Otterly in Love by Lorelei M. Hart and Aria Grace

Title: Otterly in Love

Author: Lorelei M. Hart and Aria Grace

Series: #3 in The River's Edge Shifters series

Genre: M/M Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Surrendered Press (November 21, 2020)

Source: Kindle Unlimited

Rating: ☕☕☕

Synopsis: An M/M MPreg Shifter Romance

Sometimes the past holds your future...

Omega otter shifter Doc loved his adopted son and wanted to protect him from his past. But when the boy's past flings itself at him in the form of a series of letters, Doce is faced with the heart wrenching decision of either ripping open old wounds or keeping unforgivable secrets from the child.

Rabbit shifter Levi hates his life as Alpha of his Colony. Put there by birthright and held there by his past, he has no choice: If he leaves, they will kill his one true mate. Rabbits were brutal like that.

When the colony is all abuzz with word of a stranger in town, Levi doesn't expect an otter and he certainly doesn't expect the man to be the bearer of both the worst and the best news of his life: His mate was gone and he had a son. And he most definitely doesn't expect to have his rabbit announcing the man as his mate. 

Otterly In Love is a sweet with knotty heat M/M shifter mpreg romance featuring an otter shifter looking out for his son, a rabbit shifter who fears he isn't strong enough to fix the wrongs of his path, an evil sheriff who won't stay gone, a boy who in some ways has more to teach him, true fated love, and an adorable little baby. This is the third book in the River's Edge Shifters series brought to you by the co-writing team of Lorelei M. Hart and Aria Grace and can be read as a stand-alone.

(Synopsis courtesy of GoodReads)

My Thoughts: I was really looking forward to getting to know Doc more and although this was his story it left me wanting more.

The Good, The Bad, and Everything Else: So, about the synopsis.... for the most part it is exactly what this book is about, but that last paragraph isn't quite accurate. The evil sheriff is taken care of in book 2 and although it's been 4 days since I finished this book, I'm pretty sure I am remembering this book correctly. Also, the "adorable little baby"...not sure which baby this is in reference to. I believe August and Jase's baby is in the book and she is adorable, but she isn't in a lot of the scenes as at least half the book takes place at the rabbit Colony and not in River's Edge. There is another baby, but I believe doesn't make an appearance until the very end. One more complaint about the last paragraph of the synopsis and then I'll move on....it says it is the 3rd book in the series but can be read as a stand-alone. I'm terrible about reading things in order and my GR friends could attest to this. I often pick something up based on what I get approved at NetGalley. I'll pick something up based on what my library has available at the time. I'll even pick something up based on the shiny cover. However, I really think in order for Doc's story (and Xander's as well) to be fully appreciated the first book in the series should be read before this one, at the very least. Book 2 is almost an independent book within the series as the characters in that story don't make an appearance in book 3 but more about that later.

While I did enjoy this book, I was sad that Leo and Ron (from Feline the Love) weren't in this book. I really liked those characters. Also, I know Doc was older, but I don't recall how much older (I'm actually thinkin it never said) and for some reason this bugged me. I like an age gap romance but like to know what ages I'm working with LOL. 

With the background story of Xander being heartbreaking and intense from the first book I was disappointed that part of that story was concluded off page, happening sometime after book 1 ended and book 3 started (but not mentioned in book 2 at all.) I know that is quite vague, but I don't want to include any spoilers for anyone who may want to read the series.

As far as Levi and Doc go, I really wanted more from their story. On one hand it was a really good story, but I think the page count limited the development of a believable love story. As with most fated mate tropes the "I Love You's" happened quickly and in shifter romances sex usually means love. Too bad I'm not a shifter and can't appreciate this type of relationship. Hello insta-love. <insert should shrug here>. 

In a Nutshell: I am definitely moving on to book 4 although I'm not sure who will find their true love as there weren't any new shifters introduced except 3 bunny adults (new adult age so not viable for relationship status in my mind), a handful of rabbit Colony asshats (only good for evil mastermind status), and Mama (a widowed lion shifter who played a major role in helping Levi leave the Colony....loved her by the way.) I guess I'll have to wait until I can pick up book #4, Canine Love You after I finish up my current reads.

Baby from Frost by Ashe Moon

 

Title: Baby from Frost

Author: Ashe Moon

Series: #3 in the Dragon Firefighters Series

Genre: M/M Historical Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Ashe Moon (September 14, 2021)

Source: Kindle Unlimited

Rating: ☕☕☕☕

Synopsis: Fleeing from his dangerous dragon family, half-human omega Raka finds himself unable to control his desires for Delos, the winsome ice dragon alpha he hired to escort him across the frozen sea. But falling in love was never part of the escape plan. To protect them both, Raka vanishes from the flaming wreckage of their ship, leaving Delos behind with a broken heart—not knowing he's carrying the alpha's child.

After seven years, Delos’s icy heart shows no sign of thawing. On an away mission for his dragon flight brothers, he unexpectedly finds the omega he can’t forget. His resentment is matched only by his enduring need for Raka, but the omega is in hiding, unable to leave his library sanctuary. It’s clear they can’t have a second chance together—but then there’s Raka’s son, the boisterous little boy who looks so much like Delos. The child needs an alpha to teach him how to be an ice dragon—can Delos open his heart and become the daddy he was meant to be?


Baby From Frost is the third book in the Dragon Firefighters mpreg series. It expands on characters and the story introduced in the previous books, and while it can be enjoyed as a standalone it’s recommended you read the others first. This book features ice dragons, second chances, a secret child, an industrial fantasy setting, pregnancy and dragon eggs, toddlers, family moments, friendship and loyalty, love in a library (shhh!), light drama, and, as always, a happily ever after.

My Thoughts: Another good installation to the Dragon Firefighter series.

The Good, The Bad, and Everything Else: I've been remiss in my review writing, so I haven't reviewed books 1 and 2 in this series so here's a bit of thought about the series in general. It's written is if they are historical romances but there are very little clues as to the timeframe. There are no modern vehicles (cars, planes, etc.), the fighting of the fires is very primitive (buckets being hauled), and dragons are common. The series is set firmly in the Omegaverse and to my knowledge thus far in the series, dragons are the only shifters in this world. The dragons have classifications based on their elemental affinity. Altair and Rainor (from books 1 and 2 respectively) are both Fire Dragons. Delos is an Ice Dragon.

