COLTERS' WOMAN

Colters' Woman

by

Maya Banks

8/12/2009

Adam, Ethan and Ryan aren’t looking for women. They’re looking for a woman. One woman to share their lives and their beds. They don’t want a casual romp in the hay, they want the woman who will complete them and they’re losing hope of finding her. That is until Adam finds Holly lying in the snow just yards from their cabin. He knows she’s different the minute he holds her in his arms. But before Adam gets his hopes up, he knows he has to gauge his brothers reactions. Soon its evident that she’s the one. There are a few problems, however, convincing her she belongs with them and keeping her safe from the man who wants her dead.

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, menage a quatre, violence.
_______________________

*** ½ (Three and a half stars) Lot’s of readers on the various lists I am on suggest this as a must-read book. So I ordered it off of PBS and held on to it for awhile. I finally picked it up a couple days ago. It’s sex. Pure sex. From beginning to end. In fact, there is a line used in this book a couple times…..”F*** a duck”. I think a more appropriate term would be “F*** Like Bunnies”.

Three brothers. One woman. They all feel it’s their destiny to become her husband and share her as a wife, just like their mother did with their dads, and their grandmother did with their grandfathers. Sounds like a dream world for any woman (hey—I wouldn’t think twice about the suggestion! LOL) However, really, now. How can it actually work? Of course this is fiction. So it’s meant to be fun. Heck—even I am a huge fan of TV’s “Big Love”….but there is something about this story that bugged me. Maybe it’s the young men on the cover that look more like they belong on a gay book cover to me than as they were described in the book as all being over six foot tall and muscle bound. Hmmm…I hate generic covers.

I think what would make this more interesting is if this was part of a series, sort of like Lora Leigh’s August brothers (which this book does not hold a candle to, by the way). Let’s go back in time and see the stories of the parents and grandparents, too. In fact, I would love to see this story in a wild west setting, come to think of it.

DARK WARRIOR UNLEASHED

Dark Warrior Unleashed

by

Alexis Morgan

8/9/09

(First in "The Talions" series)

The rough and rugged Talions, sexy warriors who stop
at nothing to deliver justice, star in this steamy new
paranormal series from Alexis Morgan.

He's on a mission to annihilate the enemy.

A Talion enforcer, Ranulf Thorsen has served his people for a thousand years, delivering the eye-for-an-eye justice by which his kinsmen live. Weary of the centuries-long fight, the fierce warrior with icy blue eyes has secluded himself on a mountain far from the chaos of the modern world below. Now he's been summoned to face the most dangerous battle of his life -- and the fate of his people is on the line.

But when he meets the beautiful woman
he has sworn to defend...

Ranulf and his bitter rival, fellow Talion Sandor Kearn, must find the rogue Kyth who set a violent fire in a nightclub. The near-deadly blaze's unlikely heroine, Kerry Logan, is also a Kyth, possessing the ancient Nordic people's unique ability to manipulate human energy. She just doesn't know it yet.

...who will protect his heart?

Kerry finds more than comfort in her warrior's embrace, and Ranulf hungers to both defend and claim the petite powerhouse for his own. But with time ticking away and their lives on the line, will Kerry believe the wild tale he's telling her, and master her powers...before it's too late?
_________________________________________

*** ½ Three and a half stars. I hated giving this book three and a half stars. I really adore this author, and so far, have really loved her Paladin series. However, this is the first of a new series, The Talions, and I was kind of having a hard time following the plot.

I got the basic plot of the story, of course. A young woman comes into her own as having supernatural and ancient powers that she had no idea she possessed. In steps the warriors of an millennia-old dynasty that is dying out and she is there new hope to lead them. She falls in love with the biggest and baddest Viking of all time—and I mean all-time (he is over 1,000 years old) and she begins to learn about her destiny as she changes his black heart (that is marshmallow inside) with her love.

What I had a problem with, was the use of, energizing of, and depletion of their “special gifts”. I didn’t really get a grasp of how or why they used them until ¾’s of the way through the book. At times, I felt like I was reading a video game…albeit, a romantic one. Book two in the series comes out in a couple weeks and, of course, I will read it because I love this author. But I hope the next book in this series makes more sense to me.

TIED UP, TIED DOWN

Tied Up, Tied Down

by

Lorelei James

8/6/09

(Fourth in the "Rough Riders" series)

...The strongest bonds are the ones unseen.

Businesswoman Skylar Ellison is firmly in control of her life. So getting tangled up with a sexy Wyoming cowboy—and conceiving a baby in the parking lot of a honky-tonk—wasn’t in her plan. Since it appears the daddy has taken off for greener pastures, the only thing to do is pull up her bootstraps and carry on alone.

Cattle rancher Kade McKay returns home after a year on the range, and is knocked for a loop when he learns he’s the father of a three-month-old baby girl. When Skylar refuses to marry him, Kade grits his teeth, moves in and plays house by her rules to prove he’s a man in for the long haul.

Despite Skylar’s insistence they are to remain strictly parenting partners, their old passions flare hot as a brush fire, spurring Kade to demand absolute sexual surrender from the headstrong woman. Skylar willingly submits her body to the hot-blooded cowboy but she’s leery of handing Kade the reins to her heart.

