Marked by Lauren Dane, Vivian Arend, and Kit Rocha

Three stories of passion, possession, and ink.

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lauren Dane takes you into a brand new world in ALL THAT REMAINS. Summer Killian falls fast and hard when Charlie arrives in Paradise Village. But the heat turns all the way up when she learns Charlie is also with Hatch -- the man she loved four years before. While she's not sure she's cut out for a triad, neither man is going to give her up. (Metamorphosis Series, #1)

Take a ROCKY RIDE with New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Vivian Arend as she leads you back to the Six Pack Ranch. Anna Coleman might be the law around Rocky Mountain House, but bad boy Mitch Thompson knows that under the stiff RCMP uniform is a woman with a passion for speed and pleasure that matches his own, and he's not giving up until she's his. (Thompson & Sons, #1 -- a Coleman Cowboys spin-off series)

Kit Rocha returns to Sector Four in BEYOND TEMPTATION. A promise to a dying friend backfires when Noah Lennox finds that the girl he was supposed to rescue is all grown up -- and wearing O'Kane ink. He wants to protect her from the secrets of their past, but she wants him. And an O'Kane woman always gets what she wants. (Beyond #3.5, set between Beyond Pain and Beyond Jealousy)
~~

[Quick note - Marked is on sale at Amazon for $2.99 through the month of February!]

The is one of those rare anthologies where I wasn't only happy with one author's story - each one had something unique to offer and provided a glimpse into how each person writes their own HEA's. 

Originally I was only interested in this collection for Lauren Dane's story. She's been a favorite of mine for years and even though this was going to be a foray into a new series for her, I trust her voice and was confident I would enjoy it. Which I did. I think she does a great job grounding her characters in a new future, creating sympathetic people who made choices they had to live by or atone for. I think my only problem, which I admit to being incredibly personal, was that I couldn't detach enough to really believe in how this future had unfolded. I've read too many dystopians where less women equaled less independence (for "protection" reasons) so to see how this society had evolved to revere women was a bit of a surprise. But like I sad - personal problem, I can't really attribute this to anything Dane did or did not do. 

Vivien Arend's story was great, the kind of contemporary erotic romance that I like so much, but Kit Rocha's entry was the biggest surprise for me. I'd heard a lot of good things about her Beyond series but somehow none of the reviews I'd read had pushed me over the edge into giving her a try. Marked was the perfect entry in her world as it not only included cameos by characters in previous books, it also tantalized me with just enough information about the world itself to leave me wanting more. I'm pretty sure though it was the except from Beyond Shame that finally did me in completely - I gotta know what happens!

Overall Feeling - A

Series - Various

*Title won in a Twitter contest*

Wicked Beat by Olivia Cunning

Olivia Cunning delivers the perfect blend of steamy sex, heartwarming romance, and a wicked sense of humor in her wildly popular erotic romance series, The Sinners on Tour. Wicked Beat, fifth in this racy rock 'n' roll series, is the hottest yet.

From the moment he lays eyes on Sinners' new soundboard operator, drummer Eric Sticks is completely smitten. Rebekah Blake loves the uninhibited fun she's having and thrives on Eric's daring in the bedroom, but she's got good reasons for not committing. Through role play, voyeuristic games, and lots of sex talk, this pair of kinky lovers must overcome their inner demons to have the perfect relationship they both secretly desire.
~~

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that Olivia Cunning is probably not for me. I really liked the premise of this story, and combined with all the good things I'd heard about this series in the blogosphere, I figured it'd be a slam dunk for sexy fun times with a HEA. Unfortunately I couldn't find it in me to really connect to either of these characters. 

I'll try not to be spoilery, but Rebekah's focus on whether she was 'broken' or 'weird' came off as too whiney for me most of them and her initial antics with both Trey and Eric seemed destined for hurt feelings. The two find their way back to each other with some pretty hot help from Trey but then things just kept going - and going, and coming, and going until I just didn't understand why the story wasn't finished. I also felt like a couple of the most important supporting characters, Issac (Reb's ex-boyrfriend) and Rebekah's mom, weren't fully fleshed out as individuals nor their actions adequately addressed by the people they harmed.

I think for someone who's looking for a story where the bedroom antics come first and the rest of the story second, then this book would work for you, but personally it's not my style. 

