ARC Review: Enslaved

Enslaved
Elisabeth Naughton
Paranormal Romance
Eternal Guardians/Book 5
Sourcebooks/November 6, 2012

*Possible Spoilers for Previous Books*

GRYPHON—Honorable, loyal, dependable…tainted. He was the ultimate warrior before imprisonment in the Underworld changed him in ways he can’t ignore.

She calls to him. Come to me. You can’t resist. But Gryphon will not allow himself to be ruled by the insidious whispers in his head. And there’s only one way to stop them: kill Atalanta, the goddess who enslaved him. But with so much darkness inside, he can’t be sure what’s real anymore. Even the Eternal Guardians, those who protect the human realm from threats of the Underworld, want to exile him. They’re not sure he can be trusted.

Finding Malea is like a miracle. Somehow he doesn’t feel the pull of the dark when she’s near. And he’s determined to keep her as near as possible, whether she wants him close or not. But proximity spurs temptation. A temptation that will test every last bit of control he has left. One that may ultimately have the power to send him back to the Underworld or free him from his chains for good.

If you like tortured heroes, Gryphon is the hero for you!  In Elisabeth Naughton's fifth book in her highly addictive Eternal Guardians series readers find out what has happened to Gryphon, the guardian who became a slave to Atalanta.  Gryphon was rescued but he's still suffering the effects of his enslavement and no one, least of all Gryphon, is sure if he will ever recover.

He escaped the hell he was living in but the torture continues, if only in his head.  It's the voice of Atalanta Gryphon can't get away from that may just drive him insane.  Gryphon is determined to kill Atalanta without putting the other Guardians at risk.  So he's going it alone or so he thought until Malea tags along.  I liked how dark Gryphon was.  He didn't just miraculously turn away from the darkside but kept some of that with him.  Malea brings light into Gryphon's life but he still must fight his way back from the hell that was Atalanta.

Malea is use to being alone and with Hades hunting her down, it's better for everyone if she doesn't get close to anyone.  Malea strikes out on her own but runs into Gryphon and they reluctantly team up together.  There is a definitely pull between them but Malea is afraid of what might happen if Hades' Hellhounds catch up to them.  Malea isn't a kickass heroine but she does try and I have to give her credit for effort.  I also respected her for trying to protect others while so desperately wanting to be part of the group instead of always alone.  She was a good match for Gryphon because she could understand his need to protect those he cared about by trying to keep his distance from them. 

The romance begins on the run with little in the way of actual romance.  Gryphon and Malea are not exactly enemies but they are far from friends.  That develops over their mad dash to freedom.  Even with the attraction they have for each other, it didn't always feel genuine but having more to do with Malea's affect on Gryphon's darkness.  Which made me wonder if their wasn't that connection of light/dark, would anything developed between them?  The romance does take off but from the physical attraction with the respect and friendship coming later.  I much prefer it the other way but this worked out okay in the end.  

The Guardians and their mates are involved in trying to help Gryphon but they also have their concerns as to his ties with Atalanta and how much control she may still have over him.  I really enjoy seeing this group of males and watching them interact.  They're not all close, best friends but they do respect each other and will fight for each other.  The women are not wallflowers who fade off into nothing but continue to make contributions to the fight against Atalanta and her evil horde of daemons.

This is a strong series that continues to deliver action, adventure, romance with kickass heroes and smart heroines. Definitely worth the read!

Rating: A-

Eternal Guardians Series ~

Marked
Entwined
Tempted
Enraptured
Enslaved

ARC Review: Enraptured

Enraptured
Elisabeth Naughton
Paranormal Romance
Eternal Guardians/Book 4
Sourcebooks/April 3, 2012

Spoilers for Previous Books

ORPHEUS—To most he’s an enigma, a devil-may-care rogue who does whatever he pleases whenever he wants. Now this loose cannon is part of the Eternal Guardians­—elite warriors assigned to protect the human realm—whether he likes it or not.

Orpheus has just one goal: to rescue his brother from the Underworld. He’s not expecting a woman to get in the way. Especially not a Siren as gorgeous as Skyla. He has no idea she’s an assassin sent by Zeus to seduce, entrap, then ultimately destroy him.

Yet Skyla herself might have the most to lose. There’s a reason Orpheus feels so familiar to her, a reason why her body seems to crave him. Perhaps he’s not the man everyone thinks… The truth could reveal a deadly secret as old as the Eternal Guardians themselves.

