Bitten and Smitten (Immortality Bites #1) Review

Bitten and Smitten by Michelle Rowen was a light humorous paranormal read.

After a blind date bites Sarah Dearly on the neck and is killed by vampire hunters, she discovers she's not only a vampire but also has been left to learn the ropes of the night by herself. Thank goodness for wise "master" vampire Thierry de Bennicoeur, who saves her life, shows her to the nearest vampire hangout and wins her heart in the process. Next comes a mix of misplaced trust, stakings and bad double dates, all with the goal of outwitting the vampire hunters and getting Thierry to see that Sarah's the one for him.


I must admit that I really enjoyed Sarah...she is an extremely sarcastic, quick witted woman who has just had one hell of a bad week!  It all starts off with a very bad blind date where she's bitten on the neck and wakes up to someone burying her alive.

My blind date had just attempted to bury me in a cemetery.  Filled with dead people.  And bugs.

Gross!  She ends up fleeing her date even though he seems to believe they are made for each other and he knew from the moment he saw her that he just had to have her....ummm...can we say pyscho????  Ok so she gets away right?  Well not really because while running from him she finds herself running straight to vampire hunters and they kill her date.  Once they turn towards her she takes off again and finds herself on a bridge with a man (Thierry) attempting to kill himself

"Help yourself.  Can you not see I'm planning to kill myself here?" the man said, looking down at the dark water so far below us.  "Help me first and then kill yourself"

 It all kind of went down hill from there.... Thierry saves her, tries to scrape her off again but finds out her "sire" had been killed so he takes her home and gives her some of his blood.

The next day, Sarah goes into work, has a slight incident with her boss where a small cut and some finger sucking was involved....dirty minds it's not what you think.... and she ends up getting fired.  So after realizing she was indeed NOT dreaming she takes off to the place Thierry told her about if she needed help which happens to be a tanning salon.

She makes a bargin with Thierry that she will leave her old life behind (which she doesn't plan on doing) and he will show her the ropes but it seems that something always happens and Sarah and Thierry end up in some sort of agrument every time she leaves Midnight Eclipse.  So off she goes but instead of going home she goes across the street for a drink which happens to be a vampire hunter hang out and meets Quinn.  They're having a good time drinking together then she lets it slip that she is a vampire and Quinn plans to kill her.  Fortunately she gets away......Unfortunately he finds her again the next day.  She takes off running and just as he catches up with her to finish what he planned he is tackled by vampires.  Quinn tries telling him it's none of their business

The man glared down at him.  "It's definitely my concern when someone messes with the master's new girlfriend."

Of course, Sarah is a tad confused by this.....but word spread around the vampire community pretty quick because apparently it's a huge deal for Thierry to help anyone out let alone give them his blood.  So anyway, thinking Quinn was dead she was quite surprised when she found him turned into a vampire after leaving Midnight Eclipse the same night.  She takes him to Thierry to help him out.  Thierry doesn't want to help him, Quinn doesn't want the help but unfortunately for both of them they both seem to have a soft spot and do what Sarah wants.

This new crazy life goes on for Sarah....... she has a wedding to attend where the preacher tries to kill her, Thierry sends George to look after her, her fangs come in, she finds out drinking alcohol as a chaser to blood will make her drunk, Thierry gives her a shard (a reflective piece where vampires can see themselves whereas they can't in mirrors) and then he kisses her, she finds out Thierry has a wife, Quinn finds her and tells her he can't stop thinking about her and thinks they could have something special together, she goes on a horrible double date with her best friend Amy, she takes Amy to Midnight Eclipse where she falls in love with the little person vampire Barry who wears a tux and bow tie and ends up a vampire and engaged, gets tricked into giving Thierry's location away with the hopes of a cure for vampirism, and finally has to kill a vampire hunter!

Wooo....she was one busy girl!.... After the whole fiasco at Midnight Eclipse, Sarah uses her spidey vamp sense to find Thierry who has taken off to finish what he originally planned to do the night he and Sarah met.  She realizes she is in love with him and wants to do what she can to save him.

"Because, stupid, I'm a little bit crazy about you."  He blinked those dark, dark eyes at me.  "Perhaps you're just a little bit crazy."  "That's a definite possibility.  But here's the thing, Thierry.  I think I love you.  I don't care if you don't feel the same way about me.  It's the truth.  I love you.  And if that means nothing to you, if you're just going to jump off this bridge because you feel that there's nothing in this life to keep you here, then go for it.  Just know I'm going to be right behind you."

Well that got his attention.......they ended up having to take another plunge off the bridge but found themselves having a nice vacation in Mexico three weeks later.

While the story was a light read, quite humorous and I do recommend reading it... I just can't say that it did anything for me.  Maybe it's because I'm too into my romance phase at the moment and this was just too Chick-lit for me right now but I just couldn't really get into it.  I had quite a few LOL moments but if I were to put it down at any point and not have picked it back up I wouldn't have minded. This is the first in the series and I will probably at some point read the other 4 books as breaks in between other books. 
My thoughts are NOT a reflection on the writing because I have to say Ms. Rowen's writing was FUN - NY!!!!! It just didn't have that love story I'm looking for right now. 

Happy Reading!

The Gamble (Colorado Mountain #1) Review

The Gamble by Kristen Ashley.  What can I say....The Gamble was another hit!  Ms. Ashley knows how to write 'em....or at least I think she does ;)  Filled with hot mountain men, murder, attempted suicide, tears, and falling in love this book with knock your socks off!

Nina Sheridan’s on a timeout adventure in the Colorado Mountains. Arriving in a blinding snowstorm at the A-Frame she rented, she comes face to face with the most amazing man she’s ever seen. Beyond angry because she’s flown half a world away to start her timeout adventure, not to mention her sinuses hurt, she heads back down the mountain and ends up in a ditch.
The next morning she wakes up in the amazing man’s bed and she’s sick as a dog.  Holden Maxwell spends days nursing her back to health and then he spends the next two weeks trying to convince her to take her Colorado adventure further, in other words, make it permanent and take a gamble on him.

