Romance Book Review: Diana Palmer's Protector

Author: Diana Palmer
Series Connection: Long, Tall Texan

ISBN13: 9780373777716

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Harlequin

Purchase Link: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

The 37th in the Long, Tall Texan Series, Sheriff Hayes Carson and Minette Raynor finally get together and work out their differences. Over the last several books readers have heard exactly how Hayes feels about Minette. Even after finding out in a previous book that Minette didn't have anything to do with giving his brother the drugs that he killed himself with, Hayes still harbors and unreasonable hatred for Minette. Hayes has also found out that Minette herself may not be responsible for his brother, Bobby's, death, but she is very close to the person who helped in the boy's demise.

When Hayes is shot on his front porch he can only be released from the hospital if he has someone to take care of him, but no one will take care of him at his house because of his pet iguana that has been known to attack. Feeling sorry for him, and because she has always harbored a crush on him despite his feelings for her, Minette agrees to help out and take him in. 

Reluctantly he goes to live with Minette and her family. Minette lives with her great aunt and her young step brother and sister. While living under her roof and being taken care of by Minette, Hayes begins to realize that she isn't the person he has made her out to be for so long. He also soon realizes that Minette doesn't have all the information about her past that he does and doesn't understand her real connection to Bobby's death. 

In the background of the story a scene is unfolding around them that is about to change Minette's life forever. Minette soon learns that she is about to become a pawn between two Mexican drug lords.

The story takes a lot of twists and turns and in Diana Palmer style old friends from around Jacobsville come into play. For someone who knows she can be taken at any time, Minette seems to take too many chances and even though she seems a lot tougher than most of Diana Palmer's heroines is somewhat naive about her safety. 

We all knew that these two would get together at some point, but in this case I'm not sure I like the way it all happened. Hayes Carson, who has always been the arrogant local Sheriff, there when needed to help out the local police, comes off like a wimp even though he's injured. I would have liked him to be stronger and worked a little harder to get Minette to fall for him, especially all he has put her through without her even being responsible for his brother's death at all.

Description:

His brother had been the only family he had left in the world. Hayes, a long, tall and serious Texan, has long been suspicious of the blond-haired, bright-eyed Minette Raynor, who is both mysterious and beautiful. And now he's convinced that Minette was involved in giving his brother the drugs that killed him. As far as Hayes is concerned, neither her looks nor anything else will stand in the way of him righting what is so very wrong.

Minette can't get Hayes off her mind, or off her back. His investigation of her is a nuisance, but as an undercover DEA agent, that's the least of her worries. Until she finds herself in great danger, and he's the only one who can save her. Can she count on Hayes believing the truth--and saving her life?

Romance Book Review: Tara Mills' If You Want Me

Author: Tara Mills

ISBN:  978-0-9876852-7-8

Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance

Publisher: Crimson Frost Books

Purchase Link: Amazon | All Romance

On the eve of her friend's wedding, Naomi has a bit too much to drink and decides to proposition one of the groomsmen. Years before Ryan was the best friend of her ex-boyfriend. When she saw him again and noticed his reaction to her, in her drunken stupper she decided to give him a call. 

Ryan couldn't believe it when Naomi called him and couldn't resist taking her up on her offer. When Naomi was with his best friend years before, he was upset that his friend had asked her out before he could. That friendship was long over, but he never forgot Naomi.

Things don't go well the night before the wedding and now Naomi has to meet Ryan the next day.

Very short story that rushes a bit through the story. 

Description:

An irresistible woman. An undeniable proposal.

Even the unthinkable can sound reasonable when you mix alcohol, sexual frustration, and a bachelorette party—especially a bold proposition. Now in the light of day, Naomi’s hung over, horrified, and anxious about facing this complicated man again and the unexplored feelings their encounter brought with it.

She called, he came, but Ryan didn't exactly conquer. Is it too much to hope that Naomi will give him a do-over? She can’t avoid him, not when he’s walking her down the aisle. But who ever heard of a bridesmaid getting cold feet? 

