June 1, 2015 · 7:37 am

Asking for It (Asking for It, #1) by Lilah Pace

Asking for It (Asking for It, #1)Asking for It by Lilah Pace

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: Asking for It
Author: Lilah Pace
Series: Asking for It, #1
Pages: 336
Publisher: Berkley
Date: June 2, 2015

Summary:

“This is who I am. This is what I want. Now I need a man dangerous enough to give it to me.”

Graduate student Vivienne Charles is afraid of her own desires—ashamed to admit that she fantasizes about being taken by force, by a man who will claim her completely and without mercy. When the magnetic, mysterious Jonah Marks learns her secret, he makes an offer that stuns her: they will remain near-strangers to each other, and meet in secret so that he can fulfill her fantasy.

Their arrangement is twisted. The sex is incredible. And—despite their attempts to stay apart—soon their emotions are bound together as tightly as the rope around Vivienne’s wrists. But the secrets in their pasts threaten to turn their affair even darker…

Reader Advisory: Asking for It deals explicitly with fantasies of non-consensual sex. Readers sensitive to portrayals of non-consensual sex should be advised.

Review:

I was hesitant when this book was offered to me to review. The focus on rape fantasies disturbed me and I was not sure I would be able to read the book. I agreed to try it and then let it sit unread for weeks. That was a mistake.

Once I actually started the book, I was totally engrossed. The writing is excellent and the sex scenes are amazing. I mean really amazing.

Although Vivienne cannot get off without the fantasy of forced sex, it is just a fantasy. She and Jonah negotiate what is and is not allowed and even have a safe word. It reads more like a D/s scene than anything else. There is even a reference to that.

Eventually, Vivienne and Jonah begin to develop a true relationship, not just a sexual one. They both have secrets in their pasts that they are trying to overcome. Vivienne is seeing a therapist and I really think Jonah should as well.

I really liked the subplot involving Vivienne and her therapist. Vivienne thinks she needs to be “fixed,” but her therapist is more interested in getting her to accept herself. I hate books that imply there is something wrong with a person if they have a sexual kink.

SPOILER ALERT

This book was a five star right up to the ending. There isn’t one . . . an ending, I mean. There is not a cliffhanger, but the relationship is unresolved. The second book, Begging for It, is due out in September and I have already preordered my copy. I tweeted the author and she has assured me there is not a cliffhanger ending in it.

This really is an amazing book and I cannot wait for the sequel. Don’t let the content warning keep you from it. If you enjoy darker books, this is definitely something you should read.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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May 2, 2015 · 10:22 am

Cat’s Lair (Leopard People, #7) by Christine Feehan

Cat's Lair (Leopard People #7)Cat’s Lair by Christine Feehan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: Cat’s Lair
Author: Christine Feehan
Series: Leopard People, #7
Pages: 448
Publisher: Jove
Date: May 5, 2015

Summary:

Cat Benoit has finally escaped the past—and the man who was the source of her nightmares. She’s off the grid, underground but watchful, and creating a new life for herself in Texas, far from the torrid dangers of her native New Orleans. She’s safe. He’ll never find her this time. Cat has to believe that. It’s the only thing keeping her sane.

Yet she can’t escape the attention of Ridley Cromer, the instructor at the martial arts dojo where Cat takes lessons. She arouses the animal in Ridley—and something feral comes to life when their body heat rises. Cat is in no position to let her guard down with anyone, especially someone who could be endangered by her past. But Ridley has secrets of his own—secrets only Cat would understand. If she dares to trust him.

Review:

First off, I never, ever read series books out of order. Even if I am told individual books can stand alone, I always read them in order. Well, this time I ran out of time . . . and they were right. This book works perfectly well as a standalone.

Anyway, Cat is on the run. She has learned to stay unobtrusive in order to survive. Unfortunately, the man she is running from is an abusive, murderous crime lord named Rafe . . . who also happens to be a leopard shifter.

