Thursday, April 24, 2014

Romance Book Review: Brenda Rothert's Now and Then


Author: Brenda Rothert
Series Connection: Now Series
ISBN: 978-1494838164
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: by Brenda Rothert

Purchase Link: Amazon

Rushing to grab coffee and head to the office, Emma literally runs into her old high school crush. Cole is as gorgeous as ever and still as unattainable as he was when he dated her older sister, Layla, or so Emma thinks. 

When Cole starts paying attention to Emma, she doesn't know what to think, but she knows she can't let Layla find out because her older sister has designs on becoming the next Mr. Cole Marlowe.

Cole has just started out as a new lawyer. He doesn't have getting a new girlfriend on his mind. His plans are to date a little and work a lot, but one look at Emma and all his plans go out the window. She's not the his young neighbor any more but a hot woman he wants to get to know a whole lot better.

Will Layla's interest in Cole and a secret Cole harbors get between his and Emma's budding relationship?

Caution: This story contains hot love signs and a little cat fight. 

While I liked the story and the story line it was a little predictable. I did like the three main characters, Emma, Cole and Layla. While the story centered around the relationship forming between Emma and Cole's relationship, Layla's role in their relationship was too much to make her a minor character in the story. 

Next in the series, Now and Again, features Layla's story and the third book in the series, Now and Forever, features the story of both sister's continuing relationship as both couples slip into their everyday lives and the future.  

Description:
Now Emmaline Carson has settled into her career as a graphic designer, though she’d rather be painting or shopping with her sister Layla. But then – in the years before she went to art school in Paris – she was a shy, awkward teenager with frizzy hair, a flat chest and a massive crush on the boy across the street, Cole Marlowe. Too bad her incredibly hot neighbor only had eyes for Layla.
Cole is now a confident, laid-back attorney who’s even hotter than he used to be. He’s planning to stay single while working his way up the corporate ladder – until he’s knocked off course by a chance run-in with Emma. 

Everything is different between Cole and Emma now. He finally sees her in a way she only dreamed of, and their hot chemistry is fueled by a growing friendship. But Emma’s deception of her sister – who wants Cole for herself – and the secret Cole’s been keeping for more than a decade threaten to tear apart what’s only just begun. Because sometimes the only thing standing in the way of now is then.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Romance Book Review: Anne Marsh's Blue Moon Brides Series


Author: Anne Marsh
Series: Blue Moon Brides
ISBN: Book 1--9780985472047/ Book 2 -- 9780985472085/ Book 3--978-1492982593/
Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Anne Marsh

Purchase Link: Amazon

Anne Marsh's Blue Moon Brides series offers a good story line and world building featuring sexy alpha males and tough as nails females to match them. Even though each of the characters have their vulnerabilities. So far my favorite is Book 3--Claimed by the Pack. In the first book Lark chooses to spend her first encounter with both Rafer and Dag, but ultimately picks Rafer as her mate. Here is Dag's chance to have someone of his own and help him before he spends too much time as his wolf. Riley is stubborn and strong-willed and Dag has to learn how to deal with a woman who isn't satisfied with being submissive to his alpha. I give this series a 4-Heart Review. My biggest complaint is that we don't get enough time to really explore the personalities of each other characters. 

Book 1
When the a blue moon shines on a woman, wolf shifters know that they have finally met between mate. After 300 years, Rafer Breaux realized that finally met his mate, but just chasing Lark on the night of the blue moon won't make her his mate for sure. 

Lark Andrews his holding on to her flower farm and business by a thread. It is about to go for auction and the chance for a little flirtation with Rafter would be a stress relief right about now, but not she didn't know about the blue moon brides and has no idea what exactly to do when the Breaux brothers all show up in wolf form chasing her until she stops and makes her choice, but she just can't let Rafer get his way and maybe fun with more than one Breaux brother won't be so bad. 


