Recent Reads

Soldier on her Doorstep by Soraya Lane

Why this one: I read Wendy’s review and her review and the book called to me. Being unable to refuse to answer when a book calls me, I downloaded the eBook

Steam Level: There is no steam with this book but since we are in the middle of one of the nastiest heat waves I can recall in years, that’s OK with me.

Blurb: Soldier Alex Dane promised his dying comrade he'd make sure his wife and daughter were okay, and so he finds himself on a doorstep with his heart in his mouth.

Lisa Kennedy loved her husband, but she must focus on her daughter, Lilly, who hasn't spoken since her daddy's death. Still, the least she can do is offer this battle-weary hero a place to rest.

When Lilly's little hand reaches for Alex's big, strong one, for the first time Lisa feels her buried emotions begin to stir.…

My Thoughts: First off, read Wendy’s review. She does a great job as evidenced by the fact that she made me want to read this book.

As for my thoughts here goes. This is another line of Harlequin’s that I hadn’t tried before. I gather it’s more of a kisses only line. I’ve really run the gamut when it comes to sensuality levels of books. I used to like the real hot oh so many years ago when I was reading the likes of Rosemary Rogers, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Jennifer Blake and the like. Then I was turned off romance for a number of years and when I came back, it was kisses only. Then I slowly entered the sensuality pond until I wouldn’t read kisses only. Now I’ve completely confused the circle as I’m now reading and enjoying both. So despite the fact that there are no explicit sex scenes, in fact no real sex scenes at all, the author manages to convey a great deal of longing both the hero and heroine feel for each other.

My heart broke for Alex, the hero and I love when I experience that kind of feeling for either of the main characters. He’s so alone and needs Lisa and her daughter Lilly so bad. And they need him too. His family were killed when he was very young and he grew up in foster care. He has great feelings of guilt for both their death and the death of William, Lisa’s soldier husband. He died saving Alex. Alex is following up on a promise he made to William and delivering some personal items to Lisa in Alaska. He has left the services and as the army was his family, he is at very loose ends. When Lisa picks up on this and offers to let him stay in a small cottage on her Alaskan lake property, he is reluctant but agrees anyway. He is drawn to her daughter Lily; understanding the loss Lily if feeling. He is also very attracted to Lisa.

And in return, Lisa is very attracted to Alex though she is torn between her growing feelings for him and the feelings she still has for William. To be honest, I was kind of wondering how I would feel about this as William hadn’t been gone for that long. But the author wrote the story in such a way as it was very believable. William and Lisa hadn’t spent much time together as he was so often deployed on missions. And both men are complete opposites of each other so there is no comparison between them. I truly bought how she could develop such deep feelings so quickly.

And with troops returning, I think it’s a very timely book too. And I love the setting. As a heat hating reader going through a heat wave like I can’t remember, somehow reading a story set in Alaska made me feel just a little bit cooler – that and the fact that I have my air conditioning set way lower than the hydro people want me too. I am a heat hating reader after all.

This book was a wonderful surprise and thumbs up to Wendy for helping me find this heartwarming story. It was a win/win/win – new line, new author and very good book.

Grade: 4.75 out of 5

The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton

Why this one: I remember when the cover of this book was held up and one of the best and hawtest covers going – deservedly so. I’ve read and enjoyed her books in the past and have had the chance to meet her in person a few times now. So when I saw her signing this book at the publisher signing in NYC- the signing where the books are free – I picked it up.

Steam Level: While the above book made me feel cool – in a good way, this one had the opposite effect. This one was hotter than the abnormally hot weather outside!

Blurb: The last thing event planner Tara Lincoln needs is the jet-set lifestyle of a football pro like Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand proved that Mick is an all-star-both on the field and in the bedroom.

Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn't intend to put herself out there again, especially with a certified heartbreaker. But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind to catch this sultry vixen.

