Category / Contemporary

by mvbookreviewer

Requested Review: Hot Text by Cari Quinn

Format: E-bookhottext
Read with: iBooks for iPhone
Length: Novella
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Hero: Jeffrey Maddox
Heroine: Karyn Colette Allison
Sensuality: 4.5
Date of Publication: November 2, 2011
Started On: November17, 2011
Finished On: November 17, 2011

With Hot Text, Cari Quinn once again proves to me the reason why she is my go to author when it comes to quality erotica that delivers on all fronts. For some Hot Text might be “offensive” in the sense that sexual relations takes place between a married woman who is on the verge of divorce and the hero. But hey, lets face it; in real life things do not exactly go according to our well laid plans. If it did we would all be married to men who wouldn’t let us out of our bedrooms because they cannot get enough of giving us multiple orgasms. And yes, I digress but I just love the fact that Cari is bold enough and is daring enough to write about scenarios that might not be sometimes well received by 100% of the romance reading population but nevertheless for fans like us who want and crave something different, Cari ALWAYS hits the spot with plots of the said nature.

Jeffery Maddox is the two time divorced older brother of Daisy Maddox whose current beau is the married Lonny James who just rubs Jeff the wrong way. Wanting to do something about Lonny before he can break Daisy’s heart, Jeff takes an opportunity that presents itself and meets up with Lonny’s soon to be ex-wife with the intention of asking her to take Lonny back and work things out.

But from the moment Jeff and Karyn lay eyes on each other, the sparks that fly between them are evident. For Karyn who is a pre-school teacher who defines herself as an average person, who has had 10 years of marriage which had failed miserably when her husband had asked for a divorce is not prepared for her almost forgotten body parts to come alive at the sight of the very fine Jeff whose gruff nature just calls to something deep inside of her. 

A night of unforgettable and decadent sex follows, a night during which every misconception that Karyn has ever had regarding herself and her sexuality is put to bed by Jeff who focuses on her with an intensity that just drives her crazy with wanting. For Jeff, its not just a night of sex and he falls hard and fast only to face the harsh and brutal face of reality come morning when none other than Lonny strolls in.

In my opinion, Cari has done what very few authors manage to do in a novel of this length. She has taken two characters who have no inkling of the other’s existence until the night that changes their lives forever, showed sides of them that both endears and makes them unforgettable to the reader and together with that Cari has pitted them in a situation that you don’t find in the average romance novel. And that’s what made this book a winner for me and of course the out of this world scorching heat that Jeff and Karyn generates right from the very start is worthy of mentioning. 

I loved Jeff’s character right from the very minute he said “Not a screamer, huh? Gonna prove you wrong.” Now, who in the world can fault the man behind that logic is just beyond me. Jeff is someone who is wary of marriage and rightfully so when his previous two marriages hadn’t worked out very well. He is the gruff and taciturn type and not much of a people’s person, but yet in my eyes, Jeff communicates just damn fine when he wants to. I loved his intensity, the way he just takes hold of Karyn and plunges his way into a world of sensuality with her that leaves both of them hungering for more of where that came from. His take charge attitude, the way he solely focuses on giving Karyn a night she would not forget anytime soon and of course the way he can find humor in those little things just made him a favorite hero of mine.

Karyn doesn’t expect her world to turn upside down when she answers the text message she receives from her husband’s mobile phone. And when Jeff turns out to be the man who proves to her in just one night how wrong she has been in neglecting herself, her wants, needs and desires the past couple of years, Karyn knows its time to take charge of her life and let go of the past and fight for all those things that she has accepted as her due. Divorce is hard and messy on anybody and doubly so for Karyn when she cannot make up her mind, when she still cannot fully comprehend the fact that 10 years of her life had just meant nothing to the man she had shared it with when he had asked for a divorce. It is her encounter with Jeff that bursts through the bubble she has wrapped herself in and it is then Karyn realizes that has a lot of “growing up” to do before she can proceed with whatever it is between Jeff and herself.

I loved the concept, the hero and the heroine and of course the neat little epilogue that Cari tucked in at the end. If you like myself are a fan of tastefully done erotic romances that deliver on the not-your-average tropes and a hero to definitely drool over; Hot Text is the novella for you! For fans of Cari Quinn, this is another little goody which would have to tide us fans over until she can publish another decadently sinful novel for us to enjoy!

Favorite Quotes

He didn’t reply but by then she’d found something else to occupy her attention. His eyes.
Though she’d expected them to be as serviceable as the rest of him, they were a smoky blue-gray fringed in dark lashes. Pretty eyes. Even when he stared her down like a cop might a perp. And not just any perp. One who was heavily armed and an imminent flight risk.