With that said I've really enjoyed this world Ashe Moon has created. I like the idea of a hodgepodge of dragons creating a family (called a dragon flight.) They, of course, are more openminded than most and have expanded their circle to include human mates and they don't feel Omegas are less of a person than someone else. This theme of Omegas being lesser than, let's say, an Alpha is a common occurrence within the Omegaverse no matter who is writing the book (at least in my experiences with the sub-genre.)

As far as this book goes, I've wondered what Delos's deal was. Brooding, self-isolated, more interested in Alchemy than personal interactions are what makes up Delos. Now we find out why. Raka was the deal. I like a brooding hero for sure and Delos fit the bill. I wish there was a more substantial reason Raka was in hiding. Unless the conflict is carried over from this book to the next the entire reason Raka couldn't be with Delos to begin with was a moot point. Nothing happened with that storyline. The romance was sweet, and the sex was spicy (library sex anyone?) I wish the relationship had more oomph though. As I mentioned since the entire reason Raka and Delos couldn't be together was not substantiated within this book there was no conflict or added intensity other than what was in Raka's head making me a bit miffed because Delos suffered alone for 7 years for no reason.

I really like Shen (a Thunder Dragon) and am glad he was introduced as now all 3 dragons in the flight are mated. I wasn't ready for the series to end. 

In a Nutshell: I'm hooked. I cannot wait to read the next book to see where the series goes.

The Heart of Devin MacKade by Nora Roberts

Title: The Heart of Devin MacKade

Author: Nora Roberts

Series: #3 in The MacKade Brothers series

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Silhouette Special Edition (first published March 1, 1996)

Source: Purchased

Rating: ☕☕☕☕1/2

Synopsis: Sheriff Devin MacKade has always known his destiny was to serve and protect the small town of Antietam, Maryland--and for a long while he thought that future would include Cassie Conner. She's the only woman he has ever loved, but he'd never worked up the nerve to tell her. When Cassie married the wrong man, Devin did the honorable thing and kept his feelings to himself. Now that Cassie's divorced, Devin can finally follow his heart. Question is, can Cassie?

My Thoughts: I loved Devin and Cassie enough to make this 90's romance a favorite and a keeper.

The Good, The Bad, and Everything Else: OK so this is a 90's romance through and through. It is a bit dated in places with the terminology and pop culture references in addition to the Alpha-beat-on-your-chest man and the poor abused needed-to-be-taken-care-of heroine. Even though I loved Devin I was a bit irritated at him a few times in the book. He pinned away for Cassie for so long and told her he would be just fine waiting until she was ready but then a few days later he flipped the script and said he was tired of waiting for her to make her mind up. Also, Cassie, poor abused Cassie. She felt authentic to me up until I felt she was a little bullied by Devin to have sex. Technically she initiated it but as Devin was asking her the right questions but continued to go through with them having intercourse despite her thoughts on sex in general (something a woman needs to do to make her man happy and not something to be enjoyed by a woman) I was disappointed in him. She changed her mind, of course, after one night with a sex god (yes, I said it.... sorry...not sorry.)

I think this book would have held up into the 21st century if Cassie would have been less of a victim once breaking away from her abuser becoming a lioness instead of the timid mouse, she was through most of the book.

What did I like about this book to make it darn near a 5-star rating you may ask? Well, as with any book that makes my feelers feel a range of emotions, I tend to rate it higher than average. This book did make me tear up, laugh, say awwww (because let's face it those kids were adorable), and make me curious about the ghost in the Inn. Also, I tend to give Nora a half star extra just because she's Nora. It's my rating system I can do what I want!

In a Nutshell: A great conclusion to this series. I know it's not the end of the series but book 3. I read them out of order. I read this one last and the second book first. Needless to say, I read them all and I enjoyed them a lot. I will re-read them at some point...maybe even in order. Who knows?

Wild Bear by Terry Bolryder

Title: Wild Bear

Author: Terry Bolryder

Series: #3 in the Bear Haven series

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Terry Bolryder ( September 27,  2015)

Source: Kindle Unlimited

Rating: ☕☕☕☕

Synopsis: Book 3 in the Bear Haven Series! 

Maverick McAllister is as wild as they come. Born in the wilderness and closely attuned to his bear, nothing has made him happier than the untamed land surrounding Bear Haven ranch. That is, until a curvy, sassy woman shows up to tempt him. And all too soon, the rugged bear knows exactly what he wants-- his mate.

Harmony has tried to make it as a musician in the Big Apple, but despite her best efforts, nothing has worked out. And though she's happy for her two friends that are now happily mated to larger-than-life McAllister cowboys, she can't help but hope that there's something good waiting for her as well. And maybe that something good is in the sexy, dominant Maverick.

The chemistry between Mav and Harmony is undeniable, and every time they are together the room heats up like a firestorm. But as sexy as Maverick may be, he might be too wild to tame. And no matter how badly Maverick wants to keep Harmony forever, he'll have to show her that he's ready to love, even if it means bringing out the man inside of him that's been hidden a long time.

My Thoughts: What an improvement over book 2. I loved it.

The Good, The Bad, and Everything Else: Maverick's book was so good. He was more animal than human and preferred to live in his bear form out in the woods rather than as a man with clothing restraints. His background explains why this is and his character is actually deeper than every other character I've read by Terry Bolryder thus far. He's really pretty charming in his own way and even though he doesn't try to be funny he is. His entire thought process is innocent as an animal's would be without the devious intentions that unfortunately are found in many humans. As a matter of fact he often refers to others as human and doesn't consider himself even part human. Harmony is his complete opposite and I liked how she appreciated him for who he was and didn't expect him to change. He did a lot of growing up in this book and I absolutely loved him. 

The romance felt quick but when you factor in the H and h met months ago it wasn't as insta-lovey as the first two books in this series. Although it did wrap itself in an almost fated mate type of situation I wasn't unhappy with it. Mav was a bear. He thought as a bear. In his mind he gave himself to Harmony as her mate and she was his. The End. As an animal it was simple. Humans make things more complicated and he honestly didn't know if he was capable of being human enough to actually love Harmony as a human loves their partner. 

There was conflict, a bit of suspense, epiphanies, and a big bear of a man who finally figured out humans sometimes need the help of other humans.

In a Nutshell: My very favorite book by Terry Bolryder so far. I loved this book.

