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Review: The Pirate

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

The Pirate
Author: Katherine Garbera
Publisher: Brava / Kensington
Pub. Date: July 1, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0758232120
Retail: $14.00
Pages: 320

J.P. Lazarus is an ex-Navy Seal who’s parlayed his technical expertise into a lucrative career. His new assignment – capturing Somalian pirates – was risky to begin with, but with Dr. Daphne Barrett on board his tanker, it’s a matter of life, death, and off-the-charts desire.

Working in Africa seemed like a good way for Daphne to regroup after her divorce. But when her vessel is hijacked, Daphne’s status as a senator’s ex-wife makes her a perfect target for ransom. Laz is the one man equipped to protect her. But the more she learns about him, the more questions arise – about the secrets he’s hiding, the chemistry that feels too good to fight, and a future that neither of them can take for granted…

~*~*~

Fans of Cindy Gerard should like this book!

The Pirate in question is the hero, J.P (Jean -Pierre) Lazarus or ‘Laz’ for short, an ex-Navy Seal and now mercenary with the ‘Savage Seven’ Group. I haven’t read the first book in this Savage Seven series The Mercenary, but it wasn’t needed as this book stood on its own.

Laz is weary, sliding close to 40, feeling empty inside as he begins his undercover mission as a Captain of a Danish tanker in the Indian Ocean. He is starting to reassess his life after seeing two other team members now happily married. He is alone. Usually, he reveled in that feeling, that sense of isolation. But nothing gets him wondering if ‘alone’ is not all it is cracked up to be than after he meets Dr. Daphne Barrett.

Daphne is a passenger on the ship with a group of other medical personnel, ‘Doctors Across Waters’, heading for Somalia, which is why Laz and some of his team are on board. They are setting a trap for Somalian pirates. Daphne and Laz meet on deck, and the attraction is immediate between them. Daphne is no youngster herself, late thirties, two teenage sons, and licking her wounds from a recent, messy divorce from her cheating Senator husband. The last thing she is looking for is a tryst with a muscular, rugged tanker captain.

Daphne has some serious trust issues, and after seeing Laz on deck late at night letting some men on board in secret, she assumes the worst and thinks he is a pirate. Even after a heated sexcapade in the first aid room, where Laz sets her alight with his passion, she has her doubts about his role on the ship.

Her doubts all fly out the window when they are boarded by Somalian pirates. Laz springs into action, and so does the story, as crew and passengers are taken hostage. And held for ransom. Besides capturing the pirates, Laz finds himself in full-protective mode as far as Daphne is concerned, a foreign feeling. I loved the glimpses into Laz’s innermost thoughts. His doubts, his longing for a home and family, and here in all places, at all times, is a woman that is giving him a glimpse of what home could be like. It really made him a true hero in my book, like a knight of old.

Daphne also springs into action, using her doctor skills where needed, showing amazing resilience and courage, impressing the heck out of Laz, and still managing a few passionate kisses with Laz in darkened corridors.

When the villain boards the ship, the head pirate, Samatan, the story takes a bit of a dark turn, and when Daphne is found to be the ex-wife of a senator, she is taken by Samatan for a separate ransom, culminating with a high seas rescue that is exciting.

I wished, however, we got more background on the other Doctors and medical personnel. A little glimpse was not quite enough for me to feel any connection with the secondary characters. Some of the pirates however, where more deeply defined and interesting. Samatan in particular.

I really liked Laz. For a rough, GI-Joe type man, he shows surprising tenderness and compassion, and not just with Daphne. He really sold this for me. The adventure moves at a brisk pace and all in all a satisfying romance-suspense.

Rating: 7 (Good)

Heat-Level: 3 (Sensual)

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Review: Forbidden Passion

Friday, June 4th, 2010


Forbidden Passion
Author: Rita Herron
Publisher: Grand Central
Pub. Date: April 1, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0446199490
Retail: $6.99
352 pages

SHE SEES HIM IN HER DREAMS…

Fueled by her family’s murder years ago, Dr. Marlena Bender has devoted her life to understanding violent criminals. But when a serial killer in this small Southern town starts taking the lives of women in diabolical ways–leaving trophies of his kills on Marlena’s doorstep–it all hits too close to home. Terrified, Marlena turns to the only man she can trust…the man who saved her life.

BUT HIS SECRET IS HER WORST NIGHTMARE.

Sheriff Dante Valtrez would move heaven and earth to keep Marlena safe, but he’s not the savior she thinks he is. A dark legacy runs through his blood and a dangerous secret lies within him. Now a fierce, hot, ruthless desire draws Dante and Marlena together–as a demonic force from his past threatens to rip them apart, destroying everything they hold dear.