Romance Book Review: Ella Jade's The Weekend Proposition

Author: Ella Jade

Digital ISBN: 9781937325848

Genre(s): Erotic Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Beachwalk Press

Purchase Link Beachwalk Press

Life is pretty bleak for Coda. Her mother is sick, the rent is due, she has student loans to pay, she works two jobs that has nothing to do with her college degree and she hasn't had any offers in her chosen degree. When her boss overhears some of her woes he makes her a proposition that could help her take care of everything. 

Spencer is in need of help. His ex-girlfriend is looking for a way to get back together and convince him it is time to settle down and get married. That isn't at all in Spencer's plan and he thinks it is time, once and for all, to convince everyone including his family that he and the ex aren't going to be together. 

Spencer's solution is to find someone to be his date for a family weekend. When he meets Coda he can't resist. Just where will this weekend take the two of them?

Not the more original premise, but a romantic, with an erotic prose, piece just the same. 

Description: 

One weekend—no strings, no expectations, and no commitments. On Sunday afternoon it all ends, or does it?

No-nonsense businessman Spencer Cannon has a dilemma. He's headed to Connecticut for the weekend to attend his cousin's elaborate wedding. His whole family will be there in addition to his obsessed ex-girlfriend Ava. According to Spencer's brother, Ava has been telling her friends she's planning a magical reunion with her favorite ex-boyfriend. Spencer's not in the mood to deal with her, but he can't miss the wedding. He needs a plan.

Struggling Brooklyn waitress and aspiring graphic designer Dakota Vercelli has fallen on hard times. College debts, pending eviction, and her sick mother are taking a toll on her. A chance encounter with Mr. Cannon, CEO of Cannon and Carrington Advertising, leads to a proposition that may be just the thing to solve both of their problems. Spencer's offer—spend four days with him during the wedding festivities and keep his ex off his trail. In return, he'll compensate her generously for her time. He needs a weekend girlfriend, and Dakota needs the cash.

It was just supposed to be a business deal, but after sharing a room, kissing under the stars, and attending a wedding, their attraction is undeniable. Will the illusion end when the weekend is over or is the proposition just the beginning?

Content Warning: contains mature language and graphic sexual content

Romance Book Review: Jessica Sims' Single Wolf Female

Author: Jessica Sims
Series Connection: Midnight Liaisons

ISBN: 9781301633951

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Jill Myles

Purchase Link Amazon 

Alice has a problem. She's a female alpha of her pack and now the only alpha of her pack now that her brother, the alpha male has died in a car accident. In a couple of days it will be the full moon and she will do anything not to have her pack taken over by Roscoe, another local alpha. She do anything, even if it means going to a shifter dating service and picking up a stranger alpha to help run her small pack. 

After going through the uncomfortable application period and looking through a list of wolves who have signed up, she finally gets to the end of the list and finds at least one alpha male. 

Jackson is a laid back alpha looking for a place where he and his one other pack member can land. When he gets the call from Alice, he's there in a heartbeat and ready to protect her and her small pack.

I loved Jackson and his quiet ways. Most alphas are hard and domineering. Jackson can be hard and possessive if he needs to, but his softer side is great. The story was great, but a little more passion in the love scenes wouldn't have been remiss in this case. 

Description:

Alice Savage needs an alpha – any alpha – to prevent her pack from being usurped by the lecherous Roscoe. As a last resort, she signs up for the  Midnight Liaisons dating service, never expecting that she’d find the alpha she seeks. She certainly didn’t expect Jackson Wilder, a laid back, sexy-as-sin outsider who claims to be an alpha.

But Alice has a problem that most female wolf alphas don’t — she’s a virgin. And the female alpha of a wolf pack always belongs to a male alpha. Luckily for her, Jackson’s utterly gorgeous and willing to take things slow. But is he alpha enough to help her save her pack…or is he too easy-going to be the man she needs?