Poisonous by Allison Brennan

Title: Poisonous
Author: Allison Brennan
Series: #3 in the Maxine Revere series
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Minotaur Books; Reprint edition (April 12, 2016)
Source: Library Find
Rating: ☕☕☕1/2

Synopsis: Teen-aged Internet bully Ivy Lake fell off a cliff and few people cared ... except her mentally-challenged eighteen-year-old step-brother, Tommy. He loved her in spite of her cruelty. He's distraught and doesn't understand why his blended family is falling apart. After a year, the police still have no answers: Ivy could have jumped, could have been pushed, or it could have been an accident. With too many suspects and not enough evidence, the investigation has grown cold.

Tommy thinks that if someone can figure out what happened to his step-sister, everything will go back to normal, so he writes to investigative reporter Maxine Revere. This isn’t the type of case Max normally takes on, but the heartbreak and simple honesty in Tommy's letter pulls her in. She travels to Corte Madera, California, with her assistant David Kane and is at first pleased that the police are cooperative. But the more Max learns about Tommy and his dysfunctional family, the more she thinks she’s taken on an impossible task: this may be the one case she can’t solve.

If Ivy was murdered, it was exceptionally well-planned and that kind of killer could be hiding in plain sight ... planning the next act of violence. Max believes the truth is always better than lies, that the truth is the only thing that matters to gain justice for victims and their families. But for the first time, she wonders if this time, the truth will kill.

My Thoughts: While I wasn't as involved with the crime part of this book as I was in the previous book I did enjoy this book quite a bit.

The Good: I liked Max's interactions with the kids in this book. She showed immense compassion when talking with them and treated Tommy, an 18 year old with special needs, with respect. I'm not sure if she would have been as compassionate if this was the case we read about in the first book. In the first book she was colder...almost impersonal. She also did whatever it took to get to the truth  regardless of who might get hurt. In the second book she had to take a hard look at who she was as a person and made some discoveries she didn't like. In this book she is still struggling with her discoveries she made of herself in the previous book. This has made her a better character. She isn't as "in your face" and even though she is still a very strong woman she doesn't plow over people or jump into verbal confrontations immediately, as she would have in the first book.

The investigation was interesting and completely relevant to the time with social media such a huge impact on our youth. I liked seeing, once again, Max's methodology and her legwork when it came to investigating the cold case.

The Bad: While I like that Max's character is growing I don't think she made as much of a forward movement as she could have. She is having a hard time not opinionating about Nick's and David's ex's. She's not understanding even though the women, mother's of their children, are complete witches there is a large amount of finesse and towing the line in making sure those women do not cut the men completely out of their kid's lives. Max's personality is to just blast the women, hire a better lawyer, take what is owed you. Stop playing nice. The men don't want that stress on their kids because those women would make the kids miserable by not letting them see their dads, talking bad about their dads in front of them, etc. I'm not sure if Max has the capability to learn these things. She has no intention of becoming a mother and I'm not sure is she is maternal at all even with the compassion she showed the boys.

Also, there was some things that were repeated throughout the book. I was a little annoyed with this but didn't notice it happening in the other books so I'm hoping it's just a one off. Oh and if you're more interested in the romance aspect of Rom/Susp this book has very little in the way of romance. Nick does make an appearance a couple times in the book but the majority of the book is about the investigation. There isn't a lot of suspense build up either. There is some at the end but like I said it's mostly about the investigation.

In a Nutshell: I'm enjoying these books more than I thought I would after reading that first book. Even though I only rated this 3.5 I'm looking forward to the next book a lot.

The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen

Title: The Sinner
Author: Tess Gerritsen
Series: #3 in the Rizzoli/Isles series
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Publisher: Ballantine Books (August 19, 2003)
Source: Library Find
Rating: ☕☕☕☕

Synopsis: Not even the icy temperatures of a typical New England winter can match the bone-chilling scene of carnage discovered at the chapel of Our Lady of Divine Light. Within the cloistered convent lie two nuns–one dead, one critically injured–victims of an unspeakably savage attacker. The brutal crime appears to be without motive, but medical examiner Maura Isles’s autopsy of the dead woman yields a shocking surprise: Twenty-year-old Sister Camille gave birth before she was murdered. Then another body is found, mutilated beyond recognition. Together, Isles and homicide detective Jane Rizzoli uncover an ancient horror that connects these terrible slaughters. As long-buried secrets come to light, Maura Isles finds herself drawn inexorably toward the heart of an investigation that strikes close to home–and toward a dawning revelation about the killer’s identity too shattering to consider.

My Thoughts: The third book in the Rizzoli/Isles does not disappoint.

The Good: This particular book showcases Maura Isles this time around. I liked the change in protagonists even though I have really warmed up to Rizzoli. She is, of course, still a main character within the book and pregnant to boot. Anyway, I really think varying the view works well for this series. Seeing things from Maura's view (this is still 3rd person perspective just an FYI) was a little different than Jane's. There are more opportunities for medical aspects within the book whereas with Jane's "stories" it was more about the police work. Even with the heavier medical things we still get a nice dose of police procedures as well.

Maura's background is explored a little within this book which was a positive because she's such an enigma. I love strong and intelligent women and Maura certainly fits the bill. Despite how put together she is Maura also struggles with her faith as many people do which makes her easier to connect to in my opinion.

The Bad: I struggle with books that have religious undertones and this one had them in plenty. Gerritsen didn't beat us over the head with her religious views so that was good. I just didn't like Maura's struggle with her attraction to the priest she meets at the Chapel. I know it happens but for me this is kind of a hot button subject. Nothing actually happened

In a Nutshell: I really enjoyed my re-read of this book and I'm really looking forward to my re-read of the next book as well. I cannot recommend this series enough. If you love thrillers/mysteries and haven't started this series pick it up. You won't be sorry.

Branded As Trouble by Delores Fossen

Title: Branded As Trouble
Author: Delores Fossen
Series: #3 in the Wrangler's Creek series
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: HQN Books (June 27, 2017)
Source: NetGalley
Rating: ☕☕☕☕

Synopsis: Every town needs a bad boy, and Wrangler's Creek's has been gone far too long...
Getting his high school girlfriend pregnant was just one square in Roman Granger's checkered past, but it changed him forever. When his son's mother skipped town after the birth, Roman decided to do the same, baby Tate in tow, hoping for a fresh start.
Now Roman fears his teenage son is following in his wayward footsteps, so he returns home to Wrangler's Creek, aiming to set him straight. It's there he encounters Tate's aunt, Mila Banchini, the good-girl opposite of Roman who's had a crush on him since childhood. The old spark between them undeniably never died, though Roman worries it'll only lead to heartache. But if falling for Mila is such a bad idea, why does everything about holding her feel so right?

My Thoughts: My first book by Delores Fossen and certainly not my last.