My Thoughts: I liked this one – I really did. But since that’s not very helpful, I’ll going into why *g*

Mick was a great hero!! A star quarterback, he’s sowed a lot of wild oats in his day, but when he meets Tara Lincoln in the bowls of the stadium, as she is trying to find a way to a meeting, he’s smitten. And then when he sees her again at a social event she has planned, he’s even more smitten. They spend a wild and a very hawt night together, but Tara scoots out as she doesn’t think she can handle any kind of relationship due to fairly new company and her role as a single mother to a teenage boy.

But Mick isn’t one to give up on something he wants and what he wants is to see more of Tara despite the barriers she’s putting up. Mick has done the dating scene with Hollywood actress and super models and he’s very drawn to this ‘real’ woman. He makes for one dreamy hero – hawt, handsome and really wanting the heroine.

Tara I found a bit harder to relate too. I never did understand her reservations in getting involved with Mick. I get that she had a lousy childhood and after the father of her child was a young teenage thug, she was a bit hesitant. But dudette, this guy is a dream come true!! Guys like this don’t come round every day. Thank goodness her friends saw this and did what they could to convince her to get it together!! I did have some reservations about how quickly they ‘got together’ but that’s me and my morals. I would have preferred they spend more time getting to know each other before they ‘get it on’.

What I really liked about this book is the relationship between Mick and Nathan. Nathan has no significant father figure in his life and so when this NFL quarterback enters his mother’s life, he is over the moon. And Mick makes for a great friend. Though he is after Tara, he treats Nathan very well.

I catalogue my books and some I have a hard time determining. I wavered on how to classify this one but ended up going with erotica for this one.

Grade: 3.75 out of 5

Somewhere in Time by Merline Love lace

Why this one: Someone was looking for the book at AAR and being the curious sort, I looked it up. I’ve enjoyed Merline Lovelace in the past and the thoughts of a time travel where the heroine is an air force pilot who is transported back to the time when Rome ruled the world just sounded appealing. So I decided to try this unusual setting and storyline

Steam Level: Warm

Blurb: Long ago and far away.

Air force pilot Aurora Durant was lucky to be alive. It hadn't been easy to bring her jet down in the bizarre windstorm, but the savvy captain had managed. Now she had to figure out where she'd landed -- and when.

Lucius Antonius, senior centurion of the Roman Empire, couldn't believe his incredible fortune. A beautiful woman had literally dropped out of the sky. But before Lucius could claim the willful, impertinent creature, he had to tame her.

Soon Aurora discovered the true test of her spirit wasn't learning to live in a time two thousand years in the past, but resisting the powerful allure of an ancient warrior. Her agenda could only be returning to her own time, and falling for Lucius could make that mission impossible to accomplish.

My Thoughts: I’m glad I decided to try this unusual setting and storyline. It wasn’t a perfect read, but it was very entertaining. And I did like the setting. I watched a bit of Spartacus – God’s of the Arena until I blushed so hard and it was an interesting time period. I also watched a bit of the series Rome, but not that much.

Aurora had herself a good job flying the muckety mucks around in her air force jet before she flew into a sand storm one evening over the Iraqi desert. Her plane crashes and her team member is hurt. She is discovered by a dude in a leather breast plate and skirt – I’m thinking think Brad Pitt in Troy for a nice visual. For a while she thinks he and his men are some kind of desert tribe, but she can’t be sure and they don’t have a common language. This dude and his men take her back to a small desert city, bring in a scholar and Aurora slowly begins to realize she’s not in Kansas anymore. Instead she has been transported back when Rome ruled the universe and the skirt dude was, in fact, a Roman general in charge of the city.

As you can imagine there is quite the culture clash. Aurora is a woman raised and living in 2003 who’s met her match with a commander of the
Roman Army who is used to command and used to owning slaves and used to getting his own way and used to women being of lesser importance. So one can imagine the clashes between the two.