She expected an easy kiss. Good, perhaps, but not intense. He seemed like a low-key, moderately passionate person. As she’d been, without the right stimulation.
Without this.
What she got was a glancing blow of lips that soon turned to a furious meshing of mouths and teeth. It wasn’t elegant. It was messy and rough and God help her, bordered on dirty.

Even when she’d fantasized, what she’d come up with hadn’t ever matched this reality. She’d never envisioned a sexy, borderline grouchy guy with a glint in his eye and an erection this tempting. 

He inched in, slid out. Pumped deeper, pulled away. Just as her frustration swelled to a fuckingly epic level, he hauled her hips up, dragging her higher before he sank all the way in, filling her so completely she gasped.
Her flesh stretched, unaccustomed to a man after so long. Each thrust stirred her unspeakably. More than just her p#ssy linked with him when he slid into her. A little part of her heart did as well. 

Karyn reached out to graze his jaw with her thumb, savoring the beginnings of stubble. She’d never seen her ex with stubble. Or with his mouth as deliciously soft and used as Jeff’s.
“How’d we end up here?” she asked softly, not expecting an answer.
“Luck,” he said, turning his head to kiss her palm. “Blind fucking luck.”

Soft strokes and tender words of praise might’ve made her suspicious but his rough manner helped her to trust him. What she saw was what she got with Jeff Maddox. And what she saw, she liked. A lot.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Jasmine Jade

outstandingread

 

Reviewer’s Note: I just had to mention this as part of this review. I was listening to Give Me Everything by Pitbull feat Nayer, Ne-Yo while reading this  and somehow, that song ended up being one that was perfectly in sync with the events that took place in the story.

I loved the following part of the lyrics:

Tonight I will love love you tonight
Give me everything tonight
For all we know we might not get tomorrow
Let’s do it tonight
I will love love you tonight
Give me everything tonight
For all we know we might not get tomorrow
Lets do it tonight
[…]
Grab somebody sexy tell ‘em hey
Give me everything tonight
Give me everything tonight
by mvbookreviewer

Requested Review: Outspoken Angel By Mia Dymond

Format: E-bookoutspokenangel
Read with: iBooks for iPad/iPhone
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Series: SEALS Inc., Book 2
Publisher: Self Published
Hero: Maximilian Sterling
Heroine: Cameron Michelle Tremaine
Sensuality: 3.5
Date of Publication: September 19, 2011
Started On: November 14, 2011
Finished On: November 15, 2011

Outspoken Angel, book 2 in the SEALs Inc. series turned out to be as awesome as I had envisioned it to be; as fabulous as the drool-worthy cover this one carries. You cannot read Leather, Lace and Rock-n-Roll, the 1st book in the series without absolutely dying to read Cameron and Max’s story, which is the reason why I ended up gobbling up their story right afterwards.

42 year old Maximilian Sterling is a retired SEAL and the owner of the top-notch security company SEALs Inc. Having spent years in the military had honed him into a well-oiled machine, someone who likes order in all aspects of his life and someone who is leery of emotions. When Max butts heads with the too sexy for her own good Cameron Michelle Tremaine who is his opposite in each and every single way, Max has a feeling that life as he had known it is about to come crashing down at his feet.

Cameron has led the sort of childhood where the importance of keeping up the family name and appearances has been drummed into her from early on. Now an interior designer and an independent working woman, it is no wonder that Cameron rebels at the very thought of another man controlling her life and her actions and that is why she continues to deny her sizzling hot attraction when it comes to Max who sets her senses afire just by that hard toned body of his alone.

Though Max tries his damnedest to steer clear of Cameron and the bulldozing effect she has on his life and emotions, all bets are off when Cameron starts receiving threats and gets stalked within an inch of her life. Max swears upon his life that he would protect her to his very last breathe and moves in with Cameron just so he can provide her with the 24/7 protection that she needs.

Any true fan of romance can guess what would happen next when the gruff and tough Max faces off with the quirky and slightly out of control Cameron in her own turf and that is exactly what happens as bit by bit and chunk by chunk Max finds his resolve & control chipped away until all he can think about and dream about is Cameron under him and over him and in anyway that involves both of them sated, sweaty and too tired to think of anything else!

Maximilian Sterling is such a deliciously tough hero on the outside and a softie on the inside. He is the type of hero you can rely on to keep you safe from the demons that rage on the outside as well as the inside and he just totally won me over with his sweet and tender nature that comes out to play when Cameron needs it the most.

