Review: Holiday Heat: the Men of Starlight Bend

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Review: Holiday Heat: the Men of Starlight BendHoliday Heat: The Men of Starlight Bend by Jennifer Ashley, Jennifer Probst, Erin Quinn, Calista Fox, Mary Leo
Series: Riding Hard #3.5
on November 8th 2016
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 241
Goodreads
four-stars

This is an anthology of 5 novellas which all take place in the small town of Starlight Bend.  They are connected only by the setting, a special Santa and a town Wishing Tree for needy children.

SNOWBOUND IN STARLIGHT BEND by Jennifer Ashley: In this city girl/country boy story, Haley McKee is a CEO from Seattle who ends up stranded in Starlight Bend during a snowstorm. Maddox Campbell rescues her. Maddox is a horse trainer of stunt horses (he provides them to his cousins in Texas — the Riding Hard series Campbells). Maddox has been hurt before by a woman who wouldn’t stay in Starlight Bend and it looks like history might be repeating itself. This was a good story.  Maddox is a good man who has a crusty exterior and a heart of mush.  Haley is a woman who has made a name for herself, but doesn’t have a real purpose to her life. The two are funny and spirited together. This was a very enjoyable tale of two mismatched people.  My only complaint is that I wish there was some view of what their life ultimately would be like because it is hard to figure out how Haley will be happy in town outside of her relationship with Maddox.  Rating: 4 stars.

THE LONG GONE GIRL OF STARLIGHT BEND by Erin Quinn: Kari Dale is a burned out wanderer who co-owns a chain of men’s clothing stores. She has come to Starlight Bend to open a new store and then intends to move on. Tyler Timberlake is a high school history teacher who was born in Starlight Bend, left to pursue bigger dreams, but ended up returning to his hometown to find purpose. This story was good.  The themes of home versus leaving, dreams versus love are well developed in various levels. Kari and Ty are sweet and hot together. I loved the complexity of this story. Rating: 4 stars.

HIS ANGEL OF STARLIGHT BEND by Calista Fox: Dr. Anna Voss is vet in Starlight Bend. One day a boy named Jake comes to her office interested in the animals.  It turns out Jake’s father is the man that Anna loved as a young woman and has never forgotten. Dr. Nicholas Hoffman is a neurosurgeon from New York. He spent time with his grandmother in Starlight Bend but eventually left the town and Anna. The two have loved one another and yet their lives have always seemed to be going in different directions. This was one of my favorite stories of the anthology. These two seem destined to both love one another and be apart. I loved that the story showed that love alone is not enough and being together takes will and determination. Rating: 4.5 stars.

ROPIN’ THE LONE COWBOY OF STARLIGHT BEND by Mary Leo: Jolie Shepard has come to Starlight Bend no knowing what she should do with her life. She’s from Las Vegas and hasn’t connected with a career or a purpose in her life. She meets Red Wiseman when Jolie and Red are both choosing a wish from the Wishing Tree. Red is a man grounded deeply in Starlight Bend where he raises horses and gives riding lessons. The characters in this story were nice (especially Red) but I found Jolie very immature for her age. I have a hard time seeing how things would work out for these two long term, but the story was nice.  Rating: 3 stars.

THE GRINCH OF STARLIGHT BEND BY Jennifer Probst:  Noah Elliott was a generous angel to the community of Starlight Bend until an accident shattered his body and his faith in his fellow man.  He became the Grinch of the town and hides away in his mansion. Josephine “Joey” Whitman is a social worker who chooses a wish from the town Wishing Tree and is determined to make the child’s dream of a carnival happen even if it means bearding the den of the Grinch.  I loved the sweet redemption of this story which had a definite Beauty and the Beast vibe along with the Grinch story. Noah is a man who is looking for someone to redeem his faith in humanity and Joey is the woman who heals his heart.  Sweet and a good conclusion to the anthology.  Rating: 4 stars.

four-stars

Review: Out of Bounds

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Review: Out of BoundsOut of Bounds by Lauren Blakely
Published by Bloomsbury Spark on November 22nd 2016
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 150
Goodreads
two-half-stars

FINAL DECISION:  This was an adequate if forgettable story. I didn’t find anything particularly exciting about the situation, the characters or the plot, but I didn’t hate the story.  I just probably won’t remember it in a week.

THE STORY:  Dani Page is the lawyer for a professional football team in Los Angeles.  Her job is to keep the players out of trouble.  She meets Drew Erickson who is quarterback for the team. While the two hit it off immediately, both are concerned that any relationship between them might interfere with their jobs. Dani doesn’t want to cause a scandal and Drew doesn’t want to remove his focus from the field.  Yet the chemistry between them is unquenchable.

