Monthly Archives: August 2011

August 28, 2011 · 5:11 am

Must Love Vampires by Heidi Betts

Author: Heidi Betts
Series: N/A
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Kensington Brava
Format: Paperback & e-book
Date/Year: September 27, 2011
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to the reviewer by the author in exchange for an honest review

Summary from the publisher:

LOVE AT FIRST BITE

Nightclub dancer Chloe Lamoureaux just met the man of her dreams:  Aidan Raines is charming, considerate, rich, and hot.  Of course, he’s a little mysterious about his age.  And his favorite drink.  And he’s not much for sunlight.  But he’s asked her to marry him, and she’s ready to do it. Sure, she has a few secrets too—but they’ll have plenty of time to work things out while they’re living happily ever after.  Right?

Her identical twin sister, Chuck, isn’t so sure.  Maybe reporting for the local Bigfoot-sighting tabloid doesn’t make her an expert, but to Chuck, Aidan and his brother Sebastian look like honest-to-Dracula vampires.  Especially Sebastian:  beguiling, seductive, and just a hint of dangerous.  Maybe she wouldn’t mind him taking a little taste.  But with Chloe’s life in the balance, she has to know—do they want hot love or hot blood?  Or maybe…a little of both?

 

My Musings:

This book is actually two novels in one with interacting characters.  The first, Vampnapped, focuses on Charlotte “Chuck” Lamoreaux and Sebastian Raines.  The second, Married . . . with Fangs” centers around Chuck’s identical twin sister Chloe and Sebastian’s brother Aidan.  I told you they were interwoven.

Chuck is the down to earth sister, an investigative reporter for the Sin City Tattler, while her sister is a show girl in a Las Vegas casino.  Chuck is determined to write an important expose which will get her a job with a reputable newspaper.  Unfortunately, she decides that Sebastian is the perfect subject of her expose because, after all, she believes he is a vampire.

Sebastian also happens to be the owner of the casino where Chloe works.  Chuck convinces her sister to let her impersonate Chloe so she can follow Sebastian.  Sebastian thinks Chloe is a gold digger who is out to trick his brother Aidan into marriage. So he kidnaps Chuck thinking she is Chloe.

Confused yet?

Meanwhile, Chloe really is a gold digger, but only for the best reasons.  She has a three-years-old son and she wants to make sure he has financial security.  Chloe and Aidan have been dating for several weeks and the sex is magnificent.  They haven’t talked a lot because, hey, the SEX is magnificent!

Aidan does want to marry Chloe and while Chuck is being kidnapped, they run off to a Las Vegas wedding chapel and get married.  Unfortunately, Aidan neglects to tell Chloe he is a vampire until after the wedding.  There is that little matter of him biting her on their wedding night.  Of course, she hasn’t told him she’s a mother either.

I absolutely loved this book.  I knew I was going to before I had read ten pages.  The characters are likable and the dialogue is funny.  The author can make the most insane situations seem reasonable.

Although the books tell separate stories, the last chapter brings them all together again.  The ending is satisfying with no loose ends making you wonder if there is going to be a sequel.

I have not read any of Heidi Betts’ books before, but I certainly will in the future.  I was delighted to find that she has an extensive backlist.  I imagine she will be added to my autobuy list and I am very particular about who goes on that list.

Again, a wonderful, enjoyable book which I highly recommend to anyone wanting a fun read.

FOLLOWUP:  After stating that the book does not need a sequel, I found out that the author has written an epilogue titled One Last Bite and is free at places like Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords.  Although it does not really add anything to the story, I enjoyed visiting Chuck and Sebastian and Chloe and Aidan one more time.

Actually, if the author was going to write an epilogue, I would have preferred it to address the women’s decision on whether or not to stay human.  That is the only area where I felt the reader was left hanging.

Either way, it does not matter.  Read the sequel.  It is just as enjoyable as the book.

(originally posted at Seductive Musings)
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Filed under Contemporary, Erotica, Humor, Paranormal, Romance

August 7, 2011 · 3:36 am

Brightwing by Sullivan Lee

BrightwingBrightwing by Sullivan Lee
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Brightwing focuses on the interactions of three characters. Edgar and Mallory are brothers who are on the run from the law and Lucy, who is the last of a Floridian Native American tribe.

Mallory has broken Edgar out of a prison transport in New England and they have left a trail of murder behind them on their way down the coast. Lucy has just finished a jewel heist and has the misfortune of being kidnapped and taken as a hostage by the brothers in Florida.

