BOOK REVIEW ~ KILLER QUEEN BY L.H. COSWAY and GIVEAWAY

Title: Killer Queen
Author: L.H. Cosway
Publisher: Smashwords
Release Date: October 20, 2014
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Format: eBook






Buy Links

Amazon / Amazon UK / B&N / Kobo / Smashwords / iTunes


Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome…

Come inside The Glamour Patch club to see the star of our show, Miss Vivica Blue. 

Do you want to read my diary you nosy little devils? Have a glass of champagne (you’ll need it) and get comfortable because you’re in for some crazy shenanigans brought to you straight from the horse’s mouth.

I can be whatever you want me to be: boy, girl, a little bit of both.

If you have a problem with a man in a dress then best be off with you. If males in make-up give you the willies, then I’ll say au revoir and don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

So, who are we left with? Ah, a fine collection of curious souls. I want to tell you a tale of love, because those are the most glorious kind. I want to tell you about real love, a love that transcends labels and gender stereotypes.


The moment I first laid eyes on my Freda I knew that we were kindred. Well okay, I also knew I wanted to get into her pants, but that’s beside the point. My world was a grey place. I was at my lowest ebb. Then she came along and patches of colour began to spring forth. One day the daffodils were yellow and before I knew it, colour was everywhere, lighting up my life.

Love is not about how we appear on the outside, it’s about the soul contained within.

Our story was not a conventional one, but it was ours, and that’s what made it shine.


Killer Queen is a companion novel to L.H. Cosway’s contemporary romance, Painted Faces. It contains scenes that take place before, during and after the original story. It can also be read as a standalone.

I originally reviewed L.H. Cosway's Painted Faces back in 2013 (click here for my 5 Star review). This was the first time I was introduced to Cosway--and I was HOOKED! I also picked it as one of my favorite reads of 2013. It absolutely blew me away.

Cosway brilliantly takes a character that you would assume could in no way be considered sexy...and makes him super hot, super charming, and King of Dirty Talking. I cannot rave enough about Nicholas.

So when I was asked to read and review Killer Queen, there was no hesitation. Killer Queen is the retelling of Painted Faces, but from Nicholas's POV. Something that I had to have. I wanted to delve inside the mind of one hell of an intriguing character. One that continues to be so damn unique, so damn sexy, and plagues my mind with all sorts of dirty fantasies.

Do you have to read Painted Faces first in order to understand Killer Queen?

No.

But you should.

Both are delicious in their own way.

Both are hot.

And both remain on my top fave list.

Nicholas has always been in awe of his mother. He loved to watch her as she prepared to perform on stage. She was stunningly beautiful to him. And when she tragically died, Nicholas knew of only one way to experience that closeness he used to share with his mother.

Young Nicholas would sneak into the attic and watch old films of his mother, slip inside her beautiful dresses and sing along to the haunting and seductive tones of his mother's voice. It was through this strange behavior he felt closer to the mother he lost. It was his secret. One he kept from his father for fear of horrible repercussions. And one that he could not--would not--deny himself.

Until an evil man who worked close with Nick's father discovered his secret--his shame. And Nicholas's life would be irrevocably changed.

Now, Nicholas is an adult. He shines on the stage as the magnificent drag queen--Vivica Blue. It is with the make-up, the dresses, the stunning shows that make it possible for Nick to metaphorically give the middle finger to the perverted monster who continues to haunt him. Who took something beautiful and tried to make it something ugly. As Vivica Blue, Nick embraces that inner little boy who once sang along with his mother. Those moments when little Nicholas watched in awe as she painted her face before a show. He becomes an entertainer, a performer, and the limelight loves him. He shines--is glorious upon the stage. He is Vivica Blue.

But drinking, partying, and maniacal highs and lows is taking its toll on Nicholas. He is slowly sinking into a pit of despair...one that may claim his very soul. He is lost and alone.

Until he meets Phil.

Until he moves to Ireland

Until he meets Freda.

And everything once again dramatically shifts in Nick's life.

But can he pull himself from out of the darkness and realize he isn't utterly destroyed and deserving of love?


Here are just some of my favorite moments in Killer Queen:

Every woman is different. Some of them make you feel satisfied, others make you feel high, most just make you feel used or dirty. But you, Fred, you make me feel cleansed. 

Okay, so when it came to sex, I was a talker. In fact, dirty talk was my forte. I couldn't help but say what was on my mind, and I loved the different reactions I got. 

Great fucking tits, Fred. I can't wait to suck on the other one next time.

Her sweet little sighs filled the room, and I knew in that moment that we weren't fucking, we were making love. I felt like running away and never leaving all at once. 

I could have lived forevermore between the beauty mark on her neck and the freckle on her collarbone quite happily. 

And for a limited time---Painted Faces is free on Amazon. 10/22/14 through 10/26/14 

 

About the Author

L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

Author Links:

Website / Facebook / Twitter  / Goodreads 

Excerpt 

“What has you so excited tonight?” Phil asked me, one hand on his hip, the other holding Pickles under his arm. The tiny dog struggled to break free, and Phil finally let him down.

I sat in front of the mirror in my dressing room at The Glamour Patch, using some mousse to slick my hair back away from my face. My lips were red, and I’d gone for a smoky grey eye shadow that highlighted the blue of my irises.

“My new neighbour’s coming to see the show. I can’t wait for you to meet her, Phil. She’s quite something.”

