October 31, 2007
8:52 PM |
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A sexy CPA goes undercover as a male stripper in the mobster’s Vegas club to nail a Mafia kingpin. The perk? The club’s owner. Sure she’s got some unsavory connections, but how can anyone with those legs be all bad?
She’s got a head for business, but is out of practice in the pleasure department. If anyone can strip her of her inhibitions it’s the new guy who’s stirring her wildest g-string fantasies. But besides the sizzling sexual chemistry they have in common, they both have secrets. They learn quickly that, with the mob closing in, what gets exposed is as irresistible as it is dangerous.
What a ride!
Shelley Bradley knows how to write intense sensual and emotional love-stories like no other. She takes you on a journey of emotions and feelings that leaves you wondering afterwards what the h.ll just hit you.
And for this book I'm not even talking about the smoldering love scenes, the fast-paced and suspenseful plot or that yummy alpha male Mark who goes undercover as a stripper and the feisty and smartass owner of the strip joint. Together they just make the dialogues combust in flames, not to mention what they make the love scenes do. Don’t get me started on that because then this review would never get finished and it certainly wouldn't pass any PG-13 rating...
I had an amazing time reading this book and to think I picked it because I wanted something contemporary so it would be an easy, uncomplicated read. Uncomplicated it sure wasn't, it was intense, fast-paced, emotional and hot.
With a plot that was well written, be it a little bit predictable as to who the bad-guy is, and a love-story that brought tears to my eyes at the end.
The characters were wonderful and you just feel there's a story coming for some of the secondary characters.
I really fell hard for Mark; he is a true alpha with a capital A, both inside and out of the bedroom. Who could have thought an accountant could be so hot and yummy! Because of his past he's determined never to trust a woman ever again and loving a woman is definitely out of the question. Until Nickie storms into his life, setting his whole world upside down. His determinations starts crumbling bit by bit despite his efforts not to give in.
Nickie is feisty, hard to the bone and a real smartass. Giving as good as she gets she manages her strip joint with an iron fist. She really doesn't know what to do with her feelings for Mark and tries to resist him but fails miserably at it.
They are so good together! Talk about a perfect match. Their interactions both in and out the bedroom are sizzling and filled with intensity.
Shelley Bradley wrote an erotic romance including mafia, embezzlement, strippers and strip joints and managed to keep it intensely emotional and sizzling hot at the same time without getting raunchy, just for that she deserves to be at the top of my auto buy-list.
Miss Bradley did it again. She enticed me with her first Shayla Black novel and has continued the thrilling ride with this one!
October 29, 2007
8:45 PM |
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Like father, like daughter.
That’s what businessman Alex Trahern thinks about Isabel Harrison. If the prestigious headhunter thinks she can steal his top employee, just like her father stole his dad’s ideas, she’s dead wrong. Alex is always a man with a plan, and his plan is to get revenge on John Harrison through his daughter. But there’s no contingency plan for the impact Isabel’s sparkling green eyes and honey brown hair have on the decidedly non-business side of his brain…
If at first you don’t succeed, change the game.
After some relationship flameouts, Isabel’s decided to leave love out of it and approach her search for a husband like finding a suitable job candidate. And according to her list of requirements, Alex Trahern certainly has potential. He’s sexy. (Check.) Forceful and fascinating. (Check, check.) Also arrogant, obnoxious, and way too hot for her own good. (Erase. Start over.) Now, if only she could find out what he’s really after…
Hatred and love truly are two sides of the same coin and this book proves that.
Alex is dead set on getting his revenge on the man he blames for his father's death and even achieving this through the man's daughter is not beneath him. But what he didn't count on was the attraction and later love he develops for Isabel and thus messing up his initial plans. The choice between having his revenge or having love, trust and a family is a hard one for him but of course in the end he makes the right on.
But the road to this right choice is a long, hard and sensual one, dealing with a woman who is loving, trusting and innocent but certainly isn't willing to be used as a means to an end.
Isabel develops throughout the book from being introvert, practical and self-protecting to the open and passionate woman that was lurking inside her but never had the chance to come out.
Because of disappointing relationships in the past Isabel has made a list of requirements her future husband should have, but never in her wildest dreams would she expect that the man who met al these requirements was also the man who was bound on revenge on her father.
