Category / Amazing Read

Rating of 4.5 Stars

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Heartbreak Creek by Kaki Warner

Format: E-bookheartbreakcreek
Read with: Amazon Kindle for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: The Runaway Brides, Book 1
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Hero: Robert Declan Brodie
Heroine: Edwina Whitney Ladoux
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: July 5, 2011
Started On: July 8, 2011
Finished On: July 9, 2011

Heartbreak Creek is book one in the series Runaway Brides by author Kaki Warner. Recommended by my friend Jill on Goodreads, I needed no further urging as I am a huge fan of American Western romances. From the very start, the concept of 4 women who find love in the most unexpected places grabbed me and held me enthralled as each of the characters wormed their way into my heart, telling a story that would linger with me for the time to come.

Heartbreak Creek brings the story of 26 year old Edwina Whitney Ladoux from Southeastern Louisiana who makes her way towards Heartbreak Creek of Colorado as a mail-order bride for Robert Declan Brodie, a man she has never laid eyes on. Knowing that there was nothing worth staying around in war ravaged Louisiana for her and her half-sister Pru, Edwina makes the journey that brings her that much closer to the reality of marriage the second time round.

33 year old Declan is a widow who has his hands full looking after 4 children and managing his ranch which is a full-time job in itself. Knowing that his children require a mother’s touch, Declan is expecting a sturdy farm woman who can take charge of his family and instead finds himself married to the reigning belle of Sycamore Parish once upon a time.

Though Edwina dreads the thought of marriage to anyone and feels like fleeing from what she has gotten herself into, with Pru to help things along, Edwina finds herself drawn into the lives of her strong and silent husband and his children who tug at her heartstrings right from the very start. For a woman who has had a disappointing experience with intimacy, Edwina finds herself fascinated with how her body yearns for things it cannot voice, a desire that seems to be reciprocated by the man with whom she is bound to share her life till death does them apart.

For Declan, Edwina is the direct opposite of the mother of his children, who betrayed him and their children in the worst way possible, his heart and emotions encased in a block of ice afterwards which had begun to thaw in Edwina’s energetic presence. But peace and happiness in their lives seems to be elusive as an old enemy hunts them down with vengeance and death on his mind for all he has lost, a man that Declan knows wouldn’t give up until only one of them is left  standing. And when Declan’s dead wife turns up unexpectedly, both Declan and Edwina must fight harder than ever to truly win the battle of their hearts once and for all which lends this story that emotional wrangling quality that I just love.

Kaki Warner tells a great story somewhat similar in style to that of Ellen O’Connell whose American-Western romances are to die for. Heartbreak Creek introduces us to the very intriguing four ladies whose stories sound equally enticing with Edwina’s story laying the foundation of this delectable series. Declan is the strong and silent warrior type of hero beneath whose tough and stoic mask lies an endearing sense of humor which made me fall head over heels in love with him from the very beginning.

Edwina is the type of protective heroine who stands firm in what she believes in, who fights for those whom she loves and that makes for an appealing heroine all around. The sexual tension and awareness that slowly creeps into Declan and Edwina’s life is sizzling hot and well-done and though there aren’t much detailed love scenes included, it still manages to satisfy the cravings of the reader.

With heart pounding acts of violence thats the reality of life in the western frontier and tender scenes of love, Kaki Warner seems to have struck gold with this enticing series, book 2 of which I will definitely be stalking in the time to come.

Recommended highly for fans of the genre. This is one series you ought not miss.

Favorite Quotes

She drew in an exasperated breath, and suddenly her senses exploded with the essence of Declan, his heat, the smell of soap, horses … him. Her body instantly reacted – her heartbeat quickening, her skin tingling, her thoughts scattering like some addlepated adolescent sneaking her first kiss under the pawpaw tree.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | BooksOnBoard | Kobo | Book Depository

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by mvbookreviewer

ARC Review: The Tantric Principle by Jennifer Probst

Format: E-booktantricprinciple
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novella
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Red Sage Publishing
Hero: Grant Madison
Heroine: Arianna Devlin
Sensuality: 4.5
Date of Publication: April 1, 2011
Started On: July 7, 2011
Finished On: July 8, 2011

The Tantric Principle by Jennifer Probst is a story that had me grabbing for my non-existent oxygen mask right from the start. Grant Madison, the deeply controlled yoga instructor who indulges in tantric sex pairs up with the energetic and highly ambitious Arianna Devlin, his exact opposite in every way which lends this story that explosive quality that I absolutely loved.