Description:
Once in a blue moon…
For Rafer Breaux, life in the Louisiana Bayou is harsh, violent—and deeply sensual. The Cajun werewolf lives for his Pack and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep his brothers safe. The longer a wolf lives without a mate, the harder it becomes for that wolf to shift back. To remember that he is a man—and not a monster. And those mates can only be found during a blue moon. When a blue moon finally rises, Rafer will need every weapon in his sensual arsenal to tempt one special woman into his arms and the heart of the Pack.

The Pack hunts for mates
Fighting to keep her family farm, Lark Andrews isn’t looking for love. Even if the very sexy Breaux brothers make her dream of hot bayou nights spent in their arms. When the blue moon leads Rafer to her door, however, Rafer has her rethinking her position on all work and no play. Now, the bayou nights are heating up as Rafer fights to convince her, one sensual touch at a time, to give love and passion a chance. But Rafer isn’t a one wolf deal. Is there room in Lark’s heart—and bed—for Rafer and his Pack?

Book 2
The Breaux brothers can't believe their luck when a second blue moon shows up within a month and the light of the moon shows on Mary Jane Johnson's oyster boat. Mary Jane only takes female crew, but Breaux twins Dre and Landry are determined to get on the vessel and meet mechanic Riley who they believe will be their blue moon bride. The only problem is that Riley might not be the mate they are looking for and there is someone else out their interested in the blue moon mates. 

Description:
Once in a blue moon…

Dre and Landry Breaux do everything together. Fishing, fighting—and loving. A whole lot of loving. When the blue moon leads these Cajun werewolves to their fated mate, however, they’re ready to reform. Now, they’ll fight to keep the woman of their dreams safe from the evils lurking in the Louisiana bayou—and to tempt her into taking a chance on two of the bayou’s sexiest bad boys.The Pack hunts for mates Mary Jane Johnson is no heartbreaker. Running from a troubled past, the bayou captain wants only to be left alone. When she takes a pair of bayou bad boys on board, however, Dre and Landry have her rethinking her need for space. These two big males have promised to take orders—all of her orders. Suddenly, she’s dreaming of getting as close as possible… to both of the Breaux brothers.

Book 3
When vampires kidnap on the the blue moon brides, the Breaux brothers send brother Dag to the rescue. Although Dag knows that he is the best tracker in the family, he is more wolf then man and worried that he isn't the best to go on the rescue for Riley Jones. 

Keep on the trail, Dag finally catches up with Riley and her kidnappers and is able to help her get away from her captures. But the vampires are still after her and they really want to get one of the blue moon brides to trap the wolves.

Description:
The rising of the Blue Moon will lead the Pack to their destined mates… but some women are hard to claim.

Alpha to the bone, Cajun shifter Dag Breaux must find his Blue Moon bride to preserve his humanity. Each passing day sees him lost further and further in the shift, more wolf than man. Emotions and feelings are foreign territory for Dag and all he has to offer his newfound female is raw, passionate sex and protection from the centuries-old vampire stalking the Louisiana bayou.
Bayou mechanic Riley Jones stands on her own two feet. Always. She doesn’t need or want Dag’s infuriating brand of protection. Plus, she has secrets of her own that she’s desperate to keep. But there’s no denying the passion that burns between them and in the arms of her rough and tough shifter she discovers a darkly sensuous, no-holds-barred loving. When the vampire threatens Riley’s nearest and dearest, she must ask herself if resisting Dag’s mate claim is worth losing everything she cares about… or if teaching her wolf to love is worth the risk.

Book 4 and 5 coming soon...
Book 4 Captured by the Pack is due out on May 15 
Book 5 Taken by the Pack is due out June 2014

Friday, April 18, 2014

Romance Book Review: Celia Kyle's Like a Fox

Author: Celia Kyle
Series Connection: Ridgeville
ISBN: 9781301121687
Genre: Paranormal, Shifter, Romance, BBW
Publisher: Summerhouse Publishing

Purchase Link: Amazon

In the seventh installment of the Ridgeville series, Lioness Gina meets her mate Gavin.