OPINION:  I admit that I was a little disappointed in this novella.  I thought the setup was intriguing and I really love a good sports books, but this novella doesn’t really have anything to do with sports or the law.  Those are just window dressings for the plot keeping these two apart. In fact, my favorite part of the book is when these two meet on the beach for the first time.

I just didn’t feel the connection between the characters.  We are told over and over again that these two want one another, but I just didn’t see the connection other than sex between them. I wish the two had spent more time finding common ground between them.  The story was adequate enough, but it is very forgettable as the characters don’t have any intriguing characteristics that are memorable.

This one was just okay.

WORTH MENTIONING:  This book is told in alternating first person narratives.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  OUT OF BOUNDS is a standalone.

STAR RATING: I give this book 2.5 stars.

two-half-stars

Review: The Mad, Bad Duke

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Review: The Mad, Bad DukeThe Mad, Bad Duke (Nvengaria, #2) by Jennifer Ashley
Series: Nvengaria #2
Published by Leisure on October 18, 2016
Genres: Historical, Paranormal
Pages: 383
Goodreads
four-half-stars

FINAL DECISION: Incredibly enjoyable for readers open to fusion romances.  This charming historical paranormal perfectly merges the genres to fashion a fairy tale about a former villain who can’t help but fall in love (because of a love charm) with a woman he never would have chosen on his own.

THE STORY: Megan Tavistock gets unexpectedly snared by a love spell which results in her ending up married to Grand Duke Alexander of Nvengaria.  Alexander has been sent to England because he plotted against the Prince of Nvengaria.  In England, Alexander is redeeming himself being running intricate plots to protect Nvengaria’s interests. A widower with a young son, Alexander never thought to marry again, especially not an innocent like Megan, but when the love spell results in him ruining Megan, Alexander is determined to protect Megan and discover who is trying to plot against him.

OPINION: Ashley has a way with men who are handsome and unconventional. Here, Alexander is a man who has been isolated and alone. He doesn’t have strong connections with people and sees his only value in intrigue and deception. Having been married and with a young son, Alexander remains essentially alone.

This book is inspired by the fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast and the inspiration is cleverly done without being a scene by scene repeat of the classic.  Alexander is a man isolated and when the beautiful and innocent Megan comes into his life, Alexander is dazzled by her even as he tries to keep her at a distance.

The love spell works to bring these two together quickly and unexpectedly. Their first meeting is hot and passionate and I really liked how the love spell worked in the story. It is the catalyst that forces Megan and Alexander together so that they can spend time together working though their relationship.

The mix of genres really works in this book in a way that it didn’t completely mesh in the first book in the series.  The combination of paranormal and historical and fairy tale gives this book interest and heft and I just loved every page.

Like a true beauty, Megan transforms the beastly Alexander into a loving husband and father by the end of the book and allows his true self to be revealed.

WORTH MENTIONING: The Scot Egan MacDonald has a significant role and his story is up next.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  The Mad, Bad Duke is the second book in the Nvengaria series. While this story can be read as a standalone, I think it is better having read the first book in the series so that readers can truly understand what a potential bad guy Alexander is.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

four-half-stars

Review: Embraced

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Review: EmbracedEmbraced (Bound Hearts, #6) by Lora Leigh
Series: Bound Hearts #6
Published by Ellora's Cave on November 1st 2004
Genres: Contemporary, Erotica
Pages: 115
Goodreads
three-stars

FINAL DECISION:  Too short but really hot, this novella has the elements of the Bound Hearts series but the connection between Sax and Marey is not as intense as others in the series.

THE STORY:  Marey has wanted Sax for years but her fear of her ex-husband has kept her from taking that last step towards Sax.  Now Sax is determined to protect Marey from her ex-husband and claim Marey for his own.

OPINION:  The Bound Hearts series have similar setups.  A man who participates in menages, a woman who wants him (many time she is wary of his lifestyle but attracted to it) and some suspense or danger which threatens them.

This novella follows that pattern, but the connection between Marey and Sax isn’t as strong as with the other book in the series.  Their connection is too quick and their problems are entirely dependent upon accepting that Marey’s desire to keep them apart because of her crazy ex-husband is reasonable. While she is right to be concerned about her ex, it doesn’t seem enough to keep the two of them apart for years.  I also couldn’t stop thinking that Marey should just get a restraining order against her ex instead of capitulating to him.

