Tag Archives: romance

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Exiled

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15746918

Exiled (Brides of the Kindred #7)

 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

It’s kind of obvious that I love these books and am always happy to read a new one. I have not been disappointed yet and will be continuing as long as they do! This was another great entry in the Brides of the Kindred series as far as I am concerned. From the first sentence I was ready to sit back and be taken away on my adventure to the stars. The story as always flows perfectly with multiple story lines to keep you aware of what is happening with all your favorites. The language is fun and flirty at times and at others deadly serious when needed when it suits the character. The characters themselves are well fleshed out, including the new ones, and have personalities that are diverse and give them a life beyond the page.

Lissa and Saber were raised as brother and sister when Lissa was orphaned as a child. By the laws of their clan they are not allowed to be together as mates, something that both of them want more than anything. Lissa is banished to First World and becomes a Priestess of the Goddess while Saber stays on his world and is being groomed to be the next Chieftain.

Lissa volunteers to make a trip to Yonnie Six in order to bring back scrolls which had been stolen and sold. These scrolls hold the key to getting rid of the Hoard and ending the darkness. When Saber hears this he asks to go with her so that he can protect her and make sure that she returns in the same condition she left in. Neither are prepared for what they will have to do in order to procure the scrolls and get away with their lives. Yonnie Six is a decadent planet where women use men as slaves, both sexual and domestic, and brutality is a way of life. Shy and reverent Lissa will be posing as the Mistress of Saber, her body-slave, and will have to get closer than either thought they would be able to.

Meanwhile, Draven has hatched a plot to cause chaos on the mothership and is using L a shadow caster who has her own reason for hating the Kindred. Together they hope to get revenge for the perceived slights that they both have sustained.

This was an exciting book that kept me on the edge for most of the book. I was ranting at it when I thought something I would hate to see happen seemed about to occur. I got a good laugh at the craziness on the mothership and felt for them as well. I got to catch up with characters who I have come to really like and appreciate. Not to mention that there were some really good, hot sex scenes to sink into. Love this series and hope it does not end soon!

 

 

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Kidnapped for Christmas

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5998144

Kidnapped for Christmas

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have found my way to another of the marvelous Evangeline Anderson’s titles. Having read only one series for so long every new discovery makes me glad that I found this author. While not a long story it manages to give you some romance along with a Dom who knows what he is doing and a sub who never knew she was one. The characters are fun and sexy and very well realized. The settings are good and make for easy visualization as well as the props alluded to. I will admit I knew what was going to happen fairly quickly but it did not take anything away from the story. It actually made me want to see exactly how it was going to play out.

Sabrina and Jilly are sisters but while they have similar hair color and eye color their body types are completely different. Sabrina is super skinny while Jilly is a plus size girl. Sabrina is impulsive and headstrong while Jilly is a bit straight-laced and responsible. When Sabrina makes a plan for herself and then flakes Jilly gets a chance to walk on the wild side.

I cannot say anything more or I will give it all away. This is super hot with a hunky Dom who made me wish I was a sub. If you like a hot read and do not have a problem with a little BDSM then go for it. You will find a lot to like.

“Hey.” He caught her chin in one hand and lifted it so that she had no choice but to look at him. “It’s all right,” he rumbled, as though he understood everything. “It’s hard at first, admitting you want to give in. To let someone else do whatever they want to you without a fight. But it’s okay. Some of us are wired to be submissive, some of us are wired to be dominant. You can’t fight what’s inside you any more than you can change the color of your eyes or how tall you are. You can try to disguise it, but in the end what you really want always comes through.”
― Evangeline Anderson, Kidnapped for Christmas Evangeline Anderson
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Kiss of Crimson

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715791

Kiss of Crimson (Midnight Breed #2)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book a great deal! This grabbed me from the opening and kept me fully engaged for the entire book. The characters are wonderful and well fleshed out giving them the feel of true life. I liked them as real people because their feelings seemed so genuine and they were not perfect but slightly flawed like most people are.

Dante is out looking for a quick nip and maybe something more. On his way out of the club he encounters a Rogue that is not affected by titanium and fights like a crazed animal. When he is attacked during his fight he ends up in the river but manages to find his way into the back room of a veterinary hospital owned by Tess. While trying to help the battered man in her business she is attacked and bitten by the handsome man. Dante later notices that she has a Breedmate mark, and is shocked to realize what he has started.