There she goes, sucking me right back into the world of the Argonauts. Elisabeth Naughton has once again written a fast paced, sexy, emotional romance set in the fascinating world of warriors and the woman who are their equals. The more I read of this series, the more I want. It's as simple as that.

Orpheus is a familiar character if you've read the previous books but we still don't know much about him. He bears the markings of the Argonauts but isn't truly one of them. No one trusts Orpheus, save perhaps the new Queen, Isadora. Orpheus has earned that distrust by doing pretty much as he pleases and only truly caring about his brother, Gryphon. Now we get to see another, more heroic side of Orpheus and I loved it! Naughton didn't suddenly turn him into a knight in shinning armor, his armor still had a few dents. But Orpheus does show a far greater affinity for becoming an Argonaut than anyone would have expected, especially Orpheus himself. It wasn't a sudden transformation so much as the situation bringing out his true self.

Skyla has been a siren for over 2000 years. She is loyal to Athena and Zeus but her current mission has her beginning to question that loyalty. Skyla is a total kick-ass heroine with the boots to go with the attitude. The thing about Skyla's loyalty is that she is not blinded by it. She can and does think for herself and when things don't add up, she questions why. Her feelings for Orpheus are conflicted when she realizes he's not what she expected. I liked seeing how she resolves this conflict. She not blinded by loyalty or by love, but uses what she knows as the truth to make her decisions.

The dynamic between Orpheus and Skyla is intriguing in that they don't trust each other but they are stuck working together towards similar goals. I liked how Orpheus and Skyla see past their preconceived ideas of who they thought the other was. As they work together, fight together and ultimate form a tentative trust, we see those preconceptions fall apart. Their relationship isn't what I would call romantic but given the situations they find themselves in, romance isn't a priority. Instead they have these sweet and tender moments of intimacy that I think surprises both of them. Oh, the hot sex didn't hurt either. ;)

The action is a very integral part of this series and that holds true again. It's not only the fight scenes but the before and after the fight scenes that can leave you out of breath and a little in awe of how these characters get themselves into these situations and then make it out alive. Naughton makes you believe in this brutal world of monsters and heroes.

One of the things about this series is everyone has a role to play. So once a hero and heroine find their Happy Ever After, they don't get to ride off into the sunset but continue to be integral parts of the fight against the Daemons. Which is a treat for readers since we get to catch up on previous heroes and heroines. This isn't exactly one big, happy family but a rather loving but dysfunctional extended family. Which makes it all the more interesting.

If you enjoy a fast paced, fascinating world where mythology blends with the human world and heroes and heroines fight evil while falling in love, Eternal Guardians is the series to read.

Rating: A

Eternal Guardians ~

Marked
Entwined
Tempted
Enraptured
Enslaved (November 1, 2012)

ARC Review: Tempted

Tempted
Elisabeth Naughton
Paranormal Romance
Eternal Guardians/Book 3
Sourcebooks/September 6, 2011

*Spoilers for Previous Books*

From Goodreads ~

DEMETRIUS — He’s the hulking, brooding warrior his fellow Guardians avoid. Too dark. Too damaged. And given his heritage, he knows it’s best to keep everyone at arm’s length.

Isadora is missing. The words pounded through his head like a frantic drumbeat. For her own protection, Demetrius had done all he could to avoid the fragile princess, his soul mate. And now she was gone—kidnapped. To get her back, he’ll have to go to the black place in his soul he’s always shunned.

As daemons ravage the human realm and his loyalty to the Guardians is put to the ultimate test, Demetrius realizes that Isadora is stronger than anyone thought. And finally letting her into his heart may be the only way to save them both.

I've been looking forward to Isadora and Demetrius' book ever since I finished Entwined (book 2). Isadora intrigued me with her quiet, almost childlike disposition she displays to her father and the public while in private she is a very strong, very determined woman. Demetrius made me sit up and take notice when he so adamantly refused to wed Isadora when the king proposed the match, in Entwined. The dude would rather kill himself than wed her. Jeez, sure know how to break a woman's heart! I knew there had to be a good reason because while he's rough and gruff, he's not really an ass. Turns out Demetrius had a very good reason.