The Good: The personal conflicts cropping up throughout this small town has a little bit of a Soap Opera feel to it but I loved every minute of it. I very much enjoyed most of the characters and their quirks. I felt the family connections between the Grangers and their extended family, including Mila, was probably one of the best things about this book. Although not completely parallel, the town reminds me a bit like Brenda Novak's Whiskey Creek or Susan Mallery's Fool Gold settings.

The Bad: One of my least favorite romance tropes is an older virgin. At 31, Mila and her virginity, seems completely weird. Barring a vow of celibacy while waiting for marriage or Jesus I'm not sure a woman remains a virgin to 30+ without having something seriously wrong with her. In Mila's case, she was just too picky she said. She had her heart set on Roman. Therefore she refused to do the deed until Roman came around and did the deed with her. Even for a romance novel this seems pretty far fetched. One last thing that bugged me a bit. Both Mila's and Roman's mothers seemed equally quirky. Mila's mom is an ex free loving flower child who thinks she's psychic and is rumored to put the stink-eye on people that cross her. Roman's mom is a widow of many years who raised 4 children and is more of a society icon in the town because the Grangers pretty much own the town. These women are polar opposites yet seem to have the same wacky impulses. It was a bit weird but not necessarily a deal breaker when it comes to the enjoy-ability of this book.

In a Nutshell: I really enjoyed this book and will seek out the rest of the series. If you like those small town feel contemporary romances please pick this one up.

The Escape by Mary Balogh

Synopsis: After surviving the Napoleonic Wars, Sir Benedict Harper is struggling to move on, his body and spirit in need of a healing touch. Never does Ben imagine that hope will come in the form of a beautiful woman who has seen her own share of suffering. After the lingering death of her husband, Samantha McKay is at the mercy of her oppressive in-laws—until she plots an escape to distant Wales to claim a house she has inherited. Being a gentleman, Ben insists that he escort her on the fateful journey.  
Ben wants Samantha as much as she wants him, but he is cautious. What can a wounded soul offer any woman? Samantha is ready to go where fate takes her, to leave behind polite society and even propriety in her desire for this handsome, honorable soldier. But dare she offer her bruised heart as well as her body? The answers to both their questions may be found in an unlikely place: in each other’s arms.

My Thoughts: While having the sense of being overly long, The Escape ended up being a lovely romance between two fascinating characters.

What I Liked: The meeting of the hero and heroine really set the feeling of the book. That first contact can make or break a book and I really thought it set the stage. It showed that Samantha's character would not be some simpering milquetoast victim and it also showed Ben to be more than a handicapped man.

As a matter of fact I really enjoyed the entire first half of the book. The first part had conflict and a bit of humor, a nasty piece of work called a sister-in-law and a really ugly dog. It also had the building of a fabulous friendship. Some might not enjoy Friends to Lovers themes but I really adore them. I love to see exactly why a couple falls in love without relying on an author to say "Poof...they're in love." I also very much enjoyed the time when our hero and heroine "escaped" to Wales. Historical romances are chock full of London settings but I've never read one set in Wales!

What I Didn't Like: Unfortunately, once they got to Wales the book seemed to take a different tone. Yes Ben and Samantha continued their friendship and even moved to the next step into being lovers but the humor and the conflict seemed to be missing from the story. As a matter of fact the only conflict was my feelings towards the double standards the heroine had about her long lost relatives. She was quick too forgive a great aunt who she never met but held a grudge against her grandfather for doing almost the same thing.

In addition to the lack of humor the last half of the book adds virtually nothing to help push the story forward. Despite the characters moving into lovers situation I just couldn't see much passion. The sex scenes were quite uninspiring. As for the ending I think it could have been done better. All the dangly parts were wrapped up but not to my satisfaction. It felt just too fairytale ending-ish.

Because I'm a little nit-picky there were a couple things that grated on my nerves but probably won't bother most people. The cover is just a terrible representation of Ben and Samantha. Sure that might be Samantha....maybe.... but that is in no way Ben on the cover. Mary Balogh has no control over her covers, I'm sure, but COME ON! Benedict can barely walk. He cannot stand without the assistance of his 2 canes/crutches. One more thing is that the author has habit of repeating herself (as in a character would reflect upon a piece of dialogue that was just spoken where we readers would then read the dialogue over again but in italicized print just in case we wouldn't get it)...

In a Nut Shell: Despite all the negative things this book was really quite lovely. I know, now I'm being contradictory. It ended up a pretty average read but Balogh did a wonderful job of showing our H/h falling in love. Their romance was a delight to read. No insta-love at all and their conversations were well done. The setting was interesting also as was the fact that our heroine was a recent widow and our hero could barely walk due to an injury to both of his legs. This is my first book in this series but I thought it was able to standalone but will go back and read the other 2 books in the series.

(I received an eARC courtesy of the published via NetGalley for an honest review)

Tempting Evil by Keri Arthur

Synopsis: In a world of sorcery and seduction, the nights bring out the beautiful, the damned, and the desired. Here, Riley Jenson is on her own–half werewolf, half vampire, working for an organization created to police the supernatural races. Trusting her superiors and lovers barely more than she trusts her worst enemies, Riley plays by her own set of rules. Her latest mission: to enter the heavily guarded pleasure palace of a criminal named Deshon Starr–a madman-scientist who’s been messing around in the gene pool for decades. With two sexy men–a cool, seductive vampire and an irresistibly hot wolf–vying for her attention, Riley must keep focused. Because saving the world from Deshon Starr will mean saving herself–from the trap that’s closing in around her. . . .

My Thoughts: Jumped right into this book when I finished the second in the series because for some reason I just can't get enough of Riley.

Spoiler Warning: Due to a controversial scene in the book where many readers want to be told about it I'm including a spoiler within my review. I will not give away pertinent plot twists or anything like that but continue with caution.

What Worked: Even though I find Riley very flawed I'm enjoying her immensely. She rarely jumps into trouble without thinking first and I have yet to label her TSTL (if you've read any of my reviews in the past you know this is a major issue I have with many heroines.) Her abilities stemming from her being a Dhampir are notable as are her growing psychic talents. I can't wait to see what is in store for those! What also worked was the ending of a 3 book underlying plot thread. I don't think I would have continued on with a 4th book if the DNA/Cloning plot thread had not ended.