~*~*~

Action-packed, exciting and sexy…Rita Herron continues her Demonborn series with a compelling story of a demon walking the fine line of good and evil who finds his soul mate in Forbidden Passion.

Forbidden Passion is book three in Herron’s Demonborn series. While the characters from book one and two are mentioned in this book, their stories do not have to be read to enjoy this novel. It could very easily be considered a stand alone book. This is not an ongoing battle against the same villain that uses the same characters in each story. This is a series that focuses on each brother’s battle with his evil side and how the women in their lives help them win that battle. Our main character in Forbidden Passion is Dante, who has been an outsider from his demon family since he refused to kill our heroine, Marlena, years ago.

This book follows his quest to protect her years later, as his evil family rises up to draw Dante back to the dark side. He struggles against his evil father and at the same time, discovers the family he never knew he had who are working on the side of good. Dante and Marlena fight against everything trying to push them together; their bond, their history and their passion. Are both of them so damaged from events in their past, they can never find the courage to love again?

Herrron takes paranormal to a different arena, which is something completely refreshing. Most paranormal series can or will take place in a large city with multiple characters whereas this novel has the feeling of a small quiet town and focuses on the two main characters. There are other characters introduced along the way, but they don’t deter the story from its main focus and still makes it all flow very nicely.

Dante and Marlena have a relationship that begins more on instinct rather than feeling. It’s easily described as something along the lines of love at first sight. The action moves so fast in this story they hardly have time to sit down and communicate what’s going on between them, so its develops more by their physical attraction to each other. As in most cases, they have personal baggage that is holding them back, but as the story develops, they find it’s becoming harder and harder to resist one another:

He swallowed again, disturbed by his reaction to her. The slow burn of arousal heated his blood. Her scent enveloped him, the scent of an animal on the prowl recognizing its mate.

He’d never expected Marlena to make him feel like this, to have this instant attraction to her. This dark…lust.

This damn need…

This novel moves very fast, which leads to the one and only complaint with the story; it moves too fast. As a reader, some areas lacked the proper description to create an emotional involvement in what was happening in the story and with the characters. So much happened so quickly, it was hard to process everything that was going on and the character development suffered for it. Overall though, it was a fun exciting read, with quite a few surprises along the way.

Rating: 7  (Good )

Heat-Level: 3  (Sensual)

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Review: Sweetest Little Sin

Monday, May 24th, 2010

Comment to enter to win 2 copies of Christine Wells’ Sweetest Little Sin.

MAY READERS’ TOP PICK!!!
Sweetest Little Sin
Author: Christine Wells
Publisher: Berkley
Pub. Date: May 4, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0425234808
Retail: $7.99
304 pages

A Marquis’ Betrayal

Lady Louisa Brooke has many suitors, but the only man for her is the wild and ruthless Marquis of Jardine. When Jardine suddenly abandons her after a long-standing liaison, he leaves her with nothing except the secret they share. Her future in ruins, Louisa recklessly accepts a mission from the head of the secret service and becomes embroiled in a perilous operation in which nothing is as it seems…

A Lady’s Revenge

The Marquis of Jardine is determined to destroy the criminal mastermind who’s sworn vengeance against all he holds dear. But when he hears that Louisa is to wed a dangerous enemy, Jardine is tortured by jealousy and fear for her safety. He tracks her down, only to discover that her mission collides with his. A Love that Won’t Be Denied Together, Louisa and Jardine must now foil a plan to betray the secret service and escape a diabolical revenge. But can they put the past behind them, and take the greatest risk of all–on love?

~*~*~

Sweetest Little Sin, like any other Christine Wells book, is a guilty pleasure for any historical romance fan.

I looked forward to reading the sequel to Christine Wells’ Wicked Little Game. Though Wells had set the bar high, I was not disappointed by Sweetest Little Sin. Everything I loved about the prequel to this story is carried over into Sweetest Little Sin—suspense, intrigue, danger, sizzling sensuality and, to my delight, the mysterious character of the Marquis of Jardine.

Sweetest Little Sin is crafted with smart prose and a page-turning plotline. The story didn’t hook me until the end of chapter two. From then on out, I went eagerly along for the ride. Sweetest Little Sin takes place mostly in the English countryside. In some places I found the scenes a bit too quick to change, the breaks and POV changes a bit choppy but this was forgotten once the action of the story really picked up. I was slow to warm up to the heroine, Lady Louisa Brooke. On the other hand, Jardine—a clandestine spy for the English Home Office on a vengeful mission—enchanted me from the first. He has long loved Louisa but because of his job he refuses to publicly associate himself with her to keep her safe from his enemies. This creates a great deal of inner conflict:

They’d never had leisure for slow exploration, had they? Everything was always rushed, explosive. Exciting, but ultimately not enough.

