Although I track my books on Goodreads, I wanted a place of my own to talk about books. The posts will not really be reviews, but more of a reading journal.
Hour of the Lion (Wild Hunt Legacy, #1) by Cherise Sinclair
Hour of the Lion by Cherise Sinclair
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I love Sinclair’s Shadowland series and she is equally as good at writing a shifter series. My only problem is she doesn’t write fast enough to suit me.
Filed under Contemporary, Erotica, Paranormal, Romance
Justin (Tales of the Shareem, #6) by Allyson James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have been a longtime fan of the Shareem books and I don’t know how this one slipped by me. I really need to re-read the series.
Like many of them, this book was funny and heartbreaking. I really enjoyed meeting many of the couples/triples from previous books.
The only thing I didn’t care for is when they switched dom/sub roles. I’m not comfortable with the male as the sub.
I will definitely keep a closer watch on this series to make sure I don’t fall behind again.
Filed under Erotica, Regency, Science Fiction
Written in Red (The Others, #1) by Anne Bishop
Written in Red by Anne Bishop
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book! This is the first Anne Bishop title I have read, but it won’t be the last.
Simon is a shapeshifter and Meg is a blood prophet. In this world, “the Others” control everything and humans are just meat. Meg is human, but doesn’t smell like prey.
That is the basic premise for the book. There are a variety of shifters, including the standards such as wolf, coyote and bear. There are also birds. I think my favorite of them all are the crows. Even in human form, they love shiny things.
The important thing to remember is the shifters take human form. They are not humans that shift into animals. They are just the opposite.
There are also vampires, although they are not the ones we are the most familiar with.
And that is the best thing about this book. It introduces an entirely new world with rules that I have not seen in any other books.
I cannot wait for the sequel. Murder of Crows is expected to be published in March of 2014.
Filed under Contemporary, Paranormal
Angels’ Blood (Guild Hunter, #1) by Nalini Singh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I don’t know why I waited so long to read this book. I knew I would probably love them since I am so crazy about Singh’s Psy-Changling series and I was right.
This is a totally different world from Psy-Changling, but there are some similarities between the ArchAngels and the Psy. The angels have lived so long they have forgotten their humanity. Of course, they were never really human to start with.
I loved Elena. She is a born hunter and definitely a strong heroine. She had a tragic childhood, but has overcome it for the most part. She has some wonderful friends who are closer than most families. I can’t wait to hear more of their story.
Raphael was very hard to warm up to. It wasn’t until the very end that I decided I could like him. It will be interesting to see how he is in the next book. He came a long way towards developing a sense of humanity in this one due to Elena.
Filed under Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance
The Rancher’s Homecoming by Cathy McDavid
The Rancher’s Homecoming by Cathy McDavid
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
A Time To Rebuild It’s gone—everything Annie Hennessey, and two generations of Hennesseys before her, had worked so hard to build. The devastating forest fire didn’t just claim her family’s Sweetheart Inn—it also burned half a town whose livelihood is wedding tourism. Now the struggle to rebuild is just beginning, and Sam Wyler’s sudden reappearance isn’t going to make things any easier on Annie.
Nine years ago, Annie and Sam were deeply in love. When he left to seek his fortune, Annie couldn’t forgive him. Now Sam, widowed with a young daughter, is back and eager to help the town recover. But Annie needs more than bricks and builders to heal her proud and wounded heart. Could the love they once shared hold the key?
I can’t say that I enjoyed this book. It was well written, but there were no light moments. Everything was deathly serious. I like humor in the books I read. It doesn’t have to be one laugh after another, but there has to be some relief from all the seriousness.
Both of the characters had done things that made me dislike them. I couldn’t get past Sam getting another woman pregnant and marrying her right after he broke up with Annie. I didn’t like the fact that Annie pretty much caused the break up by refusing to even visit Sam in California. She was so tied to the family business, she was unwilling to leave it for even a short while.
I “seriously” doubt I’ll read anything else by this author.
(This book was offered for review from NetGalley.)
Filed under Contemporary, Realistic, Romance
Spank Me, Mr. Darcy by Lissa Trevor and Jane Austen
Title: * Spank Me, Mr. Darcy
Author: Lissa Trevor and Jane Austen
Series: n/a
Genre: Historical Erotica
Publisher: Riverdale Avenue Books
Format: ebook
Date/Year: January 1, 2013
Reviewed by: ElaineReads
*This book was provided to me by the publisher for review.
Summary from the publisher:
Netherfield, infamous for its debauched parties of excess and luxury, has a new Master.
After finagling an invitation to the ball, Elizabeth Bennet is introduced to the powerful and prideful Mr. Darcy, while her sister Jane has captivated the new owner, Mr. Bingley. Having contented herself with the pleasurable caresses of her best friend, Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth is intrigued with the sensuality she finds at Netherfield. But it isn’t until her sister Jane is taken ill and Elizabeth stays at Netherfield to nurse her back to health that she finds the dungeons of Netherfield and the man in the black mask who becomes her Master.
