Category Archives: Contemporary

October 17, 2012 · 4:36 pm

Checking it Twice by Jodi Redford

Checking It Twice by Jodi Redford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off, this book is a sequel to The Naughty List which I did not realize until I started reading. It is not necessary to read the first book to enjoy Checking it Twice, but it was so much fun I have already ordered the first one.

Jana and Kevin have know each other for five years and have been in love/lust for most of that time. Due to emotional issues in Kevin’s past, he has resisted his feelings for her although Jana has done her best to seduce him. He knows that he is incapable of giving Jana what she needs in a relationship. Years ago, he even lost his best friend due to his problems.

And now, he is leaving town . . . for good.

Jana loves Kevin and cannot understand why he won’t give them a chance. She is also worried about her feelings for Nick. Although they have never met, they have carried on a long distance flirtation through phone and email. Can she really be in love with two men?

So, guess who comes to town and just happens to be Kevin’s long-lost best friend?

Nick has regretted the end of his friendship with Kevin for years. Now that he has found him, he is not going to lose him again. He has also realized his feelings for Jana have gone beyond a flirtation and it is time for them to meet face-to-face. What he did not realize is that Jana is in love with another man. Kevin.

Nick has known Kevin since they shared a room in college and that is not all they shared. Kevin’s voyeurism kink quite often let to M/F/M threesomes. Kevin’s background has made him ashamed of his sexual preferences. He is afraid to get close to anyone because he “knows” they will leave him when they find out what he is really like. But Nick knows that there is no reason Jana should have decide which man she really loves. She can have Kevin and Nick too.

Jana is not at all adverse to a relationship with both men. After all, her brother is in such a relationship already. –Remember book one, The Naughty List?– And Jana is not shy about going after what she wants.

I loved this book. It was a light, fun read, but there was also emotional depth. Kevin, Nick, and Jana are all wonderful characters. There were times I wanted to tell Kevin to get over himself, but that is only because I wanted everyone to be happy.

Read this book! Especially if you like M/F/M menages, light bondage, and some really hot shower scenes.

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT SEDUCTIVE MUSINGS

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October 13, 2012 · 4:15 am

Dangerous Embrace (Embrace, #1) by Dana Mason

Dangerous Embrace by Dana Mason
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Summary from the publisher:

Sarah Jennings wants nothing more than a quiet life—alone.

Raised by an eccentric mother, their life on the road only taught her how to run away from hard times. But when she finds herself in an abusive relationship, this lesson serves her well.

Now, back in her hometown, she’s found a place she loves. She’s a first grade teacher, and with few friends and less family around, she has what she wants, a quiet life under the radar where she can be free of her past and live quietly. Finally comfortable in her own skin, she’s settled, and less fearful than she’s ever been in her life.

But it only takes one night and one act of violence for everything to change. Injured and afraid, Sarah wants to run again, but Mark Summors refuses to let her go.

Just when Sarah thinks she can have Mark and the life he promises, her past comes back to haunt her.

Mark Summors was born and raised in Santa Rosa. He married his high school sweetheart and never questioned his life, until he found his wife with another man.

Now divorced, he wants something more. He’s passionate about his job, he wants to protect people, and he devotes his life to it.

This time he’s protecting more than just another client, he’s protecting his future; at least, Sarah Jennings will be his future, once he convinces her she loves him.

My Musings:

I really wanted to like this book. It had a strong beginning with a likeable hero and heroine and a less common plotline than a lot of romances. I thought the first half of the book was well written and I was impressed that it was by a debut author. Unfortunately, I was tired of it by the time I was half way through. I even looked on Amazon to see how long the book was in print – 368 pages. I would have liked it better if it had been condensed to about 200 pages.

After all, I knew how it was going to end well before that. There was one minor plot twist I did not see coming, but beyond that it was just slogging through to get to the end. I even think the author was tired of it because the writing in the second half was not nearly as good as the beginning.

So, what’s the book about?

Sarah escaped from an abusive relationship eight years before. She has created a new life for herself under a new name and is finally beginning to feel safe. So, of course, she is targeted by a rapist. She manages to fight him off and literally runs into the hero of the story – Mark.