Lucy Monroe does an outstanding job again with the plot and the characters. They both have issues, big issues and slowly but surely she works them out in a way that leaves you breathless with every turn of the page. She has a way of taking people who at first glance are so no right for each other, putting them together in a setting of suspense and making it work. I can see the scenes so vividly in front of me while reading it's as if I'm watching an episode of a series on television.
The contemporary books she writes (I haven't read her historical or paranormal books yet) are delightful, recognizable and on such a high level emotionally they really pulled my heartstrings on many occasions. The interactions, dialogues and love scenes between the hero and heroine are finger licking good and touching at the same time.
This was a love story that really touched me. Alex trying not to let his feelings for Isabel get in the way of his revenge and failing miserably.
Isabel trying to make the very best of the relationship once she's given into it but running into Alex' suspicions and mistrust every time.
With this book Lucy Monroe is on her way to the top of my favorite authors list, making romantic suspense one of my favorite genres.
October 27, 2007
8:42 PM |
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Enter a mythical world of dragons, demons and Nymphs…enter a world of dark seduction and powerful magic…enter Atlantis…
Females young and old, beautiful and plain crave Valerian’s touch. None can resist his blatant sensuality and potent allure…until he steals Shaye Holling from a Florida beach and holds her prisoner in his underwater kingdom.
The cynical Shaye wants nothing to do with the mighty warlord, but she’s inexplicably drawn to him. For underneath the the warrior’s arrogant beauty lies a complex and powerful man. A man whose caress is like fire…
Now Valerian must fight for the privilege of claiming her as his own. Because ther’s one thing Shaye doesn’t know…That when a nymph discovers his true mate she’s his for life.
I don’t know how she does it but Showalter did it to me again:
She enchanted me with another story of Atlantis.
The Atlantis of the Nymphs this time, creatures of sexual desires and power and Valerian being their king is an exquisite specimen.
Valerian is self-assured and a bit arrogant but Shaye hold’s her own with him and they both have their reasons for their attitudes.
Valerian enjoys his freedom to enjoy the females he entrances and doesn’t have any need to find his mate so finding her knocks him off his feet.
Shaye certainly is not interested in men or love because loving someone only means rejection and hurt.
But they both get what they want the least anyway and they grow to accept it after some struggling.
Shaye is as endearing as she is cynical and Valerian finds out that the tables are turned on him now that he is left craving and wanting in stead of being craved and wanted.
With this change of roles Valerian is the one instantly accepting Shaye as his lifemate and Shaye is the one fighting this to the bone, determined not to give an inch of leverage.
Determined not to give in to the lure and temptation of the physical attraction Valerian poses for her at first and the emotional attraction as the lovestory unfolds.
The more Shaye gives Valerian the cold shoulder, denying her attraction to him in order to protect herself from getting hurt or rejected, the more Valerian shows patience and gentleness, killing her coldness with kindness.
I laughed, I cried, I empathized, I got angry, I got hot and bothered, in short, covered the whole spectrum of emotions again.
The interactions and dialogues between Valerian and Shaye were delightful and sizzling. Both Shaye’s resistance and Valerian’s determination were never annoying or irritating.
Next to their lovestory we also have the love triangle between Shiwavn, Joahim (Valerian’s cousin) and Brenna, a secondary storyline just as intense as the main one but never taking over the focus.
And of course let’s not forget the plot of the wars between the different “people” of Atlantis, in this book especially the on between the Nymphs and the Dragons after the Nymphs took over one of the portals to the surface meant to be guarded by the Dragons.
The secondary characters were again complementary and as well-written as the primary.
Showalter has a way with dialogues and characters that is very appealing to me. Fluently, well-developed, well- written, fun and entertaining.
She is definitely at the top of my favourite list with all her series and not in the least this Atlantis series.
She kept me flipping the pages until I closed it and left the world of Atlantis eager for the next installment, which will be the story of Layel, king of the Vampires.
Gena Showalter delivers another lovestory oozing with sensual pleasure, a fierce heroine, a scrumptious hero and an action-filled plot!
Quote
All six the warriors were suddenly looking at her as if she’d make a tasty meal, no silverware required. Strangely enough, she wanted to splay herself on a table, naked, offering her body as the dinner buffet. All you can eat. No charge.