Aside from that point, the story between Marey and Sax was hot and the story progressed in an orderly fashion that was good enough for a pleasant one time read.  There are other books in this series that are better, but I didn’t dislike this one.

WORTH MENTIONING:  There is a menage scene in this book mmf which is standard for this series.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  EMBRACED is book 6 in the Bound Hearts series, but can be read as a standalone even though couples from the series make an appearance here.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 3 stars.

three-stars

Review: The Danger of Desire

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I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Review: The Danger of DesireThe Danger of Desire (Sinful Suitors, #3) by Sabrina Jeffries
Series: Sinful Suitors #3
Published by Pocket Books on November 22nd 2016
Genres: Historical
Pages: 400
Goodreads
three-stars

FINAL DECISION: This story was nice, but the quick resolution to the book long conflict left me feeling unsatisfied. I enjoyed the romance a great deal and the “weakness” of the hero was well done and emotional.

THE STORY: Warren Corry, Marquess of Knightford has been asked by his sister to help her friend who has been behaving strangely. Warren is part of the St. George Club where men who care about the women in their lives can find out information to protect them from scoundrels. Warren fears that Miss Delia Trevor is in trouble and is determined to find out her secrets. While chasing her secrets, Warren ends up at a gambling hell chasing a man who is a potential threat to Delia. Warren is shocked to discover this man is actually Delia in disguise. Delia is looking for the card cheat responsible for her father’s death. Disguised as a young man, she has been searching gaming hell for the man. When Warren discovers her secret, Delia doesn’t know if Warren intends to ruin her or help her.

OPINION: The undeniable strength of this book is Warren, himself. His struggles and his shame about them are the most compelling part of the book. Warren is a good man who has demons which he believes will keep him alone. He spends the nights carousing because he cannot bear to be alone. When he begins to fall for Delia, he fights because he believes that he cannot have a normal relationship with her. The pain Warren feels and his journey to trust and happiness with Delia is what I loved about this book. I can’t resist a wounded hero and I really liked Warren.

Delia was practical and a bit stubborn but her character made her a good match for Warren because she would not allow him to hide from her. Her strength allows him to lean on her when he needs it.  She is too loyal to her lousy brother, but her loyalty and determination is a deep part of her character.

I liked so much about this story, but what I didn’t like was the resolution to Delia’s search for the man who cheated her brother. The end had promise and was a surprise but after the reveal, the problem was quickly resolved without emotional drama that I expected.  Things were revealed, and the solution was too neat and resolved within only a few pages. Considering that this was such a motivating factor in the book, I found it anticlimactic and a disappointment. For me, it colored my enjoyment of the rest of the book and resulted in me downgrading my rating.

WORTH MENTIONING: I hope the next story is about Delia’s sister in law.

CONNECTED BOOKS: THE DANGER OF DESIRE is the third book in the Sinful Suitors series.  It can be read as a standalone although there are overlapping characters.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 3.5 stars.

three-stars

Review: The Viscount’s Rose

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Review: The Viscount’s RoseThe Viscount's Rose (The Farthingale Series Book 5) by Meara Platt
Series: Farthingale #5
on September 19th 2016
Genres: Historical
Pages: 248
Goodreads
four-stars

FINAL DECISION: A sweet story that doesn’t have much emotional drama but rather external factors keeping the hero and heroine apart.  Funny and gentle and sweet.  This is an enjoyable finish to the Farthingale sisters stories.

THE STORY: Rose Farthingale, the oldest of five daughters, is saved from an explosion in her pottery workshop by Justin Emory. The brother of Rose’s dearest friend, Justin is a viscount and rumor says he is almost ready to propose to a woman that his family detests. In order to save Justin from himself, Rose helps his family concoct a scheme to separate him from that woman.  What Rose doesn’t expect is Justin’s family throwing them together at every opportunity resulting in her getting abducted along with him.

Justin, himself, has a secret. He is working for the crown wooing a woman to try and find out information on a French spy ring. His family’s machinations threaten his mission but an even greater threat is Justin’s own attraction to Rose.

OPINION: This book is so sweet. Rose and Justin are a cute and uncomplicated couple. These are both oldest siblings who have several younger siblings. Family is important to both of them. They both have family legacies of falling in love only once. They are simply adorable.

This is a book without intense emotional unrest. Instead, what keeps these two apart are Justin’s work and the necessity of deception.  While the premise of this book has certainly been done before, I liked Platt’s take on the story. Rather than focusing on angst, this book focuses on Rose’s continued trust in Justin despite all appearances.

