AUGUST. 2014 - New Romance Releases

Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Romance

8/5/14   – Crave the Night (Midnight Breeds, #12) written by Lara Adrian

8/5/14   – Dark Skye (Immortals After Dark, #14) written by Kresley Cole

8/26/14 – Playing With Fire (Phoenix Fire, #3) written by Cynthia Eden

8/26/14 – Stone Cold Lover (Gargoyles, #2) written by Christine Warren

8/26/14 – The Beautiful Ashes (Broken Destiny, #1) written by Jeaniene Frost

8/26/14 – The Hot Zone (Rainshadow, #3) written by Jayne Castle

Historical Romance

8/5/14   – My Beautiful Enemy written by Sherry Thomas

8/5/14   – The Bargain written by Jane Ashford

8/5/14   – The Highlander’s Bride Trouble (Hot Highlanders, #4) written by

                  Mary Wine

8/5/14   – The Traitor (Captive Hearts, #2) written by Grace Burrowes

8/19/14 – The Truth About Leo (Noble, #4) written by Katie MacAlister

8/19/14 – How the Scountrel Seduces (The Duke’s Men, #3) written by

                   Sabrina Jeffries

8/26/14 – Lisette’s List written by Susan Vreeland

8/26/14 – Not Quite a Wife (Lost Lords, #6) written by Mary Jo Putney

8/26/14 – Long, Tall Texans II (Long Tall Texans, #4-6) written by Diana Palmer

8/26/14 – Once More, My Darling Rogue (Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James, #2)

                   written by Lorraine Heath

8/26/14 – The Arrow (Highland Guard, #9) written by Monica McCarty

8/26/14 – The Maiden of Ireland written by Susan Wiggs

8/26/14 – What a Duke Dares (Sons of Sins, #3) written by Anna Campbell

Contemporary Romance

8/4/14   – Text Me written by Shelley K. Wall

8/5/14   – Hillbilly Rockstar (Blacktop Cowboys, #6) written by Lorelei James

8/5/14   – How to Handle a Heartbreaker (McCauley Brothers, #2) written by

                  Marie Harte

8/5/14   – Jane’s Harmony (Jane’s Melody, #2) written by Ryan Winfield

8/5/14   – Lay It Down (Desert Dogs, #1) written by Cara McKenna

8/5/14   – Led Me Not written by A. Meredith Walters

8/5/14   – No Attachments (Woodfalls Girls, #1) written by Tiffany King

8/5/14   – Shelter Me (Second Chance Ranch, #1) written by Catherine Mann

8/5/14   – Taking It All (The Surrender Trilogy, #3) written by Maya Banks

8/5/14   – The Man Plan (The Graysons, #2) written by Tracy Anne Warren

8/5/14   -  The Other Side of the Pillow written by Zane

8/5/14   – The Sweetest Summer (Bayberry Island, #2) written by Susan Donovan

8/5/14   – Ugly Love written by Colleen Hoover

8/5/14   – Unbroken (Silver Creek, #3) written by Maisey Yates

8/5/14   -  Virgin written by Radhika Sanghani

8/6/14   – Texas True (The Tylers of Texas, #1) written by Janet Dailey

8/12/14 – Dylan’s Redemption (McBrides, #3) written by Jennifer Ryan

8/12/14 – Love Letters (Rose Harbor, #3) written by Debbie Macomber

8/12/14 – Taken by Tuesday (Weekday Brides, #5) written by Catherine Bybee

8/19/14 – Hard to Hold on To (Hard Ink, #2.5) written by Laura Kaye

8/19/14 – Seducing Lauren (Love Under the Big Sky, #2) written by Kristen Proby

8/19/14 – Proving His Worth (Deuces Wild, #3) written by Cari Quinn

8/25/14 – High Octane: Fueled written by Rachel Cross

8/25/14 – Between the Sheets written by Liv Rancourt

8/26/14 – A Love to Call Her Own (Tallgrass, #3) written by Marilyn Pappano

8/26/14 – For You I Will written by Donna Hill

8/26/14 – Heroes Are My Weakness written by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