His lips quirked. “Ah, I was wondering why you were going all Frank-N-Furter tonight.”

I glanced at him as I topped up my mascara. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He raised an amused eyebrow and folded his arms. “You always whip out the Rocky Horror when you want to get a lady all hot and bothered. They love that androgynous shit, not to mention those hot pants leave very little to the imagination.”

I grinned mischievously. “I do believe I’ll take that as a compliment, Philip.” A pause before I continued, “So, does it usually work?”

“Depends on the lady. If she’s that way inclined, yes, it works a charm.”

His answer pleased me. “Good to know.”

Phil was right — I was definitely going for androgyny tonight rather than full-on female, and it wasn’t because my head was messed up. It was because my own vanity was surfacing, and I wanted Fred to find me sexy. I wasn’t certain that a dress was going to do it for her, but once she saw how little my hot pants left to the imagination, as Phil so graciously put it, I was sure she’d be shifting in her seat.

Yeah, that’s right, my package, for lack of a better word, was well on display. Are you regretting picking up my diary yet, you nosy little things? No? Well, let’s see if we can change your minds. I will find a way to make you tug uncomfortably at your collars yet.

Playlist 

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ARC BOOK REVIEW ~ NO LIMITS BY LORI FOSTER

Title: No Limits (Ultimate, Book One)
Author: Lori Foster
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Paperback: 432 pages
Expected Publication: August 26, 2014


Buy the book on Amazon
Buy the book on Barnes & Noble



ARC provided by NetGalley

A surprise inheritance reunites a mixed martial arts fighter with the woman he's never forgotten in the first in a smoldering new series from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster…

Cannon Colter is quintessential hero material: chiseled jawline, shredded body—the works. He's also the guy who rescued Yvette Sweeny from kidnappers, only to put an end to her romantic dreams. These days, she's older, smarter, determined to face whatever life throws her way. Even the prospect of sharing a house and business with Cannon.

Cannon knew Yvette wanted him three years ago. But she was young—and some things are worth waiting for. Thrown together by her grandfather's legacy, he realizes how deep Yvette's scars really go, and how much danger lurks in their quiet town. As pent-up desire explodes between them, protecting her becomes the only fight that matters. And he'll break all the rules to do it…

I can remember the first book I read by Lori Foster. It is one that I have recently re-read. It is that good. And for those of you who have a curious nature, the book I am referring to is Simon Says, which is book two in her SBC Fighters series. Which....also happens to be loosely connected with her newest series, Ultimate.
 
Lori has a way of making her characters jump off the page and into my living room...at least, metaphorically speaking. But what I truly love about her writing is the abundance of sexual chemistry her characters have from the get go. She can take a few, innocent words and have me swooning. She has talent in spades and will always be an auto-buy for this reader.

That being said, No Limits was not a disappointment. Combustible sexual chemistry, a supreme cast of secondary characters, a dash of suspense, and cameo appearances from her Love Undercover series: all the key ingredients needed to make a hot read you don't want to end. Lori Foster delivers it and has whetted my appetite for more.

Cannon Colter is a young fighter on the brink of success. He has recently returned from Japan and learned of the death of a close friend. When he returns to Ohio, he finds himself face to face with the woman he hasn't been able to stop thinking about--Yvette Sweeny.

Yvette returns to Ohio to settle things after the death of her grandfather. Her childhood home holds horrific memories of a time she wished she could forget. And the presence of Cannon, her teenage crush, has her facing long-denied desires she thinks best left alone.

But the heady and smoldering sexual tension is something that will not be denied between them. And as the two spend more and more time together, things are bound to pretty damn hawt.

Because of what happened to Yvette years ago, she feels broken and afraid she will disappoint the man she has fallen for. But Cannon is determined to show Yvette she has no problems whatsoever when it comes to sex and his slow seduction is almost painful in a lip-biting, squirming-in-my-seat kind of way.
 

“Stay with me, honey.” And then, “You’ll like this.” With building anticipation Yvette watched him bend down until his dark head was between her thighs, his breath hot, his mouth hotter”.

"First time will be fast and hard. Second time might be better. I'm still up in the air on that one." He drew her close and playfully bit her lower lip. "The third time, though...for sure, that one will be all for you." 

Of course, Foster throws in some suspense to keep you turning the page...an unstable ex-boyfriend who waits in the shadows for his chance to grab Yvette could prove to be dangerous and deadly. Or is it someone else, someone unsuspecting, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike back with malignant intent?

Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a Waldenbooks, Borders, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Berkley, Silhouette and Samhain. She is currently with Harlequin.

Click here for a complete list of Lori Foster's books. 

BOOK REVIEW ~ ISLAND PERIL BY JILL SORENSON

Title: Island Peril (Aftershock, Book 3.5)
Author: Jill Sorenson
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Release Date: May 1, 2014

ARC provided by NetGalley

Book Blurb


Red-hot writer Jill Sorenson brought readers to the edge of their seats in Aftershock. Now they can catch the beginning of Paul and Ella's relationship in this fast-moving novella packed with danger and delight!

It started as a girls' outing to California's beautiful Channel Islands State Park. When Ella Hammond embarks on a kayaking trip with sexy adventure guide Paul Dawson, sparks fly—but so does gunfire from a boat of drug smugglers.

