Posts Categorized: Read in 2012

Men of Smithfield: Seth and David – L.B. Gregg – 4 stars

October 12, 2012 Carina Press, NetGalley, Read in 2012 1

This was a very fast read but I enjoyed watching two men who seem to be complete opposites find each other and make it work.

Seth is still trying to come to terms with what his life has become.  He is now the sole guardian of his niece and both of them are still coming to terms with the loss of their sister/mother.  I was sad to hear about her battle with cancer but happy that her little girl did have the chance to know her and have some memories of her wonderfully caring mom.  Seth is also dealing with the end of his relationship with his lover which makes him a bit guarded when it comes to his heart.  He is surprised when at his weekly massage appointment he gets David rather than his normal therapist Lisa but even more surprised when he ends up uncontrollably aroused during the session.  He doesn’t like to talk about much of anything (a bit of a control freak) but David brings out this side of him that wants to get down and dirty any way he can.  There is a bit of drama with the father of his niece but overall she’s well-loved and cared for.

David..  sigh…  he seems to be flighty if you just look at the surface but…  this man works multiple jobs and is a children’s author who does all he can for his family and someone who’s relationship to him I’m going to keep secret.  I loved the way he brought out the inner good in Seth and really knocked down those walls.  He’s sweet, caring and the perfect balm to Seth’s tendency to over think/judge things.  I liked that he pushed back against Seth about a lot of items but mainly I liked that he really saw beneath the surface and cared for both of them.  I mean come on who wouldn’t want a hot man who has a heart of gold.  🙂

So if you want a quick, hot M/M read then this would be a good one to read.  You won’t get lost as these books can stand alone.  Thanks to NetGalley.com and Carina Press for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.

Men of Smithfield: Seth and David – L.B. Gregg – 4 stars

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Flash of Death – Cindy Dees – 3.5 stars

October 11, 2012 Harlequin, NetGalley, Read in 2012 0

On Goodreads I rated this a 4 because it was closer to that than a 3…  I wish GR had 1/2 stars…

Chloe is not having the best of days..  I mean she’s at her sister’s wedding by herself and feels out-of-place watching the happy couple.  Not that she isn’t happy for her sister but it can make you think about what you might be missing.  She’s finally to where she can head back to the hotel but while crossing the street she is almost run over by an SUV.  Luckily instead she gets run over by a hunk o’ man meat…  😉  She’s shaken up but feels an immense amount of chemistry with this man and decides (with the help of alcohol) to take advantage of what he offers.  She tells him some fantasies which they end up living out thru the night but the next day she gets back to the real world with some regrets.  She’s a forensic accountant who is just starting a new job undercover for the FBI and figures she’ll never see him again.  As you know this is a romance soooo….

Trent has undergone some experimental medical treatment for a rare disorder and it has some interesting side effects.  In his case it is increased speed which also has an impact on his metabolism and makes it where the only way he can sleep is to take some mega-sleeping pills.  He’s all playboy on the exterior but when he meets Chloe…  well all bets are off.  As they find out that the SUV was not just a random thing he’s put to task to protect her until someone can figure out who ordered her killed and the threat is dealt with.  He heads out to California to protect her but she initially pushes him away even while she wants him…

I loved seeing this pair figure out how to make a fling in to something more and watching him go all Alpha on her was fun.  I know in real life we would hate that but something about watching an Alpha male protect his woman is fun in romance.  He’s such a messed up soul but they both fill a need (no not just sexually) for each other which was sweet.

So for a quick hot read take a chance on this one…  Trent is just yummy and Chloe is not a complete simpering fool.  I’m going to have to go look at her backlist because I like the style.

Thanks to NetGalley.com and Harlequin for giving me the chance to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

Flash of Death – Cindy Dees – 3.5 stars

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Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed – Anna Campbell – 3 stars

October 11, 2012 NetGalley, Read in 2012 1

Ok this is another book where you need to suspend belief a bit…  As in they fall in love in seven days kind of suspended belief.

So the setup is Sidonie, our heroine, has taken the place of her sister in order to satisfy a gambling debt.  This seven-day period is assumed to be one of sex, sex and more sex at the whims of our hero.  She is a spinster for the time period and also a virgin who agrees to this scheme because she doesn’t want her sister hurt again by her husband.  She’s frightened both by the house and the lord of the household but wiling to do this to save her sister.  Now…  I don’t like her sister…  truly in the book you have no love lost for this worthless piece of trash but family is family and here we are….  Sidonie is a good person and while I do feel that the pairing ultimately would work I really wish we had more time with them together rather than the forced fast story.  She’s a fairly strong personality even when wavering and I found that i liked her but at the same time got a little frustrated with her just defaulting to her sister even though she knew the secret she held could help our hero.