Tess does not remember being attacked and so continues with her life never knowing that a man/warrior has marked her. She also does not know that her ex is doing something that will ultimately come back and hurt her. Ben, her ex is obsessed with Tess and she has no idea what lengths he goes to see her. With a new drug on the streets that is causing havoc among Breed youth and Darkhaven youth disappearing, the question is are they linked.

These two people are both a little broken but want to be fixed, even they don’t always admit it. You have violence, kidnapping, and drug use, you also have honor, loyalty, and love. You get the best of everything here with vampires both good and bad who fight hard. If you have not started this series yet you need to.

“Then run to me.” Dante’s eyes were fierce as he held her gaze. “I know all about fear, Tess. It lives in me too. That ‘seizure’ I had in your clinic? It’s not a medical condition, not even close.” “What is it?” “Death,” he said woodenly. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve had these attacks—these visions—of my last moments alive. It’s hellish beyond imagining, but I see it as if it’s happening. I feel it, Tess. It’s my fate.” “I don’t understand. How can you be sure of that?” His smile was wry. “I’m sure. My mother had similar visions of her own death, and my father’s too. They happened precisely as she envisioned them. She couldn’t change what was to happen, or turn it back. So I’ve been trying to outrun my own end. I’ve been running from it forever. I’ve kept myself insulated from things that might make me want to slow down and live. I’ve never permitted myself to truly feel.” “There’s danger in feeling,” Tess murmured. Although she could not begin to imagine what kind of pain Dante carried within him, she felt a kinship growing between them. Both alone, both adrift in their worlds. “I don’t want to feel anything for you, Dante.” “God, Tess. I don’t want to feel anything for you either.”
― Lara Adrian, Kiss of CrimsonLara Adrian
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Got Your Number

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14740946

Got Your Number

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a nice story and all but things were a bit slow for a long time as the characters were being introduced and made more real. They were still not fully fleshed out but a couple had made themselves very annoying for most of the book. The plot was really good once we get into the heart of things and the fact that there is more than one thing happening makes it even harder to figure out what is really happening. There are some laugh out loud moments and a few where I just had to stop and go ‘what?’.Roxann Beadleman came from a broken home and it affected everything in her life as she grew up. She attended Notre Dame along with her cousin Angora and something good and bad happened while they were there. Roxann graduates with honors and instead of going on to bigger things she ends up eking out an existence as she works as the middle person in rescuing abused women and children. One rescue is causing her more trouble than usual because a cop is trying to find the woman along with her crazy ex-husband.

When her house is broken into she decides to head home for a while which ends up sending her on a trip down memory lane she could have done without. Going back to school is never a good thing.

I like the writing style and the fact that even though the situations could be serious there is always an element of humor present to lighten things up.

“Roxann, have you ever wanted to kill someone?” At the eerily serious note in her cousin’s voice, warning bells chimed in her head. “Everyone has moments of extreme anger,” she said carefully. “No,” Angora said, her gaze locked on Roxann’s, her pupils dilated. “I mean really kill someone.” In her lap, her hands convulsed. “I think I could kill Trenton and not feel a bit guilty.” A chill tickled the back of Roxann’s neck as she recalled moments in college when she’d questioned Angora’s stability. “Passion is a powerful emotion. Sometimes it can feel like hate instead of love.” But Angora seemed to be somewhere else. “All I know is that I put my life on hold too many times because of promises men made to me.” Her voice had taken on a bitter tone. “What makes the beasts think they can use a woman and then toss her aside when she becomes inconvenient?”
― Stephanie Bond, Got Your Number Stephanie Bond
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Engaged off Bourbon Street

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23850515

Engaged off Bourbon Street (Jade Calhoun Short Story, Book 3.5)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a perfect entry in the Jade Calhoun saga as she moves forward with her new life in New Orleans. This was an intimate look at all the mains as they come together to help Jade and Kane celebrate. Everyone is feeling the holiday spirit and Jade is just happy to be able to share her happiness with those she loves. Even though it is a short story it has the impact of a full length novel in both plot and character development. These characters are true to who they are and even though there are background people, who are never heard from, things move quickly from start to finish.