The longing to see her in his bed, in his home, pulled at him so strongly, the temptation to forget this whole business and steal her away almost gained the upper hand over duty.

But he was doing all this so they could have that leisure, grow old together, wasn’t he? After all these years of hiding their association, of being hunter and prey, such an existence seemed as distant and unattainable as a mirage.

The lengths to which Jardine goes to protect Louisa are utterly heroic. His character was my favorite of the book. Louisa is crafted with both vulnerability and strength. Once her strength begins to override her vulnerability, her character becomes even more compelling. She throws caution to the wind to prove to Jardine that she can handle the dangerous life of a spy’s wife and prove to herself that she is worthy of him.

Wells is a unique voice in the historical genre, one that I always enjoy. She also weaves sensuality and romance well into a suspenseful plotline. The simmering heat between Jardine and Louisa fuels the story forward and the love scenes were simply delicious. Above all, my favorite element of Sweetest Little Sin was the romance:

“I love you, Jardine.” In her voice there was mettle and terror and a distinct challenge. “Don’t you dare get yourself killed.”

He gathered her to him and kissed her, and the kiss was hard and fierce and strong, everything they were together. His heart burned in his chest, a fiery agony, a glory that transcended life and death. There was no term in any lexicon for what he felt. Love was too tepid a word. Ah, Louisa. You shouldn’t love me. Look where it brought you.

I ached for their situation and cheered their final redemption. In the end, I enjoyed a great deal and cannot wait to read more of Wells’ backlist. Recommended.

Rating: 7 (Good)

Heat-Level: 4 (Hot)

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Posted in Berkley, Giveaways, Reviews | 46 Comments »

Review: The Rogue Prince

Monday, May 24th, 2010

The Rogue Prince
Author: Margo Maguire
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: April 27, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061667893
Retail: $7.99
384 pages

The prince of pleasure . . .

To the ton, he is a wealthy and powerful royal, the dashing and enigmatic Prince Thomas of Sabedoria. And to Lady Margaret Blackmore, he is irresistible. Innocent in the ways of true passion, Maggie has lived a life chaste and proper—until now. Mad with a desire unlike anything she’s felt before, she would do anything to tempt Thomas to her bed. But he hides a damning secret . . .

In truth, Thomas is no prince. He is Thomas Thorne, sent away for a crime he did not commit. Hell-bent on revenge, he would do anything to destroy his worst enemy, even seduce the man’s innocent sister. But he did not count on the one thing that could spoil his perfect plan—falling in love with the beautiful lady in question. Now he must choose between his fervent wish for justice and his devotion to his tempting conquest . .

~*~*~

Seventeen years ago, a pair of aristocratic boys decided to play a cruel joke on a sixteen-year-old country boy. Set up as a thief, Thomas Thorne, was tried and transported to a penal colony. Now he’s back, he’s rich, and he’s out for revenge. Posing as a prince of a fictitious country, he goes to London armed with an elaborate plan to right past wrongs.

His plan lands him squarely in the path of Lady Margaret Blackmoor, hapless sister of one of those boys and widow of the other. When they first meet, Thorne doesn’t realize her identity and is immediately taken with her. Thus begins Margo Maguire’s The Rogue Prince.

While this story is driven by a classic revenge plot, it’s more than that. It’s about letting go of the past. Both the hero and heroine have episodes in their past that rule their present and that they must learn to let go of in order to have a future together. In Maggie’s case, her cousin tried to rape her when she was a child, and, rather than protect her, her family has blamed her for this perceived disgrace. Part of her character growth includes breaking away from her family’s influence and learning to be her own person.

That was one of the things I liked most about her. Left indebted when her gambler of a husband died, she seeks ways to pay back what is owed by means of her own talents, rather than play the damsel in distress and turn to the wealthy prince who has taken an interest in her. She’s a heroine the modern reader can root for without coming across as an anachronism.

The hero comes into the story bound and determined to get his revenge. I’ll leave it up to you to discover whether or not he’s satisfied with the outcome of events by the end of the story. To say more would spoil the ending.

I enjoyed this story as a fairly solid read. The only thing I might find to say against it is the author’s fairly constant repetition of the backstory. I found I could follow the plot quite nicely without all the reminders of the past. Overall, though, the story held my attention and I quite enjoyed it.