Cameron is the sort of heroine that makes one smile when reading about her. She is smart, sassy and has a mouth that would tempt a man to kiss it close for all the innuendos that she so finely dishes out. When it comes to Max, though Cameron has her misgivings about him, she still cannot deny the fact that she is more turned on by Max than with anyone else in her life. When Max is around, all Cameron can focus on is how fine he looks from his bald head to all those well defined abs and how it would feel to just give into the desire that has reared its head between them right from the very start.

As the danger escalates, so does the desire between Max and Cameron which reaches its fevered pitch on which Mia delivers so fabulously on. I loved the moments of passion between Max and Cameron; again Max hitting all those buttons that begs to be pushed spot on. And I find it refreshing that Mia doesn’t waste any time when it comes to professing the feelings between the two lead characters, no playing coy waiting for the other to come out and say it; which is what happens in Outspoken Angel as well.

Romantic suspense with elements of humor, sassy banter and a tough and tender hero that just about took my breathe away; Outspoken Angel is highly recommended for fans of the genre!

Favorite Quotes

He pulled her to him and walked her backwards to the bed. Gently, he laid her back, and came down over her to unclasp the catch of her bra with one flick of a finger.
“Cameron baby,” he whispered, “the angels are about to sing.”

Max smoothed Cameron’s curls from her forehead and placed a feather light kiss there before he rolled beside her. While his heart beat a jungle rhythm, his soul remained rooted firmly inside hers.

Being the dutiful soldier he was, he didn’t waste energy on trivial matters. If something needed to be done, he did it. If something needed to be said, he said it. Honestly, bluntly and finally. And he loved her. Just because. No explanation necessary. Consequences be damned.

Purchase Links: Barnes&Noble | Smashwords

awesomeread

by mvbookreviewer

Requested Review: Leather, Lace and Rock-n-Roll By Mia Dymond

Format: E-bookleatherlaceandrocknroll
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Series: SEALS Inc., Book 1
Publisher: Self Published
Hero: Jayden Hawke
Heroine: Rachel Newberry
Sensuality: 3.5
Date of Publication: September 8, 2011
Started On: November 13, 2011
Finished On: November 14, 2011

When Mia Dymond approached me with a request for review, it was Outspoken Angel, the next book in the series that actually caught my eye. Little did I know that book 1;  Leather, Lace and Rock-n-Roll would turn out to be such a fabulous read and that in order for one to enjoy the second book to the max, one certainly has to read book 1 first to become truly invested in the wonderful, quirky characters that Mia has created in this series.

Rachel Newberry is an architect, sought out by the mega-rich and constantly in high demand and uber busy, which suites her just fine. The one thing she has learnt from her painful and humiliating past is to never take her professional reputation for granted, and that is one reason why Rachel remains always in control of her emotions, especially when it comes to the opposite sex.

When Cameron, her best friend urges her to let go and attend the Jaydon Hawke concert, little does Rachel know that she is skillfully being lured by a group of Navy SEALS who are undercover and hunting down a terrorist with whom Rachel is suspected to be involved.

From the moment that Jayden meets Rachel, the attraction that simmers between them lights up the pages, drawing the reader into a world of sensual haze whenever they are together. Rachel is more than reluctant to get involved with a rock star who has hundreds of screaming and wanton women after him at each corner of the world.

For Jayden, Rachel is a lure that he cannot deny, his mission be damned. Having never had to work for a woman’s affections before, Rachel certainly throws him into a loop wondering what it is that he has to do in order to win her trust and affection. And when Rachel becomes the target of vicious attacks, all bets are off and Jayden is prepared to do everything in his power to keep her safe and in his life for all time to come.

Leather, Lace and Rock-n-Roll is such a great read and I am surprised that more people aren’t aware of its existence. Multi-faceted characters lend this story a richness that makes this such a compelling read, the heat and sensuality between Jayden and Rachel of the scorching variety; just the panty-melting kind.

Cameron’s character is one that really drew me in, and Max who is the head of the operation who constantly butts heads with Cameron just made me smile and at times laugh out loud with the sassy banter between them.

Leather, Lace and Rock-n-Roll is a diamond of a novel, with its hidden layers and multiple facets that just makes for an unbeatable reading experience. There is plenty of humor in the story, Rachel whose serious nature misleads one to think that she wouldn’t know what to do even if a joke comes and slaps her on her forehead. But the underlying sense of humor she has makes for one of the best parts of her character.