Jade and Kane are having their engagement/Christmas party at the house in the bayou that he did not really go to until he met Jade. Jade made a promise to Pyper that she would string mistletoe all around the house to make sure she had a chance to kiss Ian, and she has misplaced it. In order to locate it Jade decides to use magic, and we know how that can go for her. The spell is cast, the guests arrive, and the mishaps ensue.

This was a nice quick read that made me smile and shake my head. You would think Jade would learn, but then if she did we would not be so entertained. I would say fans should definitely read this!

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Risk: A Billionaire Love Story

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23793513

Risk: A Billionaire Love Story

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really nice read for me. Each time I read something from this author it seems that she has found a way to make me happy with a straight romance. The development of the characters is nice because it is gradual and not thrown at you in a lump. The character of Deborah is a little less clear than some of the others but that may be because I was trying to figure out why she would be the way she was. The book is well organized and flows perfectly because of the fact that the chapters are broken up into the voices of the mains as it goes forward. The language can seem a bit awkward sometimes but it still works to keep you interested in who these people are and where they come from.

Deborah Klein grew up in the foster care system and has finally formed a family of the kids she met within it. Aidan Price was born with everything a person could desire but has never been content or found happiness. Both have been damaged emotionally by their experiences growing up and cannot connect fully with those around them.

Deborah pulled herself up and is now a financial adviser in a prestigious firm and on track to be made a partner. Aidan is a playboy who has more money than sense and is being pushed by a sister who loves him to think about the future.These two come together at a time that is stressful for Deborah and gives Aidan a reason to care about something other than pleasure and oblivion. Can two so different people really find happiness?

I found that I liked that the sex they had here was ‘safe sex’, it is not often that you have a mention of a condom being used in any book. This was a good thing to have pop up and can remind you what should be done. I enjoyed this because there was a little danger, hurt feelings, remorse, and greed to stand between them all. I really wanted this to go on a bit more so I could see what would happen. Romance lovers will be happy with this!

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To Have and To Code

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20557756

To Have and To Code (A Modern Witch 0.5)

by Debora Geary (Goodreads Author), Martha Harmon Pardee (Narrator)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was the second book in this series that I read. After reading the first it was kind of hard not to want to go on with series. I love the characters, who make me feel like I am a part of their life from the moment we meet. The world they live in is not perfect but has enough reality added that you feel like you know it or have at least been there before.

The Sullivan’s are a big and boisterous family who just happen to be witches. But even more than that they are a family of coders and mathematical whizzes who have been running games over the net for years. Enchanters Realm is a popular game among humans and witches, but has a special level that only witches are usually able to reach because it requires the use of magic. Enter the Hacker, a guy who codes better than a lot of people, including some of those Sullivan’s. Nell and Jaime are not happy when they realize that they have been hacked but figure that they person is a witch that they simply have not met.

Daniel is a first class coder and does it for a living most of the time. He does like to peek in the backdoor of games once in a while but nothing that would be considered cheating. He finds himself plying against the wizard, but notices that some of the code seems redundant or useless, not understanding that it is magic. He manages to hold off an attack of real magic with nothing but his code, pretty good. Then he decides he wants to work for them, that could be the craziest idea he ever had.

The writing and the story are light, fun, with a sense of romance. Anyone would enjoy this story and series.

 

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A Touch of Midnight

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18220753

A Touch of Midnight (Midnight Breed 0.5)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first book I have read in the Midnight Breed series and I am glad this was my introduction. The characters are very well-defined and make you want to know more about them. While I was not pulled into the story from the first moment it did not take long for me to get really involved in the story. The story flowed so well that it was easy to determine what was happening and why things were happening the way they were.

Savannah Dupree is a student at Boston University in 1974 on a full scholarship. She is originally from Louisiana and is a very intelligent girl but has an ability which has always made her feel different from those around her, since nobody knows her here she feels more a part of things. Savannah has the ability to see the history of any object she touches. Gideon is one of the Breed, an elite vampire order which keeps the law by taking out rogue vampires. He has been a warrior for 300 years and in that time has never considered taking a mate.

Savannah is working on a special project in her art history class, helping to identify and catalog items in a collection the school has recently obtained. She finds a sword and after touching it she sees twin boys slaughtered by men who seem wrong in some way. Not long after she finds the sword it is stolen and her friend is killed in a brutal manner by a man who seems to have a lot in common with those she saw kill the twins. While giving an interview on television she is seen by Gideon who seems to know the sword she is talking about and wants to find and question her about it. But when he meets her he finds that the sword may be the least of worries.