Now Ella and Paul are on the run, soaked and stranded in a rocky hideout. Ella feels like she'll never be warm again. Until Paul shares his body heat—igniting a fire between them that's nearly too hot to handle!

The adventure continues in Backwoods, and pick up Paul's sister's novella in Passion and Peril, both from Harlequin HQN!

Book Review


I admit that I have not read the first books of this series...and it did not affect my enjoyment of this story. In fact, it made me want to immediately read the others in this action-packed series.

I can also admit I am not a fan of novellas. I like my stories meaty. Long. Page after page of excitement and spellbinding. But, a novella is a great way to introduce a new-to-me author and a way to see if this series would be something I would want to continue reading.

Island Peril is compact, but provided it all. Great sexual chemistry, enough action to get your blood pumping, and an engaging read until the last page was read. It whetted my appetite for more.

When Ella Hammond takes a kayaking trip with her sister and niece, things quickly turn from good to bad.

The trip is lead by the very sexy Paul Dawson. Picture tall, dark, athletic. Sexy. Charming. He has it in spades. And when Paul and Ella find themselves marooned on a deserted island with bad guys shooting at them, things quickly go from bad...to deadly.

 All in all--Island Peril is a captivating tale filled with danger and steamy romance.

BOOK REVIEW ~ THIRD DEGREE BY JULIE CROSS

Title: Third Degree
Author: Julie Cross
Publisher: Flirt
Expected Release Date: March 25, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary
eBook, 240 pages

ARC provided by NetGalley


Book Blurb

Fans of Monica Murphy and Tammara Webber will savor this New Adult novel—a story about coming of age in the heat of the moment—from Julie Cross, the internationally bestselling author of the Tempest trilogy.

I used to be “Isabel Jenkins, child prodigy.” As lame as that sounds, at least it was an identity. But now I’m not sure what I am. I just failed the most important exam of my life—the emotional readiness test required to get into a medical residency program—and it turns out my parents can’t stand each other. Now I’m trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces of my life, and that means re-enrolling as a college freshman, but this time I’m shutting the books and majoring in being eighteen.

But so far, my roommate hates me and I’m not into the party scene. The only good thing about school has been getting to know my insanely hot RA. Marshall Collins makes me wonder about everything I missed while I was growing up too fast. Pretty soon we’re hanging out constantly, but for the first time, I find myself wanting more than a no-strings-attached physical relationship. And the lesson I really need is one Marsh definitely can’t teach me: love. Because I’m going to be alone forever if I don’t learn fast.

Book Review


This is my first Julie Cross book. And it will not be my last.

Isabel Jenkins is a character that is hard to warm up to at first. She is an intern with a brilliant mind. One that recall minute details the rest of us "normal" people cannot. She is a gifted diagnostician, able to put the medical pieces of a puzzle together and diagnose a person's medical condition. She is confident she will get into her hospital of choice, John Hopkins, for her residency.

But after Isabel fails the psych evaluation portion of her internship, she finds out that no hospital wants her.

Shuffled from foster home to foster home shortly after her birth, Isabel is adopted at age five by loving parents. Her father is a skilled cardiothoracic surgeon, her mother a biology teacher. All her life, Isabel has never formed any personal attachments or experienced the normal milestones that a typical teen faces. So her recent denial into any residency program has left her afloat for the next six months before she can re-take her psych evaluation.

Isabel decides to re-enroll in college to experience all the milestones she missed out on. But the adjustment is hard--disconcerting-as she tries to "loosen up" and act like an eighteen year old. She doesn't know how to act around her peers and she flounders as a freshmen. But the RA at her dorm, Marshall Collins, doesn't seem to mind her brainy banter or her awkwardness.

Marshall is determined for Isabel to experience all college life has to offer: creating a fake ID, cheating on a test, drinking alcohol, etc. He creates a curriculum filled with lessons to help Isabel develop an understanding of what it means to be young. And along the way, the two friends become more intimate--something Isabel has never been with anyone.

More importantly, Marshall teaches her the meaning of love.

Third Degree does throw out a lot of medical jargon, but coming from a nursing background, I felt right at home. I loved reading about Isabel as she struggled with her pent-up emotions, recognized that medicine is more than just scientific data, and realized that emotions are permitted--all of it kept me glued to the page.

And Marshall, who was dealing with his own secret, was a character you could laugh with, cry with, and fight with. He made my heart hurt. His courage and strength was amazing, his vulnerability tear-jerking. Third Degree is sexy, poignant, humorous, and real.

BOOK REVIEW ~ BARED BY STACEY KENNEDY

Title: Bared (Club Sin, Book Two)
Author: Stacey Kennedy
Publisher: Random House Loveswept
Expected Release Date: February 10, 2014
Genre: Erotic Romance, BDSM

ARC provided by NetGalley

Book Blurb

In a novel that’s perfect for fans of Fifty Shades of Grey, Stacey Kennedy returns to Club Sin with another wicked and wild tale of submission, seduction, and love.

At Las Vegas’s exclusive Club Sin, Aidan Knight is the Master, unleashing the erotic yearnings of his submissive lovers. But his dominant façade conceals a devastating loss—something he instantly recognizes in his personally trained submissive Cora Adams. Sworn to unearth her secrets, Aidan uses his seductive skills to ignite her wildest desires until Cora yields to the pleasure she can find only with him.