October 25, 2007
6:42 PM |
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Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day-they fulfill the Curse of Eight Prophecy. To avoid tempting their destiny, the brothers are exiled to Nightfall Island, where women are forbidden. When a childhood friend seeks refuge among the brothers, it triggers a confrontation with their mysterious enemy.
Alys arrives desperate and afraid, but welcomed by Wolfer, the second-born brother who harbors deep feelings for Alys. But she harbors a secret: her own uncle is tormenting the exiled brothers, and seeks to kill them to secure their ancestral inheritance for himself.
Confessing her uncle's plan to the brothers puts them at even greater risk, for their resistance against the evil mage has stirred his wrath. Alys fears her uncle is determined this time to exterminate the brothers once and for all-destroying the star-crossed lovers as well.
In this second book of the series we get to know more and more about the world of Katan, the gods of Katan and the way of the mages other than the brothers. But we are also drawn further into the world of the brothers, their prophecied disasters, their characters, their secrets and the whole big picture begins to unravel and things become more clear bit by bit. But still there is so much more lingering under the surface I really can’t wait to get the complete story, which won’t be until Morganen’s book of course.
Wolfer and Alys captured my heart right from the beginning. They were such lovable and endearing characters where Saber and especially Kelly were fierce and a bit overpowering. But this fit them all and I wouldn’t want it otherwise. This is an example of Johnson’s talent in writing characters that are perfect for each other and at the same time maintaining a measure of uniqueness to each plot and book. She has a knack for writing very compatible characters and I’m curious to know what she has in store for the other brothers.
Wolfer and Alys being less fierce than Kelly and Saber also made this book less intense than the first book but this was satisfactory made up for with the utterly romantic undertone that was seeping from every page.
Again Jean Johnson ensnared me into this magical fantasy world of the Sons of Destiny. Keeping me captivated with her imaginative powers, weaving a great plot with hot sensuality and heartfelt love.
Her characters and storylines are suberbly done. Her worldbuilding is addictive, making you want to get your hands on the next book just to know how it will all continue.
This installment of the Sons of Destiny is a feast if you’re a sucker for a romantic lovestory and an imaginative plot, topped of with some magic and fantasy!
Quote:
Wolfer wanted it to go on forever, but he was made only of weak, male flesh, not fervid wishes and erotic dreams.
October 17, 2007
6:39 PM |
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Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day-they fulfall the Curse of Eight Prophecy. To avoid tempting their destiny, the brothers are exiled to Nightfall Isle, a land where women are strictly forbidden. But, when the youngest of the mage-brothers rescues a woman from another universe, their world is altered forever.
Kelly Doyle wasn't just having a bad day, she was having a bad decade. Threatened, attacked, and accused of dabbling in witchcraft, Kelly has just about had it with her narrow-minded neighbors in her small town. And now she has somehow landed in another, magical dimension—the only woman in a magical realm inhabited by eight men who are desperately in need of a woman's touch.
Now, with Kelly in their midst, Saber, the eldest of the eight, is forced to confront the curse that plagues them-if he falls in love, disaster is imminent. But in the aftermath of a mysterious attack, Saber and Kelly find themselves drawn to each other, despite the threat of the looming Prophecy. Their passion only grows stronger, and they soon give in to temptation. If only the fates didn't take such things so seriously...
Jean Johnson knows how to treat us to delicious males, a feisty and strong heroine and a magical fantasyworld blended into an original, unique and well-written plot, sprinkled with sensual tension and erotic love scenes.
This was a perfect combination of magic, fantasy, 21st century girlpower, a bit of history, intriguing, exiled mage-brothers of which hero Saber is the first to fullfill his dreaded and prophesied destiny, and of course love, a beautiful, profound love.
The story kept me intrigued and fascinated from the first page to the last. There were so many things I loved about it: the storylines, the intensity between Kelly and Saber, the worldbuilding and last but not least: those brothers, twins but each unique and special in their own way.
I really wouldn’t mind being swept away to this Isle of Nightfall and having eight magical brothers at my beg and call.
I adored the witty, sarcastic bantering between all the brothers and the battle of wits between Kelly and Saber.
The characters in the book, both main and secondary were all very likable and easy to relate to. I really appreciated it that Johnson had Kelly doubting her feelings for Saber not immediately falling head over heels but gradually acknowledging her feellings for him truly were feelings of love. Johnson does this in a writing style that’s really believable and admirable.