Nina was an amazing woman.  She was strong, full of spunk, and so full of love you couldn't help but like her.  So Nina had kind of a rough ride down the road of love ....She had boyfriends that cheated, lied, were mean, and beat her so when she met Niles after her brother, Charlie, passed away she latched on so she wouldn't "feel lonely".  Only she did, Niles didn't listen to her....ever.... he was just kind of there.

Niles and I were never going to work and I realized that I'd known that for a long time.  I'd either fallen out of love with him or he'd bored the love out of me.

After thinking about her time out and all that Max (we'll get to him soon) had said about not giving his woman an opportunity to want a time out she decides that it's time to end it and she does this by sending an email explaining to him.....Again....why they won't work.


Nina really struggles with what she's feeling for Max but then again he isn't exactly making that easy on her

"This happens between us, Duchess, I'd take care of you."   "Don't."  "Die doin' it." He vowed.

Okay so moving on to Max....ohhh yummy!  Max was a typical Kristen Ashley dream of a man.  Pure alpha as in he didn't take anything off anyone, knew exactly what he wanted and was NOT going to walk away with out it.

"Keep tellin' you when you're in my arms, I like you where you are."

.....sigh..... Max has a lot going on in his life....he's helping care for Mindy, his best friends little sister who is dealing with some pretty heavy stuff, helping out the Police in the murder investigation by bringing in Bitsy (the new Widow of the murder victim), and most of all just wanting to spend some time with Nina to get to know her.  The biggest thing going on for Max is trying to figure out a way to tell Nina about his dead wife, who passed away 10 years before but before he can tell her she finds out but doesn't say anything.  She wants him to tell her, feels like it's his business to share....but he doesn't.

He said no more and I waited, giving him his opening and he didn't take it.  

In the mean time, they are both quickly falling for each other.  They have a bunch of stuff happen....ex-girlfriends throwing ice daggers when they look at you and starting fights when your at a nice dinner.  A sister making you feel like you're no better then the string of women who've been there before you.  Your Dad, who you do not speak to, showing up to lecture you about who to be with and making it clear your decision was a bad one.  Your mom showing up unexpected and going on around your new boyfriend like you've been with him for years.  A new friend that you've grown to really care about attempting suicide after your brother had committed suicide three years ago......a full plate for Nina and Max. 

So while they're dealing with all of this, which does include still helping out other people, Nina tries to figure out what she really should do about Max.  She wants to be the love of someones life and thought she'd never be that for Max but because of the way he made her feel safe and protected she still made a decision

But being Max's second chance at something good was better than anything else I'd ever experienced.  Nothing else even came close.

So more stuff happens....there is no shortage of drama here......Nina's ex-fiance shows up and he and her father make Max an offer that royally pisses everyone off.   Max is there and let's Niles know what he lost....even though he still doesn't get it.....

"We've gotten to know each other, we both like what we know and, bottom line, you didn't take care of what was yours.  Now, as Nina has explained, you've lost it, I found it and it's mine."

....ummmm....Really hate to admit this because what he said is pretty juvinile but have to admit I got a little tingle

So Max and Nina deal with even more together.  The biggest was dealing with Mindy and the heavy stuff she was dealing with.  It brought tears to my eyes but it was beautiful seeing what Nina would do for someone she barely knew!  Nina asks Max.... why her? and boy does he give it to her.  I can't even repeat any of it cause it still kind of amazes me those thoughtful words....well that many at one time....could come from a Man....okay so it's fictional but still.... don't take away my excitement ;)  Anyway, those words melt Nina's heart and she realizes that she is something special to Max!

That same night they go out and Nina decides to show some compassion to a man, Harry,  who seems like a good guy but was royally just screwed over by a woman.  He doesn't seem to want her compassion and instead tells Nina about Max's dead wife

"This is somethin' he wants, Max'll do good by you but he'll know and the whole town'll know, you ain't that to him, what Anna was, you never will be."

 Big Blow to Nina and her feelings and most especially the feelings she though Max had for her.

How could one minute, hope be so precious in my heart that I'd be something to Max, something special, the best he ever had.  And then the next....nothing.

Nina was so hurt by Harry's words and she felt them to be the truth that when Max found out she knew about Anna the entire week and didn't say anything when he's been "wrackin'" his brain trying to figure out how to tell her about Anna, he pretty much blows!  He goes on to explain all about Anna, how he felt about her and what happened to her, how he felt about the person responsible, and how he felt about the woman he's fallin' for hasn't been thinking about him and what he might possibly be feeling.

"Told you, somethin's good, it's worth fightin' for but not if you're the only one fightin'"

So he takes off....you know to cool off.... but Nina doesn't see it that way.  She only see's what he said to her and that she's been selfish and has only been thinking about herself and what she's been going through the entire week.  But most importantly that he deserves better.  So she gets a cab and heads out of Gnaw Bone.

Unfortunately her troubles follow her and she gets worked over by a Man looking for his revenge.  But Max, who by the way thought they just had a spat that morning and was just wanting to cool off and for her to shake it off, found her, took care of her, and was there to bring her "home".   They get their chance to actually talk...or I should say, Max gets his chance to explain with out being upset and he tells her exactly what she means to him

"It kills me to say this, babe, the guilt burns so bad but, this week, I couldn't help but think about what life would be like with you and the ways it would be better than what I had with Anna"

So they head back to Gnaw Bone together hoping they've faced the worse....of course....they haven't and Nina ends up getting kidnapped in a parking lot.  First she is blindsided by who is responsible for not only her being kidnapped but also for the murder, then when it looks like it's going to be a permanent lights out for Nina she manages to escape and finds herself safe in the arms of Max!!!  FINALLY...... Nina and Max are able to have a beautiful life together.......Yippee!!!!!