8/26/14 – It’s In His Kiss (Lucky Harbor, #10) written by Jill Shalvis

8/26/14 – Long, Hot Texas Summer written by Carolyn Brown

8/26/14 – No Limits (Ultimate, #1) written by Lori Foster

8/26/14 – On the Record (Record, #2) written by K.A. Linde

8/26/14 – Rival (Fall Away, #2) written by Penelope Douglas

8/26/14 – Sandpiper Island (Bachelors of Blueberry Cove, #3) written by

                   Donna Kauffman

8/26/14 – Snow on the Bayou (Tante Lulu Adventure, #1) written by Sandra Hill

8/26/14 – The Best Kind of Trouble ( The Hurley Boys, #1) written by Lauren Dane

8/26/14 – The Devil in Denim (New York Saints, #1) written by Melanie Scott

8/26/14 – The Highlander Next Door (Spellbound Falls, #6) written by

                   Janet Chapman

8/26/14 – The Homecoming (Thunder Point, #6) written by Robyn Carr

8/26/14 – To Love and Protect (Shadow Chasing/For All My Tomorrows) written by

                   Debbie Macomber

8/26/14 – What I Love About You (Truly Idaho, #3) written by Rachel Gibson

8/26/14 – Winning Love (Love to the Extreme, #3) written by Abby Niles

Erotica Romance

8/5/14   – One Night: Promised (The One Night Trilogy, #1) written by Jodi Ellen                       Malpas          

8/5/14   – Red Red Wine (Tastes of Seduction, #2) written by Jess Dee

8/12/14 – Living in Shadow (Living in..., #1) written by Jackie Ashenden

8/19/14 – Never Been Kissed (Second Chances, #5) written by Mari Carr

8/19/14 – No In Between (Inside Out, #4) written by Lisa Renee Jones

8/26/14 – Ignited (Most Wanted, #3) written by J. Kenner

8/26/14 – Slow Satisfaction (Struck by Lightning, #3) written by Cecilia Tan

8/26/14 – Farmer Wants a Wife (Love and Friendship, #3) written by Shelley Munro           

8/26/14 – Own (Command Force Alpha, #1) written by Katie Porter

Romantic Suspense

8/5/14   – Bound to Danger (A Deadly Ops, #2) written by Katie Reus

8/5/14   – Dangerous Territory (Alpha Ops, #0.5) written by Emmy Curtis

8/5/14   – Take the Key and Lock Her Up (Deadly Games Thrillers, #4) written by

                   Lena Diaz

8/5/14   – The Price of Inheritance written by Karin Tanabe

8/6/14   – Fast Track written by Julie Garwood

8/12/14 – Whatever It Takes (Trust No One, #4) written by Dixie Lee Brown

8/18/14 – Midnight Vengeance (Midnight, #4) written by Lisa Renee Rice

8/18/14 – On His Watch written by Susanne Matthews

8/19/14 – Fatal Hearts written by Norah Wilson

8/26/14 – Close To Home written by Lisa Jackson

8/26/14 – Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice, #3) written by Robin Perini

8/26/14 – Harbor Island (Sharpe & Donovan, #4) written by Carla Neggers

8/26/14 – Her Last Whisper (Dr. Charlotte Stone, #3) written by Karen Robards

8/26/14 – In Doubt written by Drusilla Campbell

8/26/14 – Shattered Secrets (Cold Creek, #1) written by Karen Harper

8/26/14 – Ultimate Sins (The Callahans, #4) written by Lora Leigh

Women’s Fiction/Chick Lit

8/1/14   – Charlotte’s Creek written by Therese Creed

8/1/14   – Redstone Station written by Therese Creed

8/1/14   – Sweetshop of Dreams written by Jenny Colgan

8/5/14   – Barefoot Beach written by Toby Devens

8/5/14   – Cancel the Wedding written by Carolyn T. Dingman

8/5/14   – Driving with the Top Down written by Beth Harbison

8/5/14   – Palmetto Moon written by Kim Boykin

8/5/14   – The Villa written by Rosanna Ley

8/6/14   – Big Little Lies written by Liane Moriarty

8/12/14 – The House We Grew Up In written by Lisa Jewell

8/19/14 – Etta Mae’s Worst Bad-Luck Day (Miss Julia, #16) written by Ann B. Ross

8/19/14 – Three Story House written by Courtney Miller Santo

8/26/14 – Rose of Sarajevo written by Ayse Kulin

8/26/14 – Southern as a Second Language (Dixie Series, #3) written by Lisa Patton

