Mystique by Charlotte Douglas

Man of Mystery

            Desperate to learn the truth behind her sister’s disappearance, Trish Devlin changed her name and went undercover at the exclusive Endless Sky resort…the last place her sibling was seen alive. Once there, the mystery deepened as Trish found herself curious about – and high draw to – her private guide turned bodyguard, O’Neill. The enigmatic man insisted she had nothing to fear from the mountain hideaway, but strange sounds in the night and hazy apparitions convinced Trish otherwise. Now, as the passing days generated more questions than answers, Trish vowed to bring her sister home…and peel away the layers keeping her man of mystery just out of reach.

            This story is about Trish trying to find her sister and falling in love with O’Neill along the way. He runs the resort and helps her look for her sister. She is using a fake name but the essence of who she is shines through. Besides, she’s not the only one hiding her identity.

The romance is subdued but still there. I really feel like the qualities that make people glue themselves every Tuesday to NCIS to see what happens between Tony and Ziva is here in this book. There is romance, but it’s something that you have to be aware of to know it’s there. There is no sex in this book and I almost feel like that if there had been sex it would have been gratuitous, not needed, and in bad taste. This book did not need hot, steamy sex to carry it through. Sometimes that is the best thing that could be said about a book.

In a way this book felt like a really good first draft. There were so many aspects of the story that could have been expanded on and delved into that I was disappointed that it didn’t happen. Not to say that this wasn’t a good book, but it fell flat instead of expanding into this extremely awesome paranormal romance mystery. It had all the elements but just didn’t live up to what it could have been.

In general, I thought this was a really good book, even if I was disappointed. So I am rating it 3 stars.

Publisher: Harlequin

ISBN: 0-373-22852-X

Price: $3.94 (Wal-Mart sticker)

Montana Royalty by B.J. Daniels

Royal groomsmen in search of sexy Cinderella…glass slipper found in the line shack…

            It was cold, they were trapped…and Rory Buchanan had made love to a perfect stranger – and enjoyed it way more than she should have. But how was a regular girl from Whitehorse supposed to know the royal protocol for dealing with a fantasy one-night stand?

            It soon became clear that Devlin Barrow would slay any dragon for local girl Rory – a court full of nobles had even descended on the small Montana community. But this relationship was no fairy tale. Because someone was willing to kill to keep Devlin’s secret past from toppling the royal hierarchy. And with Rory pregnant with his surprise heir, her life was at stake as well.

            Rory was trying to find out information about her neighbors, who were trying to buy her out, when she meets Devlin. She saves him from freezing in the cold when a storm kicks up. They have a great night together but she knows that she can’t get caught with him so she lights out before he wakes up in the morning. They find each other again but he can’t get involved because he’s trying to find his mother’s killer.

            Everything ends up working out and there is no way to really sum it up quickly. I think that’s what I like the most about B.J. Daniels. The information packed into a tiny Harlequin romance is enough to fill most other books. This author knows how to keep the flow of the story with the romance and tension of the romantic suspense genre going so that the reader doesn’t think they are missing anything from a full length book.

            The idea of sex in this book are really important…but the actual sex scenes are sadly lacking. However, the romance is really good. So if you want an erotic novel, do not go looking here. If you want a romance with a bit of mystery, this is the place for you!

            There is one characters attitude that makes me think this character was based on a real person. The Princess Evangeline believed that everyone was out to use her. She was cold, mean, calculating, and in some ways, vicious. This sounds like a real person because her attitude and actions are so realistic. Even though she is almost a not really worthy to mention character, she is so vibrant that it’s hard not to think of her part in this story.

            I haven’t read the rest of the Whitehorse, Montana series by B.J. Daniels but I look forward to coming across them. Overall, I really liked this book. I was disappointed that it was too short for my taste. There was so much more these characters could have done! But in the end I am giving this book 3.5 stars.

Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue

ISBN-13: 978-0-373-69350-4

Price: $4.99 (cover)

Forbidden Touch by Paula Graves

            

One touch was all it took for the gorgeous stranger to penetrate his soul.

            He was a hardened former marine with a guarded past…until one touch from Iris Browning became his undoing. Thanks to the raven-haired beauty, reclusive millionaire Maddox Heller found himself back in the line of fire, chasing down an elusive killer who’d made Iris his next target. She claimed not to know why, and every instinct told Maddox to believe her. Still, trusting this virtual stranger seemed risky, especially as their relationship grew increasingly personal. Now, as ghosts from the past threatened to destroy the present, would one forbidden touch bring pleasure…or pain?

            Iris came to the island of Mariposa because she was supposed to catch up with her college friend. However, when she arrived her friend had disappeared. With no one willing to believe her she started the search on her own and met Maddox. Soon he was helping her discover clues as to the whereabouts of her friend. Meanwhile she was trying to hide the devastating effect that his touch had.

            SPOILER ALERT: The big secret is that Iris is an empath. Not just a ‘oh I know what you’re going through’ but a real, you stub your toe and my toe hurts empath. It comes out that her friend had been recruited by these guys working with a bunch of ‘specially gifted’ people who, working together, could see and move things without being anywhere near the thing they want to move. They eventually find out that they had been recruited by terrorists posing as scientists.

            I really enjoyed the way that Paula Graves was able to make telekinesis, clairvoyance, empaths, and mediums seem more scientific and cool rather than edge of society weirdos. I do not have a prejudice against supernaturally gifted people, rather movies, media, and even books sometimes make them seem freakish. Paula Graves was able to take these ‘freaky’ things and make them seem cool. She did it in a way though that made you want to admire the abilities from a distance rather than wishing you had the ability. I thought this was great because it made it seem more real, somehow.

            The character relationship building was great. Even though they only knew each other a little while they seemed to build a solid relationship and it felt like they knew each other a lot longer than they did. This was great because it was a short book but it didn’t feel short. There was a lot of quality content packed into 250 pages so it felt like a longer, bigger book condensed down to the necessary story.

            Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I am rating it 3.5 stars.

Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue

ISBN-13:978-0-373-69313-9

Price: $4.99 (cover)

www.paulagraves.com

Cemetery Dance by Preston & Child

Journalist Slain…

            William Smithback Jr., a prominent New York Times reporter, was killed in a brutal attack last night in his Upper West Side apartment. His wife, Nora Kelly, an archaeologist at the Museum of Natural History, was injured as well. Multiple eyewitnesses identified the assailant as a neighbor in the building, Colin Fearing: a man who, by all reports, was dead and buried ten days ago. There are reports that FBI Special Agent Pendergast has taken an interest in the case, but no further…

            Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child know how to weave a mystery with the alluring figure of Agent Aloysius Pendergast. This story is one of intrigue because someone is making it seem like a zombie has risen from the grave, killed a reporter, and is attacking his wife. The question becomes is the zombie real?

            My grandmother talked me into reading this book. I generally do not like mystery novels and I will blame that on attempting to read Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock Holmes books do not reveal the how, why, and, in general, do not explain what happened at the end. This, however, is different. I am finding that most novels do explain their process in the end. Perhaps a better way to describe that is that they show you how they connect the dots. I NEED this!

            Agent Pendergast is a really fascinating character. Let me start by saying the main character (for the most part) in this book is Lieutenant Vincent D’Agosta. However, in the background is Agent Pendergast. I spent a good chunk of this book going ‘what is he doing?’ because he’s dinking around in the background. It all comes together in the end, but I was hooked with reading, not just because it’s a good story, but because I wanted to know what in the hell Agent Pendergast was doing.

            I wish I could say that Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child blended their writing seamlessly together and that I couldn’t tell the difference…unfortunately, I cannot. I can say that they almost got away with it. There were certain parts where it really did flow seamlessly together but there were other parts where you could tell that two different authors with two different writing styles were collaborating. However, I think that might also be because I am an aspiring writer myself. I look for those sorts of things. If you haven’t noticed it, don’t look for it. You don’t want to ruin the book by noticing something beyond the author’s control.

            I really did like the descriptions given in the book. I don’t know what dictionary they are looking at but I want it. The words used are not ones I usually read and that makes it interesting to me. I’ve read hundreds of books in my lifetime and to come across a book that makes me look up words is something to treasure. I do suggest that you have the internet or a dictionary in the house while reading. It’s not something that you need for every chapter…just every so often.

            In general I really liked this book so I am rating it 4 stars!

Publisher: Hachette Book Group

ISBN: 978-0-446-61869-4

Price: $9.99 (Cover)

www.prestonchild.com

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

Mercy’s life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman – the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack – has made her a stepmother to his daughter, has made her a stepmother to his daughter, Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy’s life. But on the edges of humanity, what passes for a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more…

After a car accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can’t reach Adam – or anyone else in the pack, for that matter. They’ve all be abducted.

Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. But she fears Adam’s disappearance may be related to the political battle the werewolves have been fighting to gain acceptance from the public – and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outmatched and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely.

This is the seventh book in the Mercy Thompson series. She’s in trouble! Again! However, that is one of the many reasons I keep coming back to this series. I like Patricia Briggs’ writing style. I’ve only read two series by her; the Mercy Thompson series and the Alpha and Omega series. The characters are from the same world and are intertwined in places. Actually, this book plays off of something that happened in the book ‘Fair Game’.

I really like this book because it focuses more on Mercy’s role as step-mother and Alpha’s mate. This is a VERY different role for her. She’s usually considered the trouble maker…although I’d say that it’s more like trouble finds her than she creates it.

In this book, Mercy has to rely on her friends (no matter who they are) in an attempt to keep her step-daughter safe and to get back the entire pack. She discovers things about herself that in the normal realm of magic is next to impossible but because she is Coyote’s daughter, she doesn’t have to play by the rules all the time. It makes it definitely interesting to go against the rules when she is able.

Overall, I’d say this is a very good book. I’m just sad that these stories are almost too easy to read for me and then I have to wait for the next book to come out. I rate this book 4.

Publisher: The Berkley Publishing Group

ISBN: 978-0-441-02001-0

Price: $26.95 (Hardcover)

www.patriciabriggs.com

Delicious Sinn by Adrianna Dane

Two men, born with a Montana-bred sense of adventure. Neither stays, both leave to make their fortune. Each walked a different line, made different choices. Both ended up in Seattle. One a jaded and scarred rocker with no dreams left; the other a young photo journalist who has a gift for dealing with wild things.

Both men have secrets. But one night's chance encounter in a Seattle nightclub, will likely change their lives forever....

            This story is about Will hunting down Sinn. He wants him, has for a long time, and he finally has him in his sights.

            Yes, if you’ve caught on by now, it is a gay erotic story. I wish there was a sexier way to write that but homoerotic just sounds weird. So gay erotic it is. This is one of the few that I’ve read, so my knowledge of gay romance is limited.

            However, I was really amazed by how turned on I was by reading this story! I wasn’t expecting it to turn me off, but I expected it to only turn on males. I loved that as a female I was able to read this and get pleasure out of it.

            The style this was written in was good. It was like a mix of third and first person, if that makes any sense. It was third person in the sense that you understood everything that was happening but it was first in the sense that you could really feel the lives of the characters and their feelings. This was excellent for this style of story with the mix of BDSM (I think this is the right term because there was a power exchange) so you got the different feel of everything that was happening without becoming lost in detail.

            This was a relatively short story but complete. I feel confident in giving this story 4.5 stars. I really liked it and would recommend this for anyone who wants to read about BDSM, gay erotica, or just a decent romance!

Publisher: Dream Romantic Unlimited LLC

ASIN: B00A1TMGHU

Price: $0.99 (Kindle)

www.adriannadane.com

The Boy Next Door by Katy Baker

Melissa Smyth is enraged when her parents enlist the help of their next door neighbor to look after the house while they are away, not trusting Melissa to do it. Determined to prove she's in charge, Melissa decides to use all her feminine wiles to make her geeky neighbor regret his decision. But little does she know that Rory Thompson has ideas of his own. He's been travelling for the last three years and is geeky no longer. As these two old adversaries come together, who will come out on top? One thing is for sure - sparks will fly. 

            This story is only 16 pages long. Pretty much just a few chapters and it’s over. It is a really good start to a story though. I didn’t know it was 16 pages when I got it, so I got to the end and thought that maybe the whole story didn’t transfer. Nope, it’s just really short.

            So the basic storyline is that 19 year old Melissa is being left at home while her parents go out of town. They get the boy next door (recently home from somewhere else) to do things like clean the pool, mow the yard…that sort of thing. Melissa is mad because ‘they don’t trust her’. When Rory shows up, she is surprised that he’s not the little geeky boy that she used to be able to boss around. There was a power struggle, she dumps him in the pool and he pulls her in, and then they end up having sex. The end.