26 year old Arianna finds herself burning out as fast as a candle placed in the midst of a stormy sea and that is when she finds herself seeking Grant who introduces her to an old yoga technique that has her more relaxed, energized and happier than before. The downside of every session is the escalation of her need to be possessed by her instructor whose very touch makes her insides melt with his intensity and electrifying presence.

Grant has been burned before and has a rule about never crossing the line with a student but Arianna tempts him beyond anything he has ever felt. But once these two attend a yoga workshop together, all bets are off as Grant takes control of the situation and gives Arianna the best sex of her life which plays havoc with her emotions in a way that has never happened before. Suddenly their one night of passion is no longer enough and as deeper emotions get involved, Arianna readies herself to take the plunge with a man who is afraid to let go of his hard earned control in bed and out of it.

The Tantric Principle is a sizzling piece of work that any fan of romance that LOVES a high dose of sensuality in their novels ought to read. Though a short novel, the book doesn’t leave the reader hanging and delivers on all counts with a hero whose sinful sexiness alone is enough to make a woman surrender her everything.

Highly recommended.

Favorite Quotes

“Were you avoiding me?” he asked.
He closed the gap. Her back hit the wall. Arianna tilted her chin up and met his gaze head on. “A little.”
The slow, masculine grin that transformed his carved features took her breath. “Good, at least you’re still telling me the truth. Now kiss me properly.” He didn’t wait for her response, just took her in his arms and dived right in. His mouth urged her lips open with a sensual persuasion, then slipped his tongue in the wet depths of her mouth to play. Arianna drank in the heady taste of male hunger and coffee. Her nails dug into his shoulders in punishment and a need she couldn’t seem to slake.
He lifted his mouth from hers and cupped her face in his hands. “Hi, babe.”
Her heart melted.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo | Red Sage

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Man Trouble by Sabine Ferruci

Format: E-bookmantrouble
Read with: Kindle for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Standalone
Publisher: New Concepts Publishing
Hero: Jack O’Brien
Heroine: Elizabeth Nash-Swenson
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: March 1, 2009
Started On: July 3, 2011
Finished On: July 4, 2011

Man Trouble by Sabine Ferucci has certainly delivered me from the funk I was in after my last two reads which turned out to be disappointing. I am so very glad that I took the chance and obtained myself a copy of this delectable read which turned out to be fun, entertaining and sexy as hell!

The hero Jack O’Brien who is about to turn 40 is a man who has had more than his fair share of disappointments in life. A single dad with his 6 year old daughter Laurie, Jack is a man who is leery of commitment, marriage and the whole lot that goes along with it, not surprising given his past encounter with marriage and the ugly divorce that had followed.

33 year old Elizabeth Nash-Swenson is a single mother with two boys and had lost her husband almost two years back. Beth is a woman stuck in her past refusing to let go of the memories of her precious husband Tim until Jack invades her life, a man as different from Tim as night is to day.

When Jack approaches the woman least likely to turn stalkerish in a bar, he has no idea that Beth is the woman who has been refusing to pay his construction company for services rendered. Before he knows it, he has kissed her senseless and promised her that he would come around her place to find out what the problem was all about.

When Jack strikes a bargain with Beth that he would finish up whatever repairs at her place personally, this paves the path in which their repressed feelings of red-hot desire for one another fosters and starts to grow amidst all the misgivings each has against the other. When a marriage of convenience comes into the picture, all bets are off when the headstrong and stubborn Jack meets more than his match in Beth.

There were so many things that I loved about Man Trouble and Jack tops the list without any competition. He is broody, uber-alpha, a man who works with his hands and someone who definitely knows the finer points of keeping a woman satisfied on all counts in bed. He is stubborn to the point of being a pain in the ass but I couldn’t help but fall in love with him as he was and subject myself to the continuous streaks of hot flashes which was a constant when Jack was around.

Beth is someone who finds it hard to let go of the memories of her dead husband and Jack certainly gives her a hard time in acting out whenever any semblance of closeness begins to develop between them. I loved Beth because she gave as good as she got from Jack and finally managed to convince him that with her lies his future steeped in love and warmth, something that has been missing from Jack’s life since childhood.

A very satisfying contemporary romance recommended for EVERYONE who loves books of the genre. I read this in one sitting, acquiring myself hours of lost sleep which was all worth it because of the very sigh and drool worthy Jack O’Brien.

