Cowgirls Don’t Cry by Lorelei James Paperback: e-Book Publisher: Samhain Available: November 9, 2010 Genre: Contemporary Romance – Western Source: Purchased by reviewer Reviewed by: Sophia (FV)

Jessie McKay has accepted her marriage to Luke McKay wasn’t perfect. After two years of widowhood, she’s ready to kick up her boot heels—until Luke’s younger brother shows up to spoil her fun. But if Brandt thinks she’ll ever take orders from another McKay male, he’s got manure for brains.

Brandt McKay has avoided his sweet, sexy sister-in-law ever since the night he confessed his feelings for her weren’t the brotherly type. Unexpectedly faced with proof of Luke’s infidelity, Brandt is forced to ask for Jessie’s help in taking care of Luke’s young son. Jessie agrees on one condition—she wants Brandt’s boots exclusively under her bed for the duration.

The sexual heat that’s always simmered between them ignites. Brandt is determined to make the temporary situation permanent, proving to Jessie he’s a one-woman man. And Jessie is shaken by feelings she’s sworn never to have again for any man…especially not a McKay.

First Impressions: I was not sure I was going to like the direction this book appeared to be going after reading the prologue.  I was a disappointed and really didn’t want to see Jessie going down a destructive road.  I should have known better, Lorelei James never lets me down in heroine department.  Things turned around quickly and I knew Jessie was going to be ok.

The Hero: My heart always goes out to a hero who’s been in love with his heroine from afar.  Brandt is a bit different from some of the cowboys in this series.  He’s a little more understated, mature and gentlemanly.  Not that the cowboys in this series are any less loveable, but Brandt is far more obvious and outward with his feelings and is a stand up guy all around.  He’s just as sexy and intense as all the rest of the McKay men though. 

The Heroine: Jessie has been through hell and back after a less than perfect marriage, then becoming a widow, losing her home and being forced to pick herself up and start over.  When she is faced with the undeniable evidence of her dead husband’s infidelity she is shaken but steps up and handles the situation with grace.  I liked that she stood up faced her problems when walking away would have been so much easier.

What worked: There is so much that worked for me in this book and this is supposed to be a short and sweet review so, I’ll try to narrow it down.  I loved that Jessie didn’t put up a huge fight over her feelings for Brandt throughout the entire story.  Yes, there was some reluctance but she didn’t put up ridiculous obstacles.  I also liked the we got a little dose McKay family antics throughout the book.  Good to know they have been getting’ busy, procreating and raising the next generation of wild McKays.  Of course the romance was intense and sexy and I loved both Jessie and Brandt.  Finally, if you read my blog you know I’ve developed a strange fascination with the llama.  I love’em.  Now I’m convinced that Lorelei James loves ME and specifically wrote llamas into the this story.  That’s right folks, there are llamas in Cowgirls Don’t Cry. So full of win I can’t stand it.  lol

What didn’t work: I wouldn’t necessarily say this didn’t work for me but I will say I was uncomfortable at first with the situation with Luke McKay’s baby being at the center of this romance.   But I do think Lorelei James handled this well despite the very sad circumstances and the eventual outcome was appropriate.  Also, more llama time would have been nice. *g*

Final conclusion: Lorelei James just can’t disappoint me with this series.  At ten books in and a huge cast of characters she still manages to bring a hero and heroine that are unique and stand out among the cowboys and cowgirls that have paved the way before them.  

Favorite Quote:

He whispered fiercely, “Give it to me.”

 

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Hunger Undone by J.A. Saare e-Book Publisher: Amira Press Available: Oct. 1, 2010 Genre: Paranormal Romance

Three months ago, jaguar shifter Marshall Mackenzie met his mate. Sultry witch Mira Jones is beautiful, smart, and everything he wants — there is just one problem. Their introduction was orchestrated by his employer, which meant Marshall was forced to break Mira’s trust in order to uncover the secrets of a magical coven responsible for killing innocents. Mira fled from him when she learned the truth — both angry and afraid — but Marshall’s determined to teach the alluring female that while she can run from the hunger that now consumes her, she can never hide.

Reviewed by: Sophia (FV)

Quick Rundown: Mira Jones is a witch and on the run. She has taken a job as a stripper when sexy Marshall Mackenzie finally catches up with her and they have some unfinished business between them.  Mira is Marshall’s mate but when Marshall was forced to betray Mira in the interest of justice Mira hit the road before she had the full story.  Marshall is ready to claim his mate and make things right between them. 