            So you can see where I was like “What’s next?” and then it’s over! Still it’s not a bad story. The only other thing to mention is that the title is different in different locations. Sometimes it was "The Boy Next Door" and sometimes it was "Banging the Boy Next Door". This makes it difficult to find but Amazon is really good about keeping track of that. In general I am rating this book 2 stars. It’s not bad but it’s not really a whole/complete story.

Publisher: Sold by Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

ASIN: B00CCH4WKI

Price: free on Kindle (usually $0.99)

Pleasures of the Night by Sylvia Day

In the Twilight between sleep and consciousness, a battle rages between Dream Guardians and Nightmares. Captain Aidan Cross is a legend, as skilled in fulfilling erotic dreams as he is with the glaive that kills his enemies. Women see Aidan as part of their fantasies . . . except Lyssa Bates. Exquisite, desirable, enigmatic Lyssa perplexes this immortal seducer because she sees him as he really is. And as he attempts to unravel her secrets the unthinkable occurs: Aidan Cross falls in love.

Lyssa has been having the most incredible dreams about a man whose blue eyes hold the promise of decadent pleasures and tempting intimacies. And then he appears on her doorstep! This intoxicating stranger is just as irresistible as the man of her dreams . . . but with her surrender there is also grave danger . . .

Because Aidan is on a mission, and the passion that consumes them body and soul could have dire consequences. Loving the mortal woman prophesied to destroy Aidan’s world is not only impossible .. . it is forbidden.

            This is a story about a human, Lyssa, and Captain of the Dream Guardians, Aidan. They have to overcome the fact that he can only come to her in her dreams and the fact that she is the Key. Sylvia Day finally reveals what the Key is in the last few chapters so I will not spoil it for you. This really is a story about love overcoming all. I might also add that it is also a story about your friends watching your back.

            I really liked the interactions between Lyssa and Aidan. It started out as an infatuation and it quickly turned to love. It was great to watch the instant chemistry between them and the way that the old boyfriend got his butt kicked. He wasn’t a bad character but when you have a jealous male, butt kicking is always so satisfactory.

            I wish that I could have read more about the Twilight land that Captain Cross comes from. I understand why Sylvia Day didn’t add more but I wished we could have explored that world more. I am hoping that more is explained in the next book, which I still need to get my hands on.

            I am rating this book 4 stars because I really liked the characters and the new idea of a Dream World. Great originality and the relationships were fantastic.

Publisher: Harper Collins Avon

ISBN-13: 978-0061230981

Price: $10.65 (Amazon paperback)

www.sylviaday.com

Spellbent by Lucy A. Snyder

In the heart of Ohio, Jessie Shimmer's roguish lover, Cooper, has been teaching her ubiquemancy, the art of finding the magic in everyday things. When they try to break a drought by calling down a rainstorm, a hellish portal opens and Cooper is ripped from this world, leaving Jessie fighting for her life against a vicious demon that's been unleashed.

In the aftermath, Jessie, who knows so little about her own true nature, is branded an outlaw. She must survive by her wits and with the help of her familiar, a ferret named Palimpsest. Stalked by malevolent enemies, Jessie is determined to find out what happened to Cooper. But when she moves heaven and earth to find her man, she'll be shocked by what she discovers--and by what she must ultimately do to save them all.

            I went into this book thinking it would be cheesy. I was blown away by how amazing this book was. It’s about Jessie Shimmer getting into a mess, figuring out what the hell happened, and coming out a much stronger person in the end. She really becomes a badass woman.

            This book is all about magic. As a generic pagan/witch I am slightly leery when it comes to books about magic because it always seems like they take one aspect and blow it out of proportion. Spellbent does that, but it feels different because instead of feeling blown out of proportion it feels more like this is the way that magic should be. Good job Lucy, for making your world come to life like this.

            Speaking of coming to life, I was amazed at the way the world created in this story felt so real. I could imagine the places, people, and the way that the characters behaved. She took a real world setting and turned it into a place just for her characters.

            This is book one in a series, and I’m sad to say that I don’t have the other books…yet. I will eventually hunt them down because this book makes you want to read the next story. I want to know what happens next. So I have decided to give this book 4 stars.

Publisher: Del Rey

ISBN: 978-0345512093

Price: $7.19 (Amazon)

lucysnyder.blogspot.com

Wolf River by Jill Gregory

New York City children’s author Erinn Winters is haunted by a past no one knows, and dark visions of death and danger that come to her without warning. But when a desperate search for her estranged sister leads her to Wolf River, Montana, Erinn suddenly finds her secrets, even her very life, at risk. And after meeting notoriously sexy Jase Fortune, Erinn finds herself in another kind of dangers – she could lose her heart.

Jase Fortune is as committed to staying single as he is to running his booming family ranch – until mysterious, gorgeous Erinn shows up. But someone is out to destroy the Fortunes, and Jase finds himself willing to do anything to protect not only his family but Erinn too. As the peril mounts, so do Erinn’s and Jase’s feelings for each other, but the promise of love is threatened by deadly secrets and vicious enemies, and a killer who will stop at nothing…

Wolf River is about Erinn out to find her sister. She ends up in a tiny Montana town and her sister is shacked up with a guy who truly cares about her, but he’s living with his brother and his brother is not good news. As Erinn tries to gain her sister’s trust, she makes friends with some of the most prominent member of the town’s society and meets Jase. Jase finds himself helping her, then caring for her, then eventually loving her.

At first I wasn’t sure if I would like this book. From the description above it sounds a lot like a mystery novel. I am not too keen on mystery novels but keep giving them a chance. I am glad I did for this book. Surprisingly, it wasn’t really big into the ‘keep the reader in the dark because I’m a mystery book’ feel but rather it felt like if information was withheld it was because even the author didn’t know what was going to happen. This made for a great read.

I was surprised at the twist ending. I won’t give it away but it definitely made me really think back on the rest of the book to remember what was given away and if I could have guessed earlier in the book. I don’t think I could have and that made it such a great twist. Good job, Jill.