By the time she leaves Netherfield, Elizabeth will have become disenchanted with her childhood playmate and obsessed with Mr. Darcy, her Master, who has told her that she would be more marriageable as a Netherfield submissive than as a curious virgin. Elizabeth holds on to her affront at his callous regard for her until Charlotte marries Mr. Collins and Jane is discarded by Mr.Bingley. Unwilling to save herself for a man who’ll make a good match and determined not to suffer Jane’s heartbreak, when she meets Mr. Darcy again at Rosings Park, she decides to become his slave and offers him her virginity.
But when she finds out that her cruel Master has destroyed Jane’s chance at marriage with Mr. Bingley, she rejects Mr. Darcy – even as he reluctantly proposes marriage to her. It isn’t until he saves her sister Lydia’s reputation and brings Jane and Bingley together, that Elizabeth realizes that she loves him. If he still loves her, she would be most willing to take her punishment for rejecting him – and live happily ever after.
My Musings:
The title page credits both Jane Austen and Lissa Trevor as authors . . . and that is exactly right.
Entire passages from Austen’s Pride and Prejudice were included in this book. Some were modified, but others were used word for word. I was impressed by how well Trevor’s material kept the flavor of the language.
Any fan of Pride and Prejudice will recognize the opening sentence:
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” (Pride & Prejudice)
Trevor’s twist on this opening clearly shows that her version of the book is going in an entirely different direction.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a dominant man in possession of a good set of cuffs, must be in want of a much younger, submissive wife.” (Spank Me, Mr. Darcy)
I have to admit, in my opinion, it’s a much more interesting direction and I am already a fan of the original.
What can I say about the plot and characters?
This version follows the general outline of the original plot and the characters, for the most part, keep the same personalities. Darcy is overbearing. He is a dom after all. Surprisingly, Mr. Bingley is also a dom. He is so easily led, I expected him to be a sub.
Elizabeth still has the most character of all of the women and Jane is still a namby-pamby twit. Jane does have an interesting sex life though.
My only issue with the book is it needs closer editing. There was one entire scene in which I never did figure out what was going on.
All in all, this was a fun read which immediately caused me to pull out some of my other BDSM books. That’s definitely what it put me in the mood to read.
Ratings:
Overall: 3
Sensuality level: 5
(originally published at Seductive Musings)
Filed under Erotica, Historical, Realistic, Regency, Romance
Bare it All (Love Undercover, #2; Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor, #5) by Lori Foster
Bare It All by Lori Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Title: * Bare It All
Author: Lori Foster
Series: Love Undercover, #2; Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor, #5
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher:
Format: ebook
Date/Year: April 30, 2013
Reviewed by: ElaineReads
*This book was provided to me by the publisher for review.
Summary from the publisher:
As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it…until the sexy cop next door comes knocking.
Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice’s secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire-and into the line of fire….
My Musings:
Lori Foster never disappoints and this book is no exception. With “Bare It All,” she has merged two of her Alpha male series: Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor, #5 and Love Undercover, #2. It is not necessary to read the “Honor” series, but you really need to read book one, Run the Risk, of “Love Undercover” first. Otherwise, I think it will be difficult to follow the plot.
SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVE NOT READ “RUN THE RISK”
“Bare It All” begins immediately after the ending of “Run the Risk.” Reese is a cop that helped take down the bad guys with Alice’s support. Reese has always considered Alice to be mildly timid until she shows up with her own weapon and demonstrates that not only can she take care of herself, she can take care of others as well.
Although they are next door neighbors, Reese has never been able to get close to Alice. She is too ashamed of her past and has too much to hide. It is only Cash, Reese’s puppy, who allows him to break through her barriers.
I loved this book. I loved the way it flowed directly from “Run the Risk.” I loved the return of characters that I know will be getting their own books soon. I really, really loved one of the characters from Foster’s “Edge of Honor” series showing up in this one.
Reese is your typical Alpha male. He is protective and very much a take charge personality. Alice, however, is not interested in trusting anyone to protect her. She can take care of herself.
She is a woman in hiding. As I said, she is ashamed of things she was forced to do in the past and is afraid to let anyone get close to her. That doesn’t keep her from noticing Reese’s “manly parts” however.
As always, Lori Foster writes great sex scenes. They are strictly vanilla, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t hot. Alice definitely becomes well acquainted with Reese’s manly parts.
When I read this book, I had not read any of the “Edge of Honor” series. I enjoyed both of the books in her “Love Undercover” series so much, I have purchased the other series as well. Alice’s story is introduced in this series, but not knowing that did not interfere with my enjoyment of the book.
As I said, Lori Foster doesn’t disappoint.
Ratings:
Overall: 5
Sensuality level: 3
(review originally posted on Seductive Musings)
Filed under Contemporary, Mystery, Realistic, Romance