8/26/14 – The Furies written by Natalie Haynes

8/26/14 – What’s Left Behind written by Lorrie Thomson

Rock Chick Reckoning (Rock Chick #6) written by Kristen Ashley (518 pgs) - finished 4/22/13 - 5 stars - CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Another great read written by author, Kristen Ashley! Ms. Ashley keeps the ball rolling with another stellar novel centering around her awesomely irresistible  Rock Chicks and the alpha-male dynamic Hot Bunch. This time, though, the novel revolves around local rockstar, Stella Gunn, and hot green-eyed PI, Kai “Mace” Mason. The two were a blast-from-the-past. And, Stella just couldn’t figure out where their relationship went wrong, but after a shoot-out where Stella is grazed, Mace deems it necessary to protect her even though he was the one to call their relationship quits. Stella later learns that it was a “test”, and she’s not very happy about it, but she’s just so into Mace. She could definitely see herself making a life with this guy, even though he’s so bossy and has demons shaded in his eyes. Stella will get to the bottom of that shit - make no mistake about that!

I’m still so impressed with the humor and suspense of each novel. This one sure did not disappoint with Stella being such a strong and resilient woman. She’s not afraid of anything – just willing to take the consequences as long as she’s there for her man and her friends. I could say that Stella was one of my favorite Rock Chicks so far. She could stand on her own, take charge of her band, and be there for her guy – all without beng selfish or impatient. She had a heart of gold! And Mace, well he was just so huge and sizzling and enticing. He had Stella’s back, but with all his demons roaming around inside him, he was afraid to expose her to all that hell. He thought he was saving Stella from a life of misery. But in reality, Stella was the one that wanted to help Mace. Save him. And, always be there for him in the end. They were a real powerhouse couple! Each one just trying to find a common ground to relinquish their tortured past mistakes. It was a beautiful love story full of desperation, heartache, and eventually consolution – a relief of all that bottled-up pain finally being resolved.

Kristen Ashley has created a series of men and women that are very entertainingly intriguing to read about. They are there for each other constantly night and day -  no matter what the problem. Very inspiring, and the humor and sexuality is mind-blowing too! Can’t get enough of this group of women along with their hot steamy alpha-men!

REVIEW WRITTEN, 5/4/13

Seduced in the Dark (The Dark Duet #2) written by C.J. Roberts (503 pgs) finished 1/1/13 - CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE WITH DARK ELEMENTS

***Warning...this novel is not for everyone. It contains explicit and disturbing situations with strong language and graphic violence.***

So, I finished the second book in the duet, and oh my, I can’t get it out of my head. This was just an emotionally draining novel... Wow! I don’t want to go on and on about it because I’m afraid that it would give too much of the heart of the story away. And, I just don’t want to accidently divulge too many details and wreck someone having the experience to come away from this book overwhelmed, enthralled, and simply just satisfied with the author’s attempt to empower a dire situation as far as human trafficking goes and what it can lead to. Ms. Roberts did absolute justice to both main characters as the novel finally ended. The outcome was so surreal – couldn’t be happier of how the author chose to end their story. Definitely a book that I would recommend as long as you can handle a darkly disturbing situation that is graphic, abusive, and hard-core. It’s not a read to be taken lightly.

Livvie is no longer in Caleb’s custody, and the story is now being told from a series of flashbacks through the perspective of Livvie being held in police protection while in a mental hospital. We see her trying to explain her story to a forensic social worker for the FBI, Janice Sloan, and FBI agent, Matthew Reed, while trying to deal with the aftermath of what might have happened to Caleb and everyone that had been residing in the mansion where she had been “held captive”. She’s changed considerably from that shy hidden young girl to a more challenging and confident woman. There were a few additional supporting characters that were added to this new installment of the series. The addition of Matthew Reed just seemed like the author was trying to prove the point that some damaged souls can repair themselves without turning to a life of crime and brutality while others are incapable of digging themselves out of the inferno that has consumed their entire existence. It’s a sad lonely task to finally admit the truth about a life so despicable and barbaric that hopefully someday will lead to a life where honesty and human compassion prevails. Matthew also had suffered as a young child, but was able to somewhat reform his abuse into a rather positive direction – catching the bad guys. Unlike Caleb who was fueled with revenge, probably brainwashed by his only friend, Rafiq, Matthew tried to help seek justice for those who suffered at the hands of monsters. Rafiq, what a bastard! From the moment that the guy was introduced in Book 1, I just couldn’t trust him. He reeked of munipulation and torture...never caring for anyone but himself – treating people like animals, especially the women he came in contact with. I’d like to see him on the other side of someone else’s leash! The author definitely wrote him perfectly as the monster that he truly was. It’s hard to believe that there are really people living today in that same torturous manner. He definitely got what was coming to him as the story was wrapping up – “snaps” for Caleb, as my kids would say when somebody does something to cheer about.