In general, I really liked the flow of the book. It kept pace and delivered information mixed into whatever was going on. It didn’t feel like an information dump or an attempt to have the readers catch up to what was going on. I really liked the fact that even though it was a mystery, it kept most of the focus on the relationships between the characters. So for all of that, I am giving this book 4.25 stars.

Publisher: Bantam Dell

ISBN: 978-0-440-24304-5

Price: $6.99 (cover)

www.jillgregory.net

Pleasure Exchange by Cathryn Fox

Who better than Sam York—a super-brain blessed with the body of an Adonis—to head up the research team entrusted with developing the greatest scientific breakthrough since Viagra? His experiments with female libido enhancers need one more crucial test: on a willing human subject. And when ace reporter Cathleen Nichols, the sexy, nosy neighbor Sam's been lusting for, exposes the lab's provocative work in a revealing article, the genius stud knows he's found the perfect participant.

Though Cat has kept her feelings hidden, Sam has been secretly stoking her inner fires for months. Now, with Sam's "wonder formula" tossed into the mix, their unleashed passion is off the charts, rocketing them together into the stratosphere of erotic ecstasy, no emotional strings attached.

In the name of science and journalistic investigation, suddenly nothing is taboo. But what happens when Sam and Cat's sizzling, sensual pleasure game starts to turn into the real thing?

            This book is the third in the Pleasure series. Cathryn Fox does an excellent job with mixing science and romance. I was looking forward to reading this book by the end of the second one! That being said it is a story about a scientist working on a formula to enhance a woman’s libido and Cat agree to help out because she caused problems for Sam with her article.

            Even though this book is centered around sex, the other thing this book focuses on is self discovery. Cat wants to be a down and dirty ‘real’ reporter. But only because that’s what her father wanted for her. Sam helps her discover that she can be a great reporter doing something she loves. Sam also realizes that he can love someone without getting hurt. It makes for a perfect ending.

            Now we cannot ignore the sex any longer! Cathryn Fox knows how to bring the emotions and romance to a sex scene. Also the men are great lovers! I would love to ‘experiment’ with Sam any time. *wink* However, he is now taken by Cat. *sigh* Oh well, at least I’m able to get a glimpse of their bedroom life!

            I finally decided to rate this one a 4. I like the characters, setting, emotions, and, of course, the sex. This was a great book to read and something I would definitely recommend to friends.

Publisher: Harper Collins Publisher

ASIN: B00134XETQ

Price:$13.95 (Amazon)

www.cathrynfox.com

Pleasure Prolonged by Cathryn Fox

The name of the game is pleasure...Pleasure Games

THE LONGER, THE BETTER!

Once a mere lab assistant, Erin Shay is thrilled over her new promotion. The curvaceous, brainy, somewhat straight-laced lady has been placed in charge of an important new research project: testing a serum specially designed to substantially prolong a couple's lovemaking. With scientists Jay and Laura off on their honeymoon, Erin's been left alone in the lab with her hard-bodied new assistant, Kale Alexander, a sexy stud who has "playboy" written all over him.

Erin's never even had a one-night stand--but the project's success depends upon her playing the wild, wanton bad girl to red-hot Casanova Kale. Since she's already learned the perils of leaving her heart too open to heartbreak, this time she'll be the one calling the shots. Her bad boy partner is going to know from the get-go that this will be a brief sex-only affair--hot, torrid, steamy love in the interests of science with absolutely no strings attached.

But when the loving is this deliciously hot, who in her right mind wouldn't want to prolong the pleasure...

            This story is about Erin and Kale. They are not supposed to like each other because they are working together as lab partners. However, EVERYBODY knows that they like each other. She is determined to keep it casual because she’s been hurt before. Kale wants more but knows that he can’t demand that from her yet. So in the meantime, he’ll take what he can get.

            I like the idea behind this book. It’s straightforward attraction and lust. Man oh man is there lust! *wink* The sex in this book is really good. The idea that they can create a serum to prolong lovemaking would be great. I was glad that in this book they didn’t test it out on each other. It would seem too close to the last book, Pleasure Control. Not that testing serums out on each other is a bad plot but it shouldn’t be the same each time.

            In the end I am giving this book 3.25 stars.

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers

ASIN: B000N2HCWE

Price: $5.58 (Amazon)

www.cathrynfox.com

City of Bones (Mortal Instruments) by Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare’s ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

            The City of Bones was a good start to the series. There were elements that made it seem like it was leading to a romance teen novel but then it was just a teen novel. Almost like a mystery sometimes, which is not a bad thing for mystery novels.

            I had wanted to read this book for a very long time. I think perhaps I built it up too much in my head to really enjoy it. It was good, don’t get me wrong, but it wasn’t the epic book I thought it could be. I do plan to reread it and I hope it will change my mind. If I read more of the series it could change my mind too.

            The plot of the story works well for this genre. She more or less had a quest that she needed to partake of. The friends and side characters were described really well and made them seem more important to the overall plot of the story. This is a good thing, because so many books don’t have that ability.

            There was a major twist at the end of the book that I was not happy with. I will not spoil it but for those of you who have read it, the twist with Jace was not nice. I was thinking ‘Happy Ever After’ but no. Still it makes a better plot line in the long run. Perhaps after reading book 2 I will be happier with this twist.

            Overall I was generally happy, even if I was disappointed, so I am rating this book 3.5 stars.  

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

ISBN: 978-1-4424-9306-3

Price: $12.99 (Cover)

www.cassandraclare.com

Pleasure Control by Cathryn Fox

A dedicated scientist, Laura Manning has an I.Q. that's off the charts. But beneath her pristine white lab coat is a curvaceous body that craves satisfaction. She finds it hard keeping her mind on the experiment and off what's under the lab coat of her bad boy research partner, Jay Cutler, whom she's working with to develop a libido suppressant, an "antidote" for a society gone sex-mad, pumped up and over-stimulated by the miracle of Viagra.

With time running out, Jay offers to act as a human guinea pig, injecting himself with the libido suppressant. Laura's role requires lingerie, soft music and candlelight. Her job is to entice him, to determine if the suppressant tamps down his desires. Rather than cooling the flames of lust engulfing them, their "antidote" only heats them up . . . and there's only one scandalous way to deal with it!

Suddenly long days of laboratory work are giving way to sizzling nights of sensual experimentation—and a different kind of "chemistry" that leaves Jay and Laura breathless and gasping for more! Their professional careers may depend upon a successful climax—and there are dangerous competitors determined to steal their research. And maybe their pleasure games have gotten a bit out of control.

