichés and descriptions of rickety wooden things and get engaging, but I simply can’t get into the book. The pacing feels really show, the characters far too dull (the saintly aunt who sacrifices everything and works to the bone for her niece, the sheriff/rancher with the heart of gold…) for me to invest the time to read all 413 pages.

If you like sweet historical western romance, then this may be a really good read for you. Between the descriptions of the swayback pregnant woman and the whore with her nipple peeking out to the up all night sewing fingers to her bones heroine – it just became clear very quickly that this book wouldn’t be a pleasure for me to read, that I’d be frustrated and annoyed at the pacing, wording, and characters.

Goodreads.

Kiss of the Vampire by Cynthia Garner
Reviewed by May

Nix de la Fuente is a half-demon who works as a liaison between humans and the counsel of Preternaturals that polices the vampires, weres, and all other ‘other’ beings that live in this world.

You see, aliens come through a rift now and then onto the earth and land in human bodies and then some DNA meshing goes on (?) that depending on the alien and the human will determine what the person turns into.

Her ex-boyfriend Tobias left her five years ago because he worried about her control over her demon half and if she could lose her grip on her humanity. Tobias arrives on-scene of a grisly murder of a vampire that was a friend (of both him and Nix) with his vampire pheromones swirling around Nix and making her body all lusty for him. They were so good together, and she believed he once loved her…

I only made it sixty pages into this book. While I expect a lot of questions to be raised and uncertainty at the beginning of a PNR book, there were enough personal red flags and lack of interest in general to make me give up.

While unique – I don’t believe I’ve read of alien and human DNA splicing to create preternatural beings – it just didn’t quite work for me. Between the vampire ex-boyfriend walking onto a murder scene throwing sex pheromones at the heroine (both gross and unprofessional), the clear ‘big mis’ that he doesn’t love her when he left her because he loves her, and the “I’m competent and confident, except I’m not really and this man could complete me…” heroine I felt confident that I was not going to enjoy this story.

The writing and details of this story left me uninterested, and I can’t bring myself to continue. I feel compelled to tell you that it is the only book in my possession for the last 4 days and I have plenty of free reading time here hanging out with my sick kid. Yet I find myself watching Sponge Bob re-runs and 80’s cartoons on VHS rather than pick the book back up.

Goodreads

Kidnapped by the Greek Billionaire by Rachel Lyndhurst
Reviewed by Mandi

Kizzy Dean sunk her savings into a restaurant she managed which is owned by the Greek Billionaire, Andreas Lazarides, and now Andreas has closed the restaurant down. With no money or future prospects, Kizzy is determined to hunt Andreas down and demand a chance to turn the business around. She meets him, not knowing it is him, and then lies about who she is. Andreas quickly figures it out, and annoyance comes out on both sides. When Kizzy threatens to tell the recently retired owners of the restaurant what Andreas has planned, he freaks out. In no way does he want the retired owners to know. In order to make sure Kizzy doesn’t run off to tell the retired couple, Andreas decides to keep Kizzy close by him while he can hammer out a legal document to keep her mouth shut. They only way he can do that is to make her come to Greece with him.

So these two have known each other for mere minutes, and Andreas tells Kizzy she must go from London to Greece with him. And her first thought is, I have no spare clothes. I figured she was going to be kidnapped since it is in the title, but it didn’t make sense. I mean, she isn’t really kidnapped – she willingly goes – but why? I get she now has no money or house etc..but you are going to go to a new country with a complete stranger?? Without a second thought?

And on the boat, still the same day they meet she says:

“I wish I could afford to walk away from all this,” Kizzy hissed, standing motionless on the stone steps. She continued to stare into the abyss of his exacting gaze. “Away from you.”

“Well, I do believe you can’t.”

He pulled her firmly downward by the wrist, ensuring that she fell into the unyielding cradle of his chest and upper arms.

And then they end up kissing.  Meanwhile, I found Andreas kind of a skeevy hero.I felt like he was taking advantage of Kizzy and she wasn’t smart enough to realize it.  Honestly, I only made it to about the 30%ish mark, so he still had time to be redeemed, but I didn’t care to find out how or if it happened.