 

First impression:   I felt as though I was arriving to a movie a little late but was able to catch on and get with the program with no trouble at all.  I settled right in and enjoyed.

 

The Hero: A Texas cowboy jaguar shifter?  Very sexy and very alpha.  Do they have jaguars in Texas?  I don’t know but I like cowboys and I loved Marshall. 

 

The Heroine: A witch on the run who is determined to avoid the hand that fate dealt her.  Not only is she avoiding Marshall but she’s got a badass warlock on her tail. 

 

What worked: Although this was a short story it felt fairly well rounded and had a nice conclusion.  I could feel Marshall’s need to claim his mate and make things right between them.  He was forceful yet a gentleman, and I really like that, it’s very sexy.  Of course I wanted more story, but that’s just a sign that I liked it. 

 

What didn’t work: At times the sex scene was a little too descriptive for me.  Although it was erotic, it felt like too much and sometimes I’d rather imagine certain things rather than read them.  Here is an example:

She could feel the hot gush of wetness that signaled her release and was too swept up in the moment to be embarrassed of the loud slurps that accompanied it.

Final conclusion: A short story that packs a very sexy punch.  If you’re looking for a very quick read that will warm you up in a hurry, grab this one, I think you’ll enjoy. 

 

Favorite Quote:

But I can promise you that the only big gun you’ll meet tonight”—he yanked her close, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her against him, until they were hip to hip and she could feel the hard outline of his notable erection—“will be this one right here, darlin’.”

 

 

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Purchase Link: Amira Press 

J.A. Saare would like to give away an ebook copy of Hunger Undone and an ebook copy of A Kiss Before Dying.  Just leave a comment on this review and please indicate which book you’d like to win.  Open to all.  Open until Oct. 20, winner announced soon after.

Web Of Lies by Jennifer Estep Paperback: 432 pages Publisher: Pocket Available: May 25, 2010 Genre: Urban Fantasy

Curiosity is definitely going to get me dead one of these days. Probably real soon.

I’m Gin Blanco.

You might know me as the Spider, the most feared assassin in the South. I’m retired now, but trouble still has a way of finding me. Like the other day when two punks tried to rob my popular barbecue joint, the Pork Pit. Then there was the barrage of gunfire on the restaurant. Only, for once, those kill shots weren’t aimed at me. They were meant for Violet Fox. Ever since I agreed to help Violet and her grandfather protect their property from an evil coalmining tycoon, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m really retired. So is Detective Donovan Caine. The only honest cop in Ashland is having a real hard time reconciling his attraction to me with his Boy Scout mentality. And I can barely keep my hands off his sexy body. What can I say? I’m a Stone elemental with a little Ice magic thrown in, but my heart isn’t made of solid rock. Luckily, Gin Blanco always gets her man . . . dead or alive.

Reviewed by: Sophia (FV)

Since this is the second book in an ongoing series it is possible there will be mild spoilers if you have not read the first book in the series. 

Quick Rundown:  Gin has now retired as an assassin and owns the Pork Pit, the restaurant she inherited from her mentor, Fletcher Lane.  Life has settled down until the Pork Pit is robbed by a couple of young, dangerous punks.  Gin foils the robbery but it turns out one of the punks has a powerful father with connections that could cause Gin all kinds of trouble.  Also, a mysterious customer has come in search of The Tin Man, AKA Fletcher Lane.  She’s seeking his help but doesn’t realize Fletcher is dead.  When a sniper takes a shot at this mysterious girl in the restaurant, Gin decides to help her and her grandfather who was an old friend of Fletcher’s. 

Impressions after the first chapter: We start of right in the middle of a robbery and Gin is as badass as ever. Don’t mess.

The Heroes: Detective Donovan Caine is still wrestling with his feelings for Gin and his conscience.  He’s in a constant state of emotional conflict when it comes to Gin.  I’m still not on team Donovan Caine, and wish he would either come to terms with his feelings or move on.  But there’s a new stud on the scene and he’s got eyes for Gin.  Owen Grayson is the brother of one of the girls that was in Pork Pit when it was robbed and he is grateful to Gin for protecting his sister.  He’d like to show his gratitude in more ways than one and he’s not wrestling with those pesky moral issues. 