But who in her right mind would want to pull the plug on her man's libido when the loving is this deliciously hot?

            I wasn’t sure what to think about this book. I’m not big into medical sciency books but this one did not really focus on the science part. It’s a straight up romance that just happens to have science in it. Works for me.

            The story line is about two scientists working together to create a male libido suppressant to help make men last longer. They have to hurry because their funding is about to be up. So they decide to test the serum on themselves. What they didn’t know was that somebody had switched the vials, so that the suppressant was really an enhancer. However (and I thought this was great) the way that they feel about each other had nothing to do with the enhancer. They would have had great sex either way.

            There were some funny moments. I especially liked the boss. As a side character, he’s not really involved in the plot but it was still funny when he called them out for having sex in his bathroom. I could just imagine the look on their faces.

            Speaking of sex, the sex in this book was great. There wasn’t any overt kinkiness but the descriptions were almost kinky because they were so well done. I liked the different locations and the variety of the sex scenes. Cathryn Fox definitely has a sense of what people like to read in terms of sex. I definitely like her writing style.

            In the end I am rating this book 3.75 stars. I like the characters and the way they interact with each other. I look forward to the next book.

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers

ASIN: B000MAH736

Price: $5.58 (Amazon)

www.cathrynfox.com

Heart of a Warrior by Johanna Lindsey

           Stunning, statuesque Brittany Callaghan isn’t used to seeing Nordic gods in her tiny California town. But when the spectacular blond Viking – who name is Dalden – turns up at her doorstep, Brittany knows her dream man is very real. Dalden claims to be a barbarian warrior – and since Brittany’s passion has been running red-hot since she first saw him, the sexy giant can fancy himself anything he pleases!

            The truth is a very rude awakening – for Dalden is exactly what he claims to be: a warrior to the depths of his soul from a place where the women always obey. Intelligent, independent Brittany isn’t about to be subservient to any male – not even one who’s everything she ever wanted in a lover. But the proud, powerful barbarian is accustomed to fighting for what he wants – and winning. And what he wants most of all…is Brittany.

            I really think that Johanna Lindsey took the phrase “he/she is out of your world” and took it to a whole new level. I am a huge Johanna Lindsey fan so I’ll try to be objective. Just to let you know, she was the first romance author I started reading. I had most of her collection at one point but since it was actually my mother’s collection I didn’t get to keep it. Then my mom got rid of it! I was so mad! Now I’m trying to collect them all again.

            Okay, for this book…The plot seems pretty simple. Dalden came to Earth to track down Jorran who was going to use mind altering rods to become ‘king’ of the planet. When Dalden was set down in the middle of the mall, he met Brittany. She has a hang up about being with a taller man than herself. Dalden is perfect because he’s so much taller than she is. Dalden finds Jorran with her help and he takes her back to his home planet. She doesn’t believe him until she’s attacked. Most of the book is about getting her to believe. Also there’s a happy ending.

            One part of the book that actually works yet I’m not very fond of, is that in the second half of the book Dalden pretty much quits talking. Most of the second half of the book is spent inside Brittany’s head and her talking to Martha, the computer. I think it works well for the writing style but it’s supposed to be a romance story about Dalden and Brittany, not Brittany’s relationship with Martha.  I liked that Dalden finally got tired of it and banned Martha.

            I sort of wish there was a part two to this book. Another story with Brittany and Dalden about what happens now, after they admit to being in love and she accepts that she really is on another planet in another star system. Perhaps she will tell us in another book.

            In the end I am rating this book 4.5 stars. It was well written, the story flowed, the characters were interesting, the background was believable, and in general it was a good story. The sex was nothing ‘out of this world’ but it wasn’t meant to be and that’s fine. Perhaps I wasn’t so objective, but what can I say? I love her writing!

Publisher: Harper Collins

ISBN: 0-380-81479-X

Price: $7.99 (cover)

www.johannalindsey.wordpress.com

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger by Stephen King

This heroic fantasy is set in a world of ominous landscape and macabre menace that is a dark mirror of our own. A spellbinding tale of good versus evil, it features one of Stephen King’s most powerful creation – The Gunslinger, a haunting figure who embodies the qualities of the lone hero through the ages from ancient myth to frontier western legend. His pursuit of The Man in Black, his liaison with the sexually ravenous Alice, his friendship with the kid from Earth called Jake, are part of a drama that is both grippingly realistic and eerily dreamlike, an alchemy of storytelling sorcery.

I’ll let you know right up front that I struggled to read this book. It wasn’t the writing or the content…it was that I am usually not interested in this type of book. However, I have been wanting to read this book for pretty close to ten years. So, I sat my butt down and got through reading it.

I am pleased to say that for the most part it was a good story. The story starts with Roland, for the most part the nameless gunslinger, walking across the desert in pursuit of the Man in Black, Walter. I was surprised that even through Stephen King gives you the names of the characters, he really preferred you focus the fact that it was the Gunslinger versus the Man in Black. Usually authors want you to get invested in the feelings and emotions of the characters. In this case he uses flashbacks to bring us up to date on what has happened in the characters pasts.

The side characters are generally not much to talk about. However, I was really saddened by the events with the little boy, Jake. His end made me so sad I almost quit reading. Yet I knew that it was important that it happened the way it did. Still, Stephen King I don’t like his ending! Perhaps if I read more of the series there is a chance that Jake will be brought back or perhaps he changed worlds…like how he was brought to this one.

The pace of this story felt grueling. Just like the characters journey. I guess that makes an ironic sort of sense. It’s not bad just not quick paced. There was one part of the story when the gunslinger meets the man in black and they are talking that the man in black gets very philosophical. He’s talking about the universe and relativity and size. If you have ever taken a religious studies class and found it enjoyable you would like this section. Perhaps two or three pages, it was very informative and deep.

In the end I am rating this book 3 stars. It was good but just not my flavor. I’m sure many other people would rate this closer to 5. I could see how they would but in personal preference, my rating was slightly lower.

Publisher: Nal Penguin, Inc.

ISBN: 0-452-26134-1

Price: $10.95 (cover)

Color Illustrations by Michael Whelan

www.stephenking.com

Decisions...

I have made a decision that this blog spot will not just be for romance novels. It will be for anything I have read. That way there won't be long gaps between what I have read and what is being posted. So far there have only been romance novels posted. This will change.