What Didn't Work: While undercover, Riley was given the choice to wear clothes or not while in the Starr complex. She opted to run around naked. As a werewolf she has very few inhibitions but as a reader I found it really weird. Perhaps if I were a nudist it wouldn't have felt so awkward but as I'm not I couldn't get that point to flow well while reading.  (((((SPOILER)))))In addition to the nudism what also didn't work was there is yet another instance of rape in this book. Poor Riley gets knocked out and finds the man she figured she'd have to sleep with to get info from has actually been having sex with her unconscious body for hours. Once again Riley is barely phased other than complaining about how sore she was. I really hope this isn't going to be a trend in these books because even though Riley isn't crying rape that is exactly what happened.((((((END SPOILER)))))

In a Nutshell: Despite what didn't work, I thought, once again, the positives outweighed the negatives. My recommendation, as with the other two books in this series, is to ignore the sex and focus on the action. That is really where this book shined for me. A kick butt woman and some serious nail biting action.

A Vision of Murder by Victoria Laurie

Synopsis: Professional psychic Abby Cooper is planning to fix up an old house and make a killing in the real estate market--until she encounters a killing of another kind....

This Old Haunted House
When Abby gets roped into investing in a fixer-upper, she has no idea she'll go from real estate mogul to real-life ghostbuster. After the deal is closed, phantom inhabitants of the house replay a violent night from long ago that ended in the murder of a beautiful blonde. The only way to evict the house's spectral tenants -- and save Abby's handyman from flying drills -- is to uncover the dead woman's identity and solve her murder.
Aided by her boyfriend, sexy FBI agent Dutch Rivers, Abby discovers the key to the puzzle is a hidden treasure lost since World War II. Unfortunately, Abby's not the only one intent on finding it. As she gets closer to the truth, a madman shadows her every move. Now a race is on to find the treasure and solve the mystery -- and only the winner will survive. ...

My Thoughts: A disappointing cozy despite the addition of paranormal elements that I adore.

What Worked: I very much enjoy books featuring psychic phenomena. I love Jayne Ann Krentz's Arcane Society books. I love Christine Feehan's GhostWalker series. I will even read non-fiction books that talk about the subject! So, thank goodness for Psychic intuition and all things woo-woo because otherwise this book might have turned out to be a complete dud for me. Abby is a professional psychic and her abilities are pretty fascinating. I love her on board lie detector that sing songs the words "Liar Liar pants on fire!" In addition to the enjoyable woo-woo factor I liked the secondary cast of characters even though most of them were over the top caricatures of real people. I especially liked the inclusion of MJ Holliday, who is the star of Laurie's other series. Also, the added history about WWII, Jewish precious gem dealers from the 40s and priceless treasure were all very interesting.

What Didn't work: Abby. Period. She was one of the most, without a doubt, TSTL women I've read about. You'd think she would have a special insight when it comes to avoiding trouble but NOOOOOOO. Abby not only finds herself in trouble repeatedly but she purposely avoids listening to her intuition. She's a freakin' PSYCHIC here people! So why would she go barreling into her home knowing that the person who broke in is STILL THERE? Because she's Too Stupid To Live! Why would she, not only ignore her boyfriend's, (who is an FBI agent) insistence on having someone with her at all times, but purposely sneaks away to be on her own after being assaulted on two different occasions? Because She's Too Stupid To Live!!!!! Now, throw in a large amount of whining, a slur against her boyfriend's mother, vindictive behavior with the sole purpose of causing her boyfriend pain and childish argumental rebuttals (similar to "I know you are but what am I?") and you've got a big reason this book did not work. Now on a side note I did read the first 2 books in the series ages ago and liked them enough to get all the rest of the books in the series.

The Abby Issue aside, the plot also didn't work quite well in this book. Granted the background story about the gems and Nazi's and stolen treasure was all fun but the mystery aspect of who was causing Abby harm was pathetically obvious. There was only one suspect. Not even a red herring was thrown in to mix it up a bit. Not to mention the haunted house subplot that was wrapped up very quickly with no fanfare. In addition to that, I'm wondering if the business that Abby, her sister and her handyman went into together will continue into the next books or if it's sole purpose was to bring in the haunted house as a catalyst to the pathetic mystery within this book.

In A Nutshell: Despite my love of all things woo-woo I just couldn't like this book much more than 2 stars. I'm very character driven in my reading so a TSTL female lead just kills the book for me. BUT even if I were more plot driven this book would still fail. With all that said, I do plan to continue on with the series because I'm really hoping this was just one rotten nut in the mix.

Waiting On You by Kristan Higgins

Synopsis: Does being nobody's fool mean that you're nobody's love?

Colleen O'Rourke is in love with love…just not when it comes to herself. Most nights, she can be found behind the bar at the Manningsport, New York, tavern she owns with her twin brother, doling out romantic advice to the lovelorn, mixing martinis and staying more or less happily single. See, ten years ago, Lucas Campbell, her first love, broke her heart…an experience Colleen doesn't want to have again, thanks. Since then, she's been happy with a fling here and there, some elite-level flirting and playing matchmaker to her friends.
But a family emergency has brought Lucas back to town, handsome as ever and still the only man who's ever been able to crack her defenses. Seems like maybe they've got some unfinished business waiting for them—but to find out, Colleen has to let her guard down, or risk losing a second chance with the only man she's ever loved.

My Thoughts: My second book by Higgins and I'm totally a happy camper for reading it!

What Worked: It's well known that Higgins' trademark is the humor liberally peppered throughout her books and this one was no exception. I loved the banter between the characters so much. The situations within had me laughing out loud often. I was grinning like a crazy lady through most of the book! When a book can make me laugh it's a good one. When a book can make me tear up also, it's even better. This book did all of that and more.

The characters were so very real to me even though there were quite a lot of them. They were funny, attractive, petty, jealous, insecure, flawed and wonderful. I couldn't have asked for more from them. Although this was Colleen and Lucas' romance there were several different stories happening too. When a book has several different storylines happening and so many characters inserted there can be a possibility of upstaging, where the H/h might get over shadowed by the backdrop. I don't think this happened at all. I was able to keep up with all that was happening and had a good time while doing so.

Also, I should mention that this is book #3 in the Blue Huron series and the only one I've read (the other book I read by Kristan was a standalone.) This book stood up by itself nicely and although many of the characters were introduced in the previous installments, Higgins did a great job of introducing them to me for the first time in this book. I don't regret reading this one first but now want to go back and read the other 2 just to see if they were just as good. Oh and I particularly liked that Higgins chose to utilize the third person narrative with this series rather than the first person narrative she uses most of the time. I thought seeing the inner thoughts of both the hero and the heroine added a depth to the story that I think 1st person narrative sometimes misses.

