Dead Sexy Dragon

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Book Review, Dead Sexy Dragon, Dragon Heat series, Lolita Lopez

The last thing dragon shifter Stig Wyvern needs is his dead friend’s kid sister showing up on his doorstep, especially since he’s just minutes away from entering a mating phase. Sharing his isolated house with the young woman he’s desperately lusted after for quite some time is a recipe for disaster.

But Cora Cardenas has nowhere else to go. She’s in deep trouble with some really nasty people and Stig is the only one who can protect her. That he’s deliciously sexy and makes her tingle with the simplest of smiles is an added bonus.

Cora quickly realizes Stig is hiding something from her. To make matters worse, she’s plagued with breathtakingly naughty dreams starring a shadowed lover who bears a startling resemblance to her host. And what the hell is going on in the basement at night?

Stig needs to get Cora out of his house but his inner beast has other ideas. He’s found his mate and she’s not going anywhere.

*****

As an introduction to Lolita Lopez’s “Dragon Heat” series, readers are given a look into the world that Stig lives in and the dangers those of his kind face.  It’s a short book, focusing on Stig’s changing relationship with Cora, but it packs a pretty good punch for its length.  And Lopez does a good job of also giving readers the details they need to be able to move into the rest of the series.  I really liked these two so I wanted a longer book, with a bit more build up to their relationship, but I definitely enjoyed what I was given.

This is the first book I’ve read where the hero is a dragon, but I’ve seen quite a few of them floating around.  With the popularity of supernatural romances it isn’t much of a stretch and I think that Lopez does a fantastic job of making them appealing as a love interest.  There’s a good dose of danger involved, not only with the war that the dragons are engaged in, but also with some problems following Cora.  It reminds me a little bit of J R Ward’s “Black Dagger Brotherhood” series, with a group who have to hide their real identities from the world at large while battling a group that wants to eradicate their entire species, which adds a little extra zing to an already steamy story.

Dead Sexy Dragon is a very hot and sexy read, so be ready for the sizzle.  Full of heat, heart and danger, it is sure to intrigue lovers of paranormal adventure romances and have them coming back for more when Red Hot Dragon releases in October.

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Resolution​s by Teri Riggs

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Resolution​s, Teri Riggs

Decadent Publishing has a hot new book they want to share with you ….

DEA agent Eve Taylor has had her fill of alpha males. When Resolutions’ operative and former lover, Dillon “Mac” McKenna, threatened her hard-earned independence, she ran. On a mission to gather evidence against a Colombian drug-lord, Eve discovers the drug-lord is helping terrorists plan an attack on American soil. Before she can escape with the vital information, she’s captured and comes face to face with her mortality…

As a teen, Mac watched his family fall apart after his mother died doing dangerous U.N. work. The possibility of losing Eve to a mission ignited an overwhelming need to protect her. When he forced her to choose him or her job, she walked away. Two years later, it seems all his nightmares have come true and he’s tasked with rescuing her from a Colombian prison. Mac has never stopped loving Eve, but does he dare risk his heart when he’s so terrified of losing…

On the run, Mac and Eve must learn to trust each other again in order to stay alive.

Excerpt:

Beefy hands wrenched Eve awake from a fevered sleep, pulled her from the cell, and shoved her into a musty-smelling hallway. I’m being moved? A guard pushed her with one hand, keeping a tight grip on an AK-47 rifle with his other.

Her shoulder throbbed in perfect cadence with the pains shooting through her broken wrist, and she had one badass headache from being punched in the face a few too many times. Using her good hand, she walked fingers across one cheek, then the other. The right side was totally numb. Her eye had swollen shut, and she couldn’t see a damn thing out of it. She ran her tongue across her teeth and tasted the tart, copper flavor of blood. Three teeth loose. Well, at least they’re still in place.

In spite of the relentless pain, she stayed determined to survive whatever Mendoza dished out. She wasn’t a quitter. No, sir. Duncan Falls, Iowa didn’t grow quitters. Eve ignored the constant ache in her ribs, courtesy of a guard’s overzealous kick, and took in a deep breath. She willed herself to stay alert, to keep pushing. Escape. Third times the charm.

Eve slapped the guard’s dirty hand. “Hey, Pedro, stop being so damned pushy. Where we going anyway? We got a hot date I’ve forgotten about?”

He looked puzzled then shoved her again.

“Don’t understand English, do you, Diego? Bet you understand this.” Eve drove her elbow into the guard’s face. Thick rubbery cartilage gave, and she whooped triumphantly.

Blood squirted from his nose and he screamed.