Overall Feeling - C-

Series - 1) Backstage Pass 2) Rock Hard 3) Hot Ticket 4) Wicked Beat 5) Double Time

*Title requested from NetGalley*

A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing by Tielle St. Clare

Blinded by a crazed doctor, Reese knows he has no chance of ever finding a mate...what good is a blind werewolf to anyone? But when an accident puts him in the path of a sexy veterinarian, Reese can’t control his wolf’s desire to have the lovely human.

Kieve couldn’t be more surprised when a neighbor brings him an injured wolf. It only takes a few minutes to realize the affectionate animal is someone’s pet and not a wild creature. While he searches for the animal’s owners, he begins having the strangest dreams—a hot sexy man in his bed, making love to him, and then turning into the pretty wolf right before his eyes. It’s clearly a sign he needs to get laid.

Reese tries to stay away from Kieve. It wouldn’t take much for his wolf to imprint on the delicious doctor. But Reese’s past isn’t finished with him yet and if he doesn’t find a way to deal with it, he’ll have no future with Kieve.
~~

So after finishing Let Sleeping Wolves Lie I just had to buy A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing. Even though he hadn't been at the center of the last book Reese was intriguing, the blind werewolf who refuses to bottom to anyone, and I wanted to learn more about his backstory while he found his HEA. I think though that it was exactly his backstory that made this book not quite as good as the last for me- there's just so much going on that it's hard to tackle it all in a format as short as this. Reese has a lot of violence and abuse in his past, due to his time in captivity by a crazy scientist, and when people start popping back up from it he's forced to deal with it all incredibly rapidly.

Now that's not to say Kieve doesn't do as much as he can to help. I applaud Clare for writing a hero that works to not only respect Reese's boundaries and soft spots, but to push them when needed, in ways that only Reese can say are appropriate. Communication is an even bigger necessity than in Wolves but I would have liked more pages to really explore the emotional ramifications of sustained sexual and physical abuse. It would probably not have been as 'fun' to read as steamy eroticas usually are, but I think it would have been truthful to Reeses's history and his future with Kieve.

Overall Feeling - B-

Series - 1) Let Sleeping Wolves Lie 2) A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing
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Let Sleeping Wolves Lie by Tielle St. Clare

When something tall, dark and yummy crosses Dex's threshold, his inner Omega wolf goes on full alert. Instinct tells Dex he's met his mate but the man seems less than thrilled at the prospect. And has totally suppressed his inner wolf.

Maddock has no intention of getting involved with any man, especially a little hottie who's a little nuts. The guy actually thinks he's a werewolf and that Maddock is one as well.

But resisting temptation is harder than he imagined. The full moon is on the rise and instinct can't be denied forever.

This can’t end well.
~~

I haven't read a true erotic novel in what feels like forever and is anyone really surprised that the woman who got me to come back to it is Tielle St. Clare? She almost feels like a part of my youth, lol, since it was my time at Duke (stuck without a public library and far away from bookstores) that had me stumbling onto the Ellora's Cave website. I feel as if it's only Tielle St. Clare that can have me totally invested in a completely over the top gay werewolf and pair him with an 'only kinda sorta gay' werewolf who doesn't know he's a werewolf. Anybody confused yet?

Let Sleeping Wolves Lie is a quick, sexy erotica that has just enough emotion for me to make it believable. Maddock isn't perfect and even though his and Dex's bedroom antics are OFF THE CHARTS (seriously - o_O) that doesn't mean that magically they'll find the perfect partner in each other. Both have to admit to their feelings and work hard to become someone the other can connect with and ultimately that's what had me hooked (and invested enough to immediately buy book two).

Overall Feeling - B

Series - 1) Let Sleeping Wolves Lie 2) A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing
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Mini Me: Kamikaze by Moira Rogers

Zoe Bennett is an inexperienced werewolf in the grip of her mating cycle. With no pack and no mate, Zoe must brave the supernatural crowds of Last Call, the bar where your drink order tells everyone what you need. Kamikaze: Werewolf in heat, looking for a temporary mate.

The chase is on, and security specialist Connor O'Malley intends to win, if only because the sweet young woman at the bar looks unprepared for what the night might bring, in and out of the bedroom. Little does he know that, when he catches her, he may not be satisfied being just a temporary mate
~~

At 36 pages Kamikaze is more like the first chapter or two of a novel then an actual story in and of itself. As a freebie from Amazon it's not really a big deal, but I don't think I was quite ready for the abrupt ending. The whole thing revolves around Zoe and her need for a partner to give her some 'relief' from her mating cycle. It's pretty typical though I wish there'd been a more suspense or build-up to her choosing Connor. There wasn't any competition even though it's advertised as a 'free for all' and even when they share glances before she picks him, Zoe and Connor don't even seem that aware of each other.

