Royal Blood- by Amity Cross
I love a dark story, and I haven't found anything too dark for me. This book delivers on its promise of not being sunshine and all things bright. Right from the get go, you know this is going to be gritty. I loved it. The characters are dark, the setting is rough, it is exactly what is says it is going to be. Now I want to read more of this series!
Mercy is on the run. After tragedy strikes her family, she is the only one who can get justice. When she tries, things don't go as planned and she has to run. Unfortunately, her target wants her taken out. Her salvation may just be the worst place she could have run to. Staying on the razor's edge changes her. She might not be alone after all.
X(avier Blood) is a hit man for a MC and he is one of the best. But he has other plans. Little does he know that he might not be getting the bargain he is hoping for. And when he meets the brash bartender that was hired, his life might be changing. Good or bad, he is going down this path no matter what.
And the ending! Oh, man, my heart was pounding. This book is great because these characters are dynamic, complicated. You end up rooting for characters that aren't all good or all bad. It is a gripping story line of revenge and justice, street style. I love a book that makes no apologies, and this is it. I am eager to read on.
Angel Falling-by Audrey Carlan
I started reading this series on book two, so when I went back to the beginning with this book, I could see how things began. I have fallen in love with this series. It is full of sexy alpha men, strong, beautiful women, and a great story line. Who needs more? It is impossible to not fall in love with this cast of characters. From the obscenely wealthy socialite, the quirky gay couple, to the all american cowboy, there is something for everyone.
Aspen Reynolds is a twenty something, very successful businesswoman who knows how to build an empire. She is wildly beautiful, all blonde haired and fair eyes. She runs her empire with help from her assistant, and best friend Oliver. Oliver is an adorable gay man who keeps Aspen's world running smoothly. He takes care of every detail in her life, right down to her hair. She also has a sexy sister named London, who is an interior decorator/ life coach.
Hank Jensen is an all american, Texas cowboy. He owns a construction company that is doing work on Aspen's building. He is a true southern gentleman who loves his momma and his family. He is an honest businessman that takes pride in his work.
Aspen is expanding on her building. She is doing so well that she hires Hank's company to do the expansion. Being a very busy lady, she doesn't notice what is happening while she is standing outside her building. But Hank sees it. When the pipes come loose from the crane, he notices a beautiful woman standing directly below it. He dives at her to get her out of the way. The pipe goes through his shoulder, but the angel in white is safe. Waking up in the hospital, he is blown away by her beauty. She wants to do anything to help the man who saved her. She moves him into her penthouse and nurses him back to health. Hank is quickly falling for her, and things move on from there. But can a cowboy from Texas and a New York socialite ever have anything in common? With the two of them living so far apart be able to make it work? What will happen when she goes to Texas to his ranch? Could their pasts come back to haunt them?
This story is so wonderfully written, the characters so unique and well developed, that I was hooked from the very beginning. And the quirky Oliver and his mate Dean are so adorable, you cannot help but fall in love with them. This is an amazing love story too good to be missed. Grab a copy and get ready to fall in love with this series. I know I did!
Escaping Me- by Cat Mason
I liked this book pretty well. It is definitely different than I was expecting, and that is some of the reason that I liked it so much. The main character is faced with quite a few challenges, and how she reacts is what did it for me. I wasn't expecting her to do the things she did. To me, that is a favorite thing of mine. It is no fun to know where the story is headed. I love surprises and this book delivered that very well.
Daisy lives her life by rigid lists. She has her plan for the next 5 years. She is going to marry Landon and they will be middle class american dream, or so she thinks. But first, they are going to tour with his brother's bad for a bit. Landon has a new job with them, working under Tad. When Grayson, Landon's brother, meets Daisy at the club, their whole universe flips on its side. Grayson is sex and sin, hot as can be. Daisy knows she has to be careful, she wants him. And it looks like he feels the same. When things don't add up on the tour, Daisy has some choices to make; Stay on her plan that she believes is possible, or follow her heart? But things are not what they seem, and everything shifts.