Eve stepped back. “Yep, I’m pretty sure you understand that.”

Unable to grab the guard’s assault rifle, she clutched her injured shoulder, and took off in a slow jog, no longer able to push any harder.

Her escape was short lived.

Buy Links:

Amazon  Decadent Publishing  Barnes & Noble

Visit Teri Riggs at www.teri-riggs.com

Falling for the Teacher

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Book Review, Dorothy Clark, Falling for the Teacher

Though she once fled from Pinewood, Sadie Spencer can’t stay away when her ailing grandparents need her. But she never expected to come face-to-face with the brother of the man who caused her to leave town. Sadie doesn’t care how honest or kind Cole Aylward may seem—she isn’t about to let him continue managing her family’s business.

Cole has worked hard to prove he’s nothing like his brother. All he wants is to try to make up for the hurt Payne caused her family. But slowly Sadie’s quiet determination and bravery helps him face his own fears. Can Cole convince her he’s a  man worthy of the trust she longs to give?

I’m not sure how I would react in Sadie’s position, especially in a time when views on women and relationships were so different.  Clark though seems to handle it well, with a good emphasis on learning to forgive.  She takes a little time to see Cole as his own person and not his brother, but it is definitely understandable.  Slowly, though, Cole’s kindness and caring shows Sadie that he is a good man.  Cole feels like he has a lot to make up for with the way his brother acted, but he has his own growing to do.  He has to learn that he is his own person and that the actions of others aren’t necessarily a reflection of him or who he could be.

Falling for the Teacher is a sweet story about letting go of the past, seeing past your prejudices and realizing that you have the power to be who you want to be.

Once Upon a Wallflower

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Book Review, Once Upon a Wallflower, Wendy Lyn Watson

New review is now up.

*****

A Perennial Wallflower… When Mira Fitzhenry’s guardian arranges her engagement to one of the most scandalous lords to ever grace the peerage, all of society is abuzz.  After all, the man has left a trio of dead young women in his wake, including his first fiancée.  But Mira doesn’t see a killer in Nicholas’s moonlight eyes, and she resolves to find the real murderer before the wedding. 

A Gothic Villain… Expecting to scare the chit away within five minutes of meeting him, scarred and brooding Nicholas, the Viscount Ashfield, is intrigued by Mira’s tenacious resolve to prove his innocence.  She’s not put off by his imposing appearance, but his family’s dark secrets mean he cannot let her get close.  As the wedding approaches, Nicholas and Mira grow ever closer, yet so does the danger.  Will the truth bring Nicholas and Mira together or tear their love apart?

Once Upon a Wallflower delivers a delicious mix of romance and intrigue.  It’s a fun send up to the gothic romances of the past – with a brooding, dangerous hero and his sacrificial bride – but Mira isn’t going to sit quietly and let herself (and Nicholas) get railroaded into a relationship.

I think she’s one of may favorite heroines.  She sees something more in Nicholas than how society has portrayed him and it is something that she feels is worth pursuing.  Her logical mind and rampant curiosity demands that she help him clear his name and the journey to prove his innocence is an interesting mystery, one that plays out well.  I was very satisfied with how everything was tied together.

My only complaint is that we didn’t get a clear picture of what happened to Nicholas – why he is scarred and has a limp.  He does have a recurring dream that involves an accident with his leg, but we’re given one glimpse of it and it isn’t very clear how much of it really happened.  With all the stories about him that floated around and with Mira’s inquisitive nature, something should have been said.  But overall it doesn’t detract from the rest of the story.

I loved the fact that Nicholas and Mira are able to see more in each other than others do, looking below the surface and past the rumors to find someone worth loving.  And Watson does a great job of mixing their growing relationship with the mystery, giving readers a good balance of both romance and suspense.  Once Upon a Wallflower is a fantastic read and perfect for those that like their historical romances with that little extra bit of drama.

Love Overdue

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Book Review, Love Overdue, Pamela Morsi

New review is now up.

*****

Meet Dorothy Jarrow: devotedly unsexy librarian 
Buttoned-up book lover DJ is all sensible shoes, drab skirts and studious glasses.  After an ill-advised spring-break-fueled fling left her mortified, she’s committed to her prim and proper look.  When she’s hired by a rural library in middle-of-nowhere Kansas, she finally has the lifestyle to match—and she can’t wait to get her admin on.