 

As with all of Kristen Ashley's books.....I HIGHLY  recommend reading The Gamble.  I personally am not usually a fan of someone who has faced losing the love of their life and living life like they'll never find it again but I have to say this book made me feel the opposite.  Yes, Max was living that way but it was like once he saw Nina he KNEW life was about to begin again for him....Then again, it's the writing and the power of Ms. Ashley's creativity that catches me...hook...line....and sinker every time!  Take a chance and pick up The Gamble....

Happy Reading!

 

Something About You (F.B.I. #1) Review

Something About You by Julie James was a great light read that held my attention and kept me laughing out loud! 

While staying in a hotel due to rennovations at home Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Lynde witnessed some hot-and-heavy lovemaking ending with a death. And of all the FBI agents in Illinois, it had to be Special Agent Jack Pallas heading the investigation.  The pair is going to have to put their rocky past behind them and focus on the case at hand. That is, if they can cut back on the razor-sharp jibes- and smother the flame of their sizzling-hot sexual tension.

I really enjoyed our female lead, Cameron Lynde!  A career driven woman forced to face situations that would have most running for the hills.  She's smart and quick thinking, sassy and full of sarcasm, and let's just say can come up with some great one liners ;).....My kinda Girl!!!!  

So Cameron is staying in a hotel room because she is having her hardwood floors redone but now she is seriously rethinking her desire to turn the weekend into some much needed R&R 

Thirty thousand hotel rooms in the city of Chicago, and Cameron Lynde managed to find one next door to a couple having a sex marathon.

 I could only imagine how bad that would suck....seriously!!  So after hearing the energetic couple start round two at 4 o'clock in the morning she decides she has had enough and calls the front desk to have something done about it.  Unfortunately, there has been a murder in the room next door and since Cameron happened to peek out her peep hole and saw the back of the murderer she is now in the throes of a full on FBI investigation!  Even more unfortunately is Agent Jack Pallas happens to be the Special Agent in charge of it. 

So a little history of Jack and Cameron.... Three years prior Jack and Cameron had been working together to press charges against a big player in the drug trafficking in Chicago where Jack had been working undercover and was tortured for two days and made it out with serious injuries.  So after her boss, Silas, tells her he has decided against filing any charges in the case and informs Cameron she will be letting Jack know of this decision.  As well as tell him nothing of how the decision was made.  He threw her right under the bus....big time.  So she tells him and, understandably, he is PISSED! 

"I think the assistant U.S. attorney has her head up her ass, that's what I think.  They should've assigned the case to somebody with some fucking balls."

Sooooo....Jack's little comment that almost got him fired, got him sent to Nebraska for three years in stead.  But what Jack doesn't know is that the transfer was the best Cameron could do for him as far as saving his job.  Because he doesn't know that he's still a tiny bit....okay a lot still upset with her when he sees her for the first time.

So moving back to the story.  Jack walks into Cameron's hotel room with his partner Sam Wilkins and they start questioning her...well Wilkins questions her because she suddenly feels like only cooperating with him and not with Jack.  Jack steps in a few times and Cameron just can't help but throw some sass at him and his attitude while questioning her

"I heard butt cheeks being slapped and walls that were banged so hard my teeth nearly rattled.  Frankly, I've found this whole evening to be a little odd, Agent Pallas."

She really did crack me up!

Jack is a typical moody alpha male that is still pissed at what happened between him and Cameron three years prior but is trying real hard to put it behind him so he doesn't have to leave Chicago again.  He did regret what had happened three years ago especially since he actually didn't mind working with Cameron so much at the time.  But he also didn't think he'd have to face Cameron a week after being back home so he had a little bit of a difficult time not playing "Bad Cop"

So as a precautionary measure the FBI  requests that the C.P.D. keep an eye out on Cameron.  Well...that doesn't turn out too hot and the bad guy ends up getting into her house and holds her at gun point.  Jack comes to the rescue....you even get that in his P.O.V. ....big sigh..... The FBI, namely Jack, decide they are no longer taking chances with Cameron's safety and Jack moves in with her. The chemistry between the two is hot....sizzling hot...and after an almost kiss a few days before and a major hot little make out session they both start to question their feelings for each other. 

"Shockingly, some people actually find me charming."  "I once found you charming, too." Jack said quietly

So Cameron decides since they've danced around the past enough it's time to tell Jack about what happened three years ago.  Every thing changes from there....boy do they ever ;)  Jack's only response is to lay a hot one on her!

Things had changed for Jack, ever since he'd found out the truth about what had happened three years ago.  Because of that he asked a lot of questions, wanting to learn more about Cameron.

 
They learn more about each other while in Michigan at Amy's wedding.  She tells him about her father and how he was murdered and how that influenced her decision to apply for the position at the U.S. Attorney's office.  He also finds out how she ended up with such a nice large house on the income she makes.  They even talk about their thoughts they had of the other three years ago and even in between

"You're so beautiful, Cameron," he said, running his finger along the side of her face.  "Despite everything that happened, over the last three years there were so many times I would lay in bed at night, thinking about you."

 Awwww....who wouldn't melt at those words?  Once they get back to Chicago, Jack has her pick her code for her new security system

"What's five-two-two-five?"  "It spells 'Jack' on the keypad"

So cute and something I would so do too LOL.  Now, Jack and Cam are starting to really think about their feelings for one another.  He's realizing that with just a smile she's got him wrapped around her finger, and she is asking herself if this is what it feels like to fall in love.  Jack asks Cam about her internet connection because it seems slow and she responds by telling him if restarting doesn't work she just calls Collin

Jack folded his arms across his chest.  "I think we need to talk about this Collin dependency.  Because there's a new sheriff in town." "Hmm.  That's a little alpha for my tastes," Cameron said

Ummmm....what?????.....You can be as alpha as you want with me Jack and I won't talk back....okay I won't talk back much. 