And now on to my favorite part…

Our lusty, growly, brooding hero…  Jonas.  My heart was drawn to him for many reasons none of which included his outer scar.  He’s a wounded man both in spirit and physically but the spirit is what drew me in like it did Sidonie.  Blood and birthright mean everything in this time period so to be labeled a bastard is horrifying.  The worst is in his heart he knows his parents were married but to his father’s heartbreak there is no proof.  He’s ostracized and treated poorly by society and the rest of the family which makes him a hard, bitter man out for revenge.  He thinks he has the perfect chance when Roberta is in debt to him.  You see her husband is his cousin to whom all the entitlements passed when his parentage was called in to question.  He thinks having her and cuckolding the cousin will satisfy a portion of his need for revenge but Sidonie thwarts those plans.  Now…  you want to not like him but he treats her with such care it was wonderful to see.  I think that is why I felt a bit cheated by the way they were rushed but I still loved every moment we got to see him.

If you have some time take a chance on this one…  I don’t think you’ll be sorry but I do understand why some reviewers had an issue with the book.  Personally I’d love to see more of this pair just so I can see more of Jonas finally getting everything he deserved.

Special thanks to NetGalley.com and Grand Central Publishing/Forever for letting me read this in exchange for my honest review.

Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed – Anna Campbell – 3 stars

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A Home for Nobody’s Princess – Leanne Banks – 3 stars

October 10, 2012 Harlequin, NetGalley, Read in 2012 0

 

I have to say the heroine’s name is a bit silly but bear with it…

 

Coco is still reeling from the death of her adoptive mother and the loss of the only family member she had left.  She’s working as a nanny for sexy rancher, Ben, whose daughter is frightened at the sight of him.  She’s caring and loves little Emma like she was her own.  She gets surprised by representatives of a small island country off the coast of Italy with news that not only do they know who her birth parents are…  her father was the ruler of this country which makes her a princess.  Her birth parents are both deceased so there is no reunion there but she does have multiple half-siblings and one full brother that she could meet if she wishes to.  With the news just coming out about the missing heirs the paparazzi are starting to swarm which disrupts the ranch and Emma.  This leads to a “fake” fiancé arrangement between her and Ben but…  could there be something more brewing?

 

Ben is just trying to do the right thing for everyone..  a mistaken weekend fling with a not so perfect woman resulted in a child.  The death of the mother results in him getting custody of his daughter but…  she cries every time he tries to get near her so he hires a nanny to take care of her while he runs the ranch.  You feel for him as he tries to get to know Emma but he really just wants her happy and if not being around her makes her happy he will do it.  He’s a good man but is convinced that he won’t be with another woman in a committed relationship but when he starts to live this lie with Coco you know that the walls are going to crumble and he will find what he wasn’t looking for.

 

I liked both characters in that they do stay true to themselves even when the most bizarre things are thrown at them.  Watching Coco so desperately want to be loved by the family she never knew she had was heartbreaking but what she ended up getting at the end of the journey was beautiful.

 

If you are looking for a quick sweet read this will be for you and I thank NetGalley.com and Harlequin for letting me read this in exchange for my honest review.

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Mistletoe Cowboy – Carolyn Brown – 3.5 stars

October 9, 2012 NetGalley, Read in 2012 2

 

I have to say this was a cute quick read.  Take a chance and you’ll be charmed.

 

Sage is rushing home to save her grandmother from making a (in her eyes) huge mistake.  She makes the dangerous trek to the isolated ranch right as a blizzard takes hold over the place.  She thinks she’s alone except for her grandma but boy oh boy does she get one heck of a surprise the next morning when she runs in to Creed.  I liked watching her start to open her scarred heart to some abandoned animals and then to the wonderful cowboy who landed on her lap.  She’s got major issues but you can understand where they come from as the story unfolds.

 

Creed…  sigh…  such a sexy sexy man.  He’s come to the ranch to buy the place he’s always wanted…  A place to call home where he can have something that is his and not associated with his large well-meaning family.  I loved watching him work through his feelings for Sage and then figure out what was truly important.  He always seemed to want what made her happy once he discovered who she really was after his first mis-guided impression.

 

You have to love her grandmother and the others in the story who played a part in bringing two people together that never thought they would have the love and home they end up with.  The description of the artwork Sage creates and the place that she falls for her dreamy cowboy made me wish I was there and I had a cowboy like Creed of my very own.

 

Thanks to NetGalley.com and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.

