Posts Tagged ‘erotic romance’

“Soulbound,” Tessa Adams

Thursday, January 31st, 2013

Pros: I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through!
Cons: A few threads could have used a little more wrapping up; dark material warning
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review book courtesy of Penguin Group

 

Xandra is the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, and royalty to boot. Great signs and portents heralded her birth, which is why no one can understand how it is that she can’t do the slightest bit of magic. Fleeing the increasingly dangerous attempts of her mother to bring out her latent power, Xandra ends up in Austin, Texas, where she’s perfectly happy running a hugely popular coffee shop. Everything’s going just fine—until warlock Declan shows up in town. Suddenly her simple life is blowing up in her face. She’s following compulsions that lead her to dead bodies and force her to relive the women’s last, horrific memories. The women bear a resemblance to her, and versions of her own mystical tattoo appear on their bodies. Sparks fly—literally—when she and Declan get close, but he walked out on her once, and she doesn’t particularly trust him now. To make matters worse, it seems that her magic has finally decided to show up, but definitely not in any way that anyone could have predicted. And if she doesn’t get a handle on it soon, the killer might get to her before she can figure out who he is.

(more…)

“Angel’s End,” Cindy Holby

Thursday, August 2nd, 2012

Pros: Super sweet and fun
Cons: Predictable and a little over-the-top in places
Rating: 4 out of 5

Review book courtesy of Penguin Group

 

Cade Gentry is, more or less, a bad guy. His life has led him to bad places, and about the only good thing he can say about himself is that for once, he did the right thing. His boss wanted him to do something terrible, and instead he warned a young couple and saved their lives. Now he’s on the run, shot, nearly dead on his feet in the Colorado snow—when he has the good fortune to meet Timothy Key, a pastor on his way to take up residence in the tiny town of Angel’s End. Key saves Cade’s life, and in turn ends up losing his own. With his last words he urges Cade to look after his flock, and Cade, hoping to throw off his pursuers, takes Key’s identity and sets off in the direction of the town.

Leah Findley’s husband was the sheriff, but he was killed several years ago, and now she struggles to raise her young son on her own. She had agreed to take on the pastor as a boarder in return for some money from the town, but she certainly didn’t expect him to show up half-dead in the middle of a snowstorm. She can’t put off the feeling that the preacher isn’t who he seems to be, but she becomes less inclined to look too hard as she starts to fall in love with him.

Soon the town will expect Cade to take up his work as the pastor, and he knows he can’t keep up the charade. He also knows that if he stays, eventually his old employer will catch up with him, putting Leah in danger. But the longer he remains in Angel’s End, the harder it gets to leave Leah and her son behind.

(more…)

Jean Johnson’s “Sons of Destiny” series, books 1-4

Wednesday, June 6th, 2012

Pros: Great fantasy worldbuilding; playful and original erotic romance
Cons: Shaky start with a too-”perfect” female lead
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

 

One of the pitfalls of reviewing books is that sometimes a publisher sends you a book from the middle of a series, and you have to dive in without any of the early series background. That was pretty easy with Jean Johnson’s “Sons of Destiny” eight-book series, thankfully; she’s pretty careful to include enough information to allow the books to stand surprisingly well on their own. The basic premise of the series is that eight brothers (four sets of non-identical twins, all powerful mages) are the subject of a prophecy, and their homeland, out of fear of the prophecy, has exiled them to a deserted island. Among other things, the prophecy covers the fact that each brother shall find his destined bride, in order from the eldest brother to the youngest, and the youngest is fated to be the matchmaker who ensures that the prophecy comes true. Thus each book focuses on a single erotic romantic pairing, as well as the development of the burgeoning community on the island of Nightfall, and the continuing story of the prophecy, mysterious attacks on the brothers, and the island’s bid for independence.

I started with book five, The Cat, followed by The Storm, The Flame, and The Mage. I loved them so much that I wanted to read the rest of the series from the beginning.

(more…)

“The Departed”, Shiloh Walker

Thursday, December 8th, 2011

Pros: Intense!
Cons: It helps to read The Missing first, but it isn’t necessary
Rating: 5 out of 5

Review book courtesy of the author and Penguin Group
Also posted on Epinions.com.

 

Desiree (”Dez”) Lincoln is a psychic who works for the FBI. Her ability? She talks to dead people, and they don’t let her rest until she helps them rest. Taylor Jones is Dez’s boss, a man whose talent lies in finding psychics and helping them to focus their talent. His driving goal above all others is to save lives—because he couldn’t save his little sister when she disappeared at age six.

Dez and Taylor feel the mutual heat of attraction between them, but Taylor is too cut off, too controlled, and too much Dez’s boss to allow a relationship—and in pushing Dez away after seeing her critically wounded, he pushes her too far. She leaves the FBI entirely and strikes out on her own.

Months later, a strong-willed spirit calls to Dez from Taylor’s old hometown; it needs her help to save a girl’s life. Dez and Taylor are thrown together again to resolve a situation that keeps escalating, and Dez may be able to help Taylor find out what happened to his sister all those years ago. Hopefully the craziness will bring Dez and Taylor finally together, rather than tearing them apart even further…

(more…)

“Veil of Shadows,” Shiloh Walker

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

Pros: Gorgeous world, characters, and relationships
Cons: A few technology tidbits that seemed contradictory
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review book courtesy of Penguin Group

 

In the sequel to Through the Veil, a rebel army works to wrest back control of their land from the demons that run rampant through it. The last inhabitants of the area are either evacuating or joining up. Among those joining up is a warrior named Xan, a mystery man who quickly falls for Captain Laisyn Caar. The attraction is mutual, but neither of them can easily afford the distraction. Life for them is deadly. They have enemies who’d like to use their relationship against them. And Syn has been cut off from her magic—a loss that’s slowly killing her and the other witches among the rebels. If something doesn’t change soon, the rebellion, Syn, and her new relationship may all be doomed.

(more…)

“Like a Thief in the Night,” Bettie Sharpe

Wednesday, January 16th, 2008

Pros: Incredibly imaginative tale about some very messed-up characters
Cons: Virtually none
Rating: 5 out of 5

(more…)

“Ember,” Bettie Sharpe

Tuesday, January 15th, 2008

Pros: Stunning, hot new interpretation of ‘Cinderella’
Cons: Virtually none
Rating: 5 out of 5

(more…)

“The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing Erotic Romance,” by Alison Kent

Tuesday, October 24th, 2006

Pros: Frank, blunt, and straightforward; entertaining; eye-opening; thorough
Cons: Not a one
Rating: 5 out of 5

(more…)