My Favorite Mistake

My Favorite Mistake
Karen Erickson
A Tahoe Nights Story
ebook
Published October 12th 2010 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
first published October 9th 2010
ISBN 1609282248 (ISBN13: 9781609282240)

There’s only one way for busy PR executive Julie Lancaster to get her mother off her back—cave in and take a weekend break at the family cabin in Tahoe. After all, Mom won’t know she’s sneaking her laptop along to get a little work done.

Not only the cabin is a blast from the past, so is the occupant of her bedroom. Tyler Nichols, a guy she remembers as quiet and nerdy… nothing like the drop-dead-gorgeous hunk who knows how to fill out his underwear.

One look at all-grown-up Julie refuels Tyler’s memories of long, lazy summer vacations, and the crush he was too shy to admit. It would be gentlemanly of him to leave, but the amazing woman in front of him elicits visions of the wickedly lusty things he’d like to do with her.

With work pushed to the back burner and a weekend indulging with Tyler on high simmer, Julie makes a startling discovery. Tyler is the real deal. And maybe, if he agrees, she might have time for a life after all…

Warning: Fresh mountain air and sultry Tahoe nights equals steamy hot sex with old friends turned lovers. Who knew the smell of pine could make you feel so lusty?

Julie plans a weekend away at her parent's vacation cabin, desperate to get away from her mother's nagging about getting a boyfriend, turning him into a husband and producing a baby. All Julie wants is to further her business and she's on the verge of finally making it happen.

She's suddenly beside herself when she finds Tyler, a boy she knew from her youth, asleep in the master bedroom. All grown up with an ass nice enough to contemplate touching, slapping, and cupping, he's just what she needs for a weekend of fantasies.

Tyler's been fantasizing about Julie long enough and now he's ready for something real. They're both very successful workaholics, but only Tyler is prepared to let go a bit for a meaningful relationship. After falling into the sheets fairly early, Tyler sets out to win Julie for good. And when her folks show up, things definitely turn serious. The story itself is a quick one and a bit back and forth as both characters develop the same feelings and fears. The romance is sweet, the sex is warm and spicy and the ending is... happy. 3 out of 5 stars.

It's my BIRTHDAY!

At 7:33 tonight, I will have lived in this world for a quarter of a century. Woot!

You know you're an 80's child when...

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word "PSYCHE".
2. You watched the Pound Puppies.
3. You can sing the rap to the "Fresh Prince of Belair"
4. You owned those lil Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls.
5. Two words: M.C. Hammer
6. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock".
7. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars.
8. You can sing the entire theme song to "Duck Tales".
9. When it was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
10. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
11. You still get the urge to say "NOT" after every sentence.
12. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up"
13. You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide.
14. "Dont worry, be happy"
15. "Miss MARY MARY MACK, all dressed in BLACK BLACK BLACK"
16. You remember boom boxes vs cd players.
17. You remember watching both "Gremlins" movies.
18. You know what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!!"
19. You remember watching Rainbow Bright and My Little Pony Tales" 
20. You know who He-Man and She-Ra are.
21. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on Saved By the Bell", the ORIGINAL class. 
22.  You thought "Ghostbusters" was by far the coolest movie 
23. You know the profound meaning of "Wax on, Wax off." 
24. You yearned to be a member of The Babysitters Club, and tried to start a club of your own. 
25. You owned an extensive collection of Cabbage Patch Kids and trolls 

Apparently you were an 80's child if you watched a LOT of television.




Thanks, Redd! *smoosh hugs*

**UPDATE** November 29, 2010

My birthday rocked the house! Not only did I get to spend some amazing quality time with family and especially my husband, but I received some pretty damn great gifts. I'm a gift card whore. I just love them! And I got hooked up with a ton from Amazon and a couple from Old Navy, Borders, and Victoria's Secret. I also got a couple books, candles, some jewelry... and some other unmentionables from Matt. =) Sunday, I got breakfast in bed, dinner out, and in between I got stuck in front of the television watching a Star Wars marathon. Probably could have done without that little tidbit but I did get some snuggles. XD

THANK YOU to everyone who gave me great birthday wishes and love and presents!!

One of the Guys

One of the Guys
Shiloh Walker
ebook, 111 pages
Published December 2007 by Ellora's Cave
ISBN 1419913611 (ISBN13: 9781419913617)

Jaynie knew that her fiancé had some serious ménage fantasies going on, but she never expected to catch him acting them out. As if that pain isn't enough, he tells her she couldn't be a real woman if she tried. Reeling from the double blow, confidence shattered, Jaynie turns to Brian, her sexy partner at work. One night, she tells him. She wants one night with him, no strings attached.

Brian feels plenty of strings and it's as if all of them are pulling him toward Jaynie. She's sexy, she's funny and she haunts his dreams. Memories of that one night keep him awake and he's dying for another taste of her.

But Jaynie doesn't seem at all interested. What's a man to do?

After Jaynie's fiance completely destroys her self confidence as a woman, she turns to Brian, her best friend's older brother, in the heat of the moment in order to prove to herself that she's both feminine and sexy. Mission accomplished, she moves on with her life without her cheating bastard of an ex and starts over.

Four months later, Brian is still going through the motions of that night. His sister's friend, whom he's known all of her life, has taken up space in the forefront of his mind. Now he can't look back on the past without remembering her in vivid detail, or wanting her in his bed again.

Brian is so smexy. I love the torture he puts himself through, first thinking he can't have Jaynie and then, lastly, when he thinks he's lost her. The ending was the highlight of the story for me. Rampant tempers and emotions colliding this way and that. It's another pretty damn good read from Shiloh Walker. 5 out of 5 stars.

Alaskan Wolf

Alaskan Wolf
Linda O Johnston
Mass Market Paperback, 288 pages
Published December 1st 2010 by Harlequin
ISBN 0373618492 (ISBN13: 9780373618491)

When naturalist Mariah Garvey travels to the remote Alaska glacier region, she finds an abundance of beauty unparalleled in the Lower 48. The stark landscape, the vivid life force—and the powerful appeal of her rugged new guide, Patrick Worley.

For Patrick, the beautiful nature writer is an unwelcome distraction. His job at the Great Glacier Dog Ranch is only a cover for his classified work with Alpha Force. He is on a mission to uncover the truth behind a series of deadly explosions, and her presence hinders his ability to shape-shift and to hunt—as only a werewolf can. Even if he, too, feels an animal lust hot enough to melt the Alaskan ice, he knows their desire cannot be satisfied. Nor can it be denied.

Patrick Worley is a wolf shapeshifter and a member of Alpha Force, a military squad made up of other shapeshifters. All require a certain elixir that will help them have control over their shifts and maintain human reasoning while in their second form.

Mariah, a writer for a nature magazine, shows up on location of his current task. He, then, is assigned as her sled musher and guide.

The very first night, Patrick kisses Mariah to avoid her probing personal questions. The next night, she kisses him to keep up the habit. It goes back and forth like that for a while. There's not much of an action factor but the story does have a way of keeping the reader's interest. I didn't personally understand Mariah's attraction to Patrick though. Aside from his kisses, he never really expressed any interest in her. Quite the opposite actually. Every time she showed up he told her to leave. Or he simply just walks away.

When Mariah comes to learn what Patrick is, she's relatively calm about it. No big deal. And with nothing more than her lame promise not to write about it, Patrick has no qualms whatsoever about going into all the details of what he is.

