REVIEW: The Darkest Flame (Roadmap to Your Heart #1)

The Darkest Flame (Roadmap to Your Heart #1), by Christina Lee
Publish Date: August 17, 2015
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-book, purchased
Genre: adult m/m romance/suspense
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 4 STARS

(From Goodreads) Vaughn O’Keefe has been part owner of the Hog’s Den for years. Privy to plenty of Disciples of the Road business, he’s never been more ruffled as when a new recruit named “Smoke” walks through the door. Something about the man gets his blood pumping, but he knows to keep his preferences under wraps around the club.

“Smoke” Callahan has done a couple of rehab stints and is finally clean, thanks to help from the Disciples. He’s on the right path and isn’t about to get sidetracked, no matter how much the guy who manages the bar gets beneath his skin. Besides, his last relationship with a man left him scared, alone, and with a nightmare of an addiction.

When the Hog’s Den becomes shorthanded, and Smoke is ordered to help out the one man he can’t have, his longing for the bartender reaches blistering proportions. Vaughn figures a night together should be enough to satisfy their mutual attraction. But neither banks on just how scorching hot it might be.

As Smoke’s past unravels and the one person he hopes never to lay eyes on again messes with all he holds sacred, it’s time to involve the Disciples. Problem is, he’ll have to risk his membership, his heart, and his own hide to keep everyone he cares about safe.

When Christina Lee wrote There You Stand, which was the fifth book in her Between Breaths series, I was so excited that she took the plunge into the m/m new adult romance pool. And, it was a really good book. The Darkest Flame is a spin-off from There You Stand, and it's also m/m, but everything in it is... MORE. More hot bikers. More drama. More heat. 

We met both Vaughn and Smoke in There You Stand, and The Darkest Flame tells their story. I knew there was something between them, but it was obvious that they were not free to be out, given their current situations. Smoke is a recruit for the Disciples of the Road and finally on the right path in his life. He is wildly attracted to Vaughn, the part owner of the Hog's Den, which is where the Disciples always hang out. 

The attraction is definitely not one-sided. Vaughn has had his eye on Smoke for a long time. The best part about The Darkest Flame is the crazy amount of sexual tension. It is RIDICULOUS. Bikers and motorcycle clubs are very hetero. They are full of testosterone-laden man-whores who love to bang the biker babes that hang out at their club houses. It's not exactly accepted to be gay and in an MC.

Both Vaughn and Smoke are bi-sexual, so they've been able to hide their proclivities thus far. But, when Smoke is forced to work behind the bar with Vaughn, both men fear their days of hiding are numbered. Subtle nudges behind the bar, storeroom meet-ups, late-night closings - it was just a matter of time before they gave in to their attraction. 

Smoke and Vaughn were desperate to get back to business as usual. They weren't used to having their attentions so divided. Smoke has been wholly devoted to the club since they helped him kick his habit, and Vaughn's life is his bar. All of a sudden, both men are thrown off kilter by each other, and in their desperation to put their universes back to rights, they decided to just "get it out of their system." Now, how many times have we read about this plan? It's adorable that they thought that would actually work. 

After a few hot and heavy interactions, they finally get down to business. Holy. Crap. When Smoke and Vaughn decide to quit dancing around each other, they absolutely set my Kindle on fire. FIRE, I tell you. And, of course, once was not enough (DUH). They kept testing those invisible alleged boundaries set by the club, all while getting closer and closer to one another. 

The Darkest Flame was not all about the forbidden love between Vaughn and Smoke. The club is trying to bring down a rival gang that is in to some really bad things - Smoke's former club, in fact. And, since Smoke has the inside knowledge, he's asked to help by ratting on them. Despite the fact that Smoke knows his old club is into bad things and was a really bad thing for him, personally, he's a good, loyal guy, and he struggles with the morality of this. Since his loyalty has shifted, he does what is asked of him, but it never sits right with him, and eventually, Smoke has to answer for his actions. 