I knew that something big was going to explode when the whole truth came out about Caleb’s past because I just couldn’t understand how a blue-eyed blonde-haired little boy could be wrapped up in a child sex smuggling ring way over in Tehran. Something sinister must have occurred for a child to suffer to that extreme. I think the more that I heard about Caleb’s past, the more that I fell in love with his character. At least the protective and fleetingly compassionate part. Not that his brutal treatment of Livvie was acceptable, but he was definitely torn up about what was more important to him – loyalty to a murderous bastard like Rafiq or a chance for a new beginning trying to reform his monsterous ways and love Livvie. I deeply believe that he wanted to change his abusive ways, but he didn’t know how since that’s all that he’s ever known. He actually needed someone to begin to see some good in him, as strange as that may seem. The man would be looking at some serious years of therapy if done correctly. And also for Livvie to heal emotionally, it would take a lot of time and patience.

Wow, I just can’t get over this book. Even during reading it, I was flinching with emotion when some of the horrying treatments of Livvie and the other women abused were described. The author was just captivating with her realistic descriptive behaviors and sadistic liaisons. It was totally unsettling, and I’m still shocked as to the aftereffect that it is having on me. Not too many books affect me like this. Can’t wait to read another novel by this brilliant author, C.J. Roberts!

  


REVIEW WRITTEN, 1/15/13

                                            

Six of Hearts written by L.H. Cosway (321 pgs) – finished 8/3/14 – 5 stars - CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE WITH SOME ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

8/3/14 -

Wow! That was AMAZING! Loved the story, the characters, and the intrigue! Jay Fields really gives Nicholas Turner from "Painted Faces" a run for his money...damn! Who do I love more??? At this moment it's hard to say. It was totally impossible to put this book down!!!! Twists and turns galore! If you are a L.H. Cosway fan, you will in no way be disappointed! Heart-stopping and mind-bending with romance and illusion. And, a cover that is wicked sexy! One of the most thrilling books I've read this year!

8/4/14 -

Just to add to my review...

Matilda Brandon lives with her dad, Hugh. A tragedy occurred some years ago concerning her mom. This tragedy will never be forgotten as she is branded with a reminder - a hideous scar stares back at her whenever she looks in the mirror. The story really takes off when a gorgeous stranger comes to her father's place of business to ask for his legal services. How can Matilda not be attracted to this mesmerizing man when he's funny, and interesting, and sexy as all hell? There are just so many words to describe illusionist, Jason Fields - captivating, beautiful, passionate are just a few. And, with the brilliant tattoos and rippling muscles so visibly displayed on his body, it just further enhances Matilda's desire for him. When the man speaks, even though he uses some pretty graphic language, it's just so much more of a turn-on. Can't help but be taken in by this character. He's just that personable! And, when the truth of why Jay is really there actually comes out, the reader is thrown for a loop. There was just so much intrigue to this story. I never wanted it to end. I so hate when the last page to a really stellar book is turned! You just can't get that excited not-knowing-what's-going-to-happen-next feeling back. And, this was just that type of story. It was unpredictable, which I love. Not being able to guess the ending is key. There was just so much more to this story then I had thought there would be. Now I'm so torn about whether I liked "Painted Faces" best or not. I really didn't think that Ms. Cosway could out-do herself after that one, but this one...wow, it was just that awesome!!! No one will be disappointed with this newest release. It is definitely a book that I would re-read just to further enhance my love for the characters. I wonder what the author could be thinking of "wowing" her reader audience with next??? hummmmm.....

REVIEW WRITTEN, 8/4/14