I have just finished reading The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger by Stephen King. I will post a review tomorrow. Hopefully things will run smoother and posts will be more frequent.

Thank you,
Raylin

Night Bites by Nina Bangs

Cindy Harper had an ice-cream flavor for every emotion. Vanilla caramel fudge eased the stress of dealing with her weird and wacky guests at the Woo Woo Inn. But no sweet treat from her freezer was smooth, creamy, or tempting enough to cool down her dark fantasies about über alpha male Thrain Davis.

This was a man to be enjoyed on a strictly primitive level. Every woman who ever saw him smile would wonder about the pleasure his mouth could give her and recognize the secrets in his hard blue gaze. Too late she realized the danger of inviting an ancient vampire into her inn. The concept of fanged creatures of the night scared her witless. Besides, he forced her to examine her past when she was just fine with her present. He did have an upside, though. Who needed ice cream when you had a hot and yummy dark immortal in your bed?

Night Bites is a well written romance novel by Nina Bangs. This story is about Cindy finding out about herself and falling in love with Thrain. Thrain has finally found her after 700 years of searching and knows that he has to reunite her with her father. He did not think that he would develop primal urges to make her his.

The plot of this story was entertaining. Thrain and Cindy had to come to terms with fears that had haunted them for several centuries. They also had to learn how to trust each other. And on the side they had to deal with the crazy, and sometimes real, occupants of the Woo Woo Inn. The Inn was filled with people who believed they were vampires, werewolves, and shape changers…and then there really were those people there, along with cosmic troublemakers, Egyptian deities, and Celtic fairies. The medley of different supernatural creatures just added to the complexity and diversity of the characters within the book.

The sex in this book was great. It wasn’t ‘erotic’ enough to get rated a ‘hot’ or ‘steamy’ rating but it was enough to get the blood pumping through the readers veins. I really enjoyed them. I especially liked Prada’s love rug. You’ll know it when you read it. The bed was also very funny. I liked that there was a touch of humor during the sex scenes and that it didn’t get overwhelmingly serious.

In the end I am rating this book a 3.5 stars. It was great but the plot was not very complex. In the context of another story, this whole plot could have been written in one chapter. Nice job on the expansion but not so much on the complexity of plot.

Publisher: Dorchester Publishing, Co.

ISBN: 0-505-52614-X

Price: $6.99 (cover)

www.ninabangs.com

Nauti Nights by Lora Leigh

James “Dawg” Mackey has lusted after sweet Crista Jansen for years. Just as many as she’s spent running from him—and from that dangerous attraction that shot like a spark through her whole body. But now for Crista, running isn’t an option anymore because Dawg’s got a plan. It’s kind of low-down. And kind of hot.

Blackmail is a dirty word, but Dawg will use it if that’s what it takes to get Crista where he wants her. His hungers are too hard and fierce not to. He doesn’t realize that Crista has a longing too. She’s knows what he’s up to, what he’s capable of. He didn’t get that nickname for nothing. And before the night is through, Crista’s making him work for it.

Crista is out to get her things from the shipping company. She goes into a warehouse and suddenly there is tons of shooting, some guys asking where his money is, Dawg saving her life and taking her back to his boat. Then he’s blackmailing her to stay with him or go to jail. Seems like a reasonable choice considering she’s had a huge thing for him for years. So Crista allows herself to be blackmailed and she stays with Dawg. Now he has to figure out who set her up to be the fall guy for a weapons deal.

Lora Leigh is an excellent writer. I loved the way that she was able to maneuver the characters into the exact position she wanted. They seemed so real and so alive that sometimes it’s hard to remember that she is the one creating these characters.

The sex scenes are something to drool over. I was wet a lot of the time reading her books. Dawg is sexy, even through the written word. I did like that even though there was a reference of Dawg, Rowdy, and Natches sharing women that these women were brave and strong enough to say ‘no’ they didn’t want that and they weren’t going to stand for it. Plus it’s nice to see that the boys loved their women enough to not share them. I actually think the possessive streak is entertaining and well worth the discomfort for them.

I really liked this book and would recommend it for anybody else looking for a good story. So I’m rating this book 4.5 stars.

Publisher: Berkley

ISBN: 042521740X

Price: $7.99 (Amazon)

www.loraleigh.com

Nauti Boy by Lora Leigh

Marine Rowdy Mackay has returned home to Kentucky-and to the girl he left behind: Kelly Benton. But before they can engage in the erotic games that have earned him his Nauti boy reputation, he must fight to save her from the deadly threats of a stranger.

Lora Leigh does a wonderful job of describing the scenes, characters, and emotions of the book. I was feeling they terror that Kelly was feeling when the man was stalking her. The connection that Rowdy and Kelly felt for each other was described so perfectly that I was feeling emotions right along with them. Excellent job Lora Leigh, excellent job.

Now that I’m done praising the author for that I must praise her again for her sex scenes. Another excellent job. They were arousing and made you wish that you were Kelly…or Rowdy, if you’re a male reading her books. Speaking of which, she did an excellent job switching points of view. Part of the book was written from Kelly’s point of view and the other from Rowdy’s which was all third person but still really well done. It wasn’t hard to follow at all.

There’s one part of the book that I have to point out that people/readers might have a moral issue with. Kelly and Rowdy are step-siblings. I know that they are not related by blood but some people can take the point of view that because they were raised together that they shouldn’t think of each other like that. I understand that point of view but I think that people should look beyond that because these two were obviously meant for each other and really, truly in love.

One other thing I want to mention is that Kelly’s last name has not been clearly stated in this book. In the above description pulled off of Amazon.com she is called Kelly Benton. However, her name in Nauti Nights was referred to as Kelly Salyers. I don’t know if Amazon.com was wrong or if something changed that I missed in the naming somewhere. Anyway just a strange coincidence that I thought I’d mention in case anybody else runs across it.

In the end I’m rating this book 4.5 stars. This was really well written. The plot was well thought out. The character relationships were well thought out. All around applause for Lora Leigh and Nauti Boy.

Publisher: Berkley

ISBN-13: 978-0425231128

Price: $7.99 (amazon paperback)

www.loraleigh.com

Fire in the Mix by Cynthia Morgan

Will her icy resistance deter his hot pursuit?