Mark, an ex-cop who now owns a security firm, immediately takes her under his protection whether she wants to be or not. Sarah has fought hard to be in control of her own life and does not want anyone to have any say in what she does.

Okay, although I thought Mark was a really nice guy, I think his take charge attitude was over the top. He had never met Sarah before, but he is sleeping on her couch to protect her from the day of the attack.

Sarah, who has a history of abuse by men, almost immediately trusts him. Her only issue with Mark is his take control attitude and she’s an absolute bitch about that. I also thought her “I can take care of myself” attitude was unbelievable considering how much physical damage she has suffered.

Their relationship swings from “hold me, I love you” to “I have to escape . . . don’t leave me, fine, go ahead and leave” in the space of a few pages. And it doesn’t happen just once. Sarah has a history of running from her problems and Mark suffers through the hurt . . . over and over again.

Remember I said the book went on for too long.

Finally, I felt there were various characters who were only introduced so they would be available for a sequel. The book is listed as first in a series and the author has a lot of people from which to choose.

Need I say, I won’t be reading any sequels?

THIS REVIEW WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED ON SEDUCTIVE MUSINGS.

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October 6, 2012 · 6:13 am

Mate Claimed (Shifters Unbound, #4) by Jennifer Ashley

Title: * Mate Claimed
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Series: Shifters Unbound #4
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Format: Paperback
Date/Year: October 2012
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to me by the publisher for review.

Summary from the publisher:

Eric Warden knows that half-Shifter wildcat Iona is passing for human, living without a Collar in the human world. He also knows that if she does not acknowledge her Shifter nature and her mating hunger, it could kill her. Iona finds the mysterious and dangerous Eric, a wildcat and leader of his Shiftertown, haunting her dreams, but she vows never to “come out” and take the Collar, fearing backlash against her mother and sister for hiding the fact that she’s Shifter. But Eric is a compelling Shifter male, and Iona’s hunger calls to him.

My Musings:

Eric, who shifts into a snow leopard, is the leader of the Las Vegas Shiftertown. As such, he is responsible for a community of cat shifters, bear shifters, and soon to move in, wolf shifters. Eric was introduced in previous books and comes across as the strong, silent type. He does not have to prove he is dominant with violence. His presence alone ensures that everyone follows his orders.

Everyone that is but Iona.

Iona is a half shifter – half human living in Las Vegas. No one outside of her immediate family knows she is anything but full human. In this world, being a shifter means you are a second class citizen and are forced to wear a pain inflicting collar and live in Shiftertowns. Is it any wonder she has concealed her shifter side all these years?

Eric accidentally discovers Iona’s secret and knows for her own safety she must move to Shiftertown and join their society. Of course, safety is not the only reason Eric wants Iona to embrace her shifter half. He really likes the way she smells!

Add to the romance that is developing between Eric and Iona a dominance challenge from the leader of the wolves that are moving into Eric’s Shiftertown. Graham makes Eric look easy going, he is so aggressive. (I cannot wait for his book!)

Although this is book four in the series, it is actually the seventh to be published. There are three novellas which fall between main books. Being the compulsive person I am about series, I had to read the first six books before I could read this one for review. I am so glad I did. I cannot imagine anyone being able to follow the complex storyline without the background of the previous books. Many of the characters from the previous books show up in this one and their roles are not always minor.

Because of that, I not only recommend this book, I recommend the entire series.

I cannot wait for the next book to be published. It is titled Tiger Magic and scheduled for release in June of 2013. And yes, we got to meet the tiger in this book.

All I can say is “lions and tigers and bears, oh my” and don’t forget the wolves are coming to town as well.

Ratings:

Overall: 4.5
Sensuality level: 3.5 (No toys or kink, although there is a reference to a scene where they are in shifter form.)

–This review was originally posted to Seductive Musings.–

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August 20, 2012 · 4:18 am

Savage Hunger (Heart of the Jaguar, #1) by Terry Spear

Savage Hunger by Terry Spear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: *Savage Hunger
Author: Terry Spear
Series: Heart of the Jaguar, #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Format: ebook
Date/Year: October 1, 2012
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to me by the publisher for review.

Summary from the publisher:

In the heat of the jungle, jaguars are clawed, dangerous, and hungry for love. With hopes of overcoming night terrors and thanking the man who saved her life, Kathleen McKnight returns to the Amazon. A jaguar at heart, Connor Anderson doesn’t just protect her, but wants to claim her for his own.