Rachel is quite vulnerable, especially when it comes to Jayden because she doesn’t think she is the kind of beauty that people would expect someone like Jayden to have in his life. How Jayden proves her deliciously wrong at every turn was what made him such a compelling and sexy hero.

Though I loved many aspects of the story, there were certain bits that could have really made this into an all out fantastic one. I would have loved to know more about Jayden for instance, his history and how he came about and his life before he became a SEAL/rock star. And though I felt that Rachel catapulted a bit too easily towards the end, Jayden does make up for everything in the best way possible.

Recommended highly for those who love romance, humor, and bits of suspense together with huge hunks of male leads in their stories and sassy banter throughout. Loved this from start to finish and cannot wait to dig into Cameron and Max’s story which is beckoning me from my bookshelves even as I write down my review.

Favorite Quotes

Rachel returned to the circle of his arms and thought she might possibly combust. Even the summer night breeze that moved the silk against her torso couldn’t cool her. Braced against her car in the moonlight with his shirt fully open this time, Hawke posed as her own personal Adonis, poised for her touch.

FREE Download Links: Barnes&Noble | Smashwords

awesomeread

by mvbookreviewer

ARC Review: Icebound by Julie Rowe

Format: E-bookicebound
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Carina Press
Hero: Tom Wolinski
Heroine: Dr. Emilie Saunderson
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: November 14, 2011
Started On: November 11, 2011
Finished On: November 12, 2011

Icebound is the story that delivered me from the recent bout of doldrums that I have been suffering from in the world of romanceldia. From the opening page itself, Julie Rowe managed to entice me into turning the next page to find more on what Icebound could deliver.

Dr. Emilie Saunderson makes her way to the South Pole to finish the research her husband had been doing before his sudden death that still torments Emilie one year on. Still grieving over the loss of David and their unborn child, Emilie is betting on the isolation of working in the most stark, cold and barren place the Earth could provide to bring her the closure that she seeks.

However, all her dreams of keeping her problems to herself and working her way through dies an early death when she meets the sexy Tom Wolinski, the South Pole Station manager. Her attraction towards him is an immediate one which makes Emilie question her sanity and of course makes her feel guilty enough to question whether one year after the death of David is a bit too soon to move on.

But life in Antarctica demands from people a lot more than one’s average workplace and Emilie realizes that all too soon when the harsh environment plays havoc with the lives of more than one of their team members. And through it all, Emilie’s feelings towards Tom continues to grow though Tom makes it clear right from the very start that he is not a man for long term relationships.

Icebound is a great contemporary romance told from Emilie’s point of view, Julie Rowe’s ability to draw in the reader an obvious one right from the very start. Tom  turned out to such a devastatingly sexy and alluring hero though his point of view is not given in the novel, his tortured nature making me remember Callum from Lauren’s Eyes by Norah Wilson.

I fell in love with Emilie right from the start because she accepts Tom for who he is right from the very beginning. Tom is someone who firmly believes that there is no good that resides inside of him and that there is no way he is fit to be any woman’s partner on a long term basis. But in Emilie he finds a woman who is strong enough to accept the good with the bad and someone who is patient enough to give him the time and support needed to overcome his fear of himself.

I loved those tidbits about the harsh reality that is life in Antarctica that Julie brings so vividly to life right from the very start. The romance between Tom and Emilie is a believable and compelling one at that and the story with just enough extra fodder to make it a great read.

Recommended for fans of contemporary romances in unique settings; Antarctica being one of the most unique settings one can get.

Loved the romance, the characters and the ending though an epilogue would have been a nice touch to make this a fantastic one!

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Carina Press

greatread

by mvbookreviewer

Score Sheet Review: Needing Nita by Norah Wilson

Format: E-bookneedingnita.jpg
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novella
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: To Serve and Protect, #3.5
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Craig Walker
Heroine: Nita Reynolds
Sensuality: 3.5
Date of Publication: September 11, 2010
Started On: November 12, 2011
Finished On: November 12, 2011

CATEGORY SCORE GRADE
The hero 100 A
The heroine 95 A
Story line 90 A
Emotional Intensity 100 A
Story’s ability to suck me in 100 A
Heat & Sensuality 100 A
Conflicts within the story 85 A
Writing Style 100 A
Quotable Factor 100 A
The Ending 100 A
Overall Grade 97 A

Score Sheet Summary

This is by far my favorite in the To Serve and Protect series. This little novella is tucked in after book 3 (Protecting Paige) in the series of which I have read all 3 books published, and focuses solely on the romance and connection between the two lead protagonists with no suspense elements whatsoever.

