Paranormal Romance-vampire
In the dark, fear and desire are
one.
Alexander Roman wants nothing to do with the controlling
rulers of his vampire breed or the family he escaped from a hundred years ago.
But as a new threat to the pureblood vampires emerges, Alexander's ties to the
past are forced upon him again, and without warning, he finds
himself—disoriented, terrified, and near death—at the door of a stranger.
Fear is in the blood.
Dr. Sara Donohue is
dedicated to removing the traumatic memories of her patients—like those of the
stranger at her front door. But what he tells her of his past is too astonishing
to believe. Yet she has seen his flesh scarred by the sun and witnessed his
inhuman strength. And never before has she felt so connected to a man.
Love is eternal...
But as their worlds collide,
Sara and Alexander are bound by something stronger, as one becomes hunter and
the other prey.
{3.5 stars}
Interesting take on the Vampire lore. Easy read, nice story, but nothing that just blew me away and would send me immediately reading the rest of this series. Not to say that I won't, but it wasn't compelling enough for me to rush to the next ones. My favorite part of the story is the relationship between the brothers, their banter is funny. All in all, a nice "fill a sunday afternoon" read.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Kristen Ashley--Rock Chick Rescue (Rock Chick #2)
Romantic action/suspense
Jet McAlister has a secret. Eddie Chavez has the hots for Jet (not to mention, Eddie's just, plain hot). Jet has too many problems to realize that Eddie's interested. Eddie loses patience when Jet ends her waitressing shift at a strip club with a knife at her throat. Since Eddie's a cop, he figures he can help. Since Jet's used to solving everyone's problems, she doesn't want Eddie's help. Throw in a Dolly Parton look-alike, a gruff but lovable strip club owner, Jet's ne'er-do-well father, his ne'er-do-well friend, Bear, Bear's long-suffering, chain-smoking wife Lavonne and the crew from Rock Chick and you've got Rock Chick Rescue. Rock Chick Rescue takes you on a wild ride with Jet, Eddie and the gang as they wrestle bad guys in a bagel shop, hit Denver's backstreet poker tables (with big hair), and help the strippers at Smithie's take down a would-be murderer.Through this, Jet's got to learn that, even when life made you give up your dreams, you can still end up with the (hot) guy. Eddie's got to rescue Jet from a bad man (so he can do better things with her) and teach her that some dreams can come true.
{3.5 stars}
Ok, the only reason I dropped a star is the over use of the descriptive "doo-da". Not a romantic or sexy term. And I felt cheated by the ending (1/2 star). The great things about this story is the action. Jet is a wallflower, always taking care of everyone herself and never finding happiness. She doesn't think she deserves it. But Eddie sees her differently, and it takes a lot of patience and work to get Jet to bloom into the woman he knows she is. Gambling fathers, vindictive criminals, kidnappings, and shootouts. Nothing boring about Kristen Ashley's stories. There was so much going on around Jet and Eddie, that I didn't get the warm fuzzy's about their romance. And when they have their "talk" at the end, I wanted more resolution and story. That being said, we have added to the cast of characters in Denver, and boy are they a nutty bunch. Entertaining and wonderful, they really pull the story together. Not to mention the super HOT, dream worthy, Nightingale bunch. Not my favorite installment, but I certainly won't give up reading more.
Jet McAlister has a secret. Eddie Chavez has the hots for Jet (not to mention, Eddie's just, plain hot). Jet has too many problems to realize that Eddie's interested. Eddie loses patience when Jet ends her waitressing shift at a strip club with a knife at her throat. Since Eddie's a cop, he figures he can help. Since Jet's used to solving everyone's problems, she doesn't want Eddie's help. Throw in a Dolly Parton look-alike, a gruff but lovable strip club owner, Jet's ne'er-do-well father, his ne'er-do-well friend, Bear, Bear's long-suffering, chain-smoking wife Lavonne and the crew from Rock Chick and you've got Rock Chick Rescue. Rock Chick Rescue takes you on a wild ride with Jet, Eddie and the gang as they wrestle bad guys in a bagel shop, hit Denver's backstreet poker tables (with big hair), and help the strippers at Smithie's take down a would-be murderer.Through this, Jet's got to learn that, even when life made you give up your dreams, you can still end up with the (hot) guy. Eddie's got to rescue Jet from a bad man (so he can do better things with her) and teach her that some dreams can come true.
