Romantic suspense
Witnesses to a shocking crime, three men must face the dangers of the past to unlock the passion in their hearts…
Logan Callahan has fought hard to forget what happened that fateful day, so long ago. But every night he tries to sleep, he relives the nightmare. Every time he closes his eyes, he sees the woman whose life he could not save…
A newcomer in town, Skye O’Brien is a mystery to Logan. Like him, she is a night owl. Like him, she is fighting her own demons. Like him, she hides a secret in her eyes—a fire that consumes him with every glance. Could she be the one to heal him?
When Logan’s ex-lover is brutally murdered, his past implicates him as suspect—and his new neighbor Skye may be the only person he can turn to. Together, they share an attraction that can’t be denied. But as he searches for the real killer, he discovers that Skye is tracking down a murderer too—and she intends to use him to do it.
{3 stars}
This series could be so much more. The base plot line is a good mystery, the Callahan cousins lost their parents in the same crash. And now the cousins have to stay in order to inherit their trust funds or forfeit it all. But whoever killed their parents wants to make sure they get nothing, including love and children. Every lover they have had since returning to Corbin County has been murdered by "the slasher", and now the impatient man behind all this has brought in an assassin to move his plot along. Skye has come to town to avenge her sisters murder, she was one of the slashers victims merely because she was friends with Logan. But the attraction between Logan and Skye is magnetic, and they can't stay away from each other.
This book moves the story along, but I have issues with the details. (And I put it down several times to read other books).The family tree is hard to follow, and there are lazy editorial errors throughout. This series could be so much more in my opinion. But as much as that irritates me, I have to finish this series. The mystery is such a good puzzle that I need to know how it ends....
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Amanda Stevens--The Prophet (Graveyard Queen series #3)
Paranormal romance
My name is Amelia Gray.I am the Graveyard Queen, a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. My father passed down four rules to keep me safe and I've broken every last one. A door has opened and evil wants me back.
In order to protect myself, I've vowed to return to those rules. But the ghost of a murdered cop needs my help to find his killer. The clues lead me to the dark side of Charleston—where witchcraft, root doctors and black magic still flourish—and back to John Devlin, a haunted police detective I should only love from afar.Now I'm faced with a terrible choice: follow the rules or follow my heart.
{4.5 stars}
Eerie & suspenseful. Stevens brings in old south superstitions to mix with a great suspenseful mystery. This all started with Amelia restoring an old cemetery in Charleston, where she found herself right in the middle of the path of a serial killer. This is where she meets John Devlin, the detective working the case. But he has his own mystery surrounding him, the death of his wife and daughter. After taking a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains in book two, where we discover Amelia's roots, we have now returned to Charleston, and back to Devlin. The mystery surrounding Devlin is not simple, it has many layers, suspects, and lots of supernatural elements. The Ghosts of Devlins past are reaching out to Amelia, including the ghost of the detective murdered the day Mariama and Shani died. If you are not from the south some of the aspects of this series may be confusing, but I think it's all blended well with the core mystery of the book. Stevens has a real knack for the this kind of mystery, I really love her style. And I'm really happy to find out that this series is going to continue on past this trilogy. Amelia is a great character, and each cemetery she restores has its own story to tell. Give Graveyard Queen a try, I think anyone with a taste for suspense will enjoy them.
My name is Amelia Gray.I am the Graveyard Queen, a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. My father passed down four rules to keep me safe and I've broken every last one. A door has opened and evil wants me back.
In order to protect myself, I've vowed to return to those rules. But the ghost of a murdered cop needs my help to find his killer. The clues lead me to the dark side of Charleston—where witchcraft, root doctors and black magic still flourish—and back to John Devlin, a haunted police detective I should only love from afar.Now I'm faced with a terrible choice: follow the rules or follow my heart.