Cora came to the BDSM club to act out her sub-and-dom fantasies without ever revealing the heartbreak that haunts her. But Aidan’s masterful touch is bringing her closer to the edge . . . and deeper into a world of control and surrender. He refuses to allow her to submit to any other man—nor does she want to. It’s a dangerous game they’re playing. For as they give in to passion, they must lay bare their souls for a love that could heal—and free—them both.

Bared is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

Book Review

Bared starts out hot and heavy. Submissive Cora Adams is in a scene with her Dom, Aidan Knight at Club Sin. They have played together for the last two years. The tension between the two are palpable and the scene is highly erotic. Aidan is a caring Dom and Cora's trust for this man is shown in her surrender.

It is obvious that Aidan cares deeply for his sub, but the boundaries of their friendship have never been crossed. Aidan cannot move past the death of Lily, his ex-girlfriend. Aidan keeps his emotions closed off from Cora.  For now, she has his body and she accepts the tiny pieces that he gives her.

But after waiting for two years for Aidan to realize what he has in front of him, Cora reaches a critical point where Aidan's dominance is not enough. She wants more. And the sacrifices she has made has left her feeling incomplete.

Aidan knows something is bothering Cora. He sees the pain and grief in her eyes and demands to know what is going on. Cora's inability to admit her heart's desires causes friction between Aidan and Cora, ultimately bringing them to an impasse.

When Cora finally bares all to Aidan and they share an emotional night in the wilderness, will Aidan be able to accept her heart? Or will he be afraid to fail another sub's needs?

Bared is an emotional and erotic read where two souls take a risk and bare everything for love.

BOOK REVIEW ~ MELTING THE ICE BY JACI BURTON

Title: Melting The Ice (Play by Play, Book Seven)
Author: Jaci Burton
Publisher: Berkley 
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Paperback, 336 pages

ARC provided by Goodreads and Publisher

Book Blurb

Carolina Preston has only one goal in mind—launching her new fashion line. She needs only one last thing to make it perfect—hockey phenom Drew Hogan. But Carolina and Drew have a history that goes back to their college days, and Carolina doesn’t want the embarrassment of her past to cloud the brightness of her future. 

Drew is eager for the chance to show Carolina he isn’t the boy who hurt her back then, but a man now, with the skills necessary to melt the icy exterior of her cold heart.


Book Review

Jaci Burton knows her stuff when it comes to sexy sports figures and hot romance. Her Play By Play series is one of my favorite and go-to's when I need a fix of sweaty, athletic men who know how to make a woman very happy.

Melting The Ice is a story of second chances--Carolina had a huge crush on Drew while they were in college, but Drew was an immature ass and never contacted her after their one night. 

Years later, Carolina is at the cusp of her fashion career, as she works on her clothes line to be debuted during Fashion Week. A big to-do that could make her career. But she's short a male model or two. When her brother and his wife stop over for a visit, Carolina asks her brother to walk the runway. Her male clothing line has been inspired by athletes, and she thinks he will be perfect as a model. Gray accepts and also volunteers his best friend and hockey star, Drew. Even as she refuses her brother's offer, she is too late. Gray has gotten Drew to say yes to his idea. And once again, Carolina finds herself face to face with the man who crushed her heart. 

But Drew isn't the man he was years ago. He knows he was ass and they way he treated Carolina doesn't sit well with him. He wants to make amends. And he still wants her. He wants a second chance to show Carolina how much he's changed. With Carolina and Drew working together, things start to heat up to the boiling point. Hot enough to melt the ice on the rink -- and I mean literally on the ice as Drew models in only his skivvies. 

Drew and Carolina both have demanding careers and a very busy life. But there is no denying that the sexual chemistry is still strong. But when Drew thinks that being involved with Carolina is affecting his game, he has to make the tough decision to put his team first. A decision which could shatter Carolina's heart...once again.

Burton is a pro at creating powerful heroines and strong heroes that are great to read about as they struggle to overcome their demanding careers and face difficult circumstances. But in the end, they realize that together they are stronger, better individuals and love is worth the sacrifices. 

BOOK SPOTLIGHT AND REVIEW ~ WICKED WAVES BY SHARON KAY

Title: Wicked Wind (Solsti Prophecy, Book One) 
Author: Sharon Kay
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: July 23, 2013
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
eBook, 297 pages

Buy Links

Amazon / B&N / Smashwords

Book Blurb

SHE GREW UP THINKING SHE WAS HUMAN

Born with the ability to command the wind, Nicole Bonham spends her life hiding her gift. Deciding to take control of her power, she dispenses her own brand of vigilante justice in Chicago’s worst neighborhoods. Stealth and surprise are always on her side. 

UNTIL A CHANCE ENCOUNTER WITH A WARRIOR DEMON

Lash demon Gunnar prowls Earth and several supernatural realms to help maintain peace among the immortal species. His chance encounter with Nicole creates a hurricane of sparks between them, and he can’t let her out of his sight until he discovers her true identity. In his two hundred years, he has never seen a creature like her.

PLUNGES THEM BOTH INTO A FIGHT FOR HER LIFE

Nicole and Gunnar race to discover who - or what - is stabbing the city's most destitute residents and stealing their blood. The fire that forged their bond explodes into white-hot passion, weaving their souls together on an unexpected level. Haunted by the past, Gunnar's fiercely protective instincts battle with her need to defeat the creatures she was born to fight. As they track the mastermind behind the attacks, will Nicole’s unique talent unwittingly send her straight into his lair?