What Didn't Work: At times I felt that the book had been going on too long but this truly didn't take away from my enjoyment. I was happy reading page after page after page but some readers may find the opposite. Which is why I mentioned it in the "What Didn't Work" section of my review. Other than that I couldn't find fault in this story at all.

In a Nut Shell: Ultimately what Waiting On You brings is a lovely complicated love story in the middle of a bunch of complex interwoven relationships. I loved every single minute of this book and I will go back and read the other books in the Blue Huron series without a doubt.

 

When Summer Comes by Brenda Novak

Synopsis: Welcome to Whiskey Creek— Heart of the Gold Country!

One day, Callie Vanetta receives devastating news…

She needs a liver transplant. But her doctors warn that, in her case, the chances of finding a compatible donor aren't good.

Determined to spend whatever time she has left on her own terms, she keeps the diagnosis to herself and moves out to her late grandparents' farm. She's always wanted to live there. But the farm hasn't been worked in years and she begins to fear she can't manage it, that she'll have to return to town.

One night, a stranger comes knocking at her door…

He's an attractive and mysterious drifter by the name of Levi McCloud, and he offers to trade work for a few nights' shelter. Callie figures she doesn't have anything to lose. He needs a place to stay until he can fix his motorcycle; she needs an extra pair of hands. The arrangement seems ideal until what was supposed to be temporary starts to look more and more permanent. Then she realizes she does have something to lose—her heart. And, although he doesn't yet know it, Levi stands to lose even more.

My Thoughts: I actually started this  book ages ago as my first look at Brenda Novak's writing. After reading over half the book and finding myself hating the heroine, confused by the large cast of secondary characters and their importance within the heroine's life and annoyed by the hero's undying love for a woman from his past I thought I'd give up on this book. A friend of mine suggested I go back and read the first books in the series because the cast of characters would make more sense. I did this and enjoyed them enough to give this book a second try. 

What Worked: The beginning of the book was quite exciting with a late night visit from an injured stranger, getting the local veterinarian, who lived next door, to patch him up and the following incidents regarding some less then upstanding renters in the area. The initial chemistry between our hero and heroine had great potential also. Oh and I liked Callie's dog, Rifle too.

What didn't work: As Callie is dealing with her mortality and knowing that without a new liver her time is short she decides to not tell anyone so she can have one last summer without being coddled and surrounded by looks of pity. In addition she also justifies not telling as a way of saving her friends and family months of sadness. What could have been a story of a strong independent woman ended up being one about a martyr. It is evident during the course of the book she needs a support system in place for doctors visits and emergencies yet she chooses to leave 12 people in the dark to protect them. 

In addition to the issues I had with Callie, Levi was not a whole lot better. His underlying 'fear' of the police and living under an assumed name felt a bit ridiculous as did his undying love for a dead girlfriend. 

Now lets talk about diuretic spironolactone. There were a few medical jargon words thrown into the book to authenticate Callie's condition and her need for a lot of medications. If the book had been written in a way that coming across a phrase like diuretic spironolactone would have felt natural I wouldn't have been pulled out of the book long enough to say "What?" and highlight the phrase in my kindle. Yes I did highlight it, it's one of the things I love about my kindle. Anyway, "she could claim the diuretic spironolactone, or the lactulose, which she had to take four times a day to inhibit the buildup of ammonia in her blood, were for a harmless condition like premenstrual cramps." She not only decided not to tell anyone of her impending doom but she went out of her way to lie about it while telling everyone that nothing was wrong!!! She ended up hiding her box full of medicines under the porch. In the middle of summer. Outside. Just want to point out that storing medications in the summer heat outdoors is generally frowned upon. Oh and she gets her medications filled in another town much further away because "She couldn't use the one inside Nature's Way--a locally owned grocery store not far from Whiskey Creek--unless she wanted everyone to know about her condition...." Really? Even small town pharmacies have to comply with HIPAA laws and regulations. 

Now lets talk about transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts. Just kidding. Since I really disliked Callie and didn't like Levi any better one could hope the secondary characters were worth reading about. Not so much. Once again I found her large close knit group of friends nothing more than busy body gossip whores who judge books by their covers. Their continual treatment of a woman in the group (yet not quite part of the group) is horrifying despite their constant justification of their rudeness being based on the woman's 'mean girl' attitude when they were in high school. Good Gravy people. It's been a decade. Grow the Hell up!

So where does that leave us? The ending. It was all wrapped up in a nice big unrealistic bow where the good guys or girls don't die (or go to jail) and the bad guys get run out of town by Deputy Dawg (aka Office Stacy). How lovely.

In a Nutshell: I still maintain that I like this series or rather, I like the idea of the series. I think fans of the series will find this an ok read and I'd never encourage anyone to not read this book. However, for new readers of Brenda Novak and/or this series I'd recommend you go back to the beginning and read the first book When Lightning Strikes first. Because there is such a large cast of secondary characters it is impossible to understand their impact on the Whiskey Creek storyline as a whole without their back stories and there isn't enough time or space to spell it all out as a recap.

Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis

Synopsis: Breaking rules and breaking hearts

Free-spirited Chloe lives life on the edge. Unlike her soon-to-be married sisters, she isn't ready to settle into a quiet life running their family's newly renovated inn. But soon her love of trouble--and trouble with love-draws the attention of the very stern, very sexy sheriff who'd like nothing better than to tame her wild ways.
Suddenly Chloe can't take a misstep without the sheriff hot on her heels. His rugged swagger and his enigmatic smile are enough to make a girl beg to be handcuffed. For the first time, instead of avoiding the law, Chloe dreams of surrender. Can this rebel find a way to keep the peace with the straitlaced sheriff? Or will Chloe's colorful past keep her from a love that lasts . . . and the safe haven she truly wants in a town called Lucky Harbor?

My Thoughts: After finishing book 2 in the Lucky Harbor series and absolutely loving it I might have gone into this book with too high of expectations because I found it a bit lacking.

What Worked: Sheriff Cutie was my kind of hero. Dark and brooding, his presence often spoke more than his mouth did. His by the rules no thrills lifestyle is nice compared to so many broody book boyfriends who have almost too much baggage. He did have some but I kind of blew it off as unimportant. Speaking of Sawyer I liked that a thug from his past (an old high school buddy if you can believe that) brought a sense of conflict that I thought was well played out.