{4.5 stars}
Eerie & suspenseful. Stevens brings in old south superstitions to mix with a great suspenseful mystery. This all started with Amelia restoring an old cemetery in Charleston, where she found herself right in the middle of the path of a serial killer. This is where she meets John Devlin, the detective working the case. But he has his own mystery surrounding him, the death of his wife and daughter. After taking a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains in book two, where we discover Amelia's roots, we have now returned to Charleston, and back to Devlin. The mystery surrounding Devlin is not simple, it has many layers, suspects, and lots of supernatural elements. The Ghosts of Devlins past are reaching out to Amelia, including the ghost of the detective murdered the day Mariama and Shani died. If you are not from the south some of the aspects of this series may be confusing, but I think it's all blended well with the core mystery of the book. Stevens has a real knack for the this kind of mystery, I really love her style. And I'm really happy to find out that this series is going to continue on past this trilogy. Amelia is a great character, and each cemetery she restores has its own story to tell. Give Graveyard Queen a try, I think anyone with a taste for suspense will enjoy them.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Sophie Oak--Pure Bliss (Nights in Bliss #6)
Erotic Romance-menage
Bliss, Colorado, gave Hope McLean a second chance at life, but she's hiding a dark secret.
Raised as brothers, James Glen and Noah Bennett always dreamed of finding a woman to share their lives on the Circle G ranch. James would run the ranch, while Noah served the town of Bliss as the resident vet. But when a woman came between the brothers, Noah fled for New York City and James was left to struggle for the ranch's survival alone.
Now that Noah has returned, he will do anything to repay his debt to James. When he sees Hope, he knows she is the woman they both have been waiting for. But just as their love begins to bloom, a nightmare from Hope's past returns to claim her.
To save Hope, and themselves, they will have to reclaim the brotherhood that was shattered and fight for their future.
{3.5 stars}
Don't let the menage factor sway your choice to read this one, there was way more courting/drama/chasing going on than bedroom play. But if you are a fan of Sophie Oak, you already know how she "plays". Hope, James, and Noah are a great trio, and I really liked their storyline, but I felt like it was too short. I can't put my finger on it, because I thought they were great characters and their romance was passionate, if not a little to cutsie. But the overall length of their story left me wanting more, way more. The end was quick and anti-climactic. We gained a few new residents of Bliss with promising future story lines, but this one just didn't leave an impression on me. Not a bad read by any means, just not the passionate read I was hoping for at this time. Looking forward to the next one, I'm really hoping we return to Dallas/Texas Sirens and get Wolf and Leo's story!
Bliss, Colorado, gave Hope McLean a second chance at life, but she's hiding a dark secret.
Raised as brothers, James Glen and Noah Bennett always dreamed of finding a woman to share their lives on the Circle G ranch. James would run the ranch, while Noah served the town of Bliss as the resident vet. But when a woman came between the brothers, Noah fled for New York City and James was left to struggle for the ranch's survival alone.
Now that Noah has returned, he will do anything to repay his debt to James. When he sees Hope, he knows she is the woman they both have been waiting for. But just as their love begins to bloom, a nightmare from Hope's past returns to claim her.
To save Hope, and themselves, they will have to reclaim the brotherhood that was shattered and fight for their future.
{3.5 stars}
Don't let the menage factor sway your choice to read this one, there was way more courting/drama/chasing going on than bedroom play. But if you are a fan of Sophie Oak, you already know how she "plays". Hope, James, and Noah are a great trio, and I really liked their storyline, but I felt like it was too short. I can't put my finger on it, because I thought they were great characters and their romance was passionate, if not a little to cutsie. But the overall length of their story left me wanting more, way more. The end was quick and anti-climactic. We gained a few new residents of Bliss with promising future story lines, but this one just didn't leave an impression on me. Not a bad read by any means, just not the passionate read I was hoping for at this time. Looking forward to the next one, I'm really hoping we return to Dallas/Texas Sirens and get Wolf and Leo's story!
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Elisabeth Naughton--Enraptured (Eternal Guardians)
Paranormal Romance--greek mythology
Orpheus may have joined the elite protectors known as Eternal Guardians, but they've never trusted whose side he's really on. And the half-daemon couldn't care less. Orpheus has only one goal: rescue his brother from the Underworld. He's not expecting a woman to get in the way, especially not one sent by Zeus to seduce, entrap, and then ultimately destroy him. A woman who will dredge up a past he doesn't remember, a love that once condemned him, and a dark and deadly secret as old as the Eternal Guardians themselves.