Often I get cranky with this kind conflict – they hero being a ‘know it all, me Tarzan, you Jane’ type attitude and the heroine being kind of a ball busting bitch. But it worked with this book for me. I think in part Lucius didn’t hold negative views per se; he was a product of his time. He was autocratic because he was a commander and that was what he HAD to be. He didn’t hold a lot of respect for women because that’s the way it was. He didn’t hold them in disrespect, it was more that women held very few position of power. When Jane got carried away in a fit of imperiousness, she really did need to be punished according to the times, but Lucius recognized that there was something very different about Aurora and despite getting frustrated with her lack of respect, he did get kind of a kick out of her nerve. And of course once he started getting a kick out of her, he started developing deeper and deeper feelings for her; to the point where he takes her punishment as his own. Gotta love a hero who will do that for his heroine.

So, in conclusion, I quite enjoyed this rather unique storyline. I check out Kindle to see if she wrote any more along this line but I didn’t see any. Though I think I will check and see if I can find any more books set in Ancient Rome – all suggestions welcome

Grade: 4.25 out of 5

Unraveled Book Review **Jaci Burton**

When I read Unwrapped by Jaci Burton last year, I found myself having a small crush on one of the men in her story. Unwrapped is an erotic Christmas romance that takes place in Hawaii where a woman receives quiet the interesting gift of having two men pleasure her for the holiday. It was one of the best ménage a trios romance I have ever read. One of the men who made the threesome was left behind as the heroine went off into the sunset with the other one. Now with Unraveled, Jaci has given Mitch Magruder his own romance. Even though Unraveled is more of a traditional romance than Unwrapped was, his love story with a childhood friend who is a divorced mother of two was just as good as Unwrapped. Before you read Unraveled, I recommend you also read Unwrapped because once you do, you will wish for your own Mitch.

Mitch is a very rich CEO who buys properties and builds very exclusive vacation resorts. He offers the best and only wants the best. He has chosen a great spot in Florida where he will build another resort and hopefully bring more money into his pocket as well as the community. Unfortunately the owner of a run down fifteen-room motel will not give up her property even though Mitch gives her a very nice offer. Mitch decides to go to Lincoln Beach, Florida and talk some sense into her. This is where Mitch grew up and became a surfing legend. He also knows the owner of the motel because Greta Mason is the younger sister of his good friend. He hasn’t seen Greta in over twenty years and doesn’t know what to expect because he remembers her as a twelve year old tag along when he was nineteen.

At first Greta is thrilled to see Mitch, but as soon as she figures out that Mitch wants her to sell the property, she lets the door hit him on the way out. Even though she is barely making ends meet, the motel belonged to her deceased father and was given to her. The motel is her baby and gives her independence. And since her marriage was so horrible and ended badly, she needs to prove to herself and her children that they don’t have to rely on anyone.

Mitch is a sly one and will try his best to make Greta see reason. But Mitch is never manipulative; he is actually a really nice guy. He loves the Mason family and also enjoys Greta’s two children, Jeff who is twelve, and Zoey who is ten. Mitch teaches Greta’s kids to surf and also wants Greta to enjoy life since all she does is work. Soon Greta always Mitch to show her the fun she has been missing, as well as some grownup activities such as dinner and dancing. Greta had a childhood crush for Mitch and now as a woman, she has yearnings for this man. Mitch wants Greta even though she is very different from the women he has dated in the past. But as things progress between the two, their relationship becomes one of lovers. Mitch also understands he has to be careful when it comes to intimacy with Greta because of what her horrible husband did to her during their marriage. Plus, Mitch still wants the property Greta owns. He has to decide how far he wants to go with her and if Greta is the woman he can be with forever.

Unraveled is simply a wonderful romance. Jaci has written really great characters in Mitch and Greta as well as Greta’s children, her older brother and mother. The way Mitch handles Greta, especially the first time they are intimate together was beautiful because of the past abuse Greta went through at the hands of her ex-husband. An even though Mitch tried to take control of certain situations, Greta was no dishrag heroine. She told Mitch like it was and Mitch respected her for it.