PAST: Fire Meets Ice

            He looked familiar, but why? Gabriel Savage exploded onto the scene taking lingerie manager/wannabe clothing designer Veronica Hunter by surprise. The rogue who had claimed her innocence and forever changed her life was back as the same sexy, charming, egotistical rock star. Except – something about him was different. Could he have changed?

PRESENT: Slow Burn

            Gabriel had come face to face with a beautiful ice princess and he was shocked at her obvious disdain for him. He wasn’t used to that.  Most women found him irresistible; eagerly hopping into his bed and claiming their undying love. This one was different somehow. She was a challenge and she seemed to know him, but he didn’t know who she was, and worse – she wouldn’t tell him.

FUTURE: Blazing a Trail

            Trying to fight, but ultimately losing, their magnetic pull towards each other, fires that had lain dormant were now blazing hot and unquenchable. But when heartbreak, jealousy and doubts collide with their raw, undeniable and overwhelming passion, can they put aside their past and mix fire with love?

            Fire in the Mix is a self-published novel that is about two people who have to get over their past in order to make a future for themselves. After 11 years of separation they have to go back and heal the wounds that were caused by a one night stand.

            I was amazed at the little details that carried throughout the book. The pink ribbon work in her hair was a detail that made its way throughout the entire story and made it quaint instead of annoying.

            There was a good amount of sex throughout the book but it seemed sweet and romantic even when the sex was something different. I liked that style and the way this book was written. It made it easy to read and something that I wasn’t afraid to read in public for fear of blushing.

            In the end I’m giving this book 3.75 stars. I think some of the mistakes throughout the book were enough to be distracting but the content of the story made me want to keep reading anyway.

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

ISBN-13: 978-1453732380

Price: $13.95 (Amazon)

Saint or Sinner by Cheryl St. John

A Match Made In Heaven

            Home from the war, Joshua McBride was determined to put his rakish youth behind him and grab a second chance at a life worth living. Yet how could he convince the oh-so-correct Miss Adelaide Stapleton that his hell-raising days were truly over?

            People weren’t always what they seemed – Addie knew that for a fact. For her own past held secrets that were best left uncovered. But how could she trust Joshua’s claims to be reformed, when he was tempting her to lose her heart?

            This was a lovely story about Joshua trying to prove to his hometown that he really had changed because of the war. Addie was having a hard time with that because she was living a lie. She was running from a man and was hiding her true identity. Joshua was making her come to the realization that she wanted to live a guilt free life as well.

            This was written as most historical romances are… lots of romance and not much sex. But in this case, it actually worked for the tone of the story. Joshua and Addie were religious people trying to make their lives better. They were in love but needed to romance each other to get past all the normal drama and see if for themselves.

I actually wanted to know about one of the side characters, Ricky Dean. I think if Cheryl St. John had given his character to someone like Sharon Page, then there would be a fantastic erotic novel in the making. He wasn’t a big character in the book but he had potential.

I liked that Cheryl St. John was able to bring the background of the town to life. That’s why I’m rating this novel 3.75 stars. It was good but something that I’ll only read once.

Publisher: Harlequin Books

ISBN: 0-373-28888-3

Price: $4.50 (cover)

www.cherylstjohn.net

A Matter Among Four by Destiny Blaine

In Lewisburg, Tennessee, Kimbrell and Darlene are well known among the locals. They're the poor little rich girls who inherited a large family farm with oil flowing rampant under their piece of ground. When Darlene leaves on her honeymoon, Kimbrell isn't ready to manage a working ranch but she isn't opposed to supervising a few good cowboys. And they're ready for any man's job, especially those tasks most important to a promiscuous woman. When the Carlisle brothers show up at Kimbrell's farm willing to use their working hands, it only takes Kimbrell a few hours to realize her guests have ulterior motives. With a lot to accomplish in due time, these men make every second count. Before Kimbrell can pull back on the reins, they've roped her in using the strength of three men and no one, not even past lovers, will tear her away from them.

            This story left me a little confused in the beginning. Kimbrell wakes up and there’s three brothers at her door ready and willing to take her into their lives. There’s hints that she’s some sort of a sex addict that refuses to turn down anyone who comes knocking on her door.

            Part of this story is good. Kimbrell and the three brothers have to work out how much they like each other and some sort of trust. But other than that it sort of lost me to have to figure out what was going on. I know that Destiny Blaine was trying to keep it to a short story but some more back story would have made a world of difference to the flow of the story.

            At the end, I’m giving this book 3 stars. It’s good but it feels like it needs work.

Publisher: Siren Publishers

BN ID: 2940043333124

Price: $4.79 (Barnes and Noble)

www.destinyblaine.com

A Little Magic by Nora Roberts

In “Spellbound,” a beautiful lady casts a thousand-year spell on the man of her dreams – and unleashes a nightmare only love can conquer… “Ever After” follows an enchanting woman as she journeys to an otherworldly land – and introduces a handsome artist to the transforming power of love… “In Dreams” links a young woman to a stranger’s past – and to the curse that has trapped him forever in the eternity of his own dreams…

            These three books combined are a great read. They are short so feel free to set them down to take care of other things…personally I found that I didn’t want to set the book down. It only took me a couple of hours to read each other them…basically the whole collection in one day.

            I like the way that she’s able to tie Irish roots and magic together. I’ve always heard that Ireland is a magical land so I’m not surprised that she was able to make this connection.

            In the end I’m giving this book 4 stars. It’s really good and my constant complaint was that it was too short. J

Publisher: The Berkeley Publishing Group

ISBN: 0-425-18318-1

Price: $13.95 (cover)

www.noraroberts.com

In Dreams by Nora Roberts

In Dreams links a young woman to a stranger’s past – and to the curse that has trapped him forever in the eternity of his own dreams…

            This novel is about Flynn and Kayleen. Flynn is cursed that he should live 100 years like a ghost (unable to feel anything) and then 1 week to be able to feel. It’s been 500 years and he still hasn’t learned his lesson. Then Kayleen, off on a whirlwind strictly guided down to the hour adventure, gets lost and ends up in his forest. He takes her in and thinks that he shall ‘claim’ her and keep her after he turns back into mist. He realizes that he loves her and puts her before himself and ends up setting himself free. I won’t give you more detail than that because then you won’t read the book. *wink*

            I like the premise of the book and I like the way it was written. There is one thing about it that I don’t like. Kayleen is this massively logical, strict, and rational adult. She really takes it overboard. But then she believes Flynn’s story, believes he’s magical, and suddenly she’s carefree and head over heels. It seems a little too unbelievable for this characters background. But we assume that it is fine and that she’s able to cope in this way and the story is great.

