Category Archives: Reviews

Reviews of romance books with a fair look at positives and negatives of each book.

Review: Archangel’s Enigma

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Review: Archangel’s EnigmaArchangel's Enigma (Guild Hunter, #8) by Nalini Singh
Published by Berkley Sensation on September 1st 2015
Genres: Paranormal
Pages: 357
Goodreads
five-stars

My Favorite of the Series. Sexy, Sensual, Fun, and Exciting — Just Like Naasir

“Seven months Naasir had been hunting. Seven months since he’d told Ashwini he was ready to find a mate. Seven months and still his mate hadn’t made herself known to him. Didn’t she know he was looking for her?”

FINAL DECISION: My favorite of the series. I loved the characters, their deep respect and mutual acceptance of one another. The tone of the book is sexy, sensual, playful and dangerous which fit Naasir’s character. As a character that fans have wanted to know more about since his first appearance, this book is deeply satisfying. He is given a mate who matches him well. Their journey is exciting and sweet and just plain sexy.

THE STORY: Naasir is one of the Seven to the Archangel Raphael. His origins are unknown but he has some feral qualities and some vampire qualities. When a plot to murder the former Archangel of Persia is discovered, Naasir is sent to awaken the Archangel to warn him. He is to accompany Andromeda, a young angel scholar who has done work to discover the Archangel’s sleeping place. Because they are racing against time to discover the sleeping Archangel before it is discovered by the one who wants to kill him, their journey is expected to be perilous. At the same time, Naasir is seaching for his mate. When he meets Andromeda, he thinks that she smells like she could be his mate, but her fragility and her vow of celibacy make him wonder how she could possibly be the one for him.

OPINION: A wonderful blend of sex, sweet romance, friendship, adventure and excitement, this book and its tone are perfect for the sensual, playful but deadly Naasir. A fan favorite since his introduction to the Guild Hunter series, Naasir has mysterious origins. Fans can rejoice that this book answers questions that have surrounded Naasir. No spoilers here, but I found Naasir’s story to be especially satisfying.

Naasir is playful, brilliant, sensual and brutal and all those traits are exhibited here. He is unique to the series and I loved how this book expressed all his qualities. Readers of Singh’s Psy-Changling series will recognize her deft hand with expressing animalistic qualities and she has raised it to a superlative level here. Naasir is incredibly complex and his different way of thinking is well depicted here.

Andromeda is seemingly an unlikely match for the wild Naasir. A scholar and a celibate, Andromeda first appears weak and defenseless to Naasir. As he begins to uncover her true nature, however, he learns that she is precisely the mate he needs.

“The idea his maybe-mate might have a secret side fascinated him.”

What I loved most about this book was the mutual acceptance that Naasir and Andomeda show to one another. Both had broken childhoods and come from monstrous origins and wage fights against their nature. In each other, they find acceptance and appreciation for the qualities that others have rejected in them.

“A woman who knows me, understands what I am, and who wants to have secret rules with me.”

A beautiful expression of love, their romance was allowed to develop slowly (contrasted by the swift events of the narrative). Naasir’s respect for Andromeda is evident throughout. Truthfully, the conflicts between these characters arise from external events and threats and that works perfectly for this couple. This is a story of love, acceptance, sensual exploration, deep respect along with a playful tone even in the face of serious danger and brutal battles.

I finished this book was a deep sigh of satisfaction and then immediately began reading passages of it again because it was that good. Instantly my favorite of the series and a definite “keeper”!

WORTH MENTIONING: A warning: “Something bad is coming. Worse than before.” But that is for future books.

CONNECTED BOOKS: ARCHANGEL’S ENIGMA is the eighth book in the Guild Hunters series about a world where angels and vampires and mortals live together. There is a strong connecting story between all the books as political maneuvers and battles take place between Archangels. This book, however, can be read as a standalone as all the information a reader needs to know can be garnered from the text of this book.

STAR RATING: I give this book an enthusiastic 5 stars!

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five-stars

Review: Luck Be a Lady

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Luck Be a Lady
Luck Be a Lady by Meredith Duran
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My Favorite of the Series

“Since their first meeting, she had wondered about him. He was so very . . . free . . . in this attitudes and behavior. She had never met anybody like him.”

FINAL DECISION: Lovely story with a sexy and charming self-made rogue and a strong woman who wants to make her own way. LUCK BE A LADY is steamy and dramatic and filled with deep emotions. It satisfies fans of the series but also can be thoroughly enjoyed by new readers.