My Musings:

This is the first book I have read by Terry Spear, but it definitely won’t be the last. Savage Hunger is the beginning of her new series titled Heart of the Jaguar. I have read other series featuring jaguar shapeshifters, but Connor is in a class by himself.

Male shapeshifters are generally portrayed as aggressive and dominant . . . very much the alpha. Although Connor is definitely alpha in regards to his streak of protectiveness and very possessive of Kathleen, he is also tender and loving. He cares about Kathleen. He doesn’t just want her.

Kathleen is a former Army officer who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She was captured by drug runners in the Amazon and suffers from nightmares a year later. The main thing she remembers about the experience is being rescued by a jaguar.

Hmmm . . . I wonder who that could have been.

She returns to the Amazon in hopes of alleviating her nightmares and becomes separated from her guide. Fortunately, Connor and his sister Maya are there vacationing and rescue her – again.

I only had one real issue with this book. I thought that Kathleen accepted the existence of shifters far too easily. She was also very calm when Maya tried to turn her into a shifter.

I have a soft spot for shifters and cannot wait to start on the author’s wolf series. She is also writing a sequel to this book which will feature Maya. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find out anything about a publication date for Maya’s book.

UPDATE – The next book is Jaguar Fever and will be released August 2013.

Ratings:

Overall: 4
Sensuality level: 3.5 (No kink, but definitely explicit)

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July 30, 2012 · 4:22 am

Bloodlust by Faye Robertson

Bloodlust by Faye Robertson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off, this is a very quick read which is a shame because I really liked Amabel and Jasper. I would have loved to have more time with them.

Even as a human, Jasper was a lady’s man. After becoming a vampire with the power of enthrallment, no woman was safe. That was until he met a young nun named Amabel. You see, Jasper has a thing for nuns.

“Some men had alcohol. Some had narcotics. Women had chocolate, and occasionally shoes. Jasper’s weakness was nuns.”

He cannot resist them and normally the reverse is true as well . . . except for Amabel. For some reason, she can resist him and curses him before he bites her.

And what a curse it is! Amabel’s blood gives Jasper a conscience which is a terrible inconvenience. Jasper liked being a vampire. He liked “doing” whatever or whomever he wanted without considering others. Amabel has taken all the fun out of being a vampire.

For 160 years, Jasper has been a vampire with a conscience. He no longer seduces women with his powers. He only kills the bad guys. It’s a terrible life.

But what kind of life is Amabel leading all this time? She is still a chaste, moral young woman who happens to be a 160 year old vampire. She never bites anyone (pig blood . . . ewww) and has remained a virgin.

So, of course, their paths have to cross.

As I said, I really enjoyed this book. The characters are likable and the dialogue is laugh-out-loud funny at times. The sex scenes are hot, but more intimate than explicit.

My only disappointment is the short length. I really, really want to see more of Jasper.

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April 17, 2012 · 4:02 am

Knight of Hearts (McKnight, #2) by Suzie Quint

Knight of Hearts by Suzie Quint
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: * Knight of Hearts
Author: Suzie Quint
Series: McKnight, #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Pink Petal Books
Format: ebook
Date/Year: November, 2011
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to me by the author for review.

Summary from the publisher:

They have a deal: Rachel will teach the newly divorced Mac to date again, and he’ll accompany her to her brother’s wedding. Seems like a straight forward trade, but when Mac decides the kisses he wants can only be found on Rachel’s lips, he sabotages all her efforts to find him another woman.

Rachel’s never met a man more inept at meeting women. If he’s not sharing inappropriate information, he’s hitting them with the worst come-on lines she’s ever heard. The man can’t even do a decent Texas Two-Step. If she didn’t need a date to her brother’s wedding so desperately . .

My Musings:

Let me begin by saying I loved this book. I did not realize when I began that it is the second in the series (A Knight in Cowboy Boots is the first), but that did not interfere with my enjoyment. Of course, I liked it so much that I immediately read the first book when I finished this one.

Rachel is a strong, take control woman and her personality sometimes puts people off. That includes members of her own family. They love her, but they don’t always seem to like her. She has never had a relationship of her own, which makes it especially funny that she has been chosen to help Mac find someone new.