Cat is a shifter too, but she has yet to shift. Females do not shift until they are older and she is terrified of her leopard. She is afraid it will be a killer too because that is all she has ever known.

Enter Ridley Cromer – (view spoiler)

Ridley is an undercover DEA agent and they want Cat to testify against Rafe. She knows she will not live long enough to testify. Rafe will find her and either kill her or kidnap her again.

Ridley, whose real name is Eli, kidnaps her himself in order to protect her. The fact that he is a shifter as well and wants Cat as his mate is simply a side benefit. Yeah, right.
I loved the relationship between Eli and Cat. Given her childhood, you would expect Cat to be a terrified mouse. She is anything but. She is frightened, of course, but she is strong and determined to live her own life.

Eli is a dominant, which is to be expected with any of Feehan’s books. The males are always alphas. Eli takes it to an entirely different level. He is a dominant in the manner of BDSM. Fortunately, Cat discovers she loves his dominance and even though she is a strong woman, she is also submissive.

Eli is dominant and aggressive and hard headed and he loves Cat more than his own life. He is not afraid to admit it either. Cat can’t understand it, but he never lets her think she is not loved.

I love that Eli is open with his feelings about Cat. I also love that he is determined she learns to defend herself. He is not so stupid to think he will always be able to protect her. She has to be able to protect herself. And she does . . . up to a point.

The bad guy shows up and he is not alone. Bad things happen and Eli is not able to protect her. And, . . .

Read the book. Read the entire series. I’m going to.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review. (hide spoiler)]

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April 11, 2015 · 3:30 pm

Medium Dead (Dr. Alexandra Gladstone, #4) by Paula Paul

Medium Dead: An Alexandra Gladstone MysteryMedium Dead: An Alexandra Gladstone Mystery by Paula Paul

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: Medium Dead
Author: Paula Paul
Series: Dr. Alexandra Gladstone, #4
Pages: 188
Publisher: Alibi
Date: April 14, 2015

Summary:

Sure to delight readers of Jacqueline Winspear and Ellis Peters, Medium Dead features Queen Victoria herself—and she’s rumored to have slain a local psychic in Newton-upon-Sea. Now the task of clearing her name and catching the real killer falls to Dr. Alexandra Gladstone.

Under Victoria’s reign, women are barred from calling themselves physicians, but that hasn’t stopped Alexandra Gladstone. As the first female doctor in Newton-upon-Sea, she spends her days tending sick villagers in the practice she inherited from her father, with her loyal and sometimes overprotective dog, Zack, by her side.

After the corpse of village spiritualist Alvina Elwold is discovered aboveground at a church boneyard, wild rumors circulate through the charming seaside village, including one implicating a certain regal guest lodging nearby. Tales of the dead Alvina hobnobbing with spirits and hexing her enemies are even more outlandish—but as a woman of science and reason, Alexandra has no doubt that a murderer made of flesh and blood is on the loose.

Finding out the truth means sorting through a deluge of ghostly visitors, royal sightings, and shifty suspects. At least her attentive and handsome friend Nicholas Forsyth, Lord Dunsford, has come to her aid. Alexandra will need all the help she can get, because she’s stumbled upon dangerous secrets—while provoking a deadly adversary who wants to keep them buried.

Review:

This is the fourth of the Dr. Alexandra Gladstone series, but it is the first one I have read. I rarely (okay, NEVER) read books out of order, but I made the commitment to review this book before I realized it was part of a series. I’m glad I did. There is enough backstory that I did not feel I was missing something that kept me from understanding and enjoying to book. And yes, I most definitely enjoyed the book.

There were a couple of things I would like to find out from the previous books though. One, what, if any, relationship was there between Alexandra and Nicholas before he became the Earl? And two, where did Alexandra get Zack the dog and why does Zack hate Nicholas? There has to be something going on there.