THE STORY: Catherine Everleigh is talented and has wanted nothing more than to work in her father’s auction house her whole life. Her father left the auction house in equal shares between Catherine and her brother, but Catherine cannot control her share until her marriage. Known as the “Ice Queen”, Catherine is a spinster with no desire for marriage, but she will sacrifice in order to save the auction house. Her brother has begun to embezzle from the business and Catherine knows that there is no time to lose. In her desperation, she turns to Nicholas O’Shea and proposes a marriage of convenience. Nick is a survivor and a crime lord who is moving into legal operations. He agrees to Catherine’s proposition in order to protect his own turf and because he has wanted Catherine for a year. While their marriage is supposed to be all business, Nick intends to seduce the ice queen.

OPINION: I absolutely loved the characters in this book. Nick is dashing and naughty and incredibly wonderful. A man who has made something of himself despite all odd to the contrary. He is also incredibly respectful of Catherine’s abilities. That is what she ends up appreciating most. He likes her mind and her strength and is not threatened by her. Catherine is proud and smart and hard working. She is a working woman in a society that has no appreciation for her talents. In the prior book in the series, LADY BE GOOD, I didn’t like her very much. Through Duran’s talents, Catherine is made entirely sympathetic here. These are complex and fascinating characters and I didn’t want their story to end because I liked them both so much.

I am a huge fan of social mismatch stories and this story is a good one. Their match is so inappropriate that Catherine uses it as blackmail. The romance is deep and adult and there are not silly misunderstandings. These two people learn to talk to one another, to see things in each other that they did not expect and to fall in love.

The plot is also exciting as well. There are unexpected twists that kept me turning the pages quickly even as I wanted to savor the story. The story was complete and satisfying but at the same time I was sad when I finished the last page because I loved these characters so much.

WORTH MENTIONING: Fans of the series will get a surprise appearance by a character who readers met before and who plays an important role in this book.

CONNECTED BOOKS: LUCK BE A LADY is the fourth book in the Rules for the Reckless series. Although there are appearances from characters from the series, this book can be read as a standalone.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

Review: Deep

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Deep
Deep by Kylie Scott
My rating: 4.25 of 5 stars

“Positive.”

THE STORY: Lizzy Rollins and Ben Nicholson had a one night stand two months ago and now Lizzy has found out she is pregnant. Lizzy is a twenty-one year old college student. Her sister has just married one of the band members of Stage Dive. Ben is the bass player for the band. Although there was chemistry between the two since they met months ago, Lizzy is the sister of one of Ben’s band mates and therefore off limits. Lizzy’s pregnancy forces Ben and Lizzy to confront their feelings for one another.

OPINION: With flawed characters who make mistakes and have to deal with the consequences of their actions, DEEP is sometimes frustrating and often sexy, sweet and funny.

For those readers who have trouble with repetitive mistakes, warning that Ben has problems that don’t go away. For those who have read prior books in the series, that pattern will be familiar. The characters in DEEP struggle with their demons and don’t get over their problems easily.

DEEP is not as dark as prior books in the series. In many ways, this book is sweet, but Ben doesn’t know how to have a relationship and he badly messes up with Lizzy. While he does make multiple mistakes with her, the reader can also see his growth as a character.

Lizzy is the strong one here despite her youth. She is a survivor who makes the most of her situation. She acknowledges her mistakes. At the same time, she is at times an unrealistic romantic who builds up fantasies in her head but doesn’t always ask for what she wants. When her fantasy doesn’t happen, she gives up rather than fight.

As with all the Stage Dive books, DEEP is very sexy and hot. This book is also very sweet. Ben and Lizzy build a relationship in parts. I especially liked their texts to one another which just felt sweet and honest. I laughed at the way pregnancy was portrayed in this book.
It felt more realistic than other portrayals and is not just a plot device.

DEEP is not my favorite of the series, that goes to LEAD, but I especially enjoyed the interaction of all the couples in the series. All the characters play important roles in this book so fans of the series will be pleased.

Once I started this book, I couldn’t stop even reading late into the night. Readers who have followed the series, will know that something has been going on between Ben and Lizzy. This book answers the questions of what happened and then goes forward giving all the Stage Dive characters a happy ending.

WORTH MENTIONING: DEEP introduces the character of Vaughan who is going to be the hero of the spin off Dive Bar series. He almost stole the show for me.