The dynamics between the 3 sisters had nice conclusion in this 3rd book of the series. Growing up as strangers and being brought together for the common good (or their inheritance actually) made their interactions more and more important as the series progressed. It was nice to see them become friends but more importantly, actual sisters.

What Didn't Work: Chloe. Her character is a total free spirit which was fully blamed upon her dead mother's parenting skills (or lack thereof). This might explain why she was wanting to run away from any attachments within Lucky Harbor, whether it be with her sisters, Sawyer or the family business. However, her 'wildness' seemed over the top and the physical danger she put herself in seemed way too self destructive than her free spirit ways should have allowed. There is a balance between dancing to the beat of a different drum and thumbing your nose at fate. Her constant asthma concerns were prominent in every encounter we witnessed. She couldn't help paint without a mask because of the asthma. She couldn't sit by a bonfire because of the asthma. She couldn't have mind blowing sex because of the asthma (for real). Yet, she could go mountain climbing or hang gliding with no trouble? What? I would think the change in atmosphere might be a problem for someone with that severe of a problem. The asthma was never an issue on her adventures with her friend Lance. Weird. My other problem with Chloe is the only time I saw much emotion from her was when she was discussing Lance's disease and it's progression. Even during her "I Love You's" with Sawyer felt out of place and unbelievable.

In addition to Chloe's inconsistencies, the big showdown between the bad guys and Sheriff Sawyer was anti-climactic. It was wrapped up way too quickly and left me wondering if I missed a few pages.

In a Nutshell: Despite my feelings toward Chloe (I like her least out of all 3 sisters) I really enjoyed the book. Chloe and Sawyer had some excellent scenes together that were just plain fun (their drunken painting project comes to mind.) The growing Bed & Breakfast business is a joy to watch if you've read the books in order and have seen them overcome their huge obstacles. I would recommend not only this book but the entire Lucky Harbor series to romance readers. Jill Shalvis has a wonderful way of combining excellent characters, stunning scenery, laugh out loud humor and sizzling hot passion. It's a winner of a series!

The Fire by James Patterson

Synopsis (courtesy of Shelfari.com): YOU WANT A FAIRY TALE, DON'T YOU?
Whit and Wisty Allgood have sacrificed everything to lead the resistance against the merciless totalitarian regime that governs their world. Its supreme leader, The One Who Is The One, has banned everything they hold dear: books, music, art, and imagination. But the growing strength of the siblings' magic hasn't been enough to stop the One's evil rampage, and now he's executed the only family they had left.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND ONE HERE.
Wisty knows that the time has finally come for her to face The One. But her fight and her fire only channel more power to this already invincible being. How can she and Whit possibly prepare for their imminent showdown with the ruthless villain that devastated their world-before he can truly become all-powerful?
THERE IS NO HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
In this stunning third installment of the epic Witch & Wizard series, the stakes have never been higher—and the consequences will change everything.

My Thoughts: While slogging through this 3rd installment of the series I found myself willing to set it aside for typically mundane things, like, watching corn grow. Unfortunately despite the fact that I do live in Iowa I don't live near a corn field so I opted to do things like removing my pillows from my pillow cases and putting them back in because they seemed just a little crooked. Or constantly booting up Words With Friends to see if anyone took their turn (even though 25 seconds earlier they hadn't). After almost 2 days of reading then avoiding this book I finally finished.

What Worked: Well, we did get more information about Shadowlands. As near as I can tell this area is an in between for the dead. Dead people congregate there and wait. Some, will move on to somewhere else (although I don't recall where they move on to) and some, the ones who were nasty pieces of work on earth, stay there forever and become one of the Lost.

Unfortunately I can't think of anything else that worked for me about this book.

What Didn't Work: Going from one Witch and Wizard book to another it becomes glaringly obvious that we readers are not sure what timeline is at work here. From the end of the second book to the beginning of this third much has happened that we readers must pick up second hand. There is a blood plague systematically wiping out much of the Overworld. What? What is the blood plague? Where did it come from? How did it start? Never fear good readers....it must have been started by The One Who is the One to get rid of those pesky resisters of his New Order. At least that is what we think but there is nothing to confirm this.

The continuous usage of the letter M for magic. Not sure if this was used much in the first 2 books but in this installment it got annoying. Wisty asking Whit about his M. Bad guy Pearce mocking Whit about his lack of M. It felt like a false slang term used in attempts for an older person to connect with the younger generation. Speaking of Pearce. This was the first book in which he appeared and he had a wicked powerful 'gift' of melting peoples faces off. It was apparently given to him by The One. We have to assume that The One can bestow magic on his lackeys from Pearce's abilities but it is never confirmed.

The final showdown was almost anticlimactic also. When the Allgood kids used their magic against Pearce or The One instead of hurting them and/or killing them, the magic actually made them stronger. So how did The One get defeated when the Allgoods used even more magic against him? I don't know.

Another question I have is where are all the parents? We have a handful of the Resistance group....all of them are children. No one seems to have parents. The New Order has training facilities (all for children). Their troops seem to be all kids too. Where are the adults?

In a Nutshell: After reading 3 books in this series it has become more and more apparent that this is actually a poorly produced retelling of the Harry Potter series. We have magical children, dead parents, The One Who is the One (couldn't they come up with something other than this? I mean get real. Lord Voldemort was He Who Shall Not Be Named....seems pretty close to me.), multiple fighting scenes resulting in death and despair and lets not forget about Pearce with slicked back blond hair (Draco Malfoy anyone?). I know this series is not identical to the one written by JK Rowling but there are enough similarities that it's hard not to compare. I would not recommend this series to fans of YA novels. I'd push them towards his Maximum Ride series first.

 

Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan

Synopsis: Once blissfully in love . . .
Poppy Lane is keeping secrets. Her powerful gift has earned her membership in the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals, but she must keep both her ability and her alliance with the Society from her husband, Winston. Yet when Winston is brutally attacked by a werewolf, Poppy's secrets are revealed, leaving Winston's trust in her as broken as his body. Now Poppy will do anything to win back his affections . . .

Their relationship is now put to the ultimate test.
Winston Lane soon regains his physical strength but his face and heart still bear the scars of the vicious attack. Drawn into the darkest depths of London, Winston must fight an evil demon that wants to take away the last hope of reconciliation with his wife. As a former police inspector, Winston has intelligence and logic on his side. But it will take the strength of Poppy's love for him to defeat the forces that threaten to tear them apart.

My Thoughts: I love this series. I love historical romances. I love paranormal romances. When I can get both of them together I'm doubly in love.

