Thief (Fringe #1)

"You are so much more than pretty." -Kraft

Available at Amazon.com

Thief
Anitra Lynn McLeod
Fringe, book one
ebook, 296 pages
Published November 2nd 2010 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ISBN 9781609282387

Nothing has ever come easy for Jace Lawless, captain of the salvage vessel Mutiny. Forced into thievery after a virus unleashed by the Inner World Government killed his family, only one ambition burns at the back of his mind. Kill the next IWOG officer he has at his mercy.

Bargaining over goods with a middleman isn't exactly his strong suit. But who in his right mind spends an entire salvage job s profits on a woman, even if she has a body built for sin and eyes so fathomless a man could lose himself in them? He must be getting soft.

Once Kraft realizes Jace expects only the cook part of their cook-whore contract, she sets out to change his antiquated ideas about women. A challenge she relishes, especially if it earns her the freedom and money to get her own ship. Her big mistake is letting down her guard.

Shameless flirting only intensifies the itch to ride Jace hard and put him away wet several times. It s an itch it would be dangerous to scratch. Exposing her heart could reveal her secret, one that the still-grieving Jace must never know...or showing her mercy will be the last thing on his mind.

Warning: Contains a celibate ship captain who can't abide swearing, a kick-ass woman with a marshmallow heart, a motley crew of misfits, interstellar battles, thwarted groping, sensual seduction, and a total bastard who owns his own planet.

This book: Amazing!

I can't even begin to explain just how giddy the relationship between Jace and Kraft made my overly romantic self feel.

A ten year celibate male finds a female as lethal as she is honest. Together, the two find a rare camaraderie that will prove that there indeed can be honor among thieves. It's not always easy. It's not always gentle. But it is fun. It is arousing. Oh my, but it can also be breathtaking.

"One night, you in my bunk, and all I want to do is kiss you."

And OMG, the love.

Having lost his wife and three children a decade ago, Jace still carries a yearning for his lost family. But as Kraft enters his life, her beauty and admirable code of living that makes her so special and unique begins to invade the once sacred fantasies in which only his mate belonged. As he begins to desire the formidable yet gentle female, the inevitable self-loathing and seemingly rare male blushing ensues. Kraft is his better at *everything* and male ego takes one hell of a beating in this book.

It's a two steps forward, falling two steps back relationship that had me gushing all over these two. The romance is sweet, and the smut is minor, while the spats are their own kind of awesome. These two really know how to pack a punch in their arguments. That said, men really need to take a page or two (or three hundred) out of Jace's book. He may give tit for tat in a fight but ten minutes later,  he's right back at your door, apology in hand and fully ready to smooth things over. Gah. The man's incredible.

What starts out as Jace's story concludes being Kraft's and the two, as well as the crew, find a happy ever after all tied up with a shimmery, perfectly proportioned bow.

"I've got a job offer for you."
"Really?" Kraft tumbled the last of the dough into a bowl then set it in the oven to rise.
"Got lousy pay, terrible working conditions, but I hear the fringe benefits are good."
"Sounds awful. What is it?"
"Wife."

I. Loved. It. 5 out of 5 stars.

Turn It Up

He loved her to distraction. He wanted her with an obsession.

Turn It Up
Inez Kelley
ebook, 230 pages
Published August 1st 2011 by Carina Press
ISBN 9781426891960

Dr. Bastian Talbot and self-proclaimed sex goddess Charlie Pierce heat up the air waves with their flirty banter as radio hosts Dr. Hot and the Honeypot. Off the air, they're best friends...but Bastian wants to be so much more. He wants Charlie--in bed, and forever.

Problem is, Charlie doesn't do commitment. Sure, she's had X-rated fantasies of Bastian, but he was always just a friend--until he impulsively proposes and unleashes the lust they've been denying for years. Charlie's willing to explore where their wild chemistry leads, but she won't marry him. And he won't have sex with her until she accepts his proposal, despite her seductive schemes.

What are Dr. Hot and the Honeypot to do? Ask their listeners for advice on how to tame a sex kitten and turn a perfect gentleman into a shameless lover. The Race to Wed or Bed is on...who will turn up on top?

An unrequited love/ best friends turned lovers story. In short, a read one can't help but love.

Bastian is in deep for his best friend but he's convinced she hasn't a clue and it wouldn't matter if she did. Meanwhile, Charlie has often allowed her sexual fantasies to include Bastian but there's no wonder about would happen if they took their relationship that far. She knows exactly how it would end, and it *would* end. Bastian wants a forever woman, but for Charlie, lovers come and go. A good friend is what she needs and treasures most in the world.

Bastian, bless him, is an honest man. He's kept his secret for over a year but the moment Charlie even mentions the word [secret] he can't meet her eyes. And it doesn't take much to get him to crack.

• Fear forced tears into her eyes and burned her throat. Things were changing this very second. “Don’t.”
  “It’s too late. You wanted to know, so know everything. I’m more than attracted to you. I love you. I love you not only as a friend, as my best friend, the best damn friend I’ve ever had, but as a woman. I want you in my life, in my bed and in my heart. Friendship isn’t enough anymore. I want more.”
  Hot tears blinded her. She shoved away from him, thrusting off his hands as he reached for her. A sob replaced the moan in her chest. “You just ruined everything.”

Charlie flees, for all of ten seconds. Just long enough to come to the conclusion that he's fucked up everything, so she might as well fuck him. Give herself the fantasy she'd been denying herself all this time. And she almost gets away with it. Except Bastian catches sight of the tears in her eyes. From there, there's a jump through a proposal and a landing in dating. She agrees, for he insists she just needs time to get used to the idea. And the issue even spills into their late night sex talk radio show.

A product of a mother who was way too young and immature to have a child, Charlie developed early, was pushed into stripping to make her way through college, and has never known permanence. I couldn't relate to any of that. But Charlie had me in her corner all the way. Bastian was the one man she trusted not to reduce her to a sexual plaything. She even gave him the chance to screw her back when his marriage was falling apart. But now, like all the rest, he wants her in his bed. She didn't bother paying attention to the rest of what he said!

Ever read a book you enjoyed so much that you didn't want to read it? I was so there with this one. It was too good to end! Beautifully scripted, every case-made or disputed-vibrated with underlying passion. And twisted! There was no way to know what was going to happen next with the constant waves of surprises.

Bastian was the answer to every girl who's ever lost faith in love. Filled with great one liners and zingers that I was doing all kinds of blushing or laughing over, this book has managed to usurp the position as my favorite friends to lovers story. A title previously held by Insatiable by Cari Quinn. Sadly the crown wasn't held for long.

• The death of something priceless should be harder to achieve.

So.. I'm going to quote the hell out of this book...

• “I’ll get naked when you wear white.”

...and I'm not sorry about it.

• At the threshold, he stopped, hand on the frame. His eyes snagged hers and held them. “Charlie, about what you said while I was in the shower…I’m well aware that you don’t need me for certain things. But I’d like to think you want me. Just in case, I got you another present.” He drew a small white bag from his pocket and tossed it to her.
  She caught it awkwardly in one hand, juggling the carton in the other. Then he was gone. She set the ice cream on the console ledge and opened the bag. The outer door latched as her laughter burst out.
  Bastian had bought her batteries.

It's just too good. I want to remember everything!