{3.5 stars}
Ok, the only reason I dropped a star is the over use of the descriptive "doo-da". Not a romantic or sexy term. And I felt cheated by the ending (1/2 star). The great things about this story is the action. Jet is a wallflower, always taking care of everyone herself and never finding happiness. She doesn't think she deserves it. But Eddie sees her differently, and it takes a lot of patience and work to get Jet to bloom into the woman he knows she is. Gambling fathers, vindictive criminals, kidnappings, and shootouts. Nothing boring about Kristen Ashley's stories. There was so much going on around Jet and Eddie, that I didn't get the warm fuzzy's about their romance. And when they have their "talk" at the end, I wanted more resolution and story. That being said, we have added to the cast of characters in Denver, and boy are they a nutty bunch. Entertaining and wonderful, they really pull the story together. Not to mention the super HOT, dream worthy, Nightingale bunch. Not my favorite installment, but I certainly won't give up reading more.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Kristen Ashley--Rock Chic (Rock Chic #1)
Romantic-action/suspense
Indy Savage, cop's daughter, rock chick and used bookstore owner, has been in love with Lee Nightingale, once bad boy, now the man behind Nightingale Investigations, since she was five years old. No matter what ingenious schemes Indy used to capture his attention, Lee never showed an interest and Indy finally gave up. Now Indy's employee, Rosie, has lost a bag of diamonds and bad guys are shooting at him. When Indy gets involved, Lee is forced to help. Complicating matters, Lee has decided he's interested, Indy's decided she's not. But she can't seem to keep Lee out of her life when she's repeatedly stun gunned, kidnapped and there are car bombs exploding (not to mention she's finding dead bodies).
Indy's best bet is to solve the mystery of the diamonds before Lee. Lee's challenge is to keep Indy alive and, at the same time, win back her heart.
{5 stars}
Right now, Kristen Ashley can do no wrong in my world. Another great couple. Indy is energetic, caring, and just plain fun and lovable. Lee is a quiet Alpha Male, stubborn, but not as brooding as some men can be. They have been in love with each other forever (her since she was 5). In the middle of Indy trying to save another one of her friends, she ends up finally getting what she always wanted.....Lee. Shootings, kidnappings, car explosions, and lots and lots of super funny humor. I get so absorbed into Kristen Ashley's world I forget the time. Her style of writing really has you imagining the the story in visual detail. The cast of characters surrounding Indy are a rag tag bunch of misfits, but completely lovable, and I want to hang out with all of them. No boring love story here, its action packed awesome! Yes, I said awesome.....
Indy Savage, cop's daughter, rock chick and used bookstore owner, has been in love with Lee Nightingale, once bad boy, now the man behind Nightingale Investigations, since she was five years old. No matter what ingenious schemes Indy used to capture his attention, Lee never showed an interest and Indy finally gave up. Now Indy's employee, Rosie, has lost a bag of diamonds and bad guys are shooting at him. When Indy gets involved, Lee is forced to help. Complicating matters, Lee has decided he's interested, Indy's decided she's not. But she can't seem to keep Lee out of her life when she's repeatedly stun gunned, kidnapped and there are car bombs exploding (not to mention she's finding dead bodies).
Indy's best bet is to solve the mystery of the diamonds before Lee. Lee's challenge is to keep Indy alive and, at the same time, win back her heart.
{5 stars}
Right now, Kristen Ashley can do no wrong in my world. Another great couple. Indy is energetic, caring, and just plain fun and lovable. Lee is a quiet Alpha Male, stubborn, but not as brooding as some men can be. They have been in love with each other forever (her since she was 5). In the middle of Indy trying to save another one of her friends, she ends up finally getting what she always wanted.....Lee. Shootings, kidnappings, car explosions, and lots and lots of super funny humor. I get so absorbed into Kristen Ashley's world I forget the time. Her style of writing really has you imagining the the story in visual detail. The cast of characters surrounding Indy are a rag tag bunch of misfits, but completely lovable, and I want to hang out with all of them. No boring love story here, its action packed awesome! Yes, I said awesome.....
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Kristen Ashley-Law Man (Dream Man #3)
Romantic suspense
Four years ago, Mitch Lawson moved across the breezeway from Mara Hanover and she fell in love with the tall, good-looking police detective who had an uncanny ability to dress well even though he’s single. It was not a stalker kind of love; she knows she has no hope since Mitch is way out of her league. That doesn’t change the fact that he’s her dream man.