Gavin is a fox shifter on his way to his new council job when he wakes to the smell of his mate. Finding her in his sister's diner he makes quick work of finding the owner of his mate's scent. With a quick introduction Gina and Gavin are bound together, but will Gavin make it to his new job or stay with in Ridgeville to settle down with his new mate.

This short novella continues the series on what happens to all the girls being held by Alistair McCain. Fun, quick story.

Description:

Gavin Mara is a fox shifter passing through Ridgeville, just stopping to visit his sister. Then he’s traveling to Chicago to begin his job as Director of Communications for the Council. It’s supposed to be a small vacation before the stress begins. Alistair McCain—ex-leader of Freedom—is now dead, and the shifter world is in turmoil. While the Council sorts things out, it’s Gavin’s job to keep everyone electronically connected.

And he’ll get right onto that just as soon as he claims his curvy lioness, Gina.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Romance Book Review: Tamara Morgan's The Party Girl

Author: Tamara Morgan
Series Connection: Getting Physical
eISBN: 9781426897931
Genre: Contemporary romance
Publisher: Carina Press

Purchase Link: Amazon

Kendra is a free loving party girl. When her friend Lincoln shows up on her doorstep bleeding and needing help he convinces her to bring him to his friend, recluse Noah. One look at Noah and she's ready to jump into an affair with him.

Noah is totally attracted to Kendra, but he lives by many rules and one is to not fool around with his friend's woman and Noah knows that that Lincoln is in love with Kendra.

While helping Lincoln recuperate at Noah's home, Kendra and Noah get the chance to spend a lot of time together. While Kendra knows for sure that there is nothing and never will be anything between her and Lincoln, Noah won't take the next step with Kendra.

Will attraction win out and if it does can Kendra help heal Noah enough for them to form a relationship in the world instead of hidden away on his property?

This is the third and first book I've read in the Getting Physical series. It can be read alone, but other members of the series cameo in this book. I absolutely loved this storyline and both of the main characters in this book. Noah's many issues are believable if not a drastic way to handle the problems of his past. Kendra is a vivacious and happy business owner. I will definitely be looking into the other books by Tamara Morgan.

Description:

Kendra Khuso isn’t looking for long-term. Her traditional Indian family believes it’s time she settled down with a parent-approved husband. Instead, she’s focused on building her business by day and then enjoying all the nightlife has to offer…until she meets Noah.

Noah Walker is happy with a solitary, sustainable life on a plot of land outside of town. He left a high-maintenance relationship behind him and he just wants to keep his head down and his hands busy, living off the grid and making no plans…until he falls for Kendra.

The attraction is mutual and their chemistry is electric. There’s just one problem: Noah’s best friend, Lincoln, is head-over-heels in love with Kendra even though she’s keeping him firmly in the friend zone. Noah refuses to break the bro code by pursuing a woman his best friend professes to love—but Kendra is determined to get her man, even if it means giving up the social scene for the simple life.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Romance Book Review: Peggy L. Henderson's Yellowstone Heart Song

Author: Peggy L. Henderson
Series Connection: Yellowstone Romance

ISBN-13: 978-1468172355
Genre: Time Travel Romance
Publisher: Peggy L. Henderson

Purchase Link: Amazon


What would you think if someone told you they could send you back in time for a short time so you can see what your favorite place was like 200 years ago? That is what Zach does for Aimee. Yosemite is her favorite place to hike. As a matter of fact the California girl knows the National Park like the back of her hand. She doesn't quite believe Zach can do as he says, but just maybe he can...

Before she knows it she's back in time in the wilds of Yosemite where there aren't any white women, but lots of wild bison, big bears and a hunk of a woodsman Daniel.

The scenic tour of Yosemite in this book is amazing. The author has done a great job on world building, everything from the past and the world in 1810 to the natural surroundings of Yosemite. The love story between these two people from very different worlds is delightful.

