Review: Come Fly With Me by Addison Fox

Come Fly With Me by Addison Fox
Series: Alaskan Nights, Book 2
Publisher: Signet
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9780451238498
Blue Ribbon Rating: 4 out of 5
Original Review Link
Book Purchase Link

Between catching her fiancé with another woman and learning she’s inherited the home of a father she never knew, the past year has been anything but orderly for Grier Thompson. Traveling to her father’s hometown of Indigo, Alaska brings even more surprises for Grier. She has a half-sister she never knew about and it seems like the townsfolk of Indigo aren’t too keen on a stranger cutting in on Kate’s inheritance. But with the arrival of Grier’s best friend, Sloan, the people of Indigo start to warm up to Grier and it’s not long before this small Alaskan town begins to feel like home. Grier knows she can’t get too attached to Indigo — she’s going to return to Manhattan once her father’s will is sorted out. Only, the longer Grier stays in Indigo, the more she falls in love with the town…and with sexy bush pilot Mick O’Shaughnessy.

COME FLY WITH ME is as warm and charming as the charming town in which it’s set. After reading Addison Fox’s first ALASKAN NIGHTS book, BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE, I was hooked on the town of Indigo and COME FLY WITH ME has only made me fall more deeply in love with the people whom Ms. Fox has brought to life with such a deft touch.

Grier is a CPA who’s never really had someone in her corner, aside from her best friend Sloan. She’s understandably wary of trusting her heart to someone and taking a chance on love. Because of this, she resists falling for Mick, a man who could make any woman swoon. Mick’s got brains, looks and charm in abundance, but he too has a past that has left him scarred. Ms. Fox doesn’t make the trip to happily ever after an easy journey for Mick and Grier, but it’s a road well worth reading about.

A secondary romance between Grier’s ex-fiancé Jason and her half-sister Kate was a nice surprise. It takes a talented author to make a cheating ex into a hero, but Ms. Fox does a fantastic job of showing Jason to be a good guy, albeit one who screwed up majorly. The sparks that fly between him and Kate are every bit as interesting as those that fly between Grier and Mick. I do wish Kate’s relationship with Grier had been a bit bigger part of the story, but the Kate and Jason storyline did give me some insight into Kate, which I enjoyed.

COME FLY WITH ME is the second ALASKAN NIGHTS story and while it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the series in order. Indigo is a town of rich characters that come alive on the page and though I finished COME FLY WITH ME a well satisfied reader, I’m incredibly eager for the next ALASKAN NIGHTS book, JUST IN TIME.


Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here with permission from Romance Junkies.

Read More

Waiting on Wednesday: Hotter Than Ever by Elle Kennedy

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine which spotlights eagerly anticipated upcoming releases!

I'm a huge Elle Kennedy fan, and I've been eager to read Dylan's book since the seventh Out of Uniform story, Feeling Hot. In the last Out of Uniform book, Getting Hotter, the sexual tension between Dylan and Aidan was off the charts HOT, so I am on the edge of my seat waiting for Hotter Than Ever!

Title: Hotter Than Ever
Series: Out of Uniform, Book 9
Author: Elle Kennedy
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Release Date: July 9, 2013
Elle Kennedy Reading Order

Book Description (from Elle Kennedy's website):

When you land in hot water, swim for safety—or let the fire burn.

Claire McKinley has just experienced every bride’s nightmare. The groom is a no-show, and now she must face five hundred guests alone. Furious and humiliated, Claire seeks help from the most unlikely candidate—her almost-brother-in-law, who promptly whisks her away to his apartment in San Diego, where she can recover her pride in peace and quiet.

Dylan Wade is no fan of Claire’s, but no way can he leave the jilted bride in her time of need. Bringing her home seems like a good idea—until he remembers his new roommate. Dylan’s relationship with Aidan is…complicated. And with Claire thrown into the mix, life becomes even more…complicated.

Claire is blindsided by her attraction not only to Dylan, but also to Aidan, a man she’s just met. Soon they’re caught up in an all-consuming sexual storm they can’t fight even if they wanted to. Yet Claire wonders if it can last, or if she’s just setting herself up for more heartache.