Anyway, as anyone with a passing interest in Queen Victoria knows, she was deeply in love with her late husband Prince Albert. So much so, that she delved into mysticism and mediums to try to contact him from the grave.

Well it just so happens that there is a medium living in the town where Alexandra is a doctor. The Queen arranges to spend time with Nicholas’ mother in order to consult the medium . . . and the medium ends up murdered the very next day.

Now let me say, the medium wasn’t very likable and won’t be missed, but murder is murder and the culprit must be found.

But could it really be the Queen? And if it is, does anyone expect her to be held accountable for her actions?

Speaking of unlikable characters, I don’t like the Queen. I don’t like the butler. And I really don’t like the Earl’s mother.

But I love Alexandra and Nicholas and I really like Alexandra’s maidservant Nancy. Nancy is bossy and can even take Alexandra by surprise with her managing ways.

The relationship between Nicholas and Alexandra is understated, but still the affection between them is obvious. Nancy and Alexandra grew up together and even though they are servant and mistress, they are also family. It is these relationships that are the backbone of the story, but the mystery itself is well handled.

I have to say I didn’t see it coming.

I should have. The hints were there, but it was handled so well I was completely surprised.

I guess you can’t compliment a mystery better than that.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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April 5, 2015 · 9:30 am

Still the One (Animal Magnetism, #6) by Jill Shalvis

Still the One (Animal Magnetism, #6)Still the One by Jill Shalvis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: Still the One
Author: Jill Shalvis
Series: Animal Magnetism, #6
Pages: 320
Publisher: Berkley
Date: April 7, 2015

Summary:

Darcy Stone is game for anything — except sexy Navy veteran and physical therapist A.J. Colten, the guy who’d rejected her when she’d needed him most. Now the shoe is on the other foot and he needs her to play nice and help him secure grants for his patients. Unfortunately, Darcy can’t refuse. She needs the money to fund her passion project: rescuing S&R dogs and placing them with emotionally wounded soldiers.


A.J. admits it — Darcy is irresistible. But he’s already been battle-scarred by a strong-willed, vivacious, adventurous woman like Darcy, and he’s not making the same mistake twice—until he and Darcy are forced to fake a relationship. Growing closer than they’d ever imagined possible, Darcy and AJ have to ask themselves: how much between them is pretend? What’s the real thing? And where does it go from here?

Review:

A great thing about Jill Shalvis’ series is I always feel like I’m with old friends. Characters from earlier books are an integral part of the plot. They’re just not the main characters.

And with that said, we’ve already met Darcy and AJ in previous books. Darcy is the crazy, globetrotting younger sister of Wyatt from Then Came You and AJ is his serious, uptight best friend.

So, of course, they fall in lust . . . I mean love.

After a terrible automobile accident, Darcy’s globetrotting days are over. Without AJ’s expertise as a physical therapist, even her days of walking would have been over.

The only thing stronger than the chemistry between them is how much they annoy each other.

Wyatt, talking to AJ about Darcy:

“She does seem to take some serious delight in screwing with you. What did you do to piss her off?”
“Breathe.”

So, of course, a situation arises where they need each other . . . and where they end up spending time alone in a hotel . . . and . . . you get the picture.

I love a snarky heroine and Darcy certainly fits that description. Unfortunately, her snark is brought on by a childhood of rejection from her parents. If her snark keeps people away, then they can’t reject her, right?

After lots of miscommunication and wrong assumptions (and why can’t couples TALK to each other? Oh yeah, there wouldn’t be a book then.), AJ and Darcy finally get their HEA. Neither one is confident they can make the other happy, but they are both determined to be there and do their best.

This was not my favorite book of the series and I think it was because it was too real. They know things are not perfect just because they have admitted their love for each other. They both know that due to their own personal issues, they will have to work at the relationship.

And that was just a little too real life for me.