Title: Wicked Waves (Solsti Prophecy, Book Two)
Author: Sharon Kay
Publisher: Self-published 
Release Date: January 21, 2014
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
eBook, 355 pages

Buy Links

Amazon  / B&N / Smashwords

Making daggers out of raindrops is only the tip of the iceberg for Brooke Bonham. As one of four women who can control the elements, her ability to manipulate water packs a deluge of potential. Eager to learn more, she’s frustrated at the precautions she must take to avoid the wrong kind of attention on Earth. 

Kai's duties as a Lash demon have kept him busy on Earth for nearly two hundred years. Fighting? He was born to do it. Females? They're drawn to him. And Earth? The perfect place for him to avoid supernatural bounty hunters.

Though the two of them mix like oil and water, Kai senses that beneath Brooke’s frosty exterior hides a vortex of simmering passion. He’s determined to thaw his ice princess.

Forced to work together in the immortal realm, they track a rogue Lash demon at the helm of a widespread kidnapping operation. All too soon, Kai’s dark past catches up to them. Time runs out as a second enemy, bent on revenge, vows to stop at nothing short of Brooke’s enslavement and Kai’s death. As they and their foes stalk each other in a demonic game of cat-and-mouse, will her evolving skills and their fledgling bond be enough to save them?






Author Bio

Sharon Kay was bitten early by the writing bug.  At age twelve she wrote a short story, about a magic ring,that won a statewide Young Authors contest.  With her nose always in a book, she read the most novels for her age group in her local library’s summer reading program.

In her teens, writing took a back seat to fashion, as she was determined to find clothes different from what everyone else bought at the mall.  And what she couldn’t find, she created.  She learned to sew, worked in a fabric store after school, and spent her spare time with a needle in hand.  Her black and orange prom dress is still one of her favorite creations.

Sharon lives in the Chicago area with her husband and son, and didn’t expect to write again.  But Wicked Wind and the Solsti series formed in her head one weekend and refused to stay quiet until she put pen to paper.  Her characters tend to keep her up at night, as they banter, fall in love, and slay endless varieties of power-hungry demons.

Sharon loves to hear from readers!  You can find her at:

Sharonkay.novels@gmail.com

Author Links

Twitter/ Goodreads / Facebook 

Book Review

Wicked Waves is the second book for author, Sharon Kay and her paranormal series--The Solsti Prophecy. Although I had not read the first book of the series (Wicked Wind), I did not feel lost. But I do plan to go back and read Gunner and Nicole's story at a later date. I enjoyed Kay's world of demons and other paranormal creatures as well as her cast of characters.

Wicked Waves is the story of Brooke--Nicole's sister--and the sexy Lash Demon, Kai. 

Brooke is new to her powers and the paranormal world. Her and her two sisters have found out that they are Solsti--and an age-old prophecy states that four females linked by blood would defeat an approaching evil enemy. 

Each sister has a power associated with an element--and Brooke's elemental power is water. She and Nicole are training to learn how to control their power as well as handle the many weapons used to destroy the different types of demons. 

Kai is a Lash Demon who is the only slave to have escaped from under Drant's heinous rule in the realm of Torth. After killing Drant and escaping, Kai hooked up with Arawn -- the Lash demon leader -- to work as a warrior to maintain balance between the paranormal speices. 

Now over two hundred years later...in Chicago, USA. 

Kai cannot explain his obsessive need to watch over Brooke, but yet he is still drawn to her. Yes, he must protect her--it is his job--but there is something more that he feels for her. He just cannot understand it.

Brooke is completely frustrated by the tall, brooding Lash demon, Kai. He is abrupt with her, often sarcastic, and tries to avoid her at all cost. But there is no denying that the Lash demon is sexy as hell. And despite his stay-away-from-me vibes, she feels an overwhelming attraction to him. 

Sizzling from the get-go, these two individuals try to fight the growing attraction between them. And when Kai and Brooke take off for Torth to find a rare plant that can paralyze the Neshi demons that are terrorizing Chicago, the two are taken as prisoners by one of Drant's son.

Although the pacing at the beginning is a bit slow, the action picks up as Kai and Brooke struggle to remain alive while in Troth. It is here where Brooke and Kai work on breaking down the walls between them and finally get to know one another--when they are at their most vulnerable. It is also the turning point for Brooke as she finally sees and understands the magnitude of her affinity with her element, water.

There is definitely a LOT going on in this series. There is a secondary story between Ramiero and Ashina which didn't make much sense at first. But it's explained that Ashina is the daughter of Cale-a Lash demon who is working on the side of evil. 

Ashina and Ramiero fell in love years ago. The two lovers were separated and Ashina was sent away by her father. 

Now, twenty-two years later, Ramiero has found the woman he loves...only to discover that Ashina had a daughter--HIS daughter. And it was this daughter who was part of the prophecy to bring light and balance between the realms, but she died in a tragic car accident. How is she connected to the other three sisters? 

And then there is the last sister, Virginia (Gin). She sees her gift as a curse and refuses to be a part of Nicole and Brooke's training. Will she join her other sisters and finally accept her affinity with the element fire? 

Lots of action, lots of sexual chemistry, and lots of twists and turns to keep the avid paranormal reader well entertained. 