Can Kade convince Skylar the wicked sex games aren’t a temporary distraction? Or will he have to bust out the ropes to show her he wants to be tied to her…forever?

(~Ha! Once again this has me giggling!! -->) Warning: this book contains: no holes barred kinky sex scenes, wicked rope play, blunt language, and yowza! lots of hot cowboy nekkidness.
__________________________________________

*****5 Stars. Yup. Did it again. My rare five star grade. I had to because I thought this book was better than the last (Cowgirl Up and Ride). I think I am madly in love with Kade and at times I wanted to knock Skyler upside the head for her stupidity, even though I knew she needed to find her own way to Kade’s heart (and eventually—unbeknownst with the help of her sister—leave her stamp there forever.) Sigh. This book makes me want to move to Wyoming. Then again, there is a reason Miz. James probably writes most of the stories in summer…Wyoming has those notorious cold ten month winters. LOL. Then again, if there were hot, delicious cowboys like the McKays and Wests to keep things toasty…it might not be so bad.

I love this new-to-me author!

Bring on the cowboys. Yee-Haw!

COWGIRL UP AND RIDE

Cowgirl Up and Ride

by

Lorelei James

8/3/09

(Third in Rough Riders series)

...Ridin’ the edge of lust is fun—until someone falls in love.

Goody-two boots AJ Foster has waited her entire life for her dream cowboy Cord McKay to see her as more than the neighbor girl in pigtails. Now that she’s old enough to stake her claim on him, she’s pulling out all the sexual stops and riding hell-bent for leather—straight for his libido.

Divorced rancher Cord has sworn off all women…until innocent AJ suggests he teach her how to ride bareback—and he realizes she doesn’t mean horses or bulls. Between his responsibilities running his massive ranch, missing his young son and dealing with the sexual shenanigans of his brother and cousins, Cord is more than willing to take AJ up on her offer. On a trial basis.

The fun and games tie them both up in knots. AJ isn’t willing to settle for less than the whole shootin’ match with her western knight. But for Cord, even though the sexy cowgirl sets his blood ablaze, he’s determined to resist her efforts to lasso his battered heart.

Sweet, determined AJ has the power to heal—or heel—the gruff cowboy…unless Cord’s pride keeps him from admitting their relationship is more than a simple roll in the hay.

(This just cracked me up-->)Warning: this book contains: raunchy sex scenes that’ll work you into a lather faster than a winded horse, graphic language, resourceful use of baling twine, ménage a trois, ménage a quatage, and yippee! hot nekkid lovin'.

_______________________

***** 5 Stars. I rarely give out 5 stars. The book has to really grab me, keep me hooked from beginning to end to the point that I don’t want to set it down to do anything, and this book made the grade. I love the contemporary cowboy theme in this book (and series). I loved the prose and rhythm to Ms. James’ writing, and I loved that her characters are not afraid to hold back in any way, shape, or form. Some romantic (erotica) stories are just one sex scene after the other, strung together by pages and no story, however, that is not true of this one. The characters have real personalities, faults, characteristics, and situations that are believable and far from boring. Cord was dreamy (lol) and even though he was demanding, I found myself intrigued to see what he would do next. AJ, or Amy Jo, made me smile at her sometimes naiveté and gutsy sides rolled in to one.

Full steamy ahead on this series!

REAL MEN LAST ALL NIGHT (Anthology)

Real Men Last All Night

by

Lora Leigh

Lori Foster

Cheyenne McCray

Heidi Betts

7/31/09

Today’s top erotic romance writers come together for a steamy read of four sexy stories about women who discover that real men last all night...

Cooper’s Fall by Lora Leigh

Former ranger turned bar owner Ethan Cooper never expected to get an eyeful of prim Miss Sarah Fox from his attic window one hot summer afternoon. But now his blood is on fire for the delicious little minx.

Luring Lucy by Lori Foster

All Lucy was looking for when she went to her vacation home was in innocent fling to quell the yearning she had felt since her husband died four years ago. She never expected her longtime friend Bram to lure her into a love affair so hot.

The Edge of Sin by Cheyenne McCray

Zane Steele lives a life of extraordinary danger as a government agent and has never let anyone get too close. Then he sees the one woman who changes his life forever.

Wanted: A Real Man by Heidi Betts

Claire left her high school sweetheart Linc, in search of a better life. Ten years later she needs his help as a U.S. Marshal to find her missing daughter…Linc's daughter. Reeling with the knowledge of a daughter he’s never known, Linc sets out to claim what’s his.

___________________

****4 Stars. I picked up this book specifically for the Lora Leigh story, “Cooper’s Fall”, and it didn’t disappoint. I think this story was supposed to be loosely related to her other special op stories, but I have a feeling she is opening a whole new can of worms (or hotties) with this little novella. Cooper is one bartender I’d like to order a long, tall drink from.