Favorite Quotes

Jack muttered a few choice words and stood. “So. You still need a hug?”
She nodded. Desperately.
He walked over with his hands in his pockets and a look in his eyes that could only be called tenderness. “I got to tell you. It’s going to be tough to keep it brotherly. I was never anyone’s brother.”
“I’ll risk it.” She lifted her arms to him.
He reached down and swooped her up, afghan and all, then sat down in the rocker with her in his lap. He pulled her close, pressed her head to his shoulder, and steadily rocked the chair.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | New Concepts Publishing

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Smoke in the Wind by Robyn Donald

Format: E-booksmokeinthewind
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Harlequin Presents, #1104
Publisher: Harlequin
Hero: Ryan Fraine
Heroine: Venetia Gamble
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: August 1, 1988
Started On: June 29, 2011
Finished On: June 30, 2011

My God! Whoever says that Harlequin stories are only fluff would definitely have a tough time categorizing this title as such. Smoke in the Wind by Robyn Donald is a title that ended up in my TBR pile via a recommendation received from Amazon. I finally gave into my curiosity and sampled my first Robyn Donald last night and boy did I have a hard time letting the story go to catch some much needed shut eye last night because yes once you start reading, this is the sort of book that refuses to let go!

Television reporter Venetia Gamble meets the engimatic and handsome Ryan Fraine whose reputation precedes him as one of the best in her field during a function held to inaugurate the set up of the first private television station in New Zealand. Even though the cynicism that lurks close to the surface in Ryan’s eyes tells Venetia that he is a man best left alone, the explosive reaction that he seems to trigger with her baser emotions and seems to return in full makes her a slave to the fulfillment that he alone can give her.

23 year old Venetia has already learnt the bitter lesson of letting passion rule her life when she had been just 18 years old. Fiercely independent and not as sophisticated as she lets on, Venetia plays a dangerous game in perfecting the image that she thinks is what Ryan looks for in a woman though her ploy fails miserably when she falls in love with him only to have him fall for Venetia’s innocent and serene cousin Elizabeth.

Six year later, Venetia has made a life for herself and her five year old son John at her grandmother’s place in Australia. And it is here that Ryan comes to seek her out, having bought the rights for her book which is to be made into a movie by the man himself. Elizabeth having passed away a year back, Ryan once again starts the dangerous cat and mouse game that they had played before with the passion that swirls between them stronger than ever, refusing to be denied even if giving in is the furthest thing Venetia wants.

With their son to consider, Ryan proposes that she marry him and give him the opportunity to once and for all slake the uncontrollable hunger that rules them both given half the chance. But the hurt and betrayal from 6 years back when Ryan had shattered the very foundation of her being when he had cruelly ended things with her has left its mark on Venetia who is ever more cautious and fools herself into thinking that she would ever be able to say no where Ryan is concerned.

Smoke in the Wind is an intense read that requires a lot from the reader and I reveled in the heady sensations that coursed through me every single minute of the story. Ryan is a hero that is hard to get on board with, his cruel treatment of Venetia because he can’t accept the fact that he is vulnerable to her as she is to him hard to accept. Still I found myself fascinated with his character and came to understand what it is that drives him to be his meanest when he is around Venetia.

Venetia on the other hand is strong, feisty and independent and vulnerable to the very core where Ryan is concerned. Though she gives as good as she gets, she is no match for the strong connection that is between her and Ryan and has withstood the test of time, distance and immense betrayal and once again it is Venetia that opens up herself to the possibility that this time around with maturity and past mistakes to guide her, she would be able to reap the benefits of Ryan’s affections even if he might never come to love her as he did for his first wife.

If Robyn Donald writes all her stories with unapologetic honesty as this one, I am already a fan as Smoke in the Wind is a romance that fans of ruthless alpha heroes and fans of Harlequin romances ought not to miss. I would have loved to see Ryan brought to his knees and maybe see him grovel a little, hell a lot more but I suppose a gal can’t have everything she wants.

Favorite Quotes

‘You,’ he repeated, his voice heavy and hard, shaking with emotion he no longer troubled to hide, ‘I took one look at you and knew that that was it, I’d spent the last six years with hunger for you eating at my heart.’