This is just the start of this series about traveling back in time as the years move on for Yosemite National Park.


Other titles in the Yellowstone Romance Series include:
Yellowstone Redemption (Book 2)
Yellowstone Awakening (Book 3)
Yellowstone Dawn (Book 4)
Yellowstone Deception (Book 5)
A Yellowstone Christmas (Novella)


Description:
"I am not good with words, but you make my heart sing, Aimee..."

Nurse and avid backpacker Aimee Donovan is offered the opportunity of a lifetime. She encounters a patient who tells her he can send her two hundred years into the past to spend three months in the rugged Yellowstone wilderness at the dawn of the mountain man era. The only requirement: she cannot tell anyone that she's from the future. 

How did a white woman suddenly appear in the remote Rocky Mountain wilderness? Trapper Daniel Osborne's first instinct is to protect this mysterious and unconventional woman from the harsh realities of his mountains. While he fights his growing attraction to her, he is left frustrated by her lies and secrecy. 

Daniel shows Aimee a side of Yellowstone she's never experienced. She is torn between her feelings for him, and exposing a secret that will destroy everything he holds as truth. As her three months come to an end, she is faced with a dilemma: return to her own time, or stay with the man who opened her eyes to a whole new world. When the decision is made for her, both their lives will be changed forever.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Shelly Laurenston's Pride Series

After reading Bite Me by Shelly Laurenston last week I started going back and reading the whole Pride Series all over again. I just love this series. Like with every series you might find one that just didn't reach you like the others did, but overall this series is filled will keep you laughing and wanting to read more.

Check out the author's website here, for more information.

Romance Book Review: Eve Langlais' Two's a Couple, Three's the Law

Author: Eve Langlais
ISBN:978– 1– 927459– 45-4
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Eve Langlais

Purchase Link: Amazon

The world has changed since Chloe was born. There are more men then women and the law is now encouraging menage relationships. She even has two dads, although the law wasn't around when they first met, it just worked out good for her parents in the in end. Chloe however isn't really looking for two men, as a matter of fact after the end of her last relationship she isn't looking for any men at all. That is until two men set their sights on her.

First there is her new client werewolf Pete. Pete is sexy beyond belief, however Chloe doesn't do clients. Then suddenly her nemesis in the courtroom Anthony decides he's interested. She should really hate Anthony shouldn't she? She keeps losing to him in court.

Both men are really persistent and even when they find out about each other they still keep pursuing her.

Chloe's life is about to get really complicated. Everyone knows that werewolves exist, but suddenly paranormals are coming out of the woodwork. Everything from Pete's neighbor who is a witch to vampires to demons. To make matters worse Chloe can't keep away from either of the two men that are pursuing her.

This story is set in the first person. In some ways I think it would have been done better in the third person point of view. I liked the over all setting and story line. There were some cute and funny scenes from sarcastic Chloe and I loved werewolf Pete. Anthony wasn't exactly one of my favorite characters. I found that there were times when the book slowed down a little and I wanted to hear a little more about the subplot. I felt it didn't quite end. I don't know if this is going to be a series or a second book maybe featuring the BFF, however it would be nice especially if it continued and ended the story line in the subplot.

Description:

Forget the single life. In the space of one day, I went from no guys in my life to too many. And neither of them is human. What's a poor girl to do?

According to my best friend, both of them. It is the law after all. 

But I'm not ready to settle down in a threesome even if the tax breaks are awesome. Just like I don't want to get involved in the investigation surrounding the gory murder of some supposed witches.

I guess a girl can't always get what she wants--but boy, do my two suitors know how to give me what I need.

Warning: This story contains adult subject matter and language that is probably not suitable for anyone. This is an Urban Fantasy, Werewolf/Vampire Romance (MFM) sprinkled liberally with sarcasm and humor. It may induce giggling and snorting. Reader discretion is advised.