Obviously, none of these characters are what you would call upstanding citizens. Although Edgar is the brother who was on his way to prison, Mallory is the real danger to those around him.

Mallory is a serial rapist and murderer. He does not limit his murders to the women he attacks either. He kills indiscriminately, even when it would be in his best interest to keep a low profile.

Edgar has spent his entire life covering up for Mallory. You have to feel sorry for him because he really wishes Mallory was dead. He just can’t bring himself to kill his own brother.

And that is the problem I had with Edgar. Nothing is his fault. He just lets Mallory and circumstances control him. He comes off as weak in almost every scene.

Lucy Brightwing, however, is definitely an Alpha. She is determined to reestablish her tribe on her own lands in the Everglades. She is smart, a fighter, and has the backbone to accomplish whatever she sets out to do. Kidnapping her is the luckiest thing that ever happened to Edgar and Mallory because now they have someone to lead them.

I really liked Lucy, but I thought she could do so much better than Edgar. I can’t see such a strong female falling in love with him. Although there is a scene where Edgar chooses Lucy over Mallory, I never felt certain he would protect her from him every time.

Is this book a romance? Yes, but it has the most unusual group of characters I have ever seen. I really liked Lucy, but Edgar is weak and Mallory scares me to death.

If you want something out of the ordinary to read, I recommend this book. If you want to read about characters you can love, this is not the book for you.

One thing I have to say though, this is one of the most well written books I have ever read. My dislike of the book is strictly based on the characters. Sullivan Lee’s writing is marvelous. I would certainly be willing to try another book written by this author.

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Filed under Contemporary, Realistic, Romance

August 3, 2011 · 4:53 pm

Brightwing by Sullivan Lee

from author

Title: Brightwing*
Author: Sullivan Lee
Series: Standalone
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Self Published
Format: e-book
Date/Year: July 2011
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to the reviewer by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Summary from the publisher:

A Criminal Love Story

Edgar and Mallory Battle are on the run after a spectacularly violent escape. Now, with a trail of bodies behind them, they need a hostage against the inevitable standoff with the police. Their first doesn’t last long, thanks to sociopathic Mallory. Edgar has been hiding his brother’s crimes since they were kids. Now he’s torn between loyalty and self-preservation.

They carjack Lucy Brightwing, a criminal fresh from her own heist, with a fortune of uncut gems hidden in her vehicle. She could escape — but she won’t abandon her millions. She could kill the Battle brothers, but she has to be careful. For one thing, if the law investigates, they’ll find her ill-gotten loot. For another, her own life is sacred. She’s the last member of a Florida paleoindian tribe thought to be extinct — the Tequesta. With her share of the money she plans to buy, bribe and blackmail her way into her own ancestral tribal lands in the heart of the Everglades, a Tequesta nation.

Lucy leads them into her beloved swamp, determined to kill them. But when she falls for Edgar she must decide whether to risk her heritage and the future of her tribe to save the doomed brothers.

My Musings:

Brightwing focuses on the interactions of three characters. Edgar and Mallory are brothers who are on the run from the law and Lucy, who is the last of a Floridian Native American tribe.

Mallory has broken Edgar out of a prison transport in New England and they have left a trail of murder behind them on their way down the coast. Lucy has just finished a jewel heist and has the misfortune of being kidnapped and taken as a hostage by the brothers in Florida.

Obviously, none of these characters are what you would call upstanding citizens. Although Edgar is the brother who was on his way to prison, Mallory is the real danger to those around him.

Mallory is a serial rapist and murderer. He does not limit his murders to the women he attacks either. He kills indiscriminately, even when it would be in his best interest to keep a low profile.

Edgar has spent his entire life covering up for Mallory. You have to feel sorry for him because he really wishes Mallory was dead. He just can’t bring himself to kill his own brother.

And that is the problem I had with Edgar. Nothing is his fault. He just lets Mallory and circumstances control him. He comes off as weak in almost every scene.

Lucy Brightwing, however, is definitely an Alpha. She is determined to reestablish her tribe on her own lands in the Everglades. She is smart, a fighter, and has the backbone to accomplish whatever she sets out to do. Kidnapping her is the luckiest thing that ever happened to Edgar and Mallory because now they have someone to lead them.

I really liked Lucy, but I thought she could do so much better than Edgar. I can’t see such a strong female falling in love with him. Although there is a scene where Edgar chooses Lucy over Mallory, I never felt certain he would protect her from him every time.