• She flew too fast and hard without an anchor. Blindly, she clung to him, nails biting into his shoulders. He held her. Bastian would always hold her when she was weakest.

Alas, we near the end:

• The inside of his SUV was warm, borderline hot, but he shivered in cold. That’s what happens when your heart stops. Blood doesn’t flow through the veins, heat seeps away, tissues die. Two-minute window. A body had two minutes from the time the heart stopped until permanent damage began. He never knew how agonizing those two minutes were. Not until Charlie left him. Oh my God, what did I do?

Bastian and Charlie exemplified the exact 'argument' my husband and I have had for ever. Men and women translate things differently. History has taught women to look for what isn't there. Thanks to a certain serpent, we've become paranoid, having learned to read between the lines. Whether or not there truly is anything to be found. Bastian says one thing, Charlie hears something else. Bastian says nothing. Charlie hears a hell of a lot. Over and over again. It's truly the one revolving issue that creates all kinds of drama.

• “Talk to me, damn it.” He leaped from the footstool. “You were going to say yes. I saw it in your eyes. What did I say that pushed you away?”
  “It’s what you didn’t say.” A single tear dropped from her lashes.
  “Wait, you’re pissed at me for something I didn’t say but that you heard loud and clear? That makes perfect sense.” Apparently a hangover didn’t wait until all the alcohol left the blood because a headache exploded behind his eyes. “On what fucking planet?”
  “You’re being a martyr,” she snapped. “You threw away something you’ve wanted for years because I’m not good enough for you.”
  His jaw dropped. “What? Where in the hell did you get that idea?”
  A mocking laugh twisted her mouth. “You. If I were Lisa, you’d never have had a vasectomy.”
  “Lisa divorced me.”
  Her chin lifted. “And I’m going to Arizona.”
  “You can go to hell.”

I'm branding this one a 5 star. And throwing in one last quote, spoiler and all, to close this chapter.

• He slid down, marking his territory with a husband’s right...

I'm going to miss this read. =(

Perfect Mate: Mate #1

“Okay, who let the civilian have the axe?” -Nic

Perfect Mate
Mina Carter
Mate, book one
ebook, 249 pages
Published August 21st 2012 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ISBN 9781609288679


Monsters do exist...and they’re the good guys.

Lillian Rosewood leads an ordinary, boring life working as the manager of a psychiatric hospital. The highlights of her day, other than her skinny hot chocolate, are the hunky guards who work in the secure section. Until a late night emergency is wheeled in.

Captain Jack Harper is insane, drop-dead gorgeous...and just had his abdomen shredded. Despite the fact they're not an emergency room, Lillian can't turn him away and risk a death on her hands. Unable to get the handsome soldier out of her mind, Lillian sneaks into the restricted area to check on him. What she finds is beyond belief. Somehow Jack has managed to heal himself from a near fatal wound in mere hours.

When one of the doctors, Walker, attempts to rape her, things go from bad to worse. In the blink of an eye, Jack is loose and Walker is dead... and Lillian must accept a truth about her rescuer that will change her world forever. What if the patients aren't insane? What if their stories of secret government experiments and monsters are true?

Warning: Contains blood, mayhem and nude werewolves operating heavy weaponry. Large amounts of sarcasm, and smart-ass vampires may offend some readers. No civilian hospital staff were harmed in the making of this story.

I was in no way prepared for Jack Harper. And maybe that was just a plain stupid error on my part. The guy was being checked into a mental hospital despite being perfectly sane, so why wouldn't he act the part? Either way, I wasn't braced for the big guy to burst into song. Talk about a wtf/facepalm moment. Crazy funny from the start.

Rolled in on a gurney, losing blood and pumped fill of silver nitrate to guarantee he stayed down, Jack still manages to recognize the scent of his mate when she rushes forward to help stem the bleeding. He catches her before she makes physical contact but her presence is enough to wake the beast inside him. A wolf that's raging inside with the need to claim its mate... and rip apart the bastard that intends to harm her.

At that instant I knew I was dealing with a possible biped werewolf that needed the moon to shift, which I ordinarily loathe, but here, I couldn't have cared less. It didn't matter, I was totally rooting for Jack!

The lust for blood and/or the woman shielded behind him wages war inside Jack and for the first time I truly understood why werewolves get shelved in the horror section despite the overwhelming romance fashioned around them. Here, I got it. Other places, not nearly as much.

Riding the shoulder of the book is Major Antonia Fielding, human turned science experiment Vamp, or, as they call them, Blood. Inheriting a prejudice against Lycans from her newly developed self, Antonia is sent to contain the outbreak. After she's forced to watch the only person that ever came close to being a friend, Garry, be turned into a zombie. Yep. All the viruses are alive and well in this series. But Resident Evil's got nothing on this!

Jack's first stop amidst the chaos is to break free his beta and right hand man, Darcy Foster. Awesome all on his own, Darce is soon revealed as Antonia's mate. Also rescued are Richards, Blake, Thom, Palmer, Joe Sanders (gay, in love with Richards), and the lone female of the squad, Nic.

She [Nic] stilled, her expression deadening. Slowly, her gaze marched down to his groin. He didn’t bother to hide the tented fabric at his crotch. His scent would give him away anyway.
She lifted her brow, lips pursed. “Impressive. Weird but impressive. Didn’t know RAs got you off this badly.”
He snorted and waved a hand dismissively. He was in too good a mood to be brought down by her sarcasm. 
“She’s here!”  He had been going to keep the amazing news to himself, but instead he found himself blurting the words out without any apparent intervention from his brain. Once they were out, there was no taking them back, so he stood in the middle of the corridor grinning like a fool. 
The two other wolves froze. There was no question what he meant. A wolf only meant one thing when he said “she” in that tone of voice. He was talking about the other half of his soul, his perfect mate. The woman made especially for him.
“One of the RAs? Man, that sucks. I’m sorry,” Sanders, a man of few words, spoke into the silence. 
“Oh. God, no. She’s not an RA. She’s one of the troops that came with them—”
Nic speared him with a look so icy he was surprised his blood didn’t freeze.
“She? With the troops? There’s only one woman with them and she…” Her lip curled in disgust. “She’s a Blood.”
Darce grinned and nodded like a fool. He knew what she was, and he didn’t care.
The female werewolf’s gaze stabbed toward his groin again. "Seriously, Darce? We’re about to be overrun by RAs and you’ve got a boner for some Blood bitch?”

The characters here are done to perfection. Even mere human Lillian. She doesn't freak out or attempt to flee. She stays glued to Jack's side through it all. And not because of some overwhelming, lame ass, cheesy mate bond but because of common freaking sense. Fills the role of alpha female quite well, too. =)

It's been a good long while since I've felt the compulsion to highlight the hell out of a book but I just could not help myself here. May the author forgive me.

“Which one do I get?”
His lips compressed. “None of them. You stay behind me and down out of sight behind the cabinet.”
She looked at him as though he’d grown another head. “Excuse me? Can you repeat that? I thought you just told me that I don’t get a gun.”
He picked up a shotgun and cocked with a swift, efficient movement.
“Yup, that’s exactly what I said.”
“Well, fuck that! I want a gun.”

When the group makes their final break for freedom, it's Darce that hangs back to take care of the rogue soldier hot on their tails. A feat he achieves beautifully. Damn it if Darce didn't have me in the palm of his hand. From his very first word to his last scripted syllable, that man had me hooked. When he and Antonia finally come together, Antonia can't figure out what she wants to shred more. His flesh, or his clothes.