Still it's a spicy short that sets up the Last Call series and from the little hints of larger story I think future books could be pretty good.

Mini Me: Beauty Touched the Beast by Skye Warren

Erin cleans Mr. Morris’ house twice a week, soaking up every moment with the reclusive ex-soldier. Blake Morris knows that he’s scarred both inside and out and no good for someone like her. Then Erin walks in on Blake touching himself, moaning her name, and all bets are off.
~~

A great little quick read from Amazon (for free!) I would consider this an intro to the series itself. It introduces the two main characters, Erin and Blake, and does enough backstory building to make me believe that when they fall into bed together it's more than just hormones.  

If you're looking for a way in to a new contemporary series with spicy bedroom scenes and (hopefully) emotion too then I think Beauty Touched the Beast is a good place to start. 

Winter's Tale by Emma Holly

Half-faerie, half-elf Hans Winter broke the heart of the wrong princess. Cursed to live as a statue at a school for human girls, only true love—and true bravery—can free him.

December Worth never met a rule she didn’t want to break, as the numerous institutions that have expelled her can attest. Bravery she can handle. Love she’s less sure about, especially if it involves believing in fairytales.

A kiss seems like the last thing these lonely souls would share, until one night in the cemetery where Hans stands trapped, Fate brings stone and flesh together . . . 
~~

If you go into this expecting a little bit of crazy then I think it definitely lives up to being a wonderful fairytale for adults. I'm sure someone out there is going to roll their eyes at kissing a statue (let alone, ahem, other things) but I really think Holly makes it work. 

Eighteen-year-old December is a woman of means who doesn't seem to fit in anywhere and when she ends up at Rackham’s School for Young Ladies she's not interested in doing anything else than what she's always done. This includes a little insubordination, some breaking and entering, and a surprising willingness to believe in the unbelievable.

There's not a ton of emotional build-up between December and Hans - they don't have a lot of time to talk in this short story - but I do think it works. The sexy times are frequent but not boring and Holly lends her usual flair to each encounter. When the final confrontation arrives between the couple and the evil being who cursed him we're treated to a small amount of action (I'm not complaining) and finally a HEA that brings back some of the characters from Move Me. I really enjoy Emma Holly's Hidden Series and I think this is a great addition - highly recommended!

Overall Feeling - B+

Series - 1) Hidden Talents 2) Hidden Crimes 3) Hidden Depths 4) "Date Night" 5) Move Me 6) The Faerie's Honeymoon 7) Winter's Tale

Bound by Magick by Eliza Gayle

Four male witches. Two Sets of twins. Born with a dark curse. Unlimited power bequeathed to the four when used together. A seductive power that over time will destroy their souls. To fight the prophecy they are forced to live separately to save themselves.
~~

After making my way through Burned I enjoyed Gayle's voice enough - and the excerpts available online were good enough - to convince me that Bound by Magick was worth a try.  I wouldn't say that it was a total wash but ultimately I think there was a lot of non-sex related plot stuff going on that didn't get wrapped up as well as I would have liked.

The whole series centers around four brothers who have to find their four empathic mates to defeat a curse and their evil uncle. It's a great setup but things are just rushed, due either to length or focus on sexy times, resulting in plot points that don't get enough screen time. Especially at the end - there's the big showdown between the Uncle, a coven for hire and some other players that is suddenly over and done with with almost no time taken to show the battle being fought. 

And even though I figured that since the couples were 'destined mates' they'd jump into bed pretty immediately, I still wanted to see a bit more development of that lust turning into love. The BDSM elements are also thrown in there a tad haphazardly, which made me feel like the brothers were nothing more than alphas who liked to have their way in bed - which isn't bad, just don't write in any submission/dominant elements to attempt to explain. Oh and one more pet peeve: the use/non-use of condoms. Maybe due to Twitter chatter lately I've been paying more attention but NO ONE uses condoms - except for during gay sex. What exactly does that say? Vaginas are the receptacles of all that's good and wonderful in the world but somehow ass f*cking needs a little coverage? Shrug. I just thought it was weird and it negatively impacted by feelings towards one of my favorite stories in the set.

All in all it's not bad, but I do think it could have been better.