Then one day Mara’s faucet won’t turn off and she knows nothing about plumbing. Being a good guy, Mitch offers to help then he invites himself over for pizza. Mara gives it a go but finds herself running away from him (literally) on their first date, standing him up their second and then she runs into him (again literally) on her way to save her ne’er do well, criminal cousin’s kids who’d just run away from their ne’er do well, criminal Dad.
Suddenly, Mara finds she has on her hands the guardianship of two kids and a gorgeous police detective who’s willing to do anything to help out… including giving fabulous foot rubs.
But Mara knows who she is and where she came from and she knows Detective Mitch Lawson is better than her. Hot law man Mitch disagrees and his challenge is to convince Mara to let go of her past and he sets about building a family at the same time he finds he also needs to protect them all against known and unknown adversaries that would tear them apart.
{4 stars}
Not so much suspense in this one until the end. I found myself skimming some of Mara's inner dialogue, and honestly was bored a few times. What bored me was Mara's never ending quest to push Mitch away. A Hot Alpha is chasing you? You stop and listen. But she kept up her self deprecating banter too long. I thought we would never get to the good stuff. If it was any other author, with any other series, I would have put it down and walked away. But i couldn't, and didn't put it away. I knew Kristen Ashley would have a surprise waiting just around the next page. We met Mitch in the first book (Hawk and Gwen), and he is not quite as Alpha male as Hawk or Slim, but still stubborn and Alpha HOT. And how does Elvira seem to know everyone? She does get around. Not my favorite couple, even though the ending almost had me crying it was so sweet. But I liked them. Can't wait to get to Tack's story, bet there will be a lot of action in that one. So while I am waiting on Tack's book, I'm going to start the Rock Chic series.....heard good things about it.
Four years ago, Mitch Lawson moved across the breezeway from Mara Hanover and she fell in love with the tall, good-looking police detective who had an uncanny ability to dress well even though he’s single. It was not a stalker kind of love; she knows she has no hope since Mitch is way out of her league. That doesn’t change the fact that he’s her dream man.
Then one day Mara’s faucet won’t turn off and she knows nothing about plumbing. Being a good guy, Mitch offers to help then he invites himself over for pizza. Mara gives it a go but finds herself running away from him (literally) on their first date, standing him up their second and then she runs into him (again literally) on her way to save her ne’er do well, criminal cousin’s kids who’d just run away from their ne’er do well, criminal Dad.
Suddenly, Mara finds she has on her hands the guardianship of two kids and a gorgeous police detective who’s willing to do anything to help out… including giving fabulous foot rubs.
But Mara knows who she is and where she came from and she knows Detective Mitch Lawson is better than her. Hot law man Mitch disagrees and his challenge is to convince Mara to let go of her past and he sets about building a family at the same time he finds he also needs to protect them all against known and unknown adversaries that would tear them apart.
{4 stars}
Not so much suspense in this one until the end. I found myself skimming some of Mara's inner dialogue, and honestly was bored a few times. What bored me was Mara's never ending quest to push Mitch away. A Hot Alpha is chasing you? You stop and listen. But she kept up her self deprecating banter too long. I thought we would never get to the good stuff. If it was any other author, with any other series, I would have put it down and walked away. But i couldn't, and didn't put it away. I knew Kristen Ashley would have a surprise waiting just around the next page. We met Mitch in the first book (Hawk and Gwen), and he is not quite as Alpha male as Hawk or Slim, but still stubborn and Alpha HOT. And how does Elvira seem to know everyone? She does get around. Not my favorite couple, even though the ending almost had me crying it was so sweet. But I liked them. Can't wait to get to Tack's story, bet there will be a lot of action in that one. So while I am waiting on Tack's book, I'm going to start the Rock Chic series.....heard good things about it.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Kristen Ashley-Wild Man (Dream Man #2)
Romantic suspense
While filling her display case in her bakery, the bell over the door sounds and Tessa O’Hara looks up and sees the man of her dreams. Within thirty seconds he asks her out for a beer. Thirty seconds later, she says yes. But after four months of falling in love, she discovers he’s an undercover DEA Agent investigating the possibility she’s involved in her ex-husband’s drug business
Obviously Tess decides this means it’s over.
But DEA Agent Brock Lucas disagrees. A man on a mission who’s really committed to his job, he’s spent years in the underbelly of Denver with the dregs of society. And spending four months with Tess who’s as sweet as her cupcakes, he seriously enjoyed his job. But during Tess’s interrogation, Brock learns the devastating secret Tess is carrying and he’s determined to be the man who helps her heal as well as take her back as she walks on the wild side.