And HOT damn if Jack didn't pass my bed test! *squeal*

Carter outdid herself with this book. She's no stranger to shifters but speaking on this alone... epic. She stayed true to their essence and managed to avoid sounding like the broken record so many writers of animal shifters tend to do. By the gods, this woman's amazing!

5 out of 5 stars to my first favorite of 2013. Hell, I'm about to kick this thing back to the beginning and read it all over again.

Mate Series (taken from Author's Website)

1 - Perfect Mate
2 - Blood Mate (WIP)
3 - Broken Mate (Planned)
4 - Hidden Mate (Planned)
5 - Unwanted Mate (Planned)

Insatiable

Insatiable
Cari Quinn
ebook, 254 pages
Published February 15th 2011 by Loose Id
ISBN 9781607379515


Having all of her is the only thing that will satisfy him.

Shawn Griffin and Rachel Cooper have been best friends practically since birth, thanks to their families' close relationship. But for the past few years, Shawn has been fantasizing about getting his best pal in his bed. When she announces she's taking a trip to reconnect with an old lover, Shawn knows the time has come to put up or shut up. If she wants to go to New York City, fine. But he's coming with her.

Rachel doesn't know what to think of Shawn's sudden interest. Determined to live life on her own terms, she refuses to fall right in line with her wealthy family's wish that they get married and have perfect little babies. She just didn't count on how determined her seemingly laid back -- and extremely sexy -- best friend would become after setting his sights on what he wants. Her, over and over again.

But when tragedy strikes, Rachel begins to wonder if she'll lose not only her lover but her best friend too.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, exhibitionism/sex in public.

• “What are you looking for then?”
  “What I've already found.” He took a breath. Let it out again. “I love you, Rachel.” When her expression didn't change, he let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Capital L, Rach. The big kahuna. Not best-pal love, but the I-want-to-eat-tropical-fruit-drizzled-with-honey-off-your-breasts-and-make-love-to-you-all-night kind. Get my drift?”

LoveloveloveloveLOVE!

I'll never get enough of the friends becoming lovers theme. I want them all!

And this one had surprisingly more drama than many I have encountered. Shawn and Rachel have been friends since practically forever. They've shared everything-except their bodies.

When Rachel decides to visit her ex, the one that left her for a dream career in New York and fathered her miscarried child so many years ago, Shawn can't take it anymore. She's never even imagined he could want anything but a friendship from her until he kisses her. Tongue, passion, and all.

Except, she doesn't kiss back.

And then, suddenly she's gone. Away from him and away from the west coast, on a flight for New York. What's a guy whose been madly in love with his best friend all of his adult life to do but finish what he started.

My heart went out to Shawn. After more than a decade of unrequited love, he's reduced to take her however he can get her and gives it however she'll take it. I didn't agree with it at all. But hell, I could empathize.Except for that advice he took from his father, which sadly, was his last. Does that crap actually work on women. It would never on me. I'd sooner kill the sonofabitch.

On the flipped side of the perspective, I could relate to Rachel, too. Way back when sex was something she was only curious about, she asked Shawn to be her first and was outright rejected. Since then, she's blocked every impure thought about the guy and packed him away into the best friend box which became the foundation of her life. And now, without warning, he's breaking down each and every wall that committed him to the friend zone and it's forcing her world to crumble.

She tries to come up with any kind of explanation to his sudden turnabout, but nothing fits. She continues to fight. He continues to pull.

Eventually Rachel agrees to give them a chance but it's not before she breaks him. And breaks him baaaaad! Hell, I felt an all out assault on my emotions as Rach put Shawn through the wringer. His pain. His joy. His ache. His hope. His grief...

In his desperation to win her, Shawn cuts off all communication with his family to spare their "it's meant to be" pressure on Rachel. And it costs him dearly. Oh, the trauma!

I can't in good conscience give this anything less than five stars. It's just too *real*. So many friends-to-lovers books have an air of incredulous about them, but this, this could happen. And it just wrecks me.

• “You gave me a mind-blowing fuck in an elevator.” His laughter rumbled against her ear as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “And I gave you candles and rose petals on the bed.”

Some girls get rings with a proposal. Shawn gets birth control pills.

A Demon and His Psycho: Welcome to Hell #2

A Demon and His Psycho
Eve Langlais
Welcome To Hell, book two
ebook
Published July 17th 2012 by Eve Langlais
ISBN 9781927459089


Welcome to Hell where the rules are always changing, the ash is constantly raining, and Lucifer is watching, waiting to steal your soul…

I'm not crazy. I just have anger issues.

With a giggle and an outrageous mouth – perfect for things other than talking – Katie comes flying into Xaphan’s life, upsetting centuries of self-inflicted misery. How can he stay true to the one he lost when a bubbly psycho, with mismatched eyes, keeps consuming his thoughts – and awakening his desire?

So she was a tad bit nuts, Katie’s insanity came in handy as the Devil’s favorite problem solver. But killing’s not on the menu when a dragon goes missing, and worse, Lucifer teams her up with Hell’s grumpiest demon. His rejection of her advances only makes her more determined to seduce him. And despite her violent reputation, a part of her is oddly tempted to let him live.

Warning: This story centers around a grumpy demon holding onto an ancient vow and a perky psycho (with killer tendencies) who is determined to make him snap. There's cursing, melt-your-screen hotness, messed up religious tropes and snort out loud fun. If you enjoy raunchy humor, sizzling moments and already know you’re going to Hell, then dive on in.

She's wrong. This bitch *is* crazy. And by the end, she even drives Xaphan to madness.

I had too much fun reading this one. So much that I wanted to grab a copy for Redd but apparently erotica has been making her gag lately... Too bad. Cuz this was laugh-out-loud fun.

The only bad thing about this book is the font on the cover. Everything else, pure genius! Forget Hell as you know it. In this world, God and Lucifer are brothers and Luci's in a romantic relationship with Mother Earth. When Lucifer's granddaughter's pet dragon, Fluffy, goes missing from her garden, Xaphan and Katie are teamed up to track it down.

Xaphan is a thousand times a fool. Back when he was human, and a knight with no land or riches, he fell for his lord's woman and she used his infatuation to do her bidding. He sold his soul and pledged his undying love. Now he's a demon in Hell.

Katie's had a rough life. Every man she's ever known has let her down. So she kills them all. And others. And anyone else that inspires her psychosis.

• A smile hovering around his lips, Lucifer waved her closer. “I see you’ve met your partner.”
  
  Lips pulled down in a grimace, Xaphan answered. “Unfortunately. You expect me to work with her? You can’t be serious?”
  
  “Oh but I am,” Lucifer replied with a smile that sent the damned – the smart ones at any rate – running.
  
  Smart or not, Xaphan wasn’t giving in without a fight. “Like fuck. I am not working with that crazy female.”
  
  “Why not?” she asked with a pout, planting her hands on her hips. It was ridiculously cute, and proved his point.
  
  “Exactly how are you supposed to help? Look at you.”
  
  She peered down and rotated her hips, trying to look behind her. “What about me? Is it the shorts? Did I not trim enough off? I skipped the underwear so I wouldn’t have any lines. It’s the bra, isn’t it? I went for support so I wouldn’t jiggle when I ran, but you’re right. It’s got to go.” And it did. A shimmy, a wink and a wiggle later, a black lace confection went whipping towards his face.
  