Things were all good, or at least tolerable, until Patrick had Mariah fill out a form to get clearance from the military. Only then would he go into the particulars about his mission. I seriously wanted to drop the book then and there as he informed Wes and Mariah that they were both acting as his back up but were not to discuss anything they see, think, or suspect with one another. He would keep them informed separately and strictly on a need to know basis.

And they went along with it. I call bullshit! 3 out of 5 stars.

Worth The Trip

Worth The Trip
Penny McCall

ebook, 336 pages
Published November 2nd 2010 by Penguin Group (USA)
ISBN 1101445238 (ISBN13: 9781101445235)

Behavioral psychologist Norah MacArthur leads a quiet, clinical, solitary life-until her con artist father is released from jail. FBI agent Trip Jones is sent to protect her and realizes that behind her psycho-babble and ugly suits there's something special-maybe a real life study in love.

This book is certainly a trip. One that I only ventured twenty percent into. I don't think I've ever had to describe a book's dialogue as fast paced before but damn these people talk a lot!

Norah is the daughter of a very successful thief who has ended up in prison. With his release imminent, she finds herself the target of men who are willing to do anything, even kill, to use her as collateral to learn the whereabouts of the hidden money and treasure. Enter FBI agent Trip who steals the show with a toes curling kiss on live TV, forcing a halt to a heated battle of author vs morning show host.

Trip seemingly comes out of nowheresville but Norah plays along. Until bickering with him every single second comes much easier.

“Never play mind games with a psychologist.”
“If someone comes at you with a gun you won’t have time to psychoanalyze them, Norah. Not that you’ll need to. Shoot first and ask questions later is a pretty straightforward concept.”
“You said they want to use me as leverage, not to kill me.”
“Yeah, but after a few seconds of conversation with you they’ll probably change their minds.”

So there were some things I liked.

“There’s nothing to do,” he said.
“There are eleven other rooms in this house.”
“I know. I’ve been in them all. I peeked in your closets, snooped in your medicine chests, and poked around in your bedroom.”
“You forgot to mention my underwear drawer.”
“I resisted that urge. The house is depressing enough. Getting a look at your unmentionables would kill the last bit of mystery, and if I found white cotton I’d have to shoot myself before I dropped dead from sheer boredom.”

And this story does have a good number of blindsides that are just odd and random. First, Trip has a constant comparison to Superman although Norah lacks the Lois Lane complex. Then Batman's boy wonder shows up when a guy dressed as Robin breaks into her house and Trip ends up getting beat up with a book.

Maybe it was all the speaking, but I often felt like I missed something. And then, there would be a part where I *know* I didn't just miss it, IT was never there. Perfect example between Jack and Aubrey:

“Aren’t there any rumors about me?”
“Of course, although not the same kind.”
“What kind are they?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
“I hate this shit,” Jack said as they walked off. “You know I hate this shit. Tell me what the rumors are or there won’t be a later.”
“Now, Jack,” Aubrey said, reaching up to pat his cheek, “you should never withhold sex to make a point.”
“Who’s withholding sex? I was talking about my gun.”

I mean, WTF? Where was sex mentioned in that statement? And gun? How does that even fit? It was all a bunch of jumbled hooplah thrown in a bag, shook up, and dumped onto paper. It just need to calm down. Just a little. Or, you know, a lot. DNF

Holiday Bound

Holiday Bound
Beth Kery
Kindle Edition
Published December 1st 2009 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ASIN B002ZFGJV2
Free Read from Amazon.com

The Oedipal Complex has never been so sexy.

Alex Carradine can't believe his father wants to come and visit his ski resort. Could it be that after so many stormy years, -slick Mitch- Carradine wants to offer an olive branch? Maybe the old man is mellowing, settling down with the new lover he's bringing along. Then Alex realizes the acid truth. This is no warm family visit. His father's new conquest is none other than the woman of Alex's sexual fantasies, meant only to dangle tauntingly in front of his face. At least an unexpected blizzard has frozen his father out of the picture entirely.

Angeline Kastakis was looking forward to taking the next step in her relationship with Mitch. Too late, she realizes she's been led into a familial battle zone. Now it's Christmas and she's marooned in a blizzard with an insolent, gorgeous hunk of man whose blazing blue eyes tell her loud and clear he wants her in his bed. Preferably tied to it with a bow. There's no escape in sight. But as Alex stirs her secret longing to be mastered by a man, escape is the last thing on her mind.

Warning: This book contains scenes of sensual submission hot enough to make you sweat in a blizzard.

Four years ago, Alex caught sight of the woman of his dreams. A woman his father, Mitchell, mocked him for wanting, even demeaning Angeline's femininity and appearance in the process. To discover, now, that that very woman has been dating his vile sire for the past two months, Alex is both pained and enraged.

Angeline, smitten by the combination Sean Connery/Richard Gere that is Mitch, is ready to finally let her relationship move on to the next level but when Mitch once again falters in going through with his word, she finds herself alone in a snowstorm with his very sexy and dominant son. A man who is nothing like Mitch described and much older than she'd imagined. She's younger than both of them.

While the Oedipal Complex remark in the blurb had me taking a seriously long pause before downloading this free read, it only took a small number of pages to realize that this story wasn't going to be half as creepy as I'd imagined. In fact, it rocked. Every little thing that came out of Alex's mouth had me rooting for him. Even when he was quite an ass to Angeline when he first rescued her from the storm, I couldn't fault him. Hell, she annoyed me too. As he comes to discover who she really is and makes no excuse for his desire of her, well, that just sealed the deal.

“So. You regret it all, is that it? You want to just pretend like it didn’t happen?” he asked evenly.

“I told you I wanted to talk about it like adults. You’re the one who insists on being such a…a…bullying brute instead!”

“So for clarification sake—talking about us making love last night like adults involves you calling it a crime.”

Pink stained her cheeks. “I shouldn’t have said that. You misunderstood me.”

He raised his hand from the back of the couch and gave a permissive wave. “Go on, then, by all means.

Her usually velvet-like eyes didn’t look so soft at the moment. “It would help if you stopped being so sarcastic, Alex.”

That made his anger bubble up to the surface again. “Excuse me for the weak defense of a sharp tongue. See, the thing of it is, Angeline, I don’t regret it like you do. So it’s not really a picnic to sit here and listen to you tell me how it was all a mistake. If that,” he pointed significantly to the floor where they’d nearly scorched a burn mark in the carpet last night, “was a mistake, I’ll gladly forego
being right for the rest of my life. So don’t sit there and tell me I have to take your rejection of me like a nice little boy.”

It took him a second to take in the shocked expression on her face. It took an additional second for him to realize he no longer sat back casually, but was leaning toward her aggressively.

Had he really just said that as loud as he thought he had? He sighed in frustration and leaned back again. So much for giving her some distance.

“Alex… I’m not rejecting you.”

He peered at her warily, not sure what to make of her softened tone. “What are you trying to do then?”

I found Alex justified in everything he did, felt, and said. His rough exterior gives way to a very vulnerable, romantic guy whose passion in bed makes him great fantasy material. He cuts a tree down for her for goodness sake! Wasn't even asked.

There is lots of bondage but the BDSM is rather light, and the steamy love scenes are guaranteed to warm your blood faster than your favorite cup of cocoa so I'm definitely considering reading this baby again next Christmas. 5 out of 5 stars.