But it’s clear from day one that the small-town library is more interested in circulating rumors than books.  DJ has to organize her unloved library, win over oddball employees and avoid her flamboyant landlady’s attempts to set her up with the town pharmacist.  Especially that last part—because it turns out handsome Scott Sanderson is her old vacation fling! She is not sure whether to be relieved or offended when he doesn’t seem to recognize her.  But with every meeting, DJ finds herself secretly wondering what it would be like to take off her glasses, unpin her bun and reveal the inner vixen she’s been hiding from everyone—including herself.

I love the idea of Love Overdue – that a straight-laced, rule-following woman has a fling that she immediately regrets and years later comes face to face with her partner in crime … only he doesn’t recognize her.  I just wish we’d gotten more.  It didn’t feel like we’d gotten enough of the reasons behind her assumptions about the kind of person Scott is, although I can understand why she wouldn’t want people to know about what happened.  It is a very small town and the people in those kinds of places can have small minds to match, but she seems to exaggerate the situation.  And even worse, we’re not given the resolution!  We get to the end, Scott finds out who she is but we don’t find out what she says to him, instead we cut to the epilogue eight years later.  I think we deserved to see them have that conversation since it was such a big part of the book.  And hopefully it might have explained a few things that were a little unclear.

I did like the characters though – both big and little.  Scott is kind, caring, and gives of himself to the community.  His mother is a wonderful busy-body (although her’s is another story-line that needed a little more explanation with its resolution) and she, along with many of the town’s citizens, add that nice bit of zing to the story.  I’m hoping that there will be more stories set in Verdant because not only are the townsfolk entertaining but there are some unresolved points that I’d like to see come to fruition.  And even though DJ is quick to jump to conclusions and somewhat defensive, it is understandable based on the guilt and fear she’s carrying over her affair with Scott.  When she loosens up and starts to enjoy herself I like her and, with a few more pages, I think that she could have had all of her issues out in the open and been even more likable.

Overall, I have to say that I enjoyed Love Overdue but I wish there’d been a little more going on between the covers.  It’s an intriguing plot, full of fun and interesting people, warmth and charm, and just that perfect touch of humor, but I can’t help feel like I was left wanting more, which is a bit disquieting.  I do recommend giving it a chance though – Morsi has a entertaining writing style and great ideas – and you might not find the holes that I did.

Mr September throwdown

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Mr September throwdown

The six heroes from this month’s BRAZENS are battling it out to be your Mr. September. Who gets your vote?

Each day this week the six heroes are stopping by some awesome blogs to answer both sexy and sweet personal questions, so you can really get a taste of what they’re like 😉  Each day you get to cast your vote, and at the end of the week one sexy hero will be crowned the winner of the #MrSeptember Throwdown!

Remember, each vote also counts as an entry for one of SIX prizes so be sure to follow along and vote every day to increase your chances of winning!  Visit Entangled in Romance for a recap on the awesome prizes!

*****

Now, to meet the men competing in the #MrSeptember Throwdown!

Whew! Hot, hot, hot – these men have definitely turned up the heat!

Ian: Wicked Games by Samanthe Beck  (part of Lovers Unmasked)

Grayson: Seducing Mr. Right by Katee Robert  (part of Lovers Unmasked)

Landon: Tempted by His Best Friend by Cari Quinn  (part of Lovers Unmasked)

Derek: Protecting What’s Theirs by Tessa Bailey  (part of Lovers Unmasked)

Jett: Wicked Heat by Nicola Marsh

Trick: Dirty Trick by Christine Bell

*****

Here are today’s questions for the men

Question #7: What’s the sexiest fantasy you’ve had about your leading lady?

Ian: Well, there was the shower thing, but we’ve done that. And then there was the Halloween, incognito thing, but we’ve done that too. Then, of course, there was the bondage thing, and, yep…you guessed it…

Grayson: It involved bending her over my desk…

Trick: How much time do you have? Not a lot? I’ll just tell you the dream I had last night, then. We were at a little Italian restaurant tucked into a dark corner. Right when the waiter came over, I ducked my hand under the table and slipped it between Gracie’s legs. She was wearing a skirt but no underwear, and as soon as I touched her, her face went all pink and her eyes got glassy. She was so hot and…*clears throat* anyway, when it was her turn to order, her voice did that sexy little hitch it does? She didn’t move away though. She just sucked in a shuddery breath and asked for a glass of wine. When the waiter left, she looked me dead in the eyes and said “You better be prepared to finish this, buddy. And remember, payback is a bitch.”  That was a lie. Because payback? Was fucking mind-blowing.

Derek: I’m working late and she comes into the police station. Dripping wet from the rain. I can tell she’s feeling a little desperate for me. Which is perfect, since I’m always desperate for her. As usual, I’ve been growing restless…I always do when I’ve been deprived of her too long. Without a word, I walk her to my office and tell her to strip while I look my fill. Then I put her on my desk, where she’s been inhabiting my head for hours. Then I make her ask nicely for every thrust of my hips.