A bunch of stuff happens next....the murderer is in Cameron's house, he gets into a bit of a scuffle with Jack and ends up in a position where he doesn't have much choice but to follow Jack's orders

"Since you've been listening, you know what she means to me.  I would kill anyone who harmed her.  Give me the name and I'll make an exception."

 Of course he tells and because of his response and Cameron's awesome prosecuting record, along with her being one tough cookie she gets a big promotion.

It just occurred to me that as a U.S. attorney, you're now in a position of authority over me."  Cameron raised an eyebrow.  "You're right, Agent Pallas.  There is a new sheriff in town."

 Love it!  So in the end Jack and Cameron get their happily ever after plus some ....Yippee!!!!!....  Cameron decides to kick her new position off with a bang and filed charges in the case Jack had been working three years ago, she asks him to officially move in with her, and her and Jack profess their love for each other!

Something About You was a great story!  I enjoyed the characters, their interaction with each other, and most especially the quick witted sarcasm of all of them!  I would definitely recommend this read especially if you enjoy a hot alpha male that carries a gun because of a position in power and a sassy, smart woman who comes off fearless!  I will definitely put Something About You on my reread list and will check out more of Ms. James books!

Happy Reading!

Talk Me Down (Tumble Creek #1) Review

Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl is a great light, humorous read with a super hot, some what shy Chief of Police.

Molly Jennings has one naughty little secret: her job as a bestselling erotic fiction author. Until her inspiration runs dry—thanks to a creepy ex—and it's time to skip town and move back to tiny Tumble Creek, Colorado.
One look at former high school hunk chief of police Ben Lawson and Molly is back in business. The town gossip is buzzing at her door and, worse still, a stalker seems to be watching her every move. Thankfully, her very own lawman has taken to coming over, often

Molly Jennings was a great character!  When she got together with her best friend Lori (he he he) they reminded me so much of how my friends and I are....total smart asses, quick wit, and A LOT of sarcasm!

         "Thanks. You're like a little angel baby sent from Heaven to cheer me up."

The cherry she'd popped into her mouth got lodged somewhere too far back, so Ben leaned over and slapped her a few times until she coughed and swallowed.  Molly snorted.  "I feel like I should make a joke about you choking on your cherry, but I can't seem to put it together."

She keeps her career a secret, why I don't completely get, but she has her reasons.  After living in Denver for years and being pretty much chased off by her ex-boyfriend, Cameron, because he made every man she dated "fall for him" by talking about Molly's issues and convincing them she couldn't start a new relationship until she was over Cameron which he seemed to think she wasn't....major creepy guy alert!!!  So she moves back to her hometown of Tumble creek where she inherited her Aunt's house who passed away.  After a few days in town she runs in to Chief of Police, Ben Lawson, who she has had a little...ok big...crush on for a long time

She hadn't seen him in ten years, but Ben Lawson had been kind enough to make an appearance in her imagination almost every day, usually buck naked and looking for a good time, bless his heart.

Ben is like a dream...he's absolutely adorable with all his blushing at Molly...OH and the man has a love of reading!  Unfortunately, because of a sex scandal involving his father and a high school student, Ben is a little stand offish.  He doesn't date any women in town in an attempt to avoid his name involved in a scandal but yet when he sees Molly he can't seem to chase away the thoughts that she should be off limits....especially after he sees her laughing with out regard and having a good time at The Bar with her friend

She laughed.  A lot.  Ben didn't laugh much, and he thought it would be a grace in his life, a blessing, to hear a woman laugh every day, every hour.  To hear her laugh in his bed.

He tries real hard to convince her to tell him what she does for a living because even though he knows she's going to cause some trouble and he shouldn't go there with her...he just can't help himself and the attraction he has for her.  So he finally decides because he wants a real relationship with her that he'll give her a little time.

So Ben comes out of his shell a little one night at The Bar with Molly, Lori, and Helen.  He cracks a few jokes especially about Lori and everyone thinking she isn't into men.  It was actually so funny, even though I don't plan on sharing it I had to highlight it just so I could go back and read it....I think that may have been one of my many late night giggle fits where my husband just glared at me like I'd lost my mind...LOL.  Anyway, all 3 women seemed shocked by this

"What in the world's gotten into Ben Lawson?  Jokes?  Flirting?  Maybe I should sleep with Molly.  I think she's got a magic hooha."

Swear I had tears from laughing so hard when I read that chapter!

Okay, so Molly ends up with a stalker.  Someone is breaking into her house but making it look like she is just being careless or paranoid by leaving doors unlocked or open, leaving her work files exposed, letting her see them outside her house watching her.  Until...she gets a threatening note on her door to "Leave Tumble Creek or Die".  So of course Ben's worried and scared so he sets out to make sure she's safe.

Molly and Ben continue their "not dating" relationship and start to realize their feelings for one another.  Feelings that it seems have been there for a long time

God, he was beginning to love her.  "I don't want anyone but you here, Molly"  "You sure about that?"  "I wanted you even when I shouldn't have"

Of course she was in love with him.  She'd been half in love with the man her whole life.

After Ben gets the pleasure of meeting Cameron because the lunatic traveled the four hours to pick Molly up for a date she had canceled six months prior, he finally gets her to talk....a little.  She tells him about how he stole the men she'd dated from her and how he was only there to ruin her life.  But being Molly there was no shortage of humorous sarcasm

"Little Blue was my last friend, and frankly the last time his batteries ran out I had a fleeting moment of panic that he'd been compromised!"

So after dealing with the blowup of Cameron they come home to find her stalker in her kitchen.  Stalker is arrested but Ben finds out about her secret and is none too happy with her about it...not because of what it is but because it involves him in a scandal and he's pretty gun shy about those.  Unfortunately for Ben he'd just confessed his love for her in between the drama of Cameron and the stalker.