Hardware (DNF)

Hardware
Sara Brookes
ebook
Published November 1st 2010 by Liquid Silver Books
ISBN13 9781595787576


Women aren’t supposed to be geeks. They aren’t supposed to fix computer networks with expert ease either, but tell that to Allison—the resident computer guru in the small town of Gatlin Falls, Virginia.

Enthralled by watching her work so effortlessly, Patrick agrees to accompany Allison for a night at the movies so he can learn more about her. Even though he’s a perfect gentleman who prides himself on knowing exactly what a woman wants—and when she wants it—he can’t keep away from her. One scorching kiss in a dark theater changes everything.

Allison quickly learns Patrick’s definition of hardware is vastly different than her own and she allows him guide her on a path where she discovers new heights of passion she’s never imagined before. Taken by the calm she feels when she is around him, she is pulled into a world where there is comfort in wearing a pair of cuffs and sanctuary in accepting a collar.

First things first- I love this cover!

What I didn't love was Patrick. I don't think I've ever been so bored with a BDSM book before. Don't get me wrong, it's a good story, but... *sigh*

Patrick and Allison hit it off immediately when the register at Patrick's coffee shop (owned by his brother) fails and she steps in to save the day. On their first date, he asks permission to kiss her. Cute right?

Kinda? No? Hmmm. Definitely not.

And I learned something else- I don't care for female geeks. And wow, did Allison take the platinum trophy on that one. Computer programmer, Halo enthusiast, and comic book collector. Plus a whole lot of other things I won't get into.

Patrick, too, is a bit of a conundrum. He doesn't share, so no exhibitionism or three-ways. He doesn't do voyeur. And he doesn't do spanking.


In the end, I had to DNF. Wasn't in the mood for the mellow drama. I *DO* read books that don't have sex in them. No menage. No exhibitionism or voyeurism. No spanking. No... etc.. And I *STILL* love them. But, when I pick up a book expecting it... and am let down.. then it goes back on the shelf. 'k?

My Demon Saint: Shifting Reality #2

My Demon Saint
R.G. Alexander
Shifting Reality, book two
Kindle Edition
Published October 18th 2010 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ASIN B0047DWNMO


Would you like to play a game?

Saint is half human, half demon…all trouble. With his roommate Thomas mated to Margo, and Mac on one of those long, lonely, feeling-eternally-sorry-for-yourself vampire vacations, Saint is on his own and restless.

A lovesick shifter’s request to locate a woman isn’t exactly his idea of fun—he’s no matchmaker—but he agrees. And finds not only his quarry, but a whole lot more than he bargained for: a top player in his own online game that, until now, has somehow escaped his notice. A woman so tempting that when she touches the keyboard with her fingertips, he can feel it right down to his bones.

Housebound for the last few years due to an accident, Ume’s only distraction from the endless physical therapy sessions has been an online role-playing game. When she logs in this time, though, something is different. She finds herself lost in the game—literally—and falling for a mysterious warrior on her way to face the Demon King in his lair.

And that’s before it gets weird.

Warning: Explicit sex. One sexy, smart-mouthed demon, an adventure game, and more than a touch of kink. Sex online and then sex ONLINE. Spanking, silk ropes, a blindfold, one wild threesome between a Mystic, a Warrior and a Kitsune…and every online gamer’s dream come true.

He pulled out his Blackberry and turned it around so she could see the box on the screen.

The Demon has admitted he loves you. Do you love him back? Y/N

This is one of those anticipated books that when you get a copy into your hand, you break out into the most awkward, youtube worthy dance of your life, because you are so.. freaking.. ecstatic!

Book one combined shifters with vlogging and reality shows. Book two? This baby takes a half-demon and weaves a virtual world much like Dungeons and Dragons. It's a computer game fittingly called Demon Saint which was created and constructed by Saint, who uses technology in a totally new way. His mind can literally surf the web. Brings on a whole new level of online roleplay, too.

The warrior has propositioned you. Do you accept? Y/N

“I know I’m going to regret this.” Ume hesitated, but clicked yes before she could talk herself out of it.

A new cutscene began to play. The characters Sinner and Plum were in one of the bedrooms above the bar, facing each other.

“Lovely. Animated porn.” Ume snorted, but she couldn’t peel her gaze from the screen. These were superb graphics. When the warrior, Sinner, slipped off his weapon, and the rest of his clothes, her mouth began to water. He was so…it was…

Yeah. Really good graphics.

This series is so fresh and creative and with characters like Mac, Thomas, and Saint boasting their wild personalities and perfected offhand remarks.. who can't enjoy it?

That said, I can't decide... 4 or 5 stars. The threesome (or 2.5some) may be it's only downfall for me. It's just not my slice of cake. But if it had to be there, then this one was the best it could have been. Does that make sense?

Oh hell. 4 out of 5 stars.

Thomas lifted his hands in the air dramatically. “This demon has been cleansed.”

Saint licked his lips. “Hallelujah.”

Other books in the series:

Red's Wolf: Terra's Guardians #2

Red's Wolf
P.J. Schnyder
Terra's Guardians, book two
ebook
Published August 30th 2010 by Decadent Publishing

Carri has definitely caught the eye of the big bad wolf.

Visiting the Glacier Valley pack to get a little breathing room from life in the city, she uses her skills to help install a high tech airspace sensor array for her adoptive grandmother’s pack. Jason is a lone wolf, good at doing his job and good at being alone. Sparks fly between them, igniting desire hotter than Carri’s red hood. But the Glacier Valley pack has made it clear that Carri is under their protection and off limits. And yet, the heat between them is undeniable and when Carri makes her choice clear, Jason is ready to claim her as his. He’ll go against the pack and any rivals, even take down an alien hunter to have her and protect her.

While the first book in this series was a slow pace tale of a gradually building relationship, this one got to the point much quicker. And it did so without lacking a single necessary thing. Jason and Carri (Red) are very endearing, easily bonded to characters and, yet again, Schnyder very easily brings her reader into the well crafted, thoroughly researched, and beautifully constructed world of shifters. I love it when a great writer takes on shifters and actually knows what the hell he/she is doing!

Jason's a lone wolf. Not by choice. And not by force. Being on pack grounds, Jason has no rights, no reason, and no purpose other than installing the new protection sensors. He definitely has no place lusting after the alpha pair's adoptive daughter. His antisocial, loner quality gravitated me toward him from the start although he quickly lost points for going around kissing random women. Err, woman. Whatever. Hey, I refuse to believe that was his first stolen kiss. But damn him if he didn't have an empathy card up every sleeve.

Carri's open heart, and the fact that she's neither wolf or pack, allows her to see and move past the pack hierarchy, Jason's guarded defensiveness, and the bias towards lone wolves. I seriously awe-ed when Jason finally realized he didn't have to be alone anymore. I loved it. Great story. Really great wolves. What more can I say? 5 out of 5 stars.

"Carri is yours, you say."

"Yes." The right of it surged through him to the very marrow of his bones.

"You're her choice," the alpha acknowledged. "But what can you offer her, wolf? She's human, delicate. She's from the city, used to the luxuries that technology has to offer and comforted by the high walls humans build to keep them safe. How will you keep her safe? And happy?"

No answers. Jason didn't have them. Hell, he’d asked himself those questions over and over again since kissing her at the BBQ.

"She's going back to the city, wolf." Ben made it a statement of fact, one Jason knew without asking. She’d only come to visit, to set up the surveillance system. The brightness she’d brought into the grey of Jason's world would fade back into city lights.