Book Excerpt

Kai shot to his feet and was at Brooke’s bedroom door in a heartbeat, though he knew they were alone in the condo. Gazing in at the twisted sheets, he guessed she was having another dream.

“No!” she yelled in her sleep. Not a dream, but a nightmare. He moved to the side of her bed and caught her hand as she flung it in a wild, uncoordinated motion.

“Shh, Brooke,” he said gently. At least, he hoped his voice was gentle. He could pleasure a woman until she forgot her own name, but comforting one was unfamiliar territory. He held her hand, watching the rapid pulse in her neck and her erratic breathing. “Shh,” he said again, tracing small circles on her wrist.

She let out a loud breath and tugged on his hand.

“It’s just a dream,” he said, patting her head awkwardly. As he leaned forward, she pulled hard on his hand again, tucking it next to hers against her stomach, and she rolled to her side.

Now what?

He didn’t want to loom over her bed all night, but he didn’t have the heart to remove his hand. So he did the only thing he could think of, and eased onto the bed next to her. He propped himself on one elbow, his other hand entwined with hers. She sighed and snuggled her sweetly rounded bottom against him.

He stifled a groan at the contact. Her curvy, sexy ass was the first part of her he had noticed. Not that he could help it, since she turned away from him at the exact moment he walked into the room. One time he overheard her complain to her sister that it was “too big.”  That little comment gave him a monster hard-on, imagining what it would feel like to bend her over and drive into her from behind.

And now, with her soft body pressed near him, the weight of her breasts against his arm, her lilac scent wrapped around him like a drug. His cock throbbed with need, and he frowned down at her. Cuddling wasn’t what he had in mind when he imagined getting her into bed.

He studied the porcelain skin of her face, his acute night vision registering the fading flush on her cheeks. Her heart slowed and her breathing grew even, and she let out a contented, “Mmm.”

If her dream was over, maybe he could slip away soon. Ah, hell. Her sweet smell and soft curves beckoned to him. He didn’t want to leave her side. He rested his head on his arm and breathed in the fragrance of her hair, deciding to settle in for a while.

BOOK REVIEW ~ UNFILTERED AND UNLAWFUL BY PAYGE GALVIN AND RONNIE DOUGLAS

Title: Unfiltered and Unlawful (Unfiltered, Book One)
Authors: Payge Galvin and Ronnie Douglas
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: January 14, 2014
eBook, 224 pages

Reviewer purchased own copy of eBook for review

Book Blurb

After a night-shift shooting of a drug dealer in The Coffee Cave, twelve strangers each walk out with more than $100,000 in dirty money, a pact never to meet again, and the chance to start over… 

Until that night, Sasha "Sugar" Kovac spent her days selling coffee to the co-eds at ASU Rio Verde and her nights trying not to run back to her ex… or join the throngs of girls lusting after her friend, Adam. 

But why should Sugar give in to the Harley-riding tattoo artist when his longest relationships haven't lasted more than a weekend? 

Sugar's life takes a turn for the dangerous when someone comes looking for the people connected to the Cave shooting and the cash they split. To protect herself and those she cares about, Sugar has to get out of town–and fast. When Adam insists on coming with her, Sugar finds herself holed up in a tiny house with a hot man, a stash of cash, and a lot of secrets. 

Can Sugar protect both her life and her heart when temptation is so close? Or is the past she's fled going to catch up with her?

Book Review

After seeing author, Jeaniene Frost, rave about this book on Facebook, I had to purchase it. And I am glad that I did. Although, reading Unfiltered and Unlawful was at times frustrating and had me wanting to pull out my hair. But sometimes, those kinds of reads are what keeps you turning the pages. 

I will say that I wasn't sure how it would play out as I started the story. It seemed a bit far-fetched at the beginning. But I hesitantly continued on...

What seemed a little hard to swallow was the fact that these 12 strangers ALL agreed to say nothing about a murder and keep dirty money AND cocaine. Okay, Sasha was the only one who asked for the drugs (she had a reason). And they all had their reasons for keeping quiet, even though the shooting was done in defense. 

Sasha "Sugar" Kovac works at the local coffee hang-out place and has been clean of drugs and ended a bad relationship with Tommy. Tommy is a LOSER with a capital "L". He sells drugs, snorts blow, and likes it on the rough side (sex). Despite his effed up character, he says he still loves Sugar. Even though when they are not together, he sleeps with other available women. See? LOSER.

Sasha has stopped using drugs, broken things off with Tommy, but can't seem to pull completely away from him. And Tommy's cousin, Adam, wishes she could see what is right in front of her---HIM. Adam wants Sasha, but he never comes out and says it. See? That's the hair pulling part right there. Frustrating. 

Sasha realizes that she needs to leave town--pronto--since she is now in possession of illegal drugs and cash, so she tries one last time to get Tommy to come with her. (ARGH!) She thinks they only need a fresh start and Tommy will turn his life around like she did and stop using drugs. 

Tommy agrees, but he wants to sell the coke to help pad their nest egg before they take off.

But Tommy is greedy and his greed ends up costing his life.  

With nowhere else to go and no options available, both Adam and Sasha flee on the back of his motorcycle. 

And now the two friends find themselves at a divide. Will they take that next step from friends to lovers? And will they remain safe and hidden from those out there looking for their drugs and money?