The bond and love for each other between the brothers is one of the things that I found most attracting and it matched perfectly with the way Kelly is almost immediately embraced by all the brothers despite her fiery character and the way she starts ordering them around.
My favourite scene in the book was the wedding.
The ceremony was lovely, the vows were touching, the exchange of gifts was endearing and the weddingnight was steaming.
This book was so much more than an average fantasy romance.
The story- and worldbuilding was perfectly done, taking the reader slowly but surely to an ending that only promises more to come.
With all the information on the curse, the prophecy and the brothers, given little by little, perfectly dosed, you know it’s all far from done. This book is just the beginning, the tip of the iceberg.
From the very start you know there is much more than meets the eye. This just makes the anticpation for the books to come greater because you know none of them will be able to escape his destiny. Though in my opinion destiny and prophecy receive a little magical helping hand.
In short, an intriguing, fascinating and compelling book and defenitely a series to treasure for it’s ability to swep you of your feet.
Quotes:
His lips nipped hers, his tongue flicked in a taste, and her onw opened to tangle with him in a hot, wet, oh-my-good-morning! kind of kiss.
“Excuse us, dear Brother, but we did not go to all the trouble of fixing up your bedchamber just to have you go at it like rabbits right here in the chapel.”
(Koranen to Saber after the wedding)
October 13, 2007
6:38 PM |
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He Took Her By Surprise
When a naked earl climbs through the window into her bedchamber, Lady Elizabeth Runyon does the proper thing: She screams. Loudly. And then…well, Lizzie has had enough of being proper. She wishes to be bold. Wanton, even. She won’t be commanded to put on her nightgown. Just this once, she will be absolutely daring…
She Returned the Favor
Robert Hamilton, Earl of Westbrooke, has no intention of being tricked into marriage by a detestable female, and if he has to flee naked across a rooftop, he will. Jolly good there’s an open window waiting--as well as an undressed, slightly drunk, and alluringly beautiful Lady Elizabeth. Oh, dear. If they are caught together, he might have to marry her. The idea is delicious…and the temptation is irresistible…
And again I thoroughly enjoyed another installment in the Naked Nobility series.
After reading about them in The Naked Duke and the Naked Marquis they finally took center stage in their own book, Robert Hamilton (Robbie), Earl of Westbrooke and Elizabeth Runyon (Lizzie), sister of the Duke of Alvord.
They have been in love with each other ever since they were children. But ever since a humiliating experience in a brothel Robbie has trouble performing bedroom duties and he considers himself “defective”. His secret problem also prevents him from offering marriage to the woman he’s loved forever: Lizzie. Still he is extremely and endearingly jealous of every man who dares even to look in Lizzie’s direction.
However a plan to trap Robbie into marriage and humiliate Lizzie, both part of an act of revenge, backfires and sends them straight into each other’s naked arms and eventually into a marriage.
Two elements that come back in all the books are: nakedness of either or both hero and/or heroine and revenge on either hero or heroine. These elements provide not only the connection between the books but are also the things that make them different from each other, therefore making it a series that you won't get bored with quickly.
I must say that Ms Mackenzie’s plots and writing style gets better with each book she releases. Where in The Naked Duke it was a nice plot and story, I must classify The Naked Earl as intriguing and exciting.
While Robbie and Lizzie's love-story is the main focus, the secondary characters and subplots are present enough to intrigue you into wanting to know more about some of these secondary characters but never so overbearing that they take over the book. In short, it proved to be an excellent mix.
In this book MacKenzie also sets the stage for the next book where secondary characters Meg and Parks are the main characters. Like she did with Robbie and Lizzie in the previous books.
Unfortunately I have to wait until next year to enjoy the next story in this series.
I highly recommend this book and series if you’re in the mood for a witty story filled with funny situations and dialogues mixed with well-written characters and sensual love scenes.
Quotes:
She tasted of life, of hope, of all that he wanted and could not have
“Did I hurt you?” (Robbie)
“No.” She flexed her hips again and wiggled. He gasped. “Stop talking and move!” (Lizzie)
October 10, 2007
6:37 PM |
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D’Anu witch Silver Ashcroft knows she walks a perilous line by practicing gray magic. But it’s the only way to protect herself from the evil that surrounds her. After the horrors she has witnessed, Silver thinks she is ready for anything...until the most intensely arousing being she has ever encountered swiftly—and sensuously—proves her wrong...