Overall Feeling - C

Series - 1) Untamed Magick 2) Magick Ignited 3) Force of Magick 4) Magick Provoked

Burned by Eliza Gayle

Welcome back to Purgatory! A club for every fetish…

Being a fire inspector is the perfect job for a girl with a fire fetish. Ruby has come to terms with her obsession, and thanks to her part-time job as a bartender at Purgatory, she can dabble in a scene she isn’t sure she belongs in without going too far or too deep. But there’s one Dom in town who makes her burn for things she wishes she didn’t.

Zane made sure he was on the performance roster at Purgatory for charity night because Ruby would be on duty. He’s respected her wishes to stay away as long as he could, but tonight while his fire burns bright he’ll take possession of the willful beauty who has captured his heart.
~~

I've got to say that I've been very pleased with the erotica I've read lately! I guess I got 'burnt out' (I couldn't help it!) with the lengthy sex scenes that either weren't written very well or didn't seem to connect me any better to the main characters. Burned does a good job of balancing it all while also introducing me to a fetish I didn't really know anything about: fire play. Gayle seamlessly works in to the story the safety concerns, levels of interest, and more involved with fire play; I thought it lent an air of authenticity to the whole thing and better explained the connection between Ruby and Zane. 

It's a shorter length story so it suffered a bit in terms of progression, the end was a bit rushed to me and the two of them getting from the club to Zane's apartment to Zane's bed also seemed fast, but ultimately I was very satisfied. The sex scenes are explicit without being boring and while the ending probably couldn't be considered a full length HEA it did lead me to believe that the two of them had enough of a base to make something more permanent. I've already started doing some research into Gayle's back list (I want this one now!) because I think she'll quickly become a favorite for me in terms of erotica.

Overall Feeling - B

Series - 1) Roped 2) Displayed 3) Whipped 4) Burned

Petals and Thorns by Jeffe Kennedy

In exchange for her father’s life, Amarantha agrees to marry the dreadful Beast and be his wife for seven days. Though the Beast cannot take Amarantha’s virginity unless she begs him to, he can and does take her in every other way. From the moment they are alone together, the Beast relentlessly strips Amarantha of all her resistance.

If Amarantha can resist her cloaked and terrifying husband, she gains his entire fortune and will be allowed to return to her family and a normal life. But the Beast seduces her at every turn, exposing, binding, tormenting, and pleasuring Amarantha until she no longer knows her own deepest desires. Increasingly desperate to break the curse that chains his humanity, the Beast drives Amarantha past every boundary. But her desire for a normal life may jeopardize the love that will save them both.
~~

WHOA MOMMA. This is story is a hottie and I think everyone should be prepared for that going in. It rides that line of forced seduction pretty hard but personally, since I went into this acknowledging that it was going to be a take on Beauty and the Beast, for the most part things made sense with the author's direction. As the description says Amarantha agrees to marry the beast in name only; if in seven days they haven't consummated it then she gets to go home with lots of riches for her family. Unsurprising to no one I think, there are a LOT of things people can do with each other outside of 'Slot A into Slot B' sex. I found each of the scenes individually were both erotic and interesting; nothing seemed to overlap or feel repetitive, though do to a glitch with my story all of the dashes became annoying HTML speak. Every time the Beast interrupted Amarantha things got choppy which interrupted the flow of the story.

For those who like a lot of spice with their HEA (because this does have one) I'd say give this a try. It's a short thrill that will defintiely heat up your holiday nights.

Overall Feeling - B+

Series - None (at the moment?)

Surviving

So....yeah. About how I'm not in the US right now. At 6:10am this morning I boarded a flight to Hong Kong!! Hong Kong people! I can't even believe it and I'm typing it out for you. I'm not going to be back until some ungodly hour on Nov 11th (it's gonna be that special trip where I leave and land on the same day) and I have to admit to being a bad blogger. 

Instead of actually reaching out for guest posts or maybe reading books I hadn't already reviewed, I've spent the last few months, weeks, days, dreaming about my trip. Which is my long worded way of saying I don't have any reviews for you guys while I'm gone. I know - I KNOW! I suck, I'm sorry, I really should learn to do better. 

What I can do for you right now though is highlight some of the books I picked to entertain me during the long, long, flight. None are all that expensive (some are even on sale!) and a bunch are the next books in series I enjoyed before:

$.99 books
Thanks to Fiction Vixen I learned a bunch of eroticas were on sale and these are the two I picked:

 Petals and Thorns by Jeffe Kennedy & Burned by Eliza Gayle

Series

 Born to be Wild & Midnight Heat by Donna Kauffman

(review of the first book here)

 The Boldest Man in Ballymuir & The Brightest Flame in Ballymuir by Dorien Kelly

(review of the first book here)

Authors I love
Is this a surprise? I didn't think so. 