Warning: This book is very dirty. Ménage a trois and man-on-man dirty. Graphic-language and explicit-sex dirty. Basically? Dirty. You’ve been warned.

Read More

Review: Fifty Shades of Mr. Darcy by William Codpiece Thwackery

Fifty Shades of Mr. Darcy by William Codpiece Thwackery
Publisher: Pocket Star
Genre: Erotic Parody
ISBN: 9781476727585
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

When Elizabeth Bennet first meets the grey-eyed Fitzwilliam Darcy, she has no knowledge of the kinky world he will soon draw her into. A world where the rules of society are thrown to the wind and leather hotpants-wearing billionaires wield vegetables as floggers with varying degrees of success. Yet even as she falls deeper under Mr. Darcy’s spell, Lizzy wonders if she can reach the man beneath the sex-addict exterior and show him the true meaning of love.

Pride and Prejudice meets Fifty Shades of Grey in William Codpiece Thwackery’s mashup, Fifty Shades of Mr. Darcy. I’m a huge fan of Jane Austen’s classic and I’ve never read E.L. James’s work, but I entered into “Thwackery’s” world with an open mind. Fifty Shades of Mr. Darcy is a bit of a difficult book to review. There are some genuinely funny moments — the author has a deft hand with wit and sarcasm that shows itself in spots — but overall I felt like the humor in Fifty Shades of Mr. Darcy was a bit too much, even for a parody. After a while the jokes began to wear thin, and with them constantly being repeated the book started to drag toward the end.

Austen aficionados be warned: Pride and Prejudice has been stripped to its bare bones in this book. Fifty Shades of Mr. Darcy is primarily a parody of Fifty Shades of Grey, and the author does do a good job of pointing out some of the silliness in Ms. James’s work (I’ve read enough about Fifty Shades of Grey spot most of the jokes about it). However, I felt like “Thwackery” missed an opportunity with this mashup by not poking fun at Pride and Prejudice more. I’m not sure I’ll ever re-read Fifty Shades of Mr. Darcy, but I did laugh out loud at times while reading it, and since it’s a parody there’s something to be said for that.

Read More

Waiting on Wednesday: Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine which spotlights eagerly anticipated upcoming releases!

I absolutely love Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series and last week the blurb for book 12, Heart of Obsidian, was finally released. The blurb gives very few details and it looks like there will be no spoilers to be found until release date - which is both fabulous and maddening. I have my theories about this book and I can't wait to read it!!!!

Title: Heart of Obsidian
Series: Psy-Changeling, Book 12
Author: Nalini Singh
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Nalini Singh Reading Order

Book Description (from Nalini Singh's Blog):

Step into New York Times bestseller Nalini Singh’s explosive and shockingly passionate Psy-Changeling world…

A dangerous, volatile rebel, hands stained bloodred.

A woman whose very existence has been erased.

A love story so dark, it may shatter the world itself.

A deadly price that must be paid.

The day of reckoning is here.

From “the alpha author of paranormal romance” (Booklist) comes the most highly anticipated novel of her career—one that blurs the line between madness and genius, between subjugation and liberation, between the living and the dead.

Read More

Review: The Viper by Monica McCarty

The Viper by Monica McCarty
Series: Highland Guard, Book 4
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Genre: Historical Romance
ISBN: 9780345528391
Blue Ribbon Rating: 4 out of 5
Original Review Link
Book Purchase Link

Lachlan MacRuairi is a sword for hire, loyal only to those who can pay him. The latest bargain he has made is with Robert the Bruce, Scotland’s new king. Because of Lachlan’s talent for stealth and his warrior prowess, he is now part of an elite special forces unit for Bruce. But few members of the Highland Guard like Lachlan, and fewer still trust him, the man known as “Viper.” Lachlan doesn’t care what the others think of him. No one matters to him; not anymore. Then he’s sent to protect and escort Bella MacDuff to Bruce’s coronation…and everything changes.