Still the One is “still” a great addition to the series. Read the others first. You won’t regret it.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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April 5, 2015 · 8:33 am

Mate Bond (Shifters Unbound, #7) by Jennifer Ashley

Mate Bond (Shifters Unbound, #7)Mate Bond by Jennifer Ashley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: Mate Bond
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Series: Shifters Unbound, #7
Pages: 320
Publisher: Berkley
Date: April 7, 2015

Summary:

To cement the leadership of his North Carolina Shiftertown, Bowman O’Donnell agreed to a “mating of convenience.” Two powerful wolf shifters, he and Kenzie keep the pack in order and are adored by all. Bowman would do anything to protect Kenzie, for in each other’s arms they’ve found far more than friendship. But as strong as their attachment is, they still haven’t formed the elusive mate bond—the almost magical joining of true mates.

Now with a monster ravaging the countryside and threatening the Shiftertown community, some in the pack fear that a pair without a true mate bond isn’t strong enough to lead. Bowman and Kenzie will have to rely on their instinctive trust in one another to save their Shifters—and the ensuing battle will either destroy them or give them the chance to seize the love they’ve always craved.

Review:

The actual “bad guy” plot of this book is secondary to the story. The real focus is on Bowman and Kenzie – two strong, alpha wolves who love each other and are not afraid to show it. They’ve been together for fifteen years and have a wonderful cub named Ryan.

What they don’t have is a mate bond. The mate bond is a magical link between two shifters and overrides all other relationships.

And that is the problem.

Although they don’t discuss it, Bowman and Kenzie both fear that the other will meet their “true” mate and their family will be torn apart.

Now this a romance, so I can tell you that they do not get torn apart without it being a spoiler. However,the author certainly keeps you wondering how they will manage to keep their family together.

Oh yes, everything else – mutant shifters, time mists, FAE, and non FAE, new friends and old – All these make for an excellent story, but it is the relationship between Bowman and Kenzie that make this book.

This is the seventh book in the Shifters Unbound series. It is set in a different ShifterTown than the earlier books which would make it easier to read as a standalone. I wouldn’t though. This series is great enough that you should read them all. Actually, I’m jealous of new readers. You have seven books to read at once. I had to wait for each one. That’s okay though. They’re worth it.

One last thing, anyone else want to try naked ziplining?

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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March 8, 2015 · 11:26 am

A Midsummer Night’s Romp (Ainslie Brothers, #2) by Katie MacAlister

A Midsummer Night's Romp (Ainslie Brothers, #2)A Midsummer Night’s Romp by Katie MacAlister

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: A Midsummer Night’s Romp
Author: Katie MacAlister
Series: Ainslie Brothers, #2
Pages: 352
Publisher: Signet
Date: May 5, 2015

Summary:

Lorina Liddel is terrified of embarrassing herself on national TV as the face of Dig Britain!, a new archeological reality show. Lorina would much rather keep her head down and her hands in the dirt underneath Ainslie Castle, but her on-screen partner is proving to be a major distraction.

Brother to the castle’s current lord, privileged, perfectly sculpted Gunner Ainslie is a sure bet to keep viewers glued to their screens. Lorina intends to keep the ladies’ man focused on the job at hand, but Gunner is confident he’ll soon have the beauty falling into his bed.

When an unexpected find turns the academic dig into an all-out treasure hunt, Lorina and Gunner get swept up in the excitement. But when their steamy tryst is caught on camera, it’ll take more than an award-winning performance to get them out of the hole they’re in…

Review:

MacAlister’s books are always fun to read. The plots are enticing, but it’s really the humor which keeps me coming back. And by humor, I mean laugh out loud, wipe the tears from your eyes, humor.

A Midsummer Night’s Romp is no exception. Sometimes the dialogue was so staged, it was almost too much.

Gunner: “ . . . as a man who values you for more than just your delectable body, and enticing breasts, and truly magnificent ass, I will take it upon myself to provide that distraction so that you might be comfortable, mentally speaking.”