The Billionaire Bad Boys Club by Emma Holly

Hope this inspires you to do your own down time book list - even if they're only to be enjoyed in your home :). Happy Friday!

Tempted by Megan Hart

I had everything a woman could want.

My husband James. The house on the lake. My life. Our perfect life. And then Alex came to visit.

The first time I saw my husband’s best friend, I didn’t like him. Didn’t like how James changed when he was around, didn’t like how his penetrating eyes followed me everywhere.
But that didn’t stop me from wanting him. And surprisingly, James didn’t seem to mind.

It was meant to be fun. Something the three of us shared for those hot summer weeks Alex stayed with us. Nobody was supposed to fall in or out of love.
I didn’t need another man, not even one who oozed sex like honey and knew all the secrets I didn’t know, the secrets my husband hadn’t shared. After all, we had a perfect life. I loved my husband.

But I wasn’t the only one.
~~

When you can't even figure out what label to use on a review it's probably a clue that the review itself isn't going to be any easier. I can't say that Tempted is erotica. It's a novel with parts that are erotic and sexy but that's not what made the story work - and definitely not what has me vaguely uneasy today. Tempted is a hard one to read; the emotions of each character are complicated, messy, and without clear cut solutions, as real emotions often are. I partly define romances by the HEA I'm guaranteed at the end and instead of finishing things off with that uplifting turn, after reaching the end of this one I kind of felt lost. 

It's written incredibly well and thus when Hart writes Anne as confused or disheartened I felt that with her. Bringing Alex into her marriage with James, even if it just turns out to be for a Summer, wasn't an easy decision and things weren't left the same afterward. I didn't get an easy resolution out of anything. Maybe it was worse because my own family is crazy and broken in its own way, but I felt so angry at points when reading this novel; angry at Anne's family for using her to fix the broken pieces and angry at Anne for letting them. 

I don't think I have a grade for this one, because while I didn't end it feeling happy and satisfied I recognize that it's not written to leave me with that feeling. It made me think and while I don't want every 'fun' book I pick up to do that, I don't regret this one.
 
Overall Feeling - ?

Series - 1) Tempted 2) Naked 

Stygian's Honor by Lora Leigh

Window Rock, Arizona, is the last known location of Honor Roberts, who vanished when she was just thirteen. It was her only sanctuary from the Breed research that would surely have ended in her death—one such insidious experiment should, indeed, have killed her. That she lived is both a miracle—and a great mystery.

Stygian’s mission is to find Honor Roberts, no matter the cost. Now, with the help of Liza Johnson, assistant to the chief of the Navajo Nation, he is closer than ever to his goal. But will the discovery of Honor Roberts mean the destruction of the mating heat that has developed between Stygian and Liza?

~~

Generally speaking:

*What worked for me: Liza and Stygian. There was more buildup to them becoming full blown mates and I liked the way it made their relationship a bit more believable.

*What didn't work for me: The non-mystery mystery. People who've been reading this series from the beginning aren't dumb and Leigh was a bit heavy handed with the hints. Also, Jonas being a butthead and the slowest moving plot line in the history of the world. Seriously. I need something to happen pronto.

After reading a few reviews (and learning that Navarro's Promise was published missing an entire chapter, sheesh) I went into Stygian's Honor a little worried. I like this series but even I have to admit that there's only so long that scorching hot sex is gonna hold my attention. I can't be left hanging here much longer because truthfully I'm getting bored. Someone either needs to die/be cured, because I'm not sure if I can keep buying these things if nothing happens. This isn't a stand alone book or an just an erotic romance - it's a series with a overarching plot that's going in a very particular direction. Let's get it going! 

What saved this book for me was Liza and Stygian. Because she kind of knew once her feelings for him kicked in how things were gonna go, she never let him rest on his laurels. She repeatedly called him out and made him treat her like an equal. While I didn't love how Stygian seemed to be a little too understanding of Jonas and his butthead-ness, all in all I was happy with their relationship.