This little number should convince readers to give the whole series a go because at the cost of repeating myself, Norah has that ability to draw the reader in and inevitably deliver an unforgettable reading experience.

I loved Craig as you can see from the 100% he scored in my ratings. He is uber sexy, protective and did I mention sexaay? And he whispers those dirty bits in Nita’s ears (when he whispered that he was so ready for Nita, I just about said out loud, oh baby so am I); that just made me sigh all over my e-reader and go all tingly which just went to show how invested I was in the characters and the story.

The connection and sensuality is just off the charts hot, the characters darn endearing and the delivery plain fantastic that just earns this novella a place from my favorites shelves.

If you are new to Norah’s writing, this delicious morsel is exactly your place to start because I just know that if you are an avid romance fan like myself; Needing Nita would just leave you begging for more!

 Favorite Quotes

He pulled her into the alley between the restaurant and the art gallery next door, pushed her up against the cool brick of the building and kissed her.
It was not a searching, tentative kiss. It was urgent and fiercely demanding, as were the hands that skimmed down her shoulders to her hips.

“Why did you call me?” he said.
The question took her aback. She touched her tongue to her upper lip in a gesture she hoped would distract him. “I should think that would be obvious by now.”
He smiled. “Honey, that was obvious from the first time we locked horns in the court room.”

“I want to marry you because you’re the one, Nita. Period.” He pinned her with his gaze, fierce and outrageously blue. “I’ve never felt like this before. I want to lie beside you and just listen to you breathe. When I’ve had a shitty day, I want to come home to you and lay my head in your lap and feel your hands on my face. And when you’ve had a shitty day and it feels like one more straw is gonna break your back, I want to be there to carry the load for you. I want you to tell me your darkest fears, and be able to tell you mine.”

“You are so beautiful,” he breathed. “Watching you come like that … feeling you come like that…. Christ, Nita, I could die happy.”
She closed her eyes.
“No, don’t baby. Keep your eyes open. I want you to stay with me while we kiss and whisper and fuck.” 

FREE Download Links: Barnes&Noble | Smashwords

fantasticread

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Gabriel Hawk’s Lady by Beverly Barton

Format: E-bookgabrielhawkslady
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Series: Protectors, Book 9
Publisher: Harlequin
Hero: Gabriel Hawk
Heroine: Aurora Dean
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: December 1, 1997 
Started On: November 10, 2011
Finished On: November 11, 2011

In my quest to read a book featuring a dangerous and sexy alpha hero, I found myself veering towards this Harlequin intrigue that is also a jungle adventure romantic suspense. Though there were moments in the book I would have done away with, it still warranted as a great read for me because of the beautiful epilogue at the end of the story.

35 year old Gabriel Hawk wears danger around him like the clothes on his back. From the enormous tattoo on his left hand to the gold ring in his left ear, Hawk is a man who has never had time for sentiment in his life. Living for the rush that danger gives his life, Hawk walks away from the CIA job he has held as an undercover agent for the past 12 years when his last mission breaks something deep inside of him. Now 3 years on, Hawk works as a professional body guard, that fatal day during his last mission never too far away from his mind.

27 year old Aurora Dean is the daughter of a minister and the a Southern lady of innocence when it comes to carnal desires. Though she craves love and physical intimacy as she has seen throughout her parents marriage, Rorie is a woman not willing to give up her heart to just anybody. The last three years of her life had been spent earning enough money to support her mission of retrieving her nephew from the clutches of the civil war ridden Puerto Angelo.

Enlisting the help of Hawk turns out to be much more than Rorie bargained for when from the first moment Rorie is drawn towards the altogether too dangerous Hawk. Hawk is determined that he go alone on this mission; the mission that just might make him be able to forgive himself and Rorie is just as determined to do whatever it takes for her to be an equal partner in the mission that she has worked so hard for up till now.

So begins an adventure that is riddled with danger from warring factions and a period of time that tests the iron clad resolve of Hawk never to get involved with an innocent because he has nothing to offer a woman for long term. However, in Rorie Hawk finds a woman who is more than his match, a woman who for the first time in his lonely existence is willing to put her life, trust and heart on the line for him, a trust he might shatter to pieces if the truth were ever to come out.

I liked and enjoyed the overall story this one presents, the adventure and romance aspect both given equal importance as the story progressed. Two people who are the definite opposites of one another continue to find that in each other lies their future together, and the chemistry and attraction between Hawk and Rorie of the toe-curling variety serves to be the icing on this piece of cake.