Is this book a romance? Yes, but it has the most unusual group of characters I have ever seen. I really liked Lucy, but Edgar is weak and Mallory scares me to death.

If you want something out of the ordinary to read, I recommend this book. If you want to read about characters you can love, this is not the book for you.

One thing I have to say though, this is one of the most well written books I have ever read. My dislike of the book is strictly based on the characters. Sullivan Lee’s writing is marvelous. I would certainly be willing to try another book written by this author.

Ratings:

Overall: 2 stars
Sensuality level: 2 (one attempted rape scene)

For a complete understanding and definition of the ratings at Seductive Musings, click here

(cross posted from Seductive Musings)

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Filed under Contemporary, Romance

August 1, 2011 · 3:29 am

Must Love Vampires by Heidi Betts

Must Love VampiresMust Love Vampires by Heidi Betts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

LOVE AT FIRST BITE

Nightclub dancer Chloe Lamoureaux just met the man of her dreams: Aidan Raines is charming, considerate, rich, and hot. Of course, he’s a little mysterious about his age. And his favorite drink. And he’s not much for sunlight. But he’s asked her to marry him, and she’s ready to do it. Sure, she has a few secrets too—but they’ll have plenty of time to work things out while they’re living happily ever after. Right?

Her identical twin sister, Chuck, isn’t so sure. Maybe reporting for the local Bigfoot-sighting tabloid doesn’t make her an expert, but to Chuck, Aidan and his brother Sebastian look like honest-to-Dracula vampires. Especially Sebastian: beguiling, seductive, and just a hint of dangerous. Maybe she wouldn’t mind him taking a little taste. But with Chloe’s life in the balance, she has to know—do they want hot love or hot blood? Or maybe…a little of both?

My Musings:
This book is actually two novels in one with interacting characters. The first, Vampnapped, focuses on Charlotte “Chuck” Lamoreaux and Sebastian Raines. The second, Married . . . with Fangs” centers around Chuck’s identical twin sister Chloe and Sebastian’s brother Aidan. I told you they were interwoven.

Chuck is the down to earth sister, an investigative reporter for the Sin City Tattler, while her sister is a show girl in a Las Vegas casino. Chuck is determined to write an important expose which will get her a job with a reputable newspaper. Unfortunately, she decides that Sebastian is the perfect subject of her expose because, after all, she believes he is a vampire.

Sebastian also happens to be the owner of the casino where Chloe works. Chuck convinces her sister to let her impersonate Chloe so she can follow Sebastian. Sebastian thinks Chloe is a gold digger who is out to trick his brother Aidan into marriage. So he kidnaps Chuck thinking she is Chloe.

Confused yet?

Meanwhile, Chloe really is a gold digger, but only for the best reasons. She has a three-years-old son and she wants to make sure he has financial security. Chloe and Aidan have been dating for several weeks and the sex is magnificent. They haven’t talked a lot because, hey, the SEX is magnificent!

Aidan does want to marry Chloe and while Chuck is being kidnapped, they run off to a Las Vegas wedding chapel and get married. Unfortunately, Aidan neglects to tell Chloe he is a vampire until after the wedding. There is that little matter of him biting her on their wedding night. Of course, she hasn’t told him she’s a mother either.

I absolutely loved this book. I knew I was going to before I had read ten pages. The characters are likable and the dialogue is funny. The author can make the most insane situations seem reasonable.

Although the books tell separate stories, the last chapter brings them all together again. The ending is satisfying with no loose ends making you wonder if there is going to be a sequel.

I have not read any of Heidi Betts’ books before, but I certainly will in the future. I was delighted to find that she has an extensive backlist. I imagine she will be added to my autobuy list and I am very particular about who goes on that list.

Again, a wonderful, enjoyable book which I highly recommend to anyone wanting a fun read.

FOLLOWUP: After stating that the book does not need a sequel, I found out that the author has written an epilogue titled One Last Bite and is free at places like Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords. Although it does not really add anything to the story, I enjoyed visiting Chuck and Sebastian and Chloe and Aidan one more time.

Actually, if the author was going to write an epilogue, I would have preferred it to address the women’s decision on whether or not to stay human. That is the only area where I felt the reader was left hanging.

Either way, it does not matter. Read the sequel. It is just as enjoyable as the book.

View all my reviews

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Filed under Contemporary, Humor, Paranormal, Romance