{3.5 stars}
I have mixed feelings about this one. As much as I was looking forward to Orpheus' story, I just didn't "click" with it. I actually put it down twice to read something else before finally finishing it. It's not a bad story, I just had trouble falling in love with it. Maybe it was because Skyla was not a great character for me. The storyline does move along, and I enjoyed that much of it.
Orpheus goes thru a true Greek tragedy to try and free his brother Gryphon. And I look forward to reading more about Malea, maybe she will get her HEA someday. We have a lot of open ended questions about Gryphon and where Atalantia will show up next......
Even though I didn't love this one, I will still keep reading the series, I think the base storyline about the Argonauts is worth it, besides isn't the cover awesome?!?
Orpheus may have joined the elite protectors known as Eternal Guardians, but they've never trusted whose side he's really on. And the half-daemon couldn't care less. Orpheus has only one goal: rescue his brother from the Underworld. He's not expecting a woman to get in the way, especially not one sent by Zeus to seduce, entrap, and then ultimately destroy him. A woman who will dredge up a past he doesn't remember, a love that once condemned him, and a dark and deadly secret as old as the Eternal Guardians themselves.
{3.5 stars}
I have mixed feelings about this one. As much as I was looking forward to Orpheus' story, I just didn't "click" with it. I actually put it down twice to read something else before finally finishing it. It's not a bad story, I just had trouble falling in love with it. Maybe it was because Skyla was not a great character for me. The storyline does move along, and I enjoyed that much of it.
Orpheus goes thru a true Greek tragedy to try and free his brother Gryphon. And I look forward to reading more about Malea, maybe she will get her HEA someday. We have a lot of open ended questions about Gryphon and where Atalantia will show up next......
Even though I didn't love this one, I will still keep reading the series, I think the base storyline about the Argonauts is worth it, besides isn't the cover awesome?!?
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Sylvia Day--Bared to You (Crossfire #1)
Erotic Romance
Our journey began in fire...
Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness—beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily...
Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private wounds... and desires.
The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart...
{5 stars}
Hooked from the start. This is my first Sylvia Day story, and I really enjoyed her writing style. The dynamic between Gideon and Eva is electric and passionate, like riding a tornado. It sweeps you up and spins you around and I loved every word of it. They both have baggage, lots and lots of baggage, but an attraction that is too intense to ignore or walk away from. Right from the start Eva was all Gideon could see or think about. But his need to control everything keeps him from completely letting Eva in until she runs. No one has ever run from him before, he has always gotten what he wanted. But Eva is not like any woman he has ever known, he wants to give in to her and never let her go all at the same time. Eva is out on her own for the first time, with a new job in a new city. She is ready to live her life on her own terms, by her own rules. But when she lands on her butt in the lobby of the Crossfire building, her world turns upside down. Eva and Gideon take us on an erotic, emotional ride during the beginning of their relationship, and I can't wait to read the next one...
**Some readers will see similarities between Gideon and Christian (Fifty Shades series). And I was reminded of Ana and Christian a few times thru the story. But only in the aspect that Gideon is a young billionaire with control issues and has a couple of exes with the inability to let go bordering on obsession. But give this story a "clean mind" try, I think you will really enjoy it.
ARC kindle copy provided by netgalley.com
Our journey began in fire...
Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness—beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily...
Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private wounds... and desires.
The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart...
{5 stars}
Hooked from the start. This is my first Sylvia Day story, and I really enjoyed her writing style. The dynamic between Gideon and Eva is electric and passionate, like riding a tornado. It sweeps you up and spins you around and I loved every word of it. They both have baggage, lots and lots of baggage, but an attraction that is too intense to ignore or walk away from. Right from the start Eva was all Gideon could see or think about. But his need to control everything keeps him from completely letting Eva in until she runs. No one has ever run from him before, he has always gotten what he wanted. But Eva is not like any woman he has ever known, he wants to give in to her and never let her go all at the same time. Eva is out on her own for the first time, with a new job in a new city. She is ready to live her life on her own terms, by her own rules. But when she lands on her butt in the lobby of the Crossfire building, her world turns upside down. Eva and Gideon take us on an erotic, emotional ride during the beginning of their relationship, and I can't wait to read the next one...