As for the Lori Foster story, I haven’t read many of her stories after her Harlequin/Silhouette work. I enjoyed a lot of them back in the day. I have picked up a few of her current offerings and read the covers, but I didn’t care for the whole ultimate fighting story lines. This was a sweet (and hot) little story which reminded me somewhat of those old Silhouette books.

Cheyenne McCray is one of my favorite authors. Whether it’s witches, fairies, serial killers, or erotic adventures. She never seems to disappoint me. I want to read more about the REDS and the Steele series.

Heidi Betts is a new author to me. I enjoyed her story a lot and will look for more by her in the future.

DARKNESS UNKNOWN

Darkness Unknown

by

Alexis Morgan

7/26/2009

(Fifth in "Paladin" series)

Alexis Morgan's seductive Paladin series continues with a red-hot romance between a powerful warrior sworn to secrecy and the irresistible woman who makes him lose control....

Gwen Mosely's life changes forever when she stumbles across a handsome stranger, bleeding and left for dead in the woods behind her farm. But the real shock is how his wounds heal overnight -- a trait he shares with Gwen's teenaged half-brother Chase.

Jarvis Donahue can't keep his eyes -- or his hands -- off the sexy redhead who rescued him. Gwen's warm smile and lust-filled eyes are impossible to resist...but Jarvis immediately recognizes Chase as a fellow Paladin, a warrior born to defend mankind in the relentless battle against the Others. Although Gwen may hate Jarvis for it, he is duty-bound to introduce Chase to the Paladins' dangerous lifestyle.

As the barrier between the two worlds weakens, the threat grows perilously close to Gwen's farm. Jarvis is determined to protect his lover -- but if he reveals his identity, he not only betrays his people's secret, he risks losing her forever....
_________________________________________

*** (3 ½ Stars) Oh, I hate it when a good series hits a bump in the road and starts to drag, and this was the book that did it in the Paladin series, for me. I recall reading the first 4 books in this series and tearing through them really fast. I loved the world created by Ms. Morgan, and the idea that two worlds could live in parallel to each other. I am not sure if it was the fact that this book takes place in a different location than the others, with a different group of characters, or that I waited too long to find this book after reading the others (and didn’t recall all the details and how this one tied in).

That aside, this wasn’t a bad story. Not by far. But it was a lot tamer than the others. Jarvis was OK….but he didn’t seem to command the story the way I remember Trahern, Barak, or Devlin doing in the other stories. He and Gwen make a good couple…but Jarvis has such a bleak outlook on how many lives he may have left, that I wonder how he and Gwen will make it. Oh well…I guess I will have to leave this story in “the moment” and accept the characters for who they are. I think Jake and Chase’s stories (should they get one) will probably be better. Jake seems like he has more fun to me.

By the way…this series gets the award for having THE BEST covers in my opinion. I would buy these books just to gaze at the covers.

DEATH ANGEL

Death Angel

by

Linda Howard

7/18/2009

In Linda Howard’s gifted hands, second chances, unexpected romance, and unrelenting action combine into a riveting new novel of suspense. In Death Angel, bad girls can wake up and trust their hearts, bad guys can fight for what’s right . . . and dying just might be the only way to change one’s life.

A striking beauty with a taste for diamonds and dangerous men, Drea Rousseau is more than content to be arm candy for Rafael Salinas, a notorious crime lord who deals with betrayal through quick and treacherous means: a bullet to the back of the head, a blade across the neck, an incendiary device beneath a car. Eager to break with Rafael, Drea makes a fateful decision and a desperate move, stealing a mountain of cash from the malicious killer. After all, an escape needs to be financed.

Though Drea runs, Salinas knows she can’t hide–and he dispatches a cold-blooded assassin in hot pursuit, resulting in a tragic turn of events. Or does it?

Left for dead, Drea miraculously returns to the realm of the living a changed woman. She’s no longer shallow and selfish, no longer steals or cheats or sells herself short. Both humbled and thrilled with this unexpected second chance, Drea embraces her new life. But in order to feel safe and sound–and stop nervously looking over her shoulder–she will need to take down those who marked her for death.

Joining forces with the FBI, supplying vital inside information that only she can provide, Drea finds herself working with the most dangerous man she’s ever known. Yet the closer they get to danger, the more intense their feelings for each other become, and the more Drea realizes that the cost of her new life may be her life itself–as well as her heart.
_________________________________

**** (4 Stars) Though she doesn’t seem to write like she used to, I thought this was a better-than-average Linda Howard book. In fact, at times I thought I was reading an Anne Stuart book. I liked the twist on the story being told from the other side “the bad guys’ point-of-view). With this story, Ms. Howard wants us to know that there are levels of bad, and some are justifiable. I bought it for the duration of the story.

In the beginning, I couldn’t put my finger on either Drea or Simon. Was someone undercover? Were they just both bad and tired of it? How do I sympathize with them? The first few pages start out with a red-hot sex scene on a balcony (reminded me a little of “Kill and Tell” (also by Howard), and then the sex dries up for many, many chapters but the time in between is spent learning the characters and what makes them tick. I found out when the book was over, that I could sympathize with both characters (not that I know what it is like to be as assassin or arm candy. LOL.)