This book will take you on a ride you don't see coming. And it is such a great trip. I loved the creative way the author weaved this complicated situation. This book is hot and sexy an unpredictable. Definitely worth checking out.
Releasing Rage- by Cynthia Sax
First, I have to say that I usually shy away from futuristic books. But I loved this one. I have reread it 3 times in a row. There is something about this book that just grabbed me and wouldn't let go. The characters are fantastic and the story gets under your skin. You could see something like this happening. The fight in these characters just grips you and you feel yourself rooting out loud that they should win. The bad guys are great bad guys. They are the kind that fuels your anger. I found my emotions going all over the place with this book. That's how I know it is a great book to me.
Joan Tull is the only female engineer on a battle station full of men and cyborgs. She has no family at all, and zero support around her. Her life has always been tough. The only bright spot is her memory of a cyborg saving her as a little girl. Because of that, she has worked hard to get to where she is at. She wants to pay it forward to the cyborgs that defend humans against giant bug-like creatures. When she gets the call to become an engineer of her own cyborg, she is thrilled. She has survived countless attacks from the men on the station and all of their taunts and name calling, but now she was getting her dream come true.
Rage is a C class cyborg. He is intimidating, big, and rougher than the new models. His skin is grey and he doesn't blend in with humans like the newer models. After enduring torture at the hands of his engineers and other members of the Human Alliance, he slaughters his handler. No one will experiment and cruelly torture him for their sick pleasure. He realizes that his action will mean his death, but he will take as many as he can with him. When he is assigned Joan, he has had it. He is going to show them that he is stronger and smarter and if she tries to hurt him, he will end her.
When she turns submissive to him and is attracted to him of her own free will, something changes in Rage. Joan is surprised by her own attraction to this rough cyborg too. But together, they might just find a way to heal each other and save the cyborgs. That is if the men don't kill Joan first.
This book has an incredible story and a perfect ending. I loved it from page one and that shocked even me. I will have to go check out more from this author, because I am hooked now! If you love sexy stories with a great story line and characters you can believe in, check this one out!
My Last Dom- by Deanndra Hall
Oh my gosh, where to start? Deanndra Hall has set the bar for a true and honest look into the BDSM lifestyle. This book is a must read if you want to understand how there is no one way in this community. And, this is a beautifully written tale of love and loss and sorrow and fear and redemption. All wrapped up perfectly between the pages. This is a complicated tale of a love affair forged through pain and heart ache, but it is uplifting and sexy and wonderful. The characters are deep, you believe they could exist. It is just a great story that needs to be experienced.
Kimberly Hendricks thought she had it all. A husband, a child they raised, a good job making leather clothes and corsets, a Dom of her own-until her husband tore her world apart from the inside out when he left her and reveals that he never loved her and didn't think he could do any better. She spirals into a very dark place where she can only find peace through pain inflicted by sadistic Doms. When even her health is in peril, her only friends try to help.
Jasper is a Dominant who specializes in restraint and kinbaku. He doesn't really lean towards sadism. He is a gentle soul who has been emasculated by his crazy ex wife after a horrible incident. He has healed, but their are still scars on the inside. He has so much love and caring inside. He wants to be loved, but he is cautious. When he meets Kimmie, he really thinks there might be something there.
When things get a bit strange, will they be able to weather the storm and come out the other side? Or can words and actions have such an impact that there is no way to heal the rift, despite the love? This book gets under your skin. It is a powerful lesson about trust and faith. And it is a beautiful love story about two very damaged souls and their journey to find themselves again.
Perpetual Love- by
I generally like historical romance, and this book was pretty good. It did lack the depth in the story line that I am used to in this genre, but for a shorter story, it is a decent read. It is set in the Nevada Territory, and the story line is interesting. The characters are interesting, and the romance is cute.
Albert Stuart is the son of a well-to-do rancher. He is college educated and is feeling like he wants to leave Nevada and do more with his life. And he will after he helps an old friend of his father's, by showing the daughter of the Judge around while they are here looking into moving to the area. He did not plan to fall in love. If he can keep his brothers away from her.