Goodreads

Circle of Desire by Carla Swafford
Reviewed by Mandi

Olivia St. Vincent who is this elite assassin for a group called The Circle, who needs to let off some steam after her latest kill, plans on a one night stand with a random dude. However, this random dude is actually working for The Circle’s enemy. The problems start when she is making out with this guy and then it goes from kissing to handcuffing to the bed..and not in a sexy way. She actually fears he might kill her. She is confused at first but soon realizes he is not just a random lover.

We get scenes like this:

…dipping and massaging areas as if he was searching or maybe testing for something. When his hands cupped her heaving breasts and squeezed, she groaned, hating how good his touch felt. Unable to resist, she arched her back, wanting more of his firm touch.

WHAT? He has tied her up, gagged her – she has no idea if he is going to kill her – he is looking for some locater thing that is suppose to be implanted in her and she is turned on?

And then (as he is still looking for the implant):

She’d never been as turned on in her life. He moved onto the bed and jerked her legs apart, and she gasped. Open and wet, she throbbed in answer to his stare.
She kicked and he quickly clasped her ankles. His gaze returned to her mons. She wanted to tell him to go to hell, yet his hungry look sent heat skimming over her body. She liked his attention.

A few paragraphs later:

The handcuffs rattled and began to cut into her wrists. For heaven’s sakes, they weren’t even fur lined. He needed to learn no one treated her this way, even if it did turn her on. In the end if she lived, he would learn not to mess with her this way. She would stake his life on that fact.

Sorry- but an elite assassin would never act like this in my opinion. I don’t understand how she could be this turned on if she honestly thought this man was going to kill or torture her.

Goodreads.

Reviewed by May

Favorite Quote: Drinking beer, playing with their balls and pitching tents. Man-camping was just plain classy.

What happens when a Scottish games athlete meets the girl of his dreams in a Jane Austen historical society member who happens to want the same piece of land for her own event on the same day? The battle is on, and the heat is turning up!

When I first read this set up I burst out laughing. Men in kilts and women dressing in Regency England apparel? In a battle of sorts? I really couldn’t stop giggling, and yet, something about the set up made me absolutely have to read the book, immediately. I’m glad I did, it was a lot of fun.

The line of erections bounced joyfully underneath the ballroom lights, the synchronized slapping of cock on balls keeping the beat with alarming precision.

We meet our heroine at a Jane Austen group meeting of sorts – gone a bit astray. Her best friend brought in some strippers who upset the elderly members, and got her punished in the form of arranging everything for their big annual event. Armed with her unpredictable best friend that seems to go everywhere with her, Kate finds the perfect spot that is unfortunately occupied by huge hunky specimens of manhood practicing hammer throws and looking mighty fine doing so.

Julian is practicing extra hard because he wants to earn a sponsorship that will help him support his mother better and stop working winters in the south west on construction sites. His step father initiated him into the world of the SHS (Scottish Highland Society) games, and he wants to continue to honor the (deceased) man’s memory with his involvement in that. He has no time or room for a serious girlfriend in his life, so his strong reaction to the vintage dress loving Kate is most unwelcome. The instant attraction is very mutual.

Kate almost swooned. There was something about a solid pair of forearms, muscles intertwined with ropy veins, flexing and twisting with each twitch of the fingers, that made her want to rub herself all over a man.

I laughed aloud and smiled frequently – something a contemporary novel has not managed to do for me in quite some time. The set up was done so fantastically that I would give a grade of A to the first third of this book. I was drawn in completely, unable to put it down. I could clearly envision these two, their chemistry was fantastic, and the cast of supporting characters especially strong. The writing in this story is fast paced, but filled with memorable moments and quotes.

It was a good word, lounging. It sounded relaxed. Seductive. Like she was Doris Day, sipping cocktails in a silk nightie, waiting for her fluffy pink phone to ring.

I felt that this book needed better structure, a more solid plot. As the pages rolled by I had so many problems with it, and it continued to crack and falter as the novel progressed. What at first I could set aside and just enjoy, by the end I was irritated with and not amused by.