The Heroine: Gin, although she is technically retired, is still the assassin with a heart.  She learns more about her mentor and the kind of man he was and has an opportunity to carry on his legacy by helping out an old friend.  She still finds herself  attracted to Detective Caine seems to be holding on to a shred of hope they can be together.  However, there might be a spark where Owen Grayson is concerned. 

What worked: As with the first book in the series, I loved that Gin is badass to the core.  She’ll slit a giant’s throat in a heartbeat but she doesn’t kill unjustly. 

[…] opened his mouth to scream. I left the knife where it was in his heart, clamped my hand over his fat lips, and yanked him forward so the blood gushing out of his chest would fall into the bathtub and not spatter onto the tile floor. And so we stood there, seesawing back and forth over the tub, […] trying to jerk away, and me pulling him closer, my hands digging into his face.

She is also fiercely loyal to those she considers family and would do anything to protect them.  In this book we get to look a little deeper into Gin’s past and where she comes from making her an even more appealing character.  I’m looking forward to learning more about the long lost sister Bria.

What didn’t work: Again, I never got on board with the romance between Gin and Donovan Caine.  I’m intrigued to see how things will play out now that Owen Grayson has his sights set on Gin.

Final conclusion: I adore this series for it’s unique setting, action, suspense and mystery but most of all for it’s amazing heroine Gin.  This series is well on it’s way to becoming a favorite of mine.

 

Favorite Quote:

I didn’t know what bothered me more. The fact Mab Monroe had considered taking me up on my fake offer to fuck her or the fact I’d left the Fire elemental in her own bathroom with a dead body in the tub. Either way, things were starting to get out of hand.

 

Books in the series:

• Spider’s Bite
• Web Of Lies
• Venom (September 28, 2010)
• Tangled Threads (May 2011)
• Untitled (October 2011)

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Check back tomorrow morning for my review of Venom and then later in the afternoon for a guest post and a giveaway from Jennifer Estep.

Spider’s Bite by Jennifer Estep Paperback: 395 pages Publisher: Pocket Books Available: January 26th 2010 Genre: Urban Fantasy

"My name is Gin, and I kill people."

My name is Gin Blanco. They call me the Spider — the most feared assassin in the South (and a part-time cook at the Pork Pit BBQ joint.) As a Stone elemental, I can hear the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet and feel the vibrations of the soaring mountains above me, though I don’t use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

After a ruthless Air elemental double-crossed me and killed my handler, I’m out for revenge. And I’ll exterminate anyone who gets in my way. I may look hot in a miniskirt, but I’m still one of the bad guys. Which is why I’m in trouble when irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine agrees to help. The last thing a coldhearted killer needs when she’s battling a magic more powerful than her own is a sexy distraction … especially when he wants her dead just as much as the enemy.

Reviewed by: Sophia (FV)

Quick Rundown:  Spider’s Bite is the first book in the Elemental Assassin series.  Gin Blanco is an assassin.  She’s been contracted for a hit and finds that she’s been double crossed and her beloved handler has been brutally murdered.  She is determined to avenge the death of her handler and will stop at nothing to do it.  Not long ago Gin assassinated Detective Donovan Caine’s partner and he now wants her dead.  But the double cross on Gin goes deeper than meets the eye and Donovan Caine team up with Gin to find the culprits.

Impressions after the first chapter:  Gin is posing as a patient in an insane asylum ready to make a hit.  Love that heroine is a ‘bad guy’ and the opening chapter takes place in an insane asylum.  Off to a really good start.

The Heroine:  Gin is an elemental which means she can control and manipulate the four elements—Water, Air, Stone, and Fire. In Gin’s case stone with a minor in ice magic.  She was orphaned as a child and witnessed the death of her mother and sister.  She lived on the streets until a kindly BBQ pit owner took her in.  Now, she is an assassin with ethics somewhere under her hard surface.  I love that she’s badass, refreshingly unapologetic and solid.  Although she has some inner conflict, she remains strong and focused making for a very likeable heroine.

The Hero: Detective Donvan Caine is one of the few upstanding members of the police department and he wants Gin dead.  He’s also very attracted to her.  Caine comes off very arrogant and is dealing with his own set of ethics, and his attraction to Gin. 

What worked: I love it when a author can make a character that should be despised the one you pull for.  Gin is a pure badass, unapologetic paid assassin.  She’s professional, good at what she does and isn’t willing to change herself because of what others think.  She is loyal to a fault and although her profession isn’t one I’m likely to get behind, she has become one of my favorite urban fantasy heroines.  I also loved the urban fantasy world this series in based in.  Jennifer Estep did a fantastic job building her world up around this story without overwhelming and distracting with excessive details. 