**Some readers will see similarities between Gideon and Christian (Fifty Shades series). And I was reminded of Ana and Christian a few times thru the story. But only in the aspect that Gideon is a young billionaire with control issues and has a couple of exes with the inability to let go bordering on obsession. But give this story a "clean mind" try, I think you will really enjoy it.
ARC kindle copy provided by netgalley.com
Friday, April 13, 2012
Amanda Stevens--The Kingdom (Graveyard series #2)
Romantic suspense-supernatural
Deep in the shadowy foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies a dying town…....
My name is Amelia Gray. They call me The Graveyard Queen. I've been commissioned to restore an old cemetery in Asher Falls, South Carolina, but I'm coming to think I have another purpose here.
Why is there a cemetery at the bottom of Bell Lake? Why am I drawn time and again to a hidden grave I've discovered in the woods? Something is eating away at the soul of this town—this withering kingdom—and it will only be restored if I can uncover the truth.
{5 stars}
I just love her stories, they are woven with a little southern superstition, supernatural mystery, and a group of odd characters. I discovered her books years ago with Dollmaker, and she just has a great way of telling a story. This is part 2 of a series that takes Amelia to another cemetery to restore. Amelia needed to get away from Charleston, and Devlin, for awhile and this seemed like the perfect way. But little did Amelia know that she was escaping from one mystery straight into another. This one with a begining that started off decades ago. Thane, Angus, and Tilly are great characters to add to the plot. And the Blue Ridge Mountains sets the supernatural mystery perfectly. I can't wait to get into book 3....
Deep in the shadowy foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies a dying town…....
My name is Amelia Gray. They call me The Graveyard Queen. I've been commissioned to restore an old cemetery in Asher Falls, South Carolina, but I'm coming to think I have another purpose here.
Why is there a cemetery at the bottom of Bell Lake? Why am I drawn time and again to a hidden grave I've discovered in the woods? Something is eating away at the soul of this town—this withering kingdom—and it will only be restored if I can uncover the truth.
{5 stars}
I just love her stories, they are woven with a little southern superstition, supernatural mystery, and a group of odd characters. I discovered her books years ago with Dollmaker, and she just has a great way of telling a story. This is part 2 of a series that takes Amelia to another cemetery to restore. Amelia needed to get away from Charleston, and Devlin, for awhile and this seemed like the perfect way. But little did Amelia know that she was escaping from one mystery straight into another. This one with a begining that started off decades ago. Thane, Angus, and Tilly are great characters to add to the plot. And the Blue Ridge Mountains sets the supernatural mystery perfectly. I can't wait to get into book 3....
Monday, April 9, 2012
Jaci Burton--The Perfect Play (Play by Play #1)
Contemporary Romance
Football pro Mick
Riley is an all-star, both on the field and in the bedroom. But a sexy,
determinedly single mom just might be the one to throw him off his game...
For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meets and beds confident, beautiful event planner ...moreFootball pro Mick Riley is an all-star, both on the field and in the bedroom. But a sexy, determinedly single mom just might be the one to throw him off his game...
For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meets and beds confident, beautiful event planner Tara Lincoln, he wants much more than the typical one-night stand. Too bad Tara's not interested in getting to know football's most notorious playboy any better.
As the single mother of a teenage son, the last thing Tara needs is the jet-set lifestyle of Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand was unforgettable. Tara's life is complicated enough without being thrust into the spotlight as Mick's latest girl du jour. Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn't intend to put herself out there again, especially with a heartbreaker like Mick.
But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind.
For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meets and beds confident, beautiful event planner ...moreFootball pro Mick Riley is an all-star, both on the field and in the bedroom. But a sexy, determinedly single mom just might be the one to throw him off his game...
For years Mick has been taking full advantage of the life available to a pro athlete: fame, fortune, and a different girl in every city. But when he meets and beds confident, beautiful event planner Tara Lincoln, he wants much more than the typical one-night stand. Too bad Tara's not interested in getting to know football's most notorious playboy any better.