So, things end for Molly and Ben but no worries because even though they thought the stalker was caught they were wrong and the actual stalker had just gotten lucky there was another crazed lunatic out to drive Molly out of Tumble Creek.  Fortunately for Molly, Ben decides to check things out.  He arrests the stalker at the doorstep and runs in to find Molly tied and gagged to the chair in her room.  He feels tremendous guilt for avoiding her and not getting over himself sooner so they could restart their relationship

"But please say you can't live without me, because...because I'm miserable and I need you."

So sweet!  So there you go a happily ever after.  Oh and the epilogue.... totally worth reading the whole book...all I'm gonna say is....sexy cop and a black stetson ;)

Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl was a very nice light read.  I'll keep it on my reread list because it really was a great little story but the humor and sarcasm is what will have me reading more of Ms. Dahl's work!  If you pick it up, I hope you laugh as much as I did!

Happy Reading!

Shoot to Thrill (Passion for Danger #1) Review

Shoot to Thrill by Nina Bruhns is a decent read especially when feeling the need for a break from Bad Boys or Kristen Ashley's super hot Alpha Males ;)  With Shoot to Thrill you get a dangerous Military man...need I say more?


A sexy black-ops hero Kyle 'Kick' Jackson and a beautiful ER nurse Lorraine 'Rainie' Martin must fight for their lives-and for a love they never thought possible.

Let's talk about Rainie first because I have so much to say about Kick I'm afraid I'll forget to praise our sweet but scared heroine.  Rainie, like I mentioned, is a sweet, caring E.R. Nurse who was hauled to a speed dating get together by her best friend, Gina, where she meets Kick and she knows after immediately setting her sights on him that she wants him

He looked hard.  Jaded.  No-nonsense.  Dangerous.  And intriguing as hell.

So after he comes up to her and asks to buy her a drink after introducing himself as the great "Dr. Nathan Danby" they head out to um....spend some time together...yeah that's it.  Anyway, they don't get to far before he lands a hot one on her!  Because of the situation Kick is in he is paranoid, some things happen and she ends up having to take him back to her apartment....at gun point.  She finds out he really isn't Dr. Danby and then finds out what he really needs and decides to go ahead and help him even though she plans on not being happy about it....LOL....like that really lasts long because he sure got her under him pretty quick if you know what I mean....all I can say is ummmm...Yowza! 

Okay so Kick is like this super hot but injured and scarred Military man who works for a special unit in the CIA to which he signed a contract years ago saying they could call him back whenever they wanted, only he didn't want to go back.  After months on the run, they catch up to him and unfortunately catch up to him at Rainie's apartment and in a very bad situation....not what you're thinking so get your head out of the gutter ;).  Moving on.... so they take both him and Rainie off, help him out with his "problem", blackmail Rainie into staying with him to monitor the problem, and ship him off to Africa for his next mission.  But the plane they're on is hit by terrorists and they're forced to bail.  So now it's just him, Rainie, and a fellow soldier Marc.

What I need to mention real quick is that Rainie has a major and I mean MAJOR fear of cars, buses, planes, you  name it, because of a car jacking going horribly wrong when she was young where she lost both her parents.

"Kick.  In case you hadn't noticed, I'm afraid of pretty much everything."

Okay so the three of them are traveling across the desert.  Marc is severely injured and they are dodging terrorists while trying to make it to a medical camp so Marc can get treated and Rainie can get back to the states which means back to safety.   During all of this, actually for a while now, Kick has been struggling with whether or not he is a good guy or a bad guy

Was there a difference between him and the villagers, or even the bads?  Was he bien mauvais drigaille, too, because of what he did?  Even if it was in a good cause?

Just in case you're wondering "bien mauvais drigaille" means "very bad apple"

Rainie knows that even though Kick is a dangerous man, he is a good man who will protect not only innocent people but her.

Knowing a man could protect her, would not hesitate to kill to protect her, if need be...that was a mighty powerful thing.  Was she a sicko for being relieved to know that about Kick?

Together, Kick and Rainie go through all these dangerous things trying to get to where Kick needs to be in order for him to complete his mission, even though he is seriously not a happy camper that she is coming along because he wanted her on a plane headed back home!  During all this they are silently working out their feelings for each other

The realization that it didn't matter what he'd done in the past, or what he was about to do.  Nothing could make her change the way she felt about him.  She'd love him anyway.

The woman he loved.  He slammed his eyes shut.  Ah, hell.  He couldn't deny it any longer, could he?  He loved Lorraine Martin.

Watching them working it out in their heads was pretty interesting, I have to admit I enjoyed watching Kick fight his emotions every step of the way...Men can be so entertaining sometimes :)

Finally they get to their intended destination and start to prepare for Kick's mission but a couple of things happen and things don't quite go as planned, actually they go pretty badly.  But never fear this is a romance novel after all ;)  and let me tell you things get pretty sweet after that kind of like I'll end up with a cavity sweet but none the less a happily ever after is in this couples future!

"I love you with all my heart, Rainie.  Please say you'll marry me."

While I say that...Yes, Shoot to Thrill was a decent read I have to admit that I don't necessarily see myself reading it again.  It was more suspense than romance and while there was still the romantic love story with a super sweet ending it was just a little too much action for me even though I really did like both characters.  I also found the secondary characters and their little, almost, short stories rather annoying, but the book still held my interest.  If I were to rate it as a whole it would get a solid 3.5 stars from me.

Happy Reading!

Backstage Pass (Sinners on Tour) Review

Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning is a book that will satisfy your Rock Star cravings.  It's hot, sweet, hot, funny, oh did I mention hot?  Warning....this is an erotic/contemporary romance novel with explicit scenes.

It's been months since Brian Sinclair, lead guitarist for the famous rock band, Sinners, composed anything. Unable to write the music that once flowed so naturally, Brian is lost without his musical mojo. But when sexy psychology professor Myrna Evans comes on tour to study groupie mentality, Brian may have found the spark he needs to reignite his musical genius. When lust turns to love, will Brian be able to convince Myrna that what they have is more than just a fling, and that now that he's found his heart's muse, he doesn't want to live without her?