As for Mitch… ah MITCH!! Mitch is the near perfect man. He is smart, handsome in face and in spirit, and very generous. And I cannot forget to mention the way the man works the bedroom, the back of a limo and on the beach with Greta! Jaci always writes some of the best love scenes, and she does that here with Mitch and Greta. These are two people who are mature adults who have great respect for one another. And because of this, they are equals in almost everything and that also includes the fun they have under the sheets.

Jaci Burton hardly ever disappoints and I was afraid my expectations would be too high when it came to Mitch and the woman her falls for. Jaci hit all those expectations and more with Unraveled. (Samhain)

4 stars out of 5 stars.

Katiebabs (KB)

The Darkest Touch Review

The Darkest Touch is the third novel in Jaci Burton's Demon Hunter series. Do you like your men who can kick some demon ass like nobody's business, and their women who are smart and intelligent? The Darkest Touch will definitely appeal to readers who like paranormals that have action packed scenes and a great deal of adventure within the pages. And of course I cannot fail to mention that there are some nice sex scenes also. Even though I haven't had the chance to read the first two in this series, I didn't find myself lost and things picked up rather quickly. The action starts on page one and does not let up. The two main characters here are archeologist, Angelique Deveraux and demon hunter Ryder, who has no last name.

I can only assume both Angelique and Ryder were first introduced in Hunting the Demon (Book 2)? Angelique is not your normal run of the mill archeologist, for she and her twin sister, Isabelle, may have special powers that the demons known as the Sons of Darkness need for their own means. One of the sisters is a catalyst who can bring the coveted black diamond to life. If the diamond gets into the hands of the demons, and one of the Deveraux sisters are able to tap into the power of the diamond, the whole world could be in danger. From the beginning, we find out that Angelique is not the sister who can do this, but it is her twin, Isabelle, who has darkness living inside of her.

Ryder is part of the Realm of Light, the group that keeps the Sons of Darkness in line. He had helped Angelique escape from the demons that had first captured her, but she didn't wait around for him and now he has to find her before she is found by those nasty demons again. Plus, she has the black diamond, and Ryder is not certain if Angelique is so innocent in all of this. He assumes that Angelique may use the diamond to save herself, or sell it to the highest bidder. Ryder is able to find Angelique and they go on the run. He won't let her go till he finds out where she had hidden the diamond. Angelique won't give up the diamond unless Ryder can help her find Isabelle. When Angelique knows that Isabelle is safe, then she will give Ryder what he wants.

Angelique does give Ryder one of the things he wants from her, and that means sex. But since Ryder can't love Angelique, and only can give her sex, he keeps her at arms length when it comes to his heart. They barely have time to work out their feelings because they are constantly on the run from demons and searching for Isabelle who is close to being found by the Sons of Darkness. Again Isabelle's dark nature comes into play and is a very important part of the story.

The Darkest Touch has some dark moments with nasty demons and of action and fighting. Ryder is your typical brooding, I can't love you hero, because he feels he is not worthy of Angelique's love. Angelique is a man's dream come true because she is so caring. I found these two a bit annoying because of the constant pushing and pulling going on in their relationship. But to counteract them, there was a secondary story dealing with Isabelle and another demon hunter, Dalton. I really did enjoy Isabelle and Dalton better than Angelique and Ryder. Isabelle is very different from her perfect twin. She is greedy, pushy and the question of whether she is truly evil is left open for the reader todecide. There is a major secret about these twin sisters and Isabelle tends to embrace the one side her sister Angelique ignores. The way The Darkest Touch ends, leads me to believe that the next book will be about Isabelle and Dalton. As for Dalton, he is another brooding male, but very sexy, and gives it to Isabelle good against the wall of her cabin on a yacht as they look for underwater treasure.

Overall, I found The Darkest Touch a pleasing read. Jaci's writing, as always, is great, and she has a way of building up the action along with some surprises you won't see coming.

3 stars out of 5 stars

Katiebabs (KB)