Rating: 7 (Good)

Heat-Level: 4 (Hot)

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Posted in Avon Books, Reviews | 12 Comments »

Review: Behind the Red Door

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

Behind The Red Door
Author: Jackie Barbosa
Publisher: Aphrodisia/Kensington
Pub. Date: June 1, 2009
Retail: $13.95
304 pages

Forbidden fantasies and hidden pleasures are waiting. Enter the Red Door, a most exclusive brothel, where men enjoy all the sins of the flesh and women surrender to their own secret desires…

Wickedly Ever After

Known for his wicked ways, the Marquess of Grenville is far from marriage material. But when Miss Eleanor Palmer tries to tell him so, she quickly finds the heat of his kiss melting her determination to say “no” into an uncontrollable desire to say “yes…”

Scandalously Ever After

Most men who visit the Red Door brothel enjoy sampling the variety of feminine delights, so Calliope is surprised when Captain Jack Prescott claims her for a week of passion. But satisfying his every sexual desire provides them both with complete carnal pleasure…

Sinfully Ever After

Lady Jane St. Clair loves her fiancé, but Gerard Nash is a notorious rake who likes adventurous women. Wanting to show him just how bold she can be, Jane masquerades as a young ingénue at the Red Door where she and Gerard experience sinfully erotic ecstasy…

~*~*~

BEHIND THE RED DOOR if is a collection of loosely connected short stories that gets better with each turn of the page.

When I first began BEHIND THE RED DOOR I wasn’t sure if I would like it. I had some serious issues with Wickedly Ever After. The POV shifts weren’t smooth. They happened in the middle of paragraphs and I had to constantly go back and re-read so I could get grounded in what was going on. I also didn’t feel there was anything between the Greenville and Eleanor besides strong sexual chemistry, and couldn’t understand how the Marquess of Greenville was under his father’s thumb when he had his own independent income.

Some background: Nathaniel (the Marquess of Greenville) fiancée runs off with Eleanor’s fiancé. Nathaniel has always been attracted to Eleanor and needs to get married so that he’ll be able to increase his income and get out from under his father’s thumb. Eleanor wants nothing to do with Nathaniel because of his wild reputation, but Nathaniel has a secret, he’s not as wild as everyone assumes. Nathaniel tries to push Eleanor’s buttons in ways that would spoil the plot if I told you what they are.

Speaking of despoiling, I was seriously annoyed with where Eleanor’s deflowerment occurred. That reinforced my belief that there wasn’t anything between the hero and heroine besides lust. I also had a problem with the historical time period. I didn’t feel rooted in the time period. However, I’m positive I only felt that way because prior to opening the BEHIND THE RED DOOR, I had just finished two historical romance novels where the authors are well known for rooting their reader into the history.

Once, I got over my need to compare what I had just finished reading, I found myself really enjoying BEHIND THE RED DOOR.

In the next story, Scandalously Ever After I loved the fact that the heroine is a prostitute. Her hero is a war hero who comes into an unexpected inheritance. I found it original. I was also able to buy into the relationship more, as well as the conflict. My only complaint with Scandalously Ever After was the POV Shifts were still jarring.

Sinfully Ever After was my favorite story. It was the tale of a “plain” Jane who has been love with a man all of her life. A man who sees her as a “friend” only. He proposes to her because he feels if he has to get married, he might as well do it with his best friend. Of course, Jane is tired of just being a friend and takes lessons on how to please her future husband. Gerald believes he’s breaking in a new courtesan but what he’s really doing is falling in love with his wife. The characters were well drawn out, the motivations and conflicts were believable and it was the only story in the bunch where I completely bought into the happily ever after.

Despite the problems I stated, I’d recommend BEHIND THE RED DOOR, it keep my attention more than all the other books I attempted to read around the same time. This is an author I’d try again!

Rating: 7 (Good)

Heat-Level: 6 (Erotic)

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Posted in Kensington, Reviews | 5 Comments »

Review: Sex and the Single Earl

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Sex and the Single Earl
Author: Vanessa Kelly
Publisher: Zebra/Kensington
Pub. Date: May 4, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1420106558
Retail: $6.99
352 pages

Their marriage was convenient…

Simon St. James, fifth Earl of Trask, knows he could do worse in the marriage of convenience department. Sophie Stanton may be a bit of a social liability, with her ungovernable ways and flighty nature, but Simon has responsibilities as an earl that far outweigh happiness in the household. As for happiness in the bedroom…he has to admit he sees Sophie’s potential in that arena…

Their passion was not!