  He caught it, stunned. “You’re completely and utterly psycho.”
  
  “Why thank you,” she said, as she held a hand to her chest and preened. “I do try my best.”
  
  “That she does,” Lucifer agreed. “Which is why I think she’ll be a perfect match for the task I’ve got planned.”
  
  “I am so winning employee of the year this time,” Katie exclaimed, punctuated with a fist pump.

It was crude and delicious and I want more! Somebody get these two a tv show!

Seriously, I am madly in love with this book. 5 out of 5 stars. And it's my first favorite of 2012. Wheee!

• “Why did you come?”
  
  “Because I love you.” He slapped a hand over her mouth before she could retort. “No. You don’t get to talk yet. You have a tendency, I noticed, of flying off the handle with wrong conclusions, so this time you need to listen. I love you, Katie, killer of demons and sexy psycho.
  
  She shook her head behind his enforced silence.
  
  “Don’t try and deny it. I know what I’m feeling. And I’m telling you right now I never felt it before.” She narrowed her gaze. “Never. What I had with Roxanne was nothing like what I feel for you. Not even close. I need you.”
  
  No, she wouldn’t melt. She had to stay strong.
  
  “Stubborn, psycho. Fine, you need more proof? I went to the bars the first day after you left.”
  
  Aha, the cheater.
  
  “I let women hit on me, left, right and center.”
  
  Oh, she could feel a murderous rampage coming on.
  
  “They left me cold.”
  
  Killing spree averted.
  
  “So I went to a dating service.”
  
  Blood pressure rising.
  
  "They introduced me to beautiful women, nice women.”
  
  Going to explode.
  
  “None of them could hold a candle to you.”
  
  Out went her breath.

Eve Langlais is typically a MFM author. So glad she makes the occasional exception.

Dangerous Cravings

Dangerous Cravings
Evangeline Anderson
ebook, 448 pages
Published  March 21, 2006  by Loose Id, LLC
ISBN 9781596323889


By day, Tampa homicide detective Alex Reed is fiercely intelligent and tougher than any of the men in her department. By night, she explores her darker side by writing highly erotic novels of bondage and submission under the pen name Victoria Tarlatan.

Detective Cole Berkley is Alex's longtime partner and best friend. He doesn't know anything about her secret hunger to be mastered, but he's about to find out. A serial killer is working his dark magic, transforming wicked women into works of erotic art. His hapless victims are found tied to the bed in classic bondage poses, strangled and tortured in unspeakable ways. To crack the case, Alex and Cole go undercover in the BDSM community, posing as Master and slave, Dominant and submissive.

Can Alex hold on to her secret while being forced to play out her most private fantasies with her partner? And can Cole handle the change in his tough-as-nails partner from one of the guys to a woman with deeply erotic needs? The friction between them will soon be the least of their worries. The killer has a list of intended victims. Victoria Tarlatan is on it, making Alex next in line for the killer's transformation. Will she pay for her Dangerous Cravings with her life?

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations some readers may find objectionable: Strong BDSM theme and content, violence.

Earlier this week I was needing something sweet in my reading. But then... I'm the type of person that needs a bit of sadism with her sugar. And that's where Dangerous Cravings comes in...

Stay with me now.

Erotic romance writer, and one of the best might I add, Evangeline Anderson, has outdone herself with this thrilling read about a serial killer targeting authors whose books focus on BDSM.

Cole Berkley and Alex Reed haven't spent the last five years of their partnership pining for one another. They're friends-friends who trust one another explicitly and have a very close, very comfortable relationship. But their newest case is about to bring out Alex's long kept secret and give the attraction between the two a very forceful shove.

Couldn't help but be completely engrossed by the gradual process Anderson wrote for Cole coming around to noticing Alex. First her voice. Then, her legs. And so on and so forth. It's one of those things where you're on the edge of your seat, waiting for the passion to explode, and yet, the high you get from that bit by bit is just as an intoxicating. Tease me... no, don't tease me! Gawd, I was dying to know how the first kiss was going to go down. And HOT DAMN I was not disappointed. Daddy issues make for the *best* drama. And some rather hot moments of weakness.

Cole is a virgin to the very idea of BDSM. He has no clue what the hell is going on. Alex writes the stuff, craves it, but won't speak a damn word about it so Cole is forced to use the investigation to try to make some sense of it all. He can't bring himself to comprehend what makes his best friend need to be held down and have pain inflicted during sex. But he loves Alex. He wants her. And he wants to be the lover she needs him to be, even though the idea of hurting her makes him physically sick.

Get over it, Cole!

“What the hell,” I said, slowly and distinctly, “was that about?”
     She turned to me and there was so much need, so much pain and confusion and shame in her eyes,that I felt my insides clench. God, she’d never even hinted at anything like this. Or maybe she had, and I just wasn’t paying attention ... Maybe I was ignoring her because I didn’t want to know.
     “Cole ...” Her voice was soft and tentative. The look on her face said she expected me to hit her at any time. I wanted to shake her, this vulnerable stranger. Shake her and demand what she had done with my tough, no-nonsense, takes-no-crap-off-anyone, one-of-the-guys partner.
     “Never mind,” I said, feeling the muscles in the side of my jaw bunch and tense. “Just get out.”
     “No.” Her eyes cleared a little, my rough words seeming to bringing her back to her senses. “No, I’m not leaving like this. I need ... I need ...” Her mouth worked uncertainly.
     “What?” I asked, my voice dangerously soft. “What do you think you need, Alex?”
     “I need you to understand,” she burst out, desperately. “I need you to know that I’m not ... thatI don’t ...”
     “Don’t what? Don’t get off on --”
     “Don’t say it.” She slid across the seat and pressed her small hand over my lips. In the dim glow of the lamp her eyes were wide and drowning deep. I felt in danger of falling in and never getting outagain. I wanted her so badly I ached. But I didn’t want to lay her down and take my time -- didn’t want to bring her gently or take her softly. I wanted what she wanted. I wanted to be rough with her. I couldn’t let myself want that.
     I pulled back from her, afraid that her touch, the press of her small, warm fingers against my lips, would set me off. “Get out,” I said again. I felt like a loaded gun with three pounds of pressure already on the trigger. “Get out, Alex.”
     “No.” She was trembling but determined. “No, come in with me.”
     “I can’t.” I heard a low grating sound and realized it was me, grinding my teeth. “I can’t -- I’ll hurt you.”
     She looked up at me, eyes wide and serious. “I know.”
     I could hear the steering wheel creak beneath my palms as I gripped it. I was holding it like a life preserver, knowing that if it left my hands, and my feet took me into her small dark house, I was lost. I can’t let that happen. I said it to myself over and over.
     “Cole,” she said, stroking the side of my face. “Cole, please ...”
     My control snapped and somehow my traitorous hands left the steering wheel and buried themselves in her silky hair, the same way they had the night before. I was again conscious of wanting to own her -- of wanting to possess her totally. Her mouth was as sweet as a bruised berry. I crushed her to me, wanting to own and if I couldn’t own, wanting to mark. To leave a sign on her skin that would let the world know I had been there.