Luckily he has Vaughn's support the whole time. Although Vaughn is not part of the club, he is as close to it as he can be without being in it. That affords him protection and friendship from them. And, since the club meets at the bar all the time, Vaughn also has a bit of knowledge about how things go for them sometimes, so he knows Smoke is right smack in the middle of this operation, and he knows it can be dangerous. Suddenly, Vaughn is very worried about the man he's come to love, but there isn't anything he can do about it, since he's only on the periphery. 

It was fun seeing Cory and Jude a few times during The Darkest Flame. They've settled into life and are happy, which made my heart happy. I can't wait to see what the rest of this series will bring - and I can't wait for the recap we might see from Vaughn and Smoke.

PRE-RELEASE BLITZ: Silver Bastard (Silver Valley #1)

It's almost time for Joanna Wylde's new Reaper's spin-off series, Silver Valley to kick off. SILVER BASTARD (Silver Valley #1) hits stores next week, and trust me when I say you do not want to pass this one up. I've read it, and it is goooooooood. Check out the excerpt, then add it to your TBR!

Silver Bastard (Silver Valley #1), by Joanna Wylde
To Be Published April 7, 2015
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Genre: adult MC romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

(Synopsis) Fourteen months. For fourteen months, Puck Redhouse sat in a cell and kept his mouth shut, protecting the Silver Bastards MC from their enemies. Then he was free and it was time for his reward—full membership in the club, along with a party to celebrate. That’s when he saw Becca Jones for the first time and set everything in motion. Before the night ended he’d violated his parole and stolen her away from everything she knew.

Five years. It was five years ago that Puck destroyed Becca and saved her all in one night. She’s been terrified of him ever since, but she’s even more terrified of the monsters he still protects her from... But Becca refuses to let fear control her. She’s living her life and moving forward, until she gets a phone call from the past she can't ignore. She has to go back, and there’s only one man she can trust to go with her—the ex-con biker who rescued her once before.

Puck will help her again, but this time it’ll be on his terms. No more lies, no more tears, and no more holding back what he really wants...

“The Longnecks—they’re the MC my stepdad hung around with—they kept a lot of club whores around. Do the Silver Bastards do that, too?”

“Yup,” she replied. “It’s a free country and the brothers bring guests here all the time. Some of them stick around, some of them don’t. Some find they aren’t as welcome as they thought.”

“Doesn’t that bother you?”

“Boonie’s dick is the only one that matters to me,” she replied, her voice matter-of-fact. “As for the women, I care less about who they’re sleeping with than how they act the rest of the time. Like I said, fuck with the sisters and you won’t last. Bridget won’t be back if she keeps this shit up.”

“Old ladies didn’t get to make those decisions in the Long- necks.”

Darcy smiled sweetly. “We don’t get to make those decisions in the Silver Bastards, either. Yet the right decisions still magically happen. Nobody knows how, really. Guess it’s just all our good karma coming back to us.”

My mouth dropped. Darcy winked.

“You think those men don’t need us?” she asked. “Boonie likes sleeping next to me. Gets cold and lonely when all the old ladies take a girls’ weekend in Seattle. Would be even colder and lonelier if we didn’t come back, and one time we forgot to for nearly a week. Fortunately things worked out and we found our way home again. Now things tend to work out faster.”

My eyes went wide.

“You serious?”

“Do I look like a woman who will eat shit?”

Point taken.

“Let’s get this trash out. I’m sure Puck will be looking for you  soon, and I want to make sure all the girls meet you first. That boy’s crazy about you—it’s cute. Like a pit bull crushing on a kitten.” 

Joanna Wylde is a New York Times bestselling author and creator of the Reapers Motorcycle Club series. She currently lives in Idaho.

Stalk Her: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Blood Games (Chicagoland Vampires #10)

Can you believe that we've arrived at the 10th Chicagoland Vampires book? Once again, I'm honored and super excited to be a tour stop for Chloe Neill's BLOOD GAMES (Chicagoland Vampires #10), and once again, I have two great giveaways for you, in addition to my review. Read on for all the deets!