FINAL DECISION: I recommend this book especially for fans of the Stage Dive series.

CONNECTED BOOKS: DEEP is the fourth book in the Stage Dive series. It is not necessary to read the previous books to enjoy DEEP although starting at the first book is the best way to appreciate this one since all the couples have prominent roles in DEEP.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.25 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in order to provide an honest review of the book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Review: Overload

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Overload
Overload by Linda Howard
My rating: 1.5 of 5 stars

Banal Characters and Storyline in this Novella.

FINAL DECISION: Pretty pointless story with characters that seemed two dimensional. I could guess the big secret from the beginning and it the heroine keeping the secret seemed pointless and neither character seemed to change during the story enough to make their happy ending seem earned.

THE STORY: Elizabeth Major broke off with Tom Quinlan six months ago because she felt he was controlling. An interior designer, Elizabeth’s business happens to be across the hall from Tom’s private investigation across the hall. During a blackout the two end up stranded and trapped together in the building. Tom wants another chance and intends on getting Elizabeth to divulge the secrets she is keeping.

OPINION: This story had promise but the characters were not interesting enough and their story not dramatic or emotional enough to justify the story. The entire drama comes from Elizabeth not telling Tom about her ex-husband and his treatment toward her. Once the secret is disclosed, the characters quickly resolved their problems. The story is one that I will probably forget by tomorrow. The only intriguing part of the story is the two main characters being locked in together in their office building during a heat wave and blackout. Good concept but the execution didn’t do anything with that great concept.

WORTH MENTIONING: I’ve got nothing.

CONNECTED BOOKS: OVERLOAD is a standalone novella.

STAR RATING: I give this book 1.5 stars.

Review: Archangel’s Kiss

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Review: Archangel’s KissArchangel's Kiss (Guild Hunter #2) by Nalini Singh
Series: Guild Hunter #2
Published by Berkley on February 2nd 2010
Genres: Paranormal
Pages: 352
Goodreads
five-stars

Paranormal Suspense and Political Intrigue Mixed with Romance

“We die . . . We die together. That’s the deal.”

THE STORY: Elena Deveraux has fundamentally changed after the events of ANGELS’ BLOOD. Now that she has changed into being an angel, Elena has entered Raphael’s world and has to find her way. There are deep political divisions and maneuvers between the archangels. This book is the story of Elena remaking herself, the new relationship between Elena and Raphael, and the political threats that surround them.

OPINION: Although ARCHANGEL’S KISS is the same series as the first book in the series, Singh has made this book fresh and different. While the first book in the series was more suspense oriented, this book is more political thriller. Because Elena is a new angel, she also has to make fundamental changes in her life. Also, this book investigates Elena’s past and how she became who she is. The perfect mixture between external story and internal, emotional conflict, this is a book that satisfies on both an intellectual and emotional level. I especially love the character of Elena. She is strong and determined but also deeply loving. She is deeply haunted by her past and the murders of her older sisters and this book exposes many of those secrets. I couldn’t wait to start book three and I’m glad that I didn’t discover this series soon and thus have to wait months for another book.

WORTH MENTIONING: Singh has created an interesting world with fascinating characters. Reading the book, I want to know more about the pasts of those characters. Luckily, I know that the stories of those characters are coming.

FINAL DECISION: I found Archangel’s Kiss to be fascinating. It is a paranormal crime drama and also a political intrigue book. I also loved the evolution of Elena’s character and the developing relationship between Elena and Raphael.

CONNECTED BOOKS: ARCHANGEL’S KISS is the second book in the Guild Hunter series. Because the books are the continuing story of Elena and Raphael and therefore can be best appreciated by reading the books in order.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

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five-stars

Review: The Bourbon Kings

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Review: The Bourbon KingsThe Bourbon Kings (The Bourbon Kings #1) by J.R. Ward
Series: The Bourbon Kings #1
Published by NAL on July 28th 2015
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 420
Goodreads
four-half-stars

Start of a Scandalous Soap Opera Type Series

FINAL DECISION: I did not expect to like this book, but I actually loved it. This family is severely disfunctional but I think I love that all these characters are damaged and their family is a mess. Lane might be the most normal of the group and Lizzie is definitely in the “normal” category.

THE STORY: Lizzie King, head gardener for the Bradford family estate, fell in love with the youngest son Lane Baldwine. They had a bitter breakup but he has been gone from the estate for two years. Now he has returned and his determined to make Lizzie give him another chance.