Princess Isadora, the only legitimate heir to the monarchy of Argolea, is to marry the Argonaut Zander. But at the last minute the king allows Zander to be with his soul mate Isadora's half-sister Callia. Which is good except Isadora can't enjoy her reprieve because she's been kidnapped. If anyone can survive kidnapping by crazy witches, it's Isadora. She has a great inner strength and intelligence that Naughton showcases through Isadora's words and actions. I liked how she doesn't back down to Demetrius even though he has to physically save her a few times. Thankfully, she's stubborn and ends up saving him too even though he doesn't think he's worth saving.

Demetrius is the biggest baddest Argonaut around. He really is the biggest, at almost 6'8 but baddest... Well, Zander wasn't exactly Mr. Light and Love but he has mellowed a little so we'll give Demetrius the title. Even with all his gruffness, I couldn't help but like him. He's suspicious of nearly everyone, especially Isadora, but he still protects her and gets jealous when he thinks she's been doing more than studying with Orpheus. Loved that we got to see that vulnerable side of Demetrius. There is so much more to this man than the rough, scarey exterior and it came through here.

The romance is not a sweet, gentle romance but fierce in the emotions both Isadora and Demetrius have. Demetrius wants nothing to do with Isadora but they are forced by circumstances to stay close while fighting off the threats that continue to come their way. Even though they've known each other for ages, they really don't know anything about each other. That all changes as they begin to talk and each opens up, surprising themselves with what they share with the other. Loved these two together!

The series is continuing to grow along with the characters. I liked how Naughton gives the hero and heroine plenty of time to work out their problems instead of making the problems magically disappear. And Isadora and Demetrius have a lot of problems. We get to catch up with the previous heroes and heroines and learn more about the other guardians who have yet to get their stories told. I never felt there were there merely for sequel bait but played an intimate role in the ongoing story. The action is consuming, with the Argonauts battling enemies from without and within. I love the twists and surprises Naughton has woven into the story. Edge of your seat moments leaving the reader wanting to know more about these characters.

Naughton has created a fascinating world, blending myths and legends into a reality where humans, daemons and Argonauts wage fierce battles with metal and magic. Tempted was an exciting adventure with my favorite hero and heroine so far. This series has a lot going for it. Enraptured can't come soon enough!

Rating: A

Books in this series ~

Marked
Entwined
Tempted
Enraptured (April 2012)

Review: Entwined

Entwined
Elisabeth Naughton
Paranormal Romance
Eternal Guardians/Book 2
Love Spell/July 27, 2010

From the back cover ~

Zander - The most feared of all the Eternal Guardians. It's rumored he can't be killed, and he always fights like he has nothing to lose. But as a descendant of the famed hero Achilles, he's got to have a vulnerability...somewhere.

Forces of daemons are gathering and have broken through the barriers of the Underworld. Now more than ever the Eternal Guardians are needed to protect both their own realm and the human world. Zander can't afford to think about what might have been with the bewitching physician he once regarded as his soul mate. But with eternity stretching out before him, he also can't fathom spending his life without the one woman who makes him feel most alive. Perhaps he's found his weakness, after all...

After reading the first book in the series, Marked, I was curious about the world Naughton has created but I wasn't salivating to read the next book. I figured I'd get to it eventually. Well, almost a year after it's release and I finally did. And after reading Entwined, I can't wait for Tempted, book 3.

There's certainly a medieval feel to the world of the Guardians. The king rules the realm and has decided his daughter should wed one of the Argonauts. No one is happy with this news least of all the Argonauts. As the king's personal healer, Callia works in close proximity to the royal family, such as it is. She prefers to keep her distance from the Argonauts, specifically Zander, due to a painful past association. I liked Callia, she's an intelligent and independent woman in a very male dominant world. She suffered a terrible loss and has submersed herself in her work at the clinic, trying to forget everything she has lost. She had a very 21st century feel to her.

Zander thinks he is immortal and apparently being an ass comes with immortality. He's very alpha, of course, but he's got this attitude of how he was so wronged in the past by Callia that he doesn't even try to see her side. But... he's still got the hots for her. LOL And being a man, doesn't always think with his brain. His stubbornness in doing what he thinks is the right thing went too far. There were moments when I liked him, then he'd go back to being a stubborn asshat and I'd roll my eyes and think Callia could do better.