Brian 'Master' Sinclair is like the perfect bad boy!  He's a rock star, one you wouldn't want to take home to Mom and Dad at first because his looks scream bad news.  But once you get to know him you see he is a sweet hopeless romantic (that falls for a girl fast and hard) who may not necessarily care what people think but still gets bothered by being discriminated against because of his looks and career.  I swear he made me smile so much  I wanted to put him in my closet and keep him forever ;)

"They warned you that I was a romantic retard, didn't they?  She turned her head to glance up at him. "Huh?"  "Don't play dumb.  You don't have to walk on eggshells, Myr.  If I'm stupid enough to fall in love with you in twelve hours, I deserve to have my heart broken."

Yes...he admits the way he is....he even does it with in the first 60 pages of the book!  But as with most of our lead alpha males he knows what he wants and is NOT afraid to go for it and go for it fast

"Wanna go to Vegas and get married?"

Now I personally probably would have said yes because well even by page 67...yes 67! it's already painfully obvious that Brian is a sweet, hot, bad boy that would do anything for the love of his life and it's also painfully obvious that what they have, if not already there...crazy I know..., is headed for unconditional and eternal love. But Myrna turns him town 4 different times throughout the book...crazy I know but then again maybe she's one of those women who wants a big fancy day?....Pffft... if it were me I'd still say yes ;)


 Myrna...terrible name but awesome character... is a human sexuality professor and after meeting Brian in the hotel lounge her conference was being held at and after couple of days with him heads back to Kansas City to get back to work.  A month goes by and both Brian and Myrna think about each other and after realizing that he doesn't even want any other women touching him and a little push from Trey, Brian decides to get in touch with her

"Now I just have to get up the nerve to have my heart shredded again."

But she says yes to flying out and meeting up with him for the weekend!  

While with Brian the first time Myrna got extremely curious of the bands groupies...but seriously who isn't curious?  I don't get it...just cause they're famous and may be hot as all get out why in the world would you want to sleep with a complete stranger who probably won't even remember your name 5 minutes into the act much less ask for it?  And who knows where they've been or what they've touched (eww, where's my hand sanitizer) Oh well wouldn't be rock n roll without sex...right?  Anyway, so she's curious and gets an idea to research the groupies to find out what makes them that way and heads out on tour with the Sinners.  She's "having fun" with Brian because she's scared for it to be anything else because of her psychotic ex-husband but they're having so much fun together and she's finding herself getting jealous of what the groupies have to say about Brian...it's kind of funny especially because these women truly believe they are in love with these guys...I mean come on really?

So with out really realizing what's happening Brian starts to get under her skin (she's already embedded in his and not going anywhere).

He had everything he wanted.  He needed.  Right here.  This woman.  He knew she wouldn't appreciate his sentimental thoughts.  She didn't want to hear that he loved her, no matter how clearly he felt.

 He knew exactly what she was to him but she continued to fight it saying it wasn't going anywhere and they were just having fun.  But...if that was the case then she wouldn't have taken care of not only Brian but the other Sinners and roadies as well?  She made them keep at least one bus clean, cooked for them (pretty much whatever they asked for), jokes around with them, and tried to be a friend (even admits she cares about them).  She also stood up to Brian's Dad because he made her so mad.  Now if that isn't really caring for someone, let along loving them, then I don't know what is.

The tour has a break and after spending a few days with Brian in L.A., Myrna heads home to Kansas City so she can get some of her research data completed and while at home she gets an unwelcome visit.  Brian swoops in to her rescue and BAM.....she realizes her actual feelings for him

Perfect.  The man was perfect.  Perfect for her.  And she loved him

About damn time Woman!  Jeez...finally I can say YIPPEE!!!!  After hearing Brian actually say the words he's wanted to say for so long she tells him she loves him and he goes for it again

"You know," he said, "we'll be in Nevada for a show next week.  Wanna go to Vegas and get married?"

And what do you know.......

"I thought you'd never ask."

Backstage Pass was a perfect addition to my rock star....smutty....hot collection.  It's on my re-read list for sure because...WOW that book was H.O.T....hot!  Check it out, you'll be glad you did....but make sure to have a cool shower or your significant other handy while reading it ;)

Happy Reading!

 

Golden Trail (The 'Burg Series #3)

Golden Trail by Kristen Ashley was yet another hit for me!  I swear I can't get enough of these characters.  The Men are to die for hot (in every way) and the women are simply amazing (in every way)!


Tanner Layne and Raquel Merrick fell in love at a young and hard until Rocky left Layne with no answers and no going back.  Now years later Rocky is back in Layne's life working with him in trying to bring down a dirty cop and figure out what exactly is going on in town.  Layne has his hands full trying to figure out what's in Rocky's head, raise his teenage sons, and try and put the mystery of the dirty cop together all while realizing he is still in love with Rocky and will stop at nothing to make sure she doesn't take off this time.

Tanner Layne was one heck of a hot badass alpha male that totally rocked my world.  He's an Ex-Cop turned Private Investigator who roamed the country for twelve years and is  now back in The 'Burg to help raise his teenage sons.  After helping out The 'Burgs PD try and take down a dirty cop Layne was shot three times (a warning that he was getting too close).  Enter Rocky his ex-girlfriend from 18 years ago who left with no answers.  She gets pushed to try and reconnect with Layne over this because it cut her deep and she was still in love with him.  Layne was not happy about this at first and let me tell you he was a total jerk about it.

"We were good, baby, you remember.  So good, I'm surprised it took you a year to make that play."  He jerked his head to the house.  "But I'm not interested.  You want, I can shop around for you.  Bet a lot of boys in this 'burg would jump at a shot at you." 

See?  Total Jerk!  But he didn't know at the time that she had left her husband two months prior because of infidelity and had been planning on leaving for a while because he treated her terribly!