Blood Games (Chicagoland Vampires #10), by Chloe Neill
To Be Published August 5, 2014
Publisher: NAL
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 5 STARS

(From Goodreads) While Merit didn’t choose to become a vampire or Sentinel of Cadogan House, she vowed to fight for her House and its Master, and she’s managed to forge strong alliances with powerful supernaturals across Chicago. But even though Merit has had wild adventures, this may be her deadliest yet...

A killer is stalking Chicago, preying on humans and leaving his victims with magical souvenirs. The CPD hasn’t been able to track the assailant, and as the body count rises, the city is running out of options. Vampires and humans aren’t on great terms, but murder makes for strange bedfellows. Can Merit find the killer before she becomes a target?

It's pretty incredible to think about the fact that 10 books in, the Chicagoland Vampires series is still going strong. Each new addition continues to be amazing - I'm always looking forward to the next one. It seemed like my wait for Blood Games was exceptionally long, given the ending of Wild Things. But, finally, the wait is over.

Ethan is moving forward with his challenge for the right to rule the GP, and Merit continues to do what she does best - protect the citizens of Chicago from all the bad things. In this case, there's a serial killer on the loose and the killings have a paranormal ring to them. About the time Ethan, Merit and Jonah are called in by the CPD to help, things in the race for the GP start getting weird. Darius is acting strangely and Ethan is being blackmailed and he refuses to talk to Merit about any of it. Just when Merit thought they had their relationship figured out, she realizes that centuries of stubbornness can't be fixed that quickly. 

Blood Games had everything I love about this series. There was not one but two fantastic mysteries to be solved - first is that of who is killing the citizens of Chicago and displaying them in curious positions. Second is that of who is manipulating Darius into acting out of character. Chloe Neill does everything right in regards to the secrets and subterfuge. It was hard for me to figure out who the real culprits were and what drove them to their actions, and I love it when I can't see the ending coming until it's smacking me in the face. Details and clues are slowly brought to light around the ops room table and in off-site meetings between the Ombuddies and the vampires. The pacing is perfect. 

One of my favorite parts about Blood Games is that we got to see into the inner workings of Cadogan House more than we have in quite awhile. A lot of time is spent in the house as Ethan prepares for the response to his challenge of Darius' rule. We see Margot, Helen, Malik, and all the other vampires that make up Cadogan as they all rally around their Master. We see a lot of Luc and Lindsey in Blood Games too. Their relationship has also come a very long way since the beginning, and I love seeing them together now. 

But, Ethan and Merit are really why we all keep coming back, right? It's their relationship that has catapulted us through ten books now and keeps us begging for more. The fact that Merit - this vampire of barely a year - has completely changed this 400-year-old master is the stuff of romantic legends. It's clear at this point how much they both love and respect and adore each other. And, thankfully, those things don't negate relationship troubles. Ethan can still act like an ass. Merit can still be overbearing. And that makes me love them even more.  And, just because they are both now comfortable with their place in each other's lives doesn't mean that Chloe Neill skirts around the sexy times. There's this one scene... well, let's just say that Merit and Ethan don't do sleepy morning sex. Everything about them is passion and intensity, and thankfully it doesn't seem to be fading in the least.

We also see a lot more of Jonah in Blood Games. Ethan reluctantly relinquishes some of his partnering duties to Merit's RG partner, so the spotlight shone on Merit's and Jonah's working relationship, as well as on more of the inner workings of the RG. They've fallen into a very comfortable place where they work in synch with each other and don't shy away from snarking and teasing. Jonah's become one of my favorite side characters, and I hope we see more of him moving forward. I anticipate we will, since the absolutely CLV WORLD-SHATTERING ending to Blood Games will have foundation-shaking repercussions to the RG and all the vampire houses.

No, Blood Games didn't end like I thought it would, but wow. It was so much better than I had imagined. It's clear that Chloe Neill is writing for the long haul, as the world these amazing characters live in continuously shifts and changes, all for the better. If you were worried about the stories becoming flat and stagnant, have no fear. Chloe Neill knows just how to rock you and keep you eager for the next book so you can see what happens next. Ten books in, and I assure you, there is absolutely no sign of me ever abandoning this series.