Anne Wallace doesn't know the real reason her father wants to move to this area of Nevada. It is just the two of them since her mother had died. She was raised in England, spending her favorite time with her grandfather. But her father doesn't care for him, so here they are. She was not expecting to fall for the man who was tasked with showing her around.
Their love affair blossoms quickly, but Anne is in for a rude awakening when it comes to her father, the judge. His agenda may just ruin everything. This story has some twists and turns that will raise your pulse. It is a good story about love and adventure and greed. If you like westerns, you may like this one.
Letting Go, Anchored Hearts, Vol. 1- by J.M. Witt
I guess this is a 3.5 book for me. It is decent read, and very sexy. The story is interesting enough to keep you turning the pages and the heat is there. Cassidy Charles meets the owner of a club while dating Dan, who's band plays there. James instantly has a connection with her, but when there is a shooting, Cassidy retreats. When they are thrust together again, Cassidy is hot for James, but questions his involvement in Dan's shooting. They are on fire together, but they both have baggage. Not to mention, family members interfere a bit as well. They are from different worlds and that creates tension. Their make-up sex is off the charts. A blast from the past is determined to interfere, and Cassidy has to search her heart to figure out who she trusts. Their back and forth romance isn't bad, it is just that this story line has been done a few times. It is a decent read if you love a bit of intrigue and very hot sex scenes. It just didn't blow me away.
The Descendant, The Descendant Vampire Series, book 1 by Kelley Grealis
I usually love paranormal books, especially vampires. This book just didn't do it for me. The story line was slow and awkward, and I couldn't get into the characters. The back story of these vampires is what drew me in. There is a group of vampires that has protected Allison's ancestors since the beginning. They are the mortal descendants of the first vampire. After a car accident, Allison's world flips on its head. Her husband has been dead for a while and she can't remember the last 3 years, so she thinks. She also cannot recall her boyfriend, Vincent Drake. Vincent has watched over her family and now Allison is the first mortal to exhibit vampire traits. She is the special one and he and his family will protect her from the other vampires who want her dead as a punishment. She is thrust into a different world when things go bad and she doesn't know who to believe. Everyone is lying to her. The premise is great, but the whole book barely moves the story along and I found myself not able to connect with the characters. I just didn't care what happened after a point. I don't know if the series improves, but I don't think I will find out. I like a faster story, I guess.
Rescued, Three's Allowed: book 2 by Laura Harner
This story is HOT. I really liked it. It is a short book, but the story is interesting and it has its twists and turns. The characters are interesting, the bad guy is very bad, and the three of them together is worth the time. They are sexy, yet there is a good story happening with their sexy scenes.
Elizabeth Ashford has reached her limits. Her husband started out ok, but after a few tours overseas in the middle east, he has changed into a monster. After beating her and chaining her to the house, he decides to take her to his cabin, where he can inflict a lot of harm to "teach" his wife to be faithful. He believes she is cheating on him with her boss, but he took care of that. At a rest stop, she flees, but he sees her and gives chase. Michael Enwright is a self made man who owns his own security firm. After working tirelessly for years, he decides to take a sabbatical. When he pulls into a rest stop, he sees a woman running from a man and tries to help. After scaring off her attacker and losing his car in the process, he gets manhandled by the Sheriff, Graeme Kennedy. Graeme Kennedy grew up with Elizabeth, but they lost touch after a while. They had dated and loved each other, but the Sheriff had secrets that he felt weren't fair to Elizabeth, so he encouraged her to date Barry, their friend. When he deployed after marrying her, Graeme moved away. Now thrown together, the heat is there and they both want Michael. Michael had never been attracted to men before, but there was something about the Sheriff that revved his motor. Was it possible to experience a love and bond with three people? Could they even go there with the bigger issue hanging over them? Or will the bad guy ruin everything?
This book has suspense, heat, sexiness off the charts, and more in the pages. it is definitely a reread book for me. Loved it!