But Sophie isn’t some bargaining chip to be traded, and she’s not about to let Simon St. James tell her how to live her life—even though she has nurtured a crush on the handsome young earl for as long as she can remember. If his idea of courtship is telling her what to do, then she is not interested, or at least she is trying not to be. But when his scolding words turn to scorching kisses, suddenly Sophie starts paying attention…

~*~*~

Vanessa Kelly is a fairly new author and knowing that, I was a bit anxious to read Sex and the Single Earl but I was rather surprised at this romantic and delightful book. Sex and the Single Earl is a beautifully crafted tale of two life long friends falling in love. The storyline and characters were well developed and likable. The chemistry between the main characters is sizzling and entertaining.

Young and spirited, Sophie Stanton is the opposite of what society expects her to be. Sophie grew up privileged and sheltered but she has opened her eyes to the troubles of the world and wants to help those in need. After an encounter with a little boy who steals a valuable piece of jewelry, Sophie sets out to help the boy and his sister at the risk of her reputation. Sophie enlists Simon’s help to retrieve her jewelry and save the children. Little does she know, Simon has other plans that include marrying her.

Simon St. James, the Ninth Earl of Trask, is a handsome, arrogant and determined man who is trying to leave his legacy as one of the wealthiest men ever. In order to achieve his goal of building a mill, he needs an important piece of land that is enriched with coal. The only problem is that the land belongs to Sophie Stanton. Simon has always adored Sophie, though they constantly fight. Realizing that the only way to get control of the land is through marriage, he imposes himself on Sophie, forcing her hand in marriage, and hiding the real truth behind his proposal. The problem is that this earl has to keep his fiancé out of constant mischief and convince her that they belong together.

After the first fifty pages, I hoped that the overused plot of the girl pining away for the older friend of the family would not be stale and predictable. My wish was granted. Though Sophie always fancied Simon, she fights him throughout the book, wanting a marriage based on love and refusing to say yes just to appease her family and her own heart. Sophie is a fiercely independent woman and I was immediately drawn to her spirit. I loved how the author showed James’s love for Sophie even when it was not evident to him. Watching Simon and Sophie’s journey warmed my heart.

The quick and light banter ison point. The one thing that I often look for is fluid dialogue. I enjoy when my characters engage in conversation with one another and this story does exactly that. The love scenes in this novel were passionate and hot. Their verbal sparring left them highly aroused and the pages exploded with each sexual encounter.

My biggest problem with the book was that the author created suspense by showing that there was an immediate threat to the children. At the end there is some resolution but I was left wondering what happened to them. Now, I understand that the story is centered on the two characters and that the children were merely secondary characters, but I felt slighted that I did not get a glimpse of what had become of the children.

This is a wonderfully romantic novel and I look forward to more from this author. I recommend this book for those who want a beautiful, well-written story that exhibits love, trust, betrayal and forgiveness.

Rating: 7 (Good )

Heat-Level: 4(Hot)

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Posted in Kensington, Reviews | 5 Comments »

Review: An Earl To Enchant

Monday, April 26th, 2010

An Earl To Enchant
Author: Amelia Grey
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Pub. Date: April 6, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-1402217616
Retail: $7.99
352 pages

HE’S DETERMINED NOT TO BE A HERO . . .

Lord Morgandale is as notorious as he is dashing, and he’s determined no woman will tie him down. But from the moment Arianna Sweet appears on his doorstep, exhausted after a grueling journey, he cannot resist the lure of the fascinating beauty, her exotic wardrobe, or tempting green eyes . . .

SHE HAS A DEADLY SECRET . . .

Arianna Sweet never imagined the significance of her father’s research until after his untimely death. Now she is in possession of his groundbreaking discovery, a discovery that someone would kill for. She can’t tell Lord Morgandale her secret, but she knows she needs his help, desperately.

~*~*~

Lucas Randolph Morgandale, the Earl of Morgandale, has fled London to his estate Valleydale to avoid the marriage noose. His two cousins and best friends, Blake and Race, have both managed to fall in love and get married and Morgan has no intention of following in their footsteps. Lucas may not want marriage but that doesn’t mean he giving up women all together. He invites a lady of the evening come out to Valleydale to spend some quality with him. Just when he is about to give up that she’s coming, a woman shows up.

Miss Arianna Sweet has just returned from a trip abroad from India and immediately sets out to Valleydale to enlist the help of Lady Elder despite being ill. She travels through a storm and arrives late in the evening only to be greeted by a slightly intoxicated Lord Morgandale. Morgan mistakes her for the courtesan he is expecting while Arianna thinks he is the butler. A rather improper and funny conversation ensues which ends in Morgan realizing that Arianna is not a courtesan and Arianna fainting from exhaustion.