Giveaways

Chloe Neill has graciously provided me with some awesome prizes to award to one lucky US winner. Fill out the Rafflecopter for a chance to win

• A signed copy of WILD THINGS (Chicagoland Vampires #9)
• A limited edition Cadogan House keychain
• Chicagoland Vampires bookmarks, pens, and lanyard

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The fun doesn’t stop here. Want more chances to win? You can also enter the Blood Games Grand Prize Giveaway, which runs July 28  through August 8 on Chloe’s web site.

What is the Grand Prize Giveaway prize?

• An engraved Cadogan House medal necklace
• A Kindle Paperwhite
• A complete set of Chicagoland Vampires Audiobook CDs (graciously provided by Tantor Audio)
• A limited edition Cadogan House keychain
• Chicagoland Vampires bookmarks, pens, and lanyard

Tour Schedule

Check out all the stops on the tour for chances to win other prize packages!

Monday, July 28 – Booklovers For Life | Finding Sanity In Our Crazy Life
Tuesday, July 29 – Nocturne Reads | Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust | Krista’s Dust Jacket
Wednesday, July 30 – Reading on the Rocks | A Book Obsession
Thursday, July 31 – Professional Fangirls | Reading & Writing Urban Fantasy, Paranormal & Romance | Cere’s Book World
Friday, August 1 – Meredith’s Rambles & Babbles | Fallen for Books

Monday, August 4 – Tru Bookie’s Review
Tuesday, August 5 (Release Day) - Saucy Wenches | Literary Escapism | Vampire Book Club 
Wednesday, August 6 – Book Suburbia
Thursday, August 7 – Nomi’s Paranormal Palace | Between Fantasy & Reality
Friday, August 8 – Team Nerd Reviews

REVIEW: Winter's Heat (Titan #1)

Winter's Heat (Titan #1), by Cristin Harber
Published September 25, 2013 (audio released June 6, 2014)
Publisher: Mill Creek Press
Format: audiobook, provided by Inkslinger PR for review
Genre: adult suspense/military romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 3 STARS

(From Goodreads) A WOMAN ON A MISSION
After putting her life on the line to protect classified intelligence, military psychologist Mia Kensington is on a cross-country road trip from hell with an intrusive save-the-day hero. Uninterested in his white knight act, she’d rather take her chances without the ruggedly handsome, cold-blooded operative who boasts an alpha complex and too many guns.

AND THE MAN SENT TO STOP HER
Colby Winters, an elite member of The Titan Group, has a single objective on his black ops mission: recover a document important to national security. It was supposed to be an easy in-and-out operation. But now, by any means necessary becomes a survival mantra when he faces off with a stunning woman he can’t leave behind.

MUST PARTNER TO SURVIVE
When Titan’s safe houses are compromised, Colby stashes Mia at his home, exposing his secret—he’s the adoptive father of an orphaned baby girl. Too soon, danger arrives and Mia lands in the hands of a sadistic cartel king with a taste for torture. As hours bleed into fear-drenched days, Colby races across the globe and through a firestorm of bullets to save the woman he can’t live without.

Reviews like this are hard for me to write. I listened to Winter's Heat on a business trip out to Pittsburgh last month. It was an audiobook, and I do find sometimes that it's hard for me to separate my feeling about the book from my feeling about the narration. If you're an audiobook fan, do you have the same problem? If the narrator doesn't do it for me, it sort of taints the whole thing a bit. 

In Winter's Heat, we meet Colby Winters who is a member of The Titan Group, a bunch of beefy military-esque secret operatives who go out on dangerous and near-impossible missions. Colby's mission is an easy one - take possession of an envelope before the bad guys get it. Except Mia Kensington gets it first. So, Colby takes both Mia and the envelope, and now he has to protect them both. As they are holed up in his house, they connect on many levels, and when Mia is taken, Colby enlists the help of his whole team to get her back. 

The narration of Winter's Heat was performed by Jeffery Kafer. I don't listen to many books read by male narrators. It's not done on purpose - it just seems like, since most of the books I read have a female MC, the narrators of the audiobooks are usually female. Mr. Kafer's voice is deep. I'm talking Barry White deep. It's extremely manly and sexy and perfect for how I picture Colby. 