It’s tradition for a MacDuff to crown Scotland’s king, and Bella risks everything by defying her husband to crown Bruce. She doesn’t know if she can trust Lachlan, but she can’t deny her attraction to the dark warrior.

Then everything goes wrong, and Bella is taken captive by the king’s enemies. Imprisoned and cut off from her daughter, Bella’s only hope to be rescued and reunited with her is Lachlan MacRuairi, the man she believes betrayed her.

Author Monica McCarty is a master of blending fact and fiction, and that talent is showcased in THE VIPER. Lachlan and Bella’s story is a spectacularly entertaining romance, and the intrigue and danger that stem from the battle for Robert the Bruce’s kingship make THE VIPER come alive.

I love that Lachlan MacRuairi and Bella MacDuff are based on their real life counterparts. THE VIPER’s Lachlan and Bella are characters you have to love. Bella risks everything for what she believes in, and the cost is enormously painful. She can be a bit short-sighted at times, but her flaws ultimately add to her character. As for Lachlan…for the majority of the book, he is a hero worth drooling over. I love watching the rough “bad boy” of the Highland Guard struggle with his feelings for Bella. The contrast between his stone-like outer shell and the red-hot emotions inside is hot as hell.

There is a wealth of passion in THE VIPER, making it an emotionally fulfilling read. I got caught up not only in Bella and Lachlan’s romance, but in the war for Scotland’s sovereignty. I haven’t yet read the first three HIGHLAND GUARD books – THE CHIEF, THE HAWK and THE RANGER – but I cannot wait to do so. Bring on more of Ms. McCarty’s sexy-as-sin warriors!


Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here with permission from Romance Junkies.

Read More

Saturday in Review

It’s update time again :)

Below are the newest reviews I’ve written here and on Joyfully Reviewed. The master list and categorical lists on the right-hand side are updated as well.

Reviews for upcoming releases:
- Wild Invitation (A Psy-Changeling Collection) by Nalini Singh (available 3/5/13)
- With This Kiss: Part One by Eloisa James (available 3/12/13)
- With This Kiss: Part Two by Eloisa James (available 3/19/13)
- With This Kiss: Part Three by Eloisa James (available 3/26/13)
- As You Wish by Eloisa James (available 3/26/13)

All other new reviews:
- Heart of the Demon (Warriors of the Rift, Book 3) by Cynthia Garner
- Daniel’s Surrender (Corporate Affairs, Book 3) by Sierra & VJ Summers

Upcoming reviews:
- Hex Appeal anthology
- Love is Murder anthology
- Legacy (The League of Illusion, Book 1) by Vivi Anna
- Sinner’s Heart (Hellraisers, Book 3) by Zoë Archer
- Skies of Steel (The Ether Chronicles, Book 3) by Zoë Archer
- The Seduction of Elliot McBride (Highland Pleasures, Book 5) by Jennifer Ashley
- Mystery Man (Dream Man, Book 1) by Kristen Ashley
- Wild Man (Dream Man, Book 2) by Kristen Ashley
- Ninja Cupcakes by T.A. Chase
- A Younger Man (Cabin Fever, Book 3) by Cameron Dane
- How to Ravish a Rake (How to Series, Book 3) by Vicky Dreiling
- Soul Weaver by Hailey Edwards
- Some Like It Hot (Rising Star Chef, Book 2) by Louisa Edwards
- Hot Under Pressure (Rising Star Chef, Book 3) by Louisa Edwards
- A Beginner’s Guide to Rakes by Suzanne Enoch
- Come Fly With Me (Alaskan Nights, Book 2) by Addison Fox
- Trouble at the Wedding (Abandoned at the Altar, Book 3) by Laura Lee Guhrke
- Dearly, Beloved (Gone With the Respiration, Book 2) by Lia Habel
- Killer Librarian by Mary Lou Kirwin
- Crystal Cove (Friday Harbor, Book 4) by Lisa Kleypas
- The Devil’s Heart (The Chattan Curse, Book 3) by Cathy Maxwell
- Kiss of Steel (London Steampunk, Book 1) by Bec McMaster
- Blood Persuasion (Immortal Jane Austen, Book 2) by Janet Mullany
- Educating Elizabeth by Kate Pearce
- Redeeming Jack by Kate Pearce
- Raw Desire by Kate Pearce
- Nights of Steel (The Ether Chronicles, Book 4) by Nico Rosso
- Fifty Shades of Mr. Darcy by William Codpiece Thwackery
- Primal Law (Alpha Pack, Book 1) by J.D. Tyler
- Easy by Tammara Webber