Romance Book Review: Hazel Gower's Ava's Mate

Author: Hazel Gower

Series Connection: Armageddon Mates

Digital ISBN: 9781937325886

Genre(s): Erotic, Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Beachwalk Press

Publication Date: September 16, 2013

Purchase Links: Beachwalk Press

In the third in the Armageddon Mates series, Hazel Gower continues with her story of the Australian wolves and weres who fight against the demons who are trying to take over the world and take all the mates of weres. 

In this installment, Kirby's brother Logan has made it clear what he thinks of werewolves and his sister's mating with one. When he meets Ava, werewolf sister to Rane and Kane, and realizes that she is his mate, he is ready to get as far away from Ava as he can. The only problem is he can not get his mind off of her. 

Ava has heard all about how Logan hates werewolves. To be perfectly honest he isn't exactly the man she was hoping to mate with either, but now that fate has made the choice for them, she is perfectly willing to make due. That is until he opens his mouth and ruins everything. Now Ava is doing whatever she can to keep her wolf from biting her mate. That is at least until Logan can prove himself.

The whole pack is still working to keep the demons at bay, while at the same time working to save all the mate that have been kidnaped already.

Fairly good storyline with a couple of "what are you doing moments", but worth a read. 

Description:

They’re not what either one expected or wanted, but they’re destined to mate.

Ava Wolfen has dreamed of her mate since she was a little girl—a powerful werewolf shifter— but what does fate give her? A shifter-hating military human named Logan Brown.

It has only been a few months since Logan learned that werewolves exist. And although they’re protectors of the earth and are fighting to save the world from demons and other horrific creatures, Logan despises them. Because of that he’s having an extremely difficult time coming to terms with the fact that both his sister and brother have mated with werewolves. And if that wasn’t enough, now he finds out he’s supposedly destined to mate a werewolf also.

Ava and Logan try their hardest to fight fate, not willing to settle for a mate they neither expected nor want. When a girls’ night out goes wrong, Logan comes in to help save the day and in the process he reveals a huge secret of his own....he has supernatural powers that he’s kept hidden.

After the rescue, the attraction they’ve fought for so long becomes undeniable, and they spend an explosive night together. But if they give a relationship a go, will it work, or are they a disaster that’s doomed from the start?

Rane's Mate

ISBN: 9781937325725

Description:

If you could help save the world, would you?

That’s the choice offered to shy animal empath Kirby Brown by her new friend Faith.

Faith is mated to one of a warrior race of werewolves, the only beings who can save the world from merciless demons, and she believes Kirby's abilities can help them in their battle.

Intrigued by the strange new world, Kirby is tempted to assist them—especially when she's drawn to the compelling and sexy Rane Wolfen.

Immediately upon meeting Kirby, Rane knows she's his mate. Fearing for her safety, he forbids her from using her talents in the brutal battle that is to come.

Kirby worries that she's finally escaped her overprotective brothers only to find herself involved with an equally dominating man.

Can Kirby and Rane overcome their differences and work together to help save the world? And can Rane convince Kirby that they are indeed destined to be mates?

Kane's Mate

ISBN: 9781937325619

Description:

Faith's life has always balanced in two worlds—the normal human world and the supernatural. Now she has to choose between the two.

Faith York is human, but she has psychic powers, which is a little odd since neither of her parents have paranormal abilities. Thankfully, the werewolf family who lived around the corner help her learn to control her powers. She instantly fell in love with the entire family, but especially Kane, the oldest son who is next in line to be Alpha. Unfortunately, Kane doesn't see Faith the same way she sees him. Heartbroken, she leaves town.

When Faith returns from two years overseas, her parents throw her a welcome home party. Faith is shocked when Kane kidnaps her from the party and mate marks her. Now she struggles with the choice of whether to leave again and live a normal life—a life she yearns for—or stay with the man she's always dreamed of and live a supernatural life.

To complicate matters further, her psychic powers intensify and she begins to have visions of an upcoming demon Armageddon. Then she learns she was switched at birth, and she has a half-brother…who is half demon.

Faith must be stronger than she ever believed possible, and maybe in the process, she can trust herself to give Kane another chance.