The problem is, when you have a very deep voice, it's got to be difficult to inflect enough to tell the different characters apart. All the guys in the Titan group sounded exactly the same, so when they were all in a room together talking, it was confusing and hard for me to tell who was speaking. And, a guy with such a deep voice trying to sound like a female... honestly, it made me giggle more than once. Not the desired effect, I'm sure. Especially during the super sexy parts. 

Overall, I found the narration rather flat. 

As far as the actual plot went, the first 75% of the book was great. It was exciting, and I enjoyed learning more about what was in that envelope and how Mia came to have it in her possession. I liked Colby's alpha protectiveness toward Mia. Although I think the love and sex between them came on really fast - it was very instalovey - the sexual tension between them was really good. 

The last 25% of the book was just a little far-fetched for me. Admittedly, military type romances like this are not books that I read a lot. Perhaps they are all like this? But, the parts that took place in Colombia just had me scratching my head a bit. It felt like, it was pathetically easy for Mia to be taken from this supposedly impenetrable home, then equally as easy for her to be rescued. 

My dislike of the audio version seems to be affecting my ability to objectively review the book. I'm wondering if I would have a different opinion if I read the PB version instead. Perhaps for book #2...

REVIEW: Unholy Magic (Downside Ghosts #2)

Unholy Magic (Downside Ghosts #2), by Stacia Kane
Published July 6, 2010
Publisher: Del Rey
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre:  adult urban fantasy
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) For Chess Putnam, finding herself near-fatally poisoned by a con psychic and then stopping a murderous ghost is just another day on the job. As an agent of the Church of Real Truth, Chess must expose those looking to profit from the world’s unpleasant little poltergeist problem humans filing false claims of haunting's all while staving off any undead who really are looking for a kill. But Chess has been extra busy these days, coping with a new “celebrity” assignment while trying on her own time to help some desperate prostitutes.

Someone’s taking out the hookers of Downside in the most gruesome way, and Chess is sure the rumors that it’s the work of a ghost are way off base. But proving herself right means walking in the path of a maniac, not to mention standing between the two men in her life just as they along with their ruthless employers are moving closer to a catastrophic showdown. Someone is dealing in murder, sex, and the supernatural, and once again Chess finds herself right in the crossfire.

OMG. This series. I really enjoyed the first book, Unholy Ghosts. More than I thought I would. But, it was the second book, Unholy Magic, that solidified me as a certified fangirl of the Downside Ghosts series. The beyond complicated relationship between Chess and Terrible laced together with an incredibly weird and twisted mystery made for a book that was completely unresistable.

Prostitutes are being mutilated, and Bump has Chess and Terrible looking into it. Meanwhile, Chess is looking into a supposed haunting at a famous actor's house. Only, things start going wrong at every turn. The prostitutes keep dying, the house really might be haunted by the spirit of a murderous ghost, and Chess' time of burning candles at both ends when it comes to Lex and Terrible is about to blow up in her face.

Chess continues to be an enigmatic heroine. Her drug use doesn't appear to be tapering off. In fact, if anything, it seems to be getting worse. Her success at solving complicated and dangerous jobs has sent more high-profile - and high-stress - cases her way. She is falling more and more in love with Terrible, which scares the poo out of her. And Lex is giving her free pills. All of which serve as evidence that her pill-popping is not going to stop anytime soon. 

Chess is a study of the imperfect heroine. It seems that, in books, heroes and heroines are very "good." They're strong, confident, beautiful, intelligent and well-liked. They sometimes make bad choices, but things always have a way of working out in the end. Chess is like the anti-heroine. Although intelligent and pretty, Chess is not strong or confident or well-liked. She hates herself and where she comes from. She suffered horrible abuse as a child which seriously messed with her head. She doesn't think she's capable of love or being loved. She second guesses all her choices and she usually takes the easy way out in order to not face the truth, especially if she thinks the truth will be particularly hard to face. 