Eventually Cole finds a balance between his own fantasies and Alex's needs and the scenes are a beautiful balance of the two. Despite the drama of a bitch of an ex wife and having an eight-year-old daughter, I found Cole-as Redd would say-extremely lickable.

Readers who find themselves opposed to BDSM may want to veer around this one but I would actually encourage it's reading for the very same reason. It's very light in the bondage... a few lashings, a bit of restraining, very little sex, but overall it's a very psychological approach to the topic, which is so Anderson. She gets me to respond on a mind level no other author ever has. I question so much when I read her work. About myself. And about the world around me. 5 out of 5 stars.

Another great thing about this book? It has an itty-bitty sequel!

Blood Law: Blood Moon Rising #1

❝ “He threatened my man, so I ripped his throat out.”  ❞

Blood Law
Karin Tabke
Blood Moon Trilogy, book one
ebook, 320 pages
Published May 3rd 2011 by Penguin Group
ISBN13 9781101514313

The coming of the Blood Moon will lead two Lycan packs into war, spur two rival brothers into conflict, and spark an act of vengeance so evil that its effects will be felt for generations.

One woman stands at the center of it all…

As undisputed Alpha, Rafael must choose a life mate to preserve the dominance of his Lycan pack. He never suspected, his mate would be a human, the same wounded, girl-woman he seduces from the brink of death. Falon is a dangerous combination of Lycan and Slayer—beings bred to destroy his kind. Even more, she’s a mesmerizing beauty whose sensuality tempts the seasoned warrior to take unnecessary risks. The primal heat between them is irresistible, yet surrendering to it could destroy them both…for a vengeful foe stands ready in the shadows to fulfill what is rightfully his by Blood Law.

I can't help but have some kind of love for a book that opens up with a little bit of fact and noted myth right at the start. It goes to prove that the author has taken the time to do her research and, in most cases, has taken that same bit of care to weave an extraordinary tale.

Brothers Lucien and Rafael have already once suffered a battle to the death, in which they both lost. But through the intervening prayers of a favored healer each was spared- to live and fight another day.

When Rafael finds his mate, three things happen: He saves her life, orders her death, and then proceeds to bring her back from the dead. Now that, for me, is a first. I wasn't prepared for the epic amount of violence and fantastic powers that I found within this book and, oh yeah, I was giddy over every bit of it.

(paperback cover)

This story is about laws meant to be followed and destined to be broken. Oh my damn, the drama! I loved Rafael’s turmoil as he fought between his sense of honor with holding to the laws his people had cherished for generations and the primal demand to protect his mate. One that he claimed for all the wrong reasons.

Fourteen years ago, Rafael, in duty, murdered the woman his twin brother Lucien intended to claim as his mate. The woman was a Slayer and law forbade Lycans to ever pair with their kind. Blinded by what may have been dark magic, Lucien could not see the woman for what she was, forcing Rafael to end her life to spare them all.

According to their laws, though, Lucien is due an eye for an eye. Whomever Rafael takes as his mate, her life is forfeit to Lucien. And so, by chance, Rafael meets Falon, saves her life, and because she is but a mere human, succumbs to his desire for her and takes her as his mate. Her lost life was intended to mean nothing to him. But Falon proves herself a worthy partner and warrior for his pack. She will fight for her life. And Rafael soon discovers himself willing to offer his own in exchange, all in an effort to appease the Blood Law.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so floored by an ending in my whole life. Multiple OMG’s dropped from my lips for long minutes after. Tabke had thoroughly shocked the hell out me. Seriously. Eyes bulging. Jaw dropping. ‘What the hell happens next’ kind of panic erupted.

OMG! What. Happens. Next?! 5 out of 5 stars.

Coming in February 2012

Eternal Rider: Lords of Deliverance #1

"You know I could crush you."
"I know you won't."
"Why, because I need to protect you?"
"No." She poked him in the breastplate. "Because you gave me a pillow."

Eternal Rider
Larissa Ione
Lords of Deliverance, book one
Kindle Edition, 400 pages
Published April 1st 2011 by Grand Central Publishing
ISBN 978044657449
Author's site

They are here. They ride.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.

Ares and his three siblings, Reseph, Thanatos, and sister Limos, are the spawns of the angel, Yenrieth, who after many decades finally fell prey to the succubus Lilith's pursuit. The boys grew up, and in need for vengeance against the demons destroying their families and homes, they encouraged humans to wage war against them.

From there, heaven intervened and soon a deal was struck with the devil. As punishment, the children of Yenrieth were charged with the keeping of Armageddon. Each was given a seal, and should they keep their seal intact until God's time, their souls would be saved. Should the seals be broken, they would turn evil and be forever known as Pestilence (Reseph), War (Ares), Famine (Limos), and Death (Thanatos).

Sin, a former bedmate of Ares', has launched a werewolf plague and in doing so Reseph's seal has subsequently broken. She has triggered the Apocalypse. And so begins Eternal Rider.

With just the right blend of fantasy and that very delicate topic of religion, Ione has woven one hell of a good tale.

You don't always have a book that's equally balanced in its violence and smut. Usually, one's written a lot better than the other. Not here. OMG. The war is rough and the sex is AMAZING... orgasmic... without a doubt, the best I've encountered. I have honestly never been so worked up by a moment where a guy asks if his woman is on her cycle. Ridiculous, right? *fans self* That shower scene certainly was. Strange thing is, it was a rather short scene.

So what's better than a band of brothers? Two brothers and a sister. Limos didn't do much in this book but the perceptions of her made for some good laughs. LOL'd at "Chick was weird." and of course, "Apparently, she was the ADD Horseman." Plus, she's a hoot when Reaver shows up.

They each have some rather incredible powers. Than's armor collects the souls of those he kills. In battle, he can call them out and if they kill for him they are granted their freedom. His humor had me in tears. "Never seen anyone hotter. He fills my dreams with his hotness." LMFAO! As far as the seals go... the breaking of Reseph's is triggered by an event. Ares, a person. Limos, a thing. And strangely enough, Than's revolves around his virginity. Can't wait to see how that one plays out.

And the ending of this one? How-after all that rock-your-world awesomeness-how did she manage NOT to disappoint me??? 5 out of 5 stars. And this is my first favorite read of 2011. Hot damn!

Footsteps approached, and he knew by the cadence that it was Thanatos. Knew by the heavy strikes that his brother was armored up.
     “I visited Lilith’s temple and there was no sign of Tristelle… and what the hell are you doing?”
     Ares cursed, long and loud. “I’m an idiot.”
     “Duh.” Than grinned, because yeah, he was a real barrel of laughs. “But what are you doing?”
     “Fucked up. This is so fucked up.” Ares slammed his fist into the wall and hissed through the pain. He never did shit like that, because if you ruined yourself, you couldn’t fight. Sure, the bones he’d just broken would be healed in an hour, but still. “She beat me.”
     “Did you like it?”
     “You’re still not funny.” Ares’s jaw was clenched so tight he could barely understand his own words. “She knows how important she is, and she called me on it.” Man, she’d shocked the shit out of him. Up until now, she’d been as timid as a mouse, afraid of someone saying boo to her, and suddenly, she’d sprouted some teeth.
     Probably because the agimortus had ripped his balls out and transplanted them into her.
     Thanatos laughed, and speaking of teeth, Ares wanted to knock his brother’s out of his head. “It’s about time someone got one up on you. And a female human at that.”
     “Fuck you.”
     “I can’t have sex.”
     “This isn’t a joke, brother.” Every one of Ares’s muscles twitched. “I want her.”
     Than arched a tawny eyebrow, the silver piercing catching the light. “Then take her.”
     “It isn’t that simple. She can’t stand me.” Ares kept pacing, his gut churning, his dick aching. “But then she looks at me with…” Lust? Too strong a word. Longing? Too wimpy. But shit, he could smell her desire, and the way her body would curve into his…
     Thanatos laughed again, and Ares’s hands curled into fists. “You can have any demon female in the underworld just by crooking your finger, and now you want a human, but you don’t know how to have her. This is good.”