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Now You See Him… by Anne Stuart

Format: E-booknowyouseehim
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Series: Silhouette Intimate Moments, #429
Publisher: Silhouette
Hero: James Mackintosh Bond
Heroine: Frances Neeley
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: April 1, 1992
Started On: June 29, 2011
Finished On: June 29, 2011

Its being quite some time since I immersed myself in the magic that Anne Stuart alone can create with her ruthlessly determined and controlled heroes. Now You See Him is one of her much earlier books and a Harlequin romance at that but nevertheless still managed to pack a wealth of emotion into the 200+ pages of the story.

Now You See Him kicks off in quite an unusual way with the heroine Frances Neeley waiting for her to-be lover Patrick Dugan to come home after attending some demonstration in his cause for freedom for Ireland. However, the night does not end amidst a bed of roses but rather in a severe bloodbath as Patrick turns out to be a murderer, a liar and a terrorist for whom Francey had just been a means to an end.

Francey retires to the tiny island of St. Anne’s in the Carribbean to lick her wounds in private and to let the sun, sea and the beach work its magic on her raw, open wounds. When her cousin Daniel Traverse who owns the villa Belle Reste in which Francey is recuperating sends along seemingly harmless Michael Dowde recovering from a near fatal auto accident, Francey almost lets her guard down in thinking that no harm would come to her from Michael even when her instincts scream at her otherwise.

Michael’s mission while he gets back his strength is a simple one. Find out whether Francey is as innocent as she claims to be or eliminate her if else. But what he doesn’t count on is for someone as unremarkable as Francey with her brown hair, brown eyes and heart shaped face to get under his skin right from the initial onset.

When danger comes calling from the terrorist cell which Michael has been trying to hunt down for so long, he does the only thing that the 37 years of his life of living on the edge has taught him; protect Francey with everything he is even though he knows that the threat on his heart from the woman he is on the run with is a very likely possibility. For the first time in his life, Michael who weaves a web of deceit so great to protect Francey and his cover finds himself itching to possess the purity that is Francey, make her his and starts thinking foolish thoughts of a shared future which he has no right thinking.

Francey doesn’t fare any better when she is drawn towards the enigmatic Michael with his erotic looking hands, who fires up her desires unlike anything she has ever experienced. Though her heart warns her to stay away from a man whom she knows is not telling her the truth, Francey knows she would lay down her very life for this man with the many facets, who turns up at the most unexpected moments and who haunts her every waking thought and dreams when he is not around.

Now You See Him though a short novel doesn’t pull any punches nor takes any short cut in the adventure or the romance aspect of the story. Michael who goes by so many names is a man with a dangerous past, who knows that Francey would be far better off without him in the picture. However, he is as much a slave to the desire that unfolds between these two polar opposites, the strength of the growing feelings pulling them together regardless of danger or the consequences.

Michael is a hero who made my heart go aflutter, who made my senses go alive and who made me yearn and crave for his happily ever after. And I loved Francey because she identified with the real man behind all the facades to find Michael a man worthy of her trust and affections. Though many a reader may not like Michael as a hero and the story that unfolded, for me, Now You See Him is just the perfect sort of read to indulge and immerse myself in to escape reality.

Recommended for fans of Anne Stuart’s ICE series and for those who like their heroes a bit ruthless with an edge.

Purchase Links: Amazon

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by mvbookreviewer

Requested Review: The Dome by Nova Sparks

Format: E-bookthedome
Read with: Kindle for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: The Dome trilogy, Book 1
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: NA
Heroine: NA
Sensuality: NA
Date of Publication: April 30, 2011
Started On: June 18, 2011
Finished On: June 20, 2011

What would you do if you knew that the entire world as we know it is coming to an end and know exactly when it is going to happen? That is the dilemma faced by Sam Tucker when he starts getting realistically visual dreams of an apocalypse that is just around the corner.

Fearing that he is losing his mind, Sam does what he thinks is all that he can do in the short period of time available and tries to save as many people as he can without alerting them to what was going on. The only other person who knows the truth is his best friend Mark who is apprehensive about everything that takes place right from the very beginning.

When the annihilation begins, their savior comes in the form of an alien race who seemingly go out of their way to make their planet Syri habitable by the humans. The lucky escape from a certain death makes Sam rethink his priorities in life; a life which he had been taking for granted until now.

For Emma, Sam’s daughter, Syri opens up the possibility of a new love which she tries to embrace in her usual take-charge attitude. But on a planet where everything is not what they seem to be, Emma finds that even falling in love has its price which could get deadly with one wrong turn.