Chess has cornered the market on making mistakes. Particularly when it comes to the men in her life. Whenever she starts having real feelings for Terrible, she runs right into the arms of Lex because he is safe and she feels nothing for him. It's a temporary balm, but all of it comes crashing down around her and she eventually has to face up to all of her actions and feelings. 

The mysteries in Unholy Magic are seriously messed up. I've got two words for you - GHOST WHORES. Seriously - if those two words don't make you want to run right out and read this book right now, I don't know what will. It's an intricate plot with lots of twists and turns, many of which I didn't see coming from a mile away. It was awesome! Although dark and twisted, I thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure out who did what and how the two separate cases were tied together as they seem to be in this series. 

Terrible is just the most awesome guy ever. He's scary and formidable and uneducated. He's scarred and unattractive by most people's standards. Yet, it's so easy to see that he cares deeply and fiercely for the people he considers important. We learn more about him and his past and it just goes further toward proving this fact. 

Once again, I listened to the audio version, and once again I'm so glad I did. Narrator Bahni Turpi does an amazing job with the Downside lingo. I enjoy her interpretation of the books so much, I intend to continue with the books in the series in their audio format. I enjoy them so much - I can't wait to get in my car every day to go to work. 

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Bound (The Mastered Series #1)

Bound (The Mastered Series #1), by Lorelei James
Published February 4, 2014
Publisher: NAL Trade
Format: ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre:  adult erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating:  4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) In the new Mastered series by New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James, a woman’s desire to shatter her inhibitions leaves her unprepared for where that erotic journey will take her….

Former small-town girl Amery Hardwick is living her dream as a graphic designer in Denver, Colorado. She’s focused on building her business, which leaves little time for dating—not that she needs a romantic entanglement to fulfill her. When her friend signs up for a self-defense class as part of her recovery after an attack, Amery joins her for support. That’s where she meets him.

Ronin Black, owner of the dojo, is so drawn to Amery that he takes over her training—in public and in private. The enigmatic Ronin pushes Amery’s boundaries from the start, and with each new tryst, Amery becomes addicted to the pleasure and to him. But when Amery senses Ronin is hiding something, she questions her total trust in him, despite the undeniable thrill of his possession….

Bound took me by surprise.

I figured it was going to be your typical BDSM book. I approached it with some measure of trepidation, because many BDSM books don't appeal to me. It's the submissive part of the relationship I always have the biggest problem with. But, I wanted to try Bound because it's by Lorelei James, and from what I've read by her, she masters super strong characters.

Surprise number one - Bound is NOT a BDSM book. Surprise number two - there isn't a single cowboy in this book.

Bound is about art and secrets and how the past has the power to strengthen or destroy you.

Amery is the owner of a freelance graphic design business who is trying to remake herself in Denver. After enrolling in a self-defense class, she meets Ronin Black, eighth-degree black belt and super sexy owner of the dojo where her class is held. Ronin makes Amery feel things she never thought possible. He makes her want to bare her life, her soul and her body for him, and yet, she doesn't get the same openness in return. It's clear Ronin cares deeply for her, yet he keeps a lot of secrets.

Ronin spent a lot of time in Japan, and while there learned the Japanese art of Kinbaku and Shibari, both of which use ropes and scarves to bind a person, sometimes for sexual pleasure. It's treated as a form of art - a thing of beauty. In this way, it's very different from what we westerners think of as "bondage." It's not whips and chains and handcuffs. It's colorful scarves and soft touches and something to be admired. How amazingly fascinating and refreshing!

Ronin is a master at these arts and for awhile, Amery is his canvas. They both grow and learn so much about themselves during the course of their relationship. Despite the fact that Ronin kept that part of him a secret from Amery for awhile, in the spirit of continually trying to broaden her horizons and break out of the stifling mold in which her parents put her, she opens herself up to this new and exciting thing with him.

I loved reading about the binding. I even Googled a few of them so I could see what they looked like. It was such a new and interesting approach to the same old BDSM genre. And even cooler is that it came from Lorelei James. I've only known her for her sexy cowboy series. What a wonderful surprise!