There are the usual difficulties for the couple to go through such as misunderstandings about who knew what when and so on. But the story is kind of sweet, in a dark way. I wanted it to go on just a bit longer so I could find out just one more thing about them. I look forward to seeing them again in other novels though. I would say everyone should give it a chance.

“All it took was a chance meeting with a stranger, some unexpected conversation. A few moments of kindness from someone who had no inkling of what she’d been through. Someone who wandered into her workplace on a whim and ended up making the worst day of her life seem less awful simply by being in it. “Nice to meet you, Gideon.” “Likewise, Savannah.”
― Lara Adrian, A Touch of Midnight Lara Adrian
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Away From Him

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Away From Him

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was immediately drawn into this story, though it was partly because I took an instant dislike to the heroine because she seemed like such a wuss. The story is really nice and moves along a quick pace that has you anxious to see where things are going. The characters are well written and give you the sense that they are people who you might actually know in your life.

Melanie wants nothing more than to live a peaceful existence where she can teach her yoga classes and avoid conflict. It would have been much easier to do if she had not signed up to help people with anger management issues.

Billy Styles is a very successful criminal attorney who has anger management issues. He knows he has them and does not feel that there is anything that can help him. He seems to be right since Melanie is not the first person they have sent him to for help.

When Billy and Melanie meet things will never be the same for either of them. Melanie’s perfect world is thrown off course because she wants to help him but her over optimistic view of life makes him cringe. Melanie does not like messy and Billy is as messy as it gets because he is good at his job, which means he sometimes gets criminals off. They will have to find a way to bridge their differences before they can move forward.

The story made me feel good even if I did not like Melanie at first. She seemed to be a bit of a phony at first, then I just thought she was mentally unbalanced, but she turned out to be just misguided. Billy had a hard life which had shaped him into the angry man he would become and that he would have to temper in order to find the love he always wanted. Definitely worth a read!

“Really? Only one class and you’re ready to kick him out?” the woman on the other end of the line inquired. “I’m sorry, that’s not why I was calling,” Melanie said swiftly. “I’m calling because I wanted to know a little bit more about Mr. Styles, to see if there is a more efficient way that I can help him.” “Mr. Styles has been through three anger management courses and one Hugs for Healing program in the past two weeks. His attempts at fulfilling the court order with these classes have resulted in two counselors quitting, and several restraining orders.”
― Kaelyn Swan, Away From Him
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Dust to Dust

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17608220

Dust to Dust (Experiment in Terror #9)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
 Here we are at the end of a great series that brought a lot of smiles, tears, laughter, dread, and sometimes major scares. This was the kind of send off you would expect from characters who have been involved in the business of ghost busting/investigating who had not a clue as to what they had been doing. This story was closer to home and gave a better look into the life that Dex had led as a child and points out even more why he turned out like he did. This is a walk down memory lane where we get to see where they were and hopefully where they are going in the future. The story is solid, just like every story that has come before it.

Perry and Dex are staying with her parents while Perry tries an experiment on her mother that she last did to test Dex. While they have been working hard on the footage they shot at the school Perry has gone out for some fresh air and left Dex at home with Ada since her parents are also out of the house. When she returns after an encounter that left her disoriented and a little lost she finds that Dex has spirited away and Ada has been knocked out.

Perry and Ada take off to find Dex before anything can bad can happen to him, or so they hope. They have only one clue which leads them to New York, where Dex was born and lived until he could get away. They do not know it yet but they are being herded to a place that will try to rip the very soul from them and make them the destroyer of worlds.

I have loved Dex from the beginning because he was not this straight, boring guy but a total knob who loved everything so viscerally. Perry took a little longer to grow on me because she had so many hang ups, but most of them were due to her parents, but she finally had started to see how amazing she was. Together these two were a power couple os another kind and I am going to miss them. I can hope that they will make an appearance when someone else has a story told or maybe just a short to catch us up on them.

I loved the books for their paranormal elements and the glimpses of a world on the other side that was both good and bad while being neither. There were some serious scares and some minor ones, I got to laugh with them over crazy stuff, and got to cry with them when they hurt each other, and I got to be a part of a love that was hot, sexy, and very real. I would recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who wants a bit of darkness with their love story.

“I love you, beyond death.”
― Karina Halle, Dust to Dust  Karina Halle