Mac is having a difficult time entering the dating arena after his divorce. He was married for fifteen years and things have certainly changed. He makes a deal with Rachel to help him learn how to meet women again. In return, he will be her “date” to her brother’s wedding. She needs someone to divert her mother from trying to fix her up.

Mac is not the normal alpha hero. At first, I was not sure I liked him, but his determination to get on with his life was endearing. Rachel’s relationship problems came from her need to be in control. Even when she was interested in a man, she could not seem to let herself go enough to get close to anyone.

This need for control also interferes with Rachel’s developing relationship with Mac. They fall in love (not a spoiler, because really what else did you think was going to happen?), but she still cannot let herself go enough to enjoy a sexual relationship. To me, this is when the story really begins. Mac is determined not to lose Rachel and will do whatever it takes to make her feel the same about him.

Suzie Quint has definitely made it to my autobuy list. She has a short story (All’s Fair) about Sol, one of the other brothers, which only whet my appetite for a complete book. There are so many books to come. After all, Rachel is one of thirteen siblings and I want each one’s story.

The author’s website does not indicate when a new book will be published, but I will definitely keep checking. I don’t even care which sibling is involved as long as I get another story about this family.

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January 28, 2012 · 4:52 am

Inked Magic (Inked Magic World, #1) by Jory Strong

Inked Magic by Jory Strong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: * Inked Magic
Author: Jory Strong
Series: 1st in series
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Format: paperback
Date/Year: 2/2012
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to me by the publisher for review.

Summary from the publisher:

With the touch of her palms to the skin of a crime victim, San Francisco tattoo artist Etaín can see the faces of the guilty and draw them. Changeling elf but unaware of it, at odds with her police captain father and FBI agent brother, magic and gift have put her in the path of two compelling men.
Cathal Dunne, the son of an Irish mob boss, needs Etaín’s help finding the rapists who left his cousin for dead. Eamon, a powerful elf lord, is determined to make her his consort-wife.
Her gift once made permanence impossible when it came to a lover. Now, as she approaches the transition to fully Elven, her survival depends on keeping two. One of the men is willing to share her. The other isn’t-until the search for a sexual predator turns deadly, and only by paying magic’s price will there be any future at all.

My Musings:

First off, let me say I am a big fan of Jory Strong’s books. My favorite series is Supernatural Bonds . . . or Crime Tells . . . or maybe, Fallon Mates. Anyway, I love her books. Inked Magic is the beginning of a new paranormal series and I am already longing for the next book.

Etain is a changeling elf although she thinks she is human. She knows she has the gift of seeing crimes through the victim’s eyes, but she does not associate it with magic. Cathal, who really is a human, needs her to find his cousin’s rapists. The final member of the menage is a full Elf Lord named Eamon.

The only character I really liked is Etain. She uses her gift to help others even though it makes her extremely ill. Her family has abandoned her unless they need her help, but that has not stopped her from making a new family of friends. These friends have wonderful and distinctive personalities and I cannot wait to meet them again in subsequent books.

I really did not care for Cathal. He originally approached Etain in order to use her gifts. Although he did end up falling in love with her, he never appeared to really want to love her. Eamon, however, accepted her as his forever wife from the first meeting. Part of that was a power play due to her gifts, but I felt that he actually cared for her.

The storyline was engrossing with a number of subplots woven into it. Many of these were addressed in the book, but a few were left for the sequels. There a number of characters that I want to read their story. Etain’s brother definitely needs his own book.

The sex scenes were handled well. They were explicit without being coarse. My only concern was that the book is classified as a MFM menage and it was really more of a sharing relationship than a true menage. I expected the three of them to have sex together at some point which I do not remember happening.

As I previously stated, Jory Strong is a favorite author of mine. Inked Magic is another addition to her long line of wonderful books. She is already writing the sequel and I cannot wait for it to be published.

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January 16, 2012 · 4:55 am

Dirty Beautiful by Jodie Becker

Dirty Beautiful by Jodie Becker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Erica is a small town elementary school teacher in Georgia. She lives in her Grandmother’s house and apparently has never been anywhere else. She even attended college from home, so she would not have to leave her ailing grandmother.