The chemistry between Amery and Ronin was awesome. I loved how they cared for each other and seemed to want to meet each others' needs, no matter what they were. It was sweet and sexy and I was rooting for them the entire time.

But, Ronin - GAH. His inability to open up and share... well, anything of substance, really... was infuriating. And, Amery's constant acceptance of that equally frustrated me. I could see a mile away that there was going to come a point when the proverbial shit was going to hit the fan and create a colossal mess. And, when that happened, I was very torn. I was cheering Amery on for finally growing a backbone, and yet, my heart was breaking for both of them.

Despite my frustration with him, Lorelei James' development of Ronin Black made it impossible to not love him. I love that he's not your typical young stud (he's 38). Well, young - no (at least, not comparatively speaking). Stud? Hell yes. Ronin Black may not swagger, wear chaps or don a 10-gallon hat, but that's okay. Because hot is hot. And, Ronin Black is H-O-T. He's enigmatic and intense and strong. He's all things that embody sexy.

Bound is told from Amery's POV, except for the last chapter, which is all Ronin. There is a bit of a cliffhanger ending, but it fit well with the story and the events that unfolded in the last few chapters. Thank goodness we don't have to wait long for the follow-up to their story!

About the Author

Lorelei James is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of contemporary erotic western romances set in the modern day Wild West and also contemporary erotic romances. Lorelei's books have been nominated for and won the Romantic Times Reviewer's choice Award, as well as the CAPA Award. Lorelei lives in western South Dakota with her family...and a whole closet full of cow girl boots.

Why do I have a particular fondness for all things western? Well, I'm a fourth generation South Dakotan, living in the Black Hills, which is chock-full of interesting characters, including cowboys, Indians, ranchers, and bikers. The geographical diversity of the surrounding area showcases mountains, plains, and badlands. Living in and writing about rural settings gives me a unique perspective, especially since I'm not writing historical westerns. Through my fictional world, I can show the ideals and the cowboy way of life are still very much alive.

Giveaway

One winner in the US will win a print copy of Bound, by Lorelei James.

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REVIEW: Wanted (Most Wanted #1)

Wanted (Most Wanted #1), by J. Kenner
Published January 7, 2014
Publisher: Bantam
Format: e-book, obtained from NetGalley
Genre:  adult contemporary/erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating:  4 STARS

(From Goodreads) He is everything I crave, all I desperately want—and he is everything I can’t have.

Evan Black embodies my every fantasy. He is brilliant, fierce, and devastatingly handsome. But he is also headstrong, dangerous, and burdened with secrets.

My family warned me to stay away, that I could never handle Evan’s dark dealings or scarred past. Maybe I should have listened. Maybe I should have run. But our desire is undeniable, and some temptations you just can’t fight.

And from the moment we touch—the passion between us consuming us both—I know that I will never be the same. 

J. Kenner introduces readers to a hot new trio in the first of her new Most Wanted series, Wanted. Evan, Tyler and Cole give new meaning to the phrase "bad boys." Mostly because in many aspects, they really are bad. They've dallied in illegal operations, and their motives in the past have been questionable. The FBI is sniffing around their business ventures and they each keep a lot of secrets. And, they all seem quite unbothered by most of it. Their methods have proven very fruitful - they're living the highlife, not wanting for anything. Except, we find out that Evan Black really does want  something that he thinks he can't have.

Angelina Raine has wanted Evan ever since laying her eyes on him at the tender age of 16. He, Tyler and Cole were her beloved uncle's proteges, and after she started hanging around her uncle a lot following the tragic death of her older sister, Lina spent a lot of time around the three "knights." It made her crush on Evan even more unbearable, especially since all three of them viewed her as a kid sister.

Now, Lina is 23 and spends most of her life pretending. She pretends she's prim, proper and subdued. She pretends she loves politics as much as her sister. She pretends she really likes her boring FBI agent boyfriend. She pretends she doesn't still want Evan more than her next breath.

And, then, she decides she's done pretending. She wants to fly.