The secondary character of Isadora, the king's daughter, is turning into a favorite of mine. Her book is next so thankfully I won't have to wait long for it. She's a chameleon, playing at being the meek, shy princess while having a backbone of steel. She's already been through a horrible ordeal and will probably get into even more trouble in her book. Let's hope her hero has enough patience for her.

The plot is thick with tension, drama and action with Zander and Callia in the middle of it. The big bad is really bad and powerful. She's a sick bitch who enjoys torturing and killing and hates the Argonauts. Nothing like a power crazed whackjob and her daemon horde to spoil the mood. While I liked Callia far more than Zander, and the romance was interesting, I found myself wishing for more page time with Isadora rather than the hero and heroine.

Between the angst filled romance, the sub-plot with Isadora, courtly intrigue and the fight against evil, Entwined proved to be a solid addition to the series. And most importantly, it left me wanting more of the world of the Argonauts.

Rating: B

Books in this series ~

Marked
Entwined
Tempted (September 1, 2011)

Review: Stolen Seduction

Stolen Seduction
Elisabeth Naughton
Romantic Suspense
Stolen Trilogy/Book 3
Love Spell/January 2010
Library book

From the back cover ~

The individual who collects all six statues and deciphers the code locked within will be awarded controlling interest in Roarke Resorts.

YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS ENDEAVOR IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.

Hailey Roarke was never interested in her family’s fortune. That’s why she became a cop. But with her father and now her cousin dead, she’s suddenly on the wrong side of a police interrogation. The only way to clear her name is to solve the riddle before the real killer. Without getting killed herself.

Detective Shane Maxwell can’t deny the spark of lust he feels every time Hailey is near. But the woman is clearly hiding something. Trusting his gut—and the heat in her eyes—he joins her on an elaborate global treasure hunt staged by her late father. Caught between a sizzling seduction and a maniacal murderer, for Hailey and Shane the biggest reward of all will be making it out alive.

The last book in the trilogy features a hero and heroine that were first introduced in Stolen Fury, book one. Hailey Roarke is the ex-wife of Rafe, hero of book one. Shane Maxwell is the brother of Lisa Maxwell, heroine from book one. So we have already met both h/h in previous books. Hailey is a character I liked from the first time she appeared in Stolen Fury. Shane, eh, a bit on the overprotective side and very bossy. But he grew on me.

Hailey Roarke wanted nothing to do with her family's hotel empire. She gets pulled back in when her father dies and leaves a few interesting stipulations in his will. She tells herself her stint in the family business is only temporary, just until she gets the terms of the will cleared up. She's really a cop in Florida but... she admits she's not really good at that either. Her career life is in a bit of turmoil. And her personal life isn't much better. She is friends with her ex-husband, so that's always good. And there was this guy she met a few months ago but nothing really came from that. Then Hailey finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her cousin, a real ass, is found dead and the police have some questions for Hailey. One of the detectives is especially interested in Hailey. And he just happens to be "that" guy.

There's a bit of a soap-opera feel with all the different character connections but it's not a bad feeling just a lot of coincidences of how all their lives are intertwined. Shane Maxwell, brother to Dr. Lisa Maxwell who is married to Rafe Sullivan, Hailey's ex. Shane is, of course, the Chicago police detective with a special interest in Hailey. They've met before and while there were some sparks, neither made the move to take things all the way. Now they're both involved in the murder investigation of Hailey's cousin. And what the heck is with her father's crazy will? According to the will, Hailey going to have to jump through some hoops to keep the company out of the wrong hands. She's not happy about it but it willing to search for the treasure her father wanted/hoped she'd find.

The relationship between Hailey and Shane is very volatile. They don't trust each other and under the circumstances, don't always like each other. But that spark is still there and the more time they spend together the stronger it gets. There was a surprising amount of animosity between the two, I had to wonder how they would get past it. But they did and Naughton made it work. Shane is a natural protector and now he's into protecting Hailey while he's also trying to sort things out and get to the truth of what happened. He knows Hailey is lying to him, hiding something, and being a good detective he's determined to find out. Hailey is used to looking out for herself and resents Shane's intrusion. It becomes a situation where they have to work together to resolve both of their problems.

The murder mystery coupled with a treasure hunt made for an exciting ride. I liked how Naughton incorporated the police crime solving and the treasure hunting to make a cohesive story line that had both facets of mystery and adventure. We also got to revisit with characters from the two previous books which was fun. A quick read and a good end for the trilogy.