There is less drama in this book, but I love sweet, uncomplicated stories sometimes too. Likeable characters, a fun premise and lots of love and family hi-jinks.

WORTH MENTIONING:  I still love how Platt manages to make telling the story of these five sisters in reverse work. This is truly a series that can be read forwards and backwards.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  THE VISCOUNT’S ROSE is book 5 in the Farthingale series.  It can be read as a standalone as it occurs prior to the other books in the series.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4 stars.

four-stars

Review: The Beast

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Review: The BeastThe Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #14) by J.R. Ward
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood #14
Published by NAL on April 5th 2016
Genres: Paranormal
Pages: 508
Goodreads
four-half-stars

“She was the watch on his wrist, the roast beef when he was starving, and the pitcher of lemonade when he was thirsty. She was his chapel and his choir, the mountain range to his wanderlust, the library for his curiosity, and every sunrise or sunset that ever was or would ever be.”

FINAL DECISION: I loved this book. Ward has done a great job creating a realistic conflict between Mary and Rhage which stays true to their story but accommodates the changes that have occurred with them and their friends.

THE STORY:  Rhage thinks everything should be perfect. He has the woman he loves, his brothers have found love and are doing well.  But Rhage is having panic attacks and he can feel a distance between him and Mary and even a distance in his own life.  At the same time, Mary is dealing with a crisis of her own at work.  When Rhage suffers a mortal injury, he and Mary must confront their problems rather than ignore them.

There is also stories about Layla and Xcor which moves them closer to their own book.  Assail also has his own story continue.

OPINION: I found this book particularly enjoyable because it takes seriously Mary and Rhage’s relationship. This book settles a lingering issue between Mary and Rhage. While the two love one another, they have never dealt with the fact that they cannot have children together.  Now as the other members of the BDB are moving on to the stage of having children, the issue that seemed settled rises again.

I enjoyed how Ward goes deep into her characters in this book.  Even with love, there are sometimes disappointments in relationships. Rhage loves Mary and wouldn’t choose anyone else, but there is no doubt that the reality of never having children is finally settling in. So many times, the choices we make seem simple until we have to live with them.  Rhage and Mary are both having to live with their reality.

I really am embracing Ward’s revisiting of couples from the original Black Dagger Brotherhood. I still find those characters the most compelling in the series and am happy to see more of their journey.

WORTH MENTIONING: There is a new character introduced who has an interesting connection to Manny.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  THE BEAST is closely connected with the Black Dagger Brotherhood ongoing story.  A reader could read LOVER ETERNAL and understand the romance between Mary and Rhage but there are other storylines which would not be understandable without reading more of the series.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4.5 stars.

four-half-stars

Review: Someone to Love

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Review: Someone to LoveSomeone to Love (Westcott, #1) by Mary Balogh
Series: Westcott #1
Published by Signet on November 8th 2016
Genres: Historical
Pages: 400
Goodreads
four-stars

FINAL DECISION:  Enjoyable slow burn romance.  The hero is such a kind person and his connection with the heroine lacks unnecessary drama.  I liked that these are truly kind people.

THE STORY:  Anna Snow grew up in an orphanage knowing nothing about her parents. Then she discovers that her father was actually the Earl of Riverdale, who recently died.  Even more surprising, it is revealed that Anna was actually the earl’s only legitimate offspring due to a hidden marriage and that his “legitimate” children are not legitimate at all.  Anna has inherited the entire estate of her father much to the dismay of her half-siblings.  Avery Archer, Duke of Netherby, is a relative by marriage to the Westcotts who are in disarray after the revelations regarding Anna.  Avery is intrigued by Anna and her evolution to a lady.

OPINION:  I am a big fan of Balogh’s slow burn romances.  Her characters often have mature and unorthodox relationships. What I loved most about this book is that Anna and Avery are both kind.

Avery is a man who has made a facade for himself to mask his perceived weaknesses.  He is a quiet man, and I absolutely loved that he likes Anna from the beginning and doesn’t want her to change to become the stereotypical society lady. He loves seeing how she is an original. His support for Anna without taking a position on what she should do is deeply attractive.

Anna (aka Anastasia) is a good person. I just adored her when her reaction to finding out about her inheritance is dismay.  She would much prefer a family to money. Her efforts to build relationships demonstrate her gentle and kind nature.

These two people are so nicely matched.  The drama in the story really concerns all the disarray the family is sent into when Anna’s existence becomes known. Her recreation of her own identity is the focus of the book along with the romance.