Arianna is strong willed and stubborn woman who has witnessed her father’s murder and comes for help only to discover that Lady Elder is dead and Lord Morgandale is there instead. She is reluctant to tell Morgan the whole truth about what has brought her home from India, only telling him that it is to finish her father’s work for The Royal Apothecary Scientific Academy. Morgan insists—well demands—that she stay and recover before she sets off to London. What Morgan doesn’t know is that the man who murdered Arianna’s father and stole his formula is in England looking for Arianna.

Morgan is known for always thinking things through. He is not impulsive and is always very careful in what he says. That is until Arianna comes into his life. Arianna is the opposite. She doesn’t think before she speaks and can be reckless at times. She’s also embraced some of the Indian culture by wearing saris and belly dancing, which tends to get her in trouble, like when Morgan’s cousins show up unannounced. His cousins, Blake and Race, come to Valleydale to enlist Morgan’s help in keeping an eye on, Gibby,  an old friend of their grandmother, Lady Elder. As the men are walking back to the house, they spot Arianna through the window belly dancing seductively. Of course Blake and Race refuse to leave until they know who she is and of course have fun at Morgan’s expense.

While I think this is a great book and I loved the characters, there are just some things that got to me. Arianna, in the beginning, does not trust Morgan, which I understand. She thinks he’s arrogant and brusque and just wants to get London. Even as the book goes on and Arianna finds her self attracted to Morgan, she still can’t believe it because she doesn’t like him. Then she does a complete reversal and not only likes him but loves him. Morgan also falls into the cliché of a typical man. He refuses to acknowledge his feeling for Arianna even though he wants her. I did enjoy watching Arianna and Morgan’s interaction. Their conversions are lively, and although Morgan is used to having the final word, Arianna was not having it. She says what she pleases and Morgan’s earl title, doesn’t stop her.

An Earl to Enchant is the third book in The Rogues’ Dynasty but can be read as a stand-alone book if you choose to. A Duke to Die For is the first in the series and features Blake, and A Marquis to Marry is about Race. If you are a reader who loves series this is one I would recommend.

There are a lot of crossover characters from the first two books such as Sir Randolph Gibson, or Gibby as he is affectionately know by the men, who is always getting into some outrageous trouble, and Constance Pepperfield, a widow and friend of the family who is there to help when need be. Also, one cannot forget Lord Chesterfield though he never really appears. Every chapter starts with a letter from Lady Elder and includes a quote from Lord Chesterfield. Lord Chesterfield is also the bane of cousins’ life always interfering somehow.

Amelia Grey is a great storyteller who lets you into the mind of her characters.To Enchant an Earl is not to be missed if you like witty dialogue, mystery and intrigue, and most importantly romance.

Rating: 7 (Good )

Heat-Level: 4 (Hot)

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Review: The Vampire and the Virgin

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

The Vampire and the Virgin
Author: Kerrelyn Sparks
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Pub. Date: March 9, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0061667862
Retail: $7.99
384 pages

Olivia’s packing list:
1. Sunscreen
2. Bathing suit
3. Flip-flops

FBI psychologist Olivia Sotiris was looking for a cool ocean breeze, sand between her toes, and a break from her crazy, chaotic, and sometimes all-too-dangerous life. But when she escaped to the small Greek island of Patmos, all she got were meddling grandmothers trying to marry her off. Can’t they see that none of the men around interests her—except Robby MacKay?

Robby’s packing list:
1. Synthetic blood
2. More synthetic blood
3. Jogging clothes (even vamps have to stay in shape!)

Robby needs to cool off, too, since all he can think about is revenge on the Malcontent bloodsuckers who once held him captive—but then he meets Olivia, the beauty with wild curls and a tempting smile. When a deadly criminal from a case back home tracks her down, Robby will have to save her life—along with giving her a first time she’ll never forget . . .

~*~*~

FBI agent Olivia Sotiris is on a much needed vacation at her grandmothers’ house on the Greek island of Patmos. All she wants to do was relax and forget that Otis Crump has been stalking her from his maximum security jail cell.

Relaxation isn’t something her grandmother has in mind though. Her grandmother is determined to see twenty-four year old Olivia engaged, married, or have a significant other by the time she leaves the island. Olivia is getting assaulted by so many single men it wouldn’t be surprising to discover she’s secretly the new “Bachelorette”. It doesn’t help that Olivia has “a gift” and can read other people’s emotions and knows when they’re lying. This kind of puts a damper on a relationship.