Told on first person basis by both Sam and Emma, the 1st book in The Dome trilogy is one intense, edge-of-the-seat read. Ms. Novak does a brilliant job on capitalizing on the emotions as well as the nature of us human beings, whose instinct for survival always comes into play when that is all we are left with.

Mark’s instinctive distrust with anything that has got to do with Syri certainly rings true with our inquisitive natures and our need for absolute freedom from any sort of shackles that may bind us. For Mark, the truth that he finds out turns out to be a deadly and costly one, leaving Sam a changed man, a man on a mission on the quest for truth and a way out of picture perfect Syri.

For someone who mostly reads and enjoys romances, this one was certainly a delightfully riveting surprise. With a nightmare inducing kind of prologue that reeled me in, I couldn’t help but be fascinated with the story as it unfolded and all my gratitude lays with Ms. Sparks who approached me for a review which otherwise would have had me missing out on this great sci-fi installment. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the trilogy which cannot come out soon enough as far as I am concerned.

Recommended for fans of the genre. You won’t be disappointed.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Smashwords

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by mvbookreviewer

Review: Grace Under Pressure by Melissa Schroeder

Format: E-bookgraceunderpressure
Read with: Kindle for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Hero: Renaldo Morello
Heroine: Grace Beatrice Michael
Sensuality: 4
Date of Publication: February 1, 2007
Started On: June 19, 2011
Finished On: June 19, 2011

I am someone who always loves a good romance between a warm, sexy and accident prone heroine with a bit of an aloof and controlled hero who finds his hard earned control shattered all around him. As I read Grace Under Pressure, I couldn’t help but think to myself that I have read this earlier in my pre-review phase. Even if that were the case, I am really glad that I picked this up and enjoyed it, a story that left me wanting more of all the characters that cropped up as it unfolded.

33 year old Grace Michaels lives in the small town of Cannon, Texas and is a history professor at the local college. Accident-prone by nature, her first encounter with the town’s new and sexy as hell Chief of Police Ren Morello happens with her ass up in the air stirring up Ren’s amusement and his libido as well in the process.

Ren is a man who has closed and bolted the door on any sort of relationship with the opposite sex that requires his commitment ever since his divorce from the wife from hell. When Grace comes into the picture, even though his over-active libido begs him to bury himself deep within her, his emotions that are a bit more in control than his libido warn him to run the other way and never look back.

When Grace’s home is ransacked and it is clear that her life is in danger, all protective instincts that Ren harbors deep inside comes out demanding that he keep Grace safe at any cost. Being at such close proximity to a woman whose mere existence befuddles his thinking cells plays havoc with the rigid control that Ren exerts on his baser emotions until it all explodes in his face in the most sinfuly delicious ways possible.

Neatly tying in with the main story is the story of Julia, Grace’s best friend and that of her brother Gabriel that served as an equally interesting romantic interlude in this wickedly good romantic suspense of the erotic variety. Though the scenes of passion are erotic in nature, there is none of the overly kinky stuff taking place in the story. Grace Under Pressure is a hot little addition for your TBR pile if you love a steamy romantic suspense in a small town setting with all the antics that go along with small town life. Loved every single minute of this delectable story and I am definitely going to wade through Ms. Schroeder’s back list and see what I can come up with to keep me entertained in the future.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Samhain

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by mvbookreviewer

I-Review: Iron Seduction by J.K. Coi

Format: E-bookironseduction.JPG
Read with: Kindle for I-Pad
Length: Novella
Genre: Chinese Steampunk
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Hero: Jian Denzen
Heroine: Lady Jane
Sensuality: 4
Published On: June 3rd, 2011
Started On: 18th June 2011
Finished On: 18th June 2011

Visitor: What made you pick up Iron Seduction?

MBR: Ever since I read Morning After and flat-out loved the short & hot story, J. K. Coi has been an author of interest to me. But somehow this one slipped through the cracks until I found this on a list of recommendations on a blog post of author Maya Banks which had me running on an immediate shopping spree to acquire my first romance of the steampunk category.

Visitor: Tell us a little bit about the hero Jian Denzen.

MBR: *Huge sigh* Jian Denzen, otherwise known as Dance is the strong, silent and uber-sexy type of hero that just takes your breath away. Well-versed in the art of Lin Kuei, China’s more circumspect version of Japanese ninja, Jian is a hero I can sit and read about all day long because he is so very well worth it.