Jett: The moment I saw that Kink Kit in Allegra’s hotel suite, I imagined exploring what was in that box with her. Tying her up, teasing her mercilessly…oh yeah, frigging hot.

Landon: Refer to the law firm encounter mentioned above. Steff bent over the counter, her firm, supple body bared to my touch, her moans echoing off the walls… *clears throat* Next question, please.

Question #8: Favorite comfort food?

Ian: Bourbon or whiskey

Grayson: Breakfast food–eggs, French toast, bacon, hash browns.

Trick: Rib-eye steak, medium rare, baked potato with sour cream and butter, creamed spinach on the side, followed by Apple pie with caramel sauce.

Derek: Ginger’s chicken pot pie. The way she keeps trying to improve the recipe…she doesn’t realize I love it just because she made it.

Jett: Pav. Nothing beats the perfect Aussie pavlova. Meringue base, lashings of whipped cream, topped with strawberries and passionfruit. Best comfort food ever. Plus there’s always whipped cream left over and I can think of many sensual uses for that…

Landon: Pizza at Mama Leone’s, with optional garlic enhancements. Ah, the memories.

*****

Go now and vote for your favorite here!

*****

Tempting Bella

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Accidental Peers series, Book Review, Diana Quincy, Tempting Bella

Tempting Bella is a sweet story about two people who were forced to wed too young, who first met on their wedding day, and now haven’t seen each other for years.  They make assumptions about each other, mostly on Bella’s part, that create the discord in the story.  Without having contact with each other, and only knowing their own take on events, they have certain beliefs about the other and take action according to those beliefs … which of course aren’t always well received by the other.  (Like when Sebastian supports Bella travelling on the continent after she finishes school.  He thinks he’s giving her freedom since she was forced to get married at thirteen but she thinks that he doesn’t care about her and only wants her away from him.)  Years later, when the two meet again for the first time since the wedding, it is as strangers since they don’t even know what the other looks looks like, and the attraction is instantaneous.  But when their identities are revealed, they have to figure out how to get past their biases and forge a new relationship together.

I really liked Sebastian.  Nicknamed “The Saint” for his strict moral code, he could have come across as overly pious but he has his reasons for acting the way he does.  And he never pushes his ideas on anyone else or makes it feel like he is better than anyone else because of it.  Bella has some trust issues, especially with Sebastian, but she too has her reasons and I think it is sweet how he spends the book wooing her.  There’s conflict and heart all mixed in together as they try to find a path together and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

This is the second book in Diana Quincy’s “Accidental Peers” series but you really couldn’t tell it.  Apparently the first one was about Sebastian’s brother Cam but there really wasn’t much to suggest that any of the plot lines flowed between the books.  Sometimes you are told that a book can stand alone and then you feel like you have missed nuances by not having read the previous book, but this definitely wasn’t the case.  If you’ve not read Seducing Charlotte and you want to start here I don’t think you’ll have any problems.

Tempting Bella is a pretty straight forward historical romance – two people are thrown together, have bad opinions to overcome, and fall in love.  It’s sweet and saucy and fun and a good choice for those who enjoy lords and ladies finding their happy ending.

Fiance by Friday

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Book Review, Catherine Bybee, Fiance by Friday, Weekday Brides Series

New review is now up.

*****

Gwen Harrison:
The beautiful, high-born daughter of an English duke came to America to take over her sister-in-law’s matchmaking business.  But just because she’s the boss doesn’t mean she can’t fantasize about making her own perfect match with bodyguard Neil MacBain.  Will the enigmatic man who haunts her dreams cost her more than she bargained for?

Neil MacBain:
The retired Marine can’t deny the effect blue-blooded Gwen has on his troubled soul or his battle-hardened body.  But as a client, Gwen is off-limits—until a threat from Neil’s past returns…and Gwen is caught in the crossfire.  Now to keep her safe he will risk it all: his career, his life…and his heart.

I’ve not read any of Bybee’s “Weekday Brides” books but I definitely think I’m missing out.  Fiance by Friday is more suspense than romance, but it worked for me.  I was caught up right away and felt like it didn’t slow down until it was over.  I will warn other newbies that there are a lot of references to previous characters – it doesn’t directly impact this book, but it made me itch to pick up the other stories to find out more about them.