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Rev It Up – Julie Ann Walker – 4 stars

October 9, 2012 NetGalley, Read in 2012 0

I have to say this is my favorite one of the series so far.  Both of the main pair have issues..  major issues …  but the love and heat between them is just too good for words.

We got to know Michelle in the last book when her true identity becomes known to the members of Black Knights Inc.  She’s a single mom who we find out was widowed by her special forces husband.  I liked getting to know her and her son plus loved watching her come to terms with having to spend time with the man she never truly got over.  She’s got a lot on her plate and discovering that Jake is back with all intention of making her his for once and for all.  She’s not 100% happy about this but decides that due to circumstances having to be in the same house/room with Jake can just be dealt with.  She is still hurting from the way they left things but cannot resist him for too long no matter how badly she’s convinced she’ll be hurt.

Now..  Jake…  dude…  he’s so freaking hot it isn’t even funny but watching how much he truly loves and craves Michelle was heartwarming to read.  I loved watching him help with little Frank …  seeing such an Alpha male being so gentle and patient with a little boy..  who wouldn’t just melt?  He’s done some stupid things but when you get to know what drove him to pushing her away..  well…  my heart broke for both of them for the lost time.  You add this to the guilt he has about her dead husband and there are a few tears shed as both deal with the guilt and time wasted ..  I loved the way the twist came out and the fact that neither side gave up but instead faced their own parts in the way things went.

Thanks to NetGalley.com and Sourcebooks Casablanca for giving me the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.  I cannot wait for more more more in this series and the Cajun will be fun to watch fall.

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Own the Night – Debbi Rawlins – 3 stars

October 7, 2012 Harlequin, NetGalley, Read in 2012 0

 

While there were problems with this book I did like the main characters.  They both have issues but in this book you see two people who find what they needed when they didn’t realize it.

 

Alana is a strong woman every where but with her mom. She’s definitely city but when push came to shove she discovered that being with Noah was more important to her than the trappings of city life.  She starts this book with the worst of luck and being mistaken for a con-artist makes it even more fun when she runs in to Noah.  She’s a bit lost and out of sorts but strong enough to finally figure out what matters in life and what she wants.  I liked watching her finally figure it out and go for what she needed.

 

Noah was one sexy lawman.  He’s got his own issues but as you see him start to fall for Alana you see one incredible person.  He figures out what he wants and while it hurts him when he thinks she is going to leave he also wants her to make a decision on her own.  Oh and own the decision she makes..  They have some wonderful sexy times but there is a strong sense of heart behind the heat.

 

Overall a nice quick read that I enjoyed.  Thanks to NetGalley.com and Harlequin for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.

 

 

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Beaded to Death – Janis Patterson – 3 stars

October 7, 2012 Carina Press, NetGalley, Read in 2012 0

Lilias is having a bad day…  She gets home from a road trip and walks in to a nightmare.  What would you do if there was a dead body in your house???  I mean your day just can’t get much worse especially if you don’t know the person.  She’s just a woman who makes incredible things with beads so none should need to break in.  Her house is trashed and she’s shot at but is resilient enough to keep going and just wants the truth about why this is happening to her.

The mystery in this book was fun to read and overall it was interesting but not completely memorable.  I liked watching her friend fall for the detective but otherwise it was just another quick read.

Thanks to NetGalley.com and Carina Press for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.

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The Valmont Contingency – Val Roberts – 3 stars

October 7, 2012 Carina Press, NetGalley, Read in 2012 0

Tasha has always played the part she was expected to even at the expense of her own self-image.  She plays the part of the Ice Princess to perfection with the makeup and bearing of a geisha.  It was heartbreaking to learn that she has never had love from her father and stepmother but instead is just used as a pawn to get them in to the cartels.  Luckily she was strong enough to pursue a degree in medical so when she finally runs she has something she can support herself with.  She runs straight in to being a stowaway on a ship that gets stopped by a “pirate” ship captained by Garrick.  She ends up finding the truth out about her family and herself while also finding the love and acceptance she never thought she would.

Garrick was one sexy man.  He’s not looking for anything other than a good time and trust me to him spending an evening playing nice for his father and entertaining the idea of marriage based on political/business gain is not his idea of fun or a life.  He’s very smart and when he meets Tasha he falls head over heels for this strong woman.  Their times together are sexy and yet you sense the true feelings behind the words every time they fight and make up.  I loved seeing him figure out what she needed and be willing to compromise what he thought they should be to make it what they needed it to be.

I enjoyed this and hope to see more set in this world as I liked the rest of the crew and of course I wouldn’t mind seeing more of Garrick and Tasha.

Thanks to NetGalley.com and Carina Press for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.

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Katie Porter – Guest Blog and Giveaway!!