Visitor: Now tell us a little bit about the heroine Lady Jane.

MBR: Lady Jane is  a heroine who belongs in the kick-ass-heroine category. She commands a contingent of British soldiers who stay in China and is someone who guards her heart fiercely fearing that she might be betrayed yet again.

Visitor: How does Jian and Lady Jane meet for the first time?

MBR: Lady Jane and Jian’s paths cross during the battle for freedom waged against Empress Cixi. Lady Jane saves Jian’s life for which she earns Jian’s undying loyalty and exasperation as well.

Visitor: What was it that drew you into the story with Iron Seduction?

MBR: I delved into Iron Seduction expecting Ms. Coi’s way with the words to reel me in and it did just that. For a Quickie, Iron Seduction has got everything going for it, a well balanced story line, a hotter than sin hero and explosive scenes of passion that just took my breath away. And I loved every single delicious minute of it.

Visitor: What was it that you liked about Iron Seduction?

MBR: I loved everything about Iron Seduction from its sleek man-titty cover to the red-hot attraction between Lady Jane and Jian. For me, Jian and his unwavering loyalty and strength made this novella, and the way he thoroughly commands Lady Jane’s senses (which she tries utmost to keep sensible and do the “right” thing) made this an awesome read for me.

Visitor: What if anything would you want to change in Iron Seduction?

MBR: As a Quickie, the story is well done and delivers on all counts. But for someone who always loves longer stories, I would love to see what Ms. Coi can do with a full length novel. With Iron Seduction, I would have loved to learn more about both Lady Jane and Jian and their interactions together which happens prior to the start of this novella.

Visitor: Any memorable scenes/quotes from Iron Seduction that you would like to share?

MBR: I loved the scenes where Jian’s intensity comes into play.

Visitor: Who would you recommend Iron Seduction to?

MBR: Those who love stories by J. K. Coi. And for those who love their erotica with something a little bit different.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo | Ellora’s Cave

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by mvbookreviewer

Requested Review: Coyote Wild by Rhian Cahill

Format: E-book
Read with: Amazon Kindle
Length: Novel
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Coyote Hunger, Book 2
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Hero: Brogan Wilder
Heroine: Eloise Crawford
Sensuality: 4.5
Date of Publication: June 18, 2010
Started On: May 28, 2011
Finished On: May 28, 2011

Coyote Wild is the 2nd book in the Coyote Hunger series, the book that at first caught my eye when I was browsing through Rhian Cahill’s back list. Coyote Hunger series is based on a community of coyote shape shifters and Coyote Wild tells the story of Brogan Wilder, the sovereign leader of the pack who finds his mate in his sister’s best friend Eloise Crawford who comes from Australia to attend his sister Rowan’s wedding.

The last thing that Eloise expects to find in her best friend Rowan’s brother is the gut wrenching need that swirls deep within her even from the first moment she lays eyes on him. Eloise who has never felt that way about anyone in the past is taken aback by a desire that rages out of control within her, a need to possess and be possessed by a man who would be a virtual stranger to her if not for Rowan’s stories about him when they were living together. However that doesn’t stop  her from turning to putty in his arms without knowing exactly what she is getting herself into.

Brogan never thought that he would find his mate in his sister’s best friend and that it would turn out to be a human. But the coyote inside of him refuses to stand down once it has Eloise in its sight that lets Brogan know that there would be no turning back from how Eloise makes him feel. Though Brogan knows that he needs to woo Eloise and introduce her gently into their way of life, it doesn’t make the reciprocated look of mind numbing desire in Eloise’s eyes any less easier to ignore. Before Brogan knows what he is doing, all thoughts of gentle introductions fly out of the window and he has Eloise staked and claimed as his mate within no time.

However, learning to embrace her life as a coyote shifter is the least of Eloise’s worries when Brogan’s enemy makes it his quest to destroy Brogan in anyway he can, a man who has long since moved onto the path of insanity rendering him a danger to Brogan and those whom he loves.

Coyote Wild is a great addition to the Coyote Hunger series. I loved learning about Brogan, the responsibilities that he shoulders as the sovereign ruler of the pack and of course learning of his uncontrollable hunger when it comes to anything to do with his mate for life. Eloise turned out to be my most favorite in this story, her courage and utter determination landing her in my list of favorite heroines. And as always, Rhian outdoes herself in delivering the nerve tingling kind of sensuality at the right pace which just makes her books that much better to indulge in. There are so many interesting characters in the Coyote Hunger series that one can’t help but want a story for each and every single one of them. And I hear that Ms. Rhian is working on Doc and Steve’s story which I bet is going to set my Kindle afire when I get my hands on it.