A frustrating, yet entertaining read, where the characters are FLAWED, FLAWED, FLAWED. They make huge mistakes and struggle to make the right decisions. Their lives are anything but perfect. And sometimes--those are the kinds of stories that keep me coming back for more.  

BOOK REVIEW ~ MR. VIRILE AND THE GIRL NEXT DOOR

Title: Mr. Virile and the Girl Next Door
Author: Gwen Hayes
Publisher: Entangled: Indulgence
Release Date: January 4, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Novella


ARC provided by NetGalley






Book Blurb

Online virile.com dating columnist Dane Martin has no plans to give up his reign as bachelor extraordinaire. He has a reputation to uphold, especially with the upcoming release of his book Coming on Strong.

Holly Winters, everyone’s favorite girl next door, thanks to her blog of the same name, gives advice, but she doesn’t always take it. When she meets Dane Martin, every fiber of her being warns her to turn tail and run. Instead, she risks her future as an authority on relationships, jeopardizing her upcoming self-help book for women struggling to find commitment among the Virile sycophants.

Has the Girl Next Door tamed the most Virile man alive, or is she just another notch on the bedpost?

Book Review

Mr. Virile is the sexy, suave, Dane Martin, who knows how to pleasure a woman. He loves women. He loves sex. But he doesn't do relationships. He knows how to read women. He knows how to charm the panties off of them...literally. And he does it with unerringly accuracy. In fact, Dane helps his fellow man by giving them advice with his blog.  

The Girl Next Door is the cute and snarky Holly Winters. She is looking for that perfect relationship. And she won't settle for meaningless sex. She has rules, morals, and an advice blog helping other women who are out there searching for their Mr. Right. 

Completely unaware, Dane and Holly are set up by their agents. They have their own agenda. (and hopefully, their own story???) Both Dane and Holly agree to "date" to help promote their blogs and book deals. 

But feelings are slowly changing during the faux dates. Dane wants Holly, true. But he starts to want something more than just sex. 
And Holly wants it all...but is afraid that Mr. Virile is just after one thing.

Gwen has penned a charming, humorous, yet, short tale of two people who discover that sex with someone you care about changes everything. It is often predictable, but well written and has engaging characters. 

This was my first time reading Gwen Hayes, but it certainly won't be my last. 

ARC BOOK REVIEW ~ MOTORCYCLE MAN BY KRISTEN ASHLEY

Title: Motorcycle Man (Dream Man, Book Four)
Author: Kristen Ashley
Publisher: Forever 
Expected Release Date: January 28, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Humor


ARC provided by NetGalley 






Book Blurb

Get ready to ride . . . 

Tyra Masters has had enough drama to last a lifetime. Now, she's back on track and looking forward to her new, quiet life. Until she meets the man of her dreams. The tattooed, muscled biker plies her with tequila-and the best sex of her life. She knows it isn't the tequila and hot sex talking. He's the kind of man she's always wanted. Unfortunately, he's also her new boss . . . 


Kane "Tack" Allen has a rule. He doesn't employ someone he's slept with. So when he learns he spent last night in bed with his new office manager, he quickly fires Tyra. Yet when Tyra stands up to him and fights for her job, Tack is intrigued. He tells her she can keep her job on one condition: no more sex. Ever. But as things heat up between them, Tack finds that he'll be the one breaking all the rules...

Book Review

Wow--and--hilarious are two words that come to mind when I am reading the Dream Man series by Kristen Ashley. I am amazed that at first, I wasn't too keen on this book. I usually never read a series out of order, but I started reading Motorcycle Man before I had ever read any of the other books in the series.

Big mistake.

I didn't finish it. 

So, after a period of weeks...I picked up the first book, Mystery Man. I delved into the pages like it was some sort of book crack. I laughed my ass off. And then swooned over the sexy men portrayed in Ashley's fantasy world. They were hot with a capitol T and underlined several times.

So I find myself wondering if I will feel differently when I re-read Motorcycle Man.

And I did.

Kane Allen was a sinfully, sweet, addictive package wrapped up in tatts, a goatee, jeans, shit kickers, and a dirty mouth. 

LOVE HIM.

The heroine, Tyra Masters, was so easy to love. She, like a lot of women, are looking for THAT man to settle down. THE ONE. And after one sexy night with Tack, she thinks she has found him.

But Tack isn't looking for white-picket fences and a mini-van full of bouncing bambinos. He's in it for the sexy times and don't-let-the-door-hit-you-on-the-way-out kind of fella. 

But when Tyra shows up at his motorcycle shop, he can't help but want to have another taste of her. And all his rules go out the window. 

Motorcycle Man has everything that Ashley's fans will love and keep them coming back for more. With a return of the the cast of many (Elvira included), MM is a DREAM read to lose yourself in for a few hours. 

And leave you wanting more.

BOOK REVIEW ~ HOW TO RUN WITH A NAKED WEREWOLF BY MOLLY HARPER

Title: How To Run With A Naked Werewolf (Naked Werewolf, Book Three)
Author: Molly Harper
Release Date: December 31, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Books  
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Paranormal, Shifters
Paperback; 352 pages

Reviewer purchased own copy of paperback for review

Book Blurb

Down, Boy

Anna Moder has just witnessed a shooting, seen her car pulverized, and rescued a wounded stranger only to discover he's really a werewolf. And by her recent standards, things are actually looking up. Lycanthropes don't faze Anna. Doctoring a wolf pack outside Grundy, Alaska, is the closest thing to home life she's known in years. But hitching a ride to Anchorage with long-absent pack member Caleb Graham that's a risk. Part of her itches to whack his nose with a newspaper. The rest is trying unsuccessfully to keep her own paws off every delicious inch of him.