There was a rather melancholy tone over the whole book. It begins at a funeral. And both Lina's and Evan's pasts are full of tragic events. The chemistry between these two is palpable, and the constant denial of it is maddening and more than a little sad. The reader feels and knows that if they could just get over their self-deprecation and act on what each of them really wants, they could both find the peace and hapiness that seems to be constantly just out of reach.

I loved the sorta spy-games element that's thrown in. It adds an extra level of suspense and danger. There are twists and turns that made for an exciting final 25%.

I just love that, although J. Kenner writes ridiculously hot and sexy scenes, they don't flood the pages such that we lose the plot or forget the motivations behind what Lina and Evan are doing. There's a good balance of sex and story, and I very much appreciate that.

I am very much looking forward to Tyler's and Cole's stories in the Most Wanted series (and hopefully, updates on Lina and Evan too!).

REVIEW: Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress #1)

Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress #1), by Jeaniene Frost
Published October 30, 2007
Publisher:  Avon
Format:  audiobook - borrowed from library
Genre:  Adult Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father--the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner--are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

Oh. Em. Gee. 
  
When I think about characters that resound with me - characters that really speak to me - I find that they represent strength, purity of the heart, bravery, and lots of bad assery. I love a girl who stands up for herself and doesn't let others walk all over her. She fights bravely and loves fiercely. I love a man who defies all he knows to save the woman he loves. A real warrior. 

Which brings me to Cat and Bones. 

Cat's had a rough life. She has serious mommy issues, doesn't know her father, and she puts herself in mortal danger every weekend. It's like she was just waiting for someone like Bones to walk into her life. But, one of my favorite parts of this book is that Cat didn't just swoon and fall into his arms. In fact, she kind of hated his gorgeous guts for quite awhile. There was no insta-love here, which made their inevitable pairing all that much sweeter.

In actuality, Bones is the one who swooned first. But, he's just so damn snarky and unruffled that it's hard to tell when it happened. I love that Cat is the one to undo him. It's very satisfying to see an unmovable mountain crumble, don't you think? 

Ugh - I know I've probably activated your gag reflexes by now. I'm sorry. I guess I'm still feeling a little swoony myself, even a week after finishing Halfway to the Grave. I really did just love it that much. 

From a bit more of a technical aspect, this Night Huntress world is one of the best yet. The rules that govern this world of vampires, ghouls and ghosts is so alive. It almost makes me believe that they could really be out there somewhere. I love that Jeaniene Frost goes into such detail to describe the vampire hierarchy and how Cat as a half-breed might fit into it. It all came to life in a way that few books do. 

With one book, this series has become a favorite. I'm already working on collecting my own copies of all six books printed so far. Then I can read them whenever I want. And this first book in the series is definitely one that will be re-read again and again. 

Book #142 - The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld #1)

 
The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld #1), Gena Showalter
adult paranormal romance
379 pages
Started 12/30/12
Finished 12/31/12
4 STARS

You know how you have a favorite series, and in between the release of the books, you search high and low for a replacement to fill the void? That's what The Darkest Night was for me - my Black Dagger Brotherhood space filler. And, I got a pleasant surprise. This book ended up more than filler - I actually really loved it!

Ashlyn hears too many voices in her head, so she seeks the help of the Lords of the Underworld to help her silence them. The first Lord she meets is Maddox, who carries the demon Violence inside him. Although they try and deny their connection, it's soon too strong to sever.

My favorite part about this book was the story surrounding how the demons escaped and ended up riding on the backs of these gorgeous immortals. Such an interesting twist to the story of Pandora's box.

The insta-love that I hate so much was there, but for some reason, I gave it a pass here. In contemporary romance books, it's far less forgiveable. Perhaps since the setting here was so much more mysterious, as was Maddox with his temper and his demon, and Ashlyn with her own power, the insta-love that happened between the two of them was understandable and maybe even expected.

I liked that the bad guys were and weren't who you expected. I thought the addition of the four women were a bit distracting at times - they seemed non-essential to the story overall. I realize they will probably play a part in later books, but in this one, alone, their scenes slowed the story down.

Overall, I really liked The Darkest Night and the Lords of the Underworld. I look forward to checking out the rest of these hotties.