OPINION: This book is the beginning of the story of the Bradford family of Kentucky and their secrets and scandals and loves. I am a moderate fan of Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood — I really liked the first couple of books and then had to drag myself through the rest of the books. I did not have high hopes for this book but was intrigued by the completely different setting and genre.

I am glad that I read this book because I loved it. This is a seriously messed up family. There are many secrets and scandals that this book sometimes reads as a soap opera, but that is one of the reasons that I loved it. It is sprawling and big in scope and the intertwining stories of the different siblings really works here.

The book has deaths and suicides and possible murders. There is adultery and abuse and very evil machinations. There are also mysteries and sweet relationships.

I especially loved Lane as a character. He seems to be the most normal of this whacked family because of his love for Lizzie. He messed up his relationship with her before and is determined to make it work this time. In the midst of the craziness of the story with the revelations that seems to come on every page, Lizzie and Lane have a relationship that is sweet and sexy and sometimes feels incredibly normal.
I can’t wait until the next book.

WORTH MENTIONING: While this book concentrates on the relationship between Lane and Lizzie, there are significant events between two other couples: Lane’s older brother Edward and his love interest Sutton and Lane’s sister Gin and her romantic nemesis.

CONNECTED BOOKS: THE BOURBON KINGS is the first book in the series by the same name.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

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four-half-stars

Review: Dark Horizon

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Dark Horizon by Courtney Milan
Series: Carhart #0.25
Genres: Historical
three-stars

Dark Horizon is a short vignette set in the Carhart world (#0.25) and tells a story of Gareth Carhart’s trip to Brazil and the dangers involved. This is a nice add on to the series but doesn’t substitute for any of the books. I appreciate the additional content but it is for fans of the series rather than a new reader.

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three-stars

Review: Rock Hard

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Review: Rock HardRock Hard (Rock Kiss, #2) by Nalini Singh
Series: Rock Kiss #2
Published by Tka Distribution on March 10th 2015
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 351
Goodreads
four-half-stars

“Trust me, Ms. Baird?”
“Not when you smile like that.”

THE STORY: Charlotte Baird has hidden herself in ill fitting clothes and a mousey personality. After a horrible incident in her past, Charlotte set about protecting herself in as many ways as possible. Her steady date for the past year is more interested in talking about his hobbies than getting physical with Charlotte and that is the way she likes it. When the failing company she works for hires a new CEO to turn around the company, Charlotte is intimidated by the large athletic strong man. She nicknames him T-Rex as he chews up the upper ranks of the company.

Gabriel Bishop is an ex-professional rugby player who has made a name for himself as a turnaround artist for failing companies. Gabriel is protective of the mouse he sees in Charlotte but it intrigued at the glimpses of the strong woman that he sometimes sees.

OPINION: I loved this book because of the strong, complex characters of Charlotte and Gabriel. Their relationship is incredibly beautiful and I really like that their relationship takes time to develop. I appreciated that the book allows the characters to acknowledge the dangers of office romances and especially boss/employee relationships. While those issues are quickly dismissed, the characters at least do acknowledge those issues.

Charlotte’s story is incredibly sad and yet she has survived and managed to create a decent life for herself. I don’t want to give away the exact nature of her past as information is disclosed to readers in the same way that Gabriel learns the truth. The scenes are powerful and heart wrenching.

Gabriel is my favorite part of this book. He is an alpha hero and yet is incredibly thoughtful, caring and protective. He is patient with Charlotte and places her peace of mind above his own desires. For sexy good guy heroes, he is one of the best.

Strong characters and relationships are a hallmark of Singh’s books. Her characters, including those here, are complex multifaceted people. The relationship between these two people is adult and mature. Charlotte and Gabriel talk through their issues and relationship. They are also sexy and sensual. This book is about Charlotte embracing her own sexuality.

For fans of the Thea and David sexy and funny email exchanges from ROCK COURTSHIP (the series novella) will be pleased that there are similar exchanges of written correspondence in this book. While not as extensive or clever as in ROCK COURTSHIP, there are some sweet and funny moments between Charlotte and Gabriel that made me smile.

WORTH MENTIONING: The events of ROCK HARD take place at the same time as those in the first book in the series ROCK ADDICTION.

FINAL DECISION: I loved this book because of Charlotte and Gabriel. Their story made me smile and cry. They are fully realized complex characters. Gabriel especially is a wonderful alpha good guy hero who is sexy and patient and caring.