Hawk is a Tuatha D’Danann warrior—powerful beings descended from the Fae. And for him duty has always come before pleasure. Then, clad only in moonlight, Silver Ashcroft welcomes him to her city of San Francisco and makes his blood sing with a passion beyond compare. She is the embodiment of fantasies he never knew he had, but the terrifying reality of his mission lurks in every shadow...
Only the strongest will survive the upcoming battle, and the forces of darkness are more powerful than ever. Now, warrior and witch must trust in their hearts above all else—for to claim victory, they first must claim each other...
Silver Ashcroft is a witch in the D’Anu Coven of San Francisco. Her Coven practices white magic and white magic only but secretly Silver practices gray magic, this is magic that uses forces outside the witches themselves and using this magic entails the danger of succumbing to black magic, the evil kind of magic.
While saving a child from warlocks’ blood magic rituals she meets Hawk, a warrior of the Tuatha D’ Danann who is sent to her from Otherworld because the seer of the Elvins had a vision of Fomorii being summoned by warlocks to destroy and take over the world. The Fomorii are the former seagods, now demons who will stop at nothing short of taking over Earth. Only Silver has the power to summon the D’Danann Enforcers for help in the battle against them.
From their first meeting the attraction between them sizzles of the pages but widower Hawk has no place in his hart for another woman but the wife he lost and although he doesn’t fight the attraction he has a hard time admitting that he’s falling in love with Silver.
In this book no one is who they seem to be and little by little McCray lifts up the veil covering some of the characters.
I liked all the characters in the book, both primary and secondary. Silver and Hawk had a nice chemistry going, both strong, proud and filled with the need to protect their loved ones.
The witches and warriors were essential additions to the story and the Balor High Priest, Darkwolf and Fomorii leader Junga were interesting representatives of evil, especially Darkwolf. He’s obsessed with Silver, and not only for her magical powers. I have a feeling he hasn’t quite resigned to the fact that Silver is Hawk’s woman. But while reading I also got this nagging feeling that they were just the tip of the iceberg where evil is concerned.
Some of the secondary characters already have their own books written, but I’m very curious to know if Jake, the human captain of the PSF (paranormal special forces) team will be paired of with one of female D’Danann warriors.
I thought this was a very entertaining story.
Introducing a world of D’Anu witches, Balor warlocks, Fomorii demons, Elvins and Fae warriors of the Tuatha D’Danann.
A world of black, white and gray magic fighting against each other for different reasons: world domination, power, protecting loved ones.
The book is not fast-paced but certainly action-filled and intriguing.
With a lot of details on witchcraft and magical beings.
You can sense from reading the book that McCray has researched the magical world thoroughly, which results in an in-depth, well written description of the battle between good and evil magic.
And in the midst of this battle she manages to write a sensual, erotic and wonderful love-story between D’Anu witch Silver Ashcroft and Tuatha D’Danann warrior Hawk. The mix between plot and erotic scenes is balanced out quite nicely. None of them to overbearing but just right.
I tend to classify this book as erotica because of the explicitness of the sex-scenes, not the abundance of them. The erotic parts blend into the story perfectly and never take the focus away from the story at hand but rather complementing the developing love between Silver and Hawk.
There were some interesting twists in the plots I didn’t see coming and this made the book more than an average paranormal love-story.
Although the book ends with a HEA (happily ever after) for Silver and Hawk you sense that the battle between good and evil has just begun and will continue in the following books.
For me Cheyenne McCray has created a compelling and intriguing world that captured my attention from the first page and kept it with her perfect mix of action, sensuality and magic.
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Nice to meet you!
- Pearl
- Netherlands
- 39, married to my real life romance hero, addicted to TV shows, reading romance novels and Twitter. I'm a chronic (e)book hoarder and my absolute favorite genres within romance fiction are contemporary romance and romantic suspense, but I don't shy away from historical, paranormal or erotic romance either. Even the occasional (urban) fantasy romance, futuristic and sci fi romance may make it to my Mount TBR. This is my corner of the world wide web where I let you know what books I'm hoarding, reading and reviewing.
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