Man On, Black Jack Gentlemen, book 1- by Liz Crowe
I think this is my favorite of Liz Crowe's books. This one had a bit of everything in it for me. The start up of the soccer team is interesting, the love story is complicated, and the various characters are fun. It is not a cut and dried love story. Both main characters have a lot of baggage, and they struggle to be what the other one needs. It is kind of like real life. Things rarely go smoothly. If you are a fan of the author, you will like this one. It is very true to her style of writing. You can easily identify the other by the layers to the story line.
Nicolas Garza is a superstar. He has the talent, but it is his sex life and partying that brings him down. He is an equal opportunity lover, and his stories are legendary. The wildness was calmed for a while, but when he loses the love of his life shortly after they have a big fight, he is a bit of a wild card.
Parker Rollings is an all-american kind of soccer star. He comes from money, his family has his life planned out, and he is supposed to marry his girlfriend and be a doctor. But he wants to play soccer. Plus, he is realizing that he might be gay. But he can't go there if he wants to play soccer.
When those two come together on the field in Detroit, there is an instant attraction. They are fighting for the same spot on the team, and Nicco is not about to give in. After a night out, Parker is more confused then ever, but the attraction is hot under the surface. Throw in a PR department that wants Nicco as the poster boy for gay players and a surprising off season trip, and you have fireworks. But things go from great to bad in a flash back in the motor city. Can these two sexy stars find a way towards happily ever after, or is it just a pipe dream? Can two men who are so different find a way to be together? There is so much going on in the book, you won't want to put it down.
Relent, Sydney Storm MC, book 1- by Nina Levine
This is a pretty good tale of soulmates. But that doesn't mean it is easy or without heartache. These characters have always loved each other, but for one reason or another, they have tried to be together twice before, and it didn't go well. Evie has always loved Kick. He was there for her when scandal ripped their world apart. Along with their friend Jeremy. But Kick was headed down a darker path as part of a MC. Jeremy convinced him that if he really loved her, he wouldn't drag her down in his trouble. So he walked away. Evie was done. A few years later, tragedy strikes her world and wrenches her happiness away. When she and Kick are reunited at the funeral, the sparks are still there. But, can they do this dance again? Or will it finally destroy Evie? Yeah, Kick is a criminal, but he isn't all bad. He has always tried to protect Evie, but he doesn't have the strength to ignore the love of his life. With the deck stacked against them, can they find a way to be together in the face of all the crap in their world? Are they meant to be, or is this the last dance for both of them?
Their love story has plenty of twists to keep you entertained. I thought it was a decent read with a very sexy bad boy. Curious about the next book in the series, because I like it hot.
Make Mine a Cowboy, Cowboy Dreamin' 1- by Sandy Sullivan
This is the first book of Sandy's that I have read. I really liked the story and the characters, and I can't wait to read more. This is a good ol' cowboy love story. You need those sometimes. The pace was good and the cowboy is sexy as ever.
Mesa is a romance writer at a conference in San Antonio. She lives in LA, where her family is. When she decides to go for a drive, she has no idea that the thunderstorm she gets caught in might just change her life. Joel is from a big family. He has tons of brothers and is one of a triplet. His family has a big ranch that also houses a dude ranch right with the working ranch. He is a handsome man who does well with the ladies, but he hasn't found the one. While riding the fences in the rain, he comes upon a woman in a flooded roadway, stranded. He rescues her and brings her to the ranch. She fits in well with the family, even though she is a city gal. Joel is smitten from the get go, and Mesa is right with him. But is it enough to bring them together? Seeing how she lives so far from there. They heat up the sheets, and their adventures on the farm keep it interesting. Will one of them find the strength to go after what they want? Or is it just a short fling that doesn't mean anything?
This book will make you want your own cowboy. He is every inch the gentleman, and she is a feisty Cali girl who knows how to heat it up.
To see the rest of my reviews for the books in the anthology, please check the individual books' reviews. This review has taken all the space it can. Great anthology, and such a bargain!