Then one wakeful night she goes outside and see’s a mysterious figure jogging on the beach. Olivia, being her grandmother’s daughter, takes her grandmother’s telescope and uses it not to watch the stars, but the man running; and what a man he is. What is even more intriguing about this man is that she can’t read him.

Robby MacKay is determined to get into shape again after being brutally tortured by “The Malcontents”. His great great great grandfather Angus decides that a vacation, and a therapist is just what Robby needs. Robby agrees to the vacation, but not the therapist. He decides to go and stay at a covenant member’s house on the Greek island of Patmos. Course he’s not going there for the sunny beaches. That’s because Robby is a vampire.

Not the sparkly kind, but the real dead during the day, drinks non-animal blood, only come out at night vampire. Course he has a few abilities up his sleeve including teleportation, super strength, hearing, and sight. He’s practically a nocturnal superman with his kryptonite being silver. Now one night as Robby is jogging on the beach he spots what he believes to be an angel. Now he has on authority from Anakin Skywalker that angels are the most beautiful things in the galaxy, but they live on the moons of Iego, so obviously this woman can’t be one; perhaps a goddess. Whatever she is, Robby is intrigued and so the story begins.

This book was different for me because I rather like the plotline, but hated the romance. I mean hated. There was no buildup or even friendship for Robby and Olivia. It was merely “You’re hot. No you’re hot. We’re both hot. Let’s have sex”. This is after knowing each other for two days. They also greatly love each other after knowing each other for only TWO DAYS. It’s like they needed “True Love’s Kiss” from Enchanted playing in the background. Perhaps some fields to frolic through.

It’s completely unrealistic and seems like lazy writing. Something I find highly troublesome since the main plotline of a serial killer being obsessed with Olivia and stalking her was engrossing and well done. I really wanted Olivia to end up with J.L at the end. They had more chemistry to me than she did with Robby, which seemed to be all about sex and good looks. To me Robby + Olivia = love based on sex and lust of each other. Olivia + J/.L = friendship, mutual respect, and the right road for a healthy and happy relationship. All I could think at the end was that divorce court would be in Robby and Olivia’s future since you can’t expect a relationship to last on mere lust and the ability to not be able to read the other’s mind. It just doesn’t happen, but this is Kerrelyn’s world and she can do what she wants.

Rating: 7 (Good) Awesome plotline, but I had trouble with the romance aspect of it.

Heat-Level: 3: (Sensual)


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Posted in Avon Books, Reviews | 4 Comments »

Review: Vow of Seduction

Sunday, April 4th, 2010

Vow of Seduction
Author: Angela Johnson
Publisher: Kensington
Pub. Date: October 1, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-1420108576
Retail: $4.99
352 pages

Sworn to support King Edward, Sir Alex de Beaumont had to leave his new bride on their wedding night to fight in the Crusades. Captured and left to languise in a lonely prison, the warrior knight is kept alive by the memory of love — and of Lady Katherine’s innocent passion as she cried out his name in ecstasy and made him her own. Upon his escape and return to England, he is shocked to find his beloved is about to marry another man…

Kat refuses to forgive him. But Alex will not be gainsaid. He vows to seduce her all over again and his searching kisses reawaken the sensual fire they once knew–until an enemy determined to destroy them both closes in. Now Alex must risk everything for the one woman whose love he wants forever…

~*~*~

Alex thought fighting in the Crusades and being imprisoned were the most difficult trials he had to face in his life. That was until he returned home to the unforgiving wife he abandoned after their wedding night, vowing to seduce his way back into her bed…and her heart.

Vow of Seduction by Angela Johnson is a tale of fear, regret, hatred and love. It had me in its grip from the first chapter. I was intrigued from the beginning on where the story was going and how this couple’s story would conclude.

Angela’s writing is classic. There were times she gave additional details that in other cases would drag down the story. In her case though, they improved the story. Her details sharpened the picture of the time period. The historical background she includes is wonderful. She has a strong feel for the time period and kept the reader swept away in the classical world she crafted. The chemistry she created between the two leads is undeniably steamy. It is hard to deny the sensual heat between Alex and Kate. The passion they both share is intense and chilling at the same time.

The hero wore his heart on his sleeve from the get-go and it’s really a charming and unusual thing to read…he is not the typical hero holding his feelings in reserve.

“Whether you believe it or not, I spent four agonizing years in prison dreaming about you. I vowed that one day I would return to claim you. I know I do not deserve a second chance, but I am going to do everything in my power to earn your forgiveness and win you back.”