The problem is, Caleb employs his lupine tracking abilities as a notquite-legal bounty hunter, and Anna is suspicious of both him and his profession. On the run from her past, with old problems closing in, she'd like to stay far, far away from anybody with connections to the law. Caleb, however, seems determined to keep her close. Are his intentions noble, or is he working a more predatory angle?


Anna's been dreaming of returning to a semi-normal life, but now she's experiencing a strange new urge . . . to join Caleb in running with the wolves.


Book Review

Whenever I am looking for a funny, entertaining read that will put a smile on my face, Molly Harper and her naked werewolves are a great choice.  

I love the quirky characters found in the wilds of Alaska--it made me want to grab a cup of cocoa, my heated blanket, and snuggle down for a bit. 

Anna Moder is living a lie. She has escaped from a violent husband who isolated her from her friends and family. Once a successful doctor, she now clerks it at a small, local grocery store. Always looking over her shoulder and never staying the same place for too long, her dream of ever having a normal life is just that. A dream.

But one night changes everything. While leaving work, she hears two men arguing. A gunshot and car explosion later, Anna finds herself on the run with...a werewolf.

Caleb Graham is the sexy bounty hunter that likes to crank up the country music on the radio, chew on exotic flavors of beef jerky, looks delish in a pair of jeans...and is a werewolf. Although Anna is aware of who and what he is, she keeps this information to herself and pretends not to know. A lie of omission.

Caleb is attracted to the snarky cutie he finds in his bed after being shot and out of it. There is a definite spark of lust brewing between them. And when Anna is left with no choice but to team up with Caleb as he drives across Alaska, the sexual frustration reaches a climax...er, boiling point.

But Caleb has his own secret. And once it's revealed, it could destory any budding relationship the two have developed while on the run.  

How To Run With A Naked Werewolf is a joyful and entertaining read with enough heat to keep you warm on those long, winter nights. 

BOOK REVIEW ~ ROME BY JAY CROWNOVER

Title: Rome ( Marked Men, Book Three)
Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Expected Release Date: January 7, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary
eBook format, 384 pages

ARC provided by Edelweiss






Book Blurb

Sometimes the wrong choice can be just right . . .

Fun and fearless, Cora Lewis knows how to keep her tattooed "bad boy" friends at the Marked in line. But beneath all that flash and sass is a broken heart. Cora won't let herself get burned again. She's waiting to fall in love with the perfect man—a baggage-free, drama-free guy ready for commitment. Then she meets Rome Archer.

Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He's stubborn, rigid, and bossy. And he's returned from his final tour of duty more than a little broken. Rome's used to filling many roles: big brother, doting son, super-soldier—but none of those fit anymore. Now he's just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the dark demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer through it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes a blinding flash of color in a sea of gray.Perfect may not be in the cards, but perfectly imperfect could just last forever...

Book Review 

I fell in love with Crownover's writing style with her first book, Rule. It wasn't fresh, but there was something about it that called out to me. Maybe it was the fact that her heroes and heroines aren't perfect. They don't fit the cookie cutter mold. 

Or it could be just the sexy tatts. 

Whatever it is, I love this series. And Rome's story is just a tad bit different to help set it apart from Rule and Jet's. 

Rome has returned home from the Army and is adrift. No longer needed as the big brother protector, no longer a soldier, and estranged from his family, Rome has some serious issues to confront. He struggles to fight the need to drink his pain away as nightmares continue to plague him about the war in Afghanistan. 

Cora Lewis is a pixie look-alike with a spitfire attitude. She is used to having the last word and loyal to the men who work at Marked and the women who love them. When Rome comes home spewing anger and discontent, Cora gets in his face and lets him know "Captain No-Fun" isn't welcome. Then proceeds to dumb a beer on his head. 

Cora, of course, has her own issues. She hasn't had much of a a stable family life and when her fiance up and cheats on her, she is not only wounded--but crushed. She is now searching for the unattainable--Mr. Perfect--to spend the rest of her life with. The man who will give her everything and is "all the way in". 


But when Rome receives a call from a buddy soldier, he falls to the pressure of the drink and Cora comes to his rescue. These two polar opposites find solace in each other's arms. But something that was supposed to be just one night ends up becoming something more permanent. 

There are a few predictable moments, some unneeded (and long winded) narratives that distract from the pacing of the story, but the chemistry between the characters make me want to continue to read. However, Crownover does an excellent job enticing the reader with the Archer family dynamics. Rule and Rome still have not come to terms with the fact that Remy kept his homosexuality a secret. Rome, especially, is feeling a lack of closure he sees no way to resolve. Cora is the one who figures out how to help the man she is beginning to see could be her Mr. Perfect--flaws and all. 

There are other relationships that keep you hooked--the one between Rome and the aging barkeep, Brite was a huge bonus. Brite, a retired Marine, takes Rome under his wing as he helps him find his purpose. 

Then there was Asa, a friend of Rome's who has a questionable past that leads to conflict between Asa and Ayden. 

Despite the rare moment when I wanted to scream at Cora to get over her past before Rome leaves her butt, I am looking forward to reading Nash and Saint's story next.