The epilogue as I mentioned before was a beautiful one, and made me increase the book’s rating from a mere good read to a GREAT one; just goes to show what a well done epilogue could mean for the rating of a book.

Gabriel Hawk’s Lady is a mix of adventure and romance that blends well to give a story that entices you to keep turning the pages till the end.

Recommended for fans of jungle based adventure romances.

Favorite Quotes

The man towered over her five-foot-four-inch frame by a good ten inches. He was big, dark and deadly-looking, with piercing ebony eyes and long, silky black hair secured in a ponytail. Dressed all in black—leather jacket, cotton shirt and jeans—he blended into the night like a prince of darkness. Rorie shuddered at the thought. Whoever or whatever this man was, he was danger personified.

“Have you ever done any running or jogging?” Hawk asked.
[…]
“I walk,” she told him. “I’ve never had any desire to run or jog.”
“Why not? Don’t you like to sweat?”
“As a matter of fact, I don’t.” She smiled. “Besides, Southern ladies never sweat. We don’t even perspire.”
“Then what the hell do you do?”
“We glow.”

He had wanted. He had needed. He had desired. And he had taken. But he had never loved.

 

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | BooksOnBoard

greatread

by mvbookreviewer

Score Sheet Review: Perfectly Satisfied by Tori Scott

Format: E-bookperfectlysatisfied
Read with: IBOOKS for IPAD
Length: Novella
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Satisfaction, Book 2
Publisher: Self-Published
Hero: Sam Hyatt
Heroine: Regina Baker
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: October 31, 2011
Started On: November 9, 2011
Finished On: November 10, 2011

CATEGORY SCORE GRADE
The hero 80 A
The heroine 80 A
Story line 70 B
Emotional Intensity 50 C
Story’s ability to suck me in 60 B
Heat & Sensuality in the story 60 B
Conflicts within the story 60 B
Writing Style 65 B
Quotable Factor 50 C
The ending 60 B
Overall Grade 63.5 B

Report Score Summary

Even when I read Satisfaction Guaranteed, the first book in the Satisfaction series by Tori Scott, it was Regina Baker and Sam Hyatt’s characters that sucked me right in and held my attention, more so than he actual hero and heroine in the story. So I was very much eager to get my hands on their story when it released at the end of last month, and though I liked the overall story, I wasn’t perfectly satisfied with how the story turned out.

I wanted just a little bit more time with Reggie and Sam who were as likable as I remembered them to be. Sam and Reggie are the type of characters who deserve a full length novel to be based on them and maybe that’s one reason why I felt a bit cheated out of this short novella that features them. They have both got so much history together, having become friends since the 3rd grade and Reggie being in love with Sam ever since. It would have been so much fun to see them being put through situations to test their attraction and longing towards each other, more so on Sam’s part since he is the one who continues to be in denial throughout their friendship. 

I just felt that towards the end, Sam just “fell” in love a little bit too suddenly for my tastes and though Tori was fabulous in delivering a good little story perfect as an escape read I just wanted more for my favorite characters from the series which in the end lowered my overall rating for the story.

Recommended for fans of Tori Scott and fans of the Satisfaction Guaranteed who like myself have been on tenterhooks for Reggie and Sam’s story.

Favorite Quotes

She came up for air, ready to apologize, when strong arms lifted her from the water and firm lips captured hers. She knew, even without looking, that it was Sam. And she put everything she had into the kiss. If she only had one shot, she’d make it her best.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Smashwords

favorableread

by mvbookreviewer

Review: Wanted by Her Lost Love by Maya Banks

Format: Paperbackwantedbyherlostlove
Read with: Paperback
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Pregnancy & Passion, Book 2
Publisher: Harlequin
Hero: Ryan Beardsley
Heroine: Kelly Christian
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: November 1, 2011
Started On: November 8, 2011
Finished On: November 9, 2011

My first paperback read after AGES turned out to be a great one. Wanted by Her Lost Love by Maya Banks is a great romance to lose yourself in if you have got about 2 hours to spare. In the midst of the intense and lengthy reads that I have been indulging in, not to mention the stress of the last couple of days, Wanted by Her Lost Love delivered exactly what I wanted right from the very minute I turned the first page.

Ryan Beardsley is looking for Kelly Christian, his ex-fiance, whom he believes betrayed him in the worst possible way ever. But something about the way she left, and the fact that she had never cashed in the check that he threw her way upon their bitter break-up tugs at Ryan until he hires a private investigator to find her.