Gwen is deliciously normal in her proper British way.  She lives in a completely different world than the one that Neil has come from, but it doesn’t stop their attraction.  I’m sure that there has been build up in earlier stories, but Bybee does a great job of setting the stage for them getting together for those new to her books.  Gwen has had a thing for Neil for months but he’s ignored it the best he can.  It doesn’t mean he hasn’t felt it to but he’s better at pushing it away.  Until a secret from his past comes knocking.  Neil is delicious in all of his marine glory so he makes a great ready-for-anything hero.

A good portion of the book is spent trying to figure out what is going on, find who is behind everything, and to catch him.  It’s great for those that like suspense but there isn’t a lot of romantic build-up, so those looking for more of a love story might be disappointed.  If you don’t mind a good mix, though, Fiance by Friday is definitely a winner – full of humor, love and mystery, I couldn’t put it down.

Romancing His English Rose

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A Lady Lancaster Garden Society Mystery, Book Review, Catherine Hemmerling, Romancing His English Rose

New review is now up.

*****

Rose Warren and Simon Trumbull may have been betrothed since birth, but that doesn’t mean they have to like each other.  Rose is sure the notorious playboy Simon will never willingly settle down, and Simon, well… he agrees.  Never one to be forced into anything, he’d rather drink and gamble with his mates than spend time with the bookish, bespectacled Rose.

When the two are thrown together to investigate a potential poisoning mystery, neither expects the sparks that fly.  Simon discovers that Rose is, in face, a brilliant sleuth and – even better – hides a delectable body beneath her flowing skirts.  Suddenly, falling into bed may be the best idea either has heard, but can Simon convince Rose his romancing is forever?

Romancing His English Rose is part of Catherine Hemmerling’s “A Lady Lancaster Garden Society Mystery” series – the follow up to Taming Her Forbidden Earl – and there is a lot of teasing about things that happened in the first book, plus a set up at the end for the next story.  This story still made sense but if you are like me your curiosity might get the best of you, with all the hinting at things that have happened or will happen.

What throws Simon and Rose back together is a problem with Simon’s cousin, Caleb.  There is some suspicion that he might have murdered his own brother in order to inherit the title, so Simon and Rose do some digging.  The intrigue portion is engaging – well-written and comprehensive, with no loose ends – although not so much a mystery but more of a suspense element that highlights the romance of Simon and Rose falling in love.  It is a good catalyst for their relationship and I enjoy how well it flows.

It seems to me that Simon has a quick change of mind about his feelings for Rose, but it works ok.  I do wish we could have been given more of Simon “before” – his rakish actions and his hidden intelligence – so his change is a little more fluid, but maybe that is something that I’d have seen if I’d read the earlier story.  I like him though and I love that the one person he is trying to keep out is the one person that believes in him and supports the man he tries to hide.

An intriguing romance with a great mix of heart and suspense, Romancing His English Rose is a fun choice for those who are looking for a little edge to their love story.

 

Plain Admirer

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Book Review, Patricia Davids, Plain Admirer

New review is now up.

*****

So what if Joann Yoder’s Amish community deems her a spinster?  She’s content to stay single.  In the meantime, she’s working hard to finally buy her dream house.  So it’s problematic when she’s fired from her job to make room for the owner’s nephew, Roman Weaver.  His blue eyes aside, she simply can’t stand him!  Good thing she has the secret letters she’s been exchanging with a mystery man to keep her going.  But who is writing her letters?  And could she possibly fall for him in real life, too?

Joann Yoder is a spinster in her little Amish town, and she’s ok with that.  But she’s not ok with being shifted from one house to another, living with each of her brothers for a few months before being moved on.  She wants a home of her own and she’s just a few weeks away from being able to buy her dream house … except she’s been fired from her dream job in favor of her boss’s nephew.  Roman Weaver used to work side by side with his father and brother in the family’s saw mill until an accident lost him the use of his arm.  Now he’s a liability and being shuffled off to work for his uncle at his printing company.  As if that wasn’t bad enough, he’s forced to learn from bookish (and hostile) Joann.

Readers know where the story is going as soon as the secret letters come into play, but it is still a sweet journey.  I really enjoyed both Joann and Roman and their growth, not just with each other but with themselves.  There is also a little intrigue involving some attacks on their community that makes them take a good look at their faith and their responsibility to their town.  Honestly I love these Love Inspired books about the Amish because the romance is almost always tender and wholesome, while readers are given a quiet peek into the lives of the Amish as a family and a community.  It’s intriguing to me and I’m always left with a renewed look on my own life.

Plain Admirer is a part of the “Brides of Amish Country” series but it can definitely stand alone.  It’s a sweet look at a man and a woman trying to find their place in the world and with each other.