Read More

Review: Quick to the Hunt by Cameron Dane

Quick to the Hunt by Cameron Dane
Series: Hawkins Ranch, Book 7
Publisher: Loose Id
Genre: Male/Male Erotic Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9781607379966
Blue Ribbon Rating: 5 out of 5
Original Review Link
Book Purchase Link
Cameron Dane Reading Order

Having survived multiple tours of duty in the Middle East, war veteran Hunter Tennison has returned home to Quinten, Montana. Yet Hunter isn’t the same man he once was. Now, when he feels anything too strongly, the churning emotions inside him become so violent that he believes the only way he can center himself is through self-harm. Hunter keeps his distance from anyone he cares about, thinking that doing so will help him get through each day. What he doesn’t count on is Alexander Quick bursting into his life.

Alex is a shark when it comes to business, and he’s just as coolly efficient when it comes to his personal life. That is, until he meets Hunter, who throws him off his stride. The beautiful soldier-turned-cowboy is clearly scarred, both physically and emotionally, but though Hunter throws up “keep away” vibes, Alex wants nothing more than to help him.

The attraction between Hunter and Alex is too powerful for either to deny. But between Hunter’s volatile emotions and a sudden heartbreaking incident in Alex’s life, a relationship between these two men doesn’t seem possible. Then again, love has a strange way of making the impossible possible.

Cameron Dane is an author of many talents, but QUICK TO THE HUNT is undoubtedly her most powerful book to date. Hunter and Alex’s story is a roller coaster of pain, loss, struggle and setbacks, but it’s also a book filled with hope, promise and love. QUICK TO THE HUNT isn’t an “easy” book, but it’s a beautiful one. Ms. Dane does Hunter justice by showing just how hard he struggles to cope with the pain and loss he suffered in combat. To make his recovery simple or quick would be a disservice to the character and unrealistic. I appreciated all that Hunter went through, even in the darkest moments of his story. What’s more, I admired his strength and could not put QUICK TO THE HUNT down because I wanted to see how Hunter’s journey would turn out.

QUICK TO THE HUNT isn’t solely about Hunter’s path to healing. Alex’s life isn’t as easy as it looks on the surface. He’s faced struggles and losses himself, and my heart broke for him almost as much as it did for Hunter. What I loved about Alex isn’t just how he tries his hardest to help Hunter, but how he’s smart enough to realize that Hunter’s problems aren’t something he can step in and fix, no matter how badly he wants to. He and Hunter come to care and understand each other enough to know that their passion for one another might have taken them someplace Hunter wasn’t emotionally ready to go.

Even though it’s a dark story, QUICK TO THE HUNT isn’t all about pain. Love and hope shine through, not simply because of Alex and Hunter’s burgeoning relationship. Hunter’s relationship with his sister, Sarah, and Jace, his best friend and one of Sarah’s partners, are every bit as vital to QUICK TO THE HUNT. The love Sarah and Jace have for Hunter and his love for them just adds more dimension to the story.

Ms. Dane is one of my favorite authors and QUICK TO THE HUNT showcases her powerhouse talent. QUICK TO THE HUNT is the most emotionally engaging book I’ve read this year. I finished it not simply pleased with the ending, but amazed at how incredible Alex and Hunter’s story is. QUICK TO THE HUNT shows that no matter how dark the journey is, hope, love and happiness can be found. Ms. Dane made me cry, smile and read late into the night with QUICK TO THE HUNT, and I couldn’t be more satisfied.


Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here with permission from Romance Junkies.

Read More