I love the quiet romance present in this book.  The characters fall in love day by day, minute by minute. Their relation to one another is based on respect and honesty.

My one complaint is that the lack of any conflict between Anna and Avery makes their story resolved too quickly, but the story is worth it anyway.

WORTH MENTIONING:  This book introduces lots of characters who have intriguing stories to tell.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  SOMEONE TO LOVE is the first book Westcott series.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4 stars.

four-stars

Review: The Sexy One

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Review: The Sexy OneThe Sexy One by Lauren Blakely
Series: Holiday/Hammer #4
Published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform on October 17th 2016
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 188
Goodreads
three-stars

“He’s sweet, kind, funny, and good. So damn good. And, for a bonus prize, add in that he’s an amazing father. That’s some sexy Kryptonite right there.”

FINAL DECISION:  A nice story that is lacking a bit in comparison to the other books in this series.  The central conflict seemed not enough to keep these two apart and the emotional depth of this story was not what I would expect.

THE STORY:  Abby is the nanny of a five year old girl.  The father, Simon Travers is known as a “hot single dad”.  He is devoted to his daughter.  The problem is that Abby has been attracted to Simon for months.  What she doesn’t know is that Simon has been resisting his own attraction to Abby.  He fears that wanting the nanny is just too stereotypical and he doesn’t want to lose Abby who has been a blessing for him and his daughter.

OPINION: This was an enjoyable story but lacked the vibrancy of most of Lauren Blakely’s books.  The central conflict of this book is about how Simon doesn’t want to be a cliche of single dad and the nanny.  While an interesting idea, that conflict didn’t feel deep enough to keep these two apart.

Because I didn’t think the central conflict was deep enough, I also didn’t feel that the forces keeping these two apart didn’t feel important enough to justify the drama around it. These characters were so likeable and thus there wasn’t the depth to the story that I would expect — even though the story was nice enough.

I enjoyed these two together, but they were just a little too perfect and sweet for my tastes.

WORTH MENTIONING:  This book is told in alternating first person.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  THE SEXY ONE is book 4 in the Holiday/Hammer books which are connected but can be read as a standalone.  This book is a direct spinoff of MISTER O.

STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars.

three-stars

Cover Reveal: Laura Kaye’s Mastering Her Senses

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Decadent… Sensual… Forbidden…

12 Masters. 12 Desires. 12 Fantasies Come to Life.
Meet the Masters of Blasphemy…

Releasing February 21, 2017, MASTERING HER SENSES is the second full-length novel in Laura Kaye’s Blasphemy Series. Check out the amazing cover created by Kim Killion from The Killion Group below!

 

A Note from Laura Kaye:

Friends! I’m so excited to share the cover for Mastering Her Senses, the second book in my new erotic Blasphemy series! I’ve been dying to write Master Quinton since he first appeared on the page, and now he is coming your way this February. I’m also excited because the heroine, Cassia Locke, is the sister of one of the Raven Riders (Jagger Locke), so there will be some fun series crossover happening in this book, too! So, so much to love! I hope you’ll check it out and the other books in the series, too!

xo, Laura

12 Masters. Infinite fantasies. Welcome to Blasphemy…

He wants to dominate her senses—and her heart…

Quinton Ross has always been a thrill-seeker—so it’s no surprise that he’s drawn to extremes in the bedroom and at his BDSM club, Blasphemy, where he creates sense-depriving scenarios that blow submissives’ minds. Now if he could just find one who needs the rush as much as him…

When an accident leaves Cassia Locke with a paralyzing fear of the dark, she’ll try anything to get help. Ready to fight, she knows just who to ask for help—the hard-bodied, funny-as-hell Dom she’d always crushed on—and once stood up.

Quinton is shocked and a little leery to see Cassia, but he can’t pass up the chance to dominate the alluring little sub this time. Introducing her to sensory deprivation becomes his new favorite obsession, and watching her fight fear is its own thrill. But when doubt threatens to send her running again, Quinton must find a way to master her senses—and her heart.

Exclusive iBooks Preorder

Look for other preorder links in 2017

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Books in Series:

Hard to Serve #.5

Bound to Submit #1

Mastering Her Senses #2 – 2/21/17

Eyes on You #3 – 7/11/17

 

Laura Kaye - author picAbout Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirty books in contemporary and erotic romance and romantic suspense, including the Blasphemy, Hard Ink, and Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. Laura also writes historical fiction as the NYT bestselling author, Laura Kamoie. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

 

 

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