October 3, 2012 Contest, Guest Post, Read in 2012 9

I’d like to welcome the wonderful writing duo of Katie Porter to the blog as my first ever guest!  I love the work these ladies have shared with me over the past few months and highly recommend running out and grabbing this series.

And now….

Reunited Lovers

By Katie Porter

I have to admit, I have a special fondness for the reunited lover trope. When I first started reading romances, I snapped them up like candy. The absolute best ones were when the little regency miss had a suitor run off by their evil-intentioned guardians. (My tastes ran a bit gothic. Sorry.) It only got better if the suitor in question was a stable hand who went off to make his fortune and came back big and bad and alpha. Nom worthy. I’ve got quite a few on my keeper shelves.

So when it was time to plot the Vegas Top Guns series, I only managed to hold out until the third book before I suggested we explore the reunited lovers trope. Captain Leah Girardi is no stranger to Captain Michael Templeton when Hold ’Em starts. They dated for a short time when “Princess” Leah was fresh out of flight school, but things didn’t work out. Of course, that leads to the next step: if we’re writing an erotic romance, then the reason they didn’t work out the first time had to be sexual, right? Right, because that’s where the fun stuff is.

We didn’t want Leah to be one of those “pent up” chicks who just never learned how to have an orgasm. Too boring, plus it wouldn’t have fit with the drive and ambition she would have to cultivate to become a fighter pilot. So maybe it was him, then. Maybe Michael and his family-originating chauvinism kept him from understanding some vital part of himself. Like a penchant for taking pain and submitting to a strong woman. *cough* See? The best part of reuniting is the surprises.

And of course, Michael has improved with age. (They always came back more handsome, did you notice that? Ten years never packs a pot-belly on nor makes their hair thin.)

“I really don’t want to spend the whole weekend dragging some random guy all around Vegas trying to find him a place to live.”

“Then we’re good on that front,” said a voice from the doorway behind her. “I’m already locked down. Had my household goods delivered this morning.”

Leah went stock-still, like her engines had shut off. She gripped the padded arms of the seat. And her heartbeat… Yeah, she could admit her heartbeat went into overdrive. Hardcore.

She knew that voice.

It had been a long time—six years, as a matter of fact—but that didn’t matter. When a woman’s strongest memory of a man was his voice in her ear telling her that he loved the way she smiled when she came, it tended to be memorable.

Ryan smiled past Leah. “There you are. Templeton, I’d like you to meet Captain Leah Girardi. Also known as Princess Leah.”

Her eyes narrowed. She was tempted to deck Fang. Princess might be her call sign, but that didn’t mean she liked it.

Ryan kept talking as if he didn’t feel the death threats she was telepathically sending his way. “Princess, this is Captain Mike Templeton. Call sign Strap Happy, right?”

She made herself twist in the seat to look. Seeing him would only get worse the longer she put it off.

In the absence of any logical thought, a creative string of curses assembled in her mind. The man looked better than ever. Good enough to nom down on. A few times.

When Leah had last seen him, Mike had been…cute. Kind of adorable in the way he hadn’t yet grown into his lanky hands and tall height.

But now…

He wore the usual olive-green flight suit, but he filled it out like whoa and damn. His shoulders had gotten wider—way wider—while his hips were as narrow as when she’d wrapped her ankles around him. He’d even matured through the face, his jawline sharper. His eyes were still that unforgettable neon blue, silently laughing at her. Constantly.

He grinned at her. “Leah and I go way back.

Who can resist a guy like that? Certainly not Leah—though she definitely tries.

***

Up next for Katie Porter, the co-writing team of Carrie Lofty and Lorelie Brown:

Now that the first three of the RT BookReviews 4½ Star Top Pick “Vegas Top Guns” series have been released, readers can anticipate the final two installments, HARD WAY and BARE KNUCKLE, in 2013.

November brings the m/m Christmas-themed CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR , described as “masterful” by Publishers Weekly.

In January, LEAD AND FOLLOW will launch the five-part “Club Devant” series of erotic multi-partner romances set in a hot New York City burlesque club.

Where to find us:

http://KatiePorterBooks.com

Twitter: @MsKatiePorter

Or individually: @carrielofty and @LorelieBrown

We’d like to give away a copy of DOUBLE DOWN, INSIDE BET or HOLD ’EM (winner’s choice) in any format. Just answer the question: Have you ever dreamt of reuniting with someone from your past? Or is there one person in particular you’d go a thousand miles out of your way to avoid reuniting with? 

Contest open through Sunday October 7th.  Winner will be send an email so please make sure to include your email address in the comment below.

Thanks again to Book-A-Holic Anon for featuring Katie Porter and Hold ’Em!

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