When Ryan does find Kelly, she is 7 months pregnant and working at a restaurant in Houston, looking almost done in with the stress and heavy work load. Though Ryan cannot be sure of the fact whether the child could be his, that doesn’t stop him from bulldozing his way into Kelly’s life and swooping in to take care of her.

When Kelly sights Ryan sitting in the cafe she works at, she seethes with anger and reels from the fresh sting of betrayal she feels at the sight of him. What his family and Ryan himself had subjected her to, she would never forgive and forget but what she doesn’t contemplate on is just how far Ryan is willing to go to prove to her just how much she means to him. But Kelly wonders all along; would the truth about what happened that fateful day drive them apart once again or would it cement the love between them for all eternity?

Maya Banks provides the reader with a story heavy on angst, with likeable characters and of course the baddies who just make your skin crawl with the vileness of their thoughts and deeds. I rooted for Kelly right from the very start, going as far as to actively cheer her on when she laid it out to Ryan. I wanted Ryan to really go through Hell for not believing in Kelly when she had needed his trust and love the most and I was not disappointed.

Ryan certainly redeems himself well and through before the story is done, those sweet little gifts that he leaves for Kelly that just tugged at my heartstrings as it must have for Kelly. And the way he takes care of Kelly, always putting her needs first, that was the ultimate winning point with Ryan’s character.

Let me not forget Cameron Hollingsworth who has got that reclusive brooding thing down to a fine art, whose story I am most definitely going to be on the lookout for.

With likeable characters and a story that plunges you into a sweet and satisfying romance, Wanted by Her Lost Love comes highly recommended from the sunny side of life! 

by mvbookreviewer

Requested Review: Hidden Threat by Sherri Hayes

Format: E-bookhiddenthreat
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Series: Standalone
Publisher: The Writer’s Coffee Shop
Hero: Matthew Andersen
Heroine: Cali Stanton
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: December 3, 2010
Started On: November 6, 2011
Finished On: November 7, 2011

Hidden Threat by Sherri Hayes is my very first novel by the author and one that I immensely enjoyed reading. 28 year old Cali Stanton, heiress to the multi-million dollar Stanton Enterprises is summoned by her father back to the States whilst on one of her tours to Africa with her team of Doctors Without Borders. Cali rushes back home though finances and dealing with the day-to-day management of a company is the furthest thing she wants to be doing.

Cali’s first day at work turns out to be one filled with surprises from her gut deep reaction towards the 31 year old Matthew Andersen who manages the security aspect of the building and the company to the shocking news that Matthew imparts that leaves Cali reeling. The news that her father has been personally receiving threats which had escalated in nature oft late and that those vicious threats may now be targeted towards her is totally not what Cali had been looking forward to.

Matthew is shell shocked by his visceral reaction towards the daughter of his boss who in turn is going to be acting as his boss for the next three months. Matthew thrives on control and order in his life and he is not at all pleased to find that the mere presence of Cali puts all his emotions on a wild roller coaster ride which he resists with every fiber of his being.

The sexual attraction and the sizzle that lingers between Cali and Matthew takes the centre-stage of this story as both of them try to brush aside their attraction towards each other as anything else but that. But when the danger escalates throwing Cali right in the midst of it  all, there is no stopping Matthew from taking charge of her life, vowing to keep her safe until the hidden threat is neutralized once and for all.

Sharing living quarters with the woman who has been playing centrefold in his dreams ever since she entered his life seems to chip away at the last bit of resistance that Matthew has got. Though Matthew knows that for him, Cali is just more than a simple affair, there is no moving forward in their relationship until the villain is caught, who seems to be working more closely in their organization than any of them foresaw.

Though I am not much of a fan of rehashing events in novels, somehow that works in this story bringing to light just how far and deep Cali and Matthews’ attraction runs for each other. Sherri has the reader practically squirming before delivering on all that fabulous sexual tension which was one of the best aspects of the novel.

Matthew has a control on his emotions and behavior that is a bit daunting as nothing fazes him and ceretainly no female has ever had him in a twist, that is until Cali enters his otherwise mundane and well ordered life and makes him lose every shred of that control that is legendary amongst those who knows him. Its the way Sherri brings his character to life, showing just how much his sort of forbidden attraction towards Cali affects him that makes this such a compelling read.

Cali’s character is an endearing one as well, one who doesn’t hide behind pretenses and secrets but rather takes what she can get with Matthew even when she knows that by the end of the affair, her heart might just shatter into pieces. And though she lets Matthew control aspects of her life due to danger that surrounds her, I admired her because she is no pushover though she loves Matthew to pieces and would lay down her very life for him.