Dylan, also a Southerner, although he is from Arkansas, has recently moved to this small Georgia town from Los Angeles. He is getting out of “the life” of being a porn star. Of course,, he thinks he is going to be able to keep his past a secret.

Obviously, he doesn’t really know small towns.

The storyline was one I have not read before and that is saying something with the number of books I read. I found this one to be unique if a little unbelievable. And that is my only real problem with the book. The characters are likable and Dylan’s reasons for becoming a porn star as will as his struggle to return to a normal life are convincing. However, I did have trouble buying that he introduces Erica to his friends in LA, but does not expect them to tell her about the business.

My real issue with the book is Erica and the town she lives in. I found her situation implausible in a number of ways. First, and this is a minor point, she has never seen a beach. This is Georgia, not Kansas, and Georgians go to the beach. No educated person is that isolated.

Which brings up another issue . . . Erica is an elementary school teacher in a small Southern town and when Dylan’s past life is revealed, there are very few repercussions from the townspeople. Teachers are expected to be like Caesar’s wife . . . above reproach. There is no way the citizens would have accepted Erica dating, much less having an affair, with a porn star.

Finally, Erica has been betrayed by a previous boyfriend and has strong doubts that she can hold any man. Although, she is upset when she finds out about his past, she accepts that he loves her (eventually) and does not seem to have any problems with the fact that he has had sex with hundreds of women.

As you can see, I have had a hard time getting past the “yeah, right” portions of the plot. The storyline is unique, the characters are likable, and the book is well written. I just wish more thought had been given to the reactions of the characters to the situation.

And one more thing, I have been a teacher in a small town in Georgia . . . and St. Simon’s Island is my favorite beach.

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January 13, 2012 · 4:50 am

No Dress Required by Cari Quinn

No Dress Required by Cari Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: *No Dress Required
Author: Cari Quinn
Series: n/a
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Format: ebook
Date/Year: December 2011
Reviewed by: ElaineReads

*This book was provided to me by the publisher for review.

Summary from the publisher:

After years of ho-hum dating, Noelle Gregory is tired of fooling around. There’s only ever been one guy for her—Jake Conroy, her best friend’s older brother. Now that Jake’s back in town, she’s headed to his sister’s New Year’s Eve party to make her move. Purse full of condoms? Check. Sparkly dress guaranteed to show Jake the sexy woman she’s become? Check.

Carjacker that makes off with both two hours before the party? Check.

When Jake finds Noelle stranded on the side of the road—looking sexier than ever in her striped socks and silly holiday shirt, damn it—he’s glad for the snowstorm that cancels his sister’s party. His and Noelle’s friendship has tormented him for years, and now, Jake wonders if he should dare to sample what he’s always wanted…and if he’ll be able to walk away when it’s over.

My Musings:

Noelle has been in love with her best friend’s brother Jake for years. Unfortunately, he always saw her as another pesky little sister until it was too late and he was involved with someone else.

Now, Jake is alone once more and it’s New Year’s Eve. Is it possible that Jake and Noelle will start the New Year with a bang?

My initial reaction to the “best friend’s brother” plot was not again. However, one of the reasons it is used so much is that it works. Can any straight girl say that she did not crush on the older, unattainable guy at some point? I know I can’t.

I am not a fan of short stories/novellas and this book is only 61 pages long. However, the author does an excellent job of developing the relationship between Jake and Noelle given the the limited time available. There is even a bit of a mystery involved in why did Jake’s girlfriend leave him.

The best thing about this story is that it is fun. I particularly liked when they realize Noelle has thrown away Jake’s only condom in a fit of temper and he refuses to go through his baby sister’s stash to get another one.

Cari Quinn has several books published and I will definitely try another. This book made me laugh out loud and who can ask for more than that?

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December 23, 2011 · 5:24 am

The Winston Brothers (Winston, 1-3) by Lori Foster

Lori Foster enchanted legions of romance readers with her seductive novellas featuring the Winston brothers. Now, these tantalizing tales are available for the first time in one volume.

This book includes the stories for Cole, Chase, and Mack which were originally published in separate anthologies. I loved this series the first time I read it, but I am not as impressed now. Maybe it’s just not what I am in the mood to read.

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