As the single mother of a teenage son, the last thing Tara needs is the jet-set lifestyle of Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand was unforgettable. Tara's life is complicated enough without being thrust into the spotlight as Mick's latest girl du jour. Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn't intend to put herself out there again, especially with a heartbreaker like Mick.
But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind.
{2.5 stars}
I picked this one up based on other reviews, on the surface it sounds like a "HOT" read. But it was (for me) lukewarm, very vanilla. Maybe I read to much paranormal romance and true erotica, so I had a hard time keeping my attention on this one. I did finish it though, I kept hoping for something more dramatic to happen other than normal everyday drama. There was no exciting, life or death thrill ride events. I want to read a book that becomes a fantasy that I can escape into, or have more passion than I can find in a rated R movie (the cover was the hottest part of this book in my opinion). This just didn't do it for me.
Friday, April 6, 2012
J. D. Tyler--Savage Awakening (Alpha Pack Novel #2)
Paranormal Romance-shifter
A group of former Navy SEALS, the Alpha Pack is a top-secret team of wolf shifters with Psy powers combating the greatest dangers in the world. But sometimes those dangers are more intimate than they bargained for…
After a mission goes wrong, Aric Savage is taken prisoner. Half-dead and despairing, he makes a stunning discovery: his Pack mate Micah Chase, who was reported dead, is a fellow captive. When the Alpha team goes into full-rescue mode, accompanying them is an absolute stunner with sable hair—and a spine of solid steel.
LAPD officer and Psy Dreamwalker Rowan Chase has one priority: her brother Micah’s recovery. Still, she can’t help but be drawn to Aric, the ruggedly handsome wolf shifter who pleasures her as no man ever has—however fleeting their affair is destined to be. But when Aric’s life is endangered, Rowan must ask herself what she’s willing to sacrifice in the name of love, for the man fated to be her Bondmate.
{3.5 stars)
I just simply like this series. It's not a stay awake all night, keeper shelf, kind of series. But I like it, it keeps my attention. Tyler takes the standard Seals turned shifter storyline and gives it a twist with giving them each Psy powers to go along with their wolf. Throw in a couple of paranormal creatures, and you have an entertaining story. One by one, each Alpha pack member is finding their true "bondmate". And so the love story follows. Aric is a crude ass kind of character, but it's just a front to keep people at arms length. True of most Alpha males, but Rowan isn't a wallflower willing to put up with his gruff demeanor. She is a LAPD cop used to alpha attitudes. The whole cast of characters are what makes this series a great read.
A group of former Navy SEALS, the Alpha Pack is a top-secret team of wolf shifters with Psy powers combating the greatest dangers in the world. But sometimes those dangers are more intimate than they bargained for…
After a mission goes wrong, Aric Savage is taken prisoner. Half-dead and despairing, he makes a stunning discovery: his Pack mate Micah Chase, who was reported dead, is a fellow captive. When the Alpha team goes into full-rescue mode, accompanying them is an absolute stunner with sable hair—and a spine of solid steel.
LAPD officer and Psy Dreamwalker Rowan Chase has one priority: her brother Micah’s recovery. Still, she can’t help but be drawn to Aric, the ruggedly handsome wolf shifter who pleasures her as no man ever has—however fleeting their affair is destined to be. But when Aric’s life is endangered, Rowan must ask herself what she’s willing to sacrifice in the name of love, for the man fated to be her Bondmate.
{3.5 stars)
I just simply like this series. It's not a stay awake all night, keeper shelf, kind of series. But I like it, it keeps my attention. Tyler takes the standard Seals turned shifter storyline and gives it a twist with giving them each Psy powers to go along with their wolf. Throw in a couple of paranormal creatures, and you have an entertaining story. One by one, each Alpha pack member is finding their true "bondmate". And so the love story follows. Aric is a crude ass kind of character, but it's just a front to keep people at arms length. True of most Alpha males, but Rowan isn't a wallflower willing to put up with his gruff demeanor. She is a LAPD cop used to alpha attitudes. The whole cast of characters are what makes this series a great read.
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