Worthy of a mention is the secondary romance that takes place between Jason, Matthews’ older brother and Cali’s assistant Lisa that continues throughout the story.

Hidden Threat is a novel that compels you to keep on turning one page after the other, just so that you can spend a few more minutes immersed in the magic that is Cali and Matthew.

Recommended for fans of romantic suspense strong in the romance element, with sizzling sensuality that works its magic all the way!

Favorite Quotes

He took her face in his hands and claimed her mouth with his. It felt like he had been drowning, and she was his life raft. This was not a soft, sensual kiss. This was a kiss of desperation. A kiss of need, not want. And Cali needed it just as much as Matthew.

by mvbookreviewer

Requested ARC Review: Risking Trust by Adrienne Giordano

Format: E-bookriskingtrust
Read with: iBooks for iPad
Length: Novel
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Series: Private Protector’s, Book 3
Publisher: Carina Press
Hero: Michael Taylor
Heroine: Roxann Thorgesson
Sensuality: 3
Date of Publication: November 7, 2011
Started On: November 5, 2011
Finished On: November 6, 2011

Believe it or not Risking Trust by Adrienne Giordanno is actually the book that started Adrienne’s writing journey and acts as the beginning of the the Private Protector’s series. Though this is the third book published in the series, this story actually takes place before Man Law, the first book of the series which made me sit up and take notice of Adrienne’s writing style.

39 year old Michael Taylor, CEO of one of the nation’s most private and elite security companies finds himself the number one suspect in the murder of his wife Alicia, whom he has been separated from and embroiled in a financially ugly divorce for the past two years. Wanting to prove his innocence in the most public manner possible, Michael approaches Roxann Thorgesson, owner of the Banner-Herald who happens to be his ex-girlfriend from twelve years back.

35 year old Roxann’s life has just about spun out of control since the sudden death of her beloved father. Watching Michael stroll into her office and offering her exclusive rights to all his life past and present in exchange for her helping him uncover the real killer seems like the icing on the cake. Though Roxann would love nothing better than to tell Michael to run back to his life and leave her alone like he had done twelve years back without any explanations, the curious nature within her as well as her heart which still remembers the happiness that had been her life when they had been together refuses to let her do so.

Delving into the murder of the woman who had married the man she had wanted beyond anything else and keeping her emotions intact seems to be one of the toughest challenges Roxann has encountered up till now. The close proximity which the investigation puts her in with Michael weakens her resolve not to get involved with the man who had broken her heart and never looked back. As the investigation opens up a can of worms neither expected, so emerges the reasons why Michael had left her which clears up the air for both of them to start over; only if they can find the real killer behind the murder.

Risking Trust is the story that serves as the missing component when I first delved into Man Law. Back then, I had no clue whatsoever that Michael had a story of his own. And I am so very glad that Carina Press decided to publish his story which serves as a really good beginning for the whole series. If you haven’t read this series yet, I recommend that you kick it off by starting with this one.

With Adrienne’s trademark wit, style and humor, she reels the reader in with this installment as well; none of the cardboard variety characters to be found in her stories, but people you can most definitely relate to which makes her stories unbeatable. She has a way of portraying her characters that is unlike any other and pits them together in the most difficult situations which they work through like heroes and heroines who definitely deserve the happily ever after at the end. Time and yet again, it is the style and prose with which Adrienne delivers her stories that keeps me her #1 fan when it comes to her Private Protector’s series.

Michael is the broody, ex-military hero who finds himself living his worst nightmare when the police refuses to investigate any other avenues in the investigation of his wife’s murder. His regrets makes him human, his resolve to win back Roxann’s affections that makes him an alluring hero!

Roxann is a heroine who makes for a very worthy partner for Michael in every single way. She is the type to stubbornly stick to the side of those whom she loves which makes her unbeatable as a heroine. I loved her style, her sense of humor and the way she fights the panic that threatens to submerge her even if she were to give an inch.

And that brings me to my favorite character Vic Andrews. Whenever he strolled into the picture in all his come-get-me-now-sexiness, I felt a grin tugging at the corners of my mouth and an overwhelming urge to just sigh and crumple at his feet as one big puddle of goo! Yep, he is that good and I believe even if I had never read or heard of Vic before this story, I would still have ended up half in love with him by the time this one was done!

Combining explosive passion and a story of second chances twelve years in the making, Risking Trust is a novel that stands true to Adrienne’s remarkable talent as one of the best RS authors out there

Highly recommended for those who love humor, wit and verbal swordplay in their romantic suspense, there is none who does it better than Adrienne.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Carina Press

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