Rating: B+

Stolen Fury
Stolen Heat

April Reads...

*Pics like this make me wish I wasn't allergic to cats. I just want to cuddle him and let him sleep on my lap. So cute!*


Silver Borne ~ Patricia Briggs ~ Urban Fantasy ~ A-
A Certain Wolfish Charm ~ Lydia Dare ~ Historical PNR ~ B
Something About You ~ Julie James ~ Contemporary Romance ~ B
A Delicious Taboo ~ Jennifer Cole ~ Erotica ~ C+ ~ Review to follow
Her Best Friend ~ Sarah Mayberry ~ Contemporary Romance ~ B+
One for the Team ~ Jet Mykles ~ Erotic Romance ~ Review to follow
A Delicious Taboo Plus Two ~ Jennifer Cole ~ Erotica ~ C ~ Review to follow
Stolen Heat ~ Elisabeth Naughton ~ Romantic Suspense ~ B
Long Hard Ride ~ Lorelei James ~ Erotic Romance ~ B+
Blue-Eyed Devil ~ Lisa Kleypas ~ Contemporary Romance ~ B+
Rode Hard, Put Up Wet ~ Lorelei James ~ Erotic Romance ~ Review to follow
Stolen Seduction ~ Elisabeth Naughton ~ Romantic Suspense ~ Review to follow
Hope's Folly ~ Linnea Sinclair ~ Science Fiction Romance ~ A
Anything for You ~ Sarah Mayberry ~ Contemporary Romance ~ B+
Her Vampire Husband ~ Michele Hauf ~ Paranormal Romance ~ B
Lisa's Gift ~ Mackenzie McKade ~ Erotica ~ Review to follow
The Man Must Marry ~ Janet Chapman ~ Contemporary Romance ~ B
Glory in Death ~ J. D. Robb ~ Futuristic Suspense ~ B+
Mind Games ~ Carolyn Crane ~ Urban Fantasy ~ Review to follow
Uncertain Magic ~ Laura Kinsale ~ Historical Romance ~ Review to follow

April was a really good month for reading. Most of that is due to the nook™ that I was lucky enough to win from The Book Binge. I went a little crazy on the erotica, didn't even list a few shorter e-books I read. I hope to have a post/review of the nook™ up soon. There's a lot I want to say about it and I need to get my thoughts together on it. I also need to catch up on my reviews. :)

The breakdown by genre ~

Erotica ~ 6
Contemporary ~ 5
Romantic Suspense ~ 3 (includes Robb)
Historical ~ 2 (includes Paranormal Historical)
Urban Fantasy ~ 2
Paranormal Romance ~ 1
Science Fiction Romance ~ 1

Total read ~ 20

So the majority were Contemporaries and Erotics and the Erotics were Contemporaries. I see a trend here. :) There were a few that, while not DNF yet, just didn't grab me so got set aside for now. I think this month I'll try for more variety. I've got some Urban Fantasies and some PNR I've been wanting to read so I hope to get to those this month. Overall, some very good reads and a few okay ones but no real duds. No surprise that Silver Borne and Hope's Folly were my favorites. And I've got a new series to follow in Lorelei James' Rough Riders. If you haven't started those series you really should give them a try.

Review: Stolen Heat

Stolen Heat
Elisbeth Naughton
Romantic Suspense
Stolen Trilogy/Book 2
Love Spell/August 2009
Purchased

From the author's website ~

His past tore them apart. Her lies thrust them back together. Now a killer’s out for revenge, but the biggest threat for both may just be the heat they thought they’d already lost…

Antiquities dealer Peter Kauffman walked a fine line between clean and corrupt for years. And then he met the woman who changed his life—Egyptologist Katherine Meyer. Their love affair burned white-hot in Egypt, until the day Pete’s lies and half-truths caught up with him. After that, their relationship imploded, Kat walked out, and before Pete could find her to make things right, he heard she’d died in a car bomb.

Six years later, the woman Pete thought he’d lost for good is suddenly back. The lies this time aren’t just his, though. The only way he and Kat will find the truth and evade a killer out for revenge is to work together—as long as they don’t find themselves burned by the heat each thought was stolen long ago…

After reading and enjoying Ms. Naughton's first book, Stolen Fury, I picked up the second book in the trilogy and dove in. The story starts out with a hero who has reformed his shady business dealings and the heroine is dead. Okay, she's not really dead but everyone, including Peter Kauffman, thinks she is. Imagine his shock when he sees her at an art auction. After Kat comes back into Peter's world, his life becomes an adventure he couldn't have imagined.