Coyote Hunger series is highly recommended for those who love a good paranormal/fantasy series featuring shape shifters. I loved the shape shifting scenes included in each of the books, wanting to run my hands all over the coyote’s furry coats each single time. For those who love Rhian Cahill’s erotic contemporary stories, you definitely ought to get a taste of what she can do in the paranormal world.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo | Diesel E-Books

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by mvbookreviewer

Requested Review: One Night in Bangkok by Rhian Cahill

Format: E-book
Read with: Amazon Kindle
Length: Novella
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Passport to Passion Collection, Book 1
Publisher: Noble Romance Publishing
Hero: Tom Windham
Heroine: Beth Martin
Sensuality: 4.5
Date of Publication: April 1, 2010
Started On: May 22, 2011
Finished On: May 22, 2011

One Night In Bangkok is book 1 in the Passport to Passion Collection. I have read and absolutely loved the 2nd book in the series, Singapore Fling which was my first Rhian Cahill that signaled the start of my adoration when it comes to what she can deliver in terms of very well done and very, very hot erotica. Likewise, One Night in Bangkok is no exception to the rule and packed into this very short novella lies passion with a depth of intensity that is hard to compete with.

Since this story is quite short, I have decided to kick-start my Interview Review aka I-Review with this novel. I-Review follows a question and answer format for the review which hopefully will do justice to this delectable addition to my collection of favorite contemporary erotica of all time!

You: What made you pick up One Night in Bangkok?

MBR: I received this book from the fabulous Rhian Cahill for reviewing purposes. Even prior to that, I had been eyeing this one since its successor did such a huge number on me. This has been in my review pile for quite a long time and in fact right now I am kicking myself for keeping such a hot little edition without any action whatsoever for so long! Ah, but better late than never eh?

You: Tell us a little bit about the hero!

MBR: Well, to tell you the truth apart from his name being Tom Windham and that he just about seriously depleted the oxygen levels in my room (from hyperventilating throughout the story), there is not much I can tell you. All you need to know is, he is ultra hot, breathtakingly handsome and can about make the heroine scream in pleasure just by looking at her the right way.

You: Now, tell us a little bit about the heroine.

MBR: Beth Martin has just survived the end of a bad relationship, namely her engagement to Alexander Hollister whom she had finally exposed to the world for the lying and cheating character he is. Beth had lost so much of herself during her relationship to Alexander that its her attempt to start over and in the process find herself once again that she flies to Bangkok to begin her new job in Phuket the next day.

You: How does the hero and heroine meet for the first time?

MBR: Sweltering from the heat of Bangkok, Beth makes her way into the bar of her hotel to be offered a drink by the man who has the power to bring her to her knees with just one look, an intense mutual reaction that seems to be shared by both Beth and Tom.

You: What was it that drew you into this story?

MBR: Rhian Cahill has a way of spinning an erotic tale unlike any other. And that is what drew me into One Night in Bangkok as well. I love the way the sizzling sexual tension that escalates to unbearable levels just explodes in Rhian’s novels and this one did that to me in a similar fashion, rendering me speechless a time or two whilst Tom and Beth were heating things up!

You: What was it that you liked about this novella?

MBR: The intense passion between Beth and Tom of course! I just reveled in all that out-of-control, I-would-die-if-I-can’t-have-you-right-now scenes that makes up  this book.

You: If given the chance, would you change anything at all in this novella?

MBR: I would have loved to know just a little bit more about Tom. I know he is hot and if he were to turn up on my doorstep I would definitely haul him in and never let him go. But, I would definitely have loved to know more about his personality and what sort of a guy he is all around.

You: Who would you recommend this to?

MBR: Fans of Rhian Cahill. If you, like me have been keeping this around, gathering computer bugs and what not in your TBR folder somewhere, take an hour or so and READ it! And for those who love erotic contemporary romance, this novella is for you!

You: Any memorable scenes/quotes in the story?

MBR: I loved the moment that Tom’s control snapped, rendering him as much a slave to the intense, heady and explosive attraction between him and Beth. Just flat-out loved it!

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo | Diesel E-Books

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