            I like that Nora Roberts takes a moment to assess the right and wrong of using magic to transport items to the castle. It makes you realize that just because you can do magic doesn’t mean you can use it unwisely.

            In the end I’m giving this book 3 stars. It’s good but I just didn’t find it as ‘fun’ as I normally do.

Publisher: The Berkeley Publishing Group

ISBN: 0-425-18318-1 (A Little Magic)

Price: $13.95 (cover)

www.noraroberts.com

Ever After by Nora Roberts

Ever After follows an enchanting woman as she journeys to an otherworldly land – and introduces a handsome artist to the transforming power of love…

            Ever After is the story about Allena Kennedy finding her way to an island in a storm where she is rescued/taken in by Conal O’Neil. Conal has been fighting a prophecy about his family that every hundred years two people who are in love (him and someone else) pledge to each other in the circle of stones near his family home. He has been fighting it but he can’t fight his attraction and love for Allena.

            Okay…I did a better job summing up this story than the cover did! Plus the internet has let me down. I couldn’t find a description of this book by itself. It’s in a three-in-one book called A Little Magic and it’s the only place it’s referenced. Yet the copyright in the inside says that it was published, or at least copyrighted, in 1999. But I couldn’t even find it by itself on Nora Roberts website. I guess if I downloaded the complete booklist I might have found it…

            The story of Allena and Conal is one about predestined fates and the way that people fight against it, rather the way Conal was fighting against it. Allena seemed to revel in the fact that she was on an Irish island and was surrounding by the magic that was the island. It was really nice to see that Allena didn’t fit in anywhere else but she fit in perfectly at Conal’s home.

            My favorite part was Conal’s definition of love. “He’d wakened reaching for her. How could a man spend one night with a woman, then find his bed so cold, so empty when she wasn’t in it? Then that panic, that drawing down in the gut, when he hadn’t been able to find her. Was there a name for this other than love?” (page179). Now I haven’t actually put the whole quote here. I just pulled the sentences pertinent to my point. He knew he loved her but didn’t want to admit it.

            This book was so fun to read. Personally I really want to go visit Ireland and Nora Roberts allows me to picture it in my head. She brings the characters to life and makes me want to go visit them and make sure they are continually happy.

            In the end I am rating this book 4.25 stars. It was really good, I just wish it was longer.

Publisher: The Berkeley Publishing Group

ISBN: 0-425-18318-1(A Little Magic)

Price: $13.95 (cover)

www.noraroberts.com

Goddess of Love: A Goddess Summoning Novel by P.C. Cast

  

          My goddess, does Pea Chamberlain ever need a makeover! Her shoes, hair, clothes, makeup: all disasters, especially if she wants to attract über-sexy fireman Griffin DeAngelo at the firemen’s masked ball. And who better to coax Pea out of her pod than the Goddess of Love, whom she invokes when she gets her hands on a book of enchantments.

            Sure enough, Venus works her magic on Pea, which is what she has been doing for eons – helping other find love. But who will help the Goddess of Love when she finds herself falling head over heels for the same sexy fireman she is trying to land for Pea? Could it be that Venus needs a love makeover herself? Check out the fireworks when the Goddess of Love unexpectedly loses her heart…

            P.C. Cast knows what she’s doing when it comes to writing a novel. As a side note, I adore her House of Night novels that she writes with her daughters. But beside that I LOVE her Goddess Summoning novels. So far I own 5 of the 7. Perhaps I’ll get the other two for my birthday! P.C. Cast knows how to mix ancient gods and goddesses of myth with the modern world and new characters.

            This story is about Pea being a very awkward person and invoking the Goddess of Love, Venus, to help her learn how to become a sexy, beautiful, and confident woman. For reasons unknown, but I’ll blame fate, Venus and Pea are both at the same restaurant and Venus hears Pea invoking her. She decides to answer and thinks it’ll be fun.

            It doesn’t take much to make Pea sexy. Venus just brings out her inner beauty. Which was really nice to read, because I don’t like when people with magical abilities changes a person without teaching them how to do it themselves. Venus takes the time and teaches Pea beauty care, makeup and being able to dress sexy.

            There wasn’t a whole lot of sex in this book. There were a few steamy places and they were greatly appreciated, however this book focused on ‘love’ and the different ways of making a person happy. By the end, both women had their romantic interests and they loved each other as well. They sister/friend bond is a love that many women need to take account for in their lives.

            In the end I am rating this book 4.5 stars. I loved it and can’t wait to read more of P.C. Cast’s worlds (Tulsa, OK) in the future.

Publisher: The Berkeley Publishing Group

ISBN: 978-0-425-21528-9

Price: $15.00 (cover)

www.pccast.net

Kat Rides the Iron Men by Christine Michaels

Katherine McCoy is a feisty card shark trying to play her way to a better future. She heads to Carson City, Nevada, expecting some rough and tumble cowboys along the way. Kat's plans are upturned when she meets rugged Gideon Marshall who clearly knows how to play himself into her heart...and her knickers.

     A gambler by night and a hard laborer by day, Gideon and his lover and boss, sexy Nathan Harcker, a steely railroad mogul, set their sights on her. But claiming the stubborn and fiercely independent Kat, especially when she has no time for love, will take more lusty energy than Gideon and Nathan anticipated, but these men never back down from a challenge. Can Kat get her head back in the game before it's too late?

            This book was really good. I wasn’t sure if it would be considering it’s about a card shark and men who work for the rail road. But the plot didn’t have anything to do with intricacies of their jobs/professions. This story was about a woman who didn’t want to be claimed by two men who wanted her equally as well as each other.

            This is a different situation because many of these books are about two men sharing because the woman wants them both. Or they both want her and decide to share. This is different. This is two men who love each other who want a woman to complete their relationship. It was nice reading about because she had never thought of something like that before.

            In the end I’m giving this book 3.75 stars. It was good and the relationship factor is something to really think about.

Publisher: Siren Publishing

ASIN: B003DX0I4O

Price: $4.99 (Amazon Kindle)