Overall Feeling - C

Series - ...   25) Navarro's Promise 26) Lawe's Justice 27) Stygian's Honor

Cherished by Maya Banks and Lauren Dane *ARC Review*

"Exiled" by Maya Banks…Enticed to the island paradise where an enigmatic prince is living in exile, beautiful, virginal Talia is introduced to a world of forbidden pleasure where the prince’s every whim is fulfilled and her fantasies are rendered in exquisite detail. But when the prince is summoned back to fulfill his duty to his struggling country, reality is thrust upon Talia all too soon. She returns home, heartbroken, convinced she was a passing fancy for an idle ruler and his most trusted men. Until the day they arrive on her doorstep, determined to have her back where she belongs.

"Sway" by Lauren Dane…Levi Warner is an established, older man—wealthy, powerful, and above all, respectable. Then Levi meets Daisy, an uninhibited 24-year-old dance instructor and artist, not exactly the kind of woman Levi is accustomed to. But the young, free spirit, brings out something in him he only experienced in fantasies. When their scorching affair turns into something unexpectedly deeper, Levi finds himself torn between preserving his reputation, and exploring a wilder and much more satisfying kind of life.

~~

I think after reading Banks' story I'm going to have to officially name my preferences for romance in the 'BDSM-lite' category. No insult to her intended but I just could not get over the premise for her particular piece; power dynamics are all well and good to play with but when they're weighted so far in one direction that I can't help but be worried about one of the participants then it's less of a fun fantasy for me. Xander wanted Talia; wanted her and made it happen, seemingly without any knowledge or caring about what she wanted. She comes to the island under his dictate - she doesn't see herself as having a choice in the matter, and later when she's told that not only will be she having sex with Xander but also his guards... well things take on a kind of sinister tone (in my head). Plus Banks made sure to have Xander tell us a million times that he knew his kinks were super kinky but he needed her so it was gonna happen. The end. Ummmm....no?  Banks works in more emotion between all the characters in the end and Talia ultimately makes her own choice about what relationship she wants but I couldn't totally get over my own discomfort about how things began. C+

I have a soft spot for Dane's Brown family series so when I realized (because stupid me I hadn't been paying enough attention) that this story was about Gillian's friends that we met in Never Enough I was one ridiculously happy person. This story was significantly lighter on the BDSM level but I also felt like the romance/emotion/power/choice line was walked better. Daisy goes into this relationship knowing her needs and wants; she's not going to let Levi walk all over that just because of his 'hot teacher' vibe. When Levi starts incorporating more control elements into the bedroom she decides if they work for her - there's even a point when she almost says 'no thank you, let's not do that again'. All in all in lent an element of realness to their relationship because while sparks got them into it both parties kept their head about where things went physically. Their path to HEA was a little rocky, Levi definitely had some groveling to do, but I loved touching base with the Brown family members and can't wait to keep reading as Dane explores more of these friends. A-

Overall Feeling - Split between the two, C+/A-

Series - None/Delicious series, book 1 [To be published 8/7/12]

**Title received from author for review**

The Covenant by Evangeline Anderson

Kaitlyn Richards is a witch with powers beyond the norm. Her unique abilities make her one of the few people in the state of Florida qualified to be an S.E., or Supernatural Enforcer. As part of her duties she uses her home as a magical holding cell for creatures too strong to be contained in normal human jails.

Holden Sumner is a three-hundred-year-old vampire on a mission—he’s been stalking a serial-killing demon for centuries and he needs Kaitlyn’s help to kill it. The problem is, she won’t give him the time of night. But Sumner is determined to get under her skin.

Though Kaitlyn is reluctant to get involved with a vampire, she agrees to help Sumner search for the killer. But in order to drive the demon back to hell and stop the slaughter of innocents, she will have to bind herself more tightly than she ever thought possible to a man she doesn’t want to love.

She and Sumner must form a blood covenant…or die trying.

~~

OMG an ebook! I feel like I haven't read any of these in forever - or at least, not  a new one anyway. I picked this up to be a quick read on my bus ride to NY and for the most part I feel like it performed its role quite admirably.

The story starts with Sumner getting Kaitlyn's attention by killing what appears to be a normal homeless man - on camera. When he looked up and winked, knowingly doing more to get Katilyn's goat, I figured that this was going to be a good banter book. And it is - they go back and forth, negotiating not only their feelings for each other but what Kaitlyn is willing to do to banish an evil that's attacking her coven. Still, what makes me give this a lower grade is a couple things: first I thought the HEA was rushed, because so much time had been spent on bad guy buildup and sexy times (not that the sexy times weren't well done, they were). Suddenly we're into her admitting her love for Sumner when she's spent 90% of the book saying she has 'feelings' but that's it. Second the bad guy was totally obvious. I don't want to spoil anything, but I would probably have preferred a random than the person who was eventually revealed - just too obvious for me. 