"I know." His doubt must have shown in his face, his body language. Jason saw the hard twist in Ben's expression as the alpha growled low.

Ben made a sharp gesture with his hand, slicing through the air between them. "She deserves better."

The words slashed Jason to pieces, because he believed them to be true.

Other books in the series:

Heart's Sentinel: Terra's Guardians #1

Heart's Sentinel
P.J. Schnyder
Terra's Guardians, book one
ebook
Published August 6th 2010 by Decadent Publishing
ISBN 9781936394 (ISBN13: 9781936394111)

Born human, Mackenzie never wanted to be a shapeshifter. After a shifter stalks and brutally Changes her, she runs to the jaguars of River Gap pride for protection from the stalker still searching for her, to come to terms with the attack and learn to control her new, powerful cougar body.

Adam, a River Gap Sentinel, is assigned as her guard and mentor. Well aware of his strength and how new she is the shapeshifter world, he holds himself back from the flames of primal desire she ignites. But, to survive the stalker, they both need to first battle their pasts and learn what it truly means to be the sentinels of each other’s hearts.

These are the kitties I looooove!

Changed against her will by her stalker ex-boyfriend, Mackenzie seeks protection and guidance from Jacob's pride. There, she meets Adam, the head instructor of the dojo.

Yep, that's right. We're in a dojo. One where you're assigned a Sentinel, a buddy. And Mackenzie's new buddy makes the grandest of all entrances via glass window as he crashes a retrieved jet pack into the room and every wall and mirror in the joint. So yeah, he's out of commission for a while. Luckily so for Mackenzie as she gets assigned Adam to be her new Sentinel. Yummy, yummy Adam. The one man she's managed not to flinch at.

Oh, and the jet pack- it was recovered from a Hunter of shapeshifters. And apparently hunters are some kind of alien race. The story is set in the future but everything is kept basically modern. Mack even gets to learn to use chopsticks. And good for her because I've tried and if my life depended on eating with those things or starving, I'd be one dead white girl.

But back to Adam. My new favorite feline shifter. Sure of his strength, prowess, and gentility, he's very aware of his pridemates and equally so of Mac. He notices her hesitations, her will to try, and the fear that holds her clenched... and despite the urges to touch, to hold, and to be with her, Adam knows she's not quite ready for a male's interest. Much of the story is them just being together. Learning eachother. And Adam isn't above acting like a dork to keep up her spirits. The snail says "Wheeeee!"

The pace is kinda sloooow but beautifully so as it enables you to go through the motions as Mac begins to rebuild her life and relearn herself, who she is and what she's become. She seems so innocent but the life she had before this contained hella drama! One too many boyfriends, sweetheart.

Actually, aside from the hunters who seem to be using the shifters as a science project, the story isn't that far-fetched at all. Mac is your typical girl, experiencing the same insecurities as all females. She's an average person thrust into an above average world and left to cope. And if she doesn't, the pride is left with the responsibility of putting her down.

The book hits on everything I love and for a cat shifter story, OMG, that's huge! 5 out of 5 stars.

“I'm a big girl.” She hopped off her stool and took her plate to the sink. Somehow, it didn't ruin her point. “I've had my share of guys turn me down. But if you're going to turn me down, be honest and say it's because you're not interested. Don't give me some excuse about me being too immature to know what I'm doing.” She turned to face him and stumbled back into the counter.

He stood inches from her. Solemnly he leaned in past her and placed his own empty plate into the sink. As he straightened, he brushed so close he whispered roughly in her ear. “It wasn't because I'm not interested, Kitten.”

Those amber eyes were like molten gold as he stared down into her face. Mackenzie barely dared to breathe as his hand came up and brushed a lock of hair away from her cheek.

“You didn't know what you were starting to tangle with there.” His voice low, darkened with a sensuality she hadn't heard before. “I'm not some human boy looking for a few hot kisses.”

His hand slid along her jaw, turning to caress the back of her neck and then it slowly tightened, tilting her head back. Mackenzie's heart picked up speed and her breath came in shallow gasps as she trembled, held captive. She felt things low in her belly tighten in response to him. Even her nipples hardened as her back arched in response to the way he had her head tilted back.

“Playing with a jaguar is a more dangerous game, Kitten,” he continued with a low growl in his throat. His nostrils flared and his pupils seemed to dilate and elongate as they changed to his cat form. “You need to know before you initiate anything.”

From some hidden reserve of pride, she managed to strap some steel to her collapsing knees and pulled her lips back in a slight snarl. “I didn't initiate anything this time.”

He went still. Slowly, the grip of his hand on the back of her neck loosened and he backed away a bit. It was enough.

She straightened, trying to get her composure back. “You'd be damned lucky if I ever took it into my head to offer you a kiss again. I'm not a glutton for rejection.”

He was on her in a split second, the entire length of his body pressed against hers so she couldn't miss the hard length of his erection pressing against her lower belly. His arms caged her in on either side of the counter and his lips caught hers before she could say anything else.

Believe In Me: Unbelievable #2

Believe In Me
Crystal Jordan
Unbelievable, book two
ebook, 38 pages
Published February 16th 2010 by Samhain Publishing
ISBN13 9781605048949

Love might need a little push…or a good, swift kick.

Tori Chambers. Old biddy, gossip, busybody and meddler. Except in reality she’s none of those things—she’s a guardian angel who specializes in helping people find their soul mates. Her latest assignment has had her tearing her hair out for over a year. She’s holding up her end for the fireman who’s her current client, but his soul mate’s guardian angel is dropping the ball big time. And when a replacement steps in, it’s enough to curl what’s left of Tori’s hair.

Jericho. The one man who broke her heart—and made her determined to never fail her clients like her own guardian angel failed her.

A hundred years ago, while fighting for Texas independence, Jericho made a mistake that accidentally cost her life. Now that she’s forced to make nice and work with him, he’s determined not to lose her again. Even if he has to tie her to the bed and make love to her until she’s willing to see reason.

Because unknown to Tori, she is his assignment. And if he can’t find a way to convince her they’re soul mates, they face an eternity of consequences…

Warning: Two humans-turned-angels doing very wicked, non-angelic things to each other. Tied to the bed, bent over the table, up against the wall, and plenty of front and backdoor action is enjoyed by all!

Jericho, the homeless prophet from book one is back. And he's a flaming homo! Well, he's put on the glamour of one. Perfect fit to Tori's disguise as a wrinkly, senior citizen, right? And hey, she was in the first book, too. I was seriously getting a sense of paranoia there.

The worst part of reading a series, especially one book right after another, is when the similarities are glaringly obvious as it was with this one. Even when it's a good thing, it's bad. The sex was hot but way too familiar.

Jericho’s deep rumble reverberated in her ear, the tone silky, dangerous. “Deny it all you want, darlin’, but we belong to each other. You belong to me.” His hot breath washed over her skin, making goose flesh break down her limbs. His thrusts became wilder, fiercer. “I don’t have to talk about the past for you to know you’re mine, Tori. Mine. You always have been, you always will be. You’ll never be free of me, you’ll never get the feel of me off your skin, the taste of me out of your mouth. You. Are. Mine. My soul mate. Just plain old fucking mine.”

“I hate you!”

He laughed at her, bit the back of her shoulder, licked the stinging flesh until she panted. “No, you don’t. You only wish you could.”