Content Warning: Sexy werewolf alpha, graphic sex, strong language, and violence

Romance Book Review: Maddie Barone's Ellie's Wolf

Author: Maddie Barone

Series Connection: After the Crash

ISBN: 978-1-62210-029-3 

Genre: Sci-Fi, Paranormal, Futuristic, Erotic Romance

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

Purchase Link: Liquid Silver | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

In continuation of the After the Crash series, author Maddie Barone moves the series five years into the future. Ellie Overdahl, Taye human cousin, has gone off and married her fiance and moved far away from her family with her husband to start a new life. She's had a baby and all seems well, until her husband dies and her husband's boss wants to sell her to woman traders. 

What Ellie never knew this who time is that she has a wolf mate, who stepped aside when he found her because she was already taken, but when Quill finds out that Ellie's husband is dead and she has been sold to traders who intend to sell her in a bride fight, Quill has to rush to save her. 

Once he wins her, the journey is far getting home and it isn't safe on the tough roads in the future when every man seems to be out to find a woman and either make a buck or have her for his own. 

The wolves are a tough bunch though and protect their own. 

In this story the author also introduces two other new couples that will find themselves in an anthology in the future. Both of those two couples seem to have exciting stories already forming. 

This is an interesting series with a twist from the normal paranormal wolf story introducing the sci-fi/futuristic element of a totally changed earth after a war breaks out in 2014, changing the future drastically, with elements of the old west coming to life. Everywhere one turns is danger and women need to be protected. 

Description:

In a post-apocalyptic world where women are rare and valuable, Ellie Overdahl is a widow far from home at the mercy of strangers. Sold to be a prize in a Bride Fight, she manages to send word to her cousin, begging for rescue.

For six years, Quill Wolfe has mourned the loss of the woman his wolf chose to be his mate. When word comes that Ellie is widowed and about to be forced into an unwanted marriage, he races to enter the Bride Fight. He has waited long enough to claim his mate, and no fighter is good enough to keep him from her. But claiming Ellie is only the beginning. It’s not just the journey home that is dangerous and uncertain.

Romance Book Review: Jill Sanders' Finding Pride

Author: Jill Sanders

Series Connection: Pride Series

ISBN-13: 978-1480054547

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Jill Sanders

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Megan waited a little too long to visit her older brother after her disaster of an abusive marriage. Now Matt is dead and she can't tell him how much he has always meant to her. When she makes it to Pride, Oregon, the town her brother settled down in, she realizes that he planned for her arrival and hoped when she came that she would stay. At his funeral she meets all the towns people of Pride, including her neighbors siblings Todd, Lacey and Iian.

Vowing never to get involved with another man after her disastrous marriage means nothing once she gets to know her neighbor Todd. But is Megan really ready for a new man in the new world she is creating for herself. 

The minute Todd sees his best friend's sister he is lost. He wants to give Megan time to heal, but isn't sure he can hold back his feelings for her. Trying his best not to scare her, he does his best to show her how much he wants her in his life.

This is a typical beginning series book, where all the secondary characters and future leads of other books in the series come to life. This approach doesn't generally give enough time to really show the romance forming between the lead couple. Otherwise this slow moving dramatic story gives a good start of what promises to be a good series. 

Description

Megan Kimble was traveling a long way to find the next chapter in her life, one that would not include her brother Matt. Losing him now was tragic, even more so since she had finally freed herself from the abuse and the shame of a bad marriage. She had spent years hiding things from Matt, so he wouldn't know about her horrible life. Keeping her secret world of bruises, cuts, and broken bones, much like the one she now sported with a large white cast. 

Dealing with her loss was hard, but, now she was thinking of taking over Matt's new business venture. This could be the fresh start she needed, a new town, a new place to forget the pain and maybe she could learn to trust again. 

Todd Jordan was a successful businessman, who had once lost it all, and now he had just lost his best friend and business partner. But, then she came into town broken and scared, and for the first time in a long time he was looking forward to his future. Breaking down Megan's barriers would take patience and strength, and he would need that strength to keep what he loves safe.