He knew that her wanting to help out on this case with the dirty cop was a bad idea, especially the play she was wanting to make with it.  Therefore, they start a "fake" reconciliation as his cover to finish his job investigating the dirty cop and to rub it in her soon to be ex-husbands face after what he did to her but he finally comes around and realizes he is still in love with Rocky and even though she doesn't know it yet what they have isn't fake anymore!

"And that was when Layne knew it, seeing Rocky standing in his bedroom in her sexy getup and sexier high heels, her hair tucked behind her ear, her arms crossed on her chest, her concern for his son evident in her profile - Layne knew he was in love with her.  Not only that, he'd never stopped loving her.  Not once, not for a second, not for twenty-one years."

Layne had a lot on his plate...
Rocky obviously had something going on in her that he needed and wanted to figure out so they could continue to move forward.
Rocky's Dad and brother weren't helping him in any way other than telling him to proceed, which pissed him off on more than one occasion.
His ex-wife was a total bitch I mean TOTAL BITCH!!
He was trying to work his own cases plus the dirty cop case and a few other things brought to his attention.
His Mom was still hurt over Rocky leaving him 18 years ago and made sure to hurt Rocky at every turn and was not happy that his Sons obviously felt protective of Rocky.  So he had to step in and make his feelings clear

"Yeah, and they're my sons.  I fell in love with her in three weeks, twice.  You do the math."

Rocky was great.  I loved it when Layne went to listen to her "To Kill A Mocking Bird" lecture, it was awesome, even made me want to pick up the book and read it again (which it's been a very long time and since I was in High School I probably didn't pay much attention to it).  I also loved how determined she was about her kids and their safety...she may not be a mother but she took her role as a Teacher who was protective of her students every seriously.  She also connected with them, made learning fun, gave them someone they could trust, but still put off that cool that all students look for in their teachers!  My number one reason for liking her was because she was funny in a sarcastic not meaning to be funny kind of way.

"Don't kiss me either," She hissed.  "I haven't read my contract for awhile but I think it has an express clause that I can't make out with seriously hot private detectives at football games or during any other school activity."

Rocky wasn't quite as strong as most of Ms. Ashley's other heroines but she was not weak.  She just had a lot going on in her head that needed sorting that really should have been sorted twenty four years ago but Layne being the man that he is and the man that is so much in love with her he was determined to figure out what was going on and see her through it.

"We're gonna work this out of you, baby."  She shook her head.  "Swear, Roc, swear, I'm gonna take care of you.  Yeah?"  She didn't answer, just pressed deeper.  Layne's arms got tight.  "Love you, Raquel"

There was a lot of love in this book....The Love Layne had for Rocky was simply beautiful and seeing that love reciprocated was breath taking!

"Thank you, baby" she whispered.  "For what?" he whispered back.  The side of her nose brushed his.  "A beautiful life."

 One quote that I have to share just because I can relate and seeing it made me realize that this may be one reason I shove my nose in a book so often

"Because if I couldn't have it, it felt good to be able to spend time with it in my head"

 Golden Trail was a bit different for me because the P.O.V. was all Layne and usually that would turn me off because I want to read through the female lead's eyes because I relate better and if the book is that good can feel what she's feeling but with this book I was NOT turned off.  Tanner is one heck of a guy and even though we didn't get a P.O.V. from any one else I could still feel what I was reading.  To me this is HUGE and makes me appreciate the phenomenal writing power Ms. Ashley has!  On that note pick up the book it will definitely not disappoint!

Happy Reading!

At Peace (The 'Burg Series # 2)

At Peace by Kristen Ashley was another wonderful hit that made it's way into my heart (pretty much like the rest of Ms. Ashley's work)!

Violet Winters moved out of Chicago to escape the criminal madman that is stalking her after he murdered her husband.  She moved next to security specialist Joe "Cal" Callahan.  Joe can't get enough of Violet even knowing he should have never started it.  He betrays her then realizes his mistake when tragedy hits the Winters household yet again and he must find away to win Violet back in order to keep that "full" feeling.

Violet was in my eyes the definition of one great woman!  She was sweet, loving, and one great Mom to her two teenage daughters (Kate, 17 and Keira, 14).  She had a great life with her husband, Tim, before he was murdered and felt that loss in her bones when she had to face the world as a single Mom.  But as a Mom she knew her priority was her girls.

"I was thinking that I spend an awful lot of time while Kate and Keira were growing up wishing I could do things.  Things like go to a movie whenever I waned.  Things like take a long, hot bubble bath when the spirit moved me.  Things like reading a book without the word "Mom" shouted over and over again"

As a Mom to two young kids I totally hear what she is saying ;)

I absolutely LOVED Vi's brother, Sam, they had such a loving bond.  A love that Sam wanted the world to know

"Most beautiful girls in the world!"  Sam kept shouting.  "That's right!  Drink it in!  Sheer gorgeousness!"

She felt deep for Joe pretty quickly into their meeting but also felt burned by him twice before he finally realized exactly what he had when it came to the Winters girls.  While Joe was trying to "sort his head" about what they were, Violet met another man, Mike Haines (YUM), and had a few dates.  He knew what kind of woman Violet was and just how special she was

"You don't get this, Vi, so I'll tell you.  I'm fallin' for you." I closed my eyes and Mike kissed them in turn and I opened them again.  "I know you don't need that, sweetheart, but then again, you need it all the same"

....sigh.... I will be the first to admit I am anxiously awaiting Mike's story mostly because he made me feel a squishy inside ;)

But Violet knew from the beginning that her and Joe had something special and knew that she meant something to him and that something was special because big badass alpha male Joe Callahan didn't do special for anyone!