Believe In Me held a much more oppressive, thicker feel to it than it's predecessor. Spanning two lifetimes, where the actions of the protagonists led to their deaths in the first, there's a lot to handle. However the one difference between this book and If You Believe is that the author does not share the first person POV in this installment. Only Tori's side of the story is heard. And I so wanted Jericho's version.

Yet again, Crystal Jordan has impressed me with her talent for a weaving a passionate story, giving just enough to leave me begging for more. 4 out of 5 stars.

Note to first time visitors: I have nothing against homosexuals. No comment on senior citizens.

Other books in this series:

If You Believe: Unbelievable #1

If You Believe
Crystal Jordan
Unbelievable, book one
ebook, 51 pages
Published September 15th 2009 by Samhain Publishing
ISBN13 9781605047546


When it comes to her love life, the name of Aubrey Mathison’s coffee shop says it all: “Bean There, Done That”. There’s only one harmless man in her life right now—the homeless one parked outside the shop. Except the crazy things he says keep coming true.

She has to laugh at “You’ll meet your soul mate today”, though. Divorce taught her that men as gorgeous as sexy police chief Price Delacroix are not to be trusted. She’s totally up for a one-night stand, but more than that? No, thanks.

Price bears his own scars from the past, but he knows instantly that Aubrey is his. How to convince her he wants more than to be her personal jungle gym? Cut her off. That means no more mattress gymnastics—until she starts seeing things his way.

Aubrey is just as determined Price’s campaign to wear down her resistance is going to fail, no matter how wickedly determined he is. Until her resident prophet spouts a new prediction: her soul mate’s life is in danger…

Aubrey suffered a devastating divorce after she found her husband screwing around with their restaurant staff. Now, without a family or the business, she's moved to Cedarville and opened up her own coffee shop which suffers a fire when her assistant slips and sends pastry glaze all over the stove.

The accident isn't a total loss. Despite the horrendous disaster job of cleaning left behind, Aubrey gets to meet the new police chief, Price, whom Jericho, the homeless prophet that hangs around outside her shop, seems to think is her soulmate. But relationship shy Aubrey is only interested in a bedmate.

Which... Price proves himself more than capable of the task. But then he's also mad crazy!

“Why are you pushing us dating? This isn’t me playing hard to get. I don’t like those kind of games.”

They paused again as their order arrived. It was why she liked this place—the service was fast and the food was good. Price picked up his fork and his end of the conversation. “We’re not going to date.”

“Oh, good.” Relief flooded her because at this point she wasn’t sure she had the willpower to resist if he touched her. “I’m glad we’re on the same page here.”

“You dump the guys you date after a few months. I’m not interested in that.”

“You are so right.”

He smiled. “Which is why we’re just getting married.”

I normally don't go for those chicks who want a one night stand and then run out the door, but the way it happened for Aubrey- I was all for it. And finding that the guy of your fantasies already owns the house of your dreams... Score x2!

Price was a bold text TEN. Confident, focused, and sizzling hot, he made the story worth reading. Oh yeah, me likey the police chief. =)

Jericho, who has the leading role of book two, kept the story on a profound spiritual level. His little hints and warnings were kind of freaky but his insistence that Aubrey believe in something had a moving impact in this simple short story. So yes, I'm making a mountain out of a clump of dirt but you gotta love that stirrings that can come from seemingly nowhere. 4 out of 5 stars.

Doing It Her Way

Doing It Her Way
Rita Sawyer
What Are Friends For series
Word Count: 20,386
Published by Siren-Bookstrand, Inc.
Reviewed for HEA Reviews

Lainey Miles wants nothing more than to marry her sexy fiancé Jace Cannon. She’s been putting off setting a date because she doesn’t want the big white wedding her mother’s counting on. Jace isn’t hiding the fact he’s getting antsy either. She knows something has to be done and fast. So she recruits her friends to plan a surprise wedding that Jace will never forget. Jace doesn’t understand why Lainey won’t even talk about setting a date for their wedding. If she changed her mind, he wished she’d just say so, but with the way they were burning up the sheets he didn’t think that was the problem. He was determined that as soon as he got back from his business trip they were going to sit down and work things out. One way or another he is going to get an answer out of her.

Not every woman dreams of a big wedding and Lainey Miles is definitely one of those that yearn for the private, more intimate, ceremony for hers. Doing It Her Way is a charming, quick read about a woman who wants, and is determined to have, her wedding the way she wants it. Calling in the forces- friends she’s had since childhood- Lainey cooks up a plan full of deception and secrets that Jace, the groom-to-be, is becoming progressively wary about. Although Lainey’s sexy, bedroom antics do quite well in keeping him distracted from asking any bothersome questions.

I found this story by Rita Sawyer enjoyable and simply sweet. Lainey’s tight group of friends is made up of strong-willed, entertaining women whom are well-written and vigorously expressive with their unique personalities. There’s no better band of ladies a woman should ever need, whether for a day out shopping or planning the ultimate secret operation. Jace is a sweetheart ripped from a dreamer’s fantasy. He loves Lainey with all his heart and regards her in ways very much resembling a newly blossoming relationship. The guy’s heart flips at every little thing she does and well, what girl doesn’t find that an attractive quality?

The heat level is average for an adult read with bare minimum details put into the passion of the two lovers. At times, though, I felt the dinner menu was more absorbing of their lusts and I would have liked a bit more of an explosive experience in the bedroom instead of the constant pattern where food and foreplay dominantly reigned. All in all, this book is a good read for those who enjoy a predominantly female cast and favor a bit of lighthearted surrealism in their romance. 3 out of 5 stars.

Kya's King: Sanctuary #1

Kya's King
Sanctuary, book one
Kindle Edition
Published October 21st 2010 by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
ASIN B0048EKJCS

Tender-hearted and lonely, Kya yearns for heritage and home. The staff and animals at the sanctuary where she works have become almost family, but it is not enough. She craves the stability and acceptance she hears in the voice of her dream lover and sees in the eyes of a wounded wildcat.

Chosen to guard the royal heir, Ja claims his lost charge in a desperate attempt to save her from enemies she can not imagine or comprehend. At every turn desire and obligation clash as Kya tests his loyalty to the clan and his will to walk away. Touching her breaks the rules that he has pledged his life to uphold, but fulfilling his duty might destroy everything worth fighting for.

Both must face the roles they were born to play. Hers to lead. His to protect. Can Hannah blindly accept her responsibility as queen or will she turn her back on the extended family she longs for in order to keep the one who destroys her loneliness? Does she even have a choice?

"Your father entrusted you to my care because he knew I would give you my life. You had become my shadow, and I found I did not like it when you wandered far from my heels.”

This story is told in stages and while not exactly fluid in their progression, it does keep the story moving which is always a plus. Opening up the tale is Ja as he finds Kya among a wolf pack after she's been lost to their clan for years. Under the threat of Dar, a fellow panther shifter who seeks to gain his father's royal position, Ja comes to Kya as she sleeps. There he beds her, claims her, and because pregnant females are considered sacred to their kind, he impregnates her to keep her safe from Dar.

Now I know right now I'm not making this book sound very good at all. But hell, facts are facts. Canar, Kya's father, has promised her to Ja but she's royalty, therefore giving Dar some strange illusion that she should have been his. So yes, they're playing into my perverse idolizing of arranged marriages in this one. Yays for me. You'll get over it. 3 out of 5 stars.