All in all it's a fine addition to the paranormal romance genre, and Anderson is one of my regulars for ebooks - her heroes tend to be the kind of humorous alpha males I enjoy.

Overall Feeling - B-

Series - None

Mini Me: Date Night by Emma Holly

Olivia Forster never dreamed she’d serve as queen of an enchanted city beneath the sea, something her three sexy husbands know. Though she adores her shapeshifter mates, she’s shy by nature, and they can tell the strain of always being “on” is beginning to wear on her. Sneaking away from their responsibilities won’t be easy, but come hell or high water, they’ll treat her to a night she won’t soon forget!
~~

A snippet in the lives of Liv and her mates, I can't say that "Date Night" isn't worth a read - especially at $.99. It's a very sexy look at how all of them are balancing being in a committing relationship while also being mostly royalty, with all the responsibilities that entails. I  really liked the fact that Holly doesn't write them all as being perfectly in love with no problems or issues - this is a bit of a delicate situation (or at least it seems that way to me) with three men and one woman. I don't care how much someone's libido is increased, there are only so many emotional patches you can do before leaks break through. As an addendum/epilogue to Hidden Depths this works great, but I wouldn't recommend this without that background - it'd probably come off as too much sexy time/not enough plot time.

Hidden Crimes by Emma Holly

Cats and dogs shouldn't fall in love. Like any wolf, detective Nate Rivera knows this. He can’t help it if the tigress he’s been trading quips with at the supermarket is the most alluring woman he’s ever met—sassy too, which suits him down to his designer boots.

Evina Mohajit is aware their flirtation can’t lead to more. Still, she relishes trading banter with the hot werewolf. This hardworking single mom hasn’t felt so female since her twins’ baby daddy left to start his new family. Plus, as a station chief in Resurrection’s Fire Department, she understands the demands of a dangerous job.

Their will-they-or-won’t-they tango could go on forever if it weren’t for the mortal peril the city’s shifter children fall into. To save them, Nate and Evina must team up, a choice that ignites the sparks smoldering between them . . .

~~

Let me start with a little (invisible to you) happy dance for the return of the Shifters!  I like the Fae in Holly's Hidden series but the earthiness and honesty of shifters keep them at the top of my favorites list; it's not so much their 'mate at first sight' tendencies but the fact that intrigue and deceit doesn't come naturally to them. Erotic romances highlighting those characters usually tend to have less drama and more focus on making the relationship work with what they have at hand. 

The relationship between Nate and Evina, while complicated due to their being different species, is not dramatic. They have physical feelings towards each other (with a little bit of baggage) that turns into something more. The sparks between them are off the charts and as they traverse the intertwined worlds of their careers they stumble onto a big secret. A big secret that unsurprisingly not everyone wants them to look into. As a reader who loved Hidden Talents I liked how Holly brought both Ari and Adam into this story, even if Adam acted like an ass for some of it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys paranormal romance as it has good doses of both action and heartfelt emotion.

Overall Feeling - A+

Series - 1) Hidden Talents 2) Hidden Depths 3) Move Me 4) Hidden Crimes

**Title provided by author for review consideration**

Let Me In by Callie Croix *ARC Revew*

On leave for Thanksgiving, the last thing marine lieutenant Talia Barnett expects to find is Liam Brodie waiting for her at the airport. He’s had a starring role in her fantasies for the past two years, and although she’d love to make them a reality, she has a dark secret that prevents her from taking things further.

A former Marine, Liam’s specialty is planning tactical operations, and that’s just what he plans to do to win Talia. The woman has kept him at arm’s length for too long, and this time he’s finally going to claim her—body and heart.

What begins as comfort quickly turns hot. When Liam shows Talia a hint of the dominant nature inside him, the submissive part of her flares to life. Though she desires him, she’s going back on deployment and doesn’t want to dump all her drama on him. Will he find a way to break through the protective walls around her heart and convince her they have a future that goes far beyond the bedroom?

~~

I haven't read a full blown erotic romance in a while but I've got to say Callie Croix is an author to watch - this book is hot, fun, and yet full of emotion. Tal and Liam's HEA is believable and realistic considering all that they've both been through and I commend Croix for handling some tough topics very well.