Peter Kauffman is the business partner of Rafe Sullivan, the hero of the first book. Peter runs an art gallery and acquires objects for the gallery and it's customers. Over six years ago he met Kat Meyer when she was working on a dig in Egypt. Peter's initial reason for getting to know Kat may not have been honest but once he got to know her, he fell hard for her. Then the unthinkable happened and Peter is left without the woman he fell in love with. He moves on but never has the feelings he had for Kat with any other woman.

Kat Meyer is one hell of a survivor. She's had to learn how to become a different person, to blend in with her surroundings and learn to disappear when needed. She's spent the past 6 years staying out of sight while keeping an eye on Peter and his collection of artifacts. When she faces Peter after all these years it's with sadness and regret. She does help him and shows that her feelings haven't changed. Just the circumstances they find themselves in. Kat is still in love with him but doesn't think there is any chance they can be together.

There are flashback scenes that show how Peter and Kat meet and fall for each other before everything fell apart. I'm not a big fan of flashbacks but I didn't mind these. It lent to the character development and explained the series of events that led to Kat taking such drastic steps nearly six years ago. It also showed a more innocent and trusting Kat. She's darker now, more experienced with the evil in the world. I did like Kat. I liked her ability to use her intelligence and not panic when things don't go as planned. She's very good at thinking on her feet.

Peter is not my favorite hero of the trilogy. It's not that he isn't likable, but he did come across as more closed off and less forgiving towards Kat. I didn't like that he had loved this woman but had so much mistrust for her. He would rather believe the worst of her than give her the benefit of doubt concerning what she did six years ago. It's not that Kat's been perfect but she did have very valid reasons for what she did.

Stolen Heat is a fairly fast paced read with lots of intrigue. The killer that's after Peter and Kat is interesting and kept the action part of the plot moving. And I really liked seeing Hailey Roarke again. She's the ex-wife of Rafe and friends with Peter. She's also the heroine of the third book and IMO the most interesting of the group. Book three, Stolen Seduction, is Hailey Roarke and Shane Maxwell's story.

Rating: B

Review: Stolen Fury

Stolen Fury
Elisabeth Naughton
Romantic Suspense
Stolen trilogy/Book 1
Love Spell/December 2008
Purchased

From the back cover ~

To unearth a centuries-old secret, an archaeologist must team up with the rakish thief who’s stolen both an ancient relic and her heart…

Oh, is he handsome. And charming. And sexy as all get out. Dr. Lisa Maxwell isn’t the type to go home with a guy she barely knows. But, hey, this is Italy and the red-blooded Rafe Sullivan seems much more enticing than cataloging a bunch of dusty artifacts.

After being fully seduced, Lisa wakes to an empty bed and, worse yet, an empty safe. She’s staked her career as an archaeologist on collecting the three Furies, a priceless set of ancient Greek reliefs. Now the one she had is gone. But Lisa won’t just get mad. She’ll get even.

She tracks Rafe to Florida, and finds the sparks between them blaze hotter than the Miami sun. He may still have her relic, but he’ll never find all three without her. And they’re not the only ones on the hunt. To beat the other treasure seekers, they’ll have to partner up—because suddenly Lisa and Rafe are in a race just to stay alive.

An adventure is in store for readers of Elisabeth Naughton's Stolen trilogy. There's a heroine who's willing to take risks to get what she wants. A hero who's willing to break a few laws to get what he wants. Some secondary characters to round out the story nicely, who, no doubt will get their own stories. (Yeah!) Throw in some underwater caves, an evil mastermind, Furies and steamy sex scenes with the oh so hot and bothered and you have a wild ride with two not so typical lead characters.