Each part of your life has been a part of mine. Even when I lost you, I kept you with me.

Waiting On Wednesday: Spellweaver

A weekly meme, hosted by Breaking the Spine,
spotlighting upcoming releases that are eagerly anticipated.

Spellweaver
(book two of Ruith's story)
Novel of the Nine Kingdoms, book five
Paperback, 368 pages
Coming January 4th 2011 from Berkley Publishing Group
ISBN 0425238636 (ISBN13: 9780425238639)

Ruith had long managed to ignore the magic in his veins, until aiding Sarah with her ill-fated quest forced him into places where his heritage was impossible to deny. Faced with an ever-increasing number of enemies who covet his power, Ruith must accept his birthright and gather his father’s spells together so he can destroy them—or turn away and allow his father’s evil to overcome the Nine Kingdoms.

Now, Ruith and Sarah must rely on each other more than ever—for everything they value is at risk: the Nine Kingdoms, their lives...and their hearts.

First began reading the novels of the Nine Kingdoms way back when I was reading strictly fantasy. Before I was corrupted by lusty shifters and sexy as hell men with guns and a need for vengeance.

Previously, in book one, per my review (spoilers):

Ruithneadh lives alone in the mountains outside the village, his magic forced deep down inside himself, locked and hidden away. After the destruction of his family by his own father's hands when he himself was just ten years old, Ruith wants nothing to do with magic or people.

Sarah is the magicless daughter of the village witch. She wants nothing more than to escape her home and run away to make her own simple, peaceful life. Then one day her brother steals away the last of her mother's potions and her entire savings. He then reveals that he is off to destroy the world.

Led by duty to do just the opposite, Sarah runs to Ruith for help, believing in the rumors that he is a centuries old mage more powerful than most out there. What she finds is a man much younger, cloaked in darkness, and who's so handsome she doesn't even recognize him when she finally sees his face.

As they journey together, collecting person after person whom her brother, Daniel, has stolen their powers from, they continue to hide their secrets from one another - all along building a bond and friendship with what truths are allowed. In the end of Tapestry of Spells, all lies come to the surface and as they flee, yet another foe takes them captive. Sarah is planned to be sold. Ruith is confined.

Other books in the series: (Linked to Goodreads)




The first three are set in the same world and tell the story of Ruith's sister, Morgan, but they have no other connection to Ruith and Sarah: (Linked to Amazon)

He's The One

He's The One
ebook
Published May 25th 2010 by Samhain
(first published November 2nd 2007)
ISBN13 9781609280406

Virginity is overrated.

Taylor Sullivan doesn’t trust Cupid, but she plays one for a living. As a successful wedding consultant, she creates a couple’s ultimate fantasy—even though she’s never managed to create her own. And when her clients start asking her for wedding night advice, she’s sensible enough to know when to enlist help.

Cade Harper knows two things about women. They either abandon him, or use him as a walking bank. He doesn’t do commitment, and marriage is a dirty word—witness the string of broken hearts he’s left in his wake. Yet Taylor’s business proposition intrigues him. In exchange for one night of no-strings passion, she’ll develop a promotional plan for his business. Who could say no?

Never one to buy anything sight unseen, Taylor tests the waters with a kiss. In an instant she has the only answer she’s ever wanted—that Cade is the one she wants.

As business starts tumbling into pleasure, Cade finds himself falling hard and fast.

It’s a fantasy come true—if they can turn heartache into forever…

Warning: Contains explicit, straight-to-the-heart sex between a hopeless romantic heroine and an abandon-all-hope hero. No need to dress up for this party—just curl up with a glass of bubbly and a box of tissues!

Everytime I scrolled through my TBR pile, I always paused at this book. So it's about time I gave it a shove off my list. It's not exactly a favored scenario of mine for a book. Actually it's a stupid scenario. Twenty-four year old Taylor wants to lose her virginity, but instead of getting wasted and picking up some random guy like any other woman might, she seeks out a guy she noticed at a wedding. A man that has the love 'em and leave 'em reputation.

Why does she want to lose her virginity? Because apparently she's the go-to person for her wedding planning clients to ask questions about sex. Now, I planned my own wedding, no planner required, but even if I had one, she would be that *last* person I'd ask something like that about. 'How many orgasms should I have a night?' Seriously? Ever heard of Google?! Like I said- stupid, stupid, stupid!

But the story does find some sense of redemption...

Cade gets that feeling that girls dream about when they find 'the one'. The flutter in the belly. That leap of the heart. His world gets rocked when he first meets Taylor. Even more so when he hears what she wants him for.

Now the red flags should have went off before Taylor's eyes when he tells her having sex is an art form, not a wham, bam, thank you ma'am kind of thing. Hello girl, that's what you need! If you want no strings attached sex, you need a guy who's going to walk out the door when it's over. Not Cade. Not 'I'll drive you home and kiss you goodnight on your doorstep' Cade.

But.. Taylor has a dream. A dream she's given up on after the death of her fiance. And Cade's parents have decimated any postive views towards marriage. So there's baggage. And tons of it. But never will you see a commitment-phobe make such a miraculous healing as well as Cade does. House, cars, dog, and marriage. All in one shot.

Nearing the end of the book the story has a stop-go, back and forth feel which I hated. But in the beginning as Cade woos Taylor with cotton candy and romantic gestures- that, I loved. The two were really good together with complementing personalities and titillating chemistry. Though seriously, RED FLAGS, Taylor! 4 out of 5 stars.

Good Girls Don't

Good Girls Don't
ebook
Published November 1st 2006 by Ellora's Cave
ISBN 141990826X (ISBN13: 141990826X)

Lori has a nice, safe job and a nice, safe fiancé. She has played it safe most of her life. Until she finds that nice, safe fiancé in bed with another woman. But the ultimate betrayal is that he is willing to play sexy bedroom games with the neighbor that he wouldn't play with Lori, no matter how often she asked. She kicks him out of her bed, out of her house, and out of her life. Now she's ready to make her fantasies come true. She starts at Exposé, a sex club where anything goes.

Mike has been attracted to Lori since moving in next door. She is taken though, and even if she were free, she's not his type. Too sweet, too innocent, too nice. So what in hell is she doing at Exposé? He doesn't know, but he's determined to protect her from the other guys in the club…and from himself. Determined to protect her even if it means bringing her pain.

By the time Mike realizes Lori doesn't want or need to be protected, it's almost too late.

This book is loosely connected to Her Wildest Dreams, but may be read alone.

Lori's fiance has never given her what she's wanted, in or out of the bedroom. Adding insult to his negligence, she finds him with their neighbor sharing a level of kink that he's always insisted she wouldn't like. On top of that, her best friend, Mike, actually agrees with the jerk. When Mike finds her brooding at his sex club, he has only one objective- to get her the hell out of there.

I loved this story from Shiloh Walker. Big surprise there, right? But I gotta say that I was in Mike's corner the entire time. Okay maybe not the entire time. There was a moment there near the end that I wanted to go Jigsaw on his ass but aside from that, I was right there with him in his corner against Lori. For two reasons. 1) He really wanted to protect the girl. And 2) he's an old player in the BDSM game, and gamers- they don't like noobs. They can't stand when new people who have no business running with the big dogs try to do just that. Lori had no idea what she was getting into and was just looking to prove herself and spread her sheltered wings.

So Lori had some frustration. Well, chica, too damn bad for you.