The highly anticipated sequel is due out in December! And check out the wallpaper available on the author's website:

Ares & Battle

Dark Succession: True Mates #2

Dark Succession
True Mates, book 2
ebook
Published April 20th 2010 by Freya's Bower

Nora Hunt is the daughter of former pack leader Sean Hunt and niece to Kieran Hunt. Emotionally and physically scarred after being held captive for weeks, she's finally ready to move on with her life. But when she meets Ryland, she discovers not only a world of darkness and pain, but discovers Ryland may not be any better than those who held her captive all those weeks.

When Ryland Keegan steps in as Alpha of his dead brother's pack, he inherits a pack of savage rogue wolven, as well as a legacy of violence, lies and five women held captive within the pack's confines.

But when Ryland's pack members start dying one at a time, he must decide if Nora is the catalyst or the killer. Can he trust his True Mate? Or will he be relegated to a life of leading the dregs of Wolven society?

“Just let me hold you for a while, mate.”

How do you turn a villain into a hero? Give him a chance to tell his side of the story.

Ryland is altogether a different man in this book in comparison to the first. Not that *he* changed. Just the perspective. With his brother now dead, Ryland has inherited the pack (a group of misfit rogues) and a den (an underground concrete stronghold). His life as a shifter is totally screwy. Then he finds his True Mate in Nora, the she-wolf tortured by hyena shifters in the first book. She's also the niece of Kieran, the alpha mate of the woman Ryland once tried to claim.

He escaped and strode across the hall to his own. Inside, he closed the door, leaned against it, and shut his eyes. Now what?

Meeting his mate hadn’t exactly been on today’s agenda. He wasn’t sure how to proceed. Just like their wolf cousins, shewolves chose their mates, despite the rare paring of True Mates. And like the wolves, they usually chose the strongest in a pack. But it wasn’t always the case. Sometimes, they chose entirely by their heart. That’s what scared him. Ryland didn’t know how to court a female. They’d always come running to him. And since none of those females had managed to touch it, he was sure he didn’t have a heart.

Ryland's feelings toward finding Nora teeter a bit in the beginning. He's proud when she stands up to him but later, as he doesn't know what she's been through, Nora shows fear from the memories of her past and Ryland is disgusted by it. His True Mate is a coward. Nora, too, is humiliated by her terror but the stronger emotion is the attraction she feels for Ryland. For the first time in her life, she finds herself wanting a male's attention, even wanting a mate.

Facing a threat to his status as alpha and working to correct the errors of his predecessor, Ryland is torn between what's right and what's best for the pack and for their kind. All the while Nora is there, slowly bonding with him on an emotional level as the need to claim her only exacerbates his very fragile predicament. This one had more of a murder mystery side to it with a very interesting shock factor. Joshua isn't who Ryland always thought he was. And Nora has known Ryland for longer than she remembers.

Then when Nora finds out the truth about Ryland's attempts against Anna... And Ryland sees Nora's scars for himself... OMG goodness! I'm not even sure what it was about this story that hit just the right spot for me. It just did.

I was all about some Ryland though. Anna and Nora are on about the same level with me but Ryland blew Kieran so far out of the water you might want to look for him along the stratosphere.

"You have to see what you are before you can see what you are to me."

Uh huh. Smexy. Ryland is probably the first character I seriously wanted to gobble up. The desk sex was smoldering. The battle of wills that joined the ride just upped the heat. The suspense, though, was going to be the death of me. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Darkest Hour: KGI #1

It’s been one year since ex-Navy SEAL Ethan Kelly last saw his wife Rachel alive. Overwhelmed by grief and guilt over his failures as a husband, Ethan shuts himself off from everything and everyone.

His brothers have tried to bring Ethan into the KGI fold, tried to break through the barriers he’s built around himself, but Ethan refuses to respond …until he receives an anonymous phone call claiming Rachel is alive.

To save her, Ethan will have to dodge bullets, cross a jungle, and risk falling captive to a deadly drug cartel that threatens his own demise. And even if he succeeds, he’ll have to force Rachel to recover memories she can’t and doesn’t want to relive—the minute by minute terror of her darkest hour—for their love, and their lives, may depend on it.

Ethan Kelly has failed in his marriage. On so many levels. His wife is dead. And their relationship was in shambles long before she died.

He's spent a year mourning the loss, barely living at all. Yearning for a chance to make it right. On the anniversary of the day her plane went down, Ethan receives a package with a note telling him Rachel is alive and enough evidence to make him believe it to be true.

But once he has her back he is torn between wanting her to remember their life together, and praying she won't.

I read this story with a fury. Seriously.

This book is evidence of precisely why I am a fan of Maya Banks. She writes military romance like no freaking other. It's got more action that an entire summer of movie blockbusters and the right amount of emotion to send your heart plummeting until soaring with hope and love for every single character you come across.

And just a note, because I know I'm going to need this when the next book comes out in December (No Place to Run (A KGI Novel)) of this year and the third in March (Hidden Away (A KGI Novel))of 2011.

The Kelly's

Frank & Marlene - the parents

Sam (former Army)

Donovan (former Marine)

Garrett (former Marine)

Ethan (former Navy) w/Rachel

Nathan & Joe (active Army, fraternal twins)

Soul Stealer

Sara Lane expects to die young, but when the time comes, she’s not ready. She needs two more weeks to finish a homeless shelter before winter sets in and people die on the streets. Who does a girl have to sleep with to live a few extra days?

How about the sexiest, most dangerous of all bad boys—Death himself?

Cain’s job as a designated death dealer is clear. Kill and move on. Don’t get attached. Don’t feel. But when Sara pleads to cut a deal for more time, Cain is tempted by an unexpected craving for this beautiful, courageous woman. As their lips meet, her life force shakes him to his bones, seals the bargain—and breaks all the rules.

Keeping Sara alive is a dangerous proposition. The Powers That Be are furious and unleash bloodthirsty demons to steal Sara’s soul from Death—the one man who’s hell-bent on saving her life.

I think something is broken. This can't be right.

Because the past hand full of books I've read have left me begging for more. The Lyra series.. then Waitin On A Hero.. now Soul Stealer.

DID NOT realize going in that this was a story about Cain. Cain! Abel's Cain! Cain, from the Bible, Cain!

No one can ever say the name Abel without saying Cain first. -Abel

When a heart defect brings Sara next in line for the Pearly Gates, the task falls to Cain to collect her soul. But when Sara begs for more time, just enough to open the homeless shelter she's dedicated her life to, Cain finds himself faced with a bargain he can't refuse.

"You listen. I'm going to die. I know that. Shoot, I've lived longer than anyone else in my family. When you're the last one..." She took a deep breath. "I came to terms with dying long ago, after my two brothers and mother passed. And when Dad died of a broken heart--" Her eyes filled.