I liked the idea of a female Indiana Jones type heroine and Naughton made it work. Dr. Lisa Maxwell is a renowned professor of ancient history and in her free time she's a treasure hunter. Lisa is a woman driven to succeed and has very little time for games. So when she's played by a professional thief she decides to play a game of her own. I loved how she dealt with Rafe. She didn't let herself trust him even though she was very attracted to him. He's hot, he's sexy, he steals from whomever he needs to. Robin Hood he's not. But he does have a softer side. Awe. Until he needs to steal again. :)

Rafe is a hero that hides his heroics. He'll tell you it's all about the job, that he's not a nice guy. But the reality is that he does have a soft heart. He's a good son that loves him mom and takes care of her. Heck, he's even friends with his ex-wife. Rafe came across as a decent guy when it came to looking out for friends and family. When it came to Lisa, he's caught between a rock and a hard place. He needs what she has but boy is he attracted to her. In another time, another place, things might have been different between them. But Rafe has a job to do and he has to use Lisa to get the job done. I felt bad for Rafe at times. He didn't want to hurt Lisa but he also had commitments that he couldn't brush aside. He's very loyal. I liked that about him. Loyalty is always high in my book as long as it's not blind.

Lisa is a different type of heroine. She's very much an action heroine. She'd rather be right there in the thick of it than on the sidelines while the hero takes care of the "heavy lifting". When not teaching and lecturing, Lisa has spent the last 15 years searching for the reliefs of Alecto, Megaera and Tisiphone, the Furies. She's not willing to give up her search, unfortunately, Rafe is also searching for them.

The story is fairly fast paced with Rafe and Lisa doing some globe trotting while searching for the artifacts. The search sends them to Chicago where they meet up with Lisa's brother, Shane Maxwell, a detective for the Chicago PD. They also make their way to Miami and the Florida Keys where they meet up with Rafe's ex-wife who also happens to be in law enforcement. Sequel bait abounds but that didn't bother me. I liked the secondary characters and will be reading their stories.

One thing I liked was that after their initial intimate moments together, Naughton didn't rush Rafe and Lisa into bed. She let them work out their problems and then let nature take it's course. Another thing I liked was that neither Lisa or Rafe were young, inexperienced characters. They were both in their late 30's with some miles on them. They brought those experiences into the relationship they created along with the people who are part of their lives. This made for a much more complete feeling to the story.

There was some pacing issues, with a little too long on the narrative at some points. But the dialogue for the most part was witty and quick. I liked the overall feel of the story if at times I felt that things were a little too spelled out. There is an Epilogue to Stolen Fury posted on the author's website. Scroll down just past the excerpt. It's more sequel bait than anything but it's cute.

Rating: B+

March Reads...

March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb, or so the saying goes. I'm not sure about that, all I know is that the flowers are blooming and my allergies are killing me. The goods news is that I did read some great books, only a couple that didn't work all the well for me but overall a good reading month.

Tapestry ~ Karen Ranney ~ Historical ~B+
Ecstasy Unveiled ~ Larissa Ione ~ PNR ~ C+
A Matter of Class ~ Mary Balogh ~ Historical ~ A
The Stolen Crown ~ Susan Higginbotham ~ Historical ~ A-
Roadkill ~ Rob Thurman ~ UF ~ Buddy review to come
Have You Seen Her? ~ Karen Rose ~ RS ~ A-
Naked Edge ~ Pamela Clare ~ RS ~ C+
The Secret Year ~ Jennifer Hubbard ~ YA ~ B+
Stolen Fury ~ Elisabeth Naughton ~ RS ~ Review to come
My Soul to Save ~ Rachel Vincent ~ YA ~ A-
Fantasy in Death ~ J. D. Robb ~ RS ~ B+
Bound by Your Touch ~ Meredith Duran ~ Historical ~ A-

12 Total

Historicals ~ 4
PNR ~ 1
RS ~ 4
UF ~ 1
YA ~ 2

A good mix dominated by Historicals and RS. Which surprised me. I didn't realize I had read that many historicals. No straight contemporaries. I'm sure I'll have some this month. I've got Sarah Mayberry and Julie James on the tbr pile. :)

Any weekend plans? Saturday, I'll make an attempt to clean the garage. We plan to have a yard sale soon so I need to get the junk together for that. I'll get some reading in too and need to wash my car - it's horrible! Do you ever notice how your car seems to run better when it's clean?

Sunday is Easter and we are going to my mom's for dinner. She didn't want me to bring anything but I'll be making fruit salad and bringing cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory. The cheesecake is the frozen kind from Sam's Club but it's still delicious!

*The flowers are from a Bougainvillea in my front yard. The yard is very colorful: reds, pinks and purple flowers are everywhere. Just wish my nose enjoyed it as much as my eyes. :)