As wild and sweet mix, they face challenge after challenge of family struggling with history and terminal illness. Not to mention, Tess’s ex-husband, the drug lord and Brock’s ex-wife, who has a very big playbook are scheming to tear them apart.
But Brock Lucas has wild in him and once in his past on the trail of vengeance he let that wild loose, making a mistake that he would have no idea years later will put his sweet Tess in the position to pay his penance.
{4.5 stars}
Ok, I had to drop half a star, because this one was not as life or death action packed as the first. But, that being said, I still loved it. Kristen Ashley's writing style is incredible. It's imagery is in its details without overkill. And I find myself anticipating the next page like the way you anticipate the drop of the rollercoaster after the climb. Thrilling! Brock is a great Alpha Male, true to that description, he is stubborn, bossy, and totally frickin HOT. Tess is sweet, and vulnerable, but not in an annoying wimpy girlie way. She has had a rough decade. There journey to happiness isn't a harlequin novel. It's drama, exes of the psychotic variety, and overcoming ugly events from their pasts, but also lots of HOT passion. Kristen Ashley pulls it all together in a fantastically woven tale that really leaves you wanting more. If her other series are half as good as this one, I'm going to be a busy, busy reader......
While filling her display case in her bakery, the bell over the door sounds and Tessa O’Hara looks up and sees the man of her dreams. Within thirty seconds he asks her out for a beer. Thirty seconds later, she says yes. But after four months of falling in love, she discovers he’s an undercover DEA Agent investigating the possibility she’s involved in her ex-husband’s drug business
Obviously Tess decides this means it’s over.
But DEA Agent Brock Lucas disagrees. A man on a mission who’s really committed to his job, he’s spent years in the underbelly of Denver with the dregs of society. And spending four months with Tess who’s as sweet as her cupcakes, he seriously enjoyed his job. But during Tess’s interrogation, Brock learns the devastating secret Tess is carrying and he’s determined to be the man who helps her heal as well as take her back as she walks on the wild side.
As wild and sweet mix, they face challenge after challenge of family struggling with history and terminal illness. Not to mention, Tess’s ex-husband, the drug lord and Brock’s ex-wife, who has a very big playbook are scheming to tear them apart.
But Brock Lucas has wild in him and once in his past on the trail of vengeance he let that wild loose, making a mistake that he would have no idea years later will put his sweet Tess in the position to pay his penance.
{4.5 stars}
Ok, I had to drop half a star, because this one was not as life or death action packed as the first. But, that being said, I still loved it. Kristen Ashley's writing style is incredible. It's imagery is in its details without overkill. And I find myself anticipating the next page like the way you anticipate the drop of the rollercoaster after the climb. Thrilling! Brock is a great Alpha Male, true to that description, he is stubborn, bossy, and totally frickin HOT. Tess is sweet, and vulnerable, but not in an annoying wimpy girlie way. She has had a rough decade. There journey to happiness isn't a harlequin novel. It's drama, exes of the psychotic variety, and overcoming ugly events from their pasts, but also lots of HOT passion
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Kristen Ashley-Mystery Man (Dream Man #1)
Romantic Suspense
While drinking cosmopolitans, Gwendolyn Kidd meets the man of her dreams. Then she takes him home. Then she wakes up alone. But her fear that she lost her dream man turns into a relationship with a mystery man when, night after night in the dead of night, he comes back for more. Hoping it will blossom into something real, she lets him.
But she doesn’t even know his name.
Gwen’s struggling with the decision to end their crazy non-relationship when her sister-from-hell, Ginger’s best friend pays a visit and warns Gwen that if she and her sister don't get smart, they'll both get d-e-a-d, dead. Gwen has no clue what’s going on but she’s used to Ginger’s antics and decides to lay the problem on her sister’s biker boyfriend's doorstep. Bad choice. She hits the Denver Underground radar with a big, loud ping.
This means Gwen’s Mystery Man, Cabe “Hawk” Delgado has to step in to keep her safe. But when Hawk gets a dose of Gwen in the daylight, he makes the decision that he finally wants real with Gwen. However when Gwen gets a dose of badass, bossy, straight-talker Hawk in the daylight, she decides she’s done.
Thus begins the head-to-head of the Commando vs. Cosmo Girl as Hawk woos Gwen in his own unique way, Gwen survives firebombs, drive-bys, kidnappings, hot pursuits by biker hotties and gorgeous police detectives and discovers the heartbreaking reason why Hawk kept her at arm’s length.