Tal and Liam have known each other for a while - she's friends with his sister and at this point considered to be one of the family. Which would be great if Tal didn't have the experience of knowing exactly what happens when 'family' goes very very bad. She's determined not to lean on the Brodie's any more than strictly necessary while Liam is just as focused on making her accept them - and his feelings for her.

There's a delicate balance between all of these factors when things with Tal's family finally come to a head, and Liam finally gets the chance to show her how trustworthy he is. The story builds quickly to some very steamy scenes between the two and those evolve to a more emotional connection. I loved Tal and Liam and think Croix did a great job moving between both of them; my favorite contemporaries always end up being the ones where I get to know the motivations and feelings of both the lead characters.

Overall Feeling - A

Series - 1) No Holds Barred 2) Let Me In (5/21/12)

**Title requested from NetGalley**

Lawe's Justice by Lora Leigh

Diane Broen's lived to protect her younger sister Rachel from harm. But now that Rachel has been mated off, Diane's occupied herself with less fulfilling tasks at the Genetics Council--until she's paired with a new team member, a Breed male notorious for his attitude, and a touch that makes her recoil.

Lawe isn't thrilled with her either. A lion at heart, he prefers a lair of solitude. When it comes to females, he'd rather snarl than purr. And while fate may have paired them to fight on the same team, neither is willing to admit to the obvious: the mating heat between them is positively incinerating.

It's only when danger threatens that they make a hotter-than-hell connection--one so explosive it could destroy them. Or, as providence reveals, bind them together, forever.

~~

If this was anyone but Lora Leigh - and specifically a book from her Breeds series - I would probably be giving it a lower grade. The book was good and had the high scorch content that she's known for, but I'm finally at the point where I actually don't care. I like her plot - I want to know what's going on with Jonas and Rachel's daughter - and I'm less interested in the back and forth between Diane and Lawe. I hate to say it but at some point I found myself flipping the pages past the sex scenes because I just wanted to know what happened next. 

But what aggravated me the most? Lawe himself. Half the time I didn't understand why Diane didn't just punch him. It's a delicate balance between protective alpha male and smothering alpha male, and while Lawe had some of his own demons to overcome I didn't always have the patience to deal with his journey. Maybe it's a fault with me, but I didn't want to see Diane kowtow to some invisible line of his, to some idea of what a 'good mate' should do and be. I can happily report that she doesn't, but Diane's emotional turmoil because she was a mate but not the kind of mate Lawe thought he wanted eventually becomes a bit much.

I'm still going to continue to buy the books from this series but all I want right now is some resolution. More plot development and forward movement please Ms. Leigh, and less sex. Even if you do write sex scenes very very well.

Overall Feeling - B-

Series - ....25) Tied With a Bow (anthology) 26) Lawe's Justice

Mini Me: Nine-tenths of the Law by L.A. Witt

Without trust, common ground can get pretty shaky…

“I believe you have something of mine, Zach.”

Zach Owens doesn’t even know who this angry stranger is, let alone what the man is talking about—until he learns what they have in common. Their boyfriend, Jake. Once Jake’s out of the picture, Zach’s apology to Nathan Forrester leads to a long conversation, a kiss, and a chemistry that goes far beyond revenge sex.

Nathan can’t help but fall for the sexy movie theater owner, but it’s a long way from sheet-tearing sex to mutual trust. And a series of “coincidences” that throws Zach into Jake’s company leaves him unconvinced Zach was the complete innocent in their previous love triangle.

Zach can’t seem to make Nathan believe that Jake is up to something. But protesting his innocence isn’t working, and Jake’s carefully orchestrated campaign to destroy their love could leave them both with nothing…

~~

Nine-tenths of the Law seems to be one of those books the blog-o-sphere just loves. They gush over it, along with most of the titles by L.A. Witt, and while I don't dislike this particular book I can't say I was incredibly amazed by it either.

The relationship was fine, there was a good progression from revenge sex to actual relationship, but for some reason this isn't going to be one that sticks out in my mind. Maybe I was just in a blah mood when I read it because thinking back over it the story had just enough drama to not annoy me but enough emotion to be worthwhile. Zach and Nathan get together after Nathan busts in on a date Zach's on with Nathan's boyfriend. It was a little strange how they went from this to having sex with each other but, shrug, I try not to think too hard about the sex setup in eroticas.

Ultimately this story is about love and trust and how much you have to be willing to give of yourself for things to work. Maybe I didn't love it, but there's some like here and if you're lucky enough to be like me and find it for free from the Nook store, worth a read.