I mean, really, that’s a bit over the top. This sort of dialogue happens over and over again, but it’s not bad writing. It’s completely intentional.

And then there are lines like these, which make me laugh out loud.

Lorina (who has the really bad habit of blurting out whatever she’s thinking): “I did it again. Or rather, my mouth did. I can’t take it anywhere anymore.”

There’s a villain, or is it two? A hidden treasure and a couple falling in love. A horse crazy teenage girl who has manipulation down to an art . . . and a Roman archaeological dig.
Somehow MacAlister makes it all work.

You really need to read these two books in order. A lot of the background for “Romp” is covered in the first book and I can’t wait for book three. There’s no word yet on a title or who the book will be about, but there are plenty of characters to choose from.

If you are in the mood for something light and entertaining, grab these books. Grab anything by Katie MacAlister. You will not be disappointed.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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March 8, 2015 · 5:28 am

Waiting on You (Blue Heron, #3) by Kristan Higgins

Waiting On You (Blue Heron #3)Waiting On You by Kristan Higgins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Does being nobody’s fool mean that you’re nobody’s love?

Colleen O’Rourke is in love with love… just not when it comes to herself. Most nights, she can be found behind the bar at the Manningsport, New York, tavern she owns with her twin brother, doling out romantic advice to the lovelorn, mixing martinis and staying more or less happily single. See, ten years ago, Lucas Campbell, her first love, broke her heart… an experience Colleen doesn’t want to have again, thanks. Since then, she’s been happy with a fling here and there, some elite-level flirting and playing matchmaker to her friends.

But a family emergency has brought Lucas back to town, handsome as ever and still the only man who’s ever been able to crack her defenses. Seems like maybe they’ve got some unfinished business waiting for them—but to find out, Colleen has to let her guard down, or risk losing a second chance with the only man she’s ever loved.

I loved the first two books in the Blue Heron series, but this one was absolutely wonderful. I hated the time the two were apart and the problems that had when they finally met again. However, when you consider how dysfunctional their childhoods had been, it’s amazing they ever worked things out.

This one will hurt your heart, but the ending makes it worthwhile.

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March 3, 2015 · 6:52 pm

Unraveled (Mastered, #3) by Lorelei James

Unraveled (Mastered, #3)Unraveled by Lorelei James

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was a really slow start for me. I resisted reading it because I was not interested in a story with a submissive male. The only thing that kept me going is the fact that I really enjoyed the previous books in the series.

Surprisingly enough to me, I did like the book. The submissive male will never be popular with me, but the author handled it very well. Like Knox, I always assumed male submissives were weak. She showed me that was not necessarily true.

The sex scenes which became love scenes were excellent. At no point was Knox depicted as weak just because he accepted Shiori’s direction. I did think she was cruel to not always let him come, but I do understand that was part of the power dynamic.

The only true criticism I have of the book is the number of characters involved. I have read all of the books, so it’s not like I was dropped in the middle of the story. I don’t believe there was enough explanation of who the different people were and what the relationships were between them. I felt I was struggling to keep everyone straight.

Unraveled will never be a favorite of mine, but it does add to the Mastered series. Do NOT try to read it without reading the previous books. Even though the main characters from the prior books are not the focus of this one, the secondary characters are critical.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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March 1, 2015 · 4:23 pm

Dead Heat (Alpha & Omega, #4) by Patricia Briggs

Dead Heat (Alpha & Omega, #4)Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: Dead Heat
Author: Patricia Briggs
Series: Alpha & Omega, #4
Pages: 336
Publisher: Ace
Date: March 3, 2015

Summary:

For once, mated werewolves Charles and Anna are not traveling because of Charles’s role as his father’s enforcer. This time, their trip to Arizona is purely personal, as Charles plans to buy Anna a horse for her birthday. Or at least it starts out that way…

Charles and Anna soon discover that a dangerous Fae being is on the loose, replacing human children with simulacrums. The Fae’s cold war with humanity is about to heat up—and Charles and Anna are in the cross fire.