However, with so much attention focused on 'You can't handle this world' I was very disappointed to how light the bondage was. And I don't even think D/s even warrants a mention. 4 out of 5 stars.

Oral Expressions

Oral Expressions
Published April 23, 2010 by Cobblestone
ISBN13 9781600884955

Trey Cano has never called a 900 number in his life but after his friends from the bachelor party decide to bail, he decides to call her. What starts off as a courtesy call turns into a wild fantasy sparked by a woman he's never seen, but her voice drives him wild.

Elle Dupree has a dirty little secret no one in the firm knows, she works a phone sex girl in the evenings. One night she receives a call from a man named Beck. It's too bad the man she wants isn't the one talking dirty, or is he?

Surfing the web during the mother of all disasters of a football game and came across this little gem. This smoldering, liquid fire hot little short that was nearly too much to handle.

Trey is hosting a bachelor party for his best friend. No strippers though. The bride wouldn't approve. So the guys get him the next best thing, an hour with a phone sex operator. Unfortunately the guy's a sweetheart and declines that as well. The rest of the group all have women so no need to spend money on a voice when they've got a willing woman at home.

Trey decides to dial her anyway, let her know the plans have changed and apologize since she's obviously counting on the money she would have made from the call. But then her voice comes across the line and the man is hooked, line and sinker.

And oh my damn. It gets goooood!

And I not on the norm with phone sex in my books whatsoever. The last, and only, I even remember was in To Tempt A Wolf by Colette Denee. Insanely good book by the way.

“Have you ever talked dirty to a woman?”

“Of course, but she’s usually in bed with me and not on the phone.”

“But I am there with you. Just close your eyes, imagine me there in your bed, and tell me all the things you want to do to me, and I’ll tell you what I want to do you.”

A million scenarios flashed through his mind. They raced by so fast he couldn’t focus on just one. He closed his eyes.

“Beck?”

Elle stood in the center of his bedroom, bathed in soft lighting, wearing his favorite blue dress shirt. Her dark, honey‐colored hair, shimmering with golden highlights, was unbound and flowing free. Missing were the reading glasses she wore at work, leaving her emerald‐green eyes open for exploration. High cheekbones and pouty lips scrubbed clean of makeup gave her just a touch of an innocent look. The cuffs of his shirt were rolled up to her wrists and the hem draped to mid thigh, giving him an inviting look at a vast expanse of tanned, shapely legs. She was beautiful.

He kept his eyes closed, visualizing with perfect mental clarity. He stared often enough at Elle to commit her pouty lips to memory. “Sorry, usually I’m a bit more active when I talk dirty.” The sight of her made his groin tighten.

She padded barefoot across the hardwood floor and stopped at the foot of the bed.

“How active?”

He swallowed hard. “I’m usually fucking the woman when I start.”

It is highly overpriced at $3.99 for a 10,000 words story but oh so worth it! I will say that I found Belle's (Elle)dirty talk on the vulgar side while Breck's (Trey) was far more sensual. Then again, it isn't so much what they say, as it is what they imagine.

To read an excerpt, which includes the setting that leads up to the excerpt above, visit All Romance Ebooks.

Stolen Passions

Stolen Passions
Forbidden Passions, book one
Kindle Edition
Published November 2nd 2010 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ASIN B0049U4HHY

Lyra Marcus tries to avoid her werewolf family’s political entanglements. Instead, she heals the wounds of the never-ending border skirmishes between lycans and wereleopards. It’s a bitter irony that she’s about to die in that war.

When she awakens after an attack, the horror of her situation dawns. She’s a wounded werewolf in the middle of wereleopard territory. And standing over her is a son of its most powerful family, Zander Leonidas. Her fate may be a swift and bloody end, but she intends to go down fighting.

Zander has no plan to fight the little she-wolf who’s landed at his Refuge Resort, a place where shifter species are free to be what they are—except wolves, of course. Yet Lyra fits him in a way she shouldn’t, and the urge to mark her as his mate is irresistible. A match like theirs, though, would rock the foundations of their world.

He intends to find out who left Lyra for dead on Leonidas land. And keep her safe from whoever wants to finish the job—not to mention the werewolf alpha who wants his niece back at any cost…

Warning: Two sexy shifters on the opposite sides of a war doing naughty, forbidden things to each other. Forward, backward, in bed, out of bed, you get the idea. All while trying to escape an assassin. Then it really gets exciting…

I'm not a big fan of interspecies relationships so when a feline shifter and a canine shifter come together in a book, I'm in a state of 'whaaaaaaaaaat?'

That said, this story by Crystal Jordan was kind of awesome. I've never read anything by her before but if her typical novels are anywhere near as good as this one, I definitely need to hop on her readers' wagon. The blurb pretty much covers the story. They meet. They hit the sheets. They bite each other. You know, all the necessary good stuff. 4 out of 5 stars.

A Deadly Whisper

A Deadly Whisper
The Watchers, book one
ebook, 152 pages
Published July 30th 2010 by Cobblestone Press
ISBN13 9781600885709
I won this book in a giveaway hosted by the author.

Will destiny be enough to break her free of a lifetime of secrets?

Knox, the Seeker, has waited two hundred years for his Watcher and now he's found her. Paxtyn, however, is unwilling to join him. The more he tries to prove himself to her, the more she pushes him away.

Paxtyn has spent a lifetime keeping her secret hidden from the world, but now, she must confront these deadly visions head on. When a string of murders brings her into New Orleans, she must come to terms with her personal demons and use her gift to communicate with spirits to discover who has ended their lives.

I'm going to attempt a Redd's review with this book. No facts. Just feelings. Here goes....

I liked Paxton right from the start. What might have cinched it would be that no matter how devastatingly sexy a man might be, if he insults her pub, he best get to stepping. Tate though... God help him. Who asks for a favor like that? Guy's got crazy nerve. But hey, when you've got a friend like Pax who will apparently do anything for you, what don't you ask? The man is anything but stupid, and you can't find fault in his protectiveness of sweet, gifted Paxton.

Knox and Pax. Two characters who just ride your skin because they can't seem to get it together for the longest time. I love how the author allowed for the similarities of their names. It goes to the randomness of life and actually promotes a sense of possibility to the truth of the story. As does the fact that they, two strangers, couldn't read each other even if you pulled out a sharpie and spelled it out in block lettering upon their skin. Oh well, field trip!

There were so many facets that I did enjoy, and one or two I could have passed on. I can't turn away a good brotherhood though. The band of Seekers are great and even Tate proved a worthy brother for Pax... in the strangest way possible. That ceremony knocked me for a serious loop. 4 out of 5 stars.

So I didn't pull it off exactly like Redd, but hell, she's Redd. A way of words and a charm all her own over at The Unbroken Wyld.

The Sun Sword

The Sun Sword
ebook
Published November 17th 2009 by Samhain Publishing
ISBN13 9781605048321

She has the power to bring new life…or utterly destroy it.

Torin Kerridon, the last warrior from an ancient order, is drawn to an abandoned, dying Earth, where he finds a forgotten young woman. A woman forged by the Immortals to wield the ultimate weapon—the Sun Sword. A woman capable of commanding the power of the suns. A woman with no past and no memory, the body of an angel and the spirit of a demon. He will train her. Prepare her.