It was a very enchanting story and I was with the book ultimately until the very end. The last ten pages I became so exhausted with the heroine’s anger and frankly, her stupidity. Her anger was justified throughout the book but when her anger seemed to lack merit, she still hung onto it diligently. Perfection would have seen the story fleshed out just a trifle bit more to justify Kat’s ultimate change of heart. I wanted to know more of her past to understand why her beliefs were so strong to her.

So ultimately the book was not perfect, but that wasn’t to say I didn’t enjoy it immensely. Romance novels set in a Medieval time period are not usually my favorite, but if more were written like Vow of Seduction, my appreciation of the sub-genre would grow drastically.

Rating: 7 (Very Good)

Heat-Level: 4: (Hot)

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Posted in Kensington, Reviews | 6 Comments »

Review: Innocence Lost

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Innocence Lost
Author: Tiffany Green
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Pub. Date: January 8, 2010
Retail Price: $6.00
256 pages

From her first glimpse of his portrait, Lady Megan Westland is smitten.  Unfortunately, the handsome face belongs to her brother’s enemy—the Duke of Claremont, Nicholas Bradshaw.  A chance encounter with the insufferable duke has her furious.  How could she possibly love such a beast?

Nicholas learns a little too late that the beautiful girl he met is not at all who he thinks.  And now, he must keep her safe from the enemy lurking close to home.

When the kidnapper does strike, Nicholas needs the assistance of his foe and a pirate captain to rescue her.  But will it be enough?

~*~*~

Tiffany Green is a new author for me, but being a fan of strong female characters in historical settings, I found INNOCENCE LOST a nice, compelling read with enough plot twists and interesting characters to keep me turning the pages.

Set in early 19th century England, where Lady Megan Westland has dreamed of Nicholas Bradshaw, the neighboring Duke of Claremont, since gazing at his portrait as a child. Now, Megan has come of age and is about to be launched into society when an accidental meeting with the notorious Duke and a case of unknown identity, set their story in motion.

Nicholas is the picture of a stereotypical duke: a rake, jaded by wealth and all it can provide, yet deep down, is searching for a better half. He meets his match in the stunning but restless Megan when she mistakenly takes his prize stallion, forcing a showdown between the two. Their brief dalliance leaves the duke wanting to know more about Megan, including her name and any potential suitors she is about to entertain in her first season.

Clouding Megan’s future is the disappearance of her parents, a serious illness and a lackluster marriage proposal.  All of which, conspire to transform Nicholas from randy rake, to Megan’s ardent suitor. But their union is complicated by a decade-old feud between Bradshaw and Megan’s brother Julian, and the fact that she has been temporarily placed under the Duke’s guardianship.

Society embraces the plucky Megan who blossoms into a self-confident woman still pining for the man in the portrait while Nicholas’s responsibility for Megan wars with his growing need for her. When Nicholas’s past is about to crash in on the couple, deceit and betrayal force him to face the loss of the one woman he can’t live without.

Throughout the book, a sense of time and place are revealed in detailed descriptions and settings, while well-defined characters help establish this story through action and snappy dialogue. Several twists and turns carry the plot and fuel the action that features treachery, kidnapping and adventure on the high seas. But it’s also where some difficulty arises. At certain points, the momentum is jarred by improbable reactions or resolutions which occur where some character arcs or development present challenges. However, it didn’t stop me from wanting to finish the story or cheer on Nicholas and Megan. Readers are rewarded with an undeniable attraction between the two while their love scenes remain fairly tame and brief.

Overall, Green does a very good job of setting up the scenes and tension (the opener is a winner!), presenting the actors and launching a plot filled with numerous conflicts and decent suspense, which makes that sense of ‘rushed’ resolutions somewhat unsettling. It left me to wonder if editing or limited word count may have been the reason. I felt invested and wanted to spend more time with these men and women on their journeys and fully experience their transformations.

Nonetheless, the antagonist and co-conspirators, whose identities are cleverly concealed throughout the book, I came to know and understand pretty well.

And, a cast of likable personalities is presented and left me wanting to see more of them in the future. These included Julian Westland, Nicholas’s friend Jeremy, Capt. Jack and Megan’s new found friend, Evie. I am cheered to see Green has several books planned in the ‘Innocence’ series with a few of the aforementioned characters.

On the whole, Green provides a well-rounded tale and satisfying read that I would recommend, and I’m looking forward to her upcoming books, particularly those that tell the stories of Julian and Capt. Jack.

Rating: 7 (Good)

Heat Level: 2.5 (Warm)

Buy Link: Wild Rose Press $6.00

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