Review:
Wonderful, just wonderful. I love the Mercy Thompson books and these are a spinoff of that series. I love that Mercy is such a kickass heroine and she gives her mate Adam a fit.

And I love Anna.

Anna is nothing like Mercy. Anna is a rare type of wolf shifter known as an Omega. Charles is not the Alpha of the pack, but he is an Alpha and he is his father’s enforcer. His life has been violent and he is feared by almost everyone. Everyone but Anna.

As an Omega, Anna is not influenced by the orders of an Alpha. She is outside the hierarchy of the pack. None of that matters though because Charles and Anna are so much in love. Like any couple, they have their difficult moments, but you can always tell the love is there.

In Dead Heat, Charles and Anna are finally getting to spend some time together that does not involve Pack business. They are visiting an old friend of Charles’ and looking for a horse for Anna.

Guess how well that goes.

Enter an evil Fae who is attacking children, Pack children, and it definitely becomes Pack business.

I really enjoyed this story. We got to see Charles and Anna together without all the drama of relationship problems. Even though they are very much together, the focus is on saving the children, not on them.

An important subplot is Charles’ interactions with his old friend and his family. And that is the only place I had problems with the book. Because of the number of generations involved and the fact that one of the men is a shifter, I stayed confused on who was who. Charles’ friend is an old man who is dying. His father (the shifter) appears to be in his twenties and his son is maybe in his forties. I understand the relationships, but I kept mixing them up.

The Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega series are two of my favorites. You can read this one as a standalone, but it will be much better if read in sequence. And they’re great books, so why wouldn’t you want to do so?

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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February 16, 2015 · 8:59 pm

The Billionaire and the Virgin (Billionaires & Bridesmaids, #1) by Jessica Clare

The Billionaire and the Virgin (Billionaires and Bridesmaids, #1)The Billionaire and the Virgin by Jessica Clare

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Title: The Billionaire and the Virgin
Author: Jessica Clare
Series: Billionaires & Bridesmaids, #1 (spinoff of Billionaires Boys Club)
Publisher: Intermix
Date: February 17, 2015

This book was supplied to me through NetGalley for an honest review.

Marjorie Ivarsson is the picture of naivete. A hardworking waitress raised by her grandmother, an evening playing bingo is her sort of socialising. But when she’s invited to be a bridesmaid at her friend Bronte’s wedding, she enters a whole new world.

Whisked away to the billionaire groom’s private island, Marjorie is awe-struck by the glitz and glamour. But what dazzles her most is notorious playboy and hot-shot TV producer Robert Cannon.

After Marjorie saves Robert from drowning in the island’s turquoise lagoon, she can’t help but feel drawn to him. But she’s not the only woman intrigued, and with his wild and womanising ways, they couldn’t be more wrong for each other. With the blistering attraction between them becoming hard to ignore, and the idyllic, irresistibly romantic island as their playground – will opposites attract?

Rating: 2 out of 5

I have to say this is the lowest rating I have ever given a book that I actually finished. The writing was not bad and the plot could have been interesting. The main problem was I hated Robert, the main male character. His personality is completely obnoxious. Yes, there are extenuating circumstances. Yes, he tries to become a better person for the woman he falls in love with . . ., but it wasn’t enough to save the book.

Having Marjorie being totally inexperienced and living in a world far from the norm made it even worse. She is more comfortable with the elderly than she is with her own generation. She talks like them, has the same values as they do (which is not necessarily a bad thing) , and, for Pete’s Sake, she plays shuffleboard!

So, of course, she ends up with Robert who makes Hugh Hefner look good.

Most of the time, I purchase the books I have reviewed. Even though I have received free copies, I like to support the authors. That will not be the case with this book. It’s not terrible and I wish I had read the books in the original series (Billionaire Boys Club) before this one. Now my opinion of the series will always be colored by a very unlikeable character.

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