"You're mine, Vi." he said and the way he said it, I focused on his face.  "I'm yours." That socked me in the gut too, so hard it winded me and all I could do was stare up at him.  "First fuckin' time you smiled at me in my bed, that's when it happened," he murmured.  "You're under my skin.  I like you there, buddy"

 O.M.G. Even though he played with her heart and wasn't exactly Mr. Nice once he came around Joe Callahan became like "The Perfect Man"

It was part fascinating, part train wreck, and part awesome to watch Joe 'Cal' get over himself and the horrible grief he endured for the past 17 years once Violet walked into his front door in the middle of the night to confront her neighbor about the loud music.   He knew he had something special with Vi from the beginning as well and because of his past and the grief he still had he really struggled with coming to terms with it.

"She was working her way under his skin.  Every day, she got in deeper, even when she wasn't with him.  He'd be working a job, sitting in a meeting and he'd wonder what she was doing, if she was working, what she was wearing, where her kids were, if they were safe."

Joe not only fell for Vi but he fell for her girls too.  He didn't let anyone call him Joe, but he didn't mind (even loved it) when Vi or her girls called him Joe...everyone else...well...they knew not to call him Joe but call him Cal!  He bonded with Kate and Keira in a way that any single mother would hope her boyfriend would bond with her kids.  It was special, he loved those girls and was quick to jump in and help them with anything as if they were his own children!

Joe knew grief and he knew it passionately for a long time.  He finally got his head sorted (because of the Winters girls) and knew they were it for him

"Seventeen years...no, longer.... I've been waitin' for you, waitin' for those girls."

I could probably go on for ever about this book, it was great..no, amazing...no, one of my favorites, but I've probably given too much up about the book as it is so I'll just leave you with one more quote

"Are we lucky?" I asked and his arms tightened.  "Nope" he answered.  "Nope?" I asked, surprised.  "We earned this Vi."

At Peace by Kristen Ashley is by far a definite read for any Romance/Suspense/Drama lover!  It was a great book and is another of Ms. Ashley's that will stay in my re-read list!  I'm anxiously awaiting Make Haine's story but until then... Golden Trail is the next book in the series and I have to say if Tanner Layne is anything like Joe Callahan I guess I'll be falling in love with yet another fictional Character ;) 

Happy Reading!

For You (The 'Burg Series 1)

For You by Kristen Ashley was a pretty good read, I read it because let's face it Kristen Ashley has become one of my favorite authors mostly because she knows how to write the perfect man (total Alpha!!) and great women who just about anyone can relate to.

For You was about High school Sweethearts February Owens and  Alexander "Colt" Colton who were made for each other but after something happened Feb broke Alec's (Colt) heart and ended up marrying someone else.  After another tragedy causing Feb's divorce she fled town and didn't return for 15 years.  Now she's back and someone who is obsessed with her is on a killing spree and it's up to Colt to keep her safe and catch the murderer.

Feb was a delight to read, she was sweet and had an awesome family but she had her share of betrayals that made her into a woman who preferred distance from everyone but most especially Colt.  Once the murders began she had to face Colt often and had to remember how she felt about him while being questioned by the FBI.

"There's no words to explain how big it was, what Colt and I had, or how much it hurts when something that big in your life is swept away, or how empty that place is that he once filled, or how impossible it is to find something to fill it"

She knew what they had was special, the whole town knew it!  After having to move into Colt's house so he could keep her safe their relationship began to rekindle so while talking about Colt's failed marriage someone reminds her just how special "Colt and Feb" really were and how much of a problem it caused in Colt's passed relationships

 "Romeo and Juliet, say they didn't die but Juliet got pissed and took off.  Everyone would know it was Romeo and Juliet, would always be Romeo and Juliet, even if later Romeo hooked up with Nancy.  No one ever heard of Nancy, doesn't even sound right, Romeo and Nancy.  Everyone knows Romeo's meant to be with Juliet.  Even if Romeo loved Nancy, Nancy would always know she was never Juliet."

Colt was one heck of a seriously hot alpha male who even after getting his heart broken by Feb twenty two years prior, having a failed marriage, and numerous failed relationships knew that he and Feb were meant to be together

"I remember everything about you and I remember all the reasons why I loved you.  Never could forget even when I tried."

Sweet right?  Don't worry he is still a man therefore he was still a jerk at times but he did have a soft spot for Feb and knew even though they lost all those years together he was lucky to have her back in his life.

"What'd I say, baby?  I'm the fuckin' lucky one in this bed, seein' as he watched you walk away which meant you were free to make your way back to me."

Colt found out the truth about a lot of things that happened in his and Feb's past and was surprised by just about all of it.  I think I fell a little in love when he decided it was time to set things straight and boy did he ever.  He made sure to not only set two people straight, he made sure to do it in a public place (Feb's Bar no less) so that everyone that was there would be sure to spread the word around town which would set the whole town straight.  But it was Feb's response that had me giggling at 2 o'clock in the morning hoping I wouldn't wake my husband

"No, I didn't do Willie either.  He might be hot but we made out and he's not a good kisser.  I'm talkin' bad.  I didn't wanna go there."

So, while they are coming to terms that they just can't be without each other and are trying to start over a few things happen that bring up the past and why they ended in the first place and it's all because of the serial killer.  This part of the book I did not care a whole lot for because a lot of it I just could not seem to get over.  Some major things happened and two people who played a major role in the reason of Feb and Colt ending had twenty two years to come forward and tell them the truth and yet never did.  I would not have done anything to help out Amy and her note would have made me even more mad.  The way I look at it is yes as a twenty something I'm sure she was scared but don't wait twenty two years to write a note and think it's going to make everything all right as far as your part is concerned.

Feb, Colt, their family, and their friends had such love and even with everything that was happening around them they still found time to love, laugh, and tease each other which made me grateful for the family and friends I have

"I'm a girl therefore I hate frogs.  I'd get kicked out of the girl club if I didn't.  Ask Maisie, she's got the rules memorized."

For You was a good book and I recommend reading it.  I haven't decided how solid it will stay on my re-read list but I'm a firm believer that it should be read at least once because the next book in the series At Peace make a few references to this book and let me tell you be prepared for that review because that book was A-MAZ-ING!!!!

Happy Reading!