He shifted his feet. He understood only too well what it meant to be the last of his kind. "Count yourself fortunate," he said gruffly. "Shortly you'll be with your loved ones." He raised his hand, fingers splayed before her face.

Her heart squeezed.

"No! Stop doing that." She slapped his hand down. "I told you. I can't go yet. I refuse."

He glared at her. "That decision is not yours to make."

"I'm not talking about forever. Jeez, who does a girl have to sleep with to get an additional two weeks around here?" she huffed.

His heart stopped. It had been at least a millennium since he cared for a woman, centuries since he had slept with one.

A smile played on her lips, one eyebrow lifted. "I thought I was joking, but from the look on your face..." She ran her hands down her body. "Do I have something here? Can I barter for two weeks?"

Kimberley Troutte creates a beautiful manipulation of the tale of Cain as she plays into the old saying 'A man is more than the worst thing he has ever done'. Taking the 'cold-blooded murderer' and shining a new light on a guilt-ridden soul, Soul Stealer stirs the body's response with erotic love making, touches the heart with it's ever changing ride of emotions, and moves the soul with it's take on religious characters and afterlife issues.

So begins a story of two people falling in love while multiple other Biblical characters make surprise visits. Demons lurking outside an abandoned JCPenney-turned-Homeless shelter. Hounds of Hell about to be set loose any minute. And, oh yeah, someone starts chucking amphibians.

"This is me." Sara pointed to the two-story, brick-faced building.

"Your house?" he said sharply.

Unlocking the door, she continued, "I've got the top floor. Mr. Onashi is on the bottom. He plays funky Japanese music, but he's nice. What? Why are you glaring at me?"

He glanced over his shoulder with wary eyes. "Didn't you hear me? You are running for your life, Sara. Not stopping for tea."

Where's the hardcopy cuz this one deserves a place on the shelves!

This was it! Her life was over. The thought made her unbearably sad. She didn't want to die--the shelter wasn't finished and she hadn't saved any lives yet. Heaven would be an awesome place, but she wasn't ready to go. She only hoped that Cain could save her from the evil bursting through the door.

Let it be done quickly, she prayed, not wanting anything to chew on her nerves and all those other horrible things Cain had predicted. And Cain, she added to her prayers.Keep him safe from harm.

Then the sweetest voice said, "There you are. I've been searching everywhere."

"Holy... Mother," Cain said.

Sara's eyes flew open and she peeked around his shoulder. Before them stood an attractive woman aged between forty and fifty, it was hard to tell. She wore a long flowing dress the color of amber. She was beautiful and regal. Her black hair waved to the middle of her back and framed a smiling face. She held her hand up and waved at Sara.

Sara's mouth fell open. Was she really staring at...? Oh. My. Gosh!

"Hello, dear, I'm--" the woman began.

"Oh my, oh my, oh my." Awestruck, Sara dropped to her knees in front of the woman. With her forehead pressed to the floor she mumbled, "I know who you are! I love your Son!"

"You do?" Cain asked.

"Really?" The woman's voice was laced with shock.

Sara looked up in time to see Cain glaring at the woman.

"Sorry, Cain," the woman said with a shrug. "I've just never heard anyone say that before. Have you?"

Sara sat up, blinking in bewilderment. "You're not Mary?"

The woman's hand flew to her mouth. "No, dear. I am not the Mother of God."

Cain's face was red all the way to his ears. "Her son is a lot less important. Please, Sara, get up." He hoisted her to her feet. "This is my mother. Eve."

My Shifter Showmance

Cue the music.

Here kitty, kitty. You know you wanna play.

And with that, it was on. The characters. The book. Hell, with that, I was on!

My Shifter Showmance is the story of Thomas Lyons, a lion shifter. When his roommates finally have enough of Thomas's bitching about being forced to hide who and what he is, Saint - the most entertaining, loveable, and wickedly hilarious half demon I've ever met - shoves a laptop into his hands and points to the webcam.

Tadah! Shifting Reality is born, a site dedicated to the telling of the lives of Thomas, Saint, and their housemate, Mac, the loner vampire.

Soon enough, the site is forwarded to Margo, who is instantly enthralled by the Tomcat on the screen. Conversation flows, and she just as quickly becomes Thomas's favorite poster.

What next? An elaborate scheme revolving around a week in a Scotland castle.

This one was oh-so-good. And I am too happy Neena forwarded word of this sucker along. Funny. Sexy. It's quick, so it doesn't get too deep, but oh, what a ride!

★★★★★

Vicious

They called her vicious.
They called her vindictive.
They called her violent, volatile…
But Graeme Lawson, arrogant bastard he was, he had simply called her his…

If there was a better way to wake up, Graeme wasn’t so sure he wanted to know.

Three years ago, Graeme Lawson was killed by the woman he loved. A knife to the back. Since then, he's been in Purgatory.

But now, he's been given a chance at redemption by going back, and giving Vixen, his love and murderer, a chance at salvation. With a different body, shorter and thinner, but the same neon blue eyes, it doesn't take long for Graeme to find her, but he's not prepared for the air of grief that surrounds her.

Vixen is an assassin. She spent her life on the streets as the daughter of a drug addicted mother who finally overdosed and Vixen was left to stealing to survive. That's how she first met Graeme, who loved her the moment he slapped eyes on her.

Graeme is what nearly every woman wants, and what no assassin needs - a guy that can read your every move. In his new existence, it's even worse. Every sense he has is heightened. He can hear her every word. Even some inside her mind. But the powers that be didn't send him back completely uncontrolled. They'll only let him do so much.

I had my hesitations starting out this one. I mean, the guy's already dead, what kind of happy ending are we looking at here? For the first half of the book we're basically reliving their lives and their life together. I must say, the sexy stuff is top notch.

Near the end, I was flabbergasted as I experienced that moment when a slow smile stretches your face and you find yourself mouthing the words 'no way' as everything comes together so beautifully. If you've ever seen even one Saw movie then you know what I mean. All I wanted to do was crawl into a big blanket, wrap myself in its warmth, and sigh. Yes. Hell yes. The book was good.

The very end? I won't spoil it. It's too unexpected. Not all that huge a deal... just unexpected. You won't see it coming. So I hate the cover, have a mild dislike for the title, but absolutely love love love the story.

“Don’t look away,” he whispered. “You gave me this…and I want all of it.”
The pain was just a whisper at first, but as he pressed deep, deeper, it grew, hot and vicious, spreading through her. She cried out and closed her eyes.

His voice cut through the hot wash of pain. “Look at me!”

She did…and she found herself lost in his gaze.

“I want it all,” he repeated. “I want the tears. I want to feel it as your body tries to accept me, accept this…and I want to watch you as it happens. You gave me this—you can’t hold anything back. Not from me.”

“It hurts.” She hated the whimpering, pleading tone of her voice, but she couldn’t stop it. Nor could she look away from him as he forged deeper and deeper, claiming her one slow inch at a time.

“I know it hurts.” He dipped his head and nuzzled her neck. “And bastard that I am, I can’t even say I’m sorry. I’m glad it hurts, glad this is the first time for you…glad I’m the man having this, having you…and damn it, Vixen, I’m keeping you.”

The in-print cover, shared with Talking With the Dead. Much better!