And as all this happens, Gwen finds that her sister’s troubles are serious trouble and she must decide who to keep alive: her sister-from-hell or the man of her dreams.
{5 starts}
Wow......I am almost speechless with how much I loved this story.
But first, I want to say that this kind of book is why I love my Goodreads Friends. I may have missed the opportunity to read this if I hadn't read the great review from a fellow Goodreads Friend. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Now, let's talk about the Alpha male in this story. Wow, Jimmy Choo's?!? Hawk can be as bossy as he likes if he buys me Jimmy Choo's. Hawk is a very Alpha Male, possessive, bossy, brooding, and stubborn, but totally dream worthy HOT. Gwen is a little spit-fire, stubborn, but emotionally fragile, and a little naive when it comes to the "Bad Guy" world. She is a girlie-girl, but not whiny, and completely adorable. The chemistry between the two is electric and you fall completely in love with them. This is the first Kristen Ashley book I have read and it won't be the last. Her writing style really puts my imagination into overdrive and I am there visualizing the story play out as I'm reading it. She doesn't hold any punches when it comes to cursing and language. And the sex is not over the top erotica, but perfectly written to complete the fantasy. It's a long roller-coaster ride, action packed, with lots of suspense. Fire bombs, drive-by shootings, gangs, cosmos, passion, and falling in love. And the humor woven into this story is awesome, Gwen is so funny when she rants..I completely understand her. I didn't want the story to end. But Ashley put the perfect ending on it, and now, at least, I have the next 2 in this series to keep my dreams filled with Alpha males of the Hottest variety.....
While drinking cosmopolitans, Gwendolyn Kidd meets the man of her dreams. Then she takes him home. Then she wakes up alone. But her fear that she lost her dream man turns into a relationship with a mystery man when, night after night in the dead of night, he comes back for more. Hoping it will blossom into something real, she lets him.
But she doesn’t even know his name.
Gwen’s struggling with the decision to end their crazy non-relationship when her sister-from-hell, Ginger’s best friend pays a visit and warns Gwen that if she and her sister don't get smart, they'll both get d-e-a-d, dead. Gwen has no clue what’s going on but she’s used to Ginger’s antics and decides to lay the problem on her sister’s biker boyfriend's doorstep. Bad choice. She hits the Denver Underground radar with a big, loud ping.
This means Gwen’s Mystery Man, Cabe “Hawk” Delgado has to step in to keep her safe. But when Hawk gets a dose of Gwen in the daylight, he makes the decision that he finally wants real with Gwen. However when Gwen gets a dose of badass, bossy, straight-talker Hawk in the daylight, she decides she’s done.
Thus begins the head-to-head of the Commando vs. Cosmo Girl as Hawk woos Gwen in his own unique way, Gwen survives firebombs, drive-bys, kidnappings, hot pursuits by biker hotties and gorgeous police detectives and discovers the heartbreaking reason why Hawk kept her at arm’s length.
And as all this happens, Gwen finds that her sister’s troubles are serious trouble and she must decide who to keep alive: her sister-from-hell or the man of her dreams.
{5 starts}
Wow......I am almost speechless with how much I loved this story.
But first, I want to say that this kind of book is why I love my Goodreads Friends. I may have missed the opportunity to read this if I hadn't read the great review from a fellow Goodreads Friend. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Now, let's talk about the Alpha male in this story. Wow, Jimmy Choo's?!? Hawk can be as bossy as he likes if he buys me Jimmy Choo's. Hawk is a very Alpha Male, possessive, bossy, brooding, and stubborn, but totally dream worthy HOT. Gwen is a little spit-fire, stubborn, but emotionally fragile, and a little naive when it comes to the "Bad Guy" world. She is a girlie-girl, but not whiny, and completely adorable. The chemistry between the two is electric and you fall completely in love with them. This is the first Kristen Ashley book I have read and it won't be the last. Her writing style really puts my imagination into overdrive and I am there visualizing the story play out as I'm reading it. She doesn't hold any punches when it comes to cursing and language. And the sex is not over the top erotica, but perfectly written to complete the fantasy. It's a long roller-coaster ride, action packed, with lots of suspense. Fire bombs, drive-by shootings, gangs, cosmos, passion, and falling in love. And the humor woven into this story is awesome, Gwen is so funny when she rants..I completely understand her. I didn't want the story to end. But Ashley put the perfect ending on it, and now, at least, I have the next 2 in this series to keep my dreams filled with Alpha males of the Hottest variety.....
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