What Worked: Win and Poppy. Despite the secrets they both had from each other two people couldn't have been more perfect for each other (except maybe Miranda and Archer....oh yeah, and Daisy and Ian LOL). Win's pet name for Poppy has always been Boadicea which was so appropriate. She is such a strong and powerful woman and I'm glad Win ended up being her equal in strength of character. Together they were so very passionate that it was hard to not get swept up in it.

The sensuality was also top notch. After 16 years of being together it was as if they were newly weds still. Typically I don't add the sexual parts of books to the plus column in my reviews but in Poppy and Win's case I have to. I enjoyed them immensely.

There was a mystery within the book about a Moira Darling. I thought this was well done and I enjoyed Win and Poppy's investigation of it and while that was all happening we got a glimpse into their past and what their courtship was like which was nice (but it also had issues....see below).

What Didn't Work: The flashback scenes of Win's courtship of Poppy. While I was happily reading along one of these chapters would bring the momentum to a sudden and abrupt halt. I did not like this but when reflecting about it I realized that had Callihan put all the courtship at the beginning it wouldn't have had as much of an impact and to tell the truth I would have been bored with it. Since I didn't like the way it was done I had to add it here (even though I wouldn't have liked it any other way either.)

Once again we are left in the dark about GIMs (Ghosts in the Machine). Mary Chase hinted that no one could fathom the power they actually had but we don't get to witness any of it other than their ability to leave their physical bodies making them extremely valuable spies. In addition to lack of knowledge about GIMs we are introduced to various Demons. There was limited information on these also but thanks to Poppy explaining a few pointers about Demons we know more about them than we do about GIMs.

The sisters are not featured in the book as much as I'd have liked. I am hoping that there will be a book later one that will feature all 3 women battling some sort of super villain.

The ending epilogue was another point of contention for me. It was pointless. It was a page of nothing to do with Poppy and Win and it ended abruptly. So abruptly that I kept turning the page back and forth to see if I was missing another paragraph or something. 

In a Nutshell: Overall I really loved this book. For every negative thing I came across I found something that just brought my enjoyment right back up there. In addition the next book is about Jack Talent and Mary Chase. Their secondary storyline in this book has whet my appetite for their book. Come on December!

Sharpshooter by Cynthia Eden

Synopsis: Two years ago Gunner Ortez saved Sydney Sloan's life on a mission gone wrong. And ever since then, he's been watching her back. Now a hostage-rescue mission is about to blow the Elite Ops agents' lives apart once again.  Working side by side back in the jungles of Peru, the heat between Sydney and Gunner is hotter than ever-and so are the threats to their lives. With the danger escalating, Sydney knows Gunner is her only hope at successfully completing their assignment. But the ex-SEAL who arouses passion she'd only dreamed about also poses the greatest risk to the secret she carries in her heart...and in her belly.

My Thoughts: I used to read the Harlequin Intrigues exclusively, loving the mix of romance and suspense, but over the years I've neglected my gianormous stack(s) of Harlequins in favor of longer more main stream romances. It's quite unfortunate that the Harlequin/Silhouette category romances just don't get the word of mouth advertising and acknowledgement that other books do because many of these short thrilling Intrigues turn out to be quite good. I found that to be true with Sharpshooter, the third installment of Cynthia Eden's Shadow Agents series.

What Worked For Me: The passion between the hero and heroine was sizzling and the tension of the, well, intrigue, of the case that the Shadow Agents found themselves in was believable. Both the hero and the heroine were part of the Shadow Agents which gave me a totally kick butt chick to root for and a mysterious-can kill you with a paperclip-hero to worship a little bit. The hero was well fleshed out and it was easy to empathize with him throughout the book and the secondary characters Mercer and Cale were noteworthy.

What Didn't Work For Me: The heroine, Sydney, was just not as fleshed out as her counterpart, Gunner. We learned about Gunner's childhood background but learned virtually nothing of Sydney apart from a brief look into her relationship with Slade. In addition to the lack of character building of Sydney both the hero and heroine went on a mission and had quite the groan worthy faux pas. They had a TSTL (Too Stupid To Live) moment. While in the jungle on a rescue mission they stopped doing their job (in a highly hostile environment I might add) to argue about  their relationship. Say What?!?!?!?! Why would two extensively skilled special agents of a secret organization where they only hire the best of the best do this? How did they survive so long if they couldn't compartmentalize their feelings?

In a Nutshell: Despite a few issues I had with this book the overall experience was very good and I'll actively seek out the newest release Glitter and Gunfire (released August 20, 2013) because it's Cale's book (yahoo!) and also go back and read the first two books in this series. I would recommend anyone who likes a good romantic suspense to give this book a go.

My Lord Immortality by Alexandra Ivy

New Ivy Cover

Old Raleigh Cover

Synopsis: Amelia Hadwell has no time for London's nightlife. Not when her beloved brother's odd ways have their family threatening to institutionalize him. And not when she is questioning her own sanity after being confronted by a murderous shadow creature - then being saved by a captivating stranger, a man who belongs to a world she cannot imagine. Reserved and scholarly, Sebastian St. Ives has been content without human desires - until they are reawakened by the delicate, brave Amelia, whom he is meant to protect. For the young woman has no idea she possesses the key to a ravenous vampire's dark victory. Now Sebastian must shield her from both a killer and his own growing attraction - or bond with her completely, and forever.

My Thoughts: This was just re-released in ebook which I received via NetGalley and found that it was very lacking. It lacked passionate characters and it lacked length to fully realize it's plot. It left a big dangly bit hanging with no closure which had consumed a fairly large portion of the book too. The ending wrapped up the continuing tie in plot-line that tied in this book with the other two in the Immortal Rogues (aka My Lord) trilogy which seemed a bit anti-climactic. This is the only one I've read by the way.

Originally these books were published by Zebra publishing in 2003 as short regency romances that reminds me of a Harlequin/Silhouette category series under the name Debbie Raleigh (the trilogy was called My Lord under the Raleigh name). They are being re-released under her pseudonym Alexandra Ivy, in my opinion, to capitalize on the popularity of her Guardians of Eternity series. On an interesting note Nefri an ancient vampiress who bestowed the three amulets onto the three mortal women in this trilogy has her own book coming out in July. The upcoming book is part of her Guardians of Eternity series written as Ivy. This is another reason I think these books were re-released now.

I don't think that even if the plot had been completely wrapped up I would have enjoyed it more. The characters were so completely flat that I found I was never fully immersed into them. I read the book. I didn't live it.