The Fury

I may have been spoiled a bit by Laurenston and Denee's awesome writing abilities, cuz everything else seems to pale in comparison. Nonetheless, I did love this book. Dagan is to die for. But what guy that straps daggers to his thigh and a sword to his back, isn't?

And the women were great too! Which is new for me. That Chloe. Holy hell. She's a force. And Riley is just crazy enough to get on my good side.Then there's the main lady, Reese. Who I imagine would be my ideal personality in a female. She wants so badly to fight and protect herself, but she just doesn't have a clue. And infuriating as all get out!

But she does have the most amazing friends. They take her being a descendant of a god like it's any other normal thing. Then, they're flashing daggers and hurling lamps. Again, wow, Chloe. And then, at the club when Rufus started ogling some of the women, Chloe put a leash on him fast.

Anyway..

How about finding out your grandfather is a god? Hell to the yeah!

So many men. Dagan. Rufus. Flame. Abu. (Yes, Abu) Scion. Gideon. Percilous. Joe. Geoffry. And so many hook ups. Chloe nabs Rufus in a blink, laying claws and claim. Then Riley jumps Scion's back, kicking and screaming.

Dagan is one hell of a male. He doesn't take kindly to any male being near Reese. So yeah, he's on the bad side of Abu and Joe from immediate start. Though, granted, Abu and he have been enemies long before this.

It is another one of those.. gotta fuck to save his life kinda books. Which, is always odd to me. It's also one of those... every time she gets angry at him he fucks her. Wow. I make it seem like there's a lot of fucking in this book. There isn't really. A lot of fighting and arguing and a shit load of jealous male aggression.

The one thing that makes me want to scream is that I want book two... NOW!

Shadow of the Wolf: Heart's Desire #1

Shadow of the Wolf
Dana Marie Bell
Heart's Desire, book one
ebook, 127 pages
Published December 7th 2009 by Liquid Silver Books
ISBN 9781595786418

Christopher Beckett is tired of being alone. His wolf is howling for his mate, and Chris knows it is only a matter of time before his needs override everything else in his life.

He casts the spell all the Becketts have used to call their mates to them. What he wants is a woman of an older lineage, of power to equal his own. And she has to accept the one aspect that sets him apart from almost every other wizard: his wolf.

What Chris gets is Alannah Evans, a powerful witch of the Evans Coven. The petite, dark haired woman has no problems with the wolf. What she does have a problem with is the fact that Chris is a wizard. Since wizards and witches don’t get along very well, neither should they, but the sparks flying between them can’t be denied.

Chris isn’t taking no for an answer. When it becomes clear that an old enemy has targeted them both Chris will wind up engaging his enemy in a duel that could cost him his life.

Or worse: Lana.

I call on forces higher than I,
To awaken the dreams that I hold inside.
Venus, grant me the love that I lack;
With this spell my mate attract!
This candle for her,
This candle for me.
When they touch,
United we'll be.
Kindle the love,
Kindle the flame,
When we meet, she’ll know my name.
By the power of earth and fire,
Bring unto me my heart’s desire.
By the power of air and sea,
As I will so mote it be.

... and with that, Christopher, wizard and wolf, cast the spell that would find his mate, just as his ancestors before him.

We meet Lana Evans when her car breaks down. It's the middle of the night, raining outside, and she's just waiting for the creepy music to start playing as she finds her plugged in cellphone is dead. The witch that she is, she follows her senses which tell her *not* to wait for a cop to pass by but the go off into the woods. Cute how she thinks to herself this would be the moment she would be yelling at the screen for the dumb bitch to get back in the mother fucking car. And yet.. there she goes.

Her grammy is great. Dirty minded old lady. And how can you not love Christopher's oldest brother, Gareth, when the guy answers the phone with 'Do you know what fucking time it is, fucktard?' And the chocolate syrup. And the 'you must be a male'. Oh-my-damn hilariousness!

They say every guy wants his woman to be a lady on the streets and a freak in the sheets. Christopher is the male equivalent of that image. Respectful, polite, charming... and then you get him in bed and he is all alpha. And vulgar! Some things said, he seriously did not need to let flutter off his tongue. I'm all for the dirty talk.. but let's keep the degradation to a minimum, buddy.

I am so glad that the next story is baby boy Zachary's. The youngest of the Beckett brothers, and weakest (wizard-ly speaking). Everybody's always stealing his food. I mean, gods damn it, Daniel, lay off your brother's plate! But oh shit, that boy started glowing and they all knew they were fucked.

"Trust me, Chris. For once in our lives just... believe in me."

Ah, Zachary. *sniffles*

Heart's Desire series::

Shadow of the Wolf - Christopher (2nd son) & Lana
Hecate's Own - Zachary (4th son) & Jo
The Wizard King - Gareth (1st son) & Genevieve
(4th book) - Daniel (3rd son) & ??

Into The Mist

Eli sat at the bar, expecting nothing much. Then walks in Ty. Green eyes. Halter top. No bra. Tight jeans and combat boots. In a pinch, his dream girl.

He gets her back to his place where she tries to drug him. But Eli - a mist shapeshifter - is too observant to be duped. So Ty falls back to plan B... sex. Mistake number one. Hours later, both are faking sleep in the dark. Then Ty slips from his bed and starts ransacking his living room, looking for god knows what. In mist form, Eli follows, watching every move she makes. Suddenly Ty whips around, eyes straight on him. She grabs up a can of aerosal and blows him a couple feet back, demanding he shift and show himself.

So a little bit of shifting and kung fu ass kicking later, Ty's out the door and on her way back to headquarters. Eli is left trying to figure out who she was and how she knew what the hell he was. Meanwhile, Ty is left with the jitters, and has to explain to three very protective 'brothers' (teammates in her Falcon Mercenary Group) what has her so off. Which she does. Mistake number two.

As it is, Tyana's brother Damiano was working with Eli when whatever happened turned them into shifters. But while Eli and, supposedly, his men have taken control of their new powers, D is losing his mind over his lack of control over his. Ty, with her remaining companions/brothers: Mad Dog and Jonah, trying to figure out what Eli knows and how to get that intelligence for themselves.

I guess, 'hey, how do you that?' was too simple, eh?

Her brothers are great. She's closest with D (Damiano)... then Mad Dog is the oldest, more of the fatherly older sibling type.. and then Jonah is their leader.

Finally, another book where I can't stop saying good stuff about it! Yum Yum Yum. Loved it! Fast paced, a lot of action, even more emotion, but easily followed. Every character found in a way to the heart. Each team is so loyal and protective one another. And yet, Eli and Ty are both strong souls who have overcome lonely pasts. Both were thrown away by their families and have no one else to trust but their teams; their brothers.

It was so heart felt, when Ty comes to face her feelings and she admits she doesn't know if she loves Eli, doesn't know if she *can* love anyone outside her team. But she needs him. Having their relationship go from kicking each others' ass to having Eli go through the motions of realizing Ty is his equal. She gets what he's coming from. Their way of life is perfectly matched. And then the need to beat her becomes the need to protect her. Sex stops being sex. And finally, when the walls break, intimacy is actually shared between them.

*sigh*

Love, language, knives, guns, intel, computer hacking, cross country flights just to take a break. Oh so many goodies!

Easily makes my top reads of 2010. Joining Wolf in Waiting and Eternally.

Oh so goooood!