CONNECTED BOOKS: ROCK HARD is the second novel in the Rock Kiss series. It can be read as a standalone.

STAR RATING: I give ROCK HARD 4.5 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in order to provide an honest review of the book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

four-half-stars

Review: Tall, Dark, and Wicked

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Review: Tall, Dark, and WickedTall, Dark and Wicked (Wicked Trilogy, #2) by Madeline Hunter
Series: Wicked Trilogy #2
Published by Jove on October 6th 2015
Genres: Historical
Pages: 400
Goodreads
four-half-stars

Loved This Intricate Historical Story of a Lawyer and the Daughter of a Defendant

“This lawyer was not merely handsome, but handsome in a way that made fools of women when they saw him.”

FINAL DECISION: I loved the story of Ives and Padua. There is a twisty mystery along with an intense romance between Ives and Padua. I love the romances where everything seems hopeless but then things work out in the end.

THE STORY: Lord Ywain “Ives” Hemingford is the younger brother of a duke and is a barrister who often works as a prosecutor for the English Crown. Padua Belvoir comes to Ives to ask him to represent her father who has been arrested and thrown in Newgate. Ives must say no because he has been engaged as the prosecutor against her father. Although Ives knows that he cannot risk having anything to do with a defendant’s daughter, he cannot resist the prickly and intelligent teacher Padua.

OPINION: I loved this story. Ives is a man who engages his romantic liasons logically and with much planning. Padua blows apart his ordered life and makes him take risks that he never would have expected himself to take. Her influence on his life is demonstrated by his brothers’ surprise at his actions. Padua is a woman who doesn’t fit into the social constraints of the day. She is a radical in her own small way and refuses to be shoved into a category or to be protected. She insists on making her own way even when it gets her into trouble. But she owns her mistakes and does not blame others. She challenges Ives but she also fits right into his desire for justice and doing right. Their romance is hot and also seems doomed even as Ives begins to realize that he wants more for Padua than he has ever wanted from a woman before.

WORTH MENTIONING: As with the first book in the series, I especially liked the relationship between the three brothers which is funny and caring and feels like a brotherly relationship with all the squabbling and affection one might expect.

CONNECTED BOOKS: TALL, DARK, AND WICKED is the second book in the Wicked Trilogy. It can be read as a standalone.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4.5 stars.

four-half-stars

Review: His Wicked Reputation

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Review: His Wicked ReputationHis Wicked Reputation (Wicked Trilogy, #1) by Madeline Hunter
Series: Wicked Trilogy #1
Published by Jove on March 3rd 2015
Genres: Historical
Pages: 401
Goodreads
four-half-stars

Intriguing Mystery with a Sensual Romance

“His air and manner, the very way he sat on that horse, announced he would be nothing but trouble for a woman.”

FINAL DECISION: I absolutely loved this book. The relationship feels natural and well written. The mystery was intriguing and integral to the story without overwhelming the romance. The characters are fun and survivors and very wicked.

THE STORY: Gareth Fitzallen is the bastard son of a duke. He has a good relationship with two of his half brothers and upon the death of the heir, the remaining brothers are allowed to resume their relationship and draw closer to one another. Gareth’s lawyer brother Ives asks for his assistance in uncovering some missing artwork. Traveling to the house that he inherited, Gareth encounters a local spinster, Eva Russell, who intrigues him. As Gareth is drawn deeper into a relationship with Eva, what he doesn’t know is that she may hold the clue to uncovering the missing artwork.

OPINION: I loved the humor and sexiness of this book. Often books with wicked in the title fail to live up to that designation. Gareth is shown from the beginning to have wicked tendencies (along with his brothers) and thus the name is well placed. He is also a very good man. His relationship with Eva always comes from a position of equality. The two become involved with one another, but they are adults about their relationship. I loved how Gareth is confused by his reaction to Eva as he is unable to place her into a neat category in his life. There is great sensuality and humor in this book even as the mystery works its way out. This book is incredibly well paced and the pages turn effortlessly. I look forward to reading about the other brothers because they are intriguing characters themselves.

WORTH MENTIONING: I absolutely loved the relationship between the three brothers who are the heroes in the three books in this trilogy. Funny and loving and very masculine, these brothers have a special relationship with one another that was enjoyable to read.

CONNECTED BOOKS: HIS WICKED REPUTATION is the first book in the Wicked Trilogy.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

four-half-stars