First off, I have never heard of being able to have huge events on land without permits just “first come first serve”. How could they possibly have such events without better planning and with such minimal set up time? How would anyone know where to go? How could you plan on having a major event at a location that anyone could come on in and claim for themselves at any time for any reason? This major plot point continuously bothered me.

Secondly, I could not figure out why Julian couldn’t get involved with a woman. He admits that his involvement and travel with the games is not for profit – he’s lucky to break even. He works winters in construction for high pay to save up for the rest of the year. I’m not putting construction down as a bad job, but it was clear that it was not his interest or passion and he was just dealing with it (and being away from home for months on end) to make a quick buck to support his hobby. He hopes that he can get good enough to get sponsorships and offer his mom more money. Why does he not just get a real job? Find a steady career path instead?

While I appreciated that it was largely about honor and remembering his step father, as a character I found Julian very hard to like or get invested in because of his choices and frequent visits to a-hole town.

My third complaint was the heroine’s “I don’t actually care about this event, but I want to stand up for myself and not back down so I’m going to make an ass of myself” attitude. This was a huge part of the plot – that she was not looking for another site or plan because Julian had been a jerk and insulted her and demanded she back down. It wasn’t a plucky heroine or strong woman move – it was silly and went on far too long.

The initial heat and sparks flying between the two characters was fantastic. One scene where his forearm is touching her thigh had my kindle smoking. Oh my. But where did that smoldering heat go? It was lost in an unbelievable battle over public land, a hero that acted often like a jerk, and a heroine I never could quite figure out. It’s too bad. I think if more attention had been given to the relationship and attraction between these two, instead of throwing up forced conflict between them, it would have been an amazing read.

Thanks to the numerous laugh out loud moments, the men in kilts, awesome supporting characters, and the unique set up I did enjoy most of this book, and I will definitely check out future offerings from this author. While I am not giving this a high grade, I do still recommend if the premise interests you. It was one of the more promising contemporaries I’ve read in a long time, and a whole lot of fun.

Grade: C+

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Estella

The two winners of The Rogue Pirate’s Bride by Shana Galen are:

May Pau
Beverly @ The Wormhole

The winner of Ride With Me by Ruthie Knox is:

Marc

Why the hell had he waited so long to experience this?

Bloody fool.

Cavin’s hand fisted in Benjamin’s hair to tug his head back, breaking the kiss. Teeth nipped at his bottom lip. A tongue licked up from his chin. As it made to pass his lips, Benjamin captured Cavin’s tongue and sucked on the tip.

“You taste so damn good,” he said, before diving back into the kiss.

A growl rumbled around him, thick and rough and full of the same frantic need that consumed his senses. Every move they made caused Cavin’s cock to rub across his. An erotic drag of fabric backed by iron, cranking the lust even higher. Benjamin was torn between the need to continue devouring Cavin’s mouth and the need to push for more. To take them far beyond a kiss. To have bare skin beneath his hands, his mouth. To experience every forbidden fantasy he’d ever had.

As if sensing his thoughts, Cavin shifted, thighs moving to bracket one of Benjamin’s legs. A hand delved between their bodies to pull at the placket of his trousers. Fabric gave way, linen drawers were pushed down, then that hand slipped inside. Warm, sure fingers wrapped around his prick.

Benjamin’s entire body quaked.

“Ah, hell,” he gasped as Cavin stroked his length. Short and insistent, more pulls than fluid strokes. Full of friction and urgency. His ballocks lurched up, tightening against his body.

Eager to have another man’s cock in his hand – Cavin’s cock – he rushed to reciprocate. His hands shook as he fumbled a bit, reaching around Cavin’s arm to tug on the placket of the man’s trousers. Buttons released. He pushed a shirttail aside and encountered hot, silken skin.

The man wasn’t wearing drawers.

Thief releases March 19th. (Goodreads, Amazon)

If you haven’t read Ava March, I highly recommend her books. Full list here. I think Convincing Arthur is a good one to start with.