Hunted all her life, Kala Rei has endured more than one woman should. Sheer grit, and a dangerous skill with a lead pipe, are the key to her survival. But nothing threatens her sense of safety more than dominance-oozing Torin. He wants her, but not for what’s between her legs. For what he believes her to be—some ludicrous savior from some absurd prophecy. No matter…his offer to take her away from Earth is too good to refuse.

But when a savage desire begins to burn between them, both Torin and Kala are in danger—and so are the worlds of man.

Warning: This book contains an ancient prophecy that can’t be denied, a brooding hero tormented by desire, a stubborn woman who hungers for his touch, a villain so vile you’ll want to kill him yourself and sex so hot it’ll melt the suns of the known universes…and then some.

I've read Lexxie Couper before but never, until now, have I read her at her best. This book is ridiculously good! On the complete opposite side of the scale as my last of hers, Savage Transformation. Stick with this, Lexxie. This is beyond wicked!

It's not every day that a prologue gets me psyched for the story about to unfold. This one certainly did, although I must admit that the prophesies written at the very beginning had me excited as well.

Kala Rei can't decide if she wants to murder Torin Kerridan, the man who found and rescued her from a desolate Earth, or make passionate, world-rocking love to the guy. Whichever she decides to fantasize about, her imagination has vivid detail. After a lifetime of solidarity, craving death while fighting to stay alive, raped, beaten, and tortured, Kala's mind has fallen into dreams of what it would be like to have someone actually care for her. Someone like Torin. A man living a life according to a prophecy he believes in more than anything.

Kala doesn't believe in prophecies, but the idea of her existence having worth gives her too much hope to walk away from him, and his intense training. After six months living aboard the Helios Blade, she's had enough though. Enough of the sparring, enough of his sputtering of a foretold destiny, and enough of not getting what she wants from Torin for the reasons she wants it.

And oh my damn do things get intense. Torin and Kala are two people who ache for one another with an intensity that simmers off the pages. The violence is bloody but the worst of assaults goes into little detail. The threats of such, however, are rather vulgar. But myself.. I love it dark, lusty, and sinful so this was all-around a plus for me.

“Concentrate,” he snapped, a carnal fire igniting in his groin at the feel of her firm softness pressed against him. “Stop thinking of me and think of your training.”

“I can’t.”

Pulse growing fast, he closed his fists harder around her wrists, glaring at her. “Can’t what, Kala Rei?”

“I can’t stop thinking about you.”

The fire in Torin’s groin erupted at her blunt confession. He gazed down into her face, felt her heart thumping behind her breast, a rapid beat that sent waves of vibrations into his body. Pulling in a sharp breath, he tasted her sweat on the air. Tasted the musk of a desire he never dreamt possible there too.

He dropped his stare to her mouth, to the lips he’d longed to claim for what felt like an eternity. The tip of her tongue flicked out, wet them, the action so quick Torin doubted Kala even knew she’d done it. Fresh blood surged into his cock, turned it into a rigid length grinding against her belly. She shifted beneath him, pushing her hips forward. Aligning her sex closer to his erection.

Syunna, take her. Take her now!

The deafening order roared through his head. He gazed at her mouth. Felt her body against his. Smelt her musk on the air. Tasted it on his breath.

Take her!

He shoved himself away from her, the abrupt absence of her heat on his flesh, against his body, was like an icy burn. Heart smashing in his throat, his balls and cock harder than steel, he turned his back on her, refusing to look at her face. By the gods, what was wrong with him? He’d given her his word. He’d sworn he would not touch her so. He’d sworn he would never—

“Coward.”

There is an air of suspense as dreams and vague ramblings give way to doubt. After everything, after all they've struggled for, there comes the question, will Kala indeed be the foretold- The One Who Burns? or the perversion- The False Fire?
5 out of 5 stars.

Waiting On Wednesday: The Legend of Michael

A weekly meme, hosted by Breaking the Spine,
spotlighting upcoming releases that are eagerly anticipated.

The Legend of Michael
Zodius, book one
Sourcebooks Casablanca (May 2011)
ISBN-10: 1402251564
ISBN-13: 9781402251566

The world will never be the same after a top secret government projects creates super soldiers with alien DNA injections and those soldiers divide between good and evil.

The Hero: Michael

He is sin and satisfaction, lust and damnation, a lethal weapon created from the greed of man. A human soldier injected with alien DNA, he is one of many, yet none are like him, a legend within this new race, split between good and evil. Untamable, he has walked on the dark side, returned to the light, but it matters not, for he is feared, misunderstood—lethal in all ways possible. Women desire him, lust for the mysterious warrior, hungry for the raw passion that touches his every breath. Men envy his stature, his power; they lust to control him. But there is no controlling a creature such as he, no taming the primal fires within him. He is the past, he is the future.

He is Michael.

I beyond loved the Knights of White series by Lisa Renee Jones. It was actually the first series I bought when I received my Kindle 2. But sadly, that's all I've ever read from LRJ so I'm looking forward to her new series that is set to start it's release in May of 2011. Information on the rest of that series can be found on the author's website.

A Scarlet Past by Evanne Lorraine

A Scarlet Past by Evanne Lorraine
A stand alone story that predates the anticipated Treeland Pack stories
Available November 20, 2011 from Amazon
Author's Website
Received my copy from the author/publisher

As World War II heats up, so does the secret battle on the home front. For two touch-starved werewolf warriors, mating is more than pleasure—it’s a matter of survival. Vivian heals the fissures in Fergus’s humanity. Though he saved Vivian’s life, she’s an Alpha bitch unable to meekly submit to any male. Both try to dominate the other, when surrendering to their deepest desires is the only chance for victory.

"Careful Doll, biting gets me excited."

Evanne Lorraine creates a shifter all her own – and dares to call them wolves.

A Scarlet Past is the story of the wolf shifter Fergus Wickham, who, despite injury, is focused on obtaining the necessary papers that will enable him to enter Canada and ultimately the battlefield in Europe. His quest brings him to Vivian, the Alpha female of a pack whose males have already gone off to war. She alone is left to battle rogues and ensure the protection of her fellow pack females, as well as a band of vampires who answer to whistling calls.

Genuine admiration and sexual attraction unite the pair as the world wages war around them. Together they find a balance. While one submits the other dominates, and vice versa.

I found myself at odds with this book. Having read more wolf shifter stories than I can count and a fair amount of D/s as well, I’ve never before had the two collide. Perhaps it be a lapse in memory on my part but never have I found a shifter insist on being addressed as Master. It’s always been Alpha, even in the bedroom.

Vivian’s acquiescence to the demand was unsettling, giving me the impression she was more Alpha by default than by nature. The idea of the pack males venturing off to a distant country to fight, leaving their females and dens unprotected was perhaps the greatest blow. Vivian was strong, but she was in no way capable of such a task. No true wolf pack would make such an error.

While obviously a great read for any future fan of the author’s upcoming series, The Treeland Pack, this standalone tale lacks a lot of facts and information necessary to acquaint a new reader with the setting and struggles of the time. I’m not sure how the rogues came to be or what exactly they are- other than horny, unshifting males. 2 out of 5 stars.

Please note that the cover itself, though beautiful, is quite misleading. The story is set in 1942 in New York near Central Park.

Ms. Lorraine has assembled a soundtrack accompanying the novella available on her website. You must have iTunes to listen. And she’s offering A Scarlet Past for free for anyone age 18+ who is interested, has a blog, and is willing to write a review.

Wish List: November 2010

November 1




November 2


November 8


November 15


November 16