What didn’t work:  I’m not completely on board with the romantic relationship between Caine and Gin.  Caine comes off very arrogant and I never really warmed up to him. I understand his hatred for Gin since she murdered his partner but his whole ‘I hate you but I’m going get dirty with you and then hate you again’ deal doesn’t do it for me.  I don’t really understand what Gin sees in Caine but this is the first book in the series so I’m eager to see where this relationship goes.

Final conclusion:  Fabulous start to the series, I can’t wait to get Web Of Lies.  The world building, action, and characters all drew me in and kept me riveted from beginning to end.  

 

Favorite Quotes:

The two men stared at each other. Caine looked at Finn’s supple leather jacket, designer khakis, and custom made polo shirt. Finn eyed the detective’s ratty duffel bag, the threadbare patches on his jeans, and the stains on his faded boots. Assumptions were made, judgments rendered, dicks measured.

“I do want you.” His voice was low, tight, strained. The confession cost him. It was all he could do to keep from reaching for me. Good thing I had no qualms about making the first move.

 

  

Books in the series:

• Spider’s Bite
• Web Of Lies
• Venom (September 28, 2010)
• Tangled Threads (May 2011)
• Untitled (October 2011)

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Author’s Website

Purchase Links: Amazon || Book Depository

Check back later today for my review of Web Of Lies.

Coming Clean by Inez Kelley  e-Book – Novella  Publisher: Carina Press Available: July 21st 2010 Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Coming clean never felt so good…Grant and Vivi Michaelson share everything in their marriage: love, commitment—and their wildest sexual desires. But their relationship is tested when Vivi admits she wants a threesome with Grant’s old friend Cade, proposing their annual trip to the lake as the perfect opportunity to fulfill her fantasy. 

All three of them are aroused by the idea. Vivi and Cade have long felt a smoldering attraction to each other…and Grant and Cade have hidden an illicit desire for decades. Going through with the ménage will test their boundaries, reveal old secrets…and maybe tear them apart. After all, there might be room for Cade in bed, but is there room for a third in their marriage?

Reviewed by: Sophia (FV)

Quick Rundown: During the after-glow of lovemaking, married couple Grant and Vivi begin to discuss their personal fantasies.  When Vivi reveals that she has fantasized about having a full threesome with Grant and his best friend Cade, she’s surprised and aroused when Grant admits he’s up for it and they decided to approach Cade to make it happen.

 

Impressions after the first chapter: Holy smokin’ hotness!!  During the first chapter Grant has a flashback to the night he and Vivi hatched their plan to seduce Cade into a threesome.  Stepping back and witnessing Grant and Vivi discuss their yet unfulfilled fantasy was almost as hot as when they actually fulfilled it. 

 

The Heroes: Grant is deeply in love with his wife and will do anything for her including doing whatever it takes to fulfill her fantasies.  He is also very close to his best friend Cade and may have some deeper feelings for him beyond friendship.  Cade is bisexual and has been attracted to Grant since he can remember.  But he respects their friendship and Grant’s marriage.  He’s also been a longtime friend and dance partner to Vivi.  They’ve shared some flirtatious moments but they have never taken it any further than that.

 

The Heroine: Vivi is dedicated to her marriage and has a healthy sexual appetite.  She is more than willing to experiment in the bedroom.  She’d like to bring Cade into mix for a little fun and is totally fine with her husband and Cade being together sexually.  She may have a few moments of doubt when it all goes down, but she manages to keep up with the boys.

 

What worked: I loved that this was a good, straightforward erotic romance.  There may have been a few moments of doubt for all parties involved but no over the top drama.  The sexual chemistry was smoking hot and I loved the first solo moments between Cade and Grant.  Both of them were a little nervous, and also a little excited at this new turn in their relationship. Very hot! 

 

What didn’t work:  My usual complaint with novella’s I really enjoy…too short.  Wish there was more.

 

Final conclusion: Coming Clean is my first read by Inez Kelley and I will be seeking out more from this author.  She writes a wonderfully erotic story with characters to care about. This is a super hot read: m/f, m/m, m/m/f.   Definitely recommended. 

 

Favorite Quote:

[…] as Granny used to say, “getting naked” was one thing, but “gettin’ nekkid” was a whole ’nother ballgame.

 

 

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